Otway life spring17

spring 2017 issue 16

$5

INSIDE Featuring Birregurra • People • Arts • Events • Places to stay, eat & be

Image Gillian Brew

Otway living & visiting Winchelsea Y es HW Princ

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Cap

Birregurra

Colac

Geelong Melbourne

Bambra Deans Marsh

Anglesea

Barongarook Aireys Inlet

Barwon Downs Ro

Forrest

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ea Gr

Ferguson

Wye River

Beech Forest Princetown

Kennett River

Lavers Hill Skenes Creek Glenaire Hordern Vale

Cape Otway

Otway Life Magazine Spring 2017

Apollo Bay

ad

Lorne Oc ea n

Gellibrand

Take a trip down memory lane and be greeted with old school country hospitality in the charming hamlet of Birregurra where all things old are new again.

Our thanks to Pat from the Birregurra Motor Enthusiasts who helped to reproduce this 1970s image for our cover..

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A word from us Spring at last! The days are getting longer and brighter…and so much rain, beautiful rain making the forest glisten and sing. Water is life and we are very grateful for it so send ‘er down Hughie! Plants and animals have an extra burst of energy and people are on the move again. It is a time for growth and transformation. And so it is for us. Gill and I have been producing the Otway Life Magazine quarterly since January 2014 with help from our regular contributors, advertisers and subscribers. This is our 16th issue and over this time we have highlighted many of the unique areas, including flora and fauna, of the Otway’s region and shared stories of people past and present. It is a delight for us to produce this expression of life in the Otways… however it is time for a change. From the next issue the magazine will become an annual publication: Otway Life Almanac 2018

The Team Publisher, editor & co-founder: Nettie Hulme Art Director & co-founder: Gillian Brew Advertising enquiries: Nettie Hulme E otwaylifemagazine@gmail.com F www.facebook.com/otwaylifemagazine B otwaylifemagazine.wordpress.com T twitter.com/otwaylifemag View Online issuu.com/otwaylife.magazine Cover: History revisited - Birregurra Engineering workshop, Main street Birregurra Gillian Brew.

Next issue (Summer) 1 November 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.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in Otway Life Magazine are those of its individual authors.

Printed by: Adcell Group on 100% recycled stock

Spring 2017

It will have more pages and include information and events for the whole year. We will keep all the popular regular features but the magazine will have an increased focus on the arts. We know it will become a valued keepsake and would make a lovely end of year gift. Look out for the launch in December and in the meantime please enjoy our Spring offering.

A big thank you to everyone who has contributed to and supported Otway Life Magazine – it has been a most enjoyable labour of love for us. Warm wishes to all

Contents

Spotlight on Birregurra 4-5 History Note - Christ Church Birregurra 6-7 History Note - Gulidjan and Wadawarrung country 8-9 History Note - The Bunting Dale Mission 10-11 Tarnwarncoorte 12-13 Birregurra Festival and Art Show 14-15 enLIGHTen Me 16 Fiona Brandscheid 17 The Birregurra Motor Enthusiasts Club Inc. 18-19 Hemp Day Update 20-21 Natures Wisdom - Sacred Medicine 22-23 Wild Ecotourism 24-25 Plastic Free Lorne 26 Celebration Day for Girls 27 Otway Escapes 28-29 Sally Richardson 30-31 Arts - Chris Hoggard 32-33 Arts - Things of Soil & Silver 34-35 Arts - Springtime Arts Happenings 36-37 Arts - Shakespeare in the Otways 38-39 Corroboree Garden Program 40 Corrina Eccles 41 Film & Books 42-43 Otway Sleepovers 44-46 The Good Life 47 Sustainable Table 48-49 Experience & Enjoy - activities and events 50-51 Prompt Care 52-53 Anam Cara Volunteer: Julie Foley 54

4 Spotlight on Birregurra

Spotlight on Birregurra

Barbara Callahan enjoing a spot of sun with granddaughter Eliza in front of her shop 79 Main Street

Birregurra is one of the most picturesque towns in the Otways region. Nestled on the river flats of the Barwon River and Mount Gellibrand, the main street boasts historical red brick buildings and a row of shops with their Victorian verandas intact. The population recorded at the 2016 census was 828, an increase from 741 in 2011 and 688 in 2006. So in contrast to many other rural towns in Victoria, this little hamlet is growing. An easy one-hour drive on an almost completed divided highway makes it commutable distance for workers in Geelong.

Otway Life Magazine Spring 2017

This little town has the lot: a modern community health care centre, beautiful nine-hole golf course, historical society and opportunity shop, post office and schools. Oh, and a train station on the Melbourne to Warrnambool line. Only fifteen minutes from all the amenities offered by Colac, Birregurra is a great place to live for everyone, from young families to retirees.

For the visitor there is an intriguing array of shops to discover, each worth the time to fossick and treasure hunt.

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You are spoilt for choice with the accommodation and restaurants available. The whole town gets together to celebrate the Birregurra Festival & Art Show which this year will be held on Friday 13 October until Sunday 15 October.

So if you haven’t been there yet, put Birregurra on your bucket list and time it with the farmers’ market which is held every second Sunday in the month.

Birregurra main street Photos: Gillian Brew

6 History Note

Christ Church Birregurra “The prettiest and most compact Church of England in the colony”

On 6th April 1870, John Davenport Bromfield laid the foundation stone for the new Christ Church at Birregurra. As one of the original trustees, he had been a fitting choice for that honour.

Sadly, less than seven weeks later, John Bromfield died, never having had the pleasure of seeing the pretty stone church, nestled on side of the hill of the Birregurra township, completed, or attending Sunday worship there with his fellow parishioners.

Thirty-three years earlier, in 1837, a young John Bromfield, newly arrived in the colony, had pitched his first camp in the district on the same site as the church would later be built. After various farming pursuits around the Colac district, John took on the role as a manager for the Robertson Bros, and in 1865 built the homestead “Elliminook”, today a notable district landmark.

John’s grieving widow, Eliza, commissioned stained glass windows to be installed on the east side of the new church. The beautiful windows, which were unveiled on Christmas Eve 1872, remain a feature of the church more than 140 years later. There is a dedication inscribed “To the glory of God in Memory of John Davenport Bromfield died 20th May 1870, erected by his widow”.

Three years after John’s death, Eliza Bromfield married William Edmundson, a friend and colleague of her late husband, at St John’s Anglican Church in Colac. The following week, Harriet Elizabeth Chapman, niece and adopted daughter of the Hon. Charles Sladen of Ripple Vale, married James Ford Strachan at Christ Church, Birregurra where Harriet had been a regular worshipper.

The marriages were both to last for fourteen years until 1887, when each of the couples experienced the death of a partner.

Harriet Strachan died in January that year, aged just 40 years and in November, 52 year old William Edmundson died.

The surviving spouses, James Strachan and Eliza Edmundson, became generous benefactors to Christ Church in memory of their loved ones. Harriet had inherited a considerable sum on the death of Sir Charles Sladen in 1884 and on her death, James became the beneficiary. James provided the funds to the church to erect a high square tower and steeple in memory of his beloved wife Harriet. The tower, a feature of the original church design, had never been completed.

Harriet’s untimely death was three months before the unveiling of stained glass windows installed on the west side of Christ Church, in memory of her adoptive father, Sir Charles Sladen. The windows, donated by Lady Sladen, were unveiled at a service on Good Friday, April 1887 and Lady Sladen, along with the Bishop of Ballarat and his wife, had been the guests of William and Eliza Edmundson of Elliminook. Sadly, Lady Sladen died in Bendigo two months later.

Otway Life Magazine Spring 2017

Christ Church Birregurra 7

Sir Charles Sladen

It was in November that same year, that Eliza Edmundson became a widow for the second time when William died unexpectedly in Ballarat where he had been judging at an agricultural show. For many years, Eliza and William had conducted the Sunday School classes at their home and Eliza decided an appropriate memorial to William would be a purposebuilt Sunday School hall. In 1889, the local paper reported that the “Edmundson Memorial Sunday School contract has been let”. The Sunday School and tower and steeple were all completed in 1890.

Eliza died in 1908 and she bequeathed the sum of two hundred pounds to both the Church of England and the Presbyterian Church in Birregurra. The parish dedicated a brass lectern to her memory, “a tribute of affection and esteem and in memory of Mrs Eliza Edmundson, who died in 1908 and whose kind true Christian character endeared her to all with whom she came in contact.”

The deaths of these prominent citizens and subsequent generosity of their families provided an enduring legacy for Christ Church, Birregurra, praised by Bishop Moorhouse of Melbourne in 1889 as the “prettiest and most compact Church of England in the colony.”

8 History Note

Elliminook homestead at Birregurra, Gulidjan and Wadawurrung country. Photo: Dean Golja.

Birregurra, south-west Victoria

Gulidjan and Wadawurrung country Reconnections We have never left.

Aunty Edna Arnold, Gulidjan and Gadubanud Elder, 2015 Edna Arnold’s family has always lived in Gulidjan country in south-west Victoria. In 2015 she visited Elliminook homestead, where her ancestors had worked for the Bromfield family in the 1860s.

Oh, my ancestors would have swept that flagstone.

Aunty Edna Arnold, Gulidjan and Gadubanud Elder, 2015 When settlers arrived in the 1830s, Gulidjan people fought hard for their country. But by the 1860s they and neighbouring Wadawurrung and Gadubanud peoples had learnt new ways of surviving in the colonial world. Women often worked in settler households and men performed stock work. Eliza Bromfield, who displayed an active interest in the 1860s, probably at Elliminook homestead.

Otway Life Magazine Spring 2017

Malka (shield) 2015, by Sean Fagan, Wadawurrung people, south-west Victoria, 74.8 x 13.2 cm.

National Museum of Australia. Photo: George Serras.

First Nations 9 Spear-thrower, (left, detail far left) Gulidjan or Wadawurrung people, collected from Birregurra by Eliza Bromfield in 1867.

73 x 11 cm. British Museum. Oc.8067.

Old objects - Spear thrower Augustus Wollaston Franks, Keeper of British and Medieval Antiquities and Ethnography at the British Museum, presented this spear-thrower (above) to the museum in October 1873.

Eliza Bromfield had collected it in the 1860s, possibly from a Gulidjan person working at her family’s Elliminook homestead at Birregurra. Franks bought it from William Cutter, a prominent antiquities dealer located near the British Museum.

The spear-thrower is decorated with the image of a person wearing a possum-skin cloak. Such cloaks were used by Aboriginal people throughout southeastern Australia.

Designs on the insides of cloaks relate to clan affiliations of the wearer. Recently there has been a revival in making and using possum-skin cloaks.

You’ve got the beginning of life and the end of life. The babies were wrapped in the cloaks and the people wore the cloaks right through until the people were actually buried in them.

Treahna Hamm, Yorta Yorta, 2005

New objects - Shield The streams leading up to the centre [of this shield] represent the northern and southern flowing waters weaving in and out of the mountains of the Great Dividing Range ... The diamonds in the middle represent home

Aunty Edna Arnold, Gulidjan and Gadubanud Elder, wearing a traditional possum-skin cloak.

National Museum of Australia.

and a place of ceremony, where our tribes can now come together harmoniously after over 160 years of dispossession and devastation ... to share culture, stories, song and dance, free from the modern laws thrust upon us ... This shield is for the protection of our children, to

protect us from history repeating itself.

Sean Fagan, Wadawurrung, 2015 Source: http://www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions/encounters/ mapping/birregurra

10 History Note

The Bunting Dale Mission It began as a good news story of collaboration between Aborigines and European settlers….

The Bunting Dale story primarily concerns race relations during the contact period in the European settlement of Victoria. Wherever the British flag was raised upon the land of indigenous people in the world, the story of exploitation and dispossession is depressingly similar.

So begins the preface of Heather Le Griffon’s Campfires at the Cross, which is an account of the Bunting Dale Aboriginal Mission at Birregurra, near Colac 1838 – 1851.

Victoria was not yet a state in its own right, but remained part of New South Wales. The English missionaries Hurst, Tuckfield and Orton recorded valuable eyewitness accounts of a historical drama as Europeans entered the estates of Aboriginal Australians who had held them for more than 60,000 years.

The Colonial Government in Sydney operated as an equal partner with the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in England to select, finance and maintain the Mission.

Important decisions made in London or Sydney regarding the problems of racial conflict, frontier expansion and regulation were confounded by cumbersome communication and sparse personnel.

Months of delay ensured that crises were never properly addressed. The missionaries fought their battles for justice and equality before the law, together with a passionate plea for Aboriginal land rights.

They were interpreters for the Aborigines in court cases where the missionaries witnessed first hand the racism, injustice and ineptitude of the British legal system to fulfil the noble promises of British citizenship. The Colonial world was a small one. Many of the well-known figures of the era such as Superintendent Charles La Trobe, John Batman, William Buckley, Dr Alexander Thompson, Captain Foster Fyans, Aboriginal Protectors Robinson and Sievewright & Dr. J.D. Lang all feature in the story. Most of them visited Bunting Dale to view the Great Experiment.

Through the influence of the Mission in their midst, the local settlers petitioned the Government to reserve suitable portions of land for Aboriginal groups within the territorial limits of the respective clans. They generously responded to appeals for donation of stock, money and goods for the Mission. Gradually, there became a certain pride that the Mission existed in the district. Every European neighbour of the Mission, without exception, willingly signed a further petition to the Wesleyan authorities in an effort to continue its operations when it was threatened with closure, the local Gulidjan clan also gathered to hold their own protest meeting, determined to retain the Mission lands. The fragile success of their claim for Mission land did not endure due to the intervention of other factors.

Heather Le Griffon has lived and worked as a secondary school teacher near Bunting Dale. The lack of an accessible, reliable account of the Mission prompted her to write one.

She set out to write a local tale but soon discovered its national and international breadth and importance.

Campfires at the Cross

by Heather Le Griffon The fascinating story of Francis Tuckfield’s Bunting Dale Mission near Birregurra in western Victoria in the mid 1800s. An unusually enlightened treatment of aboriginals by Wesleyan missionaries.

by Australian Scholarly Publishing, Melbourne, 2006.

Image: http://wildeel.com/design/slideshow/bookscampfires.html

Otway Life Magazine Spring 2017

The Bunting Dale Mission 11 Cairn at Birregurra Image: monumentaustralia.org.au photo by Nancy Alford

In 1848 the stock was sold, Reverend Tuckfield left for Geelong and the land was subdivided and sold in 1851.

In that same year the Mission buildings were destroyed in the ‘Black Thursday’ bush fires. The only reminders of the Mission today are its bell, which is held inside Christ Church, Birregurra, and a memorial cairn in the grounds of the McLennan Memorial Uniting Church. The site of the Mission is on private land and is not accessible to the public.

Reference: http://www.apollobay.com/arts/ww13.htm

Reverend Francis Tuckfield http://www.portrait.gov.au/site/exhibition_subsite_moshow_portrait.

Although there was some activity by squatters from the mid 1830s, the first real white settlement in the Birregurra area was the establishment in 1839 of the Buntingdale Mission Station, some four miles upstream on the Barwon River from the site of the present township. The Mission was operated by the Wesleyan Missionary Society, a London-based organisation promoting Christian knowledge in foreign parts. It was named after the English preacher, Reverend Jabez Bunting. It was visited in 1841 by Protector of Aborigines, George Robinson, who amused the inhabitants with a fireworks display.

The Mission was run by the Reverend Francis Tuckfield and its location was carefully chosen to be at the junction of three or four tribal territories. It soon became clear however that the Coladjins were resentful because the missionaries were welcoming their enemies and the journeys the Aborigines were compelled to make to reach the Mission brought smaller tribes into contact with more aggressive rivals. Feuds flared continually, lives were lost and the Aborigines eventually resumed their nomadic existence. Numbers continued to fall as many succumbed to European diseases and some to poisoned sheep and flour.

Despite Tuckfield’s enlightened devotion, the Mission made little progress. Land was let and stock numbers built up with the help of local settlers. Captain Bowden was among those employed as an overseer and the present town site was known as Bowden’s Point in 1850s before it became known as Birregurra.

Letter to the E d

itor

I have been tr acing my herit age for many of late have fo years and only und my herita ge, which I am I traced back so proud of. to Buntingda le Mission. My there as much fo re father was as I can resea rch and he wen School, which t to Tuckfield was set up for Aborigines, he native policem later became an then a ston a emason.

If it was not fo r my grandmo ther telling m I would not kn e and my cou ow where I wa sins, s from. After se long always co arching for so ming to dead ends until rece heritage, whic ntly I found m h has now fille y d a hole in my sp lucky my Gran irit. I am so d Mother pass ed on her story to it explains so me because much about m e, and my love step upon as w fo r th e land we ell as our peo ple. I have so little time to p m u ch to learn and ass on to my d aughter who culture and is has taken up passing it onto our her children. Sh culture ensuri e works in our ng family valu es live on in th e future.

I do hope to h ear from you I w a n t so much to kn our people an ow about d their stories so I can pass th grand childre em onto my n before I pass .

With Regards Mike Gray Hi Nettie I ca n’t thank you enough for p information to assing on my Auntie Edna.

Thank you al you are doing so for what and now that you have sup information ab plied me with out Forrest I w ill be heading to discover m down there ore of my ance stors.

Kindest Regar ds Mike Gray

This article was originally published in Otway Life Magazine Spring 2014

12

Tarnwarncoort Tom Dennis

You might be forgiven for thinking, as you walk up the gravelled circular driveway of the Tarndwarncoort Homestead and approach the historic bluestone building, that you are going back in time.

Tom with the Origins range

The strong basalt walls clothed in Virginia creeper, the handhewn stones of the cider house and stables, the monkeypuzzle tree and hundred year old cypress all speak of early settlement of Victoria.

In that you would be right, as Tarndwarncoort, or Tarndie to its friends, was built by the Dennis family in 1840 after they arrived from Cornwall and chose this pastoral corner to make their home and their farm.

It has played a pivotal role in the development of the Polwarth sheep - bred especially for the conditions of southwest Victoria, and now found throughout the world.

But in other ways you are also walking into the future of wool farming and the creation of fine yarns for makers of all things woven, knitted, crocheted and spun. The sixth generation of the Dennis family, Tom and Alastair are now gradually taking over the reins of the farm, the agritourism and the wool growing, processing and sales that this property boasts.

Otway Life Magazine Spring 2017

In doing so they are creating a vibrant centre for those impassioned pattern makers, dyers, spinners and knitters who love the Polwarth wool for its strength and softness.

Groups of eager wool worshippers are now flocking (pun intended!) to discover new ranges of colours and mixes, such as the latest yarn.

The Henry, a grey and white mix of such delicious texture that visitors have to hold it and feel its warmth, is made from a mix of Polwarth and alpaca wools and created in collaboration with Great Ocean Road Woollen Mill near Cobden.

On a visit to Tarndie you can enjoy the country life in The Farmer’s Cottage or the faded grandeur of Tarndwarncoort Homestead (overnight stays are recommended), tour the farm, pat sheep, visit the wool shop and enjoy coffee and simple traditional fare from the kiosk while soaking up the sunshine in the courtyard.

The Woolshop and Kiosk are open every Saturday and Sunday 10am – 4pm.

The Farm walk

Tarnwarncoort 13

Norman, Alexander, Noel & Bob

EVENTS Original Tarnwarncoort settlement 1842

Tarndie hosts a range of workshops, lectures, and special events throughout the year. Tune into our social media for a taste of what’s coming up.

Wendy Dennis was instrumental EVENTS in the introduction of natural coloured fibres Tarndie hosts a range of workshops, lectures, and special events throughout the year. Tune into our social media for a taste of what’s coming up.

FLOCK SESSIONS

FLOCK SESSIONS Join fibre artists and crafters using a range of techniques from all skill levels with your current wool Join artists and crafters using a range of skills project infibre the Tarndie Ciderhouse.

Share ideas, techniquesFree fromadmission. all skill levels with your current and company.

Second Sunday of wool each project in the Tarndie Ciderhouse. Share ideas, skills month (excluding February). 1pm – 4pm. and company. Free admission. Second Sunday of each month (excluding February). 1pm – 4pm.

OPEN

OPEN

The homestead courtyard

Woolshop and kiosk Saturday & Sunday 10am – 4pm Woolshop and–kiosk Saturday & Sunday 10am – 4pm (closed February) Woolshop open by appointment Tarndie Wool Shop open by appointment (closed February) – Woolshop all other times. all other times.

TARNDIE Heritage farm FARMGATE WOOLSHOP for knitters,

WINCHELSEA WINCHELSEA

spinners, crocheters, felters.

COURTYARD KIOSK Coffee, simple farmhouse fare.

STAY The Farmer’s Cottage, Bleak

BALLARAT BALLARAT

WARNCOORT WARNCOORT

BIRREGURRA

BIRREGURRA COLAC

COLAC DEANS MARSH DEANS MARSH

House, Tarndwarncoort Homestead.

THE FLOCK SESSIONS Social gathering of woolcrafters on the second Sunday of each month

GEELONG GEELONG MELBOURNE MELBOURNE

A1 A1

LORNE FORREST APOLLO BAY

LORNE

FORREST APOLLO BAY

37 Roseneath Road Warncoort, Victoria 3243

37 Roseneath Road Phone (o3) 5233 6241 Warncoort, Victoria 3243 info@tarndie.com

Phone (o3) 5233 6241 info@tarndie.com

WWW.TARNDIE.COM

WWW.TARNDIE.COM

Otway Life Magazine Winter 2017

Birregurra Festival 15

Dont Miss it!

One of Australia’s hottest multi instrumentalists and former Melbourne busker with the sonic power of a full band, Reuben Stone, headlines Birregurra Festival 2017.

With a well-polished live show that has earned him support slots for Pharrell Williams and Tash Sultana, Stone is a coup for this year’s festival held on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 October.

After a year of high profile wins for Birregurra, with Dan Hunter’s Brae Restaurant making it to number 44 in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants and the community being selected for Regional Arts Victoria’s $350k Small Town Transformation initiative, this sleepy town is fast becoming one of the most exciting communities in the South West Victorian region.

Now in its 16th year, Birregurra Festival and Art Show has developed into one of the state’s ‘must visits’ with over ten thousand people expected to attend. The festival, entirely community run with the goal of raising money for community projects, is a feast of family friendly fun with high quality musicians from the area and further afield, delectable food and wine from the Otways region and a smorgasboard market of arts, crafts and local products. It is a colourful celebration of regional community life and has earned it’s growing reputation of one of the first major regional places to be on the festival Spring calendar.

Festival organiser Vicki Jeffrey says this year’s festival will again provide a vibrant range of entertainment for the whole family. “Andy Forssman, the Festival Entertainment co-ordinator, has put together another great line up of live music including well known up and coming artists plus our own incredible local music groups” “Reuben Stone joins a solid line up of music talent and sees the return of festival favourites, The MikMaks, who are playing on Sunday morning. Returning are popular regulars, the 100 plus choir, Orchestral Manouvres in the Marsh, Birregurra Ukulele Kollective, and the Colac Rock ‘n’ Rollers who bring dancing to the street. And who can resist the opening strains of the Colac and District Pipe Band which heralds the beginning of the festival early on Saturday morning.”

The festival kicks off 7.30pm Friday October 13 with the opening the nationally regarded Birregurra Arts Show.

With a prize pool of over $6,000, the art show attracts over 300 entries from across Australia and provides visitors the perfect opportunity to start or add to their own original art collection.

The always buzzing Food and Wine area will showcase the vast array of wonderful local produce from around The Otways area, much of which is heralded by Dan Hunter from Brae and Simon Stewart from other local dining gem, Bespoke Harvest. On offer will be local wines, craft beers, local cider and small batch berry gin. “And there will be plenty of food to enjoy mussels, calamari, Turkish, Vietnamese, Greek and Mexican food.” says Jeffery “Our festival is a big deal for the community” says Vicki Jeffery. “It’s not-for-profit and is the major source of fundraising for local community groups. Just about every resident has a role to play over the weekend and visitors to the festival have a wonderful experience and can see the enormous effort put in.”

For a gold coin donation, visitors can enjoy all that’s on offer at Birregurra Festival, which also includes the more traditional country festival offerings of vintage cars, The Garden Hub, market stalls, children arts and activities, camel rides, wood chop and much more. Visitors are encouraged to start their day with a visit to the Information Tent, where they can pick up a program and, most importantly, purchase a raffle ticket that offers ticket holders the chance to dine at the award winning Brae Restaurant.

The Birregurra Festival and Art Show is on the second full weekend in October from 10am to 5pm every year. Entry is a gold coin donation. These donations contribute to the continued operation of this community festival. To keep up to date with all the festival news, music line up, updates and program, follow the facebook page at www.facebook. com/birregurrafestival, on Twitter@Birrefest and via the website www.birregurrafestival.com

16

enLIGHTen Me

By Fiona Brandscheid

Every month or so, local artist Angie Smales rides her sturdy cream German-made bike down to Birregurra Post Office with another bundle in her basket to post to KOGO. KOGO stands for Knit One, Give One. Her package, comprising a colourful selection of fingerless gloves and beanies are coupled with crocheted floor mats – rows and rows of intertwined plastic bags rescued from landfill. The knits are destined for Melbourne’s homeless and produced by a small group of over 60s who call themselves the Birregurra Knitwits.

The group meets each Wednesday in Birregurra Hall — its genesis inspired by the very modern combo of a Facebook “how to” post and a talk about a community knitted coral reef project by Faye Hector from Geelong West Community House. The talk was part of Tarndwarncoort’s Yarn in “The Yards” open day, one of a series of events held over last summer as part of Birregurra’s enLIGHTen Me Small Town Transformation Project.

Birregurra Knitwits is one of the unexpected stories from the enLIGHTen Me Small Town Transformation Project – a program managed by Regional Arts Victoria on behalf of the Victorian State Government. The Project’s focus is to reignite passion in Birregurra Hall and provide some contemporary improvements to the facility.

The Otway Harvest Trail Festa, an evening event promoting local producers, also during “The Yards” is another unexpected story. The experimental event, supported by the enLIGHTen Me Team enabled Otway Harvest Trail members to test viability of the idea. Its

Belle Day and Anne Brandscheid

Birregurra Knitwits donations

popularity also gave weight to a funding application from Colac Otway Shire for what President, Emma Ashton and the trail’s members hope will lead to the event becoming a regular fixture on the Otways calendar. enLIGHTen Me’s Oversight Team Chair, Desma Hutchinson, explains that these great stories aren’t completely unanticipated. “The core focus is on Birregurra Hall but the project’s concept was designed to maximise legacy outside of the township and beyond the finish date of the project. By making spaces, opportunities and equipment available, we’re hoping the project motivates other small towns to imagine their own possibilities and turn them into reality.”

One such legacy predicted to boost these possibilities is the development of a technical lending library at the hall.

It’s an idea that harks back to Birregurra Hall’s origins and function as a Mechanics Institute. “The technical library, which will include portable stage lights, sound equipment and staging, will be available to surrounding communities once it’s in place”, sprukes Hutchinson. The project team hope that these resources will ignite a swell of enthusiasm for new ideas and community events, building on the great work nearby towns like Forrest, Barwon Downs and Deans Marsh are already doing.

For more information about the project and to find out about upcoming arts workshops and how to get involved, visit www.enlightenmebirre.com or follow @ enlightenmebirre on Facebook.

At the Otway Harvest Trail Festa

Projector bike generates a film screening for one of the many community activities at The Yards during summer 2017.

Otway Life Magazine Spring 2017

enLIGHTen Me 17

Birregurra Hall and The Yards precinct

People: Fiona Brandscheid What brought you to this part of the world?

Birregurra Festival is the reason we landed in Birregurra!

After hearing about the festival on ABC774 around 2009, we came for a day trip and within 30 seconds of walking down Main Street, my husband Steve and I looked at each other and declared “This is IT!”. Within 3 months we’d bought a home and haven’t looked back.

What have been your biggest challenges in life?

I’m very much an optimist and an adventurer, so for me, I generally see challenges as very positive and I tend to proactively dump myself in the deep end to see how I go.

Mental illness is the one real challenge that I’ve had no choice about and is constant in my life. While I have been able to stay clear of the black dog myself, some family members do struggle. There’s a lot of unanticipated guilt that comes along with that and I’ve had to be proactive in allowing myself to focus on my own wellbeing. In my situation, there was a point when I realised that there was nothing more I could do and have had to accept that the only thing left is to just be there when the time is right.

What is the best thing about living in a small community in a rural area?

There are lots of great things of course but the best thing for me is the people. There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t have a great chat to someone about something interesting that’s happening. Most people are so proactive in this community and it’s just so exciting to hear what they are doing, how they’re doing it and why they are doing it. I am constantly inspired.

What are your hopes and dreams for the future?...

Apart from Donald Trump being kicked out of office, my big dream is that our own government finally finds the strength to act seriously on climate change and inequality.

Fiona Brandscheid (left) with Vicki Jeffrey, Angie Smales and Minister Martin Foley at the announcement of the $350K Small Town Transformation grant

I don’t hold out much hope at the moment but do enjoy seeing the power of the individual and how their own changes can accumulate with others to have a significant impact overall. On a more personal level, I dream of living in Italy for a few years with my husband, then returning to Birregurra to build an off grid home and then spend our days playing ukulele and gardening.

What do you do for your job?

I’m a freelance graphic designer and writer, working mainly with financial institutions. I am also the part time Arts Development Project Manager for Birregurra’s Small Town Transformation Project. Working on this project has allowed me to tap in to the pathways for bringing more arts opportunities to towns like ours. The arts can have such a positive impact on individuals as well as on whole communities, be it through live music, dance, comedy, theatre, collaborative community projects or learning new skills. After the project is finished, I am hoping to continue to bring arts opportunities to our area and also explore the links to health, including mental health. I feel very strongly that small towns like ours deserve it as much as folks in the big smoke.

18

The Birregurra Motor Enthusiasts Club Inc. The Birregurra Motor Enthusiasts Club, Inc was officially formed in 2013. Around 2011, a group of local Birregurra enthusiasts with interests in all types of vehicles and machines decided that they would try to form a club.

The club is unique in that it caters for enthusiasts with a wide range of interests. Although motor vehicles are the most numerous single category, members also own, motor cycles, trucks, tractors, farm machinery, stationary engines and powered toys. The Club has approval to register eligible vehicles under the Vicroads Club Permit Scheme. This scheme is designed to allow Classic, Vintage and Veteran vehicles to be used on Victorian roads at a reduced fee for a limited number of days per year.

The Club currently has 167 members, a number we believe makes it the largest Club in the Birregurra district.

The membership is split approximately between those members actively using the Club Permit Scheme, and those with either current projects or who are social members. The Club actively encourages social members who have an interest in vehicles, the club and its activities.

Most members reside within a 30 km radius of Birregurra and include representation from the towns of Winchelsea, Deans Marsh, Barwon Downs and Colac. Membership of the Club is open to both males and females, although male membership predictably dominates.

Otway Life Magazine Spring 2017

Many varied and well supported activities are undertaken by the Club every year. Wherever possible, these activities are centred around family oriented interests. Typical activities include rallies, historic homestead and museum visits, bus trips to Sandown and other historic vehicle races, shed visits and a host of other activities. The Club is particularly proud of its annual Good Friday Rally which raises money for the Royal Children’s Hospital Appeal.

Events and fundraisers are also held which raise money for local community projects. Donations are made to charities and individuals in the community who may be undergoing hardship, or faced with health issues.

The major event on our annual calendar is the Birregurra Festival which is held over the second weekend in October every year. Local as well as invited vehicles are exhibited on both the Saturday and Sunday, usually from a site in the main street. The Club site attracts a varied and interesting range of exhibits, ranging from carefully restored veteran and vintage cars and motorcycles, through to farm machinery, Classic vehicles and Hot Rods. “Barn Find� and unrestored exhibits always attract an enormous amount of interest, particularly from older people attending the Festival. These people can relate to the exhibits and often remark that they once had one in the family, or a neighbour down the road used one to feed out hay to his cattle from the back of one.

The Birregurra Motor Enthusiasts Club Inc. 19

In 2015, the Club had the opportunity to purchase a 1927 Federal Knight bus. The bus is not only important to the Club, but holds a historical connection to Birregurra, as it was used in the 1930’s for the commercial bus run between Lorne and Birregurra. One elderly Birregurra resident can recall seeing the bus running in his youth. The trip to Lorne must have been eventful at times, as cable operated brakes on the rear wheels were the only means of slowing the bus on the journey.

The engine is interesting in that it is a sleeve valve design, a type that was popular on a few of the more exclusive vehicles of the time including Daimler, Minerva and Panhard, as well as on Bristol aircraft engines of the 1940’s. The bus currently has Club Permit registration, and will continue to undergo further restoration over time.

The Club has monthly meetings on the first Wednesday of the month at the Birregurra Recreation Reserve, which are often preceeded by a light meal. The Club has an emphasis on good fellowship between serious enthusiasts and interested local people and forms a solid link to integrate all members of the community. People interested in the Club and its activities can view the Birregurra Motor Enthusiasts Club website, contact the Club via email at birregurramotorclub@gmail. com, or alternatively ring Pat Davis on 0429 427498

20 Hemp

Hemp Day - UPDATE

by Randall Berger Just after going to press with the last issue, a remarkable event occurred: On April 28, 2017, FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) and COAG (Coalition of Australian Governments) approved Industrial Hemp Seed for human consumption.

This doesn’t sound terribly earth shattering, does it, but this is a snowball that will grow and grow as it rolls down the hill!

foods, food oil, cosmetics, medicines. It is hypoallergenic and contains all Omega oils and Amino Acids.

We will start building houses out of hemp crete … we will use the stalks in paper, clothing, particle board, insulation … the oil can drive cars and make 100% biodegradable plastics. It will replace pesticide hungry and water intensive cotton, wood plantations and pestprone grains. This plant will be able to feed, clothe, house and medicate Australians.

If you read the previous article, you will appreciate that this signals the start of a revolution in Australian agriculture, manufacturing, food processing and building.

Industrial Hemp can and will have a large effect on all of these areas.

Good news for the Otways is that one of the major processing plants will be located in the region, towards Geelong. A major hemp farm is underway just north at Derrinallum. It is also the perfect single or rotational crop for Western Victorian farmers, as it requires less water, no pesticides or herbicides, is fast growing and easy to harvest.

It feeds and rehabilitates the soil, sequesters carbon and the entire plant has value; seeds, stalks and husk.

The varied uses of this remarkable plant will be driven by the food sector. This high-protein, easy-to-grow seed will start to appear in bread, beer, milk alternatives, snack

If you would like more information, ask “Farmer Google” or visit Industrial Hemp Australia on Facebook. Join the snowball and ride it to prosperity.

...and keep the kids entertained with an extensive range of games and toys instore.

we have all your outdoor, leisure and camping needs covered 76 Murray St Colac Phone: 5231 2347 Email: colac@blueskyoutdoor.com.au

OL5

Otway Life Magazine Spring 2017

Health and Wellbeing 21

The best time to spring clean is SPRING! The hibernation phase is over and now it’s time to come out and smell the roses. There’s no better time to enliven our senses than that of Spring.

One way to awaken our sensory system is to have a spring clean and there are various ways that we can do this.

Often, we associate spring cleaning with decluttering our homes and giving our house a good clean! This is one way but there are other ways too. Read on!

Spring is a great time to give your body a cleanse. The best way to do this is by fasting and detoxing. This process allows the body to cleanse itself of toxins that have been built up throughout the year through our diet, environmental pollutants and the products we use on our hair and skin. There are many different ways to fast and detox depending on your circumstances and preferences.

I like to detox by juicing or souping for 5 – 10 days. The benefits of detoxing your body include; mental clarity, weight loss, increased energy and an overall sense of wellbeing. I recommend to consult with a naturopath or health professional if you have concerns about detoxing.

Another way to spring clean is to declutter the spaces that we spend the most amount of time in. This is our home, car and office. To assist with what we need to throw away

we should ask ourselves whether or not we have used the item in the past 3 months or if we intend to use it in the next 3 months. There may be items that you can donate to charities or pass on to family and friends. You may even want to make some extra cash to go towards buying a juicer and sell your items at a market, on a second-hand page or have a garage sale.

Decluttering our space also allows us to declutter our minds which enables us to think more clearly and make better decisions. We live in a world now where we are purchasing things that we want rather than need and our interest in them soon perishes within weeks.

Once you declutter your space you will think twice about whether you really want something or need it and by detoxing your body you will also think twice about the foods and products you put into it and on it.

This thought process also has a huge impact on our natural resources and the health of the planet.

Live simply so that others may simply live.

Kit-e Kline, Nature’s Wisdom – Sacred Medicine

SACRED MEDICINE INSTITUTE

Our mission is to educate and empower people to become resourceful enough to self-heal.

Sacred Medicine combines evidence based theories and Indigenous philosophies including; Narrative Therapy, Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Based Therapy, Holistic Drug & Alcohol Counselling, Nutrition, Art Therapy, Journaling, Digital Storytelling, Nature Based Therapy, Energy & Intuitive Healing, Tissue Salt Therapy and Flower Essence Therapy.

sacredmedicineinstitute.com.au

22

The Road Less

Travelled

1 The Road Less Travelled is one that continually takes me to places that amaze me. Recently I’ve been thinking a lot about our amazing natural environment, and just how lucky we are with Otway Ranges a place we can call ‘our backyard’.

Every visit it seems I find more hidden gems. Its these places that keep me coming back to see what else I can find, and ultimately share.

The move from winter into spring is a time of renewal, with the winter rains washing away the remnants from the last season, ready for the fresh new growth to burst out. This winter, the impact of water on the environment seemed to be reaching out to me, with waterfalls, micro streams and the power of the ocean competing for my attention.

Perhaps it’s no surprise then that this collection mirrors this, capturing the power and beauty of water, in all its forms.

1. ‘The Slow Rush’ The power of the ocean is relentless, the to and fro of the waters from the tide are constantly pounding against our shorelines, taking with it anything that’s not fixed in stone.

But in the moments between cycles, and as the 2 last of the water slowly drains away and is pulled back out to join the masses, there is a pause – just enough time to reflect upon the magic of the scene. In a blink of an eye this can be gone, but during this time the fragility and finite nature of all things seems to stand still.

2. 'The Rinse Cycle’ Spend any amount of time on rocky ocean foreshores and you will see the patterns in the size and duration of the swells as they continually pound away. The cyclical nature of this often interrupted where the water flows out from rocky platforms and channels such as this. In this period of time, any loose objects from will be drawn out to sea. However as the tide falls any items dumped by the incoming tide are left behind in the intertidal zone.

Otway Life Magazine Spring 2017

It makes me wonder, in the ebb and flow of daily life would be it better to be hidden in the safety of the masses, or exposed and vulnerable. For me I think being ‘part of the masses’ is a rather dull and boring place to be!

3. ‘The Beast Within’ When faced with a scene that is abstract by nature, we all perceive something different. What you see in a 2-dimensional image is strongly influenced by how you feel, what you are doing at the time you see it, even the sounds you are hearing at the time. It’s so easy to take a quick glance, form an opinion and move on. But taking time to stop, examine and thinking about what you are seeing might drive you to a different view. For this image I found myself thinking about abstract animal shapes – after a discussion about reported sightings of the ‘Otway Panthers’. My editing became directed towards finding ‘the beast within’ this small rocky outcrop on an unknown Otway’s feeder stream.

4. ‘Reflecting The Otways’ Dando’s camp ground (near Gellibrand River, in the Otway Ranges) is a popular camping location, with mature and well maintained native trees, fire pits, camp grounds and toilets.

After a period of rain the shallow puddles that form are a perfect vessel to capture the reflected trees. Such a pity that a small number of people who use the venue leave all sorts of rubbish behind… Shame on them.

5. ‘Congram Plunge Pool’ Getting into this location felt a little like being an explorer from times gone by. The first challenge faced was locating the falls themselves, which turned out to be the easy part.

BUT, the upon arrive at the top of the falls the access to the base was not for the feint hearted! Falling into a steep sided gorge, the path down was tough but it was well worth it.

Once down the enclosed nature of the plunge pool and steady flow of water was creating its own wind, generating a gentle breeze, slowly moving all the vegetation.

Sheer Beauty.

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4 5

www.timlucasphotography.com.au

Instagram.com/timlucas.photography

Contact Tim for more information. Email: tim@digitalnature.com.au

24 Environment

Wild ecotourism Story Lizzie Corke, images Doug Gimesy

A new ecotourism attraction, which allows visitors to experience the unique environment of the Otways upclose and predator-free, has been given the go-ahead by Colac Otway Shire Council.

Based on a spectacular 20 Ha property just west of Apollo Bay, the attraction will be the first of its kind on the Great Ocean Road. It’s expected to create at least 30 permanent jobs, and the profits will be reinvested into the Conservation Ecology Centre’s research and conservation activities in the Otways.

“We want visitors to the area to be able to experience the Otways truly vibrant with wildlife,” said Lizzie Corke, Conservation Ecology Centre CEO. “Accompanied by a qualified conservationist guide, small groups of visitors will experience a beautifully restored area, where koalas doze in the treetops, potoroos and bandicoots forage on the ferny forest floors and kangaroos hop along the horizon against a spectacular ocean vista.”

Visitors will be able to see native wildlife behaving naturally – at liberty within the protected habitat area.

There are no cages – the visitors share space with the animals as they walk through stunning bushland along designed paths and raised walks, against the backdrop of the Southern Ocean.

Otway Life Magazine Spring 2017

They’ll have unsurpassed opportunities to observe and photograph the iconic animals of the area and will experience the Otways as it once was, and could be again – abundant and vibrant with wildlife. The qualified and engaging guides will share the secrets of the bush, the animals and the ecosystems, and visitors will learn about the conservation programs that are protecting this precious wildlife.

The experience will be designed and created by Brian Massey who was the Greens Master for ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy, Art Director of ‘The Hobbit’ and designer of the highly successful ‘Hobbiton’ in New Zealand. In addition to the walking path, the project includes a themed ‘field-research base’; visitor arrivals building; and a café and retail outlet showcasing local products.

“This immersive experience will engage visitors and the local community alike in conservation issues, at the same time generating significant funding wildlife and ecosystem conservation across the region,” said Lizzie.

Colac Otway Shire Mayor Chris Potter said Council was committed to developing the shire’s visitor economy.

“This project is sustainable and builds on the naturebased tourism that the Colac Otway Shire has a growing reputation for,” Cr Potter said. “Council was thrilled to work with the Conservation Ecology Centre on this innovative and sustainable project.”

“The Centre has a strong track record in ecotourism operations and is ideally placed to engage both visitors and our local community in conservation to the benefit of our overall region. I’d like to congratulate Lizzie and her team for their continued commitment not just to our region, but the environment that makes it so special.”

ecotourism and conservation once operational, resulting in significant ongoing employment and career development opportunities. All surplus generated through the venture will support conservation of region’s flora and fauna.

The venture will generate at least 45 jobs during construction and 30 new full-time positions in both

Lizzie Corke, CEO Conservation Ecology Centre lizzie@conservationecologycentre.org

The attraction is expected to open in December 2018.

About the Conservation Ecology Centre The Conservation Ecology Centre is a nationally registered non-profit conservation and ecological research organisation dedicated to conserving and understanding the flora and fauna of the Otways. The Centre established the Great Ocean Ecolodge in 2004 and has operated this business as a social enterprise to support its work in conservation for over 13 years. The Ecolodge has maintained the highest level of certification from Ecotourism Australia since this time and has earned significant recognition including being named as one of the 25 best ecolodges in the world by National Geographic Traveller.

More at: www.conservationecologycentre.org

26 Environment

Plastic Free Lorne At HAH Lorne Beach and personally we have always been conscious of our environmental footprint buy reducing our waste of single use plastics and recycling and reusing while also educating our visitors.

For nearly a year we have had a ‘no takeaway’ policy for our hot drinks. Simply with people borrowing our sustainable reusable bamboo cups they can have a hot drink, go for a walk, sit on the beach or visit the park and then return the cup when they have finished. We are blessed with a beautiful town, region and enticing people to slow down, sit and relax and enjoy their drinks in our towns instead of rushing through.

When our customers ask ‘can I have a takeaway’, our response is, ‘are you hanging around Lorne”? If so, we then inform them that we have a no takeaway policy and they can borrow our cups. This has been a huge success almost elliminating totally the need for single use cups, not just for our business but as landfill.

We make all our food and drinks inhouse, using where possible, organic and local suppliers, knowing exactly what goes into our menu. We pride oursleves on fresh housemade healthy foods that taste great and are great for you, including smoothie bowls, warming soups, Katie’s Otway Life Magazine Spring 2017

famous banana bread, gourmet jaffles (think Otway slow cooked beef, Erskine Falls eggs and Otway ham etc.), Leon’s real chocolate, bliss balls, amazing teas and organic coffees, matcha and tumeric lattes, vegan, vegetarian and GF options plus heaps more...

In support of this, all our green waste goes to the community garden for composting.

We also sell a range of products (as pictured) that reduce the footprint even further, including award winning local JOCO cups(buy and fill) bamboo and stainless steal straws, bees wax wraps (to replace gladwrap) and reusable shopping and beach bags.

Simply by having a conversation with our customers around ‘do you really need a takeaway’ is a form of education that breaks the habit of simple waste, and is working ‘one cup at a time’.

We thrive on educating and changing peoples mindset so that we can all support sustainable into the future, it’s not just a movement but a lifestyle choice.

Feel free to give us a email or call if you need more info!

Thanks, Katie and Leon Walker

Celebration Day for Girls

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Honouring our daughters with a special celebration as a rite of passage When a girl begins her menstrual cycle she is often expected to just ‘deal with it’ with little understanding as to why this has significance except the inconvenience of using tampons and pads. This can leave a girl feeling disconnected and resentful of this significant change and vulnerable to looking to female stereotypes that are popularised through mass media.

“Celebration Day for Girls” is a facilitated program for girls and their mothers that give’s meaning to this rite of passage ‘The program was developed by Jane Bennett, a Social Worker, in 2000. It has touched generations and rapidly expanded to have many facilitators stretching across the country and abroad. Michelle Buggy facilitates this program for the Surf Coast Community.

‘Celebration Day for Girls’ is a special day that empowers girls between the age of 10 and 13 in positive menstrual education that provides connection to their emotional experience.

Through the sharing information and support, girls are prepared for the transition to being fertile and everything that comes along with that, by empowering them to feel confident and excited about the changes that are happening to them. The day is relaxed, fun and interactive; offering the girls a safe space to laugh and honour and learn about their menstrual cycle so it feels natural and normal to talk about.

The day celebrates many facets of the girls through creative activities, facts and storytelling. Storytelling gives a personal, historic and cultural context to their experience.

The experience affirms their sense of belonging, give a sense of pride and wonder around the importance of what their bodies can do and what that means. It offers a connection to their whole menstrual cycle that relates to their social, biological, emotional and physical body.

The program acknowledges the change in the relationship between mother and daughter and strengthens the new dynamic with respect. Mothers share stories about strong women in the family who they have admired. Mothers listen to their daughter’s insights allowing the possibility for a new type of conversation and support.

As a collective, sharing stories offers the girls the understanding that there is a wide variety of what is normal and the day facilitates these stories to be shared with honour and celebration. The girls and mothers also

leave with a new sense of union for their ongoing journey ahead.

‘Celebration Day for Girls’ gives new meaning to the feminine nature and celebrates the onset of puberty as the beginning of an exciting stage of becoming a woman. For mothers in signals the beginning of becoming a mother to a young woman.

‘Many participants report that their mother daughter relationship is enriched and enlivened as the doors of communication in this key area of female experience and development are opened wide.’ www. celebrationdayforgirls.com The Next Celebration Day for Girls will be on OCT 28th @ the ‘Heartspace’ in Bellbrae.

For further information please contact Michelle Buggy on informemotion@gmail.com To stay in touch with further events www.facebook.com/ surfcoastcelebrationdayforgirls A little from Michelle… about why she does Celebration Day for Girls “I am passionate about woman sharing stories that empower one another by offering acknowledgment, deep process and provides intimate reflections for one another. I have also always been interested in woman’s health, particularly in their rites of passage around significant life events like pregnancy, birth and menarche. These powerful physiological events can be assisted by personal understanding and meaningful ritual and informed embodied information in order for a gentle transformation.

I am a mother of 5 children and have 3 daughters of my own.

I have found this time rich and meaningful in terms of a deeper connection to my purpose and body as a woman.”

Michelle is the Director of ‘InformEmotion’ A Experiential & Creative Art based Business that provides Counselling, Creative Art Therapy Workshops and is involved in the creation of Community Arts projects & events. Michelle also practises as a therapist at a mental health facility. She holds a B.A – Fine Art and a M.A in Experiential & Creative Arts Therapy.

Email: informemotion@gmail.com Websites: www.theredtepee.com www.birthingartbirthingheart.com FaceBook: www.facebook.com/springtidejournal/ www.facebook.com/groups/theredtepee/ www.facebook.com/Bleedingartbleedingheart/

28

Otway Escapes

by Christine Smith

Ever since arriving from W.A 28 years ago as young parents, the Smiths have been escaping to the Otways. We camped all over exploring Victoria. It was the Otways that we fell in love with; the trees, the birds, the water… We bought an old caravan and kept it at the Cumberland River camping ground. Life when camping was simple. A camp oven Christmas is precious! Our next phase of escape was to buy 20 acres of land backing onto the The Great Otway National Park in Pennyroyal. That was 25 years ago.

We built a pole house weekender. I was adamant - no T.V. and no telephone. There were no laptops! We would come down to the Otways to escape the jumble of cars and the chaos of the city. In Pennyroyal we stared over eucalypts and sunsets. We marvelled at the brightness of the stars. Life however is never smooth, never perfect.

When we had ‘Our Family Crisis’, those priorities that we had modeled into our life suddenly became meaningless.

With this family issue we decided to well and truly escape.

Life seems simple when camping. We bought 200 acres in Pennyroyal, sold out of city life, left our careers and moved permanently to the Otways. Brett built our twobedroom house in the middle of a paddock beside a dam.

We planted over 80,000 trees and established an extensive garden that is now our own botanical wonderland.

Otway Life Magazine Spring 2017

You can choose your property but being a part of this community is a privilege! Our wonderful neighbour says it takes 20 years to be a local. Maybe? We are certainly not from the real, local stock of Smiths. We have however always felt welcome. This community is passionate about causes: the arts, Landcare, climate change, charities, the cooking group, festivals, and Louise Brown’s amazing choir and percussion. I am so looking forward to the ‘Voice For The Refugees’ next year. When I greet our guests at their Otway Escape, I tell them: “We now have koalas in our trees down on Matthews Creek and sugar glider possums.

I tell our guests you will not hear cars but a symphony of birds. I tell them they will marvel at the brightness of the stars. I tell them to sit - sit and stare.“

Otway Escapes 29

t: 0411 721 163

e: info@otwayescapes.com.au

w: www.otwayescapes.com.au

30

Sally Richardson

The joys of running the local General Store Sally Richardson transformed the modest Forrest General Store three years ago and it is now a vibrant emporium type establishment with good food and a diverse range of gifts and curios for sale.

What brought you to this part of the world?

After having been a communications designer and living overseas and interstate I wasn’t enjoying my job anymore.

My first job was working in Brumby’s Bakery in St Kilda and then the Turtle Cafe in Elwood, and I had always enjoyed hospitality and retail and customer service. So I had started looking in Melbourne for some hospitality opportunities but the market was saturated and expensive. None of them felt right in my gut. My sister and her husband then bought a farm in Wurdibuloc, and the first time I came to visit she had run out of wine and asked me to collect some from the Moriac General Store. I walked in there and thought to myself: “I could do something like this”... I then Googled ‘General Stores for sale’ in the south west region of Victoria and the Forrest General Store was the first to come up on realestate.com.au Otway Life Magazine Spring 2017

When I first drove into Forrest I loved the feel of the town, but I was slightly put off by the amount of work I would need to do. After researching Forrest and the area and businesses around I knew in my gut I could make it work. When my architect mate and retired builder father came through they were shocked at how much work needed to be done, and my father said jokingly that if I bought the store he would have me committed.

I always knew I would eventually move to the country and Forrest is such a beautiful place to live.

What do you love about living and running a General Store here in the Otways?

I love the local people and have been so lucky to be welcomed into this community. I get to talk with the most varied and interesting people in the area, whether it be the locals, commuters or suppliers. No day is ever the same. There is always something interesting going on. I am never bored.

After work I love walking my dogs in the bush and seeing all the different types of native flora and the fauna.

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What have been some of your challenges?

After being here for eight months and starting to feel like I knew what I was doing, I found out that I had breast cancer. It was hard being in start-up and then being pushed off to hospital urgently with the family cancer history etc. My parents and the people who worked with me were amazing and took over running the store. At the time I had been working six-seven days a week because I couldn’t afford a lot of staff but they covered me and kept it all going. The locals were so caring and kind to me. I got so many cards, and bunches of flowers, cakes etc. It was truly amazing. As I say to my friends in Melbourne, that wouldn’t have happened up there.

What are your hopes for the future?

There is so much more I want to do with the store. I want to expand the bakery function and sell more of our famous The experience has taught me that even sourdough in the area. I am planning to though the business is open 364 days a host local producer sampling nights and year, I need to have time off for my own locals’ dinners. Eventually I hope to sell takeaway wine and beers from the store. health and life.

33 Grant Street, Forrest, VIC 3236 Tel (03) 5236 6496 OPEN 8am-5pm everyday forrestgeneralstore.com.au

32 Arts

Chris Hoggard Nearly forty years ago I moved from Melbourne to an old farm in Beeac to try the self sufficient lifestyle.

This was the first of five properties that I have called home in this district and being a keen renovator and gardener I have enjoyed taking on the new challenges they have presented.

Eleven years ago I took on what has probably been my greatest challenge when I purchased a very sweet 125 year old cottage on three acres in Warncoort which needed a lot of tender loving care. I have enjoyed every minute of renovating the cottage, developing a garden and a studio to work in. Its garden has beautiful old oak trees and a date palm that have given me the basis to start my garden.

Training as an art teacher introduced me to a wide range of mediums including spinning, weaving, printmaking, painting and ceramics. My garden and the animals I am surrounded by, both domestic and wild, have become the main inspiration for my art work. I still paint, usually in oils and try to manage a few drawings, lino prints and etchings from time to time. Clay, however, has become my passion since I started creating garden ornaments to decorate my garden thirty odd years ago. I continue to make and sell my work at markets and various retail outlets around the district.

Otway Life Magazine Spring 2017

I use earthenware and raku clay to create hand-built, sculpted birdbaths and animal styled planters. I also enjoy experimenting with man-made and natural found objects to create surface textures in my pieces. There is something so satisfying about using clay! I think the tactile, earthy and forgiving nature of the clay is the attraction, and it is inclined to dictate the way in which a piece evolves. I love its 3-dimensional quality and have recently been exploring a range of techniques to create images on the surfaces of my work using screen printing techniques.

It has taken me four years after a major health scare to decide to have a change of lifestyle. I have taken the year off from my teaching role of thirty three years at Trinity College Colac teaching Art and Visual Communication to run pottery classes from home. This has also given me the time to return to a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Many of my students have had minimal experience with clay and it is so gratifying to watch them become more confident with each project they attempt. Teaching just one medium also challenged me to learn more and explore many areas of making and decorating that I have not used in my own work so that I can pass on new skills to others. I have loved meeting many lovely new people who have joined my classes and look forward to seeing what the future brings.

Arts 33

Pottery Classes I am running morning, afternoon, and evening classes in Warncoort.

A range of handbuilding and decorating techniques are taught in my well equipped studio. Students, after completing introductory sessions consisting of one two hour session per week for six weeks can then continue to explore and expand on their new learned skills.

My studio has a wood fire and split system so working space is pleasant in all weather. A minimum of six students per class allows for constant help and advice when needed. Students do not need previous experience, only a keen desire to learn in a relaxed, friendly environment with like minded people.

For more information contact Chris on 0429 311 698 or email :- hoggic@bigpond.com Student Testimonials

As a busy mum, taking some time out for myself is a challenge. Pottery has always been a distant passion of mine, and I was thrilled when

Chris started classes. She is local and classes are all varied during the day and evenings which are brilliant for us shift workers. The classes give me time to escape from daily pressures and to chat with a great bunch of people whilst learning new skills. J.W., Birregurra Be prepared to be inspired! Pottery classes with Chris are like creative yoga, with earth in hands you can let go of the day, dream big and sculpt amazing art works. - D.F., Forrest.

When we started pottery classes with Chris I struggled to contain my excitement. Eyes wide, keen to learn, big smile every week, thinking how lucky we are that this talented lady is sharing what she has learned over years and years with us! I’ve been inspired and guided to make things I never thought I could feel so proud of. Chris is relaxed and funny and a wonderful teacher. Love it! N.M., Elliminyt.

Chris provides experienced advice in construction and decorative technique whilst allowing each of us to work on projects of our choosing. I really appreciate Chris supporting us to extend our individual skills and creative ideas. M.P. Birregurra.

Our pottery classes are a relaxing and fun way to discover your inner talents. Excellent advise and all the means necessary, you are limited only by your imagination. M.J. Barongarook.

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34 Arts

Things of Soil & Silver Karen Harvey

My family love to tell the tale of how as a toddler I was often found in the garden quietly and intently examining snails! Not eating them as other children might do, but tracing the roundness of their shells and the deep dark spiral shapes and stripes. This eye for detail and fascination with nature continues in my work today - both in landscape design and jewellery making.

Originally from Melbourne, I have lived in many places in Australia and the UK. While in England I gained much inspiration for both of my passions: I visited many of the historic gardens of our landscaping forebears and I lived for quite a while near Birmingham and visited the famous Jewellery Quarter often - the centre of the UK’s jewellery making industry since 1553.

After many years of visiting my family who have lived in this district for over 35 years, I decided I’d love to live here too. So in late 2007 I moved to Warncoort, established my design business incorporating a garden sculpture gallery in Birregurra and designed and built my home, which I moved into in 2009.

My approach to garden design and construction is guided by a strong passion and respect for the environment, an essential element for gardens to be successful. I am a member of a group of dedicated and active environmentally aware horticulturists known as Sustainable Gardening Australia’s Green Gardening Professionals.

I’ve been lucky enough to work on some wonderful projects throughout this beautiful district: from private gardens to school playgrounds, aged care facilities, libraries, farm gardens and courtyards. The variety of work is one of the things I love about what I do. Another thing I love about my work is getting to meet so many extraordinary people from all walks of life - some of whom have become very good friends.

While designing gardens might be considered a creative outlet, I still had a need for my own source of creativity. The call of the jewellers’ workshops in Birmingham started working their magic and I decided to undertake a course in silversmithing.

Contemporary handcrafted and custom made sterling silver jewellery

Custom orders Personalised jewellery Workshops & Classes karenharveyjewellery.com karen@karenharveyjewellery.com 0400 427 839

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Otway Life Magazine Spring 2017

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Arts 35 Since then I have been creating contemporary handcrafted jewellery using sterling silver and other precious metals. The very idea of turning something as solid as a sheet of silver into a piece of wearable art fascinated me from the moment I tried it. Each day in the studio is full of learning, experimenting and making and is endlessly intriguing.

The processes I use are traditional silversmithing techniques and often include etching images or shapes into a piece. I also use found objects from nature such as seedpods, leaves and feathers. I love the fact that most of the sterling silver I use is re-milled here in Australia, making it a more environmentally aware choice.

I have long been inspired by nature and you’ll always find a bit of that in everything I do.

“Karen has always provided great assistance to us with her strong knowledge of gardens and landscaping, calm common sense approach to any problems and her excellent design and artistic ideas” - SC, Gellibrand “Thanks Karen for designing & transforming my garden and pool area from an eyesore into a beautiful yet practical space” - KH, Birregurra "Her knowledge of plants, shrubs, trees, flowers and colour allowed Karen to somehow incorporate my own ideas into transforming a backyard into a personal area of nature" - BC, Forrest “I wanted lots of natives to attract birds and this request was answered in her splendid plan. This is when I witnessed Karen’s committed and professional approach to her work as a landscape architect” - NS, Skenes Creek KHGD Ad Layout.indd 1

26/07/2017 3:20:52 PM

36 Arts

SPRINGTIME Arts Happenings

by Cinnamon Stephens

Welcome to Spring time on the Surf Coast! We have had the exciting confirmation that the community Art Space located opposite the Paddleboats in Anglesea, will be supported by the Shire until June 2018, so we have been busy locking in many inspiring new and popular returning exhibitions and events.

September will see the return of the Surf Coast Calendar exhibition. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2018, this exhibition will see plenty of Surf Coast artists entering artwork. Back in 1998 only 6 artworks featured in the calendar, but now we see 12 lucky artists who if selected, get a whole month to promote themselves on the fabulous Shire produced calendar that is now becoming a keepsake.

Another reason for visiting the exhibition, besides looking and having the opportunity to purchase locally made art, is to cast your people’s choice vote. The winner of this category will be featured on the calendar’s cover!

Artspot is a community exhibition that has also been running since the mid 1990’s. Organized by local art group, Surf coast Arts inc., it first popped up in Anglesea at the

Otway Life Magazine Autumn 2017

Cinnamon and Rohan in their workshop - Rebecca Hosking Photography

Art Space in 2016. This year it runs from September 27 to October 15. Another opportunity to see a huge amount of local artwork, with artist’s each being able to enter a number of pieces.

A new group will be showcased until the end of October; the All Aboard disABILITY Support Service will be exhibiting artworks created by their adult members. This inspiring group has been learning to understand and express emotion through various creative mediums.

Adam Stanley

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Caroline Hawkings Sea Dragon

November will be kicked off with the Anglesea Arthouse Printmakers at the Art Space.

The Melbourne Cup long weekend in November will Cinnamon Stephens also see the second year of the Anglesea Art Studios Open Weekend. Seven home studios featuring 14 artists located in and around Anglesea will be open from 11-4 Saturday November 4th – Monday 6th. Maps will be available at the Art Space and on Facebook.

The studios involved are: Studio 66 – Cinnamon and Rowan Stephens, creative metalwork, Solly/Giles Studio – Melinda and Matthew Solly, Jill and Geoff Giles, ceramics, printmaking, woodworking and painting, Ginkoh – Stephanie Hocking, contemporary jewellery, Treehouse Studio – Jill Treloar, painting, Muddy’s SheShed – Maggi Jean, Elaine d’Esterre and Evie Wood, ceramics, painting, printmaking and artist’s books, Moongate Studios – Jan and Geo. Francis, painting, sculpture and sculpture gardens and Caroline Hawkins’ Studio – sculptural weaving, (Caroline will be offering workshops over the weekend) For more information on the Open Studio Weekend phone Cinnamon on 0400 436 308 Surf Coast Art Space is open 11-4 most days at 103 Surf Coast Highway, Anglesea. Look out for the flags For information and bookings phone Julie Dyer on 0419 152 520

Geo Francis

Marion Smith

Melinda Solly

Nathan Pattersen

38 Arts

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Arts 39

William Shakespeare returns to the Otways in 2017

Tickets go on sale today for a new series of Shakespeare performances to be staged around the Otways in iconic outdoor locations this spring.

Produced by Otway Country to Coast Tourism Association and Regional Development Victoria, Shakespeare in the Otways: 2017 Spring Trilogy will feature three of the mostloved and celebrated of William Shakespeare’s works.

First in the trilogy will be the comedic classic A Midsummer Night’s Dream on 21 October, 2017 which will be performed against the majestic rainforest setting of The Otway Fly Treetop Adventures by local production company Skin Of Our Teeth Productions. Noted for works such as Richard The Third, and Pride and Prejudice, Skin of Our Teeth is an award-winning production company specialising in presenting contemporary and accessible theatre for actors, directors, writers and theatre-makers.

The next in the series is the enigmatic fantasy The Tempest, to be performed at Australia’s oldest working lighthouse - the Cape Otway Lightstation on 4 November.

Presented by Sly Rat Theatre Company, this production will combine the spectacle of ballet, the tragedy of opera, the delight of clowns and stunning visual effects, redefining what an outdoor Shakespeare event can be!

Finally, the primal passions and timeless themes of Romeo & Juliet will be staged amongst the beauty and romance of the vines at Otway Estate on November 18. Also performed by Sly Rat Theatre Company, Romeo & Juliet promises drama, love and tragedy as the sun sets across one of the most scenic parts of the Otways.

Lower-priced, early-bird tickets can be purchased from today for as little as $35 by visiting shakespeareintheotways.com, with additional discounts available if tickets to all three performances are purchased as a series. Children under 5 years are free.

Shakespeare in the Otways was conceived in response to the economic downturn resulting from the Great Ocean Road bushfires in 2015. Liz Price, General Manager of Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism Board said ”these events provide yet another outstanding opportunity for visitors to enjoy our region. The three plays will delight all ages and be a great addition to the region’s annual events calendar” she said.

This opportunity has been made possible by Regional Development Victoria and has been actively supported by the Colac Otway Shire and Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism.

Performance Details A Midsummer Night’s Dream Venue: Otway Fly Tree Top Adventures Saturday October 21 - 5pm

The Tempest Venue: Cape Otway Lightstation Saturday November 4 - 6:30pm

Romeo & Juliet Venue: Otway Estate When: Saturday November 18 - 6pm

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Corroboree Garden Program at the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie “It is important and vital that Aboriginal people continue to share stories and traditions” says local Aboriginal leader Corrina Eccles a Wadawurrung Women who has worked with Nathan Patterson a Torquay Aboriginal Artist in delivering an Aboriginal Art program across Geelong and the Surf Coast.

The program was originally founded with the support of the Rory McCaffrey Foundation with 15 students from Northern Bay College in Geelong participating in May 2014. Rory was a young Non-Aboriginal boy whose life was taken too short at the age of 17. Rory was inspired and loved learning about Aboriginal culture, his family started the foundation to honour his legacy with the focus of the foundation being reconciliation.

When Ian and Leanne Neeland, owners of the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie heard of the program, they knew they wanted to support such a wonderful opportunity in being continued.

“We’ve had this project in mind since we opened in Sept 2016 and we’re so glad to see it come to fruition to bring a powerful, engaging experience for our many thousands of visitors,” says Leanne Neeland, Managing Director of the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery.

The Corroboree Garden Program has seen Aboriginal students in the region work alongside Corrina and Nathan as mentors to paint totem poles that express their individual life stories and connection to the land.

Otway Life Magazine Spring 2017

The program helps connect Aboriginal young people to each other and art. The students feel proud that they can share their story through art, their story spreads the message and educates the wider community.

In June 2017 twelve Grovedale Secondary College students participated and their artwork is now installed as a permanent – and growing – installation amongst the 15 acres of grounds at the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie.

At the end of each program the students plant their bollards into the Corroboree Garden, with a traditional ceremony hosted by Corrina Eccles.

Ian and Leanne look forward to engaging with many indigenous students and schools and to have hundreds of bollards in the Corroboree Garden.

The original founder Fiona Reidy, says this artistic project provides a special opportunity for Aboriginal children to be culturally connected to a community: “The best journey of an Aboriginal child is for them to be enriched in culture, be able to feel proud of their identity and to know their identity.”

The Chocolaterie also have created a Coastal Bush Tucker Range of chocolates featuring bush tucker and native Australian ingredients with packaging designed by Nathan Patterson and proceeds from the sales fund the Corroboree Garden program.

First Nations 41

Corrina Eccles

a Wadawurrung Traditional owner Corrina’s Great Great Great Grandmother Queen Mary Robinson was a well-respected women and Elder of the Wadawurrung Tribe in late 1800’s. Her son John Robinson was also a valued and respected male of the tribe. The last of the Wadawurrung were made to reside on the Mt Duneed Reserve on Gazaphore Road Waurn Ponds. Corrina’s Great Grandmother and also her father were removed. Her family have been impacted by stolen Generation.

In 2012 Wadawurrung Corporation were approved as the Registered Aboriginal Party for the Wadawurrung Boundary which covers all of Geelong up to Painkalac Creek Airey’s inlet, Winchelsea River to the Werribee River, past Ballarat. Their core business is to oversee all cultural heritage of land and waters, to perform Traditional ceremonies, Welcome to Countries, Smoking ceremonies and dance ceremonies and deliver local cultural education and language. Wadawurrung Corporation recently released their Wadawurrung language app that can be downloaded on Iphone or ipad.

Corrina’s Grandmother Aunty Joyce Eccles is the eldest living Elder of the Wadawurrung cutodians aged 94 years.

She resides in a nursing home in Lara. Corrina recently became a grandmother and she is part of 5 generations still living in Wadawurrung Country. Her Grandmother, Father, herself, son and granddaughter.

Corrina walks her life as a cultural journey of her spiritual connection to ancestors, stories and cultural passion. She manages a young Aboriginal dance troupe which consists of up to 45 children. The children perform Aboriginal dance performances throughout Wadawurrung Country, Surf coast and Geelong.

Corrina’s endless passion, advocacy and strength has seen her been acknowledged for numerous awards. This year Corrina was awarded the First nations women of the year award on behalf of the City of Greater Geelong.

Corrina also volunteers her time with Surfing Victoria to assist with engaging young people in surfing programs to learn to surf, to connect them with the ocean. Corrina resides on the Surf coast in Torquay and works at Deakin at the Institute of Koorie Education as well as running her own cultural business Mok- borreeyn bagoork, meaning proud women in Wadawurrung language. The business assists and empowers Aboriginal people to share their cultural pride within our schools and communities.

She also delivers an Art program ‘Spreading the message” which consists of bollards being painted by young Aboriginal youth to share cultural identity and stories.

You can see these poles at the Chocolaterie and also the main entrance gate Geelong Football Club as part of their Djilang indigenous garden.

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Film

Tyson Jarvis: A whole in one If you haven’t heard of Tyson Jarvis, chances are you will very soon. His first feature length film, What Goes Around Comes Around premiered this year at the COPAC cinema. The movie, ‘A Hole in One production’ was written by Tyson Jarvis and Rebecca Anderson, starred Jarvis and was co-directed by him with by Mike Smallwood. The film was all made in and around Colac; utilizing the magnificent Botanical Gardens as a sort of scenic gateway to the afterlife, the local courts and hospital were co-operative, the extremely competent overhead photography masterfully shot with a drone by Mike Smallwood and the most staggering thing about the film is it only cost about $2000. My estimation from watching it would have been $50,000. The story revolves around a drunkdriving bogan, a pair of newly-weds, a web of family intrigues and conflicts and an ultimate retributionslash-redemption. The production is a triumph of networking and co-operation, an example of how friends and a community can create something much bigger than the sum of its parts. Tyson who spent two years studying drama at NIDA has a passion for cinema that is very evident when you meet him, it’s the sort of passion you’d need to bring a project like this to completion.

Tyson and his team have already embarked on a trilogy of films entitled The James Gibson Story which is also set to be locally produced with some filming in the Geelong Gaol. The first instalment should be completed by 2018. He’s not the first film maker to use Colac as a background, four years ago Jarrod Theodore and Lachlan Ryan filmed the mad-cap Reverse Runner here to some acclaim. Hole in One’s new venture has a budget of around $15,000 and themes in the James Gibson story include hefty helpings of crime and romance. The production company also has a horror movie in the works, they just need to find the creepiest house in Colac!

What Goes Around has stylistic echoes of directors like Vincent Ward and David Michôd while also being very down home. I would suggest this is a great opportunity for any aspiring film-maker to see just what can be done on a micro budget. The film is a celebration of what is possible, a local triumph and another example of burgeoning regional creativity.

Hole in One Productions are on Facebook if you’d like to see what they are up to and The DVD of What Goes Around…is available at Cow Lick bookshop for $19.95.

Otway Life Magazine Autumn 2017

Books 43

Books

with Neil Drinnan Peter Edwards: a deadly Otway obsession!

If ever there was a self-styled, self motivated, self published man then it’s author Peter Edwards.

He is the author of two books, Bushmore’s Dark Secrets and All Mine, A Story of Obsession. Both novels are thrillers and each owes much to the forests of the Otways and the Great Ocean Road for their settings and inspiration.

Edwards is joyfully and defiantly self-published. He loves meeting his readers face to face and is a regular stall holder at markets all the way from Torquay to Portland.

Edward’s stories are both gripping page turners filled with family secrets and ruthless power struggles. All Mine reveals a dangerously intimate knowledge of organized crime in Victoria and had me asking him whether or not these ‘crime families’ were based on anyone he knew. He smiled wryly but was non-committal.

Bushmore’s Dark Secrets is set around Bushmore, a fictional town that were it to exist would be somewhere around Beech Forest but I never met anyone up there called Meatlips or Swampy, a riotous pair who run the Bushmore Motocross Championship with loutish glee. All Mine has a wider scope and a broader sweep and tangles with organised crime on a national scale.

Edwards is at his best when immersing his readers in dialogue which can be anything from brutal to hilarious and his books would be well enjoyed by anyone who likes Peter Temple or Robert A. Barrett.

Look out for Peter Edwards at markets and festivals throughout the Otways or pick the books up at Cow Lick Bookshop in Colac or buy online at allminestories.com .

Both retail for $24.95

Connecting the Otways to a place of true wonder Kylie Treble is something of a regional wonder, connecting as she does, people with home grown wholesome food and her own recipes and tips for sustainable living and cooking. In her book Connect she shares multiple ways to multi-task in the kitchen with fantastic ideas on how to involve everyone in the home with the food preparation process and the celebration of growing food and eating.

Each chapter (which is an individual vegetable, plant, fruit, legume or dairy ingredient) offers tips on ‘social connecting’ with that ingredient and ideas on how to minimize waste, time and energy in recipes using that food type. Treble’s own property and home in Newfield ‘is’ The Place of Wonder,’ there she hosts meals and garden tours as well as running workshops on cheese-making and sour dough. Her local ‘meal box subscription’ ensures a monthly delivery of home-grown fare and a selection of her own recipes for the accompanying food. Connect is an amazing and beautifully produced book, both sumptuous and seasonal. Her passion for the entire process from garden to gate is inspiring and her planting notes thoughtful and gratifying.

Kylie Treble’s goal is to ‘equip individuals and communities with the required impetus, knowledge and tools to take a mindful and considered approach toward constructing their own food system. Gardening and cooking are connected activities, there’s a lot in my book about companion planting and biomimicry in the garden but that can be taken into the kitchen too. A lot of plants that are compatible in the garden are also compatible in cooking too!’

This spring The Place of Wonder will be hosting tours and tastings so jump online and book now. www.theplaceofwonder.com.au email: info@theplaceofwonder.com.au

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Otway Sleepovers 45

Otway Escapes Welcome to “Glenaire Park”. Our delightful timber cottages are set well apart in 100 acres of bird filled forest with extraordinary views over the wild Southern Ocean and the heritage listed Aire River Estuary.

If you are planning to drive the Great Ocean Road and are looking for suitable Great Ocean Road Accommodation while taking time out to explore the magnificent Otway Coast consider the warm, welcoming atmosphere of Glenaire Cottages.

Glenaire Cottages offer the perfect Otway getaway with easy access to Johanna Beach, Castle Cove, Otway National Park, the Aire River, the Great Ocean Walk and stunning drive along the Great Ocean Road to the Cape Otway Lighthouse, The Otway Fly and the Twelve Apostles.

No matter what new and amazing activities you want to experience on your holiday, Glenaire Cottages and its pet friendly policy could be your perfect place to enjoy them.

For couples seeking romance, OTWAY ESCAPES offers 4 uniquely designed properties.

OTWAYS NUMBER 105: Architecturally designed “Pole House” with mezzanine on 4ha with 180 degree views of The Otways.

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OTWAY ESCAPES LOVE SHACK: Apartment accommodation with 360 degree rural and Otway views.

LOVE IS IN THE AIRSTREAM: Glamping in style!

A 1966 renovated Airstream Caravan including outdoor Star gazing Bath with spectacular rural and bush views.

Re-awaken your senses with the romance of wood fires, spa’s, saunas, artwork and Japanese plunge baths. Experience and embrace beautiful gardens and outdoor sculptures with an abundance of birdlife and animals. Indulge with packages prepared with local produce. Enjoy spectacular views over rolling hills and the Otways, all within close proximity of the Great Ocean Road, Lorne and Birregurra.

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46 Otway Sleepovers Otways Accommodation

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otway businesses - contact us to be part of the buzz

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At Forrest Guesthouse you can stop and relax.

Enjoy the abundant nature and waterfall walks close by or if you like to move at a faster pace, ride the renowned mountain bike trails that wind through the Otways.

Onsite restaurant Bespoke Harvest uses fresh produce from our garden & surrounding farms that capture the taste & flavour of the Otways. Featuring 80% local ingredients for lunch & dinner.

Friday & Saturday dinner is a set menu where you relax and enjoy the local harvest. Our menu is continually changing as the produce provides.

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Otway Life Magazine Spring 2017

The Good Life 47

The Good Life

by Ami Hillege

Which is our busiest season? It has to be spring. We’re spinning our wheels to get on top of the chores that need doing. Coming off a cold wet winter, there are mini jungles growing in our what should be neat garden beds.

work waiting for us. The garden beds are being choked by grass. The good thing is that pulling out weeds will be easy as the ground is soft and wet. I might forego pruning the roses this year. They’ll bloom anyway.

Right now we’re in damage control. Who said life would be all honey and roses on the land?! We planted a few thousand cloves of garlic (by hand!) in June. Life got busy and we got side tracked by the arrival of our first grandchild. It was and still is an amazing thing! Anyway, back to the garlic. We didn’t net it properly. We mulched the long rows with pea straw and hoped that would keep the pesky birds off the newly planted beds. Usually the cockatoos give the new buds a good going over if left exposed. So instead of erecting our usual net structure, we threw the nets loosely on top of the mulch.

A few hard frosts have done quick work with all the potted succulents. They were looking really good. Oh well… I’ll just have to replace them with flowering annuals. The geraniums around the garden took a hammering. They’ll need pruning right back and hopefully they’ll recover.

Then we took off to a warm sunny place for a couple of weeks and came home to find that the black swamp hens have been feasting on the soft delicate garlic shoots. What a waste of time and effort! What do we do now? After close inspection, we have found that not all is lost. So our first job is to lift the nets again and give the garlic a chance to grow. Who knows, this early little ‘pruning’ may be good.

We will wait and see.

In our hurry to get our crop into the ground, we left a fair bit of seed unplanted. I did a quick stock take in the garlic shed and have found that most of the garlic hanging there has started sprouting. The crop in the paddock that may not be sufficient for our summer needs, so I’m going to plant some more sprouted seeds into my vegetable garden which is permanently netted. It is too late to plant garlic seed. Who knows if this will be a waste of time or not. But we will give it a try.

The yard needs mowing. Desperately. However, it’s too wet still. The best we can do is to neaten the grassy edges of the garden and wait. Wait for a few more sunny days so the grass can dry off a little.

I’ve realised that the image in my head of having a pristine country garden that is manicured to within an inch of its life is unrealistic. Instead of focusing on what I feel is a calamity at my feet when I step into the garden, I need to lift my head and enjoy the big picture. I can see the borage flowers attracting the bees. The camellia bushes are bursting with colour. The lemon tree is groaning with fruit and the fragrance when I run my hand over the mint in the mint bed is refreshing and uplifting.

Caring for our small piece of land comes at a cost. Mostly time and physical energy. Two things that are sometimes in short supply. The rewards are wonderful though. This is indeed a good life.

We’re coming into Spring this year on the back foot. I look about the garden and feel overwhelmed at the volume of

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Advertorial

Sustainable Table The temperate climate and typography of the Otway Ranges provide an ideal setting for the sustainable production of food and other products for the local community. A ‘sustainable table’ is one that uses local food grown using ecological and ethical practices that: Contribute to a thriving local economy and sustainable livelihoods; Protect the diversity of both plants and animals and the welfare of farmed and wild species; Avoid damaging or wasting natural resources or contributing to climate change; Provide social benefits, such as good quality food, safe and healthy products, and educational opportunities.

Please support these local industries and be healthy at the same time!

Otway Life Magazine Autumn 2017

Your local mindful organic and health food store which sells a wide range of bulk foods, including flour, nuts, rice, legumes and dried fruit, you can take as much or as little as you like.

Organic grocery items, vitamins and supplements, probiotics, baby and pregnancy goods, locally grown and produced food, gluten free products, organic and eco-friendly body care and detergents.

Promoting low food miles, sustainability, local shopping, conscious eating and a balanced lifestyle.

Stocking items such as Otway Fields preserves, Meredith Dairy cheeses and yoghurt, Love Tea and Southern Light Herbs, The Fermentary Kefir and Kimchi, Loving Earth Chocolate, Zeally Bay Sourdough Bread and Who Gives A Crap toilet paper, paper towel and tissues just to name a few.

Pop in and see the passionate staff, and respect your body and mind by feeding it well.

72 Murray Street, Colac. Phone (03) 5232 1111

Otway Prime is one of Victoria’s early movers on the paddock-to-plate concept for beef and lamb, clearly identifying their own concerns and a growing consumer awareness around intensive farming practices.

Our livestock are all free-ranged and grass-fed and the beautiful Otway region with its cool, pristine, high rainfall environment provides the perfect backdrop for the farm business. Long growing seasons and plentiful water allows livestock to graze peacefully in paddocks sheltered by the national park.

Our meats are available from many of the fabulous farmer’s markets in the greater Otway region, including South Geelong, Torquay, Airey’s Inlet and Apollo Bay. At these markets we proudly sit alongside some particularly talented local farmers and artisan producers.

So take the opportunity to drop by for a visit during your summer holiday and savour not just Otway Prime’s grass-fed, dry aged beef and lamb, but also some of the region’s wonderful and unique produce. www.otwayprime.com.au

The Calvert family has deep roots in Irrewarra. A Western District farming area near Colac, Calverts first farmed here in the 1840s. The bakery is in the restored stables of Irrewarra House – once filled with the aroma of horses and straw, it now exhales the heavenly aromas of freshly baked bread. Irrewarra is an Aboriginal word meaning “long spear throw”.

Traditional home of the Kolak clan, Irrewarra is now famous for sourdough bread and Irrewarra biodynamic ice-cream.

This is artisan bread at its finest.

Rustic and pure, our bread is not tainted with commercial yeast or preservatives and is created in a time honoured tradition. Shaped by hand and baked on the stone floor of the oven, every loaf is the individual expression of our bakers’ hands.

Never heavy or sour, our bread is the culmination of a 30-hour fermentation and proofing process.

But the real proof is in the tasting. www.irrewarra.com.au

Direct from the farmer, paddock to plate, grown in Victoria’s Otway Ranges.

Irrewarra Sourdough Bakery T. (03) 5233 6219 www.irrewarra.com.au

phone: 0428 112 212 email: udi@otwayprime.com.au www.otwayprime.com.au

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Experience & enjoy...

The Road Less Travelled PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS

Email: tim@digitalnature.com.au www.timlucasphotography.com.au

Otway Life Magazine Spring 2017

the great activities and events in the Otways during Winter COLAC OTWAY SHIRE Calendar FRI 8 SEPTEMBER Community Hub Inc – 10 Year Celebration Colac Community Hub www.communityhubinc.org.au SAT 16 & SUN 17 SEPTEMBER Amy’s Gran Fondo Apollo Bay and Lorne www.amysgranfondo.org.au SAT 23 SEPTEMBER Colac Garden and Lifestyle Expo Colac Showgrounds, 9am-3pm www.smcolac.catholic.edu.au SAT 23 SEPT TO SUN 8 OCT Hunt for the Golden Gumboot Old Beechy Rail Trail SAT 7 & SUN 8 OCTOBER Colac Orchid Show Colac Showgrounds, 10am-4pm

SAT 14 & SUN 15 OCTOBER Birregurra Festival & Art Show Birregurra, 10am-5pm www.birregurrafestival.com SHAKESPEARE IN THE OTWAYS SAT 21 OCT A Midsummer Night’s Dream - Otway Fly SAT 4 NOV The Tempest Cape Otway Lightstation SAT 18 NOV Romeo & Juliet Otway Estate Winery & Brewery www.visitotways.com FRI 20 TO SUN 22 OCTOBER Weekend of Family History COPACC and various locations across the Shire SUN 22 OCTOBER Cressy Quilt and Art Show Cressy Public Hall sonia.plant@spin.net.au

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Events SPRING 2017

WED 25 OCTOBER Warrion Flower Show Warrion Hall, 1pm - 9pm THURS 26 OCTOBER Children’s Week Colac Botanic Gardens, 10am -1pm www.colacotway.vic.gov.au FRI 3 TO SUN 5 NOVEMBER Colac Show Colac Showgrounds www.colacshow.com.au SAT 4 NOVEMBER Forrest Flicks – TBC Forrest Hall, 7.45pm www.forrestvictoria.com SAT 25 & SUN 26 NOVEMBER Colac Otway Wood Design Exhibition COPACC

WED 29 NOV TO SUN 3 DEC Targa Florio – Australian Tribute Great Ocean Road www.targaflorioaustralia.com MARKETS Apollo Bay Community Market Every Saturday Apollo Bay Foreshore Apollo Bay Farmers’ Market Third Sunday of each month Apollo Bay Youth Club Birregurra Market Second Sunday of each month (Nov – Apr) Birregurra Park Otway Makers & Growers Market Fourth Sunday of each month Echidna House, Kawarren

Promote your event with us www.colacotway.vic.gov.au

Colac & District Family History Group Inc.

WEEKEND of Family History

Friday 20th - Sunday 22nd October 2017 Colac Otway Performing Arts & Cultural Centre Cnr Rae & Gellibrand Streets COLAC

Phone: 03 52315736 Email: media@colacfamilyhistory.org.au Website: www.colacfamilyhistory.org.au www.facebook.com/colacdistrictfamilyhistory

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Aged care at home no need to move!

Mollie Sullivan, Prompt Care’s Director of Care and Barwon Downs resident, writes about the rewarding experience of providing aged care at home to the communities of the Otways.

Back in June 2016, we signed up our first client for home care in the Barwon Region. At that time he was in hospital in Colac, and the team responsible for his health care was considering that he move straight into residential care. Fortunately, we were able to provide an alternative that meant that there was no need for the gentleman to permanently leave his home in order to get the care he required. This alternative is called a Home Care Package, which is funded by the Australian Government.

Otway Life Magazine Spring 2017

Thanks to the care package, we were able to provide daily care for two weeks whilst the gentleman got back on his feet. The Home Nursing Service from Colac Area Health also visited regularly during this time. Prior to commencing care with us, the gentleman had a number of falls when travelling to and from the local Adult Day Activity Program. So we arranged for one of our team to drive him to and from the program. The care package (a ‘Level 4’, which provides funding of around $50,000 each year) also paid for new better fitting shoes, repair of his walking frame and regular delivered meals.

Despite a number of ongoing health issues, with our help the gentleman was able to get back to attending Freemason’s meetings and to have his mates call by to watch the footy and country races on TV. We are proud to say that he never had another fall after commencing care with us.

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Our Home Care Packages aim to provide good health care as well as emphasising the enjoyment of rural and coastal living. A number of our clients are retirees who have moved to the beautiful Surf Coast. They enjoy the mix of bushland and beach. One client enjoys a regular walk along the Lorne Pier, as it keeps him active and well. Another client enjoys going for a drive and lunch along the coast – this gives his wife a break from her caring role. One of our Geelong clients is happy to have had the help he needs to have his organic veggie garden ready for Spring planting.

If you think that you, or a relative, may be interested in receiving a Home Care Package, please give us a call on 1800 472 273 and ask to speak to our Barwon team. They are experienced at navigating the aged care system and can help you to get the care you need. Our home care service has consistently met the standards for quality care and we pride ourselves on our commitment to helping the most vulnerable members of the community.

We are always looking for new staff to join our team, particularly care workers who live along the coast and in Geelong. It is very rewarding to help the older people of the Otways to continue to live in their own home.

Email careers@promptcare.com.au for an application form.

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Anam Cara Volunteer

Julie Foley

Before we begin, please tell us a bit about yourself Julie…

Well, I grew up in a dairy farming family, one of nine children.

We had a wonderful life on the land. I was born in Beeac and we moved to Camperdown when I was five and worked on a share dairy. Dad worked on the Hampden shire as there wasn’t enough money on the share farm to support a large family.

After eight years in Camperdown we then moved to Hamilton working for Mr.Bob Strachan who had three large dairy farms that supplied all of Hamilton and surrounding districts with milk. We ran his farm on Port Fairy Rd called Old Monivae where we milked 300 cows and hand reared all the heifer calves each year. We loved it there for eleven wonderful years.

Dad’s health started to fail so we moved back to Beeac in 1980. I entered the Sisters of The Good Samaritan that same year and studied child care before becoming a teachers aide. Then worked for three years with children with disabilities at Mater Dei school at Camden NSW. In 1988-89 I studied a course called ‘Habilitation not Rehabilitation’ as this course was focused on adults with disabilities who had never been habilitated. I didn’t get to work in this field as I was having trouble coping with depression associated with religious life.

For the last six months that I was with The Good Samaritans I worked at our nursing home for our elderly sisters called Polding Villa which is named after the founder of the Good Samaritans Archbishop John Bede Polding. I came home at the end of 1991 as I felt it was the right way of coping with my depression. I had mixed feelings but it was the right thing to do.

I joined a church family group of which I’m still a member at St Mary’s where we have monthly gettogethers. I also began to work with the Colac Council Otway Life Magazine Spring 2017

Julie Foley, Sarah Lawless, Sherryl Combridge, Liz Gorman

doing home help and with the Activity Centre in Miller Street where elderly people would come to visit and enjoy each other’s company.

It is an honour and a privilege to have been asked by Naomi if I would like to give my thoughts on what it’s like to be a volunteer.

There are many opportunities to volunteer in our community, why did you choose Anam Cara?

I have enjoyed working both as a volunteer and a personal carer assistant at Anam Cara House.

I studied Cert 111 in Aged Care in 2013. When I did my placement of 120 hours, there were some experiences I had where I could see there is a better way of dealing with different situations.

When I came to Anam Cara in 2014, I liked their philosophy and the way they make the transition between time in hospital and going back home as stress free as possible.

What are the challenging aspects of volunteering for Anam Cara?

I do like a challenge. I like working as a team, knowing when the guests need your help and when to let them do what they can, when they can.

What are some of the rewards you have experienced personally?

Knowing that I’ve been able to help a person in need is very important to me. Some may believe that being with people who are dying is depressing.

Can you share how palliative care volunteering enriches your own quality of life?

Allowing a person to die in peace with dignity is part of Anam Cara’s philosophy. Being there for a person when they are at their most vulnerable point in life continues to be a privilege for me.

Thank you Julie for all you have done to help the guests at Anam Cara.

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