BgoMag Issue 20

spring sprites field guide to fairies

daily express

all aboard with the train gang

miracle survival

man lost in own lawn

puppy love AUS $3.50 (inc. GST)

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all about us Andrea Coates, managing editor If owed for a job, what would you accept in lieu of money?

You could pay me in Cold Rock Ice-cream and you wouldn’t hear a peep from me. Since this ice-cream shop opened it’s doors in Bendigo, I have developed a slight addiction. Whoever invented ice-cream with lollies crushed into it is a pure genius in my eyes.

publisher Amy Doak

editor

What is the most unusual app on your iPhone?

Sarah Harris

It would probably have to be an application called Runkeeper. It has a built in GPS device and it can track, map and time me when I go running. My younger sister insisted I install it on my iPhone so we can keep track of each other’s progress and be accountable, as the moment you finish your run the results are displayed for the world to see on Facebook. Talk about pressure to run fast.

managing editor

What is your favourite time of day and why?

Dustin Schilling

Is it wrong to say 5:30pm? I love working for bendigo magazine but also enjoy knowing that the working day is over. This is the time I can enjoy with my family and friends, go to the gym, cook and just relax. This time is made even more enjoyable in spring as it is daylight savings and the sun is still out!

Chris DeAraugo, columnist Owed for a job, what would you accept in lieu of money?

Wine – a bottle or box (subject to the size of the debt) would always be and, often is, a worthwhile substitute for cold hard cash. Preferably a shiraz and ideally from one of our local wineries. I mention Wild Duck Creek, Connor Park, Eppalock Ridge and could go on and on. We are blessed with quality shiraz and red makers in our region.

What is the most unusual app on your iPhone?

Andrea Coates

copy editor Ali Brakha

fashion editor Esther McRae

creative director graphic designer Vanessa Courtot

marketing and advertising Andrea Coates on 0400 643 005 Maggie Stewart on 0413 318 237

writers Curt Dupriez, Geoff Hocking, John Holton, Tim Harris, Colin King, Ash McAuliffe, Esther McRae, Fiona Negrin, Lauren Mitchell, Raelee Tuckerman & Ken Turnbull.

contributors Roger Behrens, Laura Campbell, Brian Coman, Bryan Coghlan, Deanne Esposito, Kylie Freer, Robin Gray, Brikitta Kool-Daniels, Lois McBain, Paul Murphy, Suzie O’Shea,John Pawsey, Ashley Raeburn, Russell Robertson, Simon Rosa, John Snowdon, Katarina Vishnich & Sarah Wainwright.

photography Terri Basten, Hayley Coates, Jodie Donnellan, David Field, David Kleinhart, Kate Monotti, Lisa Nankervis, Ella Pellagrini, Ian Seboa, Anthony Webster & Paige Wilson.

I don’t have an iPhone so maybe that makes me unusual. With my recent phone purchase I specified – just a phone, maybe a camera, but “nothing else please”. I like to compartmentalise my media.

client manager

What is your favourite time of day?

Nigel Quirk

Seven at night when Annie and I take Nugget the dog for a walk. Experiencing the elements, time with wife and dog – rugged up and just being simple and healthy.

distribution co-ordinator

Raelee Tuckerman, writer Owed for a job, what would you accept in lieu of money?

A Western Bulldogs premiership (then I’d never ask for anything ever again). Failing that, an unlimited supply of musk sticks - soft ones, please, not brittle.

My mum passed on her penchant for these lollies while I was still in utero.

What is the most unusual app on your iPhone?

Maggie Stewart

print manager Bendigo Distribution Services This magazine is printed on acid free paper that is pH neutral, that is elemental chlorine free and manufactured using sustainable forestry practices. The mill has ISO 14001 environmental management systems certification. It is printed using vegetable based inks.

This magazine is printed in Australia by Printgraphics Pty Ltd under ISO 14001 Environmental Certifications.

We would like to invite you - as our readers - to submit letters, ideas, articles and other material that you would like to see included in bendigo magazine.

If bendigo magazine is to truly reflect your city as you see it, then BubbleNOT Wrap.EXP There’s something therapeutic about ANDED NOT EXPANDED we need your contribution. bursting those AT rows of AND bubbles and now I can SYMBOLS SYMBOLS 100% ATSHOULD 100% AND APPEAR SHOULD IN THIS APPEAR ORDER. IN THIS ORDER. Email us at mail@bendigomagazine.com pop away anywhere, any time. I don’t even need Fax (03) 5444 4313 Or snail mail to PO Box 2523, Bendigo VIC 3554 any plastic packaging! It was the first ‘fun’ app I downloaded and though you don’t get the same Or visit us at 225 Barnard Street, Bendigo VIC 3550 physical sensation from the game, it’s almost as Phone (03) 5444 5868 addictive as the real thing.

What is your favourite time of day?

The witching hour around midnight, when everyone else is asleep and our house is deathly quiet. With two busy kids, we lead such a hectic life during the day that this is often the only time I can actually stop and take a breath.

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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 publishers accept no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions or resultant consequences including any loss or damage arising from reliance on information in this publication. The views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the editor or the publisher.

www.bendigomagazine.com

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139 features 41

milky bar kids

55

super troupers

70

in sharp focus

Revisit the favoured hangout of malt flavoured memories

No need to run away when your form your own circus

Meet award-winning documentary maker Trevor Almeida

76

it’s crunch time

79

the earth’s pull

89

fairy goth mother

113

morning town ride

214

dream dresser

232

bali ha’i

Why Caesar salad is the perfect dish for the season

The rich soil of Heathcote is drawing crowds from afar

How hundreds of Victorian sprites wound up in Bendigo

We go rockin’, rollin’, ridin’ with the train gang

For 50 years Dot Lee has been the brides’ best friend.

A seductive destination calls visitors back again and again

29

214

154

89

55

Will we be remembered as brave explorers like Sir Edmund Hillary?

Ash McAuliffe - Page 167

48 regulars life

12

all about us

107

18

editor’s letter

house & garden

29

a worthy cause

20

what’s the go

194

round the garden

92

bendigo landmark

22

what’s on?

196

real estate advice

96

day tripping

26

in the know

197

home solutions

109

bendigo memories

202

inside out

169

a man’s word

fashion & beauty

new releases

126

tried & tested

207

on site

175

mum says

127

beauty q&a

208

talking about

183

dad says

129

a new you

business

186

bendigo brides

133

get the look

211

new business

188

feature bride

135

fashion forecast

214

business feature

191

your personal trainer

137

style inspiration

218

meet the managers

193

chiropractic care

139

this season

people

217

vet check

167

men’s style

30

the graduate

220

tech advice

171

due date dressing

32

two’s company

222

legal eagle

173

mum & kids

36

success story

223

employment advice

177

kid’s fashion

47

24 hours with

224

coghho’s couch

food & wine

48

where on earth?

225

what’s the story?

78

wine festival

52

school story

226

sporting hero

82

nice drop

64

back stage pass

228

sporting extreme

85

chef’s choice

65

the green room

230

little boys toys

87

from the foodie

73

why bendigo?

231

on the road

75

my favourite things

232

travelogue

arts & entertainment 83

at the movies

120

inside my ...

235

stockists

100

for art’s sake

122

be part of this

236

test drive

104

local authors

165

designer outlet

238

my car

17

editor’s letter

Those of you old enough to recall Zebedee of the ’60s/’70s TV program The Magic Roundabout will understand my take on spring - boing! boing!

There is something irrepressible about the season: the untrammelled budding and blossoming; the nuzzling and nesting; the gambling and gambolling that bespeak love in all its guises from the thrill of new romance to the mother gazing upon her baby for the first time.

It’s a

journey.....

There’s puppy love (page 52), then there’s the verve of exploration (page 48) and the sheer joie de vivre of the student circus troupe which features in David Field’s stunning photo essay (page 55).

In spring you slough off your coat, unfurl the scarf and begin once again to venture outdoors for pleasure rather than necessity. You might take a day trip to a neighbouring town (page 96) or travel further afield for a holiday (page 232) knowing the weather will be kinder.

It’s the season of brides, and few have been more responsible for making sure so many Bendigo women have looked perfect on the big day than Dot Lee, who walks down the aisle of 50 years of wedding memories with feature writer Lauren Mitchell (page 214).

Spring is also a time of rejuvenation, be it in the garden (page 194), Bendigo Town Hall (page 100) or brightening up the look of a family room with a few throw cushions (page 197).

There are pretty frocks to be worn, flop-eared bunnies to be cuddled (page 77) and, of course, fairies to be found - but not only at the bottom of the garden (page 89).

Language trips like poetry from the pens of our writers (page 109) and train commuters no longer have to travel each way in the dark (page 113).

In spring the bounty of the harvest spills from the stalls of the Bendigo Community Farmers Market (page 168) and we are energised by the sun (page 65) It’s a time of new beginnings (page 73), for the realisation of dreams (page 120) and, just by way of warning, when that red-headed girl rides by and steals your heart.

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Bendigo in spring takes on an almost Parisian air. Pictured in the garden of Mon Coeur, our model Ellen captures the joie de vivre of the season in this exquisite photo by Terri Basten.

Beautifully styled by Esther McRae, right down to the baguette in the basket of her vintage bicycle, crowned by a ‘40s victory roll created Lynsey Addlem with the perfect pink pout painted by Katarina Vishnich, this is one redhead who gets our vote. And with that enigmatic smile, how fitting that she’s dressed by Mona Lisa.

spring sprites field guide to fairies

daily express

all aboard with the train gang

miracle survival in

man lost own lawn

love puppywalking not just

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the dog

www.bendigomagazine.com

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what’s the go?

Tim & Sharon Carlson Welcome You

letters to the editor Dear bendigo mag team, Both Gerri and I adored the latest mag and think you’ve done an absolutely stunning job. The presentation from the cover to the back page is awesome. Great stories, photographs, happenings and beautifully presented. It’s a great achievement and something that puts Sydney’s offerings to shame. Go Bendigo!

Sally Macmillan, Cremorne, NSW I would like to congratulate the bendigo magazine team on their winter edition.

Bendigo Historical Society members are extremely pleased to see the items covering the rich history of the city and in your latest edition. The fine photgraphs by David Mulqueen for the Shamrock Collection are a joy to see. Added to this is the coverage of the publication of Frank Cusack’s Shamrock Story in the Local Releases section, the fascinating pages given to the Ghost Stories of Bendigo and Geoff Hocking’s Memories.

Well done, everyone at bendigo magazine. Just one point of criticism – how can you charge such a ridiculously low price for such a lavish production!

Jim Evans President Bendigo Historical Society Inc.

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Hi there, Firstly, what a fantastic magazine you have! It just keeps getting better all the time, particularly in the way that your stories and photos are including such a variety of people from Bendigo.

Secondly, I want to dob in my husband of whom I am very proud.

Damian has worked as a special education teacher for the past eight years. This year we have done a role swap and Dame is at home with our four children while I teach. Dame has started his own business called ‘Damian Pearce Urban Garden Designs’ He is madly passionate about all things that are gardening, sustainable & make people love and enjoy their outdoor spaces.

Dame has designed some great gardens for friends and is now working on a fantastic project for a friend’s brother who is disabled and is creating a sensory garden for him. This is an area Damian is extremely passionate about working with the carers who look after our friend’s brother to create an inviting, attractive and enjoyable space.

I think it would be great to see an article on the importance of these outside spaces in catering for the sensory/social needs of individuals with special needs. What do you think?!

Lara (wife of an obsessed gardener) Ed’s note: We thought so too Lara and have featured Damian and a few of his Favourite Things on page 75 this issue with an article about sensory gardens to follow in the summer mag.

Have you got something you would like to say? We welcome your feedback at bendigo magazine and just to prove it we are offering half a dozen books and a year’s supply of the mag delivered free to your door for the best letter published in the winter issue.

Congratulations Lara Pearce who is the winner for this issue.

Catering & Functions

The email address is: mail@bendigomagzine.com or post to PO Box 2523, Bendigo DC 3554

164 Mitchell Street Bendigo Phone: 5443 9875

what’s on?

spring fling Be it a day at the races, a night at the theatre or a stroll hand-in-hand through the park, it’s time to laugh a little, live a little and embrace the season of love.

september 19 – 22 15th Victorian Teachers Games Up to 2000 teachers and support staff from Victorian state and private, primary and secondary schools will compete in 30 sports. See how well “sir” and “miss” perform outside the classroom.

For the full program of events and locations around Bendigo go to www.victeachersgames.com

october 5 – 7 Elmore Field Days The Elmore Field Days is a three day event with around 700 exhibitors showcasing the latest advances in technology and innovation within the agricultural industry, together with many areas of interest to regional Australians.

Visit www.elmorefielddays.com.au for more information.

october 9 – 10 Bendigo Heritage Uncorked This moveable feast event grows bigger every year. This festival showcases the best of Bendigo food, wine and architecture.

Sip and sup your way around venues including The Capital, Bendigo School of Mines, and Bendigo Town Hall. Bookings are essential.

Tickets are $95 per person or $85 per person for groups of 6 or more on the Sunday and are on sale from The Capital on (03) 5434 6100 or at www.thecapital.com.au

october 13 Circus Trick Tease A strongman who is very, very sensitive holds up this fun show combining elements of the traditional circus, comedy, satire and drama. The venue is Bendigo’s hottest new performing space the engineroom in The Old Fire Station.

To book go to www.engineroompresents.com.au or ring (03) 5434 6100.

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october 2 – 3 Heathcote Food and Wine Festival Synonymous with great wines, especially shiraz, Heathcote is Australia’s emerging premium wine region. The Festival, now in its ninth year has become a must do event for wine and food lovers alike.

Visit www.heathcotewinegrowers.com.au/festival for more information.

october 27 Bendigo Cup Hold your horses – the spring racing carnival comes to town.

Who will replace the 2009 winner Zupacool in the annals of this historic race with a whopping $150,000 at stake? Who will win the overseas holiday for best-dressed. Check all the action trackside including the fashions in the field.

For more information visit www.bendigojc.com.au

october 30 january 30 The Art of Chess Bendigo Art Gallery is one of only two Australian venues for the hugely successful travelling exhibition, The Art of Chess from RS&A Gallery London. The Art of Chess is an ongoing project featuring chess sets designed by some of the world’s leading contemporary artists in a celebration of the game of chess and its continued relevance to the creative arts. Artists include Damien Hirst and Yayoi Kusama who encloses the game in one of her trademark polka dot pumpkins. The gallery has invited 13 of Australia’s leading artists to add their own moves to the game.

november 12 Australian String Quartet The current line up of ASQ came together as the Tankstream Quartet and together they hold the distinction of having won more international chamber music competitions than any other Australian ensemble in history. The program for this performance includes a wonderful new Peter Sculthorpe piece.

For bookings go to www.thecapital.com.au or phone The Capital box office (03) 5434 6100.

november 18 The Cave to the Rave Damian Callinan has mastered a killer tango, but this show is by no means strictly ballroom. Join him for a funny, sometimes furious, foxtrot through the history of dance from the first tentative steps around the Neanderthals’ camp fire to the modern day dance party.

To book go to www.engineroompresents.com.au or ring (03) 5434 6100.

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Bianca Frost

Travis Fitzgibbon

Jamie Wall

Dale Alexander

Weekday Breakfast Local News & Sport

Summer Sport Co-ordinator & Commentator

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in the know

town talk There is always something happening in Bendigo’s thriving retail, commercial and professional sectors. Here’s a bit of the buzz about the biz round town. new home for hardware The recent grand opening of Fitzpatrick’s Home Timber and Hardware huge new store is the culmination of three generations of hard work.

What started out as a timber, ironmonger and cutlery business in the 1860s has grown to a 4000-square metre emporium with an under cover timber yard and drive-through service plus garden centre.

Geat grandfather Frank could scarcely have envisaged the business he started to feed his family would one day grow to employ 30 people.

Fitzy’s, as it is affectionately known, has grown up with its customers over decades. One of those, is premier John Brumby, who recalled shopping at Fitzy’s back in his days as a school teacher at Eaglehawk High School.

Fitzpatrick’s Home Timber and Hardware, 320 Eaglehawk Rd, California Gully.

recipe for success Central Kitchens have clearly perfected the recipe for great joinery clocking up a landmark 20 years in the business. Over the past two decades this multi-award winning firm has manufactured a staggering 5000 kitchens. The company has also twice taken out the prestigious HIA Best Kitchen in Victoria.

Boasting one of the largest showrooms in the state with 12 kitchens on display, Central Kitchens also has a professional colour selection centre.

But they don’t just stop at building kitchens for new and existing homes. They also offer laundry and bathroom vanity fitouts with a free design, measure and quote service.

The Central Kitchen team caters to all budgets and as members of the HIA, Cabinet Makers Association and registered building practitioners, professionalism is guaranteed.

Checkout www.centralkitchens.com.au or visit Central Kitchens, 21 Piper Road, Bendigo East, (03) 5430 2000.

beauty round-the-clock

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Silk Day Spa is now on-line 24 hours a day for booking your spa treatments. At Silk Day Spa we believe life should be all about options and opportunity. For the computer savvy we have launched an online booking option on our website www.silkdayspa.com.au so day or night you can book yourself a spa appointment, at a time that suits you and with the therapist of your choice. If you prefer to speak with our dedicated and experienced therapists you can still call us on (03) 5444 5554 for assistance with your pamper or hair appointment choice.

There’s another clever mother and daugher team giving great cross generational appeal to Red Door Boutique. Shonia Holliday and Karen Sutherland have reinvented the prime Bath Lane location previously occupied by Bagwan men’s wear.

Now this funky shop caters to both sexes and offers a range of labels you won’t find duplicated in other stores. Shonia who balances being a mum and a university student with supporting her mum Karen in the shop, brings the keen eye of a graphic designer to retail. While Karen, who recently married well known Bendigo businessman Keith Sutherland, is known for her style and fashion sense.

Together they have sourced stock so that they have exclusive labels with some fresh young designers who have a real grasp of the cutting edge. Shonia and Karen are currently looking at going into the after five wear and welcome all ideas on what labels people love.

Red Door Boutique, cnr Bath Lane and Mitchell Street, (03) 5443 1444.

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behind the red door

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mirror images Cold light is a series of photographic works that uses refractive qualities of light through a lens and manufactured mirrors to distort and transform the materials at hand. The camera

is used as a tool in which to manipulate light and draw abstract landscapes from reinvented forms.

Artist Tara Gilbee uses the shadowy imprints to explore a psychological landscape that traverses the beauty of dark looming shapes and watery fields of the unconscious. Dream like visual fields that mesmerize and draw the viewer into a liminal field of possibilities.

The Cold Light exhibition is on at La Trobe University Visual Arts Centre 121 View St from September 15 to October 24.

new face, new place Since the beginning of locally owned company ESE Consulting in 2002, Directors Katie and Michelle have grown a personal, professional and dynamic team to provide the best possible service to the Bendigo community for all of your specialist recruitment and HR needs.

The team of Michelle, Katie, Stephanie and Andrew would like to welcome Brittany as the latest inclusion to their budding business.

Brittany has extensive experience in administration in the finance industry and looks forward to working with the talented bunch at ESE Consulting and liaising with our local clients. As well as gaining another colleague, they have relocated. In the heart of the Bendigo CBD, ESE Consulting are now located at 108 Mollison Street, in a timeless heritage-listed property. So, make sure to visit the new offices to speak to the team about your recruitment or HR needs and you will be guaranteed flawless and efficient service.

ESE Consulting 108 Mollison St phone (03) 5442 6676.

khong conquers KHONG restaurant has been a Bendigo icon for over 20 years, and this is truly a family affair. With children Chelsea and Marcus working in the family business, Alan the head chef in the kitchen and the infectious Jeanie greeting you as you walk through the door. KHONG is your number one choice for Chinese, Cantonese and Thai cuisine and is a fully licensed restaurant. Nestled right in the heart of Bendigo, why not pop in and enjoy an all-you-can eat lunch Monday - Friday or dinner Tuesday, Wednesday or Sunday. KHONG also offer take away and home delivery for only $2.50. If you are visiting Bendigo, why not order KHONG home delivery to your motel room?

KHONG is located at 200 Hargreaves Street Bendigo and can be contacted on (03) 5442 5088.

kick up your heels

man on a medical mission Meeting the medical needs of Bendigo’s growing population is the goal of the new Central Victorian Medical Recruitment Taskforce (CVMRT).

CVMRT has been formed to identify medical workforce shortages across the region and actively recruit medical professionals in all areas of need, including medical specialists, general practitioners and hospital doctors from metropolitan areas and, if necessary, from selected overseas countries.

The taskforce will provide a single point of entry for prospective medical professionals to practice in Central Victoria.

One of regional Victoria’s most experienced media operatives and administrators, Peter Hyett, has been appointed to head a new push to attract and retain key health specialists to the region.

“One of the challenges will be to find the mechanisms to attract and then keep the people with the skills we need, the CVMRT executive officer says.

“The growing stature of Bendigo as a significant national regional centre for health services means Bendigo has an even bigger demand to offer specialist services, and it also means we will have to cast our net globally.”

There are some lovely new souls running Kick Shoes with a mother and daughter teaming up to take over the business in May. Margaret and her daughter Kimberley have both had extensive experience in retail and have pooled their resources to showcase fashion footwear with an edge. “We are both shoeaholics, so have a natural love for what we do,” Margaret says.

The duo specialise in “on trend” brands like Siren, Verali, No!Shoes, Brando, Diesel and are the exclusive Bendigo stockists for much sought after Onitsuka Tigers range.

Kick Shoes also carries lots of bags and accessories and – just arrived from the United States – a range of men’s and women’s shirts and tees which you won’t see anywhere else in the country.

Kick Shoes also offers the extra smart facility of a dressing room so you can try on your shoes with that special outfit. This is particularly helpful for wedding parties.

So whether its casual or dressy, high heeled of flat drop into Kick Shoes and let Margaret and Kimberley assist you. Kick Shoes ... dare to be different!

Kick Shoes, 49 Bull St, Bendigo, (03) 5444 0646

gaol ghouls The Bendigo Historical Society will start running tours of the former Bendigo Gaol in October.

There are many stories to tell involving officials and inmates from past years featuring secret tunnels and ghosts including the appearance of mystery writing on one of the cell walls.

Anyone wishing to do a tour of the Gaol should phone (03) 5442 1005. ■ 27

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a worthy cause

beyond daffodils The Cancer Council’s signature fundraiser is over, but the work goes on with Bendigo Relay for Life planning committee busy gearing up for the 2011 event.

– Robin Gray There is excitement in the air as cancer survivors and carers line up behind the purple ribbon, each holding a purple balloon. The MC announces that it’s nearly time. The count begins 10,9,8,7,6 ... 1 and with an almighty cheer, 250 purple balloons are released in to the air as the strains of Gloria Estefan’s song Reach flood over the PA system.

As one the crowd lifts up its voice: “If I could reach high, just for one moment touch the sky.” The arena is buzzing with energy and hope.

Thus, another Relay for Life event begins. After months of planning, it is now time to dedicate the next 21 hours to what has become a Bendigo tradition.

Relay for Life is an annual fundraiser and awareness drive coordinated by the Cancer Council Victoria with 41events across our state in 2010. These events represent hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten; that those who face cancer will be supported; and that – one day – we will all live in a cancer-free world. It offers the community the opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer.

The Bendigo relay is usually held in April every year and goes for 21 hours beginning on Friday night. In simple terms it works like this.

After registering and achieving their fundraising goal, teams can camp overnight at the La Trobe University Bendigo Athletics Centre at Flora Hill. Teams then take turns at walking around the track and, in respectful tribute and solidarity towards those who have fought or are still battling cancer, they keep going for the duration of the event.

The Relay for Life philosophy is reflected in the motto “celebrate, remember and fight back”. The opening ceremony is followed by a ceremonial lap of courage by cancer survivors and their carers who provided such love, encouragement and support. This is always a moving moment for all who participate.

This year saw the introduction of a fightback ceremony to enable participants to celebrate, reflect and make a promise or pledge about how they will keep their relay goals on track for the following year.

The event wraps with the announcement of the top fundraisers and final total raised and the relay community celebrates another year of hard work and reward through fundraising and friendship.

Since its inception in 1999 the Bendigo Relay for Life has raised $2million with more than $160,000 added to the tally this year. The event averages between 1500 and 2000 participants each year and up to 90 teams. The event has a wonderful group of sponsors and supporters in the Bendigo community who provide it with what it requires including food supplies, lighting, trophies, printing, marquees, massage for participants, and drinks. The volunteer community and service clubs put in hours of work to enable the event to happen, setting up initially, during the event and then packing up at the end.

This includes the serving up of a delicious cooked breakfast and then a barbecue lunch. People volunteer their time to entertain participants and local community personalities volunteer to fill the MC role to our key ceremonies. Without the entire relay community, the event could not occur every year.

The Bendigo planning committee has already started work on the 2011 event. Over coming weeks and months there are numerous roles to fill including grounds/facilities, occupational health and safety, team recruitment and liaison, survivors and carers co-ordination, entertainment, volunteers, ceremonies and catering. If anyone is interested in joining the committee, new members are always welcome.

It’s a wonderful experience that makes all the hard work worthwhile because of the rewards it brings across the board.

If anyone is interested in getting involvrf in Relay for Life 2011 as a team, a participant, a survivor or carer, a volunteer, a supporter, sponsor or to be on the planning committee, please call 0438 417 477 for further information. ■

Photographer: David Field

Following the opening ceremony, the Bendigo Can Do Club (volunteer unit) prepares and presents a supper for those survivors and carers.

Then it is time for one of the very special moments of the relay when people place candle bags on the track in support of those living with cancer, survivors or in memory of loved ones. The tribute bags, filled with sand and a lit candle, are decorated with the names of cancer survivors and those lost to cancer. The flickering candles light the way for all Relay for Life participants. Following the candlelight ceremony everyone is invited to participate in a reflective lap of the track which is

illuminated only by the candle bags. Following this lap the lights are turned back on and the relay commences and team members begin the long walk through the night and following day.

29

the graduate

a global concern A love of creatures great and small drives Tegan Evans to take the macro view of a watery microcosm.

What was the driver for studying environmental science?

What has been the most enjoyable aspect of doing a PhD?

I grew up on a small hobby farm with all sorts of animals around the house and that inspired me to learn about what they eat and the types of environments that they live in. Science at secondary level provided the avenue to learn this information and more. As well as studying biology and chemistry at VCE level, I also studied outdoor education which taught me about enjoying the environment as well as the impact we have. The fact my father was a science teacher and really encouraged my enthusiasm in the field also played a big part.

Having the opportunity to go overseas to a conference to present my research and meet experts in my field of work. Nothing beats travelling to various places around the world and getting to experience different cultures. The shopping on the side and tourist attractions were also fun.

I am originally from Swan Hill. I came to Bendigo to study the applied science graduate course where I majored in environmental science. I then undertook an honours degree and continued into a PhD. I have been in Bendigo for the past eight years, so now consider myself a Bendigo local. I enjoy living in Bendigo as I have access to the majority of attractions that you get in a big city, while maintaining the small town atmosphere.

Can you explain your thesis topic?

My PhD is looking at the existence and role of fungi in wastewater systems. I chose to look at this because little work has been done in this area globally and the results of my PhD will hopefully pave the way for others to improve our understanding of the types of fungi present and whether they have a role in the treatment process either beneficially or to the detriment of the process.

This may indirectly lead to the development of practical applications.

Currently treatment plants can suffer from foaming or bulking reducing the effectiveness of the process and increasing costs. Findings from my work may indicate whether fungi are involved and how we might make changes to deal with these problems.

30

I would like to stay locally, however given the specific nature of my field of work the job opportunities in the local area are limited and highly sort after. I am hoping to go overseas and continue researching fungi in wastewater systems or other environments such as soil, lakes, oceans, glaciers, or hydrothermal vents.

What world environmental issue concerns you most and why?

Global warming would have to be the most concerning issue to me. The fact that this issue affects the world and will have so many implications (ie the rise in sea levels, loss of coral reefs) is worrying.

The scariest aspect is that we know that when you change one thing in the environment is has a chain reaction. The extent of this chain reaction we have no idea.

What’s your message for new students?

La Trobe University is a great place to study. I found that smaller class sizes allowed me to have one on one contact with academics, assisting me in learning as well as developing professional relationships. The accommodation options on campus at the University are also great for meeting other students particularly for students coming from rural towns who may not know many other students. I lived on campus for five years and would recommend it to any VCE students.

Nothing beats walking through a group of kangaroos to get to your next class. â–

Photographer: Anthony Webster

You are at the La Trobe Bendigo campus doing your PhD. Are you a local girl born and bred?

What will you do when you finish your PhD?

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24 hours with

angie johnston Think life keeps you on your toes? Try working out with Fit Republic’s general manager and the grandmother to 13.

5.15am The alarm goes off. I have about three different days and this is one when I open up the gym.

6.00am I arrive at the new gym in Abel Street and unlock the doors. I call myself the peripheral queen. All the little fringe bits get left to me, like making sure the cleaning is done. I do the rounds of the place to see everything is in order from the night before. Then, I fire up the coffee machine and get the café up and running.

8.00am Other staff members have arrived by now so I go home and have breakfast with Bella. She’s the youngest of my seven children and the last one at home. I hope she never leaves home, but she assures me she will. We usually prop up on the couch and watch the Today Show and eat our toast.

8.30am I drive Bella to school and then swing by the post office to collect the mail.

9.00am Back at the gym I check all the different areas are up and running.

Then I head to my office and have a quick look at the emails; replying to anything that needs immediate attention.

9.30am On Monday mornings I take a class. It is a low-impact, fat-burner session with hand weights. It’s a small group of women of mixed ages, some of whom have been with me forever. We were the first people to do aerobics in Bendigo 30 years ago and this is an oldfashioned class that dates to those early days. Although we do Les Mills program and all of that here, I am now of the age that I have knee problems and shoulder problems so this class suits me fine and it is a fantastic workout.

10.30am I have coffee with the ladies from the class before going back to the office to prepare for the management meeting.

Noon Management meeting

1pm I rush home and throw some stuff in the slow cooker so we have something to eat that night. Typically it would be a chicken dish; tonight it’s with leek and green peppers. I make it up as I go along so it tastes different every time. Sometimes I do a sweet potato and lentil curry soup. I love my slow cooker. After I have put the cooker on I take Lucky, the cocker spaniel out for a walk.

2pm Back in the office where I knuckle down and work on the accounts, rostering etc. We are a training organisation so we run nationally recognised courses with over 300 students doing diplomas with us across Australia as well as traineeships. I don’t do any of the training, but I am involved in the accounts and admin of that side of the business.

4pm - 6pm 8pm I am home by now most nights so Bella and I sit down to dinner, Barry too – if he is home by then. After dinner we collapse on the couch and watch Desperate Housewives. Barry just shakes his head, but I love my trashy TV.

9.30pm I clean my teeth, remove my make-up and put on the night cream.

Then I go to bed and that’s it for another day. ■ 32

Photographer: Anthony Webster

I have café duties which includes making lots of coffee.

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success story

the style guide He’s helped dress some of the biggest names on the catwalk, but Connel Chiang’s dad was the first to be benefit from his fashion sense.

I was raised in Bendigo, Spring Gully to be precise. Growing up in Bendigo was great fun. I spent my school years getting involved in all that this region has to offer, soccer, music lessons, theatre performances, several choirs, gymnastics, volleyball, volunteering etc.

Looking back I can see my interest in fashion sprinkled through my childhood. It was not uncommon that my father would emerge from the bedroom only to be marched right back by his seven-year-old old son to change his awful tie. When I was in my adolescence I had two very well-dressed, trendy brothers who worked in fashion while they were at uni. It was there that I was introduced to the romance of fashion and how it could be a very effective means of expression.

I guess, when it came to senior school most of the guys thought I was a bit bizarre. In 1998 they couldn’t fathom why I would want to spend $100 on a jumper in Melbourne when they could go to Jay Jay’s and buy two for $25, nor did they understand that the reason I didn’t like a certain kind of T-shirt was because “the fit” wasn’t right.

While some of them had a hard time understanding my idiosyncrasies my opinion was often called upon when deciding upon locations for dates, gifts for girlfriends/boyfriends and naturally “what to wear”.

Suddenly, I proved useful and not so strange.

But, back then fashion wasn’t something I took seriously. When I left school I was a maths/science boy who wanted to attend Melbourne University and live in the residential colleges. When the shine wore off both of those scenarios, I took time out and started working full time in a fashion boutique. On one of my days off I looked at the fashion images in the Herald Sun and I called them to find out how I could get involved. A couple of phone calls later I had been booked on a Portmans’ shoot to assist a stylist.

It was one of the scariest mornings of my life, I was so nervous. A little too nervous in fact because I hadn’t looked at the temperature of the iron before I started and I burnt a hole through the top that was needed on the shoot that day. That top was one of the ugliest pieces I’ve ever had to work with. However I felt so bad for the stylist and for Portmans. But, even though I had made such a huge mistake I knew that something about that day – and the accidental death of that horrible top – was right and I called the stylist back the following week to ask her for more work.

When I first started out doing fashion shows there was this wonderfully angry model who was lots of fun to talk to outside of work, but who could become your worst nightmare during a show. Frequently she made her dressers cry and feel worthless, but she was a great model 36

ABOVE: Connel’s reputation as a stylist is stellar BELOW: The girl in the cactus garden was styled

by Connel for the Herald Sun/LMFF magazine lift out in 2008 OPPOSITE PAGE: The image of the girl with the red fabric was a test shoot, styled for fun.

Photographs by Justin Ridler

so she was always selected by the stylist for shows. In addition to her swinging temper she was also known for her ability to remove all her clothes between the catwalk exit and her clothes rack ready for the next outfit. She was never the least bit concerned about who saw what bits of her. This one day she decided to remove her G-string because it was visible through the dress. As she walked back into the dressing area she ripped the dress off and walked the entire length of the dressing room only in her heels. Not only did she walk past the models and their volunteers but she waltzed past some of the tech guys who were back stage. I swear I heard jaws hitting the ground.

The nicest celebrities and models are the ones who aren’t too precious and enjoy life. Honourable mentions go to members of the Carlton Football Club,Cathy Freeman and the new face of Myer, Jessica Hart.

My top tip for Bendigo Cup and racing season would be: Pay attention to the colour of the season and find some way to work it into your wardrobe; Wear practical/comfortable shoes; Source the right kind of underwear, no one likes seeing ‘panty lines’.

Similarly a hint of “decolletage” is much more appealing than the full expose.

Cast an eye over your date to make sure he is up to scratch.

Make sure you apply and reapply the sunscreen throughout the day.

Bad tan marks are the pits.

And for the really rowdy girls ... if you just know things will turn ugly at least try and find a nice stubby holder that matches your dress and a hat that can fold up to fit in your bag when you get tired of it.

Does style always win over substance?

As a stylist some part of me would like to say yes, but my answer is never. It is often those truly stylish people that have the substance to match. Personal style is a method of self expression and the greatest people in the game have the substance and the knowhow to create those looks. ■

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good night’s work There wasn’t much chance of sleeping on the job when an impressive gathering of Bendigo’s busiest and brightest turned out in support of homeless youth.

The temperature plunged to -1, but there was a warm, fuzzy feeling in the air when more than 140 of some of the city’s movers and shakers bedded down outside Bendigo Town Hall.

The big-hearted group of Bendigo business and community leaders not only raised $60,000 to support St Luke’s drive to house homeless youth, but put the issue firmly in the public spotlight.

St Luke’s CEO David Pugh hailed the Bendigo Executive & Director Sleepout (BEDS) as a wonderful success. “Speeches from young people moved many to tears and also to practical action. Job offers and offers to fix a broken car flooded in. The event really did build a sense of community, with old and young mingling and real conversations occurring,” David said.

A key factor in the BEDS success was the shared ownership of the event between Strategem Financial Services headed by CEO David Richardson, City of Greater Bendigo Council and St Luke’s. ■

38

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in community contributions and it all starts with For most Australians, community and banking are worlds apart. But since the Bendigo began forging its very individual form of banking, a growing number of people are realising the benefits to be gained from linking the two.

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ResCom Bendigo are more than your local real estate agents, we are local business people living in and around Bendigo. We’re living the Bendigo lifestyle, so if you are ready to buy or sell your home or property, need a home loan, insurance or require conveyancing, ResCom Bendigo have the local knowledge to make your experience a positive one. Call the team at ResCom for an obligation free chat and find out how you can benefit from using one or more of our services.

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milky bar kids Photographer: David Field

It was the favoured hangout that flavoured memories of “running down to the corner shop”. Where did it go? You may just be surprised.

– Lauren Mitchell The Milkybar Kid made his television debut in 1961, advertising Nestle’s famous Milkybar. It was a name that would have gone straight to the heart of every suburban kid who’d been asked to “run down to the corner” with a pocket of change for a bottle of milk.

It rarely happens these days; most families source their milk and sundry from supermarkets. Bendigo’s milk bars have long been falling

victim to the big guys and as such, these tiny family enterprises that once characterised the city are closing up shop. Of course not all of them have. There’s a particular place in the Borough that, come football season, is teeming with fans all weekend. But many have been banished to another time.

Both of my childhood hangouts have long gone. One is now a costume 41

hire shop, the other a service station. But as we found out when researching this story, the loss of the milk bar hasn’t meant a diluting of community. Sure, the kids may not be sent down to the corner on their own any more, but with a little reviving and a lot of love, these old shops are being re-invented to re-characterise the suburbs.

Think of Spencers on Carpenter, once Vera and Jimmy Hart’s mixed business, now a funky destination cafe. Or the charming hairdressing salon on the Violet Street corner.

Speaking to some older residents, the list of once-were milk bars is a long one. And of course there were milk bars, and there were “milk bars”– the glitzy establishments that glamorised a glass of malted froth. The 1940-50s era Dad ‘n Dave in Hargreaves Street was like something off Miami Beach with its stainless steel trimmings and blaring jukeboxes.

It was post World War II and there was optimism in the air when Les McClure rolled into town and established the Dad ‘n’ Dave milk bar. Les later become famous for his Four ‘N Twenty pies, invented in Bendigo, but he cut his business teeth on milk bars. Just on pies though, the Dad ‘n’ Dave variety was also a winner, despite the curious slogan “Eat ‘em here and die around the corner”.

Then there was Aunty Sally’s on View Street, Favaloro’s along Pall Mall and the hugely famous Rechter’s in Mitchell Street. Rechter’s – opened in 1929 – was for so many decades the milk bar for the cool cats. I remember the joint in its wilting years, memorable times with cappuccinos, a girlfriend of choice and The Bangle’s Eternal Flame humming from the table-top jukebox. We’d be the only customers, in 1996, with just a tired old man behind the counter for company.

Locals unknowingly take a tour of the city’s old milk bars daily It would be impossible to traverse two suburbs without passing the ghosts of milk bars past, but here we stop off at three former Bendigo bars, all with new leases on life, all giving something new to the neighbours.

RIGHT: Hydee Rechter pictured in her landmark milkbar with son Bob and sister Lena.

A pre World War II institution, Rechters attracted new generations of patrons through the ‘70s and ‘80s but survived only a few years after the death of Hydee in 1993.

BELOW: A boy and his dog captured on a visit to shops in Eaglehawk Rd, Long Gully by Allan Doney circa 1960.

Image 000524 of the Doney Collection was reproduced by permission of the National Trust.

42

Arnold Street You can’t buy a soft drink from the Arnold Street milk bar any more, but you can bet the faded Coca Cola sign up top won’t be going anywhere. After who-knows-how-many years as a beacon on the old shop it’s got to be considered retro.

At Whatever Old, the business which now occupies the faded milk bar, anything retro, deco, brico or just plain weirdo is dusted off, shined up and loved like sugar. And for shop owners Des Charles and Cynthia Clee, the little shop front is just as valued, too.

It took the couple years to find the right location for their vintage dream. It needed to have quirk and character and a winning location, they’d exhausted a former service station and a darling little butchers shop, completed with an original tiled facade, but it was the old milk bar that stopped Des in his tracks ... literally.

“I was just driving past and I saw it, turned around, and had to check it out,” he says. “I rang the week the shop had been rewired, I found the landlord’s name on the window and rang him. When I was talking to him about it the phone rang twice with other people interested ...

I happened to call at the right time.”

Seems it was the right time all round; who knows how much longer the couple could have gone on accumulating wares without a place to sell them. “Myself and Cyn, we’d spend weekends at the markets buying ... all our time at markets, they were good weekends,” Des says. “My mate’s shed was full. The house was full, the veranda was full. The garage was full, all the bedrooms were full and the hallway had stuff in it, too.”

When the couple started unpacking here, a few memories spilled out too. Turns out Cynthia spent her early years in Bannister Street, just around the corner from the shop. “She used to come in here and buy broken biscuits”, Des says. “You could get a bag of broken biscuits over here for a ha’penny some 50 years ago. I find it amazing that she’s actually back here now. There’s something comforting about that.

“This place has terrific local history. All the locals loved it as a milk bar and they’re happy having us here now. The older residents come in and tell yarns about what it used to be like.”

Des believes the shop was perhaps originally a butcher’s shop, followed by a grocer’s, then a milk bar from the 1960s onwards. The traditional neighbourhood business closed a couple of years ago and the place lay dormant and awaiting repairs.

The locals may not be able to duck in for milk and bread any more, but they’re right if they’re after a nice old piano accordion to go with their cuppa. Or a suitcase of Punch and Judy-style puppets, or a set of retro ramekins, or an unidentified part off a ‘56 Buick. This shop is a treasure trove.

After a few months open Des surmises Bendigo is a city of collectors, especially when it comes to local memorabilia. “I once sold a 1906 Beehive book, of 15-20 pages of different products and prices and I got nearly $200 for this tiny little book,” he says. “Bendigo history like that is very, very sought after.” The week before bendigo magazine pops in, a couple of stove doors stamped “Made in Bendigo” swept out the front door, and before that a carriage step marked Bendigo exited quickly too. “It took me a week to work out what that was. I put it in here and it sold in an hour.”

The shop is a glorious mix of the feminine and the masculine – thanks to the keen eye and interests of its owners. “Cynie’s a bit more open minded. Myself, I really like art deco and retro stuff. And the more unusual, the more odd, that’s my forte. Sometimes if it’s ugly enough, it’s beautiful. I struggle to buy anything that’s not old – even my cardigan’s 35 years old,” he says, tugging at his top.

Before opening Whatever Old, Des dealt his wares on eBay, and although the on-line auction site could be good for pushing up the prices, Des says it was “tedious and unfulfilling, sitting at a computer”.

As we speak a customer sashays in and notices a fabric banner advertising the re-opening of Bendigo’s Shamrock Hotel on April 14, 1981. She shares the legendary story of her grandfather, who supposedly once hit a golf ball straight down Pall Mall from the Shamrock to the fountain.

And I get what Des means; you don’t find stories like that on eBay; but you do find them in an old milk bar in the suburbs.

43

Barnard Street Last year locals endured the transformation of historic Barnard Street from a tree-lined boulevard to a four-lane city bypass. That’s progress, that’s life. But there was another project quietly taking place in the street to bring it into the here and now...

The amazing transformation of the neighbourhood milk bar into a funky townhouse apartment was three years in the making. Owners Greg and Maree Hough watched the shop slowly crumble as a string of business came and went; from a milk bar to a fish and chip shop, to an Internet kiosk. When a fishmonger and then a tattooist showed interest in the shop next door, they thought they’d best buy it instead.

The plan was to turn the “worst building in Bendigo into the best”.

After a few compromises due to planning issues, the couple concede they’ve done the best with what they had; maximised the space and rejuvinated the streetscape.

Situated between two high schools, the old Barnard Street milk bar holds many memories for students slipping out of class for a packet of cigarettes, like it or not mums. A close friend of mine used to frequent the bar during sport classes, then chain-smoke her way around Bendigo’s Paris end; hey, it was exercise!

But for passersby, and the Houghs, the only sniff of the old building left is the exposed brick wall in the single carport at the front, bearing smoke stains from a once open fireplace. The Houghs kept the late 19th century shell, then gutted the entire building, adding a sitting room and balcony up top. The shop had been renovated in the 1980s and held little historic significance, save the brick wall.

“When some younger guys ran the shop we’d see them sitting up on the roof on weekends drinking a few cans and that’s where we got the idea that it would be a good space to use,” Greg says of the front balcony. It’s a postcard worthy view up here, the best of Bendigo laid out before you; the Cathedral spire, Rosalind Park poppet head, QEO lights and Tom Flood Sports Centre. The Houghs could sell tickets for this space come Madison night. And I’m assured there’s no better place to view New Year’s Eve fireworks.

This very cool inner-city pad has Tetra-like dimensions. Into the space the owner-builders managed to fit two living areas, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, one car space and two outdoor living areas. Its sleek interior belies its former life, but makes use of much of the remnant materials. “The challenge was light and also we wanted to use all the plumbing outlets that were already to one side,” Maree says.

Greg adds; “We tried to be environmentally friendly and re-used as many materials as we could. It caused great interest with locals passing by.”

“People would often pop their heads in for a look,” Maree says. “A lot of people watched the decline over the years and were happy to see it resurrected.”

The road may be busier, the shop may be gone, but there’s been no decline in the sense of community in this pocket of the city. Greg and Maree have lived in the area for 12 years and can vouch for the regular street parties hosted in the back lane. And there’s always someone looking out for others, which means these two travellers feel at ease locking up, packing up and taking off whenever the bug bites.

“There’s a good sense of community around here,” Greg smiles.

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The Hub I include Bright Street’s The Hub on my tour to write of an enterprise resurrected. As with the customers who frequent this place, I get much more than two bob can ever buy.

The Hub’s manager Janet Osman and Bendigo Access Employment CEO Paul Kirkpatrick usher me past the bain marie into the back meeting room, where in half an hour’s time, 50 residents will be gathered for a hot meal and a good time. The community dinner happens each Tuesday evening here, courtesy of Horizon House.

The Hub’s employees hang back a while to help prepare the space, voluntarily. That’s how things work out here. “It’s not a good business decision, because it takes away from the takeaway food,” Janet says of the meal, which costs a gold coin donation, but it all helps cement The Hub as just that ... the hub of the community.

The old milk bar had been empty for seven years before Bendigo Access Employment opened The Bright Street Enterprise Hub in April 2007. The employment agency had been running a program to get locals into jobs. “But we weren’t having too much success,” Paul says.

A survey revealed a lack of childcare and transport were barriers to people seeking employment. “We thought, if an enterprise could be created in the area we’d solve those problems,” Paul says. So they bought the old milk bar and refurbished it with City of Greater Bendigo council and government funds.

Nowadays, The Hub is a self-sustaining business employing 12 parttime local people. And it’s brought much more than milk and papers back to Bright Street. It’s put the bright in the street, you could say.

The Hub is a meeting place, not only for children with $2 in their pockets, but for community groups. Ideas have flourished here. The place incorporates a tool library, maternal and child health service, Internet kiosk and catering service, “weddings, funerals, anything,” adds Janet. And then there’s the Kids Hub Club, a fun way to help children with their homework. It’s supported by student teachers from La Trobe University.

appropriately bandied about Bright Street. A former milk bar owner who had also worked with Bendigo Access Employment, Janet says when she read the advertisement for The Hub’s manager, she felt it had been written just for her. And she delivers beyond the bottom line, taking a heart-felt interest in the wellbeing of this community, especially its young people.

“A young boy approached me just after Christmas one year because he wanted some casual work,” she says. “He was living with his stepmother and things weren’t going too good. He wanted to quit school, get a job and support himself. He wasn’t going to return to school at all but I said, ‘If you return to school to complete your VCE, you can do a part-time traineeship while you do that’. And he did, and at the end of the year he completed his VCE and his traineeship.”

The now former employee has been accepted into the William Angliss TAFE catering course.

Janet has lots of similar stories. Like the one about the leader of the local “rat pack”. “I tried for 12 months to settle the guy down and I couldn’t, so I thought, ‘I’m going to give him a job’,” she says. “He was another one who wouldn’t go to school – now he’s doing Year 10 and a part-time traineeship. He’s made a huge turnaround.”

Janet knows how important the local shop can be to a community. She built a life around it. “When I had a milk bar in 1989 there were no 24-hour shops,” she says. “That’s why milk bars had to die, because all the supermarkets are open now. I got out at the right time. When I had it, the milk bar was thriving. I had my 30th birthday party there and I had 200 people from the neighbourhood in the backyard, it was where people met. And that’s happening here now.

“The local milk bar still has a place I reckon, it’s the wages that are the killer. If you were a family who wanted it just for the lifestyle and just to survive you could do it, just for the family.”

“After six months of us being open a parent came in here in tears – once they felt comfortable with The Hub they started to come in for assistance with personal issues – this lady came in because she wanted her kids to be better than her, but she couldn’t help them with their homework,” Janet says. “So that’s when we set up the Kids Hub Club.”

Janet says it’s all the added extras at The Hub that help make it viable. Plus the fact the community wholeheartedly supports their local. “Someone mentioned to me their sense of personal safety was enhanced with The Hub being here,” she says. “And it’s certainly reduced the isolation. People come out to buy the paper and say hello to other people. We’ve got that respect from the community. They can see we are doing what we said we’d do and are giving the local community jobs.”

She’d never agree with it, but Janet herself has been credited for a large part of The Hub’s success. The name Mother Hubbard has been

“You change a lot of people here Janet,” offers Paul. “The Hub does,” she says. ■

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two’s company

decima & pierre The gracious consultant and her constant canine companion are much more than part of the furniture at Valentines Antique Gallery Decima: I had a pussycat called Mittens. He died and I was really broken-hearted about it, but I just couldn’t replace him.

all the way down the coast to Torquay where I bought a big bed and nice jackets for him.

One day a friend was out somewhere and met this man who had a poodle for sale. So, this day my friend came running over to my place with the man trailing behind her and said: “Oh, Decima I have got you a poodle isn’t he beautiful?”

Later I went with a friend to the Gold Coast and we went to the Versace Hotel and discovered this beautiful posh pet shop there. I bought him a collar with Swarovski crystal letters spelling out P-i-e-rr-e. I bought an ocelot suit and a wet suit. He has collars and leads in every colour including a Swarovski crystal lead I bought from America that retails at about $300 or $400. I get him groomed and shampooed every couple of weeks. He has his nails painted - sometimes he has black nails, sometimes red.

I thought, oh dear do I really want a puppy dog? But, I paid over the $500 then I started having a nervous break down because I had no idea what to do with him. The first night he went to the back door and sat there staring at it, more or less saying “let me go home to mummy”.

Pierre: I was trying to tell her that some of the furnishing, they are not exactement to my taste, but perhaps these things, they are sometimes lost in translation, non?

Decima: I felt so upset. He was so strange because I had never had a dog. I rang the people I bought him from and said; “I am so worried.

My little dog just wants to go home. He is not happy.”

Photographer: David Field

The wife of the man I bought him from said: “Look just pick him up, cuddle him and take him to bed with you”. That was so foreign to me. I was so frightened of him, I nearly fell out of the bed. I wasn’t accustomed to it so I decided he had to sleep outside in his own kennel.

So I had a little kennel built outside, but it wasn’t long before he talked me into him living in the house. It got very cold out and I thought, ‘Gosh he could die out there.’ Now he sleeps on my bed in his own mohair rug.

Pierre: I am not for the outdoor living, like the bleu heeler or the dog of the sheep.

Decima: I learned to walk him when he was little and then I got really hooked on this dog and started to buy him beautiful clothes. I drove

Pierre: Oui, Pierre, he is trés chic.

Decima: I would never go back to a cat. Pierre is more of a companion than a cat. He doesn’t shed, he is very clever and he has such good manners. He reads me like a book. I don’t have to speak he knows exactly what I am about to do or what I am doing. He understands me perfectly. He is a better companion than any man. He is on your side and doesn’t stray.

He is a bit of snob in way. If I take him down the street on the lead, other dogs will want to come up and talk to him and he will give them a look and draw himself up to his full height. He is not necessarily interested in every dog, but if he sees a poodle that’s different.

He chooses who he wants to be friendly with. I feel embarrassed sometimes because I know the person with the dog and he gives it the big brush off Pierre: Breeding - how you say? - it is everything.

Decima: I tell him I love him every day. I say ‘I love you to bits’.

Pierre: Ah, but that is all part of my charm, n’est ce pas? ■ 47

where on earth?

ella’s in ulaanbaatar Former Bendigo Advertiser photographer Ella Pellagrini travels widely as a photo journalist. Here she is trackside at Mongolia’s version of the spring carnival.

I left Australia for Beijing by plane. After a couple of days I got on the train to Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia. After 32 hours I finally reached my destination – just a few days before the start of the Naadam festival season.

The biggest festival is held in the Mongolian capital during the national holiday in the National Sports Stadium. But there are many smaller towns that hold their own carnivals and it is one of these, less official spectacles I wanted to record.

At the beginning it seemed impossible to do something that didn’t involve travelling with other tourists outside the main city in just a few days by myself.

No one knew where and when the next festival was in the country or how to get there, and very few people speak English.

Having heard that a festival was on in a small town called Mongunmorit, east of the capital. I jumped on a bus for the closest town and from there I hitchhiked, as everyone does in Mongolia.

It was a two-hour bumpy ride on a road not much more than a dirt track across the prairie, through hills and past the occasional yurt.

As we drew close we started to come across more and more people walking and people on horseback. There were men, women and children in beautiful traditional dress heading for the Naadam.

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I dropped my bag at the home of the village teacher and started walking with them. I didn’t see any other western tourists in two days I spent there. It was the most happy, crazy time.

You see little kids galloping past on horses backs, kids as young as four riding bare feet screaming “tchut !tchut!” and you are taken away with them. You you feel so envious of this wild freedom ... I’ll sell my motorbike when I get back and buy a horse, I’ll call him Pedro!

In the evening there was a band from the capital playing and men in traditional dresses walked around inviting women to dance. So many of them were swaying even without music because of too much vodka.

I stayed both nights at the English teacher’s house with her husband and her lovely daughter Suvt. In the morning I had yak milk tea that they prepare with salt and some yak cheese that two little girls brought in as a present. It has a very strong flavour and is very dry and surprising because it is completely unsalted.

On the second day they had wrestling competitions. Wrestling, horse-riding and archery are the three hotly contested events of the Naadam. I went for a horse ride (but they didn’t let me go fast). I left on the third day. I got a lift from a man who was taking the skeleton of an elk to a museum. We had a flat on the way but I made Ulaanbaatar for the evening. ■

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photo opportunity

read all about it The official opening of Girton Grammar School’s $2.5 million junior library was another milestone for this wonderful institution’s history book.

Since re-opening in 1993, Girton Grammar School continues to go from strength to strength. The combination of excellent strategic planning, outstanding facilities, a committed and talented staff and dynamic and varied curriculum has contributed to making the school an outstanding educational facility.

Now Girton can add a junior library par excellence to its list of attractions. The library built with funding provided under the Federal Government’s Building Education Revolution program not only opens a new chapter for the school, but also the hearts and minds of children through the power of the written word. ■

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a school story

call it puppy club It’s play time at the vets where pets are learning to love one another and associate a visit to the surgery with fun rather than fear.

In this class of little ones, rough and tumble is encouraged. It makes for a happier better-adjusted adult, teacher Sue Harvey says, to let puppies play.

Through the tangle of gangly legs and tails, the class briefly resembles a giant fur ball before being called to attention and each student returns to their companion human’s side.

It would be a toss-up who is benefiting most from this class; the dogs or their owners. If there is anything more delightful than a puppy – it’s seeing seven of them romping round the waiting room of Bendigo Animal Hospital. Sue could offer therapy sideline for the depressed and dogless: Come to puppy pre school and forget the cares of the day.

She’s been running the four-week program for years now, but jokes she’s only nominally the teacher. “I couldn’t do it without Annie,” she says of her gentle greyhound cross. “I bring Annie in week two or three to teach them some manners. If there is one in the class who is a real troublemaker she will suss them out and start barking at them and bring them to attention. She speaks their language and if she wasn’t around I probably wouldn’t keep doing puppy school.”

Canine kinder - like the pre school equivalent for children – sets the dog up for learning. Whether they go on to become show or stud dogs, working dogs or family pets what both the dogs and owners learn will, in many ways, determine the quality of their relationship.

“It is so important that you socialise your dogs early because they make much better adult dogs. If they are not unsociable you can go down the park and know they are not going to bark off,” she explains.”If you have a dog you can take out with you without worrying, it will mean you can enjoy more outings together. The dog will be much more part of the family life. You have to think the pup you have today is going to be with you for the next 10, 12 or even 15 years so you want them to be them to be the best-trained, most adaptable pups so they make great dogs.”

The class covers the basic commands: sit, stay, come, drop. “But there is a lot for the owners to learn too,” Sue as explains.

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“We go through general health, desexing, worming, vaccinations plus dental health and nutrition which are both really important. If they have bad teeth the tartar on their teeth can actually cause infection in the heart and then they get heart problems as well. We also look at what to do in the case of your dog being bitten by a snake or hit by a car. There are the genetic quirks of some breeds to watch out for, like staffies have a lot of skin problems and some of the bigger dog breeds are prone to hip dysplagia.”

But, for dogs it’s mainly about fun. “It is just basically all about socialisation and they just love it, “Sue says. “The first week they might be in the owner’s arms or under the chair and won’t come out, the second week they start coming out of their shell and by the third week they are bounding in because they just can’t wait to get into the place.

“It also helps to make the vets a happy environment, so it is not always a place where they have to get a thermometer stuck up their backside or needles in their paws. If they can come in here happy and hop up on the table relaxed it helps everyone.”

This was part of Mel and Carsten Plambeck’s plan when they enrolled Rusty the spaniel in puppy pre school. “We first bought him in here for his immunisations and thought it made sense to bring him to a class at the same place where he will be coming from treatment,” Mel explains. “He just loves it. And, for us it is good to know we are doing the right thing by him.”

Ollie the border collie is another avid student. “He has so much fun here.

Every time we get in the car it’s like - is it Wednesday yet?” owner Jill Bath laughs. As for Phil and Nerida Deans’ boy Dug well, he’s really digging it.

Even Hootie and Ally, the Maltese babies of the class, have learned how to mix it with much bigger boys and girls after a timid start.

Some dogs can be a challenge, Sue admits, recalling one bull terrier “who was kinda off in his own little world.”

But in the end every dog has his (or her) day.”No dog has ever failed puppy pre school,” she concludes with a smile.

Bendigo Animal Hospital runs puppy pre school classes throughout the year. For more information phone (03) 5443 3322. ■

Photographer: David Field

Charlie has a firm grip on four-month-old Ella’s ear. She squeaks out a protest as 12-year-old Annie hovers ready to intervene if necessary.

None of the assembled grown-ups seems at all perturbed.

He just loves it. And, for us it is good to know we are doing the right thing by him.

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super troupers There’s no longer any need for Bendigo youngsters to run away and join the circus with three rings on the doorstep.

Photographer: David Field

– John Holton

It’s five pm on a Friday afternoon and the hallways of Bendigo South East Secondary College (BSE) are all but deserted. But venture a little further – past the cleaners with their floor polishers and the odd teacher making a getaway at the end of the working week – and you might hear the strains of music and laughter coming from the school assembly hall.

run initiative, with the young troupe driving the process from the creation of routines to the final performance.“My role is simply to co-ordinate,” Judy explains. “To keep the performers on track. But all the creativity comes from the young people themselves. They’re a very self-motivated bunch.”

It’s not where you’d expect to find a group of teenagers on a Friday afternoon with the weekend beckoning. But this is no ordinary gathering; it’s a regular rehearsal of Bendigo’s own No Fear Circus, a troupe of young performers who have been impressing with their skills and spectacular performances for the past two years.

The range of skills on display is something to behold. Among this small troupe of about 20 performers are acrobats, contortionists, unicyclists, aerialists, jugglers, illusionists and clowns. But what sets this circus apart is that the cast also play their own music, with instruments including violin, guitar, flute, cello and ukulele. And, as if that’s not enough, they sing and dance too, making them a versatile “showbiz” outfit.

What began as an initiative by a small group of circus-obsessed students from BSE and one committed mother, has grown into a Bendigo-wide circus program, fostering initiative, building a vast range of skills, and encouraging young performers to take control of their own creative destiny.

Judy Hall, who co-ordinates what she describes as “the organised chaos” that is the No Fear Circus, stresses that it is an entirely youth-

“We perform everywhere from local kindergartens to festivals and parties,” says 15-year-old juggler, Chris. “The kindergarten gigs are always great. The kinder kids just love to be entertained and appreciate everything we do. There are always lots of ‘oohhs and aahhs’. One kinder even sent us drawings the kids had done of us, which was pretty special.”

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Acrobat and unicyclist, Chloe remembers last year’s Kids Character Carnival in Rosalind Park as a stand-out performance. “We came on to perform straight after Dorothy the Dinosaur and Captain Feathersword, so there was a huge crowd of completely over-excited kids. It was a very responsive audience. We had great feedback too.

Lots of people said we upstaged Dorothy.”

Contortionist and acrobat, Lauren, one of the oldest members of the troupe, agrees. “I especially love acrobatics because of the amount of trust you have to have in the other performers.” Developing new routines is an ongoing process for the No Fear Circus. But ideas are never hard to come by when you’ve got young people already passionate about circus, theatre, comedy, music and dance. As contortionist, acrobat and one of the founders of No Fear Circus, Nina, reveals: “We come up with some of our best ideas just by mucking around, then realising that what we’ve been doing is actually really good. The good thing about circus is that it doesn’t have to be completely ‘right’ all the time. Often the mistakes end up becoming the best part of the act.”

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Chloe explains:“Philip had planned this spectacular exit where he ran across the tops of the flip-up seats, through the actual audience. It worked fine in rehearsal, but on the night itself he slipped on top of the first row and went head over heels into the audience. It might have been an accident, but it was a hilarious finale to the performance!”

“The great thing about circus is that it’s a performance art that celebrates what’s quirky and unique in an individual,” Judy says.

“Society is so homogenous these days – to the point where it often excludes people for being themselves. No Fear Circus tries to be the opposite of that. To see young people develop their natural leadership skills and genuinely care for one another is fantastic.

“These performers work incredibly hard behind the scenes. Admittedly, sometimes rehearsal can be a bit like Alice In Wonderland – trying to play croquet with moving hoops – but the fact that it always comes together in the end is a huge credit to the group.”

Those interested in joining the No Fear Circus or booking the troupe for a performance should call Judy Hall on (03) 5443 8951. No gig is too big or too small.

Philip had planned this spectacular exit ... it worked fine in rehearsal.

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It’s art that celebrates what is quirky and unique in an individual.

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generation green

photo opportunity

a decade delivering

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Telstra Country Wide Bendigo celebrated its 10th anniversary reaffirming the commitment to regional and rural customers.

The Telstra Country Wide Bendigo team assembled at Silks Function Centre for a dinner to mark the milestone.

Telstra Country Wide was established to overcome the geographical challenges faced by regional and rural customers and to deliver world class telecommunications products and services outside metropolitan areas.

Telstra Country Wide’s achievements to date include access to untimed local calls for remote areas, the expansion of mobile coverage from 500,000 square kilometers to today’s Next G network which covers more than two million square kilometers, broadband availability to 92 per cent of the Australian population as well as dramatic improvements in data download speeds. ■

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backstage pass

gold stars all round After the shock cancellation of the popular Rock Eisteddfod, Bendigo Senior Secondary College students turned lead into gold with their show Alchemy – John Snowdon

It was a let down turned opportunity to create our own show that went beyond the usual eistedfodd format including tap, hip hop, classical ballet, contemporary and Irish dance and equally diverse musical styles.

The cast had just two days at the Capital Theatre’s Fire Station for rehearsals ahead of three performances. Students like soloists Matthew Painter, Talia Wolsley, Rebecca Arnold and Tenille Frisk were already experienced hands on stage, but for rapper Kiel Gerbing live public performance was something new.

“It was pretty scary at the start,”Kiel confessed,” but I got used to it as I went along. It was pretty thrilling to get to know all of these amazing dancers and get the opportunity to dance alongside them.”

As bass player Jake Schatz pointed out that working with dancers was also a new experience for the musicians. “The music came to life with the dancers, but what really amazed me was how we all managed to put the show together in such a short time.”

Not that the whole experience was without its challenges. All forty dancers shared two dressing rooms, and the seven-piece band had a “warm-up” area at the front of the theatre.

Dancer Reetta Launiemi said that it was difficult to avoid backstage congestion and there were times when “we were at each others throats”. The band unanimously agreed with guitarist Joel Bish’s description of their room:”It was freezing”. Nonetheless, frustrations remained checked.

Onstage, the first ensemble piece introduced each dancer in turn, as guitarist Daniel Woodman led the band, supported by Emily Boehm on second guitar. Other ensemble pieces included past Rock Eisteddfod 64

productions, with new input. Kiel explained “we added some of our own routines; making our own gold”. His favourite dance was definitely the hip-hop. “It was the most fun and everyone had a good time with the group and solos,” he said. Deanne Hocking’s Irish dance solo was “the highlight of the show” for percussionist Jayme Tolley.

As a drummer, he was fascinated with the rhythms, and also with the tap dance acts.

The finale featured a large ensemble dancing to the driving Metallica instrumental Call of Ktulu, with Megan’s animations projected across the stage. This was the highlight for Jake as he felt the dancers “got inspiration from the live band.” Lead guitarist Dylan Ringuede thought that it was impressive to “combine Metallica with dancing as you can’t imagine it, but it worked really well”. At least one audience member agreed, describing the last piece “as extremely powerful”.

Perhaps that’s the secret of the alchemic reaction: energy and power, working together to bring the performance to life. Deanne certainly drew a sliver from the philosopher’s stone to sum up the satisfaction that accompanied this accomplishment: “The final performance was the most amazing feeling; it was intense and really thrilling. There is no greater feeling than taking a bow and getting a massive round of applause,” Deanne said. ■ Photographs courtesy: Reeta Launiemi

The news that the show would not go on had left BSSC students with leaden hearts. So it was that dance teachers Megan Beckwith and Sarah Cook collaborated with the school music department to devise Alchemy to fill the void left by the temporary absence of the popular Rock Eisteddfod.

the green room

The more knowledge people have about options to save money, the better off they’ll be.

sunny girl As the project director of Central Victoria Solar City Leah Sertori finds herself in the full glare of attention on the hot issue of alternative energy.

Welcome Leah, it is quite green in here isn’t it?

Yes, it’s a bit like Kermit in a blender.

Green often equates with a philosophy. How green are you?

I think I’m probably somewhere in the middle. I’ve had an energy audit done on my home and taken some measures to improve its energy efficiency. I try to remember to take green bags to the supermarket with mixed success. My 10-year-old daughter Bella is the green champion in our family; she’s the one who will suggest walking to the shops instead of taking the car. It wasn’t until I joined Central Victoria Solar City that I realised how easy it is to create meaningful change at a local level that enhances our lifestyles, rather than taking something away. I’m becoming greener by the day as the business case for change becomes stronger and stronger.

Can you tell us a bit about how you ended up in this role?

I think my education played a big role in the sort of work I choose to do. I had really excellent teachers at Catholic College, Bendigo who taught me the importance of standing up for what you believe in and in listening to and valuing everyone’s opinion. I love my job and I feel very privileged to be in this role because I’m able to listen to our local community and learn about the sort of change they would like to see in services to reduce energy consumption. I’m also really privileged to have a job where I can balance my role as a sole parent. There are a lot of young single mums in Bendigo ... that’s very much my story. I think my experience shows that the world is changing and young mothers can go on to achieve things people may have thought impossible not that long ago.

Photographer: David Field

What exactly does Central Victoria Solar City do?

We make it easier for people to reduce their energy use by providing free home energy assessments. We help people improve the energy efficiency of their homes and we support people throughout the process of signing up to renewable forms of energy, such as purchasing a solar hot water system or photovoltaic (PV) panels. Then we collect information about how people are using energy and the actions that best support people in using less energy through our research partner the University of Ballarat. We work with government and large businesses such as Origin, Bendigo Bank and Powercor to improve products and services around renewable energy for Central Victoria. Oh, and we’ve built two beautiful solar parks, one in Bendigo

and one in Ballarat. Each park produces enough energy to power around 150 homes.

What does this mean for the householder?

It means you can access local support and advice about how to reduce your energy bills. For householders who are interested in solar, you can access support to make an informed choice about how a solar system could work for you. For some people, solar systems not only save money, they can create income.

Let’s cut to the chase, why is it so important?

It’s important for people to know that the price of electricity is set to continually rise in the coming years, starting with a price hike early in 2011. The more knowledge people have about their options to save money by reducing how much power they need, or creating their own power using the sun, the better off they will be. Our team is here to help and support householders through that process.

It’s also important to consider how much money a community like Bendigo spends on energy bills every year. Imagine the positive impact of redirecting as little as 10 per cent of that amount back into our local economy. It’s important for our community to think beyond the environmental benefits of living sustainably. The economic benefits of locally owned and operated renewable energy like our solar parks are strong and diverse.

Tell us the best green joke you know?

An environmentalist dies and reports to the pearly gates. St. Peter checks his dossier and declares; “You’re in the wrong place.”

Dejectedly, the environmentalist goes to hell where he finds the surrounds pretty unsatisfactory. He starts implementing eco-friendly changes and gets the temperature, air and water quality under control. The landscape is soon covered with grass and plants, the food is organic and the people are happy. One day – having heard no rumbles of discontent from the underworld for a while – God calls Satan up on the telephone and asks: “So, how’s it going down there in hell?” Satan replies: “Hey, things are going great. We’ve got clean air and water, the temperature is better and the food tastes better.

There’s no telling what this environmentalist is going to fix next.”

God replies: “What??? You’ve got an environmentalist! That’s clearly a mistake – he should never have gotten down there. Send him back here right now or I’ll sue.” Satan laughs uproariously and answers: “Yeah, right. And just where are you going to get a lawyer?” ■ 65

Tri-Bendigo Wine Tour

Three of Bendigo’s leading wineries have joined together to

Why go anyWhere else?

offer wine lovers the Tri-Bendigo wine tasting experience.

Balgownie Estate, Sandhurst Ridge Winery and Connor Park are conveniently located only 10 minutes from each other. With up to 30 wines available for tasting, this is a superb experience.

Balgownie Estate Est. 1969

Ph. (03) 5449 6222

Voted Bendigo’s

Ph. (03) 5435 2534

Best Butcher 5443 4467

Shop 8 Strath Hill Shopping Centre Bendigo

Ph. (03) 5437 5234 Contact one of these participating wineries for more information

photo opportunity

sexy red door The hit movie and a hip boutique came together for a night of high heels and cosmopolitans.

To celebrate the release of the new Sex and the City: the Movie fashionable friends one and all were invited to don their favourite heels and check out Red Door Boutique after dark.

The thrilling night premiere saw guests offered a 30 per cent discount store wide, so many picked up some fabulous bargains.

Keep an eye out over the coming months for more special VIP shopping events at Red Door Boutique.

Red Door Boutique can be contacted on (03) 5443 1444 and is located at Cnr Mitchell St and Bath Lane. â–

the

experience

Enjoy the classy yet modern atmosphere of Quills Restaurant at Lakeview Resort.

Slide into one of our comfy club chairs and relax with the classic white linen while enjoying the ambience Quills has to offer.

Join our loyal customer list to receive special offers at

Quills Restaurant Enjoy great food, quality wine and relax with good friends..... the Quills way of life.

286 Napier Street Bendigo VIC 3550 P: 5445 5344 F: 5445 5399 info@lakeviewresort.com.au

www.lakeviewresort.com.au

tHe art oF cHeSS MAURIZIO CATTELAN JAKE & DINOS CHAPMAN OLIVER CLEGG TRACEY EMIN TOM FRIEDMAN PAUL FRYER DAMIEN HIRST BARBARA KRUGER YAYOI KUSAMA PAUL McCARTHY ALASTAIR MACKIE MATTHEW RONAY TUNGA GAVIN TURK RACHEL WHITEREAD

admiSSion FeeS apply

Exhibition organised by RS&A Gallery, London

Julian Wasser, Marcel Duchamp Playing Chess with a Nude (Eve Babitz) 1963 Courtesy of the artist and Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, California

Your Move Australian artists play chess Benjamin aRmSTROnG LiOneL BaWDen SeBaSTian Di maURO michaeL DOOLan emiLy FLOyD cLaiRe heaLy & Sean cORDeiRO ROBeRT jacKS Danie meLLOR KaTe ROhDe caROLine ROThWeLL SaLLy SmaRT Ken yOneTani

a Bendigo art Gallery travelling exhibition

30 October 2010 – 30 January 2011

42 View St Bendigo 3550 t 03 5434 6088 Bendigoartgallery.com.au Proudly owned and operated by the City of Greater Bendigo with additional support provided by Arts Victoria.

photo opportunity

a stitch in time Victoria was a patchwork of colourful events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Embroiderers Guild.

THE GOOD PEOPLE TO DEAL WITH HAVE GONE

Bendigo and Castlemaine were at the centre of birthday celebrations for the Embroiderers Guild, Victoria.

The successful Sunday’s Child: Heirlooms from the Embroiderers Guild was held at Bendigo Art Gallery and at Castlemaine Art Gallery and Museum there was the stunning Golden Journeys exhibit of awardwinning works by guild members.

There were also a number of luncheons and social events which allowed members to celebrate the threads of their connection. ■

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Ph. 5442 1355 119 Mitchell Street Bendigo

in sharp focus It’s a long way from East Africa to central Victoria, but filmmaker Trevor Almeida made the journey with a clear perspective and fresh eyes.

- John Holton How do you know when you’re interviewing a documentary filmmaker? No, it’s not a riddle. You know they’re a doco-maker because the first half-a-dozen questions come from them.

– filmmaking and science. “I bought a Super 8 underwater movie camera and started to document what I was doing out in the field,” he says. Little did he know it was the beginning of a niche career.

When I point this out to Trevor Almeida, director of the feature documentary Our Home The Block, he laughs.“That’s interesting, because I rarely interview the subjects of my documentaries,” he says. “I’m much more interested in showing life unfolding before the camera – like the Cinéma Vérité that French filmmakers perfected in the ‘60s.”

These days, Trevor runs his own company, Geonewmedia, specialising in corporate documentaries and training films, as well as web and marketing videos. His most recent project being a film for the West Australian Marine Science Institute that documents the first independent study of marine life on the Kimberley Coast. The ensuing film Under Kimberley Waters will be released in October. And while Trevor enjoys the opportunity to combine his science background with his passion, there is still the challenge of finding a balance between what he calls “money” projects and “love” projects.

The literal translation of this term is “film truth”, and it’s very much at the heart of Trevor’s philosophy of filmmaking. As he explains it, “Good documentaries don’t answer questions, they raise them.” It’s this natural curiosity that has led Trevor to a career he never dreamed of as a young boy growing up in Kenya.

“It’s not until you look back on your life that you start to see the connections,” Trevor explains. “In many ways my childhood in Kenya was a catalyst for my interest in film. During that formative time of my life I met a lot of really interesting people from the West, many of them documentary filmmakers. For them, Kenya was an exotic place of wild animals and a strange culture. It made me look at the place I lived differently. There’s a family photo of me as a kid with a camera slung around my neck – so I guess the interest was there from a young age.”

A love of film, particularly documentaries, was already ingrained when Trevor immigrated to Australia with his family in the 1970s. He went on to study environmental science and geology here in Bendigo, but the film bug was always lurking.

“I think, for our generation, film was really a kind of magic,” Trevor recalls. “The magic of capturing images on film – the beam of light projecting it onto a screen. These days, kids can shoot videos on their phones – we watch family photos on the TV minutes after we’ve taken them. It’s a very different medium.”

By the time Trevor left uni and began working on marine science projects, he was exploring the possibility of combining his two passions 70

One of those love projects, My Home The Block, was screened to rave reviews at the F4 – First factual Films Festival as part of the Adelaide Fringe Festival earlier this year.

The film focuses on the people of the infamous Redfern Block in Sydney, the first inner-city land grant allocated to the Indigenous people of Australia. Trevor’s observational documentary follows the struggles of elder Joyce Ingram, and the fight to save her home and community.

“The Redfern story had been brewing for quite a long time,” Trevor says. “I remember seeing something on one of the current affairs programs after a person had been shot and couldn’t believe there was a ghetto like The Block right in the middle of Sydney. It was the early ‘90s and I was living in Sydney, studying photography part-time. “I ventured into The Block one night, after midnight, and took a single photograph – a street shot.” Not long afterwards, Trevor was invited by an old uni friend to visit him in Japan. The Redfern photo went with him.

“Japan opened up a whole new world for me,” Trevor says. “I met other filmmakers – self-taught documentary makers who were ‘out there’ doing their thing. I went to the Yamagata Documentary Film Festival and it literally changed my life. It made me realise that I really wanted to make these sorts of films. I met directors from places like India and Eastern Europe. We all came from such different cultural backgrounds and, yet shared a common passion for the artform.”

The Yamagata experience gave Trevor the impetus to follow his passion for film more seriously. While living in Japan he worked with John Williams of 100 Meter Films on a range of award-winning feature and short film projects.

“In hindsight, the time spent working in Japan was really a case of trying to find my space within the documentary artform,” Trevor says.

“It taught me to persist. I learnt about every aspect of filmmaking, from directing to editing.”

While in Japan, the Redfern photograph stayed pinned to Trevor’s wall. As he puts it, “It was a kind of a focus for me. I knew I wasn’t finished with it.”

When Trevor returned to Australia it was in the middle of the property boom in Sydney. Housing prices were going through the roof, but in Redfern little had changed.

“When I started filming The Block it was not long after the Redfern riots. The place was essentially run by the drug dealers and it was quite a challenging place to be with a camera. We’d always be surrounded by kids and the police warned us that we’d probably lose all our camera gear. I decided to go and see Aunty Joyce (Ingram), an indigenous elder who was like a mother to most of the people living on The Block. Once we had her blessing to be there, things really changed. You just mentioned Aunty Joyce’s name and people left you alone – that’s the kind of respect she had.”

LEFT: Life in The Block in Redfern was the subject of Trevor’s acclaimed film.

Photograph courtesy Dean Sewell.

ABOVE: Photos taken during the filming of Under Kimberley Waters to be screened in October.

BELOW: Trevor is now working on a second film for the West Australian Marine Science Institute.

Trevor was attracted to the story because he saw in the indigenous community a heritage missing in his own life. “Because of my background, I felt like I lived on the outside of society. I think I saw something in the Indigenous experience that I could relate to – that feeling of being marginalised and misunderstood in your own country.”

These days, Trevor’s work takes him to all corners of the country, but he has made Bendigo his home. “I came back here about four years ago to attend a friend’s wedding and thought, wow, Bendigo is really beautiful.

It was like seeing the place with fresh eyes – the heritage buildings, the history of the goldfields. My son was born here two years ago, so it’s definitely starting to feel like home. Bendigo is an easy place to live. You realise that after living in a city like Sydney. In Glebe it used to cost me $10 just to park the car. We’re pretty lucky here.”

For now, Geonewmedia is providing Trevor with the kind of work that he thrives on – being outdoors in the natural environment, and behind a camera. But you sense the next “love” project won’t be too far away.

“As a filmmaker you’re always looking for that special something,” he says. “That golden moment, when you look at the final cut and think, that really works. There’s an incredible sense of joy when it happens.” ■

Photographer: Anthony Webster

Because of my background, I saw something in the indigenous experience.

71

11 Bath lane Bendigo T 03 5442 2676 F 03 5444 5657 www.thegreenolive.com.au

“Share in our passion for gourmet food, unique products, fine wines & quality coffee.�

Open 6 days Monday to Friday 7.00am - 5.00pm Saturday 7.00am - 3.30pm

Cellar Door Open Daily 11am - 5pm

Closed Christmas and Good Friday

156 Forest Drive Marong,Victoria Australia Phone: (+61) 354 35 25 34 | Fax: (+61) 354 35 25 48 wine@sandhurstridge.com.au

why bendigo?

keys to the city Melissa McNicol and her husband Alex joke they knew relocating to Bendigo was the right decision when even the removal van didn’t want to go home.

What brought the McNicol family to Bendigo?

We had been living in Wagga while Alex studied his radiography degree when we decided to check out Bendigo. We both knew we didn’t want to live in a capital city, but wanted to bring up our children somewhere bigger than Wagga. We researched country Victoria and decided to check out Bendigo because we like the proximity to Melbourne and the job prospects for both of us looked good. Alex did a four-week placement with Bendigo Hospital and within those four weeks he decided he could easily live and work here and that, as a family, we would be very happy. While Alex was on his placement, I visited for a weekend and it literally took those two days to decide that I loved it.

How long did you consider the move before packing up and leaving Wagga?

Alex and I have both lived and worked in London, Sydney and Wagga.

As soon as I drove through Bendigo, I felt as if we were back in London thanks to the gorgeous historic buildings. The cafes and restaurant culture is similar to the city and the shopping is also pretty good.

Many people have commented how Bendigo is a mini-Melbourne and I’m sure they are right!

What is it that really sets Bendigo apart?

There are many things that set Bendigo apart, but our favourites so far would have to be Lake Weeroona, View Street, Chancery Lane and the general cosmopolitan feel we get just by walking around the CBD.

Is there anything you miss about Wagga?

After deciding that Bendigo would be perfect, Alex was still 18 months away from completing his degree and getting a job. On Christmas Eve 2009 we got the phone call to say that Alex had a job. We then needed to find a house and to move all before he started work on February 1 this year. Needless to say, January was a very busy month for us!

Like many regional centres in NSW, Wagga has a large heated indoor aquatic centre which operates all year round. This was a favourite with our sons, but other than that – no. Bendigo has so much to offer which is something we love about this city. We are very happy with the Bendigo lifestyle and my parents, who live in Wagga, have started saying they could easily retire here.

Before moving did you do a list of pros and cons?

What would be your number one piece of advice to anyone considering making the move to Bendigo?

We did. The top three pros were: It is a beautiful historic town with a Melbourne and London feel, it is so close to Melbourne and the excellent cafe/restaurant culture.

Against was that we would be moving somewhere without family and very limited friends. I also had to give up my fabulous job with Charles Sturt University plus there was the hassle of moving house and having to rent.

Photographer: Anthony Webster

How does Bendigo compare to other places you have lived?

How has it balanced out now that you’ve been here a while?

We love living here and feel as if we’ve been here for years. Alex is very happy in his new job and our two young sons, Oliver and Ziggy, are very happy in childcare/family day care three days-a-week.

I would love to work and have been actively looking and applying for positions and feel confident my ideal position is only around the corner. The balance is perfect so far and I know it can and will only get better.

Do a pros and cons list. But we are pretty sure the pros will outweigh the cons in every way. What’s not to love in this gorgeous town.

Oh, and most important: DON’T FORGET THE KEYS. We spent the day loading the truck in Wagga, driving to Bendigo and finally unpacking only to realise the next day when it was time to drive back to Wagga to return the truck, the keys were missing. We looked everywhere but couldn’t locate them. Thankfully we had a car here so my brother in Wagga collected the spare keys from the company and met us in Wangaratta, only for my father and Alex to then have to return to Bendigo, pick up the truck and drive four-and-a-half hours back to Wagga. We knew moving interstate would be stressful, but didn’t think something like this could happen.

To this day, those keys are still missing! ■

73

!"#$%&'()*+$,%*&

my favourite things

damian pearce As a designer of sensory gardens for the disabled and stay-at-home dad of four, you won’t often catch this young man leaning on his shovel.

Shovel - This shovel was a gift and it created our first garden

Coffee - I love a good coffee. Every weekend I will grind some beans

in Maldon and our second garden in Epsom. Even though it is broken I always use it when I am planting out vegetable seedlings.

and make a fresh pot for my wife and me. I never used to drink hot drinks until I became a father. I also have a special cup that makes the perfect cuppa.

Cricket - One of the best things about summer is

Painting - The painting is from Vietnam and it reminds me of the

playing cricket with the kids in the backyard. I will happily watch an entire Test series.

travelling that my wife and I did before we had kids. Hopefully we can take the kids back there.

Books - Most of my books are about gardening. They are an endless resource and continually motivate me to create beautiful gardens for other people. â–

Photographer: David Field

Plants - I use native plants a lot in my designs because they are resilient and water-wise for the Bendigo climate. They also have beautiful foliage, texture and unique flowers.

75

it’s crunch time Salad days are here again as light, zesty flavours replace the heavy, hearty comfort fare of winter. The classic Caesar salad is the perfect salute to spring.

Whether you are a purist who insists there should be no chicken meat or you dress it with a lightly poached egg, there is no question about the beginnings of the Caesar. Unlike the hotly contested origins of our own national dishes the pavlova and the lamington, the development of the Caesar salad can be traced to the very day it was first dished up in a restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico.

The salad was created by Cardini Caesar, an Italian who emigrated to the United States after World War I. He and his brother Alex shrewdly opened their eponymously named eatery in Tijuana to get around the strict prohibition laws.

It soon became a mecca for movie stars and the Hollywood set who’d make a quick trip across the border where they could relax with a drink in hand and toast their latest successes. They often arrived en masse, unannounced and it was on such a night – July 4th, 1924 – that Cardini created The Caesar.

According to his daughter Rosa, the Independence Day weekend had left the restaurant short of supplies and – being a holiday – there was no place open to buy more. Cardini, ever the enterprising and slightly flamboyant host, decided to do what he could with the ingredients on hand and concocted the salad at the table in front of his hungry guests.

Over the years, driving to Tijuana for a Caesar Salad became the rage.

Not only did Hollywood stars such as Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, and W. C. Fields make the pilgrimage, but so did gossip columnists who subsequently wrote about it in their columns.

The Caesar became a must on the menu of all fashionable Manhattan dining rooms where New York waiters made an art of table-side “Caesaring”. According to Molly O’Neill’s legendary New York Cookbook, one of the earliest maestros of the salad was a former tenor and restuarant owner named Nicola Paone who composed the Caesar Salad Song. But if you can’t remember the recipe, it is doubtful the song will prove much help as it runs to 16 verses. The refrain is worth repeating though “Caesar ... Caesar, Gonna make it good, Gonna make it right, Gonna make it so my love will love me more tonight.”

Today the Caesar is right up there with the Waldorf and the Greek salad in being dished up all over the world. There are very many variatons of the original recipe including the chicken caesar and seafood caesar which make a meal of the dish rather than, as it was initially intended, as a starter or a side.

Here in Bendigo there are many restaurants and cafes with Caesars on the menu and such is the popularity of the dish it oftens stays there all year round.

“Even in the middle of winter we still make it because it is so popular and would go through at least one big platter even on the coldest day,” Louisa of Bendigo Foodstore in Strickland Road says. ”The secret is we make our own dressing, putting our own special aoli with it. It’s robust and crunchy and a bit rustic which is what people like about it. In the warmer months we offer a chicken Caesar and people buy it as a meal option rather than a side. People like to take it home as a healthy option that is already prepared for them.”

At the landmark Green Olive in Bath Lane, the Caesar is an artful picture. “One of our features is we make our own dressings and also the paremesan croutons are made to order so they are nice and fresh

76

instead of being dried out,” head chef Neil says. “We specialise in using local produce so the speck is local, the lettuce is from Echuca.

“The Caesar is a dish that even people who are not really into salad enjoy. I think it is partly because, for a salad, it is quite filling because you have the richness of the mayonnaise dressing, the cheese and the egg.”

Sharon from Twenty 2 in Williamson Street describes the Caesar as a classic dish with broad appeal. “Our focus is always consistency. The chicken caesar salad has been on our menu basically since day one.

“The thing about ours is that we make per order so the chicken is actually grilled per order and the egg is poached per order. Because we make it fresh we can hold the anchovies or make it gluten-free by leaving out the croutons or whatever the customer wishes.”

“It is a healthy alternative to some other meals, but filling at the same time so you don’t feel cheated by choosing the salad option.”

The National Hotel Motel in High Street is our last port of call on our Caesar saunter where chef Paul serves a salad dressed to the nines.

“For me, the dressing and using the best ingredients, makes the salad.. In our Caesar salad we used pancetta, beautiful free range eggs and grana padano parmesan we shave ourselves and we hand make our own dressing,” Paul says.

“It’s is not rocket science, that at the end of a day it is a salad and people want fresh crisp lettuce, a beautiful dressing, nice crisp croutons – they are the things that make it.”

wine festival

october fest The Heathcote region has been chosen to spearhead a campaign to revive interest in Australian wines overseas.

Find out why at the annual showcase.

The 2010 Heathcote Wine & Food Festival to be held on the first weekend in October is a celebration of the wines of the region, in particular its highly regarded shiraz.

A relatively new wine region, Heathcote’s rise to prominence has been quite rapid to the point where it has just been included in a groundbreaking program launched by Wine Australia. Heathcote is just one of 16 regions from around the country chosen by Wine Australia to help resuscitate our wine reputation in overseas markets.

While its reputation looms large, Heathcote comprises mainly small, family-owned, artisan enterprises; people with a passion for wine and for most, a passion for shiraz. One of the most appealing things about this festival is it brings together most of the producers and their wines in one central location over one weekend which makes for a very easy and efficient “Tour de Heathcote”.

whites, try marsanne, rousanne, chardonnay, viognier and riesling.

shiraz, you’d a big part in fuller bodied leaner, more

In between all the tasting and learning there’s plenty of opportunity to relax with friends on the grass or at a table in one of the shade marquees, enjoy some laid back live music from a variety of performers including The Davidson brothers and 774ABC’s Derek Guille and his band The Ugly Uncles. Derek will also be one of the Festival MCs. Children? Bring them along, there’s “kid friendly” food and excellent interactive entertainment for kids all weekend from Bendigo’s Fusion group.

Of course there are other varietal wines made in Heathcote and they’ll be on show at the festival too. In addition to shiraz you can taste other red varieties including cabernet sauvignon, grenache, merlot, petit verdot, durif, sangiovese, nebbiolo and tempranillo. Among the

At $25 for an adult ticket including your tasting glass and program the value is good.There’s a range of ticket options and “early bird” prices when you purchase on-line. Visit www. heathcotewinegrowers.com.au/festival for information and tickets. ■

This year the festival presents 47 Heathcote wine producers - tasting and selling around 150 wines along with around 25 food and produce exhibitors from Heathcote and surrounding areas.

If you think Heathcote is just shiraz, and one style of be wrong. Sub-regional characteristics and terroir play producing a wide range of shiraz styles from the rich, styles of the warm northern end of the region to the elegant styles emanating from the cooler southern end.

Heathcote

l Wine and Food Festiva

Shiraz

Visit

Heaven OCTOBER 2 & 3 2010 11AM- 6PM HEATHCOTE SHOWGROUNDS

Book now for Early Bird savings. www.heathcotewinegrowers.com.au/festival

Take a trip to Shiraz Heaven with 51 wineries presenting over 200 wines, including many of Australia’s most highly regarded Shirazes and some exciting new varieties.

It’s a heavenly weekend in every way. Don’t miss it!

SHIRAZ

Expand your wine knowledge at one of our free Tasting Seminars, conducted by respected wine educator Rob Hicks. Match great wines with delicious food & produce from 26 exhibitors, and there’s live music including The Davidson Brothers and Derek Guille’s ‘The Ugly Uncles’ band. Great interactive entertainment for kids from ‘Fusion’.

the earth’s pull The rich Cambrian soils of the Heathcote region have been described as the most “exciting grape-growing dirt in Australia”, drawing many to put down roots.

- John Holton While the local “dirt” has lured people from far and wide with the promise of producing the perfect drop of red, few have come further than Andreas Greiving and his wife Henni, in search of a new life among the vines.

The birth of Domaine Asmara as Heathcote’s newest vineyard and cellar door is not your average winegrowing story. Andreas, a former chemical engineer for a multinational chemical company, hails from a small town in north-west Germany, while Henni is from Jakarta, with a background that includes both dentistry and interior design. To meet this passionate couple making a new life for themselves in central Victoria’s wine mecca gives credence to the saying, “it’s a small world”.

Photographer: Anthony Webster

“My passion for wine goes way back to my childhood in Germany,” Andreas says. “My family were farmers and even as a small child I was making fruit wines and was involved in growing produce of all kinds.

During the 20 years I spent working in the chemical industry I never lost the dream of owning a vineyard. I’ve always felt as though I have a natural affinity for farming.”

Despite that vineyard being on the other side of the world, there is a real sense of “coming home” for Andreas, Henni and their six-year-old son Benjamin. After purchasing the 32-hectare property (12 of which are under vines) just one year ago, the Greivings are not only about to bottle their second vintage, but have also built a home on the property as well as a purpose-built cellar door and bistro with glorious views across the vineyard to the distant hills. It’s part of a long-term plan to offer a true lifestyle experience to visitors to the region.

“Our original vision for the property was on a much smaller scale,” Andreas admits, “but it has grown into something a bit different to your average cellar door. We want to offer a unique experience for visitors that’s about more than just the wine, and one that’s also accessible for young families.”

Plans include the introduction of Angus beef cattle to the property, which will not only add to the farm experience for visitors, but become the basis of the menu in the bistro.

“We want to create really interesting menus, built around local produce,” Henni says. “Because Andreas and I have lived in so many places around the world, it’s given us a unique perspective on food and the possibilities of a product like Angus beef - Asian-style beef dishes such as Korean barbecue, Japanese shabu shabu, or Swiss-style fondue. The bistro will be about matching great food with fine wine in a really welcoming dining atmosphere.”

Amidst all the plans for developing the property, however, the Greivings are also introducing a new label to the wine-drinking public.

The priority for the short term is to get the Domaine Asmara brand into the marketplace. Given the pedigree of its winemakers and the early recognition from the industry, including an impressive rating from James Halliday, the signs look good.

The Private Collection Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon are made by award-winning winemaker Dominique Portet in the Yarra Valley, while the “bigger” style Reserve Shiraz and Infinity Shiraz are made by renowned local winemaker, Mark Hunter, just down the Northern Highway at Sanguine Estate. Andreas believes it is this commitment to quality that will see Domaine Asmara find its place in the industry.

“There are lots of doom and gloom merchants out there who are very negative about the wine industry,” he says. “There’s lots of talk about over-supply and how it’s a bad time to be entering the market.

But wine has been around for thousands of years and will be around for thousands more. There will naturally be peaks and troughs, but I believe there will always be a market for great wine.”

Andreas uses the word “elegant” to describe the characteristics of Domaine Asmara wines. “The first vintage (2008) is a very multi79

dimensional wine revealing many layers of flavour,” he says. “Of course everyone experiences wine differently, but there is definitely a good length on the palate.”

Andreas and Henni are well aware of the ever-present risks involved in winegrowing, from the vineyard to the cellar door. Even before the first harvest got under way, the Greivings experienced the vagaries of the Australian climate.

Wines “Driven by Fruit” Visit our Cellar Door/Cafe and Gallery. You can sit, relax and enjoy wine tasting in air conditioned comfort. We provide a lunch menu to suit a wide range of tastes and afternoon tea. Art exhibitions are held on a regular basis.

Home grown, hand picked, estate vintaged and bottled, we pride ourselves on making high quality wines.

Wine• Food Conferences for small groups

“Three days before harvest I watched a hailstorm move in from the south,” Andreas remembers. “You could hear the noise of it coming along the valley and it looked like heaven and earth were joining. The hail was the size of chicken eggs. My stomach turned when I saw the bunches of grapes lying on the ground. In the end we only lost about 5 per cent of the harvest, but it was a huge shock and a reminder that this climate can throw everything at you.

“Last year, in November, we were worried about frost. Instead we got a heatwave. That’s the nature of intensive farming in this country.”

But risks aside, there’s no doubt Andreas and Henni have found their perfect corner of the world. It’s all there in the Domaine Asmara label.

Asmara is the Indonesian word for “love” and the Arabic word for “beautiful”. It’s also the capital of Eritrea on the Red Sea, a place that captured Andreas’ imagination on a motorcycling trip around Africa.

The Domaine Asmara label also features birds, a symbol that is growing in resonance for the Greivings. Thanks to intelligent planting by the previous owners, the property is abundant in birdlife. On the day of my visit in late autumn, flame robins and willie wagtails flit between the vines, pardalotes hop happily around the cellar door and honeyeaters rummage in the flowering gums. It’s something Andreas hopes will add to the experience for visitors.

But for now there’s a cellar door to open and their first Heathcote Wine and Food Festival to look forward to in October.

“It’s exciting to experience people tasting our wine for the first time,” Andreas says. “And even better to see that look of recognition; that this wine is something special.”

Domaine Asmara is only 35 minutes drive from Bendigo and open seven days a week for cellar door sales, tastings and bistro meals. It caters for private and corporate functions for up to 50 people. For opening hours and directions visit the website: www.domaineasmara.com ■

Closed Wed/Thurs (03) 5439 5367 77 Faderson’s Lane, Mandurang (9km South - East of Bendigo, Off Tannery Lane)

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a nice drop

bubbling over Want a tip-ple for the spring carnival? Try a spritzy low alcohol moscato or a fresh frizzante and you’ll prove a nice stayer on track.

- Ashley Raeburn Wine Bank On View

Spring - I absolutely love it. The smell of blossom on the trees, freshly cut grass ready for football finals and most of all – it is the perfect time of the year to enjoy all different styles of wine. Enjoy crisp bubbles on the lawn at spring carnivals across the state, savour fresh new whites with barbecues in the sun and of course, our magnificent rich reds are lovely to sip on as the night cools down.

Burnt Acre

Plunkett Fowles

Burnt Acre Cabernet, 2008, Bendigo.

Retail: $24 Members: $21.60

490m Frizzante 2009, Strathbogie.

Retail: $17 Members: $15.30

The sun has gone down, and there is a chill in the air – what better to crack open than a classic Bendigo red? This latest release from Cliff Stubbs and Maureen O’Connor at Burnt Acre Vineyard, located 15 minutes from the centre of town is a fantastic way to end a long day with.

If you are looking for something light, fun and zesty to drink at the races, look no further than this frizzante. This zippy little number

by Plunkett Fowles is the perfect spring drink, being low in alcohol; it will definitely help you last the day.

Burnt Acre has been a quality, consistent performer in the Bendigo wine market since their first vintage in 1994 and this cabernet, (which incidentally is their first straight vintage of cabernet) is a lovely match for some tender spring lamb and homemade mint sauce. A lovely deep purple colour, the first sip instantly warms the depths of your heart. Plenty of black fruit and cassis flavours develop on the palate and the fine tannin structure and use of quality oak make for a classic example of central Victorian cabernet.

Perfect to drink now or would make a fantastic gift for lovers of red wine.

Where some Moscato’s can be a touch overbearing with their sweetness, this, being a blend of muscat, riesling and traminer has lovely balanced acidity and the slight fizz and bubble upon opening gives the wine a certain freshness. It shows aromas of freshly cut passionfruit along with ripe tropical fruit flavours filling the palate. The finish, although sweet, gives a slight zestiness that continues to last.

Terra Felix Moscato Royale, Strathbogie.

Retail: $16 Members: $14.40

‘Macedon’ Sparkling 2008.

Retail: $26 Members: $23.40 Owned and operated by Pauline Russell and John Boucher, this really is a winery that has it all. The cellar door offers great wine, excellent food produced on-site, coffee and cake and to top it off – a boutique bed and breakfast that provides exceptional views from the elegant and luxurious sandstone house. The friendly team are more than happy to take you on a tour of the winery and guide you through their magnificent drops as you relax in country comfort. The 2008 sparkling is definitely a superb tipple and would find a home at any celebration.

A blend of pinot noir and chardonnay, it has been produced in the French “methode traditionelle” style, creating a classic, cool climate sparkling. The lovely creamy mousse gives a luscious mouth feel, with just a touch of citrus showing through and finishing with the faintest hint of sweetness.

A truly lovely wine.

Vibrant pink in colour, there is a soft, slightly floral aroma wafting from the glass making you long for the first mouthful. Slightly spritzy in the mouth, it gives lovely ripe strawberry and apricot flavours throughout the palate and the balanced acidity makes a harmonic match for the sweetness. Providing a lingering finish that is slightly reminiscent of Turkish delight, this is a perfect match to help celebrate all the good things in life.

These wines all represent enjoyment – make the most of your spring and visit some of our excellent cellar doors – meet the maker of your wine, take a bottle home and share the wine and your experiences with your friends and family.

All wines mentioned above are available at Wine Bank on View. 45 View St Bendigo. (03) 5444 4655 Bring in this article and receive a 10 per cent discount on any of the wines reviewed above. ■

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Photographer: Kate Monotti

Kyneton Ridge

Terra Felix, located in the Strathbogie Ranges, literally translates as “lucky country” and we are definitely fortunate to have such a great quality range of wines at such a great price point. Producing a number of different varitals, this is a blend of shiraz and muscat and is an extremely gluggable wine that is quite low in alcohol and made to be enjoyed with friends in the fresh afternoon sunlight.

at the movies

springing to life A cast of characters – some funny, some furry, some very, very bad – will leap off the screen this season as 3D becomes the new reality.

School holiday movies:

The Last Airbender 3D

Despicable Me 3D

(Opens September 16)

Animated comedy (Opens September 16)

The story follows the adventures of Aang, a young successor to a long line of Avatars, who must put his childhood ways aside and stop the Fire Nation from enslaving the Water, Earth and Air nations.

A trio of orphan girls cause the normally deplorable Gru to rethink his plan to steal the moon.

Cat’s and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore 3D Comedy (Opens September 16) A spy thriller with fur.

Legend of the Guardians 3D (Opens September 30) Soren, a young barn owl, is kidnapped by owls of St. Aggie’s, ostensibly an orphanage, where owlets are brainwashed into becoming soldiers.

Other great titles coming soon include: Eat Pray Love opens October 7, Resident Evil 4 Afterlife 3D opens October 14, The Switch opens October 28, Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 1 3D opens November 18.

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chef’s choice

sensational catch There’s a masterful new chef heading up the award-winning GPO team. Here, Corey Howard shares a spring fresh seafood recipe that will have you hooked.

Being such a huge fan of the Bombers, it’s small wonder GPO’s new head chef Corey Howard feels he has come home since arriving in Bendigo. Corey moved to Bendigo six months ago with his partner Shannon and boxer Dexter.

The former sous chef at well-known Balgownie Estate in the Yarra Valley, Corey reckons Central Victoria has local produce to rival Melbourne’s gourmand getaway.

He is making the very best of the finest local wagyu rump with his new grill section. Served with triple cooked chips, this has fast become a favourite of GPO regulars.

Fillet of kingfish with yoghurt & herb dumplings and seared Hervey Bay scallops – serves 2 ingredients: 2 fresh kingfish fillets 1 knob ginger grated Zest of a lemon 100gm natural yoghurt 1 handful micro herbs Zest of one lime 1 glove garlic crushed 6 scallops 1 large knob of butter Fried capers to garnish Extra virgin olive oil

Photographer: David Field

Directions: Marinate kingfish in lemon zest and finely shaved or grated ginger for 20 minutes. Place natural yoghurt in a muslin cloth (a new chux cloth will also work) and allow excess liquid to drain for up to two hours.

Then take a teaspoon of yogurt and roll through fresh chopped micro herbs, lime zest and form a ball.

Place fish in a hot pan and cook on one side until crispy. Turn over and place in a pre-heated 180 degree oven for five to seven minutes.

Take the Hervey Bay scallops place in a hot pan with oil until golden brown on side, turn over and remove from heat. Then add the knob of butter to the pan and the scallops will finish cooking in the retained heat of the pan. Plate up your dish using a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil as the dressing, garnish with capers. ■

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from the foodie

bountiful harvest

- Tim Baxter The Dispensary

You reap what you sow and eating locally grown, sustainable produce will not only help the environment, but put more jobs on the table for our community.

The word locavore was given voice in 2005 by Jessica Prentice in San Francisco on World Environment Day and, just two years later, made its debut in the New Oxford dictionary.

A locavore is essentially someone who primarily eats food produced locally or within a certain radius – typically 100 miles (160km) is used.

A few years ago dynamic Melbourne restaurateur Paul Mathis even opened a restaurant called the 100 Mile Café, which sourced just about everything from within the designated radius of Melbourne’s CBD. Food is needed by everyone, everyday, everywhere. To make even the slightest change to one’s eating, shopping and cooking habits, can have great effects on health, preserving cultural diversity, the surrounding ecosystem and distribution method. Change the way food is produced, distributed and marketed and the follow-on effects can be enormous.

My business has been going for 18 months now and slowly we are making more and more relationships with tremendous local growers and producers. It is the most exciting part of the business to me.

For example our preserved lemons came from Peter Daley’s overly abundant tree in Lucan Street. For half the year we get our juicy Tahitian limes from Rooster’s absurdly productive tree in Bancroft Street. The pomegranate seeds we use come from my family’s garden.

One of my chefs regularly picks fresh winter slippery jack and pine mushrooms on his weekend travels around Central Victoria, and these make a welcome addition to our creamy risotto.

Photographer: David Field

We get our milk from Jonesy’s dairy – a terrific new local company, based in Kerang. So not only do I know the provenance of the milk I use in every coffee, but I also know the money is going directly to local farmers.

My chef recently met a lovely local Eaglehawk lady of Filipino descent, named Josie who wandered into our restaurant one day to offer us her exceptional home-grown produce. She grows her vegetables without any pesticides and all of it is of amazing quality. We would struggle to get Russian red kale, Chinese black cabbage, pineapple sage and mustard leaves of this quality anywhere in Melbourne or Sydney, and yet Josie produces them for us in her garden only minutes away.

For the past several months one of our most popular dishes has been our 400 gram rib eye. Char-grilled to perfection with lemon and sea salt, this meat comes from a herd of lovingly cared for Black Angus residing on the Erindale farm in Lockwood. And luckily for the people of Bendigo, they have their own butcher shop outlet right in the heart

of the CBD. Our ham and bacon comes from the locally raised pigs at Musk, an hour’s drive from here. The brothers Jurcan at Istra really know a thing or two about salting, curing and making perfect pig products.

We only use Windrush Park olive oil, grown, pressed and bottled 20 minutes down the road in Harcourt by the eccentric Bill McKellar.

Bill is also a Morris Minor enthusiast and his garage of meticulously restored cars has to be seen to be believed.

Stunning “lady about town” and good customer Jill Bruinier always drops in bundles of sage when her Strathdale bush is overflowing.

We get all our bread needs from The Good Loaf in Bendigo and Sprout Bakery in Castlemaine. Both make superb artisan bread daily, fresh, tasty, healthy and vibrant, and by supporting them, we help them pay their wages, employ their staff and generate employment and wealth to Central Victorians. Think about that the next time you reach for a loaf at the supermarket.

And a short drive away in Sutton Grange is the finest herd of goats in the country producing easily Australia’s best cheese. If every person that reads this passage goes out and buys some Holy Goat cheese from The Epicurean or Bendigo Wholefoods tomorrow, not only will you be helping local business thrive, but also you will be eating the best cheese in the land.

My barista picks jasmine flowers on her way to work each day from a plentiful supply right in the CBD. They are an edible flower and we use them with desserts, cocktails and as garnishes. They grow about 200 metres from my business and are picked often just minutes before they are used. Now that is fresh and local!

Taking our cues from the fabulous Annie Smither’s Bistrot in Kyneton, my wife and I hope to soon be able to begin planting our garden beds to add our own harvest to the restaurant table.

Being time-poor is a too often used cliché in society nowadays. I know; I use it as an excuse too many times myself. But if you’re unable to do anything else, then try to get along to the Bendigo Community Farmers Market outside Rosalind Park, in Pall Mall every second Saturday of the month. A spectacular example of like-minded local foodies motivating local artisan producers to create a dynamic and vivacious market place with produce so fresh and ripe it is virtually bursting with goodness – and it is all available to you, right in the heart of the city.

Support them and they will grow. ■ 87

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fairy goth mother “Every time a child says I don’t believe in fairies” ... another sprite flies defiant and feisty in the face of reason.

– Sarah Harris For more than two years Anna Clabburn has been hunting fairies. She swears there’s nothing fey about her, but she’s turned up sprites by the hundred - all quite real, quite tangible and coming soon to The Bendigo Art Gallery.

Before being given the delightful task of curating the exhibition Looking for Fairies - The Victorian Tradition, Anna jokes she had already earned her wings. “I said to someone when I first started doing this that it was really an appropriate show to be doing being in the midst of parenting small children because I feel I am off with the fairies half the time anyway.”

But don’t be misled, this freelance curator is no airy fairy. With dual masters degrees in fine arts and environmental science she was concerned not only about the provenance of her fairies, but also their teeny carbon footprints. Hence, this enchanting exhibition is largely a showcase of indigenous fairies of the kind any Australian child, with a fertile and - in some instances - slightly disturbing imagination, might find at the bottom of their own garden.

The idea for the fairy exhibition grew from discussions between Anna and gallery director Karen Quinlan. “I was interested in doing something about childhood or that children could relate to, and Karen came back from the UK having seen an exhibition of some of the classic Victorian fairy paintings,” Anna reveals. It was the perfect pairing.

“Initially we discussed whether we should bring in some works from England because that is where the key, classic works reside.

But, I had some real concerns about the cost of flying famous heavy fairies out from the UK.” Fortunately, one of the great exemplary works of the genre by Sir Edwin Henry Landseer was already housed in Australia. As a masterwork from the heyday of fairy painting Scene from a Midsummer Night’s Dream Titania and Bottom is arguably the lynchpin of the exhibition, but by no means its only star.

A few works from New Zealand just squeaked in under the air mile limit, including Frank Craig’s Goblin Market based on the poem of the same name by Christina Rossetti. Rossetti, was one of the most famous women writers of the Victorian era, but not so well known as her brother Dante - the pre-Raphaelite artist and writer - who illustrated her first volume of poetry The Goblin Market and Other Poems.

Another serendipitous coup, given the success of the recent Frederick McCubbin exhibition, was winkling two more of his works What the Little Girl Saw in the Bush and Childhood Fancies – the whereabouts of which was long unknown – out of private hands. There are also a number of unpublished works from the State Library of NSW including those of artists Isabel Dawes, Harold Gaze, Ethel Maurice Jackson and Celeste Mass.

In all there are more than 100 catalogued items in this magical exhibition ranging from the large gilt-framed paintings and delicate pen and ink drawings to books, statuettes and ephemera like postcards. “It is very Victorian in that there is a lot in it,” Anna says. “It is the most amazingly eclectic range of works and I think there will be some real surprises for people. It is a show to appeal to the child within and there are certainly a few treasures.”

This includes work by one of Anna’s own favourite fairy illustrators, Arthur Rackham. “I absolutely love his works and I think partially because they are a little bit creepy. Even though he started working towards the end of the Victorian fairy heyday, he was someone who continued the tradition on the more gothic, occult side. He is often written about for his anthropomorphism because he gives trees faces and things like that. In that sense he is a bit of a bridge between more twee fairies of latter years and the nature spirits. He blends both within his work.”

The genre of Victorian fairy painting, according to the late Jeremy Maas - an acknowledged expert on the subject - emerged as a means of escape from the peculiar straits of the time. While

89

people were busy covering up the indecorous piano legs, the feisty, slightly morally ambivalent fairy romped naked. At the time of his death in 1997 Maas had just completed an essay which explored opium addiction and Victorian stage lighting in the development of the fairy. “It was very closely tied in with theatre and pantomime and the whole interest in spiritualism and the occult that happened in the mid-1800s to the turn of the century,” Anna explains.

These fairies were not the cutesy, helpful creatures of today. “Those fairies that came out of the Victorian area, the evil nixies (water spirits) and sprites were much more connected with natural forces and natural phenomenon like death and illness,” Anna says. “They were nature spirits attached to the local culture and nationalism.”

In this way Ida Rentoul Outhwaite and May Gibbs may be regarded as the co-creators of Anglo-Australian nature spirit, which emerged hand in hand with national spirit on the cusp of World War I. But, by the end of World War II, the disenchantment with dark forces was complete and the fairy was reinvented.

“Post World War II the popular illustrations of fairies became much more cute and moved away from being things for adults to being just for kids, “ Anna observes. “I think it was protective thing and a reflection of two world wars and wanting to keep children innocent.”

Does she believe? “Absolutely,” she says “although I have been told the act of looking will not bring one.”

But, here’s a big tip for budding fairy hunters young and old - a visit to Bendigo Gallery might be a good start.

Looking for Fairies - the Victorian Tradition opens at The Bendigo Art Gallery on October 16 and runs to November 28. There will be a number of workshops for children and events for adults during the the exhibition. Visit www.bendigoartgallery.com.au for more information. ■ ABOVE: Ida Rentoul Outhwaite, Grasshoppers Watercolour, ink C1920 Dromkeen National Centre for Picture Book Art BELOW: Edwin Landseer Scene from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Titania and Bottom (1848 – 51) Oil on canvas 82.0 x 133.0cm National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Felton Bequest, 1932 PREVIOUS PAGE TOP: Frederick McCubbin, Childhood Fancies 1904

90

photographed D&D Studio 101.

Courtesy of Menzies Art Brands Pty Ltd, Sydney and Melbourne PREVIOUS PAGE CENTRE: Arthur Loureiro The spirit of the new moon 1888 Oil on canvas 168.1 x 136.4cm National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Purchased, 2003 CONTENTS PAGE: Robert Anning Bell, A Flight of Fairies 1901 Watercolour and gouache 49.6 x 62.4cm National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Purchased, 1901

BendigO ViSiTOr CenTre Discover the highlights of Bendigo inside one of Bendigo’s most beautiful buildings – the Historic Post Office. Come and experience the refurbished Bendigo Visitor Centre.

Bendigo’s Official Accommodation, Tour & Ticketing Specialists: Accommodation properties bookable online or over the phone.

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bendigo landmark

lengths ahead Age is no handicap for Bendigo’s spring carnival which began drawing crowds well before Archer won the first Melbourne Cup. - Colin King

A vast crowd of 4000 ventured to the flat bearing the name of England’s hallowed Epsom Derby to enjoy “the pleasures of the turf”. Gold was obviously burning a hole in the pockets of Bendigo diggers of whom it was written in verse, “Bets on races and the ring, at billiards, chess and loo”. Before you imagine the worst, loo was a card game.

Bendigo’s first spring racing carnival was conducted over three days later that year. The scene included a “large sprinkling of the fair sex” and a long line of booths for those “bent on enjoying themselves”.

The Bendigo Jockey Club formed in 1858 and in those early years the club had its hands full protecting its turf. In 1861, some 230 diggers thought the land had been set aside prematurely and lodged a petition to mine the reserve. Three years later, the reserve survived the coming of the Bendigo to Echuca railway which bisected the original course layout. The club took advantage of this progress by having its own railway platform installed for racegoers, something today’s committee would be pleased to see reinstated.

The racecourse began a long military association around that time when a volunteer cavalry unit was formed in Bendigo. The regiment used the racecourse as its parade ground before disbanding in 1891.

Its commanding officer was Captain Bastard — a name sure to have

struck terror into the hearts of prospective recruits.

Troops also occupied the racecourse during both world wars. Racing at Epsom was suspended and in 1915 the Bendigo Cup was conducted at Moonee Valley instead. This occasion was reported in the Melbourne Age with the background that a horse called Old England won the first Bendigo Cup in 1868. It added patriotically, “It is quite on the cards that Old England and her allies will be successful in another big contest shortly”. Gates commemorating Bendigo’s troops were erected at the course in 1985.

Although the Bendigo Cup’s official racing history begins in 1868, the Bendigo Jockey Club has in its possession a glorious London made silver urn inscribed “Sandhurst District Cup won by Bray in 1860”, a year before Archer won the first Melbourne Cup. The 20th century saw steeplechase events continue for decades and in 1901, local architect Ernest Keogh was awarded first prize for his design of the handsome grandstand that overlooks the course to this day. A members’ stand was built alongside in the late 1960s and the renowned Silks Function Centre added in 2004.

Technology arrived in the form of the photo finish camera in 1958.

It came nine years too late for the judge who caused “one of the greatest sensations ever seen on Bendigo racecourse”. He awarded first place to Sir Constant which was last across the line. There was a noisy demonstration as jockeys returned to scale and until stewards eventually righted the error.

Photographer: Anthony Webster

Here’s a hot tip. If you are asked to name Bendigo’s oldest man-made landmark, then back the Epsom racecourse to run a place. The first reported “Camp Cup” was held there in early 1854, well before most familiar icons like the fountain, Rosalind Park and the Shamrock Hotel came into existence.

... it caused one of the greatest sensations ever seen on Bendigo racecourse.

Over the years, unpredictable springtime weather has been the bane of Cup meetings. Some have been marred by torrential downpours, but the weather gods saved their worst for the 1968 meeting.

Lightning struck the track as horses were going to the post. The flash hit the trailing ambulance causing horses to shy and rear. No one was seriously injured but buildings rocked and jockeys and cameramen received minor shocks. Punters with a nose for the weather would have backed Shock for a place in the Cup. It ran third.

Epsom has always been one of the most picturesque courses in the state. Its bygone description as “an excellent course with a commodious stand, a well-kept lawn and fernery and a carriage reserve” is still on the money, although the carriage reserve is now better known as the car park. As you drive through the main gate today, the expansive foregrounds are invitingly treed. A walk through the turnstiles then reveals a course-side treat of immaculately groomed hedges, lush lawns, oaks, palms and rhododendrons. The straight and parade ring are spectacularly lined with yellow roses and the past lingers pleasingly with the historic grandstand and Lienhop Lodge. This idyllic setting is completed with the backdrop of forest that surrounds the entire course.

While Bendigo’s first race meetings had a “sprinkling of the fair sex”, the club estimates that men and women now attend Cup meetings in equal numbers. Women have also made their mark on the course with sisters Therese and Michelle Payne riding Bendigo Cup winners in 1987 and 2008.

Today, the Bendigo spring carnival embraces the spirit of the original Camp Cup with a proclaimed public holiday. Traditions of trackside merriment and fashion are faithfully honoured by succeeding generations in a sea of oversized umbrellas and grandiose marquees.

But the most timeless ingredient is the sport itself. Racegoers who sat in the grandstand 100 years ago witnessed the same on-course spectacle that racegoers see today from the same grandstand. It offers a glimpse of what will be in Epsom as well as what was, alas without revealing a winner.

There is one certainty though, Bendigo’s racecourse has proved to be a marvellous stayer. ■

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a decade of success Cartridge World Bendigo turned 10 this year and to celebrate this important business milestone cocktails were in definitely in order.

Staff and friends of Cartridge World enjoyed a cocktail party at Silks to celebrate the big birthday. The evening was attended by many local friends as well as store owners from around Australia. Guests came from as far away as Darwin and Hobart, including ex Bendigo locals Rob and Gill Dunn. Special guests for the evening included Peter and Maxine Venning from Adelaide. Peter is the retired global CEO of Cartridge World International. Particular thanks was expressed to the long term staff of Cartridge World.“These are the special people that have made Cartridge World Bendigo the number one store in Australia”, said store owner Peter Cashen. “They are family.”

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day tripping

back to the future You’ll be transported by the wealth of offerings to be found in the laid-back Loddon town once known as “the city in the scrub”.

- Colin King Inglewood’s handsome colonial clock tower showed 1.05pm, while the adjoining face lagged behind on 12.55pm. I’d expected to be transported by historic Inglewood, but to see the very hands of time turned back was definitely a Marty McFly moment.

Having made the 45km journey from Bendigo, the first order of business was caffeine. And, thankfully, a decent espresso was assured in a town that in the 19th century boasted the services of a professional coffee grinder.

I’d come to the classic gold rush town to walk the Blue Plaque Trail.

Inglewood and District Historical Society has followed the example of London and Paris in erecting a series of blue ceramic information plaques on buildings of historic significance. Along the “Paris End” of the main thoroughfare of Brooke Street, so proclaimed above the doorway of the fish and chip shop, the blue plaques are so numerous to be cheek by jowl. There are 52 in all around town and more are planned.

The Traveller’s Guide to the Goldfields describes Brooke Street as having a “frontier” feel. This description seems borne from the street’s narrowness, its gentle bend, the concentration of doublestorey buildings with their imposing balconies and the many wide shady verandas. The fading glory of some yet-to-be restored facades merely adds to the gracefully ageing charm.

This abundant legacy of nineteenth century architecture is a consequence of reef discoveries that prolonged the mining rush into the early 20th century. Inglewood was once a thriving metropolis known as the “city in the scrub” and remained a borough in its own right until a couple of council amalgamations ago.

As once befitted a grand city, the buildings jostle to outdo each other in style and dimension. There is something for all architectual tastes, from the attractive early English and gothic of St Augustine’s Church 96

ABOVE: the faces on the clock tower show times past and present.

BELOW: This graceful old building is one of scores of heritage buildings lining Inglewood’s streets.

of England and the Spanish Mission architecture of Dr Brennan’s residence to the classical lines of the courthouse. William Charles Vahland, the famed architect of many of Bendigo’s historic icons, also left his mark here with the Charlie Napier Hotel.

With so much to take in within the convenient walking precinct, I ignored the precise trail order and explored in my own aimless fashion, taking in the shops along the way. The predominant shopping attraction at Inglewood is provided by the coterie of traders selling collectables. These half a dozen potential rivals have banded together to produce a combined leaflet for those looking for a some kind of grail within the trail. Their shops are bursting with treasures and you never know what you will find — books, pottery and china pieces, recycled clothing and accessories, furniture, old wares and collectables.

I spied Marty McFly zipping by out of the corner of my eye.

Of course the blue plaques themselves tell enormously interesting tales.

Like Tivey’s mansion “Nimmitabel” with its 14 rooms to accommodate 14 children. And it is not only plaques from which interest is gleaned.

The friendly owner of one historic home was enjoying the morning sun on her veranda when she spied me and invited me in to see its grand ballroom. Beneath the ballroom is a large underground tank accessed by raising floorboards and still boasts the handsome hand pump by the maid’s room. The owner told me how, when they reached the safety of adulthood, her daughters had horrified her by confessing that, as children, they sometimes swam in the cold dark tank while their parents were away.

There were no vast rooms and dangerously compelling underground swimming pools in the miners’ cottages that dot the lanes of Inglewood.

Strolling under shady peppercorn trees along the sleepy un-named lane behind Brooke Street. I come across the back of a derelict outhouse, complete with low flap where the “night-soil” was once collected. At nearby Storm Lane, a plaque told that its deep stone-lined drain once ran with the offal and blood of in-town animal slaughter.

Photographer: Anthony Webster

Seldom does the modern detract from the town’s historic ambience, although a couple of fine heritage buildings are fronted by wellmeaning cream brick fences that were fashionable in the 1960s.

To draw breath, I lunch on real country pub fare at the award-winning Empire State Hotel. The Empire State and its fellow remaining pub, the Royal, both bear blue plaques. Sadly, the quaintly named Forget Me Not Hotel has long been pulled down and the Pelican Hotel is now a delightful doll nursery.

Coming into Inglewood from Bendigo, you travel through prime farming country, but on the northern approach it’s blue mallee scrub right to the town’s doorstep. This is the source of the eucalyptus oil industry that took over from gold in the early 1900s. It remained the town’s predominant industry until the recently heritage-listed distillery closed in 1998. Its founder won a prize for his oil at the Paris International Exhibition.

This is all part of the story told in the new museum dedicated to the eucalyptus history The building exterior is that de rigueur of modern architectural finishes, gleaming new corrugated zinc alum. The inside, however, is lined with its ancestral equivalent — weather-beaten recycled corrugated iron, the material that “made the bush in Australia.”

The old within the new truly captures the essence of Inglewood.

Of course ,there is much else that I did not see in just one day, including the close-by wineries and Melville Caves. Not least of the attractions are the state and national parks around Inglewood. These will feature in the Naturally Loddon “A Wonderland in Spring” festival in September.

There is even a return bus service from Bendigo each Saturday.

By the time I headed back to Bendigo it had become all too obvious why one of those Town Hall clock faces had a wont to go back in time.

For more information about the attractions and events around Inglewood visit www.loddonalive.com ■

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banking heritage The glorious Bank of Victoria building in Heathcote is a grand dame of goldfields finance.

The Bank of Victoria Building in Heathcote recently celebrated its sesquicentenary. An afternoon of music, dance, verse and history from the Victorian era was held at the much-loved property. In its 150 years, 72 High Street has been both a bank and a family home.

The building is of local aesthetic and architectural significance to the City of Greater Bendigo and has been added to the heritage overlay under three separate criteria, ensuring it will be safeguarded for many years to come. ■

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for art’s sake

an inside job The restoration of historic Bendigo Town Hall wasn’t a job for the faint-hearted.

- Ken Turnbull

But that’s not the suffering part.

She even stood upright to work on intricate panels and mouldings in the coffered ceiling. Understandably, that would put enormous strain on the neck, shoulders and back, something Michelangelo complained about following his Sistine Chapel masterpiece.

Yet that’s not the suffering part either.

Barbara grew up in Poland during the communist era, studying fine art for seven years in Wroclaw and the ancient capital of Krakow. The education was excellent but the artistic environment was repressive.

After emigrating to Australia she began to study conservation and restoration. Among her favourite projects are the glorious 19th century ES&A Bank building in Collins Street, Melbourne, and the quietly dignified library in Parliament House. She also worked on the historic residence Labassa in Caulfield, the Como mansion in South Yarra and briefly on the Exhibition Building.

Then Barbara was engaged for a restoration task in a church. In what politicians like to call a defining moment, she fell seven metres from a scaffold onto a concrete base. She was alone in the building and lay on the floor for three hours with a badly fractured skull and many other broken bones.

And we’re still not at the suffering part.

The body’s natural painkillers, and her presence of mind, averted what would almost certainly have been a disaster. “There was no pain at that stage, and I was finally able to walk from the site and summon an ambulance,” she says in a matter-of-fact way. “In such an emergency, I think you get one chance to act decisively. If you miss that opportunity, it will probably go awfully wrong.” Then followed 11 days in a coma and months of treatment, including all kinds of painkillers, cortisone and other medication.

That was certainly the suffering part, but her art is here in Bendigo for all to experience.

100

“When I first saw the Town Hall 12 years ago it seemed so damaged.

I didn’t know whether I wanted the job. After all, the building had been earmarked for demolition in the early 1970s.” Indeed, there had been a 1930s proposal to convert the Town Hall into a cinema, and it was unsuccessfully offered for sale to the Public Works Department in 1973. “But the other people on the project did a marvellous job.

Everything was well co-ordinated, making it so much easier for me to do my work.”

And what work it has been.

After the balcony and plasterwork were restored and extensive dampproofing carried out, Bendigo painters Watson and Cahill handled the main colour scheme in the grand Renaissance revival hall designed by architect William Charles Vahland. Barbara’s brief was to reinstate the decorative elements. After doing test pieces with various stripping substances, she painstakingly removed layers of paint one at a time to find original colours and patterns. Even citrus stripper can be toxic, so she had to wear a full mask with filters on such a long job.

“Every job is a surprise, with different colour combinations, materials and technical requirements. In the old days, designers had a limited palette of a few basic colours, giving the work harmony and complementarity. That’s what I have learnt from the 19th century artists. These days, paint shops have hundreds of colours, and it’s a common mistake to use too many. It’s very important to be consistent with the intensity of colour. I have been in a room with a burgundy ceiling that felt as if it was about to drop on your head. The decorative plasterwork in the Town Hall was designed in the 1880s by Otto Waschatz, who did the Royal Palace in Copenhagen, and it was stimulating to follow on from such a fine designer. There’s a translucent effect in the painting that made it a challenge to reproduce.”

Restoring colours, stencilling and murals was a big project – sometimes having to reproduce panels that had been obliterated, and even reversing the direction to match those on opposite walls. But Barbara also applied $60,000 of 22-carat gold leaf to delicate mouldings all over the walls and ceiling. So how did she manage all of this after sustaining what were extremely serious injuries? The line of the skull fracture is still visible on her brow, yet she moves gracefully and is able to clamber up and down scaffolds with ease.

Barbara puts it down to Falun Dafa – also known as Falun Gong –

Photographer: David Field

It’s a platitude that creative types must suffer for their art, but Barbara Schafer probably suffered more than most – that is, until she learned not to. Barbara spent close to two years helping to restore the magnificent interior of Bendigo Town Hall, for much of that time on a scaffold 30 metres in the air while bringing the ceiling back to its original glory.

When I first saw the Town Hall 12 years ago it seemed so damaged.

I didn’t know whether I wanted the job.

101

an ancient Chinese practice of gentle movement and meditation that is credited with improved health, increased energy, stress relief and greater awareness. “In spite of the Chinese government’s crackdown on Falun Dafa, this is not a political movement. It’s based on truthfulness, compassion and tolerance. People of any religion can practise it, and the classes are always free of charge. I have been free of pain for six years and have not seen a doctor in that time. It would have been impossible for me to do even a small part of the work at the Town Hall before I discovered Falun Dafa.”

Almost to make the point, Barbara did an encore when the main hall was finished.

The original council chamber, influenced by the “double cube” proportion favoured by Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, had been enclosed by later additions and was in a bad way. “Perhaps because of the additions the chamber was not quite symmetrical.

Panels that should have been the same size were not equal. But it is a lovely space, defined by elegant pilasters and a coved ceiling. One challenge was to restore the marbling effect on pilasters and other elements in the room. I uncovered a small portion of the original work to use as a guide. I found this very interesting, because the Palace of Versailles has marbling that was considered to be art in the 17th century and therefore more valuable than the real thing.”

Some panels in the chamber were beyond restoration, and Barbara had to create new versions in keeping with the historic character. One scene depicts ships arriving in Australia, signifying the great wave of immigration following the gold discoveries. For another panel, she created a heraldic ribbon bearing the legend “Honesty”, after seeing something similar during research at the Bendigo Library.

On her last day at the site, Barbara spent several hours meditating high in the building. “I wanted to feel its energy, to tap into the spirit of the people in the old days. Of course all art involves putting a bit of yourself into the work, so I tried to be aware of that.”

There are obvious parallels for Barbara Schafer in restoring her inner self and bringing a historic interior back to life. Actually, it’s much more than a simple parallel – her first achievement made it possible for the second one to exist. ■

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local authors

return of the native With apologies to Thomas Hardy, a writer who is an authority on that introduced pest the “wascally wabbit” celebrates the revival of indigenous species.

– Brian Coman

“Though you drive nature out with a pitchfork”, said old Horace nearly two thousand years ago, “she is quick to return”. He said it in Latin, but it is true in any language. It’s a heartening thought in these days of gloomy predictions concerning all the environmental ills that seem to beset us now.

There has been a remarkable return of many native birds and some mammals into urban and semi-urban Bendigo. Older readers will remember a time when the streets were home to huge flocks of sparrows and starlings – both introduced species – and not much else.

They are still around,but not in the same numbers. In part, at least, their particular ecological niche has been occupied by other native species. Nowadays mudlarks frequent the city streets and happily forage on the sidewalks and roadsides within inches of the cars and trucks hurtling past them. Even plovers have taken to the city. Once upon a time, these were birds that you might only see on the shores of lakes and dams, “dabbling around the plashy brink” as William Cullen Bryant put it in his ode To A Waterfowl. Some people believe that these birds have moved into the busy city as an adaptation to nest depredation by foxes. Plovers seem to nest in areas where the fox might be loath to go.

But perhaps the most remarkable “invasion” has been that of the crested pigeon. Before the 1980 drought, these birds were a rare sight in the district. Now there are thousands of them in Bendigo.

They are prolific breeders and seem to nest almost all year round in some places. Many other native birds are now also common in urban Bendigo – corellas and various parrots, honeyeaters, ravens, noisy miners (not the introduced Indian myna, which is also a recent invader), and silvereyes. One particularly striking bird, the blue-faced 104

Photographer: Anthony Webster

But there are glimmers of hope here and there and some are right in our own backyard! The urban areas of Bendigo have undergone an extraordinary environmental change for the better in the last three decades, but many fail to notice the indicators. The most obvious are the native trees and shrubs growing in thousands of back and front gardens and on nature strips. But these are, for the most part, deliberate human introductions. Other positive environmental changes, which are not the result of any human intervention, can be easily overlooked.

honeyeater, has adapted to life in the newer suburbs and is now well established. Even the very shy bronzewing pigeon is now appearing in urban areas. Other and even stranger birds are also showing up. At least one flock of yellow-tailed black cockatoos has been floating around the edges of the suburbs for more than a year now. These are birds we normally associate with wetter forests in the south. Some say the birds have been displaced by the disastrous bushfires last year while others postulate that drought has caused the birds to move into new country.

And then, of course, there are the native mammals. One hardly needs to mention the newly arrived fruit bats in Rosalind Park and the controversy regarding their presence. Other “invaders” are less controversial. These days, it is common to see grey kangaroos on reserves and ovals, in areas of urban bush, and on farmlets at the edge of town. A few decades ago, you might have to travel out 20 or 30 kilometres to see a mob of kangaroos. Possums have always been in urban areas but in the last decade or so numbers at Rosalind Park increased such as to cause serious damage to trees. The Bendigo Field Naturalists Club has erected about 1000 nesting boxes for wildlife in the woodlands surrounding Bendigo and members are delighted to find an occasional sugar glider and, more rarely, the now uncommon brush-tailed phascogale or tuan using the boxes. Many outer suburban residents also find small native mammals in their nest boxes.

Without question, the variety and density of native wildlife species inhabiting our general area has declined since European settlement.

The once-common regent honeyeater, for instance, is now extremely rare in this part of the world. But it is difficult for us to predict exactly what the future holds for our wildlife. Some species may, indeed, perish, but others may well recover in numbers.

While the busy world of humanity worries about stockmarket crashes, terrorist bombings, carbon dioxide emissions, flu epidemics and a thousand other real or imagined disasters, the world of nature still goes about its business with a sort of busy optimism. And it makes the most unexpected moves. We have all seen those shots of ancient Mayan ruins in the jungle, slowly but surely being blotted out by the advancing forest.

On the long-term view, history is on Horace’s side. ■

Author Profile Brian Coman is a retired research biologist who spent many years studying pest animals and their control. His history of the rabbit in Australia (Tooth and Nail: Text Publications) has recently been republished in an updated edition. He has also published a collection of more general essays (A Loose Canon: Connor Court Publishing) and is a frequent contributor to Quadrant Magazine, Sydney. He is an Honorary Associate in the Humanities department at La Trobe University, Bendigo.

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a mall for all It was a long and often controversial process, but finally the wrapping came off Hargreaves Mall to the great relief of traders.

The official opening of Hargreaves Mall was truly an occasion to celebrate for business owners and their customers who no longer faced obstacles to shopping in the revamped pedestrian precinct.

To mark the occasion the Braves and the Braves babes bounded into the mall to help traders shoot a few goals. â–

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A d d r e s s : 1 1 3 Fo r e s t S t r e e t B e n d i g o

new releases

locals writ large You will find the names of several of bendigo magazine’s own writers and photographers on the spine of one the latest books to hit the shelves.

Mixed Cases John Holton and Lauren Mitchell RRP: $20 Mixed Cases is a beautifully presented collection of stories about the people behind the wine produced in the Bendigo Wine Region. Writers John Holton and Lauren Mitchell have unearthed the hopes, accomplishments and aspirations of the Bendigo winegrowers. By delving into conversations about the region’s rich heritage, people’s connections to the land, long-held family traditions and the inspiring endeavours to create quality wines, they have explored the essence of one of Australia’s thriving wine regions. It is also a visual story of a region. Rich, striking photographs by Kate Monotti-Grose and Anthony Webster add to this journey to discover the personalities behind many of the region’s much-loved labels.

Mixed Cases is available for purchase from the Bendigo Visitor Centre and will be available from the cellar doors across the Bendigo region and other retail outlets. The coffee-table format adds to the appeal, making it the perfect gift idea.

A Ute Picnic Lorraine Marwood, Walker Books RRP: $15.95 Sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, this beautiful poetry collection takes a poignant look at what it is like to live on a farm in Australia. This collection of poetry by Bendigo’s Lorraine Marwood described the essence of Australian life on the land. The anthology contains strong themes of farming and rural living and covers topics such as the working day, hardship and drought, beloved pets and playing in the bush. It also includes a special heartfelt poem called Black Saturday about the tragic bushfires that devastated Victoria in 2009. Just prior to publication of A Ute Picnic, Lorraine’s verse novel Star Jumps was shortlisted for the 2010 Prime Minister’s Award for children’s fiction.

Tom Climbs The Fence Shane Worrell, Roadside Books RRP:19.95 The debut novel of Bendigo Advertiser journalist Shane Worrell, is is an honest, raw story of how drug addiction affects not just the user but also those around them. Tom Climbs the Fence is told from the perspective of a neighbour and close friend trying to understand and ultimately save a lifelong friend from heroin. Unlike many depictions of addiction, Tom Climbs the Fence focuses more on the emotional consequences than the graphic drug use to produce

an honest account of the realities of trying to help a family member or friend through addiction. Shane has first hand experience of this.

His sister Cristie took her own life in 2007, the desperate conclusion of a decade of heroin addiction, alcohol abuse and prescription medication problems.

An Extraordinary Gift Marie Whitrow, Bibikin Books RRP: $30 Bendigo mum Marie Whitrow has produced the first Australian resource guide for families who have a child with Asperger’s Syndrome. This beautifully written book titled An Extraordinary Gift The Australian Asperger’s Resource Guide is the most practical gift you could give anyone who loves or works with a person affected by this disorder. It offers profound insight and knowledge about how to parent and educate children with Asperger’s Syndrome. Marie Whitrow wrote the book to provide information and guidance to families and professionals who love and support these extraordinary children.Internationally acclaimed writer and presenter on autism, Wendy Lawson PhD recommends this book for parents, “Whether you want to dip in and out of it for relevant information or whether you want to use it as a map for ongoing support, this book could become an invaluable tool in raising your AS child.”

Home Truth edited by Carmel Bird, Fourth Estate RRP: $29.95 While few of the featured authors call central Victoria home, the editor of this exceptional collection is locally based Carmel Bird. This is a collection of personal stories on the meaning of “home” by 10 Australian writers. From Peter Goldsworthy’s recollections of towns in different parts of Australia to Andrea Goldsmith’s exploration of the home found and lost - in another person, from Marion Halligan’s homes in both hemispheres to Matthew Condon’s discoveries about the accepted history of his home town, the writers demonstrate the ways in which home can be nurturing or full of quiet pain, fleeting or an eternal anchor.

Creative Yoga for Teenagers Edna Reinhardt, Innovative Resources and author RRP: $45 Edna Reinhardt has been teaching yoga to children from preschool age to adolescence since the 1970s. She is the founder and principal of Over the Moon Yoga and Dance Studios in Castlemaine. Edna is the author of a series of yoga education resources for teachers, families and anyone who works with children and young people. Creative Yoga for Teenagers is Edna’s latest book. ■ 107

bendigo memories

ode to spring Seasons stir the soul as, poetically, talk once again turns to the weather.

“Spring is sprung, the grass is ris, I wonder where the birdies is”.

This stupid little poem is one of the few that sticks in my mind since childhood. I could never remember poetry like Tennyson’s Daffodils:

- Geoff Hocking For we’ve played Molongo cricket, and M’Dougal topped the score!

But, even that poem makes much of the weather.

That floats on high o’er vales and hills,

The other one I love is John O’Brien aka Fr. Patrick Hartigan’s Said Hanrahan or We’ll All Be Rooned, first published in 1921:

When all at once I saw a crowd,

“We’ll all be rooned,” said Hanrahan,

A host, of golden daffodils… [I just Googled that].

In accents most forlorn,

I wandered lonely as a cloud

In fact, the only poem I remember from school days at Golden Square Primary was The Day M’Dougal Topped The Score [Thomas Spencer 1898], which had nothing to do with spring, but rather summer, as it had to do with a cricket match.

A peaceful spot is Piper’s Flat. The folk that live around - They keep themselves by keeping sheep and turning up the ground; But the climate is erratic, and the consequences are The struggle with the elements is everlasting war.

We plough, and sow, and harrow - then sit down and pray for rain; And then we get all flooded out and have to start again.

But the folk are now rejoicing as they ne’er rejoiced before,

Outside the church, ere Mass began, One frosty Sunday morn.

The congregation stood about,Coat-collars to the ears, And talked of stock, and crops, and drought, As it had done for years.

“It’s looking crook,” said Daniel Croke; “Bedad, it’s cruke, me lad, For never since the banks went broke Has seasons been so bad.”

It seems every poem talks of the weather: crops, drought, failure, success, good times and bad times. Rain, no rain, dry, wet, good soil and dust. The Englishman Lord Tennyson saw rows of golden daffodils where the colonial poets saw all of the elements that Dorothea 109

photo opportunity MacKellar observed in our alternative national anthem [the one we probably all know the words to: [second verse] I love a sunburnt country, A land of sweeping plains, Of ragged mountain ranges, Of drought and flooding rains, I love her far horizons, I love her jewel sea, Her beauty and her terror - The wide brown land for me.

Here in central Victoria we can know exactly what she was writing about. While we may be far from the jeweled sea, we know of the beauty and the terror, of drought and the flooding rains. The plains do sweep across the wide brown land, and yet in our private gardens, and our public parklands we often attempt to recreate that vision of Tennyson’s England, or the first lines of MacKellar’s poem that are never sung: The love of field and coppice, Of green and shaded lanes, Of ordered woods and gardens…

Bendigo has always treasured some beautiful gardens. Lansell’s Fortuna is a fine example of the classic European style of ornamental garden; Rosalind Park, replete with it’s restored cascade, a wellmanicured collection of botanic specimens in the Victorian style; the Conservatory as its glorious appendix, itself at the centre of a proud green sward; the Fernery, which today is bordered by plantings in an international style, is still a mysterious labyrinth of gentle fronds and meandering paths. All of these spaces were built by men of vision who knew that good gardens added grace to the community; that the majesty of nature, although tamed, added value to their busy lives. The garden is a place to relax, reflect, to wander or sit, to meet and enjoy those moments away from toil in the presence of nature’s bounty.

I remember how we visited the gardens at White Hills on Sunday afternoon drives. The monkey house, with mad little critters leaping, and chattering and taking the tip of the occasional finger that poked its way too far into the wire. White Hills was the only place where one saw kangaroos in those post-war days. Poor old grey ’roos, stretched out in the dust, and emus belting back and forth looking for a way out of the wire. Was there an aviary with cockies and parrots and tiny trapped sparrows?

There was the little cottage up the road with towering cacti of all descriptions. What a garden! What a vision that bloke had, to turn his little Aussie backyard into something “west of the Pecos”. Like living sculpture, and so much of it. I always thought that was so fabulous, so incredible, that someone could turn their garden into something that was so useless — no vegies, no fruit trees, just sculpture, just art.

And that is what gardens are. They are our private and our public art. Whether big or small, grand or cottage, our carefully tendered landscape is our open gallery. The colours of the flowers, the shapes of trees, their structure and placement, the winding paths, steps, ponds, walls, ornaments, fountains — or even just an old wheelbarrow filled with pots, is an attempt to add beauty to our living.

I am a struggling gardener. Our house is straddled by eucalypts.

My vegies struggle beneath a canopy of gums.

I have planted ornamental vines, and have waited years for them to cover our house. It hasn’t happened yet, but each autumn when they turn crimson I relish the color of their decay. Each spring, my heart leaps with the hope that it will be this year that they reach the bargeboards. Jonquils poke through the clay, lavender blooms on straggly stems and one or two daffodils, having survived for 20 years still poke their yellow heads up in defiance of the wide brown land.

I love a sunburnt country. where spring has sprung, and the grass has ris. I just wonder where my roses is?

Castlemaine & district has 20 gardens open again for inspection during Melbourne Cup Week. I have been painting pictures for their posters for more than 20 years, so come and visit us and see what we can do, with lousy soil, no water, harsh summers, lots of hard work and paint. ■ 110

five star rating James Halliday would have awarded maximum stars to the evening of wine and tapas held at La Piazza to celebrate the launch of the book Mixed Cases.

Mixed Cases is a beautifully presented collection of stories about the people behind the wine produced in the Bendigo wine region.

The book, written by Lauren Mitchell and John Holton, was produced to help shape the identity of Bendigo as a wine growing region into the future.

It features the stories of 24 local winemakers, their hopes, dreams, successes and challenges. They are the real stories of local people and places illustrated with stunning photographs by Anthony Webster and Kate Monotti in a layout designed by Jacqui Lynch.

Mixed Cases: Stories of the Bendigo Winemakers is available for purchase from the Bendigo Visitor Centre and cellar doors. ■

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morning town ride The number of people commuting on the Bendigo line has more than doubled in recent years. So we set the alarm and climbed aboard to go rockin’, rollin’, ridin’.

– Sarah Harris 5:54am

Photographer: Anthony Webster

Sheena Easton made it sound sexy. But what the singer of the 1980 hit failed to mention was that when “baby takes the morning train” it’s often dark, cold and, the passenger sorely sleep-deprived. Surely no one has a right to look as good as Wendy Fitzpatrick at this time of the morning?

“I am much better in the morning than I am at night and I love my job so I am willing to commute,” Wendy says as she cheerily makes her way to her usual carriage, clutching a coffee. A hair and make-up teacher who works at Victoria University, Wendy is a keen observer of her fellow passengers.

“Some people do their make-up on the train. There used to be a lady who would discreetly sketch other passengers. Some people are not friendly – like that guy to my right who has never, ever even met my eye or acknowledged me, although we share our journey in the same train every day. It is much nicer for everyone if you can be pleasant.

The conductors are great that way. Sometimes they say funny things

to make us laugh like ‘Please make sure you take all your belongings or you will find them on eBay in the morning’.”

Down the carriage a bit Denise Hearn has taken commuting to a whole new level, by working in Dandenong. “I’ve done it for seven months now,” she reveals. “I work for the Department of Human Services and my usual job is child protection in Bendigo, but I wanted to do something different so now I work with refugees in Dandenong.”

On a good day Denise will spend five hours on a train. ”If everything goes by the book it takes me two and a half hours. If it all goes to hell and I miss the 6.02 it takes three and a half hours.”

Therese Tayeh, a body corporate manager sitting nearby, is in her last week of commuting after two years on the train. “I just handed in my notice yesterday because I got a local job with DCK real estate,” she reveals. “You have to be up at 4.45am to get this train. What is really painful is coming home at night in the winter when they cancel the train for the football. The express is good if you can get that. We would love another express.”

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6.21am Environmental scientist John Sanderson describes the train service as essential to his work-life balance. “I work full time, usually three or four days in Melbourne and the other one or two days via telecommuting from home near Castlemaine,” he says “Commuting that sort of distance regularly by car is brutal. So the V/line service is a key part of my work-life balance.

“A couple of years ago my friend James Benedict talked about starting up a coffee cart at the Castlemaine station, peddling the elixir of life to bleary-eyed travellers. Sounded like a good idea, and certainly turned out that way. I’ve overheard comments during that last-minute rush to grab a cup before boarding the train to the effect that they’d rather miss the train than miss out on a latte. Myself, I prefer to sleep on the train and so normally don’t have a coffee that early in the day unless there’s some last-minute report that needs finishing up on the way in. I do, however, make full use of the station’s other facilities, often scoffing down a bowl of cereal at a table in the waiting room or shaving in the bathroom (James calls it my “en-suite”). Some people have turned sleeping on the train into a real art form, with neck pillows and blankets etc, but I find positioning yourself next to, ahem, a generously proportioned fellow traveller can be all that is needed to get comfy. They don’t seem to mind.

“There are a few bits of terminology I’ve learned on the train. For example, commuters from Castlemaine are often referred to as “Castlemainiacs” by their travelling companions from up North, whom they refer to in response as “Bendigonads”. “Timber Finish” was how I once heard a conductor announce our approach to the station at Woodend. “Pole dancing” refers to the motion of a standing commuter who has just had to make a wild off-balance grab at a

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handhold when the train lurches unexpectedly. “Going long” is what it’s called when the train overshoots its usual spot and people have to scramble forwards along the platform to reach the doors, whereas “banging it in short” occurs when the train stops short of the mark and scrambling ensues in the opposite direction. Sometimes I wonder if the drivers are just having a bit of fun with us. Plonking down your bags at the front of the platform where you estimate the doors will end up can be akin to placing your chips on the roulette table. Not a gamble you want to lose mind you; getting on last in Castlemaine can mean you’ll end up sitting on the floor.

“Many of us who get the morning express also get the 16:53 express on the way back. We look like the same people, but believe me we’re not. Speaking personally, the difference between my afternoon and my morning commuter personality is a bit like the difference between Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. And that goes for quite a few of us I’d say. There’s a bit of a festive air on that return journey; we got to Melbourne, got the job done, survived it all, and now we’re getting the hell out. There’s a regular quiz that goes on in the middle carriage on that return express that can get quite boisterous, so if you do want to catch a bit of shut-eye on the way home, it pays to stick to the end carriages.

“Becoming a regular on the express service on the Bendigo line is a bit like joining some sort of club. The membership does change, people come and go, but the diehard regulars share a common bond. Some of us are great friends and soulmates, some just have a chat once in a while to catch up on the latest news, and for others it’s no more than a curt nod, or a knowing smile, quietly acknowledging that though we may not necessarily know each others’ names, we’re still mates and we’re in this together.”

6:31am Beauty therapy student Bonnie Dunn and her mum Jean Dunn come across from Maryborough to catch the train. “We travel to Melbourne approximately every fortnight as I have treatment at Royal Melbourne Hospital,” Bonnie reveals “It’s quite strange but I have a condition called CVID or Common Variable Immune Deficiency. It basically means I have no immune system, so every fortnight I go to the hospital to have an infusion. I get hooked up to a drip and a drug called Intragam gets pumped into me as a replacement for my immune system, so I don’t get sick.

“We use the rail system quite frequently and Mum actually travels free as my father used to work on the railways. Train travel is usually pretty good. The train is usually on time, and generally the people are nice. However you do get the occasional child causing havoc or a businessman talking loudly about the meeting he has that afternoon because apparently we all so want to know about his busy schedule ...NOT!”

Leonie carried a bag with cats on it ... that’s how I got to know the world’s fastest knitter.

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6.53am Felicity Neale, an editor for a stock market analysis company, likens the morning train to a school bus. “At different times there is flirting, singing, chattering, seat-saving, teasing, photo-sharing, reading, knitting, iPod-ing, movie-watching, and crying/soothing,” she says.

“There are people who never change where they sit, and other who like to mix it up – social butterflies who flit around and extend the networks between people. There are people you smile and nod delightedly at every single day but whose names and occupations you don’t even know – and if they stop taking the train for a while, you wonder where they are and realise with a surprise that you’ll miss them if they end up never coming back.

“Some days, the carriage is so filled with buoyant chatter and laughing that even I can bring myself to switch off the iPod and join in. Other days, the same carriage-full of people can be completely quiet, everyone content to sit in companionable silence. (I switch the iPod off on those days, too, lest the headphones leak sound out and I attract the “evil eye” from someone). There’s no rhyme nor reason nor pattern to this – it just is what it is.

“One of the train drivers likes to play music at full blast in the driver’s cabin, and the sound leaks out to the first few rows of seats (I sit in the first row). When he’s the designated driver for the morning, I have to turn my iPod from Abba over to Guns N’ Roses, which I have loaded as an emergency device specifically to drown him out!

The funniest thing I have seen so far on that morning train is when one of the regular gentlemen got on at Woodend and sat by himself in one of the four-seater sections. It was just him in his block of four seats, and Leonie and Rhonda across the aisle from him in the other block of four. This man put on his iPod and closed his eyes. At each stop thereafter, more knitters got onto the train, and joined Leonie and Rhonda and spread into the other four-block that this man was sitting in. Eventually, the whole block of eight seats was taken up by seven chattering, knitting ladies and this one guy, who had not opened his eyes or turned off his iPod since he got on. I already thought it was a pretty funny sight (pick-the-black-sheep thing), but it was 10 times funnier when the guy eventually did open his eyes – and his mouth – and nearly stood up in shock as he swivelled his head from side to side like a trapped animal looking for escape! Oh the humanity! Hilarious!”

Leonie Postle and Rhonda Hoysted are knitters extraordinaire who have subtly drawn Felicity into their circle to the point where she has now ordered a beginners’ project. The women have become best mates since meeting up on the platform and often catch up for dinner and shows away from the train.

Rhonda, a business intelligence analyst, recalls how “Leonie carried this bag with cats on it and one morning we started chatting. Leonie had three cats and I had a cat and that was how I came to know the world’s fastest knitter,” she laughs Leonie, who works in accounts in a computer share company, cheerfully admits “the train trip in is one of the delights of the day for me.”I have only been travelling since early 2006 but have met quite a few people on the train and even those who I don’t really know acknowledge me in the supermarket or in the street. It is lovely. There are four of us who board together at Castlemaine and we pick up down the track. Our ‘mother hen’ is Marilyn who gets on at Macedon and ensures that all her ‘chicks’ are well and happy. Sally also boards at Macedon and does not knit, but has become our quality controller.

She let me down badly last year when she did not notice that I had done the blank of a sleeve incorrectly and had to redo it.”

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7.12am Victoria Hughes really missed the daily commute when she and her husband moved to Hamilton Island for a time. Now, the executive assistant is back in Victoria and happy to rejoin the Train Gang. She reveals the group have their own Facebook page and often socialise outside work.

“We have a lot of birthday parties, kitchen teas on board. We socialise outside of the train as well. We did a bit of a pub crawl one night coming outbound from Melbourne. We stopped at Clarkefield, Riddells Creek and all down the line. There was about 10 of us and we just hopped off and on again as the next service went through.

“I never anticipated it would be like this when I started catching the train. When you say you sit with the same people every day people are quite surprised. I have made friends I wouldn’t be without, that is why moving away was so hard. You see them every morning and night because we all sit together in the afternoon as well.

“It is surprising the strength of the relationships that do develop.

We mean a lot to each other and we do stuff for each other. We have some so-called ‘fringies’; people who have yet to become Train Gangers and some we see sporadically. Nearly everyone has a nickname in the gang. We nickname people we don’t know and just see on the platform regularly.”

7.20am Henrik Axelsson – the newest member of the Train Gang – scarcely anticipated how much his life would change when he boarded the train at Macedon. For one thing he has taken up knitting.

“I used to mainly read/sleep/do work stuff and started sitting with this mob occasionally because of a friend that I knew. Now I certainly don’t get as much work/reading/sleeping done, but I do get to participate in inappropriate conversation, thinking up nicknames for people. I think I have about four which include Crazy Bike Boy or CBB for short, the Snowman and some other less than appropriate ones. It is a good social outlet really.

“The knitting thing started as just something else to do. There are a few knitters that sit with us so Josh and I thought we would give it a shot. Helen became our head instructor with Amanda providing additional tutoring focusing on our needle-holding technique. It’s a bit of fun and watching people’s reactions around us for the first few weeks was quite funny. It’s also been quite interesting the amount of people that just come up to you and ask what you are making and how long you’ve been doing it for.

“We are currently tossing up ideas as to what will be our next train project. Some ideas may be a bit ambitious and less than practical such as starting a craft market to sell the stuff we knit, others are just plain stupid; setting up a speed-dating carriage, so we will just have to wait and see what our collective brains can devise.”

But, it is not all fun and frivolity. Helen King, another member of the Train Gang, jokes she completed her masters in law via V/line. When she completed that, she turned her attention to educating Henrik and John in knitting. “The social interaction makes the trip go faster.

Spending so much time travelling you need some sort of distraction.

Now we are trying to find Henrik a girlfriend.”

Some ideas include starting up a craft market to sell stuff we knit and setting up a speed dating carriage.

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7.30am Disembarking, the words of James Benedict – the barista/philosopher who runs the Daily Express at Castlemaine Station – echo as the train pulls away.

“The commuters are like a funny old family. There is a funny kind of intimacy about it. People are thrown together when they are still rubbing sleep from their eyes. Sometimes they are still getting dressed! This is like the kitchen for a crazy, giant household. I had a party recently at home and I invited some of the people from here and I didn’t actually know their names so when they turned up it was like: ‘Hi, everyone I’d like you to meet medium flat white with two.

“It takes a great deal of effort to get up at 5am in the morning and get on the train. People always ask me how I’d know and it’s because I get up at 4.30am to get their coffee ready. I’ve been doing it for a while now and you never get used to it. It is still night.”

People are thrown together when they are still rubbing the sleep from their eyes, sometimes they are still getting dressed.

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inside my

ooh la, la Living the dream starts with believing, just add to the recipe a lot of hard work and no small measure of serendipity.

Notwithstanding the considerable commitment of buying a business or the expensive job of putting children through school, a girl is entitled to her fantasies, which goes part way to explain how a life can turn on a copy of a magazine older than you’ll find in any dentist’s waiting room.

The year was 1999; the month May. Jane and her husband Glenn had not long bought Diggers Clothing Co in Lyttleton Terrace. “Country Style is a bit of a bible and it turned up in the mail as usual,” Jane recalls. “I was leafing through this particular issue and came across this article about an Australian woman who had two holiday houses in France. At that time holidays like that were out of the question for us. So, I just filed it away and thought; ‘one day, maybe’.”

Fast forward to 2010 and Jane is now the owner of one of those houses. No 18 Rue Sorel is reputedly the most photographed house in the walled medieval village of Saint-Flour, perched atop the highest volcanic outcrop in the Auvergne region two hours drive south of Paris.

This lovely little house which boasts just one room on each of its five floors was built between the buttresses of the 15th century church of St Vincent just after the end of the French Revolution.

Back then it housed the church caretaker, but today it hosts people from around the world drawn to the picture-postcard village with its cobbled streets and breathtaking views.

There are times Jane still pinches herself to think such a historic property has come into her possession and the serendipity of the circumstances.

“It was 2007 and the time had come when we could actually have an overseas holiday so I dug out the magazine which I had squirreled away,” Jane reveals. “I got in touch with the owner and asked if she still had the house and she said ‘yes’ so we went ahead and booked it.

It was the best holiday. I loved it and came back determined that we should buy something like it. Glenn kept saying; ‘Don’t be ridiculous, it’s on the other side of the world’.”

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Photographer: Anthony Webster

Jane Mildren might just be the poster girl for dreams - the kind that come with subtitles.

OPPOSITE PAGE TOP: Jane and Glenn Mildren own one of the most-photographed homes in the medieval village of Saint-Flour.

OPPOSITE PAGE MIDDLE: Jane dared to dream and with hard work it came true.

THIS PAGE: The five-storey house is charming inside and out.

“So I made it my quest to convince him. First I got in touch with a young couple who do house-buying tours to France every year. Then I decided to go to a bit of a talk they were giving in Melbourne. There was a roomful of about 50 people and the guy started showing these snapshots of the houses that were on the market and the very house we stayed in came up right in the middle. I couldn’t believe it was on the market.

“It took me three months to wear Glenn down. In the end he said: ‘You can put one offer in and that’s it. So I put my one offer in and, the owners – who happen to live just down the road in Castlemaine – took it.”

The house came faithfully restored and fully furnished, complete with antique brass beds and its own page on a holiday cottage booking website. “The idea of buying a pile of rubble and doing it up ourselves was never part of the picture for us. It was really about buying a place where we could holiday and we could also rent it out so it covered costs. I think of it as being like a family holiday house at the beach and it didn’t cost much more than that – it’s just a lot further away,” Jane laughs.

This down-to-earth Bendigo hard-working businesswoman and her husband must just about be the most unpretentious owners of a cottage in the south of France. “I hate that term Francophiles. I just fell in love with the country. It’s such an intangible thing for me. But I am a great believer in things happening for a reason. I kept that magazine and stored the dream away in the my head, until the time came for it to become true.”

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be a part of this

wheelie cool The humble scooter is making a comeback, bringing a touch of the Italian piazza to our own Pall Mall.

- Sarah Harris It’s 60 years since the scooter went on a Roman Holiday and returned as the perennial style icon. The image of Audrey Hepburn sitting sidesaddle behind Gregory Peck as they zoomed in and out of Rome’s picturesque laneways drove Vespa sales through the roof.

The classic Hollywood film was credited with the purchase of 100,000 of the little bikes the Italian manufactured affectionately named The Wasp because of the buzzing sound made by the two-stroke engine.

But, by the end of the ’70s the brakes were on for scooter makers as this mode of transport was overtaken by its bigger, more powerful cousin, the motorcycle.

That was until now. The scooter is undergoing a major revival, led locally by a lady with another famous Hollywood name. Since Marilyn McKnight and her friend Barbara Garde founded Bendigo Scooter Club last year there has been a noticeable increase in the number of the bikes around town.

Bendigo Scoota has put more than 80 brand new bikes on the road since opening its doors two years ago. More than half of them it seems bought by the 30 regular riders in Marilyn and Barbara’s group.

“Almost every one in the group has upsized since we started,” Barbara laughs. “I started with a VS125 and only had that six months and I went up to a Honda Cruiser 250.” Marilyn’s scooter, which looks very much like the traditional step-through, boasts a 300cc engine. But it certainly doesn’t end there with Piaggio recently unveiling its Gilera GP800 - a tourer described as a “scooter on steroids” powered by a twin-cylinder 850cc engine.

It’s this increase in engine capacity, coupled with legendary fuel economy and increasing environmental awareness, which is the real driver behind the two-wheelers’ ascendancy.

“A lot of people don’t understand that scooters are the machine they are,” Steve of Bendigo Scoota says. “The 300cc is small enough to throw around town, but will they do 120-130kmh on the open road if you want them to.”

It was their own experience of the scooter as an economical way to get around Europe and Asia that led his son-in-law Brock Pinner and daughter Belinda to set up Bendigo Scoota.

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ABOVE: Some of the gang assemble outside the old Post Office in preparation for the regular Sunday ride.

BELOW: The classically-styled scooter of Roman Holiday fame is an enduring style icon.

I discovered it is not only cheap, convenient and practical to ride a scooter, it really is great fun.

“They believed Bendigo was perfect in the sense that it doesn’t get really ice-cold, there is no snow on the ground and most people live within 15 to 20 minutes of work. It is a good second vehicle for a young family or a first vehicle for a young person. We have a lot of young girls who are doing Year 12 or going to uni who need something to get to their job at the supermarket and get to school.”

“They are so city friendly,” Marilyn says. “You can legally park up on the footpath so you don’t have to pay to park and you are looking at 180 kilometres for about five or six dollars worth of premium unleaded.”

And, as Barbara explains, they are easy to learn how to ride. “I had never sat on a bike until I got my licence,” she confides. “I decided to go for it because I can’t walk so far these days and it makes it easier to get around. But, it’s not just practical, it’s a great way to socialise, too. I have been widowed for three years and it is just a great way to get out with friendly people.”

During the week members of the club use their bikes to scoot short hops around town, but on the weekend they hit the highways where it is entirely their choice if they cruise slow enough to be overtaken.

“We like to ride to places outside Bendigo and have coffee, lunch or a chat,” Marilyn says. “Today, for example, we are going to Nagambie.

About 125cc would be the minimum size to go the kind of distances we go these days. Although we ride as a group we are insured individually, so it is ride at your own risk.”

Photographer: Anthony Webster

Her interest in bikes stems from her time living on a farm along the Murray River. “I used to ride the bikes rounding up sheep. I commuted around farm roads on a motorbike, but I wasn’t actually licenced. So when I moved to Bendigo I decided to do something about it.

“I discovered it is not only cheap, convenient and practical to ride a scooter, it really is great fun,” she says, hopping on the scooter she calls Sophie.

I’m not the only one watching slightly enviously as Marilyn and her crew burble off purposefully into the distance.

ABOVE: Marilyn McKnight (right) and Barbara Garde founded Bendigo Scooter Club raising the zippy machines profile.

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photo opportunity

safety on tap It is never too early in the morning to hear a message that could save a life.

Around 40 Bendigo managers joined Workforce on Tap for a “safety for breakfast” presentation by corporate safety manager Kevin Bassett.

“It was very heartening to see strong interest in safety issues in Bendigo, especially how to deal with bullying and harassment in the workplace.” Workforce on Tap’s Bendigo manager Adam Hargreaves said.“The problem faced by diligent managers in Bendigo is working out exactly how to go about finding and implementing the right information in the mountains of workplace safety guidelines and legislation. Our expert safety manager Kevin shines a light on how local businesses can find the proverbial needle in the OHS information haystack at no cost.”

www.workforceontap.com.au

Workforce on Tap is located at 44 Myers Street Bendigo, phone (03) 5444 2982 ■

Recruiting, Recruiting, Recruiting Workforce on Tap provides the right people - fast – by understanding exactly who you need, when you need them and what they need to do.

When you’re recruiting Executives, Permanent Staff or people On Hire; our unique combination of local ownership and expert resources is unmatched.

Call us 24hrs for personalised service - we’re the easiest people you’ll deal with all day.

Bendigo office - 45 Myers St Bendigo, Vic 3550 Call us on: 03 5444 2982

MICRODERMABRASION

ONLY $99 FREE CONSULATIONS

45 minute safe, affordable, non invasive treatment. Fast results for fine lines, wrinkles, acne, pigmentation and stretch marks.

FLUTTER YOUR LASHES Beautiful eyelash extensions are yours for the fluttering now only $99 at Brazilian Beauty.

SIPL brazilian Stunningly smooth results in no time at all when your buy 5 SIPL brazilian treatments you get the 6th for FREE! Brazilian Beauty Bendigo

Shop 23, Fountain Crt, Bendigo.

Ph 03 5443 8855 www.brazilianbeauty.com.au

feeling gorgeous?

You will with Brazilian Beauty.

tried & tested

glowing organic

- Katarina Vishnich, Beauty Expert

Take a leaf out of Mother Nature’s book and leap into spring with some beautiful botanicals.

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1. Olive Nutrient Therapy from Chi Organics - Shampoo $38.00 & Conditioner $39.00 (350ml) from Jacs Salon (Williamson St) 2. Xanna natural soap prices vary from $6 – $11 each from Bendigo Wholefoods (Lyttleton Terrace) 3. Lucas Papaw ointment $4.99 (25gm) Can be purchased from Target, Priceline, Safeway, BigW and local chemists.

4. Brazillian Beauty The Ultimate Hydration with Mango and Witch Hazel (250ml) $19.95 and The Ultimate All Natural Tea Tree lotion (250ml) $19.95 from Brazilian Beauty (Fountain Court).

5. Botanical Kinetics - Purifying Gel Cleanser $54.95 (150ml) $124.95 (500ml) from Silk Day Spa (McIvor Rd) 6. Buloke Park Olives Moisturising Lip Balm $6.75 (9gm) from Bendigo Wholefoods 7. Inika Mineral Powder Foundation in #4 Nurture $54.95 from the Beauty Bar (Bull St)

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Photographer: Kate Monotti

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beauty q & a

naturally gorgeous

- Katarina Vishnich, Beauty Expert

For powerful anti-ageing products you need look no further than the fruit bowl.

Avocado. Pomegranate. Ginger. They taste great and scientific studies have shown that they have wonderful health benefits as food. Now, many cosmetics companies are using these same ingredients in a bid to return to more “natural” skin care products.

We are always on the lookout for that new, amazing product that will stop ageing in its tracks and keep our skin looking youthful and radiant for years to come. Well it may have just been under our noses the whole time!

Take a peek at these beautiful botanicals:

Avocado: In oil form, it’s deeply penetrating, rich in vitamins A, D and E, lecithin and potassium – known as the “youth mineral” Avocado oil penetrates the skin more deeply than other oils, allowing it to transport nutrients through the top layers of the skin and into the lower layers for increased effectiveness.

With these regenerative properties, it is an ideal ingredient for dehydrated, sun or climate-damaged skin, with its effective nourishing compound for assisting in the regeneration and rejuvenation of the skin. Swap your night cream for avocado oil three nights a week. It’s great for all skin types, and is especially kind to mature, sensitive or troubled skin.

Ginger: It has been used for countless years as a treatment for stomach complaints due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Used on the skin, it can increase the skin’s radiance and decrease inflammation that may be contributing to conditions such as psoriasis and acne.

These anti-inflammatory qualities make it a natural acne-fighting ingredient and as ginger is also an antiseptic, it is highly effective in killing the bacteria that causes acne.

Ginger is also an antioxidant, which means it inhibits harmful free radicals that cause skin damage and aging. The antioxidant ‘Gingerol’,

not only fights skin-damaging free radicals, but also promotes smoothness and evenness in skin tone and has the ability to lighten under-eye circles and age spots.

Because ginger is energising and is believed to improve circulation.

It is often used as an “energy booster” in spa treatments and it is commonly used in cellulite-reducing treatments.

Pomegranate: Recently included in the elite group of “superfruits” because of its amazing health benefits. It carries excellent skin care properties including moisturising, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities. In promoting more rapid cell regeneration and rejuvenation, it delivers a powerful anti-ageing effect as it helps the skin retain moisture and maintain proper circulation and hydration. It contains an abundance of powerful antioxidant components, which are responsible for brightening or lightening the skin tone, and it promotes the production of collagen and elastin, which give skin its strength, support and fullness. This way, it effectively slows the formation of wrinkles and marks related to ageing and pomegranate has even been shown to accelerate healing. With the given anti-inflammatory, anti-aging and soothing effects of pomegranate, it is now a popular ingredient for a number of skin care products, in particular, night creams, to help restore damaged and ageing skin while we sleep.

Pomegranate seed oil is now competing with other oil preparations, in effectively soothing dry, cracked or irritated skin, leaving the skin smooth and supple.

It goes without saying that those who have trouble with sensitive skin should be sure to consult their dermatologist before trying any new skin care product, but do take a moment to have a look at the ingredients in them and assess your skin to determine exactly what it needs. It could be as simple as opening the refrigerator or pantry door! ■

His & her hats & accessories

55 High Street, Bendigo 3550 (3 doors from central McDonalds)

Phone: 03 5441 8737 Appointment & group bookings available after hours

Colour Analysis Style Advice Mineral Makeup Bridal Makeup Makeup Lessons Workshops Special Packages Gift Vouchers Lois McBain Colour & Image Stylist 117 Queen Street, Bendigo

p 5442 1323 m 0429 421 021 e lois@adoniastudio.com w www.adoniastudio.com

Hair by Lauren Cooke

Beauty Therapy by Maggie Green 117 Queen Street, Bendigo Phone: 03 5443 4899

a new you

lady in red The strappers are the unsung heroes of the spring racing carnival so we decided to bring lovely Alice Peat out of the stables and into the limelight.

Well before the first rays of the sun creep across the morning sky, a committed group of individuals is up and hard at work. These are the strappers who look after the magnificent race horses who make the Spring Carnival and our own Bendigo Cup. Feeding, grooming and mucking out the stalls, these unassuming carers love working with these champion animals. Alice Peat is one of these dedicated workers.

Come race day Alice may just be the one who quietly leads the winner to the starting post, whispering calming words to ensure a trouble free start. With such a busy schedule in the lead up to the Bendigo Cup we thought we would assist Alice by giving her a brand new look, ready to join her friends for some fun and laughter.

To keep in step with her relaxed style we have gone for a beautiful poppy red free flowing dress from Mona Lisa. Simple in design, yet oh so elegant we teamed this gorgeous dress with some fun zebra print shoes from Kick. We finished off the outfit with a fabulous butterfly headband again from Mona Lisa in Bath Lane. Headbands are great alternative to wearing a hat, if you want something very current and easy to wear. And we think you’ll agree Alice looks amazing.

Alice wears: Truese poppy red dress $219 and butterfly jeweled headband $49 from Mona Lisa (Bath Lane), black and grey zebra print Siren shoes $130 from Kick ( Bull St).

Stylist & makeup: Lois McBain Adonia makeup & image studio Hair & spray tan: Tranquility Hair & Beauty Photography: Terri Basten

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bendigo photo opportunity magazine

beautiful brazilian Brazilian Beauty’s VIP nights are always a treat and the recent soiree for Bath Lane and Fountain Court traders was no exception.

With champagne and sensuous sweet treats from Indulge Fine Belgian Chocolates, discounts on product plus expert advice about Brazilian Beauty treatments, the recent VIP night was an invitation just too good to pass up.

With new treatments being the main focus of the night, Amy provided professional information and free demonstrations on the fabulous microdermabrasion treatment. Free skin consultations were provided

by Kerri who – with her wealth of knowledge on Dermalogica skin care – discussed and provided solutions to the clients’ skin concerns. While Tamara, the expert on nails and eyelash extensions, demonstrated the benefits of Youngblood’s lengthening mascara.

The night was a huge success and it was lovely to meet all of our neighbours and their families. If you would like to be a part of Brazilian Beauty’s VIP club and receive salon updates, gifts and other promotions, please either drop in and see our wonderful team or call and register your details..

For more information visit Brazilian Beauty Bendigo at Shop 23, Fountain Court, email bendigo@brazilianbeauty.com.au or phone (03) 5443 8855 ■

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academic accolades Scores of hard-working La Trobe University students were honoured for their achievements in a very special night at The Capital.

Every year La Trobe University bestows awards and highly-prized scholarships upon students across all faculties. It is the work by these students that enhances La Trobe’s international reputation as a centre for academic excellence and ground-breaking research and development.

Though she probably won’t thank us for singling her out, bendigo magazine was delighted to spy Vanessa Courtot’s name on list of scholarship winners.

Congratulations to all award recipients and good luck in the studies ahead. ■

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Spring Racing Fever @ Monalisa

T h e O n ly P l a c e TO S h O P F O r yOur SPring racing OuTFiT! Win a Manning Cartell Dress valued at $500 & Two tickets to the Bendigo Cup. Any purchase at Mona Lisa goes into the Draw.

Join our VIP club to recieve a $10 voucher and keep up-to-date with what’s on offer at MonaLisa join at www.monalisa.com.au or in store!

5443 9099

~ 17 Bath Lane, Bendigo

www.monalisa.com.au

S I L K D AY S PA “Everything was wonderful as always! A very relaxing enjoyable environment perfect for my pre-wedding preparations! Thank you.”

voted best massage & best facial Ashley Gifford, lAncefield

IN BENDIGO

“

Best massage ever!

Fabulous! I felt extremely relaxed both massage and facial have made me feel brilliant!”

ANNIE TREANOR, FLORA HILL

voted best massage & best beauty treatment in Bendigo

“

Sit back, unwind and enjoy the tranquil surrounds at Silk Day Spa. Let the caring experienced team de-stress, re-energise andSensational, pamper you with a relaxing, invigorating customised massage, facial or treatment to balance mind body and soul. – an almost spiritual experience The team at Silk Day Spa are waiting to welcome you!

– Thanks Silk.”

ANDREWSON, EAST MELBOURNE Silk Day Spa wish to thank everyone for this great STEVEN honour and recognition.

pure escape for men & women

OPENING HOURS

Monday, Friday & Saturday: 9am – 5.30pm.

p u re e s c ap e fo r m e n & wo m e n

E MASSAGE O p e n M o n d ay - SS IaL Kt uM Or BdI Lay 5 6 - 5 8 M c I v o rTuesday, R o aWednesday d B e n &d i g o P h o n e : 5 4 4 4 5 5 5 4 w w w. s i l k d a y s p a . c o m . a u

Silk Day Spa is an Aveda Concept Spa where you can

enjoy hand and foot rituals, superb body treatments in

The Silk experience, customised to suit your

the Steam and Vichy Cocoon, relaxation, remedial, deep

requirements, and delivered to your door – in the workplace, nursing home, retirement

Thursday: 9am – 7.30pm.

Sunday: Closed.

& more

Enjoy the playing, development and social opportunities that come from playing tennis at our world class facility.

We are now taking team, group or individual enquiries for our summer season of competitions. night Pennants (Mens, Ladies & Mixed) Midweek Ladies (Tues, Wed & Thurs) Junior Pennant (Fri, Sat & Mon) saturday senior Pennant (featuring BTA Premier League) Veterans Tennis (Monday AM) Tennis coaching (Stephen Storer - Club Pro) Summer season begins the week of

Monday 4th October 2010.

Bendigo Tennis AssociATion Nolan Street Bendigo P: (03) 5442 5744 www.bendigotennis.com.au

get the look

you glow, girl!

As an outdoors-loving girl without a hint of artifice, many were curious about how Raylene would approach the blushing bride role. Very naturally, she glowed.

With a wedding in a bush setting to celebrate Raylene’s love of the outdoors, the bride required a natural look.

Raylene was not the highly made-up, frilly or “girly-girl” type. On more than one occasion she was heard to proclaim; “I’m not wearing a “meringue” dress”. And many days were spent at expos and pounding the pavement shopping to find a dress she would even consider wearing.

but she gave no hints.

The end result – a beautiful stunning “girly” bride with a natural look – who would have guessed!

If your dream is to “glow” with a healthy, natural look on your wedding day or at that “special” occasion why not speak with the Aveda therapists and hairdressers at Silk Day Spa?

With the dress finally chosen, wedding preparations took over. There were facials, a hair colour and glossing treatment, the make-up and hair trial, a body scrub, waxing, spray tan plus French manicure and pedicure.

And, of course, a massage here and there to help deal with the stress.

Our experienced therapists and hairdressers will customise your natural look using Aveda’s plant-derived skin, body and hair products, SunFX professional spray tanning and the OPI polish range. Silk Day Spa now offers Xtreme Lashes® natural look and feel eyelash extensions for luscious, thicker, fuller lashes.

Raylene kept the look she was planning to herself. Fiancé John, family and friends were intrigued as to what she would look like as a bride,

Call Chantelle or Jade at Silk Day Spa on (03) 5444 5554 to discuss your own look for the “special” day. ■ 133

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stylishly tressed The opening of a new Eaglehawk hair and beauty salon has created a buzz on High Street.

Clients, family and friends were invited to help celebrate with Bradie, Nyomi and Kaylene the grand opening of NKB Hair and Beauty.

The trio behind this welcome new business invite all past clients and warmly welcome new customers to visit them in their gorgeous new salon.

So pop in shop 1. 17 High St Eaglehawk to see what they have on offer or call into NKB Hair and Beauty on (03) 5446 3124. â–

no pics.

Belles & Bows

Bridal

64 High Street Eaglehawk

5446 7925

fashion forecast

green’s the new black When it comes to fashion, hopefully helping drape the planet in environmentally sustainable fabrics is no flash in the pan.

eco friendly bag made from recycled plastic bags in Bali.

Bombastic Plastix bopper bag $39.95 from Urban Corridor (Mitchell Street)

– Esther McRae A couple of years ago if I mentioned my footprint, I meant the indent made by my swaggering sole. Now it’s all “eco” this and “climate change” that. Recycling and sustainability is no longet just the problem of the factory over yonder, it extends to individual everyday purchases from toilet paper to the latest Toyota. Allow me to greenwash you some more with the latest buzz word, eco-fashion. But how does this effect you when the last eco-friendly accessory you carried was a Coles green bag?

Eco-fashion may sound like an oxymoron, but our survival depends on being sustainable beyond being the latest trend. Straight away you can remove your mental images of hemp-laden hippies and “Jesus sandals”; environmentally-friendly garments have come a long way.

Eco fashion is less about dreadlocks and more about designers - who have convinced us that environmentalism is sexy.

While slow on the uptake here down under, the trend is global; with collective conscience and the cool-factor urging Australian designers to jump on board the bandwagon (hybrid powered of course) and do their bit. Australian designers such as Skin and Threads, White With One (see Men’s Style page 167) and Nique (see Style Inspiration page 137) to name a few, produce organic, Australian made eco-friendly items, which stores can’t keep enough of.

It seems consumers are no longer satisfied with recycled loo roll and want the feel-good factor extended to include the shirts on our collective backs. Fashionistas are now looking to reduce their “fashion footprint” and not because they want to fit into discount Manolos.

Sure, we can ignore the hype, but there are easy ways to reduce your footprint too. Recycled fashion is one. Check out Vonica Vintage and their “Winkie Individual Designs” as featured in our lollipop coloured collaboration (page 154). Recyced fabrics have been recreated to make stunning individual pieces, right on trend.

If anything, choose quality over quantity in an industry so heavy with environmental issues.

Planet-wise, let’s take the small steps to reduce our impact. Chanel once said, “Fashion is fleeting, but style Is eternal.”

Hopefully our planet can be too. ■

What lies beneath...

Enhance your silhouette with our range of body sculpting products and wear your clothes with confidence.

5442 3344 Backhaus Arcade, Lyttleton Terrace, Bendigo (Opposite Coles Carpark)

S

Proudly Presented by the City of Greater Bendigo

omething old, something new, something vintage, something for you womens, mens & childrens clothing, shoes, jewellery & accessories

Open Tues – Sat 10am – 6pm

goodone.net.au

bendigofashionweek.com

style inspiration

eco-warrior princess We can all do our own little bit to help the planet. So girls, use some of that purchasing power and exert a natural influence.

Shopping eco is easier than it sounds. Buying organic and recycled clothes does not automatically translate into hemp and hobo. We channeled the fresh and subtle hues of spring toward a sustainable look. By shopping vintage and spending a bit of time to read a few labels, we were able to find: a pair of Nudie jeans using organic cotton, a gorgeous floppy singlet made from bamboo, some vintage heels and a terrific silk scarf, unique and ready for a new owner.

Recycled fashion is one of the easiest ways of going green and it doesn’t mean jumping into a retro look if that’s not your thing. If it’s brand new things you crave, there are a number of labels specialising in natural fibres. These have the added benefits of breathability and soft yarns. Just check out Nique using bamboo, so soft and light, but watch out for wandering pandas.

Selina wears Nudie ‘tight long john’ $299, Nique bamboo singlet $49.95 both from Robe (Chancery Lane), vintage cork platforms $49 and vintage silk scarf $20 both from Vonica Vintage (View Street)

Photographer: Terri Basten Makeup: Lois McBain Adonia makeup and image studio Model: Selina Weragoda

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Laity Lane (off Bath Lane) Bendigo tel 5441 8011

this season

fast lane to élan Bendigo is blessed with streets of style guaranteed to put a spring in your step this season. So what are you waiting for? Hop to it!

Julian wears pants, part of Bossini suit $199.95, Bossini business shirt $99.95, Bossini tie $49.95, Bossini jumper $75.00 all from Red Door Boutique (Mitchell Street) and Be Brando ‘JIMM’ shoes $190 from Kick (Bull Street) Katarina wears Lili multi coloured dress $149 from Red Door Boutique (Mitchell Street), Verali ‘raider’ black heels $80 from Kick (Bull Street) and apricot oval shell back pearl bracelet $120 by Kate Blackwood from Tony Kean (Bath Lane) 139

Katarina wears Sass & Bide ‘take it back now’ jean $240, Fleur Wood ‘angelique’ blazer $365, Sass & Bide ‘the art beat’ loose fit tee $180, Samantha Wills ‘warrior romance’ bracelet $159 and Samantha Wills ‘due north’ necklace $145 all from Robe (Chancery Lane) and Windsor smith ‘ridge lama’ boots $160 from Kick (Bull Street) Julian wears Nique ‘pitch’ chino pant $149.95, Flux ‘thinnest stripe’ tee $79, Jack London ‘Eton’ wool suit jacket $389 and Ksubi sunnies $240 all from Robe (Chancery Lane) and Urge ‘harry fox’ black shoes $100 from Kick (Bull Street)

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Katarina wears Spencer Lacy slip $69.95 from Blush Lingerie (Lyttleton Terrace)

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Julian wears Dickies double knees $99.95, Cumagutsa (Bendigo) T shirt $39.95 both from Urban Corridor (Mitchell Street) and Urge ‘harry fox’ black shoes $100 from Kick (Bull Street) Katarina wears Superdry Jeans $169.95, Lolitta singlet $22.50, Lolitta top $59.90, Living Doll scarf $20 all from Urban Corridor (Mitchell Street) and Windsor smith ‘ridge lama’ boots $160 from Kick (Bull Street)

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Katarina wears Rose Noir violet ruffle trim silk dress, Fiordiluna black patent leather platforms both from Euro Collections (Mitchell Street) and black and green shell back necklace $210 by Kate Blackwood from Tony Kean (Bath Lane)

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Katarina wears vintage floral dress $145, vintage hat $45, vintage gloves $20 and vintage shoes $50 all from Vonica Vintage (View Street)

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Katarina wears top $35, skirt $40, necklace $18, hat $28 and shoes $65 all from Karma Kameleon (Laity Lane)

145

Katarina wears Manning Cartell ‘tint & shades’ mini dress $499 and Skin by Nude exposed platform pump in raspberry $240 both from Mona Lisa (Bath Lane) 146

Katarina wears droplet printed sateen dress $129.95 and open drapey front jacket $129.95 both from Jacqui E (Bendigo Marketplace)

147

Julian wears Industrie suit $299.95, Geoffrey Beene shirt $99.95, Geoffrey Beene silk tie $79.95 all from Ultima (Williamson Street) and Be Brando ‘JIMM’ shoes $190 from Kick (Bull Street) Katarina wears Contony lace dress $220 from Ultima (Williamson Street) and Siren ‘jive’ black heels $140 from Kick (Bull Street) 148

Katarina wears maxi dress $365 from Belles and Bowes (High Street, Eaglehawk) Photographer: David Field Fashion Assistant: Ellen Purtill Location: Chancery Lane Models: Katarina and Julian Makeup: Lois McBain at Adonia Cosmetics 149

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girls night out Whether it is four famous friends or 45 there is no stopping girls who wanna have fun.

The girls came out in force for a Sex and The City night. The evening kicked off with cocktails and nibbles at GPO with prizes for the best Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda with many great contenders. This was followed by a Sex and The City quiz with the girls competing in teams for the perfect prize of shopping vouchers from Karma Kameleon. Then, after well and truly setting the scene, it was off Bendigo Cinemas to watch the movie. An absolutely fabulous night was had by all. â–

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iPhone home There were no extraterrestrials in sight, but a Miss Universe finalist was on hand at the OPTUS store for the launch of the latest telecommunications tool.

Special guest Australian TV personality and former Miss Universe finalist Erin McNaught was on hand at the OPTUS Store to officially launch the new iPhone 4. There was a long line of iPhone enthusiasts waiting for the 6am opening of the OPTUS Store Bendigo to be the first in the country to own the much anticipated iPhone 4. Erin spent the morning meeting and greeting Bendigo locals, who were also entertained to break-dancing and prize giveaways throughout the morning. You can visit the OPTUS Store Bendigo at 15 Mitchell Street Bendigo. â–

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clothing for city dwellers

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Mitchell Street Shop 1 Backhaus Arcade 442 1569 75 Mitchell Street Bendigo 0am Mon 0am -- 5.30pm, 5.30pm, Mon -- Sat Sat 442 1569 03 5442 1569

0am - 5.30pm, Mon - Sat 9.00am - 5.30pm Mon - Sat

1180 High Street Armadale 03 9509 0633

72 Mount Eliza Way Mount Eliza 03 9775 4022 93 Main Street Mornington 03 5976 1633

14 mitchell street bendigo | 03 5441 8330 w w w . u r b a n c o r r i d o r. c o m . a u

photo opportunity

otis oasis grows It’s hard to believe it has been ten years since the Otis foundation to provide sanctuary for women fighting breast cancer.

To celebrate the milestone a glittering cocktail function was held at the JIMMY POSSUM showroom. Three hundred lucky guests mingled among the fabulous signature Possum pieces as they toasted a brilliant decade of achievement and raised some serious funds to continue the Bendigo-based organisation’s good works. Champion Olympic swimmer Michael Klim was special guest on the evening and the night was hosted by WIN news reader Bruce Roberts. Otis provides retreats for women and men with breast cancer at no accommodation charge.

The Foundation currently has nine properties in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia and is strongly committed to ongoing growth,with plans to evolve into a national network.These wonderful photos were kindly taken by Lisa Nankervis For more information on the Otis Foundation visit www.otisfoundation.org.au ■

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Ellen wears Fleur Wood ‘sea mist’ dress $169. from Robe (Chancery Lane) and vintage jacket $35 from Vonica Vintage (View Street).

who’s that girl?

Going brightly by she caught your eye, made you smile and, perhaps, even stole your heart. She’s the spirit of spring.

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Ellen wears Winkie Individual Designs dress $73 from Vonica Vintage (View Street)

155

Ellen wears Maurie and Eve ‘in the edge’ tank $110 and Maurie and Eve ‘snoop’ short $99 both from Mona Lisa (Bath Lane).

156

Ellen wears Fleur Wood ‘american beauty’ dress $389 from Robe (Chancery Lane), spotty scarf $19 worn as belt and blue beads $9 both from Vonica Vintage (View Street).

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Ellen wears Nobody ‘cult skinny’ jeans $189, Maurie and Eve ‘shutter’ shirt $159 both from Mona Lisa (Bath Lane), spotty scarf $19 from Vonica Vintage (View Street) and models own shoes.

Photographer: Terri Basten Stylist: Esther McRae Location: Mon Coeur (Mitchell Street) Model: Ellen Hair: Lynsey Addlem Makeup: Katarina Visnich Bike supplied by Cycle Concepts (Hargreaves Street) Flowers by Anouk (Chancery Lane)

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designer outlet

if you knew suzie She was once escorted off stage by security guards for asking former Miss Australia to wear one of her frocks, but not before Jen Hawkins said, “Yes!” My name is Suzie O’Shea. I make frocks out of clay. Why? With the greatest of respect for the real dressmakers, the thought of making frocks out of fabric and using a patter does my head in. I find it complex and restrictive. I can’t imagine coercing metres of material under the tiny foot of a sewing machine.

Fashioning frocks out of clay is tactile and enjoyable. Clay has its own history. Sometimes the clay has a life of its own and it almost forms itself. These, I either call “happy accidents” or I use a term not usually printable.

I find the whole practice of making frocks out of clay exciting; from the inception of an idea through to that moment when you open the kiln after glaze-firing and see the result. I fashion my pieces using a slab-building technique. I roll the clay out very thinly, until it becomes like fabric – virtual mud into material. The fragility of the work is scary.

Fear and excitement maintains my interest.

Through my art I allow my Cinderella syndrome to materialise and enter the realm of creative fantasy. The making relates to my familial history. I come from a family of makers. Mum would sew or knit while she was watching the “tele” at night. Dad made things at work. We could never lift them but …

I made Frocks as Buildings for an exhibition in Bendigo last year, with pieces titled the Cathedral Frock, the Old Post Box Frock and the Fountain Frock. The work most commented on was the Old Post Box Frock which many thought was a penis. Oops!

One day I would love to see somebody wearing one of my frocks.

In December of 2008, I attended the opening of the exhibition The Golden Age of Couture: Paris & London 1947-57, at the Bendigo Art Gallery. Installed at the front of the crowd, up near the stage, I turned to a prominent citizen and asked him how I could get up on the stage to talk to Jennifer Hawkins. He simply stepped aside and with a gallant sweep of his arm, pointed in the direction of the steps up to the stage. I climbed purposefuly up them. Standing in front of Ms Hawkins, I flashed an image of one of my clay frocks and asked her if she would wear one. Shortly after she had said “yes” I was politely escorted off the stage.

But wearable or not I am sure there are acquisitive women out there, who just have to have a Suzie O’Shea frock. Hopefully they’ll be living in far-flung and interesting places and I’ll just have to hand deliver each of them because they are so fragile.

In 2008 I was interviewed on ABC radio about my clay frock-making.

Anticipating that somebody was going to ask the question, “Is this art?” I dragged Jonathan Ridnell into my studio at La Trobe University and I asked him. He said “yes”, so it must be. My art is my voice.

One collapsed on me, literally and no one was around to help.

(Although, that’s not something I told Jen Hawkins) I thought “don’t panic” as I clasped it to my body and repaired it the best way I could. It is now one of my best pieces and nobody knows the trouble it’s seen.

People see fashion as frivolous and, indeed, it is. But viewed at a deeper level a garment is a vessel which holds the body – it is the wrapping of “the self”.

Suzie O’Shea’s latest exhibition These Are A Few Of My Favourite Frocks opens at Dudley House on Friday, November 26. The exhibitionfeatures frocks associated with Suzie’s fondest memories. There are also frocks inspired by local and international artists including Rosalie Gascoigne, Mirka Mora, Wendy Stavrianos and Pink. ■ 159

Dayne wears: Jay Jays Slim fit shorts 29.95, Skin, Ski & Surf Billabong trial tee 49.99, Jay Jays Grey marle canvas shoes 15.00, Skin, Ski & Surf Hurley dialed in hat 39.95, Skin, Ski & Surf Icon wrist band jewellery 26.95, Skin, Ski & Surf Hoodlem electric serpentine sunglasses 134.95, Skin, Ski & Surf Savage cudworth pendant 39.95.

Amy wears: Jeans West Super skinny dark denim jeans 65.00, Valleygirl Zebra print top 19.95, Valleygirl Woven black jacket 39.95, Novo Shalyn pewter shoes 49.95, Valleygirl Straw weave hat 14.95, Sintra Monchique red leather bag 289.00, Equip Vintage ring 12.99, Equip Amber multi-leaf ring 14.99, Equip Antique charm bracelet 16.99, Skin, Ski & Surf Nessi Bengal sunglasses 159.95.

Amy’s makeup: Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics by Brazilian Beauty Amy’s hair: styled by Hairhouse Warehouse

Bold prints & boyfriend blazers...

Dayne wears: Jeans West Slim straight jean 89.99, Jeans West Stripe tee 29.99, Jeans West men’s scarf 19.95, Jeans West leather belt 39.95, Mathers Wild Rhino kaka shoe 129.99.

Amy wears: Melrose Ave Big bow skirt 35.00, Melrose Ave Leatherette crop jacket 45.00, Melrose Ave Nautical singlet 20.00, Williams Shoes Corellie hush heels 79.95, Sintra Badalona red patent clutch 49.95, Equip Chunky red beads 14.99, Equip Red tile bracelet 14.99.

Dominant stripes & short skirts...

Amy wears: Portmans Flip lace skirt 79.95, Portmans Basic satin trim top 29.95, Portmans Pin stripe blazer 129.95, Portmans Bow elastic belt 19.95, Dotti Tan zip heel 79.95, Equip Gold bead bangle 18.99, Equip Nude flower pin 12.99.

Dayne wears: Jay Jays Pin stripe regular fit shorts 29.95, Skin, Ski & Surf Drum beat tee 49.95, Tarocash Galveston waistcoat vest 89.95, Williams Shoes Winsor Smith RIP dune canvas slip on shoes 59.99, Skin, Ski & Surf Icon wrist band jewellery 18.95, Skin, Ski & Surf Von Zipper Hoss leopard sunglasses 179.95.

Neutral tones & rosette adornments...

Amy wears: Just Jeans Deep v neck maxi dress 89.95, Valleygirl Denim vest 29.95, Novo Kwami bronze shoes 69.95, Dotti Long multi charm flower necklace 29.95, Equip Gold charm bracelet 16.99, Butterfly Silver white cubic zirconia drop necklace 159.00, Sintra Jewel fashion brooch 69.00.

Dayne wears: Colorado Straight leg washed denim jeans 99.99, Colorado Basic white tee 29.99, Colorado Check shirt 79.95, Colorado Worn brown leather belt 44.99.

Inspiring textures & peek-a-boo denim...

Amy wears: Melrose Ave Into fashion dress 49.95, Sintra Else black/coral fascinator 159.95, Sintra Constantine black lace clutch 69.95, Novo Sina shoes 89.95, Equip Lace gloves 16.99, Equip Silver diamark hardsnap bangle 19.99, Equip Gold charm bracelet 16.99.

Dayne wears: Roger David Grey shark trouses 129.99, Roger David Grey shark jacket 299.99, Roger David Mini self stripe shirt 99.99, Roger David Panel check tie 49.95, Jeans West Leather belt 39.95, Tarocash Scorsese shoes 159.95.

Gladiator heels & chic racewear...

Amy wears: Dotti Audrey lace dress 69.95, Dotti Fairy frock tucks jacket 79.95, Sintra Jewel fashion brooch 69.00, Equip Pearl/ribbon necklace 19.99, Equip Nude flower pin 12.99, Equip Gold charm bracelet 16.99, Equip Gold bead bangle 18.99.

Dayne wears: Roger David 2 girls tee 49.99, Roger David Brit stripe shirt 79.99, Roger David Hawke skinny leg jeans 89.95.

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men’s style

a green light Concerned about sustainability and global warming? Now you can dress cool with a clear conscience in organic cotton.

We’re going all hippy on you here at bendigo mag, but don’t worry, it’s not all bell sleeves and fisherman pants. Seriously, have you done any research into where your cotton is coming from? Well, sit up and take notice as designers turn to the eco-friendly soft and easy feel of organic cotton. We found basic items that anyone can buy, made with the softest organic cotton going around. It’s a consumer-driven revolution with even the big brands climbing on board the environmentally friendly train. With your staple purchases of jeans and tee for spring, farmers, traders, retailers and YOU can all benefit from the economic, social and ecological advantages of buying organic. These “White With One” tees are a limited edition meaning you won’t see every man and their dog sporting the latest thing in t-shirt manufacture.

Even better they are made right here in Australia. See, it’s easy being green. ■ Caleb wears Nudie ‘slim jim streaky organic’ $299 from Robe (Chancery Lane), White With One organic cotton Australian made limited edition T-shirt $79.95 from Urban Corridor (Mitchell Street) and model’s own thongs.

Photographer: Terri Basten Model: Caleb Maxwell

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photo opportunity

food for thought It has taken a lot of hard work to get off the ground, but Bendigo Community Farmers’ Market is now a vibrant reality.

Photographer David Field took a stroll round the new seasonal produce market to capture the action. The Bendigo Community Farmers’ Market is on the 2nd Saturday of each month, providing fresh, regional and seasonal produce to Bendigo in a friendly, relaxed environment. It will be a chance to catch up with friends, buy gorgeous food and wine and connect with your food. It’s a monthly market, held from 9.00am – 1.00pm, right in the middle of the CBD at the Rosalind Park end of Williamson St. ■

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a man’s word

man, it’s a jungle out there The deadline was fast approaching and still no word from our intrepid columnist. Was he lying hurt and injured somewhere?

Would he make it back to base alive?

Dear Diary, This may well be our last dialogue. I am becoming increasingly doubtful as to the success of this expedition. As I struggle to make progress through the dense foliage, thickened by the warm spring sun, my concerns return to the shortage of equipment and rations that have become apparent even at this very early stage of my expedition. In fact, I am barely prepared at all for the dangers and perils that I now face. I have no food with me and this morning’s breakfast is fast becoming a distant memory. Off in the distance a strange and unfamiliar animal of some sort releases a chilling scream that momentarily catches the attention of my only companion, a young, naïve and fat Pomeranian named Ruby. Will we perish out here? Perhaps. Our survival skills are highly evolved. With the stealth of a drunk elephant and hunting prowess of a rubber chicken, we can find a fridge anywhere. Hopefully, we will find one soon.

Photographer: David Field

Will we be remembered as brave explorers like Sir Edmund Hillary? I hope not, I don’t want anyone to think that I’m from New Zealand.

Perhaps, we will be remembered as foolhardy and unprepared for the task ahead, in the same way Tiger Woods wasn’t expecting to get beaten ... by his wife wielding a No. 3 iron. Only time will tell.

After what seems like hours of wrestling with nature we finally reach our first objective with the help of a machete. I reach down towards the ground brushing away dirt, rocks and who knows what else, groping wildly to find the handle that I have been searching for. The handle is important to the success of the expedition. It is attached to a machine that has been forgotten by time. Having found the handle, I grasp it tightly and give an almighty heave and … nothing. I try once again … nothing. This goes on for what seems like an eternity, until under the heat of the sun and the fear of having a coronary episode, I contemplate defeat. “One more try” I say heroically to myself. With

- Ash McAuliffe

the last pull of the handle, a puff of blue smoke emerges and an unholy noise erupts from the machine. The dog begins to bark wildly as if some invisible danger is lurking out of sight. Maybe it is, but the important thing is, that I have managed to start the lawn mower, probably for the first time since late autumn ... two years ago.

Yes gentlemen, it is that time of year when the days are getting longer.

This means that it is no longer dark and cold when we leave for work, and no longer is it dark and cold when we get home. So if it hasn’t already happened, most of us will soon be confronted by overgrown lawns, edges that need edging, weeds that need weeding and plants that need planting. Guys, if you are anything like me then you have the instinctive ability not to see things that you do not want to see, such as dirty dishes, a dirty floor, clothes on the floor or anything else which the discovery or acknowledgment of might lead to work.

I thought I might try something new this year though, but I was let down by the manufacturers of power-gardening goods the world over. My lovely wife has her own set of tools which I am not able to use because of my form which requires I lose them. I know which tools are hers because of two telling features. Firstly, I can find them, which means that I haven’t lost them yet ergo I haven’t used them and hence they are probably not mine. Secondly, they are all pink. This was a deliberate tactic by her because she knows that I can’t bring myself to use a pink tool of any description. It is with this knowledge that I have searched Bendigo, for a pink lawn mower to give her, which I’m certain I would be forbidden from using.

Unfortunately my search proved to be in vain, so off I go on my annual garden expedition once more. If I go missing, please start looking in the rainforest in my backyard.

Oh, and if anyone knows where to get a pink lawn mower, please let me know. ■ 169

photo opportunity

resourceful gals The Wine Bank on View was the venue for a get together by a new group to foster support among women working in the natural resources industry.

The inaugural Woman in Resources Victoria (WIRV) gathering was well attended by women across the sector including a number engaged in the mining industry around Bendigo.

WIRV is a voluntary, not for profit group that fosters support for woman who are working in the natural resources industry. â–

Fashionable Maternity Wear so comfortable you will want to keep wearing after pregnancy

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due date dressing

bump in the city

- Laura Campbell

It’s the ultimate sequel and although our favourite on screen characters have yet to go there, Sarah and Cynthia have children in real life.

The latest Sex and the City flick had us all mesmerised by the number of wardrobe changes and it got me thinking that the biggest wardrobe change in many women’s lives occurs when they are pregnant.

And who says pregnant ladies can’t look and feel like one of the glamorous Sex and the City girls? It is one of Sarah Jessica Parker’s greatest disappointments that she was unable to conceive again after the birth of her son James. “We tried and tried and tried and tried and tried to get pregnant again, but it just was not to be, the conventional way,” she said in one interview. “I would give birth as often as I could,

if I could. I cherished all the milestones, the good and the bad.”

Here our expectant mum Jocelyn shows off her Carrie-look with the gorgeous floaty dress and enviable heels. For a more casual look she mirrors Miranda on a day off in the Roman sandals, cargo pants and stunning watermelon top. Whether its a sunny spring race day or trip to the park these two outfits will take the mum-to-be anywhere in best Hollywood style.

Congratulations to Melissa our winter mag model who welcomed Ethan to the world in July. ■

Cream/black boudior dress $39.95 from Crossroads (Market Place), black belt $19.95 and pewter heels $49.95 both from Barkins (Hargreaves Mall) Ripe watermelon layla top $49.95, Ninth Moon cargo $79.95, Zig Zag messenger nappy bag $99 all from Mum & Bump (Bath Lane) plus gladiator sandals $39.95 from Barkins (Hargreaves Mall).

Photographer: Terri Basten Model: Jocelyn Heazlewood Makeup: Kel from The Body Shop Bendigo Hair: Lisa from Giai Hair, McIvor Rd Styling: Laura Campbell 171

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photo opportunity

moore amore There was love and laughter all around when Tamieka Moore took a walk down the aisle in a mock wedding.

Local identity Tamieka Moore recently felt the need to throw a bit of a party, but with no milestone birthdays or special anniversaries on the horizon she created her own excuse for a lavish party. She decided to get married. The lucky guests were sent out love heart invitations weeks before the event to ensure plenty of planning time as each guest was assigned a role in the mock wedding. There was an over enthusiastic priest, bridesmaids dressed in 80’s puffy dresses, female groomsmen, a female groom, a lop sided wedding cake and the bride was pushed down the isle in a wheel barrow just to name some of the odd details of the night. A great night was had by all involved and could be an interesting idea for your next party! â–

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mum & kids

flower power Though she refuses to be a slave to fashion trends and dislikes make-up, Nicole Murphy’s daughters don’t really despair ... expcept perhaps about the shoes.

Nicole arrives at bendigo magazine’s studio for the photo shoot in a whirlwind of energy. “I am one of those people who never sits,” she says.“It took all my strengh not to wipe the makeup off coming over here. I have not worn any makeup, other than for fancy dress, since we got married 12 years ago “I am just not into it. My two girls love fashion. But they have a mother who loves op shops and hand-me-downs so it is really sad for them. Also their mother is a podiatrist so they are never going to have the beautiful shoes they want because I know how important sensible shoes are. So their lives are forever blighted because they would love to be into designer labels with fancy shoes but they are stuck with an op shopping mother.”

Alex and Tessa don’t exactly seem like they are suffering as the trio clown around for the camera. While she may never allow them towering heels, Nicole clearly compensates with her infectious humour.

This is a woman who once made her own fashion statement by wearing a four piece leopard skin lounge suit to a senior executive meeting of a medical clinic were she was working as a locum.

“My best buy is a French designer dress made in Paris that I have worn to three weddings and three friends have also borrowed it to wear. It cost me $6 so that brings it down to a dollar an outing,” she laughs.

Having said that the gorgeous silk dress seems to have been made for her. “It feels pretty good,” she admits. ■

Nicole wears Marco Polo silk dress $199, Marco Polo leggings $39.95, Citi belt $99.95 all from Ultima (Williamson Street) and own shoes.

Tessa wears Dainty Damask boutique skirt $34.95, Momie et Enfant black vintage bird singlet $29.95, lace headband all from La Toriana (www.latoriana.com.au) and own shoes.

Alex wears Willow and Finn gemma dress $119, Supertubes tights $12, Walnut choc desert boots $64.95 all from Milt and Joe (Hargreaves Street), flower clip from La Toriana (www.latoriana. com.au) and own shoes.

Photographer: Terri Basten Makeup: Lois McBain Adonia makeup & image studio Models: Nicole, Tessa & Alex

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I want to learn how to tumble, FAME I want to learn how to fly....HIGH”

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Upside down fun for munchkins aged 1.5 to 5 years

Bring your munchkin along each week to share in their wonderful upside down adventures

Palmer’s Gym @ the YMCA, Mundy Street, Bendigo Contact Emma for more info on 0428 990 819

mum says

don’t fret, pet

- Kylie Freer

Dealing with the loss of a family pet is not easy, but the real lesson is about love.

Everything has a cycle, yet in today’s blasé, consumer-driven world, we often forget and instead try to short-cut the natural order. It’s out with the old and better still, let’s put the new one on credit.

Although guilty myself at times, where is the lesson in that? How do our children gain an appreciation for nostalgia and familiarity if they’ve never loved a teddy with a button eye? How do they learn to deal with the loss of a treasured possession once it can no longer be resuscitated with thread or super glue? How can this lesson be transferred to the passing of a beloved family pet? A new puppy is fun, but it isn’t the same as old faithful who liked to be scratched ... just there.

So do you toss and replace or remember and mourn? In the case of Three Seconds the Goldfish do you engage the hasty getaway flush or do you locate your best John West cardboard coffin and trudge, shovel in hand, into the backyard?

Personally, I’m not the grave-in-the-backyard kind of mum. Stephen King’s Pet Sematary and a dead cat called Church, may have had something to do with that. Me, I prefer to keep my memories as just that ... memories.

We all have treasured memories of childhood pets. It’s OK to be sentimental over our pets, past and present. But I have my own scruples. Mice and rats are for cats to catch. A dog is a loving companion, but should not have its own Gucci handbag. And, while I am fine with farming to produce meat for my table, I don’t want to see the inside of an abattoir, nor hear that my steak had a name and was loved by a child. As a teenager, a friend’s pet cow named Sly, cut up and served to me on a plate nearly rendered me vegetarian.

Sometimes, knowing the whole truth can reveal too much.

The truth surrounding our pets is about our relationship with life itself.

Every living thing has a purpose; even the beetle that helps to mulch the fallen log on the bush floor should be left alone. Whilst I try to spare him the pain, if my 18-month-old son continues to poke his finger down the bull-ant hole in our backyard, then he too, will quickly develop a healthier respect for creatures smaller than himself. But, there are exceptions to every rule. Flies at a barbecue, spiders anywhere, and creepy crawlies in general are the exceptions in this case ... strange would be the person who has ever wanted to pat a mosquito.

We observe our pets, look after them, love their quirks and watch them grow. A friend’s child has an easily bored pet yabby full of personality. In the middle of the night, you can hear it busily shifting stones around the tank and come daylight, behold a shining new structural masterpiece. It may not be a cuddly kitten, but this freshwater crustacean is loved nonetheless.

Having pets is the chance for us all to appreciate firsthand that each lifetime is special, even the yabby at the bottom of the food chain.

Each one has a beginning and an ending, with living in between.

How long between the beginning and ending depends on what it is and what happens while it is alive. Sometimes illness or injury effects the expected lifetime, yet however sad that may be, it is just what happens. It is the celebration of life that I believe we should focus on.

If we don’t pause with our children to remember with respect and to feel a little sadness at the passing of a pet, then none of us ever gets to appreciate fully the miracle that is life.

So upon reflection, maybe we shouldn’t make Three Seconds the Goldfish the fish that John West rejects. Whilst I’m still not burying him in the backyard, maybe a little cremation ceremony by bonfire followed by some stargazing might be in store. ■

T

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Ella wears Miss Alexandra dress

by TikiBooKids $64.95 and Bethany’s Child Forest Wreath $19.95 from Latoriana (www. latoriana.com.au)

chess for beginners As the blockbuster international exhibition The Art of Chess comes into play at Bendigo Art Gallery, we invited some young friends to make the opening move.

177

Maiya wears Levis skinny jeans $79.95, Minihaha top $49.95 and Osh Kosh shoes $ 64.95 all from Twinkletoes (Queen Street) with flowers from Mitchell Street Florist

178

Kai wears Fred Bare tee $42.95, Fred Bare jeans $ 64.95 and Tip Toe Joey shoes $49.95 all from Twinkletoes (Queen Street)

179

Rocky wears Munster ibust jeans $79.95, Cried Wolf ellie tee $39.95 (worn underneath), Claesens tee $39.95 and Chilli Kids charlie sneakers $34.95 all from Milt and Joe (Hargreaves Street) Photographer: David Field Location: Golden Nugget Caravan Park Models: Rocky, Ella, Maiya and Kai Flowers: Mitchell Street Florist (Mitchell Street) Bunnies: Bendigo Fish ‘N’ Feathers (Wills Street)

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photo opportunity

how we love you There were smiles all round as some of the most stylish women around took front row for the latest Mona Lisa fashion show.

Putting together a successful fashion show is something the team at Mona Lisa have turned into an artform.

Their latest showcase of current and upcoming fashion was held in the hip Huha Club.

The evening attended by regular and new customers went off without a single wardrobe malfunction.

Even the rain pelting down outside did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the crowds as models took to the runway in showstopping styles.

Visit Mona Lisa by Sheridan, 17 Bath Lane, Bendigo (03) 5443 9099 â–

181

dad says

it’s bonzer mate

- Chris DeAraugo

When it comes to life, if you don’t have a dead-set go, you’re nothing but a mug.

You fair dinkum or not?

Over winter we had a visit from some old friends from the US. They had lived here for 10 years and were back on holidays. I asked them, “what do you miss most about Australia?” The answer was a good one. “Most people here are more straight forward and genuine. As Australians say - fair dinkum!”

It made me smile because it’s a good thing to say, but also because we are lucky to have a phrase so unique to us. “Fair dinkum.”

Actually we‘ve got some real ripper sayings unique to our land that must make some visitors wonder what we’re saying. If someone is “avin’ a go” we know they’re trying hard; someone who’s a “bit of a battler” is struggling; someone “having a crack” is working hard; and “geez mate” can actually mean anything from disbelief to absolute wonder depending on the context and emphasis of the “geez”.

And of course there was another US visitor who thought we were all very friendly with our male friends because we kept saying “Gay mate” to each other. We did sit and explain this one to him.

But back to fair dinkum. You realise that there are only two types of people in the world - those who are fair dinkum and those who aren’t. It relates to pretty much everything we do or see. A friend of mine who came here from South Africa now thinks that every country should have its own version of fair dinkum and people should be asked to nominate at the start of every meeting they attend if they are fair dinkum about the topic or not! It’d be good to see the meeting convenor asking if everyone could sit on the fair dinkum side or the not side.

And I’m not sure there is a grey area here. You’re either fair dinkum

about something or you’re not. You meet people who work for a notfor-profit worthy cause and you can tell pretty early if it’s just a job, or if they’re fair dinkum about it. You see people at any job and it’s not often hard to see who is and isn’t dinkum.

There’s a good thing to do this spring! Take a pen and a little notepad with you and draw up a list of people you meet during the week who you rate as fair dinkum and those who aren’t.

It would be fascinating to sift through the results.

What to look for? It’s like the young guy who says he wants to be a great footballer and tells everyone about his dreams and what he’s going to do etc, but finds the pool a much better place to be in the off season.

I recall seeing the Selwood twins (Adam and Troy) and Nick Dal Santo when they were in their mid-teens, running the streets, at the oval working on their skills and having weight sessions in what was supposed to be the summer off season. These boys were fair dinkum back then and their subsequent AFL careers have continued to prove that “fair dinkum-ness”.

Is that a way to determine fair dinkum? Is it people who work hard on their natural talents to make sure they apply those talents as effectively as they can? And is unapplied talent a case of not being dinkum, or just someone who has other priorities?

So, as we move through this magnificent spring weather in beautiful Bendigo and surrounds, Dad says think about your own “fair dinkumness”. What will you be fair dinkum about and what difference will it make? Lots I imagine. It would be rotten to go through life and have nothing to be fair dinkum about. ■

Paul Lahn Electrical Contractor

Lahn Electrics is owner operated by Paul and Kara. They have been in business since 1994, servicing Bendigo and surrounding areas in all types of work from small domestic jobs to larger commercial / industrial jobs.Paul and Kara support local businesses, purchasing locally wherever possible. They are also strong supporters of local sporting clubs.

“We strive for customer satisfaction at all times” Servicing Bendigo & District | p. 03 5442 7702 | m. 0419 353 546 | lahnypk@primusonline.com.au

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Bridal, deButante & Bridesmaids gowns & accessories. a stunning collection from australian & international designers including; AIRes & GRAces, HenRI Josef, PeteR tRends, AlfRed AnGelo, sInceRIty & elIzAbetH de VARGA 3 King street, Bendigo Phone: 03 5441 8055

bendigo magazine photo opportunity

flora aura It was bouquets all round as the newest residents of Chancery Lane celebrated the officical opening of their stylish business with a pop of champagne corks.

Chancery Lane’s reputation as the destination uber chic continues to blossom since the addition of Anouk Interior Styling & Floral Design.

Having been rushed off their feet since opening, gorgeous co-owners Emily and Lauren finally found time to officially launch their boutique florist and artistic design space with a lively lane party.

Friends and family joined the pair for a much-deserved celebration after the months of hard-work spent establishing the business.

Anouk is aleady a local byword for elan and style. The girls have made their mission to furnish the store with unusual artistic pieces. These objets d’art make for the perfect room among Anouk’s blooms.

Visit Anouk at Shop 4 Chancery Lane, phone (03) 5443 5510. ■

Bendigo’s most unique, private venue, offering the total package Weddings, Functions, Special Occasions

For further information contact Jenny Rawiller 5448 4209 or 0432 417 867 j.rawiller@bendigo.countryracing.com.au Bendigo Jockey Club, Heinz Street, White Hills

bendigo brides

a mountain of love With Hanging Rock as the scenic backdrop for their first date there was no climbing down from the romantic pinnacle for this couple.

Some relationships are destined to plateau, but for Candice Ginn and Nic Hargreaves it was onwards and ever upwards from the moment of their first date at Hanging Rock.

“We had been friends for about two years before I asked him to come for a picnic at Hanging Rock where it all began,” Candice recalls. “Nic then took me there on Bendigo Cup day last year. He set the picnic rug up in the exact same spot as our first date and had a beautiful wicker basket filled with a picnic lunch. After lunch he then pulled out his iPhone to show me a movie he had made. The movie contained all of our photos from our first date at Hanging Rock all the way through to the latest photo of us together set to dramatic music. The movie declared his love to me and then he got on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was soooo romantic!

“We chose to get married at Mt Macedon Uniting Church to be close to a place which has such meaning to us as a couple. I arrived at the church in a beautiful horse drawn carriage. It was just one of the special touches of the day.

“We are both very close to our grandparents so we chose one grandmother from each side to do a reading during the ceremony. It was lovely to have them take part in our special day.

“There were lots of little things which we incorporated in the ceremony and the reception that are part of our story and who we are.

For example the tulips in my bouquet were a reference to my Dutch heritage and the goldfish swimming in the centerpieces celebrated Nic’s love of fishing.

“The fish were a big hit and everyone loved them and I’m pleased to report every single one of them made it back to the aquarium.” ■ Photographer: Darren Roberts Photography Flowers: The Eternal Vase Hair: Renik Hair Makeup: Lois McBain, Adonia Cosmetics 186

TOP LEFT: In a twist on father-of-the bride walking his daughter down the aisle Amy McAllan’s dad was waiting at the end of the carpet with groom Bradleigh Younger. Pastor David McAllan conducted the couple’s marriage at Echuca’s Christ Church on March 20. A reception followed at the Moama Bowling Club Photography: Kate Monotti Photography TOP RIGHT: Heidi Fry and Nick Smith chose the dramatic backdrop of The Capital for their reception after exchanging vows in the Nanga Gnulle gardens on April 10.

Photography: Lisa Nankervis LEFT: Former locals Adam Bovalino and Alice Skinner made the most of their new Queensland home, marrying on the beach at Mooloolaba on February 13. The couple’s gorgeous daughter Maya made the perfect flower fairy.

Photography: Leah Ladson Photography BELOW: Jane Hamilton really made a mark on her wedding day, kicking the ball around with footy-playing husband Shane Davis and members of the bridal party at the QEO. The fun, sporty photographs followed the ceremony and reception at the All Seasons Resort on March 20.

Photography: Darren Roberts Photography

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feature bride

to sir, with love Bank officer Joanne Holloway first met Craig Kelly across a crowded schoolyard, but it took some years before she discovered this teacher was a real pet.

How did you and Craig meet?

Craig was a PE teacher at the same school my mum was working at Crusoe College (Kangaroo Flat Secondary College). Mum would introduce me to “Mr Kelly” when I visited the school. Our paths crossed again a few years later when I was out on a Saturday night with some friends. It took me a while to stop referring to him as “Mr Kelly” when talking about him to mum and my sisters and start actually calling him Craig.

Was it love at first sight?

Not at all, I always thought of him as “Mr Kelly”. But once I knew him as Craig I was hooked.

How did Craig propose?

Craig asked approval from my dad to marry me and then planned a beautiful weekend in Melbourne. He booked a fancy motel, an expensive restaurant and took me to a show. Everything would have been perfect if I had not seen him place a small jewellery box in his pocket when we were packing.

I had to spend the whole weekend pretending that I didn’t know. It was cute watching how nervous he was, and seeing him pack the little jewellery box did not spoil the moment at all.

The evening wedding entirely took place at my parents’ small farm in Shelbourne. Hand-painted signs directed the guests along the winding dirt road to the property. Wanting the rural theme to echo throughout the wedding, hay bales and old church pews made the perfect aisle to the property’s dry creek bed which was decorated with simple silver hearts dangling from overhanging gum trees. Guests were given hand made paper cones full of dried rose petals instead of the traditional confetti. Following the ceremony guests had canapés and drinks in the garden before taking a short stroll through the paddock to a huge marquee for dinner, dancing and speeches. The band played on long into the night within no one wanting the night to end.

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Photographer: Richard Gibbs

Where did you get married?

Tell us all about the dress?

My one-shoulder, figure-hugging dupion silk dress was really not what I originally had in mind when I started dress searching. I thought I wanted a very simple strapless dress with no embellishment. This was the final dress I tried on after a long day dress-hunting and I tried it for a bit of fun. Once I had the dress on I completely changed my mind! I loved that it had a large frill on one shoulder and hand-made flowers on the opposite hip. It was very different to anything else I’d seen or tried on and I loved the fact that it wasn’t a “typical” wedding gown. It was a simple but still very stunning gown and the one shoulder strap also made it comfortable to wear the whole night.

My something blue was a brand new pair of Manolo Blahniks shoes, identical to those worn by Carrie in Sex & the City: the Movie. Craig bought these for me as a wedding present.

What were some of the other highlights of the day?

The fact my dad Mark made it back in time from hospital to walk me down the aisle. He was rushed to hospital hours before the wedding after injuring himself cleaning the pool, but luckily there was no real damage done.

The most memorable speeches were made by our sisters.

Craig’s sister Nerida and my sister Sam both told stories about growing up being the younger sibling of the groom/ bride. Both speeches had everyone in fits of laughter and bought back some cherished memories.

What is the number one piece of advice you would give to a bride-to-be following your experience?

Try to incorporate something about your lives into the ceremony such as writing your own vows or readings. It’s a great way to make your wedding personal and unique and your guests will enjoy hearing the romantic and funny things that make your relationship special. ■

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photo opportunity

loddon mallee kids A support group for mothers of babies born ahead of their time is making lives easier for Loddon Mallee families.

Mothers of premmie babies can count on a warm helping hand thanks to Loddon Mallee Kids. This group provides hospital support for new mums whose babies have arrived in the world a little early. “We go and visit the mum and see how they are coping and let them know there are others who have been through the same experience who can help,” Loddon Mallee Kids member Laura Campbell explains.

“We also take a special premmie bag full of information and donated things to help mummy too. At the moment we are looking for donations and sponsors who can help us fill the premmie bags.”

For more information contact Laura Campbell on 0407 534 950. For mums of premmie babies who have left the hospital there is a playgroup held every second Thursday at the YWCA from 9.30am to 11.30am. ■

thegreenlily florist (03) 5441 6450 82 Pall Mall, Bendigo

weddings | hampers | giftware | funeral tributes | corporate flowers | potted plants | open 7 days | we deliver

your personal trainer

jumping for joy We all want our children to grow into healthy adults and good eating and excercise habits formed early will help set them up for life.

With the world being so competitive, the high-pressures to succeed and unhealthy images portrayed on TV and in magazines a lot of children feel daunted about what is expected of them.

Children aged between five and 12 are at a vulnerable stage in their lives and the choices made now can impact their lives to a greater extent than many of us realise.

This is such an important time to get children thinking with a positive attitude, build social interaction skills in comfortable environments and make them feel good about themselves. Keeping healthy and staying fit is part of this. It creates opportunities for kids, however, with sedentary amusements and unhealthy foods at the tip of their fingers there are huge challenges to overcome to achieve this.

Children need to be educated about the advantages of eating healthy foods and some children need an environment where they feel at ease to gain life skills and improve their fitness levels, surrounded by peers with whom they can identify.

Gecko is a new kid’s fitness and youth conditioning program at Lifestyle Fitness which aims to achieve this. This program offers the opportunity for children to embrace their passion for life and build their confidence by spontaneously trying new things.

Photographer: Anthony Webster

Any program that is designed to encourage the concept of “active living” and get our youth on their feet and moving must be a good thing.

- Brikitta Kool-Daniels Campus Captain at Australian Institute of Fitness

them on strict diets and completely shutting down access to computers and television.

It just means have a healthy balance in life. Encouraging a child to make sure that the chocolate bar after school is fuel for some sort of physical activity: a walk perhaps or a jump on the trampoline.

The key to a healthy lifestyle is regular physical activity and eating well. Having a locked-in, after-school fitness program is a way to ensure this behaviour becomes the norm.

Once it is a routine and becomes habit, the physical activity is no longer such an effort, it comes naturally. The most important thing is that the activity must be fun so the children want to participate rather than see it as another test or chore.

The best workout is the type that doesn’t feel like work, that way you get the most out of it.

Gecko aims to bring out the best in kids’ by getting them to actively engage in cardio, agility, tone, endurance and co-ordination activities which in turn could lead to improvements in sports like netball, footy and swimming.

Our state-of-the-art equipment, talented and experienced coaches, music, colours and fun atmosphere creates a great place for kids to be comfortable but active. ■

Children these days can be bullied in the schoolyard because they are not getting involved or they are too slow at running or simply because they are just different.

Gecko offers those children the chance to be themselves in a welcoming, active and fun atmosphere. It helps them strive to reach a high level of self-belief, feel good about themselves and at the same time helps bring them out of their shells and make friends.

Australian children are not as healthy as they should be and rates of obesity and lifestyle related illness are only going to rise unless parents and the children themselves take action.

This does not mean dragging them off to football practice, putting

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photo opportunity

tina’s ride The Smagas family pizza oven and rotisserie were running hot to keep pace with 175 hungry cyclists on a mission.

The occasion was a major fund-raiser for a 25-year-old with breast cancer. The fundraising effort for Tina couldn’t have gone ahead without absolutely fantastic support from many of Bendigo’s local businesses.

The major supporters included IGA Long Gully which provided not only all the pizza toppings, but drinks and much more. Erindale Farms Butchers which provided 25kg of lamb for the spit. Clogs Restaurant for the 150 pizza bases. And also Mission Foods (formerly Rosita’s) for offering 200 Pita Breads for the night.

Tim and Sharon Carlson from Twenty 2 must be thanked. They helped with planning the night, while Tim donned his chef gear to cook 95 pizzas while Eddie Barkla managed to cut through the 25 kg of lamb and together with Fay Beurger’s assistance assembled some 125 souvlakis.

After the night, 15 riders and a support crew set off for a gruelling 845km four day ride from Bendigo to Narromine – where Tina hails from. ■

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chiropractic care - Dr Deanne Esposito B.App.Sc. (Clin Sc) B.Chiro.Sc

childcare benefits

Creating a lifetime of wellness

Ensuring full function of the nervous system helps make little bodies sing.

I am humbled every day seeing the children of my practice transform as their bodies begin to heal. Most children in my office begin care because their parents want – not only themselves, but also their children – to be healthy and function as well as they can. This enables them to do everything in life at the best of their ability from achieving great results at school through enhanced concentration and learning abilities to being able to better perform, enjoy and participate in sport. We also hear of children coping better in social situations and having enhanced emotional wellbeing. Who wouldn’t want that for their child?

Unfortunately though, I also see children who have been suffering unnecessarily due to their spine and nervous system not functioning 100 per cent. Children suffering from headaches, dizziness, recurrent infections (including ears and throat), having poor concentration and not being able to participate in sport or performing poorly due to recurrent injuries. These are some of the signs that can indicate the nervous system is being interfered with and as a result the body is giving a signal to make you aware that change is necessary and the body needs help. Unfortunately there are many children relying on medications, but this is only dealing with the symptom and not correcting the underlying cause.

Wellness Chiropractic is about finding the underlying cause to the problem and correcting it, so the body can function as it was designed, without interference. As a child is continually developing it is even more important that their nervous system is functioning optimally and their spine is aligned to improve their posture as they are going through growth spurts.

Is it possible that children can have nerve interference?

Do children go through birth? Is birth often traumatic? Do children fall a lot as they are learning to walk? Do children have falls off play equipment? Do children get knocks playing sport? Do children sit with bad posture (rounded shoulders and head forward)? Do children carry bags on one shoulder? Do children have stress with family break-ups, with relationships at school and preparing for exams? Do children not drink enough water? Do children eat foods that are high in sugar or fatty and processed?

If you answered YES to any of the questions above, it is possible that children can have nerve interference, as these are the lifestyle factors that can cause this. If this is the case the child will not be functioning and performing at their best, resulting in the body showing pain and symptoms to make you aware there is an underlying problem.

Unfortunately, though, many children have nerve interference and do not show symptoms so this is why it is important that children have an assessment by a Wellness chiropractor to make sure they are not building these injuries silently.

The power of the human body Just last week a young client of mine showed me how amazing the human body is and the ability it has to heal when it is free of interference. When this little girl started care she was in a hip brace as one of her hip bones had not formed and she was already two years old. Not only was wearing the brace physically inhibiting, it also made her look different to the other children around her. A hip replacement was looking like the future option. However once the nervous system was free of interference the body began to heal and recent X-rays have shown the bone is starting to re-form. The hip brace is no longer needed and the likelihood of surgery now is minimal. This has changed this little girl’s life. Not only is her hip bone beginning to grow, her face is shining, she is much brighter and happier in herself.

This little girl was referred to my practice because someone thought Wellness Chiropractic could help. What a difference it has made to her whole life. ■

Chiropractic works to improve brain and nervous system function. As the nervous system controls every cell, muscle, organ and tissue in the body, Chiropractic is allowing the body to function optimally.

• Assisting the journey from conception to birth • Specialising in infant and childhood health • Enhancing sports performance • Improving concentration and alertness Our point of difference is finding the cause and helping you create a lifetime of wellness.

Chiropractic

Massage

47 Myrtle St Bendigo | p. 5444 3388 www.globalchiropractic.com.au

garden views

making a splash

This garden is designed to flow from the gracious heritage home’s main living areas and spill out across the terraced forecourt into the open space. The brief I received from owners Peter and Narelle Perez was to create an environment that was friendly for their children plus practical and attractive for entertaining.

The pool was the starting point and central feature viewed from the back of the house inviting you out onto the terrazzo. With its in-built lights and the feature lights around the garden, in the retaining walls, steps and tree lights, the pool makes an unbelievable impression and sets an enchanting atmosphere in the evenings.

In terms of practicality, the garden addresses need for drought tolerance and anticipates future more stringent water restrictions with a great use of paving around the entertaining area and pool. The whole scene is neatly edged with Tom Thumb hedging and classical conifers. In years to come these trees will support the two counter leaver-rotating umbrellas in shading the pool and barbeque area in providing a well protected area for children to play and parents and relax. The garden has a fully automatic irrigation system and the four water tanks are strategically placed at the back of the block screening the garage while capturing rain from its roof.

The grounds are fully equipped for the rough and tumble of active children with an action zone of tall fescue instant turf with a built-in trampoline and functional basketball court at the back of the yard.

Not only are these grounds appealing to children, the adults are also well catered for with the elegant and open entertaining areas perfect for glamorous cocktail parties or the casual barbecue with friends. The made-to-order built stainless steel outdoor barbecue set-up includes a 194

- Simon Rosa Landscape Gardener fridge and gives a real kitchen feel creating an attractive atmosphere for guests ensuring Peter isn’t left alone slaving over the hotplate.

One of the challenges we faced on this job was paving the split entertaining areas. Creating a sharp image is a difficult task on different levels. And, it took a crane to lift in the 600kg wrought iron feature pots.

This garden is most suitable for people with no gardening experience, with a low level of maintenance required. It’s simple, yet very classical and perfect for the heritage homes in Bendigo. ■

Photographer: David Field

Returning from Perth after almost two years, landscape gardener Simon Rosa digs back into town with a huge backyard blitz for Peter and Narelle Perez.

Simon Says Spring is the perfect time to put your gardening gloves on and get out in the beautiful sunshine. Here is his maintenance checklist.

Remove weeds from the lawn areas.

Feed lawn areas with fertiliser to encourage new growth.

Spring is the best time for installation of the new turf.

0438 981 586 03 5442 3487 rosalandscaping@bigpond.com www.simonrosalandscaping.com

‘Setting the standard for outdoor living’

real estate advice

doing the homework

- John Pawsey CEA (R.E.I.V.) Director P.H. Property

Before buying a property do yourself a massive favour and swot up first.

Even before you make the big decision about which property to buy, which home loan to select and which real estate agent you engage to sell your home, there are many other important decisions you need to make. Doing some homework can help you avoid some potentially expensive mistakes.

You are more likely to make the right choices if: you know what you want; you are informed about your options; you shop around for the best price and service or product that best suits your needs; you refuse to be hassled or hurried into a decision; you read everything before you sign; and you learn to negotiate and then put those negotiating skills into practice.

Be informed Make a list of what you absolutely must have in a property so you don’t get carried away and buy something that looks great, but doesn’t have what you need. Also make a wish list, so the desired (but non-essential items) can be factored into your decision-making when you find a property within your price range.

Learn as much as you can about all aspects of the property buying and selling process. Find out about the market value of property in your preferred area by attending auctions, visiting real estate agents and looking at prices in the newspaper or on-line.

Shop around You also need to be informed about the products and services offered by real estate agents, solicitors, conveyancers and local providers. Shopping around is the only way of really knowing if you are getting value for money and that your needs are being as fully met as possible.

Don’t hurry Never rush or feel pressured into making hasty decisions. There is a lot of money at stake and a lot of years spent paying off the mortgage.

If you take your time, you will be confident that you have found the right house at the right price, the right agent or the right loan when it comes your way.

Read before you sign During the buying and selling process you will come across several contracts – such as loan agreements, authorities to sell, contract notes and contracts of sale of real estate. A good general rule is don’t sign any document without reading and fully understanding its contents, including all terms and conditions and the fine print.

Make sure anything agreed to verbally is put in writing so you know exactly what you are committing yourself to. If something is unclear, ask the agent to explain it to you. If you are still uncertain, seek professional advice from a third party.

Negotiate Many terms and conditions are negotiable. Real estate agents, loan providers, solicitors and conveyancers, as well as buyers and sellers, want your custom.

Learn all you can about the art of negotiation and practise with family and friends before discussing fees, prices, services, products or options.

Then, and only then, is it time to set out to secure the dream.

Happy house hunting! ■

We know what you want…

PROFESSIONAL ADVICE, KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, FRIENDLY SERVICE & HONESTY!

Ph: (03) 5454 1999 38 Mitchell St Bendigo

www.phproperty.com.au

home solutions

a cushioning effect Think your decor needs a lift, but you can’t afford the surgery? Try painlessly plumping out living areas with some bright cushions, rugs and throws.

Since the Middle Ages the humble cushion has been a staple of soft furnishings. In more genteel times they were used as a showcase for the needlework skills of the ladies of the house and, more recently, by exasperated young women to throw at their brothers.

But the real power of the cushion lies in its ability to re-energise a room or instantly refurbish a tired looking piece of furniture. Just about anything can be dressed up with a few carefully selected cushions from the patio chair or lounge to beds and window seats.

Patterned cushions can be used to give a room a particular vibe. Think a few shaggy numbers, bold stripes and abstract florals for the 70s look. A smattering of cross-stitched, chintz and checked cushions and

hey presto, you have English country. Brocade and tasseled numbers add a formal opulence while big colourful bold cushions can both lend cheer and tie together a room.

Just as easily you throw a pillow into the scene you can replace it with a new look for the season. And, if you are handy with a needle this facelift can be achieved even more thriftily by just making new covers.

So go on take some tangerine, green, cream and lavender and fling about some spring. Our scene includes cushions starting from $29, enchanted shag rugs $79, Canton stool $119, a Roma threepiece setting (only two pieces shown) $799 all available from Devine Rugs and Decor 11 Edward St. â–

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Shop 8, Fountain Court, Bendigo Bank Building Ph: 5444 2808 info@designport.net.au

photo opportunity

a bundle of beds Strategem Community Foundation set a high bar for other executives with its generous donation to St Lukes to help homeless youth.

Strategem Community Foundation was at the forefront of the campaign to make the Bendigo Executive Director Sleepout (BEDS) a huge success.

Strategem Community Foundation donated $10,000 to St Lukes through the Bendigo Executive Director Sleepout (BEDS).

But they didn’t just give money to the cause, they put their bodies on the line as well. Strategem CEO David Richardson and seven directors participated in the sleep out to raise awareness of the plight of homeless youth.

Well done to the Strategem team on a fantastic effort in supporting this very important cause. â–

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2010 DISpLAY HOM E opens at the en d of September at 31 Marnie Ro ad, Strathdale, op en weekends 2-4 pm

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PH: 03 5430 2000 21 Piper Road, Bendigo East OPEN WEEK DAys 8:30am - 5pm & sat: 9am - 2pm www.centralkitchens.com.au

photo opportunity

grand opening Fitzpatricks is a long-familiar name in home hardware, but now this respected family business has a brand new outlet.

No less a dignitary than Victorian Premier Mr John Brumby turned out to open Fitzpatrick’s Home Timber and Hardware new superstore. The Premier recalled visiting Fitzpatrick’s in much less public circumstance in his former guise as a teacher at Eaglehawk High School in the 1970s. A huge crowd gathered to see the Premier cut the ribbon on Fitzpatrick’s new hardware complex at 320 Eaglehawk Rd, California Gully. The official opening followed an introductory trade night attended by suppliers and trade customers of this dynamic business now in its 87th year.

Visit Fitzpatrick’s Home Timber and Hardware at 320 Eaglehawk Road, California Gully or give them a call on (03) 5443100 ■

87 yEaRs of sERvinG BEndiGo ... and CountinG

fitzpatrick’s Home timber and Hardware Come & visit us at our new premises

BEndiGo ownEd and oPERatEd

320 Eaglehawk Road, California Gully - PH: 03 5430 1000

award winning builder

AWA R D W I N N I N G B U I L D E R

JOHN BUCKELL HOMES Office 03 5449 3270 Fax 03 5449 3627 Mobile 0419 354 270 Email info@johnbuckellhomes.com.au 335 McIvor Highway Bendigo Vic 3551

www.johnbuckellhomes.com.au

quality built homes

QUALITY BUILT HOMES

inside out

salvage value Nothing went to waste when materials from a Melbourne demolition job were trucked to the central Goldfields, giving rise to artist Kir Larwill’s new home.

- Fiona Negrin Try to picture a house built on a shoestring budget using mostly secondhand materials sourced from a demolition. You’re probably conjuring a rambling structure with a hodgepodge of materials. Au contraire. This professionally designed house is built largely from reclaimed materials, but it cuts no corners in terms of style and comfort.

Kir Larwill and her brother Sid have always been best mates. Sid and his family were looking to buy a property in Castlemaine, one of Victoria’s former gold mining towns. Kir was also looking for a new home in the area and it seemed to the siblings entirely logical to buy a block with enough space to build a modest house down the back for Kir and her young son. The family found a site within walking distance of the town centre, and Sid took on the role of project-managing the construction of Kir’s place.

Given Kir’s restricted budget, she was planning to buy a kit house until her friends Kim and Jeremy offered the materials from their partial home demolition in Melbourne.

The Larwills contacted Robyn Gibson and Paul Hassall of Castlemaine firm Lifehouse Design. Robyn and Paul welcomed Kir’s brief to design a house to her budget using reclaimed materials. “We’d previously designed houses where people wanted to use recycled materials, but not as extensively as this,” says Robyn. “From a design point of view, ‘reduce, re-use, recycle’ is the first priority, as far as being able to reduce the impact on the environment and energy use.”

Kir’s friends Kim and Jeremy not only gave the materials for free, but also supplied Lifehouse with a detailed inventory of all the materials their demolition was making available. “We saved a lot of time and money by integrating the ideas and reclaimed materials up front, in the design stage,” Robyn remarks.

She recalls the process of designing the house. “I looked at the site, and the inventory of items. We wanted to include passive solar principles and it was easy to integrate this because the site has a great northern aspect. I looked at Kir’s sketches of a rough floor plan, and we played around to see where the windows would fit well, and how they related to the proportion of each room.”

202

Photographer: David Field

From a design point of view, ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ is the first priority.

203

Other parts of the house that were reclaimed from Kim and Jeremy’s place include the kitchen cabinets; the laundry cupboards, bench and trough; the toilet, bath and vanity cabinet in the bathroom; the built-in robes in the master bedroom; the office desk; the rollup blinds; and the pergola beams in the garden, which had been used as internal beams in their former lodging. Tapware throughout the house is recycled too. The walls and ceilings are made from new plasterboard, with new insulation. The floor is a new concrete slab.

Kir is a recycler at heart, and takes pleasure in giving new life to old objects. The door handles and light fittings are from op shops, the kitchen chairs and sink came from the tip, the gas heater came from an old school, and the kitchen stove was bought through the Trading Post. Robyn comments, “Kir’s aesthetic is really about collectables, so it works well with the house. For us it was a fantastic design challenge to incorporate these recycled elements into something retro, simple and clean, but not a pastiche. We wanted it to actually look designed.”

Kir and Sid agree that this has been the outcome. Kir says of her home, “It’s gorgeous! When I sit in here at night, I just look at it and think, how lovely.” Sid concurs. “It was terrific to work with designers willing not only to give it a go, but to make it into something beautiful.”

Sid is emphatic that hiring a willing builder is the key. “If you’re not doing the actual building work yourself, you need a builder who is keen to work with the idea of building a home out of a mixture of new and secondhand materials. We had a great builder who took pride in the careful re-use of the materials we provided.” Robyn adds that this was also true of the builders on the Melbourne demolition site, who were willing to be gentle with delicate materials, who were glad these materials were being salvaged.”

The time frame of construction (excluding design process and planning permission) was eight months, and the cost of building the house (excluding planning approvals, underground works, laying the concrete foundation and landscaping) was $72,000. All agree that using secondhand materials saved a lot of money; Sid’s “back-of-the envelope” sums suggest as much as $40,000.

The predominant use of recycled materials means the house has minimal embodied energy (that’s the energy expended to bring a product to the end user). Operationally it’s also low-energy. There is no air-conditioning, and cooling is achieved through cross-flow ventilation and ceiling fans in the living area and two bedrooms. Kir has hung some sail cloth and is establishing grapevines on the pergola outside the north-facing windows to give shade in summer. In winter, the combination of a concrete slab and wall insulation retains the day’s heat and there’s a gas heater for back up. The garden, shared with Sid’s family, is planted with vegetables, natives and succulents and is watered by a rainwater tank.

Kir is a painter, and her pleasure in colour and texture is evident in every room. Piles of vintage fabrics are stacked in wooden cupboards in the living area; vibrant roses from the garden spill out of a jug on the kitchen table; and colourful biscuit tins and handmade pottery line the kitchen cabinets. Kir smiles, “This kitchen’s quite familiar from the years I’ve been in Kim and Jeremy’s kitchen. I can envisage how those kitchen cubbyholes looked when they were full of their crockery. There’s a lovely thing in re-using recycled materials. You get that warm feeling that people have been there before, and things have been touched by others ... whether you knew them or not.”

This article is an excerpt from Sanctuary: modern green homes magazine, issue 7, available in newsagencies throughout Australia. www.sanctuarymagazine.org.au ■

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ABOVE: Instead of spending megabucks to achieve the in vogue “retro look,” these recycled kitchen cupboards are the real deal.

BELOW: The garden is drought hardy with natives, succulents and grapevines to shelter the vegie patch watered from tanks.

Reduce landfill and reuse Over a third of all waste in Australia that ends up in landfill is from the construction and demolition industries, and over twothirds of this is clean material – bricks, concrete and timber – that could be re-used. If you’re undertaking a renovation or building demolition and you’d like to ensure the materials are put to good use, there are a number of things you can do.

One of the first things you need to do is to create an inventory of all the materials available to be reclaimed, including number, size and condition. You need to ensure that the builder and/ or demolition contractor you hire is sympathetic to your goals, is willing to work to this inventory, and that you discuss and agree upon any extra labour costs that you may incur by using reclaimed materials.

Get in contact with your local secondhand or reclaimed building materials company to sell the materials. Alternatively you could put the materials up for free on a website such as Freecycle Today – Australian Recyclers Community (www.freecycle.org. au), Freecycle (www.freecycle.org), Freecycle – Melbourne and Australia (http://searchenginez.com.au/freecycle.html) or sell them on eBay.

Colour your life with

Stilwells

®

Bendigo’s only Specialist Paint Shop selling Australia’s leading paint Berger & Dulux TrADe QuAlifieD PAinTerS inSTore Colour ConSulTAnT Colour mATChing PerSonAl ServiCe 111 Mitchell Street BENDIGO VIC 3550 Phone 03 5442 1288 Fax 03 5442 1833 www.3dpaintandcolour.com.au

photo opportunity

kicking goals Even if you don’t barrack for the world’s best team you’ve gotta love a big-hearted Magpie.

Former Collingwood greats Peter Daicos and Tony Shaw captivated a crowd at The Foundry’s Platinum Room reflecting on their careers and the 1990 grand final.

Plenty of laughs were had as 3B0 announcers Cogho and Benny Jones interviewed the former AFL stars, encouraging their audience to dig deep for the Gimme 5 for the Kids campaign with every question.

The money raised goes to Bendigo Hospital’s special care baby unit, ensuring sick and premature bubs get the vital care they need locally. ■

NEW SHOWROOM DISPLAYS NOW OPEN

w w w. b o u r k e s k i t c h e n s . c o m . a u B o u r k e ’s K i t c h e n s w i n n e r o f t h e 2 0 0 9 H I A C S R V i c t o r i a n H o u s i n g a n d Kitchen & Bathroom Awards for New Kitchen Project $20,000 - $30,000

HIA & CMA AWARD WINNERS FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS SPECIALISING IN CUSTOM MADE: Kitchens - Entertainment Units - Built-in Furniture Study Desks/Bookshelves - Counters - Shop Fitouts

176 Murphy Street Bendigo ph: (03) 5441 7786

on site

kitchen whiz From humble beginnings in a mate’s shed, Glenn Bourke’s business has become a byword for kitchens, with 18 employees and multiple industry accolades.

Curiously Glenn Bourke counts being made redundant thanks to the ‘80s recession as his first real break. He reasons if it wasn’t for losing his job just after finishing his carpenter’s apprenticeship, he might not have ended up in Wally Barnes’ shed.

“Wally was an old joiner who let me use his shed and equipment,” Glenn recalls. “His help was invaluable to me. It wasn’t just what I learned from him about joinery, but the honest, simple advice he gave me that has helped me run my own business. After Wally died, I bit the bullet and rented my first factory in McDowells Road. But I couldn’t afford to pay rent for a house as well, so that shed became home to me and the dog for a year.”

Photographer: Anthony Webster

Always willing to put in the hard yards, Glenn gave sleeping on the job new meaning in those early days. “I remember I was doing a kitchen for an out-of-town client. The job was built on site and it had to be ready next day so I worked most of the night. By the early hours I was very, very tired and thought I would just grab an hour’s kip. So I gathered my packing blankets and made a bed inside the pantry. I was woken by the arrival of the other tradesmen who couldn’t believe it when they saw me emerge.”

Over the years Glenn has seen the kitchen claim its rightful place in family life. “It is integrated into the main living area now so the cook can prepare meals but still be part of the family conversation instead of being locked away,” he says. “More than ever before the kitchen is the area for people to gather and catch up – it’s the main meeting place of the house for family as well as guests. This means people now see it as a showcase, so design features within the kitchen are very important. Niches, lighting and a combination of different materials are all considerations when creating an eye-catching kitchen.”

But while people want a kitchen with “wow” factor, Glenn believes it must also be practicable. ”I like to see a kitchen that is easy to manage – one that looks great, but you are not slave to it. If a kitchen flows and is easy to use it makes it so much more enjoyable cooking

that great meal. An organised kitchen is the key, having pots and plates near the stove. I always recommend more drawers than shelves as drawers provide much more usable storage. I’m a practical person so I only recommend mechanisms that work and will not give the client heartache down the track. The pullout pantry is probably the one item I dislike the most. They almost never run right and the door doesn’t close properly due to the weight of cans etc in them.”

Glenn sees the kitchen of the future developing into a vision like The Jetsons. “I can see the day when you are finished eating, the plate goes in the dishwasher automatically and it puts it away for you.”

Then you are even less likely to find Glenn at the stove. “I generally ‘cook’ on a Saturday night: I’ll order a pizza and movie. When I do actually cook it’s on the BBQ, typical male. Fortunately my partner Michelle is a very good cook.

“Apart from looking after the household which includes Taylor, 14, Mitchell,12, and the youngest, five-year-old Darcy, Michelle also works in the business with me. She is one special woman. She doesn’t even mind when I yell ‘Go Holden’ while I’m watching the V8 supercars on television. I’d be a fool not to marry her, which is why I proposed and we are getting married early next year. She reckons she had to accept my proposal, because having a honeymoon was the only way she could get me to take time off. I love working. I am never going to retire, especially if the kids step into the business!

“When I’m not working you’ll generally find me scratching about doing some landscaping around our place at Junortoun. But, if there’s a game on, you can guarantee I’ll be listening to my beloved Hawks on the radio.

“I like hanging out in the shed doing men things with Mitchell and Darcy while the girls go shopping because they like to help keep Bendigo’s economy going – another reason I can’t retire. I also have a good bunch of mates and enjoy catching up with them and having a beer or two.” ■ 207

talking about

va-voom baby The double-fronted cream brick homes of the ‘50s were the baby boomers of post war architecture. That doesn’t mean they are all ready to be pensioned off.

Sometimes it takes courage to hold to your convictions, but perseverance has its own rewards which is why Jill DeLaine and Justin Clarke now enjoy one of the very best views in Bendigo from their extensively renovated home.

The remodelling of the classic 1950s cream brick home in Lilac Street took nine months. And while some thought it better to demolish the home or at very least render the baby boomer facade, the couple never lost faith in the old girl.

“We bought the house in 2005,” Jill reveals. “We happened to see the open for inspection sign and decided to go and have a look. We stood on the verandah and I said; ‘I just want to buy this house. It has the best feel about it’. Even before it was done up you could feel it and see the potential.

“Another man who bid at the auction when we bought the house came up and congratulated us afterward. He said: “You know, this is the third highest spot in Bendigo’. It was our two brothers who told us we had to go up to make the most of the property. We hadn’t even thought of it.”

The view from the new second level is a breath-taking panorama.

“Every day we go up even now and go ‘wow, can’t believe it’. Jill laughs. “It is an unusual view in that you get the hill and you get the town.”

While it would probably have been cheaper to bowl the house over and begin anew, Justin and Jill believed it was important to work with the existing structure. “We wanted to modernise it, but keep its integrity. We tried to do it as sympathetically as we could.”

Working with designer Glenn Eastwood, the couple came up with plans that would see the sturdy skeleton of much of the house

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retained and the back of the house opened up with a glass walled extension.“We had come from a smallish house and we wanted to have dinner parties and particularly liked the idea of opening up the whole living/dining area with an island bench so people could sit around and the cook could be involved in things instead of being locked away,” Justin says.

Builder John Buckell takes up the story. “It was a big job and not without its challenges,” he said. “Pulling down a large part of a double brick house and keeping existing walls standing was one thing. The other challenge was that it is a very tight block on a hill, so getting materials in was tricky. But, to be able to blend a whole new level into an exsisting property in a way that doesn’t look out of place was a great result. And the way they now have the home orientated to take in that view is terrific.”

Plasterer: Hume & Iser

The result is an open, airy, completely modern-looking home with never-before-seen view plus some character and delightful surprises of an earlier era. Many original features of the home were maintained including the frosted glass door and its improbable scene given the location of seagulls flying over waves. The downstairs bathroom is a 50s vision in green and black aspic complete with its pedestal basin and hexagonal floor tiles.

Painting: Ferguson & Phillips

“There is nothing about this house, I don’t love,” Jill says. ■

Builder: John Buckell Homes Electrician: Carl Barkmeyer

Tiler: Ian Freemantle Plumber: Phil Maud

v

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146 Midland Hwy Epsom, Bendigo Pottery Complex Ph 0408 141 059 www.yvonnegeorgesculptor.com email: yvonnegeorgesculptor@mac.com Yvonne George - Sculptor A working studio gallery offering original sculptures by local artists. Talk to the artist about commissioning for public sites, housing developments, private residential sculptures.

BENDIGO POTTERY - AUSTRALIAN MADE FOR OVER 150 YEARS

Gallery & Cafe - Open daily 9am - 5pm, 7 days 146 Midland Hwy, Epsom (6.5 km north of the centre of Bendigo)

www.bendigopottery.com.au

p: 5448 4404

• High quality ceramics • Surprising range of styles • Hand decorated tableware • Classic & contemporary • Centrepiece of memories

New Showroom Now Open Bridge St Bendigo

Contacts Graeme Stewart Ken Belfrage David Hutchings Paul Vlaeminck Paul Byrne Jim Parkes Adrian Downing • Management accounting • Cash flow planning • Budgeting and business monitoring • Investment advice • Audits • Financial services • Income tax preparation, electronic lodgements

61-65 Bull Street, Bendigo 3550 Phone (03) 5443-0344 Email afs@afsbendigo.com.au Web www.afsbendigo.com.au

Trevor Borg and Malcolm Gammon

new business

old is new The vogue for vintage continues with several of the latest newcomers to the business scene specialising in gleaning prizes from the past. the good wood

bellissimo

Notts Timber Design is a family business which evolved from Sommerville and Susannah’s love of natural timbers. The couple’s designs are simple and elegant with all pieces hand made in Bendigo.

Select from the existing range of tables, chopping boards, blanket boxes, mirrors and wooden spoons or master craftsman Sommerville can make a piece tailored to your needs. All pieces are finished with oils and waxes or single pack clear lacquers which accentuate the natural colours and features of the timber.

Bells Belles may be one of the most recent businesses to join the burgeoning Goldfields vintage scene, but it exudes an old world charm. If you love a pretty pinny or a lace-edged satin slip and clothes that celebrate the female form this shop is for you.

Sommerville and Susannah work together as a team and carefully handpick every piece of wood, so the most interesting figured boards and slabs are made into unique tables, mirrors, boxes, chopping boards and wooden spoons.

They only use recycled, salvaged or plantation timbers, working with a selection that includes blackheart sassafras, Tasmanian myrtle, Tasmanian blackwood, Tasmanian leatherwood, Huon pine and Victorian red gum.

Notts Timber Design create unique pieces by using the best featured timbers, combined with skilled handcrafted workmanship. A sample of their work can be viewed at Bendigo Visitors Centre.

Visit www.nottstimberdesign.com.au to see the online gallery.

hello, old bean Welcome to something new and a wee bit different. Chris and Zoe at Old Green Bean are new baristas on the block and are very proud and excited to offer freshly roasted beans, artisan cuppas and a wide range of vintage apparel to all the lovely people in Bendigo.

Run by the lovely Leah Bell, this shop is a homage to the ‘40s and 50s. Leah, who spent the past four years working in retail in Bendigo, has been collecting vintage items for years having first fallen in love with fabrics and styles of her grandmother’s heyday while exploring her wardrobe as a child.

“The clothes I most love are from that period, but we do have selected clothes from right up to the 80s which echo some of the classic shapes and designs,” Leah says. As well as timeless elegant vintage pieces there are also gorgeous swim/playsuits in ‘50s inspired polka dots, plaids and florals from the designer label My Sister Pat. These authentically ‘50s fashioned, fully lined cotton swimsuits complete with rubber shirring are in a word ... divine.

Bells Belles also carries a small amount of vintage furniture, kitchenalia and funky jewellery made from old typewriter keys.

A range of vintage-inspired Frankie books is on the way and with plans for a tea room next door Bells Belles is certain to become a favourite haunt of many beautiful ladies.

Bells Belles at 28 Johnston Street, Castlemaine is open Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm. Phone (03) 5470 5842.

In a combined vision finally come to life, they have created a space for you to feel at home. Very geeky about coffee and passionate about eras gone by, Chris and Zoe welcome you with big smiles and encourage you all to work your way through the seasonal espresso blends, flavour-infused Belgian hot chocolates, and wide range of teas all accompanied by tasty but simple food. There is also an impressive, ever-changing collection of men and women’s vintage clothing to explore.

Chris is passionate about his beans, roasting on premises to produce a stellar coffee and fresh beans you can buy whole or ground. Zoe has a huge collection of vintage and loves hunting out the perfect piece customers so be sure to ask if you can’t see it.

Old Green Bean is run by just the two of them so be prepared for a friendly and personal approach as they love chatting to their customers and making them happy. Their shop is reminiscent of a cosy lounge room, and whether you stay a few minutes or a few hours, you will be sure to leave with a smile on your face.

Visit the Old Green Bean, 179 Lyttleton Terrace, Bendigo.

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enviable shine Envy Metal Polishing can help make any aluminium, brass, copper or stainless steel item shine again. Almost any metal item you can think of can be given a new lease of life with a professional polish.

The business run by husband and wife team Dale and Kate Nichols specialises in all types of motor bikes, making components dazzle like new. They also polish rims, exhausts, bull bars and covers from your truck, car, ute, boat or caravan.

Items from around your home, commercial or industrial business that are starting to look tired and careworn can be restored. Things you may not have thought of like decorative features, musical instruments, lamp stands, door plaques, plates, kettles, pots ... in fact, Dale will even polish the kitchen sink. “We have polished a number of old fire extinguishers which have been gathering cobwebs in the back of the shed. They can make a very interesting decorative item in the house for everyone to see,” Dale says Don’t put up with items that are dull, scratched or tarnished call Dale on 0419 313 574 for a free quote.

silver service When it comes to fine dining pedigrees you can’t go past Hugh Webb, a specialist in food and wine antiques. As a young man he left Australia to make a career in hotel management which saw him installed in Claridges of London and the Plaza Athenee in Paris.

Hugh recalls the Duke of Norfolk used to treat Claridges, which even today remains one of the most exclusive hotels in the world, as his London pied-a-terre. “While I was there the Queen came to dinner with him several times,” Hugh reveals.

It was during the 50s and 60s that Hugh began buying antiques at flea markets in France. The sideline developed into his main interest and, after a time working for an upmarket antiques dealer in Pimlico Rd, London he eventually returned to Australia, opening an antiques store in Sydney’s, Paddington.

“Now I have come back to Victoria after 50 years. I have opened the shop really by default because I had so much I had collected that my wife gave me an ultimatum. It was either open a shop and sell it or she would have a giant garage sale.”

The result is a charming little store full of exquisite copper pots, pans and urns, antique kitchen utensils and wine accoutrements.

Hugh Webb Eclectic Pieces at 37 Mostyn St, Castlemaine is open Thursday and Friday 10am - 5pm, Saturday 10am - 2pm or by appointment phone 0418 453 008. ■

ising n a g r o mer by l now! m u s o oo int Spring ew compass p your n

33 Lily Street, Bendigo P: (03) 5444 3496 www.bgspoolsandspas.com.au

• pool installation • spas • pool shop • servicing and maintenance

photo opportunity

disco babes Thedancing was so energetic at the doctors and nurses charity disco it set off the fire alarm.

June was the month to Give Me 5 for Kids. The 3BO and Lady Braves led charity drive raised $26,000 for the Bendigo Hospital baby care ward.

The campaign wound up with the Doctors & Nurses Disco held at the Bendigo Schweppes Centre’s sky lounge The Grinners Rock Covers Band and Power Audio Visual donated their services to the cause so great music was assured for a crowd kitted out in nurses uniforms and doctors whites.

The local fire brigade also got in on the action when dust created a fault in the smoke alarms and everyone was briefly evacuated, adding to the festivities on the night.

Representatives from the Bendigo Hospital baby care ward were also in attendance along with 3BO staff to thank the public for contributions/ donations made during the month of June. ■

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the dream dresser For half a century Dot Lee has been Bendigo’s best known practitioner of the secret women’s business of dressing brides ... and quite a few others besides.

– Lauren Mitchell

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When Bendigo sat glued to the telly this year to see if local musician Alana Conway would make it through to the next round of Australia’s Got Talent, Dot Lee had even more reason to be proud than the rest of us; Alana was wearing one of Dot’s dresses, a stunning cropped gold and champagne tulle gown.

It’s just one of many memorable moments for Dot, who this year celebrates 50 years in the rag trade. But we’re not talking any old dresses. We’re talking “The Dress”.

Dot opened Bendigo Bridal Collections in 1993, but she entered the bridal industry in 1960, when at 17 years of age she was employed at McCalman’s. And she’s been privy to secret women’s business ever since.“It’s absolutely amazing, it really is, and I’ve always said it’s an honour to be involved in something so special as a wedding or a deb,” Dot says. “It’s just lovely that they’ve got the confidence in you and they’ll give you that honour.”

Dot has been dressing Allanah for performances for some time and was honoured to help her choose a dress to wear in front of the nation… but she is well qualified after all.

One of the Farmer Wants a Wife success stories chose a gown from Dot for her wedding, as well as Bendigo’s Olympic basketball star Kristi Harrower. And she’ll never forget the day Bendigo’s first mother of all footballers popped into the shop, just in time for Bronlow night.

Maree Selwood’s son Joel wears the Geelong jumper and Dot just happens to be one of the side’s biggest fans. Dot’s daughter Meagan was minding the shop at the time and rang her mum straight away.

“She chose an Airs and Graces gorgeous mushroom coloured gown with maroon and green beading - I think she had offers to go to Melbourne but she chose here,” Dot says on Maree’s choice. Plus, Dot managed to get a guernsey, signed by Joel. It’ll come in handy come grand final time.

“Every year mum puts a tulle dress on a model with a Gary Ablett jumper on top … now she’s got a signed Joel Selwood top,” Meagan says. Dot laughs; “Joel will be in the window this year, although I don’t know how he’ll feel about the tulle skirt.”

Dot says she has had so many wonderful customers over the past 50 years, “so many beautiful girls”. And after that long in business new brides regularly come in the doors with their mums, who purchased their gowns from Dot way back when.

Photographer: David Field

The bridal industry is a highly personal one. Thank you cards are not unusual after the big day, and Dot even has brides return with their babies years down the line. “The girls come back and say ‘Dot, look what I’ve got’,” she says. And sometimes, it’s not too far after the wedding day either. “Or they come in and say ‘I’m pregnant’ and the challenge is to fit the little bump - they’re the fun things,” Dot smiles.

When I ask if the sewing course Dot completed as a teenager included any tips on the emotional side of the industry Dot smiles and says, “I think it should have”. It does get emotional, we’ve had some tears.

Like just today with a deb and a mum and her being the only child.

You do get very involved. Especially when they’re sad stories.”

Dot says things don’t often go wrong within her happy industry, but when they do, they’re usually big. Like broken engagements, or worse. “We’ve had a couple this year who’ve had terminal illnesses and are getting married before they die,” she says. “And a couple 215

Over the years you get a variety of themes but anything goes at the moment. We’re even doing short dresses. I think probably now is the most beautiful era. And we’ll never not have the traditional, there will always be brides who want to wear white or ivory, with a long train and a beautiful veil.” “Especially when we’ve got the Cathedral here,” Meagan adds. of years ago a couple was killed on the Calder. Her dad came in and picked up her wedding dress and she was buried in it. We’ve often all ended up in tears.”

“It makes us real though,” Meagan says. Although Meagan is a qualified nurse, she has helped her mum in the shop over the years and has fond memories as a little girl, like visiting churches on weekends to view her mum’s brides. And like having the best view in town when Princess Diana and Prince Charles visited the city in 1983, on top of the McCalman’s veranda. When Meagan was younger, Dot had a willing model when photographs of the gowns were needed… what a fantasy. “I was known at work as Muriel,” she laughs. “My brother said I’d be the Bridezilla from hell. But I was good. I behaved myself,” she says on her own wedding in 2003. Gorgeous customdesigned pink silk gown, if you’re wondering.

If you think fashion on the streets has changed dramatically in 50 years, just consider what women have worn down the aisle. Dot’s own wedding photograph from 1963 shows her in a classic, modest scoop-neck gown with little cap sleeves. It was a pretty era, in which the odd short dress often snuck in… “They were really, really great dress makers in those days,” she says.

And then came the 70s. “The 70s was the dreaded era of jersey, chiffon and capes. In the 80s they started to get beautiful again. And as much as a lot of people didn’t like the 90s, with all the motifs, they were beautiful dresses. And the current fashion is beautiful too.

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It’s not just changing fashion Dot has been witness to either. She’ll never forget the night Killian’s Walk burnt to the ground, in 1987. “That particular morning I was getting the kids ready for school and I got a phone call from one of the brides asking, ‘Dot, is my wedding dress OK?’. I didn’t know at the time that Killian’s Walk had burnt down.

I flew down the street and luckily her dress was behind a steel door with all the lay-by dresses, which weren’t damaged, but all the stock was. It was shocking. People lost everything and it was a very sad time.”

Dot says the introduction of decimal currency also made an impact.

“We were all petrified, and it was just a matter of moving a decimal point,” she laughs. “A lot of people - particularly older ladies - would just put their hand out with money and say ‘take what you need’.

That was really sad. But it proved OK in the end.”

Dot was a member of the Zonta Club for 11 years before her business commitments increased, and through Zonta was a regular visitor to Mirradong Home for the Aged with her gowns. Just recently she helped stage a wedding gown fashion parade at Bupa aged care home, where residents and friends wore their own dresses, and those of relatives, for a chance to once again walk down an aisle. “I got there and I thought, ‘I’ve sold that dress and that dress’,” laughs Dot. “They love it. It just brings back the memories.” Yes, there’s just something special about “That Dress.”

Dot plans to celebrate her 50 years in the industry in October by redecorating her King Street shop, and hosting a cocktail party among the gowns. ■

vet check

the drill on pet dental care They don’t floss but oral health is still very important to the health of our furry friends.

- Dr Joanna Reilly, Bendigo Animal Hospital

Contributing factors

Dear Dr Joanna,

Poor oral hygiene: Your pet needs dental care, just like you. This includes routine veterinary dental checkups and home care.

My eight-year-old King Charles spaniel has recently taken to rubbing his face along the side of our bed and pawing at his mouth. He is also starting to ignore his dried food, but still scoffs his chicken.

What’s up?

Breed: Overcrowded or misaligned teeth can contribute to the buildup of plaque and tartar and are more often a problem for smaller breeds of dogs. Certain cat breeds, such as Abyssinian and Siamese are more likely to develop dental disease.

Concerned Cavalier, Nth Bendigo.

Age: dental disease is more common as pets get older.

Maintaining oral health

By the age of two, four out of five pets are living with dental disease.

Maintaining oral health is important because gum disease can cause pain and may possibly lead to more serious illnesses, such as heart, liver and kidney disease.

Your pet needs regular, professional dental care from your veterinarian, as well as care at home from you. Visit Your veterinarian as part of a routine physical, your veterinarian will inspect your pet’s mouth.

If dental disease is found, your veterinarian may recommend dental scaling and polishing to remove plaque and tartar from teeth, as well as additional dental treatment.

Causes of dental disease Plaque is at the root of most dental problems in pets. Plaque is a colourless film that contains large amounts of bacteria. Left untreated, plaque hardens into a substance called tartar that forms along the base of the tooth, near and below the gumline. This process causes inflammation of the gums that is known as gingivitis. As the inflammation progresses, it destroys gums and tissues that support the teeth, leading to pain and tooth loss. Infection associated with dental disease can be responsible for bad breath, and bacteria can enter a pet’s bloodstream and spread to vital organs such as the heart, liver or kidneys. Preventive oral care throughout your pet’s life can reduce the formation of plaque and tartar, which can lead to gingivitis, dental disease and systemic diseases that can negatively impact the life of your pet.

Start an oral care routine at home Plaque should be removed from your pet’s teeth every day. Brushing your pet’s teeth using a finger brush or gauze with a paste designed for pets can accomplish this. You can also feed Hill’s Prescription Diet – a therapeutic food designed to provide effective oral care.

Regular dental check ups Your veterinarian needs to monitor the progress of your pet’s oral health through regular dental checkups.

Signs of dental disease include: bad breath, bleeding gums, dribbling saliva, subdued behaviour, tooth loss, pawing at the mouth, change of eating habits, pain when eating, refusing to eat. ■

Bendigo Animal Hospital We are more than your pet’s hospital. We are their General Practitioner, Dentist, Surgeon, Pharmacist, Paediatrician, Radiologist, Nutritionist, Intensive Care Team, Pet Store, Animal Advice Centre, Emergency Centre & after hours team.

Opening HOurS: Monday - Friday: 8.00am – 7.00pm Saturday: 8.30am – 4.00pm Sunday: 10.00am – 11.00am

Veterinary Practice – Companion Animals • • • •

Vaccinations Consultations De-Sexing Microchipping

• • • •

Dentals Grooming Puppy School Pet Food & Merchandising

Phone (03) 5443 3322 for an appointment.

294 Napier Street Bendigo – (opposite Lake Weeroona) – EASY PARKING

meet the managers

the village fair Former realtor Trevor Andrew and his wife Dianne have embarked on a lifestyle change as managers of Bendigo Domain Village.

What is your role in Bendigo Domain Village?

We are employed by Country Club Villages as village managers for Bendigo Domain Village. In the role of village managers there are two main components: selling of the homes and overseeing the dayto-day running of the village. We are also on-site managers, being available to assist the residents as needs arise.

Isn’t it cheating a bit to live in a retirement village when you aren’t really retired?

We must admit that watching retirees on a daily basis and seeing how relaxed they are and the time they have on their hands, does make you a little envious, but then you just remind yourself that your turn is coming. We must point out that although Bendigo Domain is a retirement village, it is not actually a requirement upon entry. The only proviso is that you are 55 years of age or over, so officially speaking we have sneaked in under the radar, just! In fact we do have one resident who is currently employed and enjoying his work very much.

So there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to working.

Is living in a retirement village how you imagined it?

We’re not sure how we expected or imagined it to be really, but we must say we enjoy the benefits of living here. There’s a real sense of community amongst the residents and the knowledge that there’s always someone looking out for you. Security is another plus. Being a gated community you feel very safe and relaxed and don’t have to worry about who’s living in the neighborhood, so to speak. And then the other positive is the social aspect. There’s always someone to have a chat to, or wave to and happy hour on Friday evenings is the ideal way for everyone to have a catch up at week’s end.

Do you think the fact that the first of the wave of baby boomers are hitting 65 will influence how we cater for older people in years to come? How so?

Bendigo Domain Village is the first of its kind for Bendigo. It’s a whole new concept, We’re not just a retirement village, but rather a lifestyle village of resort style proportions for the independent living. Think of a holiday resort with all the trimmings including an indoor heated pool, gymnasium, bowling green, tennis court, state-of-the art club rooms, theatre room, library/reading room, billiards room and then call it home. Retirement takes on a whole new meaning these days.

The up-and-coming retirees of today are looking for more and we are here to fill the gap. And if travel is an important part of that, then what could be better than living in a setting where everything is low maintenance, easy care and the mail comes to a central mail room. You can hitch up the caravan and be off at the drop of a hanky knowing that everything is safe, secure and cared for in your absence.

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Were you the pioneer residents of the village? If so was it a bit eerie being in the then unpopulated landscape by yourselves?

We moved in at the same time as the first 2 lots of residents. We all arrived within a few weeks of each other, so we weren’t here alone. It was actually quite special being pioneers together. We even celebrated Christmas 2009 with a street party for the residents of Drysdale Court. The fact that there were only six of us at the time was no deterrent at all. We enjoyed a few quiet drinks and nibbles alongside the lake as we watched the sun set over the state forest and the kangaroos come out to feed. Kangaroos are a part of life at Bendigo Domain. You can see them almost any time of the day if you look closely, especially on a rainy day when they love to come out of the bush to feed. The kangaroos have even ventured down amongst the houses at night, lured by the luscious green synthetic grass!!

What is it about being part of this project you like most?

We feel really privileged to be involved at the ground level of this exciting new venture for Bendigo. But the thing that we like most of all is the people. We have fantastic residents and it brings us great pleasure to see them so happy and settled at Bendigo Domain. On a daily basis we can see new friendships being forged and people relaxing and enjoying each other’s company in the beautiful setting we have here at Junortoun. We are very fortunate to have adjoining state forest to our site and the O’Keefe Rail Trail is close by and accessible also.

How much of the site is yet to be developed?

The Bendigo Domain Village is situated on a 12 hectare site. There are currently 10 homes settled (18 residents in total). During August and September there will be another four homes completed and settled.

A further seven homes are at varying stages of construction. When Bendigo Domain is completed there will be 210 architecturally designed independent living homes and 28 condominium apartments.

What is it that most surprises prospective residents when they come for their first inspection?

Without fail the thing that most surprises prospective residents is the spaciousness of the homes and the choice of home plans. There’s something to suit everyone. The homes range in size from 14 to 20 squares meeting the individual needs of prospective residents.

Will you ever retire yourselves?

Definitely! It’s very appealing looking at retirement from the outside in! We can’t let them have all the fun! We’ll certainly know all about it by the time our turn comes around. ■

Bendigo’s Best Luxury Resort Living for the over 55’s

You deserve the best.

Secure your future and a new lifestyle.

• Community Centre • Village Bus • Indoor Heated Swimming Pool • Landscaped Gardens • Library

• • • • • •

Gymnasium Art and Craft Room Theatrette Hair Salon Bowling Green Close to Shopping Centre

• Security Gates • Club Bar • 24 Hour Emergency Call System • Tennis Court • Meet New Friends

Come and visit our display at:

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219

tech advice

all charged up

- Roger Behrens Regional Franchisor Jim’s Computer Services (North West Victoria)

Follow these simple steps to maximise your laptop battery and be ever ready.

A notebook or netbook gives so many of us independence. It allows people to work outside the office, watch a DVD on the plane or send emails to friends from the coffee shop. But the limited battery time often cuts the fun short, even when the manufacturer has promised up to eight hours’ life.

little battery icon on the task bar and then selecting “max battery” mode. Although this does slightly reduce processor and graphics performance, your battery will last significantly longer. Unnecessary background programs and the stylish glass-look interface on Vista and Windows 7 will also suck the battery dry.

Here are some key tips that show you how to noticeably extend the battery life of your laptop, resolve incorrect PC settings and teach Windows how to save energy.

Training your battery

These general application tips help gain you valuable time, whether it’s for working on the move or enjoying your time off. So follow these quick changes for long-lasting battery operation.

Reduce your screen brightness Your laptop screen eats up power relentlessly. Dim the brightness of your screen using the function keys on your notebook to greatly reduce battery consumption.

Remove or turn off unnecessary devices Unplug USB sticks or external drives from your notebook to extend your battery life, and only turn on energy-zapping devices such as Wi-Fi receivers, network connections, webcams, and DVD drives when you actually need them. At other times, we recommend that you turn them off using the function keys, the Windows device manager, or special energy-saving programs.

Use “max battery” mode Reduce your computer’s power consumption by clicking on the

Your battery is from first charge in a state of gradual decline. When you leave your laptop plugged in all the time to mains power your battery is doomed for a very short life.

You need to train your battery so that it extends its useful life span to its maximum. To do this you need to fully charge it, then run it on battery power until it needs charging again. What this does is train the battery to last longer and hold its charge more effectively.

I am sure that we all have had a laptop that only has a battery life of under one hour. By training your battery from new your laptop will run on its battery from three to eight hours if used in conjunction with the other tips listed above.

Summary By following these tips you will start to see your battery last a lot longer than it has been and thus maximise your productivity away from the home / office power source.

If you would like us to assess your laptop’s battery or get your laptop running more efficiently then contact Jim’s Computer Services on 131 546 and we will get your laptop running smoothly again. ■

131 546

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employment advice

mana power

- Paul Murphy, AtWork Consulting

They may not have a title, but there is one person in every workplace or office that the team will take their cue from.

There’s a meeting at your workplace, and the manager maps out the new directions excitedly. The team sits back and wonders – what’s in it for us, and do we go with it? Watching for the subtle signs, you notice everyone looking to one person around the table. If they nod almost imperceptibly, the new direction is supported. If not, it’s doomed to fail. Who is this person? They’re rarely the official manager, and their leadership role may not be on the organisation chart. But they’re always there in the background - leading, influencing and enabling or preventing; possibly while a number of official leaders have come and gone. You have found the person with “mana” – the one everyone looks to for guidance.

“Mana” is an indigenous Pacific Islander concept of an impersonal force or quality that resides in people, animals, and inanimate objects (Wikipedia). Mana is a major factor in our personal and working lives, and it can be used for good and evil in our organisations. While the term is not related to “mana-gement”, effective leaders themselves have mana – it appears as individual personal power, strength, influence, charisma and impact. In traditional Hawaiian cultures the king and queen were believed to possess so much mana that they could intercede with nature (they also believed their mana could be stolen through sorcery or if someone walked on their shadow). Traditional cultures held that objects that have mana – charms or amulets - can change a person’s luck. In Melanesian culture if a prosperous hunter gave a charm that had mana to another person the prosperous hunter’s luck would go with it. And today, online games featuring magic often include a limited pool of mana which is depleted when the character casts spells.Of course we are generally all above such superstitions now, and no longer need such symbolic representations of power. That is why we don’t display power dressing, power objects,

prestige vehicles, titles including the word “Chief” (such as “CEO” and “CIO”), bigger corner offices on higher floors with special views, personal assistants and so on!

So, some personal mana hints? Firstly, don’t let your mana slip away – this can result from negative emotions, too much rushing and multitasking. We lose mana through indulgence in excessive food, alcohol/ drugs or distractions like TV, and through not enough productive activities such as physical exercise, personal and professional development, and de-stressing with meditation, yoga or relaxation.

Secondly, build personal mana. Practice the leadership styles that you see as being highly effective. Emulate a favourite leader or influencer.

Discover how they do what they do, and set about it in a style that has integrity and sits comfortably with you. This is called modelling; as a consultant I’m asked to model top organisational performers so that others can get similar results.Organisational leaders wanting to bring about change need to use mana - their own, or through other “mana-holders”. People with mana are often key influencers behind the scenes, and effective influencing of them can include working directly with them – giving them insights into the benefits of change, providing special roles, getting them onboard. You can build ‘team mana’ as well. Team bonding sessions and development programs can achieve this, and an aligned, committed team has great power.

Finally, we can look for new symbols of power at work. The leader who is best at inspiring individual effort and effective teamwork now has more influence than the leader who purely uses force to get results. In some of the most sophisticated workplaces, you’ll see the “chief” out there, mixing it with their team, leading from the front.

Now, that takes real mana! ■

Coaching, because it works...

Executive coaching from AtWork Consulting is a superb way to develop management and leadership capability.

What you’ll access and achieve: •

360° feedback processes

• Build on existing capabilities

•

Management capability and personal profiling

• Overcome limiting behaviours

•

Comprehensive, rich platform for development

• Improve team satisfaction and performance

•

Career redirection support as desired

• Enhance long-term success

“Paul’s coaching has improved my understanding and built my capacity to motivate others to perform.

The ability to share staffing matters on a confidential basis and gain meaningful advice has been highly valuable and a significant component in achieving high performance from my team” – Director.

Paul Murphy is a member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF) STRATEGIC HR • EXECUTIVE RECRUITING • HIGH IMPACT COACHING

118 KING ST • 5442-6445 • www.atworkconsulting.com.au

legal eagle

photo opportunity - Russell Robertson Accredited wills & estates specialist O’Farrell Robertson McMahon

mending fences Dear Russell, My old fence literally blew over with the last lot of wind and rain. I now need a new fence. I have always believed that this is a cost shared with the adjoining neighbour. What should I do next and where does the buck stop?

Out of Bounds, Strathdale The legal position is very clear, but the application of the law and the negotiations with your neighbour can be quite difficult.

The Fences Act provides that both landowners are equally liable for the cost of repairs, but only to the extent of a dividing fence sufficient for the purposes of both owners. If the existing fence was 1.5 metres high, but you want to replace it with a new fence that is 1.8 metres high then you would normally be responsible for the additional costs involved.

It is important that any agreement for the construction of the new fence be recorded in writing. Many fencing contractors will prepare quotes which combine acknowledgement by both owners that they will contribute equally to the cost of the new fence.

You cannot unilaterally construct a new fence without the agreement of your neighbour and then expect to receive from them one half of the cost of the fence. However, if the fence is destroyed by accident then you may immediately repair the fence without any notice to the neighbour, which would be appropriate in this situation.

Disputes with anyone can be very unpleasant, but a dispute with a neighbour is the worst type of problem. A personal approach should always be made to the neighbour about concerns with the fence.

Keep in mind that your perception of repairs to a fence may be different to that of your neighbour. Some people are less concerned about appearances than other people.

If the personal approach does not result in agreement then you must prepare a “Notice to Fence” which includes a quotation for the cost of the repairs. This document must be given to the neighbour and only if the neighbour refuses to agree to the construction of the new fence or the repairs to the fence, can you make an application to the magistrates court for an order compelling the neighbour to contribute to the cost.

If you are seeking repairs to the fence you only have to give the neighbour one week to respond to the “Notice to Fence”. If no response is given, you can repair the fence and then seek contribution from the adjoining owner. If the fence is totally destroyed by accident then, technically, you do not have to give any notice at all.

If the fence is destroyed by the conduct of the neighbour then you can ask for the neighbour to pay all of the cost.

If the neighbour cannot be located or the adjoining land is unoccupied then you may send the “Notice to Fence” by registered post to the address shown in the rate records (if you can obtain that information) or you can place an advertisement in the local newspaper.

Fences can be expensive and often a fence may fall in repair because the neighbour simply does not have accessible funds to pay for the repairs. When making demands upon your neighbour for the cost of repairs, be mindful of the financial circumstances and your neighbour may be reluctant to agree to a new fence because they have some financial difficulties, but they may not be willing to share that information with you.

Compromise and commonsense should be the most important objectives. Ideally you should be able to have a great-looking fence and friendly neighbours at the same time. If both of these events cannot occur simultaneously then approach the problem sensitively.

It is very hard to patch up a dispute with an unhappy neighbour even after the new fence has been constructed. Perhaps the answer is to make the fence two metres high! ■ 222

thirsty work It was a world record attempt that earned members of the band Thirsty Merc a few long cold beers.

To launch their Mousetrap Heart album, Thirsty Merc attempted to go where no band has been before – or at least not in one day.

Starting in Cairns, Thirsty Merc played a series of whistlestop private concerts along the length of the eastern seaboard culminating in Bendigo.

Joined by the Southern Cross Media’s drive show - The Benchwarmers, Thirsty Merc fell just short of their original goal of 11 destinations in one day due to some heavy fog in Rockhampton.

But this did not dampen their spirit or their ability to belt out some sensational music enjoyed by Bendigo Media Centre clients, staff & guests. ■

Proven experience and trusted advice when you need it most

L A W Y E R S

O’FARRELL ROBERTSON MCMAHON FAMILY LAW ACCREDITED SPECIALIST BUSINESS LAW SALE & PURCHASE OF BUSINESS WILLS & ESTATES ACCREDITED SPECIALIST GENERAL LITIGATION CONVEYANCING

5443 9977

Cnr McCrae & Mundy Streets Bendigo

www.ofrm.com.au

LEGAL AID ENQUIRIES WELCOME

cogho’s couch - Bryan ‘Cogho’ Coghlan Program Director 3BO/Star FM

“We’ve got your team co ve red”

a peaceful man 3BO’s own Shaun Makepeace finds himself in the hot seat.

Cog: Welcome to the bendigo magazine’s “On the Couch with Cogho”. Now, first of all tell me about your sporting triumphs.

Shaun: Thanks Cogs. I would love to be known for my sporting feats, but sadly I never made it to the big leagues but I’ve been pretty lucky.

I played in footy premierships at Red Cliffs, Harcourt 2006 and 07, and then over at Colbinabbin in 2008. I also grabbed a junior cricket flag at Irymple and then two senior ones at Spring Gully in 2005-06 and 2009-10.

Cog: Did you have aspirations to play AFL? Shaun: Doesn’t everyone? I didn’t play much junior footy though, because I kept getting knocked out a bit too much for Mum and Dad’s liking. I played a lot of golf instead, before venturing back to footy. By then it was too late, but I think I would have become an AFL superstar if I had made it! Ha. Cog: What does your lovely wife Laura think of your sport, with you being a new dad and radio star?

Shaun: Ha, I’ve had to tone it down a bit over the past few weeks.

Little Sammy has certainly had an impact on our lives. I still get to the footy on Saturday and plan to play cricket, but I won’t be able to captain. Laura’s been great. She sacrificed a lot last year so I could have a fair dinkum crack as captain at Spring Gully. So when we won the premiership she was pretty proud. Although the timing wasn’t great, considering Sammy popped his head out on grand final weekend.

Cog: What’s the funniest thing you have heard on the sporting field?

Shaun: I once heard Gisborne full forward Steven Reaper commentating himself on the footy field. “Reaper on the lead, takes a strong mark … He’ll go back and kick this one.” And, he did too!

Cog: Tell me the first thing that pops into your head when I say ...

Bryan Coghlan…Mid-life crisis? Bendigo’s version of Johnny Ibrahim.

Very good teacher of radio. Rather largish around the waist. Good wicket keeper. His drink of preference is Midori and lemonade.

Bendigo...Great city, great people, close to everything. Need council, state and federal governments to continue to develop the road network though. It’s getting busier every day. A ring road?

Geelong…Football Club – the best. It’s been a good few years for us Cats supporters. We deserve it though. The late ‘80s, early 90s were tough times.

Sam Fotu…Premeirship teammate at Colbinabbin. Great mate and boss. An OK basketballer (I’ve taken him to the hoop a few times), has a lovely family, slices the golf ball badly.

3BO…Love it. Plenty of opportunities to experience new and interesting things and meet stacks of people.

Spring Gully Cricket Club…Reigning premiers. Have a handy greyhound syndicate – Spring Gully Gal. Footy Scoreboard…An awesome, intense experience. A great crew to work with every Saturday night. Skeeta, Shaz and Bianca (aka Casey) do a brilliant job.

Essendon…who? Couldn’t care less. Too many Essendon supporters live here.

Cog: And wrapping up if you were a drag queen you would need a name...What was the name of your first pet and street name?

Shaun: Cindy Hampton!! Not bad, keep an eye for that in the future.

Cog: Thanks for sitting on the couch, Mako.

Shaun: No worries Cogs. Pity I had to sit on the floor though, as there’s not enough room on the couch for the two of us. ■

224

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what’s the story?

segway segue You may have seen Glynn Mackie zipping by on his personal transporter and wondered why he is the only person in town to own one. So we asked him.

How did you come to get the Segway?

I have trouble getting into cars as well as public transport due to surgical and other health-related issues. Anywhere I went I had to walk which at times was not comfortable or achievable due to pain and discomfort. In order to keep my job I had to have a way of getting around coming and going from work. I also have responsibilities in my work role that requires me to go to various sites around Bendigo. My physical issues are not improving, and are not expected to improve, so a continued dependence on this form of transport is essential for me to get around.

Was it a long time in the planning?

It is illegal to use a Segway on Australia roads. Over three years Bendigo Access Employment tried unsuccessfully to secure approval for the use of a Segway Human Transporter for me as I am a client of the organisation. We first attempted this under the workplace modifications scheme which is a federally funded system we use regularly in our role as a disability employment service back in mid 2005. We were unsuccessful due to the Segway not meeting Australian Standards and design rules.

Since then we have made numerous representations to State, Federal MPs and Ministers, the police and Vic Roads. When we then queried why it is illegal when there are examples of the Segways currently being used in Melbourne, we were informed that this was a Victorian Police matter as it is illegal and there maybe other priorities for the Victorian Police force of greater importance.

The Segway is the only transport device I know of that can help me with mobility. In an act of last resort, I have with the financial assistance of my employer, purchased a Segway to enable my mobility for life and work.

I believe it to be a valid and safe mode of transport for me because I am restricted in my transport options and it is getting to a point where my human rights are being compromised by bureaucratic indecision.

The Victorian Police here in Bendigo have been supportive and understanding of my circumstances. I very much appreciate their good will.

What is so good about the Segway?

The Segway’s elevated platform allows me get a better perspective of obstacles that are ahead which is important as I ride it on the footpath and I do not want to collide with pedestrians, cars, or other vehicles.

The model of Segway I have gives me enough room to fit through doors and in shops.

Yes!!!!

they will be banned forever in Australia. For me they meet a need. I believe that they could be misused and could cause mayhem if riders were irresponsible in the operation of them. I try to always be aware of the safety of those around me and I realise that my actions could impact on the future of Segways being allowed to be used by the public in public areas. This is a classic case where legislation has not kept up with new technologies.

Do many people stop you to ask about it?

Is there any limitation to where a Segway can take you?

I would have thought after this amount of time that most people would be used to seeing me riding around but people still drive by and toot their horns, or yell out as they drive by. I do not let people ride it as it is too expensive and is an important mode of transport for me. A lot of kids say that it is cool and ask their parents if they could buy them one to ride around on

The Segway can only take me in and around Bendigo but it is quicker and a lot less painful than walking. I can get about one hour’s traveling time on a charge. The footpaths in Bendigo can be a challenging for the Segway as I find that it works better on smooth surfaces and does not necessarily take bumps very well when they come upon me unexpectedly.

Disability notwithstanding can you believe this sort of vehicle is banned, particularly given growing environmental concerns?

What is the best moment you have had with your Segway?

Photographer: Kate Monotti

Is it fun to ride?

I think Segways have their place in society and I do not believe that

The best moment/s I have had with my Segway are being able to visit my children and grandchildren who live in Kangaroo Flat. ■ 225

sporting hero

frank’s circle Footage captured on an old home movie camera not only helped the young Sharon Barr become a champion, but landed her dad a job for life.

- Raelee Tuckerman

It was the summer of 1969, and eight-year-old Sharon Barr had just finished second in the first discus competition she ever entered at Bendigo Little Athletics.

“We thought Sharon might have a bit of potential, but nobody here knew anything much about the discus,’’ Frank explains of his decision to take matters into his own hands.“So I pinched Dad’s movie camera, took it down to Melbourne and filmed the best female thrower at the time. Then I came home, put the footage on an editing machine and redrew every frame on transfer paper until you could flick through the pictures and virtually see the entire throwing action.”

Armed with his home-made how-to guide and some instructional books and videos he gathered along the way, Frank became a throws coach and his daughter became a champion. Sharon went on to break a host of local junior and senior records, hold a national hammer record and win four gold medals for Australia at veteran level before retiring from competition.

Frank took over running the discus event at Little Athletics, offering other children technique tips and often using Sharon as a model to 226

demonstrate. Before long, athletes began seeking his advice outside of the regular Saturday morning competition and he embraced his new calling as a coach. Today, 41 years after his first foray into the field, he is still sharing his expertise with Bendigo’s next generation of throwers, including the children of some athletes he trained decades ago.

Despite the hours he devotes to his pupils, Frank scoffs at suggestions he could have made a tidy sum if he’d charged a fee for his services.

Personal satisfaction, he says, is payment enough.“We get our rewards, don’t we,’’ he says, smiling across at Irene, his wife of 58 years and constant supporter behind the scenes.“The thrills of seeing kids win their first ribbon or medal, achieving their personal best throws, the photos we get of them, the friends we have made...Our price used to be that if you won a medal at Little Aths in Melbourne, we wanted a picture of you standing on the dais. And we got quite a few photos over the years.’’

If you’ve driven along Prouses Road near Kalianna school on a Monday or Thursday afternoon and seen people striking odd poses, spinning like tops along an old concrete cricket pitch, or hurling heavy objects high into the air, you’ll have witnessed Frank’s squad at work.

From late July through to April, they practise the discus, shot put and hammer disciplines using his tried-and-tested training methods as well as unorthodox drills, like whacking a tree trunk with a towel to encourage correct discus posture and style.

Frank’s approach clearly works – his current crop of kids includes Australian schoolboy discus champion Christopher Browne, Victorian junior hammer title-holder Roxanne Kellow, and his 18-year-old

Photographer: Anthony Webster

Frank Barr sits in his armchair and fondly thumbs through a collection of sketches, showing the simple outline of a female in various stages of throwing a discus. The palm-size pictures on translucent transfer paper are an integral part of the story of how a Bendigo father seeking a coach for his talented young daughter became an expert himself, and is now one of the region’s longest-serving tutors in athletic throwing events.

grandson Philip Clayton, who has been throwing since the age of two and who holds several records in the local region. There’s a motherof-four aged in her 40s who is winning masters event medals; a tiny tacker who recently took up the sport; and others in between. All agree on one thing – Frank himself deserves a medal.

“He’s an absolute marvel,’’ says Kelly Browne, whose son won discus gold representing Victoria at national primary school championships and bronze at the Pacific Schools Games. “Without Frank, I don’t think Christopher would have had that success. He has so much patience and really knows how to get the best out of his athletes.’’

Ironically, Chris and some of the other throwers Frank coaches are now breaking records held by his daughter and grandson – with his unwavering encouragement. That speaks volumes about the character of the man who quips that he’s “never thrown a discus in competition myself, but I’ve thrown thousands back at training’’. It comes as no surprise to learn that during the off-season, he spends time watching footage of his throwers in action, and studying coaching DVDs to keep abreast of the latest developments.

He’s semi -retired from his business, Frank Barr Screen Printing, which was housed in the very building in Barnard Street that is now home to the bendigo magazine. But he still does a bit of work for clubs and sporting bodies, and provides a prize sash to the winner of the Bendigo Sportswomen’s Association’s quarterly award.

“We have donated that ever since it started,’’ he says. “Sharon was the third person ever to receive that award and we offered to provide a sash for her and the previous winners. They have had a sash to present to the winner ever since.’’

Frank also volunteers his time at Weeroona College introducing year seven students to the basics of shot put and discus as part of an athletics program run by the Bendigo YM Harriers club. He ran the discus event at junior or senior athletics events in Bendigo then Maryborough from back when Sharon was competing until Philip graduated from Little Aths just three years ago. Deservedly, his service to athletics in Bendigo has been honoured with three life memberships.

Though he turned 80 in July, Frank has no plans to hang up his coach’s hat any time soon.“I’ll give it away when I have to,’’ he says, but you get the feeling he won’t go willingly.

ABOVE LEFT: Frank with discus champion Christopher Browne.

ABOVE: The instructive sketches Frank made in 1969.

BELOW: State junior hammer title-holder Roxanne Kellow.

“If they take him off to hospital in an ambulance again, he might,’’ Irene calls out, referring to one hot summer’s day last season when Frank fell ill at training and his troops, concerned about his health, called the paramedics. He was taken off for tests, protesting all the way. It emerged later that Frank had not been to hospital since having his tonsils removed at the age of six, and was in no hurry to go back, Cleared of any serious problems, he returned to the practice field just a week later – albeit with strict instructions from everyone to take things a bit easier.

And that’s where you’ll find him again this year – no fuss, no pretence: just a man who has learnt a thing or two about throwing events over the years and is happy to share his knowledge with anyone willing to listen. ■

We thought Sharon might have a bit of potential, but nobody here knew anything much about the discus.

227

sporting extreme

all points forth Getting his bearings in the bush round Bendigo is second nature to champion orienteer Jim Russell.

- Raelee Tuckerman Central Victoria is well known for its rich gold mining past and its historic architecture. But would you believe it is also home to one of the world’s most spectacular orienteering courses?

car with me and tick off every farm we used to go past – there’s that house, there’s that junction,’’ he recalls. So it was little wonder he eventually took up orienteering with such success.

The rugged granite boulders and box-ironbark forest of the Kooyoora State Park, between Inglewood and Wedderburn, enjoy legendary status among the international orienteering community. In 1985, the area that is home to Melville Caves was the venue for the first world championships in the sport ever staged outside Europe.

Nowadays, Jim is part of a joint project between Orienteering Victoria and the local club to promote the sport among Bendigo schools, funded by a VicHealth grant. He co-ordinates a modified introductory program for primary students, held at various parks around the city, known as Space Racing (racing in the open spaces with an emphasis on spacial awareness). Attracting almost 40 kids a week, it is the only such scheme in Australia.

But the elite athletes are not the only ones to enjoy the site’s picturesque scenery and navigational challenges – it is one of many local bushland areas used by members of the Bendigo Orienteering Club for their weekly events. Every Saturday afternoon from about April to November, up to 100 people aged six to 60-plus arm themselves with maps and compasses and head for the great outdoors. They sprint, jog or stroll around a course varying in length and difficulty from an easy 2km along a defined path, to a complicated 7km well off the beaten track, looking for control sites marked with an orange and white banner so they can register their visit using an electronic recording device.

In a regular foot race, speed is of the essence. But in orienteering, patience is also a vital virtue and the importance of good navigation and map-reading skills means that the fastest competitor is not always first past the finishing post. “It’s a thinking person’s sport,’’ says Jim, “and quite often, a person who thinks can outdo a person who runs.’’

Orienteering originated in Sweden as a military exercise. The first public event was held near Oslo in 1897, but it was not seen in Australia until the late 1950s.

The Bendigo club has an impressive line-up of talent: Leon and Bryan Keely, Evan Barr, Chris Naughton and Laurina Neumann have all been selected in Australian teams for junior world titles or international challenges in recent years.

Jim Russell represented his country at two world championships in the elite men’s category, won a world masters bronze medal, and has coached senior and junior national teams for both Australia and New Zealand. Now 49, Jim was a home-schooled youngster who loved maps and would amuse himself by seeing how quickly he could make his way to each of the four corners of his parents’ 24-hectare farm in Lockwood South, avoiding steep hills on the property and navigating around obstacles like dams.

“We also used to travel back and forward to Adelaide to visit my grandparents and I used to keep the 1:250,000 survey maps in the 228

It is the perfect lead-in to regular orienteering, which Jim stresses is a sport for everyone – all ages, all abilities, all fitness levels. “You definitely don’t have to run, you can walk,’’ he says. “And the big benefits are that it gets you out enjoying the Bendigo forests – you get some fresh air, you see the local wildlife and flowers, and you have some level of physical exertion. Bendigo is blessed with having such great forests right on our doorstep. It doesn’t matter in what direction you go, you can get into some very nice areas within five minutes’ drive of the city.’’

Courses have been mapped at more than 20 bush sites across the Bendigo region, including One Tree Hill, Mandurang, Diamond Hill, Fiddlers Green, Lightning Hill and Devonshire Reef. Most of these areas are pocked with old mine shafts, one of the occupational hazards of an orienteer, along with slippery ground, jagged rocks and other natural and man-made perils. But Jim says safety is always a top priority at the club and serious injuries are rare.

Perhaps the most common problem to be overcome – whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned veteran – is the very thing that defines the sport: orientation, or what to do when you get lost! “Everybody gets lost,’’ chuckles Jim, recalling several experiences of his own.

“But you have to clarify what you mean by the word ‘lost’. Some people call it geographically embarrassed, but really, it is just that you temporarily don’t know where you are. And that is when you need the patience and the skills to be able to back track to the point where you last knew where you were, and work it out from there.’’

Orienteering is sometimes referred to as “cunning running”, but Jim says you simply have to be an outdoors-type person, rather than a brainiac, to enjoy it.

“Many years ago, it was referred to as a nerds’ sport and that’s one image we are trying to change. We see it as just spending a day in the bush with a map that shows you where you are, and visiting different places on that map.

“In that respect, it’s no nerdier than using a Melways to get around Melbourne.’’

For more information, visit www.bendigo-orienteers.com.au ■

Photographer: Anthony Webster

“The overseas competitors were in absolute awe of that terrain,’’ says Bendigo orienteering expert and former Australian representative and coach Jim Russell.“Even now, if you get international orienteers coming to Australia, they will try to pencil in a visit to Mt Kooyoora for a run.’’

In that respect, it’s no nerdier than using a Melways to get around Melbourne.

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little boys’ toys

private air wing A personal jet and chopper ensure Harry and Riley are always ready for take-off.

The big question now is: What’s Poppy going to build their baby sister?

As the acknowledged expert on the subject Harry is unequivocal. “My Poppy is the best ever. He can build anything,” the five-year-old says.

Like anyone is going to argue with a boy who has a police chopper and navy fighter plane to prove it?

The idea of this fleet in miniature took flight after a visit to the airport, grandfather Wayne McCarthy explains. “I often take Harry and Riley out to the airport. We stood there one day when the air ambulance was there and the pilot called the kids over and he let them sit in the helicopter. He told them it was worth $8 million and it weighed five-and-a-half tonnes. They reckoned it was great. The next time we went out there was a police helicopter and the boys were pretty impressed by that too. That’s when I decided to make them their own chopper.”

Working without a plan, the retired welder started with the skids and built his way up to the rotor. “When I make things I can picture them in my mind. I just worked it out in my head as I went along. The boys helped me put the rivets in. They did a wing each. They like all that.

They like getting down the back and getting in the shed.”

the grandkids, but far from the only things he has turned out from his shed.

Wife Cheryl says she is blessed to have a partner who can make almost anything he sets his mind to. “He is very clever,” Cheryl says proudly.

“He never uses plans – he just builds things straight from his head.

“If I see anything in wrought iron, swinging seats, garden sculptures or something in a magazine I just tell him I’d like one of them and off he goes.

“He has made so many things. He made a copper fountain that was pretty special with two birds and flowers that spurt water. My girlfriend brought back of a photo of a table and chairs she saw in Florence and he made that for her. He made his own camper trailer.

We used to have people coming down the drive to have a look at that. The list goes on and on.”

There is one project though which has him stumped for now. “I have to do something for the latest grandchild who is a little girl,” he says.

“I honestly don’t know what to make her. But, as she’s only four months, I’ve got a bit of time to think about it.” ■

Next out of Poppy’s hanger was a fighter plane, based on an old Korean War veteran used to operate joyflights out of the airport. “I guess it took me about 60 hours to make the two of them, the plane and the helicopter, “ Wayne says. “They looked pretty rough to begin with, but it is amazing what a coat of paint will do.

“One of my friends has one of those sticker machines and he made the police stickers and the navy insignia to finish them off. The navy bit really only came in just because grey was the only colour paint I had. You just have to use your imagination.”

The plane and chopper are the biggest items Wayne has made for 230

Photographer: David Field

The tricky bit was when it came to deciding whether it would be red like the air ambulance or blue like the police chopper. “One wanted red and the other wanted blue, but eventually they settled on blue.

And of course, I had to put seatbelts in it. Because they like seatbelts in the car and if we get in the car and don’t have seatbelts on straight away the kids will pull us up.”

on the road

happy campers The caravan is not just the vehicle for grey nomads. Increasing numbers of young families are hitting the road for economical, spontaneous getaways.

With three young daughters Sue and Lynton Turner are a long way off retiring, but last Easter they could be found happily mixing it with the grey nomads in Mt Gambier. The couple who own and operate Deli Central, a wholesale smallgoods business, say buying a caravan has solved the problems of family holidays.

“Our whole problem is we haven’t been able to leave the business because we both work in it,” Sue reveals. “We felt the children were being a bit deprived with their friends all going off here and there.

We would get to the weekend and not do anything because finding accommodation for five people was not easy, even if it was just for the weekend. You just can’t get rooms with three singles and a double and the children are too young to be by themselves. But now having the van it is easy for us to get away.

Sue and Lynton both agree buying the van was a great move.”My husband assures me it is very easy to drive and we had no problem with it whatsoever,” Sue says.“Plus we have the campervan gear to go off road as well with battery back up, showers and everything else.

It is something we should have done years ago. It has given us a new lease of life and more family time.” ■

The couple decided to buy a van after attending the caravan show in Bendigo. “Initially we were looking at a camper trailer, but it only had a tent on it. It was such a wet, windy horrible day that I thought to myself there is no way I am going to be out in this type of weather setting it up,” Sue laughs.

“So we went out to Jayco and had a look at the vans and decided then and there that we would get The Hawk. It actually fits the five of us and it was just so easy. It only takes 10 minutes to set up and we can take off on Friday night and have a change of scenery and relax.

“Last Easter we went to Mt Gambier and actually took my mother-inlaw as well so there were six of us in total. We had an absolute ball.”

So much so in fact they may have helped another young family decide to buy a van. There was this doctor from Warnambool and his wife and children there in a tent,” Sue reveals. “They were very interested in how many people were going in and out of the van and asked us very nicely if they could take a look.”

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travelogue

bali ha’i You will fall in love with this seductive island “singin’ through the sunshine, sweet and clear as can be: ‘Come to me, here am I, come to me’.”

– Sarah Wainwright Bright sunshine, soft sand, deck chair in sight – surely I’m in heaven.

“Miss Miss you want sunglasses? Oakley, Arnette, Chanel, Gucci look, look genuine fake”. My paradise progress across the beach is suddenly interrupted by the seductive prospect of “genuine fakes” and I am lured by a beaming beach fisherman. But, won’t I look so Jackie O in my giant new faux designer wear glasses?

Ah, welcome to Bali.

I can’t say that I’m a seasoned traveller to Bali. Think of me as a relative newcomer to the region. Unlike many of my clients I’ve only visited four times which pales in comparison to those who have made this island paradise their annual holiday destination for years on end.

And, I can understand why. Bali easily is in my top five favourite destinations to sit and talk about. So be prepared, once I get started it’s hard to stop.

Bali is a destination that I don’t jazz up. As strange as it sounds I think prospective travellers need to be reminded that they are entering a third world country. It’s dirty, busy and can be overwhelming for the first time visitor. Just collecting your luggage can be a challenge in itself and for the uninformed this may be the first place where you find your hand in your pocket for unexpected services. “Official porters” crowd the carousel hoping that you will allow them to carry your bags. It is not until you reach where you need to go that you will discover there is fee for this completely unnecessary service.

I remember the first visit to Bali saw us arriving in the evening.

Our transfer driver ushered us out to the vehicle where we were bundled in to be whisked away to our hotel. The term “transfer driver” is sometimes interchangeable with race car driver. I quickly learnt that road rules are incredibly relaxed, to the point of seemingly non-existence. You don’t worry about using indicators – you have a horn. If you need to get someone’s attention – you use your horn. Damn, if you’re bored – use your horn. The use 232

(or over use) of the horn though isn’t so silly due to the amount of scooters that are on the road.

Scooters are a great way to find your way around giving you the freedom to explore areas that you may not have time to find on foot.

They are heaps of fun and cheap as chips but do check if you’re travel insurance covers you.

Scooters are also a great way to cart your ... shopping. OK, OK, I know all the fellas out there are rolling their eyes. But even you blokes can’t help but get carried away with shopping in Bali because you instinctively love to barter (and usually didn’t know this before-hand).

Bartering with the Balinese is half the fun, even if it does result in you returning home with a suitcase full of well ... crap. From the clichéd Bintang t-shirt to rip off sunglasses and clothing Bali is a shoppers mecca. It’s not all “knock offs” though. Venture into the Seminyak area and you’ll find upmarket boutiques and great tailors who will whip up an outfit in no time for a fraction of what we pay at home.

But rest assured – amid all of the hustle and bustle – quiet refuge can be found. Beyond the beach massages that you will become accustomed to being offered a myriad of day spas are available. Take the short journey into the hills of Ubud and you will be met with an endless array of options. Think reflexology on a deck overlooking a calm river or a massage set amongst towering trees and it will give you some idea of what’s on offer. And, what you’ve really got to love is that it won’t break the bank.

Some how I’ve managed to save my favourite subject to last and in Bali it cannot go unmentioned. And what’s that you ask? Food of course.

The dining options available are endless. By my third visit I was going for the food alone (seriously). Mexican, Italian, Greek are amongst the international options not to mention the local cuisine. Nasi Goreng to die for! And a visit to Bali is not complete without dining at Jimbaran Bay. The beach strip is lined as far as the eye can see with seafood restaurants. You can either dine indoors or my personal preference – at a table on the shore. There are plenty of options on the menu, even for non seafood lovers. But for those who like to indulge in an oyster or two you won’t be disappointed.Your meal comes literally straight

off the boat and couldn’t be fresher. Make sure you wear thongs so you can kick them off, watch the sun set and really take in the relaxed atmosphere.

So there you have it – Bali in brief. Don’t be deceived by all you hear. This is one destination that caters for everyone and you will be planning your return visit before the first one is even finished.

Even if it is because the glass from your genuine fake Gucci watch fell out on the plane trip home.

Creative Holidays have some great Bali packages available for Spring. For more information call in and see us at Eaglehawk Cruise & Travel, 81 Victoria St, Eaglehawk or phone (03) 5446 1888. ■

F o r a l l o F y o u r t r av e l n e e d s c o n ta c t t h e F r i e n d ly t e a m at e a g l e h aw k c r u i s e & t r av e l .

We have the experience… to make yours memorable.

81 victoria st, eaglehawk vic 3556 P (03) 5446 1888 F (03) 5446 1881 E info@eaglehawktravel.com.au Lic. no. 32513 ABN 47102427252

bendigo photo opportunity magazine

green with envy From emerald to pale honeydew melon, green was the colour of the evening at the Star Bar recently.

The pale green was the trademark colour of Midori as guests sipped at the grand draw of a Star Bar competition to win a brand new scooter.

Three hundred lucky entrants were invited to Star Bar for the grand draw and were treated to drinks, nibbles and some great music.

But at the end of the night there could be only one winner. There were quite a few envious glances when the winner was presented with her brand new Mio Scooter – a classic in styling for a zippy young lady around town. ■

photo opportunity

black and white 21st Quite possibly a tribute to Collingwood, and to also ensure her electric purple dress stood out amongst the guests, black and white was the theme of Hayley Coates’ 21st birthday party.

Held at The Bendigo Club, Hayley’s closest friends and family gathered together to celebrate this special milestone. With a beautiful black and white cupcake tier cake designed by her mother Linda as the centrepiece of the party, guests spent the night dancing, drinking champagne and ensuring Hayley had a night to remember ■

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test drive

this ute’s a beaut The iconic transport of tradesman and farmers every where was invented right here in Victoria. So grab the dog and let’s go for a spin feeling positively patriotic.

– Curt Dupriez The humble ute has come a long way – though not a terribly long distance – since the concept was born in country Victoria, back in 1933, by a young 22-year-old Ford engineer named Lew Brandt. Today, the ute has become one of the broadest and most-popular sectors of motoring, and a permanent fixture in the Aussie countryside.

The variety of what some call “hay-haulers” is mind-boggling. There’s something for everyone, regardless if you’re lugging lumber between work sites or moving dirt bikes between motorcross trails.

The pure Aussie ute – those half-car, half-pick-ups popularised by Ford’s Falcon and Holden’s Commodore – have long been big on comfort, power and sportiness, but can be a bit soft when it comes to serious off-road ability or the sort of dedicated load-lugging muscle demanded by many tradesmen. And for a long time, the Aussie utes’ rival – the imported pick-up truck – could handle the hard yakka yet fail abysmally as an around-towner or something you’d choose for a bit of weekend recreation. Sure, they’d lug over a tonne of payload, but drive like an antiquated tractor the instant you stuck one on sealed roads. Not fun.

For the uninitiated, your average ute range is massive, and the D-Max is no exception. There are 11 different models to choose from. There’s a choice of 4x2 and 4x4 drivetrains. There are different body styles to choose from and models for every budget that range from a cheapas-chips 4x2 tradesman’s special to the full-monty 4x4 LS-U crew cab, Isuzu’s king-of-the-heap ute that’s loaded with every bell and whistle under the sun.

First up is the LS-U’s looks. Its appearance is modern and tough, complete with D-Max’s sharp signature front treatment, big alloy wheels with high-rise suspension, tonnes of chrome details and a 236

Photographer: Anthony Webster

Then there’s Isuzu’s D-Max 4x4 Crew Ute LS-U, a perfect example of today’s new breed of pick-up. It works hard, it plays hard.

choice of six stunningly rich body colours.

Climb inside and there’s nothing crude about the appointments that serve generously whether you’re on the job or taking the family on a weekend adventure out into the mulga. There’s comfortably enough room for five blokes, and enough high-end specifications to shame a European luxury car: electric windows, cruise control, a six-speaker CD/MP3/radio system, a digital display, switchable 2WD/4WD, and oodles of smart storage are par for the course.

But none of the niceties mean a thing if a ute can’t go the hard yards and perform on road or when you throw it onto your favourite piece of dirt.

The D-Max range gets a lusty 3.0-litre turbodiesel that pumps out a decent 120 kilowatts and a robust 360Nm of torque if you opt for the handy five-speed manual gearbox. Automatic gearboxes have become the staple of top-end pick-ups, and there’s a version offering a 120kW/333Nm engine tied to D-Max’s four-speed auto loaded with Isuzu’s very clever Adaptive Grade Logic, which keeps the engine and gearbox in the ideal driving modes when you’re tackling the toughest of off-road courses.

One really nifty feature the D-Max has over its one-tonne rivals is that the four-door cab-chassis versions are built off a longer (3200mm) chassis than the regular single-cab variants. This mean better looks, a nicer handling balance on or off road and a highly useable payload area. It’ll haul 1.1 tonnes of freight, with enough space to accommodate large stuff like motorcross bikes, without breaking into a sweat. All of which is a load-hauling ability the D-Max’s Aussie rivals can’t match.

Same goes for fuel economy. Even the bells-and-whistles LS-U will sip just 7.9 litres of diesel for every 100 kilometres on the open road (9.0 for a combined urban/country cycle).

Economy, comfort, supreme driveability on the road or in the bush, and serious capability when it comes to delivering the trademen’s requirements, the Isuzu 4x4 Crew LS-U is the Swiss army knife of the modern ute world. Pricing starts from $34,990 drive away for an SX crew cab 4 x 4 diesel for private buyers, and you can take a few grand off that if you’re purchasing one for business use. ■

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my car

wired for sound Photographer: David Field

This classic ‘70s muscle car can really pump up the volume with an audio system guaranteed to blow away the competition.

Simon Pace made sure his two best girls were at his wedding. There was, of course, his beautiful bride Tamara and his other great love Missy, who was enlisted to get her to the church on time.

“I decided we would be a bit different and have three utes as wedding cars. I had to find a volunteer driver. Plenty of people put their hand up, but I chose the guy I knew had enough money to replace her if anything happened,” Simon laughs.

Even though Simon had to forgo his place at the wheel on this special occasion, Missy the wonder ute didn’t let him down. They’ve been together ever since he was an apprentice plumber and he’s never regretted a minute.

He knew she was the one from the moment she slipped past him on his way to work one cold dark morning. “This ute drove past and we saw the For Sale sticker on the back window. I loved the note of the V8, the whole look. Dad dropped me to work and followed it. He arranged with the owner for me to take a look at her that weekend.”

That’s how the 1979 Holden HZ ute – a classic muscle car – became Simon’s first car. “It was my work car until someone told me it was too good to use for work so I took it off the road and turned it into a show car.

“The bloke I bought it from had got it off a farm and he’d already restored it to its former glory and then I added my touches to it. I have done a little bit of work to the interior. I had her resprayed moonshine mist in two-pack paint which is a stronger, more modern paint.

“I carpeted the tray with marine carpet so it looks a bit neater and put a drop tank in to house the batteries. The extra battery power is for the sound system. I can have the sound system running for a good eight hours on those batteries. ”The sound system that’s in her now is the second one I have put in.

You might say I went a bit overboard with some sub woofers. I used to do a few parties and heaps of sound-off competitions.”

ABOVE: Missy is a classic painted in moonshine mist

The highest reading he’s achieved in competition was an ear-splitting

MIDDLE: Spike the dog stands guard over battery well.

238

143 decibels. “That was pretty good. I came third that year, but I have won two comps and come second in another,” Simon adds.

He hasn’t competed in the sound-off for a number of years, but he still shows the ute in the Summer Nats and Spring Nats. “I’m too busy,” he says.

These days Simon runs Paceies fencing and home maintenance business and has a much less showy vehicle for a work car. Missy spends most of her time being idle in the shed with Spike the guard dog for company.

But she’s still his second best girl. “If one had to go it would be a hard decision,” Simon jokes of the choice between Tamara and Missy.

But Tam is unfazed. She received the greatest affirmation of Simon’s love when he changed his name for her. In a twist on tradition Simon Chalmers took his wife’s name when they wed earlier this year. The loving gesture by the new Mr Pace ensures the family name of the bride’s late father Robert is carried on.

Now, that’s a 143 decibel declaration of love. ■

Step back in time with Bendigo Vintage Cars historic tours of Bendigo. As well as providing tours of the historic sights of Bendigo we will also be happy to help you celebrate your wedding day or other special occasion and run tours of local wineries. Historic tours run Wendesday’s and weekend’s as timetabled on our website and in our brochure.

Bookings can be made through Bendigo Tourist Information Centre or contact Jenni or Greg directly on 0402 329 799.

For further information visit www.bendigovintagecars.com.au or contact Greg or Jenni on

0402 329 799 or info@bendigovintagecars.com.au

1. Family lifestyle Fitness has been built upon the values of family. trust, integrity, growth, change and fun. our professional and personal family all began in the community of bendigo and we do our best to give back everyday.

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ST

wine

food all day

for now or later

Dispensing daily from 8am 9 Chancery Lane, Pall Mall, Bendigo

P 5444 5885

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