The Local October 5, 2020, Issue 200

October 5, 2020 The Heart of the Highlands

200

th

ISSUE

* e e r F s It’ *Conditions apply

www.tlnews.com.au

Celebrations 3

The Local celebrates its 200th edition!

O

NE thing the pandemic has done is bring us to Edition 200 much quicker than we had planned.

One day we were going along quite nicely, bringing out a fortnightly edition of The Local and enjoying life. The next we were weekly because we believed our Central Highlands communities needed good news and local news. That was back on March 23, our first weekly edition.

And here we are, on October 5, celebrating our 200th edition. If there had been no COVID-19, and none of us knew what social distancing was, or the best material for a mask, or that washing your hands for 20 seconds was the optimum to kill off a potentially deadly virus, we would have had to have waited until April 4, 2021 for this momentous occasion. (Of course, as proud as I am of what we have achieved with The Local, I would rather the latter.)

Anyway, you can only control so much, so this edition is about The Local and its wonderful crew and a thanks to the communities of our region for supporting it over the past seven years. It has been a hell of a ride, a lot of fun and we have created some great networks and connected communities.

I guess, as a journalist/editor, I am especially proud that The Local, while many other papers are closing, has managed to stay afloat and keep bringing out local news and good news. And that is down to a fantastic bunch of people, our crew, who have all joined us somewhere along the way, and been by our sides ever since.

At the height of the pandemic, and I know we are still finding our way through, we called everyone and broke the news that we couldn't afford them. We would have to go it alone. "Stuff that," they said. "We will keep working for you anyway." Plenty of tears that night in gratitude for people who love The Local as much as we do. (Oh, we promised a kick-arse party one day soon.) There's also a big thanks due to our amazing advertisers. If they could, they stayed with us; if they couldn't they were up front and said they would be back. We know that, and love that!

Now, when we hit these milestones, you know, 100th, 150th...I like to drag out the story about how The Local got started. If you have already read that somewhere, skip the rest of this and go straight to the pages to read about our crew. Probably more interesting!

Anyway, it was 2013 and I was doing a bit of freelancing from home and Kyle was working part-time as a photographer with The Advocate. We were broke (a long story there - ill family member, paying rent in Queensland while living in Frankston while paying a mortgage in Glenlyon...) and pretty over it. Then someone said to Kyle: "You and Donna should start your own paper." So we did.

We trailed around Daylesford with a crappy A4 mock-up and asked businesses if they would like to advertise in the space that said "your advert goes here" and some said they would.

So we wrote a few stories and took a few photos and put them together, got graphic design advice from Glen (godfather) Heyne and, using $200 from a photography job that Kyle had on the side, we printed 500 20-page papers at Kyneton Copy. Somehow, it was a hit. We went from monthly to fortnightly immediately, Lindsay Smith and Nick Bunning joined the team, and we were away.

We now cover the Central Highlands, have award-winning crew members with us, and a distribution of about 13,000 in print and online. Oh, we have just launched a new interactive website - www.tlnews.com.au - where people can upload sports results, news snippets, gigs, and pretty much anything else, including adverts. That's a whole new world and next up is our podcast.

I have worked on local papers - daily, weekly and in between - for 35 years, but I have never enjoyed a job so much. I can't even say I go to work. I get to do what I have loved about journalism from day one. Sharing stories, connecting communities and working with a great group of people who love it as much as I do. Blessed!

Enjoy the edition! Roll on the next 200... Donna

C

ongratulations to The Local on your 200th edition - what an achievement!

Small businesses like The Local are the backbone of regional communities.

Not only do they employ staff and provide services, but the value-add to their local communities is immense.

No-one understands and knows news like those living and working in the region and independent newspapers like The Local are invaluable.

There are more than 67,000 small businesses in the Western Victoria region that provide a $12 billion plus boost to the electorate.

Supporting small businesses to thrive is a key focus of the Victorian Government, especially at this time when many are finding it difficult to bounce back after the impact of coronavirus.

- Jaala Pulford MP - Minister for Employment, Small Business, Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy

4 About Us

www.tlnews.com.au The Local is a weekly community publication covering the Central Highlands. The next edition is out on Monday, October 12, 2020.

Or online on Sunday, October 11 at www.tlnews.com.au

Front page: Celebrating the 200th edition of The Local. Read all about the crew and how The Local came into being.

Image: Dianne Caithness

Space bookings: Wednesday, October 7 Copy deadline: Thursday, October 8 Editorial deadline: Thursday, October 8

October 5, 2020 The Heart of the Highlands

200

th

Managing editor | Donna Kelly General manager | Kyle Barnes

ISSUE

Sub-editors | Nick Bunning and Lindsay Smith Writers | Kevin Childs, Kate Taylor, Tony Sawrey, Jeff Glorfeld and Donna Kelly 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.

Contributors: Glen Heyne (gardening), Indre Kisonas (design), Tanya Loos (nature), Glenn Robinson (cartoons) and Matthew Richardson (money)

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

Accounts | Julie Hanson Delivery | Tony Sawrey

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.

Local Lines Zoom a zoom zoom

In this lockdown we’ve had a boom In online meetings held on Zoom All from the comfort of your room Avoiding boredom We’re trying to find within the gloom A friendly forum When using Zoom it must be stressed That when it works you feel quite blessed However, and I think you’ve guessed You need a structure Not friends who are too self-obsessed Like an instructor Some people hide like mice when bidden And want to keep themselves quite hidden As if they’ve just been roundly chidden With such a fright They feel they’re facing Armageddon If seen in light While others simply cannot listen And holding forth they think they glisten And speak as if they’re on a mission Their audience trapped And wishin’ for that missin’ frisson You leave the meeting feeling sapped Yet others really are tone deaf And really have no need for breath And turn the time into their theft Of conversation And gobsmackingly are quite deft At information

5348 7883 or 0416 104 283 | news@tlnews.com.au or sales@tlnews.com.au

Some people speak in anecdote Liberally use another’s quote And fail to get across the moat Of having a point And with this dross they often gloat And disappoint Some talkers never ask a question Their needs just give you indigestion They talk so much they cause congestion Shutting down debate Impervious to all suggestion To moderate Some people are just so strung out They tell you off and call you out Or leave their seat and move about To wash the dishes Which makes you want to scream and shout Against your wishes For many, when it’s said and done It’s watching telly, having fun Good manners they feel they can shun They’re in their home Who cares if everyone they stun Using their phone When others make their own confession Revealing a lockdown obsession The smug exude their self-possession And signal virtue Tell you with composed expression How they pull through

- Tom Perfect

See all our e-editions at www.tlnews.com.au

Tom Perfect lives in Glenlyon with his wife Judy, and loves living in this warm and vibrant community that continually strives to welcome and unite people.

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

Legends 5

TerryWhite Chemmart - Legends of Lockdown

T

ERRYWhite Chemmart in Daylesford is the latest nomination for The Local's Legends of Lockdown.

"The work they do is so widely appreciated across Daylesford and the region, especially in these difficult COVID times where their normal excellent service has been honed to go well 'above and beyond' to support the variety of needs of many in the community including the vulnerable.

"All the Daylesford pharmacy staff are unfailingly kind, helpful, polite and good humoured. They are highly professional in their advice, responsive to whatever request is made, flexible in their approach, mindful of keeping us safe and, importantly, proactive in making helpful suggestions to people in need.

"Don't know where we'd be without them and it would be a joy to see them given this public thanks and recognition.

"The community's appreciation is evident in recent comments made on the Daylesford Community Grapevine - 114 Likes and 30 comments in a few days!"

Meanwhile, Legends of Lockdown nominations have officially ended, as the regions slowly come out of lockdown. But we will still be featuring a few more, as we get through all the nominations sent over the past months.

And, if you really think we should be recognising someone, or an organisation, that has gone above and beyond, email anyway. This pandemic has shown, if nothing else, we all need to be flexible.

Email: donna@tlnews.com.au

The Companion Group Going far?Go further!

We support you!

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The Hepburn Shire is a jewel in the crown of the Central Highlands. In these strange and difficult times we have so much to be thankful for.

I wish to move forward after COVID with kindness and plans to care for our community, our businesses and our environment

The Companion Group are now based in Hepburn Shire.

Individual support, support coordination, assistance with health, wellbeing and exercise, help around the home and everything in-between. Customised care, specific to your needs.

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Personalised Disability, Aged Care & Mental Health Services Assistance with daily living In-home & out of home support Personal Care / Transport House Cleaning & Safety Service Contact Paul or Samantha to inquire M: 0448 802 226 P: 03 5377 3665 or email info@thecompaniongroup.org For more information visit thecompaniongroup.org

A registered service provider under the National Disability Insurance Agency and Victorian Department of Health and Human Services.

Vote 1 Anne E Stewart Candidate for Birch Ward | Hepburn Shire Council A strong voice for Community and Country after COVID If you have any enquiries, I'd love to hear from you.

Email anneestewart7@gmail.com or call 0408 550 945

We’re extending the JobKeeper Payment until 28 March 2021.

The Australian Government is extending the temporary JobKeeper Payment to the end of March 2021. From 28 September, businesses must meet the turnover test and submit their declarations by the 14th of each month.

There will be two new payment rates – one for those who work more than 20 hours per week in the relevant period, and another for those who work less. The employee eligibility date has also changed to 1 July, meaning some businesses could claim for more staff.

It’s part of our plan to keep business in business, and Australians in jobs.

28 Mar 2021

JobKeeper Payment

Visit Australia.gov.au Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra

www.tlnews.com.au

The Local crew 7

Nick and Lindsay, keeping the typos at bay

B

OTH Melbourne born and bred, in 2007 we decided, like numerous other city slickers before and since, to opt for a tree-change. We moved to Daylesford in early 2008, and met and became friends with Kyle and Donna the same year, through our involvement with the Daylesford Regional Visitor Information Centre.

In the early days, we would read through the proofs and then all meet up to review our suggested changes, which Donna would take back to the office and implement. But after a while we found it was more time-effective and accurate to do it all over the phone, us at home with the proofs in front of us, and Donna in TL HQ, making the changes then and there. This arrangement has stood us in good stead for 2020’s lockdown - with so many people now working from home.

We have developed an unofficial Local style manual over the years, too. British English spelling, not American English. Verandah, not veranda. Barbeque, not barbecue. Enquiry if it’s casual, inquiry if it’s official. That sort of stuff. We always joke with Donna that eventually, one of us will actually write all these “rules” down, instead of keeping them all in our heads…one day.

In early 2017, we decided to move to Ballarat. One of the first things Donna said when we told her was, “do you think you will you still be able to proof The Local?”

Yes, we assured her. We enjoy it, and want to keep our fingers on the pulse of what’s happening in the Central Highlands. After all, we’re not leaving the area. We’ll just be down the road a little. And there’s a printer only a couple of blocks from our new home who’ll be able to run off the proofs for us.

So we’ve continued, without a hiccup. Every so often, we’re even allowed a holiday!

Well done Kyle and Donna, on the last seven years and an incredible 200 issues.

We’re so proud to be part of Team Local. Here’s to the next 200!

At some point in 2013, they mentioned to us their plan to start up a monthly independent news magazine – stories by and about local people, for residents and visitors to the Central Highlands. Sounds promising, we thought. Hope it goes well for them…

Then one day, Kyle appeared in front of us at the information centre counter and said, “Guys, would you mind taking a quick squiz through the proofs of our first issue and seeing if you spot any errors? Donna wants to feel sure Issue 1 is really schmick before we go to press”. Sure, we said. After all, an extra pair (or two) of eyes will always spot something that needs tweaking.

So here we are, some seven years and an incredible 200 issues later, still “taking a quick squiz” and ferreting out typoes. Sorry, that should be typo’s. Bugger it, I mean typos! We never rashly claim to achieve 100 per cent perfection, but always aim to ensure each issue is as “clean” as we can possibly get it.

Due to the enthusiastic response to Issue 1, the monthly publication was immediately upped to fortnightly (and more recently, weekly, to help keep people in touch during the pandemic). The A4 format was also quickly changed to tabloid size – there were just so many stories to cover.

It never ceases to amaze us that virtually everyone in the Central Highlands has an Words: Nick Bunning & Lindsay Smith | Image: Contributed interesting story to tell, about their past or current life and experiences. Donna and her intrepid band of journos do an amazing job of scratching below the surface to uncover and relate these fascinating yarns. And we also really love reading the stories about historical happenings in our area, from the distant and not so distant past – some well-known, others which had virtually been forgotten over time.

ANY SYMPTOMS GET TESTED It’s important to get tested for coronavirus at the first sign of any symptom and stay home until you get your result. Getting tested means you keep yourself, your friends, family, workplace and your community safe.

It’s not over yet.

Find out where to get tested visit vic.gov.au/CORONAVIRUS Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

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Why John Cottrell is a candidate

My vision for Hepburn

As your Ward Councillor over the past four years much has been achieved - but the hard work is not finished.

With a new CEO in mid-2018 great steps forward have been made in the efficient delivery of services and in the financial sustainability of the Shire.

A healthy, safe and vibrant municipality meeting the needs of the diversity of its people and communities, and where large and small-scale farmers work the rich agricultural land in harmony with the delicate biodiversity; where a prosperous business sector servicing locals and visitors provides opportunities for our youth; and where our fragile and disadvantaged are cared for.

My ongoing commitment I have remained true to my 2016 commitments to you: - to improve governance within council; to be the voice and strong advocate for the communities of Holcombe Ward; and to be an active participant in decisionmaking at Council. This is an ongoing task.

On Governance - my focus has been the ‘actions’ & ‘relationships’ of and between Council and the CEO/ Executive – rather than procedural governance (in abundance in government). This stance is openly stated in the Governing Policy Framework I introduced into council covering Core Values, Culture & Behaviour, Community Engagement and Risk Management – see www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/governing-policies

My attributes A career background of leadership in corporations, boards, governance, and organisation administration and university training and teaching have entrenched the attributes of acting with integrity, accountability, and impartiality. In my roles of Councillor, Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Member Audit & Risk and Chair Disability Advisory committees, and delegate to the peak body (MAV) I have been able to successfully adapt these attributes in representing you in Council.

Key issues for 2021

On Voice & Advocacy - Holcombe Ward’s small number of sparsely populated communities each have a voice that needs to be represented on Council. Important is the voice of the silent majority on broad issues – as well as the oftentimes single issues of a loud minority.

Localised groups are critical and have come together in Drummond and Coomoora to supplement existing larger groups such as the GPA and YCF. Outcomes from these communities direct my advocacy.

The primary focus of our new council will be, hopefully, in a post-Covid19 environment working to assist the community reset and rebuild a ‘new’ normal life. In addition, the new ‘principles based’ Local Government Act will dominate much Council time in early 2021 through development of the high-level policies supporting these principles – each critical to the governing of council and its financial management.

On Decision making – Council’s obligation is to the whole municipality. Effective decision-making depends heavily on information and its understanding. To improve decision making, I have successfully promoted increased councillor input through the inclusion of two additional days each month covering strategic thinking, and planning concepts and practice.

The Planning Scheme commenced in 2018 will be an ongoing project as council works through the key aspects including agricultural land and township character overlays. I am proud to have been a primary promoter in bringing the Scheme review forward together with the complementary planning concepts and practice councillor workdays.

Your support The effective functioning of Council, and its interaction with the CEO/Executive and the community, is critical to ensure the organisation achieves its full potential.

I seek your support to return as your councillor - and continue to proactively support this outcome.

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Join me in Town Hall meetings on Zoom 6pm Wednesday 7th October 6pm Wednesday 14th October

JOHN COTTRELL continuing to work for you in

Holcombe Ward

To register email me at holcombe016@gmail.com

Drummond | Denver | Glenlyon | Porcupine Ridge | Coomoora | Franklinford | Yandoit | Clydesdale

Authorised by John Cottrell PO Box 1045, Daylesford

10 The Local crew

www.tlnews.com.au

Design with The Local Keeping us to account

L

OCAL being the operative word.

It goes with other words such as care, support, friendship, interest, meaningful, current, conscientious, convenient and beneficial.

Today congratulations is added to this list as the perfect word to celebrate The Local’s achievement of reaching its 200th edition.

I don’t have an interesting story to retell about why or how I got involved in contributing my wisdom pearls through The Local. I got recommended by a very dear friend. Donna and Kyle thought it a good idea. End of story.

I love being able to share my interest and expertise but if it wasn’t for The Local, it just wouldn’t be the same.

You see, it was coming up to Christmas and Donna and Kyle invited us contributors around to share some food, wine and stories. The day under the big oak tree was perfect, the company friendly, warm and inclusive and it was then that I decided that being a part of this family-style group was heartfelt and meaningful. This same energy I feel, comes through in the paper. I believe this is one of the reasons The Local is such an interesting and popular local gig.

Congratulations to all those responsible in making 200 editions, in good times and bad, through sickness and in health. May it all continue.

Words: Indre Kisonas

I

HAD left my full-time job in July 2015 and started my own business. I looked at the first invoice I sent to The Local, it was in November 2015.

I remember sitting in a café in Trentham having a coffee and I picked up The Local to read; the stories were full of local events and I noticed that they offered advertising for businesses. I rang asking to put an ad in and the rest, as they say, is history.

I was asked to come on board by Kyle and Donna, doing accounts work, chasing up debtors and deliveries. At one stage I also walked the streets offering advertising space in The Local, but as others before me and after me know, it is hard work.

Phillip and I enjoy Donna and Kyle’s wit, we just get them. They are very professional in their business and warm and caring with their stories. We enjoy their and the rest of the team’s company very much. Once crazy COVID is over, we hope to catch up with the full team.

Congratulations on producing this 200th edition and hopefully there will be more to come.

Words: Julie Hanson

www.tlnews.com.au

The Local crew 11

When telling your story is such a joy

I

T MAY be something as superficially simple as the renaming of a creek.

Or as sad as the wanton shooting of a pet pig near Wombat State Forest.

Perhaps it’s a yarn about a group of blokes who, in normal times, gather regularly at an old mate’s fairly remote and pretty basic home to swap yarns and offer cheer. Or it may be the dilemma of planning in a town where many fear development will mean a loss of precious character.

These are the sorts of stories, reported for The Local, which resonate. After working on a dozen or so newspapers in three countries, digging out yarns around the Central Highlands is a refreshing contrast. Where else can you spend hours at a magnificently eccentric Gold Rush village, authentically reproduced in the back blocks, right down to a bordello?

Or revel in the story of a sculptor and the 25 goats he and his French teacher partner milk each day, while running a foundation called the Goat Path (wrongly misheard because of accent difficulties and so unfortunately misreported as the Good Path).

Talking of sculptures, the American who raised his towering concrete and steel work with a 100-tonne crane to join scores of others at a private sculpture park at Porcupine Ridge stands out.

As does a Spring Hill horse trainer, whose ability to serenely have a handsome animal play dead and rear majestically provided a sense of awe.

It’s often been remarked that in a world of much media melancholy, the more positive approach of the 200-edition Local refreshes and stimulates.

A striking description of this role was offered by one expert: “The newspaper ties a region together, helps it make sense of itself, fosters a sense of community, serves as a village square whose boundaries transcend Facebook’s filter bubble.”

This summary, by Margaret Sullivan, media columnist for the Washington Post, encapsulates the ideal for papers great or tiny.

She writes this when across Australia, and much of the world, the sad sound of newspaper presses coming to a permanent halt as yet another voice of a community is shut down echoes a loss of scrutiny of local councils, courts, sporting bodies, indeed the lot. Studies find that the very act of taking part in the life of a community is eroded when a newspaper closes.

The Central Highlands is lucky that when the 160-year-old Advocate was shut by its remote owners, The Local had already taken on the challenge of providing an alternative to a profit-driven outfit. Having closed the Advocate, those owners went on to dispose of the press that printed the Ballarat Courier, and with it people skilled in their craft, with little likelihood of future work.

In other towns, local businesses have stepped up to reopen papers closed by similar chains. Canberra gave taxpayers’ dollars to help media organisations stay afloat, most of it to TV stations. Local papers got a pittance.

The slow, steady emergence from the COVID shutdown is already bringing more visitors here, and with them eventually comes the need to advertise the remarkable range of cafes and restaurants, shops and services. And so the lifeblood begins to flow.

There is no talk of a “new normal” for the news business because it has no need to switch from questioning, informing and entertaining. In spite of what may be called anti-social media, what you hold in your hands is invaluable.

And now an admission: when I was asked to write for this 200th edition, the suggestion was that I tell my story. I could recount meeting Donna and Kyle by arrangement in the Farmers Arms on a warm day when a cold beer was perfect. And following that with debriefings, and the occasional celebration, in the Radio Springs Hotel, but that might give a over-coloured picture of a task that can sometimes be hard yakka.

VOTE 1 E: holcombe016@gmail.com M: 0418 322 578

When you consider the risk those two were taking starting a paper with $600 in the bank and not drawing a wage for a couple of years, you get an inkling of how much they are owed by this community.

Talking of community, what makes my role such a pleasure is the seemingly endless parade of fascinating people, artists, writers, jewellery makers, enlightened primary producers, winemakers, crusaders, cranks and expatriates from an astonishing range of countries who call the Central Highlands home. They join families that stretch back generations to make a network now as diverse as it is deep-seated.

They’re all in our village square and we’re lucky to be here to tell their stories.

Words: Kevin Childs | Image: Kyle Barnes

JOHN COTTRELL

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continuing to work for you in

Holcombe Ward

Drummond | Denver | Glenlyon | Porcupine Ridge | Coomoora | Franklinford | Yandoit | Clydesdale Authorised by John Cottrell PO Box 1045, Daylesford

Community News Rates Payment Extension

Phases For Easing Restrictions Hepburn Shire Council is working with the community, local businesses and visitors to support a COVID-safe reopening as part of our pandemic response for our region. Council’s role is to ensure the safety of our community while ensuring businesses have the support they need to operate under Victorian Government rules.

With metropolitan Melbourne expected to soon open, Council is liaising with the local community and businesses to allow for the safe return of visitors to main streets across the Shire.

As a result, Council has prepared several different scenarios to facilitate the safe movement of pedestrians in order to ensure physical distancing can be maintained, while allowing for more outside dining to support our businesses.

To see the phases and concepts, visit: www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/ phases-easing-restrictions/.

If you have questions please email shire@hepburn.vic.gov.au.

Tip Voucher Extension

We recognise that COVID-19 is causing financial hardship for many members of our community. For this reason, we have extended the due date of the 1st Instalment of rates from 30 September to 30 November 2020 for all ratepayers.

If you are having difficulties in paying your rates on time, you can call our Rates Department to discuss making alternative arrangements on (03) 5348 2306. You can also submit an online Rates Hardship Form available on our website - www.hepburn.vic. gov.au/rates-hardship-form/. The hardship assistance application is available to all ratepayers, not just residential ratepayers.

Election Caretaker Period Tuesday 22 September to Saturday 24 October, 6pm From Tuesday, 22 September, Council must comply with special arrangements for Caretaker Period relating to Local Government elections.

A caretaker period: • ensures that council actions don’t interfere with the election process, and the election process is conducted in an ethical, fair and equitable way.

• safeguards the authority of the incoming council.

Got a few Tip Vouchers left? Worried you won’t get to use them before they expire on 30 September because you have been staying at home or self-isolating during COVID-19? To help residents out Council is extending the expiry date of the 2019/20 fin fi nancial year Tip Vouchers to 31 December 2020.

Please note: if you still need to pick up Vouchers for the 2019/20 fin fi nancial year, you can still also do this.

For more information on kerbside collections visit www.hepburn. vic.gov.au/kerbside-collection-service/.

Commercial Landlord Hardship Fund Applications are now open for Commercial Landlord Hardship Fund grants - supporting small, private landlords who may not have the capacity to provide rent reductions to their tenants under the requirements of the Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme. Eligible landlords can receive up to $3,000 per tenancy.

More information and to apply: https://go.vic.gov.au/onD9ak.

COVID Testing If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, no matter how minor, you should be tested.

And it’s easy - contact Daylesford Hospital Respiratory Clinic: Address: 13 Hospital Street Daylesford Phone: 5321 6654.

If you are not in the Shire, call the COVID Hotline on 1800 675 398 or check online at www.dhhs.vic. gov.au.

During the election period: • councils are prohibited from making certain types of decisions • material produced by councils must not contain matter that will affect voting at the election.

For more infomation on the Council elections, visit www.hepburn. vic.gov.au/2020-general-elections-hepburn-shire-council/.

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

Voting closes Oct 23

L

OCAL council elections will be held in Victoria by post with voting closing at 6pm on Friday, October 23.

Hepburn Shire Council candidates, in ballot paper order, are: Birch Ward (2 vacancies) - Fiona Robson, Celia Waldron, Lesley Hewitt, Jen Bray, Gary Carter and Anne E Stewart, Cameron Ward (1 vacancy) - Tessa Halliday, Dorothy Russell and Nicholas Ayres-Wearne, Coliban Ward (1 vacancy) - Brian Hood, Licia Kokocinski and Ethan Brown, Creswick Ward (2 vacancies) - Tim Drylie, Don Henderson and Stuart Jonas, Holcombe Ward (1 vacancy) - John Cottrell, Daniel McMillan, Bill McClenaghan and Juliet Simpson.

Macedon Ranges Shire Council candidates are: East Ward (3 vacancies) - Deborah Alford-Kerr, Geoff Neil, Bill West, Annette Death, Henry Bleeck and Natasha Gayfer, South Ward (3 vacancies) - Rob Guthrie, J. S. Amenta, Dominic Bonanno, Anne Moore, Adrian Gauci, Graham Hackett and Christine Walker, West Ward (3 vacancies) - Mark Ridgeway, Hayden Walsh, Jennifer Anderson, Janet Pearce, Wes Turner, Brian Wilson, Diana Abruzzi and Lenka Thompson.

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VOTE

Juliet Simpson

1

for Holcombe Ward

HEPBURN SHIRE COUNCIL

Working for our Community If you need help then don’t hesitate to contact me:-

T: 0411 086 770 E: juliet_smpsn@yahoo.com.au

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Everyone in our community deserves to live where they belong

Like every community, Hepburn Shire will need to deal with the social and economic impact of the pandemic. For some in our region, having a safe home they can afford will be uncertain. I support the development of a Social Housing Policy which clearly outlines what social housing means for us, how it will meet current and future needs, who can help us make it work and what the Council’s role should be. We can be grateful an advocacy group has started this important work.

VOTE 1: LICIA KOKOCINSKI I hope you will support me to continue representing the Coliban Ward at the Hepburn Shire Council elections.

I welcome speaking with you about what matters to you about living in Coliban Ward and our Shire. You can reach me on 0488 575 855, liciak254@gmail.com or on facebook @LiciaforColibanWard where I post regular updates.

Authorised by Licia Kokocinski, 8 Wallaby Jack Rd, Trentham VIC 3458

Authorised by Juliet Simpson, 101 Porcupine Ridge Road, Porcupine Ridge 3461.

Hepburn Shire Election October 2020 - Coliban Ward

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Lesley Hewitt Advertisement

…your voice in Coliban ward for a resilient, thriving community and a great place to live and work.

Vote 1 BRIAN HOOD

3

Acting with integrity.

3

Working hard and advocating for all sectors of our diverse community.

3 3

Listening to people and treating them with respect.

3

For a fairer share of council resources and better value from your rates – better roads, paths, drainage, parks, walking trails, child care, community centre, streetscape works and sports facilities.

Making sensible, sustainable & evidence-based decisions after engaging in genuine consultation with the community.

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16 The Local crew

www.tlnews.com.au

Blizzards, ferret bites, all in a day's work

I

t’s not very often you’ll see an ad saying “Photographer Wanted” but back in May 2015 while reading The Local one magically appeared before my eyes.

As I was between major international advertising campaigns and glamorous fashion assignments I thought why the hell not, so sent an email to Kyle. Within minutes the phone rang, we negotiated a rate of about a slab of beer per job and I’m off on my first gig photographing a couple who had made the tree change from Melbourne.

The next thing I know I’m in the back of a ute in the Daffodil Day parade, below.

Over the past five years there have been many interesting and fun jobs. I’ve lost blood to a ferret, been caught in blizzards, stung by bees, worked with wonderful people and taken some shots I’m really proud of.

Congratulations to Donna and Kyle for 200 editions, surely there will be many more and I look forward to being involved in them.

Words: David White

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18 The Local crew

www.tlnews.com.au

Kate rocking the look with her awards

I

T ALL started with a pile of rocks that ended in an award.

Well, kind of. A few years ago, my husband decided we should go for a drive around Hepburn looking at the old-school drystone walls. I had to try and turn it into something that would interest me – a story. It turned out that they’re actually pretty interesting, as well as being a popular geo-tourism attraction.

I’d already met Donna and Kyle at a lunch at the Moorabool News and along with that paper’s editor Helen Tatchell, we had a couple of drinks and a right laugh.

Happy days. Now? Time for me to pitch a story to them.

Essentially a pile of rocks, drystone walls were a tricky topic for Kyle to get a photo of to go with the story. So he got chatting to a local, which is how so many of our stories start out. He ended up turning it into his own story on the kind of mystic influence of Mt Franklin in the area and, just like that, we were two stories in to a five-story series that won the Feature Series of the Year category at the Rural Press Club Awards. From my nervous first pitch of a story on piles of rocks, I now get to put ‘award-winning journalist’ in my pitches.

I love the people stories, though. They’re my favourite to write. I loved interviewing Tonia Todman, because she’s an incredible woman. Actually, I got to interview 16 women as part of my ‘Inspiring Women’ series that I wrote after Donna and Kyle put in for a grant from the Judith Neilson Institute. I got to speak with Claire, from The Boathouse Restaurant, and she’s in my top-five list of people ever that I’ve admired. She’s awesome. And Millie, the beautiful artist and hell of a woman who I’m determined to have a wine and a laugh with as soon as the pandemic is over.

Also, I got to speak to Nicole Chvastek, on ABC Radio’s state-wide Drive program. I find myself turning into a bit of a bumbling groupie whenever I chat to her because she’s eye-wateringly smart. But if I’m ever going to be intimidated, it might as well be by Nicole. Twice we’ve chatted on-air – first about the award and then about the ‘Inspiring Women’ series – about the people stories that I love writing.

There was another award, too, which is very close to my heart – and even more so recently. The Rotary Club of Daylesford gave me the Employee of the Year Award a couple of years back and I was so excited. I even still remember where I was when I found out, the way people do with big world-changing events. Sadly, I was just cooking scrambled eggs with Carrie Bickmore on the telly in the background when they called to tell me. I was so excited.

And then. Oh, and then. Last month, one of my beautiful, amazing nieces sent me an email. The best email I’ve ever been sent. The body of the email read simply: “Hi Auntie Kate, We had to write about our role model at school and I chose you.”

Oh, little woman. I’m feeling the love.

She sent me her essay about how I inspire her, how she looks up to me because I’m blind and win awards. Donna had sent my sister a copy of the edition with the story of my award in it, with a pic of me on the front page. My niece put that photo in with her essay and sent it off to her teacher. It choked me up more than a bit.

I do love it when we get really nice feedback about The Local. And it feels great because sometimes it’s a bit of a challenge to fit in with deadlines, to stay up writing a story that really needs to be done and in the layout for the next day. But it’s a love, a passion. And it turns out that, in the end, every pile of rocks is worth it, for a good story.

Above, The Local journalist Kate Taylor, and on the front page of the The Local's Issue 90 with fellow Daylesford Rotary Club Business Award winner, Creswick's American Hotel owner Brendan Smith Images: Kyle Barnes

Words: Kate Taylor

The Pool Room! *Highly Commended Photography, 2019 VCPA Awards *Daylesford Rotary's 2017 Employee of the Year *Rural Press Club of Victoria 2015 Best Feature Series *Daylesford Rotary’s 2015 Business of the Year *Kyneton Daffodil Festival Parade 2015 Best Commercial Entry

“The Local is the future of regional publishing!”

- former senator, the late John Madigan, in the Australian Parliament Just sayin’... :)

Keeping calm, carrying on, at Hepburn House

V

ISITATION might be down but activities are up at Hepburn House – and everyone is keeping cool and carrying on.

Manager Dianne Jones said despite the challenges of the pandemic, everyone, residents and staff, were getting on well and finding ways to pass the time.

That includes sitting in the facility’s many beautiful garden areas, taking walks and even watching entertainment via Zoom.

“We are all coping really well. The Lifestyle Team has been fantastic and there are lots of activity sessions. The latest was a Buckingham Palace-style garden party, which was a lot of fun.

“We are also still going on drives around the town to get residents out and about, and we are sharing our love and positivity via online photos of residents doing anything from asking people to mask up, or just saying ‘hello’.”

Visitors are a little limited, with just one a day for one hour – the same as metro Melbourne - but there’s also lots of help with apps like Facetime making sure everyone keeps in touch as much as possible.

Of course, there is a serious side and strict government guidelines in place to ensure everyone is as safe as possible. Staff have been screened for things like temperature checks every day since February and the ingrained workplace culture means anyone feeling the slightest cold symptom stays home.

Training on how to safely and properly use personal protection equipment (PPE) started back in February as well “We also have a really good COVID plan and in fact, the Victorian Aged Care Response team sent me an email after they visited recently congratulating us on our preparedness.”

Ms Jones said despite the strange new world that we are living in, the facility is still very much going ahead with its planned extension featuring a 31-bed LGBTQI and friends' wing which will cater to residents with dementia and will have both a gym and theatre. It will open in 2022.

Ms Jones said while some media reports could be raising questions for those in aged care facilities, or thinking about the move, it was important to look at each facility on its own merits.

“In the whole of Hepburn Shire we have only had two cases of COVID and that was way back in May. Hepburn House really does provide a safe and friendly environment and we pride ourselves on ensuring our residents all have the best life possible. We care equally about their happiness and their health, and that they thrive while they are here.”

A government-funded aged care facility, Hepburn House offers all levels of care, from permanent to respite, in a comfortable home-style environment, and is Rainbow Tick accredited.

For more details contact Hepburn House on 5348 8100 or visit www.hepburnhouse.com.au

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20 The Local crew

www.tlnews.com.au

On becoming a local

D

ISCLAIMER: The following is an approximation of actual events, some of which may have occurred as described.

My relationship with the folks at The Local was cemented over common interests and a question of propriety.

The Local corporate offices and my home in Wheatsheaf shared the Glenlyon General Store as our closest purveyor of essential goods, and maybe even a carton of milk or loaf of bread. The store carried an exceptionally fine selection of beers and wines, along with what had to have been the best collection of gins in Central Victoria.

It also, for an establishment so heavily invested in intoxicants, kept some quite quirky opening hours. Many was the time when my wife Carol and I felt done in by our day’s endeavours and ready for a refreshment from the store - which meant drinking gin and tonics at 3 o’clock in the afternoon because the store would be closing at 4pm - sharp - and is drinking elegant cocktails a morally, ethically or politically correct thing to be doing on a Thursday or Saturday or Tuesday afternoon?

Answer: well of course it is. Furthermore, many was the time when we’d be joined in our libations by a lovely couple, Kyle and Donna, who most likely had just completed another edition of their delightful, relatively new publication The Local and were rewarding themselves with a well-deserved nerve settler - lager beer for Kyle and chardonnay for Donna.

I felt a special affinity for Donna and Kyle’s efforts as independent journalists, as a 20-year employee of The Age newspaper. I’d joined The Age during the final decades of its run as one of the world’s great newspapers, fuelled by its “rivers of gold” classified advertising.

Gradually the rivers ran dry and The Age began settling into decrepitude. It was obvious that mainstream media was being strangled by the internet but what was also clear was that as the big-city papers withdrew, opportunities emerged for small local publishers to fill the needs of their communities. I saw what Donna and Kyle were doing with The Local and knew they were onto a good idea and I wanted to be a part of it.

The first few stories I wrote for them were vanity pieces. I wrote something about cutting myself shaving, which they used because it allowed Kyle to create a silly picture of me looking like Norman Gunston, my face dotted with scraps of bloody tissue. I also wrote an opinion piece about the roadkill carnage I saw each day on my commute between Wheatsheaf and Kyneton to catch the Melbourne train, and about how I wished drivers would slow down and have some care for the animals.

After I retired from The Age I started to write some more locally involved stories for The Local. Among my favourites was a series on some of the region’s excellent food producers.

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Of special significance to me was spending a few hours in 2017 with the late former shire mayor Rod May in his home, talking about organic farming and his family’s long and colourful history on the land.

For my first dozen or so years living in Wheatsheaf I commuted to Melbourne five days a week. I left home in the dark and came back in the dark. I used to say that someone could paint my house purple with orange stripes (or solid black) on Monday and I wouldn’t know it until Saturday. I also had a running joke with Donna. She would ask if I knew so-and-so and I would say no and she would say of course you don’t. Well, one of the best things about working for The Local was it gave me the opportunity to get to know some of the incredible people who are your friends and neighbours, and for that I am eternally grateful.

Words: Jeff Glorfeld | Image: Kyle Barnes

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The Local 200 issues old?

I can scarcely believe it is a little over seven years since my friends Donna and Kyle came to tell me of their plans to publish a monthly community newspaper, let alone that the next edition of The Local would be Issue No. 200.

I was delighted, as a then director of the local community bank, to be able to organise a financial boost through sponsorship, and then help with designing logos and the early front pages etc.

What really gives me the most joy is once again being able to indulge in my two great passions - writing and photography, specifically about gardening and the environment.

For more than 50 years I had steadily built a warehouse of horticulture knowledge through writing regular articles for both Adelaide and Melbourne newspapers, sundry magazines and several gardening books. That all suddenly came to a grinding halt with my retirement, leaving my creative juices in limbo. But that was before The Local.

I draw great pleasure and satisfaction in, with Donna, Kyle and our band of likeminded, talented contributors, being able to buck the trend and not only survive, but thrive, and continue to be the true voice for this wonderful community we call home.

Time for a feed This year has all the hallmarks of a great Spring/early Summer for growth in our gardens. The early rains and promise of a visit from La Nina would indicate a great amount of steady root growth for newly planted and existing trees and shrubs, or seedlings. This is also sign for us to provide the necessary nourishment to sustain all that new growth.

Azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons are all in full bloom during this month and as they finish flowering they will begin to throw out new growth, so now is an important time for a good feed. Because they are all surface-rooted plants they will suffer more than most from the leaching effects of Winter rains.

They also suffer badly when the soil is alkaline and/or clay which locks up the much-needed nutrients. Because of this it would be advisable to give each plant a dressing of iron chelates or sulphate of iron and feed them with a complete manure or special camellia food. Although a good thick layer of mulch will help keep the soil moist and protect the roots from Summer heat, leave putting on the mulch to allow the rains to soak in. When the flowers are finished, give each plant a light pruning to remove any spindly or dead wood.

Hydrangeas will be entering a critical stage in their growing year as the hot weather approaches. They are extremely prone to suffering from hot sunlight and no matter how much water they receive, they will droop and wilt without some protection.

It is important that they are never allowed to dry out once the flower buds begin to form. If they are left to dry for any length of time from now until Summer their flowers may be lost for the season.

To be on the safe side, cover the soil around each plant with a good thick layer of organic mulching material and water them regularly.

A blue hydrangea is a desirable, but not necessarily natural thing. It’s all in the soil. It all relies on the acidity (pH) of the soil - acid blue, alkaline - natural colours.

Hydrangea colours range from white, through various shades of pink to red. The stronger the original hue, the deeper the blue/purple. So, in essence, a natural white flower will turn to bright blue, and shades of pink can be encouraged to be mauve or cyclamen, dependant on the amount of acidity in the soil.

You can purchase simple pH test kits and special fertilisers from your local garden stockist.

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26 Opinion

www.tlnews.com.au

Just sayin’...

Pick me, pick me

By Donna Kelly

B

EING the 200th edition I thought I would try to remember how our crew came along. A trip down memory lane, if you will, in no particular order. (It's a bit long so if you get bored feel free to wander off...maybe check out our new website at www.tlnews.com.au)

Glen Heyne, our now gardening, man about the house, writer was on the board of the Daylesford Community Bank and Kyle chatted to him about us starting The Local. Glen, a very community-minded person, was keen and got us our first corporate advert. He also gave us a lot of graphic design help.

Nick Bunning and Lindsay Smith knew Kyle from the info centre at Daylesford.

They are amazing proofreaders and read our first edition for us back in September 2013. Then they just kept reading. I think it was about a year before we thought it might be nice to actually pay them something.

Dianne Caithness emailed out of the blue asking if we had any graphic design work available and that she just wanted the experience, not money. We said the clients would pay her, and they did, very happily for her amazing talent.

Kate Taylor was writing for the Moorabool News and we were invited to their Christmas party in Ballan and met her. We clicked over wines and later hilarious emails and just love her amazing take on the world. When she had her baby Bella, she said the worse experience was the "explosive poo". Kate is blind. Think about it...

Jeff Glorfeld and his wife Carol were regulars, like us, at the Radio Springs Hotel and Glenlyon General Store, and we chatted away about his editing work at The Age. The offer to write for us now and again was quickly taken up. Even now, living in America, Jeff will still put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard.

Kevin Childs sent me an email asking if he could write for us. Hmmm, I thought.

That name seems familiar. And of course Google brought up The Age, Saturday Paper, The Guardian and myriad books. I wrote back and explained The Local was "down here" and he was "up there" but luckily for us he ignored me and joined the crew.

David White saw an ad and called us looking for work but like Kevin, we soon realised we were in the realms of genius. David's photography is amazing, he even still uses film here and there, and he is not scared of getting in and having a go. Even when a ferret latched onto his hand at Kyneton. Ouch.

Indre Kisonas started writing design columns for us after someone mentioned her name. She is a fantastic writer, with a great eye for design, but best of all she found us an affordable upholsterer who has just finished mid-century chairs and a couch for us - and they are fabulous!

Glenn Robinson came highly recommended by former RACV Royal Auto magazine cartoonist George Haddon. We found an old cartoon George had done of the geese at Lake Daylesford and asked if he would like to draw for us. He said no, but Glenn said yes. And he is pretty much the ying to Kyle's column's yang.

Julie Hanson runs her advert in The Local's classified section so when we needed an accounts person she was a given. She also keeps us in the know about golf at Trentham and her husband Phil is a dab hand at sausage sizzling, which we found out when we held a fundraiser for the Woodend CFA a couple of years back.

Tony Sawrey came to us as a writer with an eye for quirk and photography which has led to some terrific yarns. He is also the friendly face, albeit covered by a mask these days, behind the delivery of The Local and The Little Local and keeps a keen eye on distribution and our baskets, which really, are our shopfront.

Tanya Loos approached us offering her wonderful Nature's Diary column, already well read from appearing in another newspaper, but taken to the next level and given the room to breathe it needs in The Local.

Finally, Matt Richardson has been our accountant for many years. He came recommended by a Ballarat friend and we have never looked back. Throughout COVID he has been a great ally and always supportive as we ducked and weaved.

Yes, there have been a few other people in the crew who have moved on for different reasons. Danni decided camels and Alice Springs were more exciting and Paul headed to Tasmania with his expanding family.

But everyone has played a part and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our crew over the years for their support, hard work and friendship. It's been a privilege to work with you all - and connect our community.

Really finally, thanks to my late mum Betty. She was The Local's number one supporter. True, she would sometimes read the copies I posted and call to complain and that she was going to kill Kyle for something about her in his rant, but she was really very proud of what we were achieving.

Two hundred editions. It is a lot to look back over. And a huge thanks to everyone including our readers and advertisers. We certainly didn't do it alone.

Just sayin'...

Hi there, I am Claudia and I am six-months-old. I am looking for a forever home and being young, would be pretty happy in most places. There aren't many pets in the shelter at the moment, seems you humans like iso company, so you'll have to be quick and please call first. MC# 956000012144141 BR100938 Mount Alexander Animal Welfare is in Castlemaine. Call 5472 5277 to make an appointment.

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

Correction I

I

N THE last edition of The Local, in an article about the Swiss Italian Festa, it was written that former Australian Parliament speaker Anna Burke’s maternal grandmother "Nina Millman (née Rolleri, daughter of Ernest Rolleri and Kate Adami) entertained her grandchildren with tales of growing up in and around the guesthouse and vineyard".

However, Jenny Staub (nee Rolleri) has emailed to say that Nina Millman was the daughter of Ernest and Marguerite Adami, not Kate.

"Kate was the wife of our great-grandfather Guiseppe who came here from Italy in 1855, aged 19, searching for gold. I am the last living Rolleri by name and I lived my life here as did my father Ernest Roy Rolleri, brother of Nina Millman. I still live here." The mistake was made in a media release.

Correction II

I

N TRADIE Torque, Issue 198, it was reported that Will Zammit gained a Masters of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Melbourne; Will was actually an industry mentor within the degree program.

He taught himself physics and spent four years developing a new design of hydrofoil sailing boat and in 2017 he led four Masters of Mechanical Engineering students at The University of Melbourne to prove the second version of his hydrofoil, the Zammit. This enabled the students to receive their degrees.

The mistake was made by the editor. Yep, Donna.

www.tlnews.com.au

Opinion 27

Kyle’s Rant

I

HAVE never been one for settling down.

The fact I went to 13 schools in my childhood as my father chased the fish might have something to do with that, but I find myself having lived in the Central Highlands for 15 years now.

TRENTHAM PETROL & .....................................

STUFF

There have been a couple of moves but we always seem to get drawn back. It’s sort of like the song Hotel California, you know you can checkout anytime you like, but you can never leave.

So after 200 editions I have been asked by the editor to talk about my time on The Local, to reflect on giving birth to those many newborns.

Close friends, you can tune out now, you have heard the story, but for the rest of you buckle up as we take an amble down memory lane.

It all started innocently enough I suppose.

Eight years ago I was working as a photographer at The Advocate where one of my highlights was when the editor approached me to take a photo of the newlycompleted roundabout between Dean and Ballarat. I mean, that is why you have a photographer on staff, to run around and take photos of road furniture. So that was one of the moments that tipped me into the forward motion that has become The Local.

The other was my many hours doing nothing at the desk waiting for something to happen and asking head office if I was allowed to at least pen a couple of briefs (small stories), but NO was the answer. "That would be tantamount to demarcation.”

The final straw was a great photo I took running in The Advocate the size of a postage stamp up the back of the paper where they say in the trade “the elephants go to die”. This particular photo went on to win a people's choice award in an art gallery competition.

So you can see, I was not a happy chappy back in the winter of 2013. Donna and I kicked The Local off on September 2, 2013 but it is now a lot bigger than us. We have picked up a lot of talented folks along the way who have stuck by us through thick and pandemic.

Our paper has been an amazing launching pad into other media areas including our area's own real estate platform House.Land.Home. which is not only in print but will also be hosting local properties for sale within a couple of weeks on our website.

Another product that was born from The Local was our tourist offering The Little Local. So what’s next?

Well, that’s a podcast for everyone who is too busy to read the paper. Walking around wired for sound or driving a car you will be able to listen to our feature story interviews and all this by the end of October. Personally, I have grown and away from the paper I have been able to write and photograph published pieces including my latest 11-page offering in TradeABoat (pornography for boaties). Which really makes me reflect on that solid NO I was given to the question eight years ago when I asked if I could do a couple of briefs.

I guess, on reflection, The Local has been the best chapter of my life, to create something like this from nothing, having no plan, no corporate identity or branding strategy. And to gather up the people who help to make it on the way, meet the beautiful folks who support our products by way of advertising or sharing their yarns and have the privilege of living in the Central Highlands.

God I am tired – 200th reflective rant over…

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28 Crossword

www.tlnews.com.au

W RD

CROSS

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LAND CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT

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Here is the solution for last edition's crossword, Edition 199. How did you go?

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30 Out & About

www.tlnews.com.au

To market, to market Gigs

Y

OU can find everything you need at weekend markets, from fresh fruit and veg to handmade jewellery and wares, throughout the Central Highlands and surrounds. Here are just a few.

Daylesford Sunday Market – every Sunday Wesley Hill Market - every Saturday Daylesford Farmers Market – first Saturday Trentham Neighbourhood Centre Makers Market - first Saturday Golden Plains Farmers Market - first Saturday Woodend Farmers Market - first Saturday Castlemaine Artists’ Market – first Sunday Trentham Community Group Market - second Saturday Kyneton Farmers Market - second Saturday Ballan Farmers Market - second Saturday Kyneton Rotary Community Market – second Saturday Maldon Market – second Sunday Clunes Farmers Market - second Sunday Trentham Farmers Market and Makers Market - third Saturday Glenlyon Farmers Market – third Saturday Leonards Hill Market - third Saturday Creswick Market - third Saturday Talbot Farmers Market – third Sunday Woodend Lions Market - third Sunday

O

with Darren Lowe

KAY, some cautious baby steps, but is there light now appearing?

The Guildford Hotel has released some gigs in the upcoming weeks with some restrictions in place, but, for music fans this shouldn’t be an obstacle.

The pub's updated calendar, from this weekend through to the end of October, is below, supporting live music and local musicians.

Friday, October 9, 6pm - Broderick Smith Saturday, October 10, 6pm - Jazz Deuce Sunday, October 11, 1pm - Serenada & Friends Friday, October 16, 6pm - Featherhead Saturday, October 17, 6pm - Charlie Bedford Sunday, October 18, 1pm - 3 Chord Club for folk, blues & country musicians Friday, October 23, 6pm - Terry & Gillian (pictured below) Saturday, October 24, 6pm - Alawishus Jones & The Outright Lies Sunday, October 25, 1pm - Original Words - open mic for songwriters, poets & storytellers Friday, October 30, 6pm - The Cartwheels Saturday, October 31, 6pm - Mick Coates & The Shallow Gravediggers All gigs are outside in the Big Backyard with the kitchen open for dinner on Fridays and Saturdays, and for lunch on Sundays. For all gigs, bookings are required, with limited numbers, masks required unless eating and drinking (fairly sensible), names recorded upon arrival and a maximum two-hour stay. As I said, cautious baby steps.

Next in line The Palais – Black Sorrows at the end of the month, which when you say it quickly almost starts to sound normal.

Trentham Station Sunday Market - fourth Sunday Buninyong Village Market - fourth Sunday

Markets are all subject to change due to COVID-19. Some may not be operating yet.

Please check before you head out. And wear a mask, maintain social distancing and maintain hand hygiene.

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Got something to say?

Say it here.

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www.tlnews.com.au

The Local crew 31

Journalist, paperboy...living the dream

I

WAS born in Queensland and came to Victoria as a kid when the family purchased a farm in north east Victoria in the late 70s. Both my parents were into fine art and Dad made a good career out of it. Mum spent her time reading, running a horse stud and breeding cattle.

Growing up in this environment formed influences in me that remain difficult to reconcile. On the one hand I was imbued with a strong interest in global art and culture alongside a love/hate relationship with all things regional. This schism remains with me to this day.

By the time I was in my late teens and ready to make my own decisions on what to do and where to go with my life, I was only certain of one thing. I did not want to stay on the land training horses and feeding cattle, I needed to find out what was beyond the farm gate.

I bolted for the nearest big city (Melbourne) on the pretense of studying and remained there long after tertiary studies fell by the wayside. This led to other cities both here and abroad where I indulged in bohemian time wasting, dole bludging, casual work, travel and romance (or messed-up versions of it).

Usually I’m fairly circumspect about going into specifics regarding this time but it did cover over two decades, and such a large chunk of living deserves some elaboration. Even if it's just for my dear readers of The Local.

Essentially, I fell in with activists and artists covering a broad gamut of left-wing causes and ideologies accompanied by a soundtrack of punk, death metal, noise and electronica. It was interesting enough but in hindsight, I don’t know really what good I got from it all. At a grassroots level politics and art frequently overlap but I found the latter usually came away badly diminished by it.

Squats, collective spaces, travelling activist circuses and sound system culture tend to reduce creativity to sloganeering at best and incomprehensible nihilism at worst.

In short, art should be greater than the social causes that influence it and deserves a greater reach than a bombed-out audience at Rainbow Festival.

That's why I eventually went back to uni to get a better understanding of how visual culture (my specialty) fits into the greater scheme of life and history. I don’t know if I succeeded, but one thing's for sure; I did learn how to do proper research and string sentences together.

However, the way forward from these studies was not some 'sendero luminoso' to a glamorous writing career. It took me instead on a goat track peppered with lots of temporary casual jobs; doing everything from pushing road cases to working as an illustrator and cartoonist. Moving back to the bush didn’t help and I continue to work drafting cattle and look after chickens when things get quiet.

I wouldn’t have it any other way though and living out here has led to me working for The Local. While years ago I did do high school work experience at the Benalla Ensign, sweeping, picking border tape off the floor and pecking out briefs for a foul-mouthed editor, I never thought I would wind up wearing a journalist's hat.

But in 2015 I read an advert in some fortnightly publication asking for someone to sell advertising. I decided to ring up and introduced myself to a fella called Kyle, “I’m not a sales person but I can write stories. What about horses?” He knew straight away I would be good for their paper and I began covering everything from giant cows to marauding geese. Today I have risen through the ranks and work as their paperboy. Dare to dream.

Words: Tony Sawrey

"Squats, collective spaces, travelling activist circuses and sound system culture tend to reduce creativity to sloganeering at best and incomprehensible nihilism at worst. In short, art should be greater than the social causes that influence it and deserves a greater reach than a bombed out audience at Rainbow Festival."

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30 Out & About

www.tlnews.com.au

Dianne: Really connecting the community Aug u Day st 26, 2 lesfo 0 rd d 19 Issu e ebut ante 157 s

m iu nal em Fi Pr nd end a k Gr Wee 019 2

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W

hen Kyle and Donna asked me to write a piece for the 200th edition about how I started working with them, I really didn’t know how I would form the words that would show my appreciation to them both for taking me on as a member of the crew.

When I moved up to Trentham from Melbourne with my husband Phil about six years ago, I was just starting out as a graphic designer, not having much experience at all, fresh out of studying my part-time course.

After reading The Local, I thought that it came across as very approachable and friendly, and community-oriented, and I wanted to be part of the community.

Upon deciding to contact TL to see if I could possibly do a few weeks of work experience, or just simply help out, I listened to Kyle’s voice message which said, “I’m out on the field at the moment….”

In my ignorance, I didn’t know what “on the field” meant. I thought he must be a farmer too and was out in the paddock rounding up some sheep. Little did I know about the industry, he was actually out talking to advertisers, or taking photos for a story.

Kyle and Donna took a chance hiring me and welcomed me into their world of TL. Started me off with doing adverts which progressed to writing a few dining reviews, doing the odd TL cover, delivering the publication to outlets, and then the other BIG stuff, helping to establish House.Land.Home. which started off as an A5 stand-alone publication. Donna and Kyle worked tirelessly to launch this next phase of their business.

My contribution has seen some quiet times and very busy times. Lately it’s been a hive of activity with TL changing to a weekly publication and launching the refurbished website and business listing. It’s been great being part of this exciting next phase of the TL journey.

The community has embraced The Local as their information stream because it includes local people with local stories and local staff. It’s a win-win all round having this publication for the community.

Thank you, Donna and Kyle, for including me in your Local crew, it’s sure been a learning curve for me. Enjoy celebrating your 200th edition.

Words: Dianne Caithness

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"In my ignorance, I didn’t know what “on the field” meant.

I thought he must be a farmer too and was out in the paddock rounding up some sheep.

Little did I know about the industry, he was actually out talking to advertisers, or taking photos for a story."

B e a p a r t o f th e fa ste st gr o wing

B US I NESS D I R EC TO RY i n t h e C en tr a l Hi gh la n ds

BU SINES S DIR ECTOR Y Si m ply l o g o n to

www. tlne w s . c o m . a u

an d s i g n u p fo r yo u r a c c o unt It’ s

F R EE* EE

*C o n d i t i o n s a p p l y