Issue 17 online

Summer Issue 17 * 2014

free

etry, LDB possums o p ,c ess air tr f , l e hr m e o ade tim ome h mar istm d ke geo t

ts h g li de re! mo as d an

ment

n enviro d n a e cultur , y t i n commu

The hillscene is created in partnership with Burrinja

We’ll be hanging around all Summer!

If you’re planning on relaxing with a crafty Summer project, we’ve got just the right yarn for you!

With an extensive range of natural fibre yarns, including cotton, bamboo blends, linen and light weight wools, you’ll be kicking back in no time!

Shop online today at

ayenforyarn.com.au Follow us on Facebook @ayenforyarn.

Online purveyors of fine natural yarns.

Summer Arts are Happening @ Burrinja Anya Anastasia’s Fear-Eater Theatre - 20 March, 2015

Theatrical cabaret songstress Anya Anastasia performs devilishly funny original songs that are sparkling with glamour, laced with satire, and daubed with social awkwardness. Lose your head at the Fear-Eater Theatre where fairytales and iconic stories twist and unravel.

Myths and Legends of West Arnhem Land: Nganjmirra Family Drawings.

Now until 15 February 2015 Traditional stories of creation, lore and life in Kunwinjku country, Arnhem Land.

A rare collection of works on paper created by one of the great Australian art dynasties, three generations of the Nganjmirra family.

Full 2015 Theatre Program released early December, with Early Bird discounts!

Beautiful locally crafted Gifts

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

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

burrinja - BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH ARTS

This time around I’d like to share the speech I made at hillsceneLIVE 2. It was all about the importance of collaboration and since the partnership between Burrinja and the hillscene is being continued for another year, I thought it was a good time to celebrate that spirit.

So here’s my ode to creative partnerships everywhere.

“Since the hillscene partnered with Burrinja a year ago, the collaboration between us has expanded the hillscene into a bigger and better experience. Firstly I think by adding more in the way of great content to the magazine. With extra creatives in the editorial committee to source and write stories, and bounce ideas around it has greatly improved the magazine. And secondly it has added the hillsceneLIVE event. Without the collaboration between Burrinja and the hillscene, this event would never have happened.

As artists and designers, working away in our homes and studios, usually alone, it’s easy to become a bit disconnected from the world.

We’re busy creating works and conjuring up ideas that we will hopefully see come to life.

The thing that can sometimes transfer that idea into reality is in forming a connection with others.

Collaborations seem to be the order of the day at the moment. In some spheres such as music and filmmaking they have always been a major part of the puzzle. Whether you’re part of an orchestra, a band or working on a film that involves many people, it’s the sharing of ideas that makes the final work live.

Sometimes collaborating with others is the best way to achieve what one person couldn’t do alone. Extending our ideas and allowing others with different experiences to help fill the gaps where we are missing knowledge. It can make us grow as individuals, allow us to learn new techniques and help nurture ideas.

Even just meeting regularly with other creative people can be an impetus to make more work.

The hillscene was first debuted to a group of

friends at a ‘creative cluster’ we had organised to try to share our artistic ideas and dreams.

And it has gone on to become a magazine, a blog and a LIVE event. So you never know where your ideas shared in your lounge room or at a café or bar might lead.

We are lucky to have such a vibrant and diverse artistic community in the hills so I recommend you make the most of it and connect with as many other creative people as you can. I’m sure there’s plenty of them here tonight. To fuel your own ideas and help others realise theirs.”

Editor/Designer Adriana Alvarez Cover Sonya Louise Editorial Committee Ross Farnell, Amy Middleton, Gareth Hart Contributors Gareth Hart, Amy Middleton, Sonya Louise, Tiffany Morris North, Joshua Levi Collins, Icia Molloy, Danielle Devalence, Katherine Herriman, Caitlin MacDonald, Casey Eruvelil, Saran Kim, Amy Laker Bruni and Adriana Alvarez facebook: The Hillscene www.hillscene.com.au blog: hillsceneblog.wordpress.com/ For submission and advertising enquiries e: hillscene@westnet.com.au Printed by Ferntree Print on Envirocare 100gsm recycled paper. © Copyright 2014

The hillscene is created in partnership with Burrinja

Proudly sponsored by

WOW ! Great Cover Words by Amy Middleton Sonya Louise is a coffee addicted, Peter Rabbit loving, water baby who twirls her blonde locks obsessively. Not only is she a delight to spend time with but in the last year or so she has managed to set up her own clothing label, a freelance graphic design company, complete an accelerated Master of Education, create a series of paintings and be part of a handful of art projects with the Tiffaney Bishop Collective (tbC). And the best part is... she is pumped and ready for more!

Sonya has always lived around the hills and over the years has been drawn to the beauty of the environment. Having spent time at both the Sherbrooke Arts Society and tbC, she feels such a strong connection to the creative community here in the hills that she is about to move up here.

As we sat in Grunge Cafe in Belgrave chatting about her clothing range, Sonya describes the Hills as an “art making community”. She loves being surrounded by a lot of other artists and making the most of all the opportunities that present themselves. Sonya completed a Bachelor of Design at RMIT a few years ago, majoring in illustration. After years of dabbling in design she decided to commit to making it a career. Her endless enthusiasm is fuelled by a love for what she does. She seems to be emotionally invested 4

in the overall creative process.

Her clothing line is called PUREINK and an exciting new range of bathers and boardies is on the way for summer. PUREINK stocks a basic range of T’s and hoodies, as well as limited edition ranges. Sonya also creates commission clothing for clients looking for a bespoke range or one off piece. Sonya currently works from a studio at tbC and will soon open a pop up shop for people to get a feel for the sizing and quality of her clothing before placing an order. The longer term plan is to work from a studio that offers opportunities for other young artists to create their own designs for the PUREINK label.

Whilst this lovely lady certainly has her hands full, she is totally committed to everything she does and takes a huge amount of pride in producing quality products and artwork. If you could bottle up and sell her energy and enthusiasm you would make a fortune... but my guess is that if that were possible, she would beat you to it!

For more info or to get your sticky paws on some PUREINK merch head to www.pureinkclothing.com

Burnham Beeches retold Words and image by Adriana Alvarez So much has been written about the Burnham Bakery & Piggery Café and the proposed plans for the Burnham Beeches redevelopment that there was a great buzz of anticipation about the project before it even opened. So it’s no surprise it’s been a huge success. Vue de monde chef and restaurateur Shannon Bennett and business partner Adam Garrisson have a grand vision for the Burnham Beeches estate that aims to be Australia’s first six-star luxury retreat.

It’s headed up by the Piggery Café, with it’s modern rustic style, and the adjoining Bakery that makes bread and pastries for the café, to take away, as well as servicing Shannon Bennett’s other restaurants and wholesaling to other cafés. Managed by couple Max Peyrard and Emma Lloyd, the cafe has a philosophy of simple food well executed.

“Utilising seasonal produce, predominantly what we have growing here and supplementing where we need to. Shannon’s focus has always been that and minimising wastage, and looking at the dishes to reflect the season” explains Max. The idea is to grow or source as much of your produce locally with a view to sustainable and ethical practices when growing and harvesting food, including meat.

More people are interested in these issues and the minimisation of waste is becoming very important and industry standard practice.

A Steakhouse will be next to open and then a Microbrewery will be added as early as next year.

There’s a team of gardeners who look after the estate growing vegies and produce, maintaining the grounds and the beehives, which are new.

They have emus whose eggs are being used in the bakery and there are plans for a large chicken run and dairy. The croquet, lawn bowls and bocce lawns and Trufferie are all ready now and eventually you will be able to hire a dog to go truffle hunting.

The list goes on.

“Well it’s just that there’s lots of different things which is really nice,” says Emma. “Trying to please as many people as possible including the local

community as well as people coming up from Melbourne on day trips, there’ll be something for everyone to get excited about.”

Max, from France, and Emma, from Birmingham, met in the UK where they worked together in hospitality. They decided to come to Australia as an adventure and started working with Shannon Bennett four years ago at Bistro Vue, where Max was the bar manager. They have now moved up to a cottage on the estate to co-manage the Piggery Café. They are enjoying the views and lifestyle so much they have decided to stay so Shannon Bennett is sponsoring them to become residents.

The most intriguing thing about this new development of Burnham Beeches are the stories that are now coming out about the beautiful art deco mansion which has gone through many transformations since it was built in 1933.

Max and Emma are familiar with the stories too.

“It’s been vacant for 22 years. We get people into the café nearly every day that say ‘I got married there’ or ‘I had my something there or their first job was here’. People come just to have a look because they used to work there, and they’re so excited about it coming back to life,” says Emma. “There were stories of Alfred Nicholas having music piped up from the bar to the top of the hotel where he had a bath and would listen to music on a Sunday afternoon. Play the music for all the guests, I think it was all a little eccentric.”

Now Burnham Beeches is getting a new lease of life perhaps the eccentricities will be continued and new stories will begin to take shape. Max and Emma, now locals themselves, will have a story of their own to add to the mix. www.piggerycafe.com.au 5

Photos by Johsua Levi Collins

What’s in a name?

Amy Middleton had the pleasure of a Q&A session with Joshua Levi Collins, one of the creative peeps that make up the band The Capitalist Pigs. The rest of the musical family include Kate Crowley on vocals, guitar, mandolin as well as being the bands most revered “dance co-ordinator”; Rob Moss on vocals, guitar, clarinet, piano, and whatever other instrument happens to be within arm’s reach and Amy Pinkster on vocals, double bass, egg shaker and fulfils all critical tea making duties. Joshua plays banjo, harmonica and also has dancing vocal chords!

How did The Capitalist Pigs form and how long have you been performing together?

We formed over countless cups of tea, with a passion for each other’s music and plenty of silliness. I don’t think you can get much luckier than playing in a band with your two most favourite musicians, when you have only just started playing music yourself. Kate and Rob who I would have to say are musical soul mates, have 6

been playing together for a long time. Myself and Amy are new to playing, and have pretty much learnt from being in the band... weird way of doing it.. but we are all a little weird.

How would you describe your music and the bands creative practice?

Our music has and can be described in one word... ‘loose’... Our creative practice is drawn from everything around us I guess, but to be more specific I would suggest it comes from a deep dark place in our imaginations. It then festers a bit in our minds and rises to the surface for anyone in the band to take hold of and mould.

Our last trip to Rob’s house in Marrar (near Wagga Wagga, NSW) consisted of about 30 hours of music, countless pots of tea, a shed construction, mowing of the lawns and an incredible chocolate turkey recipe which could have fed 100 tigers but we devoured it in hours. Oh and there was some delirious song writing thrown into the mix as well!

music

What do you enjoy about living in the Dandenong Ranges, and is the environment you live in important to your making?

I have been living in the hills for a few years now and it seems to have a natural way of letting you get creative. I rarely even head to the city these days... maybe once a month. Kate and I live in sunny Gembrook, Rob is from Marrar and Amy was born on the Belgrave train station platform. Her mum (the bands festival mum) Robyn, is an incredible local musician herself and has been teaching kids how to play for a very long time. Some of the older generation musicians in the hills are bloody spectacular. I like to get to an old time jam session whenever I can, for a quality music fix. Oh also the Selby Folk Club has to be one of the finest music venues in the hills. Run by a few of the awesome team that bring you radio 3MDR. We totally love those guys. (Nudge nudge… if you could play our Cd more that would be great! Thanks! )

Who are your (or any other member of the band) musical hero’s?

Well, being Capitalist Pigs, we are obviously inspired by the ruthless, greedy, moneygrubbing antics of T.Abbott, G. Ryanfart, C. Palmer, J. Hockey. Apart from those truly inspiring leaders, we love the music of Truckstop Honeymoon, Gillian Welch, Mick Coats, Helen Begley, Stray Hens, Shivering Timbers, April Maze, Cisco Caesar, Racheal Oak Butler, Tequila Mockingbird, Marisa Quigley, Oh pep (new

favourite) Michael Waugh ( who also joins us as a guest piglet around kitchen tables).

Where can people find more information about upcoming gig’s or performances?

We don’t really care if we are playing at a kitchen table or at a festival, in your backyard, under a tree on a river bank or outside the toilet block of Uranquinty folk festival. We don’t really hunt for gigs, or spend time putting in festival applications.

Maybe they should start begging musicians to play instead of the other way around. Hunt us down via Facebook where we have a total of 95 friends or be lucky enough to have booked us to play in your lounge room. If you want to hear us… book us!

Something else you want us to know?

We were playing a set in the streets of Newstead @ the Newstead Live music festival earlier last year when some of the committee for Maldon folk festival said “you guys should send in an application”. So we went down the mountain to Jason Torren’s recording studio (Debasement Studios) in Ferntree Gully and we recorded 6 tracks pretty much live. Two takes per song in one evening. Kate drew the album cover art, I did the layout and we sent it off to the printers and boom we have our first run of E.P’s titled Better Out Than In. They were printed a week ago… so get your copy before they run out! www.facebook.com/thecapitalistpigs 7

retail

Fleetwood Vintage

Danielle Devalence of Walk in Wardrobe tells us about her new store Fleetwood Vintage and her love for local living.

What is it that your business does?

We provide hills folk with A grade vintage and retro clothing, gorgeous silver and gemstone jewellery, and quirky interesting finds.... Stock gets updated weekly so there is always something unique to be found!

What drives you to operate a business in the hills?

I have always wanted to bring a funky city vibe to the hills so that people don’t feel like they need to leave the mountain to get what others can find down the hill or in the city. I opened up the original Cafe Green Bean in Belgrave nearly 15 years ago with that idea in mind... At that time we didn’t have much else happening in the street and its really inspiring to see how the street has grown in leaps and bounds with many great shops and food businesses now.

I bought Walk in Wardrobe nearly a decade ago and set about creating a quirky city style vintage boutique that provided locals with their vintage ‘fix’ without needing to travel to the city to get it. Over the years I’ve added things like silver jewellery, accessories, vintage kids clothing and retro homewares - things I’d seen an opening for that other retailers weren’t providing at the time and that customers wanted!

It’s what has made us evolve to the eclectic little (very little!) store we are today. And now I want to be able to provide all this goodness to a greater demographic, thus the idea to open the sister store in Emerald.

The idea being if you can’t find what you’re looking for in one store, hopefully the other will have what you need! Double the choice! ;)

What is unique about your business?

There are lots of fabulous secondhand stores around, but I suppose what I try to do that’s different is carefully curate the vintage items we stock. Rather than have overwhelming racks that can make it hard for someone to envision how to piece together vintage items, we will curate pieces instore and via our social media pages to give people ideas of how to put an outfit together.

Describe a usual day for you in your business.

Life is super crazy and busy at the moment with 2 kids and 2 businesses! After dropping my 2 children off at child care, you’ll usually find me lugging bags of (amazing!) stock up to the shop... I then price stock and sort racks, style mannequins and merchandise our various display areas in between helping out all of our wonderful customers!

And then I go and do it all again at the second store....

Where can people find more information about you?

We are on social media Facebook - Fleetwoodvintage and Instagram Fleetwood Vintage Collection. Or simply drop in to either store and ask my lovely staff anything you’d like to know!

Fleetwood Vintage - 373 Belgrave Gembrook Rd, Emerald.

PreLoved Tecoma 1539 Burwood Hwy Tecoma Ph: 04136 06898 PreLoved Tecoma is a recycled clothing and collectables store. We stock quality preloved label and vintage clothing for women, men and children, leather bags and boots, vinyl records, homewares, jewellery and other quirky bits and pieces at bargain prices.

Situated next to Bon Ton and across from the Salvos.

Kylie Haberl

Pilates Instructor

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

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

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 6pm Gilmore Court, Belgrave South - 9754 2274

Selby Community House Wed 6.30pm Wombalana Rd. Selby - 9754 2039

Perfect Harmony Words by Adriana Alvarez photos by Miro Anderson There are so many stories to tell about Tracey Roberts and Willem Oudyk and their unique home that it’s hard to know where to begin. This article is going to be about their geodesic house, which they share with son Dan and several hundred visitors during the Open Studios weekends they hold regularly at their home.

Here are just some of the reasons to visit one of these Open Studio weekends. Firstly Tracey Roberts is a visual and performing artist with synesthesia, which for Tracey means seeing colours and shapes when she hears, creates and plays music (more on this and Tracey’s art in a later blog post). Secondly, her Open Studio weekends usually include a concert often with other musicians involved. Thirdly, she lives in an amazing geodome house that was purpose built as a performing and gallery space.

A geodesic dome, is a spherical or partial-spherical shell structure based on a network of great circles (geodesics) on the surface of a sphere. The geodesics intersect to form triangular elements that have local triangular rigidity and also distribute the stress across the structure. For this reason they are very strong and can withstand hurricane strength

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winds, and snow storms and have many sustainable features. Their dome is a penta-decagon (15-sided) with 75 triangles. It’s self supporting and unlike a normal roof, doesn’t need any interior walls to hold it up. The bigger it gets the stronger it gets by virtue of the fact that there are more triangles.

It uses 25% less material for the same volume and therefore also takes a smaller footprint of earth, so you don’t have to move anywhere near as much environment to put your house in the spot. It’s also got some great insulating properties because of the air flow which is created by its dome shape. With a series of vents that are designed to be opened or closed depending on the season the house can be more easily cooled in Summer and kept warm in the Winter. Its designer R. Buckminster Fuller was a renowned 20th century inventor and visionary who dedicated his life to making the world better for all of humanity. With many inventions, books and doctorates to his name, the geodesic dome was his most famous and widely used invention.

Whilst living in Europe Tracey and Willem decided on a project that they could create and develop their lives around, which was to develop a performance

venue. “But we knew we didn’t want to do it in the centre of town where all the concrete is,” says Willem. “We wanted to do it in a bush environment where we wanted to live and enjoy and if you do that, then you have to encourage people to come.”

Their original plan of a large performance space in the Yarra Valley eventually gave way to building their geodome home in the hills that would be filled with music and art.

The dome shape makes for very interesting acoustics because of the amphitheatre effect that you have with the curvature of the dome.

“It’s beautiful because the music really swims in the space”, explains Tracey. “It’s really lovely to play the piano here. People always say they love the concerts in here because the music fills the the whole dome. They’ve got a beautiful outlook as well. We’re very lucky.”

They designed the space with a mezzanine level so that people could see the concerts and experience the music from the different levels including on the stairs, and there’s a built in PA as well with cabling under the floor and a mixing desk.

Tracey sums it up with this statement “So this is kind of like our living public space and downstairs is private space and that’s the way we’ve constructed it. We love having people come through and talking about art and listening to music. And sitting out on the balcony with the forest in the summer, it’s beautiful.”

To experience Tracey and Willem’s geodome, and talk with Tracey about her artwork and music, they are always open by appointment and their next Open Studio / Your Story in Art event will be held on Sunday December 14 from 10am till 2pm.

To find out more go to www.traceyroberts.com 11

poetry

Anawim Dreaming Words by Adriana Alvarez At the age of 65 most people are content to start winding down and enjoying their well earned retirement, perhaps look after their grandchildren, play golf or work on the garden. But not some.

That’s when Icia Molloy, a local writer, decided to start her Bachelor of Arts in writing and publishing – digital age. Icia was keen to learn about digital publishing to enhance her writing skills and experience, which include community projects such as the book ‘Baked Apples on the Tree - Ash Wednesday reflections’.

Now 67 she has finished her course and has published ‘Ananwin Dreaming’, a poetry book which is online. One of the assignments was to create an e-book and since she has been writing and performing poetry since the late 60’s she had a stash of poems ready to go. Being a performance poet the rhythm and shape of the words coming off her tongue are different to the written words so Icia restructured some poems to adapt them for the page. “The poems are about being alive, life experience, the challenges that we experience internally and externally. What I love about writing is you can sit down and start writing words not

knowing where they are going to take you, and quite often it takes you to an aha! realisation” says Icia.

Although the poems are personal many are about the universal journey of discovering ourselves, our gifts and abilities, and of our interaction with self and with others. She’s happy with the outcome despite some minor improvements to be made but because it’s in a digital format it can be updated at any time.

Some of her favourite poems such as ‘The Beach Hut Café’ and ‘What now?’ are about turning points, others like ‘Companions on the Journey’, were written as a sonnet so Icia could try a new formal structure different to her usual writing style.

There are some very personal pieces like ‘Sydney Rocks Street parade’ about her great grandfather who came to Australia as a convict and ‘Journey home from Café Yartz’ about her daughter at the age of seven realising how to be a clown.

Whatever your age it seems Icia’s e-book of poetry shows that you are never too young or too old to discover something new.

Being and Becoming mire ess to be the mud and Oh! To know the darkn w. gro we ich wh st heap, in of the universal compo wail upon ourselves Foolishness to whip and ightened than we are: for not being more enl through the dark; h our own true journey Denying ourselves, eac our very eyes show us not trusting, even what rd compost – in our very own backya light. ose to grow towards the cho all things naturally

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For more of Icia Molloy’s poetry go to www.smashwords.com/books/view/449736

work in progress

Katherine Herriman Katherine’s tiny, gentle worlds are storybook scenes for grown ups. Harvested from an infatuation with colour and a yearning for the pleasantly strange to infuse daily life, each painting is subtly hued and playfully offbeat.

Based in her historic 1920s hills residence, Katherine’s log-fire-warmed studio overlooks woodland greens. www.nelliewindmill.com

We wish you a local Christmas You know how much we at the hillscene just love to buy local.

So we set ourselves the task of finding some great Christmas presents, locally, for all our loved ones. Here’s just some of the great gifts we found. We hope it inspires you to buy local for Christmas.

For Her - found by Amy Middleton Metisse - Shop 8, 540 Mt Dandenong Tourist Road, Olinda Metisse stock a broad range of gift delights including home wares, textiles and antique furniture. This selection of gardening goodies are great stocking fillers for green thumbed ladies. www.metisse.com.au Price range $10 to $30

Quirky - 359 Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd, Sassafras VIC Every hanger in this store holds a piece of textile summer goodness.

This Miss Cherry dress seems the perfect little number for Christmas Day. Price $69

Burrinja - 351 Glenfern Rd, Upwey Dawna Richardson-Hyde will be running a series of art workshops early next year. This creative experience is ideal for that special creative person you might like to spoil.

There are a number of one day workshops to choose from, or a five day workshop that unpacks the Artists’ Journey. www.burrinja.org.au/what-s-on/workshops Price from $135 to $450 14

For Him- found by Gareth Hart Ok, let’s face it, no need to be coy: guys can be hard to buy for. So I set myself the challenge of finding a range of men’s options in the hills, that I would personally be thrilled to give to the men in my life (watch out Dad, Ryan, Edward….)

I think there is something for every man: the business savvy Brother who needs statement socks, the on the farm Dad, the socially conscious partner, the artisan cousin. Most of these items are exclusive to the stores where I found them.

Enjoy!

Bootstraps n Buckels 12A Kilvington Drive, Emerald Ariat Cowboy Boots from $200 Otto & Spike socks $17.95 Akubra ‘Bandit’ Hat (designed by and made exclusive for Bootstraps and Buckles) $205 www.bootstrapsnbuckles.com.au

Wilga Menswear 78B Monbulk Rd, Kallista Wilga detailed t-shirts (pocket detail by Wilga) $59.95

By Wisteria necklaces (made for Wilga specifically) $15-$25 www.facebook.com/wilgamenswearkallista

Limerence - 2/1642 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave Treads n Pedals up-cycled desk clock $55 Treads n Pedals up-cycled bike type belts $60 Depths of the NeverNever vintage licence plate clocks (exclusive to Limerence) $40 www.limerence.com.au

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For the Kids- found by Adriana Alvarez Christmas is all about the kids. They’re the ones that get the biggest kick out of Christmas day and when you have them, you realise it’s all about giving. While there is an overwhelming choice

for kids gifts finding something that is a little bit more meaningful and will last is the challenge.

Here’s a few things that caught my eye and will hopefully give you some inspiration.

Belgrave Book Barn 1630 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave Assorted books for boys and girls of all ages from $4.99 to $14.99 The World of Eric Carle caterpillar $11.95 Monte Marte - Cartoon clay $3.99 Andy Griffiths ‘The 13-Storey Treehouse’ Book and T-shirt pack $19.99 www.facebook.com/belgravebookbarn

Epoche - 77A Monbulk Rd, Kallista Biopainted eco-certified ring stacker $79 Dolly with Gingerbread house $39 Secret Garden Inky Treasury Colouring Book $19.95 Stockman Opaque paint set $29.95 Kinetic Sand 1kg $19.95 www.epoche.com.au

Hugs for Kids - 1683 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave Head bands by RYB from $14.95 Matador Construction Sets from $39.95 Anamalz from $7.95 - $12.95 Bamboo dinner by Love Mae set $29.95 Wall Decals by Love Mae from $15.95 LED Night Lights $59.95 www.hugsforkids.com.au

The Haby Goddess 41 Main Rd, Monbulk Rag Doll Kit by Vintage Crafts $29.95 Big Box of Beads $6.95 Timber cross stich kits by Make it $13 Gift Vouchers available for school holidays Crafting workshops. Check the website or facebook page for details. www.thehabygoddess.com.au www.facebook.com/TheHabyGoddess. sewing.craft.supplies

If you need some adventurous type, explore fontanimal.com

Quirky, wizzo fonts made to bop, jive, laugh & excite!

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“Shaken not Stirred” Tell me a little bit about your gin company?

The Melbourne Gin Company is very new on the market with the soft roll out starting from July 2013. This is the culmination of three years work setting up the operation. We are based at Gembrook.

How did you get started making gin?

Frank Moorhouse in his book “Martini – a memoir” states that “Every time it is served, the martini represents a journey towards an unattainably ideal drink”. The idea of endlessly pursuing a perfection that does not exist is something well known to passionate winemakers.

Having a winemaking background we thought we would delve into the mysteries of gin production.

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This was largely brought about by our fascination with martinis and all things gin.

The notion of the “unattainable ideal drink” led us into a series of trials and experiments and we have become fully immersed in the alchemy of batch distillation and the extraction of exotic and local botanicals.

What’s so special about the gin you make?

The MGC doffs its hat to London Dry Gin with the two major components being Juniper Berries and Coriander Seed. There are 11 botanicals in total (not including a lot of love) with the Grapefruit peel and Rosemary coming from the garden at Gembrook.

The other botanicals are Macadamia,

Sandalwood, Honey Lemon Myrtle and organic Navel Orange, which are all sourced from Australia. The foreigners in the mix are Angelica Root, Orris Root and Cassia Bark.

Each botanical is distilled separately and then blended to our recipe – essentially a winemakers approach. We use a copper pot baine-marie alembic still. A still traditionally used for making perfume. This allows us to preserve the delicate nature of the botanicals we work with.

The final component is the water used to break the gin back. We use Gembrook rainwater, which is pure and fresh and allows the botanicals to shine through. At only 60kms from Melbourne this local source contributes to the definition of the unique “Melbourne Dry Gin” style.

The MGC is not chill filtered. We didn’t want to take out the oils that contribute so much to the aromatics and mouth feel of the gin. So when the gin is very cold the oils become slightly insoluble and form a light haze. The French use the word louche to describe this. In a different context someone who is louche is of a shady character! Each bottle is numbered to reflect the small batches in which it is made.

What is your favourite drink/cocktail made with gin?

There are many different ways to drink the MGC. When we initially conceived of the project there were three main ideas in mind. Martinis, for that touch of class and sophistication, Gin and Tonics for those relaxing sundowners off the back porch and Negronis (equal measures Campari, vermouth and gin) to get the party started.

What do you like about living in the hills?

There is a lot to be said for the serenity of the hills within an hour of a cosmopolitan capital city. Stars and silence at night, birdsong in the mornings. Not to be taken for granted. www.melbournegincompany.com

Can you tell us about any sustainable features of your company?

We source as many of the botanicals as possible locally including the Grapefruit peel and Rosemary grown on our property.

Morning & Evening Classes Belgrave Upwey Sassafras Silvan

Please call Su for details

0437 949 9 1 9

su@chigeneration.com.au

www.chigeneration.com.au

cafe tarts The Independent - Gembrook I had heard great things about this new eatery in Gembrook, so expectations were high and we were not disappointed.

The restaurant is housed in a converted hardware shop/ factory so is large and airy with polished concrete floors, it’s all industrial chic. The restaurant floor is overlooked by some large contemporary paintings including a gold-leafed David Bromley painting which I adored.

Now to the food!

The menu by Argentinian chef and part owner Mauro Callegari is made up of shared plates. ‘Picada,’ smaller entrée sized plates (about $14.50), and ‘Un poco mas Grande’ larger main-sized plates (about $25) and lots of side vegetable dishes. We started with a complimentary appetizer of tasty ricotta dip with warm ciabatta rolls.

Then ordered the Pulpo, tasty morsels of octopus with paprika and flaked almonds, the baked Provoleta cheese, which arrived sizzling topped with chimchurri. The larger main was Pork Belly, rolled and sliced atop a pumpkin and corn stew and a Cos Lettuce Salad topped generously with sharp cheddar cheese in a bitey mustard dressing, simple and crisp it was a refreshing complement to the other dishes. All were beautifully presented, perfectly cooked and mouth watering.

This was probably enough for the two of us but we couldn’t leave without sampling a dessert or two. The Tiramisu was delicious but the highlight was definitely the ‘Manzanas’, roasted apples with Dulce de Leche topped with ice cream and crunchy chocolate biscuit crumbs.

The Independent is really worth the drive. You will not be disappointed. The service is excellent and the staff knowledgable. The produce is sourced locally and most wines are Australian with the exception of a couple of Argentinian wines. There is also a good selection of Vegetarian and Gluten free dishes available.

I am already planning my next visit!

79 Main St, Gembrook. www.theindependentgembrook.com.au Tiffany Morris-North

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

Finders Keepers - 49 Main St, Monbulk & Shop 4/1545 Burwood Hwy, Tecoma

Hello Lunar Possums Words by Gareth Hart Sometimes the most amazing things emerge out of the accidental. This is probably one of the biggest (and best!) lessons that 12 year old Mieke Florisson has learnt in the last eighteen months. In 2013, whilst a student at Macclesfield Primary, Mieke and classmates were assigned a school project ‘Love your local’, where they had to each create a powerpoint presentation about something they loved locally. Mieke chose to research the Leadbeater’s Possum, its dwindling numbers, and the threats to their habitat and existence. At the end of the project, Mieke’s teacher posed the hypothetical question “Think about what you would do to take this further?”

It was a question intended to get students thinking about how they could educate the community, and a provocation to think about, as a group, how this would work.

Misunderstanding in the very best of ways, Mieke took this personally and went away and wrote a whole book, titled ‘Lunar the Leadbeater’s Possum’. 18 months later this book is hot property, having printed hundreds of copies, constantly selling out, and propelling Mieke into a string of amazing experiences.

Beginning in June 2013 with a humble (if that word can even be used in this context) book 22

launch at the Emerald Library, Mieke’s profile as a young writer with something to say has continually grown and grown. Following the launch, Mieke has appeared in a range of local media, interviewed on radio, featured on the Chanel 9 news, met the Governor of Victoria, delivered a guest speech at the Mobile Landcare Group in Melbourne, and most impressively, was recently inducted into the Zoo’s Victoria Hall of Fame being named as ‘2014 Young Advocate of the Year’. Quite remarkable for even an accomplished writer, these achievements are particularly exciting when you consider that the book emerged out of a school project, and some misunderstanding! Reflecting on the journey this book has sent Mieke on, she summarises the experience perfectly in her own words: “As soon as I thought it was all done, another thing would come up, then something bigger, and bigger again!”

The decline of the Leadbeater’s Possum (LBP) population is of great local significance explains Mieke, as the largest population of the LBP now call Yellingbo home. This community of furry critters numbers somewhere around 1000. When you truly understand this number, it is chilling to say the least. This was one of a

eco life

string of interesting facts that Mieke unveiled in her research for the book, which also included an understanding of the effects of logging on the habitat of the LBP, the devastation to habitat that the 2009 bushfires brought, the fact that the LBP is one of two animals featured on Victoria’s state fauna emblem, that since 1998 the LBP population has decreased by over 80%, and that in the 1950’s the LBP was declared extinct before a tiny population was later re-discovered.

The whole process was a big learning curve for Mieke, who admits that she “virtually knew nothing about Leadbeater’s Possums” before the school project. Not only did the project teach Mieke about the LBP, but she took a steep learning curve in the writing process too. The first draft of the book took three days to complete, and in Mieke’s words “when I realised that my teacher was serious about making it a book, I needed to make the book longer, I needed much more descriptive writing for the story”. The whole

process of finishing the book took three months, and included editing and proof-reading from Mieke’s Grandmother.

Mieke’s biggest piece of advice for the community, in raising awareness of the Leadbeater’s Possum? “Buy recycled paper and toilet paper!”

I find it truly amazing what primary schools are able to achieve with their young students (see Hillscene Spring 2014 and the story on Cockatoo Primary School’s exchange with Ramingining), and am truly thankful that the hills have excellent education and learning programs, to inspire our future leaders.

‘Lunar the Leadbeater’s Possum’ is a beautiful book, with hand-drawn illustrations (also by Mieke!) available in soft or hard cover. For a sneaky peak, pop into the Emerald library, or to support Mieke and her creativity, purchase a copy from Healesville Sanctuary, Melbourne Zoo, or via www.helmetedhoneyeater.org.au 23

Kari Wilkie Words by Gareth Hart Local artist, Kari Wilkie, kindly agreed to share a cup of tea with me at the General Food Store recently. Having spent the past 25 years living in Cockatoo, in a mud brick house that she and her husband dreamt into existence, there was much to talk about….

So Kari tell me about your journey as an artist?

When I went to do year twelve, I had to choose between art and science. So I choose art. [After school] I got married and started pottery. I went to Warrandyte Potters Cottage and spent quite a few years there, and then two friends and I opened a small gallery in Healesville.

I was on this trajectory of being introduced to the art world, but then my parents became sick and I was newly married, so again I had to choose between art and the other part of my life. My husband begged me to go back and do art, because he could see that I was more whole when doing that.

Art is always part of my life, whether big or small, it’s just a way of being. If that’s who you are intrinsically in your character, you just can’t

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deny it.

Kari tells me about her pursuits with painting, sculpture, pottery and poetry. I’m exhausted just listening to her unyielding creative curiosity.

I think we all put things away for ‘a better time’ and I ask, when is that better time? I just don’t like being still! Although, I have to say, I have learnt that a quiet place is a good place.

Thinking is part of creating, you can create a whole lot but it can just be a cacophony, if you don’t learn to sit back and think.

So where is your creative practice now, I ask.

In a stroke of genius, instead of telling me, Kari opens up some of her artist journals and lets me flick through….

The first thing that grabs my attention is a large, bold quote from Jorge Luis Borges: “I am not sure that I exist, actually. I am all the writers that I have read, all the people that I have met, all the women that I have loved; all the cities that I have visited, all my ancestors.”

On the next page, I encounter a rusty bottlecap.

Oh, I think they are great! I see them

Photos courtesy of Kari Wilkies

everywhere, but nobody ever seems to notice them.

There is a self-portrait on the next page I stop at.

So I’ve had this thing where I use tea to paint with. Because I think it symbolises everyday life, celebration and bereavement all at once. So even when I look like I might be doing a rather conventional picture, it is actually all of those things within that picture.

Ever so casually, Kari ends our time together with this little gem: I think my painting is the literal part of my brain‌ My sculpture is the allusive part‌.

And my literature work sits between the two, it helps to marry and blur them.

Fair Go logo designed by Saran Kim Mater Christi Year 10.

Photos by Casey Er

uvelil - Mater Christi

student

FairGo Market

Words by Caitlin MacDonald, Mater Christi student On a rainy Thursday afternoon in Belgrave, bright decorations, the smell of food and fresh coffee paint a contrasting picture to the weather outside.

The generous space feels full amidst a constant flow of visitors and the cheerful rhythm of laughter, conversation and live music. Mater Christi’s second annual FairGo market is easily comparable to that of any community gathering. Upon closer inspection, however, it becomes clear that it’s much more. Stalls located around the perimeter of the market showcase carefully arranged products all of which are ethically and sustainably sourced.

Visitors make their way around the market, gently handling products as one does when considering a purchase and engaging in conversation with stall holders and students from the College.

Though it is relatively well known within the public sphere that many products are manufactured amidst unethical social and unsustainable environmental practices (such as the use of slave labour, illegal workers, palm oil, animal cruelty and the releasing of excessive carbon emissions), it is often immensely difficult for consumers to purchase within the parameters of the many different certifications and guarantees (such as FairTrade) which assure consumers that the product is ethically and/or sustainably sourced.

Furthermore, consumers are often challenged by the higher prices of these products which come as a result of ethical and sustainable manufacturing practices. Therefore, consumers are torn between wanting to support ethical and sustainable manufacturing, but not being able to afford the items, or not having access to them.

Mater Christi College’s FairGo Ethical Produce market offered members of the local community the opportunity to buy a wide range of products, such as soaps, jewelry, children’s toys, sports equipment, chocolate and clothing, which were all ethically and sustainably sourced. Visitors to the market enjoyed products from Treading Gently, Heart of Chocolate, Ethica, Oxfam, Jinta Sports and Tribes and Nations (to mention just a few) in addition to several student-run stalls which raised money and/or awareness about several different global environmental issues such as palm oil consumption and over-fishing. Live music throughout the evening from Mater Christi’s Rock Band ‘The Deep End’ and other Mater Christi students bound the elements of this event together in their usual style of skill and musicality.

The event was well-received within the community and we’re already planning for 2015’s FairGo market!

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Handmade Wisteria wreaths by Amy Laker Bruni of Lillebeart @ Leaf Studios - 77 Monbulk Rd, Kallista. instagram.com/lillebeart • www.leafstudios.com.au

merry christmas