Hillscene 13

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Summer Issue 13 * 2013

Unique, ethical, eco-friendly gifts of

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An enchanting Steiner store inspired by the rhythms of nature

77 Monbulk Rd, Kallista

9755 1952

www.epoche.com.au

All your Christmas Cheer @ Burrinja Isabel Foster: The Challenge of Colour 14 December 2013 – 16 March 2014

Expect a journey into the most exciting world of hand-woven, stitched and embroidered textiles. Isabel Foster presents incredible installations of colourful rugs, woven wearables, giant soft sculptures and “odd-balls”, old and new works.

A Christmas Carol

Join us for Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, a favourite story of the Christmas season for generations. Embark on a journey with Ebenezer Scrooge to find the real spirit of the festive season in a rollicking production filled with the carols. All proceeds from the production are donated to the Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service.

Burrinja Cnr Glenfern Rd & Matson Drive, Upwey ph: (03) 9754 8723 w: burrinja.org.au

Beautiful locally crafted gifts

The Burrinja Gallery Shop has a range of delightful locally produced jewellery, art, pottery, mosaic’s, Indigenous children’s books and cards. Pop in for a browse and you will find the perfect unique Christmas gift you have been looking for. Remember Jarmbi members get 10% off shop purchases.

building community through arts

With Christmas coming up so fast it has been an extremely busy and productive few months for the hillscene. We’ve launched the blog with an oline launch party which was a fun and different way of celebrating our latest online forum. We’ve also updated our website with a fresher look and added our submission and advertising guidelines to download making it easier for people to get information and get in touch. And since the word is spreading more and more people are in touch, which we love.

I also love the way when I’m out I keep finding new and interesting things to include in the hillscene, on the blog or the facebook page.

For a while I’ve been thinking about including interesting hills homes but hadn’t been able to find the right place to start. Then after interviewing Joanna Caterer from Clementine and finding out she used to write for Antiques Australia and Home Beautiful, I knew I was on the right track.

It’s great when things just fall into place. And this has been one of those times. Another photo spread which Brent photographed was the Christmas shoot for the hillscene. I think it shows that by shopping local you can get some amazing presents for all your loved ones. You don’t have to go far to find the perfect gift. We sourced all our gifts from Belgrave and Kallista but I’m sure your local village has got some great finds as well.

At the same time the editorial team met with Stockdale and Leggo in Tecoma and spoke with them about sponsoring the hillscene. Stockdale & Leggo are of course experts in this area. With their staff having such varied interests and links with the community we will have access to some amazing hills homes. We are so pleased that they have decided to come on board and sponsor the hillscene we are looking forward to working with them in getting some insider knowledge of local historical and sustainable homes.

Editorial Committee Ross Farnell, Zac Exner, Amy Middleton

Our first featured home is Joanna Caterers’ own house, which is one of the oldest homes in Sassafras and has a beautiful mix of the old and new. Brent Dakis from Limerence came along to photograph the home and lovely woodland garden which has some of it’s original features still intact.

It’s the busiest and for most people the best time of the year. We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. I hope you get to spend it with the people you love.

Editor/Designer

Adriana Alvarez

Cover

Claire ‘Rabbit’ Lynch

Contributors Claire ‘Rabbit’ Lynch, John Landon, Dale Blair, Tiffany Morris North, Jo Caterer, Brent Dakis, Kali Foster, Amy Middleton, Elaine Pullum, Clair Ransome, Amy Laker Bruni, Miro Anderson, and Adriana Alvarez facebook: The Hillscene www.hillscene.com.au For submission and advertising enquiries e: hillscene@westnet.com.au Printed by Ferntree Print on Envirocare 100gsm recycled paper. © Copyright 2013

The hillscene is created in partnership with Burrinja

Proudly sponsored by 3

WOW ! Great Cover.

Our Summer cover design is by Claire ‘Rabbit’ Lynch, whose work I saw in an exhibition at Burrinja cafe earlier this year. We talk to her about her work, what inspires her and future plans.

You have just completed a double degree, what did you study and why?

I am just finishing up at the academy of Design, majoring in Visual Arts and sub majoring in Photo Media. I have been doing art since before VCE in High School and wanted to develop it further.

The Academy of Design offered the highest undergrad qualification, out of the institutions I looked at. This being a Bachelor Degree with both a major and sub major. I also got a great vibe from the Academy and loved the small class sizes.

It allowed me to study art and also look at the more commercial industry side of creative making and presentation.

What sort of work do you like doing best?

Small (7x5 inch) portraits and abstracted painting on skate decks.

Tell me a bit about your creative process.

My home in the hills has a huge influence on my work, the atmosphere here inspires and motivates me. My work comes from just looking at the world, and what I encounter. Sometimes I come across people who I want to paint and sometimes I think of a colour pallet for a mood and a

configuration for that, which I then set out to bring into reality.

What or who inspires you?

Australian abstract and minimalist artists like Robert Owen, Aida Tomescu, and Ian Burn. Also skater culture and Russian Ballet.

What are your plans for the future now that you have finished your studies?

I am looking into doing post grad studies in 2015 but for next year I am going to travel to Europe and see some art, which is super exciting! Paris, London, Berlin…

What do you like about living in the hills?

The trees, the play of light through the leaves. The sound of the birds and the creeks, the tranquility and the people.

Anything else you’d like to add.

I really want to give a shout out to the Tiffaney Bishop Collective (tbC), of which I am a member.

It is such an asset to the hills and the community and I definitely have a soft spot for the studio and people there. If you haven’t checked tbC out yet, it’s worth a look. www.theloop.com.au/RabLynch

community

Vegans get a helping hand Words by John Landon Whilst patting a lamb one day, I began to question how it was that I could adore these little animals, yet also eat them? It made no sense.

From that day onwards, I gradually stopped eating meat, chicken, and fish. Then I learned about cruel practices involved in the poultry and dairy industries. I wanted no part of this, or any other animal cruelty. So I became a Vegan. Vegan’s don’t consume or use any animal products.

I’ve never felt better. Vegan food is super healthy, so I know I’m doing my body the world of good. It’s great to know that I’m doing my bit for the environment too. I’ve learned that around 50% of global carbon emissions stem from animal agriculture. Vegan food also tastes fantastic, and there are many recipes to be found in books and online.

In February, I began volunteering in Belgrave at ‘Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service’(DRERS). DRERS helps people in crisis.

This can be caused by issues such as illness, loss of job, and domestic violence.

Knowing how important it is to eat healthy food, I wanted to include more vegan options for people we help at our organisation. Thus, I started a project called ‘Vegan Hills’. I source vegan food and toiletries from the public, and add these to our offerings. I also arrange for volunteers to come together to cook up vegan meals. We then either serve meals to patrons at our drop-in centre, or freeze them for clients. If monetary donations are made (above $2 is tax deductible), I purchase vegan supplies and include these in our offerings. Any donations or volunteers are much appreciated. www.drers.org.au/vegan-hills or facebook Vegan Hills

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Paul O’Halloran’s big idea Words and image by Adriana Alvarez Paul O’Halloran is full of dangerous ideas.

He’s been around the hills for a long time and has been actively involved in lots of community campaigns. He modestly states that by the time you get to 60 you’ve just done a lot of things and he doesn’t want to sound like he’s big noting himself.

Although it seems to me some people fill their lives with bigger ideas than others. We spoke about a lot of different topics, from neuroscience to philosophy to activism but the most interesting idea we spoke about was what plan was in store for Tecoma.

Paul has seen many campaigns in the hills and has been involved in creating some positive outcomes, with art and culture playing a major role: “Often when political opportunities came up you can try and use art to communicate or get some sort of powerful idea across, because it is a powerful medium.”

When he became involved in the campaign to stop McDonalds moving into Belgrave many years ago the group created a magazine called ‘The Fair Press’ that featured the ongoing story with Paul’s own illustrations. They saw McDonalds as a very dominant, corporate presence occupying a site that overlooked the town and decided to do something about it.

Establishing Burrinja Cultural Centre is another campaign that Paul was closely involved with. When in the mid 1990’s four regional shires were amalgamated into one, the former Sherbrooke Shire Offices in Upwey were put on the market to be sold.

There was a huge community outcry and many groups got together to try and retain the building for public use. Paul explains 6

how it was Lin Onus’ vision of having a cultural centre involving many areas of the arts that would strengthen the community which eventually became Burrinja. Paul was there alongside many others to make sure their friend’s vision became a reality after Lin passed away suddenly.

Vision and community are something that gets mentioned a lot in our conversation. In setting up Fatspace in Tecoma Paul’s idea was to provide a creative way to protest the Mc Donalds development through art. He believes that art and culture can have a positive outcome for your health and for the community, and it’s the positive message that Paul is most interested in. With the anti Maccas campaing both dividing and bringing the community together he believes that there needs to be a rethinking of what’s going to happen in the future. One of the ideas is to think about what the community wants to see happen in Tecoma.

“We at least know what we don’t want, that’s a starting point. It’s a negative starting point, and now have to say, what do we want?”

With this idea in mind the Reclaim Tecoma group which Paul is a part of has come up with a big plan, a dangerous idea. The idea is to buy a retail site in Tecoma on behalf of the community with community shareholding. The building

people uses would then be determined largely by what the community want instead of a private company.

It’s a big idea as it would need up to 20 investors to come up with significant funds.. The idea is for the Tecoma community to have a say in the vision not just the shareholders. It’s all about who has the best vision. Paul doesn’t want to prescribe what this use might be but suggests with a McDonalds next door people may want to have a permanent message around healthy eating, perhaps with chef or hospitality training programs in partnership with TAFE or a healthy food cafe with an outlook over the carpark and gallery space on the walls.

Another idea was for youth facilities as there’s a lack of things for young people to do in the area.

There are lots of possibilities but the idea is that the community will decide what is best for itself, with a view to something that is economically viable. If this plan doesn’t work out there are alternatives such as

KALLISTA COMMUNITY MARKET Enjoy our leafy atmosphere and visit our market in the hills for handmade, recycled, homemade, homegrown, food and great coffee.

leasing other buildings in Tecoma and turning them into healthy eating venues, but the most important thing is that the conversation is started as to what people want to happen in their community.

“As one parting thing,” says Paul. “Joy Serwylo and I only ever had a vision for Fatspace to be a pop up opportunity, it would be a flurry of creative activity that may have a whole lot of totally unpredictable positive outcomes but it didn’t have to go on being an institution and I still think that. If the property purchase doesn’t come off for some reason or people say we’ve done enough Fatspace we’ll move on and do something else. I don’t have a problem with that.” For someone who has seen their fair share of community campaigns with positive outcomes, waiting for the right solution is all part of the plan.

To find out more about Reclaim Tecoma email reclaim@tecoma.vic.au.

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Blin Vanheems Blin Vanheems is looking relaxed as she talks about the near completion of her, it must be said, long-awaited and much anticipated debut album ‘Paper Crowns’.

For those aware of Blin’s talent - and there are many who have marvelled at it over her fifteen year long career – it is surprising that her music has not been showcased in this most obvious way before.

“I don’t know why it has taken so long. I guess I have not really been as dedicated as I could have been over the years. Music has always been a fun thing for me, a chance to enjoy something beautiful with friends. Now just feels like the right time.”

The album is a reflective one, she says, and covers a range of personal emotions but also some sage observations of the world we live in, no better reflected than in the album’s title song, Paper Crowns which ponders the fragility of our engagement with the world around us.

Aria award winner Matt Walker has provided the bulk of musical backing on the album while

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Blin does her own backing harmonies.

“He is such a wonderful musician” says Blin “and was so attuned with everything that I wanted to do.”

The solo album will be available in summer. As well as releasing the solo album, Blin and band Daisy West are compiling a live album, which will have a rawer soul infused sound. The band will perform some of the new songs at the End of the Line festival in Belgrave in November.

“There are about five songs from the solo album that the band will play so people will be able to get a good feel for what it will sound like” adds Blin.

Blin is a unique talent with an especially evocative and haunting voice and her album(s) can’t arrive soon enough. www.facebook.com/blinvanheems.daisywest Dale Blair Dale Blair is a freelance historian and writer from the Dandenong Ranges.

Forest Edge Stone

Photos by Miro Anderson

Words by Adriana Alvarez.

Paul Smith from Forest Edge Stone is ‘rabbitting on’ in a passionate yet laid-back way about his work and his new gallery, café, studio and nursery space in Kallista.

That’s fine by me, because he’s a fascinating character with a lot of great stories to tell about his life as a stone mason and sculptor which I’m eager to hear.

His strong hands show evidence of years of hard work and care applied to creating in stone.

Stone masonry is a large field and encompasses many different areas, including gravestones, paving, walls, decorative work and functional objects like seats and table tops. Over the years Paul’s work has lead him to some major restoration projects around the world.

Winchester Cathedral in the South of England was one of his favourites as the quality of the work was second to none and he was given plenty of time to do it properly, like they did centuries ago. The restoration work on St. Mary Star of the Sea in West Melbourne is another highlight. It is the premier restoration job, still unfinished, which he has worked on in Australia.

He started off building houses many moons ago, leading him further into stone work as he’s constantly pushed the margins. “I’ve worked all over the world in restoration and stone, and sculpture is the latest manifestation of a long quest to push the boundaries of what I do and it’s lead me here, to Forest Edge”.

He returned to the hills for the natural beauty, which inspires his creative work. “I have a desire to pull out every bit of potential that I have as a sculptor and I

can’t do that if I’m in the city restoring churches 24/7.

So I love the area, I came up here to live and saw this place as an ideal focal point for sculpture or painting, not necessarily my own but other peoples. There are lots of layers in here.” The space has a coffee shop and gallery he rents out to artists for exhibitions, with spaces available in the garden for exhibiting sculptors.

The nursery is driven by Peter Teese from Yamina Rare Plants nursery based in Monbulk. “Peter has come in with me on the sculpture garden to provide a background for the sculpture, and the sculpture provides a setting for the plants as well.” They work in tandem showing people sculpture within the context of a garden setting. It’s different to a normal nursery that can look like a supermarket. The cafe enhances the space, creating a place where people can sit and reflect on the sculpture and garden, reflect on the art, and have a chat.

As if that’s not enough he also teaches classes in stone walling, for beginners, and he’s developing classes in relief carving and sculpting in the future.

Paul Smith is in great demand as an artisan, artist and tradesman but what would his dream job be? “To get into a position where I could let art brain loose 24/7 and I could literally devote myself to sculpting.” In the beautiful setting of ‘Forest Edge Stone’ I’m sure he’ll have plenty to inspire him.

Forest Edge Stone - 4 Monbulk Rd, Kallista www.forestedgestone.com.au 9

cafe tarts Beaumarchais Café - Sassafras This time, a few friends, and myself headed up to visit Beaumarchais Café, a lovely French café in the gorgeous town of Sassafras. The décor of this place is elegant, sophisticated and relaxed, without pretension. Weathered floorboards, wooden tables and chairs, chandeliers hang from the ceiling and opulent wallpaper line the walls. Ambient music softly playing in the background.

We started by ordering, the typically French, coffee in a bowl. Delicious! I do love drinking coffee from a bowl! Mmmmm, warming and milky, and a bit of a novelty here in Australia.

We chose the breakfast pie, ham and cheese baguette, chocolate brownie and a pear and hazelnut tart. The breakfast pie, which was more like a quiche than a pie, was nice with the caramelized onions adding extra flavour, nothing extraordinary, but nice all the same.

The baguette, also, was fine, but the brownie and tart were fantastic!

The Lindt chocolate brownie was extremely rich with “oodles of chocolate”. A generous serve that you could easily share. The hazelnut and pear tart was moist and perfectly balanced. We also had the fruit toast, which was brought to us by mistake, but they were happy for us to have it rather than it be wasted. This was served simply with butter and was choc full of apricots and dates.

This isn’t really a place to go for breakfast but definitely worth it for the coffee and cake. The other cakes at the counter looked equally good!

A great place to go before wandering around all the other fabulous shops in Sassafras.

Cnr Woodlands Ave and Mount Dandenong Tourist Rd, Sassafras facebook - Cafe de Beaumarchais

Ima ges by Amy Lake r Brun i

Tiffany Morris-North Tiffany is a passionate artist/crafter/foodie living with her family in the beautiful and inspiring Dandenong Ranges. Follow her adventures on her blog tiffanymorrisnorth.wordpress.com

Image from Cafe de Beaumarchais’ facebook page

Fridays and Saturdays open through to 10pm

Pre-dinner cocktails 4-7pm $10

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KALLISTA TEA ROOMS

103 Monbulk Rd, Kallista

Natural, Handmade, Fair Trade.

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High teas daily New seasonal Menus Bookings welcome 9755 2659

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Dolls, Toys, Rugs, Art and Craft Supplies, Books and Lots More.

372 Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd, Sassafras

(Down Woodlands Avenue, Under Cafe de Beaumarchais)

www.littlechipshandcrafts.com.au

Words by Adriana Alvarez Japanese born Chaco Kato is right at home in the hills. She moved to Australia with her husband Testuta while they were both studying and when their daughter started school they decided they should settle down here. They moved up to the hills because they “loved the country side and Belgrave so much.” It had everything they needed, a good school and it wasn’t too far away from the city arts culture.

Chaco is an installation artist who works both individually and as part of an arts collective called “Slow Art Collective”. Her work moves beyond the conventional 3D works of sculpture, which is traditionally static and monumental with a more feminie approach which is quite flexible, soft and transparent. She uses a lot of ropes, strings and threads, suggesting the minimal element of a line in creating a drawing in space. The intricate works

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Images of ‘Malarky’ courtesy Chaco Kato

Chaco Kato

which occupy their space are quite interactive and are made to be tactile. “I like people to be a part of the sculpture so my piece is completed when someone steps into the space and moves around,” says Chaco.

Being responsive to the site is very important to Chaco’s work as a means not controlling everything. Meaning Chaco likes to have a lot of time at the site exploring it’s potential before starting work. “The attitude I usually have to the work will depend on what the space allows me to do and I have to have lots of time to have a conversation with the site. What does this space want me to create? What will the shape be like?

All those things.”

Not having total control is one of the reasons that Chaco created the ‘Slow Art Collective’. She wanted to work collaboratively with other artists with similar ideas. “I thought it would be very important to get away from the artwork as my own creation but actually more blurred between who has created this part or who is the viewer.”

The collective includes Chaco, Tony Adams and Dylan Martorell. All of them are distinct artists with very different backgrounds but they’re interested in the same idea of being very responsive to the site and the impermanence of the work. Tony’s strength is in heavy duty sculpture and building big scale works and Dylan uses found objects to piece together in the space and “creates amazing soundscapes as well.” These three artists are the core group who occasionally work with other artists depending on the project.

Their work is progressive and contemporary and has therefore been selected for ‘Melbourne Now’. The NGV website states that “Melbourne Now celebrates the latest art, architecture, design, performance and cultural practice to reflect the complex cultural landscape of creative Melbourne”.

It includes the work of over 175 individual and group presentations over many disciplines at the The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia and NGV International as well as some offsite and special projects.

The space they were working in was very interesting but difficult as it’s a space between buildings like a bridge with high ceilings. They

Slow Art Collective (Tony Adams, Chaco Kato, Dylan Martorell) installation work at National Gallery of Victoria - Australia (Fedration squre)

weren’t able to adhere things to the walls or floors and had to have free access. Their solution was to make the structure out of bamboo because it’s easily accessible, very light and versatile and can be recycled, plus they were inspired by the asian aesthetic as well. They have created a big workshop based installation called ‘Malarky’, which has no meaning so they gathered lots of meaningless stuff from everywhere and put it together in a way that creates different spaces. “So that’s the basic concept, people can go through, people can rest and sit and there are a lot of sound elements that people can touch. All three artists were bringing in their own expertise to recreate something very different from their individual practise.”

They will have workshops for children as well.

Chaco does a lot of work with children and loves it.

“They are very quick and energetic and they have a life force when they are creating something. They

love to make something, so it’s great to be inspired by them. Seeing the energy and pleasure they have in making something assures me, that’s why we need artists in this world.” says Chaco.

Another of her talents is illustration, she’s a children’s book illustrator for Japanese books mostly written by her husband Testuta Watanabe.

She originally studied creative writing but switched to art when she worked at a magazine and found that she preferred illustration to writing. Drawing is her first love and is evident in her installations through her intricate thread work.

Her art and enthusiasm for creating has led her to study and work around the world in Japan, America and Paris, and now to call Melbourne home.

Melbourne Now at NGV, 22 Nov - 23 Mar www.ngv.vic.gov.au/melbournenow www.chacokato.com

At home in historic Sassafras

Photos by Brent Dakis

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Words by Jo Caterer.

The Hills and history go hand in hand as evidenced by the many historical homes which can be found in every village. What many new-comers to this area don’t know is that there have always been famous residents in many of these properties.

Initially artists and writers came here for inspiration and of course to experience the beauty of the environment. Over time a miniature version of the ‘Hollywood Hills’ emerged , from Jack Dyer in Kallista to John Stanton in Mt. Dandenong and well-known musicians in Olinda and Sassafras, the weekend parties at some of these properties were legendary and attracted a trail of celebrities!

My family’s current residence is one of these ‘old-timers’ – one of the first houses to be built in Sassafras in the 1920’s, surrounded by farmland with cows grazing and the Tourist Road no more than a cart track linking Sassafras to Olinda. The sense of history here is overwhelming and the Baltic Pine floors bear testament to the many stiletto heels that have danced across the floor. When Jason Donovan’s mother lived here her parties were attended by Graham Kennedy and many of the GTV 9 crowd, I can imagine they got pretty wild!

Unlike many of the area’s old homes, this one has escaped unwelcome and unsympathetic extensions.

The 12 foot ceilings, old doors and floorboards are all intact and original. In the 60’s and 70’s when Martini glasses were clinking and high heels tapping in the huge living room there was wallpaper - which we discovered under old switch-plates – it would be back in fashion now!

To own one of these properties is a privilege, you feel like a care-taker of not just a building but also a small piece of Hill’s history.

Stockdale and Leggo Tecoma are delighted to come on board and help The Hillscene grow its presence within the Dandenong Ranges local Community.

Being locals in the area, the staff at Stockdale and Leggo are passionate about the Arts culture and look forward to being a part of such a community driven enterprise. We can’t wait to share some delightful stories about our regions’ homes.

Glenn Gardiner

Scott Allison

Stockdale & Leggo 1561 Burwood Highway, Tecoma VIC 3160, Ph: 9754 4777

Suzy Brannelly

Summer sellin g tip:

Make the mos t of your garden . The garden is one of the first thin gs that the prospective bu yer will see, an d it can also be a real focal point of the ho me; but only if it is inviting.

Keep your gard en looking its best. Regula r mowing, raki ng, edging, weeding and w atering will pres erve a neat and clean garden. You ca n even hire professional ga rden maintenan ce experts for a one-off ga rden tidy-up.

the perfect gift We should all know by now that buying local is the best way to support and stregthen your community and help make the place where you live more rich and vibrant. At the hillscene we are all about celebrating local. So in the spirit of shopping locally we’ve done a hillscene Christmas shoot. All the gifts were sourced in Belgrave and Kallista and many are handmade by local artists.

1. Books @ Belgrave Book Barn 2. Clock and hourglass @ London Art Co. framers 3. Vintage plate @ Silver Compaq 4. Sarah Dingwall secret messages vials 5. Euphonium lamp both @ Limrence (all in Belgrave) 6. Embroidered bird by Jacqui Christians 7. Crochet rocks, handmade hessian bag and heart teatowel by Tiffany Morris-North 8. Mabel and George fabrics all @ Kallista Markets 5 9. Handmade bunting @ Clementine in Kallista.

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You don’t need to go very far to find the perfect gift for that special person in your life. And by shopping locally you can often find something unique that will be more personal and create a lasting memory.

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Stay close to home for Christmas and support your local community.

Photography: Brent Dakis Styling: Brent Dakis & Adriana Alvarez

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for home

1. Books from Belgrave Book Barn 2. Wooden truck 3. Crochet doll and elephant rattle 4. Treasures of the lost civilization Treasure Chest 5. Flippity Flop felt ball all from Hugs for Kids, Belgrave. 6. Curly rings 7. Nadia Turner card both from Limerence.

8. Jacqui Christians embroidered print 9. Llilebeart mushrooms and gnome t-shirt 10. Nik Lucy handmade Bad dog soft toy 11. Love Lee Ness crotchet owl 12. Upcycled owl t-shirt by Sonja, all from Kallista Markets.

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for the kids

1. Dairy free advent calendar 2. Candy cane 3. Choxtasty chocolate marshmallow pudding all @ The Confectory in Belgrave 4. Hessian squirrel star @ Clementine 5. Large stocking 6. Cherry heart 7. Cookie cutter decorations and elf 8. Organic beeswax candle all @ Epoche in Kallista 9. Silver snowflake wrapping paper by Tiffany Morris-North 10. Bike chain star decoration by Tread and Pedals 11. Hand printed lino cut cards by CLawryart all from Kallista Markets.

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something festive

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1. Hat @ Walk in Wardrobe 2. Botanically dyed silk scarf and skirt by the Beautiful Wasteland 3.Crystal necklace by Brent Dakis jewellery 4. Pom Pom Poppy necklace 5. Bonny Lad earrings 6. Tom Malchi rings, all @ Limerence 7. Gold earrings 8. Four leaf clover ring both @ Little White Box 9. White chocolate freeze dried strawberries @ the Confectory 10. Elume candles & handmade soaps @ Senses (all in Belgrave) 11. Salt Water sandals @ Wilga in Kallista 12. Bird nest necklace 13. Glass vintage dictionary necklace both by 4 Lillebeart at Kallista Markets.

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something indulgent

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1. Art Nouveau print @ London Art Co. framers 2. Flowers 3. Romeo Britto tea pot both from Petal and Pot 4. Mini tulip silk flowers @ Senses 5. Necklaces 6. Enamel bird brooch both @ Little White Box 7. Sterling silver rings by Brent Dakis 8. Leather wallet and Belt by Temono 9. Laurel Bush brooch 10. Tight Ology organic tights all @ Limerence (all in Belgrave) 11. Robert Gordon mugs @ Clementine 12. Status Anxiety wallet 13. Saya coconut body custard both @ Wilga (both in Kallista) 14. Resin rings by Mabel and George 15. Text ring by Lillebeart 16. Handpainted rock by Tiffany Morris-North all @ Kallista Markets.

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for her 1. Chocolate coated strawberries 2. The Noble Mud Pie vegan desert wine both @ the Confectory 3. Coca Cola top clock @ London Art Co. framers 4. Leather wallets and belt by Temono 5. Wound up cufflinks and rings by Brent Dakis both @ Limerence 6. Tie @ Walk in Wardrobe (all in Belgrave) 7. Tread and Pedals bike clocks 8. Cards by Scott Beatie 9. Handprinted wrapping paper by Tiffany Morris-North all @ Kallista Markets.

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eco fashion Vintage style your way I spoke with Theresa Evans from Rummage Style about her label and why she’s inspired by beautiful vintage fabrics.

Tell us about your label Rummage Style?

Rummage Style is based mainly on a custom made concept selling online where all the garments are made from recycled and vintage fabrics. I work with my own range of designs but each order is a conversation with the customer where I discuss with them what they would like and if they need any changes to the style such as the hem length, a change in the sleeve style, etc. I have a collection of vintage fabrics that the customer chooses from for their piece and so the result is a one of a kind, custom piece to fit.

How did it start?

I originally began selling vintage clothing at markets on the weekends and that moved in to me altering and adjusting each piece, and then it was a slow and gradual shift to designing my own range. I wholesaled to shops in Melbourne and interstate for a long time and then made the shift this year online and to a solely custom made system which has turned out to be the perfect fit for Rummage Style.

Did you study fashion design?

No, I haven’t done any formal study in fashion design.

I have taught myself the process over the years.

Have you always been interested in fashion?

Yes, ever since I was a little girl where I used to change my outfit many times a day!

Why do you love using vintage fabrics?

I find that I am more inspired by the fabrics and that each one will lend itself to a certain style. It means that each garment ends up being completely different and unique. I also like not using any new fabrics as the fabric production process is generally pretty environmentally unsound and dirty and I just think that there is enough fabric already out there in the world for me to produce my label!

Where can we find your creations?

I sell through my online store, rummagestyle.com and also on Facebook where I often do sales and sell batches of some ready made items each week as well.

You’re a stay-at-home mum as well.

How do you manage that?

I don’t sleep much! I work mostly at night after my five and two year olds are in bed and often work late in to the night most days. I have just started getting help from a nanny two days a week as my online business has grown to the point that I can’t keep up just working at night.

What do you like about living in the hills?

I love the feeling of space and the smell! We moved out here from St. Kilda 6 years ago so it was a big change but one we will never regret. I still like the inner city but only in small doses now. Living out here is like constantly being on holiday!

health Alternative medicine remedy My passion for Chinese Medicine began, when, due to bazaar symptoms, I was recommended to see an acupuncturist.

I had travelled for 6 months in India, I was 21, I wasn’t eating normally – spicy food and Delhi Belly had left me skinny and not digesting well.

Spiritual awakenings and smoking hashish had left me psychically very open and I was waking every night at 2am with intense migraines, nausea and vomiting. I was also seeing ‘demons’ and having freaky visions as I tried to go to sleep.

I told all this to the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) doctor, who diagnosed “Kidney & Liver yin deficiency with Liver yang rising & Shen disturbance”. Well thank goodness I didn’t see a shrink because after one treatment of acupuncture and a week’s worth of herbs I was cured.

I was so impressed that this medicine could comprehend the mental/spiritual imbalances as well as the physical, and bring them all into balance, that I went on to study TCM. I have been practicing here in Kallista for the last seven years.

Chinese Medicine is a system of diagnosis and healthcare that has evolved over the last 3,000 years. It is based on the holistic concept of the universe outlined in the spiritual insights of Daoism, and has produced a highly sophisticated set of practices designed to cure illness & maintain wellbeing. Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Tai Chi & Qigong (“Chi-Gung”), in particular, have grown in popularity in the West.

But how does it work? Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine needles into specific locations on the body, usually on “Meridians “ or energy channels. These channels, like a network of rivers, can be manipulated to stimulate energy flow through the whole body & restore balance. As well as being very helpful for internal diseases, 20

acupuncture can be wonderful for treating pain.

There is a Chinese saying: “Where there is pain there is no free flow, where there is no free flow there is pain”.

Chinese herbal medicine works in a complimentary way balancing the organ systems through the understanding of the 5 elements & the basic substances: Qi (energy), Jing (deeper foundational energy, important for development & procreation) & Shen (the mind/emotions).

For example: cool, bitter herbs are used to clear excess heat, aromatic herbs aid digestion, salty herbs benefit the kidneys, sour flavors regulate the liver, and so on. In some cases herbs are more effective than acupuncture, and vice-versa.

It’s all about balance. In the west we are dominated by our minds, which is unhealthy.

In Chinese Medicine “the mind resides in the heart” and excess thinking can lead to emotional problems. There is a Qigong exercise I love called “Three minds into one mind”. The three minds or “Dantien” are the third eye, the heart and the lower belly. The standing exercise involves clearing the mind, then letting any excess qi in the head flow down like a fountain to fill up the heart.

Then, smiling into the heart, let any excess qi flow down into the lower belly – the only safe place to store qi. Then meditate here with your palms over the lower Dantien. Allow yourself to become one with the universe!

Kali Foster Kali Foster is the owner of Kallista Chinese Medicine where she works part-time with other practitioners. She also teaches embodiment practices to empower individuals seeking to be more present and vital in their bodies. www.kallistachinesemedicine.com.au

Kylie Haberl

Kallista Chinese Medicine Serving the community since 2006

Pilates Instructor

Experiencing pain? Feeling out of balance?

Ba. App. Science. Diploma Therapeutic Massage Level 1 APMA Pilates Instructor

We can help with treatment and health advice for a myriad of health complaints ranging from:

10 week term - $100 Casual rate also available Feel free to start at anytime during the term.

• M usculoskeletal – back, neck pain, RSI, sciatica, frozen shoulder, etc.

• Headaches, stress, anxiety, depression • Women’s health, pregnancy care, fertility • Digestive and immune issues • Common colds and flu, and much more

Using Acupuncture or laser, shiatsu, cupping and moxa (heat therapy), we make a real difference to your health and vitality, not just your symptoms.

Call Kali or Ayla to make an appointment…

ph: 9755 1755

87 Monbulk Rd, Kallista

With over 15 yrs experience as a trained Pilates Instructor and a strong understanding of the human body, Kylie’s teaching is suitable for all levels.

Belgrave South Community House Monday 10.45 am and Monday 7pm Gilmore Court, Belgrave South - 9754 2274

www.kallistachinesemedicine.com.au

Selby Community House Wednesday 7pm Wombalana Rd. Selby - 9754 2039

www.kyliehaberl.com.au

physio

Would you like to feel better in any of the following areas?

- Posture - Movement - Recovery from Injury - Strains - Pain - Knowledge to help yourself?

Feldenphysio is a new Practice at Selby Family Clinic.

We use physiotherapy techniques combined with the more gentle, subtle and sensitive Feldenkrais approach.

Selby Family Clinic 115 Belgrave-Gembrook Road Selby Call to Book on 03 9754 3999 or Call to Enquire Paul Watt 0401 783 682

Better body Movement

culture Archie Roach survivor...

Words by Claire Ransome

Get ready, Archie Roach is coming to Belgrave in 2014! We are honoured to announce that Archie Roach, one of Australia’s most prominent and beloved musicians, will be headlining next year’s Belgrave Survival Day festival.

In November 2012, Archie Roach launched his eighth studio album, ‘Into The Bloodstream’. In the three years preceding the release, Archie faced some devastating events in his life. In 2010, the loss of his soul mate and muse, Ruby Hunter, left Archie in overwhelming grief. Both victims of the stolen generation, Archie and Ruby met at age 16 when they were homeless on the streets and together found healing through music. They travelled internationally throughout Europe, representing Australia and sharing the collective plight of Australia’s Indigenous people with the world. The pair also travelled extensively throughout outback Australia, visiting and performing in remote communities where they assisted other Indigenous Australians in healing and rebuilding their lives.

Ruby Hunter passed away suddenly from a heart attack at their home in Victoria. She was only 54 years old.

Later in 2010, Archie suffered from a stroke which caused the loss of movement in parts of his body and he required intensive rehabilitation. As if life couldn’t get any harder for the singer-songwriter and guitarist, in 2011 Archie had further bad news that his body was in the early stages of lung cancer and had to undergo major surgery involving the removal of half a lung.

Archie attributes much of his physical sickness to the pain and anguish he internalised through his heartbreak over loosing Ruby and the suffering he experienced as a child of the stolen generation.

Despite the struggles Archie Roach has dealt with in recent years, ‘Into The Bloodstream’ marks a triumphant return with a positive attitude and a good dose of musical medicine. The songs are 22

uplifting and encourage joy and hope in difficult times. In the liner notes of the album, Archie writes that while pain can be debilitating, it “can also bring about change in one’s life for the better, we can choose to ignore the Pain until it becomes unbearable or we can do something”. For Archie, creating the album was his way of healing and regaining his strength, and warmly inviting the rest of us to do the same.

Belgrave Survival Day caught up with Archie for a quick chat in the lead up to the festival. When asked if he believes music can be used on a greater scale to heal our community and bring different mobs together, Archie commented that “it can and it has done in the past...It’s a great thing to be able to come together...And that’s part of healing.

(Music) is a good place to go when you need to go somewhere, or even when you’re happy”.

In August, Archie attended the National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMA) in Darwin, where he collected three awards (Album, Video and Album Artwork of the Year) and was inducted into the NIMA Hall of Fame.

The following month, he performed at the 2013 Deadly Awards, collecting the Album of the Year Award and being honoured with the Lifetime Contribution Award for Healing the Stolen Generations.

Over the years, Archie and Ruby have inspired and encouraged Indigenous musicians across Australia and internationally. When asked what advice Archie would give to young, emerging musicians, he commented that “You’ve got to always love what you do, if you love making music, you love writing songs, playing, singing, just always keep that close. And whatever you do, just keep going, don’t give up, you know, because you’ve just got to keep doing that.

We come (together) in many ways, especially music, art and dance, but music is a good way for us to get ahead. Always believe in yourself, believe in what you do and I’m sure other people will too.”

You can see Archie Roach perform a live set at Belgrave Survival Day in 2014. The seventh annual Belgrave Survival Day will again provide an alternative to Australia Day by celebrating the Survival of Indigenous culture since colonisation in 1788. The festival will present an exciting line up of contemporary and traditional Indigenous performers, engaging speakers, market stalls, indigenous art, jewellery, information, indigenous plants, cooking workshops, children’s activities, storytelling, delicious food and more.

When: 26th January 2014 12 noon – 4.30pm Where: Borthwick Park (next to Belgrave Pool) Benson St, Belgrave. Mel reference 75/F11 This FREE event is organised by a committee of volunteers, we invite new volunteers to help with preparations for the festival or to assist on the day.

For further information, please visit the website www.belgravesurvivalday.org

SANTA IS COMING TO ‘BELGRAVE’ TOWN! SANTA PhOTOS Hugs for Kids will host Santa photos on Saturdays between 11am and 1pm - December 7th, 14th and 21st.

Bookings on 9754 1122 or in store.

You can also catch Santa on the street spreading his good cheer through Belgrave.

BELGRAVE ChRISTMAS CAROLS Hosted by Belgrave Region Action Group (BRAG) with a great community effort supporting the event, the Belgrave Christmas Carols will be held at the Belgrave Town Park on Friday 13th with entertainment from 7pm. Free face painting.

ChRISTMAS ShOPPING Retail shopping in Belgrave just keeps getting better. Such a range of great ideas for any member of the family and all budgets.

Check out the business listing on our website. www.belgrave.vic.au You can also LIKE the facebook page to keep up to date with extended shopping opportunities through December. www.facebook.com/belgrave.vic Belgrave Traders Association members thank you for your support throughout the year and wish you a safe, happy and prosperous year ahead.

For further information, call Marina on 9754 1027 or email beltraders@belgrave.vic.au

Photos by Elaine Pullum

B e h in d t h e I N K Words by Amy Middleton When stepping into Last Frontier Tattoo Shop in Upwey, it felt as though I had entered into the pages of a storybook. The shop is littered with freakish sculptures, ghostly artworks, eccentric installations of taxidermy animals and goblins on flying machines. It was as though I had entered Stephen King’s horror novel - ‘Needful Things’. If my imagination had its way, I would have lost days enduring unexpected adventures in a paranormal dreamscape. However, being the “grown up” I am, I reminded myself that I was there to find out a little more about the man behind the ink, Jamin Swaneveld.

Jamin describes himself as an introvert. He doesn’t go to parties, won’t drink or smoke and he doesn’t like big crowds. As a child he would spend hours on his own reading Lord of the Rings and building with Lego. “I am where I am because of Tolkien and Lego. Lego got me into building; Tolkien got me into drawing and sculpting,”says Jamin.

Having been brought up in a creative family, he was encouraged to draw. As a teenager, his friends would arrive on his doorstep with tattoo guns and ask him to “draw” on them. It did however take 24

a long time for Jamin to feel comfortable being a tattoo artist. “I didn’t choose tattooing, it chose me. I liked getting tattoos but hated the industry.

I thought all tattooists were scumbags.”

There was a shift in tattoo culture and its popularity that seems connected to the reality television shows that quickly became popular after first premiering in 2007. Miami Ink (as well as numerous subsequent spin-offs) was originally shown on the Discovery Channel. They revealed the everyday life of tattoo artists and their clients, revealing the stories behind why people get tattoos and the strong symbolism associated with the imagery. When doctors, moms and teachers were seen getting tattoos - the bikie gang stereotype began to fade and the artistic ability of the person holding the tattoo gun became crucial.

It was this shift that prompted Jamin to open his own tattoo shop. Having control over his own business meant he was able to create an experience for his clients that was aligned to his own values and would allow him to make a living from his art.

As well as having an incredibly refined creative talent, there is no denying that Jamin is a consummate businessman. Perhaps it was the 17 years he spent in the in the building industry that taught him how to run a smart operation and the value in hard work. Last Frontier Tattoo Shop has been open for 6 years now and you would be lucky to get an appointment with Jamin in the next 12 months. Some of his clients are locals but most are returning customers from all over Melbourne and interstate.

Jamin invests a great deal of time in his clients working out exactly what they want. He describes this as getting clients to “empty their heads.”

Jamin spends hours at his drawing desk, creating the artwork before ink meets skin. This process is important considering that 50% of people who come to this shop for the first time request ‘cover ups’ of tattoo’s they no longer want.

Jamin acknowledges that there are a lot of really good tattoo artists out there and encourages people to do their research to find the right one.

Jamin said, “ If you’re going to spend between 4 hours for a single tattoo, and up to 6 months for a full tattoo sleeve… you don’t want to spend that amount of time with someone you don’t feel

Brothers & tattoo artists Chris & Jamin Swaneveld

comfortable with. Visit a lot of shops before you settle on an artist that is right for you.”

Whilst Upwey may not seem the obvious choice of locations for a tattoo shop, it was a very strategic move to open Last Frontier Tattoo Shop on Main Street. Jamin has a love-hate relationship with the city. He loves it by night, but hates it by day. Having lived all over the city his strategy has been to move further and further away from it. At the time when the shop opened, Upwey was the only area he could find that didn’t already have a tattoo shop that wasn’t largely controlled by bikie gangs. Hence the name Last Frontier, it literally was the furthest place a tattoo shop could exist, that would still have a local clientele.

There is so much more to this guy than a totally rad mustache and shaven head. He is tough, tall, memorable and reassuringly, he knows what he is doing when it comes to tattoos. Upon reflecting on the last 6 years Jamin said, “Now I want nothing more than to be a tattoo artist. Even if I didn’t need to tattoo, I would still do it” For more info head to www.facebook.com/LastFrontierTattoos

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Say hello to Australia’s newest travel experience Travelscene Monbulk is changing to:

and joining the helloworld group It’s only our name, our logo and our email address that’s changing, there is no change to location, ownership or management and Debbie & Lauren will continue to provide the same amazing service upon which we have built our reputation and that you have come to expect from us.

It’s “business as usual” for now, but we’ve got some exciting activities planned for 2014 so….

WATCH THIS SPACE!

Nexus Travel & Cruise 74 Main Road, Monbulk 3793 Ph: 03 97567566 email: admin@nexustravel.com.au

Recipe and photo by Tiffany Morris-North tiffanymorrisnorth.wordpress.com

merry christmas