The Local September 26, 2022

Front cover: Hepburn House resident Irene Hannah found herself going home in the back of a divvy van under the watchful eye of Daylesford Police's Senior Constable Jeremy Freckleton. It's all part of the fun of creating a calendar with the theme Ageing DisGracefully. For more photos head to the back page. We're also celebrating all our seniors on pages 6 and 7.

Image: David White

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

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Briefly...

Hepburn Shire Council is launching its Youth Development Strategy ACE at the Daylesford Town Hall on Saturday, October 8 from 6.30pm to 9.30pm.

The launch event features Melbourne indie rock artist Suzi with support acts all-girl Melbourne rock'n'roll band The Vovos and Daylesford rock band Contrast. Existdance will be performing hip hop and break-dancing demos. Free entry. Tickets: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-ace-take-off-tickets-410201402437

The Wooling Hill Run 2022 hopes to raise $60,000 to buy a new van for the Macedon Ranges Specialist Palliative Care in the home service.

The van will be used to transport essential equipment, including electrical hospital beds and air mattresses, wheelchairs, and other mobility aids to and from clients’ homes to enable specialist community nursing staff to provide the best endof-life care and support in the home for clients and their carers across the Macedon Ranges Shire. The Run 2022 kicks off at Gisborne on Saturday, October 1 through to Sunday, October 30 with individual and team entries. Link: www. woolinghillestate. com.au/charity-run/

Central Highlands Rural Health is looking for people to join its Community Advisory Committee.

For information head to www.chrh.org.au/about-us/board-subcommittees or call CHRH CEO Maree Cuddihy on 5422 9920. To apply, write a short application that outlines your interest in being a member of the committee and any relevant experience and skills. Applications close on September 30. Applications to elise.hart@chrh.org.au

Round 2 of Hepburn Shire Council's Community Grants is open.

The council is offering $65,000 in community grants to not-for-profit community groups or organisations for the benefit of the community this financial year. Categories include: active and engaged communities; quality community infrastructure; sustainable environments; and children’s program - specifically for 8-12 years. Round 2 closes on October 19. Contact George Martin 0408 934 915 or gmartin@hepburn.vic.gov.au

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

The next edition is out on Monday, October 10, 2022.

Or online on Sunday, October 9 at www.tlnews.com.au

Space bookings: Wednesday, October 5

Copy deadline: Thursday, October 6

Editorial deadline: Thursday, October 6

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

Managing editor | Donna Kelly General manager | Kyle Barnes

Sub-editors | Nick Bunning, Lindsay Smith & Chester

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

Photographers | Kyle Barnes & David White

Graphic designer & HLH coordinator | Dianne Caithness

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

Accounts | Julie Hanson Delivery | Tony Sawrey

A new Ready to Volunteer campaign is aimed at boosting the ranks of volunteers across the state following a decline during the pandemic.

National surveys have shown around 36 per cent of Australians did voluntary work just before the pandemic but that fell to 26 per cent last year. The campaign is designed to encourage more Victorians to reconnect with their community in a meaningful way through volunteering by showing them how they can get involved in ways that suit them, their skills and interests. Link: www.volunteer.vic.gov.au

Leaders across the government, community and business sectors will meet in Creswick to discuss the state's growing regions and innovative ways to deliver affordable housing.

The Regional Affordable Housing Summit will be held on October 4. Delivering more affordable housing will be a key topic and the summit will also focus on unlocking more housing for workers and enabling local businesses to expand. A media release said a quarter of the government’s $5.3 billion Big Housing Build was being invested in regional Victoria with 21 priority local government areas identified. Hepburn Shire is not among them.

Community grants of more than $15,000 will be awarded under Round 1 of Hepburn Shire Council’s Community Grants Program for 2022/23.

The successful projects in this round were: Youth Foundation - Combined Welcome & Smoking Ceremony - $2200; Lyonville Community Planning Group - Lyonville Community Planning Group - $2000: Creswick Railway Workshops Association CRWA - Creswick New Residents Welcome Event - $1450; Clunes Free Lending Library - Spring Fever Event - $2500; Daylesford Community Brass BandPurchase of a portable PA/sound system - $2119; Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre - Homeless Shower and Laundry Facility - $2500 and Glenlyon and District Pony Club - Show Jumping Equipment Renewal - $2500.

Nominations are now open for Hepburn Shire’s International Women’s Day Heather Mutimer Honour Roll.

The Heather Mutimer Honour Roll was established in 2005 to pay tribute to women in the Hepburn Shire.

Nominations can be made at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/Residents/Support/ Womens-Honour-Roll or email bobrien@hepburn.vic.gov.au or call 5321 6439.

Nominations are open until Thursday, October 27 at 2pm.

September

The of

Not 'local' but loving Hepburn ADAM

Ferrier makes the point that he is not a “local” to Hepburn Springs as such, but he does spend most weekends there – taking time out from his base in St Kilda.

A regular panellist on TV shows such as Gruen, Sky, The Project, Your Money and Sunrise, he says he gets stopped in the street only about once a month with a “you’re that guy from…”

Adam and wife Anna finally bought a house after years of visiting and falling in love with the town's “bohemian sensibilities” and the easy drive to Melbourne. “We just fell in love with it.”

The marketing guru started life as “the kid who traded shares at lunchtime” with an interest in money and people. He went to a tutor who told him to become a consumer psychologist, which Adam thought was a fantastic idea. “I started as a forensic psychologist just to get work and then moved into clinical psychology and did my thesis on the underlying constructs of what makes people cool. That then allowed me to move into consumer psychology and transition into marketing and advertising which is what I do.”

(If you are wondering, there are five factors involved in being cool, but knowing them doesn’t make you cool. And Adam says he is not cool because no-one would ever call him one of those factors, understated.)

Adam founded Naked Communications, APAC in 2004 – one of Australia’s most awarded and successful agencies. After selling Naked, he started Thinkerbell, working with the concept of 'measured magic' - bringing together marketing, science and hardcore creativity.

“Basically, we come up with ideas to help clients build their brand and get recognised and get attention – that is at the heart of what we do. And within that there is a whole lot of different subcategories – it could be a PR thing or a big advertising campaign or a digital initiative. We work with the biggest brands in Australia.

“Our clients come from a whole bunch of companies trying to sell their thing or social causes trying to get more people to their movement or charities trying to get people to make more donations. And when they need help there is a whole industry of creative and media and social and PR agencies and they will have a fossick around online and pick one. Currently we are Australia’s number one Creative, Full Service and PR Agency of the Year in Australia according to Mumbrella so if they look at recommendations, we come up on the top quite a lot and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy that you try to hold on to as long as you can.”

Adam said during Covid his business did quite well with lots of brands trying to transition into different business models. The main issue for his own business was cultural.

“Having a strong culture for a creatively driven business is really important and making sense of that culture while everyone was separated was the biggest challenge.”

Adam said as a part-time local he was enjoying the drama of The Rex and Hepburn Shire Council – and, when prompted by The Local, had some advice.

“The big buzz word in marketing is authenticity and I really like the Jung concept of embracing your shadow or your dark side. And with that comes embracing your weaknesses. So when you stuff up in a momentous way you just need to admit it, wear it and then work from there.

“I think from there the first thing they (the council) need to do is listen and then have a good understanding of how they can rebuild trust in the institution. I would also encourage them to get as many voices as they possibly can into the council. The more people with a voice means you can build trust and make those people heard. Then you are going to have people involved with a vested interest.”

Finally, Adam says the future of local newspapers is really strong.

“There is the whole concept of news deserts appearing everywhere and what that means is that people are starting to really value their local newspaper. They realise that something they took for granted is under threat.

“And then at a business level there is lots of talk about people getting back into local and community news. Social media has a cliché that we are more connected than ever but have never been more alone. That is kind of true and I think people are trying to discover a sense of local community and newspapers are incredibly good at making people feel genuinely connected to their community. I think The Local’s motto Connecting the Community is spot on. The future is really strong.”

Words: Donna Kelly

Tips for healthy living

IT'S

never too early to start eating well and bringing exercise and activity into your life.

And for the elderly, the benefits are not only a reduction in stress and depression but an increase in an overall sense of wellbeing and even the potential reduction in mild cognitive impairment and early onset of dementia.

Studies conducted by scientist and Creswick resident Dr Roy J Hardman, supported by the resources of the Centre of Human Psychopharmacology and the Faculty of Health, Arts and Science at Swinburne University of Technology for trials work, have led to these conclusions.

And with the current rapid ageing of the global population, especially in first world countries such as Australia, it has never been a more important time to address what are in effect, simple lifestyle modifications.

In 2021 it was estimated 472,000 Australians were living with dementia, putting a $15 billion strain on the country’s economy. That number is expected to increase to 318 people per day by 2025 and more than 650 per day by 2056. (ABS data)

“I completed my doctorate in cognitive neuroscience in 2018 and I have conducted international research in the area of lifestyle change to reduce the onset of mild cognitive impairment and dementia on people living in independent aged care,” says Dr Hardman. “What we looked at was ‘how can we make a subtle change?’ And by introducing moderate exercise and changing their food intake to a Mediterranean-style diet we could make a change.”

A Mediterranean-style diet consists of mostly plant-based foods like fruits and vegetables, potatoes, whole-grains, beans, nuts, seeds and extra virgin olive oil as the main source of fats in the diet. The diet also includes low levels of red meat, moderate amounts of lean poultry, fish, seafood, dairy, and eggs.

And while the diet has largely been accepted by Australians, including the use of extra virgin olive oil for cooking and dressings, its benefits for ageing brains and mitigating cognitive decline has not been the subject of much formal research.

“In our studies we found that having the subjects (average age 76.5 years) switch to extra virgin olive oil as the sole source of main fat resulted in their taste improving along with a reduction in salt intake and so on. Also, increasing the amount of moderate exercise was found to reduce the rate of cognitive decline in the aged, particularly those with lower than average levels of fitness.”

Dr Hardman found that one of the key outcomes of this research is that people simply felt better. Their sense of wellbeing improved, their anxiety and stress levels were reduced and most interestingly their simple and immediate reaction times improved.

This important part of the research was a simple reaction time response on a computer screen assessment exercise where the reaction times of their elderly subjects were timed. The difference noted was at least a 50 millisecond (half second) improvement in those participants with a higher Mediterranean diet score.

“Research from the Centre of Psychopharmacology at Swinburne University has found that, as we also reinforced, if we could improve a simple reaction time by 50ms we could reduce the onset of dementia by seven years,” says Dr Hardman.

“This result alone is highly significant. There is currently no pharmaceutical cure for dementia,” he adds, “so we must try to alleviate or minimise the impacts of the disease any way we can and the key is through diet and movement. Such lifestyle modifications are the potential answer to this ongoing burden on our health care sector and population.”

Words: Tony Sawrey

Right now, there are community services jobs available where you can make a difference, helping people who have a disability, families fleeing violence, and children and families who need care and support. Plus, there is a jobs guarantee for new graduates in priority areas.

Garden fundraiser to stop AusNet Towers

THEKingston Old School will open its gardens to the public on Saturday, October 22 with all proceeds from the day going towards the Stop AusNet’s Towers campaign.

The grounds of this historic one-hectare property have been transformed from asphalt playground into magnificent gardens, with rooms formed by high hedges.

Around each corner is a new visual treat. In addition to a meadow surrounded by beautiful trees including copper beech, purple beech, horse chestnuts and maples, there is a woodland garden, a bog garden, a pond garden, an avenue of pear trees and a dry garden to admire, as well as a parterre and a ginkgo grove.

The gardens were last opened to the public in 2017. Many former students made the trip back and recalled memories of their school days. They particularly remembered the “helicopter tree”, so called because of the way the seeds spun as they dropped from the old sycamore tree.

The Kingston Old School gardens were featured in the 2020 publication, The Garden State - Inside Victoria’s Private Gardens by Richard Allen and Kimbal Baker.

The gardens will be open from 10am to 4pm and there will be garden tours at 11am and 2pm.

Fresh coffee and homemade cake will be available to purchase, as well as a sausage sizzle. Plants will be available for sale from Daylesford’s Friends of Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens, and entertainment provided throughout the day by The Roundabout Folk Band, The Creswick Choir, and local artists, Neil Adam and Judy Turner.

There is also the chance to win a hamper of local gourmet produce, two weekend passes to CresFest23 and more.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the gate on the day.

The school is on Kingston Road, Kingston just off the Midland Highway.

The Local will always be a free read but if you want to support local, quality journalism you can donate by scanning the QR code.

Celebrating our seniors in 2022

THE Victorian Seniors Festival is back, bigger and better and in its 40th year.

Hepburn Shire Mayor Cr Tim Drylie said in line with the council's new ‘No Barrier’ Positive Ageing Strategy and the council plan, the council was working with the local community to increase access to events and address social isolation.

“There are currently over 7000 residents within Hepburn Shire over the age of 55, which is 46 per cent of the shire’s population, whilst the state average of people over the age of 55 is 28 per cent. This makes the Seniors Festival event even more important to us.”

The 2022 Victorian Seniors Festival will feature live and online events, including concerts, dances, sport, the arts, history talks and tour, with events across the state supported by the Victorian Government. The events are designed to empower seniors to connect, socialise and further their wellbeing.

This year’s theme - Takin’ it easy - focuses on presenting accessible and comfortable spaces, both live and online, to ensure seniors feel relaxed to participate and ease back into events.

Building on the success of the previous Victorian Seniors Festivals, this year’s events will include online and radio programs, as well as First Nations performances and entertainment from multicultural artists.

The Country Concert series will take the festival fun on the road to 26 regional towns and the Aged Care Tour will entertain aged care residents with music and magicians from September to December.

To ensure older Victorians can make the most of the festival, Victorian Seniors Card holders can access free travel on public transport services from October 2-9 –including on V/Line.

For V/Line trips that require a reservation, bookings open on Tuesday, September 6. For more information head to www.seniorsonline.vic.gov.au/free-travel

Information programs can be found at Coles stores, local councils, libraries and community organisations.

For information about the Victorian Seniors Festival call 1300 797 210 or visit www.seniorsonline.vic.gov.au/festival

Seniors Festival events in Hepburn Shire

(Events are free but tickets are limited.)

Hepburn Shire Council, with the support of the Seniors Festival, Cresfest and Attitude Clunes are running the following events:

Lonnie Lee Stage Show (rockabilly) - October 10 (pictured above right)

Regent Cinema Ballarat – 49 Lydiard Street North, Ballarat Central

• Free tickets to the show, with free bus travel and packed lunch included.

• Free tickets to show only.

To book tickets call 0438 406 538.

Skiffle Party with supporting acts - October 12

Dean Hall - 1376 Ballarat Daylesford Road, Dean

• Free tickets to the show with free light lunch provided.

To book tickets go to www.trybooking.com/CCLHR or call 5345 2356.

Skiffle Party with supporting acts - October 26

Lyonville Hall – 4 Bremner Avenue, Lyonville

• Free tickets to the show with free light lunch provided.

To book tickets head to www.trybooking.com/CCLIA or call 5345 2356.

Talking Ageing with Attitude Conference 2022 - October 28

Clunes Town Hall – 98 Bailey Street, Clunes

• Free tickets to the conference with free morning tea and lunch provided.

To book tickets call 0438 406 538.

For a list of all events happening throughout Victoria head to www.seniorsonline.vic.gov.au/victorian-seniors-festival

Sessions for over 55s

Macedon Ranges Shire Council is offering free digital education sessions on scam awareness and digital preparation for power outages for people in the Macedon Ranges aged over 55 as part of its Village Connect program.

The Village Connect program helps older residents to stay socially connected and provides information about local supports and opportunities to learn new skills.

The sessions will be delivered by an NBN community ambassador and will cover:

Scam Awareness - common types of scams, how to detect them, what to do if you have been scammed, and tips to stay safe: and

Digital preparation for a power outage or emergency - using wi-fi calling and mobile hotspots to stay connected, equipment that may be affected by power outages, preparing devices for an emergency, and creating an emergency communications kit.

Both sessions will be held on Wednesday, September 28 at Woodend Neighbourhood House, 47 Forest Street, with Scam Awareness from 10am-11.30am, and Digital Preparation from 1pm-2.30pm.

Registration is essential. Contact Abbey Brown on 5422 0262 or email on villageconnect@mrsc.vic.gov.au

Village Connect is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services and managed by Independent Living Assessment.

Mayor Tim Drylie

Celebrating our seniors in 2022

Hepburn Shire has a number of organisations focusing on seniors. Here are just a few.

Cameron Ward

Attitude – Ageing Well in Clunes

Creswick Ward

John Curtin Aged Care

Creswick Aged Care

U3A Creswick

Creswick Men's Shed

Probus Club of Creswick

Birch Ward

Hepburn House (aged care)

U3A Hepburn (Daylesford)

Daylesford Men’s Shed

Daylesford Senior Citizens Club Probus Club of Daylesford

Coliban Ward

Cool Country Men’s Shed Trentham Life Activities Club

Ageing DisGracefully

Members, including Max Primmer pictured, get together at the Daylesford Mill Markets cafe on Thursdays at 11am. All welcome. For information email ageingdis3461@gmail.com or head to the Ageing DisGracefully Facebook page. Ageing DisGracefully is an initiative of Hepburn House.

Your care, your way in your home

Your Home Care Package provider in the Macedon Ranges Hepburn Shires nursing Companionship health Maintenance more

To register go to myagedcare.gov.au or call Central Highlands Rural Health on 5321 6596

Staying at home longer

A Home Care Package means seniors can stay in their homes for longer.

Wherever people are in their home care journey, Central Highlands Rural Health can tailor a support service to suit their needs from helping with everyday tasks like personal care, cleaning, laundry, meal preparation, home maintenance and gardening through to more intensive, complex care.

Home Care Packages are funded by the Australian Government and incometested. As everyone’s care needs are different, there are four levels of Home Care Packages with different funding amounts. These cover basic support needs through to high care needs. The Home Care Package level assigned to each person is based on their needs.

Once someone has chosen a service provider that is right for them, the government pays the provider a subsidy to arrange a package of care services. Below are the basic steps to get started.

STEP 1: Contact My Aged Care to register and make a referral for an assessment. Call 1800 200 422 or visit www.myagedcare.gov.au

STEP 2: Once a person is registered, a trained assessor will visit them in their home to discuss their need for support.

STEP 3: If someone is eligible for a Home Care Package they may need to arrange to have income assessment. This will let them know if they need to pay an income tested fee in addition to a small daily fee, which everyone is asked to pay. They may also have to pay a fee for any extra care or services not covered by their Home Care Package.

STEP 4: Now it is time to choose a Home Care Package service provider. Central Highlands Rural Health provides Home Care Packages across the Macedon Ranges and Hepburn Shires. Find out more about us in the Service Finder on the My Aged Care website or call directly on 5321 6596 or email agedcare@chrh.org.au

COVID-19 Vaccination Update

Long term effects of COVID 19

Most people who test positive for COVID 19 recover completely, but some people may develop long COVID. It may take years before we fully understand the long term effects of COVID 19

Recent research is still unclear about how many people who have recovered from the virus experience long term symptoms

The most common long term symptoms are:

fatigue

shortness of breath chest pain or discomfort inability to concentrate reduced ability to smell or taste

In some people, COVID 19 may cause long term damage and inflammation to the lungs, heart, kidneys, and brain.

For more information, please visit: https://www coronavirus vic gov au/long covid

Natural immunity is the antibody protection your body creates against the virus. It weakens over time depending upon the person and the virus For example, a case of COVID 19 may not result in strong or long lasting natural immunity. The best way to protect yourself is to get vaccinated

This is why it is important to protect yourself and others by wearing a face mask where required, staying in well ventilated indoor spaces, and maintaining physical distance of at least 1 5 metres

The Cook, The Chef and Us Program

Early this month, 16 students from Daylesford College graduated from our 2022 The Cook, The Chef and Us (CCU) program.

The program is coordinated and facilitated by Central Highlands Rural Health in partnership with Daylesford College, supported by the Hepburn Local Drug Action Team, and funded by the Alcohol and Drug Foundation

The CCU aims to prevent early school leaving and enhance students' mental health and wellbeing through their engagement in alternative education opportunities

Students learned about the hospitality industry including visits to local venues, where they acquired valuable lifestyle skills that will serve them well in their senior school years and into the workforce They also gained Safe Food Handlers, Responsible Service of Alcohol and Barista Training certificates during the two term program

The icing on the cake was the graduation ceremony, which students catered for and event managed with family and friends invited to taste their delicious creations!

Congratulations to all students and thank you to the community for your support, in particular local chef Andrew Dennis, Victoria Police Youth Resource Officer Jim Ross, and Daylesford College staff

If you'd like to know more about The Cook, The Chef and Us program, please email pophealth@chrh.org.au

If you live in Daylesford or are visiting the area, please note that Daylesford Health now only offers COVID 19 PCR testing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 2.30pm and 3.30pm by appointment only

Please call 5321 6654 to book your PCR test.

When you arrive:

Present to the Urgent Care Centre

Press the call bell

Return to your car

Nursing staff will come to you

The Cook, The Chef and Us graduates and program facilitation staff

Community

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

Community members quite often say to me when I meet them at the supermarket, or at public events, that I must be “very busy”. They then often apologise for taking up my time by asking me a question about a Council related problem that has been on their mind. Of course, I often do get invited to several events a week and there is the weekly Council briefing cycle that involves a lot of preparation and delivery. However, as an elected representative of the Creswick Ward community and Mayor of the Hepburn Shire, I expect community members to be engaged with their own environment, the culture that supports them and the business of their local Council that delivers programs and services in their name. Please keep asking questions and continue to give us feedback.

Asking a question to your local representative is an appropriate thing to do and although we might not be able to solve your problem directly, we can often point you in the right direction. Alternatively, please contact us and give us feedback via the Hepburn Shire website and log a service request, book in a preliminary planning enquiry meeting, or lodge a complaint if you are unhappy with an outcome.

If ever there was a time when we need people to participate and be engaged in their local and global community, it is now. As we try to reconnect with the world post COVID and start to live with the reality of more extreme climate change related weather events, we need to find more ways to reach out to each other and to strengthen our belief in this world, the only world we have.

I’ve seen so many great examples of local democracy in action this month. I visited the Daylesford Repair Café where several passionate local experts offered their valuable circular skills and knowledge for free to give a new life to a broken lamp, straighten a wonky bicycle, darn a hole in a sock, or even to mend a broken heart. I also went to two brass band AGMs where a dedicated mob, both young and old celebrated a year of making music together – albeit a COVID disrupted one. With the launch of our Positive Ageing Strategy a diverse range of elder groups from across the Shire converged en masse.

We also saw the inaugural meeting of the Community Recovery Committee in response to the Creswick storm event, the first gathering of our new Reconciliation Advisory Committee and updates from community groups passionate about Affordable Housing and the entrenched Transmission Lines issue. A successful local creative arts festival, Words in Winter, was also held over a weekend and again was driven by a band of committed volunteer community leaders. I encourage people to seek out a local group, try something different, get involved and reap the benefits of newfound friendships and helping build the community and shape the environment we need for a more sustainable future together.

Cr Tim Drylie, Mayor

IWD HONOUR ROLL

Do you know any inspiring women from Hepburn Shire? Get nominating!

International Women’s Day is celebrated across the world on 8 March each year. The purpose of the day is to recognise women and their achievements.

The Heather Mutimer Honour Roll provides a forum to acknowledge women who have made a difference in our Shire. By acknowledging these women, past and present, they become role models for generations to come.

Nominations close on Thursday 27 October at 2pm.

Visit www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/Womens-Honour-Roll

LISTENING POST - DAYLESFORD

Wednesday, 28 September 2022 4pm to 6pm

Victoria Park - Ballan-Daylesford Rd and Burrall St, Daylesford

You will have an opportunity to discuss ideas or concerns with Councillors and Council staff from various teams. No need to register or book a time, just drop in.

More information at https://participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/ listening-posts-and-meet-mayor

SENIORS FESTIVAL

We are delighted to offer FREE Seniors events during the month of October as part of the Victorian Seniors Festival.

The 2022 Victorian Seniors Festival will feature live and online events, including concerts, dances, sport, the arts, history talks and tour, with events across the State supported by the Victorian Government. The events are designed to empower seniors to connect, socialise and further their wellbeing.

For more information on the events www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/ victorian-seniors-2022

COMMUNITY GRANTS

Round 2 of Community Grants are open. If you’re a community group or not for profit organisation within the Hepburn Shire looking to fund a new project, put this date in your calendar. Categories include Active and Engaged Communities, Quality Community Infrastructure (including small equipment), Sustainable Environments and Children’s Program (specifically for 8 - 12 years).

Take a look at the guidelines on our website and speak to an Officer today about how to apply for a Community Grant - www.hepburn. vic.gov.au/Residents/Grants.

Applications close 19 October 2022.

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.

Horoscopes

Aries: If you found that you weren’t able to implement the new daily routine that you were striving for, this is a great time to try again. Having a spring clean and getting your kitchen cupboard organised might help you keep on track for the rest of the year.

Taurus: You might have found it a struggle to commit to that relaxation time that you so desperately were trying to set aside. You get a second chance at making some changes, getting a new hobby organised or it might be that you are better equipped to handle interactions with the children in your life.

Gemini: If times at home have been rife with blunders, bloopers, and miscommunication, you might find that those wrinkles start to smooth out now. Giving your house a tidy up or even getting a bigger project started at home will flow with more ease and not seem so muddled.

Cancer: You might have been feeling like no one is speaking your language lately, especially at home, but this is about to change. You will be better able to organise your thoughts and communicate more clearly over the next week or so.

Leo: You might have found that the Mercury retrograde wreaked havoc in your conversations with others, or that serious brain fog has been swirling around, but fear not as the mist is about to clear. An emphasis on connecting others with your communications, whether it be through writing or speaking are heightened now.

Virgo: Lucky lady Venus has entered your house of money and possessions and hopefully she brings you good news and blessings. If things have felt like they have been moving backwards on the financial front, they should hopefully start moving in the right direction very soon.

Libra: Life can be grand with the Sun and Venus in your sign, giving charm and grace, shining a flattering light on you for a glorious four-week window that only happens once a year. If you have found that things have been a bit rough or confusing lately, you should hopefully start to experience a turning of the tides.

Scorpio: This is a great time of the year to get out of Dodge if you can swing a cheeky getaway. It doesn’t have to be a big adventure to the ends of the Earth, but a little time on your own can be most beneficial.

Sagittarius: Any hiccups with friends or at work over the past few weeks should clear up now. Lovely, connective times with friends or groups are on the agenda. Communications at work are strong, seeing you better able to make deals and get organised.

Capricorn: Work is most definitely in the spotlight for you, and a flattering light it is. If you have been feeling unsteady in your career or uncertain of your life’s direction in this arena, you might find that you fall in love with what you’re currently doing or find that niche that you want to pursue.

Aquarius: If you are one of the lucky ducks that have been able to hop on a plane and have a great adventure, congratulations! If you’ve been planning your great escape and have felt hampered at every turn, I urge you to try again, doors will be open now that were shut before.

Pisces: Venus is offering some blessings to you that might take the form of inheritance or (fingers crossed) a juicy income tax return. If you’ve been looking into insurance policies, estate planning or investments, now’s a good time to make decisions as things are clearer and more beneficial now.

Until next time, Jennifer Hart

Home sharing: an antidote to loneliness

This edition, in our continuing series Stronger Together, highlighting the affordable housing crisis and those in our communities most vulnerable to homelessness, journalist Narelle Groenhout takes a look at home sharing.

STRONGER TOGETHER

HOMEsharing is an affordable housing option that can result in positive outcomes for all involved, addressing loneliness and homelessness at the same time. Co-living can also bring social and personal benefits, particularly where people are well matched but from different age or cultural demographics.

But while there are some inspirational stories when it comes to home sharing matches in Australia, many having been shared in newspaper articles, TV stories and documentaries, the concept really hasn’t made much ground in Australia.

When my Nana moved off the family farm into her own house in the 60s, a local male resident with no support network apart from my great-grandparents moved in to board with her. So too did a single local man who lived in a caravan in the backyard. Meals were shared and growing up Col and Ted were an integral part of our lives. Ted stayed with Nana for 20 years and Col for 40.

So, the concept of home sharing isn’t new. However, structured community home sharing programs began in the US in the early 70s and the UK followed suit. While there are a number of home sharing programs in Australia, the idea has been slow to take off.

The Homeshare Australia and New Zealand Alliance is the peak body for home share providers in Australia and New Zealand. HANZA advocates for the development of home sharing opportunities in both countries.

Wendy France, director and business development officer and board member, believes home sharing has myriad benefits including the ability for elderly residents to live in their homes longer, while providing affordable rent for low-income earners and reducing isolation and negative economic impacts to individuals and communities.

“Home sharing is a great solution to social isolation for our older generation and our younger ones as well. Older people have a great deal to offer and many don’t want to leave their homes but need additional support. It is a low cost and effective way of helping the affordable housing crisis affecting each and every town across the country.

“Home share programs match an independently living householder, who could benefit from companionship and help in the home, with a person who is checked and screened through a rigorous process, and who is prepared to lend a hand in return for affordable accommodation.”

During the last few decades there has been a trend towards living alone or with immediate family. More recently this trend appears to be shifting, with a gradual move toward shared housing. Ms France believes there is much to be gained from shared living and says HANZA advocates it as an important part of the solution to the current housing affordability crisis.

“We understand the critical role home share can play in addressing affordable housing needs in Australia and New Zealand today and into the future. It brings significant cost savings in the provision of personal, physical and mental health services as well as expensive supported residential housing options,” she said.

Census data reveals that around 24.4 per cent of Australians live alone. Single person households are dominated by women over 60 years, many of whom are managing and maintaining homes with two or three bedrooms or more.

“Opening up a home brings people together on carefully negotiated and supported shared living arrangements. This can deliver viable, affordable and sustainable housing options which can only benefit all levels of government.

“Within the legal framework it is considered board and lodgings so while no rent is paid, the idea is for the sharer to make a contribution by paying utilities and helping in the home under a mutually agreed contract. It could be caring for a pet, cooking, shopping or gardening. But it must be stressed this is not a housekeeping or carer’s role.”

The organisation believes home sharing leads to a decrease in isolation and loneliness of many vulnerable family members. HANZA lobbies governments and relevant organisations, urging integration of home sharing into human service planning and development in the aged care, homelessness, disability and affordable housing fields.

HANZA has been invited by the New Zealand Office for Seniors to assist in implementing a Home Share pilot program as part of the New Zealand government’s ageing strategy.

It continues to lobby the Australian government to consider the importance and value of home sharing options and its place in the housing shortfall crisis. Ms France has had more than 20 years’ experience in frontline and management roles within aged care and community services. A career spent in aged care and disability services roles drives her passion for co-creating innovative service options with older people that provide choice and opportunities for them to remain in their home. To remain relevant and cared for.

“Companionship of a shared living arrangement can help negate feelings of social isolation and enhance the wellbeing of all in the household. Each householder and home sharer really can enrich the lives of the other.

“It’s a wonderful solution to social isolation and for the increasing housing crisis. More importantly it’s about connection and companionship.”

HANZA does not register householders or home sharers to help them find a shared living arrangement but can help those interested find appropriate home share providers. More details can be found at info@hanza.org.au

The Local will always be a free read but if you want to support local, quality journalism you can donate by scanning the QR code.

Blood

BY

Sweet, smoky, sticky and so delicious these pork ribs are the perfect finger-licking accompaniment for a get together with friends or as a meal for the family. You will need plenty of napkins or even wet towels to get your fingers clean when eating this very moreish treat. Blood oranges have extra flavour and will be in stores until mid-spring. If you can’t find them, try navel oranges. Hint: Zest citrus before juicing them as it is much easier. Serves 4-12.

• 2kg pork ribs

• 1 blood oranges

• 6 tablespoons honey

• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika

Zest one of the oranges and then juice both. Place the other juice and other ingredients, except pork, in a medium non-reactive saucepan and simmer over medium heat for 10-15 until the mixture thickens. Allow to cool. Place the ribs in a shallow tray and pour over the marinade. Mix well to cover the ribs with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

• 2 teaspoons onion powder

• 1 teaspoon smoked salt

• 2 bay leaves

To cook preheat the oven to 160°C. Place the ribs on a baking tray, cover with foil and bake for 2 hours. Remove foil and place under the grill to brown. Serve hot with ice-cold beer and damp cloths to wipe your hands.

For more recipes visit daylesfordmeatco.com.au

Richard Cornish, award winning journo, food writer and author, is writing a series of recipes for his favourite local butcher, The Daylesford Meat Co.

• 1 teaspoon Fancy Hanks Chicken Salt (optional)

Gig Guide

with Darren Lowe UNTIL

recently known as Mandolin Orange, Watchhouse has long been on many a local roots, country and folk fan's radar, and their first Australian tour, taking in theatres including Theatre Royal in Castlemaine (October 9) has long been anticipated.

A duo, formed in North Carolina in 2009 by Andrew Marlin and fiddler Emily Frantz, Mandolin Orange became prominent in the contemporary folk world, releasing five acclaimed albums. By 2019 Andrew and Emily, having recently had their first child, realised they needed a change and as revealed by album number six, simply entitled Watchhouse - the new name represents their reinvention as a band more willing to experiment with a new acoustic based sound.

Also check out the line-up for the excellent ‘Out on the weekend’ festival, the day before, on October 8 in Williamstown. Last year, local legends The Cartwheels blew away everyone the day before backing it up at some local writer's significant birthday the following day in Hepburn.

This is Australia's original and best Americana/alt-country festival, lovingly put together by concert and festival promoter Love Police and includes Sierra Ferrell with her band, the aforementioned Watchhouse and long-time festival friend Jonny Fritz.

There is a diverse range of local acts from pioneers like The Badloves and sublime singer-songwriter Lisa Miller, who was making classic alternative country records before anyone knew what the concept meant, through to local Ballarat performer Freya Josephine Hollick, Alex Hamilton, The Collingwood Casanovas, Sweet Talk and Foggy Notion.

There will also be celebrations of a couple of icons - Neil Young and Dolly Parton, and new band The Deadnecks - with their great take on the Grateful Dead's Americana classics. Finally, add in Sydney's alt-country outfit Caitlin Harnett & The Pony Boys - Australia's now iconic Queen of Honky Tonk, Wanita and the next Aboriginal country and rock'n'roll superstar, Jerikye Williams.

History of the Gold Rush comes alive in book

OVERThe Log, a tale of a pioneering woman, is a fascinating read, written by Jenny Trewhella about her great-grandmother Betsey Trewhella (nee Noal).

It follows the hard life of Betsey as she and her growing family move from Cornwall to Blackwood and finally Blue Mount, taking in the years from 1854 to 1867 - and the Australian gold mining rush of the era.

In the book, which is a fictional story based on fact, Betsey's husband Ben leaves Cornwall for what they hope is a better life in Australia. Mining in Cornwall is over and the Gold Rush has began on the other side of the world.

What Jenny captures is not the often boring historical records of the period, but the interesting minutiae of life. What people were thinking, how they were surviving the harsh climate, and mostly, how women, the forgotten heroes of many eras, were living their lives.

I found the book, all 350 pages of it, virtually impossible to put down over a recent weekend, as it brought to life the history of this region. There's even a visit to Daylesford, staying at the Albert Hotel with its corner-facing door, not to be used by a law-abiding family for good reason, and trips to Jubilee Lake and Wombat Hill.

I chatted to Jenny about her book, her next novel, her own story and her love of history.

Donna: I loved your book but I must say I didn't like Betsey's husband Ben Senior very much.

Jenny: I think he was a total patriarch and a religious bigot. I have him saying the Aborigines are alright, but they are all heathens, my goodness. And he did say (when collecting his family from the boat from Cornwall) that a child of his would never look that ill. The only son and heir nearly died on that trip. I think that trip was just so tough for Betsey and I gave her a cabin but history tells me that women and children were usually just in one big room.

Donna: How did you come to write a book at all?

Jenny: I have always been interested in the history of real people and their day-today life and just imagining what it was like for them, what they went through. I had this idea about Ben heading off to Australia leaving Betsey behind and her knowing that she was pregnant again. I think the women were either going through morning sickness or feeding all the time. I am a feminist, of course, and I think often things don't change because the men are in charge and they don't want change, but the women do.

Donna: Are you the keeper of history in your family? And it must be amazing to have so much history and a famous name for this region?

Jenny: No, my brother Dennis is. He lives in Trentham but he is the one who strolls all over the world making notes. He was a great source of information for me. I absolutely love history, I find it fascinating. And yes, we are famous because of the (Trewhella) jacks but lots of us these days are environmentalists. My kids and I am. But my grandfather (used those jacks to) cut down timber until there wasn't any good timber left.

Donna: How did you start with so much information?

Jenny: I started the novel with mum and I visiting Betsey's youngest in 1953. I thought I am just going to start with me and my connection and then I thought about Betsey and the pregnancy and the move to Australia. Things like when they moved to Blue Mount and Ben said they had a spring up the hill and the women could walk up there to fetch water and that would be good exercise for them.

Donna: And how did you come up with the title?

Jenny: It was because Betsey faced so many challenges even before they left Cornwall. They had been quite well-to-do but they were miners and the mining was finished and they were poor as far as disposable income goes.

But off they went on this idea of going to Australia. And Betsey said it was all like pregnancy and birth - women just make the best of difficult situations. She is off the ship and dog tired and has to walk up that steep hill to the hut next to the Blackwood battery of all things - which of course suited Ben. I could have called the book It Suited Him. And then she was confronted on a late afternoon in August with a log she had to walk over to get to their new house, also in Blackwood.

She said to Ben that once she crossed that log she was never going back to Cornwall, and they had money and could have gone back, but they were committed to Australia - and now there are thousands of us.

Donna: Did you have any help to write the book?

Jenny: I was thinking about writing it and my son said he knew a woman who had a writers' group in Bacchus Marsh, the Harvest Writers. We meet in the Bacchus Marsh Library and that little group worked through the book with me. We tossed ideas around and they have been fantastic. I found that really helpful. I do have another book, about my mother's side and how her great-grandfather was transported from Ireland to Australia after he was accused of stealing barley meal. He was a tailor but no-one wanted to buy a nicely made suit in a famine. His wife and son eventually came out and he ended up being a farmer at Barwon Heads, before it was Barwon Heads. It is a fascinating story and I have decided it will all be in letters.

Every letter in Over The Log, is made up because some women in my family decided to have a bonfire. The only real letter is the one at the end from William Trewhella who wrote about missing his family but he was also having problems with his neighbours. I love that and it never goes in the history books. But he wrote a letter and said the next door neighbours were giving him the irrits.

Donna: You were brought up in Box Hill?

Jenny: Yes, my dad was the youngest of Ben Junior's and he was a school teacher. His mother Sarah Trewhella (nee Hosking) wanted a school teacher in the family. But we always went to Trentham one or two times a year for holidays and love it up there. I have a small mud brick place in Lyonville and we really love it there as well. I have had an interesting life, I was in nursing and am a retired minister of the Uniting Church. I am also working on my own story.

Donna: Finally, where can people buy your book?

Jenny: I am talking at a book launch at the Trentham Neighbourhood Centre, which is being held by the Trentham and District Historical Society, on Sunday, October 16 at 3pm. The books are $25 and all proceeds from sales go to the Trentham Museum because I believe Trentham needs a museum before any more people die and their records are burnt or thrown out in a skip. I think history leads us towards our future.

La Niña tres

Optimists usually say “three is the lucky number”. Well, I normally approach most situations with a certain degree of optimism, but three consecutive visits by La Niña - good luck? Her last two visits weren’t shrouded in good fortune so we’ll just have to wait and see.

The only consolation, I suppose, is that all that water she sheds should lessen the chance of serious bushfires this coming summer. But in the meantime it’s up to us to make the most use of the bountiful rain at the same time ensuring that your soil is not overloaded with moisture to the extent that insufficient air is able to reach the roots or all nutrients are either washed away or locked up by the water.

Our heavy clay soils can often result in oxygen starvation, reduced solubility of important plant nutrients and subsequent destruction of the desirable soil organisms.

Under these conditions unwanted organisms soon get the upper hand, causing the plants to become weakened and diseased. On the other hand, open sandy soil, which consists solely of large granular particles, can through the rapid movement of water suffer from the leaching of plant foods on its way through, leaving hungry and parched root systems.

Waterlogged gardens

Most of our soils are well drained but there are still low-lying problem areas, mostly around old diggings, with heavy, impervious clay subsoil. Plant roots cannot survive in waterlogged soils as they are unable to get sufficient air.

Wet soils also restrict the activity of earthworms and useful soil micro-organisms and take longer to warm up in spring.

There are several ways to overcome soil drainage problems. On shallow soils that lay over heavy clay, shale or rock, garden beds can be built up simply by adding extra soil or straw and compost to the area so that you have at least 60cm of growing materials over the impervious layer.

This works well for small beds, or where the ground slopes to provide natural drainage.

On slow draining areas, the effects of heavy downpours can be permanently reduced by installing under-surface drainage pipes. These can be the large diameter slotted PVC ones that have their own filter system and need merely be inserted into a narrow slit trench to be effective.

The PVC pipes are normally laid in trenches dug down to the source of the subsoil, or a depth of 60-90cm. The trench floor should be flat and even with a slope of at least 25mm for each 10m of length. Lay the pipes in the trench and cover them with at least 15cm of coarse rubble or scoria, then fill the trench with sand or screenings to prevent the slits from clogging.

If a large area is to be drained you may need to direct the water to a main pipeline. If the drainage problem is localised, all you may need at the head of the pipe is a large sump area of one square metre and the same depth as the trench into which the water can be encouraged to flow by running shallow trenches toward it.

Fill this with large rubble, or broken bricks and top it with the same screenings as those placed into the trenches.

If there is no way for you to run the water from your property, dig a large hole, approximately two metres in diameter and the same depth and fill this with gravel or similar coarse material to allow the water to gradually soak away.

Above right, forsythia is often called the harbinger of spring. It’s a willowy deciduous shrub that will grow in a shady spot in almost any climate,and provides a splash of colour twice each year. Golden autumn foliage and delightful golden flowers all along the bare branches herald the coming of spring.

Kyle’s Rant

Local Lines

the wheel with a kung fu grip, I lurch my vehicle from side to side. Finally I see a smooth piece of road and take one hand off the wheel, shaking it vigorously in an effort to evaporate the sweat.

HOLDING

A set of headlights comes into view in my rearview mirror. They appear to be approaching me fast and like that, they are a metre or two behind me. My heartbeat escalates as I see shadows on the roadside threatening to jump out in my path.

The ute's high-mounted lights behind me flood the cabin of my car as I struggle to see, the fog is dropping and my heart rate is out of control as I pilot my vehicle through the slalom road. And this was simply coming home from the supermarket the other night.

Our roads are a disgrace. We are all required to have roadworthy cars but what happened to carworthy roads? I know I need a wheel alignment but when do I get one? And if I get one, will I just need another in a month's time?

Maybe the government should be handing out wheel alignments for free until they can get around to fixing the roads. And I am not talking about the guys who duck out from behind a council truck, with no slow down signs around, to deliver a spoonful of gravel for a B-double to throw into my windscreen. We need a proper fix.

I note that on September 12, Macedon Labor State MP Mary-Anne Thomas gathered together a group of roadworkers and anyone else who happened to be around to declare a road maintenance blitz across Central Victorian roads. Great, but at this stage I’d simply like to see any sort of roadworks going on, let alone a blitz.

Ms Thomas went on to say the $780 million investment – which apparently is double the funding of the Liberal National Party when they were last in office –would rebuild, repair and resurface more than 365 kilometres of roads across Central Victoria. OMG just get on with the job, spend the money on the project and drop the media. A big to-do but please just put some rubber on the road so as I and the rest of the community can safely do the same.

Apparently “an army of workers will spend the next eight months delivering more than 290 individual projects across some of the region’s busiest and most important transport and travel routes”.

And then there was this stunning quote towards the end of the press release: “The roads across our region are critical in getting Macedon Ranges residents where they need to go and keeping them on the move.”

Well, allow me to retort. Yes, the roads are critical in getting us where we need to go, firstly because we have bugger all in the way of public transport. But if those roads are not good, it's going to get to the point where we can’t even get to the supermarket. Or worse. We have all seen cars swerve at the last minute to avoid a pothole. What happens when someone is coming the other way?

And yes, the road maintenance schedule certainly has been set back by the wet weather but aren’t we the state that is “on the move”? Not at the moment.

Seasons

Autumn rambles my streets on golden russet paws scattering leaves into guttering and skittering against walls.

The bones of trees emerging from coats of shifting bright wreathed in clouds of golden dance, limbs stark against the light.

We huddle and prepare our nests as the wind circles and seeks Winter rattling at the windows like a creature in search of peace.

Orchard’s gifts embalmed fruits frozen in a time that has passed bottles of syrup and spices, firelight flickering off glass.

Frost sugar coating my garden ice in the birdbath, bright as glass night stars, brilliant jewels flicker beauty whose glitter is harsh

In Winter’s depths, we shiver, souls chilled by its cadaverous moan backs turned on the death knell outside on the impoverished, the lost, the alone

And forget it was ever different, till outside, on this cold sullen waste a reminder that time never ceases nor our planet’s slow circling in space.

And Spring breaks out on our doorsteps soft grasses, tree blossom and wine unbuttoned, unleashed and unfettered an endless gifting of time.

- Rhonda Cotsell

Local Lines comes mainly from a group of local poets but other submissions are always welcome. To have a poem considered for publication contact Bill Wootton at cottlesbreedge@gmail.com

A retired librarian living in beautiful Creswick, Rhonda spent her working life in cities but she was born on a farm and has lived in a few small towns, where she feels most at home. She loves writing and reading, her garden, adult offspring, her grandson and cooking and eating.

Fix the roads, rant over… 5428 Thomas

DELIVERING FOR

Just sayin’...

By Donna Kelly

IWAS

over at Radio Springs Hotel in Lyonville a couple of weeks ago doing a dine review. You may have read it in the last edition. Always a great place - good food, fun company, friendly service. Pick up the phone, book now!

Anyway, on top of that, one of the owners Ken is always on the lookout for any stories and handed me a book, Over The Log by Jenny Trewhella.

It was quite a heavy tome with some great historic photos from this region on the front. The title also included A Tale of a Pioneering Woman

I happily accepted it, thinking it was pretty much a history book on the Gold Rush, and thought I could flick through a few pages and maybe call the author for a chat.

When I got home I popped it upside down on the coffee table and forgot about it until later that day when I glanced at the back cover. I read: "Betsey's tale begins near St Ives, Cornwall, in the far south of England. The year is 1854." And I was hooked.

Turns out the book is a work of fiction based on fact - and it's a cracker of a read. One of those 'can't put it down' reads. So I spent the weekend reading it and then I called Jenny for a chat.

I told her if they taught history like that, I would have aced that subject instead of sitting bored rigid and looking out the window most of the time. Let's face it, history can be pretty dry - facts and figures and dates.

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 or head to the Ageing DisGracefully Facebook page. Ageing DisGracefully is an initiative of Hepburn House. Kyle on 0416 104 283 in our seasonal Or email kyle@tlnews.com.au Donna at

This book has all that but so much more and one of the great things about Jenny's book is that it is from a female perspective. Much of our history seems to be about what men have achieved but as they say behind every good man is a great woman.

While Betsey's life may seem insignificant, mostly having children, cleaning the house and cooking for her family, it's a fascinating tale of life on the gold fields for those who left behind family and friends on the other side of the world.

And what hard lives they lived. I was reading about Betsey using a wringer to try to get as much moisture out of her washing before hanging it out to dry - remember she lived in Blackwood and Blue Mount in the same winters we get - and in the background in our house I could hear the dryer tumbling away.

She cooked over an open fire while I complain because one of the gas hotplate's ignition no longer works and I have to light it manually. She asked her husband if he could pump the water from the spring to the house - quite possible and affordableand he said no because it was good exercise for her and her daughters. Kyle and I are working out how to plumb up the fridge so we can have cold water and ice on hand.

But it's not all doom and gloom. There are trips to Bacchus Marsh and Ballan, picnics with friends and family and a lovely visit to Daylesford with a stay at the Albert Hotel in Camp Street. And despite their different ideas, Betsey and her husband Ben make their marriage and their new life in a strange country work.

Anyway, it was a great read and I am just giving it a little plug. All proceeds from the sale of the book go towards a museum at Trentham one day - before, Jenny says, any more records of lives are lost or destroyed - as happened with her family's letters.

Jenny self published, only printed 150 copies and has given many away. But she is willing to do another print run and if you want to grab yourself a copy and immerse yourself in the lives of those who came before, head back to page 15 to read where it is available.

I wonder if in 170 years someone will find a few editions of The Local and think what hard lives we had? Just sayin'...

Here is the solution to crossword for edition 262. Each edition, all the words appear in that edition somewhere. How did you go?

W RD CROSS

Celebrating our seniors in 2022

THEresidents at Hepburn House have been keeping busy over the past year – creating their second calendar – ready for 2023.

The theme is Ageing DisGracefully and Kyneton photographer David White has returned to work pro bono again after the success of last year’s calendar based on movie classics.

David and the residents and staff are having a lot of fun as they dream up ideas and images for ways of Ageing DisGracefully.

From top left, clockwise, Irene Hannah is being taken home in the back of a divvy van under the watchful eye of Daylesford Police's Senior Constable Jason Allison (left) and Senior Constable Jeremy Freckleton, Brendan Dundas goes full rock'n'roll, glam girls Wendy Rainmaker, June Turner and Bev Job hit the top shelf, and May Rose is shocked to find out the kilt rumour is all true with Harold Waters.

Hepburn House manager Dianne Jones said the calendars would be on sale from early November with the price $20.

The theme is named after the Ageing DisGracefully group started after successful lobbying of the state government by Ms Jones and the Ageing With Pride committee.

The group meets every Thursday at 11am at the Amazing Mill Markets café in Daylesford with everyone welcome. Email ageingdis3461@gmail.com or check out the Ageing DisGracefully Facebook page.

Hepburn House in Daylesford offers a unique mix of a fabulous environment, progressive personalised care, and excellent lifestyle amenities.

Call 5348 8100 or visit www.hepburnhouse.com.au