The Local September 27, 2021

September 27, 2021 Issue 237 Hey Joe!

The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

2 About Us

www.tlnews.com.au

Front cover: Joe Camilleri has called the Macedon Ranges home for three years now. And he is hoping to meet other locals at a gig with The Black Sorrows, at the Palais Hepburn next month. Read his story by Narelle Groenhout on page 19.

September 27, 2021 Issue 237 Hey Joe!

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

The next edition is out on Monday, October 11, 2021.

Or online on Sunday, October 10 at www.tlnews.com.au Space bookings: Wednesday, October 6 Copy deadline: Thursday, October 7 Editorial deadline: Thursday, October 7 Editorial: 0418 576 513 | Advertising: 0416 104 283

Image: Tania Jovano

news@tlnews.com.au | sales@tlnews.com.au Managing editor | Donna Kelly General manager | Kyle Barnes The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

Sub-editors | Nick Bunning and Lindsay Smith

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

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

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

Photographers | Kyle Barnes, David White & Louise Gay

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 & HLH coordinator | Dianne Caithness Contributors: Glen Heyne (gardening), Glenn Robinson (cartoons), Darren Lowe (gigs) Matthew Richardson (money) & Jen Clarke (recipes) Accounts | Julie Hanson

Delivery | Tony Sawrey

Local Lines The Lighthouse The waving line between shore and sea dissolves footprints like friendship and time The way ahead is dark and uncertain A lighthouse on the cliff illumines the black sea where white birds hover as heralds Tether me to a lantern so I can see the colours of sky, my first love never so with people but loved many cats simpler in their ways and soft Today is a good day to die watching flocks of ibis fly in formation in a winter sky The Egyptian god of writing and language bore that curved beak dipped in blood or octopus ink scribing hieroglyphic instructions in stone on how to make the sun rise Strange how fear projects such errors Here at the end of all things once again Thanatos rages as starving women give birth to babies in dust while men kill each other in futuristic battle gear and weapons gifted by some power or other, hard to know why but it dries up the river Nile at its source while the ends of the earth melt and catch fire Now a plague to each other with disease in the air gasping and greedy, we devour life itself Here in this safe harbour the boat’s engine shudders plowing through waves bearing empty seats and a passenger I breathe and wait, aware of millions gasping for breath

Or going mad in lockdown when suddenly this grim thought melts as the sky softens to luminescent pink When the ferry docks I chase the sunset in my car but flirtatiously true love fades without trace the road ahead forks to the left a dead end going round in circles and the other way blocked by consequences further down the road a neighbour’s voice shouts outrage at the lack of a want like a child digging a deep hole in the sand she strides on carrying six children with unhealing wounds What power can free me from this burden?

The inner sun illumines a fool in a jester’s hat, mask and costume willing to perform any part unrehearsed for no pay - Frances Guerin Frances Guerin’s studio, located in the Wombat State Forest, serves both her creative spirit and visitors who come for open studio visits, community exhibitions and meditation practice. Her background in philosophy and transpersonal psychology lends itself to deep enquiry into human consciousness which informs and generates her prolific art practice.

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

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News 3

Battles continue for hospitality businesses

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OSPITALITY businesses around the Central Highlands are doing it tough as Melbourne remains closed and inside limits remain at just 10 people per building.

Many have chosen not to reopen, or to continue with just takeaway, while others are doing all they can to keep their doors opening by extending outdoor spaces for another 20 patrons.

But with the fickle weather of spring, it is proving difficult to serve customers outside with sudden rainshowers, and limits already met inside, meaning patrons may have to leave their meals and drinks and head home.

There are also many concerns about owners and staff acting as quasi bouncers when it comes to checking identification and eventually vaccine passports. There have also been reports of patrons refusing to wear masks with the excuse they have an exception - but then refusing to show that exemption due to privacy issues, apparently backed up by the Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission. (Read the end of Just sayin'... on page 22.)

Daylesford Macedon Tourism chief executive officer Steve Wroe said many hospitality businesses were "deeply unhappy" about the 10-person limit.

"It really means they can't trade profitably and the restriction is so onerous there is no point in opening. Even if the business is open for takeaway and they have staff and power on, it still doesn't make sense for them to open indoors.

"The reason the government has put that level of restriction on is the public health justification and it is not for me to second guess that or argue against that but what we are saying is fine, if you want to put the restrictions in place for God's sake make sure the business support packages are maintained.

"The overriding fear among tourism businesses is that the government says regional Victoria is open so we can pull that funding support."

Mr Wroe said he met regularly with state government ministers and had made it clear ongoing support was needed. He said if Melbourne was closed, from a tourism point of view, regional businesses were unable to trade profitably.

Mr Wroe said he, and other tourism leaders, were also asking for a wage subsidy to be put in place for tourism businesses.

"I am saying to ministers that the reason for this is that we are 18 months into this pandemic and businesses have burnt through all their cash reserves. They don't have anything else to lean on and they need something in place to keep their staff.

"With Melbourne closed the biggest risk is that the support is pulled, they have to let staff go and then they are not in the position to handle the volume that comes from Melbourne. If that support does not stay in place until Melbourne opens up then the shit will hit the fan."

Mr Wroe said he was open to the idea of vaccine passports eventually being trialled in regional Victoria but not until there was a clear plan in place on how it will work, and with strong support for businesses.

"My concern is there was enough grief with businesses just doing the ID check on whether people were from Melbourne, and while that is not a particularly contentious issue, it's pretty black and white, something like vaccination is different.

"We know there is a percentage of people who are anti-vax and a percentage of them are pretty militant about it. It is a much trickier situation for business owners and staff to manage. It only takes one anti-vax militant to get in front of some poor young person and it could blow up."

Daylesford Boathouse Restaurant co-owner Susanne Devine said the new density limits had caught her and partner Claire Levine by surprise. "We thought we were going back to the same density limits but then heard it was only 10 people inside. I thought it might have been a joke."

The pair decided not to reopen their business with limits making it impossible to trade profitably. And while they have an outside area it could not be relied on with spring or even summer weather.

"If we had people outside and it got cold, or rained, we can't bring them in. And we are a restaurant, we have to cook food and serve perhaps three courses.

"Our patrons might be with us for a couple of hours. Everyone knows what spring is like in the Central Highlands and we couldn't have even relied on last summer."

Ms Devine said the latest limitations had been the most difficult, leaving many hospitality owners in limbo and unable to take forward bookings. But she said most people were very understanding. "People are fantastic and as soon as they realised we could only have 10 people inside understood it was just not viable."

Ms Devine said the introduction of vaccine passports would be welcome but difficult, using up time and labour to police.

"But we had that with licences for ID and people became very good at having them ready for you to look at when they arrived. They were really getting better and better at that. And while I think there will be a little bit of a kickback with the passports, it is just something we will get used to. It will just work."

Meanwhile, the state government's roadmap out of Covid includes making vaccines mandatory for a range of workers including hospitality staff.

Premier Dan Andrews told media that the specifics of how a vaccine passport would work were still being worked on by the National Cabinet, but there would be provisions for people without smartphones.

Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Kyle Barnes & Pexels

It’s never you, until it is.

More people die on farms than in other workplaces – let’s change that.

Every death and injury on any farm is preventable.

You might think you’re bulletproof and an accident won’t happen to you.

You know your land like the back of your hand.

You know your tools, your machinery, your vehicles.

But accidents can happen to anyone.

At any moment, the worst can happen.

At any moment, it could be you.

You can prevent accidents. You can prevent deaths. worksafe.vic.gov.au/agriculture

Scan for farm safety support.

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News 5

BlazeAid: Ready to help but hit by red tape

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HEN the Black Saturday Fires ripped through Kevin and Rhonda Butler’s farm at East Kilmore in 2009, their immediate concern was the safety of their sheep.

Kevin, a former school teacher, put out a call for help to urgently repair three kilometres of fencing. Friends and strangers alike turned up, working tirelessly for a week to repair the fence.

“On my own this would have taken me three months to complete but the support we received was overwhelming. My wife then said we had to pass this goodwill on and help neighbours and others affected by the fires,” he said.

“As a former school teacher with 25 years spent coordinating infants, I was highly organised but I asked my wife if she was prepared to cook morning, noon and night for the volunteers. She was of course and out of the goodness of strangers and a need to help those straight after a fire, BlazeAid was born.

“We were the lucky ones in those fires and it almost felt like we had survivors’ guilt. We knew we had to set up a volunteer group to go into devastated communities, with no red tape, just willing workers ready to help anyone at any time.”

And that they have done ten-fold. Since setting up the group thousands of longand short-term BlazeAid volunteers have helped rebuild fences for bushfire, flood and storm survivors.

Volunteers have come from all parts of Australia, as well as New Zealand, Switzerland, England, Afghanistan, Canada, Germany, Austria, America and France.

Kevin was adamant the BlazeAid volunteer organisation would be set up as an Australian charity with any donations and sponsorship funding going directly into setting up base camps across the country.

“We were determined to set up an extremely effective system from day one and over that time I have had some tremendous mentors. The people involved in the committee are good people wanting to make a difference and ensure every penny (there are only two paid positions) goes directly back into the charity,” he said.

“We have kept records and tracked data from day one and run to a very successful business model that has seen BlazeAid help thousands of families in need.”

Melissa Jones is the operations manager and has recently taken over the reins from Kevin. A former school teacher herself, with her own young children, she said the hard work and time involved in running BlazeAid is a privilege.

“My entire role centres around helping people in need and what a gorgeous job.

It’s extremely hard work but I have tremendous support and wonderful mentors around me and being able to make a difference in the lives of strangers in need is incredibly humbling,” she said.

BlazeAid is currently working across Australia in response to flood damage and more locally in Yinnar and Heyfield in Gippsland. More than 300 fences, hundreds of hours in volunteer work and hundred of thousands of dollars in fencing has been the result of the Heyfield basecamp.

Melissa said BlazeAid volunteers not only repair damaged fences but also help to lift the spirits of people who are often facing their second or third flood event after years of drought, or devastating losses through bushfires.

“BlazeAid volunteers work in a disaster-affected area for many months, not only helping individuals and families, but also helping rebuild the local communities,” she said.

“Our business model is very clear. We make sure we are invited into a community and that is always through local government. We need to set up base camps and that usually happens on campsites, in community halls and at showgrounds so it is always on council land,” Melissa said.

“We have attempted on two occasions to speak to Hepburn Shire about BlazeAid (following requests from residents) and on both occasions had no luck and that’s when the red tape began,” she said.

“We had volunteers that were ready to set up and help rebuild fences and told them that. At one stage I was told they were too busy.”

BlazeAid could easily bypass local government and go directly to committees of hall management but Melissa believes being invited in is imperative to BlazeAid’s work.

Hepburn Shire Council chief executive officer Bradley Thomas said it was up to Bushfire Recovery Victoria.

“BlazeAid first contacted council in August. As the storm damage was not specific to one local government area we informed them they would need to liaise with BRV about establishing an operations centre, and we look forward to working with BRV and others agencies in partnership on this large clean-up,” he said.

“We know many residents are struggling with the clean-up. We understand that BRV is engaging with a number of organisations, including BlazeAid, on behalf of the storm-affected communities in Hepburn, Macedon Ranges and Moorabool shires.

The Central Highlands region is working together to find ways to further support our communities.”

It’s believed the Hepburn Shire Council has nine dedicated roles employed specifically for the post-storm clean up and Melissa contacted one of those employees twice - in June - days after the storm, at the same time BlazeAid volunteers were working in Hepburn Shire.

“I spoke to the same officer twice and both times was hit with red tape. I explained our need to be invited in by the shire and would have expected that if that officer thought it was BRV’s call then they would have liaised with that agency.

“But here we are three months down the track and for those three months we could have been working in the shire, helping rebuild farm fences and helping many residents in need.”

BRV has confirmed it is in contact with BlazeAid and is now working on Blocked by bureaucracy identifying locals across the Central Highlands who are still in need of farm fencing repairs.

Red tape and buck passing have prevented BlazeAid volunteers setting up camp in It needs to be stressed, BlazeAid repairs traditional farm fencing on a large scale the Hepburn Shire despite repeated calls to do so. given the time and effort needed to complete the work. You can register to be a To date BlazeAid has helped two families, one in Trentham and one in Tylden, volunteer or seek support by emailing admin@blazeaid.com.au but founder Kevin Butler and operations manager Melissa Jones both agree they have been stonewalled by red tape.

Above, BlazeAid volunteers Kevin, Bob and Peter repair a fence in Trentham

days after the June storm

Words: Narelle Groenhout | Image: Supplied

STORM AND FLOOD

BULLETIN

This bulletin provides regular updates and stories about recovery and clean-up from the June 2021 storms and floods both in our local community and across Victoria’s affected areas.

Bushfire Recovery Victoria proudly works in partnership with council and the local community to support recovery.

CLEAN-UP PROGRAM It has been three months since the June storms and floods impacted many communities in Victoria. For those who have lived through it, there’s still a long way to go.

In the past few weeks the BRV team visited impacted areas to assess clean-up works that are currently underway and damaged properties, including those that are registered under our residential Storm and Flood Clean-up program.

To help us capture the full extent of the damage and the lasting effect it’s had on locals, we brought the talented crew from Visual Production Agency with us to capture drone footage and interview several property owners.

For more information on the clean-up program, visit brv.vic.gov.au/cleanup.

We were humbled by their stories and willingness to share their experiences with us – thank you.

We’re looking forward to seeing the final video when it’s ready.

JUNE 2021 EXTREME WEATHER EVENT LEARNING REVIEW Emergency Management Victoria (EMV), in collaboration with the Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES), is leading a Learning Review into the June extreme weather event to ensure lessons of state-wide multi-agency significance and aspects of particular interest to impacted communities are identified, implemented, and shared across the emergency management sector and with impacted communities.

An important component of the Learning Review is capturing community sentiment. Phone interviews commenced early September for randomly selected community members within the geographic locations impacted by the event. You may receive a phone call asking you a series of questions which will take around 12 minutes to complete. All answers will remain confidential.

If you do not receive a phone call but wish to share your experiences you can provide feedback through your Council.

The information captured through the community sentiment phone interviews will inform the Learning Review and development of a publicly available community report and the continuous improvement of our ability to manage emergencies in the future.

More information can be found at www.emv.vic.gov.au.

If you were affected by the June storms and floods and need support, call our Recovery Support Hotline on 1800 560 760.

DISASTER RESILIENCE FOR BUSINESS Did you know that most disaster preparation is the same regardless of what the situation is? It might seem hard but preparing your business for disaster is easier than you think.

A disaster recovery plan will enable you to adapt more quickly to change so you can minimise the risk of disruption to your business. Make sure to share your plan with your staff so they know what to do.

When thinking about how to help your business survive future disasters, ask yourself: • What would make my business ready to adapt?

• How can I prepare before a disaster?

• How do I keep trading during a disaster?

• What do I need to get my business back up and running?

The more you know about what could disrupt your business, the more you can do to prevent it.

Visit the Business Victoria website to learn more about disaster resilience for business and what you can do to protect you business today https://go.vic.gov.au/yEAkzu

Stories of the Storm

S

“I lay down on the floor between the bed and the chimney. I thought that was the safest place. I thought about trying to pull the mattress over myself to protect myself.

I looked at the cat and thought ‘He’s safe under the bed but I don’t fit under the bed!’

“I was there for 15 minutes, hearing trees falling. I heard one really close to the house and I thought ‘Alright, this is it’. I got a call from Michael from the SES in Daylesford.

“I told him I was terrified, and he said it was best I should leave. I think my BULLARTO resident Ingrid describes her terrifying ordeal on the night reaction was ‘Are you mad?’ While I was talking to him, I managed to pull Luther out of the great storm - alone, with trees crashing down on her house and from under the bed and zipped him up in the bag, with some struggle. emergency services unable to reach her.

“I called my dad and he tried to call our nearest neighbours. Their phone was “I waited anxiously. I remember having the thought it’s bad for Dan (Ingrid’s disconnected, then he called a neighbour about a kilometre away who answered, they partner, stuck on the Kyneton-Trentham Road). I was worried a tree would fall on his had a landline. The neighbour, Paul, said he’d drive down to the main road, but I’d car. He kept on getting turned around by trees, he came up against a fallen tree and have to get there. turned around and came up against another fallen tree. He was trapped. He called his “I made sure the cat was in the bag, and I got my phone, my charger, my supermate Brendan. powerful bike light and I grabbed my bike helmet and put it on. I had planned to cut “They pulled the tree out of the way and the cars that were stuck managed to go a through our neighbour’s field, but there was a huge tree down creating a new fence. I bit further before being stuck again. There was a tree down in front of the old church went around the house but there were more trees down. as tall as a double decker bus. Brendan and Dan managed to get out. Brendan was in “I was on the phone to my neighbour, and I remember saying to him ‘I don’t hero mode and very excited, Dan was very practical. want to climb those trees,’ and he said, ‘Well if they are fallen down, they are not “Meanwhile I’d gone to bed and was furiously trying to relax. I was scared. I going to fall on you.’ I climbed maybe five or six fallen trees of shoulder height. I could hear trees falling and sticks and branches flying into the windows. I didn’t heard a tree falling and started running. I made it to the point where there were no know where Brendan and Dan were. I was worried about Dan’s low phone battery more big trees and got to the disused petrol station. and my own. About 12.30 I heard a big tree come down behind the house. It hit the “It was cold and wet and windy, standing in the dark for 10 minutes under the big canopy, hit our water tanks, and knocked the gutters off. Literally I was trembling awning of the disused petrol station. I wanted my neighbour to be there - right then and scared. I called my dad again, went out and had a look and said, ‘I don’t want to and there. I ran into his car when he arrived. He took me to his house and safety be out here’. I felt reassured by him. I know now he was terrified, wishing he could be and a cup of tea. I felt relief and appreciation. I felt safe. I felt their warmth and with me to help. compassion. It took Dan two days to get back through the road to me.

“At that point I called the SES - I couldn’t get through - I felt like I should call “My neighbours housed me and then Dan for three nights, and then installed and register. A part of me thought ‘It’s a priority, right now!’ I told myself ‘My flight us in their B&B. I felt grateful that the people who rescued me then housed us. The or fight response will kick in if I need it’. A tree landed on the southern side, full insurance said it will be nine months before we can get back in. We’re lucky because across the house. I heard the tearing noise and then the big bang. I didn’t know if it’s not easy to get a rental around here.” that was the sound of the tree or the ceiling collapsing. So I got up, had a look “Because of the Covid lockdown I couldn’t see my parents. We desperately tentatively, in my nightie. wanted to see each other. We’ve had working bees of friends and families but we had “By that point my black cat Luther was jammed under my bed. I saw about to stop because of the lockdowns. We’ve got years of work ahead of us clearing the three square metres of ceiling on the ground and on the couch. I checked the other trees that are down. I feel overwhelmed. One of my friends said our garden is now rooms, you could see structural damage. I didn’t feel safe for a long time after. I called ‘cyclonic chic’.

000. Luckily, I still had reception. They said, ‘We’ll put the call out to police, SES, “I believe this storm happened because of climate change. The trees weren’t ambulance’. The call went out to the CFA in Musk to Wayne. He started driving equipped to deal with a force of 160km winds coming from an unusual direction. until a tree came down in front of him and he thought ‘Oh no, I’m going home’.

Helping one another helps our community get through events like this - caring and “When I found out he was trying to get here I felt a huge comfort. I felt an being compassionate and not blaming people for things which are outside their internal switch, my mindset shifted - ‘Now it’s time to get prepared’. I didn’t want control.” to keep the SES waiting. I got into some clothes, got a bag for the cat, then shut the door so I wouldn’t have to find him if people came to rescue us.

ANDY Scheltema's Stories of the Storm series is supported by Hepburn Shire Council, Trentham & Districts Community Bank and the Trentham Lions Club. The series aims to showcase stories of courage, tenacity, bravery and resilience within the community from people who experienced the terrifying storm of June 10, 2021.

Community Vaccination Clinic now open The first two weeks of Central Highlands Rural Health’s vaccination clinic at Kyneton Health saw nearly 500 community members 'get the jab done!'

The clinic opened on Tuesday 13th September and will continue to offer appointments every Tuesday and Friday in the Ambulatory Care Centre at Kyneton Health.

Working with the Loddon-Mallee Vaccination Hub based at Bendigo Health, Kyneton Health’s COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic administers Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines, as per government guidelines.

Make a booking: Scan the QR code Go online: portal.cvms.vic.gov.au Call the hotline: 1800 675 398 Talk to your doctor or regular health professional if you have concerns about your health and getting a COVID-19 vaccine. For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine, visit: www.chrh.org.au/covid-19-vaccines/

Supporting Women's Health In early September, Central Highlands Rural Health celebrated Women's Health Week by providing the community with a number of health and wellbeing messages, supporting women to make good health a priority.

Making an appointment with a local GP for a check-up is a good start to prioritising our health. Another way is connecting with family and friends and being physically active. Staying physically active has a number of powerful benefits including making us feel good and reduces stress and anxiety. As the weather starts to improve it's a great time to get outside and get moving! Good nutrition is another element to leading a healthy lifestyle and it all starts with eating a variety of foods, eating regular meals, including wholegrains, fibre, fruit and vegetables, and limiting the amount of fat, sugar and salt you eat. Our women's health webpage has great resources to support a healthy diet.

Central Highlands Rural Health offers a range of health services across our campuses including social work and welfare, speech pathology, dental services and oral health, dietetics, maternal child health, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and podiatry. Our services are available to everyone and focus on wellness and person-centred care.

Visit our website for more information on how to access these services and take the first step to making your health a priority: www.chrh.org.au/womens-health

Have you subscribed to our e-newsletter?

We want everyone to look after their mind and body every day of the year! To stay up to date with the latest health and wellbeing information across our community, sign up to our Population Health & Wellbeing e-newsletter using the QR code.

Clunes I Creswick I Daylesford I Kyneton I Trentham 5321 6500 www.chrh.org.au www.facebook.com/CHRHorgAU

Community News MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

The meeting of Council on 21st September looked at several very important issues. The two most significant were the presentation of the 2020-2021 Financial and Performance Statements and the draft 10-year Financial Plan. I know that many people find financial statements difficult and tedious to read but I’d urge you to have a look at both. They can be found on the Participate Hepburn website. The 2020-2021 Financial Plan shows us how COVID has impacted on the Shire both in terms of increased expenditure and decreased revenue and highlights the importance of being aware of the small amount of unrestricted cash we have to undertake new services or projects. Council has prepared its ten-year Financial Plan to support the draft ten-year Community Vision, four-year Council Plan and various other plans and strategies.

The 10 Year Financial Plan is the first one of its kind to be completed by Hepburn Shire Council under the new Local Government Act 2020. The financial plan outlines the resources required to deliver the Council Plan and ensure that we are investing in assets that you value while ensuring that the services we provide remain affordable and accessible. It’s worth noting that the draft Financial Plan has been developed from the feedback that community members provided during the Council Plan and community engagement consultation process. In the draft plan there are no major changes to income or expenditure plans, however we have committed to an annual update that will reflect any changes needed to ensure that we are financially sustainable and responsible.

10 YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN - HAVE YOUR SAY

Council has prepared the draft 10-year Financial Plan to support the draft Community Vision and Council Plan. The 2021-2031 Financial Plan is the first plan of its type to be completed by Hepburn Shire Council under the Local Government Act 2020. The Financial Plan outlines the resources required to deliver the Council Plan and ensure we are investing in assets that the community values; ensure that our services remain affordable and accessible for our community; and ensure that our Shire remains financially sustainable.

We invite you to take a look at the draft ten-year Financial Plan and welcome your feedback. View the plan at https://participate.hepburn.vic. gov.au/hepburn-together. Submissions close Wednesday 6 October 2021.

Council will consider the plan for adoption at a Special Meeting of Council on Tuesday 26 October 2021.

JOIN THE HEPBURN HUB PRG

Council will establish a Project Reference Group (PRG) for the Hepburn Hub at the Rex. By establishing the group, Council aims to increase transparency and community understanding of this major project. The group will include six community members. Expressions of Interest (EOI) to join the group will open in the coming days and be available at https:// participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au. The EOI will close on Sunday 10 October.

For more information contact Paulette Pleasance on 5321 6142 or ppleasance@hepburn.vic.gov.au.

IWD ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Congratulations to the new members of the Heather Mutimer International Women’s Day (IWD) Advisory Committee. We warmly Have a look at the draft ten-year Financial Plan at https://participate. hepburn.vic.gov.au/hepburn-together or visit one of our libraries to read welcome members Sue Craven, Karen McAloon, Lisa Gervasoni, Barbara Curzon-Siggers, Elizabeth Boulton, Emma Whitfield-Rooney and Narelle a copy.

Groenhout. The committee will help to promote and call for nominations We need any feedback by Wednesday October 6 as the plan, along with for the IWD Heather Mutimer Women’s Honour Roll and make the Community Vision and Council Plan will be considered for adoption at a recommendations to Council.

Special Meeting of Council on Tuesday 26 October 2021.

In our first round of community grants for 2021/2022 $8,559.42 was awarded to the Daylesford and District Horticultural Society, Daylesford Congratulations to the recipients of the latest round of community Lawn Tennis Club, Creswick and District Senior Citizens and Sprung Circus grants: Incorporated for various projects including a spring celebration; a display • Daylesford and District Horticultural Society ($2,500) - Sprout: A of historic images, information and memorabilia related to the Daylesford celebration of Spring Lawn Tennis Club; an update to the seniors’ kitchen at Creswick; and an • Daylesford Lawn Tennis Club ($2,469) - Daylesford Lawn Tennis Club end of term performance for young circus performers. These projects will Past and Present benefit community members of all ages and help to bring colour and fun to • Creswick and District Senior Citizens ($1,133.92) - Seniors Kitchen our community, which is sorely needed at the moment.

Update Finally, I’d just like to acknowledge and thank Council officers who came on • Sprung Circus Incorporated ($2,456.50) -The Lost Things. board to support the COVID pop-up testing site at Victoria Park two weeks The next round of grants will open on 1 October. Apply via www. ago. The response of the businesses involved, the people affected, and the hepburn.vic.gov.au/community-grants-program/. community meant that the outbreak did not spread. It shows that we have an effective way of living with the virus.

OUTDOOR FITNESS EQUIPMENT - TRENTHAM In the meantime, consider ‘getting the jab done’, take care and keep safe.

The outdoor fitness equipment project in Trentham is another step closer, with the location confirmed and the finalisation of the concept designs.

Take the opportunity to view the concept design at https://participate.

Cr Lesley Hewitt hepburn.vic.gov.au/outdoor-fitness-equipment-trentham and provide MAYOR your feedback by 5pm on Friday 8 October 2021.

COMMUNITY GRANTS AWARDED

CONTACTS 

General enquiries

5348 2306

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@

Mail Email Website

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Aged & disability services enquiries - 5345 8399

PO Box 21, Daylesford 3460 shire@hepburn.vic.gov.au hepburn.vic.gov.au

For after hours emergencies please call:  Animal Control - 0419 587 955  Other Council Emergency - 0419 583 573 hepburncouncil

Coaches replace trains on the Echuca Line As part of Victoria’s Big Build, works continue to upgrade the Bendigo and Echuca lines.

Works are progressing with strict COVIDSafe Plans in place.

The health and safety of our workforce and community remains our top priority. For more information and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19), please visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au

Train disruptions: Coaches replace trains in both directions Echuca Line

1 Sep to 31 Oct

Bendigo to Echuca

Road disruption: Closed road Wakeman Road, Bagshot

12 Sep to 25 Oct

Closed between Sherwood and Inglis roads

Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

1185

Find a detailed list of disruptions at bigbuild.vic.gov.au

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News 11

GDTA guidebook for walks and bike rides

M

OST people heading out into the bush for a walk or a mountain bike ride don’t have all day, so the Great Dividing Trail Association has produced a new guidebook, consisting of walks and bike rides within the Daylesford region, all short enough to complete in four hours.

President Gib Wettenhall said the association had, for many years, wanted to make Daylesford’s varied terrain more easily accessible "from the vastness of the Wombat Forest to the Central Highlands’ lakes and riversides, from its abandoned railway lines to gold rush era ruins".

"The solution is now here – a new guidebook with 20 walks and 10 bike rides - and all of the routes presented are circuits, so there’s no fiddling around with car shuttles."

Mr Wettenhall said a team of five GDTA members with vast collective experience had specifically devised the new Central Victorian Highlands Walk and Ride Circuits guide.

"Each of the walks and rides is supported by full colour, large-scale contour maps alongside detailed accompanying track notes. Graded from easy to hard, the circuits are all within a 25km radius from Daylesford."

The guidebook received $8000 funding from the Community Bank Daylesford & District and it is for sale for $24.99 from www.gdt.org.au/ shop or the Daylesford Regional Visitor Information Centre.

Bank board member Margaret Hodge said the bank supported the project because it was a wonderful boost for locals and visitors who enjoyed the outdoors.

Bank manager Melanie Tudball said the bank was owned by local shareholders and had provided more than $100,000 in grants and sponsorships each year over the past couple of years.

"The GDTA is an amazing group of volunteers who have for almost 30 years focused on building, maintaining and promoting trails in our region. The Community Bank is pleased to support them and many other local groups."

Front from left, co-author Ed Butler, Gib Wettenhall, GDTA member Gayl Morrow, Community Bank Daylesford & District branch manager Melanie Tudball, co-author Ken Dowling, bank board member Margaret Hodge, pooches Dixie and Toby, and rider John Chellew Image: Kyle Barnes

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Our artists 13

Japanese artists' connection with Trentham

V

ISUAL artists Akiko Nagino and Takahiko Sugawara met in 2006 and they are still together, travelling and making works. Growing up in Tōhoku the remote and scenic north east region of Honshu, Japan's largest island, they both completed studies at Tōhoku University of Art and Design in the city of Yamagata.

While Takahiko focused on the fundamentals of sculpture and exhibiting in group and solo shows across Japan, Akiko pursued an arts and crafts degree majoring in urushi or lacquer art; a process originating in China, more than 3000 years ago, before spreading throughout East and Southeast Asia.

In 2014 they moved to Melbourne, which must have been a significant change after the mountainous beauty of their home on Honshu. For Akiko the relocation led to a change in direction for her work.

“I wanted to get out of that kind of traditional style when we came here. When I studied lacquer I learnt lots of traditional skills, but it is very difficult and very delicate. And I thought it would be very interesting if I try another skill or material that is more easy. For example, my current artwork is just cutting paper.”

Her delicate and ephemeral pieces are often modelled on clothing including traditional Japanese kimono and 19th century western women’s dress. They incorporate traditional symbols of good luck, prosperity and patterns found in the everyday: from clouds to masses of leaves to the shapes found in butterfly wings.

It is extraordinary that Akiko considers her intricate paper cutouts to be a primitive and easily executable respite from the complexity of lacquerware pieces.

Especially considering the response to them in the numerous exhibitions she has taken part in since coming to this country including several awards. One cannot look at her objects and not be in awe, imagining the process required to bring them to completion.

Takahiko also has a profound interest in the patterns of nature and it greatly informs his sculpture practice. But so does his being a tuba player at high school. As quoted from an exhibition catalogue in 2019: “Sugawara’s attention to space, form and line is deeply rooted in his teenage years where he played in Japan’s number one high school marching band. Required to make rigid lines and shapes whilst playing his instrument, these formative experiences have shaped a practice that explores ideas of layering and overlap.”

Such influences just go to show how diverse artistic input can be, ranging from the mystical intricacies of the natural world to social experiences grounded in everyday life.

The couple, in Akiko’s words, decided to come to Victoria first because they were advised that Victorians were more friendly than NSW which is, of course, absolutely true.

Takahiko was subsequently sponsored by Trentham sculpture artist, the late Matthew Harding and the couple lived in Redesdale while he was working with Matthew. Since then Takahiko has continued to show in various exhibitions. These include the Lorne Sculpture Biennale and the Deakin University Contemporary Small Sculpture Award showcasing his interlocking minimalist installations in both metal and wood.

“My ideas come from when single or multiple elements come together to make a new shape,” he says. “Basically I begin with small pieces and put them together to make something that just keeps on expanding.”

Today, Akiko and Takahiko live in Ballarat but maintain their connection with the Central Highlands region including exhibiting works at the Little Gallery in Trentham and Stockroom Kyneton.

Takahiko also worked with East Trentham artist Ian Neyland on the memorial sculpture to Matthew Harding which can be seen today as you come into Trentham from the east. And as restrictions inevitably ease they will be looking forward to more exhibitions around the state into the future.

Words: Tony Sawrey Top, Takahiko Sugawara and Akiko Nagino Image: Tony Sawrey Centre,Takahiko Sugawara's Untitled #1 (matchsticks), 2018 matchsticks, 20cm x 225cm x 190cm, below, Akiko Nagino's Armed Dress (detail), 2019 hand-cut paper, 150cm x 70cm, Images: Courtesy of the artists

14 From the USA

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Covid-19 care factor zero in California

A

After a while, a masked woman wearing a nurse uniform came out through the office door and handed us new arrivals clipboards, biros and forms to be completed.

She then began admitting people into the office, two at a time. Two by two, they entered and then left.

Something I noticed about these forms we were filling out: we were asked if So anyway, it’s a nice little restaurant with a menu that features Caribbean we thought we had Covid symptoms, and if we knew or suspected that we’d been flavours and styles from the US south: Cajun jambalaya, Cuban pulled pork, fried exposed to Covid.

But we were not asked where this alleged contact had taken place, catfish po’ boy sandwiches, fried corn dogs, hush-puppies, fried green tomatoes and or who we’d been with. fried chicken sandwiches - you know, health food. It also has several beers on tap.

When my turn came, I entered the room and was told by the nurse to sit in one You can tell my vaccinated friend and I are a couple of keen sportsmen. of the two available chairs. She took my form off the clipboard, checked that my It wasn’t busy in the restaurant, a few tables occupied, the cooks in the kitchen, email address was legible, and then used a cotton swab to wipe around the inside of and two staff to look after the customers. We sat at the bar and ate our lunch. We both my nostrils. Nothing too intrusive - it wasn’t the kind of swab that tickles the finished eating and, when I suggested we have a second beer, my vaccinated friend backs of your eyeballs. When it was done, she told me my result would be delivered declined and suggested we adjourn to the tap house where they pour only the brand by email within 24 to 48 hours and I left through the same door I’d entered by. of beer he likes. I’m not the argumentative type so I said yes and off we went.

As I was leaving, the nurse tossed my clipboard and pen onto a shelf by the door, The tap house is small: just a dozen seats at the bar and a few small tables. But the beer is good and the place was busy on this Friday afternoon. We had a few beers and and I wondered if they were going to be cleaned before she handed them out to the next group. I wasn’t filled with confidence as I drenched myself in sanitiser up to my then I headed home in time to listen to the Coodabeen Champions on ABC Radio. elbows as soon as I got back to my car.

On Monday afternoon my vaccinated friend texted me. He’d been back to For me the story has a happy ending - test: negative. the restaurant but found it closed with a homemade sign taped to the front door, But it’s not so great for the seven people who died from Covid-19, the 310 informing would-be customers that a restaurant employee had Covid-19 and so people who tested positive, the 89 in hospital, in the week ending September 9 in they’d decided to close for a few days while everyone was tested.

Shasta County, California, population 180,000, vaccination rate less than 50 per cent It was all informal - no mandated shutdown, no mention of contact tracing. If despite plentiful supplies of free vaccines being readily available. a government inspector had found mouse droppings in the Cowboy Nachos (flour In November 2020 the Shasta County Sheriff issued this statement: “The tortilla chips topped with pimiento queso, corn salsa, jalapenos, Peruvian cream, Shasta County Sheriff’s Office will not be enforcing the compliance of any health cotija, scallions - extra if you add chicken or pork) there would have been an official or emergency orders related to curfews, stay-at-home orders, Thanksgiving or health-department notification posted on the door, but this was only another other social gatherings, inside or outside the home, maximum occupancy, or mask Covid-19 scare, so no big deal, right?

Anyway, my vaccinated friend on Tuesday decided to have a Covid test so he went mandates within the private or business communities.”

What the heck, that just about covers it, right there. to a local facility that had free testing. The next day he received his result by email: negative. Despite being vaccinated too, and taking into account his negative status, I After many happy years living in Victoria and working at The Age, Jeff decided to take the test too.

The lab was in a small, nondescript building in a big office park. I joined the eight Glorfeld went back to California, the land of his birth, where in the past three years he has survived bushfires, snowstorms, Covid-19 and drought. people standing in a ragged queue outside along the footpath, some wearing masks, others not. Some were holding plastic clipboards and filling out forms.

And Trump. The cicadas and locusts didn't arrive. Well, not yet.

FEW Fridays ago I went out for lunch with a vaccinated friend. Isn’t that a sign of the times - I don’t describe him as an old friend, a good mate, someone I’ve known since high school, who I’ve shared many adventures with over the years. No, he’s a vaccinated friend.

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Out & About 15

Spring in the Central Highlands

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To market, to market 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.

Y

OU can find everything you need at weekend markets, from fresh fruit and veg to handmade jewellery and wares, throughout the Central Highlands and surrounds. Here are just a few.

Daylesford Sunday Market – every Sunday Wesley Hill Market - every Saturday Daylesford Farmers Market – first Saturday Trentham Neighbourhood Centre Makers Market - first Saturday Golden Plains Farmers Market - first Saturday Woodend Farmers Market - first Saturday Castlemaine Artists’ Market – first Sunday Trentham Community Group Market - second Saturday Kyneton Farmers Market - second Saturday Ballan Farmers Market - second Saturday Kyneton Rotary Community Market – second Saturday Maldon Market – second Sunday Clunes Farmers Market - second Sunday Trentham Farmers Market and Makers Market - third Saturday Glenlyon Farmers Market – third Saturday Leonards Hill Market - third Saturday Creswick Market - third Saturday Talbot Farmers Market – third Sunday Woodend Lions Market - third Sunday Trentham Station Sunday Market - fourth Sunday Buninyong Village Market - fourth Sunday Check for any restrictions...

A PUB FOR THE LOCALS Come in, grab a drink and be local.

Join us for STEAK NIGHT every Thursday $25 and our locals’ favourite SUNDAY NIGHT ROAST $25.

03 5348 2335 LUNCH SAT & SUN DINNER THU - MON

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16 Homes & Gardens

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S

PRING persists, even if it’s only vacillating between icy rain and those fleeting wind-cooled sunny spells.

At least the soil is being kept moist and friable, a bonus for newly-planted or awakening plants. And the worms are having a time of it, going about their business, cultivating the soil and recycling and distributing the mulch and compost into precious plant food for us.

On the bright side, our shrubs and trees are quietly bursting into new growth, especially noted are the deciduous varieties, with their multi-coloured clusters of new leaves and flower buds in gardens and footpaths everywhere. They are all just itching for the first real warm weather to really get on with the business of growing and flowering.

In the meantime it’s a matter of dodging the showers to grab some time to tend to things.

For a start, the roses. Now that spring growth is under way and roses bushes are a mass of new bronze and dark green leaves, it’s time to give them a good feeding to push them along. And, for that matter, all of your shrubs. The winter rains would have leached most of the plant nutrients down from the topsoil and out of reach of the hungry, searching new roots, so consideration will have to be given to replenishing these as soon as possible to have a good crop of new growth and blooms this summer.

The plant foods most needed are nitrogen, phosphate, potash and calcium. The organic plant foods provided by mulching and top-dressing with well-rotted compost and animal manures will usually play their part in providing for most of their needs, but in some situations, such as sandy or alkaline soils, it can pay to provide the extra boost of a complete fertiliser.

The mulching materials dug in during autumn should now be replaced. Rotted compost, leaf mould or animal manures can be used just as they are. Pea or wheaten straw are good also, but with those it may be necessary to replace the nitrogen that will have leached out of the straw during its rotting-down process.

Camellias, azaleas and rhododendrons, being surface-rooting plants, will especially need this care because they will suffer more than most from the leaching effect of the winter rains.

They also suffer very badly when the soil is alkaline or heavy clay which locks up the much-needed nutrients. In these circumstances the plants will respond to a dressing of iron chelates or sulphate of iron. This would also be a good time to give them a light tidying trim to remove any dead or spindly wood.

Hydrangeas will be entering a critical stage in their growing year as the hot weather approaches. It is important that they are never allowed to dry out once their flower buds begin to form. If they are left to dry and wither for any length of time from now until summer, their flowers may be lost for this season. To be on the safe side, cover the soil around each plant with a good, thick layer of organic mulching material and water regularly.

Spring is also clean-up time for citrus trees. Time to remove weak, spindly growth and dead wood from the tree. As citrus trees grow, they tend to accumulate dead, woody twigs and light growth towards the centre of the tree. By using a sharp pair of secateurs and a little patience, you can open up the centre of the tree and allow ample sunlight in, thus preventing the buildup of moulds, fungus diseases and insect pests that normally thrive on weak, shaded growth.

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

Pictured, magnolia soulangeana rubra Image: Shan Lin Below left, daphne odora alba Image: Glen Heyne

Bells Water Gardens @ Bald Hills

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

Contact us for all your water garden requirements or come and see our nursery at 846 Gillies Rd, Bald Hills.

03 5345 7050 0418 567 195

18 Happy & Healthy

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Funding for Talbot

N

EW outdoor exercise equipment has been installed at a park in Talbot, thanks to funding from the state government.

Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas opened the Activating Talbot project last week. It was given a $150,000 investment from the Healthy Heart of Victoria initiative.

Ms Thomas also announced funding of $630,000 to go towards future development in the town, which has been identified as a growth corridor for the region. The Growing Talbot program will enable Central Goldfields Shire to plan for a centralised sewerage system in consultation with the community and to identify Talbot’s future subdivision and development zones.

The exercise equipment initiative is a Loddon Campaspe Regional Partnership priority project and supports communities to be more active by investing in small infrastructure and activation programs. The project is part of the Victorian Government’s $5 million investment in Healthy Heart of Victoria.

Talbot now has six new pieces of outdoor gym equipment at Pioneer Park, providing the community with free and accessible options to exercise and keep fit.

The new equipment includes a cardio bike, stretch station, body pull- and pushup equipment, chest press, leg press and elliptical trainer. The local community provided input on the selection, design and location of the equipment.

The Growing Talbot program arose after the pandemic resulted in unprecedented numbers of people moving from metropolitan Melbourne to regional and rural Victoria, increasing demand on the already tight housing market in many areas.

The Victorian Government has previously invested in the Talbot Station upgrade which has positioned the town to support growth and provide affordable land and housing options for nearby towns including Maryborough, Ballarat and Castlemaine.

The Growing Talbot project complements the Victorian Government’s $5 million Regional Workforce Pilots which are strategically located across the state to help regional and rural communities attract the workers they need to grow.

The pilots have been designed to tackle housing shortages and other barriers to regional workforce attraction, which are threatening economic recovery and growth.

Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Contributed

From left, Loddon Campaspe Regional Partnership chair Dave Richardson, Central Goldfields Shire mayor Cr Chris Meddows-Taylor and Ms Thomas

Health Assessments

SUE’S PLACE

Dr. Susanne M. Heringslake Chiropractor Moments To Ponder

Be pro-active and make time for your health

a little gift from me to you

Laugh more, sing more, cry if you need to.

Then laugh more, sing more, and play!

For all enquiries and to book appointments, please contact: Dr Susanne M Heringslake Chiropractor Mobile: 0407 301 352

Book an appointment with our Wellness Nurse to have a full health assessment.

NO GP REFERRAL REQUIRED If you are aged between 45 – 49, speak to your GP about eligibility for a Bulk Billed Health Assessment.

www.springsmedical.com.au Daylesford Kyneton Trentham 10 Hospital St 89B Piper Street 22 Victoria St tel: (03) 5348 2227 tel: (03) 5422 1298 tel: (03) 5424 1602 Follow us

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Out & About 19

Joe Camilleri: Country life, music and gardens

H

E IS one of Australia’s favourite rockers, an ARIA Hall of Famer and together with The Black Sorrows he’s sold more than two million albums.

And just last month he released yet another album.

But 73-year-old, Joe Camilleri, who now calls the Macedon Ranges home, has no plans to slow down.

Joe’s publicist arranged a half-hour chat. But 75 minutes later we had covered topics ranging across a leaking makeshift home recording studio, gardening, endless housework, more than 400 shows cancelled, lockdown stresses, friendships with his neighbours and random acts of kindness that he has never experienced.

Joe, despite the fame and all that’s associated with it, is a dad with young kids just trying to get through constant lockdowns and navigate his Australian tour, constantly in threat of cancellations.

Joe’s called the area home for around three years and it was a spontaneous drive to Macedon Ranges with his former partner that changed his life and his postcode. “We decided to drive to the area as that’s where my dad used to take me as a kid and when we stopped to get a coffee in Kyneton the café owner recognised me. We got chatting and she mentioned a house that was for sale,” he said.

“We went around and it’s a Japanese style box house. I’m not really into that style.

I’m more into art deco and art nouveau but it was the tree in the front yard that was amazing. The owner of the house was a well-known local artist and had the house set out beautifully. After kicking the tyres so to speak and turning taps on and off, we ended up buying it. A drive ended in a coffee and a house,” he said.

Joe has settled into country life thanks to neighbours (including an inspirational 80-year-called Tom) who have all become friends, along with the peace he has found in his garden.

“Having lived in the inner city for years means there’s a lot to learn when you move to the country. Like shovels. There are so many for different uses. And wheelbarrows. My neighbours have helped me from the start gently advising me on what I needed and helping. There is something quite magic living in the country,” he said.

“I have been practicing the saxophone every morning. One day a neighbour came by and said he gets so much pleasure from listening every morning that he recorded it to play back. Another time I opened the front door and found a bag of lemons. No note but a neighbour providing joy through dropping off lemons. It’s a beautiful life here.”

Joe has two school-aged children so still frequents Melbourne for visits and his little girl is always at his country home.

But asked if he has any regrets moving out of the city, it's ‘none at all’.

Celebrities from the music, sport and entertainment industry live or regularly holiday in the Macedon Ranges and Hepburn shires. For Joe, the ability just to be one of the locals and to be seen as a person first has been ‘wonderful.’

Joe is a true gentleman - a self-taught musician who has made 51 albums, has travelled the world with Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons in his early career and later with the Black Sorrows, who admits he drank his way through many tours, was frivolous with money but realised one day that wasn’t the way he wanted to live his life.

He’s pretty chuffed with his new album and teamed up with friend and longtime writing partner Nick Smith who co-wrote 11 tracks on the album, Saint Georges Road. At the final listening session, as the title track was played, Joe recalls a profound moment, “We were two like-minded souls coming together for what could be the last time...we knew we had something special...a record that was a culmination of everything I’d done before and probably the best record I’ve made.

“The following day our producer Peter Solley headed back to his home in the US. The day after that Australia’s borders were shut.”

Joe Camilleri, with The Black Sorrows, will perform on Friday, October 15 at the Palais Hepburn in Hepburn Springs as part of their Livin’ Like Kings National Tour and for Joe it’s a chance to meet some more ‘neighbours’ now that he’s a local.

Pictured, Joe Camilleri, second from right, and The Black Sorrows Words: Narelle Groenhout | Image: Ian Ritter

Water future

Hey honey!

on our region’s water and sewerage systems.

CHW managing director Paul O’Donohue highlighted the importance of community input in future water planning.

“As part of our future focus, we’re considering long-term water supply and demand scenarios,” Mr O’Donohue said.

“An integral part of our planning is talking to our community about how they currently use water and their understanding of the local water cycle, as well as what is important to our customers from a water and wastewater perspective.

“We’re inviting our community to provide input into this strategy via an online survey.”

The UWS Future Water Planning survey can be found at www.chw.net.au The strategy will be released in mid-2022.

“Our bees and the people who look after them play such an important role in our environment. I am really thankful to Rotary Melbourne for supporting my work to train a new generation of beekeepers working to support agriculture and biodiversity,” she said.

The Environmental Sustainability Award comes with a cash prize which Ms Moore is planning to invest into her newly-established Bendigo-based social enterprise, Sweet Justice. Sweet Justice teaches commercial beekeeping skills within the Victorian justice system and provides post-release employment opportunities to trainees.

Sweet Justice currently operates programs in the Malmsbury, Parkville and Beechworth facilities.

Ms Moore is a farmer and qualified beekeeper and was the AgriFutures 2019 Victorian Rural Woman of the Year.

WORK is under way on the next Central Highlands Water Urban Water Strategy.

KYNETON resident, and founder and CEO of Sweet Justice, Claire Moore, has received the The strategy looks ahead to the next 50 years inaugural Rotary Melbourne Environmental and includes actions to manage the future impacts of Sustainability Award in recognition of her work to population growth, climate change and other influences support and protect the honey bee population.

Sports boost

THE Trentham Sportsground Reserve Pavilion has been given a $2M funding boost from the second round of the state government's Community Sports Infrastructure Stimulus Program.

Once complete the sportsground will include universal access, family-friendly external public amenities, players' changeroom, umpires' changerooms, internal amenities and umpire rooms, a large multipurpose dividable community meeting space, meeting and first aid rooms, provision of adequate sports club and furniture storage space, a combined functional commercial kitchen, canteen and bar and a sizeable covered outdoor spectator area overlooking the playing field and will benefit the Trentham football, netball and cricket clubs.

A media release said the facility would provide "a perfect base for football, netball and cricket clubs to develop programs, train, host matches and events".

The construction tender is expected to be awarded at the October 19 Hepburn Shire Council meeting with work on the project starting in November and finishing in June 2023.

20 Food

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Recipes with Jen Clarke Simple apple cake Ingredients: 125g butter 2 eggs ¾ cup caster sugar 1 vanilla bean, or a teaspoon of vanilla extract 4 apples ½ cup plain flour 2 teaspoon baking powder Pinch salt ½ cup milk Method: Preheat the oven to 180C. Grease and line a 22-23cm springform cake tin and line with baking paper.

Remove the vanilla pod from the butter and discard. Add the butter to the egg mix. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt and gently whisk in to the egg mix with the milk. Add the apples and stir to combine.

Melt the butter in a small saucepan or in the microwave and set aside. Beat the eggs and sugar in a bowl with a whisk (you can do this by hand). It should thicken and form a ribbon when dropped from a spoon.

Put the batter into the tin and bake for about 25 minutes. Rotate the pan and return to the oven for another 25 minutes or until it is starting to brown nicely and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.

Split the vanilla pod and scrape the seeds into the egg mixture and put the pod in with the butter (or just add the vanilla extract to the eggs).

Peel, core and slice the apples.

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Cool in the pan and sprinkle with icing sugar and serve with cream.

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Our kids 21

Take a bow, young writers and dreamers

T

Her hooves clipped along the see-through frosted ice in the town. She waited by the old fountain. Meanwhile I stepped down the stairs as quiet as a mouse and opened the front door.

I could feel Fern, the mysterious ghost horse. I Dreamy walked outside. I could sense

by Myla, 8, St Michael’s Daylesford, Grade 2 Fern now as I stiffly walked towards the old fountain.

My Dream Just then I heard the old mare speak, it sent shivers down Once I saw a rainbow high

by Rosie, 11, Daylesford my spine. “Hi Fern,” I said tracing my fingers down up in the sky.

Dharma School, Grade 5 Fern’s star. I mounted and Fern cantered off.

But then I went to sleep “Fern, where are you taking me?” I screamed above again and I saw a dinosaur and a The old tree on the side of the wind.

Wait and see, she said in her head, as we pterodactyl up and away high in the road dreaming in her abode. reached a destruction site. the sky.

She dreamt of a place where the “Hey!” I said. “My dad works there.” “That’s the And then next day I dreamt streets don’t have rubbish filling problem,” said Fern. “They’re cutting down our homes of seeing a cave person in a tree their lanes and blocking the and building cities, we will be extinct if we stay out here up high and they could feel a waterways. A place where her forever.” cloud in the sky. roots won’t reach cement and her family who was never “That’s so sad,” I said. “I know,” said Fern. “I will try And then I climbed the tree and picked a flower for meant to be turned into paper. to persuade my dad to shut down the site, but it won’t be youoooooo!

She dreamt this every day for many days. She started easy. He is making a lot of money out of this.” “I will try worrying what if this never happens and rubbish has to scare them off,” said Fern. Fern cantered back.

My Dream its way. Tree was in a daydream soaking up the land, I was horrified when I got home for breakfast. Dad by Jaya, 9, Yandoit Primary School, Grade 4 when a little girl crossed the road with a rubbish bag in was in the kitchen buttering toast. “Excuse me,” I said. hand. She looked at the tree and started to smile, then The wind howled and the historical fine trees swayed. “Yes,” said dad. she picked up the plastic, she did this for a while. She “Do you need to keep going with the destruction The forest was silent at night except for the wind. The continued this, day after day. site?”

“Are you kidding me?” he said. “Hey, get up for ghost horse’s mane billowed out behind her like an school.” endless magical wave of sorrow.

HIS is the second in The Local's series of primary students tackling the topic My Dream and secondary students on The Stranger for the Words in Winter festival.

Competition coordinator Maureen Cooper praised the high standard of entries and said she looks forward to next year's competition place-getters being celebrated in person at the Daylesford Town Hall.

The people who drive past see this and smile. The news spreads and soon more and more people pick up the rubbish just like the girl and clean up their streets.

Tree watched all this happen with a gentle gleaming smile. Tree decided that whenever she could do something good she would. On this oath she swore and forever on, she would.

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22 Opinion

www.tlnews.com.au

Just sayin’...

By Donna Kelly But I am annoyed at the moment. I received a media release from Victoria's Mental Health Minister James Merlino on September 14. It read: "As the serious Delta outbreak continues across the state, the Victorian Government is making sure more Victorians struggling during this difficult period have access to the mental health and wellbeing support they need. An investment of $13.3 million will deliver 20 pop-up community mental health services – with around 90 dedicated clinicians providing 93,000 additional hours of wellbeing checks and counselling to many thousands of Victorians needing support. The pop-up centres...will open progressively from the end of September across Melbourne and regional Victoria, with a dedicated triage and referral hotline and website to be established in coming days so people can start booking appointments."

Now, like many, I have been struggling a little lately. With mental health. And I don't mind putting that out there. I view mental health like physical health.

Fractured ankle, get it sorted asap. Fractured mind, same thing. Simples.

So a couple of weeks back I visited a doctor and mentioned things like depression and anxiety. They asked, as they wrote a script for something else, "suicidal thoughts?". "Nah," I replied. One time a doctor asked that and I replied with "no more than the next person" and they looked at me a bit funny so I don't say that anymore. Who knew?

Anyway, the doctor gave me a referral for the Daylesford Community Health Centre. I forgot about it, sort of, and then saw the media release and jumped on the phone. Hmmm. A very nice person answered and said I would need to drop the forms in and they could put it on the "agenda for the following Thursday meeting".

WTF? How many people are going to be looking at my referral? No shame but some privacy thanks.

Anyway, I was about to say to leave it when the nice person mentioned there would be a wait. "About two to three months." WTF? Sorry for swearing again, but if I had a fractured ankle and someone said leave it for three months things are not going to end well. I said it was a little more urgent than that and asked if there were any other options. "Ballarat, if you can get there," was the answer. Nothing about the wonderful pop-up centres being opened "progressively from the end of September".

Look, I will be OK. I have a good hubby, good friends, have the Headspace mindfulness app, and did you know Cellarbrations (Foxxy's at Daylesford) delivers.

So I will get through.

Who I do really worry about are the people out there, hit by the pandemic, home schooling, stressed kids, stressed partners, people who have lost their jobs and incomes, who were already on the edge, or perhaps the June storm threw them over.

But they don't know how to get help, or push through bureaucracy or maybe contact the government department sending out bullshit media releases about all the help available. (I did send a personal email to Minister Merlino. Crickets...)

But the average person would find it really hard to get mental health help at the moment. And if we ever needed it, it is right now, not two or three months down the track. It's a hard time right now and we need help right now. So if someone wants to let me know when those pop-up clinics are happening I would be very happy to publish their locations and contact details.

And I really will be fine. So don't feel you need to get in touch. In fact, if one more person says "it is what it is", that might just be the trigger. Just sayin'...

Oh, totally apropos of nothing, but how much does the below, from the Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission, strike fear into every business around the region? I have shortened it a little.

"Case study: Business refuses entry to a customer with a medical exception "Peter visited his local garden centre and was not wearing a mask as he had a medical exception. He was approached by the business owner. Peter told the business owner he had a medical exception. The business owner asked him for a copy of a medical report, but Peter responded that he did not have to provide a copy as it was confidential. The business owner told him to leave the premises.

"Peter contacted the Commission to make a complaint of disability discrimination.The Commission’s conciliator explained to the owner that there appeared to be no requirement for businesses to require proof of a person’s medical exception or reasonably refuse entry to a premises. They also explained that the business may be in breach of discrimination law.

"Once the business owner understood more about her obligations under Victorian discrimination law, she agreed to provide an apology to Peter. The business owner also implemented new store policies for staff to follow and welcomed Peter back to the business." One final WTF?

Proposed planning changes to surplus government land The Government Land Planning Service received a request to change the planning provisions at the following site: • Crown Allotment 7B, Section 18C, Parish of Wombat (between 70 and 72 Grenville Street, Daylesford) Hepburn Planning Scheme Amendment C78hepb has been prepared to reflect that this site is no longer required for public purpose and to facilitate its sale by: • Rezoning the site from Public Park and Recreation Zone to General Residential Zone Schedule 1.

The Minister for Planning, the Hon Richard Wynne MP, has referred the proposed changes to the Government Land Standing Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee) for advice.

You can make a submission to the Advisory Committee about the proposed planning scheme provisions.

To find out more about the proposed planning scheme changes and how to make a submission see engage.vic.gov.au/glsac/tranche-30.

Submissions close at 5pm, Monday, 11 October 2021. www.delwp.vic.gov.au Customer Service Centre 136 186

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F20241w

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OU will find it hard to believe but I get annoyed at times. Yep, kind, placid me. If you really want proof, just ask Kyle. Maybe don't.

www.tlnews.com.au

Opinion 23

Kyle’s Rant

L

AST week I hired a post hole digger from the blokes at Kyneton Hire.

The reason for the post hole digger procurement was as an easy way to plant a few plants that have grown too big for their pots. The cost was $90 for a 24-hour hire and when you are looking down the barrel of a dozen or so big tree holes, a bargain by anyone’s calculation.

I picked the hole-maker up around 4.30pm the night before the post hole preparations and had planned to crack on to the job at “sparrow's fart” - that’s oldman speak for early. The next morning, as is common in this lockdown enthusiasmvoid world, I found myself dragging my feet. But I did have my lawnmower man Dave giving me a socially-distanced hand on this drab Central Highlands spring morning and the whole thing was only to take a few hours.

So, Dave cranked up this machine around 11am after patiently burning off time on his ride-on mower. Suddenly there was petrol everywhere. The fuel primer had burst and was spewing out fuel faster than a Middle Eastern pipeline.

So off I went back to Kyneton where they had me fixed and back in the ute within 10 minutes and back to the job 25 minutes later. We stopped for lunch on my return as it had been a bit of a stressful day thus far. Then Dave cranked up the driller once again. It ran for five minutes and bang, fuel started leaking from the same spot.

By this time we had given up on the job. Dave had got back on his mower and I was off to find a shovel and return this pile of junk.

Now, I realise that a rental place that rents out a lot of gear can’t be across the condition of every pick, shovel and post hole driller. But I was a little perplexed with the refund calculations after a day of disappointment. And not a single plant, planted.

Kyneton Hire Bloke: "So, how do you want to do this?"

Me: "Just on card." (As in my refund.)

KHB: "No, how much of a refund?"

Me: "Huh?" KHB: "What do you reckon - we split it down the guts?"

Perplexed me: "Sure, no problems. Hiring Dave for three hours ($120), two return trips to Kyneton fuel, wear and tear, mileage of 75 cents a kilometre ($102), my own time driving back and forth ($150) and then of course, the actual hire ($90).

So the total cost is $462. Down the guts, great, just $231 thanks." (Sadly, this is all in my head.)

Me: "I don’t think so mate. I got two half-holes drilled, a bloke at home on the clock and my running backward and forward."

KHB: "Ahh, OK, I'll process a full refund for you."

Refund rant over…

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The Last Word: Daylesford Lawn Tennis Club

H

ELEN Jenkin joined the Daylesford Lawn Tennis Club as a player in 1967, before becoming secretary the following year, holding the position until 1970. She was also president for two years from 1987 and started running the juniors for 10 years from 1997.

Apart from her committee roles, Helen was always a keen tennis player and won the club championships in 1992-1993 season and was runner-up many times. She also got current coach Brian Carr started in 1985 – and he is still going strong in 2021.

With the club keen to ensure that its history and heritage is protected and archived, Helen chatted with club historian Dianne Van Baalen about her connection over the years.

“I was born in 1944 and grew up in Kooroocheang, a tiny farming town.

Kooroocheang had two asphalt courts, a primary school, a post office and a church. My mother was a good tennis player, and I grew up with tennis. Mum played with the Newstead Tennis Association, and I went along when I was little.

I think Kooroocheang had two teams.

“I think mum played in Castlemaine. After going to high school, I would get off the school bus at Kooroocheang Primary School and coach the younger ones at the two courts next door to the school. I was 11 or 12. I guess by today’s terms I was an unofficial hotshots coach.

“I played and was coached in the Mt Prospect Tennis Association and played A grade at 16 in Lawrence near Smeaton with my first cousin.

“I got married in 1967 to Jeff Jenkin and we lived on a property in Musk, and I continued playing with my cousin as my tennis partner. But because of the travelling I was getting home too late, so I started to play at Daylesford. My husband Jeff was busy playing golf.

“I was on the committee of the Ballarat Tennis Association. It covered a big area. Country Week was run at Swan Hill, Albury, Wodonga and Shepparton.

Our team had its own windcheaters and played lots of tournaments. Daylesford LTC ran its own huge tournament on the Labour Day long weekend for many years. Teams came from all around but mainly from Melbourne. We had A, B and C divisions and junior events. The ladies catered with sandwiches and cakes, and it was always very hot, so we had a drinks kiosk in the current old mower shed under the existing club house. We served drinks and also had an old ice bath – there were lots of beers consumed from the bar under the tennis club.

“Daylesford Lawn Tennis Club was originally at the Daylesford Bowling Club but then it moved to its current location in West Street. Draft horses with leather shoes levelled the original upper courts and later we built 10 grass courts below, which are all in use today. We added four hard courts later on, on council land which was land-locked and rented from council on a 99-year lease.

“We ran clinics for schools including Daylesford, Hepburn and Bullarto. I ran these and my Saturdays were dedicated to tennis. I left home at 8.30am on Saturdays and got home at 7pm. I would run the juniors from 9am to noon and then my daughters and I would play for the afternoon competition.

“I used to pick children up on my way into the club but then people started seeing it as a baby-sitting service. As years went on, we started to get too many little ones, just six years old and hard to teach. The courts were so full we decided only children in grade 6 could start.”

Ms Van Baalen said the club was keen to find lost history with the Daylesford and District Historical Society also on board.

“If any community members have information, memorabilia, photos etc that may be of interest to the club or Daylesford and District Historical Society then we would love to hear from them. The society will archive the material and it will be returned to its owners,” she said.

“We are a welcoming and inclusive not-for-profit club that wants to increase active living and social inclusion within our community. We hope this history project will engage past, present and hopefully future members.”

Daylesford Lawn Tennis Club has 10 grass courts and will start this year’s tennis season with a Welcome Week from October 21 to 27. The activities are open to everyone, and it is free.

Details: daylesfordtennis.com or Daylesford Lawn Tennis Club Facebook page.

(All activities are subject to Covid restrictions.)

Details: daylesfordtennis.com or DLTC Facebook page.