Bendigo Magazine - Issue 53 - Summer 2018/2019

ISSUE 53 | SUMMER 2018/2019 www.bendigomagazine.com.au

MEET THE MAKERS A PAINTER, A POTTER, A CARVER

SUMMER’S

GOLDEN

AT THE LOCAL POOL

miner's right

CLASSIC COTTAGE RE-IMAGINED

ISSN 1833-1289 AUD $5.95 (Inc. GST)

rose, hope & charity AT THE OLD CHURCH

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Explore Sri lanka in stunning style.

Enjoy the Tastes of Sri Lanka on an all inclusive boutique tour of this exotic island nation alongside your passionate hosts Jeremy & Natalie.

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dear reader, It’s often said the only thing Bendigo is missing is a beach. But we still have a culture of board shorts and fringed towels, sunscreen and rashies and settling by the water for long days of sun and fun. Think cold water and warm concrete. Are you with me?

The local pool provides such simple pleasures and a place to meet and make memories. In Golden Square that’s still happening, largely thanks to a band of passionate pool-loving volunteers. This issue we hear their story.

We also present a theme of creativity, through the tales of painter Phil Ahearn, potter David Stuchbery and wood carver Linton Torr, whose lives are all defined by the gentle, methodical act of making. It’s inspiring stuff.

Have you ever wondered what goes on at The Old Church on the Hill? The former Quarry Hill Uniting Church is now a haven for community groups to thrive. We called by on a random Friday morning to join in on the conversations over a cuppa. Everyone is welcome to do the same, as volunteer Rose Vincent says, it’s a neighbourhood drop-in centre and the neighbourhood is Bendigo.

Also this issue Raelee Tuckerman braves stick fighting, Kate O’Connor meets the city’s newest academic and Sarah Harris is wired for sound.

Enjoy the summer, and the summer issue, and our very best wishes for a peaceful and happy Christmas, whatever your traditions.

LAUREN MITCHELL

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EDITOR Lauren Mitchell PHOTOGRAPHER Leon Schoots CREATIVE DIRECTOR Dustin Schilling WRITERS Sarah Harris, Geoff Hocking, John Holton, Kate O’Connor, Maya Perera, Raelee Tuckerman and Sue Turpie CONTRIBUTORS Beau Cook, Lisa Chesters, Justin McPhail, and Peter Russell-Clarke EVENTS PHOTOGRAPHER Ashley Taylor PRINT MANAGER Nigel Quirk ADVERTISING advertising@bendigomagazine.com.au PO Box 5003 Bendigo, VIC 3550 Phone: 0438 393 198

Bendigo Magazine takes all care but accepts no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Bendigo Magazine holds copyright to all content unless otherwise stated.

ISSN 1833-1289.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication, the publisher accepts 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 the publisher.

PEOPLE & LIFE 13

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A growth mindset - Professor James Maxwell Connections for life - BSSC alumni progam A hidden gem - Jeremy & Natalie Dharmaratne

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Home delivery - Haven; Home, Safe Grants for a sporting chance - Local Sporting Champions grants

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The pool rules - Golden Square pool

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Local elfin helper - Christmas gift guide

110 Stick it - James Plowright

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Social commentary - Simone Amohanga

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contents 34

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The hilltop hood - The Old Church On The Hill

The wood life - Linton Torr Wired for sound - Lynne Butler

Waltzing with my matilda - Geoff Hocking A technicolour trade - Phil Ahearn

HOUSE & GARDEN 64

All rugged up - Rug Addiction

101 A cottage industry grows

- E+ Architecture

105 Kicking goals in the backyard

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Cheery cherry - Beau Cook

December 8 - February 10 Frida Kahlo, her photos Bendigo Art gallery www.bendigoartgallery.com.au December 16 Carols by Candlelight Rotary Club of Bendigo www. rotarybendigo.org.au

December 20 and January 24 Handle Bar Comedy Handle Bar www.handlebarbendigo.com

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December 11 - 15 Demolish The Capital www.bendigoregion.com.au

December 18 and January 22 Cambrian Comedy Lab The Cambrian Hotel www.cambrianhotel.com.au

On Woodvale time - David Stuchbery

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November 30 - February 24 Summer in the Parks www.bendigosummerintheparks.com

December 16 Christmas Raceday Bendigo Jockey Club www.country.racing.com/bendigo

Honouring our heritage - Soldiers Memorial Institute Military Museum

FOOD & WINE

events

- Simon Rosa Landcaping

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Fruit fusion - Peter Russell-Clarke Hot days, cold beers - Justin McPhail

January 15 Alice in Wonderland The Capital www.bendigoregion.com.au February 8 Tradies Raceday Bendigo Jockey Club www.country.racing.com/bendigo February 9 Chinese New Year www.bendigochinese.org.au February 2-10 Lunar New Year at the Great Stupa The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion www.stupa.org.au/lunarnewyear February 2-10 Lantern Festival Bendigo Joss House Temple www.bendigojosshouse.com February 15-16 Bennelong The Capital www.bendigoregion.com.au February 16 Marong Cup Bendigo Jockey Club www.country.racing.com/bendigo

ON THE COVER

March 1 Belinda Carlisle The Capital www.bendigoregion.com.au

Rose Vincent represents a dedicated band of volunteers fostering community and culture at the Old Church on the Hill. You’ll find her there each Friday morning, when the old church doors are thrown open for conversations, creativity and hot cuppas. For this issue Rose welcomes us into the fold.

March 2 Scots Day Out Rosalind Park www.scotsdayout.com

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summer's so cultured

Get your fix of art, theatre and travel as Bendigo dishes up a cultural feast to keep you satisfied all summer long. It’s cool in the gallery in more ways than one this season.

LEFT: Christian Waller - The robe of glory, 1937. Oil on canvas 172.0 x 267.0 cm.

Collection of the Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust.

classical and literary subjects, occult motifs and the bold geometry of Art Deco.

The lives and work of celebrated Australian Art Deco printmaker Christian Waller and her niece, pioneering ceramic artist Klytie Pate, is explored in Daughters of the Sun, a new exhibition at Bendigo Art Gallery.

In 1954, aged 59, Waller died a virtual recluse in the Fairy Hills home she shared with her artist husband, Napier Waller.

At this time, she had also established a reputation as one of Australia’s leading stained glass artists, having produced some 65 windows for churches in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales.

Christian Waller was born in Castlemaine in 1894 and schooled in Bendigo. She had a deep personal interest in spiritualism, symbolism and the mystical philosophies of the modern theosophical movement.

Her print work is characterised by ancient

Klytie Pate came to live with the Wallers as a young teenager. Pate mastered her chosen craft of ceramic art, forging innovations in design and glazing to become one of Australia’s foremost studio potters of the 20th century.

DAUGHTERS OF THE SUN

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JOIN THE OTIS FOUNDATION’S 2019 GREAT WALL ADVENTURE Make a difference and tick something off your bucket list by joining The OTIS Foundation’s second international fundraising adventure to the Great Wall of China in October, 2019.

Step off a plane in China’s vibrant capital city, Beijing. Trek along one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Wall of China - as it winds between majestic, picturesque mountains and ancient Chinese villages. J oin like-minded OTIS Foundation supporters, driven by the desire to help and support families facing the challenges of breast cancer.

“Your fundraising efforts will help provide and grow our network of no cost accommodation properties for families dealing with breast cancer to spend time and create special memories together. Sadly, for some, a stay at an OTIS property will be the last chance to enjoy time with their loved ones,’ says Lisa Farrar, interim OTIS Foundation CEO. This nine-day adventure takes place on October 5-13, 2019 and has a moderately challenging fitness rating.

The highlights of the trek also include Beijing’s Tiananmen Square and the grand imperial architecture of the Forbidden City.

For more information go to www. otisfoundation.org.au/great-wall or contact Carlie Ryan at The OTIS Foundation on 5444 1185.

GOTHIC BEAUTY This exhibition celebrating Victorian notions of love, loss and spirituality continues at the Bendigo Art Gallery until February 10.

From a nineteenth century horse-drawn hearse, to the pulsating futurist video work of Jess Johnson, Gothic Beauty traces early Victorian rituals of mourning and the pursuit of ‘pleasurable terror’ evident from the 1800s to contemporary times.

The exhibition, curated by and exclusive to Bendigo Art Gallery, includes dark and evocative works by contemporary artists Jane Burton, Bill Henson, Michael Vale and Janet Beckhouse, amongst others; alongside historic Pre Raphaelite paintings and objects, mourning jewellery and costumes drawn from public and private collections.

CATCH THE FLYING SAUCER Melbourne’s much-loved live music and performance concept the Flying Saucer Club is landing in Bendigo on Sunday, February 3.

The Flying Saucer fosters an atmosphere of intimate sophistication, with cabaret tables, subtle lighting and friendly staff. It offers a diverse program of contemporary music, cabaret, spoken word, comedy and musical theatre.

The Flying Saucer will present BOWIE unzipped starring Jeff Duff with an all-star band, in the foyer of Ulumbarra Theatre on the first Sunday afternoon in February.

It’s the show that has been packing venues all over town and just keeps rolling on as Jeff Duff presents his unique interpretation of the songs of David Bowie.

So much more than just a tribute show, Jeff’s unique and powerful take on the David Bowie songbook has fans returning night after night. Jeff’s band features guitarist Jak Housden from the Whitlams along with keyboard player Glenn Rhodes and drummerpercussionist Jess Ciampa.

Book your table now at gotix.com.au

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Frida Kahlo's photos

A cultural icon comes to the Bendigo Art Gallery this season. The local space is the only Australian gallery to host artist Frida Kahlo’s private photography collection.

Renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo had a special relationship with photography, and meticulously accumulated a vast collection of photographs over the course of her life.

The exhibition, Frida Kahlo, her photos draws from the extensive archive of the Casa Azul, Kahlo’s former home and now a museum.

First revealed to the public in 2007, the Casa Azul photographic archive was inaccessible for five decades and consists of more than 6500 images, of which some 257 are shown in this exhibition curated by Mexican photographer and photography historian Pablo Ortiz Monasterio.

Kahlo’s interest in photography began in childhood – both her father, Guillermo Kahlo and her maternal grandmother were professional photographers.

Throughout her life she collected historic daguerreotypes and calling cards from the 19th century, often used as reference material for her work, as well as an extensive collection of personal photographs, often intervening on them with paint, written words or lipstick kisses.

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The photos capture the interests and obsessions Kahlo grappled with throughout her life: her family, her fascination for Diego Rivera and other loves, her friends and enemies, political struggles and art, the preColumbian past and her great love for Mexico and its traditions.

The exhibition also includes several photographs from Kahlo’s long hospital stay and recovery following the 1925 accident that left her crippled and in considerable pain.

Frida Kahlo, her photos also reveals several the photographs of contemporaries including Man Ray, Martin Munkacsi, Fritz Henle, Edward Weston, Tina Modotti, Pierre Verger, and Lola and Manuel Alvarez.

Exclusive to Bendigo Art Gallery in Australia, this exhibition from the Frida Kahlo Museum and Diego Rivera Museum is curated by Pablo Ortiz Monasterio and toured by Terra Esplêndida and Banco de México, the fiduciary of the Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Museums.

TOP: Frida Kahlo with the doctor Juan Farill, by Gisèle Freund, 1951 © Frida Kahlo Museum.

It’s on at the Bendigo Art Gallery from December 8 until February 10.

ABOVE: Frida Kahlo, by Guillermo Kahlo, 1926 © Frida Kahlo Museum

Adriana Gerolemou, Bailey, Patrick, Wendy and Will Dyson

Colin, Oliver, Leanne and Riley Anderson

RUN FOR FUN Duncan Strachan, Shannon Fehring, Harper Pearson, Ayla Peason and Trent Carr

Jenni Bilkey, Claire Behrens and Alecia Mason

Hannah Moresi and Rhian Moresi

Michelle Davies and Fiona Aumann

2019 OPEN EVENING

Two thousand fun runners got their joggers on for the annual Bendigo Bank Fun Run in November, which this year raised funds for the Bendigo Health residential care appeal.

The bravest of runners tackled the full 21 km circuit around the city.

Bendigo’s Nigel Preston was the fastest, completing the half marathon in 72.55 minutes.

CALL FOR A 2019 PROSPECTUS!

Wednesday 20 March 4 – 7pm Coolock (Years 7–9) McIvor Hwy, Junortoun 2019 will be a HUGE year for Catherine McAuley College commencing with the opening of the brand new Sister Aloysius Martyn Arts Centre, featuring cutting-edge technology and creative learning spaces for Science, Technology, Arts, Engineering and Maths (STEAM). Take a tour on Open Evening!

Enrolment enquiries & tour bookings: Mrs Audra Petri, College Registrar

A Ministry of Mercy Education Ltd

ABN 69 154 531 870

5449 3466

Places currrently available in Years 7 - 12.

info@cmc.vic.edu.au

We welcome enrolment applications from

www.cmc.vic.edu.au

all families in our region.

in the know

Local initiatives to foster health, wellbeing, education and relaxation are underway around Bendigo.

WELCOME TO SUMMER WINES SUNSHINE RISES FOR FAMILIES A group of parents in Bendigo is bringing love and light into the lives of families in need. Sunshine Bendigo is a resource centre run by volunteers and mothers who understand the demands associated with family life and feel moved to provide a helping hand.

The group re-homes new and pre-owned baby goods and nursery furniture to those in need and connects parents to existing local programs and community groups.

By reusing and recycling much-loved babies’ and children’s gear, they share the joy of parenthood while helping relieve financial burden.

Anyone can get involved, by donating pre-loved baby goods and nursery furniture in good condition, volunteering to assist with practical support or simply making a donation to help ensure young children in Bendigo don’t go without the most basic material needs.

Sunshine Bendigo is based at the Long Gully Uniting Church Hall in Daly Street, Long Gully, and is open each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10am to 4pm. For more information see www.sunshinebendigo.org.au

Munari Wines in the Heathcote region has welcomed a delivery of imported 2017 Italian Prosecco, just in time for sparkling summer drinking.

The variety is close to winemaker Adrian Munari’s heart, as his father is from Veneto, the original home of Prosecco. And in another twist of fate, the chosen drop is made by a winemaking family with the same Munari surname.

The Italian Giuseppe Munari contacted the local vineyard out of the blue about three years ago to ask if they wanted to work together, having found the winery name online.

The rest is history and now the Munaris, located in Lady’s Pass, eagerly anticipate sharing their namesake’s wine each year.

Adrian, Deborah and their daughter India are also celebrating the release of their 2018 Rose, a savoury wine with red summer fruits and a refreshing, dry finish. It was launched in November at the Blues and Roots Fringe Festival, when a couple of great blues acts played at the vineyard. But you don’t need a special occasion to visit.

Munari Wines is one of the region’s few cellar doors open seven days a week, from 11am to 5pm. Be taken through a personal taste experience of ten wines, starting with the whites, then reds and finishing with a fortified Shiraz.

The property is one of the original Heathcote homesteads, built in the 1860s. It’s also one of the region’s first established vineyards. The Munari family has been making wine here since 1992.

You’ll find the cellar door in the stables. Check out the original stable doors and expore the vintage fitout featuring timber from the property’s shearing shed. www.munariwines.com

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SUPPORT DURING DIFFICULT TIMES The word Avanti means “moving forward” in Italian. It was chosen

by Susan Trotter and Dr Annie Thomas when they opened their psychology practice in 2012.

Avanti Psychology has since grown to a team of six with offices in Bendigo and Castlemaine, offering clinical, counselling, forensic, child and adolescent and organisational psychology.

The focus of the care provided is on supporting clients who are going through a difficult time or struggling with their mental health, with an emphasis on building upon and expanding existing personal strengths.

In addition to counselling services, consultancy, training and supervision services are also offered in the areas of organisational, forensic and clinical psychology.

All Avanti’s staff have long-term ties to the local area and are passionate about the services they provide to the residents of Bendigo, Castlemaine and surrounds.

Avanti also prides itself as an organisation on providing a calm and family friendly environment both to staff and clients.

To learn more about the individual psychologists and the services they provide, visit www.avantipsychology.com.au

CREATIVE THINKING - IT’S A SKILL YOU CAN LEARN STEM is not just the latest learning buzz word - it stands for Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics.

“It is all hands on,” explains Weeroona College learning specialist Paul O’Shae.

“Students are provided with a problem and are guided to ask questions to work towards an answer – like “What happens if I do this?” or “I think this will happen if I...”

Paul and his learning team are building excellence in teaching and learning for STEM. “Our STEM pilot program over the last few years has shown us that students are engaged when they are learning with STEM,” he says.

“What we are seeing is that when students have a problem to solve, they become absorbed by the problem and think of creative ways to come up with a solution.

“Creative thinking is an essential skill for our students. It is a skill that you learn and practice. We live in a world that has so much information.

The skill to think creatively is important because you will never absorb all that information – rather we teach our students to apply knowledge in new and novel ways.”

Paul’s vision for the students of Weeroona College Bendigo is to enjoy STEM, because everyone learns better when they enjoy what they are doing.

REGIONAL CRICKET HUB FOR CATHERINE MCCAULEY A state-of-the-art cricket hub will be built at Catherine McAuley College in Junortoun. Jacinta Allan MP recently announced a $500,000 state grant to build the hub in partnership with Cricket Australia, the City of Greater Bendigo and CMC. The Northern Rivers Regional Cricket Hub’s new facility will include an indoor training centre with six synthetic wickets, female-friendly, accessible change rooms, community and administration spaces.

Principal Brian Turner says,“There are currently not enough locations for junior sport, so we’ve been working through this partnership with the City of Greater Bendigo. To have a facility next to our own gym, and improved ovals down the track, is exciting for our community.”

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the hilltop hood

Come Fridays The Old Church on the Hill throws open its doors to welcome in all who seek companionship, connection and copious cups of tea.

By Lauren Mitchell - Photography by Leon Schoots There’s a vintage sign propped up in The Old Church on the Hill hall, a relic from the days when religion reigned supreme. It reads; ‘Quarry Hill Uniting Church Divine Service, Friday morning 10.30am’.

While the church itself was de-consecrated in 2012, Fridays in this place are still very much divine.

time, and lots and lots of cups of tea. Spiritually, it’s a conduit for something much deeper.

We’re here for the weekly Living Room session, which runs from 10.30am to 12.30pm and welcomes all and sundry for talk, tea and creativity. “This is going to be funny, this is my life on a Friday morning,” says Rose Vincent, as she attempts to explain among the constant distraction of friends catching up.

She says, perhaps ironically, churches used to provide that function in the community, and although they’re “no longer felt to be relevant in society, the spaces are still really important. We still need a place where we can meet and connect”.

“The idea is to make a space where people can come together and connect with others. A space that’s intergenerational and intercultural.” Practically speaking that means Fridays at The Old Church are reserved for gardening, sewing, children’s story

“It’s a neighbourhood drop-in morning and the neighbourhood is Bendigo,” Rose says. “We all need each other and it doesn’t matter where we fit in in terms of social divides. None of us needs to be lonely.”

Rose works four days a week in Bendigo in multicultural services and volunteers here each Friday. “I represent a very committed crew of people who quietly and sometimes invisibly work behind the scenes and we couldn’t do without them,” she says. She’s also part of the group who founded the Old Church.

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Rose moved to Bendigo with her husband and three children ten years ago, knowing only two people – the parents of friends. But that was soon to change. They had spent the previous 15 years in Dubbo and were looking to settle in a regional Victorian city with good services and a university.

The downside of the move was leaving behind a large, leafy garden and orchard. “We came to Bendigo and were renting a place with a very small backyard, which was all paved, so I started growing vegies in the neighbour’s yard,” Rose says.

The local café along Carpenter Street heard of the family’s plight and offered them more space in the cafe backyard. Others quickly joined in and 15 households were coming together to grow food.

They soon needed even more space and started gardening in the Uniting Church grounds. Then, the property was put up for sale.

Rose had done some research with a Melbourne-based philanthropic group called Component Industries, Australia’s first not-for-profit business, which made millions from designing a clip used in shed construction.

The gardening group asked for an interest-free loan to purchase the site, but was offered something better when Component

Industries decided to buy the site outright for community use. It was otherwise pegged for residential development. That was five years ago. “Now we’re just trying to keep up with it,” Rose says.

The Old Church on the Hill is not a hall for hire so much as a community group partnering with other groups. It’s become a home for the Bendigo Sustainability Group, Bendigo Blues and Roots Club, local folk club and jazz club, the Ukulele Orchestra, Old Church children’s theatre group, playgroups, craft groups, lifedrawing, choirs and plenty more. “My background is in community development and town planning,” Rose says. “The most exciting thing to me is knowing how much this space means to people and watching people flourish here.”

Rose and her family included. “I feel like I’m part of a tribe that has kept growing and there’s no edges to it,” she says. “For my husband Andy and I, we’d always lived simply and we had good friends who’d made similar life choices together, based on simplicity, authenticity and community. They’re the three values that are often missing from our fragmented, chaotic, crazy world.

Even in the church there’s suspicion around its authenticity now – what can we trust?”

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Jess Lambert can answer that question.

The Old Church has become an important place in the life of her growing family. She manages the Community Pantry, which is a co-op buying groceries and other household items in bulk, based on the values of low food miles, sustainability and fair trade.

“This is a space where you feel like you can trust people, have deep conversations with people and really get to know people, so it’s not hard to enter into an agreement of trust,” Jess says. “It’s 100 people making a choice together.”

Jess started coming here because of the community gardening session. “As a mum with little kids often you don’t find spaces where you can socialise on your own level that are still safe and fun for kids,” she says. “It was an excuse for everyone to catch up, have a chat in the beautiful sunshine and work on creating a garden together.”

At that stage Jess’s two-year-old daughter Inika was a baby. Since then she and her partner have welcomed a fourth child into the world – and the Old Church community – Maeve, who is four months old when we meet.

“When she arrived we had everybody from the Old Church drop off meals to us for two weeks,” Jess says. “We had so much food we had to freeze it and in fact we’re still going through it.”

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Atong Thon is here with members of her family, all the way from South Sudan.

They’ve been in Bendigo for two years, after coming to visit cousins on a two-week holiday and deciding to stay. The Thon family arrived in Australia as refugees in 2005, first living in Sydney and then Canberra.

“I’d lived in a camp since I was born, in 1992,” Atong says. “Life was tough at that time. To have a roof over our head to sleep, that was the most important thing. We left our own country and escaped that place.”

As the youngest of four children, Atong says although she didn’t get to attend school, she was sheltered from the worst of it, and has fond memories of playing with childhood friends and relatives in the camp.

She turns to her mum to ask how she felt about coming to Australia, and translates on her behalf. “It was really an exciting memory that she’ll never forget,” Atong says. “She was a single mother raising four kids in a camp on her own and that was really tough to do with no government help to rely on. Coming here has changed her life.”

On settling in Bendigo Atong’s cousin introduced the family to the Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services.

“Everyone was very friendly and they started inviting us to programs and we started engaging with a lot of activities,” she says, which is how they discovered the Old Church. Atong quickly began helping with the regular multicultural dinners, called the Feast of Stories, held here.

“I find it really welcoming. Everyone is friendly and it’s something I look forward to.

Everyone is just wonderful.”

Recently she help prepare a South Sudanese community dinner of hand made cous cous and spinach. “We even had South Sudanese people from the Castlemaine community come,”Atong says. “There was music playing and everyone was dancing.”

The Friday aim of bringing together people of different cultures and ages is working. Lucas Frost is nursing a cup of coffee with Paul Tarquinio, as Paul’s young grandson Cedric climbs onto his knee. Paul is a retired maths teacher, Lucas a busy English teacher. The pair lived in the same street but only got to know each other within the Old Church walls.

“Rose and Andy moved next door to us and within two weeks they were introducing my wife Mary and I to our neighbours,” Paul says.

“There are lots of friendships made in this space,” Lucas adds. “It does connect people of different age groups. You can come and be part of something that’s bigger than just yourself.”

You can come and make boomerang bags or sow seedlings or add to the weekly grocery shop or find friends for your children, or you can simply come and have a chat. “We’re talking about bikes and where we’ve ridden lately,” Lucas says. “And about solar panels because I’ve just signed up for some and Paul is researching getting some.”

“Also philosophy, mathematics and science,” Paul says. “And William Golding’s Lord of the Flies.” As you do.

For more information on the Living Room or the other programs and events at the Old Church, go to www.theoldchurchonthehill.com 17

Ebony Stanbrook, Mikhala Bird, Roanna Gathercole and Siobhan Gathercole

Emma Cappiello, Ashlea Howard and Emma Pontelandolfo

Jake Skuire, Jarrod Pink, Jayden Hicks and Mathew Collins

Jana Mollison, Leanne Cummings, Bec Lagodzki and Cint Kelly

Kim Delmenico, Lara Hunter, Cath Wallace and Joanne Jeffrey

Shrinkle Collins and Guido Harrison

FLIP FLOPS AND FILLIES Fashions on the field took a summertime theme for the Bendigo Jockey Club’s Beach Party Race Day in October, with Hawaiian shirts, rubber thongs, sundresses, sombreros, boardies and sunnies all sported trackside.

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Ally O’Neill, Michael McAlpine and Karlie Owen

Amanda Lonergan and Janine Cugura

Isabella Alder, Georgia Cargill, Elara McIntosh and Briony O’Halloran

Chloe Parker and Meagan Day

LOCALS RIDE HIGH Sutton Grange trainer Brent Stanley’s horse Red Alto confirmed local hopes to take home the Bendigo Cup in October.

Kelly Carty, Belinda Nurse, Melanie Wade and Lorinda Baker

James Masters and Lloyd Kennedy

It was another gorgeous day by the yellow roses at the Bendigo Jockey Club, where Fashions on the Field was just as hotly contested as the horse racing.

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social

commentary

A local comedian addresses the big - and not so big - topics affecting us all as the Bendigo stand-up scene begins to boom.

By Lauren Mitchell - Photography by Leon Schoots It’s an otherwise ordinary mid-week morning until we drop by Simone Amohanga’s colourful Bendigo home.

There by the red armchairs, vivid paintings and magical fairy garden terrariums we laugh of life. Of bright coloured chicks and deconstructed fruit cake. The topic inspired by Simone’s radio slot that week, a nostalgic talk about rural shows. “I’m asked to discuss a wide range of topics, and I often don’t do comical stuff,” she says. “I aim to inform, educate, or entertain. If I get a trifecta I’m happy! And I can present unconventional views, that’s the nature of comedy.”

The Bendigo comedian has a spot as social commentator and raconteur each Monday at 6.45am on local ABC radio. Her rich voice and unique laugh make her a delight to listen to, and it’s just one of the wonderful opportunities to come her way since moving to Bendigo 18 months ago.

With a Masters degree and media background, for 15 years Simone lived her dream in London before returning to regional Victoria. “I worked for the magazine section of Time Warner and they were downsizing. My father was unwell so I thought I’d take a voluntary redundancy, come back and work out what to do next.

“I immediately got a job so I stayed. If I’m going to live in a city it’s London and if not, it’s Bendigo. It’s a good place and it suits me.”

Simone says the conversations she had with her dad before he passed away were precious, and she has him to thank for her comedy epiphany.

“He was talking about the things he wished he’d done in life. I thought, if you want to give things a go, don’t wait until you get to the tail-end and think, I should have tried that. He died, unexpectedly, a week after that poignant conversation and I signed myself up to do a comedy course.

“I took a week off and went to Adelaide. I didn’t tell anyone, just in case I didn’t go through with it. I was anticipating a room full of 20-year-old guys, but was pleasantly surprised at the mix.”

Simone spent her first five minutes on stage at the Adelaide Fringe Festival. She describes the experience as nerve wracking. “And I still find it interesting that immediately before a performance comedians don’t really talk to each other. We’re each in our private zone of nerves, anxiety and preparation.”

Simone had long harboured a passion for comedy. In London she was immersed in the world’s best. She was walking distance from the Apollo, dated a professional comedy critic, and thrived in the laid-back, liberal culture. “It’s a much more relaxed culture than in Australia with fewer rules and laws. There’s a lot of laughter in London. A lot of public laughter. You can lock eyes with someone on the Tube and if something’s going on that’s funny they just get it. There’s an energy to it all the time. It’s vibrant and intelligent. They use words well. And they laugh at misery, a lot. I love that.

“Friends in London said ‘you should give it a go’,” she says on trying her hand at stand-up. “But the thought was overwhelming. It’s easier in Australia because you’re not competing with as many people.”

Since her initial gig Simone has further performed in Adelaide, as well as Canberra and Bendigo, and has become instrumental in fostering 20

the local scene. “The timing for me was quite unbelievable,” she says. “I moved to Bendigo and it was on the brink of the comedy scene booming.

I went to a Bendigo Comedy talk at the library during the writers festival and they were asking for people to get involved.”

Simone has since helped organise two popular Women of Wit events – which feature female comedians. Plus she’s involved with open mic nights and supporting the growing number of fellow comedians.

Bendigo Comedy has just wrapped up its first, highly successful comedy festival, local Cath Styles has recently performed at The Capital, the summer season at Handle Bar Comedy is underway, and open mic nights have become a regular thing at The Cambrian.

“It’s fantastic because there’s so much emphasis on sport in Bendigo and significant emphasis on history and art, but storytelling taps into a different part of the brain and opens up ideas for people,” Simone says.

“I’m always contemplating what I’m going to write about. It constantly makes me look at things differently, which is great for creativity and wellbeing.”

Simone combines her comedy with a full-time day job. “Comedy is a hobby that keeps me mentally and creatively stimulated. And I hope to be a role model for women and older people to give it a go. Sometimes I’m the only female up there and people of both sexes and all ages can see it and know that women don’t have to be young or dolled up. It’s about what you’ve got to say, not what you look like.

“I’d love to see someone really unusual give it a go, especially older women. Once you’ve got nothing to prove – and younger people always have something to prove – you can tell a story that’s less ego driven.

Plus the best comedians irrefutably have life experience, empathy, and knowledge of the world. I’d equally love to see some younger Bendigo women come forward.”

Simone says comedy’s good for wellbeing because it helps people feel understood. “That’s why we need diverse performers. Audience members who aren’t disproportionately represented in the public eye are the ones who’ll most benefit from feeling understood. A ‘different’ performer also offers a more interesting show. We’ve surpassed the demand for ocker comedy and can elevate Australian comedy to match international standards.”

Simone says stand-up comedy can be about honesty and connection, which is sorely needed in our culture of highly-edited social media.

“Though it’s rehearsed, stand-up comedy is raw and real. It’s not glossy or filtered. It’s about showing the ugly and tedious reality of life and laughing at it.” Sometimes that’s through tackling deep and dark subjects, and sometimes not. Often it’s just about the tiny and trivial embarrassments, observations, frustrations, and failures.

Like when Simone’s friend was one of only three entrants into the country show’s baked yo-yo competition … and didn’t even get third place. Funny.

Cambrian Comedy Lab open mic night is on December 18 and January 22, while Handle Bar Comedy gigs are happening December 20 and January 24.

21

Wayne Ford and Dylan Lefevre

Bailey Graham, Isobel Lomax and Amanda Lomax

Brian Keating and Megan Hannon

Jackson and Max Lowery

Jackson Eadon, Tim Johnston and Lewis Gillett

Shelby Hickman, Emily Kinder, Maddy Atherton and Jasmine Kinder

Alex Emmittm, Pinkey Emmitt, Buddy and Jodie O’loughin

Amanda Ferguson, Matilda and Emily Webb

Andrew Kelly, Krystal Langman, Tanya Kelly and Bradley McClay

Brooke, Lucy, Dylan, Emerson, Lennon and Chris

Charlotte Morrison-Bluck, Kate Cook and Alexandra and David Morrison-Bluck

Courtney and Kimberly Walls

HAWKS FLY Eaglehawk defeated Strathfieldsaye 122 to 73 in the Bendigo Football Club Grand Final in September while netballers Sandhurst won the final game against Gisborne 53 to 47.

It was a packed wrap for the final games of 2018 as supporters from all local clubs rugged up and filled the Queen Elizabeth Oval to take sides.

BLUE NOTES For four days in November Bendigo was all about the blues. More than 100 musicians sang their souls out at venues across the city, including at the free all-day, family-friendly concert in Rosalind Park.

Congratulations to Bendigo Blues and Roots Music Festival director Colin Thompson and co on another worldclass yet grass-roots event for musiclovin’ folk from near and far.

22

Sunday

Dec 16

TERRACE AND DECK PACKAGES

The ultimate area to enjoy the races at the Bendigo Track!

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TRACKSIDE BBQ

PACKAGE FOR 15 PEOPLE

$490 INC GST

Admission to Racecourse NOT Included

Includes 2 garden tables, 15 chairs, market umbrella, 1 BBQ with gas bottle Beverages packages can be pre-ordered or drinks purchased at the cash bar Supply your own food and cooking utensils Or book a BBQ pack which includes Chicken skewers, minute steak, sausages, onions, coleslaw, bread, sauce, plastic plates, knives and forks, serviettes, butter and a foil tray

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OPPORTUNITIES TO PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS ON RACE DAYS AND SPONSOR THE BENDIGO JOCKEY CLUB ARE AVAILABLE For customised packages please call Sue Opie 0415 990 981

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SILKS DINING LUNCHEON

$50 PP INC GST

Admission to Racecourse NOT Included

Includes Two course meal, race book Beverages may be purchased at the Cash Bar

DID YOU KNOW? Bendigo Health employs more than 1,750 registered nurses in a variety of roles and specialities. A rewarding career awaits you at Bendigo Health in a supporting and caring team environment.

BENDIGO HEALTH REGISTERED NURSING ROLES INCLUDE: • Specialities such as interventional, maternity, critical care, special care nursery, psychiatric and renal.

• Inpatients being surgical, medical and rehabilitation unit.

• Outpatient inclusive of oncology, specialist clinics and woman’s health.

• Community services such as Hospital in the Home (HITH), district nursing and specific maternity and newborn programs.

• Residential care nursing inclusive of Transition Care Program (TCP) and residential in reach • Nurse management.

To find out more:

www.bendigohealth.org.au/careers

a growth mindset With an international reputation for his ability to ‘grow materials out of gases’ – and a swag of prestigious research and development awards to his name – Professor James Maxwell has chosen La Trobe University to open the next ambitious chapter of his career.

By Kate O’Connor - Photography by Leon Schoots Back in the 1940s a Hungarian-American scientist and mathematician, John von Neumann, had a radical idea; what if we could create an autonomous machine that could not only produce any object imaginable, but could actually replicate itself?

La Trobe’s new Professor of Engineering, James Maxwell, aims to create the world’s first ‘von Neumann Machine’ – a machine that would vastly change the way we manufacture everything from toys and electronics, to cars and aircraft.

“Not only could you make a machine that can make a whole object, like a 3D printer now does, you can actually get to the point where you have a machine that can replicate itself.

“So you can build one machine that then builds two machines, and those then build four machines, and basically they build more and more until you have a manufacturing capability that’s absolutely huge,” he says.

“What it ultimately does is to create wealth without bound, so that humans don’t have to

do as much of the work.

“We can just set things to work and make as many clothes as we want, as many cars as we want – so long as we provide the raw materials.

“Von Neumann theorised that you could build self-replicating machines, and came up with a few ideas of how to do it – but we’ll be the first people to make one,” James says.

Despite his seemingly lofty ambitions, James has every reason to be confident.

25

He recently moved from the United States, where he completed a Masters of Mechanical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology, and a PhD at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

James’ distinguished research career, spanning more than two decades in the United States and Sweden, includes 12 years at Los Alamos National Laboratory. He also has a number of prestigious R&D100 awards, and five patents (with a further eight pending) to his name.

meaning the types of materials he can create are virtually limitless.

“There are just a few elements that people are using right now – which means that you can make an individual part or component, but you can’t make a whole system.

“A single machine that makes all of those components at the same time is a very powerful thing. Because instead of having factories to build cars out of different components, you can have a single machine that builds a whole car.

However James is quick to point out that the von Neumann machine is a long-term goal.

“Like any big idea, you have to take baby steps.

“It isn’t just the engine of a car, or the wheel of a car, or the brake lining of the car, it’s the whole car,” he says.

“The small thing that we’re doing right now is learning to grow different materials through a process called ‘hyperbaric pressure laser chemical vapour deposition’,” he says.

James was drawn to La Trobe and regional Victoria for a number of reasons – not least of which was Bendigo’s promising future in innovative new technologies and advanced manufacturing.

This process, which James has dedicated the last 20 years to, has enabled him and his colleagues to grow some of the strongest materials in the world, with some used in the construction of aircraft and furnaces.

“We take gases, and when you heat them up with a laser, they break down. The molecules that are left behind can bond and grow into materials – potentially extremely strong materials,” he says.

Unlike most other engineers, James uses almost all the elements on the periodic table,

“Bendigo has a lot a lot of good small to medium-sized manufacturing companies that we could interface with. I haven’t had time to reach out to everyone yet, but I’ve heard that from just about everyone,” he says.

James also prefers regional areas to big cities.

“I visited Australia several times and fell in love with the country. It’s a beautiful country. The people in general are very kind and generous,” he says.

James says La Trobe’s state-of-the-art

engineering building, due for completion in early 2019, and the recently opened Bendigo Tech School, were also big drawcards.

“They are fantastic investments, and show clearly that the government and university are committed to educating the local population.

“Throughout western society we’re having a hard time getting our youth excited about some of the potential jobs they could have, and I think largely they are unaware of what is ahead of them,” he says.

La Trobe has given James a start-up fund to set up a workspace and build a small system where he can begin growing materials again.

“So I will start out by growing every material under the sun, and demonstrating that I can grow 50 different materials, and that their strength and properties will be better than anyone else can make,” he says.

However, creating the first von Neumann machine – that will potentially change the face of manufacturing across the globe – remains James’ ultimate career goal.

“Down the track we’re going to need about 50 other researchers working with me, to chase down everything that we could possibly do with this.

“It started with little things, and it’s blossoming into this giant tree that is going to take my whole life to complete,” he says.

Designed for you

BSSC 2019 Our ROLE is to empower learners for individual, community and global leadership. We value Respect, Optimism, Learning and Environment.

C ON TAC T US

Our newly refurbished Alexander Wing and Business Studies Centre provide contemporary study, work and meeting spaces to suit every style of learner. BSSC has the facilities, range of subjects, and caring staff to help you pursue the pathway you’re passionate about.

Phone 61 3 5443 1222 Bendigo Senior Fax 61 3 5441 4548 Secondary College Rosalind Park, Bendigo Email admin@bssc.edu.au facebook.com/bendigoseniorsc Phone 61 3 Phone 5443 1222 61 3 5443 1222 facebook.com/bendigoseniorsc Bendigo Senior Bendigo Senior www.facebook.com/bendigoseniorsc Web www.bssc.edu.au PO Box 545, Bendigo www.twitter.com/ bendigoseniorsc Fax 61 3 5441 Fax4548 61 3 5441 4548 twitter.com/bendigoseniorsc twitter.com/bendigoseniorsc Secondary Secondary College College VIC 3552 Email admin@bssc.edu.au gplus.to/bendigoseniorsc Rosalind Park, Bendigo instagram/bendigoseniorsc gplus.to/bendigoseniorsc Rosalind Park, Bendigo Email admin@bssc.edu.au Web www.bssc.edu.au youtube.com/user/bendigoseniorsc Box 545, Bendigo www.youtube.com/user/bendigoseniorsc youtube.com/user/bendigoseniorsc Web www.bssc.edu.au PO Box 545,PO Bendigo VIC 3552 VIC 3552 C O N TACCO T UNSTAC T U S

facebook.com/bendigoseniorsc twitter.com/bendigoseniorsc gplus.to/bendigoseniorsc youtube.com/user/bendigoseniorsc

Beatrix and Tash

Charlotte, Kerryn, Violet, Elijah and Lashay

Phoebe Skinner, Caloe Simons and Iteakah Mulcahy

Jacob Boucher and Elijah Davies

Kaali Cantwell, Kaleb Baczynski and Sarah Ising

Rick Milczarek, Kyah Milczarek and Milczarek Butler and Aliyah Norris

PLAY DATE Local kids were finally let loose on the new Eaglehawk Regional Play Space by Lake Neangar in September. The grand opening featured a carnival atmosphere, with brass band music and food trucks.

Much of the play equipment is inspired

by Banjo Paterson’s Mulga Bill’s Bicycle, which starts with the line “Twas Mulga Bill from Eaglehawk”. The junior area, called Where Angels Play, celebrates the life of baby Zayden Veal Whitting.

CONGRATULATIONS BSE College is proud of the commitment of its students and teachers to the Bendigo community. Throughout 2018, we have participated in many academic, sporting, musical and artistic events, and remain committed to many more.

As our students continue to strive for excellence – to excel academically, vocationally, socially and personally, we applaud them and hope they enjoy their annual awards evenings.

Your success is our success. Well done.

5443 4522 | bse.vic.edu.au

Brian, Ashley, Chloey, Loz, Katelyn and Rhiannon Shallue

Brigitte Plowman, Maisy Richards and Eliza Harmer

FIELD AND FASHION

Megan, Erin, Kathryn and Claire Box

Debra McNamara, Michele Hill, Zoe Mckimmie and Gemma McNamara

David and Michael Bavich, Steve and Zeb Shellew

Gavin Catto, Linda Sambrooks, Annie Newton and Greg Perry

All roads led to the Elmore Events Centre in October.

The annual Elmore & District Machinery Field Days is where farmers go looking for good ideas - showcasing the latest machinery, innovation and techniques used in the agricultural industry.

The Ag Art Wear competition was also a must-see, featuring wearable works of art created from materials and items found on a farm – think electrical fence tape tops and the like!

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connections for life A new alumni program is building student aspiration and connecting graduates of BSSC to a worldwide community.

By John Holton When most of us hear the term Alumni we think of well-to-do private schools—blazers embroidered with a college crest—or ancient university campuses with ivy-draped stone buildings.

Bendigo Senior Secondary College is redefining these misconceptions; building a thriving alumni community, connecting past students to the college in meaningful ways, and raising student aspirations at the same time.

BSSC is one of a handful of Victorian schools involved in the OurSchool Program, an initiative of the Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals. BSSC’s Alumni & Events Cordinator, Danielle Snowdon, says it’s been an incredible experience to work with other government secondary schools to build an alumni program from the ground up.

“Throughout the year our Alumni team has attended a series of OurSchool workshops outlining the process of creating an Alumni Program,” she said. “It covered everything from how such a program benefits the school, to building an alumni team, embedding an aspirational culture, connecting with alumni, and the practicalities of planning and delivering alumni sessions.”

At BSSC the OurSchool model has had immediate benefits, with hundreds of former students connecting with the college via social media, and many of those taking the next step to connect directly with students via classroom visits, career information sessions, and a new initiative at the college—the lunchtime Alumni Club.

“We developed Alumni Club as a way for students to meet with alumni over a casual lunch, gain valuable career and study advice, and learn how to build those life-changing connections that can be so valuable when they

move beyond BSSC,” Danielle said.

One of those who jumped at the opportunity to return to BSSC for an Alumni Club session was local filmmaker, Caleb Maxwell (Class of 2008), who runs his own video production company, Hebron Films.

“I remember when I was a student at BSSC how inspiring it was to hear from industry professionals,” Caleb said. “When I was asked to come back as one of those professionals to speak to current students, I didn’t hesitate. It’s such an amazing opportunity to expand their vision for their future.

“The industry landscape is so varied and the opportunities so vast, that most students don’t know what’s possible or how to begin. To hear about someone else’s journey into working life is invaluable.”

Kezia Thomas, who graduated in 2001, was another who contacted the college happy to share her journey from BSSC to the world of strategic communications, having worked for the Office of the Prime Minister in Canberra and as a Campaign Officer for the British Labour Party in London.

“Follow what you’re interested in and what you love,” she urged students. “You’ll end up working in jobs you don’t even know exist… and probably some that actually don’t exist yet.

If you love what you do, doors will open.”

Danielle says the diversity of alumni who have visited the college this year is one of the great strengths of the program.

“Among the raft of alumni to visit this year we’ve had a young lawyer speak to our Legal Studies students, a Design undergraduate from Swinburne speak about pathways into Visual Arts, and a former performing arts student—now a professional actor—run a drama workshop.”

But the Alumni Program is about so much more than just careers and pathways.

The most recent Alumni Club session tackled the theme of resilience, with Liz Harrop (Class of 1971) and Jordan Clarke (Class of 2010) in conversation about the struggles that life inevitably throws our way and how we can stay positive when we’re thrown a curve ball. Liz shared her journey of surviving both MS and breast cancer, while Jordan spoke of his young daughter’s battle with serious illness and how it impacted on his family.

“It was such a privilege to chat with the students about how they can change their perspective when things get tough,” Liz said.

“I try to find the ‘funny’ in every situation, and I hope the students were able to take away some of that sense of ‘lightness’.”

Recently, Gina Hilson from the Class of 1985, and Atsuko Yajima—a former Japanese exchange student—reunited after 30 years and dropped into the college to rekindle old memories. Gina was wearing a cherry blossom pin that Atsuko had given her all those years ago. For these alumni, like so many others, the college clearly holds a special place in their hearts.

BSSC Principal, Dale Pearce, said the Alumni program is all about building and maintaining connection.

“I think it works both ways—former students feel valued and they’re also able to add value to the lives of current students,” he said. “We have students go on to success in a wide range of careers. Some of those are Bendigo-based, but we also find our former students doing interesting things all over the world.

“We want BSSC students to graduate knowing they are alumni of the college and part of that worldwide community.”

If you’d like to connect with the BSSC Alumni community visit: www.bssc.edu.au/alumni 31

Bradley Barnes and Jamie Morgan

Karly Hall, Hayden Schreiber, Leah Hall and Brittney Hall

MJ, Devon and Stuart Williams

Grace, Ruby, Jedd and Molly Edsall-French and Cooper Manton

Hayden Schreiber, Rewyn Matthews, Brendan Kellet and Kim Burns

Jackson, Daniel, Laurie, Logan and Kerrie Whyte

STUDENTS SHINE The All Seasons was transformed into an enchanted forest for the Bendigo Special Development School’s biennial deb ball in September.

The all-abilities event celebrated students in their last two years of school and featured two well-rehearsed dances, one to This is Me from The Greatest Showman soundtrack, the other to Try Everything by Shakira.

A Christmas gift that keeps on giving

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Order online havenhomesafe.org.au Profits from the sale of this book will help make a difference in people’s lives.

Andrew Philpott, Julie Sheahan, Jacob Moresi, Judy Ingwersen and Riza Gultekin

Christine Martins, Rosie Stanbrook and Alanna Miller

CHEERS TO THE YEARS Deb Matricardi, Jenny Adamthwaite and Kellie Hutchins

Monica Quinn, Sushama Balasingham, Jenny Dillon and Jan Briggs

Hiranthi and Travis Perera

Ian and Jenny Treyvaud, Anne Williams and Wendy Osborne

Friends, family and colleagues of orthopaedic surgeon Travis Perera gathered to mark his retirement at the Malayan Orchid in August.

It’s been 33 years since Mr Perera began practising in Bendigo and he estimates he’s treated around 15,000 patients since 1985. For now though, it’s golf, cello and travel that’s calling him.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

SELF ESTEEM INDEPENDENCE IT’S NOT TOO LATE...

We are currently completing our enrolments for 2019 and welcome new students for Prep to Year 12*.

With a commitment to addressing the needs of all students, Girton Grammar School teachers meet students at their individual learning level and work with them to bring out their best. Featuring an outstanding Emotional Intelligence programme and more than 80 co-curriculum activities on offer, Girton Grammar School provides a well-rounded education in a supportive and vibrant environment.

*We currently have waiting lists for Years 5 and 6 but expressions of interest are invited for those year levels as additional classes may be created based on demand.

To find out more or to arrange a School Tour, contact our Registrar: registrar@girton.vic.edu.au or phone (03) 5441 3114.

34

the

wood life

Artisan Linton Torr reclaims unwanted timber to create extraordinary pieces that celebrate the charm of the Australian bush

By Maya Perera - Photography by Leon Schoots Describing what he does for a living leaves Linton Torr rather stumped for words. The truth is people are intrigued by this rather unassuming artisan.

“I don’t know what to tell them. I’ve been working on the pitch for years.

People ask me what I do and I feel like I’ve got to explain myself all of the time. I’m just a woody.”

His work speaks for itself as the artisan’s passion is all about creating quirky, lyrical nature-based wood pieces in playgrounds and outdoor bush furniture made from salvaged and recycled timber. Large carved wooden toadstools and a rather frightening life-like python on a totem pole welcome visitors to his Spring Gully home, offering a glimpse of his creativity.

Linton can usually be found in his workshop surrounded by power tools and several empty coffee cups scattered on the workbench that haven’t made it back to his kitchen. An indication that once Linton is in his “zone”, he’ll keep going unless interrupted.

“With a table or chair, it’s more technical so you just do the work. For sculpting you really zone in, you don’t think about anything else, you forget about what’s going on in the world,” he says.

“You may walk around with an idea for days until it comes to you.

Creativity never frustrates me.”

Linton, who was born and bred in Bendigo, is part of the Mandurang Valley Artisans’ circle. They run open day trails where visitors are encouraged to visit studios, boutique wineries and wildflower gardens in the area.

What is extraordinary is that Linton’s artistic foray only started four years ago at aged 42. He taught himself after watching woodworking techniques on US websites.

The former shearer and wood cutter has always appreciated the beauty of wood with its knots, burls and gnarly irregularities and now seeks burnt, dumped and fallen trees from farmers and landowners.

35

“I find nothing better than opening up an old log to find rich natural colours and mad grain patterns like bird’s eye and fiddle back. None of this can be manufactured. It comes from the source.

“Something like that is gold fever for me,” Linton says.

“I started out with a chainsaw and basic milling gear.”

Selling a few pieces of his bespoke bush furniture items “was like a shot in the arm” and gave him the confidence to pursue his dream as a woody. His company Raw Boards also sells milled timber slabs that have been drying out for a couple of years.

As luck would have it, a landscape architect from the City of Greater Bendigo spotted Linton’s work online. It has led to a series of commissions for wood sculptures and pieces

for council’s nature-based parks and more recently outside the new Gurri Wanyarra leisure complex; childcare centres dotted around Bendigo also liked his style. His work is diverse from “bush” tables and chairs, rickety wooden bridges, water features to sculpted totem poles and drovers cottages.

He recalls how fascinated the children were when he was installing a wooden drover’s hut with a fake chimney at a Huntly child care centre. Every day the kids pressed their faces against the safety fence, curious and inquisitive, firing questions while Linton worked.

“When the fence was taken down, the kids went straight to the hut and within minutes they made mud pies and a mess. It was brilliant.”

Linton is best known for his work at the new

$1.3M Eaglehawk Play Space on the shores of Lake Neangar where he worked closely with City of Greater Bendigo landscape architect Gary Lantzsch. It was Gary who came up with the idea to capture Banjo Paterson’s Mulga Bill’s Bicycle in the play space as a whimsical theme.

A big picture book allows children to listen to the story and nearby is Linton’s exquisitely carved story-telling chair.

“The story-telling chair was an upside down stump. It already had the gnarl and the roots up in the air. It was a grey box stump and I carved out the seat and followed the contours where the grain of the timber went.

36

“Gary had the concept of a cubby house.

It was made from salvaged timber with shingles for the roof. It took some figuring out.

“It had to look organic as if someone had knocked it together. There are no straight walls, everything had curvy lines.

“We battened the walls and used 40 or 50 silicone tubes to seal it. We burnt it a little to make it more authentic.”

Inspired by the illustrations and patterns in the book, the duo also created a little bridge and carved street signs harking back to the story. Linton is delighted to see the concepts come to life.

In his studio, the father of six pauses to glide his hand over a stunning reddish dining table. It started out as the main barrel of a forest red gum dating back around 300 to 400 years, riddled with bird’s eye.

“It was from a bushfire in the 1960s in Harcourt. The farmer didn’t want to see it burn because it was so old. It was 1.4m wide. I let it dry out, sanded and oiled it to bring out the fiddleback and bird’s eye colour variation.”

He gazes at it, looking rather proud of his work.

Perhaps it’s not just the salvaged piece of wood enjoying a new lease of life.

37

Andy and Mary Burton, Leanne Dumaresq and Steve Carew

Sonia McCahon, Amy Linklater and Cass James

Tristan and Wes Vine

Jody Hutchinson and Chloe McKenzie

Neil Hawkins, Barry and Susan Sims, Karen Hawkins, Andrew Penna, Darren and Dianne Chester

Michelle Griffiths and Kim Kirkpatrick

CORKS POPPED Bendigo’s unique walking wine and food festival was another huge success in October. Bendigo Heritage Uncorked saw wine lovers sample the best the region has to offer at seven historic city landmarks.

This year the stunning, newly-opened MacKenzie Quarters hosted a pop up wine shop, making the local drops even more accessible.

THE NEW

APLHA MODEL OUT NOW

16 Mitchell St, Bendigo | P: 5443 5755 | MrWolfe.com.au |

Ashim, Zoya, Arsh and Shabeena Mansuri

Babu and Usha Gohel

HELLO POPPET Emily, Lily and Brendan Billing and Rianna Ashton

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Shelley Ripper, Denise Reid and Mary and Marni Lazare

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The Rosalind Park poppet head was viewed in a whole new light in October when it was brought to life with projections and performance.

Artists from the township of Natimuk transformed the iconic mining relic in a one-night-only free show combining aerial dancing, music and shadow puppetry. The performance was a rare treat for those who braved the unseasonal cold snap.

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a hidden gem Sri Lanka is fast becoming a must-see destination with its golden beaches, ancient temples and exotic wildlife, which is why a Bendigo couple have created unique tours of the island offering visitors an experience of a lifetime.

By Maya Perera It was a blind date that brought Jeremy and Natalie Dharmaratne together six years ago. A meet that blossomed into romance, marriage and a shared love for Jeremy’s birthplace, the island of Sri Lanka.

colour and fragrances. I love the hustle and bustle and the people are so welcoming. I was seeing things through fresh eyes and I think Jeremy enjoyed watching me experience that,” Natalie says.

“I was quite taken by Jeremy and you could see the passion in his eyes when he talked about Sri Lanka,” says Natalie, remembering their first dates. She was intrigued to find out more about Jeremy’s family history and culture.

Natalie is not alone in discovering the wonders of this teardrop-shaped island in the Indian Ocean. Despite decades of a very bloody civil war and the atrocities that ensued, and in the aftermath of the devastating tsunami in 2004, Sri Lanka is emerging from its time in the shadows, hoping to become one of the top tourist destinations in the world.

“I’d never been overseas before. The first time I went to Sri Lanka I was overwhelmed by the

41

Jeremy believes that this is a great time for Australians to experience this hidden gem.

“Sri Lanka is getting ahead in leaps and bounds. You want to see it in its raw beauty. It’s not over-run with tourists.”

Jeremy had been harbouring the idea of creating “high-end” guided tours of Sri Lanka for many years, but it was Natalie who gave him that all important nudge to make it a reality. Together they spent two years establishing contacts, selecting the best places to eat, stay and experience.

The result is a luxurious tour “Tastes of Sri Lanka” suitable for all travellers, from novices to the intrepid adventurer, designed to showcase the island’s verdant hill country, colonial grandeur, stunning beaches and heritage sites dating back over two thousand years.

“We’re redefining luxe. This is a premium product which caters for ten people on a 12day tour, staying in small five star boutiques.

It’s a tour that is tailored to see a side of the country that you don’t get in tourist guides or mainstream tourist packages. They tend to be very formulaic,” Jeremy says.

“We want to provide people with an experiential tour. It’s much more indulgent and you’re staying at each location for a couple of days so you’re not living out of a suitcase.”

Jeremy, who was born in Colombo and moved to Sydney in 1972, brings his own personal touch as the tour guide and story-teller. He has fond childhood memories accompanying his dad on work trips to Sri Lanka, listening to his stories, regaling the history and local anecdotes.

“Australia is my home where I grew up, but Sri Lanka is part of my DNA so when I go there it’s like I’ve never been away. I’ve fallen in love with this exotic island all over again.” he says.

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The couple’s Hidden Gems tour in April is includes staying at a stunning colonial boutique accommodation with breathtaking views of Kandy, private cooking classes with top chefs, a hilltop luxurious spa treatment and a whale-watching trip down south.

A major highlight is a three-day stay at one of the country’s most exclusive hotels and the only one set in the picturesque Yala Safari Park, home to leopards, elephants, buffaloes and 200 bird species.

“Each private bungalow has its own deck area which is the prime position to spot the exotic wildlife. We include two safaris a day with private guides.

“The wildlife walks right past your door. It’s very luxurious,” Natalie says.

The couple have no doubt that once visitors have experienced Sri Lanka, they’ll be back for more.

“It’s a magical country,” says Jeremy. “It’s great to see Sri Lanka back on its feet, embracing visitors. Australians will love it.”

The Tastes of Sri Lanka - Hidden Gems tour has been designed to allow ease and simplicity for travellers of all experience levels with all expenses covered in the pricing.

For more information visit www.tastesofsrilanka.com.au 43

Chris Kelly and Trudy Allsopp

Rick and Tahnee Nelson

Claire Worthington and April Rayson

Zayna, Usman, Hyra and Inaya

Kerry Watson, Olive Salmon-Watson and Pearl Salmon-Watson

Kat Richards and Justin Bull

LIGHTEN UP The Enlighten festival of projection art drew the masses from their slumber for an after-dark feast for all the senses in August.

Proceeding and during White Night, the festival showcased the work of local artists on Bendigo buildings, such as the Town Hall, library and conservatory in a celebration of cultural diversity.

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Myra Bickford and Sandra Oakenfull

Robert Milton and Bob Baker

HOME OF HISTORY UNVEILED Helen McKinnon and Brian Paul

Judith Leman and George Schickert

Paddy, Lucy Roche and Ned Roche and Cyrus Dell

Kirsten McKay and Angela Hemley

It took two years and $5.1 million to restore and extend, but consensus was it was worth it at the Bendigo Soldiers’ Memorial Institute and Military Museum opening in November.

Central Victorian stories of war will now be accessible for generations to come, honouring those who served and preserving their tales for others to commemorate and learn from.

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for sound As one of the very few women working professionally as location sound recordists in Australia, Lynne Butler is a highly sought after Chickaboom.

By Sarah Harris - Photographs supplied

When Cyclone Marcus hit Darwin last March the streets were empty but for a woman huddled in the lee of a building with her boom mike held aloft like some fluffy talisman against the tempest.

The impending threat of the worst cyclone since Tracy in 1974 had already seen the crew filming the ABC series Back Roads jump the last flight off the Tiwi Islands following the postponement of the grand final showdown between the Tuyu Buffaloes and the Tikalaru Dockers.

But they breed Bendigo girls tough.

“I went outside and got some great recordings, I just couldn’t waste a chance like that,” Lynne Butler confesses.

The howling wind and eerie calm of the cyclone’s eye became part of Lynne’s extensive personal sound library because nothing compares to the real thing when it comes to film and television audio. A new sound can literally stop her in her tracks.

“I am a bit of a sound freak,” Lynne laughs. “I do pick up on things and most of the time will have my recording gear within cooee. Especially when I am travelling I will find things that are interesting - an unusual bird call or vehicle sound - and try and grab it.”

Authenticity is the key to creating atmosphere and there is perhaps no greater example of the sound designer’s art than the cult classic Apocalypse Now where the famous whap, whap of the helicopters entering over a black screen is the very first input the audience receives.

“Sound is incredibly important, but it is often the abandoned child of production,” Lynne says. “Sound carries the emotion, it carries information as well. It carries the dialogue. You can understand what is going on listening to the soundtrack without pictures and you can still feel it. You can’t so easily do that the other way round, which is why 46

good directors will give it plenty of space and freedom.”

When Lynne finished school in Bendigo and headed for Charles Sturt University in Wagga, it was music she was hearing. She envisaged a career in music production and recording, but discovered instead the joys of post production.

She landed a job at the ABC just as the digital era dawned. “I came right at the end of film editing. When I first started Four Corners was still being cut on 16mm. I was one of the first to do digital,” Lynne says.

In the early years Lynne worked chiefly in post production on flagship news programs Four Corners and Foreign Correspondent, plus ‘90s dramas like Police Rescue, GP and Sea Change. Hit comedies Kath & Kim and Chris Lilley’s mockumentary We Can Be Heroes and subsequent spin-off series also went through Lynne in post.

What got her out of the studio and hooked on location recording was working on the documentary Choir of Hard Knocks at the invitation of director Bruce Permezel. “It was amazing. We followed them for close to a year for a five-part documentary series that proved huge. It was an unexpected hit in a way because it was so real. It wasn’t a contrived reality TV program.

“So I just sort of fell into location sound recording that way and discovered I loved it. It was a bit of a revelation and I ended up sound editing it and mixing it as well. It was a huge learning curve, but I got to follow it through the full process so that was really special.”

By the time Lynne left the ABC to start her own business Chickaboom she had worked across many of Australia’s best-loved dramas, comedies and documentaries, with credits including Australia: Land of the Parrots which won an Australian Screen Sound Guild (ASSG) award.

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A second ASSG gong for best achievement in sound for a television drama followed for her work on the children’s series My Place which required, among many different effects, the sound of an exploding dough machine.

“That was a very clever little series. It went across time frames so every episode went back in time until it went pre-white colonisation,” Lynne explains. “In quite a lot of series you establish a template or palette of sounds you can use over, but for something like that you have to start from scratch every time.”

Creating sounds can be a challenge. A scene in the Katering Show for example called for the sound of placenta being prepared for a merciless yummy mummy, cooking show take-off. “I got paper towel and that makes a really good squishy sound with water, which is probably a bit more disgusting than the real placenta, which I actually later got to record coming down for Keeping Australia Alive when we basically spent a day in a maternity ward.”

Lynne’s work has taken her to some incredible places, from booming a live birth behind a door in a delivery suite to mountain tops; inside prisons to the Opera House stage, and crayfish boats tossed on wild seas.

“I tend to gravitate to smaller doco crews and things like Back Roads and Gardening Australia. I love that stuff because you are going places you wouldn’t normally get to go. With a small crew it is very intimate.

You have a lot of say and you are an integral part of the team in those situations, plus you are travelling together, sometimes for weeks at a time, so it is really important you have the ability to get on with people.”

More recently Lynne had an opportunity to run onto the MCG recording the Collingwood-West Coast Grand Final for the AFL and work post production for the new series of Russell Coight’s All Aussie Adventures.

“It’s all about slapstick so I had to create the sound of a towbar coming out of a car and flying through the air and hitting him in the head.

Animals being shot, lots and lots of crashing vehicles. Vehicles without motors running rolling down hills and crashing through fences.”

These are just some of the surprising sounds of success. chickaboomsound.com.au

48

Bjorn and Sue Vedelsby, Travis and Vanessa Henderson

Daryl Headlam and Jan Densley

Ian Bailie, Russell Kelly, Denise Bailie and Sally McKinley

Liz Stephens and Cheryl James

Rebecca Turnbull and Phillippa Schuster

Sandra and Ian Daley

Cogho, Erin Ryan and Deb Clayton

Ruby and Cooper Manton

Ian Bailie, Russell Kelly, Denise Bailie and Sally McKinley

Liz Stephens and Cheryl James

STAR DROP A uniquely local event brought wine and film lovers out for a night of dual appreciation at the Star Cinema.

Sandhurst Ridge hosted a night at the movies, featuring the appropriate 2008 American comedy-drama film Bottle Shock, over a glass of Sandhurst Ridge wine. The night began with tastings of the local label.

HIGH FIVE FUNDS Bendigo Health Foundation was thrilled to receive a visit from Southern Cross Austereo team to announce this year’s Give Me 5 For Kids fundraising tally.

This year the annual fundraiser, which 93.5 Triple M Bendigo participates in, raised a massive $69,918 for Bendigo Health Women’s and Children’s Services. The money will purchase a vascular access ultrasound, bed wetting alarms, neo resus simulation equipment along with a major contribution to the Give Me 5 for Kids Paediatric Scholarship.

Superheroes unite.

Cogho, Jenny Pitson and Erin Ryan

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Creative Zest Living Arts Space exhibition

NOVEMBER 14, 2018 – FEBRUARY 11, 2019 A delightful exhibition of work by four artists from central Victoria including ceramics by Sarah Koschak, artworks by Lynn Twelftree, furniture by Hugh Makin and button craft by Carole Grenfell.

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honouring our heritage History meets modernity at the recentlyunveiled soldiers’ memorial along Pall Mall; a place that’s set to take central Victoria’s war stories well into the future.

By Sue Turpie It is a fitting tribute to the 100-year anniversary of Armistice that the doors to the original site of the Bendigo Soldiers Memorial Institute Military Museum are open again.

Since 1921, this building has housed precious memories and memorabilia from the region’s involvement in military conflicts throughout the world.

The Pall Mall museum site closed two years ago to undergo major renovations and an extension through a $5.1m revitalisation project.

The result is a beautifully crafted, interactive museum that will take Bendigo’s military history into the future.

For those who remember the original display of the museum, Bendigo was fortunate to have an impressive catalogue of artefacts to draw upon, many of which were personal to people and families associated with the area. From weaponry to silk handkerchiefs, there is a heartfelt story behind every item.

51

The new layout of the museum takes visitors on a journey through each war, with uniforms, personal items and props that replicate reallife experiences such as a wooden gangway that soldiers would have walked on when boarding the ship to leave for the Western Front and the trenches; components that were graciously donated from another exhibition to help tell the story.

Soldiers Memorial Institute Military Museum Curator Kirsten McKay says much of the collection is of mementoes that people would have brought back or sent back from war. “We’ve been able to put some on display and we’ll rotate the collection focusing on certain central Victoria stories. In time we can elaborate on that,” she says. “We’ve used large visuals and text panels, these were written with help from our volunteer base and other organisations. We’ve also had Australian history academics and authorities review the work to ensure its authenticity, including the Western Front Association of Central Victoria.”

Second World War Two is shown through geographical regions, and within each area are stories that relate to central Victoria. One such story is that of Dudley Marrows who was born in the outskirts of Bendigo in 1917. “He flew a short Short Sunderland,” Kirsten says.

“His story is about sinking a German U-boat and then throwing down

52

53

a lifeboat for the German crew. There is a photo of him with his crew.

He’s still alive today and lives in Mildura.”

Research officer and administration assistant Luke Barkmeyer has helped collate information for the Second World War Two collection, including compiling text for the information panels. Drawing on knowledge obtained through official studies and his volunteer work at the museum, Luke says the local knowledge of Bendigo District RSL Sub Branch Presidentlong-term volunteer and curator Peter Ball has been invaluable in putting together the display. “He knows all the stories. It’s amazing when you pull out a piece that you think is innocuous and he’ll remember a great story attached to it. It’s not only the stories but also the people who were involved and their importance to Bendigo.”

“A lot of the First World War information has been documented and information is freely accessible online,” Kirsten says. “But the Second World War doesn’t quite have that accessibility to stories so we’re relying on those personal connections. We can add more to these text panels as information comes to light. Someone might visit the museum and say that their grandfather was involved in that battle and I’ve got this photo. The presentation and collection will constantly be evolving.”

Anyone with information or a story to tell is welcome to pass on their knowledge. There is a genuine desire to continue to expand the interactive data bases that will be available to those visiting the museum. “It’s the personal stories that make it special,” Luke says.

“We want to hear it. This is a good outlet for people to use, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be only World War Two because hopefully we’ll facilitate other wars too.”

At the rear of the building is a modern extension used as a changing exhibition space, either for artwork or for specific collections of artefacts. Presently it features two exhibitions, both of which will run until February 17, 2019. Local military artist Robert Milton has collated his work for the exhibition Bendigo’s Continuing Contribution to the Australian Defence Force. There is also Eleven, the Sculpture of Judith A. Leman, which pays tribute to Australian horses in World War One. For further information on the museum go to www.bendigorsl.com.au or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

54

Local military artist Robert Milton.

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home delivery For 40 years a remarkable Bendigo-based not-for-profit has offered a haven for the ever-growing number of people disenfranchised from the great Australian dream.

By Sarah Harris

Just before Haven; Home, Safe celebrated its 40th anniversary, it received a welcome gift from the Andrews Labor Government.

The allocation of $1.7 million over two years will allow the organisation to extend its outreach to connect rough sleepers with the services they need to break the cycle of homelessness.

The cash injection is recognition of the critical function HHS plays in a society where more and more people find themselves in housing crisis because of the lack of affordable accommodation.

It caps an extraordinary year which saw HHS Chief Executive Officer Ken Marchingo appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for services to the community through social welfare.

From its beginnings as a reactive welfare response the organisation has itself developed from a charity case which in the ‘70s and ‘80s eked out its own existence, garnering whatever grants it could from state and federal governments, to become part of the solution to Australia’s housing crisis.

It has grown from a small, well-meaning

group of largely unqualified volunteers with unfunded debts of $340,000 to a 157-strong force of accredited professionals, 1045 owned properties plus 626 it manages, and a balance sheet of more than $300 million.

Ken Marchingo today.

Along the way it has set new benchmarks for delivery of services to people pushed to the furthest margin of society.

Not long after the official opening of the HHS Forest Street headquarters in March 2011, the offices were visited by an unlikely party of camera-slung sightseers.

Members of the delegation from the Department of Human Services explained they had come to take photographs of HHS’s reception area.

From the very ground floor HHS had stunned the sector by doing away with the security grilles and reinforced perspex that implied a social welfare service under siege.

With its concierge desk, comfortable couches, computer screens and private meeting room, it looked more like an airline business-class lounge than an interface for indigents. Instead of being sequestered like bank tellers, HHS staff actually opened 57

LEFT: Ken Marchingo at The Temperance Hall where it all began.

As one of the DHS visitors asked an HHS staffer that day: “Aren’t you scared?” “No,” she replied. “Are you?”

By treating clients with respect, by making them feel welcome, by demonstrating someone gives a damn, HHS succeeded in transforming its business into just that – a port in a storm. Clients have, for the most part, responded in kind. By extending basic courtesies of welcome, the tension and anxiety of the waiting room has been greatly diffused and the clients themselves have become more receptive.

the door to their clients, ushering them inside with an offer of coffee, tea or hot chocolate. What’s more, every single person in the organisation from the CEO down was expected to routinely take their turn at the concierge desk according to a roster.

The idea that everyone – even those at the most senior management level – is required 58

to get up close and personal with the clients, who are often challenging and sometimes violently abusive, was radical, even shocking.

After all, it was in the former reception room of this same service – then named Loddon Mallee Housing – that a man brandishing a lighter had once poured petrol over his partner and threatened to set her alight.

Providing a four-star service for the homeless is just one of the many ways HHS is redefining services for a group seemingly disenfranchised from common decency because of their failure to thrive in a society which measures success in square metres.

Since becoming Victoria’s first registered Affordable Housing Association in 2005, HHS has broadened its client base from those in immediate crisis to become a significant developer of community housing for those on low to moderate incomes.

Homecoming – 40 Years of Housing People In Need is available through www.havenhomesafe.org.au

Corey Lionis and Miah Miller

Cristina Driver and Emily Hayes

Tiliquer Priest, Mark and Fabian Johnson

Keelie, Ebony, Noah and Zali

Lucy Kitching and Jess Hulme

Macy Caddy, Ehlana Dodge, Maddie Rutter and Keely McNeill

CON ARTISTS Fan clubs came out of the woodwork for BendiCon 2018 in September.

There was the Doctor Who Clubs of Bendigo and Victoria, the R2 Builders, The Rebel Legion Hoth Base Star Wars group, the Bendigo Bricks group, The Victorian Discworld Klatch and the Bendigo Cosplay Society. Who knew!

This celebration of pop and comic culture also showcased local, Melbourne and interstate artists, including Bendigo’s-own Chris Kennett, whose Star Wars illustrations are now cemented in Little Golden Book fame.

The event was also a proud fundraiser for the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation.

Jenny Fraser and Irene Pilcher

Bev O’Brian, Erica Fowler and Elaine Ludeman

Brian and Maree Clark

Carolyn Peat, Mark Mulqueen, Ruth Mulqueen, Bob Considine, John Mulqueen and Terry Fowler

Ed English, Anthony Jenkins and Peter Vaughan

Helen Scheuffele, Jan Hay, Yvonne MacDonald and Michele Elliott

SENIORS RACE The Bendigo Jockey Club joined in the action of the Victorian Seniors Festival in October, offering free admission and bus transport from the station for those over a certain age!

All that combined experience and wisdom by the track no doubt gave the bookies an extra run for their money. The day attracted punters from Melbourne for the relaxed country race meet.

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The Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce celebrated its centenary with one almighty show ‘n shine in Bendigo, featuring 100 cars from 1918 to 2018.

The chamber was founded in Bendigo way back when, which is why the city was chosen to host the event. Actor Shane Jacobson emceed the day and there was plenty of entertainment for car enthusiasts of all ages.

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grants for

a sporting chance

Bendigo has a proud sporting history with many youngsters competing at the elite level in their sport.

By Lisa Chesters - Photograph by Ashley J Taylor Playing sport at state, national or international competition level takes passion, dedication and hard work. It also involves extensive travel, training, specialist equipment and clothing, and as many parents of young Bendigo athletes have told me, all those costs add up.

For the families behind our young sporting champs it can be very expensive, especially for those living in regional areas like Bendigo.

The Local Sporting Champions grants are about removing some of the financial burden so talented young people can pursue their sporting dreams.

diving for ten years while Kiara started participating in the sport four years ago.

These young people are training four to five times a week and have successfully competed at the state and national level.

Between September and April, the Bendigo Divers train at the Faith Leech Aquatic Centre - newly renamed in honour of another local sporting champion.

When the outdoor pools close for winter, two boards and gym mats represent the club’s “dryland” training facilities at the Mundy Street YMCA stadium. Despite these challenges Bendigo’s divers continue to achieve outstanding results.

An Australian Government initiative, the Local Sporting Champions program provides financial assistance for young people aged 12-18 participating in state, national or international championships.

If successful, applicants receive $500$750 towards the cost of attending their championships.

When I asked the young divers what they like about their sport many of them said they like the competitions, going to training and learning new dives. There is a strong supportive and inclusive culture in the club.

Grant amounts are determined by the distance required to travel to the event, as well as a top-up amount for applicants living in regional areas. The grants can be used for travel, accommodation, uniforms or equipment when competing, coaching or officiating at the event.

For parents and families supporting and encouraging their young competitors, the Local Sporting Champions grants can make juggling the costs of participation that bit easier.

Pictured are some of the Bendigo Divers club members including national champions Abby Rowley and Kiara Field.

Year after year these local young sports stars travel across Australia to compete against the best in the country. Their dedication to their sport is inspiring.

Although only in her teens, Abby has been

I see this replicated in so many sporting clubs across the region.

One local parent explains, “For me personally, the grant has provided a much-needed reimbursement of fuel costs associated with transporting my daughter, Tara, from Bendigo to Rowville for training in the Victorian Under-15 Girls Football side.

“She was lucky enough to travel to South Australia to compete and win the championship. This was a great

opportunity for her to meet like-minded girls of the same skill set. Even though the financial stress on family can be tough with fuel, flights and uniform, I would not have it any other way, encouraging our kids to participate in any form of sport is paramount.”

Three times a year I am delighted to meet with the successful applicants – our local sporting stars of the future and the present – to celebrate their success and acknowledge their passion and dedication.

Since July 2016, over 120 recipients have shared almost $65,000 in Local Sporting Champion grants. Recipients include track and field athletes, divers, swimmers, cyclists, gymnasts, as well as ice hockey, volleyball and basketball players.

Over the years, grants have also been provided to young locals participating in a few lesser-known sports such as equestrian, orienteering, canoeing, water skiing, baseball and table tennis.

It is fantastic to see such a variety of sports being played at a high level here in our region and really demonstrates the sporting opportunities that are available no matter what your interest or skills.

As for our Bendigo divers, these Olympic hopefuls will continue to train for state and national championships under established head coach, Heather Tyter.

Applications for the Local Sporting Champions grants can be made at any time throughout the year, either by visiting www.ausport.gov.au or by contacting Lisa Chesters’ office on 5443 9055.

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all rugged up A local business booms thanks to the hype around this year’s reality TV reno show, The Block.

By Lauren Mitchell - Photograph by Leon Schoots When viewers tuned in to watch The Block reveals this year it was to watch the week’s reno results and see who fared best in the eyes of the judges. Pretty light entertainment all round. But for Bendigo’s Tamara Thompson, it was all personal. “I’d hold my breath basically and hope the judges wouldn’t have any negative feedback about the rugs,” she says. Turns out she had nothing to worry about.

Tamara is the owner of Rug Addiction in Kangaroo Flat. Locals have long known her talent for sourcing floor fashion and now the secret is out. This year she used her 25 years’ experience in the business to supply The Block contestants with almost all of the rugs used to furnish the iconic Gatwick in St Kilda.

Her TV connections started when The Block producers came to Bendigo three years ago to film an episode of Reno Rumble. One of the contestants visited Tamara with a near-impossible task, to source a specific rug on a Friday afternoon with just a few hours’ notice. Tamara jumped in the car and drove straight to Melbourne to sweet talk one of her suppliers. Going the extra mile cemented her reputation so when The Block Shop opened in companion to the filming of that show, Tamara was asked to supply some rugs. Again this year, she went above and beyond.

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“I compiled five compendiums of some of the styles I thought would suit The Gatwick and Sarah, who runs The Block Shop, presented them to the contestants. Without her doing that they could have completely overlooked me. It’s been an amazing experience and so beneficial for my business. The Block Shop don’t realise what they do for people like me. They look at smaller artists and smaller businesses to support and bring together.”

And so began a whirlwind three-month journey of travelling to St Kilda up to three times a week, armed with samples and catalogues and creative responses to some curly requests. “Just crazy things. Strange sizes. Like Sara and Hayden’s hallway. They wanted a one-metre wide hall runner and no hall runners are made in that size. So not to be beaten by this issue, I order in a large rug, cut it right down the middle, join them together and overlocked it to fit. You have to be creative.

“People give me amazing challenges sometimes. Because I’ve been working in this industry for so long I’m fortunate to have met the right people and I’m fortunate to have the backing of 12 of Australia’s leading wholesalers, so I can source just about anything. If someone sees it, I try to supply it. And if not I can find something very similar.”

When two of the judges made special mention of the runner Tamara found for Bianca and Carla’s penthouse apartment, it was the sort of advertising money can’t buy. “Thanks to the judges’ comments I can’t keep up with orders,” Tamara says. “I sold out in 24 hours. I’ve ordered another 20 rolls of 20-metre runners for December and that’s nearly all sold out too.”

Most of her new customers are in Melbourne and a frequent question from them is ‘where is your nearest shop to me?’ She says people think she’s a franchise, but she’s proud to say she’s just one little shop in Bendigo. “It’s amazing how many Melbourne customers are driving up to buy off me. I’m picking up a whole other market.”

Right now, Tamara is riding up the top of the small business rollercoaster. But she says it hasn’t always been that way. She started Rug Addiction from a shop in Lansell Plaza 25 years ago. “My twin girls were three months old and I missed working. The only way I could go back to work with two babies was to open my own business. My stepfather had three rug shops in Melbourne but there was nothing in Bendigo then, apart from the furniture shops with limited rugs. He financially backed me and within 12 months I’d paid him back and I went on from there.

“It hasn’t all been cruisy. There’s been heartache, sleepless nights and a lot of hard work. Small business is tough, and it has fluctuated up and down over the years. Keeping on top of current trends, sourcing new products and knowing your consumers wants and needs is never ending.”

What they want right now is what they’ve seen on The Block. For Tamara it’s meant more than capitalising on a great business opportunity. She feels proud to have played a small part in helping beautify the notorious Gatwick Hotel, a building that’s played host to gangsters and lost souls. Plus, she’s proud to have worked with the contestants, who she says were all great people and firm friends, despite the sometimes creative editing of the producers.

When Tamara went to collect her final left over stock from The Block Pop Up Shop and looked across at The Gatwick, gleaming, sporting sold stickers across the auction signs, she did so with a hint of sadness that her commitment for this year’s season had come to an end.

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the pool rules

Summertime in Golden Square has never been sweeter, thanks to a dedicated band of volunteers hell bent on keeping the local pool afloat.

By Lauren Mitchell - Photography by Leon Schoots

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Ask Golden Square Pool committee president Sam Kane what the vibe here is like and he paints an irresistible picture of lazy days by the water.

“There’s a real buzz about the place,” Sam says. “People are sitting back on the grass reading books, people are swimming laps or playing volleyball in the pool. The bike racks are full. There’s something going on. People in the kiosk know you and when you walk in they want to stop and have a chat. It’s a family of people who want to be here.

“Of an evening people are cooking dinner

at the barbies and there’s picnic rugs everywhere. It’s chilled out and laid back and people don’t have to worry about anything.”

corner. It was a place where everyone from school used to come, it was a neighbourhood hangout place.”

It’s certainly a place worth fighting for. And fight they did.

Sam was 14 and in Year Eight at Catholic College when the pool closed for the 12/13 season. His family was asked to show their support for the campaign to keep the pool open by tying blue ribbons to their front fence.

“The whole family got involved,” Sam says. “I started going to the meetings too and I wrote six or seven letters to the editor.”

When the City of Greater Bendigo announced the Golden Square Pool would be closed in 2013, locals jumped to its defence. Sam was just 14 at the time and keen to preserve the neighbourhood tradition of hanging out at the local pool. “I remember coming down on the weekends or meeting Mum here after school, she’d be here, under a tree in the back

The passionate group protested at several council meetings before being thrown a 67

studies at Melbourne University. He completed his last exam for the year the day before the pool season opened.

“There was a big build up to the opening and the feeling of wow, we’ve done it. But at the same time we’ve got a lot of work to do as well. Now the pool is up and running things have to happen behind the scenes. It’s not just a matter of unlocking the gate.

“We receive a small amount of council funding to pay for the general operating costs and that covers the water mainly. Council has given us two more years but it would be great to have a definite future. What the next two years is about for me is showing the community that we want to be here.”

For Sam, that’s plenty of time for the pool to prove its worth. This season the committee has lots of events and programs planned to engage the whole community, like live music and food trucks by the water in January.

lifeline. If they could raise the funds needed to get the pool up and running again, they could manage it themselves for a two-year trial.

about something. I’ve learnt about myself as well. That a young person, if they think that something’s not right, they can speak up and do something about it.”

The task seemed steep, as council had estimated more than $290,000 was needed to re-open the pool, but the community got stuck in anyway with a grass-roots campaign of tin rattling, fundraiser barbecues and social media.

This year the group faced another challenge to keep the pool gates open. With the launch of the Gurri Wanyarra Wellbeing Centre in Kangaroo Flat it was assumed the little pool would be superseded. But the committee again fought back. “We’re not against the new pool at all, we just feel as though we offer something totally different, so why not have us here? The community has shown they want this pool,” says Sam.

“A lot of generous people did a lot of the work,” Sam says. “And we got the pool operating for way under the council figure, under $30,000. I learnt the power of having a voice and standing up for something I believed in, and the power of what a community can do if they’re really passionate 68

Sam, now 20, took over the presidency in August and has been juggling the commitment with his politics and media

“Last year we had a similar event that attracted 860 people in one night. It was just incredible to me and to our volunteers and showed that this place is more than a swimming pool. We’re trying to present ourselves as a place to come and chill out, even if you’re not a swimmer.”

Sam says they’re also focusing on health and wellbeing. “This season we will be introducing twice-weekly water aerobics, and we’re also becoming the home of a new voluntary-run community organisation, SwimSafe Bendigo, who will be offering free basic water safety and swimming lessons to any child, teenager and adult who has not previously had the opportunity to do so.

“But on the top of our list is ensuring people have a place to come and it doesn’t matter who you are, what your age is or what you look like, this is a place where everyone’s welcome.”

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Jordana Edwards and Hayley Frank

Kayleigh Connolly and Hannah Buchan

Conor Richards, Ella Webbe-Lielups and Henry Sheffield

Ella and Jess Mildren and Steph Grylls

Grace, Allison and Alannah Richards

Lisa West and Andrew Pannell

MEET ‘N VEG The Vegecarian Festival at the Great Stupa was all about loving food, loving animals and loving life.

Through various stalls and activities, the event encourages people to care for their health and care for animals through an increase in a vegetarian or vegan diet.

There were food trucks, cooking demonstrations, animal blessings, yoga sessions, guest speakers and tours of the stupa rising from the Myers Flat bush.

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Aish Tupper, Lachlan Wallace, Ruby Burke, Rosie Neylon and Jacob Murphy

Liam Woodman, Jasmine Stanton-Woolley, Samantha Maloney and Natasha Taylar

WHAT A NIGHT

Karen Paterson, Nicole Burns & Janette Schlabowsky

Bella Leerson, Grace Christiansen and Zoe Trimnell

Fred Schilling, Adam Wilkie and Kayla Demarchi

Brett, Mandy, Faye and John Dunlop

It’s estimated 60,000 people experienced Bendigo in a different light at White Night. The event transformed the city through installations, lighting, exhibitions, street performances, film, music, dance and interactive events.

Stunning artistic representations of Bendigo’s past were shown across the façade of some of the grandest heritage buildings. Plus, there were drag queens on the tram!

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on woodvale time Potter David Stuchbery has maintained a steady production at the Woodvale Pottery for four decades, but there’s change in the air north of Eaglehawk.

By Lauren Mitchell - Photography by Leon Schoots A slack line of pegs hangs low under the side veranda of Booth’s Old Place. It’s a fine spot to dry the washing, rain, hail or sunshine. Plus, a reminder this historic red brick Victorian in Woodvale is also a much-loved and lived-in home. David Stuchbery has called it so for decades, which has made the decision to sell up and move on one of the bigger choices in life. “I’ve been here for 40 years, so it’s hard,” he says. Although built by the miner Booth in 1898, David’s artist’s hands and heart are all over this place.

He arrived at the end of 1978 fresh from a few years in Europe, studying, learning and perfecting the art of pottery. “Back then there was a bit of a move among people who loved antiques to do up old properties and I consider myself lucky to have purchased this place,” he says. “All the old red brick Victorian places around the perimeter of Bendigo had dried up. This was in such appalling

condition that other people couldn’t see its potential. It was also the sheds and the space to have my own pottery that attracted me.”

David is a graduate of the late 1960s Certificate of Art at the then Bendigo School of Mines, under the mentorship of Dennis O’Hoy. “Dennis built up a brilliant course. It was the first tertiary ceramics course to be given degree status in Australia.” David describes his art school years as a golden age of ceramics. “Three quarters of the course went on to pursue practice in pottery.” Eight, including David, were featured in the exhibition, centred, at All Saints Church, Bendigo in October.

David had followed in the footsteps of creative parents. His mother was among the first School of Mines arts students and his father once had a dugout-cum-pottery at White Cliffs on the opal fields of northern New South Wales.

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After graduating David became a high school teacher in St Arnaud then Rochester before returning to study a Diploma of Ceramics, alongside contemporaries like the late Neville Wilson, who the aforementioned exhibition was in honour of.

Neville proved a handy conduit to the world’s great potters. He championed David’s talent and recommended him as an apprentice to David Eeles in Dorset, England. “He was one of the renowned potters in the world at that stage,” David says of Eeles. “Because of the training I had in Bendigo, after my first week I was pushed up a couple of pay increments because he saw the skills I had and that was a reflection of the course I’d done.”

From there David worked with Svend Bayer, another internationallyknown wood fired potter, before travelling throughout France, Italy, Denmark, Japan, South Korea and Thailand on a pottery-inspired odyssey that led him all the way back to Bendigo.

Here David began a 30-year teaching career at the Bendigo College of Advanced Education, which was to become La Trobe University, Bendigo. He began patching up old Booth’s Place and he established the Woodvale Pottery. Google that name and you’ll find examples of David’s work housed in several significant art collections, including Australian Pottery at Bemboka and the Bendigo Art Gallery.

David’s stamp on this home is evident. The original build was constructed with handmade bricks from the footings of the Northern Blocks Mine pumping station beyond the dam. In 2002 David doubled the size of the house, using another local product. “Selkirks did a mix called Old Bendigo Red, and what I did, being a Virgo and a bit anal, was measure the colour percentages in the original house and I replicated that and built in the same style as the front of the place. You probably couldn’t get much closer.”

David collected the stone for the feature walls within and outside the house from a student’s property near Twin Rivers at Eppalock.

That was around the time he was made head of La Trobe’s School of Visual Art and Design. “I’d go out on weekends to collect the sandstone. It was just a means of switching off and doing something physical,” he says.

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But back to the pottery… alongside David’s teaching life he maintained a steady production line at Woodvale. He describes the double brick pottery he built with his dad and brother as his saviour.

“My belief was if you’re employed in visual arts then you need to have a profile with your profession, so I had exhibitions on a regular basis and I wrote articles for magazines.”

hurt people to know that. I learnt I’m much better when I’m doing something. I need a project and in many ways I look forward to getting into the new place once the builder allows us on site, to do the sandstone walls and the pottery and I’ll be energised by that.”

David and his wife have planned to build a new home in nearby Eaglehawk.

This year’s local exhibition was inspiration for David to return to his potter’s wheel. When Bendigo Magazine visits the kilns are packed with pieces ready for firing. And there are shelves of vessels ready for decorating. “Really what I am is a surface decorator,” he says. “I’m inspired by functional work because I believe that ceramics should be used. I also like the vessel form. Big vases, but my signature style is the surface decoration.” His designs are taken from nature’s cues. “I walk the dog every morning through the farmer’s bush block up there and I observe the leaves and blossoms, colours and textures.”

Another dawning that energised David happened after signing up to Instagram, which allowed him to connect with other artists and discover a resurgence of appreciation for art and hand made things.

“All of a sudden I discovered quite a lot of my past students who were out there, making art, doing beautiful work and teaching. I thought, there is life after uni and people do still respect the craft.

David’s daily practices haven’t always been so idyllic. After retiring from La Trobe he was dealt a series of family bereavements.

“Before that I was just seeing young people live in houses with no art on the walls and no appreciation of hand crafted work, and I thought, where have things gone wrong? Then I discovered somebody still wants to learn ceramics and somebody wants to buy ceramics.”

“I’d have weeks when I couldn’t do anything,” he says. “I’d mope around and feel like shit. When I look back it was such a waste of time. I went through a period of non-production. And it doesn’t

And so the Woodvale Pottery will live on, even after David leaves this place for a new home and potter’s studio. “I think I probably will keep the name,” he says. “I think it can go with me.”

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Dennis Bice, Andrew Quek and Jayson Tayeh

Ericha Smyth and Helen Attrill

Eva Jan, Jo Jan and Charlotte Brook

Kirsty Bagshaw and Sarah Stark

Tashi Baker, Tricia, Lahni and Rob Stephenson

Nicole Vearing, Isobel Dorsman, Alice Adams and Alice Conway

WOMEN IN ART La Trobe University Bendigo’s fourth annual Women in Leadership event stimulated conversation around the topic of women in the arts.

Representatives from the State Library, Australian Ballet, Bendigo Art Gallery and Australian Print Workshop shared their personal journeys to leadership.

Proceeds from the night went towards the Regional Women in Leadership Bursary for local students.

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Bradd Worrell and Diantha Vess

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Tourism Victoria chief executive Felicia Mariani made special comment of how much fun a Bendigo Tourism AGM is in September.

The guest speaker shared stats on metro verses regional tourism figures, and ideas on how to capitalise on big events heading to Melbourne in 2019.

The annual gathering of local tourism operators dealt with the business swiftly, leaving plenty of time for wining and dining at Chateau Dore.

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waltzing with my matilda Rhymes help us to reminder important things, for example: ‘Thirty days have September, April, June and November. When short February’s done, all the rest have thirty one’ – or irreverent things: ‘Two, four, six, eight — bog in before it’s too late’ — or — ’bog in don’t wait!’

Words, painting and illustration by Geoff Hocking Who can forget the words to ‘Incy, wincy, spider –

Seven, eight, Lay them straight:

Incy Wincy spider climbing up the spout

Nine, ten, A big fat hen…’ and so on.

Down came the rain and washed the spider out

This simple rhyme, as with many others, has been created as an ‘aide memoire’ or education tool. For centuries it has been known that rhymes are easily learnt and readily remembered.

Out came the sunshine and dried up all the rain And Incy Wincy spider climbed up the spout again’.

What is that all about? A poem to thwarted ambition?

Who can forget the 200–year-old guide to counting expressed in the children’s rhyme ‘One, two, buckle my shoe…’

One, two, Buckle my shoe; Three, four, Knock at the door; Five, six, Pick up sticks;

Most Australians of a certain age will know the opening lines to ‘The Man from Snowy River’, and almost everybody knows all the words to ‘Waltzing Matilda’. And, the words to most popular songs come readily to the inner ear just at the sound of the opening stanza — and then they can be hard to dispel, until another song takes over.

So, why doesn’t anyone know the words to ‘Advance Australia Fair’, let alone can be bothered to learn them. If ‘there was movement at 81

the station’ can stir the hearts of a nation, why don’t we care more about what is said in our national anthem?

‘I am, you are, we are Australian’.

Or do we care too much?

‘We’ve come from every corner of the world to build this land,

In September 2018, any number of Sydney-based hard-line rightwing commentators, and some extreme politicians were outraged by the refusal of nine-year-old Queensland schoolgirl Harper Neilsen to stand for the Australian national anthem. Methinks they protested a little too loudly.

Neilsen simply pointed out the anomalies expressed in the unpopular dirge. Rather than be given a ‘kick up the backside’ (to quote Pauline Hanson) she should have been congratulated.

Neilsen refused to stand because she believed that the anthem institutionalised racism.

I picked up this corruption of the Australian national anthem the other day. Corrupted — or corrected — by someone in sympathy with young Harper.

The altered words read as follows: ‘For those who’ve come across the seas who dare to cross the seas, We’re we’ve boundless plains to share not prepared to share, With courage let us all combine cowardice we turn our backs, On those who seek our care to advance Australia Fair.’

When, in 1977 a plebiscite was held to decide on a new anthem for Australia, four songs were placed on the ballot: ‘Advance Australia Fair’, Waltzing Matilda’, ‘God Save The Queen’ and ‘Song of Australia’. It is interesting to note that all of these were old songs, not one was written by any contemporary composer, of which there were many from whom to choose.

Melbourne’s Mike Brady was already penning some classic anthems although his ‘Up There Cazaly’ would not be released for another two years. This was just the sort of rousing anthem that captured the imagination of a football crazy nation. Maybe Brady could have been prevailed upon to create something special for the country. Or, if they waited long enough ‘I am Australian’ written in 1987 by Bruce Woodley (The Seekers) and Dobe Newton (The Bushwackers) would have made an excellent choice: ‘We are one, but we are many And from all the lands on earth we come We’ll share a dream and sing with one voice

Or Johnny Young’s ‘I’m an Aussie, yes I am’ (1979): And I know that we can make it if we lend a helping hand, We’ll live and love and learn together every single day, ‘Til every young Australian can be really proud to say I’m as Greek as a Ssouvlaki, I’m as Irish as a stew, I’m Italian as spaghetti, I’m as Danish as a blue, I’m as Turkish as a coffee, I’m as Pom as strawberry jam, And I’m an Aussie, yes I’m an Aussie, yes I am, Oh I’m an Aussie, yes I’m an Aussie, yes I am.’

The results of the plebiscite were ignored by Prime Minister Fraser, who went against the wishes of fewer than half of all Australians who voted for ‘Advance Australia Fair’ (43%), and the 28% who voted for ‘Waltzing Matilda’, by re-instating ‘God Save The Queen’.

At least that old tune is tuneful and the sentiment easily understood whereas Paterson’s paean to the demise of the itinerant working man expresses a sentiment that is based in class-consciousness and has an unhappy ending. Curiously, Fraser approved of ‘Waltzing Matilda’ as the official Australian song for the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

In1984, then new Prime Minister Bob Hawke reversed Fraser’s decision and ‘Advance Australia’ became our official anthem.

Thirty-five years later and we still haven’t bothered to learn the words.

On the Bendigo diggings, on 13 August 1853, a large group of more than 10,000 diggers gathered together on what is now known as View Street, headed for the Government Camp, which was situated on the rise overlooking the creek, roughly where the Art Gallery is today. They had risen in protest at exorbitant taxation (licence fees) on the diggings. A fife and tambourine led the parade in from White Hills. The Irish contingent rallied behind a green banner of considerable length, then came the Scots. The Union Jack was flown alongside the revolutionary flags of Germany and France, and they were followed by the Stars and Stripes of the American Republic.

Furious at the attacks on his homeland by agitators who supported this insurrection against ‘British tyranny’ digger leader George Edward Thomson led the loyal Englishmen in a rousing three cheers for the Empire.

As the patriotic Englishmen dominated the rest of the protest against the Queen’s representatives it is hard to imagine that they would have baulked at rendering a chorus or two of ‘God save the Queen’, in the face of ‘Le Marseillaise’, ‘Deutschland Uber Alles’ or ‘The Star Spangled Banner.

All of these anthems are stirring and meaningful and reach into the souls of patriots of the nations they represent. I wish I could say the same for ‘Advance Australia Fair’, but so much about that song is just wrong.

If a popular song can be memorable, if a popular song can be stirring and meaningful, why can’t we commission any writer of popular songs to create a meaningful, memorable song for our nation? Why did we go back to a sentimental number composed in 1878 for the anthem to express our contemporary idea of who we are as a nation?

I know that ‘Waltzing Matilda’ is not the anthem, nor is ‘I Still Call Australia Home’, or ‘I Come From a Land Down Under’ for that matter, but they all do that thing that an anthem should do, they make us sing along, and most of us know the words.

What we need is someone like Queen — not The Queen — but the ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ Queen, to write us an anthem. They have produced some crackers: ‘We Are The Champions’, ‘We Will Rock You’ and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ among them — and — I bet you know most of the words to that complex and difficult song.

Next, the flag. We only have to wait until next Australia Day for all of that navel gazing to start all over again.

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1. Dylan Fowler - velvet Red Riding Hood cushion from bob boutique $88.00 2. New bob hub range - local Bendigo artists work, made into bags, purses, cushions & much more from bob boutique (prices vary) 3. Saff collective cuff links from Made in Common $35.20 4. Pastel dream keepsake glassware from bob boutique starting at $25.00 5. Sophie dress (multiple sizes and fabrics available) from bob boutique $185.00 upwards 6. Scratch Map - Scratch off the places you’ve been! Happy travelling. (81.9 x 58.2cm) from Organise my starting at $29.95 7. Saff collective cuff links from Made in Common $35.20 8. Shopping bag from bob boutique $15.00 9. Moe Moe necklace by Kimmy from bob boutique $55.00 10. Mr Wolfe Alpha Sky watch - Leather version $249 and Metal version $299 from Ruffell Jewellers and www.mrwolfe.com.au

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a technicolour trade A Bendigo tradie has found a way to express his heart and connect with others through crowd-stopping, jaw-dropping works of art.

By Lauren Mitchell - Photography by Leon Schoots Phil Ahearn is an exception to the rule of the plumber’s leaky tap.

It’s true a tradie often skirts around their own work, but not Phil.

A cabinetmaker by trade, he spends his days building kitchens for new homes in Bendigo. But we’re sure they pale in comparison to his own.

“I see inside all the new houses and I think, wow, everybody does the same thing,” says Phil. “There’s no warmth and the houses are clinical. I’m sure when the time comes they’ll all go, I can’t stand this anymore, and I hope my art is what they need.”

At the heart of Phil’s North Bendigo home is a bespoke kitchen hand crafted from recycled timber floorboards. The material worn smooth by decades of footfall. It’s here we sit to talk about life and art, under the technicolour protection of The Valley that Dances All Day – one

of Phil’s signature whimsical works, taking pride of place on the wall.

“Most of my art has a story or theme to it, a proverb or saying,” Phil says. “That one’s about peace.” But while all of his paintings have this popping palette, not all have been so happy. “I’ve suffered depression and anxiety for a long time. It’s been a massive journey. That’s why I’ve kept the palette really bright, but I did that subconsciously. I don’t know where this style of work has come from when I’ve been in such a bad place. They’re stories about the pain but they still have to be a picture.”

Phil says he started out a creative kid, but making art took a back step for decades. “I painted in school and then I didn’t. I became an 18-year-old lout, as boys do. I picked it up again ten years ago as a 89

way of taking my mind off things. It was always in me and it was a source of frustration that it couldn’t come out in life. You get caught up in life and work and I sort of lost myself. Painting was something to do while I was finding myself again I guess.”

Bendigo Easter Festival Art Show. “I was told they’re too out there and those frames are too heavy. It’s odd that my art can offend someone. So many artists are looking to offend or cause controversy and that’s not me. But they did make it in and I was very grateful.”

Phil describes going through a divorce and tackling some tough mental health challenges as being the impetus to pick up brushes again. To begin with he took three months of watercolour classes with wellknown local artist and teacher Terry Jarvis. From there he moved onto acrylics, which is how he found his style. “I can’t seem to get my personality out in watercolours. I feel free to create with acrylic.”

This year’s show was not the only place locals have enjoyed Phil’s art. He’s been a regular at the Moonlight Market in Hargreaves Mall since its inception. “It was the first time I’d painted in front of anyone,” he says. “I said to myself, just look at the paper, don’t worry about anyone else. I turned around and the only thing I could see was people’s eyes on me – that’s not good for the anxiety! I just had to put it out of my head and imagine myself painting at home and ignore all the noise.”

Lately that freedom has literally left the paper and flowed into the frames. Phil has started crafting his own frames from timber, paper mâché, wire, plaster and more paint. “I’ve just started doing these fanciful frames,” he says, adding they almost cost him a spot in the 90

Phil says his market evenings have been a great opportunity to meet people and connect through art. “I think there’s a massive audience

of people who’ve never seen a person doing art,” he says. “I like that I can inspire people for a few moments.” Sometimes that inspiration goes deeper than the creative.

“I’ve had a fair life of doubting myself,” Phil says. “When it comes to my mental health this has helped me see my own journey and when I talk to people I can show them, I was there and this is me now. I can say, I know how you’re feeling and it will get better if you try. If you take stock of where you are now you can move to the next level.

People want to hear there is hope.”

One market-goer stopped recently, took in the quirky streetscape scene Phil was painting and asked, where’s that? “Well, I made it out of my head,” Phil said, to which the viewer replied, that’s a great place.

And it is now, Phil confirms. “Most definitely. Life is such a journey.”

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cheery cherry Fresh tomatoes are one of the joys of summer. Where would a barbecue be without them? Embrace these little sunny balls of juice ‘n’ joy with a crowd-pleasing salad that’s sure to make you friends.

By Beau Cook - Photography by Leon Schoots

BLISTERED TOMATO SALAD

Method:

Serves 4 as a side

1. Place tomatoes cut side up on to a pizza tray and grill under a high heat for 3min or until blistered and soft, set aside.

Ingredients: • 2 punnets of cherry tomatoes cut into halves • 6 rashers of pancetta • 80g Persian fetta, alternatively use some buffalo mozzarella • 2 tbl. toasted pine nuts • 1 bunch of fresh basil leaves, picked • 2 tbl. extra virgin olive oil • 1 tbl. balsamic vinegar

2. Heat a pan over a medium heat and grill pancetta for 2min each side or until fat has caramelised, drain on absorbent paper and set aside.

3. Assemble salad; Gently toss tomatoes with basil leaves then place on a flat serving dish or plate, crush the crispy pancetta into pieces and scatter over the tomatoes, followed by pine nuts and crumbled fetta.

4. For the dressing place olive oil and vinegar in a small bowl, then quickly whisk together with a spoon and drizzle over salad.

5. Serve as a side salad with grilled meats or for breakfast with some poached eggs and toast.

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Alannah and Marcus Edwards

Chelsea and Matt Taylor

Gary Hogsden and Andrew Perry

Jason Scott, Rachael Watts and Joey Manton

Jayden and Brodie Keller

Tiarn East and Ethan Parsons

SWAPSIES AT THE SHOWGROUNDS North Bendigo once again became one almighty carpark as around 30,000 bargain hunters and motoring enthusiasts jostled for a spot nearest the Swap Meet.

The weather was superb for the annual drawcard at the Prince of Wales Showground. Local charities pitched in to help cater and raise funds for a number of causes.

Cellar Door Open Daily 11am-5pm (Closed Christmas Day) Taste and Purchase Current and OlderVintages | Boutique Accommodation Now Available 156 Forest Drive Marong,Victoria Australia | Phone: (03) 5435 2534 | Fax: (03) 5435 2548 | wine@sandhurstridge.com.au

Claire Lebek, Natalie Waters, Judi Batchelder, Jennifer Farrar and Ann-Maree Reid

Sally McInerney and Julie Best

DECADE OF CARE Richard Dickinson and Carol Pinder

Manola Sutton and Corina Brewster

Jo Ryan and Sarah Glasson

Terri Billett, Emma Heaslip, Jenny Bevans and Brianna Franke

Ten years ago a group of local health specialists opened the Bendigo Day Surgery in Chum Street with a vision to offer health services in the city so residents need not travel to Melbourne.

Staff and management celebrated the surgery’s anniversary and a decade of caring for locals in November – a milestone well worth cutting cake for.

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fruit fusion

Get playful with a semi-soup of fresh summer flavours.

By Peter Russell-Clarke Photography by David Field Summer days seem to be getting hotter.

Therefore cold soups are something which I make and serve, yet few others do. I often wonder why.

Anyway, I’m suggesting a semi-soup, semifruit salad of watermelon, cantaloupe, paw paw, mint, lemon juice and other flavours for your approval.

Now add some bite-sized pieces of smoked salmon, cut up raw broccoli, some black Kalamata olives (no pips), a few chopped up raw spinach leaves and chopped salad onion.

Toss those together and then splash in some soy sauce, a splash of apple cider, the juice of half an orange and half a lemon, a good squirt of Mirin and a few (very few) drops of sesame oil.

Now, top the whole lot with a soft poached egg. That’s right a SOFT poached egg.

Poached egg. Warm water in a pan. (Don’t Boil.). Warm an egg - first under the hot water tap then roll the egg in the very hot water in the pan. This will stop the egg white spreading when you crack the egg into the hot water. (If the white does spread, it’s an old egg.). Don’t put vinegar in the water, as the egg will taste like vinegar and forget all about whirlpooling the water.)

Good luck.

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hot days, cold beers There’s no better time to enjoy a cold one. Branch out with boutique Australian brews, or keep it local with a pick from Bendigo’s-own Brookes Beer.

By Justin McPhail - Photography by Leon Schoots

TWO BIRDS – PASSION VICTIM

BROOKES BEER – BENDIGO MID STRENGTH

LA SIRENE – CITRAY SOUR

STOMPING GROUND – BUNKER PORTER

Who makes it? Two Birds Brewery in Spotswood, Victoria. Run by 2 super passionate women (Australia’s first female owned brewery), with Jane Lewis having many years experience working in some of Australia’s best craft breweries before beginning her own adventure.

Who makes it? Brookes Beer in Bendigo – based in Mayfair Park (the brewery door is open for business Thursday & Friday 3pm-6pm)

Who makes it? One of the most respected yeast cultivars of Australian brewing – La Sirene are a brewery that specialise in yeast driven beers. Think of Saisons, sours and barrel aged goodness.

Who makes it? Stomping Ground – a new brewery built in an old factory on Gipps St, Collingwood. By the same team that brought you The Local Taphouse in St Kilda & the Great Australian Beer Festival (GABS, every year in May as part of Good Beer Week).

What is it? The beer version of Pasito! Super refreshing summer flavours of passionfruit and tropical fruits, slightly sweet. More than one will be perfect on a Saturday afternoon!

Try with: Pavlova on the 25th of December!

What is it? Arguably one of the best beers in the range, and only one standard drink! Made with big tropical and citrus aromas, light on the palate, and finishing dry with slight bitterness. Refreshing and sessionable!

Try with: Your end of year staff function!

What is it? An orange sour, made with real oranges, spiked with the house yeast strain and soured naturally.

It’s a super refreshing, crisp finishing beer that is great on those hot summer days.

Try with: Barbecue – chicken, grilled fennel, pork.

What is it? A super fluffy & smooth chocolate focused dark ale. Super creamy to drink, and perfect served chilled accompanied with ice creams and desserts.

Save some for winter to warm up and dive deep into a velvet chocolate beer heaven.

Try with: A scoop of vanilla ice cream - pour the porter on top – a beer spider!

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Come for the chicken.

Stay for the beer.

Come for the chicken.

Stay for the beer.

a cottage

industry grows

A couple of architects take a humble Bendigo cottage from mining-era relic to modern family home.

By Sue Turpie - Photography by Leon Schoots There is something quite magical about taking a page out of Bendigo’s architectural heritage and redrafting it into an exciting and new modern chapter. This miner’s cottage had already undergone some interesting renovations when it was discovered by its current owners. Thankfully, the quaint and unassuming original façade was still intact; something that E+ associate architect Rimmon Martin and wife, Rachel, wanted to remain when they accepted the challenge of renovating this Victorian property.

The central location appealed to the couple as did the ability to live with just one car for transport, but they knew they had a large job ahead of them. “A lot of people might have looked at the property but decided not to buy it, just because of the heritage overlay, and the cottage itself was in poor condition,” Rimmon says. The earliest rates notice the couple has for the house is from 1895, while there were newspaper clippings under the vinyl in the bathroom dating renovations to the 1970s. “There was very little heritage left by the time we brought the house; it really 101

was as basic as you could get. There were no decorative interior cornices or adornments.”

The front of the property could aptly be described as quaint and unassuming, with its timber decking, bull-nose veranda and original leadlight transom window. Stepping through the front door, a hallway leads past the two front bedrooms to the living area at the rear of the home, which has been transformed into a modern open-plan space.

The size of the space is unexpected given it is hidden from view from the street front.

The original property was some 80 square metres, and the extension has expanded the property to just under 100 square metres.

Rimmon and Rachel are both architects, having worked in Melbourne and now in Bendigo, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the development. They decided 102

to update the building just enough so the family could live in the property while making plans for the upgrade.

“It was an interesting process, knowing we would be working in stages. We just got in there and made it comfortable which meant we had time to see how the site worked and what would work for an extension; with evening discussions and drawings that gradually became more resolved,” Rimmon says.

“There were lots of little conversations and throwing ideas around, then realising something might not work,” Rachel says.

“We’d come home from work having seen something and then discuss whether or not it would fit.”

“Because the site falls away at the back, we knew we had scope to do something behind

the original house that would still sit well within the streetscape,” Rimmon says. The rear of the property was beyond salvaging, as was the bathroom and laundry space. There were also two brick chimneys, one in the rear northern corner of the property which was removed, while the other at the side of the property next to the driveway has been restored.

still wanted the lounge room to have that connection to the garden as well,” Rimmon says. The rear windows are as high as the ceiling, allowing the living areas to be lightfilled during the day and add to the feeling of space. There’s also a built-in desk to the side of the dining room for after-hours work and extensive cupboard space above the kitchen for storage.

The modern extension features burnt cladding on the exterior walls, extensive windows and a sleek interior design that suited their living requirements and created a striking contrast to the original building.

The lounge area is at the same height as the bedrooms, bathroom and laundry, while the kitchen and dining area is lower allowing easy access to outside.

“The cupboards are high, you can’t get to them without a ladder, but they’re still really useful and make the most of the space,” Rachel says. There is also a ceiling-high built-in cupboard next to the desk helping take care of any clutter, and there isn’t a hint of lino in the bathroom now. For a property that was built over 120 years ago it has all the modern features a family home needs, creating an interesting and tasteful blend of old and new. And there are already sketches underway for the next exciting chapter in this property’s story.

“You spend a lot of time in the kitchen preparing food and then eating, and we wanted that space to have a strong connection to the garden, although we

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Servicing Central Victoria for over 40 years.

1977

Years

2018

Printing in Central Victoria

Graphic design

Promotional material

Digital printing

Signs, Flags & Banners

Offset printing

Laser engraving

Large format printing

Website development

and so much more...

20-22 Deborah Street, Bendigo

5441 6600

kicking goals in the backyard

An active young family make the most of their local acreage with a modern landscape design that caters for all ages.

Photography by Leon Schoots The Junortoun landscape is more closely aligned with lizards than lush lawn. But that didn’t deter this local family from re-imaging the once-bare spaces around their new build, giving as much attention to the outside as the in.

“Bedrooms, lounge rooms, bathrooms and kitchens are all essential parts of your home, but if you put the necessary energy into your garden, you’ll extend your living space, increase the value of the home and create an outdoor oasis to enjoy for years,” they say.

Owners Leigh and Paige had long dreamed of the garden seen here – wide open spaces for their children to play and grow and a chance to make memories with extended family and friends. Cue landscaper Simon Rosa, who helped bring the ideas for their 2.5 acre block to life.

“This shows you can make the most of the space and your block doesn’t have to be all barren ground,” Simon says. “The brief was to make the most of the space for the three young kids.”

ABOVE: An aerial perspective of the property.

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ABOVE: Best-laid plans come to fruition.

Those kids now have their own private playground, inground pool and mini football oval, complete with goal posts. “The fact that our boys have space to kick a footy is so great,” Paige says. “We love the pool area and the fact that it makes entertaining a dream. The front yard is also stunning with the different concepts of textures and landscapes. I love the depth of rocks, trees, grass and the different levels.”

Being fully irrigated means the expansive lawns and lush trees will have the opportunity to thrive. However Simon says the species chosen are also hardy, such as olive trees and Chinese elms, ornamental pears and a gorgeous claret ash that in time will grow to shade the play space.

Even though the plantings are in their infancy, the yard still holds interest with raw timber details, paths, rocks and locallymade, handcrafted decorative iron gates.

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PROPOSED AREA SCHEDULE NAME AREA SQUARES 5.84 39.26 41.75 21.43 13.96 9.23 18.75 16.55 5.01 70.04 3.97 19.99 8.44 36.93 59.85 30.83 4.11 3.40 20.70 7.20 12.75 15.20 465.18

° N 20

W

N N

30 °E

NORTH FACING

WINTER

S

SUMMER

E

EXISTING METER BOX

NO FENCE

354° 23' 50"170.84 m MULCH 2 GRAVEL 2 GRAVEL 3 WASHED AGG CONCRETE

The garden was completed just six months ago. “In another 12 months it’s going to look completely different,” Simon says. “It’s a garden that will evolve as time goes on.”

KNOTTS LANE

“We had to think about themes and creating a place not only for us to enjoy now but in many years to come,” Paige says. “We focused on creating interest with different levels and materials. Attention to detail is something that Simon and his team are brilliant at and it shows in the end product.

EXISTING CROSSOVER

1.2m HIGH TIMBER POST AND RUSTED SLATE FENCE

EXISTING SHED

75x5.0mm STEEL EDGING

EXISTING WIRE FENCE

PROPOSED SHED

GREEN WALL

EXISTING GARAGE

200x200x1200mm TIMBER POST BOLLARDS

LAWN 3

GREEN WALL

EXISTING POOL

PEBBLE 2 LAWN 4

No. 79 9503 m²

FEATURE TILES

264° 23' 50" 56.00 m

54.24 m² 364.70 m² 387.88 m² 199.11 m² 129.70 m² 85.71 m² 174.22 m² 153.71 m² 46.56 m² 650.63 m² 36.90 m² 185.72 m² 78.44 m² 343.07 m² 556.02 m² 286.40 m² 38.14 m² 31.60 m² 192.33 m² 66.86 m² 118.42 m² 141.19 m² 4321.55 m²

W

CONCRETE GRAVEL 1 GRAVEL 2 GRAVEL 3 GRAVEL 4 GRAVEL 5 LAWN 1 LAWN 2 LAWN 3 LAWN 4 MULCH 1 MULCH 2 MULCH 3 MULCH 4 MULCH 5 PEBBLE 1 PEBBLE 2 PEBBLE 3 SAND SAND PIT SOFT FALL MULCH WASHED AGG. CONCRETE Grand total

LARGE SHADE TREE LAWN 1

EXISTING RESIDENCE

CONCRETE

GRAVEL 1

SAND

STEP PEBBLE 3 STEPPING SLEEPERS

SILVER BIRCH TREES

MULCH 5 LAWN 2

GRAVEL 5 RAISED GARDEN BEDS

SLEEPER STAIRS RIVER PEBBLE 1

GRAVEL 4 PLAYGROUND SOFT FALL MULCH

EXISTING SEPTIC TANK

2.0m HIGH TIMBER SLEEPERS

SAND PIT

FIRE PIT EXISTING CROSSOVER

EXISTING WATER TANK

CYPRESS TIMBER SEATS

LARGE FLAT ROCKS SHADE SAIL

LARGE SHADE TREE

MULCH 5

MULCH 5

EXISTING WIRE FENCE

PROPOSED SITE PLAN 1 : 200

PROJECT CLIENT:

©

33 BREEN STREET BENDIGO,

Ph: (03)54443315,

DP-AD 19497

MOB: 0438 981 586 EMAIL: info@simonrosalandscaping.com.au

COPYRIGHT

DO NOT SCALE

DRAWINGS

LEIGH & PAIGE DAVIES PROJECT ADDRESS:

79 KNOTTS LANE, JUNORTOUN

174° 23' 50"172.25 m

LEFT: The outdoor area and inground pool are perfect for a Junortoun summer.PRELIMINARY PLANS NOT TO BE USED FOR CONSTRUCTION PURPOSES REFERENCE No:

R18-025

ISSUE NUMBER:

REV. 1

DRAWING:

PROPOSED SITE PLAN

“Leigh and I had as much input as we wanted and we were guided by Simon in a way that it just all came together in the end.

We honestly loved working with Simon and his team on our garden. The space that was achieved is absolutely stunning and we can’t wait to create family memories here. We just can’t wait to enjoy this beautiful space.”

DATE:

02/03/18

DRAWN BY:

B.M

CHECKED BY:

G.P

SCALE:

1 : 200

(A2 SHEET)

SHEET No.:

There’s still no escaping the natural environment here, which was also a drawcard for the family. And so just beyond the manicured landscape lies the Junortoun bush, perhaps also beckoning curious young kids to explore.

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om.au om.au

QUALITY BLINDS FOR THE BUSY HOME Holland & screen roller blinds | Plantation shutters Roman & Honeycomb blinds | Drapes & sheer curtains Ziptrak & external blinds

www.shadyblinds.com.au

Jared: 0437 775 313

2018 VICTORIAN SCHOOL DESIGN

AWARD WINNER Best School Project $1 million - $5 million

EDUCATION EDUCATION photo: Glenn Hester Photography

COMMERCIAL COMMERCIAL photo: Rob Spaulding photo: Rob Spaulding

RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL photo: Open2View photo: Open2View

photo: Glenn Hester Photography

eplus@eplusarchitecture.com.au eplus@eplusarchitecture.com.au

www.eplusarchitecture.com.au www.eplusarchitecture.com.au

ED ED

photo: Gl photo: Gl

stick it

Intrigued by the methods of martial arts and inspired by the action heroes of his youth, this Bendigo man fought his way to the top in the combat sport of Eskrima.

By Raelee Tuckerman Photography by Leon Schoots

James Plowright uses his rattan sticks like an extension of his own hands as he thrusts, strikes and blocks, turning defence into counter-attack in a mesmerising flurry of movements.

These skills have taken James to three world Eskrima stick fighting championships and earned him two world title crowns. He’s even been the subject of an Archibald Prize entry painting.

“I always had an interest in martial arts,” explains the 29-year-old father of three. “I loved Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan movies, and that’s where a lot of it came from. Chuck Norris, Steven Seagal and Jean Claude Van Damme were all heroes growing up. I’d done some security work and was in the army, and they also go hand in hand with it.”

But international success was far from his mind when he began learning the Filipino-based form of combat and self-defence in 2012 and entered his first tournament the following year.

“I started competing just for a bit of fun, and later that year I won a division at nationals, which entitled me to a place on the national team to compete at the world titles in Hungary in 2014.

“Thinking that might be my only chance to represent Australia, I put in an enormous amount of work and sacrificed everything – no alcohol, no sugary food, trained really hard – and I was fortunate to win a gold medal in the staff (long single stick), which was quite unbelievable.

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“I went with no high expectations of winning, just wanting to do the best that I could do. But I have always been told it is just a game: it’s not fighting for sheep stations, you don’t hate your opponent, it’s just for fun and you tend to be more successful if you treat it that way.”

Eskrima is now a national sport of the Philippines, but the island nation’s history of martial arts using knives and other weapons dates back many centuries.

“During Spanish colonisation in the 1700s, the Filipino people were not allowed to have weapons, but sticks were not considered weapons,” says James. “They really developed their stick fighting skills through that and they could use them to help take back their land.”

Today’s tournaments feature fights with single stick, double sticks, staff or knives, as well as fencing and unarmed combat.

Judges award points for aggression, ring control and movement combinations.

Opponents, known as Eskrimadors, wear helmets and gloves and in full-contact bouts can elect to wear as much or as little body armour as they wish. “There’s always a trade off,” says James. “You put more armour on, you are more protected, but you are also more restricted. You put less on, you have more movement but are more vulnerable to getting hit.”

Competing in the 18-30 years 100kg-plus category, James has won two gold medals, one silver and five bronze from world campaigns in Hungary, the Philippines and Hawaii.

He trains at the Eden Iron Arm Weaponry school at the Tom Flood Sports Centre under the eye of Glen Eden and has reached the rank of instructor and artisan, similar to a black belt.

“I’m taking a break from competing at present and getting into instructing because I really enjoy passing on the knowledge that has been given to me by Glen. I don’t think it’s worth holding onto it just for myself, so while I work on my own skills I’ll see how many people I can help along the way. I find that very satisfying.”

Two fellow Eden students James has been assisting attended the

2018 world titles in Hawaii and both – Darren Kerby and Sharon Hill – won gold medals in their class.

The school caters for adults of all ages and abilities, with the only requirement a willingness to have a go.

“We are welcoming and we want new people to come along and try it,” says James, who drives trucks transporting portable buildings in his spare time.

“You don’t need to feel intimidated because it involves weapons – we teach in a safe environment and give people the opportunity to grow and develop. My dad has even joined up now and he’s picking it up nicely.”

James’s family, including partner Jacquie and parents Andrew and Val, have been right behind his unusual sporting career and are without doubt his biggest fans.

“Mum and Dad have attended every tournament I have ever been to.

They are always there supporting me and taking lots of pictures. I am on the Australian team with my team-mates, but my parents are at every international event so everyone knows them, too.”

James says his involvement in martial arts has given him confidence and a sense of security. “Having these skills makes me feel safe, though I have never had to use them outside of training and competition, which is a good thing. But I think once you know how to use them, you can often defuse a situation before it escalates.”

Perhaps the most unexpected spin-off from James’s journey has been having his portrait painted by local artist and former workmate Stephen Brown, for an Archibald Prize entry.

“That’s one of those things you never, ever think of until the day you are asked,” laughs James. “But it was actually a bit of an honour and a very proud moment.”

For information on Eskrima or Iron Arm martial arts, contact Glen Eden on 0413 284 610.

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FI2643

Bendigo 127 Mollison Street Ph: 03 5442 4298 fortywinks.com.au