Hillscene 12

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Jenny Hall, hillscene

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Issue 12 * 2013

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Something for the whole family @ Burrinja Burrinja Open Day – Sunday 20 October 11am-3pm

Free activities and events for the whole family…

Learn how to play the Ukulele and join in a group performance, take part in the biggest drawing festival in the world, see local talent in the theatre, enjoy a free art workshop, join an exhibition tour, and create a mythical creature for our “Underwater World” made from recycled materials, pick up a treat at the annual Treefern Potters sale, support the local CFA sausage sizzle, and be entertained by story tellers, exhibitions and much more.

Secret Ingiets

24 August – 1 December

Mysterious stone carvings and ceremonial objects of the Tolai PNG, works from the McLeod Gift Collection Burrinja Cnr Glenfern Rd & Matson Drive, Upwey ph: (03) 9754 8723 w: burrinja.org.au

Burrinja Circus Festival 24-29 September

Burrinja are teaming up with Dislocate and Ruccis Circus to present a week of circus fun for the whole family. Including; circus performances for kids and adults as well as aerial, hula hoop and circus skills workshops.

building community through arts

Spring will soon be upon us and we will start to shake off the cold that has kept us inside for the last few months. It’s a time for new beginnings and the hillscene is no exception.

Over the last few months an exciting development has been evolving and taking shape. The hillscene has joined forces with Burrinja Cultural Centre to bring some new life into the maga’zine’. While the hillscene will still continue to bring you all the news of culture, environment and our wonderful community, we can now do it with the experience and input of a great new team of members.

I’m looking forward to all the things the team can bring you and how the hillscene maga’zine’ will be able to realise more of its potential.

Already some great ideas have been put into action, such as the new blog which will be launched in October. This will have a mix of contributors who will be bringing you more up to date news, art and reviews from around the hills. It will also be a platform to bring on board some young writers and artists who will be mentored by Amy Middleton, Burrinja’s Community Cultural Development Officer.

So many ideas have been discussed and we’ll see which ones will come to fruition and how many new ones will blossom into something that will inspire and appeal to you, our readers.

The other members of the team are Zac Exner, Burrinja’s Marketing Co-ordinator and Ross Farnell Burrinja’s Executive Officer. It has been a great experience for me to be able to share input and contributions from this new team.

a wider audience but also include more ideas and more voices into the mix.

I hope you are as excited as I am about what this partnership will mean and the seeds that will grow from it.

Editor/Designer

Adriana Alvarez

Cover

Belinda Strong

Proof Readers Ross Farnell, Zac Exner, Amy Middleton Contributors Belinda Strong, Amy Middleton, Anika Eriksen, Tiffany Morris North, Carolyn Oates, Glenn Stephenson, Tanya Guckian, Dr. Patrick Kuhn, Sarah O’Connor, Angela Gioffre, Zoe Amber Preston 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

The hillscene has always strived to be inclusive of the culture and community that exists up here. And having many more hands on board will mean that we will be able to not only reach

The team (left to right) Adriana Alvarez, Amy Middleton, Zac Exner and Ross Farnell

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WOW ! Great Cover.

Our beautiful currajong cover design was illustrated for the hillscene by Belinda Strong, a local illustrator and designer. She talks to the hillscene about her work and what she loves about the hills.

Tell me all about your work.

I love my job! I’m a freelance illustrator, working from my small home studio here in the beautiful Dandenongs. I’m lucky enough to be busy with a range of diverse projects including illustrations for children’s books, tableware, toys, greeting cards, stationery and wall art for Australian and international markets.

How did you first become interested in illustration?

As a kid, I spent much of my time with crayons in hand, drawing and doodling on metres and metres of dad’s old ‘computer paper’ (remember that paper, folded up accordion-style with the holes down the edges and perforations between each sheet?).

Throughout my teens I was training full-time to be a dancer, and doing schoolwork at home, but any spare time I had was spent drawing like crazy in my sketchbooks.

I decided to quit dancing after Year 12, and went to uni for three years where I gained my bachelor of Applied Arts (Metalsmithing).

After graduating I spent a couple of years working as a jeweller, which is when I realised what I really wanted to do was illustrate. I was fortunate enough to find a job as an illustrator/designer at a greeting card company, and after three years gaining valuable experience there it was time to go out on my own and become a freelance 4

illustrator. I also launched my range of Little Beehive paper products. It’s taken several years, and a few part-time hospitality jobs, but I’m now working full-time as a freelance illustrator... living the dream!

What or who inspires you?

I draw most of my inspiration from midcentury modern art, design and illustration.

Some of my favourite artists and illustrators of the era are Eyvind Earle, J.P Miller and Mary Blair, to name but a few (the list is long!). Most of the contemporary artists and illustrators I admire also draw from that retro style as well - Josh Agle, Helen Dardik, Sean Sims, Akemi Tezuka, Matte Stephens and local Victorian artists Inaluxe - again these are just a few from a very long list!

Where can we find your work?

My website - www.littlebeehive.com.au with portfolio and links to my Etsy shop (for cards, invitations and art prints), Envelop store (for cushion covers), Spoonflower store (for fabric by the yard) and Happy Spaces (a small selection of canvas wall art). You can find my designs on toys for Tiger Tribe (www.tigertribe.com.au) and tableware for Ashdene (www.ashdene.com.au) as well as greeting cards and books by US and UK publishers.

What do you like about living in the hills?

I love the real sense of community up here - people genuinely care about each other and about the community as a whole, it’s a rare and precious quality that we have in abundance up here in the hills!

I love the way we get ‘real’ seasons with beautiful Autumn colour, super chilly Winters, and masses of colourful blooms in Spring.

It’s a vibrant community to be a part of and a fantastic place to bring up my young family.

log life hillscene blog Words by Amy Middleton We have big plans for this little maga’zine’…

Like most things in the springtime, Hillscene is showing signs of new growth. I have always been a believer in trusting the changing seasons and when the timing is right… allowing things to blossom!

As you may have already read, the Hillscene family has grown to include an editorial team of which I am delighted to be part of. Since this opportunity presented itself, something strange has started to happen… I experience “Hillscene moments”.

And they happen all the time! I will see a piece of art, have a thought provoking conversation, discover a new recipe or meet a fascinating person – and then immediately want to share it with Hillscene readers. It is the wealth of creative energy, great ideas and community spirit of the Hills, that has inspired us to launch a Hillscene blog.

The beauty of blogging is that there aren’t really any rules; everyone hurtles around with their own perspectives and anything goes. The thing we love most about blogging — is the variety of viewpoints we’re exposed to on a daily basis.

We will continue to feature local talent, showcase guest bloggers and create a platform for digital arts. But rest assured, no matter what, Hillscene and its budding blog will remain a carefully curated mix of thoughtful offerings, creative findings and tasteful design.

We look forward to meeting you online in October!

In the meantime, you might like to check out a few of the editorial team’s favourite blogsites!

Check out these blogs:

thejealouscurator.com other-wordly.tumblr.com humansofnewyork.com sweetpolka.blogspot.com.au yourllbeanboyfriend.tumblr.com 5

Monbulk Volleyball Rules Words and images by Anika Eriksen.

Our first work experience student Anika Eriksen tells us about her school’s successful and enriching Volleyball program.

The Monbulk College Volleyball program has around 80 students participating. Sport is an important part of the school and it’s known for it’s volleyball team’s achievements.

Playing for the school team is a good experience and gives the students a chance to participate and make friends in a sporting competition that is a lot of fun.

They participate in competitions such as the Victorian Volleyball Schools Cup (VICS) and the Australian Volleyball Schools Cup (Nationals). These tournaments are for both government and independent schools.

Monbulk College last won the VICS in 2005 and has remained in the top five Victorian schools for the past ten years.

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This competition is for Victorian Schools only and takes place over three days in August.

The Nationals are played over five days with teams from different states competing in different divisions depending on how they placed in the state competitions.

At Monbulk the teams are chosen early in year seven through physical education classes and then are formed into squads that train throughout the year. Each year group trains once or twice a week to prepare for the tournaments.

It’s fun and everyone likes playing and training, and friendships are formed when cheering each other on.

But when it’s time for the tournaments it’s more serious.

It’s all your hard work paid off but there’s still a few laughs as well.

To help in training for these tournaments there is also an interschool competition on Thursday evenings against other local schools. It’s good game practice and allows the students to get used to a competitive environment.

Volleyball has become an integral part of the school and the program allows students to achieve in the sporting field while still making friends and having fun along the way.

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Cigar Box Music Words by Adriana Alvarez About three and a half years ago, when John Stax was holidaying in Noosa he saw a man playing a cigar box guitar and was instantly fascinated. When he got chatting to the muso he found out that the guy who made them was at Eumundi markets so he went to have a look. “I’ve always been interested in making instruments, guitars and things for about 20 years and I thought here’s a new challenge,” says John. “I thought at the time I could do a reasonable job of them and I could put my own stamp on it.”

The guitars at Eumundi were more like and art piece but John, being a musician, thought of making them more a playable instrument. When he got back home, he couldn’t find a guitar box anywhere. Cigar boxes are hard to find, especially now in Australia with the plain packaging laws. But you can still get them in the States where his son has picked up a few for him and John himself, also got some while on holiday in Hawaii. Eventually he found some and and started making them into guitars.

A bass guitarist, John has been in many bands over the years.

Starting with ‘The Pretty Things’ in England in the 60’s at the beginning of the British blues scene. Their lead gutarist Dick Taylor had played on bass for the ‘Rolling Stones’ before Bill Wyman.

Other bands he’s played and recorded with are ‘Dave Hogan’s Meltdown’, ‘The Paramount Trio’ and the successful ‘Blues Hangover’ who also included the late slide guitarist Pete Wells from ‘Rose Tattoo’. “That was fun,” says John. “But I don’t get to play much anymore so this keeps me interested in music.”

John has been making guitars for years but not ordinary ones. He only makes special guitars, like basses and resonators, so the cigar box guitars appealed to him. Originally during the time of the Civil War in America these guitars were made out of materials you had lying around. When poor dirt farmers and slaves wanted to play guitars but couldn’t afford to buy them, they made their own.

“At the time cigar boxes were fairly large and plantation owners would throw them away, so the slaves would pick them up and they used any old tin they could find and bolts or nails for tuning.

They were pretty rough,”explains John.

These guitars are much more sophisticated, still using some found objects but also taking advantage of his engineering skills to add parts he makes out of stainless steel. Each one sounds a bit different, depending on the size and shape. They look beautiful and interesting but are durable and are designed to be played. “They can be hung on the wall, but I do encourage people to play them.”

To see and hear them you can find John at the Grassroots Markets and End of the Line Festival or go to www.cigarboxguitar.com.au 8

cafe tarts Olinda Tea House – Olinda There is a distinct chill in the air, a typical hills winter morning, enough to warrant a warm mug between the hands. So we head up to Olinda Tea House, a large contemporary-style building with a Japanese aesthetic, where we’re welcomed in and choose a table by the fire.

The breakfast menu is quite extensive and offers much more than the regular ‘bacon and eggs”.

We tried the baked eggs with mushroom ragout, Persian feta and chorizo. A large and very filling dish filled with beans and mushrooms topped with two eggs and served with toast!

Also the sour cream corn cakes with smoked salmon, poached egg and spinach, looked great on the plate and tasted delicious. We didn’t try the brioche French toast with ice cream and berries, dusted in cinnamon even though we really wanted to. The healthy breakfast also sounded good – salad, seasonal fruit, confit tomatoes, two poached eggs and sourdough.

We also had the scones with jam and cream, lovely big scones with plenty of jam. Good coffee, which is always important, but could’ve been hotter, served with a pistachio biscotti. The only disappointment was their signature chai tea, served in a pot, it looked promising but was let down when we tasted it. It was luke warm and not nearly strong enough, the addition of cinnamon and ginger shakers were a nice touch.

All in all we had a nice time. Good food priced in the mid to high range. Beautiful setting. A good choice of delicious looking cakes and an extensive range of tea to purchase. I will definitely give the chai and coffee another try.

86A Olinda-Monbulk Rd, Olinda. www.olindateahouse.com.au

ana Alva rez Ima ges by Amy Brun i and Adri

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

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My darling Clementine Words by Adriana Alvarez In the beautiful, quiet village of Kallista people are going about their daily business. Buying organic vegies or grabbing a coffee at the Deli, getting a new or vintage outfit, then popping round the corner for a handmade toy. And now they can spend a bit of time sprucing up their home as well.

Clementine is the new kid in town. It’s a design based homewares store with an emphasis on retro pieces and individual one-off pieces. They make cushions to order using some of their own older fabrics or you can order or bring in your own fabrics to use. They also stock Robert Gordon pottery from their Packenham store, and blankets from India and Latvia which are pure wool. They make bunting for children’s rooms and have other bits and pieces, including cards, glassware and retro prints.

Joanna Caterer, the owner of Clementine, had a store in Armadale and is now offering something a bit different up here in the hills. “We get a lot of younger clients who are quite interested in retro 60’s and 70’s stuff,” says Joanna. “We cater to them and we offer, hopefully, a fresh look. We like to feel as though we’ve brought a little bit of Brunswick St to Kallista. People have pointed out some similarities in that regard.”

Joanna has been a local for many years and is happy to have customers that are a bit more creative and adventurous. “I have lived in Kallista and I’m quite passionate about the village, I think

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retail

it’s unique in the hills. It’s a little bit alternative, it’s interesting. I now live in Sassafras and I just love the fact local people are very supportive and like to shop locally. They’re not really interested in mass production or what they see down in the shopping centres. Some of them tell me they haven’t been to a shopping centre for years.”

Clementine also offers a design service. Joanna has a background in art and design and used to offer a similar service in her Armadale shop, where she was very busy doing interior decorating for people.

“Arranging rooms, organising painting, accesorising cushions and colour schemes. I’m offering that again and I’ve had some interest but I didn’t expect to have as much as Armadale. It was constant, no-one ever does anything for themselves down there. People are a bit more resourceful up here.”

So there’s a full range on offer at Clementine for yourself or for a special someone. Here you can find a gift, get a card, have it gift wrapped and save yourself a trip off the mountain.

“I’ve had such good support, I’ve been surprised as to how well I’ve been supported. I think people like the fact that they can come here and get something that they literally can’t get anywhere else.” says Joanna. Beautifully suming up the spirit of the hills.

Clementine – 79 Monbulk Rd, Kallista

Clementine Clementine by design.

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Location: 79 Monbulk Rd, Kallista Phone: 03 9755 3771

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Snakadaktal’s song Since Snakadaktal won Triple J’s unearthed high in 2011 they have been making music and touring far and wide.

They talk to Carolyn Oates about their new album and the lure of the road.

Are you glad the recording process is over?

How’s it feel to have completed your first full album?

How has recording a full album impacted on the band’s internal relationships?

It’s been a really rewarding experience! We all feel proud of each other’s achievements and super excited to share our album with the world.

What was the most fascinating part of recording this album?

Connecting with our producer, Dann Hume, who generously offered us his time and incredible knowledge of music. He became a dear friend to each of us. Also probably the discoveries that have been realised post recording phase have been the most ‘fascinating’.

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It’s great to have the final product - our album - but we really loved the creation process so, in a way, it’s kind of sad to move on from that exciting, organic phase.

We definitely became a lot closer actually living together and hanging out day after day in a work environment as our album emerged. It’s been good for us.

Were there any challenges translating the recording to live performance?

Yes, in some ways, because there are so many intricate little parts we were keen to incorporate into our live performances that we have recorded.

We are pretty happy that our recorded tracks have been ultimately translatable into our live sound.

What is currently your favourite part of the live show?

Have you met any other artists you respect whilst on tour?

I personally love playing our new songs to people who are hearing them for the first time and gauging the response. We have especially loved performing at music festivals like Meredith & Laneway where people get right into enjoying our performance. All the people we work with and support us behind the scenes of our live show also help make it pretty special.

Too many to name. We have been privileged to meet some incredible artists on our travels who have really inspired us all.

Share one of your favourite memories from recent touring.

It’s hard to choose between playing ‘Splendour in the Grass’ in Byron or touring with Alt-J at Festival Hall & Hordern Pavillion in front of such unexpectedly massive crowds for our set. They were both really fun gigs.

What does the next year look like for the band?

It’s a bit of a mystery right now beyond our Australian tour which begins on August 23rd and has us travelling right around the country until September 21st. We hope to travel overseas to the US in the not-too-distant future and maybe play some other great international festivals. Our month touring in the UK in May gave us a real taste for travelling with our music to distant lands.

I’m sure there will be lots of exciting chapters still to unfold...

Answered by Jarrah McCarty-Smith, who was born, raised & still lives in the hills of Melbourne!

album review The debut record for Snakadaktal is a band of young folks showing their old souls.

It’s been a long time since I have connected with an album from its first listen. These guys have captured the 80’s revival that’s all the rage at the moment, but definitely found something of their own stamp as well.

From the opening track “Fall Underneath” all the way through the album there is a show of the band stretching their musicianship wings but it’s held in check with tasteful restraint.

“Hung on Tight” has melodic strength and great rhythmic contrast with the complex drum beat over the washing etherial guitars, no wonder it’s the first single! “Feel the Ocean Hold Me Under” has an adventurous melody and chord structure but is simple, and has a very festival

crowd singable tune to it. Then there are the atmospheric tracks like “Ghost”, “Too Soon” and “Union”, jeez guys I didn’t know if young people knew how to play slow songs anymore....but you have restored my faith.

The album is choc full of listenable tracks, no throwaways here. Dann Hume in the producers seat has done a sterling job bringing out the best sounds and performances from the band.

Snakadaktal should be proud of this album they have created, it should stand the test of time.

I’m not sure the band’s name will stand that same test, but I have no criticism of their art as shown in this album.

You can find out more at www.snakadaktal.com They start a national tour late August - September Carolyn Oates Carolyn is a local singer/songwriter and also offers instrument tuition, for more information go to www.carolynoates.com 13

Glenn Stephenson

>>>>>>>>>> Capturing History

At the proposed McDonalds site in Tecoma a man brandishing a camera takes photos of the day’s events.

He’s tall yet unassuming and speaks in a considered way as though his words are carefully chosen. Glenn Stephenson, a local photographer living in Belgrave for three and a half years, is here to capture the impact of this moment.

The focus of his photography is people, family portraits, weddings and events. “I’m not a landscape photographer, or a wildlife photographer, it’s all about people for me.”

For someone who is fascinated by people the ‘No Maccas in Tecoma’ protests provide powerful material. Glenn says, “I feel passionately about a McDonalds not being built here as I live within 500 metres of the site. I understand the effect that it will have on the community and the environment so I thought I could offer my skill in capturing this event photograhically and I’ve been doing so for two years.”

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Glenn moved to the hills from Western Australia after holidaying in Victoria in 2009. He brought his kids to see Puffing Billy like his parents had taken him when he was three. He and his wife fell in love with the area and all it had to offer and made a serious decision to make the change. “Where we came from had all this... McDonalds and built up shopping centres and this doesn’t which is why we moved here and why we’re involved in this campaign.”

Facebook: Glenn Stephenson Photography

Writing with heart What is the name of your book?

Why did you decide to write it?

My book is called Why Don’t They Like Me?

I have found a need for social stories, not only in my own circumstance but also with friends who have children on the spectrum. I have written several personalised stories for friends children and also various general stories for my children’s school, all with varied success. I believe I write in a way that children can relate to, as if they are being spoken to which I think appeals to adults and children alike.

What is your book about?

It’s a book of five short social stories. They are aimed for parents to read to children between the ages of approximately 8 to 15 who have difficulties understanding the world around them.

The book is particularly useful for children on the autism spectrum and other special needs children who need that extra assistance. The topics range from girls getting their periods to understanding that computer games aren’t real. I have had great success with social stories personally with my daughter who has autism. They are written in a way that they can be adapted to suit any child, they are fairly generalised so that specifics can be added if needed. The parent can add photos, names, anything they think may help to personalise the story for their child. Or they can just keep it as a general social story.

How did you get it published?

Google! I found several publishing companies overseas but wanted to go with an Australian company. Fontaine Publishing was the company that I chose, they were reasonably priced and they publish to a variety of sellers.

Where can people buy it?

It’s available on Kobo and Amazon, if you google my name - Sarah Hitchings O’Connor - you can find it very easily.

What do you like about living in the hills?

I love living in the hills. I’ve been living here for 18 years now, moving into the area to be near family.

I love that I can walk down the street and always bump into somebody that I know. It’s a real community feel and I’m blessed to be a part of it.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Please buy my book!

Sarah O’Connor I keep thinking “what do I want to be when I grow up?” and I always come up with the answer “a writer.” I’ve started two blogs www.autisticchildren.com.au about life with my special girl and gymjunkieyeahright.com and I’ve written this book!

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Health begins in the Kitchen Words by Angela Gioffre In a world of over processed foods, degraded soils and record cases of cancers, diabetes and other lifestyle diseases, where better to effect change than in your own backyard. I brought a big one and created Organic Empire. As a nutritionist and organic farmer I’m on a mission to bring families back together, at their dinner table enjoying delicious, clean, organic foods.

A couple of years ago I became very concerned that our current conventional food systems were a recipe for disaster. I realised that not only are they destroying our health, they are affecting our families and our communities.

Farmers were leaving their land in record numbers and processed foods were outnumbering natural foods.

I decided to be the change that I wanted to see. Two years ago I brought a farm in Mt Evelyn so that I could produce organic food. I set up shop in the existing 1940’s store on site and also opened a food school.

It’s here that we teach classes in everything pertaining to food,

bee keeping, wood fired oven making, chocolate making, traditional foods and raw foods.

If you can eat it we will teach people how to make it. In the coming year we will open the farm doors and teach people how to grow their own organic food.

I believe in the power of food, in particular organic food. It can bring families together, keep them healthy, happy and nourished on many levels. It is clean food that has been proven to have more antioxidants, vitamins and minerals than conventionally grown food, it has no nasty pesticides, herbicides, insecticides or artifical fertilisers and it tastes amazing!

With spring approaching the team has been busy preparing the soils for the coming spring crops. We have so many crops on our small farm and feel very blessed to be able to share them.

Growing your own food is such a rewarding experience, so why not plant some of your own, September is a great time for planting...

Spring time tips: PLANT: Potatoes, Jerusalem artichokes, globe artichokes, chives, rhubarb and cabbage, cauliflower, celery, broccoli, lettuce, silverbeet, leeks and salad onion.

SOW DIRECT: Carrot, beetroot, parsnip, silverbeet, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, onion, kohlrabi, summer spinach, leeks, swede, turnip, peas, Asian brassicas, Japanese turnip and peas.

For tips on how to live a healthier lifestyle, recipes and seasonal lists go to www.organicempire.com.au

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Images by Anika Eriksen

L i s a v o n Mu l l e r Words by Adriana Alvarez Voski von Muller is dangerous. It’s a shop of many beautiful delights. It draws you in and once you’re inside there’s so many things to captivate the senses, it’s easy to spend too much time in there and buy something you fall in love with. Especially if you start talking to the owner, Lisa von Muller.

Lisa is often behind the front counter busy creating or chatting to a customer. She has a wealth of knowledge on local people and happenings, and is very generous in sharing these great stories. She can also point you to the most exquisite outfit or accessories, some of which she has created herself.

Lisa makes clothes, including kids t-shirts, and accessories, like belts, handbags and jewellery which she sells in her shop along with works from other designers, including many locals. The shop is a veritable cave of treasures, aside from the clothes and jewellery she also stocks shoes, soaps, cards, papers and other lovely objects.

“I have a massive collection of fabric at home, cause I’m a hoarder with fabric and little bits and pieces. Anything that’s a bit interesting, and I’ve been collecting for years. So the clothes I’m making are from things I have at home,” says Lisa.

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Many of her one-off pieces are upcycled from this collection or what she’s found at Resource Rescue down at Bayswater. “I think everyone knows that (upcycling and recycling) are the way to go. Plus it gives you more individuality,” says Lisa. “I’m going to do a lot more of that because after that incident in Bangladesh with that building falling down, it’s just going to make me more inspired to do things.” Aside from the upcycling, Lisa also makes a range of clothes from new fabrics she’s bought cheaply. They are manufactured either by herself or locally by her machinist in Bayswater.

She has always had an interest in op shopping and making her own clothes but she began her creative life as a potter. After finishing high school she did a Tertiary Orientation Program at Box Hill, where she got to do photography, filmmaking, illustration, graphics and a whole range of subjects including ceramics. After that she went to Caulfield Institute to do a ceramics degree for four years, and was lucky to have a lot of fantastic lecturers.

Because she had no money during this time she used to always make her own clothes.

“Then I had the kids,” she says. “I was trying to pot but it’s really difficult to pot without a studio and with young children and visitors coming.”

She was teaching ceramics at Selby Community House at the time and began making more and more things out of fabric because it was easier to put down when little kids need you.

“Now I prefer it, I’m not patient enough for ceramics, you have to fire it and I don’t have a kiln. I’m just trying to be more efficient with my time so if I’ve only got ten minutes, I can whizz down and do something in the studio.”

Being creative is important to Lisa but so is being active in the community. That’s why she seems to know everyone and is involved in many local events.

She was on the committee of Selby Community House for a number of years as well as teaching there and painted a mural at Kallista, among other things. “If I can support community then I do. Like the Grassroots Market, when that was happening I was pretty pro that.”

When the market was cancelled because of opposition from some local traders Lisa put

a big sign on her shop door stating all the good things about it and inviting people to leave comments which received a great reaction. Lisa adds, “I think if you live up here you’ve got to be community minded.”

Now Voski takes up more of her time and she’s part of a different sort of community.

Lisa started Voski about five and a half years ago. Before that she was selling her creations at markets and festivals. Then she met Tamarind Croft, who was thinking of opening a clothing shop. Tamarind was pregnant when she opened Wilga so Lisa suggested “Why don’t I come and work for you?”

After working at Wilga for a couple of years she decided to start her own shop. ”I opened my own shop because I thought Tamarind was marketing to a specific sort of person and there was another market for an older woman.”

Voski began catering to women who needed larger sizes and a different shape to suit their

body. “You can’t help but be attracted to what’s going to be more attractive on your body.”

The store tries to provide options for women who want to be stylish but have perhaps lost confidence in their style or are stuck in a rut. “You’ve got to please your customer and make them feel good about themselves. That’s one of the beauties of having a shop like this, you can do that. That’s been one of the joys of the shop actually.”

Lisa is taking Voski online soon to keep up with the new movement in retail. But the shop will still be around to provide the hands on browsing that many of us still love. “It’s been fun. It’s always fun being in here.” says Lisa.

Voski is definitely a fun way to indulge the senses. You might even leave, like I did, with a fabulous red belt you just couldn’t resist.

Voski – 35 Main St, Upwey Voski von Muller Fashion Emporium on facebook

community Cottage Kids Words by Tanya McGuckian Belgrave Lake Park Cottage Playgroups provide a fantastic, low cost option for parents and their preschool aged children to join other families from their local area. It’s a place where they can explore a safe and stimulating environment, that is different to home.

Playgroups give children a chance to form their first friendships and develop social skills through play, music, story time and craft. They also provide really important social connections for parents, giving them opportunities to make friends and develop supportive relationships.

The physical access to many homes within the Dandenong Ranges is limited and resident families are often unable to host traditional ‘mothers groups’ because of lack of parking space for cars or no access to public transport.

Belgrave Lake Park Cottage Playgroups provide the perfect solution - a gorgeous cosy cottage, specifically set up for babies, toddlers and pre-school children. Conveniently located next to Belgrave Lake Park, less than 5 minutes drive from Belgrave township, the Cottage provides a huge selection of toys, a dress up corner, a fully stocked art room, a baby room, comfy lounges, a full kitchen and the outside offers a large undercover area for bikes with a fully fenced playground.

The cottage is run by a committee of volunteers, which are all attendees of the playgroups and therefore parents themselves. Three sessions of playgroups are offered each weekday, as well as special events such as paediatric first aid courses, Christmas celebrations and family working bees.

The space is also hired out on weekends for children’s parties. A great low cost option for birthday celebrations.

If you are interested in joining a session of Belgrave Lake Park Cottage Playgroups or have an existing mothers group that is looking for a great place to meet, where you have exclusive use of the facilities please visit our website at www.belgraveplaygroup.com.au or call our Contacts Officer, Jane Mildren for further information on (03) 9752 5925 or by email belgrave.playgroup@gmail.com

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Gentle touch Words by Dr. Patrick Kuhn It is a common belief that babies and children should have no structural stresses or strains in their bodies, because they are ‘so young’.

The reality is very different. Birth is one of the most stressful events of our lives. The baby is subjected to enormous forces, as the uterus pushes to expel the baby against the natural resistance of the birth canal.

The baby’s head has the remarkable ability to absorb these stresses in a normal delivery. In order to reduce the size of the head, the soft bones overlap, bend and warp as the baby descends. The baby’s chin is normally well tucked down towards its chest to reduce the presenting diameter of the head.

Many babies are born with odd shaped heads as a result. In the first few days, the head can usually be seen to gradually lose the extreme moulded shape, as the baby suckles, cries and yawns. However, this unmolding process is often incomplete, especially if the birth has been difficult. As a result, the baby may have to live with some very uncomfortable stresses within its head and body.

Some babies cope extremely well with even quite severe retained moulding strains and compression, and are contented and happy.

For others it is a different story, and they can display a variety of problems. Crying, screaming,

irritability, feeding difficulties, sickness, colic wind and sleep disturbances.

Osteopathy can be used to treat these symptoms in babies and children. Cranial osteopathic treatments for babies is very gentle and looks to release strain within and between the bones of the cranium as well through the spinal column, pelvis and limbs. The method used is to feel for restrictions and asymmetries in the body which indicate that an area is in a state of physical strain and gently unwind tension by balancing the tension in the tissue with the surrounding areas to restore the body back to normal.

Dr Patrick Kuhn Has over 17 year’s clinical experience working in allied health. Working in both mainstream and alternative sources of medicine. He offers patients a number of modalities which compliment his osteopathic treatments.

Dr Kuhn can be contacted at Emerald Osteopathy on 03 5968 6889 or at www.emeraldosteopathy.com.au

®

Dandenong Ranges Community Bank Group Upwey | Belgrave | Olinda | Cockatoo | Emerald | Marysville

More than $2.4 million in community contributions

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End of the Line festival is set to take over Belgrave again this year on November 30. It promises to be a vibrant, dynamic event. Packed with music, arts, performance, great food and a creative buzz. The End of the Line is a homegrown artists’ festival which showcases the talent from the region and beyond, and conveys the creative community spirit that thrives here.

Co-ordinators Brent and CJ Dakis are passionate about bringing an arts festival to life. The idea of a festival came to them when they received so much positive feedback about their shop, Limerence in Belgrave. “We kept having the same conversation over and over. ‘It’s so nice to see something different in Belgrave, there’s really not enough platforms or opportunities for local artists around here’. So we decided that we could either keep having this discussion or we could do something about it.” says CJ. End of the Line is about celebrating art in all it’s forms and creating opportunities for artists to connect with each other and share what they do with the wider community.

Joshua Collings and Kathleen Snowball, the festivals music co-ordinators, are excited about the incredible interest in this year’s festival with so many musicians already having applied to be a part of the festival. “Everyone has had a taste of how fantastic it was last year, I’m really excited to see how amazing it will be this year,” says Josh.

This year the goal of the organisers and their crew of volunteers is to make the festival a carbon neutral event. From finding eco-friendly printers, advocating the use of public transport to get to the event and even discouraging stall holders from using plastic bags, every aspect is being considered to make the festival a sustainable one.

As with last year, the whole event is run on the energy and passion of volunteers. It is only with

Photos by Love Katie and Sarah, Olivia Page and John Weeks

Words by Adriana Alvarez It’s a searing hot day and people are trying to stay cool in the shade, some are milling around a back lane watching a DJ spin some disks while an artist goes to work on a skateboard design.

Close by the hiss of a spray can is heard as the finishing touches are added to some graffiti art that’s reviving a tired, old tin gate. These were just some of the shows on offer at the End of the Line festival last November.

Last year in it’s inaugural year the festival included 250 artists. Five music stages with more than 40 musicians and an artists’ market with handmade products for a one-day community arts event. In addition 25 locations throughout Belgrave village played host to exhibitions, installations, workshops and performances. It drew an estimated 5,000 visitors on the day and this year it’s set to be even bigger.

the generosity of local businesses, council and community members like CR Samantha Dunn and the Belgrave Traders that the festival can come to life.

To make the event viable a new initiative to raise money for the festival is via a Pozible campaign.

This allows people to help fund the event by pledging money and in return getting a reward for their donation. For as little as $20 you get a bumper sticker and a mention on the wall of gratitude. Larger amounts can receive limited edition posters by one of the festival artists or even have their own event organised by the End of the Line crew.

Brent adds “We are wrapped to have the Cameo Cinema on board again as a major venue and

sponsor, but aside from these supporters, to really make this day reach its full potential we need the help of anyone willing to provide it. The day doesn’t just create an opportunity for artists, it is a day to be proud of where we live, to get involved with our community and simply celebrate why we love the arts and why we love Belgrave.�

Expressions of interest are open till September 30 for any artists, designers, makers, poets, muscicians and performers who want to be part of this exciting event.

Go to www.endofthelinefestival.com.au to apply or to find out more on how to volunteer, get involved or to make a pledge to the Pozible campaign. www.facebook.com/endofthelinefestival

Locally grown and made food, produce, art & craft, fashion & accessories, plants and live entertainment.

Market Dates 2013 Sat 21 Sept

Kings Park (Morning)

Sat 23 Nov

Upwey (Twilight)

9am - 2pm

3pm - 8pm

Willow Rd, Upper Ferntree Gully Behind the shops

Market Dates 2014 Sat 29 Mar 9am - 2pm

Upwey (Morning)

Behind the shops

www.grassrootsmarket.com.au or find us on Facebook Stallholder enquiries welcome

Jenny’s art obsession Words by Zoe Amber Preston Jenny Mai Hall is a lovely local artist whose art explores our way of life and the human psyche. She gets inspiration from the ordinary, everyday situations we pay no attention to. Jenny uses a variety of art mediums such as drawing, photography, traditional printmaking and video.

After working with printmaking and photography, Jenny has started filming videos on her webcam at home. During her chemotherapy in 2008, she created a video over three weeks, pulling out her hair piece by piece with time-lapse photography, which is very poignant and compelling.

“My artwork is to do with the image and the obsessions our culture and media has with the female image of beauty,” says Jenny. In 2009 the video was selected for a travelling exhibition, which was shown in the city and toured regional galleries. Screenshots from the video were presented at Ryan Renshaw Gallery’s Windowbox in Brisbane last month through Current Projects, a very big achievement for her.

No stranger to controversy, Jenny is involved with Fatspace in Tecoma. Fatspace is dedicated to exhibiting work that highlights key issues in the community, many of them confronting and controversial. Jenny’s art “Arthur Streeton would turn in his grave” was displayed there in a recent exhibition. It was a drawing of two gravestones in Ferntree Gully Cemetry, one with a speech bubble saying “Hey Arthur I can see Tecoma from up here”, with a McDonald’s sign in the hills in the background. Fatspace is open Thursday to Sunday from 12pm to 4pm. For more information about upcoming exhibitions visit www.fatspace.com.au Jenny also does art classes for kids, teenagers and adults in her studio on Mondays and Tuesdays. To contact Jenny about the classes email her at jennymaihall@gmail.com or visit her Facebook page (Jenny Mai Hall Art workshops and classes).

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Open Day Event

culture

Words by Amy Middleton I’ll try anything once!

Have you ever dreamt of playing an instrument, singing in a choir or becoming an artist?

Now is your chance! On Sunday the 20th of October, Burrinja will open its doors for you to come and explore your creative side. The annual Burrinja Open day includes free activities and events for the whole family.

You can take part in a Ukulele workshop, be part of the biggest drawing festival in the world, see local talent in the theatre, enjoy a free art or singing workshop, join an exhibition tour, and create a mythical creature for our “Underwater World”, made from recycled materials. There will something for everyone to enjoy, including storytelling, face painting and live music in the café.

You will also have a chance to pick up a treat at the annual Treefern Potters sale and support the local CFA sausage sizzle.

Everyone is invited and we hope to see you at Burrinja on Sunday 20 Oct from 11am and 3pm.

Burrinja - Cnr Glenfern Rd & Matson Drive, Upwey www.burrinja.org.au

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wildlife

Managing Mange Treating mange in wombats Mange Management was set up in January 2012 as a non profit organization in an effort to treat wombats suffering from an infestation of a mange mite which, if left untreated ultimately leads to their death.

The fact that wombats are nocturnal and live under ground has made any kind of treatment nearly impossible. There has been no funding and no undertaking of any government department to try to eradicate mange or to humanely euthanise these animals, which are left to die a slow and agonizing death. It has been left to volunteer wildlife carers and land owners to deal with this unpleasant task. Free living wombats will usually die within days if captured due to stress, so bringing them into care is not an option.

From our experience over the last 18 months and the positive results from assisting in the treatment of over 150 cases of wombat mange, we now know that mange can be affectedly treated on free living animals by using the burrow flap method. This simple device is easily installed over a wombat hole and 26

monitored during daylight hours. The wombat self-medicates when it leaves or returns to its burrow. The flap liquid only needs to be checked and replaced once weekly, this means weekend programs are very easy for volunteers with a minimum of training to be able to treat wombats with mange on their property successfully.

The Mange Management Group is keen to promote, inform and educate all interested parties and to do this we have information posters at Vets, an informative web site and can assist with free workshops which are available on request to all interested groups, wildlife shelters and landowners. Learn the skills needed to identify and treat mange. Workshop duration: 1 - 2 hours and includes question time. Free treatment kits are also available on request.

The group is receiving many requests for help from all over Victoria and we desperately need more volunteers to stop the suffering of these iconic animals.

Mange Management Group can be contacted on email: info@mangemanagement.org.au ph: 59 428 518 or check our website www.mangemangement.org.au

UK & EUROPE EARLY BIRD DEALS ARE COMING SOON!

Do you have a dream to explore, discover and travel in 2014? If you do and haven’t made any plans yet - then now is the time to get started!

Most of us are still feeling the winter blues and one of the best ways I know to remedy this, is to get started on planning your next adventure.

This month’s buzz is all about Europe, with all of the major airlines about to release their “2014 Earlybird Deals”. We are expecting some great deals this year – never will flying to Europe be so affordable!

The Early bird definitely catches the worm and with limited seats available on these great deals, you really need to get in early to get the best fares.

If you are planning to travel to Europe or the UK in 2014, register with us now and we will be in touch as soon as they are released to give you the best chance of the getting the best fares!

Wherever you are going in Europe or the UK NOW is the time to come in and talk to LAUREN or DEB about your next adventure!

TRAVELSCENE MONBULK 74 Main Rd, Monbulk, 3793 Tel: 9756 7566 email : admin@travelscenemonbulk.com.au web : www.travelscenemonbulk.com.au

Dandenong Ranges Childcare Centre

is a family owned and managed centre, achieving excellence in care and services to children, families and the community.

MISSION Within a stimulating environment, we aim to maintain a partnership with families & the wider community that will provide safe, meaningful and enjoyable experiences for all children in our care.

We believe that access to high quality care & education is the fundamental right of every child. Where open-ended, interactive & positive play; along with the right to freedom of speech & to be heard is provided in a healthy and caring environment.

We believe all children should be equally accepted & that each child should be encouraged to respect all others.

Our playrooms are aesthetically appealing, stimulating, warm, homely, safe, comfortable and happy.

Dandenong Ranges Childcare Centre 89 Morris Rd, Upwey 9752 5677