The Local Issue 185, June 22, 2020

June 22, 2020 Issue 185 Iso paradise

The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

2 About Us

www.tlnews.com.au

Front page: Over in Sailors Falls, Mike Lelliot is enjoying isolation.

Read his story by Kevin Childs on page 5.

June 22, 2020 Issue 185 Iso paradise

The Local is a weekly community publication covering the Central Highlands. The next edition is out on Monday, June 29, 2020.

Or online on Sunday, June 28 at www.tlnews.com.au Space bookings: Wednesday, June 24 Copy deadline: Thursday, June 25 Editorial deadline: Thursday, June 25

Image: Inkd Fotogrfa

Managing editor | Donna Kelly General manager | Kyle Barnes Sub-editors | Nick Bunning and Lindsay Smith

The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

Writers | Kevin Childs, Kate Taylor, Tony Sawrey, Peter Young and Donna Kelly Photographers | Kyle Barnes and David White Graphic designer & HLH coordinator | Dianne Caithness

The Local is a registered trademark of The Local Publishing Group Pty Ltd. The Local is a member of the Victorian Country Press Association, with editor Donna Kelly, a director.

Contributors: Glen Heyne (gardening), Indre Kisonas (design), Tanya Loos (nature), Glenn Robinson (cartoons), Darren Lowe (music) and Matthew Richardson (money) Accounts | Julie Hanson Delivery | Tony Sawrey

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

5348 7883 or 0416 104 283 | news@tlnews.com.au or sales@tlnews.com.au See all our e-editions at www.tlnews.com.au

Bespoke Medispa: Beautiful, healthy skin

H

ello Daylesford, we are open.

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Our people 3

Wonderful feeling in just helping people

I

F THERE'S one definition of a good woman, Gayle McCarthy certainly fits it.

The best part is, all of her community work, all of her fundraising efforts, just comes naturally to her and are straight from the heart.

“It just goes back to - I love what I do. It’s not rocket science. What I do is wonderful, I love helping people and it’s just a wonderful feeling,” Gayle explained.

Gayle is the Social Support coordinator for Hepburn Shire Council and she has been for more than 30 years, having started back in the day assisting with things like housekeeping and shopping and showering.

“I call myself a repeat offender, because I was doing it for a while, then I had a break for about 13 months, and then I came back and I’ve been doing it for about 23 years now.”

The objective of the social support program is to support keeping people living independent in their home and the community, so Gayle’s job is to coordinate social groups of older residents and, very clearly, it’s also her passion.

“They may be isolated because of age, illness or physical disability, and we provide days out – we could go to the movies, we could go to Morning Melodies, those types of things and they really enjoy that.

“But sometimes it’s the really simple things, like grabbing a bus full of people and going and getting fish and chips, wrapped up in paper like they remember, each one individually, and sitting at a park bench with a coffee and a chat. It’s things like that, the simplest things that we take for granted, that give my clients the greatest of pleasure.”

The groups are suspended at the moment due to the global pandemic but Gayle was still determined to find a way to help her clients connect. She has led her team in making activity bags which are dropped off at clients’ houses and contain activities tailored to what the client likes and dislikes, including card-making kits, crossword and find-a-word puzzles, even an old-style recipe for things like bread and butter pudding.

“We’ve got a modified style now, we keep checking in by phone and we have quite a good relationship so it makes it a lot easier to check in by phone. Actually, they keep telling me ‘I’m fine, love. I’m fine’. And they are. And I think ‘oh, yes, these people have been through things in their life that are a lot more challenging than this’, our older people in our community are very resilient.”

The other passion that Gayle has is closer to home.

Each year, at The Farmer’s Arms in Daylesford, she helps raise thousands for Movember. Her husband, Ian, passed away in October last year due to cancer.

“The fundraising started very small and as Ian’s illness progressed and we knew it wasn’t going to go away it grew into the most beautiful community event, I’m going to call it an event, that I’ve ever seen.

(This article is supported by the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas.)

“From now on it will be my baby, the last few months of every year.”

Last year, the event was held just weeks after Ian passed away. It raised more than $16,000 and over the years, the total raised is more than $86,000.

“The passion, the community that we have here…it’s so big, I can’t really quantify what they mean to me.”

To many, that shows what Gayle is all about. But to Gayle?

“To me, it shows what this community’s all about.”

Words: Kate Taylor | Image: Kyle Barnes

ays,

ven !d e s , open 6pm Now 10am-

4 Local Lines

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Local Lines

Vale John Madigan July 21,1966 – June 16, 2020

Changing Times: The times they are a-changing, So Bob Dylan sang some time ago.

With ‘Black Lives Matter’ protests all over the world, Maybe it’s finally so.

In a world where the ‘Haves’ have so much, While the ‘Have-nots’ have so little to show.

It’s hard for those kept deliberately ignorant, And easy for those in the know.

We are born equal in the eyes of God, But not in the eyes of man.

While some enjoy privilege from the moment of birth Others fight for what little they can.

Afro-Americans kept down by a system: A modified form of the slave trade, Kooris and Native Americans in war, Hard sacrifices for their country made Believing the while it would bring to them, The right to be living free.

“Thanks, guys, you did a great job, Now get back into your slavery.”

Black deaths in custody, an ongoing issue, On both sides of the Pacific.

Four hundred and thirty two in Australia alone Since 1991 to be more specific.

Black deaths and police brutality, Are symbols of a sick society, While privilege for the rich and white Is the leaders' first priority.

In a land of boundless potential, The leaders are deliberately blind.

“Anyone can make it big.” They say, But too many start from way behind.

Protest and marches have happened before, But the momentum too soon has passed.

Yes, the times are a-changing, Bob, But how long is it going to last?

- Gordon Nightingale Gordon Nightingale is a retired design draftsman who has turned to writing to keep his mind alert. He has involvement with U3A, Daylesford Motorfest and the Hepburn regional community.

J

OHN Madigan was born into a Catholic family and belonged to a youth group run by the National Civic Council founder, B.A. Santamaria, in Melbourne. He was a blacksmith and boilermaker from 1983 to 2011, self-employed in his own engineering workshop in Hepburn Springs.

He served as a Senator for Victoria from 2011 to 2016 after being elected to the Senate at the 2010 federal election as a member of the Democratic Labour Party.

He resigned from the DLP to become an independent in September 2014, and later launched John Madigan's Manufacturing and Farming Party in 2015 but failed to be re-elected at the 2016 double dissolution election, and the Manufacturing and Farming Party was voluntarily deregistered on September 13, 2016.

In December 2018 Madigan announced that he had cancer. After his death, former prime minister Tony Abbott eulogised Madigan as "a fine representative of a worthy political tradition" with an "old-fashioned sense of courtesy and respect for others".

Mr Madigan was a friend of The Local, announcing in the Australian Parliament on November 27, 2014, that “The Local is the future of regional journalism…”

He is survived by his wife Teresa and two children.

Incident cleaned up

A

A council spokesperson said the incident had been investigated and council had been informed that when the driver arrived at the site, the bins were overflowing.

"The driver took it upon themselves to empty all bins into the same truck in an attempt to remove the excess waste. Council has made it very clear to Wheelie Waste that this should not be happening and to report overflowing bins to council in future.

"In the case that this happens again, Wheelie Waste will either send out another truck (off schedule), or notify council, who can arrange a clean-up."

How to repair a gas heater?

Call a licensed gasfitter.

Doing your own gas heater work around the home is extremely dangerous, and it’s illegal. Always hire a licensed gasfitter.

To find out more visit esv.vic.gov.au/GAS-DDIY

N ALLEGED mixed collection of general waste and recycling by Hepburn Shire Council contractor Wheelie Waste at the Glenlyon Recreation Reserve has been investigated.

GAS REPAIRS

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Our artists 5

Mike finds bliss, after his fashion

“

ISO,” as it inevitably became known, produced an extraordinary range of reactions.

Over in Sailors Falls, Mike Lelliot could scarcely have been happier.

“I find it so enlightening,” says the 49-year-old artist and creative designer, of the pandemic months. “How great is it to be out here! Awesome. It’s paradise after being globally focused for so many years.”

“Here” is 22 hectares backing on to Wombat State Forest, home to Mike, wife Cath and their children Noah, 17, and Tillie 13.

Then there are the Great Danes, Trip, Harriett, Elvis and Queenie, plus an equal number of horses, coloured black, grey, nearly white and bay.

All of this is some distance from his Melbourne childhood in bayside Black Rock. From there he went to the Victorian College of the Arts and basically living in the inner city from age 18 to 45.

Until the late 90s he was involved with four other artists in a North Melbourne warehouse called Fish, the scene for bands, parties, big events, lots of musos, artists and filmmakers. They included Glendyn Ivin, whose TV direction won Australia’s top award two years in succession and whose credits include Puberty Blues and Gallipoli.

With such forces firing it is little surprise that Mike took on the creative director role in Germany for the Australian-designed Crumpler messenger bags.

After six years it was time for home. When the inner-city began to pall they hit upon the Sailors Falls house. After three years it is a home with gardens seemingly galloping off all around, a glasshouse, plants and shrubs galore.

In spite of such activity, Mike is sensitive to his surroundings. “We work with the land and not shaping it. We’ve learned how fecund the land is, how it is always changing.”

Their new home also changed their perspective as to what 'local' means. Such a change translates into action as he works on a new denim brand, called Black Bothy.

Bothy is a term for a small hut or refuge in the Scottish Highlands and also the name for the guest house they plan.

Once, the denim would have been a global brand, but now he will use local designers and artists and even foundry workers (for the buckles and studs) to produce the line here. Sales are likely to be in the scores rather than on a massive scale, which leaves him happy.

An acre (0.4ha) of berries has recently been planted, they have a large old market garden glasshouse trucked from Adelaide to protect some plants from frost and find out about others. Crepe myrtle and English laurel are ready for planting in the rich soil.

Recycling abounds, while fence posts, mainly cut from fallen logs, are going in (a gash on Mike’s forehead - he stands at 202 centimetres - tells of the perils of cutting).

Inside their home all is relaxed with rows of sauces and preserved fruit, muddy boots and gumboots, paintings galore and a discarded Collingwood scarf. Here, over 10 days he perfected the baking of sourdough bread.

Nearby is a mountain bike and a glass cabinet of green China rabbits, while the big deck leading to a pond features a large roller-skating cat statue by artist David Bromley. A hammock hung between trees speaks of lazy days.

“I spend three or four days on the computer,” says Mike, “and the rest working outside.” He delights in the bush, finding it both incredibly alive and incredibly diverse.

Mike is now planning an art show. He makes a drawing, turns it into a file on his computer, then shapes it on thick plywood and cuts it to shape.

One of these is a woman with a dialogue balloon, singing the Kiss number, I Was Made for Lovin' You Baby…much like its creator’s affection for his home.

Words: Kevin Childs | Image: Inkd Fotogrfa

The Local's artist series are supported by a grant from Hepburn Shire Council's coronovirus community support program.

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#No Wombat Gold protest

B

However, in its submission for the VEAC report the company noted that it has LACKWOOD residents have taken up pickets and petitions to protest expanded mineral exploration on land under consideration for a new been negotiating a $5 million investment largely focused on the section of the licence held within the Wombat State Forest. The submission said significant indications, national park.

Residents say they had been given no warning or information about proposals to explore or mine in the Wombat State Forest around Shaws Lake until they awoke last week to the sounds of machinery. On inspection, they discovered large drilling rigs taking mineral samples from the side of a gully above Yankee Creek near the headwaters of the heritage-listed Lerderderg River.

The land is part of a proposed 49,553-hectare national park recommended in a Victorian Environmental Assessment Council report tabled in Parliament in June last year. A response was due in February 2020 but has been delayed due to the bushfires and coronavirus.

Gayle Osborne, convenor of Wombat Forestcare, said the deferred decision and recent commencement of exploration drilling was alarming and raised questions over the Victorian Government’s commitment to protecting an area identified by VEAC as being high-value habitat for rare and threatened species.

“It is now a year since VEAC recommended a park structure for the Wombat State Forest to protect its environmental values, including many threatened species and the headwaters of six rivers. Is the real reason for the delay that the State Government intends to mine and log the Wombat Forest?” Ms Osborne said.

The drilling is believed to be conducted by Currawong Resources Pty Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canadian-based Fosterville South which owns the Fosterville mine near Bendigo. Currawong, which holds mining exploration licences for the Blackwood-Gisborne area, has yet to comment publicly on its plans for the area. Calls from The Local to Currawong managing director, Neil (Rex) Motton, were not returned.

including previous exploration results from the 1990s, showed broad scale Fostervillestyle gold mineralisation in the area. It noted that the company has gone to substantial expense getting the tenement application through the Native Title process and warned that if the project was blocked it would be looking to the government to recoup the cost.

“Should the Wombat State Forest section of our Exploration Licence be converted to a national park, we believe that significant financial compensation is due,” it said.

Meanwhile, Blackwood residents have formed a community activist group, No Wombat Gold, to fight any plans to mine the area.

Group organiser, Phaedra Morris of Barrys Reef, said members were concerned new gold mines will affect residents’ peace and the region’s water catchments.

“Locals are very concerned that the exploration will lead to a mining operation in their spectacular forest, destroying the very reason they live here. We’ve taken a closer look and are appalled to find that there are many more licences still active in this area.”

The Wombat State Forest is rich in biodiversity; and is the habitat of greater gliders, a species already listed as vulnerable to extinction, with numbers further reduced as a result of last Summer’s bushfires.

“Without the protection of a park structure, we will see a return to exploitation of the forest,” Ms Osborne said. “We call on the Andrews government to accept the VEAC recommendations and protect the Wombat State Forest for its biodiversity, water supply and recreational values.”

Words: Jane Williams | Image: Sandy Scheltema

YAY! WE ARE OPEN Rosi, Anne Marie and the team welcome you all back to the Daylesford Hotel.

Bookings are essential as there will be specific time slots.

We look forward to seeing you! Cheers, R & AM

03 5348 2335 LUNCH SAT & SUN DINNER WED - SUN

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Apply for the Victorian Government quad bike safety rebate

The rebate scheme offers $600 towards installing an operator protective device (OPD) or up to $1200 for two OPDs, or $1200 towards an alternate vehicle such as a side-by-side. Find out more and apply today via worksafe.vic.gov.au/quadbikes

www.tlnews.com.au

News 9

Just can't get no satisfaction...

From the Mayor: H EPBURN Shire Council has recorded its worst ever annual Local Government Community Satisfaction Survey.

Conducted by JW Research, the phone survey is in its 21st year and participation is optional. The survey also produces average ratings for small rural shires and state-wide results.

The 2020 report stated that perceptions of Hepburn Shire Council’s overall performance reached a peak in 2019, only to fall to an all-time low in 2020.

“This is reflected in most service areas, where performance ratings have declined significantly over the past year. Indeed, two in five residents believe that Hepburn Shire Council’s overall performance has deteriorated in the last 12 months.

“Council should strive to maintain and improve performance in the individual service areas that most influence perceptions of overall performance. Council should focus on good communication and transparency with residents about decisions made in the community’s interest, including on business and community development.

“Over the past 12 months, community sentiment toward council performance has deteriorated. Statistically significant declines have occurred across most service performance measures, and across all demographic and geographic groups. Moving forward, it will be important to rebuild positive perceptions of council and demonstrate that council is once again moving in the right direction.”

The report said the appearance of public areas was the area where Hepburn Shire Council performed best in 2020 although ratings of the appearance of public areas is significantly lower than the Small Rural group and State-wide averages.

Tourism development was the council’s next highest rated service area although it dropped from 69 last year to 63 in 2020. But that rating is in line with the Small Rural group and the State-wide average.

Council’s next highest rated service area is recreational facilities, down from 62 to 61, and still significantly lower than the Small Rural group and State-wide averages.

“Hepburn Shire Council rates lowest in the area of slashing and weed control, index score of 37, down a significant 11 points in the last 12 months. Council’s rating of slashing and weed control is significantly lower than the Small Rural group and State-wide averages.

“Decisions made in the interest of the community is council’s next lowest rated service area. Perceptions of this service area have also declined significantly over the last year, by 14 index points.”

"

WE TAKE on board and acknowledge what the community is saying to us about our performance and direction of council.

We don’t shy away from that the fact that we can do better. We clearly have to take note of the fact our overall performance has dropped significantly, particularly in some specific areas.

"Examination of the survey results over many years shows that the results fluctuate significantly year on year, which is driven by events happening at the time of the survey. Overall Performance was rated at 47 in 2012, climbing to its highest ever rating of 56 last year. This year we have seen a significant decrease from last year with council Overall Performance dropping to 45.

"The community will be able to have input into the direction of council through the development of a new Council Plan after the upcoming local government election.

"The community will also be able to have input into how council engages with the community through the development of a new Community Engagement Policy, which is requited to be developed by March next year.

"We are an organisation that has invested heavily over the past two years in resourcing under-resourced areas of council, which will help deliver important projects and services for the community. We have a committed team of staff who pride themselves on the services they deliver for the community."

- Mayor, Cr Licia Kokocinski

St Michael’s School

Excellence, Nurture, Community Enrolments for 2021 now open, contact us for a personalised tour.

Hepburn Shire Council results: 2020 2019 Small Rural State-wide Overall performance Overall council direction

45 36

56 52

56 50

58 51

Customer service Appearance of public areas

63 64

68 67

70 72

70 72

Tourism development Recreational facilities

63 61

69 62

63 68

62 70

Business & community dev.

Waste management

55 54

60 64

57 64

59 65

Enforcement of local laws Environmental sustainability

53 50

57 59

62 57

63 60

Sealed local roads Consultation & engagement

44 41

50 51

51 54

54 55

Building & planning permits Lobbying

41 40

49 51

46 52

51 53

Community decisions Slashing & weed control

38 37

52 48

53 48

53 49

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Get open. Stay open.

With a COVIDSafe plan.

It’s time to restart our economy. So, to ensure that when you open, you stay open, you’ll need a COVIDSafe plan. That way, you can be sure you’re doing everything you can to keep yourself, your staff, and your customers safe, as well as your doors open. For information and tools to create a COVIDSafe plan, visit australia.gov.au

Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra

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Your say 11

An Aussie in America

E

VERY Friday afternoon the Glorfeld family gathers here in northern California to listen to ABC Radio. We usually tune in around 4.30 to catch the gardening segment, followed by the hourly news report, and then it’s time for the Coodabeen Champions.

The Coodabeens’ light-hearted football-centred banter is a much-needed respite from our regular news diet of COVID-19, violence in the streets of US cities, and a government incapable of providing meaningful leadership in this time of deepening crisis.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison doesn’t appear to be an especially smart man, and his conservative evangelical Christian viewpoints seem to be out of step with most of mainstream Australia, but nor does he often go out of his way to antagonise great swathes of the populace.

In the US, however, President Donald Trump seems to actively seek to create conflict and division.

Politics in this country has devolved to the level of barracking for a sports team. We constantly hear about Trump’s base, his core group of fans who approve of his every action, believe everything he says, no matter how outrageous, and turn out for his rallies bedecked in logo-emblazoned hats, shirts and banners - much the same as footy fans proclaiming their unswerving support for their beloved players.

There is nothing wrong with being a passionate sports team fan, but there’s a good deal more at stake when we’re talking about supporting a political party.

A new book, The Impostors: How Republicans Quit Governing and Seized American Politics, by Steve Benen, expands on the idea that the Republican Party has abandoned the notion of politics being about policies and principles and instead now cares only about having and maintaining power.

Progressive commentators such as Bill Maher, who uses comedy to open up serious political discussion, have been debating the what-if question of what happens if a despotic, unhinged Trump loses the upcoming election and refuses to leave office.

Maher, an outspoken liberal, has advocated for liberal Democrat voters to follow the lead of right-wing Republicans and buy guns - arm themselves in readiness for - for what? Maher doesn’t spell it out but it’s pretty clear he anticipates violence to erupt between Trump’s fanatical supporters and people who believe in the democratic process.

Before the outbreak of racially-charged violence began sweeping through US cities, brought on by the killing of a black man named George Floyd by police in Minneapolis, Minnesota, we had the COVID-19 epidemic.

The US is the worst country in the world in terms of its COVID-19 response.

We have more cases, more deaths, and no national plan for dealing with the epidemic. Even now his administration has refused to step in and take charge, instead forcing each state to come up with its own COVID-19 strategy.

Trump has often made public statements in support of white supremacists. Now, with racial tensions in the country at levels not seen in 60 years, and the Black Lives Matter movement seeking to raise awareness of systemic racism in this country, he has advocated for bringing the US military onto the streets of American cities.

There they will forcefully put down protests, which many observers believe would only serve to escalate the violence.

Meanwhile, partly because of his overt support for such people, self-proclaimed militia groups - often heavily armed - have also coalesced around these protests, dramatically raising the potential for deadly conflict.

I think Steve Benen is correct - the Republican Party has divested itself of policies and principles in the traditional sense. It is anti-science, it has removed generations of environmental protection legislation, it is opposed to public education and universal healthcare, it has no unified foreign policies.

But I believe the Republicans do have one core belief - that the founding principles of American democracy have become outmoded and unworkable. They are actively working to tear down the US government as it has stood for more than 200 years and replace it with an oligarchy: in which a small and privileged group of people exercise power by virtue of their wealth, family and corporate interests, religion, and military power.

The opposition to Trump and the Republicans is widespread but disjointed. There is little enthusiasm for his opponent, Joe Biden, in the upcoming elections, and the Democrats have promulgated a wide range of potentially divisive policies, unlike their opponents, who only have one - retain power.

These are dark times for American democracy, and I fear there are darker days ahead.

- Jeff Glorfeld Jeff is a former long-time editor of The Age, and editorial contributor for The Local, who lived in Wheatsheaf for 17 plus years before returning to California, with wife Carol, in 2018 to be with family. Along with having ink in his veins, Jeff is a dyedin-the-wool St Kilda supporter, above.

Starting in 2021, funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten is coming to Hepburn for the first time.

Talk to your local kindergarten or long day care centre about how to enrol.

To find out more, visit vic.gov.au/kinder

FSA/DET0013-01/HEP

Three-Year-Old Kinder helps our kids dream big.

Design

with Indre Kisonas

Pulling of the heart strings

Mementos hold an emotional story that is often personal.

Many a room design and even a house style has been influenced by a memento, a keepsake or treasured piece of furniture. For example, a painting, an armchair or a cameo brooch. I have even had a set of African drums dictate the style of a family room addition.

It was Glen Heyne’s article from last week, with his potting shed reflections that led me on my own reflections. You see, I was flipping through some 50s furniture catalogues for an upcoming garage conversion when I began musing on my own 1950’s armchair.

The simple Danish styling, comfort, use of texture and timber has lasted through the decades and is still a very popular design style.

My particular chair originally belonged to my paternal grandmother. Being immigrants from World War II and making the best of some very hard situations, luxuries were quite scarce. For my grandmother, her luxury of choice was a Danish armchair. She persisted with my grandfather until he relented and bought my grandmother her chair. By this time, she had persisted with my grandfather for long enough and was diagnosed with cancer. It was in this chair that she would sit by the window and convalesce. The disease seemed to take its time, but I was a kid and time moves quite slowly when you are young. It was in this armchair that my grandmother would sit when we came to visit. The same armchair we have a last photo of, with her in it.

I kept this chair for myself. It was getting a bit ratty in its upholstery. Especially when my puppy of the time thought the deteriorating foam made a good chew toy.

The poor chair’s re-upholstery was forever on my ‘to-do list’ and now, I am proud to say, that it is as good as new. New foam, new fabric and chew marks on the timber arms have been filled and polished and are non-existent.

I was happy to have resurrected the treasured chair for myself, my grandmother and also for my father, whom I knew still missed his mother.

I sent him the photo of the new chair and explained that it had taken me longer than I had hoped but now the chair was finally finished.

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I thought he would understand. His reply was one that I never expected. “Why didn’t you buy a new one instead?”

Tender moment gone and I realised that my memento and memories that came with the chair were mine alone.

The chair still has pride of place by my window in my house and you guessed it, the décor revolved around my grandmother's chair.

www.iokdesign.com.au

House.Land.Home.

Bells Water Gardens @ Newlyn

Bells Water Gardens has been in the water garden business for over 25 years, building and maintaining ponds and growing a diverse range of aquatic plants for the nursery trade and public.

We are passionate about building natural eco-system ponds, adding beauty and encouraging wildlife, allowing interaction with nature. Water gardens built by us are quiet, contemplative places to rest and energise the senses.

Contact us for all your water garden requirements or come and see our nursery at 1 Campion Rd, Newlyn.

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

Orchids for all

It was once considered that growing the prized gem of the tropical forests, the orchid, was only for the very wealthy. So rare and valuable were they that governments actually financed botanical expeditions to the tropical forests of Central and South America to source them.

It was purely a stroke of fate that in 1836 a Spanish expedition, about to be led by my great-grandfather, was abandoned at the last minute when the ship’s crew was struck down by typhoid fever. Just by chance he was able to obtain passage on another ship, the Gottfrei soon to depart for Melbourne, and the rest, as they say...

There are basically two distinct types of orchid. Terrestrial, the ground dwellers with many native varieties which can be found in our forests and woodlands, and the epiphytes, those that grow on other plants but are not parasitic, unlike mistletoe which draws its energy from the lifeblood of the host plant. They are the most prolific and spectacular and are found growing in tropical and other rain forests, either among the branches of trees or among the decomposing leaf litter at their base. It is from this foliage detritis that they draw their nourishment.

For more than a century the availability of these epiphytic orchids continued to rely on a trickle of small offsets (plantlets) being imported from their native environment until 1922 when Dr Lewis Knudson of Cornell University discovered a method of germinating orchid seeds in a sterile culture.

Since then modern technology including single cell reproduction has enabled not only their mass propagation, but the development of many new hybrid forms. Orchid breeding and cultivation has now reached the point where established flowering plants usually cost no more than most other flowering trees and shrubs.

Most orchids prefer to be grown under conditions replicating their home environment, usually in a shade or greenhouse, but many thrive in a well-lit spot indoors.

The most popular, in recent times, are the beautiful ubiquitous moth orchids, phalaenopsis blume, which magically appear on windowsills each Mothers Day and survive on watering via an ice cube placed in the top of their pot and a seasonal drop of liquid seaweed fertiliser to keep them flowering.

Orchids can be grown either in pots or baskets. The size of the container is important and should be only slightly larger than the root system of the plant itself.

Generally the plant can be kept in the same container for several years before needing to be repotted into the next size pot. They thrive in an organically rich, open textured medium to avoid the risk of rotting.

Ideally the mix should be coarse-grained. One good mixture is two parts peat moss and rice hulls (I use the crumbled shells from my pistachio nuts), one part coarse sand and a light dressing of slow-release organic fertiliser pellets.

Regular feeding is essential for the development of healthy flower spikes, starting at the peak of flowering time and continuing until the new flower spikes appear.

It’s always a good idea to pick the flowers at their peak to give the plant a hand-up for the next season’s blooms. Besides, the flowers last longer in a vase.

As most orchids originate from rain forests, they grow best in a position of good air movement, filtered light and humidity. Water them by soaking the plant medium when leaf growth is active and a fine mist spray over the foliage in hot, drying weather. Keep them in a well-lit protected porch or warm shady corner of the garden.

Got a gardening question? Ask Glen. Email glenzgarden@gmail.com

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Walking for love and family togetherness

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GROUP of sisters, and their cousin, are walking every week in memory of their brother Tony Hill, who passed away 16 months ago with aggressive motor neurone disease.

The sisters, pictured from left wearing MND fundraising beanies, Carol Collins, Barbara Adam, Maureen Goldsmith, Sue Lafranchi and Judy Wilson, along with sister Jenny Tranter and cousin Joan Turner, are all passionate about fundraising to beat the disease.

"We meet every Monday for a long walk, choosing a different area each week, and then meet for lunch," Carol said.

"We all live in the area, within 25km of each other and are originally from Clunes, and are good mates. We talk a lot, and the walks are keeping us fit. We walk around 5km to 6km.

"Our handsome, talented brother is never far from our thoughts."

Carol said Tony's wife Andy Hill had recently gathered with family and jumped into a dam at Clunes to raise money as part of the Big Freeze.

"The kids all dressed up in Clunes football and netball uniforms. We just support as many fundraisers as we can."

Anyone who wants to donate, or buy a beanie, can head to www.fightmnd.org.au

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Hepburn House: a new beginning for Lillian

L

“Hepburn House meant a new beginning for the rest of my life! I was looking for a new home and found a place where I enjoy the friendly atmosphere of the staff but Some of her earliest childhood memories were of an aunty who wanted to also feel very safe. I would highly recommend the move to anyone else!”

Hepburn House is a government-funded aged care facility that is set in beautiful adopt her and holidays in Apollo Bay with her grandparents.

Lillian remembers herself and her three brothers playing all week and standing on surrounds and caters for all levels of care, from respite to permanent.

Residents are cared for by a full team of dedicated personal care workers and a carefully selected hill where they would try to throw rocks over one house’s chimney nurses, as well as regular visits from allied health professionals. to the house below.

Home-style meals are cooked for residents in the on-site kitchen, which can The family loved dogs and had plenty including one called Buster, with her accommodate not only dietary and religious requirements but also residents’ likes and grandparents owning sheep dogs.

Growing up, Lillian also loved dancing and was so light on her feet she won Belle dislikes.

Hepburn House has facilities to provide for couples – bedrooms with an of the Ball not once, but three times. Careerwise, she was an experienced weaver at adjoining private lounge and en suite. All the remaining rooms are single, private the Valley Woollen Mills. She was married after World War II for 63 years. rooms with en suite and many also have private balconies with views of the The mum of one, grandmother of five and great-grandmother of one, has always surrounding countryside enjoyed her hobbies including arts, craft and gardening. And as a resident of seven Hepburn House is located at 1 Hepburn Road, Daylesford. For more years at Hepburn House, she has kept up with all of them and especially loves tending information, please call 5348 8100 or visit www.hepburnhouse.com.au to the pot plants on her balcony.

illian Curtis was born in Birregurra, Victoria, between the Otways and the Surf Coast, on January 22, 1927.

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Meals, markets are back!

Bellinzona, Hepburn Spring - Two courses and a glass of wine - $45 - Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights starting June 19 Do you offer a meal deal? Or are you the organiser of a market that is back up and running? Email The Local with your details. news@tlnews.com.au

Exquisite water views from any vantage point, The Boathouse Restaurant offers a sophisticated dining venue for lunch and dinner. You can take in the beautiful views from our warm and cosy indoor dining area for winter catch ups and our outdoor deck and seating area during the warmer months.

The Boathouse Restaurant provides year-round comfort with stylish food and a relaxed yet professional style of service, making it the perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine over a meal with family and friends.

The Boathouse is very excited to be open again

Wednesday June 3rd

Lunch - Wed-Sun - opening at 11.30am Dinner - Fri & Sat - opening at 5.30pm

Reservations are recommended for lunch and dinner We will of course, be adhering to all government safety protocols to ensure a safe environment. Due to Covid19 restrictions on the number of patrons permitted in the restaurant at any one time all diners are required to order a minimum of a main course each and for the next few weeks the menu will be slightly smaller than the menu currently online.

Please refer to the website - boathousedaylesford.com.au for the latest updated information.

We appreciate your understanding to seeing you back at The Boathouse.

at

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forward

2 Leggatt Street, Daylesford | 03 5348 2199

D I N E R G’Day All,

We have free delivery for all orders over $50 within a 10km radius.

We can make some exceptions if you are outside that zone for a small fee.

Delivery times are Monday to Saturday between 10am and 4pm.

We accept credit cards over the phone or we have an onboard EFT machine.

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20 Our history

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Daylesford Courthouse recollections

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LICE'S Journeys and Lynda Poke are writing an unofficial history series…and next up are memories of the Daylesford Courthouse, now the Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre, from long time Daylesford resident Judy Files.

"The rooms at the back were used (presumably rented) by the Forests Commission. My Dad, Norman Endacott was the District Forest Officer and worked from there. I remember visiting him there at work. This would have been in the mid 1950s.

"It was a highlight for me, rabbiting through the rubbish bins looking for bits of unused paper and carbon paper, which we thought was treasure...we loved making copies of our drawings and writings. I have no knowledge about whether the court was operating at this time, but suspect it was, but on a circuit with a visiting judge and staff who didn't require office space.

"We had left Daylesford by the time the new Forests Commission office was built in Vincent Street, next to Trigger's second-hand shop, so I have no idea how long they occupied the back rooms for offices.

"As an adult, I was a member of the committee which ran the Toy Library, when my kids were small. It operated out of a small side room of the courthouse with a storeroom attached. We used to move everything to the lockable storeroom after sessions, but eventually we gained sole access to the room and could leave the toys on the shelves and lock the door for security. This lasted for about three years until we moved to another location.

"In the early days Words in Winter was based there, and Les, Anne and I gave a few historical talks from the bench, getting a judge's eye view of proceedings.”

Feel free to share more stories of the Daylesford Courthouse and Police Lockup and we’ll share them as part of the unofficial history series we are supporting during 2020. Email: info@alicesjourneys.com

Pictured, left, Norman Endacott with his daughter Judy Files, circa 1958, at the Mt Franklin fire tower, right, Norman Endacott, circa 1950s Images: Judy Files family collection

Solar savings on power

F

Government subsidies are also available with plenty for residential customers, ELLS Powerline and Electrical has expanded into the solar market, with 10 customers already very happy with their purchase – and lack of although commercial subsidies are due to finish at the end of the year. It’s a great time to get in soon and make the most of the government push for solar. power bills.

Owner Jamie Grant said many people were looking for an alternative to the grid power supply – for both environmental and economic reasons.

“What we are doing now is offering people not only a grid connection but also the ability to install an off-grid system with solar panels alongside a little back-up generator.

“We are finding people are looking at that option more and more readily. Many in a rural setting are finding it is not worth the cost of getting power connected, which can range from $50,000 upwards just to get power to the property, and so going solar and finding it more than enough to run their house.

“With the addition of LED lighting and high efficiency appliances, we are finding people are very close to being able to go off-grid completely. Those who aren’t sure if it will provide enough power might opt for a hybrid system, which is solar with the grid as a back-up. And when the kids leave home and they return to a two-person home, they might then decide to go off-grid.”

Jamie said with the long-term cost of power going up every year, with an increase in prices currently allowed twice a year, people were finding a solar investment meant they would never have another power bill. “They are getting their power free from the sun.”

The payback, on the cost of solar, in an urban situation is about five years but where the real savings lay are with customers who don’t connect to the grid at all, saving up to $5000 for a connection. The payback is instantaneous.

The old days of solar not providing enough electricity are over. Jamie says a couple could easily run their home without a power connection and even a family of up to five could make it work if they were prepared to make intelligent decisions about their power usage.

The elephant in the room, for the Central Highlands, is Winter. With plenty of grey days, how does a solar system collect enough sun power?

“Solar systems store daily in the battery and while there are a couple of months a year which could seem like an issue, even on a cloudy, dull day the solar panels will still generate enough power for lighting and to charge the batteries so you can use small appliances. That is why we would like people to have a small back-up generator.

But people who are thinking about stand-alone solar are already thinking about adjusting their lifestyle to suit that.”

Jamie says solar systems take just a six-week turnaround to be up and running including the design and build phase.

“I think with our customers the really nice feeling is that it is just one less bill to pay. And if you already have a bore or tank water, you might be down to just a rates bill. That is a great feeling.”

Call Jamie on 0434 357 882.

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22 Opinion

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Pick me, pick me

Just sayin’...

By Donna Kelly

D

ON'T you just love Australia?

It's that real "She'll be right, mate" attitude. I was watching tele the other night, pretty much like every night these days, and saw the advert for Dry July.

But it's now called Dry(ish) July. As in, don't bother trying to do the entire month, just give it a bit of a go.

I popped onto their website and there it was. "We get it. 2020 has been challenging.

So this year, we've introduced some new options for Dry July. We're calling it Dry(ish) July. Challenge yourself to 31 days dry, or this year, have a Dry(ish) July and choose 21 or 14 days. No matter how long you choose to go dry for, you’ll still be raising vital funds for people affected by cancer, who need us now, more than ever."

2020 has been challenging? That would have to be the understatement of the year.

But I like that despite all odds, they are still willing to try to raise money by asking people to forego a few bevvies during a pandemic, because let's face it, it's not the people having a glass of wine or beer once or twice a week who are keen.

I think most people who think about Dry July or FebFast or Sober October are the people who are just starting to wonder if perhaps they are actually alcoholics, and you know the saying, if you think you might be.... And the fundraising is a chance to give up for a month and say "I told you I didn't have a problem". But now they only have to reach the seven day mark, or even less.

I write this as another delivery of alcohol finds its way to us. We are not the canaries going boldly down the mineshaft so we have become quite fond of having things delivered. Mind you, a few years back I saw Dan Murphy was offering delivery and quickly signed up for a few cases on special. Of course, I didn't take into account we lived in a rural area so the delivery was made - to the post office. Now, that was an interesting walk of shame.

I have also grown a love for Click and Collect. It is really nice retail therapy, just don't do it when you are hungry or weeks later you will find the four packets of saganaki cheese in the fridge, or get too surprised when you get the email telling you they have substituted your King Island Gourmet Beef Pies with Coles party pies, or your Skin-On Atlantic Salmon fillets with skinless dukkah and lemon-crusted fish. I guess you just need that "She'll be right" attitude and go with the flow.

As for Dry(ish) July. Not for me but I might have a dry(ish) day here and there. Well, that's the plan but it's always easy to make them at 10am. I'll let you know what happens at 5pm. Just sayin'...

'

Hey there, I am Panda. I'm a bit of a shy girl so I am looking for a quiet, understanding home where I can find my feet. But I also love other kitties and would like another friendly cat for company.

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Call 5472 5277 to make an appointment.

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

The Local - Connecting the Community

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he Local is all about Connecting the Community. We run good news stories about amazing people and places, and festivals and events. And our fantastic advertisers run great deals for locals and visitors alike.

To give back to the community, The Local has been running its Connecting the Community adverts for seven years. The adverts are for not-for-profit groups and organisations to lend a hand when finances can be a bit tight - or just don't exist. We all know how hard it can be to make volunteer-run organisations work on the smell of an oily rag!

To apply just email donna@tlnews.com.au with your event or organisation. We also put call-outs on our Facebook page and those of the various communities in our wonderful region. We work on a first-in basis, with a nod to time-lines too.

There are a few conditions, well mostly that not-forprofit bit, and also that you aren't grabbing a free advert and then we see a whacking big paid advert in other media. That wouldn't be fair.

Cheers, Donna (Ed)

Hepburn Regional Community Cheer We are in need of items for our Silent Auction.

Businesses that donate to our ‘Christmas in July Fundraiser’ receive a tax-deductible receipt that can be used for their 2020 tax refund.

With all the business closures due to COVID-19, this can be a great way of increasing your refunds while supporting your community.

5348 3458 or info@hepburnregionalcommunitycheer.org.au

TRENTHAM POETRY/SHORT STORY/ 50 WORDS COMPETITIONS Prize of $250 for the Poetry and $250 for the Short Story. $100 first prize for 50 word story and $50 second prize.

Theme: In Isolation… more information to follow!

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Kyle’s Rant

Opinion 23 ADVERTISEMENT

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HIS whole growing old thing has hair on it. I mean, when did the grunting to get off the floor start? One minute I was springing from the floor defying gravity and the next it feels like I am dragging the floor up with me.

My dear old dad, who is not all that philosophical, has a couple of sayings he has picked up on his journeys which make him sound like an academic, not a 13-year-old drop-out, pick-it-up-as-you-go kid. The first is “As I am so ye shall be” but when Dad says it, he drops his voice to a rumble sounding like the love child of a Greek titan and the exhaust brakes on a truck.

The second riveting statement that he declares is that we are all just climbing a ladder getting closer to the final rung. He says that in not-so-dramatic tones, but stares into your eyes when he trots it out as if he is the messiah himself and he composed the saying.

But I guess the old bugger has a point. In this very dry, serious and morbid time that my family is going through, saying goodbye to my dear old friend and nemesis Betty, the mother in-law, I realise that no-one is getting out of this alive and the only sure things in life are death and taxes. Do you think I am sounding like my father?

Back to my oldness. Since the gyms have closed and the exercise classes have become Zoom meetings which really don’t work on the floor of your house, my joints have become stiffer than a… Well, I actually Googled crazy sayings about "stiffer than" to make me sound a bit more educated and came up with some amazing websites, but not for this column. Anyway, suffice to say I am stiff.

I mean, why can’t we age Benjamin Button-style? We have all the wealth we are likely to pick up later in life and the knowledge and street-smarts we have honed, but the body starts to let us down. I also suggest the mind starts to play tricks. When I was younger consequences didn’t come into it - I had been in and busted my first business by the age of 19. Now I don’t so much as fart without asking my wife if it is OK. Where did all that confidence go?

Aged rant over, but to be continued…

(Ed's note: He doesn't ask.)

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Mary-Anne Thomas MP LABOR MEMBER FOR MACEDON

As your local Member of Parliament I am keen to hear from the community and assist with any State Government matter.

Mary-Anne Thomas Shop 14, Nexus Centre, 9 Goode Street, Gisborne, VIC 3437 P: 5428 2138 E: mary-anne.thomas@parliament.vic.gov.au Authorised by MA Thomas, Shop 14, Nexus Centre, 9 Goode Street, Gisborne. Funded from Parliamentary budget.

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24 Crossword

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Here is the solution for last edition's crossword, Edition 184. How did you go?

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The Local Classifieds ASHLEY – Gary James 26.08.1954 – 14.06.2020 Loving partner of Kim for 42 years and wonderful husband for the past three years.

Son of Alfred (Jim) Ashley and adored son of Beryl Ashley (both dec). Loved brother and brother-in-law of Jim(dec) and Beryl. Uncle of Sheryl and Stephen and their families.

Classifieds 25

5348 7883 or donna@tlnews.com.au

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REQUEST FOR TENDER Tender responses are invited for Municipal Waste Disposal (Contract HEPBU.RFT – 2020.95).

Tender documents can be obtained from www.hepburn.vic. gov.au/tenders, or by contacting Simon Mennie on 0439 847 106.

Tender responses must be received by 2pm Friday 10 July 2020.

Dearly loved Gary of Shane & Louise and their daughter Matilda, Chris, David & Edward.

Thank you for a lifetime of memories.

Welcome a new family member to the world!

Nature Diary with Tanya Loos

I

T REALLY is a wonderful fungi season in central Victoria – both the Wombat State Forest and drier forests to the north are filled with an everchanging array of spectacular forms. This bounty represents the fruiting bodies of these organisms – and they also provide food for the forest inhabitants.

Much is known about the consumption of underground truffle-like fungi by small marsupials such as potoroos, bettongs and mammals such as bush rats. But the large external fungi popping up are munched upon by bigger mammals – the swamp wallabies.

The image, pictured right and taken by Geoff Park, captures a wallaby in the act, holding a mushroom in his or her front paw, much like we would munch on an apple.

Very little is known about the consumption of fungi by swamp wallabies. At the encouragement of Tom May, senior research scientist (mycology) for the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Glenlyon resident Gayle Osborne has set up motion capture cameras to document this behaviour.

It is a tricky business, as it also involves the correct identification of the fungi – which can be difficult if the wallaby has consumed most of the specimen. Gayle must identify the fungi first, via photos and spore prints, often with the help of fungi-literate folks like Malmsbury naturalist John Walters. The camera is set up at an appropriate spot. And then wait – sometimes it is over a week before the fungi is eaten.

Although initially counter-intuitive, there is an advantage of being eaten by mammals such as swamp wallabies and possums. Like the smaller truffle species, large fungi are dispersed by spores, and these spores pass through the animal’s gut, to be spread widely, for the benefit of other animals, and of course the health of the forest.

So how do they taste? And are some of them poisonous?

Gayle writes: “Some of the fungi that were observed to be eaten taste very bitter for humans, especially armillaria luteobubalina and gymnopilus junonius.

“Other fungi belong to groups, which contain some toxic species, as is the case for Cortinarius, a few species of which are poisonous to humans as they contain the toxin orellanine, which can lead to kidney failure.

Announce your engagement!

“Fungi that are unpalatable or toxic for humans may not have the same effects on animals.” ( June 2020 Wombat Forestcare Newsletter) I am very curious as we have small numbers of the red and white fly agaric mushrooms (amanita muscaria) which grow near our oak trees. And each year they are munched enthusiastically – the huge caps consumed entirely with only the stems remaining. These mushrooms can make humans feel quite very sick, and very strange – and I wonder if wallabies are affected in the same way?

Or if they are impervious to these effects?

My searches online have revealed nothing, except that swamp wallabies in Tasmania have reportedly been very much affected by the legal opium poppy fields down there. If anyone has seen their wallabies acting strangely this mushroom season, do get in touch via my blog! https://tanyaloos.com/ With thanks to Gayle Osborne, Wombat Forestcare, and Geoff Park for the fantastic photo.

PS. The state government was supposed to respond to the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council’s final recommendations to protect almost 60,000 hectares of central west forests in new national parks within six months.

The announcement should have been made by the end of February of this year.

The forests worthy of protection as national parks include the Wombat State Forest (near Daylesford), Wellsford Forest (near Bendigo), Pyrenees Ranges Forest (near Avoca), and Mount Cole Forest (near Beaufort).

Wombat Forestcare is asking concerned people to contact Mary-Anne Thomas and the minister to voice their concerns. http://www.wombatforestcare.org.au/

Tanya Loos is a keen field naturalist who spends a lot of time wandering around the bush in our beautiful region. She loves writing about nature and science - she blogs at https://tanyaloos.wordpress.com/

26 Trades

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Earthworks

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POOL AND SPA MAINTENANCE SERVICES DAYLESFORD AND SPA COUNTRY Over 25 years’ experience in the Pool and Spa industry.

Cleaning and servicing of pools, hot tubs and jacuzzis.

Water chemistry and water balance Commercial properties Domestic applications Reasonable rates All enquiries welcome Noel 0419 554 319 Declan 0438 212 107

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Clement F Mooney

Email: c.mooney@bigpond.net.au Available to assist with all general accounting services and preparation/electronic lodgment of Tax Returns and BAS for Individuals, Sole Traders, Partnerships, Trusts and Companies.

Tel: 03 5424 1441 Mobile: 0412 584 555

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Certified Practising Accountant Registered Tax Agent B.Com, C.P.A., M.B.A.

Office: 19 Albert Street, Trentham 3458

Trades 27

E L E C T R C I A N

John Roberts Electrical Services REG 15644

Domestic Commercial Industrial Mobile 0439 682 619

Servicing the local community for over 45 years

Phone: 5348 1291

trenthamselfstorage@outlook.com

DAYLESFORD APPLIANCE SERVICE

das3460@bigpond.com

electrical appliance repair service washer, dryer, fridge, dishwasher, oven, cook top etc.

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0419 267 685

das3460@bigpond.com

Malone Tree Services Liam Malone . Limited Access . Fully Insured .Specialists Qualified . Mulching Available

0423 945 436 Daylesford Newsagency & Tattslotto

Newspapers, magazines, Tattslotto, dry-cleaning, stationery, photocopying and lots more...

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55 Vincent Street, Daylesford 5348 2061

PH: 0400 059 613 - 5348 6634 ADMIN@JESSEDAWKINSGARDENS.COM.AU WWW.JESSEDAWKINSGARDENS.COM.AU

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