ISSUE 39 AUTUMN 2014 Priceless
Major Sponsors
Sponsors
Contents Autumn 2014
5. Ballarat Goes Tartan
22. Genius & Ambition
6. Through Her Lens
24. Hidden Gems
7. A Forgotten Hotspot in Central Victoria
25. Heathcote & Surrounds
8. Mushroom Source 10. Taryan’s Pack of Alpacas 13. Secrets Style – Designed to Sell
28. A Man Who Know His Wine 34. Breakfast Bowl 38. The Highest Train Station in Victoria Returns
14. Tapestry; Soothing Booster
Regulars:
15. Sense of Place
35. Quick Peek
16. Buy a Business and Make The Tree Change
36: Astrology
19. Town on a Plate & Recipe
From The Editor To me autumn is a season of transition – leaving behind the challenges of summer heat and threats of fire, we move slowly toward the rigours of winter, but along the way we can enjoy the most benign and delightful weather that autumn always manages to serve up. This is the season for wild mushrooms and we bring you two fascinating stories about “mushrooming”, accompanied by stunning images from Alison Pouliot whose passion for the environment and photography show the humble mushie in an entirely different light. We are very grateful to Alison for allowing us to use some of her stunning images in the articles and our cover.
Two new contributors from autumn - Stephen Read is a Landscape Designer with a deep concern for the environment and how we fit into it. His piece on A Sense Of Place, is thought provoking. Stephen Oates, joins us with a regular wine column - this man has probably forgotten more about wine, than most of us will ever know. Our Town on a Plate feature travels to Bendigo this issue, with a delicious lamb dish developed by Nick Anthony, head chef and owner of Masons of Bendigo. Nick kindly shares his recipe with us, and be prepared, it’s a big one. Linley Wilkie talks with a very impressive young woman Taryan Kotsiakos who runs an alpaca herd on her parent’s farm near Kyneton. Taryan
talks of her passion for these gorgeous animals and her plans for the future. We have lots more in this issue including a new feature called The Breakfast Bowl, to help you find cafes in the region that serve breakfast – the most important and now a very social meal of the day. If you’re in Melbourne on 11th, 12th & 13th April, come and visit us at the Regional Victoria Lifestyle Expo at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre where we’ll be sharing a stand with Herbal Lore Liqueurs. It’s free entry and a great way to explore what regional Victoria has to offer. Enjoy the glories of autumn. Norma Morton Editor
ISSUE 39 - AUTUMN 2014 PUBLISHED BY Secrets Magazine ABN 35 535 679 949 MAILING ADDRESS PO Box 356 Creswick VIC 3363 T 03 5345 7260 | E info@secretsmagazine.com.au W www.secretsmagazine.com.au EDITOR Norma Morton ONLINE / ARTWORK & LAYOUT Nick Morton COVER ”Mycena Epipterygia“ – Alison Pouliot – alisonpouliot.com CONTRIBUTORS Linley Wilkie, Roger McLean, Lyndall McQuinn, Stephen Read, Michael Kerr, Steve Oates, Alison Pouliot All content in this publication is copyright and may not be re-produced in whole or in part in any form without prior permission of the publisher. Secrets will be distributed quarterly throughout Victoria and various tourism outlets as well as various South Australian outlets. Secrets is also available from cafes, restaurants, B&B’s, hotels and shops. All care is taken to ensure accuracy of articles and advertising, however the publishers accept no responsibility for errors or omissions and references are a guide only and not intended as a recommendation.
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Self-portrait (aged 20) Georgiana McCrae 1824 State Library of Victoria
Ben Cruachan, Argyllshire, West Highland cattle John Isaac Richardson Art Gallery of Ballarat, Gift of David McNaught, 1891
Ballarat Goes Tartan Ballarat will be turning tartan this Autumn with For Auld Lang Syne, a celebration of the Scots in Australia at the Art Gallery of Ballarat.
at home in Melbourne in the 1840’s by her father and that the wine industry in Australia was founded by the Scot James Busby.
The Scots were very active colonists, taking the lead in everything from discovery and exploration through to science and education. Their legacy is celebrated by the exhibition that includes an amazing array of nearly 300 objects and artworks from private collectors as well as local, national and international institutions.
For Auld Lang Syne has taken six years to develop and curators Dr Alison Inglis and Patricia Tryon Macdonald have been amazed by the complex networks of creativity and patronage that have emerged in their research into the individuals, families and organisations that made up Scottish Australia in the nineteenth century.
The Gallery has even developed and registered the Ballarat Tartan, reflecting aspects of the area’s rich history.
For Auld Lang Syne delves into details of everything from fashion and sport to high art and whisky. It brings all manner of curious stories to the surface. Some of the stories include learning that the first game of golf played in Australia was at Ratho in Tasmania; Australia’s first Catholic saint Mary Mackillop was a Scottish Gaelic speaker having been taught the language
Included are some amazing drawings by convict artist Thomas Watling from the Natural History Museum in London, which are coming to Australia for the first time since they were created. Other works have come from private owners across Australia. The exhibition is accompanied by a lavishly illustrated catalogue including essays by leading scholars on aspects of the Scottish presence in Australia.
Ben Lomond John Glover – circa 1840 National Gallery of Australia
Scarlet and green parrot Thomas Watling Natural History Museum, London
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Through Her Lens Alison Pouliot has a background as a research ecologist, whose foremost passion is exploring the natural environment. She is fascinated with the design, diversity and connectedness of living things. She is also a very talented photographer and through her images she endeavours not only to share her wonderment of the natural world, but also to reinforce the need for its nurturing and protection. Alison runs workshops on the diversity and curiosities of the Kingdom of fungi. To find out where and when the workshops will be held, and to see more of her stunning images, visit the website www.alisonpouliot.com
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A Forgotten Hotspot in Central Victoria
While Central Victoria may be better known for its gourmet food, wineries and weekend getaways, the region also holds another secret. Mushrooms! Indeed fungi are often referred to as the Forgotten Kingdom. Central Victoria is a hotspot for a great diversity of fungi in every imaginable colour, shape and form. Foraging for edible mushrooms is becoming an ever more popular pastime in Victoria. With their earthy fragrances of wet forest, mushrooms truly capture the essence of autumn and add interest to a forest stroll. However, those who fancy collecting a few mushies for dinner should take heed. Always be absolutely sure of the identity of wild-picked fungi. Dangerously poisonous species lurk among the edibles that could land you in hospital or even in the grave. Telling them apart takes time and experience. Further to the joy of some freshly picked edible mushrooms, there is much more to fungi than those destined for the pan.
Although we often don’t think about fungi until mushrooms push through the soil, fungi exist all year underground where they are hard at work maintaining the healthy functioning of Central Victoria’s ecosystems. Furthermore, dozens of native mammals rely on fungi as a vital food source. Generally, fungi are fairly indigestible to humans, hence we’re best just to eat them in small quantities. So if you’re collecting edible fungi, remember to just take what you’ll eat, so as to leave plenty for our native fauna. Central Victoria offers a great diversity of habitats where one is likely to encounter fungi. If you’d like to know more about these intriguing organisms you may like to attend a workshop, which includes an interactive and illustrated seminar on the natural and cultural history of fungi, the basics of fungus identification. For more information visit www.alisonpouliot.com
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Mushroom Source By Linley Wilkie
Richard Ford has always enjoyed the adventure associated with finding things and wild mushrooms are his forte. He has been foraging for fungi for more than 25 years, selling his pickings to top restaurants and guiding fellow mushroom lovers on an annual hunt through select pockets of the Macedon Ranges. Needless to say, autumn is usually his busiest time of the year, picking for hours on end, three or four days a week. It’s impossible to calculate the exact numbers, as there are so many variables involved. “Some years foraging will get down to three months and others will stretch out to nine,” he says. “The mushrooms really rely on climate. If it has been fairly wet and warm, you’re guaranteed to find a lot of mushrooms and they’ll come very quickly, all at once. If it’s been dry and hot, they’ll come very late but the duration will stretch out.” When Secrets met with Richard, he was waiting for the inevitable spell of wetter, cold weather, which naturally kicks off the season. “The lead up this year has been very unpredictable – I’m yet to see what 40 degrees does,” he says, referring to January’s heatwave. “I’m expecting it to be a late starting season, that’ll probably run late.” Over the course of a season, Richard estimates he will pick a couple of tonnes of mushrooms. He says the job calls for impatience and curiosity – you don’t hang around a patch too long, just keep moving. “Sometimes the mushrooms are prolific on the ground, but usually at the beginning and the end of the season you just can’t look enough because they’re hard to find. The more hours you spend, the more kilos you’ll find.” Richard has been picking mushrooms since moving from England to Macedon as a child. “This Maltese guy took us to the forest and we’d pick these horrible brown mushrooms.” It was working in commercial
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kitchens years later that sparked his interest in selling wild mushrooms and he has supplied produce for top-notch restaurants such as Circa, The Prince and The European. In keeping with his propensity to hunt, Richard secured these relationships by scouring The Age Good Food Guide for venues using mushrooms in their dishes and simply giving them a call. Naturally, it was a win-win for both parties. “Wild food is better than cultivated food, as everyone’s starting to find out.” Richard says cultivating mushrooms is a fairly simple process, with white mushrooms arguably the most popular choice. Given Richard’s decades of successful fossicking however, it’s not surprising that he doesn’t follow the trend himself. “When all the wild ones in the forest are picked and eaten, then I’ll grow some. But I’m not sure why we grow them when there are so many rotting in the ground.” Richard partners with local restaurants to take people mushroom picking, the safest option to ensure they’re only picking the edible variety. “Mushroom foraging interests people from all walks of life,” Richard says. “We know so little about mushrooms, yet they’re such a large part of our world. This season, Richard is once again teaming up with Olive Jones Restaurant of Macedon. Together with chef Mark Renaud, Richard guides participants through the mushrooms that are safe to pick and eat, before returning to the
restaurant with Mark to prepare and cook the wild mushrooms in delicious dishes. “We have a big variety around here because of the forestry commission that was established,” explains Richard. “Victoria set up Australia’s very first forestry industry in about 1880 and the guy who ran it did a lot of work selecting the right ones from around the world. I gather he brought a lot over in pots, because there are a lot of European and American mushrooms here.” He gives the examples of pine mushrooms (“also
called saffron milk caps, these are really useful staying firm and keep their shape”), slippery jacks (“they go a bit soft so they’re not so appealing”), forest varieties of white mushrooms, grey ghosts and the wonderfully named plums and custard. “They’re absolutely beautiful; plum coloured on top, then you turn it over and it’s custard yellow underneath,” says Richard, before adding they have a sour, acquired taste. At the end – or the start – of the day, how does Richard prefer his mushrooms? “I eat them on toast with eggs and bacon, or in a stew,” he says. “Now I tend to throw them in everything I cook.” Olive Jones’ Mushroom Forage Day is scheduled for the end of March/ beginning of April. Call 5426 3700 for more information and bookings.
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Taryan’s Pack of Alpacas By Linley Wilkie
Taryan Kotsiakos has been surrounded by alpacas since before she can remember. Far from merely cavorting with the hundreds of cute and cuddly creatures on her parent’s alpaca farm however, the Baynton student became joint owner of the herd in 2012 and is highly regarded within the alpaca community. This year, Taryan is about to embark on life’s next chapter which she hopes will further her career with alpacas. Not bad for someone who turns 19 this April. Taryan’s parents Erika and Con acquired their first alpaca in 1994 and officially began breeding them the following year after Taryan was born. The stud soon moved from nearby Benloch to the current Baynton property, Yenaminut Alpaca Stud. “It eventuated from our slang,” explains Taryan of the unique name. “Dad called to Mum for something and she said, ‘Yeah, in a minute’. It suited us so well, we ran with it.” Taryan naturally followed Erika around paddocks as a toddler and her passion grew each year. “I learnt at quite a young age that you have to look after animals and that encouraged me to care for them, because I adored them.” She was fascinated while watching her first alpaca autopsy and was involved in the selective breeding process while still in primary school. “I knew dads couldn’t go to daughters, but at that age I wasn’t quite sure why,” Taryan recalls. “It was also a bit of an escape, because I didn’t like school that much.” When she was 12 years old, Taryan was eager to participate in Australian Alpaca Association shows, but her parents were hesitant. “Mum and Dad showed horses when I was younger, so they’d done the show day routine of waking early for preparation and didn’t want to go back there”. Taryan finally got her way and the family attended a small Alpaca show in Seymour.
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“We met new and old acquaintances, won a couple of ribbons and all got the show bug,” she says. To date, Taryan has successfully shown alpacas in Seymour, Wangaratta, Wodonga and Bendigo. Last year she was awarded Best Overall Competitor at the Parader section (a category exclusively for young people) of the Australian Alpaca Association’s National Show and was awarded Paraders Apprentice Judge at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. In 2012, local alpaca breeder John Tully offered Taryan his herd of 19 Cuzko alpacas, making her one of the youngest breeders in Australia. Taryan says being part owner of Yenaminut and full owner of this new stud proved how much responsibility she could undertake without reaching breaking point. Taryan was contacted by the Australian Alpaca Youth group, who support and encourage young people interested in alpacas and was given the role of Victorian ambassador – a proud moment.” After taking a gap year in 2013, Taryan recently moved from Yenaminut to begin a Forensic Science degree at Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds campus. Never shying away from thinking big, she would
love to make a name for herself in humanbased work, learning techniques under the guidance of world-class researchers. Not surprisingly, Taryan would then like to move into alpaca research. “The genetics of alpacas is hugely interesting to me,” she says, noting a handful of names she highlighted at last year’s World Alpaca Conference in New Zealand. “Colour genetics is so exciting to me. The more funky the colour the better – I want to breed one with stripes.” Is that even possible? “I don’t know,” she says with a smile. “But I’m going to find out.” Australian Alpaca Week Open Farms is on from March 29 to April 6. For more information, visit www.alpaca.asn.au.
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Secrets Magazine | Issue 39 - Autumn 2014 | 11
BEAN AND BARROW 86 Albert Street Creswick
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T 03 8376 9605 A bustling country café serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and an impressive display of homemade cakes and scones. Gluten free and coeliac friendly. Free Wi Fi. Offering quality coffee from barista trained staff. facebook.com/beanandbarrowcafe
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30 Piper Street, Kyneton 3444 Phone 03 5422 6614
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Shop 2, 52A Vincent St, Daylesford VIC 3460 (located in Coles walkway off Vincent Street)
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Secrets Style - Designed To Sell By Linley Wilkie
With 97 per cent of property hunters visiting real estate websites before making an appointment with an agent, first impressions are key. Macedon’s Nicola Paull had clicked onto this when she launched her property styling business, Vibrant Design. “Property styling is about using your existing stuff to present your home in the best possible light online and at ‘open for inspections’, so the buyer thinks, ‘I can see myself in this house’,” says Nicola. “In order to style your property so that it appeals to someone else, you obviously need to fix anything that’s broken and declutter, but you also need to depersonalise it.” Homeowners have the option of receiving Nicola’s advice in a single consultation, or a full measure and illustrated proposal, in which she sources the cheapest possible alternatives for items that need replacing, offers ideas on rearranging furniture and if need be, suggesting and organising rental furniture. “Even though we love our houses and decorate them according to how we like to live, when people are looking for their dream home, they see an awful lot of properties and there’s a sort of zeitgeist that exists,” Nicola explains. “People have
certain expectations when they go into a home, because they compare it to other properties.” Nicola also works with clients in more remote areas. By working from photographs and establishing the clients style and budget, she puts together a visual design proposal, researching online items available in their district or by mail order that they can access. Best known for her work as an actress, in programs such as Prisoner and Return to Eden and more recently, portraying Maggie Tabberer in the ABC television series Magazine Wars, Nicola launched Vibrant Design after moving to the Macedon Ranges six years ago. “It became very difficult for me to continue my career as an actress, so I searched around for other things that I absolutely loved and interior styling was one of them,” she says. “I retrained and decided to start my own little business in property styling.” Nicola says she has had a lifetime of experience with investment properties and as her father worked in the real estate industry, has always been interested in property. For more information, visit www.vibrantdesign.net
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Tapestry; Soothing Booster By Roger McLean
With the dominant herb of Melissa, this gentle, calming liqueur eases our troubled minds with its complex yet simple blend of thirteen organic herbs. The rich, mellow experience as your palate takes in this liqueur is like a gentle hand, reassuring and comforting. Melissa, more commonly known as Lemon Balm, is a hardy, lemon-scented perennial with square stems and oval, neatly toothed leaves. Its flowers are small, pale yellow which appear in summer and will age to a pinkish white. With cooling and sedative properties, Melissa is used both internally and externally to assist in a number of healthrelated challenges. It has properties that will relax and rejuvenate. Working primarily as a sedative and antidepressant, Melissa/Lemon Balm is widely used to treat anxiety and insomnia and other sleep disorders. It is known to relieve stress-related headaches and digestive problems as well as calming anxiety, panic attacks, hyperactivity and irritability. Various studies of this special herb also demonstrated its ability to relax muscles thus assisting with menstrual cramps, urinary spasms, gastrointestinal disorders and other minor cramping difficulties and
spasms. It can also help significantly with the treatment of cold sores, shingles and other viral afflictions, as well as contain insect-repellant properties. Unexpected results from studies have also shown an increased ability to concentrate and perform tasks involving pictures and words. Students using Lemon Balm/ Melissa were noted to be calmer and less stressed during tests and performed significantly better when compared to students on a placebo (from Prevention magazine, September 2004). Paracelsus, a sixteenth century Swiss physician and alchemist referred to Melissa/Lemon Balm as the ‘Elixir of Life’. When blended in perfection with the other twelve herbs, Melissa contributes a special quality to Tapestry which no doubt would have appealed to this well-known healer. When breathed and drunk deeply, the aromas and flavours of these herbs touch the deeper, older parts of our brain opening us to grand, new perspectives on our life’s experiences. This truly can help us renew, refresh and allow the Tapestry of us and our lives evolve into the dreams of our souls.
Stephen Read Principal Designer 0418 963 885
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W stephenread.com.au E stephen@stephenread.com.au FB facebook.com/stephenreadlandscape
Sense of Place By Stephen Read
Recently I spent a week in Kyneton making a chair. What an odd thing to do! Apparently most people wouldn’t dream of taking a week off to make a chair. To me, it seemed like an obvious thing, a kind of moving meditation, a break from my normal life. A grueling seven days of gouging, carving and drilling is my kind of holiday. By the end of the course I not only had a beautiful chair, but an insight to the soul of a community. Kyneton is a special place. There were the usual gems of local knowledge, like where to get the best coffee or pie. However, after a few days toiling in the Rundell and Rundell workshop, the town of Kyneton began to feel like a second home. Home is a place where you feel welcome, a place where you feel you belong and can flourish. Home is where you can put your feet on the furniture and nobody cares. Locals and visitors dropped by the workshop for a chat or to admire our progress. While we whittled our spindles, the local guitar maker dropped by to show off his latest creation and play a tune. Lisa “the chair makers wife” visited everyday, often with home baked goods. One day Lisa mentioned the wild blackberries were almost ripe, the next day we had wild blackberry muffins for morning tea. The seemingly effortless
community charm of Kyneton could be dismissed as just part of the service, but you can’t deny the feeling of a place. Designers and planners call the feeling of belonging to a community “sense of place”. I must admit, as a student, I didn’t appreciate the importance of sense of place. It was presented as a lofty topic to keep in the back of your mind when designing community spaces. I can’t blame the lecturer for glossing over the topic as I now realize that sense of place is impossible to teach. Just like happiness, sense of place is a natural awareness in each of us. As a designer, the best I can do is to respect and respond to the place I am working in. Of course, it is not just Kyenton that is blessed with a strong sense of community; it can be anywhere. On my way home to my own special place, Macedon, I couldn’t help feeling a little sad for our lost communities. Those places we remember as once being home, but are now lost to the plague of sameness sweeping in from suburbia. My yoga teacher says happiness is the absence of sorrow. I think a strong sense of place is the absence of poor design.
Stephen Read has a wealth of experience in landscape design that has seen him involved in developing projects at the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens and at Hampstead, Kensington and the Royal Netherlands Embassy in London. He also managed the planting of Prince Charles’ entry for the Chelsea Flower Show. He now brings his talents to Victoria creating gardens of interest, meaning and value to promote clients’ sense of wellbeing.
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Buy a Business and Make The Tree Change By Michael Kerr
To realise that dream of the sea-change / tree- change there are a lot of things to consider. There’s the whole leaving what you know and settling into a new community thing - for some there is the changing schools thing - for most there is the real estate thing - and then there is the whole “how am I going to make a living” thing. For many the “making a living” thing often determines whether you make the decision to go or not. Obviously you can try to find a great job, but finding a job in your dream location may be difficult. The same opportunities that exist in major metro areas just aren’t available in the regions. Question is, are you going to let the lack of job opportunities get in the way of moving onto your desired lifestyle in a dream location? If you’re committed to a move, there is another way. Buy a business and buy a job. And to be very clear I encourage you to actively consider buying a job, as long as you are aware that that is what you are doing. Conventional wisdom encourages buying businesses that “run under management” and discourages buying jobs, but the prospects of finding a value for money business that ‘runs under management’ are remote. If they do exist most owners will be reluctant to sell. Makes sense doesn’t it? Why would you sell an ‘under management’ business if you owned one? So to make the dream a reality it’s back to finding a job or buying a job. But where do you turn to find the right business to buy? There are some businesses for sale websites that you can scour – Google searches will find 10 or 15 of them. You can search by category, by size and other criteria, but soon you will probably conclude what I have – it’s
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a hard way to find the right business. Fundamentally these directories only represent a small fraction of the businesses that might actually be available to purchase. In other words there are many more businesses that aren’t formally for sale BUT might consider selling if you directly approach them. Over many years I have contacted hundreds and hundreds of business owners, on behalf of genuine buyers, to see if they would entertain selling. Generally I found the same outcome – from ten calls one would be for sale, one would definitely not be for sale and the other eight? – Well, they would all be open to a discussion. Having eight potential acquisitions is a good base to work with, but it is also a recipe for disaster if not managed well. Having so many opportunities can waste a lot of time, energy and money. So what are the secrets to finding that near-perfect business (the perfect one is rare!) that will be the underpinnings of
making that life-changing sea-change / tree-change. Refine your criteria for what is the right business. There are many obvious ones like size, industry and location but the key ones include; How well your personal experience and skills match up with those required in the business - Can the business goodwill ‘survive’ when the current owner leaves -Can the business be grown, improved and structured to be less dependent on you - Does the business have sound fundamentals – a long lease, strong relationships with suppliers and customers - Can you access the right staff in the local market However, don’t get hung up on having the criteria perfect to start with. Your criteria should and will evolve as you look at more businesses and as you reflect on what a good business is or isn’t. There is nothing wrong with that, and indeed it is part of the process of making a really important decision. Spend time researching the market, assessing businesses and creating connections with the owners of businesses you might end up buying. There is a smart and right way to do this research
to ensure you spend your time well and build commercial trust with the owners of the businesses you might end up buying. Research encompasses different levels, such as: What do the financials tell me - what resources do I need to make this a success and do I have access to them what are the major trends that will impact the business and does the business have some competitive space. Some of this information will need to come from the current owner and some you will need to generate. Dealing with a business owner where you make the approach takes a deft touch. Bear in mind that it will take time for an owner to gather the information you need, as they are busy and they aren’t necessarily on top of their numbers. There will be initial resistance in giving information to a complete stranger and their Accountant and Lawyer may also resist. You need to build trust and credibility to progress these opportunities. But if you do persist you can find the right business at the right price and that persistence just might be the spark to make that sea-change or tree-change you’ve long dreamt about.
BUSINESS FOR SALE 84 ALBERT STREET CRESWICK Fully flexible space – café, catering, retail, full commercial kitchen, 3 phase power and natural gas, seats 40 inside, disabled access & toilet, courtyard, dual access from rear.
ALL ENQUIRIES 0413 571 188
RedBeard Historic Bakery $1.7 million turnover 8 years profitable growth Contact Michael Kerr: 0416 213 300 michael.kerr@kerrcapital.com.au
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Passion for Design
AUSTRALIA’S OLDEST WORKING POTTERY
Features Ceramics, Antiques & Collectables, Artists’ studio galleries, Historic Museum & Cafe Exclusive range of imported glassware, lamps, art jewellery and unique gifts. Passion for Design is located in historic View Street, one of Bendigo’s most popular tourist attractions.
Recognised as one the best gift and décor shops in Bendigo, ‘Passion for Design’ offers an extensive range of local and imported handmade glassware and jewellery as well as a large range of art, lamps and deco mirrors.
Passion for Design invites you to come and browse, you’ll love the experience.
Passion for Design
109 View Street, Bendigo P: (03) 5443 6055 M: 0413 213 879 Open Daily 10.30am–5pm
Open 7 days, 9am to 5pm 146 Midland, Hwy Epsom www.bendigopottery.com.au
Come and have the time of your life horseback riding through picturesque bushland in Daylesford’s beautiful ‘Spa Country’
Taste superb current and older vintages Wines - James Halliday Luxury Boutique Accommodation now available at our new guest cottages. Cellar Door open daily 11am - 5pm Closed Christmas Day 156 Forest Drive, Marong 3515
(03) 5435 2534 www.sandhurstridge.com.au
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All rides are fully supervised by experienced leaders. Helmets supplied. Please call to make a booking. Tipperary Springs Road, Daylesford Phone 03 5348 2525 info@boomerangranch.com.au
Town On A Plate
Story by Linley Wilkie Photography by Adam Brentnall journeybylight.com.au
Head chef and owner of Masons of Bendigo, Nick Anthony makes no bones about what Bendigo would be if it were a dish. His roasted Rockwood Cottage lamb cutlets with pickled shoulder, sherry carrots and land cress salad is a nod to many of the culinary strengths from his hometown. “This dish encompasses the old Bendigo with the new. Lamb has been showcased in Central Victoria since the late 1800s with the introduction of the Australian Sheep and Wool Show. History shows it’s been a staple of the Bendigo diet throughout the ages, featured regularly on dinner tables. At present, it’s still as popular as ever. Ensuring we source the very best locally produced lamb, combined with suited flavours has
proved to be a winning formula. Our diners love knowing where our produce has been sourced from and making direct contact with growers is a part of what Masons is about. PepperGreen Farm is one of those. It’s a not-for-profit enterprise using organic gardening as a way to deliver employment initiatives for people with disabilities. It’s great having it grow right in the heart of Bendigo and also keeps in line with the importance of using seasonal produce. Autumn is the perfect time to combine lamb and land cress. Most of the larger style dishes on our menu are European based drawing from my experiences in London. They can be tricky to prepare and take time but it’s all worthwhile when you sit and enjoy the end result.”
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Roasted Rockwood Cottage lamb cutlets, pickled shoulder, sherry carrots and land cress salad 1 boned lamb shoulder; pickled (a quality butcher will happily pickle it for you) 2 x 4 point lamb racks; Frenched (bones that are clean of any fat and meat) 4 carrots 3 onions, peeled 4 celery sticks 6 garlic cloves 2 bay leaves 1 star anise 4 cloves 6 peppercorns 8 thyme sprigs Carrot puree: 4 carrots, large, peeled 5 large shallots, peeled and sliced 4 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced 100g butter 750ml chicken or vegetable stock 100ml dry sherry 8 heirloom carrots – purple, orange, yellow extra butter and seasoning Lamb shoulder - the shoulder needs to be prepared at least a day before serving. Evenly dice all of the mirepoix vegetables. In a large pot, place the lamb shoulder and mirepoix, cover with cold water. If the shoulder lifts above water, cover with greaseproof paper and weigh down lightly with a small plate. Bring to the boil, skim impurities with a ladle and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook until soft and tender (approximately 4 hours) Ensure the lamb is always covered with water – you may need to top it up throughout the cooking process. Once cooked, allow the lamb to cool for 1 hour in the pot before removing from the water. Pull the meat from the fat and mould into a cylinder/log shape with foil or cling film. Ideally the size should be around 2cm in diameter and 32 cm in length. Refrigerate overnight to set.
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Lamb cutlets - cook the lamb 30 minutes before serving Season the racks with sea salt and pepper Heat a fry pan, add olive oil and colour the racks on both sides (golden brown is ideal). Roast in a 180 degree oven for approximately 12-14 minutes. Cooking times will vary according to the size of the racks. Remove from the oven and rest in a warm place for the same amount of time as the cooking time.
To accompany this dish, Steve Oates of Heathcote Wine Hub recommends: Tellurian 2012 Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre at $35.00. This classic French blend uses the savoury characters of Grenache and Mourvedre to tone down the shiraz. So you end up with an elegant, rich, savoury wine. Lifted aromas of plum and wild strawberry with some more meaty notes and a touch of mint.
Carrot puree - can be made ahead of time and reheated just before serving. Saute the shallots and garlic in butter until soft. Add the sliced carrots, season and cook for 5 minutes. Add stock, bring to boil before reducing heat to a simmer. Simmer until the carrots are soft & stock is reduced by half. Add the sherry and cook for a further 3 minutes.Whilst warm, puree the carrots in a blender. Begin by holding back some of the liquid as you want a thick puree. Add salt and pepper, if necessary, to taste. Heirloom carrots - these are best prepared just before serving. Carefully peel the carrots in long strokes from top to bottom to ensure quality presentation. Trim the green stems to retain 2cm. In a fairly hot pan, add butter and roast until golden brown on all sides. Season with sea salt and pepper. To serve Cut shoulder log into 4 even pieces, unwrap cling film/foil. Roast in a hot pan with olive oil and brown on one side. Carefully transfer to an overproof tray and warm through in a 180 degree oven. Slice lamb racks into 4 cutlets each (8 in total). Heat the carrot puree, spoon onto plate. Place the shoulder on a cross angle. Dance the cutlets and carrots around the shoulder. Garnish with land cress.
Every 4th Saturday of the month. Enquiries: 0407 860 320
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Genius & Ambition Running from 2nd March to 9th June, the new exhibition at the Bendigo Art Gallery is an opportunity to experience some of the finest examples of British Art for the first time in Australia. The exhibition – “Genius and Ambition” boasts close to 100 works from the Royal Academy of Arts, London, the exhibition showcases revered works by J.M.W. Turner, Thomas Gainsborough, John Constable, John Singer Sargent, Henry Fuseli, John Everett Millais, John William Waterhouse and Sir Joshua Reynolds. The Royal Academy of Arts was considered the primary art institution and the leading venue for the study and display of art in Great Britain and Europe until at least the beginning of the 20th century. As such, for ambitious Australian artists, exhibiting at the Royal Academy was considered paramount for developing reputation and renown. To complement the works on loan from the RA, 30 significant works by Australian artists such as Nicholas Chevalier, Tom Roberts, John Longstaff, Rupert Bunny, Arthur Streeton, E Phillips Fox, Margaret Preston, Agnes Goodsir and William Dobell who were educated, then exhibited and subsequently gained reputation through the RA have been included. The exhibition will draw on the wealth of the Royal Academy collections ranging from paintings and sculpture to works on paper and historic books. Australian works drawn from collections across State galleries in Australia will sit alongside these
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masterpieces. The Royal Academy has existed for 245 years and this exhibition will focus on a key period in the institutions history, the ‘long 19th century’ from 1768 to 1918. This exhibition has been curated by MaryAnne Stevens and Helen Valentine, with Nick Savage and Annette Wickham, from the Royal Academy of Arts and Karen Quinlan and Tansy Curtin from Bendigo Art Gallery. It has been organised by Bendigo Art Gallery and the Royal Academy of Arts, London. The Bendigo Art Gallery is centrally located in View Street and is open daily between 10am and 5pm. Bendigo is an easy drive from Melbourne that will only take around ninety minutes and there is ample parking around the gallery. If you want to relax and travel by train, there are regular services from Southern Cross Station and the gallery is only a 15 minute walk from Bendigo station. For more information visit the website www.bendigoartgallery.com.au
Below: Charles West Cope RA. Council for the Royal Academy, selecting pictures for the exhibition 1875 – 1876. Photograph courtesy Royal Academy of Arts, London – Photographer John Hammond.
Constable Gainsborough Millais Reynolds Sargent Turner Waterhouse
Tickets: 03 5434 6100 Packages: 1800 813 153
Exhibition organised by Bendigo Art Gallery and the Royal Academy of Arts, London
Higher education partner
Frank Cadogan Cowper, Vanity (detail), 1907, oil on panel. Š Royal Academy of Arts, London. Photographer John Hammond. Secrets Magazine | Issue 39 - Autumn 2014 | 23
Hidden Gems By Steve Oates
Welcome to the first of the Hidden Gems wine column! In each edition I will review one or two wines that showcase the diversity and quality of the Heathcote wine region. For this edition we feature a newcomer from a winemaker with vast experience across Australia and Europe whose family had the first vineyard of the modern era in Heathcote. Heathcote is fast becoming known as one of the best Australian regions for Shiraz. Although the region is only now being discovered by mainstream Australian consumers, the bar was set for quality and wine style many years ago by the founding pioneers of the Heathcote wine region. Paul Osicka Wines was founded in Graytown in 1955 by Paul Osicka Snr after coming to Australia from Czechoslovakia, where the family still make wine today. Paul Osicka Jnr joined the family business in the early 1970’s and his son Simon started winemaking in the 1990’s. Simon returned to the family business in 2010 after holding senior winemaking positions at Houghton, Leasingham and as group red wine maker for Constellation Wines. This was interleaved with vintages in Italy, Canada, Germany, and France. Simon is now one of the most respected winemakers of the region, not because of his pedigree, but because of the consistent quality and value of the wines he produces under the Paul Osicka brand. To further strengthen their commitment to the region Simon and his partner Alison Philips (an experienced viticulturist) have decided to make wine under their own label. With the region just coming out of a 10-year drought they wanted to explore options other than the family’s dry grown vineyard. The opportunity to work with different fruit and to create another style of shiraz was also a driving influence.. For Simon, attention to detail can never be too
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great. The yield is low and the quality of the fruit high. Hand pruning and picking, with total control of the fermentation by Simon results in a complex, expressive style of Heathcote shiraz that has richness of texture without being overbearing. The name Bull Lane comes from the nearest sign post a kilometre away from where Simon’s grandfather planted his first vineyard back in the 1950’s. Back in the gold rush days there was a population of 30,000, these days it would barely be 100. So what’s the wine like? On the nose it shows lively fruit, slightly spicy with a textured savoury character. The palate shows deep dark black & blue fruits with a hint of mineral character, good acid and subtle tannins. A refreshingly elegant and savoury medium bodied Heathcote shiraz, definitely one to look out for - a real bargain at $30.00. The wine was released in November 2013 and was the biggest seller at the Heathcote Wine Hub for December. Food match – Slow Roasted Mushroom Risotto with Istra Pancetta and Kale.
Heathcote and Surrounds
Proud of its ever-expanding reputation as one of the best producers of Shiraz in the world Heathcote and the surrounding region is gaining attention for other reasons. Although only a 90 minute drive from Melbourne and close to the growing sophistication of Bendigo, the town still maintains it’s rustic and rural charm, whilst at the same time showcasing itself as a destination for lovers of food, wine, history and nature. Escaping from the ravages of a challenging summer, the autumnal tones settle over the landscape and bring a sense of tranquillity and peace. Historically the area thrived during the gold rush era and many relics remain throughout. Surrounded by Box Ironbark forest offering plenty of natural attractions, the Great Dividing Range provides lookout points to survey the landscape and see across the region. The Burke & Wills Track, was named due to its namesakes setting up camp in the area around August, 1860 and the Pink Cliffs Reserve is a must see. The Pink Cliffs are a phenomenon of the days
of gold mining when the sluicing work that carried on until the 1880s revealed these colourful “hills”. There are no problems in finding fantastic food and one of the standouts is The Willow Room – a restaurant showcasing the region’s wine culture and exceptional produce and if looking for a great breakfast - they deliver. Heathcote also now boasts their own regional farmers market and the main street offers plenty of reason to browse and buy – think Rutherford and Maine - and of course the region is becoming known for its food, wine and music events that run throughout the year. Not far away is the town of Tooborac where you’ll find Merindoc Winery, Cellar Door and café, who also deliver on food, wine and stage regular events. If you’re clever, you’ll make sure you allow plenty of time to explore and indeed experience this town and the surrounding region – to find out more, visit www.heathcote.org.au
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Rutherford & Maine - Heathcote When you have a desire to do something in life – the best advice is – just do it. Judy Maine, who with husband Peter opened a very stylish homewares, gift and coffee shop in Heathcote in the second half of 2013 had always had a desire to run a really stylish, affordable, personable shop, but just needed a bit of a shove to get going. Sadly, it was a family tragedy that put some life choices into perspective, which made the pursuit of the “tree change” all the more important. Having been introduced to the Heathcote region a couple of years ago. They found that the very pretty and easy drive from Melbourne and proximity to other major centres like Bendigo and Echuca and the need for a good quality homeware and gift shop in the area added to their growing box of “reasons to do this”. They obviously had their finger on the right pulse as they now have a number of customers travelling through regularly who stop to pick up something for themselves, the house or just to enjoy the coffee. Judy and Peter have adapted to country life very easily and have been surprised by the amount of socialising they manage and the generosity and support for them personally and for their business. Judy says “Everyday we meet someone new and everyone has
a story to tell”. Their desire for stylish premises has not compromised the heritage of the region and a great deal of thought, hard work and vision has gone into creating the shop in deference to its heritage overlay. With 35 years experience in retail marketing, Judy has the philosophy that Rutherford and Maine offers ‘high street style without high street pricing’. Open 7 days from 9am to 4.30pm, you really need to stop over and enjoy.
every third THIRD
saturday 9am - 1pm
Barrack reserve high street, heathcote www.hrfm.com.au
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GO3201-6
Merindoc - More Than A Destination A favoured destination for a weekend getaway is the stunning Heathcote wine region. Tooborac, known as the gateway to the region is home to Merindoc Café and Cellar Door, the perfect place to discover the elegant range of Merindoc wines. Enjoy a relaxed lunch and a glass of award winning wine whilst taking in the views of Tooborac’s beautiful rolling hills. Dine outside in the garden or under the verandah and in the cooler months let the smell of freshly brewed coffee, or wood fired pizza, delight your senses as you cosy up by the open fire. The kitchen team carefully prepare a seasonally inspired menu, with dishes from Merindoc’s own organic kitchen garden; with the Merindoc grown beef and lamb always a feature.
Victoria and for three generations the family name has been among Victoria’s most prominent wine growers. The Merindoc property boasts over 2000 acres, with a combination of pastoral, grazing and vineyard plots. Merindoc Café regularly hosts a range of food and wine events throughout the calendar year, and the vibrant, friendly staff take pleasure in presenting their guests with an excellent range of wines under the Merindoc label. For more information phone 0354 335 188 or email café@merindocq.com.au and keep an eye on the website www.merindoc.com.au to make sure you don’t miss out. Location: 2905 Tooborac-Lancefield Road, Tooborac. Open for lunch and tastings Thursdays Monday from 10am to 4pm.
The Shelmerdine family have a long history of managing high quality vineyards in
Drop in and discover our wonderful range of stylish gifts and homewares and enjoy the “Best coffee in Heathcote” (as voted by our customers). Open every day, 9am - 4.30pm.
A SHELMERDINE FAMILY WINE COMPANY
Café and Cellar Door Taste the range of award winning Heathcote wines Open for lunch and tastings Thursday – Monday 10:00 to 4:00pm
We regularly host a range of food and wine events throughout the calendar year.
www.rutherfordandmaine.com.au
2905 Lancefield-Tooborac Rd Tooborac, Victoria 3522 P: + 61 3 5433 5188
www.merindoc.com.au
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A Man Who Knows His Wine Steve Oates has been involved in the wine and hospitality industries for nearly 30 years. Growing up in Melbourne, Steve’s vast experience was gained from working in McLaren Vale in South Australia, the Granite Belt in Queensland and Heathcote in Victoria as well as 15 years in sales and marketing roles for Southcorp Wines, Sirromet Wines & De Bortoli Wines. He also studied International Hotel Management at the Hotel Institute Montreux, in Switzerland. During this stint in Europe he also worked in vineyards and as a chef. The lure of a regional lifestyle drew Steve back to the area in 2011. He has been the Marketing and Cellar door Manager for Shelmerdine Wines, and Heathcote Winery and is now the Manager at the Heathcote Wine Hub. Another of his roles has been as an associate judge at the inaugural Heathcote Wine Show in 2013. In his words he loves the region and now gets to play with everyone’s wines and not just one brand. Being very passionate about wine Steve really enjoys educating people about wine and the wine industry.
Gary Mehigan, Steve Oates & Matt Skinner
The Heathcote Wine Hub is located in the centre of the main street of Heathcote, is open 7 days and has over 200 wines in store, most from the Heathcote and surrounding regions. At least 24 wines are available to taste every day and Steve and his team give visitors an educational tasting experience along with a thorough overview of the region. The Wine Hub also has local produce, local craft beers & ciders, tea, coffee, light meals and a wine club.
A Beautiful Place to Stay A Perfect Place to Celebrate 359 Barker Street, Castlemaine Ph: 03 5472 3787
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Soaking Up The Atmosphere of Buda Buda is off to a flying start in 2014 hosting a range of events and exhibitions that will continue throughout the year.
resided there for almost 120 years over two generations.
A national event of note will be the Buda Contemporary Textiles Awards & Exhibition on 1 - 15 June that always attracts an appreciative audience. Entries are being accepted up until 1 May with some of Australia’s finest designers and textile artists vying for the cash prizes. Of course you don’t need any special reason to visit Buda other than Buda itself. With 6,000 visitors annually this unique property is a major heritage destination. Of national significance, the house is an accredited museum featuring the intact furnishings, personal belongings and art collection of the talented Leviny family who
Outside you can enjoy a byo picnic or “promenade” as in days gone by along the winding paths of one of the most important large 19th century suburban gardens surviving in Victoria. Buda’s retail nursery offers heritage and drought tolerant plants for sale. Buda is open Wednesday to Sunday plus public holidays with the exception of Good Friday. Guided tours of the house and garden are available for groups by prior arrangement at any time. Go to www.budacastlemaine.org or call 5472 1032 for more information.
EVENTS 2014 BUDA CONTEMPORARY TEXTILES AWARD � EXHIBITION June 1‐15, 2014 A must see exhibi�on—note the dates in your diary! Entries will be accepted up un�l 1 May. www.budacastlemaine.org
42 Hunter Street, Castlemaine 3450 OPEN Wednesday ‐ Saturday 12 noon to 5pm Sundays & most public holidays 10am to 5pm. GROUP TOURS available any �me by prior appointment RETAIL Plant Nursery and Gi� Shop (Open daily) TEL: 03 5472‐1032 WEB: www.budacastlemaine.org
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Garden, Gift and Café Nestled amongst the trees just off the highway at Harcourt, you’lll find an enticing sanctuary of a charming plant nursery, with an inviting café with giftware and homewares and a beautiful butterfly enclosure that is home to a collection of butterflies in the warmer months. At ASQ Skydancers there is an abundance of plants, shrubs, pots, garden furniture and creative landscaping ideas. This array is sure to provide a solution to any gardener. From October through to May, these delicate creatures dance amongst the plants and flowers that make up their habitat. Here you will discover flowers that you can plant in your own garden, to attract butterflies at home. And last, but far from least, is the ASQ Skydancers café. With delicious coffee, and delightful breakfast, snack and lunch options, it’s a perfect place for those that want to sit back, relax and stop and smell the roses!
&
mac morgan Vintage
Recycled
Living
Open Thursday to Sunday & Public Holidays 11am – 5.30pm 74 Mostyn Street
Castlemaine 0457 467 820
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on.fb.me/1naQOqs
Mac & Morgan Tucked away in a little cottage at the Paris end of Mostyn Street Castlemaine is a curious shop that would make Alice in Wonderland feel at home. Crossing the threshold you’re transported to a place where every one of your senses is stimulated. Mac and Morgan is the culmination of over 20 years collecting by owners Julie and Peter Bottomley which included 5 years of scouring auction and clearing sales in Scotland and England. A chance visit to Castlemaine 4 years ago (where both Julie and Peter were born) happened across a shop for let that looked like it was built to house their collection and although they hadn’t intended going into retail so soon, the opportunity and match was just too good to knock back.
Vanilla Spice
For all things Christmas and more!
Open all year round Wednesday to Sunday and most public holidays. Online shopping and laybys welcome. www.vanillaspice.com.au
The shop has been described by one customer as a shopping experience with so many treasures around every corner. Julie says she loves overhearing comments from customers sharing memories of their childhood or their grandmother’s house as they wander through the vast array of home wares, fabrics and artworks of yesteryear. “For me, it’s all about repurposing, taking an old item and giving it a new use or even a new purpose” she said. It’s not all about the old at Mac and Morgan, there is a wide range of wares from today, mingling with that of yesterday. If it’s stylish and useful it will fit right in. Open Thursday to Sunday 11am – 5.30pm Mac and Morgan experience the experience.
Wicked Temptations Café / Wine Bar Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Gourmet Coffee & Cakes Open Wednesday to Sunday
Royal Hotel Complex - 18 High Street Maldon
www.wickedtemptations.net.au
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Strategem Bendigo Winemakers Festival The annual Strategem Bendigo Winemakers Festival is on again Easter Sunday 20th April in Castlemaine’s Botanical Gardens. This event has become a favourite for wine enthusiasts who have the chance to speak to the winemakers from more than the 20 wineries represented. From full-flavoured, rich ripe reds to elegant whites, the wines from Bendigo’s gold-bearing soils are a wine lover’s treasure. Live music sets the scene for a great day out with friends and family. To appeal to the smaller members of the family, face painting, an Easter Egg Hunt and kid’s performer Tim Tim ensures that this is a family fun day. If you don’t want to drive, free buses will operate between Bendigo and Castlemaine and free home delivery courtesy of Fastway Couriers will be available for wine purchases of more than ½ dozen bottles. A new feature this year - patrons can prebook their tickets for a discounted price of $30 by visiting www.trybooking.com/EGDW. Tickets are available on the day for $35, children under 18 free and strictly no BYO alcohol. For more details visit www.bendigowine.org.au
Strategem Bendigo Winemakers Festival 2014 at the Botanical Gardens in Castlemaine GO3374-6
Easter Sunday 20th April 11am - 5pm
www.bendigowine.org.au
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Check us out on
Grand Antiques Woodend Michael Hollow purchased the grand but dilapidated Mechanics Institute building in Woodend in the 1980’s and began intense renovations to bring its grandeur back to life. He ran a successful antique store and gallery onsite before moving to Alice Springs in the early 1990’s to follow his passion for Aboriginal art. The building was then leased for a couple of decades and when it recently became vacant his daughters took over and Grand Antiques was established. Maryanne and Natalie Hollow have filled the building to the brim with an array of antiques and vintage items and have also expanded into the garden. “We never know what we will have in or where our next treasure will come from, it keeps it fresh and exciting. At the moment we have antique furniture from France and a
fabulous selection of wrought iron gates from England. We have amazing bronze sculptures in the garden and interesting retro plant stands from the 1950’s.” Having dealt with Aboriginal Art for 25yrs, with galleries in Alice Springs, Melbourne and Sydney, the Hollows have a superb collection. Works are on display on the ground floor and a showroom upstairs is available for viewing by appointment. Grand Antiques Woodend offers an eclectic mix and caters for all tastes and budgets. It is well worth a visit, you never know what you might find irresistible! Grand Antiques 85 High Street Woodend 3442 ph 0400 656 100
Gifts to Uplift & Beautify
Natural Beauty Care – Crystals Silver Gemstone Jewellery Aromatherapy – Soy Candles Feng Shui Consultations by Appointment Shop online at www.lakshmiscircle.com.au
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Breakfast Bowl Breakfast, the most important meal of the day, has become a social occasion for many, with a growing demand for breakfast dining. When we at Secrets were looking for somewhere to go for breakfast one weekend, we couldn’t find any listings in
our region – even Mr. Google didn’t help – so we decided that we would fill the gap. This is the start of what we expect will be an ever growing list of cafes in our region who offer breakfast. Hope we can help.
The Willow Room Willow Room serves breakfast Saturday and Sunday from 9am until 11.30am. Offering dishes such as thick cut streaky bacon, classic tortilla and crunchy granola along with Brewhouse coffee. 187 High Street, Heathcote – 5433 4022 – willowroom.com.au
Run, Rabbit, Run With a reputation for being the go-to coffee venue in Castlemaine, the delicious, all-day breakfast offerings seal the deal.” 23 Hargraves Street, Castlemaine – 5470 5712 – goo.gl/zmpUwP
Red Beard Bakery Breakfast from 8am, 7 days: Taranaki eggs and many sides on RedBeard sourdough, toasted muesli, french toast, home-baked beans, Coffee Basics espresso, Tea Craft tea. 38A High St, Trentham – 5424 1002 – redbeardbakery.com.au
Dinner Thursday–Tuesday from 6pm Lunch Friday–Tuesday from 11am Menu from $9.50–$22 Breakfast On weekends from 9am Tuesday Night Curry & Hotpot $18 Friday Night Fish Night with wine $26.50 A La Carte also available
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Quick Peek Kyneton Community Market This newish market is held every second Saturday at Kyneton’s wonderfully named Duck Duck Goose and Larder, where you can also pick up some rather special goodies. Every second saturday – Duck Duck Goose 17 – 21 Piper Street, Kyneton – 5422 1653
Malmalade in Malmsbury A unique destination blending Bed & Breakfast, Aromatherapy Facials, Reiki Treatments along with whimsical fashion, gifts & homewares for the whole family. Retail open Thur-Mon – 69 Mollison St, Malmsbury 0423 955 958 – www.malmalade.com
Stalking Cat Specialising in early settlement • primitive • rural • depression • industrial and country house wares www.stalkingcat.com.au
The Garden Tap Nursery This rustic, boutique nursery hosts an array of beautiful plants, many unusual, some rare, that you might not find elsewhere. Open Thursday - Monday 10-5 – 03 5422 3033 96 Piper Street, Kyneton – www.thegardentap.com.au
Moongate Oriental Antiques & Gallery Moongate in Hepburn Springs is a treasure trove of Oriental treasures – furniture, carvings, ceramics, jewellery, textiles, gifts & paintings. Open Thursday to Sunday or by appointment 106 Main Road, Hepburn Springs – 5348 4396
Serendipity Home Good quality, rich and rare homewares and other goodies for stylish rural folk. Be tempted! www.serendipityhome.net.au
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Autumn Astrology by Lyndall McQuinn Autumn will certainly be a lunar rollercoaster. As in the summer, we have a repeat performance of the two dark moons falling in the same month. The second of these moons is called the Black Moon. It occurs on March 30. Then in April we have a month of eclipses on the both dark and full moons. The eclipses are in Libra and Taurus. All this phenomena just adds intensity to our lunar world, which is the night aspect of us as opposed to the solar self, illuminated by the sun signs. May’s moons are without anything unusual. Scorpio peaks at the May full moon. Progress has been grand for Scorpio, but a sense of repeating the same old stuff creeps in until Spring. Maybe the May full moon will bring the old habits to light. Taurus may be weighed down by people of authority and their rules and regulations. Putting your head down and pushing may not work here. The dark moon eclipse on April 29 may help you see below the surface. Aries moves on quickly. Quite amazing occurrences can present for Aries especially those born between March 31 and April 6. Dream big, it is time to change so don’t spoil it by hanging onto outmoded life patterns. Libra you too can benefit from the fast moving energy probably instigated by others who move into your circles. You have the full moon eclipse in your sign so this
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can be a time of brilliant insight. Changes instigated by others can revolutionise your life. Pisces may be totally exasperated from going with the flow in autumn. So many planets visit your sign during this time; Sun, Mercury, Venus and add the two outer ones, Neptune and Chiron; there for a few years and Jupiter washing more water your way amplifying everything. Swim on. Directions are hard to find. Any shore for a rest will look good. Virgo has been anxious. It’s a combination of too busy to rest and with the flow across the wheel from Chiron and Neptune in Pisces, which brings in others who turn your plans to slush, especially effecting the 26-31 Aug and 4-9 Sep Virgo’s. The March full moon is yours to re-examine what is relevant to your hectic world. Gemini; autumn is relatively painless. Winter will be more your time. The dark moon on May 28 marks the beginning of your productivity. So while you wait grab a little inspiration from Neptune and a burst of excitement from Uranus, which will flow quite easily into your profile.
Sagittarius: Does anything ever stop Sagittarius? Certainly not the Uranian revolutionary energy coming smoothly from Aries, to Sagittarians born Dec 3-9 making easy changes for this group. Sagittarians born earlier have made their changes in 2013 and now have to structure and deal with the fine-tuning. Not what you like to do? You can feel sandwiched between figures of control on one side and power on the other. Cancer: Oh dear Cancer-still dealing with Jupiter; big abundant, overwhelming Jupiter. So much emotion- so much to care about- so much food or weight, feeling like a huge balloon ready to be pricked. Well this is your last season of Jupiter; it’s off to Leo in winter. So send it off with a fanfare. Capricorn, Pluto is still plundering through your sign. Deeply moving those with Jan 2-4 birthdays. The backwash from Jupiter flows directly across to you from Cancer so there are ample opportunities available if you can take hold of them. The Uranus energy in Aries though causes you
to feel like you are looking over your shoulder. Much is happening but it is very difficult to control it. Leo: Yo ho ho Leo. Does anything destabilise your stance? Energy levels are high, new ideas are great and original; Jupiter is heading your way in winter which will pick you up and create opportunities. So keep planning and creating – the wave to ride is approaching. Aquarius: Ideas are flowing and you may have the energy to put things into practice. New friends and relationships are a great inspiration and maybe give you the impetus to move forward. Be inspired by those who dream and leave behind those who are skeptical of your endeavors.
Autumn blessings to you all. Lyndall McQuinn 0428 425 923.
Lyndall McQuinn
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The Highest Train Station in Victoria Returns! This Autumn is a very special time for the Daylesford Spa Country Railway, as it marks the completion of one of their largest ever endeavours – the full restoration of the line. Since February 2009, much of the line was closed due to bushfire damage and resulting disrepair. Fixing the damage has been a monumental effort, completed by both contractors and volunteers. Over $400,000 in funding has been put into the project, as well as thousands of hours of volunteer work. A huge sigh of relief was breathed when in August 2010 part of the line to Musk Station was reopened, but by far the most beautiful stretch of the line lies between Musk and Bullarto. So the Railway group were overjoyed to once again have trains travelling to Bullarto. This station is the highest operating railway station in Victoria, at just over 747 meters above sea level (2452ft). And most winters sees a fine dusting of snow at Bullarto. These days it is one of the most peaceful places to be. Heritage trees shade the modest platform and there is little else that has changed since public services rounded up in the 1970’s. However, on the evening of the first Saturday of each month the station comes alive. The ever popular Silver Streak Food & Wine Train takes passengers from Daylesford Station to Bullarto as the sun begins to ebb, with glasses of wine and tasty nibbles in hand. On cooler nights mulled wine is also offered, and the tunes of local Blues Duo ‘The Travelling Concessions’ are always on hand to get feet tapping. Of course you can still make the journey every Sunday (minus the wine and nibbles). Plus the Sunday Market at Daylesford Train Station is bigger than ever, with a bit of everything on offer. From antiques to fresh produce, clothes, gifts and furniture –
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there’s always something new to be found at the market. So why not help celebrate the return of the highest train station in Victoria, ride the rail and visit the market - a great way to spend a weekend.