The Local January 30, 2022

272 Deep focus on film

The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

Front cover: Radio Springs Hotel owner Ken Parfrey is just one of the projectionists featured in a new documentary about the move from film to the digital era. Splice Here: A Projected Odyssey, is the creation of filmmaker and former projectionist Rob ‘Bert’ Murphy. Read all about the documentary on page 13.

Image: Kyle Barnes

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

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

The next edition is out on Monday, February 13, 2023. or online on Sunday, February 12 at www.tlnews.com.au

Space bookings: Wednesday, February 8

Copy deadline: Thursday, February 9

Editorial deadline: Thursday, February 9

Editorial: 0418 576 513 | Advertising: 0416 104 283 news@tlnews.com.au | kyle@tlnews.com.au

Managing editor | Donna Kelly General manager | Kyle Barnes

Sub-editors | Nick Bunning, Lindsay Smith & Chester

Editorial assistant | Eve Lamb 0493 632 843

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

Photographers | Kyle Barnes & David White

Graphic designer | Dianne Caithness

Contributors: Glen Heyne (gardening), Darren Lowe (gigs), Matthew Richardson (money) and Jen Clarke (recipes).

Accounts | Julie Hanson Delivery | Tony Sawrey

STAGE 1: BLAMPIED-KOOROOCHEANg ROAD to EAST STREET

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

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

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

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

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

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

For more information and project updates:

chw.net.au/daylesfordwater

Community Awards recipients announced

HUMBLED and “a bit surprised” is the way farmer John Drife describes discovering he’s this year’s Hepburn Shire Citizen of the Year.

At a civic event in Daylesford last Wednesday, the Hepburn Shire Council named John its Citizen of The Year, also announcing Daylesford’s Atticus Punt-Trethewey as its Young Citizen of the Year.

The Great Dividing Trail Association’s Reconciliation Walks took out Event of the Year as part of the shire’s 2023 Community Awards.

“I was a little bit surprised. It’s very humbling just to be nominated and I’d like to congratulate all the others who were nominated,” said Clunes farmer John Drife.

John and Billie Henderson-Drife farm sheep, cattle and crops in the Glendaruel-Mount Beckworth area just out of Clunes. Both of their families settled in the area back in the mid-1800s.

John paid special homage to his wife Billie, stating that he believed she deserved the award as well.

The farmer is a pivotal part of the community in and around Clunes. He’s on many committees and community groups including the CFA (a member for more than half a century), Waubra Wind Farm Community Fund Committee, Mt Bolton/ Beckworth Landcare Group, Clunes & District Agricultural Society Committee and many more.

John coordinated multiple fundraisers for individuals and groups, in particular playing a central role in Bushy’s Cutout fundraiser in 2018, which raised more than $85,000 to support local shearer Tony ‘Bushy’ Hill in his battle with Motor Neurone Disease.

Other Citizen of the Year nominees were Terry Bolton, Gayle Chappell, Michelle Clifford, Margaret Giles, Natasha Hall and Jennifer Hind.

The shire’s Young Citizen of The Year, Daylesford’s Atticus Punt-Trethewey, was similarly humble.

“It’s not something I ever would have expected,” he said.

The 21-year-old Australian College of the Arts music production student initiated and organised the free youth music event AltWave, held for the first time last year in the Daylesford Town Hall.

Atticus engaged a team of young musicians and entertainers and coordinated support of community groups and businesses to run the event that raised awareness and money for youth mental health.

“I guess more than anything I’m just grateful that the message we’re trying to spread with AltWave has cut through,” said Atticus, who is already busily planning the next AltWave event for later this year.

“The issues that young people face in the region are very important,” he said.

The other nominees for the shire’s Young Citizen award were Flossy Haughie, Lucinda Lowe and Sasha Taylor.

Meanwhile, president of The Great Dividing Trail Association, Daylesford’s Tim Bach, was keen to pay homage to others when the association’s Reconciliation Walks scooped the shire’s Event of the Year award.

“The driving force for this particular event was Barry Golding who did a lot of the research and got permission from landholders, because some of the walks cross onto private land, and he liaised with the Djarra people,” Tim said.

As part of its ongoing, wider guided walks and rides program, the Great Dividing Trail Association held educational guided walks to local sites where Aboriginal Protectorates had been established in the mid-1800s.

The walks highlighted the early post-contact history of First Nations peoples and emphasised the need to acknowledge their mistreatment as a step in the reconciliation process.

The Reconciliation Walks had strong support from Djarra people and have become a regular feature of the GDTA’s wider guided walk program.

“This year we are doing two more walks in significant Aboriginal areas – one to Mount Beckworth on Sunday, August 27 and one to Mount Tarrengower on Sunday, June 25,” Tim said.

“I’m honoured that we received this award. I’m surprised too because there were some really high quality nominations and I feel that we are only a little organisation.”

The other nominees for the shire’s Event of The Year award were AltWave Youth Music Event, CresFest and Wombat Trees Festive Project.

Above, from left, Tim Bach, John Drife and Atticus Punt-Trethewey

Words: Eve Lamb | Image: Supplied

Electoral structure review of Hepburn Shire

Notice of preliminary submission period

Notice of preliminary submission period

An electoral representation advisory panel is reviewing the electoral structure of Hepburn Shire Council under the Local Government Act 2020 (the Act).

The electoral representation advisory panel is an independent body appointed by the Minister for Local Government to make a recommendation to the Minister on electoral structures for councils requiring a review. The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) is providing administrative and technical support to the panels.

Under the Act, all rural shire councils must now have electoral structures that are either:

• unsubdivided

• divided into single councillor wards

• divided into multi-councillor wards with an equal number of councillors per ward.

The review of Hepburn Shire Council will consider the appropriate:

• number of councillors

• electoral structure.

If the council is subdivided, the review will consider the appropriate:

• number of wards

• ward boundaries

• number of councillors per ward

• ward names.

Council

Making a submission

You are invited to make a preliminary submission to the panel to have your say on the electoral structure of Hepburn Shire Council. Submissions open at 9 am on Wednesday 8 February 2023.

You can view a submission guide and council factsheet to help you write your submission on the VEC website. The website also features a public submission tool, which you can use to map your proposed electoral structure and make a submission.

The panel will consider these submissions before releasing a preliminary report, outlining possible options for the electoral structure of Hepburn Shire Council.

You must make your submission by 5 pm on Wednesday 1 March 2023:

• online at vec.vic.gov.au

• by email: Hepburn.ERAPSubmissions@vec.vic.gov.au

• by post: VEC, Level 11, 530 Collins Street, Melbourne

VIC 3000

Public information sessions

Online public information sessions to explain the processes and open the preliminary submissions period will be held on Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 February 2023.

For more information please visit vec.vic.gov.au.

Public information sessions:

• 12 pm, Monday 6 February 2023

• 6 pm, Tuesday 7 February 2023

Please visit vec.vic.gov.au to register

Preliminary submissions close 5

on Wednesday 1 March 2023

New citizens welcomed to Hepburn Shire

Twenty-one people took the pledge to become Australian citizens at Hepburn Shire Council's civic event last Wednesday, January 25.

The new citizens, pictured above with family members watching on, hailed from Argentina, Britain, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Israel, Italy, France, Germany, New Zealand, Philippines, Romania and United States.

One of those taking the pledge was Denise Connors, pictured right with her husband Ian. Denise arrived in Australia from the US 35 years ago and after travelling she eventually met her husband Ian, an Australian, with whom she has run Advanced Trees Trentham for many years, while also working in aged care in Kyneton.

"It was just time," she said. "It was partially to do with Covid - if I had been in the US during a lockdown that would have been difficult, but it was really just time. I had a good friend help me with the paperwork, and apart from that, it was easy."

Denise said the council ceremony was "very nice" and she also enjoyed watching the shire's awards handed out.

Asked if she felt differently after the ceremony, Denise said she was "pleased". "I am just proud that I have finally done it, and I am very happy to be an Australian."

Words: Donna Kelly

The 3rd annual TUBEROUS BEGONIA & FUCHSIA SHOW

THE TU BEROUS BEGONIA GARDEN

Bloomin' beautiful

For the third year, the Tuberous Begonia Garden in Ashbourne is open in February and March for its annual Tuberous Begonia and Fuchsia Show.

Now part of the gardener’s calendar, Peter Harris and Jesse Exiner put on this show due to Peter’s passion for tuberous begonias. His interest has been lifelong, after started in the nursery industry at the age of 14.

Open EVERY WEEKEND 10am - 4pm

From the first weekend in February 2023 till the first weekend in April 2023

We have hundreds of Begonias and Fuchsias for sale in pots, hanging baskets and on display. The ideal UNIQUE GIFT.

(Special Occasions, Birthdays, Mother’s Day)

A simple maintenance sheet with growing instructions supplied with each purchase and a YOU TUBE video named “Tuberous Begonia Maintenance Tips” available online.

For more information, go to: https://www.whitehousenursery.com.au/tuberous-begonias/ Ring Jesse Exiner 0419 002 651 or Peter Harris on 0400 313 703 Please note - there are no public toilets available on site due to increase of Covid cases in Victoria There are some clean public toilets in Anslow St near the corner High St, Woodend.

691 Ashbourne Rd, Ashbourne via Woodend VIC 3442

(Car & Bus Parking at rear of property)

Jesse said while the show was not just for viewing, with people able to buy tuberous begonias which will flower until May. "There will be hundreds to choose from as either hanging baskets or as a standard plant. And each plant comes with a naming right, as no two plants are the same - making them the perfect gift.

"There are so many colours and shapes of blooms, it's hard to choose but these beautiful shade-loving plants will brighten up the inside of your home, verandah or porch - bringing joy and happiness year after year."

To make looking after your tuberous begonias easy, Jesse has recorded a threeminute YouTube video: Tuberous Begonia Maintenance Tips. In his video, Jesse shows every stage of growing the tuberous begonia, and how to feed, water and store them over winter. Each plant also comes with a written maintenance suggestions.

Another shade-loving, and a well-loved favourite, is the fuchsia. Peter and Jesse will have about 50 varieties on show which are also for sale.

"Fuchsias are very popular again because of their shade-loving qualities and their beautiful flowers with so many variations of colour," Jesse said. "A suggestion sheet for placing and maintaining your fuchsias is supplied with each purchase."

The show is free to enter with carparking at the rear of the property.

The show opens from 10am to 4pm, Saturday and Sunday, on the first weekend in February, until the first weekend in April. Unfortunately, due to Covid, there are no public toilets available on the property but they are nearby at Woodend or Trentham.

Driving down emissions

ELECTRIC vehicle owners are keenly watching to see when the newly installed charge station at Creswick will come online.

It’s one of three being installed under a collaboration involving Hepburn Shire Council, the state government, Chargefox and Hepburn Energy.

New charge stations are also set to be installed at Hepburn Springs and at Trentham over coming months, while the new Creswick station is next to the town’s visitor information centre.

This follows Chargefox securing $89,500 through the Victorian Government’s Destination Charging Across Victoria Program to enable installation of the new 50kW DC fast-chargers at the three locations.

The program is the first launched under the Acceleration of Zero Emissions Vehicle Adoption Program - part of the Zero Emissions Vehicle Roadmap. The Roadmap is a $100 million package of policies and programs to encourage the adoption of zero emissions vehicles.

The program aims to install about 141 EV fast-charging stations at 116 key tourist destinations and high-use locations across Victoria by July this year with the charging stations to be deployed on the Chargefox network, the largest EV charging network in Australia.

“We are excited to expand our network in the Hepburn Shire, which is a beacon of sustainability initiatives,” Evan Beaver, head of Charging at Chargefox, said.

Hepburn Shire mayor Cr Brian Hood said the Creswick station would open soon.

“Connection to the network is under way and it just needs to be tested and then there’ll be an opening.”

Each of the new 50kW DC fast-chargers are to be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy, and availability of underground electricity supply has been a key factor in determining the locations for the new charge stations.

A little further down the track, the installation of a new EV charge station is also slated for Clunes. “We’ve got a further one planned for Clunes. It’s a ‘this-year’ project. That will take the number to five,” Cr Hood said.

Into the longer term, a second EV charge station is also mooted for Daylesford, complementing the town’s existing charge station located outside the town hall. And an EV charge station is also planned for Glenlyon as part of “the longer term plan”.

Installation of the new charge stations is just one of multiple efforts being made by Hepburn Shire to drive down carbon emissions, Cr Hood says.

Under the council’s Sustainable Hepburn strategy it’s also aiming to make inroads in areas including regenerative farming, transitioning its own light vehicle fleet to electric, and establishing a circular economy. It’s currently employing its first circular economy officer.

“Together with the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance and Hepburn Energy we’re also looking into neighbourhood battery storage. We’re doing feasibility and technical studies into how it would work and what role local government would play.”

As to the new charge station at Creswick, Clunes EV owner Patrick Hockey, pictured below, is among the many closely watching – and discussing - the movements in this space.

“The convenience and economy of using an EV is profound,” Mr Hockey said. “Making charging infrastructure available is a no-brainer. The location (of the Creswick charger) will be very convenient, near the supermarket.

“I’d like to see a rank of 12 as the next step.”

Words & image: Eve Lamb

Must sees at ChillOut 2023

Daylesford is a special place, and Emma Ireland would know. After decades working on major events like Bluesfest and Big Day Out as well as organising club and circus events in Melbourne’s inner city scene, she chose to raise her family here well before she became ChillOut Festival director.

“I love this year’s theme, Find Your Wings. It’s as much in celebration of the rediscovery of the bright eyed brown butterfly near Lake Daylesford as it is about finding your community, and your true self.

“I’m telling everyone - find your wings and enjoy the beautiful transformation that is the ChillOut Festival on the long weekend, March 2023. And bring your wings – because we all know how important costumes are.”

This year’s festival will be more accessible for people with disabilities, with improved facilities and inclusion being front and centre of programming and logistics, including an accessible seated area outside the Town Hall at the street parade, more Auslan interpreters and more accessible toilets at Victoria Park.

“We're actively seeking out how to use accessibility best practice across the festival so that people living with a disability can enjoy the weekend,” Emma said.

Events will include the famous bush dance, street parade, and carnival day, as well as new traditions like the All Ages Sound Shell event which started last year by Daylesford Secondary College’s student-led ‘Pride BriGAYde’.

Up and coming LGBTQIA+ talent will rub shoulders with stars like national treasure Kate Miller-Heidke, Drag Race superstars Karen from Finance and Art Simone, as well as Miss First Nation 2021 Cerulean, cabaret queens Dolly Diamond and Tash York, Greg Gould, live music from Dean Arcuri, Tuck Shop Ladies, This Way North, Marz, Jude Perl and more.

“I'm excited to bring back the ChillOut fundraiser lunch at 1pm. There will be surprise guests performing, giveaways, a silent auction, it’s a bit of fun and it helps keep the festival going. We've also brought back welcome drinks at the Daylesford Hotel at 5pm, just like old times.

“And we have two incredible cabaret shows at the Town Hall from 6pm. Diamond and York, and Karen from Finance. We have 55 events this year – so there really is something for everyone.”

Cabaret and comedy shows: Dolly Diamond and Tash York are Attention Seekers | Friday 10 March | 6pm | Daylesford Town Hall

Karen From Finance is Doing Time | Friday 10 March | 8pm | Daylesford Town Hall

Daytime fun: Carnivale: Sunday 12 March | 11am – 5pm | Victoria Park

Find your wings at Carnivale - set up a picnic for a day of community, laughter, singing and joy hosted by our way-beyond-fabulous MC duo Nate Byrne and Art Simone. It’s a full day of stellar performers including Kate Miller-Heidke, as well as community events, kid-friendly activities, dog pageant and the annual “tug of love” rope-pulling competition.

Night dance parties: Ballroom Blitz | Friday 10 March | 8pm - 12 | Victoria Park

Hey Hunny! Saturday 11 March | Daylesford Town Hall | 7pm to 1am

Bush Dance | Saturday 11 March | 8pm - midnight | Victoria Park

Sunday after parties: Poof Doof After Party: Sunday 12 March | 7pm to midnight |

Victoria Park

Tomboy Goes Bush: Sunday 12 March | 5pm to midnight | Daylesford Hotel

The Local is proud to be ChillOut's media partner.

Image: Michele Donnelly Link: www.chilloutfestival.com.au

Just briefly...

Throughout 2023–24, 39 Victorian local councils will undergo electoral structure reviews, with round one reviews for 12 rural shire councils, including Hepburn, Moorabool, Central Goldfields and Mt Alexander shire councils, kicking off this week.

The Local Government Act 2020 introduced several changes, including that all small and large rural shire councils must now have electoral structures that are either unsubdivided, subdivided with single-councillor wards, or multi-councillor wards with an equal number of councillors per ward. Public information sessions will be held on February 6 from noon and February 7 from 6pm. Preliminary submissions open on February 8 at 9am and close on March 1 at 5pm. Link: vec.vic.gov.au

Victorians can pick up two free packets of RATs through their local council to help with early detection and treatment of Covid-19.

State health minister and Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas said the council RAT distribution program was operating across more than 200 local sites, such as libraries and council customer service centres. All eligibility requirements have been removed. Individuals can collect up to two packets for themselves plus up to two packets for each household member per visit while people with a disability or their carer can collect up to four packets of tests.

A free resource has been made available for members of country committees around Australia to help guide them as they make a contribution to their community.

30 tips for being a valued contributor to show societies, rural boards and agricultural committees is an initiative of Agricultural Shows Australia’s Emerging Leaders program. The free, 17-page resource arms young leaders with practical support and guidance to help them, their committees, and the show movement across Australia, thrive. Link: agshowsaustralia.org.au

Wheatsheaf artist Frances Guerin will hold an exhibition, Immortal Diamond, at the Southbank Vitrines on Melbourne from January 30 to February 26.

Frances said the exhibition honoured the dreamers of the first dreams. "The language of dreams arises down the millennia at times, always unexpectedly, pointing to the great secrets written on stones and clay pots, the first music and powering the imagination of those inclined to listen and see." Frances will hold an open studio during the ChillOut weekend. Link: www.francesguerin.com.au

Macedon Ranges Shire Council held a ceremony on Australia Day with 29 people given Australian citizenship and a number of award winners announced.

The Connecting Communities Award went to Romsey Ecotherapy Park Committee and the Healthy People and Environment Award went to joint winners Woodend Masters Football Club and Friends of Daly Nature Reserve. The Business and Tourism Award went to Matthew Barry of Woodend and Citizen of the Year went to Sue Anderson of Gisborne.

With The Rex now in private hands, The Local last week asked the Local Government Inspectorate what was happening in relation to Hepburn Shire Council and the investigation into purchase of the Daylesford building in 2016.

The Local Government Inspectorate wrote back that it was the integrity agency for local government in Victoria. "Our formal investigation into Hepburn Shire Council started in June 2019. It is not appropriate to comment on specific cases until our investigation is complete. The inspectorate will follow a process to communicate the findings to councils, councillors and the community."

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

It was exceptionally pleasing to see a large number of community members attend Council’s Civic Ceremony at Daylesford Town Hall on 25 January. The event was a wonderful opportunity to welcome new Australian citizens – all 21 of them - and to acknowledge the valuable contributions made by the nominees for the Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Community Event of the year awards.

The 21 new citizens came from far and wide – Argentina, Britain, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Israel, Italy, France, Germany, New Zealand, Philippines, Romania and United States – and have chosen to live in our beautiful part of the world. Welcome and congratulations to all!

Nominees for the Citizen of the Year were Terry Bolton, Gayle Chappell, Michelle Clifford, John Drife, Margaret Giles, Natasha Hall and Jennifer Hind.

Congratulations to the 2023 Citizen of the Year John Drife. John is a pivotal part of the Clunes and surrounding community which is concreted by his dedication to all the committees and community groups he serves on. Over the years he has donated his time to the CFA, School Council, the Mt Bolton-Beckworth Landcare Group, and the Clunes and District Agricultural Society Committee, and has always stepped forward to support friends and neighbours.

Nominees for the Young Citizen of the Year were Flossy Haughie, Lucinda Lowe, Atticus Punt-Trethewey and Sasha Taylor.

Congratulations to the 2023 Young Citizen of the Year Atticus PuntTrethewey. In 2022, Atticus engaged a team of young people, young musicians and entertainers, community groups and businesses to initiate a new youth music event. His persistence and willingness to ask for help encouraged everyone to work together well and provide an opportunity for young musicians to perform, people of all ages and abilities to come together as a community, whilst raising awareness and money for youth mental health.

Nominees for the Community Event of the Year were AltWave Youth Music Event, CresFest, Reconciliation Walks and Wombat Trees community project.

Congratulations to The Great Dividing Trail Association Reconciliation Walks. Based in Daylesford, GDTA led two walks, open to the public, which focussed on local sites of Aboriginal Protectorates built between 1840 and 1849. These events highlighted the early post-contact history of Indigenous people and emphasised the need to acknowledge mistreatment of Aboriginal people as a step in the Reconciliation process.

And thank you to all nominees for your significant and valuable contributions to our community.

Cr Brian Hood, MAYOR

COMMUNITY AWARDS RECIPIENTS

DOG PARK FOR TRENTHAM

Fences are now in place for the trial off-lead dog park in Trentham. The trial site is the park near Trentham Swimming Pool, formally named Trentham Recreation Reserve. This trial is a quick and lowcost way to improve safety for children at the playground, while giving four-legged friends the chance to run free.

We’re working on a broader project for dog parks around the Shire, and more information will be available later this year.

COMMUNITY GRANTS OPEN

The latest round of our community grants are now open and we invite community groups and not-for-profits to apply.

Check out the guidelines and apply on our website at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/grants

ARTS & CULTURE STRATEGY

Council is starting the next stage of engagement for the Arts & Culture Strategy. We’re keen to hear from the creative sector and community to further guide this strategy.

We’ve launched a new online survey which is available at https://participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/arts-culture-strategy Even if you completed the stage 1 survey last year, we’d love to hear from you. Survey closes 31 March.

JOIN OUR TEAM

Are you looking for a career move or a job closer to home? We are recruiting new staff across a number of roles. Along with great teammates, we offer attractive and flexible working arrangements. Stay up-to-date with the latest job opportunities and apply at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/jobs.

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

Congratulations to the nominees and winners of our 2023 Community Awards. Award recipients are Tim Bach representing The Great Dividing Trail Association Reconciliation Walks – Event of the Year, John Drife – Citizen of the Year and Atticus PuntTrethewey – Young Citizen of the Year.

Know the COLOURS

TAKE THE ACTIONS TO SURVIVE

Across Australia, the Fire Danger Rating system has changed. Using real-time scientific data, it now gives you a more accurate rating of the risk level if a fire was to start in your area. Each colour represents the actions you need to take to stay safe. If it’s orange, the fire risk is Extreme, so you need to take action now and be ready to go. The safest option is to leave early.

Plan. Act. S u r v ive. G o to v ic . gov. au/knowfire

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

Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

Hepburn House and regional Vic: best ever

Jo Beswick has already led an amazing life but she says moving to the Central Highlands and taking up the position of care manager at Hepburn House are the “best decisions ever”.

Jo started her working life in international trade finance and lived away from Australia in places including China, London and Switzerland for many years.

“I was really lucky to travel the world but I actually always wanted to be a nurse. The only reason I didn’t go into nursing when I left school was because my father didn’t want me to. He thought finance would be better money.

“But after I had my second daughter and it was time to go back to work I didn’t want to go back to the corporate world – so I finally ended up in the world of nursing. That was 12 years ago.”

Jo worked in the acute sector for many years and then gained experience in other fields including medical, surgical oncology and orthopaedics, “and a little bit of mental health” and then decided to get into management.

“Someone told me to get into aged care because you can progress much quicker but really the biggest drive for me was that I really love people and can talk easily with people. And I had noticed that with nursing in a hospital you meet amazing people but they are only with you for a few days – and I always found myself wondering how they were.

“With aged care you can form a long-term relationship, not only with the resident but also the family members. And that is really why I decided on aged care.”

Jo said the move to regional Victoria after many years in Melbourne, came three years ago when she was headhunted for a 12-month contract at Bendigo.

“That lead me to regional life and I really loved it and so I sold my home in Melbourne and am now living on a big property at Kyneton with my daughters, who are now 25, 22 and 15 and three cats, two ragdolls called Paisley and Paddington and a Siamese called Twiggy, and Remy the Staffordshire bull terrier. It’s the best decision I have ever made and I have never looked back.”

Jo said while it was only her second week at Hepburn House she was loving it. “Everybody is so lovely and really supportive, the residents are just so nice, and the families as well, and the staff are just amazing. I am living my best life.”

Advertorial

PETstock: For all creatures great and small

As all pet owners know, running out of pet food is not an option.

So there’s little doubt that when Matt and Melissa Barnes opened Daylesford's PETstock store just over a year ago, many pet and livestock owners relaxed a little.

One of the first things they did on purchasing the former Stockfeed store on Knox Street was to extend trading hours.

"We extended the opening hours on our first day," says Matt, who with Melissa, also owns and operates the Castlemaine PETstock store. We're open seven days a week and our hours are now 9am to 4pm weekends, and 8.30am to 5.30pm weekdays," Matt says.

Understanding the practical needs of all sorts of pets and livestock is something they’ve honed over many years. Matt and Melissa had taken on the PETstock franchise for the Hoppers Crossing store way back in 2003.

"That was back when there were only about 17 PETstock stores across Australia, and now there’s over 200,” Matt says. In 2018 the couple made a big move, purchasing the Castlemaine PETstock store. "We sold our house, bought a little house in Castlemaine and moved with our four kids," says Matt.

Their purchase of the Daylesford store on Knox Street in November 2021 now strengthens their place in the lives of local pet owners. "I think one of our strengths is that we have a very generous rewards program,” Matt says.

"There was already a good product range at this store but now that it's a PETstock, this has expanded even more and everything on the PETstock website is available to our customers. We have an extensive online offering, and click and collect is available from our Daylesford store.”

Matt doesn’t hesitate when asked what he enjoys most about his work.

"It's always the customer interaction," he says. "It's all about customer service, things like carrying goods out to the car. And we do deliveries two or three times a week. People take their pets very seriously, whether it’s horses or goats or pigs or cats.”

The couple's own household includes Rhodesian ridgeback pup Lilybet, Jack Russell Dusty, and cats Millie, Chippy and Kevin.

"It's nice to talk to people about their pets. It always brings a smile to their face.

"Covid really highlighted the importance of the bond between pets and people, especially for those who live on their own. We love serving the Daylesford community and we're here for the long term."

Advertorial

Pictured, Matt and Melissa Barnes with son Harrison, and pooches Lilybet and Dusty

Cosmo BLOOMing

BLOOM, an exhibition of new paintings by local artist Kevin Smith is now showing at the The Cosmopolitan Hotel in Trentham.

The new paintings, created in his Little Hampton studio during the past three years of Covid lockdowns, capture the townscapes and landscapes of the central highlands and beyond in Kevin's colourful, vibrant, expressionist style.

Trained in fine arts at the National Gallery Art School in the 1960s, Kevin has been creating, exhibiting and selling his original works for almost 60 years. He has won multiple awards including the Swiss Italian Art Prize in Daylesford and Trentham Art Show prizes for best oil, acrylic, pastel and best sculpture.

To meet the artist, head to The Cosmo on Saturdays, February 4 and 11 from 4pm to 6pm.

Kevin said the title BLOOM expressed the joy of "being able to once again connect with the creative loving populace".

"The time has come to help the creatives of the region to 'bloom and blossom' after being unable to exhibit and sell their works for the past three years."

The exhibition runs till the end of March.

Image: Tony Sawrey

The doco history of the projectionists' craft

ADECADE ago, cinema complexes across Australia were going digital, dumping their old analog equipment and almost overnight, projectionists found themselves out of a job.

Gone were the old large film reels as movie releases moved to what were known as Digital Cinema Packages.

One of those projectionists was Ken Parfrey, pictured inset, of the Radio Springs Hotel in Lyonville. He began his career at the Carlton Movie House and subsequently worked at numerous theatres around Melbourne and the Melbourne Film Festival before taking over the hotel in 1997.

Cinema Nova

Later Ken heard that Cinema Nova, where he worked for many years, was getting rid of their projectors. “The owners told me to come and get them,” Ken recalls, “or they are going to the tip.”

“We brought them here and decided to do a backyard blitz as it were and do up the garage as a form of cinema/ performance space using the salvaged machines.”

Today, Ken maintains his old role of movie projectionist in one of only a handful of theatres in Victoria that still present celluloid as a relic of a bygone age.

Splice Here

But now, more than a decade after the demise of film in most commercial venues, it is the subject of Splice Here: A Projected Odyssey, a documentary by filmmaker and former projectionist Rob ‘Bert’ Murphy, pictured main image.

Debuting at the 2022 Melbourne International Film Festival and also having been shown at the Wide Screen Weekend in England and DOC NYC in America, the documentary explores the history of the projectionists' craft over the decades and the enthusiasts who today hoard old film stock, equipment and maintain film-only theatres around the world

This network of mostly retired projectionists offers a fascinating glimpse into a lost world and Bert points out that; “There are a few key people in the projectionists' underground and Ken is one of them. He was chief projectionist at Carlton’s Cinema Nova and an important character in Melbourne film culture. That’s why he features prominently in Splice Here.”

The digital age

The digital age as we know it has been around since the early 2000s. In 2023 everything from music to books, news and film via the internet, streaming and formats such as MP4 are produced and distributed in digital format.

During that time an entire generation of people have grown up knowing nothing else but digital. However, while there remain people who remember the days when movies were recorded and exhibited on celluloid ribbon treated with light sensitive chemicals instead of ones and zeros, there will remain an endless digital vs film debate sitting at the very heart of the work.

The documentary begins by delving into Cinerama, a format which emerged in the 1950s presented on enormous, curved screens utilising three separate projectors.

The search

From here Bert explores the world of projected film and goes searching for old equipment and mouldering prints in museums, sheds and abandoned rural theatres. He talks to archivists, filmmakers and producers and documents the return of filmonly events including the debut of Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight on 70mm at the Sun Theatre in Yarraville in 2016.

“One of the things about shooting and projecting digital is it’s a great medium and has allowed a lot of amazing new things to be done,” says Bert. “It’s just that it has also introduced a certain form of laziness to the production process and I have always felt that digital is a poor substitute for the look of film which has both a softness and richness that’s hard to surpass.”

Re-emergence

Despite a downturn during Covid, there has been a gradual re-emergence of filmonly theatres. The most well-known is arguably Tarantino’s New Beverly Cinema in Los Angeles. Melbourne has two, the Sun and the Astor and they are just a few of hundreds that have appeared around the world.

While making celluloid prints for commercial release is a luxury that only big name directors like Quentin Tarantino or J.J. Abrams can swing, there has been a significant return to celluloid film as Richard Tuohy of Nanolab, Daylesford can attest.

“Certainly there has been an analog renaissance,” he says. “We have been running our business for 16 years and the number of people who shoot on film these days has definitely increased significantly over the last five or six years. The immediate fascination with digital has passed and an appreciation of what film was or is in contrast has definitely remerged.”

Film romance

Like with all forms of superseded technology, there is a latent romance connected to projected film. Its shadow is long and Splice Here, which has a few more theatre runs before going to DVD and then possibly being streamed, is a love letter to its memory.

While digital is ubiquitous and here to stay, history has shown that most communication disruptions from the printing press to social media eventually see old tech settle back into the cultural fabric in often unexpected ways - due in no small part to the efforts of people like Bert Murphy and Ken Parfrey making the effort to rescue old formats from oblivion.

Ken, who hopes to show the documentary at the Radio Springs Hotel, ironically when he gets a digital projector, says film and old projectors are like “big boys' toys”. And there are certainly a network of enthusiasts like himself around the world who are, as he says, “keeping the dream alive”.

Words: Tony Sawrey | Main image: Contributed | Inset: Kyle Barnes

Central Highlands artist profiles

GLENLYON artist Pam Gleeson brings her background discipline as a professional photographer to her creation of imposing landscapes that reflect her deep love of the land and its stories. Pam is no slouch when it comes to observing detail. She’s previously worked as a medical scientist. Here, she chats to The Local journalist Eve Lamb about her art.

Eve: How do you prefer to describe your artistic style?

Pam: I would describe my style as a combination of realism and impressionism, though at this stage I am still in the process of exploring other styles including more stylistic representations of nature and abstraction.

Eve: How did you come to art?

Pam: I have always had an interest in art from a very young age and have pursued some form of artistic expression over the years. I studied art at matriculation level and later completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Tasmania. My focus at that stage was photography which I chose to follow professionally for the next two decades. It is only recently that I have returned to painting as an art form and my practice of photography has informed my painting on many levels, from the importance of light and how it can totally change the mood of a painting, choice of subject matter, colour, composition and perspective.

Eve: Which artists - current or historic - have influenced your own work?

Pam: I have mainly been influenced so far by the works of the Heidelberg School, namely, McCubbin, Roberts and Streeton who all captured the quintessential essence of the Australian bush. I currently use oils and pastels.

Eve: What is/are your subject matter of choice? Why so?

Pam: My subject matter has mainly been landscapes, often including partially derelict sheds and houses and also seascapes. This reflects my love of the Australian landscape which has been informed by travels around Australia and is an extension of my landscape photography. I am keen to explore more stylistic representations of the natural and man-made worlds.

Eve: Do you work in any other area besides your arts practice?

Pam: I spent much of my life working as a medical scientist in the fields of forensic biology, pathology and research, though art was always there for me, albeit often in the background.

with Eve Lamb

Eve: What are you working on at the moment in your current arts practice?

Pam: I am keen to start on several series, whether using oils or pastels. These series will involve exploring a particular element that will dominate the artwork, for example birds in flight or stormy skies. The possibilities are endless.

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

Pam: Since I have only recently returned to painting, the highlights have been exhibitions as a photographer, the high point being a major fundraising event that I held in Tasmania where auctioned art photography of my own and other photographers’ works raised thousands of dollars for World Vision and Rotary’s fund following the 2004 tsunami in South East Asia.

Eve: Do you have any exhibitions or special arts events coming up?

Pam: Not at present, but I am part of the Daylesford Regional Arts Co-operative and we will be having regular group exhibitions.

Eve: What are the challenges and rewards for artists today?

Pam: The main challenges are finding a suitable place to exhibit works and attracting people who will truly appreciate your work. The main rewards are fulfilling the need to be creative and having others truly see the value in your work.

Meet Stella Savy, conductor of the Creswick Chorus

She says the Creswick Chorus formed about this time last year, initially specifically to perform at last year’s inaugural CresFest.

But after eight weeks of rehearsals and then achieving their goal of performing at CresFest, none of the choir members were ready to see it all end there. So it didn’t.

Instead, Stella says Creswick Chorus now has about 25 regular members and, after its term break, will be resuming weekly Wednesday evening rehearsals from February 1 as part of the Creswick Neighbourhood Centre program. And it will once again be performing at CresFest that happens March 31-April 2.

“The Creswick Chorus is open to everyone and you don’t need to have experience,” Stella says, also mentioning the Creswick Kids’ Choir which will also be performing at CresFest this year as well.

Quite a few will know her as the friendly face up front conducting the Creswick Chorus, Creswick’s own community choir for adults who like to sing.

Stella Savy is the talented local muso whose unique blend of funk, soul, reggae and ska has won her fans Australia-wide. Her original music is influenced by her Seychelle Island heritage - the sounds of the islands where her father was born.

Beyond performing with various combos – like Stella Savy Avek Frers - Stella derives plenty of soul food from her role as community choir conductor.

Stella has been a musician and teacher for more than two decades and has taught many age groups and people of a wide range of musical abilities all over Australia.

She is an engaging storyteller and teacher and those who participate in her workshops tend to leave with a smile as well as some new musical skill.

Her live performances feature original works with contagious beats and her music career has taken her to amazing locations around the world, including Africa and the Seychelle Islands, where she facilitates yearly tour groups.

Stella has also worked with choirs for many years, ranging from community – like the keen Creswick Chorus - to professional, and her extensive skill set includes body percussion, harmony, hand-drumming and singing.

“The Creswick Chorus is for adults,” she says ahead of the local choir’s resumption of its well-attended weekly rehearsals at the town’s neighbourhood centre from this Wednesday.

“It’s a lovely group of people and it’s really fun. We sing a range of world music, contemporary, a bit of gospel and a bit of African stuff,” Stella says.

“It’s such a great way to really connect with people in your community.”

Words: Eve Lamb | Image: contributed

Compliments to chef Lizzy at The Savoia

THE Savoia Hotel in Hepburn Springs has been a fixture of the region for 150 years in some form, or name, or another.

But it has recently undergone a major transformation and is now under the watch of manager Ross Gregory with well-known chef Lizzy Payne in the kitchen. Stepping inside, the first thing you notice, and you can't not, is the bar. It's an impressive 14 metres and reaches from the bistro to the sports bar areas. And everywhere feels both spacious and welcoming.

Ross has been busy getting his team together, no mean feat at the moment, and also working through offering live local music, getting ready for functions and listening to what the locals want.

But, with the atmosphere ticked off, we are here for the food. And it is hands-down amazing. Lizzy has worked at a number of local venues and knows her stuff. There are the traditional favourites that we all know and love, as well as some very modern offerings. A big thumbs up too to our wait staffer Ashleigh - spot on.

Entrees

Kyle's starter choice was the kingfish tartare with avocado, pomegranate and wonton ($22). This ended up being tuna, no kingfish available, but it was just divine and I reckon the dish of the entire meal. Presentation was delightful and the flavours were perfect. Felt more like fine dining than a pub.

Now, everyone knows I love all things Asian-y, so I couldn't go past the sulphur spring mushroom with buckwheat, nori, wasabi and candied lemon ($19). Again, what a winner. Umami flavours everywhere and again, that presentation. Delicate and robust and mouth-watering. Compliments to the chef.

Mains

For mains Kyle had the braised lamb pita with Greek chips, pickled onion and mustard aioli ($36). A big serve of fall-apart lamb, topped with a Greek-style salad and with a huge side of the chips. Kyle wrapped the whole lot up, not the chips, in the pita bread and remained quiet for quite some time.

I chose the calamari, which I often do, but this was done Szechuan-style with tomato, chickpea, chorizo and rocket ($30). Big, oh-so-tender calamari pieces with an amazing blend of bold, spicy, sweet and garlicky flavours - topped with a rocket salad with pickled onions. It is really different to the "normal" calamari and definitely worth trying. I loved it.

Dessert

Full, but determined to try just one of the many desserts on offer, we choose the aptly named chocolate nemesis with chocolate soil, raspberries and coffee cream ($18). OMG. Just try this for the coffee cream and then bite into that delicious chocolate slice - so rich, so creamy, so yum. The raspberries are the perfect foil, with their tartness, but then the chocolate soil is too tempting and you are back in chocolate heaven. Or is that a chocolate coma happening?

Other offerings

We went on a Friday but I highly recommend heading to The Savoia on a Monday for the Mad Monday's Locals' Night Feed Me ($59). It's a shared banquet-style threecourse meal and includes a schooner of house lager, or a glass of house red/white wine. Hearing lots of good feedback on this one. Don't have a big lunch.

There's also Thirsty Thursday with selected cocktails for $15 from 6pm-8pm. Also on Thursdays is Parma Night with your choice of parma for $31 which also includes a schooner of house lager, or a glass of house red/white wine. Can't do better than that.

Finally, if you love your Sunday roast albeit "a slightly fancier version of your mum's/nan's Sunday roast" with all the trimmings for just $25, you are sorted.

More casual

If you are after something a little more low-key, try the bar menu. Plenty of choices for everyone, from chicken adobo wings with chilli and coriander ($14) to tempura mushrooms with lemon aioli ($16). And you can enjoy that amazing bar!

Functions

The Savoia Hotel team prides itself on being able to offer the perfect function at an affordable price. The menus can be packaged to suit a stand-up/cocktail style function or a sit-down function. The function room can cater for between 80 and 100 guests depending on the room arrangement. And really, you will be joining in 150 years of history in Hepburn Springs. Just imagine the parties and celebrations that have been held within these walls since the gold rush. Something special there.

Words: Donna Kelly | Images: Kyle Barnes

REIV regional wrap up

Alongside the usual peaks and troughs, in 2022 the Victorian property market experienced eight interest rate rises and a confluence of pressures from the rental market. Despite this, property in regional Victoria continues its strong performance, according to the REIV.

The REIV’s December Quarterly Median Report reveals that regional Victorian house prices grew 8.0 per cent over the year to $610,000 while the annual median for units and apartments rose 6.5 per cent to $425,000.

House prices in outer Melbourne grew 1.8 per cent to $830,000 over the 12-month period (up $14,500). From the fledgling western suburbs, Cobblebank reported one of the highest annual growths across the state - with an 18.5 per cent increase in median house price to $635,000.

Other suburbs in the west that recorded outstanding growth were Harkness, up 17.8 per cent ($625,000), Melton (up 11.5 per cent to $470,000) and Weir Views (10.8 per cent increase to $537,000) – remaining within the affordable bracket yet showing great investment potential for homeowners.

The standout regional suburbs for quarterly growth were Kyneton – which added an impressive $100,000 to its median house price (topping out at $1,040,000) and the historic town of Stawell, growing 8.7 per cent this quarter and 21 per cent annually (to $375,000).

The most affordable areas for hopeful house-hunters looking to lock down a unit this quarter, resided in areas such as Carlton, down 30.7 per cent to $297,250, Dandenong (17.0 per cent drop to $357,000) and St Kilda East which saw a 12.2 per cent decrease, yet remained above the half a million mark ($511,600).

REIV president Andrew Meehan said the December data demonstrated good buying opportunities for Victorians and a resilient real estate market across the state.

"Property prices still remain higher than they were in December 2020 – the postCOVID real estate boom has placed Victorian property in a stronger position than ever before, a trend we continue to see across numerous suburbs in metro Melbourne and our regional areas.

"Now, as we enter the new year and the immigration levels return, we will no doubt see continuous demand in the market as Melbourne’s population grows and investors see strong potential for growth in our state."

The Tree Da Vinci now in Hepburn Shire

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The French House sets sales record for Trentham

ACUSTOM-built house set on grounds of just under an acre has set a new residential sales record for Trentham, selling for $2.2 million in recent weeks.

The “uniqueness” of The French House, as it’s known, was a key factor in its record result, sales representative with selling agent Belle Property, Natalie Fagan, believes.

“We had an outstanding marketing campaign. It was huge and very broad spectrum,” Natalie says.

“It was also a very, very unique property.”

The French House located at 7 Gleeson Street sold by private sale for $2.2 million in November.

“It’s pretty amazing,” owner-vendor Narelle Glynn said.

She and her husband Andrew Glynn purchased the property for $265,000 in 2014 and had the house custom-built on site to recreate an authentic French farmhouse, completing the build in 2015.

“When we bought the property, it was a vacant block with a shed,” Narelle said.

The French House went on to grace the pages of Country Style Magazine while its distinctive French-provincial style won it a global following. Features include meticulously hand-selected European components and generous romantic gardens.

Narelle, who works in consulting and professional services, and Andrew, an engineer who works for a private start-up in the defence sector, both share a love of France, speak the language and appreciate the French-provincial aesthetic.

“We lived in France in Toulouse together in 2007 and we fell deeply in love with the aesthetic,” Narelle says.

“But after we had children we realised that we wouldn’t be travelling or getting to France so much so we decided to recreate a little slice of France here.

“We wanted to be really true to French farmhouse design and we pushed pretty hard to achieve that. We had drafting support from an architect friend of mine.”

In setting the new record sales price for Trentham, The French House has sold to a Melbourne couple who are understood to be ultimately planning a transition to retirement at The French House.

“Initially it is going onto the holiday rental market through Daylesford Country Retreats,” Natalie Fagan says.

“But their (the purchasers’) goal is absolutely to retire to the property.”

Narelle Glynn says the decision to sell The French House was due to Andrew’s work commitments and their relocation to Sydney.

Following the sale of The French House the Glynns have since purchased a new property in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Like the selling agents, Narelle also believes a main reason The French House was able to achieve the strong result it has, despite mixed movements on the nation’s wider real estate sector, is largely due to its unique nature.

“I think that it represents the unique nature of the property and recognises the painstaking effort that went into recreating a little slice of France,” she says.

“I also think that buying in a little hamlet that has charm and several cornerstone businesses like Annie Smither's Du Fermier, Redbeard Bakery, and the Cosmopolitan has also been a real factor.”

Words: Eve Lamb | Image: Inkd Fotogrfa

To market, to market

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.

Daylesford Sunday Market – every Sunday

Wesley Hill Market - every Saturday

Daylesford Farmers Market – first Saturday

Trentham Neighbourhood Centre Makers Market - first Saturday

Golden Plains Farmers Market - first Saturday

Woodend Farmers Market - first Saturday

Castlemaine Artists’ Market – first Sunday

Trentham Community Group Market - second Saturday

Kyneton Farmers Market - second Saturday

Ballan Farmers Market - second Saturday

Kyneton Rotary Community Market – second Saturday

Maldon Market – second Sunday

Clunes Farmers Market - second Sunday

Trentham Farmers Market and Makers Market - third Saturday

Glenlyon Farmers Market – third Saturday

Leonards Hill Market - third Saturday

Creswick Market - third Saturday

Talbot Farmers Market – third Sunday

Woodend Lions Market - third Sunday

Trentham Station Sunday Market - fourth Sunday

Buninyong Village Market - fourth Sunday

Radio Springs Hotel, Lyonville

Djangology - Sunday, January 29, noon

The Martini Set - Saturday, February 4, 6pm

Djangology - Saturday, February 11, 6pm

The Prayer Babies - Sunday, February 19, noon

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

Home

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.

daylesford bowling club & Bistro Your Community Club

LUNCH Thurs to Sun

DINNER Wed to Sat

SUMMER WEEKEND BREAKFAST

from 9am

MEMBERS, GUESTS & VISITORS ALL WELCOME!

OPEN 7 DAYS

Bookings strongly advised

daylesford bowling club 8 Camp St - Daylesford | 03 5348 2130

www.daylesfordbowlingclub.com.au

WE

OUR LOCALS

BONELESS LEGS OF LAMB

1kg $20 1.5kg $30 2kg $40

Bone is out but flavour is in! We butterfly the leg of lamb (remove the bone) so you have a prime cut that will cook evenly and quickly. These are perfect for marinating as the marinade gets into all the nooks and crannies. You can purchase plain, or with one of our own marinades - either a greek or mint & rosemary. These are absolutely perfect for Summer dining.

Great for cooking on the BBQ quickly, or you can wrap in foil and slow cook for a less fatty and leaner option to lamb shoulder.

GREAT AUSSIE MATES LAMB BOX ONLY $249

1 butterflied leg of lamb (2kg)

12 lamb herb & garlic sausages

12 lamb rosemary & mint sausages

12 lamb burgers

12 lamb BBQ chops

1 kg lamb kofta

1 bottle Passing Clouds Shiraz

1 bottle Passing Clouds Pinot Noir Free local delivery!

Water - the key to summer success

La Niña - there’s that fearsome name again. La Niña is certainly leaving her mark throughout this (usually) dry, brown land of ours and we are still unsure when the devastation will cease.

Having said that, on the whole, Spa Country seems to have dodged the bullet. And apart from a few boisterous, scary thunderstorms and rising creek episodes, has ended up with thriving gardens, lush green, bursting at the seams, and along with them hopefully are your plants.

But there is always a downside.

Along with the good guys and probably ahead of the pack are throngs of weeds and, of course, your lawns. They’re all galloping away, spurred on by the spasmodic rain storms.

The next problem to be faced now is when and how often to water the garden and lawns. Gardens can be damaged as much by incorrect watering as they can by neglect.

Fresh, green lawns and lush, healthy flower and shrub beds can be maintained year-round by regular feeding and maintenance. But it is the way in which the garden has been watered that holds the key.

Prolonged hot weather may place the plants under great stress if the moisture supply isn’t kept up to the young and feeder roots, and is just as damaging as overwet, poorly draining soil.

The first point to remember is that it is the root system that takes in the water supply for the plant, so apart from cleaning or cooling the foliage, there is no point in supplying the water anywhere else but on the ground.

Drip watering systems are most efficient because they supply all the plant’s needs, direct to the roots and use less than half the amount of water even the most efficient sprinkler would need for the job. Besides, evaporation and run-off wastage are completely eliminated. Our garden is almost totally watered by a network of that brown plastic dripper tubing.

Apart from the fact that it is remarkably cheap, totally efficient, and child’s play to install, its drippers are within the tubing and almost impossible to clog up, at least in all the 20-odd years we’ve used it, we’ve never had a problem. Because of that it’s even more efficient if covered with organic mulch.

This thorough watering is best as it encourages deep, strong, self-sufficient roots ending in strong, healthy plants. A long, slow watering in this manner once or twice a week is far better than frequent surface waterings that encourage all the developing root systems to grow close to the surface and struggle for survival in anticipation of the next shower.

It is best to water early in the morning so the moisture can soak right in before the sun’s dry rays take effect. This is even more important in the heat of summer, especially if you use sprinklers, when much of the water will evaporate even before it reaches the ground.

Watering in the evening or at night builds up humidity in the lawn and garden beds which will aid the spread of disease.

A plethora of photinia

I am noticing - with great delight - sprouting photinia hedges of delightful brilliant deep green, with red-tipped new growth, throughout the shire.

There are several popular forms grown. The taller and sturdier photinia robusta with deeper red new foliage and the other is a smaller hybrid form, red robin, with vibrant red tips.

Among the century-old trees dotting our property are these photinia, pictured, which I think might be a couple of rogue p.robusta which escaped the hedgeclippers to become these magnificent specimens, especially when massed with those delightful flowers.

A stitch in time: the Textile Palette Exhibition’s back

If you’re a nifty needleworker with a talent for textiles then the Clunes organisers of this year’s Textile Palette Exhibition want to hear from you.

After a Covid-enforced break, the Textile Palette Exhibition is back, being staged in Clunes over April 1-29, in the Clunes Warehouse for the first time.

And the date for submission of work for inclusion has now been extended from January 27 to February 10, the exhibition’s regional coordinator, Christine Lethlean says.

Christine, a talented textile artist who moved to Victoria from WA a decade ago, has called Clunes home for the past eight years, and runs regular workshops from her Clunes studio. She also teaches textile art Australia-wide.

“I’ve always loved stitching,” says Christine who is also a former health professional with a background that includes nursing, mental health nursing and art therapy.

Christine says submissions for this year’s Textile Palette Exhibition are being accepted from interstate as well as closer to home.

“We’re really talking about textile art as a visual art-form,” she says.

“The theme for this year’s exhibition is Time for Stitch. After the past few years navigating the changes to our lifestyle and restrictions placed on us by the pandemic, having endured long periods of isolation and separation, what’s spoken of now is how the quiet time for creativity helped many of us cope.

“Sitting and stitching was a lifeline to maintaining a sense of normality, and keeping a focus and our creative motivation alive.”

With this theme in mind, textile artists intending to submit work for inclusion in the exhibition are being invited to work on ideas connected to their experience during pandemic restrictions - or simply a project highlighting a love of all things connected to textiles and stitching.

Submissions considered for this year’s exhibition may include framed and unframed works, sculptural pieces, wall hangings, costumery or surface design, with artistic soft furnishings and unique upholstered furniture also considered.

As regional coordinator of the upcoming exhibition Christine makes no secret of the fact that she’s aiming to lift the profile of the annual event, and will be applying for a Hepburn Shire grant for promotion, marketing and signage.

“When we held the first exhibition in 2016 - it was a roaring success,” she says.

“We started as a group of about 15 stitching enthusiasts and we’ve had about four or five shows since the first.

“Now it’s going to be in April every year and I’m anticipating making it a bit more formally recognised as part of the Hepburn Shire’s events calendar, bringing visitation from curators, collectors, artisans and anyone interested in stitching as an art-form. I’m aiming to put it on the calendar as a must-do event.”

Those keen to know more can go to www.textilepaletteexhibition.org and there’s also an Instagram page @textilepalette.

Words & image: Eve Lamb

Kyle’s Rant

HAPPY Australia Day. That seems wrong. Do we even celebrate Australia Day any more? And if we don't, why the public holiday? Aren't hospo businesses doing it tough enough without another day of paying staff an extra 30 per cent?

I saw on telly the other day they, whoever they are, were spruiking for another public holiday for the lunar new year. WTH? We even held the Grand Final public holiday in Victoria through the pandemic even though the game was held interstate. It's gone nuts.

Oh, and what about the Queen's Birthday? Apparently they, again they, are going to stick to the same day in June for the King's Birthday. Even though King Charles the Third (say it in an Irish voice, it's quite funny) was born on November 14.

And what about Queen's Counsels? According to the Australian Bar Association "persons appointed as QCs will automatically become KCs, following the accession to the throne of King Charles III". I wonder if there was good trade in updating business cards? Would KCs use Vistaprint?

We did nothing for Australia Day. Well, we worked, and we did go to a mate's place for a pizza evening. When I mentioned to him it was Australia Day, he added a couple of lamb chops to the mix.

What happened to the Australia Day lamb advert with Sam Kekovich? I Googled him and found there was one made but I never saw it anywhere. It's all about being un-Australian and creating a new society of various un-Australian people which is like the new Australia. My head hurts thinking about that but it's worth a watch.

It seems to be such a controversial day. Even Hepburn Shire held their Australia Day event on January 25 - but maybe that was to give everyone a day off? Not sure.

But why not just change the date? It was not until 1994 that January 26 was marked by a public holiday by all states and territories. So the public holiday side of things is pretty light on history. And the perfect time for the change would be next year - celebrating the 30th annual public holiday - but on another day.

Not sure what that date should be. Please don't choose November 14, that would be terrible because surely now we are closer to a republic than ever before. And please stop selling Australian items - thongs, singlets, stubby holders, all made in China. And do those sorts of items really represent Australia? Or is it just because it's summer?

I think it would still have to be a date in summer because nothing is more Australian than a barby. And with Covid, being outside is so de rigueur. It's a winwin. But can't be too close to Christmas. I reckon February. We have no public holidays in February and I have a few that might work.

First up, February 14 - Valentine's Day. A public holiday to celebrate Australia Day and mix it up with love. Perfect. Or February 20 - World Day of Social Justice. Just seems like it would be a good day. Finally February 27 - World NGO Day. We get a public holiday and also recognise, celebrate and honour all non-governmental and non-profit organisations, and also the people behind them that contribute to society. Which is what the Australia Day awards are about already. Sorted!

Anyway, I hope you had a good day off and enjoyed being with family and/or friends. That's what I see Australia Day as being about. Gathering with others, having a laugh and a bit of a feed. I think that's very Australian. Who cares what day it is.

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, What, What, What rant over.

Local Lines

Trentham Haiku

Chaplins cafe butterflies flower on the dogwood

an earth-moving truck drives between the cafe and the pub butterfly morning three poets sipping coffee

annual holidays an old man carries an empty bag towards the shops

strolling around a duck pond… a siren in birdsong deep in thought a duck glides through murky waters

wisps of clouds in the treetops white cockatoos

picnic tables mother and daughter out for a walk

what kind of duck is that mum? a magpie

- Myron Lysenko

Myron Lysenko enjoys writing haiku in the Macedon Ranges. He is a member of the haiku group Fringe Myrtles.

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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Mary-Anne

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03 5338 8123

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DELIVERING FOR OUR COMMUNITY

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Pick me, pick me!

G’day. I’m Wolfie. I’m a good lookin’ kelpie-cross male, desexed and three years young. I love human company and would be ideal for an active family. I am well trained but also need someone who is committed to my ongoing training. Hopefully that’s you. If you think it just might be then come on out and meet me here at the shelter. Just contact the Mount Alexander Animal Welfare shelter in Castlemaine on 5472 5277 and we can meet up.

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Link: www.maaw.org.au

Just sayin’...

By Donna Kelly

IT'S the start of a new year, well just past the start, but there are a few things which seem to linger longer - and I have been thinking about them.

First up is the Daylesford Hospital. We all know the building is dated and not designed for the number of people moving to the region. There is also a lack of doctors after hours - and let's face it, no-one likes to Zoom.

During last year's state government election I asked Minister for Health and Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas a number of times if she was going to provide the money needed for the hospital's redevelopment. She's a good pollie because she avoided answering the question every time.

So here's a public query - is the state government going to give us the money for this vital community service? Or are the politicians waiting for the hospital to fall into such disrepair, or worse, something going pear-shaped with a patient, that they just close it down? That would be a disaster but I could see it happening.

Next up, where is the report from the Local Government Inspectorate investigation into the Hepburn Shire Council and the purchase of The Rex? It started in June 2019 so that is coming up to four years, and that's a long time by anyone's standards. As far as I know everyone involved has long been interviewed so why the wait? Meanwhile, the council starts another search for staff accommodation.

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

And now supported by Daylesford's

Related to The Rex is the provision of public toilets. The Rex was bought after a former council CEO went for a chat in 2016 with the building's owners about why they had closed the public toilets inside the building. The building is now in private hands and may, or may not, eventually offer public toilets.

But for now, and a long time, there have been no public toilets near the lower roundabout in Vincent Street, and none even near the shops/businesses in Howe Street. We have all been asked by visitors - generally pregnant women, people with young kids in tow or the elderly - where the nearest toilet is. As a tourist town, where we hope people will spend some of their money eating and drinking it's embarrassing to point people up the hill with a "good luck!".

Finally...hold on, I realise this is pretty Daylesford-centric so feel free to turn back the pages to the Clunes textile exhibition, or the French House at Trentham, or films at Lyonville, or even the EV charging station at Creswick...or read on.

So finally, what happened to the Big Rainbow? Lots of voting went on with the first part of the Tinder promotion and then Hepburn Shire residents got to vote on where in Daylesford they wanted the Big Rainbow to end up, voting finished, and then...nothing. I have asked the council and even Tinder's PR people where the next "big" thing will go and zilch, zip, nada.

The choices were Victoria Park, the Lost Children's Memorial, the Daylesford Community Skate Park or Lake Daylesford. I suspect it will be announced as part of the ChillOut Festival in March and they will unveil it at Carnivale Day at Vic Park. Hmmm. Personally, I think that would be a mistake.

Vic Park is nice but apart from a few events, the football and netball, and the dog walkers, it's pretty empty. It would also be open to vandalism. And really, if we have a "big" thing we need somewhere with parking, amenities, lighting and people. I'd go for the Lake. But I guess it's a case of "watch this space" for all of the above.

Anyway, I hope your 2023 has started off well and if it hasn't, I hope it gets better. My New Year resolution is to get a life and think less about all of the above, especially at 4am. As you can see, it's not working so far. 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.

Here is the crossword solution for Edition 271. How did you go? All words in the crossword appear somewhere in the same edition of The Local.

Connecting the Community

Packaged liquor licence application

We, BFG Creswick Pty Ltd, applied to the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation on 13 December 2022 for the grant of a packaged liquor licence at 47 Albert St, Creswick.

Any person may object to the grant of this application on the grounds that:

• it would detract from, or be detrimental to, the amenity of the area in which the premises are situated, and/or

• it would be conducive to or encourage the misuse or abuse of alcohol.

An objection must state the reasons for the objection.

All objections are treated as public documents.

Objections must be made in writing to:

Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation

GPO Box 1988

Melbourne VIC 3001

Objections must be made no later than 30 days after the date of this notice.

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Board member needed

Jubilee Lake Holiday Park is a local, Co-op Federation member that operates a family-friendly holiday park in Daylesford, surrounded by Victoria's stunning Macedon Ranges. The co-op is seeking an external board member to act as chair. There is a small remuneration attached to this role. Co-operative Board experience is encouraged. Additionally, the Board considers this to be an ideal role for a Business Studies student who is interested in learning about Board operations.

To learn more, please get in touch with the Jubilee Lake Secretary, Lorelle Thompson-Pope at jubileelakesecretary@gmail.com

Time for a change?

Want to sell your property, or buy something else?

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

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