The Local November 6, 2023

November 6, 2023 Issue 292 Budburst Festival

The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

2 About Us

www.tlnews.com.au

Front cover: From left, Passing Clouds team, Tania Morris, head winemaker Cameron Leith, Tim Castle, Brook Sykes, Nillo and Tilly are ready for the Budburst Festival.

Read all about it on page 23 - and where you can catch the Budburst buses.

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

November 6, 2023 Issue 292 Budburst Festival

The next edition is out on Monday, November 20, 2023. or online on Sunday, November 19 at www.tlnews.com.au Space bookings: Wednesday, November 15 Copy deadline: Thursday, November 16 Editorial deadline: Thursday, November 16

Image: Nikole Ramsay

General manager: Kyle Barnes on 0416 104 283 or kyle@tlnews.com.au Editor: Donna Kelly on 0418 576 513 or news@tlnews.com.au The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

Editorial assistant: Eve Lamb on 0493 632 843 or editorial@tlnews.com.au Sub-editors: Nick Bunning, Lindsay Smith & Chester the Cat

The Local is a registered trademark of The Local Publishing Group Pty Ltd.

Writers: Eve Lamb, Kevin Childs, Tony Sawrey, Jeff Glorfeld, Narelle Groenhout, Simone Kaplan & Donna Kelly

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

Photographers: Kyle Barnes & Eve Lamb

Want to support local, quality journalism? Donate by scanning the QR code.

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

Graphic designer: Dianne Caithness Contributors: Glen Heyne (gardening), Darren Lowe (music), Sarah Lang & Jen Clarke (recipes), Clive Hartley (wine) & Bill Wootton (poetry) Accounts | Julie Hanson

VICTORIA IS FACING A HOT AND DRY FIRE SEASON. Fire can spread quickly, so it’s important for all Victorians to prepare.

Find out how you can plan ahead this fire season to keep you and your family safe.

Plan. Act. Survive. Go to www.vic.gov.au/knowfire Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

Delivery | Tony Sawrey

www.tlnews.com.au

Our people 3

Community mourns loss of much-loved Serge Popular Daylesford taxi driver Serge Kislinsky often told his daughter Natasha Waters he couldn’t visit the grandchildren in Melbourne because “the village needs me”.

And Serge’s sudden death early last week has left the Daylesford and wider community shocked with many taking to social media to talk about their love of the 73-year-old.

His family posted: Forever loved by your ex-wife and angel, Sue. Loved and adored by your Princess Natasha, Prince Edward, Billy and Floss.

Life will not be as colourful without you.

I am certain taxis will never be the same in Daylesford.

Natasha said while she knew her father was loved by many she had been amazed by the comments on Facebook. “It has been just beautiful for Mum and me to read that daily. It makes us laugh and remember lots of things about him, it is just incredible.

“We worked out that Dad had lived in Daylesford for 25 years and he went there because he had a hard life in Melbourne and was ready to move and make a new life for himself, and he did.

“He just loved his job and put that first before everything, it was the most important thing to him. He would often call and say ‘I can’t come and visit the grandkids, I have to look after the village, they need me’.

“And he took such pride in his job and his uniform. When we went up last Wednesday he had all his shirts and pants ironed and his shoes polished. Not many people would be proud of driving a taxi but he made that his profession and he loved being good at it and he loved that he brought such joy.

“I used to love hearing stories about him driving people, getting out and opening the doors for older women, carrying their shopping, taking one woman to different halls for dances. I just loved hearing his stories.”

Natasha said Serge lived a very simple life – with his family, job and the locals the most important things. He also had a passion for a good red wine, which he couldn’t really afford.

“Dad loved me, loved my mum and his grandkids and, with his job, they were the most important things in his life. Mum and Dad separated when I was 15 but Dad absolutely adored Mum, and Mum adored Dad. They just fell out of love but Mum said they married for friendship, not love.

“Dad would save up his pennies so he could take her to the finest restaurants, Lake House, Bistro Terrior…and I love that he would get dressed up – the most overdressed person in Daylesford – to take mum out and spoil her. He probably worked for two months just to be able to do that.”

Natasha said Serge was born in Russia and came to Australia by boat with his family when he was 15. He had a hard childhood with parents who were always battling to make ends meet.

“But when my friends met him they always thought he came across as the wealthiest man in the world and he was, but it wasn’t with money, he was wealthy with the pride and love he had for his family and his work. He gave everything he had, every day.”

Natasha said over the past few months, Serge had changed a little and perhaps knew deep down that he was not well.

“But he didn’t change and he wasn’t going to change his life. And I take comfort that he was not ill for a long time because my Dad would never have done that well.

He has died a proud man and done it his way.

“And I also take comfort in how much people loved him. I always knew people did love and respect him but not to the extent we are hearing. It is a real blessing for our family. He never really talked about that – but I am sure he knew how much people cared about him.”

Natasha said there would be a private cremation, with Serge’s ashes to be scattered on Lake Daylesford, and a service which was still being arranged while family members travelled from interstate.

“Dad always said he could never walk around the lake ‘so just throw me in the middle’, which means he will be laid to rest there, which is beautiful.”

Serge is survived by his ex-wife Sue, daughter Natasha, son-in-law Edward and grandchildren Billy, 10, and Flossy, seven.

Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Contributed | Just sayin'...p27

“I take comfort in how much people loved him.

It is a real blessing for our family.”

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Pitch perfect

California drew Lee seven years later to continue coaching for Ventura County When it comes to playing soccer, many children learn bad habits. Lee Stevens Fusion Soccer Club, which plays in the Professional Development League, before wants to put them right.

At 38, this Coomoora resident with two young children understands how some parents may struggle to coach their offspring.

He has set up a part-time soccer academy for youngsters in Daylesford and is pleased with the enthusiasm he has encountered, even though it only began two weeks before the latest school term.

The soccer season ends in August, leaving kids with nothing to do until February.

“That is where I come in. Parents are keen for their kids to be active and not in front of screens or on phones.”

When we talked, he has had five coaching sessions involving more than 100 children in the holidays, with local coaches helping, for which he’s grateful.

Next month it will be the turn of “little kickers” aged four to seven. Term four sees sessions for under eights and under 12s.

Otherwise, he says, his coaching is about structure and keeping it basic. When it comes to his academy, however, his passion bubbles over.

“Every child has a ball: there’s no waiting and no queuing. Make it fun and they listen. They learn and develop and, who knows, they might take it further.”

Lee runs birthday parties as well, with 90 minutes of entertainment and refreshments. A fair way from playing in front of 60,000 fans at Wembley Stadium.

His soccer story is one that possibly many from his home town of Swindon in England could but dream of. He began playing for Southampton before being chosen for England Youth, playing mostly mid-field and in defence. A scholarship took him to South Carolina, USA. All the while he was coaching, having started at 16. “That was generally young to start,” he says, “but I had a passion for it and wanted to give it a go. It essentially kept me involved in the game all year long.”

moving to Melbourne in 2015. His Wembley Stadium game was for the FA Vase, competed for by 600 teams in the lower ranks of the English football league.

Away from the game he started working in recruitment and in 2020 launched his own Melbourne firm, Vivid Recruitment, specialising in architecture, engineering and construction.

And how does he get youngsters interested? Lee says marketing is involved and it’s important to get parents interested. “They need to see the benefits. Most of the children have mentioned it to friends (word of mouth) because they had lots of fun.

Also my experience is unique for the area and this has a lot of weight.

“Generally if you keep it fun and light hearted, they are good as gold.”

His group sessions last 60 minutes and one-on-one is 45 minutes. “They’re varied sessions, but always structured with a warm up, ball skills, fun games and then smallsided games. Essentially we coach soccer fundamentals because it’s really lacking in the area and at grassroots. You are unable to progress in your game if you cannot control or pass a ball.”

Lee is also doing tailored coaching in the junior section of the national premier league. “It was meant to be small, but has taken off, which is not a bad thing.”

When he’s not coaching he straps on his gear for Daylesford Seniors, for whom he’s “scored some goals”.

Now he slips into his boots, while wearing the academy jersey, complete with ad logo (“The kids will eventually get them”). He readies training equipment. Next up is a 12-year-old, keen for a one-on-one session to sharpen his game.

Words: Kevin Childs | Image: Kyle Barnes

50 –74? Don’t risk your life, do the bowel screening test as soon as you get it.

Learn more at cancervic.org.au/bowel

Going Ga Ga at Clunes For those of us who’d never heard of a “Ga Ga Pit”, the special ribbon-cutting occasion at Clunes Primary School last week provided a quick learning curve.

For the school’s students, though, it was the culmination of some fairly impressive lobbying to get a Ga Ga Pit of their own.

For local members of the Historical Commercial Vehicle Club of Australia (Ballarat Branch) cutting the ribbon on the brand new Ga Ga Pit was a particularly satisfying experience after they’d earlier donated $5000 for it to be built, courtesy of their annual truck show held over the March Labour Day weekend at Clunes Showgrounds. The Local's Eve Lamb headed to the school to find out more and snap a few photos, captioned clockwise from above.

Above: Clunes Primary School students demonstrate how Ga Ga ball is played in the new pit that was purpose-built by school council members using the $5000 donation from the club. Turns out Ga Ga is a game played by children and big kids alike, a fast-paced form of handball or dodgeball played in a hexagonal or octagonal pit, with its own set of rules.

“Ga Ga is a Hebrew word that means Hit Hit and it’s been played all over the world,” school principal Sonia Jardine said, providing the uninitiated with a crash course on the finer points of the sport that’s recognised as especially valuable for building motor skills, fitness and social skills. “In Victoria they started through the YMCA camps.”

Top right: Club committee member, Clunes’ Jon Paine cuts the ribbon on the Clunes Primary School’s new Ga Ga Pit. This year the club also donated $5000 to the Male Bag Foundation for prostate cancer, and another $5000 to help tackle motor neuron disease.

“Every year for the past 14 years the club has held its annual truck show at the Clunes showgrounds. We are a not-for-profit and all of the proceeds go to good causes.”

Centre right: From left, Clunes vintage truck enthusiasts Janet Braithwaite, Lorraine Hogan and Ken Corney (who rolled up in his 1929 AA Ford Truck) with club committee member Clunes’ Jon Paine.

Bottom right: Clunes Primary School principal Sonia Jardine tells all assembled for the Ga Ga Pit launch that receiving the donation from the club was a wonderful surprise.

“When the club secretary presented me with the cheque I nearly cried,” she said. Ms Jardine said students had earlier embarked on a persistent campaign to get a Ga Ga Pit for their school, after sampling one while on camp at coastal Queenscliff.

“They’ve written me persuasive texts…it’s been a very compelling argument and the decision was made that we would listen to the voice of the students.”

Words & images: Eve Lamb

8 Out & About

Applications are open to join our

Board of Directors

Swiss Italian Festa!

The Minister for Health, the Hon. Mary-Anne Thomas MP, is pleased to invite applications for part-time director positions at Central Highlands Rural Health.

The positions start on 1 July 2024 and appointments are for two to three years.

Applications close at Midnight on Sunday 19 November 2023.

Scan the QR code to see and hear a video of the parade!

More images at tlnews.com.au

For more information and to apply visit: www.health.vic.gov.au/board-applications

Responsible building on bush blocks

“It is quite a distressing situation,” she says, “because we are clearing more native In a region such as the Central Highlands, the natural environment is what attracts people to this area, it sustains our tourism industry and by extension, vegetation than we are regenerating. We are also losing mature trees that are needed the real estate market as people seek a more permanent escape from the city. as habitat for koalas particularly and possibly losing trees with hollows that affect But, of course many new landowners, especially those on bush blocks, must take into consideration the potential perils of the scrub that surrounds them and the possibility of forest fire.

With this concern in the back of the mind owners respond to the threat in various ways. The most extreme being to bring in the machinery, clear away and remove everything, wipe the slate clean. It is an approach that is pretty common and you don’t have to look too hard to see examples of such wholesale clearing.

But is this the only way to develop a bush block? Strip it bare? What about the creatures that live in that environment? Surely there is a middle path between preparing your place in case of fire and allowing the local wildlife some form of shelter and sustenance for the rest of the time.

On the other hand, while some commentators on social media might have you thinking the entire place is ready to be overwhelmed by rapacious development, the reality is nothing like those peri-urban regions where vast housing estates march to the horizon.

Here development advances quietly, often hidden and in piecemeal but persistent fashion. And while the Hepburn Shire Council does have specific guidelines relating to bush block development, it is not a straightforward matter as Bradley Thomas CEO explains: “The removal of native vegetation is a complex matter. Native vegetation generally requires a permit to be removed, however, each property should be assessed on its own merits.

“Factors considered in determining whether a permit is required include zoning, the size of the land and any environmental overlays (eg, bushfire management overlays).

“Council continues to take enforcement action on native vegetation removal.

Property owners who are unsure of the requirements for permits for the removal of vegetation on their own land can contact council for guidance.”

However Gayle Osborne at Wombat Forestcare feels that in some cases people have probably cleared more than they are legally allowed to. And there doesn’t seem to be any follow up to make sure that people have stuck to the guidelines.

creatures like gang-gangs which are now a threatened species.”

Another concern is when people strip away dead standing trees and undergrowth.

But Gayle urges landowners to keep some perspective when doing such work. Dead trees are organic apartment blocks for nesting birds from parrots to treecreepers and suites for greater gliders.

Fallen timber is full of little insects, many of which are pollinators and sustain little birds such as blue wrens. The thin carpet of mulch on the forest floor has taken many generations to build on top of clay and much of the vital nutrients for growth are in it.

Maree Keating, pictured, is a land owner with a small, pretty blue house abutting the north Wombat State Forest surrounded by native flowers and grasses. She lost many trees in the great storm of 2021 and fuel load mitigation is a constant concern, but Maree’s clean-up and maintenance approach keeps the native ecology firmly in mind and the native creatures that depend on it “After the 2021 storm I had a team come over and clean up all the fallen trees at the front,” she says. “Some really wanted to flatten the land for me and remove the organic rubbish and tidy it up. I had to explain about weed infestations every time the tractors go into the land, and also that the roots and stumps and beheaded trees were all really valuable habitat for birds, snakes, wombats and so on.”

Today, her land retains much of this fallen timber, forming boundary fences and new habitat. Some of the larger logs are slowly hollowing out creating shelter for the many mammals that share her land from echidnas to tiny marsupial mice.

And while the possibility of fire remains a concern, Maree is more conscious of the needs of the original inhabitants of the surrounding forest.

“Ultimately owning a bush block or land with native habitat on it comes with it a responsibility to care for the creatures that share it with you.”

Words & image: Tony Sawrey

CENTRAL HIGHLANDS RURAL HEALTH INVITES YOU TO THE

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30th November, 2023 @ 3:30pm RACV Goldfields Resort, 1500 Midland Highway, Creswick

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Our history 11

Eganstown Cemetery: beautiful bush setting

It was established in 1866 as the Blanket Flat Cemetery and in recent years, according to trust chairperson Loris Duclos, Eganstown General Cemetery has “really kicked some goals”.

The first project was building a crematorium wall so the cemetery can now take ashes. The project was funded by the Department of Health and trust savings, and built by local contractor Shane Moiler.

“Shane did a fantastic job for us and we have got our first ashes in the wall which is very exciting for our beautiful old cemetery,” Loris says. “In the past we had only had one or two burials a year, but we have had five or six in the past years, our business is getting busier.”

Loris said, like many old cemeteries, there had been a big pine plantation in the front but that had been harvested about a decade ago and was now a carparking area, much safer for those visiting the Cemetery Road site.

And while there are fortunately no grave robbers, there have unbelievably been water tank robbers, twice, but a local Smokeytown business stepped up after a Facebook post, and have donated and fitted, with locks, a new water tank.

“We feel like we have really had good input from the community and that is something worth celebrating for our really old cemetery.”

Loris said most recently new people had joined the committee and “helped us reinvigorate the trust and build a new fence from recycled plastics”.

“It is bloody beautiful and will never need to be painted – and our old fence was coming up to 60 years of age. That is our most recent project and it’s wonderful.”

Loris said the future was looking interesting with a ground-penetrating radar to be used to find unmarked graves.

“We know that during the goldrush, for example, if a baby died they would just be buried without a record, and we also have a section at the back for paupers and those graves remain unmarked.

“We are very excited by this new project and an initial review by Dave the Graveman has found about 100 unnamed gravesites. It is really wonderful and enables us to plan for our cemetery better.”

Loris said she had joined the Trust after her grand-daughter was buried at the cemetery. “The cemetery on the main road is St Francis Xavier, and one of the only Catholic cemeteries in Australia, ours is Eganstown General Cemetery and we took all religions and paupers.

“It lies a few kilometres up Cemetery Road and is a beautiful peaceful bush cemetery. It was a place where I could honour my grand-daughter and I love the bush. It just gives that feel of a quiet bush place where you can contemplate away from the traffic.”

“And I love being a part of the lineage of locals and a part of the history and those people who have done a lot of research to put names to people who might be there, based on newspapers and research at the (Daylesford) museum.

“Since being on the Trust I have learned a lot about how we bury people and care for their remains and how we keep track of records, it is all very interesting stuff particularly if you have a penchant for history and genealogy.”

Eganstown history snippet Mr John Egan, the founder of the township which bears his name, and who throughout his life had proved himself a good Catholic, a patriotic Irishman, as well as an excellent colonist.

Mr Egan was a native of Borrisoleigh, in the County Tipperary, and arrived in the colony in 1841. Seven years later he founded the present Eganstown, which lies four miles beyond Daylesford, on the Creswick side.

Here he took up a large selection, as well as an extensive grazing area, and by his indomitable pluck and energy earned a name for himself that will live in the annals of our early pioneers.

He died in 1890, at the age of 85 years, he was the first to discover gold in the Daylesford district, in 1851.

- Monument Australia

Words: Donna Kelly | Images: Beck Walker

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News 13

The halcyon days of the Friendly Fifties Q & As Hey Glen, I have a batch of healthy young tomato seedlings, almost growing out of their pots. Now the weather has started to warm up, would it be safe to plant them out now? If not, then when?

- David, Hepburn Coming, as they do, from the sunny Mediterranean, young tomatoes can be damaged by chilly night air like we are getting now. Unless you have some form of protection for them until the weather turns, I would suggest you hold off for a while.

In the meantime, bring them out of doors during the sunny hours and reduce their water uptake. You should find their main stems will darken to purple. That will tell you they’re ready to take on any cold snap.

Hey Glen, I have an interesting problem with my three-year-old lemon tree.

A few months ago I noticed a very healthy new growth coming from the stem just Garry Powell is a prolific author with nearly 20 published books to his credit below the main stem. I wasn’t concerned until I noticed it was putting out long spikes including several local histories such as Double Gold, the History of Mount and much larger leaves. Should I encourage this new growth, or is it going to take Franklin and District co-written with Janet MacDonald. over? - James, Kyneton His latest work, to be released later in November through the Daylesford and District Historical Society is The Friendly Fifties - Growing up in Daylesford and Sorry to tell you James, but the original plant, which happens to be a wild lemon, Hepburn in the 1950s. Across 130 pages, peppered with countless photos from has got bored and decided to take over control. You can fix things by simply cutting it the period, he presents a tableau of simpler times blessed with greater community off, right at the main stem. Clean up the wound with a sharp knife and smear it with cooperation and friendliness.

Vaseline or some other antiseptic cream.

“I was prompted to do this book by Jan Smith at the historical society,” says Garry. “We were well into recording local oral histories when Covid hit and we had Pruning citrus to stop.

Spring is the prime citrus clean-up time of year, the time to remove weak and “So instead, it was suggested that, since I had grown up in Daylesford and had spindly growth, dead wood and, of course, invasive foreign growths. many connections in the area, what about doing a bit of a history of when you were As citrus trees grow they tend to accumulate dead, woody twigs and light growth going to school? So I began work on it during lockdown.” towards their centre. By using a sharp pair of pruners and a little patience, you can His work lays out in detail the minutiae of daily existence growing up in open up the tree and allow plenty of sunlight in, thus preventing the build up of Daylesford and Hepburn in times that are clearly considered to have been happier diseases, moulds and insect pests that normally thrive on weak, shady growth. than today. It is a picture of a perfect little rural town.

Do not take too much growth from the top or centre of the tree, because citrus Wives at home, men out working, kids walking off to school and doing sport on prefer a healthy cover of leaves all over as protection from the scorching rays of the the weekends. In his recollections, Garry captures an era evoking the atmosphere of a summer sun. d’Arcy Doyle or David Bromley painting with children playing and holding hands.

In fact, as Garry points out, his most significant memory of growing up in the Help your trees to health region is not anything specific, neither date, time or event but a state of being.

Healthy trees growing in their native habitat seldom suffer seriously from insect “I could walk down the street here as a kid and know everyone. It was just the attack. The tree’s inbuilt defences and the insects’ natural enemies provide a balance. friendliness of everybody, everybody knew everybody. How fortunate it was to grow But when the trees are taken out of their natural environment, that balance is lost. up in such a close and active community.”

Some insects, such as the gumtree scale, can multiply to the point where they can Nonetheless it could be said that The Friendly Fifties tends to avoid dwelling cause serious defoliation and, sometimes, kill the tree. on the negative aspects of life in post-war rural Australia. While it was certainly a It becomes necessary in an artificial environment, to help nature control those time of halcyon childhoods, the decade was also marked by a stifling Menzies-style insects before they reach plague proportions. conformity and conservatism along with rigid gender roles.

If and when insect activity is noticed on a tree or shrub, the insect should be Not to mention the spectre of the Stolen Generations, practices of forced properly identified before any control is attempted. Natural controls, such as disease adoption and the repressed trauma of returned servicemen. All of these stories and and predators, may prevent serious damage. Insecticidal sprays applied wrongly or at more have local iterations. the wrong time may do more harm to the natural control than the pests. If the insect However Garry makes clear that the difference between the life he experienced is no longer present, sprays will be useless and other harmless, beneficial species could growing up in the town is far removed from that of today. be needlessly killed.

Above all, the economy of the area has shifted from that of an insular working The presence of some insects, such as borers, often indicates a reduction of the town with industries such as woollen mills and timber to that of tourism. health and vigour of the tree. These insects enter trees dying from old age or trees And with these changes he believes the population has lost its connections with damaged by humans, or natural factors such as drought, frosts, wind or intense each other. summer heat. When the insects are finally discovered in those cases it may already be In the book’s foreword written by Professor Tom Griffiths of the Australian too late to save the tree.

National University, Garry wonders if such strong, close communities continue to exist and asks of local people today: “Could they just walk into anyone's home for a Got a gardening query? Email glenzgarden@gmail.com cuppa?”

Words & image: Tony Sawrey

14 News

www.tlnews.com.au

Just briefly...

One of Victoria’s largest trees, a majestic River Red Gum (eucalyptus camaldulensis) located near Guildford on the Midland Highway, has been awarded the prestigious title of 2023 Victorian Tree of the Year by the National Trust of Australia (Victoria).

Known affectionately as The Big Tree, the tree is estimated to be more than 530 years old and stands at an impressive 32 metres. Trust CEO Simon Ambrose said the River Red Gum was a clear winner with more than 40 per cent of all votes cast. “Our winner is a well-respected landmark within the Guildford community, and voters have shown the significant contribution the River Red Gum has made to the local landscape with outstanding size and curious fusion of branches.”

Three new electric vehicle charging stations have come online in the Macedon Ranges Shire.

Delivered by Evie Networks and funded by the state’s Destination Charging Across Victoria program, the new public charging stations are located in Kyneton, Lancefield and Macedon. Aimed at patching network gaps, the new additions complement existing stations in Woodend and Kyneton and bring the Macedon Ranges Shire Council a step closer to its goal of having public EV charging in all major townships throughout the shire.

Businesses in Hepburn Shire are encouraged to join a business networking evening, hosted by Hepburn Shire Council, on Tuesday 28 November from 5.30pm to 7.30pm at the Daylesford Hotel.

This event will bring together local business owners and operators from across the shire to celebrate the achievements of the year and build future connections.

Attendance is free but registration is essential for catering purposes. Interested businesses can register online at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/Business-networking

Almost $40,000 has been given to community groups through Hepburn Shire Council’s 2022/23 Biodiversity and Landcare Grants.

The groups included Blampied-Kooroocheang Landcare Victoria Group, Daylesford College/Central Highlands Rural Health, Glenlyon Upper Loddon Landcare Group, Bald Hills-Creswick Landcare Group, and Eco Warriors.

Macedon State Electorate pharmacists can provide treatment and advice for a range of common conditions in a 12-month state government pilot project.

Among participating pharmacies are Blooms The Chemist Daylesford, Terry White Chemmart in Kyneton, Malmsbury Pharmacy, Trentham Pharmacy and Terry White Chemmart in Woodend.

Creswick’s home-grown folk and roots music festival CresFest has been named Community/Cultural Project of the Year at the Australian Folk Music Awards.

Another major winner at the awards was the much-loved Spooky Men’s Chorale whose recent Ballarat show swiftly sold out. The Spooky Men, who formed in the NSW Blue Mountains, took out the People’s Choice Award.

Hepburn Matters will host a webinar - Let’s talk libraries - on Wednesday, November 8 from 5.30pm to 6.30pm.

Rebecca Lister, from On the Couch, will chat with library experts Julie Rae, Angela Savage and Leanne Howard about the importance and role of libraries in the community.

Garden lovers are in for a weekend treat, with the chance to visit three very different private garden openings in Castlemaine, Barkers Creek, and Flora Hill (Bendigo) with Open Gardens Victoria on November 11 and 12.

First stop is Clontarf - a stunning three-acre garden opposite the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens, next is Hedgehogs, a three-acre garden surrounding a 1923 farmhouse and finally, Lee Adams Garden in Flora Hill, an example of what can be achieved on an average-sized suburban block. Link: www.opengardensvictoria.org.au

Got a brief story to share? Email news@tlnews.com.au

Vale Tim Hayes

Timothy Kevin Hayes (1950 - 2023)

Tim Hayes was a community leader and internationalist who rejuvenated the township of Clunes and saw its population double.

Tim had strong family connections to the Victorian Labor Party, especially at the time of the DLP split of 1955 and wrote about this in his chapter ‘Faith of our Fathers’ in The Great Labor Schism: A Retrospective (2005) edited by Costar, Love and Strangio. This interest in politics shaped his public life.

In 1998, after working in local government, Tim and his partner, Michael Waugh, purchased an impressive historic building which was once the old Telegraph Hotel.

It had been a Cobb & Co coach terminus and was one of the places the founding fathers discussed federation and the constitution. At the time the impressive building was known as Keebles Country House and was run as elegant accommodation and a restaurant. The pair continued to run this business for eight years.

Tim recognised the value of tourism in renewing country towns and called a committee together to form a sister city relationship with Coloma in the US. Like Clunes, it had been the place of gold’s first discovery. The sister city relationship was officially acknowledged by the El Dorado County Board in February 2000. Tim and his committee held annual celebrations in the extensive grounds of Keebles which raised funds for local clubs and groups. These had an American theme, were joined by US officials, and often celebrated Broadway musicals.

At this time Tim joined the staff as administrator of the newly created year 9 residential campus of Wesley College in Clunes. Tim was the interface between Wesley and the Clunes community. His background in hospitality and local government stood him in good stead as did his wickedly irreverent sense of humour and his impeccable understanding of how to make things work. Under his leadership Wesley and Clunes formed a strong relationship which endures to this day.

In 2001 he was instrumental in setting up a Clunes committee to steer the celebrations of 150 years since gold discovery. These were so successful the events won the Judges Award for Best Tourism Association Event in the regional section at the 2002 Goldfields Tourism Awards.

His love of theatre saw him form the local amateur society where its annual productions included the musical, The Boyfriend and the Australian classic, Dimboola.

He and his partner established Widow Twankey's Confectionary Emporium and ice cream parlour as a fantastical shop on Clunes' main street in the theme of Aladdin. The bright colours and magical display of confectionery created a tourism icon and assisted the reinvigoration of Fraser Street. They operated this business until 2021.

In 2006 he was elected councillor and in 2007 became mayor of Hepburn Shire.

One of his most outstanding achievements was the $3.23 million redevelopment of the Clunes Museum and Interpretive Centre and significant renovations to the Clunes and District Agricultural Showgrounds.

In 2007 he, along with Graeme Johnstone, Linda Newitt and Tess Brady, was a founder of Clunes Booktown, a long-running project which significantly enhanced tourism and prosperity in the town. Its annual festival attracts around 15,000 visitors and is a highlight of the regional calendar.

For 10 years Tim ran the secretariate ensuring that the organisation was wellrun but flexible enough to be creative and embrace opportunities. He oversaw the 2010 bid to join the International Organisation of Booktowns, the first membership offered to a town in the Southern Hemisphere.

He served on several community and local boards including as Chair of the Central Highlands Regional Libraries Corporation (2010-2012) and as a member of the Community Bank Creswick and District taking an active role on the board from 2014 until 2021 where he served as a member of the Business Development Committee and the chairperson of the Audit & Finance Committee.

Whip-smart, funny, and a person of great substance, Tim’s contributions to his community will be counted for many years to come.

Tim died on October 28, 2023 after an illness and is survived by his partner Michael Waugh.

Contributed: Tess Brady

Daylesford & Hepburn Shire

AUCTION

FO R SA L E

2 Olearys Lane, Spring Hill

2 Harpers Street, Tylden

$1,650,000 - $1,800,000

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3

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Approx 81 Acres

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2

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Approx 1065m2

( RHYS NUTTALL )

( JAMES BOLTON )

+61 438 383 221 rhys@boundrealestate.com.au

+61 479 068 838 james@boundrealestate.com.au

Agents also servicing Castlemaine | Macedon Ranges | Sunbury | Toorak | South Yarra | Prahran | Windsor | Albert Park | Port Melbourne

d ay l e s f o r d b o w l i n g c l u b

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

KITCHEN – BISTRO LEASE Our club is seeking expressions of interest from any individual, team, or current business looking to expand, to take over this thriving business.

Our club has been a part of Daylesford since 1899, and we pride ourselves on good old-fashioned service with a smile and welcome, great food, and a lovely location and atmosphere.

Whilst we acknowledge our history, we embrace the future and are excited by the opportunities ahead. This is an exciting opportunity for someone to join us.

Generous terms will be negotiable, and you will be working in partnership with a most supportive and experienced Management and Board. We are open minded to any genuine approach with respect to our food offer.

Enquiries in the first instance can be made by calling Neil at the club – (03) 5348 2130 or email: info@daylesfordbowlingclub.com.au All enquiries will be handled confidentially.

8 Camp St - Daylesford | 03 5348 2130 | www.daylesfordbowlingclub.com.au

Council Councilnews FREE GREEN WASTE NOVEMBER

E-WASTE DISPOSAL

Throughout November you can drop off green waste for free at our transfer stations at Daylesford, Creswick and Trentham.

It’s a great time to clean up your property in preparation for the upcoming fire season.

After the success of the e-waste recovery pilot at Daylesford Transfer Station, electronic items are now available for purchase at all transfer stations - Daylesford, Creswick and Trentham. All items pass safety inspections and are sold as is. This work is part of unlocking circular economy opportunities and increasing resource recovery locally in our Shire.

Things to remember...bring along proof of residency, separate your load (green material should be separated from other items), don't bring noxious weeds (it's illegal to transport noxious weeds in Victoria and for our transfer stations to accept them) and commercial quantities of waste are not accepted.

HAVE YOUR SAY Early Years survey - Are you a parent or carer of a child under 6?

Please help us learn more about what services you use and what services you need in our Early Years survey.

Join the Z-NET Roundtable - Are you passionate about the environment and helping the community to work towards zero emissions? Hepburn Z-NET is a collaborative partnership that brings together community groups, organisations, community members, experts and Council to help shift the Shire to zero-net energy by 2025 and zero-net emissions by 2030.

Visit https://participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/

COMMUNITY GRANTS Round one of our Community Grants is open for local groups to apply for up to $5,000 in funding. Rounds two and three will open in 2024 and will feature some updated categories with new eligibility criteria. Quick response grants are also open.

These are designed to support community groups who may have experienced an unforeseen disruption, urgent issue or to facilitate smaller projects. Find out more and apply at www.hepburn.vic. gov.au/grants

JOIN OUR TEAM Are you looking for a career move or a job closer to home? We are recruiting new staff across a number of roles. Along with great teammates, we offer attractive and flexible working arrangements.

Stay up-to-date with the latest job opportunities and apply at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/jobs

CONTACT US t 5348 2306 e shire@hepburn.vic.gov.au w www.hepburn.vic.gov.au f facebook.com/hepburncouncil

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Out & About in the Central Highlands

Image: Donna Kelly

18 Out & About

www.tlnews.com.au

Show goes on: Clunes stages 160th country classic Words & images: The 160th anniversary Clunes Show has been a Eve Lamb long time coming but it’s finally looking like all systems go for Saturday, November 18.

CLUNES & DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY INC. 160th ANNUAL SPRING SHOW

160 YEARS

CLUNES SHOW

GRAND PARADE 3PM

Sat 18 Nov 2023

• Clunes Strongman Exhibition • Wicked Wildlife • Midlands Axemen Wood Chopping • Local Food & Wine Pavilion • Live Music • Bar & BBQ • Bute Ute Comp • Dog High Jump • Pegasus Pony Rides • Vintage Engines • Kids Activities • Kids Pet Show • Shearing Demos • VR Header Simulator • Ferret Racing (bring your ferret!) • Sandy Creek Clydesdales • Full Horse Program • Sheep • Cattle • Poultry • Pigeons • Goats • Fleeces • Homecrafts • Cookery • Craft • Flowers • Art • Photography • Ballarat Pipe Band + much more...

A Full-On Day clunesshow.com.au of Family Fun 9AM - 8PM CLUNES SHOWGROUND • 54 VICTORIA ST.

Community Bank Creswick & District

“It’s not just that it’s our 160th anniversary show but that it’s also been more than three years in the making,” Clunes and District Agricultural Society secretary Gayle Wrigley says.

“It’s been stop-start, stop-start for the last three years, first with Covid and then last year with the weather.”

Having contended with prolonged precipitation in the lead up to last year’s attempt, they’d just managed to get the centrepiece arena to thumbs-up stage when the heavens opened again.

“We got 30mm of rain and there was just no way we could run it,” Gayle recounts last year’s eleventh hour disappointment. “That was devastating. I can tell you there were tears.”

This time there’s an even steelier determination among the volunteer committee to ensure the big 160th anniversary show will go on.

“The phones are ringing and we’re getting a sense that people really want to see it back and want to get through the gates,” Gayle says.

The longstanding event packs an enviable reputation among the state’s remaining true classic country show experiences, particularly for staging crowd-rousing old fashioned entertainment.

The gumboot throw, tug-o-war, keg throw and ladies’ wood splitting events are keenly contested by locals and visiting ribbon raiders and just as keenly watched from the sidelines.

“We’re now the only show in Australia that still runs the ladies’ wood splitting,” committee president Jenny Redpath says. “We usually get anywhere from 12 to 20 women entering and there’s cash up for grabs.”

Among the local women with their sights set on taking home the wood splitting cash prize and ribbon is Clunes’ Beth Campbell, a former winner.

Jenny says all of the favourite show day attractions will be back, including time-honoured drawcards like the equestrian program, Midlands Axemen’s woodchop display, ferret racing, homecrafts pavilion, showbags, rides and grand parade.

There’ll be the full complement of agricultural competitions, shearing displays, the dog high jump, live acts including the Ballarat Pipe Band, a food and wine pavilion and the 25th anniversary running of the Bute Ute Competition.

“We’ll also have some new attractions including the Strongman Competition, the Mediaeval Combat Competition and the Header Simulator. That was a great attraction at the Melbourne show this year,” Gayle says. “We’ve also got Sandy Creek Clydesdales coming. We haven’t had them before.”

Jenny says the majority of the community will be involved in some way or another.

“The CFA does the morning breakfast. The school does Devonshire tea and sandwiches throughout the day, the cricket club runs a barbeque, the footy club does the bar and the school will also be running the cow poo lotto as well.

“We have also done a book which has a history and a timeline. One of our committee members and a past president have put that together and it will be available for purchase on show day.”

From left, Clunes’ Beth Campbell with Clunes and District Agricultural Society president Jenny Redpath.

DAYLESFORD HIGHLAND GATHERING Gather the clan and enjoy a wee bit of Scotland in scenic Daylesford

2 DEC

Scottish pipe bands fill the air with enchanting melodies, while Highland dancers in traditional attire grace the stage.

Stalls and vendors offer BAND COMPETITIONS delectable Scottish cuisine 9:00 am 4:00 pm and crafts, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.

VIC PARK GATHERING 9:00 am 4:00 pm

DANCE COMPETITIONS 9:00 am 4:00 pm

SOLO DRUMMING 11:30 am 12:30pm

MASSED BANDS 4:30 pm 5:30 pm

It’s the 72nd year celebration of Scotland’s rich heritage in the heart of Daylesford.

STREET MARCH 9:30 am 10:00 am

daylesfordhighland.com Maldon Artist Network and EDGE Galleries Presents

Maldon Landscape Prize

ESSENCE OF PLACE Finalist Exhibition Date: 29 October - 11 November 2023 Time: Wednesday - Sunday 11:00am - 3:00pm Venue: EDGE Galleries 35 - 37 Main Street, Maldon VIC 3463 Online Exhibition and People’s Choice Award on www,MaldonArtistNetwork.org.au Prize sponsored by the HMR Foundation and supported by the Maldon Neighbourhood Centre www.edgegalleries.com www.maldonartistnetwork.org.au

Philip Hunter

END OF YEAR BUSINESS NETWORKING NIGHT Radio Springs Hotel and Small Space Music, incorporating the Henri Langlois screening room, present a Cinema Event!

Aelita: Queen of Mars (1924) - a Soviet-era silent sciencefiction film directed by Yakov Protazanov. (113 minutes) Featuring an improvised live music accompaniment by Small Space Music with Ronny Ferella and Robbie Melville.

Saturday, November 11, 2pm Tickets: TryBooking.com | Enquiries: 0417 102 640 Food and refreshments available

Free informal event for all Hepburn Shire businesses to celebrate the year's achievements and build future connections.

When: Tuesday 28 November Where: The Daylesford Hotel Time: 5.30pm to 7.30pm RSVP: www. hepburn.vic.gov.au/businessnetworking

Radio Springs Hotel, 1 High Street, Lyonville Centre of the Universe

CRESWICK GARDEN LOVERS’ WEEKEND 2023 Saturday, November 11 (9am-5pm) - Sunday, November 12 (9am-4pm) Visit Seven gorgeous private gardens!

Entry: $6 per garden, children free Tickets available on the day from: Creswick Neighbourhood Centre, 19-21 Victoria Street Enjoy Creswick Garden Club’s Flower & Home Crafts Show at the Town Hall. Entry $5. Plus a Monster Plant Sale on Saturday at Coopers Reserve near the Creswick Visitor Information Centre.

Online bookings at Humanitix: Creswick Garden Lovers Weekend EFTPOS facilities available.

Enquiries: creswickgardenclub@gmail.com Flower Show & Home Craft Show: 0437 518 159 Open Gardens: 0419 326 453 Event information www.creswickgardenclub.com

Out & About 21

www.tlnews.com.au

Enjoying and creating a ritual of listening Final Edition is the creative practice of Craig Frankland: a teacher, designer and artist based on Dja Dja Wurrung land in Daylesford.

His current work, a series of small sculptural record holders, is fuelled by his passion for music and how we interact with it. Craig’s record holders are created to promote enjoying and creating a ritual of listening.

He combines traditional craft techniques and modern manufacturing processes and a significant part of his art-making is concerned with exploring sustainability and form.

"The idea is really about slowing things down and getting back to the enjoyment of making a space to consciously put on an album and listen to it in its entirety as the artist intended.

"This project was born out of that idea and I’m having a lot of fun tackling forms that will hopefully encourage this way of listening.

“Final Edition really kicked off during Covid as many things did during that time and has been about re-energising myself. I put a lot of energy into teaching so this is a creative outlet for me that also feeds back into my teaching as well.

"DJ culture has helped to keep vinyl around as a format and there has been a definite resurgence in people collecting, and listening to records in recent times."

Craig’s own record collection continues growing as he meets and talks music with friends.

Final Edition record holders can be ordered online through Instagram, or purchased at Daylesford Records or Bad Neighbour Records in Geelong.

Come and support and meet this local maker at Daylesford Records (11 Howe Street) on Saturday, November 18, 4pm-6pm or follow along at Craig Final Edition on Instagram.

Advertorial

W E L COME TO

VICTORIA'S BEST COUNTRY PUB.

Since 1887, the Pig & Whistle Hotel has nestled on a quiet corner in Trentham East, a living remain of the town’s early history.

Truly a hidden gem, you’ll be transported back in time, with our newly-opened beer garden boasting uninterrupted views of Mount Macedon.

The Pig serves up a modern-Australian menu with honest hearty pub classics (we do a bloody good parma), along with seasonal global dishes. We take great care in delivering food of the highest quality, sourced from sustainable local produce, coupled with our praised friendly service.

The hotel is truly a local pub but a destination for all.

@pigandwhistlehotel pigandwhistlehotel.com.au 705 James Lane, Trentham East, Victoria

www.tlnews.com.au

22 Out & About

Wine notes

@ the Guilly

with Clive Hartley

Hard work pays off

Since planting grapevines on an old potato farm in 1998, Passing Clouds has become a stalwart producer in the Macedon Ranges. At Musk, the vineyard is a lofty 742 metres above sea level on the edge of the Great Dividing Range, which is one of the most exposed and coldest vineyard sites in Australia. Not the kindest weather conditions for some, but perfect for making elegant pinot noir and chardonnay. So it was no surprise in it picking up the MCC Labels Trophy at the recent 2023 Macedon Ranges Wine Exhibition, as well as the Best Wine of Exhibition Award for its 2022 Estate Chardonnay. This is a great result given the stiff competition from the likes of Curly Flat. “It was nice to receive this for our chardonnay as last year it was the turn of our pinot noir to pick up a trophy,” said winemaker and owner Cameron Leith. Cameron puts some of his success down to the hard work done establishing a regenerative approach in the vineyard. “We started work in 2016 which involved improving the soils and our relationships with the land. It is a different approach than conventional viticulture and one which benefits both the soil and our planet.”

Since starting, he has seen a rise in the quality of his fruit coming off the vineyard as well as reducing the input costs, “purity of place has improved and now the wines remind me more of Europe”. As part of their approach, they planted over 700 native shrubs and grasses in different insectariums that encourage more diversity in insect life. This, for example, has helped curb the snail population which can cause havoc once in the vine canopy. They also have higher than normal organic material in the soil thanks to using natural fertilisers from their sheep and composting their winery and kitchen waste.

The trophy-winning Estate Chardonnay is an elegant, restrained wine with citrus and minerally, slightly saline, driven aromas, accompanied by some oak-derived struck-match complexity. The palate is where you see the cool climate shine brightly with fresh acid-driven citrus and stone fruit flavours yet laced with a savoury oak middle palate on a medium-bodied framework. This wine is delicious to drink now and will age well into the future.

Clive Hartley is an award-winning wine writer, educator and consultant. Want to learn more about wine? Try his Australian Wine Guide (7th ed) from Paradise Books, Daylesford, Stoneman's Bookroom, Castlemaine or via his website – www.australianwineguide.com.au

The Guildford Family Hotel loves November - and supporting Movember.

Owner Megan Evans said raffles would be held every Friday during the month at 7.30pm (with tickets on sale from 6pm) with the huge Shave-Off Raffle to be held on Friday, December 1.

Among those getting shaved for the great cause are members of the Daylesford Spa Country Railway, above from left, David "Jock" McCance, Liam Deppeler and Steven Fiume. Megan said she had known Jock, Liam and Steven "forever" and they were often at the hotel to support raffles for many causes.

"We stir each other a lot and I told Liam he needed to get rid of his beard and I knew the best way would be Movember. They are really happy to support such a fantastic cause."

Helping with online pledges is Renea McCarthy who will be happy to take money from those keen to pay for someone to join the Shave-Off. Shave-Off Raffle prizes include anything from loads of wood to train rides, and more are welcome. There's also a donation vase - ready for donations - on the bar.

Also ready to shave is Hepburn's John Beetham, right, who already has a Movember tattoo from a prior year.

Link: www.movember.com/m/15083302?mc=1

GUILDFORD FAMILY HOTEL Let’s support our community and shop local!

“Locals supporting Locals”

Restaurants, Bakers, Butchers, Cafe’s, Local vineyards, Distillers, Brewers and of course each other.

Remember we offer free delivery, T&Cs apply.

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

We accept credit cards over the phone or we have an on-board eftpos machine. You will need to be at home for the delivery with proof of age if asked by the driver.

Give the Foxxy team a call on 5348 3577.

Keep safe, everyone.

THE REGION’S BEST KEPT SECRET

Friday Night Raffle Raffles drawn at 7.30pm OPENING HOURS Wed/Thurs/Fri - 3pm till late - Dinner from 5.30pm Sat - 12pm till late - Lunch from 12pm - Dinner from 5.30pm Sun - Lunch only from 12pm 35 Fryers Street, Guildford Victoria Bookings Essential - 03 5473 4021

Out & About 23

www.tlnews.com.au

Brass band at Christ Church Cool wines & warm hearts Discover the cool wines and warm hearts of the Macedon Ranges winemakers at their annual wine festival, Budburst, which takes place over the weekend, Friday to Sunday, November 17-19.

The Daylesford Community Brass Band, with musical director Mark Lyall, deputy music director Sue Morris and artistic director Jenny Jordan, will perform at Christ Church Daylesford on Saturday, November 25 at 2.30pm.

Brass banding in Daylesford has a long history, with the first band being formed in 1862. There have been many iterations of the band, the most recent being the formation of the current band (originally known as the Daylesford Municipal Brass Band) in 1962.

Current members range in age from early twenties to eighties. Banding frequently becomes a life-long passion, and several members have been members of the band for more than 50 years. They are very much a family band, with partners, children and parents joining to share the joy of music making.

The final concert in Christ Church's Winter to Spring 2023 series will showcase the Daylesford Community Brass Band with their concert, Light of Gold.

Eclectic in genre and style, Light of Gold demonstrates that all music, from classical to jazz, may paint vivid pictures in the heart and mind. The diversity of this program is ambitious and exiting.

Tickets: www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1040691 (File photo)

Budburst is a once-a-year opportunity to step behind the vines and meet the family-owned and small-batch makers who shape mainland Australia’s coolest wine region.

On Saturday and Sunday, more than 25 Macedon Ranges winemakers, across 18 budburst sites, will be offering wine tasting from 10am to 5pm, along with curated food menus championing local produce, art shows, sculptor walks and live music.

In addition to this, various venues around the region will be offering Budburst specials across the weekend.

Attendees can choose to explore at their own pace, or jump on one of the four designated Budburst bus routes. Buses will move attendees between Budburst festival sites on both Saturday and Sunday. The bus offers a programmed series of winery visits.

Budburst bus routes and participating wineries: 1. Lancefield Loop - Lyons Will, Double Oaks, Parkside, Cleveland and Willimee Wines (including Northern Hope). Pick-up and drop-off at either Woodend Train Station or Lancefield town centre.

2. Daylesford Drive - Passing Clouds (including Shadowfax Winery), Atwoods Wines, Wombat Forest and Zig Zag Road Winery. Pick up and drop off at either Kyneton Train Station or in Daylesford (at the bus stop next to Coles).

3. Kyneton Cruise – Paramoor, Kyneton Ridge (including Metcalfe Valley, Lord Malmsbury and Glenhope Vineyard), Hanging Rock (including Cold Acre) and Hunter Gatherer (including Bald Hill, Rowanston and North Wine). Pick-up and drop-off at Kyneton Train Station and Kyneton Post Office.

4. Woodend Wander - Hesket Estate, Mount Monument (including Athletes of Wine), Mount Towrong Vineyard, Midhill Vineyard and Red Poppy Estate. Pick up and drop off at Woodend Train Station.

Tickets at www.budburst.com

THIS WEEKS SPECIALS

WHOLE RUMP

$99.ºº

One of the most versatile cuts, the rump is full of flavour. As the name suggests, it is from the backside of the cow so it is a hard-working muscle. Whilst not as tender as Scotch or Sirloin, it makes up for it with bangs of flavour. Average weight 3.5-4kg.

HOW TO COOK IT?

Richard Cornish gives us 5 great things to do with Rump.

Bangs of flavour. Great value for you and your family.

ASADO BEEF RIBS

$19.99 per kg

Wonderful Argentinian style beef ribs. Perfect for grilling with great flavour.

FREE DELIVERY FOR ORDERS OVER $100 TO DAYLESFORD, HEPBURN, TRENTHAM & SURROUNDS. USE CODE: LOCALFREE ON CHECKOUT OR PLACE ORDER VIA THE PHONE.

37 VINCENT ST DAYLESFORD

CALL 03 5348 2094

OPEN 7 DAYS

DAYLESFORDMEATCO.COM.AU

Gigs with Darren Lowe Palais-Hepburn, Hepburn Sionnach Rua’s Great Irish Songbook - Friday, November 10 An authentic music and story catalogue, interwoven with tales of Irish traditions and histories.

Flappers Women’s Spring Fling - Saturday, November 11 ChillOut's annual women's dance is back this November - bigger and better.

Dance the night away with 80s women's supergroup The Lost Girls & DJ Eddie giving you tunes to dance to all night long. Hosted by award-winning singer, comedienne and MC Denise Hanlon. *Please note that this is a women-only event that intends an inclusive definition of women. We are welcoming and respectful of women, including trans women and those who are non-binary, gender non-conforming, and any others who identify as a woman in a way that is significant to them.

La Mauvaise Réputation - Friday, November 17 French gypsy swing virtuosos La Mauvaise Réputation are Australia’s most authentic interpreters of the wild rhythms and passion of 1930s Parisian hot jazz and the beautiful melodies of classic French chanson - sung en français, bien sûr.

Sam Buckingham - Saturday, November 18 Since releasing her 2022 album, Buckingham has graced main stages at Woodford and Queenscliff Music Festivals, embarked on a six-week tour with the Festival of Small Halls, and headlined a sold out 34-date national tour.

Bacharach and Beyond Tribute Show - Sunday, November 19 For the past 10 years, Jack Howard has been presenting his Bacharach and Beyond show around Melbourne with the Ambassadors Of Love.

Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine Minor Gold - Friday, November 17 Tracy McNeil and Dan Parsons return to the Central Highlands for an intimate gig. Frequent visitors in various band incarnations, this promises to be a special gig.

Minor Gold’s album has debuted at #1 on the ARIA Jazz & Blues Chart.

Civic Hall, Ballarat Charley Crockett - Friday, February 9 Tickets are available now for this must-see for all fans of all music Texas-related and beyond. Many fans' favourite Texan cowboy is back for an Australian summer, dustin’ off his boots for a wild tour covering the country from east to west with his smouldering ballads and razor-sharp songs.

Brew Jays, Daylesford Daylesford Disco Social Club - Friday, November 17 Disco and house music with all profits going to Cooked

Pizzeria

La L na Home deliveries Thursday to Sunday Get your pizza fix during COVID-19 Thursday, Sunday, Monday | 5pm - 9pm Friday and Saturday | 5pm - 10pm Tuesday & Wednesday | CLOSED

5348 4123 | 24 Albert St Daylesford | pizzerialaluna.com.au

steak~seafood~ liquor

Open fireplace, Private dining, Balcony seating over 100 cocktails Gift certificates available online daylesfordsteakhouse.com.au

26 Opinion

www.tlnews.com.au

Kyle’s Rant

So, the No's have it. Well it was an overwhelming No in terms of The Voice vote, and it (The Voice) is probably doomed to being kicked down the road like an unwanted can.

But is there a way we could just tear things up and start again? The Constitution is our foundation document but does not recognise the original inhabitants of Australia, and maybe this is the thing that needs to change.

From that point, a retrospective treaty could be created, and life would be fairer.

That’s just my take on it. And people reading this, don’t bother putting your two cents worth in by contacting me as there has been enough division over the subject.

Hand on heart, I voted yes, however it wasn’t before a fair bit of deliberation due to my lack of trust when I was told to simply "trust in the process". And I even had a run-in with one of our senior journalists, who ended the argument with “I’m right and you’re wrong and that’s the end of it” - simply because I wanted clarification around what it meant to vote yes.

But back to the Constitution, the nation's birth certificate. According to the document: “The Australian Constitution was then passed as part of a British Act of Parliament in 1900, and took effect on 1 January 1901. A British Act was necessary because before 1901 Australia was a collection of six self-governing British colonies and ultimate power over those colonies rested with the British Parliament. In reality, however, the Constitution is a document which was conceived by Australians, drafted

by Australians and approved by Australians.”

It talks about government structures, the Queen and her representative, the Governor-General, and structures of parliament. Check out these couple of extracts that I found while tediously pouring over the 51-page document.

59. Disallowance by the Queen The Queen may disallow any law within one year from the Governor-General’s assent, and such disallowance on being made known by the Governor-General by speech or message to each of the Houses of the Parliament, or by Proclamation, shall annul the law from the day when the disallowance is so made known.

60. Signification of Queen’s pleasure on Bills reserved A proposed law reserved for the Queen’s pleasure shall not have any force unless and until within two years from the day on which it was presented to the GovernorGeneral for the Queen’s assent the Governor-General makes known, by speech or message to each of the Houses of the Parliament, or by Proclamation, that it has received the Queen’s assent.

And there’s lots more where that came from, dry dribble about how we report back to Old Blighty.

So, my point is, rather than trying to cram something new like The Voice into the old crumbling out-of-date document, wouldn’t it have been better for our leaders to have used The Voice money to become a republic in a timely manner? I don’t know when – oh yes, like when the Queen died.

And then we could surely use this opportunity to put in whatever we want including recognition of our First Nations people.

Money-wasting bureaucratic rant over…

Catherine

KING MP

Federal Member for Ballarat 03 5338 8123 Catherine.King.MP@aph.gov.au CatherineKingMP @CatherineKingMP

Standing up for our Community!

www.catherineking.com.au Authorised by Catherine King, Australian Labor Party, 5/9 Sydney Avenue Barton ACT.

Local Lines

Israel/Palestine A woman is running screaming between buildings exploding behind her in her arms she carries her dead daughter whose head legs and arms flop and fly up down up down up down up down and all I can offer are my knees in prayer

- Jan Price Jan hands out skinny poems on folded strips of paper to strangers in cafés to watch expressions before they read them. She loves chocolate and laughs before others in theatres.

Local Lines features poetry by locals about local and any other matters.

Please submit poems to Bill Wootton at cottlesbreedge@gmail.com

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Pick me, pick me!

G’day! I’m Colin. I’m a bloke in my prime at five-and-ahalf years young.

Opinion 27

Just sayin’...

By Donna Kelly It was a real shock to hear of the sudden death just last week of Serge Kislinsky. I hope you are not just reading it now in this column.

For who didn't know Serge, and you are the poorer for it, he was a taxi driver for Daylesford Taxis, for many years. Most of us have been on a trip with Serge. Mostly a pretty fast trip. But always with great banter and humour.

The news has many in the community reeling. Everyone felt like they knew Serge.

And he was just "Serge". The guy who answered the taxi phone, who picked you up, sometimes coming into the bar or restaurant to find you, and delivered you safely to your front door.

Sometimes you would get a cheery "Hello lovers!" when you got in the cab, or "Hello beautiful people"as he passed you in the street. And there was the banter and the jokes, some good, some bad, and just the genuine smile.

My most memorable ride home was one late night where Serge was the only cabby on. He never wanted to keep people waiting so was going pretty fast. Well, really fast. (Let's face it, he sometimes drove that cab like he was in the Grand Prix.)

And as we headed into Glenlyon we were up around the 100km mark (maybe a titch more) with no signs of slowing down.

Kyle and I both pretty much screamed "Serge" and he hit the brakes, made the sharp right-hand bend and missed ending up in a huge gum. That became "our tree" every ride home after that. The three of us. Sort of funny. Hmmm.

But I will very much miss this gentleman of Daylesford. I think he has left a bigger hole than he would have ever realised. And so, here are just a few comments, of about 200, from a farewell posted on Facebook.

I appreciate attention and I love human company, yet I am an individual and I don’t appreciate being crowded. I reckon I just need a family or special person who will give me a bit of space to just be my own cat when I need it. Oh, I am best suited to a home with no small children.

M/C 956000010096624 You can make a time to meet me by contacting the Mount Alexander Animal Welfare shelter in Castlemaine on 5472 5277.

Link: www.maaw.org.au

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

And proudly supported by Daylesford's

Daylesford just got a bit darker. I didn't realise how much it meant to me being able to see Serge and him always take such an interest in my life and how I was doing and give me such sage advice and encouragement always with that shifty grin. We loved you mate!

Dear Serge, You were the best. All the jokes we shared, the way you flattered us all with so much sincerity, the two of us cracking jokes in mangled poor Australian/Russian hybrids....and most of all the times that you morphed into the Soup Nazi when anyone kept you waiting...God forbid it was during ChillOut. I am so sad - such a wonderful eccentric and generous personality.

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This is just so so sad. Serge was the heart of Daylesford. The common thread that bound us all. He had the amazing ability to make you feel like the little snippets of life were just as important as the big chapter moments. I’ll always cherish my rides with Serge.

Booking a taxi won’t be the same again, knowing it won’t be his cheeky face picking me up. A truly beautiful man.

We just adored our “Latvian Lothario” and enjoyed so much piss taking and much laughter together over the years. A huge loss for all. May you Shine On You Crazy Diamond.

You were such a friendly, funny, intelligent and empathetic man. You will be greatly missed. Thank you for always bringing our kids home safely.

Vale Serge, and as always, safe travels. You are missed already. Donna and Kyle x

Ageing DisGracefully members, including Max Primmer, get together at the Daylesford Mill Markets cafe on Thursdays at 11am.

All welcome. For information email ageingdis3461@gmail. com, call 0427 131 249 or head to the Ageing DisGracefully Facebook page.

Ageing DisGracefully is an initiative of Hepburn House.

28 Crossword

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W RD

CROSS

Here is the crossword solution for Edition 291.

How did you go?

All words in the crossword appear somewhere in the same edition of The Local.

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Walks of the Central Highlands

with Eve Lamb

Crossing the Trentham-Blackwood Road, we enter the forested section of the walk and soon find fresh evidence of the trail’s namesake animal in residence.

From here the trail offers a good bushland experience and further on ahead, the While this little ripper of a walk starts here in the township itself, crossing High historic site of the former 1800s Trentham Racecourse - unused since 1907.

This is like no racecourse site you’ve ever seen before. In fact, were it not for the Street and entering the Stony Creek Reserve, and then meandering through lifestyle signage, you’d never pick this as having been a racecourse, let alone a 1.6km course property land, it doesn’t take too long before you’re in the forest with plenty of that once boasted a grandstand. impressive eucalypts for company.

Here, we’re surrounded by forest, an under-storey featuring native grasses and Today, I also have the company of my excellent walking companion, Paddy a eucalyptus canopy through which the wind rushes in bursts like a restless inland H, plus a packed lunch which is fairly quickly dealt with before we even leave the sea. Myriad tiny white and purple native violets, sprinkled like micro fairy lights are Stony Creek Reserve section. abundant along this section of the trail.

So we’ve only covered a couple of kms by the time we hit the sandwiches and We walk on, now navigating the forest-engulfed 1.6km racecourse loop that coffee, but we’ve already seen plenty of native birdlife and an unexpected sculptural once hosted pounding hooves - anticlockwise as they would have raced - stopping monument entitled Inter-stelae.

Located at the edge of the Wombat State Forest, this top little loop walk is both where the grandstand once stood to imagine long-gone mug punters losing their pennies on punts and pints. flat and well signposted and moseying along, we soon reach the historic Trentham Having completed the racecourse circuit we stop for a well-earned trail-side Cemetery, alongside which the trail passes.

The cemetery itself is worth a quick stop to visit the grave of one of Trentham’s tea break, imagining ghost horses with flaring nostrils and thundering hooves… perhaps it’s just the canopy zephyr? larger than life yesteryear characters, the former inimitable Dr Gweneth From here it’s not far back to the township and the Quarry Street Reserve Wisewould. Signage shares a little of the good doctor’s eventful history (there’s her with its handy amenities, parking and proud new wood duck families enjoying the memoir Outpost: A Doctor on the Divide to look up if you’re interested) and points pond. out her final resting place here, facing the forest as she’d requested.

Reflecting that we only encountered three other people along the entire trail, Leaving the cemetery behind, there’s a short section of trail ahead before we Paddy H and I celebrate the satisfactory completion of this little gem of a walk cross the Trentham-Blackwood Road, after which we enter the forest. with a couple of bags of crisps. At 9km, Trentham’s Wombat Trail is just the right But just before we do, we encounter a couple of surprises: the first being the length to tackle if you want a walk that gets you into the forest, with some unique remnant chimney of a long-crumbled dwelling ensconced in a weedy but pretty swamp of forget-me-nots, and the second a large rusted historic boiler, a relic from points of interest in the mix, even if you’re strapped for time. the area’s past that features both gold mining and forestry. The latter helped to keep Words and images: Eve Lamb Dr Wisewould plenty busy.

At this point the canopy above us starts to become pretty impressive with some remarkable tall trees.

Got a walk Eve should do? Email editorial@tlnews.com.au

It’s a sterling spring day, late October, as we set off to walk the nine kilometre Wombat Trail that sets out from Trentham’s pretty little Quarry Street Reserve.