MAY 19, 2015 \ MACEDONRANGES.STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + PROPERTY GUIDE
(Joe Mastroianni)
Gates close on gardens A Macedon garden that quite literally rose from the ashes of the Ash Wednesday bushfires makes a fascinating backdrop for Victoria’s final season of the Open Gardens Australia scheme. The scheme, which has partnered with more than 20,000 garden owners since it started in 1987, has raised more than $6 million for charities. But declining visiting numbers have forced it to shut down. Tugurium, owned by plantsman Stephen Ryan and botanic artist Craig Lidgerwood, has opened with Open Gardens Australia 35 times over the past 25 years. Mr Ryan says garden lovers are shattered about the scheme’s imminent closure but he’s hopeful that a state-based group will re-emerge. He knows about picking up the pieces, having developed his 0.4-hectare garden from a burnt-out block after 1983’s Ash Wednesday disaster. ‘‘When I bought it in 1985, there wasn’t a thing planted,’’ Mr Ryan says. Today, Tugurium is loaded with rare plants, trees and ponds. Mr Ryan says with winter close, visitors have a great opportunity to ‘‘see the bones’’ of the unique garden. Tugurium, at 8 Centenary Avenue, is open from 10am-4.30pm on May 30 and 31. Entry costs $8; children free. Details: www.opengarden.org.au STEPHEN RYAN
Matt Crossman
Medcraft terror storm By Matt Crossman An investigation is under way after a Hume councillor referred to the municipality as the ‘‘terrorist training centre of Australia’’ on a closed social media group. Cr Jack Medcraft, who made the comments in response to a link about counter-terrorism raids in the area earlier this month, has apologised for causing offence but said a serious discussion was needed about terror links in Hume. ‘‘Welcome to Hume, the terrorist training centre of Australia,’’ he said on Facebook. In a reference to a 2003 ban on ham and
pork at council functions, Cr Medcraft added: ‘‘First it was ham sandwiches we were known for, now this garbage. Watch out Sunbury, we could be next.’’ It’s understood the comments have since been deleted. Cr Medcraft last week returned from a 28-day suspension handed down after a probe into his alleged bad behaviour at a community meeting in Broadmeadows late last year. There have been several alleged terrorist links to Hume this year. Jake Bilardi, of Craigieburn, and Suhan Rahman, of Roxburgh Park, were reportedly killed fighting overseas for Islamic State, while a 17-year-old was arrested in a
counter-terrorism operation in Greenvale on May 8. Cr Medcraft said he was tired of people ‘‘fobbing off’’ the serious issue of terrorism. ‘‘My comments were tongue in cheek; they weren’t meant with any malice,’’ he said. ‘‘But a lot of people are very worried about what’s going on. I’m sick and tired of people looking at Hume for all the wrong reasons.’’ Cr Medcraft said he was disappointed that his comments had sparked a furore while little had been done about another councillor’s reference to Sunbury as a racist community. Hume council chief executive Domenic Isola confirmed Cr Medcraft’s latest comments
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on Facebook are being investigated. He said the councillors’ code of conduct extended to statements made via social media. Mr Isola said Hume took enormous pride in the fact it is one of Australia’s most harmonious and multicultural communities. ‘‘Our residents come from more than 166 different countries and speak more than 120 languages, and we think that’s one of the best things about Hume,’’ he said. A spokeswoman for Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins said all types of racial or religious intolerance were unacceptable. ■ Councillor
slams ‘witchunt’: Page 8