Coast Summer 2024

Peter

CELEBRATING TWENTY YEARS

CONTENTS

Chasing waves. Rising early. Surging through the water, in search of that salt-soak high. We talk to creative Sophie Fletcher about her current life journeys.

Peter Foley’s journey as a passionate and esteemed music and art promotor leads him to Archies Creek. Across a long career he has put on thousands of shows, but Pete’s next venture might well be his best yet.

Amongst the leaves, petals and feathers, Melanie weaves stories and myths to create public art that is sensitve to context, unafraid to surpise, and always more than it first appears.

MELANIE CAPLE

FLOW STATE CARAVAN OF LOVE

THE REGULARS THE PEOPLE THE PLACES

heidi and jake

philip and danielle

beau rixon

evan enbom

karen o’neill

jarrah van stekelenberg

chloe lawson

PADDLING THE STRAIT GUARDIANS OF THE FOREST

Stuart and Victoria Inchley stumbled upon endangered slender tree ferns by chance on their 300 acre property in Turtons Creek. Find out more about their conservation story.

For ten relentless days, five men and their tiny sea-kayaks floated on the belly of a giant – the immense swell of the Southern Ocean, confronting one of the most daunting challenges known: crossing Bass Strait. Their journey was more than just a test of endurance; it was a quest to push their limits, raise funds for cancer research, and honour those they had lost.

san remo silverwaters vineyard anerie, cowes bluette, inverloch mirboo north wonthaggi artspace wilsons promontory

JAN LEARMONTH

The studio of sculptor Jan Learmonth sits like a bowerbird’s nest - an eclectic collection of nature’s gifts. Twigs, seed pods, spiny quills, and found objects fill the space, creating a rich tapestry of memory and imagination. Her sculptures invite us to pause, and to look closely at the world around us, finding beauty in the everyday.

CONTENTS

59 RIDERS OF THE STORM

When the wind is howling, the sand is whipping and most of us are bunkered down inside, three-time world record holder Craig Hollins is driving into the storm with his windsurfer on the roof.

WILDLIFE WARRIOR

From the wilds of Papua New Guinea to the natural environment of the Bass Coast, Simmone Fleming has dedicated her life to caring for native wildlife. A volunteer rescuer and carer, Simonne emphasises the importance of community support. “The heart of it all is to alleviate animal suffering. It can be challenging, but we do our best. We always need more help to share the load.”

SAN REMO

The seaside village of San Remo has its own special vibe. Take your time exploring this funky coastal destination often framed by the colourful fishing fleet when they are docked to deliver the fresh seafood Bass Strait is famous for. Five things we love.

A letter from the Editor

We’re super excited to be back! Along with other iconic magazines, Coast is leading a print revival. The tactile and engaging qualities of print media are such a beautiful way to showcase our coast’s people, places and superb photography. Print is not dead!

When Coast ended after nearly two decades of groundbreaking local photo-journalism, I, along with many in the community, felt a significant loss. Coast was truly a local icon that many had loved and connected with. I decided to take the plunge, and I’m now delighted to be recreating the magazine from my hometown of Inverloch.

I’d like to acknowledge Warren and Aissa Reed, the original founders of Coast, who’ve been so helpful with the transition. Both exceptionally talented and creative, they’ve stayed on as major contributors. Many of our original writers have also been only too pleased to come back.  We are a small, passionate and dedicated team.

Everyone has a story, and it’s always wonderful to be able to share a range of them with you. They are the true heart of the magazine. This edition features some great local characters, like Peter Foley, whose passion for music and the arts led him to Archies Creek, and creative young surfer Sophie Fletcher. There are the five dedicated guys who paddled Bass Strait to raise funds to beat cancer, and we also meet Stuart and Victoria Inchley, who are resolutely protecting their patch of Slender Tree Ferns – just to name a few.

I’ve had a blast meeting the extraordinary folk featured in this edition. I’m deeply grateful to the advertisers who are back on board, and to you, our readers. Thank you.

I hope you enjoy Coast’s return, and feel inspired by what you see and read in our first issue. And we’re just getting started!

Annette x

PUBLISHING EDITOR Annette Spinks

SUB EDITOR Anne Roussac-Hoyne

WORDS Aissa Reed, Katie Cincotta, Sally O’Neill, Christina Aitken, Bonny Redman

PHOTOGRAPHY Warren Reed, Andrew Harrison

DESIGN Amelie Pritchard

PRINT MANAGER Nigel Quirk

SOCIAL MEDIA Tyson Butler

ADVERTISING MANAGER Trudy Mantell0491 337 188 | ads@coastmedia.com.au

COAST MAGAZINE hello@coastmedia.com.au

On the cover - Twin Reefs by Warren Reed

We acknowledge and celebrate the traditional owners and custodians across our country, including the Bunurong/Boon Wurrung people of the land where we predominantly operate.

photo kiarra spinks

COAST LIFE

RARE

EARTH STUDIO GALLERY

GALAH

Rare Earth Studio Gallery, nestled in the small historic township of Toora, showcases paintings in natural earth pigments by local artists, as well as quality artisan wood and ceramics.

Open 7 days over summer: 10.30-4.

Image: Visual Farm

By Annabelle Hickson

A stunning collection of rural images and stories. The perfect gift for the person who has everything.

Available: Nice Stack Of Books

Rescue to Release are an animal welfare charity. You can show them your support by making a donation: www.rescuetorelease.org.au

INVERLOCH ARTS

Inverloch Artshow raising money for food boxes. Easter long weekend

Pictured Cow Belle by Ellen Hubble: people’s choice winner 2024.

GIRLS ON BOARD SURF CAMP

It’s never too late to learn to surf.

Join a group of like minded 50+ females in a fun, supportive and welcoming environment.

@girlsonboard

FISH CREEK

Fish back on the roof. The fish has returned to the creek with the two-metre mullet up on the hotel roof once more. It’s a positive sign for Fish Creek united by the vision to rebuild the Football and Netball Club destroyed by fire in late 2023.

You can help www.gofundme.com/f/our-wonderfulclub-start-to-rebuild

TWO COAST PEOPLE

Heidi Opteynde & Jake Lurati

Paramedics Heidi Opteynde & Jake Lurati juggle family life, their masters’ studies AND life & death situations – all in a day’s work. We talk to them about life, love & the challenges of travelling OZ together.

Heidi: I’m an Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedic and first responder, and I’ve been in the service for eleven years. Recently, a young colleague called me a ‘veteran,’ which surprised me since the average paramedic career span is only five years. Working in a rural area has spared me some of the burnout that’s common in Melbourne. I’m also working on my master’s degree to become a qualified paramedic practitioner. Jake and I both applied for a government scholarship, and the two of us got in!

We’ve got two young girls, Pippa (8) and Zara (6). We already have very full schedules, but we both encouraged each other to take on further study. I try to be very diligent with my time management. As soon as the girls are off to school (and I’m not working on a shift), I’ll be studying. Or at night, it’s ‘put the kids to bed, make the lunches, clean the house, and get down to study’. We’re on a shared work-roster with Jake doing one day and night, and me doing the next day/night shift. It’s a lot of juggling, but it means there’s always someone here for the kids. We’ve got really great colleagues and friends in our unit, and a super-supportive community, so it all works.

I met Jake at a house inspection, of all places. My friend Nick mentioned his mate Jake was looking for a housemate and that he was starting the same paramedic course as me at Vic Uni. I thought, ‘What if we don’t get along?’ But we did. We went to uni together, lived together, and shared the same friends.

When Jake showed up at the inspection with no shoes and a flannelette shirt, I’d thought to myself, ‘He’s very attractive!’ It went no further, though: he was in a relationship. But we all moved in together and got along instantly.

We were best friends for ages, and our friendship just continued to grow. We got together about nine months later (when he was single) and now we’ve been together fourteen years, and married for ten. My first impressions? I thought he was a bit handsome and very, very tall. He’s like a big bear . . . a giant Caramello Koala. Jake has the biggest heart, and he’s incredibly supportive of all the things I do.

Our first big trip together was to New Zealand. We’d hiked up a mountain to see a glacier, but my knees were terribly painful going downhill. It got so bad that I couldn’t go forwards, and had to make my way down the hill backwards. Jake held my

hands all the way and sang a funny song about all my different abilities (basically making fun of me) – to take my mind off my pain and help me get down the hill.

The secret to our happy relationship? Honesty, trust and saying it how it is. There’s nothing we won’t talk about or try to resolve. It takes a lot of effort to have a strong and successful relationship. I admire Jake’s kindness towards other people. He’s the first person to put his hand up to help someone – at any time of day or night. He’s quite an incredible human, and the generosity he shows towards everybody, especially his kids and family, is amazing.

Jake: I also work at Wonthaggi Ambulance service as an ALS paramedic. I’ve been doing that for eleven years, and I’m also studying.

I met Heidi through a mutual friend. We all went to look at a house in Coburg. She was in her pool uniform and l thought she was pretty cute. We didn’t know each other prior to that, but it was a bit uncanny that both of us had enrolled to do exactly the same course.

Sharing parenting and shiftwork allows me to be a hands-on dad, which is great. We’re a beach-oriented family – I do a lot of sailing and surfing with the kids. We camp, hike and go away in the caravan quite a bit.

We moved down here for work, but my parents have had a place in Inverloch since I was twelve. Before that we used to come here camping, so I’ve been around this coast for most of my life.

We were very fortunate to end up working at Wonthaggi. It took me about five years to get stationed here. There’s a waitlist now of about 60 people, so I consider myself to be very lucky. In December 2023 we both ticked over ten years in the service.

It was tricky during the Covid period: there was a lot of burn-out. We were lucky – we were able to get away for three months to go travelling around Australia. That gave me an opportunity to refresh and reset. Lots of our patients need us and our emotional support to get through, and that can be draining.

My first impressions of Heidi? I thought she was cute –and loud! She’s bubbly, has a lot of drive, and she’s a little competitive. She is also a great mum and she takes really good care of the kids. Over the years she’s had to deal with bit of adversity at work, having had a pretty rough time with her body. She works really hard on that, which is pretty impressive. I can’t say I’d be able to work as hard as she does if I had all those challenges. She’s a very strong girl and works hard to build her resilience.

The first time we got together was at the Deniliquin Ute Muster. We had a few drinks and hooked up (he laughs). We were always very close as friends, doing uni together and house-sharing. It certainly gave us time to establish what we did and sometimes didn’t like about each other, and it gave us a good foundation for marriage.

Our three months travelling around Australia had its challenges. We probably tried to pack too much into too short a timeframe, so we became very tired. It was a big learning curve. We’re both independent people. There were little adjustments to be made. As a bloke I wanted to have a crack at fixing things, and Heidi was like, ‘just go get help’. Overall, it was a great trip.

Heidi’s most endearing quality? She’s really compassionate. She wears her heart on her sleeve and she’s not afraid to put herself out there. AND she’s really energetic and bubbly, and I enjoy that.

We’ve had lots of adventures together. We went skydiving, and we did a big bungee jump in NZ. When I jumped off, the guys yelled ‘Stop!’ just as I stepped out, and I didn’t hear them. Heidi panicked, but they were just having joke on us.

I think the secret to a happy relationship is good communication and being brave enough to have those hard conversations. Being able to compromise and support each other’s individual goals helps too.

I admire Heidi’s resilience. She keeps her physical and mental health and wellbeing strong. She’s always up for an adventure and willing to give things a go. That’s what I love about her.

COAST LOVES

WILSONS PROM

Amazing Prom adventure. Swim in remote, turquoise waters, cruise rugged rocky islands and encounter spectacular wildlife on a full day Prom Cruise with Wildlife Coast Cruises. Drop anchor at Refuge Cove and cruise around the iconic lighthouse. Nature will make sure it’s a day to remember.

CURL CARTOON

‘Sand in my Crack, Life as a Beach Bum’, the new book by local artist Curl, is a collection of cartoons and musings from long-time Coast character ‘Aloha Barry’. Online orders are available at  smorgasboarder.com or call Curl directly on 0407 515 333 to secure your copy. RRP $69

RUPERTS MIRBOO NORTH

A store filled with beautiful treasures and a magical wonderland. Well worth a visit.

POTTERY

Drip glaze pottery range. Available from Southern Bazaar, Inverloch.

JACQUELYN STEPHENS

Aqueous Bloom Bioluminescence III Acrylic Paint on Linen, 86cm x 86cm

KALSA

An organic mouth-blown vessel with a unique matte finish. Stone ground in frosted smoke for a juxtaposition of form and finish. Made by skilled artisans.

Available at Tyde, Cowes

This pendant has an 18ct yellow gold and silver twist around the pure silver and pure gold centre, which contains 0.08ct of diamonds. It’s available in Peridot, Shy Blue Topaz and Rhodolite Garnet. $1,660.00

MONICA SZWAJA

PLUNGE POOLS

Coast loves these circular pools by Outback Plunge Pools. Made from high grade corrugated stainless steel. An Aussie icon.

words Sally O’Neill photos Warren Reed, Brian Carr, Tim Chuma & supplied

CARAVAN OF LOVE

Peter Foley

Music promotion is a risky business, but it’s a challenge music promoter Peter Foley relishes. At any gig, you’ll find him at the back of the room in his trademark hat, quietly observing the magic he’s curated.

Across a long career he’s put on thousands of shows, but Pete’s next venture might well be his best yet. “I’ve always had a love of the arts without being a practitioner. I gravitate towards artistic people because I find them interesting,” said Pete, who likens his role in the arts to that of a footy umpire. “I’m not able to play, but I want a role in the game.”

It was a winding journey that led him to Gippsland, starting with house concerts in his Melbourne lounge room in the eighties and rolling on across suburban Melbourne venues. He has booked, toured and hosted thousands of shows with a procession of musical talent that makes the mind spin, always navigating what can be quite a tricky space with practical patience and love for the artists.

Born in a Melbourne hospital because he was a “difficult birth”, Pete grew up in Mt Beauty where his father started the local workmen’s club, perhaps founding a family tradition of initiating gatherings. The first single he bought was the Beatles ‘Let It Be’, followed by eight further Beatles records, then eight Neil Young albums and then eight Ry Cooder albums – yes, he admits, he was obsessive.

“I was out of step with my contemporaries at school who loved the music of the day like the Eagles. I had an instinct and appetite for something different – the popular vibe didn’t satisfy me.”

Peter and first wife Lyn’s son Jack was born with muscular dystrophy. They couldn’t go out, so they brought the world of music into their home, regularly cramming more than eighty

people into their lounge room, allowing them to get up close and personal with some of the industry’s finest.

“When Jack died, we couldn’t face the house concerts, so we transferred to Oakleigh Bowling Club. Tracey Miller headlined our first show. I arrived wondering how many people would be there, but when I walked into a crowd of 150, I thought we were probably onto something. No-one thought a regular gig out in the ‘suburban wilderness’ would work, but there are always people crying out for music and connection.”

Up to 200 gigs a year followed in Oakleigh, as Peter, his sister Sue and a team of passionate believers transformed Caravan into a mecca for musicians and music lovers, attracting local and international artists who’d always say yes because Pete was more than a promoter – he often became a friend, and always treated musicians with respect.

When Caravan was forced to move to South Oakleigh, the artists and audience followed, and the wheels kept turning. His marriage broke up (amicably) and Peter and Sue continued to run shows with a team of friends and volunteers. This included Mary: she and Peter had met in the eighties when she was “the fastest tram-driver in Melbourne”. Always a part of the Caravan team, she and Peter have now been together nearly ten years.

Thinking it was time to slow down a little, Peter and Mary bought a house at Venus Bay, travelling back and forth to shows at South Oakleigh. “I’d do the gigs, but on Sunday nights I loved heading back to the coast. I felt I was coming home,” Pete remembers.

Opportunity knocked when Mary took a trip to Archies Creek, where she’d been told the pub was for sale. She loved it, so Pete went to check it out. “The late afternoon light was lovely as I drove into the Creek. The moment I saw the hotel, I was instantly excited. As soon as I got back to Venus Bay and told Mary, she said: “Let’s sell up. We’re going to Archies Creek!”

It was another first night in a new venue for Pete, Sue and Mary – who again didn’t know what to expect. “We were content to do small gigs, but instantly we had a sizeable audience. 100 people jammed in the pub on that first Saturday for American folk troubadour Joe Pug, and again on the Sunday for the Dusty Millers.”

Anyone who’d said it wouldn’t work had underestimated local appetite. “There’s always a desire to gather together for music. It’s a bonding, unifying force.”

After the flying start at Archies, the pandemic changed everything. “While a battle for many, it was an opportunity for our outside, rural venue. We redefined and reshaped it to become the ultimate COVID venue and did 70-odd gigs while city venues were closed. Everyone relished the opportunity to reconnect – it just played out very organically.”

Caravan Music by the Sea won Music Victoria’s Best Regional Venue award two years running, and showcased hundreds of Australian and international acts, attracting local and statewide audiences. Archies Creek village also became a cultural hub, with Pete and Mary’s good friends Tracey and Paul Miller moving in along with 3RRR radio announcer Jon Von Goes and partner Celia Church.

“But it became so hugely popular that two old people were soon struggling to manage it!” Peter laughed, and in March 2024 they hosted their last Caravan by the Sea show – with a host of stars – for over 900 fans.

But there are no plans for leaving town. “We don’t even think about Melbourne anymore, we are just so in love with the area. It’s a beautiful space, with the ocean close by, no traffic, and rolling green hills surrounding us. We’ve made a lot of new friends, which you don’t expect to at our age – people here are lovely and so welcoming.”

And yes, Peter is curating his next phase, which he describes as probably his most exciting yet. Archies Arts is forming as a community collective led by Jon von Goes to foster arts in the Creek in whatever form – life drawing, music, theatre, community choirs and more. The pub will re-form as the project’s “spiritual home” and collective clubhouse.

Pete will remain in the background, supporting the collective by offering his wealth of experience and contacts. “I’m

dedicating this last phase to original Australian story and songs – incorporating First Nations, spoken word, visual art and music.”

His philosophy? To fearlessly value and support creativity. “If you do what I do, you can’t fear loss – because you lose all the time. And when you’ve had a really big loss like I have in my life with the death of my son, it’s always about seizing the moment. Assembling a group of people and changing the way they feel: it’s power – good power.”

Just like his father back in Mt Beauty, Peter will always seek ways to unite others in the “beautiful place” of music. “A lot of people don’t go to gigs for the music – they go to connect, and for the energy. Archies Arts is the next step in the story, yet it’s returning to where it all started for me – back in my Melbourne lounge room. There was definitely no ambition for music to be a business – it was a hobby that got way out of control.”

EVENTS GUIDE 2024-25

Read on to find out all the exciting events happening around us this summer and throughout 2025. This guide will give you the insights into the greatest events coming up.

INVERLOCH CLASSIC WOODEN DINGHY REGATTA

Building on the success of previous years, the Inverloch Regatta aims to showcase classic timber dinghies and boats that were once a common sight along Victorian beaches. Hosted by the South Gippsland Yacht Club, this event invites enthusiasts to bring their wooden dinghies back to the water and enjoy the company of like-minded sailors. It’s also a fantastic event for spectators!

15 & 16 February

South Gippsland Yacht Club, Anderson Inlet, Inverloch www.sgycinverloch.com.au

AURUS

It's time to party! Lyrebird Arts Council celebrates 25 years by welcoming AURUS to Meeniyan Town Hall, Saturday 21st December. A huge highlight at this year’s WOMAD, AURUS will have everyone dancing the night away. Special guest DJ Kgomotso Sekhu will keep the beats going.

Saturday 21st December 2024

Meeniyan Town Hall, Meeniyan, Sth Gippsland Tickets: lyrebirdartscouncil.com.au/aurus/

KILCUNDA LOBSTER FESTIVAL

The Kilcunda Lobster Festival, proudly organised by the Kilcunda Community Volunteers for nearly 40 years, returns in 2025. The festival also features market stalls, amusements, live music throughout the day, emergency services displays, and a skate competition at the skate park.

Sunday 26th January 10am - 3pm

Kilcunda Foreshore Car Park, Bass Highway, Kilcunda Keep an eye out on FB page

Kilcunda Lobster Festival page or www.kilcunda.org.au

WOMADELAIDE

Held on the traditional lands of the Kaurna People, WOMADelaide (World of Music, Arts & Dance) is a renowned open-air festival that celebrates cultural discovery in Adelaide's beautiful Botanic Park, Tainmuntilla. Since 1992. Returning to Australia for the first time in eight years, legendary multi-instrumentalist, twice winner of the Mercury Music Prize, PJ Harvey  - bringing her live show and full-band experience to the festival’s opening night. Acclaimed pianist, composer, producer and celebrated performer, Berlin-based Nils Frahm. Goran Bregović & His Wedding & Funeral Band. Other highlights include Bangarra Dance Theatre, Duo Ruut from Estonia, Durand Jones & The Indications, Ngaiire, Nitin Sawhney, Queen Omega from Trinidad, Shabaka, Sun Ra Arkestra , Yoann Bourgeois Art Company from France and so much more.

7-10th March 2025 Botanic Park, Adelaide For tickets and more info: www.womadelaide.com.au

JAN LEARMONTH EXHIBITION –PASSAGE

Jan Learmonth is one of Gippsland’s great artistic treasures. Based at Inverloch on the Bunurong Coast, Learmonth is an enigmatic artist whose fascinating and tactile sculptures are an alchemical response to our romance with the natural environment. Working predominantly with weathered wood, metal and found materials, Learmonth imaginatively translates her journey through natural space and time.

The exhibition runs from 7th December to 23rd February Gippsland Art Gallery, Port of Sale (Wellington Centre) 70 Foster Street, Sale | (03) 5142 3500

Find out more at www.gippslandartgallery.com

CHANNEL

CHALLENGE

Keen athletes of all ages will run into the water at San Remo, swim half a kilometre to Phillip Island, then run back over the bridge to the finish line cheered on by crowds of San Remo locals and visitors alike. It’s a day the whole village embraces and a tradition on the bucket list of many. Will you be a competitor or spectator?

Saturday 1 March 2025 www.basscoastseries.com.au

photo Ivan Webb

EVENTS GUIDE 2024-25

DEC 2024

Hey Gringo (Duo) Daryl Roberts & Charlie Bedford

15th December | 12-3pm Kilcunda Ocean View Hotel

3531-3533 Bass Hwy, Kilcunda www.kilcundaoceanviewhotel.com.au

Check out their website for regular local gigs

Woolamai Races

21st & 28th December | 45 Trew Road, Woolamai 0459 211 244

Book online country.racing.com/woolamai

Country racing at its best!

Korumburra A&P Society – Markets

22nd December | Showgrounds, Korumburra 0491 605 945 korumburramarket@gmail.com

Food and market stalls and live music held in the lovely surrounds of the Korumburra A&P Showground

Riverview Hotel Tarwin Lower

WHATS ON – gig guide 11-15 River Drive, Tarwin Lower www.riverviewhotel.au

For music and upcoming events, check out their website

NYE on the Hill

30, 31 Dec & 1 Jan | Kernot, South Gippsland nyeonthehill.com.au

The place of Music Lovers’ Dreams. This year we’re all in for another amazing journey as we collectively timetravel from one glorious year into the next, arm-in-arm, surrounded by good friends we know and good friends we’re yet to meet, enjoying the best musical offerings the land has to offer.

The Westernport Hotel

WHATS ON – gig guide 161 Marine Parade, San Remo www.thewesternport.com.au

For great local and international gigs, check out their website

JAN 2025

Churchill Island Farmers Market

First Saturday of each month 8am-1pm 246 Samuel Amess Drive Churchill Island (off Phillip Island) | 5951 2800

Connect Community Networking Event

8 Jan, 6.30pm San Remo Rec Reserve, 1A Wynne Rd, San Remo www.events.humanitix.com/connect-events

Experience the joy of connecting with community

Woolamai Races

11 Jan | 45 Trew Road, Woolamai 0459211244

Book online country.racing.com/woolamai

Kilcunda Ocean View Hotel

WHATS ON – gig guide 3531-3533 Bass Hwy, Kilcunda www.kilcundaoceanviewhotel.com.au

Check out their website for regular local gigs

Ocean Sounds Festival

Jan 11 12pm – 10.30pm Churchill Island (off Phillip Island) www.oceansoundsfestival.com.au/

Ocean Sounds is a family-friendly, music-lovers’ all-day sunset concert series that will take place once again at beautiful Phillip Island this summer.

Phillip Island Model Railway Exhibition

Jan 18, 10am-5pm Cowes Senior Citizens Club, 6 Lion Court, Cowes www.piadrm.com | 0429419011

48th Leongatha Art & Photography Show

18 Jan – 8th Feb Leongatha Memorial Hall McCartin Street, Leongatha www.leonartshow.com.au/

This show has become a major community event and one of the premier art shows in Gippsland and regional Victoria

Cape Paterson Aquathon Bunktopia @ Berninneit (Cowes)

Jan 19th - 10.00am Cape Paterson Surf Lifesaving Club Legge Way, Cape Paterson www.capepatersonslsc.org/aquathon

23rd Jan 2-3pm 91-97 Thompson Ave, Cowes www.basscoastculturalvenues.com

The award winning odd-ball creator of ‘Sticks Stones Broken Bones’, ‘Swamp Juice’, ‘Slapdash Galaxy’ & ‘Bunkasaurus’, Jeff Achtem (Bunk Puppets) trots out a selection of his favourites puppetry characters and clown adventures

FEB 2025

Kilcunda Half Marathon

Feb 2, 6am-12pm

Kilcunda Foreshore Carpark, Kilcunda |

runningwild56@bigpond.com

Victoria’s Bass Coast offers fantastic trail running for people wanting to experience coastal trail running at its best.

Cowes Classic Saturday

Feb 8th - 2pm

Cowes Foreshore www.basscoastseries.com.au/cowes-classic Exciting event that features a 500m swim and 4km run

Little Penguin Dash

Feb 8th - 10am

Cowes Foreshore www.basscoastseries.com.au/little-penguin-dash

Little Penguin Dash is a junior beach biathlon for 7 to 14 year olds

Bass Coast Edible Gardens

Feb 8-9

Gardens around Bass Coast

Find them on Instagram for more details www.basscoastediblegardens.com

Connecting & Inspiring communities through a shared love for growing food

Woolamai Races

Feb 8 – Cup day | 45 Trew Road, Woolamai 0459211244

Book online country.racing.com/woolamai

Elly Poletti presents Heart Strings @ Berninneit (Cowes)

Feb 14, 8 – 10pm 91-97 Thompson Ave, Cowes www.basscoastculturalvenues.com

Experience an unforgettable evening with ‘Heart Strings,’ a captivating show where Elly Poletti’s mesmerising voice takes centre stage

Consentino – Decennium

Feb 18, 7.30pm

West Gippsland Arts Centre | 1 Civic Place, Warragul 03 5624 2456 | artscentre@wgac.com.au

Australia’s world-renowned entertainer and International Magician of the Year, Cosentino, is returning to perform his brand new, 90-minute live show ‘Decennium’.

Tyler Childers @ Coal Creek

Mule Pull Tour - 22 Feb

Coal Creek Community Park & Museum, Korumburra

Tickets at Oztix

The time has finally come for a return visit for Tyler Childers bringing The Mule Pull tour

Anh Do – The happiest refugee - live

26 Feb 7.30-9pm

Wonthaggi Union Community Arts Centre

www.basscoastculturalvenues.com

Comedian Anh Do brings his best-selling memoir, The Happiest Refugee, to life in a ground-breaking stand-up show

Bjorn Again – Waterloo Anniversary Tour

Feb 28, 8-10.30pm

Wonthaggi Union Community Arts Centre www.basscoastculturalvenues.com

Celebrating 50 Years of ABBA’s Triumph! Get ready to celebrate the golden jubilee of ABBA’s historic Eurovision Song Contest victory in 1974 with ‘Waterloo’ – a moment that changed music history forever

The Bunurong Environment centre

The Esplanade, Inverloch visitbasscoast.com.au

03 5674 3738

Bunurong Environment Centre provides an ideal learning experience for students at all levels, tourists, community members and families. Free activities for kids of all ages during the holidays. Call or visit the website for programs

MAR

2025

San Remo Channel Challenge

1st March - 2pm San Remo Foreshore www.basscoastseries.com.au/san-remo-channel-challenge 550m Channel Swim and 2km Bridge run

Woolamai Races

Mar 1| 45 Trew Road, Woolamai 0459211244

Book online country.racing.com/woolamai

Gippsland Symphony Orchestra @ Berninneit (Cowes)

9 March, 2pm-3.30pm www.basscoastculturalvenues.com

If you loved the performances of the ACO Collective, 8 Cellos, and the Royal Navy Band Jazz Ensemble, you’ll be in for a treat to enjoy the Gippsland Symphony Orchestra.

Opera by the Lakes

16 March

Nyerimilang Heritage Park, Kalimna West Road, Nungurner www.trybooking.com/events | www.gippslandopera.org.au

The event is one that everyone will enjoy with world class singers at a unique venue. Nyerimilang is a beautiful National Park with stunning views over the largest lake system in the Southern Hemisphere set in a natural amphitheatre.

APR 2025

Anthony Callea & Tim Campbell

4th April

West Gippsland Arts Centre, 1 Civic Place, Warragul 03 5624 2456 | artscentre@wgac.com.au

In an unmissable celebration of two iconic musical legends, powerhouse vocalists and dynamic performers Anthony Callea and Tim Campbell present a spectacular concert featuring the timeless hits of Elton John and George Michael.

Easter Sunday Horse & Egg Hunt

20 April at Wattlebank Farm, Wattlebank www.wattlebankfarm.com.au

Come and enjoy an Easter Egg Hunt and meet the horses at Wattlebank Farm.

MAY 2025

The Roy Orbison Story

11 May - 2pm

West Gippsland Arts Centre, 1 Civic Place, Warragul 03 5624 2456 | artscentre@wgac.com.au

Experience the wonder of Roy Orbison in this brilliant theatrical portrayal of the man, his music, his voice, & his life.

Explore the Nature Parks with a 3 Parks Pass

Watch the world’s smallest penguins return home at the PENGUIN PARADE Say hello to the koalas at the KOALA CONSERVATION RESERVE. Step back in time at CHURCHILL ISLAND.

BOOK NOW AT penguins.org.au 03 5951 2800

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Sophie Fletcher FLOW STATE

When I meet Sophie Fletcher, she’s speaking to me from her boujee little travelling van – complete with house-plants and a hat-rack – her sun-tipped blonde waves still drying from the morning’s surf. This is the surfer’s code. Chasing waves. Rising early. Surging through the water in search of that salt-soaked high.

“I surf every day. It’s just so much fun, even when it’s stormy and rainy. Today it was clear and perfect,” says the sparkling 24-year-old with the beaming smile.

The van, converted by her musician boyfriend Felipe Baldomir during Covid lockdown, serves as a land-base for the young nomads who are spending their youth on a global surfing crusade, sustained by work that lets them surf, eat, rest, and repeat. “I guess it’s a home on wheels: we’re never in one spot for more than two days. I was renting for a few years, but it got crazy paying rent for twelve months and only living there for about three,” she says.

While she’s currently based on the Gold Coast, and about to set off to Europe to compete in a French surfing comp, the cheery Gen Z-er still regards Phillip Island as ‘home’. As serendipity would have it, the island where Sophie grew up with her surf-loving parents is the place where she and Felipe first crossed paths. Sophie was back for summer, like she is most years. Her friends offered her a ticket to a gig at the local pub, The Westernport. She was so busy catching up, she didn’t pay any attention to the coastal indie-folk singer from South America on stage. “I didn’t really listen to the music. (Woops.) The next day I had a training session with Surfing Victoria at Urban Surf, the wave-pool at Tullamarine. Felipe was in the same session.”

On two days in a row, their lives had entwined. He said hello; she messaged him later that night.

While he continued his music tour and she hit the surf comps, they continued ‘talking’, ‘razzing’ – flirting, in the old lingo. Four months later he invited her to a show on Phillip Island and they’ve spent almost every day together since. Sophie says there were many small signs bringing them together, like discovering they were living only minutes from each other near Byron Bay. And winding up in another shared session at the wave-pool.

Life’s calling cards seem to be part of Sophie’s journey. A card game in a remote Indonesian village sent her and her father on a quest for bucket-list ‘breaks’. At 14, while most of her peers were trying to learn the dance moves to Pharrell William’s song ‘Happy’, Sophie and her Dad ‘Fletch’ were on an epic surfing trip to Indonesia.

The year’s musical anthem wasn’t lost on the teen, who found a way to ‘clap along if you feel like a room without a roof’, braving a tropical storm in a rickety boat to reach a makeshift concrete home with no power, no drinking water and no phone reception. Comforts aside, there was plenty of surfing and endless card games.

“We were in the middle of nowhere. It took us four boat-rides to get there, and one of them nearly went down. It was a proper adventure with the backpack and surfboards. We got on a tiny wooden canoe and ended up living with a family for about three weeks, joined by other crazy adventurers from Europe. You’re purely surfing and hanging out, and we would play cards all the time.”

In one of the games, Sophie and her father picked out two of the same cards for wishlist surf-spots – Jeffreys Bay, (South Africa) and Chicama, Peru.

In 2019, four of the QS (qualifying series) events were in South Africa, and this became the impetus for the duo – joined by Sophie’s grandmother to – take on Jeffreys Bay. “She’s a bit crazy too. She went on safari by herself and slept in a tent surrounded by lions. She got to see the ‘big five’ (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and African buffalo) up close, which was pretty amazing.”

The surf at Jeffreys Bay was some of the best Sophie has ever ridden. “It was world class. Just silly. We were out there for eight hours – that’s how good it was.”

Five years later, in 2024, Sophie surprised her father with a 60th birthday present – a plane ticket to their second shared surfdream – Chicama, Peru.

“He was holding back the tears. He has taken me around the world since I was 13, and finally I got to take him.”

As a surfing landscape, Chicama is unique. Dry. Desolate. Surreal.

“It felt like we were on the moon. It was so dry and dusty and there’s not much vegetation there. No trees, just cliffs and rocks. It looks like Mars.”

So, what drives a young person to head to the edge of the desert in search of the world’s longest wave? Most surfers describe that mysterious pull as better than sex; a blood rush; stone-cold freedom. For Sophie, it’s about flow state.

“You’re going so fast, you’re riding this wave in the ocean, it’s the most present you could possibly be. When you’re on that wave, you’re not thinking about the project you need to submit. You’re purely in that moment. It’s like the proper definition of flow state. It’s a huge adrenaline rush, so I guess it’s addictive.”

Flexible work lets Sophie reach those far-flung surf spots. When hospitality work dried up during lockdowns, she had the time and freedom to explore a side-hustle – and Sophie Fletcher Designs was born.

“I’ve always drawn on my surfboards, a bit of added creativity. My mum suggested turning the designs into decals. They’re printed on clear vinyl, so whatever you stick them on, the art becomes part of the surface. They’re waterproof, designed for the surf. You can put them on boards, windows, cars, laptops, drink bottles, shower screens. Now it’s my full-time job and it’s almost taken over surfing.”

With brand exposure at local markets, and the ability to sell online, Sophie has perfected the work/life balance and is proud to say that her designs are hand-drawn and made in her country of birth. “I definitely wanted to keep it Australianmade, and with a printer here on the Gold Coast I can see the quality and support a local family too.”

Growing up at Cape Woolamai as the only child of two surfers, there’s no denying the surfing pedigree of a woman who’s ranked 35th in the WSL world qualifying series for 2023/2024 and has been Victoria’s state surfing champion for the last two years. She’s been in the professional surf rankings since 2017, when she was a 17-year-old at Newhaven College.

words Katie Cincotta photos Oscar James & supplied

“You’re going so fast, you’re riding this wave in the ocean, it’s the most present you could possibly be.”

But she admits she’s no longer in pursuit of professional surfing peaks. “I’m not chasing the world rankings. I’m just picking and choosing the events I want to do. Chasing the full tour you have to be all in, and it’s so expensive. I started my business as a way to make money on the road, and then I found this new love of being my own boss.”

The road ahead is surfing and travelling, but Sophie admits that one day she hopes to settle.

“We have a very fun, chaotic, nomadic lifestyle, which we can both enjoy together. Yes, I think we’ll find a house one day, but I don’t think we’ll ever stop travelling. I’m about to collect a few new designs – decals and hats –and I can take these to Hungary and France, release them over there and keep designing as we travel.”

“Every day people send me pictures of my decals on their vans: they might be camping in Darwin, or Tasmania … anywhere.”

Her business seems to connect her to the surfing community, like a call in the wild to honour the ocean’s shared playground. “Every day people send me pictures of my decals on their vans: they might be camping in Darwin, or Tasmania … anywhere. I was in Byron Bay to surf a couple of days ago, and as I was setting up, a horn beeped. I looked around to see two girls waving to me, and they’ve got a giant whale-shark design of mine on the back of their car.”

Even on land, it seems the great surfing tribe is tethered.

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PADDLING THE STRAIT

An epic adventure across Bass Strait

For ten relentless days, five men and their tiny sea-kayaks floated on the belly of a giant – the swell of the immense Southern Ocean – confronting one of the most daunting challenges known: crossing Bass Strait. This notorious stretch of water, between Tasmania and the southern coast of Australia, is infamous for its treacherous and unpredictable conditions. But their journey was more than just a test of endurance: it was a quest to push their limits, raise funds for cancer research, and honour those they had lost.

What began as a personal challenge quickly evolved into a journey with profound meaning. Driven by a shared goal, these adventurers sought not only to conquer the Bass Strait but to raise awareness and funds for cancer research – a cause deeply personal to Drew Ginn, former member of the Olympian ‘Oarsome Foursome’. Drew’s mother had passed away from breast cancer when he was just twelve. After her passing, Drew’s father, despite being overwhelmed with work and raising two children, became a pillar of strength for Drew, instilling in him a love for the ocean and a spirit of resilience.

Drew’s determination to honour his mother’s memory and contribute to cancer research was a driving force behind this monumental expedition. But the journey was just a small part of Drew’s ongoing efforts with Tour de Cure, a group dedicated to raising funds for vital research and programs to find a cure for cancer. “They’re making breakthroughs all the time. With more breast cancer research, it could have been an entirely different outcome for Mum,” Drew reflects.

The idea for the trip originated from a conversation among friends. Initially, fifteen enthusiasts discussed the challenge of paddling the Bass Strait. After numerous meetings, the group was whittled down to five. “We started with fifteen, then eight, and finally five. Our last Zoom call was like, ‘So, I guess it’s just us,’” Drew recalls. Each member brought a unique personality to the mix, extroverts and introverts creating a well-balanced team. Drew had connections with most of the team through paddling circles: Tim Altman was a kayak coach from Drew’s rowing club back in the early 2000s and Peter Bland a local coastal paddler and owner of Wattle Bank Farm. Drew had met father-and-son duo Mark and Jack Slykhuis through the Melbourne paddling community.

Preparing physically for the journey was no small feat. Drew’s routine involved paddling long distances – between 60 and 140 kms a week –often in harsh conditions to simulate the challenges of the Bass Strait. Training sessions on the Yarra

River and various coastal routes pushed him to adapt to unpredictable swells and currents. The team often paddled in formation to conserve energy and navigate efficiently. Their plan was methodical: one hour of paddling followed by a short break to manage fatigue and track progress. “We’d hang our legs over the side of the boat, have some water and a snack. Even in that short period you could drift hundreds of metres, so you had to stay aware of your surroundings.”

At first, on the blistering hot day they set out from Tidal River, the journey felt almost routine. “We agreed the first day would be easy. Often at the start of a race you can get overexcited and push too hard. We had to remind each other to ease into it. It’s not a race, but no one wants to be left behind,” Drew laughs. They paddled to Refuge Cove and set up camp, balancing excitement with first-day jitters. “Have we packed everything? Is everything working?” These questions loomed as they adjusted to the rhythm of their paddles slicing through

the water. “Our mental preparedness was crucial. With no onwater support, we had to be completely self-reliant.”

The real challenge began when they left Refuge Cove. The vast open ocean made navigation difficult, with swells rising up to three metres, making it nearly impossible to see each other when they fell into a trough. They had radios on board, but visibility was often fleeting and disorientation a daunting possibility. The team had to work hard to avoid separation. Drew, familiar with the coast, found some solace in the swells, but the open sea presented a new level of difficulty.

On the second day, Peter fell ill with severe seasickness. “He was dry- reaching over the side of the boat and looked very grey,” Drew recalls. The team rallied around him, providing support throughout his period of discomfort and dehydration. In spite of his illness, Pete was upbeat and presenting with enthusiasm. Drew, fortunate not to suffer from seasickness, focused on maintaining his strength and encouraging his teammates.

The physical strain of paddling was immense. Sitting in an ocean surfski-kayak with minimal back-support required impeccable posture. The team quickly learned that proper positioning was crucial to avoid muscle fatigue. They adjusted their seating and paddling techniques to prevent their bodies from breaking down under the relentless strain. “Eventually, your body screams for a rest or a change of position.”

Each day tested their endurance and resolve. They paddled in various formations, forming a line, chaining to reduce drag, or splitting into pairs to manage energy and afford some time to enjoy a chat. The most gruelling day saw them covering 68 kms, pushing their limits to the brink from the Deal Island lighthouse to Flinders Island, which saw them paddling for almost ten hours into a 10-knot wind.

A highlight of their journey was reaching the Kent Island group. The sheer scale and wild beauty left them breathless. Towering granite cliffs and standing waves made them feel insignificant. “It was so wild! We hit a current running at ten knots, and there were six-foot standing waves that seemed almost stationary. It was full-on!”

The emotional weight of their journey became apparent when they reached Flinders Island after a gruelling ten-hour day. Exhaustion and hypothermia took their toll, but the accomplishment brought overwhelming emotion. “It was like, ‘Holy heck! We’ve done this!’ We’d paddled for eight days. Standing on the shore, we were quite overwhelmed. We were almost childlike in our reflections on what we’d just achieved.”

Drew reminisced about his childhood in Inverloch and his parents, remembering how they’d shaped his life. His father had also succumbed to cancer just four years earlier. The journey was more than a physical challenge; it was a deeply personal and emotional pilgrimage.

Navigating Deal Island’s treacherous waters posed another significant challenge. Rough conditions demanded quick reactions to avoid potential dangers. “We weren’t scared, but we were very aware that any bad decision could be costly.”

Drew’s experience with similar coastal conditions in South Gippsland proved invaluable, helping them find a safer route. The journey was a reminder to them of the importance of respecting and understanding the ocean and each other –and being up for a challenge.

Throughout their expedition, the team remained focused on their mission. The trip raised over $15,000 for cancer research, adding purpose to their incredible endeavour. Each day on the water was a testament to their dedication, culminating in the final stretch to Flinders Island – a mighty physical and emotional achievement.

Back on land, the experience left its mark. The men felt a deep connection with each other and the ocean, having shared a journey that tested their limits and transformed their perspectives. Drew discovered that his aversion to logistics was minor compared to the lessons learned about leadership, teamwork, and personal resilience. The expedition reaffirmed his belief in embracing life’s challenges and making the most of every day.

Reflecting on their journey, Drew, Peter, Tim, Jack and Mark all realised that their adventure had been more than a physical feat. It had been a profound journey of self-discovery and a powerful tribute to loved ones lost to cancer. They returned to their everyday lives with a renewed appreciation for the natural world and a strengthened commitment to supporting medical research.

Their story stands as a testament to human endurance and the drive to make a difference, embodying the spirit of pushing beyond personal limits to achieve something truly meaningful. The Bass Strait adventure was not just about crossing a body of water but about transcending the boundaries of personal courage and collective determination.

konker.com.au @konkercreative A local branding + creative studio specialising in identity, print and social advertising for your business. Let’s do this.

MELANIE’S STORIES

Melanie Caple

Melanie Caple has always liked to create big things. A family photo of four-yearold Melanie shows her posing with an emu constructed from a Weeties packet and GladWrap boxes — and it’s as tall as she is. “I seemed to love making everything bigger than me, so maybe large-scale public work was always going to be in my future,” she reflects. A prolific mural artist, Melanie’s stunning fusion of birds and botanicals enliven walls and buildings throughout Gippsland, Melbourne and beyond. Amongst the leaves, petals and feathers, Melanie weaves stories and myths to create public art that is sensitive to context, unafraid to surprise, and always more than it first appears.

A walk down McCartin Street in Leongatha reveals Melanie’s giant mural ‘Myths and Muses’, a richly-coloured 36m x 4.5m work that honours native flora, birds and the built environment. This mural unexpectedly features a gleaming, ceramic black panther, in recognition of local lore about wild sightings of the feline.

Melanie has been selected as a mural artist for various festivals, including Frankston’s Big Picture Festival, Urban Canvas Mural Festival in Melbourne, and earlier this year, the Benalla Street Art Festival. Eucalyptus-burning sessions in her studio informed her festival contribution entitled: ‘A brooding gloom in sunshine, a lurid glare under the stars.’ In addition to flora local to Benalla, the mural features an introduced species, the kingfisher, perched atop two cat-skulls. For Melanie, the mural represents a sense of fragility around invasion. She remembers

a little boy who came past every other day while she was painting the wall — each time he would point out the ‘dead cat’ to his mother. “There was a sense of darkness about that work that really needed to come out,” she says. “I can execute things in beautiful way, but the themes don’t necessarily have to be beautiful all the time.”

In 2023, Melanie worked with Rail Projects Victoria and Regional Rail Revival as part of Victoria’s Big Build. The project presented new challenges for engaging with the built environment. “I couldn’t use colour, and I couldn’t be very painterly. Everything I designed was translated to metal through a technology known as Pic-Perf.” Imprinted onto perforated aluminium sheeting, her artworks adorn the handrail cladding at Bunyip and Longwarry railway stations.

words christina aitken photos karli michelle, annette spinks & supplied

Created for the Port of Sale building and the Gippsland Art Gallery, Melanie’s recently-completed public work, ‘Where the wild meets the water’, brings together the bush and the sea. Livid shadows of kelp contrast with coastal banksia and eucalyptus. Drawing on what Melanie describes as the ‘built botanical environment’, this mural also features leucadendron, an introduced species and local garden favourite.

It’s Melanie’s meticulous research coupled with contemplative storytelling that makes each project unique. She’s currently working on a concept for a Fitzroy building that once housed an Italian newspaper. Given free rein with her design, Melanie has incorporated Italian and Australian birds along with flames that recall a fire at the premises in 2014. “Unless people dig into the history a little bit, they may not pick up the reference

…” she reflects. Whether a commissioned project has a specific design brief or a more open-ended approach, Melanie blends intentional and intuitive narrative elements. “…making art in public spaces to tell a story or make something beautiful is part of humanity,” she says.

A conceptual artist, the planning takes place long before Melanie picks up a brush. “Firstly I think about what I want the painting to say, then I think about how I’m going to depict it,” she says, describing her process. “When ideas come together to form a strong curatorial concept it makes my heart race and I can’t wait to find a chance to bring it to life,” she adds. Melanie researches the native birds and botanicals around the location of the wall to inform digital collages.

Amongst the leaves, petals and feathers, Melanie weaves stories and myths to create public art that is sensitive to context, unafraid to surprise, and always more than it first appears.

Studio work is usually painted in oils, but outdoors Melanie uses water-based exterior paint. Mural work is physical, and she’s constantly climbing up and down ladders. “I actually find it less labour-intensive using my whole body on-site than just sitting in the studio,” Melanie observes. The murals take from a few days to a few weeks to complete, so she often stays in the town where she’s painting. “Because my work is so inspired by place, being able to contribute back to the community by living within it allows for a deeper connection and stronger trust around the work I am creating.” The street becomes her studio. “It’s a different kind of energy… you end up meeting the local barista, or the man who walks his dog three times a day. It’s interesting, the little community you build around a wall.”

By contrast, Melanie’s second-floor studio on her Berrys Creek property is secluded. One wall is lined from floor to ceiling with tins of outdoor paints in every hue, and her spacious north-facing workbench is lit by a window that perfectly frames verdant hills and a big sky. With art books and the tools of her trade close to hand, the isolation itself inspires. “Being in Gippsland, I can carve out a solitary space. I build up a sense of creativity, then go back into the outside world and my Fitzroy base.”

Melanie grew up on a dairy farm in Nerrena, near Leongatha, but left soon after finishing high school. Always creating, thinking or writing, Melanie felt she viewed the world differently from her peers. “I didn’t know anyone who made

art full-time ... fifteen years ago there were no opportunities around here for creative people.” Melanie couldn’t imagine a life she couldn’t see. It took living on the other side of the globe to find the clarity she needed. At the age of 21, after a year in London, Melanie decided to go to art school. She completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2012 at RMIT and a Masters in Arts Management two years later. “I’m a better curator and arts manager from having the empathy to relate to people in their practice,” she reflects. After working for many years in commercial art galleries in Melbourne, Melanie established Arts Eleven in 2019, allowing more time to build her own practice. “I needed something that encapsulated both my fine artwork and my management and curatorial exlerience,” she says. Through Arts Eleven, Melanie and partner Rick Rutjens coordinate a range of artistic endeavours including commissions, multi-stakeholder creative projects and large-scale art projects and exhibitions. Melanie has also done curatorial work for the Gippsland Art Gallery in Sale, with the Archibald Prize as a highlight in 2021.

Melanie’s introduction to curatorship harks back to her grandparents, who worked on the Leongatha Rotary Art Show for many years. A significant figure in Melanie’s life, her grandmother inspired a solo show in 2018. The title — ‘out in the darkness / seafood / skin test / i love you too’ — was drawn from a collection of words Melanie’s grandmother said to her before she died from dementia. “It was a really

interesting combination of lucidity and the subconscious ... seeing how the mind strings together points of familiarity and things that are foreign.” Melanie explored these themes, fusing botanicals with shapes and hues evocative of Art Deco. A boxframed oil-and-acrylic entitled “Monstera Blues” features foliage that transitions abruptly from green to blue as the leaves extend from a warm-hued circle into a black void. It’s both beautiful and unsettling.

Melanie has been a finalist in numerous art prizes, including this year’s Percival Portrait Prize, with her portrait of Cash Savage on display at the Perc Tucker Regional Gallery in Townsville. She has also twice been selected to judge the John Leslie Art Prize. With commissions for private collections and public spaces, and writing artist-catalogue essays alongside curatorship and arts management, Melanie is a hardworking artist. “Fortunately I’ve been able to straddle creativity and industriousness to make a life based on making art,” she says. An understatement, considering that in the last four years alone, Melanie has painted around thirty public art works in Gippsland alone.

Returning to her roots, Melanie’s murals can be found at the hospital where she was born and at her primary school in Leongatha. Melanie never thought she would return to Gippsland, and sometimes wonders if she fits into the local art scene. “I don’t know if it’s because I’ve got a different way of expressing ideas, or if I’ve got different ambitions”, she says. Unexpectedly for Melanie, returning to Gippsland as an artist has been validating. “People who’ve known me for

a really long time have embraced my work.” A self-described introvert, Melanie says her work is driven by fragility. “I think there’s always been an element of darkness about me and my thought processes. My work reflects what I see, what I pick up on around me.”

“...making art in public spaces to tell a story or make something beautiful is part of humanity.”

Melanie is playing with some new ideas, aiming for a solo show in the next year or two. Ceramic black panthers are her current muse. “I love what they represent in tattooing, in art deco … a sign of strength, guardianship. I want to paint a black panther and then find a black bird from each continent.” It will be a departure from her usual rich colour palette. “Just thinking about form could be quite lovely … getting the mix between sheen and feathers,” she thinks out loud.

A visual storyteller, Melanie’s art contrasts built and natural environments. Her life also, it seems, is a juxtaposition, blending curation and creation, city and country, public life and solitude.

Stuart Inchley and Victoria Johnson

GUARDIANS OF THE FOREST

words katie cincotta photos warren reed

The ballerinas of the forest, they’re tall and slim, their delicate moss-covered torsos reaching 20 metres high, their feathery fronds unfurling like the soft folds of a tutu. This is the Slender Tree Fern, and until a year ago, nobody knew they were hiding their sleek splendour in this part of South Gippsland.

The forest guardians who discovered them are Stuart Inchley and Victoria Johnson, who stumbled on them by chance while exploring their 300-acre property in Turtons Creek.

Eight years ago, the couple sold their home in Abbotsford to make the tree-change to South Gippsland – not just for the quiet beauty of the bush, but as a commitment to caring for the ever-dwindling ecosystem. “We moved down here because we loved the peace and quiet of the bush, but we didn’t know there was rainforest – cool temperate rainforest. One of the things I love is that you can’t hear sounds of the outside world. It’s a bit like being on an island,” says Stuart.

When they first looked at the property in 2016, it was the dam that was the deal clincher: the secluded watering-hole called to them with the promise of summer swims.

“The agent said ‘I’m not going out there on another wild goose chase’,” says Stu … so they ‘bush-bashed’ down to see the property by themselves and fell under its spell. “We found a

beautiful dam, and a lyrebird doing a roll-call of all the other birds – black cockatoos, crimson rosellas, magpies. We’re birdos from way back so we knew all those birds were here,” laughs Victoria.

Selectively logged in the 80s for a saw-mill, the property was later bought by American environmentalists who established a Trust For Nature conservation covenant to protect it. “Otherwise you can cut down the trees or put cattle in. This forest is alive with native animals. We found bandicoots, platypus, baby Boobook owls, and endangered birds like the Gang-Gang Cockatoo,” says Stuart, who was born in Koo Wee Rup.

Together, he and Victoria have lived and worked all around Australia – he, installing the early versions of solar and hydro to off-grid properties, and teaching science and outdoor ed in remote communities in Arnhem Land and Far North Queensland; she, as a social policy researcher addressing the impacts of climate change for people on low incomes.

“Some of it is hilarious: a lot of animals are really curious. You might see a wallaby face right up close to the lens.”

During the Covid pandemic, Stuart carved ten kilometres of walking-trails through the property. But it was the keen eye of Victoria that spied something unique in the landscape: Slender Tree Ferns. Like so many species being wiped out through deforestation, they’re fighting for survival. Only 1000 of them are left standing in Victoria.

“We found one Slender Tree Fern, and then more, and we came to realise that this was a significant place for them. They’re very slow-growing: it takes 25 years for them to reach maturity.” As one of the more fragile ferns, Slenders face many natural challenges. “The Slenders are so tall and thin, they can only live protected from the wind in these narrow gullies, and close to the creek so they don’t dry out. To their detriment, they can’t grow just anywhere,” says Stuart.

As environmentalists who have dedicated their lives to working in renewables and climate change, this was a milestone moment in their preservation efforts. They have not raised biological children, choosing to foster a teenager who is now in her 30s, and nurturing more broadly as guardians of the forest.

On the day Stuart and Victoria lead me through their backyard forest, we discover that three of the 200 Slender Tree Ferns on their property have fallen. It’s a sombre discovery. Invasive species such as deer and goats are some of the risk points for the ferns. Stuart has installed a motion-sensor camera to find out what might have caused the damage. Victoria says watching the footage is often entertaining. “Some of it is hilarious: a lot of animals are really curious. You might see a wallaby face right up close to the lens.”

It’s a rich world down here in the rainforest. Burrowing crayfish that make chimneys out of mud. Lyrical lyrebirds singing from the scrub. Strange fungal specimens that Stuart is documenting on the crowdsourced online species identification platform iNaturalist.

Does he taunt friends with the prospect of Fungus Fridays to document his 400 images? “Don’t laugh. He did organise a Moth Night. We put up a big sheet with a light behind it to attract the moths,” says Victoria. “You can’t protect species if you don’t know about them” is how Stuart argues for the publicity. “We want to get people connected to the forest.”

He points out a patch of cleared bush that he’s named the ‘lyrebirds’ dancefloor’. “This is where the males make mounds of scratched earth, then dance on them to attract the females.”

That dating metaphor has amused the many student groups that have stepped into this hidden forest. While many young people admit the acceleration of global warming gives them ‘existential dread’, these seasoned wildlife warriors remain hopeful. “There’s a lot of troubling data, but we focus on the things that we can do here. We’re doing some really fun and positive stuff in the community, like the Sunday Slender walks in the forest that allow people to learn and connect. Hopefully that has a ripple effect,” says Victoria.

One of their conservation wins was introducing pygmy perch to their dam, which saw the return of the stunning blue Kingfisher bird. “Two years later I saw an Azure Kingfisher there, and in its beak was a pygmy perch. That was a lightbulb moment. Now they’re breeding here,” says Stuart. Victoria adds that it was emotional to realise that one small change in the ecosystem could bring back a rare bird. “It gives you the tingles,” she says.

Not all the conservation work is easy. Stuart has had to shoot 30 feral goats to help preserve the forest. If they’re young enough they try to rehome them. The couple raised two baby goats alongside their rescue puppy Timmy, bottle-feeding them in front of the fire when they first moved in.

Now they have Slender Ferns as part of their adopted family, and they’re fighting to keep them. On their boundary, plantation logging company HVP is chopping down regrown native forest to plant pines – and taking liberties with the recommended 200-metre buffer zones, razing as close as 10 metres to the Slenders, say Stuart and Victoria. An estimated 80 of the ferns could be disturbed. The couple says the negative impact isn’t just the loss of biodiversity, but the damage to carbon storage. Mature forests can store up to four times the carbon dioxide of a plantation forest.

At a political level, they met with Independent MP Dr Monique Ryan to plead for greater Federal environmental protections. Having followed Dr Bob Brown’s lifetime of green activism, they understand that protesting takes time, money and people-power. “There aren’t that many of us down here, so we have to do it differently,” says Victoria.

Rather than chaining themselves to a bulldozer and facing arrest, they’re talking to people through social media and inviting them to tour the forest. They say it takes a village

to raise a Slender Tree Fern, partly because it’s not a pin-up species like the koala.

Maybe Slenders, and all those other overlooked species, could do with some marketing tips from whoever came up with the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest. The kooky Pekingese ‘Wild Thang’ didn’t just win the title for 2024, he landed a role in the ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ movie blockbuster.

“Unlike animals, I guess the good thing about Slender Tree Ferns is that they’re all in the same spot. It’s not that complicated to know how to protect them,” says Victoria.

The ballerina ferns just want the quiet life – reaching sky-high, dancing on the breeze to a chorus of birdsong, thirsty for the flowing waters of the great Tarwin River.

For further news from the forest: www.tarwinriverforest.com.au @tarwin_river_forest

RIDERS ON THE STORM

Craig Hollins

When the wind is howling, the sand is whipping and most of us are bunkered down inside, three-time world record holder Craig Hollins is driving into the storm with his windsurfer on the roof.

Craig is a wind-chaser, a part of the salty underworld of thrill-seekers travelling Australia for the perfect conditions to windsurf, and inventing new ways to go superfast. They capture time and distance on sophisticated GPS wristwatches that beam the story of each sail up to satellites and down into a virtual leaderboard watched like hawks by the dedicated community.

“Windsurfing is tribal,” Craig enthused from the Wonthaggi home where he lives with wife Jenny (their two adult children having moved Melbourne). Outside his job as a park ranger, his time is spent windsurfing – or thinking about it. He greatly admires Jenny’s patience in waiting for him to finish building the family home he started just before the Black Saturday bushfires hit in 2009.

words sally o’neill photos warren reed, darren diserens, dianne connolly & lindsay preese

Growing up on a farm in Kongwak before moving to Inverloch, Craig was a nerdy kid in love with model aeroplanes. His dad a dairy farmer and mum a teacher, they were a sailing family –and Craig worked his way through yacht classes, progressing in size and speed.

Though he moved to Melbourne to study, he would still come home to Inverloch to surf and sail. When his sister introduced him to windsurfing, he was hooked immediately. It was the start of a “love affair” he enjoyed with the then-thriving windsurfing community in Inverloch as the sport went ahead in leaps and bounds as the equipment got lighter and faster.

“We used to hold competitions at a certain place and time –like Sandy Point,” explained Craig. That meant a lot of travel and hours standing around waiting for the wind. Incredibly robust

and accurate GPS watches were the game-changer, allowing competitors to sail when conditions were right and record results online. “There is such a range of ages in the sport, united by passion and an optimism that the wind will be good sometime soon – it’s about camaraderie, not competition.”

Just for fun, Craig thought he’d track how far he could windsurf in a day … and clocked up 317 kilometres – a mere three kilometres off the world record. He then set his first official world record at 550 kilometres, and record number two at 650 kilometres. He went for broke with record number three at 839 kilometres in 24 hours, which remains unbeaten to this day.

It wasn’t as easy as it sounds. Like big-wave surfers, Craig required the extreme conditions – big winds and flat water –

that are only found in unique locations. Airline travel with windsurfing gear is impossible, so each time Craig had to pack the car and trek to Lake George near Robe in South Australia.

He then sailed for 24 hours, taking a break every four hours with mates alongside, ducks splashing nearby, and stars guiding him through the blackness. “I took time to smell the roses. I talked to myself, wondered what Jenny and the kids were doing, and got to see a lot – the visuals were amazing. It’s not really the distance that’s important; it’s the journey within, finding out how far I could push myself, and discovering where I went to when I did. When I stepped off the board,

everyone thought I was fine until I tried to speak – or hold a beer!” laughed Craig.

Setting speed records is another dream of most adrenalinjunkie windsurfers. Breaking 40 knots is the windsurfing equivalent of running the three-minute mile – he’s done that, too, a few times. “It’s about chasing pieces of time – that invisible rainbow calling you to go faster. A lot of people think we’re nuts, but it’s an unbelievable feeling. Once we were having a few drinks after a sail and someone asked if you ‘had to give up sex or windsurfing, which would you choose? There was a big silence in the room,” he laughed.

The loss of a few good friends in recent years has spurred Craig on to take leave to travel, have fun, do what he loves, and simply make the most of every day. He and a mate drove to Western Australia to meet many of his online windsurfing community friends and compete in new locations including remote lagoons and the shark-infested waters of Coral Bay. They drove crazy distances south to Albany and back – all to chase the winds. He laughs as he remembers hooking up with Fangy, the dentist who engineers high-speed fins in his garage, and Decrepid who, aged over 80, is still chasing speed.

The knee injury that has kept Craig away from extreme windsurfing over the past year has been challenging. He now spends four nights a week in the gym, and still enjoys getting out on the water foiling or stand-up paddle-boarding, using all the strength and determination he gained setting world records to get back in form. “I’ve got that picture in my head of me windsurfing, and I’m keeping my eye on the prize.”

Grateful to live in Gippsland for its world-class windsurfing locations like Mahers Landing, Inverloch, Western Port and Phillip Island, he remains disappointed that the growth of marram grass has cost Sandy Point its reputation as the best windsurfing destination in the world.

Ever optimistic, he often considers trying to break another record. As he ponders a strategy that could perhaps add another 200 kilometres, he finds his mind saying yes, but his body saying no. He’s happy to retire on top, and hopes to see someone go further one day.

“I won’t be crashing records anymore – I’m done,” he said. But he’s not done with the sport. He’s always itching to hitch up the trailer and go ride the next storm.

THE BANG BANG COMPETITION

Held recently at Flynn’s Beach was a spectacular showcase of talent, camaraderie, and community spirit, brought to life by the Phillip Island Boardriders Club.

Phillip Island Boardriders most improved junior surfer 2023

Sponsored by Bang Bang Bar, Woolamai Pizza, and Narval Wetsuits

photos andrew lidsay @bunbix

JAI MCDONALD

The Bang Bang Competition highlights the incredible talent of our local surfers and fosters a sense of community that’s essential for the growth of our people in general. This year, we placed a big emphasis on youth development, encouraging leadership and camaraderie among our surfers. Seeing our young athletes support each other is truly inspiring.

JAKE EISEN

CHAD GARRETT

President of the Phillip Island Boardriders Club

LANIA FOSTIN

JOE VAN DIJK

JAY PANOPOULOUS

5

THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT

San Remo

Pelicans, jetty jumping, endless beaches, shopping, cruising, dining and cocktails at sunset - the seaside village of San Remo has its own special vibe. Take your time exploring this funky coastal destination often framed by the colourful fishing fleet when it is docked to deliver the fresh seafood Bass Strait is famous for.

CLIFFS AND BEACHES

Around each corner, discover crystal clear, turquoise waters that ebb and flow with the tides revealing endless sandbanks and beautiful beaches.

FISHERMAN’S CO-OP

Supporting the fishing community since 1948 and sells fresh, sustainable seafood and fish and chips. The pelicans even fly in at midday for a feed.

WILDLIFE COAST CRUISES

Top off your day in style with a sunset cruise featuring live music and local produce. Discover Western Port, its tiny islands and stories.

CHANNEL CHALLENGE

Each summer the town is transformed as thousands challenge themselves to swim 550 metres across to Phillip Island and run back over the bridge.

SILVERWATERS VINEYARD

Grab your besties and spend an afternoon enjoying a local drop paired with gourmet platters and bay views - you can even take your pooch!

One Great Club, Two Great Venues

The Clubhouse offers a relaxed dining experience with weekly specials and theme nights. Open daily & with a range of events on offer including Bingo, Pool, Poker, Quizzame and live entertainment. There is something for everyone at The Clubhouse! Check out our website to see what's on or enquire about holding your next function with us!

11 Dr Sleeman Ave, Wonthaggi 5672 1437

The Wonthaggi Club is the complete entertainment venue with Stage 1 Bar & Lounge, Tab, Keno, Trackside & Fox Sports. Our Bistro is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner and our Stage 1 area is the perfect place for a drink or late lunch with our kitchen open all day.

16 McBride Ave, Wonthaggi 5672 1007

FOOD & WINE FEATURE

WINERY REVIEW

A SILVER LINING

Silverwaters Vineyard

Nestled on the scenic north-facing slopes overlooking Westernport Bay near Phillip Island, Silverwaters Vineyard is a little gem that combines breathtaking views, awardwinning wines, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. With a boutique approach to winemaking and a commitment to quality, this family-owned vineyard offers visitors an unforgettable experience.

Hercules and Emily’s journey into the world of winemaking began in an unexpected yet serendipitous way. The couple first crossed paths while backpacking through Europe, eventually settling in Melbourne after Hercules, who grew up on a cattle farm in South Africa, moved to Australia to be with Emily. Longing to reconnect with the land, Hercules and Emily, now married with three children, stumbled upon a rundown vineyard during a holiday visit to Phillip Island. What began as a spontaneous decision to buy the property has blossomed into

Silverwaters Vineyard – a thriving business celebrated for its cool-climate wines. Though the vineyard's origins are humble, the couple’s commitment to crafting exceptional wines shines through in every bottle.

At Silverwaters Vineyard, you’ll find a thoughtfully-curated selection of wines, each created with care from grapes grown exclusively on the estate. The vineyard specialises in coolclimate varieties, including Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir,

words aissa reed photos warren reed

Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. For lovers of Rosé, the vineyard's latest addition, made from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, has quickly become a customer favourite. Light, crisp, and refreshing, it’s the perfect summer wine.

One of the standout features of Silverwaters Vineyard is its connection to the land and its commitment to authenticity. The owners, who, despite having no prior experience in the wine industry, dove headfirst into learning to care for the vines, and went on to create exceptional wines with local winemakers Marcus Satchell and Rick Lacey. The winemakers’ approach, combined with the vineyard's stunning location and unique microclimate, results in wines of superb quality. In fact, their Chardonnay has won a gold medal at the prestigious Halliday Awards, and their Shiraz has also recently garnered an award. These accolades are a testament to the hard work and dedication that go into every vintage.

The vineyard’s charm extends far beyond the wine itself. The cellar door, which is attached to the family’s home, offers visitors a truly personal and intimate experience. When you visit, you’re not just another customer – you’re a guest at their home, greeted with warm hospitality and genuine passion for what they do. The tasting room exudes a cosy, boutique atmosphere, designed to make you feel at home from the moment you step through the door. With beachy, industrialstyle décor, comfortable seating, and stunning views from the deck, it’s the perfect place to sit back, relax, and savour a glass of wine.

One of the highlights of visiting Silverwaters Vineyard is the outdoor experience. The spacious lawn is dotted with picnic tables, perfect for enjoying a wine-tasting session in the sunshine. Guests are encouraged to bring family and friends for a laid-back afternoon of wine, food, and fun. There are even lawn games for those looking to add a bit of playful competition to their day. It’s a place where you can unwind and enjoy the peaceful surroundings – an ideal addition to a weekend escape.

Silverwaters Vineyard has expanded its offerings to include a selection of delicious platters, made from locally-sourced ingredients. These thoughtfully-curated platters perfectly complement the wines and provide a taste of the region. Whether you’re pairing a crisp Chardonnay with fresh cheeses or enjoying a robust Pinot Noir with cured meats, the food elevates the entire experience. For those looking for more variety, the vineyard also offers local beers and ciders, ensuring there’s something for everyone.

One of the unique aspects of Silverwaters Vineyard is the personal touch you’ll find during your visit. The owners are often on hand to pour the wine and share their story, offering an insight into the history of the vineyard and their journey into the wine business. It’s this level of personal attention that sets Silverwaters apart from larger, more commercial vineyards.

Whether you’re a seasoned wine-lover or simply looking for a unique day out, Silverwaters Vineyard offers a delightful experience. The combination of award-winning wines, a beautiful setting, and friendly, down-to-earth service makes it a standout destination. With its boutique charm and dedication to quality, a visit to Silverwaters Vineyard is sure to be a highlight for anyone exploring the region.

RESTAURANT REVIEW

A TASTE OF FRANCE

Anerie, Cowes

Anerie on Phillip Island is not just a bistro – it’s a heartfelt creation, the fulfilment of Cryss Plummer’s dream to offer a warm and inviting space where people can savour delicious food, fine wine, and meaningful connections.

What began as a pandemic project during lockdown has flourished into an atmospheric French-inspired bistro, filled with Cryss's personal treasures and the inviting atmosphere of a cosy home.

The journey to creating Anerie started with a bold decision to leave her corporate life in Melbourne. “I’d feel knots in my stomach just thinking about my job,” she recalls. With

dogs in tow, Cryss and her husband often escaped to their holiday home on Phillip Island, where they spent much of the pandemic. After deciding to move to the island for good, Cryss longed for the culinary experiences she’d left behind in the city. “Maybe it was one too many Zoom dinner-parties,” she jokes, “but I couldn’t stop lamenting the loss of my food scene.” That’s when a friend challenged her to bring that world to life again, and Anerie was born.

words aissa reed photos warren reed

The idea was simple: create a space for people to unwind with a glass of wine and good food. Cryss found an old burger shop and transformed it, sweeping out the bright orange walls, replacing them with moody, dark hues, and decorating with pieces from her own home. Cryss followed her heart and relied on a vision – making people feel welcome the moment they stepped inside.

Anerie’s charm is in the personal touch that Cryss has woven into every detail. Even the restaurant’s name – from the French word for donkey, ‘âne’ – comes from a playful print she found in Honfleur, Normandy, featuring whimsical illustrations of a donkey in a comical pose.’ This quirky sense of humour and joy sets the tone for the entire experience. ‘Anerie’ means to be silly, crazy or foolish.

Stepping into Anerie feels like entering an intimate French bistro. Marble tables, antique wooden chairs and vintage linens create a rustic, intimate vibe. The walls are adorned with prints originally belonging to Cryss’s mother, and works by local artists, making the space feel more like a lovinglycurated home than a restaurant. Soft French tunes play in the background, adding to the sense of being transported to another world.

Anerie’s menu is a love-letter to French cuisine, blending classic dishes with contemporary twists. Certain staples – like escargots, French onion soup, pâté and terrines – were nonnegotiable for Cryss. Together with the chef, the team created a menu that captures Cryss’s passion for French food while leaving room for creativity.

We started our journey with freshly-shucked oysters bursting with briny freshness and paired with a crisp Austrian Riesling. Another delightful appetiser – the sardine crostini, topped with pickled shallots, capers, and a tangy romesco sauce –delivered a perfect balance of texture and flavour.

For entrée, the twice-baked goat-cheese soufflé was a stand-out: a light, dreamy creation served with a simple salad,

offering richness with a refreshing finish. And, of course, the classic French onion soup, with its caramelised onion and savoury broth topped with a gooey, cheesy croûton, brought warmth and comfort in every bite.

For our mains, we decided on the showstopping John Dory, served atop a creamy bed of spinach, with capers and a citrusy beurre blanc. The fish is perfectly tender, its sweetness enhanced by the sharp tang of capers and buttery sauce. Another standout was the confit duck leg, which arrives with a spring salad, honeycomb wafer, and a spiced honey velouté. The melt-in-your-mouth duck paired with the velvety sauce makes for an unforgettable dish.

Dessert is equally indulgent, with poached pear and riz au lait – the creamiest vanilla rice pudding, caramel shards, and toasted almonds. The sweetness of the pear, combined with the creamy pudding and crunchy caramel, creates a luxurious and satisfying end to the meal.

Anerie’s wine list, curated with care, reflects Cryss’s goal of offering both familiar and adventurous selections. Each dish is paired with a wine that enhances its flavours, inviting guests to explore new tastes

At Anerie, guests are more than just customers – they’re welcomed like friends. Cryss and her team, including chefs Jordan, Luke, Anna and Thomas, restaurant manager Richard and skilled front-of-house team Ashlee and Marie, work together seamlessly to create a dining experience that feels both personal and exceptional.

More than just a restaurant, Anerie is a reflection of a love for good food, meaningful connections, and the joy of creating a space where people feel at home. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply seeking a warm, welcoming spot to enjoy a meal, Anerie is a diamond that brings French dining to the heart of Phillip Island.

WHERE TO EAT

A quick guide to the best eateries in Gippsland

ANERIE

12 Thompson Ave, Cowes 0403 625 001

Intimate, traditional French dining

BANG BANG BAR & FOOD

18 Vista Place, Cape Woolamai 5922 4374

Coastal bar, chill vibe & asian inspired meals

BIRD AND WOLF

43 River Dr, Tarwin Lower 0493 857 854

Great coffee and delicious brekky & lunch

GIPPSLAND WINE COMPANY

6835 South Gippsland Hwy, Loch 0477 555 235

Small batch, cool climate wines and stunning platters

GOMATHY’S KITCHEN

Sundays Kongwak Market gomathysivasi09@gmail.com

Passionately prepared Asian and Malaysian

GURDIES WINERY

215 Gurdies-St Helier Rd, The Gurdies 5997 6208

Bay views, events and music

BLUETTE ON BEAR

17 Bear St, Inverloch 0459 635 712

ETHICAL FOOD STORE

Funky vibe, stylish meals from local produce 2 Koala Dve, Koonwarra 5664 2288

Foodie haven in a garden setting

FIG & THE BAY

24 Liberty Cres, Corinella 03 5678 0337

Stunning meals under majestic fig trees

GURNEYS CIDER

343 Fish Creek Foster Rd, Foster 0400 706 612

Voted Australia’s best cidery with platters and Prom views

HICKSBOROUGH STORE

1 Hicksborough Way, Nth Wonthaggi 5672 5441

Escape the hustle and bustle for breakfast, coffee, lunch

KELP BAR & EATERY

141 Marine Pde, San Remo www.kelpsanremo.com.au

Cool cocktail bar, tacos, share plates and more

LAMEZLEIGHS COFFEE

HOUSE & EATERY

62 Ridgway, Mirboo Nth 5668 2455

Cosy, luxe vibe with fab coffee and wholesome food

LIME & CO FOOD TRUCK

POP UP

Williams St Inverloch & catering 0419 624 321

Family business passionate about Mexican food

LOCH & KEY

32 Victoria Rd Loch 5659 4236

Modern cuisine inspired by Gippsland produce

LUCINDA ESTATE WINERY

118 Parr St, Leongatha 0417 337 270

Boutique vineyard, tastings, platters, lunch

MAHOB AT MOO’S

89 Whitelaw St, Meeniyan 5664 0010

New to town and serving modern Cambodian cuisine

MARIOS AT SAN REMO

99 Marine Pde, San Remo 5678 5365

Family business serving authentic Italian cuisine

MONTALTO

33 Shoreham Rd, Red Hill South 5989 8412

Restaurant, piazza, wine, art and sculpture

NARKOOJEE WINERY

220 Francis Rd Glengarry Nth 5192 4257

Winery and restaurant with unique ambience

OCEAN VIEW HOTEL

3531- 3533 Bass Hwy, Kilcunda 5678 7011

Serving authentic South and Central American and pub faves

PHILLIP ISLAND WINERY

414 Berrys Beach Road, Ventnor 8595 2155

Functions, fine local food with an Island vibe

PROMONTORY

RESTAURANT & WINERY

23 O’Gradys Ridge Rd, Foster 5682 1538

Memorable meals overlooking Wilsons Promontory

RACV RESORT INVERLOCH

70 Cape Paterson-Inverloch Rd, Inverloch

5674 0000

Stunning restaurant and bar overlooking Bass Strait

RUSTY WATER

RESTAURANT AND BAR

1821 Phillip Island Rd Cowes 5952 1666

Light lunches to fine dining amongst the gum trees

SAINT JULES

117 Marine Pde, San Remo 0439 216 131

Coffee, tucker, larder

SALTWATER

On the Jetty @ Beach Crescent Newhaven 5926 6802

Out on the jetty with 360° bay views

SILVERWATER RESORT

17 Potters Hill Rd, San Remo 5671 9300

THE BAY GOURMET

Watermark Restaurant offers gourmet breakfasts through to dinner 2 Koala Dve, Koonwarra 5664 2288

Relaxed dining, courtyard, coffee and preserves

THE CAPE TAVERN

Surf Beach Rd & Market Pl, Cape Paterson 5674 6097

Friendly, casual pub style meals

THE CLUBHOUSE

11 Dr Sleeman Ave, Wonthaggi 5672 1437

Relaxed dining experience

THE SANDBAR INVERLOCH

2 Cuttriss St, Inverloch 5674 6097

Beer garden, music, inlet views

THE WONTHAGGI CLUB

16 McBride Ave, Wonthaggi 5672 1007

Bistro meals the locals love. Open every day

TOMOS- JAPANESE INVERLOCH

1/23 Abeckett St, Inverloch 5674 3444

Authentic and modern Japanese cuisine

TRULLI

93 Whitelaw St Meeniyan 5664 7397

A taste of Southern Italy in Meeniyan

WESTERNPORT

HOTEL

161 Marine Pde, San Remo 5678 5205

Unashamedly good pub food and bay views

THE BAY GOURMET FOOD & WINE STORE

WELCOME TO OUR FOOD AND WINE STORE IN BEAUTIFUL VENUS BAY, SOUTH GIPPSLAND. WE OFFER A RELAXING ALL DAY CAFE WITH AN EXCELLENT SELECTION OF BEVERAGES. THERE IS SOMETHING TO SUIT ALL TASTES AND OUR INSTORE PROVIDORE OFFERS HAMPERS, GIFTWARE AND THE BAY GOURMET PRESERVES.

HIT THE ROAD: It’s wine time

The Gippsland wine region is enigmatic and a paradox – huge in area, tiny in volume. Its premium wines attract serious attention globally, and yet it is is only just emerging as a destination wine region.

Gippsland is cool-climate wine country, with rich soils producing premium aromatic and elegant pinot noir and complex chardonnay. Spanning more than 300km from Phillip Island to the NSW border, and 160km from North to South, you find this giant hiding in plain sight between vast mountain forests and wild Bass Strait. Of the 50-plus wineries, there are around 30 with cellar door experiences (some open only by appointment, see www.winegippsland.com for details).

When it comes to authentic producers, celebrating their place in the landscape, and moving the dial on sustainability, Gippsland is the real deal. And the welcome visitors will find at its cellar doors is a genuine and warm one.

. . . look after the soil and vineyard, and your wine will tell the story

Gippsland wineries are small, independent and family-run, with no corporate labels. They are artisan producers and a humble bunch, preferring to let their wine do the talking. At a time when producers everywhere are waking up to the benefits of farming sustainably, Gippsland’s winemakers have a head-start and are heavily invested.

Most Gippsland producers work “on the tools”, in vineyards that are farmed using organic or biodynamic practices, shunning non-organic fungicides, insecticides and herbicides, and paying close attention to soil health, revegetation and biodiversity. There is a common ethos here to ‘look after the soil and vineyard, and your wine will tell the story’.

COMING HOME

Affordable land has attracted young winemakers back to Gippsland, where they have been able to lease and rejuvenate established vineyards, build their labels, and the capital, to then buy and plant their own farm vineyard. Many of these wine families have at least one “born, bred and returned” Gippslander who grew up here, moved away for study, travel, career (or all three) and returned to pursue their wine dream. Their success has brought others in their wake, and they’ve been generous with their support and mentorship. According to Alistair

Hicks, of Blue Gables Vineyard and President of Wine Gippsland, there is huge potential in Gippsland’s future: “We have the right climate and soils and space to continue to plant more, and attract new winemakers.”

In the past year, four have opened cellar doors, and two more plan to open this summer. “We have a diverse range of cellar door experiences across the region. There are wineries with their own restaurants, and those with Good Food Guide-hatted restaurants nearby, such as Hogget Kitchen, Sardine and Tinamba Hotel who champion the region’s produce, and others who offer picnics, platters and pizzas,” Alistair said.

WHAT YOU WILL FIND

Besides pinot noir and chardonnay, other varieties thrive here, including exciting examples of riesling, pinot gris, cabernet sauvignon and shiraz, with lesser-known varieties such as savagnin, viognier, sangiovese, grenache, nebbiolo, gamay and gruner veltliner and malbec to name just a few. There are plenty more plantings on the way, more production and new varieties. Watch this space!

Pick up a free copy of Visit Gippsland’s “Eat Drink Gippsland” guide for details on the cafes, restaurants, breweries, cideries, distilleries and, of course, the cellar doors on the trails around the region.

(Left) Jane Taylor and Mark Heath of Loch-based

Company have won the coveted Best Chardonnay and Best Wine of Show in the recent 2024 Gippsland Wine Show for their 2023 Loch Chardonnay.

(Top left): Gippsland wine producers are independent, family-run operations; (top right) Lisa and Justin Jenkins of Fleet Wines at their cellar door near Leongatha; (above) Corner Inlet vineyard

Gippsland Wine

WHERE TO

START

Your first challenge in tackling Gippsland’s food and wine trails is where to start. The second is when to finish. This is no ‘let’s cover it all in a weekend’ destination. Gippsland, like its premium wines and delicious produce, deserves to be savoured.

And that may mean coming back for seconds to do the region justice. Get your first taste on a long weekend. Then return for a mini-break or two over autumn/winter, and build up to a few more weekends and your longer stay in spring/summer. Or vice versa.

With such a vast geographic spread, for touring convenience, it is commonly described in four areas, all surrounded by excellent dining and farmgate options, and holiday experiences

• Bass Coast including Phillip Island and Inverloch. Wineries with cellar doors include: Purple Hen, The Gurdies, Bass River Winery, Silverwaters Vineyard, Dirty Three Wines, Harman Wines

• South Gippsland around Leongatha through to Wilsons Promontory. Cellar doors include: Fleet, The Wine Farm, Gippsland Wine Company, Waratah Hills and Corner Inlet. Others by appointment.

• West Gippsland/Baw Baw includes Tynong North, Longwarry and Warragul, has consistent rainfall and generally warmer temperatures. Wineries include: Cannibal Creek, Krooked Row and Blackcoat Wines. Others by appointment.

• Central/East Gippsland including Traralgon, Maffra, Tinamba, Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance. Wineries include: Narkoojee, Blue Gables, Glenmaggie, Carrajung Estate, Lightfoot, Wyanga Park, Nicholson River and Tambo Estate. Others by appointment.

For more information and detail on trails see www.winegippsland.com and www.visitgippsland.com

South Gippsland and neighbouring Bass Coast hug a shared, wild coastline, from Phillip Island through to Wilsons Promontory and beyond. Rich volcanic red and dark loams over basalt and clay offer fertile and well-drained soils. The Bass Strait winds help keep the seasons long and cool throughout this part of the region. These combine to produce richly textured wines, including elegant chardonnay and aromatic white wines, but have found their true expression with pinot noir of superb flavour and structure. A weekend trip here starts just over an hour from Melbourne, where you can head for the tourism drawcards of Inverloch, Korumburra, Loch, Leongatha, Meeniyan and Wilsons’ Promontory. There are stunning national and state parks to visit year-round, with waterfalls, wildlife walks and seaside activities. Proximity to the sea and renowned dairy country means exceptional seafood and cheese to go with your wines.

Central Gippsland and East Gippsland are bound by the Great Dividing Range to the north, and the 90 Mile Beach and Gippsland Lakes to the south, offering stunning scenery from the rugged high country to pristine beaches. You are spoilt for choice for a getaway here: skiing or hot springs bathing, paddleboarding, kayaking or sailing, mountain biking or the gentler rail trails, or even just relaxing at a brewery or winery, with a diverse range of cafes and Good Food Guide-hatted restaurants. Picturesque small towns are packed with local delights. Highlights include the Gippsland Lakes, the Great Alpine Road, Tarra Bulga National Park, Lake Glenmaggie, easy-to-ride rail trails (especially with e-bikes to hire), waterfalls, the Heesco Mural Trail, surf beaches and Stargazing Gippsland’s dark sky locations.

West Gippsland is perhaps the easiest to reach, starting just 45 minutes from Melbourne CBD, with Cannibal Creek winery and restaurant. Although there are few cellar doors in the West open yet, it is home to some of Gippsland’s most sought-after wines. You will find these available at Baw Baw Shire’s celebrated restaurants, which champion local producers, such as Hogget Kitchen, Warragul (with views over the vineyard shared by three producers) and Messmate Dining.

A HIDDEN GEM

Bluette on Bear

Bluette on Bear is an industrial-style café tucked away on Bear Street in the Inverloch industrial estate, a location that’s quickly gaining recognition along with other hip spots like Dirty Three Wines, Southern Bazaar, and Tomfit. The café’s appeal lies not only in its unique vibe but also in its ability to blend a raw, industrial atmosphere with a warm and welcoming feel.

The expansive outdoor garden area is perfect for enjoying a lazy afternoon in the sun, and if you’re lucky, you might spot one of the local koalas lounging in a nearby gumtree. Inside, the café oozes cool with its concrete floors, exposed wood, steel-framed windows, and festoon lighting. It’s a space that feels industrial yet cosy, setting the perfect tone for a relaxing meal or a casual drink.

Bluette on Bear is a haven for coffee-lovers, serving up Maker Coffee from Melbourne, known for its smooth and indulgent flavour. Whether you’re after a piccolo, macchiato, or mocha, you’ll be happily satisfied. For non-coffee drinkers, there’s a selection of tea, hot chocolate, and chai, all customisable with your choice of milk. Sweet-tooths will delight in the range of cakes, slices, and croissants sourced from Noisette and Trulli, making for the perfect pairing with your hot drink. And if you’re looking for something stronger, the café boasts an impressive selection of local beers, ciders, wines, and spirits.

The food offering, crafted by French-trained chef John Bezzina, is just as impressive. Serving an all-day menu, Bluette on Bear caters to all tastes. Some standout dishes include the crispy chicken Caesar Salad, Mushroom Tartine, Eggs Atlantic, and Maple Granola. For those on the go, a range of delicious toasties is available. And if you're looking to kick off the weekend with a bang, Friday nights at Bluette on Bear are legendary. Book ahead to enjoy inventive cocktails like Coconut Margaritas paired with mouthwatering dishes like Ocean Trout Tartare with labneh, brown butter and za’atar, or moreish wood-fired pizzas.

The café is gaining a reputation based on rave reviews. A local enthuses, “We found this cool café on our way to the post office. We had Turkish Eggs and a Caesar Salad – the best I’ve ever eaten. We also had dessert and coffee and everything was just delicious. The location is also very cool. So happy to have bumped into this exceptional spot. Thanks to the friendly staff.”

With a modern menu that embraces fresh, seasonal, and local produce, Bluette on Bear has something to offer every punter. Whether you're there for a quick coffee, a hearty meal, or a relaxing evening, this hidden gem will not disappoint.

Discover the Magic of the Amalfi Coast with Relish Mama’s Exclusive Tour in May 2025

Embark on a culinary and cultural journey to the stunning Amalfi Coast this May with Relish Mama’s exclusive 8-day tour. Hosted by culinary expert Nellie Kerrison, the tour o ers an immersive experience, blending the region’s rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and delicious cuisine. We welcome all travellers including solo travellers.

For enquiries contact Nellie Kerrison | Relish Mama 0418 592 607 | info@relishmama.com.au

Authentic Indian, Asian, and Malaysian cuisine and catering services are available. All dishes are made with fresh ingredients. Every Sunday at the Kongwak Market

For more updates please follow @foodbygomathy @gomathyskitchenofficial

For the Scallops

2 flour tortillas ** Olive oil

1 ripe avocado

40g sour cream Juice of 1 lime

Tabasco sauce (or use a small pinch of chilli flakes if preferred)

Sea salt

Freshly cracked black pepper

12 scallops

20 g unsalted butter

For the Salsa

2 roma tomatoes

½ small red onion, finely diced

60 ml extra virgin olive oil

1 handful of coriander leaves, finely chopped

Juice of 1-2 limes (to taste)

Scallop or tofu tostadas with avocado butter and salsa

Makes 12 single serves

Scallops are your perfect ‘one bite’ party food!

Preheat oven to 160°C. Using a scone cutter, cut the tortillas into 4cm rounds and place on a lined baking tray.

Drizzle with a little olive oil and bake for 8 minutes or until golden.

Cut the avocados in half, remove the stones. Place in a food processor & blend with the sour cream. Add juice of 1 lime & season with sea salt and pepper as well as a dash of tabasco.

For the salsa, finely dice the tomatoes and mix with the onion, oil, coriander and the remaining lime juice. Season to taste.

Pat dry the scallops with paper towel. Season the first side well with sea salt and pepper.

Heat a frying pan to medium-high heat and add a splash of olive oil as well the butter. Place the scallops in the pan (they should sizzle as they hit the pan). Cook on the first side without moving the scallop. Turn over when sealed and golden and repeat on second side. The whole cooking time shouldn’t be more than approx 2 minutes.

To serve, place a teaspoon of the avocado mix on each tortilla and then a scallop and finally the salsa.

** For a gluten free version, skip the wheat tortilla base & serve instead perhaps on a cleaned scallop shell.

Recipe by Nellie Kerrison from Relish Mama cooking school.

SCARS BEYOND THE STORM

The super-storm cell that ripped through Mirboo North last summer wreaked devastation on the town in a matter of minutes. Months later, the community is still grappling with the aftermath, as the clean-up continues and locals attempt to rebuild from the storm’s brutal path of destruction.

When a violent super-storm swept through Mirboo North on 13 February, the town was caught off-guard. Winds gusting at a record-breaking 126 kilometres per hour ravaged the area, tearing through homes, businesses, and beloved community landmarks. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the storm developed under unusually intense conditions, with a mix of warm temperatures and high moisture levels creating the perfect conditions for disaster.

Mirboo North resident Emily Wilkinson describes the scene of devastation left behind as “unfathomable.” The community swimming-pool became a scene of annihilation as towering trees collapsed into the water.

Emily is adamant that the quick actions of lifeguards that day saved lives. “They got everyone out of the water, and moments later trees went straight into that pool,” Emily says. “They deserve all the recognition they’ve received – I hate to think what would have happened if they weren’t so good at their job.”

Homes were badly hit. Emily's partner lost the roof of his house, with parts of it landing in Emily’s nature strip. “It was very traumatic for his kids, and if anyone had been home at the time, it could have been even worse,” Emily says. “My partner hasn’t yet processed the grief of losing his home.”

words bonny redmond photos nicky cawood

The damage wasn’t confined to individual homes. Downed trees blocked roads, damaged buildings, and left families without power for days. The local football oval was hit so hard that a goalpost snapped in half. The Scout Hall was so severely damaged that local scouting groups had to relocate for more than six months.

In the immediate aftermath, the local community banded together, with neighbours helping each other clear debris and secure homes. But “bureaucratic red tape” delayed immediate assistance. In response, a volunteer group, the Mirboo North Storm Cell Volunteers, was formed to provide on-the-ground help.

Deanie Brullo, spokesperson for the group, tells Coast that the volunteers were there to provide immediate assistance. “In the beginning, there was a lot of urgency – helping people safely get access to properties, extricate cars, and help source loan items like generators,” Deanie says. “We’ve helped with everything from food and groceries to cleaning up fallen timber, and just being a point of contact – someone to talk to.”

Despite the best efforts of locals, the storm’s destruction was so significant that help was needed from beyond the town’s borders.

A call went out on social media for volunteers to assist with the clean-up. People from across the country, even as far away as Queensland, responded, travelling with chainsaws

and camping gear. “The community was amazing in its support,” says long-time resident Liz Sharpley.

The clean-up is still ongoing even many months later. Many homes are still covered with tarps, a stark reminder of how much is yet to be done. The local pool – considered a priority by locals – is still waiting for repairs more than six months later.

“There’s a real fear in the community that the pool won’t be ready in time for summer,” Deanie says.

Despite the ongoing clean-up efforts, the emotional scars from the storm – which tragically claimed a life – are still deeply felt. Many locals admit to feeling anxious whenever a weather warning is issued, with some even choosing to leave town.

Yet, in the face of these challenges, the resilience of this close-knit community remains unwavering.

Mirboo North is well on the road to recovery, and Deanie says the town is “ready and waiting” for visitors.

“In some ways, life is returning to normal. But it’s a new normal,” Deanie reflects. “Mirboo North and our community will never be quite the same again.”

“In some ways, life is returning to normal. But it’s a new normal. Mirboo North and our community will never be quite the same again.”

Deanie Brullo

THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT REASONS TO VISIT

Perched on a ridge in the middle of the Strzelecki Ranges not too far from Melbourne, Mirboo North sits at the top of the rolling green hills of South Gippsland.

Mirboo North

MIRBOO NORTH

LAMEZLEIGHS COFFEE HOUSE & EATERY

MIRBOO NORTH POST OFFICE

JIMMY JAMBS CAFE

GRAINSTORE

A village on top of the ridge in the picturesque Strzelecki Ranges

There you will find Ruperts. A colourful and quirky collection of homewares and gifts. Next door you will find Lamezleighs Coffee House & Eatery. A bustling café alive with locals and visitors alike gathering in cozy nooks and communal tables, enjoying hearty breakfasts and homemade treats. And then, why not stay? Once a stately bank, Bank on Ridgway, offers a blend of vintage charm and modern comfort, complete with original bank vault. Whether you’re drawn by the allure of unique gifts, promise of a perfect espresso, or the charm of historical accommodation, this eclectic trio is just a stepping stone to all that Mirboo North and surrounds has to offer. Shop, Eat, Stay Mirboo North.

MEENIYAN’S JEWEL IN THE CROWN

This December marks twenty glittering years of Lacy Jewellery Studio & Gallery in the small town of Meeniyan.

Danielle and Philip Lacy are the heart and soul of the business. Their combined talents have ensured two decades of success creating memories for locals and customers from around the world – even when many said it would never work.

“Time ticks along – you wonder where it goes,” laughed Danielle. This is most evident in their four children – the eldest, a toddler pictured smiling from atop the counter in their first ad in Coast magazine – is now completing Year 12.

Both Gippslanders – Danielle growing up in Meeniyan and Philip in Fish Creek – they returned home after two years of living overseas including seven months in Milan. There the tiny boutiques and craftspeople provided inspiration for the gallery they dreamed of creating.

words sally o’neill photos warren reed

“A shop Danielle had always liked was for rent, so we approached the owners to ask if we could lease part of it. They said yes but discouraged us, as Meeniyan was pretty quiet back then. But it was something we wanted to do, so we went for it,” recalled Philip.

The couple fitted out their small space, making their own cabinets and workbenches to save money, and even pasting Italian newspaper on the windows as they renovated – a hint of things to come.

“We wanted to create a gallery feel with unique jewellery, where the customer walks into a beautiful space and finds everything from earrings for under $30 through to special handcrafted pieces,” said Danielle.

Some thought it was a crazy business to open in the small town but, contrary to opinion, they were incredibly well supported from the start. “I still remember some pieces we sold on that first day – a silver necklace and a pair of diamond earrings,” laughed Philip.

The business went from strength to strength as the Lacy brand became legend. As well as locals coveting the hidden gem of their town, many visitors from around Australia and the world have walked through the door and left with a unique piece – always commenting that they hadn’t expected to find such a unique store in Meeniyan.

“We want everyone who comes into the store to feel special. Buying locally also means that people can drop in anytime to have their jewellery cleaned, repaired and maintained. That’s our warranty – we want people to be happy for the life of their jewellery – and you don’t get that online,” said Danielle.

Customers also benefit from the couple’s unique creativity and vision. “We play to our strengths. We both love people, communicate well and are creative in our own different ways,” Danielle added.

Philip’s father was an opal miner, and as a kid Philip would tag along on expeditions. He always marvelled at the glittering gemstones in a cabinet in his childhood home. While still in high school, he saw a newspaper for a jewellery-making apprenticeship. He got the job, and the rest is history.

“I read once that Louis Cartier said he wasn’t a natural, but always had a knack of surrounding himself with the best people. That’s how we approach it – we have a great team and do things our way. We don’t follow formulas set in magazines, we’re not automated – we’re human. If we like it, we sell or make it,” explained Philip.

With Lacy’s now one of the oldest businesses in Meeniyan, the couple love their town and its community. “The essence of Meeniyan is that it’s a really quaint little town with small shops, art, music and great food,” enthused Danielle. “

Those first handmade cabinets and workbenches are now in use in a new gallery that’s double the size of the original, and the pair is ready for the next extension. Their team comprises three jewellers and an apprentice, along with Danielle’s retail team.

Reflecting on their success, Philip and Danielle remain thankful for the local support they’ve received. “That’s honestly the reason we’re here after twenty years,” said Danielle.

And their eldest son may hold the key to their future. “He’s interested in becoming a jeweller. We’ve often joked that the name will be Lacy and Sons and Daughter one day – who knows?”

Inverloch Art Show

Easter Long Weekend

Opening on Good Friday Eve

Raising money for food boxes distributed by Bass Coast Health to people in short term need

Recreation Hall, Inverloch Hub 16 A’Beckett Street, Inverloch

inverlochartshow.org.au

inverlochartshow@gmail.com @inverlochartshow

Blair Art Prize Winner 2024 No Man an Island Jill Rogers

ARTS FEATURE

A SCULPTING NATURE

Jan Learmonth

words aissa reed photos warren reed & lindsay roberts

In a quiet corner of South Gippsland, where sea breezes curl through native woodlands, the studio of sculptor Jan Learmonth sits like a bowerbird's nest – an eclectic collection of nature's gifts. Twigs, seed-pods, spiny quills and other found objects fill the space, creating a rich tapestry of memory and imagination.

Stepping into Jan’s studio, a world unto itself, feels like entering a living, breathing archive of nature – an Aladdin's cave of creativity where each object tells its own story.

The fine-wire sculpture that hangs from the back of a door is delicate yet robust, its form suspended as if frozen in time. Nearby, an intricate series of branches catch the light, their textures and patterns creating a sense of rhythm and movement. It is in these materials – wood, wire, cork, metal and echidna quills – that Jan finds inspiration. "Friends and family often bring me things they’ve found – dead birds, animals, feathers, quills. They know I’ll put them to good use," she says, with a quiet smile. Holding up an echidna quill, she laughs, "These are strong. You wouldn't want to run over one in your car; it would go straight through your tyre."

A deep connection to nature is evident in her work. The artist’s home, perched high above the ti-trees, overlooks a vista that stretches to the ocean beyond, offering endless inspiration. "When we first arrived here, it was just a bare block. Now, after fifteen years, the garden is well-established, and birds flock to it."

Jan's bond with the landscape is rooted in her childhood: she grew up on a sheep farm near Naracoorte, in South Australia. "Ngeringa, the place of many Bull Oaks," she recalls, "was where I developed my love for nature. It adjoined the Little Desert National Park, and that was my playground. I was a free-range child – no motorbikes or computers back then, just open spaces."

Jan's journey into art was not immediate. As a child, she attended boarding school in Melbourne, a far cry from the open space of the farm. While she enjoyed crafts like leatherwork, her artistic path took shape later, when a summer painting-class sparked something within her. It wasn’t long before she applied to the

Gallery School (now the Victorian College of the Arts), where her talent for sculpture began to emerge. "I wasn’t that good at painting," she confesses with characteristic humility, "but sculpting … that felt right."

Under the guidance of English sculptor Mark Clarke, Jan discovered the joy of working in three dimensions. "He encouraged us to think beyond the flat canvas, to sculpt what we drew. That’s where my love for sculpture began." Jan stayed at the school for two years before life, marriage and children took her on another path. Yet she never stopped creating, continuing to sculpt throughout her life.

Her sculptures often carry a theme that runs deep – nature, the environment, and the fragility of our world. Boats frequently appear in her work, symbolising journeys through environmental challenges like drought and desertification. "The boat is a recurring motif for me," she says. "It speaks of the climate, the scarcity of water, the fragile balance of nature."

Yet, despite the gravity of her themes, Jan remains unassuming about her art. "I've never made something and thought, 'Wow, that's really something!’ I'm still waiting for that moment," she says with a laugh, her modesty as much a part of her as her talent.

Her current exhibition, ‘PASSAGE,’ is a retrospective that invites viewers to step back and reflect on her career – one marked by quiet perseverance and a deep love for the natural world. "I look back at some of the pieces and think, 'Why did I make that?'" she jokes. But beneath the humour lies a body of work that speaks to a lifetime spent deep in thought – through observation, collecting, and creating.

Jan’s process is deeply intuitive, driven by a love for making things with her hands. "What do you do? Sit around? I'm not good at knitting," she laughs again. Instead, she finds joy in using powertools – grinders, saws, and welding torches – to bring her ideas to life. "I like constructing things," she says simply. "It's about turning an idea into something tangible, something that resonates with others."

Jan works with many materials, including wood, metal and paper, and her approach to sculpture is anchored in craftsmanship. "It's got to hold together. It’s not just about throwing things together; it has to last." This dedication to craft, combined with her love for found objects, gives her work a unique sense of place and memory.

Her sculptures often begin with simple ideas – sticks found on a walk, a flow in the landscape – but evolve into intricate constructions that speak to the viewer on multiple levels. One of her most personal pieces, an artwork made from collected sticks and twigs, represents an aerial view of a river with a tiny canoe at its base. "It's the only piece of mine I have in the house."

As an artist, Jan is constantly aware of her surroundings, finding inspiration in the smallest details. "The other day I was sitting on the ground having lunch, and I noticed the way the sticks around me were forming a flow. It just triggered something," she recalls. "We are way behind nature in so many ways. It’s humbling to look around and be inspired by it. Sometimes I like to create ephemeral works, just for the sake of it."

Jan’s creativity extends beyond her own work. Her studio has often been a place of play and experimentation for the neighbourhood kids, who would come over to make things with her. "I'd tell them,

'Don't touch that, that, or that – but the rest is yours. Go for it!' And they’d dive right in," she says, smiling at the memory.

Her family has also been a constant source of support and inspiration. "I’m lucky to have both my children nearby," she says. Her daughter Mary shares her love for the arts. The artist is currently working on a series of dome-shaped steel bowls, which will be part of a larger installation called Waterholes. “They’ll sit within sculpted canoes that will be suspended from the ground to give the impression of floating.”

Despite challenges she’s faced, Jan has always found solace in making. "Creating has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember," she reflects. "It’s a way of processing the world, of expressing what’s inside."

Jan Learmonth’s work may not always shout for attention, but its quiet power speaks volumes. Through her sculptures, she invites us to pause, to look closely at the world around us, and to find beauty in the everyday. And in doing so, she reminds us that art, like nature, is a delicate balance – strong, fragile, and always evolving.

To explore more of the artist’s works in detail, visit Jan Learmonth’s exhibition PASSAGE. The exhibition runs from 7th December to 23rd February (Opening night by invitation 6th December) at the Gippsland Art Gallery, Port of Sale (Wellington Centre) 70 Foster Street, Sale. (03) 5142 3500. Open Monday to Friday 9am – 5.30pm and weekends and public holidays 10am – 4pm. Entry is free, but tickets may be required for special events. Find out more at www.gippslandartgallery.com

words bonny redmond photo annette spinks

BEHIND THE EXHIBITIONS

Gippsland is well known for its world-class and emerging artists, but toiling quietly behind the scenes to put their work centre-stage is a small but dedicated team of curators. Coast shines the spotlight on the group, affectionately referred to as ‘The A Team’.

If curating galleries was an Olympic sport, the team at ArtSpace Wonthaggi – Ursula Theinert, Susan Hall and Karin Ellis – would easily take home the gold. Tirelessly working around the clock, they and a small group of dedicated volunteers hang exhibits showcasing the best talent the Gippsland region has to offer. Their commitment runs so deep that they are even known to have occasionally opened the Gallery doors on Christmas morning for husbands doing a cheeky last-minute present-dash for their partners.

This entirely volunteer-run team is driven by a shared passion for art and a desire to provide local established and emerging artists with a platform to share their craft. Thanks to their dedication, artists who showcase their work enjoy a worldclass presentation.

ArtSpace Gallery President Deb Watson says the curatorial team is known as the A Team for a reason. “If they’re doing a hang, you don’t want to get in their way,” laughs Deb, who is also President of the BCH Inverloch Art Show Auxiliary. “It’s quite an intense process, and fascinating to experience as an onlooker.” The “hang” refers to the curation process of arranging artwork for shows. It’s an exhausting but rewarding marathon of activity. For example, the upcoming Inverloch Art Show at Easter will see the A Team hang and display an estimated 400 pieces in just two days.

To the untrained eye, the task – hanging paintings and portraits on a wall – may look simple. But every display

is meticulously thought out, ensuring each piece gets its moment to shine. “Our aim is to make every piece look as good as it possibly can,” Ursula says.

While ArtSpace exhibitions often come with an intense approval and planning process, the Inverloch Art Show – as an annual community fundraiser for Bass Coast Health’s food boxes program – operates a little differently, and certainly keeps the group on their toes.

Due to the nature of the event, the curatorial team doesn’t see all the exhibition pieces until it’s time to hang.

Committee member and local artist Ellen Hubble says what the team pulls off is nothing short of extraordinary. “The curatorial team is making design decisions on the spot,” Ellen explains. “But you’d never guess it.”

The A Team’s work also extends beyond the gallery. From edible-garden events to NAIDOC activities and writers’ and music festivals, ArtSpace contributes to Gippsland’s broader creative community.

“Art comes in many forms, including music and writing as well as visual art. We’re here to represent all our artists, whatever the form may be,” Deb says.

And thanks to the tireless dedication of the ArtSpace team, Gippsland’s artists are not just given a platform, they are celebrated and supported in every way they deserve.

BERRYS BEACH

BEACH BOWLS, SUGAR BOWLS

WENDY FLETCHER

MARLENE ABELA

PHIL HENSHALL

LAURA

JOHN DISTEFANO

MEG VINEY

BRONWYN PRATT

troy@harrisbuild.com.au

LIFESTYLE FEATURE

home & garden inspiration

LIFESTYLE REVIEW

LIVING A HAMPTONS DREAM

Behind this stunning family home is a story of resilience, a leap of faith turning almost-shattered dreams into a reality that far exceeded expectations.

words bonny redman photos andrew harrison

Peter and Linda’s Hamptons-inspired home in one of Melbourne’s most sought-after Bayside suburbs effortlessly combines luxury and comfort, creating the perfect family sanctuary. However, this dream home came with its challenges, and there was a time when its completion was in doubt.

Peter and Linda were among more than 1,000 homeowners impacted by the liquidation of Porter Davis Homes. With their dream hanging in the balance, they wondered if it would ever come to life. Yet, as Peter reflects, what seemed like a setback soon became a blessing in disguise. “A very well-timed Instagram ad changed everything,” he recalls.

It was through that ad that he discovered Aspire Designer Homes. “The company showed human empathy at the darkest time our family has had to face,” Peter admits. “I hadn’t heard of Aspire at the time, but I trusted my gut feeling – and I’m glad I did.”

With the build barely started, the Aspire team had the opportunity to add its own flair. And almost a year to the day

after the initial heartbreak of their builder’s collapse, the family moved into their stunning new home, proving that good things can emerge from calamity.

Walking through the home, it’s immediately clear how much care and thought have gone into every detail. With its airy open-plan layout and cosy, intimate corners, the house strikes a perfect balance. Light streams in through large windows, enhancing the space’s warm, inviting feel. “We visited hundreds of display homes,” Peter laughs. “But Aspire brought the vision to reality. It’s simply perfect – more than we could ever have hoped for.”

The home’s Hamptons facade, with its classic elegance, turns heads. “ I know I’ll look at this house in twenty years and still love it,” Peter says, his voice filled with pride.

Inside, the home is designed with family living in mind. Each child has their own ensuite and living spaces, giving them room to grow and play, but there are also plenty of shared areas for quality family-time. The expansive rear windows look

out over a sparkling pool, ensuring the family can enjoy every inch of their block.

The kitchen, however, is the home’s crowning jewel. Peter describes it as both beautiful and practical. “My wife is a passionate baker, so the kitchen needed to be perfect,” he explains. “She loves working on the huge island bench in the middle.” But the standout feature? The bi-fold windows that open directly to the alfresco dining area. “It’s perfect for summer entertaining. It’s such a functional feature. We do a lot of BBQ cooking, and rather than constantly running in and out of the house, we can just slide everything to the outside.”

The classic Hamptons style continues throughout the home, from the cabinetry to the French Oak floors. “We wanted a home that felt timeless, and I think we’ve achieved that,” Peter says.

The beautifully-appointed master suite features spacious hisand-hers walk-in robes. “It’s like waking up in a hotel room every morning – in the best possible way,” Peter explains. “And we don’t have to fight about wardrobe space,” he adds with a laugh.

When choosing their furniture, the couple enlisted the help of Catalano Interiors. “A stylist came to the house, then took us shopping. It was great to have that extra layer of expertise.”

“It’s funny how things worked out,” Peter reflects. “Switching to a custom builder who offered design flexibility and personalised inclusions led to an end- product that was far better than we could have imagined. Meeting Garry and the team at Aspire Designer Homes was meant to be. ”

“I know I’ll look at this house in twenty years and still love it.”

AN AUSSIE ICON

Sipping cold drinks on the sun-lounge as the children splash – nothing speaks louder of an Australian summer than a backyard pool-party. Like the Esky or Ugg Boots, Beau Rixon has his heart set on Outback Plunge Pools becoming an Aussie icon. And with 500 pools selling Australia-wide in less than three years, alongside growing global interest, it just might happen.

“We’re borrowing a little bit of credibility from history – two hundred years of swimming in outback water-tanks.  We’re not reinventing the wheel, we’re just refining it,” says Beau.  With more than twenty different sizes available, there’s a plunge pool to suit any setting, and installation couldn’t be easier. “They’re rolled into place, flipped over fences, carried by six blokes – whatever is required. There’s a little bit of assembly to be done on site, like an IKEA kit, but nothing too strenuous. If you’re handy, it can be a DIY.”  Moving house?  Turn your Outback plunge pool on its side, put it on the back of a trailer and take it to your next abode.

Crafted from high-grade corrugated stainless steel or COLORBOND in a range of nature-inspired external colours and lined with commercial-grade vinyl, the plunge pools are stunning. “You can have any shape as long as it’s round,” Beau grins. Internal finishes include sandstone, river stone and a sparkling ocean blue, with options for heating, LED lighting, bench seating and spa jets. A landscaper’s dream, the Outback Plunge Pools website showcases customer installations that encapsulate beauty and versatility. A recent project at Talaroo Springs in far North Queensland features four pools in a secluded bush oasis, fed by geothermal waters. However, from Beau’s perspective, the pool is all about backyard connections. “There’s something about a pool … The number-one reason that people install backyard pools is the family. We want people to love their backyards and live in them, live their life through them, and make memories there.”

words christina aitken photos warren reed

Outback Plunge Pools are cost-effective to install and run, and with the right equipment, need minimal maintenance. “What makes you love or hate a pool is not the look of it, but how much of a pain it is to run,” Beau says. It boils down to four things, he adds: “chemicals, water, electricity and time.” Costing less than $500 a year to run, Outback Plunge Pools use an ultraviolet sanitiser paired with a mineral chlorinator, requiring 80-90% less chlorine than traditional pools. A 4-speed pump runs slowly, ten hours per day. “We use less electricity and fewer chemicals because the water is always rotating.” With covers and a vacuum available, the pools are easily kept free of debris.

Beau has always been an entrepreneur, with his wife of 17 years, Jessie, by his side. Ten years ago, he sold his first business venture in website design marketing to resurrect a rundown pool shop in Melbourne. Here Beau and Jessie began their crusade for energy-efficient, low-chlorine and freshwater pools. Looking for a well-priced, low-maintenance system with a different type of shell and easy installation, the couple launched the Outback Plunge pool and have not looked back. Customisability and insurability completed their musthave list.

Just over two years ago, Beau and Jessie moved from Melbourne with their four children, aged between five and twelve, to set up their business operations and assembly

factory in Wonthaggi. Beau acknowledges that wet and windy Wonthaggi is an unusual place for a pool business, but it was a homecoming of sorts for him, as he grew up in the area.

“We always wanted to raise our kids in a country town, where they could know lots of people, and everyone would talk and say ‘hi’,” says Jessie.  “We wanted to establish our roots and contribute to the community. That’s why we’re here,” Beau adds.

Establishing strong links within the homeschooling community is another priority for Jessie. “Homeschooling allows us to travel with the kids. We’re either at field days or shows across the country, or we’re doing installs,” she says.  As if they’re not busy enough, the couple has also invested in a cafe in Murray Street, The Exchange — yet another opportunity for community connection.

Are you imagining an Outback Plunge Pool in your backyard? Chances are you’ll bump into Beau or Jessie at their cafe or around town, or you can contact them at the addresses below.

If you live in Wonthaggi and surrounds: “we can have it to you within four weeks,” says Beau. How’s that for local service?

Email sales@outback.com.au

Address 327 White Road, Wonthaggi

Coast Style

INSPIRATION FOR YOUR HOME

THE FINISHING FEATURES

Selecting the right elements for your home can be challenging, particularly when it comes to finishes like handles and tiles. The choices you make - whether it’s a cabinet handle or bathroom tile - significantly shape the overall ambiance of your space.

Dan Bruce, Principal Designer at Studio 44 and a secondgeneration designer and cabinet maker, knows that selecting these finishes can feel overwhelming. With countless options available, from matte black to polished brass, deciding on the right one can be tough. For those feeling uncertain, Dan offers valuable guidance.

“Remember, cabinetry design is as unique as the individuals who use it,” Dan says. “Embrace the freedom to mix and match finishes; it’s about creating a space that resonates with your personal style.”

This principle extends beyond cabinetry to tile selection, especially in spaces like bathrooms. Dan suggests considering

the atmosphere you want to evoke when choosing tiles. “For a coastal bathroom, let your tiles evoke the seaside,” he explains. “Choose shades of blue, sandy beige, and warm terracotta for a calming effect.”

But ultimately, Dan says, design is not just about aesthetics; it’s about emotion and creating a space that best reflects you.

And if you get stuck, don’t hesitate to seek expert guidance. With over 45 years of experience in South Gippsland and Bass Coast, the Bruce family name is ready to help you with your design and cabinetry needs.

Photography Warren Reed

Image Credits Lo & Co Interiors, Linear Standard, and Perini Tiles. Shower photo courtesy of Perini Tiles x Maxwell Built -

Photography Brad Griffin

Studio 44 www.studio44.com.au

Like art, designs as unique as their owners

Like art, cabinetry design can mean different things to different people. Creating designs that inspire their users - something that will be valued, emotionally and functionally.

By Dan Bruce Registered Builder, Cabinet Maker, Designer (DB-L

Cabinetry Artistry Innovative Alfresco

64755, CDB-L 66067)

Coast Style INSPIRATION

FOR YOUR HOME

PERSONALISING YOUR SPACE WITH PIECES YOU LOVE

Creating a home that reflects your style can feel overwhelming. So, where do you start?

Wendy from Southern Bazaar offers some great advice. “Begin with the items that you love and that bring you joy, and then build your space around those pieces,” Wendy says. She believes that these personal touches make your home unique and truly yours.

This philosophy comes to life in a stunning home where every element works together to create a warm and inviting space. Soft fabrics and a calming colour palette of whites, blues, muted pinks, and gentle greys mix perfectly with earthy elements like indoor plants and exposed brick. This unexpected combination creates a relaxed atmosphere that feels cosy and welcoming.

The magic of this home lies in the details. Each carefully chosen piece – from a striking lamp and comfy cushions

to elegant candle-holders – adds character without overwhelming the senses. Too often, people rush into buying decor without thinking about how each item fits into their vision for the space. But as this home demonstrates, it’s important to approach styling with intention, ensuring everything works together beautifully.

By surrounding themselves with meaningful items, the homeowners have crafted a space that feels both intimate and inviting. Each piece tells a story and adds to the overall warmth. This home serves as a stunning reminder that house styling is all about making your space truly yours – filling it with elements that reflect who you are and what you love. With the right pieces, you too can truly create your own sanctuary.

Most of the furniture and homewares pictured are available from Southern Bazaar, Inverloch.

LIFESTYLE REVIEW

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

Building a dream home is more than just having great ideas – it’s about finding the right team to bring your vision to life.

For Brian and Lyn, the key to their new home was working with a company that could handle both design and construction. They wanted a seamless process where communication between the designer and builder would ensure every detail was just right. JDesign did exactly that, managing everything from the initial planning stages through to the finishing touches.

Their home, set on a sunny corner block, blends modern design with natural elements. Recycled brick walls, stone, wood, and metal accents give the house a contemporary yet warm feel. The approach to the house is lined with a native garden, hinting at the sustainability woven into the design. Inside, matte polished concrete floors provide both durability and style, drawing attention to the internal courtyard and water feature, which infuses the space with a sense of calm.

words aissa reed photos warren reed

For Brian and Lyn, one of the best parts of the process was the flexibility and personalised attention they received. Right from the start, they were able to source their own materials and appliances, which helped keep costs down without sacrificing quality. This flexibility was especially important to Lyn in the kitchen, where she wanted a space that was both serene and functional. The result: a statement olive-green cooker, handmade tiles, wooden cabinetry, and slimline concrete countertops. The lofty raked wooden ceiling and hand-laid

stone fireplace add a wow factor to the living room. It’s not just beautiful, but thoughtfully designed, with everything placed for easy movement and access.

Working closely with the builder and designer at JDesign also gave Brian and Lyn a sense of control they hadn’t experienced with previous builds. "They really listened to our ideas and made subtle improvements that made all the difference," Brian explains. For example, when Lyn wanted a courtyard, the

design team suggested placing it where it would be visible from the front door, making it a welcoming feature as soon as guests entered the home.

Sustainability was a priority throughout the build. Their 10kW solar system, rainwater tanks, and gas-heated slabs make the house energy-efficient and ready for the future. Brian and Lyn also laid the groundwork for future features, like an electric car charging station, while keeping the house’s footprint

“It’s everything we wanted and more.”

modest. Extra insulation throughout the home helps to keep it comfortable while reducing energy consumption, a key concern for the environmentally-conscious couple.

The design-and-build team’s expertise was also evident in the way they handled the permit process. From obtaining approvals to remove an old tree to integrating a native garden into the budget, they managed every detail. Jaylee, who oversaw design and permits, was well-versed in local

regulations, ensuring that everything moved smoothly. Brian and Lyn were grateful for the support in navigating this oftencomplex aspect of construction, which in their case avoided the usual headaches and delays.

A key feature of Brian and Lyn’s home is its practicality. The polished concrete floors, which extend throughout most of the living areas, are ideal for their beach-loving dogs, who often come home covered in sand. These durable floors mean the couple doesn’t have to worry about scratches or messes, making it easy to maintain their home without constant fuss. “It’s so comfortable and functional,” Lyn says. “We don’t have to stress about keeping everything perfect.”

The close relationship between their supervisor Shane and local tradespeople was another factor in the project’s success. Having worked together on many projects, the trades knew each other well and communicated easily, ensuring that everything from the wooden ceiling to the custom kitchen cabinetry was completed to the highest standard. Brian and Lyn were impressed by the level of care each person put into the project. “The electrician even stressed over getting the lighting just right in our ceiling,” Brian recalls, illustrating the team’s dedication to making their home perfect.

Combining design and construction under one roof proved to be a major advantage. Having a single point of contact allowed changes and adjustments to be made quickly, avoiding the delays that can happen when designers and builders work separately. The team’s ability to offer real-time cost estimates also helped Brian and Lyn make decisions about where to save and where to invest, keeping the project within budget while still getting the features they wanted.

In the end, Brian and Lyn’s home is a reflection of their vision, brought to life by the JDesign team that listened and cared. From the handcrafted bookshelves built by Brian’s son built to the peaceful outdoor room where Lyn loves to sit in her hanging chair, every corner of the house feels personal and thoughtfully-designed. "It’s everything we wanted and more," Brian says. "It’s comfortable, practical, and most importantly, it’s ours." They credit their design-and-build team with not only making the process manageable but enjoyable. The result is a home that meets their needs today and will continue to serve them for years to come.

Coast Style INSPIRATION

FOR YOUR HOME

A HOME WITH FAMILY AT ITS HEART

For Chelsea Simpson of Indigo Interior Design, this knockdown/rebuild project was more than aesthetics; it was about creating a family sanctuary in memory of a muchmissed husband and father. “I wanted to pay homage to him with a beautiful home for his family that also keeps his memory alive,” Chelsea explains.

Tributes like his initial ‘D’ are subtly integrated into bespoke timber handles, ensuring his presence remains. The interior balances style and sentiment, with whitewashed oak floors, matte-black fixtures and encaustic tiles in steel grey and dusty pink.

Handmade concrete basins provide a custom, artisanal touch, while olive-green leather-bound dining chairs and a modular sofa bring warmth and comfort, alongside stunning curved timber furniture, terrazzo accents, and wool rugs. Durable

pieces ensure the home is practical for grandkids. Every detail has been thoughtfully considered, resulting in a home that is a haven for family gatherings.

For those considering a home makeover, this project showcases the immense value of engaging an interior designer. “With the myriad of choices available to consumers these days, designing a home can be overwhelming, ” Chelsea notes. “An experienced designer ensures that every detail is handled with care, making the process smoother and the final result more harmonious.”

Chelsea can be contacted at Indigo Interior Design at chelsea@indigointeriordesign.com.au

Builder NB Custom Builds, Mornington Photography Jimmy Logan

Photo by Shelley Price Photography

John Flanigan

Dip FMBM

Experienced Finance Specialist

With

Specialising in

- Established properties

- House & Land construction

- Investment properties

- Refinancing to improve lifestyle & reduce repayments

Support & Educate

- First home buyers

- Government scheme participants

Bespoke homes. Quality craftsmanship. Passionate builders. We build beautiful homes. We build great relationships. And, we take all the hard work out of your hands so that you can enjoy the process. Talk to us about how our experienced team can create your beautiful new home, extension or renovation.

Phone Steve 0428 598 237 | steve@sjvuillerminmasterbuilders.com.au www.sjvuillerminmasterbuilders.com.au @sjvuillerminmb One-of-a-kind. Your home. Our service.

SHAPING NATURE

In a region known for its stunning coastal landscapes and rolling hills, the upkeep of Gippsland’s outdoor spaces has become both an art and a science. For Evan Enbom, a Korumburra-based arborist, it’s a calling. Since founding his business in 2015, Evan has quietly built a reputation as the go-to expert for property owners who value more than just routine tree maintenance.

From seaside estates to hillside homes, Evan has spent nearly a decade working on some of the most picturesque properties across Gippsland. But what sets him apart isn’t just his technical skill – it’s the personal relationships he’s forged with clients, and his unique, artistic vision for shaping the outdoors.

Evan’s passion for shaping trees began at the tender age of fourteen. “I got into bonsai for a time,” he recalls. “I think that’s where my love for beautiful trees began.” He admits his early fascination with the age-old Japanese craft laid the foundation for the approach he takes today, though the trees he works on now are, as Evan puts it, “significantly larger than they were when I was a kid.”

This passion for trees deepened through his years as a photographer, where he honed his eye for aesthetics and composition. “I think clients with amazing properties kind of ‘get it,’ because they already see the aesthetic in life and are willing to chase it, no matter what – much like me,” Evan reflects. It’s this careful balance of aesthetic and technical expertise that has earned Evan long-term and high-profile clients, many of whom have been with him for close to a decade.

For many, the success Evan has achieved would lead to an expansion of the business. But he has intentionally kept his company small, focusing on a select number of high-end, large-scale properties. “It’s important to me that I’m personally involved in every job,” he explains. “My clients trust me to be there, to understand what they’re after, and to make sure the work is done exactly the way they envision it.”

Beyond the technical side of things, Evan is also deeply connected to nature. “I took a trip to the city recently with my kids, and we all felt a bit ‘off’ for a few days. Getting back out into nature and touching some trees really helped,” he shares. This connection to the outdoors keeps Evan grounded and calm in both his work and life. “Maybe that’s why I’m so chilled out,” he laughs. “A lot of my energy goes into my work.”

While many view tree-care as purely functional, Evan’s work goes beyond maintaining trees or clearing debris. It’s about enhancing the natural beauty of Gippsland’s landscapes, ensuring each property he touches achieves its full potential. His dedication to his craft and personal involvement set him apart in an industry often focused on function over form.

As his long-term clients can attest, Evan’s careful approach doesn’t just shape trees; it elevates entire outdoor spaces. Evan Enbom and South Gippsland Tree Care offer something truly special – a blend of artistry, expertise, and a genuine passion for the natural world.

words bonny redman photos andrew harrison

words sally o’neill photos supplied

FARM FOR THE CAPE COMMUNITY

A garden with heart is capturing the imagination of the Cape Paterson community. Set up as a collective, ‘the Farm’, as it is known, is open to everyone with a yearning to be part of sustainably growing and sharing fresh, organic food.

One key to the farm’s success is a unique concept – each farmer is allocated a “food cube” equipped with its own water reservoir. An Australian invention made in Melbourne from recycled materials, the system ensures very little watering or weeding is needed. It promotes excellent growth – so everyone looks like a super-hero gardener!

Another asset is resident farmer Adrian James, who’s on hand to give support and advice to the more than 80 members currently growing produce for their families and community.

“Food is one thing we all have in common – it’s a uniting force. Growing fresh produce is a positive step people can take for the environment. It saves food miles, water and soils, and fresh garden greens are tasty and full of life, flavour and vitality. It’s empowering to grow produce to share with your community. It can help you to take control of your life,” enthused Adrian.

“We grow annual vegetables in season, and across the year we have leafy greens, lettuces and herbs. We plant vegetables and seasonal fruiting crops on rotation. In Bass Coast we’re lucky that conditions are fairly mild, so we can grow crops all year round.”

In the fully-closed loop, water is captured from the roofs of The Cape homes, and the farm’s composting system recycles

local green waste back into food. Excess produce is donated to food charities.

Adrian loves his role of supporting members to be successful by assisting them with setting up their gardens and providing ongoing advice. He and one trainee also run a large-scale nursery as well as workshops and tours for schools and groups with the aim of making the enterprise self-sustaining.

“The farm is unique in that it is one of the first community food gardens funded by a developer with a full-time professional to drive it. We have a greater capacity to do things here that are not possible in other sites – like engaging with the broader community,” said Adrian.

Each Saturday morning the farm hosts a market where residents and the wider community can buy seedlings and freshly-harvested organic vegies, and meet the team.

“Farm memberships are open to everyone, and we invite you to come and say g’day.”

More information on the Cape Farm can be found at www.capecommunityfarm.org.au

‘Natives, because they’re beautiful’

Melaleuca Nursery has been supplying quality indigenous & native plants to West & South Gippsland for over 40 years. Whether it’s a few plants for the backyard or thousands for a revegetation project; we provide excellent advice on what’s best for your area.

ADDRESS:

50 Pearsalls Road, Inverloch Vic 3996

SUMMER HOURS: Monday to Saturday: 9am – 5pm

PHONE: Phone: 03 5674 1014 Trade enquiries welcome

EMAIL & WEB: info@melaleucanursery.com.au www.melaleucanursery.com.au

HARDY NATIVES FOR A WILDLIFE FRIENDLY GARDEN

Everybody thinks about the nectar eaters in your garden but there are lots of birds, small mammals and lizards that prefer insects or small seeds to eat. The four plants listed below are hardy species that grow in a wide variety of soil types and conditions and will attract the insects critters, like Blue Wrens and Garden Skinks, like to eat.

Goodenia Ovata

YELLOW HOP GOODENIA

Shrub (1-2m tall, 1-2m wide) and Groundcover forms available.

Indigenous to much of southern Victoria, particularly in moist forest areas. Will grow in drier areas as well.

Green Shrub with yellow flowers spring into summer.

Good flowers for insects, including Butterflies.

Kunzea Ambigua WHITE KUNZEA/COASTAL KUNZEA

Medium shrub 2 – 3m tall.

Local to sand dune areas at Wilsons Prom

White honey smelling flowers in spring. Good nectar for Bees.

Good screening plants for sandy areas.

Ground cover form available.

Olearia Lirata SNOW DAISY BUSH

Medium Shrub to 2 – 3m tall in most areas, can be a taller in wet sheltered areas.

Indigenous to much of southeastern Victoria, White daisy flowers in Spring. Good flowers for insects, particularly butterflies and moths.

Correa Reflexa COMMON CORREA

Variable shrub – 0.5-2m tall, green leaves above, grey underneath.

Indigenous to large parts of South Eastern Australia. Flowers range from yellow, to red and yellow to red. Winter Flowers. Many varieties available, most do better in drier soils.

All of these species are available most of the year at Melaleuca Nursery

Oyster Mushrooms

are not only considered a super food but add the most delicious umami taste to any dish. They are known for their versatility, being used in pies, on the BBQ, in a risotto or an asian broth.

You can pop into Wattlebank Farm and grab some fresh mushrooms or a grow kit to take home. If you are a foodie or gardener, join Beatrice and Peter at Wattlebank Farm for a regenerative mushroom workshop. Visit wattlebankfarm.com.au for details.

WILDLIFE WARRIOR A journey of compassion

Simonne Fleming’s story is not one of urban landscapes or the rhythm of city life. Instead, her earliest memories are painted by the wild hues of Papua New Guinea. At the tender age of four, she left the familiar streets of Australia behind, stepping into an unfamiliar world, both exotic and perilous.

“It was a monumental move for our family,” Simonne reflects, her voice still carrying the echoes of a child’s vulnerability. “It was a time of civil unrest in a developing country. My father, an electrical engineer, took us to live in a compound encircled by towering eight-foot-high fences. The atmosphere was tense, with danger lurking just outside those barriers.”

The intensity of those days is still palpable as she recounts the hardships, including her father’s brutal assault. “We had to return to Australia, leaving him there alone, because it was no longer safe for us,” she shares, the fear of that time still raw.

In this secluded world, where human friendships were scarce, an unexpected bond formed with a neighbouring dog. “She became my best friend in a place where friends were hard to come by.” When the dog had puppies, they found their way under the fence to play with Simonne. Eventually, her parents allowing her to keep one of the pups, she named her Brownie. The joy and companionship Brownie provided were immeasurable.

But their bond was tested in the most extreme way when a local man brandished a gun, accusing her dog of biting his child. “I jumped in front of her and screamed, ‘You’re not hurting my dog!’” At just six years old, Simonne stood firm. “I knew she was innocent because I was with her the entire time.” This incident didn’t just strengthen her love for animals – it ignited a fierce resolve to protect them.

words aissa reed photos warren reed & supplied

Returning to Australia only deepened her connection with animals. “Growing up, we always had pets. My dad would say, ‘You can tell everything you need to know about a person by the way they treat animals. Do they tease them, or are they gentle and kind?’ That lesson has stayed with me throughout my life.”

A teenage holiday to a remote farm in outback New South Wales opened up a new world for Simonne. “Trail-riding was offered there, and I ended up leading rides on weekends and holidays. My love for horses was undeniable, and after years of begging, my parents bought me a horse that was destined for the knackery. The $400 was money they could barely afford,” she recalls, gratitude still evident in her voice. “I got a part-time job at a bakery to cover the feed costs. With no saddle, I had to learn to ride bareback.”

The farm wasn’t just a place for trail-rides: it was a gateway to a world where she felt profoundly connected to the land and its creatures. “I fell in love with the outback, a place teeming with kangaroos, wallabies, and wombats.” This deep-rooted connection inspired her to pursue a Bachelor of Business in eco-tourism, a cutting-edge field at the time.

Yet, life had other plans, steering her towards hotel tourism rather than the outdoor adventures she craved. “It wasn’t what

I’d envisioned. My true passion was always the outdoors and the animals that captivated me.”

Determined to reconnect with that passion, Simonne spent a year abroad. She worked at a summer camp in America, teaching horse-riding and vaulting – a form of gymnastics on horseback that was new to her. “We were tested in an arena. I had never done dressage or anything like that. I was more of a bush rider,” she says with a modest laugh. “But my bareback riding experience gave me a natural balance, they said.”

Her journey continued in the UK. She took a tourism job in Edinburgh, but soon realised, ‘This isn’t me.’ I longed for the outdoors.” Eventually, she found her way to Abergavenny, Wales, leading trail-rides through stunning, snow-covered landscapes. Her simple caravan life was shared with a black cat that adopted her.

“I loved getting lost among the remote properties, sometimes stopping to help a sheep in distress,” she recalls fondly.

Upon returning to Australia, Simonne moved back to Tasmania to help care for her ailing father. It was there she found her dream job at Cradle Mountain Lodge, guiding bushwalks and introducing visitors to the local wildlife – wombats, spotted quolls, pademelons, and Tasmanian devils. “That place was

magical. I never tired of visiting the same spots. But then my knees gave out,” she says, a mix of sadness and acceptance in her tone. After double knee-surgery, she had to leave the job she loved, adjusting to a slower pace of life. For a time she was wheelchair-bound, and remained on crutches for over a year.

Simonne refused to let this setback define her. “I realised I could pivot my business degree into an accounting qualification through a master’s program. This would allow me to work remotely and continue caring for wildlife from home.”

She speaks with pride about her academic achievements, having completed her degree with high distinctions, earning a university medal, and being chosen to deliver the valedictory speech at her graduation ceremony.

Around fourteen years ago, Simonne made Bass Coast her home, deciding her travelling days were behind her. “I fell in love with this place – it felt like the perfect spot to finally settle down, get a dog or two, and raise some chickens.” She recalls walking her dog along the Powlett River when she found a tiny wombat, no bigger than a football, suffering from mange.

“Its mum had died. Getting help for that little orphan joey was nearly impossible, and it broke my heart.” This experience propelled her to learn more about helping wildlife. She started volunteering with Mange Management Inc., and later

became a wildlife rescuer with Wildlife Victoria and ultimately a registered carer. Eventually, she founded Rescue to Release Inc., an organisation that provides financial support to rescuers and carers. “We’re all volunteers, and the cost of everything we do – from driving to callouts to buying baby formula, feed, and bedding – comes out of our own pockets. We’ve just secured deductible status, so any donations to our organisation are tax-deductible. We’re always in desperate need of more volunteers, and every donation directly helps animals in need.”

The work is demanding, often involving long drives to treat wombats with mange. “We can travel up to 1,000 km a month for wildlife rescues. It’s costly, but every km is worth it to ease an animal’s suffering.”

One of her most moving experiences has involved caring for a wombat joey named Milly. “She’s around three months old now: she’s just beginning to open her eyes and is doing really well. Caring for her is like having a newborn human baby – she needs to be fed every two hours during the day and three-hourly at night,” she says, her voice filled with maternal warmth. “We don’t want any animal to suffer because of our lack of knowledge. We’re all deeply passionate about giving these creatures a chance at a better life.”

Milly will stay with Simonne for a few more months before moving to a larger enclosure at Bush Beings Shelter, where she will learn how to live as a wild wombat. “We call it wombat finishing school,” Simonne laughs. Wombats typically remain in care for up to two years before being released back into their natural habitat. “If they get cranky and try to attack you when you finally release them, you know you’ve done a good job!”

Simonne’s dedication extends beyond wombats and kangaroos to birds, emus, possums, bats, and even seals.

“When the marine response unit from Melbourne zoo can’t make it here in time, we step in to protect the animal by putting up temporary fencing to give it some respite. One of

my favourite memories is watching a leopard seal swim and frolic back into the ocean after resting on our beach.”

As a volunteer rescuer and carer, Simonne emphasises the importance of community support. “The heart of it all is to alleviate animal suffering. It can be challenging, but we do our best. We always need more help to share the load.” She is fuelled daily by her love for animals, whether she’s treating a wombat or nurturing a newborn joey. “Every little bit helps,” she says with heartfelt conviction. “Do what you can, because even your smallest effort can make a significant difference in a vulnerable animal’s life.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Volunteer Your Time

There are many ways to help: answering phones, fundraising, becoming a trained rescuer or carer, treating mange, or transporting injured animals.

Donate

These organisations rely heavily on donations to continue their vital work. Even a small contribution can make a big difference.

How You Can Protect Wildlife:

Drive slowly from dusk to dawn when most animals are active and crossing roads

WILDLIFE VICTORIA: 03 8400 7300

MANGE MANAGEMENT: 0431 600 125

RESCUE TO RELEASE: www.rescuetorelease.org.au

THE KOALA CORRIDOR PROJECT

Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park and Western Port Biosphere have teamed up to launch the Koala Corridor Project, an initiative designed to support and preserve koala populations in the region.

This important project addresses the growing threats faced by one of Australia’s most beloved native species—the koala. Their numbers are rapidly declining due to habitat destruction, disease, dog attacks, and road hazards. The Koala Corridor aims to create a network of trees throughout the UNESCO listed Western Port Biosphere, reconnecting fragmented habitat to ensure koalas can safely move between areas of bushland.

By linking critical patches of remnant vegetation, this project will not only benefit koalas but also enhance biodiversity in the region. The corridor will provide essential shelter and food resources for a wide variety of species, from small mammals to birds and insects.

A key component of the Koala Corridor Project is the involvement of the local community and stakeholders. In addition to planting trees, the project is looking for dedicated volunteers to help survey koala populations, create new habitats on private properties, and raise funds for the project.

The partners are also seeking the assistance of landowners within the corridor area. By allowing native trees and vegetation to be planted on their properties, landowners can play a critical role in expanding the habitat available to koalas and other wildlife. Landowners who participate will not only contribute to the survival of an iconic species but also support the broader efforts to enhance biodiversity in the Western Port Biosphere.

As the project progresses, it is expected to set an example for conservation efforts, demonstrating how wildlife conservation and sustainable land management can go hand in hand.

Western Port Biosphere and Moonlit Sanctuary’s Koala Corridor Project is a beacon of hope for koalas and an essential step in safeguarding the biodiversity of the Western Port region.

Anyone interested in getting involved is encouraged to reach out and be part of this vital conservation effort. You can help by:-

Volunteering: Sign up to participate in planting and surveying events.

Donating: Your contributions will help fund the corridor and protect koalas.

Creating Habitat: If you have land within the corridor location, you can help by allowing trees to be planted on your property to create much-needed koala habitat.

Visit moonlitsanctuary.com.au/koala_corridor/ to express your interest or find out more.

STARS GO R A I N B O W FOR INCLUSIVITY

The

Inverloch Stars Soccer Club recently made their most public - and colourfulstatement in support of the LGBTIQ+ community, hosting their first-ever Pride Cup at Thompson Reserve.

"We don’t care who you love. You can play here."

Those words from Lucy Simnett, president of the Inverloch Stars, sum up the club’s commitment to inclusivity. And the 16 June Pride Cup was more than just a rainbow-starred community event – it was a powerful statement about love and acceptance.

On a cold winter’s day, history was made as the Stars became the first club in the region, and one of the first in soccer, to host the Pride Cup. The day saw the Stars take on local rivals, the Leongatha Knights, in a bright display of support for LGBTIQ+ players, spectators, and community members.

For the Stars, the event was about much more than the celebrations. “We’ve always been open to everyone,” Lucy reflects. “But this was our chance to show, in no uncertain terms, that inclusivity is important to us. This is where we stand.”

The Pride Cup, traditionally held by football clubs, was founded as a "celebratory statement of love and acceptance." Lucy and her team were determined to bring that spirit to the soccer field.

But it wasn’t just about  “rainbows and fun”.

Before the match, the club hosted an educational session, where the Pride Cup team led discussions on promoting inclusivity and encouraging LGBTIQ+ participation. Players from the Stars’ senior teams attended, alongside key figures from Gippsland’s soccer community.

“It helped us understand the challenges that LGBTIQ+ people face, and how we can be more supportive,” Lucy explains. “It’s taught us that it’s always better to do something than nothing. We may make mistakes, but it’s important to act. People are often reluctant to get involved because they’re worried they won’t do it right.”

words bonny redman photos supplied

“By hosting the Pride Cup, we’re showing that everyone – no matter who they are or who they love – is welcome here at Inverloch.” –Lucy Simnett

Hayley Conway, CEO of Pride Cup, says that while discrimination has historically created barriers for LGBTIQ+ people in sport, “that’s not an inherent flaw of sport itself”.

“It’s a reflection of broader societal norms,” Hayley explains. “Sport can be the solution by modelling inclusivity and respect within groups. Local sporting clubs are at the heart of many communities, and when they take steps to be more inclusive – such as hosting Pride Cup events – it creates a ripple effect.”

“We’ve seen new players join clubs and existing members feel empowered to come out because their clubs have shown that they are safe, welcoming spaces.”

And as one of the first soccer clubs to host a Pride Cup, the Inverloch Stars are leading by example.

“In country areas, sport is such a big part of the community,” Lucy says, “so it’s important for us to be vocal about inclusivity. By hosting the Pride Cup, we’re showing that everyone – no matter who they are or who they love – is welcome here at Inverloch.”

Australia’s southern most tip where ancient granite emerges from turquoise waters and pristine white beaches squeak as you walk.

WILSONS PROM

photos warren & aissa reed

Yiruk Wamoon an ancient landscape whispers secrets on the breeze and rejuvenates your soul.

RISING FROM THE RUINS

Karen O’Neill Hams - 10 Years on

Ten years after her husband Michael committed suicide in the family’s garage, Karen O’Neill Hams says the pieces of her broken life have been glued back together with gold –like the Japanese art of kintsugi – slowly, piece by piece, in a painstaking rebuild of their shattered foundations.

“Life as we knew it was smashed to the floor just like dropping a vase and seeing it shatter,” she says. In their reckoning with grief, and restless in the search for healing and new meaning, Karen and her adult sons Tom and Will have collectively moved 16 times, changing jobs with every relocation.

Karen has just finished a month-long stint in Bundaberg managing a hotel with her partner Patrick.

She says the desire to live large, and without guilt, has laid the pathway for a journey of adventure.

“I know life is short … I want to try everything. The boys feel much the same way. It’s taken a decade to feel comfortable living without Michael – the guilt of not doing or being enough has now dissipated.”

She’s found joy in floristry, making whimsical bouquets from the gorgeous cottage flowers she grows in her own garden and sells at the Green Heart Café & Providore in Inverloch.

Some relationships have fallen away; others remain steadfast. “I know that not everyone will come on my new journey. Like

sand through our fingers, some people have slipped out of our life. There are some that are sharp: they cut me. Others are still solid, and we’ve stuck together, just like the Japanese vases renewed with gold.”

To mark the ten-year anniversary of Michael’s death, Karen shared canvases for her friends and family to draw or paint on, and created a book that enabled them share their stories, celebrating his life as a nurse, football coach, friend and mentor. Karen finds that her memories of Michael have shifted. She sees the shadow of him in her sons, and says that the shape of his hands is most like her son Will’s. “The time we had together sometimes feels far away. I’ve forgotten how he feels, but I still see his smile. I often hear his favourite songs, and now I can sing along or smile. When I look at both Tom and Will and I see all the best things about him.”

Will says the impact of his father’s loss drives his work as a mental health advocate. His platform Liminal Wellbeing runs workshops about building resilience, connecting with young people in workplaces, community football clubs or Pub Pilates sessions. “It sucks that Dad didn’t get the support he needed at that time, but I think we know now, especially since Covid, that healthcare workers need to be able to identify triggers and reach out for help too.” Now 30, he says it’s about having a foundation of skills and resources to rely on when depression and anxiety take hold.

Sibling Tom is reaching men as a football coach, landing a Premiership flag in 2023, his rookie season as senior coach for

Inverloch-Kongwak Football Club. Will scored ‘best on ground’ but did some brotherly ribbing when Tom declared himself a ‘supercoach’. But every milestone seems worth celebrating when a family has risen from the wreckage of suicide. The footy connection also honours Michael, who was a trainer for Gippsland Power and saw Will drafted by Essendon Football Club in 2013.

The brothers live together in Yarraville but are still connected to Inverloch by football and family. Tom says their father laid the groundwork for the people they’ve become. “He built the foundations for who we are: it’s written on his gravestone in Korumburra. I guess we are the fruits of his labour,” says the town planner.

“He built the foundations for who we are: it’s written on his gravestone in Korumburra. I guess we are the fruits of his labour,”

As a family they’ve grieved in different ways and at different times, and the boys and their mother have learned to allow each other the space to do that. Michael Hams left a legacy of two young men who are prepared to listen, and to speak openly about some of the tough subjects like suicide –conversations that can be lifesaving.

If you or someone you know could use some support, please consider reaching out to these services below

Lifeline Gippsland - 131 114 - llg.org.au

Beyond Blue - 1300 224 636 - beyondblue.org.au

MensLine Australia - 1300 789 978 - mensline.org.au

words katie cincotta photos supplied

15 MINUTES OF FAME

15 MINUTES OF FAME

Striker Jarrah Van Stekelenberg

Jarrah Van Stekelenberg is not just a soccer player . . . she’s a force of nature. Known for her fearless moves and impossible kicks, she’s one of the Phillip Island Breakers’ fiercest competitors. But what makes Jarrah stand out isn’t just her talent on the field – it’s how she balances it all. Between battling opponents and scoring goals, she uses halftime to nurse her son, Quincy, right on the sidelines.

“I started playing soccer in primary school, and even managed to play for Victoria,” Jarrah says, recalling her early years. “Both my older sisters were into it, and I just tagged along.” Growing up, she didn’t often play in her own age group, instead joining her sisters’ teams for the convenience of her parents, who didn’t want to shuttle three kids to different locations. “We played really well together. My oldest sister was in defence, I was midfield, and my other sister played forward. It was awesome being in a team with them.”

After a decade-long break from soccer, life brought Jarrah back to the sport. “I hadn’t even thought about playing again,” she admits. “My friend Luka said she was playing soccer on the island, and that’s how I ended up back on the team.” In the intervening years, Jarrah had been studying environmental science at university and travelling the east coast of Australia in her van. She never stayed in one place long enough to commit to a winter soccer season. But now, with a more settled life alongside her partner Max and their two kids, she was ready to return to the pitch.

“Some people spend their whole lives working and waiting to retire so they can start living. I’d rather enjoy life now, with my kids. That’s why we’re just scraping by – so we can soak up every minute.”

“It’s been a lot harder on the body this time around,” she laughs. “I do things on the pitch and then pay for them later. But it’s worth it.”

These days, Jarrah and her family live on a quiet farm behind her parents’ house in Loch. Life is simple, but full of meaning. “We work just enough to cover the basics, and the rest of the time we’re with the kids,” she explains. “Max even quit his job recently so we could spend more time together as a family.”

Beyond soccer, Jarrah has been busy restoring old caravans, a passion she picked up after her dad helped her with her first project. “I’ve done about six or seven now. At the moment we’re actually restoring a bus that we plan to live in with the kids. Max likes to plan everything, but I’m more of a ‘let’s cut this here and see how it fits’ type of person,” she says with a grin. “Maybe I have a bit of ADHD … I’m always juggling a million things.”

Her love for her kids, Inka and Quincy, is evident in everything she does. “They get me out of bed in the morning,” she beams. “Inka turns three in January, and Quincy just turned one.” Jarrah is already excited to introduce them to her favourite place,

Wilsons Prom, a coastal spot her family visited every year. “It’s got everything –beaches, hiking, camping. I can’t wait for them to be old enough to surf and do all the things we did growing up.”

Jarrah’s life philosophy is simple: “Don’t work too hard.” She’s determined to live in the moment with her family. “Some people spend their whole lives working and waiting to retire so they can start living. I’d rather enjoy life now, with my kids. That’s why we’re just scraping by – so we can soak up every minute.”

As for soccer, Jarrah’s passion hasn’t wavered. “I love the feeling when I play. No matter how tired I am, the second I get to training, I’m energised again. I’m so glad I played with the Breakers this year. Max and the kids come to all the games –Quincy already has his own little pair of soccer boots.” Who knows? Maybe we’ve got a future soccer star in the making!

Jarrah’s life is a whirlwind of love, adventure, and soccer, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Whether she’s restoring a bus, scoring goals, or chasing after her kids, she brings the same fierce dedication and joy to everything she touches.

words & photos aissa reed

THE VENICE HOTEL

by Tess Woods

When the lives of four very different women become entangled in a boutique Venice hotel, dark secrets unravel, and not everyone who checked into the hotel will check out again. You’ll fall in love with these characters and feel as though you’re walking the maze of Venetian streets with them. Perfect for fans of The White Lotus.

THE MIDWATCH

by Judith Rossell

Ages 9+

The latest from the creator of multi-award-winning series Withering-By-Sea. Banished to the Midwatch Institute for Orphans, Runaways and Unwanted Girls, Maggie Fishbone is sure she’s in for a life of drudgery. But she quickly discovers there’s more to the Midwatch than meets the eye. You won’t hear a peep from the kids once they crack the spine and enter the world of The Midwatch.

LOST AND LASSOED

by Lyla Sage

A small-town romance featuring enemiesto-lovers, Grumpy/Sunshine and forced proximity – what more could you need? She thrives in chaos. He prefers routine. The only thing they have in common? How much they hate each other. The third book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series will be your perfect lazy summer read. Can be read as a standalone.

DUSK

by Robbie Arnott

Following the epic success of Limberlost, Robbie Arnott hits us with another thoughtful and beautifully-written story. In the Tasmanian highlands, a puma named Dusk is killing shepherds. Down in the lowlands, twins Iris and Floyd are out of work, money and friends. When they hear that a bounty has been placed on Dusk, they reluctantly decide to join the hunt. As they close in on their prey, they’re forced to reckon with conflicts both ancient and deeply personal.

THE LEDGE by Christian

White

It all began in 1999 when sixteen-yearold Aaron ran away from home, drawing his friends into an unforeseeable chain of events that no-one escaped from unscathed. In The Ledge, past and present run breathlessly parallel, leading to a cliffhanger nobody will see coming. This mind-bending new novel from the master of the unexpected will have you glued to the spot and knocking it over in one sitting.

YOUNG & INSPIRED

Chloe Lawson, a Year 11 student at Bass Coast College’s Senior Campus, is anything but ordinary. A blackbelt in Taekwondo and a dedicated volunteer at the Wonthaggi RSL, Chloe strong connection to her family’s history sparked an unexpected creative journey.

Chloe Lawson

It all began when her mum and nan were reminiscing over the old diaries of her great-great-grandmother. Those treasured pages stirred something in Chloe, inspiring her to write an award-winning piece for the Premier’s Spirited Writers Award. Her story didn’t just focus on the soldiers remembered at the Wonthaggi Cenotaph, but also on the women and families who kept everything together back home during the war. “If they hadn’t kept faith in their loved ones returning or kept the Anzac spirit alive, the war would’ve been even harder,” Chloe, proud of the legacy she uncovered, reflects.

When she found out she’d won the award, with the prize being a trip to Turkey, Chloe was stunned. “I was on the phone with a friend when I saw the email. I had to hang up and shout, ‘Mum, I’m going to Turkey!’” she recalls, still in disbelief. Of the hundreds of entries from all over Victoria, hers was one of just twelve selected. Though this wasn’t her first solo trip – she’d already travelled to South Korea with her Taekwondo group for intense training sessions with national sparring teams and police academies – Turkey will be a very different kind of adventure.

This upcoming journey will see Chloe and her fellow-winners walking the trails trodden by Australian soldiers in Gallipoli, visiting cemeteries, and paying tribute to the fallen. Chloe has chosen to honour the gravesite of Charles Wilkinson, an ANZAC soldier connected to her family through the potato farms of Korumburra. The past feels strikingly alive for Chloe, and it’s deepening her passion for history.

Her fascination with history was also stirred after a layover in Vietnam during her trip to South Korea. There, she saw firsthand the long-lasting effects of the Vietnam War, an experience that brought a new depth to her modern-history studies.

After high school, Chloe has her eyes set on Melbourne, where she plans to work for a year before applying to the Police Academy. She’s eager for the hands-on training, from simulated scenarios in mock settings to real-life challenges. Chloe’s unwavering determination is clear: whenever someone doubts her, she turns their disbelief into fuel to prove them wrong – and there is plenty of fuel in her tank. Go, Chloe, go!

words aissa reed photo warren reed

Inverloch Fishing and Outdoors is a fishing tackle and outdoor retail shop. We sell a wide range of fishing brands including Shimano, Penn, Okuma and Daiwa. We stock a huge range of Yeti products and are continuously updating the range. We also sell a variety of beach and camping equipment. The owner of Inverloch Fishing and Outdoors is knowledgeable and passionate and will give you the advice to get you out on the water.

Shop 1-2, 8 Williams St, Inverloch 03 5674 3322 | 0420 229 429 www.inverlochfishingandoutdoors.com.au info@inverlochfishingandoutdoors.com.au

Open Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm, Saturday 9am - 4pm, Sunday 9am - 3pm @inverlochfishingandoutdoors | @inverlochfishingandoutdoors

Island RPM Painting & Decorating are experts in creating stunning interiors and exteriors that stand the test of time. With over 30 years experience, a keen eye for detail and commitment to quality, we ensure every project is completed to perfection. Painting for high-end builders in Melbourne as well as local builders on Phillip Island, we have a reputation for being reliable, honest, professional and e cient, delivering high quality workmanship. We specialise in repainting of interior & exterior homes & businesses. We o er a decluttering service & styling for resale.

Wimbledon Heights, Phillip Island 0407 163 573 islandrpm.pm@gmail.com @islandrpm.pm | @islandrpmpropertymaintenance

Shop 1-2, 8 Williams St, Inverloch 03 5674 3322 | 0420 229 429 galleryenquiries@wellington.vic.gov.au

Open Mon to Fri 9.00am – 5.30pm, Sat, Sun & Public Holidays 10.00am– 4.00pm @gippslandartgallery

Shop 1-2, 8 Williams 03 5674 3322 galleryenquiries@wellington.vic.gov.au

Open Mon to Fri 9.00am – 5.30pm, Sat, @gippslandartgallery

At Butter + Crumble we hand craft delicious cookies and bake them daily. Using only the nest ingredients, we create cookies that are simply irresistible. We o er a variety of cookies, from our popular Chunky Cookies available in various avours to our customisable Sugar Cookies, perfect for any occasion. At Butter + Crumble we believe “A Cookie Makes Everything Better”, so check us out on our socials or visit our website to order a box of our famous cookies delivered to your door.

buttercrumbleau@gmail.com | www.buttercrumble.com.au @buttercrumbleau | @buttercrumbleau

GETTING YOU MARRIED AF without the fuss!

No need to head to Melbourne for a registry wedding, when you can do something even better and just as quick (if that’s your thing) right here on Phillip Island. The registry style wedding is for the lovers and the groovers that just want to do their wedding their way! The Phillip Island Registry Office allows for you to get married so that you can rock on with your day. Just like sneaking off for a “Quickie” but this time it’s legal.

Phillip Island Registry Office www.phillipislandregistryoffice.com.au By appointment only. Monday - Friday 10am - 3pm & Saturdays 9am - 12pm @phillipislandregistryoffice | @phillipislandregistryoffice

STOCKYARD GALLERY

A contemporary gallery and shop featuring artists from South Gippsland and beyond. Exhibitions change monthly and we often host group shows with an attractive prize pool. Check our website for a stellar line-up of artists for 2025. Featured in April: Lisa Churchward, Inverloch

12 McDonald St, Foster 3960 03 5682 1125 stockyardgallery@dcsi.net.au | www.stockyardgallery.au

Open Thursday - Monday 11am -3pm. Closed Tuesday & Wednesday @stockyardgallery | @StockyardGallery

We welcome you to our enchanting boutique in Wonthaggi. Explore our collection of bohemian clothing, Browse the spellbinding selection of books, journals, and tarot cards. Exotic aromas of incense and perfumed oils for home and body. Crystals and silver jewellery adornments. Spell Candles, sage sticks, cauldrons and singing bowls. Come in and feel the magic at Gypsy Dreaming

120 Graham St, Wonthaggi, 3995 0438 006 503 jodie@gypsydreaming.com.au | www.gypsydreaming.com.au

Open Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm and Saturday 9am - 2pm @gypsydreamingwonthaggi | @gypsydreamingwonthaggi

Adventure Chasers! Immerse yourself in the thrill of E-Biking! Whether you’re interested in hiring or buying an E-Bike, our shop has everything you need. Explore the breathtaking Great Southern Rail Trail, soaking in the beautiful landscapes of South Gippsland.

Our retail shop is located in Meeniyan the heart of the Great Southern Rail Trail. Great Southern Ride is your go-to spot for E-Bikes, helmets, bike carriers and an array of accessories.

91 Whitelaw Street, Meeniyan 0415 550 609 www.greatsouthernride.com.au | ride@greatsouthernride.com.au @greatsouthernride_meeniyan | @greatsouthernride

Shop 1-2, 8 Williams 03 5674 3322 galleryenquiries@wellington.vic.gov.au

Open Mon to Fri 9.00am – 5.30pm, Sat, @gippslandartgallery

Specialising in custom stonework for homes and gardens using locally sourced natural stone.

- Feature Walls - Fireplaces - Garden Walling

- Driveway Entrances - Sculptural Works

0431 707 471 ststoneworks@gmail.com @sam_twite_stoneworks | @samtwitestoneworks

Inspired by the texture of sand, rocks and uidity of ocean water, silver is combined with sea glass and stones to create one-o pieces for every ocean lover. Sea glass is collected from the beaches of Millowl to Yiruk Wamoon (Phillip Island to Wilsons Prom) and made slowly in Inverloch.

The perfect keepsake to connect the wearer to the wild waters of our coastline.

Handmade in Inverloch, Vic, 3996 hayleyjkoster@gmail.com | www.thewildwater.com.au @the.wild.water

WHERE AM I?

Integrated Holistic Wellbeing Kinesiology | Massage | Reiki | Acupressure | Nutritional Testing

Pod 2, The Sticks, 3537 Bass Hwy, Kilcunda Phone or text 0458 763 186 for an appointment www.sanctuarykilcunda.com.au @sanctuarykilcunda | @sanctuarykilcunda

Shop 1-2, 8 Williams 03 5674 3322 galleryenquiries@wellington.vic.gov.au

Open Mon to Fri 9.00am – 5.30pm, Sat, @gippslandartgallery

reed

Do you know where this might be? Join us on facebook and instagram and send us a message with your answers Coast Magazine @coastmagazine

photo warren

DIRECTORY

Amalfi Coast Relish Mama 90

Andrew Harrison 108

Anerie French Bistro 78

Artfusion Gallery 105

Art Space Wonthaggi 106

Aspire Designer Homes 112

Bass Coast Shire Council 43

Bendigo Bank 164

Bluette on Bear 88

Burra Garden Supplies & Nursery 137

Butter & Crumble 158

Deco Heaven 51

Earth Design Landscapes 137

Gallivanting Gippsland Tours 84

Gippsland Wine Company 83

Girls on Board 67

Gomathy’s Kitchen 90

Great Southern Ride 159

Gypsy Dreaming 159

Harris Build 110

HER.skinspa 71

Indigo Interior Design 131

Inverloch 3996 @realty 163

Inverloch Art Show 98

Inverloch Fishing & Outdoors 158

Island RPM Painting & Decorating 158

Jacquelyn Stephens Art 108

JDesign Group 124

Konker 43

Lacy Jewellery Studio & Gallery 2

Leongatha Kitchens & Bathrooms 121

Lifestyle Communities 63

Locked in Escape Rooms 26

Mary MacKillop College 50

Melaleuca Nursery 138

Monica Szwaja 51

Nice Stack of Books 156

Organature 37

Outback Plunge Pools 117

Passion8 Photography 21

Phillip Island Nature Parks 27

Phillip Island Registry Office 158

Resolve Finance 132

Ruperts 95

Sam Twite Stone Works 159

Sanctuary Kilcunda 160

Sherridon Homes 109

Shoalhaven 72

Silverwaters Vineyard 76

SJ Vuillermin Master Builder 133

South Gippsland Tree Care 134

Southern Bazaar 122

Stockyard Gallery 159

Studio 44 121 The Bay Gourmet 83

Beach House People 35

Club House 74 The Middle of Everywhere 36

Wild Water 160 The Wonthaggi Club 74

Trent Allen Building 131 TYDE 37

Verdelife Outdoor Kitchens 121

Vortex Surf Skate & Snow 67

Warren Reed 9

Wattle Bank Farm 35

Wildlife Coast Cruises 71

Wine Gippsland 88

Wonthaggi Removal & Storage 132

Woolamai Race Club 27

YMCA Bass Coast 7

STOCKISTS

Aspendale News

Anchorage Store, Ventnor

Balnarring Village news

Baxter Newagency, Baxter

Bayside News, Frankston (Supanews bayside)

Beachside Newagency Frankston (Beach Street)

Berwick Newsagency

Carrum Downs Newsagency

Cape Woolamai Bottlo (food & Liquor Express)

Chelsea news

Cheltenham News

Corinella General Store

Coronet bay General Store

Cowes Corner Café

Cowes IGA

Cowes Newsagency

CP Cellars (Crib Point)

Cranbourne Newagency

Dalyston General Store

Dromana Newsagency

Drouin Newsagency & Tatts

Dumbalk Village Store

East Brighton Newsagency

Fish Creek BP

Fish Creek General Store(Fish Creek Pharmacy)

Flinders General Store

Foster Newsagency

Grantville Newsagency

Hampton Newsagency

Inverloch Bp

Inverloch Foodworks

Inverloch Newsxpress (paperplay)

Karingal Hub Newsagency Frankston

Kilcunda General Store

Koonwarra Store (Ethical Food Store)

Korumburra BP

Korumburra News (closed)

Kunyung Newsagancy Mt Eliza (General Store)

laverton Newsagency

Leongatha BP (Bair Street)

Leongatha BP (Anderson Street)

Leongatha newsagency (Nextra)

Lonsdale news Dandenong

Meeniyan Pantry & Cellar

Mentone Newsagency

Middle Brighton news

Mirboo North Bp

Mornington news

Morwell Newsagency

Mt Eliza Newsagency

Mt Martha Newsagency (News Xpress)

Narre Warren newsagency

Narre Warren North Newsagency

Newhaven Newsagency (newsxpress)

Newsxpress Inverloch

Orbost Newsgency

Pakenham Newagency

Parkdale Newsagency

Pearcedale Village Newsagency

Pearcedale Tatts & News

Rhyll General Store

Rosebud Newsagency

Rye Newsagency

San Remo Freedon Fuels (United Petroleum)

San Remo IGA

San Remo Newsagency

Sandringham News

Sandy Point General store

Scribes News & Tatts Mornington

Seaford newsagency

Silverleaves General Store (Store & Café)

Smith Beach Store

Somerville News & Tatts

Sorrento News and books

Strzelecki News & Tatts Mirboo North

Traralgon news & Lotto

Tarwin Lower Supermarket

Toora Newsagency

Toora Foodworks

Tooradin Newsagency

Traralgon Newsagency (News & Lotto)

Venus Bay General Store

Vermont Authorised Newsagency

Warragul Newsagency (newspower)

Wilsons Prom-Tidal River Store

Wonthaggi BP

Wonthaggi Newsagent

Wonthaggi Richies IGA

Findoutwhat ourhomesellers aresaying....

Community Bank

Inverloch & District

We deliver the products and technology you’d expect from a big bank, plus the personal service you wouldn’t. As one of Australia’s biggest banks, our heartland remains firmly local. As does our focus on you and the quality banking products you need. Feel