The Local Issue 20 May 26, 2014

May 26, 2014 Issue 20 Richard Monty powers up

The Local - Hepburn Shireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own community publication

2 About Us The Local is a fortnightly community publication covering the Hepburn Shire. The next edition is due out on Monday, June 9. Advertising deadlines for the next edition of The Local: Space bookings: Wednesday, June 4 Copy provided by: Thursday, June 5 Editorial deadline: Thursday, June 5 Managing editor/sales: Donna Kelly General manager/photography: Kyle Barnes Graphic designer: Glen Heyne Sub-editors: Nick Bunning and Lindsay Smith Editorial and affordable sales - 5348 7883 / 0416 104 283 dhslocal@gmail.com e-photo sales - $20 e-editions at www.tlnews.com.au Like us on Facebook! facebook.com/DHSLocal

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/DHSLocal and you’ll receive the electronic version early each fortnight - on Sunday evening.

Front cover: Richard Monty’s Montimedia is up and running after a nightmare few weeks. Read his story on p15. Image: Kyle Barnes

Fri. 6 6pm $4 entry PERFORMANCE NIGHT Itʼs our 14th birthday Sat. 7 9pm $5 entry UNTAPPED Sun. 8 4pm $10 HARRY HOOKEY Alt/Folk/Rock/Roots Fri.13 9pm $5 entry JESSEY JACKSON Sat.14 9pm $5 entry MICHELLE PARSONS Sun.15 4pm $10 entry MATT KATSIS Folk/Blues/Reggae

The Local

News 3

Too many elephants no drag for Di Alysis

I ALYSIS, AKA Daylesford drag queen Max Primmer, was the star of the show when Daylesford Library took part in the 14th National Simultaneous Storytime.

The event aims to promote the value of reading and literacy. Every year a picture book by an Australian author and illustrator is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around Australia. Last year more than 430,000 children at more than 2500 locations across Australia took part. This year’s Australian book was Too Many Elephants in this House by Ursula Dubosarsky.

Clunes guide launch

HE Clunes Local Flood Guide was launched last Thursday during Floodsafe Week.

Copies are available from Clunes retail outlets and at ses.vic.gov.au FloodSafe Week is an annual initiative of the Victoria State Emergency Service and raises awareness of the risk of flood. In coming months, SES volunteers will be door knocking high flood risk properties in Clunes. SES Mid West regional manager Stephen Warren said the focus was on helping residents understand their flood risk and how to prepare for future flood events. “Residents are encouraged to meet SES volunteers during the door knock to learn how they can be prepared for the threat of flood,” he said. “A little preparation goes a long way and we all need to take responsibility for our safety and learn the local flood risks.” Mr Warren said driving through floodwater was the biggest killer of adults in Australian floods. He said anyone who came into contact with floodwater may be exposed to E.coli infection, diarrhoea, hepatitis, infections and dermatitis.

Powerful owls talk

PRESENTATION on powerful owls, from the forests to the suburbs, will be held in Trentham next month.

Speaker Dr Bronwyn Isaac will focus on the role of not only forests, but also urbanising landscapes, in relation to the conservation of Australia’s largest and most charismatic owl species - the powerful owl (Ninox strenua). The event will be held at the Trentham Neighbourhood Centre, High St, Trentham on Saturday, June 14 from 1pm to 3pm. Gold coin donation.

Midland road works

OAD safety improvement works on the Midland Highway between Daylesford and Guildford will start after the VicRoads contract was awarded to Bitu-Mill (Civil). Western Victoria MP Simon Ramsay said the $675,000 project would benefit the 2300 vehicles which travelled on the road each day. “The work will be completed on a threekilometre section of the Midland Highway between Richardsons Lane and Sawpit Gully Road, near Daylesford,” he said. “Works will include the installation of safety barriers, to protect drivers from roadside hazards, fixing the drainage and shoulder sealing. “These road safety upgrades will make the road much safer for all motorists and reduce the risk and severity of run off road crashes.” Works will start in the middle of the year and should be finished by the end of 2014.

The Local

4 News

Coles coup for Country Cuisine

OUNTRY Cuisine is hitting the shelves of Coles supermarkets.

Nine of the Daylesford-based company’s products were chosen last year to be a part of a trial of new local produce departments in 12 stores in Victoria. The trial proved a success and the products will now be rolled out to more than 60 stores around Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia by the end of June. It’s a great coup for Country Cuisine, which was started by Phillipa Wooller in Trentham in 1987. Ms Wooller used her skills in product development, production and administration to get the ball rolling and was later joined by Geoff West who brought extensive experience in sales, distribution, marketing, importing and exporting. Ms Wooller said while it had been “a long haul driven by Geoff” it was a good feeling to get the final green light from Coles. “When I started in Trentham I never imagined this but this business has grown like topsy. And with all due respect to the both of us there has not been a great deal of planning. “We relied on word of mouth with not a lot of advertising and built it through just doing what we do. I guess our philosophy is to treat people how you would like to be treated yourself, to be honest and straight forward and create a good product.” Mr West said the Coles partnership was all “very positive” and could also lead to Country Cuisine eventually being in 115 stores, including New South Wales and Queensland, later this year. “Our turnover has definitely increased and we have been able to employ more staff which is good for the local community,” he said. “And it’s also great that Coles is going for more local produce, which is what the customer is looking for, with special shelving for the produce opposite their delicatessens.” Country Cuisine manufactures and distributes preserves including jams, marmalades, chutneys, relishes, marinades, salad dressings, pasta sauces and Christmas fare. Production facilities are based on “hand-made” products with batches made in steam jacketed agitating open kettles and then pumped through a semi-automatic bottling process. GM is definitely out and all products are free from artificial colours, flavours and enhancers – and Australian produce is used when available and in season. The products chosen for Coles are Harissa Paste, Roasted Garlic Aioli, Chilli Lime Mayonnaise, Chilli Dukka, Moroccan Preserved Lemons, Barbecue Spice Rub, La Porchetta Spices, Raspberry Vinaigrette and Raspberry Vinegar.

“I guess our philosophy is to treat people how you would like to be treated yourself, to be honest and straight forward and create a good product.” - Phillipa Wooller

Link: countrycuisine.com.au

38 High St Trentham

Ph 5424 1164 e: kuki@live.com.au

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News 5

The Local

Flowers fill church

AYLESFORD’S Anglican Church was overflowing with flowers and foliage last week after the community rallied to a call from Father Jeff O’Hare to fill the church – left bare after a robbery earlier this month.

More than 30 items, valued at more than $100,000, were stolen from the church including a 17th century mirror, a 140-year-old lectern, a carved wooden eagle and a wooden screen with an image of Mary. Father O’Hare, who has only recently been appointed vicar to the church, said it was clear the thieves knew what they were looking for, and knew the layout of the church. He said he would maintain his open door policy – one he has kept at every posting. On the Anglican Parish of Daylesford Facebook page he wrote, just days after the theft and his plea “Flowers have started to appear.....so thankful....made me cry...”. Anyone with information about the theft should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au

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Dharma School open day

AYLESFORD Dharma School will hold an open day this Wednesday, May 28.

Principal Joel Hines said it would be an opportunity for parents of children who would be starting primary school next year along with anyone interested in learning more about what the school offered. The school, which opened in 2009, has a dedicated prep class, rather than a combined prep/grade one for the first time this year. “Children commence their schooling with a dedicated teacher and a class of no more than 14. This gives these young students the opportunity to receive the extra care and attention at that all important beginning part of their school journey.” The Open Day will include a tour of the school, an overview of the school philosophy and insight to the tailored curriculum which is in-line with the Australian Curriculum. The school, at 11 Perrins Street, Daylesford will be open between 9.30am and 11am.

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The Local

6 Feature

Restaurant and farming - the perfect mix

HRIS Malden and Wayne Cross deal with people every day.

And while their Peppers Mineral Springs Retreat in Hepburn Springs keeps them busy, like any job, it’s always nice to bring something new into the mix. And seven years ago they really mixed up it. The pair bought Birch Estate, a 330-acre farm, just down the road from Clunes. The property is home to an ever growing citrus and fruit orchard, vegetable plot and rare breeds including Hampshire Down sheep, and British White and Highland cattle. Chris said, despite duties like helping with calving at midnight, it was the perfect mix. “Basically, it helps you keep your sanity I suppose. Talking to the animals, looking after them... although it can be very time consuming, starting early in the day and finishing late at night.” It’s also a great mix for restaurant owners who are keen to supplement the menu with food they know first-hand has been grown with love – and without chemicals. “We like to know what we are putting on the plate in the (Argus) restaurant so that’s a really good mix,” Chris said. “The animals are bred for meat but we like to use the whole animal so we also tan the hides, A lot of people don’t worry about that now but we believe it is a better use of the animals.” Chris said he and Wayne had not gone out of their way to choose rare breeds but were pleased they were now helping increase their numbers. “You do need to have an attachment, or a closeness, to an animal. I guess it’s like why people choose a greyhound over a chihuahua. “The Highland cattle (pictured right) are very appealing, although some people might be a little scared of them when they see the horns, but at the end of the day they are very cute animals and people love looking at them. “It was the same with the sheep. We weren’t looking for them but they are the ones we chose. And the same again with the British Whites. But it gives you real purpose to be saving a rare breed – using their meat in restaurants and tanning their hides.” Birch Estate is home to about 60 British Whites with just 900 registered in the country and by the time the breeding program is done, it will have about 10 per cent of Australia’s population. Wayne and Chris have also imported new bloodlines from America. “There wasn’t much variation so it’s nice to know you are producing a new bloodline for British Whites into Australia.” And closer to home, Chris and Wayne are also working on supplementing the restaurant with a host of fruit and vegetables. There is the orchard of 400 fruit trees and plants with varieties including fig, quince, pears, apples, persimmons, feijoas, medlars, strawberry guavas, blood oranges, ruby red grapefruit, raspberry canes and strawberries. A large vegetable plot producing seasonal favourites such as fennel, beetroot, garlic and artichokes will soon grow to about one acre. And hedging at the property has also been done with edible plants such as bay trees, carob and olives. A designer chook pen, by friend Stuart Rattle, is also planned. “We had a chook pen but Stuart designed a new one and said we should model off that – so now he’s not here it’s something we do want to do. The chook pen will be surrounded by the vegies,” Chris said. “I think the important thing is that anyone coming into the restaurant does know we are supplementing the menu with our own produce. “We don’t have the British Whites in yet, because we are building their numbers, but people are talking about how fantastic the lamb is and yesterday we took in a whole heap of rhubarb which David (chef David Willcocks) said was the best he’d ever had. “And people know we are just making a difference by not using chemicals or anything that shouldn’t be used on our animals or soil.” Chris said while Wayne had a bit of a farming background the pair were pretty much self-taught over the past five years – although they had joined the relevant cattle societies. It was also not all plain sailing with losing an animal clearly something neither is really comfortable with. The tottering calf nearby, that wouldn’t have survived without some pretty intense intervention by the pair, is clear proof. “If you lose an animal it is upsetting,” said Chris. “But someone said once that farming is about live stock and, sometimes, dead stock. “That’s just life.”

The Local

8 News

What’s up! Quilts on show

Spa Quilters of Daylesford will hold its biennial exhibition on the Queen’s Birthday weekend, June 7 and 8 from 10am to 4pm. The exhibition is held at the Daylesford Primary School’s gymnasium.

New members The Hepburn Springs Swiss Italian Festa, a community festival which has been running for 22 years, is after new volunteer committee members. Details: president Ian Head on 0408 360 101. Meet Your Neighbours

In the next in the series of Meet Your Neighbours, Trentham and Districts Primary School principal Liz Carmody will talk about the school. The event is on Monday, May 26 from 7pm to 8.30pm at the Trentham Neighbourhood Centre. Bookings: 5424 1354. Supper is provided. Gold coin donation.

Daylesford Probus Club

Public forum on asylum seekers

HE Daylesford ALP branch will host a public forum to discuss and possibly reshape ALP policies relating to asylum seekers.

Speakers include lawyers Julian Burnside and David Mann, and possibly Geelong MP and Immigration Shadow Minister Richard Marles, who is still to confirm. The forum, chaired by Hepburn Shire councillor Kate Redwood, will include an explanation of current ALP policies on asylum seekers, the views of the speakers and audience participation. Everyone attending, and the forum is open to anyone wishing to contribute to the discussion, will have the opportunity to submit written thoughts on the current policies and possible changes. The forum will be held at the Daylesford Town Hall, Vincent Street on Saturday, August 9 from 2pm to 4.30pm.

Daylesford Probus Club meets at 10am on the third Tuesday of each month at the Daylesford Bowling Club, Camp Street. Details: 5348 2553.

Glenlyon Market

A market is held next to the Glenlyon Hall on the third Saturday of each month from 9am to 1pm. Locals offer up fruit, vegies, baked goods, honey, olive oil and jams and spreads.

Daylesford Market

A Farmers’ Market is held on the first Saturday of the month at the Daylesford Primary School oval from 9am to 1pm.

Got an event happening? Email dhslocal@gmail.com

Daylesford District Community Bank Branch

Community Partnership Consultation Senior Citizens Centre, 76 Vincent St. Daylesford

7pm Thursday 5 June 2014

Daylesford District Community Developments Limited ABN 72 149 943 067 operates the Daylesford District Community Bank Branch as a franchise of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited ABN 11 068 049 178 AFSL 237879

The Local

Rockin’ The Look 9

Rockin’ The Look with BJ Cremmins

HE may not look it but BJ Cremmins comes from a very conservative family.

Safe navy blue and cream were the order of the day when it came to dressing so as soon as BJ was able to choose her own clothes she naturally went as bright and bold as possible. BJ also loathes anything new, preferring to dress with clothing from the 1920s to the 1980s and describing her collection as “really eclectic and recycled”. “It’s the same as with everything in my house. I will not have anything new. I can’t stand anything that comes in packaging.” BJ never plans her outfit, just wakes up and pulls on whatever suits her mood. “I have never planned what I am wearing the day before. I just wear what I want that morning and try not to wear the same outfit twice. “Sometimes I wake up and feel more sultry, like in the 70s, and other days I might feel rebellious and go for an 80s look. “And I never give myself more than 15 minutes to throw on what I feel like wearing that day.” BJ said she believed her inspiration came from inheriting her Great Aunt Edie’s wardrobe, a woman who had never thrown anything out, when she was just 17. And she has lived by the same motto. If a handbag breaks, or boots or shoes give up the ghost, you can find them neatly placed out the front of her house. Jackets end up sewn onto upholstery. “I have never thrown anything out. I can’t bear to throw away something that has been treasured. “I just love to think there’s a use for everything that is discarded by other people. I like things of quality that last, and for effort to have gone into them. I want what everybody else doesn’t want. “I was working in welfare with children who were regarded as not wanted and found that was the most worthwhile part of my life. I also take home unwanted animals. I guess I treasure things other people don’t.” And does her look and philosophy lead to comments from others? “Constantly from tourists, yeah. I think everybody local just expects it now but tourists are always saying things like they love a fabric or a piece of clothing. “And I can’t say I have had a negative comment yet.”

Know someone who rocks the look? Email dhslocal@gmail.com - and we’ll give them their 15 minutes!

12 HOWE ST R E E T , DA Y L E SF OR D

10 Opinion

My Say

The Local

by Donna Kelly

T’S been a strange few weeks.

Lots of things happening, good, bad, sad.

Good news

After my rant about the Daylesford Community Breakfast not being given funding by Hepburn Shire Council because its application was too late, others have stepped into the breach. (By the way, I don’t think I rant but I do have a penchant for standing up for the under dog...) Anyway, I probably can’t say who yet but two organisations, known for their tireless good work, have been in touch with Annette and Alan about possibly funding the huge amount of $2000 (really council?) to help give people a healthy, friendly start to the day. I hope it works out because this, as I said, is a great service to the community and comes without much of a price tag - thanks to volunteers.

Bad news

Like everyone else, I was shocked to hear about the theft from Daylesford’s Anglican Church. The Local had only a few weeks earlier done an article on the new vicar, Jeff O’Hare, and he talked about his open door policy. As in keeping the church doors open. As not much of a church goer I just assumed churches were open all the time anyway. They always are in the movies when people are either running away from vampires or just working out which way their lives are going. But Father Jeff said whoever the thief/thieves were they knew the lay of the land and it was clearly planned.

Good, bad, sad... But it’s upsetting that people in the community, people we may know, can even do this sort of thing. And if whoever did it is reading this, you could just pop everything back somewhere and leave a note. I hear the church is a pretty forgiving place.

More bad news

Something no-one forgives is people who try to harm our children in any way, shape or form. And someone creeping around our schools, approaching kids in a place they should feel completely safe, is just disgusting. Parents should be able to drop their children off in the morning, go about their day, and pick them up in the afternoon without a thought about anything going wrong. The police are still looking for the man in question so we all must remain vigilant without being vigilantes.

Sad news

In our April 14 edition we interviewed a lovely bloke for his 90th birthday. Bill Malone, of course. We were probably the only people in Daylesford and Hepburn who were unaware of his football fame. And he was pretty unassuming about the whole thing. Thank God for Google. Bill and his wife Irene were just lovely. Irene even showed us her football team joking that sometimes the mother passed on the sporting genes. Bill just rolled his eyes, which still had a twinkle in them. And Kyle found his footy boots, taking pride of place in the dunny, and that was the shot. Bill with his footy boots hanging around his neck. Fantastic. Sadly, Bill passed away on May 11. His funeral was one of the biggest Daylesford has seen. And we lost a legend, and a really nice man. Vale Bill.

The Local

News 11

Plan to ban sale of plastic water bottles

CAMPAIGN to stop the sale of plastic bottled water in Daylesford is underway.

A group of residents, led by Jodie Fergusson-Batte, has started a campaign to build a case for Hepburn Shire Council to ban the sale. On Daylesford Community Grapevine Noticeboard Facebook page the group is looking for people to help with “information, ideas and strategies” for the idea. “We see significant benefits for our environment, for our health, for tourism, for street scape beautification and more,” the post said. “We will be asking for supporters to make themselves known with the possible creation of a local support registry and we will be working on creating a program or system that other communities can also roll out locally, with a view to this being an Australia-wide movement. “We are not the first town in Australia to do this, but perhaps the most obvious

choice when it comes to our beautiful resources and offerings. “Stay tuned as we work out what we need to do, and put the call out for people who have the right skill sets and passion to get this project moving!” There is also a link to a story in The Australian newspaper on September 26, 2009 which was headed “Bundanoon in ‘world-first’ ban on bottled water. The article said the NSW town had pulled all bottled water from its shelves “and replaced it with refillable bottles in what is believed to be a world-first ban”. “Hundreds of people marched through the picturesque rural town of Bundanoon to mark the first day of its bottled water ban by unveiling a series of new public drinking fountains,” said campaign spokesman John Dee. “Shopkeepers ceremoniously removed the last bottles of water from their shelves and replaced them with reusable bottles that can be filled from fountains inside the town’s shops or at water stations in the street.” One idea on the Grapevine Facebook page was to build water fountains in Vincent Street, Daylesford as part of the streetscape project.

Bubblers or bottles?

4/11 Howe Street, Daylesford 0407 389 172

12 Advertorial

The Local

Treechange for IT couple proving successful

AN Lewis and Anne Boundy moved to Mount Prospect in December last year.

The couple, from the successful IT business IML Design, had been looking for a tree change for about two years keen for more open green space, trees, a community feel and a larger home. “Our perceptions were that life would be a little quieter, more genuine and have a connection with nature,” Anne said. “The reality has been even better. The support we have had from the local community has been fabulous and we have been welcomed into the Daylesford & Hepburn Springs Business & Tourism Association and look forward to being an active member. “We are enjoying the fabulous views and outlooks, friendly people, getting back to basics and connecting with people and nature. Having chickens roaming free in our yard and wild ducks living in our pond is a dream come true.” And while Ian and Anne are enjoying the country lifestyle they are still working in their IT business – thanks to great access to the NBN, a critical factor in their decision of where to base their lives. “We had been looking in Gippsland, however the mobile phone and internet access were very poor. In order for business to prosper we needed a base that had great communications infrastructure,” Ian said. “So we researched properties around the Hepburn Shire and luckily we found Ambleside, a property that had just come onto the market. It was just perfect for us. Fixed wireless NBN had just become available as well as full mobile 3G coverage. “The location was also close to Creswick and Daylesford, both towns with excellent facilities and business opportunities, with an easy one and a half hour drive to Melbourne. “With many clients in Sydney and Melbourne I am still able to support them remotely using the NBN via www.imlsupport.com.au – IML’s remote support portal.” Ian said IML Design specialised in designing and developing database powered, web-based applications for businesses. “We can build anything from a basic public website to a ‘smart’ website - one that interacts with customers and the business owner. “We work with our customers to develop what they require to manage and build their business, reducing the amount of administration by automating where possible. “We speak in jargon-free terms that make sense. And we can offer immediate remote support.” And Ian and Anne are already helping frustrated locals with their IT issues including Rod and Gabrielle Fraser of Mount Prospect Produce. The producers had been trying to connect to fixed wireless NBN Broadband for over three months before IML Design moved to the Hepburn Shire area and offered their services to help. “After months of difficulties & frustration with our IT issues, IML Design moved in just up the road,” Gabrielle said. “Ian helped us get fixed wireless NBN service and installed the wireless network for our business. Within days we were up and running with wireless NBN throughout our farm and offices. “We are so relieved knowing we can get great local IT and website help now. “Now our IT nightmare has been resolved, we can get back to focusing on producing great potatoes, Australian White sheep, horse chaff and, hopefully very soon, truffles.” Anne said she and Ian realised it would take a while for people to get to know them, “to understand what we can do and to trust us to provide our services”. “But we have made a great start already and are receiving some positive feedback so we are hoping we can help more people soon” Contact Ian or Anne at IML Design at support@imldesign.com.au or 03 9014 9444. Link: imldesign.com.au

“We are so relieved knowing we can get great local IT and website help now.” - Gabrielle Fraser (Mount Prospect Produce)

14 News

The Local

Mel helping to stay warm

F YOU’RE a Facebooker you might have already come across “Keeping Daylesford Warm”.

The community project was the idea of Daylesford resident Mell Sappho, who moved to the region with her partner Jules Sappho and their two young children last year. Mell says the long-term project was all about gifting “a hand-crafted winter woolly to a local in need”. “We just moved to Daylesford last year and we know how cold it is going to get here,” she said. “I have been crocheting for 30 plus years and I thought ‘I can crochet a hat’ and then thought surely someone else can craft something else. We put it up on Facebook and I talked to Carmel (Thannhauser) at the Foodbank. She said they had 200 items donated last year so that’s where I have started. “We have dropped off a couple of bundles already. And we will probably approach the 5000 Club and the Daylesford Community Breakfast. We just have a basket at the Foodbank at the moment and anyone who wants can just help themselves.” Mell said people were busy crafting anything from hats and mittens to scarves and cardigans. “Some people are knitting 25cm squares while others are sewing them together. Most of us are so lucky to have a roof over our heads and warm clothing – but some people are living week to week.” Mell said donations of wool would be appreciated with most knitters and crocheters already having their own stash of needles and hooks. Completed items and wool can be dropped off at the Sappho’s home at Unit 4, 34 Smith Street, Daylesford. Meanwhile a “knit in” will be held at the Daylesford Community Room, at the Daylesford Community Health Centre, Hospital Street on June 14 from 1pm to 4pm. Everyone is welcome to “rock up with their crochet hooks, knitting needles and wool and just enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and get involved”. Meanwhile, until May 31, Memoirs and Memories at 40 Albert Street, Daylesford, is offering 15 per cent off wool, except handmade, for all Keeping Daylesford Warm crafters. For information on the project go to Keeping Daylesford Warm on Facebook, email keepingdaylesfordwarm@gmail.com or call 0404 165 275.

Prep A big step that calls for a little class. Open Day 28th May 2014 9:30am - 11:00am Register your interest by calling 5348 3112 or joel.hines@dharmaschool.com.au

www.dharmaschool.com.au

The Local

News 15

“Amazing support” for Montimedia

ONTIMEDIA is back up and running – after a nightmare few weeks for the company – and its thousands of customers.

phone: 03 5348 3097

Owner Richard Monty said while much had been written about the “disaster” the short version was that “Conec2 – the parent company for iBoss International, our supplier, got into financial difficulty and very quickly went into administration”. “Leaving us and another 100 service providers without a supply or the ability to seek an alternative.” What that meant was customers, business and domestic, were left to survive, in 2014, without phone or internet services. And what it meant for Mr Monty, who has built the business from the ground up, was the full gamut of emotions from disbelief that it had happened, to rage at the corporates who pulled the plug, then simply “crap what are we going to do” followed by “let’s just roll up our sleeves and get this done”. “Once I had gone through the emotions it was a matter of just getting down and working. We have had over a dozen people working for us for three weeks and there is still another week to go. It’s been a massive, massive job and my main aim has just been to make sure everyone is happy and back up online. “But there have been some real moments. I feel for everyone one of my customers - I live and work in the same environment – so I have felt shame, embarrassment, unable to walk down the street…but everyone has been amazingly supportive and lovely. That’s really touching.” Mr Monty, who has customers up and down the east coast of Australia, and over to Perth, has also placed advertisements in newspapers around the country apologising and keeping customers informed about services and the future. “We have learned from this and decided to move fully to the Telstra network, just because they are the biggest and the strongest, and they have been really good from a technical aspect, ploughing through all these connections,” he said. Mr Monty, who says the fortnight was “probably one of the worst ever” for his clients, his team and himself, has also sent personal letters to every client thanking them for staying with his company. “We’ve since decided to partner with a publicly listed carrier which comes with many more benefits but more importantly much more stability and security,” he wrote. “Our new carrier team has been awesome. They have been attentive to our needs in this time of crisis and the Telstra network is already proving to be much more stable and of better quality which should be noticeable.” However Mr Monty does concede there were some failures on his company’s behalf including providing estimated times for service restoration for frustrated clients. There was also the impossibility of being able to attend to the daily 900 emails, 350 SMS messages and 130 voicemail messages “in a timely manner”. But Mr Monty, who has another three months of now sorting out billing issues, said no business could have been prepared for an event of this scale. “Even if we had 50 people on 50 phones in front of 50 computers we would have still had problems – it was just that kind of catastrophic scenario.”

16 Happy and Healthy

The Local

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The Local

Happy & Healthy 17

Happy 15th birthday

And when Fiona Harris took it over in 1999 she had a five-year plan based on selling eco-friendly cleaning products. Fiona said since then the business had grown to the extent that they sold their own range of aromatherapy products and essential oils along with ear candles, organic skin care and mineral makeup and natural lipsticks. Daylesford Aromatherapy also sells a large range of products, using natural and organic ingredients – made in the shop and at home in the kitchen - ranging from lip balms to soy wax candles, bath goodies and moisturisers. In 2005 niece Michaela designed a new logo – and the name changed to Daylesford Aromatherapy. Three years later, Fiona started on a new path of natural therapist and now has a Certificate 4 in Aromatherapy and Diploma of Remedial Massage. After losing a dear friend to cancer, she completed module one and two in oncology massage. Fantastic staff along the way have included Sally, Julie, Donna, Roweena, Sarah, Georgiana and Victoria. The team now includes spa therapist Sandy, diploma aromatherapist Alix, Certificate 4 aromatherapist Christiana and botanist and botanical artist Kate. “Without the great team of girls I have had working for me over the years, I would not have lasted,” Fiona said. “Each of them has brought in different skills and ideas to help build the business to what it is today. My wonderful hubby, Stan, does all my bookwork and boring stuff and also helps out in the shop. “A big thank you goes out to all my customers, especially the locals. I have made some great friends through the shop, it is definitely the best job I have ever had.” Daylesford Aromatherapy will celebrate its 15th birthday this Saturday, May 31 with cupcakes and a glass of champagne with everyone welcome. There will also be discounts and giveaways for the week of celebrations.

Shamanic Healing Healing is within Us Intuitive Counselling Illuminations Soul Retrieval Extractions Readings

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AYLESFORD Aromatherapy started life as Bubbles and Suds.

Jaqi Mudge 0423 499 901

8/2/13 1:12:03 AM

A Lifestyle Store.

For Everyone.

108 Main Rd, Hepburn Springs Tel: 5348 4353 Wed-Sat 10-5 Sun & Pub Hols 10-4 www.portal108.com.au

The Local

18 Pets on Holiday

Rosie’s Diary

Dear Diary, Mmmm. I wish I could say they bought a Jeep. But they bought a coat. For me. A self respecting kelpie cross. I look stupid. And it makes my bum look big. And really, black? Not even a pop of colour. And I’m hot because they have put it on, on a warm autumn day, just so they can feel smug about “looking after the old dog”. Old dog, pig’s...well, what John Elliot used to say. I’m only 14. Teenager really. Dumb carers. I think I might start looking for a new home. Rosie – the hot kelpie cross Dear Diary, The other one never got a coat. And I know it’s gloating. It keeps walking past and licking my coat on the way through. Who does that? It clearly has issues. It thinks it’s superior because it’s got quite thick fur. Well, I’ve noticed the bald spots. Yeah it tries doing a bit of a rub on the carpet to create a comb-over effect but it’s fooling no-one. They should do a Patrick Stewart and shave him completely. It’d be funny ‘cos he’s fat. Maybe they could send him off in the Starship Enterprise too. Rosie – the angry kelpie cross Dear Diary, Hump day. Nothing’s happening. The carers are just sitting at those desks doing nothing. Well, one keeps hitting something on the desk with its fingers and listening to people talking. The other one just looks a bit puzzled. That’s the one that glazes over a fair bit. I worry about that one sometimes. The other dog, the fat one, is barking a lot. Barking mad more like. I have been doing my own bit wandering around, sighing, and then just slumping down onto the floor. It really annoys the carers. And then it guilts them into walks. LOL! Rosie – the scheming kelpie cross Dear Diary, I have heard them planning to go to that beach place again but there’s no preparation going on for dogs. It’s totally my place so surely I wouldn’t get left home. Oh no, I just had a terrible thought, what if they just take the other one and leave me home alone. No, they wouldn’t. They couldn’t. Bastards, they probably will. Let’s just see how much of their lovely home is left when they get back. I may have gained a few years but I still have claws and teeth. I only stopped chewing things because I wanted to. That habit can easily return. The shoes are first, then the bottom of the curtains, then that fluffy rug. OK, I feel better, I have a plan. I must rest in readiness for attack. Rosie – the demented kelpie cross Dear Diary, It was cold today and we went for a walk. I was lovely and warm in my coat. And I noticed it does have colour – purple – which matches my collar. I think I look quite smart really. And I checked in the mirror, my bum is fine. The other one looked a little cold – his bald patches were really showing. Oh well, I guess there’s always a favourite whether they mention it or not. I even have my own little coat rack by the door. Oh, and we are all going to that beach place. Yay. Somewhere new to wear my coat too. Show off a bit. And with any luck the other one will get left behind like that Home Alone kid. How cool would that be. I think, after all, I will stay here a little longer. Rosie – the contented kelpie cross

• • • •

njoy a holiday at Bells By The Beach with nothing else to bring except your food, personal items and your furry friends!

Contact: Jan and Lin Bell - 0403 221 737 bellsbythebeach.com.au bellsbythebeach@bigpond.com

• • • • • • •

Just 500 metres (or a 10-minute walk) to one of the safest and best dog beaches in Victoria Your dogs will be treated like canine royalty and can stay and sleep indoors on their own personal pet bed Dogs play in a large garden with plenty of lawn and are safe and secure behind high fences Dogs enjoy a freshly baked crunchy gourmet treat on arrival with comfy pet beds for big and small dogs Self catering, large living area, gas log fire, spa bath Plenty of walking and cycling trails The Bellarine Taste Trail – local provedors selling fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, seafood delights, chutneys, jam, honey and fresh crusty bread On-site vehicle parking Inspection invited, brochure available From $165 per night – 2 to 6 guests Bring your own linen or hire ours

The Local

Travelling with your best friends

Pets on Holiday 19

HETHER you’re planning for a school holiday road trip, or just to escape winter, you’re also thinking about your pets.

So, blatant plugs here, before you go make sure your pooch is looking its best with a visit to Katie at Barking Beautiful! A clean dog makes a much nicer travelling companion. And drop into Mind Your Pet for everything you need to keep your pets warm and cared for during holidays and when you return to the Central Highland’s winter. Rosie is now loving her dog coat. Well, at least she’s warm. If you have friends with pets coming up to stay, and who doesn’t over winter, perhaps you could remain friends by recommending they chat to the team at Daylesford Accommodation Escapes for pet friendly accommodation. Might just save that nice Persian rug. Finally, if you are looking for a place to escape, near the water, Bells By The Beach at Ocean Grove is fantastic. Owners Jan and Lin clearly know pets and have them fully catered for - from treats on arrival, to bedding and toys. Pet friendly really does mean pet friendly. And here are some travelling with pet tips courtesy of the RACV.

Plan ahead

Check that the hotel/accommodation that you will be staying at is pet friendly before making a reservation. And avoid the common dilemma of what to do with your pet during your holiday by checking that you can take it along or leave it in care when you plan your daily holiday activities. Make sure your pet is comfortable with travelling. If you’ll be travelling by car, a few short practice drives a few weeks prior to your trip should acquaint your pet with the car. If you find your pet is prone to motion sickness, consult your vet about available remedies for animal motion sickness. Pack the usual pet food, bedding or travel crate, a towel, feed and water bowls and grooming equipment if required. Check that your pet is up to date with vaccinations, flea and worm control and is in good health. Pack a pet first aid kit. ID is very important when travelling locally, interstate or abroad. The most effective form of identification is microchipping. Additional tags with contact details are also a very good idea. And don’t forget the lead and harness and some treats and plenty of water.

Take care of your furry friends for the chilly months with: • • • •

Warm and waterproof pet coats Toasty and snuggly pet beds A huge range of arthritic remedies Leads and collars to enjoy long walks

4 Park Lane, Daylesford | 5348 4213 (Coles carpark, Daylesford)

Getting there

Give your pet a small feed before leaving and save the remainder to give them either at a stop or when you reach your destination. Restrain your pet with a proper pet seatbelt or in a pet carrier that is secured in the back seat. Don’t allow your pet to ride unrestrained as it can interfere with the driver and increase the risk of an accident. Make sure you take regular breaks at least every three hours to exercise and let your pet relieve itself. If travelling by air you may wish to visit www.iata.org (International Air Transport Association) website for some important guidelines for travelling with pets overseas. Information includes container requirements, preparation for air transport, health issues and other handy tips.

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20 Check out Clunes!

Check out Clunes!

Have you eaten at the Smeaton?

The Local

OOKING for somewhere to head over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend or just somewhere to discover a new lunch spot? Maybe you need a few days away to wind down?

Head to Clunes. From Daylesford it’s only about 30 minutes and it’s a lovely scenic drive – past some very cute cows (see The Local’s story on Chris and Wayne’s Highland cattle). And if you’re in need of a pit stop, try the old historic Cumberland Hotel at Smeaton. Clunes has an amazing, historically intact, streetscape and the town was home to Victoria’s first registered gold discovery in 1851 - which triggered the state’s first gold rush. The town’s population quickly rose to more than 6000 residents in the late 1880s. From the 1850s through to 1893, when gold mining eventually came to an end, Clunes was an important gold production location in Victoria. Gold in excess of 1.2 million ounces was produced. The gold rush left behind some beautiful buildings and a wide street that has attracted numerous film producers from Mad Max to the remake of On the Beach. Many of the external scenes and some internal scenes in the 2003 film Ned Kelly, starring Heath Ledger, were shot in Clunes. The Old State Bank in Fraser Street was used for the internal scenes featuring the “Euroa” bank robbery. Clunes also appears in the television series Queen Kat, Carmel & St Jude, Something in the Air and Halifax f.p.. And the town was once closed off to the public for the TV show The Mole in 2001. The mission in that episode was to direct one of the contestants to pick up another contestant in a blacked-out car. The most recent film shot in Clunes is Julius Avery’s 13-minute movie Jerrycan, which won the 2008 Jury Prize at the 61st Cannes Film Festival in France for short films. But it doesn’t stop there, in April 2012 Clunes was given International Booktown status - a title awarded by the International Organisation of Booktowns – in recognition of its Booktown festivals. Clunes is the first town in the Southern Hemisphere and the 15th town worldwide to have received the official recognition. And if you’re just keen for a wander, there are plenty of shops, stores, foody places and cafes to keep anyone interested in a good ol’ mosey around town. Link: visitclunes.com.au

TIMELESS HARMONY

Timeless Harmony - in the heart of the first gold rush town of Clunes. Our building was established in 1862 and we have been operating for six years as a gift shop. Call into Timeless Harmony where Maria and her staff are always happy to help you with your selection for any occasion. Free gift wrapping is available and all ages are catered for. It’s well worth a drive to Clunes, the first gold town, to explore this very picturesque town.

65 Fraser St, Clunes

• • • • • • •

Gifts Home and gardenwares Jewellery and accessories Hats, shawls, scarves, Cushions, rugs, tiles Prints, china, bags glassware Bears, umbrellas, cards, toys and much more

EFTPOS, gift vouchers and lay-by available Thursday to Sunday 10am to 5pm E: timelessharmony@bigpond.com Like us on

Call in to see Andrew and the team 61 Fraser Street, Clunes

is n th nd o i t Men ement a lo rtis r ki adve ve $2 pe uct i rece all prodJune 7) off pires er ex

(Off

5345 3854 fivemilecreekbd@gmail.com

22 News

The Local

Ball giveaway at Bendigo Bank

AYLESFORD Community Bank has donated a stack of footballs, soccer balls and netballs to the Hepburn and Daylesford football netball clubs along with the Hepburn United Soccer Club.

Customer relationship manager Danni Mackley said the balls would help “kick off the football season and we wish all the clubs the very best this year”. “We are showing our support to the community by donating gifts, sponsorship and volunteering our time to those in need.” Ms Mackley said the bank would be hosting a Community Forum so the community could “voice their opinions as to where we should allocate our money”. “Do we want one big project? Like a pool or maybe a gym. “Or do people prefer a contribution to your local community group instead? “Please come along to voice your opinion and to help us create a stronger community.” The Community Forum will be held at the Daylesford Senior Citizens Centre, at the rear of the Daylesford Town Hall, on June 5 from 7pm.

Andrew, who plays for Daylesford Football Club, and Tess, a Hepburn netballer, get in amongst it

Daylesford RSL Sub-Branch Inc is highly appreciative of the generosity of the following firms, organisations and persons in supporting the ANZAC Day ceremonies. Coles Supermarket | IGA Supermarket Albert St Butchery | Spa Centre Meats Daylesford Pharmacy | Bakers Delight The Local | The Advocate Wombat Hill Nursery | Hepburn Shire Council Daylesford Community Brass Band | Daylesford District Pipes & Drums Bugler - Kathryn Clark | Lament - Tim Koenig Daylesford Secondary College | Sally Harvey - vocalist Speaker – Justice Bernard Teague | All who laid wreaths Our Sub-Branch volunteers

Daylesford RSL Sub-Branch, 20 Vincent St, Daylesford

Hepburn Post Office THIS BUSINESS IS FOR SALE For further details contact the SPECIALISTS in the sale of Businesses DAMIAN BURGESS Specialist Broker- Post Offices Email: damian@wollermann.com.au Web: www.wollermann.com.au Mobile: 0428 558 590 Fax: 03 9888 4040

Out & About 23

The Local

Spa Quilters show

HE Spa Quilters of Daylesford has its biennial Quilt Show coming up on Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8.

Held at the Daylesford Primary School’s gymnasium the show, with a theme of Winter Christmas, is open from 10am to 4pm each day. As well as quilts made by members, the show will also have Christmas decorations for sale. Money raised goes to the club which then makes about 50 quilts every year for foster children at Ludbrook House in Ballarat. Each child receives his or her own quilt which is often the only personal item they have to take to their new foster home. Only recently a former foster child, who received a quilt, contacted the group to see if they could make quilt for her own baby. Member Bev Kendall said all of the quilts and other items for the show were provided by Spa Quilters members. “We only have about 20 active members – so we produce quite a lot of material,” she said. “And this is the first time any of it will be publicly displayed.” The show includes stalls from quilting and sewing shops and there is a members’ boutique which sells “all sorts of things”. There’s also a quilt being raffled and a people’s choice winner. The club has been up and running for 28 years and was always looking for new members, Ms Kendall said, with help available to newcomers.

TRENTHAM STATION SUNDAY MARKET Victoria Street, Trentham

On the 4th Sunday of each month from 8.30am - 2.30pm Enq / Bookings - Gwenda 5424 1611 or Ross 5424 1509 A great variety of stalls in and around the beautiful Trentham Station. **Permanent carriage stalls open** **EVERY WEEKEND** Including - Craft in the Carriage, Kayes Soaps & Candles, Leigh’s Homemade Preserves, Snax on the Trax & Trentham Olde World Lolly Shoppe Trentham - Always relaxed & refreshing

24 Out & About

The Local

Woodend’s Winter Arts Festival

STELLAR line-up drawn from across the world will be coming to Woodend’s Winter Arts Festival over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend – including the premiere of the opera Euridice, Brazil’s Quaternaglia Guitar Quartet, Vienna’s Koehne String Quartet and a performance of Peter and the Wolf with Max Gillies and the Scotch College Orchestra.

Entertainment includes: • Austria – Vienna’s Koehne String Quartet performance of Winter Leidenschaft, an emotional journey featuring Schubert and Brahms, by a Quartet with Australian connections, established in 1987 and referenced as one of the most outstanding interpreters of contemporary music in continental Europe. • Brazil - Quaternaglia Guitar Quartet from Sao Paulo has been performing and recording for nearly 20 years and will give one performance only of Brazilian Fire and Passion – an exploration of the diversity of Brazilian rhythms through the most popular of instruments, the guitar, with original and popular works. • France - baroque harpist Maria-Christina Cleary by special invitation will join the orchestra for the Australian premiere of the opera – Jacopo Peri’s Euridice. • Germany – the outstanding Ensemble Gombert chamber choir, will perform a cappella choral tradition in Motets of Bach and Brahms. • Italy – the return of virtuoso violinist Davide Monti, who will be performing in several concerts, including Dialogues of Love and Intrigue and Euridice. • Japan – opening night fireworks will feature a free performance by the Wadaikorindo Japanese Drummers – likely to make nearly as much noise as the fireworks. • Russia – a repertoire of Shostakovich and Rachmaninov in From Russia with Love and Sergei Prokofiev’s musical play, Peter and the Wolf, with Max Gillies and the Scotch College Orchestra. • Singapore - virtuoso cellist Li-Wei Quin, (pictured right with photo courtesy Dong Wang), a prize winner in his youth of the Tchaikovsky Competition, will team up with soloist Ukrainian born Alexey Yemtsov for From Russia with Love. • Ukraine-born international pianist Alexey Yemtsov will perform Chopin Masterpieces, as well as teaming up with Singaporean cellist Li-Wei Quin. Link: woodendwinterartsfestival.org.au

Wooen Winter rts Festival elebrating 10 ears of creativit in the Maceon Macedon ane

6–9 June 2014 Featuring first Australian performance of baroque opera Peri’s Euridice, and international artists exclusive to WWAF from Brazil, France, Italy, Singapore and Austria

woodendwinterartsfestival.org.au

The Local

Out & About 25

Discovering Alexander

T WAS after suffering a severe shoulder injury, which left her in pain for six years before undergoing surgery, that Anne Mallen discovered the Alexander technique.

The injury led to chronic neck and back pain but she also realised, as she made her way along the Alexander journey, that her “terrible posture as she grew up” and ongoing tension, had not helped. “I am tall so I probably had a bit of a stoop, and was full of tension but I didn’t care because I wasn’t in any pain,” she said. “(But) the shoulder injury caused severe pain for six years, it went into my neck and I couldn’t find anyone to help. It was devastating for my work - I did a lot of computer work - and it was really difficult to deal with. “In the end I had surgery and coming back from that was hugely difficult. I was very lucky a friend had done an Alexander technique workshop and gave me a book. “I started to read it and it started to make sense. I spent about three days trying to free little muscles in my neck and surprisingly, when I did that, the pain was gone by about 80 per cent – so I knew there was something to it.” Anne then went one step further and decided to become an Alexander technique teacher. She now offers one-on-one classes in Daylesford and Melbourne, and group classes at the Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre. “I think people come to the Alexander technique because they have reached the end of the road. “It’s a hands-on and verbal teaching technique. If you came to see me I would be teaching you how to look after yourself, you wouldn’t just be lying on a table and me saying ‘just relax and zone out’.

“It’s more ‘I am going to help you release tensions and you are going to learn to do this yourself’. “The technique is very gentle and allows you to retrain yourself. For some people that can be quite quick and for others, like me, it can take time. But I am rapt I started teaching. It’s absolutely fantastic, I love it.” Anne, pictured above left with Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre manager Denise Hanaphy-Shearer, said the technique was developed more than 100 years ago by an Australian actor, FM Alexander, who lost his voice but found that doctors were unable to help him. “He was very ahead of his time in realising problems which could be caused by the misuse of your own body – affecting the function to be pain and stress free.” Details: 0408 024 881 or mallenanne@gmail.com

The Local

26 News

WINNING!

PA Centre CWA won overall aggregate first prize at the Ballarat Regional Festival of Art &Craft for its membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; exhibit Autumn Harvest.

Many group members won individual awards including Helen Cawdry who took home the Mavis Ware Memorial Award for Dressmaking. The group meets on the first Wednesday of each month at Holy Cross Hall, Daylesford at 10am (except January) and new members are welcome.

Now Showing@ Special Event - Dirty Dancing, 27 June Tuesday 27 May 6pm Grand Budapest Hotel (M)

Tuesday 3 June 6pm X-Men Days of Future Past (M)

Friday 30 May 7pm Bad Neighbours (MA15+)

Friday 6 June 7pm Healing (M)

Saturday 31 May 1pm Princess Bride (PG) 3pm X-Men Days of Future Past 7pm Bad Neighbours (MA15+)

Saturday 7 June 2:30pm How to Train Your Dragon 2 (PG) 4:30pm Healing (M) 7pm Chef (M)

Sunday 1 June 1:30pm Princess Bride (PG) 3:30pm X-Men Days of Future Past (M) 6pm Bad Neighbours (MA15+)

www.therex.org.au

47-53 Vincent St, Daylesford VIC 3460

Book ONLINE Now! www.therex.org.au

Sunday 8 June 1:30pm How to Train Your Dragon 2 (PG) 3:30pm Chef (M) 6pm Healing (M)

daylesfordcommunitytheatre

Fully Licensed

Bar – Bistro - Accommodation Open Lunch & Dinner Wednesday to Sunday LIVE MUSIC: Saturday, June 7 - Straight Shooters Saturday, July 12 - Backlash Back by popular demand. All free entry - 8.30pm.

Book for Mother’s Day To avoid disappointment

Call for bookings 0414 830 435 Try our sumptuous winter warmer menu including homemade soup and damper and our deliciously spicy mulled wine

Light Lunch Special $16 Wednesday to Friday

Includes free Pot, Wine or Soft Drink Live Music check website for details Function Room for Hire Ph 5426 3233 Like us on Facebook

www.macedonrailwayhotel.com.au

105 Central Springs Road

The Local

28 Dining

A 5-star boutique winery in the heart of the Macedon Ranges.

An award winning winery, Paramoor wines are recognised as some of the best cool climate wines in Victoria. Nestled between Woodend, Kyneton and Hanging Rock, Paramoor’s rustic cellar door offers a range of elegant wines and delicious wood fired pizzas in a beautiful unique setting. We are open for wine tastings and sales every weekend. Our wood fired pizzas are served on the first two weekends of each month. Book now for the Queen’s Birthday long weekend – 7th and 8th June.

Paramoor Winery Open Friday to Monday 10am until 5pm 439 Three Chain Road Carlsruhe 3442 Phone: 03 5427 1057 Email: enquiries@paramoor.com.au

Bocconcini More than just a cafe! Sourcing the finest of local and imported goods

www.paramoor.com.au 59-61 Vincent Street Daylesford Trading hours: Tuesday - Sunday 8.30 - 4 Now taking orders for the Queen’s Birthday long weekend

The Local

Nom Nom Nom! 29

Red Nonna ignites fond Italian memories By Glen Heyne

N MY early teen years, long before Italian restaurants and the ubiquitous scallopini became the “in thing”, the arrival of two Italian workman at my parents’ business introduced me to the twin delights of traditional Italian country home cooking and riotous, music-filled “tutta la famiglia” meal-times.

It was only inevitable that Daylesford/Hepburn Springs, with its proud SwissItalian heritage, should have its own typically rustic eatery, serving home-style Mediterranean food in the traditional country trattoria style. Red Nonna is located at the leafy end of town, almost next door to the Jubilee Fountain, where there is plenty of easy parking. lts large open space and long wooden trestle tables welcome groups and families, and the relaxed atmosphere has the effect of encouraging lone individuals and couples to join in with the rest of their table. On a recent Friday, Peta and l took a break for lunch and headed to Red Nonna. Owner, chef and waiter for the day, Belinda, greeted us at the door and parked us at the best table in the house…equi-distanced from the large window and autumnal views, and the counter and its selection of culinary delights. We were soon presented with the menus and steaming cups of great coffee. Once again we were faced with the agonising task of making our choice from a vast and tempting menu. Luckily we could skip the breakfast choices…including Red Nonna beans on toast with Meredith goat’s cheese ($13.50) or Bircher muesli with grated apple, toasted coconut, yoghurt and seasonal berries ($10.50). Lunch specials of the day are listed on the blackboard as you enter. Peta chose the prosciutto, caramelised onion and goat’s cheese tart with salad ($14.50) and by the way it disappeared off the plate without any offer of a taste, it was obviously delicious. For me, some primal memory seemed to kick in and l couldn’t go past the linguini with mushrooms, garlic, chilli and parsley ($16.50). lt arrived, a steaming bowl of rustic Italian delight accompanied by delicious familiar aromas - just as l remembered. Belinda completed the picture by presenting me with a plate of warmed Italian style crusty bread to mop up the delicious flavoursome juices. l, at least, had the courtesy of offering Peta a taste of my dish. Although sorely tempted, Peta and l let our inner dietitians get the better of us and we begrudgingly decided to leave the desserts for another visit. Which, by the way was no mean feat as they looked absolutely delicious. The choice for that day was between chocolate torte literally dripping with chocolate and an equally tempting pine nut honey torte (both $7.50). By the way, bambini are well catered for with such delights as pastina with angel hair pasta and broth ($5.50) and toasted lstra ham and cheese ($6.50). Red Nonna is a totally appropriate name for Belinda’s Cafe Gallery, as she tells us she learnt to cook from her Nonna as a little girl as well as her mother. She also offers a take-away service on her entire menu and caters for vegan and gluten free diners. Plans are afoot for night group bookings and private parties once the liquor licence comes through. Red Nonna is at 3 Howe Street, Daylesford. Phone: 5348 3367. Opening hours 8am to 5pm Thursday to Tuesday. Closed Wednesday.

red nonna Simple food. Simply Italian. 3 Howe Street, Daylesford // (03) 5348 3367 Open every day (except Wednesday) 8am – 5pm

Gig Guide! Old Hepburn Hotel, Hepburn Springs Matt Gurry - Saturday, May 31, 9pm Performance Night - Friday, June 6, 6pm Untapped - Saturday, June 7, 9pm

Radio Springs Hotel, Lyonville Family Farm - Thursday, May 29, dinner Pennyweight - Friday, May 30, dinner The Grand McGozzie - Saturday, May 31, lunch Geoffrey Williams, Saturday, May 31, dinner

Perfect Drop, Daylesford Tania Petrini and Vida Jazz - Friday, May 30 Pete Rowland and Jennie Brown - Saturday, May 31

Cumberland Hotel, Smeaton Powerage AC/DC cover band - Saturday, May 31, 8pm onwards

Cosmopolitan Hotel, Trentham Jarrod Shaw - Saturday, June 1, 1pm Sarah Wilkinson - Sunday, June 8, 1pm

THE

GRANDE

HOTEL

! " # $ % & ' ( ) # & * ' + ) SPECIAL EVENT FRIDAY 30 MAY 5PM - 7PM Kids meal & movie "How to Train your Dragon" (PG) $10 Enjoy a relaxed meal in our dining room while your kids are supervised with a movie and meal downstairs in our theatre room. Bookings essential ! " # $ % & ' ( % & $ )* + , ' + - $ & + . / ' ( , $ 0 . ( 1 , 2 0 - $ * 1 % 3 4 ( 1 ) $ $ 5 # $ 6 # 7 8 $ ! 9 : 8

Friday & Saturday dinner from 5:00pm Saturday & Sunday breakfast and lunch Mondays "locals night" (non-public holidays)

Dinner long weekend Sunday 8 June from 5:00pm

The Local

Dining 31

The Farmers Arms Hotel raffle this Friday is for the Hepburn Netball Club - next Fridayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s will raise money for the 5000 Club.

Welcome to The Farmers Arms Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner The Farmers Arms Daylesford offers the perfect blend of country charm combined with a sophisticated menu, wine list and professional service. For more information about the pub and also our current menu, please visit our website: www.thefarmersarms .com.au 1 East Street Daylesford ph. 03 5348 2091

32 Foodies

Foodie giveaway

The Local

HE Local wants to help people on a new cooking adventure with two cookbook giveaways.

The first is from TV cook Poh Ling Yeow and her cookbook SAME SAME BUT DIFFERENT, the follow-up to Poh’s Kitchen - My Cooking Adventures. The 100 new recipes in the book are organised in pairs that share a common process, ingredient or texture - so a “bite-sized spice” could be Kunyit (turmeric) Fried Chicken or a Curry Puff, and a “yummy curry” could be Prawn and Pineapple Curry or a Beef Rendang. The second giveaway is a new series of small-format books curated from the successful cookbook collection by author Valli Little and the team behind Australia’s most trusted food magazine, ABC delicious. These three new books each contains 60 essential recipes and are themed so readers can choose the perfect gift or occasion. Indulge - for when only something sweet will do, Spice - to add a kick to your cooking and Slow - so you can roast, bake, and savour spending time in the kitchen. For your chance to win email dhslocal@gmail.com with your name, number and preferred prize. Entries close June 6.

The Local

Our Musos 33

Our Musos by Jack Larm

OR Jennie Brown, the constant in her life has always been music.

Even though her father made ends meet as a boiler maker, he played saxophone in a number of bands, gigging three or four nights a week. At home, Jennie remembers the special moments peering into her father’s world and listening to him practice his scales and melodies. “I didn’t make much sense of it then,” she says. “But I was captured by the music.” When Jennie showed interest in music, her father offered a key piece of advice: “The best way to learn is by holding the long notes.” In her early teens, Jennie started taking singing lessons. During those years, with a passion bigger than her experience, she regularly raised money for the Royal Children’s Hospital Appeal by putting on concerts. Unaccompanied, she tap danced and sang acapella. The musical constant in her life had always been jazz, but growing up in the 60s she was drawn to all the sounds of her generation: blues, reggae, country, pop and rock and roll. But in her heart, jazz is something quite special because it allows her the freedom to express her innermost being. “I’ve always considered myself to be a musician more than a singer,” she says. “I could explore lead runs and improvisation with the scat singing that is a mainstay of jazz music. My voice could become a pure instrument.” Inevitably, as so many artists must do to address the everyday aspects of life, Jennie put her precious music on hold for about a decade in her 20s. Perhaps Jennie could give up music, but music wasn’t going to give up on her. In the 70s, she married a fellow musician, moved to Daylesford and soon discovered a little town with a vibrant musical scene. She was presented with numerous opportunities to perform and to reconnect with music and her audience. Perhaps, even more importantly, she realised how music was a real way she could connect with herself. Now teaching singing at the Daylesford Secondary College, she is able to pass on her love of music to a whole new generation. You can still find Jennie captivating audiences with a voice clearly drawn from the depths of her spirit. “To sing is to be in the moment,” she adds. “And that moment is divine.” Catch her at Perfect Drop, Daylesford, on Saturday, May 31.

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34 The Scene

THE GARDEN by Jackie Airey

WAS recently lucky enough to spend a few days on North Stradbroke Island in Queensland.

Looking forward to it, I imagined lush gardens with bouganvillea, hibiscus, ginger lilies, heliconia, strelitzia (Bird of Paradise), perhaps jacaranda, crotons or different kinds of overgrown tropical greenery that would envelope us and waft fragrances exotic and mysterious. Well, I hadn’t done my research, had I? I hadn’t realised that North Stradbroke was a sand island, in fact it is the second largest sand island in the world after Fraser Island. Such soil is not going to sustain the flora of my imagination. Instead, it does have plenty of eucalypts, acacias, banksias and malaleucas. That’s good, but not particularly exotic. Apparently, there are some native ferns and orchids in the swampy areas inland, but I wasn’t able to venture that far afield from the towns. I should have worked out that the native flora was not going to be succulent and juicy from the news of the huge bushfires that raced across the island this summer, burning up to two thirds of the southern section. Such an inferno is often retarded by more tropical plants, but our native sclerophyll forests, which the island has in abundance, are fair game for lightening ignition, the apparent cause. Even so, what struck me was the lack of colour. Expanses of very modest grey green leaves and workman-like dark barks didn’t really equate to my image of what could grow in such a pleasant climate. I wanted a riot of colour and huge leaves dripping with the aftermath of each afternoon’s tropical shower, when plant oils would be released to regale us with perfumes better than anything we could buy over the counter! Not to be. What about introduced colour from all of the gardeners there? I hear you ask. Well, that was exactly what I was on the lookout for: the locals’ attempts to at least pretend they’re recreating the Robert Louis Stevenson/Gaugin experience. Nope. Not much going on there. Perhaps, with so much natural beauty surrounding them, they don’t feel the need to look at their own little plot. After all, as coast huggers, they’re all looking outward at the beach and the ocean and some gorgeous coastline features. Can’t blame them, the water was warmer than the air temperature and the waves perfect for some gentle riding, and the sand white and fine and in broad expanses and only sparsely populated by folk. Who wouldn’t want to spend time getting down into that, rather than digging and watering and pruning and working up a sweat? Still, perhaps a few little pots of pretty things ……

The Local

Dining 35

Drop in to The Good Food Store and grab a great brekkie, a super tasty lunch or take something delicious home for dinner. We make it all here! Extended dining room now open. 8 Howe Street, Daylesford Find us on Facebook The

od Food St

o Go03 5348 1654 re Now open for Breakfast Daylesford

New final.indd 1

105 Vincent St Daylesford 03 5348 3884

New Winter Menu and Drinks now available Fully Licenced Dine In - Takeaway – Catering A sample of our menu items BBQ Baby Back Ribs - Smoked over our applewood for 8 hours and served “wet or “dry half or full rack 25/40 Half with your choice of one side Full Rack with your choice of two sides. Asian pulled pork roll - Slow cooked pork, lime mayo, slaw, chipotle, pickles. Fried Chicken - Our blue ribbon, crispy, butter milk brined fried chicken - 4/6 pieces 20/25 Philly Cheese Steak Burger - Marinated tender char grilled steak, peppers, onions, lottsa cheese 15 Asian pulled pork roll - Slow cooked pork, lime mayo, slaw, chipotle, pickles, 15

2/11/12 10:30:12 PM

36 Business Guide

Promote your business here from just $25!

ian petty legal 53 North Vincent Street Daylesford 3460 5348 1080 Fax by arrangement ianpettylegal@gmail.com

Call Malcom Tyquin for all your septic tank and grease trap de-sludging. 7 days a week 0418 507 172 All areas!

Miles Electrical.Rec15116.

Small Job Specialist All household electrical work guaranteed Daylesford /Hepburn region... Phone Gary Miles 0458 112 777 106 Albert St, Creswick garymiles5 @gmail.com

Looking for The Local? The Local is at newsagencies, information centres, general stores, Hepburn Post Office, Daylesford Coles Liquorland, Daylesford IGA, Flemoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and Cellarbrations Daylesford. And cafes and hotels! Or 24/7 at www.tlnews.com.au

Railway Crescent, Daylesford Phone: 03 5348 2586 Fax: 03 5348 1200 Email: sales@chss.com.au

Promote your business here from just $25!

Business Guide 37

Mccarthy Firewood Sugargum firewood sales Bags of kindling & Bags of small wood. Leonards Hill 0418 137 195 Mob 0407 688 792 Mob

COMPUTER PROBLEMS? I will come to you! On-site support for PCs and Macs, home and business. Phone: 0466 238 178

Moss Shading Solutions For Hepburn Shireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total shading solutions talk to Brian & Deborah Moss

Exterior Awnings Folding Arm Tension systems Drop screen Traditional canvas

Internal Blinds Roller & sunscreen Roman blinds Shutters

SOMFY MOTORISATION SPECIALISTS

RING FOR QUOTATION / ADVICE 5348 4045 8B, 37 EAST ST, DAYLESFORD (NO SHOWROOM)

DAYLESFORD FLOOR COVERINGS Your LOCAL flooring experts cnr East and Mink Streets, Daylesford Phone for a chat about your flooring needs on (03) 5348 4097

The Local

Qualified Arborist - Jason Scholten Tree & Stump Removal Tree Pruning Storm Damage Removal Mulch Sales

Outdoors 39

DANCE class for boys aged six to 11 has started in Daylesford.

Paul Walsh, who takes the Inside Out Dance class, said the boys learned how to use their bodies in a more fluid form gaining strength, flexibility and self confidence. Mr Walsh, who trained in classical dance and spent three years with the Royal Ballet in England before switching to contemporary dance for an eight-year period, said there had been a calling for the class. “It opens a forum for boys to express themselves through movement and it’s an accessible style of contemporary dance with body and core work. It also means they are free to be creative in a safe space.” Details: Inside Out Dance on 0417 592 522.

From left, James, Asher and Otto go through their paces

Howe Automotive Your Safety is our priority

Automotive Electrician on site Front end wheel alignments

Servicing all automotive air conditioning 4X4 Servicing and repairs

19 East Street Daylesford

Ph: 53482389

Repairs@howeauto.com.au