October 23, 2023 Issue 291
2 About Us
www.tlnews.com.au The Local is a fortnightly community publication covering the Central Highlands of Victoria.
Front cover: Daylesford Art Show is being at the Daylesford Town Hall from November 2-7. As you see from the front page, the committee has been hard at work. Read all about it on pages 8 and 9.
The next edition is out on Monday, November 6, 2023. or online on Sunday, November 5 at www.tlnews.com.au Space bookings: Wednesday, November 1 Copy deadline: Thursday, November 2 Editorial deadline: Thursday, November 2
Image: Contributed
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 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
Delivery | Tony Sawrey
60-DAY PRESCRIPTIONS NOW AVAILABLE PBS020B2_C_148x225
Medicines just got cheaper for a range of ongoing health conditions. Now selected PBS medicines can be prescribed for 60-days to give you twice the medication for the cost of a single prescription, saving you money and time.
Ask your doctor if a 60-day prescription is right for you, or visit health.gov.au/cheapermedicines Part of making Medicare stronger. Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra
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News 3
Max one in a million
Daylesford stalwart Max Primmer was recognised for his tireless work in the community at the recent Victorian Senior of the Year Awards.
Surrounded by his posse of friends, some who attend his weekly Ageing Disgracefully coffee group, Max was presented with the Ageing Well Award by Governor of Victoria Margaret Gardner and Minister for Ageing Ingrid Stitt. In his usual manner, Max gracefully accepted the award and shimmied around the gardens of Government House to personally meet with all other award recipients and congratulate them. “I feel very humbled to receive the award but I give back, volunteer, make sure people know they are loved and connected because that is who I am. I don’t do it for any other reason than to try and make a difference to people in their lives.” In presenting the award, Governor Gardner said: “Max is a humble person known for his sense of humour and a strong advocate for human rights for all members of the community. “He serves as an elders rights advocate, leads the Ageing Disgracefully Thursday group fostering connections among seniors, is actively involved in the ChillOut Festival, volunteers at Hepburn House's aged care community, visits dialysis patients to provide support, motivation and encouragement while they undergo dialysis and is a dedicated speaker for the National Kidney Foundation.” Much has been written about Max over the years. Locally and beyond his story has been shared far and wide. From his open-heart surgery prior to a kidney transplant, to his early life on a farm to the loungerooms of elderly locals where he simply offers friendship and his time, to donning his heels and sequins for his alter ego – Di Alysis, (although she’s recently retired) to his community radio work, his committee work across Hepburn Shire, his housesitting and other side hustles, and his ability to have the stamina and energy of people half his age. Max Primmer is certainly one in a million. Words: Narelle Groenhout
Max Primmer with Governor of Victoria Margaret Gardner
Diverse landscapes, myriad towns & history In the 1800s, it was decided to move the smallest Daylesford artist Brian Nash has produced a coffee pub in Australia from Smokeytown to Allendale. But to table book, The Golden Shire – Locations and keep the licence, it had to remain open during the move. Surroundings of the Hepburn Shire. Brian, whose large landscapes are regular winners in Using Australian ingenuity, the pub was hoisted onto a tray and pulled by oxen for the short move, with punters art shows, said when he first moved to the region from still inside drinking their beers. Melbourne 23 years ago, he was impressed with “the Then there is the bridge at Lawrence, built in 1900 various and diverse landscapes, the myriad towns and by Sir John Monash, an engineer before he became their histories”. Australia’s most famous army general. It is the oldest “You don’t often see as many small towns close together, part of the gold rush, so that was fascinating for concrete bridge in Victoria, with plans afoot for me. And I wanted to leave a legacy. Some of the things I restoration. “There are a lot of incredible stories and so many have painted for the book have already gone. If you don’t quirky places, like Radio Springs at Lyonville – the record these things, they can disappear.” Brian said he had always dreamed of creating a book Centre of the Universe. And people can read the book and then go and see the places for themselves. And some and started painting and collecting his work about 12 have already changed.” years ago. “I have this theory that every artist should Brian also thanked his book designer Emma Paine paint where they are, the area they are in. I like painters and former Daylesford Rotary president Terri Oprean who do that.” “for doing all the technical things I can’t.” The book, at 224 pages, is big, and has more than The book is for sale at Shire information centres, 200 paintings of more than 26 towns from the larger ones like Daylesford and Creswick, to the tiny and often Paradise Books in Daylesford, Daylesford Trading and directly from www.briannash.com.au It will also be for now almost forgotten hamlets of Smokeytown and sale at the Daylesford Art Show. Cost is $69.95. Lawrence. Brian has also included snippets of history Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Narelle Groenhout which have tickled his fancy.
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Happy & Healthy 5
Hepburn House – a place to call home Set amongst the picturesque surroundings of Daylesford, with glorious vistas of the surrounding countryside from almost every window, Hepburn House is serene and welcoming, the perfect place to spend quality years.
Hepburn House is a Commonwealth Government-funded aged care facility that can provide customised advanced services to accommodate the needs of all residents as they change over time. There is a registered nurse on duty 24 hours a day, a physiotherapist on site, wonderful care, hospitality, and lifestyle staff. The staff are professional and friendly. With lots of activities and outings and nutritious, fresh meals cooked in-house and the residents are happy and engaging. Hepburn House has maintained rainbow tick accreditation since 2018, validating it as a facility that is not only safe and friendly for LGBTIQA+ people, but also has the knowledge and skills to deal with the particular needs of the community. Hepburn House is inclusive and affirming to all people who choose to live here and has strong policies devoted to privacy and freedom of choice. Daylesford is a hub for many LGBTIQA+ residents, businesses and events, which makes Hepburn House an ideal place for elder LGBTQIA+ people to live and be close to community and activities. The new wing adjacent to the facility is currently being built with completion expected in November this year. This will feature 31 high-quality rooms - THE VILLAGE. Another 15-bed wing is being purpose-built to support people living with dementia - MEMORY LANE. Hepburn House has built a culture of safety and respect so that the entire facility is equally inclusive for LGBTIQA+ people. There is no segregation between the wings at Hepburn House. All residents will be encouraged to enjoy the new communal spaces in THE VILLAGE and MEMORY LANE. These include lounges, dining rooms and external balconies with views. Hepburn House offers a range of private rooms to suit different needs and budgets. The new high-quality rooms in THE VILLAGE will be available to all prospective residents. However the cost of the new build means that rooms in THE VILLAGE may not be affordable for some. Rooms in the original wing, aptly named THE HOMESTEAD, offer a more homely environment which may be the choice for some. Rooms in THE HOMESTEAD can accommodate prospective residents who are “fully or partially supported” by aged care funding but rooms in THE VILLAGE cannot. There are facilities for couples in both THE VILLAGE and THE HOMESTEAD. MEMORY LANE, the 15-room wing purpose-built to support people living with dementia features large communal areas, courtyards with private dining areas, private lounges, and a garden area with raised garden beds all with magnificent views. A nostalgic kitchen will enable residents to cook with staff supervision (volunteers welcome). This will be an area of the facility that will be very attractive to all residents to spend time there ensuring those living with dementia are not isolated. MEMORY LANE will also be able to accommodate some fully supported residents who require this specialised care. It is hoped that the expansion of Hepburn House, with its vast communal spaces and multiple purposes rooms, gardens, courtyard, workshed, cooking facilities and theatre will promote community engagement. This extension aims to bring the community in to ensure our residents are a part of and not separate to the rest of the community. The transition into aged care is often fraught with fear and anxiety for many elderly. Hepburn House with the opening of the new wing will offer respite services where elderly members of the community with current aged care respite approval can enjoy a two-week respite before deciding on a permanent move. The cost of respite is affordable to all and always indexed at 85 per cent of the old-age pension. It is hoped offering this service will make the transition into aged care easier - and we will do all we can to make you feel welcome and comfortable. This significant expansion means Hepburn House urgently requires more staff and we are putting out the call to all qualified people. Anyone who has ever thought about a tree-change, now is your opportunity. Relocate from the sepia haze of Melbourne to the calendar-picture perfection of Daylesford with its lush greenery and glass-surfaced lakes. If that is not incentive enough Hepburn House is also offering one month's free accommodation in a fully furnished one or two bedroom apartment, with a further two months at $220-$350 per week for new full-time workers who need to relocate. The facility will also be running courses in Certificate 3 in aged care on site. Call 5348 8100 or head to www.hepburnhouse.com.au Advertorial
Artwork by Grace Argall Year 12 2023
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Our people 7
Daylesford welcomes a visitor from Venice Daylesford is a long way from Venice but for 26-year-old visiting Italian Christian Scaletta it’s an intriguing place to visit and work.
Christian arrived in Australia in April, along with about 29 other Italians, all of them posted for a half-year stint to assist with teaching the Italian language and culture at various schools, mostly in Melbourne. Christian, who also speaks Russian, German, Spanish and Czech, was assigned to assist with teaching Italian at Daylesford Primary School for one day of the week, and at Daylesford College the other four. “I was born in Sicily and my family moved to near Bologna in the central north of Italy when I was eight, but I have been living in Venice for the past six to seven years,” Christian said. The posting to Australia is for six months, a temporary arrangement through the international organisation Co.As.It. (Italian Assistance Association). Christian says he became aware of the opportunity through his university, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, where he graduated in language studies before securing work there as an intern in the university’s international relations office. “I thought it (assisting with teaching Italian in Australia) sounded very interesting. I’ve always been interested in teaching.” Coming to Australia for the very first time has been a bit of an eye-opener and Christian admits he is especially keeping an eye open for dangerous and potentially lethal Aussie critters – like snakes and spiders. While in Daylesford he has been staying with local couple Leonie Keynes and Mark Bird. Leonie says hosting Christian in their home has been a blast for all of them and, just quietly, she has enjoyed having a bit of a chuckle at her visitor’s expense. “He has been very wary of the ‘animals that can kill you in Australia!’ but I think he is getting used to living in the country now,” she says. “One of the first questions he asked when he moved into our place was ‘what type of animals can come into your backyard that may be dangerous?’.” Conveniently, Leonie and Mark’s residence is opposite Cliffy’s, and Christian has been getting used to doing coffee the Aussie way. Back home he drinks espresso as a matter of course through the day but in Daylesford he has been getting used to the Aussie flat white. “Coffee here is just a different experience. I don’t get espresso here,” he said. “I would normally have three or four cups of coffee to go – espresso to go, to get through the day, whereas here it’s more like a treat and my order has been flat white which you just don’t get in Italy – maybe in Milan.” Christian has been making the most of his time in Australia, visiting as many places as he can readily get to, and so far, during term breaks, he’s managed to pack in trips to Tasmania, Adelaide, Sydney, Byron Bay and Brisbane. “I’m not used to being in quiet places. I have always been in big cities so I have really liked just taking my time while I’m here. Daylesford is lovely and it’s very nice to just get the real Aussie experience,” he says. “It’s been very interesting to see a lot of animals that I normally wouldn’t see like kangaroos and wallabies and so many different birds. I did ask for some help as to whether I should be worried about certain animals or not.” Christian’s Daylesford visit is particularly timely as it coincides nicely with the return of the area’s popular Hepburn Springs Swiss Italian Festa. The primary students have been getting into festa mode with his assistance, by learning some traditional Italian folk dancing and card games, and Christian plans to experience the festa vibe while he has the chance. “I’ll probably be joining in the parade on Saturday.” Now, with only two months remaining of his time Down Under, Christian says living in Daylesford and assisting both local teachers and students with their Italian language and cultural know-how has been a wonderful and beneficial experience. “They also correct me sometimes when I get a word in English wrong - which is fair. I love it. It’s extremely useful and I’ve created a bond with some classes. There’s this trust. I’m really enjoying my time here. It’s just a really enriching experience from both sides.”
Words & image: Eve Lamb
CENTRAL VICTORIAS BEST AUCTION HOUSE
ACTION AUCTION! SATURDAY NOVEMBER 4th Gates Open 9am Auction Starts 10am Approx. 900 Lots Collectables, Furniture, White Goods, Garden Ornaments, Assorted Sundries
14 Jewell Court, East Bendigo PH 5442 5044 E actionauction@hotkey.net.au www.actionauction.com.au
The Rotary Daylesford Art Show 3-7 November - Free Entry Melbourne Cup Weekend! Community Bank Daylesford District Awards Opening Night is a ticketed event 2 November from 6pm The Rotary Club of Daylesford warmly invites community members from Daylesford and surrounds, plus visitors, including our valued Art Show sponsors, to the Community Bank Daylesford District Awards Night: Our 40th anniversary. This evening is a significant and thoroughly enjoyable one for Daylesford residents and visitors. On arrival and throughout the evening, food will be handed to you by Cheers for 40 Years' waiters. The Bendigo Bank Bar, aptly named Cheers for 40 Years' will supply soft drinks, local wines, beers and ciders. The Town Hall will have already come alive with live background music from the Hepburn Players and soloist Tim Drylie will set the tone for the evening. As you move through into the Town Hall, your eyes will turn to the 200 paintings created by our region’s talented artists. In the other large hall you will find the Cheers for 40 Years' Bar. Surrounding those walls will be over 40 colourful quilts created by nationally awarded quilters and, on the stage, bonsai, pottery and sculptures. All items are for décor and sale. Throughout the two halls there will be five Overwrought Garden Seats for décor and sale as well – but also for seating! One of these seats will also be second prize for the raffle; the first prize being Brian Nash’s painting, the third, accommodation in the Daylesford Art Motel and the fourth prize, a Daylesford Trading Co Hamper. We plan a silent auction of excellent locally supplied items, including wine, Cointreau, port, accommodation and meal vouchers, a voucher for barefoot bowling …and Brian Nash’s book - hot off the press - and much more! There will also be the opportunity to buy one of Brian Nash’s magnificent books that will take you around the district while you are sitting on one of Overwrought’s garden seats! Later in the evening, of great significance for the artists and interest for you, our guests, is the presentation of prizes to the winning artists. It will undoubtedly be an evening to remember; an evening not to be missed! An evening that enables our Rotary Club to support our local community. We look forward to greeting you with…Cheers for 40 Years!
Remedial Massage · Facials · Oncology Massage Lomi Lomi Hot Stone Massage · Aromatherapy Relaxation Massage Cupping · Take home aftercare products available Health fund rebates available. If you live in the Hepburn Shire discounts may apply.
BOOK NOW: Text Fiona Harris 0417 371 587 or scan My home clinic is on the edge of the Wombat Forest in Glenlyon
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.
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Out & About 11
The secret's out as garden lovers weekend returns Life with El Niño
In normal years we usually expect days of rough and windy November weather. So who can tell what this year will bring? Apart from broken branches caused by the sheer force of the wind, many plants suffer splits and abrasions from being battered against buildings and fences. Fractured, split and weakened branches should be completely removed or cut back to a point of healthy wood. Dead wood should be removed completely. You will probably notice that the twine or string used to secure fragile branches to stakes or other supports has caused rubbing or chafing during strong wind. It may be necessary to remove any badly affected branches. Less damaged ones will benefit from a dressing of pruning mastic - sterilising paint or petroleum jelly over their scrapes and cuts, to seal the wounds and aid the healing process. Old pantyhose are one of the best materials for tying up plants as they do not cause chafing and their resilience allows some natural movement in the plant. Young trees, particularly in heavy, sodden soils, may have been blown about so that their roots have been damaged and the tree now rocks. Look carefully to see if your young plants need staking, or perhaps, even restaking. It’s far better to use three evenly spaced stakes around plants, than just one. With a loop that passes from each stake and around the main stem, allowing about 5cm of movement each loop, the tree is able to move minimally and will be almost selfsupporting. Usually trees completely supported by a single stake placed right up to them become totally reliant on that stake and likely fall over if the stake is removed. That’s if the stake itself hasn’t become loose and floppy.
Garden lovers are in for a treat over the weekend of November 11 and 12 as the Creswick Garden Club again stages the Creswick Garden Lovers Weekend featuring top gardens in Creswick and surrounds.
This year there’s a choice of seven diverse private gardens to visit and enjoy, including large and small town gardens, quirky and eclectic gardens, sustainable gardens, and real country gardens. Among them, and opening its gates for others to visit for the first time, is the Secret Home Garden at Mollongghip, not far out of Creswick. It’s hard to believe that owner residents Deb Clarke, pictured left, Lou McLachlan, right, only started developing this impressive slice of paradise about nine years ago. They brought in a large number of advanced trees, laid out paths and carefully designed using hedging to create a series of garden rooms to delight the eye and the Water the key to success senses. “It all started with us wanting to cut down on lawn mowing,” recounts Lou, an Gardens can be damaged as much by incorrect watering as they can by lack of it. experienced horticulturalist and well known in Daylesford as owner-operator of the Fresh green lawns and lush, healthy flower beds can be maintained year long, even through times of drought, by regular feeding and maintenance. It is the way the town’s Secret Garden nursery. “They call it the ‘slow creep’; once you start you can’t stop. As the hedges reach a garden has been watered that holds the key. mature height it’s been exciting to see the garden rooms develop.” Prolonged hot weather can place plants under great stress if the moisture supply “We’re right on top of the Great Dividing Range here so we sort of have our own isn’t kept up to their feeder roots, but the problem isn’t necessarily lessened in the cooler months if the plants aren’t being watered correctly. The first point to remember weather here and it can turn on a dime,” adds Deb. The garden now features plenty of herbaceous perennials that have proven is that it is the root system that takes in the water supply for the plant, so there is little they can withstand the area’s unique climatic challenges, and also loads of garden point in supplying water anywhere else but on the ground. sculpture, including a beautiful native bird sculpture by renowned creative Miriam Drip watering systems are most successful because they supply all of the plant’s needs directly to the roots, and use less than half of the amount of water needed for a Porter. “We’re privileged to have Miriam’s sculpture displayed in the garden and we will sprinkler or hand-held hose to do the same job. also have an array of garden art and ornaments available for sale on the weekend,” Thorough watering is best as it encourages deep, strong and self-sufficient roots. Lou says. A heavy watering once or twice a week - depending on the weather - is far better While Deb praises Lou as chief onsite gardener, both clearly love their patch of than frequent surface waterings that encourage developing root systems to grow close paradise and are looking forward very much to sharing it with the wider community to the surface in anticipation of the next supply. for the first time. It is best to water early in the morning so the moisture can soak in before the “It’s the serenity, the insects and the bees, all of the insects,” says Deb when asked sun’s drying rays can take effect. This is even more important in the heat of summer. what she appreciates most about the property. If you are using sprinklers, much of the water will have evaporated before it reaches “And it’s great to see the results from all of our hard work. It just kind of sings to the ground. us.” Even more importantly, If you are using sprinklers, watering in the evening or Coincidentally, when The Local dropped in to visit Lou and Deb in their night builds up humidity in the lawn and garden beds and aids in the spread of Secret Home Garden last week, they were also getting ready for a visit from ABC’s fungal disease. Gardening Australia team that was going to be filming on site for a future episode of the popular TV gardening program. Above: Ready for Christmas! At last a tame, non-prickly holly bush - one of “We’ve got Costa coming along with a film crew and a drone,” Lou said. the variegated ilex altaclerensis family, thriving at the Wombat Hill Botanic For information on the Creswick Garden Lovers Weekend head to Gardens www.creswickgardenclub.com/glw.html All profits from the weekend are used for community projects.
Got a gardening query? Email glenzgarden@gmail.com
Words & image: Eve Lamb
12 News
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Just briefly...
Works have started at Central Springs Reserve in Daylesford to prepare the site for the drilling of a new mineral springs bore.
Vale Kevin Tolhurst
The new bore will extend to a depth of around 50 metres. The current bores at Central Springs Reserve are approximately nine metres deep but hydrogeologists have advised that a deeper aquifer would produce more consistent water quality for years to come. The three mineral springs pumps at the reserve will be closed in late October while the drilling is under way.
Creswick Ward Cr Don Henderson has received a 15-year service award for his contribution to Hepburn Shire at the Municipal Association of Victoria Annual Conference Gala Dinner.
Cr Henderson is the longest serving councillor since Hepburn Shire was formed in 1995. “I have always regarded myself as a councillor for the whole shire, and also the region. Some may say that being a councillor is a thankless job, but I have not experienced that at all, in fact the opposite. I have enjoyed the great diversity of opinion and ideas that I have found in staff, fellow councillors and the community.”
The 2023 First Nations Project of the Year Award was presented to Daylesford and District Historical Society with Djaara Elder Uncle Rick Nelson for their exhibition Coranderrk Portraits.
The exhibition offers a rare opportunity to reflect on the impact of colonisation and forced removal on the Dja Dja Wurrung people and their communities. It features portraits of Dja Dja Wurrung ancestors from circa 1866 and includes a narrated film led by Djaara Elder Uncle Rick Nelson and Professor Barry Golding, taking visitors on a truth-seeking journey across significant sites. The exhibition is complemented by storyboards, videos, images, text and artefacts that delve into the Dja Dja Wurrung story and Coranderrk history.
Organisers of Clunes Booktown say the festival will be back again next year despite news that “severely reduced funding” will impact the event program.
Creative Clunes CEO Sue Beal said in a report that chairperson Kadir Hussain had “explained that due to severely reduced funding there will need to be a significantly reduced festival program for 2024”. A public relations spokesperson said Clunes Booktown had a four-year funding agreement with Creative Victoria which ended on December 31.
Central Highlands Water is asking a sample of customers to take part, via email, in the Annual CHW Customer Satisfaction Survey.
Tributes continue to pour in from across Hepburn Shire, the state, the country and the world, following the recent untimely passing of Creswick’s Dr Kevin Tolhurst.
Kevin was Australia’s top bushfire scientist and one of the most measured voices that was quietly but unreservedly determined to promote science-based forest fire To encourage participation, and recognise the contribution of those sharing their management. The week of his funeral, he had been due to be in Queensland to receive the feedback, customers have the chance to win one of 10 $100 bill credits. Those who complete the survey before 6pm on Tuesday, October 31 will be eligible and winners NW Jolly Medal – the highest honour for outstanding service to the forest science profession in Australia. He was instead honoured posthumously by nearly 500 of his will be announced in early November. The survey is also on the CHW website. peers. Forestry Australia president Michelle Freeman said “Kevin’s contribution to Creswick Neighbourhood Centre has been given $10,000 for its Boredom forest and fire management has been phenomenal – his knowledge and passion were Relief initiative - to create a youth space to reduce isolation and improve truly awe inspiring. Generations of foresters and forestry scientists were inspired and mental health for local youth to come together. influenced by Kevin.” It was one of 16 community initiatives to share in $148,721 in grants, through It was standing room only at St Augustine’s Catholic Church in Creswick last the FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grants program. Now in its 11th year, Tuesday. Kevin’s son Michael shared stories of his father, paid tribute to the hands-on the youth-focused program offers funds for communities to adopt, adapt and act grandfather he was and for the work he did in his family, community and professional on the ideas generated by young Australians at the ABC Heywire program’s annual life. Regional Youth Summit. Parishioner and friend David Preston spoke of Kevin’s tireless work in the Creswick community and for the church. On his early life at the Creswick School Hepburn Shire Council, at its October 17 meeting, unanimously resolved to of Forestry where he met his future wife Rosemary, on his devotion to his faith and reaffirm its unwavering commitment to reconciliation. his profession. Kevin was part way through cutting a hedge on the church grounds. Having previously adopted a positive position on the Voice referendum the council acknowledged that the failure to alter the Australian Constitution to recognise Testament to his tireless work. Late last year, Kevin was a key contributor to a landmark body of work released the First Peoples of Australia was a lost opportunity to set things right. Mayor Cr to assist governments and private organisations to tackle Australia’s bushfire concerns, Brian Hood said: “The rejection of the opportunity to demonstrate inclusiveness, and to save lives, land and property. respect, justice and equity for all Australians and to address historical inequality will At the time of the release of the report, he said: “We have developed this have far-reaching consequences for many in our community. The referendum result framework to promote greater coordination, collaboration across state and federal must cause anguish and distress.” governments and are calling for buy-in at all levels.” It is unlikely that we will ever have anyone with the experience, knowledge Iconic Australian actor Bryan Brown is headed to the region for a cocktail and training to do what Kevin has achieved as a forester, and particularly as an event to discuss his new psychological thriller, The Drowning. internationally renowned expert in forest fire. Mr Brown will feature in conversation with Derek Guille at The Convent, Kevin leaves behind his wife Rosemary and children, Michael, Chris, Gen and Daylesford on November 3 and the Theatre Royal, Castlemaine on November 4. their families.
Words & image: Narelle Groenhout
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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 news THE MECHANICS TRENTHAM The Trentham Community Hub has been officially renamed The Mechanics Trentham, following a poll that received feedback from 200 members of the community. We invited submissions throughout August, with two suggestions (Mechanics at Trentham / Trentham and Districts Community Centre) and a submit your own idea. The Project Advisory Group (which is made up of five local community members and the ward councillor) reviewed the submissions and made a recommendation for Council to name the building TheMechanics TRENTHAM. To ensure the new name complied with the naming requirements of Geographic Names Victoria, the recommendation was modified to The Mechanics Trentham. Thanks to everyone who participated. We can’t wait to open The Mechanics Trentham. It’s expected to be finished in early 2024. The Mechanics Trentham will deliver a new library, visitor information centre, council customer service counter, meeting rooms, a multi-functional community hall and more.
HEPBURN Z-NET ROUNDTABLE EOI 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. You are invited to join the Z-NET Roundtable. You can submit your expression of interest by 12pm on Tuesday 14 November at https://participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/hepburn-z-net-communityroundtable
BIG YEAR OF DELIVERY Council has outlined its highlights, achievements and challenges for the last financial year, with the release of its 2022/23 Annual Report. The Annual Report provides the community with a report card of performance for the year. It reviews performance against the Council Plan objectives and notes how Council fared against the Local Government Performance Reporting Framework. Council has made significant progress on the delivery of the 116 actions within the four-year Council Plan, with 102 actions completed or on track, ten being delayed and four actions to begin in coming years. The Annual Report includes a month-by-month overview of Council activities and is available for review at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/ performance
COUNCIL PLAN FOCUS AREAS
ARE YOU FIRE READY? As we move into warmer weather it’s important to prepare for the upcoming fire season. For information on how to prepare your property for the fire danger period visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au
FREE GREEN WASTE Don’t forget that throughout November you can dispose of green waste for free at our transfer stations in Creswick, Daylesford and Trentham. It’s our way of helping you to get your property ready for the fire danger period. Don’t forget to take along proof of residency in our Shire.
COMMUNITY GRANTS OPEN Our Community Grants are now open for local groups to apply for up to $5,000 in funding. Applications for round one will close on Sunday 5 November. Rounds two and three will open in 2024 and will feature some updated categories with new eligibility criteria. Find out more and apply on our website at www. hepburn.vic.gov. au/grants
CENTRAL SPRINGS WORKS Preparation works will start this week on a project that will see the drilling of a new mineral springs bore at Central Springs Reserve. This will secure more reliable and safe mineral drinking water at the popular reserve. Pedestrian access to the area will be temporarily impacted over the next few weeks while preparation works occur. Please avoid restricted areas and follow instructions from the team. If you want to read more about the project take a look at our media release at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au
COUNCIL-OWNED PROPERTY POLICY Did you know that Council owns more than 80 properties around the Shire, including the Boathouse at Lake Daylesford? Our draft Leases and Licences Policy is open for public comment. The draft policy outlines how we will manage leases and licences for Council-owned and controlled property. We invite you to review the policy and provide feedback. Submissions are welcome until Friday 27 October. Review the draft policy and have your say at https://participate. hepburn.vic.gov.au/hepburn-z-net-community-roundtable The Council Plan 2021-2025 describes how Council will strive towards our vision, where to focus efforts, and how to measure progress. Each Focus Area has a series of priority statements, with actions against each item.
5348 2306 shire@hepburn.vic.gov.au www.hepburn.vic.gov.au www.facebook.com/hepburncouncil
EAT | DRINK | ENJOY
Out & About in the Central Highlands
16 Out & About
www.tlnews.com.au
Getting ready for the Highland Gathering Organisers of this year’s Daylesford Highland Gathering are urging locals to get out in force and enjoy the long-running annual event.
Happening on Saturday, December 2, the gathering is now in its 72nd year, making it one of the town’s longest running annual events. “It’s very popular in the district and I think the only longer running annual event for the town would be the agricultural show,” says Keith Pyers, who has been on the committee for 40 years. Established in 1952 by Dan McKinnon, the event has a proud history of bringing together those interested in Scottish culture from throughout Australia and internationally. Daylesford’s Highland Gathering last year made a strong comeback after Covid’s interruption and this year it’s back with a vengeance. Run in conjunction with the Victorian Pipe Bands Association, it promises a great spectacle with numerous highland pipe and drum bands, and dancers from around the state and further afield performing and competing throughout the day. “Our Daylesford Gathering is the first of the new season of highland gatherings so it’s very popular with the Scottish community and with the competing bands,” Keith says. The day fires up with the morning parade through Vincent Street, itself a competitive event for bands and judged by top judges with the Victorian Pipe Bands Association. After that, the full day’s entertainment takes over Victoria Park, transforming it into a tartan microcosm of traditional dance and band performance and competition. “We’re hoping to see a big surge in local attendance at Victoria Park,” says Keith. “And at the end of the day, around 4pm or 4.30pm, all of the bands come out onto the arena for the massed bands performance and it is a really brilliant spectacle. It’s very moving actually. The power of those pipes is something to hear.” Keith says accommodation venues in and around Daylesford are typically heavily booked for the weekend and he’s urging accommodation operators and other businesses to promote the gathering and let visitors know about its significance. “The Scottish community and the history of Scottish settlement is very strong around Western Victoria,” he says. “The Hepburn Shire is named for one of the early Scottish migrants, John Hepburn, who came into the district.” For anyone with even a trace of Scots heritage coursing through their veins – and there are plenty of such folk in the wider district – the skirl of the pipes can be undeniably stirring. But you don’t need Celtic blood to appreciate the entertainment on offer. There’ll also be food and merchandise vendors and it’s a great chance for those with the ancestry to pick up some Scottish souvenirs or find out a bit more about their lineage with clans' marquees also present on the day. “In recent years we’ve encouraged the clans to attend and they’ll be setting up a tent section,” Keith says. Secretary with the organising committee, Anne Heriot, has strong Scottish heritage. She also has very fond memories of competing in the Daylesford Highland Gathering dance events as a child. “I used to be a highland dancer from the age of four to 16, when we used to live in Melbourne and we’d come here every year for the competition. They are very fond memories for me,” Anne says. She says it was wonderful to see the gathering return last year and says this year promises an even bigger turnout of bands. “We’re expecting more than last year – 16 or more. And this time we’ve also got the Ballarat Scottish Country Dance Group coming to do some demo dances – reels and jigs.” Link: www.daylesfordhighland.com
Words: Eve Lamb | Images: Contributed
Daylesford Agricultural Show Planning for the 149th annual Daylesford and District Agricultural Show is well under way and the show committee is looking forward to a fantastic day at the Daylesford Showgrounds at Victoria Park, Daylesford on Saturday, November 25.
Show president Don Harvey said after two years of cancellations due to Covid and then wet weather and mud over much of the display area led to a curtailed show with almost no animal exhibits last year; this year, if all went well, would be the first full show since 2019. "The essential essence of agricultural shows is the local competitions they provide in the pavilions for those who have grown fruit and vegetables, created fine pieces of needlework, embroidery, sewing, knitting or crochet or used their kitchen skills to produce cakes, pies, pasties, sausage rolls or jams, jellies and preserved fruit or vegetables. "If you have grown or produced any item that you are really proud of and would like to show off please look up the schedule online at our website, look for a printed copy in several stores in Daylesford, or contact us at info@daylesfordshow.com.au "Unlike last year we hope that there will be prize horses sheep, dogs and poultry on show as well as horse events on the oval." Mr Harvey said all show dogs had to be registered with the Canine Council of Victoria and subject to their rules, regulations and biosecurity arrangements. The only other dogs allowed onsite are registered and maintained for medical assistance. A large photography exhibition will be held in the football clubrooms with arts and crafts, and musical performances in the Tom Ford Pavilion at the northern end of the oval. School displays will be on the walls. Mr Harvey said there would also be musical performers in the Hall of Flowers (Daylesford Table Tennis Centre) and under the shadesail people will be able to dance to country bush band music. For the littlies there will be the free petting zoo with baby animals to nurse, and the puppet theatre. "The Daylesford and District Agricultural Show is organised and staffed entirely by voluntary helpers. If you think that you would like to help conduct the show in any way, we particularly need admission gate staff, but stewards around the various pavilions are still needed too, we provide uniforms and training," Mr Harvey said. For further information contact the secretary John Nicholls on info@daylesfordshow.com.au
Landscape Prize
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
In a fruitful symbiotic relationship, the Maldon Artists Network (MANet) has partnered with EDGE Galleries in Maldon to present the 2023 Maldon Landscape Prize for painting, drawing, and mixed media.
The generous prize of $10,000 is sponsored by the HMR Foundation and will be judged by highly respected landscape painter, Mary Tonkin. Mary Tonkin works en plein air, a process documented for the first time by the National Gallery of Victoria for its web series inspired by the exhibition She-Oak and Sunlight: Australian Impressionism, 2021. The stereotypical notion of the smockwearing artist perched imperiously on a hilltop, or ponderously surveying a vista, is anathema to Tonkin’s robust practice. The Maldon Landscape Prize encourages artists to personally interpret the landscape. The theme ‘Essence of Place’ invites artists to bring their skills: everything they know, observe, and apprehend, to create work for consideration that may be formal, technically balanced, out of order, maverick, wildly inventive, traditionally understood, arresting, composed, sublime, joyous, anguished, abstract or a combination of those. The work has to conform to certain requirements including: being no more than 80cm wide, and available for sale. From the 177 entries, three judges have pre-selected 41 works to be judged by Mary Tonkin. All judges are working totally ‘blind,’ which means they do not know the names of the artists. Thus, the works are judged purely on the piece in question, not the artist’s reputation. Imagination, technique, and composition are some of the criteria on which the judges base their decisions. Works are not necessarily realistic. They could be quite abstract. There have been entries by many Goldfields artists, as well as further afield, including Sydney and Queensland. The $10,000 prize is provided by the HMR Foundation which is based in Italy. The Fondazione Hillary Merkus Recordati has a passion for the service of art, creativity and social inclusion. It is a platform created to support contemporary figurative arts, to protect young talents, and to contribute to the evolution of creativity. The People’s Choice Award is worth $1000. Works will be available to view online from November 19 to February 14, after the opening in October. EDGE Galleries' opening hours for the Maldon Landscape Prize are 11am – 3pm, Wednesday – Sunday, from October 29 until November 11. EDGE Galleries is at 35-37 Main Street, Maldon. Link: www.maldonartistsnetwork.org.au
Central Vic Clay Trail Central Victoria is rightly celebrated for its wonderful food and accommodation, but the arts community is the beating heart of the region. Ceramics is a medium well represented in this area and once again the Central Victorian Potters Clay Trail offers a chance to visit local makers in their studios. This year four makers - Minna Graham, Frances Guerin, Angie Izard and Mel Ogden - in Hepburn Shire will open their studios over two weekends - November 4 and 5, and November 11 and 12. Minna Graham, 2 Hogans Lane, Musk Vale: Nature is Minna Graham’s greatest influence, be it the softness and gentle warmth of spring or the threat of bushfire during the breathless, dry heat of summer. She responds to her surroundings by creating functional, contemporary forms and employing traditional techniques and practices. By altering forms through carving and tearing Minna aims to describe her emotional response to seasons, cultures and traditions. Frances Guerin, 55 Whitegum Drive, Wheatsheaf: Frances Guerin is a multidisciplinary artist though ceramics is her main medium. She has been a finalist in the Clunes Ceramic Award several times and in many other awards. Her sculptural pieces draw on art history, psychology and mythology. Guerin’s figurines are created from a wheel-thrown vessel, then altered and limbs and head attached. Angie Izard, 64 Pine Court, Porcupine Ridge: Angie Izard creates wheel-thrown stoneware vessels which become a ground for her gestural brushwork and mark making, creating functional ware that invites reflection. Her work responds to shifting light, chance encounters and the search for deep connection with the world. The pieces are reduction fired to bring out the individuality of each piece. Mel Ogden, 35 Leonards Hill-South Bullarto Road, Bullarto South: Mel Ogden’s ceramic practice encompasses both hand-building and using a pottery wheel. She creates tableware for everyday use and vessels for ikebana, the Japanese art of floral arranging. Ogden’s work explores the interplay between landscape as material source and form. Sogetsu floral arrangements will be on display and Lois Ogden will demonstrate the practice on Saturday, November 11 at 2pm. The event is part of the Australian Ceramics Association’s annual open studio program and makers from around the country are participating. Map at www.centralvictorianpotters.org or follow @central_victorian_potters
18 Out & About
Wine notes
with Clive Hartley
Field Blends
In the tiny Great Western sub-region of the Grampians, Best’s have their Nursery Block within the Concongella vineyard which has grape vines first planted in 1866. They have 39 different grape varieties planted in the tiny 1.2-hectare plot, with eight varieties still unidentified. Some of the rarer red grape varieties include the obscure and nearly extinct gueuche noir as well as fer and aubun. All three originated in France. Whites include the likes of furmint from Hungary, dourado from Portugal and troven from France. With so many grape varieties, Best’s make two wines from the Nursery Block, an excellent field blend of the whites and one from the reds. Field blends have gained more attention in recent years, and I like them. As the old saying goes ‘the whole is greater than the sum of its parts’ and field blends seem to make more interesting wines than single grape varieties. Often the white wines are a blend of the more aromatic grape varieties. I like the expressive aromatics and texture that these blends create. Australian examples have often been inspired by the traditional gentil and edelzwicker wines from Alsace that blend together riesling, muscat, pinot gris, and gewurztraminer. If you want to try a top field blend from Alsace look no further than the wines of producer Jean-Michel Deiss. Returning closer to home, Hanging Rock Winery in the Macedon Ranges does a delicious field blend of riesling, gewurztraminer and pinot gris from its Jim Jim vineyard, aptly named Jim Jim Three. Another cracking example is by Tasmanian winemaker Samantha Connew with her Stargazer wines. She makes a complex, wild fermented wine from pinot gris, pinot blanc, riesling and gewurztraminer called Tupelo which is named after the honey produced from the Tupelo black gum tree. Riesling and pinot gris/grigio are well-known white grapes. However, gewurztraminer is a bit unloved by Australians. It can be very pungent, lack acidity, has high alcohol and a phenolic mouthfeel which I guess might not be attractive to some people. It’s a maverick sort of wine, a loner, on its own, but partnered with riesling and co. it seems to settle down and plays an important part in the blend. If you want to explore gewurztraminer on its own, Delatite winery in Mansfield does a plethora of wines involving the grape including a gewurztraminer schnapps.
Clive Hartley is an award-winning wine writer, educator and consultant. His Australian Wine Guide (7th ed) is at Paradise Books in Daylesford or visit www.australianwineguide.com.au
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
Vietnamese Chicken Wings Fish sauce can be divisive to some palettes not used to its flavour but it’s impossible to imagine a meal in Vietnam without fish sauce featuring prominently. And like most things, there are good versions and bad. But on the island of Phu Quoc, famous for its fish sauce and pepper, you will find the makers of what is, undoubtedly, the finest fish sauce in the world. Made using a traditional fermentation process and only two ingredients, black anchovies and salt, the flavour is deeply rich but without any of the courseness found in cheaper varieties. This dish is all about the fish sauce, so we highly recommend tracking down a bottle of Red Boat. Until recently, it was quite hard to find in Australia but now it can be found in most good Asian food stores and even some major supermarkets. It is courtesy of Red Boat, that we bring you this month’s fantastic recipe as part of a recent collaboration with YouTube cooking sensation Twaydabae. For this recipe and many others, click on the QR code or visit daylesfordmeatco.com.au
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 Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
W E L COME TO
VICTORIA'S BEST COUNTRY PUB.
Saturday, November 4 - Learning To Fly - A Celebration Of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers were a special kind of band. A band that sustained a decades-long career while never compromising. Together for over 40 years, they scored iconic rock 'n' roll hits in each one of those decades, earned 18 Grammy nominations and entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Tom Petty will be remembered as an extraordinary singer, songwriter, and band leader. His career included hugely successful solo albums and time as a Traveling Wilbury. The Heartbreakers recorded 13 albums, along with collaborations with Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash. From early FM radio favourites such as American Girl to the anthemic Free Fallin', and the swagger of Mary Jane's Last Dance, Petty's songwriting continued to reveal layers. Learning To Fly - A Celebration of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers is set to be yes, a celebration of all things Petty, performed by some true fans. Josh Owen, Dan Lethbridge, Rick Plant, Ben Wiesner and Adrian Whitehead have played with the likes of James Reyne, Buddy Miller, Missy Higgins, Glenn Richards, The Audreys and more. Together they will back some of Melbourne's finest in Nick Barker, Rebecca Barnard, Charles Jenkins and Rob Craw (Huxton Creepers).
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
The quintessential Macedon Ranges wine-tasting experience is back! Expect exceptional wine, food, ambience and springtime joie-de-vivre.
17-19 November 25+ wineries across 18 BudBurst Festival sites plus so much more! Tickets at www.budburst.com
22 Opinion
www.tlnews.com.au
Kyle’s Rant When I was a wee lad, depending on where at the time we lived, bearing in mind I went to 13 schools, I would nip down to the local dairy, which was what we Kiwis called a milkbar, not the local farm.
I would have to pick out my 10 cents worth of lollies from the very patient shopkeeper, changing my mind along the way a few times, and backflipping on my delectable choices. I would instruct them to swap the lollies for other bargains I had spotted in the glass cabinet. Fun fact, a K-Bar, a three-inch-long super chewy, fruitflavoured toffee bar, would retail for five cents in those days and now sells for $8.54. But my decision wasn’t based on the value for money as I didn’t have much. It wasn’t even about the flavours, it was about another ledger, time. I would be thinking how long the lollies would last me and the longer they lasted the better bang for buck. While drooling over the lolly counter, I always dreamt that when I got older I would buy the whole counter and stash it in my bedroom, but there were issues with that in regard to actually having a bedroom to stuff it into. Sometimes we lived in tiny little flats with three kids stuffed into one little room and when you shut the door the doorknob would get into bed with you. And sometimes there was no bedroom, it was simply the annexe of a caravan parked outside a barn 50 metres from the local pub - think of a bar scene from the Once Were Warriors movie and you have your pub. I guess my reflective mood is due to a recent birthday that puts me closer to 60 than 50. I have never been much for birthdays, maybe it was my family's devout Jehovah’s Witness beliefs that we never celebrated them, or Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas or Easter. Obviously all grown up now I am an agnostic, a fence sitter of religions, sort of the same way I feel about the Bledisloe Cup every year, where my citizenship for the year is decided by the winning team. But back to my dislike for my birthday. I love and celebrate others’ birthdays, but I hate being the centre of attention and people singing a song for me just because I was born. For God's sake, sing your shanty to my mother. She was the one that had to put up with the pain of this 12-pound naturally birthed, bouncing baby, and don’t forget I had no say in it, no say in it at all. And then there is the Facebook attention. Thank you to all of those people who Donna pointed out put special messages on Facebook, but if you knew me and really cared you would know I don’t read Facebook. It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to rant over…
Catherine
KING MP
Federal Member for Ballarat 03 5338 8123 Catherine.King.MP@aph.gov.au
Local Lines
The Quiet Carriage
Melbourne is crying again the ducks are stuck in the algae of this city's ponds empty chairs congregate around a rubbish bin I'm sitting in the priority seat on this special train outa here languid in the Quiet Carriage in between sign language from my boyfriend Marcel Marceau Just passed the giant Uncle Toby's & the ghost wool store someone is climbing the NY loft stairs of the Olex tower ready to top himself every outpost is tagged like it's art 'Free West Papua' is all I can make out dirty chrysanthemums painted on a bridge near Sunshine drab as the houses without a leaf to relieve them The John Darling & Son - Eclipse Flour building overshadows the landscape St Albans Grassland Reserve is full of thistle and swamp People are gasbagging under the Quiet sign turn your devices into vibrators or else the ticket man will punch holes in your head the woman who complained about the racket on this carriage forgot to set her phone to mute A mosque sits silent on the tundra of ennui the hi-viz hard hats impale themselves on the cactii to alleviate the drone of working on a Saturday morning they dig where the departed are restless the rain - like spittle on spinifex does nothing to ease the years of drought-ridden grass the people ramp up the volume when Train-Voice-Man tells them to shut the eff up the bluestone hollers from the nineteenth century I pick out a house from the dales of Sunbury in the distance and pretend it's the Emu Bottom homestead the hush of history to block out the blaggards of the present I feel old wanting to disembowel these buggers disturbing the peace A battered windmill weeps over a dry dam the dead trees - old ladies in waiting hanging themselves before the bushfires come the Beware of Snakes sign at Riddells Creek pecked at by hungry birds the cattle sit together on the horizon mooing stuffit -I'm sick of standing up a cloud is about to do his load - defying the forecast my brolly sits at home - nice n dry Someone shoves a fist into the gobs of the chatterboxes well they don't - I just wish they would I go full throttle with Wuthering Heights but no one listens to me so I push them all out the door when I get off at Castlemaine
- Mary Stone Mary Stone, poet, songwriter and librarian, performs in venues in Melbourne and Central Victoria. She loves singing full pelt on trains when no one else is in the carriage and regularly trips over her own feet.
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 features poetry by locals about local and any other matters. Please submit poems to Bill Wootton at cottlesbreedge@gmail.com
www.tlnews.com.au
Pick me, pick me! Hey, I’m Cupcake. I’m twoand-a-half-years-old and I am a very sweet-natured girl.
Opinion 23
Just sayin’... By Donna Kelly I think most people heard about the tragedy in Daylesford last week. An alleged robbery and someone dying as a consequence. I don't want to go into it more than that.
I love getting attention and I am very affectionate. I love spending time with people. I would love to find a good, caring home where I will receive lots of love and attention and I will make a superb companion. I need to be an indoors only cat due to the skin cancer risk posed by my beautiful pink skin. Microchip no. 956000013291485. 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
PALMER STEVENS & RENNICK Barristers & Solicitors Property and Conveyancing Criminal Law Family Law Wills and Estates Commercial Law Employment Law Appearing in all Courts PLEASE CONTACT US
(03) 5422 6500 SINCE 1852
8 Jennings Street, Kyneton Email - psr@psr.net.au | Website - psr.net.au
But I watched in horror at the social media onslaught - photos of the scene, jokes about the death, talk of karma and assumptions of drug use which may or may not be right. Now of course you can't defame a deceased person. And they can't be charged. So it's open slather time for some. But honestly, there are many things to consider, perhaps the first being humanity. We are all pretty much just a few steps from helplessness and even homelessness. Losing a job, an illness, not having a supportive network, a few bill payments missed. Then there's the slippery slope of drugs and alcohol. Most people I know have tried a few drugs at times, some continue with them daily with no real side effects. And everyone I know has a drink now and again, also many daily. But for some it becomes a problem and it's an easy break from the stress of life. Maybe bad choices follow, maybe they don't. But we are all still human. Then there's the family. I don't know where they are but I do know the internet reaches everywhere. And they will probably read comments they don't need to see. Everyone is someone's son or daughter, and often a brother or sister, or a husband or wife, or mum or dad. Few are immune to the slippery slope. Finally, there are the people who were involved. This incident is now part of their life. And they are locals who certainly don't need to see this over and over again in their Facebook pages. We live in the wonderful region of the Central Highlands and most of us have great lives. We work, play, have friends, gather for festivals and spend our money at some pretty nice cafes and restaurants. But behind the facade are people doing it tough. Just talk to Michelle at the Community Op Shop about the people they help daily. Or the wonderful 5000 Club and Good Grub Club volunteers feeding the masses and providing a chance at companionship for a few hours a week. Maybe chat to the churches who offer clothing during winter to people perhaps sleeping in their cars or couch surfing. And yes, people sleep in their cars in our region. There's also a nice spot behind the Daylesford visitor centre that gets a bit of use, which I find ironic as the cashed-up visitors head to the front doors to find out how to spend their money. Look, I am not preaching. I am a journalist and have done some stories in my time that I am not particularly proud of. All quite legal and above board but some that kept me awake at night as I wondered how the family would feel reading the news about a wayward relative in the morning. It was sometimes awful and I would never dream of doing that now - and that's why we concentrate on good news. But these days social media can take things to a whole new level. Everyone has a camera on them, everyone is ready to comment, everyone wants to know what happened as quickly as possible, even if it is still under investigation. I get that people are curious but maybe just take a breath, think about your own family, and how you would like them to be treated. I am guessing with respect. Oh, The Rex report. I talking to my brother about it. He is in Queensland and works for a council. "They should take it to a council watchdog," he said. "We have those in Queensland." "Yes," I said. "We have them in Victoria too. It's with them." Just sayin'...
24 Crossword
www.tlnews.com.au
W RD
CROSS
Here is the crossword solution for Edition 290. How did you go? All words in the crossword appear somewhere in the same edition of The Local.
www.tlnews.com.au
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Artists of the Central Highlands
with Eve Lamb
Clunes-based artist Kate Edwards is especially renowned for her whimsical, personality-packed ceramic pieces. Her talents have seen her work selected multiple times among the finalists in the Clunes Ceramics Award. Kate shares her passion for art by teaching at a local secondary college and her work has won this talented local creative plenty of fans who love the joyful nature of her original creations.
Eve: Are there any other factors that have influenced your practice? Kate: I do love travel. Trying to stand in the same spot Van Gogh painted a scene in Arles helps me link in with artists through time. Collecting souvenirs that inspire me with exotic designs and colours; although I wouldn’t recommend loading up your suitcase with Moroccan plates and dragging it through the Paris Metro. Gardening is another major obsession of mine.
Eve: How should we best describe your artistic style? Kate: I love the elemental process of ceramics but also bright colours and patterns. My ceramic sculptures and mosaics reflect this. Last year I returned to study to support my daughter and started painting as well.
Eve: What is your media and subject matter of choice? Kate: Ceramics is my first love, and mosaics, but sometimes it is fun to just draw and paint. Ask anyone (about subject matter) and they will say “cats, birds and foliage”. I did try to delve into more deep and meaningful themes at university but I had to admit it wasn’t me. Why cats, birds and foliage? Because they give me joy.
Eve: How did you come to art? Kate: As a child of the 1970s growing up in the outer east of Melbourne, handcrafting was very popular. My mother sometimes wove the fabric to make my clothes and I was a dab hand at macramé. Childhood mud pies developed into pottery and then into ceramic sculpture. Eve: How did you nurture your innate arts talent? Kate: I originally moved to the Central Highlands to complete my degree in visual art, but I keep the learning alive by attending master classes and workshops with visiting artists quite regularly. I am presently between studio spaces completing work where and when I can. My dining table at my home in Clunes hasn’t seen many meals lately as it currently hosts all my latest artistic endeavours. Eve: Which artists have influenced your work? Kate: So many, from Etruscan and Aztec ceramics, through folk art and modern painters. I’m a bit of a magpie really, picking up shiny ideas from everywhere and weaving them into my art. Eve: What are you working on at the moment? Kate: Just for fun, I am currently painting in gouache a series of angels in the style of gilded Byzantine icons, with cat’s faces, of course.
Eve: What work, goals or projects do you have in mind for the future? Kate: In my ideal world I would build the perfect studio and spend half my time making and selling art and the other half travelling the world, but between work and my responsibilities caring for my mother and my children I have so little time and money. Hopefully I will get closer to my dream in retirement. Eve: To date, what have been your career highlights as an artist? Kate: I have had work selected in the Clunes Ceramics Award three times. It’s such a privilege to see my work displayed beside the work of famous ceramicists. Eve: Do you have any exhibitions or special arts events coming up? Kate: I am hoping to attend the exhibition Picture This at the Possum Gully Art Gallery in Adelaide Lead on the Melbourne Cup weekend. Eve: What are the biggest challenges for a professional working artist today? Kate: For me I would say “finding headspace”. Eve: And the greatest rewards? Kate: Taking a piece of earth and creating something never seen before.