Uncover Magazine - Volume 3

Silo A rt Trail

A nna P laci d i

Lambley Gardens

Austral i a's l arge st ou td o or gal l er y

"P a i nt i ng hel p e d me heal"

A me et i ng over f lowers

V/ THREE - SUMMER EDITION 2019 - $9.50

T H E B E S T O F B A L L A R AT A N D W E S T E R N V I C T O R I A

ISSN 1837-1043 03

9 771837 104001

SUMMER in Ballarat

Summer in Ballarat provides the whole family with action-packed fun. Take the kids to the school holiday programs at Sovereign Hill, Art Gallery of Ballarat or Kryal Castle, explore the outdoors at Lake Wendouree Adventure Playground or send the kids on summer camp at Cave Hill Creek. If you want even more to do, come during one of our big events like the Federation University Road Nationals, Summer Sundays, Nitro Circus or Ballarat Beer Festival. There’s no better way to spend your summer than in Ballarat.

Plan yours at visitballarat.com.au 2

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Thank You to Our Partners Thank you to our major community partners City of Ballarat.

Uncover Magazine would like to thank our advertising partners for their commitment to the publication and our region.

To find out how you can become an advertising partner, contact ads@uncovermagazine.com.au or call 0447 820 577.

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LOVE HAPPENS AT

P. ( 0 3 ) 5 3 3 3 4 7 1 5 S H O P 1 , 4 2 4 S T U R T S T R E E T B A L L A R A T V I C W W W. G E M S A N D J E W E L S . C O M . A U

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Contact Uncover hi@uncovermagazine.com.au 0447 820 727 Editorial: eli@uncovermagazine.com.au Advertising: ads@uncovermagazine.com.au 0447 820 577

Stylist Genevieve Manley

Editorial Team Eliesha Rae Della Vreeland Ali Webb Bianca Flint Lisa Taylor Kate Taylor Brigid Moloney Francesca Carter

Photographers Ange Hayward - Ballarat Property Photoraphy Tara Moore Photography Ellen Eustice Photography Melissa Brennan - Her Golden Point Tatjana Plitt Marcel Aucar

Editing Partner Joana Stevens Premier Strategy

Design/Publishing Roar Publishing www.roarpublishing.com.au lucy@roarpublishing.com.au

Printer Print Graphics Uncover Magazine is a venture of ROAR Publishing Pty Ltd. The Uncover Magazine team invites your feedback and contribution.

Disclaimer Uncover Magazine takes all care but accepts no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Uncover Magazine holds copyright to all content unless otherwise stated. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of the information in this publication, the publishers accept no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions or resultant consequences including any loss or damage arising from reliance on information in this publication.

The views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the editor or publisher.

Lucy Gilbert

Lisa Taylor

Managing Editor

Deputy Editor

From the Editor Writing this editors letter is bittersweet. On one hand, I am so excited

about the edition we have put together for you, on the other, it is the last

edition Lisa and I will be delivering together. You see... Lisa is leaving me (or more specifically the magazine). But don’t worry, the “breakup” has been amicable and we have decided to stay good friends.

Lisa has been with the magazine in various roles for two years, after I

plucked her from our book club. And what a two years it has been. Lisa has

been instrumental in curating incredible content edition after edition, she is a fantastic writer with the best sense of humour and she is super creative.

She gave me the push I needed, and all then supported me through the

rebrand and has taken every challenge that comes inherent with a print publication in her stride.

I wish Lisa all the luck in the world for all her future endeavors knowing that

she doesn’t really need it because she makes her own luck and will succeed with whatever she puts her mind to.

So, on to our summer edition of Uncover. We have jammed it full of as much hearty editorial as we possibly could. It will keep you entertained for hours

while you enjoy our beautiful (but dangerous, see our article on protecting your skin) summer sun. Get ready to read about secret swimming holes in

the region and the best road trip idea this season with the Silo Art Trail! And make sure you check out our mini Eat Drink West magazine for a few of the

Be sure to follow us on social media!

And tag your pictures with #uncovervic

best places to eat and drink locally.

Happy reading friends and have a beautiful summer. See you again in autumn!

facebook.com/uncovervic Instagram: @uncovervic 6

Lucy

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Contents

12 16 20 22 26 30 34 38 76 88

Eat Drink West

52 56 66

SILO ART TRAIL

Largest outdoor gallery

ANNA PLACIDI

Using art to heal

TAKE THE PLUNGE

Watering holes in the west

THE BAZZANI FAMILY Shaping a food city

PINK NADE

Wearing art

THE BEAUTY OF BESPOKE

Sparkling, shining, twinkling

LAMBLEY GARDENS

A meeting over flowers

THE FOX HOUSE

Exploring Kyneton

BARDO + CAT

A Butterland wedding

A RETRO SUMMER EDIT Stephanies explored

KATE DAVIS

The driver behind EDW

BABCHE

Wines like Grandma made 'em

THE SHARED TABLE

A place for us to gather

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The Silo Art Trail Words and pictures by Eliesha Rae.

“To travel the entire 200-kilometre Silo Art Trail from one end ( Julia Volchkova’s Rupanyup) to the other (Fintan Magee’s Patchewollock), it should take a little over two hours,” the Silo Art Trail website informs me. Sounds doable.

So that’s how I convinced my husband to do it with me, in one day, on the way to Adelaide.

I declined to mention the second paragraph, which goes on

to recommend spending the night somewhere along the trail, and booking in advance…

Oh – and the fact that it’s a hell of a long way from Melbourne to even get to the first silo.

The Silo Art Trail is one of those inspired ideas, which started

as a one-off project and has grown into six (and more!) huge, impressive works of public art on a series of disused grain

silos in the Wimmera Mallee area. The project saw a team of

renowned artists from Australia and across the world visit the region, meet the locals and transform each grain silo into an epic work of art; each one telling a unique story about the host town.

Billed as Australia’s largest outdoor gallery, chances are, the Silo Art Trail is unlike any gallery you’ve seen before.

Our first sighting of anything even remotely silo related came after a couple (I’m rounding down) of wineries, countless

rounds of 20 Questions, a toilet and sausage sizzle break, an empty bag of pretzels and a good three hours of driving.

It was then that we finally got a sign.

An actual sign. A blue sign. One of those tourism-related

activities signs, you know the ones – it boldly proclaimed “SILO” in all caps Highway Gothic and it pointed in a

completely different direction to the one in which Google maps was encouraging us to go.

So we followed it, wouldn’t you?

I’m here to tell you that Google maps is, in fact, more

trustworthy than blue tourism activities signs. But we got there in the end and it’s actually quite hard to describe the impact of seeing a ghostly portrait or vast purple night sky rise out

of the dry fields of the Mallee, but trust me, these murals are pretty extraordinary.

Silo #1: Rupanyup (Julia Volchkova) Rupanyup’s silo art is the work of Russian mural artist, Julia

Volchkova, who turned her attention to the town’s youth and their great love of team sport.

The featured faces are those of Rupanyup residents and local sporting team members, Ebony Baker and Jordan

Weidemann. Fresh-faced and dressed in their sports attire,

Baker and Weidemann embody a youthful spirit of strength, hope and camaraderie.

Rendered on a squat pair of conjoined Australian Grain Export steel grain silos, the delicately nuanced monochromatic work is typical of Volchkova’s realist portraiture style.

Accomplished over several weeks and unveiled in early 2017, the mural quietly honours the integral role that sport and community play in rural Australian populations.

Assorted thoughts: It’s beautiful, but I expected it to be bigger.

I’m really glad we have a wide-angle lens. Is there anywhere to buy water in this town? Spoiler: there is.

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Silo #2: Sheep Hills (Adnate)

Silo #3: Brim (Guido van Helten)

Throughout his career, Melbourne-based artist, Adnate has

Guido van Helten’s iconic Brim mural was the first silo artwork

native lands. In 2016, Adnate developed a friendship with the

with newfound energy and optimism. After gaining

used his work to tell the stories of Indigenous people and their Barengi Gadjin Land Council in north-west Victoria and found his inspiration for this mural.

GrainCorp’s Sheep Hills silos were built in 1938. Adnate’s

to appear in Victoria, and soon infused the town’s community widespread local and international attention, Brim’s silo art

success shone a spotlight on the Wimmera Mallee region and inspired the establishment of the Silo Art Trail.

depiction of Wergaia Elder, Uncle Ron Marks, and Wotjobaluk

Completed in early 2016, with limited financial resources, van

Savannah Marks and Curtly McDonald celebrates the richness

quartet of female and male farmers. Rendered across

Elder, Aunty Regina Hood, alongside two young children,

of the area’s Indigenous culture. The night sky represents

elements of local dreaming and the overall image signifies

the important exchange of wisdom, knowledge and customs from Elders to the next generation.

Assorted thoughts: Now this is more like it. This thing is

MASSIVE! Why are there so many pigeons? Can I touch it? * Oh god, it’s full of pigeons, why?? Holy shit this thing is amazing. It might be even cooler close up. How long can we stay here?

It was also around this point that we started looking at every silo we passed with deep suspicion (and there are A LOT of

silos in the Wimmera Mallee). “Are you concealing something spectacular?” We would ponder. “Should we drive over there

and check?” Maybe one day all the silos will be amazing works of art and we’ll need to spend weeks driving from one to the

next, marvelling at their impressiveness, but that day has not yet come. Moving on.

Helten’s mural depicts an anonymous, multi-generational four 1939-built GrainCorp silos, van Helten’s subjects bear

expressions that exemplify the strength and resilience of the local farming community.

Assorted thoughts: Should we be trying to take more “artistic” photos of these things? For the mag? Or even just for the

gram? Let’s take a photo of it in the reflection of this puddle.

Holy shit – that is amazing. We should definitely be trying to

take more artistic photos. Should we try taking one in the car’s rear-view mirror? *Twenty minutes later* - No, we should not.

Silo #4: Rosebery (Kaff-eine) Before commencing work in Rosebery, Melbourne artist, Kaffeine spent time in the Mallee assisting fellow artist Rone on

his Lascelles silo project. During this time, Kaff-eine travelled

to neighbouring towns, discovering the natural environment

and acquainting herself with local business owners, families, farmers and children – all with the view to developing a

concept for the Rosebery GrainCorp silos, which date back to 1939.

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Completed in late 2017, Kaff-eine’s artwork depicts themes

that she says embody the region’s past, present and future.

Assorted thoughts: How many colours are in that painting?

These things are incredible. How much did the artists get

paid? Wait, did they get paid? I’m going to google it. Crap, Google was no help.

Silo #5: Lascelles (Rone) In order to capture the true essence of Lascelles, Melbournebased artist, Rone knew that he had to learn about the town

from those who were deeply connected to it. At the Lascelles silo, he depicts local farming couple Geoff and Merrilyn

Horman, part of a family that has lived and farmed in the area for four generations.

In mid-2017 Rone worked for two weeks to transform the two

Silo #6: Patchewollock (Fintan Magee) To prepare for his Patchewollock mural, Brisbane artist, Fintan

Magee booked a room at the local pub to immerse himself in

the community and get to know its people. When he met local sheep and grain farmer, Nick “Noodle” Hulland, Magee knew he had found his muse.

Why Hulland? According to Magee, the rugged, lanky local

exemplified the no-nonsense, hardworking spirit of the region.

Perhaps more importantly though, Noodle had just the right

height and leanness to neatly fit onto the narrow, 35-metrehigh canvas of the twin 1939-built GrainCorp silos.

Assorted thoughts: Well that was a big drive, but this looks

pretty incredible at sunset. Let’s just sit down and look at it for a while. How cool does his flanny look? OK – so what now?

1939-built GrainCorp silos. He went to great lengths to paint in

Hot tip – if you make it this far, there is only one place to stay

would integrate seamlessly into its environment. Utilising this

one room left for the night. Pre-booking would have been

the silo’s existing raw concrete tones to produce a work that

muted monochrome palette, he added water to his paint as a blending tool to produce a ghostly, transparent effect – a signature of his distinctive painting style.

Assorted thoughts: I love Rone. Wow, this one is hard to get

to. Ooops, wrong turn, that is a train track. OK – this is it. Wow. Seriously though.

– The Patche Hotel and we were lucky enough that they had smart.

If I had my time again, I’d break up the trip. According to the Silo Art Trail website, there is a lot more to see in the area –

lakes and museums and other murals, oh my – and it would

be awesome to do the whole thing at a slightly more leisurely pace.

A picnic and a wine beneath a towering silo is beckoning.

I think I’ll be back.

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Anna Placidi Our connection to nature begins at a young age, a thirst, or curiosity combined with the simple pleasure of free time; watching a snail slither across a path, a butterfly landing on a flower, or the way the sun glistens on a blade of grass. These moments, although completely incidental at the time, forge our young minds with a connection to something greater than ourselves.

Words by Bianca Flint.

Pictures by Tara Moore Photography.

Having always been creative, Anna remembers her mother’s support fondly,

encouraging her from a young age to paint and explore, to follow her passion

and go to Art School. And Anna did study Art, and continued to paint throughout her youth, and into her adulthood.

But, after moving to Melbourne, Anna reflects on the 90s as a time when art was more technology based, a medium she found far less appealing than the siren song of nature. So she continued to paint, but casually, in raw materials as she

always had, completing mainly landscapes, and further cementing her love for still life and the natural world.

Anna moved to Ballarat after meeting her husband, Raimondo, and the two

began building their life together. A life that would go onto include two beautiful children, Federica and Marcello, who are now young adults themselves, and Anna describes her life as ‘blessed’, despite what was to follow.

At age 43, Anna was diagnosed with Breast Cancer (around seven years ago), she talks openly of this challenging time, a positivity and strength in her that seems to have never wavered.

Anna speaks of her Cancer as a turning point, “I remember waking from a major

surgery,” she explains, “I opened my eyes, and I just knew I had to give my art one last go”. It’s a moment she says that she can’t forget, a moment of clarity that she hadn’t felt for her art before.

“Painting helped me heal,” says Anna. Her focus on landscapes soon evolved and deliberately narrowed into painting flowers, “I am in awe of flowers, I feel like a

child again”, she expounds, clearly now able to do what many of us struggle to; stop and smell the roses. Literally.

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Life was different after Cancer. Anna articulates a

Anna prefers to forage for flowers herself, not that a prepared

simultaneously seeing and appreciating the little things, a

something,” Anna explains, about the rawness of picking a

determination to “not sweat the small stuff”, while

quality developed in her work of painting flowers, evident in every fine detail in her artwork.

It had become more important than ever for Anna to chase her dreams of being an artist, to fulfil that yearning she had always had.

Anna credits social media (specifically Instagram), for helping her showcase her work and connect with other creatives.

Vintage 216; a neighbourhood vintage store in Ballarat, was one of the first places to display Anna’s work.

Now they can be found in A.K. Bellinger Gallery in Northern NSW and Fenton and Fenton in Melbourne. Anna also recently held a Solo Art Exhibition at A.K. Bellinger, showcasing fifteen of her paintings, which completely sold out.

Anna speaks of her art style as non-prolific. She is slow in her approach, and can take a week or more to complete one of

her larger scale pieces. Always making time for her daily walks, Anna takes the time to admire flowers along the way, and only “sometimes” picks one to take home with her (something, she says with a laugh, has got her into some trouble before!).

bouquet isn’t beautiful in its own right, but there’s “just

flower from its natural environment, something that seems to be an important part of the process for Anna. And something that takes her back to her childhood on the sheep stations,

and her joy of exploring nature with her childhood dog by her side.

Having been inspired by a myriad of other artists over the years, from Fairfield Porter to Henri Fantin-Latour and Sir

Cedric Morris, working from a beautiful corner in her family’s

home, Anna speaks about her process; “I do sometimes listen to music, but I also like to listen to ghost stories on podcasts and YouTube”, she laughs. Flowers and ghosts may be an

unusual combination, but maybe the proof is in the pudding (or painting)!

Anna’s passion for art is palpable, her story speaks of

determination, hope and healing. Inspirational and hopeful,

Anna hopes that she can inspire others to chase their dreams, but if we can take just one thing from Anna and her story, let it be to stop and notice the little things, the things that

fascinated us as children, the things we look at, but do not

see. To explore and appreciate nature, and sometimes, just for a moment, stop and smell the roses.

Carly offers Learn to Meditate courses where, in just 3 short sessions, you learn a simple technique of meditation that can elicit rapid and profound benefits.

Meditation is a practice that enables you to release stress and fatigue, and to live life from a place of calm, joy and creativity.

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Let’s connect...

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Take the Plunge this Summer Words by Ali Webb.

As I write this, the weather is somewhat grey, somewhat stuck between winter and summer with a dry spring in between. You can tell the season is about to change through the trees, the breeze and of course the glorious colour blooming in front gardens. We are on the cusp of summer.

There’s something about summer that brings back memories

The tower’s colourful three story ledges in the sixties colour

with a hint of a water fight ready for action in the backyard?

Dress and the painted steel structure pops out against the

of childhood. Is it the smell of the barbeques sizzling away

Or perhaps it’s the swift ice-cream licks to avoid the dreaded sticky fingers? Or maybe it’s the Tarzan swings taking you to infinity and beyond and then straight into the depths of the cool, dark water below.

As I park outside Calembeen Lake, Creswick I feel like I’m

at the entrance to Jellystone Park. The sign is made out of

concrete and pebbles which you have to duck to see due to

a large and very beautiful Californian Redwood planted many years ago covering up the archway.

Corsican Pine-lined lagoon in the background. The tower is tempting, but is certainly not for the faint-hearted.

I’ve seen brave kids as young as five jump off this tower,

complete with an inflatable vest and a high-pitched squeal.

I’ve also seen many adults belly whack and bring themselves up to the water’s edge coughing and spluttering. It’s joyful

to watch the many kids (and adults) take the plunge off the

edge and into the deep while you sit along the grassy knoll on your towel admiring the view.

This place is reminiscent of the many parks I visited as a

Perfect for a picnic and a whole day’s entertainment, Lake

alongside my siblings or other kids from the neighbourhood,

– the deep lagoon for deep diving into, a second adjoining

child during the summer holidays, riding my bike in my togs

with a dollar in my wrist purse strapped around my arm with Velcro, ready to be spent at the tuck shop.

The popular Calembeen Diving Tower is the ultimate in

childhood dreams. It’s a legend of the region and an icon in its own right. It’s even heritage listed.

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palette is reminiscent of Yves Saint Laurent’s classic Mondrian

Calembeen is definitely a family destination. With three pools lagoon for a casual splash and then a separate pool for the little ones, the location provides the backdrop for a perfect summer’s day.

Calembeen Park is of historical significance to Victoria. Built as a swimming pool around 1910, the site was a former shallow gold mine and then later a Chinese settlement.

In 1916, the local primary schools from around the region

I’d secure a spot early on a warm evening, as I suspect there

annual “Miss Creswick’’ competitions were held on the

for a perfect Boxing Day location.

began using the pool for lessons and carnivals. Later the boardwalk. It was also during this time that over 2,000 pines were planted around the park, creating the shady water’s edge that you can see today.

Over the next 25 years change rooms, rafts, seating and timber diving springboards were added to the location,

drawing in large crowds from Creswick and beyond. The iconic stone archway was built in 1952 and the current

colourful steel diving tower added in 1960, replacing the timber boards.

When you arrive be sure to check out the toilets and change rooms for a classic Australian caravan park vibe complete

with the perfect curved cream bricks of the post-war period.

On the other side of Ballarat, approximately half an hour

from the CBD, is another lagoon located in the quiet town

of Rokewood. The lagoon is run entirely by the community, opening in mid-December and running as a functioning

outdoor swimming area until March. There is a small honesty fee to be paid upon entering of around $4.

The enticing lagoon features an abundance of concrete

picnic tables around the perimeter, ready to place a wet towel on during a blisteringly hot summer’s day to avoid

a burnt bum. Each table seems to be strategically placed

under a shady gum tree in anticipation of soggy cheese and tomato sandwiches and devilled eggs. If a classic egg and

sanga picnic doesn’t tickle your fancy, there’s a mega-sized barbeque area under the pergola.

would be a queue for the ‘que. Get your camping chairs ready Whilst it wasn’t in action when I was there, a limp Tarzan swing floating in the breeze provided anticipation for an excellent summer to come and the wooden jetty makes the perfect stretching post after a hot summer’s day at sunset.

Rokewood is a small town with only a few shops in the main street. The local general store has everything you need,

snack-wise (including the classic Chicken Twisties™) to see you through your half-hour rest between swims.

If you’re the kind of person who likes to heat up before

they cool down, about 15 minutes’ drive from Ballarat you

can find Devil’s Kitchen. A popular haunt for rock-climbers and bushwalkers, this spectacular geological reserve has

incredible basalt columns encouraging you to look up and then down below.

Covering both sides of the Woady Yaloak River, these

fascinating views of rock formations create the perfect cover for a hot summer’s day. Pair this view with a swimming hole

and a picnic area, and you’ve got yourself an entertaining day of swimming, snacking and celebrating nature at its finest.

Swim safe this summer!

See also: Golden Point Reserve, Castlemaine St George’s Lake, Creswick Lake Esmond, Canadian

Vaughan Springs Mineral Reserve

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The Enduring Legacy of the Bazzani Family Words by Francesca Carter.

Picture by Angela Hayward.

Ballarat’s Italian migrant population is responsible for much of what has shaped us as a food city. Francesca Carter meets one its pioneers.

On a warm day in 1970, a young couple, Athalie and Luigi

Steak tartare and filet mignon – dishes we consider now as

the time, The Shamrock had a reputation as one of the city’s

time. With Athalie running the front-of-house, and Luigi in the

Bazzani went to dine at The Hotel Shamrock in Bendigo. At

finest restaurants and Luigi, an Italian-born trained chef, was looking forward to the experience.

staples at any European bistro – were completely novel at the kitchen, the restaurant’s reputation soared, and it was booked out for months in advance.

Six months earlier Athalie – a Bendigo girl – and Luigi had

“We had a very good reputation as being one of the best

Arriving at the Shamrock’s restaurant at 2pm, the couple were

Athalie adds; “I remember one article described us as ‘an

salmon salad. Luigi, who had worked as a chef at several of

travel to Bendigo just to eat at our restaurant.”

arrived from London where they had met in 1966.

told it was too late for lunch. They could, however, order a London’s leading hotels, wasn’t too fussed.

“I was thinking perhaps it would be fresh salmon,” said Luigi.

restaurants in regional Australia,” says Luigi.

Oasis in a culinary desert’. We had lots of people who would Fate would intervene again, just five years later, when on a rare day off, Luigi and Athalie went for a drive to Ballarat.

“But all they had done was turn two cans of salmon upside

“Whenever we would have a day off, we would come here

The shock of being served a can of salmon was all it took to

Before lunch, the couple walked around the town’s centre, and

icon. After lunch, Luigi made an important decision – he was

the building was in a state of disrepair, Luigi was convinced it

down and served it on a lettuce leaf,” adds Athalie.

kickstart Luigi’s path from Italian chef to Australian culinary going to open a restaurant right in the heart of Bendigo.

Athalie’s family was well known in Bendigo and owned a

derelict corner building which had been in the family since the 1860s. The building was vacant at the time and was waiting

for someone to show it a little love. Using the building skills he had learned from his father, Luigi transformed the property into a restaurant,t which they named The Copper Pot.

Drawing on his London restaurant experiences and his time as

a first-class dining steward on the Cunard passenger ship The Queen Elizabeth, Luigi brought fine cuisine to regional Victoria.

because there were a couple of great restaurants,” says Luigi. noticed a beautiful bluestone building up for sale. And while would make an ideal restaurant site.

“We made an offer on the building before lunch, and then signed it after lunch,” says Athalie.

After purchasing the property, the couple put The Copper

Pot site up for lease and invited Angelo, Luigi’s brother to join them in the venture. Angelo, who ran a successful antiques restoration business in Melbourne, was happy to assist in reviving the property.

“It was a massive job,” says Athalie. “It had been abandoned so there was rubbish on every floor.”

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While they were cleaning out washing machines, car parts,

While the restaurant was innovative and exciting, it was also

– a 30-foot-tall cast iron spiral staircase, which had been

fine Australian regional produce with traditional European

and other junk, they came across the building’s prized jewel concealed behind panelling. The staircase not only became the building’s central feature, but it also gave the new establishment its name, La Scala.

In an era of causal service, open kitchens and shared plates, it’s hard to imagine the grandeur of eating at a place like La Scala. The award-winning restaurant existed at a time

when working front-of-house was seen a respectable career, not just as a temporary gig for university students. And with

steeped in tradition. It became renowned for combining techniques.

“My mother was a great cook and taught me lots of things from a very early age,” says Luigi. “She had a big family to

feed and so everything was home-grown and produced. That was where I got my pleasure for cooking.”

Equally as important as the food, was La Scala’s ambiance, interior, and service.

Melbourne restaurants such as Fanny’s, Two Faces and

Linen dressed tables were softly lit and discreetly and

Scala became an important part of Victoria’s thriving food

piece suits. The staff, many of whom would go onto to have

Stephanie’s constantly raising the bar of restaurant dining, La

intuitively attended to by wait-staff dressed in perfect three-

scene.

their own successful culinary careers, were trained in the art

Within a couple of years of opening, La Scala had cemented itself as the place to go to for any special occasion - a significant birthday, an anniversary dinner, a proposal.

“Ninety per cent of our clientele was either from Melbourne, Geelong or other parts of Australia,” says Athalie. “People in

Ballarat didn’t like to be seen spending money, so they would all go to Melbourne.”

“Slowly slowly this changed, and naturally people in Ballarat

became very proud of the restaurant... But it took a while.”

La Scala frequently appeared in magazines and newspapers.

It served celebrities, musicians and politicians. In 1981 when the Commonwealth Heads of Government was held in

Melbourne, a highlight of the world’s leaders visit was a dinner at La Scala.

“I would often cook at the table, in front of (the diners)” says

Luigi. “And people loved it. They had never seen anything like it before.”

of serving.

In 1976, the Bazzani brothers expanded the operation, and added a nightclub (which could fit 350 patrons), and

Victoria’s first wine bar. According to Athalie, some Saturday

nights there would be up to 2500 people in the building, and Athalie would organise rosters around 75 staff members schedules.

“It was exhausting,” says Athalie. “We had two children, and if I didn’t have Luigi’s mother living on and off with us during this time, I don’t know what we would’ve done. We lived, ate and breathed restaurants.”

Luigi adds: “We worked very hard to create this beautiful

restaurant and we brought competition, which was great

because everybody then lifted their game. That’s why Ballarat became home to a lot of good restaurants.”

In 1986, after a successful decade-long run, the Bazzanis sold La Scala. The couple decided they would retire to

Warrenmang, a small vineyard Luigi had purchased in the late 70s.

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The plan was that without the restaurant to run, Luigi would

And while it may be an end of an era for the Bazzanis, their

wine.

years to come.

have more time to concentrate on his other passion - making “When we sold La Scala, we were exhausted and we wanted

to take time off and look after the children,” says Athalie.

But their plan was short-lived. Within a couple of years, the

Bazzani’s opened up Café Lascelles and Lamby’s Bar in what

legacy in Australia’s food and wine industry will live on for The Bazzani’s story is just one of the many fascinating

chapters featured in La Nostra Storia – the Story of Italians in Ballarat, a new book published by the Ballarat Italian Association.

was Geelong’s National Wool Museum. This was followed by

Written by author and journalist Jan McGuinness, the book

guest accommodation, as well as function and conference

settlement experiences from the Eureka Rebellion to late 20th

Warrenmang Resort – which included a 100-seat restaurant, facilities.

Today, almost a half a century later, the Bazzani’s have finally

retired – they sold Café Lascelles in 2000, and Warrenmang in 2017. Last year the pair were presented with the “keys” to the

city by the former City of Ballarat Mayor Samantha McIntosh.

The keys are a symbolic recognition of the pair’s contribution to Ballarat’s hospitality scene.

The keys add to the Bazzani’s exhaustive list of awards and

tributes, which includes The Age’s Special Annual Award for

Excellence (1999), Legends of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival (2009), and an Order of Australia Medal for Luigi (2014).

skilfully weaves the stories of more than fifty individual century.

The book is the brainchild of Chez Dichiera, who is the president of BIA.

“When it comes to food, architecture or infrastructure the

Italians have made such an impact on Ballarat over the past 150 years. We wanted their stories to be told.”

Spread over 200 pages, the stories feature a vast collection of photography and original documents such as letters,

newspaper clippings, plans and maps. Last month, the book

was awarded the Cultural Diversity Award in the 2019 Victorian Community History Awards.

La Nostra Storia can be purchased at Collins on Lydiard, Ballarat Books and Collins in the Bridge Mall.

For further details on the book contact Chez on 0400 990 542

Email: info@ballaratitalianassociation.org Website: www.ballaratitalianassociation.org

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Pink Nade Without fail, every time I leave home wearing my Pink Nade earrings they practically receive their own standing ovation for merely existing on my lobes. The positive comments fly thick and fast, a testament to their talented creator, Johanna Clarke.

Words by Lisa Taylor.

Pictures supplied.

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Attending a local design market a few months ago I met this

Wimmera business sensation and became captivated by her stunning designs. After intensely ogling her Pink Nade display for a questionable (borderline stalkery) length of time, it was clear I needed to know more. So I sat down with Johanna to learn a little more about what makes her tick.

Tell us a little about yourself…

I am Johanna Clark, local business woman, mother of five,

wife and wearer of MANY hats. I am a passionate supporter

of women succeeding, whether it be in business, or reaching their own personal goals. I love to cheer along from the

How did the name Pink Nade originate?

I was really struggling to come up with a name, I have a few businesses and picking business names is always tricky.

At the time I was brainstorming, a few friends made some

suggestions with the word lemonade in it. I was tossing up a

few but wasn’t completely sold on them. I trust my gut when it comes to decisions like this and they just didn’t feel right.

We were out for tea one night and my youngest son asked if

he could have a ‘Pink Nade’, he was referring to raspberry soft drink. He said it in the sweetest little voice (cutest thing ever) and I just knew that’s what I had to call my business.

sidelines, I am a firm believer in empowering women.

Where do you source inspiration for your collections?

I love to be creative, it has been a fantastic tool not only for

Literally from everywhere. I did a market in Ballarat a few

to relax, recharge and become excited about life and its

The colours and texture inspired one of my most popular

my business life but also for my mental health. A nice way

possibilities. Pink Nade, a statement earring brand was born

out of this need to be creative and I LOVE going to work every day knowing I get to do what I love.

months ago and one stall had these incredible painted pots. collections. I love to browse Pinterest also, usually taking

inspiration from a pattern on a cushion, or colour palettes

used in interior design. I draw all my designs and turn them in to a digital file I can cut, I find the more I draw, the easier the inspiration comes. I try my hardest to sketch every day or at least weekly to keep those creative juices flowing.

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Do you have a favourite colour combo?

What’s your favourite thing about summer in the Wimmera?

I am obsessed with mustard at the moment (isn’t everyone?)

Taking the boat down to the creek, letting the kids have a ski/

I use this incredible matte mustard acrylic, you could almost eat it it’s that delicious, like a Jersey Caramel. I love to pair it with black and white or pastel pink.

Now for the really important stuff. What is your cocktail of choice?

A ‘Joey Special’, it’s a Red Bull Long Island iced tea. My

girlfriends and I nicknamed them at our local pub. We are all

working mothers, usually exhausted from a week of work and

every other commitment so when these babies come out we know we are going to have a good night, with a little more energy to get us through at least a few hours.

What are you currently reading/watching/listening to?

Currently reading ‘Think and Grow Rich’, a recommendation

from Tony Robbins after I attended a seminar recently. Binge watching Love Child at the minute too. LOVE listening to

podcasts too, especially from women in business. My current fave is Rachel Hollis’ ‘Rise Podcast’, she has some incredible books as well.

biscuit ride while we have a few drinks and a BBQ with friends.

Any secret haunts/foods/services from Warracknabeal (or surrounds) we need to know about?

You can’t go past the Creekside Hotel on the creek here

in Warracknabeal. Beautiful food, great atmosphere and

exceptional service. Friday night is ideally spent out in the

courtyard listening to some live music and having a dance.

We also have an amazing coffee van here called Black Betti & Co, a retro style van with the BEST coffee.

What’s next for Pink Nade?

Hmmm, good question! We are growing at such an incredible rate, with stockists all over Australia and so many incredible customers purchasing and rocking our earrings. I would

love to start to stock international stores with our earrings,

hopefully one day attend an international trade fair. I would

also love to run workshops down the track if we can squeeze

them in. I own my own laser cutter so would be incredibly fun to do custom design workshops, one day!

You can learn more about Johanna and her adventures on her website www.pinknade.com.au or follow her on Instagram @pink_nade

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About Town

Some shots from our annual charity luncheon held on Melbourne Cup Day. This year we were hosted at the magnificent Willow and Stone Estate and were able to raise

over $9,100 for the CAFS Care Farm with the help of our incredible donors includuing Ballarat Party Hire, Ballarat Sanctuary Day Spa, Yellow Rose Studio, Face and Smile, Sovereign Hill, Eve Salon, Blanc Boutique, The Shared Table, Grounded Pleasures, Higher Society Eatery, Austrlian Skin Face Body, Gems and Jewels and our hosts.

/AusSkinFaceBody

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The Beauty of Bespoke Words by Bianca Flint.

Pictures by Her Golden Point.

Sparkling, shining, twinkling in the light. You’ve happened upon the most amazing jewellery box. The kind of jewellery box that is kept up high, in the top of the cupboard, away from the sticky fingers of little girls who love to play dressups. The kind that holds the most special and unique pieces.

It’s beautiful and calm; something magic happens here, you can feel it.

Located on Sturt Street for just over 10 years now, Gems and Jewels was originally founded in Central Square Ballarat, 30

The Bespoke experience involves many private consultations

to carefully meet each client’s needs and wants. “Every client is different,” explains Suzy. “It’s a process, one that can be exciting and emotional, but ultimately filled with joy.”

years ago. The move to Sturt Street was intentional, and part

Allen, Jeweller and Gemmologist at Gems and Jewels, shares

for her business.

re-made was for a lady who was confined to a wheelchair

of a bigger vision Suzy Allan, Owner and Creative Director, had Stepping off the street into what can only be described as a ‘hidden gem’ (pun absolutely intended!), this new location encompasses exactly what Suzy had envisaged for her

future clients. A special relationship is formed upon walking through those doors, one that matters, and one that will be remembered. Although Gems and Jewels do sell “off-the-

a moment he will never forget. One of the first rings he ever and had some trouble communicating. After many years

of marriage, her wedding ring had worn, and needed some repair. When presented with the new ring, and not able to

communicate like she once could, Allen watched as a single

tear ran down her face. It was at that moment that Allen knew he was part of something really special.

rack”, straight from the shop floor, their bespoke experience is

“Jewellery’s not just about monetary value, there is so much

A flurry of people work intently behind a partly obscured wall,

The Bespoke experience can mean designing a ring from start

she does. Suzy’s passion is palpable and contagious. It’s

make; or a full re-design.

what they are most passionate about and proud of.

as Suzy speaks of her creative process and her love for what

obvious this place of celebration, a place that captures some of the most significant times in people’s lives, has much more to offer than initially meets the eye.

A lot of what happens at Gems and Jewels happens behinds the scenes.

emotion behind it,” says Allen.

to finish, including sourcing the right stones; a repair or re“People come to us with heirlooms, or wedding rings after relationships break down and we are here for them, for whatever they need,” explains Suzy.

The re-using of precious stones and gold is encouraged by Suzy, “Re-design is probably one of the main things we do, being able to re-purpose gold is wonderful,” she says.

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Once a year Suzy and Allen take a trip to Hong Kong to source

It’s abundantly clear, that it’s not about ‘selling to people’

on behalf of their clients. “I take them on the journey with

sharing her own love for jewellery to the world around her.

the very best stones for their own range, as well as sourcing me”, says Allen, “Sending them photos and talking to them throughout the process”.

Suzy’s own collections are not only beautiful but limited

edition. Releasing only two collections a year, her passion

aligns with a ‘slow’ consumerism. Pieces that are cherished, passed down and enjoyed forever.

Jewellery is emotional; we connect with it in a way many of us don’t even realise. It carries an energy, one that connects us to the person who gave it to us, and any of the hands it has passed through along the way.

Jacinta, another member of the Design Team at Gems and Jewels, takes the role of cleansing the jewellery, a process

that strips away past energy and welcomes the new. Once

cleansed, no one touches the piece with their bare hands. It is placed carefully into a box so that when presented to the client, they are the first to touch it. ‘This is really important,”

explains Jacinta, “Jewellery holds energy, and it’s not always

for Suzy; but more about connection and community, and

The respect and love that the Gems and Jewels team have

for each other, as well as for their clients is obvious. You may

find yourself unwilling to leave, as you sit sipping warm lemon tea, soaking in the harmonious sanctum that is Gems and Jewels.

But alas you must, and inevitably comes the time when you have to close the lid on this extraordinary jewellery box and walk out the door.

Stepping back onto the footpath of Sturt Street, you might have to resist the urge to stop someone and ask them,

“How long I have been gone for?” As though you’ve had just returned from a land, far, far away.

Gems and Jewels have achieved the impossible, creating a space so special, so unique, that while inside you forget everything that is happening on the outside.

Simply magic.

good. It’s not something we talk a lot about, it’s just something we do, it’s part of our process.”

Make yourself a priority in 2020 Treat yourself to our 12 month Wellness Membership You will enjoy...

12 x 60 minute treatments 6 x Sanctuary Access Passes + a Welcome Gift

Enquire today 03 5327 1296 ballaratsanctuary.com.au

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A Little Slice of Heaven Words by Della Vreeland.

Pictures by Angela Hayward.

If ever there was a match made in heaven, it is very possible that it is the matching of David Glenn and Criss Canning.

David is a fourth-generation gardener and Criss is a world-

David and Criss discovered the property after a two-year

“heavenly”.

practically in ruins at the time of purchase, the couple saw it

renowned still-life artist and their coupling is, indeed,

The two met over three decades ago when Criss visited

search. And while the homestead – named Burnside – was as a perfect canvas to work with.

David’s flower fields in the Dandenongs to find some

“We wanted to buy a property where Criss could have a

her pick whatever she wanted and didn’t really think more

garden,” David says. “Burnside had good soil and a good

appropriate subject matter for an upcoming painting. “I let about it until I met her again at the local post office,” David recalls.

“I remembered her name, which was pretty astonishing for me. Whilst I rarely forget a plant name I rarely remember a person’s name! Criss was and still is incredibly beautiful.”

For Criss too, their first encounter left a lasting impression, “I

laid eyes on him and thought he was gorgeous, this very cool Englishman,” she says. “I invited him to come and look at my

studio, I could have a nursery and we could both make a water supply and the house itself had potential. Part was built in the early 1870s, extensions were added at the end of the

19th century and it had a big room with south facing windows which was suitable for a studio.”

Almost three decades later, and the space is not only a

garden-lover’s delight, but also the perfect place for those

seeking solace, meditation or simply somewhere to admire nature’s wonders.

painting (of his flowers), but he didn’t for several weeks, until

Upon entering the gardens, guests are immediately greeted

the invitation again and he came with flowers. Then he was

visitors venture throughout the property, each vantage point

I bumped into him coming out of the post office. I extended coming every second day with flowers, until my house was looking like a florist shop!”

“That’s how the love story started. We met over flowers, and it is still our meeting point in so many ways.”

David is the owner of Lambley Gardens and Nursery; a

stunning, elusive paradise nestled on the outskirts of Ballarat

in Ascot, where green pastures and canola fields abound. The nursery is named after David’s home village in England where

he worked in his youth, at his uncle’s nursery during weekends and holidays.

by an avenue of stunning Japanese Cherry Blossoms. As

presents a picture-perfect frame, which is complemented by

the sweet serenity of the garden’s surrounds, providing a truly dream-like experience.

“A beautiful garden gives an enormous amount of happiness and relief from modern stressful lives and mobile phones. It

is creative and does no harm,” David says. His fervour for his

art is compelling and infectious to say the least, “There can’t be a more fun or more exciting career than horticulture. It is

one of the most difficult of all trades to learn and even after a lifetime as a gardener-nurseryman, I’m still learning.”

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Similarly, and to no surprise, Criss talks of her own art in

“It was an unexpected career choice but one I’m glad I

process, meditative and joy-inducing for both the creator

wonderful journey.”

exactly the same light – regarding painting as a spiritual and the observer.

Criss started painting 55 years ago. And while creativity

was always part of her life, it wasn’t until she was 18 that she realised visual art was her calling.

For many years, landscape painting featured heavily in Criss’s work. That was until she took a 12-month trek to Greece.

“That year was pivotal for me becoming a still-life painter,”

made and I’m still totally in love with what I do. It has been a True to form, Criss’s work evokes a certain stillness for all

who enjoy it. But as the 72-year-old says, her art is just as therapeutic for her as it is for the viewer.

Sharing some of the struggles she’s faced in her life – as

a single mother prior to meeting David, or when she was diagnosed with Lupus almost 10 years ago – she talks of painting as her anchor, as her method of healing.

Criss says. “I had no studio (in Greece), so was doing

“No matter what happens in my life, painting has always been

life that wouldn’t leave me alone. It was almost like it chose

what’s going on in the work, but I acknowledge that there’s

seascapes and landscapes, but I kept getting images of stillme in some strange way.

“I had an exhibition of my Greek paintings when I came back

the one thing helping me through somehow. I don’t know

some spiritual aspect that is not of me, but is something else,” she says.

home, but from that point on I have done nothing but still-life.

“I hope to achieve a sense of stillness through my paintings

genre and fulfils me more than anything else.”

are for me as well. Nothing in my work is ever rushed or short-

Basically, I feel like it’s become my voice. It’s my medium and

A celebration of colour, beauty and life, Criss’s paintings have appeared in solo and group exhibitions across Australia

so they’re almost like a meditation (for the viewer), and they changed. I don’t cut corners and I don’t compromise. Each painting is given the length of time it needs to develop.”

and overseas and in the collections of some of the country’s

It is clear that David and Criss desire nothing more than to

and the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Her work also features

a force greater than themselves in the process. It is perhaps

largest galleries including the National Gallery of Australia in countless private collections in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and Hong Kong.

“(Still-life) is a lot about how things relate to each other - the

props within it and the fabrics. It’s almost like, in some strange

conjure up a spiritual ambience through their work, relying on this appreciation of the spiritual that sets Lambley Gardens

apart and contributes to the creation of an awe-inspiring and meditative space. One could indeed be forgiven for thinking they’d entered the gates of paradise.

way, people having a conversation,” Criss remarks of her art

It is also this common desire that makes the two artists a

“It can sometimes take me a couple of days to get the set-

“It’s been a wonderful relationship in that we’ve both learnt a

balance and the relationship of objects with each other as

each other,” Criss says. “I paint and he gardens. It has been a

form.

up right so there’s a total balance. I’m totally interested in well as colour, which for me is one of the most wonderful aspects of painting.”

match made in heaven.

lot from each other and the things we do totally complement real blessing for us both and we are happier, better people for having known each other and for being with each other.”

EXPLORE THE GOLDFIELDS REGION

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Kyneton and the Fox House Words by Lisa Taylor.

Pictures by Angela Hayward.

Bundled into the car with a toddler to entertain (“Look it’s another cow!” Can buy approximately 30 seconds of captivated attention) the Uncover team took off for a midweek getaway to the picturesque town of Kyneton, checking in at The Fox House.

Ideally situated in the middle of town, The Fox House offers a

Entering the Piper Street Food Co., we are spoilt for culinary

style abode. Warm neutral tones invite you in to relax and

and sweets to select from. Bryanna, the owner of Piper

clean and modern interpretation on a classic weatherboard explore this four-bedroom dwelling.

Peppered with thoughtful details throughout, a jug of

chilled water in the fridge is just the type of special touch appreciated on our freak 30-degree-day-in-spring visit.

Sweet hydration relief. Sliding open the rear door, we find the large outdoor yard extends to reveal a sandbox, cubby and

slide, perfect for a certain toddler associate of ours to stretch out and enjoy.

Once settled in, our thoughts turn immediately to food so we

consult the welcome folder provided and soon hone in on the

Piper Street Food Co. Presented with a rather warm and sunny day (and with a toddler in tow) we mutually agree that a

picnic in the park will make the perfect first outing in Kyneton.

choice with a range of fresh baked pies, cheeses, charcuterie Street Food Co., greets us upon entry and talks us through

the impressive range of options. Curating our dream picnic

spread was an intense process (deciding between the apple

crumble pies and fudgy chocolate brownies nearly broke us), which we happily embraced. Eventually armed with enough supplies to feed a small Pacific nation (we were a party of

four) we take our excessive bulging hamper to the Kyneton Botanical Gardens.

Weaving through an expansive natural playscape we find

a well-suited spot in the shade of a tree and flop ourselves down (also strategically positioned near a swing set to win some toddler points). Unpacking our picnic fare we feast

on quiche, cheese, crusty bread and chicken terrine, before finishing with the heavily contested apple crumble pies.

39

After possibly over-indulging at lunch, we head back to

The Fox House to nap away our food comas and relax in

the generous open-plan living space. As avid readers, the

selection of books provided for guests to peruse here score

huge bonus points with us. Well rested and after a brief stroll

through town, we polish ourselves up and prepare to head out for the evening.

Being a slightly carb-obsessed office, our attention had

been squarely focused on the Spaghetti Bar on Piper Street

since first knowledge of its existence. With a table booked in

advance (a must at this petite venue) we were quickly seated and began the enjoyable task of selecting our meals. With a

small but thoughtful selection of pasta dishes you know each choice will be fresh and done well. The meals were worth

every ounce of carb and were magnificently accompanied with a well-earned glass (or two) of RosÊ. If the food alone doesn’t win you over here, the interior style certainly will.

Persuaded by the warm evening air we make one final stop at the Animus Gin Distillery. Relaxing in the courtyard with a flight of gin to sip was definitely not a bad idea.

Back at The Fox House the youngest Uncover crew-member is swiftly tucked up into bed. We stretch out and unwind with a

complimentary movie on the couch, content with a day well spent.

Personal Care.

Beautiful Babies.

Specialist Obstetrician and Gynaecologist www.drmoloney.com.au P: 03 5332 9940

@grow_my_baby

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A warm thank you to Jen at Clark Wills Short Stays for

extending an invitation for us to experience The Fox House.

Details: Where we stayed: The Fox House, Kyneton Sleeps: Up to 11 guests

Contact details: www.clarkwillshortstays.com.au Where we ate/drank: Piper Street Food Co.

Address: 89b Piper Street, Kyneton Spaghetti Bar

Address: 58 Piper Street, Kyneton Animus Gin Distillery

Address: 1/89a Piper Street, Kyneton Book Obsessed?

Call into the charming Squishy Minnie for the most delightful

range of children's books to enthral the youngest (and oldest) of readers.

Squishy Minnie

Address: 80 Mollison Street, Kyneton

41

Save it for the Car Words by Brigid Moloney.

The best way to talk to our four boys is in the car. It’s nonconfrontational and eye contact is optional. When anyone gets vaguely uncomfortable, a real or imagined yellow car can be identified in the universal game of yelling out “Spotto!” The conversation is effectively interrupted, and everyone takes the cue to move on.

42

The car is also a perfect opportunity to tune up behaviours.

Even through the stammering, I was extremely chuffed with

hear. Our “tune ups” have been known to last from home

not a bit eye boggling for the younger one, but I ploughed on

The children can’t escape, nor can they say that they didn’t until the school gate, it’s 10 minutes of powerful parenting, or ranting, which is totally dependent on who you ask.

my performance, my ‘talk’ was age-appropriate, engaging if

until the older said “Spotto!” and I knew my time had come to an end.

For parents coming up to the time where curly questions are

I did prematurely celebrate. I had packed it all up in a neat

done, this is a solid parenting hack… Save it for the car.

box. I thought it was a parenting moment I would not have to

asked or there is some powerful parenting that needs to be One day we realised that our older boys probably needed

‘the talk’, a bit earlier than originally planned (and if that plan

compartment in my brain that had a big tick on the top of the muster again until the youngest two had a few more years on them at least.

was never, maybe we would’ve been OK with that). Having an

Here’s another piece of parenting wisdom: It is NEVER done.

one-sided conversations about “heavy bleeding”, “vaginas”

again. Or they enter dangerous territory, incrementally

Obstetrician Dad taking calls in the car where the boys hear and yes, “intercourse” there came a time when we needed

to plan an immediate and full(ish) disclosure about the birds and the bees.

There were just too many questions and not enough yellow cars. We weren’t ready but knew we had to be, fast.

Sometimes they forget it altogether and you have to start needing to know more.

The first mortifying increment was the very next day. Voiced in a loud voice in the congested queue of the swim school, the

youngest said, “But mum, how does ‘it’ get ‘in’?” accompanied with surprisingly accurate hand gesticulations.

I worked myself into an anxious mess before ‘the talk’. I

If I had better presence of mind, I would have mumbled

an immediacy to our problem which meant I couldn't rely on

the boys back to the car (and found another swim academy).

considered flaking, and just giving them a book, but there was the books I knew from my pre-pubescent days. The books I

remembered as a kid were totally outdated, they were from

the 70s and everyone looked unrelatable with too much hair and too much patriarchy… but that’s a whole other topic.

I did have a feeling that giving ‘the talk’ was a right of

passage for me as a mother. And for the boys, I owed them

something about forgetting to turn the iron off and shooed

I was the colour of a tomato, “What must those mums think I

have been telling my 7 year old son?” Instead I pulled myself together and said, “Mummy would like to take that question on notice…”

“And by the way, Spotto!”

fodder for a future story where they could tell about being

wholeheartedly embarrassed by their mum. A book wasn’t going to cut it.

Brigid Moloney is mum of four boys and co-founder with husband, Obstetrician Dr Patrick Moloney, of GrowMyBaby, an online pregnancy program helping women to have their best pregnancy. You can find more parenting stories plus a good dose of

expert-led pregnancy information on Instagram @grow_my_baby or have a listen to expert pregnancy advice on “The Kick Pregnancy Podcast”.

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The Secret to Great Summer Skin Words by Australian Skin Face Body.

Picture from Unsplash.

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Summer’s here and so too are the parties, barbecues and beach holidays. It’s time to glow and look your best.

Australian Skin Face Body (ASFB) provides some tips for great summer skin.

Outdoor fun

Summer beauty tips

Looking after your skin doesn’t mean you have to miss out on

•

outdoor fun. Smart planning can make all the difference.

•

Organise outdoor events under good shade or when

•

Exercise early in the morning or later in the evening

•

Drink plenty of water to keep well hydrated

•

Drink alcohol and caffeinated drinks in moderation, they

•

Wear a broad-brimmed hat, not a cap

•

Apply a SPF 50+ sunscreen at least 20 minutes before

• • •

ultraviolet (UV) radiation is below 3

are diuretics that cause you to lose fluid

you go outside

Re-apply sunscreen every two hours or after swimming or exercise

Wear special UV protective clothing or cover up in longsleeves

SunSmart has a free app that tells you in real time what the

current UV level is for your location and when it’s time to Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide.

But a bit of tan is healthy, isn’t it?

A ‘healthy glow’ from being in the sun is actually a sign of sun damage.

Too much UV exposure can damage elastin fibres that can

Products containing niacinamide (vitamin B3), ascorbic

acid (vitamin C) and retinol (vitamin A) all help slow the

ageing process. ASFB recommends the RATIONALE range •

Apply 50+ sunscreen after morning serums and

•

Re-hydrate summer skin with a medical grade treatment

moisturiser but before foundation or other makeup from Australian Skin Face Body

Favourite Summer Treatments Some of the best treatments available at ASFB will have your skin looking instantly fabulous. Best of all, you can fit most of them in during your lunch hour with no down time.

•

Medical Grade Skin Peel and LED combo to cleanse and

•

Summer Signature Package, a popular treatment

refine your skin’s pores to restore your skin’s natural glow consisting of a rehydrating medical grade facial peel, a gentle laser to rejuvenate and a relaxing LED treatment

Wear sunglasses

How can I tell what the UV level is?

Use a quality moisturiser to hydrate your face and body.

•

PICO LITE, suitable for all skin types is a gentle way to

get clearer, brighter, smoother skin. The technology is

designed to target skin concerns such as pigmentation, uneven skin tone and even age spots Get a skin check If you have experienced blistering sunburn in the past, then make a skin check a priority. You do not need a referral to

see a GP experienced in skin cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment at ASFB.

lead to stretched, saggy skin, dilated blood vessels causing skin redness, excessive pigmentation and skin cancer.

If you really feel naked without a tan – fake it.

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Summer at Art Gallery of Ballarat

Troy Emery:

Dark Horse

After The Gold Rush

Wild Beasts And Curious Creatures

9 November 2019–9 February 2020

9 November 2019–23 February 2020

Troy Emery is a Melbourne-based artist who uses sculpture,

Animals – we love them, fear them, live with them, work with

animals can be viewed as decorative objects. In this

represented by artists in a variety of ways, as symbols and

painting, drawing, and embroidery to explore the ways

immersive installation, he addresses the gold-rush history

of Ballarat, making reference to the cultural value of an art gallery and its contents and the value and rarity of native wildlife.

Emery’s animal sculptures are created using pompoms,

tassels, tinsel, and yarn, intentionally confusing traditional

sculpture with craft. These dream-like creatures derive from an obsession with childhood stuffed toys and a fascination for objects in museum collections.

His paintings fuse drawing and sculpture to explore the

decorative qualities of animals. Emery’s works are presented alongside works showing the 1850s Ballarat gold rush and

decorative arts from the Art Gallery of Ballarat’s collection.

Public Programs Art Camp Guest Artist Tuesday 20 January 2019, 10am–4 pm Troy Emery Workshop Saturday 9 February, 10 am–4 pm

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them and eat them. Real and imagined, animals have been metaphors, as friendly or threatening beings, or as sparks for the imagination.

This exhibition draws from the Art Gallery of Ballarat’s extensive collection to reveal some of the complicated ways animals have been depicted throughout history – from the prey of

hunters to mythological creatures, from symbols of danger to emblems of love, from reminders of environmental threats to political caricatures.

The exhibition presents historic and contemporary prints, drawings, paintings and sculpture by artists including: Eric Thake, William Strutt, Patricia Piccinini, Ginger Riley

Munduwalawala, Rick Amor, Bruce Armstrong, Lorrain Jenyns, Pam Hallandal, James Gillray, Norman Lindsay, Guelda Pyke and Reginald Ward Sturgess.

Public Programs Drop-In Artmaking Day 10 January 2020, 10 am–1 pm Art Bites 3 January & 20 January 2020, 10am–12 pm

Art Camp 14–16 January 2020, 10am–3 pm

Draw Your Pet Workshop With Maggie Dannatt

2 February 2020, 10am–4 pm

Public Program Artist Talk 7 December 2019, 3 pm

Printmaking Workshop With Jazmina Cininas

Art Camp Guest Artist Tuesday 14 January, 10am–3 pm

Geoff Bonney

Cake Industries

Pangrams

08:26am (Jesse Stevens and Dean Petersen)

30 November 2019–15 March 2020

14 December 2019–22 March 2020

Geoff Bonney is a painter and sculptor living near Learmonth,

Cake Industries explore the complexity of the human psyche

text. In this playful exhibition, he uses the alphabet as a

absurdity, and grotesquerie.

16 February 2020, 10am–4 pm

north-west of Ballarat, who has had a lifelong interest in repeated motif in an investigation into colour, form and communication, with each letter taking on an abstract colour-field quality.

Cryptic titles add to the intrigue of what the letters spell

out and to invite the viewer to study the paintings more

thoroughly. The ‘pangrams’ of the title are sentences which

contain each letter of the alphabet, such as the well-known example ‘The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog’.

Geoff Bonney grew up on the Murray River. He left school

early to train as a screen-printer, then worked as a graphic designer in the London fashion industry in the 1970s before travelling in Europe, South Africa, Indonesia, Papua New

Guinea and Northern Australia where he was exposed to the

in a dark and humorous piece which balances whimsy, 08:26am is a complex and dense installation piece in

the form of a caged, mechanical zoo. A series of robotic sculptures come to life in an immersive display of

choreographed mechanical theatre which incorporates movement, sound, light, and video.

Experimental artist duo Jesse Stevens and Dean Petersen have worked together since 2006 as Cake Industries.

Their human/object hybrid forms are players in a surreal mechanical theatre that is equally strange, disturbing

and beautiful. This work has been commissioned by the Art Gallery of Ballarat and is supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.

rich and varied practice of different cultures.

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Bishops Palace Ballarat is a city built on gold. From the grandeur of the wellpreserved buildings, to the wide tree-lined streetscapes, the wealth of the gold rush era is still obvious in Ballarat today.

Bishops Palace is one of the most opulent houses of this

The property boasts a number of common areas where

It remains one of the most magnificent buildings in the

hours. In winter, there is no better place than the library to

era, built in 1877, as the home for the first Bishop of Ballarat. city and has recently been transformed into a luxurious

accommodation, wedding and events venue, right in the heart of Ballarat.

Bishops Palace transports guests back to the prosperous

times of the gold rush, when Ballarat was one of the richest cities in the country.

This palatial abode is more than just a place to lay your

head. Boasting six spacious suites over two storeys, and set amongst four acres of heritage listed gardens, the

meticulously renovated property allows guests to immerse

guests can mingle, or find a quiet spot to while away the

enjoy a glass of red around the fire, while reading a book or partaking in a game of pool on the antique billiards table.

The spa pavilion provides total relaxation after a long day

exploring the city, and the magnificent formal dining room

presents a unique opportunity for groups to enjoy a meal that will never be forgotten.

The expansive verandahs are the perfect location to enjoy

a morning coffee or nighttime beverage, while taking in the

views of the majestic gardens and the sun setting over Lake Wendouree.

themselves in the 19th century gothic architecture and dĂŠcor

With its history and beauty, it is no wonder that Bishops Palace

Guests can choose to book a suite, or have exclusive use of

Wedding parties often opt for exclusive use of the property,

12 people across the six suites, however can be reconfigured

gardens and ornate common areas providing the ultimate

in the utmost luxury and comfort.

the entire property. The Palace is best enjoyed when sleeping to accommodate additional guests.

Each private suite is completely individual, revealing its own

unique characteristics and old world charm. Featuring private

is a highly sought after wedding and events venue.

with the suites catering for overnight guests, and the historic photo locations. Bishops Palace provides indoor and outdoor ceremony options and an event management team to take care of the bridal party’s every need.

en suites, magnificent bedding and antique furniture, the

For memorable events, Bishops Palace offers a choice of

keeping with their 1800s heritage.

conferences, and team building events, to parties, photo

suites have been designed with relaxation in mind, while

Guests will feel more than aristocratic as they move around the property, climbing the grand red carpeted staircase,

roaming the halls with their 18-foot ceilings and heritage-

listed gold stenciled paintwork, admiring the ornate original ceiling roses and cornices, and meandering through the

rooms and packages to suit individual needs. From meetings, shoots and romantic weekends away, Bishops Palace is a venue that will help to make your event memorable.

Experience the grandeur and luxury of one of Australia’s most historic cities at Bishops Palace.

manicured gardens that are fit for royalty.

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BALLARAT

A history of leather-crafting continues: the art of leather-crafting has been embedded in Ballarat’s cultural history since the gold rush. Today, bespoke shoemakers Wootten continues this tradition from their Ballarat workshop.

A UNESCO Creative City Ballarat is proud to have been named a UNESCO Creative City, the first in Australia in the area of Craft and Folk Art. Craft celebrates a diverse artisan community from ceramicists, to silversmiths to weavers and leatherworkers. As a Creative City, Ballarat’s focus is on capturing and retaining both the old techniques of Indigenous peoples and fostering the techniques and skills brought by subsequent waves of people to the city. In 2020, the City of Ballarat will be launching Ballarat Open Studios: The Art of Making, a series of exhibitions, workshops, talks and creative spaces to explore behind the scenes of Ballarat’s creative community.

Discover more at creativeballarat.com.au 50

Babche

W i ne s l i ke G ra ndma ma de 'em

The S hare d Table A new pl a ce to sha re a nd en j oy

Eat Drink West

A n i nt rodu ct i on a nd a h i story

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Eat Drink West Kate Davis is a passionate foodie and expert in the culinary field, over the last decade having focused on the beer, wine, and food industries. She has long wanted to champion the boutique producers and quiet achievers from across Western Victoria, with the natural resources and local artisans that this region is home to. Her latest endeavor…

Presenting Eat Drink West

Western Victoria is home to some of the highest quality

Our community is uniquely Western Victorian, just like the

farmers, foodies, and everyone in between. The ingredients

our community members, both online and in person, we know

produce in the world, fostered by passionate growers,

in this region are lovingly cultivated, grown, reared, and handcrafted to promote healthy and delicious dishes.

Inspired by the already present culinary strengths of the

region, Eat Drink West is an online community of sustainable farmers, thoughtful foodies, innovative chefs, and

collaborative artisans, sharing expertise in order to showcase Western Victoria’s vibrant culinary industry. By creating a directory of like-minded food producers from across the

region, Eat Drink West strengthens local food systems and constructs opportunities. Connecting across sub-regions of Western Victoria, our platform allows for communal

interconnectivity, using digital and in-person forums to share information.

By clicking through our website, attending a workshop,

or ‘liking’ a Facebook post, travellers and locals alike can

connect effortlessly with all things food-related in their area.

Eat Drink West is not only a way to boost business through

connection. The heart of this initiative is in the way we strive to connect a community of likeminded Western Victorians.

As a community driven service, we create forums and

opportunities that directly tie to the vision of the people that utilise our platform.

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ingredients and wares that they produce. In order to serve that interconnectivity is the key. By connecting producers

across the Western Victoria food chain, we are a vital link for a growing food industry. Our producers represent several regions of Western Victoria, bringing together resources

from a sprawling natural landscape. Supporting individuals that work out of Ballarat, Central Goldfields, Golden Plains,

Hepburn, Moorabool, Northern and Southern Grampians, and the Pyrenees, we personalise the user experience of Eat Drink West from region to region. We celebrate Western Victorian

creativity and expertise, observing the natural resources that inherently accompany being in the heart of fertile farmland and sprawling vineyards.

We are maintaining sustainability for consumers and industry alike as they find region-specific information and engage

with what the people of Western Victoria consume like never before. The best way to lessen a carbon footprint for many of us is to buy locally. Eat Drink West makes sustainable

consumption easy for consumers within its network. We

encourage sustainability by ultimately reducing food miles,

meaning we shorten the journey from producer to consumer, reducing fuel use and nurturing the natural environment that sustains the vast Western Victorian landscape.

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Not focussing only on environmental sustainability, Eat

We aim to boost the profiles of these abundant resources,

by forging closer community connections through regular

platform.

Drink West also engages in sustainable business practices workshops and online connectivity. Throughout the year,

chefs and makers from across sub-regions are able to share knowledge and foster community relationships, using this platform as the ultimate connector.

The success of partner organisations like Plate Up Ballarat has emphasised to Eat Drink West some cold hard facts

we already were aware of: there exists a consumer-driven

Eat Drink West Community At the core of Eat Drink West is the Western Victoria

community, a community that fosters an amazing and

growing food industry. We strive to create accessibility to and

for growers and producers in order to promote their wares by developing a range of models for spreading information.

demand for local food, locally produced ingredients, locally

Our community consists of anyone committed to sustainable,

immerse themselves in Western Victoria’s emerging culinary

We are chefs, entrepreneurs, producers, and bakers. We

owned cafes and restaurants, and ways for individuals to

delicious, and healthy food from across Western Victoria.

movement.

are farmers, artisans, sommeliers, and advocates. We are a

The Western Victorian food industry is on the rise and Eat

Drink West aims to deepen and broaden its reach, engaging communities within and without Western Victoria more than ever before.

The Victorian Food industry has the natural beauty, resources, and dedicated people necessary for a strong culinary

tradition. That said, strong support needs to accompany

rapid growth. That is where our platform comes in as an ally

diverse and versatile community with our values rooted in the natural resources and society cultivated in Western Victoria.

We connect community members by actively engaging with

individuals across platforms, both in person and from behind the comfort of a screen. Using mediums such as podcasts,

interactive social media campaigns, workshops, and in-house

publications, we weave together the stories of local producers that are committed to health and sustainability.

to community farmers and artisans. There is so much to

While individuals promote their wares, they exchange so

wine- making tradition, fertile volcanic soil that produces

role of storyteller.

discover in the region for tourists and curious locals: a rich supple fruit and flavourful nuts, well-cultivated cattle and

dairy, extensive olive groves, and arrays of vibrant farmers markets.

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taking already present momentum and lending a prominent

much more – artisans, makers, and consumers all take on the

About Town

Shots from the Provenir launch at Talbot Provedore. We were treated to a truly

spectacular nine course dinner, all featuring Provenir beef. Learn more about the incredible story behind Provenir on page 62.

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Babche.. Wines Like Grandma Made 'em In a world where the search term “wine science” returns forty-three million Google results, using traditional winemaking techniques and processes has become maverick.

Words by Charlotte D. Nay. Picture (over page) by Tara Moore Photography.

Nothing added, nothing taken away.

“I used to take my vacation time from my

expression of the “terroir”, as the French put

thought it was nuts, but it felt vital. Slowly, it

Just grapes. It’s a beautiful ideal. A pure

it. A bottle of wine that speaks of not only

the grapes from whence it came, but a wine with a sense of place and time, a fleeting

taste that could have only come from that particular block in that particular vineyard, in that particular year, never to grace our stemware or pass our lips again.

This is exactly what Niki Nikolovski and Tim

Byrne from Babche Wines on the Bellarine Peninsula are attempting to bottle.

Niki grew up in Toronto, Canada and spent “about twenty consecutive summers in

Macedonia living with (her) grandparents in a rural community.”

She worked in Health Sciences “in a sterile

lab, with a white lab coat,” for a decade in

Toronto before pulling the plug and jumping ship for the vineyard.

former job to work harvests abroad. Everyone became impossible to return to a workplace that didn’t involve rolling hills and blue skies.

Lots of gruel and grime too! Don’t get me wrong.”

“I found a photo of me in ripped jeans and cow shit smeared on my hands as I made

my own fertiliser for the vineyard and thought that was more like it.”

“A rural surrounding was healthier for me,”

Niki emphasises, “And I ached for it. I moved

to the Bellarine Peninsula in 2016 where I met Tim and haven’t looked back since.”

Tim spent his formative years in country

Victoria, moving from the family home, in

Shepparton, to Warrnambool to study Marine

and Freshwater Science, which Tim describes as “a time of growth and social fulfilment… which led to no work.”

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“Travel then became the focus and for the larger part of my

Babche’s wine (as all good wine) begins in the vineyard. But

buy a plane ticket.” After eventually returning to Australia to

in the winemaking process, extra care is paramount. Grapes

early twenties I did any job that would raise enough cash to

get a ‘proper job’, Tim landed in a laboratory that did quality control for wine packaging, and so the focus shifted and a lifelong passion for vinification took root.

“I enrolled at CSU to study Winemaking and for six years studied and worked in the wine industry. In 2015 I was

appointed Head Winemaker and Vineyard Manager of a

reputable winery and found happiness in (my) career. After meeting Niki, I found happiness in my life.”

Babche is an affectionate term used in Macedonian and similar Slavic languages for Grandma or Nanna. Every

morning, without fail, Niki calls her grandma, “an absolute

magical human” (who turned 99 this year). The conversation always begins with, “Hi Babche…”, Tim heard that line every morning for almost a year.

“(The name) would stand as a nod to the matriarchs in our

families including my OG Babche”, says Niki, “who made wine in this style, by hand and unadulterated.”

And when they say unadulterated, they mean it, “I mean…

hand-cranked basket presses, gravity-fed, minimal use of

fancy equipment and aggressive movement of wine, and zero additives and more care taken in the vineyard,” Niki explains.

“Over the course of wine becoming commercialised and

scaled we’ve lost hands-on techniques and also some old methods. For instance, orange wine (can be) seen as a

maverick move but it’s an extraordinarily old tradition in other parts of the world. So in a way, we’re reinventing tradition. To

be able to label that wine, maintain its value and sell it to an established market is a wonderful opportunity.”

Starting a new wine label is a tough gig, but the pair from Babche seem built to go with the flow.

“It’s honestly a bit surreal,” Niki describes, “A friend from

Canada wrote me the other day saying, ‘can you believe

you’re finally making your own wine!!’ And I couldn’t believe

it because I haven’t had the chance to stop and think about it! This year has been a state of flow, lots of work in the vines, then harvest, then monitoring and caring for ferments, then bottling and sharing… work is constant so you don’t have

much time to ponder what’s happening, it just is and I’m very grateful for it all to be happening.”

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because there’s no chance for intervention and tweaking later are tended organically and the primary focus is to diversify the ecosystem that supports their growth.

“We don’t aim to meet a certain style of wine,” Niki

emphasises, “Rather one that represents the variety, the

vintage and vineyard. There are no additives used throughout (our) winemaking, nor oak. We want to express varietals grown on the Bellarine as purely as possible.”

“My influences are my grandparents. (It is because of them) that I witnessed what it is to truly be self-sustaining. They

raised animals, maintained a giant produce garden and fruit trees, made their own cheese, wine, moonshine, bread; the

essentials. The depth of flavour produced from a single crop, like a tomato, is unforgettable. We’re chasing that quality.”

“Respect for the places where our grapes are grown is what influences Tim,” Niki continues, “It is a responsibility he takes

upon himself. As he is the one formally educated, he overlooks the winemaking and believes in styles expressed authentically and with minimal intervention in the process.”

Babche’s 2019 Pinot Noir was grown on a slope of dark volcanic clay overlooking Corio Bay.

The colour is deep and slightly cloudy, like a stormy sky over the ocean at sunset, with its rich purple tones. It smells of

ripe blackberries, tart strawberries and light, but lingering

barbequed meat, a touch of musky undergrowth and the

faint scent of eucalypt in the distance. It’s the smell of late

summer evenings, camping in the bush, after the rain. It’s a very Australian smell.

On the palate it’s velvety, with mouth-watering acidity and almost, but maybe not quite, a hint of chocolate.

Niki and Tim’s favourite thing about Western Victoria is “No doubt the surf. Whether it’s summer or winter, I adore the

rawness of that coastline, you rarely see anyone going for a

walk in what seems like a storm most of the time, the shrubs cling low, the white water runs forever… the southwestern coast of Australia is magic.”

They have a cozy camping spot that they believe is Victoria’s best kept secret, “It won’t be Vic’s best kept secret if I shared it!” Laughs Niki.

So can wine really taste like a place?

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The Provincial Words by Della Vreeland.

Pictures by Marcel Aucar.

When Simon and Gorgi Coghlan opened The Provincial Hotel, they had one clear goal in mind...

“If we were going to do a beautiful boutique hotel and

“Lola Montez was bold, feisty and beautiful - what great

accommodation and dining in Ballarat,” Gorgi says.

summer gin - full of fresh botanicals – and so far our

European Bistro, we wanted to excel and completely redefine And while the stunning space only opened its doors in

November 2017, it’s safe to say this goal has already been achieved.

The last year has brought with it numerous accolades for the hotel and restaurant, as well as several collaborations, which have only helped elevate the hotel’s brand both in Ballarat and beyond.

Earlier this year, The Provincial partnered up with Grampians

Goods Co. to produce a signature body wash, shampoo and conditioner for its boutique rooms.

“This (partnership) underpins our intention to support local,”

customers have been raving about it. The bottle is stunning too of course! Very much a reflection of our blue and white themed hotel and restaurant.”

But the collaborations don’t stop there. The hotel has now

partnered with Mercedes Benz Ballarat to offer its guests yet another VIP experience – access to two brand new vehicles for travel to-and-from airports and for regional tours.

“It’s yet another experience for our hotel guests to enjoy and escape their everyday life,” Simon adds.

According to Gorgi, such partnerships are a smart and supportive way to elevate two brands.

Gorgi says. “We love that the products are made by Amanda

“We only collaborate with like-minded businesses who get

natural environment around Ballarat.”

alignment of energy and both brands want to help each

near Dunkeld and that the smells and scents are from the “It's also a great reminder of how close Ballarat is to the

stunning Grampians, and it reminds our guests what else is on offer in our region.”

“We love supporting businesses with passion and heart,

and our guests are already buying so many of Amanda's

products, including her candles, to take home with them.”

The Grampians Goods Co. collaboration is only one in a

series of many for The Provincial. The hotel recently joined

forces with Ballarat’s Kilderkin Distillery to release an exclusive Lola Gin which Gorgi says reflects the very qualities of the

infamous Ballarat 19th century entertainer Lola Montez, that The Provincial’s restaurant, Lola, is named for.

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characteristics for a gin!” she says. “Lola gin is the perfect

it straight away,” she says. “There’s often an immediate other.”

The work that has been put into creating The Provincial as a coveted accommodation provider has not gone unnoticed.

Just recently, the hotel was mentioned in Good Weekend’s

52 Weekends Away list, while Lola nabbed itself a spot in the Delicious Top 100 Most Delicious Restaurants in Victoria.

“Recognition by this calibre of media platforms was a real

thrill for all our team,” Simon says. “To see their hard work and dedication recognised means the world and makes Gorgi and I both very proud of the whole team.”

“It creates a buzz and a conversation around our brand and

it's great to see the flow-on effect with people now calling and dropping in to experience our brand due to this recognition.”

While the last 12 months has been nothing short of bustling for

“There are never any shortage of exciting ideas bouncing off

soon. But this is something the Coghlans acknowledge as

“But our main aim is to continue providing the best possible

The Provincial team, things don’t look to slow down anytime imperative if their goal of redefining accommodation and dining in the region is to be maintained.

This summer, the restaurant will introduce a new concept titled Lola Italia, delighting diners with a showcase of the tastes of Italy.

“It's going to be a really fun, relaxed and delicious menu -

think long summer lunches, an Italian dinner menu with house made pasta and Aperol Spritz in our summer courtyard,”

Gorgi says. “It's only for 12 weeks, so we encourage people to

lock in a table and come and enjoy a relaxing Italian summer with us.”

the walls due to our passion for our brand,” Simon continues. service and dining experience we can.

“We have some exciting and secret collaborations to come and we can't wait to roll those out early next year.”

According to Gorgi, the secret to the hotel’s success has been “hard work”.

“We have such a dedicated team and we couldn't achieve

any of this without our incredible staff,” she says. “They

understand that every single time a guest comes into the

hotel, it's our job to make them feel welcome, feel like they are in someone's home and that they want to return time and time again.”

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Provenir Pictures supplied by Provenir.

Order a Provenir beef dish at a local restaurant or cook a steak at home and you will experience a tender, tasty and juicy piece of beef, but what you might not know, just by the way it looks or tastes, is that this beef is different. Provenir beef is processed on-farm in an Australian first, mobile abattoir.

The passionate folk behind this innovation include a farmer,

In 2017 the group were accepted into the inaugural cohort of

actively changing the way red meat is processed in Australia.

the six-month program, the team refined their business case,

a chef and a vet who live just outside of Ballarat and are “With the launch of our mobile, on-farm processing unit

we sought to create change in the industry, a change that

values the highest animal welfare and does not at any stage

won awards for their innovative idea and went on to raise a seed round of investment to fund the build of their mobile abattoir.

compromise quality,” explains Jayne Newgreen, one of the

While the founders were keen to work with local farmers and

farm process offers a real opportunity to capture the true

was the first to license the mobile abattoir, beginning this

co-founders of Provenir. “We also recognise that our on-

provenance of the meat - connecting people with the food they eat and also connecting farmers with the people that eat their food.”

process in their home state of Victoria, the NSW Food Authority year on a farm in southern NSW. The Provenir team are

now engaging with the Victorian regulators and hope to be granted a licence to operate locally in the first half of 2020.

Born from a shared concern for animal welfare and a passion

Christopher Howe, another of the co-founders of Provenir

process their cattle on-farm. “The carcass is then transported

processing while working at The Avoca Hotel and seeing the

for real food, Provenir partners with farmers to purchase and

to our artisan butchery based in Bannockburn near Geelong,

where it is hung and butchered, with every step along the way focused on maximising quality,” says Jayne. “By processing

on-farm, we eliminate the stress on animals associated with

live transport to processors. We believe it is better for animal welfare and results in amazing quality beef.”

It’s been a long road for the Provenir team, who have been

working toward their goal of commercial on-farm processing

first became inspired to help improve the system of animal difficulties faced by local farmers. He came to believe that traditional abattoirs were not serving the best interests of

the farmers or their livestock. Having embraced rural living

himself and through the experience of raising, slaughtering, butchering, curing and cooking his own meat, Christopher became convinced that “processing at the point of

production was not only better for animal welfare, but meat quality too.”

for over five years. “We each had the idea of commercial

As if co-founding Australia’s first mobile abattoir wasn’t

determination to turn our vision into a reality was fuelled. With

Talbot Provedore and Eatery, an award-winning eatery

on-farm processing individually, but after we all met, our

skills spanning the supply chain, we were looking to disrupt,

coming together as a team really made achieving our goal possible.” Explains Jayne.

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SproutX, Australia’s first AgTech Accelerator Program. During

enough to keep him busy Christopher also operates the located in a beautiful heritage village 40 minutes north of Ballarat.

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“My passion for food and supporting our local producers

Today Christopher now spends his weeks overseeing the

Christopher. At the Talbot Provedore and Eatery, Christopher

traceability and quality of the beef, but still spends his

has been the driving force behind both businesses,” explains and his team offer customers ‘A taste of the region’ with a focus on using seasonal produce from local growers

including Jason from Block 454 in Evansford, Mt Beckworth Free Range and Spring Creek Organics, among many

others. The Talbot Provedore also has a regional wine store

offering an extensive selection of local wine, beers, ciders and Ballarat’s own Kilderkin Distillery gin, all available to drink-in or take home to enjoy.

As a chef and consumer of meat, Christopher recognises that the outcome for the animal is ultimately the same, regardless of how it is processed. “What I’m concerned with is the

experience of the animal, particularly in its final days, and the effect that has on animal welfare and meat quality. I believe that if we’re to raise and process animals for consumption,

then we owe it to that animal to ensure that it is treated with respect and the meat is the best it can possibly be.”

Just one month into operation Provenir beef won a Gold

Medal and Best in Class at the prestigious 2019 Australian Food Awards, confirming what the founder had always

believed - that their unique on-farm process is not only the way to go for animal welfare, it also produces exceptional quality beef.

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mobile processing unit operations on-farm in NSW, ensuring weekends at the Talbot Provedore and Eatery. No longer in the kitchen, it’s on the floor, front-of-house looking after his guests where Christopher feels most at home.

“It’s somewhat surreal, but I’m incredibly proud to serve

Provenir beef on our menus at the Talbot Provedore and

Eatery. It’s an amazing feeling to know that I’ve had a hand

in bringing this exceptional quality meat to the table, literally from the farm to the plate.”

“I’ve been to the farm, met the farmer, seen where the cattle were raised, worked with the team in the mobile processing unit and the butchery team who cut the beef, then worked with our chef to present it to our diners. To serve our own

Provenir beef is a great honour, one which I don’t think too many other chefs could say they’ve ever experienced.”

Provenir beef is available on the menu at Mitchell Harris Wine Bar and the Talbot Provedore and Eatery. Also available

fresh to purchase and cook at home from Wilsons Fruit and Vegetables, Ballarat.

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The Shared Table Words by Della Vreeland.

Pictures by Angela Hayward.

Dianne Ray fondly remembers gathering around the dining room table as a child, enjoying a big breakfast in the presence of her loved ones.

Growing up on a dairy farm, fresh, seasonal produce was

“Peter was incredibly supportive during this time because he

paddock-to-plate.

for my recovery. I didn’t want to feel sick, I wanted to work.”

always abundant, and family breakfasts were in every sense “Dad would come into the house with eggs and bacon, and it was a big thing for us growing up,” Dianne recalls.

It is this feeling of togetherness, sharing in the joy of good,

local fare, that Dianne wanted to re-create when opening her new venture The Shared Table.

Located in Buninyong, the restaurant is a place to connect

with loved ones while partaking in the flavours of the region.

Punctuated by a distinct “Share Table”, the space conjures up the same emotions Di has always experienced when dining with family and friends.

“I always loved having dinner parties at my place. Having the

guests and yourself all in the kitchen, really enjoying the food, sharing and embracing something different and discovering new flavours and textures,” she says.

Dianne didn’t expect to enter the hospitality industry. That

was until about 10 years ago when she gave up her career as a clinical nurse and started a part-time apprenticeship with renowned Ballarat chef Peter Ford.

After working for only six months, Di was presented with one

of the toughest hurdles of her life – she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. But she continued to work in the kitchen,

saying it allowed her life to take on a sense of normality.

knew how important it was for me to keep working. I needed it Coming out the other side an even more resilient woman,

Di worked under the mentorship of Peter for a total of seven years before moving on to Craig’s Royal Hotel then Mitchell

Harris Wines. In 2017, she looked into the possibility of opening a restaurant that would continue on with the philosophy of sustainability ingrained in her over the last decade.

The mother of four says the style of food served at The Shared Table is inspired by the shared threads of commonality

between European and Asian treatments of food, exactly how she likes it.

“The food here is to be passed around. Shared bites, small

plates and larger, all designed to play with flavours, textures and new tastes,” she says.

The space has been designed by IF Architecture, the same

company who designed the likes of Melbourne’s Attica, Cutler & Co and Etta. Di said she wanted the restaurant to pay

tribute to the building’s historic roots while celebrating the new age.

“I wanted it to have a smart informality, but still be different,”

she says. “We were dealing with a heritage building that had previously been condemned, and we wanted to bring it into the 21st century. We wanted to peel it back to where it was, but take it to where it’s going.”

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There’s no doubt that Di’s vision has been achieved. Looking

“Our open kitchen creates a connection and understanding

by, juxtaposed by smooth shades of copper, green and

“People in this industry work very hard and their wage is

up you see the bare textured roof shingles of centuries gone brown. Everything in the restaurant has been handcrafted by

local tradesmen, from the bespoke dining chairs to the stone tabletops, the corrugated Mt Buninyong feature wall to the Share Table, which carries its own sentimental story.

“We had a large oak tree at our house and the children loved to play on one of its big branches,” Di says. “When it fell, Tim

Williams, who worked on the restaurant’s fitout, took the trunk

and had it milled for us. He then combined it with a Blackwood from his property and completed it with a piece of Sheoak

which has copper-like grains that complement the restaurant interior.”

As well as evoking feelings of calm and nostalgia, Di said she wanted the restaurant to break down barriers between chef and diner, providing guests with an insight into the cooking process.

of what it takes to produce the dining experience,” she says.

quite minimal, so I wanted to raise awareness into the timely process and the costs involved in getting the meal from its source to the plate.

“Growing up on the farm, I learnt to be respectful of the

effort that goes into growing and producing food, and even opening this restaurant has been a huge learning curve for me.”

The Shared Table is open for dinner from Thursday to

Saturday, and for lunch on Saturday and Sunday. The eatery will feature a regularly changing set menu, which can be mixed and matched.

“There are small dishes available if you only have time for a

short stay or plates of plenty to indulge in if you want to linger longer,” Di says. “It’s a special space to treat oneself or simply relax and enjoy a warm and happy ambience.”

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Introducing Hot Temple

Ten years ago, I was training for the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon,

Sessions are 30 minutes, and calories burned can be

parts of the course. In the lead-up, I was introduced to Hot

challenging, but we encourage beginners to go at their own

known for its brutally hot conditions, reaching up to 50ºC on Yoga and indoor training, with my heater pumped to max

temperature, to begin to acclimatise to the kind of conditions I would be facing. Outdoor training in Ballarat winter - not exactly setting the scene.

I was amazed to see the results I was getting from this kind of training. Since then I have been studying the effects of

anywhere up to 900 per session. Yes, our classes are pace - no need to be intimidated!

We currently offer hot cycle, hot kettlebell warrior cycle, hot

pilates cycle, hot flow cycle, hot hiit pilates, hot pilates, hot hiit sessions, personal training, mum and bub warm classes and hot yoga is coming soon!

training in the heat and purchased a home exercise sauna four years ago. It’s incredible how a minimal amount of

training in the sauna can achieve results that would take so

much longer outside. This kind of training maximises athletic performance, burns extra stubborn fat fast, charges up your metabolism and creates total focus in the mind.

Soon I was thinking… How can I share this? How can I offer

these kinds of results in my fitness studio? And I came up with the idea of turning the room into a giant sauna. Reaching

42ºC from infrared heat, creating an environment that gives

clients the mix of benefits from a sauna session and exercise session combined.

The idea quickly became a reality, and with the help of my

brother, Matt, Hot Fitness Temple was born. The first heated indoor training studio in Australia. And by introducing the cycle bike to our hot room, we have created the most effective and efficient group workout available.

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Visit www.hottemple.com.au to learn more, see timetables or to book your class!

Design Team Talk

By Jules from Batch's Furniture.

Stressless

Warwick Fabrics

Creating a visually appealing interior using colour

If you want to make a small room appear larger, the key is to

There’s something special about the personal and mysterious

a sense of height. Wash floorboards in white paint or lime

connection between colour and our emotions. We live with colour every day and yet it can be so intimidating. So why

does the commitment to colour, especially at home, demand such an act of courage?

keep the colours pale. Paint the ceiling white to give the room wash to maximise the effect. If the room has carpet, choose a lighter shade. Lighter tones for your sofa, flooring and bed linen will keep the mood casual and relaxed. Ensure fabric

textures are light and breezy, as heavy weight fabrics work to

A simple way to create colour flow is to use lighter and darker

close a room in. Use white as a canvas, then overlay with rich,

universal language, it stimulates emotions, influences mood

At the end of the day your home should be your sanctuary,

shades of the same colour throughout your home. Colour is a and lift spirits. Using colour and surrounding yourself with

a personal palette that works for you produces a calming backdrop for daily life.

An issue with modern home design these days is the

oversized, open plan living areas. The excitement about

opening up our spaces, combining kitchen, living and dining areas in the hope of creating a more relaxed environment,

often leaves us with large cold rooms that, in reality, do not exactly promote ‘homeliness’. Some of us may love this

feeling of expansiveness, however if you want to create a

sense of intimacy, introducing wall colour will add warmth and instantly create atmosphere. Oversized rugs in rich

shades will anchor and define your spaces whilst adding texture and softness.

If your space is flooded with natural, bright light you may like

natural tones to create warmth and depth.

a place to unwind, escape and recharge. It should reflect

you and all that is important to you. Surround yourself with the things that you love and you will, no matter what your surrounds, create the most nurturing home for yourself.

We understand the challenges of styling, decorating and

renovating your home, that’s why we offer our customers an Interior Design Service. Our Interior Design Services ranges

from styling a complete home, to simply freshening up rooms.

Bringing in an interior stylist allows a qualified pair of eyes to

assess not only what looks good in a room, but how the space will best function.

To book an in home consultation or to simply chat to one of our Design Team, please call Batch’s Furniture on (03) 5339 9023 or email sales@batchs.com.au.

to tone it down, so avoid white. White is a reflective colour and a bright room painted white will be filled with glaring

light. Stick to warmer tones that absorb light, this applies to everything from the window treatments to furnishings.

To see more styling tips visit the Batch's Instagram page @batchsfurniture or website www.batchs.com.au

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CAFS Care Farm Words by Kate Taylor.

Pictures by Angela Hayward.

Since The Tangled Maze was acquired by Child and Family Services Ballarat (CAFS), it has been transformed into a beautiful secret garden where children and families can blossom, in a therapy-rich environment – the CAFS Care Farm.

When the CEO of Child and Family Services, Allan Joy, first had

“Care farming is the well-recognised practice of utilising

their families, it was as if a seed had been planted.

and engagement with plants and animals as part of a

the idea of creating Australia’s first care farm for children and Now, that small seed has grown into a one-of-a-kind care

farm that helps local children and families through some of the most traumatic times of their lives.

The idea of care farms is not a new one – they are used

as nursing homes in the Netherlands, as prison camps in

the US and throughout the world for people with dementia, depression and addiction issues.

In the early days, care farms were about sending the men out into the fields to do agricultural work, while the women spent

the natural environment, the landscape, farming practices comprehensive plan to support positive wellbeing and mental health,” explains Mr Joy.

“Care farming harnesses elements known as ‘green-care’ -

where therapies can include increased engagement with the outdoors and the natural world.”

In December 2017, Ballarat’s iconic outdoor attraction, The

Tangled Maze, went up for auction. CAFS bought it, paying just over $1 million for the substantial property and work began on the transformation.

their days ironing and washing and weeding the gardens. But

It won’t be open to the public as an attraction any longer,

uses a very structured program of evidence-based therapies

begun. But there has already been one community open

those days are long gone. The present-day care farm model with proven results.

It’s this evidence-based model that Mr Joy is passionate

because its new life as a fully operational care farm has

day, held earlier this year, allowing the public to witness the transformation.

about, one that he undertook a research trip to Europe and

So far, the site has undergone substantial change. The

it home with him to help children and families in vulnerable

It’s being used for sensory therapy and it’s perfect for the

the UK to investigate - and to work out how he could bring situations here in Ballarat.

artificial ice skating rink is set to go, but the maze will stay. job, helping kids through exercises involving sight, smell and touch.

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The onsite buildings are being used for a range of allied

Even with the range of programs already in place, there are

and counselors, helping to guide children through family-

full potential of its groundbreaking facility.

health professionals, including psychologists, social workers related issues.

The animals on the farm are also integral to its operations.

Animal-assisted therapy is growing in popularity worldwide as research increasingly supports the approach to harnessing

the therapeutic benefits of people connecting with animals, horses in particular.

The farm is also used to run the transitional support program, which teaches at risk young people life skills in a calm

environment, to better equip them for a successful life.

With the pilot programs complete, 2020 will be a big year for the farm. It will roll out the initial program of activities

including the specific farm-related tasks of planting and harvesting and maintaining the gardens, including the

edible ones, as well as activities that are meditative or health related.

“Each person will be offered short or long term tailored

services that will be outlined in individual support plans,” adds CAFS Deputy CEO Wendy Sturgess.

many more steps yet to be taken by CAFS as it explores the

“We are rigorously planning the evolution of our services and

programs we will offer at the Care Farm, with a view to closely linking our clients and their families to different elements of the farm itself,” Mr Joy says.

Sadly, it is an ever-growing need that CAFS has to rise to meet the challenge of.

Notification of cases to child protection services nationally

has steadily increased from 33.8 per 1,000 in 2011-12 to 42.0 per 1,000 in 2015-16.

In Victoria alone, over 14,800 children were found to be harmed or at risk of harm from abuse and/or neglect according to 2015-16 figures.

“Violence in the home is of substantial concern in our region.

School engagement and completion remains a significant local challenge.”

CAFS Ballarat looks after more than 6,000 of these affected families throughout the Central Highlands. Now, one small

seed of an idea has grown into something truly special that can help them.

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Bardo + Cat 20.10.18 Photography: Tanya Volt Weddings Location: Butterland, Newstead

How did you decide on your venue? Did you see many beforehand?

Not heaps - maybe 3... but when we went to Butterland it was clear that it was the venue for us.

Tell us about the groom’s attire?

Chinos, jacket, bow tie. I dislike the formality of suits, and wanted something that kind of reflected the vibe we were looking for.

Relaxed-ish.

Did you undertake any DIY projects?

The wedding car and the invites.

Talk to us about your dress? Where was it from? How long did it take to find and how did you find the overall experience?

Gwendolynne for the dress, I did quite a bit of research

beforehand but basically sorted it out and decided in one day.

The veil was from Richard Nylon.

Where did you find your key vendors?

Instagram/recommendations from friends and family.

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"We’re looking to just relaxing together, and enjoying not having a huge event to plan!"

Describe your wedding in seven words or less…

Beautiful party with our loved ones What was your favourite moment/memory from the

it?

No, we preferred to not know how much we spent!

day?

Advice for other couples planning a wedding?

Hugging everyone after the ceremony and dancing

Do everything you can do earlier!

in the evening.

Any funny stories from the day? Highlights from ceremony?

The storm picking up just as it started added a sense of drama, we weren’t sure if it was going to start

pouring down at any moment, but then it cleared up for the end.

And highlights from reception?

The cake was amazing, so delicious and beautiful,

but it was made more special as it was one of our

close friends who spent so long preparing it for us.

What was your favourite detail from the day day?

The flowers were breathtaking; it was like being in a spring forest.

What was the most important lesson you learned/ biggest challenge?

The ice-cream cake was the biggest logistical

challenge! We had to transport a large freezer from Melbourne.

What were your aisle, recessional and first dance songs?

Aisle song was supposed to be The Shining by Badly

Drawn Boy, but there was a bit of a technical snag so, not sure what song was actually played in the end!

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Did you set a budget and were you able to stick to

Anything you are really glad you did? Or wish you didn’t do?

Upon reflection, sorting out the alcohol ourselves,

given we had to transport it all there, and it was a bit of a challenge sourcing it, was probably more effort than the saving was worth.

Any stand out vendors from your wedding?

Gwendolynne was amazing throughout all my

fittings; Katie’s flowers were astounding with many compliments. My hairdresser Amber has been my

hairdresser for years and knew exactly what to do, and my makeup artist was so down to earth, we

really connected during the trial and on the day.

How did planning a wedding affect your relationship and did you learn anything about one another in

the process? What are you most enjoying or looking forward to about married life?

I think it just reinforced that the groom is organised and into planning details, but the bride is less

organised and not a big planner, but more into

aesthetics. We’re looking to just relaxing together, and enjoying not having a huge event to plan!

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Florist: Katie Marx

Bardin: The Gentleman’s Smith

Stationary: Invites - Zazzle. Rest of printing stuff -

Transport: Cat in Bardin’s 1973 Corolla,

Catering: Pot & Pan

Bridal gown: Gwendolynne

Cake: Jamie Louise (Chef friend of Cat’s)

Veil: Richard Nylon

Wedding favours: Love it promotions

Bride’s shoes: Preston Zly

Prop or furniture hire: Bendigo Party Hire and Butterland

Accessories: Jewellery (AmoreTreasure on Etsy) Bag

Bardin and Officeworks

Organ’s Coaches for the guests

Lighting/sound hire: DJ Warehouse, South Melbourne Signage: Bardin and Officeworks

(GingerMegsVintage on Etsy) Hair: Amber Grossman Makeup: Kylie O’Toole

Entertainment: Christian Eieland

Bridal party dresses: Vintage dress from Mimi’s Berlin

Celebrant: Dave Edmonds Rings: Cat: Wedding band - Pieces of eight (Anna Sheffield).

Engagement ring - art deco from Rutherford.

“Don’t laze around all summer... it’s about time you come to visit me”

Join today and get a great-value annual pass, available from $80.

Ballarat Wildlife Park | 250 Fussell Street Ballarat | 03 5333 5933 | www.wildlifepark.com.au

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About Town

A few more shots from our annual charity event. Take note of the delicious shared food expereince by Tracey from Charlton Catering and an outstanding bar by Willow and Stone Estate featuring a full list from Blue Pyrenees.

Cutters Chair now offers a specialised b a r b e r i n g s e rv i c e CALL NOW TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH BARBER, HARRY LAMB

P: 5332 6638 A: 173a Victoria Street, Ballarat W: www.thecutterschair.com.au

BARBER SHOP OPENING HOURS: W TH F S

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10 10 10 10

TO TO TO TO

7 8 6 3

The

cutters chair BARBERING + HAIRDRESSING

Learning from our Environment Words by Ballarat Grammar.

Do you remember playing outdoors as a child? Climbing

trees, riding billy carts, building forts or cubby houses and

collecting insects? In the past twenty years, safety fears, lack of family time and increased use of technology have helped to shape a generation of children who spend less and less time outdoors.

Planet Ark research shows three out of four adults played

outdoors more often than indoors when they were young, compared to one in ten children today. Toddlers are

using digital devices, parents are working long hours, and

heightened fears of child safety and pressure to engage in

extracurricular activities all limit the amount of time children spend in nature.

“The students run a number of clubs of their own choosing; one of these is the Chicken Club. A group of students are

responsible for taking care of the flock of chickens under the guidance of a teacher. As well as caring for the birds, and

learning how to look after them, the students collect and sell

the eggs – it’s a great way to introduce and learn the basics

Only one in three Aussie kids today play outside every day,

compared to around three in four children a generation ago (Survey-based research from Planet Ark, 2011, 2015 and 2017).

Growing evidence also suggests that spending time in nature has is associated with lower levels of stress and lessens the symptoms of depression and anxiety.

The Ballarat Grammar Year 4 program aims to rebalance time in nature for our students, with an innovative model

which has a focus on place-based learning, designed to empower students to become active members of their

community and to nurture wellbeing and a love of nature.

Ballarat Grammar’s 120 acre Mt Rowan Farm Campus is only ten minutes away from the grounds of the main Wendouree campus, yet it feels like a world away. Year 4 Coordinator Ms Clarice Lisle is thrilled at the way each Year 4 student

takes hold of the different experiences the campus offers,

“Four days per week for the entirety of Year 4, students are

immersed in rich learning opportunities, connecting with the natural environment and developing a deep respect and appreciation of the interdependence of the human and natural worlds.”

of farming enterprise, and the simple joys of working with

nature, including the disappointments that come with that.”

Students are immersed in an academic program that has been carefully linked to the Australian Curriculum and the

International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program, which

Ballarat Grammar is authorised to deliver. There is a strong focus on the explicit teaching and monitoring of students’

core literacy and numeracy skills through quarantined Maths

and English blocks of time each day. The natural environment acts as a springboard for the categorical teaching of skills in these core academic areas, as well as inquiry-based

learning, where students are driven to discover and learn through their own curiosity and interests.

Farm Manager and Senior School Agriculture/Horticulture

teacher Mr Matt Dickinson, is justifiably proud of the farm and the opportunities it offers both junior students and senior Agriculture/Horticulture students, “We have 40 Australian

Lowline cattle and 120 Corriedale sheep, along with various other farm animals. We also run a rotational cropping

program and an orchard. The kids love getting their hands

dirty out here and learning the ins and outs of running a small farming business”.

SCHOLARSHIPS Year 4 to Year 11 for entry in 2021, applications open for new and existing students Visit bgs.vic.edu.au/scholarships SCHOLARHIP TESTING AND OPEN MORNING 8:30-11am, Saturday 15 FEBRUARY 2019 More information on our website or contact Admissions on (03) 5338 0830 or admissions@bgs.vic.edu.au

bgs.vic.edu.au

BALLARAT AND QUEEN’S A N G L I C A N G R A MMA R S C H O O L

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A Loreto Education Words by Loreto College Ballarat.

In 2020, we embrace an exciting new decade, one in which Loreto College will celebrate 150 years of Loreto education in Australia. Loreto College has been proudly and expertly

educating girls throughout Australia since the 1870s and it all started here in Ballarat.

In accordance with the Loreto Mission, a Loreto education

has changed significantly over the years to ensure that the

(Image: 2020 College Co-Captains, Kate Robinson and Sophie Grylewicz)

education provided is congruent with the times; and there

is an exciting future ahead. However, the vision to provide a

Catholic education, which liberates, empowers and motivates

students to use their individual gifts with confidence, creativity and generosity in loving and responsible service remains at the heart of a Loreto education, now and in the future.

As we embrace an exciting new decade, the words from our current and past students about what a Loreto education

means to them, transcend time and our ever-evolving career landscapes.

On a Loreto education….

“Loreto has allowed me to grow as an independent young woman with strong values to live by” – Current Student

“That girls can do anything! A strong sense that it is our

responsibility to give to the world and make it a fairer, better place. In the words of Mary Ward to ‹do good and do it well›.

I am forever grateful for my excellent education at Loreto College Ballarat.” – Michelle, Class of 1989

On being a Loreto woman…

“It meant growing up in an environment where I was always

encouraged to do my best, stand up in what I believe and to trust my own voice.

I’ve never doubted myself or my abilities in my professional

life and I put that down to developing in an environment that

encouraged me to shine and showed me that women should be in leadership positions, not just that they could be.” – Gemma, Class of 2009

“You are a representation of strong independent women who understand values, social justice, true friendship and carrying on the legacy of those who came before and will go after you.” – Rachel, Class of 2009

On connecting with other Loreto women…

“I’ve found that Loreto women have a deep sense of shared history and values, no matter which Loreto they went to or what time they belonged to.” – Tabitha, Class of 1999

“Nothing makes me prouder than telling people, I go to Loreto!” – Current student

A Loreto education really is an education for life. With

Mother Gonzaga Barry as our role model for expansion and innovative change, Loreto College is now poised to step

courageously forward and, over the next five to fifty years,

meet the flourishing need for Catholic education in the Loreto tradition.

“Nothing makes me prouder than telling people I go to Loreto.” (Loreto student)

Loreto College Open Morning Tuesday 4 February 2020 9.00am-12.00pm

Applications for Year 7 2021 enrolments close on

Thursday 6 February, 2020 at 4:00pm

www.loreto.vic.edu.au

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WE ACT FOR YOU AND NOT FOR THE INSURER

Garden State Insurance Brokers is a locally owned insurance brokerage company that has been established in Ballarat since 1991.

About Garden State Insurance Brokers We work closely with our clients and their core business partners, which includes accountants, financial advisers and solicitors, to provide insurance programs that meet our clients needs.

Through our extensive experience and connections, we provide our clients with access to a wide range of insurance products, specialist resources, and competitive prices.

As a committed partner, you can rely on us to deliver outstanding service, competitive pricing and expert assistance in the event of a claim.

Why should you use us as your insurance broker?

In a climate where society is becoming more litigious, financial products more complex, regulation and statutory obligations more onerous, and threats to your wellbeing and livelihood more prevalent (for example, theft and cyber attacks), it is more important than ever to ensure your insurance is adequate for your business and lifestyle.

With Garden State Insurance Brokers, you will receive the knowledge, expertise, representation and service that sets insurance brokers apart from the direct insurance companies.

AS YOUR INSURANCE BROKER, WE WILL Act in your best interests and not the insurance company's

Help you to arrange, acquire and maintain your insurance for all kinds of personal and business risks

Help you to assess and manage your risks and provide advice on insurance products and solutions appropriate for your needs

Act as your advocate in the settlement of any claim made under your insurance policies.

21 Lydiard Street South, Ballarat

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Phone: 03 5331 8059 www.gsib.com.au

Words by Ballarat Clarendon College.

Ancora imparo (I am still learning) - Michelangelo

During the recent term break, Clarendon art teacher, Vicki

Throughout her extensive journey with art, Vicki has taken

to expand her artistic knowledge and skills as she painted a

classroom, students at Clarendon are engaged in purposeful

Art Inspires Artists Gerardi, attended the Florence Academy of Art, determined portrait of Karl Bryullov, a Russian neo-classical artist.

Her motivation? To know more, to be able to do more and to

be able to share more with her students at Ballarat Clarendon College.

As Head of Prep-Year 4 Visual Art, Vicki sees herself as much a student as those she teaches. “If something doesn’t work for a student, I know I need to improve my instruction.”

The commitment of staff to professional learning in the arts space at Clarendon is demonstrated in Vicki’s decision to

further her art experiences internationally. Whilst undertaking

this highly coveted course in Italy, Vicki learnt the importance of imprimatura (under painting) and chiaroscuro (the

contrast of light and dark) to unify and balance her artwork.

Although the pronunciation might be challenging, the

meaning is precisely what Vicki intends to share with her

students. Together, they continue to learn how to create a unified and balanced work.

all opportunities to reflect on her own instruction. In the art and creative tasks that foster their curiosity and creativity.

They are encouraged to use both their imagination and

their observations to develop their creative thinking and to explore meaning and interpretation, forms and processes,

and the social and cultural contexts of art. Vicki’s passion and determination is fostered in her students; the mindset and

motivation is to always do better and know how to improve.

Vicki’s journey, as a learner in the context of painting Karl, heightened her awareness of the need for shared and

clear goals, direct instruction and a logical process. Small steps, modelling and demonstration, connections to prior knowledge, checking for understanding by asking many

questions – this sequence is essential for learning, progress and mastery in the process of creating art.

Vicki’s passion for learning, progress and growth as both an artist and a teacher ensures that the students of Ballarat

Clarendon College work alongside an expert as they build their art knowledge and their art skills.

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A Retro Sun Edit Styled by Genevieve Manly.

Assisted by Sophie Wheatland Shot by Ellen Eustice.

Looks from Stephanies on Sturt.

Accessories by Sportgirl Wendouree.

Makeup by Yellow Rose Beauty Studio.

Model: Kayla Smolenaers.

Maud Dainty at Stephanies. Telegraph print dress $399 | Sportsgirl Wendouree Gold hoop earrings $16.95, belt and GI GI sunglasses $39.95

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Maud Dainty at Stephanies Extra extra dress – pink $350 Sportsgirl Wendouree scarf $14.95

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Maud Dainty at Stephanies Masery top – 3 tier $269 Jeans cream combo $269 | Sportsgirl Wendouree gold hoop earrings $16.95

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Maud Dainty at Stephanies Extra Extra dress green $399 | Sportsgirl Wendouree natural shell earrings $14.95, Natural hat $29.95, Felix canvas sneaker $39.96

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Morrison at Stephanies Kari maxi dress $199 | Sportsgirl Wendouree Gold hoop earrings $16.95, Head scarf - stylist own Candy low wedge heals $79.95

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FASH

Morrison at Stephanies Alisa linen pant $289 Alisa linen top $249 | Sportsgirl Wendouree Gold pearl necklace $19.95, Felix canvas sneaker $39.95

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HION

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Wholefood Simply Recipe and photography by Bianca Slade.

Bianca Slade originally hails from Penshurst, a quaint

country town in Victoria’s Western District. However, for several years now, Bianca and her family have called beautiful Ballarat home.

Bianca has become well known online for her

simple and delicious recipes and, under the guise

of ‘Wholefood Simply’, has had ten books published.

In addition to Wholefood Simply, Bianca is also a passionate Food Photographer and Food Stylist.

You can view her recipes, photography gallery and cookbooks at www.wholefoodsimply.com and her

Facebook and Instagram under the name Wholefood Simply.

Rocky Road Bliss Balls Ingredients: Makes 26

Method:

Thermomix Method:

•

Place the ingredients into your processor

Place the ingredients into the bowl

mixture resembles a sticky, textured

The mixture is ready when it does not

(185 grams)

•

2 cups walnuts (200 grams)

•

1/3 cup cacao (30 grams)

•

1/2 cup pistachios (70 grams)

•

1/2 cup cashews (70 grams)

•

1/2 cup goji berries (50 grams)

•

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14 medjool dates, seeds removed

1/2 cup cranberries (70 grams)

•

1 tbsp water (15 grams)

•

1 heaped tbsp honey (40 grams)*

•

1 tsp vanilla extract (5 grams)

and blend at high speed until the

crumb. The mixture is ready when it

does not crumble when you use your

hands to press and shape it into a ball. It should be easy to work with.

Rub your hands with coconut oil and

firmly press and shape the mixture into

balls. Place the balls in the fridge to set.

Eat. Enjoy.

and blend at speed 10 for 30 seconds. crumble when you use your hands to

press and shape it into a ball. It should be easy to work with.

Rub your hands with coconut oil and

firmly press and shape the mixture into

balls. Place the balls in the fridge to set.

Eat. Enjoy. * You can use rice malt syrup if you prefer

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Let's Get Cruisin' The popularity of cruising is growing by the day. Cruise

Once you’ve established your cruise expectations: family-

refitting and extending the size of existing ships to meet

budget – how much cash do you have to splash? Once

companies all over the world are building new ships and demand as we speak!

And so the cruising skeptics don’t miss the opportunity to join

the millions of travellers enjoying all the joys a cruising holiday

friendly, expedition or sight seeing, your next decision is

you’ve got these two choices locked down - your next stop is your Travel Agent who has access to, and behind the scenes info on a myriad of different cruise lines.

has to offer, we asked regular cruisers and clients of Holiday

Stuart and Lorraine’s first cruise was 23 years ago! On a P&O

their hot tips on planning your first (or next!) cruise. So sit back,

“We just booked and went. Very little thought and planning

and Cruise Centre Ballarat, Stuart and Lorraine Bigham, for relax and let their hard-earned wisdom be your guide…

Stuart and Lorraine are old hands at cruising, having

undertaken numerous cruises in various parts of the world

(it’s a hard job, but someone’s gotta do it!) – just so they can provide you with their strategies to get the best out of your cruising holiday.

Stuart’s first piece of advice: there are no hard and fast

“correct” answers when it comes to selecting what type

and size of ship, it depends on each cruiser’s expectations.

According to Stuart, “the option that fits one traveller doesn’t

necessarily fit another. Different types and sizes of ships cater for different clientele”.

It’s true – there are so many options out there, you’d be

hard pressed not to find one that suits! There are ships that cater more for the “family” cruisers, where water slides and

adventure parks are the orders of the day; there are ships that cater for the adventure seeking expedition cruisers, exploring exotic locales and far flung corners of the earth; or there are

the “sight seers” cruises, with port intensive itineraries for those

Ship in the South Pacific, Stuart is upfront in his assessment, took place,” and while they enjoyed their maiden voyage, in retrospect, they probably would’ve done things a little

differently… “Although we enjoyed our first experience, we

now realise that some forethought and planning would have enhanced our holiday.”

When, in 2011, the couple decided to hit the high seas again – it was a little different, “This time it was a very different

planning process,” Stuart explains, “We did our research and with guidance from the girls at Holiday and Cruise Centre

Ballarat, we selected Holland America’s ‘Niew Amsterdam’ for our holiday. We chose the Mediterranean, with 24 days

sailing,” and they never looked back. Stuart honestly believes it was “the perfect way” to kick start what would become a lifetime love of cruising holidays!

The ‘Nieuw Amsterdam’ is now classified as a mid-sized ship,

with a capacity of 2,500 passengers. Over the next few years, the couple leaned towards other Holland America ships of a

similar size, but were always willing to take recommendations for something a little… special.

who want to pack as much sight seeing as possible into their

“The ‘Princendam’,” was a favourite, Stuart tells, “a lovely older

all, allowing the passenger to immerse themselves in life on

of the scale) we also did a two week cruise on the 'Princess

holiday. Some cruise lines even offer cruises with no ports at the open seas and the activities offered aboard their ship.

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Words by Holiday and Cruise Centre.

style ship of about a 1,000 passengers and (at the other end Royal' rated as a Mega Ship with 4,500 passengers in 2015."

“In 2014, we decided on the 'Seabourn Sojourn', with a capacity around 400 passengers, it was rated as a 5-star cruise ship (some might say 6-star). This trip really opened our eyes to

another type of cruising life. Firstly, smaller ships can take you into ports where bigger ships can’t. And secondly, smaller

ships don’t have the hustle and bustle of the bigger ships, it was more relaxed, there was a more welcoming feel, staff

were outstanding and quickly memorised your name and greeted you accordingly.”

Stuart and Lorraine now generally look for ships around the

500 to 1,200 passenger size, they have found this is their niche,

but they are always considering new countries, new cities and favourites to revisit when making their choices. And they keep an open mind, not letting their preference preclude them

from using larger ships, where the itinerary and/or time of

Items to factor in with large ships •

Waiting times for tender boats, crowded buffet dining,

•

Large crowds of people can be overbearing for some

• • • • • •

limited access to pool lounges etc

Extra costs that are not generally included in the fare Specialty restaurants

Gratuities are generally not included (billed to your cabin per person daily)

Limited dining times at main restaurants (usually 2 sittings)

Self-serve laundry services (cost)

Unexpected extra costs (eg. beverages, internet access, shore excursions, etc)

Smaller ships offer cruising clients

sailings are better. Recently they did a large ship cruise to visit

•

Majority of normal expenses are included (may exclude

Zuiderdam’, with 2,000 passengers.

•

Most provide a beverage package included

the Norwegian Fiords and the Baltic on Holland America’s ‘MS

Below, you can find Stuart’s summary of the pros and cons for both bigger and smaller ships from their perspective, but, as most seasoned cruisers will be the first to tell you, there’s no “one-size-fits-all” approach to cruising – the cruise is in the eye of the beholder.

Large ships offer cruising clients •

Value for money (good for smaller budgets)

•

Quality big stage shows and individual artist

•

• •

Wider cabin choices, from inside cabins to luxury suites performances

Variety of choices for eating

Great for families, with extra entertainment for kids (eg. kids clubs, water slides, adventure parks, etc)

• • • • •

some speciality dining areas or top shelf alcohol) Free internet

No gratuities to pay

Launderette available for guest use (free) and some valet laundry services included

Some shore excursions are included Generous Loyalty Programs

Items to factor in with small ships •

Entertainment shows are smaller on scale and may not

•

Sea days are for immersing yourself in the ship's facilities,

•

be every night

spa, library, port lectures, etc

Upfront cost may exceed your proposed budget, but

considering the inclusions, level of comfort and payment for inclusions in AUD, they can be very good value

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The Power of Nature

By Dr Brian Johnston

When you look at the picture of the guy above, you can

All those little angles and facets and imperfections is how they

artificial or fake about them. The reason we can tell is

shine.

tell it’s a real smile made up from real teeth with nothing because the human eye is finely tuned to spot the real from the fake. In dentistry we commonly use veneers or crowns to enhance peoples smiles and these products have a

reputation of being used to produce the famous “Holywood smile”, which can resemble a set of piano keys!

However Digital Smile Design Clinics such as Face & Smile

bounce and reflect light to give them their natural healthy

In summary there are essentially 3 elements that contribute to a great veneer or crown 1.

They are designed in harmony with the face with the right

2.

They include natural algorithms of nature with

in Ballarat take inspiration from Mother nature’s beautiful

imperfections. Replicating the natural look, shape, texture

and silhouette of your teeth is no easy task. Like the skill of the finest sculptor, it takes the finest materials, a master

craftsman and years of practice to get it right. In the past, replacement teeth were purely functional-dentures that

3.

3D position and design

imperfections and textures that make them look authentic

They have the right value, meaning not too bright or grey achievable now with modern ceramic materials

So, given the choice when you’re looking for a new smile what would be your natural inclination?

got the job done, an off the peg solution that bore little

relationship to the shape of your mouth, face or even the

teeth they were replacing and this is still the default option in

many dental clinics around the world. But it doesn’t have to be like that.

What you really want is a smile that is not too perfect,

because we are hardwired deep in our subconscious to

look for little imperfections that prevent us from being too

symmetrical and we are attracted to those who have them!

As a Digital Smile Design Clinic, we are trained to understand this and we know that too much symmetry looks fake and

manufactured. In DSD clinics natural imperfections are the goal in all our smiles.

So how do we do this? We use 3D scanning technology to scan thousands of beautiful teeth and call on this digital

library of examples as a starting point to design your smile.

The secret lies not simply in the tooth’s shape but in its texture.

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Book your smile test drive today.

Visit www.faceandsmile.com.au or call 53649500

Egg Freezing Options

By Dr Russell Dalton

If you’re trying to conceive and having trouble, you’re not the only ones. One in seven couples can’t conceive when they

wish to. Fortunately, with changes to lifestyle such as quitting

smoking, optimising diet and working on excess body weight,

a couple can increase their chances of having a baby. Simple fertility treatments, such as ovulation induction can be highly effective, and expert treatment of endometriosis helps many couples.

One in 25 babies in Australia are now born as a result of IVF treatment. IVF is not only highly effective for most couples,

but it also provides a “fertility preservation” component. The

healthy embryos formed are frozen and stored, so that when a couple wish to have a second child, it’s simply a matter of

thawing out an embryo, and transferring it to the woman. The embryo doesn’t know that the woman is three, four or five

years older, and carries the same chances of conception as when it was formed.

for a woman having a “regular” IVF cycle. The woman uses

fertility medications to develop a number of eggs, and these

Increasing numbers of women are now choosing the fertility preservation option of egg freezing. Women who don’t want to conceive at present, or those who don’t currently have a partner, can freeze eggs at Ballarat IVF for future use. The earlier this decision is made the better. The best time to

consider egg freezing is between 28 to 35 years of age, at

this stage of life, the woman is more likely to produce higher quality eggs, which carry a better chance of her having a baby.

The initial treatment to have eggs frozen is the same as that

are collected at a particular time with a minor procedure. The eggs that are collected are not fertilised, and thus embryos are not formed. Healthy eggs are snap frozen and stored for future use. Because the laboratory processes are less

complex, the costs of egg freezing are much less than for a full IVF cycle.

If you have any questions regarding egg freezing, please contact Ballarat IVF.

Plan your family’s future We want to help you achieve your dream of creating a family.

5339 8200

info@ballarativf.com.au 101

Reading good books, enjoying delicious food, drinking fine wine, connecting with new friends.

Join now, visit: uncovermagazine.com.au/thegoodbookclub 102

Who speaks for the Children in a difficult Family Separation?

By Emma Maxwell, Senior Associate, Family Law

Parents all want the best for their children, but sometimes,

The role of the ICL is not only to consider what the children

children want too. This is why the Family Law Team at Heinz

the maturity of the children, and how they may have formed

during family breakdowns, it can be hard to know what the and Partners are often asked how children can be “given a voice” in Family Law proceedings.

The appointment of an “Independent Children’s Lawyer” (or ICL) is one such way. Other means include Family Reports, Child Inclusive Conferences and reportable therapeutic counselling.

ICLs are appointed by the Court and their job is to represent

the best interest of the children in a family law matter where the parties are not able to reach an agreement. Because

want (if they are old enough to express those views), but also those views. This means that the ICL’s job is not just to be a

“mouthpiece” for the children but also to make an impartial assessment about what arrangements are in the best interests of each child.

The ICL will meet with the children, but may also speak to

the children’s teachers, doctors and psychologists and other

professionals, to further inform the Court in the context of the evidence given by the other parties. The ICL will then make recommendations to the Court.

ICLs are Court-appointed, they are a resource which is only

ICLs are required to be experienced lawyers, with at least

litigation (Court proceedings) and the Court is of the view that

additional, specialist training before they can be appointed.

available to separating families if the matter proceeds to an ICL is necessary due to the facts in a particular case.

Most commonly, the Court will appoint an ICL where a party

five years experience in Family Law and must undertake

Heinz and Partners has two qualified ICLs as an integral part of our highly skilled team across all facets of Family Law.

has made allegations of abuse or neglect of the children. In other cases, an ICL will be appointed because there is such

a high level of conflict between the parties that it is useful for the Court to have an additional independent, experienced viewpoint to assist in its decision making.

Our experience is your advantage

ABN 88 477 947 125

6 Dawson Street North Ballarat Victoria 3350 | P.O Box 722 Ballarat 3353 | DX 35047, Ballarat Telephone (03) 5331 2966 | Facsimile (03) 5331 7657 | E-mail info@heinzlaw.com.au | www.heinzlaw.com.au

COMMERCIAL LAW | LITIGATION | FAMILY LAW | PROPERTY | WILL & PROBATE 103

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The Owl Woods Passive House Photography by Tatjana Plitt

Talina Edwards Architecture: elemental design studio is an award-winning practice that is passionate about creating healthy, beautiful, functional, comfortable and sustainable architecture. Talina and her dedicated team strongly believe that high-quality design of our built environment has many positive impacts on people and the planet.

Talina established her Architectural Studio in

2013 after more than a decade of working as a registered architect with Melbourne practices

who excelled in sustainable architecture. Talina is a Certified Passive House Designer, which

involves rigorous training to an international standard to deliver the healthiest, highest-

performing and lowest-energy buildings in the world.

Talina embraces this scientific, rational and practical side of architecture, as well as the

more creative and intuitive path to design. She

employs a holistic and collaborative approach that is responsive to the whole picture, whilst

including careful consideration of all the small, important details.

Talina Edwards Architecture recently won the Sustainability Medal at the 2019 Architeam

Awards, and was an official finalist in the New

Home Category at the 2019 Sustainability Awards with the Owl Woods Passive House project.

So, tell us a little bit about the journey of Talina Edwards?

I grew up in the Eltham-area on the outskirts

of Melbourne, known for being ‘leafy and arty’.

I spent my childhood playing dolls houses,

building Lego and drawing. My parents did a

large renovation on my family home when I was about 5. My dad designed it to solar-passive

design principles, my mum drew up the plans,

and my grandfather helped my dad build it… so I guess eco-architecture was always going to be my destiny!

My partner’s family are here in Ballarat, so, in

2012, after the birth of our second child we made the pilgrimage from inner city Melbourne, and I

started my own architectural practice. It started with one renovation project (working from the kitchen table during kid’s nap times!), which

has now turned into a thriving business with a

central-Ballarat studio and three staff, and we’ve now helped over 100 clients with their homes!

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The Owl Woods Passive House is quite the project. Can you tell us a little bit about how it all came about?

It started like a lot of our other projects - the brief was

for a sustainable, ‘just-enough’-sized house for a couple

who were soon to become ‘empty-nesters’ and looking to

escape Melbourne for a tree-change. It was to be healthy,

comfortable, have a low energy consumption, solar power,

water storage and re-use, use local and resilient materials, and be a lovely home in the country that connected to the

landscape. The same brief we get from many of our clients!

I’d been learning about the benefits of designing and

building to international Certified Passive House (Passivhaus) Standards for a few years, and when we met with a

builder who was an experienced Certified Passive House

Tradesperson, Stuart Lee at Craftsmen Quality Builders, it soon

constant supply of filtered fresh air, and they have a quiet sense of calm about the indoor environment.

Is designing a sustainable home more difficult than a normal house?

I don’t believe it is necessarily more difficult, as this is what

I’m passionate about, and have the skills and knowledge to

do so that I’ve gained over my career. It does take more care, thought and time though to get it right.

I believe we deserve better quality buildings - for our comfort and our health and for the energy-savings. As an architect, I

feel a responsibility to do the right thing - not just do ‘less bad’ with our buildings, but actively move towards doing ‘more good’ for the environment.

became apparent to the owners that this was a desirable

What classifies a home as sustainable? Is there ‘levels’ of

way to build.

sustainability?

How important was the sustainability aspect for the owners?

These are great questions! ‘Sustainable’ is a bit of a buzzword

The owners, builder and I all shared the same values and as

that seems to apply to everything these days!

we went along the Passive House path, we learnt that a home

‘Sustainable’ has always been our aspiration - to not use

‘sustainable’.

future generations - but unfortunately this has still led to a

built to Passive House standards is a lot more than simply Yes they are high-performing homes that generally need

90% less energy to run them than a standard house, but they also stay a comfortable temperature range all year round

- regardless of whether it is snowing or 45 degrees outside and our central Victorian location does get these extremes!

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Passive House homes have no cold drafts, they have a

all of earth’s resources now and ensure we left some for

continued decline into more severe climate change. The new ethos is about moving beyond simply ‘sustaining’ the current

‘business as usual’ mode, and shifting to positive contributions with restorative and regenerative design thinking. So this

means we need to consider how every decision we make can give back to the earth to support all life here.

In terms of our homes, a ‘6-star’ house is unfortunately not

This approach is often referred to as ‘BioPhilic Design’ - with

building you can legally build as per our national construction

positively affected when we have a connection to nature and

much to be proud of. This is basically the lowest standard of

code. As you increase your star-rating under the government scheme, theoretically this means you will use less energy to

heat or cool your home. However there are limitations in this

modelling software, as it doesn’t take into account a thorough understanding of building-physics, and doesn’t consider

air-tightness/draft-sealing, which has a huge impact on how our comfortable our homes are. I often say it is like trying to

bake a cake with the oven door open - how can you keep the desired temperature inside, when all the heat is flowing out?

The average home has enough gaps and drafts to be equal to about 1metre squared - this means the equivalent of

having a window open at all times, when trying to run your

heating! No wonder it costs a lot, or doesn’t feel comfortable!

In comparison, the amount of gaps that are allowable in a Certified Passive House, total the size of a business card.

What inspired the design of the Owl Woods Passive House?

Instead of designing a box, we liked the idea of the house

BioPhilia meaning a ‘love for life’ and how our wellbeing is

our senses are engaged. We believe this is a fundamental aspect of good design.

Do you have a favourite project that you have worked on?

Can I say all of them?!

Our ‘next’ project is usually our favourite - because then there is a world of possibility of what we will create with the next lovely clients who approach us!

We do love the Owl Woods Passive House, as we want all our

projects to aspire to this level of sustainability and high quality architecture, or perhaps even surpass it in the future!

What would your dream design project entail?

At this point in my career, I’d love the opportunity to do largerscale multi-residential housing so more people in the Central Highlands region can benefit from great homes! Especially with our weather!

feeling more like a cluster of farm sheds, or reminiscent of a

I’d love to design them all to be built to Certified Passive

that also had a sense of privacy from the neighbours, and

Challenge, which looks at sustainability at a much broader

views to the garden from all sides of the house.

happiness, materials, equity and beauty). The aim would be of

little old English village. We wanted to create ‘outdoor’ rooms

House standards, but also designing to the Living Building

provide a strong sense of connection with the landscape, and

scale (including criteria for place, water, energy, health and

This resulted in the design response being a number of pavilions that reach out into the landscape.

transitioning to more regenerative development and integral

design thinking so the built environment would be in harmony with the natural environment, and ensure social and cultural sustainability too.

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Have you got any advice for people wanting to be more sustainable in their current homes?

Lots! How long have we got?

There is a version of Passive House for renovation projects – it’s called EnerPhit and the standards aren’t as strict due to

•

Upgrading your insulation will make a big difference to

•

Get Solar PV panels, or simply change your power

your comfort

supplier to 100% green power

•

Get off gas! Gas is not a renewable resource, and it’s

getting more expensive all the time. It is smarter to go

the complexities involved with ‘retrofit’ projects.

all-electric - which means induction cooktops and air-

sourced heat-pumps (reverse cycle) for hot water and

If you’re going to upgrade, you may as well do it properly!

heating/cooling

However, that can mean a big investment, and the reality is not all of us can afford to completely strip back our homes

to re-build them properly. Which is why I get so annoyed that things weren’t done well in the first place!

But here are some simple tips to improve your home to make it more sustainable and comfortable: •

•

Draft-sealing your gaps is simple to do, and can make a big difference to the comfort of your home in both summer and winter

In summer, try to ensure that the windows are shaded externally so that the sun can’t hit the glass - as soon

as it does it will trap that heat inside (like the heat that

gets trapped inside our cars). External shading could be

your roof eaves, a tree, a veranda, or a temporary blind/ •

And finally - what do you love about our region?

I love that it feels like we are experiencing a new type of ‘gold rush’ with the number of passionate creative professionals

rushing to our area! I’ve met so many inspiring people who are all doing their bit to make the world a better place! No

longer will be known here in Ballarat as “old, gold and cold”, it is time for a new revolution of bright sparks to help shine

the way towards a brighter future for us all! I’m proud to call Ballarat home!

You can find Talina on: Instagram: @talina_edwards,

Facebook: Talina Edwards Architecture, Twitter: @talina_ edwards, LinkedIn: Talina Edwards

shade cloth

In summer, keep your house closed and dark during the day to try to keep the heat out. In the evening when it

cools down, open all the windows and let the cooler air flush out all the day’s heat

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Wastewater Systems Family owned and operated business located in the heart of Ballan, Wastewater Systems has the solution when it comes

to Wastewater Systems. Whether you are building, buying or renovating, we can tailor a solution to fit your needs.

Wastewater Systems specialises in the application, installation and maintenance of all wastewater treatment plant systems, and no job is too big or too difficult. We work closely with the

products specialists in the design and installation process to

ensure we deliver a high standard of service each and every time.

Wastewater Systems services all brands of treatment plants across regional Victoria, servicing as far as Ararat, Torquay and Melbourne. Our servicing list expands to over 600

Finished installation of a Fuji Clean CE1500 Domestic

Treatment Plant. The Fuji Clean CE1500 domestic unit is the

perfect treatment plant option for the everyday household,

servicing up to 1,500 litres per day. The three access lids make servicing the unit a breeze.

customers, which means the servicing costs are kept down making them affordable to the homeowner.

Finished installation of the Rhizopod System. The bamboo is planted to absorb the effluent. The Rhizopod System is Installation of the Fuji Clean CE4200 Commercial Unit for a

Local Wind Farm Complex. The Commercial unit services up to 4,200 litres per day, however it can be customised to suit your commercial needs.

specifically designed for difficult sites where there is heavy clay soils present, high water tables, bores and waterways

nearby or where the block is too small to install the effluent disposal field. It blends effortlessly into the garden.

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We have probably all heard it said that young people these days will have

ten, fifteen or even twenty different jobs by the time they turn 30, which may

be vastly different to the career pathway that you took. I have been fortunate

that my Education Degree has enabled me to work in many different learning environments, with each job providing me with a new set of skills. One thing critical to my development is the diverse people I’ve met along the way.

What Shaped Your Career?

Preparing young people for success in a rapidly changing world is definitely enhanced when they are provided with the opportunity to experience work

placement and work on real projects. Work Placement is mutually beneficial, as young people contribute to participating businesses, bringing new ideas and completing outcomes.

At BTS, we have young people on internships, work placement, traineeships

and in business programs. Essential to all experiences is the role of mentors

and collaboration on projects which encourages professional learning for all.

Let me introduce you to some of the amazing young people we have met just this year at the Ballarat Tech School.

Words by Sofia Fiusco.

Demi Gerardi, Bachelor of Communication & Design Intern Through the Federation University Industry Placement Program, Demi was able to gain valuable workplace experiences while enhancing her own

professional skills and knowledge. Demi completed projects at the Tech

School that contributed to the development of her portfolio of works and to step out of her comfort zone to work with design technologies in new ways, like augmented reality.

Demi attributes her development and learning during her internship to the

time, care and support she received from her supervisor who helped guide, educate and drive her to always achieve. Demi’s supervisor attributes her success to a willingness to understand the needs of the client, undertake research to scope the ideas and present options. Demi considers herself

lucky to have had such a beneficial learning experience and, as for BTS, they obviously feel the same way.

Paige Jolley, Head Start Trainee Woodmans Hill Secondary College Paige commenced at BTS in Semester Two and is undertaking a Head Start

Traineeship. Paige is at the Tech School two days a week as she completes a Certificate III in Business Administration and on the remaining three days she completes her Year 10 studies. Her reasons for undertaking the traineeship were to gain experience in an adult working environment, improve her

skills and develop her knowledge of education. Paige’s goal is to work in an education field helping others.

Head Start is a new model for apprenticeships and traineeships for school students. Head Start students spend time doing paid, on-the-job training

whilst completing their VCE or VCAL at school. The program facilitates the

development of skills and experience that employers value, helping students get the best start in their career.

112

Annelise Van Nus, Senior P-TECH Federation College Annelise undertook work placement one day per week and contributed her

design skills to the White Night Action – Reaction installation. Being connected to BTS gave Annelise a hands-on experience while she explored pathways

and technology. Experiencing a work environment was quite different to her

expectations and working with people with similar interests but different skills was hugely beneficial. Annelise could talk about graphic design and staff

could share what they know now and, what they wish they had known at her age.

She learnt time management skills and how to professionally respond to

customers, and personally she became more confident, which others noticed and commented on. She believes her confidence grew from being in a new environment, being supported to learn and from people seeing potential in her. White Night gave Annelise the freedom to create illustrations based on the theme of “spark” and she wasn’t used to having so much freedom to design!

Matthew Greville, Year 11 Woodmans Hill Secondary College Matthew is a keen video gamer who enjoys the teamwork and

competitiveness of gaming, he loves technology and sport and is looking

forward to playing tennis with his dad over summer. He loves the creative cartoon style of Anime and the way people design with depth in their

animations. Matt is currently undertaking the Victorian Certificate of Applied

Learning with a Certificate III in Information Technology and Digital Media as his VET subject.

Matt chose a VCAL pathway so that he could explore pathways in his senior years and do work placement once a week. Matt loves technology and has enjoyed working with Virtual Reality, 3D Printers, sensor tech and assisting with the BTS programs. He has learnt organisational skills and found it

was interesting to see the sensors he learnt about (on a Thales sensor

tech immersion day) in use when he travelled to Japan. Matt knows that

technology is amazing and is the future of innovation. He is still deciding what his career will be but he knows techn will be a part of it.

Commerce Ballarat B31 Mindshop Excellence Program As part of B31 we hosted students from Loreto College as they participated in the Mindshop Excellence program in partnership with BTS and Albin’s, a high

performance gear manufacturer. This program fast tracks the development of young minds through a one week employer hosted work experience

program aimed at fostering skills such as team work and self-confidence.

Acting as company ‘executives’ for the week, students are given an issue by

the host company and use powerful problem solving tools to find solutions to the issue as a team.

The students were tasked with the development of a packaging prototype and then marketing the product and company professionally to clients.

The students were required to research the company, the product and

competitors, and provide a prototype to the company. The students utilised BTS technology to prototype a practical and creative product for the Albin’s team.

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Must Reads Three Women by Lisa Taddeo All Lina wanted was to be desired. How did

Over the past eight years, journalist Lisa

and a husband who wouldn’t touch her?

times to immerse herself in the lives of

she end up in a marriage with two children All Maggie wanted was to be understood.

How did she end up in a relationship with her teacher and then in court, a hated pariah in her small town?

All Sloane wanted was to be admired. How did she end up a sexual object of men,

including her husband, who liked to watch her have sex with other men and women?

Three Women is a record of unmet needs, unspoken thoughts, disappointments, hopes and unrelenting obsessions.

Taddeo has driven across the country six ordinary women from different regions and backgrounds. The result, Three Women, is about the elusiveness of female sexuality, the deepest nonfiction portrait of desire ever written.

Based on years of immersive reporting,

and told with astonishing frankness and immediacy, Three Women is a ground-

breaking portrait of erotic longing, exposing the fragility, complexity and inequality of

female desire with unprecedented depth and emotional power.

The Rosie Result by Graeme Simsion It’s been five years (and one sequel) since

Rosie and Don are coming to grips with the

hit the bookshelves and this year saw the

Hudson, however, cannot see the problem,

the global phenomenon, The Rosie Project, release of the final chapter in the Rosie

series by Graeme Simsion – the Rosie Result.

Don, Genetics Professor/”World’s Best”

Mixologist has, of course, has moved on

from “The Wife Project”. He got his girl, Rosie, in the first book in the trilogy.

The action in The Rosie Result takes place in

Melbourne, where the couple have returned after a decade in New York, accompanied

by their eleven-year-old son, Hudson. The bulk of the story focuses on Hudson’s challenges fitting into his new world.

fact that Hudson is struggling at school.

nor how learning how to play football will make school any more enjoyable. The

narrative focuses around the suspicion

that Hudson is autistic, but Don and Rosie

are cautious about seeking a diagnosis. A devoted father, Don sets about being the

“World’s Best Problem-Solver” and goes out of his way to help Hudson fit in, or “conform to neurotypical norms of behaviour”.

I’m pretty sure it wasn’t just the hay-fever making my eyes water this spring. Laugh

out loud funny and incredibly bittersweet,

this razor sharp and uplifting tale was the perfect ending to the Rosie Trilogy.

Let your mind wander...

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