Issue 22 online

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Autumn al ph al er n n i oop ! est d y, Bi g n o l ore lly carts, m uch m d s an helmet r e t a e ed honey

Issue 22 * 2016

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n enviro d n a e tur y, cul t i n u m com

The hillscene is created in partnership with Burrinja

It’s time to get crafty!

Craft Workshops coming to Upper Ferntree Gully in March Beginners Crochet series workshops commence 7 March.

Introduction to Circular Knitting commences 21 March.

For details and bookings visit us on Facebook

@ayenforyarn ayenforyarn.com.au

Online purveyors of fine natural yarns.

BURRINJA SEASON 2016 re-imagine

burrinja.org.au

editor’s rave It's Autumn already but the leaves haven't started to turn yet. They will once the Summer dies away and we'll get the beautiful colours of the season.

There's plenty of things coming up to enjoy this season, whether it's the PAVE festival, good food, Open Studios, music and more. We feature some upcoming events in this issue but also some that have just passed. And each one reminds us of how lucky we are to live in a beautiful place with such a thriving community spirit.

My favourite thing about doing the hillscene is getting to meet so many people who share this spirit. One of the stories in this issue is about the Upwey Billy Cart Race. I thought I would cover it myself, since we had entered but unfortunately, I don't have a good camera. While I was wandering around trying to take photos with my phone, I got talking to a local who was taking photos from the sideline. His name was Mark Thompson and he was happy to let me use his photos for the story.

I think they look pretty good. with just a few words and swapping of a card he got them to me within a couple of days and because I always ask everyone what they love about living in the hills I got a few great answers to my prying questions.

I'm adding them here because I think they reflect the way many people I speak to feel.

Here's what Mark had to say. "I go to the Billycart Races because my 80 year old Fatherin-law has built several billycarts so far, his and grandsons all compete, it's great to see the family have a great time together and competing together. This year was my sixth visit to the race day, it just gets better every year.

The best thing about the day is the people.

Everyone had smiles on their faces, the food the atmosphere, everyone seemed to know someone competing. The obvious first time visit look on people's faces, the seriousness of the competitors, particularly at the start of each race. Watching the proud but concerned mums and dads running beside the over confident

young ones, the parents picking them up after a crash then edging them to finish the race.

But overall the ingenuity and genius of the billycarts, they are fantastic and often defy the laws of gravity but display the individuality of the characters who not only drive them but have put their heart into building them.

I am so lucky to live in the hills, we visit most of the events throughout the year, the various markets, open gardens and flower festivals held throughout the region. The array of art shows and theatre, particularly at Burrinja are what we enjoy.

Sorry I didn't mean to ramble on" That's OK Mark you're not rambling... we feel the same.

Editor/Designer Adriana Alvarez Cover Marta Salamon Editorial Committee Adriana Alvarez, Ross Farnell, Amy Middleton, Gareth Hart, Zoe Amber Preston Contributors Marta Salamon, Gülsen Özer, Mark Thompson, Justine Walsh, Carolyn Oates, Lee Fuller, Ben Andrews, Jayde Amelia, Zoe Amber Preston, Gareth Hart, Amy Middleton, Tiffany Morris North 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 2016

The hillscene is created in partnership with Burrinja Proudly sponsored by

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WOW! Great Cover Words and images by Amy Middleton Marta Salamon has been an artist for many years, with a Degree in both Arts and Fine Art. As well as teaching botanic art classes in the hills and throughout Melbourne, she continues to explore and expand her choice of subject matter through her studio practice.

Teaching and selling prints of her artwork means Marta is not restricted when it comes to her practice. She is able to enjoy the breadth of her creative curiosity by producing large-scale work that challenges her technically, and conceptually. Marta originally worked exclusively as a botanical artist but has branched out to include natural history subjects such as butterflies, birds and nests. Inspiration for this came from the environment of the hills that has an abundance of flora and fauna.

Once her children had flown the nest, she purchased a home in Mt Dandenong, seduced by the flat block and abundance of natural beauty. Marta said, “Areas like the Dandenong Ranges have become more interesting to tourists and visitors

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because people live in apartments and homes with less land. Nature is all around us in the hills." Marta paints what is interesting to her, from nests and native plants, to dead animals she finds on her walks.

Marta recently completed a painting of a shredded owl that had become entangled in barded wire. Marta said, “Some might see this subject as grotesque, however it is beautiful to me. It is also an important commentary on the interaction of humans and nature.�

Botanic art currently seems to be undergoing a resurgence; the work of illustrators such as Adriana Picker and Edith Rewa grace the cover of popular design publications and blogs. Marta commented that botanic art has been propelled by the amplified

popularity of herbariums, public gardens and more specifically in Australia, the work of Celia Elizabeth Rosser, a renowned Australian botanical artist, best known for having published The Banksias, a three-volume series of monographs containing watercolour paintings of every Banksia species. The Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize has also brought botanic art to the foreground.

Whatever the cause, I am pleased this timeless art form is back in the limelight.

Marta exhibits regularly throughout Australia and the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne and Cranbourne stock her prints. However if you would like to meet her in person and enjoy her work in the context of the studio it is created in, please join Marta at the Dandenong Ranges Open Studios weekend this autumn.

For more details please visit the website. www.openstudios.org.au or www.martasalamon.com

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Take your seat Interview by Gülsen Özer

Gareth Hart is an artist and producer living in Cockatoo. From the inner Northern suburbs of Melbourne, to the hills cusp, he comes. He works across multiple projects developing his own unique brand of events designed to bring people together.

Here I talk to him about his latest plan… Emerald’s Longest Dinner!

Where did the idea come from?

In a PAVE festival debrief discussion we pondered the question, ‘what brings people together’. And for me, food does this. Dinner parties, good restaurants.

Food trucks and fish’n’chips on the beach. It’s part of our culture. So from there, I wondered, what would happen if we bought together strangers to all eat together outside?

Have you been to any long dinners or lunches before? I’ve seen them come up as events during the Melbourne Food Festival and in Europe. Have these events influenced you?

I actually have never been to one! In fact, I thought I had never even heard of this concept before I dreamt it up. I was under the impression I was being incredibly unique and creating a brand new thing, when what seems to have happened, is that I subconsciously clocked the idea and loved it.

What will happen at the event?

We will sit. The sun will set. The lights come on, and we will be treated to a gourmet three course meal al fresco. There will also be some live music.

Who is invited?

Everyone! families, friends, lovers and others.

This is a chance to be treated to some delicious food, excellent music and good friends (new+old).

Everyone is invited.

What sort of a menu will you be putting together and where are you sourcing the produce from?

Produce will be predominantly locally sourced foods. Fresh is best, of course. The menu is a seasonal menu, reflecting sustainable and hearty practices of eating. The menu is being designed around the idea of ‘transitions’, to reflect the shift in colours of our landscape during April (when all those deciduous trees change from vivid green into the most vibrant shades of orange, red and yellow).

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Will there be music or other artful elements, beyond the food, to the dinner?

There will be a brilliant three piece band playing live at the event - local legends Michelle Chandler, Sue Carr Amico and Stax the Didgeman. No doubt there will be room for dancing after the dinner!

I know you are a highly experienced professional artist and producer, but have you managed hospitality food based events before?

Not on this scale!! I put myself through university working hospitality, and currently supervise a Winery Cellar Door. But this sort of food-centric large scale special event will be my first. I am thrilled to dive right in.

Where will it be?

Along the bottom of Kilvington drive, in full view of every car passing. Where the market often is, we will have one very, very long trestle table to sit at.

What do you hope happens as a result of the event?

I hope people have taste bud explosions.That people eat at a table with someone they have never met before. That we celebrate the amazing town we all love called Emerald. (plus I secretly hope we all dance in the street after the food has finished)

What’s your favorite thing, at the moment, to have for dinner at your home in Cockatoo?

Fresh tomatoes! Our veggie patch is full of the brightest little red nuggets at the moment. Baby Rapunzels, Massive Black Russians, Italian Heritage and some renegade self seedings from previous years. Fried, risotto’d, fresh with homemade cheese, sliced into salads....the flavour burst of home grown tomatoes is incredibly addictive.

Gareth (pictured above) takes inspiration from other community events like the Yarra Ranges Donkey Festival.

Emerald’s Longest Dinner - April 15, 2016 6:00pm Tickets via www.pave.org.au/events

cafe tarts Spencers Store - Gembrook What a gorgeous little cafĂŠ this is! Housed in a quaint old weatherboard store, Spencers is well worth the extra drive to Gembrook. The menu is refreshingly different. As well as the more regular breakfast options; toast with homemade jam, homemade muesli with greek yoghurt and eggs on toast, there are choices like mushrooms and chorizo with roast tomatoes, bacon and egg, beetroot bruschetta with feta, parsley and pear or wheat free coconut pancakes.

With much deliberation we settled on the fruit bread French toast with marscapone and fresh berries, the roasted eggplant with spinach and feta on toast topped with a poached egg and the homemade baked beans with chorizo feta and poached egg.

All dishes were delicious, fresh and filling. Coffee was good although I would have preferred it a little hotter. My friend disagreed.

The range of cakes was amazing, and as happens often, we couldn’t fit another bite in to try one.

We salivated over the fig cake, peach tart and salted caramel and banana balls. Gluten free and Vegan options are also available.

Prices are extremely reasonable, the most expensive being the mushrooms and chorizo or baked beans at $17.

A second trip to Spencers for afternoon cakes and coffee is a definite.

Yum! 97 Main Street, Gembrook facebook - Spencers Store Gembrook Tiffany Morris-North Tiffany is a passionate artist/crafter/foodie living with her family in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges. Follow her adventures on her facebook page Tiffany Morris-North artist.

Photos by Mark Thompson

And they're racing!

Words by Adriana Alvarez

Last weekend we went to the Upwey Billy Cart races, it was the third year we've entered. It attracts big and little kids who all love to show off their billy carts and have a chance to race. Now in it's 10th year, it's becoming a big event for the local calendar, attracting lot's of participants and spectators alike.

It's run by the Upwey Township Group, a team of dedicated volunteers whose aim is to initiate projects that benefit the township. It's a fun day for both the participants and people just coming out to enjoy the atmosphere. Often people will come for a few years to watch before entering a billy cart of their own.

The parking bays are full of blokes discussing the pros and cons of disc versus friction brakes, the weight and aerodynamics of the chassis, spot welding, etc, etc. It's great to see this banter and the generally friendly atmosphere. The kids just want to race down the hill as fast or as safely as possible depending on their daredevil nature. It's not just the kids that race though. There are races for different age groups and classes of billy carts.

There's also entertainment from dancers and Ruccis circus who are roaming at the event throughout the day and offering a big street long stage show at midday when they have a break in the races. There's the usual sausage sizzles run by the scouts and the CFA are there with bacon and egg burgers and plenty of food from the local traders that are open throughout the day.

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It's not just for locals though, it also brings people from far and wide, often for the educational experience it can provide. For example a group of VCAL students from Neerim District Secondary College who worked on their billy cart for a personal development project. Built using materials found at school and painting it with some great tattoo style artwork, a joint effort from the group (pictured above left).

The Whitefriars College VCAL program students have been coming for the past three years, it's an opportunity for the boys to learn valuable numeracy and english skills. David Bell, Co-ordinator of VCAL at Whitefriars College, says "The other thing it’s good for is their work related skills, actually making something, and personal development skills, what it’s like to be part of a community. That’s the main thing that we try to get through to the boys that it’s all about bringing a community closer together... and understanding the importance of being part of a community."

The day wouldn't be complete without a few thrills, spills and crashes but everyone seems to get up and dust themselves off intent on making it to the finish.

Not all billy carts pass the muster. "I tried to put a cart in this year" says Colin Miles, who has been coming for many years, "and my braking system wasn’t up to scratch so we weren’t able to race ...

It’s a safe event and you’ve got to make sure you

do everything right by the scrutineers. They do a great job." He's entered before with the scouts and was able to borrow a cart from them for the day so his son wouldn't miss out. "It’s a great community event, fantastic for the kids, they have a great time.

Good to see everyone out. It’s just a really good day," adds Colin.

Cr Noel Cliff who is one of the organisers, and official finish tflag waver, agrees with the general concensus that's it's a great day. He'd like to see more people get involved with organising as they always need more volunteers to keep these community events alive in the future.

There's a lot of anticipation back at the starting line with our billy cart this year. Last year we won the Novelty class, a race for style rather than speed.

With many hours of loving care and attention to detail spent on it, our billy cart is a crowd pleaser.

Unfortunately the steering cable snapped at the starting line and we weren't able to race. It's disappointing, but it won't detter us from coming back next year with a new and improved racer. www.upweybillycartrace.com

Tai Chi & Qigong Belgrave

Ferntree Gully

Silvan

Upwey

0 4 3 7 9 4 9 9 1 9 Chi Generation Tai Chi

Collaboration with Death David Bowie passed away in February this year. I remember thinking at the time, it's sad news that would touch many people. He has to be one of the few artists that was universally loved. A torrent of tributes to his life and work have ensued, and here is ours, to an artist that left a huge legacy right to the end.

Words and artwork by Justine Walsh David Bowie is well known as one of the greatest creative pioneers of the last 50 years. An innovator who has helped shape pop culture like no other, he pushed the mainstream by blurring gender boundaries, shifting personas and genres effortlessly, and constantly experimenting and collaborating.

Always many steps ahead of the times, Bowie was both clever and resilient.

His latest and final work,  (Blackstar), deconstructs the concept of Bowie as a larger-than-life symbol and vaults us into the bleak and beautiful process of mortal struggle, surrender, and transformation.

As a complete artwork,  is enthralling and ominous. How much more powerful a delivery can a creation have than the death of its maker? His last act, a gift in the most confronting sense, draws upon ancient & archetypal imagery and plays with opposing forces in multi-layered ways that will be delved into for years to come.

I won't attempt to 'review' the whole work – only the title track & video. From here I offer my small splashes in the shallow water of such an oceanic artwork. I highly recommend watching the video clip/short film if you haven't yet, and listen on good speakers/headphones if possible.

In the video for Blackstar, we see the dead astronaut.

Major Tom himself. An eclipse – the dark moon (representing the underworld or feminine nature) overcoming the sun (the masculine & 'aboveworld' element). Undercurrents of alchemy & the combining of opposing forces are present immediately. A woman creature takes the bejewelled skull, as if it was predetermined, and we see the headless skeleton drift into the abyss, peaceful and horrific.

The villa of Ormen (serpent/worm in Norweigan) is empty. Save a solitary candle. The snake is an ancient cross-cultural symbol: strength, the flow of good and evil, rebirth. The house or villa is empty

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bar one thing - illumination & the light of true knowledge. It is visited by women, the bearers of life and also representing cycles of nature. “On the day of execution/only women kneel and smile” - they understand that death is a precursor to more life.

Simultaneously, in a run down house - referring to our clunky material world - Bowie is a blind and frightened man. Buttons sewn onto bandages as eyes: all we think we see, all we think we know, is a limited subjective perception. “In the centre of it all/ your eyes” - your perception is your reality. It is all one can know.

Shuddering movements of the dancers within this decrepit 'home' infer that we all follow similar patterns to each other, regardless of our perceived physical differences (skin colour, gender, ability) while attempting to struggle through material existence. Meanwhile, a ritual is happening in the home beneath.

The meditative, rhythmic music evolves and disperses, the women walk away in procession, a field swims in & out of focus. Eyes are now open here is the more 'recognisable' form of Bowie. The sounds are familiar, reminiscent of his well-defined pop sensibilities. He speaks of his own death, and how others will rise in his place. He appears as a prophet in the 'sky' (note: an obviously painted backdrop) wielding the blackstar bible, but is still dancing joltingly in the decaying house – as if he is mocking his previous incarnations & the perception of him as an idol. In the face of death “I’m a take you home” he is insignificant: “You’re just a flash in the pan/I’m the great I Am”.

The scarecrows, stuffed & crucified objects, are seen as parallel, gyrating abhorrently, symbolizing the potential emptiness and danger in the oversexualization of culture. They, like the blinded Bowie, cannot see or understand their state of being - “We were born upside-down/Born the wrong way ‘round'”.

Chthonic forces (represented by the women) are at work meanwhile, summoning a colourful, creative beast using the spaceman’s jewel-encrusted skull. They channel change and decay in order to destroy the repulsive scarecrows. The eastern, darkly wavering chanting returns.

All of these symbols represent the slow give of deeper insight after change or the death of something. Nothing is lost, everything is transformed. The laws of energy show the cycle of production, decomposition, consumption, production, decomposition… ad infinitum. The continuous transformation of matter and energy and ideas is stunningly represented by Bowie's slowrelease posthumous gift of art - in collaboration with death.  combines presence & absence, rich symbolism and sheer meaninglessness, the formed and the chaotic into a singular glorious work. It is not the intention of the album to portray one particular meaning, but to give room for deeply wrought concepts humans can sink their teeth into, individually and collectively.

Bowie always created as personal exploration and as a conduit for cultural transformation, drawing from his unique ideas and unquenchable curiosity.

He understood acutely the importance of creative innovation in order for the world to progress. Art, music, all forms of creativity can bridge divides like nothing else. They are essential elements humanity requires to derive beauty and meaning in an often dark & brutal world. The gift we have been given – the whole of Bowie's career, extending beyond his physical death – will continue to provide nourishment into future generations.

Justine Walsh Justine is a poet, musician and performance artist living in Belgrave. She runs events & workshops through entwineArts, providing a conduit for young people to explore & connect through creativity.

Check out EntwineArts on facebook or facebook.com/justinewalshmusic

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Tattoo you Did you know 34% of tattooed Australians wish they never got inked in the first place?

For those that want to remove their old tattoos laser therapy could be an option.

The laser used for tattoo removal is a highly focused laser that rapidly delivers a beam of light to the skin for the purpose of removing unwanted tattoos. The laser is attracted to the darker colours found in the ink of the tattoo in preference to the lighter colour of the skin. When the beam of the laser strikes the ink in a tattoo, it shatters the ink into very fine particles. These particles are then no longer visible to the eye and become small enough to be absorbed and removed by the body’s own natural filtration (lymphatic) system.

At Upwey Health & Beauty Care Centre, highly trained therapists use the Ultralase Q-Switched Nd YAG Laser which is specially designed for the purpose of tattoo removal.

This laser allows very high powered laser light to be delivered to the skin over a fraction of a second. This minimises any damage that could be caused by overheating the surrounding skin and the chance of scarring is greatly reduced.

Generally treatments are quick and clients experience only minimal discomfort.

Before proceeding, an assessment is done of what results can be achieved and how many treatments are needed. The number of treatments can be difficult to estimate before treatment has begun. How many times you need to repeat the treatment to successfully remove a tattoo varies depending on the size, colour and age of the tattoo as well as the skin colour. The easiest ones to remove are simple, amateur tattoos, often requiring only 4-6 treatments.

To remove professional tattoos, you will probably need more than six treatments.

The Upwey clinic offers treatments with the laser which can remove tattoos containing black, dark and light blue, brown and red pigments within 6-12 sessions based on

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the quality of the tattoo. By matching the colour of the laser to the colour of the unwanted tattoo ink, multi coloured professional tattoos as well as single colour amateur tattoos can be removed safely and effectively. It is possible to remove or significantly lighten most tattoos. Black, blue and red tattoos tend to respond well.

Aqua, green and yellow tattoos may be more resistant and only partially fade. White tattoos reflect laser light and therefore do not respond to laser treatment.

With modern laser technology the risk of scarring is very low, however it is not zero and aftercare is important. Healing time between treatments is also recommended. Anaesthetic creams can be used to numb the skin prior to laser treatment to manage pain.

To find out more or to book your free patch test and consultation call 9754 5599 www.upweyhealthandbeautycare.com.au

Dr Faye Stone PhD, Dip TCM

Advanced Energetic Medicine Specialist

• Traditional Chinese Medicine • Esoteric Acupuncture • Quantum Biofeedback • Clean Language (NLP) Call today

0413 849 100

www.somasoulimages.com.au SomaSoul Images by Lizette Bell

Experience the benefits of cutting-edge therapeutic energetic technology and see before & after results with Bio-Energy Field Photography.

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shaun c. duncan belgrave www.shauncduncan.com mail@shauncduncan.com

Alpha Loopy Words by Gareth Hart

Carolyn Oates is a well known voice, face and champion of independent music in the hills.

Her tunes have been heard far and wide, granting her a strong following and an array of industry support. So, when Carolyn launched her new music outfit Alpha Loopy, I wanted to know all about it! Carolyn states that “with influences from Massive Attack, 60’s lounge, and Romantic period orchestral music, Alpha Loopy is a punchy outfit embracing aural atmospherics and breakbeat rhythms to get you dancing”.

Oates had locked herself away in a little cabin in the Yarra Valley to experiment with some new gear and in a matter of a few weeks a new live instrumental project was born. Taking her back to her keyboard roots, she has created a spellbinding set of electro-pop music that is created live at every show.

Having seen Alpha Loopy’s second ever gig, I was blown away by how tight, polished and intriguing this musical endeavour is already. Carolyn speaks with me about the how, why and where of it all.

So Carolyn, who is Alpha Loopy?

For most shows at the moment it’s just lil’ ol’ me and I’m on the hunt for any people interested in being a guest for jamming out…If you fit the bill contact me!

Where did your interest in this side of music come from?

This is quite a different world to your solo acoustic stuff, do you see these two as interrelated?

As far as music I listen to if you were to come and chill at my house, you would find there is a large collection of more electronic based records in my collection. I first discovered I loved this style of music in the late 90’s; I’m talking Faithless, Massive Attack, Afro Celt Sound System, and one particular album by Craig Armstrong, ‘As if to Nothing’.

It is absolutely a different world to my solo acoustic stuff, the interrelation being, both projects are created by me!

What Alpha Loopy taps into is my keyboard based start in life. I’m a classically trained pianist with a music degree and after all that formality in my training on piano I found it very hard to be creative. So I moved into guitar playing and song writing. Now after a break of a decade or more, I can look at the keyboard as a creative force at last!

It’s been really refreshing for me, I wasn’t sure I was ever going to connect creatively with the keyboard.

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music

I was very impressed when you played at the Hive Wine Bar recently that a woman in the audience mentioned “I’ve never seen you in a black dress Carolyn”, to which you replied “Well, this is Alpha Loopy” - do you see Alpha Loopy as a part of yourself?

Ha ha! Stylistically what I do as singer/songwriter is incredibly different to what I do in Alpha Loopy and in that sense it’s like another character in the story, my music story. A different character is not going to dress the same, act the same and do all the same things as another character in the story. Alpha Loopy taps into something fun and vibrant, so I felt this needed to be reflected in the way I present myself too when playing Alpha Loopy shows. As the author of these 2 different characters, yes, I see Alpha Loopy as just as much a part of me as the singer/songwriter; just a different aspect of my creativity and personality…..I am borderline introvert / extrovert!

And lastly, you are quite accomplished in the singer/ songwriter world, with a strong following and some excellent traction as an artist. Why have you decided to pursue a second avenue of music? I find it curious when an artist who is very well versed/respected in one area turns their talents to quite a different side of the industry, and does it with a great gift too!

Alpha Loopy was not a premeditated idea, it evolved from trying out some new software for my singer/ songwriter live shows. It happened very spontaneously and naturally and before I knew it I had more than an albums worth of material written. Once that happened, I was just so excited that I wanted to play it live. I’m getting a really great response to it so I guess my excitement is well placed. It means twice as much work for me, but at the moment I am more than OK with that!

Find out more and buy the double single Arianwen and Eilonwy www.alphaloopy.com

Photo by Glenn Stephenson/Village Dog Photo

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had developed beautiful friendships since becoming a member and to her it was a place “to care for one another, and to be cared for.”

Bowls up Words and images by Amy Middleton When considering this article about the Upwey Tecoma Bowls Club, I had envisioned interviewing and photographing a few of the club members in order to write up individual profiles – hoping I could celebrate the unique stories of each person.

This intention quickly dissolved in the loveliest way possible as the friendship and the shared purpose for being part of the club revealed itself during my visit.

The fabric of this club is made up of much more than just competition. Mutual respect and friendship seem to galvanise the club, or that can at least be said for the few members I spent time with one very rainy Tuesday morning. Despite the weather's failed attempt at summer, David Meyers, Georgia Button, Terry Button and Peter Kornow were possibly the jolliest group of people I have met in a long while. As they shared stories of caravanning together, tending to the gardens and arranging fundraisers, it became clear that the club offered a place of belonging for each of them. Terry described his experience of the club as being, “a terrific bunch of people – whom without the club I would not have met”. Georgia expressed that she

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This club is different to many other Australian bowls clubs. The point of difference being that there are no poker machines in the hall - a decision the group feel very passionately about. Very often poker machines are an income generator for clubs but instead Upwey Tecoma Bowls Club proudly relies on being 100% volunteer driven. From maintaining the greens to managing the bar, every task is facilitated by club members. When I asked David what the club had taught him, he said it was to value the strengths and skills that other people bring. He said “every person comes from a different walk of life, and brings something of value to the community.” It is this appreciation for each member that has enabled the club to run effectively.

2015 was their most successful year since the clubs formation in 1928 with the top team being promoted to Division 1.

The group are currently preparing for a fundraising event this Autumn and will assist the club in its goal to raise enough money to replace the synthetic green upon which they bowl. Over a long weekend, they are running an art exhibition and sale alongside serving Devonshire teas and a BBQ. Everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy the event taking place from 22 to 24 April 2016. For more information please call 0419 523 827.

This club is as much about bowling as it is about friendship, community and sharing a new giggle over a brew. This is a place for people to come together and belong. After all, even ‘Tiger’ the stray cat has found a home at the club, and proudly lords himself over the bowling greens.

21- 41 Alexander Avenue, Upwey • upweybc.com

environment

Fly into PAVE with He-Ho Words by Lee Fuller, Convenor Emerald for Sustainability (EmFSus) Did you know that the critically endangered Helmeted Honeyeater (Lichenostomus melanops cassidix) is Victoria’s avian emblem, and is right at our back door, in the Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve? It is the ONLY place to find it in the world. How special is that!

It is Victoria’s only endemic bird, and was adopted as one of the state’s faunal emblems in 1971, along with Leadbeater’s Possum (but that is another article to be written).

The wild population of the Helmeted Honeyeater (affectionately known as He-Ho) is now restricted to a five km length of remnant bushland along two streams in the Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve.

Because of the honeyeater's small population of fewer than 130 birds in the wild and its very restricted distribution, several factors, such as drought, disease, wildfire and climate change have the potential to bring the bird to extinction. Particular threats are habitat degradation through die-off.

The Helmeted Honeyeater is the largest and most brightly coloured of the yellow-tufted honeyeater subspecies and is one of the 20 priority native threatened species Zoos Victoria plans to save.

The recovery plan to ensure the future of the Helmeted Honeyeater is directed at both the honeyeater population and its habitat. Population management involves routine monitoring of all breeding attempts, the protection of nests from predators, the establishment of new wild populations through the release of captive-bred birds and the supplementation of wild populations with the release of immature captive-reared birds.

Habitat management focuses on the control of erosion and siltation in order to help

re-establish a natural flood regime within the Yellingbo reserve, as well as to control weeds and pest animals, to revegetate degraded areas and to rehabilitate habitat on private land adjacent to the reserve. Volunteers conduct daily supplement feeding as well (that’s commitment!)

PAVE has adopted the image of the Helmeted Honeyeater on the printed program for 2016, to raise awareness of the plight of this bird, given the proximity of their habitat to the Festival.

For the Helmeted Honeyeater, becoming a ‘Friend’ is one of the BEST things you can do……. these beautiful little birds need your help. Go to the website of the Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater and sign up today. Visit the nursery and buy some native plants for your garden, and help He-Ho survive. www.helmetedhoneyeater.org.au

Photos: www.helmetedhoneyeater.org.au

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Photos by Jayde Amelia

Skating On the Air Words by Ben Andrews

In my experience, personal development can seem to be a challenging thing. Physically, mentally, emotionally, socially; they all hold levels of internal and external confrontation.

Though with a constructive outlet, these challenges can be channelled into sheer exhilaration. I seem to be constantly reminded of this every time I visit a skate park, local or otherwise.

After spending time at Monbulk skate park over the last year and getting to know its local young crew, the idea that a solid constructive outlet can be the 'make or break' in the developmental years of life, seemed to only solidify this notion.

I feel that this deserves a huge level of acknowledgment and support as skate park activity is typically built on self progression and development. Skinned knees and all.

By the 20th of February, I had pooled together a diverse team made up of crew from 3MDR 97.1fm, Yarra Ranges Council Youth Services, Monbulk and District Community Opportunities Working Group

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– MADCOW, Headspace, Bendigo Bank Monbulk, with musicians such as DJ RDBCK, SPARKS, Hands In A Dream and Terrestrials to put on a 3 hour LIVE outside broadcast from Monbulk skate park.

We called this event On The Air Monbulk Skate Day. The day was built on the development of youth as a whole. Young musicians taking the stage, youth at the sound desk helm being mentored by experienced sound techs and the young users of the skate park building their recreational skill set to live music and interviews from the likes of CONVIC skate parks Landscape Architect, Nick Loschiavo and ex-pro BMX rider, Paul Robertson.

With the day’s happenings kicking off at 11am and running til the closing time of 4pm, there was lots of shared activity to be had. The turnout for this, what has been begged to be only the first of many, was quite grand. Many families came out to sit in the sun, enjoy some tunes and share in the encouragement of our local youth.

I find it to be incredible when the community comes together to better an aspect of a district that could do with some acknowledgement and development.

As far as the continuation and growth of our creative, constructive and driven cultures is

concerned, we could be learning more from our youth. For that to happen, we need to spend more time listening and supporting them in their progression. One lesson that has been fused into me by the skate community, is that there are no mistakes. Only Lessons.

OPENSTUDIOS.ORG.AU

Melchior Martin Words by Carolyn Oates

Melchior Martin has been creating spectacularly realistic art for over a decade.

You need to swing by his website to catch just a glimpse of his tireless efforts. His creative reaction to this interview is both entertaining and in depth. Thank you Melchior, for your engagement with both your art, music and this interview

Can you describe some of the features of your artistic style?

I work in gouache, a water based medium, on paper.

It is a medium that is ideally suited to outdoor plein air painting which I do a lot of. After a 10 year period primarily focused on the sky I’ve returned to landscape more generally and still life.

What are you working on at the moment?

At present I’m studying the city as an environment.

The way in which human scale is surrounded and dwarfed by enormous man made structures. The contrast in atmosphere of these structures to the fluidity and warmth of human interactions and activity in this environment.

I also grab what moments I can to sketch the sky when my valley puts on a show.

Do you have a few key tools that you use to prepare for creating a piece of art, or is it different every time?

I find coffee helpful but normally the energy for my work comes from the visual impact moment places have on me. Often the response I have to a particular place/scene is a puzzle even to me but it is also often compelling and motivating.

What is one of the strangest things you’ve had to do to create a piece?

My practice is relatively conservative but I do like to get amongst it when painting outdoors. When painting the sea I'll sometimes end up knee deep in whitewash so I can really see what’s going on or sheltered between dunes or in the lee of a building in very high winds as the skies are always most interesting during the harshest weather.

How do you know you’ve finished a piece?

I’m rarely sure that I’ve finished a piece, I think Picasso may have said once ‘a work is never finished

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it just stops in interesting places’. I’m still working on the skill of knowing when to stop. In my plein air work it’s easier as the work is often declared finished when the gesture of the subject has been captured.

At other times failing light or a deluge will call an abrupt end to a work (sometimes destroying it) Tell us about one aspect of your craft that still seems a mystery to you?

I always feel like I’m chasing the germ of a mystery; the dramatic tension in the arrangement of objects in a landscape, (or on the kitchen table) the drama of changing light on a stormy day, these things affect us all, infecting us with rich sensations that give great meaning to our lives but we don’t have a coherent language for them. These things are so powerful in their impact but so illusive to our intellects.

What concept/image would you like to create that you haven’t yet attempted?

When I know I’ll start.

You can visit Melchior Martin's studio during Dandenong Ranges Open studios weekend April 16 - 17 www.openstudios.org.au. Or visit his website at melchiormartin.com

profile

Tell us about your music?

Recently my musical endeavours have been centred around the arranging and recording of my latest bunch of original songs. These songs seem to be a response to the challenges and joys of relationships and friendships, unlike my painting which is mainly centred around my response to the natural world.

I guess the connecting thread between my creative output in these two areas is the raw human response that seems to underpin my all my creative striving. I want to create a sense of dramatic beauty in both music and art.

The CD I have just released ‘Melchior Martin and the Ruminators’ was arranged and produced with the help of some wonderful musical colleagues (including my cousin Greg and his daughter Freya) who very generously donated their time and energy to the project. The rhythm section was supplied by Greg Martin and Rohan Anderson on bass and drums, Freya Martin played electric guitar Mathew Arnold viola and fiddle and I had the

luxurious experience of adding my guitar parts and vocals over the rich bed of sounds created by these musicians.

It was produced by Rohan Anderson primarily in a home studio environment which lent itself to a fair amount of tea drinking and cogitation about music, sound and life in general, hence ‘the Ruminators’.

The sound of the record probably contains some influences from the music I listened to a lot from the mellower end of the sixties and seventies repertoire with a focus on vocal harmonies and an intense layering of sound.

It’s always hard to pigeon whole your own music but I guess it could be placed in the Indi folk area.

The CD is available online through 'cd baby' or iTunes.

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exhibition

VCE artists shine Words by Zoe Amber Preston

Hundreds of Year 12 students, like me, graduated from 13 years of studying, early mornings and homework last November, and many of those students, like me, undertook one of the amazing art subjects our local schools have to offer.

As an aspiring artist, no words could explain how excited I was when Amy Middleton, the Community Cultural Development Officer at Burrinja offered me the chance to have my artwork on display as part of the VCE Creative Showcase. The showcase runs every year to celebrate the artwork done by inspiring emerging artists. Thirty-eight Art and Studio Arts graduates from Upwey High School, Sherbrooke Community School, Emerald Secondary College, Mater Christi College, Belgrave Heights Christian School, St. Joseph’s College, Monbulk College and Mountain District Christian School were chosen to participate in the ninth annual showcase, which delivers a diverse range of mediums and styles to the community to show art from a young person’s perspective.

The opportunity for us to have our artwork on display in such a prestigious and beautiful gallery like Burrinja was a dream come true.

Walking into the gallery space on the opening night, I felt a sudden rush of excitement and joy as I was surrounded by 50 vastly different paintings, drawings, sculptures and installations that each told their own unique story, each explored a different mindset, opinion and issue.

That is the wonderful thing about displaying these artworks; that each one holds months of preparation, ideas, effort and inspiration. The darkly lit gallery, spread across 2 rooms and filled with the sweet acoustic sounds of Miller, communicated a sense of mystery as to what intriguing artworks lay ahead as you ventured through the space.

After immersing myself in an array of phenomenal artworks, Cr Noel Cliff from the Yarra Ranges Council presented a speech to commend the young artists before Upwey High School graduate Nadia Sirninger-Rankin came

Photos of opening by Zoe Amber Preston

Clockwise from top left: Courtney Siesmaa 'Projection of Human Emotion' • Matilda Cowdery 'Portrait of Lionel Kane' • Kulani Perera 'Effervescence' • Anika Eriksen 'Life's Light' • Stephanie Guglielmi 'Untitled' • Kaydn Griffiths 'Spider watching' up to thank Burrinja and the organisers of the showcase on our behalf.

It is a wonderful feeling for young people to be recognised for their talents and passions. ExSherbrooke Community School Student Rachel Thorpe, who’s artwork was also featured in the exhibition, says that the exhibition “made me feel recognised and appreciated. Having my art on display made me feel like the artist I have aspired to be, and all the effort I put in was worth it.”

For any young people, high school students or fellow creatives, my advice for you is to always create art that is true and authentic to you. Never belittle your creative process or compare yourself to others, because each

piece you create is a reflection of yourself, your ideas, opinions, values and beliefs. That’s the most beautiful thing about art, that each one holds a story, stories that each of us can learn from. Rachel Thorpe also advises students to “keep telling yourself that the outcome will be worth it. You can make it through Year 12 by putting in immense effort into something you are passionate about. Don’t waste your energy with something you don’t even like, as showing passion is what will get you recognised!”

The VCE Creative Showcase was on display at Burrinja in Upwey throughout February.

To see the online catalogue go to Past exhibitions on the drop down menu under Art at www.burrinja.org.au

an eclectic mix of local culture experience a ‘hillscene’ moment magazine & blog www.hillscene.com.au

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www.hillsceneblog.wordpress.com

Butlers vintage style Words and images by Amy Middleton Please share a snippet of your story with us. Such as why did you choose the Dandenong Ranges to live and open your lovely store?

Brett is Australian and I moved here from the West Country of England ten years ago. We found the business for sale 18 months ago during a freezing stormy July day and fell in love. We took over the business in Oct 2014 and extended the business into the vacant shop next door in April 2015. As a child in the United Kingdom my parents had always been avid and knowledgeable collectors and this is where my love of vintage and antiques began. Brett is in the Wine Industry and helps out at the shop during the busy times.

Tell us how the concept of Butlers came about?

The business model was already in place when we took over, the antique store has been in its current location in Mount Dandenong for almost twenty years. We have carefully chosen our Vintage Merchants to ensure that each of them offers a different style and genre so that our customers get the complete vintage experience. Most of our stall holders are local, which gives the store a lovely community feel.

What is unique about your business - what wouldn't we already know about you or the shop?

Our very talented stallholders carefully source and curate their stock. They spend all week travelling to hunt and collect the wonderful array of

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beautiful items in store. The best tip I can give our customers is that Friday afternoon the majority of our stall holders come in with new treasures ready for the weekend's trade, so it’s a great time to visit us and get a sneak peak!

In what ways do you engage with the community?

We are very proud to have a large customer base of local people, many of whom have now become dear friends. When possible we donate to local fundraisers and we are always happy to advertise local events in our store. We are very grateful for the way that the Hills community has welcomed us and embraced and supported our business.

If you weren’t doing this, what would you dedicate your time to?

I love animals and would love to be involved in animal welfare in some way. We welcome our customers to bring their four legged friends into Butlers to shop with them. In fact just this weekend we had our first cockatoo customer, who came in with his owner to have a look around.

What is the kooky-est story you care to share about one of your Butler experiences?

I hadn’t had the shop very long when a gentleman came in and spent almost an hour looking around the store very slowly and carefully. I approached him a couple of times and asked if I could help him and he simply replied ‘no thanks, just browsing’. As he was leaving he approached the

counter and gave me his card. He explained he was from the Victorian Paranormal Association and was wondering if we would let them set up their cameras overnight in the store to see if they could identify any Paranormal Activity! Needless to say I was not bowled over by this idea and politely said no.

Anything else you want us to know?

We are approved stockists of the Botanics Furniture Paint range. This mineral based paint range is handmade in Queensland and is zero VOC which means it does not contain the Volatile Organic Compounds that many paints do. This makes it nontoxic and a responsible choice for the environment.

This amazing range has many applications and can be used on wood, metal and fabric with very little preparation, which cuts out nasty paint strippers and hours of sanding. The range also includes beeswax and hemp finishing oils. As well as the Botanics range we also sell furniture that has been upcycled using the range. Later this year we will have an area dedicated to furniture painting and will be offering workshops.

To express an interest in reserving a place email us at info@butlersmountdandenong.com.au or pop into the store and leave your details.

Where can people find out more about you?

Facebook Butlers Vintage Depot Instagram butlersvintagedepot 1552 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Olinda

Little Libraries Words and images by Gareth Hart

Books are curious things.

They hold, I mean physically hold, information, stories, knowledge. What a cool thing.

Unlike the internet, they are based in a physical reality. Their contents are not wrapped up in a series of 1’s and 0’s that are translated by an electronic processing unit into meaning symbols and words. Instead, the information is stored in words, printed on a piece of paper, which came from a tree, which grew for a number of years, and began as a seed that feel from another tree….

This history, the texture of paper, the smell of dusty spines, and the smudged fingermarks of the previous reader of a book, all contribute to this writer having a love of second hand books.

And it would appear I am not the only one. In fact, books are blazing a trail of reinvigoration it would seem.

I have noticed, quite avidly, the resurgence of books in the Dandenongs. And along with books, and their presence, seems to come a misty romanticism.

Whilst book shops have been closing one by one around Australia for quite some time as kobos, e-readers and indeed the internet become more accessible points of information, the gleeful inner child in me is swooned by the return of the not so humble book.

Not only do books hold great romanticism, but now the story behind how you came to have a copy of the book will also be a story worth telling. I am referring here of course, to the concept of free book exchanges in the Dandenong Ranges. The concept behind these book exchanges are all simple and brilliant: You take a book / you leave a book.

Through this, we encourage the sharing of story,

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narrative and fact in our community, and we inspire others through that which has inspired ourselves.

Beginning in 2009 in Wisconsin, U.S.A, Little Free Libraries is now a worldwide phenomenon, with the first Dandenong Ranges Little Free Library popping up recently. This international movement seeks to establish over 2500 free lending micro libraries around the world. After trawling through the web site (littlefreelibrary.org), I was delighted to see that our local little free library is one of the coolest in Victoria. Unlike other little free libraries in Victoria, which can be as simple (yet effective) as a letterbox, charter 32112 (Macclesfield) is a delicately carved, self contained, beautiful wardrobe for books. It seems the creativity in the hills knows no bounds.

A little around the corner, an institute of the bus stop in Clematis, there is a constant free book exchange. It is less extravagant than the little free library, but the dusty box that sits on the bus shelter seat, and the black & white sign saying ‘Clematis book exchange’ oozes simple charm.

And most recently, popping up and exploding at Burrinja has been a community book exchange library, just outside of the studio spaces. Set up by a local gnome (slash artist of some note!), this book exchange is constantly being set up and refreshed by the flow of patrons through the Burrinja doors.

In a time when we could all simply sit at our computers, laptops, tablets and phones, doing business deals through text messages, facetime and snap chat, the charming nature of books, and indeed these local lending libraries, reminds me how important it is to share knowledge with others, and to help create the type of collective consciousness that we want to see in this place we call home: The Dandenongs.

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Blackstar by Bowie