The Local February 13, 2023

The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

Front cover: Daylesford's Alexis Saville and Odin Jonsson, who has just moved from Trentham to Ballarat, have been dating for just one month but have known each other for 10 years and been best friends for seven. "So it feels like it's been forever," Odin says. The 21-year-olds are working on Valentine's Day, Alexis at Kadota and Odin at Bells' Watergardens, but Odin has a suprise weekend planned.

In the spirit of love the couple agreed to meet for a photo on the 'Love Locks' bridge at Lake Daylesford - adding their own lock to the 453 already there. (More photos: tlnews.com.au) Happy Valentine's Day.

Image: Kyle Barnes

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The Local is a member of the Victorian Country Press Association, with editor Donna Kelly, a former director.

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The content expressed within this publication does not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of The Local Publishing Group Pty Ltd. The Local Publishing Group's editorial guidelines and complaints-handling process can be found at www.tlnews.com.au We welcome all feedback.

The Local is a fortnightly community publication covering the Central Highlands of Victoria.

The next edition is out on Monday, February 27, 2023. or online on Sunday, February 26 at www.tlnews.com.au

Space bookings: Wednesday, February 22

Copy deadline: Thursday, February 23

Editorial deadline: Thursday, February 23

Editor: Donna Kelly on 0418 576 513 or news@tlnews.com.au

Editorial assistant: Eve Lamb on 0493 632 843 or editorial@tlnews.com.au

General manager: Kyle Barnes on 0416 104 283 or kyle@tlnews.com.au

Account manager: Linda Mooney on 0493 673 149 or sales@tlnews.com.au

Sub-editors: Nick Bunning, Lindsay Smith & Chester the Cat

Writers: Eve Lamb, Kevin Childs, Tony Sawrey, Jeff Glorfeld, Narelle Groenhout, & Donna Kelly

Photographers: Kyle Barnes & David White

Graphic designer: Dianne Caithness

Contributors: Glen Heyne (gardening), Darren Lowe (music) and Jen Clarke (recipes).

Accounts | Julie Hanson Delivery | Tony Sawrey

STAGE 1: BLAMPIED-KOOROOCHEANg ROAD to EAST STREET

Central Highlands Water is securing Daylesford’s long-term water supply. Our $15 million project investment will support the region’s future growth and climate resilience.

When completed, the Daylesford Water Supply Pipeline will be able to deliver more than 300 million additional litres per annum of supplementary raw water for the community, complementing the Wombat and Bullarto Reservoirs.

Construction of the Daylesford Water Supply Pipeline is occurring within existing road reserves and power easements where possible, connecting the Goldfields Superpipe in Blampied to the Daylesford Water Treatment Plant.

While every effort will be made to reduce construction impacts, the works will require the use of heavy plant, equipment and excavation machinery. This will result in some noise and dust during the works.

Changes to road conditions may include temporary partial road closures. Traffic controllers will be onsite where needed to help road users.

We thank you for your support during the construction of this major project.

For more information and project updates:

chw.net.au/daylesfordwater

Local - The Heart of the Highlands

Victoria Park home to the Big Rainbow

DAYLESFORD’S Victoria Park has been chosen as the site of Tinder’s Big Rainbow with the aim to have installation completed by the ChillOut Festival in March.

Daylesford was selected from a shortlist of four locations around Australia, including Broome in WA, Hay in NSW and Katherine in the NT, and announced as the winner in October last year.

Hepburn Shire Council then invited feedback from the community on where the Big Rainbow should be located with four potential options in Daylesford – Victoria Park, the Lost Children’s Reserve, the Community Skate Park and Lake Daylesford.

The landmark is six metres high by 12 metres wide and painted in the colours of the 2018 Progress Pride Flag. It is made from marine-grade plywood.

Mayor Cr Brian Hood said Victoria Park was the standout position from both a community and council view.

Cr Hood said each of the other three sites had concerns which played against them being a viable option.

The Lost Children’s Reserve was not the place for a “secondary feature” for historical reasons, the skate park did not have the room and Lake Daylesford was seen to be a natural environment.

Victoria Park also had the connection with ChillOut and the LGBTIQA+ community, along with staging other events, plenty of parking and easy accessibility for people wanting to visit the Big Rainbow and have their photo taken.

“It just seemed like the logical choice of the four – and it certainly had the strongest vote from the public of the four sites.”

Cr Hood said things like lighting and signage were still under consideration with the issue of vandalism also being monitored closely once the installation was complete. Most “big” installations in Australia are privately owned and closed at night.

Tinder will pay for the installation and maintenance for three years after which “the council of the day” will make a decision on its future.

Cr Hood said accepting the donation of the Big Rainbow from a dating app was carefully considered but at the end of the day, the symbolism of acceptance, understanding and diversity won out.

“Tinder was a topic of conversation, and we are mindful that dating apps have their problems, but on balance overall we thought the positives were pretty strong and it was compatible with council’s policies and that swayed us.”

Cr Hood said extra visitors, keen to be photographed with Australia’s latest “big thing” would also bring an economic benefit to the region.

Asked if people might try to climb the structure for the ultimate selfie, Cr Hood said, with a height of six metres, that would be “fraught with danger”.

“I hope that people would just want their photo taken from the ground but you can’t rule out that people might be tempted to try and climb it.”

Tessa Halliday, the council representative on the shire's LGBTIQA+ Advisory Committee said the need for a symbol of pride was still relevant.

“We have come a long way but until we can say that every member of the LGBTIQA+ community is safe, accepted and included we still have work to do.

“We are lucky to live in a very supportive community, however this doesn’t mean that there aren’t people in our community that are struggling with their identity or sexuality.

“The symbol of pride lets them know that they are important to the community and that they are safe to be themselves. The Big Rainbow says ‘you are safe here’. Daylesford is also a haven for visitors, a place where they feel safe to be themselves as they may not be able to at home.”

Cr Halliday said it was easy to look at the positives in the community, “from amazing accepting parents to supportive health providers, however not everyone has this experience”.

“Mental health and suicide rates are still the highest in the LGBTIQA+ community compared to the wider community. It is important that we remember that the rainbow is a symbol for the LGBTIQA+ community, not a symbol for a dating site. The dating site will not have any signage on the Big Rainbow.”

In answer to a few other questions from The Local, a council spokesperson said the Big Rainbow would be a public structure with time-controlled lighting to be installed to illuminate it.

The spokesperson said the council was still planning signage options and would ensure the Big Rainbow was well signposted.

In relation to people climbing the structure, this will be discouraged by plantings around the base.

The Big Rainbow was designed in collaboration with members of the LGBTIQA+ community and the First Nations community.

As part of the promotion, Tinder is also donating $100,000 in grants to a number of community groups around Australia.

Tinder did not get back to The Local after emails asking which groups would be in the running for the grants.

Words: Donna Kelly | Images: Contributed

Know the COLOURS

TAKE THE ACTIONS TO SURVIVE

Across Australia, the Fire Danger Rating system has changed. Using real-time scientific data, it now gives you a more accurate rating of the risk level if a fire was to start in your area. Each colour represents the actions you need to take to stay safe. If it’s red, the fire risk is Catastrophic, so you need to pack your bags and leave immediately. Don’t wait around to see if the conditions improve.

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For more information on the new simpler and smarter Fire Danger Ratings, search Fire Danger Ratings

Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

Stage plays spotlight issues of age, health care

THE experience of losing her mother to a form of dementia inspired Tylden creative Dawn Bamford to pen a play highlighting some pressing issues.

Next month that play The Vessel will be staged at The Social Foundry in Kyneton featuring a cast and crew of impressive local talent while spotlighting some of the big challenges around ageing and care-giving.

The 40-minute piece will be staged Saturday March 4, 8pm and Sunday March 5 at 2pm and at 5pm, and will be complemented by a 10-minute play Until Then by Paul Canlan.

Like The Vessel, the shorter play similarly deals with intense familial relationships –in this case a father-son relationship - that can arise amid significant health challenges.

“The cast and crew of The Vessel and Until Then are a very talented bunch of local and regional performers and it’s a pleasure to work alongside them as part of the creative process, which started some four months ago as a reading around a table, over a glass of wine at Chaplin's in Trentham,” Dawn, pictured, said.

Besides her creative activity, Dawn works in social support with Sunbury-Cobaw Community Health and hopes the new stage production will go on to tour and prompt useful conversation and policy changes.

She says she wrote The Vessel last year after she was initially prompted to write a poem as a personal reflective response to the experience of losing her mother in 2017. The poem has been worked into the stage play, marking its beginning and end.

“In early 2018, I wrote a poem, around six months after the death of my mother in aged care,” she said.

“Mum was about four years into her initial early-onset dementia diagnosis with Lewy bodies when she was admitted into care.

“Over a very long time she lost most of her physical and mental capacity and was both non-verbal and non-ambulant at the time of her death. Between 2007 and 2017 I was a constant visitor, volunteer and eventually, part-time lifestyle worker there.

“I had a first-hand view of the operational and logistical complexity of care in this setting and the limitations of this large-scale business model in the industry sector.”

Dawn said many of the problems of institutionalised care had been highlighted in the Royal Commission recently, as a result of the rise of Covid in the sector, but it had always been an industry in crisis.

“The private business model is really an imperfect solution to what is really a social and community health concern, as much as it is a housing resolution for an older population with high care needs.

“It survives because of the rampant ageism and neglect that we all contribute to as a society. I do not wish to demonise any individual, service, group of workers, families or healthcare agencies through my play.

“The aim is to humanise the condition that is dementia and remind us all of the fact that it is a human condition and that sufferers have not had their minds and memories erased, rather redistributed and rearranged, and that their emotional intelligence and hearing are as sharp as ever.

“There’s an element very much of social justice and after the three shows in Kyneton we’d like to see if there are touring possibilities. I’d love to see it prompt more conversations and maybe some action and policy changes in the aged care sector.”

Dawn has a well established background in theatre, TV and screen including acting and singing, but bringing The Vessel to the stage marks her debut foray into playwriting and production.

“It is quite confronting but there are delightful moments as well,” she said.

“There are some moments of hilarity. Behind every single human being, irrespective of age, there is a story that nobody knows.”

The Vessel features many local names including Suzanne Sandow (Mary), Kate Moonie (daughter), Mel Thomas (PCA), Ian Rooney (nurse) and Rexine Perry (clown), Paul Canlan (director) Tim Jones (poster and set design and construction), Caroline Sarah (costumes) and Toby Dutton (graphic design and set construction).

Until Then features Paul Canlan (Rhys/son), Ian Rooney (Tony/dad). Bookings through TryBooking online.

Words: Eve Lamb | Images: Contributed

We have hundreds of Begonias and Fuchsias for sale in pots, hanging baskets and on display. The ideal UNIQUE GIFT. (Special Occasions, Birthdays, Mother’s Day)

A simple maintenance sheet with growing instructions supplied with each purchase and a YOU TUBE video named “Tuberous Begonia Maintenance Tips” available online. For more information, go to: https://www.whitehousenursery.com.au/tuberous-begonias/ Ring Jesse Exiner 0419 002 651 or Peter Harris on 0400 313 703

Please note - there are no public toilets available on site due to increase of Covid cases in Victoria There are some clean public toilets in Anslow St near the corner High St, Woodend.

The 3rd annual TUBEROUS BEGONIA & FUCHSIA SHOW

Grassfire threatens homes: fire risk remains

Words: Eve Lamb | Image: Supplied

Several houses were threatened when a grassfire broke out on Mount Glasgow near Clunes on the border of Hepburn and Central Goldfields shires in recent days.

The cause of the fire at this stage remains subject to police investigation and, at the time of writing, remained classed as undetermined.

Nineteen CFA brigades including those from Talbot, Clunes and Creswick, Air Bendigo crews in Firebird 305 and Helitak 335, plus police traffic control and Forest Fire Management Victoria were involved in the incident which began on Saturday February 4 around 3pm.

Talbot CFA captain Ross Andrews said it was lucky that conditions were not more severe, noting that the changeable whirling nature of the fire direction complicated efforts to bring it under control. Several houses were threatened as the fire burnt in hilly terrain off McCallums Creek Road.

About 94 hectares, and one campervan, were burnt after fire crews had battled for about an hour before being able to contain it.

“It would have burnt about 300 acres and travelled well over a kilometre,” Ross said. “The cause is still to be determined.”

Clunes CFA captain David Freelove said air support – including monitoring and water bombing - was used to protect several threatened houses.

Looking at the wider picture, Daylesford CFA captain Alistair Grant says this year’s milder season has been comparatively kind in the Daylesford patch of the state’s central fire region – but cautioned against complacency.

“Daylesford is still relatively green but we could get a week of hot weather and it could dry off quickly. We’ve had a grassfire at Yandoit a few weeks ago, and we recently had a grass fire at East Street caused by mowing. The weather’s been reasonably mild and we haven’t had either extreme or catastrophic conditions this year.

“But north of Daylesford it is quite dry and CFA Region 15 will soon be running some bushfire planning sessions – one at Daylesford and one at Eganstown. They will be advertised.”

While the conditions have been milder this year, the next couple of months will be telling, David Freelove says.

“February and March will be the tell-tale months,” he says, cautioning against being lulled into a false sense of security by any cooler days.

“From the start of this year we’ve had four larger grassfires and calls to several (illegal) burn-offs during the fire danger period,” he says.

“Although it’s been a mild season the grassfires we’ve had have run fairly fast and have not been as predictable as in previous years. It’s been a different system.”

CFA brigade captains are all keen to remind landholders that restrictions remain in force, and while ambient temperatures may drop it does not mean restrictions – or the risk of serious outcomes – have ended.

DEECA (formerly DELWP) Midlands District manager David Watson said FFMV were continuing to monitor forest and weather conditions and conduct fuel management works, such as planned burning, slashing, or mulching whenever conditions allow.

“We’re hoping to complete a series of high priority burns in the Daylesford, Gisborne, Macedon and Blackwood areas over the coming months,” he said.

For planned burns head to www.vic.gov.au/plannedburns or call 1800 226 226.

Denver's Stonefields fetches $11million+

Celebrity gardener Jamie Durie has bought Paul Bangay’s famed Stonefields home and gardens in Denver for more than $11 million. The TV personality, pictured below right, and his business partners are now reported to be planning to convert the private home into a luxury accommodation venture.

“I am very happy and relieved that the garden which I believe is my greatest life’s work will be in good hands,” Paul Bangay, pictured below left, told The Local.

“Jamie Durie will be a worthy and able custodian of the garden,” Mr Bangay said.

The property was originally listed with a price guide of $8 million to $8.8 million before an adjoining land parcel was included.

Forbes Global Properties’ Michael Gibson had the listing and has confirmed the sale. He declined to comment on the price, however a source with knowledge of the recent deal has put it at more than $11 million.

“It is going to be a world-class eco-resort,” Mr Gibson said.

In listing Stonefields, Forbes Global Properties Australia had described the Bangay property as “without question, one of the world's most celebrated private gardens”.

For almost two decades, it has been home to Australia's pre-eminent garden designer Paul Bangay, for whom “it has been both a spectacular showpiece and cherished sanctuary,” the agents said.

“Spanning some 50 acres in the rolling foothills near Kyneton, just over an hour from Melbourne, this exceptional countryside holding is home not only to its famous gardens and magnificent oak trees, but also premium cattle grazing, superbly kept pastures and a striking five-bedroom Tuscan-inspired residence, featuring dramatically beautiful interiors curated by Paul Bangay, in partnership with (the late) Stuart Rattle.

“The home enjoys a strong connection with its surrounds, with stunning views across the exquisite grounds, iconic hilltop pool and onto the mesmerising landscape stretched out below.”

Following the sale to Durie and partners, Paul Bangay is now reported to be in the market for another opportunity in the area to create his next dream home and gardens together with husband Barry McNeill.

With his business partners at Opulus Hotels, financier and hotelier Dominic Lambrinos and investment banker Kim Jacobs, Mr Durie is now understood to be planning an eco-resort opening in 2025 at Stonefields.

The group is reportedly planning to develop luxurious, sustainable free-standing villas, investing $70 million in the construction.

Mr Durie described Stonefields as “one of the greatest gardens in the southern hemisphere”, and was reported to have jumped on a plane to inspect it once he heard it was for sale.

“We are pinching ourselves that we are able to secure it,” he said.

Mr Gibson said the property had attracted a substantial amount of interest and inspections during the sales campaign. It was originally pitched as an ideal home for either an owner-occupier or someone looking for a country retreat.

However, not everyone is happy about the sale, with a community notice being sent out last week via the Glenlyon Progress Association, and posted on Facebook, on behalf of a newly formed Denver Community Group.

The notice, which includes information about a public meeting, says the scale of the proposal is "according to media reports, unprecedented for the Denver area, and arguably the wider region".

"In particular, a $70 million development including 50 villas, a celebrity chef restaurant and health/wellness facility.

"This development raises a number of significant community concerns, from ecology impacts to local infrastructure to noise impacts.

"The purpose of this meeting is to understand more keenly community sentiment towards this proposal. This will help inform our ongoing engagement with the Hepburn Shire on behalf of interested ratepayers and local residents.

"A Denver Community Group has been established, and it is anticipated that a formal process will be established - including governance and communication frameworks - to guide the group's next steps."

The meeting will be held at the Wombat Forest Vineyard on Sunday, February 19 from 10am. RSVPs to denvervic3461@gmail.com

Hepburn Shire Mayor Cr Brian Hood said he would be attending the meeting and the first he, or any councillors, had heard of the proposal was reading it in The Financial Review

No contact had been made by the developers, he said.

Words: Eve Lamb & Donna Kelly | Main image: courtesy Q1

“I am very happy and relieved that the garden which I believe is my greatest life’s work will be in good hands. Jamie Durie will be a worthy and able custodian of the garden.”

- Paul Bangay

Just briefly...

The Macedon Ranges-based lunch group Birds of a Feather is spreading its wings this month and heading to Melbourne to the Victorian Pride Centre in St Kilda on Thursday, February 23 for a 12pm lunch on the rooftop terrace.

Organised by Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health’s Country LGBTIQA+ Inclusion Program, the event is free with meals and drinks at bar prices. RSVPs essential at www.surveymonkey.com/r/BOAF-RSVP-Feb2023. Transport from Kyneton is available, email nathan.allwood@scchc.org.au or call 5421 1666.

An e-waste recovery pilot has been launched at Daylesford Transfer Station. Electronic items received through transfer station e-waste collections that pass safety inspections and testing will be made available to the community through the Hepburn Shire Council Tip Shop. The council will review the results of the pilot within six months, with the intention of extending the program to Creswick and Trentham Transfer Stations.

Residents are invited to collaborate on a new plan that will guide the Macedon Ranges community on managing the impacts of climate change. Cool-ER Changes takes a broader look at the future of the environment in creating a shared, shire-wide Climate Emergency Response Plan for the council and community. The launch of Cool-ER Changes will be held at the Kyneton Town Hall on Thursday, March 2, 7pm to 8.30pm. Link: mrsc.vic.gov.au/Cool-ER-Changes

Creative professionals with big ideas to transform their practice and build their skills and careers can apply for the latest round of the state government's Creators Fund.

Applications are open to individuals and collectives working in any creative field including digital games, literature, craft, theatre, music, screen, dance, visual art,

Daylesford’s February Repair Café will be at the Creswick Neighbourhood Centre on Sunday, February 19 from 1pm to 4pm.

More repairers are always needed. Contact Veronica on 0428 180 200 or Danny on 0488 604 231, or pop in to the Creswick Neighbourhood Centre on the day. The cafe will be back at the Victoria Park Pavilion, Daylesford, on Sunday, March 19.

Hepburn Shire Council has replaced a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II with King Charles III in the Daylesford Town Hall.

CEO Bradley Thomas said while displaying the portrait of the king was not a requirement for council meetings, it is a requirement under the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code to display the official portrait of Australia’s Head of State at citizenship ceremonies. Council meetings are held in the town hall.

Applications for the 2022-23 round of the Change Our Game Community Activation Grants Program are now open.

Grants of up to $10,000 are available to eligible clubs and community groups across Victoria to help them create more opportunities for women and girls at the grassroots level. Link: www.changeourgame.vic.gov.au

Hepburn Shire Council, in partnership with Business Victoria, are providing the free face-to-face workshops for 2023. The workshops are being facilitated by Monarch Institute and are being held in Daylesford and Creswick. The workshops provide an opportunity for business operators to participate and network with other small business owners. There are also a host of free online webinars for businesses.

Got some news you want to share? Email news@tlnews.com.au

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

I met with Hon Catherine King MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development last week and we discussed funding for urgently needed works to repair the Shire’s numerous flood-damaged roads. The Federal Government’s recent announcement that it will conduct a comprehensive review of disaster recovery funding nationwide is most welcome.

While Council’s program of works to repair roads is well underway there is no doubt the scope of works is significant and places enormous strain on our financial and human resources. Our discussions also included the Creswick Trails project, site of the 2026 Commonwealth Games mountain bike events, and reviewing progress on other Council projects such as the Trentham Community Centre. Council is very appreciative of the ongoing support we receive from federal and state governments and is heavily reliant on grant funding for major capital works.

A reminder that the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) is currently conducting a review of 39 Councils across the state, of which Hepburn Shire is one. The review will consider how communities are represented at Council level.

Currently Hepburn Shire has seven councillors spread across five wards. The new structure contemplates either seven councillors from seven wards, which would necessitate drawing new lines on the map to create such wards, or no wards at all and seven councillors coming from anywhere across the Shire.

The existing structure is unlikely to continue. Importantly, community members can have their say and make a submission. For more information go to www.vec.vic.gov.au/hepburn

Finally, we are fortunate to have many wonderful community events over the next few months. Some of these are listed to the right. I encourage you to head along and make the most of these events throughout our Shire.

Cr Brian Hood

COMMUNITY GRANTS OPEN

If you’re a member of a community group or not-for-profit organisation, our latest round of Community Grants is now open. Check out the guidelines and apply at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/grants

COUNCIL PLAN FOCUS AREAS

UPCOMING EVENTS

For car enthusiasts, Daylesford Motorfest is on at Victoria Park on Sunday 19 February. https://daylesfordmotorfest.com/ On Saturday 25 February, the 50th Lyonville Woodchop will be held at Lyonville Hall. Proceeds go to hall maintenance.

The annual Heather Mutimer International Women’s Day event is on at 6pm on Wednesday 8 March at Daylesford Town Hall, acknowledging women who have made a difference in our Shire. RSVP at www.trybooking.com/CFVON

One of our region’s biggest and most colourful events is ChillOut Festival, which runs from Thursday 9 to Monday 13 March. This year ‘Find Your Wings’ is the theme. https://chilloutfestival.com.au/

On Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 March, it’s Clunes Booktown Festival featuring author and artist talks, workshops and live entertainment. www.clunesbooktown.com.au

The Creswick folk and roots festival CresFest is on from Friday 31 March to Sunday 2 April, with a weekend of music and dance for all ages. www.cresfest.com.au/

SECOND HAND ELECTRICAL ITEMS

Council has launched a six-month trial to sell low-cost and safe electrical items at the Daylesford Transfer Station. The electrical items have been disposed of as e-waste (which was banned from landfill in 2019). E-waste is any item with a plug, battery or cord that is no longer wanted. Collect a bargain from the Daylesford Transfer Station or drop off your e-waste to transfer stations in Creswick, Daylesford or Trentham.

SMALL BUSINESS WORKSHOPS

Small business operators have the opportunity to build skills and expertise over the coming months, with multiple face to face and online workshops, along with a visit from the Small Business Bus. Workshop topics include how to boost your social media and online presence, tips on cyber security and ways to generate cash flow. Find out more and secure your place at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/events

FREE COVID TESTS

We continue to partner with the Victorian Government to provide free Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) to community members. Due to a change in eligibility requirements, we can now supply free RATs to anyone in the community. You can collect your free tests from our friendly customer service teams in Clunes, Creswick, Daylesford and Trentham. Please pop in and collect the tests when you are feeling well rather than when you’re sick. Find the opening hours of your closest Council hub on our website.

The Council Plan 2021-2025 describes how Council will strive towards our vision, where to focus efforts, and how to measure progress. Each Focus Area has a series of priority statements, with actions against each item.

Wombat logging 'threatens town's water'

LIKE a never-ending game of chase, the campaign to protect the Wombat State Forest manages to save some trees, then logging starts elsewhere in this vast area.

Now it appears to enter a new phase with a threat to Daylesford’s water.

And one of the many odd aspects is that taxpayers subsidised VicForest’s logging with $54 million last year, a figure predicted to double this year. The increase is expected to come from the cost of paying retainers to contractors, who may have no work.

Another curiosity, according to Daylesford forest activist David Stephens, is that it is 21 years since the local ALP branch voted to have the forest managed as a national service, providing clean air and water. That same year the party pledged to create a Wombat National Park.

Instead, according to Mr Stephens, the most massive equipment to enter the forest has been clearing swathes. “There has been overwhelming forestry reduction, with the greatest damage ever seen,” he says.

“Muddy water is running into the Wombat Dam, which is Daylesford’s water supply.

“Removing ground cover leads to erosion and pollution. Then the fine regrowth increases the fire risk because there is more fuel. It takes 40 years to get sufficient regrowth.”

Intriguingly, VicForests did not comment on the water supply threat but acknowledged that it has paused all commercial harvesting while a new survey is done, while insisting that its work is recovery, not harvesting, subject to external audits and independent sustainable forest management standards.

Another worry for locals, says Mr Stephens, is that six B-double trucks have been seen on narrow bush roads, concerning parents of children at Bullarto Primary School.

Such was the worry that a woman, pictured, supported by about 20 peaceful protestors chained herself to some equipment on January 30. After talking to authorities she undid her lock and was allowed to leave but is expected to be charged by police. Logging has stopped in this area.

Mr Stephens, long a community activist and mentor to forest community groups, says up to 20 hectares have been cleared at Barkstead, off the Daylesford-Ballan road.

“We would like to see a moratorium on all industrial-scale extraction until laws are introduced to protect Wombat Forest.

“We have seen logging protection lifted in 2019, allowing drainage lines to run into Wombat Creek. Anything dead on site is washed by rain into the catchment.”

After an exacting inquiry, state government agreed to adopt almost all recommendations, including preserving and protecting the forest, but no laws have been introduced.

The Supreme Court agreed to protect the vulnerable greater glider in the Central Highlands, but there is no such protection in the Midlands.

Logs from here go to mills in Sale, Orbost, Beaufort and Heyfield. “This,” says Mr Stephens,” is the last resort.”

And the future? More than 7000 hectares are listed for logging. As for VicForest, it said "recovery work" in the forest is in response "to removing debris and treating hazardous trees" after the 2021 storm.

"Timber removed through these operations will be going to the highest and best end use. This potentially includes community use, utilisation by traditional owners, customers, as well as community firewood."

Words: Kevin Childs | Image: Contributed

Artists of the Central Highlands

The prolific creative output of Wheatsheaf artist Frances Guerin is informed by a background in philosophy and transpersonal psychology. Frances began solo exhibiting in the early 1980s and today her whimsical “humaroos” are particularly popular with collectors.

Eve: How do you prefer to describe your style?

Frances: My style is eclectic, encompassing ceramics painting and drawing and assemblage. After retiring from human services in 2005, I completed a Diploma of Ceramics at Federation University, a fantastic course, then graduated with a Masters of Visual Arts at LaTrobe Bendigo, focusing on Irish contemporary art that drew links between preCeltic spirituality and the Australian First Nations dreaming.

Eve: How did you come to art?

Frances: My father took me to Bendigo Art Gallery when I was about eight and I was hooked. My mother had a selection of prints by French impressionists, classical works and a fine selection of ceramic vases and figurines, and she would often encourage me to paint, probably to get me out of her hair. I loved art history and did many journeys across Europe, Egypt and Asia trawling through archaeological sites, museums and galleries, filling journals with sketches of Old Masters works.

Eve: Which artists have influenced your own work?

Frances: Early on I loved anything ‘trippy’ like Salvador Dali. Then the feminist artists who opened the door for women, like Judy Chicago and Paula Rego. More recently when I was travelling through Ireland, I saw the public art was both enchanting and moving...

Eve: What’s your medium and subject matter of choice?

Frances: I move between drawing and ceramics. Ceramics is demanding, a week’s work can be lost during a firing. The terrible ping of a cracking or shattering can put me off for weeks. At the moment I work between large face pots, figurines, and small animals. The humaroos are my ‘iconic’ best seller, so I like to keep a number in stock. More recently after the Australian Ballet performed Harlequinade last year, I have made several sets of the Commedia del’arte characters.

Eve: Have you ever worked in any other area besides your arts practice?

Frances: I worked as a therapist for many years, with individuals and groups, after training in transpersonal psychology. Then worked as an education officer in health and did some teaching at tertiary institutions. After establishing a vipassana meditation practise, I taught hundreds of classes in Melbourne and Central Victoria. On several occasions I had the opportunity to do some event management, including two tours of Tibetan monks and nuns creating sand mandalas.

Eve: When you work do you like to play music and if so what is your music of choice?

Frances: Dead Can Dance, Buddha Bar, Clannad, Lisa Gerrard, classical music.

Eve: To date, what have been your career highlights as an artist?

Frances: Craft Lab Ballarat Mining Exchange 2022, UNESCO listing Folk Art and Craft best exhibit Royal Melbourne Show and a Julia Gillard face pot purchased by the Art Gallery of Ballarat.

Eve: Finally, do you have any exhibitions or special arts events coming up?

Frances: Immortal Diamond Exhibition is showing at the Southbank Vitrines, 152 Sturt Street, Melbourne until February 26. And I will have an open studio at 55 Whitegum Drive, Wheatsheaf during the ChillOut weekend, Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 4pm.

Image: Nadine Jade

with Eve Lamb

BUSINESS FOR SALE

A well-established boutique family-run wedding and events hire business for sale. Offering a range of services including styling, setup/pack up, on-the-day coordination and an extensive hire range. This business has enjoyed steady and consistent growth with very little advertising – mostly word of mouth referrals. There is no lease, operated from the owner’s property which means the new owner can easily relocate the business. Included in asking price:

• Inventory $300,000 if purchased new (List can be provided, and viewings can be arranged)

• Fully functioning website and dedicated business domain

• Facebook (1750k Followers) Instagram (1805k Followers)

• Logo, marketing materials and existing Google business page

• 3 different sized trailers to transport stock

• Warehouse shelving, trolleys and other operational items

• Very low overheads: Domain registration, website subscription & public liability insurance

• Willing to train and give event handovers for current bookings

For more information, please contact us. info@swanslane.com.au

HUGE potential for significant growth for new owners looking to employ their own marketing & advertising strategies on top of organic growth.

Zombies on the way...but time for a cuppa

Having never met Soren Kierkegaard, a Danish philosopher who lived from 1813 to 1855, or studied his work, I must accept that he is in fact the author of the following statement, found on one of those websites that collect and categorise information, this particular one promising 690 quotes about the apocalypse:

“It happened that a fire broke out backstage in a theatre. The clown came out to inform the public. They thought it was a jest and applauded. He repeated his warning. They shouted even louder. So I think the world will come to an end amid the general applause from all the wits who believe that it is a joke.”

Or, as Michael Stipe of REM sings: “It’s the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine).”

It seems like scarcely a week goes by without someone mentioning the “zombie apocalypse”. Sure, it’s usually me, but it does seem to be part of everyday speech. Now that the Walking Dead TV series has finished, one of the American streaming services has started a new show, The Last of US, in which a species of the Cordyceps fungus infects humans and turns them into flesh-eating zombies. Yes - humanity is now being wiped out by mushrooms.

Although ravening, flesh-eating walking dead are heaps of fun, when it comes to good end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it writing, Station Eleven, the 2014 novel by Canadian author Emily St John Mandel is among the very best.

In the book, a variant of swine flu emerges in eastern Europe and quickly sweeps over the entire world, killing almost every man, woman and child on the planet. Mandel doesn’t bother with gory details such as body counts, she simply guides us into a world in which a few people, for no apparent reason, do not die from the flu and continue to exist.

What she does is to imagine how these survivors would respond, adapt, and live, focusing on individuals and groups alike. She causes us to consider how we might react, and in a broader sense not necessarily to an apocalyptic pandemic, but to any event that has a profound effect on us, severe enough that life becomes clearly marked.

She writes: “Jeevan was crushed by a sudden certainty that this was it, that this illness Hua was describing was going to be the divide between a before and an after, a line drawn through his life.”

After the horrific events of September 11, 2001, I began seeing life in that way. As a frequent flyer, it was interesting and often maddening to watch the security apparatuses of various countries spin into action, creating strategies and protocols on the run. There were now security barriers and armed guards where none had been considered necessary before.

These changes and myriad others were both subtle and obvious, thoughtful and foolish. But they persisted and they remain with us. Think about people born after September 11, 2001 - many are young adults now, and the world after 9/11 is the only one they’ve known.

I asked my parents about this before-after rupture; they’re both in their 90s and I thought perhaps the attack on Pearl Harbour in Hawaii by Imperial Japanese forces, on December 7, 1941, bringing the US into the Second World War, might have had such an impact on their lives.

My mother was born in 1932 - she was nine when the US entered the war. For her, she told me, rather than there being a line drawn through her life, it changed gradually. She helped her family grow food in a “victory garden”.

She and her friends collected old clothing, cans, paper - anything that was useful to the war effort. Eventually there was rationing and shortages. These things happened, life went on.

The Australian author Nevil Shute imagined a different end of the world in his excellent, horrible 1957 novel On the Beach. You might have seen the 1959 movie, or the 2000 miniseries, but neither comes close to the book in conveying the awesome pent-up dread of the impending apocalypse, as deadly radiation creeps slowly, inexorably southwards, the result of all-out nuclear war that has killed every person and every animal in the northern hemisphere and has already reached northern Australia.

Shute writes: “Can you visualise it, Dwight?”

“Visualise what?”

“All those cities, all those fields and farms, with nobody, and nothing, left alive. Just nothing there. I simply can’t take it in.”

“I can’t, either,” he said. “I don’t know that I want to try. I’d rather think of them as they were.”

Shute imagines the world ends with dignity.

“It’s too big,” she repeated. “I can’t take it in.”

“It’s too big for me, too,” he replied. “I can’t really believe in it, just can’t get used to the idea.”

Here’s how he finishes this part of the story:

She said softly, “Of course”.

He stirred. “Have another cup of tea?”

I suppose it’s all a matter of perspective. Some days I can face the thought of going down fighting, with my back to the wall, hacking away at mindless zombies with my razor-sharp hatchet (no fooling - I have one hanging on a hook by the fireplace). Other days, I could go for a nice cuppa while I wait for the end.

After more than 30 years in Australia, Jeff and Carol Glorfeld moved back to California to take over the family farm: 15 acres of rocks, hard scrub, and trees with no commercial value, where life is fine. Jeff's radio program, the Down Under Hour, in which he attempts to justify hauling a vast number of records, tapes and CDs around the world, is on every Thursday at 8am, streaming at kkrn.org.

The next edition of House.Land.Home Premium will be published in the February 27 edition of The Local.

If you are selling houses, land or homes talk to your agent or contact Kyle on 0416 104 283 or kyle@tlnews.com.au

The Tree Da Vinci now in Hepburn Shire

Arboricultural business The Tree Da Vinci has expanded its service and is now available to those living in Hepburn Shire and surrounds as well as the Macedon Ranges and Mount Alexander shires.

The company, owned by Josh Nicholas, who is also the lead arborist offers a number of services including expert tree pruning and maintenance.

Josh is passionate about keeping his clients' trees in their best condition and conservation is one of the main aims of his team.

“Unlike many tree companies we will not immediately advise removal of a tree unless absolutely necessary,” Josh said.

“As our environment changes we need trees more than ever to provide shade and water retention to mitigate these effects.

"And while sometimes people feel there is only one option and that is to remove an unsightly or cumbersome tree, often they just need to be expertly pruned so you can rediscover their beauty.

"We also lost so many trees in the June storm in 2021 - we need to keep as many as we can now."

Josh has a Level 3 Certificate in Arboriculture and more than 17 years' experience in the industry in Australia and the United Kingdom.

Along with tree conservation, The Tree Da Vinci team offers hedging, fruit tree pruning, topping of conifers, tree cabling, formative pruning, weight reduction, dead wooding, tree planting and general garden tidy-up.

"In the first instance, people just need to give me a call and I can talk them through all their options," Josh said.

"I work with my clients to ensure they are satisfied and that their garden is what they want. We are so lucky to live in one of the most beautiful places in Australia, and I really believe that beauty extends to our own homes and surrounds.

"And having a qualified arborist does not mean breaking the bank. I can work to most budgets and that is part of that initial chat."

Call Josh on 0431 764 750 or email jueshuex@yahoo.com Link: thetreedavinci.com.au

EAT | DRINK | ENJOY

Out & About in the Central Highlands

Chilling Out with MC Art Simone

Art Simone will MC the All Ages Soundshell event on Saturday, March 11 and co-MC at Carnivale on March 12 with ABC’s favourite weatherman Nate Byrne! She chatted with ChillOut Festival’s Amy Fabry-Jenkins.

Amy: Art, it's not your first rodeo. What’' your favourite ChillOut festival memory?

Art: My favourite memory of ChillOut Festival is always being part of Street Parade – being surrounded by so many supportive people who come together to champion and celebrate everything queer is just so special!

Amy: What do you like about performing at LGBTQIA+ events? Is there anything that makes regional pride events different?

Art: Performing at regional events is super important to me because I’m a believer that everyone deserves to have safe, inclusive spaces where they can be themselves and be surrounded by like-minded individuals. Being outside of metro locations can at times be super-isolating, so it’s important to bring these events to regional areas so everyone can feel valid and loved. Because of this I often find that regional audiences are even more fun as patrons are so appreciative and thankful for the glitter & glam!

Amy: What are you looking forward to this ChillOut Festival?

Art: What's not to look forward to – there is a star-studded program filled with amazing events, entertainers and everything you could want. But of course I am looking forward to the All Ages Soundshell on Saturday, March 11 and Carnivale on Sunday, March 12.

Amy: This year’s festival theme is ‘Find Your Wings'. How did you ‘find your wings’?

Art: I found my wings through the art of drag. I often liken drag to being my superhero uniform. It’s what has helped me to be a better version of myself and live life to the fullest.

For an interview with Sam Lohs, one half of the Tuck Shop Ladies, and Art's full interview, head to www.tlnews.com.au

Music news with Darren Lowe

CRESFEST is back again with a three-day multi-generational and inclusive celebration of music, art and culture in April.

The festival sees Creswick throw open its doors, with contemporary folk and roots artist performances from some of the best local, national and international artists, including Tibet's Tenzin Choegyal, pictured, hosted across a variety of locations – from goldrush era buildings and local pubs to cafes and outdoor venues.

Yandoit Cultural is starting the year with Raziel Gutierrez Soto and Julian Harrison - a world/ethereal music fusion duo.

Using vocals, aerophone and guitar their music is inspired by nature with a homogeneous blend of influences and spontaneous improvisation.

Both Raziel and Julian are professional musicians with many years’ experience, refined expertise with their instruments and they draw on different cultural and musical backgrounds.

The concert is on Friday, February 17 from 6pm at the former Uniting Church, Yandoit. Entry by donation. Details and bookings: Nikki on 0432 232 073.

Angel Olsen is playing at the Theatre Royal in Castlemaine on February 24. Having released her latest sixth album, with overt country music influences, this will be a must see in Angel's first Australian gig.

Got some music news to share? Email news@tlnews.com.au

The Mount Players are stepping back in time with the adaption of a comedy classic.

2022 marked the 100th anniversary of radio broadcasting - the BBC, then called 2LO, made its first broadcast in November 1922. Australia followed a year later.

Within just a couple of years listeners were enjoying a "theatrical experience" without leaving their own homes as radio plays took to the air, providing a wealth of inexpensive entertainment as well as worthy competition to the new talking movies (‘talkies’) sweeping the world.

Actors wearing tuxedos and Brylcreemed hair, actresses in long gowns, dressed to the nines, would gather round a microphone, often in front of a live audience, while sound effects people created the appropriate noises to convince their audience that the characters really were on a mountain top, in a train or on a battlefield, and present a theatrical performance just on a canvas of sound.

The production format remains much as it has been for the last century. A small group of actors playing multiple parts around a microphone, aided and abetted by one or two sound effects people producing sounds in a most creative and often unexpected way. Crumpling vegetables, punching cabbages, splashing in tubs of water, usually accompanied by technical staff with a library of recorded sounds.

The Mount Players' first production for 2023 is a BBC radio play based on the 1935 Hitchcock thriller The 39 Steps. Director John Rowland promises to take the current audience, as the live audience in a BBC radio studio, on a thrilling, riotous and hilarious journey. The play contains every legendary scene from the awardwinning movie including the chase on the Flying Scotsman, the escape on the Forth Bridge, the bi-plane crash and the sensational death-defying finale in the London Palladium. The play runs from Friday, February 24 to Sunday, March 12.

Fifty per cent of takings from the Thursday, March 2 night performance will be donated to Gisborne Foodbank. Cash and food donations can be left in the foyer at each performance.

Details and tickets: www.themountplayers.com or 5426 1892.

Words: Karen Hunt

Dry Brined Pork Rack with Ginger Sweet Potato and Tangy Slaw

BY RICHARD CORNISH

It takes a bit of time, but this little trick will make your next roast pork dinner a true celebration. Start the day before and make sure the skin on the pork is bone dry to help it crisp up in the oven. These dishes have great Asian flavours and the meal is great with Tsing Tao beer or even a full flavoured chardonnay or pinot noir.

For this recipe and many others, click on the QR code below or visit daylesfordmeatco. com.au

TASTY LAMB LOIN CHOPS

2kg for $50

These chops are cut nice and thick. The same cut as a T-Bone, they contain the loin and fillet either side of the central bone with a layer of fat running down one side. For best results, cook fat side down to render it before grilling quickly to medium-rare. Perfect for BBQ and always very tender.

Richard Cornish, award winning journo, food writer and author, is writing a series of recipes for his favourite local butcher, The Daylesford Meat Co.

GUILDFORD

THE REGION’S BEST KEPT SECRET

steak~seafood~ liquor

Open fireplace, Private dining, Balcony seating

over 100 cocktails

Gift certificates available online daylesfordsteakhouse.com.au

Friday Night Raffle

Raffles drawn at 7.30pm

OPENING HOURS

Wed/Thurs/Fri - 3pm till late - Dinner from 5.30pm

Sat - 12pm till late - Lunch from 12pm - Dinner from 5.30pm

Sun - Lunch only from 12pm

35 Fryers Street, Guildford Victoria

Bookings Essential - 03 5473 4021

PARMA-GAY-DEON

And so the La Niña blues roll on

And you thought (hoped)! we had seen the last of her. With the little girl still hanging around I figured these two very common problems of this season deserved sharing.

Hi Glen,

I have a 28-year-old walnut tree in the back garden. This year it has barely come into leaf and is looking sick. I am wondering if it is due to being a wet winter and the fact it was heavily watered last summer. Do you think it would benefit from a trim back? Or could I dig a trench out from the trunk and fill it with Seasol or something similar? I don't want to lose the tree. Do you have any suggestions?

I also have had difficulty getting rid of the cherry slug by using copper spray at leaf burst, lime sulphur, and pest oil - to the extent that I have lost young trees including a weeping flowering cherry. I would value your opinion.

Thank you in advance, Marg

#1 The Walnut tree

Walnuts grow best in deep, well-drained loam and do appreciate compost, organic manures etc. They are best planted on the high side of sloping gardens, not down the bottom where, in heavier-type soil, water tends to lie.

I can tell you that damned interloper Ms Niña’s re-appearance causing this awful, miserable and overly wet, and not to mention, violent weather, has caused my deciduous fruiting trees similar grief to yours. I only hope the rest of summer is a little benign, at least for long enough for everything to recover.

Hopefully your walnut’s roots didn’t suffer any great damage. The best course of action would be to dig a few shallow channels radiating from the trunk out to just past the "drip-line' (just past the branch ends) making sure you don’t damage any shallow roots.

Don’t put any fertiliser around until you see positive signs of young growth, so you know it’s ready to get going again. Then you can let fly with the manures, Seasol etc.

Walnuts aren’t all that fond of pruning so wait until you see some real movement before you trim off any damaged or weakened growths.

#2 Pear/cherry slugs

These little monsters are as persistent as blowflies around a picnic and will take constant action to clear up. So it’s useful to know their life cycle to understand the several remedies needed.

Pear/cherry slugs are larvae of one species of insect commonly called sawfly. The adult fly lays her eggs on the back of the selected tree’s leaves and dies. The eggs hatch and become the slugs, which gorge themselves on your tree’s succulent leaves, then head south to dig themselves a cosy spot in the ground at the foot of the tree to mutate into flies...which then proceed up to the next season’s succulent leaves to continue the life cycle.

So you have several chances of stopping them, as well as physically removing and killing the slugs - spray the pest oil as soon as the leaves are fully opened to get the eggs before they hatch.

Hit the slugs with the oil or water to knock them off the tree, and stop them either going down, or coming back up to eat, by placing a barrier ring of pest oilsoaked rag about 5-10cm above the ground. This not only deters the little blighters, if you regularly repeat dousing the rag and completely break the life cycle, you could be lucky enough to rid your garden of them - and maybe a few of their cousins for at least a couple of seasons.

Happy Hunting!

Pictured above right, one of Glen's favourite pieces of his garden landscapefor your viewing pleasure

Got a gardening query? Email glenzgarden@gmail.com

Kyle’s Rant

IF YOU are sick of people bagging the Hepburn Shire Council then it’s time for you to turn the page. For the rest of you I have a tale to tell that will have you saying “that would be right” under a slow, shallow exhale.

A couple of years back while in the office at TL HQ I noticed a deep thudding reverberating through the floorboards in the office. Now at my age that could be any number of medical issues rearing their heads for the first time. So after a quick selfcheck I concluded the thudding was coming from outside the office.

It turns out that the gang from the HSC roadworks department had put their heads together, for whatever reason, and decided "bugger the potholes, we will create a 100-metre bitumen track right outside TL HQ".

This was an unrequested item. The, what I call a roadlet, covers the driveways of three houses and I think the gravel road was better because it is a deterrent to any tourist wandering around in awe of the fresh air and tall trees. They need to be corralled into the shops and pubs where they do their best, spending money in our local economy.

But back to the roadlet. It was being created by a giant whacker-packer (WP), and while that may not be its official term, it was the source of the thudding and vibrating. Having a double-brick house, built in 1861 well before the WP was invented, I immediately turned my attention to the cracks which were appearing in the walls. I quickly ran out on the road and effectively shut the job down to the disappointment of the WP driver, who proclaimed he only had one more run to do to complete the road.

So, we are left with a piece of tarmac that goes nowhere in particular and, because I didn’t take photos of my house before the incident, HSC will not admit liability and the repair bill will be around the 12K mark when completed.

This sort of behaviour seems to be repeated with works around the shire with not much thought put into the “whole of life” of a project. That is, how we will maintain a project, why are we doing a project and what value does it give the ratepayer.

I know I sound like a curmudgeon banging on about those in their ivory tower, however another case in point is this giant rainbow. For God's sake, who decided that we were going to buddy up with a giant corporation whose entire ethos consists of "swipe right" to like, or "swipe left" to dislike.

I was never asked if I thought a big rainbow was the best representation of our community. This place is a lot of things including an already diverse, inclusive community. We also have a lot of history in gold and more recently have become known for being a romantic getaway location.

But here we are lumbered with the huge hunk of coloured plywood, so let's make the best of it, but no, we have to stick it in a location where apart from the visiting netball and football teams only the locals will see it.

Yes, it is a fabulous thing to show off on the one ChillOut day where it will be Instagrammed into the viral-sphere, but by and large it will sit, lonely, visited by the odd dog walker or ping-pong player who happens to be wandering by.

And this is exactly the sort of shortsightedness I am talking about. Where is the signage to say where it is, what about the lighting to protect it from vandals at night and who will look after it and at what cost? Curmudgeonly rant over…

Ed's note: A council spokesperson said the sections of road were constructed as part of the 2020/21 Road Upgrade Program which prioritised sections based on factors such as traffic volumes, safety, amenity, road functionality and connectivity between main roads and local access roads. Who knew our road was so important?

Local Lines

Days of words

Beginning with birdsong without words at all from magpies the word trill forms up in bed

Crows hardly singtheir unoiled hinges creak Cockatoos let fly with their squarks

Further words try themselves on for size and furnish a running commentary

The day thickens with words and tonight for sure they will hop into bed with me

- Bill Wootton

Bill’s days and nights are crowded with words. Here are some of them.

Local Lines features poetry by locals about local and any other matters. Please submit poems to Bill Wootton at cottlesbreedge@gmail.com

Pick me, pick me!

Hi there. I’m Honey – by name and, obviously, by nature.

As you can see, I’m a super spunky young gal with just three months of fun notched up so far. Hey, check my coat. It’s grey tabbytortoiseshell so let’s just say I get noticed.

People say I am a little honey. I love being with people and attention. But I also would prefer a home with older cats or as an only cat.

So if you are keen for a new best friend, just contact the Mount Alexander Animal Welfare shelter in Castlemaine on 5472 5277 and we can meet up.

Microchip no. 956000015873245. Link: www.maaw.org.au

(Pick me, pick me is run in memory of Rosie & Curly - we picked them.)

And now supported by Daylesford's

Just sayin’...

By Donna Kelly

DINNER done and I was sitting down ready to watch, again, Mr Inbetween. It's a great Australian series, quite dark, but also very funny. The guy who wrote it is also the lead character.

Anyway, Ray was about to shoot someone and, the power went out. Now this may seem a first world problem but it literally happens all the time. And you get that annoying phone message that Powercor is aware of the outage and it should be fixed by...some time later. Last Thursday it was originally going to be done by midnight but that quickly became 12.30am. And it went out about 8pm.

Now, I am sure you are thinking there are plenty of things to do in the dark but Kyle and I have been together for 29 years so we barely even talk to each other, let alone do other things. I put out a FB message saying if one of us was murdered it was on Powercor. Just in case.

So we found our trusty giant torch, some candles and a gas lighter and put some Spotify music on. Seventies road trip, I think. And then we just sat and listened to the tunes. And wondered how long the UPS (uninterrupted power supply) would last to our computers and whether we should shut down our programs before they shut down themselves and we lost data. You know, stories, photos, graphic design work.

I might have posted a few things on FB. A little complaint perhaps. Might have used the F word. And some people put smiley faces on it and others said I should be more careful because "what if someone had of been injured". I didn't bother correcting the grammar but then I saw that someone had not been injured but had hit a power pole in East Street in Daylesford. Maybe speeding but that is not for me to say. But you would have to hit a pole pretty hard to take out the power.

Anyway, I am sorry someone hit a power pole but why does that take out power all the way to Glenlyon? It's a good 10km - I know that because it used to be a 20km round trip to pick up a bottle of wine at the end of the day. (Thank you Cellarbrations for starting up a great delivery service!)

Imagine if you lived in Melbourne and someone hit a power pole in say, St Kilda and power all the way to Black Rock went out, closing all the businesses along the way. People would be up in arms.

And it happens all the time here. I asked a few friends who live around Melbourne how often their power went out and they looked at me like I was starting a joke. When we had that massive storm in 2021 and they lost power for about four days in Trentham, all the media reports were focused on power being lost in the Dandenongs. While all the Trenthamians, is that what they are, got on with life, those nearer Melbourne were outraged. We are just used to it.

I know Powercor will sometimes reimburse people for lost fridge and freezer food but I reckon they would be better off giving everyone a free generator when they sign up for power. Would probably be cheaper in the long run and lead to less "neighbour envy" when you are sitting in the dark and listening to your neighbour's generator whirring away. (Yes, I am talking about you, Gary.)

Anyway, the torch is back in the cupboard, the candles have returned to the dining table and thankfully, we did not lose data so you are reading this edition of The Local in a timely manner. And we wait for the next blackout. Perhaps today - it's quite hot, next week - might be windy, or any time of the day when someone wants to drive a bit fast on a country road. I guess I could write to Powercor and see if they can make sense of it all but I have a feeling I will be left in the dark. Just sayin'... (I was wrong. Powercor got back to me. Read their reply at www.tlnews.com.au)

Ageing DisGracefully members, including Max Primmer, get together at the Daylesford Mill Markets cafe on Thursdays at 11am. All welcome. For information email ageingdis3461@gmail. com, call 0427 131 249 or head to the Ageing DisGracefully Facebook page.

Ageing DisGracefully is an initiative of Hepburn House.

Here is the crossword solution for Edition 272. How did you go? All words in the crossword appear somewhere in the same edition of The Local.

Connecting the Community

SOCIAL MEDIA AND CONTENT MARKETING WORKSHOP

This FREE Business Victoria face-toface workshop is designed to give small businesses guidance on how to prioritise their digital and social media marketing, learn actionable tips and strategies to enhance their online presence.

When: 27 February 9am -12pm

Where: Victoria Park Pavilion, Daylesford Book: www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/events

Happy Valentine's Day!

Daylesford Motorfest is taking place at Victoria Park in Daylesford on 18 and 19 February.

• There will be no access to Victoria Park for the general public unless they are attending the event. Access to the caravan park will of course be permitted.

• There will be an increase in traffic around Victoria Park on 19 February with traffic management in place. Further event information can be found at https://daylesfordmotorfest.com

Advertising in The Local

Casual prices

(Save

Quarter page/banner - $180+gst

Half page - $365+gst

Full page - $730+gst

Trade pages - $40+gst (includes free online business directory listing)

DAYLESFORD AND DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY INC

Annual General Meeting

Daylesford Senior Citizens Room at 7.30pm Thursday 23 February 2023

All Welcome

• Election of 2023 committee

• Invitation to join a new Show sub-committee

• A Light supper will be served

The Show depends on your support. Please consider becoming members.

RSVP/Enquiries: info@daylesfordshow.com

Time for a change?

Want to sell your property, or buy something else?

The next edition of House.Land.Home Premium will be published in the February 27 edition of The Local - in time for the Labour Day long weekend.

Contact Kyle on 0416 104 283 or kyle@tlnews.com.au