The Local April 20, 2020, Issue 176

April 20, 2020 Issue 176 Sculpture goes viral

The Local - now weekly!

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The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

2 About Us

www.tlnews.com.au

Front cover: Clunes artist Tom Ripon's latest sculpture is creating discussion around the town. Read his story on page 5.

April 20, 2020 Issue 176 Sculpture goes viral

The Local is a weekly community publication covering the Central Highlands. The next edition is out on Monday, April 27, 2020.

Or online on Sunday, April 26 at www.tlnews.com.au Space bookings: Wednesday, April 22 Copy deadline: Thursday, April 23 Editorial deadline: Thursday, April 23

Image: Neil Newitt

Managing editor | Donna Kelly General manager | Kyle Barnes Sub-editors | Nick Bunning and Lindsay Smith Writers | Kevin Childs, Kate Taylor, Peter Young, Tony Sawrey and Donna Kelly

The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

Photographers | Kyle Barnes and David White Graphic designer & HLH coordinator | Dianne Caithness The Local is a registered trademark of The Local Publishing Group Pty Ltd. The Local is a member of the Victorian Country Press Association, with editor Donna Kelly, a director.

Contributors: Glen Heyne (gardening), Indre Kisonas (design), Tanya Loos (nature), Glenn Robinson (cartoons), and Matthew Richardson (money) Business Development | Charl Parris Accounts | Julie Hanson

The content expressed within this publication does not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of The Local Publishing Group Pty Ltd.

Delivery | Tony Sawrey

5348 7883 or 0416 104 283 | news@tlnews.com.au or sales@tlnews.com.au See all our e-editions at www.tlnews.com.au

An important message from the Victorian Government

STAGE 3 RESTRICTIONS ARE NOW IN PLACE. That means there are only four reasons to be out.

Shopping for food and supplies that you need.

Exercise.

Medical care and caregiving.

Work and education – if necessary.

Stay informed at coronavirus.vic.gov.au

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Inspiring 3

Sallie: The village is feeding the village

I

N THIS time of crisis, the villagers are coming together to feed the village more than ever before.

Usually, the Good Grub Club Daylesford feeds about 30-odd people on a Tuesday and Thursday. But demand has increased over the past three weeks and in that time, the team has provided more than 500 parcels to locals, now peaking at about 30 per day.

“It’s an exciting challenge, let me tell you,” says Sallie Harvey.

Sallie took over running the GGCD earlier this year and while it’s turned into a bit of a baptism of fire for her, the woman is nothing if not passionate about people being kind to one another – because, as she says, it takes a village to feed a village.

“It’s an amazing situation at the moment, because things are really changing and we’re having a lot of exciting community support and we are able to reach out to more people, and it’s challenging and really exciting.”

Sallie and her team are working a bit from their homes, a lot out of the Uniting Church – using a new stove and dishwasher donated by the Rotary Club of Daylesford and Daylesford District Community Bank.

“A couple of pub chefs and chefs from restaurants also bring me boxes of dishes to send out to people – I’ve got bored chefs and people who are already running takeaway businesses, making a few extra and bringing them in to us. You get variety, it’s amazing. And this is exactly how the village should run – for the village, by the village.”

The parcels are packed, rather lovingly, with fresh fruit and vegetables, frozen and dry goods, ready-to-heat meals to put in the fridge and toiletries – all the little essentials that help make life work.

“People put their name on the list, and we do a parcel every week for them. Now we’re working seven days a week, because there are so many people on the list and the boxes take a while to create because there’s so many components and we’re making up boxes to suit the individual.

“We do it because we want to give people things that are going to be good for them, not something that they don’t know what to do with or that’s not in their dietary world. Those intimacies, the personalisation of our parcels, are the bits that will help people’s mental wellbeing because they know that it was made for them, and the mental wellbeing is as important as the physical wellbeing, and you’re going to be more mentally well if you’re eating a balanced, nourishing diet.”

They’re hitting their mark, too.

“We had one lady, in her seventies, and we delivered a parcel to her and she was so grateful – it was the first Easter Sunday she had spent alone.

“It’s all about wellbeing and I would really encourage people to take note of the people around them, their neighbours, their friends, and one of the beautiful things is to be able to give somebody something - and it’s not even about a need for anything.

“Look around yourself and if you feel like you are able you can donate, or not, you can register a friend and send them a parcel and give them a gift made with love from our village to our village. I know it would brighten my day if I got one.

“Nurturing each other, that’s what’s going to help us through this.”

Donations to the Good Grub Club can be made at the Daylesford District Community Bank – BSB: 633000 Account Number: 173753609. Donations of fresh produce can also be made contact-free and deliveries can also be left contact-free.

Words: Kate Taylor | Image: Jack Larm

“The mental wellbeing is as important as the physical wellbeing, and you’re going to be more mentally well if you’re eating a balanced, nourishing diet.”

4 Local Lines

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The Delivery Guy

Local Lines

MAN stops his car and walks over to me as I’m dropping off some copies of The Local. “Is that the latest copy?” he asks.“Yes, it is. Straight off the press,” I say. “Oh wonderful, can I have two? I’ve been looking up and down the street for them.” “Sure, there you go, have a great day.”

The Schedule

A

It’s a Monday morning on a holiday long weekend. On Mondays such as these I dread having to fight my way up and down Vincent Street in Daylesford, trying to offload bundles at the usual drops.

Normally you have to contend with bumper to bumper traffic, loading zones occupied by sports cars, wandering crowds and busy sidewalks. But not today, At 10am the town is just like an actual rural town, parking is easy, the footpaths are clear. All about is quiet, empty and still as a Drysdale painting.

My task on distribution day is to get that paper out there. The mantra I carry, passed on by my anxious editor is: The Public Needs to Know. With this in mind I head out on the road with my loaded pallet, masks, gloves, spray bottle of diluted metho and hand sanitiser.

Every week I join those other essential workers keeping the country ticking over.

On the freeway a line of loaded semis cruise in the left lane. The right is vacant, bereft of lumbering caravans and impatient cars bunching up like cattle in a loading chute.

At the fuel station I get my dollar coffee without a wait before setting out to Clunes and Creswick. On the country byroads I dawdle along. No erratic HiLux utes are behind me trying to pass.

In every town almost nothing moves on the streets except for couriers (oh, and tradies, but that’s another story). Back before the days of the great pandemic no-one cared to notice the delivery guys. Despite their orange safety vests, they moved about with a cloak of invisibility, in and out of the shops hauling trolleys, navigating around pedestrians.

Now they are the most obvious. The stage has lost its actors, the curtains have been pulled up. Suddenly we are looking at the crews who sustain the illusion. You find yourself waving to them as they pass since there is often no one else to be seen.

While I only deliver a paper, one cannot help feeling an odd form of affiliation with these often poorly paid casual workers and sole traders maintaining the supply chain.

All so that everyone else can go get some items from the supermarket, grab some medication or get fuel.

“Is that The Local?” an elderly lady asks. “Yes it is,” I reply.” “Best bloody paper out there," she declares, and takes one.

Despite many folks' fear of proximity in this year of wonders, I get exchanges like those occasionally. But, for the most part, a lack of interaction remains. It's a great state of affairs and I hope these conditions can remain so for a while. Recently I spied the marks of a hearty burnout over the vacant central car parking spaces outside the old town hall.

Normally such an act only happens in places beyond the weekend tourist belt and to see such expression in the middle of Daylesford is special. It means the town is regressing into a long-lost isolated provincial past, a past where burnouts, not homewares shopping was a more common occurrence on the main street. As a delivery guy you tend to notice these little changes.

Words & delivery: Tony Sawrey

Good Friday Appeal

D

AYLESFORD and surrounding villages have raised $9087 for the Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal.

Area manager Natalie Kirby, who took over the reins this year from Tania Henderson, said the money was raised with community donations, tins in businesses and a virtual tin shake - with COVID-19 stopping her team rattling in the streets on Good Friday.

Natalie said the community had been very generous despite the pandemic.

"I can’t wait to see what we can do next year!"

Keep to a schedule they say, To help get you through every day.

Up at seven make a cup of tea, A tasty brew for she and me.

Unload the dishwasher from the night before.

Weetbix, banana, sultanas and more, Goes in a bowl with milk and bran, Feed the inner man or that’s the plan.

A glass of juice to start the day.

Wouldn’t have it any other way.

Clean the fangs and shave the face, Shower and deodorant just in case.

Throw some gear on, old will do, No-one around to look at you.

Washing done the night before, Take it out through the back door.

Hang it on the line in the morning sun Now what’s the next thing to be done?

Set up the iron, put on some music, It’s OK for me but it makes her sick.

A basket of clothes to be done by eleven, Then a cup of coffee for two is heaven.

Collect email and answer some, Delete the rest to kingdom come.

A couple of posts on Facebook next, Make a comment in bold text.

Zoom the family lots of fun, Then the day is halfway done.

Lunch is next, a cup of tea.

“No sugar thanks, even though it’s free.”

In front of laptop, process music stuff.

Make a poem right off the cuff.

Four o’clock Think Tank on, Five o’clock for when it’s done, Millionaire Hotseat Another quiz, A glass of wine, crackers, cheese the real bizz.

The news on Nine about the case Of the tragedy of the human race.

Washing in and put away, Netflix in bedroom to end the day, Or SBS World Movies … Great!

Keep watching them till very late.

- Gordon Nightingale Gordon Nightingale is a retired design draftsman who has turned to writing to keep his mind alert. He has involvement with U3A, Daylesford Motorfest and the Hepburn regional community.

Poems for Local Lines come predominantly from a group of poets. However, other locals who would like a poem considered for publication can contact Bill Wootton - cottlesbreedge@gmail.com

www.tlnews.com.au

Our artists 5

Tom Ripon's sculpture goes viral in Clunes

C

LUNES artist Tom Ripon's COVID-19 wire sculpture has created a lot of discussion around the town. It's also getting a lot of support from people who appreciate the colourful artwork. Tom told his story to Donna Kelly.

"Art has always been there for me as a foil to an ordinary world. Always drawing, I drew myself through school, winning over teachers, with portraits rather than studying.

I quickly realised I could make a living using my ideas and skills - generally focusing on sculpture. I feel my brand of wirework is like the singer's 'one hit wonder' - it will provide me with a future.

Selling from my front yard in Thornbury, the move to Clunes was a time to focus on building a home. That done, I explored the town, and found a few projects to keep me going.

The virus was something I always intended to create, rather an iconic image in the Melbourne Rave scene of the nineties. It seems way more salient now, so I thought a gentle reminder and message may work now.

The work is created from wire mesh, sculpted to represent the COVID-19 virus, then painted in fluorescent colours and lit with black lighting to create the glowing effect.

It has created some discussion in town about the role the arts can play in these extraordinary times."

Tom's piece can be seen in the front window of the Red Door Gallery, Fraser Street, Clunes, for the next few weeks.

Image: Neil Newitt

Poetry Matters

Eleventh Annual Competition

2020

Theme:

‘we wear all mankind as our skin’

Entries close:

Friday 29 May 2020

Two categories: 1. poems up to 25 lines 2. poems 26+ lines

Two prizes awarded in each category: 1. $100 each 2. $250 each

T h e q u o t e c o m e s f r o m M a r s h a l l M c L u h a n's c l a s s i c c r i t i q u e o f t h e E l e c t r i c A g e , ' U n d e r s t a n d i n g M e d i a', p u b l i s h e d i n 1 9 6 4 a n d s t i l l i n p r i n t . A l o t h a s h a p p e n e d i n t h e w or l d s i n c e t h e n , a n d m os t s i n g u l a r l y , s i n c e t h e t h e m e w a s s e t i n J u l y l a s t y e a r, w h i c h p r o v i d e s e v e n m or e s c op e f or e x p l or a t i on a n d u n c o v e r i n g or i g i n a l i n s i g h t s .

The quote should not be us ed anywhere in the poe m .

For conditions of entry and entry forms please contact:

poetry.clh@gmail.com

ANZAC Day - April 25, 2020 They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, We will remember them.

Lest We Forget.

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Anzac Day 7

No services but we will remember them

W

ITH the COVID-19 pandemic Anzac Day services cannot be held this Anzac Day, April 25. But RSLs will still mark the day with gatherings of just one or two people. There is also a ‘stand to’ campaign which encourages people to remember the fallen, standing in their driveway or verandah at dawn, perhaps with a candle, on Anzac Day. The Local asked RSLs to provide a few words about this important day.

Meanwhile, The Local will be streaming live from the Daylesford Cenotaph at 8am with a recording from a past ceremony of the talented Sallie Harvey singing And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda - on Instagram at tl_news

Daylesford RSL

President Ian Tinetti said he and vice president Mike Tate would be at the Daylesford Cenotaph at 8am to raise the flags, place one wreath and read the Ode. They will then go to Hepburn and do the same.

“It’s the first time in history, in more than 100 years, that we won’t be holding a gathering,” he said.

“But we will still recognise the people who have lost their lives and served this country to make it democratic and the best country in the world. Even with this virus, which is willy-nilly everywhere else, Australia is best served to overcome it and live to fight another day.”

Mr Tinetti said anyone was welcome to lay a wreath as long as they observed social distancing rules and “don’t make a big deal about it, just quietly do it”. “It is all about showing respect on a day that should be respected.”

Creswick RSL

President Alan Morris said comparing this year's Anzac Day to last year was going from one extreme to the other.

"Last year we had 100 guests from the Defence International Training Centre based at the RAAF base at Laverton plus the Creswick community. This year there will only be two RSL members present at each service and there will be no parade.

"A Ballarat resident, Justin Wilbur, has a great idea in asking members of the public to play the last post and light a candle in their driveways at 6am and RSL Victoria has come up with the same suggestion. We would encourage residents to go along with this.

"Two members of our RSL will recite the Ode at 6am and 11am. The Last Post and Reveille will also be played. It is very unfortunate that we have to resort to these measures but we are in the middle of another world war with our health services personnel acting as our combatants. I would encourage people to light a candle for all these people as well as for our present and past service men and women."

Kyneton RSL

Secretary Mike Gretton said it was with regret that the RSL has had to announce that this year’s Anzac Day marches and ceremonies throughout the district have all been cancelled due to the COVID-19 emergency.

"This announcement is in line with a directive from Anzac House that marches not go ahead this year. However, so that the fallen are not forgotten, wreaths will be laid at the cenotaphs in Kyneton and Trentham although there will be no accompanying ceremony.

"Anyone who wishes to commemorate the fallen on Anzac Day by laying a wreath or floral tribute are encouraged to do so but in their own time. The RSL also supports the ‘stand to’ campaign which encourages people to remember the fallen standing in their driveway or verandah at dawn on Anzac Day." Kyneton RSL president Dave Watson said any veterans requiring welfare or other assistance were welcome to contact the Kyneton RSL on 5422 6735.

Pictured above, from left to right, vice-president John Taubman, president Dave Watson, and secretary Mike Gretton

Woodend/Trentham RSL

President Ken Bryce said this year had brought some serious challenges to Australia's way of life.

"We have been given an opportunity, thanks to COVID-19, to slow down and reflect on our thoughts and feelings. So, here we are in lockdown.

"With Anzac Day fast approaching we are devastated at not being able to be with family and friends. It is a time to reflect on what our Anzacs may have gone through being away from their families, sometimes for years. The only contact they had with home was letters travelling very slowly. Conditions were unbelievable, but a letter from home would give our soldiers hope that the horrible war would end.

"These days, luckily, we can communicate using our mobile telephones and computers. Please take this golden opportunity to remember and think about all those who went to war. Stand proudly in your driveway with a candle at 5.55am and await the 6am time signal. Then bow your heads as we all take a minute’s silence in their memory. Then again at 11.30am (4.30pm in Gallipoli) with heads bowed as we hopefully can all hear the Last Post – a minute’s silence – and raise your heads to welcome a new day, a glorious day. This will be our service. I am proud to be Australian and I hope that you are coping in this difficult time. Lest We Forget."

Clunes/Smeaton RSL

President Bill White said Anzac Day for Clunes would be a disappointment for many this year.

"There will be no traditional functions, Dawn Service, march to cenotaph and the flag raising will be low key. Disappointing for the local school, teachers and children who actively participated last year and will also share in this particular time, a time to remember but one we would rather forget. The true reason for Anzac Day remains but, in this disastrous year, in thought only. Lest We Forget."

DRAFT HEPBURN PLANNING SCHEME REVIEW

Council has released key draft clauses to a revised Hepburn Planning Scheme for community consultation. These respond to key issues raised by the community in the recent review.

Council is seeking community input prior to a full public exhibition process in mid 2020.

Visit the link below for the draft and to access an easy to understand summary of how the scheme is proposed to be changed.

Visit www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/planning-building/hepburn-planningscheme-review/ Consultation has been extended to the 22 April 2020 due to the current Covid-19 situation.

DRAFT HEPBURN HERITAGE STRATEGY 2020-2030 Council has prepared a draft Heritage Strategy for the community to review.

The draft strategy explains how heritage is managed in the Shire including the invaluable work undertaken by Committees of Management. It lists what Council has delivered since the outgoing heritage strategy was prepared in 2014 and includes a detailed action plan for the next decade.

Visit www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/planning-building/hepburn-heritagestrategy-draft/ For further information or to provide feedback on the draft please email ablacket@hepburn.vic.gov.au or call 0457536181.

Feedback closes 8 May 2020.

8 News

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Holistic Funeral Directors

Sustainable & authentic funerals Call 5427 3112 visit NaturalGrace.com.au

Community News A WORD FROM THE MAYOR I would like to thank The Local for the opportunity to feature a fortnightly message from the Mayor of Hepburn Shire. This paper has now extended coverage across the whole Shire. While many people use social media with great regularity, there is something quite comforting and trusting that hardcopy newsprint is still available. We are cognisant that not every person uses (or wants to use) social media.

Councillors and Council officers are working very hard to ensure that the business of the Council continues. It is certainly a challenge. How we live, work and play is now very different from Christmas just past (gosh that seems like an eternity away!!). As a result of the various restrictions and concerns about potentially spreading the virus to our loved ones, it was decided to cancel the April Ordinary Meeting of Council. Matters that were scheduled to be discussed and decided on that evening will be deferred to the May Ordinary meeting of Council, including the Proposed 2020/21 Budget.

In the meantime, we understand that very soon the Victorian State Parliament will be holding an emergency sitting of both Houses of the Parliament to discuss and resolve a number of urgent matters.

One of these matters will be permitting councils to conduct ordinary council meetings via electronic means – that is, conducting ‘virtual’ meetings where councillors will be able to be present via one of the virtual meeting platforms. This will also coincide with further exploration of live-streaming of ordinary council meetings so that anyone will be able to see meetings in real time.

All residents and ratepayers of the Shire will have received a letter under my signature. In this letter, we detail how we, Shire officers and Councillors, are supporting residents to avoid, as best as we can, the severe impacts of this virus by continuing to provide services. Residents should note the telephone numbers they might need, should you need support. We also briefly touch on how our Hardship Policy will work to support residents during this time.

Councillors and staff hope you all remain and stay safe.

Cr Licia Kokocinski Mayor

we are here for you.

Supporting Our Community - Coronavirus (COVID-19)

4th Rates Instalment, COVID-19 and Hardship Policy The impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) is far reaching. Council operations have also been affected by the pandemic, but we are continuing to provide all services. In fact, we are delivering additional services in some areas. All Council projects, both operational and capital, are continuing. In order to fund the operations of Council and capital projects, we need to continue to collect rates. For some community members this is a very difficult time financially, so we will work with anyone who has been impacted by COVID-19 through our Financial Hardship program.

Council delivers many services that are critical to the community.

Our income is made up of - 61% from rates and charges and 28% from government grants. That means close to 90% of our income comes from rates and grants (made possible by government taxes). Any changes to these income streams will have a significant impact on Council’s viability and service delivery.

We’re extending the payment due date for the 4th instalment to 26 June 2020. There is no requirement to apply for this extension, it applies to all ratepayers.

Council has decided there will be no interest charged on outstanding rates balances for the 2019/20 financial year. This applies to all property types for the 2019/20 rates, for payments made before 30 September 2020.

We have enacted the emergency clause of our current hardship policy. This means any ratepayers who are suffering financial hardship can make an application for deferment of payment of rates and charges. This applies to all property types. Visit www.hepburn.vic. gov.au/rates-hardship-form/.

We have allowed additional time for residents to pay pet registrations. An extension of two months with payment now due 10 June 2020.

For the most current information on how Council is responding to COVID-19, how our operations are affected and how it is supporting the community and business, visit www.hepburn.vic. gov.au/coronavirus.

We might not always be able to talk to you in person right now, but we are still working. We are here to take your calls and answer your emails.

While face-to-face customer service has been closed, our dedicated Customer Experience staff are still here to take your calls, answer your questions and provide you with the support you need. They can also help you log any service requests or make payments.

Here’s how you can contact Customer Experience…  Online Customer Service Requests – www.hepburn.vic.gov.au  Phone – 5348 2306  Email – shire@hepburn.vic.gov.au

CONTACTS 

General enquiries

5348 2306



@

Mail Email Website

PO Box 21, Daylesford 3460 shire@hepburn.vic.gov.au hepburn.vic.gov.au



Aged & disability services enquiries - 5345 8399

For after hours emergencies please call:  Animal Control - 0419 587 955  Other Council Emergency - 0419 583 573 hepburncouncil

OFFICIAL MEDICAL ADVICE

Coronavirus: You must take action to save lives in your community.

Stay at home unless absolutely necessary. Banks, supermarkets/groceries, petrol stations, medical services and suppliers will remain open. You must avoid non-essential travel.

If you can, work from home. Use phones for meetings and stop handshaking.

Tap to pay where possible instead of using cash.

Gatherings of 2 people max are being enforced, with the exception of households, work and education.

You must stay 2 arms lengths away from others and wash your hands for 20 seconds.

Exercise away from others.

Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra

CUT OUT AND KEEP

We’re here for you

SUE’S PLACE

Dr. Susanne M. Heringslake Chiropractor Moments To Ponder a little gift from me to you

Take a moment today to connect in a different way.

A hand written card, a little gift of freshly baked biscuits, a warm and open smile.

You will make a big difference to the one receiving.

You will make a bigger difference to you!

Have fun!

Welcome to Springs Medical Kyneton Dr Fortunato Mazzei & Dr Karen Thompson Springs Medical welcomes new GPs to our Kyneton clinic.

Dr Fortunato Mazzei will now be practising at Kyneton and Dr Karen Thompson is joining the team after closing her practice in Maldon.

Bulk Billing for all Health Care Card holders, pensioners and children below 16. If you have any financial difficulties, please do not hesitate to speak to your GP. Our Kyneton clinic has received supply of the flu vaccine for Kyneton and Macedon Ranges residents.

Please book online or call our Kyneton Clinic.

BOOK ONLINE WITH

For all enquiries and to book appointments, please contact: Dr Susanne M Heringslake Chiropractor Mobile: 0407 301 352

Life in lockdown The Local's journalist Kate Taylor is finding life challenging in lockdown with her hubby and young daughter. But she can always see the funny, sort of, side.

A

S PART of my lockdown lifestyle I’m running 10km every morning, eating fresh food from my garden and meditating every night before bed.

Dr Carolyn Siddel

Welcome to Springs Medical Trentham & Daylesford

Pfft, not really. I’ve got the you-stockpiled-ityou-have-to-eat-it rule in my house. And as I sit, surrounded by empty bags of Doritos it has occurred to me that I’m going to end up being one of the reasons why personal training will be one of the top three most-required professions when we emerge from this crisis, blinking in the sunlight, suddenly fat.

I’m trying, kind of desperately, to apply a nice, pretty analogy to it. Just to ease the guilt a bit. I’m like a worm – eating a lot, yes, chubbing up for sure.

And now I’m in my chrysalis and in a while I will emerge from it a beautiful butterfly. Can butterflies sometimes emerge with diabetes and hardening of the arteries, do you know?

I didn’t deliberately set out to fill my apocalypse time drinking UHT chocolate milkshakes.

It’s just kind of happened. And to be fair, it’s not like I’ve had a lot of practice at surviving a pandemic. So I’m trying not to judge myself too harshly. Now, I’m happy to fit in a walk when I can, time on the bike when I can, a fruit-and-yoghurt lunch when I can. What I can, when I can.

I’m aiming for happiness instead of perfection. It’s the only way to live my best lock-down life. And it’s alright if this butterfly emerges with wings the exact colour of Doritos bags. I’m a product of my happy environment.

• Mental Health • Child and Adolescent Health • Alcohol/Drugs • LGBTQI

www.springsmedical.com.au In an emergency always call 000

Daylesford

Kyneton

Trentham

10 Hospital St

89B Piper Street

22 Victoria St

tel: (03) 5348 2227

tel: (03) 5422 1298

tel: (03) 5424 1602

House.Land.Home.

Nature's cunning I’ve always been intrigued by the plant world’s dogged determination to perpetuate their species and the many and various ways they achieve it.

Although a good many choose the "sexual" technique - male/female, seed-bearing flowers - usually relying on outside help such as bees and other flying insects and often small birds and animals in the process. They entice their pollinating partners by the colour, perfume and, in the case of bees and honeyeater birds, nectar.

There are many plants that have gone down the vegetative path, producing specialised root (bulbs and tubers) segments for the job. Or divisions, small separate plantlets at the edge of their base roots, that either become individual new plants to take over when the original, parent plant expires.

Then there are those that send out "runners" - surface roots or low groundhugging branches that put down roots and can be separated as new plants.

Almost all plants are capable of producing roots from any active point of growth on the stem if given the right circumstances. That is why the most successful cuttings are those cut off at the base of a leaf node.

Take a leaf There are many fleshy-leaved plants, mostly those originating from humid tropical climes, such as African violets and begonias which are able to be "struck" from their leaves, in fact, even from a leaf segment.

One simple technique is to use a thin-necked bottle or vase full of lukewarm water and place the stem in the water, resting the leaf on the rim. Be sure to first boil the water and sterilise the bottle to avoid fungal problems and narrow the chances of the leaf rotting.

Select only healthy “third row” leaves and cut at the base of the stem using a sharp razor-like blade. Ideally the stem should be 4-5cm long. Cut the stem end on the topside, on a 45-degree angle to increase the surface area for root growth.

I prefer to start my cuttings in a pot of a mixture of equal parts - sharp sand and crumbled peat-moss. Water the pot thoroughly before starting. It’s important not to get much moisture onto the leaves to avoid fungal problems. Press the cut stem about half of the length into the soil and gently push the soil up around the stem. The cuttings will need to be kept somewhere warm where they will get filtered sunlight. A well-lit window sill out of direct sunlight would be fine.

Obviously a propagator box (Issue 175) would be the logical location, but a simple bell jar, created from the bottom half of a large plastic drink bottle, or a large preserving jar, placed over the pot, will keep the plant warm and moist longer.

Watering is simply a matter of making sure the soil is always moist, but not dry.

The process should take 8-0 weeks before you see a small clump of leaflets at the base of the leaf. When the new leaves reach about 2 -3 cm wide, carefully lift the new plant out by the parent leaf and carefully cut it way from the new growth.

Plant it out into a mixture of one part cutting mix to two parts quality potting mix. With the cold weather fast approaching it would be wise to return the plant to the bell jar until spring.

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A

UTUMN heralds the annual fungus season at the Ceri Spain-Tony van Rensburg Trentham property each year.

But this year’s crop is a spectacular one-off they have not experienced before in their eight years at their place.

A 100-metre path of mushrooms and toadstools has laid a spectacular path along their northern boundary in their alpaca paddock.

The animals seem to have a nose for suspicious fungus and studiously avoid the colourful crop.

But Ceri says expert outside harvesting they have brought in has allowed them to enjoy edible varieties.

She has no idea why the crop has exploded this year but thought maybe it was due to lots of recent rain.

Words & image: Peter Young

Nature Diary with Tanya Loos

W

HILE the human world is in upheaval, it is lovely to see the usual Autumn visitors to my bush garden – the silvereyes.

These tiny birds are a very sweet and attractive garden visitor, with olive green, bright green and grey plumage, and a ring of minuscule silver white feathers around each eye that gives the birds their name.

The old English names of silvereyes in Australia give us an insight into a bit of a love-hate relationship with the birds – mostly related to garden thievery: cherrypicker, grape-eater, blightie or blightbird – but also more affectionate names such as greenie, silvey, twinkie, and my favourite “little grinnell!”

A flock of about 10 silvereyes were very busy in the garden this morning, bustling about in the foliage of a hazelnut that was turning Autumn yellow, and then they moved across to a big old banksia that is in flower. The silvereyes stayed in this tree for some time, using their sturdy, chisel-like bills to probe in old banksia cones for insects, and in the flowers themselves for nectar.

There are nine subspecies of silvereyes, some confined to tiny islands such as King Island, and others over larger areas such as Western Australia.

“My” silvereyes have cinnamon- or rufous-coloured flanks, which may indicate they are the subspecies lateralis, or the buff-flanked subspecies.

Banding studies (where birds are captured and tiny rings attached to their legs and released, and then recaptured) suggest that these silvereyes migrate from Tasmania in the Autumn, spend the winter in south-east Australia as far north as south-east Queensland and then return to Tasmania in Spring to breed.

Silvereyes weigh just 11 grams and make the journey across Bass Strait – that is over 200km of ocean, not just once but twice a year.

Flocks of some 500 birds have been observed flying in from the sea at Wilsons Prom and Cape Woolamai – what a sight that would be. They would be so hungry and thirsty after their flight.

Not all silvereyes migrate in this way, for example in Sydney, the silvereyes are resident all year round, and then their numbers are added to by the visitors from Tasmania in the winter months.

Silvereyes are a very social species, never seen alone, always in small family groups or flocks. They have a life-long pair bond, with both male and female helping to build the nest and raise the young.

They love to perch very close together and spend a lot of time preening one another, also known as allopreening.

They stay in touch by calling constantly – when flying and on migration they make their distinctive "psee psee" contact call, which is most helpful as they sometimes fly at night.

Their other call is a soft sweet warbling, known as the whisper call. If you are close enough to hear it, you can make out that silvereyes are also very good at mimicking other bird calls! I have never had the pleasure of hearing this – they imitate dozens of species including red wattlebirds, white-throated treecreepers, pardalotes and even the laughing kookaburra.

Tanya Loos is a keen field naturalist who spends a lot of time wandering around the bush in our beautiful region. She loves writing about nature and science - she blogs at https://tanyaloos.wordpress.com/ Image: Patrick Kavanagh via Wikimedia Commons

News 15

Singing with Zoom

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Celebrations weren’t typical of this socially-minded group as with new rules that restrict gatherings, the choir has now moved to the online platform Zoom where the members of the choir can come together at the same weekly time to connect, laugh and of course, sing.

Conducted by internationally acclaimed singer and musician Gabriel Macura, the choir was established with funding from Creativity Australia.

The choir welcomes anyone who wants to sing regardless of their experience and there are no auditions and no requirement to be able to read music. The aim is to promote social connectedness and inclusion and improve health and wellbeing.

Details: withonevoice@cobaw.org.au

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For more information please contact Sam Hattam on (03) 5321 6151.

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18 News

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Region empty of tourists over Easter weekend

M

OST tourists and accommodation providers did the right thing over Easter, Daylesford Macedon Tourism chief executive officer Steve Wroe says.

Mr Wroe said, like many people, he had his antenna up to see if people came into the region for the long weekend but had not seen much evidence.

“It was very reassuring to see towns like Daylesford were quiet and the vast majority of people were doing the right thing.

“Of course, there are always a few selfish people who do the wrong thing but they are either being exposed by the community or being pulled up by the police. People are realising that we have to work together on this.”

Mr Wroe said he had been concerned that if people did the wrong thing and acted in a selfish manner it would create community angst and also an anti-tourism sentiment. But we are not seeing too much of that, which is very reassuring.

“Of course, there are always idiots and selfish people but 95 per cent of the population is being responsible and careful and understand that if people are flouting the laws then we could have an increase in the length of the lockdown.”

The Local was notified of one rental property just outside Daylesford which had four cars in the driveway.

The Local contacted the accommodation manager but was told it was all members of one family who had taken up emergency accommodation after their house burnt down in Geelong.

Questioned on the distance between the two areas, the manager said they were on the emergency accommodation list and did not query the insurance companies’ decisions.

Words: Donna Kelly| Image: Kyle Barnes

Easter Sunday, just before noon, in Daylesford's Vincent Street

No work, home schooling, but still smiling

L

“We also had two staff for ESLEY Thompson has spent the past two years building up her business, Thompson’s Accommodation Cleaning, but now finds herself each property, instead of just one, so we could tell the other with no properties to care for.

The 26 properties she has on her books, owned by accommodation providers and private B&B owners, are no longer for rent but that does not mean they look desolate.

Lesley, and three women working for her, are continuing to visit them all on a regular basis, opening and closing blinds and putting out rubbish bins, just to make sure they look lived in.

That’s done without pay but Lesley feels she has some ownership and responsibility to ensure the properties are not looking too empty.

But she realises some people could easily think the properties are housing tourists, when, in fact, it is just herself or her staff, spending time there.

“People shouldn’t jump to conclusions. I think what we are doing is important for the properties and it also gives us a bit of sanity time, away from husbands and kids,” she laughed.

“And we are very much staying in touch with the owners, because we will be back one day.”

Lesley said she had not cleaned any properties since the lockdown two weeks ago and even before that, business was down for the prior fortnight.

“We got through ChillOut and we were flat knackers but then it was over. Which is good, because it means people are doing the right thing. Not even the owners are coming up.

“Possibly the only people who are staying anywhere are workers and perhaps their families, so they don’t have to travel long distances between home and work. So, they are also doing the right thing by not travelling.”

Lesley said in the last two weeks of cleaning, she and her staff were careful to follow strict guidelines, even ensuring owners blocked out nights in between stays so properties were aired and cleaned at length.

one ‘don’t touch that’ or ‘don’t touch your face’. Just to remind each other to stay safe.”

Now Lesley is spending her days at home with daughters Hailee, 14 and Claudia, 8.

Both are home schooling, Hailee from Daylesford College and Claudia from Daylesford Primary School.

Lesley said she could not be happier with her daughters’ schooling.

“They are both good and handling it a lot better than I thought they might. The schools have both been so, so good. The communication is fantastic, and we are just so lucky to have the resources of our teachers.”

Lesley’s husband, Bill, is fortunate to still be working in Kyneton where business is steady.

And when lockdown ends, what are the plans?

“Getting back to normality, going out for dinner and catching up with friends!”

Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Contributed

Recipes for lockdown...Anzac Biscuits Anzac biscuits Ingredients 125gm butter 2 tablespoons boiling water 1 tablespoon bicarbonate soda 1 teaspoon Golden Syrup 1 cup self-raising flour 1 cup sugar 1 cup rolled oats

Method Boil together the butter, water and Golden Syrup, and then add bicarb soda. In a bowl add the flour, sugar and rolled oats, then add the butter mixture and mix well.

Place spoonfuls onto a greased tray and allow room for spreading, and bake in a moderate oven for approximately 15 minutes or until golden brown. Watch that they don’t burn.

- Thanks to the CWA and Selena Smith

Next week: Nikujaga (Japanese braised beef and potatoes) Do you have a recipe to share?

Email donna@tlnews.com.au #keepingthecommunityconnected

Your say...

There can only be two explanations for the late model Range Rovers, BMW X5, Mercedes-AMG and even a Bentley in the Daylesford Coles car park on Good Friday.

Similarly there can only be two explanations for the queue of people that extended around to Vincent Street, Daylesford.

Either, a heap of people in this town won Tattslotto and rushed out and bought expensive cars and all went supermarket shopping - or a whole lot of people from other places flaunted the specific directives from the Prime Minister, Victorian Premier and Chief Medical Officers and drove here.

People visiting from elsewhere chose to risk carrying COVID-19 into this region. When they arrived - where did they go? What else did they buy? From whom?

Where did they stay? Did they all stay with family, or did they use short-term commercial accommodation using the "let yourself in" process some are rumoured to have created?

So you might ask - what are our responsibilities?

What are those of the retailers? Is it to provide services without question? Perhaps ID with an address is an idea.

Self-entitled and otherwise stupid people will do what they will without care, believing they're beyond the rules.

An Easter Sunday call to Ballan Police received advice they had been busy all weekend checking, turning people around and fining some.

- Richard Butler, Hepburn

But as a result, a good many permanent residents have become shut out of the property market and have been left behind.

Added into this, the local council has not at any stage been a voice of the townspeople. For years people lobbied for better facilities for locals only for it to drag Prior to us purchasing a property in Daylesford, on and ultimately be ignored. we visited family in the early 90s on a regular basis.

How can it be possible that a small vocal minority Daylesford at that stage was always awkward and call for the collapse of the property market due to convoluted to access from Melbourne which kept COVID-19 for them to finally get their piece of the pie?

Daylesford off the map and affordable for low-income If this scenario was to play out, it's foolish to think people. Industry/manufacturing had left the town which that by being able to buy into a depressed market that kept property prices quite depressed. the investment will pay off in the end.

A few years after our purchase we noticed an I would like to see industry leaders contacted uptake in people selling their properties and moving to and show leadership through this time, providing the more affordable regions. These were people who made community with information and direction. An open Daylesford their home for some years and felt pushed letter to the local paper, etc signed by these leaders would out by the rising property taxes and property prices.

Some lost their businesses and felt no choice but to sell be a start. homes that had been in their families for years. Needless - Cherie Evans and Dave Dando, Daylesford to say there was considerable disappointment and anger.

Looking back on this, we feel this was the start of the I can't help but concur with Kyle's reflections on us vs them attitude. Up to that point Daylesford was so the toxicity of Facebook.

In complex times the last thing we needed in our small in so many ways. Alla Wolf-Tasker hadn't made her mark, you certainly didn't go to the main street for a shire was an unmoderated platform in which all the coffee. and the pubs and restaurants were very affordable craziest conspiracy theories and loony doctrines get a public airing. It is downright depressing to read this and quite relaxed. Tonna's was in a tiny shop near awful stuff and seriously damaging to one's mental Frangos, Clough's was the only supermarket. health.

What's lost in this 'discussion' that permanent The irony is that some have turned to social media residents are having about the tourists, is how businesses have benefited from the tourist trade, not just the people out of an ill-founded suspicion that mainstream media do not have their best interests at heart; however, the who bought property either by design or sheer luck. result of the public curating their own news has been Local construction companies, tradespeople, hardware stores, restaurants, shops, etc have all benefited spectacularly and demonstrably bad. from the transition to tourism that entered once all the - Pat Hockey, Clunes manufacturing base moved away.

Got a letter? Email donna@tlnews.com.au

We bought our property in 1997 and have had family in the area since the Goldrush days so feel we can comment quite comfortably about the current behaviour and comments of full time residents.

20 Opinion

www.tlnews.com.au

Pick me, pick me

Just sayin’...

By Donna Kelly

S

O, The Hepburn Advocate is closed.

Apparently it is just a temporary move, what with a global pandemic and all, but it will be hard to come back, as many business people will tell you.

As a journalist who has worked on dailies and weeklies, it's always a real shame when a masthead closes down. So I feel a sense of loss every time I hear a paper has gone.

Of course, as a competitor, it will help keep us bumping along until this is over. But it's not a good way to win the war - although I must admit it was looking a little tired recently.

Kyle and I were only saying last week "If The Advocate can make it through a pandemic we will pack up our bat and ball and go home".

Some people may remember I worked on The Advocate as managing editor for a year in 2009. It was a remarkable year for me. I moved from being purely a journalist, to being involved in advertising and the bottom line. If I had not had that year The Local very likely would not have been started. It would have been too much uncharted territory.

But that year made me see how good news and good advertising can help each other to survive. I also liked getting the bonuses when I made budget each quarter. But I still believe I was ethical with my reporting and gave a good serve when it was needed - even to those advertising.

I will always remember it was 2009 because it was the year of the bushfires. I was working in the office, in the Daylesford Coles carpark at the time, and had a call from Kyle, who was working with Hepburn Shire Council. We were sharing one car and I went to pick him up and just remember seeing what looked like a nuclear explosion of smoke over towards Leonards Hill - artist Brian Nash captured it perfectly in a painting I still have.

Anyway, Marysville and Kinglake had just happened so we drove home, picked up the dogs and kept going to Malmsbury and then Kyneton, where we stayed for a sleepless night, free of charge, at the former Botanical Gardens camp grounds.

The next day, Tuesday, we drove back and I went to the office about 6am and started to rewrite the paper. It was one of the hardest days I have worked but I still managed to get it done by noon when we were due to go to press. I remember calling the Ballarat Courier to say I would not make it for the afternoon weekly meeting and being met with "Oh, why not?" I briefly thought about going in with ash smeared on my face...

Kyle was kept busy too, handing out keys from generous accommodation providers, to those who could no longer go home. People working together to survive strange days.

Like now. Strange days again. And people working together to survive and, hopefully, thrive when this is over. The Advocate may be closed but you can rely on The Local to keep your news coming - and keep the community connected. Just sayin'...

Hey there, I am Gandalf. I am one-year-old and quite shy - but I do love a nice scratch. I am also a bit cheeky so you'll see that side of me eventually. Pets aren't just for pandemics but we can get through this together! So call MAAWS first and then come and pick me - up! MC#956000012167145 BR100938 Mount Alexander Animal Welfare is in Castlemaine. Call first on 5472 5277.

(Pick me, pick me is run in memory of Rosie and Curly we picked them!)

The Local - Connecting the Community

T

he Local is all about Connecting the Community. We run good news stories about amazing people and places, and festivals and events. And our fantastic advertisers run great deals for locals and visitors alike.

To give back to the community, The Local has been running its Connecting the Community adverts for five years. The adverts are for mostly for not-for-profit groups and organisations - which is most of us these days - to lend a hand when finances can be a bit tight - or just don't exist. We all know how hard it can be to make volunteer-run organisations work on the smell of an oily rag!

To apply just email donna@tlnews.com.au with your event or organisation. We also put call-outs on our Facebook page and those of the various communities in our wonderful region. We work on a first-in basis, with a nod to time-lines too.

There are a few conditions, well mostly that you aren't grabbing a free advert and then we see a whacking big paid advert in other media. That wouldn't be fair.

Cheers, Donna (Ed)

BE.WELL Counselling Youthrive Victoria invites you to the Rural Youth Network www.youthrivevictoria.org.au/network/ Providing tips and resources to help online learning, motivation, wellbeing and leadership development.

If you would like to donate to further develop the Rural Youth Network please contact: Brett Dunlop Supporter Relations Manager brett@youthrivevic.org.au Phone: 0403 803 555 www.youthrivevictoria.org.au/donate/

For anyone who might need to speak with a professional during this lockdown period, Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre has partnered with BeWell Counselling who have offered free counselling sessions.

The appointments are available for a limited time, and will be conducted via Zoom from the comfort of your home.

For more information go to: www.bewellcounselling.com.au

www.tlnews.com.au

Opinion 21

Kyle’s Rant

T

HIS is not my first rodeo. I have been around some 52 years and seen a bit, but it is my first pandemic, and I have made mistakes.

The first mistake was moving the mother in-law up here. She stayed for around 10 days and then we all decided to move her back down to her home at Frankston, simply because it was safer for her. (We have steps and things, not just me going to kill her.)

The issue was, each time we moved her complete with rocking chair and enough scarves to open a boutique shop, my old back was taking a hammering and finally gave up the ghost last week.

I am sure it is not a permanent thing but I have stopped stacking the dishwasher among a few other duties I have retired from, for the time being anyway. The back injury pulled me up while attempting to change a half-flat tyre on my ute, so I called the RACV, after all I am a member.

After arranging my mechanic via a telephone consultation, the dude from Ballarat called to say he was in Smeaton and that he had to return to Ballarat before he could get to me. I would be better off changing my own tyre due to the time frame. His remarks were met with silence. Then I simply said that I was comfortable with the proposed wait time.

The phone rang 10 minutes later with the mechanic stating that he had changed his plans, engaged someone else to deal with the Ballarat issue and was now 30 minutes away. Again I remained silent for a few moments and once again accepted the new arrangement.

So, the dude finally arrived. Now, the office at the moment looks like, I imagine, a quarantine base with red signage everywhere telling people not to enter and that we are self-isolating, as well as a few security cameras and lights.

The dude shouted from his car in an ocker pitch “Did you tell the office you were sick?” To which I replied “I am not sick, I am self-isolating, like most of the world.”

He went on to say that “'cause if yous (sic) are sick, I am not meant to be here to change your tyre". He then commented that the tyre was not completely flat and that he was not meant to change tyres that weren’t completely flat – WTF? After a couple of puzzled seconds I came back with “I can make it flatter for you if you like”. It just seemed to me this guy simply didn’t want to be here. Despite the logo on his ute being "RACV" and ours "The Local". I had thought my job was preparing for The Local to go to print while his job was to fix broken-down cars.

He did leave with a cheery "See you mate". So all was not lost.

Roadside rant over…

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22 Trades

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Trades 23

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