BgoMag Issue 25

issue 25 | DECEMBER 2011 www.bendigomagazine.com.au

little stars

COSSIES season heats up

premmies shine

crumbs of comfort baking for love

perfect match

anyone for tennis?

waves

making

Issue 25 $4.95 AUS (Inc. GST)

Eppalock is brimming

[fashion beauty food wine arts entertainment house garden people life]

Welcome back to burgers.

Welcome back to burgers.

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Our burgers are cooked-to-order using At Grill’d wedelicious promise toburgers deliverare you‘Made a great mealonly that’s for you. Our withtasting Love’ from the highest super leanfor patties that are fullburgers of flavour.

Our legendary thick cut chips also good you.

Our delicious are ‘Made with Love’ quality, freshest ingredients. Our burgers are cooked-to-order using are in cholesterol-free oil then ingredients. sprinkled with our trademark fromcooked only highest quality, freshest Our super leanthe patties that are full of flavour. Our legendary thick cut chips Grill’d herb mix.

We hope you appreciate the difference. burgers are cooked-to-order using super lean patties that are are cooked in cholesterol-free oil then sprinkled with our trademark full of flavour.

Our legendary thick cut chips are cooked in Grill’d herb mix. We hope you appreciate the difference. cholesterol-free oilin then sprinkled with ouror trademark Grill’d ‘The best hamburgers Victoria, Australia the World’ mix.

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The OTIS Foundation says thank you to Bendigo Bank - $150,000 raised over three years through The OTIS Foundation Community enterprise.

YOu can make a difference Thanks to YOUR continued support, through The OTIS Foundation Community Enterprise, we have been able to offer our network of breast cancer retreats, free of charge to over 1000 families who are living with breast cancer.

Through YOUR support, OTIS now has 12 retreats throughout Australia, offering its beautiful, peaceful environment which allows those living with breast cancer to draw on nature for strength and comfort.

“

Thanks to YOU, a committed member of our community, you have helped individuals and families whose lives are affected by breast cancer.

Through YOUR commitment to The OTIS Foundation Community Enterprise, we have now received $150,000 from the Bendigo Bank, allowing OTIS to grow significantly working alongside the wonderful staff at Pall Mall, Mitchell Street, Bendigo Central and Footscray branches.

The support that YOU have shown, and

continue to show, by linking your Bendigo Bank account, has had a major impact on the lives of these people and their families living with breast cancer, YOU have allowed them the time to relax and reconnect, ready to meet the challenges that they are faced with through this illness.

Please accept our heartfelt thanks for your support, and we congratulate you on being a part of this wonderful achievement reached through The OTIS Foundation Community Enterprise.

”

Dreams do come true – thank you OTIS. OTIS GueST

What is the OTIS Foundation Community enterprise?

The OTIS Foundations Community Enterprise gives members of the community an opportunity to help individuals and families whose lives have been affected by breast cancer.

The money raised via this project will enable The OTIS Foundation – a Bendigo born and based, not for profit organisation – to expand and maintain its growing network of retreat properties which are made available to those living with breast cancer at no accommodation cost. This project represents an extension of Bendigo

Banks long standing association with The OTIS Foundation.

Quite simply, supporting The OTIS Foundation is as easy as doing your banking with Bendigo Bank. The OTIS Foundation receives a commission from Bendigo Banks own profits earned from the accounts linked to The OTIS Foundation Community Enterprise. It doesn’t cost the customer anything! Through this initiative, an opportunity exists to give something back to the community, especially to those affected by breast cancer.

Proudly supporting the Otis Foundation Bendigo Bank Community Enterprise

Breast Cancer

Retreats

www.otisfoundation.org.au

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R E C RU I T W I T H YO U R L O C A L

MORE THAn jUST THE LEAdIng R E C RU I T M E n T C O M PA n Y I n TOW n

b ec ause we k now bendig o bet t er t han t he r e st The Bendigo Student Association enlisted ESE Consulting to aid in the recruitment process of a General Manager for our organisation. As a not-for-profit organisation that provides services to a specific cohort of people within the community, we were delighted with ESE Consulting’s understanding of our brief and their ability to provide a shortlist of excellent candidates for the position. Their staff and the process of recruitment they employed was professional, friendly and, most importantly, thorough. Engaging ESE in our recruitment process has allowed us to appoint a General Manager who has all the skills and qualities we require (and more). I would recommend ESE Consulting for any Bendigo business that seeks to fill executive positions within their organisation.

Thank you ESE Consulting Bendigo. I was on the look out for a new challenge and after my initial discussions with you I was convinced the General Manager position you were recruiting for was it. Your understanding of the organisation and the role created the favourable first impressions that led me to pursue the opportunity. From my experience I unequivocally recommend ESE to any organisation requiring Executive Recruitment or Executives looking for a new challenge - General manager BSA

ESE Consulting Pty. Ltd. | 108 Mollison Street, Bendigo Phone 03 5442 6676 | www.eseconsulting.com.au

Samantha Allen Graphic Designer

How will you be celebrating Christmas this year? I will be heading to Melbourne to have lunch with family. The afternoon normally consists of eating, drinking, kris kringle and more eating. Kris kringle is more a fun rather than serious thing, like a couple of years ago when Pa received a pole dancing alarm clock.

That was great, we all had a good laugh.

What is your favourite thing to do in Bendigo over summer? I love going fishing at Lake Eppalock, spending hot summer nights having barbecues with friends and celebrating NYE by watching the fireworks in Rosalind Park.

What is one thing people don’t know about you? People may not know that I spent the first 10 years of my life in a hotel in Marysville.

We lived upstairs in the residence. It was a great childhood. The hotel was completely destroyed on Black Saturday. It was incredibly heartbreaking to go and see the empty block of land where the hotel stood.

publisher Bendigo Publishing editor Andrea Coates production editor Steve Kendall style editor Katarina Vishnich creative director Dustin Schilling graphic designer Samantha Allen copy editor Chris Dowler marketing and advertising Lyn Chapman on 0414 393 538 Katarina Vishnich on 0429 885 022 writers Ben Cameron, Curt Dupriez, Vicki Harrington, Sarah Harris, Geoff Hocking, John Holton, Colin King, Ash McAuliffe, Lauren Mitchell, Mary Pomfret, Raelee Tuckerman, Megan Spencer and Katarina Vishnich.

Steve Kendall Production Editor

How will you be celebrating Christmas this year? With my wife, cats and various animals around the home. I am sometimes invited to ‘orphan’ Christmas lunches as my family is in the UK, but I don’t mind staying at home.

contributors Tim Baxter, Bryan Coghlan, Kylie Freer, Ashley Raeburn, Jayden Edwards and Chris DeAraugo

What is your favourite thing to do in Bendigo over summer? No disrespect to Bendigo, but on those 40 degree days I head to the country. Mind you, I like a beer on the balcony bars around town, and music at Summer in the Parks is definitely on my list.

photography Terri Basten, David Field, Kate Monotti, Andrew Perryman, Anthony Webster, Sally Stoel, Garry Paterson, Rebecca Barnes and Lincoln Harrison

What is one thing people don’t know about you? Not much, I tell most of my secrets in newspaper columns in the Bendigo Weekly.

But I can tell the readers of bendigo magazine a little-known fact. When I was 19 I lost all of my cash and was marooned on a Greek island for a month. It was great, but for some reason this is the first time I have mentioned it.

print manager Nigel Quirk distribution co-ordinator Bendigo Distribution Services

LYN CHAPMAN

Phone (03) 5444 5868 Fax (03) 5444 4313 PO Box 324 Bendigo VIC 3552 172 McIvor Rd Bendigo VIC 3550

Client Manager

How will you be celebrating Christmas this year? My family and I will be spending Christmas together in Bendigo this year.

My sister and her husband are travelling from Canberra and my niece, her husband and their beautiful children Elena and Liam are coming from Newcastle. My wonderful daughter Tahleah and her fiancé Joshua will be coming over from Shepparton. We will all go to my mum’s and watch the kids open their presents, sit back, relax and enjoy good food, company and lots of laughs.

What is your favourite thing to do in Bendigo over summer? I love to eat out over summer and just watch what is going on. I also really enjoy going out for breakfast and after work drinks during the warmer months. Heading out for walks, gardening and just generally being outdoors.

What is one thing people don’t know about you? I am shy with people I don’t know well.

6 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

This magazine is printed using vegetable based inks on an elemental chlorine free paper.

Sourced using sustainable forestry practices and manufactured using the ISO 14001 environmental management systems.

This magazine is printed in Australia under ISO 14001 Environmental Certifications. This magazine is printed on FSC certified stock. FSC certification ensures traceability and verification of well managed forest timber, from mill to printer to you. 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 publishers accept 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.

I’ll forgive you if you’ve just done a double take. However, it is the summer issue of bendigo magazine you are holding in your hands – we’ve undergone a little makeover.

Cleaner layouts, more gorgeous photographs, a new font here and there and voilà – a simply stunning new way to enjoy the bendigo magazine you have always known and loved.

Is it odd that I’m at my happiest when we are in day three of 40-degree weather? Call me outlandish, but I am definitely a summer girl. Barbecues with my family, slapping the mosquitoes while walking around the Kennington Reservoir, a Christmas party or 10 – this is by far my favourite time of the year. How will you be spending Christmas this year? We ask some locals on page 180. I’ll be in Bendigo with the traditional Christmas Eve mass, a little Christmas light spotting and on Christmas Day a seafood buffet followed by an afternoon nap.

Eppalock this year. She’s We are truly blessed to have reclaimed our local water retreat Lake the images for this capturing fun of lot a have brimming! Check it out on page 44. Boy did we it. at were we while redfin few a catch to managed and feature to know some very To coincide with World Prematurity Day we had the privilege of getting Kids is doing a Mallee Loddon at team The 27. special children and their families on page mums and dads who’ve those to cuppa hot a and p friendshi support, offering job ul wonderf walked the emotional path of premature birth. psychologist, theatre We play a game of musical chairs when we exchange seats with a barber, veterans who hit the manager and dentist on page 65 and catch up with some local senior page 186. tennis court to trade forehands, backhands and plenty of banter on of mine. We feature the favourite a also is summer of season the The fashion that comes with as a 1970s-inspired photo latest trends in swimwear, the coolest shades, divine dresses as well shoot that includes fast cars and sun-kissed skin. media scene. Turn to At bendigo magazine we have fully immersed ourselves into the social to hear from you – love do I Twitter. and page 14 to discover how to reach us on Facebook we can do differently anything is there if and e magazin bendigo about enjoy you what especially to enhance the read. festivities, take the time to So as you deck the halls and turn your thoughts to family, food and n – mine is to continue resolutio Year’s New your of thinking start and by gone year the on reflect to waterski. These learn to like also I’d paused. arily moment my university studies, which have tasks alone should keep me more than occupied over the summer months. ul start to 2012.

May you and your family share a very merry Christmas and a wonderf

ANDREA COATES Editor issue 25 | DECEMBER 2011 www.bendigomagazine.com.au

little

stars

On the cover Bronzed beauty Amy is pictured on the summer cover of bendigo magazine wearing a gorgeous full piece swimsuit from Blush Lingerie (Lyttleton Terrace). Our photographer selected the rocky outcrop with sweeping sky views as the sun set over Harcourt to capture the striking image. Turn to page 130 to see more must-have swimwear as the season heats up.

up

crumbs of comfort

baking for love

perfect match

anyone for tennis?

waves

making

Eppalock is brimming Issue 25 $4.95 AUS (Inc. GST)

8 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

COSSIES season heats

premmies shine

[fashion beauty food wine arts

entertainment house garden people life]

164 Mitchell Street Bendigo Phone: 5443 9875

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Great destination Pick up dry cleaning Suit Cof fee for Josh Twaith hls

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95

27

features 27 little stars

What of the babies who run on their own clock? The ones who arrive too early?

44 she’s brimming

A second post-drought summer of a

brimming Lake Eppalock is still a novelty to lap up.

65 take a seat

What happens when we exchange seats with four local professionals?

95 recipe for life

For Castlemaine cookie queen Michel Mussett it’s a labour of love.

65

155 made in hollywood

The Bendigo Art Gallery is host to yet another fine exhibition.

44

She was my hand in length, that’s all she was and her ears looked like someone had pencilled them in, they hadn’t popped out yet.

Kristy Merrett - pg 32 issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 11

118 6 All About Us 8 Editor’s Letter 14 Letters to the editor 17 What’s On? 18 Calendar Of Events 21 In The Know 25 Competitions 81 Bendigo Mag Loves

regulars

Fashion & Beauty 100 103 115 118 121 129 135

171

103

Fashion On The Street This Season Tried And Tested Sunglasses 1970’S Swimwear Kid’s Fashion

Arts & Entertainment 43 At The Movies 84 For Art’s Sake 86 B.Entertained 89 New Releases 175 Tech Head

House & Garden 163 On Site 164 Home Solutions

Business 188 New Business

People 37 Local Person 41 My Favourite Things 59 The Graduate

Food & Wine 90 A Nice Drop 93 Chef’s Choice 99 From The Foodie 12 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

Life 61 Be A Part Of This 77 Bendigo Memories 83 Bendigo Landmark 141 Cute Kids 142 Cute Pets 145 Bendigo Brides 146 Feature Brides 155 Local Feature 171 A Man’s Word 174 Cogho’s Couch 177 Mum Says 179 Dad Says 180 On The Street 183 Travelogue 186 Sporting Extreme 109 Test Drive

146

Finally arrived in Bendigo!

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letters to

the editor

We have been fluttering social network butterflies here at bendigo magazine over the past few months.

We have just launched a revamped website www.bendigomagazine.com.au, joined the twittersphere and are constantly communicating with our readers over Facebook. Social media, email and snail mail no matter how it arrives, we just love the extra interaction we are having with you all.

Hi Andrea, At last I am putting pen-to-paper so to speak and emailing a quick note to say how lovely it was to meet you last week at ‘The Travelling Table’ event in Bendigo.

As per our conversation I recently subscribed to bendigo magazine and have been an avid reader since it first hit the stores.

post!

I’m sure all of you read my ‘A Man’s Word’ column in the Bendigo Mag but just in case once a quarter isn’t often enough for you, jump on the Man’s Word blog at www.mansword.blogspot.com Ash McAuliffe Congratulations Glenn & Dean the article entitled Happy 30th Reillys Retravision in the Bendigo Mag is excellent - WELL DONE! you must indeed be doing it right! Thanks also for all your help, the appliances you recommended are going into our new home & kitchen next week looking forward to using them :)

The magazine is a wonderful, easy read and I thoroughly enjoy learning about the wide variety of people and places that I have connections with in regional Victoria. My only feedback was to view names with images featured... and I am thrilled to hear this is happening in the near future.

Hutonthehill Heatcote

Once again, lovely to meet you and congratulations on heading up such a great PR tool representing all things Bendigo and so much more.

Call-Jason Stow

Kind regards,

Jackie Your wish is our command Jackie. Check out our photo opportunity pages, now complete with full names of those in the photos. – ed

Dear bendigo magazine, Thank you so very much for your professional understanding and presentation of my work. It is so wonderful to have one’s thoughts truly understood.

Kindest Regards,

Helena Richardson-Collins

Dear Andrea, Being a proud Bendigonian, I always enjoy sitting back with a cuppa and having a nice read of bendigo magazine. I always enjoy seeing photos of people I know and most issues usually have a few. The article on North Bendigo Primary brought a tear to my eye.

I attended the school from 1959-1965. Many of the students are now successful and still work, live and run businesses in Bendigo.

Cheers,

Lois Morrissey

YAY im in this issue xD with the parkour group! xD

find us on Bendigo Magazine

tweets! @BendigoMagazine Finally on twitter!

Good work gang!

Connolly_Daniel @BendigoMagazine welcome to twitter!

Keep us posted on anything you want shared with Bendigo!

BendigoTalks @BendigoMagazine welcome to the twittersphere! della79 Erin

follow us on

Dear bendigo magazine,

@BendigoMagazine

As a past Bendigo resident, I am always waiting for the next edition of Bendigo Magazine. I really love reading about how the town in growing and seeing all the familiar faces. Keep up the great work!

www.bendigomagazine.com.au

Regards,

meghan

14 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

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Whether for a few hours or a few days, Spa11 day spa has been designed to ensure guests enjoy the ultimate in relaxation and rejuvenation of mind, body and spirit. key experiences include: • individual spa treatments for men and women • Hair lounge with spa hair treatments • medi spa including microdermabrasion, Cutera ipl treatments and medi peels • Spa11 day spa houses 2 steam rooms 1 tan room and 10 treatment rooms including 2 twin rooms and 2 wet rooms to continue your sensory journey guests can also choose to stay in one of our unique Spa11 accommodation rooms, with a private staircase that leads to the day spa.

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what’s on?

busy

bees

Bendigo is a hive of activity over the summer months with warmer days, longer evenings, Christmas and an array of exhibitions at Bendigo Art Gallery.

december2

Christmas Tree Light Up An evening of entertainment to celebrate the lighting of the Bendigo Christmas Tree including the Bendigo Hospital Christmas Appeal Carnival and Variety, the Children’s Charity Santa Fun Run. From 5pm.

Venue: Rosalind Park Bendigo

december3 Made in Hollywood: Photographs from the John Kobal Foundation

november 26 The lost modernist: Michael O’Connell

Pictured: Elizabeth Taylor

Drawn from the archive of the John Kobal Foundation, this exhibition focuses on the stars, the sets and the scenes created by the American film industry and captured by the most important photographers who worked in the Hollywood Studios from 1920 to 1960. Featuring more than 90 images including portraits of Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Gloria Swanson, Jean Harlow, Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, and many other film celebrities.

Venue: Bendigo Art Gallery, View Street.

Exhibition runs until Febuary 12.

The lost modernist examines the work of British/Australian textile artist Michael O’Connell. O’Connell, a member of the Arts and Crafts Society of Melbourne, made an enormous contribution to the development of modernism in Australia through his innovative and dynamic textiles.

Venue: Bendigo Art Gallery, View Street.

Exhibition runs until Feburary 19.

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 17

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Now - February 19 The lost modernist: Michael O’Connell.

Bendigo Art Gallery, View Street.

Now - December 22 Dirty Denim: an exhibition.

La Trobe Visual Arts Centre, View Street Bendigo.

26 – 31 december

December 1 - January 29 Pride of Place Exhibition.

Post Office Gallery 51-67 Pall Mall Bendigo.

VicSuper Murray Marathon

This iconic event is a 404 kilometre, five-day flat-water race along the mighty Murray River - bordering Victoria and New South Wales, Australia. The race starts in Yarrawonga on December 27 and heads downstream through Tocumwal, Picnic Point, Echuca, Torrumbarry and Murrabit before finishing in Swan Hill on New Years Eve. For more information visit: www.murraymarathon.ymca.org.au

December 2 Christmas Tree Light Up. Rosalind Park Bendigo.

December 3 Made in Hollywood: Photographs from the John Kobal Foundation.

Bendigo Art Gallery, View Street.

December 3

february 19 Celtic Thunder Tour 2012

Celtic Thunder are coming to Bendigo in 2012. They will be performing a oneoff show at the Bendigo Stadium so to make sure you don’t miss out, book your tickets through ticketek.

Venue: Bendigo Stadium. For more information visit www.celticthunder.ie

Kids Market Central Victoria.

St Liborius Centure, Panton Street Eaglehawk.

December 4 Brass in the Park.

Rosalind Park Bendigo.

December 6 - December 15 A Brush with Art. Bendigo Pottery, Midland Highway Epsom.

December 9 Community Carols.

Strathdale Park, Crook Street Bendigo.

December 10.

The Square - Bendigo’s Handmade Market.

Bendigo Town Hall.

December 11 BCA Lion Team Performance.

Golden Dragon Museum Bendigo.

December 13 A Very Merry Gaslight Christmas.

The Capital.

December 26 – 31 VicSuper Murray Marathon.

For more information visit: www.murraymarathon.ymca.org.au

January 22 Centre State Swap Meet.

Lords Raceway Trotting Track, McIvor Highway.

February 2 Knotty Ladies in the Park.

Rosalind Park Bendigo.

February 19 Celtic Thunder Tour 2012.

Bendigo Stadium. For more information visit www.celticthunder.ie

18 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

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We have a long history of success.

Here is the future.

AFS & Associates was established in Bendigo in 1946 and today has a combination of 6 senior partners and 56 staff. The experience and expertise of the senior partners is well known to all who use our services, which is why we would like to introduce you to some of the young professionals already making their mark in our organisation.

They are ready, willing and more than able to help you develop your business and identify opportunities for growth. Like everyone at AFS, our young professionals are passionate about being partners in your success. To find out what they can do for you, please call AFS today on 5443 0344.

www.afsbendigo.com.au

TAX AT I O N • AUDIT • BUSINESS SERVICES • FINANCIAL PLANNING P: (03) 5443 0344

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in the know

SUMMER scoops summer at the balgownie cellar door

From pedalling around town on a bike, sprucing up the home or relaxing with a glass of red – Bendigo’s business world sizzles this summer.

The Balgownie Estate Cellar Door is a spectacular sight during the summer months.

With the grape vine canopies so lush and green and the cellar door gardens floral and tendered, it is a peaceful and delightful place to visit.

Cellar Door Manager, Kathryn Honey, is a passionate gardener and foodie; she is responsible for the fabulous fresh herb, salad and vegetable gardens, which welcome guests at Balgownie’s front door. Full of abundant colour, flavour and fragrance, many of these delectable treats can be found in the Cellar Door summer menu. Fresh oregano, sage, thyme and dill, so many varieties of tomatoes and lettuce, pretty lavender and silver beet – try the smoked chicken summer salad or perhaps one of the gourmet pizza daily specials.

Balgownie Estate has retained their five-star rating in the wine bible of Australia – James Halliday’s 2012 Australian Wine Companion.

The latest release 2010 Estate Chardonnay is now available for tasting. For summer, the sparkling wines are also proving very popular; Sparkling NV Brut, Sparkling NV Rose and, perfect for Christmas lunch, the 2010 Sparkling Shiraz.

“The Balgownie Estate 2010 Chardonnay will benefit from spending time in the cellar, if you can wait…” Balgownie winemaker Mark Lane said.

For more information visit www.balgownieestate.com.au

all in a day’s work Heather Day and husband Alan traded for 26 years as Pictureman in Hargreaves Street before relocating to 43 Carpenter Street as Heather Day Photography. Heather has a wealth of photographic and artistic experience with an understanding of composition and expression, with an eye for detail developed over time. Heather’s specialities include restoring old photographs and portrait photography. Call in and see what Heather can do to bring your photos back to life.

Heather Day Photography is located at 43 Carpenter Street and can be contacted on 0418 396 498 or email heatherdayportraits@bigpond.com

way of the future AFS & Associates was established in Bendigo in 1946 and since its inception has grown to a staff of 56 and six senior partners. The accounting firm has a young and dynamic team moving through the ranks who are highly qualified, ready, willing and able to help develop their clients’ businesses and identify opportunity for growth. AFS & Associates is a total service accounting firm and offers taxation, audit, business services and financial planning to customers. Staff aim to ensure they communicate up-to-date information in a prompt manner to their clients and the publishing of a bi-monthly newsletter is testament to that.

AFS & Associates has been holding free seminars for clients which have been highly successful. The next seminar is being held in February 2012 on the topic of Property Development, with an expert from the Australian Taxation Office, Rod Henshaw, to present and assist with any questions.

For more information on this seminar or to receive the AFS bi-monthly newsletter visit www.afsbendigo.com.au. AFS & Associates are located at 61- 65 Bull Street and can be contacted on (03) 5443 0344.

All ages and all stages From humble beginnings in Charing Cross where the Bendigo Bank now stands, to their new big bright Edward Street store – Bendigo Cycles has been meeting the needs of Bendigo bicycle enthusiasts for a staggering 16 years. It’s the dedicated staff who have ensured this business has become a permanent fixture in Bendigo for all these years, all of the boys are regular fixtures in the Bendigo cycling scene. Brock is the 2011 BMX Australian champion and father of three who has been with the business for eight years. Richard is the new kid on the block and hails from the UK. He’s been around for a year now and has brought a whole new life to this shop with his quirky personality, crazy tattoos and most importantly his wealth of experience. Matt is the bikefit specialist, a crucial role. And then there is Paul (the main man) and Jo who is kept busy behind the scenes looking after the marketing, accounts and keeping the boys in line.

BMX, mountain bikes, road bikes, kids bikes and comfort bikes – there is a bike for all ages and all stages. Major brands include Specialised, GT, We the People, Pilgrim, Schwinn and many more.

Why not visit the team at 52 Edward Street.

Or you can contact them on (03) 5441 3532 or visit www.bendigocycles.com.au

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 21

your bedroom covered

catch of the day Mick Kimpton owner of Mick’s Ocean Fresh Fish and Takeaway is proud to say his shop is Bendigo’s only dedicated fresh seafood shop that is open seven days a week. All seafood is hand picked from the markets with the freshest oysters shucked and fish filleted on site. As the weather warms up what is more delicious and healthy than fresh seafood straight from the markets? There is also an extensive range of home made products available including tartare sauce, seafood volau-vents, lasagne, fish stock, and fresh fish and chips cooked and served seven days a week between 11am and 3pm. If you simply feel like have a seat and enjoying a coffee there is top quality locally roasted coffee available. Mick, Dale and Karen invite you to stop by, say hello and sample some of the most deliciously fresh seafood Bendigo has to offer.

Mick’s Ocean Fresh Fish and Takeaway is located at 2/301 High Street Kangaroo Flat and can be contacted on (03) 5447 9033.

paint place The team at Paint Place Bendigo pride themselves on their product diversity and specialist painting advice. No matter what the painting task, they will have the right products for the job. Having just joined the Paint Place Group, the bulk buying power of Paint Place Bendigo flows through to their retail pricing – meaning savings for you. The philosophy of Paint Place Bendigo is a complete customer focus, guiding the customer through to painting process from start to finish. This includes recommending the right products for the job. If you’d like to stay in the loop on the latest paint and decorating trends then join the free Paint Place YES Club. Register online at www. paintplace.com.au or if you are looking for inspiration or the latest deals on offer check out facebook.com/paintplace.colour.

Paint Place Bendigo is a locally-operated business that continues to give back to the Bendigo community with involvement and support given to the Easter Fair Society, The Bendigo Spirit, Golden Square Bowling Club and other local schools and sporting clubs. Graham, Dylan and Paul look forward to helping you with all of your painting requirements. Paint Place Bendigo is located at 333 High Street Golden Square and can be contacted on (03) 5442 6488.

22 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

Snooze Bendigo has been helping central Victoria sleep for more than 30 years. The store has recently doubled its floor space to ensure a greater range is available for customers and a range that is comparable to Snooze’s metro counterparts. Snooze is the longest established bedding specialists in Australia and the Bendigo Snooze store can offer you a large range of top brand furniture and products including Sealy, Sleepmaker, Slumberland, osteo and chiropractic ranges.

With Snooze Bendigo’s new bedmatch system from the Sleep to Live Institute, in only five minutes their consultants can determine the correct sleep surface for each partner and make recommendations across all brands in store. Snooze also stocks a large range of Sheridan and Actil linen and towels and display a large range of quilt covers on the beds in store. The Bendigo Snooze store is family owned and operated and you will also see a familiar and friendly face when you stop by. With more than 45 years’ collective experience, you will always receive accurate and professional advice. Parking is not a problem with ample customer spaces available at the rear of the store. So why not visit Snooze Bendigo and see the gorgeous new showroom for yourself. Snooze is located at 86 Mitchell Street and can be contacted on (03) 5442 2840.

santa’s gone grass green Looking for something unique for your family and friends for Christmas this year? The gift of giving will last a lifetime with an instant lawn gift voucher from Bendigo’s leading turf supplier, Coolabah Turf. If you usually shy away from the gift voucher idea because you think it looks boring under the tree... check this out! If you place your order and pay for your gift voucher before Wednesday December 21 – the Coolabah crew will cut you a fresh slice of turf complete with a bow and gift card ready for it to go straight under the tree. All orders over 100m2 will also receive a copy of Nigel Ruck’s newly released, limited edition Loving Your Lawn – Your Guide to the Perfect Aussie Lawn.The humble backyard is the breeding ground for sporting heroes globally. It is also a sacred place for people of all ages to escape the increasing demands of our fast paced modern world.

So when one of your loved ones tell you this year that they want a ‘’Buffalo’’ for Christmas – you can bet your boots it will be a Sir Walter Soft Leaf Buffalo lawn they are referring too. Coolabah Turf’s home grown Sir Walter is low maintenance, doesn’t need any chemicals to keep it out of garden beds and will thrive in our harsh, hot climate.

If you like the sound of lazy summer days on a shagpile rug in your own backyard – then visit one of Coolabah’s regional landscape displays, located locally at ASQ Garden World in Eaglehawk or visit the Echuca farm 256 McSwain Road Echuca. Phone 1800 055 515 or check out coolturf.com.au to place your order for a fresh cut slice of turf to go with your gift voucher. Gift vouchers and sample slices of fresh cut turf will be available for pick up from ASQ Garden World or from Coolabah Turf’s Echuca farm on Friday, December 23 to guarantee you will make a lasting impression on Christmas morning.

happy housewarming For the past 60 years Simonds Homes has developed an enviable reputation for building Australia’s best homes. What sets Simonds apart is the homebuilding experience is a journey – taken together.

That sentiment is also backed up by the Bendigo Simonds Homes team.

Simonds Homes proudly employs a local production team of draftspeople, estimators and orderers as well as a large Bendigo employed building team. Pictured is Wayne McGrath (sales consultant), Michael Sokolowski (sales consultant) and Katrina Turner (regional sales manager) who invite you to visit the local Bendigo Simonds Homes displays at Lanark Drive McIvor Forest Estate and the Ascot Estate in McConnachie Court Epsom. All display homes are open seven days a week between noon and 5pm.

For more information visit www.simonds.com.au or call Wayne on 0429 033 678 or Michael on 0427 854 618. ■

...the end of your search Furniture & Homewares

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Kristen and Mark Beever have recently relocated their young family to Bendigo, moving into a new house they built with Simonds Homes in Regent Park Estate, Strathfieldsaye.

The Livorno from Simonds’ Living Homes Range was their house of choice, and Simonds worked closely with Kristen and Mark to personalise it. Floor plan modifications were incorporated into the design, allowing the couple to tailor the house to suit their lifestyle needs.

“Kristen runs her business from home,

is ours”

so to have the flexibility to add the home office to the plan was fantastic,” said Mark.

“It means we have a spot dedicated to the work area and don’t have to take space from other rooms.”

Both Kristen and Mark counted down the days until they could move into their new home. When it was ready, they both put their feet on the front step at the same time.

The pair love the space and find the layout of the house works really well. Quite often they find themselves saying, “this is ours”.

They’re not the only ones thrilled by the

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new home. Their kids love their bedrooms so much it’s hard to get them out of there!

“Our friends love the house, one has even placed an order for the same design,” they said. “There are always people popping in now and we’re always entertaining, which we love, it’s a great space for it.”

For more information on the Livorno or any home in the Simonds range, contact Wayne McGrath or Michael Sokolowiski at the Bendigo or Epsom Display Centres and discover for yourself that at Simonds, we’re in it together.

competitions

eyes on the PRIZE We have some very generous friends at bendigo magazine who have put forward some wonderful prizes for our readers to win this issue. So if any take your fancy – drop us a line.

worth the read Thanks to Bendigo couple Heather and Peter Smith, we are delighted to be able to give away to our readers five copies of their book Fifty years a refugee – A Tibetan journey. Recently launched (check out the pictures from the launch party in this issue) Fifty years a refugee – A Tibetan journey gives a rare look into the heart and minds of Tibetan refugees who have been exiled for more than 50 years.

Simply email comps@bendigomagazine. com before January 20, 2012 for your chance to win.

and a gift from us How would you like to have a copy of bendigo magazine delivered to your door for an entire year? We are giving away a yearly subscription to bendigo magazine – your very own glossy lifestyle magazine.

issue 25 | DECEMBER 2011

www.bendigomagazine.c om.au

little

COSSIES season heats

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premmies shine

crumbs of comfort

baking for love

perfect match

anyone for tennis ?

waves

making

Eppalock is brimm ing Issue 25 $4.95 AUS (Inc. GST)

If you would like to win a night’s accommodation for two people at The Quality Resort All Seasons simply email comps@bendigomagazine.com before January 20, 2012 for your chance to win.

The only question will be – who will you take with you?

Brad and Suzie Shearer of Coolabah Turf know a thing or two about having ‘lawn for life’. The Coolabah philosophy is to specialise in the exclusive supply of environmentally sustainable water-smart turfgrass varieties to ensure they fulfil their ‘lawn for life’ promise to every customer. All Coolabah Turf products are supplied in an easy to lay slab cut form to ensure fool proof establishment for every DIY home or commercial product. And just to ensure once you do have some Coolabah Turn laid at your very own home that you can keep it in good condition, Brad and Suzie are giving away to one of our readers a guide to the perfect Aussie lawn. Loving your Lawn by Nigel Ruck.

To win this book simply email comps@ bendigomagazine.com before January 20, 2012 for your chance to win. For more information on Coolabah Turf visit www.coolturf.com.au

A night to remember The Quality Resort All Seasons is unique to Bendigo and regional Victoria. Corporate or leisure, the multi award-winning All Seasons offer every facility you would expect to find in a Melbourne CBD property. The accommodation at The Quality Resort All Seasons is of a top class nature and Kathy and the team at The Quality Resort All Seasons are giving you an opportunity to experience it for yourself.

the easy way to instant beauty

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If you’d like to win this great prize, email comps@bendigomagazine.com before January 20, 2012. ■

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 25

people life]

Our promise...

Our family will care for your family Managing Director Sam Tayeh and Debbie Phillips

Care Beyond Measure provides a range of quality care services to support you and your loved ones needs. Our specialised Aged and Disability personal carers can do all of the small things that will make a big difference to the lifestyle of those you love.

Our services range from companion care and hygiene assistance to 24 / 7 home care, including respite and much more. Let us show you how we can make more possible.

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Learn more about how we can improve the life of your loved ones by visiting www.carebeyondmeasure.com

Call us for a free one hour consultation and tell us what you need: Telephone: 5444 5662 or visit www.carebeyondmeasure.com

stars

little

For everything, there is a time. For little babies, there is a time for lungs to grow strong, for skin to colour and eyes to open.

But what of the babies who ignore such rules?

Writer: Lauren Mitchell - Photographs: David Field What of the babies who run on their own clock? The ones who come too early? In Bendigo, they, along with their families, are watched over by the wise women and men of Loddon Mallee Kids. Mums and dads who’ve walked the emotional path of a premature birth and are there to offer support, friendship and a hot cuppa when it’s needed most. Here are the stories of four families who’ve been there. Here is their time to shine.

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 27

max and riley Donna Drum opens the blue box on her dining table and pulls out a nappy: less than half the size of the newborn variety. In fact, everything in here is whittled down to size. But Maiden Gully couple Donna and Jarrod don’t do anything by halves.

Consider in the space of two short months; one new job, one new home and two new babies, born three months ahead of time.

Not to mention dozens of new friends, thanks to Bendigo’s wonderful support network for families of premature babies.

It’s been 18 months since the Drum family welcomed twins Max and Riley into the fold, one dramatic Friday evening in June. “I was told that because they’re twins, they’d probably be early, but not that early,” Donna says of her boys arriving at 26 weeks. “I wasn’t organised myself. I was still working and trying to have a normal life.”

When labour pains came on June 16, 2010, life became anything but normal, very quickly. Donna firstly went to Bendigo’s St John of God hospital for monitoring, then was rushed to the Royal Women’s by ambulance that night. But there was no room in the inn for too-early twins. The hospital’s NICU was already full. And Donna and Jarrod realised, they weren’t the only ones facing an uncertain and very frightening start to life for their little ones.

So it was then on to the Mercy Hospital and a NICU on standby. “We had no idea there were places even like that,” Donna says. “That hospital caters for up to 60 premature babies.”

28 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

Max and Riley were born via caesarean, with a team of 20 doctors to assist mum and bubs. “Before the boys were born two doctors came from NICU to speak to me,” Donna says. “I remember they said we won’t hear the babies cry because they wouldn’t have enough energy.” Two faint whimpers accompanied the boys’ entry to the world. It was a good sign.

The next nine-and-a-half weeks that the family spent in Melbourne was an emotional journey of baby steps. Brief cuddles to be had among tubes and wires, infections to overcome and milk to be made.

Slowly, slowly, Max and Riley got stronger, under the watchful care of staff, friends and family. While Donna stayed in Melbourne, Jarrod travelled down every chance he could, and Donna’s mum gave up work to be there be her daughter’s side for the whole journey.

Back in Bendigo, the twins spent another four-and-a-half weeks in hospital, where Donna was paid regular visits by Loddon Mallee Kids volunteers – other mums who’d been in her position and knew how to help. Donna says after all the angst and worry of having two fragile babies, she was skirting on the edge of post natal depression. “And the premmie group has been a Godsend, they’re unreal,” she says.

Donna describes Max and Riley as loving, cheeky little boys. They’re a little behind the development expectations of babies their age, but if there’s anything the past 18 months has taught Donna, it’s that everything happens in its own time. “They are so cute together and it’s getting easier and easier. Once they got over their first birthdays and I realised they were OK, I’ve been able to relax and enjoy things a bit more. And I love it, I absolutely love it.”

slater

There’s a star in the night sky named for Jake Piazza; the much-loved boy who was simply born too early. His dad, Gavin, bought the star on Jake’s due date, for the family to honour the baby they lost at 20 weeks gestation.

Unbeknown to everyone, mum Lisa had an incompetent cervix, which caused her to go into early labour. Achieving a family was not going to be easy for the Maiden Gully couple, but where there is love, there is always hope.

“After we lost Jake I found it very comforting for people to tell me their stories,” Lisa says. “Like the story of someone else who had an incompetent cervix and how they now have four children. It helped for others to use Jake’s name and let me talk about him, to validate his life… he was born and he was somebody. All the success stories helped me. Now I can be a success story for someone else.”

Lisa and Gavin celebrated the arrival of a second baby boy two years ago. Gorgeous Slater was born at 27 weeks in the Royal Women’s hospital. His strength belied his premature birth and he spent the first four weeks of life in Melbourne growing bigger.

“The thing we struggled with in those early stages was we couldn’t cuddle him,” Gavin says. “We couldn’t do the basics, like pick him up if he was crying. So when we got him home we absolutely smothered him. Now, we just treat him like a normal two-year-old child. He’s met all his developmental targets, so now we’re trying to wean ourselves off him.”

When Slater came home to Bendigo, he spent a further six weeks in the Special Care baby unit at Bendigo Health. Lisa says what may seem like a nightmare for most parents became a special time for her and Gavin, partly in thanks to the support they received in Bendigo, from the nursing staff and Loddon Mallee Kids volunteers.

“We made the best of a bad situation and we made friends with all the nurses,” Lisa says. “A lot of people say, ‘how did you cope? It must have been so devastating.’ For us, we were so mentally prepared that we were going to have a premature baby, we knew we could just do this. We spent so much time in hospital that when we came home Gavin and I looked at each other and said, ‘we’re going to miss the girls’. They were excellent. We had to trust a lot of other people to take care of our baby.”

Slater has brought so much happiness into the Piazza home, that Gavin and Lisa are hoping to fill it up with more children. Lisa says her experiences have given her a lot of optimism for having more babies. Although she hopes any younger siblings for Slater stay put longer than 27 weeks, she says the success rates for prem babies are improving all the time. “Fifteen or 20 years ago Slater would have had a 30 per cent chance of survival. Now, it’s 90 per cent for a child born between 27 and 29 weeks.”

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 29

laysi rea

Little Laysi Rea knows the value of life. This is the baby who wasn’t expected to be here. Little did the doctors knows, they weren’t dealing with a vulnerable embryo as expected, but a feisty baby girl, desperate to be born.

Laysi is Renee Rodda and husband Glenn Rae’s third child. A little sister for Cooper, four, and Makenzie, two. When Renee was 11 weeks pregnant with her baby number three, she experienced a major bleed and prepared herself for a miscarriage. Renee was diagnosed with a subchorionic haematoma – a gathering of blood between the placenta and the uterus.

The Bendigo mum had never heard the term before, and after some research found it affects one in 1000 pregnancies, most of which end in miscarriage by 13 weeks. The doctors told her that would be the likely outcome for her, too. “From that day onwards I bled every day,” Renee says. “At times it was so severe I had to go to hospital and on numerous times I was warned and told it would be the end of the pregnancy.”

As such, the couple told very few people Renee was pregnant, thinking it would be easier on them without constant concern from others, without having to announce a miscarriage when it happened. “I was 15 weeks before I told my mum and dad,” Renee says. “We thought that way it wouldn’t be so bad because we didn’t have the pressure of people asking us how it was going. I wasn’t really preparing for a baby because I was told so many times that it wouldn’t eventuate. But every time I had an ultrasound the baby was fine.”

Renee is a teacher at Bendigo Senior Secondary College. She

30 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

stayed in the classroom until she was 20 weeks pregnant. None of her students or colleagues knew and she hadn’t organised maternity leave. There was no nursery being feathered at home, no shopping trips for tiny clothes. But Renee and Glenn must have held a tiny hope for their tiny baby. For the name Laysi was chosen, and waiting to be whispered.

Renee says she was told the baby wasn’t considered medically viable until 24 weeks, so once she hit that stage, it was down to the Jessie McPherson private hospital in Melbourne on full bed rest. “In Melbourne they told me every day I could keep the baby in my tummy was a bonus – every day something develops.”

Laysi held tight for four more weeks, arriving into the world at 28 weeks gestation, 1.3kg and 38cm long. But her delivery was not without its dramas either. During the labour, Renee’s placenta abrupted. “If I had have been at home, the baby would have died and I would have been in quite a bit of trouble, too,” she says. “Everything was just really lucky.

“When I put the announcement on facebook after she was born so many people wrote back and said, ‘OMG, we didn’t even know you were pregnant’.”

When bendigo magazine meets Laysi, she’s 13 weeks old, and just one day past her actual due date. She’s dressed in a pale pink grow suit, with pale pink lips and soft baby cheeks.

Completely remarkable.

“I’m doing this so when she’s older she’ll understand all she’s been through and know how clever she was,” Renee says.

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 31

ruby and ebby Sisters Ruby and Ebby Merrett are peas in a pod. Little blondies who go everywhere, do everything together. But their starts in life couldn’t have been more different. Ruby was the result of a hope and wish so strong, despite all odds. Ebby was a gift, as unexpected as she was celebrated.

The goal to start a family wasn’t as smooth sailing as most for Bendigo couple Kristy and Shaun Merrett. Eventually, after Kristy underwent surgery to correct kinks in her tubes, Ruby was conceived through the help of IVF. A little miracle. “Ruby has been a real eye opener for all of us,” Kristy says. “If I get caught up in the world my dad says, ‘look at Ruby, look at what we’ve been through’ and everything is in perspective.”

Ruby was born at 25 weeks, defying all statistics. Kristy’s waters had broken 10 days earlier, and she was sent to the Royal Women’s hospital in anticipation of the early arrival. It was a harsh eye opener for Kristy and Shaun. “Every three days the doctor would come down from NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) and go through the percentages with me, of survival, of whether or not the baby would be breathing if it was born then, of the likelihood of brain damage. Then, the girl I was sharing a room with down there, she lost a little baby three days before I had Ruby. Her baby only survived two days. They had a little service for her in the chapel there.”

When Ruby was born, she was too fragile to touch. “Her skin was translucent, you could see through it to all her organs,” Kristy says. “She was my hand in length, that’s all she was and her ears looked like someone had pencilled them in, they hadn’t popped out yet.”

Ruby was placed in an isolette in the intensive care unit and placed on a CPAP machine, which pumped air into her lungs.

Kristy describes the effort for a baby that premature to breath on their own would be like trying to blow up a new balloon with each and every breath. Hard work.

For the next three months, Ruby had a loved one by her side.

Kristy spent 15 hours a day by the isolette, helping care for her tiny baby, watching her grow. “At least Ruby was my first and I didn’t have anyone else to think about – she had my whole, undivided attention,” Kristy says. “At the time it didn’t seem like it was easy but in hindsight, she was really good for a 25-weeker. Not many get out of hospital before their due date, and she did.”

The 12-month mark of a baby’s life is a big date for any parent, but for parents of a prem baby, it’s a milestone to truly celebrate.

And for the Merrett family, the joy was doubled. “We found out I was pregnant with Ebby the day before Ruby’s first birthday,” Kristy says. “We’d already started to talk about another round of IVF, because we thought it would take a while and we didn’t want a big age difference.” But Ruby’s little sister couldn’t wait for that … ■

32 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

Loddon Mallee Kids (LMK) is a local organisation that provides support, information and resources for families of premature babies. LMK premmie support group Bendigo, have volunteers who visit new parents of premmie children at both St John of God and Bendigo Health.

Parents receive a support bag, resources, information and peer support. LMK hold fortnightly playgroups for families and their children. Relying primarily on corporate sponsorship and philanthropic donations to operate, LMK hold various fundraising events throughout the year. The next event being the LMK Ball, to be held on Saturday the 18th of February at The Foundry Hotel Complex Platinum Room. For more information visit www.loddonmalleekids.org.au or call Laura Campbell on 0407 534 950.

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the best of friends To celebrate their friendship with Bendigo Bank, The Otis Foundation recently held a get together at Bramare, the property owned by Andrew Barling, the founder and chairman of The Otis Foundation.

Over the past three years, the support that Bendigo bank has given to The Otis Foundation is astonishing, allowing the foundation to grow and prosper. Bendigo Bank, through The Otis Foundation Community Enterprise has provided $150,000.

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issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 35

Dispute Resolution Talk to us before you sign on the dotted line...

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386 Hargreaves St Bendigo 03 5434 6666 157 Barker St Castlemaine 03 5472 1588

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local person

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morrow

He’s the eyes and ears of Hargreaves Mall with a suit for every day of the week and a smile for everyone.

Writer: Sarah Harris - Photographs: David Field

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 37

“I thought if I can do it for him I can do it for others. That was 20 years ago and since then I have worked in Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and for a number of big companies like Dick Smith.”

John moved to Bendigo after his wife Kary applied for and got a job with the City of Greater Bendigo. His spruiker’s cart – the second prototype complete with its little garden of baby’s tears and English box – came too. “I could have retired, but to be honest I love the work too much. I love it because I meet so many different people.

He has become a popular fixture in the city, even making the front page of the Bendigo Advertiser after he was laid low for a few weeks by a white-tailed spider bite.“How many people can say they got front page because they were off work because of a spider bite?” John laughs. He was particularly touched that he was missed by a number of his young friends from the mall who sent him a get well card and gift.

“There are so many lovely young people out there, it really is only a handful causing all the controversy,” John says.“I have witnessed or seen a lot of it and to me a lot of those incidents have been caused by children below the age of 14. It’s the same handful of repeat offenders.”

He really is the eyes and ears of the CBD. “I am aware of a lot of things that happen in the city both good and bad. Quite a few times I have rung triple-0 when I have seen something untoward; people selling drugs, breaking into cars.

“I am also a beacon for the lost. I have found lots of lost children, quite a few lost wives and husbands as well.

“It is amazing how many people come up and ask me where can I get this or that. The most common is where is the closest toilet, but they also ask directions and where they can buy certain things. In Armidale I was given a stipend by the council who saw I was like a mobile information centre. I am a little disappointed the council here don’t seem to see my value.

In his lime green jacket, John Morrow mimics the colour of his favourite creature – the Queensland tree frog.

The spruiker of downtown Bendigo has a special licence to keep the endangered amphibians who live in their own rainforest tank. The biggest of them, Bill – so named for one of John’s best mates – is the size of a saucer. John has also recently added a pair of Mitchell’s hopping mice to the household and thinks more people should be encouraged to keep native wildlife to boost species numbers.

Conserving endangered species seems a fitting interest for a man who proudly upholds the occupation of old-style spruiking. “There are not a lot of us about,” he agrees. It is a job which has taken him all over Australia, but like so many good stories it started with pure happenchance.

“I was working in a hardware story in

38 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

Maryborough in Queensland,” he recalls. “It was the middle of summer. It was stifling hot, 45 degrees and 98 per cent humidity, and I was sweating over this stocktake, counting nuts and bolts, and I thought, there has to be more in life than this.

“I threw the job in. They said, ‘You won’t get your holiday pay’. I said, I don’t care, I can’t stay here another minute.

“That night I got a call from an old mate who was selling out of his menswear store. He said, ‘I can’t afford to pay you much, but have you got any ideas how I could sell out the rest of my stock?’

“I said, I will spruik it up and we will sell it.

So I got dressed in old cowboy gear with a 10-gallon hat and cowboy boots. He ended up paying me for five days a week because every time I walked away people didn’t go in the store.

“I would say 99 per cent of people love me and 1 per cent find me aggravating. The secret is not outstaying your welcome. I don’t stay in the one spot any more than five minutes. I am moving all the time. When I am moving on I am playing music and it’s not offensive. Like today I am playing classical piano.”

Certainly John’s view of the mall is kinder than many. “I think all they need is to buy a couple of big established trees to soften it.

That would provide shade and soften it no end and people would stop whingeing. “I very firmly believe in the product of Bendigo and I very much believe in the heart of Bendigo. I believe every city has a heart and I believe our heart is Hargreaves Mall.”

For as long as the traders of downtown Bendigo want him John will be there spruiking for them. “The thing about a good salesman is you have to believe in the product. I liaise with the shop owner first.

One or two will give me a bit of script with particular specials or dot points and I go from there. I have been told I have the gift of the gab.” ■

Business and Service Industries Accounting Events, Hospitality and Cookery Hair and Beauty Information Technology Management, Business and Administration Retail

Community Services and Health Aged Care and Disability Children’s Services Community Services Nursing, Allied Health and Fitness

Design and Sustainability Agriculture Creative Arts, Writing and Music Digital Media and Graphic Design Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Laboratory Operations and Mining Sustainability and Building Design

Education and Pathways Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander English Language General Education VCE, VCAL and Preparatory Courses

Technical Trades Automotive Building and Construction Electrical and Electronics Engineering Occupational Health and Safety Plumbing

1300 554 248 www.bendigotafe.edu.au

HAIR LOUNGE

H a i r Beauty

HAIR Phone: 5441 8188

Email: vibehair@bigpond.com

A d d r e s s : 1 1 3 Fo r e s t S t r e e t B e n d i g o

For all occasions His & her hats & accessories

55 High Street, Bendigo 3550 (3 doors from central McDonalds) Phone: 03 5441 8737 Appointment & group bookings available after hours

young

forever

With sun-kissed skin and fast cars we channel the fun and freeness of the 70s – roll on summer.

Louise wears Multiprint kaftan $59.95 from The LABoratory (Bath Lane) and Naturaliza Bazaar flats $129.95 from McArthurs Shoes (Hargreaves Mall)

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 121

Genelle wears Sumakhi cape frill body suit $180 and One Teaspoon Rangers $220 from Mona Lisa (Bath Lane) and Zensu Gemina wedges $109.95 from McArthurs Shoes (Hargreaves Mall) Ginger wears Jamie Fame Yankee tee $89 from The Meadow (View Street) Nudie jeans $270 from Robe (Chancery Lane) *Vintage suede boots and Raybans – stylist’s own

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Saso wears Flux tee $89 from Robe (Chancery Lane) Cheap Monday slim chino $90 from The Meadow (View Street) Louise wears Multiprint kaftan $59.95 from The LABoratory (Bath Lane) Nobody High boy shorts $139 from Mona Lisa (Bath Lane) and Naturaliza Bazaar flats $129.95 from McArthurs Shoes (Hargreaves Mall)

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 123

Saso wears The Astral Plane Psuedo tank $59 from The Meadow (View Street) *Vintage jeans & adidas kicks – stylist’s own Louise wears Tallulah lace print dress $220 from Red Door Boutique (Chancery Lane)

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Louise wears Multiprint kaftan $59.95 from The LABoratory (Bath Lane) Nobody High boy shorts $139 from Mona Lisa (Bath Lane) and Zensu Gemina wedges $109.95 from McArthurs Shoes (Hargreaves Mall) Ginger wears Bast basic tee $69 from The Meadow (View Street) and Nudie jeans $270 from Robe (Chancery Lane) *Vintage suede boots – stylists own

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 125

Ginger wears Nique flannie $129.95 from Robe (Chancery Lane) Genelle wears Joveeba vest $295 from Red Door Boutique (Chancery Lane) Mesop singlet $49 and Nobody ‘High boy’ shorts $139 both from Mona Lisa (Bath Lane)

Genelle wears Joveeba Dream catcher dress $500 from Red Door Boutique (Chancery Lane) and Naturaliza Bazaar flats $129.95 from McArthurs Shoes (Hargreaves Mall)

Photographer: Terri Basten Models: Ginger, Louise, Saso and Genelle from FRM Model Management Stylist and makeup artist: Katarina Vishnich Hair: Flaunt It on McIvor Cars: Courtesey of Troy and Cindy Cutting at McPherson’s Service (03) 5441 1447.

A special thanks to Bec Gallager (photographer’s assistant) and producer of the retro Big M.

126 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

nothing over $100

>>

>>

nothing over $100

>>

sizes 8-16

some styles to 20

sizes 8-16

>>

quality @ affordable prices

c n i M

FASHION

Strath Village Shopping Centre, Condon Street Strathdale p.5443 3259

27-29 bath lane, bendigo p 5441 8709

Shop 1 22-44 Bath Lane, Bendigo

p: 03 5444 3243

Amy wears Seafolly Rosa bustier $170 from Sportsco (Hargreaves Mall) with velvet pendant necklace $49.95 from Stryde Shoes (Killian Walk)

beauty BATHING

Bold statement prints, contrasting textures and sparkling accessories on a backdrop of twilight hues showcase this summer’s must have swimwear.

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 129

Amy wears Seafolly Goddess bustier $100 and briefs $65 from Sportsco (Hargreaves Mall) with diamante multi chain necklace $69.95 from Stryde Shoes (Killians Walk)

130 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

Amy wears Seafolly Avant Garden bandeau $110 and skirted pant $70 from Sportsco (Hargreaves Mall)

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 131

Amy wears Capriosca swimwear one-piece $120 from Blush Lingerie (Lyttleton Terrace)

Photographer: David Field Model: Amy Grenfell Location: Harcourt Stylist and makeup artist: Katarina Vishnich Hair: Lynsey Addlem

132 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

TM

Gift vouchers available

265 Hargreaves Mall Bendigo Phone: 5442 4555 Customer Orders Available

5442 3344 Backhaus Arcade, Lyttleton Trce (opp. coles carpark)

photo opportunity

striking a pose The search is on once again to find the Woman’s Day Miss Country Girl Australia, with the latest stop Bendigo.

After local girl Karlee O’Donnell won the national competition last year it was no wonder the judges were eagerly anticipating the local talent that would hit the catwalk in Bendigo this year. And the Bendigo hopefuls did not disappoint. Fifteen year old Louise Bolger was crowned the winner and will participate in the Miss Country Girl Australia Sydney Final later this year. Louise has also showcased her modelling talents in this issue of bendigo magazine. Can you spot her?

Robyn Agnoletto, Lisa Symons and Donna Robinson

Narelle Perez and Mary Parks

Chloe Conway and Taylah Hewitson

Darcie Piper and Elise Bickereike

Millie Robinson and Shelly Clayton

For more information on the event visit www.misscountrygirlaustralia. com.au ■ Abby Hayes and Laura Brookes

Eden Gadsden, Niomh McGrath and Tamika Allen

No coNtra bl e cts • No sigN up fees • p ay as you go • sessioN passes & direct debit availa

busiNess excelleNce awards wiNNer-best New busiNess 2011

after

before

PRIVATE SESSIONS • GROUP FITNESS SESSIONS • SPORTING CLUBS • SCHOOL GROUPS • CORPORATE TRAINING • MUAy THAI

PETER NATOLI Personal trainer | Qualified fitness instructor | Kickboxing & Boxing Coach 5449 3171 or 0488 415 503 | peter@punchesinbunches.com.au | www.punchesinbunches.com.au

Stahlia wears Oobi Sabrina dress $69.95 and Jazz Posey sandals from Twinkletoes Kidswear (Queen Street)

wicket-ly PREPPY The preppy look is all about taste and class. Clean cut, conservative and classic blended with bright happy colours. issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 135

Austin wears Pure Baby polo, Pure Baby shorts and Red Bootie sandals all from Twinkletoes Kidswear (Queen Street)

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Zaidee wears Oobi Molly short $34.95 and Oobi Laverne top $29.95 from Mr Goodtimes (Bath Lane), and Jazz Poppi flats from Twinkletoes Kidswear (Queen Street)

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 137

Kai wears Fred Bare shirt, Fred Bare shorts and Red Bootie sandals all from Twinkletoes Kidswear (Queen Street)

Photographer: David Field Models: Austin, Kai, Stahlia and Zaidee Stylist: Katarina Vishnich Location: Crook Street Park A special thank you to the Quarry Hill Croquet Club for lending us some of their croquet equipment. The club is located at the corner of Mitchell and Olinda streets Bendigo.

138 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

WE CAPTURE THE EXCITEMENT OF MOVEMENT AND GIVE CHILDREN THEIR WINGS p From learning a backfli ! to winning Olympic Gold

Making every child boss of their body

Yes! We have made it happen!

Try before you FLY! Call us for your FREE session!

Tumbling Acrobatics Sport Aerobics

www.bendigopalmersgym.com.au | M: 0428 990 819 The YMCA Stadium, Mundy Street Bendigo

Mr Good Times SHOP 18 FOUNTAIN COURT BENDIGO

(enter via Bath Lane) - 03 5442 1393

A unique childrens store with st be Bendigo's of n o ti c le se toys childrens ies. r o s s & acce

Creative toys & gifts for all ages • Free gift wrapping available.

...creative joinery for home and business... kitchens, wall units, shop fitting, vanities, home theatre units, general joinery.

At Girton Grammar School Bendigo we understand the importance of developing in children a love of learning from an early age. In addition to excellent programmes in Literacy and Numeracy our students experience lessons in Drama, Art, Music, French, Japanese, Library and Physical Education with teachers trained in each discipline from the Preparatory year.

Give your child the best possible start to their schooling at Girton Grammar School Bendigo.

For enquiries please phone (03) 5441 3114 or email our Registrar, Mrs Louise McWaters louisemcwaters@girton.vic.edu.au

74 Powells Avenue, Bendigo East Phone 5442 5285 • Fax 5442 5262 Email khi74@bigpond.net.au Ph: (03) 5441 3114 105 MacKenzie Street, Bendigo www.girton.vic.edu.au

Little

cuties

Don’t we have some adorably cute children in Bendigo. Check out some of our favourite photos below. They bring a smile to the face.

If you have an adorable little one we would love to hear from you. Please email your professionally-taken high-resolution image to comps@bendigomagazine.com for publication in our next issue.

Isla Shay, aged 15 months Photography by Melissa Caine

Milla Shay, aged 4 years Photography by Melissa Caine

Ethan Castle, aged 7 weeks Photography by Stacey Castle

Hamish Taylor, aged 13 months Pho tography by Sean Batty

Harry Freeman, aged 7 weeks Photography by OMGimagery

, aged 11 Tiahna Agnoletto e Davis

therin Photography by Ka

141

Bendigo Animal Hospital We are more than your pet’s hospital. We are their General Practitioner, Dentist, Surgeon, Pharmacist, Paediatrician, Radiologist, Nutritionist, Intensive Care Team, Pet Store, Animal Advice Centre, Emergency Centre & After Hours Team.

Opening HOurS: Monday - Friday: 8.00am – 7.00pm Saturday: 8.30am – 4.00pm Sunday: 10.00am – 11.00am

Veterinary Practice – Companion Animals • • • • The most complete all-in-one parasite protection

Vaccinations Consultations De-Sexing Microchipping

• • • •

Dentals Grooming Puppy School Pet Food & Merchandising

Phone (03) 5443 3322 for an appointment.

294 Napier Street Bendigo – (opposite Lake Weeroona) – EASY PARKING

BENDIGO’S EXCLUSIVE SPECIALIZED DEALER

52 EDWARD STREET BENDIGO. VIC 3550 PH: (03) 5441 3532 WWW.BENDIGOCYCLES.COM.AU

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

puppy POINTERS

– Dr Joanna Reilly Bendigo Animal Hospital

Resident animal expert Dr Joanna Reilly answers some of the most commonly asked questions when it comes to your furry children.

What is the best way to keep fleas off my dog?

Did you know that dogs don’t actually ‘catch’ adult fleas from other dogs? Adult fleas live their entire life on one dog or cat. Female fleas lay enormous amounts of eggs which fall off the animal into the garden, bedding, carpets, doonas, furniture or floorboards. The larvae develop, and are so sneaky that they can just lie in wait until some unsuspecting pet wanders by. They then immediately spring onto the new warm body and start breeding again. So not only is it important to treat EVERY animal with one of the effective flea controls, Advocate, Frontline, Revolution, but it is often necessary to treat the environment as well with flea bombs or pest control. Remember, any stray cats coming into your garden are leaving little presents of flea eggs behind, but if your dog or cat is covered with one of the above mentioned products, these pesky freeloaders will be killed before they can breed. If you have a particularly heavy flea infestation,

you may still see fleas on your pets for some time, but don’t give up. You will beat them in the end.

How do I know if my puppy has worms?

What vaccinations does my puppy need?

Puppies can actually be born with worms that have crossed the placenta from the mother. Look for a ravenous appetite and pot belly that doesn’t seem to disappear.

A dull coat and failure to grow means the worms are eating all the puppy’s nutrition.

Unfortunately some worms also suck the puppy’s blood so if you lift the lips and have a look at the gums they will appear white instead of a healthy pink colour like our own. Often the puppies with a heavy worm burden will actually vomit whole worms and often pass them out the back end as well.

It is so important to vaccinate your pups against the extremely debilitating and often fatal diseases parvo virus, distemper and hepatitis. The temporary antibodies that protect the pup have come from their mother’s blood, but these are used up by six weeks of age, so this is when a visit to the vet is vital. You pup will be given a C3 (against distemper, hepatitis and parvo) and this injects them with a very tiny amount of the actual diseases so the puppy’s own defence system will create antibodies to fight the disease if they are ever infected with it. Three weeks later another vaccination is needed and we then give a C5, which also has a canine (or kennel) cough component.

One more C5 three weeks later and the puppy is fully immunised and safe to go out in public. ■

It is a very sensible practice to commence worming the pups from two weeks of age, or take them for a visit to your vet when you buy them to start on a worming and vaccination protocol.

pawfect pets

Logan age 3 Silverwings Photography

Did you know that Australia has one of the highest levels of pet ownership in the world with almost two thirds of Australian households currently owning at least one pet? Here are some of the cutest furry companions from the Bendigo area.

s 13 week Milly age hotography gs P

Silverwin

Bond age 3

Katherine Davis

Photography

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 143

s h o e s ...A Love Story

summer!

s t e p i n to

Hargreaves Mall, Bendigo | Phone: (03) 5443 5223 Fax: (03) 5442 5102 Strath Village, Phone: (03) 5441 4472 | www.mcarthurs.com.au

SHOES EST. 1956

Bendigo’s most unique, private venue, offering the total package Weddings Functions Special Occasions For further information contact Jenny Rawiller 5448 4209 or 0432 417 867 j.rawiller@bendigo.countryracing.com.au Bendigo Jockey Club, Heinz Street, White Hills

bendigo Brides Megan and Josh Gladstone Married January 29, 2011 Ceremony at Holy Rosary Church Reception at Holy Rosary Parish Centre Photography – Terri Basten

laneway to love A selection of local newlyweds share with us an image that encapsulates their special day.

Larissa and Ben MacKenzie Married November 13, 2010 Ceremony and reception at Radcliffes Echuca Photography – Picturebook Photographics Echuca

Leah and Dez Ladson Married April 2, 2011 Ceremony and reception in Buxton, Victoria (Father in law’s backyard) Photography – Swattshots (Sarah Watt)

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 145

&

briana

trimble

146 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

luke

cowan Photographs: Terri Basten

Our ceremony was held at the Bendigo Jockey Club with the reception to follow at Silks Function Centre. We met at The Star Bar around six years ago (you can find true love out clubbing). Luke bought me a drink and we just hit it off instantly. Luke proposed to me while we were travelling around Australia. We were surrounded by the beautiful landscape of The Kimberly region having a few beers and Luke got down on bended knee and proposed. He had been carrying the ring around in his rattle gun box – he obviously knew I wouldn’t look in there.

The designer of my dress was Martina Liana. I decided to put my own flavour on the dress and changed the straps from spaghetti to one

shoulder (which was made with leftover fabric from the hem). I also added the black sash around the waist and wore black shoes.

There were so many highlights of our day including getting ready with my bridesmaids, seeing Luke when I first stepped out of the car – he looked so handsome, the wedding invites my sister designed for us, my gorgeous niece Leni walking down the aisle and stopping by to visit my 91-year-old grandpa who couldn’t make it to the ceremony.

He still has a great sense of humour and loved all of the girls popping in to see him.

- Briana issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 147

WEDDING CELEBRATIONS We would like to introduce the newly renovated - Fernery Room Stunning modern backdrop with fernery feature window.

Lounge area & intimate dining space.

Recent renovations have returned the All Seasons Hotel to its rightful status as the leading wedding venue in Central Victoria. Classic lines & colours allow maximum impact for any style – formal & traditional or a relaxed classic celebration will become a timeless memory. Our new look also comes with new packages, menus & event options. Upgraded & renovated facilities ensure every guest will be entertained & well taken care of. We are sure you will find exactly what you are looking for.

171 - 193 McIvor Road Bendigo VIC 3550 P: (03) 5443 8166 F: (03) 5441 5221 info@allseasonsbendigo.com.au www.allseasonsbendigo.com.au

ENS JEWELLER EST 1958

319 Hargreaves Mall, Bendigo Ph: 5443 5675

www.sensjewellers.com.au

NOEL & PAUL SENS ARE FULLY QUALIFIED TRADESMEN WHO OWN & OPERATE SENS JEWELLERS ESTABLISHED IN BENDIGO IN 1958.

With over 60 years combined experience they manufacture & repair all types of jewellery in their Bendigo workshop. Custom wedding bands & one of a kind engagement rings are a specialty.

Enquires welcome | Free quotes

Become our fan on Facebook

bendigo Brides

Brock and Breanna Gravener Married September 11, 2010 Ceremony at Forest Street Uniting Church Reception at the Bendigo Town Hall Photography – Stephen Malone

Leigh and Paige Davies Married November 12, 2010 Ceremony and reception at the Convent Gallery Photography – Koko Photography

Trent and Rhianna Kerr Married May 7, 2011 Ceremony at Forest Street Uniting Church Reception at Quills Restaurant Photography – Breanna Gravener Photography

Casey and Andrew Wright Married March 12, 2011 Ceremony at the Sacred Hearth Cathedral Reception at the Bendigo Town Hall Photography – Terri Basten

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 149

michael karen patton

150 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

&

raferty Photographs: Terri Basten

Our ceremony was held in the gardens of our family friend’s home followed by a cocktail-style reception, which was held in a marquee in my parent’s backyard.

My dress was Nicolina and was purchased from Bendigo Bridal Collections. I wanted something simple and classic that would suit a relaxed garden wedding.

Michael and I first met on AFL Grand Final night three years ago while we were out in Bendigo celebrating with friends.

We had such an amazing day celebrating with all of our family and friends. It was a very relaxed and informal wedding so we were able to just have fun and enjoy the day.

Michael proposed to me while we were in the Grampians on a long weekend get away. We were at MacKenzie Falls when he popped the question.

- KAREN issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 151

photo opportunity

Kane Barri, Heather Purtill, Alicia Purtill, Bradley Monro and Ellen Purtill

Annemarie McClure and Aimee Semmens

the travelling table Janet and Sophie from The Travelling Table recently brought together their loves for food, fashion and fun.

Jacqui Pinder, Amy Van Heumen and Lily Burke Dehne Anstee and Tracey Anderson

Kate Smith and Emily Mexted

A cocktail party and fashion show was held at the La Trobe Visual Arts Centre to celebrate the spring racing carnival. Guests were inspired for their race day outfits by Bendigo fashion retailers The Meadow, Robe, Mona Lisa, Soho, McCalman’s, Shop 12 and hats to match from Pollyanna By Belinda. The finger food was divine.

For more information on The Travelling Table visit www. thetravellingtable.com.au ■

Jeremy James, Matisse Barri and Marisa Wanefalea Mark Buckell, Will Quint, Paul Rockes , Tony Donegan and John Hazeldene

Paul and Kara have been in business since 1994 taking on all types of work, from small repairs to larger commercial jobs. Each job is completed and checked to maintain the highest standards possible. Our boys Shaun, Bryce, Matt and Baden are all locals, which helps us keep in touch with what our locals require. We support local businesses and sporting clubs.

Paul Lahn Electrical Contractor

“We strive for customer satisfaction at all times”

Servicing Bendigo & District | p. 03 5442 7702 | m. 0419 353 546 | lahnypk@iprimus.com.au issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 153

Be a proud

Open 9am to 5pm daily (excluding Christmas Day)

BENDIGO AMBASSADOR!

CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

HOW YOU CAN SHOWCASE BENDIGO

Post Office Gallery Pride of Place: the first 60 years of building in Bendigo and surrounds

Sign up for the Bendigo Ambassador Passport

Until 29 January 2012 This exhibition celebrates the Bendigo region’s impressive early growth through the structures built for public use.

Image: Allan Doney. Pall Mall, Bendigo featuring the National Bank of Australasia c1965. Gelatin silver print.

Collection of the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) Bendigo branch

Living Arts Space Bendigo Visitor Centre Farmyard Follies Free-range art from the country Until 30 January 2012 An exhibition by artists from Bendigo and region, featuring interesting and unusual Image: Chook - Metal Sculpture artworks with a farm and country theme.

by Kristina Browning An array of objects, including garden ornaments, interior decorations, kitchenware and toys made from clay, metal, wood and fabric, will create a myriad of delightful, imaginative and vibrant displays to intrigue visitors of all ages.

Bendigo AmbAssAd PAssPort or

Become a Bendigo Ambassador and entertain your visiting family and friends by showing them around Bendigo’s best tourist attractions and receive free admission with extra discounts and offers. Pick up your ambassador passport from the Bendigo Visitor Centre.

Searching for a unique local gift?

Bendigo Visitor Centre is a showcase of local and Australian made gifts. We also sell a large selection of local authors with our local book collection.

Need accommodation for friends or relatives?

Talk to Bendigo’s accommodation specialists who can book over 100 properties to suit all tastes and budgets, bookable online or over the phone.

Visit www.bendigotourism.com for forthcoming exhibitions.

POST OFFICE GALLERY 51–67 Pall Mall, Bendigo P 03 5434 6179 E postofficegallery@bendigo.vic.gov.au

www.bendigotourism.com

BENDIGO VISITOR CENTRE WINNER 2010 AUSTRALIAN TOURISM AWARDS

51-67 Pall Mall, Bendigo P: 03 5434 6060 E: tourism@bendigo.vic.gov.au

made in

hollywood

The Bendigo Art Gallery is host to yet another fine exhibition with Made in Hollywood: Photographs from the John Kobal Foundation, featuring more than 90 photographs taken from 1925 to the early 1960s.

Writer: Mary Pomfret Showcasing the work of more than 50 photographers of the era and organised by the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, the exhibition has travelled extensively in the United States and has most recently been on display in London.

Drawn from the extensive archive of the John Kobal Foundation, Made in Hollywood is a celebration of Hollywood studio portraiture from the industry’s golden age. Author, historian and voracious collector John Kobal was the first collector who sought to understand the vital role that photographers played in the creation of stars.

Following hot on the heels of The White Wedding Dress, this photographic exhibition considers the critical influence of photography in manufacturing the myth of Hollywood as a magical place inhabited by glamorous stars, where dreams came true.

Kobal that “a young boy’s interest in fan magazines and writing away for signed photographs grew into a man’s passion.”

“He’s been described as being ‘bolder than brass’ and having a gregarious and outgoing personality…and managed to talk his way into interviewing quite significant stars.”

Leanne says that John Kobal made many connections in Hollywood as a result of his interest and knowledge, and it was through these connections that he managed to amass his collection.

“If he hadn’t collected these photographs, many of them would have been lost,” Leanne says.

“Studios didn’t see it as important to keep these photographs at the time.

And glamour is the word that springs to mind when talking about this exhibition. The story goes that as a boy in Austria, John Kobal once watched, through gaps between the boards in his grandmother’s loft, a Rita Hayworth movie being screened to the troops. From that moment onwards, he was hooked on the exiting allure and seductive attraction of the glamour of Hollywood.

“He [John Kobal] would be in MGM studios when they were getting rid of photos and was told to look through and help himself.”

As a teenager he began collecting signed photographs of film stars, magazine articles and any scraps of ephemera that he could find. From these enthusiastic, youthful beginnings, he went on to become an avid adult collector building an archive of original, vintage photographs by such masters as George Hurrell, Clarence Sinclair Bull and Ruth Harriet Louise.

“The exhibition will allow people to look at behind the scenes of film production. Not only are there gorgeous images of glamorous stars, but there are also interesting glimpses behind the scenes,” Leanne says.

Bendigo Art Gallery Senior Curator, Leanne Fitzgibbon says of John

Leanne explains that the images had been used for billboards and posters for the marketing of films. Photographers would also take stills of the film while it was being produced to ensure the continuity of the film. Some of these stills are included in the exhibition.

Made in Hollywood features the carefully constructed photographic images of actors including Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, James Dean, Marilyn Munroe,

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 155

Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Laurel and Hardy, Carole Lombard, Jean Harlow, Mary Pickford, the Marx Brothers, Katherine Hepburn, James Stewart, Rita Hayworth, Vivien Leigh, Humphrey Bogart, Alfred Hitchcock, Ronald Reagan, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

In many cases, these are the images that transformed actors and actresses into international icons. The exhibition includes the work of George Hurrell who through photography helped build careers of the stars.

“The portraits by George Hurrell are very lush and gorgeous,” Leanne says.

“He had a very inventive use of contrast, giving women an almost sculptural quality. He’d re-touch the negatives so that the photograph would almost glow. He’s said to have revolutionised the portrayal of Hollywood stars.”

Leanne points out that while nearly all the photographers are men, the exhibition also includes the work of a female photographer, Ruth Harriet Louise whose work “brought the personality of the sitter to the fore” and demonstrates “soft focus, pictorial style work.”

Leanne hopes Bendigo residents and visitors alike will take the opportunity see this beautiful exhibition over the summer months.

“The Gallery has enjoyed great success with photographic exhibitions in the past, and we actively seek out exhibitions which we think will appeal to our diverse audiences. The exhibition will appeal to a broad audience – those who are interested in photography and art in general as well as those who love fashion, Hollywood glamour and film,’ Leanne says.

Made in Hollywood Exhibition: Photographs from the John Kobal Collection will run from December 3, 2011 to 12 February, 2012.

Admission is by gold coin donation. ■

156 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

Where

Designs

come to

WINNERS AGAIN

2011 AWARD WINNERS CMA INNOVATION AWARD WINNER 2011 CMA BEST KITChEN $15,000 TO $25,000 CATEGORy hIA CENTRAl VICTORIA NEW KITChEN PROjECT uP TO $25,000 hIA VICTORIA NEW KITChEN PROjECT uP TO $25,000

w w w. b o u r k e s k i t c h e n s . c o m . a u

176 Murphy Street Bendigo ph: (03) 5441 7786

photo opportunity

Simon Hanns, Lee Coghlan, Lauchie Prest and Adam Healy

Andrea Coates and Jess Scott

dakota blu The Dakota Blu spring/summer 2011 collection was recently launched upstairs at the GPO Balcony Room.

Robyn Hall, Gaby Hall and Nick Hall

Amy Poulton, Jarrod Bateson and Alex Collins

Guests were invited along to celebrate with the Dakota Blu crew and got a sneak peak at the ‘Yesterday to Tomorrow’ collection.

Dreaming is believing.

For more information or to shop online visit www.dakotablu.com.au ■ Jye Sandiford, Mitch Dole, Paul Prime and Nick Stagg

Nathan Meade and Chris McDougall

photo opportunity

Zoe Ruiter, Sharnie Ruiter, Jazmyn Howie and Vicky Bolding

Debbie Sawyer and Jessica McCallum

my size Four local Bendigo fashion retailers worked together to bring the spring urban fashion parade to life.

Lyn Matthews and Sandra Paschkow

Donna Denny, John Denny, Jarred Denny and Adam Denny

TS 14+ and Virtu, City Chic, Blue Illusion and My Size joined forces in hosting a fashion extravaganza for charity on a beautiful spring evening in Bendigo recently. Nibbles and champagne were on offer to guests who were also treated to wonderful store discounts on the night.

Forty-eight different outfits were on parade during the event, from casual to evening wear with the aim of holding future events of this nature.

My Size is located at 272 Hargreaves Mall in Bendigo and can be contacted on (03) 5444 2606 or visit www.mysize.com.au â–

Aiden Kongas and Cristean Tilkeridis

Tanika Thompson and Raquel Howie

Nola Lamb and Diane Lamb

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Located between Target and Bendigo Marketplace issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 159

photo opportunity

Dale Thomas, Heath Shaw, Benny Jones and Alan Didak

side by side Bendigo Collingwood supporters and friends recently spent an evening with three Collingwood premiership players.

3BO’s Benny Jones got up close and personal with Collingwood stars Alan Didak, Dale Thomas and Heath Shaw at the Bendigo Club recently.

The players shared their thoughts and feelings on the year gone by as well as their hopes for the year ahead at Collingwood. Well done to Sharon Murphy and the team for putting on a fantastic event.

We look forward to seeing the boys back again next year. ■

Gen Rodda and Eleanor Rodda

Cristian Sargant and Dennis Cousins

T R ANS

Mary Baxter, Nicolette Baxter and Priscilla Zammit

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Solid Stone Bench Tops

Granite, Marble & Quartz Surfaces www.verekerstone.com Kane Vereker 13 Hoyle Court Kyneton Vic. 3444

M: 0417 516 286

Phone/Fax: 5422 3413 “At very competitive prices – E: verekerstone@bigpond.com why settle for anything but THE REAL THING”

At Vereker Stone we specialise in manufacturing all your stone surface requirements including kitchen bench tops, Splash backs, Vanity tops, Bar tops and Tabletops using the finest Marble, Granite, and Caesarstone Quartz surfaces to give your kitchen or bathroom the look only stone can offer.

We offer free quotes and a service second to none, with prompt turn around time from pick up of templates. We pride ourselves on becoming a well reputable local business, therefore offer the highest quality in customer satisfaction.

Vereker Stone services districts around Bendigo, Echuca, Kyneton, Woodend, Daylesford, Trentham & Melbourne.

Kane Vereker 13 Hoyle Court Kyneton Vic, 3444

M: 0417 516 286 Phone/Fax: 5422 3413 E: verekerstone@bigpond.com

Vereker Stone preferred fabricators of

Founded in 1987 near the ancient Roman city of Caesarea, Caesarstone® manufactures high-quality, premium quartz surfaces.

Applications in residential and commercial interiors include kitchen bench tops, splashbacks, bathroom vanities, wall paneling, furniture and more. A global leader and pioneer in its field, Caesarstone® prides itself on its ongoing commitment to research & development, innovation and the highest quality standards.

Architecture Pty Ltd

Introducing Karl Baumann Architecture Pty Ltd Karl Baumann Architecture Pty Ltd is a newly formed company operating in Bendigo and surrounding regional areas of Victoria.

The company is a member of the Royal Institute of Architects.

Karl has over 10 years experience in all types of architecture; residential commercial, hospitality, resorts, education, interior design, retail fit-out, access for the disabled and heritage properties.

Sustainability and passive design is a core focus with all projects.

The latest 3D modeling software is utilised to provide clear and accurate representation of all designs before they are fully documented. Jobs can therefore be done quickly and efficiently.

Karl Baumann Architecture Pty Ltd can offer full architectural services from initial site assessment, through to planning approval, documentation, tendering and contract administration.

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on site

vereker

kane

Kane is the man behind Vereker Stone – a business specialising in kitchen bench tops, using the finest marble, granite and quartz surfaces he can get his hands on.

Photographs: Anthony Webster Did you always plan to go into the stone business? Is it a family trade or were you influenced by someone you met or knew growing up?

No. I sort of stumbled into it by helping the local stonemason out for a few weeks, and 10 years later I’m still in the trade.

How and when did you get started? Who did you work for? I gained an apprenticeship when I was 18 after helping Huntly Barton (WT Jones & Son) re-laying old bluestone guttering in the streets of Kyneton. Huntly was a very good boss to work for who believed in keeping old and dying skills alive.

Share a memory from your apprenticeship.

I have many good memories from my apprenticeship, from the great mates I worked with, to some very challenging and rewarding jobs.

What do you love most about your job?

I enjoy the job satisfaction of our work through creating something that the client has dreamed of and seeing them be truly overwhelmed when their kitchen all comes together (after we have installed their

beautiful stone bench tops of course!)

house built by Paul Gray in Yandoit.

What are the hours like? Hours can be long for me, you never switch off as a boss, but for the boys I don’t ride them too hard, as long as they keep their standard of work up.

I’m a strong believer in working to live, not living to work.

What advice would you give to a budding youngster who wants to get into the trade?

Eat your Weeties because it can be hard yakka, but a very rewarding trade to be in.

What is your favourite tool to use on the work site? My favorite tool/machine we have is our mitre saw, which cuts a perfect mitre every time on the bench tops ready for the edging.

What are the trends you have seen take off during your career? Which ones do you think have had their day? Which ones do you predict will take off? Caeserstone would be the product that has taken off the most. Bullnose edging has had its day, as everything is square edge now. Marble/ Granite Caeserstone surfaces in general are continuing to grasp more of the bench top market.

When you are not working how do you spend your time? I’m involved in motorsport at a state and national level as a driver. I/ we also build, fabricate and engineer three racecars to a very high level, so that keeps me quite busy also.

At the end of the day how does Kane Vereker relax? Relax, what’s that? ■

Tell us about your favourite job ever? My favorite job would be a emperadoor marble island bench we installed in an ultra modern

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 163

Thank you to Simonds Homes Bendigo for allowing us to photograph their stunning display home located in Ascot Estate Epsom.

For more information visit www.simondshomes.com.au

164 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

french

home solutions

chic

Pillow $57 and Adirondack chair $264 from Mon Coeur (Mitchell Street)

A French provincial bedroom can make every day seem like you are away on a romantic getaway.

With gorgeous textures, fabrics and simplicity, a French inspired bedroom creates a beautiful sanctuary for you to escape the world. Here we create the look with products sourced locally so you too can create this haven in your own home.

Photographs: David Field Garden breeze sachet of perfume $9.50 from Nest Egg (Strath Village) Royal Doulton room spray $24.95 from Nest Egg (Strath Village)

Ashdene tea pot $59.95 from Nest Egg (Strath Village)

Pewter clock $63 from Mon Coeur (Mitchell Street) Love cushion $59.95, Harlequin sage cushion $29.95 and Lincoln chair $1249 all from Oliver Birch (Bath Lane)

Riviera lamp $129 from Oliver Birch (Bath Lane)

Cup and saucer $37 from Mon Coeur (Mitchell Street) Serving tray $34.95 from Oliver Birch (Bath Lane)

Mink blanket $64 from Mon Coeur (Mitchell Street)

Vision wall coverings wallpaper $129.90 per roll from Bendigo Paint Place (High Street, Golden Square)

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 165

award winning builder

AWA R D W I N N I N G B U I L D E R

JOHN BUCKELL HOMES Office 03 5449 3270 Fax 03 5449 3627 Mobile 0419 354 270 Email info@johnbuckellhomes.com.au 335 McIvor Highway Bendigo Vic 3551

www.johnbuckellhomes.com.au

quality built homes

QUALITY BUILT HOMES

photo opportunity

Laura Wanefalea, Maureen O’Connor, Marisa Wanefalea and Bronwyn Derham

Nicole and Trev Birks

oliver birch Ken Taylor, Deb McAliece and Jason Nicholls

Oliver Birch recently held a VIP evening to celebrate a wonderful first year in business.

Lee Adams, Deb McAliece and John Crowe

Gorgeous new stock had just arrived and guests were treated to drinks and nibbles with a donation from each sale on the night going to the ‘I Love Pink’ Cancer Council. Congratulations to Deb, Tony and the Oliver Birch team on their first birthday!

Oliver Birch is located at 19-21 Bath Lane (or Hargreaves Street) Bendigo or can be contacted on (03) 5444 1112. ■ Tanya Holland, Kerrie Yean, Shay Keating and Roberta Mathers

Deb McAliece and Jill Fahy

DISCOVER SKYDANCERS

Garden Gift & Café Expansive garden centre Exquisite gift and homewares Extraordinary coffee View our Butterflies - emerging weekly Corner Blackjack Road & Midland Highway. HARCOURT. Central Victoria Garden & Gift - 5474 3800 Café - 5474 3188 Open Monday – Friday 9 – 5.30, Saturday 9 – 4, Sunday 9 – 4

www.ASQ.net.au

TThank you to the Gurd family for allowing us to photograph their stunning garden

168 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

bali

oasis

home solutions

Bring resort style living to your back yard every day with a Bali inspired garden. You can create this outdoor oasis to dine and entertain but it also provides an impressive place to relax and unwind.

Cane armchair with cushion $380 from The Com plete Garden (Williamson Street)

Rock Cladding $80 from ASQ Garden World (Upper California Gully Road) Outdoorable Living Bali hut from $1999 from Living Quarters (Lowndes Street)

Statue $50 from ASQ Garden World (Upper California Gully Road)

Coolabah Turf Sir Walter $11m2 from ASQ Garden World (Upper California Gully Road) Red vase $29 from Devine Rugs and Décor (Edwards Street)

Shallow splash bowl $39.99 and Rattan Balls $4 each from Devine Rugs and Décor (Edwards Street)

Giant yucca $49.95 from ASQ Garden World (Upper California Gully Road)

Medium pot $140 from The Complete Garden (Williamson Street)

Cushions from $39 from Devine Rugs and Décor (Edwards Street) Curved tree seat $195 from The Complete Garden (Williamson Street)

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 169

NEW DISpLAY HOME

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a man’s word

running

on empty

Men, close your eyes and picture this... it’s 5am, and you are in the middle of nowhere on the side of the road.

Writer: Ash McAuliffe - Photographs: David Field Your wife has that all too familiar pose… folded arms, a frown and won’t talk to you.

The orange light has been burning bright for ages, the trip computer says minus 20km to empty and the fuel needle is well and truly on the wrong side of the big E. You are left to contemplate the phone call that you are about to make.

Sunday morning and the aforementioned 24-hour service station was out of fuel until the tanker arrived at 9am. The guy in the shop was adamant that he couldn’t help me so I was left to call my father-in-law and ask him to bring some fuel. My in-laws are very helpful and generous, but I know that I will never live this down…ever.

That was the situation I found myself in.

Not too bad I hear you say, we’ve all run out of petrol before, but I seem to be fairly consistent in my ability to run out of petrol at the least convenient moments… usually just after I’ve told my wife that I have enough petrol. The main problem with the situation that I now found myself in was that about one hour before running out of petrol we left the in-laws place to head home. One of the last things that my father-in-law said before we left was “have you got plenty of petrol?”... “of course I have” I said with a hint of indignation.

I am certain that I am not the only chronic orange-light-driver in the world though. I’m not sure if it is the job that I’m in or what, but almost all of my colleagues suffer the same affliction. Recently three of us were heading out to an appraisal when the guy who’s car we usually take said, “can we take your car? I’m almost out of juice”, “me too” I chimed in, so colleague number three… let’s just call him Lurch… said we could take his car. When we got into his car, lo and behold, his orange light was on and his fuel gauge needle nearly fell out on to the floor.

The amazing thing was that rather than get fuel at the servo that was no more than 20 metres from where his car was parked, we headed off to our appointment. You may or may not be surprised to hear that we

In my defence, I DID have enough petrol to get to a small country town that I knew to have a 24-hour service station. Where I came unstuck was that it was 5am on

subsequently drove past several other petrol stations before filling up. Even the new guy at work, Glen-the-boy-wonder, has run out of petrol a few times although I suspect that he was just trying to be one of the guys.

It’s all fun and games until your wife gets in the car though. A while ago my wife wanted to drive my car which I knew to have nothing but fumes in the tank. “Don’t go too far without filling up”, I cheerily advised her. After a brief one-way discussion it was decided that I would drive down to the station, fill up and then bring the filled vehicle back. I didn’t make the 2km to the nearest petrol station and everyone thinks it’s funny when you run out of juice within sight of the servo. I am yet to live that one down too.

As exciting as making a rescue call to your father-in-law at 5am on Sunday may sound, my piece of friendly consumer advice for the holiday season is: get fuel.

As a side note, the following photo was taken on the way back from the photo shoot for this article.■ issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 171

photo opportunity

Bonnie Morris and Sarah Wynn

Keyuan Tian

open for business La Trobe University was buzzing with activity when 3600 community members visited the campus on open day.

Dr John McCullagh and Carly Dixon

Keegan FitzGerald, Lauren Campbell and Samantha Morris

Students and staff were on hand to provide information to anyone interested in finding out more about courses and life as a student at their local university. But with 3BO on site, a surprise flash mob and plenty of entertainment, the day wasn’t all hard work.

For more information visit www.latrobe.edu.au â– Jackson Renton, Jordie French, Tim Arnold and Amy Lanfranchi

172 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

Chris Romano and Tracy Quick

BENDIGO PAINT PLACE Problem Solvered

Heather Day Photographs copied and restored

Colour Consultancy | Wall Paper | New Season Colours | Hire Equipment | Off Street Parking

A reAl PAint Store GivinG ProPer Advice

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cogho’s couch

- Bryan ‘Cogho’ Coghlan Program Director 3BO/Star FM

bohemian

rhapsody Cogho is on the couch with yet another sporting personality from central Victoria – Anthony Crossland, who is an up-and-coming harness racing owner, trainer and driver.

Cog: Anthony, did you always have a love for the gee gees?

Anthony: Yes, absolutely it was always what I wanted to do since I was a little boy.

Cog: Who is your biggest supporter in your career?

Anthony: My mum has always been there for me and my wife Emma is my rock.

Cog: Your biggest win in harness racing was the group one race at Maryborough this year on the three-year-old The Bohemian - talk us through the race.

Anthony: You would have to ask The Bohemian. I had my eyes closed. He did everything.

Cog: What’s the biggest sledge you have copped on the trotting track in a race?

Anthony: The protest in the Derby at Maryborough. I copped heaps. However when the protest was dismissed all the sledging went missing.

Cog: Are you a good punter?

Anthony: I’m shocking. I can stop anything from winning. I barrack for Richmond.... look how often I stop them.

Cog: Tell me the first thing that pops into your head with the following: Matt Gretgrix - Best man Julia Gillard - Ranga The Bohemian - God Collingwood - Second best Breeders Crown Series - great for the sport 3BO - Cogho Lady Ga Ga - Freak Black Caviar - No The Bohemian Bendigo Magazine -Love the pics Cog: And wrapping up. If you were a drag queen you would need a name, what was the name of your first pet and street name?

Anthony: Toby Blazey.

Cog: Thanks Crosso. ■

tech head

ALL I WANT FOR

christmas Tech lovers are spoilt for choice this Christmas and holiday season with some very cool devices and hot products hitting the market.

- Jayden Edwards Tech Head

Bose SoundDock II

Apple TV 2 Is it a little too hot outside? Chill out with the world’s biggest movie catalogue right at your fingertips. Rent HD movies and start watching them in seconds.

It can also stream your music from your iPod or iTunes, display photos, and stream YouTube!

RRP $129.

Small in size, but huge in sound. The SoundDock is perfect for those summer barbecues out on the deck, and portable enough to follow you inside to accompany the cricket. RRP $449.

Polaroid 300 Instant Camera The instant classic is back. It’s got four lighting settings and an automatic flash. You can pick one up in red, blue or black and best of all it prints business card sized photos instantly! RRP $99.95.

Playstation Vita Boasting a 127mm OLED high resolution screen, 3G, Wi-Fi and GPS connectivity, a touch screen and front and rear touch pads, the PSVita is set to become the new standard in portable gaming and media.

Release Date: February 23, 2012. RRP $349.95 with Wi-Fi and RRP $449.95 Wi-Fi and 3G.

Sony Reader Forget tablets, the Sony Reader is designed for the serious novel junkie. It’s incredibly lightweight and features a touch screen, Wi-Fi connectivity and uses e-ink technology that’s easy on the eyes. A must have item for the summer holidays. RRP $179. ■

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 175

City Warehouse Apartment BOUTIQUE ACCOMMODATION

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THINK STEVE Steve Bright

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mum says

new year

happy

We all enjoy a noisy New Year’s Eve with friends by the firelight of mosquito coils with Nian, the Chinese New Year Monster, nowhere to be found.

Writer: Kylie Freer Photographs: David Field Well, unless of course said monsters are asleep under tables, on trampolines or in beanbags after they have reached their limits.

Having the opportunity to celebrate two New Years in Bendigo is rather special. Let’s face it, it’s nice to have more than one chance at a fresh start, especially if you action your Western New Year’s resolution of diet and exercise while you’re still on holidays and making merry with friends and family. As Confucius says, “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in getting up every time we do.” Some of us fall more often than a toddler.

Thanks to my toddler, I think our household is safe from Nian, the New Year’s Monster.

Our son seems to celebrate the Chinese New Year all year round. With noise being his speciality, who needs noise makers and Chinese Dragons to scare away evil spirits when you have a three year old? But curse the washing machine that insists on washing his favourite red pyjamas and bringing us into battle. In China, the colour red signifies joy, in our household, red in the washing machine is like waving a red flag at a bull in Pamplona.

Unfortunately for him, his mother is a Taurean... even less fortunate, she was born in

the Year of the Dragon.

The moment for celebrating the New Year is drawing closer, only to be shortly followed by the Chinese New Year as we welcome the Year of the Dragon in 2012. For my children, the New Year is about glow sticks, sparklers, a late night of water fights, followed by a string of birthday parties for the next couple of months. For them, each New Year brings with it an element of luck. How can it not be lucky to receive a party bag of lollies every fortnight for the next two months?

While their parents talk about the usual New Year’s resolutions of more exercise, less alcohol and caffeine, and smaller waistlines, the children’s New Year’s resolutions tend to consist more of growth indicators, “When I’m six, I will lose a tooth.” For them, the New Year is literally a New Age, a new school year, a new set of adventures... like moving up a grade level and getting to write on smaller lines, as my daughter recently explained, “I just can’t wait for Grade One, Mum.” Then again, the naivety of a child’s New Year’s resolution can be bigger than all of us and yet still lack that sense of responsibility,

“I’m going to save the world. Mum, you can put the food scraps into a box so Dad can start a compost heap and grow worms.

That’s good for the earth, did you know?”

Such a New Year’s resolution does not come gifted in a lucky red envelope with lucky money, however, in the words of Confucius, better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without. I guess it is the thought that counts, just like the 3Rs at Christmas time; Receive, Rewrap, Re-gift. Yes, we can save the world one re-gift at a time... just don’t forget who gave it to you in the first place!

Parents can all live in hope that the New Year’s resolution that does come in the lucky red envelope might say, “I will keep my bedroom tidy and not hoard junk.”

Also both pleasing and acceptable would be, “I will speak nicely to my parents and never talk back.” Alas, I feel that is just wishful thinking in a fortune cookie. To be honest, in achieving their resolutions I feel kids should all think like the Little Red Caboose, chugging, “I think I can,” and act with the wisdom of Confucius. As the wise philosopher once said, “It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop.” ■

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 177

(03) 5445 8700 Whatever scale of development project you have in mind, make a point to talk to us at Tomkinson Group.

Tomkinson Group has a strong group of dynamic personnel who have recognised expertise and award-winning ability in the provision of town planning, land surveying,

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dad says

circle

the

I’ve been thinking about the circle of life and what a wonderful thing it is. We all get to be part of this circle and the good fun is that our roles change as we move through it.

Writer: Chris De Araugo - Photograph: Andrew Perryman

For a male, you start out as a son, then a brother, with luck you become a husband, then if you’re really lucky a father and then hopefully a grandfather. And if you work really hard at all of them, you might become a good one. There are no guarantees on that bit, but to me these are the most important things you can strive for in your life.

Health is important and we know money alone doesn’t make you really happy and is not the meaning of life. The thing is, how do we know if we’re doing good at the circle of life?

You don’t usually get a report card on your progress with this circle stuff. The only people who can judge you on your success with this are your family – and quite often they don’t give you any clear feedback, so you have to just keep trying. Sometimes feedback is there if you know how to look for it. My mother still calls me “Christopher” if I haven’t been a good boy and “Chris darling” if I have been.

You usually don’t ask a teenager “how am I doing as a parent?” You just keep bluffing

your way through looking like you know what you’re doing. With feedback, teenagers can give you nothing at all or sometimes give you lots of information about how you’re going. Most married couples have their own systems of feedback and keeping each other aware of how things are going. Mind you, sometimes for us basic males, interpreting that feedback can be beyond us but we seem to keep trying.

But back to the circle. I’m thinking fatherhood may be the most important role a man plays.

The examples you set and influence you have over your children is hopefully creating a new wave of good fathers and husbands.

However, there is the opposite of good influence. It makes me worry for those kids born into fractured environments where alcohol and drugs are part of life and toddlers are treated as an inconvenience, not the centre of the universe.

As a new grandad, I look at the environment our young Jack and Henry have arrived into. Born into a loving and supporting environment it is setting these children up

to be happy, confident and positive. They already see the world as a good place to be.

My dad recently was talking about “these feral young hooligans” and my response was “But they didn’t have access to someone like you.” And think about who their ‘role models’ might have been. “How can we expect them to have good values if they’ve never been exposed to them?” He conceded the point.

So in closing, to parents (and in particular the dads) of young children – slow down, nurture and observe your children. Applaud and cuddle them and give positive feedback on everything your miracle child does – enjoy when they learn to point, learn to sit up, walk, talk, or just watch a leaf blow in a garden. Observe it all because one day they’ll be in their 20s and they won’t have time to sit with you and you’ll miss out on observing them. Do it now and cherish everything they ever do as they grow because your children are the true meaning of your life.

Nothing else really matters. ■

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 179

on the street

Faye Frewin and Riley Frewin (grandmother and grandson)

How will you be spending Christmas Day? Faye – I will be cooking for around 15 people. Cold meat, seafood and salads will be on the menu. We are building a new home at the moment, so living in a family home that has shared many Christmas gatherings for the time being.

It should be a lovely day with family Do you have any Christmas traditions?

Faye – We have three grandchildren and get a lot of enjoyment watching them open their gifts on Christmas morning.

We go looking at the Christmas lights every year and play a bit of backyard cricket on Christmas Day. What would you like for Christmas?

Faye – A nice new family home. It should be ready to move in to just after Christmas.

Riley – I really, really want a truck.

santa claus is coming to town Some families enjoy a traditional roast dinner and rich plum pudding doused in brandy, while others head outside for a barbecue and some backyard cricket. We catch up with some local families in the Bendigo CBD to ask them how they will be spending Christmas this year.

Photographs: Anthony Webster

Jaime Childs and Macey Wright (mother and daughter)

How will you be spending Christmas day?

We will be sharing Christmas lunch at mum and dad’s house like we do every year. There will be around 15 of us on the day and we will have a barbecue and seafood lunch. This will be Macey’s first Christmas!

Do you have any Christmas traditions?

Each year we have a kris kringle between our parents, my brothers and sister and our partners. It is tradition for the children to hand out the presents. I take my daughter Cameron, and this year Macey to sit on Santa’s knee at Myer.

What would you like for Christmas?

I’d love a gift voucher so I can go shopping at Mona Lisa. I’d love to buy myself something new for my brother’s wedding early next year.

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Melissa Riddell and Jenny Deadman (mother and daughter)

How will you be spending Christmas Day? Melissa – Just a quiet Christmas for us this year, but we will be spending it together which will be lovely. I’m pregnant at the moment so I’m looking forward to celebrating this Christmas with a newborn.

Jenny – We will be at Melissa’s for lunch.

There will probably be around 15 of us eating. Everyone will pitch in on the day to help out.

Do you have any Christmas traditions?

Melissa – We have Great Nana’s old Christmas Bell that hangs in the house on Christmas Day. Each family member gets to pull the bell to make it ring once.

Jenny – We always have a hot lunch on Christmas Day. All the roast meats and vegetables. It’s really important for us to share a hot cooked Christmas lunch.

What would you like for Christmas?

Melissa – I’d just love something for the garden.

Jenny – With eight grandsons, I’d love a beautiful granddaughter… Melissa.

Tammy Beasley and Molly Beasley (mother and daughter)

How will you be spending Christmas Day? We will spend the day in Bendigo at our house. Adam (hubby) and I will be putting on our first Christmas lunch. It will be Molly’s first Christmas. She is the first grandchild on my side of the family, so it will be a special day for everyone.

Do you have any Christmas traditions?

Every year I head over to mum’s house for breakfast with my sisters and partners.

Bacon, eggs and croissants to start the day.

Hopefully we can start a new tradition this year when we take Molly to sit on Santa’s knees.

What would you like for Christmas?

I’d really love this outdoor hanging chair from Oliver Birch (Take note if you’re reading Adam).

Molly probably won’t be too interested in any presents, she will be more concerned with the wrapping paper at the moment!

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 181

bendigo magazine promotion

Your recovery

staRts hERE! You can help in your

recovery Get to know your body to help it repair.

Helping clients become independent and functional by understanding their physical problems is the aim of St John of God Hospital’s new senior outpatient physiotherapist. “If people understand the problems they have, and get to know their body better, it helps greatly with healing,” says Sangeeta Sangwan who now works full time at the hospital’s Allied Health Unit. “We don’t want clients and patients to be too dependent on their physios and have to keep coming back.”

Hence physiotherapy sessions often include education and gym work in the sessions, with the hospital physiotherapists treating back pain, headaches, joint and post surgical problems, fractures, ligament injuries, sprains and chronic pain and more.

Sangeeta studied in Adelaide and gained her Advanced Masters in musculo-skeletal and sports physio before working with sports teams and treating player injuries. She is also trained in Clinical Pilates and is keen to start a group Pilates class at the hospital, open to all wanting to undertake Pilates for fitness, to improve strength and flexibility or to recover from injury*.

“We also plan to start falls classes in 2012, to help people at risk of falling, or recovering from a fall, improve their balance and strength and educate them on avoiding trips and falls in the home. This complements our home assessment service which evaluates the home and advises on improving any risk areas.”

Sangeeta is one of less than 20 certified Mulligan practitioners in Australia – a special form of physiotherapy teaching practised worldwide, which aims to speed recovery.

• Physiotherapy • Injury management • Rehabilitation(general, oncology & cardiac) • Exercise physiology • Neck and back pain, headaches,dry needling • Diabetes management

• Women’s health • Onsite hydrotherapy pool & gym • speech pathology • Occupational therapy • taC, Veterans affairs & Workcover • hICaPs

You can find out more from the St John of God Hospital Outpatients staff on (03) 5434 3261 or www.sjog.org. au/bendigo Sangeeta Sangwan, Senior Outpatient Physiotherapist at St John of God Hospital Bendigo, focuses on patient understanding to help healing.

Ph: 5434 3261

Lily Street, Bendigo 182 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

www.sjog.org.au/bendigo

travelogue

acropolis

now

The Greek islands are unlike any other place on earth.

Writer and Photgrapher: Vicki Harrington The beaches, the culture, the history, the landscape, the cuisine, the nightlife and even the cats – these are all reasons so many people visit this part of the world. For me, it was part of a photographic excursion with a group of friends and fellow photographers.

Our plan was to ferry-hop around the islands photographing some of the most scenic Greek icons along the way.

Our photographic thirst was easily quenched with perfect subjects and landscapes waiting around every corner. What I didn’t anticipate was being completely transfixed by the islands, the culture and the lifestyle. So much so, I have returned for another visit since.

Each island has its own unique vistas and personality but they all enjoy a similar daily lifestyle.

Greeks spend a lot of their day enjoying a coffee and a cigarette. They have a laid-back approach to work, they are not good time-keepers and are notoriously late for everything – remember the preparations for the 2004 Olympic games? Their Orthodox religion and family life is very important to them

and family groups enjoying an evening promenade along the main thoroughfares and waterfronts is a common sight. Families usually dine late and long together at the end of the day.

As photographers, we were seduced by streetscapes of white-washed houses and blue-domed churches while the culture vultures drooled at the wealth of historic sites. Being sociable as well, we joined the locals for their daily frappe in cafes with brightly painted tables and chairs. We sat alongside them in the late afternoons sipping ouzo, nibbling mezes and watching the brilliant sun slide into the ocean from the terrace of a cosy ouzerie. By night we dined at tavernas by the water’s edge on Greek salad and fresh calamari or a moussaka made by

the taverna owner’s mother and washed it down with local red wine.

The vast Greek ferry network covers almost every occupied island with ferries in all shapes and sizes chugging around the islands and the booking system is really easy to manage despite some of the very early morning departures.

We began our odyssey on Corfu, the second largest of the Ionian Islands where early Venetian control has influenced the cuisine and the architecture. My personal favourite here was the Bay of Kanoni where

Vlacherna, a little white convent with its single cypress tree is connected to the mainland by a breakwater. It sits right under the flight path of incoming flights to Corfu with planes touching down only 200 metres away.

A short ferry hop to the island of Kefalonia with its pretty waterfront villages was next.

We stayed at Fiskardo in quaint two-storey, accommodation overlooking the little port, a popular stop-over for wealthy yachties.

A little further down the coast, the tiny village of Assos is a gem of whitewashed and pastel-coloured houses straddling the isthmus of a peninsula. The locals were busy soaking up the last few days of summer on the terraces and pebble beaches and didn’t seem to mind our encroaching cameras.

A series of ferries and buses eventually deposited us in the sleepless capital of Athens. The sight of the Acropolis, standing on its rocky throne is magical, the ceremonial changing of the Presidential Guards at Parliament House in Syntagma Square, resplendent in their traditional short kilts and pom-pom shoes proved to be a colourful photo opportunity.

Another day, another ferry and another island. This time it was the island of religious pilgrims and fancy dovecotes, Tinos. In the main town of Hora we witnessed pilgrims brought to their knees by their devotion.

After disembarking at the port, the faithful make their way on their hands and knees for 800 metres to reach the grand Church of Panagia Evangelistria.

The beautiful little island is dotted with church belfries and ornate dovecotes. The fancy pigeon houses date from the 18th century when breeding pigeons was part of island trade. The birds provided meat, the droppings were used for a fertiliser and the feathers for bedding.

Onto Mykonos, one of the most cosmopolitan islands and the entertainment centre of the Cycladic group. It’s all white cube-shaped buildings, golden beaches, windmills and rosy sunsets.

The town is a maze of whitewashed, narrow little alleys lined with cafes and bars literally buzzing by night and shops offering a multitude of goods to the hordes of tourists by day. Despite the crowds, we found the locals continuing their daily routines of fishing, lace-making and people-watching without trepidation.

The historic island of Delos lies just of the coast of Mykonos and is littered some of the Greek’s most ancient ruins, but it takes quite a bit of stamina to wander around them all in the blazing sun.

184 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

The fast hydrofoil ferry service took us to fabulous Santorini. Buses haul tourists from the chaotic port of Athinios up a steep zigzag road to the main town of Thira, literally clinging to the rim of the caldera. Cruise ships dock at the old port where their access to Thira is by donkey or cable car.

The cliff-top village of Oia, reknowned for its fantastic sunsets didn’t quite live up to its reputation for our visit – the sunset was a fizzer that day. It didn’t matter; we still came away more than satisfied with our photographic results.■

GREECE FACTS: • Official name: Hellenic Republic • Conventional name: Greece • Capital city: Athens • Official Language: Greek • Religion: Greek Orthodox • Population: 11,306,183 (2010 estimate) • Currency: Euro • Location: Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Located between Albania and Turkey.

• Largest Greek island: Crete • Highest point: Mount Olympus For more information visit www.visitgreece.gr

Discover the gift of giving BENDIGO 53–55 Williamson Street Bendigo VIC 3550 Phone 5444 0277 www.thecompletegarden.com.au

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sporting extreme

swing

in the

of it

Their serves may have lost some speed, the angles of their volleys may not be as sharp, and the touch on their drop shots not quite so deft, but the grand masters of Bendigo’s tennis circuit have certainly lost none of their bounce.

Writer: Raelee Tuckerman - Photographs: David Field

Every Monday morning, the Nolan Street tennis complex comes alive as dozens of “senior” players hit the courts to trade forehands, backhands and plenty of friendly banter. For these Bendigo Veterans Tennis Club members, age is merely a number, not an excuse.

“I love the company and I love the exercise,” says Rene Slocombe, a regular from Spring Gully who strides off the court at the end of her doubles match looking fit as a fiddle.

At 88, Rene holds the honour of being the oldest of the club’s 60 or so members and is one of 13 so-called “super-vets” on the other side of their 80th birthdays. Having watched her run determinedly around to return the ball, I’m glad it wasn’t me on the other side of the net. “I usually come and play two sets if they treat me right, but if they give me a lot of deuces I run out of puff,” the great-grandmother of six says with a laugh. “I am lucky with my health that I haven’t got any troubles… they say use it or lose it.”

186 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

As we sit and chat courtside, Rene is quick to point out that she’s no relation to Mrs Slocombe from Are You Being Served?

“I always get asked that,” she quips to a nearby group of male veterans sharing our table and they respond with rapturous laughter. The camaraderie and friendly atmosphere that exists around this club is one of its biggest draw cards. Everyone is there for the social scene; some are there for the tennis, too.

“We come rain, hail or shine,” says Denise Baker, 66, who has been playing the sport on and off in Dingee and now Bendigo for more than half a century. “On wet days, we’ve organised that if we can’t play tennis, we play cards or scrabble instead so we can still get together.”

Denise is a life member of the club that was founded in September 1983, though she and husband Bill, a former president and fellow life member, have been involved since 1995.

“We play for fun. It is a good way to keep yourself active in mind, body and spirit and

that was one of the aims of the club when it originally formed.”

Strapping tape, support bandages and liniment tubes are standard equipment among the group and almost everyone can offer a tale of a crook ankle, dickie knee or tennis elbow that has sidelined them at some stage. But such limitations don’t get in the way of a good game. “There are a lot of people here with physical disabilities or health problems but it just doesn’t matter.

Nobody worries about things like that,” Denise says.“My husband suffers from emphysema and can’t run very much but others are quite happy to play with him and be his legs, and that keeps him going.”

Lindsay Domaschenz, another “super-vet”, is 82 but barely looks a day over 60. “I don’t feel it either,” he says. “They are long livers on my mother’s side.” The Kangaroo Flat resident enjoys the fellowship at the Monday morning hit-outs, but also loves the chance to stay physically active during his ninth decade. “Tennis is the only energetic game

to do something when you retire to keep fit,” says Peter, 71, who played tennis as a teenager but barely picked up a racquet during his working life as an engineer.

“That’s the main reason I do it. I’m fortunate to have the opportunity now to play a sport – and tennis is a good sport, everyone loves it. “We don’t play to win, we play for the enjoyment. I don’t even think too many count how many sets they have won at the end of the day.”

Peter is keen to attract more members to the Bendigo Veterans Tennis Club and says anyone over 40 is welcome to join, regardless of ability or agility. “The sad thing is that a lot of people play pennant tennis and get to a point where they can’t cope with that level any longer. Instead of coming along to us, they just fizzle out, which is a shame.” Membership costs $50 a year, with a weekly playing fee of $5. Games are held every Monday between 9am and noon – though the early birds are often out on court from 8.30am.

The club also holds regular social events, including barbecues and soup mornings, runs an annual trip to the Australian Open in Melbourne, and provides volunteers to help out at Bendigo Tennis Association events, like the pro-tour tournament held every November.

There is a saying that old tennis players never die, they simply lose their advantage or get put out to grass (depending on which version you subscribe to).

But after spending time with the local veterans, one thing is clear. They’re not about to throw in the towel and serve up a double fault when it comes to the allimportant game of life.■

that I can play at this age,” he says, “and I don’t miss many weeks unless I am sick.”

Lindsay has been playing tennis since way back in about 1945 and reckons he’s still got a good few years left in his body yet.

“I will play for as long as I can. If I can play until I am 92, I will. And I mean that. “I do exercises every morning and go for an hour’s walk most days. I play quite a few sets of tennis and am generally the last one out there.” Lindsay prides himself on his fitness, but confesses his tennis skills would never win him a grand slam title. “I might look like I can play,” he replies when asked if he was any good, “but they get a shock once I get out there.”

Strictly speaking, the veterans club is for anyone over 40. But as president Peter Battistella points out, “you can’t come if you are 40 or 50 and working, unless you get flexi-time”. Hospital shift-workers and school teachers on term breaks turn up occasionally, he says, but the majority of members are retirees in their 60s and 70s. “You have got

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 187

new business

what’s new with you?

The Bendigo business community is thriving with an abundance of new businesses opening their doors. because it should taste great Edwards Greengrocer and Deli is what food shopping should be. The very best produce lovingly selected by a local family and presented directly to you. Mandy and Greg are the creators of Edwards Greengrocer ad Deli which combines great tasting fruit, vegetables and fresh produce. Having just opened shop in Strathfieldsaye you’ll find fresh fruit, vegetables, smallgoods, deli items, good coffee and speciality grocery goods combined with great service, attention to detail and easy parking. Whether you’re around the corner or across town, Mandy and Greg invite you to visit them so you too can share great tasting food with friends and family – building memories, telling stories and expressing themselves at the same time.

Edwards Greengrocer and Deli is located at Shop 6, 25-33 Blucher Street Strathfieldsaye, just next to the postoffice. Or for more information visit the website www. edwardsgreengrocer.com.au

bast new kids on the block The LABoratory – ladies fashion boutique has just opened in Bath Lane, Bendigo. The store is beautiful, vibrant, welcoming and ever-changing, with surprises hiding in every corner.

The LABoratory stores are creative, inspiring and dedicated to limitless style for their ageless consumers. Their aim is offer exceptional customer service in a unique environment and help their customer express their personal style.

The team invites you to stop by a visit the new store located at Shop 1 Bath Lane. They can be contacted on (03) 5444 3243 or their Facebook page is well worth a visit to view the latest looks in store.

188 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

After remaining relatively low-key for its opening year, BAST completely re-launched itself in June of 2011. BAST is a Men’s Fashion label designed by Kane and Matisse Barri (formerly Kosi Kosi) and is based out of Bendigo.

Owning and running The Meadow Boutique, Kane has seen what people are after and has created a ready-to-wear label producing quality high end product at an affordable price, while focusing on its street wear styling and strong graphic presence.

In its redevelopment, BAST, along with The Meadow Boutique, decided to help raise money and awareness for a variety

a hard earned break Ash Harding from Harding Cycles is teaming up with Steve Spencer from Spencers on Carpenter to provide the ever growing lycra scene in Bendigo a place to stop for some good coffee and food. Cycling is a very popular sport and pastime in Bendigo and bike riders now have a new place to stop in at the end of a long ride or as a pit stop midway for some refreshments and refuelling of the body. Located centrally in Bendigo, Harding Cycles now offers a little more than all your bikes and biking accessories with a new space to sit back, socialise and enjoy some excellent quality coffee and food that Spencer’s on Carpenter is famous for.

Why not stop in and check out this new bike riding hub for yourself at 66 Queen Street Bendigo or give them a call on (03) 5443 2224. of charity organisations. In eight-week fundraising cycles, BAST will donate $10 from every BAST product sold within The Meadow Boutique, to the chosen charity at the time. This will be accompanied by in-store donation tins and a significant marketing campaign to raise awareness.

BAST’s first full collection The Foundation is available at The Meadow Boutique, featuring a list of styles including basic and printed singlets and t-shirts, button up shirts, crew and hooded jumpers, shorts and chino pants.

To support this, please visit The Meadow Boutique located at 79 View Street Bendigo (Across from the Art Gallery).

It really werx!

Would you like to breathe some new life into your bathroom? Scott and Rebecca Chalmer from Bathroom Werx can transform your bath, basin, tiles and shower back to new, ready to use in just 24 hours.

Simon Wilson Simon Wilson furniture is designed and manufactured right here in Bendigo.

Beautifully crafted using Australian and recycled hardwood, any design is welcome with 15 different stains available. This exciting small business is located in Bendigo, but is supplying quality furniture pieces across Australia. Simon himself has had 10 years in the trade building furniture and is delighted to be supporting local jobs and local businesses. Complete home packages are available with the businesses catering from bedrooms to dining tables, lounges and even homewares. Commercial fit-outs are also welcome from bar tops to small table tops in solid timber.

“I can save you the pain of scrubbing, bleaching and using chemicals by simply re-enamelling your existing bathroom. I specialise in covering your existing tiles and grout, shower bases and baths in as little as 24 hours, leaving your bathroom fresh, clean and sparkling,” explained Scott.

The enamel will not fade nor discolour and is backed up by a seven year guarantee.

Phone 1800 644 171 for a free quote or visit www.bathroomwerx.com for more information.

The business is open from 8am until 5pm Monday to Friday and Saturday by appointment only. Simon Wilson furniture is located at 2/4 Ramsay Court Kangaroo Flat and can be contacted on (03) 5447 9744 or visit the website www.simonwilsonfurniture.com.au

Say goodbye to dust Jacki Leed from The Vacuum Cleaner Shop is proud to say this business is 100 per cent locally owned and operated – with a combined experience of over 75 years to boot. The Vacuum Cleaner Shop stocks Electrolux, Nilfisk, Vax, Zelmer, Bissell, Numatic, Cleanstar and AussieVac. They are installers of ducted vacuuming and stock a large range of bags, filters, belts and spare parts and mostly importantly they service what they sell. Repairs can be completed on site from as little as $5 and are usually completed within 48 hours. There are also display models for every vacuum in store so you have the option to try before you buy. And it is not all just about vacuums, you can also pick up toilet paper, paper towel, mops, mop buckets, cleaning cloths, scrubbers, magic erasers, window cleaners, steam products, carpet washers, bins, cleaners caddies, slippery when wet signs and brooms.

The Vacuum Cleaner Shop is located at 1 Wills Street Bendigo and can be contacted on (03) 5441 8006. ■

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TEST drive

sky’s the

limit

With all of the hyped promise – and frankly very little commercial delivery – of the electric car in recent times, it’s easy to underestimate the progress the motoring industry is constantly making with fossil fuelled engines, for both emissions and fuel economy.

Writer: Curt Dupriez

Fact is, cars are generally getting larger and, in tandem with buyers’ increasing expectations for safety and equipped levels, heavier. And yet the engines offered powering them are becoming more frugal.

Another fact is today’s large family wagon sips less from the pump than yesterday’s small hatchbacks. And many of today’s smarter hatchbacks, with normal petrol and diesel engines, are as economical on fuel as many of the eco-marketed hybrid cars. Call it quiet achievement.

Exhibit A of today’s quiet achievers is Mazda’s new 3 SP20 Skyactiv.

190 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

Essentially, Skyactiv is Mazda-speak for a raft of cutting-edge engine (both petrol and diesel), transmission (both manual and automatic) and chassis technologies designed to deliver the normal driving experience you’re used to while reducing fuel consumption. While all this techy stuff might sound boring enough to put you to sleep, the exciting bit is just how much consumption it cuts.

Mazda’s just revamped the entire 3 range, and the Skyactiv variant (fitted with a new Skyactiv G 2.0-litre four cylinder engine) offers a 26-per cent improvement in fuel consumption over the standard 2.0-litre

engine carried over into the less expensive Neo and Maxx Sports versions. Under some driving condition, the saving can be as much as a third. Call it 6.1 litres per 100 kilometres for the sedan version, and 6.2 for the hatchback. Favour the open road, and it could drop as low as the fives. That’s a match for the best diesels and hybrids. A function called I-Stop, that switches the engine off when the car comes to a complete halt, helps attain this amazing figure.

Thing is, it doesn’t rattle and clatter like some diesel fours. This engine is a smooth operator, and produces 113kW and a handy 194Nm, which is slightly more power and

torque than its far thirstier stablemates. And yet if feels just as normal and smooth to use.

Tied a slick-shifting Skyactiv-spec six-speed automatic, the SP20 drives normally, too, without the strange drivability quirks you get from hybrid cars using CVT-type transmission.

There’s no green kryptonite or black magic involved, just advances in conventional technologies (compression ratios, direct fuel injection design, transmission lock-up percentages, etcetera) that are extremely clever if boring to us laymen. Mazda likes to use the iPad analogy: you mightn’t know how it works, nor need to know, but you absolutely know it does work well when you’re using it.

What else is new? Well, Mazda 3 range gets a mild facelift, with new front and rear end styling, new alloy wheels and enhancements throughout the cabin. The SP20 Skyactiv version gets all of the sportiness of the Maxx Sport model, plus some extra goodies, such as a sports grille, LED taillights, lumbar adjustment on the driver’s seat and bluelight interior illumination. An extra $3000 over its $27,990 base price ask gets you tricky Bi-xenon headlights,leather trim and a 10-speaker, 242-watt Bose stereo system.

Skyactiv is a great addition is Mazda’s incredibly successful, multi-award-winning 3 range – for ages now it’s fought Holden’s Commodore tooth and nail as Australia’s number one selling car bar none. It’s not the most wallet-friendly of the new Mazda 3 range, but the Skyactiv SP20 is definitely a case of more fun for less fuel. It pulls the eco tricks of the diesels and hybrids, but with a much more practical and familiar character. ■

C l a S S

l e a d i n g

Mazda 3 SP20 Skyactiv Fuel consumption from 6.1 litres per 100km

available in sedan and hatch with 6 speed automatic FroM

$31,305 drive away

Test drive today at Bendigo Mazda 207 - 209 High Street Bendigo Phone 5441 8133

designed and manufactured in bendigo ambitious furniture designer and maker simon wilson created his company in 2010 with the desire to provide solid australian timber furniture at an affordable price. our furniture is made using only the highest quality

and

locally

sourced

new

and

recycled hardwood timbers available. we design and manufacture everything from entertainment units, bedroom suites, tables, office and boardroom furniture, chairs and are even branching out into homewares such as wooden sculptures and paintings. all of our furniture is available in a variety of sizes and we offer 11 unique stain colours to suit any decor. we can even custom make to suit your needs. contact simon and his experienced team today.

call in and see us today

2/4 Ramsay Court, Kangaroo Flat 3555

03 5447 9744 e simon@simonwilsonfurniture.com.au w www.simonwilsonfurniture.com.au

GIFTS, HOMEWARES, JEWELLERY, CHILDREN’S, UNIQUE, QUALITY, CONTEMPORARY AND COUNTRY

www.nestegghomeandgifts.com.au Ph. 5443 0321 ~ Strath Village Shopping Centre Condon St

“Our team can provide the necessary resources and management tools for all businesses whatever their needs may be”

Kim Richardson. Managing Director, Bendigo boy & golf enthusiast

Photocopiers, faxes, printers, telephone systems, mobile solutions and managed print services phone 03 5440 7777

13 Contempo Court, Bendigo East

my favourite things

full swing

Kelly Buckell is more than meets the eye. This gorgeous mother and owner of a stylish and elegant giftware shop loves nothing more than getting close to nature, keeping active and entertaining those near and dear. Here she shares with us some of her favourite things.

Photographs: Anthony Webster My patchwork quilt represents my friends. It was given to me for my 30th birthday and I will treasure it always. My friends are always great for a cuppa, chitchat, laugh, cry, pick me up, debrief and a wine or two.

My husband John gave this swing to me. I love to sit on it and read, have a wine, have a cup of tea, or just watch the kids play. I have four beautiful boys – Jordan, Jacob, Matthew and Ned. They keep me on my toes.

My mum and dad bought me the teapot and cup while we were in London in 1997. It makes a great cup of tea. I think of them and our wonderful trip whenever I take a sip.

I love to cook. I use this cookware every

day. I love to entertain people. My boys are becoming very handy in the kitchen too, which is fantastic.

Driving, running, cooking, housework, working, ironing… whatever, I absolutely love listening to music. I also love to dance.

The boys and I often dance in the kitchen.

When I start to sing, that’s when they run a mile.

My runners represent my gym, exercising and running. I love to exercise. It makes me feel good.

My nurse’s fob watch represents my life before Nest Egg (my home and gifts business). I have many happy memories and

some character building memories of my nursing days. I worked with some wonderful people and gained lifelong friendships and cared for so many beautiful people. It’s a nice feeling to know you can make a difference.

I love nature, camping, campfires and a camp roast (when I don’t cremate it). I love the smell of the bush, especially after it rains.

I love the sun setting, especially over water.

Warm weather and day light savings are also a big favourite of mine.

I would rather read a book than sit and watch TV. Unless it’s Two and a Half Men or Modern Family. They are always good for a laugh. I like mystery novels and I am partial to the odd romance novel or two. ■

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 41

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Real party ice is back! solid cubes - not the hollow stuff that melts quickly

BIG VALUE 7KG BAG

ONLY $4 Proud owners Sharon and Andrew Brose There’s a new way you can buy ice in Bendigo. It’s Kooler Ice. The Kooler Ice vending machine makes ice from high quality purified water, so it’s made fresh. Kooler Ice is solid cubes – not the hollow stuff that melts quickly. You get a big value 7kg bag for only $4 – that’s around half the normal price in Bendigo. Owner Andrew Brose said that customers love this new machine. “When the ice comes out of the machine, most customers comment on how big the bag is,” he said. Andrew also said that when customers come back after trying Kooler Ice: “They

HunGRy JACkS kAnGAROO FlAt 267 High St, Kangaroo Flat

made from high quality purified water

love to let us know how Kooler Ice lasts longer.”

Bendigo now has three Kooler Ice machines, you’ll find them at: • Oasis Car Spa, 117 Condon Street Strathdale • Hungry Jacks Kangoroo Flat, 267 High St • Washed Up Car Wash, Cnr Holdsworth and Holmes Roads, Bendigo.

You can buy ice 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

You can even drive up to the machine and put the ice straight into your esky.

CAR WASH

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OASIS CAR SPA

117 Condon St, Bendigo

at the movies

this summer showcasing

Big name stars Meryl Streep, Daniel Craig, Naomi Watts and Leonardo DiCaprio grace the silver screen in Bendigo during the warmer months.

Boxing Day RECOMMENDATION:

Commencing January 12:

The Iron Lady - (CTC) Drama

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - (CTC) Drama/Thriller

Synopsis: THE IRON LADY tells the compelling story of Margaret Thatcher (Meryl Streep), a woman who smashed through the barriers of gender and class to be heard in a male-dominated world. The story concerns power and the price that is paid for power and is a surprising and intimate portrait of an extraordinary and complex woman.

Cast: Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent and Richard E. Grant

Synopsis: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is an upcoming English-language remake of the Swedish novel of the same name by Stieg Larsson. Starring Daniel Craig as journalist Mikael Blomkvist who is aided in his search for a woman who has been missing for 40 years by Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), a young computer hacker.

Cast: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara and Stellan Skarsgård

Australia Day COMEDY: A Few Best Men

- (CTC) Comedy

When English lad David announces he is getting married to an Australian, his hapless mates give a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘for better or worse’! The chaosfilled wedding day tests their new marriage, challenges David’s relationships with his three best men, and risks turning what should be the best day of their lives into the worst. A Few Best Men is a hilarious culture clash between his friends and her family – because blood is thicker than water, and so are David’s mates.

Cast: Xavier Samuel, Rebel Wilson and Olivia Newton-John ■

ShowcaSe MovieS Where possible our Showcase movies are presented in our Showcase cinema which features elegant and spacious high backed seating with the latest in digital technology and surround sound.

Bendigo Cinemas now pride themselves on presenting a great range of selected Showcase films gathered from all corners of the world.

Experience the very best of Australian and International films and documentaries that involve strong story lines and quality actors, not just Hollywood special effects.

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she’s brimming In years to come, keep an eye out for an aging Johnny Depp at Lake Eppalock. He once said of himself, ‘I’m an old fashioned guy… I want to be an old man with a beer belly sitting on a porch, looking at a lake or something.’

Writer: Colin King - Photographs: David Field, Andrew Perryman and Lincoln Harrison

44 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

this stunning image of lake eppalock by lincoln harrison was captured using a long exposure. the star trails are created as the earth rotates, giving the impression of stars moving across the sky.

It’s hard to imagine the beer belly but he is not lacking the inherent human desire to be around water. As poet William Yeats put it more eloquently, “I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore…

I hear it in the heart’s deep core.” For Bendigonians who have gone without for the best part of a decade, a second post-drought summer of a brimming Lake Eppalock is still a novelty to lap up.

At Eppalock, the porch coveted by Johnny Depp is likely to be a caravan annex. While there are a few shacks scattered around the shore, the dominant residence of choice is a caravan. There are four large foreshore caravan parks given over almost exclusively to long term sites. Only the Lakeshore Caravan Park near the spillway has a dedicated section for tourist vans.

For a 12-monthly fee, the ‘annuals’ leave their vans on site from one year to the next. Shirley Murray who manages the Lake Eppalock Holiday Park says the normally unregistered vans only ever leave on the back of a truck. Mostly they are sold in-situ by word of mouth or on eBay. Their intransigence is evident from ever more rigid annexes, brick barbecues, obligatory overarching canopies — even picket fences.

The caravan parks survived the drought with loyal predominantly Melbourne-based patrons retaining their weekend getaways to enjoying the bush settings and other attractions. The parks variously boast an off-road motorbike track, outdoor cinema, swimming pools, tennis courts and ample kids playgrounds.

Aquatic action is nonetheless the parks’ raison d’etre for their largely boat-owning populations. Danielle Parsons, partner Mark Folwell and their three children recently acquired a van and boat at Moorabbee Lodge Caravan Park. It is part of their lifestyle move from Melbourne to take advantage of Bendigo’s more affordable housing and be nearer to the family friendly water playground.

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 45

Danielle Pasons, partner Mark Folwell and their three children on the bank of Lake Eppalock.

46 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

On occasion in bygone days, the Scottish name assigned to this area where the Campaspe River is joined by the Coliban was misspelt Eppaloch. Perhaps by those with a premonition about the lake that was finally completed in 1964.

Harnessing water from the Campaspe at Eppalock is however an idea as old as Bendigo. The possibility of pumping its water uphill to the city was surveyed in the initial gold rush years of the 1850s. By the 1860s, Bendigo’s current gravity fed system from the upper-Coliban had prevailed instead. Nevertheless, the Eppalock site continued to be promoted for ‘irrigation of the plains.’ Throughout the 1870s, a proposed major Campaspe storage was incorporated into the ‘stupendous’ Grand Victorian North West Canal vision – a navigable irrigation canal running north from Melbourne to the Goulburn River, then westward across Bendigo Creek to the Wimmera before heading seaward to Portland. Imagine catching a boat to Melbourne.

The ‘canalisation of Victoria’ concept died down in the 1880s but Eppalock was nevertheless surveyed and back on the drawing board for irrigation. It continued being campaigned for over ensuing decades by downstream farmers. Construction of the dam got under way in 1927 before being abandoned in 1929 due to engineering problems and ‘prodigality.’

Inclusion of a hydroelectric power station to service Bendigo was urged after World War Two. Had the idea proceeded, water and electricity would have dried up in drought. The clean renewable energy concept may not be entirely lost, however. This year, mini hydro-electricity generation was being considered by Coliban Water for pumping to Bendigo.

A 1950s water shortage in Bendigo lent impetus to finally complete the reservoir. Start of work in 1960 signalled the demise of the Eppalock Landholders’ Association. They and the McIvor Shire had long opposed the reservoir where 3000 hectares of prime farmland went under. Explorer Major Mitchell enticingly described the timber free downs as, “grassy vales of excellent soil.” Among the plethora of brass plaques at the lake is one on Moorabbee Bluff proclaiming ‘Eppalock Landholders Association 1960, Requiescat in Pace’ (Rest in Peace). A plaque honouring the opposing Eppalock Advancement League adorns a decommissioned drinking fountain and 70 per cent of Campaspe irrigators recently chose to exodus the system. It appears that recreation and the environment have surfaced as Steven Bradbury style winners.

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 47

Sam Bonanno owner of Kimbolton Kiosk

48 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

Water sport took off even before the lake was completed in 1964.

Bendigo Yacht Club formed two years earlier when the plug was put in to begin storing water at the emerging dam wall. The club produced successful world championship sailors in the ensuing half century, including Glenn Ashby who took silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Although some sailing was possible as drought shrank the lake, events were eventually moved to Waranga Basin. Having also survived a devastating fire that razed its packed boatshed in 2008, the club is once again staging a complete season of events at Eppalock. Membership is growing and summer activities include lessons for children and adults. The club’s 50th anniversary will be celebrated in April.

Speed boat racing was less adaptable as the drought took hold. The Victorian Speed Boat Club suspended its Eppalock races from 2001 until 2011. At pre-drought events, 15,000 spectators would line the bank. They too spawned a world champion when Marg Tainton broke the world water speed record for women in 1993. The club’s Victorian Championships are scheduled to be held in April at the clubrooms on Speedboat Road.

A couple of iconic lakeside businesses battling the drought and leasehold issues closed in the 2000s. Although still signposted, premises of the much loved Brolga Hotel with its commanding lake view, and Nankervis’ Performance Boat Repairers have since been demolished. On the other hand, the Eppalock manufacturer of renowned Salem ski-boats diversified to keep above water.

They expanded to become Lake Eppalock Marine and now face a burgeoning queue of client’s boats to be made seaworthy after being mothballed for the drought.

Others too bravely hung their shingle out mid-drought and survived to enjoy the lake’s resurgence. Like Lake Eppalock Retreat – a rare waterfront holiday rental house that is now flourishing. And Sam Bonanno who re-opened Kimbolton Kiosk at the Bendigo gateway to the lake. Sam committed to keeping the kiosk open seven days a week, unlike its previous incarnations. He also added a protected eating area in front of the familiar serving window. The kiosk’s adjoining bottle shop is now stocked with serious neighbourhood wines like Eppalock Ridge and bloggers rate the chips as “really good.”

“Fishermen keep it going over winter and the locals have been very supportive,” Sam said. By spring he was declaring 2011, “The best year yet. There were people everywhere at the weekend.” Sam is also dusting off the minigolf course for summer.

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 49

When Tony Lorenz began operating his sailboard hire business at Eppalock in 2000 the water quickly vanished before his eyes. He was compelled to find other bodies of water to keep RAL Kiteboarding afloat. The business is back on Eppalock with windsurfing, kiteboarding and the new fitness adventure sport of stand-up paddling. Tony is also involved with Kraken Tours that take groups on high speed thrill boat jaunts — including their Lake and Grape tour with a catered lakeside vineyard stopover. Speed and spray make this the most adrenalin-charged way to experience the lake.

Eppalock’s best value is the amount of coastline you get for your buck. Its 153 kilometres is more than half that of Port Phillip Bay. This creates numerous islands, inlets, isthmuses and points to explore by land or water. Even their names are intriguing – like Sometime Island, which explains itself, and BO Bay which is probably best left unexplained. Others that capture the imagination are Toolong Point and Balee Bay. The larger expanses of unimpeded water form lakes within the lake — like Derrinal Pool, Kimbolton Pool and Whisky Island Pool.

When the lake fills it forms a V shape along the submerged Campaspe River and Mount Ida Creek. Almost the entire Bendigo side of the lake is forested public land. Consequently, large swathes of treed foreshore are accessible for Bendigonians to find their own piece of paradise for a day on the water. The Heathcote side of the lake and shorelines within the V are generally cleared rolling farmland. These vistas are pleasing from the water although access roads are fewer.

A road circuit of the lake using the Eppalock map from Bendigo Visitor Centre also reveals much of interest. Travelling anticlockwise from the Kimbolton Kiosk leads through the Kimbolton forest and the myriad of access points and various club facilities off Twin Rivers Road. Further south is a turnoff to the attractive Metcalfe Pool Holiday Park – an almost detached part of the lake connected by the dramatic Strait gorge. This lane heads past Redesdale Estate vineyard and along the ridge between deep ravines of the Coliban and Campaspe rivers. Dry-stone walls suggest the area’s pre-gold rush pastoral roots.

The route is retraced to Redesdale and crosses the Campaspe over the glorious historic iron lattice truss bridge. The unpassable gastro pub at Redesdale specialises in slow food and local produce and wine. Take the Mia Mia-Derrinal Road just beyond the turnoff to Mia Valley Estate vineyard. This bucolic stretch meanders past the tranquil Turners Reach at water level and later bridges the red-gum lined Wild Duck Inlet to join the McIvor Highway. Heading back towards Bendigo, Foreshore Road leads to the Derrinal Recreation Area and the commanding Moorabbee Bluff. Lakeside Armstead Estate vineyard is along Moorabbee Road.

50 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

The business is back on Eppalock with windsurfing, kiteboarding and the new fitness adventure sport of stand-up paddling.

Ready for some high speed fun on the water of Lake Eppalock?

Kraken Tours offers you the opportunity to feel the wind in your hair and the excitement of speeding along the water at high speed. What better way to explore Lake Eppalock in a way you have never seen it before.

For more information contact Kraken Tours on 0401 376 775 or visit www.krakentours.com

Tony Lorenz from Kraken Tours takes some lucky thrillseekers for a ride on Lake Eppalock.

Thank you to Trevor, Wayne and Bendigo Marine World for helping us with our photography and for showing us where the redfin where biting.

For more information visit www.bendigomarine.com.au

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 51

Knowsley-Eppalock Road crosses the wall and spillway to complete the lap. The area below the wall is not currently accessible by vehicle but well worth the walk to the river and pumping station below to appreciate the grandeur of the structure – particularly when water is being dramatically released into the river.

Anglers are a constant at the boat-free wall. Eppalock’s discordant shoreline also offers seclusion for fishers seeking to avoid powerboats and jet skis and provides a good deep/shallow ratio for their quarry.

Darren Woodgate sells yabbies, worms and bardi-grub bait at his lakeside home in Sunset Drive. He reckons the numbers of fish being caught so soon after the lake’s refilling is incredible. Redfin and yellow-belly (golden perch) have been caught in good numbers, even throughout the cooler months. Some theorise that vegetation on the empty lake bed provided a smorgasbord that ‘caused an explosion of the food chain’ when water returned.

By early spring, the main boat ramp had more than a dozen parked empty tinnie trailers on Saturdays and Sundays. Peter Anderson and his mate from Bendigo favoured the upper reaches of the Coliban Pool to launch their boat. They were responding to the adage, “When the wattle comes out, the yellow belly are on the bite.” Then again, fishing intelligence is such a nebulous notion and most anglers have a way of finding their own favourite spot. On the same early spring visit there were one or two bank fishers at every other access road. Some like Dony Afianto fish the river below the spillway where he covered the bottom of his Esky with a feed of redfin.

The lake is also known for cod, carp and tench and the occasional brown trout can be caught on the inflowing streams. Tantalisingly, internet chatter includes whispers about ‘mythical’ bass being caught at Eppalock. The normally estuary confined species is considered “One of Australia’s most truly outstanding freshwater sports fish.

Any angler’s first large bass will be remembered for a lifetime.” The Department of Primary Industries website advises that their reported presence at Eppalock is a result of illegal stocking. Nevertheless, the challenge lurks beneath the loch’s surface.

So whatever your waterside pleasure may be, with summer upon Bendigo and a full Eppalock, I reckon Australian Crawl say it best – “Lakeside, lakeside, lakeside, I just can’t wait, I just can’t wait.” ■

52 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

A 1950s water shortage in Bendigo lent impetus to finally complete the reservoir

Trevor and Wayne from Bendigo Marine World catching redfin in Lake Eppalock.

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 53

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Stacy McGregor, Anthony Flack, Beth Sutton, Robyn Helbard and Angela Gallagher

Beth Sutton and Melissa Kennedy

Leah Hartley and Dale Harris

Megan Spencer and Robyn Helbard

Aimee Semmens and Nick Helbard

stitching the subconscious Bendigo artist and maker Robyn Helbard recently held her very first exhibition of superbly designed crafty creatures at El Gordo in Chancery Lane.

Entitled the ‘Forest Flaw’, it is home to creatures from the ‘other’ forest, a place which lurks in Robyn Helbard’s imagination.

Keep an eye on the El Gordo Facebook for upcoming Art Space exhibitions www.facebook.com/ elgordobendigo. ■

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the graduate

collin BRADY

From dining with the Governor General of Australia to getting tongue-tied upon introduction to Sigrid Thornton, Collin Brady is one privileged gentleman.

Photographer: Anthony Webster What degree did you complete at La Trobe University Bendigo? Did you have a set career goal in mind at the time of applying?

I completed a Graduate Diploma in business management as a mature aged student.

I enrolled so that I could get a better understanding of contemporary approaches to management challenges and to have a more formalised and focused education experience outside the sector I was employed in. I commenced the Diploma after a seriously long break from school. Twenty years to be exact.

What is your current role at the Bendigo Bank? Have you been in the same role the entire time? I’ve been with the Bendigo Bank for six years and have worked in the area of Community Strengthening for the entire time. It’s a fascinating position that takes me to every corner of Australia. I get to meet many passionate and highly capable people who are doing some great things in their communities. It’s a real privilege.

What do you love about your job? My team is responsible for working with communities to help them establish their Community Bank and to also assist them develop community projects. We get to see people from all walks of life work together as one to achieve common goals. I get to see the power of community up close. The power of humanity. We get to see how people rally together in times of emergency and in times of celebration.

What is your best memory about being a student at La Trobe University? My best memories involve meeting people that I now count as close friends, the study groups, the lecturers and the diversity of the students who all form part of a common purpose; to learn.

If you could do your time over what piece of advice would you give to your student self?

Don’t leave it so long to take up study to further your career. ■

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 59

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be a part of this

measure

care beyond

When you walk into the Care Beyond Measure office in central Bendigo, you feel as if you are walking into someone’s house.

Writer: Mary Pomfret - Photographs: David Field A large “welcome” sign hangs over the door lintel and you feel immediately at home. This cosy cottage has an ambience of both brightness and calm. Tasteful artworks, as well as inspirational messages and affirmations, adorn the walls. Care Beyond Measure managing director, Sam Tayeh, describes this family business as one that assists people suffering from illness or disability to remain in their own homes for as long as possible.

And you can tell a lot about Sam Tayeh by his altar. Well, maybe not exactly an altar but a beautiful cabinet on which you will find a display of symbolic items that have a special personal meaning. Sam explains that the statue of a goddess of harmony has resonance with the company’s mission statement of “peace and harmony in your home”. A collection of crystals symbolise balance, peace and centeredness in life.

An antique gas lamp honours the past and metaphorically provides light for the journey ahead. An earthen pottery bowl represents “good mud”. “If you’ve got good mud you make good things,” Sam says. “It’s about my carers, I guess.”

You can tell by the way Sam speaks about his team of professional carers that he is proud of them. Sam considers one of the most important skills a carer can bring to their role

is the ability to leave personal worries and baggage aside and be completely “in the moment” with the client. Sam places value on personal development for his professional carers, reflecting that a carer must first learn to love themselves in order to effectively care for someone else.

Sam recounts how the idea for this family business came to him following his own personally turbulent and challenging time that, sadly, involved the death of his first wife to cancer. Sam says he knows from personal experience what it is like to be a carer for a loved one. He speaks quietly of his wife’s battle with cancer and the impact it had on his life. He explains that it is through this personal tragedy that he understands difficulty of balancing a working life, caring for children while also caring for a loved one who might to elderly, ill or have a disability.

He points out that when faced with the prospect of becoming carer for a loved one “family members often suffer great guilt when they trying to balance their work and immediate family with the needs a loved one who is disabled elderly or sick.”

“Adult children may not know how to talk to their parents about care,” says Sam. The experience can be overwhelming. Sam says the business is about “providing a service that maintains the quality of life for people in

their own homes when family members are not available.”

Sam says the first question he asks potential clients is “What do you need?” When people find themselves responsible for the care of loved ones their needs are varied, he says. Sam always interviews potential long-term clients himself, and explains clients’ needs are a priority when it comes to matching clients with in staff. Sam points out that clients of Care Beyond Measure are assured of continuity and don’t have to cope with constantly changing workers “I like my carers to connect and converse with the client…and not just simply watch television with them.”

Sam describes his carers as being “very close” in the client’s environment. “This is really a people business,” says Sam. “We are in people’s homes on a day to day basis. We are … involved in the nakedness of the matter.”

“The secret behind this is very simple,” Sam reflects. “When I’m 85 I want to feel that my brother or my sister is looking after me. And that’s what I‘m trying to achieve here.”

For more information visit Care Beyond Measure www.carebeyondmeasure.com 51 Myers Street, Bendigo. Phone (03) 5444 5662 ■ issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 61

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ypn meets bendigo beer Swarley, Michael Vick, Briana Cowan and Matt Rice

Franz Lüttick and Joel Tennington

Amy Lee and Jono Clarnette

Georgie Cook and Lisa McAuliffe

Jamie Olver and Lucy Barrett

The elements of craft beer, gourmet food and casual networking were recently combined when the Young Professionals in conduction with Bendigo Beer held an event at the La Trobe Visual Arts Centre.

Some of Australia’s finest beers were showcased including Stone and Wood Pacific Ale - summer in a glass! Five speciality beers were matched with gourmet finger food prepared by Sophie of the Travelling Table.

For more information on the Young Professionals Network visit www. ypn.net.au or for more information about Bendigo Beer visit www.bendigobeer.com ■

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Writer: Sarah Harris - Photographs: David Field

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 65

Dr Jim Thomson, Eaglehawk dentist I remember my first visit to the dentist very clearly. I was five years old and I was taken by my mother and my aunty to this place in town. I was taken up some stairs, and into this room where another door opened and this man appeared dressed completely in white. He picked me up and carried me into his surgery, threw me in this old chair and whacked a mask over my face. I remember struggling and then waking up with a mouthful of blood and missing teeth.

That was my first experience. That wasn’t why I wanted to become a dentist. How I got interested was when I was 14 I fell off my bike and three of my front teeth were smashed. In those days they used to fix them with gold and the dentist took me out the back of his surgery, into his laboratory and showed how he made all the dies and patterns and how he cast the gold. Most patients see what they see in the surgery, but there is a whole other world of dentistry out the back. That was what fascinated me.

People come and sit in the chair and say, “I hate the dentist”.

Every day I hear that ... sometimes more than once a day. What they are really saying is, “I am fearful and afraid of what is going to happen”. They don’t say, “I hate you”. They put it in the third person and say, “I hate the dentist”. I just say, “Well, that’s OK, I hate the patients too!” They usually laugh then and that puts them at their ease.

You have to have these coping mechanisms because it is a highly stressful job, there is no question about it. It is emotionally stressful, it is physically demanding. You have to get yourself into some strange positions sometimes.

I have been bitten a few times, but only once maliciously and that was when I was a student. A woman came in with her grandson and I’d just got into his mouth and she said: “Now don’t you bite him.” It hadn’t occurred to him to do so until then. And suddenly chomp. It really hurt.

Dentistry is invasive. You are working in the airway which people find threatening. I have had a lot of dentistry done in my mouth over the years, especially when I was young. I have had my teeth smashed, I have had extractions, I have more fillings than I have teeth, so I do believe I have some empathy for people.

I have so much work with people coming in in pain and a lot have really bad problems with their teeth and to me that is real dentistry. If you want to go round painting your teeth white so they look like a row of washing machines at Harvey Norman then you need to have a good look at what is happening between your ears rather than between your jaws.

66 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

Emma Murley, Castlemaine barber, The Snip for Men I have always preferred cutting men’s hair.

About two years ago I thought I’ve had a gutful of women whingeing. Then Neville (the then Castlemaine barber) decided to retire. He had been here 50 years. He said: “I am just shutting the door so if you want it come straight in.” I was scared stiff and I didn’t know how the men would handle me.

So before Neville knocked off I went there and went and sat with them while he cut their hair. I talked to them and got myself familiar with them all. I asked them what they wanted and the number one thing was don’t get rid of the front wall because they like the privacy. They don’t like women being able to see them getting their hair cut.

I’ve had some of the wives come in to check and see what’s going on behind the wall with the new female barber. They are happy once they come in and realise I am not going to race off their little old men.

Most of them are pensioners: 85 per cent of them are over 65.

My oldest would be 95. I hear about the medication they are on, what sicknesses they’ve got, how long they have to live.

A lot of them have lost their wives and really just come in for a chat. They are beautiful, I love them. They are dear.

The worst thing was when this lovely bloke named Les died. He had been coming here all the way from Maryborough for years.

He used to come to Neville, and I had cut his hair a few times.

Neville was here when he came in this day. He said: “How you going mate?” Les said, “Not too good, I’ve broken a few toes.”

He was sitting in the chair when his head dropped forward....

That was it: he was gone.

I rang triple-0. They said, “Start CPR”, but I didn’t know how so I had the phone in my ear while they talked me through it.

I had to lift him down from the chair. I was a shaking wreck. Nev couldn’t help because he’d just had a heart attack himself. I just kept pumping his chest for what seemed like forever, although it only took three minutes for the ambulance to get here.

Meanwhile I’ve got them lining up at the door wanting haircuts.

One bloke looked at his watch and said: “I guess you’d like me to come back later?” Ah, yeah, I’m kinda busy here!

I broke his ribs. I am doing the compressions and I heard crunch.

I said to the other two, I think I’ve broken his ribs, and they said, “Well, he’s buggered anyway, so you may as well keep going.”

As it was he lived for another three months after that, then he had a massive stroke at home, but his wife was very thankful for the extra time they had together. * Emma later received a citation from paramedics for her efforts to revive her client.

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 67

Shona Innes, psychologist, Bendigo Psychology No one goes through life unscathed. There have been times when I just feel so overwhelmed by the work and balancing that with managing family, relationships, friendships, mortgages, the dog, the car, all those things. When I have got really low it is probably when I haven’t practised what I preach and I have taken on too much and not asked for enough help. What I have tried to do is learn what the early warning signs are. They usually start with my husband telling me. I can become a bit of a work machine; quite driven, writing lists and ticking lots off. Work starts to creep too much into the time that it shouldn’t.

I think I have the same fears as most people - it is part of our biology. All of us have that fear of being abandoned or left on our own. I see it in the little kids I see who are upset because they have no one to play with, I see it in the teenagers I see who are upset because no one is talking to them or they are being bullied or excluded, see it in relationships where people are worried their partner is going to take off.

It is much easier to do things for someone else than it is for you, which is why I think people need psychologists sometimes.

Working with young people I have struck up deals: if you are going to work on your fear, I promise I am going to work on one of mine, which has included making an appointment at the dentist.

I have licked doorhandles for people who are worried about germs – to prove a point it is the fear of the germs getting in the way of life, not the germs.

It is different for different people. I might be seeing someone who has sexually assaulted someone and they are coming here because they have to, not because they want to, so engaging with them is very different from engaging with someone who wants to come to get over a fear or a phobia from something.

I am aware I’m like a duck on the outside: I am looking cool, calm and collected but on the inside when I am talking to someone I am running by all the theories and I am processing what I know about them and I am looking at all the different variables that could line up together and then trying to chart my way through them to the point I think, OK this is where I need to take this person in terms of the skills they need to learn or the facts they need to hear or the feelings I need to tickle up within them. People spend a lot of time trying to avoid their feelings and that is why I am so busy.

There is a lot strife here in town. There is a lot of sadness and loneliness and suffering in town here that people don’t see like September 11 on the TV. I might go to watch a local concert. I see kids I know have had massive, horrible problems and I see them up there on the stage doing a little dance and I have to hold back the tears. I think, wow, because I know it means a billion times more for that child than all the others.

68 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

David Lloyd, Capital theatre manager My father used to do the lighting for various shows and the first show that really stuck in my head was the musical South Pacific. I probably would have been eight.

I have always loved theatre, but I never wanted to be on stage as such. I avoided it like the plague. I couldn’t give the speech at my wedding, that’s how terrified I was of public speaking at that point in my life.

Seating is a big thing in a theatre. It is that whole thing about getting as many seats as you can into the space while making sure everyone is as comfortable as possible and everyone can see.

Sightlines are very important.

The best seats in the house are L11 and 12. I have never sat in them because they always get taken up by our subscribers and are gone in a flash. But I always like to sit up the back because I can see everything including how the audience is responding.

My own preference is for something with energy, something that’s new. I must admit I am not a big fan of many of the dead artists. I am not a huge Shakespeare fan, I am not a huge classical fan. I appreciate both those things but they are not something I am immediately drawn to. I am looking for contemporary stories or contemporary dance. Some of the most amazing pieces I have seen in recent years have been by Australian writers telling Australian stories with a real Australian vernacular.

One thing I would say about sitting in a theatre is the duller the show is the more uncomfortable your seat gets. There was a David Hare piece about these women meeting on this island and reconciling. This woman kept on going to get on this ferry and leave the island and by the third time I was mentally screaming: Just get on that ferry and be gone. It went for two and a half hours and was just horrid and plodding. Worse, it was something I put on.

That’s one of the real challenges for us. I am looking at 2013 now and a lot of the stuff I am picking I don’t necessarily know what the end product is going to be. I might know the writer, I might know the director, I know the producer, sometimes you might know the actors, but all those things have to come together to make a great piece of theatre. You can’t just go and hire it like a DVD off the shelf. There is a whole lot of making that has to go on and sometimes it just doesn’t work. Even if you have all the right ingredients – it just doesn’t come together. ■

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 69

We c are about your smile ‘We love seeing new patients and welcome the opportunity to become your family’s primary dental care provider.

We can help you achieve your oral health goal of having a beautiful, healthy smile that will last a lifetime.’

Surgery hourS: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - 8:30am - 5:30pm Wednesday - 8:30am - 7:30pm Friday - 8:30am - 12:30pm

6 McIvor Road, Bendigo

Phone: 03 5443 5631 e: reception@integratedsmiles.com w: www.integratedsmiles.com

photo opportunity

Kylie Hilson, Genevive Fitzpatrick, Kerry Robertson and Jacinta McIvor

octobra

Jenny Donaldson

Louisa Nicol and Nicole Hood

The Professionals Bendigo and Fernwood Fitness Bendigo recently launched a bra recycle program that involved the collection of enough pre-loved bras to circle the QEO. The initiative encouraged Bendigo women to donate their pre-loved bras to those in developing nations, where bras are often very costly and beyond their means. The goal was achieved and Fernwood Fitness Bendigo donated $2000 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. ■

Nicole Hood

Nicole Hood and Melanie McKenzie

Salt & Pepper Gallery Yvonne George - Sculptor

A working studio gallery offering original sculptures by local artists. Talk to the artist about commissioning for public sites, housing developments, private residential sculptures.

e: yvonnegeorgesculptor@mac.com www.yvonnegeorgesculptor.com m: 0408 141 059

Catherine M. Brennan - Artist/Designer

Visitors can come into Gallery and see Catherine working on a new panting, scarf, jewellery, or a hand built ceramic/bronze original.

e: saltandpeppergallery@gmail.com saltandpeppergallery.tumblr.com m: 0417 760 365

Bendigo Pottery Complex 146 Midland Highway, Epsom

BENDIGO POTTERY

- AUSTRALIAN MADE FOR OVER 150 YEARS Gallery & Cafe - Open Daily 9am - 5pm, 7 days 146 Midland Hwy, Epsom

(6.5 km north of the centre of Bendigo)

p: 5448 4404 www.bendigopottery.com.au

• High quality ceramics • Surprising range of styles • Hand decorated tableware • Classic & Contemporary • Centrepiece of memories issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 71

3 Great Reasons to Call Your Drake Team Today 1. We have excellent jobs available NOW! 2. We need more great candidates – including YOU! 3. Your dream job could be just around the corner

Drake Bendigo have great permanent and temporary jobs available now, including: • Road Workers

• Travel Consultants • Telemarketers • Drivers

• Sewing Machinists If you are looking for a great job, contact your local Bendigo team today.

Call your 03 5441 6655 or visit us at 1/38A Williamson Street, Bendigo.

Your decision starts here.

Scan this code with your smartphone.

photo opportunity

Dianne Fitzgerald, Doreen Finlayson and Trish Condliffe

fifty years a refuge

Heather and Peter Smith

Bendigo couple Heather and Peter Smith decided two years ago to change direction and follow their passions – art, photography, writing and people.

Bronwyn Parsons and Loraine Ng

Amy Lee and Caitlin Wright

Marybel Bala and Brendan Whelan

A launch party was recently held to celebrate the release of Fifty years a refugee - A Tibetan journey, at the Subtle Eye Bendigo. The unique book gives a rare look into the heart and minds of Tibetan refugees who have been exiled for more than 50 years.

Fifty years a refugee - A Tibetan journey is available from Dymocks, Organise My and Just Planet. ■ Jen Bourke and Prue Clements

Heather Smith and Julie Whitfort

Leanne Roulston and Garry Whitfort

Outdoor Living at Living Quarters

• Bali Huts • Gazebos • Cubby Huts and Forts • Playground Equipment • Pet Houses • Outdoor Furniture • Fountains • Statues • Garden Decor

Ph: 03 5443 0022

108 Lowndes Street, Strathdale 3550 issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 73

Balgownie Estate Est. 1969

cambrian hotel

a real country pub

5-Star Winery 2012 Australian Wine Companion

By James Halliday

new bar private beer garden new menu PERFECT SUMMERTIME WINES…

book now! meals now available

2011 Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Pinot Gris NV Premium Cuveé Brut NV Premium Cuveé Rosé

tuesday - sunday

lunch 12pm - 2pm | dinner 6pm - 9pm

beer garden | functions weddings | parties | anything

OPEN FOR LUNCH EVERY DAY

catch you at the cambrian (03) 5443 3363 200 Arnold Street Bendigo

THE ANDERSON ROOM IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR BUSINESS MEETINGS CALL KATHRYN 5449 6222 Open 7 Days: Cellar Door 11am - 5pm, Lunch Everyday 12-3pm Hermitage Road, Maiden Gully (03) 5449 6222

www.balgownieestate.com.au

photo opportunity

high achievers Janet Russell, Tanya Murphy, Libby Chapman and Donna Hancock

Louise FitzRoy and Sonia Petering

Merna Curnow and Glenda Childs

Ruby Cameron and Noel Rankin

Natalee Ward and Julia Balderstone

The Rural Press Club of Victoria hosted an inaugural Rural and Regional Women’s Lunch recently to celebrate and recognise high-achieving women from Victoria’s rural and regional areas.

Held at Big Hill Vineyard, guests were treated to three speakers.

Sonia Petering (Chair of Rural Finance and TAC board member), Senator Bridget McKenzie and Alexandra Gartmann. The Master of Ceremonies was ABC’s Louise FitzRoy. The next event is the Sustainable dairy manufacturing breakfast, October 21.

More info and registrations can be done via the website www.ruralpressclub.com ■

Alana O’Shea and Melanie McKenzie

A Christian community building a firm foundation for the future.

Penny Harrison, Natalee Ward and Matilda Abey

Providing affordable, quality Christian education within a disciplined and caring environment.

Information Packs are available by contacting the college office and tours are available upon appointment.

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 75 91 Creek Street, Bendigo 3550 Ph: 5442 1722 info@creekstreet.vic.edu.au www.creekstreet.vic.edu.au

“Make a lifestyle choice” Retirement living at its best.

Bendigo village offers a ready made community of like minded retires enjoying good friends, good neighbours in a great location. Independent living, close to all amenities.

Don’t let the good life pass you by, units and houses available now.

Brenda, manager with 27 years of experience said, “People decided to move into a village when they are physically not capable of maintaining their home and gardens and with the onset of health issues.” The comment she hears most often is “I wish I had made the move 5 years earlier.”

Don’t leave it too late to enjoy your retirement.

33 - 35 Mandurang Road, Spring Gully, Bendigo – (03) 5442 3000 – www.bendigorv.com.au

bendigo memories

remembering

happy jack I recently rediscovered several drawings from my student folio — from the days at the Old School of Mines.

Writer: Geoff Hocking - Images: Michael De Wolfe, Geoff Hocking and Kenneth Jack Those glorious days of climbing to the top floor, folio under one arm and an armful of wood in the other (winter duties only), to be greeted at the top of the stairs by Rubens painting of The Rape of the Sabine and bare-breasted, but armless, Venus De Milo — what message were they sending to us youths in those innocent days I wonder?

We were terrified of those bulls at liberty.

Walking through tall scrub on our way to school (well, we were only little and the Chinese scrub seemed very tall indeed), we envisaged a rampaging beast bursting through the undergrowth, impaling us on its horns and flinging us into the air never to be seen again.

My drawings were of several things long gone from Bendigo. One was of the backyard of Foggit & Jones, the smallgoods manufacturer that once sprawled its fetid works across the hilltop between Booth and Maple Streets in Golden Square.

I clearly remember columns of us kids, hand in hand, school-bags banging at our knees, sneaking quiet as mice along the track that ran from the road to the back of our school — then dash across a bit of open land to the safety of the school gates. No bull.

I vaguely remember going to a small window set into an opening in a concrete wall to get a parcel of snags for my mother. This was no pristine shop-front but beyond the window it appeared to be a vision of hell. Cattle were penned on the Speci side of the hill, the fences bordered Pallett Street and Wade Lane.

Another drawing was sketched from the bottom of the Bendigo Creek looking up through a gaping hole in the road at the Cenotaph. Now I can almost always remember every picture I have ever drawn, when it was, how I got there, what I was even thinking about at the time.

These doomed creatures moaned and lowed all day and night until their moment of deathly release. Every now and again one would escape and make a dash for freedom in the open bushland opposite, but few ever remained at large for long.

Pictures to me are like songs, you hear one line and you are instantly transported to the place where you first heard it. Pictures do that for me as well, but I can’t remember climbing down into the creek and sitting there to do this drawing. To the left of the sketch, through the hole in the road I drew

- Geoff Hocking the Lyric Theatre, to the right the City Family Hotel, but the fountain was gone from view.

A ladder leans through the hole to the bluestone-flagged creek floor. I must have snuck down this ladder just at the time the roadway around the fountain was changed from the roundabout to straight through – from Mitchell to View, Pall Mall to High and the installation of the traffic lights. I sort of miss the opportunity to drive around and around the fountain as we once could. It’s not a very good drawing but it still tells a unique story, recalling a bit of Bendigo that I had long forgotten.

A painting I had been looking for for a long time was among the drawings. It records the Chinese store on Eaglehawk Road just down from the Rose of Australia, roughly where the BP Service Station stands today.

I was enamoured of the Sydney painter Sali Herman at the time [still am] and tried to emulate his textured surfaces, scratching away at my bit of Masonite with my palette knife. Not a very accomplished work but it captures a little memory for me. I probably needn’t have bothered.

A recent exhibition at the Castlemaine Art Gallery showed the work of Melbourne artist, the late Kenneth Jack. You may know him as the artist who created a series of paintings of streetscapes for the now defunct State Bank of Victoria.

Each painting: Wedderburn, Inglewood, and many more, featured the local branch as the centrepiece of the view. Well Kenneth Jack produced a series of delicately engraved but deliciously coloured and boldly designed lino-cuts for a folio of prints titled ‘Australian Gold and Ghost Towns’, published 1962.

Among these were several views of Bendigo, one of the Eaglehawk Road at Long Gully, sketched from the very spot where I had sat painting my oil of the Happy Jack Store.

To be honest, I had seen a copy of Jack’s folio and immediately switched my adulation from Sali to Ken. He had made art out of images of my hometown. His lino-cut of Long Gully is a cracker. He shows a tram heading out from Bendigo, the Manchester Arms on the left, the Church on the corner of

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 77

Creeth Street and a poppet-head behind. On one other occasion I sat on the Eaglehawk side of that intersection and drew that view for myself as well, while my best mate sat up the road and painted his version of the Manchester Arms.

Another sketch was looking past the Queen Victoria statue, across the front of the Soldier’s Memorial to the Old Post Office, in the days when you could still park your car under the shade of tree-lined Pall Mall, there still was a concrete dunny between the Memorial and the PO which you could just walk straight into and exit again without confronting an embarrassment of couples supping on their lattés, and the post office sold stamps.

Ken Jack had also shown a lithograph of the Fountain and Charing Cross from Mitchell to the City Family before this streetscape was demolished to make way for the Fountain Plaza and its upper-story green-tiled car park.

What on earth were they thinking?

In Jack’s original folio he used a single colour lino-cut of a poppet head and mine sheds in Long Gully as its title-page, and a framed print was available in a parallel showing of his printed works at Union Studio in Castlemaine.

When I saw this I dashed for the red-stickers desperate to claim it before anyone else.

I had first seen this picture more than 40 years ago, and couldn’t believe that there it was. I could have an original for myself.

That poppet head had long gone for scrap, the sheds torn down, the mullock-heap flattened, the pepper-corns chain sawed away. Someone now lives atop this shaft. Its memory lives on in Jack’s little lino-cut.

My best-mate has his original gouache of the Manchester Arms framed and it hangs on his wall in his home today. I think I should frame my scrappy oil as well, there’s a lot of memory in that paint.

Kenneth Jack’s Mine Head Bendigo reproduced with permission of the artist’s family. ■ 78 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

photo opportunity

John Pemberton, Graeme Stewart and Ian Sladden

Seppe Marsili and David Hutchings

employees or contractors What are the differences and implications for tax purposes when dealing with employees or contractors is a question commonly asked of AFS Chartered Accountants.

Jacob Lea and Jim Parkes

Damien Palmer and Luke Millard

Renee Opperman and Russell Windridge

Guest speaker Rod Henshaw from the ATO was on hand at the La Trobe University Visual Arts Centre to outline the ATO’s view on the difference between an employee and a contractor, and the implications for PAYG and superannuation guarantee.

AFS Chartered Accountants are located at 61-65 Bull Street and can be contacted on (03) 5443 0344 â– Tim Robertson and David Hutchings

Corrie Holmberg, Martin Leddra, Sandra Peacock

Your one stop shop in the heart of Maldon for beautiful gifts, homewares and Christmas decorations

Maldon Gallery 22-24 Main Street Maldon P: (03) 5475 2595 www.maldongallery.com.au Open 10am - 5pm Seven days a week issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 79

photo opportunity

heritage uncorked A gorgeous sunny day greeted wine enthusiasts who attended this year’s Bendigo Wealth Heritage Uncorked. event in Bendigo.

Andrea Coates, Christie Cooper, Dane Sheppard and Jacqueline Pinder

The iconic movable wine tasting event was created by the winemakers of Bendigo to showcase in a unique way the best of Bendigo wine, food, musicians and architecture. The day provided a special opportunity to taste the great wines of the regions, matched with gourmet food prepared by local chefs while strolling from one stunning heritage venue to the next.

The bendigo magazine team highly recommends this event - so make sure you organise a group of friends for next year. ■

Gabriel Girard and Sylvain Girard

Denita Wild and Richard Mullins

Belinda Lee, Simon Lee and Kym Ivey

Hamish Leahy, Sam Malone, Chris McMillan, Damien Presty and Xavier Luscombe

Attica Hineman and Allan Hineman

Continuing Education Bendigo

Study at CEB and start your new career in 2012 • Accredited courses - Certificate and Diploma • Computer & ICT training • Online learning • Short courses • Small business training partners • Personal & professional development

www.cebendigo.com.au

5430 2100

iHappy

Ella Bache The radiance C facial treatment is an intense treatment that brightens, hydrates and gives a radiant glow to your skin if it’s looking lacklustre, uneven or sun damaged. Skin is instantly brighter, more radiant and glowing with health.

The new iPhone 4s is almost an obsession.

With new features such as iCloud, an 8MP camera and Siri – the intelligent assistant that‘s there to help.

Just ask. It’s no wonder. www.apple.com/ iphone Samantha

Ella Bache Bendigo is located at 168 Queen Street or phone (03) 5441 4022 Lyn

Gucci Flora

loves

Flora is lighter, the floral scent of course evokes a younger consumer, and she has a hedonistic, darling side. The new flora fragrance features notes of citrus, peony, rose, osmanthus, sandalwood and patchouli. Perfume has the ability to evoke feelings. In this case it is a reminder of friends who gave the perfume as a gift. www.gucci.com Samantha

bendigo mag

Gorgeous geisha This green tea by T2 is smooth, sweet and oh so delicious. It’s green tea with the yummy flavor of strawberries and cream. This tea is delicious hot and stunning iced as a summer treat. It’s not easy being green, but it sure is healthy. www.t2tea.com Katarina

What are our ‘must have’ items to get us through the summer months?

En provence

Life is rosy Not only is it wonderful when someone sends a delivery of red roses to you – they are also a beautiful gift to give a loved one. Red roses are the epitome of romance.

Mitchell Street Florist is located at 72 Mitchell Street Bendigo. (03) 5442 5222

L’Occitane Verbena bath and shower gel is enriched with organic verbena extract from Corsica, invigorating lemon oil and bracing grapefruit extract from Italy. This gel gently cleanses, leaving the body delicately scented with a fresh and fruity fragrance.

Lyn

www.au.loccitane.com Katarina

Retro-fled Rocking a wide-brimmed floppy hat this summer not only protects one from Australia’s harsh sun and can help disguise a bad hair day – it also is an ultra stylish accessory that can add a new dimension to your outfit. www.sportsgirl.com.au Andrea

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 81

OFFERING CUISINE WITH A BLEND OF PERFECT ASIAN TECHNIQUES & CULINARY ADVENTURES….

restoran

malayan orchid

OPEN MONDAY - SATURDAY • dine-in • take-away • home delivery

• new menu • exciting wine-list 155 VIEW STREET BENDIGO PH: 5442 4411

bendigo Landmark

street

man on the

Bath Lane’s newest resident is three metres tall, wears a top hat and carries a pig. Confused? John Holton visited Bendigo’s popular lane in search of answers.

Writer: John Holton - Photographs: Anthony Webster

It’s eleven o’clock on a Friday morning and Bath Lane is jumping. There’s not a carpark to spare, the street cafes are spilling with customers enjoying the spring sunshine, and shoppers are coming and going from the many specialty stores I’m sipping a coffee with Bob of Mr Good Times fame, a long-time trader in Bath Lane, and he couldn’t be happier. It’s what he and his fellow traders in the lane and Bendigo Bank precinct have worked so hard for.

But I haven’t just come to socialise. I’m here to meet one of the Lane’s newest residents.

He doesn’t have a name, but he’s not hard to find given that he spends his day standing on an upturned bathtub at the Mitchell Street entrance to Bath Lane, watching over the constant stream of foot traffic.

With his imposing top hat, theatre programme in hand and a pig under his arm, he’s something of an enigma. But already Bendigonians are warming to his presence.

Those I ask on this lovely morning give the thumbs up. “He definitely has a sense of mystery about him,” says Maureen from Quarry Hill. “Even though he’s only new to the street, you somehow feel like he’s seen a lot of history.”

Coby from Kangaroo Flat is less prosaic in his response. “The pig’s funny,” he says with a grin. You can’t argue with that.

So, who is this masked man cast in bronze, and what does he stand for? To find the answer we need to go back a couple of years to 2009 and the beginnings of the Bath Lane upgrade project. “The Lane was originally ear-marked to be part of the Walk Bendigo plan,” says Bob. “But the all traders knew it wasn’t the right approach for Bath Lane and fought to change the plan. There were two things we wanted for the lane – improved footpaths and some sort of public sculpture to make Bath Lane more interesting.”

City of Greater Bendigo Urban Design Advisor, Brad Hooper, was part of the original tender process. “A panel of artists, primarily from Bendigo and central Victoria, was approached and invited to express their interest in the project,” he says. “The brief for the sculpture was developed in close consultation with the Bath Lane business and

traders community. “Once the candidates were short-listed they submitted a maquette (small model) of their idea to the project group.”

While the project was originally aiming for a single sculpture, the group found it hard to separate the work of Melbourne artist Craig Haire and local sculptor Yvonne George. The decision was made to bookend the lane with a sculpture from each artist. “In the end, each of the sculptures explored elements of the Lane’s history in different ways, and we liked that idea,” Brad says. “Craig’s take is quite whimsical, drawing on the history in a more enigmatic and figurative way, while Yvonne’s piece is a much more literal reference. Both are wonderful pieces in their context.”

Craig Haire’s bronze statue stands over three metres tall and is designed to capture the attention of passers-by. It references the public bath houses of the gold rush era (the upturned bath), the Lyric and Plaza theatres (he wears an opera cloak and clutches a theatre program), and the livestock market that the lane was home to well into the 20th century.

Yvonne George’s giant film reels, cast in laminated, rust-coloured steel, are installed at the Edward Street end of the lane and also refer to the theatres that were the hub of Bendigo’s entertainment zone until the closure of the Plaza Cinema in 1975.

Architecturally, Yvonne’s circular film reels also reference the heritage-listed circular building across the road, now home to the Good Loaf Bakery.

Both sculptures definitely deliver what the project group set out to achieve, adding a sense of identity to Bath Lane; building a whole new history for what is fast becoming Bendigo’s most vibrant precinct.

I recently overheard a young teenager say to his mates, “Who’s the dude with the pig?” It just the sort of response traders were hoping for, according to Fiona Naughton, owner of Rob’s Jeanery.

“We wanted people to be saying in future, ‘let’s meet at the man with the top hat’,” she says. “It’s a great example of traders and council working together for a positive

outcome. In years to come, these sculptures will have real historical significance.”

Back at the café, Bob is telling me about another unexpected connection between the new sculpture and Bendigo’s history.

“Norm Quinn, whose fruit shop is just a few doors away from the new statue, reckons the bronze theatre goer is the spitting image of Dr Henry Backhaus (the entrepreneurial Catholic priest of the Bendigo goldfields). If anyone would know, Norm would,” he says with a wry grin.

It’s the kind of ironic coincidence that no doubt will have historians scratching their chins in another 150 years. ■

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 83

for art’s sake

the

forest flaw

Her smile sparkles with the knowledge of someone who’s never settled for second best, yet the first thing you notice about Robyn Helbard is that she’s feisty. Happily so. In the best possible way.

Writer: Megan Spencer - Freelance arts writer and curator of El gordo Cafe and Art Space - Photographs: Anthony Webster

84 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

“My brain just exploded and I’ve been sewing ever since to keep up with the amount of ideas I have.”

Fiercely independent, Robyn is a free spirit, perfectly equipping the 35 year-old to embark upon the ride of her life.

Born and semi-bred in Bendigo (she moved away a lot), Robyn is the artist, designer and maker behind creature-craft business, The Forest Flaw, which is taking off at a rate of knots. During her first stall at The Square (Bendigo’s Handmade Market), not only did she sell a swag of creatures, she received orders for stock from Bendigo and Melbourne.

Her new business is timely, with the global resurgence in the handmade unlikely to vanish any time soon. Starting The Forest Flaw in April, Robyn says the idea came to her in an epiphany, with the name appearing two days later. A serial part-time worker – “I crave time for myself,” she tells me over coffee. “Lots of freedom to create things, it’s a priority” – earlier this year she went to see a psychic.“It was weird!” she laughs at the incredulity of the story. “She kept saying to me how much people loved my sculptures and creations. And I just thought “what are you talking about?” I’d never made anything like that before”.

hats, feathers, laces – it’s in the detail.”

Taking her cues from nursery rhymes, fables and folklore, The Forest Flaw occupies three sections: Creatures (foxes, rabbits, weasels and other animals); Characters (Robin Hood, Little Red Riding Hood and figures gleaned from fairytales and pop culture); and Costumes. “I make a little person inside a suit,” she explains, “like a bear or a dragon”.

The attraction lies in strong visual characterisation and a perfectionism which the artist acknowledges is one of her traits.

“Self-reliance is a big thing with me. I’ve always been independent. I don’t take advice very well. I like to make my own mistakes, not have them pointed out to me, and work on my own.” The end of that sentence could also be on her own terms.

Growing up in a musical household, Robyn has always painted, drawn and written, and works part-time at Latrobe University library. (She’s also sung in countless Bendigo

bands). She’s surprised by the rapid success of The Forest Flaw: “I made one thing and people jumped all over it.” It now has pages on Facebook and madeit.com, after some strategic initial promotion by supportive husband Nick. (The flyers he left out at work generated her first order).

At the time we spoke Robyn had just finished her 40th creature, had orders for 40 more, and was about to have her first exhibition. “If I could always do this, and create new ones [creatures], I’d be really happy just to be my own boss,” she says quietly. “It sounds funny, but I also don’t want to make a sole living from this. I don’t want to take the fun away from it. I need one day a week working on different things, to keep that balance between creative freedom and the business side.”

Necessity is the mother of invention, and perhaps another visit to that psychic might help a local artist definitely on her way up… ■

The next day inspiration hit “to make creatures from the forest”. And not with orthodox materials either. “I had a new packet of tea towels”, she laughs again, “and I didn’t sew at all. But I made my very first creature, an owl, from a tea towel.”

Next came a fox from socks, from which her entire range is now made. “My brain just exploded and I’ve been sewing ever since to keep up with the amount of ideas I have.”

Inspired by nature and a self-taught sewer, Robyn can spend up to 10 hours on a creature, though with orders increasing she concedes “I am getting faster.” The range is defined by a distinct flare for being different. “I think because these little creatures come from my head” she answers when I ask how they differ from other handmade toys. “I add things like

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 85

B.entertained

hay

making

During the first half of the 1980s, one of Australia’s biggest exports wasn’t actually an Aussie, but a Scot.

Writer: Ben Cameron

While the band Colin Hay fronted, Men At Work, produced some stirring Australianaesque pop and rock, in the Hoodoo Gurus, Goanna and Redgum vein of that era, he was born in Kilwinning, Scotland.

to concentrate and entertain the people who were there, and not those who weren’t,” he says.

Men At Work also had worldwide appeal, through hits like B Good Johnny, Who Can It Be Now? and the anthemic Down Under, yet Hay’s feet remain firmly fixed to the ground.

Through touring and some prolific songwriting – Hay’s released 11 albums since that move to LA – he’s progressed up to 1000 seat venues, and believes his latest album, Gathering Mercy, boasts some of the strongest songs of his career.

“I... don’t feel like a public figure, I feel more like a traveling salesman,” he says.

When the band split after just six years in 1985, Hay moved to Los Angeles, for some serious re-branding, while building an entirely new audience.

“I soon realised I’d have to work harder for more modest returns,” he says.

Moving away from the Grammy-winning, bazillion-selling hit parade that was Men at Work, Hay found himself playing to vastly smaller crowds than those days, too.

“It was difficult to deal with, but I learned

86 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

“When they came back, they usually brought their friends, and so it goes.”

“I think I hit upon a batch of good songs, that had some density to them,” he says of the album; a tribute to his late father.

One song in particular, Dear Father, which was written and recorded almost instantaneously, was a “gift from beyond”.

“The night my father died, I was in Glasgow on the river Clyde, about 20 streets away from where he was born,” Hay says.

“There’s some kind of bleak poetry in that, very bleak.”

It’s a sad memory among a collection of good ones, however.

“I have so many fond memories of him,” Hay says.

“I used to come home from school and find him up a tree, pruning branches in his suit and tie, having just arrived home from work.

“He inspired this record as he and my mother created a family and a good life for us all in a new country, full of love and laughter. Heroic.”

Despite spending large chunks of his life in three largely different Western countries, Hay is not the sum of his parts.

“They’re not separate. I think they are all connected, by a line of creativity,” he says of his 14 years in Scotland, and 22 in both Australia and the states.

“Essentially that’s what we have to offer, and I’ve been lucky to live in countries where what you create is often celebrated, and at the very least, tolerated.”

Hay still pines for the land down under though.

Colin Hay will be playing at the Echuca-Moama Riverboats Music Festival alongside other artists including Tex Perkins & The Band of Gold, The Bamboos, Mark Seymour, Mick Thomas’ Roving Commission, Vika & Linda Bull, Lanie Lane, The Audreys (duo), Clairy Brown and The Bangin’ Rackettes, Benny Walker, Ryan Meeking, The Bride Stripped Back and more. Held from Feburary 17 to 19 this is one event not to be missed. Bendigo magazine is excited to give away two double passes to our readers. To enter, simply tell us in 25 words or less why you would like to win these passes.

Email comps@bendigomagazine.com before December 20, 2011 for your chance to win.

old buzzard When Bendigo musician Marc Leon arrived in Australia in 1954, aboard a ship called the Seven Seas, it was in search of a better life.

Writer: Ben Cameron – Photograph: Andrew Perryman Hailing from a tiny German town called Prien am Chiemsee (80 kilometres south of Munich), he never dreamed his new life would one day involve playing with the likes of John Farnham and Normie Rowe.

plans to turn him into the next Tom Jones, he finally found a name to settle on. “He said my name had to go,” Leon says.

Via Perth, Melbourne and Albury, Leon eventually made his way to Villawood Migrant camp in Sydney.

“Ironically, a couple of years later, Engelbert Humperdink came on the scene.

“The government paid for our passage under the proviso we would stay for a minimum of two years... to add to the growth of the nation,” he says. “It might have been similar to living in a caravan park, in lots of ways.”

That camp would be home for four years, as it took a 14-year-old Leon and his father that long to build a house with their own hands.

“We made our own bricks and all... I lived there until I moved to Melbourne to join The Vibrants,” he says.

“I miss my friends and family, and the food and the coffee, and the space, and the ocean, and the burning sun,” he says.

“I don’t miss drunks trying to impart a gem of wisdom from their innermost thoughts at the baggage carousel.

“I also don’t miss who I was when I lived there.

“I find myself ordering multi-grain toast with vegemite, and a side of avocado.”

Although Men At Work downed tools for good nearly 30 years ago, classics like Who Can It Be Now and Be Good Johnny, remain in the Hay set.

“I wrote Who Can It Be Now in the bush in Southern NSW, with frogs as my audience, they seemed to like it,” he says.

“As for Johnny, well we’ve all been young and told to toe the line.

“If only we’d known it wouldn’t end there.”

Colin Hay plays the Echuca-Moama Riverboats Festival February 17 to 19. ■

It was a major shift, going from a migrant camp to a rock band in Melbourne, but it’s typical of Leon’s incredible life story – the self-taught guitarist would go on to perform with Farnham and Rowe, come to know the pre-teen Bee Gees, and play a private set for George Benson.

Leon got to Bendigo (in 1999) the long way round. In 1954, when his parents decided to leave Germany, it definitely wasn’t on the short list of destinations. “They originally thought about Brazil, but a friend suggested Australia,” Leon says.

“Germans weren’t liked much in Australia back then... the racial issue at school was the worst thing to deal with.”

Cultural difference eventually forced him to change his name from Fred Himmelsbach to Marc Leon. “Because of the racial thing I had to endure, I did hate my German name, besides, no one ever pronounced it proper,” he says. “I’d get names like Camelsback or Hamburger.

“After much arguing and to and fro, we finally settled on Marc Leon.

“So much for a weird German-sounding’ name, eh?”

Leon’s music career took flight in 1968 when he joined Graduate after leaving The Vibrants, who survived various incarnations for a decade, until the “Disco Boom” came along.

In fact after lead singer Glenys Hewett (the woman Leon would eventually marry) left the band temporarily in 1972, a young Chrissy Amphlet auditioned. But Leon wasn’t impressed.

“I knocked her back, because I felt she wasn’t good enough,” he laughs.

“We did hire her for a four week gig later on, though.”

Fast forward three decades to 1999, and Leon found his way to Bendigo, where early connections with local musicians Barry Gray and Roy Webb, led to the creation of MTB, and his joining The Old Buzzard Medicine Show.

Leon became a full time Buzzard just this year, while MTB was born with a simple creed at Leon’s house, in February 2008.

“We made a pact that we would not play any daggy songs and that we’d rather not do gigs unless we played what we wanted to play,” he says.

Becoming an official Old Buzzard has been a highlight.

“I love playing in that band,” Leon says.

“It’s the most fun I’ve ever had at any time, it’s like instant chemistry between us.

“So, when I started singing I initially called myself Freddy Cooke... I didn’t mind Freddy and my singing Idol was Sam Cooke.”

“Roy and Sue have had a major influence on what’s happening in the Bendigo music scene right now.

Twelve years later, when Leon’s manager had

“It wouldn’t exist without them.” ■

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 87

Visit www.locateaustralian.com.au to find and support our local and Australian businesses.

Locate Australian now features Australian products plus 100% Australian owned businesses.

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Edwards Greengrocer and Deli now open in Strathfieldsaye

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Extra virgin olive oil on vine ripe tomatoes.

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Aeroplane spoons loaded with mash.

Quality ham, prosciutto and salami the way it should be.

Cheese platter to share with friends.

Quality fruit, vegetables and fresh produce are the spice of life.

They nourish family and friends. They’re the mouthfuls with which we build memories. They tell stories and help us express ourselves.

Visit Mandy and Greg Shop 6, 25-33 Blucher Street, Strathfieldsaye Next to the Post Office p 5439 4222 f 5439 4333 www.edwardsgreengrocer.com.au

sinker

new releases

book, line and

It is holiday season and hopefully you have the luxury of a little extra reading time.

Why not open the cover and get lost in one of these new releases.

22.11.63 Stephen King What if you could go back in time and change the course of history? What if the watershed moment you could change was the JFK assassination?

11/22/63, the date that Kennedy was shot unless . . .

King takes his protagonist Jake Epping, a high school English teacher from Lisbon Falls, Maine, 2011, on a fascinating journey back to 1958 - from a world of mobile phones and iPods to a new world of Elvis and JFK, of Plymouth Fury cars and Lindy Hopping, of a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald and a beautiful high school librarian named Sadie Dunhill, who becomes the love of Jake’s life - a life that transgresses all the normal rules of time.

With extraordinary imaginative power, King weaves the social, political and popular culture of his baby-boom American generation into a devastating exercise in escalating suspense.

The Sending – Obernewtyn Chronicles Book Six Isobelle Carmody It came to me then, like a chilly draught from an unseen gap, that I had always known in my deepest heart that it would be like this, a slipping away from a life full of people I had come to love, in a place I had helped to shape, in a land I had helped to free…

The time has come at last for Elspeth Gordie to leave the Land on her quest to find and stop the computer machine, Sentinel from unleashing the deadly Balance of Terror arsenal. But before she can embark on her journey, she must find a lost key. And although she has long prepared for this day, nothing is as she anticipated.

Elspeth’s search will take her where she never thought to go, and bestow upon her stranger companions than any she ever imagined. It will lead her far from her destination to those she believed lost forever.

And it will test her, as she has never been tested before . . .

Inheritance Book Four Christopher Paolini Not so very long ago, Eragon – Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider – was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest.

Now, the fate of an entire civilisation rests on their shoulders. Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss.

And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him.

And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chances. The Rider and his dragon have come farther than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagasia? And if so, at what cost? ■

Collins Booksellers & ABC Centre Bendigo & Centro Lansell

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Let your mind wander ...into your local Collins Booksellers store for the best range of titles in town presented to you with the best customer service you’ll find

A NICE DROP

wine

summer

Summer in Bendigo provokes memories of lazy afternoons sitting around one of the local pools, Saturdays chasing a cricket ball over dusty fields and late dinners after the sun has gone down – obviously enjoyed with a glass of wine.

Writer: Ash Raeburn - Photographs: Anthony Webster

Axedale Reef, Sparkling Chardonnay NV. King Valley. Retail: $14 Members: $12.60.

This lovely sparkling shows a fantastic, vibrant golden colour in the glass with a delicate, fine bead developing. Flavours zipping across the palate include nectarine, white peach and a touch of lemon zest, yet the wine remains crisp and fresh. With just the tiniest hint of sweetness to finish, this wine makes the perfect start to a celebratory evening.

Paul Jaboulet Aine, Parallele 45 Rose 2010. Cote Du Rhone, France. Retail: $22 Members: $19.80.

This blend consists of predominantly Grenache and Cinsault with a small amount of Syrah. It has a delightful pale pink hue which accompanies a delicate, raspberry candy like aroma.

A creamy palate is complemented with flavours of red berries with zippy acidity and spice. A great late afternoon drink that will also accompany fresh salads and grilled white meats.

90 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

ASH RAEBURN - WINE GUY

Fairbank, Rouge 2009.

Sutton Grange. Retail: $24 Members: $21.60 Best served lightly chilled, the Rouge is a blend of Syrah, Cabernet and Merlot and is lower in alcohol than most red wines. Similar to Beaujolais in style, the initial sip is quite savoury but the red fruit certainly develops throughout the palate. The super fine tannin structure makes this lovely, easy drinking wine perfect finish for the balmy nights.

Milvine Estate, Marsanne 2010. Heathcote. Retail: $20 Members: $18 The medium range golden hue gives way to a palate that is quite textural. Flavours of grapefruit and tropical fruit are evident without being overpowering. The finish remains rounded yet still dry and refreshing with some citrus overtones. An oven roasted chicken ballontine would match perfectly just as the sun is setting.

Summer certainly lends itself as a perfect time to enjoy a tipple or two – end of work year parties, Christmas festivities and of course, New Year’s Eve. Below are four wines that make for a brilliant dinner party or on their own would be equally as good. They are all contrasting styles and varietals, however, they all have one thing in common, they are

excellently produced wines that would drink well at any time over the summer months.

All wines above are available at Wine Bank on View. 45 View Street, Bendigo.

(03) 5444 4655 Bring in this article and receive a 10 per cent discount on any of the wines reviewed. ■

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 91

BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER open 7 days a week bistro menu available from 12 noon 171-183 McIvor Road, Bendigo P: 5443 8166 E: info@allseasonsbendigo.com.au www.allseasonsbendigo.com.au

House of

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chef’s choice

seasoned WELL

Andy Martin is the newly appointed executive chef at the Quality Resort All Seasons. Ensuring the food is top quality in the bistro, accommodation, conferences, weddings and other functions – there can never be too many cooks in this kitchen.

Photographs: Anthony Webster At the helm of 12 chefs, Andy has his work cut out for him. With the new appointment of a head chef he has been able to take the step away from the kitchen and focus on the business aspects of the kitchen including invoicing, costings, produce ordering and of course the all important menu design.

“I’m really enjoying not actually doing the cooking. I’ve been in the kitchen for around 17 years and this is the next challenge for me. I was ready.“ “One of the highlights of my career was cooking an eye fillet for James Hird. Being an Essendon supporter and a huge fan I was thrilled when he walked in to the Melbourne restaurant. He even signed a photo of my daughter. He was a top bloke.”

New to the menu and proving very popular at the All Seasons is the Pork Belly. Served in the bistro and increasingly making its way onto wedding menus Andy shares the details of this delicious dish.

pork belly with rosti and apple sauce - Serves one Ingredients: Pork Belly • 1 pork belly • 100g salt • olive oil Potato Rosti • 200g potatoes • 80g parmesan cheese • sea salt • white pepper • 2 eggs • flour (enough to bind) Apple Sauce • 4 Granny Smith apples • ½ tsp white pepper • salt • 2 tsp lemon juice • 2 tblsp brown sugar

Method: Score the pork belly about ½ cm deep both ways. Oil the pork belly well. Rub in salt to ensure a crispy pork skin. Place in the over at 190°c for 50 minutes.

Take the pork belly out and place it in a fridge. While it is cooling begin cooking the potato rosti.

Steam the potatoes until soft and let them cool for 10 minutes in the fridge. Grate the potatoes and add in the parmesan cheese, sea salt, white pepper, eggs and flour. Mix well.

Place a portion of the mixture into a pan with olive oil on medium heat for around three minutes. Turn over and cook for another three minutes. Take out and place on a tray.

For the apple sauce, peel and core the apples.

Cut up into chunky pieces and place in a pot with lemon juice. Cook until the apples have softened. Add the white pepper and brown sugar for 10 minutes. Do not blend; simply break down with a fork.

Cut up the pork into 10 pieces. Heat the pan and sear the pork for two minutes. Now place the pork on a flat pan in the oven for 15 minutes with the potato rosti.

Place the apple sauce on the plate however you like (feel free to be creative). Place the rosti on the plate and the pork belly just on top and drizzle some of the jus over. Serve with either vegetables or a fresh garden salad. ■

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 93

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home grown

recipe

for life

Forget about making big bikkies, for the Castlemaine cookie queen it’s a labour of love.

Writer: Sarah Harris - Photographs: David Field Michel Mussett is not exaggerating when she says 95 per cent of her business is generated by word of mouth. Just the taste of one of her passionfruit creams is sufficient to transport the bespoke biscuit maker’s product into the boardrooms of Victoria’s top companies.

Most recently she landed a contract to supply Emirate Airlines’ first class lounge, thanks to

the simple act of a Qantas attendant taking a packet from Michel’s Fine Biscuit Co to a party.

But though her biscuits have travelled widely, it was not until this year Michel made her own first foray overseas – to the city of lovers, Paris.

“It was a trip Bill and I had been planning and saving for when he was diagnosed,” she says.

Two years since cancer claimed the man she describes as her soulmate and best friend, Bill is still very much part of Michel’s Fine Biscuit Co. After all, it was in his shed that the boutique bakery started nine years ago. “When we first started I had one small section,” she says looking around the gleaming stainless steel benchtops dotted with jewels of biscuits being expertly sandwiched with Belgian

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 95

chocolate by one of her two permanent kitchen staff. “I wanted to do it in here, rather than go out and invest in a factory because I had no way of knowing if it was going to work. “After 12 months I said, ‘Bill,’ I said, ‘Darl I need some more room.’ By that time his hot rod, a 1931 Ford three-window coupe, had already gone to his parents. Then after another 12 months I said, ‘Bill, I said, Love, I said, Pet.’ Now it is all bakery behind their Castlemaine home. The lathe long ago was replaced by ovens, but the boy still burns in her heart.

Michel created the My Sweet William range in his memory. The flavours of ginger, almond, muscatel and native spices were among his favourites and the blaze of orange across the packaging is a nod to him as well.

“The orange is significant because that is the colour he was going to paint the hot rod he

was building. You know when I was in Paris I saw orange everywhere. There were orange bags, orange wallets, orange jackets and jumpers everywhere … to me it was like a sign that Bill was with me.”

Bitter-sweet like the best couverture chocolate, the Paris stay followed a culinary tour through Burgundy led by Annie Smithers. “Ahhh the food, the food,” Michel sighs. In place of the usual chocolate box images of chateaus, gardens and cute cobbled lanes, her iPad contains hundreds of photographs of everything she and her course companions ate.

After all these years slaving quite literally over a hot oven, her commitment to fine food has never flagged. “Since Bill has died I must admit it has been challenging because I still don’t know why I am here – working six and seven days a week for what? But I would go

crazy with nothing to do and I do love the food. I find the passion in food incredible.

I love people who love food and I think Masterchef has been fantastic for the food industry. It has brought people to realise it is not just a biscuit. It is what goes into it; it is who is behind it.”

What goes into it is very much the key to the success of Michel’s baked goods which now include 27 products ranging from seasonal hazelnut shortbread stars and fruit mince pies to savoury fresh rosemary and pink lake salt crispbread. “You can’t have a great product unless you use great ingredients,” she says. “I am very concious of the ingredients we use and very supportive of our accredited farmers, producers and farmers’ markets, so I buy as much as I can from them. For example I get all my olive oil and black olive tapenade and lake salt from Mount Zero.

“Wherever possible I buy Australian – the nuts, the muscatels, the ginger, the dates.

The exception is the Belgian chocolate and pecans from America because they just grow them so well. We get our vanilla from Tonga. It is a beautiful product, but it is a fair trade product so it actually helps put water back into the villages.

“I know where everything comes from, where exactly it was grown and in most cases who grew it, like my Green Eggs which come from Alan and Shelly Green’s free range property near Ararat.”

Michel’s careful sourcing of ingredients held her in good stead when she was required to go through the rigorous process of obtaining halal certification before her biscuits became part of the tea service in the Emirates lounge at Melbourne Airport. It also cost her $1800 and she will be required to pay an annual fee for halal certification.

“There are so many costs associated with small business. One of the reasons I haven’t done more interstate is because the product has to go refrigerated in warmer months and the costs are outrageous. They charge me $300 for a pallet, because I have to book a full pallet, and I might just have one box worth $200.”

But the costs are not her only limitations.

In truth she has put her own boundaries around the business. “I don’t want to become a great big mass-produced biscuit maker. I am never going to make a fortune.

In fact its only in the last three years we have started to make any money. My accountant used to nag me all the time, saying I couldn’t just keep on doing it for love … of course we had Bill’s wage to support us then.”

It’s ironic really that she used to work in accounts payable until she was made redundant. “It is the best thing that ever happened to me,” Michel says of the job loss. “I now employ a bookkeeper one day a week so I don’t have to do something I really don’t enjoy. I like the fact that it is a small family business. “You know I started off this business by making fruit mince pies for my friends and family. I like to think it’s still for friends and family, only now they are no longer just mine.’’ ■

96 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

Tri-Bendigo Wine Tour

Three of Bendigo’s leading wineries have joined together to offer wine lovers the Tri-Bendigo wine tasting experience.

Balgownie Estate, Sandhurst Ridge Winery and Connor Park are conveniently located only 10 minutes from each other. With up to 30 wines available for tasting, this is a superb experience.

Balgownie Estate Est. 1969

Ph. (03) 5449 6222

Ph. (03) 5435 2534

Luxury Boutique Accommodation now available at our new guest cottages.

Cellar Door Open Daily 11am - 5pm

Closed Christmas and Good Friday

Ph. (03) 5437 5234 Contact one of these participating wineries for more information

156 Forest Drive Marong,Victoria Australia Phone: (+61) 354 35 25 34 | Fax: (+61) 354 35 25 48 wine@sandhurstridge.com.au

STYLISH ACCOMMODATION, WITH OCEAN VIEWS FOR THE ULTIMATE SUMMER HOLIDAY OR COSY WINTER ESCAPE

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FROM THE FOODIE

guilty

pleasures

Dark secrets from a Bendigo foodie – from a 12 course dinner at Australia’s best restaurant to sharing a Sunny Boy with his kids.

Writer: Tim Baxter – Photographs: Anthony Webster My idea of writing an article about all my guilty pleasures was going to be discussing with shame and embarrassment, my secret addiction to Cheetos, deep-fried prawn toast, fries and pizza. I intended to wax lyrical about how a week rarely goes by when I don’t sneak off for a Gillies pie (surely the greatest pie in the country), wander down the laneway to buy some of El Gordo’s delicious licorice all-sorts or share a Sunny Boy with my kids. Don’t even get me started on the odd vanilla slice craving, rocky road devotion or our family’s tragic home made ice cream flirtations…

Then my wife told me that they were not guilty pleasures at all. They are typical snack and junk food deviations of busy people who are constantly surrounded by beautiful artisan produce of the highest quality and provenance. After a long day at the restaurant discussing the merits of Sydney rock oysters over those from Coffin Bay or the extraordinary depth of flavour from the

60-day, dry aged, grass fed, Erindale rump steak, not to mention the incredible finesse of the magnum of the Bindi bubbles recently poured at our remarkable wine dinner – perfectly natural (apparently?) to get home at 1am and just want a good salty tasty kick from a handful of those naughty cheese and bacon balls. She further went on to open my eyes to the true guilty pleasures we have shared in the past few years. Here are few for your amusement…

of our daughter playing safely or just the sheer quality of the bubbles themselves.

We later found out that particular bottle of wine now sells for about $3000! And even though I had paid less than a 20th of current value we certainly felt a little guilty as that would really helped the mortgage stress most of us now have.

One sunny Spring afternoon Anita and I shared a very succulent smoked trout while watching our young daughter play in the backyard in the warm sunshine. From the cellar I grabbed a very rare bottle of old Champagne that I had been saving for a special occasion. It was a 1966 Dom Perignon Oenetheque that I had picked up relatively cheaply years earlier. To this day it remains the greatest wine I have ever had (my wife agrees), and I’m unsure if it was because of the trout, the company, the view

Earlier this year while celebrating Chinese New Year I was having breakfast with my wife and daughters at The European, in Spring Street Melbourne, and something elusive caught my eye on the menu… caviar; closely followed by the scariest words of all on a menu – $Market Price! So we decided to forgo our annual dinner festivities in the big smoke to have a truly decadent breakfast with our daughters instead. This consisted of some extraordinary (farmed and sustainable) caviar, soft boiled eggs, blini and brioche – sterling silver caviar dish, mother of pearl spoons and all… but so very expensive we had to choose this over dinner.

How about having that third martini – always make me feel guilty (especially the next morning).

A few years ago while working for a small Victorian winery I had the good fortune to be taken to Tetsuya’s restaurant in Sydney (at the time it was considered Australia’s best) by my boss for their 12 course degustation dinner. It was such a mind-blowing dinner that completely overwhelmed my senses I just had to take my wife. Two days later she flew up to Sydney and we had the identical 12 courses I’d had just two days earlier – now that’s one big, extravagant, decadent and guilty pleasure.

On a recent holiday to Phuket, Thailand my daughter and I (who are primarily responsible for most of the meals in our household) were alerted to an extraordinary Thai cooking class available to us on the very last morning of our holiday. And even with our holiday money spent and our waistlines bursting at the seams we decided this was too good an opportunity to pass up for our eight year old. So with the credit card now officially obliterated, Stellina and I preceded to learn how to cook an authentic four-course Thai banquet from one of the Island’s best chefs on a cliff top kitchen over-looking the crystal clear Andaman Sea. A simply breathtaking, fun and educational way to spend our last day of holidays. Perhaps the last guilty pleasure until Christmas. ■

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fashion on the street

dream

DENIM

Violet has put together the perfect transitional outfit that will take her from spring to summer with the oh-so-hot-right-now high waisted shorts teamed with a basic tee. Here’s how to work Violet’s look.

Photographer: David Field - Model: Violet

Sugarbabe oversized tee $34.95 from Miss Jayz (Hargreaves Mall)

A little birdie told me Chambray shirt $59.95 from the LABoratory (Bath Lane)

Ko Fashion Kirabow flats $49.95 from Miss Jayz (Hargreaves Mall)

Multi strand bracelet $39 from Mona Lisa (Bath Lane)

Nobody High Boy short $139 from Mona Lisa (Bath Lane)

Betty Basics Grace tights $29.95 from The LABoratory (Bath Lane)

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a dress

this season

DAMSEL IN

Whimsical prints, flowing fabrics and an enchanted oak forest for our modern Maid Marion.

Jayed wears Zimmermann Savannah layered playsuit $340 from Mona Lisa (Bath Lane)

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104 | bendigo magazine - issue 25

Jayed wears Mei Mei lace detail dress $89.95 from Minc Fashion (Strath Village Shopping Centre)

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Jayed wears Talulah dress $249 from Red Door Boutique (Chancery Lane)

Jayed wears Sass & Bide The Printed Pear dress $350, Goat Hearder for Robe feather collar $125, Limedrop ‘Run Away’ pendant necklace $49.50 all from Robe (Chancery Lane) *Gumboots supplied

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Jayed wears Ellis & Dewey dress $159.95, Gunmetal cuff $24.95, Lavish Jewellery semi-precious necklace $34.95 all from The LABoratory (Bath Lane) and Ko Fashion Tess wedges $49.95 from Miss Jayz (Hargreaves Mall)

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Jayed wears August Wish Upon a Star vest $69.95, Silk shorts $99.95, Crystal and pearl necklace $49.95 all from Stryde Shoes (Killians Walk) and Mestige bustier bandeau $29.95 from Miss Jayz (Hargreaves Mall)

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Jayed wears Jac & Jack Odette shawl $160 from Robe (Chancery Lane)

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Jayed wears Martini dress $149, Minimoke waist belt $19.95 and silver disc earrings $9.95 all from Soho Boutique (Bath Lane)

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Jayed wears Viva dress $59.95 and Ko Fashion Houston flats $49.95 both from Miss Jayz (Hargreaves Mall) and Loved by Liz stone necklace $39 from Mona Lisa (Bath Lane) Photographer: David Field Stylist and makeup artist: Katarina Vishnich Model: Jayed Quinn Location: Harcourt oak forest

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tried and tested

lashes

luscious

Our eyes are one of the most distinctive features on our face, they have the ability to show what mood we’re in, there are so many colourings, shapes and sizes, and we can alter their appearance with different makeup styles.

Writer: Katarina Vishnich - Photographs: David Field As our eyes help to characterise our face, our eyelashes are a key element to frame and characterise our eyes.

The one item I cannot live without is mascara – you can take away all the other cosmetics, but the one staple for my beauty routine every day, without fail, is a quick lick of mascara. It opens my eyes up, darkens and lengthens my lashes and helps me to look awake and fresh faced for the day. I recall one occasion when I popped into the supermarket and ran into an acquaintance when I had no mascara on and they asked if I was ill. Point noted.

Like many women these days, I don’t seem to have enough hours in the day. The days where I could spend one hour-plus in the bathroom prettying and preening myself have long passed and have been replaced with the negotiation of morning tasks, lunches and sleepy children. A convenient solution to my problem would be permanent mascara. Tinting I hear you say? No,

unfortunately for me, my eyes are sensitive and water ridiculously at the slightest drop of tint, but another great innovation in the eyelash industry is… eyelash extensions.

Much akin to hair extensions, eyelash extensions are bonded to your natural lashes individually, creating natural-looking, glamorous lashes.

Setting out to visit the ladies at Brazilian Beauty, I was excited at the prospect of seeing a more voluminous lash line in under an hour.

I was led to one of the beauty rooms where my eyelashes were cleansed and my lower lash lines were covered with protectant antiwrinkle eye-pads. In effect, the pre-procedure treatment was enough to put me at a comfortable level of ease despite my previous mentioning that I didn’t want to come out looking like I was of Minnelli prodigy.

The semi-permanent process was noninvasive and very relaxing while each singular lash was bonded to my natural lashes with a high speed adhesive. I opened my eyes

to discover long, natural looking lashes that were so flawless, I couldn’t distinguish between my lashes and the synthetic ones.

Benefits wise, the lashes are weightless and waterproof, no need for mascara as they thicken lashes up to 70 per cent and lengthen up to 100 per cent, which means we can swim and exercise worry-free.

As our natural lashes shed in a regular cycle, if done correctly, the extension should only fall out when the natural lash does, so many clients generally do not need a touch up appointment for three to four weeks.

With the weather warming up, and the Australian love of swimming and water sports, mascara isn’t really a good option, but eyelash extensions will soon become your new BFF. Visit the ladies at Brazilian Beauty Bendigo at Shop 23 Fountain Court, Bendigo.

Ph: (03) 5443 8855 or online at www.brazilianbeauty.com.au ■

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Exquisitely Original Concepts

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photo opportunity

Dayna McGough, Phebe Baines and Kellie Baines

Elize, Ruby and Sharyn Coombes

Paige Hopley and Brett Thompson

Bridget Murray, Mandy Murray, Chantelle Murray and Eloise Murray

i love a great fashion parade Bendigo’s hottest spring fashion parade was recently held at Bendigo Marketplace.

Featuring casual, dress and racewear from Bendigo’s top fashion stores including Dotti, Portmans, Valleygirl, Melrose Ave, Jacqui E, Jeanswest, NoniB, Sintra and Novo Shoes.

Guests were treated to nibbles and beverages while they sat back and took in the hottest looks of 2011 with their very own style reference booklet. ■

Ryan Comer, Aden WeeHell, Julia Sloan and Jess Gilmore

Joan Boyd and Carol Comer

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issue 25Bendigo - bendigo magazine Woodend 5441 8841 | 117

shades

SWEET

The must-have fashion statement for summer is a hot pair of frames. Not only do they give you a trendy seasonal look, but ensure your eyes are protected from the glaring Australian sun.

Jake wears Oakley Plaintiff $289.95 from Kosmac & Clemens (Mitchell Street) Sarah wears Oroton Elysees $265 from Wills Street Eyecare (Wills Street)

Jack wears Serengeti Vasio $340 from Kosmac & Clemens (Mitchell Street)

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Photography: David Field Models: Jake, Sarah, Jack, Julia, Abby and Sam Location: Conservatory Gardens Bendigo

Sam wears Serengeti Larino $320 from Kosmac & Clemens (Mitchell Street)

Abby wears Gianfranco GF974-01 $289 from Kosmac & Clemens (Mitchell Street)

Julia wears Oroton Opera $235 from Wills Street Eyecare (Wills Street)

issue 25 - bendigo magazine | 119

red door boutique

red door boutique

COFFEE & CULTURE

coffee with gusto & art with heart - fashion gallery - hair, skin & beauty - protagonists of hospitality & drink culture.

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