Murrindindi Guide Winter 2024

Discover dindi in winter

Top things to see and do in Murrindindi Shire this Winter

Enjoy snow play and tobogganing fun at Lake

Magical, misty mornings and crisp, winter days provide the perfect setting to discover the Murrindindi region's spectacular landscapes, natural attractions and historic townships.

Whether you're a first time visitor or a Murrindindi local, now is the perfect time to plan your winter getaway or 'staycation' - from a romantic weekend away to a family trip to the snow.

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discoverdindi.com.au

If you enjoy fern walks and majestic waterfalls, cycling and fishing, local history, fine food and wine, cosy getaways or a relaxing camping holiday, Murrindindi Shire has it all.

Visit discoverdindi.com.au to discover the many great things to see and do in Murrindindi Shire.

Mountain

Savour a glass of cool-climate wine in front of a cosy open fire in a local cafe , restaurant or winery

Rediscover the Great Victorian Rail Trail, with new artworks and scar trees scattered along the trail

Join in the fun at the Alexandra Truck, Ute & Rod Show

Snap a pic of a spectacular sunrise or sunset at a scenic lookout

Take a weekend hike in one of our national parks or state forests and check out our wondrous waterfalls

Get the kids off their screens and out to one of our fantastic bush playgrounds

Book a romantic getaway in a cosy B&B or country estate

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Delivering for our communities

As your Independent MP, you can count on me. I am your strong voice, working each and every day to advocate for you, your family and our community.

My office assists thousands of constituents with NDIS, Centrelink, Medicare, My Aged Care, telecommunications and immigration issues.

If you need help with any Commonwealth service, please email, phone or visit my office which is open 9am - 5pm weekdays.

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ARTS & TOURISM, BUSINESS & TRADES GUIDE

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 information 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.

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With Love, Sophie

Photo courtesy Eve Imagery.

By Emily Friedel

Winter may not be the season most people associate with blooms, but for a flower farmer, it’s a busy time. Sophie Bowe’s winter will involve a lot of hard work in her half-acre growing patch as she gets ready for spring.

The need for adequate winter preparation is something Sophie learned the hard way last year.

“I got flooded twice and lost maybe two thirds of all the dahlias that I planted. We will not be having that happen again this year. So we’re rebuilding and restructuring the entire flower patch this winter, which is going to be a mammoth undergoing with excavation and everything to make sure it doesn’t happen

again,” she says.

Sophie’s business, With Love, Sophie, is a combination of micro flower farm and florist studio on her family’s property in Yarck. Her foray into floral design began two years ago when her hairdresser casually asked if Sophie would like to do her engagement party flowers.

“I was like, ‘Sure, why not? That sounds like fun. I need something to do on the weekend.’ So I did them.”

From there she got more requests from friends for wedding flowers and found that she was enjoying putting together arrangements. But taking the step towards becoming a professional florist only happened after some soul searching.

Sophie Bowe in her florist studio on her family’s property in Yarck, where she also has her micro flower farm. Photo courtesy Eve Imagery.

Sophie proudly produces entirely foam-free arrangements, a choice she has made due to the negative health and environmental impacts of floral foam. Photo courtesy Eve Imagery.

“At that point I was 20, 21 years old, and I thought I’m just going to run away to Europe and all my problems will be solved and I’ll find my life’s purpose and I’ll come home and it’ll be great. I tried that once and my partner was like, ‘Maybe let’s not do that again. Why don’t you invest in something like a skill?’ So I took it upon myself to move to Sydney and study floristry and I loved it,” she says.

“I wanted to grow my own flowers as well, so I spent [last] winter building the beds and planted out all these dahlias and roses. That’s where it all started, and I’ve just been falling more and more in love with it as the months have gone on.”

Sophie chose to grow her own flowers to make her business more eco-friendly and ensure the highest quality blooms.

“They don’t travel anywhere other than 20 steps to get from the patch to my studio, so there’s no miles in transit. And because I’m picking them fresh, they’re in perfect condition when I work with them.”

Among her favourites to grow are roses, and this year’s crop will also include dahlias, hydrangeas, and sweet peas. Much of her produce ends up in wedding arrangements, and Sophie says this is one of the best parts about her work.

“I love bridal bouquets and I love designing something that’s just so special and such a big part of someone’s day.”

“The business is called With Love, Sophie because I always sign off on cards ‘with

Floristry found Sophie when friends started asking for engagement and wedding arrangements, which eventually led to formal training and now her own business. Photo courtesy Eve Imagery. love, Sophie’ and everything I do is made with love and care.”

Part of that care is being mindful about selecting materials, and Sophie adds that all her creations are made with her safety and that of the environment in mind.

“People don’t really know much about the health risks of floral foam, which is the green bricks that are used. So not only does it pose risks to me because it’s carcinogenic, but it produces a lot of microplastics which then

end up in our waterways and I’m really not a fan of that. So I work completely foam free in my business and choose to use things like chicken wire or other sustainable alternatives. And that’s something I’m very proud of, and that local florists are jumping on board with, which is really cool.”

Adding new foam-free options to her range will be part of Sophie’s winter preparations. So along with more flower varieties in the growing patch, spring will see the launch of birthday packages that can

be ordered online. These packages will include bud vases and flower clouds to add a little floral flair to party decorations.

So although the plants may be taking things easy over the winter, Sophie won’t be. For her, it will be a season of hard work and serious planning before the patch is in bloom and the warmweather festivities begin.

For more information go to withlovesophie.com.au or email sophie@withlovesophie. com.au and you can find her on Instagram at @ withlovesophieflorals

“After a well lived life of fighting cases, I’ve decided I’m more interested in fixing things than fighting about them,” Doug says.

There seem to be a million ways for people to get into disputes. North East Dispute Resolution (NEDR) is a dispute resolution business focused on avoiding them and solving them. Based in Yea and working far and wide, we are dedicated to helping people, families, businesses and associations avoid disputes. When they can’t or they find they are caught up in one, we can help them sort it out.

NEDR – dispute resolution business in Yea Doug Shirrefs is the principal of NEDR

You might be trying to work out what to do with the family farm when you retire so it’s fair for all the children. Perhaps illness or a death has resulted in a sudden need to avoid an argument over what should be done. Or you might be dealing with an agreement that has gone off the rails and you want to sort things out and put them behind you. Legal claims might be involved, or you might sensibly want to avoid going to court.

You might simply be having a few hiccups getting the local committee on the same page and you could use a hand from someone who is independent to help you run the meeting. These examples are just a few of the situations you could find yourself in where NEDR can assist. We can offer a range of services, including facilitation (running that tricky meeting without hiccups), mediation (helping parties work out how to solve their dispute without a messy court fight) and arbitration (acting as the umpire if everyone agrees).

Dispute resolutions services

Mediation – a lot of people have heard a bit about mediation. If you’re thinking of going to Court you will have to go to mediation first. It’s a process that helps people work through issues in dispute with a view to resolving things in a way everyone can live with. It can also be used really effectively to avoid getting to court. A mediator doesn’t decide things but helps the parties arrive at their own agreement. So why wait till you can’t sort things? Mediation could help you avoid all that drama and expense. Past example of things successfully mediated include claims by farmers for defective feed, fencing disputes and all kinds of partnerships where people agree to

I’ve been a lawyer, agricultural and resources economist, company director, business person and senior public administrator for more than 25 years. Before that I was a tradesman working in horticulture. All that experience is available to help you avoid or resolve your problems economically and efficiently.

I am currently a practising barrister, an accredited advanced mediator under the Victorian Bar Mediation Scheme, a trained conciliator and an experienced facilitator and company director. I mediate on a range of government and court panels.

After a well lived life of fighting cases, I’ve decided I’m more interested in fixing things than fighting about them. Perhaps it is the country air in Yea that has mellowed me. Or life in the country after years of grind.

My experience in mediation and my move to the country led me to starting up NEDR offering a full suite of alternative dispute resolutions services.

You might wonder what that means. Alternative Dispute Resolution includes a group of recognised skills and processes designed to help people head off, or work through disputes, without resorting to formal channels such as Courts. We can offer mediation, facilitation, and private conciliation services as well as arbitration. Each of these is slightly different and lends itself to particular types of disputes.

part ways and just need some help working through what that looks like.

Facilitation – a simple process where NEDR can help you run a meeting or process to work through a particular issue or set of issues and help everyone involved stay on the same page. In one recent example, Doug was asked to simply chair a consultation about a proposed building extension. In another, he was asked to run an election for a committee and make sure that the result was all in accordance with its rules of the incorporated association. If you think having a third party assist with things will help them go smoothly, facilitation might be the answer.

Arbitration – a process where Doug can act as the umpire and decide the matters in dispute. This can be very helpful where parties can agree on what they need to sort out, but not how to do it. An independent umpire sets up a process to arrive at the decision, everyone is involved in making sure the important things are being considered and parties agree to go along with what the umpire decides. Building disputes are a common situation where arbitration is applied and can

be applied to avoid litigation. But arbitration can also be used effectively to help in any circumstances where parties would benefit from handing over things to an independent umpire.

Engaging with NEDR to assist you to resolve your particular dispute need not be difficult or expensive. NEDR can help you to make an informed choice which pathway might be best for you and for the particular issues you want to deal with.

We can and do work with individuals and organisations directly. Or we can work with their professional advisers such as accountants and financial planners. As you might expect, Doug is regularly retained by lawyers where court proceedings are, or are likely to be, involved. All Australian Courts require parties to mediate and NEDR can assist in every jurisdiction.

Doug has the background and technical skills to help you work things through and is widely regarded for his ability to talk and listen to anyone and everyone with respect, and for cutting to the real issues in dispute.

All it will cost you is the time to make a call and the decision work through the issues you face.

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Services for B&B hosts who want the most

By Emily Friedel

Chloe Lewis and Sam Hobman are providing services to assist holiday rental and B&B owners take their hosting to the next level. The couple has combined business consulting with their handyman company, allowing them to offer everything from advice on how to make an Airbnb property more profitable all the way down to rapid repairs when a guest accidentally puts a hole in the wall.

It was around three years ago that Chloe and Sam brought their skills together to fill a niche they saw in the accommodation space. Sam had trained in several different trades, including carpentry, landscaping, and plumbing, but finally found that doing a mix of things as a handyman was more fulfilling. The pair also had prior experience travelling and doing accommodation work, which tied in with Chloe’s interest in business development and her passion for helping people get more out of their assets. Thus, Legendary Enterprises and The Handyman Company were joined to cover guest services and property maintenance.

Now based in Eildon, Chloe and Sam work directly with clients to help them optimise their hosting business. However, Chloe emphasises that they don’t provide a management service, nor are they trying to replace real estate agents. Instead, they hope to teach clients how to better manage their own property.

“We empower the client to be knowledgeable and then call upon us in that time of need should

Sam’s handyman skills mean he can provide property maintenance and rapid repairs for clients.

Chloe and Sam work with hosts of all experience levels, providing advice on everything from decor to navigating Airbnb regulations.

they have more questions further down the line,” she explains.

“And with them having the power, it’s just us giving an input and kind of coaching them along,” Sam adds.

Chloe and Sam work with both seasoned hosts and those who are trying their hand at it for the first time. So whatever stage clients are at with their journey, Legendary Enterprises provides services to steer them in the right direction. This may involve suggesting simple fixes such as better linen for guests or helping to navigate the complex and ever-changing Airbnb regulations or advising on how to have a more appealing online presence.

“Probably one of the main things that I see continuously is people will cut a corner and then expect to have continuous clientele. For instance, the biggest one is that people might not spend money on photography,” Chloe says.

“A lot of people will go ahead and they take their own pictures, and there is nothing wrong with that. But the difference you can get from like a proper photographer – that’s magic,” Sam adds.

“And I would say cleaning too. You can do it on your own, but I think for those first couple of times that you are dabbling in Airbnb, you really do need to have a

Chloe and Sam are dedicated to getting the best results for clients and will go the extra mile to make that happen.

While the consulting and handyman services Chloe and Sam offer are independent, they often go very well together and make life easier for hosts.

professional just so you can see how a turnover is done,” Chloe says.

Along with this type of guidance, Sam’s handyman skills mean they can happily take care of property maintenance for B&B or holiday rental owners. Chloe says the consulting and maintenance services are separate – client’s don’t need to get both –but they can go hand-in-hand to streamline the process of getting (and keeping) a property up to scratch.

“They might have had guests stay and they haven’t really had that continuous come back or return. So then they might reach out to us, and we’ll consult them on the things that we can see that will potentially help them have a bigger return on those accommodations. And from that, we may see that they have some maintenance within their house that needs to be attended to, and that’s how [our services] are married together,” Chloe says.

With everything they do, Sam says customer care is their priority and they’ll go the extra mile to make clients’ lives easier.

“There’s even little things like bringing the bins in that people don’t even think about that. They’re like, ‘Oh, I’m going away for a couple of weeks. I don’t want my bins sitting on the front in case people think no-one’s there’, and we can help with that,” he says.

So by merging consulting and handyman services, the dynamic duo can cover a very broad range of host needs to get an accommodation business off the ground, get it running optimally, keep it looking great, or just take care of those small things that can make hosting a hassle.

For more information on Legendary Enterprises & The Handyman Co., you can call 0415 498 052 or go to their website legendaryenterprises. info or find them on Facebook @ thehandymancompanyAU

Small fixes can make a big difference when it comes to running a successful holiday rental or Airbnb.

Leadbeater’s possums are found only in Victoria, and they are one of our state’s faunal emblems. The species is considered a “flagship” for conservation efforts; saving them means saving their habitat, which will benefit many other species. Photo:

Justin Cally/WOTCH

Leadbeater’s possum

– fighting a second extinction

By Emily Friedel

In the years between 1909 and 1960, no one saw a live Leadbeater’s possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri). Without a sighting in over 50 years, the species was thought to be extinct. But then, on a field trip with two friends, a young curator’s assistant from Melbourne Museum happened upon something incredible. In a forest near Marysville, Eric Wilkinson shone a spotlight into the eyes of a living, breathing Leadbeater’s possum. What was lost was found again, and the species was rediscovered in April of 1961.

Leadbeater’s possums are endemic to Victoria – they live in no other place on the planet – and are one of our state’s faunal emblems. These tiny possums,

weighing about as much as an apple, have been dubbed “forest fairies” due to their night-time habit of quickly flitting around the treetops in search of food. Their adorable faces and cuddly appearance are enough to give anyone warm and fuzzy feelings. But their cute features and ethereal nickname belie their significance in the fight to conserve native wildlife.

World-renowned ecologist Professor David Lindenmayer, who has studied Leadbeater’s possums extensively, stresses their symbolic significance for wider efforts to protect and restore native ecosystems.

“It’s one of the only species that occurs in Victoria and nowhere else. They are considered to be an iconic [species] for broader forest conservation – a true

flagship for forests and the conservation of other forest-dependent species,” he says.

A flagship species is one that is selected as an ambassador for a particular habitat or environmental cause. The idea is that support for the flagship species also means support for other species that live alongside them or species that are vulnerable to the same threats.

“In order to conserve them, we have to conserve the forest that they live in. And if we can conserve the forest that they live in, it’s not just the Leadbeater’s possum but many, many other species that will benefit,” says Steve Meacher, president of Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum Inc.

Flagship species are often big,

Leadbeater’s possum fast facts

Habitat

Leadbeater’s possums are almost entirely arboreal, rarely venturing onto the ground. This means they need densely forested areas where they can move between their nesting sites and foraging areas. They require yearround food supplies and big, old hollow-bearing trees to nest in, which restricts their habitat to dense, wet sclerophyll forest containing trees, shrubs, and bushes of varying heights and age.

Diet

Leadbeater’s possums are omnivorous. They feed on a variety of invertebrates, including crickets, moths, and spiders. They also have a bit of a sweet tooth and will feed on nectar from eucalyptus flowers or wattle sap for the sugars.

Behaviour

Leadbeater’s possums are social animals and live in small family groups (colonies) consisting of a breeding pair, their offspring, and unrelated adult males. They communicate with each other using a variety of vocalisations, including clicks, whistles, and trills.

Breeding

Leadbeater’s possums are monogamous animals. They breed in spring and summer, with females giving birth to one or two young after a gestation period of around 30 days. The young are carried in the mother’s pouch for several months before becoming independent.

Leadbeater’s possums are almost entirely arboreal, rarely coming down to the ground. They have been nicknamed “forest fairies” because they flit around in the treetops at night in search of food.

Photo: Justin Cally/WOTCH

charismatic animals – think elephants, giant pandas, tigers, and polar bears. Leadbeater’s possums may not seem to fit the bill with their small stature and sweet, wide-eyed faces. But what they lack in size they make up for in charisma, with a dash of warrior spirit thrown in. Professor Lindenmayer recounts a very close encounter that illustrates why they may not be as cuddly as they look.

“I was with my wonderful late father in the forest and mimicked the species alarm call, so animals would come up close so they would be seen more easily by my dad. An animal jumped on my head and then bit me on the forehead, between the eyes. I still have a small scar where that occurred. This highlights colony defence by the species – amazing mobbing behaviour when you mimic the species alarm call.”

Steve Meacher says the way Leadbeater’s possums stick up for their mates is one of the characteristics that endears them to passionate conservationists like him.

“They will take on something many, many times their own size if they think one of their friends is in trouble.”

Unfortunately, despite their willingness to protect one another, Leadbeater’s possums have faced enormous threats that cannot be fended off with a sharp bite between the eyes. This has led to the species’ current conservation status as critically endangered. Of the existential threats to Leadbeater’s possums, bushfires and native forest logging top the list.

“There has been a head-on collision between the preferred forest of the [logging] industry and the essential forest for the survival of the Leadbeater’s possum. When [they] clear fell a site, that site itself is not going to be Leadbeater’s possum habitat again for at least 200 years if it is left to regrow because they need several big, old, hollow-bearing trees for each colony’s territory – they need large trees with large hollows inside them in order to build nests,” Steve says.

The preferred forests of the Leadbeater’s possum have seen its population split into two subpopulations: one that inhabits the Central Highlands’ ash forests and sub-alpine woodlands, and a small lowland population to the east of Melbourne. With the end to native logging in Victoria at the start of this year, at least one source of harm to these crucial forest habitats will subside.

However, in an article for The Conversation, Professor Lindenmayer and fellow ecologist Dr Chris Taylor warn that when the logging stops, it will still take an immense amount of work to restore native forests, especially if the threat of bushfires is to be managed properly. Among other things, the two ecologists recommend a re-think of certain forest management practices, such as industrial-scale burning and tree thinning. They also recommend First Nations peoples are empowered to heal

and manage the land, along with an expansion of national park protection. The message that we have a long way to go before Leadbeater’s possums are safe is echoed in recent research by the University of Melbourne. In this study, published in 2020 in the journal Landscape Ecology, researchers modelled changes in the possums’ Central Highlands home over the next 250 years. A climate-driven increase in the scale and frequency of bushfires posed the biggest threat to the possums’ already fragile habitat. Similar to Professor Lindenmayer’s and Dr Taylor’s recommendation, the University of Melbourne team advocated for extending protected areas to give Leadbeater’s possums a better chance at survival.

In line with scientists’ advice, Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum strive to drum

Below: A Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum group visiting Cambarville near Marysville. This photo was taken at The Big Tree, which is not far from where Eric Wilkinson rediscovered Leadbeater’s possums in 1961. Photo: Sarah Rees

Leadbeater’s possums require several specific conditions in their habitat, including a constant food supply, vegetation of different heights and ages, and old-growth, hollow-bearing trees. These requirements have restricted them to two discrete areas in Victoria, which are under significant threat from bushfires. up support for forest conservation and educate the public. Their group, which is based in Healesville, likes to take a hands-on (or eyes-on) approach. According to Steve Meacher, getting people acquainted with Leadbeater’s possum habitat is a powerful means of bringing them on board.

“Forest tours are critical because once people have seen these forests and experienced them for themselves, they don’t want to see them being destroyed. There is no substitute for getting people into the forest and having them see it for themselves,” he says.

Traipsing through the undergrowth over sixty years ago, one can only

Linear Land Surveying

guess what Eric Wilkinson felt about the surrounding forest. However, his reaction to the serendipitous encounter with a Leadbeater’s possum near Marysville is documented. In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald last year, he said: “the hairs stood up on the back of my neck”. He has also described his rediscovery of the species

than the prelude to a triumphant tale of survival as it was prior to their 1961 rediscovery. Scientists and conservationists have been clear in their messages: focused, concerted, widespread, and well-considered efforts are essential to prevent them from vanishing before our eyes.

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Masked lapwing: menace or marvel?

By Carol Hopkins

It would be fair to say that the masked lapwing is never likely to be ranked as one of Australia’s favourite birds. Although impressive in appearance –with its bright yellow wattle, black head, white neck and chest, brown back and red legs – its aggressive behaviourr when defending eggs and young has not won it many fans.

Almost all of us have, at some stage, been targeted by these feisty birds when we have strayed too close to their nest or chicks. And this is easy to do as they have a habit of setting up home in the most inconvenient places - school ovals, grassy strips on the edge of busy roads, parklands, golf courses, suburban lawns, vacant blocks, flat roofs and even garden beds in the middle of roundabouts.

In warding off intruders they generally start by giving a vocal warning with a burst of staccato, ear-piercing calls. If this doesn’t work, they may run at you, often crouched low with their wings spread and their chests puffed out. Sometimes they also engage in decoy behaviour where they pretend to have a broken wing or leg to lure you away

from the area. Swooping is the next weapon in their armoury but, it seems, they rarely make direct contact - at least not with humans, although cats, dogs and other birds may not be so lucky. If all that doesn’t work, masked lapwings can bring out the ‘big guns’ - two little yellow spurs on the bend in their wings which they can extend to give you, or a furry companion, a nick. Again, it seems this tactic is rarely used with humans and, contrary to popular belief, these spurs are not poisonous. Because of this feature though, the birds are sometimes known as spur-winged plovers.

While these birds’ feisty behaviour is somewhat annoying, and even frightening, we need to remember that they are just defending their eggs and chicks and, really, should be admired and praised for being such devoted and protective parents. Besides, it’s easy to avoid their ire simply by staying away from areas where they are nesting or, if you stumble into their territory by accident, calmly and quietly walking on without looking at the birds, nests or chicks. And, no matter how aggravating their behaviour, it is important to remember that it is illegal to chase, harass or kill these birds.

Masked lapwings breed when conditions are suitable, often after heavy rain, and generally during winter and spring in the southern states of Australia. They will never win a ‘best nest’ award because it is little more than a shallow scrape or depression in the ground, lined roughly with leaves and twigs, and commonly positioned in an open, grassy area. After laying up to four eggs, both the males and females take it in turns to sit on the eggs, day and night, for 30 days. Interestingly, recent research conducted on populations on Phillip Island has shown that chicks and adults actually ‘talk’ to each other while the chick is still in the egg. Researchers believe this exchange of soft peeps may signal that the egg’s position needs to be changed or that the chick is ready to hatch.

Once the chicks hatch - a process that can take up to a day to completethey are pretty much able to fend for themselves straight away. Insects and worms, usually taken from just below the surface of the ground, make up much of the masked lapwing’s diet. The chicks are fully grown within five months but they tend to stay with their parents for up to two years before

Masked lapwing. Photo Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

lapwing sitting on its nest. Photo: Arthur Chapman, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

moving on to find their own mates and nesting sites.

The masked lapwing is Australia’s largest plover. It can be found throughout much of northern, eastern and central Australia. Although most people come across them in urban areas with open, grassy spaces, they can also be found in wetlands and on beaches. While, as a whole, their populations are not under threat, chick mortality can be quite high. Apart from cats, dogs and predatory birds such as ravens, one of the greatest risks to their survival is the lawn mower. Because the birds mostly nest on grassy expanses, and their nests are hard to see, it is all too easy for them to be destroyed as part of park and garden maintenance. So, in winter and spring, before you push or ride the mower, check the area you are about to mow for the presence of these plovers’ nests.

While masked lapwings have earned a reputation as being something of a menace, particularly in towns and cities, perhaps we should be seeing them, instead, as something of a marvel. Not only do they manage to survive in busy, and often inhospitable, urban areas, but they are also devoted and protective parents who go to extraordinary lengths to ensure their young survive and thrive.

Masked lapwing’s threat display. Photo: Amos T Fairchild, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons

Masked

Masked lapwing’s eggs in nest. Photo: Prankphonecall at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Juvenile masked lapwing.

Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. License: https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

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, Tues & Wed by chance or appointment Thurs and Fri 11.30am-4pm Sat and Sun 10.30am-5pm

Jeremy

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 as indicated on map and also located at Tallarook, Yea, Yarck, Alexandra, Bonnie Doon and Mansfield.

• Visitors can hand feed deer, kangaroos, emus & llamas

• Free barbecue / picnic area Bookings for BBQ essential

• Day pass entry

• O vernight camping ~ bookings essential

Supporting native wildlife with nest boxes

Nest boxes are a great option for supporting native wildlife in areas where old-growth trees are scarce.

Photo courtesy Ron Litjens.

by Emily Friedel

For much of our native fauna, tree hollows are more than just cavities in trunks: they’re homes in which to raise families. Unfortunately, there is currently a housing crisis for these creatures, which is exacerbated by the prolonged wait times for new dwellings. In these hard times, nest boxes can provide temporary accommodation for our furred and feathered locals.

Chris Cobern, Landcare facilitator and project officer for the Upper Goulburn Landcare Group, explains the importance of nest boxes.

“So much of our wildlife in Australia, mammals and birds, use nest boxes – it’s something like 40% of Australia’s mammals need hollow logs, normally in trees, for nesting sites. Animals like the brush-tailed phascogale and the squirrel glider that we have in our area have become threatened mainly through habitat loss and the ability to find suitable hollows.

“We can plant areas out and within a couple of decades we can have established revegetated areas that provide food and areas for animals to move through. But it’s still going to take a hundred years for these planted areas to get those natural hollows. So nest boxes can fill that void in the meantime in younger forests and younger plantations on people’s properties.”

Given their potential for supporting native species, the Yea River Catchment Landcare group has launched a nest-box project with Victorian Government Landcare Grant funding. Over a hundred nest boxes have been purchased for members along with a nest box inspection camera that they can borrow.

As part of this project, Chris and Ron Litjens from the Yea River group ran a workshop in April for Landcare members to learn about the ins and outs of nest boxes.

“I was surprised how far people had traveled to attend the talk. There were participants from many of the Landcare groups in Murrindindi and even though the nest boxes distributed were for Yea River Landcare members there was a lot of interest in the topic from other groups,” Ron says.

The workshop covered practical aspects

Chris Cobern from the Upper Goulburn Landcare Network (UGLN) demonstrating how to install a nestbox. Photo supplied by UGLN.

of successful nest box use, including installation and maintenance. Chris and Ron also taught members about the all-important nest-box checks.

“Boxes are a good fauna survey and monitoring method, and a great way for people to find out what’s living on their properties. It’s also important to make sure that we’re not encouraging pest species,” Chris says.

The checks, which are usually performed once or twice a year, are where the inspection camera comes in. The camera is mounted on a long pole, allowing the user to see inside via a handheld screen and providing a relatively unobtrusive means of seeing who has taken up residence.

“If you’re quiet about it, the animals are usually quite calm, and you can take a photo with these inspection cameras,” Chris says.

Rather than being a chore, performing checks can be an exciting and enjoyable task. Ron, who has offered to help Landcare members with their monitoring, describes the experience.

“Nest box monitoring is like perpetually opening presents. You don’t really know what you are going to get. There is nothing like seeing a family of gliders looking up at you for the first time.”

With the project in its infancy, Ron also expresses tempered optimism for its impact on native wildlife populations in the area.

“The test will be to see whether the nest boxes are used by the local fauna. I have no doubt that they will be occupied in the near future; 106 nest boxes is not much in the scheme of things, but it’s 106 more available homes for the local fauna than previously were,” he says.

The Yea Landcare project is just one of the nest-box initiatives that Chris has been involved with over the last 14 years, with many of them taking advantage of the youthful energy of school or scout groups.

“Last year with the Alexandra Scouts we built about a dozen boxes with the help of the Woodworkers Guild, and we put them up on the Rail Trail. There’s a lot of native vegetation along the rail trail and it’s a great corridor for animals to move through the district, but there’s not a lot of really old trees with hollows,” he says.

“We try and get back as often as we can with the same groups. This year we’ll get out there with the Alexandra scouts and we’ll check the boxes we put up last year with the nest box camera. That’ll be exciting for kids to see what’s using them.”

Chris also encourages other groups who want to take part in addressing the local fauna’s housing crisis to contact him. More tiny homes for the Murrindindi Shire’s birds and animals could make all the difference in their ability to survive and thrive.

For more information on the Upper Goulburn Landcare Network or to get in touch with Chris call 0413 855 490, email ugln.projects@ ugln.net or go to ugln.net

Above: Ron Litjens from Yea River Landcare recently snapped this image of squirrel gliders huddled in their nest box home. Below: Nest boxes aren’t just for mammals. Many native bird species need hollows to nest in and will happily use a humanmade substitute. In this case it’s an Australian owlet-nightjar.

Photo courtesy Ron Litjens.

Building nest boxes

By Chris Cobern, Upper Goulburn Landcare Network Coordinator

Choose a box design from the attached fact sheets for the species you’d like to attract to your property or you think would most benefit from a nesting box.

When building a box for gliders and phascogales, I usually put the entrance hole on the side of the box. This makes it easier for the animals to enter the box straight off the tree.

I also use a piece of plastic mesh (e.g. gutter guard) stapled to the inside of the box to help the animals come and go; and a ‘hook & eye’ latch to hold the lid down.

Once you’ve built the box, you need to securely attach a backing board (a length of treated pine decking works well) through which the box is fixed to the tree.

Installing the boxes:

Fix the box to the tree through the backing board with either 100mm galvanised flathead nails or 75mm> tek screws using a cordless drill.

Put a rubber spacer between the tree and the backing board using a small piece of old rubber hose. It allows for trees, especially young ones, to grow

Nest box projects have been popular with local Scouts and school groups. This is one made by the Alexandra Scouts with the help of the local Woodworkers Guild. Photo supplied by UGLN.

without pushing the box off, which can happen over time when the box is hard up against the tree. The screw goes through the hose. (see photo p36)

Boxes should be attached to the southeastern side of the tree so that they are out of the direct sun.

Install at a height of around 3.5m to 4.5m off the ground so they are safe from foxes and cats but still able to be maintained safely using a ladder.

When installing the box email Chris Cobern (ugln.projects@ugln.net) for a data sheet to record the information for each box.

Maintenance and monitoring:

Sometimes bees and feral birds such as starlings and Indian mynas will use the boxes.

The feral bird nests, eggs etc. should be removed.

If you place the eggs etc. of feral birds on the ground they usually provide a meal for the native birds such as kookaburras and magpies.

Bee swarms can be removed by a local beekeeper.

Monitoring can be done carefully

using a ladder or a nest box inspection camera. Upper Goulburn Landcare Network (UGLN) has a camera that can be borrowed by our Landcare groups/ members.

Use a data sheet to also record what wildlife are using the box and any signs such as nests, scats or chewing around the entrance.

Email me at ugln.projects@ugln.net or phone me on 0413 855 490 if you have any questions.

Further information:

Nest Box Tales Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ nestboxtales/?ref=bookmarks

Use of Nest Boxes in Victoria: https:// www.ari.vic.gov.au/research/peopleand-nature/use-of-nest-boxes-invictoria

Nest box inspection cameras: http:// www.starweb.com.au/inspection_ cameras.html

UGLN Facebook: https://www. facebook.com/www.ugln.net/ videos/2189683904582164/

UGLN Website: https://ugln.net/uglnnest-box-project-part-2/

Habitat/nest box specifications

What size box is required?

Considerable research has been done on natural hollows, which have been regularly used by wildlife. The size, shape, wall thickness, depth, height above ground, and aspect of the hollows has been taken into consideration. This information has been standardised and put into this table, supporting the construction drawings.

Meeting the specific requirements of individual species is far from an exact science. The needs of wildlife can better be assessed, by the monitoring and recording of what species are using the box, when they are in residence, and if they are raising young.

There is no need to add a perch. Our native birds manage without them and the perches make it easier for pest birds like Indian Mynas to access the boxes.

* Although some of these heights (which are in metres) are too high for people to practically and safely install, the boxes can be installed between 3m and 4m off the ground.

– Rainbow

Scaly-breasted

Rosellas, Pale Platycercus adscitus, P. eximius

Headed & Eastern

Activity Hire, Kayak or SUP

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Fishing Gear & Bait

Jobe Ski Gear & Accessories

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Automotive, Electical & Oils

Hardware & Batteries

501 Jerusalem Creek Road, Eildon

2024 GOULBURN FISHING FESTIVAL

FREE EVENT / EILDON

Saturday 2 September, 10am - 4pm

Saturday 7 September, 10am-4pm

New location: Lions Park, Riverside Drive, Eildon

• Market stalls

• Spinning wheel prizes

• Snobs Creek Hatchery tours

• 2000 ‘stonker’ rainbow trout to be released at 11 sites

• Vic Fish Kids Clinics Eildon Pondage ( bookings essential ) www.vfa.vic.gov.au/goulburnfishfest

Record fish stocking bonanza set to continue for Victoria

By Dr Taylor Hunt

As part of the Victorian State Government’s Go Fishing and Boating Victoria Plan, a further 10 million fish are planned to be released in 2024/25 into over 220 Victorian waters – including hundreds of thousands in the Murrindindi region – to improve recreational fishing opportunities and rebuild native fish populations.

Recreational fishers, angling clubs and associations are invited to provide their feedback on the 2024/25 Draft Fish Stocking Plan, which has been developed based on several decades of annual Vic Fish stock consultation feedback, angler catches, fish population survey data and fisheries research.

Some of the highlights in the 2024/25 draft stocking plan include:

• O ver 1 million fish into Lake

Eildon, including 400,000 Murray cod, 400,000 golden perch and 220,000 brown and rainbow trout

• Eildon Pondage receiving 14,000 catchable rainbow trout, 1,000 ex-broodstock brown trout and 1,000 exbroodstock rainbow trout

• Goulburn River – upstream of Kevington to be stocked with trout cod

• O ver 80 family fishing lakes to be stocked with catchable rainbow trout in June and September school holidays

• 16 metro lakes and the Goulburn River to be stocked with stonker rainbow trout

• Lake Hume receiving 150,000 brown trout

• 800,000 native fish into Lake Eppalock

• Gippsland Lakes to receive more than 100,000 estuary perch and dusky flathead

• Macalister River near Licola

Left: Eildon Pondage will be stocked with 14,000 catchable rainbow trout (pictured) and 2,000 ex-broodstock brown and rainbow trout this year. There has never been a better time to be a recreational fisher in the Murrindindi region!

Above: Lake Eildon will be stocked with over 1 million fish this year, including 400,000 Murray cod (pictured), 400,000 golden perch and 220,000 brown and rainbow trout. Photo: Marc Ainsworth

to receive 10,000 Australian Bass

• Kiewa River to receive 30,000 Macquarie perch and 20,000 trout cod

The full plan can be viewed on the VFA website and submissions are sought by emailing taylor.hunt@vfa.

vic.gov.au

All submissions will be considered by the VFA and tabled with regional recreational fishing representatives at the annual Vic Fish Stock meetings, planned to be held in MayJune 2024.

Photo: David Hannah

Let’s support local

by MFW Inc

The team at Murrindindi Food and Wine Inc. (MFW Inc) is encouraging everyone to Put Murrindindi On Your Table this year with their latest Support Local campaign.

Last Christmas their successful Christmas baubles and “put Murrindindi on your table this Christmas” campaign saw many of our local businesses getting behind the campaign to encourage more local sales.

This was part of our working with Murrindindi Shire Council on a whole shire-wide business activity which several of us quietly named the “Christmas bauble campaign”.

It was free for any Murrindindi business to be a part of and included a window decal, a counter card, and a multi-media campaign.

The results were massive in the lead-up to Christmas.

Sam Hicks, secretary of the group and a keen marketer shares the results:

• 100 + businesses being involved either by featuring or directly showcasing assets in their workspacefrom multiple sectors.

• 40 + cars from Murrindindi Shire Council’s fleet were seen all over the shire with ‘baubles’ on their cars.

• I t was a multimedia campaign, with UGFM radio advertisements, print media advertisements, press releases, and online digital marketing results that saw 60K worth of social reach over 8 weeks.

• Melbourne and towns in Murrindindi were our biggest audiences according to MFW INC social media insights.

• Organic and paid advertising on social media drove users to the website, which was our call to action. There were 130+ downloads of the Murrindindi supplier’s guide and nearly 2000 visitors to the “How to put Murrindindi on your table” website page not to mention the outgoing links to our shire-wide online directories.

“This was supported by the Murrindindi Shire Council, and we appreciate being able to partner up with them to encourage everyone to ‘Put Murrindindi on their tables’,“ says Rob Mitchell, President of the group.

Along with huge support from the teams from UGFM Community Radio, Murrindindi Guide, Kinglake’s Mountain Monthly, LakeEildon.com and the Alexandra Standard, MFW INC was able to have a robust campaign.

This year’s campaign is a 12-month campaign with an exploration of how to support locally within our vibrant shire and make ‘Put Murrindindi on Your Table’ a way of life.

The team came up with four main pillars on how we all can support local.

1. Shop Local: Local first for any hospitality, goods and services, professional services, and retail items.

• Discover your local business offerings and save on fuel.

• Maintain our local employment and support our local business owners (and their families) as they support future generations of our communities.

• These businesses sustain our local events, schools, and community groups with sponsorship and in-kind support.

• Consider visiting a neighbouring town on the weekend, mid-week purchasing online, or searching through our online directories and letting your fingers do the shopping.

2. Eat Local: Savour the flavours of Murrindindi

• Indulge your taste buds with the incredible culinary offerings our region has to offer.

• From charming cafes and pubs to local eateries, every bite narrates a story of dedication to quality and community.

• Rediscover the joy of dining by choosing local, supporting our chefs, caterers and cooks, and relishing the unique taste of Murrindindi.

Top tip – each season brings forth local treasures of produce.

3. Drink Local: Raise a glass to Murrindindi’s finest

• Elevate your spirits with the exceptional beverages crafted right here in Murrindindi.

• Visit a local brewery, distillery, or winery, or stroll through our bottle shops and produce stores.

• Embrace the rich flavours that our community produces from our Murrindindi ‘terra’.

• Cheers to celebrating the essence of Murrindindi in every sip!

Top tip: Many wines and beverages are wearing award-winning medals.

4 . Play Local: Uncover the treasures in your backyard.

• From arts, markets and events, to nature’s hidden gems waiting to be discovered, Murrindindi is a treasure trove of local delights.

• Attend local markets, gardens and festivals.

• Unear th the unique offerings that make every experience in Murrindindi special.

• Enjoy walks and waterfalls, recreational activities from biking and riding to snow play, house boating, and water skiing.

Top tip – Regularly check the calendar of events; each season brings something different to entice visitors and locals alike to be immersed in local culture and happenings.

“Working together and supporting our local businesses has never been so important. We can all help with local purchases – one purchase a week – 52 a year x 15, 197* by our residents would be approximately 800,000 local sales per year,” President Rob says.

“Can you imagine how much of a difference that would make to our local economy?”

The group understands that businesses are being challenged with rising costs, increased compliance, sometimes lack

of common sense of red tape, natural disasters, the cessation of logging, and lack of affordable housing.

We can all help by supporting local as it does make a difference.

Look out for the black and white support local campaign now and the Christmas bauble towards September onwards.

Check out Murrindindi Food and Wine Inc.’s socials and website; murrindindfoodandwine.org.au, sign up for the newsletter and Put Murrindindi on Your table this year.

*(The 2021 census recorded shire population).

Residential & Respite Care

Caring for the community

Darlingford is a lovely residential aged care facility that accommodates residents with a variety of care needs including permanent, respite, and dementia care. Darlingford provides a secure home environment, surrounded by more than 3acres of beautiful gardens and land, which is also enjoyed by native birds and kangaroos. Our qualified and passionate staff understand, respect and support the needs of residents and their families.

All inclusive services:

• Registered nurse on site 24 hours a day

• State government nurse/patient ratio in place

• Meals are prepared and cooked fresh on-site

• Cappuccino machine available for residents and visitors

• Personal clothing is laundered on-site

• All rooms have ensuite bathrooms

• Group and individual activities – including vegetable garden

• On-site entertainment, external outings and cultural celebrations

• Allied health consultants available: Physiotherapist, Geriatrician, Dietician, speech therapist, hearing and dental services, podiatrist, occupational therapist, social worker.

• 7 double rooms ideal for couples, 37 single rooms

• Aged Care Assessment is required

Soaking up the winter sun: How much is too much? Soaking up the winter sun: How much is too much?

By Emily Friedel

We’re all aware that Australia’s sun can be harsh, and many of us have unfortunately experienced its power in full force with a painful, skin-peeling burn in summer. But the winter sun feels gentler and may leave you wondering whether you still need to slip, slop and slap. There are also the benefits of sun exposure to consider, such as the role of UV radiation in vitamin D production and its benefits for mood.

So is it ok to spend more time outdoors in winter without sun protection?

Luckily, there is guidance available to help you enjoy the sun’s rays without overdoing it. A group of experts published a new position statement on sun exposure for Australian adults earlier this year in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health (this is an open access journal paper and the link is provided at the end of this article).

The position statement is designed to help Australians balance the risks and benefits of sun exposure by accounting for their skin colour, skin cancer risk, and location. For example, in summer in any part of Australia it only takes about five minutes in the midday sun with exposed arms and legs to make sufficient vitamin D. In winter the sweet

spot changes substantially according to where you are – in Melbourne it’s about 40 minutes at midday.

Your level of skin pigmentation is also an important factor to consider. Those with deeply pigmented skin have lower risk of skin cancer; their natural sun protection may be up to 60 times greater than those with very fair skin. However, those with darker skin are also at greater risk of vitamin D deficiency. To help people know how much sun is too much, the position statement groups people into three categories based on their skin tone and associated cancer risk.

At high risk of cancer are those who have fair skin that burns easily (and doesn’t tan readily) and those with darker white or olive skin with family histories of skin cancer, have had skin cancer before, have many moles or are taking immunosuppressants. For the high-risk group, the position statement advises that the risks of sun exposure outweigh the benefits and recommends full sun protection measures any time the UV index is three or more. For this group, the recommended sun avoidance means they should talk to their doctor about vitamin D supplementation.

The intermediate risk group are those

with dark white or olive skin that tans easily but still burns sometimes. For these people, spending time outside to get a dose of vitamin D on most days of the week is ok, but outside of this time window they should protect their skin when the UV index is three or more.

Finally, the lowest risk group is those with enough skin pigmentation that they rarely or never get burnt. They can spend as much time as they need outdoors to get their vitamin D and may only need sun protection if they’re outside for two or more hours. People in this low-risk category may still need vitamin D supplementation because it is harder for them to get sufficient UV radiation.

So this winter, depending on your skin type and where you are, you may be able to safely spend considerably more time in the sun than you do in summer. For those of us with very fair skin, routine sun protection is probably still the go, but there might be more chances for sunbathing while the UV index is below three.

If you’re still unsure about how much sun you should be getting this winter or want more details, the full position statement can be found here: https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.anzjph.2023.100117

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Mon to Fri from 9am-5.30pm & Sat from 9am-12.30pm 101 Grant Street, Alexandra

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

For After Hour Emergencies Only:

Aju Thomas – 0413 072 677 afterhours emergencies weekdays only Ian Davis – 5772 2185 or 0409 354 782 Visit www.alexandrapharmacy.com.au for a full list of products & services provided or call 5772 2153 to speak to our trained staff

Remedial massage, Sports massage, Deep Tissue massage, Foot massage, Slide/Fascial Cupping

Alexandra: 0491 641 474

Mansfield: 0491 641 474

WE OFFER BULKBILLED EYE EXAMINATIONS

Alexandra Optical 106 Grant St Alexandra Wednesday: 9am-5pm or by appointment

Mansfield Optical 30c High St Mansfield Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 9am-5pm or by appointment

Jon Fidden at the wellness centre he established last year, bringing together his passion for massage and a newly discovered love of small town life in Alexandra.

Body Therapy & Wellness

By Emily Friedel

In the space of half a decade, Jon Fidden has gone from owning a real estate business on the Gold Coast to starting a wellness centre in Alexandra.

Although it may seem like a dramatic shift, massage was something Jon

had been long been drawn to after experiencing the benefits for himself.

“My interest started in massage because I experienced pain relief without taking any medications. It relieved my pain and also left me feeling better within myself,” he says.

“When I’d receive a massage from someone that could relieve my longstanding aches and pains, I would think to myself, ‘this is fantastic, I actually feel like a normal person again’ and I could move. How wonderful would that be if I could do the same for someone else.”

More recently, Jon also found himself drawn to Alexandra.

He first came to Alex at the start of 2023. Then, after several months and with the cold setting in, he returned to the warmth of Queensland. But the small Victorian town had left more of an impression than he’d realised.

“I really missed this town. I think it’s the people here – the people are so welcoming. It feels like home to me.”

So he was back in Alexandra by August 2023, and a few months after that he set up shop on the corner of Grant and Nihil Streets where Body Therapy & Wellness can now be found.

Of course, massage is a staple service at the wellness centre. Jon describes his style as a mix of deep tissue and remedial. He also uses a sports technique for cupping, influenced heavily by the sports masseuses who trained him. Because of his massage style and interests, Jon sees a lot of people who need help with aches, pains, or rehab.

“There are a lot of neck and shoulder problems from working in front of a computer or from stressful occupations. There are also lots of sore backs from heavy lifting working on the farm. There’s also some with knee replacements, hip replacements, or spinal fusions,” he says.

“The goal at the end of the initial sessions is to relieve that pain, and the goal moving forward is to improve the condition. Mostly it’s a matter of getting their posture back into a space where it’s supposed to be so only a maintenance visit is required.”

Jon says that through this process, massage can sometimes prevent people having to take more extreme measures to deal with their pain.

“Doing massage has proven to me that tight muscles in the shoulders and neck can be the cause of people’s headaches and migraines. So I can see that massage can help relieve that side of things and give them an alternative to operations or medications that they may not need.”

Body Therapy & Wellness has an infrared sauna, which heats the body using light waves rather than steam – an inviting option on a chilly winter’s day.

In addition to massage, clients have access to an infrared sauna at Body Therapy & Wellness.

“It works on wavelengths of visible and non-visible light, like the spectrum of sunlight, that penetrate the skin to heat the body. This gives you a deeper sweat with gentler warmth in the body, rather than traditional saunas that heat the air to a very high level to warm the body.”

Jon says the business has really taken off and he is even considering the addition of a floatation tank as another option for people to enhance their wellbeing.

“I found the benefits of the float tank when I was doing more manual work, and my lower back was sore – I’d hurt it when I was younger as an electrician. When I tried the float tank, it was the first time I’ve ever been able to relax. There is so much salt in the water that your muscular system doesn’t have to hold you up and it can just let go.”

Adding a floatation tank would be a big undertaking for Jon and will remain an exciting possibility for the future, especially if the sauna remains popular. In the meantime, he will keep the centre

Jon enjoys using massage to help people fix their problems, including aches and pains and mobility issues.

cosy and inviting for customers over winter, with the option to linger for a while in the dimly lit chill-out room after a therapeutic massage or sauna session.

No doubt anyone who has a session at Body Therapy & Wellness will leave better than when they arrived, and perhaps with a bit more of a spring in their step.

“It’s all about making an effect.”

For more information on Body Therapy and Wellness, go to www.body-therapy.com. au or text Jon on 0411 289 828 or drop into the shop at 111 Grant St in Alexandra.

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

From humble beginnings, your bookshop has evolved

By Leanne Monro

You probably walk past the Alexandra bookshop regularly. Perhaps you pause to admire the lively window display, pop your head in the door to say ‘Hi’ to Ron or one of the other volunteers, and over the years, you may have purchased books, DVDs or perhaps a jigsaw or two from the bookshop. Maybe you even donated a few of the same back to the bookshop for reuse. But do you know the history of your library bookshop, how it operates, and how it has evolved into what you see today?

In the early 1980s, the Victorian State Government embarked on a program of closing down or reducing the services offered by many small libraries across

the state, and Alexandra Library was ear-marked for reduced services. The local residents decided to fight the proposal.

This group later became the Friends of the Library Alexandra & District Inc. (FOLA), and they provided a voice to support the library on behalf of the community. This fight raised awareness and reminded the Victorian Government of the important role of community libraries.

To raise funds for the fight, FOLA and Junior FOLA started selling the ex-library books. Primarily on long weekends and school holidays, they set up a trestle table at the back door of the library in Perkins Street, and the young members of Junior FOLA

sold secondhand books from there.

FOLA and Junior FOLA went from strength to strength. In 1997, both groups were recipients of the Australian FOL Library Week Awards.

In the late 1990s the building next door to the library became available, and FOLA used this building to store the stock of books it was beginning to accumulate. After relocating the occasional possum, FOLA, with John Ball coordinating things, went on to sort, store and sell books out of this rustic building two to three days a week for some years. FOLA continued to quietly raise funds to assist the library in running many of the community events, and to purchase some additional collections which helped

to grow the library into a wonderful community asset.

The next step in the bookshop’s evolution was to move into shop front environments, firstly next door to the Standard offices, then to the vacant shop that is now the Elli & Ivy coffee shop in Grant Street. Ron Burke was coordinating the bookshop activities at the time, and had a roster of bookshop volunteers in place, allowing it to be open most days of the week for limited hours.

While this was a better location for the bookshop, it had limitations with storage and access. When the pharmacy moved one shop along Grant Street to its current location, FOLA, with Ron Cooper coordinating the bookshop activities by this

Ron Cooper is the current and long-term coordinator at the bookshop.

stage, took the opportunity to move the bookshop into this space you will find it today, operating seven days a week.

Everyone in the community has contributed to the bookshop’s success and development over the years, perhaps by being part of the FOLA Committee, volunteering in the bookshop itself, by donating items, or buying from the Bookshop.

Few have contributed more than Ron Cooper, the current

and long-term coordinator at the bookshop. Ron’s energy, initiatives, attention to detail and commitment, have developed the shop into the amazing community asset it is today.

The profits from the Friends of the Library Bookshop are used to support the library programs and sponsor many of the monthly and fabulous and popular one-off events. After the 2009 fire, FOLA supported the council and the library to run a suite of programs and events across the Murrindindi Shire to

support the communities.

Over the years, the FOLA Bookshop has also assisted in the purchase of bookshelves, book and magazine stock, DVD and audio stock, chairs, sofas, tables, TV, maps and a very impressive world globe, as well as repairs and rebinding of valuable books and sponsoring library staff to attend conferences.

This lively, engaging bookshop you walk past regularly, is really Your Bookshop. It operates within the community to

support the community and the library through FOLA initiatives. Every item you donate to the bookshop, and every item you buy from the bookshop, is supporting your community.

When you next walk past the FOLA bookshop, stop and take a look at the noticeboard on the outside wall near the door. You will find a plaque about the bookshop, along with a listing of the current month’s events featured at the Alexandra Library.

THE LIFE STORY OF ANNE FRANK EXHIBITION

This remarkable exhibition takes you through Anne Frank’s personal story, her joyful childhood in Frankfurt, her immigration to Amsterdam, and her life in hiding. The exhibition also sheds light on the rise of the national socialists, the Holocaust, and the impact of anti-Jewish measures on individuals like Anne Frank. It is suitable for the whole family.

1 May - 29 June 2024

Alexandra Library, 49 Grant Street, Alexandra

ENTRY For more information, visit murrindindi vic gov au/annefrank or call 5772 0333

Image credit: Photo collection of the Anne Frank Stichting (Amsterdam)

Shop open every day 10am-4pm | 24 Murchison St, Marysville P 5963 3753 | M 0417 633 753 | info@countrytouch.com.au

& Beyond Marysville

‘End of an Era’ for Rustic Simplicity @ The Shear ‘N’ shedS

By Cindy Ferguson

024 – The Year of the Dragon – said to bring about changes, challenges and opportunities...

Not the first Year of the Dragon shared by Rustic Simplicity’s Cindy Ferguson and The Shear ‘N’ shedS’ Gail Bransden, whose first full year together at 74 Grant Street in Alexandra was 2012, also a Year of the Dragon, given Chinese Astrology’s twelve-yearly astrological cycle.

Cindy’s Curiosity/Gift Shop and Gallery opened in Gail’s Barber Shop on 11th November 2011. The two negotiated more than a decade of challenges and opportunities, with the greatest opportunity of all – joining forces. The Yin and the Yang if you like – a blokes only barber shop surrounded by a treasure trove of artworks/artifacts/artisan wares for chicks and blokes alike.

It wasn’t always so integrated though, the first challenge for Cindy was how to get punters in the door. Having been solely a barber shop for just over 12 months, and with the barber shop placed at the front of the store posed a big challenge for Cindy. A sign saying Curiosity Gift Shop and Gallery just didn’t cut it as the barber’s chair loomed large when looking inside.

One day, a customer came in and exclaimed, “What’s behind the barber shop?” And it stuck!

Gradually the two spaces merged, and a truly symbiotic relationship emerged. A seven day a week operation ensued, with Gail and Cindy each in store for four and a half days (Gail mid-week and Cindy on the weekends), with around two and two half days in store at the same time.

Until COVID-19 struck, but that’s a story for another day, we all know the punchline there...

Rustic Simplicity opened its doors with Cindy’s first ever solo exhibition of her photography, which for the first seven years of operation became an annual event and grew to include her annual calendar, featuring local images, local events, and the usual public and school holidays.

After a two-year hiatus, a 2025 calendar will be available for Christmas – taking orders now!

In order to continue to encourage emerging artists, Cindy developed a program whereby the VCE Studio ‘Artists’ at

the Alexandra Secondary College would exhibit annually in November. It was Cindy’s favourite show of the year, as it always featured cutting edge work, and was an opportunity to grow the confidence of the students to continue their creative endeavours.

An annual group exhibition ‘Touch a Heart with Art at Christmas’ followed, encouraging gift giving of a creative, handmade nature in an attempt to temper the consumeristic nature of the silly season and to give local artists and artisans the opportunity to showcase their arty wares.

Each year, three other types of exhibitions featured on Rustic Simplicity’s calendar of events. An exhibition that targeted different types of art forms annually; a local interest exhibition held in conjunction with a community and/or interest group in order to support their cause; and a children’s picture book illustration exhibition to expose kids to the world of art through their own world of illustrated stories. Early Learning is Fun (ELF) Reading Day was this show’s highlight, with the featured illustrator/author visiting as a guest reader on the day.

In total, Rustic Simplicity hosted 50+ exhibitions in the years leading up to COVID-19, with each exhibition kicking off with an opening event. As well, a multitude of workshops (30+) were held in conjunction with the various exhibitions, showcasing the vast array of art forms shown over the time. Five meditation series (3 mindfulness and 2 harp) were also run, as well as a myriad of ad hoc events, including book launches, busking, exhibition touring and an annual values-led program of supporting various community fundraising initiatives, etc. And close to 500 individual makers have showcased their wares over the time – including the resident barber, who can (as a result of the partnership) also add photography to her CV!

During COVID-19, Cindy transitioned to selling online, whilst Gail was forced to take a year out, given physical health vulnerabilities, which gave her a greater susceptibility to the virus. Upon their return to in-store operations, Cindy was forced to take a year out due to mental health challenges. Fast forward to late 2023 and both returned to business, albeit truncated, in terms of hours of operation – for Cindy due to her recovery – for Gail due to her retirement.

Yes, retirement! End of an era – Gail has left the building!! As for Cindy? Watch this space!

What’s on . . .

JUNE 2024

GIGS AT PIXIES AT THE BILLABONG

Pixies at the Billabong,19 Main Street, Eildon

For what band is playing at Pixies at the Billabong visit their facebook page P: 0436 969 285 (see ad page 17)

TO 29 JUNE ~ THE LIFE STORY OF ANNE FRANK EXHIBITION

Alexandra Library, 49 Grant Street, Alexandra Free Entry. A journey through the life of Anne Frank. (see ad page 54) P: 5772 0333 W: murrindindi.vic.gov.au/annefrank

SATURDAY 1 & SUNDAY 2 ~ DARREN GILBERT OPEN STUDIOS

5 Giffard Street, Yea

Art and sculpture in a beautiful historic building in Yea. 10am-4pm W: www.monkeytaildesign.com F:www.facebook.com/darren. gilbert.503 P: 0421 378 451 E: gmgilbert@skymesh.com.au (see ad page 30)

SATURDAY 8 ~ THE VICTORIAN TRUCK DRIVERS MEMORIAL SERVICE

Rotary Park, Alexandra 2pm. A memorial service held to unveil names of lost truck drivers each year. W: www.vtdm.asn.au

SUNDAY 9 ~ ALEXANDRA TRUCK UTE AND ROD SHOW

Grant Street, Alexandra

Rigs, rods and utes on show, live music, specialist vehicles, markets, championship woodchop titles. Entry is free. 10am-4pm. (see ad back cover) W: www.alexandratruckshow.com.au E: info@alexandratruckshow.com.au P: 0418 266 038

JULY 2024

GIGS AT PIXIES AT THE BILLABONG

Pixies at the Billabong,19 Main Street, Eildon

For what band is playing at Pixies at the Billabong visit their facebook page

P: 0436 969 285 (see ad page 17)

SATURDAY 6 & SUNDAY 7 ~ DARREN GILBERT OPEN STUDIOS

5 Giffard Street, Yea

Organic metal sculptures / pen and ink artworks of Australian animals. W: www.monkeytaildesign.com F:www.facebook.com/darren. gilbert.503 P: 0421 378 451 E: gmgilbert@skymesh.com.au (see ad page 30)

AUGUST 2024

GIGS AT PIXIES AT THE BILLABONG

Pixies at the Billabong,19 Main Street, Eildon

For what band is playing at Pixies at the Billabong visit their facebook page

P: 0436 969 285 (see ad page 17)

SATURDAY 3 & SUNDAY 4 ~ DARREN GILBERT OPEN STUDIOS

5 Giffard Street, Yea

Organic metal sculptures / pen and ink artworks of Australian animals.

W: www.monkeytaildesign.com F:www.facebook.com/darren. gilbert.503

P: 0421 378 451 E: gmgilbert@skymesh.com.au (see ad page 30)

Trade, Steel + Garden

MANSFIELD

REGULAR MARKETS

ALEXANDRA GRANT STREET MARKET

1st Sunday of the month 9am-1pm ~ Grant Street, Alexandra Various stalls, music, jumping castle. Contact Andrew Embling 0418 266 038

EILDON TWILIGHT MARKET

CLOSED FOR WINTER ~ 4pm-8pm

The Eildon Pondage, Riverside Drive Eildon

Local food and beverage trucks, local producers, quality local artisans, artists and creators. Live music showcasing local youth and artists. Family activities, pet friendly (dogs must be on a lead). Gold coin entry. Karine 0400 715 319 | karine.haslam@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, cold drinks available. New stall holders welcome, $10 a stall. Alison 03 5780 1223 | Alron27@bigpond.com

KINGLAKE PRODUCE & ARTISAN MARKET

4th Sunday of month 10am-2pm (held on 3rd Sunday in December)

Kinglake Community Centre, 1 Exton Rd, Kinglake Central 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. 0457 481 980 | kinglakemarket@gmail.com | www.kinglakemarket.com

M ARYSVILLE MARKET

2nd 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.

MARYSVILLE TWILIGHT MARKET

• 8 June • 3 Nov

TAGGERTY 4 SEASONS MARKET

Saturday of Australia Day, Easter, King’s Birthday and Melbourne Cup Weekends 9am-1pm – 3 Taggerty-Thornton Road, Taggerty

Local 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. taggertycommunityprogress@gmail.com

TALLAROOK FARMERS MARKET

1st Sunday of month (except January) 8.30am-12pm (second market in December on 3rd Sunday) – 44 Main Road, Talarook Fresh local produce. Relax in the market cafe while listening to local musicians. Free kids activities. 0403 831 520 | Facebook Tallarook Farmers Market

YARCK COUNTRY MARKET

3rd Saturday of month 9am-1.30pm Yarck Hall, Maroondah Hwy, Yarck

The market helps to fund the hall maintenance and provides an outlet for local produce, jams, craft, plants and wines. 0407 879 612 | yarckhall@hotmail.com | www.visityarck.com.au

YEA RAILWAY MARKET

1st Saturday of month – Yea Railway Reserve, Station St Yea 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. 0427 722 624 | globalgemsandfinejewellery@gmail.com

Business & Trades listings

ACCOMMODATION

Alexandra Hotel 5700 2214

Alpino Apartments

Marysville 0408 103 481

Big4 Taggerty Holiday Park

Taggerty 5774 7263

Black Spur Inn, Narbethong 5963 7121

Bonfire Station Farmstay 0423 457 072

Buxton Hotel, Buxton 5774 7381

Eildon Pondage Holiday Park 1800 651 691

Elite Stays

Marysville / Taggerty 0413 795 283

Flowerdale Estate

Strath Creek 5784 9280

Glenfield Cottage B/B

Yarck 5773 4304

Jerusalem Creek Marina & Holiday Park

Lake Eildon 5774 2585

Parklife Alexandra

Alexandra 5772 1222

Riverbend Holiday Park

Thornton 5773 2305

Royal Mail Hotel, Yea 5797 2515

Rubicon Hotel Motel

Thornton 5773 2251

Saladin Lodge

Narbethong 0429 699 969

Snobs Creek Holiday Park 5774 2903

Summerlands, Alexandra 0425 773 492

Taylor Bay Country Club

Taylor Bay 0497 889 353

Tower Motel, Marysville 5963 3225

Yea Motel 5797 2660

Yea Peppercorn Hotel Yea 5797 2000

AGED CARE

Darlingford, Eildon 5774 2711

AIR CONDITIONING SERVICES

North East Air, Buxton 0438 572 376

ANTENNA / TV SERVICES

Chris’s TV 0405 554 915

APPLIANCE STORE

Chookies Alexandra 5772 2152

AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES

Alexandra Automotive 5772 3232

Eildon Auto Spares 5774 2712

Yea Collision Repairs 5797 2295

BEE SUPPLIES

Dindi Bee Supplies, Yea 0409 908 857 BOAT HIRE

Lakeview Boat Hire

Eildon 0488 051 721

Jerusalem Creek Marina & Holiday Park

Eildon 5774 2585

BOOK SHOPS

Books at Yarck, Yarck 0400 418 139

Goulburn River Books

Alexandra 5772 2935

BREWERIES

Bonfire Station Brewing Co, Taggerty 0423 457 072

On Point Brewery

Alexandra 0413 562 693

BUILDERS

Custom Carpentry & Construction

0407 095 220

Readybuilt 0418 338 556

BUTCHERS

Thornton Butchers & Deli 5773 2224

C ARAVAN PARKS

Alexandra Showgrounds Caravan Park 0417 179 313

Big4 Taggerty Holiday Park

Taggerty 5774 7263

Eildon Waters Holiday Park

Eildon 5773 2386

Eildon Pondage Holiday Park

Eildon 1800 651 691

Jerusalem Creek Marina & Holiday Park

Lake Eildon 5774 2585

Mar ysville Holiday Park 5963 3247

Riverbend Caravan Park

Thornton 5773 2305

Snobs Creek Holiday Park 5774 2903

Yea Riverside Caravan Park

Yea 5797 2972

CLOTHING / SHOE SHOPS

Boutique Ninety Five, Alexandra www.boutiqueninetyfive.com.au

Country Touch, Marysville 5963 3753

Dindi Country Clothing

Alexandra 5772 1405

Jerusalem Creek Marina & Hoilday Park

Eildon 5774 2585

COMMUNICATIONS

Weeks Radio, Alexandra 5772 1292

COMPUTERS

Upper Goulburn Computer Services 0417 342 914

DENTAL CLINICS

Alexandra Dental Clinic 5772 1073

DISPUTE RESOLUTION

North East Dispute Resolution

Yea 0422 372 404

DOG GROOMING

In The Pink, Taggerty 5774 7242

DRAFTSMAN

AGC Design Drafting 0437 274 333

EATERIES / BAKERIES / RESTAURANTS

501 Cafe Bar & Grill

Jerusalem Creek 5774 2585

Alexandra Bakery & Cafe 5772 2272

Cappa Rossi’s, Kinglake 5786 1783

Cipriani Food & Wine

Alexandra 0411 600 850

Dindi Naturals Cafe, Yarck 5773 4349

Eildon Bakery & Cafe, Eildon 5774 2362

Elevation 423, Marysville 0455 046 623

El Largo, Eildon 0472 593 367

Elli & Ivy, Alexandra 5772 1823

Flowerdale Estate

Strath Creek 5784 9280

Kazza’s Diner, Alexandra 5772 2322

Keppel Cafe, Marysville 0492 879 503

Killingworth Hill Cafe & Whisky Bar

Yea 0455 266 888

Mar ysville Gourmet Pies 0492 879 503

On Point Brewery

Alexandra 0413 562 693

Pixies at the Billabong

Eildon 0436 969 285

Ros Ritchie Wines

Mansfield 0444 588 276

Saladin Lodge, Narbethong 0429 699 969

Snobs Creek Bar & Grill 5774 2903

Tallarook General Store & Cafe

Tallarook 5792 1687

The Provender Country Bakehouse Yea 5797 3155

ELECTRICIANS

Blackwood Electrics, Taggerty 0418 997 780 / 0434 100 518

E-Tec Electrical Contractor

Alexandra 0418 543 310

Grimshaw Electrics

Thornton 0429 808 596

J Williams Electrical

Alexandra 0439 842 030

ENGINEERING & DESIGN

FARM CONTRACTING

ES Hadfield Contracting 0429 931 127

FARM EQUIPMENT

Elders, Yea 5797 4100

Embling Rural, Alexandra 5772 3110

Nutrien Ag Alexandra 5772 2444 Yea 5797 2799

Yea Machinery 9730 1988

FISHING SUPPLIES

Eildon Bait & Tackle 5774 2712

Jerusalem Creek Bait & Tackle

Eildon 5774 2585

Maroondah Outdoor Equipment

Buxton 5774 7292

Snobs Creek Bar & Grill 5774 2903

Totally Trout, Alexandra 5772 2662

FISHING TOURS

Northern Waters Boat Hire 5774 2585

FLOOR COVERINGS

Chookies Furniture Warehouse

Alexandra 5772 2152

Slocum Floorcoverings 9439 6066

FLORISTS / FLOWERS

Flori e Casa, Yea 0412 322 419

FURNITURE STORES

Chookies Furniture Warehouse

Alexandra 5772 2152

GALLERIES

Darren Gilbert Open Studio Highlands www.monkeytaildesign.com

Kinglake Creative facebook

Marian Rennie Gallery, Acheron 0412 109 129

MIRA Marysville 5963 4567

Rustic Simplicity

Alexandra 0419 517 045

GENERAL STORES/ GROCERIES

Jerusalem Creek Marina & Holiday Park

Lake Eildon 5774 2585

Snobs Creek Holiday Park 5774 2903

Tallarook General Store & Cafe

Tallarook 5792 1687

GIFT SHOP / CLOTHING / ANTIQUES

Boutique Ninety Five, Alexandra www.boutiqueninetyfive.com.au

Goody’s Discounts, Alexandra 0438 702 982

Flori e Casa, Yea 0412 322 419

Lit & Beyond, Marysville 0422 239 754

Nanny Jan’s Emporium

Eildon Shopping Centre

Nice, Yea 0413 489 196

Redgate Bazaar,

Alexandra 0407 683 712

Rustic Simplicity, Alexandra 0419 517 045

The Alpaca Yarn Lady, Alexandra 0427 879 998

GLASS PRODUCTS

Alexandra Windscreens & Glass

Alexandra 0427 577 839

Ridgeline Glass & Glazing

Healesville 5962 2888

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Ann Friedel Publishing 0418 556 107

HARDWARE / TIMBER STORES

Yenckens Alexandra 5772 2188

Mansfield 5775 2511 Yea 5797 2290

Jerusalem Creek Marina & Hoilday Park

Eildon 5774 2585

HEALTH / BEAUTY / WELLBEING

Alexandra Physiotherapy

Alexandra 5772 2649

Body Therapy & Wellness

Alexandra 0411 289 828

North East Dispute Resolution

Yea & Melbourne 0422 372 404

Jessica’s Sheer Beauty

Alexandra 5772 3322

Terry White Chemmart, Eildon 5774 2626

HEATING

Bowd Heating, Alexandra 5772 1045

HOSPITALITY SUPPLIES

Mansfield Hospitality Supplies5779 1660

HOTELS / MOTELS / RESORTS

Alexandra Hotel 5700 2214

Alexandra Motor Inn 5772 2077

Black Spur Inn, Narbethong 5963 7121

Bonfire Station Farmstay 0423 457 072

Buxton Hotel, Buxton 5774 7381

Country Club Hotel, Yea 5797 2440

Flowerdale Estate

Strath Creek 5784 9280

Flowerdale Hotel 5780 1230

Holmesglen at Eildon

Eildon 5774 2631

Jerusalem Creek Marina & Holiday Park

Lake Eildon 5774 2585

Royal Mail Hotel, Yea 5797 2515

Rubicon Hotel Motel

Thornton 5773 2251

Snobs Creek Holiday Park 5774 2903

Taylor Bay Country Club

Taylor Bay 0497 889 353

The Prince of Wales

Seymour 5792 1003

Yea Motel, Yea 5797 2660

Yea Peppercorn Hotel, Yea 5797 2000

LANDSCAPING

Itec Earthworks 0421 921 110

LIVE MUSIC

Pixies at the Billabong

Eildon 0436 969 285

LOCAL PRODUCE

Buxton Trout Farm 5774 7370

Dindi Bee Supplies, Yea 0409 908 857

Thornton Butcher & Deli 5773 2224

MARINE SERVICES

Eildon Outboard Service 5774 2132

MACHINERY HIRE

Manczal Machine Hire 0405 581 093

MACHINERY SALES

Alexandra Motorcycles 5772 1045

Lake Eildon Marina

Jerusalem Ck, Eildon 5774 2022

Yea Automotive Service Centre 5797 2562

Yea Machinery 9730 1988 MOTORCYCLES

Alexandra Motorcycles

Alexandra 5772 1045

MOWERS

Alexandra Motorcycles

Alexandra 5772 1045

Maroondah Outdoor Equipment

Buxton 5774 7292

Yea Machinery 9730 1988

Yea Mowers & Power Equipment 9069 3368

MOTOR TRIMMING

T&J Trimming 0408 789 653

NEWSAGENCIES

Alexandra Newsagency 5772 1025

NURSERIES / GARDEN CENTRES / SUPPLIES

Bedrock Garden Supplies

Alexandra 5772 1911

Fern Acres, Kinglake West 5786 5031 Garden Centre, Yea 5797 2933

Goulburn Valley Nursery Merton 0417 907 278

OPTOMETRIST

J. Martin Optometry

Alexandra & Mansfield 0491 641 474 OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT

Maroondah Outdoor Equipment Buxton 5774 7292

Jerusalem Creek Eildon 5774 2585

Yea Machinery 9730 1988

PHARMACIES

Alexandra Pharmacy 5772 2153

Terry White Chemmart, Eildon 5774 2626

PHYSIOTHERAPIST

Alexandra Physiotherapy 5772 2649

PLASTERER

Dippers Plastering 0412 229 380

PLUMBERS

Travis Capp Plumbing

Alexandra 0419 553 803

POLITICIANS

Cindy McLeish MP

State Member for Eildon 9730 1066

Helen Haines MP 5721 7077

PORTABLE BUILDINGS

Readybuilt 0418 338 556

PORTABLE TOILETS

Alexandra Porta-Loos 0493 143 896

PUMPS / GENERATORS

Alexandra Motorcycles 5772 1045

Yea Machinery 9730 1988

REAL ESTATE AGENTS

Elders, Alexandra 0419 558 032

O’Brien Real Estate 5772 1774

RURAL PRODUCE / EQUIPMENT

Elders, Yea 5797 4100

Embling Rural, Alexandra 5772 3110

Nutrien Ag Alexandra 5772 2444

Yea 5797 2799

Yea Machinery 9730 1988

SURVEYORS

Linear Land Surveying 0422 946 375

SERVICE STATIONS / FUEL SUPPLIES

Endeavour Alexandra 5772 1227

Endeavour Yea 5797 2008

Endeavour Fuel Deliveries 9781 7100

Jerusalem Creek Marina & Hoilday Park

On-water fuel barge

Eildon 5774 2585

Simpson Fuel Alexandra 5772 1205

Simpsons Fuel Eildon 5774 2220

SIGNWRITING

Alexandra Signs 0419 880 152

SKI / TOBOGGAN HIRE

Cross Country Ski Hire

Marysville 0431 142 267 / 5963 3322

Mar ysville Ski Centre

Marysville 5963 3455

STOCK AND STATION AGENTS

Elders Alexandra 5772 1052 Yea5797 2037

Embling Rural, Alexandra 5772 3110

TRACTOR SALES

Yea Machinery 9730 1988

TREE SERVICES

Eastern Tree Management 0488 990 393

JT’s Trees 0413 671 066

TROUT FARMS

Buxton Trout Farm 5774 7370

T V SERVICES

Chris’s TV 0405 554 915

UPHOLSTERY

T&J Trimming 0408 789 653

VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRES

Alexandra 5772 1100 / 1800 652 298

Eildon 5774 2805

Mar ysville 5963 4567

Yea 5797 2663

VETERINARIAN

Mountain Ranges Vet Clinic

Kinglake 5786 1777

WELDING SERVICES

Buffalo Built 0429 199 472

WINES/BREWS

Bonfire Station Farmstay & Microbrewery 0423 457 072

Horny Stag Vineyard

Eildon 0409 121 269

On Point Brewery

Alexandra 0413 562 693

Ros Ritchie Wines,Mansfield0444 588 276

Sedona Estate, Murrindindi 9730 2883

WINDSCREENS

Alexandra Windscreens & Glass

Alexandra 0427 577 839

ZOO

Mansfield Zoo, Mansfield 5777 3576

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 2074

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

Toolangi PS ................................................. 5962 9255

Yea PS............................................................ 5797 2724

SECONDARY COLLEGES

Alexandra SC 5770 2000

Yea SC 5797 2207

ADULT EDUCATION

Alexandra Community Hub 5772 1238

Flowerdale

Community House 5780 2664

Kinglake

Neighbourhood House .......................... 5786 1301

U3A Murrindindi East 0479 107 779

U3A Yea ........................................................ 5797 2230

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 Colin Briggs 0423 959 145

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 2147

Marysville RSL ............................................ 5774 7110

Thornton RSL Sub Branch................0458 082 823

Yea-Kinglkae 5796 9353

SENIOR CITIZENS CLUBS

Alexandra & Dist Senior Citizens 0456 456 263

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 0409 250 086

Whittlesea ................................................... 9716 2066

Marysville Golf & Bowls .......................... 5963 3241

RACE CLUBS

Alexandra 5773 4304

Merton 5778

Murrindindi Shire West Map

10am-4pm