Otway life autumn15

Complimentary copy

connecting communities across the ranges autumn 2015 issue 6

INSIDE

Gellibrand by the River • Events, Arts & Books • Around the Neighbourhood Houses

Living and visiting ...the Otways Winchelsea

Y es HW Princ

O Cape

Birregurra

Colac

Rd tway

Deans Marsh

Geelong Melbourne

Anglesea

Barongarook Aireys Inlet

Barwon Downs Ro

Forrest

t

ea Gr

Wye River

Beech Forest Princetown

Kennett River

Lavers Hill Skenes Creek Apollo Bay Hordern Vale

Cape Otway

ad

Lorne Oc ea n

Gellibrand

Into the heart of the Otways ...the stories of pioneers unfold Walk or ride the Old Beechy Rail Trail and follow in the tracks of the hardy timber pioneers who were set to change the landscape of the wild, untamed Otway Ranges. ...enjoy the country hospitality Sample the flavours of the Otways from handcrafted beers and award winning wines to farmgate produce lovingly served fresh to your plate every day.

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Editor’s Note

Autumn 2015 edition

Autumn in the Otways is a favourite season for many residents and visitors. While March can still be warm enough for beach pursuits…the air begins to freshen in the morning perfumed by peppermint gums and the dew on the grass. It is also a time for bounty as the fruits of gardening labours are harvested.

at your local performing art centres, galleries and neighbourhood house. We also celebrate the work of the Lions Club and showcase our very own jewellery makers. And finally, do yourself a favour – take out a 12 month subscription to get your very own hard copy .

This season we are including a feature on the Gellibrand areas. We extend a special thank you to Colac & District Family History Group for their contribution of the story of the Ballagh family and the rare historical photos. We also follow the Gellibrand River for some of its story told by members of the community. Sit back, relax and enjoy the read of Ami’s regular column ‘The Good Life’ following her and Franz’s journey as so-called ‘tree-changers’, check out our ‘boutique boozeries’ and go on a picnic with Suzanne to Love’s Creek. Find out what is happening

Without a sense of caring, there can be no Anthony J. D'Angelo sense of community.

Contributers: Ami Hillege, Suzanne Frydman, Nettie Hulme, Neal Drinnan, Merrill O’Donnell, Stephen Brooks.

Contents The Team

Gellibrand by the River ����������������������� 4-8

Editor Nettie Hulme Design Gillian Brew

The Old Beechy Rail Trail �������������������� 10-11

Published March 2015

by Forrest & District Neighbourhood House 14 Grant Street Forrest Victoria 3236 P 03 5236 6591 E otwaylifemagazine@gmail.com F www.facebook.com/otwaylifemagazine B otwaylifemagazine.wordpress.com T twitter.com/otwaylifemag View Online issuu.com/otwaylife.magazine

Fishing in the Otway Basin ���������������������� 9 Ballaghs of Barongarook �������������������� 12-13 Picnic at Karwarren �������������������������� 14 Fungi of the Forrest �������������������������� 15 So what is Agroforestry? ���������������������� 16 Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo ������������������� 17 Lions of the Otways ����������������������� 18-19 Running away to be married ������������������� 20 Arts COPACC ���������������������������������� 21

Cover image Tim Lucas Next issue (Winter) deadline 10 May 2015

Artist Profile - Jewellers of the Otways �������� 22-24

Otway Life Magazine acknowledges the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of Victoria - including its parks and reserves. Through their cultural traditions, Aboriginal people maintain their connection to their ancestral lands and waters.

Gellibrand Gallery ������������������������ 26-27

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this magazine and the advertisements supplied do not necessarily represent those of Forrest & District Neighbourhood House.

Printed by: Arthur Reed Photos on 100% recycled stock

Easter Arts at the Homestead ����������������� 25 Book Review ������������������������������ 29 Boutique Booze of the Otways ��������������� 30-33 The Good Life ������������������������������ 35 Around the Houses �������������������������� 36 Community Calendar ������������������������ 39

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Gellibrand by the River

Gellibrand is a beautiful town located in south west Victoria, Australia. In 2011 there were 384 people living in Gellibrand. 53.8% are male and 46.2% are female, with a population of 8 indigenous people.

The town is located in the Otway Ranges midway between the Princes Highway and Great Ocean Road in the Colac Otway Shire, 176 kilometres (109 mi) south west of the state capital, Melbourne.

Gellibrand was named after Joseph Gellibrand, the first attorney-general of Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) and an early European settler in Victoria.

Gellibrand is positioned close to the Gellibrand River, with tourist attractions including fishing, access to the Old Beechy Rail Trail for cycling, walking, and horse-riding, and proximity to many of the Otway Ranges' walks and waterfalls. The Great Victorian Bike Ride had an overnight stay in Gellibrand in 2004 when a record 8,100 riders took part and again in 2013 more than 5200 riders took on the challenge of the 9 day, 3 day and 1 day rides on offer.

Otway Life Magazine Autumn 2015

Relics of a rich timber history are now home to a couple of friendly local goats

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The cafe and art gallery in the centre of town showcase local products and artwork with an eclectic mix of whimsy and old world charm.

Photos: Gillian Brew

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Gellibrand River a community The Gellibrand River is the backbone of the Otways, supporting life, industry and recreation activities. The river originates in the Otway Ranges near Beech Forrest, and winds more than 120 kilometres to the ocean at Princetown, fed by numerous tributaries which make a combined 1200 square kilometre catchment. The Corangamite Catchment Management Authority’s role is working with landholders, community and agencies to protect and improve the waterway.

The Gellibrand River relies on the region’s consistent annual rainfall to keep it flowing. The Beech Forrest and Lavers Hill areas boast the highest rainfall in the state, filling the river’s southern tributaries and contributing most of its flow. This, combined with the area’s rich soils, has resulted in a significant agricultural industry in the valley.

The Corangamite River Health Strategy (2006) identified the Gellibrand River as a priority waterway, not only for its ecological value but also for the water it provides urban communities.

Regional water corporations extract water from the Gellibrand catchment for the towns from Colac to Warrnambool.

The range of projects being implemented along the Gellibrand River represents a collaborative effort between environmental agencies and the community. The work is helping restore Gellibrand’s original beauty and early indications show that parts of the river is slowly returning to its former ecological condition.

This highlights the important work river managers, community groups, water corporations and landowners have undertaken in Gellibrand, and how this work is contributing to improved catchment health and better agricultural outcomes.

The project at a glance Work on the Gellibrand River is an ongoing focus to improve the health of the river and its estuary. The aim is to protect and enhance existing native vegetation, protect threatened species, and improve water quality. The Corangamite CMA has restored and protected significant lengths of priority reaches within the catchment, with the following a snapshot of what the project partners have so far achieved:

Snapshot Native vegetation planted Weeds removed Willows removed Fencing Installed Trees planted Landholders Involved

216 hectares 102 hectares 212 hectares or 144 km of waterway 110 hectares 348,000 100

The work is currently funded through the Victorian Government’s Securing Priority Waterways initiative, as well as through a funding contribution from Wannon Water for works in the Gellibrand water supply catchments.

Otway Life Magazine Autumn 2015

Gellibrand by the river 7

story

Fishways Fishways are unique structures that give fish access to parts of the Gellibrand Catchment they previously couldn’t get to.

Fishways allow native fish to access an entire river system from the estuary to the headwaters so species can complete their life cycles to help increase fish population and diversity throughout the river system.

Approximately 300 kilometres of waterways have been opened up to fish migration in the Gellibrand catchment. Five rock ramp fishways have been built, four barriers have been removed, and one crossing has been upgraded.

Future works planned include removing three disused upper catchment gauging weirs, and upgrading a current Carlisle River gauging site with new technology allowing the stream to be gauged without using a weir.

Exciting find The capture of a rare Australian grayling in the Gellibrand River in 2011 was a significant result for river managers caring for this vital waterway.

It offered some hope that their efforts to restore the river back to its original glory are working, and that this once prevalent fish might one day roam Otway waters again.

Scientists recorded the grayling in the river near Black’s Bridge. It was the first grayling officially recorded in the catchment since scientists started records in the early 1980s, and followed a photo taken of a Graying in 2010 by a Corangamite CMA staff member.

Habitat quality and barriers to fish migration from the coast to headwaters has influenced the grayling’s range and has threatened its survival.

The Corangamite CMA, in partnership with Wannon Water has worked to improve the Gellibrand catchment waterways.

This work includes willow and weed removal, fencing waterways from stock access, revegetating with nearly 350,000 native plants and installing fishways to enable fish to migrate up and down stream for breeding.

Denis Lovric, a Corangamite CMA staff member, said more time would tell if water quality and the catchment as a whole was recuperating, but we were buoyed by the grayling sighting.

“The one caught was a juvenile which means they’re recruiting, probably in low numbers but we think it means they’re breeding which is really good, “ Mr Lovric said.

Aside from the benefits for river habitat, this work is helping along the river banks. Landholders have reported improved productivity from restricting stock access to the water, creating shade belts and providing off-stream watering options.

The Gellibrand River at Dando’s, a popular camping spot.

Ref: Reprinted with kind permission by Corangamite Water Catchment Authority

8 Gellibrand River - a community story

Progress for a father - son team Long-time Gellibrand farmers Pat and Andrew Daffy have see many positive changes on their property since adopting Corangamite CMA’s waterway protection program The father-son team who farm along the Gellibrand River had experienced their stock disappearing into the water and the river banks eroding because of stock trampling the area.

By fencing off the waterway, installing off-stream water troughs and changing their farm practices, however, the Daffy’s have improved productivity and their farm is running smoothly.

With cows drinking from trough water rather than colder water from the river, it reduces the energy they use up to heat their body.

Benefits to the river and its water quality have also been a big plus. The Corangamite CMA has removed willows from the river and replaced them with native vegetation, creating a healthier environment for fish and other aquatic species, like platypus, as well as native terrestrial wildlife.

Andrew Daffy says fish size has increased and he has seen more blackfish in the river since the work took place, with greater fish habitat available. He has also seen sugar gilders visit his property.

The Corangamite CMA’s waterway protection program for the Gellibrand has been developed in partnership with Wannon Water as part of a joint venture to improve water quality for urban and rural communities.

Otway Life Magazine Autumn 2015

Fish a measure of health The river blackfish is an iconic species of the mighty Gellibrand River, as well as a yardstick for the health of the rivers fish populations.

The ultimate goal for river managers, and no doubt recreational anglers, is for this native fish to flourish in the Gellibrand River and return in the numbers found in the waterway 30 years ago.

The river blackfish is dependent on specific conditions to breed and survive, more so than other native freshwater fish. They need a habitat of hollow logs and submerged tree branches for shelter, and mike most native fish in Victoria, they don’t migrate long distances as part of their breeding cycle.

Sticking mostly to its own little patch of stream means the blackfish needs its food, shelter and breeding habitat in close vicinity, and makes them particularly vulnerable to unnatural disturbances in their environment. The larvae/juveniles are also highly vulnerable and rely on materials from trees such as leaf litter as a nursery grounds, providing their food and shelter.

These special conditions make the work of the Corangamite CMA team crucial in helping restore endangered fish populations like the river blackflish in the Gellibrand River.

Ref: Reprinted with kind permission by Corangamite Water Catchment Authority

River blackfish Gadopsis marmoratus and Gadopsis bispinosus

Cast Your Mind On This: Fishing in The Otway Basin This Basin has a large central/southern area of moderate to steep forested-hills of the Otway Ranges, with all the larger streams draining from its southern slopes into the sea, east and west of Cape Otway.

The remainder of the Basin is all cleared farmland.

Soils are sedimentary in origin except for small areas of volcanic rock north of Torquay and around Lake Purrumbete. Annual rainfall is 1,000 to 2,000 mm in the Otway Ranges.

The remainder of the basin receives 700-1,000 mm except around Torquay which receives 500-700 mm.

There are two large rivers, the Gellibrand and the Curdies. Other waterways are small streams flowing a short distance from forested hills to the sea. They have high gradients and are characterized by cascades and rapids, with coarse substrates and small estuaries. The high rainfall in the forested areas ensures a reliable flow regime in most waterways and particularly in the Gellibrand River. The streams flowing through native forest carry self-sustaining populations of brown trout and provide very scenic fishing environments. Some waters in this Basin are commercially fished for shortfinned eel.

Freshwater Fish in the Basin Native Species (Large fish): Australian grayling, estuary perch, river blackfish, and short-finned eel.

(Small fish): Tasmanian mudfish, Australian smelt, climbing galaxias, common galaxias, congoli, flathead gudgeon, mountain galaxias, pouch lamprey, trout galaxias and southern pigmy perch.

Short-finned eel is the most widespread species.

Three species of galaxias are abundant with many creeks containing all three. The only other Basin where this occurs in is the Bunyip Basin, in creeks on the Mornington Peninsula. Australian grayling are quite widespread but never in large numbers. It is interesting that the fauna of the short coastal streams differs from that of the adjacent Barwon or Gellibrand River systems. For example river blackfish, Australian smelt, mountain galaxias and southern pygmy perch are not found in any coastal creeks from Anglesea to Cape Otway. Instead the fish fauna in these streams resembles that in the eastern coastal streams of Mornington Peninsula and in Tasmania.

The rivers in the Otway region contain a valuable assemblage of mainly native freshwater fish.

Communities of three species of galaxias are uncommon and of high conservation value. There is only one widespread introduced fish, the brown trout.

Large numbers of brown trout of good angling size were present at 52 sites in comprehensive surveys in this Basin from 1983 to 1988. For this reason only two waters are now regularly stocked. http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/fishing-and-hunting/fishing-guides/inlandangling-guide/otway

Native species in bold are protected in this Basin.

Introduced species Atlantic salmon, brown trout, chinook salmon, eastern gambusia, European carp, goldfish, rainbow trout, redfin and tench.

Introduced species in bold are declared noxious.

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Australian greyling - protected in the Otway Basin

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OLD BEECHY RAIL TRAIL Beech Forest Station. C 1912. (John Thompson Collection).

A SCENIC ROUTE

THE BEECHY

The Old Beechy Rail Trail follows one of the state’s former narrow gauge railway lines through an area of scenic forest, rich farmland and rolling hills with the coast not too far away.

The narrow gauge railway from Colac to Beech Forest opened in 1902, providing a modern, all-weather transport link within forested ranges where road building was impossibly expensive.

A scenic route

AGENT OF CHANGE

“The Beechy” was the first reliable transport service Accessing the trail into an area with dense timber and high rainfall.

encouraged closer settlement and timber The Old Beechy Rail Trail follows one of the state’s The Old Beechy Rail TrailItonruns on or near the route of getting a systematic scale. The railway became the major agent of rail development for the in region to the south of former narrow gaugeof railway an area nature of of the terrain the railway, formation many Along the trail you pass through pockets rainforest lines through The mountainous meant that using the original Colac up to the 1940s. with magnificent eucalypts and blackwoods shading a narrow gauge railway was the most economical scenic forest, richbusy farmland with theA two feet andplaces. is a gravel trail and walkers andspaced the lush understorey.

See and hear woodland and rolling hills, transport solution. six inchesIt wide The 28suitable stations andfor sidings were closely and forest birds while listening for the echoes of the (762 mm) track was laid for nearly 48 km south because the roads were unmade and difficult to coast not too far away. cyclists – the gradient making it enjoyable!

Some Old Beechy's whistle! through Barongarook, Kawarren, Gellibrand, Banool use for most of the year, and haulage distance for and Dinmont to Beech Forest. Thesections railway became farmers and sawmillersbikes. to the rail had to be minimised. are only suitable for mountain known The Beechy.

Special trains ran for social events and cultural Along the trail you pass through pockets of as rainforest activities along the line, and at Colac.

In 1911 the railway was extended 22 kms west of with magnificent eucalypts and blackwoods shading The 45 km trail can be completed in either direction, Beech Forest to Lavers Hill and Crowes, Australia’s southerly mainland station.accommodation along the way. Stay overnight the lush understorey. See and hear busymost woodland and railway with The locomotives and rolling stock were scaled-down forest birds while listening for the echoes of the Old at camping grounds, hotels or cottages in the Colac, versions of the broad gauge Victorian Railways stock. Examples currently survive at Belgrave's Beechy’s whistle!

Barongarook, Gellibrand or Beech Forest areas. Shorter Puffing Billy railway. trail sections can be accessed at Barongarook, Watson The Beechy & Faceys (Cashins Rd), Kawarren, Gellibrand, Dinmont or Above: Beech Forest Station. C 1912. (John Thompson Collection).

Construction Train (NA Class) Beech Forest 1901. (PROV VR PR The narrow gauge railway from Colac toLeft: Beech Forest Beech Forest. The Beechy trail makes an ideal alternate 4755 © State of Victoria. Reproduced with permission of the Keeper of Public Records. Public Record Office Victoria, Australia). opened in 1902, providing a modern, all-weather access Right: Remnants of timber pile railway bridge south of route Gellibrand. to the Great Ocean Road.

(Alexander McCooke). transport link within forested ranges where road How to get there building was impossibly expensive. The mountainous Colac lies 150 km west of Melbourne on the Princes nature of the terrain meant that a narrow gauge railway Highway. VLine services operate daily from Melbourne was the most economical transport solution. A two and Warrnambool to Colac railway station where the feet and six inches wide (762 mm) track was laid for Old Beechy Rail Trail starts/finishes. nearly 48 km south through Barongarook, Kawarren, Gellibrand, Banool and Dinmont to Beech Forest. The More information railway became known as The Beechy.

Colac Visitor Information Centre, In 1911 the railway was extended 22 kms west of Corner Murray and Queen Streets, Colac, Beech Forest to Lavers Hill and Crowes, Australia’s most Tel: 1300 689 297 THErailway BEECHY AGENT OF CHANGE southerly mainland station. The locomotives colacvic@colacotway.vic.gov.au one of the state’s The narrow gauge railway from Colac to Beech Forest “The Beechy” was the first reliable transport service and rolling stockopened wereinscaled-down versions of the s through an area of 1902, providing a modern, all-weather into an area with dense timber and high rainfall.

GreatItOcean Road Visitor Information Centre, olling hills with the transportRailways link within forested where road encouraged closer settlement and timber getting broad gauge Victorian stock.ranges Examples building was impossibly expensive. on Bay, a systematic scale.

The6529. railway became the major Apollo Tel: 03 5237 currently surviveThe at mountainous Belgrave’snature Puffing Billy railway. agent of development for the region to the south of pockets of rainforest of the terrain meant that Colac up to the 1940s. gorvic@colacotway.vic.gov.au lackwoods shading a narrow gauge railway was the most economical

OLD BEECHY RAIL TRAIL

transport solution. A two feet and six inches wide Agent of change (762 mm) track was laid for nearly 48 km south

ar busy woodland r the echoes of the

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Examples currently survive at Belgrave's to the 1940s.

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Right: Remnants of timber pile railway bridge south of Gellibrand.

(Alexander McCooke).

Special trains ran for social events and cultural activities along the line, and at Colac.

Otway Life Magazine Autumn 2014

The 28 stations and sidings were closely spaced

The Old Beechy Railwere Trail’s Friends because the roads unmade and difficult to

use for most of the year, and haulage distance for

farmers and sawmillerswww.visitotways.com to the rail had to be minimised. www.railways.org.au Special trains ran for social events and cultural

activities alongpile therailway line, andbridge at Colac.

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www.otwaysaccommodation.com.au

Map Cartography 2005

otway businesses - contact us to be part of the buzz

12

Ballaghs of Barongarook

Written by Merrill O’Donnell and Stephen Brooks from the Colac & District Family History Group.

Despite rugged and inhospitable terrain, unpredictable weather and often terrible isolation, David and Caroline Ballagh carved out successful lives as pioneers of Barongarook. In 1865, while living in Carngham near Ballarat, David’s application to lease 65 acres of land at Barongarook, at a rent of three pounds and six shillings, was granted, payable to Mr Dore, Receiver of Revenue, Colac.

Seeking a farm to call his own, and having learned that land was being opened up at the foothills of the Otways, David, Caroline and their three children travelled to Barongarook in 1866 to take up their selection. The early settlers built bark huts to live in, which were later replaced with timber homesteads.

Otway Life Magazine Autumn 2015

Ballagh Family Photo used by kind permission of the Ballagh Family

The Land Act 1962 required that the land had to be cleared and fenced and have a dwelling within three years or it could be forfeited or sold. It was also a condition that the land must be occupied.

David worked tirelessly as a splitter, carter, farmer and digger to support his growing family, as nine more children arrived in the next eighteen years. He cleared the land of the thick undergrowth, grew hay for his horses and potatoes for his family and built a home for Caroline and their twelve children. Over time, the forest landscape of Barongarook began to change with the destruction of the trees and clearing of ferns, replaced by families and homesteads with fences and gardens.

13 With an increasing population, the need for a school to accommodate the growing number of children in the district became apparent and in 1876, after much lobbying, a school was finally opened. Two years later, the head teacher, James Mills, requested a more central site and with the support of the District Inspector, the school was moved in 1880 to a two acre site on David Ballagh’s paddock. The school was also allocated as a local “Preaching Place”.

In 1879, the Ballaghs and other residents of the bush, wanting their children to grow up with the necessary religious instruction, had established a Sunday school at Barongarook. For several years afterwards, grand Sunday School Anniversary celebrations were held, attracting hundreds of people to join in the festivities.

David and Caroline were always involved in the organisation and running of these celebrations, helping to transport the guests up treacherous Simons Hill, organising activities and participating in the entertainment.

The resilient pioneering families regularly endured rabbit and grasshopper plagues and challenging extremes of weather. Orchards and vegetable gardens

were planted and then replanted after devastation through droughts or damaging storms.

There were difficult winters where incessant rain caused the roads to be impassable. The swollen Barongarook Creek sometimes became hazardous. In 1883, one of David’s children was fortunate to escape drowning when, trying to cross the creek, he fell in and was swept downstream by the rushing water.

Summers presented the constant danger of bushfires, lack of water and damage from storms. In 1894, there was a violent electric storm which brought lightening, wind and torrential rain. Hail was reported to have been the size of pigeon’s eggs and totally destroyed David’s vegetable garden. Branches and bark were torn from trees.

David and Caroline were fortunate to raise all of their twelve children to adulthood without the tragedy of the death through sickness or disease which befell so many families. When David died in 1902, the farm had expanded to 155 acres which he lovingly bequeathed to his ‘dear wife Caroline’. Caroline continued to live on the farm with her son Henry until her death six years later. David and Caroline are buried together in the Colac cemetery.

Top Left: Barongarook school – it is one of the two Barongarook schools built in the 1870s, 1880s.

They would have been very similar and had the residence attached.

Above: The cutting at Elliminyt which is the road to Gellibrand. The road provided access to Colac for the people from the forest areas, including Barongarook.

Left: A typical selector’s cottage in the bush Historical photos used by kind permission of the Colac & District Family History Group

14 Health & Wellbeing

Picnic at Karawarren

By Suzanne Frydman

Picnic tables are dotted throughout the Otway region, some easy to find from the road and others requiring a short walk to reach. Whether sitting up on a provided table and surface, or stretching out on a rug, picnicking is one of those activities with obvious wellbeing benefits. That is, if we remember and make time to get out there and do the picnic experience. Weather and time permitting, relaxing picnics in lovely locations can become quite a habit.

On a drive from Colac to Kawarren (about 7kms further is Gellibrand), a bench-table invitation can easily be spotted from the road. With a great name of Loves Creek, a stop off there among the eucalypts and ferns provides a lovely resting place. Alongside the picnic area is a fifteen minute loop walking path on one side and the Old Beechy Rail Trail for cyclists and walkers on the other side of the road.

A fun verb is the word ‘picnicking’! Its meaning can vary according to participants but the following conditions generally ensure a mental health retreat in a basket: Good company: it might be a meal for two, or even one, or a gathering of old or new friends. Good company can be solitary or convivial.

Otway Life Magazine Autumn 2015

Spontaneous or pre-planned invitations for folk to join together create moments of meaning.

Shared produce: an active part of picnicking is the sharing of food, usually with few to no rules as to what others will bring along. Contributing to a shared culture adds surprise, ease and generosity. People break bread together. And of course food tastes better when shared.

In nature’s palm: it is a good reminder to eat the way most of the rest of the earth’s inhabitants do, that is, outside. This connects us back to the earth, the weather, smells and sounds around us in a way that rejuvenates. We are reminded to respect our environment and leave a light foot as we pack up the picnic basket on completion.

A ‘walk it off’: a stroll, meander, or brisk walk is often part of the picnic experience. Feeling full of produce and good company, exploring the Old Beechy Rail Trail at this spot is a perfect way to indulge in what is rated as an ‘easy-medium’ undulating one hour thirty minute walk to Gellibrand where a refreshing cuppa can be had, if the thermos wasn’t packed in the picnic basket.

Hope you get to make time for a picnic soon.

Fungi in the Forest

The Otways supports a staggering number of beautiful, weird and wonderful fungi and over 380 of them are showcased in FungiOz, a free mushroom identification app for Apple and Android phones and devices.

15 Armillaria luteobubalina Forrest, June

Xylaria species, Dead man’s Fingers

This autumn and winter will see small group fungi identification and photography tours led by the app’s creator Julene Cook, who photographed most of the FungiOz species within a kilometer from her home in Forrest. Depending on weather, the 2 hour tours around Forrest will start at Easter and continue through the winter months.

Tour participants can expect to see ten or more species, hear loads of interesting fungi info, learn how to identify main mushroom families with help from the app and learn how to take good fungi photos.

The 380 FungiOz app species are grouped into 5 collections according to whether they are fungi with gills, fungi with pores, corallike fungi, globe and cup shaped fungi, jelly-like fungi or fungi with spines, crinkles or fantastic shapes.

Cymataderma elegans, Mait’s Rest Jan

If you can’t find a match your find is probably not yet in the app but you can easily add it using the ‘Share photos’ or “Add a Species” function. “Map a species” let’s you report finds to Fungimap, the Australia-wide citizen science organisation dedicated to mapping where Australian species are found and providing information about all things fungi.

The app also includes links to a selection of Australian fungidesign goods including coffee mugs, tote bags, t-shirts, phone cases, calendars, greeting cards, aprons and jigsaws. These unique Australian souvenirs can be ordered and sent to any address worldwide via third party printing companies. Royalties from the designs keep FungiOz app a free download from ITunes, Google play and Amazon App stores. FungiOz app can be downloaded or used on a Mac or PC via www.fungioz.mobapp.at or www.fungioz.com.

Boletellus emodensis Forrest, Feb

To book a Fungi photography and identification tour phone 0425224726 Lycoperdum species, Mait’s Rest, Feb

16

So what is agroforestry?

Agroforestry means growing and using useful, working trees and shrubs in rural landscapes, often combined with livestock and crops.

Agroforestry combines agriculture and forestry to create a profitable, productive and sustainable land-use system.

Agroforestry benefits humans, animals, plants and the entire environment.

What do these agroforests do?

• Trees and shrubs for land regeneration, healthy soil and secure food supplies • Trees that fertilise • Fruit trees for nutrition • Fodder trees that provide feed for livestock • Timber trees for wood to build • Fuelwood trees for cooking fires and heating • Medicinal trees to cure health problems and fight disease Why is agroforestry important?

A key challenge we face globally is to feed ourselves whilst protecting the natural resources on which we all depend. Trees in our landscape meet that challenge now and in the future.

Who are we?

OAN (Otway Agroforestry Network Ltd) is a landcare group that encourages farmers to establish and manage trees for the reasons that matter to them.

Landholders in our region want trees on their farms to shelter farm stock and crops, control soil erosion and dryland salinity, enhance their property values and, if at all possible, generate alternative sources of income.

Fortunately, what is good for our private farms is also generally good for our communities. Trees on farms can

help improve the water quality in our streams, enhance and connect wildlife habitats, capture and store carbon dioxide, reduce the need to harvest our public native forests and provide regional business and employment opportunities.

OAN sees the strategic placement and management of trees and shrubs on farms as an important part of the infrastructure that underpins the economic, environmental and social values of our agricultural landscapes. The role of OAN is to help our members design and implement projects that will achieve the range of benefits they are looking for.

We are farmers working with farmers to explore how growing trees can make farming more environmentally sustainable and economically rewarding.

We were set up by local farmers with government support in 1993, and we are a not-for-profit community organisation with more than 200 member families.

We are supported by a management committee and a team of trained peer group mentors who are all local landholders themselves.

Our approach is very different to that used by many other organisations that seek to encourage farmers to grow trees. We are not a government agency, industry organisation or environmental group that is seeking to get trees in the ground to meet a particular political, industry or environmental goal. We are a landholder group working for and on behalf of our members.

If you would like to became involved with OAN or would like more information please contact Marianne Stewart t: 5236 2086 e: marianne. stewart@oan.org.au or download a membership form from the OAN website www.oan.orgau

Be prepared to

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Otway Life Magazine Autumn 2015

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Environment 17

Yellow-tailed black cockatoo Did you know?

• Cockatoos, like all birds, have many bones that are hollow. This makes them very light weight, which helps them fly.

• Cockatoos are long-lived birds and can live to be more than 50 years old.

• The name cockatoo originated from the Malay name for these birds, kaka(k)tua.

Black cockatoos nest in deep hollows of large ancient trees, which may be more than 200 years old. Usually a single egg is incubated by the female, with the chick taking around three months to make its first flight. Nestlings are fed only by the female, who relies on the male to bring food while the chick is very young. Black cockatoos in the wild can live for 25 to 50 years but captive cockatoos have been known to live into their 70s.

• Protect and conserve known nesting habitat by fencing or excluding stock, protecting woodlands against firewood collection, leaving old or dead trees standing and ensuring appropriate fire management

Four of the five species of black cockatoo are listed by the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999) as threatened - south-eastern red-tail, Baudin’s, Carnaby’s and Kangaroo Island glossy black cockatoo. The threats to them vary but most species have been affected by habitat loss.

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The main reason for the loss of habitat is predominately land clearing for agriculture.

Baudin’s black cockatoo has been affected by the loss of old growth forest, which has been logged for use in the timber trade. This loss of habitat not only affects nesting hollow availability but also food availability, which is a contributor to the decline of population numbers.

How you can help

Threats

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Habitat loss

• Protect habitat by controlling weeds and preventing removal of vegetation and spread of diseases such as Phytophthora • Revegetate around known feeding and nesting habitat with appropriate local species Ref: WWF-Australia GPO Box 528 Sydney NSW 2001 Tel: 1800 032 551 wwf.org.au

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18

Lions of The Otways

“To hold friendship as an end and not a means. To hold that true friendship exists not on account of the service performed by one to another, but that true friendship demands nothing but accepts Lions Code of Ethics service in the spirit in which it is given.”

Most people are familiar with the Lion’s Christmas Cake, fundraising mints, community work and help in emergencies. But did you know the Lions are also valuable contributors to humanitarian causes?

Here are some examples: Lions Australia and Beyondblue are ‘joining hands’ to fight mental illness and depression.

Beyondblue CEO Georgie Harman welcomes the partnership with Lions Australia.

“We look forward to working closely with Lions Australia to continue raising awareness about anxiety and depression and suicide prevention in the community. With one in six Australians experiencing anxiety, depression or both at any given time, this community partnership is sure to reach people in need of information and support”, she said Lions Clubs provide funding support for mobility devices for children with disabilities and have a long history of supporting initiatives to help people with disabilities. Some of the activities include the Australian Lions Children’s Mobility Foundation, Operation Smile and Pre-School Autism Education and Therapy Project.

Lions Australia also has a proud history in medical research, including the bionic ear and cervical cancer vaccine, Gardisil. They inspired a young Fred Hollows and continue to provide funding for a range of research initiatives involving diabetes and autism.

donating, taking part in activities, or by expressing an interest in joining a Lions Club to help us continue and grow our work and our funding of research.

Interested in volunteering as a member or serving in a board vacancy in the not-for-profit sector?

Joining a Lions Club is by invitation, but applications are encouraged from all members of the community.

To find out more just contact a club near you. Contacts are listed in this article.

One more member gives us two more hands to do service in our community, at home and internationally.

Benefits of being a member include fellowship, good times, meeting people, building lasting friendships, service to the community, learning new skills, leadership and personal development.

Membership is open to men and women over the age of 18 years and of good moral character and reputation.

Lions are people who get involved in humanitarian efforts locally, nationally, and internationally. Every Lions Club has its own range of local community projects.

People like you can find community service and volunteer opportunities in Lions through: • Mentoring • Leadership Development • Medical Research Fundraising • Disaster Relief

Lions support the development of youth and support of young people in our community through local projects, the annual Youth of the Year program, Lions Village Licola (a youth camp), Camp Koala, Peace Poster competition, and sponsorship of Leo’s Clubs – the arm of Lions for teenagers.

These websites will provide readers with great information about Lions in Australia, and in the Lions District which encompasses the Otways:

Lions Australia welcome your interest and invite you to support the work of the foundations or other activities by

or view a brief 6 minute video about Lions Clubs in Australia. http://youtu.be/o1b4OrcpC4k

Otway Life Magazine Autumn 2015

http://lionsclubs.org.au/ http://lionsclubs.org.au/201v2/home.html

19 Local Clubs: Apollo Bay Lions Club Email: apollobaylionsclub@gmail.com PO Box 60, Apollo Bay 3233 Camperdown Lions Club Email: camperdownlions@gmail.com PO Box 192, Camperdown. 3260 Lions Assist Phone: 0421 138 118 Colac Lions Club Email: lionsclubcolac@gmail.com PO Box 138 Colac 3250 Forrest & District Lions Club Email: lionsforrest@gmail.com C/- Post Office, Forrest 3236 The Lions Club of Forrest & District was formed in 1983. It is actively supporting and district communities of Forrest, Barwon Downs, Gerangamete, Barramunga and Yeodene.

Lorne Lions Club Email: margcartledge@hotmail.com PO Box 31, Lorne, 3232 5289 2133 Lions Club of Winchelsea PO Box 78, Winchelsea 3241 email @ winchelsealionsclub.org.au http://winchelsealionsclub.org.au

10 th anniversary

a family day of heart-warming winter food & fun

Your chance to get involved organising the famous Forrest Soupfest As the first step of a succession plan to have the Otway SoupFest become a Forrest and District event, not just a Lions Club event, we are keen to encourage members of other Forrest and district groups and interested community minded individuals to take on a position as a member of the Forrest SoupFest Planning and Management Committee.

The opportunity for other community groups to raise money at the SoupFest is significant. Over the past few years the Barwon Downs Tennis Club has raised enough money from the SoupFest to run their Club for an entire season; the Forrest Learning Centre raised the money to construct the new entrance pergola at the front of the School. These are but a couple of positive examples of how money can be raised (and used) from thousands of visitors to Forrest.

SUNDAY 7 JUNE 2015

QUEENS BIRTHDAY WEEKEND Forrest Public Hall from 10am

20

Running away to be married

Elopements are becoming more frequent in Australia as couples are favouring this low-key, informal and affordable option of marrying their beloved. In days of yore, and we’re thinking Gretna Green in Scotland in past centuries, elopements evoked images of hasty, clandestine ceremonies. Today’s elopements have been re-imagined into romantic trysts in enchanting settings.

Some of the reasons for modern day elopements include: wanting to keep the ceremony private and intimate so couples can focus entirely on each other, preferring to save money to buy a home instead of a lavish wedding, second marriages where they had the big thing first time round, or simply not wanting a long engagement but still do something special.

What better place to elope to than Forrest, that little hamlet nestled in the heart of the Otways? It is the perfect getaway destination for couples who want

Otway Life Magazine Autumn 2015

to marry in a way that is meaningful, profound and that uniquely expresses them. The Forrest Guesthouse has partnered with local celebrant Nettie Hulme and photographer Anjella Roesller to offer couples a range of tempting packages. The forthcoming dates are 15 May, 3 July, 2 October & 4 December.

Whatever the season, the half acre of rambling cottage gardens is delightful and full of rustic charm. In cold weather, the fresh ‘country chic’ style of the guesthouse, including open fireplace and candlelight, provides a beautiful alternative. Forrest is the ideal base for a honeymoon from which to explore many of the local beauty spots including the beguiling Lake Elizabeth, the invigorating Stephenson’s Falls and only 30 mins from the Great Ocean Road.

Find out more about eloping to Forrest here: https://forrestelopements.wordpress.com

Arts

21

Dewayne Everettsmith Photo Jill Mundy

Paris Underground Madotti and Vegas

Normie Rowe First Things First

The Listies

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Gel ox offi on: 52 com.a B rati acc. t p s i o in .c Adm www

22

Jewellers of the Otways Monica Provan A fire in the shed.

In the tiny hamlet of Warncoort, at the foot of the Otways, there is a fire in a shed.

A fire of creativity!

The purple and orange flames gush from the mouth of a lamp worker’s torch and flow around the many translucent hues of molten glass as Monica Provan winds it onto steel rods.

The colours of the magma melt together to form a glowing mass before being plunged into the kiln at over 400 ºC where their temperature is reduced slowly to prevent them from exploding.

This is only the beginning of the process. The beads are then fired again to make them more robust after which they are parted from the steel, cleaned and polished. A few are lost along the way, shattered by tiny imperfections in their make up or inconsistencies in the process but, as any artist will tell you, the mistakes made on the path are an essential part of the creative journey.

The finished products are sorted, reviewed, mixed and matched with others to form sets or separated to stand alone, capped with precious metals to hang from chains or twisted into webs of gleaming wire.

There is no end to this. The torch roars on. The glass softens into toffee and twists dizzily away before the flame.

The artist herself is remarkably humble and talks of her unique and incredibly unusual pieces as one of the local farmers might discuss his cattle. Each of her ‘Children of the fire’ is subjected to a harsh but just critique which outlines its faults before admitting its beauty and value.

Monica began working with glass ten years ago but will tell you that she considers herself something of a beginner, “There is so much more to learn and so many techniques I haven’t even tried yet.” She attends courses and classes which provide access to knowledge and facilities beyond those of the domestic glass artist. The commercial furnaces required to smelt statues of life size proportion for example.

She also teaches small groups of enthusiasts how to blend glass and fire into jewellery, her true passion for the process is in itself inspiring.

Monica’s work can be found in galleries through the Otways and at the Murray Street Market in Colac

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Artist Profile

Sally Forrester Jewellry to Save a Species “It’s really quite a challenge to fit a tiger quoll in to a pendant”, laments Sally Forrester, whose latest range of fundraising jewelry does exactly that. She has been working with the Conservation Ecology Centre based in the Otways to develop a range of handmade jewelry and the proceeds support their tiger quoll breeding program. Necklaces and lapel pins, tie clips and cufflinks, all with images designed specifically for the project, hand poured resin and antiqued silver settings.

“It was a funny project to start with because I had the impression that tiger quolls were quite small, much like a mouse and Lizzie (from the Eco Centre) kept emailing me back saying that the leaves in the design had to be smaller because the quolls are actually large, more like a cat.” It took a field trip out to the Eco Lodge to set Sally’s sense of scale correctly, eventually getting every detail of her designs in line.

Scale seems to be an ongoing issue for Sally, as her background in glass blowing and casting has led her in the past to create larger works and these smaller ones are quite new. Luckily for her, the properties of working in glass are similar to resin as both can filter light and are used either with color or to enhance an image. The resin in her jewelry does just that, “It’s almost like there’s a little magnifying glass on top of each piece of tiger quoll jewelry, really pulling up those leaves and setting them just at the right scale.”

For more information about the Conservation Ecology Centre’s work with tiger quolls, as well as their many other great projects and the ‘Jewelry to Save a Species’ range go to: www.conservationecologycentre.org or www. sallyforrester.com

23

24 Artist Profile

Jewellers of the Otways PAMELA CAREY

lives and creates her silver jewellery at her home in Apollo Bay. Pamela creates her silver leaf pendants and earrings using fresh green leaves with pronounced veins from her garden (and from other people’s!). She coats the veined side of the leaf with several layers of silver paste. Once the desired thickness is achieved and the silver is completely dry, the leaf is fired in the kiln. The leaf burns away, leaving its “imprint” (in mirror image) on the face of the silver. The silver leaf is then polished and/or textured, depending on the desired effect.

Pamela also creates filigree silver pendants. Using cork clay, she makes the desired shape (oval, round, spherical, tubular, etc). Once the cork is completely dry, Pamela uses silver clay in a syringe to ‘pipe’ a filigree design onto the cork. When the silver has fully dried, the pendant is fired in the kiln, where the cork simply burns away ... leaving the delicate hollow filigree shape.

You can find Pamela at her brightly-coloured stall at the Apollo Bay Community Market on the foreshore on Saturday mornings ... weather permitting.

For more information, call Pamela on 0407 816 899 or visit www.silver-leaf.com.au

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       

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Otway Life Magazine Autumn 2015

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Arts 25

Easter Arts at the Homestead

Rachael Comte

Birregurra’s creative community spirit sets out to capture your imagination over the Easter long weekend Over the past 18 months, Birregurra Community Arts Group (BCAG) has cultivated a ground swell of creativity in all corners of the community. Locals of all ages from around the district are venturing out to venues around town, eagerly singing for their supper in the local gospel choir as well as lapping up life drawing sessions, ukulele jams, print making weekends, zither workshops and daytrips to exhibitions.

This hive of community arts activity complements the already established professional artist community—the likes of textile artists Chris West and Pam Fyfe, and potters Rob Mills and Chris Hoggard—who, each Easter, fling their studio doors open, inviting the artistically curious inside to take a look as part Birregurra Open Studio Weekend.

Birregurra Open Studio Weekend has long been a popular attraction for locals and visitors alike; however, for this year, it promises something a little different.

Instead of opening up their studios, the artists have teamed up with BCAG and Tarndwarncoort Homestead to celebrate all things art and community as part of heritage listed Tarndwarncoort Homestead’s 175th Anniversary of family farming.

Tarndwarncoort founders, the Dennis Family, are passionate about bridging communities with the arts.

“Where Tarndwarncoort started building a community for the extended family, station workers and their families 175 years ago, we continue to help build community through initiatives like Birregurra’s Easter Arts event”, confirms Tom Dennis, 6th generation owner.

The Homestead became renowned across Australia for developing the fine wool Polwarth sheep breed in 1880—still producing natural yarns for the arts and craft market around the world.

Birregurra Ukulele Kollective & Gospel Choir

“The pictures on the walls from the early 1800s, the detail in the stonework, the layout of the gardens, and the designs our wool is turned into—all these elements at Tarndwarncoort Homestead are reminders of why creativity is so important.”

As an intriguing and stunning backdrop, the Homestead will host a variety of events and activities on the Easter Saturday and Sunday—April 4 and 5.

The program has been developed by Tom Dennis and BCAG to showcase an exciting blend of artistic mediums including visual, performance, music and community art activities. Birregurra’s Open Studio artists have also set themselves an exciting new challenge—taking inspiration from Tarndwarncoort’s Parlor Room to create works referencing the space and the room’s history—exhibited in situ and for sale across the Easter weekend.

The two-day program is jam packed and includes a very special performance by superb contemporary jazz singer, Rachael Comte and her band, Finding Isla. Also featured: Performances from Mike Robinson Koss, the Birregurra Ukulele Kollective and Gospel Choir; Roving bush poetry performances; • Guided tours of Tarndwarncoort’s historic art collection; • Kids poetry workshops and arts activities; • Heritage games; • Artist demonstrations and sales; • Wool felt workshops; and • A Saturday evening event featuring great food and music What? Birregurra Easter Arts at the Homestead Where? Tarndwarncoort Homestead,

37 Roseneath Road Warncoort VIC When? Sat 4th & Sun 5th April 2015 from 11am.

Program details updated at www.birreartsgroup.com.

26

Gellibrand Gallery The Gellibrand River Gallery was recently purchased

by Bob and Deb Gartland. Nestled in the heart of the Otways, the Gallery is just two hours from Melbourne and 20 minutes from Colac.

Deb is a photographer and has relocated her studio from North East Victoria to Gellibrand. She has had acceptances and received awards at local, national and international competitions and exhibitions.

Supporting local artists, the Gallery has a variety of works for sale ranging from glassware, jewellery and cards to photography, textiles and woodwork.

Exhibitions are regularly held in one of the Gallery rooms. The current exhibition is hanging until February 26th and is an introductory one of selected contemporary and fantasy images by Deb Gartland.

Open from 10am to 4pm on weekends, public holidays, special events or by appointment, you can contact the Gallery via:

Otway Life Magazine Autumn 2015

Tel: 03 5235 8410 Email: info@gellibrandrivergallery.com.au Web: facebook.com/gellibrandrivergallery

Art 27 Ref: ??

The Beach House by Deb Gartland. Digital.

Evolution by Deb Gartland - Merit Award Australian Photographic Society National. Digital.

28

Otway Life Magazine Autumn 2015

Book Review

29

Otway Book Review

By Neal Drinnan from Cow Lick Bookshop Colac

The World’s Longest Taxi Ride By Larry O’Toole

In 1930 a ‘motor service provider’ named Charlie Heard was engaged to drive an adventurous spinster of some means, one Ada Beal from Lorne in Victoria, to Darwin in the nation’s north and to then return back via Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. The rest as they say is history!

Ada Beal was sixty six years old and sporting an artificial leg. Accompanying her were Eileen Glenny from Ballarat and Lil Wilmot from Melbourne. The four travelled together in Charlie’s Hudson Super Six Tourer, a journey of over 7000 miles. Ida paid the standard taxi fare of the day and provided all the associated gear needed to accompany the quartet on what was a vast and largely unchartered odyssey.

Jump then to 2008 when Charlie Heard’s grandchildren recreated the entire journey in the closest replica vehicle they could find, a 1928 Essex Tourer. Times have changed but many of the original perils of the outback persist. Ron Heard’s diary offers a new take on a journey that had captured the entire family’s imagination for nearly seventy years and the vivid colour photography brings alive the sepia memories captured by Charlie and Ada on their own trip at the beginning of the Great Depression Larry O’Toole’s book is an extraordinary compilation of narrative, photographs, correspondence and history all coming together in one beautifully produced volume that takes readers into the very heart of Australia’s pioneer tradition.

The World’s Longest Taxi Ride By Larry O’Toole $39.95 Graffiti Publications

Barracuda by Christos Tsiolkas

Barracuda has been a bestselling title for a year and a half now and by my reckoning, it is the best Australian novel to come out in 2013 but how many people know the novel’s plot turns on a dinner at the Pier Restaurant in Lorne. Tsiolkas manages to turn one of the state’s most popular family holiday spots into a stage to debate some of the big questions of our age, family, same sex parenting and shared parenting by gay and lesbian couples. In a breathless no-holds-barred scene Lorne becomes the backdrop in which a single question threatens to undo life-long friendships and ruin a love affairs. How clever of Tsiolkas to use the most romantic location on the Great Ocean Road to hold a mirror up to the idea of ‘romance,’. Barracuda is a book that is easier to love than his earlier book ‘The Slap’ and a breathtaking relentless exploration of class and culture. How many other relationships have been kindled and curtailed in that restaurant in Lorne I wonder? Does what happens in Lorne, stay in Lorne?

Barracuda by Christos Tsiolkas $32.99 Allen and Unwin

Bookshop

Where town

me

ets

count

ry

T 03 5232 1072 E sales@cowlick.com.au A 86 Murray Street, Colac www.cowlick.com.au

Hey Diddle Diddle

30 Advertorial

Boutique Booze of the Otways The pristine air and water of the the Otways in Victoria’s southwest provides the perfect conditions for producing delicious beer, cider, wine and other beverages.

The hinterland of these lush and forested hills is fertile ground indeed for beautiful fresh produce and several boutique wineries and breweries have established themselves successfully here. As you meander through the region there are many open cellar doors to delight the senses nestled in between large tracts of national park with waterfalls and tall trees. The Otways is the perfect place to pick up a few bottles for your picnic after tasting the wares on offer, or stay on for fine company and entertainment or even a meal.

Otway Estate Home of Prickly Moses Prickly Moses Handcrafted Beers and Forbidden Fruit ciders are produced by Otway Brewing. With the brewing done on-site you have all the flavours, aromas and tastes to suit all the seasons.

Using the purest rainwater coupled with only the best ingredients, you can sit and sample our range to your heart’s desire in our purpose built Brewery Outlet.

The Brewery Outlet provides visitors a true taste of the Otways, with a full range of the beers, ciders and selected wine that are produced on site.

You can relax on the decking area, or cuddle up in front of the fire with a tasting paddle or pint of your favourite drink.

Go one step further and stay for the night, in one of Otway Estates luxury spa cottages located amongst the vines.

No matter what the season you can enjoy the taste of the Otways with Prickly Moses.

Whatever your taste, there is sure to be a boozery just for you!

Brewery Outlet

Friday - Sunday 11am - 5pm 10 Hoveys Road Barongarook 3249 T: 03 5233 8400 info@pricklymoses.com.au www.pricklymoses.com.au Otway Life Magazine Autumn 2015

31 Blakes Estate

Forrest Brewing Co

Blakes Estate vineyard is located in Deans Marsh, nestled in the foothills of the Otway Ranges.

Forrest Brewing Company is equal parts microbrewery, eating place and mountain biking hang-out located in the Otways Hinterland township of Forrest.

We make a “Burgundy style” Pinot Noir and a “Champagne style” sparkling wine from our pinot grapes. We also make a small volume of Rosé to compliment the other wines.

Attention to detail and our small acreage of four acres enable us to make a first class Pinot Noir, rich in fruit flavours with a satisfying middle palate and a long finish. The wines are matured in fine French oak barriques for up to 12 months and kept in the bottle for a further year prior to release.

The vines are hand pruned, the grapes hand picked and the wine is hand made in the authentic French “Burgundian style”, the area of origin of the pinot grape. We don’t filter our wine, instead relying on racking between barrels for clarification, and we use a minimum of preservative to ensure the full pinot characteristics come through in the finished wine.

Our cellar door is open weekends November to June.

Please come and taste a drop! Roger & Rosie Blake

Brother and sister duo Matt and Sharon Bradshaw resurrected and rebuilt the former general store in Forrest, opening its doors in late 2010.

The Forrest Brewing Company embodies all of the things to love about life, great beer, informal eating, good people, mountain biking and some occassional fishing all surrounded by an active community and beautiful environment.

The Forrest Brewing Company, providing a place to stop, take a break, rest and relax in unique natural surrounds.

Our beers are all handcrafted, brewed & bottled in the our 600ltr on-site microbrewery. The brewing and bottling can be watched through a window from the cafe into the brewery. Come and enjoy our range either on-tap or from our 500ml bottles, which are also available in take away from the brewhouse door.

Open 7 days a week - all year

Casual Atmosphere Seasonal Menu - Craft Beer Bike Friendly - Kid Friendly - Dog Friendly

Blakes Estate 80 Bambra Cemetery Road Deans Marsh www.blakesestate.com.au 03 5236 3246

Forrest-Apollo Bay Road, Forrest • 5236 6170 • www.forrestbrewing.com.au

32 Advertorial

Boutique Booze of the Otways

Berry yourself in the favours!

Pennyroyal Raspberry Farm proudly celebrates our 30th year in 2015. We have consistently produced the highest quality organically-grown berries and fruit, to give our customers only the best every season. Now, we continue the tradition with two new products.

The new award winning “Crucible” apple cider - hand made and double fermented in the style of champagne from 28 different types of heritage cider apples.

“The Crucible cider is the real deal” – Max Allen, The Australian “a benchmark example of what cider really should be” – The Naked Hungry Traveller And, the “Royal Penny” berry gins, made from our organically grown raspberry, brambleberry, boysenberry and marionberry fruit, using the sloe gin method. “fantastically vivid explosions of colour and flavour... a little chilled shot of pure, natural flavour” – Max Allen, The Australian

115 Division Road, Murroon 3243 Phone: (03) 5236 3238 www.pennyroyalraspberry.com Otway Life Magazine Autumn 2015

33 Wine and music by the Creek

On the Road to the Crowes Nest Brewery

Gosling Creek flows from the Great Otway National Park through fern gullies and picturesque rolling countryside to the Barwon River. The vineyard is located on the northern slopes, where the maritime influences of Bass Strait make an ideal location for cooler climate grapes.

One of the newest additions to the Otways beverage community, Crowes Nest Brewery is located on the Great Ocean Road at Lavers Hill – finding a home at Otway Central Tavern (the Lavers Hill pub).

Gosling Creek Winery makes varieties such as Pinot Noir and Reisling, Shiraz, Sauvingnon Blanc, Pinot Noir Rose, Shiraz Rose, Dolce (a sweeter style Riesling), and two sparking varieties, Sparking Shiraz and Scintillare - Pinot Noir/Chardonnay made in traditional method.

Peter and Jan Greig planted the vines on their property approximately 19 years ago with the cellar door opening about 9 years ago. Recently David and Tanya Stewart have joined with Peter and Jan Greig to be responsible for the retail side of the business including managing the cellar door and the organisation of the winery’s very popular Sunday afternoon music events.

The cellar door is open weekends 11am-5pm, by appointment and during January holidays.

Gosling Creek

Cell ar Door 11a m-5pm

Weekends, Holidays or by Appointment

Free Live Music every Sunday

Peter and Jan Greig invite you to share a taste of the Otways at their winery and vineyard on Gosling Creek. David and Tanya Stewart will also provide a warm welcome at the cellar door.

T 03 5236 3229 A 495 Murroon Rd, Murroon E retail@goslingcreek.com.au Check our Facebook page or website for Events Guide www.goslingcreek.com.au

In 2009, the Costin family, who have been part of the Otway community for close to 150 years, purchased Otway Central Tavern, with the intention to rejuvenate its accommodation, caravan-park, and pub – also hoping to extend this to include a microbrewery, which is how Crowes Nest Brewery was born.

Brewed locally by the Costin’s, Crowes Nest Brewery has gained remarkable feedback in its early days. Its first beer, Steam Train is an easy drinking beer, with a light malty flavour and full of hop-character.

Better yet, it’s the only brewery on the Great Ocean Road, located at the Otway Central Tavern, producing quality beer that will appeal to any keen beer drinker.

34

Y K DO N O W

EY NK

Our bistro offers good honest hearty pub food, with weekly changing specials. In the Woodcutters bar, you can enjoy a chat with friends, a game of pool or watch your team on our large TV screens. Outside there’s a beer garden to sit and relax, along with a children’s playground to keep the little ones occupied.

THE

The Wonky Donkey is a newly renovated family friendly pub in Forrest Victoria.

On the move? Why not try our take away and grab one of our very own fabulous Wonky Donkey “Kick Ass” coffees for the road.

AT FORREST

www.wonkydonkey.com.au

“HIT THE HAY” AT THE WONKY STABLES FORREST

KY ST N O

LES AB

THE W

“The Wonky Stables” Holiday Park is located at number 1 Station Street in the beautiful township of Forrest.

The park is set on approx 8 hectares with a lovely panoramic view taking in undulating landscape & bush surrounds.

Enjoy a hit of tennis while the kids play in the nearby playground and skate area. Straight across the road from the Holiday Park is “The Wonky Donkey” family friendly hotel, where you can get great value fab meals and a cold beer!

We have a wide range of cabins to suit groups, couples or singles, and families at great value for money.

HOLID A Y P A R K F O R R E S T

for bookings email: info@wonkystables.com.au

www.wonkystables.com.au phone 03 5236 6275 Otway Life Magazine Autumn 2015

35

The Good Life A regular column by Ami Hillege I’m rather grateful that nature works to a very specific schedule. Heaven knows how we’d cope if all the plums, tomatoes, apples and figs were ready at the same time.

labeled then frozen for use at a later date. The joy of harvesting so many kilograms of these luscious fruits is that we can experiment with different methods of preserving. We’re looking forward to the cold winter evenings in front of the fire when we can try our brandy berry or plum liqueurs.

As it is, we’d been eagerly watching the veggie beds this past summer, wondering if the tomatoes would ever ripen. And why did I think so? For the simple fact that we were still picking juicy strawberries at the end of January! Am I the only person who is asking ‘what was going on this season?’

If the tomatoes have failed to deliver, the same cannot be said of the zucchinis! Daily zucchini reconnaissance was enforced mid January and still they come! As with the plums, the recipe variations of yellow and green zucchinis have all had thorough testing. Bread and butter style pickled zucchinis will keep us satisfied at the lunch table for many months. The shredded zip lock bags of zucchini flesh will provide us with delicious winter soups. In the mean time, we continue to eat them stuffed, as gratins and in slices.

Usually, by the time Australia Day rolls around, we’re picking buckets of tomatoes. Instead, this year we spent more time processing plums. Blood plums, Samsara plums and little cherry plums. There is only so much plum jam one can make. Old recipes were researched and we now have at least 4 varieties of jams, chutney and a fabulous plum sauce ready to be enjoyed. As I look out of the window, I see half a dozen young ducks that will soon be tucked into the freezer.

That plum sauce is going to get a workout! One of the great autumn dinners is that of roasted farm duck with root vegetables all grown within a few meters of the kitchen door.

With so much bounty from the garden and friends with laden fruit trees, I resorted to extending my hand at creating a few alcohol fruit liqueurs. The kitchen bench under the window sill looks like a laboratory. There are huge jars filled with fermenting plums, bubbling mead (we’re thankful to our bees!) and fruit soaking in brandy. For weeks over the summer months we picked an amazing assortment of berries. Sometimes we were out in the berry patch twice a day. The loganberries came along first, followed by the raspberries and then the blackberries. The bowls were weighed, bagged and

We have a little breather till we start picking apples.

Then it will be all hands on the table, peeling and chopping. Apples will be stewed for the winter months’ breakfasts. Applesauce will be served with the homemade pork and fennel sausages. Apple and ginger jam will be spread on morning toast. We will put away many apples, wrapping them individually and storing them carefully in a cool dark place. With a stash of organically grown apples stored away, we’ll enjoy the harvest for a few months yet.

Autumn comes around far too quickly and before we know it, we’re cleaning out the summer vegetable beds and preparing them to plant the winter crops. What we have picked and preserved will carry us deep into the winter months. Eating seasonally is such a joy. If only those tomatoes had ripened a little earlier! There’s always next year…

Relax Communications

Suzanne Frydman

Creative Arts Therapist & Yoga Teacher Counselling & Stress Management

using therapeutic writing, deep relaxation and other experiential approaches

Ph 0431 121 514

www.relaxcommunications.com.au

36

Around the Houses Autumn Find us on Facebook

Colac Neighbourhood House 23 Miller Street, Colac Vic 3250 Phone: 5232 5368 Email: brimmer@cah.vic.gov.au Opening Hours Monday to Thursday 9am-4pm and Friday 9am-1pm

Regular activites Just ring for details or to book a place. Everyone is Welcome!

Monday Mums and Bubs – support group for young mums Women on the Move – social get togethers Nature Treckers – Home schooling Monday painters Breast and Ovarian Cancer Support Tuesday Pathways Healthy Lifestyle Tuesday Arts Childbirth and Parenting Cancer Support St Laurence Cooking Wednesday Wednesday Arts Breathe Easy Colac Otway Ratepayers Australian Plants Society Raphael Centre Post Natal Depression Counselling Skills Connection

Thursday Tax Help Service Craft Group Music Jam Meditation Playgroup Friday Tuning into Kids Tax Help Service Community Dinner Epilepsy Group ALSO...

Community Garden Free computer and internet access, Wifi Printing, copying and laminating service Form filling assistance Sewing machines Registered kitchen Disability Friendly Ipads made easy Cake Decorators Writing for Wellness

COLAC COMMUNITY

MEALS EVENINGS

Colac teacher Mick McCrickard is working at St Francis Xavier School in Daly River, NT. This community is one of the poorest places in Australia and the children who attend the school are in desperate need of textas, coloured pencils and any other school resources that we take for granted.

As part of the CLOSE THE GAP initiative on March 19 the Colac Neighbourhood House is collecting for Mick to help make a difference in the lives of these Australian children.

Any donations gratefully accepted.

Really big news!

Computer Training Australia is running an Ipad course Certificate 1V in Small Business from Monday 4th May 9am-1pm for 21 weeks at the Colac NH. You get an Apple IPad as part of your enrolment!

Reserve your place by contacting Andrew Edgar Phone: 5232 5176 Email: aedgar@cah.vic.gov.au

Come and enjoy a FREE hot meal each Friday night at the Colac Neighbourhood house

Meals served between 5:30 - 7pm 23 Miller St Colac

Futures Cafe

Thanks to GMHBA, Futures Café, Otway Fresh Pasta and our wonderful volunteers who are the backbone of our Neighbourhood House Otway Life Magazine Autumn 2015

Around the Houses Autumn Laver’s Hill & District Community House

Gellibrand Community House

Laver’s Hill Hall Great Ocean Road Phone Julia on: 0417 948 522 Email: jmalcolm@swarh.vic.gov.au Open Monday 10am-4pm

Rex Norman Reserve Colac Lavers Hill Road Phone Julia on: 5235 8348 Email: jmalcolm@swarh.vic.gov.au Open Tuesdays 9:30am - 4pm

Yoga Tuesdays 9.30-11am $12

Thank You!

Lavers Hill Hall. Contact Catherine on 0447 275 509

Ukulele Group

CFA Shed Mondays from 7.30pm Contact Pam after 7pm on 5237 9235

Lavers Hill Food Swap 3rd Monday of every month 1:30pm at The Shoppe

37

To Maria & Paul at the Gellibrand River Store for their hospitality and generosity during the renovations to the Gellibrand Community House and lead up to the Blues & Blueberry Festival. The Gelli store donated the use of their commercial kitchen for our “jammin the blues” fundraiser, became the temporary community house and workshop venue during the renovations and provided immeasurable support to the coordinator and volunteers. While working in my temporary office there I have witnessed what an asset the store and the Koczak family are to the community in so many ways. Thank You!

April

18

Bee Keeping

Everything you need to know to start a small backyard hive, from the workings of a beehive to how bees make and store honey, the regulations regarding backyard beekeeping, what is required to start out and where to get bees.

Includes a practical session on harvesting and extracting honey. $65 ($45 concession)

Garden Group 2nd and last Wednesday of every month 9am Behind the Tourist Park at the rockeries.

New helpers are very welcome. BYO tools, gloves, etc.

Call Andrew at COS Works on 5232 9470.

Yoga

Wednesdays 6:30pm $12/session.

Gellibrand Hall Contact Catherine on 0447 275 509

Walking Group

Thursday mornings 9am Rex Norman Park Duration 1-11/2 hours Find us on Facebook

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38 Section Around the Houses Autumn Forrest & District Neighbourhood House

Find us on Facebook

14 Grant Street, Forrest 3236 Phone: Gillian 5236 6591 Email: forrest.nh@gmail.com Open Mon 10-5pm Thurs10-6pm

Regular events First Monday of the month BINGO (1-3pm) Light afternoon tea provided. Cost $5 for 2 books.

Monday Yoga & Meditation 6.00-7.30 with Suzanne Frydman. $12 weekly paid by term.

Tuesday COS Exercise and Weights class 11-12pm For all ages and abilities. Stay on for a light social lunch. $3 or $6 with lunch Wednesday Tai Chi 6.30-8pm with Seona Gunn $10/8conc Thursday Gentle Exercise Class 10-11am.

Followed by morning tea. Cost $2 Mind Games 11am-12noon. Cost $2 Community Lunch 12.30-2pm Cost $6 Southern Otways Food Co-op 3-6pm Every Friday Cert IV / Diploma Visual Art 9am-5pm.

NEW Last Sunday of every month Music Jam and Pizza afternoon from 3pm Join in or just sit back and enjoy the vibe.

BYO pizza to cook or buy from us.

Where do you go for bushfire warnings & alerts?

Listen to ABC Local Radio, commercial and designated community radio stations and watch Sky News TV. Social media: Twitter@CFA_Updates and facebook.com/cfavic VicEmergency website: emergency.vic.gov.au Download the FireReady App for Apple and Android.

OL5

Otway Life Magazine Autumn 2015

1800 240 667

The Victorian Bushfire Information Line (VBIL) is a free call.

1800 555 677

Callers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speach/communication impairment can contact VBIL via the National Relay Service on this number.

131 450

If you do not speak english, call the Translating and Interpreting Service for translated information from VBIL. If you know someone who cannot speak English, provide them with this number.

Community Calendar

ANZAC Day photo courtesy of Taylor Morris

Calendar

SAt 14 mARCH Colac Kana Festival Memorial Square, Colac 10am - 6pm Sun 15 mARCH Old Beechy Rail Trail Run Barongarook to Gellibrand 9am - 11am Run 10am - 12noon Walk rotarycolac3250@gmail.com FRidAy 20 mARCH Autumn Harvest Fair Colac West Primary School 4.30pm - 8pm www.colacwest.vic.edu.au SAt 21 mARCH Otway Odyssey Forrest Recreation Reserve 7am - 5.30pm www.giantodyssey.com.au

of

Events Autumn 2015

SAt 21 mARCH Family Picnic and Plant Sale in the Gardens Colac Botanic Gardens 10am - 4pm margotfitzpatrick@msn.com FRi 3 APRil Good Friday Family Fun Day Colac Memorial Square, 9am - 4pm glynis.myers@bigpond.com SAt 4 – Sun 5 APRil Birregurra Easter Arts at the Homestead Tarndwarncoort www.birreartsgroup.com Find us on Facebook Badge

CMYK / .eps

SAt 25 APRil ANZAC Day Commemorations Apollo Bay War Memorial 5.45am Dawn Service 10.30am Parade & Service (GOR) info@rslapollobay.com.au Colac Memorial Square 6am Dawn Service 11am Service at St Mary’s Church admin@colacrsl.com.au SAt 2 mAy Forrest 6 Hour Race Forrest Mountain Bike Trails 10am - 4pm www.forrest6hour.com.au SAt 16 – Sun 17 mAy GOR Marathon Lorne to Apollo Bay www.greatoceanroad marathon.com.au

mARketS Apollo Bay Community Market Every Saturday, Apollo Bay Foreshore Apollo Bay Farmers’ Market Third Sunday of each month, Apollo Bay Youth Club Birregurra Sunday Market Second Sunday of each month, Birregurra park Colac Lions Club Market Third Sunday of every month, Colac Memorial Square (except Easter)

For more Colac Otway Shire Events visit www.colacotway.vic.gov.au

Family fun at the Colac Community Library and Learning Centre Baby Bounce

Sharing a love of reading, rhyming, singing and talking with your baby is one of the best things you can do to give your baby a head start in life. For babies under 12 months Thursdays @ 10:30 am.

(Except during school holidays ) One month sessions Term 1 March 5, 12, 19 & 26 Term 2 May 7, 14, 21 & 28

Story time is a program with

books and stories specially selected for 3-5 year olds, and their parents and carers.

Storytime with Sticky Stuff.

Come along ready to cut and paste, fold and colour, get messy and have fun with your child.

Tues @ 10:30 am for approx 30 mins (Except during school holidays ) 17 March, 14 April, 12 May,

Rhyme Time where preschool children (and carers) will listen to stories and learn songs, rhymes and finger plays Wed @10:30 for approx 30 mins (Except during school holidays

173 Queen Street, Colac 3250 Phone: 03 5231 4613 Email: colaclib@crlc.vic.gov.au

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Direct Debit: We will contact you on receipt of this order Cheque or Money Order to: Otway Life c/- Forrest & District Neighbourhood House, 14 Grant Street, Forrest, Victoria 3236 P 03 52366 591 E otwaylifemagazine@gmail.com B otwaylifemagazine.wordpress.com

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