Our First Birthday edition!
April 1, 2016
Edition 24
2 • BACCHUS MARSH SCOOP, April 1, 2016
RETIRE TO PROVIDENCE VILLAGE
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Open Mondays and Fridays 9am-1pm, or by appointment. Call Pip on 0418 317 901 Providence Village, 5-7 Griffith Street, Bacchus Marsh.
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BACCHUS MARSH SCOOP, April 1, 2016 • 3
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It’s our first birthday!
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March 4, 2016 Edition 22 For crying out loud, its festival time!
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Photo: Kris Reichl Printed by Fairfax Media Limited
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soccer at the Ballan Autumn Festival on March 20. More photos pages 12 & 13.
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Front cover: Abigail enjoys a game of sumo
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Email: bacchusmarshscoop@gmail.com Web editions: issuu.com/bacchusmarshscoop Facebook: facebook.com/bacchusmarshscoop
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Photographers: Kris Reichl, Renee Robinson. Images in this edition are available for purchase for $30. An unmarked digital file will be emailed to you for personal use only. Go to www.krisreichlphotography.com.au
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Contributors: Kate Sharkey, Rose De la cruz, Ros O’Sullivan, Renee Robinson
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For all your editorial or advertising needs, contact: Publisher/editor: Renee Robinson, 03 5368 2870 / 0459 022 364
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Bacchus Marsh Scoop is a fortnightly publication serving Bacchus Marsh and surrounding districts. ABN: 39 790 396 099
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It was a crazy undertaking one-year-ago to start my own paper. If I’d known then how hard it would be, I don’t think I would’ve started, but ignorance is bliss as they say. The first edition coincided with the centenary celebrations of our ANZACs and so the theme was all about commemorating the volunteers of World War One. Leone Fabre took the amazing front page photo of Faye Threlfall and her two grandchildren Lauri and Liam. Inside was a feature article on Faye’s ancestor Walter Spencer, who’s portrait was discovered in an old chest in a farmhouse attic in Vignacourt, France. Yes, the Scoop has become more polished over one year, and my graphic design skills have improved (thanks to YouTube video clips!), but I’m still incredibly proud of that first edition. It was an impossible undertaking that remained impossible up until it was done. My printer for the first 12 editions was in Clayton. Every second Friday I’d email my pages through by midday, then I’d drive to Clayton at 9pm that night to pick up the copies, all 2000 of them. It was exhausting, but always exciting to hold the paper while it was literally ‘hot off the press’. Then, to eliminate all that travel time, I moved my business to Fairfax printers in Ballarat and haven’t looked back. All past editions are still available to read online at issuu.com/bacchusmarshscoop in an easy-to-read magazine format. Our Facebook page also reached 1300 likes this week. Not bad for one year! The number of online reads and Facebook likes speak for themselves. You love it. But in case I forget, each week without fail I get an email or a phonecall from someone thanking me for creating a publication full of positive, uplifting stories about Bacchus Marsh locals. It’s this encouragement that keeps me going. My dream is to make Bacchus Marsh Scoop a permanent fixture on the Bacchus Marsh landscape and have it hit all of your mailboxes every second Friday. Who knows, if advertisers continue to get behind it then it could even become a weekly paper before long. In the meantime, Bacchus Marsh Scoop will continue to provide great stories and great photos that are relevant to Bacchus Marsh.
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THE champagne cork has popped for our first birthday!
Bacchus Marsh
Scoop April 18, 2015 Edition 1
Bacchus Marsh
Scoop
Lest we forget: an Anzac special edition September 5, 2015 Edition 11
Finals fever Bacchus Marsh
Scoop
Bacchus Marsh
Scoop
June 13, 2015 Edition 5
August 22, 2015 Edition 10
January 22, 2016 Edition 19 Young Citizen Steven Tandy
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4 • BACCHUS MARSH SCOOP, April 1, 2016
Daniel and Catherine Smith (left) welcomed their daughter Maddison (inset) into the world last week.
The green, green grass of home DANIEL Smith is back on his home turf.
With a background in hospitality and turf, Daniel was an easy choice to be appointed the new general manager of Bacchus Marsh Golf Club in February. “Dad owned the Royal Hotel and I grew up there with another family, the Beans (1980-1988). Now the 18 to 25-year-olds I remember from the hotel are in their 50s and members of this golf club,” Daniel said. “We left in 1993 when Dad bought the Little River Hotel (1989-1993). When that went bust Dad managed a hotel in Preston, then Mildura. Dad got out of the business after my brother Matt died in Mildura. He was 19, had everything going for him – good looks, talent, friends – and he committed suicide. I was 16 at the time and had to grow up pretty quickly. Your parents should never have to bury their own kids.” Daniel said after he left school he got a job at Red Cliffs golf club as an apprentice green keeper and that’s where his journey started. Three years later he followed his parents back to Melbourne and got a job at Rosebud Country Club and caught the travel bug. “I ended up running a hostel in Harvey Bay because I’d grown up in and around hotels. Hospitality is always in your blood. I did a stint at Woolooware Golf Club in Cronulla, Sydney and really studied the craft of irrigation and water management. When I was in my mid-twenties I freelanced for Butchy Vigour at Bacchus Marsh Instant Lawn while I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do. I didn’t just want to work in pubs and clubs.” Daniel took up a position at Wyndham City Council in 2003 as an irrigation officer so he could “hone my skills in irrigation”. “That really helped my career. Wyndham trained me up on satellite irrigation systems and I became a team leader for sports fields and irrigation at Hume City Council in 2005. I spent seven years there and had the responsibility of looking after 70 hectares of sports fields and more than 100 different sporting clubs. Good communication skills were essential.” Daniel was working for his third local government – Moonee Valley City
Council – when he got a call from Matt Grigg at the Bacchus Marsh Golf Club asking him whether he was interested in the position of manager. It was just as well Daniel applied and got the job because the club was not too far from away from losing a percentage of the golf course. “The irrigation and the pumps weren’t working and in my experience we were only 48 hours away from losing the whole course. I brought in my network. Toro Australia came down to fix the irrigation system and I got in contact with Oasis Turf supplier. With their specialist help we were able to save it.” It’s been a busy two months for the 39-year-old, on both a personal and professional level. After five years of intensive IVF treatment, Daniel and his wife Catherine welcomed their first child last week, daughter Maddison Margaret. Daniel said: “It’s been a rollercoaster ride for both my wife and I but it’s all been worth it, every day I get to come home to my favourite two girls. There was a stage in my life where I thought I was never going to become a father and experience the little things like changing nappies, feeding and all the other responsibilities of being a dad. If I had advice to give to other people in a similar situation, be strong and talk to each other.” Daniel said he hoped to increase the Bacchus Marsh Golf Club’s golf membership in the next five years from 300 to 500. “We’ll be making improvements to the clubhouse with outdoor decking overlooking the course which will maximise our seating and entertaining area. I’m constantly learning from my father’s wealth of experience and knowledge across his 40 years of being in the industry. In the past two weeks we have crossed over to a new wine supplier called Oatley Wines and also have improved our tap selections at the bar by adding Canadian Club whisky, a Geelong brew (Furphy’s) and a mid-strength great northern on tap. “I’m so proud to say I’m the general manager here at Bacchus Marsh Golf Club and it’s great to be back after all these years. I’m here for the long term and I hope my team and I can create something special for the members and the public of the Moorabool Shire.”
BACCHUS MARSH SCOOP, April 1, 2016 • 5
Bolt blazes trail
ABBI Bolt has been a trailblazer for women’s football since she was seven-years-old.
After trying out dance for a year, Abbi went to her father and asked if she could play football instead. He approached the Darley Football and Netball Club and they put her in their under nine boys competition. When she could no longer play with the boys, Abbi joined the youth girls team at Bacchus Marsh Football Club for a year but, with the support of her father, Matt Colley and Vicki Baker, Darley Football Club introduced its own youth girls team and Abbi returned to the club she loved. Now 15, Abbi has been selected to play for the Western Jets Girls Under 18 side for the second consecutive year and is in the final round of 40 (out of 130 girls) to try out for the Vic Country squad. “If I didn’t play for the boys I wouldn’t be here now. I did everything the boys did, all the hard work. I had to have a lot of self-discipline,” Abbi said. The Bacchus Marsh College student has now played more than 150 games of football, including finals and representative games. “It’s the second year I’ve been drafted to the Jets senior team. I played the first game and was ready to run out for the second game and had to be taken to hospital to get my appendix out! I’ve been out for three weeks but am starting to do some training again. I want to get selected into the Vic Country squad because I’ll be ready to go when they play in early May. It’s an amazing feeling to know you’re so close to making it in.” Abbi credits the Darley Football Club community for helping her to play the sport she loves and said the club never told her no, instead they looked for ways to let her keep playing. “It’s heart-warming to have all these people here to help you. They’re my Darley family. I have a
Abbi Bolt with her many football team jerseys. Photo by Renee Robinson
disabled brother and they even host an ‘All Abilities’ football game that he can play. It doesn’t matter if you’re different, they will help you do what you want to do. The amount of support you get from this club is phenomenal.” She said Darley premiership player Jake Edwards was her idol and she was inspired by Bacchus Marsh local Liam Duggan, who was drafted to the West Coast Eagles. Abbi said her dream was to one day be drafted to the AFL, or coach football. “I love being able to teach younger children how to play and how to love the sport. I would tell any young girl wanting to play that it’s one of the best sports you will ever play, it’s a beautiful game, you won’t regret it. “You’ve got to have a good mindset, be humble and have patience. You also need to have good self-discipline and dedication. I definitely wouldn’t have got here without my parents. They took me from one side of Victoria to the other and have helped with my self-discipline.
Having good skills will only get you so far, you also need to have a good heart.” Darley Junior Football Club president Matt Colley said Abbi had the right personality to do well in the game and she worked hard. “She’s a great kid with great parents and is a good role model for the young girls starting out. The BFL (Ballarat Football League) are trying to introduce an under 12 football competition for girls and we’re hoping to start a women’s side next year. There’s no better time for a girl to try and make it to the highest levels of footy.” Darley Football Club Youth Girls coach and Abbi’s father, Peter Curran, said by 2017 the AFL would have six women’s AFL teams and by 2020 they aimed to have a women’s team for every Victorian AFL club and an affiliate side in every other state. Peter said: “Abbi has a real passion for this game. All the coaches here at Darley have always given her a go. She gets support from the club and at home. She’s always had great people behind her.”
Bacchus Marsh Community Bank Branch
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6 • BACCHUS MARSH SCOOP, April 1, 2016
Octogenarian, Citizen of the Year and inspiration BECOMING an octogenarian hasn’t stopped Marlene Burvill from volunteering at Djerriwarrh Health, the Ballan Hospital, meals on wheels and Ballan Red Cross.
Federal member for Ballarat, Catherine King, with Marlene Burvill. Photo: Kris Reichl
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Marlene might have expected a quiet 80th birthday on March 17, but word got out and no good deed goes unnoticed. “My birthday started Sunday at the Uniting Church when Mary played the organ and my friends sang happy birthday. On Wednesday Djerriwarrh Hospital gave me a birthday cake. On my actual birthday on Thursday I had lunch with my friends at St Brigids and more birthday cakes, afternoon tea at Xui’s café with my friends and that evening Anne (Eskdale) told everyone it was my birthday at the opening of the Red Cross Quilt exhibition at Millrose Cottage,” Marlene said. “I spent the weekend with my children Colin and Julie and their partners Deb and Gerard, and my grandchildren John and Emma. The final celebration was getting my photo taken with Catherine King (left) at the Ballan Autumn Festival. Thank you to all my friends and family who sent me flowers and cards and wished me a happy birthday.” Marlene began volunteering more than 50-years-ago when she became involved with the Mt Wallace Fire Brigade with her husband Reg. When their daughter Margie was born without the ability to walk and talk, Marlene saw firsthand the work done at Ballan Hospital and became a member of the hospital auxiliary. Her work on the auxiliary, with meals on wheels and at the Ballan Hospital op shop earned her a 20-year volunteer service award from the Ballan Hospital last year. After Margie passed away in her 40s, Marlene faced a health crisis of her own - cancer. “I’ve had five lots of cancer, but I’m in remission now,” she said. While fighting her personal battle against cancer, Marlene also began volunteering at Djerriwarrh Health palliative care. “I just love helping people,” she said. Marlene also volunteered at the Ballan Hospital op shop for 15 years, the Ballan Fire Brigade for 10 years and is a member of the Ballan and District Historical Society. She worked as catering supervisor at the Fiskville CFA training centre for 23 years. Her remarkable contributions to her community were recognised this year at an Australia Day ceremony where she was named the Moorabool Shire Citizen of the Year.
MEET THE GROWER
BACCHUS MARSH SCOOP, April 1, 2016 • 7
Down to earth INNOVATION, diversity and a low GI spud puts Mark Labbett and his family ahead in the potato game. KATE SHARKEY* spoke to the potato farmer in Millbrook minutes after he sent off a 38 tonne consignment of potatoes to a new client in NSW.
Mark’s grandfather, Ted Labbett, saw an opportunity to grow certified seed potatoes for an emerging market back in the 1920s and established Labbett Brothers. “My grandfather and his two brothers Frank and Jack were some of the first farmers to grow seed in Victoria, and the first to irrigate potatoes. They were quite the trail blazers for the industry,” Mark said. “Dad and his brother took over the partnership and now it’s Mum, Dad and my family.” Altitude and good climate, free draining soil and plenty of water make for near perfect growing conditions on the 150ha property at Millbrook just outside of Gordon. Ten major varieties of potatoes are grown to turn out 1500 tonnes of certified potato seed annually. Mark and his family are one of only 25 certified seed potato growers in the central highlands district. A strict quality assurance program is in place to ensure the potatoes grown for seed meet high industry standards. An inspector checks the crop throughout the growing and harvesting phase and can spot check at any time through the grading and packing process. “I treat my potatoes like apples,” Mark said. To meet high standards seed potatoes have to be handled very carefully. The Labbetts recently invested in a new European grading machine that gently sorts the potatoes according to size requirements – seed potatoes need to measure between 35mm and 75mm. “The grading machine can sort three lines of potatoes and it’s quick and very consistent. This is the way of the future for seed growers,” Mark said. Just like his father and grandfather before him, Mark is carving his own successful path in what at times can be a very fickle industry. A former Apprentice of the Year, Mark sits on the board of Seed Potatoes Victoria and shows great leadership for his local community by supporting other growers and employing locals where he can. “We also have an apprentice, Daniel, who is doing very well and I’m proud to see him succeed,” Mark said. “As a former apprentice myself I know it’s a great way to learn your trade and nothing beats on-the-job training.” “The best part about growing potatoes is when it is busy. I enjoy it most when harvest gets under-
Mark Labbett operates the purpose built grading machine. Photo: Renee Robinson
way and the product is meeting specification and making clients happy,” Mark said. Mark is a testament to farmers right across the Moorabool Shire who take pride in their work. “It’s no good if you don’t enjoy your job. I enjoy most aspects of farming, especially growing potatoes,” he said. Mark continues to look for new opportunities and praised VicSpa for their innovative approach to trialling new varieties and looking for markets to complement them. “There are some opportunities for export and although it’s not an easy road we are prepared to work with countries like Indonesia so it can be a win for everyone.” “Growing the humble spud is not always straight forward. I think sometimes people forget that most fresh produce potatoes are grown out in the elements. Weather predicts so much of what we do. Timing is everything with potato growing. Fungal disease and aphids can be a problem with seed potatoes primarily and that’s all dependent on the weather. We’re not chemical free, but we have reduced chemical use dramatically and use far softer, selective chemicals when recommended by our agronomist.” Integrated pest control (an environmentally sensitive way of managing pests), soil conditioning and crop rotation are common practises on the Labbett property to ensure the soil remains clean and healthy. “Everything we do in order to grow quality potatoes has its place and when it all lines up it works well. Our product goes all over the place including Queensland and much of it to South Australia. Most of our customers are repeat clients and that’s the way I like it,” Mark said. Labbett Brothers also grows some commercial potatoes that end up as fries. Mark said the poor
old chip could get a bad rap but it was often how the potato had been prepared. To prove how well the industry responds to the market Mark grows a potato variety which is low GI to meet the ever-growing requirements of the health conscious. Mark said he does sell a small quantity of potatoes through the Gordon local store and a road side stall for the locals and tourists. “We did this to supply the public and to save them entering the property as it is not ideal to have tourists in our yard, especially when we were trying to load a truck and have forklifts and machinery driving around.” Mark likes to remain optimistic, however is under no illusions of how difficult being a primary producer can get, especially if the Australian dollar is high. “This opens the market up for countries in the northern hemisphere to dump cheap potatoes here on our domestic market. This can play havoc with the local growers and it can be incredibly hard to manage. Farmers have to often deal with instability in the industry.” Despite the many obstacles of modern day farming, Mark believes the legacy his grandfather left him will live on. “My wife Amanda and children Mitchell and Chloe are my greatest support and with them I feel confident to continue the Labbett family tradition of growing high quality potatoes and helping my rural community to prosper.”
*Kate Sharkey is establishing a Moorabool Food Producers Network.
8 • BACCHUS MARSH SCOOP, April 1, 2016
Put your garden in their hands THE Gardenologist in Gordon has a strong emphasis on indigenous plants, plant selection and complete garden care.
Linda and Greg Flynn
Darley Neighbourhood House and Learning Centre Term 2 brochure out now. Classes and workshops in basket making, basic sewing, dumplings, cake-pops, intro to Ebay, Tai Chi.
OCCASIONAL CARE: Thursday/Friday, 9am - 2pm in the Anna Curry Childcare Centre. Friendly qualified staff WORKSHOPS: Basic Hand Sewing
Saturday April 23, $30 Basic Machine Sewing
Saturday April 30 & May 14, $60 33-35 Jonathan Drive, Darley VIC 3340 Phone: 5367 4390 Email: info@dnhlc.org.au Website: www.darleylearning.com
Although Greg and Linda Flynn only opened their plant nursery two years ago, Greg has been a landscape gardener for 10 years and Linda grew up around plants. Her father Adrian (Eddy) Bakx was the first vegie seedling grower in Bacchus Marsh and used to own Bacchus Marsh Seedling Farm. Linda, now the director of Ecolinc in Bacchus Marsh, said her parents emigrated to Australia from Holland in the late 1950s and bought a farm in Violet Town before moving to Bacchus Marsh and setting up the seedling farm, which has been running for over 35 years. Later, when Eddy retired, he bought 200 acres in Blampied running cattle and then sheep. “We originally had a market garden in Bacchus Marsh before the seedling farm was established and I used to go with my dad to the Footscray markets to sell our stock. The seedling farm has been in my family for decades, firstly with dad running it and then later by my brother Paul. The retail section of the seedling farm was leased to Plant Inspirations late last year,” Linda said. Linda studied teaching and met Greg who worked at Monash University in the technology and engineering faculty. When Linda returned to teaching after their two children were born, they reversed roles and Greg stayed home to look after the kids. A few years later he began a landscaping business and worked flexible hours around the children. “We’ve got a strong interest and love of natives, especially eucalyptus trees and natives suitable for the garden,” Greg said. They bought a ten acre block west of Gordon but found there was too much tree cover to establish their nursery. In 2014 they moved to 54 acres on the east side of Gordon and established a hobby farm with alpacas, Suffolk sheep, cows, chickens and the nursery. The menagerie’s various benefits include providing the manure for their soil and nursery. Linda said: “We just love plants. We’ve always wanted a farm and we’re in the process of building up the infrastructure for the nursery. We don’t use weed killers in the nursery and we advise people to plant their garden according to their conditions. Greg has a lot of knowledge about planting in different soil conditions.” Linda said people could expect to find indigenous shrubs, other natives, deciduous trees and a lot of cottage garden plants at The Gardenologist Nursery. “In spring we offer a large ‘pick-and-eat’ range including berry varieties, citrus trees, olives, kiwi fruit, passionfruit and herbs.” Linda said now was the best time of year to plant frost hardy plants while the ground was still warm, soft and damp. “If you plant them now they’ll get good water over winter and get a really good root system going. By spring they’ll just take off. Frost tender plants are better off planted in the spring.” The Gardenologist is open by appointment off Old Melbourne Rd, Gordon. Phone 0408 547 610.
ADVERTORIAL
BACCHUS MARSH SCOOP, April 1, 2016 • 9
Blackwood: the little town that could IF YOU haven’t been to Blackwood lately, then it’s about time you did.
Blackwood was a thriving goldmining town during the 1850s when gold was discovered at nearby Golden Point. These days, Blackwood is a friendly village situated on the Lerderderg River and surrounded by the native forests of the Lerderderg State Park and Wombat State Forest. Blackwood has a growing musical and artistic vibe, while embracing traditional skills such as woodwork and gold-panning. The townsfolk have created unique events to attract tourists to the area, including the annual Blackwood Festival of Music and Culture, the Blackwood Easter Festival, an Apple Harvest Festival (on this weekend!), while hosting national woodchop and gold-panning championships. Great coffee, beer and food can be found at local businesses the Blackwood Merchant and the Blackwood Hotel, and specialist nurseries the Garden of St Erth and Blackwood Ridge Nursery offer up plants, food and even wine.
Sharon Grumont and Karl Church at the Blackwood Easter Festival. Photo: Kris Reichl
Bob Price won this year’s Blackwood Easter Woodchop. Photo: Kris Reichl
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SCHOOL HOLIDAYS FEATURE
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Help us celebrate our first birthday and go in the draw to win one of three family passes to Kryal Castle!
BACCHUS MARSH SCOOP, April 1, 2016 • 11
Colour in & send to: Bacchus Marsh Scoop c/- 37 Edols St, Ballan 3342 by Friday, April 15. Include your name, age, and contact number on the back of your envelope. Good luck!
12 • BACCHUS MARSH SCOOP, April 1, 2016
BALLAN AUTUMN FESTIVAL
Lily and Matilda
Jackson, 2 (below)
To purchase photos visit krisreichlphotography.com.au
Michelle pushes Lorna (above), the Creswick Light Horse Brigade (below)
BALLAN AUTUMN FESTIVAL
BACCHUS MARSH SCOOP, April 1, 2016 • 13
Jim and Jim from 5 o’clock Charlie (above). Sophie and Lily (below)
Josh and Rose Tejedor (above) show off their cooking skills. Michael Howard, Stephanie Day and Ann Hardwick from the Ballan Arboretum Group.
Angus McLean and Rebecca Simpkin from St Anne’s Winery (below)
The woodchop competition at Hudsons Hotel (below). All photos by Kris Reichl
14 • BACCHUS MARSH SCOOP, April 1, 2016
Your community page proudly sponsored by The Scoop Community diary April 2: Author talk by Alli Sinclair Author Alli Sinclair will be a guest speaker at Lerderderg Library, James Young Room, 1pm - 3pm.
April 3: Daylight Savings ends Turn your clocks back one hour and enjoy a sleep in!
April 10: Myrniong Historic Car Sprint Racing Cars to 1960, Sports cars to April 2/3: Heritage Apple 1975, Touring cars to 1970, Clubman Cars, Reproduction Sports Car, Specials Festival 2016 Apple activities: taste tests, pressed to 1975 period. Korobeit Rd, Myrniong. juices, baked pies & strudels, garden From 9.15am to 4pm. $10 entry. tours and workshops. 9am - 5pm. April 17: ANZAC Day march Entry $10, U16 free. Commences at 2pm at the Bacchus Garden of St Erth, 189 Simmons Marsh Hospital and ends at the RSL Reef Rd, Blackwood. Hall, Main St, Bacchus Marsh.
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John Mansfield will be at the ANZAC Day dawn service on April 25. The service commences at 5.45am and everyone is invited.
April 3: Friends of Werribee River (Bacchus Marsh) working bee Peelmans Lane, 9.30am - 12.30pm. All ages, skill and fitness levels welcome. Morning tea provided.
April 25: ANZAC Day dawn service Commences at 5.45am outside the RSL Hall, Main St, Bacchus Marsh. Everyone is welcome.
St Andrew’s Uniting Church Bacchus Marsh
Together we share in a story, fun activities and dinner! All welcome! On the second Sunday of each month 4:30-6:30pm
March 13th April 10th May 8th June 12th July 10th August 14th September 11th
October 9th November 13th December 11th More information: St Andrew’s Uniting Church Rev Ian Pearse 5367 2543 Gretta O’Mahoney 0417 168 948
Backyard beekeepers gathering Join us for a drink and chat about beekeeping. Wednesday, April 6, 6pm at Commercial Hotel, Main St, Ballan. Phone Jane 0403 891 170
BACCHUS MARSH SCOOP, April 1, 2016 • 15
Garden to Plate
By Ros O’Sullivan The Humble Spud
If you haven’t already harvested your potato crop, now is a good time to dig up a few spuds for a warming winter meal. The good news is that the humble spud is an excellent food: free of fat, salt and cholesterol, and not packing too many calories. The not-so-good news is that potatoes taste absolutely delicious when teamed with butter, cream, salt and other things that should only be eaten sparingly. But as they say, all things in moderation! Potato gratin is one dish that can be put together with mostly healthy ingredients – or, when the occasion calls for it, tizzed up with some of the more ‘naughty’ ones. The following recipe gives the no-frills version, but shows the many variations on the theme. While the basic recipe yields a delicious side dish to a simple grill or roast, adding cream and/ or extra garlic and/or some grated chees results in a rich dish for special occasions. POTATO GRATIN Ingredients: 4 large (about 1 kg) waxy potatoes (e.g. Dutch Cream, Pink Eye, Desiree, Nicola) 1 clove garlic (add an extra 2 cloves for a more garlicky version) 2 – 2½ cups milk (or cream, or half milk/half cream, or chicken or beef stock) 30g butter ¼ cup grated parmesan, swiss or tasty cheese (optional) Method: 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C and grease a deep gratin or small baking dish generously with some of the butter. 2. Peel the potatoes and slice thinly – a mandoline or the slicing blade on a food processor will speed up this job. 3. Arrange the potato in a layer, overlapping the slices. Season with salt and pepper. If you’re indulging in the cheesy version, sprinkle some of the cheese before adding another layer. Repeat until all the slices have been used, seasoning (and cheesing) each layer. 4. Carefully pour the milk (or your preferred liquid) over the potatoes.
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MEET THE NEW MANAGERS!
Don’t drown the dish: use just enough liquid to reach the bottom of the top layer of potatoes, after you’ve allowed it to settle into the gaps. 5. Dot the remaining butter over the potatoes and bake for 1-1½ hrs until the top is golden and the potatoes are soft when tested with a knife point. Hint: To prevent the top layer drying out, halfway through the cooking take the dish out of the oven and press the potatoes flat with a spatula. If the dish is browning too quickly, cover the top with foil or lower the oven temperature a little.
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Photo by Ros O’Sullivan
BUSINESS & TRADE GUIDE
16 • BACCHUS MARSH SCOOP, April 1, 2016
Domestic Service: Installations, Alterations & Renovations Industrial & Commercial Service Installations, Maintenance, & Repairs FREE QUOTES Terry & Jason Hooper (R.E.C. 13532) P.O. Box 628 Bacchus Marsh 3340
Terry: 0417 390 793 Jason: 0429 099 980 hoopselec@gmail.com
Bacchus Marsh
Flooring Anthony & Lisa Simone
115 Main Street, Bacchus Marsh, VIC 3340 Ph: (03) 5367 8422 Fax: (03) 5367 6944
Tel: 03 5367 0110 Fax: 03 5367 1108 Mob: 0407 828 545 email: info@motorworx.com.au www.motorworx.com.au
CENTRE
214 Main Street Bacchus Marsh 3340
Email: general@bmflooring.com.au Web: bacchusmarshflooring.com.au
CAR WASH
29 HOLTS LANE, DARLEY 6AM TIL 10PM - 7 DAYS
Self serve - auto - truck/boat - dog wash - car care - vacuum Attendant on duty 8:30 - 5:30 - 7 DAYS
Western Screens
bcard_Layout 1 2/02/15 3:26 PM Page 1
LOGISTICS PTY LTD
Glenn Pluck
Andrew Clarke Wool Buyer | 0409 511 739
p: (03) 9369 7218 | f: (03) 9369 4147 105 Boundary Rd, Laverton North VIC 3026
Mob: 0413
17 Grant Street, Bacchus Marsh, VIC. 3340 info@westernscreens.com.au
066 163 ABN 42 603 705 509 ACN 162 859 047
BUSINESS & TRADE GUIDE
(03) 5367 7442
Maddingley Car Care Servicing & General Repairs All Makes and Models Vehicle Restoration Chris Trotter 0415 270 983 1B Millbank Street, Bacchus Marsh, 3340
RIV ET T E
UPHOLSTERY NEW FURNITURE | ANTIQUES | MOTOR TRIMMING
Luke 0439 355 282
9 Park St, Bacchus Marsh, 3340
Show this ad for free car wheel rotation
BACCHUS MARSH SCOOP, April 1, 2016 • 17
18 • BACCHUS MARSH SCOOP, April 1, 2016
‘MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS’
25 McPherson St, Maddingley
Bill Hawken
Where customers come first CUSTOMERS always come first at Bacchus Marsh Farm Supplies. Owner Bill Hawken has the built the business up from scratch over 27 years and said the key to a good business was listening to your customers and great customer service. “You need to be flexible with trends and be prepared to change your stock based on your customers’ feedback. We’ve branched into a lot of pet lines because our customers have asked for it,” he said. “You also need to be open long hours and carry a good range of quality stock. I don’t go for the cheapest lines.” Bacchus Marsh Farm Supplies has two retail outlets in Main Street, Bacchus Marsh and Craigieburn, two warehouses, and employs 18 local people. Bill said he enjoyed the variety of customers who came in and the banter. “They come from a long way away, you might see them every three to five months, but they remember and come back because of our customer service.” Staff at Bacchus Marsh Farm Supplies are always on hand to offer good advice on all their products, and services such as a six-point health check for pets, pool and spa water testing, and assistance carrying purchases to cars are thrown in for free. They also offer onsite and offsite servicing and repairs to pumps. Save up to $60 on a range of quality waterproof Bogs Boots that are on sale in store and online this month. Bacchus Marsh Farm Supplies is open seven days a week at 126 Main St, Bacchus Marsh. Phone 5366 0600 or visit www.bacchusmarshfarmsupplies.com.au or like Bacchus Marsh Farm Supplies on Facebook to keep up to date on the latest new products, autumn catalogue and specials.
‘MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS’
BACCHUS MARSH SCOOP, April 1, 2016 • 19
Floral Design & Event Styling at Affordable Prices Ph: (03) 5367 5705
A stitch in time LOIS Hunt enjoys seeing people discover the benefits of pure wool for the first time. The owner of Bacchus Marsh Wool Shop said she often overheard people tell their friends, in amazement, how warm woollen clothing was. “There’s a definite revival of people learning to knit and customers are asking for wool rather than synthetic,” she said. “People don’t realise that most yarn is washable. It’s not hard to look after. There’s also a lot of health benefits to knitting because it gets people away from their TV and computer screens and helps them to relax.” Lois (pictured above) established her shop in 1981 and moved from Gell Street to Main Street in August last year. “It’s been a passion of mine for years and it keeps me occupied. Most of my wool is sourced from the big Australian companies and some of it comes from Italy - the way they spin it is just beautiful.” Her customers travel from Werribee, Ballarat and Sunbury to source high quality wool that can’t be found in chain stores. Lois also believes in providing great customer service that includes help and advice if they want it. The Bacchus Marsh Wool Shop has a big range of wool products and colours, along with embroidery patterns, threads and fabric, tapestries, knitting needles, crochet hooks and some haberdashery. The shop is open Monday to Friday, 10am - 5.30pm and Saturday 10am to 12.30pm at 151 Main St, Bacchus Marsh. Phone 5367 1514.
Tobacco Station Tobacco accessories & gifts
Shop 40, Bacchus Marsh Village Shopping Centre
Ph: 03 5367 8560
If it’s glass...we can tint it
Leigh Cotter Manager Factory 2, 22-24 McPherson St, Bacchus Marsh VIC 3340 ph: 5367 7977 mob: 0433 333 319 email: wwcoatings@hotmail.com
BACCHUS MARSH WOOL SHOP LOIS HUNT Proprietor
151 Main St Bacchus Marsh Victoria 3340 Phone: 5367 1514
22-24 Unit 9, McPherson St, Maddingley
20 • BACCHUS MARSH SCOOP, April 1, 2016
Vandals target Darley Park Money spent on vandalism attacks on Darley Park is climbing.
Vandals targeted the park this week, attempting to smash a window, causing $400 worth of damage. This brings the total bill in the past two months alone to about $5000. Moorabool Shire mayor Allan Comrie said: “This is a disgrace. This mindless act costs ratepayers money, costs our staff time, costs children and park users the ability to enjoy the park, and has forced football and netball clubs off the park at times.” “In the recent attack, vandals appear to have used a star picket to try to smash the safety doors. This has left holes and glass shards in the door which could create a dangerous situation for children.” Other recent acts of vandalism included a smashed hot water service, ariels broke, doors broken and a scoreboard damaged. Darley Football Club president Grant Wright said it was incredibly frustrating. “This is ratepayer money that could be better spent somewhere else, but instead has to be spent on this, and it looks like it’s getting to the point where we have to vandal-proof the entire area, which is costly in itself. We actually did vandal-proof one scoreboard and it hasn’t been touched since, but the other one has been targeted. “The recreation team at council do a fantastic job maintaining the oval and we have had comments from clubs like Doncaster who came to play a practice match at Darley Park that it is the best surface they’ve played on – so to have the flip side of that be these acts of vandalism is so frustrating.”
Midweek Special: 2 players with cart
$50 Bacchus Marsh-Balliang Rd Bacchus Marsh VIC 3340
Phone: (03) 5367 3492
EMBRACE ASD The EMBRACE ASD Wellbeing library is now ONLINE The library is free to join and includes equipment, toys, educational products and DVDs for people with sensory disabilities You can pick up and drop off goods at venues in BALLARAT, BALLAN, BACCHUS MARSH and MELTON For more information go to EmbraceASD.net
Tree-changers choose Moorabool NEWLY released Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) statistics show many Victorians are choosing to live in Moorabool.
Racing Cars to 1960 Sports cars to 1975 Touring c a r s t o 1 9 7 0 Clubman Cars Reproduction Sports Cars & S p e c ia ls t o 1 9 7 5 P e r io d Details: David Lowe - Race Secretary 03 9583 8282 (Bus) 03 9827 8124 (AH)
Organised by the Austin 7 Club Inc & Myrniong Hall Committee
Moorabool has ranked the fourth fastest growing regional local government area in the state, with a yearly population growth of 1.9 per cent. Moorabool Shire mayor Allan Comrie said he wasn’t surprised people chose to move to Bacchus Marsh and towns and villages in Moorabool as they provided a country-style, natural environment for people to live in. Cr Comrie said with the growth, all levels of government had to ensure the needs of the community were met, with access to health, education and recreation services and an adequate road network and maintained infrastructure. Moorabool’s total population grew by an extra 585 people for the twelve months to June 30, 2015. Moorabool’s total population has risen to 31,496. This puts it just behind the local government areas of Cardinia, Greater Geelong and Mitchell for fastest growth in the 12 month period. Cr Comrie said given Moorabool’s proximity to Melbourne, Ballarat and Geelong, and its rural feel, he expected growth to continue. “We still have residential estates being built, and with gas and sewerage connections in some of our smaller western towns, and health and aged care expansions in Ballan, we expect many more people will want to call Moorabool home.”
BACCHUS MARSH SCOOP, April 1, 2016 • 21
Have a Merrimu Easter
THE Merrimu clients have a regular program on 98.5 Apple FM on Fridays between 10.30 and 11.30, it’s called “The Hour of Power”. With Presenter, Karellyn Dangar, they dance, play music and send cheerios to their mates and the staff back at the Centre. Today, at first, the power was off, so that was a good time to sample the eggs that the Bunny distributed, the hot cross buns that Lucky Phil contributed, scones from the Merrimu cooking class and more chocolate donated by Gaylene. Their enthusiasm was well and truly fuelled when the power was restored! The Hour of Power was especially enjoyable today! Happy Easter everyone! Photo by Kathy Hughes.
Snag golf a hit with Merrimu MERRIMU clients supervised by staff member Wendy are learning golf at Bacchus Marsh Golf Club.
The equipment purchased with a grant from the Moorabool Council and Vic Health is designed for all age groups to be introduced to the game. The tennis balls, oversize golf clubs and Velcro targets are also ideal for Merrimu clients. “I hit the target,” said delighted participant James. The Golf pro, Phil O’Brian and golf club member, Greg Marshall, assist each Wednesday with the program. For more information contact Bacchus Marsh Golf Club on 5367 1410.
22 • BACCHUS MARSH SCOOP, April 1, 2016
WANTED Bacchus Marsh Scoop is looking for an enthusiastic advertising representative with excellent communication skills, strong local networks and a proven sales background. Key skills include being able to work autonomously, organisation and excellent client relationships.
Total Indulgence
If you think this position is tailor-made for you, please email a one-page cover letter to Renee at bacchusmarshscoop@gmail.com by Friday, April 15. This position is casual and flexible.
All Beauty Treatments Beauty Treatments IPLAllPermanent Hair Reduction Permanent Hair Reduction GiftIPL Vouchers Available Gift Vouchers Available 152-154 Main St, Bacchus Marsh 152-154 Main St, Bacchus Marsh Cynthia - 0421 029 147
Cynthia - 0421
029 147
Where can I find copies of the Scoop? If you don’t receive it in your mailbox this fortnight, you can find copies at Foodworks, The Village (outside Aldi), Darley IGA, Lerderderg Library, Bacchus Marsh Newsagency, out front of the Bacchus Marsh Community Bank/Collins Bookstore, the Bacchus Marsh Train Station, Ballan Newsagency and Melton Library. And if all else fails, contact us directly to pick up a copy at
bacchusmarshscoop@gmail.com
BACCHUS MARSH SCOOP, April 1, 2016 • 23
The Last Word Why did I decide to start my own paper? It was a combination of things rather than any one light bulb moment. I’d chatted to some former colleagues (in the privacy of their home) about the direction the big media companies were taking and some of the knuckleheads in charge. A few weeks later I was retrenched from said big media company. While I immediately started applying for media, or media-related, jobs without success, they were brave enough to start their own publication. I watched their community embrace it and them, and wished I had enough nerve to do the same. Fast forward a short-term contract job, a six-month caravan trip, and the return home to find the industry was in even more turmoil. I celebrated the first anniversary of my former colleague’s paper, never imagining that I’d one day reach that milestone myself with this very edition. I was working on a casual basis for the Moorabool News and the overwhelming feedback I was hearing was that Bacchus Marsh needed its own paper, stat. I talked to a few local business people and a few more people in the industry about the viability of starting my own paper. I was offered a franchise, but it was rescinded a week later. But it was too late. The seed of the idea had germinated and I couldn’t think of anything else I’d rather be doing. I got quotes from a lot of printers and settled on one in Clayton. Then I took a leap of faith. What many people don’t realise, is that I write the stories, take the photos, lay out all the pages on my tiny MacBook Air, and do the bulk
deliveries. I’m lucky enough to now have some wonderful, regular contributors, but if I don’t do it, it doesn’t get done. If I’m sick, it’s still up to me to get it out. If I don’t cover absolutely everything that goes on in the Marsh, it’s because I’ve been physically incapable of getting there and don’t have staff that I can send in my place. I put Bacchus Marsh Scoop out on an absolute shoestring because I can do everything myself, apart from print it. I rely on lovely advertisers to pay for the printing of the paper, but trust me when I say I don’t make a profit. Of course I hope that one day I’ll have enough revenue coming in to actually employ someone and share the workload, but in the meantime it’s just little old me. I look to my former colleagues as inspiration, and other people who’ve dared to start up their own businesses without a safety net. But I get most of my inspiration from you, the people of Bacchus Marsh. Without you I wouldn’t have the stories or the photos to produce a paper! When I’m tired, your support and encouragement keeps me going. Cheers for a wonderful year. SCOOP
Read Bacchus Marsh Scoop online @ issuu.com/bacchusmarshscoop February 19, 2016 Edition 21 Horses and hounds January 22, 2016 Edition 19 Young Citizen Steven Tandy
February 5, 2016 Edition 20
March 4, 2016 Edition 22 For crying out loud, its festival time!
24 • BACCHUS MARSH SCOOP, April 1, 2016
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