January 29, 2024 Issue 298 Bloomin’ beautiful
The Local - The Heart of the Highlands
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Front cover: This field full of sunflowers on the outskirts of Clunes has been attracting its fair share of attention. Growing these golden glories is a bit different here but all going well with the crop that’s been planted by Miners Rest’s Andrew Fraser in a share arrangement with Clunes’ Malcolm Hull, pictured, they may just become a more common sight into the future. Read the full story on page 7. Image: Eve Lamb
January 29, 2024 Issue 298 Bloomin’ beautiful
The Local is a fortnightly community publication covering the Central Highlands of Victoria. The next edition is out on Monday, February 12, 2024. or online on Sunday, February 11 at www.tlnews.com.au Space bookings: Wednesday, February 7 Copy deadline: Thursday, February 8 Editorial deadline: Thursday, February 8 General manager: Kyle Barnes on 0416 104 283 or kyle@tlnews.com.au Editor: Donna Kelly on 0418 576 513 or news@tlnews.com.au
The Local - The Heart of the Highlands
Editorial: Eve Lamb on 0493 632 843 or editorial@tlnews.com.au Sub-editors: Nick Bunning, Lindsay Smith & Chester the Cat
The Local is a registered trademark of The Local Publishing Group Pty Ltd. The Local is a member of the Victorian Country Press Association, with editor Donna Kelly, a former director. Want to support local, quality journalism? Donate by scanning the QR code. 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.
Writers: Eve Lamb, Kevin Childs, Tony Sawrey, Simone Kaplan & Donna Kelly Photographers: Kyle Barnes & Eve Lamb Graphic designer: Dianne Caithness Contributors: Glen Heyne (gardening), Darren Lowe (music), Sarah Lang & Richard Cornish (recipes), Clive Hartley (wine) & Bill Wootton (poetry) Accounts | Julie Hanson
Delivery | Tony Sawrey
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News 3
Council awards for citizens and events
He has made an enormous contribution to scouting in the district over his 70 years of service, during which time he trained 33 Queen Scouts, an extraordinary number from one scout group, and is also a Scout Life Member for Victoria. He has also been a member of the CFA since he was 17, last year marking 68 years of service. Mr Tacey has also made an incredible contribution to the Creswick community. His experience as an educator and leader has come to the fore in his work leading community resilience and disaster recovery efforts in Creswick, as well as fundraising for Creswick residents in need, distributing essential resources and supporting mental health programs in Hepburn Shire. Mr Tacey works collaboratively with groups and organisations and is described as always having the community at heart. Ms Newitt is an active volunteer with the Clunes Football Netball Club, Clunes Booktown Festival, Hepburn Shire Youth Forum and as a dance leader for young people through Clunes Neighbourhood House. ChillOut Festival took out the Event of the Year award, an event that brought more than 30,000 people to the shire last year. ChillOut is an incredibly successful, fun and colourful event which has grown to become Australia’s largest queer country pride festival since its inception in 1997. Others nominated for Citizen of the Year were Michelle Clifford, Wendy Creswick's Neville Cartledge OAM and Pat Tacey have shared the top honour McKillop, Trish McMahon, Jenni Sewell and Margaret Orr. and jointly been named Hepburn Shire Citizen of the Year. Alice Newitt was Other Event of the Year nominees were Calembeen Parkrun Launch, CresFest named Young Person of the Year, with a special commendation to the youth 2023, Spud Hut Tours during Spudfest and Creswick NAIDOC Week Celebrations. band, Elysium, while ChillOut Festival took out Event of the Year. The council will create a new category for the 2025 awards. This will be the Mr Cartledge has long been a contributor to the Creswick community. He began Hepburn Together Award, which will recognise and celebrate the contribution of raising funds for the Creswick Hospital in 1953, and joined the Creswick Hospital community groups and organisations. Nominations for the 2025 Community Awards Board in 1970. In 1983 he became a foundation board member of the John Curtin will open later this year. Words & image: Contributed Memorial Hostel Committee.
The Local: Best Regional Home & Country Lifestyle Media Publishing Group 2024 "It was all a bit surprising but also such a great thrill. "In the years following the pandemic, Australian industry has experienced various challenges but has been You always hope you are doing a good job - and we do get lots of very nice feedback - but when something like recovering at a quicker rate than many of the world’s other top economies. In fact, Australia currently ranks as this comes into your inbox it's lovely. Made my day." General manager Kyle Barnes said the industry had the 12th largest GDP worldwide, which it has achieved APAC spokesperson Kaven Oscar Cooper said to been challenged during the pandemic but now it was despite its much smaller population in comparison to the determine the results, "our judging panel and research back on track and stronger than ever. team take into consideration the commitment, expertise, countries placing higher in the list. "We had a few moments there when we thought "Through the Australian Enterprise Awards 2024, and innovation demonstrated by nominees through we might have to just produce a digital publication but APAC Insider recognises the key players driving nomination information, voting information, and any really, if you are not in print, then you're not really a innovation across the variety of sectors that make up supporting evidence you have supplied - plus results newspaper. Australia’s dynamic business market. from their own extensive research". "And our readers still love print. Even when they "We use a strict merit-based approach to assess all APAC's website says over the years it has been have already read us online at tlnews.com.au, they still nominees." committed to shining a light on the very best of pick up their printed copy from around the shire. We Editor Donna Kelly said The Local Publishing Australian business. know that every edition gets snapped up - and some Group was thrilled to receive news of the award. "Australia is known for its diverse and resilient people have collections back to the first edition in 2013. "We found out a little while back we were economy, with the country experiencing an "We also want to thank our clients and readers. We nominated, not sure who by, and then they let us know uninterrupted period of growth over the three decades do it for them really. This is their award." we had won. prior to the Covid-19 outbreak of 2020.
The Local Publishing Group has been awarded Best Regional Home & Country Lifestyle Media Publishing Group 2024 in APAC Insider's eighth annual Australian Enterprise Awards.
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Quick go the shears at Clunes - for a cause Showcasing the athleticism of one of the toughest jobs in modern agriculture, Clunes Quick Shear has become a favourite competitive fixture on the calender of pro shearers both local and from across the ditch.
It may not be included as a competitive Olympic sport just yet, but the Clunes & District Young Farmers are once again staging the niche competitive event at the town’s showgrounds with the date set for Saturday, February 24. “This is our eighth annual Quick Shear, after a couple of prior test runs,” Clunes & District Young Farmers’ treasurer Jenny Redpath says. The main showcase spectacle of the day is the Quick Shear competition featuring three different categories - novice, intermediate and open. The competition has a reputation for being pretty robust, attracting gun shearers and plenty of top athletic talent from among the Aussie and Kiwi shearing pro circuits. There are some good cash prizes up for grabs and with various Quick Shear comps out there besides Clunes, Jenny says top shearers have a tendency to follow the Quick Shear competitive circuit, supplementing their income when they make off with the spoils. A highlight of the day at Clunes is the Aussie versus Kiwi relay event, a crowdpleaser, with the Aussies likely to be out to settle the score this year. There’s also a lively dash for cash competition, creating a second chance for those who missed out in the earlier main event to take another tilt at securing some prize winnings. It’s a family-friendly day and apart from anything else, offers an entertaining spectacle. Jenny says a barbeque will be among the onsite food options with drinks at bar prices and camping available at the showgrounds. “The shearers are just amazing to watch, the way they move and position the sheep to make sure they’re safe and comfortable,” Jenny says.
“It is a skill we need to continue. We want to encourage the younger generations to get into shearing and build their skills.” Every year that it’s been held, Clunes Quick Shear has raised money to support a worthy cause or charity, carefully selected by the Young Farmers, and this year’s cause is the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Jenny says the event has built up a strong following attracting 54 shearers last year including a notable contingent of New Zealanders and even a couple of visiting English shearers as well. “Yes, we definitely get a lot. Last year we were 10 shearers up on the year before and we even had a couple from England - a boyfriend and girlfriend who were both shearers. There is usually a good amount of women who enter as well. “We also have an auction and raffles with lots of good prizes.” There’ll also be a commentated blade shearing demo, children’s activities and live music featuring pub rock outfit, Cut Lunch. Entry is by gold coin donation with the day set to get started at the showgrounds from 2pm.
Above, Glengower's Jake Seers (at front) gets in some shearing practise at Falkirk Estate, the Ullina property of Jock and Michelle Leishman, ahead of the upcoming Clunes Quick Shear event where he will take on the competition in the intermediate category Words & image: Eve Lamb
Sunny side up: a new crop for Clunes
They’re also known to be grown at Dunnstown near Ballarat. Andrew and Malcolm say the 12-hectare crop at Clunes was sown back in October and it’s been pretty straightforward since then, with a late application of Growing these golden glories is a bit different here but all going well with the crop that’s been planted by Miners Rest’s Andrew Fraser in a share arrangement with fertiliser administered a little while back, and harvest now anticipated toward the end of March. Clunes’ Malcolm Hull, they may just become a more common sight into the future. It may possibly be necessary to rig up some gas scare guns to operate during Long-time Clunes local Malcolm, who owns the paddock, says they’re growing daylight hours just to keep the potential interest from cockies and corellas at bay as the 12-hectare crop after Andrew approached him back in September with the the seeds ripen, Andrew anticipates. slightly different farming proposal. “It’s something a bit different here but in Europe there’s tens of thousands of acres “We own the land and he’s got the skills and machines,” says Malcolm. Andrew Fraser runs Frakel Farming Produce, a stock-feed business selling hay and grown for oil production,” Malcolm says. “We were in France back in 2019 and there was just paddock upon paddock of a wide range of livestock-feed grains that he also grows. The anticipated sunflower seeds are destined for use as quality animal feed ranging them. They’re certainly eye-catching and there’s been plenty of enquiries and people interested in it. from birdseed to a component in horse feed mixes, Andrew says. “We’ll just see how it goes this year and if it’s a good-yielding crop maybe we It’s the first time he has diversified into growing sunflowers and it’s all a bit could look at growing them for oil.” experimental, but so far - fingers crossed - the weather has actually been on side. “It’s been quite a damp summer which has been a bit of a godsend for this crop,” Fun facts about sunflowers Malcolm says. It’s not believed to be the very first sunflower crop ever planted in Clunes as a 1. Each sunflower is actually thousands of teeny flowers. commercial venture but, that said, it’s been a very long time since the immediate area 2. You should harvest sunflowers in the morning, not the afternoon, so they don’t saw its last field full of sunflowers grown on such a scale. wilt. “I’d say it’s the first crop grown here for a very long time. We’d probably have to 3. Sunflowers are native to the Americas and were domesticated around 1000BC. go back to the early ‘90s when one was grown in the Mount Beckworth area,” says 4. A dried sunflower makes a unique, natural bird feeder. Malcolm. 5. Each sunflower can contain as many as 1000 to 2000 seeds. “My father always used to call this paddock (that the sunflowers are growing in) 6. There are about 70 species of sunflowers. Kelly’s paddock after the family that once owned it.” 7. The French word for sunflower is "tournesol," which means "turns with the There are currently just a handful of other commercial sunflower crops in across sun." Young sunflowers follow the sun. the wider district including one at Ascot further down the road toward Ballarat. 8. The tallest sunflower on record was over 10 metres tall. Andrew Fraser is also growing that crop in a partnership arrangement with 9. Sunflowers have been planted to help soak up nuclear radiation. another local there. “It’s a summer crop and it’s my first crop of sunflowers,” says Andrew. “I put the Above, Clunes’ Malcolm Hull with the sunflower crop growing at Clunes in a Clunes crop in about a week before the one at Ascot. share arrangement with Andrew Fraser of Frakel Farming Produce “The reason I decided to grow it is just because it’s so hard to find sunflower seed. Normally it’s grown in the top part of New South Wales or in Queensland, and Words and Image: Eve Lamb around Shepparton too, a lot further north. I‘ve seen a crop in Smeaton a few years ago.”
The field full of sunflowers on the outskirts of Clunes has been attracting its fair share of attention.
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Mayhem for Megan, back on the boards Long-time Daylesford resident Megan Jones whoops for joy as she tells of at last becoming a poster girl. At 70.
She’s on the poster for a new play by Hepburn’s Adam Fawcett. Called Every Lovely Terrible Thing, he says it is two acts of family mayhem , funny, chaotic, surprising, with ghosts and magic realism. A prodigal daughter returns to the family home after 10 years with a secret that threatens to blow everyone up. It even has Megan bursting out of a coffin to sing Don’t Rain on My Parade. Four years in the writing, the play is co-commissioned by Lab Kelpie, the biggest and first for the 12-year-old company since being based here. Says Adam, “This shows the strength of independent artists and companies working in regional Victoria who can take a high-quality work like this and stand next to our metropolitan contemporaries.” Megan’s last stage appearance was 15 years ago in a play called The Prostitute. Amazingly, she got the role after a woman asked her while she was sitting in the foyer of the North Melbourne Arts Hub whether she was an actor. Her record could scarcely be more impressive: besides acting, she is a theatre and circus director, working for 40 years with a wide range of independent artists, companies and organisations, creating more than 80 original theatre shows and 20 main stage circus shows. Trained with master teachers in London and Moscow, she founded Machination Theatre Ensemble which over the six years of its existence was picked from 60 companies to be on the VCE Drama playlist, being awarded for its contribution. Adam, 41, says he started writing the play before meeting Megan. “When I got stuck, I went to her, and she was a mentor and gave me encouragement.” In spite of the seeming toughness of the plot, he stresses that it is “not trauma porn”. A third play by Adam, Men on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, is a finalist in the 2024 Midsumma Queer Playwriting Award, while a work of prose fiction, Black Rainbow, is a finalist in a new writing award, the Pearl Prize for 750-word pieces to be announced next month. For her part, Megan says, “He is original in his approach, well balanced and his work is unique because I’ve never seen this topic dealt with in this way. Some people might have a cry here and there, but there’s a lot of comedy.” Another local involved is costume designer Martelle Hunt, whose credits extend from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to Shakespeare and musicals. The birth of this play may lead to fresh projects, such as theatre classes. A fundraising raffle, with prizes including a ticket to the play, is being considered. Every LovelyTerrible Thing is on at Theatre Works, St Kilda, from February 29 to March 16. Tickets available from theatreworks.com.au
Story & image: Kevin Childs
“He is original in his approach, well balanced and his work is unique because I’ve never seen this topic dealt with in this way. Some people might have a cry here and there, but there’s a lot of comedy.”
News 9
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Homes & gardens 11
Perennials Among the multi-classified members of the plant world, one group, probably the largest, are the perennials. More than any other plant group they, in their thousand-plus forms, can offer a year-round rich palette of colour, fragrance and texture, either by their flowers or foliage. Although multitudinous in their shape, size and behaviour, perennials are defined as non-woody plants which live for two or more years. Some, including the helleborus (winter rose), are evergreen, but most are herbaceous and die back in winter. All adding to the year-round broad spectrum of colour. All perennials are easily propagated, in fact, many do it themselves, like the shasta daisy and perennial grass, pictured right, and simply produce plantlets around their perimeter, as do carnations, gerberas, cannas and a plethora of other perennials. They are then easily gently separated from the parent and replanted. Some more adventurous than the rest make it easy for you to produce their little plantlets on slender stems for you to simply snip the stem and plant, either in a small container of fibrous loam, or into the garden bed, depending on the size and strength of the little rootlets. While the title perennial doesn't apply to bulb producers, such as daffodil, hyacinth etc, a whole range of plants multiply from a corm, or tuber - a short, vertical, swollen underground plant stem that serves as a storage organ that some plants use to survive winter. These include iris and the ever-loving country fence (including ours) hugging blue, and occasional white agapanthus. There are plenty of popular plants that you and I would never have thought of as belonging to the perennials brigade but on browsing the Royal Horticultural Society Plant Guide's Perennials section I was stunned to find names I would never have imagined. Plants like African violets, begonias, primulas, pelargonium, sansevieria, (snake plant), and on and on.
Time for division
Between now and late April you can increase your own stock of perennial plants by division. Clumps of aster, agapanthus, shasta daisy, campanula and similar plants can be lifted, split apart by the two fork method - two garden forks placed back to back used to lever - or if possible, gently by hand. The younger portions can then be replanted in good soil, to which has been added a fairly liberal dressing of blood and bone, or similar organic fertiliser. One or two of our most popular perennial plants are best left until spring. These include cannas, pampas grass and those which normally die back to a dormant crown during the winter. In spring the new shoots can be seen and divided without damage, while the warming soil will encourage rapid root re-growth. It’s usual at this time to cut back perennials when they have finished flowering and to remove any dead leaves. This is partly to make for a clean looking garden but also to reduce the number of hiding places for slugs and snails. That is, unless you are living in a high frost area. Many plants will begin to make new roots when there are a few mild days in winter, and a subsequent hard frost can damage such growths. If the old leaves and dry growth are left on they will protect young plants and can be removed just as easily once the frost season is over.
Above right, two ideal examples of the vast range exist in the photo of a walking track at Lake Daylesford - a small stretch of white leucanthemum (shasta daisy) at the entrance, and an impressive clump of soft waving foliage and seed bearing fronds of Chinese silver grass (miscanthus sinensis) at the end - each only one example of their family Got a gardening query? Email glenzgarden@gmail.com
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Briefly...
Green Drinks all round
The Lyonville Woodchop will be held at the Lyonville Hall on Saturday, February 3 from 10.30am.
EV drivers have been delighted to see Creswick’s 50kW fast charge station is finally back online.
Once again, this iconic event will provide a showcase for the prowess of axe-wielders and hammer–hefting ladies at the nail drive competition. This year’s event promises a new experience as pine wood will be used due to the difficulty of securing suitable local eucalypt wood. All the usual attractions will be available - a bar, barbeque, barista coffee, cakes and light lunch stall, plus a raffle and spinning wheel with lots of great prizes to be won. Proceeds go towards the maintenance and improvement of the Lyonville Hall, the local community hub. Entry is $5, children admitted free.
CCTV surveillance equipment to protect the public Chargefox charge station was installed last month after the new and much anticipated charge point was taken offline after it was vandalised last August. In recent days the station was reactivated and was quickly pressed into use by EV drivers keen to get a top-up charge. Its repair and re-activation was swiftly publicised on the online PlugShare platform from January 17. With an ever-increasing number of motorists planning to make their next vehicle purchase an EV, first-hand experience of owning and using an electric vehicle is now set to be the focus of discussion by a knowledgeable panel of speakers at the free community 'Green Drinks' event happening Thursday, February 15 at Ballarat's Bunch of Grapes Hotel. Set to start from 6.30pm and the first talk for Green Drinks in 2024, the panel Cafs (Child and Family Services, Ballarat) is seeing an increase in demand for discussion will be led by BREAZE (Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions) support from across the region. president Campbell Mercer with four local EV owners sharing their experiences. Families are already feeling the pinch and now they face the additional pressure The panel will include: Gavin Cerini - BYD Atto 3; Paul Duggan -Tesla 3; Merle of trying to equip children with all the necessities required for the school year. Cafs Hathaway - Mini EV; and Clunes’ Pat Hockey - Nissan Leaf. focus for the start of 2024 is firmly on giving the gift of education to local children The free community discussion is timed to lead into Buninyong's Smart Living and families experiencing hardship. Cafs are calling for financial donations, or the Expo on Sunday, February 25 from 10am to 3.30pm at Royal Park, Buninyong. donation of gift vouchers of any denomination, which would enable families to In 2023 Campbell Mercer coordinated the Good Car Company’s Show & Shine purchase school necessities including basic uniform items, shoes, stationery, backevent in Ballarat, offering locals a chance to check out and test drive a range of packs and lunch boxes. Visit www.cafs.org.au or call 1800 692 237. second-hand EVs. The number of new EV sales doubled in Australia over the past year, which means Large boulders have been installed in Daylesford's Bourke Square. The move by Hepburn Shire Council, in collaboration with the Royal Daylesford there will be more second-hand EVs coming on-stream, making the transition more affordable, organisers of the upcoming Green Drinks event say. Hotel, comes after five people died following an incident at the site involving a car They say those who are keen to learn more about EVs are welcome to attend with on November 5 last year. A council spokesperson said the interim measure would be questions ready to put to the panel on Thursday, February 15. in place while the council cooperated with authorities and awaited the conclusion of investigations that will determine whether other works are required at this site. Tickets: TryBooking The case is now before the courts.
Council Councilnews BUSINESS SURVEY
FREE FARMING EVENT
Are you a business located in the Hepburn Shire? Council invites all local business owners/operators to provide feedback by completing an online Business Survey, this will help the Economic Development team plan for the next 12 months to ensure we reflect the needs of businesses in the shire. The survey closes at 5pm on Sunday 4 February.
Extreme weather events are becoming more prevalent locally and across the globe. Proactive approaches to farming practices can help to prepare for, and minimise, damage to crops and livestock. Come along to a free Proactive Farmers Initiative Event and hear from highly regarded keynote speakers as they share evidence-based case studies relevant to local farmers.
INFLATABLE FUN THIS SUMMER It’s time to break out the swimsuits and dive into some summer fun. We have inflatables operating at the Daylesford, Trentham and Clunes pools. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for updates on the dates and times for some inflatable fun and cool off this summer. Remember, the aquatics season runs until Monday 11 March 2024 ...and it's FREE entry. Please note our Weather Policy means our pools won't open on cooler days. Our website will be updated daily at 5pm regarding opening hours for the following day. Visit www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/pools for pool hours.
The event will be held on Thursday 8 February from 9am to 1pm (lunch from 12pm) at Doug Lindsay Recreation Reserve in Creswick. Register via the QR code or email communityrecovery@hepburn.vic.gov.au
SUNSET IN THE SPRINGS Come along to the Sound Shell at the Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve for a two-day free, family-friendly event on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. There will be food, ice cream and activities for everyone to enjoy, plus some great local and regional artists coming to perform. Starts at 5pm until dark on Friday 9 February and Friday 16 February. Check out the line-up at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au
CONTACT US t 5348 2306 e shire@hepburn.vic.gov.au w www.hepburn.vic.gov.au f facebook.com/hepburncouncil
EAT | DRINK | ENJOY
Out & About in the Central Highlands
14 Out & About
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Gig Guide
Palais-Hepburn, Hepburn
with Darren Lowe
Hepburn Golf Club, Hepburn
Thursday, February 1 - Dolly’s Disco Bingo. Guaranteed lots of sing-alongs and giggles.
Friday, February 2, 5.30pm-8.30pm - Band without Borders - Klezmer, Gypsy, Balkan and Greek tunes to raise your spirits and get your feet moving.
Friday, February 2 - David Costa with Nick Carrafa. Inspiring lyrics accompanied by sumptuous melodies and harmonies, together with his unique method of playing the guitar (upside down), guarantees an impassioned live performance.
Friday, February 9, 5.30pm-8.30pm - Archer. Archer is a folk musician. A country-blues crooner poet. Singing by the rivers, in the nursing homes, singing for the children. He is an author, has written hundreds of songs and spends most days planting trees and feeding delicacies to a giant cow.
Saturday, February 3 - Karise Eden with support Olivia Lay. A formidable vocalist who can blow your mind one minute with her powerhouse pipes, yet can break your heart the next with her emotive, soulful ballads delivered with an authentic softness and vulnerability that has had audiences captivated for the past decade.
Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
Friday, February 9 - We Mavericks. Masters in the art of connection, Lindsay Martin and Victoria Vigenser interweave effortless strings, soulful vocals and driving rhythms to form a singular, intense musical voice.
Friday, February 16 - Calexico. Calexico returns to Australia to play a special “Feast of Wire” anniversary show. The brilliant ensemble will again bring their unique Saturday, February 10 - The Australian Van Morrison Show. Steve Boyd, a blend of genres to create a genuinely enticing and mesmerising songlist comprised of, respected singer-songwriter, pays a rare musical tribute to Van Morrison, with amongst others, Tex Mex, rock, conjuto, cumbia, country and jazz. performances limited to select venues across Australia each year. . Calexico will be supported along the way by some incredible Australasian talent including Maple Glider, Grace Cummings, Babitha and more. Friday, February 16 - Ben Mastwyk & The Energy. Emerging like mist from a glassy moonlit lake, Ben Mastwyk & The Energy rise from the dusty streets of Ballarat Civic Hall, Ballarat Melbourne's inner north to bring their unique brand of cosmic-cult-country to Hepburn. Friday, February 9 - Charley Crockett. A must see for all fans of music Texasrelated and beyond. Charlie was magnificent in his first tour of Australia last year. From Texas to Tamworth, via Wendouree, the award-winning country and western superstar returns to Australia with his band The Blue Drifters. Joining Charley and The Blue Drifters is indigenous soul queen Emma Donovan, performing new music from her first solo album which captures the heart of nostalgic Australian country soul. Alt-country troubadours Sweet Talk will bring their vintage swagger to Ballarat.
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Our artists 15
Artists of the Central Highlands with Eve Lamb
The artistic oeuvre of Newstead-based Carol de Graauw is impressively diverse. Jeweller, silversmith, ceramicist, sculptor, this multi-talented local designs and creates jewellery using gold, silver, bronze, cloisonné enamelling and resin. She is just as at home, however, working with clay to create functional and decorative pieces. De Graauw has described creativity as “an escape pad” that “engages the heart, mind, soul and body in the act of making unique pieces”. Eve: G’day Carol, you are clearly a woman of many talents. Can you tell us a bit about the various different genre and media that are part of your arts practice? Carol: My main love is silversmithing but I also do painting and ceramics. I also do enamel work and I do work in resin as well - the colours are just gorgeous. Enamelling is such an intricate artwork and requires more patience than usual.
The course I did was with the Chisholm Institute at Frankston at that time. It was a Bachelor of Arts/Crafts and it incorporated ceramics, stained glass, silversmithing, painting and drawing. It was a fantastic course and in my third year I specialised in silversmithing. Eve: What factors influence or inspire your work, Carol? Carol: I love Egyptian art and most forms of architecture, particularly 1920s art and architecture, art deco. I’ve been fortunate enough to have travelled extensively when I was younger, through Turkey and Europe and Egypt so I got to see so many great architectural works and art and it enriched my life and work.
Eve: Have you been able to make a living through your own creative practice or have you had to work in any other areas as well? Carol: I was a secondary school teacher for 28 years. I taught art and design, ceramics, metalwork and textiles at Castlemaine Secondary College and before that in Eve: Where is your home studio? the Dandenong Ranges where I lived for a lot of my life as well. I’ve been in this area Carol: My home studio is in Newstead, and I’m part of the MANet Arts Focus Maldon Artist Network gallery at 27 Main Street in Maldon. I’ve just had my Balance for 20 years now, six years at Newstead, and I built my studio at home about three solo exhibition here but some of my work will stay in the gallery. This little gallery has years ago. been here in Maldon for 12 months now and we’ve got a strong following. Eve: Do you have any special events or exhibitions coming up? Carol: Yes. I will be part of the Open Studios in Newstead in March over the long Eve: What is it about silversmithing that makes it your main focus? Labour Day weekend and also the following weekend of March 16 and 17. Newstead Carol: I love making wearable art. That’s how I see the jewellery that I make. has its own arts trail. Castlemaine has open studios at the same time. There are about Oftentimes people will have it as a sentimental keepsake. I was always fascinated by 15 participating studios in Newstead and more artists involved than that. My studio the 3D aspect of it. I love manipulating the metal, and I really like working with will be open and I will also have two guest artists exhibiting with me. It’s an amazing stone too, natural gemstones. I think gemstones are so beautiful. That’s a passion. I travelled to Sri Lanka last year and they have beautiful stones over there which I have event. been able to incorporate in my new collection of silversmithing work.
Eve: How did you come to art? Carol: I’ve always had an interest in art. Mum was also an artist and there was always a strong emphasis on creativity. It was my favourite thing at school and then I went to art school as an adult for two years in Adelaide and three years in Melbourne.
Eve: Finally, what do you enjoy most about your working life as an artist? Carol: That I step into my studio and the day seems full of possibility. I just get excited about all the different things I can do. It’s my meditation.
Image: Eve Lamb
16 Out & About
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Calendar launch
To market, to market
All are welcome to get along to the Aboriginal Art – Cancer Calendar launch this Wednesday, January 31 at 10am in the Ballarat And District Aboriginal Cooperative (BADAC) Main Building, Ballarat.
You 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.
Aimed at improving lagging health outcomes for the region’s Aboriginal community, the innovative calendars feature stunning Aboriginal art and personal stories, highlighting a specific cancer for each month, with funding from Cancer Australia and Grampians Integrated Cancer Service. Twelve local First Nations artists created the calendar artwork and QR codes send targeted information straight to people’s phones, including cancer fact sheets and how to make an appointment.
Pizzeria
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Daylesford Sunday Market – every Sunday Daylesford Farmers Market – first Saturday Trentham Neighbourhood Centre Makers 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 Trentham Station Sunday Market - fourth Sunday
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GUILDFORD FAMILY HOTEL Let’s support our community and shop local! “Locals supporting Locals”
Restaurants, Bakers, Butchers, Cafe’s, Local vineyards, Distillers, Brewers and of course each other.
Remember we offer free delivery, T&Cs apply. Delivery times are Monday to Saturday between 10am and 4pm. We accept credit cards over the phone or we have an on-board eftpos machine. You will need to be at home for the delivery with proof of age if asked by the driver. Give the Foxxy team a call on 5348 3577. Keep safe, everyone.
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Our history 17
Highland gathering after new members
Want to be a part of one of the longest running heritage festivals in Daylesford? Then you need to keep a couple of dates free.
The Daylesford Highland Gathering, founded in 1952, is keen to hear from people from all walks of life who would like to become members – and hopefully committee members. The current committee, made up of John McColl (president), David Smith (vice president), Anne Heriot (secretary), Bob Orr (treasurer and life member), Keith and Rosalind Pyers (life members), Rhonda Smith and Barbara McColl, have given 20 years of service – Keith and Rosalind have actually clocked up 40 years each - and would like to see some new blood, and perhaps younger people, take over. John said most of the committee were at the “retiring stage” and while they had enjoyed seeing the December festival thrive, it was time to step down. “We are holding a public meeting for new members to sign up in February and then we hope that some of them will take up committee positions at the AGM in March.” Anne said her involvement was all about the Scottish heritage of the event - and a long-held love of Scottish dancing. “I started as a Highland dancer here when I was just four years old and I danced every year for 14 years. I love the history of the event and we want that to continue for another 72 years at least. I still dance with the Ballarat Scottish Country Dancing Association in Daylesford’s Masonic Hall every fortnight – and we all danced at the event last year. It’s always lots of fun.” Keith said a new committee would be offered as much assistance as needed and with 20 years of hard work already done, all the processes were well in place. “We have a very strong financial position, thanks to our strong and perhaps partly Scottish committee, and we built a great shed at Victoria Park which has the latest equipment in it. “The Hepburn Shire Council has been very supportive each year and we also get excellent support from local businesses. It’s also great from a volunteer point of view that you hold the gathering in December and then it’s pretty much time out until October apart from a few things to tie up. We’ve also just recruited the Daylesford Football Netball Club to help with some of the heavy lifting in the leadup and on the day.
“It’s a very viable operation and this wonderful group of people are only stepping away because they are getting a little older. Being able to continue this heritage is something to be very proud of.” A public meeting to recruit new members will be held at the Mitchell Hall in Daylesford (next to the Uniting Church in Central Springs Road) on Wednesday, February 21 at 7.30pm. The AGM will then be held at the same venue on Wednesday, March 6 at 7.30pm.
The history of the Daylesford Highland Gathering Founded in 1952 the Scottish festival has become an integral part of Daylesford’s diverse culture. It is the second-oldest event in the local calendar, runner-up only to the Daylesford & District Agricultural Show, which started in 1865.
Held in early December it is the first event of the new season of Highland Gatherings in Victoria each year with its location of Victoria Park offering a beautiful summer setting. Hepburn Shire Council has helped the committee for 40 years with shire workers erecting the dancing platforms and ensuring Victoria Park is in its best condition. Since the foundation years in the 1950s many distinguished citizens have acted as Official Openers and taken on the honourable role of Chieftain. The list is impressive and includes state governors, current and ex state premiers, police commissioners, federal and state ministers, future prime ministers, local MPs (both state and federal) and even a bishop. A red-letter day was when Sir Edward “Weary” Dunlop graced the event as a dignitary. The Daylesford Highland Gathering is now an important part of local experience and brings colour and music to the community as well as drawing attention to the strong Scottish ancestry of Victoria’s Western District.
Words: Donna Kelly | Committee image: Kyle Barnes File images: Contributed
Wine notes
with Clive Hartley
A case of love or loathe
Sauvignon blanc can separate a room of drinkers. It is a grape that you either love or loathe. It is disliked, partially, because of the deluge (or savalanche) of wines from New Zealand where it makes up 63 per cent of total plantings and 85 per cent of all exports. I’m a fan of the grape. It has its place as a vibrant aromatic refreshing drink, especially in summer. But there are also other expressions of the grape to explore such as barrel-fermented styles. In cool climates, like New Zealand, sauvignon blanc commonly displays herbaceous green capsicum, gooseberry, or even (at its worst) asparagus aromas. A young tank-fermented sauvignon blanc should leap out of the glass with flavour. Light, dry and crisp on the palate. Alternatively, we have the ‘fume blanc’ style that sees maturity in oak and these styles are more intriguing and subtle with toned down aromatics. Another way of diluting these strong flavours is to blend the grape with semillon. Whilst the French regions of Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé, both located in the Loire Valley, were for many years the leading international homes of sauvignon blanc, Marlborough in New Zealand took the world by storm in the late 1970s. Australian sauvignon blanc is not usually as pungent as New Zealand examples. Aromas associated with local wines include herbaceous, grassy, gooseberry or tropical fruit. Adelaide Hills began as a specialist area but other regions have caught up to them. In our locality, look at wines from the Pyrenees. Recommended examples come from 2023 Mount Avoca which was nicely aromatically driven with fresh grassy and gooseberry aromas. Or as an alternative the 2022 Mitchell Harris Sauvignon Blanc Fumé which is driven by struck-match aromas and minerally acidity. In the Macedon Ranges, Hanging Rock consistently produce an attractive, partially barrel fermented wine with their Jim Jim label. One last word of caution, beware of bottle age with styles that were made to drink early. If you leave these wines in the cellar they can develop an unappealing ‘tinned (canned) pea’ bouquet which is one good reason to drink them within the first few years.
Clive Hartley is an award-winning wine writer, educator and consultant. His Australian Wine Guide (7th ed) is available for purchase from Paradise Books in Daylesford or via his website – www.australianwineguide.com.au
daylesford bowling club & Bistro Your Community Club
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McKenzie & King @ the Cosmo Trentham
steak~seafood~ liquor
Open fireplace, Private dining, Balcony seating over 100 cocktails Gift certificates available online daylesfordsteakhouse.com.au
Opening launch 4pm, 14th January until Easter
Escape & Rejuvenate Paintings and limited edition graphic prints Escape to the country, surround yourself with nature, the tonic we all desire. Purchase works from: kingstudio.com.au juliemckenzie.com.au 0415836194 • 0432719402
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Out & About 19
Dance, music & art
Dancenorth's Wayfinder, a spectacle of dance, music and visual art is set to light up Bendigo's Ulumbarra Theatre
The internationally acclaimed dance company is collaborating with Grammynominated band Hiatus Kaiyote and renowned sound artist Byron J. Scullin and Japanese-Australian visual artist Hiromi Tango for an unforgettable performance. Bendigo's Ulumbarra Theatre is set to become a vibrant canvas for a kaleidoscopic fusion of dance, music, and visual art as Dancenorth, a dance company from Townsville, presents Wayfinder. Taking the stage on March 8 and 9, Dancenorth will captivate the audience with a performance that transcends traditional boundaries. The immersive experience is further heightened by an undulating sound sculpture that condenses and expands in harmony with the brilliant score. Japanese-Australian visual artist Hiromi Tango lends her artistic prowess to the production, contributing joyful and heart-expanding artwork to both the stage design and costumes. Link: www. gotix.com.au Image: Amber Haines
Boots and flannies, and then time to sparkle It’s time to dust off the boots and flannel shirts for the most fun you can have with your clothes on. Bush Dance has become an iconic ChillOut mainstay outdoor event at Daylesford's Victoria Park on Saturday, March 9.
Opening the night are two DJ highflyers, Sugar Plump Fairy and Butch Le Butch to get you in the mood. Hosted by the sexiest weatherman in the business, Nate Byrne along with famous drag artist Sexy Galexy, the night promises non-stop country dancing with the Devil Goat String Band back to deliver country fun with dance caller Bruce. Courtney Act will also be calling the moves. Country stars The Cartwheels will grace the stage once again with special guest drag queen Brenda Bressed singing country favourites. Close out the night with the DJs keeping everyone on the dancefloor until 1am. Favourite outdoor venue, Victoria Park, will close out ChillOut with Poof Doof following Carnival on Sunday night, March 10. This after party is hugely popular and will sell out as the Poof Doof crew bring the famous Horse Meat Disco to town with international DJs and drag queens. The theme for Poof Doof this year is Denim & Diamonds, so get ready to sparkle.
20 Opinion
Can Trump win the 2024 election? Should we care? Jeff says 'Yes' to both. The 2024 contest to see who will be the next president of the United States, between incumbent Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump, is being called the most important in the country’s history, by many professional political observers.
Adding to the dramatic tension is that if one word can be used to describe the political situation in the US today it is “divided”. Between the progressive liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans there is no apparent common ground, no space for negotiation, no mutual respect. Democrats want to win in 2024 so they can continue trying to find solutions to the myriad problems facing the country. Republicans want power and they want to obliterate their Democratic opponents in the process. In early 2016 I was greeted by a friend in the Coles parking lot in downtown Daylesford. He had a question for me. “He can’t win, can he?” was the fearful query - “he” being Donald Trump, and my friend was asking me, as an American, if I believed Trump had a chance to win in the upcoming US presidential election. “Yes, he absolutely can win,” was my reply. It turned out I was wrong, but right. Trump lost to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election by almost 3 million votes, but through the peculiar institution called the Electoral College, he won the presidency. Four years of a Trump presidency convinced enough Americans that he was unfit to hold public office - he lost both the popular vote and the Electoral College, and don’t let anyone tell you that the 2020 election was rigged or stolen. It wasn’t. So now it is 2024 and I can feel the fear of my friend in the Coles parking lot welling up again. Trump can’t win, can he? As I am writing this, Trump has been declared the winner of a piece of political theatre called the Iowa Caucus, which, in a normal presidential campaign, is a relatively insignificant event used to judge who the voters in the state of Iowa want to see as their party’s nominee in the national election. In 2016 most political commentators dismissed Trump as a publicity seeking clown, a self-promoting con man and reality-show TV personality. In 2024, after his so-called “landslide” victory in Iowa, even supposedly legitimate media sources such as the New York Times are diving for their dictionaries looking for bigger and better adjectives to describe the significance of the event. But looked at another way, Iowa is one of the most thoroughly conservative states, but only 51 per cent of eligible voters selected Trump, and he was running against inept Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and insignificant Nikki Haley. In other words, after being embarrassed in 2016, the US media machine is blowing gale-force hot air into Trump’s sails in 2024. Previously I described a two-party system in play in the US, but it isn’t that simple. Poised against the Democrats is a divided Republican Party: traditional Republicans, sometimes nostalgically called the party of Ronald Reagan, who served as president from 1981-89, who supposedly believe in low taxes and minimal government intervention; and a relatively new force, the MAGA Republicans, who have rapidly evolved into an anti-democracy cult with Donald Trump at its head and the Murdoch-owned Fox News as its propaganda wing. The Biden administration has had to handle wars in Ukraine and in Gaza, steep economic inflation and worsening pressures on the country’s southern border brought on by many thousands of people seeking entry into the US in search of a better life. China remains a potent adversary, and the Biden government has at least made an effort to address climate change, which should have been at the top of the list, but wasn’t. Meanwhile, after four years as president, Donald Trump racked up 91 charges across four criminal cases, including 44 federal charges and 47 state charges, all felonies. He has been found guilty of sexual abuse and defamation against writer E. Jean Carroll, his companies have been found guilty on multiple charges of criminal fraud and keeping false business records in a long-running scheme to avoid paying taxes. Trump has been on the campaign trail since he was ousted from office in 2020, and his rallies across the country have taken on the air of holy-roller revivals or rock-star concerts, with his delirious followers (commentator Jeff Tiedrich calls them “worshippers”) decked out in MAGA outfits in red, white and blue.
In these events Trump rages and complains wildly and often incoherently about how badly he has been treated, how innocent he is of all the charges against him, how the 2020 election was stolen from him, and how he will punish all those who failed to support him. Lately he has taken to paraphrasing the writings of Adolf Hitler, describing his opponents as vermin and accusing migrants of poisoning the pure blood of America. He has quipped about becoming a dictator, if re-elected. Sadly, these deranged comments have increased Trump’s support in parts of the country. He has tapped into a bitter, hateful, repressed fear among many Americans: fear of migrants, fear of people with some “other” sexual orientation, fear of empowered women. Trump speaks to these people, encourages their fears and hatreds, tells them liberal progressive ideas are destroying their way of life. And they hear him and believe him. They are willing to give up on American democracy. Can he win in 2024? Yes, absolutely. But we all better hope not.
After many happy years living in Victoria, former Wheatsheaf resident Jeff Glorfeld, and his wife Carol, went back to California, where he has survived bushfires, snowstorms and drought. And Trump. Once so far. And Covid. The cicadas and locusts didn’t arrive…well, not yet. While he waits for them, Jeff hosts a radio show with 60 minutes of Australian music, the Down Under Hour, on radio KKRN 88.5FM, streaming live at KKRN.org, on Thursdays at 8am. Tune in!
Beef, ginger and mushroom stir fry 400g rump steak 4 tbsp oyster sauce 2 tbsp dark soy sauce 1-2 tbsp sunflower or canola oil Fresh ginger, about 3cm, finely chopped 300g spinach, bok choy or other seasonal green 150g chestnut mushrooms*, sliced Rice or noodles Cut rump across the grain into thin slices. Mix oyster and soy sauces together and set aside. Heat wok until smoking hot and add a 1tsp oil. Stir-fry meat in small batches until browned all over. Add oil as required. Set aside meat and wipe the wok clean. Add a little more oil. Stir-fry the ginger until golden, then add the greens and mushrooms. Cook for a few minutes, stirring frequently, then add the steak and sauce mixture. Cook for a further 3-4 minutes. Serve over rice or noodles. * Chestnut mushrooms are a small brown mushroom. You can also use shiitake, button, enoki, oyster or chanterelle mushrooms. For this recipe and many others, click on the QR code or visit daylesfordmeatco.com.au
THIS WEEKS SPECIALS GREENHILLS WHOLE RUMP
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One of the most versatile cuts, the rump is full of flavour. As the name suggests, it is from the backside of the cow so it is a hard-working muscle. Whilst not as tender as Scotch or Sirloin, it makes up for it with bangs of flavour. Average weight 3.5-4kg. Amazing value for money!
GREENHILLS LAMB HALF BOX
This premium lamb is what graces the tables of some of the country’s best restaurants including our very own Lakehouse. Includes whole leg lamb, 4 chump chops, 6 loin chops, 8 point rack lamb, 8 BBQ chops, 1 lamb shank, 1 set lamb ribs, and half lamb neck.
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Weights can vary slightly hence why we quote quantity rather than weight however these are our very own farm-grown lambs and tend to be a good size.
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22 Opinion
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Kyle’s Rant
Local Lines
What a rip-off this summer has been - and in the wake of the Bureau of music in the round Meteorology declaring an El Niño event underway on September 19 last year, which should have meant a hot dry summer. my first round record Our weather bureau was a few months behind with their declaration from the the breaking point other bureaus in the world, so a considered declaration I suppose. But none of it ten cents at a school fete makes sense, with a lot of rain, jumpers and jeans on every other week and sometimes a “feels like” temperature of 12 degrees. And who invented a “feels like” temperature anyway, it either is or it isn’t. I wish I could say "Sorry Constable, it only felt like I was doing 60" when I was actually doing 80 according to his speed camera. Or follow a recipe that calls for a low cooking temp of 120 degrees and I burn the dish because the oven temperature "felt cold" but was 200. But back to the weather. As I write this Cyclone Kirrily is getting set to flood the hell out of Far North Queensland and hopefully this time the mainstream media won’t make the same mistake as they did with Cyclone Jasper. The problem with Jasper was that they got all the news presenters to wade out into the storm and report live on TV on, let’s face it, initially a bit of a fizzer of a cyclone. The networks then flew them all back home and missed the big show, the terrible flooding. And by then the airport was washed out and roads closed, so it was local media only and the thousands of hours of amateur footage to go through from the flood victims was all they could go on. By the time we go to press it will be interesting to see what happened in terms of reporting from Kirrily. There has already been a lot of speculation about whether it will form a cyclone or just be a bad weather system. So, an interesting fact. A cyclone doesn’t just form, it becomes a low-pressure system which rotates clockwise and when it reaches the magic number of around 960 millibars it is then recategorised into a cyclone - thanks Wikipedia. But I digress. Back to home. Those of us who have lived around the district before 2019 know the weather of the Central Highlands can deliver a beautiful, long summer worthy of having a pool installed, and used for at least a few months - unless you have something really heated or room for one inside. I do know of one house in Glenlyon with an indoor pool. Not sharing names though. But since December 2019 the summers here have been diabolical with "bite through you" south-easterlies being a common thing where the southern side of the Ranges stop and give way to the historically dryer northern side, as in Lyonville to Glenlyon. Traditionally the weather is like chalk and cheese, especially during southeasterlies even though as the crow flies it’s only around 10 kilometres, but these days we seem to get more water-laden winds from that direction. And, of course, there is no truth to climate change, said tongue firmly in cheek. So, as we say hello to the last month of the summer I say what a bloody scam. I bought a few new pairs of shorts in readiness and some banger uber-cool shirts from the Mill Markets and have only had a couple of times to trot them out. Cruel Summer rant over…
Catherine
KING MP
Federal Member for Ballarat 03 5338 8123 Catherine.King.MP@aph.gov.au CatherineKingMP @CatherineKingMP
Standing up for our Community!
www.catherineking.com.au Authorised by Catherine King, Australian Labor Party, 5/9 Sydney Avenue Barton ACT.
scratched to buggery but what did it matter I had no record player on the Sunshine label ya ya on the flip side Normie Rowe had to wait when I did get round to playing it on the Sanyo my uncle brought back from Japan it was awful of course but I was hooked on moving black vinyl
now music just emerges fully formed on phones no more pencil winding in the holes of an unspooled cassette instead of pressed records we press buttons it sounds fab keeps going never deteriorates but I miss the rituals the circularity the spin - Bill Wootton
the passage of sapphire along curved runnels squeezing out sounds and records grew along with my teenage self from singles to LPs before long I was experienced not necessarily stoned no longer dizzy like Tommy Roe doors opened / my fire was lit come the cd age the shrunken size was a shock but still the disc though unwatchable twirled away somewhere
Bill still has his collection of cruddy singles and likes the look and feel of them. The better ones sound the worst of course due to overplaying. Local Lines features poetry by locals about local and any other matters. Please submit poems to Bill Wootton at cottlesbreedge@gmail.com
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Pick me, pick me! Hey! I’m Herbert. I am three months old and I am a ginger and white bundle of fun.
Opinion 23
Just sayin’... By Donna Kelly It's been a long time since I wore a mask but I did recently. It was on a little New Year break on a shortish flight to Queensland.
I am a real cutie and I love to have as much attention as possible. I love to be with people and I am always ready to play. I would love to find a family that will shower me with love and attention. I would fit in well with any good, caring home or family. You can meet me at the Mount Alexander Animal Welfare (MAAW) shelter in Castlemaine. Phone: 5472 5277. Microchip no. 56000016181142
Link: www.maaw.org.au (Pick me, pick me is run in memory of Rosie & Curly - we picked them. And proudly supported by Daylesford's
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Covid was riding another wave and I thought "why risk it?" and donned my mask at Tullamarine. I thought I could just wear it on the plane and then when everyone had settled down, take it off and sip a chardonnay. Wrong. I felt like I was on the Covid Express. From every corner of the plane came a cough or a sneeze or a snuffle. It was like an Emergency Room Orchestra, a splutter here, an ah-choo there. If someone had started farting it would have made the trifecta. So I kept my N95 mask on for the two hours and decided to forego the beverage. If you know me, not an easy choice... But it got me thinking about the pandemic. Not that I would ever want to go back there - and does it feel like a bad dream now to anyone else? - but some things were OK. Wearing masks while shopping, for example. If you wore a decent mask, and in mid-winter, and let's face it, mid-summer, a beanie, you were pretty much unrecognisable. So you could do the whole supermarket run without a chat in sight. Bliss. Sometimes...you know what I mean. Masks also meant you could have a glass of wine with lunch and still visit the doctor without the risk of being asked about your alcohol intake. Of course that is no more than two standard drinks a day, with two days off each week. Of course. And then there were the lockdowns. Boring yes but Kyle did manage to perfect two dishes, seafood linguine (thanks Claire) and a lovely ramen, he created on his own. He only got it wrong once when he used a vegan chicken stock. Makes you feel better but just not the same I did not do the sourdough thing, too hard to keep feeding the stupid starter, but I did learn how to cook perfect baguettes. And I only burnt myself once. We have a stock standard oven so I put a bowl of water in the bottom to create steam. Of course I forgot when I opened the oven and out it blew. If you are interested, in the recipe not the steam burns, Google Chef John and baguettes. We kept working so we didn't get to clean out the pantry but we did learn that while you couldn't buy chicken to save yourself, no-one wanted duck. So that was a nice change from the tins of tomatoes and bags of rice I had stocked up on. I don't know why. Herd mentality perhaps. There was also some time out which was OK. We got to know the characteristics of every magpie that landed in the garden - and even named them. I think it was about then we started realising we were going downhill with our mental health. Sort of kidding, sort of not. I mean, when Kyle calls out "hello, Uncle Bulgaria", life has taken a turn for the worse. Anyway, it's coming up for our next vaccine, number five or six I think. I know a lot of people are not worrying anymore but what's another vaccine in the scheme of things. It doesn't harm anyone else so I just go along and get it done. And if I think I need to wear a mask I don't mind popping one on. I think on the plane about 10 per cent of the passengers were wearing them, which is about the same number of people who have not had Covid. Number crunching - anyone? I just wish the people wearing the masks were also the people on the plane coughing and spluttering. Yes it might be a summer cold but I don't want one of them either. Just sayin'...
Ageing DisGracefully members, including Max Primmer, get together at the Daylesford Mill Markets cafe on Thursdays at 11am. All welcome. For information email ageingdis3461@gmail. com, call 0427 131 249 or head to the Ageing DisGracefully Facebook page. Ageing DisGracefully is an initiative of Hepburn House.
24 Crossword
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W RD
CROSS
Unsee this! Advertise here. Here is the crossword solution for Edition 297. How did you go? All words in the crossword appear somewhere in the same edition of The Local.
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• Roller Shutters • Security Doors • Fly Screens
75
SECURITY DOORS MADE TO MEASURE AT FACTORY DIRECT PRICES *Conditions apply.
Hepburn Shire & Ballarat
Phone: 03 5464 7380 or Michael 0422 643 901 Email: sales@onsiteflyscreensballarat.com.au www.onsiteflyscreens.com.au MON-FRI: 7.30AM-5PM SAT: 7.30AM2.30PM
SLEEPERS & EDGING
topsoil & compost
FEATURE ROCK
AGGREGATES & SCREENINGS
Mulches
SAND
15 Mink Street Daylesford
Business Directory - Support Local! John R Dorsett AIPA IFA
Tree Removal Tree Pruning Stump Grinding Cable & Bracing Wind & Storm Damage Weight Reduction Fully Insured
Registered Tax Agent / Public Practitioner Available to assist with all general accounting services and preparation / electronic lodgement of Tax Returns and BAS for Individuals, Sole Traders, Partnerships, Trusts and Companies.
john.cfmooney@bigpond.com 0420 751 640 03 5424 1441 19 Albert Street, Trentham VIC 3458
Chris Mackenzie - Qualified Arborist
0407 768 477 chris@ascenttreesolutions.com.au
www.ascenttreesolutions.com.au
Josh Nicholas | 0431 764 750 Professional Arborists servicing the Hepburn Shire. jueshuex@yahoo.com | thetreedavinci.com.au
Garden Maintenance
Malone Tree Services Liam Malone . Limited Access . Fully Insured .Specialists Qualified . Mulching Available
0423 945 436
For the best looking garden in the street...
Call our new franchisee James Lindsay today for a free quote on 131 546
Your local Jim’s team can help
For all your LPG needs WHY ELGAS? Australia's largest LPG provider Easy online ordering Flexible plans to suit your needs Free and reliable delivery from ay Stihl Shop Daylesford Sign up tod Local Safe Reliable
131 161 elgas.com.au
Servicing commercial refrigeration domestic and commercial air conditioning
trenthamselfstorage@outlook.com
DAYLESFORD APPLIANCE SERVICE
das3460@bigpond.com
electrical appliance repair service washer, dryer, fridge, dishwasher, oven, cook top etc. Sales-Service-Maintenance-Installation -Mobile coolroom hire Garry Rodoni: 0417 734 206 Chris Milham: 0436 402 730
Call Kiyo on
0419 267 685
das3460@bigpond.com
Business Directory - Buy Local Consulting in Administration & Management Book-keeping Administration Payroll Temp service Supplier monthly reconciliation Qualified to manage a small team of office workers Christ Jules Services Julie Hanson 0459 619 701 julphil.hanson@gmail.com
Ph:0434 357 882
www.christjulesservices.com.au
REMOVALISTS
LET US HELP YOU MOVE TO YOUR HOME WITH OUR CARING FRIENDLY TEAM No matter if you are moving to our region for the first time, moving to the big smoke or just moving down the road - we will take care of you and your prized possessions like it’s our own home we are moving. Peace of Mind. Reliable Friendly Service. Locally owned and operated.
Call 03 5348 6611 www.oztrans.com.au F R E I G H T · T R A N S P O RT · R E M OVA L S DAYLESFO RD A ND CENTRA L HIGH LA ND S
REGULAR RUNS TO MELBOURNE GEELONG BALLARAT AND BENDIGO
SWIFT CONVEYANCING DELIVERING THE REGION’S BEST FREIGHT FOR OVER 25 YEARS. BULK DRY FREIGHT PRODUCE CARTAGE BULK REFRIGERATED FREIGHT PARCELS AND PALLETS
FURNITURE REMOVALS FURNITURE DELIVERY ART AND SCULPTURE MELBOURNE DEPOT LARGE & SMALL TRUCKS
Peace of Mind. Reliable Friendly Service. Locally owned and operated.
Call 03 5348 6611 www.oztrans.com.au F R E I G H T · T R A N S P O RT · R E M OVA L S DAY LES FORD AND CENTRAL HIGH LANDS
REGULAR RUNS TO MELBOURNE GEELONG BALLARAT AND BENDIGO
KIRSTIE SWIFT Licenced Conveyancer 0451 065 913 kirstie@swiftconvey.com.au PO Box 256, Daylesford, Vic 3460
swiftconveyancingvictoria.com.au
Are you a tradie? Run a business? Advertise here for just $22 per week.
Artists of the Central Highlands
with Eve Lamb