Geelong Coast Magazine Summer 2019

PICTURE THIS

Camera club’s gorgeous images

SKYLINE HIGH

A foundation for kids’ success

HELLO, SAILORS

All downwind for yachtie women

LOCAL LOVE

How Mel and Rob tied the knot

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

Jacinta Leitch carves her niche

HISTORY REPEATED

All aboard the Bellarine Railway

SUMMER 2019 AUS $5.50 (inc GST)

IN CONVERSATION

RACHAEL PARKER’S

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CONTENTS

WELCOME TO GC

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This Season

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We Love

WELCOME, everyone, to the summer edition of Geelong Coast magazine (GC).

42-45

Warmth has finally arrived, and we're just as excited as you to get onto the beach, feel the sea breeze and splash our feet in the water.

Local Love

Talking of water, check out my In Conversation with the lovely Rachel Parker, founder of not-forprofit charity Ocean Mind, a therapeutic surf-based initiative helping young people feel confident and positive about their lives through mentoring and fun on the waves.

48-49

Local Sounds

Along the way, Rachel opens up about how she overcame her own obstacles and health battle.

10-13

In Conversation

14-17

Skyline high

50-53

Artist in Residence

54-57

I also chatted with three female Royal Geelong Yacht Club sailors who are busy preparing to compete in the upcoming 2020 Festival of Sails regatta. As active participants in what has previously been regarded as male-dominated sport, these three ladies share the importance of sailing in their lives and where it all began.

Elsewhere in GC, Luke Voogt introduces eight photography fanatics from Geelong Camera Club.

Loving living life though the lens, they share with him some of their all-time favourite images.

History Repeated

Nat Kerr learns all about the amazing Skyline Foundation, empowering local youngsters to gain confidence, complete their school years and embrace pursuing their dreams.

18-21

62, 64, 66, 68

Hello, sailors

Social Network

25-41

70-71

Picture perfect

And Justin Flynn uncovers the history of the charming Bellarine Railway. Justin ventures on a journey of discovery to meet the volunteers behind the historic railway’s restorations.

I look forward to seeing you soon - happy reading.

Elissa Friday Associate editor elissa.friday@geelongindependent. com.au

Calendar of Events

Geelong Coast magazine is a Star News Group/Geelong Independent publication.

MANAGING EDITOR: Tony Galpin WRITERS: Elissa Friday, Luke Voogt, Justin Flynn, Natalee Kerr PHOTOGRAPHY: Rebecca Hosking, Lousia Jones ADVERTISING: Sales Executive: Elissa Friday elissa.friday@geelongindependent.com.au www.gcmagazine.com.au

Printed using vegetable based inks on FSC ® certified paper under ISO14001.

Environmental Management System framework. FSC ® Chain of Custody certification ensures traceability and verification of paper from well managed forests throughout the manufacturing process to the end user.

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facebook.com/gcmaggeelongcoast @GeelongCoast ISSN: 2200-6605 ABN: 55 006 653 336 ACN: 06 653 336 Geelong Coast Magazine is printed on environmentally friendly paper.

All material appearing in Geelong Coast magazine is subject to copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material. Geelong Coast magazine takes all care to ensure information is correct at the time of printing, but the publisher accepts no responsibility or liability for the accuracy of any information contained in the text or advertisements. Views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher or editor.

NORLANE teen Gypsy Akhyar’s passion for learning earned him a 97.7 ATAR and a place studying at Australia’s top university.

Now the 19-year-old hopes to inspire others from the “disadvantaged" 3214 postcode to follow his lead.

“I want other people to believe they can give it a shot,” Gypsy says.

“As someone that has been through it, I have a lot to say.

“It’s possible to study what you want, wherever you want, you don’t have to just settle.”

The former Northern Bay College student graduated last year with a 97.7 ATAR despite his college ranking as one of Victoria’s bottom 10 performers.

His score was Northern Bay’s highest yet and awarded him the 2018’s top male for the region’s government schools.

Gypsy’s stellar Year 12 result landed him a $20,000 residential scholarship to study a bachelor of science at The University of Melbourne this year.

But the maths enthusiast says he once lacked the “self-drive” to do well within his “low socioeconomic” schooling environment.

“The teachers are working hard, they’re doing everything they can.

“It’s more the mentality of the students, there were not many people working hard towards their learning.”

Gypsy says he also struggled with preconceived ideas within his community about who a “successful” person could be.

“There was always this big barrier between people like us and people who go to uni.”

But a below-average score in his first VCE exam was a “wake-up call” for Gypsy to change his attitude.

Gypsy AKHYAR From there, he “forced” himself to work hard with a new desire to pursue university.

“I just get so excited when other students get excited about learning.”

“It really impacted me, I realised that wasn’t what I wanted,” he says.

Gypsy also plans to bring “self-drive” back into the Geelong community.

Gypsy now juggles his study while working as a maths methods tutor, with hopes to become an academic.

“I want to keep talking to other students and try to push them to change their mind set,” he says.

“I’d love to write papers and teach at university,” he says proudly.

“I think once that mentality begins to shift, we can achieve really great things.”

WORDS: NATALEE KERR

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THIS SEASON YOU SHOULD Take off at Avalon Airport Now with international flights, Avalon Airport is the convenient local option for travellers.

International crossroads Kuala Lumpur is a straight flight away since the arrival of twice-daily Air Asia services, while Jetstar’s also operating domestic flights to and from the Gold Coast, Sydney and Adelaide.

Throw in the convenience of parking right outside the terminal and Avalon’s the easy way to hit the skies this summer.

Style up with local cabinetry Independent Cabinet Makers (ICM) is a collaboration of local trades businesses and related suppliers offering the ideal solution for kitchen makeovers in particular.

With an emphasis on supporting local jobs, ICM’s members also offer a professional career path for local apprentices.

Customers wanting the best in home interiors with the knowledge they’re supporting local jobs can’t go past the experts at ICM.

Enjoy the taste of Lard Ass Butter never tasted so good as Monica Cavarsan’s mouth-watering Lard Ass range.

Ocean Grove’s ‘Butter Queen’ produces a delicious, creamy selection of butters in flavours ranging from smoked garlic through to dry-roasted fennel seed.

Salted and unsalted cultured butter is also available for traditionalists, with Monica using only natural ingredients in all her products.

Give your home a security boost A new generation of high-tech products offer households and business premises greater security than ever.

And Geelong’s Standby Security is the place to go for the best advice and service to ensure the right equipment for the job.

Also offering a full suite of other services including guards, mobile patrols and 24-hour monitoring, Standby’s the local name to trust when it comes to security services and products.

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…

A High End wash for our wheels Cars look their best after a full, doting treatment at Geelong’s High End Hand Car Wash.

The business’s experienced team of car-washers can leave any vehicle looking a million dollars with a service that saves owners time and money right in the heart of Geelong.

Using only environmentally friendly products, the Mercer St car wash is easy to book and also offers a convenient drop-off and pick-up service.

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Touring the Geelong Gaol A cast of dastardly characters have passed through the historic Geelong Gaol since it opened in 1853, and now you can too.

The gaol’s become something of a tourist drawcard in recent years, with its spooky Ghost Tour especially sending chills up the spines of visitors who dare venture inside the imposing bluestone walls.

Security points, prisoners’ murals, watchtowers, and gallows depicting the 1863 hanging of James Murphy for beating a constable to death with a hammer are just some of the gaol’s macabre attractions.

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Geelong Arts Centre’s 2020 season A new name and a massive renovation are just some of the recent changes at the region’s peak centre for the performing arts.

And now Geelong Arts Centre is moving into 2020 with an exciting theatre season ahead, featuring a diverse range of intriguing productions.

Music, movement and dance come together in a bill with something for everyone, from families and couples through to patrons of traditional theatre.

…

Dining at the home of the Cats Charles and Co might be a relatively recent addition to Geelong’s thriving café scene but it trades on the history of the ‘greatest team of all’.

Located within the walls of the Cats home-ground stadium at Kardinia Park, Charles and Co is open six days a week for breakfast and lunch.

And, for a special treat, lucky diners might just find themselves chowing down beside one of the AFL heroes.

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[in] conversation

RACHAEL PARKER A Spanish pilgrimage introduced Rachael Parker to surfing, and the discovery of a new way to support her greatest passion. She tells ELISSA FRIDAY about Ocean Mind, her charity using the waves to assist the mental health of children.

Rachael, tell us about your family.

I’m 34 and I live in Torquay.

I’ve got two brothers and two foster sisters.

When I was seven, my family decided to start fostering children. We had different children come into our house which mum and dad would look after. It’s really exciting having this big extended family.

So one of your first jobs was working with young people.

What did you learn about their lives?

Have you ever experienced any form of mental illness?

When I finished high school I decided to become a youth worker. Once I had finished my training I then spent some time with young people experiencing homelessness in the southeastern suburbs of Melbourne. I worked intensively for about two and a half years with young people who had been in prison and exiting on parole.

The young people I was working with had quite extensive mental health issues.

When I was 15 I was hospitalised in a psychiatric ward and diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

There was a lot of stigma around mental health back at that time.

They were great kids and it was so frustrating because they just needed support, so I started looking at different ways to help, like therapeutic methods such as bush healing that could potentially be beneficial.

I remember taking medication and the side effects of it, and how hard it was not being able to talk to anyone of my own age who was going through a similar experience.

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Rachael leading an Ocean Mind program on the beach at Torquay.

In your opinion does the stigma surrounding mental illness still exist?

I think we are on the right trajectory around it. The more support we provide to people the better, and educating the community is important.

There's still a stigma there but it’s a much better world nowadays with the level of support available today than back when I was diagnosed. There's a lot more understanding surrounding mental illness.

Your own experience with mental illness inspired you to want to help others. What were the initial obstacles?

Just getting a program up was challenging because there was often no funding to do it, often not the time to do all the groundwork whilst having a full caseload of young people.

I think at that point I got really disillusioned it seemed like a revolving door. I think that I felt let down by the system and felt that I couldn’t make a change.

I just felt like that for the past couple of years. It was the bureaucracy and the system that I was faced with.

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What did you do next?

I sold my house, packed up and went overseas.

I wasn’t in a great place. I wasn’t happy and I wasn’t enjoying my work, so I got a two-year working visa and spent nine months in London and then went up to Scotland where I worked on a farm for a little bit and then got a job as a youth worker. I spent the remainder of the time doing that in Scotland.

It was interesting to see the difference in the systems.

Tell us about needing some time to reflect After the two years I traveled some more and I walked the Camino Del Norte pilgrimage in Spain. It took 41 days to walk across and you have that space to think.

You have that peace and time to reflect. Everyday when I woke up all I had to do was follow the shells.

I started the walk with a friend and ended it alone. The whole trip was life-changing; it changed who I was as a person.

Rachael working with young Ocean Mind participants.

Picture: Louisa Jones

What happened in Portugal to ignite your love for surfing?

After Spain I traveled to Portugal and the owner of the hostel noticed I was stressed and unhappy. It was him who suggested that I learn to surf.

How did your first experience out on the waves go?

I went on a two-hour surf and all I was concentrating on was what I was doing. I was falling off the board and frustrated at what I was doing.

It was so exciting and exhilarating, using muscles you don’t usually use. At the age of 30 you're not as nimble as a kid.

Why did surfing become a “magical tool” for you?

It took up everything. I had no time to be depressed, I was at one with nature and the ocean.

It gave me the strength to get to the next day. Surfing was that magical tool that shifted my mindset.

How did you further pursue the programs you wanted to set up?

I headed back to Australia that year and moved in with my parents. I then decided to move into a shared house in Jan Juc because I was travelling there every weekend to surf.

I did some research on Google into whether surfing can help young people. I found some overseas therapies and contacted them.

I also contacted Jo, CEO of the Wave Project in the UK. We had a Skype conversation and I said, 'Let’s do it'.

I wanted to run his program over here in Australia. We talked about what it would look like and every month we were on the phone discussing it and he mentored me.

Tell us about the initial programs you got up and running.

We initially ran two programs in 2016 and 2017, with the Wave Project funding. We had 15 young people go through the programs and saw improvement in their wellbeing, connectedness, and confidence in their abilities.

You mentioned early on recalling a significant observation?

A mother was on the beach watching her daughter in the water and said she hadn’t seen her daughter smile in years.

The changes didn’t just stop with the program. We got fantastic feedback from the parents and the schools.

So the program’s success led to you becoming CEO and founder of your own charity?

After the first two programs we had a break during the winter.

We then doubled the amount of programs that we ran with support from Give Where You Live.

We were then able to re-brand the organisation, and so then separately in 2017 we named it Ocean Mind.

What is the aim of Ocean Mind?

The aim is to provide alternative support to young people, making sure there are no barriers to accessing it, and supporting young peoples’ mental health through therapeutic surf programs including surfing activities and mentoring.

How do kids get involved in Ocean Mind?

We get referrals from psychologists, family support services, and professional services working with young people.

We accept referrals for young people aged eight to 18 years, as long as there is a recognised need such as kids who are experiencing mental health issues, social isolation and disability. There is no cost involved for joining.

As a not-for-profit charity, how do you raise funding?

We do a lot of grants and have philanthropic supporters. We also do fundraisers and have sponsorships.

People can volunteer, refer, or donate at oceanmind.org.au.

Where are you based and who is part of the team?

At Ocean Mind we work remotely.

We have a board of nine people who are volunteers from various walks of life. We are a volunteer organisation.

We currently have 108 volunteers who put up their hands to support the kids in the community. Without each and every one of them Ocean Mind wouldn't be possible.

It’s fantastic to have so much energy and passion in the boardroom for all the kids.

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Recent Skyline graduates TJ Ismat and Darcy Morden Picture: Rebecca Hosking

SKYLINE’S GIFT A not-for-profit organisation is on a mission to change the lives of "gifted" Geelong students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

NATALEE KERR discovers how Skyline Foundation is empowering local youth to complete their schooling and pursue their dreams.

ON the night after his 18th birthday Geelong’s TJ Ismat abruptly found out he was no longer welcome at home.

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“I was halfway through year 12, it was such a busy time for me with my studies. The last thing I was thinking about was moving out,” he recalls.

The Newcomb Secondary College student was immediately forced to figure out his living situation and how he would support himself.

But not-for-profit organisation Skyline, dedicated to helping VCE students from disadvantaged backgrounds, made TJ’s transition out of home “significantly” easier.

“They were a huge financial help,” he says.

“They never hesitated to offer to assist me with covering the costs of stationery, books and laptops.”

For many years TJ perceived school as a “chore” following constant “stress and judgement” from his family growing up.

“My parents were quite pushy, it made me feel pretty awful,” he recounts.

“I was constantly forced to compare myself with everyone else - it wasn’t good for my mental health.”

But TJ says after joining Skyline in year 11 he was able to "take control" of his education and find a new found love for learning.

He now hopes to study midwifery at Deakin University with the desire to become a midwife in developing countries.

“Without the support of Skyline supplying books, uniforms and other resources, I couldn’t possibly fathom how I could've aimed for something like this,” he says.

TJ is one of 30 “at risk” academically talented students across Geelong who have benefited from Skyline’s support this year.

The foundation’s VCE program partners with government schools to nominate potential “gifted” students struggling with various forms of disadvantage.

Successful applicants are rewarded with an $11,500 scholarship to help them get them through the final two years of their secondary education.

Skyline graduate Darcy Morden

Along with financial reimbursement, students receive personal and career development opportunities including workshops, camps and counselling.

Under the program, students also have improved access to study materials, resources and academic support.

Skyline chief executive officer Jane Sydenham-Clarke says the program aims to support high-ability students who may be “limited” by their circumstances.

“Economic, social and emotional disadvantage doesn’t discriminate, they target all, including the academically gifted,” she says.

“We strive to provide a sustainable life pathway for them, rather than them being trapped in a situation that doesn’t enable them to realise their potential.”

She says a “concerning” number of students are "under-stimulated" in their schooling environments.

“Skyline aims to put these students back on an even playing field with their peers, by equipping them with the skills to reach their full academic potential,” she says.

Skyline graduate TJ Ismat

Jane says it is an “honour” to support the students journey throughout the two-year program.

“When we first meet them often they’re very shy and selfdeprecating… they certainly don’t feel entitled or disadvantaged,” she remembers.

>>>

Recent Skyline graduates TJ Ismat and Darcy Morden Pictures: Rebecca Hosking

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Northern Bay College teacher Scott Alldis (centre) pictured with current Skyline students Mitchell Young and Lisamaree Bottomley.

Pictures: Joe Van Der Hurk

“But over time you see them blossom and grow as the doors open for them to explore new things.”

She says during her first year she “loved” the new schooling environment as she “didn’t have to do any work”.

Donors including local businesses and organisations “generously” fund the program, Jane says.

But reality soon set in, and Darcy realised in order to make the most of her education she had to move again, which led her to Belmont High School.

The foundation is set to welcome its biggest intake of 103 students across 26 schools next year, 52 of those being new students, including nine from Geelong.

Skyline received more than 140 applications across the state for the 2020 program.

“We know there are so many high ability students whose needs are not being realised currently in their secondary school's environment,” Jane exclaims.

Since 2017, Skyline has supported more than 30 students across the region, including recent graduate Darcy Morden who joined while she was studying at Surf Coast Secondary College.

She says the foundation brings together “like-minded” kids from different schools around Geelong.

“It’s been a great opportunity for me to make relationships with people outside my normal circle,” she says.

The Torquay teen met her now best friend TJ through the foundation.

Northern Bay College teacher Scott Alldis.

“Sometimes it can be difficult to find someone that has academic goals similar to you but we just clicked,” she says.

Darcy attended Christian College before moving to the seaside school in year nine.

“Financially it was a challenge as I had to buy an entire new uniform and books,” she says.

“But Skyline continued to support me even after my move. They provided every single resource I needed.”

The 18-year-old now has her sights set on studying professional communications at RMIT University.

“Trying to navigate the final years of school was challenging, but the support I received from Skyline made a whole world of difference,” she says.

The program made its Geelong debut three years ago at Northern Bay P-12 College (NBC).

Former principal Fred Clarke says the program has flourished since, but he was once “sceptical” about the foundation at the start.

“People in the North have been let down many times, organisations and groups propose things and then money runs out,” he explains.

“I didn’t want to promise anything to the kids without it being a real opportunity that was well supported.”

Current Skyline students Mitchell Young and Lisamaree Bottomley.

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But after learning more about the foundation, Fred realised it would be a good “fit” for the school.

He says Skyline has provided a long-term solution to help “topend” kids that need “a bit more from their education”.

“I don’t know any other foundation that does that sort of work. There’s such a need for a program like this in Corio and Norlane,” Fred says.

“The students involved are really gifted and skilled and have so much potential to contribute to society."

The veteran educator retired from the college in March after seven years as principal, but he continues to be involved with the foundation.

“I thought that it might be a nice job for 12 months but it was very hard to walk away once I got started,” he says.

Since 2004, Skyline has provided sponsorship to 300 students.

Last year 100 per cent of graduates either pursued tertiary education or a career, with more than 65 per cent achieving an ATAR score higher than 80.

Skyline mentor and NBC teacher Scott Alldis has first-handily seen the impact of the foundation.

“Working alongside the students and seeing them develop and gain more confidence over time has been such a rewarding experience,” he says.

Skyline CEO Jane SydenhamClarke

He says Skyline has helped get students out of the “bubble” of Geelong.

“As great as Geelong is, it’s not its own world,” Scott says.

“But for a lot of our kids they don’t realise that until Skyline helps them understand what’s out there.”

Scott says the financial reimbursement provided by the foundation is “crucial” to students.

“Some of our kids work several part-time jobs at the same time to support their family,” he explains.

“They work crazy hours. We have 17-year-old's working up to five shifts a week, with some shifts going to midnight. I see students in the hallway completely exhausted from working non-stop.

“It’s a big barrier of their time, so the funds really help them to dedicate more time to their education.”

For more information about Skyline visit skylinefoundation. org.au/.

Former Northern Bay College principal Fred Clarke.

Picture: Louisa Jones

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Jen Carnell and her crew on the Carnells' former yacht, Phoenix, after winning their third national title at Geelong's Festival of Sails.

Picture: Teri Dodds

Hello, SAILORS! Formerly regarded as a sporting domain of males, increasing numbers of women are enjoying the sport and camaraderie of yachting, perhaps nowhere more than on Geelong's Corio Bay. ELISSA FRIDAY meets three leading female sailors from Royal Geelong Yacht Club as they prepare for this summer's Festival of Sails regatta on their home waters.

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ALISON WEATHERLY

By ELISSA FRIDAY

HERNE Hill’s Alison Weatherly has fond childhood memories of her father, Charlie, teaching her to sail.

Alison now competes on Peter Bones' Baltic in a mixed-gender crew of seven, four of whom are female.

She loved spending family holidays with her siblings, sailing on the Gippsland lakes and windsurfing at Lake Bolac. She remembers dad sailing his yacht to Queensland in winters.

“We find that the guys have a physical strength that we definitely don’t have, so the combination of all of our strengths works well within our crew,” Alison says.

“My dad sailed since he was kid and learnt at school on Corio Bay,” the 34-year-old says.

Alison and her Baltic crew-mates have been regularly racing in cruiser and spinnaker divisions for the past eight years.

“When my parents broke up dad used take me out in S&S 36 yacht on Saturdays and that was really good - I remember there were big waves."

But at the age of 16 a lifechanging health scare challenged Alison's growing love of sailing.

“I was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma in my right shoulder,” she explains.

Then in boarding school, Alison returned home for six months of chemotherapy in two stages.

The treatments had a lasting impact on her body.

“I have some use of my right arm, it’s just my shoulder that's affected - I can’t weight-bear with it.

“I have a prosthetic in my shoulder. I’ve broken it a few times but try not to let it hold me back.”

Alison's interest in sailing waned during the health battle until dad restored her motivation in 2002 after her recovery.

“We take the boat up the week before to Melbourne and stay over - we're usually last to leave Docklands because we're all catching up, having not seen each other for a month,” she explains.

“It’s a great place to be on a Wednesday.”

When she's not racing on Baltic, Alison can often be found training on smaller Hansa dinghies in Ballarat.

She also has international championships experience under her belt, competing in the USA, Japan and Spain in 2019.

“I came seventh out of nine in the US. I felt that I could have sailed a lot better.

“In Japan I ranked overall 15th and in Spain I came second out of 12 in the women’s league.”

Alison recently chose to work on a casual basis to make sailing a priority in her life.

Picture: Sarah Pettiford

"Sailing makes me so happy," she says.

“It means a lot to me, so I make my life work around it.

“I’d rather be out on the water than be anywhere else.

“You have to think ahead. You have to be focused and mindful.

The US and Spanish events were Para World Championships, for Paralympian sailors. Japan was a Hansa Open World championships.

"It’s so physically and mentally challenging, and you can’t get distracted. You’re always trying to make the boat sail as efficiently as possible.

The US was Alison’s first Para championships, which she admits "threw" her a bit.

Sailing has "opened a lot of doors" for Alison, she says.

“I was with people I didn’t know and doing it all on my own without dad there at the time.

Royal Geelong Yacht Club sailor Alison Weatherly.

"It’s definitely something I’m going to do forever."

>>>

“He got me my own boat, called Chip. I had her for 10 years until I sold her."

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JEN CARNELL

By ELISSA FRIDAY

Jen Carnell at the wheel of Phoenix in 2016.

Picture: Teri Dodds

YACHTING was a natural progression for Torquay's Jen Carnell after spending much of her childhood on boats.

“Dad always had motorboats and we lived on them," she says.

"That's where my love of the ocean began - boats and sailing came to me through my dad."

Now sailing and the water are a family affair, with the 50-yearold and husband Brenton enjoying sailing together and also watching their sons become involved in watersports.

RGYC sailors Brenton and Jen Carnell at Festival of Sails after presentation of them winning the Sydney 28.

Picture: Teri Dodds

"My eldest son is an up and coming photographer and he'll be covering our competitions. My other son's into kitesurfing and he’s a good surfer, too," Jen says.

The family background in sailing extends to her Cairnsbased sister, who enjoys racing catamarans at regattas around Australia.

Jen has a lengthy background in competitive sailing, including taking on the famous Sydney to Hobart race along with the Melbourne to Hobart.

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She and Brenton compete on their own yacht with a crew of 10.

“Eight of them are from the Royal Geelong Yacht Club, one's from Sydney and one's from Melbourne,” Jen explains.

“In 2015 we won our first national championship at Sydney's Pittwater in a three-day regatta.

In 2016 and 2018 we won in Geelong's Festival of Sails."

At the 2017 festival Jen won the Women’s Helman’s race.

“Then at the 2018 festival we won our third national title when we had three women on board out of the 10 crew."

Jen describes her crew as a "really cool group of people".

"One of the really good things I like is that it’s a team effort. There are no hot shots, we just support each other."

Jen and her crew “love competing” in the Festival of Sails, one of the world's longestrunning regattas.

"It really opens everything up to the wold of sailing," she says.

“It’s not just one big race with all the boats, you race within your category. That’s why the Festival of Sails is such a big event, because it caters for all different types of boats, sailors and to people’s wants and their needs.”

"There could be up to 400 boats on Corio Bay when you're looking at the festival spectacular.

“The first part of the festival involves a passage race where the boats sail up to Melbourne then they come back to Geelong.

In the case of the Helman's race, a woman has to drive the boat to qualify."

Jen and her crew-mates will compete in January's Festival of Sails on Stuart Richardson's Farr 40, named Local Motion.

“We raced on his boat last year.

There will be 10 of us again, and we're still quite heavy on the female ratio,” she laughs.

>>>

"With four women on board, there's quite a strong girl-hold on the boat."

EMMA KELLY

By ELISSA FRIDAY

FYANSFORD teen Emma Kelly began crewing on yachts when she was just seven years old.

“Dad and two of my brothers sail, so it just came naturally to me,” the 17-year-old explains.

Emma began crewing with one of her brothers, then joined forces with a female friend she made at Royal Geelong Yacht Club.

By the tender age of 13 she was skippering her own yachts.

She has now already competed in five worlds championships; three as a crew member and two as skipper.

This year she competed in youth world championships in Poland with 10-year-old crew member Will.

“Will and I have been sailing together for about a year now. I’ll keep sailing with him until I move to a different class.”

The pair finished 26th out of 70 crews in the Cadet division in Poland, Emma says.

"I was pretty happy with that."

Emma and Will sail four to five times a week in the lead-up to world championships, with the pair taking to Corio Bay in a twoperson Cadet named Sparkle.

She also has her eye on progressing to a 29er, a highperformance class of skiff that offers a pathway to the Olympics.

“I’ll probably sail a 29er occasionally but when I’m finished with year 12 I'll start sailing more seriously again.”

“When I’m older I'd like to sail keel boats, and potentially smaller dinghy boats.

"If I had more time I'd definitely sail more.

At the end of the year and into early 2020 Emma will compete in Cadet nationals in Geelong, with the top seven finishers qualifying for the world championships - in her home state for a change.

“In 2020 the worlds will be held at Williamstown but usually they're overseas - I’ve only ever been to one Australian world championship in Geelong.”

Emma’s last Cadet nationals are not far away since she “ages out” in October next year, but for now she's excited about competing in Geelong's 2020 Festival of Sails, especially after working rather than competing at last year's event.

“It’s a really great way to connect with people. I've met so many people overseas who I still keep in contact with now.

“It’s something I love, and it’s a fun way to spend time doing what maybe a lot of people don’t do.

Emma Kelly at Royal Geelong Yacht Club.

Picture: Sarah Pettiford

“It can be mentally draining and stressful at times, and it's winddependent but overall it’s really fun and a great way to socialise and exercise at the same time, I guess.

"Overall, because there’s no real commitment to when you have to sail, you’ve got real freedom with it, which is another reason why I like it so much.”

Despite being still in her teens, Emma says sailing has been a great personal-development experience for her.

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[theatre] season

Circus Oz and Geelong Symphony Orchestra join forces next November.

Picture: Rob Blackburn

Above: Roxanne McDonald and Barbara Lowing in Rovers.

Picture: K Left: Shake & Stir Co's Animal Farm comes to Geelong next August.

Picture: Justine Walpole

2020 out of the box

The next show to hit Geelong in October is Rovers – a poetic work woven from true stories and wild schemes.

Actresses Roxanne McDonald and Barbara Lowing celebrate the grit and daring of Australian women trailblazers in this comedy-drama.

GEELONG Arts Centre (GAC) is gearing up for a 2020 theatre season featuring eight new shows plus six special “out-ofthe-box” additions.

In June GAC hosts a 30th anniversary revival of Bran Nue Dae, Australia’s first Aboriginal stage musical, written by the late Jimmy Chi.

Winner of the 2018 Griffin Award, Suzie Millar’s one-woman show Prima Facie exposes the shortcomings of a patriarchal justice system.

The season was “a celebration of stories that need to be told by voices that need to be heard”, according to GAC’s chief executive officer Joel McGuiness.

Another Indigenous production follows that month, with physical theatre company Legs On The Wall bringing original play Man With The Iron Neck to Geelong.

Sheridan Harbridge plays the lead role in the play, which comes to Geelong in November.

“Storytelling is embedded in every fibre of what we do,” he says.

Written by Ursula Yovic, the play follows a small town Australian family finding hope and embracing life after trauma.

“Whether the stories are told through song, movement or words, they are there to challenge, entertain and inspire.

“Most importantly though, they allow our audiences to see the world through a new lens.”

The season begins on 25 March with David Williamson’s darkly comedic drama Family Values featuring screen stars Belinda Giblin and Andrew McFarlane, directed by Lee Lewis.

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In August a Michael Futcher’s stage adaptation of Animal Farm brings George Orwell’s political commentary to life through a cast of dynamic Queensland actors.

Then, in September, Doorstep Arts and GAC will collaborate to present Australian musical Metro Street.

The Geelong-developed play will provide up to three roles for local actors with auditions beginning in early 2020.

Later that month Circus Oz enlists the help of Geelong Symphony Orchestra in season finale Tutti Circus.

The show fuses two dramatically different art forms, treading the tightrope between music and silence, circus and stillness, tension and release.

Geelong Arts Centre’s “out-ofthe-box” additions begin February when five prominent storytellercooks share the secrets behind the important dishes of their lives.

Cooking legend Elizabeth Chong, media personality Benjamin Law, kim chi specialist Heather Jeong, actress Valerie Berry, and dancer Nirmal Jena join forces in the culinary theatre delight.

A 30th anniversary revival of Bran Nue Dae is coming to Geelong.

Independent theatre company A Slightly Isolated Dog tells a terrifyingly sexy and raucously funny version of Jekyll and Hyde, integrating popular culture and audience interaction.

Indigenous performer Jessie Lloyd takes audiences on a musical journey in the The Mission Songs Project in May, while XFactor winner and Eurovision finalist Isaiah Firebrace comes to Geelong in July Michaela Burger’s A Migrant Son tells the true story of her Greek father’s Australian experience and Jude Peel’s cabaret-style I Have a Face explores mental health and adulting.

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PICTURE PERFECT They've been putting Geelong in the picture for 130 years, gathering regularly under the motto, We grasp the shadow.

Now GC has turned the tables to put the focus firmly on Geelong Camera Club.

Eight members tell LUKE VOOGT why they live through the lens, and share some of their favourite images.

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HEATHER PRINCE North Geelong

I'M a retired teacher and full-time amateur photographer who sometimes tries to play golf. I have travelled extensively overseas on photographic trips but I'm now exploring Australia with my husband in our caravan whenever we can. I have the honour to be president of Geelong Camera Club – a wonderfully diverse group of people with a shared passion for photography.

I love portraiture, still life and street photography, and I especially love creating altered-reality images from my photos. I look for drama, a story and beauty.

I was given my first camera when I was nine and haven’t stopped since. The advent of digital photography and Photoshop really got me into the ‘art’ side of photography about 20 years ago and it's now my absolute passion along with Geelong Camera Club.

I love that I can tell a story in an image; I can capture a mood or a moment in time to look back on in the future. I can express myself without the need for words. It's very relaxing and I love the quest for that perfect shot.'

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GERRY VAN DER MEER Newcomb

I STARTED taking photos at age 15 or 16 when I got my first film camera - mostly for family shots and holidays.

When digital cameras came in I started to get into landscapes, weddings and then macro photography.

I bought my macro lens about 15 years ago and started looking for small things to photograph, when I discovered fungi.

I have found all different types, colours and sizes of fungi on nature strips, in bush and wetlands and at waterfalls, especially in autumn and winter.

I also look for spiders, bugs, dragonflies and wildflowers in my journeys.

I love photography because of the things you see and find. Photos can be shared and others will keep the memories of your trips forever.

I took photos of the blue fungi and yellow fungi, pictured, in the Otways.

The blue Mycena and the yellow fungus with the water drop were only about 5mm wide and high.

The final photo depicts fungi that glow iridescent green in the dark. I was very lucky to find them late at night near Ocean Grove.

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DAVID RENDLE Grovedale

I'M most passionate about the beauty and mystique of black and white photography.

Removing colour changes the way we all appreciate photography and, perhaps, the way we interpret images.

Expressing myself through this medium and exploring those classic monochrome characteristics such as emphasising lines, geometric shapes and textures is very enjoyable.

Bushwalking in the wilderness and enjoying the outdoors has always been special, and photography allows me to stop, slow down and appreciate the environment.

Capturing that experience, feeling and emotion through photography is an exciting challenge.

In 1977 I began recreating scenes from Star Wars on film as a ten year old. It was a serious business and photography has been serious for me ever since.

My key photographic moments include when I inherited a Pentax Spotmatic and darkroom equipment, and then joining Geelong Camera Club in 1997.

Pushing the shutter button to capture a precise moment is a special experience.

When you see a masterpiece in your mind the thrill begins. Previsualising the image, and then every thought process, every decision, that leads to when you push the button, is incredible.

After ten years of medium format film photography and another ten years of digital photography, I have recently returned to film again.

We have a small gang of 4x5 large format photographers within the club who are enjoying the analogue world.

Supporting and mentoring each other through the challenges of traditional photography has been a lot of fun.'

Achieving the perfect negative is difficult, which makes camera craft critical.

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CHRISTINE REICHL Highton

I ENJOY photographing many things, such as landscapes and seascapes, but also nature such as birds, fungi, mosses and forests.

Being outdoors in all weathers, with the beauty of the natural world brings me great joy.

I really got started with photography when I retired and joined a U3A photography class.

We learned so much there, and this has continued since joining Geelong Camera Club.

As well as trying to capture the beauty of natural scenes, I often create still life at home, with plants and fruit from the garden, using natural light from the windows.

After a life of working part-time while raising a family, I am fortunate to now have an interest which has become a passion, and allows me to be creative.

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MICK KUPRESANIN Belmont

MY favourite thing to shoot is street photography. It's spontaneous, with no studio and lighting to set up, no conceived idea and no props.

You simply walk and get surprised by people, architecture and random happenings.

To me it's recording daily life, how we live at this point in time.

I've been taking photos seriously for eight years. It's been a creative extension to my longtime interest in painting and drawing, which I still do today.

Photography, like art, is mainly a solo activity, although thankfully friendships are forged with likeminded people.

Walking the streets, beach and countryside with a camera in hand is spiritually uplifting.

Your mind can wander and soak in a calmness you don’t often find elsewhere.

My images connect me to this world the way I see it.

I’m retired now, after spending a lifetime on the phone at a desk, selling and buying industrial and engineering hardware, far removed from my creative side.

I recently travelled to Canada and USA, and have a son in New York, so I'm planning on more trips before I need a walking frame.

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I don’t have many other interests so photography helps pass the time being a daydreamer and thinker.

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HEATHER O’FLYNN Ocean Grove

MY interest in photography began more than 50 years ago, when my father gave me his box Brownie to use; I went through a lot of black and white film with that old camera.

My favourite things to photograph are everyday objects like toys and homewares, and I use my kitchen table as a studio.

The best part of photography is creating a story out of something plain and simple, like a knife or a glass.

Most people would be surprised to learn that I used to scuba dive in freshwater sinkholes at Mt Gambier.

A small group of us would jump into our cars with our gear after work on a Friday afternoon, drive to Mt Gambier and go night diving straightaway.

Then the rest of the weekend would be diving in as many sinkholes as we could before going home late Sunday afternoon.

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KETUT SUWITRA Hamlyn Heights

I GET excited every time I get the chance to be faceto-face with nature.

The serenity of morning fog, the colour of dawn skies and the brutal force of waves and stormy weather are the driving forces behind my photography.

My interest in photography started when my older brother passed his old Ricoh film camera on to me in the early ’80s.

In the Balinese village where I grew up, Pengeragoan, not many people owned a camera.

However, lots of people liked having their photo taken and would pay a small fee for a postcard-size print.

In 1984, I bought myself a Polaroid instant camera to photograph local tourists in the various recreation areas in western Bali.

This led me to move to the village of Sangeh, which is about 45km from my brother’s village and well known by tourists for its Monkey Forest.

I started taking photographs of the tourists there and people loved the idea of having an instant photo, before the days of digital cameras and smartphones.

I was able to make enough money for everyday living.

I came to Geelong in January 1990. After being in the area for a few years, I decided to join Geelong Camera Club in June 1995.

When I first visited the club, I was so impressed with the great work the members put in for monthly competitions.

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JULIE BEGG Drysdale

WE are blessed on the Bellarine to have incredible diversity at our doorstep to enjoy and that's what I love to capture the most whilst at home.

I love so many different genres of photography, however, I find at the end of a busy day or week, the most relaxing and soothing subject is seascapes.

When out and about I love travel, street and landscape photography. My other great loves are dance and creative conceptual art photography.

I have enjoyed photography from a young age, taking way too many photos. However the switch from just taking photos to wanting to take better photos came with parenthood.

I wanted to capture beautiful images of our family and children growing up.

That was when I decided to learn how to take a photo and get the effects I wanted – getting off auto and learning manual. It changed my photography world.

I began attending local neighbour community centre courses and later I completed a professional college course and sought out interesting workshops.

I’ve been an active member of Geelong Camera Club for the past eight years.

I love how photography allows me to capture special moments in the company of people I adore, and the image is a visual reminder of that moment and those special people.

I love to travel and discover new places, meeting locals and absorbing cultural and new experiences. This year's travel included Singapore, Philippines and Nepal.

Next year's adventures are in the making...

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[local] love

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AND Words: ELISSA FRIDAY Pictures: LOUSIA JONES

How a night out in Geelong then a walk along the waterfront led to a wedding in Eastern Gardens for Mel Peters and Rob Feudoloff.

WHERE THEY GREW UP

WHERE THEY MET

Rob was raised in Anglesea while Mel spent most of her childhood in South Australia.

They caught each other’s eye on a night out at a nightclub in Geelong.

They quickly found common ground and realised they had a "connection", Mel says.

“My parents and I moved there when I was 12,” Mel says.

“The club used to be below the T&G building,” Mel remembers.

The couple have now been living together at Grovedale for the past few years.

“While rhythm and blues tunes were playing, Rob’s brother came over and started chatting to my best friend and housemate at the time.”

“We went on to Home House night club, and the boys walked us halfway home because we lived over in East Geelong at the time.”

The following day was Mel’s birthday, so Rob sent her a text with his best wishes and a date request.

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THE FIRST DATE

THE ENGAGEMENT

The couple enjoyed a game of pool at a lounge in Geelong, followed by hot chocolate at a cafe then a romantic walk along the waterfront.

“We had a party at Rob’s brother and sister-in-law's house at Inverleigh and our parents helped out with the catering," Mel says.

“We had a similar sense of humour, and the first date nerves quickly faded,” Mel recalls.

“We were really comfortable in each other's company.

The casual celebration featured yard games and around 80 of the couple's closest friends and family.

“It was a big, fun event,” Mel says.

THE RING THE PROPOSAL “Rob met me after work on a Tuesday night in late July, and we went to our favourite Mexican restaurant for dinner,” Mel tells.

The day was cold, so the pair warmed up with another hot chocolate and a brisk walk around Eastern Beach's swimming enclosure.

“He stopped behind me and when I turned around he was on one knee and asked me to marry him.

“I was super excited and said yes. It was raining at the time and we both love the rain.”

Soon after the couple shared the exciting news with their parents.

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Mel enlisted the help of a friend working at a Waurn Ponds jeweller.

“I thought I knew what I wanted,” Mel says.

“I thought I wanted a square stone and I ended up with a round one, which was Rob’s suggestion.”

The couple essentially chose the design together but Rob returned to the jeweller alone to buy the ring for an element of surprise.

“It’s a halo round stone with twisted bands," Mel explains.

"It looked perfect, so we knew it was the one.”

PLANNING THE BIG DAY "We tackled it straight away and knew we wanted to get married during winter," Mel says.

“We chose the photographer, venue and celebrant first.”

During their engagement the couple had discovered an enchanting space at Eastern Park while collecting pine cones for their fireplace.

“At the end of its avenue of pines is a massive pine tree, which was perfect for what we had envisioned for our wedding day,” Mel says.

She also visited wedding expos and browsed online with Rob for further inspiration.

“Our vision was to keep things simple, elegant and a little bit retro, too,” she says.

“There was a lot of DIY.”

THE CEREMONY “We wanted to keep it as natural as we could, so we had a hessian runner as the aisle to prevent my dress getting dirty,” Mel says.

A wrought iron-style round table with two matching chairs and artificial flowers with a matching lantern complemented the setting.

“I put together all the flower displays and made signs with our names written on,” Mel says.

“It was raining while everyone was waiting for the ceremony to begin but a minute or so after I arrived the Sun came out and so we were able to get our photos done.”

We had a similar sense of humour,

and the first date nerves quickly faded

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THE DRESS “I originally wanted to wear my mum's dress, but the size wasn’t going to work,” Mel explains.

She and bridesmaid Sam browsed around Geelong before finding the dress in "the third shop down".

“I had an idea of what I wanted and described it to Bev in the store, and she chose one for me that was perfect, although it didn’t fit me at that stage.

HENS AND BUCKS “My maid of honour and bridesmaids organised my '50s pinup-themed hens party in Geelong, over a long weekend in March," Mel says.

The hens enjoyed high tea at a cake bar in Geelong before a scavenger hunt around the CBD.

“It was sleeveless with Belgium lace and beautiful embroidery on the back. It had crystals on it and buttons to fasten the entire way down.

Dinner at a Mexican restaurant followed before the hens retreated to a trendy nearby bar.

“I took it home that day because it was floor stock.”

“It was my 30th birthday the day after, too.”

Mel finished off her look with "very vintage-style" purple backseam stockings and shoes she bought with her dad many years previous.

Rob's best mate and brother organised the bucks party, with the 20 guests spending a day and night in Melbourne.

“That was my night, and I was home by midnight,” Mel says.

THE BRIDESMAIDS “My maids of honour were Flick from Tamworth and Sam from Bannockburn,” Mel says.

"They've been my best friends for many years."

Both bridesmaids wore infinitystyle dresses, which can be worn multiple ways, in Mel's favourite colour, purple.

The groomsmen wore two-piece suits with white shirts and black ties. Rob donned a black threepiece suit with a bow tie and an accompanying pocket watch.

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THE RECEPTION

THE PHOTOGRAPHY “We found Louisa Jones at a bridal expo and loved the style of her photos,” Mel says.

The couple picked a couple of favourite nearby locations, including a set of stairs below Eastern Gardens, and involved the wedding cars in many of their photos.

The couple arranged a threecourse restaurant dinner for their 80 guests.

“The food was amazing,” Mel says.

“I also put together simple table arrangements, and we had requested songs on Spotify playing."

THE CAKE “We actually had two cakes,” Mel explains.

THE FLOWERS Mel wanted bright, colourful blooms.

“I just went about finding the tones I was looking for and put the bouquet together myself,” she says.

“I made smaller versions for my bridesmaids, too.”

One was vanilla cake, the other lime and blueberry with coconut butter-cream.

“Green and purple are our favourite colours and we love lime and blueberry,” Mel says.

“We also had donuts in assorted flavours for all the guests.”

Mel also made flower buttonholes for her father, father-in-law, and all the men in the bridal party.

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[local] sounds

MOMOKO ROSE

BY JUSTIN FLYNN

Momoko Rose is a young star on the rise.

Picture: Rebecca Hosking

PREPARING for an interview with young Geelong musician Momoko Rose, I turn to Spotify to find a four-track album she released in 2018.

I purchase the album on iTunes for a measly $6.79 - money wellspent.

Headphones on, I listen for an appreciation of her style ahead of our chat.

“That’s so great, so nice, thank you so much,” she says, perhaps embarrassed.

My mind is blown. Her indie-folk songs on When I Blossom are stunning.

Momoko, which means ‘peach child’ in Japanese, moved to Jan Juc with her family from Noosa aged around 15.

Momoko is taken aback to hear I'm a new fan.

The EP title, When I Blossom, is a metaphor for her music career.

“In Japanese culture the cherry blossom symbolises transience and a new beginning, so I thought it was appropriate for the first musical output that I had,” Momoko explains.

She tells me that today is her 21st birthday.

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The way I write songs is more introspective and being more reflective and looking into yourself rather than partying.

“I had a little celebration just with the Japanese side of my family, cousins. It was great,” she says.

One of the two recipients of the 2019 Queenscliff Music Festival’s emerging artists grant, Momoko received $5000 alongside a live slot on last year’s stage.

She will use the money to record a new single.

“I was so happy getting that call,” she says.

“When you’re a local, independent musician, getting that communal recognition is awesome.”

Momoko, who's mother is Japanese, started learning guitar when she was young.

“I picked it up myself because my dad had an old guitar

lying around.”

She shirked VCE to instead study a Diploma of Music, recording When I Blossom as part of her course.

Momoko enjoys storytelling with her songs.

One of her EP tracks, Ajisai, the Japanese name for the hydrangea flower, which can change colours, evokes images of human emotion.

“Based on the PH level of the soil, ajisais can change colour from blue or white to pink and red colours, so I used that metaphor as a spectrum of emotion and imagery.

“Growing up painting and drawing, I do use a lot of visual imagery in the songs I write.”

Momoko declines to pigeonhole herself in music.

“I don’t see myself as a guitarist or a singer or even a musician,” she says.

“I love songwriting, but I just love creating things regardless of whether it’s songs, art. I just love making stuff.

“The way I write songs is more introspective and being more reflective and looking into yourself rather than partying.

“I try to evoke vulnerability within people.”

Momoko describes herself as shy, so performing in public can be a challenge.

“People still terrify me,” she admits.

“I pretty much live with it and just do it. I’m getting more used to performing in front of people, but it just comes with practice.

“Telling myself if I keep doing it, I’ll get more used to it.”

She's also reluctant to describe her music.

“I grew up listening to a lot of indie folk music but my actual sound now is a little bit different to the EP I released last year.

“Now I describe my music as indie folk jazz that's soulinfluenced.”

Despite her talent, Momoko works full-time in administration to pay her bills.

“I’d be pretty content if I got to the point where I could live off music and go on tour,” she says.

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[artist] in residence

CARVING a niche Creativity may be in the DNA of Jacinta Leitch but, as JUSTIN FLYNN discovers, dance and nature provide her inspiration

Pictures: Rebecca Hosking

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GEELONG sculptor Jacinta Leitch knew from an early age that her passion for the arts would take preference to most other aspects of her life that were to follow.

At just 14 Jacinta began selling her work, taking on art commissions and entering art shows in Geelong and Melbourne, encouraged by her supportive and similarly creative parents.

Fast forward to 2014 and Jacinta’s creation, the Reflection Seat, painstakingly carved from limestone, serves as a monument for the thousands of children placed into orphanages and children’s homes throughout the region.

Her largest, and perhaps most important, body of work, the seat sits nestled quietly on Hearne Parade near Eastern Beach overlooking Corio Bay and the You Yangs.

artwork had saved her life that day and graciously thanked me for providing such a beautiful contemplation space and giving her the incentive to carry on with her life.

It provides a place of refuge and comfort and has even saved the life of at least one person.

“This story brought tears to my eyes.”

A woman was planning on taking her life until she stumbled upon the Reflection Seat.

“After pausing for a moment on the couch she read the plaque and realised that this was gifted to her and was a place to call her own and a place for her to belong,” Jacinta says.

“Later that day she emailed me and told me that my public

Jacinta’s passion in life is the arts.

It’s evident when you speak with her.

She studied fine art/sculpture at RMIT and for many years coordinated the Geelong VCE art exhibition incorporating all schools in the Geelong region and has been mentioned in parliament due to the success of emerging artists of Geelong.

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“The ongoing mentoring of a selected group of these gifted art students gives me much pleasure and the satisfaction of sharing my talents and expertise,” she says.

Jacinta also teaches two sculpture workshops each month at the Geelong Art Society and is a member of Geelong Sculptors.

Her CV is so impressive, it’s almost impossible to go in great detail here.

These days Jacinta is busy in her studio in Newtown.

She is inspired by dance and nature.

“My years of dance experience have influenced the femininity and fluidity of my designs,” she says.

“Birds, fungi, trees, coral, shells, rocks, fossils, gem stones, the

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ocean, the forest and all creatures great and small are prominent features of my creative endeavours.

Like most artists, location inspires Jacinta to the point that she calls the Red Centre her “heaven on earth”.

“I would rather camp out under the stars experiencing the beauty of the natural environment than stay in any resort.”

“Walking in the bush, forest or beach l am constantly collecting artefacts that l can include in my works, usually lugging a full backpack full of nature’s treasures back with me.”

“The colour of the sand, earth and rocks set against the backdrop of that blue sky is simply eye candy for an artist,” she says.

Jacinta adores working with many different types of stone, wood, metals, lighting, natural stains, wire, glass, coral, shells, feathers…the list is almost endless.

Jacinta Leitch's Reflection Chair saved the life of a woman who intended to end her own life.

Pictures: Rebecca Hosking

“Keeping myself challenged with different materials inspires a creative outcome,” she says.

It’s been a tough, but productive, year for Jacinta.

She lost her partner, whom she describes as “the love of my life” in a car accident just over 12 months ago.

“At times l felt like l just wanted to give up but pushed myself through this and used my art as my therapy to heal my heart and soul,” she says.

“Art is my passion, it consumes my soul and it lives within me.

“Art is the essence of my existence. l live and breathe it. My ultimate dream is to leave a mark on this world through my artworks.”

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[history] repeated

ALL ABOARD Geelong Steam Preservation Society's Chris Hibble with a locomotive that he is restoring for the railway.

Picture: Justin Flynn

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It might run on rails but volunteers are the power behind historic Bellarine Railway.

JUSTIN FLYNN choo-choo-chooses to hop aboard for a journey of discovery.

Picture: Rebecca Hosking

THE next time you step onto a train at Queenscliff or Drysdale stations, take notice of the intricate detail in which the engines and carriages have been meticulously restored.

As you take another sip of your drink on the Blues Train, or fill your fork on the Q Train or just gaze out the window on the Bellarine Railway train, hundreds of volunteers have poured

countless hours of work into making your trip memorable.

The railway itself failed as a passenger service after decades of operation during WWII and ferrying limestone from Fyansford to Queenscliff.

It closed in 1976 before being resurrected by the Geelong Steam Preservation Society (GSPS) three years later as a tourist attraction.

The society lovingly restores each precious detail of the trains so they can be put back into service.

amount of resources. It’s going to take time but it’s not going to cost a huge amount of money.

Chris Hibble admits his involvement is an “obsession” and his pet project at the moment is the restoration of a 1943 Garratt train.

“It’s been a fun project so far.”

“It was meant to go to Queensland but it never went,” Chris says.

“The cement works bought it brand new off the railways in 1947.

“It’s got a really good boiler on it so it’s not going to take a huge

The original line, called the Bellarine Peninsula Railway, opened in 1879 and connected Queenscliff with South Geelong.

Passenger numbers were predicted to be low, but the line warranted construction due to Fort Queenscliff’s military location.

During the next few decades the line carried passenger and military traffic.

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Picture: Train Trips and Tourists

Graeme Lemin (guard), John Nunn (instructing driver), Sir Jeremy Sullivan and Daniel Featherston (fire fighter).

Mr Sullivan, from Cheltenham in the UK, took the chance to enjoy the railway's Driver Experience offering.

In 1931, passenger services halted completely although goods services continued to operate spasmodically.

The line experienced a revival during WWII carrying mines from the Swan Island military base to Geelong, but soon after the war ended, services became less frequent, apart from the occasional tourist train, and goods services were cut back to one a fortnight.

By 1968, the Queenscliff line was still officially open, but Fyansford Cement Works Railway was closed.

This would eventually spell the end of the railway line as the cement company donated all its steam-powered rolling stock to preservation groups and the Geelong division of the Australian Railway Historical Society.

The line was eventually closed in 1976 and the stretch from Drysdale to South Geelong now forms the 32km Bellarine Rail Trail walking and cycling track.

Today the railway operates a heritage service between Queenscliff and Drysdale, along the southern shoreline of Swan Bay and through rolling grazing land, with a stop at Laker’s Siding.

In 1977, GSPS organised fundraisers and regauged a section of the track so its rolling stock could operate on the line.

It has developed into one of the top tourist drawcards on the Bellarine Peninsula.

Few would know that GSPS owns all the stock and leases it to the railway and private businesses such as the Blues Train and Q Train.

The society has become something of an unofficial Men’s Shed.

Volunteers meet every Tuesday for socialising and to work, voluntarily, on the locomotives.

“It’s more of a social gathering,” Chris Hibble says.

“But they are all happy to work although they don’t have to.

“They do as much or as little as they want because, after all, they are volunteers.

“Some don’t have all the skills because they came from an office environment but they are willing to have a go and that’s the most important thing.”

Chris says most of the men are in their 70s.

All the restoration work takes place in a large shed, known as ‘the yards’, just a few hundred metres troll from Queenscliff station.

Darcy Peterson fixes up a smoke box.

Picture: Andrew Blair

Picture: Rebecca Hosking

56

He is one of the youngest at 67 and the oldest, Gil, is 87. Kevin Barber, a retired architect, is 83.

Ironically, the ‘youngest’ train in the fleet is the same age as Chris.

A former compositor, Chris came to Geelong in 1971 from Sydney.

He doesn’t have much experience on the railways, but says his “obsession” usually finds him at the yards at least three times a week “much to my wife’s disgust”, he says.

His current Garratt train project has no definite timeframe for completion.

“It will take as long as it takes,” he says.

“It might take 12 or 18 months.

“Two years if I’m still kicking.

“This one survived because the cement works donated all the locos that they had left.

“She’s my problem now. I’m trying to get it back into traffic.

“She’s an ugly duckling.

“The engine is unique to Australia.

It’s Australian designed and built.

They built 47 of them.

“They were designed to be run for 10 to 15 years and then thrown away.”

Another restoration project at the yards, a carriage, dates back to 1887.

Chris says the society attracts men, and one woman, from as far as Teesdale and all over the Bellarine.

The society benefited from a $9000 community grant that will help towards purchasing timber for the restorations.

Chris Hibble in the workshop at Geelong Steam Preservation Society.

201021 Picture: Justin Flynn

“We’re bower birds, we collect everything when we can,” he says.

“We’re always pushing for more volunteers but they are not coming because the younger generation isn’t really interested, but we do get a few that come in.”

The railway now operates a heritage service on Sundays and most Monday public holidays along with a range of schoolholiday programs, driver experiences, special occasion and wedding charters, tailored group tours, Day Out With Thomas weekends, locomotive cab rides as well as the Blues and Q Trains.

All train drivers and helpers are volunteers. Anyone can become a volunteer driver after passing a training course first.

If it wasn’t for the society, most of the trains would have been left in the open and before long, would have been nearly unsalvageable.

“We are trying to be an operational museum,” Chris says.

“We engage in the preservation of what’s left.”

Darcy Peterson with a T Class train at Drysdale station.

Trains from Fyansford to Queenscliff were loaded with limestone.

Picture: Train Trips and Tourists

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[great] indoors The award winners celebrate their achievements.

QUALITY CABINETRY with local team WHEN it comes to finding a good cabinetmaker and related suppliers, Independent Cabinetmakers (ICM) Geelong makes it easy.

ICM Geelong is a collaboration of quality cabinetmakers and related suppliers in the Geelong region dedicated to promoting the work of local cabinetmakers. The group encourages people to support local, often family-run, businesses and to consider using a cabinetmaker for all joinery projects rather than just heading to large department stores.

These days, cabinetmakers are very versatile, competitively priced and offer custombuilt kitchens and bespoke cabinetry that is made right here in Geelong. And yes, a cabinetmaker does so much more than just kitchens and bathrooms!

Seeing what the group is doing in Geelong and the difference it has 58

made to the local cabinetmaking industry, ICM Geelong has attracted sponsorship from some key players in the home improvement arena. Polytec, an Australian distributor of cabinet doors, panels, benchtops and laminates has sponsored ICM Geelong since its inception.

To recognise the best in their field using quality materials and superior workmanship, ICM Geelong members are given the opportunity to enter the Best Kitchen and Best Small Range Joinery Unit categories in the annual ICM Geelong Polytec Awards.

The 2019 Best Kitchen Award was taken out by cabinetmaker Scott Smith and the team at SCLK. SCLK, who regularly work with local architects, builders and interior designers on custom made projects, are located in Moolap.

The winning kitchen uses the contrasting colours of Polytec’s Florentine Walnut, a deep, rich chocolate brown Walnut Woodmatt finish, and Venette Black. Venette is a luxe, silky smooth, pure matte surface assuring low light reflection.

Australian made and exclusive to Polytec, Venette provides an exceptional fingerprint and scuff mark resistant technology, reducing the need for the constant care and cleaning that often comes with black surfaces.

Thanks to the innovation behind Venette, finger-pull doors are now an option for the busy family kitchen.

Every living room and entertainment area is different, so custom cabinetry makes sense and the winning wall unit by Tulip Kitchens and Designs will see many treasures heading 'straight to the pool room'.

Stylish and sophisticated, the dark Polytec vinyl used in the winning Best Small Range Joinery is Bottega Oak in Woodmatt, a near-black coloured oak with wide, distinct, black oak wood grain features. The Woodmatt range is a popular choice for a timber finish offering a cost effective way of incorporating natural, warm tones into cabinetry. With the realism of veneer, Woodmatt is available in 15 colours and will add a designer element to your space.

Located in Moorabool Street, Geelong, Erik Wirtz and the team at Tulip Kitchens and Designs have a kitchen and cabinetry display showroom for renovators to seek inspiration for their project, backed up with creative design concepts, expert advice and service to match.

Award entrants were short-listed

by Polytec and winners chosen

by Geelong Home Designer, Darren Grayson.

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[family] matters

Helen Farrell with son Ewan, 5, a doting older brother to twin baby sisters Meg and Niamh.

Picture: Rebecca Hosking

“Being cared for in Geelong – close to home and in our community – was really special and we’re very thankful.”

The birth of the twins was momentous for Monash IVF because Helen was a patient at its first clinic at the Specialist Surgicentre Geelong.

Monash IVF celebrated its 12-month anniversary at its new Geelong location in July 2019.

Pair of MIRACLES HELEN FARRELL and husband Leon went through an emotional roller coaster as they sought to grow their family.

year to get pregnant before seeking help from Monash IVF fertility specialist Doctor Prue Johnstone.

Much to her delight, she discovered she was actually experiencing ligament pains, and was carrying twins.

But after years of trying, they and five-year-old son Ewan welcomed twin girls, Meg and Niamh, to their family in March.

“I was aware of the struggles faced in falling pregnant for women as they grew older,” Helen, now 38, says.

“Finding out we were pregnant with identical twins was one of the biggest and best surprises ever,” Helen says.

“We’re all absolutely delighted to welcome Meg and Niamh to our family, especially Ewan who is the perfect doting older brother,” Helen says.

During two years of treatments Helen suffered multiple miscarriages.

Meg and Niamh were born early and cared for by Barwon Health special care nursery. Today, now past their corrected age, they are doing very really well.

After conceiving Ewan naturally, the couple tried for more than a

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After experiencing cramping in the days leading up to an ultrasound she assumed it was another miscarriage.

“I’m really so grateful to everyone who helped us along the way,” Helen says.

Dr Johnstone says the family’s story shows how Monash IVF Geelong is helping local women in a very personal way.

“We have been in Geelong helping local families for 30 years,” she says.

“As many as one-in-six couples will experience some difficulty falling pregnant. If you’re having troubles, we’re here in Geelong to help you add to or complete your family.”

“As the pioneers of IVF and scientific leaders, Monash IVF has over 40 years’ experience and over 35,000 babies across Australia.

“Thanks to the Surgicentre, we’re continuing to provide Geelong locals with access to worldleading fertility treatments and services without leaving their home town.”

[medical] matters

LAKE IMAGING

amazing images WESTERN medicine is truly amazing and the technology available to us today is even more remarkable than it was 10 years ago. We are fortunate to have such cuttingedge medical services right here in Geelong.

One of the fields of medicine where technology is advancing at a fast rate is radiology. X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, PET and CT scans are just some of the imaging modalities that doctors and specialists use to gain further insight into your health.

As a patient, you want to feel confident that your medical concern is properly diagnosed,

and radiology provides doctors with the tools they need to make better informed decisions about managing and treating medical conditions.

The cost of medical expenses can sometimes be hard to digest, which is why it is important to understand where your health dollar is spent! Imaging is a unique service as it requires expensive high-tech equipment to perform complex and sophisticated tests, which is why General Manager of Lake Imaging, Daniel Hilbert, is pleased to announce its recent investment in the Geelong medical circuit.

Cats star Sam Menegola at Lake Imaging.

Daniel explains that Lake Imaging recently injected $7.5 million into the refurbishment of the imaging department at St John of God Hospital on Myers Street. “As part of the department upgrade, Lake Imaging purchased state-ofthe-art scanning equipment, providing the Geelong community with unprecedented access to the very best in imaging. You can be certain that next time you or a loved one is referred to Lake Imaging for a scan, that your dollar is paying for the highest quality of imaging available to you”, says Daniel.

Lake Imaging has grown since 2002 from a single clinic in Ballarat, to now operating 20 clinics within Victoria. Geelong

locations include, St John of God Hospital, East Court in Ryrie Street, South Court in Belmont, North Court in Corio, GMI on La Trobe Terrace, Drysdale, Ocean Grove as well as Geelong Breast Clinic.

“Over the past year, we have provided imaging services to over 400,000 individuals, which is an incredible number of people we have aided in our community,” Daniel says.

Lake proudly supports the Geelong Football Club, Geelong Supercats, Western United Football Club, Kids Plus Foundation, Geelong Region Cancerians and other community organisations.

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[social] network

GEELONG ARTS CENTRE REDEVELOPMENT OPENING PHOTOS: JOE VAN DER HURK

1. JARED ROSS, EMMA IN'T HOUT AND NICKY GLUMCEBIC. 2. JOEL MCGUINNESS AND LISA MCCUNE. 3. PATTI MANOLIS, STEPHANIE ASHER AND VANESSA SCHERNICKAU. 4. HELEN DUNCAN AND JAMES HIGGENS WITH SHAUN AND DANIELLE WOODHOUSE. 5. HEIDI SMITH, LYNDEL QUICK AND JANE ACOPIAN. 6. JIMMY BUCK AND LESLEY ALWAY WITH JIM AND LIBBY COUSINS. 7. LUMARI MCGUINNESS, MAX COFFMANN AND DAVE WALTON. 8. MERI BLAZEVSKI, ANNA SCHWARTZ AND DANIEL VON STURMER. 9. EMIR AND SAMANTHA KRAJINA WITH MARY AND DARYL READER. 10. SUE BALL, CHRISTINE COUZENS, CALEB RIXON, KALEY NICHOLSON AND TIM GOOEN. 11. ANGELIQUE HELMAN, DAVID POSTILL, SCOTT GRAHAM AND LEONIE JOYSON. 12. NARELLE NEEDHAM, MARK DAY, DI NELSON, JOEL MCGUINNESS, BRET INCE AND KYLIE MACKEY.

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[where] to eat Dine amid Cats greatness at Charles & Co.

STADIUM’S CAFE surprise A unique foodie experience within one of Geelong's most iconic sites awaits locals and visitors this summer.

Charles & Co. is GMHBA Stadium's fully-licensed cafe located inside the Charles Brownlow Stand next to the Cats Shop.

The cafe backs on to the warmup area, giving visitors the perfect vantage point to watch the player’s train during pre-season, while serving up a delicious menu with something for everyone.

Healthy, tasty treats await in the heart of the Cats' home stadium.

“Our cafe is not just for Cats members, we welcome anyone and everyone,” cafe manager Nikki Slaven says.

Open six days a week for breakfast and lunch, patrons are able to enjoy a range of delicious meals and beverages.

Surrounded by greenery and natural lighting, the cafe offers a relaxed atmosphere and provides seating for about 50 people.

During summer outdoor alfresco seating is also available so patrons can enjoy the warm weather.

“It’s a really upbeat, friendly and inviting cafe," Nikki says.

When you enter the space, it’s just so open and vibrant.”

Nikki, a passionate Cats supporter who grew up in Geelong West, loves the ‘unique’ environment the cafe provides.

“Having the players come in and seeing them train right at the window is pretty cool,” she says.

“Our free wi-fi and colouring sheets are sure to keep the kids entertained too.”

The summer menu has been designed to focus on a range of different cuisines and local produce.

With gluten free options, and vegan meals available on request, the cafe also caters for specific dietary requirements

The cafe also offers two weekly meal specials, along with regular juice and smoothie specials.

2019 and 2020 Geelong Cats members, along with seniors can also receive a 10 per cent discount at the cafe.

“We’re very creative with our food, we put a lot of effort into our specials," Nikki explains.

“We like to create menu items that put people out of their comfort zone to try new things.”

Located at Kardinia Park on the Latrobe Terrace side, Charles & Co. is open from 8am to 4pm from Monday to Saturday.

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[social] network

LOVE YOUR SISTER FUNDRAISER at The Elephant & Castle Hotel Pictures: STAR PHOTOGRAPHY 1. FRIEDA FRICK AND JENIFER HARRIOT. 2. TANYA TAYLOR, BRIGITA RAKAS AND SALLY WYATT. 3. JANETTE DIAMOND AND ANNIE JONES. 4. KAREN SODOMACO AND SAMUEL JOHNSON. 5. JAMIE SOLDANI AND SALLY SOLDANI. 6. KRISTINE PAGE, SARAH PAGE AND EMMA PAGE. 7. MARG SKINNER, FIONA SKINNER AND AMANDA MELLINGTON. 8. KERRY DENNISON, ANNE KIRKWOOD AND CINDY JONES. 9. KRISTY ANDERSON, JEANETTE ANDERSON, TRACEY LEE AND JAIMIE APPLETON. 10. ROBYN MCDONALD, ADELE FISHER, SUZANNE ANDERSON AND PEPI BALDONADO. 11. KAY GALL, CHRISTINE GRAHAM AND ROXANNE RYDER. 12. LORELLE BEARDSELL, MEGAN DEAN, MICHELLE EDWARDS, SUSAN DOWNIE, FIONA THRELFALL AND KERRY WATKINS.

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[eyewear] style

Let the sun SHINE IN Words: TANYA CARROLL, EYEWEAR ON PAKO CAN you say: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wear eyewear from Eyewear on Pako?â&#x20AC;?

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s summer time and who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t love the warmer weather and a great excuse to buy a new pair of sunnies!

Eyewear on Pako stocks a big selection of sunglasses, so youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re bound to have some fun choosing a new look. The range includes Ray Ban, Tom Ford, Prada, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Maui Jim, Oroton, Sass and Bide, Bask, Epokhe, Raen, Moscot and many more.

All sunglasses stocked at Eyewear on Pako can be fitted with prescription lenses. Lenses are available in various colours, densities, solid or graduated styles (darker at the top and lighter at the bottom) and even mirror coatings.

Polarised lenses are a great option and offer better glare protection, which will improve visual comfort and reduce eye strain in bright conditions.

Sounds a tad confusing right?

Well thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where the team at Eyewear on Pako can help. The friendly and experienced staff are on hand to assist you and provide advise on the best option to suit both your lifestyle and needs.

Hit the beach this summer with great new shades from Eyewear on Pako.

So what are you waiting forâ&#x20AC;Ś pop into Eyewear on Pako and treat yourself to a quality pair of sunglasses, that offer the best in style and sun protection!

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follow us on Insta

1a yuille street, geelong west p. 5222 5353 12430091-FA50-19

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[social] network

PATRICK ROWAN & ASSOCIATES Ladiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Luncheon for the Offspring Project Pictures: ELISSA FRIDAY 1. BELINDA LYLE AND YVONNE SHRIMPTON-BOWDLER. 2. GLENYS HARVEY AND CATH JOHNSON. 3. JESSICA EAGLES AND JULIE HUNTER. 4. TATIANA TAURI, SIMAR KAUR AND JESSICA BRAY. 5. KAREN HILL AND DORA ABDULLAH. 6. BERRIS RYAN, ANNICE ROWAN AND LYNETTE FLEETWOOD. 7. KATHRYN JUNOR, RACHEL GLEESON AND ANDREA YEOMAN. 8. MARIE HERNANDEZ, LA ROCHELLE TEE AND TATIANA TAURI. 9. HELEN PEMBERTON, KRISTI VAN ES AND DALEEN KROGER. 10. JENNIFER GRANT AND MONICA CLEMOW. 11. THEA WILLOUGHBY, LIV KROGER, GWEN WOOD AND SHERYL AGG. 12. SHIRLEY MARENDAZ AND CHRISTINE HOWARD. 13. LINDA DUNDURU, KERRIE RAN, JOANNE PLUNKET AND SHARON HILL.

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[antiques & collectibles] A model spinosaurus and dinosaur teeth at Moorabool Antiques Galleries.

PRESENTS with bite HAVE you ever wanted to own a 180-million-year-old fossil or a dinosaur tooth?

It’s the perfect Christmas present for that someone who is difficult to buy for.

Just $45 will get you a 180-million-year-old Fossil Ammonite from Madagascar.

Paul Rosenberg from Moorabool Antique Galleries says you can and it won’t blow the budget.

It’s all part of Moorabool Antique Galleries’ 8000 gifts for Christmas.

Just $25 will get you a genuine spinosaurus tooth that was found in what is now current day Morocco.

The store, founded in 1958 and one of the largest antique shops in the country, has 8089 items to browse on their website, but twice that in store.

“We certainly do have lots of items that are expensive because they are just that valuable, but there’s heaps of neat stuff here that’s well within anyone’s budget,” Paul says.

“The spinosaurus was the beast that took down the T-Rex in Jurassic Park 3, it was pretty ferocious,” Paul says.

“We know what we’re doing, we’ve been around a while,” Paul says.

There’s even a tuft of mammoth’s hair.

Every item is 100% genuine and comes with its own information card.

“We have 140-year-old tea sets that can still be used,” Paul says.

“We try to cater for his and hers gifts as well and coming into Christmas, you can grab a neat personable gift for someone special within a reasonable budget.”

Moorabool Antique Galleries stocks everything on its two fascinating floors from ceramics, furniture, metalworks, glass and crystal, coins, tribal antiques and much more.

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[social] network

GEELONG CUP COCKTAIL PARTY hosted by Charles Rose 1. ALEESE AND ADAM BIRD WITH JADE AUGUSTINE. 2. BERNADETTE SCHREUDER AND HEATHER BOAL. 3. EMILY POST, CARLY POST AND IZZY ROWLANDS. 4. MARY STEKELENVURG AND VICTORIA MURRIHY. 5. SARAH HENDERSON, DARYL READER AND MATHEW HOOD. 6. KAREN LOWE AND DEBBIE BISHOP. 7. KARL AND JENNY BOCK. 8. MONTANA MACDONALD AND HOLLY WOODHOUSE. 9. FAYE QUINNELL AND VICKI KUNASHEV..

10. BILL AND MAUREEN GUY. 11. ASHER ROSE AND ALEX HECKER. 12. SANDRA DENDLE, CORAL HARKNESS AND GLORIA GILCHRIST.

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[what’s] cooking

BUTTERMILK PANCAKES with Lard Ass butter Recipe by LARD ASS'S MONICA CAVARSAN

Total time: 25 min

Ingredients

Method

Prep: 10 min

• 2 cups self-raising flour

1. Gather the ingredients.

Cook: 10 min

• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

THESE wonderful buttermilk pancakes are light and fluffy, and absolutely delicious with lots of butter and jam. Make these pancakes for your weekend family breakfast.

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

2. Heat the oven to 120C if you want to keep pancakes warm to serve all at once.

The batter is easy, and it's a quick preparation. The use of real cultured buttermilk will make a big difference.

• 2 teaspoons sugar • 2 large eggs • 2 cups Lard Ass cultured buttermilk • 3 tablespoons Lard Ass cultured salted butter (melted)

3. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, and sugar.

4. Whisk eggs, buttermilk, and butter together in a small bowl.

5. Combine the mixtures and stir until smooth, but don't over beat.

6. Heat a large fry pan over

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medium-low heat or lower, depending on your range.

7. Using a 1/4 to 1/3 cup measure, cook until you see bubbles across the top and the edges are somewhat dry looking.

8. Flip over and brown the other side.

9. Remove the pancakes to a plate or pan and keep warm in the preheated oven, if desired.

10. Serve the hot pancakes with butter and jam.

CALENDAR of EVENTS 14 December

24 December

Carols by the Sea

Geelong Carols by Candlelight

Local guest artists, school groups, carol singing, food stalls and, of course, Santa.

This evening for the whole family features a traditional carols program with some of Geelongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best artists and choirs, plus a concert band and lots of carol singing.

An annual highlight on the Surf Coast's events calendar, thousands of patrons take advantage of the free admission to Carols by the Sea each year.

This year's event will be the 55th Geelong Carols by Candlelight and feature a host of talented local performers.

Johnstone Park, Geelong

The Esplanade, Torquay

18 December Teesdale Twilight Market & Carols This is widely regarded as a wonderful community event, featuring Christmas carols, amusement rides, market stalls and, of course, a visit from Santa.

Golden Plains Shire named it the municipality's Community Event of the Year in 2017.

Turtle Bend Reserve, Teesdale

14 and 15 December Bellarine Railway Santa Train Make Christmas extra special on a ride with Santa, Mrs Claus and carolling elves.

The whole family will enjoy this train ride along Swan Bay as Mrs Claus reads a Christmas story and the elves sing carols before Santa appears at the end of the trip to see all the good boys and girls.

4 January Tranquility Fair Live music, local products and a diverse variety of food will be available among the 25 stalls at this unique fair.

More than 100 stalls selling jewellery, crystals, arts and crafts, clothing, handicrafts, fresh produce, books and videos, readings, massages, body-care products and more.

Ocean Grove Park, Ocean Grove

Queenscliff Railway Station

Showroom 400 Latrobe Terrace Newtown opposite Geelong Football Club

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18 January

1 and 2 February

Great Australian Beer Festival Mmmmm, beer. This huge festival has moved from the racecourse to central Geelong, giving revellers easier access to and from the venue.

Hundreds of artisan beers and ciders from across the Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula, Surf Coast and Otway regions will be available along with plenty of food and music.

Johnstone Park, Geelong

25 and 26 January Festival of Sails The annual Festival of Sails in Geelong features world-class sailing action alongside a variety of onshore activities and entertainment.

Watch the largest keelboat regatta in

the Southern Hemisphere and enjoy the carnival atmosphere,with live music, kids' entertainers, spectacular waterski and flyboard shows, family-friendly activities, rides, food trucks, market stalls plus the iconic Australia Day fireworks display.

Waterfront, Geelong

Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race Inspired by Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prestigious one-day classic races, the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race is the first of its kind in Australia.

Now embraced at international level as a unique competition and spectator experience, the event's Elite Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s road race reached the pinnacle of world cycling with its elevation to

UCI WorldTour calendar in 2017.

Various locations, Geelong and Surf Coast

16 February IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong A multi-looped fast course, IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong is set to again test avid triathletes looking for a challenging and unique experience along the city's spectacular waterfront and scenic fringes.

This event has been voted numberone for overall athlete satisfaction by thousands of athletes around the globe.

Central Geelong

16 February All Ford Day All Ford Day caters for over 1200 vehicles on display in one of the largest single-make events in Australia.

30 January Conrad Sewell Fans of Australian singer/songwriter Conrad Sewell will be in for a treat when he visits Geelong as part of his latest tour.

With number-one single Start Again already under his belt, the ARIA Awards' 2015 Breakthrough Artist of the Year will be in town to support his debut solo Album, 2019's Life.

Gateway Hotel, Corio

Ford vehicles of all types, ages and models will be joined by classic race and muscle cars, hot rods, street machines, celebrities, automotive industry displays and entertainment for the whole family.

Plantation Road, Corio

Rogues & Vagabonds of GEELONG GAOL EXHIBITION Book a night time GHOST TOUR at

12429879-SN50-19

twistedhistory.net.au

GEELONG GAOL MUSEUM 202 MYERS STREET GEELONG

Open between 1-4 pm on weekends, school holidays and public holidays.

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International?

So easy.

Fly from Avalon Airport with AirAsia direct to Malaysia... and onwards to more than 150 amazing destinations with unbelievably low fares. The best bit is, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just a quick trip up the road with easy parking right out the front, TRS facilities, great duty free shopping, and everything you need right by the gate - which means that you get to start your holiday earlier.

Jump on our website to find out more and plan your adventure now!

avalonairport.com.au 12429889-FA50-19