Murrindindi guide autumn 2017 by Ann Friedel

Arts & Tourism Business & Trades Guide

AUTUMN 2017

www.murrindindiguide.com.au

PROUD LY OWNED & PRODU CE THE SH D IN IR MURRIN E OF DINDI

Rodwells Yea & Alexandra Your Specialists in Agriculture Your Local Solution Provider

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE IS A MASSIVE ASSET. ‘We offer a range of marketing packages including a No Sale-No charge option. National Network of highly experienced sales agents. Extensive buyer database.’ Give Ruralco Property a call on (03) 5772 1110 Nik Patek 0419 936 210 L O C A L S E R V I C E , N AT I O N A L S T R E N G T H

www.ruralcoproperty.com.au

Call: 13 11 14

• Livestock Sales • Animal Health • Seed and Fertiliser • Ag Chemicals • Agronomic Services • Pet Supplies • Real Estate

• Rural Merchandise • Rural Fencing • Stockfeed (drive through) • Water Products • Equine Supplies • Insurance

For all your farming needs contact Your Local Blokes Livestock

Yea: Adam Mountjoy, Rick Wills Alexandra: Andrew Allan

Rural Merchandise

Peter Mckenzie, Jamie Butterworth, Sophie Watts, Emma Baynes

Agronomic Services Insurance Real Estate

Steph Pankhurst Anita Goodman Nik Patek, Brendan Woodley View properties at: www.ruralcoproperty.com.au

Rodwells Yea 2/10 High St, Yea, VIC (03) 5797 2086

Rodwells Alexandra 29 Aitken St, Alexandra, VIC (03) 5772 2444

www.rodwells.com.au

Swenrick build Victoria-wide • Prices start from $37,360* (Montana built to lock-up) • For your free brochure call 8761 6610 or 5774 7066

CUSTOMISED WOOLAMAI 4

CUSTOMISED ATTIC

BLUE GUM COTTAGE 1

SEA BREEZE

OCEAN VIEW 3

CUSTOMISED SELBY

Extensive experience in high bushfire zones. Over 40 YEARS of building throughout Victoria to lock-up or completion. Your design or ours. Relocatable plans and lock-up kits available

ADMINISTRATION OFFICE: Unit 7/4 Royan Place Bayswater North 3153 P: 03 8761 6610 M: 0447 462 844 Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

DISPLAY CENTRE: 7 Buxton-Marysville Rd Buxton 3711 P: 03 5774 7066 M: 0447 462 844 Open weekdays 9am-5pm Weekends 12 noon-5pm

Swenrick Constructions (Vic) Pty Ltd ~ Master Builder No. 1492 DB-U28406 Visit: swenrick.com.au Email: sales@swenrick.com.au

SEL NED I A T N CO BINS CA • Well appointed bedrooms • Heating & cooling • Wood fires • Internet access • Games room • Barbecue area • Outdoor fire pit • Extensive decks • Lake and mountain views • Fishing or motorbike riding • Golf chipping range • Pet friendly

TAYLOR BAY COUNTRY CLUB Situated on 70 acres of classic high country and close to renowned Lake Eildon and Fraser National Park sits this recently built residence featuring unmatched facilities in the area. We offer a wide range of on-site services and facilities, so whether you wish to be active or simply sit back, relax and enjoy the views in this serene setting then this is the place for you! STORAGE UNITS FITNESS CENTRE

CABIN ACCOMMODATION

COUNTRY CLUB

Fitness & Training Centre

OPEN TO PUBLIC

Lease or investment opportunities available

39 Taylor Bay Road, Taylor Bay, Victoria | Phone 0497 889 353 | info@taylorbaycountryclub.com.au

www.taylorbaycountryclub.com.au

Residential & Respite Care

Darlingford is a 51 bed facility that accommodates residents with a variety of care needs including permanent and respite care. Located in the heart of picturesque Eildon, Darlingford is surrounded by more than three acres of gardens and land, and is home to our resident miniature ponies. • Registered nurse on site 24 hours • Allied health consultants: Dietician, speech therapist, podiatrist, hearing and dental specialists, physiotherapist • 7 double rooms ideal for couples, 37 single rooms • All rooms have ensuite bathrooms • Meals are prepared and cooked fresh on-site • 3 dining rooms available, indoor and outdoor sitting areas • Resident pets include budgies, miniature ponies, native birds • Vegetable garden • Personal clothing is laundered on-site • Skype and internet available • Group and individual activities • On-site entertainment and external outings • Secure environment • FOXTEL available • Aged Care Assessment required

Come and meet our friendly staff, call for an inspection, or go to our website dugnh.com.au 5 High Street Eildon, Vic. 3713. (03) 5774 2711 Email: darlingford@dugnh.com.au 2 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

eildon

real estate

The Eildon District Experts For Sale For Sale

For Sale For Sale Established 1863

Black Spur Inn narbethong

11 Marr Court, Eildon

357 Right Arm Road, Taylor Bay

A RARE OFFERING SET ON 4 ACRES (APPROX) 242 Goulburn Valley Highway, Eildon

• American style barn house 200m2 approx (upper and lower) Outstanding Lifestyle Property • open plan living/kitchen area with wood fire heater and R/C House - Outstanding sandstone one residence consisting of:and other air-conditioner• 2 x bedrooms with O/head fan • 3 large bedrooms - Master with en suite with R/C air-conditioner • bathroom with shower/vanity unit/ • O/P dining room with River•views toilet • living, laundry • alarm system sheds – 9 with roller doors Fully 2equipped kitchen meeting all your needs–for a country lifestyle – •350m approx • 2 x fishing sheds • bore water points all Property 32 Acres of land withtanks Goulburn water frontage around the -property •3 water • verandahs – front, side, • Olive Groveinc withlarge 1000 Organic rear of barn built-inOlive brickTrees BBQ • solar connected ••dam • and established walnut, almond, Sheds coolroom with 3 phase power hazel nut and fruit trees • Bore water plus water tank + • Property lots (Council approved) 1 divided2in to two7separate • Property to be sold on a Walk in - Walk out basis

$565,000

TAYLOR BAY HOLIDAY RETREAT ~ 436 Maroohdah Highway, Narbethong WATERFRONT PROPERTY WITH THE LOT!

TheHOUSE: Black Spur Inn -plan Exceptional Hotel/Motel Freehold MAIN • open living/dining/kitchen area ••First established in 1863 – adouble part of Victoria’s history wood fired heater •3 bedrooms• 2 bedrooms with •bunks Located• 85km (approx.) east of Melbourne separate toiletnorth • bathroom with shower and vanity unit •GARAGE: The hotel is•onlaundry 5 acres • ofshower land • Onsite • carstables/workshop storage • boat storage •WATERFRONT Public bar with a TAB • Onsite bottle shop BAR:license • BBQ • microwave • cupboards and •sink Dining room with seating • overhead fan for 110 people and a license for 125 people •SHED: Established restaurant with excellent food and • boat and caravan storage etc • wine bunk beds providing •further Conference room facilities and catering for up to 110 people accommodation • Motel accommodation for up to 58 people • Onsite retail outlet • Cabin and 2 bunk house 5 – ideal 2 for group accommodation • Established wedding ceremony area beside the hotel

$925,000

P.O.A. For Sale

For Sale

599 Right Arm Rd, Taylor Bay

120 Left Arm Rd, Taylor Bay

North Facing Taylor Bay Home

4 Bedroom Home in a Private Lake Cove

• Stunning 3 bedroom home with views of Lake Eildon • Open Plan Lnge/kit/dngrm • Two bathrooms and toilets • Wood fire hting and air con • Boat house and licensed jetty

• Neat and well cared for home • Open Plan Lnge/kit/dngrm • Two bathrooms and toilets • Wood fire hting and air con • Crprt for 2 cars & 2 sheds • Day boat and unlicensed jetty

595,000

557,000

www.eildonrealestate.com

15 Vivien Rise, Eildon

For Sale 28 Left Arm Road, Taylor Bay

For Sale

3 LOCATION!!! Hillside Avenue, INGARA ~ WHAT A Eildon WHAT A GREAT PLACE!!!

Superbly Located • Open plan living/kitchen/dining area • wood fired heater and Eildon reverse cycle air-conditioner, o/head fan • Cottage 4 bedrooms with o/ head fan and built-in robes in 3 • main bathroom with close shower/ • Centrally located, to vanity unit • master bedroom with en-suite • laundry • large all of Eildon’s amenities garage and 2nd garage/workshop •under the house 2 x 10,000 4 bedrooms with•BIR litre tanks for drinking water • 1 x 15,000 litre tank forgardens garden • Well maintained watering and working property water bore • new and septic tank • Re-stumped rewired system • floating jetty EP 321 to current specifications • SoldGMW furnished or un-furnished

2 $750,000 235,000

5 Hillside South Mark Howard 0448 606 062 Eildon Vic 3713

NEW HOME WITH PANORAMIC VIEWS (APPROX) ON 5.5 ACRES 3 Eighth Street,

Wrap-around verandahs, amazingEildon views, all mod cons ... this place has the lot!!! • Open plan living/dining/kitchen area – D/ Conveniently Located washer, quality appliances and pantry • 3 bedrooms – 2 with Bedroom Home built-in robes and overhead fans • 3main bedroom with walk-in robe and en-suite with shower, vanity unit and toilet • Family home with above • main bathroom with bath, and vanity unit swimming • separatepool toilet ground • entertainment/activities room with overhead fan • separate • Established gardens laundry • storage cupboards • wood fireairheater andheating 2 reverse • R/C con and cycle air-conditioners • double glazed windows • double • Large garage/work shed garage • water tank (5000 lt) and•town Poolwater area is fully fenced

2.O.A. $635,000 P

Ph: 5774 2771 Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 3

SIMPLE | AFFORDABLE | QUALITY

PORTABLE BUILDINGS Professionally designed, engineered and built to BCA class 1 (dwelling) standards We service a niche market building to lock-up stage – ready for you to finish on-site

E andrew@nesag.com.au 4 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

W www.readybuiltportables.com.au

Innovative Design, Sustainable Building Practices Outstanding Craftsmanship, Professional Client Relationships. These are the corner stones behind the success of Hedger Constructions.

With over 24 years of experience in the building industry, the multi-award winning team at Hedger Constructions offer the total package in residential and commercial construction on all types of sites. Fully affiliated with the Master Builders Association we look forward to growing our reputation as a company that goes the extra step to create something special. â&#x20AC;&#x153; We invite you to share in our experiences â&#x20AC;?

PO Box 343 Alexandra VIC 3714 Email: info@hedgerconstructions.com.au Telephone: 03 5772 2750 www.hedgerconstructions.com.au

Rural Technology Specialists

• Technology Products • Computer Repairs • Telstra Services • Tutoring

6 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

MOTHER’S DAY LUNCHEON Sunday 14 May 2017 12:30pm - 4pm

$60 per adult (3 courses) $30 per child (4-12 years, 2 courses) Children 3 years and younger, no charge (2 courses) Starting with a complimentary glass of sparkling wine on arrival, this three course Mother’s Day Luncheon includes some of the finest local produce our region has to offer. Accompanied with spectacular views, great wines and music by local vocalist Mallory Darragh, this is the perfect way to say thank you to your Mum!

HOLMESGLEN AT EILDON A GOLD WINNER AT THE RACV STATE TOURISM AWARDS FOR BUSINESS EVENT VENUE!

Our 660 acre property boasts a purpose built event venue, catering for conferences, weddings and functions – a facility that truly reflects its natural surrounds. Located just 2 hours from Melbourne, we offer on-site accommodation for 150, 3 flexible function rooms, 2 small board rooms, and a wide range of entertaining spaces inside and out – with rolling hills and spectacular sunsets the views are a perfect backdrop for any occasion. Our team has over 180 years’ combined experience in management, hospitality and tourism, both within Australia and overseas and understand what it takes to create a truly successful event! Please contact us for more information.

92 Moore Road, Eildon, Victoria 3713 T: 03 5774 2631 E: eildon@holmesglen.edu.au www.holmesglen.edu.au/eildon

Gracies Restaurant Gracies Restaurant

Friday - Dinner Friday ~ Dinner& Dinner Saturday - Lunch A Saturday La Carte Menu ~ Lunch & Dinner

A La Carte Menu High Tea

Sundays 1pm - 4pm High Tea Traditional $40pp Sundays 1pm-4pm Royale $55pp

Traditional $40pp

Accommodation Royale $55pp from $160 per night Includes Country Breakfast

5784 9280

5784 9280 2285 Broadford Flowerdale Rd Strath Creek 3658 2285 Broadford Flowerdale Rd Strath Creek 3658 info@flowerdaleestate.com.au info@flowerdaleestate.com.au www.flowerdaleestate.com.au www.flowerdaleestate.com.au

RESTAURANT

CONFERENCES

WEDDINGS

HIGH TEA

ACCOMMODATION Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 7

Our 100% natural soap and beauty products are hand-made on site from extra-virgin olive oil, pure plant essential oils, herbs and spices. Come in and hand test liquid soaps and browse the large range of aroma-therapeutic skin care items, locally made gifts, art, furniture and produce. Open 7 days 9.30am to 4.30pm. Dindi Naturals, 6572 Maroondah Highway, Yarck VIC 3719 | Tel. 03 5773 4349 | www.dindinaturals.com.au

8 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Murrindindi Guide â&#x20AC;&#x201C; AUTUMN 2017

Meandering around Murrindindi . . .

MURRINDINDI

www.murrindindiguide.com.au

READ US ONLINE

ARTS & TOURISM, BUSINESS & TRADES GUIDE

issuu.com/murrindindiguide

Murrindindi’s INDEPENDENT guide to events and attractions across the shire and surrounds for locals and tourists alike. Pick up a copy at one of our advertisers or informations centres in the shire or surrounding towns. Please support our advertisers as without them this magazine couldn’t be produced. If we support our local businesses and communities then we improve our local economy. Keep it local if you can.

Murrindindi-Guide

Advertising booking DEADLINE for the WINTER issue is MONDAY 24 APRIL 2017 If you wish to advertise please contact Tim Skerritt, Sales and Distribution, on Phone 0439 358 880 Office 5772 1026 Email sales@friedel.net.au

Produced and published by Ann Friedel Publishing, 11 Albert Street Alexandra Victoria. Material published in the Murrindindi Arts & Tourism, Business & Trades Guide is protected by Australian and International copyright laws. Reproduction of any material in whole or part is not permitted without prior authorisation by the publisher. Ann Friedel Publishing has made every effort to ensure the information provided at time of printing is correct, but accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies or omissions. Some components of some advertising in this magazine are made by Freepik.com or allfree-download.com. Events listed in this publication may be subject to change without notice.

or contact Ann Friedel Publishing Email publishing@friedel.net.au Phone 0418 556 107 Office 5772 1026

I & M Simpson & Son Pty Ltd 25 Aitken Street ALEXANDRA 3714 Phone 03 5772 1205 www.simpsonsfuel.com.au 60 years of Simpsons Fuel We supply BULK FUEL to all areas of the Murrindindi and Mansfield Shires and parts of the Strathbogie Shire.

K BUL L E U F

• LPG Auto Gas • 45kg domestic (home delivered) • BBQ Swap & Go 8.4kg & 4kg • BBQ Gas bottles refill

We are agents for INNOVATIONS IN FLUID HANDLING

pm 7am-7 Y DAIL

Leaders in all fuel, lubrication, chemical transfer equipment

24 HOUR FUEL ~ Ezyserve Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 9

Tom’s paddock................................................................................ 11 Cycle Dindi....................................................................................... 17 Rubicon Valley Horse Riding..................................................... 19 Jamieson Autumn Festival......................................................... 25 Alexandra celebrates 150 .......................................................... 29 Donkey championships.............................................................. 33 Watching birds with Bob Tate................................................... 37 Rail Trail............................................................................................. 40 Open Vegie Gardens..................................................................... 45 Gardening with Angus................................................................ 46

Toolangi Discovery Centre......................................................... 49 Something fishy going on.......................................................... 53 Arts and Entertainment.............................................................. 57 Rosie the Party Pig ................................................................. 61 Artist Vicki Miller...................................................................... 66

Travel with Tammy........................................................................ 69 What’s on.......................................................................................... 73 Markets ............................................................................................ 75 Business & Trades Directory....................................................... 76 Business Listings............................................................................ 82 Contact & Emergency Numbers.............................................. 83

Maps .......................................................................84 & inside back

49 A YE

Eat-in / Take-away

BYO

32 High Street Yea Ph 03 5797 2865 Open Lunch Dinner Mon Closed 5pm-9pm Tue Closed all day Wed to Sun 11.30am-3pm 5pm-9pm 10 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

murrindindi computers

Tuesday 5pm-9pm Wed-Sat 11am-3pm 5pm-9pm Sunday 5pm-9pm

the computer specialists

Alexandra

1-2 bakers lane alexandra ph 5772 1403 fax 5772 1446

NOODLE BAR 2/108 Grant Street Alexandra Dine-in or to go

5772 2888 Phone orders welcome

82-84 Grant Street Alexandra Ph 03 5772 1025 Fax 03 5772 2686

sales@murrindindicomputers.com.au www.murrindindicomputers.com

Page 11: Tom Abbottsmith Youl with one of his 900 laying hens. Tom is committed to the highest of animal welfare standards and believes giving his chickens the right to express their natural behaviours keeps them happy and produces exceptional eggs. Above: Tom’s pastured poultry enjoying sunshine, dust baths, grass, and bugs on Graceburn Farm in Glenburn. By Emily Friedel THIRD GENERATION farmer, Tom Abbottsmith Youl, stands in a paddock surrounded by chickens. Some of his chickens chase bugs around Tom’s feet, while others pick the grass seeds out of his boots. “They see me every day; I think they think I’m the kingpin,” he says with a chuckle. In the distance, a herd of grazing cattle gleams in the sun, and in the opposite direction, Tom points out a tract of dense vegetation that cuts through the 135-hectare property in Glenburn. “That section, which runs right through the centre of the property, is one of the first covenanted wildlife corridors, and hopefully it’ll be there forever,” he says. Tom’s grandparents, Mick and Rhoda Abbottsmith, bought Graceburn Farm in 1967, and it was Rhoda who decided to make the wildlife corridor a permanent fixture on the property by putting it on the title as land for conservation. Tom’s mum, Sally, later extended the 12 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

area, which is now about a kilometre long and a hundred metres wide. “Given that it’s remnant vegetation, it’s really unique. The threatened long-nosed bandicoot is surviving in there, which is fantastic. Its ecological classification is swampy riparian complex, and it’s also threatened,” Tom says. With his family’s long history of conservation efforts, it’s not surprising that when Tom started working fulltime on the farm in 2010, he wanted to use ethical, regenerative farming practices. “Sally’s very switched on, she’s really into regenerative agriculture, and that’s where I got my interest from initially,” he says. Tom saw how the wildlife corridor benefitted the agricultural areas of the property and wanted to strike a balance between running the farm as a business while continuing to conserve a large chunk of bushland.

“The two things have to work together and support one another,” Tom says. “It’s just getting that balance right so you can support that area of bush – that’s what I’m really trying to do – by having efficient and productive primary agriculture on the same land,” Tom says. Tom cottoned on pretty quickly to the fact that the beef herd, which was started by his grandparents, wasn’t big enough to provide an income for both Sally and himself. “I came back and wanted to be here full time, try to help Sally more, and try to make a living farming. It became apparent pretty quickly that the beef, given the size of the property – you know 65 hectares of pasture is not a large grazing operation – it was going to be impossible for me, a second family member, to make a wage.” Not long after deciding to try to make a go of it on the farm, Tom attended a presentation by Joel Salatin, a somewhat controversial American farmer. Salatin teaches environmentally-

friendly farming methods, which include regular and frequent rotation of different kinds of stock through the same pasture in an attempt to mimic ecosystems like the Serengeti. Salatin tends to polarise primary producers. Some dub him a lunatic and heavily criticise the ability of his practices to be applied successfully to Australia’s unique landscapes, while others feel he is a revolutionary whose methods represent the epitome of sustainable agriculture. For Tom, Salatin’s talk made perfect sense. “It was a real light bulb moment, and it struck a chord with me the way he used chooks, so I came home from that and started building a little cage trailer for layers. I pulled the floor out of it, put a roof on it and some nesting boxes, and got 30 chooks. I thought I’d start small because chooks are pretty demanding animals, they don’t graze in the same way as cows, and I wanted to make sure it would work here.”

Above: part of the covenanted wildlife corridor that runs through the centre of Graceburn Farm and provides refuge for the threatened long-nosed bandicoot. Below: Tom still runs the small beef herd his grandparents started around fifty years ago. Tom’s experiment with a handful of hens worked wonderfully, and he found they are the perfect complement to the cattle. Among other things, the cattle mow down the pasture, making it more accessible for chickens. “Giving them fresh grass is really the key to the health

of the chicken and keeping the eggs delicious. The main business for me is in cafes, so places that want a really good, high-quality poaching egg – for them, that means they want it super fresh, so it poaches well, looks fantastic, and has a nice bright yolk, which you get from the grass,” Tom says.

The chickens pull their weight in the system by harrowing cow-pats and fertilising the soil with their poo. Importantly, the same land can be utilised for both beef and egg production to increase the productivity of the farm without having to run a larger cattle herd and

risk degrading the land. After finding success with the chook-cattle combo, it wasn’t long before the little chicken trailer Tom made didn’t cut it anymore. So he bought a couple of large Chicken Caravans, which each house around 450 hens. The caravans are surrounded by electric netting to give

One of the Chicken Caravans where the happy hens lay their eggs and roost at night. the chickens a large, but well-defined playground and keep terrestrial predators out – an arrangement Tom has found works exceptionally well. “As long as I’m vigilant and set up the fences correctly and make sure there’s electricity on there, it’s 100% effective for foxes,” he says. “We do have a family of wedge-tailed eagles, who also love my chickens as much as I do, so they will worry the flock a bit, and every now and then they will get one. Mind you I love seeing them, they’re just the most incredible birds, and they’re definitely breeding – I think it might be because of my chickens,” he adds with a laugh. Tom’s foray into farming hasn’t been without its challenges, but the addition of the chickens has turned out to be a savvy move. The 14 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

chooks have increased the gross income of the farm five fold. In fact, egg production has now become Tom’s focus, and he has plans to buy another Chicken Caravan in the near future. “It’s been a pretty steep learning curve and starting a business as well. Six years on now things are just starting to kick off. It’s been a pretty long road, though.” Along with running the farm, Tom sees his role as that of an educator: helping his customers and the general public understand what he’s doing, and why it’s important for the future of agriculture, as well as helping them connect better with the origins of their food. For this reason, Tom has an ‘opengate’ policy and welcomes visitors to the farm. “I’m very interested in having a transparent farm where people can come and see what I’m doing, and even

make suggestions,” he says. When people do stop by, Tom says they’re taken aback by what pastured poultry is like in reality. “They just cannot believe it. There is nothing really like standing here with 900 chooks out on grass, running around catching insects – it’s really something. People are often in awe and shock I think, which is surprising in a way because I think this is what people really expect free range chickens to look like, but the term ‘free-range’ has been polluted over the years, and it’s not what people expect anymore.” Tom also wants to remind people how much of an impact their choices as consumers have on agriculture and the environment, and urges people to carefully consider how they spend their money. “Consumers – and we’re

all consumers – effectively vote for things that we like or don’t like every time we buy or don’t buy something. So I think that’s a wonderful power that people have that they’re not exercising as much as they could, and I think that’s where we could see incredible change very quickly.” Tonight Tom will be back out among his feathered friends, collecting eggs – a task that has to be done every day – probably around the time you’re sitting down for your evening meal. As you go to take that first bite of dinner, spare a thought for Tom, who is painstakingly packing eggs into cartons, and perhaps ask yourself how much you know about where that food in front of you has come from. For more information and to find Tom’s Paddock opening hours so you can see what Tom’s doing for yourself go to: tomspaddock.com.au

Motoring Expo

2017

8am Saturday 29 April until 4pm Sunday 30 April 2017 Four-Wheel Drives

Four-Wheel Drives

Military Vehicles

ENTRYFEE FEE NONOENTRY

something Something for for everyone Everyone

CARNIVAL RIDES

FOOD & RETAIL STALLS

tivities

Children’s Ac

ities Children’s Activ

Bands playing all day

All donations towards local charities All donations towards local charities

Local Emergency Services Hot Rods, Classics & Custom CarsContact David at jorelsboy@gmail.com or Terry 0419 512 363 Local Emergency Services

Hot Rods, Classic & Custom Cars

Saturday night 1940-50s costume dance at Marysville Vibe Hotel Saturday night 1940-50’s costume dance at Marysville Vibe Hotel

Contact David Contact at jorelsboy@gmail.com David at jorelsboy@gmail.com or Terryor 0419Terry 512 363 0419 512 363

over the hills and not so far away

THE FIRST WEEKEND OF THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

Rotary Club of Alexandra & Rotary Club of Yea

A Family Friendly bicycle event encompassing the Great Victorian Rail Trail in Murrindindi Shire and the townships of Yea and Alexandra

urs m ng Ho p Openi eek, 9am-y5 a D w s a a 7 days d Christm Close ood Friday &G

Saturday 1st April 2017 How Much? That depends on which distance you ride DISTANCE

The Y Water Discovery Centre offers guided tours of the Yea Wetlands followed by a delicious morning or afternoon tea. Local guides share their knowledge and expertise on the amazing array of birdlife, mammals, reptiles, insects and flora on show in the Wetlands Bookings: a minimum of 8 people at a cost of $12.50pp 2 Hood Street, Yea, Victoria ~ 03 5797 2663 Email: info@ywatercentre.com.au www.ywatercentre.com.au

ADULT CONC FAMILY

Yea to Molesworth return

33 kms $40 $20 $100

Yea to Alexandra return

68 kms $50 $20 $125

Alexandra to Molesworth return 35 km $40 $20 $100 Alexandra to Yea return

68 kms

$50 $20 $125

• Concession applies to school age children • Under school age free

What do I get for my money? Welcome pack & lunch at Molesworth. Free admission to Nutfield, a working farm, with free Devonshire Tea in the shearing shed, sheep dog demonstration and trailer ride Contact Melinda 0418 378 806 or Julie 0447 762 557 Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 15

Angling & Fly Fishing Fresh Fish & Local Produce Sales Beautiful Mountain Views Free Barbecue / Picnic Areas Great Fun for Young & Old Group Bookings Available Fish for Dinner – Guaranteed! Eildon Trout Farm P 03 5773 2377 F 03 5773 2573 460 Back Road Thornton www.eildontroutfarm.com

Ph 03 5773 2292 90 Rubicon Rd Thornton www.rubiconhorseriding.com.au rvhorseriding@virtual.net.au

Alexandra Sportspower & Toys 76 Grant Street, Alexandra VIC 3714

(03) 5772 1719 alexandra@sportspower.com.au Mon to Fri: 9am – 5:30pm Sat: 9am – 12:30pm

MARTINSGARAGE.COM.AU

Sporting Equipment, Footwear & Apparel:

Bikes, Scooters, Toys, Puzzles & Games:

SERVING THE HIGH COUNTRY FOR OVER 50 YEARS

52-54 CHENERY STREET MANSFIELD

PHONE 03 5733 1000 AFTER HOURS 16 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

Dion Theodossi 0412 999 696 Rick Maslan 0422 233 893

Chris Kerr 0459 752 610 Ian Todd 0427 387 795

Above: The ride traverses rolling hills with stunning views. Below: John Sinclair and his working dogs demonstration at Molesworth.

AFTER A very successful inaugural event in 2016, Cycle Dindi will return on Saturday 1 April 2017. Organised by the Rotary Clubs of Yea and Alexandra, Cycle Dindi is a fully-supported, familyfriendly bicycle ride between the picturesque towns of Yea and Alexandra along the Great Victorian Rail Trail. Participants will enjoy the beauty and tranquillity of the trail and the unique Cheviot tunnel. Entertainment,

activities and lunch are included for both riders and supporters. Gentle gradients along much of the route make it suitable for most fitness levels and the trail is a beautiful journey, traversing rolling hills with stunning views. A not-to-be-missed highlight will again be a free Devonshire tea in the shearing shed at Nutfield Farm, adjacent to the trail and at about the midpoint in

the ride. This is the property of John and Clare Sinclair at Molesworth, where John will demonstrate how his loyal and hardworking dogs work a mob of sheep. Our visitors from Melbourne last year just loved this part of Cycle Dindi. As well as promoting familiarisation of the Great Victorian Rail Trail and the attractions and amenities of the Murrindindi Shire, the event is a major fundraiser to support the

Community Boys Journey conducted by the Outdoor Education Group at Eildon. This program supports young boys from the local community to develop their personal and interpersonal skills and resilience through challenging physical activities. Check out the Rotary websites at www.yearotary.org.au or www.rotaryalexandra.org. au and follow Cycle Dindi updates on Facebook for further details.

On the Harbour at 190 Sugarloaf Road Eildon Ph 0425 816 959 Lunch and dinner Thursday to Sunday with a long lunch session on Sundays (extended hours over summer) Available for parties and receptions Organised coach tours on request ~ Call us to arrange your next group’s or club’s outing

EILDON

Fri-Sat-Sun open till late

• Dine in or takeaway • Fully licensed • Wood fired gourmet pizzas with house made tomato sauce on house made bases All our pizzas are freshly cooked using organic flour and our ingredients are preservative free 9 Main Street, Eildon Ph: 5774 2001

Coffee Light Meals Pastries Cakes Bread Open from 6.30am Monday to Sunday The Eildon Bakery Cafe 10 Main Street Eildon Ph 03 5774 2362

DECK OVER LOOKING PONDAGE DRIVE-THRU BOTTLE SHOP CHEF’S SPECIALS DAILY

OPEN 7 DAYS • 2 pool tables • Pizza a specialty • All meals Eat-In or Take-Away I Riverside Drive Eildon 3713 P 03 5774 2508 E goldentrout@bigpond.com W www.goldentrout.com.au 18 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

• Vittoria ORO coffee • Hot chocolate • Iced coffee • Thick shakes

Enthusiastic riders in front of the historic shed at Robbie and Val Robb’s farm where Rubicon Valley Horse Riding began nearly half a century ago. by Emily Friedel DURING A cattle price crash over 45 years ago, Robbie and Val Robb had to figure out alternative ways to earn money. So they started a horse riding business using stock horses from their farm and extras borrowed from friends and neighbours. “Horses were such a big part of life then, and they could acquire horses relatively easily. There were always good, well-educated horses

20 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

available,” says Di Robb, Robbie and Val’s daughter. Di was 16 years old when her parents began the horse riding business. Four years later, when cattle prices improved and she returned home from travelling overseas, Di had the chance to take over the reins both figuratively and literally. “I thought it would just ‘keep me busy’ for a while, but Rubicon Valley Horse Riding was the beginning of a full

and happy life on a beautiful farm with a good man and three gorgeous daughters. Who would have thought!” Di says. Di and her partner, Ken Deacon, first met through the horse riding business. Back then, Ken was working for Rubicon Outdoor Centre, which hired (and still hires) horses from Rubicon Valley Horse Riding for its horse riding program. “I’ve always had an interest

in horses, and so through that connection, I just started giving Di a hand on weekend rides if I wasn’t working. That’s how our relationship started,” Ken says. Di and Ken gradually built up the business to over 60 working horses, and at its peak, Rubicon Valley Horse Riding was operating fullycatered, multi-day safaris on a regular basis. They introduced tourists, locals, school groups, and other

community groups to the lush beauty of the Rubicon State Forest on horseback. Di and Ken also rode for their own pleasure, and one of their most memorable horse riding adventures took them, their three daughters, and other local families on a 14day trek across the Victorian Alps one summer. The ride was two years in the making, with detailed plans discussed over barbeques, and fourwheel drive expeditions used to scout out camping sites along the way. The families rode from Rubicon to Harrietville along the Great Divide Bicentennial Trail, passing through some of Victoria’s most breathtaking landscapes and historically significant areas, such as Wonnangatta Station. “We did that trek before the big alpine fires, so we got to ride through that country before it was all burnt. It was a really spectacular ride,” Ken says. Di and Ken’s youngest daughter, Eden, was five years old at the time and often rode pillion during the trek. Their two eldest daughters, 10 and 12 years old at the time, rode the entire way unassisted, demonstrating impressive horsemanship for their age

and doing their parents proud. “We had four-wheel drive support for the trek, so the adults would take it in turns leading the ride on the horses or driving the vehicles – we were chopping and changing all the time – but when you think both Holly and Bonnie did that trip all the way through at that young age, it was an amazing effort,” Ken says. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long after the high of this oncein-a-lifetime ride, and just as the Rubicon Valley Horse Riding was coming into its own, that the business ran into difficulties. The Millennium drought struck a severe blow, drying up the pastures that fed their hungry herd. So Di and Ken had to start shelling out for more tucker. “We were going really strong. We had our 60-odd horses as the drought came through. In the early 2000s it really started to hit, and that was when we began supplementing their diet with grain and hay on a regular basis. We couldn’t survive with just rotating paddocks,” Di says. As the drought carried on, it became impossible to sustain such a large number of horses, and those animals

Ken Deacon and Di Robb first met through the horse riding business and they both still love introducing people to the magic of bonding with a horse while exploring the local area.

that couldn’t pay their way were found new and loving homes. The hardship of the drought was compounded by the insurance crisis, which saw a comprehensive accreditation policy imposed on all horse riding businesses. On top of the mandatory accreditation, which is time-consuming and costly, they were also thumped with an 800% jump in their public liability insurance premium. Di and Ken’s troubles didn’t end there, though. Increased logging in the Rubicon State Forest was at odds with the horse riding experience that customers were after, and eventually they stopped taking their rides through there. To compensate for the resulting loss of business, they decided to extend their marketing efforts beyond Alexandra and Eildon, working hard to tap into Marysville’s bustling tourism industry. Things started looking up again, and the customers flowing from Marysville’s guest houses and B&B’s were reviving Rubicon Valley Horse Riding. Until the 2009 bushfires, at least. “Our phones didn’t ring for three months after the fires, our whole business just stopped. So that’s been another dramatic change of course for us,” Ken says. Despite the problems that have plagued them for more than a decade, Di and Ken have persisted with the horse riding business because they love what they do. “We really enjoy the business, so we’ve haven’t just thrown up our hands with these challenges, we’ve tried to keep it going,” Ken says. “As we go on, we’re getting 22 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

Ken with Tango, one of the treasured Rubicon Valley Horse Riding team. a different clientele as well. We’ve now got an introductory ride we do around our property here in Rubicon, which gets a lot of young kids into horse riding and that leads on to them wanting to become a bit more adventurous and try the two or three-hour rides. There are always avenues to keep your interest there and keep the business going, even though we have had a lot of ups and downs over the years.” “One of the things that is so fabulous about the horse riding business is that the people who come horse riding always have a relaxed holiday feel about them, even nervous beginners are still excited to be doing it. Most visitors who come riding are usually on vacation or are on a day out and are looking forward to having a

fun experience or they just love horses or just always wanted to ride one,” Di says. Di and Ken also believe they’re providing a valuable service to the public by giving them the opportunity to connect with nature and form a relationship with a horse. “It’s not only the riding aspect, it’s the bond with the horse. When they come back from a ride, some of the kids will spend half an hour getting grass to feed the horses. It’s really nice to see those kids have that bond with a large animal, and it’s not something that’s part of our general make-up these days,” Ken says. “It’s a very unique experience, and it gives people a great sense of satisfaction. We’ve had a lot of disadvantaged

groups here – people with disabilities or who have had traumatic lives. We’ve found that carers for those groups say there’s no other activity that gives their clients the same sense of satisfaction,” Di says. Rubicon Valley Horse Riding is still based at Robbie and Val’s farm, nearly half a century after Robbie and Val decided to use a horse riding business to survive the cattle price crash. And just like the sure-footed horses at its heart, Di and Ken are determined to keep moving the business forward, weaving around the obstacles that cross their path. For more information, or to book a ride, go to www. rubiconhorseriding.com.au, check our their Facebook Page (search for Rubicon Valley Horse Riding) or phone 03 5773 2292.

Churches of Yarck

Step inside either of these freestanding, converted, open plan church buildings and you enter a comfortable haven, stylishly decorated and ideally located in the charming little town of Yarck in North Eastern Victoria in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range

B&B Accommodation

0414 969 008 www.churchesofyarck.com.au

OPEN YS 7 DA

ys Fridapy Hap r Hou m 6-8p

HOTEL & CAFE

Built in 1903 “The Alexandra Hotel is the most externally intact of the surviving nineteenth century hotels in Alexandra” as quoted by Nigel Lewis, Heritage Architect to Murrindindi Shire.

hotel . cafe . accommodation serving breakfast & lunch 7 days Thursday Pizza & Pot Night Friday Burgers & Beer from 6pm Wine Bar serving local beers & wines Alfresco courtyard Family friendly Five individually styled rooms with own ensuite Weddings • Functions • Events

515 Goulburn Valley Highway Eildon Ph (03) 5774 2415 Fax (03) 5774 2716 EXTENSIVE SELECTION OF LOCAL WINES

The Alex Store

The new homewares store in the Alexandra Hotel is fully stocked with vintage furniture & bric-a-brac scented candles & soaps beautiful gifts & homewares gorgeous stationery & cards

TAB IES FACILIT Beer Cold tro & Bis s Meal

THE ALEXANDRA

• All Day Every Day $4.00 Pots • Tuesday Special ~ $3.00 Pots & $12.00 Lamb Shanks Courtesy bus available Eildon Resort offers a range of accommodation styles • hotel • motel units • caravan park • lodge with bunkrooms for groups eildonholidayresort@bigpond.com

www.eildonholidayresort.com.au

64 Grant Street, Alexandra Ph 03 5772 1014 www.alexandrahotel.net.au thealexandrahotel&cafe Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 23

AUTUMN FESTIVAL 22 April 2017 4th Annual Jamieson Autumn Festival

Saturday of ANZAC Weekend Come along and share this magical day!! The Kevington Hotel started as Garrett’s Beer House in the Gold Rush of 1862. It is now the last example of a historic hotel left in this part of Victoria, Australia. Located 250km north east of Melbourne, the refurbished hotel is an ideal spot for a base to explore Lake Eildon, the Goulburn River Inlet and the lush bush land of Jamieson and surrounding areas of the pub itself. RESTAURANT Inside dining, outside dining–the choice is yours. With a newly refurbished kitchen and dining room, and a first-rate chef cooking a seasonal menu, the Kevington Hotel is an excellent place for lunch or dinner with traditional pub fare. ADVANCED BOOKINGS REQUIRED FOR LARGE GROUPS PLEASE

BAR Beer On Tap • Carlton Draught • Light Beer Beer In The Fridge • Victoria Bitter • Cascade Light Ale • Carlton Draught • Melbourne Bitter • Stella Artois

www.jamieson.org.au

jamiesoncommunity@gmail.com

FULLY LICENSED

Lovely Courtyard Garden Eat-in | Take-away

25 Grey Street Jamieson Ph 03 5777 0600

Kevington Hotel Phone: 03 5777 0543 4695 Mansfield-Woods Point Road, Kevington Vic 3723 kevingtonhotel@westnet.com.au www.kevingtonhotel.com.au

24 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

OPEN EVERY WEEKEN ALL YEA D R

DOG FRIEND LY

• Light cafe style lunches • All day brekky menu • Freshly baked daily sourced from regional produce • slow cooked beef pies • sausage rolls • quiches cakes | slices | biscuits | cheesecake • Del Zotti coffee, tea, iced-coffee and milkshakes • gluten free options available CATERING | CAKE ORDERS

Above: Grace Pearce throwing the gold nugget, a feature of the Jamieson Autumn Festival, with local volunteer Pam Stacey, Amy Pearce, Acacia Pearce watching on. Right: blacksmith Craig Eury from Jamieson will demonstrate his skills during the festival. by Peter Horan GOLD MINING is an activity that is synonymous with Jamieson’s rich history. This has become even more relevant in recent times with the caravan of big trucks carting gold diggings from A1 mine down through Jamieson to the smelters far away in Bendigo. So, it is not surprisingly that the 2017 Jamieson Autumn Festival on 22 April features the gold nugget throw as a headline event. As many of you would know, Jamieson was founded upon – and had a colourful history during – the gold rush days of the 1850s, 1860s and 1870s. Jamieson was the gateway to the Upper Goulburn goldfields and the countryside is still revealing old mine shafts. Nowadays, Jamieson is better known as a fantastic tourist destination, with

the luxury of two rivers that flow no matter how dry the summer. In addition, it has a range of non-native trees to rival its big brother Bright. What better time to have a festival but when all those exotic trees transform the township into a kaleidoscope of colours? Visitors and locals alike agreed that the 2016 was the best festival yet, lifting the range of activities and the atmosphere to a new level that truly made the day quite magical. Some of that magic resulted from the closure of part of the main street so that everything was visible and audible as soon as you entered town. One side of the street was set aside for stalls and things to see, while the other was set aside by the most bizarre of vehicles, ranging from a horse and carriage, an 1814 hobby bike with wooden Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 25

Noel and Jenny McLoughlin, president and secretary of the Jamieson High Country Car Club in their replica of a 1903 1.5 horsepower horseless carriage. Noel and Jenny live in Tolmie but are enthusiastic organisers of the Jamieson-based car club. wheels, a rebuilt steam bike from 1896 to a 1903 tillersteered 1.5 horsepower horseless carriage. It was like walking through a scene from Harry Potter. But wait, there’s more. Because the festival grew from an idea that Jamieson should showcase the amazing range and depth of skills and talents in the area, there are interactive demonstrations and workshops on topics ranging from blacksmithing, gold panning, bush cooking, fly fishing, through to fine art painting, sculpture, pottery and mosaics. It’s hard to imagine that all of these demos and workshops are delivered by locals of such a small high country township. There are also static and working displays of classic, 26 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

custom and sports cars, vintage engines and tractors, vintage bikes, and a little 4WD that will attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for crossing the Simpson Desert using nothing but the power of the sun. Of course, no festival would be complete without music. On three stages about town, there will be music ranging from orchestra, guitar singer/ songwriters, dancers, string bands and bush poets. Not only will Cole Clarke Guitars display some of the guitars beautifully crafted from Jamieson’s own Giant California Redwoods but Lloyd Spiegel, the legendary blues guitarist, will be playing a guitar made from the 160-year-old Giant Redwood that was felled on 4 July last year.

It’s a testament to Jamieson’s community culture that the entire festival, which runs from 10am to 4pm, is run by volunteers. And it’s a testament to the generosity of performers that none charge a fee to participate. No ticket prices, no wrist bands, just a really relaxing but fascinating day. Finally, it’s a testament to the community focus of Bendigo Bank’s local Community Bank who get us off the ground financially each year. To round off the day, right across from the Courthouse Hotel at 4pm, there is the hilarious Hay Bale Race where members of the Jamieson fire brigade compete against the staff and customers of the pub for the perpetual Hay Bale Challenge Trophy. This is

a not-to-be-missed finale as the two teams of three push large round hay bales over a measured distance, applying a new and unique interpretation of the rules each year. The idea for the Festival came from Chris Badrock, Freddie Leong and Peter Horan, all looking to showcase the autumn trees, within and around Jamieson and to showcase the talents of the artisans and people of Jamieson. For more detailed information, the Jamieson website (www. jamieson.org.au ) will have the event poster and, as details are finalised, the Program of Events. Of course, the build up toward the festival will be regularly discussed on Jamieson Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ jamiesoncommunity).

NEW! BOOST WAKEBOARD LESSONS FISHING TOURS

BISTRO OPEN WEDNESDAY TO SUNDAY

CANOE AND PICNIC BOAT HIRE

COURTESY BUS AVAILABLE

CALL US NOW TO BOOK AND FIND OUT MORE! 03 5774 2585 Jerusalem Creek Marina and Holiday Park, 501 Jerusalem Creek Road, EILDON, VICTORIA. www.jerusalemcreek.com.au

Motel rooms with a difference . . . Family owned and operated

www.towermotel.com.au

• • • • • • • •

15 luxurious air-conditioned rooms King rooms with bath Located in the heart of Marysville Rooftop deck and spacious courtyard Queen and family rooms Foxtel and wireless internet Bar/lounge with open fireplace Fully licensed

• Craft beers, ciders and local wines • Function room • Close to a variety of walking/biking paths • Massage and relaxation packages available • Walking distance to all attractions • On the doorstep of the Yarra Valley • Idyllic location

33 Murchison Street Marysville P: 03 5963 3225 E: info@towermotel.com.au

Traveller Selection Award 2015

Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 27

on cathedral

STAY IN THE HEART OF MARYSVILLE Two upstairs, fully self-contained apartments with spacious kitchen, dining and living area, 2 bedrooms and decks with stunning views. Accommodates 4-5 people.

Marysville / Taggerty www.elitestays.com.au E: info@elitestays.com.au P: 0413795283 / 0401268067

27 Murchison Street, Marysville Ph 0408 103 481 info@alpinoapartments.com.au

16 acres of stunning views

Produce Store & Cafe

EVENTS ~ car launches, reunions, parties, weddings . . . CONFERENCES ~ small teams to large companies B/B ACCOMMODATION ~ weekends away, options for events and conferences Situated in town centre with views of the mountains and pondage 0429 699 969 www.saladinlodge.com info@saladinlodge.com.au 1188 Maroondah Hwy Narbethong Victoria

2 Girdwood Parade Eildon Hosts: Chris & Charmaine Ph/Fax: 03 5774 2800 E: eildonlakemotel@virtual.net.au

• Swimming pool • 4 free undercover BBQs • Colour TV • Air conditioned • Toaster, tea & coffee facilities • Non smoking rooms available • Ample boat parking

Thornton Caravan Park

Situated on the banks of the Goulburn River 15 minutes from Lake Eildon • Powered and unpowered grass sites • Undercover electric barbecue • Cabins • Swings • Games room • Swimming pool Pets allowed ~ under control

Ph / Fax 03 5773 2305

BIG4 TAGGERTY HOLIDAY PARK is the perfect place for a weekend revival or stay for weeks for a complete rejuvenation. Featuring over 1km of Acheron River with the majestic Cathedral Range as your back drop, you can experience nature at its best. Be it fishing on the banks of local rivers, touring valleys or just kick back, relax and unwind. Hosts: Michelle Wraight & Mathew Lovett 3380 Maroondah Highway Taggerty Ph: 03 5774 7263 Freecall 1800 880 895 Fax: 5774 7282 E: book@big4taggerty.com.au W: www.big4taggerty.com.au 28 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

6 Hillside Avenue South, Eildon, VIC, 3713 Ph:(03) 5774 2165 Email: parkviewmotorinn@yahoo.com

come to . . .

Waverley occupies the most central position in Alexandra. Its homely comfort will appeal to all holiday makers seeking pleasurable enjoyment in the country. Moderate tariff Ken & Marie Bristow 56 Nihil Street Alexandra Phone: 03 5772 1146 or 0409 411 816 waverley@ycs.com.au www.waverleyguesthouse.com.au

Alexandra’s 150th Birthday Party organiser, Wayne Miller, with one of the historic photographs of Alexandra that will be on display.

By Lindy Sloan THE SPOTLIGHT is on Alexandra from 4 to 13 March as the town honours its past 150 years with a host of attractions to entertain the whole family. On Saturday 4 March and during the long weekend on 11 to 13 March, the program presents 14 events, many of them free, that showcase the fine history and traditions that have contributed to the life of the town over the years. Opening with the ‘Alexandra’s Golden Sesquicentennial’ race meeting on Saturday 4, the Alexandra Race club plans to celebrate the origins of Alexandra’s gold mining history with fashions on the field, the Gargarrow Bush Band, a magician for the kids and, as always, a strong bookies ring and tote van covering local Melbourne and interstate races.

While the jockeys’ silks and pounding hooves bring the race track alive, Alexandra’s biggest Community Street Party will be buzzing in Perkins Street from the library to the Jack Shiel Garden and Webster Street. Under the shade of Perkins Street’s magnificent mature trees is the place to catch up with locals and to warmly greet visitors in the crowd. With dozens of local organisations and groups involved, there will be a spectacular choice of activities to enjoy. Relax with a BYO picnic in the manicured Jack Shiel Gardens while an entertaining musical program coordinated by Joe Talia will include local musicians and the Alexandra Secondary College Band. But save some energy for the Redgate Ball on the evening of 4 March where a 20 piece big dance band will have you

on your feet and boogying until you drop. Take a break during the evening to catch the digital graffiti light show and outdoor slide show projected onto the Shire Hall and Library. Escape from your busy life and make sure the long weekend from 11 to 13 March is reserved to enjoy the standout program of events featuring the Alexandra Market, heritage steam train rides and museum at the Timber Tramway, the Redgate Alexandra CWA display and enjoy a self-guided tour ‘Around the Block Quilt Walk’ where precious quilts are featured in various historical buildings in the town. All the local schools will be open with Alexandra Secondary College and Alexandra Primary School both welcoming visitors to their open days. St Mary’s Primary School will also

feature a photographic display. Murrindindi Shire Council is holding a Civic Reception and E-Book launch to recognise former councillors and Shire Presidents. This event is by invitation from Murrindindi Shire Council. On Sunday 12 March, everyone is invited to the festive and free 150th Birthday Party in Alexandra’s scenic Rotary Park commencing at 10am. Spacious sunny grass areas and shady trees provide the perfect setting for visitors to sit and relax or wander around the park enjoying the entertainment, stalls and refreshments. Highlights include live music with ‘The Banned’, a duo performing popular cover songs. Whisky Gypsies sound entertaining and they are! Comprising a five-piece band, they regularly play in Melbourne as well as touring regional Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 29

venues. There will be arts, craft and plant stalls to browse and kids can catch the roving performer who may be juggling, creating balloon sculptures or even performing some BMX bike tricks. And who can resist a slice of Alexandra’s big birthday cake on offer? Expect tempting food stalls and sample some local wine.

The valuable historic photographs, many from

the Lin Cumming collection, will also be displayed in shop windows and at the Alexandra Shire Hall. The Alexandra RSL will throw open its doors to welcome everyone to a visually projected collage of photographs, collection of books and RSL memorabilia. Historic Dove Cottage in Payne’s Avenue, a focal point for history buffs, will

remain open during the long weekend. With so much activity in Alexandra, visitors should book their beds early and local residents can share the fun via social media. All program details are available at www.facebook. com/alexandra150th/ and at Alexandra Visitor Information Centre, Murrindindi Shire Council, Miller’s Mensland and Reddrops FoodWorks.

Alexandra, 1867: Grant Street from U.T. Creek Illustrated Australian News, December 27, 1867

Glimpses of Alexandra’s rich

past will be on display with enlarged reproductions of precious historic photographs, old CFA vehicles and uniforms. With all the festivities, Rotary Park will transform into a hub of party activities and fun where everyone is welcome and there will be attractions for the whole family.

It is time to celebrate a big milestone in Alexandra’s history.

This year Alexandra celebrates 150 years and everyone is invited to the party!

Our celebrations by local community groups are spread over two weekends:

4th March and 11th,12th & 13th March 2017

7 Main Street Eildon ~ 5774 2184

We offer a comprehensive cafe menu Delicious coffee and cake Pizza available from 4.30pm Friday and Saturday Open from 8am Tuesday to Sunday Extended trading hours over Easter and Public Holidays It’s just the vibe of the thing . . .

We cater for all occasions from gourmet barbecues, buffet, banquets, finger food, including gourmet self-cook BBQ or drop off functions, we do all the shopping, preparation and cooking so you can spend time enjoying yourself with your guests.

Contact Lyn P 03 5772 3053 M 0402125370 www.harvestingthefeast.com.au catering@harvestingthefeast.com.au

56 High St Yea Ph 03 5797 3155

35 Grant St Alexandra Ph 03 5772 3167

Great Aussie Pie Competition Winner Call in and try our delicious range of cakes, pies, pastries and speciality breads We have a wide array of products for special dietary requirements, including gluten free cakes and breads, also catering for diabetics Our award winning pies will be sure to tempt you kmgyea@bigpond.com

THORNTON BUTCHER & DELI • 24 flavours of ice cream • Hot and cold drinks • Lamb or chicken Open sa y a d 7 gyros souvlaki week 6am m • Fish and chips 8.30p • Steak sandwiches Peter and Maria ~ 68 High Street Yea Phone: 5797 2664 Mobile: 0411 415 520

SPECIALISTS IN a great range of smoked products all prepared and smoked on the premises FAMOUS FOR • beef jerky • smoked lamb backstrap • kabana • hams • bacon and more NOT TO MENTION a great range of quality meat and local products at great prices Phone Jeff or Wendy 5773 2224 Hours Mon-Fri 8am-5.30pm Sat 8am-2pm Sunday ~ Cup Weekend till Easter 8am-1pm

We have the BEST COFFEE in town, with LIGHT MEALS available in a cosy and relaxing atmosphere or at our al fresco tables. Not to mention our all day BREAKFAST on weekends, homemade CAKES and GLUTEN FREE options. Outside CATERING and private FUNCTIONS are also available, so come in and see our friendly staff today!

83-87 Grant Street | 5772 2122

Fully licensed OPEN 7 DAYS Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 31

Over Open Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday the warmer months of the year, over the Green Season ~ 9am-4pm the Lake Mountain Café is Café: 5957 7253 Admin: 5957 7201 the perfect place for a lunch stop. Serving up delicious meals, coffees Whether you’re planning to explore Lake and local wines ~ sit down, relax Mountain’s extensive walking and mountain and enjoy the beautiful valley vistas bike trail network, cycling up the Lake Mountain Road or are enjoying a scenic drive, pop into the Lake Mountain Café for great coffee, cakes, lunches, information and a chat!

The Flowerdale Hotel offers meals and accommodation seven days a week, with a family A great place to break your ride or drive friendly with a classic country pub lunch atmosphere ~ plenty of parking available in an original country style hotel 3325 Whittlesea-Yea Road Flowerdale 3717 Ph: 5780 1230 www.flowerdalehotel.com.au Email bigflocker@bigpond.com

ING INNN RD W A W A PUB es to Servic Award A H A y it n u CommVic 2010 11 nal 20 Natio antas Qu A AH m Award Touris di Shire indin Murr Award ub rma P est Pa B A AH

Yea Peppercorn Hotel RESTAURANT ACCOMMODATION FUNCTIONS (03) 5797 2000 21a Station Street Yea Join our rewards club and receive 10% off our next meal with us www.yeapeppercorn.com.au “Make sure if you eat in Yea, it is at the Peppercorn!” Trip Advisor

64 High Street Yea | Ph 5797 2513 | Heritage listed country hotel in the heart of Yea • New Bistro • New Side Entrance to our Family Friendly Garden Courtyard & Beer Garden • New Modern Menu Featuring Locally Sourced Produce • Coffee & Cakes • Try our Take-away Specials • OPEN MIC 3RD SUNDAY OF MONTH 32 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

Page 31: first place winner in presentation class, Kim Dalton, with Western Downs Cowgirl. Above: Eeyore the donkey competing in the standing jump class, handler/owner June McCulloch. donkey breeds presented for judging, from the tiny miniatures to the tall American Mammoth Jackstock. Of course, our very own Australian donkeys will be represented as well as the popular English and Irish donkeys. There will also be classes for part-bred donkeys, as well as open classes for donkeys not registered with a breed society and classes for the athletic and beautiful hybrids (mules and hinnies). Two rings will be running throughout the Saturday morning, with our judges this year travelling from South Australia and New Zealand to select the best of each breed, culminating in the Grand Champion Led Donkey chosen from each of the Supreme Led Donkeys from their respective breed classes.

THE DONKEY Society of Victoria Annual Championship Show will be held in Alexandra at the Pony Club grounds on the weekend of 8 and 9 April. The Donkey Society Championship Show began in Victoria back in 1973, and was held every Palm Sunday weekend until 1999. Then in 2016, after a period of 15 years in recess, the Donkey Society of Victoria Inc. held the Championship Show in Bunyip Gippsland. This year, exhibitors from across Victoria and southern NSW will arrive in Alexandra with their donkeys and mules to compete over the weekend. The led classes on the Saturday morning will see all 34 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

Performance classes commence early on the Sunday morning, with long reining, packing, ridden, dressage, show jumping, and driven harness classes, and the very popular obstacle course – all showcasing our wonderful working donkeys and how versatile and tractable they can be. There will be a change of pace after lunch on the Saturday afternoon with the more informal Novelty events taking centre stage, including the five standing jump classes, and the colourful fancy-dress class. These classes are a lot of fun and always popular with spectators and competitors. Members of the public are welcome to come along and enjoy the show. The grounds are close to the township of Alexandra, and the Donkey Society is thrilled to be able to hold the Championship Show in such a beautiful area of Victoria and very much appreciate the assistance of local community and Donkey Society members in the organisation of the annual Championship Show.

SPONSORS Eildon Major Events Alexandra Veterinary Clinic Eildon Real Estate Alexandra Signs Eildon Hardware Anvil Angus PSCM Services Lake Eildon Holiday Services A&C Wood Plumbing Murrindindi Guide Eyes On Eildon Country Businesses Fredrick Harold Socks

Demonstration by the Alexandra and District Dog Obedience Club on the day

SUNDAY 21 MAY Eildon • Lions Rotunda, Riverside Drive

millionpawswalk.com.au Entertainment • Pet advice • Fun for everyone! Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 35

• Family friendly park • Annuals and permanent residents • Pet friendly • Sites for sale • Fishing experts on hand

• Fly fishing lessons available • Fishing supplies in Kiosk • Heated salt water pool • Children’s entertainment room • Adults family room

Park Manangement Craig & Yvette Foulis Cnr Park Avenue North & The Boulevard Eildon VIC 3713 Ph 03 5774 2128 boulevardcaravan@bigpond.com www.boulevardcaravanpark.com.au

Acheron A quiet and tranquil park situated on the banks of the Goulburn River and Acheron Valley. Your choice of riverside / shady campsites, deluxe cabins and ensuite cabins with beautiful views, together with long-term holiday sites. Plenty to do with solar heated pool, tennis court, mini golf, fishing, rec room, jumping pillow and playground for the kids, what more could you want! 6 kilometers from Alexandra. Reception Hours 8.30am-6.30pm

91 Breakaway Road Acheron P: 03 5772 1735 E: admin@thebreakaway.com.au W: www.thebreakaway.com.au

Holiday Park A private, gated, annual holiday park This is the perfect location for your holiday home: safe, secure, tranquil, low maintenance

Ian Andrew & Kim Crawley

03 5797 2972

stay@yeariverside.com.au 1 Court Street Yea • 60 acre property, 2km river frontage with small boat access • Central lake for canoeing, rafting and yabbying • Large sites with bathroom facilities • 2 tennis courts, 3 swimming pools, a children’s playground, volleyball court, a motor bike track, a 9 hole mini-golf course, basketball court, recreation room with BBQ facilities, table tennis and a large open fire. 302 Back Eildon Road Thornton Ph 03 5773 2386 info@eildonwaters.com.au www.eildonwaters.com.au 36 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

Yea Riverside Caravan Park offers great accommodation located on the banks of the picturesque Yea River. With a choice of brand new two-bedroom villas or studio units that come equipped with air conditioning and kitchen facilities or powered and unpowered caravan sites, you’ll have a pleasant holiday at a price that will fit your budget.

yeariverside.com.au

A little crow taken at Narrandera in NSW.

Watching birds By Bob Tate THERE ARE two species of crows in the Alexandra area. More technically, they are known as ravens, of which there are five species native to Australia. In our area, you can find the Australian raven and the little raven. At a casual glance, all five species look similar, but there are subtle differences. Description The Australian raven is the largest in our area, and it is black with a whitishbrown eye and distinctive ‘hackles’, which are large feathers at the front of its throat. It has a long drawn out call. The little raven has similar features, but it is smaller, and its call is a series of much shorter notes. Distribution The Australian raven is found from Carnarvon in Western Australia all the way across the Nullarbor, and in most of New South Wales and Queensland. The little raven is found only in a small area of south-eastern Australia. Diet Ravens are carrion eaters, feeding on dead or nearly dead animals. In summer they also dine on pasture grubs. They are known to attack weak lambs and pick out eyes, but will also eat any other tasty morsels of weak animals. They have a reputation for being very cunning. If you point at them or walk outside with a rifle, they take off – they seem to know.

All the raven species play an important role in the recycling of dead and decaying material. They also provide an important scavenging service in our landfills, and in Alex we have the ravens and ibis, which can regularly be seen in and around our tips. The local ravens also raid my chook Above and below: little ravens. pen, and I often see them flying off with large pieces of bread in their beaks (wetting the bread tends to stop this habit). Ravens also have an affinity for golf balls and drop them in our paddocks because we live about 1 or 2 kilometres from the golf course ‘as the crow flies’. Breeding The Australian raven does not breed until three to four years old, living in ‘bachelor’ groups of up to 30 birds. When ready, they mate for life and then live in their own territories. Little ravens often nest a few metres apart from each other in loose colonies of up to 15 pairs and have been recorded having several nests in the territory of a single Australian raven pair. Both species make large nests of sticks lined with softer materials like grasses, often in the forks of trees. In some of the more arid areas, they tend to use electric poles and this can lead to trouble as the nests often contain wire, which can cause short circuits.

A torresian crow taken in Darwin. Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 37

Country Touch has been operating the ‘SNOW BUS’ service between Marysville and the Lake Mountain snowfields since 2002.

putt ing Indi first

Our 28 seat bus is also available for weddings, concerts, local day tours or Melbourne and Tullamarine pick up / drop off

COUNTRY TOUCH

24 Murchison St, Marysville Ph (03) 5963 3753 Mob 0417 633 753 info@countrytouch.com.au www.lakemountainsnowbus.com

Get in Cathy’s ear: 03 5721 7077 117 Murphy Street Wangaratta VIC 3677

cathy.mcgowan.mp@aph.gov.au cathymcgowan.com.au @IndigoCathy facebook.com/CathyMcGowan

S PIZZA le b a l i ava ay d Thurs day n u S

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK FROM 7AM TILL LATE Breakfast every morning from 7am

• pizzas • hot and cold drinks • souvlaki • fresh fish and chips • steak sandwiches • burgers

1369 Taggerty-Thornton Road THORNTON PH 03 5773 2293

Bridget McKENZIE Senator for Victoria

Authorised by Bridget McKenzie 279 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo VIC 3550 38 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

Contact Senator Bridget McKenzie www.bridgetmckenzie.com.au

Electorate Oﬃce Postal Address: 279 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo VIC 3550 Phone: (03) 5441 4251 / 1300 889 103 toll free Email: senator.McKenzie@aph.gov.au

Specialising in Premium Quality Locally Grown Grass Fed Beef Prime Lamb, Pork and Free-range Chicken Prize Winning Gourmet Sausages

SPIT HIRE

BBQ and Weekender Packs Bulk Specials Range of Local Produce and Marinades

• Lunch and Dinner 7 days a week • All-day meals on long weekends • Beer garden • Take-away meals • Accommodation • Bottleshop • Ice cold beer • Open fireplace in bar & Bistro Maroondah Highway Buxton Ph 03 5774 7381 buxtonhotel@virtual.net.au

2014 & 2015 Sausage King Competition GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Worcestershire Beef & Cracked Pepper, Gourmet Chicken, Continental Pork

We cater for B&Bs, Restaurants & Hotels Colin and Mandy Gesler Grant Street, Alexandra Phone: 03 5772 1151 Fax orders: 03 5772 3399 gesler@virtual.net.au

www.melbourneonlinebutcher.com.au

Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 39

www.murrindindiguide.com.au

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CATHKIN – 177m

MOLESWORTH – 173m

TUNNEL – 282m

7 CHEVIOT – 202m

YEA – 172m

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HOMEWOOD – 171m

KERRISDALE – 164m

GRANITE – 157m

TRAWOOL – 166m

TALLAROOK – 178m

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Shelters: beside the Goulburn River between Tallarook and Goulburn Valley Highway, Goulburn River near Kerrisdale, Cheviot Tunnel, Eglington Cutting, Merton Gap, Woodfield Station and Olivers Road Mansfield. BBQs available at Tallarook, Yea, Alexandra, Bonnie Doon and Mansfield. Public toilets are also located at Tallarook, Yea, Yarck, Alexandra, Bonnie Doon and Mansfield.

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Trail Distances Tallarook – Mansfield............ 121km Alexandra Spur Line.................13km Tallarook – Trawool...........................11km Trawool – Trawool Resort.................3km Trawool Resort – Yea........................24km Yea – Cheviot Tunnel..........................9km Cheviot Tunnel – Molesworth.........8km Molesworth – Cathkin.......................4km Cathkin – Alexandra.........................13km Cathkin – Yarck.....................................6km Yarck – Merton....................................19km Merton – Bonnie Doon....................15km Bonnie Doon – Mansfield...............22km

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KORIELLA – 228m

CATHKIN – 177m

MANSFIELD – 315m

MAINDAMPLE – 310m

BONNIE DOON – 281m

WOODFIELD – 296m

MERTON – 330m

KANUMBRA – 268m

MERTON GAP – 397m

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FULLY LICENSED

Your Rail Trail destination for luxury accommodation

Royal Mail Hotel – Yea

88 High Street, Yea Ph: (03) 5797 2515 Built as a wedding gift in 1876 and still a gift to brides today! Located in the heart of Yea, this recently renovated Victorian Manor offers guests a wide variety of options. Whether it’s a wedding, birthday, intimate gathering or charity event, our flexibility ensures guests a unique and memorable experience (with fully catered or self-catering option for 10 to 120 guests)

111 High Street, Yea Lisa Cornwall 0400 848 575 info@beaufortmanor.com.au • www.beaufortmanor.com.au

Thanks to the multi-award winning chef Tony Z the Goulburn Valley’s newest modern Australian

Specialising in Market Fresh Seafood, mouth wate Come find out why everyone is talking about

• Bar • Restaurant - 4:00pm ~ Closed Wednesda Market8:30am fresh seafood, steaks, perfect • Accommodation Mon-Tue

10 High St Yea (03) 579 desserts and delicious coffee

Visit our website for further information on local attractions and events

www.royalmailhotelyea.com.au ‘like’ us on Facebook

4 RESTAURANT ACCOMMODATION FUNCTIONS 21a Station St Yea (03) 5797 2000

2016 Certificate of Excellence ~ Trip Advisor

• Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner • Take-away • Free WiFi Mon-Tues 8.30am-4pm ~ closed Wed ~ Thursday-Sunday 8.30am-8.30pm 10 High Street Yea Ph 03 5797 2528

YEA MOTEL

A warm welcome to all

Join our rewards club and receive 10% off our next meal with us www.yeapeppercorn.com.au

With a reputation for delighting day trippers and locals, discover our range of beautiful handcrafted goods and imaginative gifts for all ages.

Ph 0413 489 196 25 High St, Yea

• nine units ~ bright, clean and comfortable with 3 family rooms sleeping 4 in each. Twin share units also available • queen beds and en suites • heated pool • barbecues

Thursday - Monday 10am-4pm & Public Holidays

OPEN: Wed - Sun & public holidays 12noon-5pm TASTE: the highly awarded Sangiovese, exemplary reds & crisp whites STAY: for Sedona’s delicious produce platters 182 Shannons Road Murrindindi 3717 T 03 9730 2883 M 0432 435 180 Follow us on Facebook

www.sedonaestate.com.au 42 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

Phone 03 5797 2660 8 Miller Street Yea info@yeamotel.com.au www.yeamotel.com.au

“Make sure if you eat in Yea, it is at the Peppercorn!” Trip Advisor

Weekly or Overnight

A cosy 2 bedroom self-contained cottage • Linen provided • Fully equipped kitchen • Private • 1.5 km to rail trail 5773 4304 | Walsh145@me.com 145 Middle Creek Rd Yarck

ALL DAY BREAKFAST Pies • Breads • Cakes • Pastries all baked on premises

GREAT COFFEE

Check out our seasonal menu 6585 Maroondah Highway Yarck

Phone 5773 4233

Books At Yarck

Pre-loved, affordably priced books and magazines which you can peruse at your leisure in a comfortable reading area Opening hours Mon 11.30am-3pm, Thurs and Fri 11.30am-4pm Sat and Sun 10.30am-5pm Catherine Wherry and Jeremy Morrison Ph 03 5773 4337 or 0400 418 139 6591 Maroondah Highway Yarck books.at.yarck@gmail.com

happy, healthy, handmade

and B&B coffee • local produce • licensed Breakfast and Lunch Thursday to Sunday from 6.30am Maroondah Hwy Yarck Ph 03 5773 4223 Bed & Breakfast Overnight & Holiday Accommodation Catering for groups up to 14 Adjacent to rail trail & eateries Ph 0409 004 887 / 0408 599 677 www.yarckcottage.com

Churches of Yarck * * * *

Great Coffee Country style food eat-in or take-away Post office / Newsagency Groceries

Open 7am - 6pm, 7 days a week 6595 Maroondah Hwy, Yarck yarckgeneralstore@hotmail.com PH Maree or Jenny on 03 5773 4204

B & B Accommodation

0414 969 008

www.churchesofyarck.com.au

14 ALEXANDRA Timber Tramway and Museum

Start and end your rail trail experience at the Timber Tramway. Train rides, kids’ activities and refreshments. Station Street, Alexandra Open 2nd & 4th Sunday 10.00am to 4.00pm Group bookings welcome. ALEXANDRA MARKET 2nd Saturday of each month. Ph 0427 509 988 www.alexandratramway.org.au

Alexandra

Bakery & Cafe 70 Grant Street Alexandra Ph 03 5772 2272 • coffee and varieties of teas • large variety of traditional sourdoughs • cakes and catering for special occasions • large variety sandwiches and rolls

Close to rail trail/ 5 mins to town centre

Waverley Historic Guest House Bed and Breakfast

56 Nihil Street Alexandra Phone: 03 5772 1146 or 0409 411 816 waverley@ycs.com.au www.waverleyguesthouse.com.au Waverley House is a beautifully restored Federation style guest house built in the 1900’s and provides boutique accommodation for visitors to the area.

Alexandra Motor Inn

76 Downey Street (Maroondah Hwy) Ph 03 5772 2077 alexmotorinn001@bigpond.com.au www.alexandramotorinn.com.au 16 comfortable units, including family rooms, interconnecting suites with queen size beds. Each unit has en suite, reverse cycle airconditioning, large plasma TV, tea and coffee making facilities, toaster, microwave, refrigerator, wireless internet available. Lawned courtyard, BBQ and children’s play area, big boat parking, solar-heated salt water swimming pool

• Fully self contained Deluxe and Standard Cabins and Studios with air-conditioning and TV • Powered and Unpowered tourist sites • Long Term Holiday Sites Facilities • barbecues • playground • kiosk, ice, • camp kitchen • town water, sewerage

5016 Maroondah Hwy Alexandra Ph 03 5772 1222 info@alexandratouristpark.com www.alexandratouristpark.com Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 43

Eildon Road, Eildon Toll free: 1800 651 691 Situated amongst 30 acres of well shaded areas and nestled beneath Lake Eildon, the park is on the banks of the picturesque pondage, a natural habitat for native birds and a fisherman’s paradise. There is an abundance of birds, fauna and wildlife that surround our Park making it a relaxing place to stay, whilst enjoying our well maintained grounds and gardens.

Our cabins are self contained and designed for your comfort. We also have many spacious, powered and non-powered camping sites available. Eildon Pondage Holiday Park also offers: • Laundry Facilities • Large Barbecue Area • Wireless Internet • Playground • Tennis Court • Giant Jumping Cushion • Giant Outdoor Chess Set • Outdoor Movies in the Summer Holidays (weather permitting) • We are very close to the Alliance Boat Ramp • Excellent fishing from the park grounds. And much more . . .

• Clearing Sales

Specialist • Livestock Sales • Wool • Insurance • Rural Finance

54 Grant Street Alexandra Phone 03 5772 3110

Merchandise & Insurance Trish Embling 0447 266 038 www.landmarkembling.com.au

YOUR LOCALLY OWNED RURAL STORE

www.eildonpondage.com info@eildonpondage.com

Fencing Materials • Chemicals • Fertilisers • ~ Farm - Garden Tanks & Pumps • Country Clothing • Livestock & Clearing Sales Andrew Embling 0418 266 038 Ayden Embling 0427 924 944

PLUS ONLINE E-STORE

www.theshootingzone.com.au Mansfield Hunting & Fishing 17 High Street Mansfield • 5779 1685 44 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

Dealers License 613 681 40F

EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR HUNTING, CAMPING & FISHING

THE SATISFACTION that comes from growing your own food is addictive. And once you’re hooked on vegie gardening, there’s a neverending search for knowledge to become a better grower. So it’s a very good thing that the Grow Food Network Inc. is holding its Open Vegie Gardens event again this autumn to inspire and educate edible gardening enthusiasts of all varieties. The first Open Vegie Gardens event, held in 2015, gave people access to some of Murrindindi Shire’s most productive residential properties and received an overwhelmingly positive response. In particular, visitors appreciated the opportunity to learn about different garden layouts and growing techniques they could apply to their own vegie patch. Di Robb of the Grow Food Network Inc., one of the hard-working Open Vegie Gardens organisers, had over 300 people come through

her own property and says it was a fantastic experience. “We were absolutely thrilled with it. There was a lot of networking and communication, and a lot of discussions about the gardens – what people have had success with and what hasn’t worked so well. Visitors were really intrigued with the gardens.” Nine vegie gardens will be open at this year’s Open Vegie Gardens event – some from the first event and some new additions – and it will again be a chance for both novice and expert food growers to pick up tips to get more out of their own gardens. “A lot of the open gardens are productive all year round, so they give people an insight into when to plant and how to plant out for continuous production, rather than just having the traditional summer and autumn harvest,” Di says. Aside from the joys of

strolling through some of the area’s most lovingly tended edible gardens, there will be demonstrations throughout the Open Vegie Gardens weekend and places to enjoy a hot drink while chatting about the joys (and difficulties) of backyard food growing. If you want greener thumbs, no matter what colour they are at the moment, or just enjoy wandering around a beautiful garden, be sure to mark the 2017 Open Vegie Gardens weekend on your calendar:

When: 18 and 19 March. Where: Various town and country locations around the Murrindindi Shire. Entry Fee: $3 per person at each garden. More Information: If you’d like to know more about the Open Vegie Gardens or get involved with the Grow Food Network visit their website: www.growfood.net.au or their Facebook Page (search for Grow Food Network Inc). You can also contact Di on 03 5773 2471 or Jodie on 0439 927 222. Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 45

The beautiful new kangaroo paw created by Angus Stewart, ’Landscape Violet’.

Gardening with Angus Stewart KANGAROO PAWS are one of Australia’s truly iconic flowers with their incredible colours and distinctively shaped flowers. They occur wild only in the south-west of Western Australia, where the dry summers, cool moist winters and generally well-drained sandy soils provide the conditions they need to thrive. One of the challenges in bringing kangaroo paws into the gardens of Australia is to try and breed varieties that are more adaptable to the much wider range of climatic and soil conditions that are found across the continent. 46 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

Indeed, many gardeners in the eastern states struggle to grow the dwarf varieties that are commonly offered for sale in many retail nursery outlets. If you are one of those gardeners then I have created a new variety called Anigozanthos flavidus ‘Landscape Violet’ which is part of a range of ‘Tall and Tough’ kangaroo paws that all flower at 1.5 to 2 metres tall and are very adaptable to the Victorian conditions, particularly clay soils that cause the dwarf kangaroo paw varieties to struggle. I was particularly proud to launch ‘Landscape Violet’ as part of an event at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Cranbourne last November called the Kangaroo Paw

Celebration. This monthlong event showcased kangaroo paws and their relatives the cottonheads (Conostylis) and bloodroots (Haemodorum) and included an academic symposium with international guests (organised by the Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne). Numerous kangaroo paw displays lit up the Gardens and various tours and educational events were held as well. Prominent awardwinning landscape architect Jim Fogarty officially launched ‘Landscape Violet’ at a ceremony that was well attended by horticulturists and the general public and was a career highlight for me.

You may be thinking by this point, “Why is ‘Landscape Violet’ so special”? Well, the flower extends the colour range of kangaroo paws, with subtle violet hues during the early flowering period, that age to a subtle soft, creamy mauve-white colour. An outstanding feature is its broad, very clean, strong foliage that is an excellent alternative to strappy leafed landscape plants such as Lomandra longifolia. ‘Landscape Violet’ will adapt to most soils including heavy clay, provided drainage is reasonable. It can be grown in full sun to part shade, although higher light levels will give better flowering. It blooms in spring and early

Angus at the launch of his kangaroo paw, ‘Landscape Violet’, at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Victoria. summer with multi-branched stems of beautiful shades of violet that will attract nectar feeding birds such as honeyeaters and spinebills. The ideal planting time is autumn. ‘Landscape Violet’ is a fast grower that quickly develops multiple shoots. It will survive dry spells but in order to thrive and flower to its full potential it requires reasonable moisture levels most of the year, but especially during flower bud emergence. This is particularly important if the plant is being grown in a container. ‘Landscape Violet’ is an easy care, tough plant that forms into a large clump. Cut the old flower stems and their associated leaf fan back as close as possible to ground

level to make way for the new shoots that will provide next year’s flowering. Established clumps can be cut back with a whipper snipper as soon as flowering has finished. I highly recommend wearing long sleeves, trousers and protective eyewear as the dried hairs on the spent flower stems can cause irritation when they are disturbed during pruning. Give the plant a feed with a general purpose native plant fertiliser such as Bush Tucker at the time of pruning. ‘Landscape Violet’ will tolerate light frosts, but moderate to heavy frosts are likely to burn the foliage. If this occurs cut back damaged foliage to make way for the emerging flower stems that are usually

unscathed as they develop from mid-spring onwards. While bred to be as trouble free as possible, it is a fact that all kangaroo paws are prone to some degree of leaf blackening or ‘ink spot’. This phenomenon occurs whenever the leaf tissue dies, as the cells release a black pigment into the area around the dead cells. Therefore, anything that

causes dead tissue such as nutrient and water stress, frost, snail damage, or fungal leaf spot causes leaf blackening. The best way to overcome it is to keep the plants stress free, and when old leaves and flowers die back simply cut them off as close as possible to ground level. For more information visit GardeningWithAngus.com.au

For more info www.alexandraraceclub.com.au Come on the day or book on line via Country Racing Victoria Gates open at noon Tote Info vision van and bookies Entry from $12 ~ Children 15 & under FREE Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 47

h a d n o o r a M OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT

Chainsaw Sales & Service Safety Equipment • Workwear • Bait and Tackle • Stihl Specialists Open 7 days Ph 03 5774 7292 2201 Maroondah Hwy Buxton

Join us on Facebook for updates & specials

FISHING CENTRE

Pheasant Creek Stockfeeds & Supplies

For all your fishing, camping and hunting needs 2/42 Downey Street Alexandra Vic 3714 Ph: 03 57 722 662 Fax: 03 57 722 641

• Split Redgum Firewood • Pet Supplies & Stockfeeds • Quality pet mince

3 Oldfield Rd Kinglake West pcstockfeeds@bigpond.com p 5786 5891 f 5786 5893

Thurs to Fri 9am-5pm Saturday 9am-3pm Sunday 10am-3pm

18 & 19 MARCH 2017

Town and country gardens in Murrindindi shire FB: Grow Food Network Inc W: www.growfood.net.au E: info@growfood.net.au

MOUNTAIN RANGES VET CLINIC

Quality Plants Quirky Gifts

OPENING HOURS

OPEN VEGIE GARDENS

HOURS

Sunday Closed Mon, Tues, Wed 9am-6pm Thursday 9am-7pm Friday 9am-6pm Satruday 9am-12pm

Dr Kate Murray BVSc

96 High Street Yea Shop Ph: (03) 5797 2222

5786 1777

Email: gvnurseries@bigpond.com Fax: (03)5797 2220

Shop 1/31 Whittlesea-Kinglake Road, Kinglake 3763

Garden Consultations by appointment Call Jacky on 0417 907 278

BUXTON NURSERY AUTUMN TIME . . . MULCHING TIME! come and see us for your Mulch, Garden Fertilisers, Pest & Weed Control, Osmocote & Grow Better Products, Lawn Seed & Lawn Food

We can deliver any product in any quantity

• Soil • Mulch • Fertilisers • Lawn Seed • Garden Tools DIS • Quarry Products • Paving • Sleepers • Posts • Micro Irrigation • Raised Garden Beds • Stock and Pet Food • Ornaments and Pots • Concrete Pipes • Drainage Pipe

• tubes to established trees • specialist landscape trees • rare plants • perennials / annuals 2600 Maroondah Hwy Buxton Ph 03 5774 7345 buxtonursery@bigpond.com.au www.buxtonursery.com

Australia’s largest retail fern nursery set amidst natural bushland.

TOR

BU TRI

David & Anne-Marie Leary Ph 03 5772 1911 Fax 03 5772 2448 2 Rose Street Alexandra 48 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

OPEN 7 days a week 9am-5.30pm Group bookings and wholesale enquiries welcome 1052 Whittlesea-Kinglake Rd Kinglake West (opposite primary school) Ph/Fax 03 5786 5031 Mobile 0408 199 244 sales@fernacres.com.au

www.ferns.com.au

• tree ferns • ground ferns • epiphytic ferns • grass trees • tree fern carvings • wall baskets • planters and pots individually crafted for you

Inside of the Forest Discovery Centre in Toolangi. Photos courtesy Michael Nardella. By Jane O’Connor AN ASTONISHING building is nestled among the towering mountain ash and messmate trees in the pretty settlement of Toolangi: the Toolangi Forest Discovery Centre. This architecturally exciting gem, featuring towering angles and natural timbers, blends beautifully with its forest environment and has intrigued many a passing tourist on the HealesvilleKinglake Road. When you step inside, and natural forest light floods in, the feeling is one of being surrounded by the environment. Huge, natural tree trunks support the angled walls, and every window offers a dramatic view. The rough-hewn boards used in part of its construction reflect the 50 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

history of the area, which was first inhabited by settlers in the 1860s when paling splitters were attracted by huge stands of mountain ash and the messmate that provided building timber. The building was constructed in 1994 and saw thousands of students, from primary to tertiary, visit every year when it was run by the then Department of Sustainability and Environment as an education centre. Up until June 2012, students could not only take in the stunning design of architect Peter Pass, but also learn about the environment of the Toolangi State Forest. Sadly, the maintenance requirements of the building led to the Department of Land, Water and Planning closing the facility.

But, for the local residents, seeing this forest gem languish – when inspiring bushwalks abound not only in their area, but also through the Kinglake National Park, and the area is blessed with some fascinating local history – was the catalyst to bring about a revival. Toolangi – Aboriginal for ‘tall trees’ – was also touched by the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009, with its population of around 289 suffering the loss of two people and 18 homes. So, in early 2016, around 70 of this rural settlement’s residents came together to discuss the future use of such an asset in their midst with the department. It was the beginning of a breath of fresh air blowing through

the forest and an interim community management committee was handed the keys to the centre’s door at the end of that year. Despite the closure, the building was in excellent condition, and the committee wasted no time in getting out the brooms and dusters and holding some initial functions in time for Christmas. Now, a collaboration with RMIT University’s executive consulting group and its Master of Business (MBA) students is well on the way to working towards the next step for the centre’s ongoing self-sustaining use. Seen as a ‘live’ challenge for the MBA students, they will devote 500 hours to working with the centre’s committee and community at no

charge to develop two fiveyear business plans to make the facility self-supporting. The working group will examine all of the costings and assumptions around timing and viability of inclusions in the project and the committee will consider the proposals and their roll out. They will also work with the department on uses of the building. Not only is the centre at the heart of a rich forest haven of beautiful walks, but a recently revived forest sculpture trail adjacent to the centre also enjoyed great patronage across the Christmas and New Year holiday period. The Toolangi Discovery Centre’s management pulled out all stops to ensure the centre was back in shape

after a four year closure and open in time for the sculpture trail to begin. The trail was helped with funding from the Kinglake Ranges Foundation. A group of artists in residence have created a stunning series of new sculptures in the forest, and this will remain open to the public. Enhancing local employment opportunities is also central to the planning for the centre, as is its primary use as a community facility. The interim plans include opening a café and tourist information centre. The centre has to be able to pay its own way, so some of the initial attractions will rely on volunteers to carry out tasks such as educating visitors about the Toolangi

State Forest and the Kinglake National Park. Part of the RMIT proposal includes an interactive space that could incorporate an exhibition dedicated to iconic Australian ‘bush’ poet, C.J. Dennis, who took up residence in Toolangi in 1915. After first visiting the area in 1908, C.J. Dennis bought land near the current centre and while his original home was burnt down in a bushfire, the stunning gardens he established in the rich mountain soil survive today as tea rooms. A C.J. Dennis festival is held annually in October. The endangered Leadbeater’s possum – whose habitat was also affected by the Black Saturday fires – may also be featured, along with information on the

temperate rainforest, the sculpture trail and flora and fauna exhibits. The interim business plan is also considering holding workshops and master classes, as well as art exhibitions, sales of local produce, an educational facility, eco-tourism, a variety of festivals and a picnic area. In addition, plans to make the centre a bookable venue for community events along with corporate and function use are being developed. The Toolangi Forest Discovery Centre is located at 1687 HealesvilleKinglake Road, Toolangi (75 Kilometres NE of Melbourne, 21 kilometres north of Healesville, 16 kilometres east of Kinglake). You can also keep in touch on Facebook.

EILDON HARDWARE Ask about our free selected delivery days in all regions

“If we haven’t got it, we’ll source it and attempt to bring it in” Offering an extensive range of hardware products • cement products • insulation • plumbing supplies • timber products • paint supplies • giftware • homeware • garden supplies • water toys • pet supplies • stock feed • Ice (bagged or block) Free delivery on most items Lay-by available

• ALL YOUR HARDWARE NEEDS • TIMBER AND STEEL SALES • LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED

Yenckens Alexandra

Trade & Garden Centre Cnr Station & Downey Sreets, Alexandra Ph 03 5772 2188 Fax 03 5772 1059 yenckensalexandra@yenckens.com.au OPEN 7 DAYS

Suppliers of Supagas / Air Liquide

Yenckens Yea

Trade Centre 26 High Street, Yea Ph 03 5797 2290 Fax 03 5797 2260 yenckensyea@yenckens.com.au

Yenckens Mansfield

Trade & Garden Centre 27 Kitchen Street Mansfield Ph 03 5775 2511 Fax 03 5775 1542 yenckensmansfield@yenckens.com.au

Ph 03 5774 2081 Mob 0419 299 083 3 Main Street, Eildon

3 Chenery Street, Mansfield ~ P: 03 5775 1992 email: mansfieldbettahomeliving@outlook.com WE STOCK EVERYTHING FROM • Furniture • Homewares • Bedroom • Manchester

• Gifts • Home Appliances • Jaycar • Floor Rugs

and much more

52 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

• Home Decor • White Goods • Televisions • Musical Instruments and Accessories

Joel with his prize catch.

By Gazza from Eildon Bait and Tackle IT’S BEEN a great start to 2017 for anglers with the natives and red fin firing in Lake Eildon. Eildon Pondage and rivers down stream are doing well for brown and rainbow trout. Up in the lake, Murray cod have been caught up to 105cm on an assortment of spinner baits, large bibbed and deep diving lures, and as happens at this time of the year around the marinas almost anything you can keep on a hook the cod will have a crack at. Other areas cod have been caught are

Trey with a nice Murray cod.

Jerusalem Creek, Big River, Delatite, Howqua and the main arms, the dam wall and several of the deep rocky outcrops this side of the lake.

benefits of recent stockings with many having luck on the power bait and local dough, the gold Krocs and pink Tassie Devils are also still working well.

Yellow belly are taking scrubbies and bibless crank baits in similar areas to the cod. The surface temperature in the lake is around the 25 degrees, which has sent the trout down very deep.

Fly fishermen have had a great season on the Goulburn River, Rubicon River and Snob’s Creek so far this year, using caddis, small cicada, nymph and ant patterns, and with grass hoppers starting to get about these patterns will be worth a shot.

The warm water has also fired up the red fin with several schools of small fellas being reported around the lake, however the odd 40 plus centimeter red fin was caught on a vibe near Howqua. Anglers in the pondage have enjoyed the

Anglers using blades, small hard bodies, soft plastics and scrubbies have all done well down the rivers as well. Catch you next issue. Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 53

• fun for the whole family • action packed and thrilling • full canteen

Alexandra Speedway

www.alexandraspeedway.org.au

‘home of 100 lapper’

(A) Adults $25 Con $20 Children 10-16 $10 Family (2A + 3C) $70 (B) Adults $20 Con $15 Children 10-16 $10 Family (2A + 3C) $60

RACE DATES

11 & 12 March 4pm Standard Saloon State Title 25 March 4pm Street Stock Series 15 & 16 April 4pm Street Stock Vic State Title 29 April 4pm Late Model Feature 13 May 2pm Crash n Bash Feature

Eildon Auto Spares & Eildon Bait & Tackle NO LICENCE REQUIRED ~ SEATING FOR 8

• Auto Spares • Auto Accessories • Fishing Tackle and Bait • Fishing Licenses • Water Sports Equipment • Boat Safety Gear • Gumboots

Gary Constantine 7-8 Main Street Eildon Ph 03 5774 2712 Fax 03 5774 2738

LISTINGS WANTED

Luxury Pontoon & Fishing Boats 2hr $150 3hr $200 4hr $250 8hr $400 LUXURY PONTOON BOATS Swim, party or just relax cruising spectacular Lake Eildon FISHING PONTOON BOATS Twilight fishing hires, live fish tanks, rod holders, maps, eskies and safety equipment on board. BYO fishing gear Consecutive day hires are also available upon request

Call 0488 051 721

info@lakeviewboathire.com.au www.lakeviewboathire.com.au 54 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

Boating since 1970. We have been boating on Lake Eildon for the last 45 years. Three generations of passion and knowledge coming together. Whether you are looking to buy or wanting to sell a house boat, pleasure craft, jet ski or boats in Eildon, Ray can help you ~ with a range from entry level house boats to the ultimate luxury machines and mega boats.

Call Ray van Schoonhoven on 0499 990 024 or drop into our office at Eildon Out Boards for a coffee and chat.

For ALL HOUSE BOAT SALES and LISTINGS P: 0499 990 024 E: ray@houseboatsaleslakeeildon.com.au House boat W: houseboatsaleslakeeildon.com.au Jet Ski & Boat W: boatsaleslakeeildon.com.au

HOUSE BOAT HIRE

Hiring a House Boat on Lake Eildon is the finest way to experience one of the most picturesque natural settings in Victoria

Our houseboats offer comfortable holiday accommodation with three bedrooms sleeping ten or twelve people. A fully equipped kitchen, modern bathroom, spacious living and dining. Climb the stairs to the roof top entertaining area where you can kick back and relax while the BBQ is cooking. Whatever you’re looking for in a houseboat holiday, you’ll find it when you stay in comfort and style on any Waters Edge Houseboat ~ Stormy Blue, Hunter Blue, Beyond Belief and Howqua Princess.

You’ll want to come back again and again … the best reasons to hire a houseboat with Waters Edge Lake Eildon Houseboat Hire are … Experience the romance of a secluded cove. Sunbathe on the top deck. Explore untouched bushland. Swim or play on the water. Fish from your back door for trout, yellow belly, cod. Go waterskiing, wakeboarding or jet skiing. Relax on the deck, watching the sun set over the water. Pack a picnic and walk through peaceful bush lands. • Tailored for the fisherman • For those that just want to relax on the majestic Lake • Gather some kindling and have a small fire on the banks • Marvel at the majestic hills and tranquil bays

HOUSE BOAT HIRE Located at Lake Eildon Marina, 190 SugarLoaf Road, Lake Eildon Victoria E: bookings@HouseBoatHireEildon.com.au W: www.HouseBoatHireEildon.com.au M: 0437 944 162

QUEENS BIRTHDAY WEEKEND 2017

HELD ON BITUMEN IN ALEXANDRA’S MAIN STREET

SATURDAY: TRUCK DRIVERS MEMORIAL SERVICE 2PM • SPONSORS’ DINNER LIVE MUSIC • MAJOR AUCTION • VICTORIAN WOODCHOP TOURNAMENT • EXHIBITIONS & TRADE DISPLAYS • MAJOR QUILT DISPLAY • CHILDREN’S AMUSEMENTS • SHOPS OPEN GORDON SIMPSON 0409 577 212 ANDREW EMBLING 0418 266 038

The key to your selling success is an experienced and hard working agent with proven results . . .

Experience. Honesty. Energy. Teamwork.

Robyn Schrader Director/Licensed Estate Agent M 0407 686 275 E rschrader.alexandra@ljh.com.au Renee Ward Real Estate Consultant M 0412 315 885 E rward.alexandra@ljh.com.au

We’ve got the lot and sales records prove it.

Having the right team market your property can save you time, money and headaches. If you’re thinking of selling and would like a free market appraisal or for all your Property Management requirements, call us today! 104A Grant Street, Alexandra VIC 3714 P 03 5772 1774

ALEXANDRA

56 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

alexandra.ljhooker.com.au

RUSTIC SIMPLICITY, ALEXANDRA Roads a little less travelled ‘Roads a Little Less Travelled’ follows on from last year’s ‘Repeating Patterns’ exhibition, where through a selection of her photographs, Rustic Simplicity’s Cindy Ferguson explored the narrative we all have running through our lives, whereby we repeat patterns of behaviour. By breaking these old patterns, we can change the way we experience the past, present and potential events in our lives. This solo exhibition of photography (again printed on stone, amongst other media), is a collection of images from her travels: of ‘roads’ a little less travelled (physically and metaphorically), and

demonstrates the beauty to be found in such journeys, despite the challenges they present. Showing: until 26 March Rural Legends & Rustic Relics Author and co-author of several pictorial works/photographic-style coffee table books, Melanie Faith Dove is a professional photographer with a passion for photo documentaries in Australia and overseas; she especially likes to focus on rural issues, with titles like Best Mates, Working Dogs, and High Country Cattlemen under her belt. Photography is a way of life for Melanie, not just a way of making a living. It is her passion, her career, and her life as a photographer has taken her down many roads.

‘Rural Legends & Rustic Relics’ is a solo exhibition of creative imagery by award-winning photographer Melanie Faith Dove, whose work captures the essence of Victorian High Country life on the land. All welcome for drinks and nibbles from 6pm Friday 31 March for the official opening of the show, which is current until the Queen’s Birthday Weekend. The Forest, The Farm, The Future … ‘The Forest, The Farm, The Future …’ is a group exhibition of many media celebrating the past, present and future possibilities for Alexandra and district in this, its 150th year. Opening with drinks and nibbles Friday 17 June, the show runs until Sunday 4 September.

Alexandra Timber Tramway & Museum Station Street ~ P: 0427 509 988

BBQ’s, plants & seedlings, fruit & veg, homemade soaps, clothing, jewellery & gems, homemade jams & chutneys, arts & craft, trash & treasure

An accomplished pianist ~ Josie is available for Weddings, Cocktail Parties, Corporate Events, Restaurants . . . Josie can provide a portable Roland electric piano and a singer. Located in Alexandra ~ Prepared to travel mj.parsons11@bigpond.com Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 57

Goods from Near and Far Anglicans at Mission in Partnership with Anglicare

The ideal spot for pre-loved and recycled wares

106 Grant Street, Alexandra 3714 Ph 03 5772 2311 Email: inspireongrant@gmail.com

Lit & Beyond 18 Murchison Street Marysville 3779 Ph: 0422239754 www.lit.com.au Facebook - Lit & beyond This beautiful ladies boutique store has a unique range of ladies clothing, fashion accessories, books, bags, jewellery, homewares, LIT CANDLES and LIT WAX BEADS with 26 different colours and fragrances Step into Lit & Beyond to find yourself that special something or a gift for someone special

66 Grant Street Alexandra Janet Baxter 0478 661 655

Thur-Sat 10am-4pm Sun 11am-4pm 59-61 Grant Street Alexandra Enquiries 0407 683 712

ue niq ing n u A opp ce i sh rien ille! e v exp arys M

Quality possum & merino knitwear, men’s pure wool Australian made jumpers, oilskin coats, leather hats, plus home wares and children’s gifts. Open every day. 24 Murchison St, Marysville 3779 Phone (03) 5963 3753 www.countrytouch.com.au www.possumshop.com

MENS & LADIES + WORK WEAR | SCHOOL WEAR | HIRE WEAR

Wayne & Josephene Miller 86 Grant Street, Alexandra VIC 3714 (03) 5772 1254 | millersmensland@bigpond.com

+ WORK WEAR | SCHOOL WEAR | HIRE WEAR

Wayne & Josephene Miller 86 Grant Street, Alexandra VIC 3714 (03) 5772 1254 | millersmensland@bigpond.com

Phone 03 5772 1503 58 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

75-77 Grant Street Alexandra

SERVICING ALEXANDRA AND DISTRICT FOR 33 YEARS

TREAT MUM to a scrumptious mother’s day high tea at Beaufort Manor in Yea on Sunday 14 May form 2pm to 4pm. Enjoy delicious food created by Lyn of Harvesting the Feast including a selection

of homemade sweet and savoury treats, herb sausage rolls, mini quiches, pinwheel smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwiches, passion fruit vanilla slice, lemon curd tarts, feather light scones with home-made jam and

vanilla bean cream just a few of the tasty treats on offer. Entertainment by ‘Winded’, a chamber music group featuring Eric Andersen playing oboe and bass clarinet, Marla Swift on clarinet and Sandy Sexton

playing flute and piccolo. There will also be a special guest appearance by classically trained vocalist Donald Campbell. Bookings are essential for this event. Phone Lisa on 0400 848 575.

• beautiful crystals • crystal jewellery • tumbled stones • scented soaps and candles • decorations for home & garden • relaxing garden & views • children’s fairy village • historical tractors display

883 Buxton Road Marysville • Ph 03 5963 4373 or 0409 854 034

OPEN 7 DAYS

Indulge Day Spa Retreat - Gift Shop - B&B Cottage Gift Vouchers Available 3 Old Maroondah Hwy, Narbethong Bookings 0433 657 326 / 03 5963 7126 www.whitelotus1.com info@whitelotus1.com

As well as our huge range of Sweets & Chocolates we have many new products including Locally made Ice Cream Fresh Local Seasonal Fruit, Berries and Vegetables, Garlic from country Victoria, a huge range of Local Preserves, Chutneys, Berry Sauces and lots more Marysville Lolly Shop Phone 03 5963 3644 www.marysvillelollyshop.com.au

Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 59

ALEXANDRA PHYSIOTHERAPY Libby Gobbart PHYSIOTHERAPIST B.App.Sc. (Physiotherapy) APAM, Cred MDT

54A Downey St Alexandra

18A Main Street EILDON VIC 3713

• Gifts, Oils • Confectionary • Greeting Cards • Candles • Cosmetics • Toys & lots more . . . 109 Grant Street Alexandra

F: 03 5774 2525

alexandradiscounts@bigpond.com

Eildon Chemmart Pharmacy

Ph 03 5772 2649 alexphysio@aapt.net.au

T: 03 5774 2626

Ph 03 5772 2850

AND PRINTING Phone: 03 5772 1026 Mobile: 0418 556 107 publishing@friedel.net.au

Australia Pty Ltd

Pharmasave Alexandra Community Pharmacy is open Mon – Fri from 9am till 5.30pm & Sat from 9am till 12.30pm and is located at 101 Grant Street, Alexandra P 03 5772 1073 | 22 Webster Street, Alexandra

• General dental care • Preventive care • Dental emergencies • Children’s dentistry • Cosmetic dentistry • Teeth whitening • Mouthguard

Gentle and caring dental team dedicated to highest quality care for you and your family

• Preferred providers for Medibank, BUPA & Mildura Health • Bulk billing under Child Dental Benefit Schedule

The Beauty Room within the Alexandra Community Pharmacy can cater to all your beauty requirements.

The Photo Lab within the Alexandra Community Pharmacy has three state of the art digital kiosks.

For After Hour Emergencies Only: Ian Davis – 5772 2185 or 0409 354 782 Cinoj Thomas – 5772 3060 | Aju Thomas – 5772 2491 Visit the pharmacy website on www.alexandrapharmacy.com.au for a full list of products & services provided or call 5772 2153 to speak to our trained staff

ALEXANDRA

Andrea Whitaker Accredited Sonographer CONSULTING AT Alexandra District Health 12 Cooper Street At Sound Imaging we aim to make the experience of having an ultrasound as stress free as possible. We provide prompt availability of appointments with generous appointment time allocations to ensure maximum diagnostic quality.

APPOINTMENTS P: 03 5772 0947 F: 03 9012 4299 M 0417 369 225 E: soundimaging@bigpond.com 60 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

Open Monday to Saturday 97 Grant Street Alexandra jessicas.sheer.beauty@hotmail.com www.facebook.com/JSheerBeauty

• manicures & pedicures • natural spray tans • eyebrow & lash tints • eyelash extensions • bio sculpture and evo2 nails • all waxing (male & female) • special occasion make-up • botox and filler injectables (by a doctor) • body massage • facials • IPL hair removal • ear and body piercing

Ph 03 5772 3322

Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 61

Above: author Diane Harris. Photo courtesy Bairnsdale Advertiser. Inset: Rosie the Pary Pig’s illustrator Robert Young. By Emily Friedel NEWS OF Rosie the Pig’s latest capers always enthralled Diane Harris’ students at Buxton Primary School. Those kids, who sat in Diane’s class listening intently to stories of the irrepressible Rosie’s adventures, are now teetering on the brink of adulthood. But Rosie’s larger-than-life personality left a legacy that is bringing joy (and giggles) to a whole new generation of children now that Diane has published her book, Rosie the Party Pig. Serendipity brought Diane and Rosie together. Diane was driving along one of Eildon’s side streets when she saw a little pig running up the road. Two very flustered humans were in hot pursuit of the little pig, screaming and madly waving bread in an attempt to get its attention. “You don’t see that every day, so I stopped and asked 62 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

them what they were doing,” Diane says. The pig’s owners replied that she had dug up their backyard and then escaped. Despite the chubby pink runaway’s misbehaviour (or perhaps because of it), Diane took an instant liking to her, and when she told the owners this, they said she could have the naughty pig for forty dollars. Diane happily accepted – in the nick of time, too, moments before a pig farmer stopped by to try to buy it himself. Eager to get her new friend home, and away from the pig farmer with bacon on his mind, Diane picked Rosie up and put her in the back of the car. “I thought, I know this works with horses; I’ll put an old bedspread over her head, so she won’t get a fright when she sees where she’s going.” Unfortunately, the bedspread didn’t quite work according to plan.

“As we were jiggling along in the car, the bedspread started riding up over her face, and I could see this dreadful snout coming out and these beady eyes. I thought, oh god no, she’s looking at me. I was driving along the Goulburn Valley Highway thinking that will be a terrible insurance claim if she attacks me in the car,” Diane says. “I had some hot cross buns on the seat next to me, so I ripped them open and flung them into the back one by one, and she gobbled them all up. That pretty much set the tone for the rest of our relationship I think.” Rosie’s intelligence and curious nature meant she regularly got out of her pen and into mischief: sneaking into the house to surprise an unsuspecting plumber with his head buried in a cupboard and chasing the local baker, among other things. Her high jinx were a great source of

entertainment, especially for the children Diane taught. “The kids at Buxton Primary School used to love hearing about what she was up to,” Diane says. And when her students were participating in the Children as Authors program at Buxton Primary, Diane thought she’d try her hand at some writing, as well. Of course, Rosie provided ample inspiration for such a project, and the verses about her antics flowed onto Diane’s pages. Diane asked a longtime friend and local artist, Robert Young, to illustrate her piggy tale. Robert was well acquainted with the irrepressible Rosie, and his firsthand experience of some of her most amusing moments made him an excellent choice for illustrator. “I remember one occasion when Rosie went into Di’s bedroom, which had one of those big tall mirrors, and

Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 63

Rosie, for the first time in her life, saw herself in the mirror. She let out a terrible squeal, then turned round and shot out of the house! I don’t think she came near the house again for about two weeks,” Robert says. Robert captured the story of Rosie the Party Pig in a set of lively watercolour pictures, providing the perfect complement to Diane’s words. Then the manuscript sat in storage for 15 years gathering dust, until Diane pulled it out last year determined to decide its fate. “I thought, right, Rosie, it’s time you came out of the cupboard. So I found it and thought I’m either going to do something with it, or I’m going to throw it in the rubbish,” Diane says.

Thankfully, Rosie the Party Pig escaped the bin. Diane tried the traditional publishing route but found it littered with roadblocks, so turned to her local newspaper printer in the Gippsland region, James Yeates Publishing. They’d never published a kids’ book before, but they were willing to give it a shot. They began the long process of getting the book design finalised. One of the challenges was bringing Robert’s illustrations back to life. They had been done on cheap photocopier paper, intended to be roughs rather than finals, and had faded quite badly over the years. With some digital magic, though, they were revived, and the end product is a delightful little book with as much vibrancy and pizazz

as Rosie herself had. Robert, who is 90 years old but still possesses sharp artistic sensibilities, was pleasantly surprised by the final result and how the use of the rough illustrations panned out. “I was quite pleased with the way it all worked out. They did a good job on it,” he says. Those who dive into the pages of Rosie the Party Pig will find themselves immersed in a bustling farmyard world, where Rosie’s exuberance and poor table manners make her a bit of an outcast. She ruffles feathers at a picnic hosted by two bossy hens with her food scoffing and over-thetop party outfit. But when a fox turns up, it is Rosie – still dressed in her frilly pink party attire – who saves the day.

The part about Rosie’s mealtime behaviour certainly rings true for Robert. “Rosie was a great pal of mine, but her quality of manners and knowledge of what to do at the table were slightly different to ours,” he says with a laugh. With Rosie the Party Pig finally in print, Diane says “the future’s going to be reading it in schools because it needs to be read aloud”, and she is taking the book directly to classrooms to tickle another batch of young imaginations with Rosie’s shenanigans. If you would like to purchase a copy of Rosie the Party Pig, which comes in a lovely printed paper bag complete with some of Rosie’s favourite recipes, go to rosiethepartypig.com. au or contact Diane Harris at dianeharris2@optusnet. com.au

ROTARY PARK

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Further enquiries Wayne Miller on 0409 965 329

FoodWorks supermarkets, for the best service and quality

ALEX A

We home deliver!

64 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

Full liquor range

OPEN 7 days! Yea: 10 High Street Marysville: 49A Darwin Street

WHAT A GREAT accolade for the local area as Holmesglen wins gold at the 2016 RACV Victorian Tourism Awards in the category of Business Event Venues. General Manager, Rozanne Lawton, who leads the team at Eildon, could not be more proud of the award and recognition for Holmesglen and her staff. The award recognises outstanding businesses and highest levels of service for visitors across the state. At the prestigious awards held late November at Crown, The Minister for Tourism & Major Events, The Hon John Erren MP, said “Victoria leads Australia with its year round calendar of major events and business conferences, complemented by outstanding food and wine, nature and cultural experiences.” For Holmesglen to win the top accolade

for the Business Event Venue category in the state speaks volumes. The foresight of Executive and Board of Holmesglen Institute to build a facility of such high standard and then the development and marketing of the facility by its team of dedicated staff over the past couple of years to achieve this result is brilliant. In their first year of operation as a commercial tourism venue , Holmesglen at Eildon took bronze in 2015 in the New Tourism Business category. To achieve gold now in the category of Business Event venue against some very good venues is such a great achievement. They will now represent Victoria in the National Awards in Darwin in February. They have also just received their full accreditation as a tourism business through ATAP – The Australian Tourism Accreditation Program. This program

indicates that Holmesglen at Eildon is a leader in the industry and has established a high quality tourism product and strong commitment to professionalism in the tourism industry. Holmesglen at Eildon is a hidden gem in the heart of Victoria nestled between the Yarra Ranges and Victoria’s High Country. It caters for conferences, weddings, functions and events and has accommodation for up to150. The business also supports a sustainable ethos and ‘low miles’ food philosophy, with all catering prepared in house by head chef Caroline Berry and her team using produce from the kitchen garden and orchard. Holmesglen bred Angus beef and seasonal local produce including fresh trout, salmon, lamb and pork are on the menu served with local wines and brews.

ADD A sparkle to your special occasion with Josie at the piano creating beautiful music. Josie has a large repertoire of piano music for all occasions from classical to Dixieland, traditional to contemporary. She is the pianist for the Redgaters Jazz Band and loves playing cocktail music as a soloist. Josie’s portable keyboard enables her to perform at outdoor events and she can also supply a vocalist. Josie lives in Alexandra but is happy to travel to your event. Contact her for your next event, phone 0477 332 276 or email mj.parsons11@bigpond.com o Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 65

By Jeni Emmins WHEN VICKI Miller turned to art to fill her days, it seems she opened the floodgates. Brimming over with ideas and enthusiasm, the former biochemist and school

teacher turned artist takes to each day with energy unleashed to create a myriad of pieces – so many that her small studio at the rear of her Flowerdale house appears a complex montage itself at first glance.

Vicki and her partner, Tony Turner, both looked to creative pursuits after the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires demanded a solid re-evaluation of life. “Tony and I decided after the fires that life was too short and

we should do what we love.” Vicki joined the local quilting group, and her multi-faceted artistic talent blossomed. There are oil and acrylic paintings, mostly of birds. “Nine times out of ten, when I paint, I do birds,” Vicki says.

Louise Foletta ARTIST

Studio 2427, 2427 Maroondah Highway Buxton Open Easter Saturday and Sunday 2pm-5pm and by appointment Studio visits & information about classes and workshops 0417 323 868 www.louisefoletta.com.au March 18 & 19 Landscape Painting LF May 27 & 28 Mokahanga Workshop Japanese Woodblock Printing with Terry McKenna. All materials supplied 66 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

Leaves also feature time and again in her fabric creations. “I love leaves; I’m a leafaholic really,” she laughs. Vicki’s favourite medium is textiles. There are hundreds of multi-layered works of all shapes and sizes, colours and designs. There are also dozens of ‘ATCs’ – Artists’ Trading Cards – pinned to the wall although “a lot have gone because I’ve traded them,” Vicki says. Leaves, of course, are a familiar motif but there is also enormous variety. Some have uncomplicated lines and designs, but many have intricate patterns sewn in either by hand or using her free motion sewing machine. With these skills and tools, she also embarks on thread painting, thread sketching and free motion quilting.

There is an obvious desire to “do something different every time.” The complexity of patterns is extraordinary. Vicki has four sewing machines at the ready in her cluttered studio space: an embroidery machine, a long arm machine, a needle felting machine and a “normal one”. The shelves are groaning under the weight of her art. Vicki recycles books by turning each page into a new artwork, using whatever materials and ideas literally come to hand on the day. Some are like fabric books. “I also have a daily journal, which I write in every day.” Each day’s entry is complemented by a drawing, a piece of needlework, an artwork of some sort, exploring an idea or topic.

of samples and most of it is recycled. The challenge is to try new things, new techniques, explore new ideas.”

“I love my journals. Art journals are more about exploring ideas. There are about 20 up there on my shelves – none of them are finished. But you can always come back to them and add things. There’s always something there to inspire you.” Vicki relishes new challenges. It might be the subject that provides creative challenge, the medium or the technique. For some projects she might be cutting with a soldering iron; for others, she might singe certain fabrics to create a particular effect. Some pieces are made with Japanese paper, velvet organza, chiffon or satin. “Any type of fabric there is, I’ve got it,” Vicki says confidently. “I’ve got boxes and boxes

“I never run out of ideas, but I’ll never get them all done either,” Vicki says. “My bucket list of things I want to do keeps getting bigger and bigger but my days keep getting smaller and smaller. I can’t really stop, but what’s wrong with that?” Vicki will hold her solo exhibition in April at the Flowerdale Community House. Vicki will have her work cut out for her deciding what, from her vast collection, to display. But she’s confident the exhibition will please visitors. “Art should be about making people happy,” Vicki says.

‘Rural Legends & Rustic Relics’ A solo exhibition of creative imagery by award-winning photographer Melanie Faith Dove, whose work captures the essence of Victorian High Country life on the land.

www.rotaryalexandra.org.au

31 March to 12 June Please join us for the opening Friday 31 March 2017 from 6pm Curiosity / Gift Shop & Gallery / Lounge Open 7 days 10am - 4pm-ish e styl

hire con su

buy

l el

(Tue & Wed by arrangement with the Barber)

74 Grant Street, Alexandra VIC 3714

Cindy Ferguson 0419 517 045 rusticsimplicity@hotmail.com www.rusticsimplicityblog.wordpress.com

Friday 14 April Opening at 7pm Saturday 15 April 10am - 5pm Sunday 16 April 10am - 5pm Monday 17 April 9am - 12 noon

Alexandra Leisure Centre, Maroondah Highway, Alexandra Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 67

APRIL TO OCTOBER

3rd Friday and Saturday night of the month Take-away or Eat-in BYO welcome Open from 5pm-8.30pm Special event coming up? Why not have a Wood Fired Pizza function at the Fawcett Hall? ORDER & BOOKING Phone or text Lyn M 0402125370

www.bonfirestation.com 0423 457 072 Yellow Creek Rd Taggerty

www.harvestingthefeast.com.au catering@harvestingthefeast.com.au

Meet the Makers at Sedona Estate OPEN 12noon-5pm Wednesday - Sunday & public holidays TASTE the highly awarded Sangiovese, exemplary reds & crisp whites STAY for delicious produce platters (available on weekends & public holidays)

182 Shannons Road Murrindindi 3717 T 03 9730 2883 M 0432 435 180 E wine@sedonaestate.com.au W www.sedonaestate.com.au

Visit our website for EASTER SPECIALS and EVENTS

s per m a H Gift ailable Av

Gourmet Farm Products include: Award Winning Plain and Infused Olive Oils, Olives, Dukkahs, Chutneys, Relishes, Jellies and something for the Sweet Tooth!

FARMGATE TASTINGS/SALES: by appointment. Minimum purchases apply or fee for tasting. If you would like to include our delicious homemade bread in your tasting please give us 24 hours notice. We can also supply your cafe, produce store, hotel or restaurant with individual or bulk supplies of specific products

Doug and Chrissi Ridd Phone 03 5797 6309 or 0407 964 628 ‘Burnside’ 84 Scrubby Creek Road, Molesworth twopickled@bordernet.com.au

68 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

After 800km I arrived in Santiago de Compostela, the resting place of Saint James. Sadly the cathedral said to house his body was undergoing restoration works and was barely recognisable.

Mist settled amongst the rolling hills in southern France as my journey over the Pyrenees and into Spain began. A journey across northern Spain along the Camino de Santiago by Tammy Lovett

voice box and extend my telescopic walking pole deep into her grey matter.

“BUEN CAMINO!” That phrase!

Not very charitable thoughts for somebody walking a holy pilgrimage route, still it was day 18 on the trail and I couldn’t bear that phrase any longer.

A sickeningly enthusiastic woman said it to me early one morning as she strode by. She was wishing me a good journey; I wanted to simultaneously rip out her

Weeks earlier in southern France the day was hot, a

gentle breeze blew in from the Bay of Biscay. As I sat waiting for another bus after already more than 30 hours of coach travel, I saw them; pilgrims; their rucksacks laden with the things they’d need for the next five weeks; telltale scallop shells dangling from straps on their bags. The mere sight of sweaty pilgrims about to begin their journey over the Pyrenees and across northern Spain made me nauseous. And yet, that’s exactly what I was about to do. Like others gathering around me waiting for the bus to St Jean Pied de Port, my bag too was loaded with the necessities I’d need for the next five weeks, travelling 900km on foot. For more than a millennium Catholic pilgrims have walked to the Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela; The Field of Stars. It’s said the remains of Apostle Saint James are interred in the cathedral there.

The road to Santiago; pilgrims have travelled this way for more than 1000 years. 70 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

It’s believed Saint James spent time preaching along the Iberian Peninsula before

returning to Jerusalem where he was beheaded in 42AD. As one legend has it, thanks to some dedicated disciples, winged angels, the wind, and a queen with a marble tomb, the saint’s body eventually arrived in northern Spain where he was laid to rest, in peace, but a curious hermit in the 9th century had other ideas. The hermit claimed a field of stars led him to the ancient and long-forgotten tomb. The remains inside were said to be that of Saint James, a proclamation that would impact history for countless years to come. In fact this so-called discovery was the beginning of one of the most important Christian pilgrimages in the world, especially during the Middle Ages. At the height of its popularity around the 13th century, half a million people were on pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela each year. And me? Well my journey wasn’t in the name of Saint James, and I’d be walking further than Santiago. I’d be walking to Finisterre,

a coastal village on the Atlantic. Before it was discovered that the world was indeed round, it was believed this place was the end, with nothing but a great void beyond the horizon. Over the centuries the number of pilgrims embarking on the journey to Santiago has risen and fallen, however in the last 20 years there has been a significant resurgence. In 2015 more than 262,000 pilgrims slipped on a backpack and walked west to Santiago. While many start at various points along the recognised trail and some even start from their front doors in far away countries, St Jean Pied de Port is generally

considered the beginning of this pilgrimage, the Camino de Francés. I suppose it’s fitting to start at this point, to have to cross the Pyrenees mountain range into Spain on your very first day is just the sort of poetic baptism of fire that heralds a good journey. My first day was a challenging one. My bag was far too heavy, I refused to admit I didn’t need extra shoes in case a time ever arose where I’d be spending a night on the town, spare t-shirts, a hefty SLR camera and heftier accompanying lens and various other items, some of which I’d eventually send home or give away (except the going out shoes,

which I never did wear). The wind reached galeforce ferocity once I began climbing. I could hardly stand up and slumped down onto the ground in a pathetic heap on more than one occasion, praying the weather would calm; it didn’t. The wind blew all day as I ventured up and over, then down a steep descent that made my knees burn so hot had I been wearing trousers instead of shorts, they would have burst into flames upon contact with my skin. Despite the challenges, the day was glorious. Mist settled between the mountains as the morning

sun rose in the sky. As I climbed higher the trail worked its way through desolate, windswept expanses of mountainside. The views below grew more breathtaking with little villages tucked away amongst the rolling hills. Occasionally I would hear the sound of bells being carried across the wind and look up to find herds of horses, chimes dangling around their necks, roaming the unforgiving landscape. The medieval Spanish village Roncesvalles eventually appeared. As I unstrapped my bag from my sweat covered back, took my shoes off and sat down, I wondered just how the hell I was

A monument dedicated to pilgrims. Inscribed amongst the wrought iron figures pointing to Santiago is the saying, “Where the way of the wind crosses the way of the stars.” Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 71

At night the noise that escaped his body was phenomenal. I hate snoring; I hate snorers, so knowing this I invested a lot of time and effort into sourcing the best earplugs for the Camino. The ones I came to cherish block out an impressive 32 decibels and made almost all snoring inaudible; except for Vlad and each dawn that followed a night of his snores would make me hate him all that much more. As I walked the final kilometre into Santiago,

Cindy McLeish MP Your local voice in Murrindindi Shire Contact Cindy

Authorised by Cindy McLeish MP, Shop 10, 38-40 Bell Street Yarra Glen. This advertisement is funded from Parliament Electorate Office and Communications budget.

Yes, the whole façade was barely recognisable, alas I put my bag down, fell to my knees and thanked the powers that be that I had made it this far. What a wonderful feeling; and to look around and see my fellow pilgrims sporting the same face-consuming smiles and hugging one another was simply magnificent.

Eventually, almost 800km after setting off in St Jean Pied de Port I rounded the last corner and there she was, the cathedral said to house the remains of Saint James; the inspiration for countless people to step out their front doors, the reason for a thousand years of pilgrimages.

When she isn’t travelling, Tammy calls Narbethong home. A journalist and writer, Tammy has found herself in some unique situations and places around the world. For more visit www.tammylovett. wordpress.com

I was overwhelmed, I wanted to cry, partly because I had

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Musicians played in the streets as I found familiar faces amongst the crowds of people, faces that had been with me for the past month.

Telephone Alexandra 03 5772 1493 Yea 03 5797 2601 Mansfield 03 5775 2334

Fax Alexandra 03 5772 2262 Yea 03 5797 2973 Mansfield 03 5775 1106

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reached such a significant milestone in my journey, partly because it was nearing its end, but mostly because the realisation set in that I had just walked 800km to see the cathedral and it was covered in scaffolding!

The people you meet along the way always make travelling more memorable. Though it must be said, not all those I encountered provided me with such joyful company. In fact every night I would wish a painful death upon anybody that snored, which was rather

And then there was Vlad the Inhaler. He was in his 50s, spoke little English and sported an impish grin, which only served to irritate me more.

walking through the cobbled streets, who should I see ahead of me, certificate of completion in hand; Vlad. I smiled as best I could, tried not to think how much I hated him and carried on to the cathedral.

Almost a month later I walked into Santiago. For me the end wasn’t here, I was heading to the coast, but many of the people I’d met along the way were finishing at the cathedral in the holy city, and suddenly I realised with great sadness that part of the journey was over.

time-consuming given the volume of avid snorers on the Camino.

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going to do this all again the next day, and the one after that, and the one after that for the next month. I was barely 25 km down and had hundreds more to go, a daunting prospect.

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What’s on . . .

IN AND AROUND THE MURRINDINDI SHIRE

MARCH 2017

THURSDAY 2 – SUNDAY 5 National Kelpie Field Trial Championships Alexandra Showgrounds, William Street, Alexandra Hosted by the Upper Goulburn Working Dog Group P: 0429 951 907 E: rjcavill@gmail.com

saturday 11 & sunday 12 ~ Alexandra Speedway Gordon Street, Alexandra Sat: Standard Saloon State Title, 3 Litre Sedan Mick Woodham Memorial, VSC Ladies, VSC Juniors. Sun: VSC Sedans, Street Stocks, SSA Juniors. Start 4pm W: www.alexandraspeedway.org.au

SATURDAY 4 ~ ALEXANDRA 150 CELEBRATIONS Alexandra 10am-2pm: Ye Olde Hacker Space– hands on science for ages 10+, Alexandra Library. 12pm-5pm: Alexandra Races, ‘Alexandra’s Golden Sesquicentennial’. 1pm-8pm: Community Street Party, Perkins Street. 3pm-12am: Projected Light Display on Alexandra Shire Hall and Alexandra Library. 8pm-12am: Redgate Ball, Alexandra Shire Hall.

sunday 12 ~ ALEXANDRA 150 CELEBRATIONS Alexandra 10am-4pm: Alexandra Timber Tramway & Museum, Station Street. 10am-3pm: 150th Birthday Party, Rotary Park. 10am-3pm: History of CFA, Rotary Park. 10am-4pm: Alexandra Primary School Open Day. St Mary’s Primary School Photographic Display. 10am-4pm: Historical Display RSL Hall. 10am-4pm: Historical Photographic Display, Alexandra Shire Hall. 10am-4pm: Historical Display, Dove Cottage.

Saturday 4 ~ Alexandra’s Golden Sesquicentennial Alexandra Racecourse and Recreation Reserve, 7 Ruoak Way, Alexandra Alexandra was created on a gold field. To celebrate our beautiful town’s birthday we ask you wear something gold, a lame frock, a gold tie, gold ribbons, gold shoes or even a gold ring to celebrate Alexandra’s 150 years. A tote van will be on-site, plus television coverage. Music by Whisky Gypsies R&B Band. Bring your own picnic or choose lunch from a delicious range of local caterers. Gates open at noon. P: 03 5773 4304 E: walsh145@me.com W: www.alexandraraceclub.com.au Saturday 4 ~ WINE TASTING AND LIVE MUSIC AT PEPPERCORN Peppercorn Hotel, 21A Station Street, Yea Come along on the first Saturday of each month to enjoy our FREE wine tasting and live music event - see our website, Facebook or Instagram for updates on who’s playing each month. 3pm-6pm. P: (03) 5797 2000 W: www.yeapeppercorn.com.au F: yeapeppercorn I: @yeapeppercorn Saturday 4 – Monday 13 ~ Alexandra’s 150 year celebration Alexandra district Alexandra is turning 150 and we invite you to join in our celebrations! We have exciting events planned for 2017. For more information and to find out what great things are happening, visit and like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/alexandra150th/ sunday 5 ~ music at ruffy produce store Ruffy Produce Store, 26 Nolans Road, Ruffy Live music by Hairy Lassos from 4pm. Bookings a good idea. P: 03 5790 4387 E: store@ruffy.com.au W: www.ruffy.com.au SUNDAY 5 ~ flowerdale hotel LIVE MUSIC 3325 Whittlesea-Rea Road, Flowerdale P: 5780 1230 W: www.flowerdalehotel.com.au F: flowerdale hotel SATURDAY 11 ~ ALEXANDRA 150 CELEBRATIONS Alexandra 9am-1pm: Alexandra Market, Alexandra Timber Tramway, Station Street. 10am-5pm: ‘Around the Block Quilt Walk’. Various historical buildings in Alexandra. 10am-3pm: Redgate Alexandra CWA Display, Clubrooms Perkins Street. 10am-2pm: Alexandra Secondary College Open Day. 10am-4pm: Historical Display, RSL Hall. 10am-4pm: Historical Display, Dove Cottage. 2pm-4pm: Civic Reception & E-Book Launch, Alexandra Shire Hall. saturday 11 ~ wilson & white at saladin lodge 1188 Maroondah Hwy, Narbethong Wilson and White, winners of Vic/Tas blues music awards, will perform at Saladin. $45pp. 5.30pm arrival for music and dinner. P: 0429 699 969 E: info@saladinlodge.com.au W: www.saladinlodge.com

monday 13 ~ ALEXANDRA 150 CELEBRATIONS Alexandra 10am-4pm: Historical Photographic Display, Alexandra Shire Hall. Historical Display, Dove Cottage saturday 18 & sunday 19 ~ open vegie garden weekend Alexandra and district Murrindindi’s Grow Food Network Open Vegie Garden Weekend for vegie gardens around the shire. Entry fee: $3 per person at each garden. P: Di 0426 214 471 W: www.growfood.net.au Sunday 19 ~ BUSHRODDERS ANNUAL PICNIC Racecourse Reserve, Racecourse Rd, Yea Free event, everyone welcome. Market stalls, trade stalls, kids’ entertainment, live band. Over 300 rods and custom cars on display. From 9am. P: 0402 232 147 or 0418 359 945 Sunday 19 ~ REDGATE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE CLUB SHOW ‘N’ SHINE Alexandra Showgrounds Pavilion, Alexandra Club social day from 11am. 80s, 70s, 60s, 50s and pre 50s motorbikes on display. Everyone welcome. $5 barbecue. RSVP 0433 291 495 saturday 25 ~ Alexandra Speedway Gordon Street, Alexandra Street Stock Series, SSA Juniors, Standard Saloons, VSC Juniors, VSC Ladies, Vic Sports Sedans. Start 4pm W: www.alexandraspeedway.org.au Saturday 25 ~ Alexandra Cup Alexandra Racecourse and Recreation Reserve, 7 Ruoak Way, Alexandra Glam up Guys and Gals for our prestigious finish to the Alexandra Race club season. Fabulous fields for a full day of fabulous racing. Tote van on-site covering races, plus television coverage. Music by the High Country Pipe and Drum Band with a Lone Piper to close our season. Bring your own picnic or choose lunch from a delicious range of local caterers. Gates open at Noon. P: 03 5773 4304 E: walsh145@me.com W: www.alexandraraceclub.com.au Friday 31 – Sunday 12 June ~ Rural legends & rustic relics Rustic Simplicity @ The Shear ‘N’ shedS, 74 Grant Street Alexandra ‘Rural Legends & Rustic Relics’ is a solo exhibition of creative imagery by award-winning photographer Melanie Faith Dove, whose work captures the essence of Victorian High Country life on the land. 10am-4pm daily, including Good Friday. Open from 12noon on ANZAC Day. Free entry. W: www.rusticsimplicityblog.wordpress.com Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 73

APRIL 2017 Saturday 1 ~ WINE TASTING AND LIVE MUSIC AT PEPPERCORN Peppercorn Hotel, 21A Station Street, Yea Come along on the first Saturday of each month to enjoy our FREE wine tasting and live music event - see our website, Facebook or Instagram for updates on who’s playing each month. 3pm-6pm. P: (03) 5797 2000 W: www.yeapeppercorn.com.au F: yeapeppercorn I: @yeapeppercorn SATURDAY 1 ~ yEA & ALEXANDRA ROTARY CLUBS CYCLE DINDI Great Victorian Rail Trail A family friendly bicycle event along the rail trail from Yea, to Cheviot Tunnel, Molesworth, and Alexandra. Registrations open. Yea market open on the day. P: 0418 378 806 or 0447 762 557 W: www.rotaryalexandra.org.au Saturday 1 ~ Lake Eildon Challenge Mansfield around Lake Eildon and back to Mansfield, Highett Ridge Track, Lake Eildon The event starts with a 98km cycle from Mansfield to Eildon, then a 25km paddle from Eildon to Bonnie Doon, and finishes with a 21.1km run from Bonnie Doon back to Mansfield. It can be done as part of a team or solo, it’s a fun weekend in a beautiful part of the world. P: 0425 711 412 E: liam@vigor.net.au W: www.lakeeildonchallenge.com SUNDAY 2 ~ flowerdale hotel LIVE MUSIC 3325 Whittlesea-Rea Road, Flowerdale P: 5780 1230 W: www.flowerdalehotel.com.au F: flowerdale hotel Wednesday 5 & Wednesday 12 School Holiday Fun at the Yea Wetlands Y Water Discovery Centre, Yea Wetlands, 2 Hood Street, Yea Come along to Yea and the Y Water Discovery Centre’s environmental and fun water activities - and have a splashing good time. Activities are suitable for primary school age children. Numbers are limited with prior bookings by telephone essential. Entry is by gold coin donation. P: 03 5797 2663 E: info@ywatercentre.com.au W: www.ywatercentre.com.au SATURDAY 8 & sunday 9 Donkey Society of Victoria Championship Show Alexandra Showgrounds, Cnr Grant and William Street, Alexandra A two day show with an extensive listing of classes for all levels and breeds to compete in. Rosettes and sashes to placegetters. Come and join other donkey and mule owners and lovers for a fun day out in the lovely setting of the Alexandra Showgrounds. Camping available. Free entry P: 03 5192 4567 E: donkeyinfo@donkey.org.au W: www.donkey.org.au/events.html Friday 14 – Monday 17 ~ ALEXANDRA ROTARY EASTER ART SHOW Alexandra Leisure Centre, Maroondah Highway, Alexandra Annual exhibition and sale of traditional art, photographic prints, and crafts. Gala opening Friday at 7pm. Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-5pm, Mon 9am-noon W: www.rotaryalexandra.org.au Friday 14 – Monday 17~ Easter Adventure Activities Lake Mountain Alpine Resort Experience the exhilaration of a 240-metre Dual Flying Fox, slide down the Tube Run or join in a game of Laser Skirmish. Explore the resorts track and trail network on foot or hire a mountain bike from the Lake Mountain Café. Open for refreshments and home to an indoor Jumping Castle! Tickets available on the mountain. 9am-to 4pm daily. P: 03 5957 7201 E: admin@lakemountainresort.com.au W: www.lakemountainresort.com.au SATURDAY 15 – MONDAY 17 THE ALEXANDRA Timber Tramway & Museum Easter Gala Station Street, Alexandra Steam train rides all weekend. History museum rooms open. The volunteers are always delighted to get the small stationery engines and local farm machinery out of the shed to display and get running! F: Alexandra Timber Tramway W: www.alexandratramway.org.au 74 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

APRIL 2017 Saturday 15 ~ EILDON LIONS EASTER MARKET Moore Park, Main Street, Eildon 100 plus stalls including fashion and clothing, fresh produce, preserves, plants, toys, arts and crafts, preloved goods, badges, paintings, hot and cold food and children’s amusements. 8am-2pm. E: lionseastermarket@gmail.com W: http://eildon.vic.lions.org.au/ saturday 15 & sunday 16 ~ Alexandra Speedway Gordon Street, Alexandra Sat: Street Stock Victorian State Title, JSPA Series SSA Juniors, Vic Sports Sedans. Sun: SSA Juniors, VSC Sedans. Start 4pm W: www.alexandraspeedway.org.au Saturday 15 ~ MOLESWORTH EASTER BAZAAR AND CLEARING SALE Molesworth Hall and Recreation Reserve Two auctions running adjacent to each other selling goods ranging from farm machinery, tools, household and garden items and bric-a-brac. Several food and drink stalls will be running throughout the day. 9am-5pm. P: 5797 6252 E: lesridd@mcmedia.com.au W: www.molesworth.info Saturday 15 – Monday 17 Kerrisdale Mountain Railway Easter ‘Steamfest’ Kerrisdale Mountain Railway & Museum, 7523 Goulburn Valley Highway, Kerrisdale Narrow gauge tourist railway – 35 minute return train journey to ‘ Summit Station’. Demonstration of steam engines, tour of workshop and loco sheds, treats for children, kiosk, disabled facilities, friendly volunteers, home made rock cakes, luncheon package available. Bookings essential. P: 0407 823 739 E: douglas@eck.net.au W: www.kerrisdalemtnrailway.com.au Sunday 16 ~ Alexandra Easter Fair Rotary Park, 36 Grant Street, Alexandra Join us for the annual Alexandra Easter Fair. Located amidst a gorgeous park with live music and entertainment, over 50 stalls, kids rides, children’s amusements, wine tasting, local food and more. P: 0409 965 329 E: info@alexandratourism.com W: www.alexandratourism.com/easter-fair/ Sunday 16 ~ JAMIESON EASTER BUSH MARKET Jamieson Memorial Hall, Jamieson Bush market with sausage sizzle. 9am-12pm. W: www.jamieson.org.au friday 21 & saturday 22 ~ Wood Fired Pizza @ Fawcett Hall 655 Spring Creek Road, Fawcett Hosted by Harvesting the Feast – perfect for sitting back and enjoying a wood fired pizza with family and friends. Eat-in BYO welcome or take-away Open from 5pm • Bookings/orders required P: Lyn Mulhall P 03 5772 3053 M 0402125370 E: catering@harvestingthefeast.com.au W: www.harvestingthefeast.com.au SATURDAY 22 ~ JAMIESON AUTUMN FESTIVAL Jamieson Township Enjoy the beauty of Jamieson in autumn as well as the skills and talents of the locals – blacksmithing, bush cooking, painting and pottery workshops, music and poetry, gold panning, gold nugget throwing, street dancing. 10am-4pm W: www.jamieson.org.au saturday 29 ~ Alexandra Speedway Gordon Street, Alexandra Late Model Feature: SSA Juniors, Standard Saloons, Street Stocks, VSC Juniors, VSC Ladies, Vic Sports Sedans. Start 4pm W: www.alexandraspeedway.org.au Saturday 29 – Sunday 30 ~ Marysville Motoring Expo Murchison Street, Settlers Park & Gallipoli Park, Marysville Marysville Motoring Expo is a new annual event to showcase Hot Rods, Custom Cars, Military Vehicles, Four Wheel Drives and Emergency Services vehicles in Marysville’s main street and parks. 9am Saturday to 4pm Sunday P: 0428 753 751 E: jorelsboy@gmail.com

Markets . . . APRIL 2017 Saturday 29 – Sunday 30 Victorian Rollerski/Skike Championships Lake Mountain Alpine Resort Saturday is dedicated to rollerski training so by Sunday you’ll be ready for the 10km challenge from the ticket box to the top! For junior or novice skiers, give the 4km challenge from Arnold Gap a go. Starts 10.30am P: 03 5957 7201 E: andrew@lakemountainresort.com.au W: www.lakemountainresort.com.au

MAY 2017 Saturday 6 ~ WINE TASTING AND LIVE MUSIC AT PEPPERCORN Peppercorn Hotel, 21A Station Street, Yea Come along on the first Saturday of each month to enjoy our FREE wine tasting and live music event. 3pm-6pm. P: (03) 5797 2000 W: www.yeapeppercorn.com.au F: yeapeppercorn I: @yeapeppercorn SUNDAY 7 ~ flowerdale hotel LIVE MUSIC 3325 Whittlesea-Rea Road, Flowerdale P: 5780 1230 W: www.flowerdalehotel.com.au F: flowerdale hotel SUNDAY 7 ~ ALEXANDRA & district MOTORCYCLE CLUB’S KENDA RALLY Bush trails around Rubicon and Eildon One of Australia’s longest running trailbike rallies. All motorcycles that enter need to have full or recreational registration and all riders must be licensed. W: www.admcc.com.au saturday 13 ~ Alexandra Speedway Gordon Street, Alexandra Crash n Bash Feature: Crash n Bash Ladies, SSA Juniors, Standard Saloons, Street Stocks, VSC Juniors, VSC Ladies, Vic Sports Sedans. (Run Through The Dogleg). Start 2pm W: www.alexandraspeedway.org.au Sunday 14 ~ Mother’s day high tea and concert Beaufort Manor, 111 High Street Yea High tea with ‘Winded’ performing – a wind trio playing oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, flute and piccolo. 2pm-4.30. $35 per person. Bookings essential P: 0400 848 575 E: info@beaufortmanor.com.au W: www.beaufortmanor.com.au SUNDAY 14 ~ Rubicon Hotel Motel MOTHER’S DAY LUNCH 1362 Taggerty-Thornton Road Thornton P: 03 5773 2251E: admin@rubiconhotel.com.au W: www.rubiconhotel.com.au SUNDAY 14 ~ Mother’s Day Luncheon Holmesglen at Eildon, 92 Moore Road, Eildon Complimentary glass of sparkling wine on arrival, this three course Mother’s Day Luncheon includes some of the finest local produce our region has to offer. Music by local vocalist Mallory Darragh. 12.30pm-4pm P: 5774 2631 E: eildon@holmesglen.edu.au W: www.holmesglen.edu.au/eildon friday 19 & saturday 20 ~ Wood Fired Pizza @ Fawcett Hall 655 Spring Creek Road, Fawcett Hosted by Harvesting the Feast – perfect for sitting back and enjoying a wood fired pizza with family and friends. Eat-in BYO welcome or take-away Open from 5pm • Bookings/orders required P: Lyn Mulhall P 03 5772 3053 M 0402125370 E: catering@harvestingthefeast.com.au W: www.harvestingthefeast.com.au SUNDAY 21 ~ MILLION PAWS WALK Lions Rotunda Eildon Everyone is invited to join the pack and walk with their beloved dogs, to raise funds for animal welfare. Register on line or on the day. Open for registration 8.30am, walk off 10am. www.millionpawswalk.com.au

REGULAR MARKETS Alexandra Market

2nd Saturday of month 9am-1pm Alexandra Timber Tramway, Station Street, Alexandra Plants, herbs, local produce, unique handicrafts, bric-a-brac and collectables. Refreshments available with a coffee cart, BBQ and cold drinks. Free entry and parking and, for a small donation, enjoy a train ride around the historic Alexandra Tramway grounds. 0427 509 988 - Jane market@alexandratramway.org.au | www.alexandratramway.org.au

Alexandra on Perkins Market

4th Saturday of month 8am-2pm Perkins Street, Alexandra Just a short leisurely stroll from the local shops and cafes, visitors and locals can now enjoy a spot of market shopping for that little something special. Brimming with quality local produce, collectables, bric-a-brac, plants, beautiful handmade jewellery, clothing and much more right in town on Perkins Street. 03 5772 1100 info@alexandratourism.com | www.alexandratourism.com

Bollygum Community Market

2nd Sunday of month 9am-1pm Bollygum Park, 40 Whittlesea-Kinglake Road, Kinglake The kids can play in the unique adventure playground as you soak up the market’s relaxing atmosphere search for special treasures, try fantastic local produce and much more. 0409 849 722 | bollygummarket@gmail.com

Flowerdale Community Market

3rd Sunday of month 9am-1pm Flowerdale Community Hall, Yea Whittlesea Road, Flowerdale Country market stalls with arts, crafts, veggies, plants, bric-a-brac. Hot food, Devonshire teas and cold drinks available. New stall holders welcome, $10 a stall. 03 5780 1223 - Alison | Alron27@bigpond.com

Kinglake Produce & Artisan Market

4th Sunday of month 10am-3pm (held on the 3rd Sunday in December) 19 Whittlesea-Kinglake Road, Kinglake Fresh from us to you. High quality items, grown or made by our stall holders. Proving quality products and food every month, all year round. 0419 339 320 kinglakemarket@gmail.com | www.kinglakemarket.com

Marysville Market

2nd & 4th Sunday of month Murchison Street, Marysville Crafts, gifts, clothing, plants, locally produced preserves, jams, chutneys, lavender products, shortbread biscuits, honey, fresh fruit and vegetables and wine. Additional stallholders invited. 0405 146 961 - Louise olivetto@bigpond.com

Taggerty 4 Seasons Market

Saturday of Australia Day, Easter, Queen’s Birthday and Melbourne Cup Weekends 9am-1pm 3 Taggerty-Thornton Road, Taggerty Showcasing local Taggerty and surrounding district produce including olive oil, wine, honey, fudge, baked goods, preserves, soaps, crafts, bric-a-brac, fruit, vegetables, plants, free range eggs, BBQ sausages and espresso coffee. 0419 376 206 | tgstore@bigpond.com

Yarck Country Market

3rd Saturday of month 9am-1.30pm Yarck Hall, Maroondah Highway, Yarck The market helps to fund the hall maintenance and provides an outlet for local produce, jams, craft, plants and wines. 0448 167 438 bob.kayeashe@gmail.com | www.visityarck.com.au

Yea Country Market

1st Saturday of month 9am-2pm Yea Railway Park, Station Street, Yea The Yea Country Market offers an array of stalls, the best in fresh local produce, arts and crafts, children’s activities, playground and skate park. The market showcases local producers, growers and makers and is a community event with a gold coin donation entry - funds from entry are donated to local charities each month. 0434 858 208 | yeamarket@gmail.com Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 75

Business & trades directory . . . AUTOMOTIVE

AUTOMOTIVE

Eildon Auto Spares • Auto Spares • Auto Accessories • Fishing Tackle and Bait • Fishing Licences • Water Sports Equipment • Boat Safety Gear • Gumboots

• Recovery Gear • Bull Bars • Winches IF YOU MENTION THIS AD • Roof Racks • Dual Battery Systems • Fridges

Gary Constantine 7-8 Main Street Eildon Ph 03 5774 2712 Fax 03 5774 2738 AUTOMOTIVE

AWNINGS / BLINDS

Yea Mechanical Repairs 3 Grevillea Street Yea Phone Kel – Workshop 5797 2200 Mobile 0419 979 373

Servicing All Makes And Models

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BOOKKEEPING

Boz Miljkovic Mechanic 61 Downey Street Alexandra

Ph (03) 5772 3232

Alexandra Automotive Licensed Roadworthy Testing • General Car Servicing • Repairs & Tuning • Disc & Drum Machining • Front Ends & Suspension

76 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

30 Riversdale Road PO Box 313 Alexandra VIC 3714 info@smhbookkeeping.com www.smhbookkeeping.com Phone 0400 914 990

CABINET MAKER

Specialising in all facets of cabinet making • Kitchens • Vanities • Laundries • Wardrobes • Office fit-outs

Latest range of fittings, finishes and design for all domestic and commercial projects Visit our showroom to view a wide range of samples and trial our display kitchen 42 Aitken Street Alexandra Ph 5772 1000 Fax 5772 1088 awcabinets@bigpond.com

CONCRETING

• House slabs • Shed slabs • Driveways • Paths

• 3.6 TONNE EXCAVATOR

• TIP TRUCK • BOB CAT

Luke Hill 0409 250 234 rocknconc@gmail.com

CAR DETAILING

DOG GROOMING

h& • was ut & ioner ALL TYPES OF CAR CLEANING DONE c • Pens unt • CARS • 4WD • CARAVANS • BOATS x a w h Disco polis 30 years experience • seats, carpets, door trims, roof linings steam cleaned • windows, door openings, engine bays, wheels, tyres professionally detailed

Brad 0419 518 472 bunger@yahoo.com.au

ELECTRICIAN

COMMUNICATIONS

ELECTRICIAN COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

Grimshaw Electrics

• Two way and CB radio systems • GPS mobile navigation • Telemetry and wireless data links • Mobile phone car kits

For all your electrical and communication requirements

• installation • sales • service

Phone 03 5772 1292

Peter Donald

0429 808 596 REC 16666

A/H 03 5773 2457 Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 77

ELECTRICIAN

FLOORING

Environmentally Friendly FOR ALL YOUR ELECTRICAL NEEDS CONTACT JAY

0439 842 030 • DOMESTIC • COMMERCIAL • BREAKDOWNS • MAINTENANCE • 4 X 4 TRENCHER • SOLAR SYSTEMS • GENERATOR BACK-UP SYSTEMS

• INDUSTRIAL • UNDERGROUNDS • GRID CONNECT • STANDALONE

Floor Sanding and Finishing SPECIALISING IN NON TOXIC POLYURETHANE COATINGS NEW & OLD TIMBER, PARQUETRY & CORK

jay@williamselec.com.au

TIM SKERRITT 0439 358 880 Alexandra & District

ELECTRICIAN

GLASS PRODUCTS

ELECTRICIAN specialising in all aspects of the flat glass trade

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS • Everything electrical • Domestic • Commercial • Undergrounds • Electrical design • Trenching • Solar installations Ph

0418 543 310

Rec No 12906

www.etecelectrical.com.au

FURNITURE & FLOORING

glass replacement, shower screens, splashbacks, mirrors, wood heater glass a: 16 Hunter Road, Healesville 3777 p: 5962 2888 f: 5962 6088 e: ridglass@bigpond.com w: www.ridgelineglass.com.au HYDRAULICS / INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES

12 Hunter Road, Healesville Vic 3777 P 03 5962 6444 • E sales@hhis.com.au • F 03 5962 6455 • SALES • SERVICE • SPARES • REPAIRS

CHOOKIES

1 Hall Street Alexandra Ph 5772 2152 78 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

Hydraulics, Tools & Machinery, Fasteners, Hardware & Equipment Hire

LOCKSMITH

PANEL BEATING / SPRAY PAINTING

Mitch A Fix Services • Registered Victorian • Lock Repairs Security Equipment Installer • Installations • Discrete Prompt & the • Re-Keying Reliable Service key to y • Key Cutting our secu • Code Cutting rity • Key Alike Whole House Systems

Peter Mitchell Ph 0409 285 589 / AH 5772 2737 pmitch1958@bigpond.com

Manczal Panel Worx Specialising in custom painting & restoration of all classic cars We do all the hard work for you All electrical, trims & mini tubs 2 Pak Specialist ~ we use and recommend DNA Paints 5 Peterkin Place Alexandra 0405 581 093 | 0488 783 339 | 5772 2617 manczalpanelworx@gmail.com

MARINE SERVICES

SERVICE AGENTS *Mercury *Honda *Yamaha *Evinrude *Seadoo *Yanmar *Kohler *Onan *Westerbeke *Volvo

SUMMER OPENING HOURS MON-FRI: 8am-5pm SAT-SUN: 9am-1pm

PLUMBER • Seadoo servicing & repairs • Inboard, Outboard, Sterndrive servicing & repairs • New & Used boat sales • New & Used engine sales • Showroom full of everything your boat needs for your day on the water • Watersports accessories & PFD’s

20 Sugarloaf Road Eildon Ph 5774 2132 eildonoutboard@virtual.net.au

Your plumbing specialist

Lic No 37388

• New Homes • Roofs & Gutters • Sewers & Septics • High Pressure Sewer Jetter • Drain Camera • Pipe & Cable Locator • Water Tanks • Solar HWS • Wood Heaters

Excavators, post hole diggers, rock breaker, trencher & tip truck hire

0419 553 803 Ph/Fax 5772 2991 tcplumbing@bigpond.com SERVICE STATION

MOTORCYCLES

SALES • SERVICE • PARTS 1000 SAVE $ OLLARS D A HOND X500FA6 ON TR 0 MARCH 3 UNTIL

ROAD • TRAIL • QUADS • SIDE BY SIDES • Tyres • Batteries • RWC Licensed Tester ALEXANDRA MOTORCYCLES LMCT 3110 65 Downey Street Alexandra Ph 03 5772 1045

B P Yea

31 High St Yea Ph 5797 2008

Endeavour Alexandra 10 Downey St Alexandra Ph 03 5772 1227

• • • • • • • • •

All Petrol Grades and LPG Hot Food Swap n Go Gas Bottles Lubricants and Automotive Accessories Groceries Large Variety of Snacks and Beverages Mobile Phone Recharge iTunes vouchers available WalknTalk Phone Chargers

For easy access pumps, monthly promo specials and service with a smile call in today! Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 79

SERVICE STATION

STOCK AND STATION AGENTS

Shell Buxton

• Convenience store • Snack foods • Hot food • Cappuccino • Groceries • Bait and tackle • Batteries for boats, bikes and cars • Barbecue gas • Firewood • Motor oils and lubricants • Ice • Motor parts and accessories Ph 03 5774 7171 2093 Maroondah Hwy Buxton

YEA OFFICE 4 Station Street, Yea 3717 Ph 5797 2037

ALEXANDRA OFFICE 6 Webster Street, Alexandra 3714 Ph 5772 1052

Bruce Elliott Branch Manager/Livestock – 0409 699 937 John Tossol Real Estate – 0419 558 032 Jim Hutchinson Livestock – 0409 799 928 Ryan Sargeant Livestock – 0407 649 906 John Purvis Merchandise – 0428 951 251

SERVICE STATION

TREE SERVICES

• All fuels and lubricants • Convenience store Michael & Marie 2 Centre Avenue, Eildon

Phone 03 5774 2220 Email eildonservo@bigpond.com

• Insured

Reliable •

• Experienced

5778 9603 SIGN WRITING

Competitive •

JASON

0413 671 066

TOWING & SALVAGE

2 Centre Avenue Eildon Ph 03 5774 2727

• Log Book Servicing • Licensed RWC Tester • Air-con Regassing • 4X4 Improvements • Tyre Sales / Puncture Repairs • Car, Truck, Boat & Trailer Repairs • Welding • Lathe Work • Small Engineering Jobs 80 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

TYRE SERVICES

WEED CONTROL

TOYO, KELLY, KUMHO, COOPER & MAXXIS

• Wheel Alignments & Wheel Balancing • On-site Service for Tractor / Earthmoving Puncture Repairs • Vehicle Servicing and Repairs – VACC Accredited • Licensed Roadworthy Vehicle Tester • Supercharge Batteries

• SPOT SPRAYING • BOOM SPRAYING

42A Aitken Street, Alexandra Phone (03) 5772 3456 Fax (03) 5772 2567

ANDY FRIEDEL 0407 565 207

• 200M POWER REELS • COMPUTER CONTROLLED BOOM FROM 2M TO 10M Licensed – insured – experienced alexweedcontrol@gmail.com

UPHOLSTERY

WELDING SERVICES

Quality is never an accident

• Traditional antique restoration • General upholstery • Custom hand made sofas Ian McCormick 36 Oliver Street, Yea Ph 5797 2992 stichers@iinet.net.au

• Welding repairs • Construction of sheds • Tool boxes • Trailers • Cattle yards • Ute trays • Repairs of heavy machinery and attachments • Steel, Aluminium, Cast Iron no problem

mobile

Contact: David Cooper Mobile: 0429 199 472

Trade qualified ~ over 30 years experience

www.topstitchupholsteryandantiques.com.au UPHOLSTERY

WINDOWS

MAXWELL’S UPHOLSTERY

• Lounge Suites and Dining Chairs Repaired and Recovered • Office Furniture • New Lounge Suites Available • Chairs and Sofas Made to Order • Large Range of Fabrics • Car and Boat Upholstery

QUOTES, PICK-UP AND DELIVERY ER S OV EAR CE N Y 30 ERIE P EX

Max Ewert T 5774 2201 M 0417 321 781 E max@maxwellsupholstery.com.au A Skyline Road Eildon W www.maxwellsupholstery.com.au

16B Hunter Road Healesville 3777 P 03 5962 5777 F 03 5962 5222 E sales@sunergywindows.com.au W www.sunergywindows.com.au

• quality timber double glazed windows inc awning, casement, double hung, bifold, sashless double hung and fixed windows. • circular, arched and custom built windows.

Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 81

Business & trades listings . . . ACCOMMODATION Alexandra Hotel & Cafe Alexandra 5772 1014 Alexandra Motel Alexandra 5772 2077 Alexandra Tourist Park 5772 1222 Alexandra Alpino Apartments Marysville 0408 103 481 Amelina Cottages Marysville 0434 692 622 Big4 Taggerty Holiday Park Taggerty 5774 7263 Breakaway Twin Rivers Caravan Park Acheron 5772 1735 Buxton Hotel Buxton 5774 7381 Churches of Yarck Yarck 0414 969 008 Dalrymples Marysville 5963 3416 Eildon Lake Motel Eildon 5774 2800 Eildon Parkview Motor Inn Eildon 5774 2165 Eildon Resort Eildon 5774 2415 Elite Stays Marysville / Taggerty 0413 795 283 Flowerdale Hotel Flowerdale 5780 1230 Flowerdale Estate Strath Creek 5784 5600 Giddy Goat Cafe Yarck 5773 4223 Glenfield Cottage B/B Yarck 5773 4304 Golden Trout Hotel Motel Eildon 5774 2508 Hungry Horse Hotel Molesworth 5797 6266 Jerusalem Creek Marina & Holiday Park Lake Eildon 5774 2585 Kevington Hotel Kevington 5777 0543 Rubicon Hotel Motel Thornton 5773 2251 Saladin Lodge Narbethong 0429 699 969 Taylor Bay Country Club Taylor Bay 0497 889 353 Thornton Caravan Park Thornton 5773 2305 Waverley Guest House Alexandra 5772 1146 White Lotus B&B Narbethong 5963 7126 Yea Motel Yea 5797 2660 Yea Peppercorn Hotel 5797 2000 Yea APPLIANCE STORE Alexandra Leading Appliances 5772 2463 Alexandra AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES Alexandra Automotive 5772 3232 Alexandra Alexandra Tyrepower Alexandra 5772 3456 Eildon Auto Spares 5774 2712 Eildon High Country 4x4 5779 1955 Mansfield Yea Mechanical Repairs Yea 5797 2200 BANKS Bendigo Bank Kinglake 5786 1656 BLINDS / AWNINGS Rob Cam Blinds 0417 377 890

BOAT HIRE Lakeview Boat Hire Eildon 0488 051 721 Waters Edge House Boat Hire Eildon 0437 944 162 BOOKKEEPING SMH Bookkeeping Alexandra 0400 914 990 BOOK SHOPS Books at Yarck Yarck 5773 4337 Friends of the Library Alexandra 5772 2935 Friends of Yea Library 86 High Street Yea BUILDERS Hedger Constructions 5772 2750 Ready Built Mansfield 5775 1199 Swenrick Buxton 5774 7066 BUTCHERS Alexandra Quality Meats Alexandra 5772 1151 Thornton Butchers & Deli Thornton 5773 2224 CABINET MAKERS AW Cabinets Alexandra 5772 1000 CAMPS Camp Jungai Rubicon 5773 2320 Camp Marysville Marysville 5770 8293 CAR DETAILING Alexandra Car Detailers Alexandra 0419 518 472 CAR SALES Martins Garage Mansfield 5733 1000 CARAVAN PARKS Big4 Taggerty Holiday Park Taggerty 5774 7263 Boulevard Caravan Park Eildon 5774 2128 Breakaway Twin Rivers Caravan Park Acheron 5772 1735 Eildon Waters Holiday Park Eildon 5773 2386 Eildon Pondage Holiday Park Eildon 1800 651 691 Thornton Caravan Park Thornton 5773 2305 Yea Riverside Caravan Park Yea 5797 2972 CATERING Harvesting the Feast 5772 3053 / 0402 125 370 CLOTHING / SHOE SHOPS Alexandra Sportspower & Toys Alexandra 5772 1719 Country Touch Marysville 5963 3753 Footsteps Family Footwear Alexandra 5772 1503 Inspire on Grant Alexandra 5772 2311 Miller’s Mensland Alexandra 5772 1254 Your Wardrobe Yea 5797 2309 COMMUNICATIONS Country Tech Alexandra 5772 3165 Weeks Radio Alexandra 5772 1292 COMPUTERS Country Tech Alexandra 5772 3165 Murrindindi Computers 5772 1403 Alexandra

82 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

CONCRETING Rock ‘n’ Conc 0409 250 234 DENTAL CLINIC Alexandra Dental Clinic 5772 1073 DOG GROOMING In The Pink 5774 7242 Taggerty EATERIES / BAKERIES /RESTAURANTS Alexandra Bakery & Cafe Alexandra 5772 2272 Alexandra Hotel & Cafe 5772 1014 Alexandra Alexandra Noodle Bar Alexandra 5772 2888 Aqua Bar & Cafe 0425 816 959 Eildon Buck’s Country Bakehouse Yarck 5773 4233 Burnsies Takeaway Alexandra 5772 2693 Eildon Bakery & Cafe 5774 2362 Eildon Check Out 7 Eildon 5774 2184 Eildon Woodfire Pizza 5774 2001 Eildon Essence Coffee Lounge Alexandra 5772 2122 Giddy Goat Cafe Yarck 5773 4223 Jamieson Cafe, Deb’s Jamieson 5777 0600 Lake Mountain Cafe Lake Mountain 5957 7253 Rendezvous Cafe Restaurant Yea 5797 2528 Ruffy Produce Store Ruffy 5790 4387 The Provender Country Bakehouse Yea 5797 3155 Alexandra 5772 3167 Yea Chinese Restaurant Yea 5797 2865 Yea Take Away Yea 5797 2664 ELECTRICIANS E-Tec Electrical Contractor Alexandra 0418 543 310 Grimshaw Electrics Thornton 0429 808 596 J Williams Electrical Alexandra 0439 842 030 FISHING SUPPLIES Eildon Bait & Tackle Eildon 5774 2712 Totally Trout Alexandra 5772 2662 FLOOR SANDING & FINISHING Tim Skerritt Alexandra 0439 358 880 FURNITURE STORES Betta Home Living Mansfield 5775 1992 Chookies Furniture Warehouse Alexandra 5772 2152 GALLERIES Little Fishes Art Studio Marysville 0408 146 165 Old Post Office Seymour Seymour 5792 3107 Rustic Simplicity Alexandra 0419 517 045 Studio 2427 Buxton 0417 323 868 GENERAL STORES / GROCERIES / FRUIT & VEG Alexandra Fruit & Veg Alexandra 5772 1750 Yarck General Store Yarck 5773 4204

GIFT SHOP / CLOTHING / SHOES Alexandra Discounts & Giftware Alexandra 5772 2850 Dindi Naturals Yarck 5773 4349 Footsteps Family Footwear Alexandra 5772 1503 Inspire on Grant Alexandra 5772 2311 Lit & Beyond Marysville 0422 239 754 Marysville Crystal Gardens & Shop Marysville 5963 4373 Nice Yea 0413 489 196 Redgate Bazaar Alexandra 0407 683 712 Rustic Simplicity Alexandra 0419 517 045 The Alex Store Alexandra 5772 1014 GLASS PRODUCTS Ridgeline Glass & Glazing Healesville 5962 2888 GRAPHIC DESIGN Ann Friedel Publishing Alexandra 0418 556 107 HALL FOR HIRE Fawcett Hall Fawcett via Alexandra 5772 2997 HARDWARE / TIMBER STORES Eildon Hardware 5774 2081 Mitre 10 Alexandra 5772 2188 Mansfield 5775 2511 Yea 5797 2290 HEALTH / BEAUTY / WELLBEING Alexandra Physiotherapy Alexandra 5772 2649 Jessica’s Sheer Beauty Alexandra 5772 3322 Sound Imaging Alexandra 57720947 White Lotus Natural Health & Wellbeing Narbethong 5963 7126 HEATING Bowd Heating Alexandra 5772 1045 HOME MAINTENANCE SERVICES Steve’s Maintenance Service Alexandra 5772 2451 HORSE RIDING Rubicon Valley Horse Riding Thornton 5773 2292 HOTELS / MOTELS / RESORTS Alexandra Hotel & Cafe Alexandra 5772 1014 Alexandra Motel 5772 2077 Alexandra Beaufort Manor 0400 848 575 Yea Buxton Hotel 5774 7381 Buxton Eildon Resort Eildon 5774 2415 Flowerdale Hotel 5780 1230 Flowerdale Flowerdale Estate Strath Creek 5784 5600 Golden Trout Hotel Motel Eildon 5774 2508 Holmesglen at Eildon Eildon 5774 2631 Hungry Horse Hotel Molesworth 5797 6266 Kevington Hotel Kevington 5777 0543 Mount Pleasant Hotel Alexandra 5772 1083 Royal Mail Hotel Yea 5797 2515

Rubicon Hotel Motel Thornton 5773 2251 Taylor Bay Country Club Taylor Bay 0497 889 353 The Grand Caledonian Hotel Yea 5797 2513 Yarck Hotel 5773 4226 Yea Motel 5797 2660 Yea Peppercorn Hotel Yea 5797 2000 HOUSEBOAT HIRE/SALES Waters Edge House Boat Hire Eildon 0437 944 162 Houseboat Sales Lake Eildon Eildon 0499 990 024 HOSPITALITY SUPPLIES Mansfield Hospitality Supplies Mansfield 5779 1660 HYDRAULICS / INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES Healesville Hydraulics & Industrial Supplies Healesville 5962 6444 LOCAL PRODUCE Koala Cherries Yarck 5773 4250 Marysville Lolly Shop Marysville 5963 3644 Murrindindi Olive Grove Yea 0418 333 586 5790 4387 Ruffy Produce Store Ruffy 5797 6309 Two Pickled Molesworth LOCKSMITH Mitch-a-Fix Services Alexandra 0409 285 589 MARINE SERVICES Eildon Outboard Service Eildon 5774 2132 MOTORCYCLES / MOWERS Alexandra Motorcycles Alexandra 5772 1045 Murrindindi Motorcycles & Mowers Eildon 0419 462 180 MUSICAL ENTERTAINER Josie Parsons 0402 428 086 NEWSAGENCIES Alexandra Newsagency Alexandra 5772 1025 NURSERIES / GARDEN CENTRES / SUPPLIES Bedrock Garden Supplies Alexandra 5772 1911 Buxton Nursery Buxton 5774 7345 5786 5031 Fern Acres Kinglake West Goulburn Valley Nursery Yea 5797 2222 King Parrot Native/Bush Food Garden Centre, Strath Creek 0418 651 758 NURSING HOME Darlingford Nursing Home Eildon 5774 2711 OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT Maroondah Outdoor Equipment Buxton 5774 7292 Mansfield Hunting & Fishing Mansfield 5779 1685 PANEL BEATING / SPRAY PAINTING Manczal Panel Worx Alexandra 5772 2617 / 0405 581 093 PHARMACIES Alexandra Pharmacy Alexandra 5772 2153 Eildon Pharmacy Eildon 5774 2626 PHOTO BOOTH HIRE / PHOTOGRAPHER Judy Hoffman Yea 0427 973 228 PHYSIOTHERAPIST Alexandra Physiotherapy Alexandra 5772 2649 PLUMBERS Travis Capp Plumbing Alexandra 0419 553 803

POLITICIANS Cathy McGowan AO MP Independant Member for Indi 5721 7077 Cindy McLeish MP State Member for Eildon 9730 1066 REAL ESTATE AGENTS Elders Alexandra 0419 558 032 Eildon Real Estate 5774 2771 Ruralco Property Alexandra 5772 1110 Yea 5797 2086 RURAL PRODUCE / EQUIPMENT Landmark Embling Alexandra 5772 3110 Pheasant Creek Stockfeeds & Supplies Kinglake West 5786 5891 Rodwells Alexandra 5772 2444 Yea 5797 2086 SERVICE STATIONS 5797 2008 BP Yea Eildon One Stop Fuel Eildon 5774 2220 Endeavour Alexandra Alexandra 5772 1227 Shell Buxton Buxton 5774 7171 Simpson & Sons P/L Alexandra 5772 1205 SIGN WRITING Alexandra Signs 5772 1145 SNOW BUS Lake Mountain Snow Bus Marysville 5963 3753 SOLICITORS Williams Hunt Alexandra 5772 1493 STOCK AND STATION AGENTS Elders Alexandra 5772 1052 Yea5797 2037 Landmark Embling Alexandra 5772 3110 Rodwells Alexandra 5772 2444 Yea 5797 2086 TREE SERVICES JT’s Trees 0413 671 066 TOWING & SALVAGE Motivated Towing & Salvage Eildon 5774 2727 TROUT FARMS Buxton Trout Farm 5774 7370 Eildon Trout Farm Thornton 5773 2377 TYRES Alexandra Tyrepower 5772 3456 ULTRASOUND IMAGING Sound Imaging Alexandra 57720947 UPHOLSTERY Maxwell’s Upholstery Eildon 5774 2201 Topstitch Upholstery & Antiques Yea 5797 2992 VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRES Alexandra 5772 1100 / 1800 652 298 5774 2909 Eildon Marysville 5963 4567 Yea 5797 2663 VETERINARIAN Mountain Ranges Vet Clinic Kinglake 5786 1777 WEED CONTROL Alexandra Weed Control 0407 565 207 WELDING SERVICES Buffalo Built 0429 199 472 WINES/BREWS Sedona Estate Murrindindi 9730 2883 WINDOWS Sunergy Windows Pty Ltd Healsville 5962 5777

Contact numbers . . . IN AN EMERGENCY CALL

000

EMERGENCY SERVICES Police...........................................................000 Alexandra..................................................... 5772 1040 Eildon............................................................. 5774 2104 Kinglake........................................................ 5786 1333 Marysville..................................................... 5963 3222 Seymour.............................................24hr 5735 0200 Yea................................................................... 5797 2630 Ambulance..................................................000 CFA...............................................................000 SES ...............................................24hr 132 500 Bushfire Information Line & Fire Restriction Info......................... 1800 240 667 Crime stoppers..................................... 1800 333 000 Gas emergencies..................................24hr 132 771 Goulburn Valley Water – faults..................................................... 1800 454 500 Help for Wildlife.................................... 0417 380 687 Power & Street Light Failures..................... 131 799 RACV.................................................................... 131111 Energy Australia.............................................. 133 466 Wildlife Victoria.................................... 1300 094 535 HEALTH SERVICES HELPLINES Kids Helpline......................................... 1800 551 800 Lifeline ....................................................24hr 13 11 14 Maternal & Child Health Line ............................................24hr 13 22 29 Mental Health Advice Line............... 1300 280 737 Poisons Information Centre........................ 131 126 Women’s Domestic Violence Crisis Service......................................... 1800 015 188 HOSPITALS Alexandra..................................................... 5772 0900 Yea................................................................... 5736 0400 After Hours GP clinic.......................... 1300 766 858 SCHOOLS / EDUCATION PRE SCHOOLS / PLAYGROUPS Alexandra & District Kindergarten............................................... 5772 1387 Alexandra Playgroup................................ 5772 2344 Eildon Kindergarten................................. 5774 2041 Flowerdale Kindergarten........................ 5780 2816 Kinglake Playgroup................................... 5786 1301 Kinglake Ranges Children’s Centre........................................ 5786 1352 NEST Playgroup.......................................... 9719 7314 Yea & District Children’s Centre............ 5797 2730 PRIMARY SCHOOLS Alexandra PS .............................................. 5772 1006 Buxton PS..................................................... 5774 7341 Eildon PS....................................................... 5774 7074 Flowerdale PS............................................. 5780 1264 Kinglake PS.................................................. 5786 1284 Kinglake Middle PS................................... 5786 1295 Kinglake West PS....................................... 5786 5262 Marysville PS............................................... 5963 3256 Sacred Heart PS Yea.................................. 5797 2723 St Mary’s PS Alexandra............................ 5772 1500 Taggerty PS.................................................. 5774 7224 Toolangi PS.................................................. 5962 9255 Yea PS............................................................. 5797 2724 SECONDARY COLLEGES Alexandra SC............................................... 5770 2000 Yea SC............................................................ 5797 2207

ADULT EDUCATION CEACA Alexandra...................................... 5772 1238 Flowerdale Community House.................................... 5780 2664 Kinglake Neighbourhood House........................... 5786 1301 Yea Community House............................ 5797 3070 SERVICES CLUBS Kiwanis.................................................... 0418 335 692 LIONS CLUBS Alexandra..................................................... 5772 3428 Eildon............................................................. 5774 2674 Kinglake........................................................ 5786 1403 Marysville............................................... 0448 954 667 Yea ................................................................. 5797 3242 MASONIC LODGES Alexandra Masonic Centre, Albert Edward Lodge...............................0448 902 262 / 5772 2708 MEN’S SHEDS Flowerdale............................................. 0412 334 521 Kinglake Ranges........................................ 5786 5999 Marysville............................................... 0407 134 277 PROBUS CLUBS Alexandra..................................................... 5772 1253 Alexandra Ladies ...................................... 5774 2641 Yea................................................................... 5797 2344 RED CROSS Alexandra Red Cross........................... 0419 872 230 ROTARY CLUBS Alexandra..................................................... 5772 1897 Kinglake Ranges........................................ 5786 2193 Yea................................................................... 5792 3515 RSL Alexandra RSL............................................. 5797 6269 Eildon RSL..................................................... 5774 2630 Marysville RSL............................................. 5774 7110 Thornton RSL Sub Branch................ 0458 082 823 Yea RSL Sub Branch............................ 0408 898 139 SENIOR CITIZENS CLUBS Alexandra Senior Citizens....................... 5772 1010 YOUTH GROUPS Flowerdale Junior Youth Group 5 to 14 yrs................................. 0408 333 953 Flowerdale Senior Youth Group.......................................... 0423 320 484 SPORTING CLUBS BASKETBALL CLUBS Alexandra .............................................. 0417 112 533 Kinglake........................................................ 5786 5441 BOWLING CLUBS Alexandra .................................................... 5772 1150 Eildon ............................................................ 5774 2540 Marysville Golf & Bowls .......................... 5963 3241 Whittlesea ................................................... 9716 1966 Yea................................................................... 5797 2770 CRICKET CLUBS Alexandra............................................... 0437 599 909 Flowerdale............................................. 0414 533 342 Merton .................................................... 0408 316 498 Yea Tigers...................................................... 5797 2543 Marysville & District ........................... 0422 702 956

FOOTBALL / NETBALL CLUBS Alexandra..................................................... 5772 1912 Yea................................................................... 5797 2412 Kinglake........................................................ 5786 1580 Marysville & District ........................... 0412 487 842 GOLF CLUBS Eildon............................................................. 5774 2044 Alexandra..................................................... 5772 1570 Yea................................................................... 5797 2746 Whittlesea.................................................... 9716 2066 Marysville Golf & Bowls........................... 5963 3241 RACE CLUBS Alexandra..................................................... 5773 4304 Merton........................................................... 5778 9551 Yea................................................................... 5796 9396 RIDING CLUBS Acheron Valley Adult Riding Club...................................... 5773 2245 SPEEDWAY...........www.alexandraspeedway.com SQUASH CLUB Alexandra............................................... 0438 546 070 TENNIS CLUBS Alexandra..................................................... 5772 2621 Flowerdale................................................... 5780 2201 Kinglake Ranges........................................ 5786 5228 Yea................................................................... 5736 0461 SWIMMING POOLS Alexandra..................................................... 5772 1705 Eildon............................................................. 5774 2174 Marysville..................................................... 5963 3387 Yea................................................................... 5797 2474 RECREATIONAL GROUPS Alexandra Brass Band.............................. 5772 1404 Alexandra Camera Club.......................... 5778 9540 Alexandra & District 4 Wheel Drive Club................................... 5772 1395 Alexandra & District Dog Obedience.5774 7303 Alexandra & District Lapidary Club..... 5774 2908 Alexandra & District Motorcycle Club ......................................................www.admcc.com.au Alexandra Quilters.................................... 5772 1897 Buxton Craft Activities............................. 5774 7291 Eildon & District Woodworking Guild.5774 7513 Eildon Art Group........................................ 5773 2306 Redgate Classic Motorcycle Club.. 0433 291 495 Upper Goulburn Field Naturalists........ 5772 1189 Yea Camera Club........................................ 5797 3228 Yea Film Society......................................... 5797 2480 MURRINDINDI SHIRE COUNCIL Alexandra..................................................... 5772 0333 ..................................................Toll Free 1800 633 792 Yea................................................................... 5797 2209 ..................................................Toll Free 1800 672 719 Kinglake........................................................ 5786 1522 ..................................................Toll Free 1800 651 821 Home Based Childcare............................ 5772 0362 Aged Care Services................................... 5772 0353 Family Day Care.................................... 1800 633 792 Alexandra Library...................................... 5772 0349 Kinglake Library......................................... 5786 1522 Yea Library................................................... 5797 2209 Local Law Emergencies..................... 0419 572 425 Engineering Emergencies................ 0407 509 413

TRANSFER STATION LOCATIONS AND HOURS There are five Transfer Stations (also known as Resource Recovery Centres) and one Landfill (at Alexandra) in the Murrindindi Shire. Alexandra Marysville Eildon Yea Kinglake

Mt Pleasant Rd Sunds Rd Jerusalem Rd Ghin Ghin Rd Watson’s Rd Monday 10am - noon 1pm - 3pm Closed Closed Closed Tuesday Closed Closed 10am - 1pm 10am - 4pm Closed Wednesday 1pm - 4pm 10am - noon Closed Closed 10am - 4pm Thursday Closed Closed noon - 3pm Closed Closed Friday 10am - noon 1pm - 3pm Closed Closed Closed Saturday 10am - 4pm 9am - 4pm 9am - 4pm 9am - 4pm 9am - 4pm Sunday 10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm 9am - 3pm 10am - 4pm * All Resource Recovery Centres are closed on Good Friday, Christmas Day, New Years Day and days of total fire ban. Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017 – 83

To Benalla

Seymour

RD ROAD

Ye a

( (

GLEN AMYARR A TH L E

SPRAGGS

DI DIN

Yarra Ranges National Park

Maroondah Reservior

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Yea River

MELBA

PT US

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HWY

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Mount Monda 905m

Chum ( Creek ( C726

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Healesville

N O

HW Y

RD CK

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K AC BL

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84 – Murrindindi Guide – AUTUMN 2017

Panton Hill

MURRINDINDI  Wilhelmina

To Melbourne

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( ( ( ( ( (

TOOHEY S

( Strathewen(

ARTHURS

Mernda



( (

N TSO ER

Whittlesea

BRIDGE INN RD



CK INS CAPTA

To Alexandra & Eildon





E CH

HW HIG

Masons Falls

ALE

 

KE LA NG

WHITTLESE

HW HIG

B300

The Gums Camping Area

Pheasant Ck KI

RO AD

Glenburn

YS O'GRAD

HUM EV

Humevale

Yan Yean

S SON

WALLAN

Kinglake ( West (

YEA

( (

WAT

Toorourrong Reservoir

DA Y

B RO MT

A YE





Cheviot Railway Tunnel

 er ( ( Riv Devlins

Mt. Robertson 614m

To Yarck & Mansfield

( ( Molesworth

B300

MT ROBERTSON STATE FOREST

( ( ( ( ( (

 Yean  Yan Reservoir

Yan Yean Reservoir Park

LLE VA

Wallaby Ck Spring Water

TT HI C725 W

a Ye A LB ME

K EE CR

PARK

A SE LE

R BU UL

M ES T

Hazeldene

NATIONAL

 



l ai

KINGLAKE

ES TL IT

Eden Park

( (

H ( (

C725



(Water catchment no public access)

Glenvale





W ( (

MOORES ROAD

 

Mt Disappointment 796m

( (



Flowerdale

S RD LO

( (



B340



IN MA

Upper Plenty

N AI NT OU R D

IRY

H UT SO

Yea 

RR O

FLOWERDALE

No.1 Camp

SC AN LO NS



B300 PA

2.5 Kilometres

EY LL VA

SPRING

MT DISAPPOINTMENT STATE FOREST

River

KIN G

Clonbinane

nge

 HW Y

HANNA'S RD

 ( ( ( ( ( (

Homewood

(NE (

AND RD ALE

To Melbourne

BI N

MT N AD RO

LO N

MAIN

Sw itze rla

YEA

C382 PA RR O



Cycling

KILLINGWORTH RD



Lake or large river

Unsealed Rd

Goulburn

Urban Areas

E TH

Strath Falls

A LL

Other Parks

Sealed Rd



( ( ( ( ( (

State Forest

Major Rd

G KIN

ROAD

TRIANGLE RD

Strath Creek( (

Murchison Gap

R AL iver LE Y

OT RR PA

K EE CR

WALLAN

STR ATH Tyaak ( C382 (

SP UR

VIE W

( (

HORAN

TS IOT ELL

Broadford

 

National Park (N.P.)

FAIR

MAIN ( ( ( ( ( (

WENTWORTHS RD

V

CRE E

A RO



Mt Hickey 805m

Fishing spot

Warragul Rocks

 ( ( ( ( ( (

M 31



Lookout

Kerrisdale  Rail

( ( ( ( ( (

KING

WAY

n r ia cto Vi

RESERVOIR

Tk closed June - Oct. Freemans Camp

Picnic Area

Horseshoe Lagoon

N EN

FRE E

rn bu



TALLAROOK STATE FOREST

DA V IS

Murrindindi Shire West Map

l ou G Trawool

Falls Ck Reservoir







Tallarook

Bush Camping

( (

AN D

BU UL

HUME

GO Gre at

G HL

For more information on National Parks Ph. PARKS VIC 13 19 63 or State Forest ph. DEPI 13 61 86



Rail Trail

SYLVIA

B OY N

Public toilet



Visitor Information

K OB Y

B340

The



Legend Walking Track

FREEWAY

( (

O AR M

( (

Tra il Rail

AH ND

( (

M G BR O B A R UR D

YARCK

Y HW

o ct Vi

Great

Th e



Bonnie Doon

n ria

G O O N



BU C340  RN

( (

Thornton

B340

River

HWY

MAR O

OND AH

Achero n I

Keppels Hut (4wd & walking access)

AR ET

VILLE ARYS

( (

MARYSVILLE STATE FOREST

 ( ( ( ( (

Steavenson Falls

Picnic Area

YARRA RANGES NATIONAL PARK

Fishing spot

 The Beeches   Rainforest   LAKE ( ( ( ( ( ( DRIVE MOUNTAIN

TALBOT

««

Visitor Information Public toilet

( ( ( ( ( (

OD S

Keppel Falls

MA RYS

N RO HE AC

V IL

MTN

KE LA

C512

ALPINE RESORT

The Big Tree

C513

2.5 Kilometres

For more information on National Parks Ph. PARKS VIC 13 19 63 or State Forest ph. DEPI 13 61 86

öCambarville ( ( ( ( ( (

The Big Culvert



C511

Bush Camping

C507

To Warburton

YARRA RANGES NATIONAL PARK

Map drawn by Rooftop Maps Buxton Ph 03 57 74 75 76 June 2014.

 

Lookout



Major Rd Sealed Rd Unsealed Rd Cycling Rail Trail National Park (N.P.) State Forest Other Parks

10% Lake level To Warburton via Upper Yarra Dam

   

Boat launching

Urban Areas

Y WA

C512 M

Mt. Margaret Gap

ON TI TA AN RD k ac Bl

Granton



LA DY

I RR IN

DIN D

ND DI W O LL RD

( (

Legend



F AL  LS

BIG RIVER STATE FOREST

Walking Track



MARYSVILLE STATE FOREST



To Jamieson

RUBICON STATE FOREST

MA RG

C508

Mt Gordon

Narbethong 

Buxton Peak South

ANDE RSON LN

RANGE

Big River

Sugarloaf Saddle

Marysville

Dom Dom Saddle

To Melbourne 75km via Yarra Valley

Buxton

Rive

B360

TOOLANGI STATE FOREST



IL SV RY MA



( ( ( ( (

 Mt Torbreck 1514m (highest point in Shire)

PARK

Sugarloaf Peak

( ( ( ( ( (

N DO

( (

JA MI ES ON





  

Buxton Mountain Bike Park

PARK

Cooks Mill

STATE

TON BUX

din rrin Mu

DI INDIN

Murrindindi Cascades

BLACK RANGE STATE FOREST

NATIONAL

AREA

CERBERUS

R MUR

 

E IL



 Wilhelmina

 Falls 

R RIVE

CATHEDRAL

LAKE EILDON

Snobs Creek Falls

r Rive

MURRINDINDI SCENIC RESERVE

( ( ( ( (

HISTORIC

 Neds Gully RD

Cathedral Peak

LANE



RUBICON

LITTL

MYLES

 Rubicon Power Station

L RA ED LN TH CA

GLENDALE

Kendalls

Jerusalem

Creek 

( (   

C re

BIC ON

Ru bic on

C515

 ( Taggerty (

Y HW

SC OB SN

GINTERS

TAGGERTY

ON EILD

VALLEY

 Lookout «

Eildon

s Snob

B360

Pinninger

BACK

Rive r

PARK

Taylor Bay

M LE SA D RU JE C K R



NATIONAL

Eildon

lburn Gou

HWY

CO NN EL LY CK RD

EILDON



LAKE



« «

McKENZIE FLORA RES

YS TA L





MAROONDAH

( (



Acheron

BLACK RANGE STATE FOREST

CREEK

N YLI SK

ES TO NE

Jimmys Lookout

Alexandra



W AR

Acheron Cutting Lookout

LAKE EILDON NATIONAL PARK

ON GO

R «

 

LI M

AI N



ON NT AI M

Lake

EG NR HA

( (

Mansfield

The Great Victorian Rail Trail

ail Tr

er Ri v





N YLI SK

Brookes River Res.

lbu



G N RI

RN TO N

P S



Go u

Tra il

Scenic Drive (Lake Eildon Circuit) Mansfield to Eildon 98km via Jamieson & Big River

TH O

RN BU UL O HWY G  ( Molesworth ( 

To Yea 13km



HWY B320

Acheron River

EY B340 VALL

CR EE K

Th e

B300



OO ND

( Maindample

M AR t G re a

( Yarck (

M AR

Rail

Victoria n

NDAH

HW Y

 

O O



MARO O

( (

B300



LA ND

Gobur

HWY



Terip

( (

To Gobur (Top Rd to Yarck Rd)

To Sydney 736km & Benalla 50km

Merton 

To Euroa

MI DL AN LIN D K HW Y

Murrindindi Shire East Map Terip

Lake or large river To Woods Point



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