March 8, 2021 Issue 222 Fungus foraging
The Local - The Heart of the Highlands
2 About Us
www.tlnews.com.au
Front cover: Daylesford resident,
Alison Pouliot, pictured, and Tom May have published a new book from CSIRO Publishing – Wild Mushrooming: A Guide for Foragers. The pair offers plenty of expert advice on best ways to go about finding, identifying and collecting the right mushrooms…as well as a mouthwatering selection of recipes to enjoy too. Read all about it on page 5.
March 8, 2021 Issue 222 Fungus foraging
The Local is a community publication covering the Central Highlands. The next edition is out on Monday, March 15, 2021. Or online on Sunday, March 14 at www.tlnews.com.au Space bookings: Wednesday, March 10 Copy deadline: Thursday, March 11 Editorial deadline: Thursday, March 11 Managing editor | Donna Kelly General manager | Kyle Barnes Sub-editors | Nick Bunning and Lindsay Smith Sales | Henry Maxwell
Image: Kyle Barnes
Writers | Kevin Childs, Tony Sawrey, Jeff Glorfeld, Carol Saffer, Narelle Groenhout and Donna Kelly
The Local - The Heart of the Highlands
Photographers | Kyle Barnes and David White
The Local is a registered trademark of The Local Publishing Group Pty Ltd.
Graphic designer & HLH coordinator | Dianne Caithness
The Local is a member of the Victorian Country Press Association, with editor Donna Kelly, a director.
Contributors: Glen Heyne (gardening), Indre Kisonas (design), Glenn Robinson (cartoons), Darren Lowe (gigs) and Matthew Richardson (money) Accounts | Julie Hanson Editorial & advertising: 5348 7883 or 0416 104 283 news@tlnews.com.au or sales@tlnews.com.au
The content expressed within this publication does not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of The Local Publishing Group Pty Ltd. The Local Publishing Group's editorial guidelines and complaints-handling process can be found at www.tlnews.com.au We welcome all feedback.
Local Lines Blue Butterfly
Destiny decreed that I should be caught in tangled web of the muddled thoughts of others unable to fight my way through. Entangled in the silk of intrigue of their minds. Age is of no matter. The tangles began when Life had just drawn breath. Weaving through warlike sounds of pain and actions taunt in misery I was torn from my cocoon knowing, from a different time, what lay ahead. I struggled. I fought. Still they dragged me out bloodied and scarred into a world of confused minds and misery people. Told 'fix them'. But one can't fix damaged childhoods unless those children want to be whole again. To have their weary bodies not have screaming minds; and fears; and triggers to a distant past. A lifetime now has almost gone. Time tired of waiting says 'Enough.' No more chances. No more start again. No more time to waste. Blue Butterfly held firm by a pin in cottonwool soaked in the ether of human dysfunctions-succumbs. Defeated. - Yvonne Fix A time in life when you look back and wonder whether it was all worth it. Local Lines comes mainly from a group of local poets but other submissions are always welcome. To have a poem considered for publication contact Bill Wootton at cottlesbreedge@gmail.com
See a photo you like? They are available for sale. Contact Kyle on 0416 104 283
Back to fortnightly!
I
N OUR March 23 edition, 2020, when we went weekly, I wrote these few paragraphs. "These are unprecedented times. We are all living in an altered reality and if you are like me, you wake up each day hoping it is all a nightmare and then think, 'Shit!' what is happening?
"Here at The Local, we are not medical people, and we don't have an answer to what is happening. We know about social distancing, self-isolation if possible, doing our utmost to keep the vulnerable safe. "But what we really know is our Central Highlands community. We know they are caring, compassionate, intelligent and ready to do their bit and their best. And we are going to do our bit and our best as well. "So, we are going to keep The Local running throughout this tough time, no matter what that looks like. There has never been a more important time to share real news and information and also just have time out and a good read. "Firstly, we have decided to go weekly. We believe that people need local news on the coronavirus along with, perhaps even more importantly, good news. We started The Local with the motto of Connecting the Community and are really going to put our money, literally, where our mouths are. Current advertisers will not be asked to pay any more. We will honour our prices for them in recognition of their great support and loyalty over the years. These are unprecedented times and we need to work together to get through this, because we will." March 2021 - and almost a year to the day later, and what a year it has been. I remember the almost immobilising fear, waking up each day wondering how you survived a pandemic, wondering if our business would survive. But I also watched in complete awe as our community pulled together and rallied and worked long and hard to ensure our most vulnerable stayed on the journey. We did our bit with Legends of Lockdown, recognising just a few of those going above and beyond, and kept good and real news coming week in and week out, even when I lost my beautiful mother in May - we never skipped a beat. Although I cried, and still cry, a river. But a year on, and with the vaccine around the corner, we are done. Well, not completely done, but we are returning to fortnightly editions of The Local from March 15. It is time for us and our crew to step back, take a breath or two, maybe go under the doona for a few hours and return to our normal programming. And a life. We hope we have helped in some way and just so you know, the weekly editions of The Local have kept us sane. Sort of. What a year! Donna XX
www.tlnews.com.au
News 3
Wild horses couldn’t drag Leslie away
T
HE Rolling Stones wrote a song about them and now Clunes' own resident Leslie Scott has her own incredible story about wild horses that became the focus of her life during COVID.
The story is so fascinating, the photographer has been thrust into the spotlight with media outlets from across the country keen to share this remarkable story about two horses, a local and an eight-month journey inspired by a love of horses and a need to save them. There’s even been talk of a movie. Leslie, like many in the small tight-knit community, had heard whispers of wild horse sightings in the remote area of bushland at Mount Beckworth. Curious and concerned, Leslie began making daily trips to a section of the mountain rarely visited due to its ruggedness. “It all started in April last year when there were rumours going around about the wild horses. A friend of a friend apparently spotted them so I became intrigued. I spend a lot of time in the area taking photos, riding horses and hiking but the area I started going into was on the south side of the mountain which is a part not frequented often by people,” she said. “I had time on my hands like many people, as COVID had meant I wasn’t working my normal 9 to 5 job. So, the start of my journey began with a sighting of fresh manure and hoof marks but no horseshoe marks. I began going back to the area every day and I continued to follow the tracks. At one stage I looked at my Fitbit and had walked 16 kilometres around the rugged terrain,” she said. “Then I spotted them. They were tucked away in a plateau on the side of the mountain. I was simply amazed and so many thoughts were running through my mind. Were they domestic horses that had gotten out, had they been dumped?” Leslie quietly approached the horses from a distance and they spotted her. “They were on to me and as soon as they saw me coming, they bolted. I realised then that they weren’t domesticated horses. The area is known for hunting and I was so worried that the horses would become shooting targets. At that stage I made the decision to do whatever I could to get the horses to safety. I named them Milo, the colt, and Lucy the mare,” she said. Given Leslie has been around horses her entire life, she knew routine was key in her quest to help the horses. “My father always had horses so I never had to ask for one and I actually got my first pony when I was about five. Horses like predictability and routine. I started going to the mountain to get the horses used to me at the same time every day, and I’d sit in the same spot near where they liked to hang out. I called it base camp,” she said. “Two months in, I was sitting under a pine tree and the colt, Milo, gently came up and sat down beside me. At first, I was a little worried as it could have been dangerous. When he sat down with me it was simply overwhelming. All this time and now I’d been accepted into their herd. “This was cemented when Lucy the mare decided to join us. They became a major part of my daily life. Horses are like mirrors into your soul. They know if your intentions are good or bad and are able to read signs if danger is near,” she said. But about five months into her journey, Leslie had lost all contact and sightings of the horses. “I went in morning and night to try and find the horses. I had no idea where they were and I was getting more worried by the minute. I remember sitting on a boulder and just breaking down and being so overwhelmed, thinking I’d bitten off more than I could chew. At that moment a robin redbreast sat on a branch very close to me and I knew I had to snap out of it and stay focused. And so I got up and continued searching,” she said. “On the sixth day they returned to base camp and our relationship continued, I was so happy to see them and they certainly seemed happy to see me” she said.
“The horses were drinking from a spring-fed well but the water was running low with the hot temperatures so I started carting in 100 litres a day with the help of my husband and a friend. They were getting more comfortable and confident around me but I knew I couldn’t get a float in to take them off the mountain due to the terrain.” With the water drying up, the horses starting roaming further looking for water and started jumping the fence onto an adjoining farm to drink from the trough. This gave Leslie the perfect opportunity to set a yard around that trough to safely and securely contain the horses. “Whilst they were in the bush, I began teaching Milo how to move his hind quarters at liberty, meaning without being haltered. He was curious and interested in learning. This helped immensely when it came to getting them on the float and moving them to safety at the Victorian Brumby Association. On Valentine’s Day, I managed to get the ponies into the yard for their regular drink and hay, and I calmly closed the gate. After nearly eight months I finally had the ponies secured,” she said. Leslie engaged Colleen O’Brien, the president of the association in Glenlogie to assist in their ongoing care and also provide a safe place for them. For Leslie, the horses are still a major part of her life and will always have a special place in her heart. The day after the horses were safely transported off the mountain the enormity of the journey and a bit of relief overwhelmed Leslie. “I was a blubbering mess; I couldn’t talk to anyone or see anyone. I hiked in to base camp to get some closure. It was so lonely in there without Milo and Lucy. I don’t think I will ever know how Lucy and Milo came to being on the mountain, and it will always be in the back of my mind. I think it will remain a mystery for the rest of my life.”
Words: Narelle Groenhout | Images: Leslie Scott
4 Our environment
www.tlnews.com.au
A fungus lover’s foray into fun foraging
I
NTEREST in foraging for wild food is on the rise, and magnificent mushrooms are very much on the menu. But if you’re gathering your own, you’ve got to get it right. From the right knowledge and equipment, to following a forager's Code of Practice.
With fungi being incredibly diverse, delicious (and sometimes deadly) a new book from CSIRO Publishing, Wild Mushrooming: A Guide for Foragers, delivers expert advice on the best ways to go about finding, identifying and collecting the right mushrooms…as well as a mouth-watering selection of recipes to enjoy, too. The book is co-authored by leading experts, Daylesford resident, Alison Pouliot and Tom May and has been a collaborative project five years in the making. It includes sections on where, when, and how to find fungi and guides the forager in the identification of a selection of edible species. “We advocate what we describe as a ‘slow mushrooming’ approach,” say the authors. “We encourage foragers to learn a few species thoroughly, rather than many superficially. This means slowing down, taking your time and being an astute observer of both fungi and their surrounds.” The publication is an extensively illustrated guide which melds scientific and cultural knowledge, equipping the reader with the knowledge to find the right mushrooms while encouraging ‘ecological foraging’ to minimise environmental harm. There are also checklists of features for both edible and toxic species to enable the reader to differentiate the desirable from the deadly. Hints on where, when and how to find fungi enhance the reader’s ability to recognise targeted species. Armed with the right knowledge, there are many rewards to savour and the book includes a large section of recipes. From omelettes to pies, and curries to risotto and pasta, you’ll be enticed by 29 mouth-watering recipes that can be adapted for both foraged and cultivated fungi. Alison Pouliot is an ecologist and environmental photographer with a focus on fungi. She is active in Australian and international fungal conservation and her writing and images appear in both academic and popular literature. Alison’s fungus forays, which she conducts across both hemispheres, attract a range of people from foragers and philosophers to rangers and traditional owners. Tom May is a mycologist with more than four decades getting to know Australian fungi. He has published widely on fungal taxonomy, ecology, and conservation in scientific and popular literature, including checklists of Australian fungi and a key to genera of Australian mushrooms (FunKey). He is active in international mycological groups and in community natural history organisations, founding Fungimap in 1995. He was awarded the Australian Natural History Medallion in 2014.
Forest cooked mushrooms on sourdough bread From Florian Hofinger, Mt Franklin Organics Mushrooms have wonderful flavours and the best way to bring them out is to keep the recipe simple. This is a favourite recipe from my childhood days in the Austrian Alps. Serves 2 / preparation & cooking time: 20 minutes 100g butter 1 clove garlic, chopped 300g wild mushrooms, cleaned & chopped, or left whole if small parsley, roughly chopped salt and pepper 1/2 cup dry white wine big loaf of sourdough bread Make a little fire. Once you’ve got a good coal bed, put frypan on top. When hot, add butter and chopped garlic. Stir so it doesn’t brown. Cook for a few minutes. Throw in mushrooms and parsley. Cook for 5 or 6 minutes, until they are soft. You need to test them as it is hard to estimate an exact time as it depends on the heat of your fire. Season to taste with pepper and salt and a good splash of white wine. Reduce a little. Use thick slices of bread to scoop out mushrooms and mop up juices. And don’t waste the rest of the wine! Drink the remainder to wash them down.
Other enviro things A YOU, me & biodiversity talk by Professor Stefan Arndt, cancelled last year, will now go ahead at the Trentham Neighbourhood Centre on Saturday, March 27 at 1.30pm.
'Resilience of the Wombat Forest' will focus on changes in climate and how that is affecting forest ecosystems worldwide, leading to forest decline and in extreme cases, forest mortality. Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/BOWEL Places are limited.
THE Kyneton Horticultural Society will host a huge plant sale on Saturday, March 13 in the grounds of the Kyneton Uniting Church, 54 Ebden Street, Kyneton from 8.30am to 1pm. There are hundreds of very reasonably priced plants to be had, all grown by its members. Perfect timing for autumn planting. Unfortunately there will be no KHS Autumn Show this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.
WOULD you like to do more for nature but don’t know where to start? Nature Stewards is a 10-week educational program that will introduce people to Victorian and local nature and show ways to take action for the environment.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council have partnered with two other local governments (Melton and Hume) to host the Nature Stewards Program, run by Outdoors Victoria, a not-for-profit organisation. The Nature Stewards program will run between April and June and includes 10 class sessions of three hours, and four field sessions of four hours.
Link: www.outdoorsvictoria.org.au/nature-stewards
Pets@Work
IRISH wolfhounds, Fearghal, left, and Flynn, right, certainly punch above their weight, more than 75kg each, helping out at Trentham Post Office. Elizabeth Parsons said the friendly, 18-month-old hounds are pure PR, looking after customers and happily meeting other pooches along with "getting in the way". Elizabeth and her mum Leanda will celebrate six years running the post office in August.
EVERY TEST HELPS US PROTECT EVERYTHING WE’VE ACHIEVED Every test keeps us on top of this virus. And keeps us doing the things we love. So even if your symptoms are mild, or you’ve been tested before, every test helps.
For testing locations visit CORONAVIRUS.vic.gov.au Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne
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Our musicians 7
Electronic control addictive for Aimee
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EWSTEAD musician Aimee Chapman has been working at her craft since the 1990s, with her career based on jazz studies at Victorian College of the Arts and Music, majoring in lead vocals.
But that period in Melbourne was also a time when much of the music scene was in thrall to myriad strands of electronica flowing in from around the world. Electronica is a fairly nebulous term but it came to be used a lot in those years to loosely describe any music that was produced and performed using devices such as, and definitely not limited to, drum machines, computers and keyboards. They faced some resistance from traditionalists who liked to think that live music should only be with instruments that were physically played. For example: guitarists playing guitars, drummers playing drums and so on. But it was really at the end of the 20th century when those complaints were finally put aside and electronica in all its guises was assimilated into musical performance and production. Melbourne has always had an active live music scene and the technology influenced many local artists who are still performing regularly today. “Alongside jazz, I was listening to mostly hip hop funk, trip hop, electronica and dance music and all the kind of stuff that was happening in the late 90s and early 2000s in Melbourne. I was going out seeing all these bands and I realised I wanted to make this music too, I wanted to do the beats. So I kind of taught myself to begin with and started just asking people I knew were dabbling in computer music to show me some stuff.” The core of any electronic producer's studio is a computer running sequencing software with a multi instrument digital interface (MIDI) for communication with sound modules. That is to say, a simple program acts as a clock that can trigger a connected instrument like a keyboard (also known as a sound module) electronically via a MIDI in a timed sequence. Simple really, but there are lots of knobs, dials, faders and flashing lights involved. And the recording studio where it all gets done can look very, very cool, mysterious and complicated. Also, having everything you need at your fingertips means no more having to wrangle a group of musicians. “I saved up and got an early interaction of Ableton Live (a digital audio software workstation developed by German musicians Gerhard Behles, Robert Henke, and Bernd Roggendorf in 2001),” says Aimee. “That just changed everything. It is really geared to live performance and meant I could ditch the band. Suddenly I had this capability to be able to play everything in my head musically and go on solo tours. It gave me a lot of control that you don’t usually get as the vocalist. I got really addicted to that mode of performing.” Since then, as a producer, vocalist, musician and sound artist, Aimee has toured extensively through Australia, Japan, Canada, Denmark and France and released several albums and various singles. She has also completed advanced electronic studies online through Berklee College of Music and the Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio (MESS) Winter School. In 2019 she was a recipient of a Loddon Mallee Renewable Energy Arts Award creating a musical work Softer Currents using sounds recorded from renewable energy sources. Most recently she was awarded a residency at the Phee Broadway Theatre in Castlemaine as part of their 20-21 At Home Program. She produced an online/real time project called Coming Home featuring sounds of the city commute. It has been a good start to the year and Aimee has more projects to come. “It’s still hard to plan at the moment but I’m looking to start recording a new release. I’ve gone instrumental and textural for the last couple of years, but now I’m keen to start stretching my lyric muscles and vocal melodies. “I’m also hopeful and optimistic that something like another tour to Japan would be on the cards. I have done two tours there and that has just been exceptional. They really have such a culture for experimental and interesting music and the audiences really listen intently.”
Newstead Open Studios
art trail 2021 20-21 & 27-28 March, 10am-5pm
Words: Tony Sawrey | Image: Contributed
get your guide from:
newsteadopenstudios.org
Community News Message from the Mayor There have been several events happening in the Shire this past week. International Women’s Day, which is held around the world on 8 March, celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. Hepburn Shire acknowledged and celebrated the achievements of three local women at an IWD event on 4 March - Frances Fiddian, Betty Johns, and Verena Doyle were inducted onto the Heather Mutimer Women’s Honour Roll. Frances Fiddian volunteered for many years with the Nursing Mothers Association of Australia, working to support many thousands of women who encountered difficulties with breast feeding but also working to change social attitudes to breast feeding. Betty Johns challenged the marriage bar that prevented women working once they had married, demonstrating that a woman could be a successful wife, mother and worker, at a time when this was not considered the norm. Verena Doyle established the first Creswick Venturer Unit and has continued to work to provide opportunities for young women in the community through this experience. International Women’s Day is not just a celebration but a call to action to raise awareness about women’s equality and to work towards gender equity. Bianca Chatfield, a world class netball champion who was vice captain of the Australian Diamonds (the Australian netball team), spoke about advocating for women in sport and the importance of working together to advocate for change. The theme of girls in sport was taken up by Daylesford Secondary College student, Lucinda Lowe, who identified both the importance of role models and family support in helping girls achieve. Nioka Newton, also from Daylesford Secondary College, spoke eloquently about the impact of COVID and how women in STEM (Science, Technology, Environment and Mathematics) have contributed around the world to government COVID responses. The evening ended with the performance of an original work by Yemaya Greenwood, also from Daylesford Secondary College, demonstrating an excellent example of the creativity of young women in our Shire. It is a sobering thought, but the World Economic Forum argues that none of us will see gender parity in our lifetime, nor will many of our children, predicting that gender parity will not be attained for almost a century. ChillOut is on again and there are several events happening around the area. A ChillOut community planting at Wombat Flat, Lake Daylesford occurred on Thursday with 100 trees and shrubs planted as a ‘Grove of Gratitude’ dedicated by LGBTQIA+ groups to those who have made a difference in their organisations and communities. There will be annual plantings by ChillOut that will aim to establish a vibrant ecology in this flood plain above Lake Daylesford. Encouragingly, we are already seeing signs of this with the sighting of the bright-eyed brown butterfly, an uncommon wetland dependent butterfly not previously recorded in Daylesford. It’s great that the Shire’s commitment to biodiversity is showing evidence of positive changes. Finally, just a reminder of the chance to have YOUR SAY in the 4-year Council Plan and 10 Year Council Vision. Check out the Participate Hepburn Website (participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au) for details. Cr Lesley Hewitt, MAYOR
CONTACTS
General enquiries
5348 2306
@
Mail Email Website
PO Box 21, Daylesford 3460 shire@hepburn.vic.gov.au hepburn.vic.gov.au
Aged & disability services enquiries - 5345 8399
Hepburn Together - Community Vision & Council Plan
The development of the 10 Year Community Vision and 4 Year Council Plan are important tools to establishing our goals, aspirations and priorities. There are more Community Pop-up sessions around the Shire. For those of you who would prefer to provide feedback online, we have a survey and interactive social map tool to help you provide feedback. There’s also a visioner tool which asks you what we value now and what change do you want to see in the future. For more infomation and to access the survey visit https:// participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/hepburn-together. 10 March 2021 6pm-8pm - Smeaton Bowls Club 11 March 2021 4pm-6pm - Clydesdale Hall 13 March 2021 9am-11am - Front of Le Peche Gourmand, Creswick 13 March 2021 4pm-6pm - Daylesford Coles Walkway 15 March 2021 4pm-6pm - Trentham Mechanics Institute 18 March 2021 4pm -6pm - Creswick Hub For more on the project - https://participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/.
Aquatics Strategy - One Step Closer Great news – the development of the Hepburn Shire Aquatics Strategy is one step closer with the appointment of consultants Otium Planning Group. Otium are industry leaders in the planning for aquatic facilities and service, and will assist Council in the development of the strategy. They are currently commencing facility audit work and consultation with the community on the project is scheduled to commence in April. For after hours emergencies please call: Animal Control - 0419 587 955 Other Council Emergency - 0419 583 573 hepburncouncil
www.tlnews.com.au
Our festivals 9
Discover Woodend at new family fun day
T
"There will be a Petanque HE Woodend Hanging Rock Petanque Club and Woodend Pony Club Tournament running for are hosting the Woodend Discovery Day on Sunday, March 21.
The event will feature a wide range of activities and products available in and around Woodend. "It’s time we made everybody aware of what really happens in this wonderful place," said John Pizzey, Woodend resident and spokesman for the Petanque Club. "The Woodend Discovery Day is the result of much planning by the club, working with the Pony Club, as they are joint occupants at the old Woodend Racecourse in Forest Street, where the event is being held. The aim is to showcase the wide range of lesser known benefits and products available to the village residents and surrounding areas in the Macedon Ranges. "Sports like football, cricket and basketball are well known in the area and are well represented in Woodend with some outstanding clubs but little is known about the sport of petanque along with the range of activities run by the pony club. "Similarly, many people have not discovered some of the wonderful smaller vineyards, boutique distilleries and cideries operating close to Woodend - even the local craft brewery is relatively undiscovered by many other than those souls who desperately seek real ale. "So the clubs are organising this Discovery Day to show everybody just how wonderful these features and many more are.
spectators interested to discover just how skilful this strange sport is with its French origins. The tournament is against the Rootes Group Car Club which will be exhibiting a collection of their beautiful vintage cars so people can come and discover a bygone age of automotive beauty. "The Petanque Club will also be asking visitors to ‘Give it a Toss’ and try out the game for themselves aided by the club’s skilled players. It’s great fun tossing the steel balls through the air. "Meanwhile, the Pony Club will have an exhilarating show happening for all ages and children can take up the chance to ride a pony, play with animals in the mobile farm or head to the jumping castle. "Some of the area’s best small vineyards, breweries, cideries and the local boutique gin distillery will have their products up for tasting, along with great food on offer. And the Rockin' Rebels will keep the toes tapping. "Our main aim of the day is for people to have fun while discovering a little more about wonderful Woodend."
Cost: $5 per person or $10 for families. Open: 10am to 5.30pm.
10 Happy & Healthy
www.tlnews.com.au
Volunteering with Ballarat Hospice Care
B
ALLARAT Hospice Care volunteer Kath Connors reckons anyone who has been thinking about volunteering should "Give it a go and just do it!".
Kath has volunteered for the organisation for 35 years and recently retired from direct patient support. And while Kath continues her connection to Ballarat Hospice Care, she shares her volunteering story so others may consider what they could do. Importantly, she encourages people to attend a volunteer information session later this month. Kath was present at the first public meeting about Ballarat Hospice Care hosted by the Ballarat Trades and Labour Council in 1984. She voiced her support to establish a community hospice service in Ballarat and became a volunteer for Ballarat Hospice Care soon after in 1986. Kath recognised the need for a community palliative care service first-hand after providing care for her husband, who died in 1981. Trained as a nurse, Kath uniquely understood the immense value of a palliative care service in the community. Caring for loved ones who are terminally ill at home is demanding. People need compassionate community support in addition to the specialised medical services and support available. Reflecting on her years of service, Kath noted that often there is plenty of support and services provided for the patient, however if a carer was not well supported both the patient and the carer could end up in hospital, "which is not what we want at all". Supporting others has been the focus of Kath’s volunteering; providing trusted companionship, visiting patients and carers at their home. She also spent time with patients while their carers attended personal appointments. These simple acts of kindness allowed people to step away from the caring role to look after themselves, knowing that the person they cared for was well looked after. “It’s a valuable 24-hour community service for people facing a challenging time in their lives (and) it’s about the people and the other volunteers. “It’s a very satisfying and rewarding role where you definitely get way more than you give. Importantly, there is variety. It may not be a role like mine; it could be working in the op shop, at community events or doing some gardening. There is definitely something for everyone.” Information sessions will be held on Thursday, March 18 from 10am-11am and Thursday, March 25 from 6pm-7pm. For information or to register. call 5333 1118.
Pictured, left, Kath Connors with Ballarat Hospice Care CEO Carita Clancy
We’re preparing for the Covid19 Vaccine SPRINGS MEDICAL DAYLESFORD has been included on the list of eligible GP practices for the Covid19 Vaccine Phase 1b roll out. What does this mean for our community? • • •
We will conduct dedicated Covid19 Vaccine clinics in Daylesford For more information regarding Phase 1b eligibility please visit: https://www.health.gov.au Please note – we are NOT currently accepting bookings for our Covid19 vaccination clinics
We will provide further updates regarding vaccine availability and bookings via facebook, our website and print media as soon as we know more. We ask that you please refrain from contacting (DO NOT CALL) our reception team to enquire about the Covid19 Vaccine Clinics. For further information about the Covid19 Vaccine Rollout program – please visit: https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines/ getting-vaccinated-for-covid-19/how-covid-19-vaccines-will-bedistributed https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines/ getting-vaccinated-for-covid-19/when-will-i-get-a-covid-19-vaccine
www.springsmedical.com.au Daylesford Kyneton Trentham 10 Hospital St 89B Piper Street 22 Victoria St tel: (03) 5348 2227 tel: (03) 5422 1298 tel: (03) 5424 1602 Follow us
https://www.facebook.com/springsmedical
SUE’S PLACE
The Companion Group
Dr. Susanne M. Heringslake Chiropractor Moments To Ponder
Going far?Go further!
a little gift from me to you
The Lights are on. The camera is rolling. Is it a play? TV? A movie? No - it’s Life. Real Life. You are writer, director, producer - all at once! You are the STAR!! What is your experience?
We support you!
The Companion Group are now based in Hepburn Shire. Individual support, support coordination, assistance with health, wellbeing and exercise, help around the home and everything in-between. Customised care, specific to your needs. • • • • •
For all enquiries and to book appointments, please contact: Dr Susanne M Heringslake Chiropractor Mobile: 0407 301 352
Your Safety is Our Priority
Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout started last week. Keeping you, your family and our community safe is our priority. Further information regarding the COVID-19 vaccines will be provided as soon as it is available. In the meantime, stay up-to-date with the latest edition of our Health e-Newsletter focusing on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Head to our website at www.campaspefp.com.au/newsletters Book online: www.campaspefp.com.au CampaspeFamilyPractice Phone: 5422 2877 Hours: 8am–8pm Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm Sat, 10am–1pm Sun Located at Kyneton Hospital: 7-25 Caroline Chisholm Drive, Kyneton
Personalised Disability, Aged Care & Mental Health Services Assistance with daily living In-home & out of home support Personal Care / Transport House Cleaning & Safety Service Contact Paul or Samantha to inquire M: 0448 802 226 P: 03 5377 3665 or email info@thecompaniongroup.org For more information visit thecompaniongroup.org
A registered service provider under the National Disability Insurance Agency and Victorian Department of Health and Human Services.
12 Opinion
www.tlnews.com.au
Your say: Smith Street subdivision I WOULD be extremely upset if the proposed development at 17 Smith Street, Daylesford goes ahead.
Transmission Network Project JOBS for regions, economic benefits of regions, cheaper power for the city, yes, we have heard it all.
Yet we don’t hear about the ‘Shit Sandwich’ presented to the communities transporting the energy through the transmission networks. At the start of the chain is the energy producers, spinning turbines or capturing the sun, in locations conducive for efficient renewable energy production. Creating profits for a handful of landowners and energy giants. At the other end of the chain are the consumers, getting renewable energy, at supposedly cheaper prices. Yet in the middle are the communities, forest systems, tourism, agricultural businesses and landowners that are being handed a steaming ‘Shit Sandwich’ to transport this energy. Ripping big towers, carving swathes through their regions. Destroying homes, businesses, jobs, land prices and the environment with no recompense. Just eat it up and try and swallow. The renewable energy system requires the whole chain to be involved, benefitting from, and improving the environment and businesses, not destroying them as we go. The time is now for a complete revamp of regulations, thought and technologies, as we power to renewables. Renewables require all Victorians to benefit, not just the Spring Street designated few.
The site is zoned residential, so something will be built there at some point, but what is being planned is a suburban estate more suited to a metropolitan area than a small country town. t will be 41 lots. Yes, 41 – a housing estate at the entrance to town for those coming from Melbourne or Bendigo. People who have driven all this way to experience the beauty of Daylesford will wonder what all the fuss was about, it looks just like the suburbs they live in. Would you build a housing estate in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne? Or Princes Park or Albert Park? I have heard that some people are supporting the development because they say it is an affordable housing project and isn’t that a good thing because Daylesford has a housing problem. Let’s be clear – only four of the 41 lots are for affordable housing. They are expected to be made available in stages over an up to 10-year period. This handful of affordable houses are the Trojan Horse; while people are talking about them, they are disregarding the other 37 lots which will make up this suburban estate. - Nathan Lidgett, Myrniong This 41-lot suburban housing estate is only the beginning. The developer’s own brochure labels it Stage 1. Stages 2, 3 and 4 are also designed. Four adjacent properties, two of which front the historic Raglan Street, are also earmarked for future Letters to the editor are always welcome. Please keep them short and to the development, meaning this whole town entrance is likely to be radically changed by point. Any addressed Dear Sir will be deleted. Email news@tlnews.com.au development in the coming years. The town noted for its extraordinary natural beauty and its country town feel - gone. Forever. And it starts with this proposed development which was approved by the council, opposed by objectors who took it to VCAT where the developer and future purchasers appealed to the Minister to call it in. The Minister will seek advice from an Advisory Committee originally set up under the Building Victoria’s Recovery Taskforce. This committee meets on March 10 and 11. If we want to stop the construction of large housing estates at the entrance to our beautiful country town, we need to stand up and object to this proposed development. Please email richard.wynne@parliament.vic.gov.au and cc planning. panels@delwp.vic.gov.au and check out www.keepdaylesfordbeautiful.com.au for more information.
- Gina Lyons, Daylesford
RE THE proposed subdivision and development at 17 Smith Street, Daylesford:
The controversy over this proposed subdivision and development at 17 Smith Street, Daylesford is understandable – the size of it, 40+ lots, a big housing estate on the entrance to the town. (And) the precedent this would set for housing developments in four adjacent properties earmarked for development (two of which front the historic Raglan Street); destruction of ancient and historic trees (which should be protected by the council under its own Planning Scheme); damage to the water catchment and so on. These are common concerns expressed over and over by communities who feel they have to battle with developers, planners and their local councils to retain the diverse features of their towns which are so important to them. The development at 17 Smith Street would be so much better with the following features incorporated in the plan: • Larger lot sizes for bigger gardens to grow food on incredibly fertile soil; • Wider nature strips; • A public park; • Design guidelines in keeping with the town’s rural character as opposed to a modern city suburban; • Design around existing majestic trees to ensure their survival; • A more natural approach to drainage that manages Daylesford’s deluges and allows absorption into the soil, i.e. not concrete kerbs and gutters; • Better protection of the water table and precious ground water by not building on the significant recharge zone on the eastern valley; • A vegetated buffer to adjacent farmland; and • A dedicated community space for growing food in the rich volcanic soil that characterises the site and celebrates our region’s reputation for locally grown produce. Development needs to be done carefully, with strong consultation with the community.
- Helen Tobias, Daylesford
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Our environment 13
Your say on the Malmsbury Botanic Gardens
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HE Friends of the Malmsbury Botanic Gardens committee is encouraging the local community to contribute comments to the draft Master Plan for the Malmsbury Botanic Gardens.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council wants input to the draft plan to deliver future strategic and sustainable management of the gardens. Robert Newton, president of the Friends of the Malmsbury Botanic Gardens, says the draft Master Plan report, completed and published in 2019, contains over 120 pages of key recommendations compiled from the initial request for community engagement from the council. “One of the concerns we raised in our original submission to the council is improving the water supply to the gardens,” Mr Newton said. “Gisborne and Kyneton Botanic Gardens have recycled water systems while here at Malmsbury the gardens are watered only from run-off mains water and the rain,” he said. The Malmsbury gardens, listed on the Victorian Heritage Register, date back to 1855. Magnificent specimens of mature and over-mature trees, including giant sugar gums and coastal sequoias, surround a lake created from a natural billabong. It is an unpretentious botanic garden without the colour and order of flower beds seen at the likes of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. Having more of an arboretum appearance, there is a pinetum; two avenues, one of elm, the other of poplar; and two striking Bunya Bunya pines, listed on the National Trust register of significant trees, within the gardens’ boundaries. Chris Bromley, treasurer of the Friends committee, says the organisation feels strongly about preserving the gardens’ heritage. “The council should undertake an audit of every single tree,” Mr Bromley said. “This would ensure once past their prime they are replaced with what will last for another 150 years. “We also want all the trees and plants located on-site to have a name plaque.” The gardens are a treasured feature of the town and very popular with locals and visitors alike. The Malmsbury Village Fayre annually filled the gardens with stalls, live music, local produce, and activities for young and old until the pandemic in 2020. “People picnic around the lake, weddings are held under the trees, and the gravel walking track benefits our dog walkers,” Paula Needham, secretary of the Friends committee, says. “Also, there have been geese and goats in the gardens since 1870. While the goats are long gone, the geese still consider the gardens and the town their domain.” The council will make the draft Master Plan available to the public for six weeks to facilitate feedback. If necessary, it will be amended, then finalised and submitted to the council for adoption. However, the council currently has not committed to funding implementation of the Master Plan. The community can provide feedback online at mrsc.vic.gov.au/ yoursay or by email or written submissions until March 29.
Words & image: Carol Saffer Pictured, from left, Paula Needham, Chris Bromley and Robert Newton at the edge of the gardens near the Malmsbury Viaduct
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Those falling leaves
Despite what the weather charts say, the calendar tells me it is officially autumn and the leaves will, or should, soon be turning to red and gold. In earlier, less enlightened times, autumn weekends were often signified by tiny, spirals of fragrant smoke from burning leaves. But those days are past since we have learnt to make the most of the fallen leaves by adding them to our compost heap or the mulch on the garden beds. Although dry leaves tend to blow around in the wind they can be easily stabilised by hosing them down until soaked once they are spread over the beds, or even covered lightly with already rotted compost or sand. Leaves are invaluable for water retention and when added to the beds year after year they become one with the top soil and provide plants with a good, steady supply of rich organic material. Beneath them, even in the hottest weather, sufficient moisture remains for bacterial activity to continue and turn lower layers into compost. Alternatively, instead of mixing leaves with other slower-rotting materials they can be piled on their own, covered with hessian or an old bag to be kept moist. They will then soon break down into leaf mould which is most useful for adding to potting mixes or as a soil additive for seed beds, etc. One big advantage of leaf mould is that unlike compost heaps it will be weed-free and consistent in content. So, this autumn, throw aside the matches and forgo the traditional leaf pyre - rake them all into a leaf-mould heap. Your garden will be much better for it.
Wintering the house plants
A critical time of the year is looming for your indoor plants - especially in cooler districts. Because most of them come from tropical or sub-tropical climes they usually have trouble making it through a cold winter unless they are given special care and attention. This will also apply to quite a few mainly soft-leaved potted plants, usually grown in sheltered outdoor positions during the warmer months - anything that looks as if it wouldn’t survive the first frosty night. Soft-leafed plants, such as pointsettia, coleus and some of the more delicate begonias and gloxinias could already be starting to look a little drab and could probably do with a judicious trim and certainly a light dose of soluble plant food to give them a little lift. Some of the climbing plants, especially the philodendrons, will have probably lost most of the lower leaves, particularly if they are tall and have outgrown their container. If this is the case, repot them into a larger, deeper container, burying much of the bare stem under the soil. Although almost all of your indoor plants will benefit from a few hours of winter light, keep them away from chilly winter draughts. They will obviously respond favourably to any form of warmth but heaters and especially not gas fires.
Sansevieria problems
It is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye. Figuratively as well as literally, Helga Hart is all heart and what a delight it is to be allowed to view her inner sanctum. A meander down a cottage garden path to a light-filled studio set in a sheltered, flower- and soft light-filled garden. Helga Hart is an award-winning artist of the 2019 Glenlyon Art Prize for recognisable local landscapes as well as being the artist for the poster for the Swiss-Italian Festa in 2008. Artists abound in the inspiration-rich Central Highlands area and it is up to us to seek them out. Living in one of the first strawbaled houses constructed in Daylesford, Helga paints and prints. She is all about colour and texture in her landscapes and portraiture, with her style varying from expressionistic to abstract. Her work is passionate, playful, greatly layered with a great balance to her compositions. Helga likes to paint while in the landscape and is currently taken with exploring the patterns within. Currently, Aboriginal paintings inspire her with their earthy colours and many patterns. Born in Germany, Helga and her family made Australia home when she was a child. She met, fell in love with and married an Englishman and made England home for 26 years. While she had her Fine Arts degree and was active in the art scene in England, I spied a gumleaf work of hers that reminded me a little of our Australian artist Fred Williams. With a gold leaf background and rich tones, Helga admitted that she used to paint gumleaves in England because it reminded her of home. As it is with many artists, Helga’s home is filled with art and sculpture. Works from many other artists, as well as her own. Her home is earthy and welcoming and it was a real pleasure to be able to be ensconced in it. I wish Helga many productive hours in her peaceful garden studio producing many a heartfelt creation and I am sure Helga will be welcoming of any art enquiries. Thank you for allowing me to interlope.
In answer to the many pleas for help: sansevieria simply need light, warmth and little water. The main cause of death is root rot. So put yours in a warm, well-lit spot, allow it to dry out before watering and wipe the leaves regularly to keep them clean. Indre Kisonas- owner and principal designer- iok design They also like being pot indre@iokdesign.com.au / www.iokdesign.com.au bound. After many homes, both in sunny South Australia and now Victoria, I have finally found indoor plant heaven. A wide, doubleglazed, shade-free, south-facing window ledge where hitherto difficult to grow plants and cuttings happily thrive. I really must get a longer bench.
Got a gardening question? Ask Glen. Email glenzgarden@gmail.com
What lies beneath: our history
A
NNETTE Millar’s eyes sparkle when she talks of digging up the past. “I love it,” she says. “It’s everything to me.”
Her passage from almost a quarter of a century working in outback Queensland where she also raised three sons, to becoming an archaeologist based in Daylesford is a remarkable story. Typlcally, she keeps it simple. “I work with a trowel, shovel and pick, and get dirty,” she says. She was raised in Far North Queensland, in tobacco and sugar cane country, growing up with a brother and sister in a little riverside home. Every second weekend her dad would take his boat out to fish for coral trout and red emperor off the Great Barrier Reef. “We’d snorkel on one side of the boat.” At 21 Annette headed off to the Atherton Tablelands to work on a cow agistment property, fattening the beasts. She was to stay for 23 years. When her sons were teenagers, she enrolled at James Cook University in Cairns, spending three years on her BA, majoring in archaeology and English Literature. “I went to uni to do art curating, but I fell in love with archaeology. And I kept being told not to make my archaeology essays sound like 'Jane Eyre'.” Unlike Victoria, Queensland doesn’t have archaeology in a commercial setting. Apparently, this state leads the nation in this science. “I became an archaeologist because at colonisation the dignity of indigenous people was taken and I want to give it back.” So she looks for stone artefacts such as tools and weapons, and when they are found they are measured, documented, entered into a database which is uploaded to Aboriginal Victoria and then forwarded to the Registered Aboriginal Party on whose land the finds were made. And it’s all mapped on a computer and artefacts repatriated to the traditional owners. Along the way to this job, she supported herself as a hospital theatre orderly in Bendigo while doing her Honours degree. She started as a sub-contractor, what she describes as an archaeologist/labourer. At age 49 she is now a cultural heritage adviser, searching housing developments for what is left of a history now thought to be possibly 90,000 years old, which is mostly abandoned flawed weapons and tools.
Her first job was when a pipeline was being laid between Blampied and Stony Creek Road. A basalt axe was dug up, flawed and discarded. Sometimes indigenous elders accompany her. There have been times when she had to turn her back as an item relating to secret men’s business was carefully wrapped. “You have to have cultural awareness all the time.” Traditional owners always accompany her at work. Discoveries can mean plans change. “I’ve never seen a development stop,” she says, “but I’ve seen it rearranged.” Pipelines can be made to bend. The most rewarding site is a silcrete mine found in Sunbury. Silcrete is a major rock used for spearheads and cutting blades. At this site she sees baseball-size holes where pieces were harvested. Few people would have heard of the Sunbury Indigenous Ceremony Rings, a circle of stones comparable to, if not as large as, England’s famous Stonehenge. The earth rings rise out of the grass on land farmed since 1842, but now slowly being reclaimed. Because of the speed of housing development, Sunbury is becoming a boom area for finding artefacts, with Craigieburn and Donnybrook also yielding many. Work on any subdivision may trigger the legal need for her to see what’s below. While it is rare to find a complete tool, she has come across a flawed spearhead and axes. Two sites yielded 12,500 artefacts and she even found another 1000 in a 10 metre square area. “It’s not that we can’t find them,” she says. “It’s just that we haven’t yet found them.” After all this, and in spite of her passion, she sums up archaeology as a destructive practice. “What’s there is best left in the earth.” Away from work this new grandmother shares her two-room cottage with Grizzly Bear, a pug cross. And she laughs as she asks, “Who would want to get up in the morning to get covered in dirt and find more little rocks?”
Words: Kevin Childs | Image: Kyle Barnes
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Crossword 17
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18 Opinion
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Honouring our women
Just sayin’... By Donna Kelly
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AST edition, I banged on - as Kyle would say - about trying to give up alcohol for FebFast but being overtaken by a few things not going my way. Medical things. I said a lot, and thanks to those who asked if I was OK, I'm good, but what I did mean to say is: "Get those health checks done."
Yeah, I know, I am not in charge of you but it has been a funny year, funny peculiar not ha-ha, and I reckon a lot of us have put off doctor things. It was all a bit up in the air. I remember getting a routine breast screen done at St John of God in Ballarat and wearing a mask. That was in March last year. The pandemic was well and truly on its way. But not another soul in the waiting room had a mask on, nor did the person doing the screening. I asked why not and she said they were not allowed. I kid you not. Another staffer had worn a mask and been warned - it would panic the patients. My thought was: "Let's panic them." Hmmm. So no wonder it was easier to think, let's just leave those checks for a while. I think we all assumed, even though we were told a year, that it would all be done and dusted within a few months. How long could a vaccine take really? Yep, a year. Spot on. So most of us, where we could, avoided people and shopping and medical centres - because that is where the sick people are. But if you think about it, and I did, medical centres and hospitals already know about germs and masks and sanitising. So it would really be safer to sit in a hospital than go shopping in a supermarket. Anyway, I am not in charge of anyone except myself, and I have done all the checks necessary over the past 12 months. Some just because they were on the calendar and others because they presented themselves as a worry - like that pesky melanoma in December. And let's face it, you know if something is not quite right, even if it is easier to push the idea to the bottom of the "to do" list. So it's just an idea that if you need to, start making those appointments for those checks. There could be a delay, because people are starting to get back into life, but even if you are on the list, that's a start. And let's face it, there's no point surviving the pandemic only to be undone by something that could have been fixed by a routine check. Just sayin'... (Oh, just a quick shout-out to Irene and Tanya at Springs Medical in Daylesford. Need bloods taken? Irene is your woman. Need someone with a cheery smile and lovely greeting? You can't go past Tanya. Same same but different.)
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ONGRATULATIONS to the 2021 International Women’s Day Heather Mutimer Honour Roll inductees, from left, Verena Doyle, Betty Johns and Frances Fiddian.
Verena Doyle has been inspirational in her work with Scouts Victoria and her volunteering at 1st Creswick Scouts has been beneficial for many young females in the Creswick community. When Verena first began to volunteer at Creswick Scouts there were no girls in the scout troop, only boys. This changed after Verena began to volunteer and encouraged girls to transfer from girl guides to scouts. Verena set up the first Creswick Venturer Unit, which was the first all-female unit and over the years she was chairperson, treasurer and secretary. Born in 1931, Betty Johns grew up in Hepburn and in 1949 started training to become a registered nurse at the Daylesford Hospital and then spent a further 12 months at the Women’s Hospital in Melbourne. The mother of 13 has been involved with the local community for many years volunteering her time with, among others, the Daylesford Brass Band, the blood bank service, the MS op shop, Hepburn Primary School, Hepburn Football Netball Club, Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens and the Love Your Sister Campaign. Meanwhile, over the past 50 years, Frances Fiddian has empowered women and supported them to successfully manage natural mothering, giving them the confidence and peace of mind that their babies were getting the very best in nutrition and care as a long-time supporter, member, committee member, treasurer and president of the Nursing Mothers Association of Australia. The Local looks forward to featuring these amazing women in future issues. Keep reading!
Image: Hepburn Shire Council
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Opinion 19
Kyle’s Rant
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HIS week I find myself dragging my feet as we reach our first anniversary of becoming weekly and how the world has changed.
Last week I talked about a photography subject who had quipped that I looked tired, and the comment has stuck with me all week long, causing me to pause and ponder on its meaning. Did he say I looked tired because I have aged a full year plus since the last time he looked at me? Or was it a few too many sherbets the evening before? Or was it a few too many imbibements from the entire year before? So, I thought about investing in those cosmetics that take away your lines, they somehow tighten your skin under your eyes using something akin to haemorrhoid cream, but I couldn’t stand the thought of bottom cream for my eyes. Once upon a time ago I got some toilet water in my eye while trying to discover the intricacies of a bidet. Some bright spark had cranked it up from a “gentle clean of the bits” to “fire hydrant” - the one where the car crashes over it in the movies. I pressed the button and watched the tube come out of the toilet seat, rotate and release 500KPI of pressure straight into my left eyeball. It took me a long time to get over toilet water being in my eye, even though it was straight from the cistern. After all it had powered out of a jet that had seen God knows what in its lifetime.
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TRENTHAM PETROL & ..................................... STUFF I see that the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Sally Capp, has talked about the lack of foot traffic in Melbourne while here in the Central Highlands it is quite the opposite, with the roads being busy not only on the weekends but seven days a week, with new residents to the area sucking up any extra broadband bandwidth. I do like the extra new faces in the towns and villages but question our infrastructure's ability to cope with the influx. And how can a young local family remain here in terms of affordability and what does all this change mean for our community? There was a time when I worked for Hepburn Shire Council and it would take 45 minutes to return to the office after a 150-metre stroll to get a coffee. This was because of the conversations and connections that were made on the trip, but these days I barely know a soul. I guess change is inevitable, rant over…
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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.
Swiss Italian launch
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HE launch of the translated version of Giorgio Cheda’s The Emigration of Swiss Italians to the Australian Goldfields heralds the return of the Swiss Italian Festa to the region.
The two-volume set reveals unique insights into the lives of the young villagers from Ticino and the north of Italy who headed to the Australian goldfields in the 1850s, many of whom stayed and settled in Hepburn Shire. The personal letters give an intimate and moving view of life between two very different worlds. The book was translated from Italian to English by Antonio (Tony) Pagliaro. The launch will be held at Hotel Bellinzona, Hepburn Springs on Wednesday, March 24 from 5.30pm to 7pm. Festa committee president Robyn Rogers said she hoped the launch would attract the descendants who still lived in the region or had an interest in the area. “While it is an academic book, there is a huge heritage and culture angle that is all about this area and families who came here.” Ms Rogers said there were other events planned throughout the year, culminating in the return of the Swiss Italian Festa in October. Attendance of the launch is free but bookings are limited and essential at https://bit.ly/2NGaSpF
Link: www.swissitalianfesta.com/
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Out & About 21
To market, to market Gig Guide Daylesford Sunday Market – every Sunday Wesley Hill Market - every Saturday
Guildford Hotel, Guildford
Terry Murray - Thursday, March 11, 6pm Alawishus Jones & The Outright Lies - Friday, March 12, 7pm Crosswind - Saturday, March 13, 7pm Roadrunner - Sunday, March 14, 1pm Guildford Folk Club - Thursday, March 18, 6.30pm Terry & Gillian - Friday, March 19, 7pm Greta et les Garçons - Saturday, March 20, 7pm 3 Chord Club - Sunday, March 21, 1pm
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
Palais-Hepburn, Hepburn
Maldon Market – second Sunday Clunes Farmers Market - second Sunday Trentham Farmers Market and Makers Market - third Saturday (Penny pictured) Glenlyon Farmers Market – third Saturday Leonards Hill Market - third Saturday Creswick Market - third Saturday Malmsbury Farmers Market - third Sunday Talbot Farmers Market – third Sunday Woodend Lions Market - third Sunday
Team Love - Saturday, March 13 Opal Ocean - Saturday, March 20 Daniel Champagne 2021 Tour - Sunday, March 21 Bacharach and Beyond - Saturday, March 27 Got a gig happening? Email news@tlnews.com.au or post it, no charge, on our website at www.tlnews.com.au
Daylesford Rotary Farmers Market - fourth Saturday Trentham Station Sunday Market - fourth Sunday Buninyong Village Market - fourth Sunday
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The Last Word: a peek behind the mask
A
The CDC says “getting COVID-19 may offer some natural protection, known as immunity. Current evidence suggests that reinfection with the virus that causes COVID-19 is uncommon in the 90 days after initial infection. However, experts No, wait, that was somebody else’s slice of American pie. But, yes, this story does start a long, long time ago. After experiencing a series don’t know for sure how long this protection lasts, and the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 far outweighs any benefits of natural immunity. of chronic ear infections, my doctor discovered I had something growing inside COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you by creating an antibody (immune my head, attached to my right inner ear. I can see my “friends” reading this in system) response without having to experience sickness.” disbelief but it’s true, there was something growing in my head - it was called a So, now that I’m vaccinated, it’s back to normal living, right? cholesteatoma, a “destructive and expanding growth”, says Wikipedia, and it took Well, maybe not. An article in the Los Angeles Times newspaper - also citing four operations by a talented surgeon from the Masada Private Hospital in St the CDC, says, “continued adherence to public health measures like wearing Kilda East to put things right. face coverings, observing physical distancing, regular handwashing and avoiding Years later, however, the ear went wonky, I started having hearing loss and crowds and poorly ventilated areas is still recommended even for someone who has tinnitus, so I went to the Ballarat Hearing Clinic, where I was fixed up with a hearing aid, one of those nifty little do-dads that tuck in right behind the ear, with received both required vaccine doses”, adding that, “It’s important for everyone to a fine wire leading to the gizmo stuffed down the ear hole. Those are all technical continue using all the tools available to help stop this pandemic as we learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines work in real-world conditions”, because we don’t terms, by the way, but I’m sure you can check with the fine folks in Ballarat for know “whether getting a COVID-19 vaccine will prevent you from spreading the explanations. virus that causes COVID-19 to other people, even if you don’t get sick yourself.” Which brings us to today. OK, then. Still wearing a mask. As we’ve previously discussed, I have now had two shots of COVID-19 It occurred to me recently that apart from COVID protection, there are other vaccine. According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, “all upsides to facemasks. A few days ago I ate a sandwich for lunch and then had to COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States have been shown to go have a meeting with someone, and I hadn’t brushed after lunch so had bits of be highly effective at preventing COVID-19”. food stuck between my teeth. So what, I reasoned, as I pulled my mask on. They’ll This includes the Pfizer vaccine being offered to Australians. never know. The CDC says “none of the COVID-19 vaccines contain the live virus Same with personal grooming. As I was driving to another meeting, I glanced that causes COVID-19, so a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with into the rear-view mirror and realised with horror that I had been neglecting my COVID-19”. facial hair. More to the point, I hadn’t trimmed my nose hair in so long, it was I received the Moderna vaccine, which the CDC says is “94.1% effective at beginning to resemble a moustache. No worries, I thought, pulling my mask up preventing laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 illness in people who received two high over my nose. doses”. There is one downside to masks, however. As I mentioned previously, I wear a It says “side effects that happen within seven days of getting vaccinated were common but were mostly mild to moderate”, and that “side effects (such as fever, hearing aid, just one, in my right ear. Often, the complexity of removing my mask chills, tiredness, and headache) throughout the body were more common after the without flicking the extremely expensive audio device onto the ground is more than I can manage. And add into the mix sunglasses - well, it all becomes much second dose of the vaccine.” I can confirm that all this information about side effects is accurate. For me it too much. was like having a nasty two-day hangover. “And 'you’d know all about that', I can hear my friends say. For months now, many desperate and/or foolish people here have been gambling on contracting and surviving COVID-19 rather than waiting for a Jeff Glorfeld is a former editor with The Age and journalist with The Local. vaccine. For most of the country, and certainly where we are there has never been A couple of years back Jeff, his wife Carol and their dog Scout moved from a complete lockdown of bars and restaurants, and now that the shots are here, they Wheatsheaf to California, USA to be with family. They have since adopted continue to roll the dice and hope to get lucky. Vaccinated or not, there are several pooch Joey. Along with being happy to be vaccinated, Jeff hopes for a St hospitality venues that are packing in the customers, as if the good old days are Kilda premiership one day. here again.
LONG, long time ago, drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry…