summer lovin’ cupid seeks singles
world scoop ice creams to beat the heat
very merry christmas gift ideas for all AUS $3.50 (inc. GST)
make a splash
our cool water feature
Welcome back to burgers.
Welcome back to burgers. At Grill’dback we promise to deliver you a great tasting meal that’s also good Welcome to burgers. for you. Our delicious burgers are ‘Made with Love’ from only the highest At Grill’d we promise to deliver you a great tasting meal that’s also good quality, freshest ingredients. Our burgers are cooked-to-order using At Grill’d wedelicious promise toburgers deliverare you‘Made a great mealonly that’s for you. Our withtasting Love’ from the highest super leanfor patties that are fullburgers of flavour. Our legendary thick cut chips also good you. Our delicious are ‘Made with Love’ quality, freshest ingredients. Our burgers are cooked-to-order using are in cholesterol-free oil then ingredients. sprinkled with our trademark fromcooked only highest quality, freshest Our super leanthe patties that are full of flavour. Our legendary thick cut chips Grill’d herb mix. We hope you appreciate the difference. burgers are cooked-to-order using super lean patties that are are cooked in cholesterol-free oil then sprinkled with our trademark full of flavour. Our legendary thick cut chips are cooked in Grill’d herb mix. We hope you appreciate the difference. cholesterol-free oilin then sprinkled with ouror trademark Grill’d ‘The best hamburgers Victoria, Australia the World’ herb mix. We hope you appreciate the difference. - Good Weekend ‘The best hamburgers in Victoria, Australia or the World’ - Good Weekend ‘The best burgers in Victoria, Australia or the World’ - Good Weekend
NOW OPEN! NOW GRILL’D HEALTHYBURGERS BURGERS 88 PALL GRILL’DOPEN! HEALTHY / 88/ PALL MALLMALL BENDIGO GRILL’D HEALTHY BURGERS / 881239 PALL MALL BENDIGO PHONE ORDERS WELCOME / 5443
GRILLD.COM.AU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GRILLD.COM.AU GRILLD.COM.AU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
P U B L I C I N N Criterion Corner, Barker & Mostyn Sts Castlemaine VIC 3450 Telephone 03 5472 3568 www.publicinn.com.au MONDAY TO F R I D AY Lunch, dinner and in between. SATURDAY & SUNDAY Breakfast, lunch, dinner and in between.
THE NATIONAL HOTEL 182 - 186 HIGH STREET BENDIGO 03 5443 0591 MEALS SERVED 12 TIL 9 EVERYDAY
Time for a new bed? Don't trust your precious sleep to anyone but Snooze. We've been helping Central Victoria sleep for over 30 years. Large range of quality linen on display, accessorised on beds, a range of lamps to compliment your dĂŠcor, quilts and pillows including exclusive ranges from Design Mobel and Temprakon from Denmark.
30 years combined staff experience
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
R E C RU I T W I T H YO U R L O C A L B E C AU S E WE K N OW B E N D I G O B ET T E R THAN THE REST
I have worked with ESE as a temporary worker since June 2008 and have found the experience to be positive, challenging and rewarding. ESE deliver an exceptional service to clients, candidates and temporary workers because of their vast understanding of local businesses, professional attention to clients needs, career mentoring and the ability to successfully match candidates to clients needs. As a result, ESE Bendigo has kept me consistently employed in exciting temporary assignments that have been interesting and rewarding.
MORE THAN JUST THE LEADING R E C RU I T M E N T C O M PA N Y I N TOW N
ESE has recently enabled me to take up a permanent position at Emergency Accommodation & Support Enterprise Inc.(EASE) which highlights the expert ability of ESE to successfully match their large database of candidates to the needs of employers. Brenda Wells October 2010
ESE Consulting Pty. Ltd. | 108 Mollison Street, Bendigo Phone 03 5442 6676 | www.eseconsulting.com.au
all about us Sarah Wainwright, columnist The most frequent comment on your school report card? “Sarah has high potential and will achieve better results if she concentrates on the task at hand and doesn’t talk so much in class” Share a childhood summer memory? Endless hours spent with friends in the pool. Making a dash out of the pool to lay on the hot concrete and covering ourselves with a towel. Playing the “Australian Open” in the driveway and always having to retrieve the ball from over the fence.
publisher Amy Doak
editor Sarah Harris
managing editor Andrea Coates
fashion editor Maggie Stewart
style editor
What do really you want for Christmas?
Katarina Vishnich
A HOLIDAY!!!!! As a travel agent I have the pleasure of helping so many people plan their visit to far flung and exotic places, but running my own business I don’t get to go away all that often. When I do take a holiday I make sure it has the maximum chill-out factor. But, right now – having just moved house – a visit to the backyard to take in the glittering gum trees of Goornong is as far as I plan to go for a while.
creative director
Colin King, writer The most frequent comment on your school report card? In grade three at Horsham State School Miss Sims wrote: “He is a dreamy child but always knows his work when tested”. It was all downhill from there though with a recurring theme of “needs to concentrate more”. Share a childhood summer memory?
Dustin Schilling
graphic designer Cassandra cheeseman
marketing and advertising Andrea Coates on 0400 643 005 Maggie Stewart on 0413 318 237
writers Curt Dupriez, Geoff Hocking, John Holton, Colin King, Ash McAuliffe, Lauren Mitchell, Megan Spencer, James Taylor, Raelee Tuckerman, Ken Turnbull & Katarina Vishnich
contributors Laura Campbell,Bryan Coghlan, Deanne Esposito, Kylie Freer, Lois McBain, Brikitta Kool-Daniels, Paul Murphy, John Pawsey, Ashley Raeburn, Dr Joanna Reilly, Russell Robertson, Sarah Wainwright & Jamie Ward.
I grew up as a free-range child in the pre-television, pre-computer, preeverything age. During summer break my cohorts and I would disappear all day and discover new ways to misspend time. Our proudest moment was building a giant shanghai (catapult) with discarded inner tubes from the bicycle repair shop. One end was attached to the shed wall and the other end tied to the close by apple tree. We were a menace to the neighbourhood.
photography
What do you really want for Christmas?
Bendigo Distribution Services
I am low maintenance at Christmas. I saw a guitar pick with the image of a red back spider on it — that looked pretty cool. I also look forward to the stocking filled with compellingly absurd stuff that my daughter unearths in cheapo shops. However if you must spend big, then original artwork is good.
Melanie Frank, columnist The most frequent comment on your school report card?
Terri Basten, Kymberley Cresp, Jodie Donnellan, David Field, Kayla Gardiner, Gail Hardy, Kate Monotti, Anthony Webster.
copy editor Ali Brakha
print manager Nigel Quirk
distribution co-ordinator
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.
A capable, creative student, but often talks too much and can distract others. Share a childhood summer memory?
We would like to invite you - as our readers - to submit letters, ideas, Playing underwater tiggy in our dam articles and other material that you would like to see included in on school nights. We would always bendigo magazine. end up in the front dam as soon as If bendigo magazine is to truly reflect your city as you see it, then we got off the school bus. NOTWeekends EXPANDED NOT EXPANDED we need your contribution. were invariably spent SYMBOLS playing under AT SYMBOLS 100% ANDATSHOULD 100% AND APPEAR SHOULD IN THIS APPEAR ORDER. IN THIS ORDER. water tiggy at Lake Eppalock, which Email us at mail@bendigomagazine.com was more challenging because clearer Fax (03) 5444 1044 Or snail mail to PO Box 2523, Bendigo VIC 3554 visibility meant the person who was “it” could actually see you under water. We could hold our breath for Or visit us at 225 Barnard Street, Bendigo VIC 3550 ridiculously long periods back then. Phone (03) 5444 5868 What do really you want for Christmas? A gardener! We’re on a reasonably large block with a fantastic garden that requires lots of TLC. My husband spends most of his weekends in it (along with the kids) which he adores. I am trying to cultivate a love for gardening but it’s a forced march for me.
12
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
Big Hill Vineyard. good food, good wine good fun
Best
WEDDING
S
10
EXCEPTIONAL
SERVICE
TEMPTING TASTINGS
J&L TAILORS
YOUR MENU J&L DOES
GREAT CAFÉ
STUNNING VIEWS
FROM THE BALCONY
weddings BIRTHDAYS BIG HILL VINEYARD
Phone: 5435133366
3 Belvoir Park Road Big Hill
EXPRESS LUNCH SPECIALS IDEAL FOR BUSINESS LUNCHES
FREE WINE TASTING EVERY WEEKEND TAKE AWAY PIZZAS AVAILABLE
IDEAL VENUE FOR WEDDINGS, ENGAGEMENTS, 21ST BIRTHDAYS & OTHER EVENTS La Piazza is an ideal venue for coffee and cakes, weddings, birthday celebrations, casual meals, and drinks in a relaxed & stylish setting. Over the warmer months we have an alfresco dining area, overlooking the Conservatory Gardens.
NEW CHILDREN’S MENU NOW AVAILABLE
OPEN 10 TILL LATE TUESDAY - SUNDAY
www.lapiazzawinebar.com.au P: 03 5444 4499
F: 03 5443 8801
Park Corner, 2 - 4 Howard Place, Bendigo 3550
The Complete
Fitness & Sports
Conditioning experience for kids! Monday - Thursday 4-5:30pm
ACK YOUR
REER
go
.au
Programs for kids ages
5-15!
Beginner IMPROVE to Elite FITNESS, , D E E P S , STRENGTH , BALANCE TION COORDINA LITY & FLEXIBI RUNNING, CYCLING, RO WING, BOXING, SK IPPING, CIRCUITS, O BSTACLE COURSES, FIT NESS TESTING & G AMES GALORE!
1 BATH LANE BENDIG O 5442 1 www.ge 599 cko kidsямБtn
ess.com
CALL US TODAY!
style
GYM | CARDIO | PERSONAL TRAINING | LADIES ONLY SUITE | CRECHE GECKO KIDS FITNESSS | LES MILLS,FREESTYLE, CYCLE,BOXING & ZUMBA CLASSES
141
Basically, you use billions of dollars worth of US military satellites to find plastic lunchboxes in the bush, Michael Brench - Page 109
34 regulars 12
all about us
arts & entertainment
life
18
editor’s letter
95
at the movies
92
bendigo landmark
20
what’s the go
96
local authors
102
bendigo memories
22
what’s on?
100
for art’s sake
104
day tripping
26
in the know
107
the music lounge
118
a worthy cause
fashion & beauty
115
new releases
169
mum says
130
tried & tested
house & garden
177
a man’s word
131
beauty q&a
199
home solutions
185
dad says
133
a new you
202
round the garden
187
local weddings
135
get the look
204
inside out
188
feature bride
137
fashion forecast
208
real estate advice
195
good health
139
style inspiration
209
on site
196
your personal trainer
141
this season
210
green scene
214
vet check
167
men’s style
people
222
mind & body
173
due date dressing
31
success story
223
bank notes
175
mum & kids
32
the graduate
224
legal eagle
179
kids’ fashion
34
two’s company
225
employment advice
food & wine
36
the ex-files
226
coghho’s couch
82
nice drop
47
24 hours with
227
chiropractic care
85
chef’s choice
48
school story
228
sporting hero
87
from the foodie
52
be part of this
230
extreme sport
business
64
where on earth?
232
travelogue
212
new business
73
why bendigo?
234
sports adventure
216
business feature
75
my favourite things
236
test drive
220
meet the crew
116
inside my ...
238
my car
164
young guns
17
53 features 39 party, party, party ‘Tis the season for getting together and having fun 53
in the swim Cool down with our dazzling water feature
68 snowy of the underground Meet the character beneath your feet
75 here’s the scoop Ice cream lovers are spoilt for choice 77
hitting pay dirt The Ellis family turns form tomato vine to wine
87 stamp of approval The Post Office Gallery delivers for local history 107 arrr, me hearties! The modern pirates who live next door
121
119 the wishing tree A guide to Christmas gifts for him, her and all of them 214
kids in the kitchen A new business with a recipe for healthy young cooks
214
107
177
editor’s letter Tim & Sharon Carlson Welcome You
When it comes to favourite recollections there is one season that puts others in the shade. Ask anyone for a snapshot of their childhood and odds on, the first picture that flashes to mind is that of a summer day. It’s that heady combination of high days, holidays and heat haze that burns brightest in our memories. And everywhere, in these perfect polaroids of the past, there is water – in pools, in dams, in creeks. From the tch, tch, tch of the sprinkler to pounding waves of the surf, water ripples through the Australian psyche like a collective dream. This summer, for the first time in more than a decade, water has returned in volume to our parched landscape. For our community it is the best possible Christmas present, which we celebrate in this issue with David Field’s glistening photo essay (page 53) Of course summer also comes with its own soundtrack of cicadas, lawn mowers and cries of “Howzat!” from backyard cricket games. Streets become happy hunting grounds for tribes of little zinc-creamed Apaches, who holler and whoop as they stake out the territory of their childhood (page 167) Jasmine perfumes the air and windows are flung wide to catch the faintest breeze as screen doors are let bang on myriad comings and goings. For this is the time of year when family and friends get together … for Christmas, New Year, Australia Day, weddings, pool parties, and just because (page 39).
Discover the award winning twenty2 experience n n n n n n
open daily for breakfast & lunch coffee & freshly made scones, muffins & slices group bookings fully licenced extensive range of local and regional wines takeaway available
P 5442 8228 F 5441 8228 E eat@twenty2.com.au
Williamson Street, Bendigo (Opposite The Hotel Shamrock)
Consistently high quality food & service
Catering & Functions
Favourite uncles and little cousins appear, prodigal sons and daughters come home from overseas and barbecues are fired up in backyards across the land (page 175) as men take charge of the cooking emboldened by beers (page 80) and loud shirts (page 94). The long sultry days lend themselves to field trips to neighbouring towns (page 102), family adventures (page 107) and tropical holidays (page 230) As New Year approaches it is, for many of us, a time to take stock, to re-evaluate our lives and goals. For some this could mean a change of job (page 223), the expansion of business (page 162) or perhaps a new venture altogether (page 214). But, whatever else the New Year holds, we wish for you, our readers, a wonderful and safe 2011.
ON THE COVER Australian childhood memories ripple with water like photographer David Field’s lovingly recreated snapshot of the late ‘50 - early ‘60s. You can almost hear the squeals as Elisha hits the water ahead of toddler Melissa and her mum Brighid. All three wear gorgeous retro cotton cossies summer lovin’ by the goldfields label My Sister Pat. cupid seeks singles world scoop creams to beat Lois McBain of Adonia Studio made ice the heat sure Brighid looked the part with very merry christmas gift false lashes and cherry lips with old ideas for all Hollywood-inspired curls created e a splash mak our cool water feature by Julie Bassett of Tranquility Hair & Beauty. Big thank you also to Ian and Joy McCorkelle’s for the loan of their vintage van and Kevin Fitzgibbon whose brimming Strathfieldsaye dam set the scene. We hope the return of water to our landscape will create a tide of wonderful summer holiday recollections for our children born in the dry. AUS $3.50 (inc. GST)
www.bendigomagazine.com
-
Official Stockist For ‘Just Blinds & Shutters’ quality window furnishings at a realistic price Expert Interior Design Solutions Window Furnishings To Suit All Needs Free Measure & Quote 36 King St. Bendigo p:(03) 5443 5280 f: (03)5443 2958 m:0427 361 253 e:judy@elegantconcepts.com.au w:elegantconcepts.com.au
what’s the go?
letters to the editor It’s a
Hi bendigo mag,
journey.....
Thanks so much for producing that lovely article in the spring issue. I really have not been photographed or written about with so much care and depth. The magazine looks great and you are doing a wonderful service for Bendigo. Thanks a million. Kind regards Trevor Almeida Geonewmedia, Bendigo spring sprites
Dear bendigo magazine, I received my spring issue of the mag. I almost feel like a local now. Some of the identities and columnists are becoming familiar to me.
field guide to fairies
daily express
miracle survival
all aboard with the train gang
man lost in own lawn
I’d just finished writing a verse on fairies when I read your article about the exhibition at the Bendigo Art Gallery. There is so much happening around your neck of the woods. I definitely must come and check it out again soon.
puppy love
AUS $3.50 (inc. GST)
not just walking the dog
It was also interesting that one of your writers took the train from Beijing to Mongolia. A couple of members of my family recently took that train to St Petersburg. They weren’t so keen on Beijing, but they all fell in love with Mongolia. I really do enjoy your magazine. The stories and the people in them are fascinating. I love local news that’s positive. The train story was so much fun. It reminded me of a show SBS used to run, on the Blue Mountains train I think it was. Boy, I loved that and it echoed every thing in your article. Looking forward to your next, Cas O’Mullane The Patch
I would like to compliment the mag and the photographers for the quality of the photographs in this issue.
O
I love to see pix in focus, and with good lighting, and these are superb. Great quality images, so well done to all.
ise
an rg
Cheers Geoff H
MY ...
as
tm Chris
The No Fear Clowns story and accompanying visuals in the spring issue is absolutely gorgeous. I love that this mag is unearthing and showcasing so much of the interesting stuff that happens in our region. Congratulations! Neriman Kemal Castlemaine
Shop 20, Fountain Court Bath Lane, Bendigo Phone: (03) 5444 0099 For more information
www.organisemy.com.au
Have you got something you would like to say? We welcome your feedback here 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 you door for the best letter published in the next issue. Congratulations to Cas O’Mullane who is the winner for the summer issue. Email us at mail@bendigomagazine.com or drop a line to bendigo magazine, PO Box 2523, Bendigo DC 3554.
164 Mitchell Street Bendigo Phone: 5443 9875
what’s on?
hot in the city In summer time, the entertainment comes easy with plenty of family friendly options and, best of all, some of it’s free.
dec 1 january 30 The Art of Chess & Your Move Bendigo Art Gallery is one of only two Australian venues for the travelling exhibition, The Art of Chess from RS&A Gallery London featuring chess sets designed by some of the world’s leading contemporary artists. As an adjunct Bendigo Art Gallery has commissioned thirteen of Australia’s leading artists to respond to the notion of the game of chess.
dec 1 january 30 Refined: Contemporary jewellery exhibition This exhibition showcases the most recent work of artisan jewellers Kate Blackwood, Cassandra O’Loughlin (both of Tony Kean Jewellery), Fran Harkin (Made in Malmsbury) and Milton Long. All four are qualified jewellers who have been refining their design and technical skills for a number of years. Blackwood’s work is directly inspired by art history, while O’Loughlin reacts to the physical nature of her materials. Long has responded to the quintessentially Australian building material - corrugated iron. Harkin is also influenced by the Australian landscape, in particular indigenous seedpods. The exhibition in the Bendigo Visitor Centre is free.
december 10 Carols by Candlelight Enjoy a family-friendly summer evening in the park and lift up your voices with Bendigo Brass Band and Kennington Primary School Choir. Bring your own chairs, rugs and basket tea to enjoy before the carols start at 8pm in Strathdale Park, Crook Street, Bendigo. Glowstix and battery operated candles available to purchase. Entry free.
december 18 The Square handmade market At last a handmade market, showcasing high quality makers from central Victoria and beyond right here in Bendigo. The Square launches with a huge Christmas market where you are guaranteed to find loads of individual, special presents for loved ones. The market kicks off at 10am in the glorious Bendigo Town Hall.
22
february 12 Bendigo Spirit vs. Sydney University See world champion and three time Olympian Kristi Harrower and the girls take on the Sydney Flames. Don’t miss the action at Bendigo Stadium. Tickets: Adult: $12, Concession $10, Child U16 $5, Children 4 and under FREE and family passes $30.
january 15 Twilight movies Enjoy the magic of outdoor cinema at Big Hill Winery with the presentation of the romantic comedy Mamma Mia. Gates open at 6.30pm with films commencing at sundown. Bring along a picnic rug or chair (no BYO - a licensed bar will be open on the night). Entry costs $15 for adults and $10 for children with tickets available online or at the gate. For more information visit www.twilightmovies.com.au
february 15 The Australian Army Band Whenever an event of international standing requires some ceremonial splendour, the Australian Army Band is only too pleased to show why they are considered one of the finest bands of their kind in the world today. The band will deliver an uplifting performance for Bendigo’s Morning Music patrons at 11am. For bookings go to www.thecapital.com.au or phone The Capital box office on (03) 5434 6100.
february 18 Looking Through a Glass Onion John Waters returns in his critically acclaimed production Looking Through A Glass Onion – a homage to the music, mystery and memory of John Lennon. Impossible though it may be to believe it is 30 years since Lennon was tragically gunned down outside his New York City apartment. For bookings go to www.thecapital.com.au or phone The Capital box office on (03) 5434 6100.
february 25 & 26 Furiously Fertile Furiously Fertile is a hugely witty comedy centering around Nic who is in her late 30’s and suddenly panicking that her time to have a baby is rapidly running out. Against her best friend Deb’s advice, she advertises for a new male flat mate with the ulterior motive of looking for a father for her child. As their relationship unfolds and some very raw emotions are exposed, the audience are taken on a hilarious rollercoaster of emotion that adds up to a heart-warming and entertaining night of theatre. For bookings go to www.thecapital.com.au or phone The Capital box office on (03) 5434 6100. 23
Shade your outdoor living areas German engineered Designed to maximise the use of outdoor areas Unique drainage front rail for water run off in a light shower
Range of operation methods including manual crank or automated with wind sensors Range of hardware and fabric colours Up to 4 metre projection and 13 metres wide
Designs
come to
life
SEE ALL THE LATEST TRENDS IN OUR SHOWROOM
2010 AWARD WINNERS CABINET MAKERS ASSOCIATION BEST KITCHEN UNDER $15,000 CABINET MAKERS ASSOCIATION BEST KITCHEN $15,000 TO $25,000 HIA CENTRAL VICTORIA/MILDURA REGIONAL HOUSING AWARDS - RENOVATED KITCHEN PROJECT OF THE YEAR
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
w w w. b o u r k e s k i t c h e n s . c o m . a u
176 Murphy Street Bendigo ph: (03) 5441 7786
in the know
movers & shakers There is always something afoot in Bendigo’s dynamic business landscape so let’s share a few snippets from the street. welcome back Richmond Sinnott Delahunty Chartered Accountants has returned to Bendigo’s business precinct. The wait is over for staff and clients following RSD’s move into a brand new, custom built office building at 10-16 Forest Street, just off High Street. RSD’s return to Bendigo’s business precinct and into the city’s latest state-of-the-art office building will benefit not only our staff, but current, and prospective clients. RSD’s branding has also been given a fresh, new look – with the well-known and respected Richmond Sinnott Delahunty business name evolving to RSD Chartered Accountants. Importantly, what hasn’t changed is the professional service you’ve come to expect from RSD Chartered Accountants. Our address may have changed but our commitment to our clients remains the same.
good health’s n8, so let’s celebrate After five years of planning, n8health Bendigo is now open. For the past 13 years, chiropractor Dr Andrew Cameron and his staff have been practising in Golden Square as Cameron Chiropractic Service. “Our goal was to provide a more encompassing service for those wanting to get and stay healthy, in a caring and professional environment, at an affordable rate.”Dr Cameron says. ”The aim is to reduce lifestyle diseases in a proactive way, before they become an issue.”N8health Bendigo provides modern chiropractic care, onsite x-rays, remedial and relaxation massage therapy and yoga. Naturopathy, nutritional consultation, and psychology for complete care. High quality remedial and relaxation massage services are now available as well as clinical massage. n8health also specialises in relaxation massage. “Having the services of our psychologist, naturopath, nutritionist and yoga teachers on board really helps us provide a more complete mind and body health service. All this in a caring and professional environment to help you stay healthy.” Dr Cameron says. Take a proactive step to feeling healthier, call n8health on 5447 0557, checkout www.n8health.com.au or drop in for a tour of the new state-of-the-art centre at 505 High Street, Golden Square.
in the swim Jeremy and Sonia Evans are the proud owners of locally owned and operated business Pure Pools. They offer the Bendigo area luxury concrete fully tiled swimming pools, with all the best options in cleaning, heating, and water chemistry. Jeremy has over 13 years experience in building concrete swimming pools and all work is carried out by him to ensure his high level of standard is in every pool he builds. Sonia, having grown up in the pool industry, has over 17 years experience and is constantly sourcing new innovative products and design ideas. Pure Pools is very excited to be one of the exclusive Magnapool dealers in the Bendigo region. The essence of the magnapool system is the 100 per cent naturally occurring minerals magnesium and potassium; sourced directly from the ocean. The Magnapool system is an environmentallyfriendly, healthy alternative to traditional salt water pools. Not only can the Magnapool system be installed on new pools, but existing pools can also be converted.Pure Pools will make building your new swimming pool an enjoyable experience and take the hassle out of owning a pool with a low maintenance option to suit your needs. To contact Pure Pools telephone 0417 535 108.
26
For all of your accounting, taxation, business development and wealth creation needs, call into RSD Chartered Accountant’s new Forest Street office or phone (03) 5443 1177 to make an appointment. We look forward to seeing you at our new office complex at 10-16 Forest Street, Bendigo.
new man takes the reins Bendigo Harness Racing moved into the spring with big news at Lords Raceway. The Bendigo HRC enticed international racing identity David Aldred to take up the position of general manager, succeeding long time local harness racing boss Barry Edwards. David comes to Bendigo with 30 years managerial experience in the thoroughbred and harness industry and horse racing media. Before moving to Bendigo David held CEO racing roles in most states of Australia and for more than three years was the executive director of Harness Racing in Vancouver, Canada. David is also an experienced horse racing commentator and television and radio presenter. Visit www.bhrc.com.au/ or phone (03) 5449 3205 for meeting dates.
winners are grinners
pura veeda We invite you to experience the ambience of an award-winning salon at Pura Veeda Hair and Body. Since opening the doors nearly three years ago, the girls have expanded into one of Bendigo’s most popular and friendliest boutique salons. Offering exclusively De Lorenzo hair care, free of animal testing and inspired by nature, Pura Veeda provide a friendly and professional environment for all your hair care and beauty needs.An ASPYA salon of the year finalist for 2010, Pura Veeda invites you to meet their expert team and enjoy an experience to remember. Pura Veeda is located at 47 Bull Street Bendigo and can be contacted on (03) 5443 6651.
Bourke’s Kitchens has had success again, winning the HIA Central Victoria/Mildura Renovated Kitchen Project of the Year award and becoming finalists in the New Kitchen Project Up to $25,000 and New Kitchen Project Over $25,000 sections. On the same night in Melbourne, Bourke’s Kitchens were doubly delighted to win at the Cabinet Makers Association awards night Best Kitchen Under $15,000 and Best Kitchen $15,000 to $25,000 categories. “We have only been entering award events for the past five years and we now have in total 11 “winner awards” over various categories ranging from “Best Builtin Furniture” to “Best Kitchen of The Year State Wide,” managing director Glenn Bourke says. “I’m proud of our success; it is a good acknowledgment for the hard work the team puts in. These awards are evidence that our customers can be assured of workmanship of the highest standard. If you are looking for a new kitchen now is the time to start planning Visit Bourke’s Kitchens showroom and colour selection centre at 176 Murphy Street Bendigo or phone (03) 5441 7786.
stay at the ridge We love the wine Sandhurst Ridge produces and now you can actually stay among the vines at the Greblo’s beautiful property. Two brand new self-contained onebedroom units will be ready for that romantic retreat or relaxing getaway in early January. Follow the sun with breakfast on front balcony and a glass of wine as you watch the sun go down over the hills from the back deck. Wander through the vineyard or borrow a bicycle and pedal along the Bendigo winery trail to visit neighbouring vineyards and pubs. To book your stay call (03) 5435 2534, visit www.sandhurstridge. com.au or just head out to Sandhurst Ridge Winery at 156 Forest Drive, Marong for a tasting.
new move means more help New move means more help
Come and experience the latest craze for kids right in the heart of the city at Little People’s Art in Bath Lane. There is no need to book. You and your kids can pop in anytime between 10am and 5pm, choose a project and create. Coffee and light refreshments are also available to enjoy in our parents lounge. For the younger ones, we have two exciting playrooms to make the fun last longer. And for the Mum’s looking for a little break to get some shopping done in peace, why not try our new “Shop ‘n’ Drop”. Drop the kids in for supervised fun while you shop to your hearts content for up to 1.5 hours. Sessions run mid week at 3.30pm and Saturday, 10.30am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm. Cost is $20 and bookings are essential. Got a present to buy? Our newly renovated Gift Shop will delight with heaps of great brands including Penny Scallen, Trunki, Rosie Flo and Mudpuppy your sure to find that right gift.Little Peoples Art is open Monday to Saturday 10am - 5pm and now Sunday 10am to 2pm
Clinical Psychologist, Shona Innes has been assisting a diverse range of people for 20 years. For the last ten years, Shona and the team at Bendigo Psychology have been tucked away in the heart of Bendigo. As the practice has expanded to assist more children, teenagers and adults, the need to be in a dedicated location became Cellar Door Open Daily a necessity. The new premises at 11am - 5pm 499 Hargreaves Street has multiple treatment rooms, each with its own Closed Christmas and Good Friday individual feel, to help clients of all ages feel at ease. The move has also allowed space for more qualified 156 Forest Drive Marong,Victoria Australia psychologists and means shorter waiting times for some treatments. Phone: (+61) 354 35 25 34 | Fax: (+61) 354 35 25 48 Shona Innes, Donna Morgan, Dr Ben Jones and Andrea Oldham are wine@sandhurstridge.com.au joined by Michael Bilyk, Jodie McQualter and Rebecca Gerry. If you or someone you care about needs professional, friendly and mindful psychological intervention, assessment, advice or support, call to make a confidential enquiry.
For all enquiries give Jo a call on (03) 5444 2666, check us out on facebook or on the web at www.littlepeoplesart.com.au
Bendigo Psychology, 499 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo. (03) 5443 2284 ■
art for the heart
27
publisher’s letter
this calls for cake Hard to believe how fast the baby is growing up! It’s a five-candle celebration for bendigo magazine, with many, many thanks to you dear readers. Sometimes you have to climb the fence to discover the grass isn’t greener on the other side. And, for those of you who don’t know the story, that’s how bendigo magazine actually started. It was a trip to the UK that inspired me to start a magazine showcasing all the interesting and positive things that Bendigo has on offer. Growing up in Bendigo, I had always assumed that there were so many more amazing places on the planet. And while this is true, being fortunate enough to travel to some of these incredible places taught me something very important – Bendigo is certainly up there on the list of wonderful places. Forget for a moment about our great location – central to the river, beach, snow, mountains and city. Forget about our interesting and colourful history. Forget about the beautiful parks, stunning architecture and picturesque surrounds. Forget about the wonderful education and job opportunities on offer. It is the people who are
the heartbeat of our city. All those interesting, fascinating people doing interesting, fascinating things! This issue marks five years since bendigo magazine started with a simple idea – to create a forum that celebrated all that was positive about Bendigo. The people, the businesses, the places – I felt that Bendigo had a lot to offer and people needed to know what was going on behind the scenes. A lot of people said that it couldn’t be done, that it wouldn’t work. Yet, in five short years we have grown from a 88-page magazine out of my spare room at home to 250 pages, a real-life office and the most amazing team. So thank you Bendigo – for being such a wonderful place that anything is possible. And happy reading everyone – both of this issue and future issues of bendigo magazine!
Amy Doak Publisher
summer lovin’ cupid seeks singles
world scoop ice creams to beat the heat
very merry christmas gift ideas for all AUS $3.50
make a splash
our cool water feature
28
IT’S WORTH THE DRIVE “For a taste of Lygon St in Kangaroo Flat”
s FRESH FISH FILLETED ON PREMISES s FRESH SEAFOOD s HOMEMADE TAKEAWAY MEALS s EAT IN OR TAKEAWAY s LUNCH 7 DAYS A WEEK s OPEN LATE FRIDAY EVENINGS s LOCALLY ROASTED COFFEE s CATER FOR FUNCTIONS
2/301 High Street KANGAROO FLAT MARKET CENTRE
5447 9033 email: micksfish@bigpond.com facebook: mick’s fish twitter: @micksfish
Where will you have your next function or celebration?
choose your style
as unique &
individual as you are
weddings, engagements,
birthdays & celebrations
�
O P G @ m o ro y n o lc a b “the pall mall bendigo | 5443 4343 | www.gpobendigo.com.au
success story
baby steps Started from scratch, Elizabeth Murphy’s online children’s wear business was named best boutique in the prestigious AusMumpreneur awards. Tell us what motivated you to start La Toriana? I have had the name ever since Tiana was born, a name that blends all three of my girls together. In a way it was part of a healing process for me, after Lara and Victoria passed away. I wanted to stay at home and not miss any milestones with Tiana and thought I’d start a homebased business. Everything slowly evolved from there. You chose the name to honour your three girls. Do you feel they have helped make a success of the business? In a way probably not. When I first started out people would say “La Tori... what?”. There isn’t anything in the name www.latoriana.com. au that suggests a baby-related store at all. As time has gone on though, the name being so unique has helped in many ways set us apart fromm the online baby stores that all have “baby” or “child” in their name. Did you set out with a clear business plan? I had no business plan at all. It was more a hobby I guess to start with. But I quickly discovered it is a gorgeous industry to be in. People love buying items for babies and children. I source unique and special items that are not easily available and enjoy it when people discover us. With my passion for premmie babies and increasing awareness, the premmie baby category on my website and also on my blog has a great following. La Toriana is one of the largest online clothing for premmie babies starting at 000000 (yes, that’s six zeros) and going upwards. We also have a huge following for the Australian and New Zealand designer clothing labels we stock and it continues to grow, What has been the single biggest challenge you’ve faced since setting up the business?
Photographer: David Field
At first I never knew how much to talk about the story behind La Toriana and what the name means. Many people have read the story of my girls and their loss and have contacted me right across Australia and overseas feeling comforted having been through similar experiences either through loss of a baby or coping with premature babies. It’s a hard subject for many people to talk about and it is difficult to know how to support friends and loved ones who are or have been going through it .Also having a background as a nurse with no experience in marketing or sales, the whole business thing was a huge learning curve for me. Having done this also on my own without being able to afford PR companies I am pretty blown away by the amount of national exposure we’ve achieved. Early on I had issues as some suppliers were dubious about stocking me and would say things like “come back after two years trading if you’re still around”. Some did take a chance on me and I thank them as many were new designers and we have grown together. And, now some of the suppliers who knocked me back early on are knocking on my door wanting to have their label in our store after all. What is the number one piece of advice you would give to a woman planning to go into business? Research, know your target market and have key people and resources that are positive around you to tap into. Also you need to have a real passion ... without that it won’t work.
How does being a mother influence the way you work and conduct your business? Mums are great at multi-tasking and can problem solve fairly quickly. These mum skills also work in business. This industry is very understanding in many ways as there are so many mums running businesses and who understand if you have a child in the background asking for something (they always seem to wait till you are on the phone!!) and are understanding. Where do you see La Toriana being in 10 years time? The fact that La Toriana is an online store with a great following, I think it will consolidate and hopefully be renowned for quality affordable clothing, with a special interest in premmie clothing and accessories as that’s where my passion lies. We have gorgeous clothing catering up to 12 years old now ... sizes have got bigger as Tiana has grown, but will only cater for premmies to 12-year-olds. Tiana has already started designing certain things and you never know she might like to be more involved. No matter what ...La Toriana will continue. ■ 31
the graduate
jac tremayne When she enrolled to study nursing as a mature student Jac Tremayne had no idea how much a visit to the campus gym would change her life. How long after you finished school did you go to uni? I actually left school in year 10. Between year 10 and uni I held many jobs, got married and had two sons (now 13 and 18). We moved to Bendigo in 1998 and I realised that I would be able to achieve my longheld dream of becoming a nurse as the uni was five minutes up the road. So approximately 20 years after I left school I enrolled in nursing. When I started the boys were eight and three, but thankfully I have a wonderful, supportive husband who has always believed in me. I intended to finish nursing, gain some experience in it and then do a postgraduate in midwifery. I guess my plan was to work as a midwife for the rest of my life. When and how did that change? Was there a Eureka moment? No, I didn’t have a Eureka moment. It was more a sequence of events over time that changed my career from one as a nurse to a triathlon coach. When I was in my graduate year as a midwife I became disillusioned with the medicalised model practised and realised that it wasn’t the career I wanted after all. I went back to practice in acute care which I really loved, particularly surgical. By the time I did the post graduate in midwifery I was training for my first ironman. Over time my athletic pursuits meant that I spent less and less time nursing and more time training and travelling to events. Have you always had an interest in fitness? Noooo! Up until about seven years ago I wasn’t very fit at all. I dabbled in the odd gym thing – you know – the sort where you pay the gym lots of money for a few sessions then you find excuses why you can’t get there! When I started nursing I started to do a little running and cycling and it kind of took off from there. I competed in my first triathlon consisting of a 200m swim, 7.5km bike ride and a 2km run in 2004. How hard was it to realise your ambition of earning a living as a triathlon coach? I wouldn’t call it earning a living – yet! I don’t really think it’s been too hard to get going although it is quite low key at the moment. I started by doing a personal trainer course and then completed the Level 1 triathlon coach course earlier this year. At the time I was already training a beginning athlete on a voluntary basis and had many Triathlon Club members asking advice at races, so it seemed a natural progression to start Triathlon Coaching Bendigo. The Bendigo Triathlon Club has been very supportive and my athletic profile, particularly competing in Hawaii, and subsequent media exposure has helped me along also. Do you still nurse? I do a shift when I can, which really hasn’t been too many since starting my business. It has been an almost full-time job, writing programs and sessions, designing my website (tricoachbendigo.com.au), attending further education, designing the team clothing and the list goes on and on and on ... but I do intend to keep on doing some nursing as I enjoy it and want to keep my registration. Has your nursing background helped you as an athlete? Nursing has definitely helped financially, and it has certainly helped me to understand my body and the physiological changes that occur with exercise. It also makes it much easier to explain the physiological changes that occur during exercise to my athletes. Studying nursing at university also gave me the confidence to challenge myself and have belief in my intelligence and abilities. What’s your goal?
What’s your best memory about being a student at La Trobe? Forming a friendship with another nursing student called Sue and the laughs we shared during lectures and during practical lessons. Another thing I remember that has stayed with me is looking up at the building and thinking; “I go to uni”. I was so proud to be part of something so big and so special, as it was, to a girl who finished school in year 10. ■
32
Photographer: David Field
My goal is to build my business to have a great squad of athletes who compete at all levels, achieve their goals and have a lot of fun getting there!
Relax.
La Trobe. It’s all good.
Need advice? Parents call Students call
1300 516 139 1300 517 687
Visit our Change of Preference Expo Friday 17 Dec, 11am-2pm Bendigo Campus latrobe.edu.au/cop
two’s company
olivia & graham When Olivia Nelson learned her grandfather Graham Black had terminal cancer she decided to forgo presents and turn her 7th birthday party into a fund-raiser.
“When she wouldn’t settle I would take her for walks. Suzie was her mother, but I thought I was the mother as well. I wanted to spend all my time with her, but I had to understand the new ground rules. I cried for two weeks when they left to go up north. “I think as a male when your kids are growing up you are working pretty hard trying to do your job. I think later on you regret you didn’t spend as much time with your kids as you would have liked. By the time you have grandkids you are more secure financially, you have more time and maybe you are not quite as self-absorbed. You have time to love them and enjoy them. “She is a pretty, bright, intelligent little kid. She always comes in as bright as a button it’s like; ‘I am here – the fun can start now’.She has a bit of a wicked sense of humour and will move the fish around to different ponds and laugh her head off when I notice. She loves animals and fairies and pinching all my strawberries. “I was first diagnosed with prostate cancer when she was about two. I have never got upset about it and wondered ‘why me?’ That first night I was told I had cancer, it might have been a bit of a restless night, but I haven’t lost more than two minutes sleep over it in the past five years. You know it’s there, but life goes on. It becomes more about looking at what you have got and what you can do, rather than what you are going to miss out on. “I have played sport all my life and think I would like to beat it to prove them wrong, but can’t hide from the reality it is progressing. It has got fairly advanced and, in August, Suzie felt it was about time to let her know because I was going to start chemo. “Olivia asked ‘why don’t they just give him some medicine’ and Suzie explained that there wasn’t any medicine available. The prompt to 34
raise funds for prostrate cancer came from an ad on the television. Suzie asked her if she wanted do something and she thought about itfor about half an hour and decided instead of buying her birthday presents people could make donations. “She knows I am dying ... that I am sick and that there is nothing there to get rid of it at this stage. I don’t know what kids’ concept of death is. My sister died earlier this year. Olivia saw the coffin and asked her grandmother is that Chris in the coffin. She said ‘yes’. She then asked; Is she going to heaven? And when Di said,’yes’. She said, ‘that’s OK then’. I will answer any questions she asks, but I don’t want to jump into areas she is not ready to be in, so I am leaving it to her. But she’s already told me she won’t be raising funds for prostate next year. She said, “i’ve done this for you and all the Pas, but next year I’m going to have to do something for the ladies.” Olivia: ”Dear Pa, You are so special to me, I love when you play snakes and ladders with me and even when you chase me around the house for a kiss. When we come to visit I love helping you planting and looking after the strawberries and then picking them when they are ready. You are always teaching me new things and how to spell lots of new words. You even read me stories before going to bed. You are very kind and sharing with me like hot jam donuts, chocolates and even the TV sometimes. My favourite thing to do with you is to paint your nails. I am happy that I got to share my birthday party with you. We did an amazing job raising money for prostate cancer. The reason I think we did such a good job is because now I hope they can make new medicine to help other Pas who might get sick. I love you and you really are a very special Pa.” To find out more about prostate cancer and how you can help raise funds visit www.prostate.org.au ■
Photographer: Anthony Webster
Graham: Olivia is the eldest of my grandchildren and we’ve always had a special bond. When she came home from hospital it was to our house. Her parents were living here in transit ahead of their move to Airlie Beach and Olivia lived here for the first six months of her life.
Two more reasons to consider
Girton for your child
Connor has recently completed Year 12. He has represented the school in football and the State in soccer. He was chosen to represent Australia at the International Science Fair in South Africa. Connor studied Mathematics and Science, along with Literature. He intends to study Medicine and contribute to the health of all in Central Victoria. “There’s one thing I want to make clear to each of you here today. If an opportunity presents itself to you at Girton, take it!” Connor, speaking at a Senior School Assembly.
Sarah has recently finished Year 11 and one month of Year 12 under our new Headstart Program. She was part of the Make Poverty History Road trip to Canberra and she personally contributed to the Commonwealth Government passing a Bill into legislation. She is keen to study International Relations and see how far she can go to improve the lives of disadvantaged people both here and overseas. “I hope that sometime in the future extreme poverty won’t exist outside the pages of our history books. In the meantime, with the ongoing support and commitment of my school, it is my goal personally to do what I can to Make Poverty History!” Sarah, speaking at a Senior School Assembly.
At Girton Grammar School Bendigo, we believe in enabling each student to discover and build on their strengths. We supported Connor and Sarah through their academic and co-academic endeavours and we are proud of the contributions they will make to the world. Can you see your son or daughter in their shoes? If you think your child might benefit from a nurturing and challenging environment, talk to our students, they are our best advertisement. Then, contact our Registrar.
Girton Grammar School Bendigo - where the pieces of a child’s education fit together to create a wonderful learning journey. For further details please contact the School on (03) 5441 3114 & visit our website www.girton.vic.edu.au
the ex-files
thunderbirds are slough By strange serendity erstwhile Bendigo arts critic and television trivia expert James Taylor has landed in the home of International Rescue. Five-and-a-half years in Bendigo is about long enough to cellar some of its excellent shiraz, and it was also long enough to start thinking about relocating elsewhere. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my time in Bendigo. But a journalist has got to do what a journalist has got to do, and this journalist decided to take his pen and terrible shorthand elsewhere. Where elsewhere? The United Kingdom reshuffled its working visa categories about two years ago, and it became known that if you were a citizen of the Commonwealth, under the age of 30 and had a certain amount of pounds sterling in your possession, Her Majesty would grant you leave to remain in the UK for two years under something called the youth mobility visa. Setting the limit at 30 seems remarkably generous for something with “youth” in the title, but seeing as I am still (just) on the right side of 30, I should shut up and be grateful. Semantics aside, it was a highly tempting offer. I’d been to the UK before, two decades earlier at the age of seven, and had always been keen to see if any memories would kick in if I went back. I was keen for a change of scenery in an employment sense. And having lived no further than two hours away from the place I grew up, I wondered if I could handle relocating to the other side of the world without going any more insane than professionally necessary. I weighed up all the pros and cons; my girlfriend gave me reluctant approval; my brotherin-law said I’d ruined his Christmas ... but I went anyway. Touching down in the UK in mid-January this year, I started the British crusade with a hectic 12-day Contiki tour across western Europe. Great fun, but not exactly a comprehensive way to see that part of the world. Basing myself with old family friends in Maidenhead, the next five months were less fun, as I banged my head against the UK journalism market, both in London and elsewhere, with little success. Finally, some good news came along – a two-week internship with Square Mile magazine in Lambeth, starting on my 28th birthday in May. Writing about the lifestyles of the rich and the shameless in London’s financial district was a new experience, but I think I got a handle on the magazine’s tone very quickly (and got some great bylines out of it, too). On the evening I left Square Mile for the last time, I got a call from the editor of the Slough Observer while waiting for the Tube, inviting me to Reading for a chat. I caught the train down there on Tuesday, and over the course of the conversation, the editor let it be known that if I could get hold of a car to drive myself around in, I could start work as a reporter at the Langley office in June. I wasn’t planning on buying a car when I moved to the UK, but a quick application to the Bank of Dad solved that problem, and I grabbed the offer with both hands. Situated on the western border of Heathrow Airport, Slough is famous (or infamous) for two reasons. Cult BBC TV series The Office was set (though not filmed) here, and John Betjeman wrote a poem about the town in 1937, which starts thusly: 36
Come, friendly bombs, and fall on Slough It isn’t fit for humans now There isn’t grass to graze a cow. Swarm over, death! Betjeman’s words have made the town an easy target when it comes to making a list of crap British towns, and the council has taken the criticism personally, launching a £400 million redevelopment of the town centre, known as the “Heart of Slough”. The revamped high street has already opened, construction has begun on the new bus station, and plans have been approved for the new library. Sounds like a good idea, but the presence of the Slough Trading Estate – Europe’s largest – means the place will always have an industrial flavour. The trading estate itself is switching from manufacturing to IT, with companies like 02, Nintendo and Amazon headquartered here, but there are still some famous old names that have never left, such as Mars, Horlicks, and Citroen. Coolest of all, puppet master Gerry Anderson was based on the estate in the 1960s, and filmed Thunderbirds there. On the other hand, it’s fair to say Slough is overcrowded. Many of the Polish migrants who flocked to England when the UK joined the EU ended up here, and they’ve been folded in with the large Muslim, Sikh and Anguillian populations. The 2001 census sets the town’s population at 120,000, but estimates based on water usage put it as high as 160,000. I’m inclined to lean towards the latter figure – parking is a nightmare, and the town centre, for all its criticisms, is never quiet. Thankfully, there’s no simmering racial tension or ongoing turf wars in the streets, but you’d be advised to stay out of neighbourhoods like Britwell and Chalvey after dark. The town’s industrial character makes a fascinating contrast with the genteel nature of Windsor, located just to the south under the M4 motorway. If nothing else, it means I’m never short of news stories. n
Pure Pools • Quality concrete construction • Design & planning advice • Automated self-cleaning pools & control systems • Pools, spas, lap pools & plunge pools
0417 535 108 info@pure-pools.com.au PO Box 2049 Bendigo Delivery Centre 3554
photo opportunity
viva via It’s always been big, but now Via Furniture & Decor is huge following the grand opening of a complete new showroom. More than 150 people were on hand for the grand unveiling of Via’s new showroom. Via has added a host of new ranges to fill this impressive space full of reclaimed teak furniture and colours inspired by the environment. With each piece of furniture and decorator items hand selected and arranged to maximum effect by Via’s in-house designer you are sure to find inspiration here. Via is open seven days a week. Visit Via Furniture at the corner of Havlin & Mundy Streets, Bendigo (03) 5443 4322. ■
A Christian community building a firm foundation for the future.
Providing affordable, quality Christian education within a disciplined and caring environment. Information Packs are available by contacting the college office and tours are available upon appointment. Single year level classrooms from Prep to Year 10
91 Creek Street, Bendigo 3550 Ph: 5442 1722 info@creekstreet.vic.edu.au www.creekstreet.vic.edu.au
AUTHENTIC THAI FOOD
DINE IN OR TAKE AWAY
FULLY LICENSED F U N C T I O N S
B Y O W I N E O N LY
Evening dining 7 Days a week from 5.30pm Lunch Monday to Friday from 12pm 32 Pall Mall, Bendigo 5441 8566
www.bunja.com.au
!"#$%&'()*+$,%*&
party, party, party Summer is the season of festivities whether it’s Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Australia Day or a bash to celebrate the letter ‘b’ because it’s Bonnie’s birthday. – Lauren Mitchell
Photographer: David Field
‘‘Tis the season of festive dos and designer ales and stepping out in spangled sandals… ‘tis the season to party. Apart from swollen calendars of Christmas events, swollen ankles from dance-floor moves not attempted since last summer, now is also the time of love… weddings happen in the warmer weather. Barely a weekend will pass without bridal parties gathering for a photo finish along Pall Mall. When we mentioned the idea of featuring a few choice parties for this issue, the feedback was instant. First we heard of a Rubik’s Cube party. Picture the guests in a mix of bright solid colours, in the pub, spending the night ducking into the loos to change gear with another. The aim being each ended up in a single colour by night’s end. A dress-off party! Brilliant. Teen parties are not just pyjama affairs any more either - the latest for
a sweet 16th is the pamper party; to gather at a day spa and go the works, bridesmaid-style. The good old kids’ backyard birthday is oh so retro when the list of party destinations in the city just keeps growing; consider the Little People’s Art Studio, the Fun Factory, The Discovery Centre or Dragon City Lanes. Let’s just say there’s not many parcels being passed around these days. And the poor old donkey’s been put out to pasture. Local party girl Tamieka Moore will tell you, you don’t need a milestone for an excuse to celebrate. Tamieka could well have stumbled across something big here; the mock wedding. Although this party had an extra twist, with the bride “marrying” her best girl friend. No doubt a few of the flouncy ‘80s taffeta dresses worn on the night came from The Costume Cupboard. ➤ 41
CAPTIONS:
Lynn Roder leans against an ironing board in the back room of her costume shop and waves her hand at the rack of ironing yet to be done. Let’s just say the workload can’t be measured in baskets. And it’s only Monday, there’s plenty more laundry yet to walk in the door following a weekend of festivities. The dress-up party is alive and well in Bendigo and a little research has shown, we love our letters. “Last weekend we had an S party, a J party, a C party and a B party for a hen’s night,” Lynn says, adding, “And we had a few pirate parties because yesterday was the official Pirate’s Day. But often the theme is the initial of the party person’s name.” Stuck for ideas on what to wear to Ben’s 30th? Never fear, for Lynn has a bible of alphabetical characters to choose from. But we pity you if your mate’s name is Xavier, with Xena and Xmen being the only options. Lynn caters for about six fancy dress dos a week. She thinks the concept is popular for several reasons. Firstly, it’s a lot of fun, the adult’s equivalent to diving into the dress up box and teetering around in mum’s heels. Plus, it’s a great way to get your guests into party mode. “I think the best part about it is it’s a good way to mix people at a party who don’t necessarily know each other because they’ve got something to talk about from the outset.” Perhaps some great, revealing, themes to get conversations flowing are “alter ego” and “When I grow up I want to be…” I can’t help wonder how the orange and green pineapple suit hanging beside us fits in to all this. “That’s great for Aussie icons,” Lynn says. And it’s probably a wiser choice than a Big Prawn. Although Lynn’s always up for a challenge, and if you give her enough time she can usually make a costume on request. The other thing we’re pleased to hear is how the locals’ imagination is beginning to grow. “Recently more people are wanting to make up their own characters and because we’ve got such an eclectic mix, we don’t mind people mix and matching,” Lynn says. There’s no specific demographic of people into fancy dress, it’s loved by all ages. Lynn says there’s a spate of 30th and 40th birthdays right now getting nostalgic with themes of their youth. “‘70s and ‘80s are very popular at the moment, plus they’re such fun eras to dress up as. And I’ve had one ‘90s party so far and that was for an 18th.” Sifting through the racks I find a dress that scarily resembles the one I wore as a bridesmaid in the early ‘90s - pink taffeta with a sweetheart neckline and a puffy sleeve. It was hanging under ‘Saloon Girls’. Knew 42
I was hanging onto that dress for a reason… seems what doesn’t come back into fashion does come back into fancy.
Our generation has a party for any excuse really ...
The window display at Bendigo Party Hire illustrates the recent shift in the way we celebrate the big milestones. Here, sleek black and white leather ottomans are placed beside a cocktail table – furniture for hire that is fast becoming the norm for those milestone parties. We’re not merely firing up the backyard barbie for a 21st any more. We’re not sitting on plastic chairs for weddings either. We’re going all out; silk-lined marquees, checkered dance floors, flood and fairylights and daiquiri fountains mean our parties are stylish affairs mirroring Melbourne trends. “I follow Harry the Hirer in Melbourne and if it’s happening in the city it will be in the country within 12 months,” says Rob Clohsey. “Instead of the boys getting a barrel and sitting around the backyard we’ve gone more classy, more stylish.” With the warm weather come the weddings, a time when love is definitely in the air for the party hire places. “From now we’ll be flat chat until Christmas Eve,” Rob says. “We’ll all be recovering during January, then ready to party on throughout February and March, daiquiri in hand.” ➤ 43
I only went to Africa for four weeks but ended up having a departure party and a homecoming
44 44
Sometimes parties just sort of happen, which is how Sandy Hopfner ended up having an animal-themed masquerade bon voyage party before heading off on a four-week holiday. Sandy takes up the story: “I was going to Africa for a holiday,. Originally from Mildura, I travelled back there prior to my trip so my parents could look after my puppies, Oscar and Russell. Since I had not been home for a while I decided to have a ‘Welcome home from Africa animal print’ party when I returned with my family and friends in Mildura. “When my Bendigo friends got wind of this, they too decided they wanted to attend an animal print party. Therefore, even though I only went to Africa for four weeks I ended up having a departure party!! Our generation has a party for any excuse really ... “The theme/dress code was animal print, but when the masquerade ball was cancelled we bought the party forward and that kind of got wound in. “On the night there was African music and a few animal games, and in order to pick up some extra spending money guests paid me to complete certain dares like eating raw onion, wasabi and drinking raw eggs. “I almost needed another party to recover after that.” Some parties have products rather people at their centre. You’re about to read a rare story, because as all self-respecting, cupboard-organising women know, what happens at the Tupperware party usually stays at the Tupperware party. We don’t want significant others knowing how much we paid for the three-piece heat ‘n’ eat, nor what secret women’s business was discussed over supper.
says Alison. But eyebrows are really raised when the basket gets to Sally and she pulls out a pink plastic baby spoon… could this be an omen? We know Tupperware is tried and true, but is it trusted? “Three radiographers have told me it’s a girl but I’m not painting anything pink,” laughs Sally. “I was told the twins were boys and out came a boy and a girl.” I can’t help wonder… what is the citrus peeler trying to tell me? Alison is presenting to loyal followers tonight; most of the women here admit their pantries are sitting pretty thanks to the wonders of Tupperware. But can you really have too much of a good thing? Surely not when the company keeps coming up with new, innovative solutions to food storage. The aforementioned heat ‘n’ eat for example was last season known as the rock ‘n’ serve, before the “rock” bit was made obsolete in favour of a new seal. But Alison says the aim of Tupperware is a serious one. “Every five bags of groceries we buy we actually throw away 20 per cent,” she says. “The whole idea of Tupperware is to keep food fresher for longer so we’re not throwing things out.” Alison joined Tupperware three years ago and now is an area manager with14 consultants on the books. “I really did it for a bit of extra cash, then I found it was really nice to get dressed up and put make-up on,” she says. “Because I was at home with the kids it was nice to get out of the house and have some adult conversation. I try to make them a fun night out. We’ve got a great product that everybody loves and Tupperware really sells itself.”
So big thanks to maverick Sally Oakley for inviting bendigo magazine along to her mid-week, after-dinner rendezvous with the plastic fantastic.
Fun is a given at a Tupperware party; hosts can choose to mix it with a cooking demo or cocktail party for a little extra something. The lady to my left tells me of a party where each guest contributed a bottle of wine. “I reckon that Tupperware lady was there for over four hours and she made thousands,” she said.
Unlike others you’ll hear about here, Sally’s party was a dry event - at seven months pregnant with her fourth child, if she couldn’t have a tipple with Tupperware, none of us could. And fair enough, too.
So, do alcohol and Tupperware mix? “They do, they mix really well. It’s perfect for a house-warming party if you want to deck the pantry out because it helps people spend up.”
Consultant Alison Climas starts with some games to get the party moving, and best of all, prizes for all.
As the demo wraps up Sally brings out the baked goods; amidst loads of laughter, chatting and friendship. And that’s the secret, that’s the lure of the Tupperware party. “It’s a good excuse to get the girls together, and they’re a great bunch of girls,” she says. n
A quick dip into the goodies basket produces a mystery object I later find out is a citrus peeler, in “cool lagoon”. “Personally, I call it green,”
45
Summer has only just begun. Order your new pool or spa today.
• pool installation
BlueRock 33 Lily Street, Bendigo LANDSCAPE P: (03) 5444 3496 CONSTRUCTION
www.bgspoolsandspas.com.au
• spas • pool shop • servicing & maintenance
BG’s Pools & Spas welcomes Blue Rock Landscaping to Bendigo. A team that can work together to create your total outdoor space this summer.
BlueRock LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION
BlueRock LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION
24 hours with
jo barclay Like to party? Try two weddings and a 60th birthday bash in one weekend with one half of the J & L Catering team. 5.00am The voice of Trevor Chappell on ABC Radio wakes me to start my busy day. Not wanting to get out of bed yet, I listen to the news then it’s up to let the dogs outside, and into the shower. While enjoying my cuppa I play with Molly the puppy and pat Bailey our 10-year-old dog who is trying very hard to tolerate the puppy. I pick up the endless array of puppy-chewed socks strewn before heading out the door.
6.00am Off to BRIT to catch up with my business partner, Les Hibbins. We have a cuppa and catch up with whatever business we need to attend to, swap recipes and wish each other a great day.
7.00am Back into the van and I head out to Big Hill Winery. Every morning I get the same feeling as I pull up and breathe in the blue sky, the white roses and the panoramic view and I feel blessed. The next half hour is my time. I read the papers, have breakfast, relax and get ready for a huge weekend. I check the email and the phone messages. I then start checking my lists. In order to be able to prepare two weddings and a birthday party it is essential that I am organised.
1.30pm Back to the kitchen where the oven, mixers and pots and pans are getting a real work out. A couple walk in to discuss weddings. They are very impressed and book on the spot.
3.30pm Murray, our bar manager, arrives and the three of us catch up to ensure that everything will run smoothly both tonight and tomorrow night.
5.30pm The guests begin to arrive and they are ushered on to the balcony to await the arrival of the bride. The MC and I discuss timing once more. This is when the adrenalin kicks in and the whole team gets pumped.
8.00am I finish off anything still required for tonight’s cocktail wedding. Continue on with prep for both Saturday’s wedding and Sunday’s party. I also ensure that everything is ready for the café.
11.00am Maureen, my assistant, arrives and it’s time for another cuppa and to discuss our plan of attack for the next couple of days. The phone rings and it is an inquiry about a conference. I take their email address and respond immediately, as it is better to take care of it now rather than later.
Noon Sense of relief that tonight’s wedding is finished and Saturday’s is well under way. Sunday’s party will be a breeze to prepare tomorrow. We check and double check the function room to ensure everything is as perfect as we can make it before grabbing a bite of lunch.
6.00pm The bride arrives and as is the case each and every week, when she walks down the aisle I have a little tear (it gets me every time) and it is back into the kitchen to prepare the savouries to serve after the ceremony.
7.30pm Begin to send the savouries to the buffet table, platter after platter.
9.30pm Repeat the process and continue to send platter after platter. It is now time to have a bite to eat and a well earned cuppa.
10.00pm With the rest of the staff, I collect glasses and dishes. I have time to catch up with the bride and the groom, their parents and guests. It is always a great feeling that we have been able to make so many people so happy.
Midnight
Photographer: David Field
The bride and groom have been farewelled and the guests have exited the building. It is now time to reset the room for the wedding the following day.
2.00am Heading off home to Strathfieldsaye. Half an hour later I’m into the house. I pat the dogs and we have a cuddle. Pour a glass of red, pick up the new array of socks strewn over the floor and feel a real sense of satisfaction.
3.30am Head hits the pillow and I am out like a light. ■ 47
a school story
brain waves A gymnasium of the mind helps exercise young brains so they are fit to learn. – Megan Spencer Do you remember sitting in a classroom with 30 other kids, teacher up the front, writing up numbers or words on a blackboard and feeling, well … blank? Then, the panic and anxiety as you realise you’re not understanding a thing while everyone else is? Floundering further after you ask someone for help and you still don’t get it? What comes after is every kid’s – and parent’s – worse nightmare. Boredom, behavioural problems, being outcast, getting into trouble and being labelled a “problem child”or “poor learner”. This is a story that Denise Smith knows only too well. She experienced it herself growing up as a child and also went through it again with her son when he began school. As the founder of the Whole Brain Workout Program, she’s also heard it time and time again from parents at their wits’ end, their children struggling to get the most out of the traditional school system. The penny dropped for Denise when she recognised some kids learn differently to others. She identified this as “right-brain learning”; students who use neural pathways on the right side of their brains to process information, rather than the left. Most classrooms are geared to towards “left-brain learners”; those who are word-focused and analyse details in order to form the “whole picture”. They can also “take on useless info and like learning for learning’s sake” she adds. Right-brain learners do the opposite; they are “experiential learners”, far more practical and visual. They look first at “the whole picture” then break it down. They are intuitive, spontaneous and “need purpose for learning in order to retain information” Denise explains. After two-and-a-half years of research of her own – including studying phonics in Melbourne – Denise founded her Right Brain Learning school six years ago on the 1856 Mandurang property on which she grew up. Her students learn in a beautiful old stone-brick farmhouse with birds chirping outside the window. She works with a team of dedicated teachers and volunteers, supporting children at a grade 5-6 48
level. On my visit I met students Annie (12), Lawrence (11), Lester (10) and John (12), “coach” Janeen a qualified teacher, (“we don’t call people teachers here,” explained Denise), and volunteer coach, Larnie. “Words frighten right-brain learners”, continues Denise. “Whereas we emphasise feelings. Visual instincts are suppressed in the left brain [learning] system. That’s why the right brain kids struggle. One size fits all doesn’t work when it comes to education.”
Photographer: Anthony Webster
Parents either seek out Denise’s course or are referred by schools. “We have the kids for two years. In the first six months we rebuild the confidence and instincts they’ve lost, and rid the negative ideas they have about learning.” They then teach the kids strategies for learning that fit better into their right-brain patterns of thinking. “We develop skills for them to put ideas into word formats, so they can deal with the traditional system,” adds Larnie. “Other people don’t realise they’re using those strategies, so they’re also not stigmatised.” The thing you first notice in Denise’s classroom is that it’s a malleable space that changes according to the needs of the children. The whiteboard is a big feature too; pictures and words transform into each other during literary exercises. Colours are key to learning and retaining information too. The students all have their own mini-whiteboards and Textas on which they are encouraged to draw as classes take place – very opposite to the traditional “stop everything, eyes front, stop talking” traditional classroom. Part of the way these kids learn, process and retain information is to stay active. It’s how they put their strategies to work. The priority is “whatever is meaningful to them” stresses Denise. Watching the students it’s almost as if their brains are whiteboards too. You can see them mentally changing the shapes of letters to fit strategies they’ve learned, to make things stick. Perfectly illustrated by Lawrence, keen to show me how easy it has become for him to learn to spell. RBL students learn bigger words by using smaller ones. Lawrence showed me his strategy for ‘because’. He wrote three words in a row on the white board: ‘BE’, ‘CAT, ‘USE’. “Then” he exclaims, “you just rub out the ‘T’ in cat -” which he did,
Words frighten right-brain learners.
“- and it becomes ‘BECAUSE’. He grins, pleased as punch with his accomplishment. While it’s flexible and creative this is no “hippy” school. Kids don’t run amok. There’s a curriculum; respect for others – and self – is paramount; and a disciplined approach keeps them enthusiastic about contributing to the class. It’s such a beautiful sight to see, kids whose confidence – once eroded – is on the mend, and the love for learning rekindled by empathetic people who understand how hard it can be. “So far we’ve had a 100 per cent success rate,” says Denise of her course. “We’ve never had a kid it hasn’t worked for.” Clearly proud to be part of such a program, Larnie sums up the experience. “We learn as much from these kids as they do from us.” For more information visit www.wholebrainworkout.com.au or phone 0419 355 518. ■ 49
101 Williamson St Bendigo
5443 8898
www.thepuddler.com.au
-6 / $ ) & 0 / 4 t ' 6 / $ 5 * 0 / 4 t 8 & % % * / ( 4 t $ "5 & 3 * / ( TRADING HOURS: Lunch: Mon- Fri 11.30am -2.30pm Dinner: Mon-Sat 5.30pm – late Breakfast: Sun 8.30am - 11am
photo opportunity
it was big! Really, there was only one word needed to describe Todd and Tara’s engagement. The “Big Proposal” happened in the Big Apple and then came time for the “Big Party” to celebrate the engagement of Todd Carrington to Tara Filbey. Not that the rain was likely to dampen anyone’s spirit, but the last minute addition of a marquee ensured it was completely forgotten and all attention focused on the newly engaged couple. Congratulations Todd and Tara! ■
50
We all need a lawyer
at different times in life
Choose the law firm that’s all about
You... Fresh, forward-thinking Smart, confident and ambitious Committed to quality relationships A law firm in-line with your priorities • • • • •
Conveyancing Property Law Commercial Law Wills and Estates WorkCover and TAC
121 McCrae Street Bendigo Victoria
info@petersenwestbrook.com.au
5443 9499
TMB 8057
Bendigo’s Boutique Lawyers
be a part of this
courting cupid In a bid to recruit the best and brightest, Bendigo has drawn back its bow to launch a love offensive. Vanessa Purvis is a woman on a mission. The vivacious owner and director of an events company for singles is looking for lurve … in the air, everywhere.
“It is difficult if you are not into getting drunk or loud music and you would like to meet someone and get to know them a bit before you actually go out on a date.”
It’s not the sort of role in which you’d normally envisage a bureaucrat, but then the woman who boasts the title of Bendigo Health planning and innovation director is one out of the box.
Vanessa knows what she is talking about. Her move to Bendigo three years ago coincided with the end of a long-standing relationship.
“The idea of Love Inc (L.inc) actually started with Bendigo Health,” Vanessa reveals. “It grew out of a discussion about how we could not just recruit staff, but also help to keep them. “Bendigo Health has 3500 staff and over the coming three to four years needs another 2000 staff. We are forever looking for good people. It is challenging to recruit, but at times can be tougher to keep people.” This is he hurdle facing most major employers including the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank and the City of Greater Bendigo, both of which have welcomed Love Inc (L.inc) with open arms. Indeed, in many ways L.inc is an example of the ”blue sky” thinking which saw Bendigo develop the community banking and community telco models. “The fact is this is a regional city and once you get here it can be hard to network and find links,” Vanessa explains. “This is true not just of newcomers. Even if you are a long-stayer in Bendigo where do you go to meet new people? If you are single, part of meeting someone is usually about meeting new people.
“I confess I am career-minded. I work hard, but I still want a good social life, want to have fun and hope to meet someone special to be my partner. The only thing I miss about big city life is my social network and the great opportunities there to meet other people, including other single guys.” She started L.inc with this in mind. But, be assured this isn’t a “singles service” of the late-night-television-give-us-all-your-money variety. “We are not relationship experts, psychologists, or matchmakers. We are not providing an online dating or personality matching service. We simply arrange varied events for singles so they can have an enjoyable time and perhaps meet some other single people.” And, it seems there is no shortage of people who want to do exactly this. Within the first weeks of L.inc’s launch there had been more than 1000 hits on the website. Their first event Disaster Chef was booked out within days. Bendigo magazine’s correspondent at large Megan Spencer was lucky to score a seat.
I confess I am career-minded. I work hard, but I still want a good social life.
52
– Megan Spencer L.inc’s first event ‘Disaster Chef’ was held at Basement on View. About 30 local men and women aged 25-45 from all walks of life attended the dinner party. Teams made their own desserts (truly hilarious!) and guessed ingredients in the entrées, with patrons regularly switching tables to keep the conversations fresh and flowing. Kane from Bendigo was among them, and had a great time. “I saw this as a great opportunity to meet new and different people. I had no expectations but to go and have a good time ... to chat and talk to others, and above all to laugh,” Kane reveals. “I met 26-plus other single people, I walked away with a greater social network and the ability to catch up with each other again afterwards.” Having been single for 12 months, Kane agrees that Bendigo can be “a difficult place to meet other singles particularly if you tire of the nightlife and what it doesn’t have to offer. A busy professional life – and working outside the Bendigo area during the day – provides little time and opportunity [for me] to socialise.” Describing himself as “passionate” about his work life, Kane adds, “I don’t hate being single but would prefer being in a relationship, but with the right person – that is the challenge. There are some amazing and beautiful people in Bendigo; it’s just about finding an appropriate way or avenue to connect to each other, that doesn’t involve a bar on a late Saturday night!” But going out as a single person can also be a scary prospect especially if you were in a relationship for a long time. Kane agrees. “Yes I admit it’s a little intimidating, going out by yourself you quickly can become self-conscious about people interpreting why you are actually single. There is always a story about each circumstance. Love inc allows people to go out with no expectations, have a drink and mingle amongst similar people. You actually feel like you are part of a big group rather than on your own.”
Photographer: David Field
Vanessa admires the courage of Love Inc’s patrons. “Dating is much scarier than love! Most people feel nervous, embarrassed and awkward on a date with someone new. Anyone who dates is brave – and to do so with a new business, with unknown people, in a different environment, takes great courage – so we do admire them and are grateful some people have been willing to give the Love Inc events a go.” The Disaster Chef night certainly was designed to take the pressure off the participants, so they could relax easily. The food was very good, people were very “open”, and fun and conversation were the priorities. At one point during the evening, the room really hit its stride. It was a beautiful sight – and sound; 30 recent-strangers loudly and proudly became locked in social exchange, interested, excited, laughing – it was a bit like riding the crest of a wave. Thirty people on a first date without the pressure and sweaty palms – a sight to behold. For more information visit www.loveinc.com.au ■ 53
Many Australians, when given a choice, would choose Australian produce, made or grown in Australia by an Australian owned business or company over and above another product. Visit our website to easily locate these products and support our own Australian businesses.
Helping Australians locate and buy Australian products.
Custom Coffees
Harcourt Apple Juice
www.locateaustralian.com.au
Buloke Park Olives
info@locateaustralian.com.au p: (03) 5435 2272 m: 0416 068 700
marketplace stylist
stacks of style A high school student outclassed the field in the search for Bendigo’s super stylist. Castlemaine Secondary student Louise Bolger was the deserving winner of the 2010 Bendigo Super Stylist competition. Laura won the styling competition by demonstrating that she could pull together the perfect spring outfit from the Bendigo Marketplace and submitting a photo online. Her prize included tickets to the hottest 2011 L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival runway events, including the Independent runway which showcases the works of up and coming fashion designers. She spent two luxurious nights in Melbourne with limousine transfers to events for that extra superstar feeling. Louise also got the opportunity to spend a day with bendigo magazine’s fashion editor Maggie Stewart and style editor Katasrina Vishnich on location for our glorious summer fashion shoot. Through the stylist competition Louise was given the opportunity to show Bendigo why she should be crowned our very own super stylist. Inspired by the changing of seasons and the new popularity of floral, Laura mixed and matched a beautiful summer dress from Valleygirl with accessories from Equip. “This outfit is perfect for the beach, summer parties and barbecues”, Laura said. Bendigo Marketplace marketing manager Kristie Frost said this competition was created to give shoppers an opportunity to showoff their own unique style and their skills in pulling together the latest National trends, right here in Bendigo. “We hoped to attract
entrants who have a passion for fashion and who want to get an insight into the fashion industry. Louise clearly demonstrates that she has fashionista prowess, plus she is looking towards a future career in fashion design.” Well done Louise. We enjoyed having you aboard as part of the bendigo mag team. ■
in the swim
The return of water to our parched landcape has gladdened hearts and lifted spirits. To celebrate, we invite you to dive into David Field’s rippling photo essay. water feature Craig and Joanne Wood could not have chosen a better time to install a 10 metre southern cross pool at their Junorton home. It was filled for the first time in the hottest summer on record, the year of the devastating bushfires. “It was Christmas Eve. We didn’t even have paving around it. It was just gravel and everyone just jumped in,” Joanne recalls.
Photographer: David Field
Having the pool has a made a big difference to their lives. Their son Sebastian, a talented squad swimmer, is always in the water with his mates. “We are a lot more social now. We have a lot more barbecues and have people come and bring their children.” “Best of all we don’t have to clean it. It looks after itself. I don’t think I have even had to hook a leaf out.” For the company that installed pool, BG’s Pool and Spas, the work has definitely not dried up because of the rain. “If anything it seems to give people a little more confidence about installing a pool,” owner Matt Hargreaves says. He is booked up almost until Easter. “People are going for the modern sleek, geometric lines of the x-trainer or vogue shape pools in keeping with current architectural trends.” ➤
55
56
water’s edge After a decade of watching central Victoria’s number one water playground evaporate before our eyes, life has at last returned to Lake Eppalock. Once again the roads heavy with traffic as people drag boats, jet ski and all manner of water craft to the water’s edge. Two years ago you could barely sail a toy boat on Lake Eppalock with water levels dropping below six per cent. We head into this summer with the lake at 80 per cent capacity and it’s small wonder the owners of lake side businesses are beaming after the long, lean dry. For the first time in years all the caravan parks were booked out heading into the Christmas holidays. Kevin and Elizabeth Barker, the owners of Salem Ski Boats, are among those rejoicing at the new vista from their lake-side property. The couple began watching the water recede almost from the day they relocated the business from Yarrawonga in 2000. Fortunately the business was able to survive thanks to interstate sales and servicing of existing clientele. “People just changed where they took their boats so instead of coming to Eppalock, they would go to Echuca or ....Yarrawonga,” Elizabeth laughed. “It is very good to see them back.” ➤
57
water slide The 85 metre slide at Bendigo Water World will be faster than ever this summer, business owner David Watters promises. “We have polished it up so it is really fast.” During the drought Bendigo Water World was an oasis for families, many of whom were unable to fill their own pools. Last summer more than 10,000 people went through the gates. “We were able to stay open for the past four years because we bought water from a desal plant – without that we would have had to shut like some of the local pools,” David reveals With its lush tropical grounds, function areas and accommodation available on site Bendigo Water World has a real family resort feel. “We describe it as a little bit of Bali in Bendigo,” David says. And, with an all day family ticket costing $70 for two adults and allowing unlimited slides for four children, this is a summer getaway you can afford.
58
water fight When Mt Alexander Shire Council moved to close Chewton Pool it didn’t count on being blown out of the water by the feisty little community. As they have done since the earliest days of goldfields settlement the people of Chewton rallied and - when writing letters and circulating petitions failed - they were prepared to put themselves bodily on the line to prevent the demolition of the pool. After council cut off sewerage to the amenities block ahead of demolition, residents set up a tent embassy outside the pool where a few hardy souls stood sentry day and night. “We had Chewton 100. They were the people who put their names down to answer a call at 3am to get down here and links arms and form a human chain around the pool to stop the bulldozers,” Chewton Pool Inc vice president Tony Shaw Inc reveals. The CFMEU even waded in and pledged none of its members would be party to the destruction of the pool. Eventually council backed down to the relief of scores of parents like Steve Wormsley. “This is the prime asset for Chewton in the middle of summer. It is a meeting place for new families who come here and where our children learn to swim.” ➤ 59
waterhole The Loddon River is the lifeblood of Bridgewater. Owner of the Bridgewater on Loddon General Store and Red Couch Cafe, Heather Chamberlain, believes if the river dried up the town too would shrivel and die. In summer the Bridgewater swimming hole is centre of activity for the community, just as it has been for a hundred years. Early photographs show the original red gum pier, complete with diving tower, spring board and change rooms that were home to the Bridgewater Swimming Club from the 1920s. “It is very important to the community and has been for many years.It is ours and has always been ours,” Heather says. On the other side of the bridge is the ski zone which, for much of the drought, was one of few remaining spots in Victoria where people could river ski. As Loddon Shire tourism manager Robyn Vella reveals skiers provide a welcome boost to the local economy. “Over the summer Bridgewater almost doubles in population with the public caravan park full of water skiers,” she says. “But the river is not just about skiing and swimming. There is also beautiful bird life, wildflowers, platypus and a brilliant walking track along the Loddon.” n 60
Business Law Family Law Litigation & Dispute Resolution Wills & Estates Property & Development Conveyancing Workplace Relations Sports & Horse Law
www.robertsonhyetts.com.au
386 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo, Victoria 3550 Ph: 03 5434 6666 Fax: 03 5434 6667
Visit Office Level 1, 6 Riverside Quay Southbank, Melbourne Victoria 3006
Accredited Business Law & Property Law Specialist
B usy living
M a ke n o m i st a k e , s ome t i me s ou r b e s t a d vi c e i s h ow t o ge t y ou i n t o l i f e ! Business Strategy & Advice
I Accounting I Auditing I Taxation I Portfolio Management I Superannuation I Sharebroking I Financial Planning
Strategem Investment Services Pty Ltd AFSL 244222. Member of the Bendigo Stock Exchange (BSX).
www.strategem.com.au
bendigofoodstore
Tri-Bendigo Wine Tour
Three of Bendigo’s leading wineries have joined together to 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
Ph. (03) 5435 2534
rustic style home made food
+ lunch + take home dinners + catering
mon-fri 7am-5pm
40 Strickland Road Bendigo 3550 ph: 5442 3460 | fax: 5444 0798
Ph. (03) 5437 5234 Contact one of these participating wineries for more information
photo opportunity
foundry firing The venue where so many Bendigonians have celebrated major milestones recently achieved its own landmark. Family and friends of The Foundry Hotel Complex recently gathered in the venue’s Platinum Room to celebrate a wonderful 21 years of business. After sharing in some of the stories of the origins of the complex, guests danced the night away to the music of Threezacrowd. Many would agree that the venue already holds the key to entertainment in the city. Here at bendigo magazine we add our congratulations to The Foundry Hotel Complex’s team and look forward to many more years to come. The Foundry Hotel Complex is located at 366 High Street and can be contacted on 5443 6144. â–
&/5.$29
bistro
&!"5,/53 47/ #/523% ,5.#( %!2,9 ")2$ $)..%23 &!-),9 #%,%"2!4)/.3
15!,)49 #/#+4!), -%.5 4(l3 !.$ 34l3 ! 30%#)!,)49
t ĂŠ" ĂŠ1- " 9 "9ĂŠ ĂŠ ĂŠ
"1 ,ĂŠ
Ê6 *, - /Ê/ Ê" ÊfÓäÊ /"Ê/ Ê6 1 *Ê 1 Ê 1 ,9t " Ê Ê " / Ê" WILLBEDEDUCTED Ê / /Ê 1 " EOF / ,"1 MUPTOTHEVALU EESANDSIDES 
LÂŹITE NTR PESTÂŹMAINÂŹMEA EALÂŹMENUÂŹITEMSÂŹ EXCLUDESÂŹE OTÂŹREDEEMABLEÂŹ ÂŹ/&ÂŹ53% ÂŹ#HEA ÂŹ. INÂŹM S #/.$)4)/.3 KIDSÂŹMEALS ÂŹ-INIMUMÂŹ ÂŹMA ÂŹIFÂŹLOSTÂŹORÂŹSTOLEN OÂŹREPLACEMENT ERÂŹ OFFER ÂŹ .OTÂŹVALIDÂŹFUNCTION ESÂŹ ÂŹ. UD ED XCL EM LLÂŹ E DE ÂŹBI ÂŹRE OFF OTH BE EÂŹPRESENTEDÂŹTOÂŹ VALIDÂŹ WITHÂŹANYÂŹ 6OUCHERÂŹMUSTÂŹB EÂŹVOUCHERÂŹPERÂŹTABLE ÂŹ.OTÂŹ ÂŹON FORÂŹCASH ÂŹ/NLY SEÂŹ,UNCHES .OTÂŹVALIDÂŹ ÂŹCOUR
/ʇÊx{{ĂŽĂŠĂˆÂŁ{{ĂŠĂŠĂŠĂœĂœĂœÂ°vÂœĂ•Â˜`Ă€ĂžÂ…ÂœĂŒiÂ?VÂœÂ“ÂŤÂ?iĂ?°Vœ“
where on earth?
bendi goes walkabout Where on earth would you find another Bendigo? In a surprising number of places around the world as it transpires. – Colin King You may reasonably believe Bendigo Station is where you catch the train to Melbourne. It is in fact the mega sheep farm in New Zealand, famous for its Bendigo merinos. Perhaps like many Bendigonians you are also not familiar with Little Bendigo, New Bendigo or the Bendigo Hotel. And have you been to Bendigo, Queensland or even Bendigo, Pennsylvania? It is pleasing to imagine many of these namesake places were christened as affectionate tributes to our beloved city. Fondness of Bendigo became apparent in early times as its name proliferated like no other town. Loyal miners assigned the moniker to successful new ground like patriotic explorers in the age of discovery. Little Bendigo popped up on the Castlemaine goldfield as did Little Bendigo and Little Bendigo Creek on the Ballarat field. The Little Bendigo Primary School bell still rings today at the small settlement on Ballarat’s fringe. St Arnaud began its life as New Bendigo. A prospector exclaimed “We’ve struck a new Bendigo better than the old Bendigo”. Alas within a couple of years the name New Bendigo was dropped to honour Jaques Leroy de St Arnaud, a French hero of the then recent Crimean War. The original New Bendigo diggings at St Arnaud are recognised on a heritage list and the former handle lives on in business names of the town – like New Bendigo Concrete Pumping. There is also a place called New Bendigo Mine in Back of Bourke, New South Wales. It is on the banks of another Bendigo Creek into which the Little Bendigo Creek flows. This is not to be confused with Bendigo Creek, Queensland that is distant from a speck on the map called Bendigo up Longreach way nor with Bendigo Creek in the incredibly verdant Bendigo State Park, Pennsylvania where a short lived mill town called Bendigo once stood. Across state in Pennsylvania is Bendigo Airport – owned by Helen Bendigo! Closer to home is the ornate Bendigo Hotel in Collingwood, built in
64
1911. The inner city watering hole has become an indie band venue featuring the likes of Face Eater and Sforzando. This is not however the only Bendigo Hotel on the planet. The Old Wrestler’s pub in Nottingham, England was re-named Bendigo’s in 1957 to honour its celebrated nineteenth century town son—bare knuckle prizefighter William Abednego Thompson. A life-size statue of Bendigo Thompson, as he was generally known, still stands proudly above its entry. The pub ceased being Bendigo’s in the late 1990s—ironically because of brawling. Thompson is also honoured by Bendigo Lane and a copse known as Bendigo’s Ring. Nottingham is the font of everything called Bendigo – a corruption of the Thompson’s biblical second name. It is also the indirect source of our city’s name. A Ravenswood Station shepherd “known to be an accomplished bruiser” was duly dubbed Bendigo. He and his flock resided tranquilly in a corner of the station referred to as Bendigo’s Creek before gold was discovered here in 1851. Unlike our own city, it is a mystery how Bendigo. Pennsylvania came by its name in the 1890s. Nevertheless, some of the seemingly official local historical accounts come up with a story about Bendigo Thompson that radically contradicts the accepted Nottingham version of events. It has the famous pugilist fleeing England and the law to live, work and preach in America. Better that we imagine an Australian Bendigonian was once in their midst. Bendigo, New Zealand has uncanny parallels with our own city. Our diggers were attracted to the Otago province gold rush of 1861. Their strike gave rise to Bendigo township and the obligatory Bendigo Creek. The initial alluvial rush was followed by deep quartz mining. Miners at this new Bendigo were described as “wonderful boozers” and the legacy of Chinese and Cornish miners on the Otago field remains. Sounding familiar so far?
Today there is little left of Bendigo, NZ or its main thoroughfare York Street. The parallels nonetheless continue with leading wineries that now thrive, although, the cooler climate favours pinot noir more than shiraz. Tourism of the historic Bendigo ruins also has a familiar ring. The nearby Bendigo Station “farmstead’”produces high quality merino clips and knows no bounds in reinforcing the nation’s purported ovine fixation. It is here that Shrek the wonder sheep with a massive fleece was found in 2004 after six years wandering the hills as a hermit. Shrek’s Palace is available on DVD and Bendigo Merinos Flow Across the Land is a You Tube phenomenon worth checking out. The name Bendigo has also been taken to the high seas. A P&O passenger liner called Bendigo sailed between England, Egypt, Ceylon and Australia in the steamship era of the Titanic. The minesweeper HMAS Bendigo served with distinction in World War II and a second HMAS Bendigo was a patrol boat protecting Australia’s borders until 2006. The V/Line diesel train named City of Bendigo is still in service. There are of course many Bendigo streets, avenues, lanes and terraces throughout Australia. The Melbourne Melways alone has 12. There is even a Bendigo Crescent in Flora Hill – although it is not actually a crescent. A heartening trend is the number of Bendigo streets popping up in newer areas like Caroline Springs in Melbourne and Tallai, Queensland. It shows successive generations of proud Bendigonians are continuing to spread the B word. The most obvious proliferation of the Bendigo word has been via expansion of Bendigo Bank. It is somehow comforting to see the familiar name wherever you travel throughout Australia. No doubt there are many more Bendigos out there to be found. California Gully derived its name from diggers that gravitated here from earlier gold rushes in America. The whole thing came full circle when the name Bendigo popped up in Santa Barbara. Someone there, hopefully an expatriate Bendigonian, has named their Californian business, Bendigo Consultants. Keep spreading the word. n CAPTIONS: Fishing American style in Bendigo State Park photo courtesy Pensylvannia Parks Department. Above: Bendigo Hotel in Collingwood & Little Bendigo Primary in Ballarat. Main photo: Historic cottage in Bendigo Historic Reserve, Central Otago District, New Zealand by Rob Suisted
65
A new home. Loddon Mallee Housing Services is moving to bigger, brighter and better premises at 10-16 Forest Street, Bendigo in February 2011.
Organic Fair Trade Coffee Teasand andOrganic OrganicCakes Cakes Teas Delicious Hot Chocolate Ethically Made Toys Soy Candles Jewellery Scarves Soaps Baskets Handbags Recycled Products Natural Cleaning Products Gifts Locally & Globally made
98 Queen Street Bendigo (03) 5441 3435 justplanet@live.com.au
Clients and visitors alike will appreciate our modern reception area, private interview rooms, and flexible meeting spaces. This new, high quality environment will also help us to continue to provide shelter and support to those who are homeless or in housing crisis. The new office is ideally located within Bendigo’s CBD with ample street parking and easy access to public transport. And while our address will change our contact numbers will stay the same. From February 2011: Loddon Mallee Housing Services 10-16 Forest Street Bendigo VIC 3550 www.lmhs.com.au Tel: 5442 4288 | Fax: 5443 2758
photo opportunity
A terrific night was had by all at a Metalicus VIP night at Simply Magnificent in Maldon. More than 50 ladies made a beeline for Anita McGoldrick-Ford’s beautiful Maldon boutique for a special VIP night. Guest nibbled on lamingtons, sipped punch and made the very most of the 20 per cent discount on the latest range of Metalicus. â–
I can save HOW MUCH by refilling my empty printer cartridges?!?
Calculate your savings at
Cartridge World stores are independently owned and operated
Cartridge World Bendigo
300a High Street P: 5444 4984
CW1119
absolutely fabulous
Strath Hill Butcher voted ‘BEST BUTCHER IN BENDIGO’
Why go anywhere else for your meat this Christmas?
CL ASSE S AVAIL ABLE: UÊFree Play is a nonstructured session supervised by parents with equipment UÊComets (Mini Jets 2-5 years) is a parent assisted program specially designed for children & parents to learn together UÊMeteors (Mini Jets 3.5-6 years), children learn specific gymnastic skills
AF TER SC HO OL PRO GR AM S: UÊFun Gym provides students (5-10 years) with a range of gymnastic based skills UÊTrampolining helps students learn basic trampoline skills, jumping & twisting as well as developing strength. UÊBirthday Parties. UÊSchools Programs UÊStars & Gymstar classes
JETS GYMNASTICS IS AFFILIATED WITH GYMNASTICS AUSTRALIA & GYMNASTICS VICTORIA - REGISTERED & QUALIFIED COACHING STAFF - COMPETITIVE STATE STREAM WOMENS ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS (BEAM, BAR, VAULT & FLOOR) - COACH TO ATHLETE RATIO IS 1:8, & 1:6 IN PRE-SCHOOL CLASSES.
All red meat is fresh & purchased locally, supporting local farms. 5443 4467 Shop 8 Strath Hill Shopping Centre Bendigo
CALL US NOW TO ARRANGE YOUR FREE TRY OUT CLASS
5444 1119
41-73 HATTAM ST, GOLDEN SQUARE
www.jetsgym.com.au
photo opportunity
star fund-raiser A recent Rural Australians for Refugees benefit drew many supporters. About 100 people gathered at the Star Cinema night to raise funds for Jawed, a young refugee from Afghanistan. Jawed, he used to live in Bendigo, became a quadraplegic as a result of a diving accident in 2009 shortly after he and his family moved to WA. The Rural Australians for Refugees fundraiser helped raise money to buy Jawed a computer program to help him with his university studies among other things. The night included soup, supper and an murder mystery movie called The Secret in their Eyes. Rural Australians For Refugees has helped many refugees who have come to settle in Central Victoria and in other rural areas across the country. ■
“Train with Olympic and Commonwealth Games boxer Lynden Hosking”
• Boxing Sessions • Fitness Classes • Boxing Lessons • Kids Classes • Competitive Boxing 78 Garsed Street. Bendigo. Victoria
ph: (03) 5441 5535
www.supabox.com.au
We try to give visitors a really authentic experience when they come underground.
70
snowy of the underground Sixty-one metres below the earth is the best place to encounter one of the city’s consummate storytellers. So put on your cap lamp and let’s go below. - John Holton Neil “Snowy” Murray grew up in a very different Bendigo to the one most of us know today. Born in 1935, Snowy’s Bendigo was one of sand heaps, dirt roads, and constant dust. When Snowy describes it, you almost want to pick the grit out of your teeth. “We grew up with sand and dust,” he says. “When the northerly winds blew there was just sand everywhere. You couldn’t keep it out of the house. You ate sand, you drank sand – you slept with sand in your bed.” But none of this bothered young Snowy too much. The upside to growing up in Bendigo in the early ‘40s was the freedom it offered he and his contemporaries. As he describes it, kids of that time were on a pretty long leash and developed street smarts beyond their years. “We were hanging around the Central Deborah when it was still a fully operational gold mine,” he remembers. “Nothing much was out of bounds back then. We’d watch the winder driver fire up the boiler; even help him load the big five foot logs into the fire box. “As a boy I was totally fascinated by the steam engines – watching those huge wheels go round. Seeing the mine workers wheel the waste rock out of the mine – the battery (crushing machine) going day and night. It was all fascinating to us kids and to be honest that excitement has never left me.” One of Snowy’s enduring memories is the noise of the battery – what he calls “the soundtrack to everyday life in Bendigo back then.” “The battery went day and night, six days a week,” he recalls. “The thundering reverberated all over town. They’d shut it down of a Saturday night at around 11pm and I always found it hard to get to sleep. You got so used to the noise that the quiet was a bit unnerving.” Snowy’s memory of his childhood includes, in his own words, some pretty bloody stupid escapades. Sometimes it was climbing down old mine shafts, or swimming in the mine dams. Whatever the activity it was guaranteed to be dangerous, but nearly always fun.
Photographer: Anthony Webster
“I remember us sliding down the sand heaps on sheets of tin and even rolling down inside old truck tyres,” Snowy says, shaking his head in a kind of retrospective disbelief. “You could roll for a bloody mile,” he laughs. “Around that time, a couple of kids got killed up at the Shenandoah sand heap in Hargreaves Street. They were digging into the side of the heap and the whole thing caved in on them. Stuff like that happened occasionally. It’s a wonder any of us survived our childhoods.” As an adult, Snowy spent 40 years in the printing trade before coming full-circle back to the Central Deborah Mine in the early 1980s to work on the development of the mine for tourism. Working as a miner’s help, along with the legendary Ray Beer, Snowy helped to drive the level two tunnels and the crib room that are now a part of the tourist experience. “When the mine opened up to the public in 1986, I was one of the first tour guides taking people underground,” Snowy explains. “These days I do more of what you’d call theatre; dressing up like
a 1950s miner, telling people stories about what it was like to work underground; the kinds of things the miners got up to. “We try to give visitors a really authentic experience when they come underground. The good thing about this mine is that everything was done the old fashioned way right up until the day it closed. They were still using carbide lamps, the old-style rock drills and everything was hand shovelled. That’s what makes it such a fascinating place to visit.” Snowy admits it wasn’t a big stretch for him to become a tour guide. After all, he’s been collecting stories and information about mining for most of his life. When I ask him to tell me some of his favourites, he produces a massive wad of folded papers from deep within his pockets and throws them on the table. He truly is a walking filing cabinet when it comes to the history of mining in Bendigo. There are papers with particulars of miners’ wages, others with details of pumps and boilers, lists and notes of all kinds, most of them falling apart along the crease lines, but all of them useful to Snowy. However, the stories that fascinate the tourists most, according to Snowy, are the ones that explain how the miners got “their share” of gold out of the mine undetected. “There was no end to where fellas would hide gold,” he says with a grin. “In their hair or beard, in their ears or up their nose, under their tongues or inside a hollow tooth, in their armpits and belly buttons, between their toes or hidden in a bandage…blokes tried everything over the years. The most effective way was to swallow it. These days they’d just run a metal detector over you. It was more of a sport back then.” When Snowy recalls the men who worked the Central Deborah Mine back in its heyday, the word he uses again and again is “tough”. “Geez, they were ironmen those miners; physically and mentally tough. The conditions were shocking – heat, fumes, often working ankle-deep in water – it was gut-busting work. And on top of all that, the constant worry of rock falls and other accidents. “My old man always said he’d never work down the mines. But even in his job as a painter he’d carry a full extension ladder on his bike and two cans of paste on the handlebars, then pedal miles to a job. Talk about bloody tough.” And Snowy? He’s not doing too badly himself. “I see my doctor every three months. We were in the same class together at school and we’re the only two still living. As long as he says I can keep going underground and do what I do, I’ll be here. I bloody love it.” Central Deborah Mine offers a 75-minute Mine Experience Tour and a 2 ½-hour Underground Adventure Tour. A new tour will be introduced early next year that will see visitors venture over 200m underground for an internationally unique mining experience, aimed at the backpacker/young adult market. Keep your eye on the website and in the media for more information. For opening hours and tour times visit www.central-deborah. com or phone (03) 5443 8322. ■ 71
Where we make beautiful use of your time • Kerastase Paris
• Hair Extensions
• L’Oreal Professional
• GHD Hair Straighteners
• Dr Eckstein Bio Kosmestics
• Body Waxing
• Professional Hair Styling for Men & Women
• Natural Looking Spray Tans
VOTED ONE OF THE MOST PROFESSIONAL & FRIENDLY SALONS IN VICTORIA BY L’OREAL PROFESSIONAL LOYALTY SURVEY 2010.
OFFERING CUISINE WITH A BLEND OF PERFECT ASIAN TECHNIQUES & CULINARY ADVENTURES…. OPEN MONDAY - SATURDAY t dine-in t take-away t IPNF EFMJWFSZ
Open 6 days per week Monday - Saturday Evenings by appointment
54 433 422 62 Bridge Street Bendigo
restoran
malayan orchid
t OFX NFOV t FYDJUJOH XJOF MJTU 155 VIEW STREET BENDIGO PH: 5442 4411
42 VIEW ST BENDIGO VICTORIA 3550 T 03 5434 6088 BENDIGOART GALLERY.COM.AU
of the artist and Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica
why bendigo?
leaving london An early close encounter with wild colonial weather hasn’t dampened Chris and Sarah Duckett’s enthusiasm for their new homeland. What brought the Duckett family to Bendigo?
Photographer: Anthony Webster
On a previous trip to Australia, we had such a fantastic time and thought that if the opportunity arose, it would be a great country to live in. Returning to the UK we did some research and decided to wait until the right job opportunity came up for Chris. In early 2008 Chris noticed on the internet that City of Greater Bendigo was looking for a planning co-ordinator. We had been to Bendigo briefly on our previous trip to visit family and liked the city and its proximity to Melbourne, which we also liked, so it seemed like it was worth applying for the job. Chris was fortunate enough to be offered the job by the City and after much deliberation decided to accept the offer. About five months later we received our visas and started preparing for the big move. While we were still in the UK the council sent us copies of bendigo magazine which was good, because it gave us a feel for the place and the sort of people who live here.
here and feels much safer. There is not much chance of him getting mugged for his pocket money in the sweet shop as happened in London when he was little. Jack has become more interested in sport since we got here and plays cricket and football for local clubs. He is also an avid Hawthorn fan. After two years in Bendigo how do you feel about the move? The people of Bendigo have been very welcoming, we both have jobs we enjoy, we seem to have more time and the children are happy at school. So far the move has been positive. What is the strangest thing about living in Australia? One thing I can’t get to grips with is quite how big Aussie Rules is and how absolutely everybody barracks for a team. The grand final seems to be bigger than Christmas. Do you see this as being a permanent home for your family?
What was life like in London?
At least until the children leave school and then who knows?
We lived in Crystal Palace in South London in a 1920s terrace house which was a lot smaller than the house we have just built in Strathdale. As Crystal Palace is one of the highest points of London we had a nice view of the Kent countryside from the front of the house. Now we have a nice bushland view in a new subdivision. Bendigo is so much more relaxing then London, this is particularly noticeable when I use the buses. In London you would sometimes have to wait for three buses before you get on them because they were so heavily used. Here, I am sometimes the only person on the bus. In comparison with London, Bendigo is cleaner, quieter, safer, more community-minded and easier to find a (free) parking space in the CBD. I don’t think some people in Bendigo realise how lucky they are when it comes to the availability of parking and how little it costs. Free parking is pretty much non-existent in London. In Central London you pay close to $100-a-day and even in the outer suburbs about $40-a-day. Parking wardens are ruthless and if you get a ticket that’s equivalent to another $160 dollars.
What would be your number one piece of advice to any one considering making the move to Australia?
How has life changed for your sons Harvey and Jack?
Has Chris changed his cricket team allegiance?
They both love the opportunity to spend more time outdoors and have enjoyed our camping trips. Harvey likes the independence he has
No, he is a passionate England fan and he’s already got tickets for the Boxing Day Test match. ■
Be careful walking in the bush. We went camping in Bright a couple of months after arriving and decided to go for a bushwalk on Mount Buffalo. Twenty minutes into the walk, the sky turned black and a torrential storm rolled in, the rain bucketed down and the wind was howling, lightning was striking trees all around us as. Limbs from the trees and even some whole trees came crashing down missing us by inches, we were all absolutely terrified. The path turned into a river as we desperately tried to get back to our car. After 20 minutes of wading through the rushing water and dodging the lightning strikes and falling trees we finally made it back to the car to find a huge tree has crashed down right next to the car. Driving down the mountain we had to drive up the bank to get around all the trees that littered the mountain road. It was such a relief when we finally got back to the safety of Bright town centre.
73
Meet the
Management Team
Leon Yeates General Manager
Leon Franchina Business Manager
Chris Keen New Vehicle Sales Manager
Donna McCarroll Service Manager
Brad Caine Used Car Manager
John Strauch Parts & Accessories Manager
Andrew Holland Fleet Manager
Felicity White Customer Relations Manager
Nickname: Little Hands About Me: Became a proud dad in August with little Annabella Interests: Gym, footy & motorsport Favourite Sporting Team: West Coast Eagles
Nickname: Yeatesy About Me: Married to Tanya with 3 kids, Imogen, Mia & Noah Interests: Formula 1, Moto GP, dirt bikes & music Favourite Sporting Team: Scuderia Ferrari
Nickname: Kiwi About Me: Married with 5 children Interests: Food & horses Favourite Sporting Team: The All Blacks
Nickname: The Boss About Me: Married with a daughter Erin Interests: Arabian horses, boxing & running Favourite Sporting Team: Geelong Football Club
Nickname: Sugar About Me: Married with 2 kids & building a house Interests: Footy, golf, water skiing & travelling Favourite Sporting Team: The Mighty Magpies
Nickname: Strauchy About Me: Own a rally car Interests: Motor sport Favourite Sporting Team: 888 Racing
Nickname: Dutchy About Me: Still living my youth in my old age Interests: Cars, motorbikes, music & architecture/design Favourite Sporting Team: Ducati Moto GP
Where the
WOW
Nickname: Flick About Me: Born & bred Collingwood nut Interests: Football & cruising around in my convertable Favourite Sporting Team: Collingwood
factor is high!!
51-59 Midland Hwy | Epsom Victoria 3551 | 03 5448 4844
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
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.
my favourite things
ali blood
Photographer: Anthony Webster
The much-loved Bendigo Hat Shop owner still has one of the gorgeous vintage cloches which inspired a local business legend. This is a drawing by a customer Donna Gates, who is quite a well-known artist in Alaska. She came into the shop years ago and was very happy with the service and would call me and I would send stuff to her. Next time she came over she gave me this limited edition drawing. The original one is hanging in a Washington Gallery.
This is one of a number of my grandmother’s hats. She died when I was 17. Elizabeth Scott was her name. She loved hats and was a real fashion plate who used to model. I can remember as a child she would go and buy an outfit and she would get three hats to go with it. I’m pretty sure that’s what started me on the hat shop.
This is my mum’s 21st birthday key. She is 86 now. She gave it to me a long time ago and I always wear it and think how lucky I am to still have her.
I can’t live without books. I get nervous if I don’t have a book. I can’t go to bed without a book. Once I was in Paris I had to run round until I found a place with English books so I’d have something to read.
My eldest son is 42 and he bought me these two little mice at his very first prep fete. Amelia is my favourite doll. I have a few. She is handmade by a lady in Dunedin who beautifully details her dolls with French nails and blush on their knees. Amelia loves to sit in the hat shop window. I have had a lot of people try to buy her.
The desk was originally in the Euroa post office. The saw is very special. The painting on it is of our family home in Castlemaine and the saw itself was my grandfather’s. He used to go up to the bush to cut the wood with it. My four boys had it painted and gave it to me one Mothers’ Day. We still have that house in Castlemaine. ■ 75
Here in Bendigo we are blessed with both the perfect ice cream-eating climate and some fabulous vendors to meet demand. Starting with a stroll across Rosalind Park, the first stop on our ice cream hop is Cold Rock at 90 – 92 Pall Mall. The newest Ice-creamery in town, it is also offers customers a chance to have their ice cream and beat it too. With the motto “choose it, mix it, smash it, love it” this is ice cream at its most interactive. As owner Peter de Wys explains: “The name comes from the slab of granite frozen at minus 20 degrees. First you choose your ice cream and mix-ins, which can be lollies, biscuits, fresh fruit, nuts or chocolates. Then, we take the ice cream and put it on the frozen slab and then mix through it.” All the ice cream used in the Bendigo Cold Rock store is made on the premises and with 36 flavours to choose from plus the mix-in options offering 3000 different combinations, a girl could have a meltdown making a decision. Luckily the shop is air-conditioned! “The most popular flavour for kids is probably bubblegum and the Ferrero Rocher is up there for adults,” Peter offers helpfully. It is perhaps a reflection of our goldfields heritage that Bendigo seems to have a taste for butterscotch, English toffee and Bailey’s ice cream which some of the other Cold Rock outlets around the state don’t find worthwhile to stock. “We probably carry the largest range out of all the Cold Rock stores in Australia,” Peter says. “In a good week we make up to 1000 litres of ice cream”. (That equates to more than 6600 single serve Cold Rock cups if you are wondering).
here’s the scoop I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream and, let’s face it, summer just wouldn’t be summer without a frozen fix. Time was when the far-off tinny tinkle of a Mr Whippy van was the siren call of summer. Ubiquitous pink and white vans cruised the streets luring children to improbable strains of a Tudor love song. Hearing a few faint notes of Greensleeves we’d stop what ever we were doing and run onto the road to greet a van driven by a
76
strange man … seems a bit creepy to think of now. While times have changed and Mr Whippy is now only available by hire, Australia’s love affair with ice cream continues. We are among the world’s leading ice cream consumers per capita, slurping our way through almost 20 litres each a year.
Photographer: David Field
– Sarah Harris
From Cold Rock it’s a nice wander past the Shamrock and through the mall to sample the artisan gelato of Favourite Flavours at 37 Mitchell Street.
Our last stop is at the Bendigo’s longest running ice creamery. The Bendigo Ice Creamery Café recently celebrated its 21st birthday with a move to shop 6 Fountain Court next to Robb’s Jeanery.
Here Steve Virtue is getting ready for the festive rush on his Christmas pudding and brandy custard gelatos in the business he runs with daughter Shaye Elliot.
Heather and Frank Leech have owned the business for 11 years and show no sign of tiring from what they describe as “a delightful business”.
“He can pretty much create anything,” Shaye says of her father’s ice creammaking skills. “Last year we did a shortbread gelato and on Australia Day we did pavlova. He gets so many request both from customers in the shop and from chefs in local restaurants.”
“It is a delightful shop to work in because people come in happy,” Heather says. “The faces of little kids just light up when they look in the ice cream freezer.
Guacamole ice cream was one such chef request that didn’t make the cross over into the shop. Rhubarb was another flavour that wasn’t a huge success, but the jam donut flavour Steve created on a dare was an instant hit.
“We have people who came in as children now bringing their children in and it gives you a loving sense of family. But no family fridge holds 36 flavours of gourmet ice cream including a ginger ice cream with ginger chunks and a wicked raspberry and white chocolate confection. Fortunately all varieties are also available in take home packs from the half litre to 1.5 litres.
It is now up there with Steve’s signature lemon meringue pie as a customer favourite.“People actually come in to find out what is the latest thing I have made,” Steve says. This summer try the watermelon and rose petal, raspberry and fresh garden mint, strawberry and basil or pear and rosemary sorbets for instant fresh fruit refreshment.
“People who love ice cream appreciate the gourmet product we have,” Heather says. Many vistors to Bendigo remember this business for its famous sundaes.
And on Australia Day, perhaps vegemite? I venture. “I don’t think so,” Steve laughs, “but there will be something special.”
The Tramways Special consisting of cappuccino and macadamia icecream topped with hot chocolate fudge, cream, nuts and a wafer, has stopped many a tourist in their tracks. Something special is certainly one description for the latest addition to the menu at Indulge Fine Belgian Chocolates, Shop 26 Fountain Court. The sundae created by owner Hayley Tibbett didn’t have a name until bendigo magazine photographer David Field set eyes on it. “He said, ‘Oh my god that looks sensational’ so we decided to call it the OMG,” Hayley laughs. The sundae consists of vanilla ice cream layered with blackberry coulis, crushed pavlova meringue, shaved chocolate, another scoop of ice cream, topped by more coulis and chocolate. OMG indeed! But it’s the affogato that has my partner doing his best Fred Flintstone-floatingthrough-air impression. Take a shot of coffee and pour it over hazelnut swirl or panna cotta ice cream and the world is instantly a better place. Made by Hayley’s parents Barrie and Karen Gibson at the Pasta Pantry, 102 Mitchell Street the traditional gelati and sorbet is available at both stores in tubs and take-home packs as well as cones. “We do an organic banana gelato and a mango gelato made using real mango cheeks which is perfect for summer,” Hayley says.
77
follow us on facebook Cold Rock Bendigo Locally owned and operated
90-92 Pall Mall Bendigo 5444 3348
HOUSE OF
KHONG
200 HARGREAVES ST BENDIGO
TAKEAWAY, DELIVERY & RESTAURANT
03 5442 5088 Chinese & Thai Cusine All you can eat lunch Mon - Fri $12.50 All you can eat Dinner Tues, Wed & Sun $17.50 OPEN 7 DAYS Full A La Carte Menu
hitting paydirt The Ellis family relished tomato farming, but discovered the rich, red Cambrian soil was really ripened for wine. - John Holton Colbinabbin might not be the name on people’s lips when they think of Victoria’s great wine regions, but Bryan and Joy Ellis knew there was something pretty special about their part of the world, long before the first vines were planted on their 1000-hectare property in 1999.
days his knowledge of viticulture is extensive.
They’d been farming this patch on the Heathcote-Rochester Road at “Colby” since 1985, first as a sheep and wheat farm, before diversifying into tomato production.
Apart from a couple of casual employees and a team of Cambodian contractors who work on big jobs such as pruning, and wire lifting, all the work in the vineyard is done by Barney. It’s no small feat, given that the property has over 52 hectares under vine, yet Barney is modest about his achievements.
“This whole area is known for its rich, red Cambrian soil,” Bryan explains, “but this particular stretch from the Murchison Road to Burrumboot has a particularly deep soil profile which means it has great drainage and is perfect for root development.”
Photographer: Anthony Webster
Having already perfected trickle irrigation for his tomato production, and knowing what the soil was capable of, Bryan’s initial decision to plant grapes was much more of a farming choice than one based on a passion for wine. There was already a lot of interest in his property from some of the big names in Australian wine-making and the region was quickly gaining a reputation. Indeed, when the renowned viticulturist, Larry Bradley, from the Napa Valley in California, visited the property in 2001 he was amazed at the depth of the soil. “He was really excited by what he saw,” Bryan remembers. “He kept asking us to dig deeper and deeper. On the strength of his report, the renowned Taltarni winery in the Pyrenees signed a 10-year contract to purchase our grapes.” The vineyard has been growing steadily in size and output for more than a decade now under the watchful eye of manager Barney Touhey. Like Bryan, Barney’s background was in broadacre farming, but these
Sitting beside Barney in his ute as we drive along the top of the vineyard, it’s clear he knows every vine on the property – every post and wire – like the back of his hand. And he should; it’s those hands that have done the bulk of the work.
“It’s been a wonderful learning curve for me personally, but also really satisfying to see the reputation grow for the fruit we produce here,” Barney says. “We’ve produced award-winning fruit over the years for wineries such as Taltarni, Domaine Chandon, Mount Langi and Heathcote Winery. For them to stake their reputations on our fruit has been very rewarding.” As well as acquiring the hands-on skills and practical knowledge associated with grape-growing, Barney has also completed tertiary studies in viticulture and wine appreciation.“Like a lot of farmers, I was your average beer drinker back when I started planting the vineyard,” Barney admits. “But the more you become involved with wine and viticulture, well, it really gets under your skin. “My wife and I travelled to Europe for the first time last year and that understanding of wine made it such an amazing trip. Visiting the wine-making regions of France and Germany and building on the knowledge of the past 10 years was just fantastic.” Building on the decade of success as viticulturists, Ellis Wines has recently released its own signature label with the 2009 shiraz, ➤ 79
merlot and viognier vintages. Bryan and Barney see it as a natural progression to release the Ellis Wines label after doing the hard yards and building a reputation for the highest quality fruit. “We feel really comfortable now, releasing our own label,” Bryan says. “In many ways we’ve come full circle – from novices to wine producers – so we’re proud to have our name on wine that we know is of the finest quality.” Bryan’s son-in-law, Paul Flanagan, is driving the sales and marketing side of Ellis Wines, and agrees the years of getting it right for other award-winning wineries has built a great foundation for their own label. He also knows that having a winemaker of the calibre of Greg Flynn produce their wine is a great boon for the label. “We’re building our reputation around elegance, grace and style,” Paul says, “which for us is about putting a product into the market that we have absolute faith in.”
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
This quality is reflected by the elegant quill on the label, though Paul’s three-year-old daughter Bronte prefers to call it, “Poppy’s feather.” Not that Bryan minds. There is a strong family focus at the vineyard with all the blocks named after its various members; Joy’s Shiraz, Abigail’s Merlot and Bronte’s Viognier, just to name a few. While it’s still early days for this burgeoning label, out in the market place its reputation is already growing. As Paul says, “the wine is speaking for itself, which makes my job so much easier. Once people see and taste the quality for themselves, they are usually very happy to add the wines to their list. Locally we’re doing well, and we’re starting to get some interest in Melbourne too, which is really encouraging.” Ash Raeburn from the Wine Bank on View has reviewed both the ‘09 shiraz and ‘09 viognier favourably, while I have to say the ‘09 merlot is a wonderful surprise, with its dry leafiness and slightly savoury palette, it makes a perfect accompaniment to Italian-style, tomatobased dishes. Sitting around the Ellis dinner table with Bryan, Barney and Paul, each of us with our nose in a glass of 2009 shiraz, it’s clear to see the pride the family has in bringing the first Ellis Wines vintage to fruition. “Max Allen wrote in Wine International Magazine, ‘Many people say that one day Heathcote will produce the best shiraz in Australia’,” Paul says, holding his glass to the light. And who knows, it may just come from a bottle that looks a lot like the one in front of us – with Poppy’s feather on the label, and the Ellis name in elegant scripted typeface. Ellis Wines 2009 vintages are available at the Wine Bank on View, or visit the website www.elliswines.com.au to download an order form. ■
Closed Wed/Thurs (03) 5439 5367 77 Faderson’s Lane, Mandurang (9km South - East of Bendigo, Off Tannery Lane)
Largest range of local and regional wines
Courtyard Function room
Extensive range of domestic and international wines
Wine tastings
Continuous food service Largest range of local sales and Retail regional wines Great coffee Extensive range of domestic
Friendly, knowledgeable staff and international wines
Sommelier services Courtyard Wine club membership Function room Corporate and function Wine tastings wine supplier
Continuous food service
Sommelier services
WINE BAR & MERCHANT Wine club membership
Retail sales
www.winebankonview.com
Great coffee
Corporate and function
supplier Fo r all en qu irie swineph on e: 03 54 44 46 55
Friendly, knowledgeable staff
WINE BAR & MERCHANT
www.winebankonview.com Bendigo’s Restaurant on Wheels Exceptional Dining Experience www.bendigoninesevensix.com.au
ALLAWAH BENDIGO
apartmentshousesmaisonettes selfcontainedaccommodation w w w. a l l a w a h b e n d i g o . c o m
Bendigo’s Restaurant on Wheels Exceptional Dining Experience www.bendigoninesevensix.com.au
ALLAWAH BENDIGO
apartmentshousesmaisonettes selfcontainedaccommodation w w w. a l l a w a h b e n d i g o . c o m
15 Bath Lane Bendigo 5441 5400
a nice drop
local beer & festive cheer Summer time and the livin’ is made easy with a pale ale or two.
- Ashley Raeburn Wine Bank On View
Summer – it is the time of the year for celebrations with friends and family. Think holidays by the beach, twisting by the pool and festive feasts washed down by a lovely local drop. Australia Day is nigh so bypass the New Zealand sauvignon blanc and pick up some patriotic bubbles from Balgownie, a lovely dry rose from Sutton Grange or – if you prefer a red – how about a slightly chilled grenache from Burnt Acre? And now there’s even a locally brewed beer to add to ice in the bathtub.
Ellis Wines
Harcourt Valley Sightings American Pale Ale Take-away single bottle: $4 six pack: $21 It is absolutely magnificent to see a local brew being produced commercially again. Harcourt Valley vignerons Barbara Livingstone and her sons Kye and Quinn have had great success with their winery achieving the coveted five star rating from James Halliday and picking up some major awards for their cabernet and chardonnay at the Federation Square wine awards. Now they have turned their hand to producing beer which has resulted in a lovely refreshing American pale ale under their Sightings label. Showing a dark golden/ orange colour it is not heavily carbonated or too high in alcohol. Lovely honeyed caramel
Viognier 2009, Heathcote Retail: $26 Members: $23.40 This is Brian and Joy Ellis’s first vintage from their Heathcote vineyard situated on the famed Cambrian soils. Three varietals have so far been released with this scrumptious viognier being followed by both equally delicious shiraz and merlot. With the label representing elegance, grace and style, this viognier certainly follows down that path. This is truly varietal in style, one of the best I have tried in recent times. There is ripened summer fruits on the nose with dried apricots, pears and hints of vanilla and spice on the palate yet it remains crisp and not overpowering on the finish. This would make a lovely start to Christmas Day with some spiced prawns.
Zig Zag Road Sparkling Shiraz 2008, Macedon. Retail: $28 Members: $25.20
Chapter Shiraz 2009, Heathcote Retail: $35 Members: $31.50 This is the second release of the Chapter wines made by Jared Curwood, former assistant wine maker at Bress who is now producing his own label as well as spending time doing vintage in France. The 2009 Heathcote shiraz shows a deep concentrated ruby colour with some delicious red berry aromas and a lovely soft palate. Leaning towards a more elegant style and lower in alcohol than some, it is supported by soft, supple, raspberry flavours with just a touch of coffee and vanilla.
This is a delicious new release from Eric Bellchambers whose winery is to be found just five kilometres from Malmsbury. Zig Zag Road produces some lovely varietals with their shiraz, cabernet and riesling being exceptional. The sparkling shiraz is quite rich on the nose with aromas of blue and blackberries; there is a lovely fine mousse that fills the palate with flavours of blackcurrant and forest fruits. The fruit is quite generous with some fruit cakelike spice without being overly sweet. This will definitely hold its own with a gourmet barbecue or the traditional roasted turkey or even plum pudding.
Full and well-rounded, this would make a lovely finish to a wonderful day. All wines mentioned above are available at Wine Bank on View. 45 View Street, Bendigo. (03) 5444 4655 Bring in this article and receive a 10% discount on any of the wines reviewed above.
82
photo opportunity
bouncing onward How did the Bendigo Braves Basketball celebrate 25 years of competition in the South East Australian Basketball League? They had a ball, of course! The Braves’ gala ball was a huge success and many familiar faces returned to Bendigo to join in the celebrations. A memorabilia display showcased all the special moments from when the club first began back in 1985 to the present. WIN TV produced a spectacular 25th anniversary DVD which was launched on the night. The DVD tells the Braves story from the very first game against the Chelsea Gulls and finishes with the final 2010 win. This special souvenir was narrated by WIN’s Libby McDonald and includes interviews, game footage and photos. To purchase a copy contact Kirstie Harvey on 0409 259 745. ■
83
t 4QFDJBMUZ *NQPSUT t 4DSVNQUJPVT 4BMBET t #FBVUJGVM #SFBET t %FMFDUBCMF %JQT 336 Hargreaves Street Bendigo
PH: 5444 5588
s %STABLISHED PRODUCTS IN "ENDIGO AND SURROUNDING DISTRICTS FOR OVER YEARS s "AKED FRESH DAILY AND DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR s !RTISAN BREAD AT WHOLESALE PRICES s 1UALITY THAT IS SECOND TO NONE s &RESHLY BAKED BREAD WHOLESALE FOR PARTIES CORPORATE EVENTS PUBS RESTAURANTS CAFES
56 Eaglehawk Road, Ironbark p: 0413 996 513
chef’s choice
turkish delight It has been over a decade since Lady Sultan first introduced za’atar to Bendigo’s culinary landscape. Debbie Kasim’s childhood was infused with the exotic spices of the Middle East and it is these redolent dishes she and her chef husband Sam serve today. “I’ve been cooking with my mum from age five using traditional methods and recipes that have been passed through our family,” Debbie explains. “I started Lady Sultan back in 1999 after finishing high school in Castlemaine. In 2005 I was joined in the kitchen by Sam and we run the business together. “The key to my business is cooking authentic food like we cook at home. I hope to pass this culinary tradition on through our two boys, who are aged three and one, so the story of Lady Sultan, like the food of family’s homeland continues.” Here Debbie provides the recipe for a favourite vegetarian dish.
Imam Bayildi – serves 4 (entree) Ingredients:
Photographer: David Field
2 medium sized eggplants 1 small brown onion 3 cloves garlic 1 cup of well ripened tomatoes (can used tinned) 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 cup water Canola oil for frying 4 tablespoons salt
Directions: Cut eggplants in half and slit middles slightly (so once cooked you can fill), salt eggplants and set aside for 1 hour. Dice onion, tomatoes and garlic. In a frying pan add 1 tablespoon oil and heat. Add onions and garlic and sweat till slightly cooked. Add tomatoes and paste, stir, add 1 cup water, pinch of salt, on low heat simmer for 10 minutes or till tomatoes are cooked. Wash and pat dry eggplants. In frying pan add oil to deep fry. Heat then fry eggplants till golden, place on paper towel to drain excess oil. Open and fill eggplants with the tomato mixture. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve with Turkish bread. ■ 85
Balgownie Estate Est. 1969
Echuca-Moama’s premier entertainment venue. You’ll love it.
5 STAR WINERY RATING – JAMES HALLIDAY 2011 Australian Wine Companion – Balgownie Estate Bendigo.
TROPHY; ‘THE MOST SUCCESSFUL EXHIBITOR’ 2010 Small Vigneron Awards.
We invite you to celebrate the festive season with our new selection of Sparkling Wines! Our exciting summer café menu has been carefully planned to match these exciting new releases… SPARKLING WINES NOW AVAILABLE: NV Premium Cuveé Brut - $19 NV Premium Cuveé Rosé - $19 2008 Sparkling Shiraz - $29 (20% off for Wine Club Members)
Open 7 Days: Cellar Door 11am - 5pm, Cafe 12pm - 3pm. (03) 5449 6222 www.balgownieestate.com
Share some food and wine with friends in The Pavilion. Our renowned grazing menu is always fresh, informal and most importantly delicious. Whet your whistle with one of the worlds’ finest domestic and imported ales or make a selection from our hand picked wine list. Enjoy free live entertainment Friday nights in the Piano Lounge and Saturday nights in the Pavilion. You’ll love Echuca-Moama’s premier entertainment venue.
6 Shaw Street, Moama NSW 2731. Free shuttle service. Contact Customer Service. FreeCall 1800 806 777 ABN 58001046939
from the foodie
rosemary & time Use your locally produced artisan loaf. Take a lesson from Simon and Garfunkel and stop and smell the home-grown herbs this summer. “Slow down you move too fast, You gotta make the morning last.” Christmas and the holidays are here once again. As always, we have no time. No time to shop, no time to catch up with friends, no time to do all those things we always say we will. But before you race off to madly attempt to do all the grocery shopping as quickly as you can for the festive period, think about Paul Simon’s lyrics at the top of the page. Think about the choices you will make this Christmas and the following barbecue season. Give some thought to the food you will serve, share and eat. There is no better way of showing your friends and family you love them, than by buying and preparing beautiful, artisan, personal and holistic food slowly produced, grown or made for you by local producers and merchants. Many argue that eating locally dramatically decreases negative environmental effects – since supermarkets import and freight in their foods from great distances, burning enormous amounts of fossil fuels in the process.
Photographer: Anthony Webster
Much of the food we are exposed to is not produced locally and can, in many cases, be seen as a result of corporate management policies, greed, urban sprawl, poor animal welfare, heavy subsidies, poor conditions for workers, lack of care for the environment and globalisation. A recent study found that Americans spend less than a 10th of their wage on food, down dramatically from a fifth of their wage back in the 1950s. Yet more than half pay upwards of $US50-a-month on mobile phones. Australia is fast following suit. Interesting to see how our priorities as a culture have changed in the past 50 years. Considering most people consume three or more meals every single day of their lives, you have to wonder when food stopped being amongst the most important aspects of life. This is even starting to happen in France, Italy and China – three countries that until recently have always been impervious to these damaging food trends; for in those countries food is traditionally worshipped as each day’s centre point. Perhaps the current “celebrity chef” trend will help the general population come back to our old European and Asian-influenced food loving ways. Long may slow food reign. Since the 1970s the extraordinary increase in multinational food
- Tim Baxter The Dispensary
companies has caused the size of corporate farms to grow dramatically. By streamlining their production methods and abandoning any foodstuff that cannot adhere to rigid profitability processes, the absurd greed by these companies is slowly going about making extinct thousands of “lesser” performing varieties of fruit and vegetables as well as entire breeds of animals. It is all about output and which varieties can best produce maximum returns, for minimum cost. Little, if any, thought has been given to taste, the environment, freshness, health or even the consumer’s needs and wants. We just simply get used to the half a dozen or so apple varieties on sale at the local supermarket. We tend to forget there was once Cox’s Orange Pippins or Senshu apples available. Small dedicated local artisan producers are working hard to wind back the clock and protect our amazing and varied landscape of foodstuffs; and along the way their biodiversity improves sustainability. For them, point of difference is variety, uniqueness and above all a dedication of earnest respect to the consumer, through their devotion and love of the very produce that they grow, serve and sell. Hopefully many of us over time may be able to start planting in our own backyards. If enough people show an interest we may be able to revive a few forgotten heirloom varieties to add variety to our menus and diets. The knowledge that my family, friends and my customers will be eating produce picked at optimal ripeness and freshness is quite appealing and comforting in equal measures. Need another reason to eat local … when you buy local produce, you give those with the local open space (typically farms and pastures) an economic reason to stay open and undeveloped. Meaning our local economy can continue to grow but we don’t have to face the taxing over-development that has taken over many of the world’s major cities. We are able to maintain the look and feel of the “village green” lifestyle we country folk all grew up with. And just as Simon and Garfunkel sang…Ba-da-da-da-da-da-da, feelin’ groovy. It’s not for nothing the 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy), comes off the album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme. ■ 87
"%.$)'/ 6)3)4/2 #%.42% $HRBNUDQ SGD GHFGKHFGSR NE "DMCHFN HMRHCD NMD NE "DMCHFN¢R LNRS AD@TSHETK ATHKCHMFR � SGD (HRSNQHB 0NRS /EŠ BD #NLD @MC DWODQHDMBD SGD QDETQAHRGDC "DMCHFN 6HRHSNQ #DMSQD Have friends or relatives visiting? .NS RTQD VGDQD SN S@JD SGDL NQ VG@S SGDQD HR SN CN 4GD "DMCHFN 6HRHSNQ #DMSQD¢R EQHDMCKX RS@EE @MC UNKTMSDDQR VHKK @RRHRS XNT HM OK@MMHMF SGDHQ RS@X–
Need accommodation for friends, relatives or a special occasion? 4GD "DMCHFN 6HRHSNQ #DMSQD B@M ANNJ NUDQ OQNODQSHDR SN RTHS @KK S@RSDR
Looking for great shopping and dining hotspots? -@JD RTQD XNT OHBJ TO NTQ $HMHMF @MC 3GNOOHMF 'THCD @U@HK@AKD EQDD NE BG@QFD
Check out our local book collection, Bendigo and Australian made gifts. 6HDV @ RDKDBSHNM NE E@RBHM@SHMF ANNJR NM "DMCHFN¢R GHRSNQX ED@STQHMF KNB@K @TSGNQR "QNVRD SGQNTFG NTQ Q@MFD NE "DMCHFN FHESR ENQ RNLDNMD RODBH@K
Bendigo Ambassador Passport
"%.$)'/ /2 !-"!33!$ 0!330/24
'DS SN JMNV "DMCHFN¢R KNB@K @SSQ@BSHNMR @MC ADBNLD @ OQNTC "DMCHFN !LA@RR@CNQ &HMC NTS LNQD @MC QDFHRSDQ ENQ SGD !LA@RR@CNQ 0@RRONQS @S SGD "DMCHFN 6HRHSNQ #DMSQD
/TQ "DMCHFN DWODQHDMBDR @QD @S XNTQ Š MFDQSHOR www.bendigotourism.com NQ B@KK 5434 6060
"DMCHFN¢R /EŠ BH@K !BBNLLNC@SHNM 4NTQ 4HBJDSHMF 3ODBH@KHRSR !BBNLLNC@SHNM OQNODQSHDR ANNJ@AKD NMKHMD NQ NUDQ SGD OGNMD 0DQRNM@KKX L@M@FDC @BBNLLNC@SHNM SNTQ ANNJHMFR â– 0QD OTQBG@RD @SSQ@BSHNM SHBJDSR SN L@JD SGD LNRS NE XNTQ RS@X â– %WODQS JMNVKDCFD NE "DMCHFN DWODQHDMBDR @MC RTHS@AHKHSX SN XNTQ MDDCR â– ,NB@K "DMCHFN RODBH@KHRSR SN DMRTQD @ LDLNQ@AKD DWODQHDMBD â– 6HRHSNQ -@O @MC 'THCDANNJR â– %WSDMRHUD ,NB@K "NNJ #NKKDBSHNM 3NTUDMHQR â–
Open everyday from 9amĂ?5pm (excluding Christmas Day) 0@KK -@KK "DMCHFN 0GNMD 03 5434 6060 %L@HK tourism@bendigo.vic.gov.au
stamp of approval The opening of the new Post Office Gallery was a red-letter day for our city’s social history. – Sarah Harris Not so long ago when Sandra Bruce talked about goals, she meant the kind you kicked between the uprights. The former curator of the National Sports Museum at the MCG laughingly agrees moving to Bendigo was a fairly dramatic change in game plan. So it was that rather than chasing the match ball kicked by Lenny Hayes in the fourth quarter of the tied Collingwood-St Kilda grand final, she instead took possession of Major Thomas Mitchell’s silver coffee pot. The 171-year-old coffee pot was presented to the explorer in recognition of his discovery of Australia Felix. Alongside the panoramic journal Mitchell kept of his 1836 journey, this is part of the exhibition Naming Bendigo: The Evolution of the City’s Identity. Securing the loan of the journal from the State Library of NSW was a coup and has set an important benchmark for exhibitions to come. The fragile document is pivotal to the opening exhibition of the Post Office Gallery because it’s here – as Mitchell gazes from Pyramid Hill across the “verdant plains” – the history of white settlement in Bendigo starts.
that didn’t have a name. It was just the Bendigo Creek diggings. We had gold commissioners up here, police and constabulary and one of the administrators decided it was time the town formerly became a town and so they applied to the government to give it a name.” The name chosen was Castleton. In early December, 1852 this was recorded in the Government Gazette, only to be overridden six weeks later by Governor La Trobe, citing the potential for confusion with Castlemaine. The settlement became Sandhurst for the next 38 years, but residents were never fully convinced. “People here never let go of the Bendigo Creek diggings,” Sandra observes. “Sandhurst was such a boom town. There was plenty of industry and commerce going on, so we have fantastic items from local businesses. For example, grocers and mixed businesses were minting their own pennies or tokens and it is interesting to see how many retailers were advertising premises on ‘Pall Mall, Bendigo’ when we’d been Sandhurst for 20 years.” ➤
“The whole premise of this new gallery is that it is all about the social history and culture of Bendigo and our region,” Sandra, the gallery’s foundation curator, explains. “We chose to look first at the naming of Bendigo because it is a really good way of looking at that first 50 years. The different names we had from Jaara country (as it was known to the original inhabitants) to Australia Felix to the pastoral settlements Mt Alexander Run and Ravenswood Run, to Castleton, Sandhurst and Bendigo tie it all together.” Hold on a minute, Castleton? “That’s right,” Sandra says. “Gold was discovered in November 1851. Twelve months later we had a population of 40,000 – 70,000 people here in this settlement 89
Having moved to Bendigo scarcely a year ago, Sandra has become an avid student of the city. “The learning curve has been phenomenal,” she laughs, But because this gallery is what we call a project gallery there will never be anything permanent on display. Every three to four months the exhibition will change which means I will be researching other elements of our history very intensely.” The next exhibition has the working title Beginning in Bendigo and looks at businesses which originated in the city like Myer, Fletcher Jones, Legos pasta sauces, Rosella jams to the more contemporary exports like EcoPod homes. This also is likely to see some significant items relating to Bendigo return to the city. “Because we made sure the fit-out in the refurbishment is state-ofthe art it means we can house loan items from the big institutions like the Major Mitchell material,” Sandra explains. The refit ensures the grand old building that first served as the Sandhurst Public Office will remain a working part of the city’s Victorian streetscape. The dismantling of the Making of a Nation exhibition was long overdue with visitors dwindling as the centenary of Federation itself became a memory. “There was a lot of work to be done,” Sandra says of the refurbishment. The floors, discovered to be a patchwork of different woods, have been stained red mahogany. The magnificent old post office counter which it part of the heritage overlay has been moved to beneath the windows and floating display cases mounted on false walls behind it. The installation of an environmental control system ensures the humidity and temperature are always spot on and tack lighting suspended from the ceiling means there are no gloomy corners. Finally, the ramp makes it accessible to everyone. The establishment of the Post Office Gallery will not completely assuage those who would dearly like to see the city have its own general history museum.
“There is still a percentage of the population that want a proper traditional museum with permanent displays but I think this is a good compromise,” Sandra says. “We are looking at museum style exhibitions, not art exhibitions so it is all about objects and artifacts that help tell a particular story. “In terms of actually talking about where are we going to get the things to tell stories in this new gallery, I will work with all of the different special interest groups around the city. “That includes the Bendigo Historical Society, the Eaglehawk Heritage Society, the Cornish Associaton, the Irish, the Germans, the Northern and District Nursing Association and so on. “There are about 35 special interest groups which means once I come up with an idea for an exhibition - a concept to curate - I have got a really decent resource to go to and say; ‘this is the story we would like to tell. What do you think you’ve got we might be able to put on display to help tell the story’. “I think now it’s up and running and established people will begin to appreciate it as a really, really good cultural element of the town. “We will be publishing catalogues for each exhibition – so even though the shows are temporary and there will be a limited time to actually see the show – there will be something for posterity. Ultimately we should be able to be a really good library that relates to our history. “Importantly, local residents and tourists could come three times a year and see something different each time.” Now, that’s got to be worth a stamp. n
Bendigo Pacing Cup Saturday Night, 15th January, Lords Raceway LIVE BAND FREE KIDS ENTERTAINMENT PRIZES & COMPETITIONS DINING & MARQUEE PACK AGES Adults $10 - Concession $5 Children U/16 - Free
E n te r t h e d r a w f o r a c h a n c e t o w i n a
FORD RANGER
Meet the Choice Hotels Country Cups ambassador Billy Brownless!
Summer Race Dates December: 16th, 22nd, 29th Januar y: 4th, 10th, 15th, 27th Februar y: 7th, 11th, 26th
Harness the Horsepower For more information contact Bendigo Harness Racing Club Ph: (03) 54 49 3205 w w w.bhrc.com.au
CHOICE HOTELS COUNTRY CUPS
countryharness.com.au
$40 million
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.
And they’ve provided much-needed financial support to the community groups, clubs and not-for-profit groups that are the backbone of local communities. Call into your nearest branch or phone 1300 BENDIGO.
So we’re particularly proud to join with our locally owned companies that run the Community Bank® branches of Bendigo Bank as they celebrate a momentous milestone. The bank’s national network of locally-owned Community Bank® companies recently exceeded more than $40 million in contributions to their communities. These funds have helped lawn bowlers, budding artists, knitting groups, pre-schoolers, footballers, learner drivers, golfers, musicians, students, trainee medical professionals and many, many others to achieve great things. Bendigo and Adelaide Bank ABN 11 068 049 178 AFSL 237879 (S31494) (10/10)
www.bendigobank.com.au/snapshots
bendigo landmark
smoking hot Once the drill was dousing the fire, now Bendigo’s newest performance venue is fanning creative flames through avant-garde theatre. - Colin King
Black box theatres became popular in the 1960s for experimental performance. Their neutral all-black interior is the theatre equivalent of a blank canvas — an unadorned performance space where “pure” theatre can be explored and give audiences a sense of any place. This avant-garde concept meets 19th century fire brigade technology on the theatre’s ceiling. Its state of the art lighting grid is suspended where harnesses once hung aloft to lower onto horses for a swift fire response.
and Dudley House.The building first knew performance in those early years. The upstairs drill room was utilised for impromptu concerts on a piano purchased with funds raised from socials held at the fire station. The Bendigo ambulance service also began operating from the fire station in the early 1900s and continued into the motorised era until 1951. By then the building was outgrown by trucks and ladders that would fit only with part of the back wall knocked out. Contentious plans to remodel the building in the early 1970s were abandoned in favour of building a new station in Hargreaves Street. That came about in 1984 after the View Street station had been classified by the National Trust.
Bendigo was extremely fire-prone in its early days of candles, kerosene lamps and flammable shingle roofs. However it was not until fire gutted the Criterion Hotel in 1855 that diggers felt the need to form a fire brigade.
Decommissioning of the fire station coincided with an inter-council battle to have the neighbouring Capital Theatre acquired and renovated as Bendigo’s Performing Arts Centre. The newly vacated station was quickly incorporated into that proposal as well as the broader vision to “convert historic View Street into Bendigo’s arts precinct”. It has been inextricably linked with the Capital Theatre ever since.
By the 1870s, Bendigo boasted several competing volunteer services including the Temperance Fire Brigade whose members all signed the pledge. The brigade of abstainers formed a reliable alternative in a town that boasted a public watering hole to every 64 people.
The “Old Fire Station Arts Co-operative” was officially opened in June 1987 — some four years before full restoration of the Capital Theatre. The officiating minister spoke about the successful transformation of, “a bleak old fire station into a warm inviting home for the arts”.
Amalgamation was inevitable for the surfeit of brigades vying for the great honour of “first water” at every fire. A united Bendigo fire brigade eventually came into being in 1899 along with the sweetener of new headquarters in View Street — the building we now know and love as the old fire station.
The venture kicked off with an exhibition by local contemporary Aboriginal artist Gayle Maddigan. Visitors have been treated to a surfeit of inspired art and performance ever since. Smaller scale productions are regularly staged in the intimate setting by local theatre groups such as the Bendigo Theatre Company, CT Productions and others like CreateAbility for disabled performers and the Bendigo Youth Arts Network. One of the longest running local shows has been the grass roots Open Stage for aspiring performers.
Brigades’ angst about amalgamating might have been less if they could have foreseen “one of the finest fire stations in Australia”. The grand Queen Anne design by architect William Bede struck the eye and created an imposing streetscape alongside the Capital Theatre 92
Seasons of visiting shows have seen the zenith of a Peter Brook
Photographer: Anthony Webster
The walls, the ceiling and even the floor are all black. There are no windows and without electric light it is impossible to see your hand in front of your face. No, it is not the confines of Central Deborah mine. Nor is it any of Bendigo’s night clubs. It is the Old Fire Station in View Street where the former engine room has been transformed into a black box theatre.
Opposite page: Technician Stephen Henderson lights up the action. Left: The old fire station retains many original features Below: The real engine room behind the scenes Bottom: The brilliant big red doors send their own smoke signal. This is one very hot venue
production – a man billed as “the world’s most important living theatre director”. His production of Athol Fugard’s play Sizwe Banzi is Dead was staged in 2007. The Old Fire Station’s incarnation as a black box theatre has recently been badged the “Engine Room” with the spotlight on less orthodox performance. Experimental notions like graphic music notation and anti virtuoso now resonate behind the big red doors. This year’s program included the acclaimed Wretch, described as “bogan Shakespeare”, and Red Sky Morning produced by Melbourne’s independent Red Stitch Actors Theatre. Of no less weight are non-mainstream Central Victorian groups pushing the boundaries of performance in the Engine Room. Undue Noise is a collective of local experimental musicians and multimedia artists. Punctum is a “live art organisation” challenging conventions of performance and The Old Van is a multicultural theatre company based in rural Victoria. To have such pioneers of creativity flourish in our midst swells the Bendigo chest. But not all of the action happens in the Engine Room. The upstairs former drill room has been retained in its original state save for a mirrored wall installed for its post-fire station life as a dance studio. With sun streaming through the tall elegant arched windows, it evokes the stylish New York or Paris studios depicted in movies. How fortunate are those dancers that come to learn ballet, ballroom and belly dancing? The Old Fire Station is set to grow as part of the council’s expansion plan for the View Street Arts Precinct. Stage two will see a new foyer, back of house space and an even larger adjoining black box theatre. It was said at the official opening in 1987, “I hope this fire station will now be devoted to starting fires instead of putting them out”. For full program details visit www.engineroompresents.com. au or phone (03) 5434 6100. n
93
Bianca Frost
Jamie Wall
Dale Alexander
Weekday Breakfast Local News & Sport
Local News Editor & Live Events Producer
Production & Live Sport Manager
Bendigo’s Best Sport
101.5 FM Licensed to Broadcast Live Active Sport Across Central Victoria Playing your SMS Requests 24/7. You determine what we play. Promoting Live Sport & Events all Summer Linking Local Sport, SMS Requests with Pro Active, Live Programming www.bendigosbestsportfm.com admin@bendigosbestsportfm.com
Cellar Door Open Daily 11am - 5pm
Closed Christmas and Good Friday
SMS – ZERO FOUR TWO NINE FRESH WITH A DOUBLE H Ph: 5442 7895 42 Garsed Street, Bendigo
156 Forest Drive Marong,Victoria Australia Phone: (+61) 354 35 25 34 | Fax: (+61) 354 35 25 48 wine@sandhurstridge.com.au
101.5 LIVE ACTIVE SPORT – THIS SUMMER’S BIGGEST HIT
at the movies
fun, festive flicks
Looking for a laugh, a good cry or to be transported to another realm? You will find it on the big screen these holidays. Boxing Day blockbusters: Love & Other Drugs Romantic Comedy (CTC) Maggie is an alluring free spirit who won’t let anyone - or anything - tie her down. But she meets her match in Jamie, whose relentless and nearly infallible charm serve him well with the ladies and in the cutthroat world of pharmaceutical sales. Maggie and Jamie’s evolving relationship takes them both by surprise...
Little Fockers Comedy (CTC) It has taken 10 years, two little Fockers with wife Pam and countless hurdles for Greg to finally get “in� with his tightly wound father-in-law, Jack. After the cashstrapped dad takes a job moonlighting for a drug company, however, Jack’s suspicions about his favorite male nurse come roaring back. When Greg and Pam’s entire clan - including Pam’s lovelorn ex, Kevin - descends for the twins’ birthday party, Greg must prove to the skeptical Jack that he’s fully capable as the man of the house. But with all the misunderstandings, spying and covert missions, will Greg pass Jack’s final test and become the family’s next patriarch ... or will the circle of trust be broken for good? Cast: Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Hank Azaria
The Tourist Drama (CTC) Frank is an American tourist visiting Italy to mend a broken heart when Elise who is an extraordinary woman deliberately crosses his path. Cast: Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Timothy Dalton
3D Summer Titles: 3D Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (CTC) opens December 9, 3D Megamind (CTC) opens December 9,3D Tron Legacy (CTC) opens December 16, 3D Gulliver’s Travels (CTC) opens Dember 26. n * (CTC) Check the Classification closer to the release date.
THIS CHRISTMAS GIVE THE GIFT OF A GREAT NIGHT OUT! Christmas shopping made easy with Bendigo Cinemas Gift Vouchers CHILD SENIOR CHILD SENIOR CHILD SENIOR ADULT CHILD ADULT .................. SENIOR ........................... ADULT ...................................................... To ...................................................... CHILD ADULT ........................................... ...................................................... SENIOR Wishing you ........................... ADULT ..................................... CHILD ...................................................... ADULT From ...................................................... N YOU TO ONE ADMISSIO SENIOR ADULT THIS GIFT VOUCHER ENTITLES CHILD To ......................................................................................................................................................... AT THE TICKET BOX ADULT UPON PRESENTATION the value of the Gift Voucher. SENIOR value of admission falls below No change will be given if the Wishing you ............................................................................................................................ADULT . . . . . CHILD . . . . . . . . . . . . . ADULT . . . . . . . . . . . Expires SENIOR Authorised . . . . . . . . . . . ................................................................................................................................................. Fax (03) 54415202.From 3550. Phone (03) 5442 1666. ADULT CHILD 107-109 Queen Street, Bendigo, THIS GIFT VOUCHER ENTITLES inemas.com.au
Gift Voucher
must be 14 years be
Gift Voucher
YOU TO ONE ADMISSION ADULT UPON PRESENTATION AT THE TICKET BOX ADULT
www.bendigoc
No change will be given if the value of admission falls below the value of the Gift Voucher.
ADULT
Authorised . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Expires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ADULT 107-109 Queen Street, Bendigo, 3550. Phone (03) 5442 1666. Fax (03) 54415202.ADULT www.bendigocinemas.com.au
& Movie Dollar Books
ADULT
Credit card phone orders welcome. Bendigo Cinemas Gift Vouchers & Movie Dollar Books are valid for 12 months. Please note a $3 surcharge applies to 3D movies.
T O T A L 107 QUEEN STREET, BENDIGO VIC 3550
E N T E R T A I N M E N T PHONE 03 5442 1666
C O M P L E X WWW.BENDIGOCINEMAS.COM.AU
I’ve always enjoyed & collected poetry, & had an abiding interest in books, cinema & art.
96
local author
not half bard Determined to rescue poetry from the bottom shelf, one local author is doing his best to change the literary landscape a meter at a time. - John Holton In Castlemaine the rain is blowing in sideways from the Antarctic and only the hardiest of Sunday drivers ventures from the warm cocoon of their cars. A day “not fit for man nor beast,” my father would have said. But the Castlemaine Art Gallery is a hive of activity. And it’s not the latest travelling exhibition from Melbourne, or a classical string quartet that has pulled this crowd. These people have come from far and wide for the most unfashionable of reasons – poetry. B N Oakman, or Bruce to his friends, is the reason for all the fuss, and he’s used to such ironies. After all, on this wintry afternoon he’s here to launch his debut collection of poetry titled In Defence Of Hawaiian Shirts. There’s even hula girls with ukuleles – I kid you not! So what does any of this have to do with poetry? Bruce explains there is serious intent behind the grass skirts and crowd-pleasing title. “I chose it as the title poem partly because it’s catchy,” he says, “but also because it conveys a distrust of mindless conformity and a distaste for the consequences of such conformity.”
That range of subject matter includes social commentary, personal relationships, history, politics – even AFL football. (Bruce admits to being a tragic Western Bulldogs supporter).
Like many of Bruce’s poems, this one takes a memorable, offbeat occurrence from the poet’s life – a chance meeting with a customs officer wearing a loud Hawaiian shirt – and uses it to explore themes from Nazi Germany to the modern-day obsession with branding and company loyalty. You might think it all sounds a bit “heavy”, but the wonderful thing about these poems is that, above all, they entertain.
Indeed, on the day of his book launch, 24 hours after Geelong’s 100 point drubbing of the Bulldogs, Bruce reads to the packed crowd his poem My Football Team is Hopeless. There is much laughter from the assembly and just as many tears from heartbroken football fans. That’s the way with these poems – whether it’s an examination of an unresolved relationship, or a lament for a failed football team, each is handled with compassion, and sentiment rather than sentimentality.
It may have something to do with Bruce’s initiation into the world of poetry. And here the irony continues. He is not the product of an arts doctorate, nor is he a long-term cohort of the literary set. He’s the first to agree – you don’t see too many poets with the term “former economist” in their bio. “I’ve always enjoyed and collected poetry, and had an abiding interest in books, cinema and art,” he says. “But because of my working-class background I felt compelled to heed W.H. Auden’s advice to aspiring poets: ‘First secure an income’. Hence, at university I chose economics rather than English or history.” Indeed, Bruce had a long and successful career teaching economics at universities in Australia and England before moving to Bendigo in 2003. One afternoon he happened to be watching the Jim Lehrer NewsHour and saw American poet Ted Kooser read a very moving poem about his father. “I’d done a lot of academic writing over the years,” Bruce says, “and I’d even had some moderate success with short stories. But when I heard Kooser I remember thinking for the first time, perhaps I could write something like that.
Photographer: Anthony Webster
“For Kooser, poetry is a form of communication between the poet and the reader. The whole point of his work is to make an emotional connection.” Kooser became the stimulus for Bruce to throw himself wholeheartedly into writing poetry. He further honed his craft by studying poetry with Dr Ian Irvine, a unit offered as part of the professional writing and editing diploma at BRIT, then set about the task of getting his work out there in front of editors and other poets. His rise in the poetry world has been nothing short of meteoric. As Ross Donlon, convenor of poetry In Castlemaine, says, “The publishing record of B N Oakman, both in Australia and overseas in the past four years has been phenomenal and attests to the range and quality of his poetry.”
I ask Bruce how he avoids his work drifting into the sentimental. “The poet Robert Lowell challenged his fellow poets with the question: ‘Why not say what happened?’ It’s much harder to do than it sounds, but for me it means using style to elicit feeling, rather than drowning the reader in a flood of emotion. “I’m also a devotee of the principles of psychoanalysis, and so try to accept the inevitability of suffering, loss and sadness. I think all these elements help me navigate sentimentality’s treacherous swamp. “Most of all, I want to make that connection that Kooser and others talk about. The late British poet, Adrian Mitchell said, ‘Most people ignore most poetry, because most poetry ignores most people’. I want to bring my readers in close and engage with them.” Back at the Castlemaine Art Gallery, it’s post-launch and I’m talking to some of the punters over a glass of red. I’m surprised to hear that people are still talking about the poetry. I ask a woman who seems very enamoured of Bruce’s poems what she likes most about them. “I get them,” she says smiling. “As I sat and listened today, I knew exactly what it was the poet was trying to share with me and with everyone else in the room. I don’t want a cryptic message, I want to be able to respond in some way. It’s so nice to be entertained.” Her words put me in mind of one of the poems Bruce has read just half-an-hour earlier called Edge of the Desert, in which the poet asks an assistant at a local bookstore where the poetry section is. “There isn’t any,” she says. “We send out if anyone needs it.” Like the woman at the launch, I think I get why Bruce and other committed poets are doing what they do. Flying in the face of a world that wants cookbooks and biographies for entertainment, they are doing their bit to restore poetry to something more than the thing that is sent out for. In Defence of Hawaiian Shirts is available from Interactive Press at http://www.ipoz.biz/ ■ 97
INTRODUCING THE BENDIGO MEDIA CENTRE Part of the wider Southern Cross Media group - Australia’s leading regional diversified media operation, the Bendigo Media Centre provides complete media solutions for Central Victoria across TV, radio and online. With a portfolio of live and local media platforms including radio stations 3BO and Star FM, as well as Southern Cross Ten, and Australia’s only free to air digital sports channel ONE HD, the Bendigo Media Centre is uniquely placed to provide integrated cross-media content and promotion opportunities. Despite being one of more than 40 Southern Cross Media offices nationally (reaching 7.5 million people - or 95% of Australia’s population outside the mainland State capital cities), the Bendigo Media Centre maintains a local focus - having donated more than $500,000 in airtime to charity events and organisations. In addition, the Centre this year participated in Southern Cross Media’s annual Give Me 5 For Kids campaign, helping the group set a company record in raising more than $1.2 million nationally for the children’s wards of hospitals in Southern Cross Media’s operational regions. For unparalleled access to integrated media and aligned promotions and marketing opportunities that combine national content with a local approach and attention to detail and the community, look no further than the BENDIGO MEDIA CENTRE.
SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA
for art’s sake
forms of logic Having been forced to repress her artistic inclination as a young woman, life has come full circle for sculptor Maria Coyle. - Ken Turnbull
However, it is intriguing to wonder how many artists we must lose because all youngsters don’t get the chance to follow their creative urges to a logical conclusion. This rhetorical question has special resonance for regional sculptor Maria Coyle, who has carved out a reputation for her work through exhibitions, commissions and private acquisitions. “As a teenager I wanted to study art, but my father didn’t approve,” she says.“I come from a family of eight, and dad was willing to send me to university to become a lawyer or doctor – but not to ‘play around with paint’.” Consequently, Maria was well established in adult life when she decided to enrol in a pottery night class.“Drawing and painting has been part of my life since childhood, yet I never felt it was getting me where I wanted to be. Then, as soon as I touched the clay, I knew this was it.”
property. Figure and anatomical drawings adorn the workspace, testifying to the concept that an artist must understand the human body as it is before being able to interpret it in idiosyncratic ways. Her mature work has as its central principle ‘simplicity is beauty’. It is influenced by Japanese minimalism, which echoes the Zen dictum that a design is finished when nothing else can be taken out. The Japanese flavour can be seen in her approach to gardening – another passion that has strong parallels with sculpting. Maria is also an advocate of the famous ‘less is more’ motto of modernist architect Mies van der Rohe. Single figures, or groups such as mother and child, are the main themes. “Viewer involvement is very important, so the works are serene. There is probably a place for confrontational art, but once the initial shock is over how can the work last? Besides, there’s enough confrontation in the world already.” The clay Maria uses is heavily ‘grogged’, that is, with a high content of fired clay particles to give the material strength, just as aggregate strengthens concrete.
Although she has worked with other media, clay is her favoured material for creating pieces that tell a story. After various workshops and being apprenticed to a well-known sculptor, she embarked on a diploma of art with a ceramics major – this time with the enthusiastic support of her husband.
The pieces are initially created in the same way as pots are built up, but using strips of clay about 25mm thick rather than coils. The works are hollow, otherwise they would explode in the kiln because of temperature differentials and moisture escaping as steam from deep within the clay.
Maria’s early work shows elements of Henry Moore’s abstract figures, and she was given a personal tour of the Henry Moore Foundation on a visit to the UK.“When I said I was a sculptor, they showed me around the house and sculpture garden. In one of the studios that is not open to the public, his pens and brushes were just as he left them, and his cardigan was hanging on a chair.”
When the material is ‘leather hard’, Maria carves it to the desired form and adds the barest of detail.The pieces are left to dry for long periods, even several weeks. They are then ‘steamed’ – given five hours at 50 degrees to get rid of remaining moisture.
Maria’s own garden is graced with sculptures, and her studio is a stimulating space nestled into a stone wall that curves across the 100
“Grogging helps to counter shrinkage when the works go into the kiln for the actual firing. They are fired at 1150 degrees very slowly, for about 24 hours, which also helps to minimise breakages by ensuring that parts of different thicknesses heat up evenly.
Photographer: Anthony Webster
It’s a point of logic that still seems to have escaped some politicians: you can’t tell what would have happened if a certain action had not been carried out. Think government stimulus package after the global financial crisis.
I’m not too precious about outcomes now – maturity lets me accept unintended consequences
“Clay is extremely versatile, as it can be formed to any shape. White clay is best for this work, and I can make it look like limestone if the piece and the setting call for it.” Glazing can make the sculptures stronger, but it is mainly an aesthetic consideration. It can change the character of a piece, and even the viewer’s perception. “A glaze can make the clay look like marble, and I sometimes glaze only part of a sculpture to enhance certain surfaces. This is usually dictated by the intended setting. “I always design with colour in mind. For instance, red glaze is eminently suitable for works going into cool, contemporary settings. “Lots of experimentation is required, and I am often surprised by the results. Uneven melting of the glaze can produce some interesting effects. Glazing materials can behave in lots of different ways depending on the heat and how much oxygen is allowed into the kiln. “I’m not too precious about the outcomes now – I suppose a degree of artistic maturity lets me accept unintended consequences.” Maria Coyle sculptures can be found in the Bendigo Base Hospital maternity unit, at the Yarra Valley winery Yering Station – said to be the state’s oldest – in Adelaide’s Rendezvous Allegra Hotel, and in corporate and private collections in the US, the UK, Europe and Asia. She is now putting together a range of work to exhibit in the Castlemaine State Festival to be held from April 1-10 next year. Maria had her first show in 1993 and became a professional sculptor three years later. Her exhibitions, awards and editorial coverage would take up as much space as this article. For someone who was once told not to “play around with paint”, getting back to drawing and painting is a fairly high priority after the primary pursuit of sculpture. She has heard of one woman, also denied the opportunity to pursue her dream when young, who did an honours degree in art after becoming a grandmother and has since blossomed as a sculptor. The message from both women? It’s never too late to express yourself. n
101
photo opportunity
let’s go for a row More than 100 oarsmen and women representing 16 clubs took to Lake Weeroona for Bendigo Rowing Club’s Sprint Regatta. Neighbouring Nagambie Club rowers dominated events with Will Day claiming the Arthur Cambridge trophy for male A grade single sculls. But Bendigo crews also competed well with our own Krysta Ellul winning the Tara Hubber memorial award for the U17 female single sculls event.
37 Mitchell St Bendigo • 5444 2147
gourmet food, giftware & gelato
personalised hamper service for christmas
The Bendigo Rowing Club is inviting rowers from the Bendigo region to participate in its Summer Twilight Challenge. There will be competitive and non-competitive events to cater for experienced rowers, beginners, parents and sponsors. For more information visit home.vicnet.net.au/~bgorow ■
bendigo memories
not waving, drowning From the murk of muddy waterholes to the crystal clear advent of chlorination, brave Bendigo boys and girls took the plunge. I remember the West Bendigo pool, a muddy hole opposite the Gold Mines Hotel, the Hilda where the new YWCA building is near Strath Village in Townsend Street. The Hilda was dirt-bottomed, surrounded by a chain-link fence. The main thing I remember was it had a drinking-tap, one of those ballshaped ones with the little mouth-guard and a loose bubbly-random spray of cool-water. The tap was held up by an old fence post. I remember Golden Square when it had a dirt bottom, my brother dived in there once and hit the bottom. He was missing for a while, we couldn’t see him as the water was so dirty, so we dived in and felt around until we found him and dragged him to the surface. I got my Junior at Golden Square, swimming across the pool. We should have all been given a medal for just getting in the water. Everyone remembers the “Muni”, with those old timber club rooms, the corrie iron roofs from which we used to jump into its deep, chilly reedy, muddied waters. We also used to swim at Crusoe Res, and Spring Gully Res [at night], and later on at Eppalock, for the mobile, brave and stupid. Castlemaine got the first full Olympic-sized pool in the state – well before Bendigo – and hopeful Olympians trained there in readiness for the 1956 Games. Bendigo got its first chlorinated pool in the Olympic year, and everyone flocked there. YOU COULD SEE THE BOTTOM, with its tiled racinglanes to help guide you on your way from one end to the other. All the secondary schools had swimming carnivals at the Olympic pool in Barnard Street. I went to the Technical School in Hargeaves Street, and it was compulsory for all inmates to participate. I was thusly entered into the 50 metre freestyle for prisoners under 11 years. Against my better judgement – having been prodded forward
- Geoff Hocking
by the fascists who believed in the muscular, half-naked, grouptherapy known as participation in competitive sports – I mounted the starting-block and assumed a pathetic appropriation of the bentdouble attitude perfected by our local medal-winning heroes of ‘56. The starter fired his pistol and a phalanx of budgie-smuggling boys hit the water with a rag-tag splash and as arms flailed in a wet and wind-milled rhythm I set off after them. Ten metres on I hit the wall. No not that wall so beloved of athletes who reach that point of exhilarating exhaustion only to reach through and ultimately reach an athletic nirvana – I actually hit the wall. One of the sports-nazis had put me in the end lane. Where, I spent so much time visualising myself as a pubescent Murray Rose, I forgot to follow the lane lines on the bottom and headed off on a 45 degree trajectory. Those lanes had little interest for me as I gazed at the stars. So, rather than attempt to regain any sporting composure, I pulled myself up out of the water, bowed gracefully to my admiring (well, laughing actually) audience, and sauntered off with an air of agreeable nonchalance in search of my towel. That was the last time I ever engaged in competitive sports. I have no idea who won that race, but I do know it was not Monash House. After all these years, and in embarrassed retrospect, I am now prepared to say that I am sorry Sir John for bringing disgrace upon your valiant reputation. The “Muni” Upper Reserve Municipal Baths photograph by Allan George Doney circa 1950. Image 001573 was reproduced from the Doney Collection with kind permission of the National Trust of Australia (Victoria). ■ 103
day tripping
kyneton calling Hear ringing in your ears? With the buzz growing ever louder, it really is time to pick up on one happening destination. - Lauren Mitchell OK, let‘s talk about hot. You think the weather‘s warming up? That’s nothing compared to Kyneton. I’ve just driven out of the town feeling like I’ve spent the last few years living under a bluestone paver. Blame the Calder upgrade if you like, but it had been many years since I’d last visited Kyneton. It had been my loss. Thanks to said highway, it’s now quicker and slicker than ever to get to this bustling town by the Campaspe River, but don’t think about packing the fishing rod, today’s Kyneton is all about food, fashion, art and curios. Think chai latte and French flair, all wrapped up in 19th century Victorian streetscapes. This place is gorgeous and it ticks all the boxes for the perfect day trip. (Wow, I feel like I’m on Getaway, minus the sarong.) Take the first right turn in from Bendigo and you’ll be delivered straight into the all-embracing arms of Piper Street, where it’s love at first sight. First stop, The Stockroom, where artists Jason Waterhouse and Magali Gentric are driving a cultural epiphany in an old woollen mill. The Stockroom only opened in July and already it showcases the work of over 70 Australian artists and makers; everything from clothing and jewellery to ceramics and hand-picked, retro oddities. This place is much more than a retail space, although even that aspect of the business is a new experience, with a cubbyhouse-inspired changing room, branches for clothing racks and bare, blonde tree trunks seemingly sprouting from the floor.
“The people who get the most excited are the 30-somethings,” Jason says of his new enterprise. Hear hear! And no wonder, when you can settle down for a cuppa on a vinyl ‘70s couch just like the one mum used to have … the memories! The best time to visit is on the second Saturday of the month, when The Stockroom’s new exhibition launch coincides with the local farmers’ market. The market takes place in the heavenly surrounds of St Paul’s Park, just a skip further down the street. As bendigo magazine visits, sunny daffodils are brightening up the historic bluestone church grounds, just in time for the town’s famed September Daffodil Festival… pop it in the calendar for next year. 104
Top: Jason and Magali showcase local artists at The Stockroom. Above: Once a hive of 19th century industry Piper St is gastronomes delight. OpPosite: Original verandahs grace the streetscape.
Photographer: Anthony Webster
The space incorporates art galleries, artist studios, a café and soon-tobe sculpture garden. I said café, I meant Winnebagel. The uber-cool pop-top caravan parked in the far end of the mill serves coffee, and bagels, each weekend.
a garage. “Then it became the antique area and then it boomed,” he says. “Of a Sunday this was like Bourke Street, so many people. The antiques faded and then this era came and I think it’s here to stay. I call this the Paris end of Kyneton. I think it’s a magnificent change.” Mara is the fourth tenant Jack’s had since he retired. And she’s handsdown his favourite. Might have something to do with that cake. “It’s just a fruit cake, he doesn’t like any of that fancy stuff,” Mara smiles. “People now come in and ask for Jack’s Cake. “He pops in to make sure I’m behaving. We keep an eye on each other.”Jack says the view has changed somewhat in his decades by this window. And it’s about to once again. As we chat workmen pull up across the street to install an auction sign in front of a coveted vacant block. “Victoria’s Hottest Town” it announces. And it could very well be right. There’s plenty of high-end boutiques either side of the street, but the one that beckons is Kabinett – a quirky closet of Eastern European curios, stuffed ducks and off-beat vintage run by the “Powerhouses of Piper Street” Melissa MacFarlane and partner Frank Moylan.
PS: And don’t dare think Piper St is all there is to Kyneton. Start your stroll from the Chai Baby at the far end of High Street and be sure to check out Aesop’s Attic bookshop then veer left into Mollison Street stopping at the cool kitchen of Monsieur Pierre. ■
Here, vintage world maps hang from high walls and Parisian bistro chairs stand on distressed tables. Here, the world has come to Kyneton. Former Kabinett employee Caris Haughan loved the street so much, she set up shop next door with partner Vanessa Partridge.Their store, Prunella, provides the locals with the best blooms of the district. “We both harboured the fanciful idea of owning a shop like this and love the idea of bringing some country freshness to the street,” Caris says. She’s certainly succeeded; with pots of greenery cascading onto the footpath. Come tea break time, I’m spoilt for choice … I’ve been told Mr Carsisi has unbelievable coffee, but then a little, tiled shopfront across the road has a magnetic kind of pull; maybe it’s the name, Inner Biscuit. It’s worth the diversion, because here I share a sunny yellow enamel tea pot with Jack and Mara. Mara started her business here over two years ago. Jack is her landlord. He pops in most days for a weak black cup, a slice of “Jack’s Cake” and to check on the progress of his street. Jack ran his own butcher’s shop in this space for 50 years, back when there was not much in Piper Street save for a bakery, a flower mill and
christmas cakes•christmas hampers•shortbreads•macadamia shortbreads christmas mince tarts & many more festive goodies for you to choose from unique bakery in the historic surrounds of eaglehawk fresh coffee, sandwiches, cakes & pies relaxing coffee lounge & friendly service award winning pies
80 High St Eaglehawk ~ 5446 9067 & Bakery Xpress Caffe, corner of Queen & Williamson Streets in Bendigo.
Voted Best Bakery Cafe in Victoria
hair waxing beauty hair extensions gift vouchers
47 bull street bendigo
5443 6651
CONFIDENTIAL, PROFESSIONAL, QUALIFIED & FRIENDLY
Depression | Anxiety Trauma | Stress | Behaviour Friendships |Autism Assessments & Reports Individuals & Groups
5443 2284
499 Hargreaves Street (Cnr Hargreaves & Myrtle) Bendigo
CHILDREN |
ADOLESCENTS |
ADULTS
music lounge
the sleepover Jayden James and Steve “Tonky” Tonkin are DJs with a difference. The duo has just released a demo EP which has a new generation swinging. You have just released you first EP, tell us about it? J: Yeah we just put out our first demo EP called Back to Thirty-Two. The theme of the EP was to take some of the vintage sounds of the 1930s swing era and give them a modern day feel. Individually we draw inspiration from all over the shop, including the really “old school” artists such as Armand Van Helden, Roger Sanchez, Daft Punk to the new age artists leading the scene including Dcup, Deadmau5 and Drop The Lime. How has it been received. Is there overseas interest? J: We are currently getting hits overseas as well as in Australia. We sent off a couple of copies of our tunes to some big names in the electro swing scene and have been getting some great feedback, especially from France which was a bit of a shock to us. How would you describe your musical styles? J: Originally we had some trouble defining our sound and finding one or two genres to really stick to and master. We have ended up deciding that house and electro house was the sound we wanted to produce. T: We both came from different backgrounds of music. I enjoyed the newer electronic sounds and beats, while Jayden was more into classic house driven by big room pianos. We had to sit down and find out what we both enjoyed from each other’s taste in music and combine it to create the sound we are making right now.
Photographer: David Field
When/how did you two get together? T: We sat down next to each other and I pulled out my iPod one day and we started to both listen to it. Jayden had already been DJ-ing for about a year and a half at that point and asked me if I had an interest in it. I said yes and from there he taught me the ropes of DJ-ing and we started doing gigs together. Four years later and we are making music and doing gigs all over central Victoria. Can you explain the creative aspect of DJ-ing given the music isn’t yours? J: There is a lot of criticism about not using original material, but
my question is how is that any different than a cover band? The great thing about DJ-ing is you’re not just playing the music, but you are taking people on a journey through music. By doing different mixes, and dropping different songs you can create a truly unique atmosphere T: As we are also producers a lot of tracks you hear us play are originals or our own edits. Production seems to be where the real talent lies these days and we have jumped onboard. When producing you can make something completely new, or take something old and put a new spin on it, essentially “revitalising” it. With our live shows we are also mixing things up live. We have a percussion drum set we take along and play live, and have future plans to include other musicians and singers. People keep coming back so I guess we’re onto something! What’s the wildest thing that has ever happened at a gig? J: We were playing in a venue on a hot summer night, and all of a sudden at the peak of the night all the power went out. We waited about two minutes and nothing. People started to leave and then Tonky has whipped out the “Djembe” and started pounding a beat on it. This went on for about five minutes and the whole crowd joined in banging walls, stomping, clanking bottles together. The power came back on and everyone was cheering, just one of those great moments. Just what is the difference between the old school “house” music genre and “electro house”? T: That’s a pretty loaded question which we could spend hours debating Ha! There are many different genres these days. In short, house music encompasses many core genres such as progressive house, fidget house, electro house, tech house or just ‘house’ by itself. A generic house song will consist of a pumping beat, usually a big piano hook and a large vocal layered over the top, whereas electro house is usually driven by a large electronic synthesiser sound. New genres keep popping up though, which is always exciting. For example in the last few years we have seen the rise of Electro Swing and Nu Disco. ■ 107
photo opportunity
dai gum san launch With many years in the planning and months of construction the much anticipated Dai Gum San in the Chinese Precinct was officially opened. Lions, crackers and tradtiional Chinese dance performances as well as the unveiling of a giant lotus flower helped mark the opening. Bendigo Chinese Association president Russell Jack welcomed the hundreds who turned out to celebrate the launch, along with Greater Bendigo Mayor Cr Rod Campbell and the Hon Jacinta Allan, Minister for Rural and Regional Development. Dai Gum San is Bendigo’s newest, innovative public space for outdoor performances, markets and major events. It’s a celebration of Bendigo’s rich Chinese cultural heritage and our goldfields history and is unlike any other public gathering space in regional Victoria. ■
“Make a lifestyle choice” Retirement living at its best. Bendigo village offers a readymade community of like minded retires enjoying good friends, good neighbours in a great location. Independent living, close to all amenities. Don’t let the good life pass you by, units and houses available now. Brenda, manager with 27 years of experience said, “People decided to move into a village when they are physically not capable of maintaining their home and gardens and with the onset of health issues.” The comment she hears most often is “I wish I had made the move 5 years earlier.” Don’t leave it too late to enjoy your retirement.
33 - 35 Mandurang Road, Spring Gully, Bendigo – (03) 5442 3000 – www.bendigorv.com.au
arrr, me hearties! The modern day treasure hunter is no pirate, but that nice family next door equipped with a keen sense of adventure and a global positioning system. – Raelee Tuckerman I’d love to tell you where Bendigo’s best-kept secrets are hidden, but that would give the game away. And being discreet is a golden rule in the global game of hide-and-seek called geocaching. If you’ve never heard of this hi-tech hobby, you probably have no idea that there are more than a million tiny treasure troves cleverly concealed in public places all around the world. In central Victoria alone, more than 150 little containers known as geocaches have been camouflaged and stashed out of sight in parks, playgrounds, bush reserves and suburban streets. You’ve likely walked or driven by one on your travels, without even realising it.
Some local caches bear names that hint at their vague location: 4Tuna, StickWhip, Hide at Each End of the Lake, Calder Power Nap, Maiden Cache, Rattlers Reinvented. But to get to ground zero, you first need the co-ordinates of each hiding spot, which the cache creator has posted on the internet. Type them into a handheld GPS unit, and away you go. The reward for success is the chance to sign the logbook inside, then blog online ➤
Photographer: Anthony Webster
At any given time, a geocaching team could
be sneaking around your neighbourhood in search of the prize, avoiding detection by “muggles” – the nickname given to those unaware of the activity.Being seen retrieving or returning a cache could prove detrimental if a curious muggle decides to investigate and ends up damaging or removing it completely.
109
with other participants about the thrill of the hunt afterwards. The caches may also contain small trinkets or nick-knacks to trade: leave something of equal or greater value, record your swap in the log, and put everything back exactly where you found it.
PREVIOUS PAGE: Sharna Appleby is on a roll with her dice collection;
While the sites are usually easy enough to discover, uncovering the caches themselves can be a whole other story. So cunning are some of the concealments that it’s not unheard of for seekers to make several visits before they finally hit the jackpot.
Below left: The treasure unearthed
Take the cache placed inside a teddy backpack then perched high up in a tree, hidden by foliage, for example. The only telltale sign of its existence was a dangling cord that could be used to bring the bear parachuting to the ground. The other trick was working out how to get it back up again. The same geocacher disguised another container by gluing hair collected from his pet dog’s brush to the lid and sitting it at ground level in the bush. It looked so much like a dead animal that hardly anyone was willing to pick it up. Can you blame them? Some caches involve seekers being sent to multiple locations before arriving at their final destination, while others require puzzles to be solved before the co-ordinates are revealed. The Bendigo region is home to some prolific geocachers – one local couple has logged almost 3000 finds in the past six years, while another recently passed the 1500 milestone. Between them, those two teams have been responsible for hiding 140-odd caches, most of them in Victoria. Central Victoria is also part of a special project set up by Geocaching Australia and the State Library of Victoria. To mark the 150th anniversary of the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition that left Melbourne on August 20, 1860, about 150 caches have been hidden along the explorers’ route north to the Gulf of Carpentaria and related historical locations. Some are physical objects; others are virtual caches that have no actual container, but require proof (like a photo) that the site has been visited. Redesdale, South Bendigo, Elmore, Calivil, Macorna and Kerang are just some of the places to feature in the Burke and Wills project. Geocaching participants can be any age and come from all walks of life. To some, it’s just a game; for others, it’s more like an obsession. Here we meet two of the teams hiding and seeking geocaches in and around Bendigo, quite possibly at a location near you. ➤
110
This page: Micheal Brench and son Steven have their bearings set and eyes open.
You need to look hard – the cache could be hidden any where, even inside a bolt on a bridge
111
Team name: AppleBees
Team name: Brentoz
Caches found: About 240
Caches found: 127
Caches hidden: 6
Caches hidden: 2 (but ideas for more are brewing)
“All you need to do is find that first treasure and you are hooked,” says Belinda Appleby, 40, who began geocaching two years ago after receiving an unusual Christmas present from her brother.
Michael Brench offers the following piece of advice to geocaching newcomers: keep your eyes wide open or you might go home empty-handed.
The gift-wrapped folder contained details of all of the Bendigo hides, Google Earth satellite maps showing where they were located, and an explanation of how it all worked. Today, the kindergarten teacher and her entire brood are veterans, enjoying the challenge of finding caches and the fun of concealing containers for others to seek out. The AppleBees team includes husband Darren, 42, and children Brodie, 15, Sharna, 13, Kiara, 10, and Jakoby, 7. “I love the fact that we get out together as a family and talk to each other as we search,” Belinda says. “If we were at home, everyone would be doing their own thing, usually involving TV, electronic games or computers. “But this is like a modern-day treasure hunt where half the fun is being covert so you don’t get sprung by muggles. It gives you a natural high and a great sense of achievement.” Sharna is the keenest geocacher of the group. “She would go caching every day if she could and is super speedy at typing in the co-ordinates. She loves to be the first to find them, often bursting from the car as soon as it stops,” Belinda says. The teenager loves swapping cache trinkets and has a special box to keep her “treasure” in, complete with skull and crossbones. Her favourite items are dice and she has quite a collection. Sharna even hid a cache of her own in Bendigo as a treat to mark her 13th birthday (it’s called Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, It’s Off to the Hippy Tram I Go). One of the AppleBees’ most memorable moments arose when they located a cache hidden down a busy lane in Melbourne. They slipped around a corner into a smaller lane to sign the logbook without being seen, only to stumble across a drug deal. “We just turned our backs pretending we didn’t see anything,” says Belinda, adding that two more geocaching teams arrived on the strange scene by chance just seconds later. “The funniest part was that we all probably looked more suspicious - all hovering together passing a little container around – than the drug dealers!”
112
The 44-year-old tells the tale of the time he was out in the bush with his family, certain they were at the right location but struggling to find what they knew should be hidden nearby. “Then we noticed this small hook on a log,” Michael recalls. “The hider had bored out a large hole in a log, fitted the container into the log, and fixed the bark back onto the container, making it extremely well hidden, apart from the small hook that you needed to extract it.” Michael, partner Andrea and 12-year-old son Steven are often amazed at the lengths some people go to when concealing a cache.“Some can be so well hidden that even when you are sure you have searched everywhere, there is one last place where the camouflaged cache is hidden,” says Michael. “You need to look hard – the cache could be hidden anywhere: inside a bolt on a bridge, in a magnetised box, in a draw built under a step, even as simple as a container covered in plastic leaves hidden in some ivy.” Michael says geocaching is a good activity for families and individuals, and can take you to places you might never visit otherwise. It also adds extra interest when travelling away from home. The Brentoz team has found caches in Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, Shepparton and Wangaratta during trips to those cities and towns.They have been involved on and off for about six years, after hearing about the activity from a friend. One of their more unusual experiences was taking part in what is known as a “flash mob” event in the Hargreaves Mall earlier this year.“This is where, at a set date and time, cachers converge on a location, sign a log book and disperse within a set amount of time,” Michael explains. “It was unusual to see so many people appear in one spot at the same time, totally confusing passers by, who had no idea what was going on.”Sixty-three geocaching teams from all over Victoria attended, which was an Australian record. Michael says his family loves the idea that anyone with access to even the most basic GPS model can access sophisticated international technology and use it for their own enjoyment. “To quote someone else who I thought described it well, you are using billions of dollars worth of US military satellites to find plastic lunchboxes hidden in the bush.”
You are using billions of dollars worth of US military satellites to find plastic lunchboxes
For more information and details about how you can get involved in this free, fun, family-friendly, outdoor activity, visit www.geocaching.com and www.geocaching.com.au n 113
Capturing special moments naturally
m. 0418 564 397 www.katemonottiphotography.com.au e: click@katemonottiphotography.com.au
local releases
goldfields authors The output by local authors is indeed varied including a novel set in Elmore, a fishy tale about penguins, conversation cards and an exploration of energy. Girltopia Jane Bennett St Luke’s Innovative Resources RRP: $62.50 A brand new set of cards designed to help adolescent girls experience healthy selfesteem and positive body image. The cards help develop discrimination and awareness in relation to media, advertising and stereotypes and enjoy a healthy and positive unfolding of their maturing self and value. The 70 cards in the Girltopia set create a world of luscious plants, soulful animals and quirky architecture. It is a place in which girls and women are honoured for who they are and where they’re at; where exploring the risky edges of conversation and feeling is lively, supported, and very often a great adventure. The Girltopia cards will naturally lead where conversations can focus on tricky territory around puberty, peer pressure and body image. Girltopia, a world of real conversations for real girls.
Out of Time Louise Pakeman Equilibrium Books RRP: $25.95 Fern Barclay fled her busy and successful professional life in Melbourne with the intention of leaving behind the emotional upheaval of her recent past. She came to rest in a small town in central Victoria, simply because she was tired of driving and liked the look of it. Doing her best to ignore the protestations of Paul Denton, the real estate agent who insisted he had met her somewhere before, she stifled her own feelings of recognition. However, it was not so easy to crush the impact of the dilapidated old house. It had stood empty for a while and was a wreck. Fern knew she could restore it to its former glory. It would be good therapy, she told herself, rationalising her purchase. Hard work would dispel the disturbing dreams that plagued her and the memories of her recent past. But Paul, the house, and a cat who considered it his, all conspired to move her out of time.
The Truth About Penguins Meg McKinlay Walker Books RRP: $27.95 A zany romp, this demonstrates the fine line between fact and fiction in the animal world. The penguins are coming and
there is great excitement at the zoo. But what’s a penguin? The animals don’t quite know what to expect – but they all have an opinion, each more outlandish than the last. When the truth about penguins is finally revealed, everyone is in for a surprise! It’s an hilarious, laugh-out-loud tale of exaggeration and hyperbole that kids will really love The debut picture book from former Bendigo girl Meg McKinlay with detailed illustrations by Mark Jackson will have children searching each page for added fun.
Burke & Wills 150th Anniversary Tribute Edited Colin Carrington BGBP RRP: $20 This little book is a delightful collection of stories and poems with a Burke and Wills theme. The best description of what it contains comes from the foreword written by Jack Thompson. “What an honour ... to have had the opportunity to read so many terrific poems and stories ... with the selection panel permitting a blend of fact and fiction, and allowing for a portion of the expedition to be written about rather than the whole, an outstanding and creative variety of stories and poems has flourished. The best are included in this book ... The Bendigo Goldfields Bush Poets deserve a mighty round of applause for their initiative in oganising this unique commemorative project.”
Energy the Subtle Concept Jennifer Coopersmith Oxford University Press RRP: $65 Energy is at the heart of physics (and of huge importance to society) and yet no book exists specifically to explain it, and in simple terms. In tracking the history of energy, this book by La Trobe University academic Jennifer Coopersmith is filled with the thrill of the chase, the mystery of smoke and mirrors, and presents a fascinating human-interest story. Moreover, following the history provides a crucial aid to understanding: this book explains the intellectual revolutions required to comprehend energy, revolutions as profound as those stemming from Relativity and Quantum Theory. Texts by Descartes, Leibniz, Bernoulli, d’Alembert, Lagrange, Hamilton, Boltzmann, Clausius, Carnot and others are made accessible, and the engines of Watt and Joule are explained. Many fascinating questions are covered, including: - Why just kinetic and potential energies - is one more fundamental than the other? What are heat, temperature and action? - What is the Hamiltonian? - What have engines to do with physics? - Why did the steam-engine evolve only in England? Why is it so. n
115
inside my
hello, dolly! On the eve of the 20th Bendigo Doll and Teddy Show, Val Tieman takes us inside her doll’s house. From the outside Val Tieman’s shed looks like any other, but this is no hideaway for garden implements. “Of course I call it the Doll’s House,” she chuckles pulling back a curtain to reveal a display case full of hand-crafted porcelain dolls. “I started making dolls about 26 years ago. I am 85 now,” she confides. “How many have I made? Oh hat, I couldn’t say. “I had five children, 12 grand children and 14 great-grandchildren and they all got a doll for starters.” It was one of Val’s four daughters who unleashed her talent for dollmaking.. There was a doll show out the other side of St Kilda and my daughter invited me down to see it,” Val recalls.
“So I went to lessons down in Melbourne for 12 months and after that figured I knew what to do. I bought a kiln and bought two moulds and I thought I was made. But after you have poured about 20 of each mould you start to think, ‘now, that’s enough of that doll’. “So then I started to buy other moulds. Now I would have 300 to 400, I guess. My favourite is JDK257. She is a beautiful big antique reproduction baby doll. I do like the baby dolls. Her original name was Marilyn and she dates from around the turn of the 19th century.
116
Photographer: Kate Monotti
“I remember it in a little hall and they had all these people who made china dolls. I was inspired.
“To start a doll you pour it with slip and then you leave it for anything up to 10 minutes depending on how hot or cold the weather is. “After emptying out the slip you leave it a couple of hours before taking it out of the mould. Then you leave it two or three days to dry. At this stage it’s called green ware and it is just like a chocolate Easter egg – it breaks very easily so you have to be very careful when you clean it up. You clean up all the seams then you fire it and you get bisque. Then you paint it in three or four different firings.” These days Val can’t spend as much time in the doll’s house as she used to, but she still makes and teaches doll-making and is often called on to repair dolls. “There are some things I can’t do, but I can usually replace a broken leg or arm.” The 20th Bendigo Doll and Teddy Show will be held at Kangaroo Flat Leisure Centre on February 20. n
For all occasions His & her hats & accessories
55 High Street, Bendigo 3550 (3 doors from central McDonalds) Phone: 03 5441 8737 Appointment & group bookings available after hours
a worthy cause
fighting spirit A freak accident cost Stu Timms his mobility, but this young man is determined to make the best of his lot with a little help from his community. – Sarah Harris “It could happen to any one,” the Project Walk website warns. Any one, except Stu his friends and family may once have thought. Not bright, superfit, outgoing Stu! It is a year since talented BMX rider Stu Timms plunged into the surf at Perth’s Scarborough Beach with his mate Lindsay. They ran into the surf side by side. Lindsay surfaced with a gleeful shake. Stu hit his head on a sand bar. It was that simple. Misfortune, as random as a few extra centimetres of sand, rendered a fit young man a quadriplegic with a spinal crush fracture at C5 level. “Stu remembers being underwater and unable to move. He remembers seeing feet and the water entering his lungs,” his father Rob recounts in a moving blog set up to keep friends and family abreast of his progress. Stu had moved from Bendigo just two months earlier. He had set up a house with mates, had a job and was looking forward with all the enthusiasm of a young man on the brink of an independent life. Now back in his home state at the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre in Kew, Stu, 19, continues to look forward albeit to a vastly different future. Stu now has his sights on being accepted into an intensive rehabilitation course called Project Walk. This spinal cord injury training program was developed in the United States by Ted and Tammy Dardzinski in the early 1990s. People from all over the world have travelled to the Project Walk training facility in Southern California, including a number of Australians. The most recent to benefit is a Melbourne girl who returned to show her former fellow patients at Royal Talbot the improvements she had made. “When Rhiannon left here she was starting to stand and take a few steps, but now she is walking 50 metres and her balance and standing ability is a lot better,” Stu reveals.
118
“I really feel I could benefit from this program. I am not being unrealistic. I don’t expect miracles, just some more hand function would really help me a lot. “It is not just being there, it is learning how to continually improve yourself. To come home with the knowledge that allows you to build on what the program teaches.” The program involves extremely intensive physiotherapy and is not for the faint-hearted. Every session tests the mind, the body and the spirit and is only for those who truly believe the effort is worth the reward. But Stu is determined and his dad is certain he is made of the right stuff. It will however, be incredibly costly, which is why the family is now hoping for the support of people in Bendigo. “It is not just being there in the program it is about learning how to continually improve yourself. To come home with the knowledge that allows you to build on what the program teaches,” Rob Timms says.
Photographer: David Field
“Stu’s improvement just in the past few weeks has been truly incredible. “The expected level of disability was from the shoulders down, no biceps, no wrists … nothing. It was thought Stuart would be driving around in an electric wheelchair probably only able to drive it with his chin. “He is now getting into a manual chair every day and it is wholly and solely due to his determination and the physiotherapy support he has had. “His left wrist has improved so much they are now putting weights on his hand. His right bicep has got to the strength where he can
propel himself. “It is incredible to see him. He will struggle and continue to struggle until he can do something on his own. Up until a few months ago he couldn’t even feed himself. He is now able to complete a meal. He struggles and fights and continues to fight.” Stu himself feels he has turned a corner. “The last couple of months I have gotten over the depression. I had a change in medication and a change in attitude so instead of feeling sorry for myself, I decided to make the best of what I have got,” Stu told bendigo magazine. The future looks a good deal brighter and Stu is setting himself goals. “I’d like to spread awareness through my injury,” he says. “I really had no idea that this could happen. I thought if you broke your neck you were dead. “There are 20 other spinal cord patients in here at present and I’ve met others who have ended up quads from diving. The staff say the injuries vary according to the season. Over summer there are heaps of quads from diving and during winter it is more paraplegics from car accidents and things like that. “I think it is important people are more aware – that it can really happen to any one.” Donations to help Stu reach his goal can be made to Stu Timms Trust Account BSB 633-000 ACC 138 858 121 or log on to www.bendigobank.com.au/stutimms and follow the prompts. n
03 5440 7777
13 Contempo Court, Bendigo East
Pacies • • • • • •
Cleaning supplies, packing/disposable goods Popular brands such as Furi & Global Commercial kitchen equipment Direct to the public Cutlery & crockery Glassware
• FENCING SOLUTIONS • THE PERSON QUOTING THE JOB IS THE PERSON DOING THE JOB • ALL TYPES OF FENCING • SERVICING BENDIGO & 150K RADIUS • FREE NO OBLIGATION QUOTES
www.caterworx.com.au caterworx@aapt.net.au 190 Woodward rd, Golden square Ph: 03 54414217
photo opportunity
not fried, grill’d The burgers are brill from the grill of our hottest new eatery. At last, the famed Grill’d burgers have come to town and the joint is smokin’. Grill’d offers a nutritious and healthy option to burger lovers out there, catering to meat-eaters and vegetarians alike. Burger connoisseurs will adore the wide range on offer with fillings like brie cheese and cranberry sauce, coriander and satay sauce and grilled field mushrooms with roasted peppers to name a few options on offer. You can find Grill’d Bendigo at 88 Pall Mall or call (03) 5443 1239. ■
120
pacies@live.com.au PHONE SIMON 0438 098 029
christmas gift ideas
o’ christmas tree festive ornaments, vouchers or hampers work a treat for friends and family afar
1
Assorted themed hampers featuring local produce. Made to order POA from Favourite Flavours (Mitchell Street)
3
2
Votive red glasses $9.95 each from Nest Egg (Strath Village)
3
Christmas tree $ 24.95, 12 Days of Christmas ornaments $115 from Nest Egg (Strath Village)
2
1
4
Nickel heart with ribbon $9.95 from Nest Egg (Strath Village)
5
The Twelve Days of Christmas cards pack $19.95 from Organise My (Bath Lane)
4
6
Advent calendar $65 from Mon Coeur (Mitchell Street)
7
Allawah Bendigo accommodation gift voucher $100 per night from Wine Bank on View (View Street)
8
Reindeer $59 from Devine Rugs (Edwards Street)
6
5 8
9
7 10
9
Champagne flutes $8 each from Mon Coeur (Mitchell Street)
10
Christmas tree $39 from Devine Rugs (Edwards Street)
11
Believe book $32.95 from Organise My (Bath Lane)
11
121
christmas gift ideas
1
beautiful boy
Shower caps in assorted styles $12 from The Complete Garden (Williamson Street)
Games and toys lads will love to share with dads
2
Junior Masterchef gingerbread cooking kit $33.95 from Favourite Flavours (Mitchell Street)
3
CD’s For babies $24.95 each from Twinkletoes (Queen Street)
4
1
2
3
Tip Toe Joey leather shoes $49.95 from Twinkletoes (Queen Street)
5
Gro-clock and bed time story book $79.95 from Twinkletoes (Queen Street)
6
Animal stapler $6 each from Little People’s Art (Bath Lane)
4
5
6
7
Rocket racer $14, sky express $36 from Little People’s Art (Bath Lane)
8
Zunny elephant door stop or book end $69.95 from Little People’s Art (Bath Lane)
9
7
8
9
Giimmo night light available in over ten different animals $45 from Little People’s Art (Bath Lane)
10
The Original Peter Rabbit musical Jack In The Box $39.95 from Mr Good Times (Fountain Court)
11
Grow and Go red trike $139 from Mr Good Times (Fountain Court) 10
11
12
12
Bruder bob Cct $49.95 from Mr Good Times (Fountain Court)
13
Plan toyshHammer ball $39.95 Mr Good Times (Fountain Court)
14
13
14
15
Love Me Baby Wrap Me Up $45 from Mum and Bump (Bath Lane)
15
Felted puppets starting from $18 from Just Planet (Queen Street) 122
christmas gift ideas
1
darling girl
Sparkle T hair time $35 from Little People’s Art (Bath Lane)
2
Novelty pencils $2.50 each, Angel pencil holder $6 from LIttle People’s Art (Bath Lane)
Sugar and spice and all things nice for little miss
3
Bead chaser $10, Sparkle T musical pull-a-long $20 from Little People’s Art (Bath Lane)
4
9 Daisy floral romper $44.95 from Milt & Joe (Hargreaves Street)
1
2
5
Princess Ratbag tutu $80 from La Toriana (www.latoriana.com.au)
6
Claesen’s singlet and boxer set $44.95 from Milt & Joe (Hargreaves Street)
7
Little Gems pink fairy dress $99 from Mr Good Times (Fountain Court)
3
4
5
6
8
Super Star swaddles $59.95 from Milt & Joe (Hargreaves Street)
9
Cat toy $45.95 from La Toriana (www.latoriana. com.au)
10
Magic light $34.95 from La Toriana (www.latoriana.com.au)
7
9
11
Inkless Print Birth Certificate Kit $29.95 from Mum and Bump (Bath Lane)
12
Sparkle T Girls day out $45, Sparkle T dudes cruisin’ $45 from Little People’s Art (Bath Lane)
8
10
11
12
123
christmas gift ideas
1
boys light up
Dad & Me $39.95 from La Toriana (www. latoriana.com.au)
The best buys for blokes won’t break the bank
2
Kosi Kosi T- shirt $69 from The Meadow (View Street)
3
Electric figurine guitar including stand $27 from Elegant Concepts (King Street)
4
1
3
3
Pondalowie reserve shiraz $50, Ellis Vineyard shiraz 2008 $26 and Passing Clouds sparkling chardonnay 2008 $34 all from Wine Bank on View (View Street)
5
Alpha 60 wallet $40 from The Meadow (View Street)
6
Acoustic figurine guitar $30 from Elegant Concepts (King Street) 4
2 6
7
Cheap Monday sunglasses $75 from The Meadow (View Street)
8
Bolle sunglasses start from $125 from Wills Street Eye Care (Wills Street)
9
5 7
8
124
9
Kerastase Homme Capital Force for Men shampoo $89.50 and Treatment $38.50 from M.W Hairdressing (Centreway Arcade)
christmas gift ideas
1
Dermalogica AGE Smart starter kit $90 from Brazilian Beauty (Fountain Court)
2
The Ultimate Body Hydration with mango and witch hazel 250ml $19.95, Vani-T bronzing custard $ 28.95 from Brazilian Beauty (Fountain Court)
girls just wanna ... Try pamper products, lacy lingerie and heavenly heels
3
Colour swatch: Colour, makeup and wardrobe planning workshop $95 from Adonia Cosmetics (Queen Street)
4
Essentials holiday makeup kit with eyeshadows, blush and gloss $145 from Adonia Cosmetics (Queen Street)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
5
Italian made high heel shoes in off white $48 from Vonica Vintage (View Street)
6
Black beaded vintage clutch $42 from Vonica Vintage (View Street)
7
Spencer Lacy Body Suit $99.95 from Blush (Lyttleton Terrace)
8
Dimity So white note bra $74.95, G-string $29.95 from Blush (Lyttleton Terrace)
9
Pink cami with knickers $98 per set from Mon Coeur (Mitchell Street)
10
A Skulk of Foxes earrings $29.95 from Urban Corridor (Mitchell Street)
11
Polka Luka necklace $45, Polka Luka earrings $30 from Urban Corridor (Mitchell Street) & Polka Luka bangles $30 from Urban Corridor (Mitchell Street)
12
Diana Ferrari Jayne $129.95, Olga Berg clutch $39.95 from McAuthurs Shoes (Hargreaves Mall)
13
Necklace $32 from Artizen Gallery (Midland Hwy)
14
Earings $25 from Artizen Gallery (Midland Hwy)
15
Necklace $35 from Artizen Gallery (Midland Hwy)
125
christmas gift ideas
1
sophisticated lady
Glomesh bag $36 from Vonica Vintage (View Street)
For the discerning woman who loves a bit of bling
2
Mushroom ‘Winkie’ design dress $69 from Vonica Vintage (View Street)
3
Cream butterfly brooch $20 from Vonica Vintage (View Street)
4 5
Scarf $14 from Vonica Vintage (View Street)
1
2
3
Vintage pearl beaded purse $22 from Vonica Vintage (View Street)T
6
White full beaded Jenji design bag $46 from Vonica Vintage (View Street)
7
Sun hat $32 from Vonica Vintage (View Street) 4
5
6
8
Rose teapot $37, Rose sugar, cream and tray set $63 from Elegant Concepts (King Street)
9 10
Cello $32 from Elegant Concepts (King Street)
7
8
9
Young Blood Mineral Radiance, splendor and sundance $ 72 from Brazilian Beauty (Fountain Court)
11
Pillow Talk Fly By Night shortie PJ Set $39.95 from Blush (Lyttleton Terrace)
12
10
11
12
Freshwater pearl necklace with heart $250 from Mon Coeur (Mitchell Street)
13
Voluspa candles and soap starting from $17 from Mon Coeur (Mitchell Street)
14
Greg Mann necklace $49 from The Meadow (View Street)
13
126
14
15
15
Dianna Ferrari Gabriella silver shoes $109.95 and Olga Berg clutch in Silver $34.95 from McAuthurs Shoes (Hargreaves Mall)
christmas gift ideas
1
rock your body
Everlast airflow boxing gloves $65 from SupaBox Gym (Garsed Street)
2
Everlast boxing shorts $40 from SupaBox Gym (Garsed Street)
Inspire fitness fans with great-looking work out gear.
3
SupaBox T-shirt $20 from SupaBox Gym (Garsed Street)
4
Nike sports band $90 from Sportsco (Hargreaves Mall)
5
Mens Nike thongs $25 from Sportsco (Hargeaves Mall)
1
2
4
5
6
7
3
6
Seafolly Covent Garden bikini top $70 and bottoms $70 from Sportsco (Hargreaves Mall)
7
Lonsdale bag $100 from Sportsco (Hargreaves Mall)
8
Beau Pets dog lead $6.20 from Bendigo Animal Hospital (Napier Street)
9
Russell tween rib tank $20 from Sportsco (Hargreaves Mall)
10
Assorted Nike water bottles $13 from Sportsco (Hargreaves Mall)
8
9
11
Lustre Vet coat conditioner, cologne and deodorant for dogs and cats $13.95 from Bendigo Animal Hospital (Napier Street)
12
Red Dingo dog collar $14.55 from Bendigo Animal Hospital (Napier Street)
10 12
11 13
13
Russell girls fleece shorts $25 from Sportsco (Hargreaves Mall)
127
christmas gift ideas
1
Hand painted dinner ware by Bendigo Pottery in purple blossom from $285 for 16 piece setting from Bendigo Pottery (Midland Hwy)
deck the halls It’s the little touches that make you feel at home
2
NOEL tea lights $7.50 each from Mon Coeur (Mitchell Street)
3
Champagne Glass Set of Four $55, Wine Glass Set of Four $55 from Nest Egg (Strath Village)
4 5
Piano $32 from Elegant Concepts (King Street)
1
2
3
Sandhurst Ridge Sauvignon Blanc 2009 $20, Sandhurst Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 $28 from Sandhurst Ridge
6
Red Japonica Hand Painted Platter and Bowl by Bendigo Pottery $56 per set from Bendigo Pottery (Midland Hwy) 4
5
6
7
7
Outdoor clocks from $65 from The Complete Garden (Williamson Street)
8
Artificial plants from $18 from The Complete Garden (Williamson Street)
9
8
9
Kikki-K 2011 leather time planner medium $64.95 from Organise My (Bath Lane)
10
Variety of garden stakes $25 each from Artizen Gallery (Midland Hwy)
11
Maui Jim sunglasses start from $219.95 from Wills Street Eye Care (Wills Street) 10
11
12
12
Fair Trade elephant grass basket $40 from Just Planet (Queen Street)
13
Recycled tin lantern $26 from Just Planet (Queen Street)
14
13
13
15
Tri Bendigo Gift Pack $75 from Sandhurst Ridge, Connor Park & Balgownie Wineries
15
128
A selection of wines starting from $19 per bottle from Sandhurst Ridge, Connor Park & Balgownie Wineries
christmas gift ideas
1
Babel red three tier serving plate $49.95, Babel green three tier serving plate $29.95 from Favourite Flavours (Mitchell Street)
2
Red, white and blue mugs with silicone lids $12.95 each from Favourite Flavours (Mitchell Street)
that’s entertainment ‘Tis the season to eat, drink and be merry afterall.
3
Masterchef apron in red $24.95, Junior Mastechef apron in black $19.95 from Favourite Flavours (Mitchell Street)
4
Masterchef classic mugs $9.95 each from Favourite Flavours (Mitchell Street)
5
Masterchef blow torch $49.95 from Favourite Flavours (Mitchell Street)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
6
Masterchef mandolin $26.95 from Favourite Flavours (Mitchell Street)
7
The Rice Cube $34.95 from Favourite Flavours (Mitchell Street)
8
Pasta Wiz machine $30.50 from Caterworx (Woodward Road)
9
Avanti ceramic chocolate fondue set $22.50 from Caterworx (Woodward Road)
10
Stainless steel Avanti sleek water pitcher 1lt $35.95 from Caterworx (Woodward Road)
11
967 Tram Restaurant gift voucher $98 per person from Wine Bank on View (View Street)
12
T2 loose leaf black tea sampler $76 from Twenty2 (Williamson Street)
13
T2 white xmas fruit blush tisane and infuser $14.95 from Twenty2 (Williamson Street)
14
B3C extra virgin olive oil $10.80, B3C sticky shiraz glaze $10.80 from Twenty2 (Williamson Street)
15
B3C fiery pumpkin and chermoula chutney $9.80 , B3C spicy strawberry, watermelon and balsamic jam $9.80 from Twenty2 (Williamson Street)
129
tried & tested
it’s in the bag Ever wanted to peek inside another woman’s cosmetic kit. Here our own gorgeous style editor and make-up artist Katarina Vishnich spills all . Katarina chooses to use MAC cosmetics in her professional life but her own personal makeup bag contains surprisingly few products chosen from a spectrum of brands, some well known and expensive, and others not so. “Over the years I have tried and tested just about every product under the sun,” she reveals “But there is no way I’d lug about a beauty case like the one I use for my models just to head out to lunch with the girls, so I have pared my personal kit down to a few grab and go essentials. “The one item I can’t leave the house without, is my lip gloss from ModelCo. Just a lashing of mascara and some gloss and I’m ready to head out the door in the summertime. “Finding a product is about what suits the individual, not necessarily what the newest movie star is promoting. Some of the more cost effective products, such as the Natio range, deliver fantastic coverage and staying power at a suitably guiltfree price. The key is to try and see what works best for you. Uphold the KISS adage of “Keeping It Simple” and you’ll find that your purse will thank you. The following items have always been good to me.” ModelCo mascara $28.00 from Myer ModelCo lip gloss $35.00 from Myer ModelCo eyeshadow trio $39.00 from Myer Natio mineral loose foundation $18.95 from BUFS, Myer, Priceline Natio “smooth” eyeliner $12.95 from BUFS, Myer, Priceline Rimmel London liquid liner $10 - $12 pharmacies, Big W,Target etc.
available from
MAC small shader brush. $39.00 from MAC Cosmetics Eyelash curler $10 - $30 available from pharmacies and many retail stores including Big W, Target, Myer. Chi Chi “real minerals” eye shadow quad $19.95 from Myer
Photographer: David Field
SugarBaby “fragrance de Luxe” $9.95 from Myer ■
130
beauty q & a - Katarina Vishnich, Style editor
well-tressed Summer sometimes seems like it’s hair today and gone tomorrow. The key to hanging on to those lovely locks through all seasons is good care. Summer. Visions of long windblown tresses, gloriously sun-kissed with natural highlights ... reality check! The harsh summer sun, spiking hot temperatures and humidity spells dry, drab, split, brittle and frizzy locks. Exposure to the sun is just as damaging to unprotected hair as it is to our skin, and with so much summer fun and frivolities it’s easy to forget about our luscious locks ... until the damage has been done. But, show hair a little TLC and it will respond in kind. Hair needs to be treated more gently during the summer. Consider switching to a gentler shampoo and conditioner with more moisturising benefits. Try to shampoo less often to allow tresses to absorb the natural oils and when possible, finish with a cold rinse to seal the hair cuticle and be rewarded with a natural shine. Apply deep conditioning treatment or hair mask to your lovely locks (damp or dry) then wrap in plastic wrap or a shower cap. Allow conditioner to soak into damaged hair and ends for an extended period or, better still, overnight for the ultimate repair and moisturising benefits. Keep in mind that some treatment products are designed to add shine, but not necessarily to add moisture. Be sure to read all ingredients to understand what benefits the product is designed to provide for your hair.
Go au naturale During summer months when hair tends to be moisture deprived, limit the use of hair chemicals such as bleach, colour, relaxers and chemical straighteners as much as possible. Depending on your hair type and its condition, you may wish to consider avoiding hair care products which contain known ingredients which may have a drying effect (such as astringents), and consider switching to hair care products which are as natural as possible. If you normally use hot styling tools like blow dryers, rollers or straighteners, try giving your hair a rest during summer months. Air dry whenever possible or opt for easy hairdos like Boho styles or side braids. Braiding damp hair creates beautiful natural waves as the hair dries naturally.
Protect yourself When you find yourself out in the sun, the beach or at the pool without preparation, reach for a hat to cover delicate tresses. Hanging out in the sun without protection for your hair and scalp is a no-no. Use leave-in-hair products with SPF protection when you know you will be at the beach and if you’re unwilling to cover up or wear a hat. With all the chic fashion options you can opt for a bohemian-inspired floppy straw hat or even a loosely wrapped floaty scarf, but regardless of which style you choose, be sure to buy something which allows for proper air circulation and blood flow. If you wear a hat that is tight fitting and doesn’t allow for air flow, you will all too quickly overheat and be unable to endure keeping the hat on.
Hydrate While it’s important to notch up your moisturising and conditioning duties during the summer months, remember it is also about keeping your roots and hair hydrated from the inside too. Drink plenty of liquids to keep roots and ends flushed with fluids. Water will also keep your skin soft and plump, so while it’s tempting to drink ice cold soft drink or alcoholic drinks, keep in mind that they can add to the dehydration of skin and hair very quickly. H2O is always the sure-fire winner for your tresses, your body, and your well-being. â–
'LVFRYHU ,12$ WKH KDLU FRORXU RI WKH IXWXUH
/DGLHV Â&#x2021; 0HQV Â&#x2021; &RORXU Â&#x2021; 3HUPDQHQW 6WUDLJKWHQLQJ 6+23 &(175(:$< $5&$'( 48((1 675((7 %(1',*2 Â&#x2021; 3+21(
bendigo photo opportunity magazine
look at me now The wrappings came off with a flourish to reveal Myer Bendigo’s new look cosmetics hall. It may have cost half a million dollars, but “darlings it was worth every penny” was the general consensus when Myer unveiled its revamped cosmetics hall. As harpist provided a pleasing accompaniment as guests sipped champagne and nibble on canapes from mycafe while checking out the sleek new space. As well as gorgeous new counters for Clinique, Estee Lauder, Lancome, Revlon and Elizabeth Arden, new brands like Model Co have been added to the mix. 38 Pall Mall (03) 5448 2211. ■
132
a new you
a cut above In his aqua uniform, Daniel looks sharp as part of Strath Hill Butchers team, but what happens when we take the boy from behind the chopping block. Daniel is a member of the hardworking team at Strath Hill Butchers; a family owned business supplying quality meat and service to its valued customers. Most days of the week you will find him in his bright aqua uniform greeting customers with a welcoming smile. A relaxed kind of guy, Daniel enjoys chilling out with his mates after a busy week in the butcher shop. Asked about his style of clothing and Daniel is quick to admit not a lot of thought is given to his weekend wear. “If it is clean, comfortable and within reach” pretty much describes Daniel’s approach to “style”. We decided to give Daniel some great styling tips and a new look with the assistance of The Meadow. Owners Kane and Kyle established their concept store a year ago and are now leading the way in styling trends Australia wide. Daniel’s look is in keeping with his relaxed style but providing him with a look that’s fashion forward yet comfortable to wear. Turned up jeans teamed with one of The Meadow’s own Kosi Kosi label tee’s gives Daniel a sharp alternative to his regular shorts and T shirt weekend wear. The Malmo cropped jacket and canvas shoes completes the look. This outfit will take him from day right through evening, for a great night out with mates. ■
Daniel wears:
Article & styling: Lois McBain Colour & Image Stylist: Adonia Studio Photography: Terri Basten
Malmo cropped jacket $199 (as worn by Bernard Fanning from Powder finger) Cheap Monday staff boy dry jeans $90, Kosi Kosi beyond your dreams T-shirt $69 Anchors canvas boat shoe $89.00 all from The Meadow, 79 View Street, Bendigo
before
133
SUMMER FASHIONS Everyone can be a super stylist when they shop at the Bendigo Marketplace.
Louise Bolger, Super Stylist
Photographer: Terri Basten
get the look
shimmer & shine With this soft, pretty look created by Brazilian Beauty our model Matilda could waltz into any room and draw every eye. With her wholesome good looks there is no doubting Matilda is an Aussie girl who loves to have fun in the sun. Brazilian Beauty therapist Chantelle was inspired by a tutti frutti confection to celebrate summer with a gelati of colour from the Young Blood collection. For the base Chantelle used mineral primer, “pebble” liquid foundation, finishing with “cool beige” loose mineral powder applied with a small kabuki brush. “Nectar” pressed blush was applied under Matilda’s cheekbones and on the temples to balance and define the contours. For the eyes Chantelle used “doe” base all over and “peridot” loose powder for the contour and eye lids which was applied wet and then
patted dry for a more intense colour. On the inner eye area Chantelle applied “tourmaline” loose eye shadow, blending into the “peridot”. “Granite” loose eye shadow was used wet along the top and bottom lash line to define the eyes with wet “peridot” powder applied to the lower lashes finishing off with “blackout” mascara, For Matilda’s lips Chantelle used “sequin” liner topped with “envy” lip stick and a finishing flurry of “promiscuous” gloss. For a gorgeous fresh look this summer call Brazilian Beauty Bendigo Shop 23 Fountain Court (03) 5443 8855 or visit www.brazilianbeauty.com.au ■ 135
photo opportunity
award reward The girls from Brazilian Beauty Bendigo were elated and proud to take out a prestigious business award recently. Brazilian Beauty Bendigo was named category winner for the best local franchise or buying group in the Bendigo Business Excellence Awards 2010. We would like to thank our loyal and fabulous clients for their support as we continue to “raise the bar” in the beauty industry. Our clients are our priority and we pride ourselves on performing consistent expert beauty therapy from head to toe. Our highly trained team use superior Brazilian Beauty wax and products and will educate you on all aspects of after care. ■
Thank you to our valued clients for their support and loyality. Brazilian Beauty Bendigo is 100% committed to the care of our clients. INNER!
W ess Bendigo Busin ds ar aw e Excellenc
• Waxing • SIPL • Microdermabrasion • Spray Tan • Bio Sculpture nails • Eyelash Extensions • Massages • Youngblood Mineral Makeup • Dermalogica
Brazilian Beauty Bendigo Shop 23, Fountain Crt, Bendigo. Ph 03 5443 8855 www.brazilianbeauty.com.au
fashion forecast
ode to a grecian turn The summer fashion season is an enlivening one. Classically inspired, but with a serious infusion of sensuality and flash of skin. – Katarina Vishnich
- Katarina Vishnich, Style editor
“Classic club” and “ethereal romance” are two main styles we will be seeing plenty of this season. The “classic club” look is achieved with deconstructed fabrics and layers. Rolled up chinos and simple tie closures are some of the details that bring about the golf club resortcome-castaway feel. For menswear in particular, gents can expect a minimalistic, light, monochrome theme of renewed classics and club style.
light-weight look has an understated and exquisite effect of ethereal romance. Flowing dresses, tunics and layered tops are combined with plain wraps and jackets, slim skirts and pants with details around the waist. Fabrics are light, delicate, airy, and flowing with shimmering details and structures. The color spectrum is light in monochrome optics combined with neutral nuances reminiscent of porcelains, nudes and muted colours.
The summer theme is expressed in sophisticated, light, monochrome fabrics and silhouettes. Inspired by light, movement and overexposure, the result is luxuriously understated. Influences from the ‘40s, Deauville impressions and club wear are implemented with a light, purist and graphic approach. Fabrics play with contrasts and finishing touches that flow in natural, airy, and technical effects. Shapes are precise and plain with soft falling or loose-fitting blazers, (see pages 135 & 171) soft chinos and roll-up pants, clean cut shorts mixed with slender knits, clean crisp shirts and lightweight tees.
Shapes are flowing with V-necks and tunic shapes, tops and shirts with tapes, gathered details, transparent blouses, roll-up pant and gathered skirts, collarless jackets and shoulder embellishment. Fabrics are flowy crepes de chine, washable silks and satins, fine, doublelayered tissues, bubble and crinkle effects, ultra-fine linen, batiste, voiles, pleats, damask, laser-cut and burnt-out, embroideries and openwork motifs, sequins, fringes and of course, lace.
For the ladies summer is also about lightness and romance. Soft dresses and featherweight tops will have a strong Grecian drape feel. Details like ethereal ruffles, flounces and draping define a subtle influence of femininity.
My favourite element of the season is the abundance of oversized chrome jewellery. Large, excruciatingly gorgeous pieces such as chain necklets and bracelets and detailed chest plates are asserting themselves along with glossy synthetic materials and resins in the chunkiest of forms.
Purist, zen-inspired, light-colored and over-exposed the theme sees a reduction in bright colours and volumes. Reflecting the men’s trend, the look is inspired by light, transparency and gentle movement. The
This summer season is unlike any other with its fusion of simple style elements. It oozes sexuality and class and is a delight to the senses of devout fashion folk. Enjoy! ■
W H AT B E C O M E S O F T H E
broken hearted? THEY BUY
shoes!
Hargreaves Mall, Bendigo | Phone: (03) 5443 5223 Fax: (03) 5442 5102 Strath Village, Phone: (03) 5441 4472 | www.mcarthurs.com.au
SHOES EST. 1956
style inspiration
two girls, same dress Twins Sophie and Elle have people seeing double, but here they show how one outfit can be transformed so they look as different as night and day. Time, time who’s got the time? In this mad hatter world we always seem to be running out of it. Gone are the days when we started at 9am and walked out the door right on the whistle at 5pm. Expectations at work have increased and commitment to achieve often means additional hours at the office. So what do you do when you simply don’t have the time to go home and change for that dinner date? It’s simple ... wear your evening outfit to work. There’s nothing so say being corporate has to exclude
some glamour. That cute black dress for a theatre date can be toned down just the right notch by adding a corporate jacket, day wear shoes and an attitude to achieve business. Change your shoes to a pair of strappy heels, throw off the jacket, add some jewellery plus dramatic smoky eye make-up and a bold dash of lipstick and your’e ready for a night out. Voila! One dress now has a very different looking twin. ■
Stylist: Maggie Stewart
Makeup: Katarina Vishnich
Photographer: Terri Basten
Elle wears Mr K. cocktail dress in bronze/ black $229 from Ultima (Williamson Street) and Bon Bons ‘ice cream’ black patent heels $89.95 from McArthurs Shoes (Hargreaves Mall). Jacket and belt stylist’s own
Sophie wears Mr K. cocktail dress in bronze/black $229 from Ultima (Williamson Street) and Sandler ‘Alice’ grey silk heels $199.95 from McArthurs Shoes (Hargreaves Mall). Snake necklet and clutch stylist’s own.
139
2 5 - 2 7 Wi l l i a m s o n S t r e e t , B e nd i g o | 5 4 4 3 5 0 2 2 | w w w. u l t i m a f a s h i on. c o m . a u
this season
fairway to heaven Mind the hazards, take a little time with the iron and you will be on par to win the fashion masters this summer.
Charlotte wears Lolita dress $65 from Urban Corridor (Mitchell Street), RMK ‘mmons’ black heels $139.95 from McArthur’s Shoes (Hargreaves Mall). Harry wears XXXIndustries tee $59.95, Crosshatch next generation shorts $69.95, Super Dry thongs $22.95 all from Urban Corridor (Mitchell Street) 141
Charlotte wears Kosi Kosi tank dress basic $79, Trimapee drape poncho $176, CO-OP denim strap sandal $79, Cheap Monday vintage tortoise frames $75, Greg Mann handle necklace $49 all from The Meadow (View Street) Harry wears Bast. rails T-Shirt $69, Cheap Monday chinos $90, Anchors suede boat shoe $89, Colab untitled artist frames $199 all from The Meadow (View Street). 142
Charlotte wears Mr K dress - $299.95, Dusk flower $29.95 both from Ultima (Williamson St) and Diana Ferrari ‘Shia’ heels $139.95 from McArthur’s Shoes (Hargreaves Mall) Harry wears Ben Sherman shirt $119.95, Ben Sherman shorts $89.95 both from Ultima (Wiliamson St) and Julius Marlow ‘Shadow’ shoes $129.95 from McArthur’s Shoes (Hargreaves Mall)
143
Charlotte wears sequin singlet $69.95, basic singlet $24.95, grey high waist shorts $79.95, flower corsage $16.95 all from Portmans (Bendigo Marketplace). Harry wears Cosmo check shirt $89.95, Wexner pant $99.95, Sterlock belt $49.95 all from Tarocash (Bendigo Marketplace) 144
Charlotte wears Pia dress by Pascucci Couture $220.00 from and Boston babe heels $69.95 both from Miss Jayz (Hargreaves Mall) 145
Charlotte wears Alfred Angelo Tuille Dress $259.95 from Bendigo Bridal Collections (King Street) and Novo â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Hippleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; diamante heels $79.95 from Novo Shoes (Bendigo Marketplace)
146
Charlotte wears Frey appliqué silk top $219, Frey crinkle drape-front skirt $259, Frey wood necklace $219 and Lodi ‘galaxia’ heels $249 all from Euro Collections (Mitchell Street)
147
Charlotte wears Paco dress $350, Clarice â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Alloraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; heels $79 both from Belles and Bows Bridal (High Street, Eaglehawk)
148
Charlotte wears La Prinseca satin dress $85, string of Pearls $12 and silver diamente heels $25 all from Vonica Vintage (View Street)
Photographer: David Field Stylists: Maggie Stewart & Katarina Vishnich Stylistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assistant: Louise Bolger Location: Bendigo Golf Course Makeup: Lois McBain, Adonia makeup and image studio Hair: Tranquility Hair and Beauty
149
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
photo opportunity
hip, hip hooray Julia Currie’s 40th was an occasion for the girls to frock up and rock up to the Foundry. The theme was Sex and the City-style glamour and there was certainly plenty of gorgeous gal pal in attendance at Julia’s birthday bash. The action kicked off at the Foundry’s where party goers had a ball dancing, drinking and laughing. Happy birthday Jules! ■
150
photo opportunity
girls’night out A trio of girlfriends planned a fundraising night in, but with so many wanting to come along they had to go out ... to a much bigger venue. Who needs an excuse for a girls’ night out? Most girls would do anything for a night off, but how much more special it was to be given the chance to raise funds for breast cancer which is such a worthwhile cause. More than 300 attended the Platinum Room for a very special girls’ night out organised by Andrea Griffiths, Cathy Ritchie and Helen Taylor. Unleashing true girl power they raised almost $5000 and, as these photographs taken by Denise Fernie clearly show, a fabulous night was had by all. ■
clothing for city dwellers
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
downtown bendigo gala charity fashion parade Wishing you all a Merry Christmas This holiday season we look forward to taking care of visiting friends and relatives when they come to share the festive season with you. Check on our website to find a property as close as possible to your home. Get your visiting friends and relatives to book for 4 days or more . Then call us for a $50 voucher at the restaurant of your choice. Enjoy your family fun together and enjoy the Christmas season in Bendigo.
Helen Geri Check availability and book online
www.bendigoholidayaccommodation.com
$50
RESTAURANT VOUCHER bendigo holiday accommodation offers a stunning selection of fully serviced, self contained apartments in Bendigo CBD & surrounds.
03 5439 3588
info@bendigoholidayaccommodation.com
Visit our website to view each property profile, check pricing and to book online 24 hours.
As the main event of Bendigo Fashion Week 2010, the Downtown Bendigo Gala Fashion Parade provided a fabulous opportunity to showcase Downtown Bendigo’s style and glamour. Champagne and nibbles were served to guests who had dressed to impress for this fashion spectacular. The funds raised from this year’s event were donated to St Luke’s Family Care. ■
making waves Strike a sizzling pose poolside with a flirty ruffle-edged bikini or a classic one-piece given an eco-edge with a stand out global village print. Amanda wears Seafolly â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;goddessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; moulded triangle bikini $90 and hipster pant bottoms $70 from Sportsco (Hargreaves Mall)
154
Amanda wears Palazzi â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;flatter meâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; one-piece $132 from Blush Lingerie (Lyttleton Terrace). Necklace supplied by Mona Lisa, Bath Lane.
155
Amanda wears Empire halter-neck one-piece $179 from Blush Lingerie (Lyttleton Terrace). Necklace supplied by Mona Lisa (Bath Lane)
156
Amanda wears Seafolly â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;shimmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; bandeau bikini top $110 and bottoms $60 from Sportsco (Hargreaves Mall). Necklace supplied by Mona Lisa (Bath Lane)
Photographer: Terri Basten Stylists: Maggie Stewart & Katarina Vishnich Hair: Lynsey Addlem Makeup: Katarina Vishnich
157
Customer orders available!
265 Hargreaves Mall,AVAILABLE! Bendigo CUSTOMER ORDERS Phone Mall, 5442-4555 265 Hargreaves Bendigo | Ph: 5442 4555
NO CONTRA CTS • NO SIGN UP FEES • P ILABLE AY AS YOU GO • SESSION PASSES & GIFT VOUCHERS AVA
IT’S CRUNCH TIME! Kickboxing and Boxing for Fitness
Punch & kick your way into a new look Burn up to 1,000 calories in just one session Develop coordination, gain endurance, flexibility and improve your core strength All ages male & female.
PRIVATE SESSIONS • GRO
UP FITNESS SESSIONS • SPORTING CLUBS • SCHOOL GROUPS CORPORATE TRAINING • KICKBOXING & BOXING FOR KIDS
PETER NATOLI Personal trainer | Qualified fitness instructor | Kickboxing & Boxing Coach | Working with children check 5449 3171 or 0488 415 503 | peter@punchesinbunches.com.au | www.punchesinbunches.com.au
photo opportunity
belles & whistles Gorgeous retro swimwear was a splash hit at a Castlemaine fashion parade.
Bendigo
B R I D A L
C O L L E C T I O N S
Girls and their mums came out in force for the launch of My Sister Pat’s latest swim wear collection at Bells Belles in Castlemaine. Guests nibbled on canapes and sipped punch as local girls bopped down the catwalk to the likes of Buddy Holly and the Teddy bears. The boutique Ballarat-based label is turning heads everywhere with gorgeous, feminine ‘50s styling with Danni Minogue, the latest celebrity to be spied in a My Sister Pat playsuit. The fully lined cotton swimsuits/playsuits complete with rubber shirring come in ‘50s inspired polka dots, plaids and florals. And, they are oh-so-flattering from size eight skinny Minnies to +16 curvy Carols. For more information visit mysisterpat.com.au ■
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
photo opportunity
my oh myer! The launch of the spring/summer fashion collection at Myer Bendigo was a night to remember.
BOWEN & LETTS
wills street eyecare
From the moment Lauren Phillips, the partner of footballer Gary Ablett jnr led a cast of 40 local models down the catwalk it was clear the Myer spring/summer collection was going to be hot, hot, hot. With sharp nautical, military lines broken up by a burst of floral blooms there was something for every one from the sleek and chic to the totally adorable. The event raised more than $2500 in ticket sales which Myer matched to donate to the Radius Disability Foundation. The evening, hosted by Myer Bendigo operations manager Paul Dynon, began with the presentation of a $14,000 cheque to the Otis Foundation. Jools for Jim earned applause for coming to the party with spray tans and hair for the models, while Myer instore beauty advisors took care of the make-up. ■
A personal & professional focus on your eyecare COMPREHENSIVE EYE EXAMINATIONS NEW SEASON FRAMES & SUNGLASSES ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY LENSES CONTACT LENSES
Winner 2009 Bendigo Business Excellence Awards ‘Service-Professional’ category
Ph: 5443 1815
82 Wills Street Bendigo (cnr Arthur Street)
Oops just remembered a special occasion? Express Email Gift Vouchers now available from www.silkdayspa.com.au
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 and pamper you with a customised massage, facial or treatment to balance mind, body and soul. The team at Silk Day Spa are waiting to welcome you! Silk Day Spa wish to thank everyone for this great honour and recognition.
p u re e s c ap e fo r m e n & wo m e n O p e n M o n d ay - S a t u r d ay 5 6 - 5 8 M c I v o r R o a 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
S
omething old, something new, something vintage, something for you womens, mens & childrens clothing, shoes, jewellery & accessories
Open Tues â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sat 10am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6pm
NEW TO MISSJAYZ
High Fashion at affordable prices LADIES FASHIONS
GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE FOR CHRISTMAS
276 Hargreaves Mall Bendigo t: 5442 7210 e: sle58754@bigpond.net.au
HAIR AND BEAUTY FOR MEN AND WOMEN WE USE AND STOCK
AMONIA FREE CHI IONICS 49 WILLIAMSON ST, BENDIGO
YO U N G B L O O D
5441 2304
g eniin Op g n n g e n i p n O e ls OSppecials ials SSp peeccia
Exclusive labels Exclusive labels Exclusive labels Exciting new boutique Exciting new boutique Exciting boutique Importednew & designer fashions Imported & designer fashions Imported & designer and shoes sizes 5-11 fashions and shoes shoes sizes sizes 5-11 5-11 and
Exclusive labels Exclusive Exclusive labels labels Exciting new boutique Exciting new boutique Exciting new boutique Imported & designer fashions Imported & designer fashions Imported & designer fashions and shoes sizes 5-11 and shoes sizes 5-11 and shoes sizes 5-11
Bridal
SU M M ER SA LE N O W O N *Up to 50% off selected Bridal & Debutante gowns *Conditions apply.
64 High Street Eaglehawk
Opens 29O nriss O thp pAeepn l 2 9th 29 th A rill Ap pri
Op pens O ening O Op g Op pAeen nsss th Oppeenciianls 2229999th p l A th A th p ri Apri S ecialabels rilll ls Exclusive p S
Exclusive labels Exclusive labels Exciting new boutique Exciting new boutique Imported & designer fashions Imported & designer and shoes sizes 5-11 fashions and shoes sizes 5-11
Belles & Bows
in n p g O ng niin O peen Op ls ia ecials SSSp peeccia
g Openin Specials
Exciting new boutique Imported & designer fashions and shoes sizes 5-11
Opens O 29O pAeepn thp nrissl 2 29 9th th A Ap pri rill
Opens 29th Apri l
F RE Y
Shop 1 Backhaus Arcade Shop 1 Arcade Shop 1 Backhaus Backhaus 75 Mitchell StreetArcade 75 Mitchell Street 75 Mitchell Street Shop 1 Backhaus Arcade 75 Mitchell Street Bendigo 9.00am - 5.30pm, Mon 1569 - Sat 03 5442 9.00am 9.00am -- 5.30pm, 5.30pm, Mon Mon -- Sat Sat 9.00am - 5.30pm Mon - Sat
5442 5442 1569 1569
5446 7925 Shop 1 1 Backhaus Backhaus Arcade Arcade Shop Shop Shop 1 1 Backhaus Backhaus Arcade Arcade 75 Mitchell Street
1180 High Street Armadale 03 9509 0633
72 Mount Eliza Way Mount Eliza 03 9775 4022 93 Main Street Mornington 03 5976 1633
come on kosi, come on A fashion label created right here in Bendigo has hit the racks in more than 3000 designer stores across America. Kane Barri and Kyle Mac may not exactly be household names, but with a major deal that will see their burgeoning Bendigo clothing label in shops across the US, it’s surely only a matter or time. When the pair first met at the end of 2008 they could scarcely have envisaged how far their creative partnership would take them. Within three months they had produced their first streetwear collection and in just over a year they were grabbing US buyers’ attention. Kane recalls being summoned to a meeting at the Grand Hyatt to meet with three American buyers and the ensuing flurry of emails that sealed the deal. “We were stoked. As the head buyer drawled ‘We could get any label in the world that we wanted in our store’ and you guys are one in the street-wear section that we want’, Kyle says. “To be honest it was a big shock to us. Because we live and work in Bendigo people here don’t really see the size of the label. Because they know us they don’t think of the label on the scale that it is and I guess we had become accustomed to thinking the same. We were stunned that they wanted us, when they could have all the other amazing street-wear labels. With 25+ stockists around Australia, including an exclusive deal with Queensland’s main major retail store; Universal Store, and the recent signing with the major US-based designer store with over 3,300 stores through US, Canada and Europe, times have certainly changed since the pair did their own screen-printing at home. The growth of this home-grown label has indeed been meteoric, but Kane and Kyle see it as a result of their perfectionism, firstly as designers, and now as business people. Kyle describes both himself and Kane as being extremely fussy with their label, but says he wouldn’t have it any other way. “To succeed in the fashion business, we knew we had to be extremely professional in the way we presented ourselves to the world,” he says. “It’s about building a reputation and being taken seriously.” For Kosi Kosi this applies to all details. Line sheets and catalogues are sent to stockists in printed A4 envelopes, with all sales being 164
Photographer: Anthony Webster
young guns
followed up by both the guys. They create the booklet design for all their collections themselves. Kane and Kyle also personally manage their website, they handle the PR and marketing side of the business and even style their own photo shoots, along with their personal photographer William Lukaitis. It all works to create a label that is distinctly outside of the square. As Kane puts it, “You have to project confidence in yourself and your product for others to have confidence in you. And we find that being hands on and getting things done ourselves creates that confidence.”
We were stoked. As the head buyer drawled, ‘we could get any label we wanted’ ...
Recently Kosi Kosi released a mini-collection for High Summer, which consists of just T-shirts and Singlet’s, titled DREAMER. This is currently in-stores internationally. This range is their fourth, adding to their first collection in early 2009, titled We of the Never Never, their second for Autumn /Winter 2010, titled For Always, Forever and their third collection Isolation which saw the introduction of their first women’s pieces. The newest collection being designed now by the guys is for Autumn/ Winter 2011. This collection will introduce Kosi Kosi’s first basics section, featuring a seven-colour palette of non-printed garments, adding to their main focus of printed pieces. It will also include printed T-shirts, long sleeve T-shirts, crew neck jumpers and zip up hooded jumpers, as well as long sleeve shirts, all for men. And for women, printed tank dresses, T-shirt dresses, long sleeve dresses and over-size jumper dresses will be a big focus. Wanting to take their label “back to the roots of fashion” the duo have always aimed to make high quality “staple” clothing with graphic prints, that are modern, accessible and that the buyer will be proud to own. If you thought that was enough, Late 2009 saw Kane and Kyle open their own store, The Meadow, in the leading arts and culture precinct of Bendigo, View Street. The store has the entire Kosi Kosi collection
Fashion images courtesy: William Lukaitis
(at-the-time) as well as over 15 other innovative labels, mostly from Melbourne and Sydney, many of them designers that Kane and Kyle have connected with along the way. The future looks bright for Kosi Kosi. Pushing themselves to the next level, Kane and Kyle plan to open another store, a Kosi Kosi Concept store, based in Melbourne, dedicated to just Kosi Kosi collections. They also plan to push their brand even further throughout Australia and hope to gain more stores internationally. ■
165
HAIR LOUNGE
H a i r B e a uty
HAIR Phone: 5441 8188
Email: vibehair@bigpond.com
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
TM
Gift vouchers available
5442 3344 Backhaus Arcade, Lyttleton Trce (opp. coles carpark)
men’s style
twins set Identical brothers Clinton and Brenton show you can look sharp at a work business meeting and still have street cred in the same threads. Sometimes all it takes is a bit of attitude and a few props to allow you to slip easily into different environments. Twins Clinton and Brenton are the perfect models to demonstrate how one outfit can take you round the clock with a little attention to detail. Brenton is dressed to make a pitch on a new graphics campaign with a collared-shirt and jacket lending a bit of structure and professional
Clinton wears Kosi Kosi Night tide T-shirt $69, Cheap Monday Black Tight Jeans $90 from The Meadow (View Street) and Julius Marlow ‘shadow’ shoes in grey $129.95 from McArthurs Shoes (Hargreaves Mall).
edge. The glasses and satchel add to the impression he means business. Heading out for an after-work catch up with mates Clinton ditches the jacket and shirt to reveal the edgy designer T-shirt. The stiff leather brogues are replaced with softer-soled more casual-looking shoes and he’s ready to shoot some pool or catch a band. ■
Brenton wears Kosi Kosi Night tide T-shirt $69, Cheap Monday Black Tight Jeans $90, The Meadow Readers Black Frames $19, Alpha 60 Leather Belt $49, Alpha 60 Pocket Back Shirt $120 all from The Meadow (View Street).
Stylist: Maggie Stewart
Photographer: Terri Basten
Suit jacket and shoes – model’s own.
167
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) New season begins the week of
Monday 24th January 2011. BENDIGO TENNIS ASSOCIATION Nolan Street Bendigo P: (03) 5442 5744 www.bendigotennis.com.au
photo opportunity
gold fever The epic tale of Australia’s incredible gold rushes of the mid to late 1800s attracted a crowd of book lovers to Collins Booksellers relaunch. With an exciting new team behind Collins Booksellers Bendigo, a relaunch was recently held at Wild Mint Restaurant. To help celebrate, renowned Australian best-selling author David Hill came along to launch his new book Gold. David Hill has compiled a detailed and fascinating account of Australia’s (and Bendigo’s) past in relation to gold. On the evening David spoke about his new book and also fielded questions. Guests were treated to drinks and canapes and many took the opportunity to purchase the former ABC managing director’s new book and have it signed by him. Collins Booksellers is located at Shop 9-10 Fountain Court Bendigo and can be contacted on (03) 5443 4695. ■
168
mum’s word
endless summer
- Kylie Freer
Lazy, hazy days are the sand between the toes of memories. You know summer is coming when you realise it is still daylight at dinnertime. For many, summer conjures memories of hot Christmas days and family holidays, but the long, hot summer school holidays are so much more. The coming of Christmas doesn’t just signify the end of the school year, it promises a fresh start, complete with the ever-important growth spurt discovered when school uniforms emerge from the ironing basket five weeks later. School holidays are about running wild, growing up and being young. Youth, I have decided is something you eternally feel, even if it seems to be melting faster than a preschooler’s ice-cream. At risk of sounding like my parents, back in my day, my generation hung out under sprinklers, slipped down detergent-fuelled water slides, played backyard cricket, chomped on barbecued sausages, slurped Sunny Boys, water skied at Lake Eppalock and careered around the neighbourhood on bikes ... Well, this was after we were kicked off the Atari or told to turn off our Walkmans. A trip down memory lane is nice, but seeing as we can’t even do some of these things anymore, we wanted to know from today’s Generation Z what makes summer memorable and special to them. Whilst I’m sure there is plenty of time spent surfing the internet and group gaming via the PS3 or Wii, year 5 and 6 students from Golden Square Primary School quite surprisingly, noted that when it comes to the summer holidays, not much has changed. As Emily, said so well, “... the sun and the cold water make (for) so much fun in summer,” and for many, including Chloe, year 6, “the best thing ... is spending time with family.” The fun still starts with water, family and friends and ends with ice-creams, milkshakes and sleepovers. Whether it’s the beach, the river, a pool or a lawless water-fight; it’s all about the water! It sounds like a political campaign slogan, but it’s
true. The mighty Murray lures Chloe, year 5. She loves “going up to the Murray River and camping up there, cooking marshmallows over the fire and eating a fish you caught earlier that day.” Bonnie mustn’t like getting her toes nibbled by shrimp and prefers the beach “with friends and family... having water fights, then finally, drinking yummy chocolate milkshakes.” Others prefer to be pool-side, like Will, “I like to hop into the pool on a hot day. After that we will have a hot chocolate and sit in front of the fire, then we will hop back into the pool again.” Remember those days? In the pool until you turned blue and your teeth were chattering, out again, lying on the scorching concrete in the sun to warm up, then back in to do it all again. But what summer is complete without cricket rating a mention? While most of us melt in the heat, Cameron, seemingly channelling Ricky Ponting, believes there’s nothing better than “playing cricket in the hot weather with sweat dripping out of your helmet.” With devilish spin, like a scene from Dennis the Menace, Callum enjoys “playing cricket in the backyard with my brother and my brother smashing all the tennis balls over the fence until we have none left.” Losing the ball is generally how the game ends, and Mitchell, his dad and brother “have heaps of fun until my dog steals the ball...” As for the rules, one-hand-one-bounce and if you don’t use the garbage bin for wickets and take plenty of icy-pole breaks, it’s just not cricket! Childhood memories are made in summer. Our memories capture sunshine, radiance, mischief, laughter, friendship and that whimsical teenage summer romance. This year, make the most of your summer under our southern sky, regardless of whether you prefer Paul Norton’s song, The Beautiful Girls version, or God forbid, Nikki Webster’s one! Make the most of everything that Australia stands for; hear it, feel it, for we’re alive and well in the land of the endless summer. ■
2010 DISPLAY HOME Open until Sunday 19th December
31 Marnie Road, Strathdale, open weekends 2-4 pm
INDIVIDUALLY DESIGNED HOMES NEW HOMES UNITS RENOVATIONS 0418 544 367
www.rbbuilder.com.au
Mr Good Times
SHOP 18 FOUNTAIN COURT BENDIGO 03 5442 1393
(enter via Bath Lane) A UNIQUE CHILDRENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S STORE
Creative toys & gifts for all ages â&#x20AC;˘ Free gift wrapping available.
Jaguar Limousine Service Our elegant Jaguar limousine can carry up to seven passengers. Relax in the comfort of leather seats and cool rear air conditioning. Our matching Jaguar Series III Sovereign perfectly complements the stretch limousine. This sedan is long wheel based for extra leg room and boasts all the Jaguar luxury extras. Available for weddings, debutante balls, winery tours, the spring racing carnival or a special romantic evening.
Contact Donna on 0448 000 230 www.jaglimo.com.au
photo opportunity
metal of honour Jeweller Mel Stockx opened a new studio and exhibition space where metal rules. Artists and art lovers mingled at the opening of Mel Stockx new studio and gallery. Metal Bohemia is a dedicated space for contemporary metal art handcrafted by local artists. Created by local silversmith and artist Mel Stockx, it stems from her passion for metal art and her belief that Bendigo deserves a space dedicated to promoting metal as an artistic medium. All of the work housed in the gallery from large sculptures and wall art to intricate jewellery is entirely hand made and individual. Current opening times are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 10:30am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4pm. Visit Metal Bohemia at 97 Bridge Street, Bendigo or call 0429 393 989. â&#x2013;
Designer Labels, Style, Quality & Affordability Secure Online Shopping Anytime
www.LaToriana.com.au
connect2mums R AUSMUMPRENEU AWARDS
Best Boutique Award
WINNER
5 Bath Lane, Bendigo info@latoriana.com.au | p. 0408 489 268
photo opportunity
follow the Champion fund-raisers Sue and Matt Drum set a new high bar with a record breaking Girls Night In for breast cancer. The Drumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fifth Girls Night In was dedicated to Sueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s late sister Muriel and inspired by Mattâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sister Pamela, who bravely continues her fight against breast cancer. The couple raised over $20,000 with live auctions, silent auctions and raffles â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a pretty staggering achievement with just 160 guests. Guests enjoyed fine nibbles from Debbieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Deli and responded with great generosity to the auctioneerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rallying call. Funds raised will be divided between Bendigo Oncology, Cancer Council Victoria and YWCA Encore exercise program for women recovering from breast cancer surgery. The evening was a great reflection of the generosity of businesses and individuals from the Bendigo community and the Drumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drive and determination to make a difference. â&#x2013;
Fashionable Maternity Wear TP DPNGPSUBCMF ZPV XJMM XBOU UP LFFQ XFBSJOH BGUFS QSFHOBODZ
Also available SRC Recovery Shorts 3FHBJO ZPVS QSF CBCZ CPEZ TIBQF GBTUFS 4IPQ #FOEJHP $FOUSF #BUI -BOF r 1IPOF
XXX NVN BOE CVNQ DPN BV
due date dressing
go the maxi, mum!
- Laura Campbell
So, here you are. The mercury is rising, you’re carrying about your own in-built beachball and now, all the nonpregnant ones want you to go out? Becoming a mum is an unbeatable experience, but let’s face it being heavily pregnant at the height of summer can be very uncomfortable. By this stage you are probably not feeling altogether glamourous and the hot weather makes you exhausted and sweaty. Really, you just want to lie on the couch and eat lemonade and pickle icy poles, but there are places to go and people to see ... particularly at this time of year. Enter the maxi dress to the rescue. The maxi dress is made for pregnancy because of the loose, flowing design.
Amanda wears Sweet Lilly ‘St Kilda’ black/silver maxi dress $179.95 from Mum & Bump (Bath Lane), black bangle $6.95, silver bangles $9.95, pewter zip heels $49.95 all from Barkins (Hargreaves Mall).
What’s more, the likes of Angelina Jolie and Gwen Stefani have made them look hot during their pregnancies. And, now you can too! See how gorgeous Amanda looks in this stunning formal black maxi from our friends at Mum & Bump which is just perfect for an elegant summer wedding or swanky dinner. The colourful casual print with its flattering empire waist sitting right under the bustline is perfect for all those Christmas parties and barbies with accessories the key to dressing it up or down. And both of these dresses can be worn after bubby arrives. Now, that’s what I call a baby bonus. ■
Yellow and multi colour dress $69.95, necklace $29.95, antique bronze bangle $6.95, V bar sandals $19.95 all from Barkins (Hargreaves Mall).
Photographer: Terri Basten Model: Amanda Watson Makeup: Kel from The Body Shop Bendigo Hair: Lisa from Giai Hair, McIvor Rd Styling: Laura Campbell
173
Fr e d B a r e Metallicus Minihaha Osh Kosh Bebe Wo o f Run Scotty Run B o o k s t o We a r Grobag Le v i s K i d s So Sooki Mini Life Marquise T h e T h r e e Tr e e s Mini Mo Lily Me Fl o D a n c e w e a r Sooki Red Bootie Surefit T i p To e y J o e y B a b y Pa w s
T
winkletoes
Kidswear
21 QUEEN ST BENDIGO
03 5442 9889
Sizes newborn to 16
w w w . m i l t a n d j o e . c o m . a u see kai run : big : mill and mia : munster : willow and finn : claesens chook leaf : eleven : walnut : tommy rocket : two belles : infancy : little horn : heavenly creatures : knuffle kids : milt and joe : aden and anais : tiny tribe : lima bean : chalk and cheese : ouch : gracie and lola dwell baby : smaller : minti : polka : snoffs : cried wolf : levis for kids : sudo : chilli kids : greta kids : mae : maiike : little nogg : beautiful soles : red tiger
m i l t
a n d
j o e
clothing accessories gifts
374 hargreaves st bendigo 03 5444 0881 info@miltandjoe.com.au
mum & kids
just the two of us
- Laura Campbell
As a single mum Narelle may not have a partner to squire her around, but during the festive season she can still count on the company of a very handsome date. Sometimes single mums feel the weight of the world, having to shoulder the daily duties and resposibilities of child-rearing alone. But, as Narelle Richardson points out, being the custodial parent doesn’t mean locking yourself or your child away. “Being a single mum can be very tiring and challenging, but it doesn’t mean you have to stay home and pass up on all the fun, “ Narelle says “When it comes to this time of the year and catching up with family and friends at Christmas parties, I love dressing my little man up. “He is my hot little date everywhere I go and any opportunity we get to get dressed up, we jump at the chance. “I particularly love summer because I pull out all of my pretty maxi dresses. They are so easy, comfortable and look good, but best of all they allow me the freedom of movement so I can still play and chase Jack around.“ ■
Narelle wears black and multi colour dress $129.95, neutral necklace $29.95, cream flower in hair $19.95, bangles various prices all from Portmans (Bendigo Marketplace) and ‘Salma’ dusty pink Novo heels $69.95 from Novo Shoes (Bendigo Marketplace) Jack wears Perry red & cream sandals $44.95, So Sooki t-shirt $29.95, Run Scotty Run shorts $34.95 and hat $19.95 all from Twinkletoes Kidswear (Queen Street)
Photographer: Terri Basten, Model: Narelle Richardson Makeup: Kel from The Body Shop Bendigo Hair: Lisa from Giai Hair, McIvor Rd Styling: Laura Campbell
175
Tumble into the wonderful world of Gym!
The YMCA Building, Mundy Street. Phone Emma on 0428 990 819
a man’s word
mixed grill You can count on there being at least one prawn, but no true Aussie barbie is complete without a chook with a beer can up its bum. - Ash McAuliffe At last the season of fun in the sun is here. There are many activities summer beckons us to take part in, such as piling into a car with your mates for a road trip to the beach. Like the time that my brother and I went with some friends for a weekend to Torquay but ended up staying at a donkey farm because no one thought to book accommodation, which is not usually a problem … except on Australia Day weekend. The venue did offer a limo service into town which was handy for us, even though it was a dusty old Camira that had the unique feature of the radio turning off every time the indicator was used. Another activity offered was to milk an alpaca and then tour the butter factory. Second only to milking alpacas, my favorite summer activity is inviting a few friends around for a bit of barbie. We have all been to a bit of a barbie, but how many of us have asked the question: What is it like to have a full barbie? Proving without a doubt that I am Central Victoria’s hardest working investigative journalist, I have conducted a great deal of research into this, the unicorn of summer entertaining: The FULL barbecue. The cast of the Australian full barbecue is as follows:
The Mothers’ Club: This is the group of women (usually) that can be found in the kitchen preparing the salads, chips, dips, breads, meat and the pavlovas that Nigella brought along. Without this group, the barbecue would just be a beer and meat night. You should approach this group with caution or stealth because if you get too close you will find yourself with a job. No one wants that. The Flanders: These people are the early leavers. Once fed, they need to get home because they have to take little Johnny to soccer in the morning or they need to get home to water their dog or feed their plants or something. The Flanders’ are pleasant guests and usually arrive dead on time, but leave a little too early to be polite. The Rock Star: This guy or girl turns up as everyone else is leaving. This is because they have been to another function that was more important than your BBQ. The Rock Star has never met the Flanders.
The host and hostess: Whether it is an impromptu event or one that has been planned for months, the full barbecue needs a host … otherwise, it’s called breaking and entering.
The Aunty: The Aunty is usually married to The Uncle and drinks white wine and hangs out with the BBQ gang instead of the mothers’ club. No one knows why, it’s just how it is.
The Sneaky Drunk: We all know one, you may even be one. This is the person that turns up to the barbecue empty-handed yet somehow finishes the night in an alcohol-induced coma. These people are easily identified because they can usually be found somewhere in the back yard the next morning. You know who you are.
Mr (or Miss) Tight: Brings exactly the number of drinks that he or she plans to drink, no more and no less. Their drink of choice is usually something that no one else will want to drink just to make sure, like vodka and chilli ginger ale or something. Mr Tight may also borrow a few drinks from other guests with such phrases as: “that looks interesting can I try one?” Mr Tight can be relied upon to bring a few old frozen pieces of unidentifiable flesh, but when the meat is cooked you will find him munching on a nice piece of eye fillet.
Nigella Lawson: No, not the curvaceous culinary seductress as seen on television. The barbecue Nigella compensates for the Sneaky Drunk by bringing salads, chips, dips, breads, meat and several pavlovas. Nigella usually turns up early and helps you set up and stays to help with the clean up too, so it is very handy to invite her along. Photographer: David Field
host is kept in supply of beer whilst cooking. The conversation usually revolves around cars or football. After all of the cooking and eating has been done, the BBQ gang will usually relocate to the fire, assuming there is one.
The Uncle: Someone’s uncle will walk in the front door, and make his way directly to the grill without “passing go” or “collecting $200”. He will then impart every single piece of meat-cooking expertise that he has to whoever is currently attending to the grill. The astute host will handball the task of cooking to the uncle and then vanish. Be wary though, some uncles do not know how to cook. The BBQ Gang: This is a group of men that loiter around the barbecue in support of the host. Their primary function is to ensure that the
The Champion: The ever-generous champion is the opposite of the Mr Tight. He brings a full carton of beer but only drinks about 18 of them. The champion knows everybody at the party. So that’s the main cast of the full Australian barbecue and if you have a look around at the next barbecue you will find some or all of these guys there. Now all you are missing is the chook with a beer can up its bum. Get a half-full can of beer, and sit a chook on top of it and then cook it in the Weber with the lid on for about an hour. The fat runs off, but the beer steam keeps the chook nice and tender. ■ 177
GIFTS, HOMEWARES, JEWELLERY, CHILDREN’S, UNIQUE, QUALITY, CONTEMPORARY AND COUNTRY
www.nestegghomeandgifts.com.au Ph. 5443 0321 ~ Strath Village Shopping Centre Condon St
Kane wears Fred Bare singlet $44.95, Fred Bare boardies $59.95 from Twinkletoes Kidswear (Queen Street) Zack wears Levis shirt $64.95, Levis shorts $69.95 from Twinkletoes Kidswear (Queen Street)
fun zone
Summer holidays are just the best with outdoors weather and opportunities for family fun. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like all a kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Christmases come at once.
179
Keely wears Oobi singlet $14.95, Oobi skirt with hankerchief headscarf $39.95 from Mr. Goodtimes (Bath Lane) Heidi wears Oobi singlet $14.95, Oobi polkadot skirt $39.95 with Lauren Hinkley bracelets $29.95 all from Mr. Goodtimes (Bath Lane)
180
Zack wears black Tommy Rocket running scared tee $44.95, Cried Wolf dribbler shorts $54.95 from Milt and Joe (Hargreaves St) Kane wears Tommy Rocket red metal head tee $49.95, Munster tickets boardies $54.95 from Milt and Joe (Hargreaves Street)
181
Keely wears Tea Princess dress $65.95, rose headband $19.95 from LaToriana (www.latoriana.com.au) Heidi wears Love Child Singlet $28.95, Dolly Up tulle skirt $39.95 and rose headband $19.95 from LaToriana (www. latoriana.com.au) Photographer: David Field Location: The Zone Family Entertainment Complex Models: Zack, Kane, Heidi & Keely 182
photo opportunity
cup runneth over Tasmanian stayer Dream Pedlar snared the 2010 Bendigo Cup and, on a near perfect day, a brilliant time was had by all. The 2010 Bendigo Cup went off without a hitch with local songstress and Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sGot Talent contestant Alana Conway opening proceedings with a powerful rendition of I am Australian. More than 12,000 people turned out at the track in a fantastic country curtain raiser to the Melbourne Cup. The track looked its very best in the glorius spring sunshine and was greatly enhanced by the number of gorgeous girls all frocked up for the occasion. The ultimate winner in the fashion stakes was Myer lady of the day Chantel Johnson. â&#x2013;
184
dad says - Chris DeAraugo
when I were a lad How many of us are guilty of looking at the past through rose-coloured glasses and failing to see the good before us? If you’re an advocate of the court of popular opinion it’s easy to think that the young people of today are all hoons and goons, selfabsorbed, disrespectful and have no concern for others. But, if you look about and drill down you find some inspiring stories. Just listen to them talk about their dreams and efforts, their commitment and thinking and you’ll soon feel a lot more comfortable or reassured. It was a recent coffee and chat with my son Joshua that reinforced this. He was sharing what his various friends were up to with their employment. He said: “We are trying to make our living doing things that we love and are good at. Just because none of us are working in a traditional trade or office job, doesn’t mean we aren’t doing something worthwhile and earning some money.” Just among his own mates, one has started his own advertising production company with clients across Australia, another has started his own clothing label, another a specialist graphic design company, a photographic business and others have just launched a new magazine aimed at their peers. Joshua himself is currently doing music tracks for advertising and related media. The more we spoke, the more I was inspired by the stories of these young people daring to live their dreams and live from the dreams. Not in a reckless or unconsidered way. Each one has worked other jobs to build up some cash, spent countless (unpaid) hours developing their skills and building networks. They are aware of the financial risks, yet continue to work towards their dream of earning a living from doing what they are good at and love. They are all in their early 20s, grew up in Bendigo, many are now in Melbourne, yet retain ties to their home. Makes you feel good. And Bendigo has many examples of its young people doing worthwhile things. We have one of the youngest-ever councillors in Australia. There is the Young Entrepreneurs Network and many others like these young people who show commitment to their vision.
Extra life for every body R5 Modern Chiropractic
R5 Food Coaching
R5 Relaxation &
R5 Yoga
Remedial Massage R5 Naturopathy
R5 Psychology/ Counselling
There are also roles for us older people to play. I was fortunate enough to be part of the development of Lead On (the youth development program) and what we continually witnessed was the importance of connecting young people to networks of more experienced people who could provide some knowledge and some encouragement. Which brings me to the importance of encouragement. My youngest son Jacob has just returned from playing his second season of cricket in England. I actually didn’t want him to go the second time – I was worried about all the things that could go wrong, he was alone, a long way away, etc. Yet I admired his commitment to go and encouragement and support was the right thing to do. He’d worked hard here and saved for it, he had a job lined up in the UK and was prepared to walk 45 minutes a day (up lots of hills) to get to his part-time job so he could survive financially. And he arrived home safely and all the better for the experience. Going as far as the Greek poet Hesiod in the eighth century BC, old guys have made sport of bad-mouthing the younger generation.“I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on the frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words. When I was a boy, we were taught to be discrete and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise and impatient of restraint,” old Hesi droned. Sound familiar? Well, I believe our future is in good hands. Support and encourage our young and be inspired by them. You can be proud then to say “in my day” knowing we did the right thing by our young. ■
Introductory relaxation massage $58.00
505 High Street Golden Square
03 5447 0557
photo opportunity
reuben’s vision The official unveiling of a new display home by one of Bendigo’s best known builders was a proud moment. The launch of the new Reuben Beazley display home was an exciting occasion for the popular builder and his family. The guests included great local suppliers and skilled trades people who helped make Reuben’s vision a reality. This home is an incredible creation and needs to be seen to be believed. The Reuben Beazley Builder display home is located at 31 Marnie Road Bendigo and is open 2pm – 4pm every Saturday and Sunday until the end of 2010. ■
HARD TO BUY FOR? GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE FOR CHRISTMAS 11 edward street, bendigo p. 5444 3322 (Located between Target & Bendigo Marketplace)
devinerugs.com.au
186
bendigo brides
TOP LEFT: There was family on hand from England when Rebecca House married Brad McPhail in the grounds of Nanga Gnulle on March 27. Rebeccaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dad not only gave her away, but made the wedding cake that featured at the cocktail reception. Photography: Jamie Harrison TOP RIGHT: Wearing a Mariana Hardwick bridal gown Justine McCann married Tyrone Bradley at St Brendanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church in Shepparton on April 10. The nuptials were followed by a reception at The Olivehouse Restaurant. Photography: Liz Arcus BELOW: All morning the skies had threatened to open up, but just as Bonnie Burke and Paul White were about to wed in the White Hills Garden on August 18, the sun broke through. Photography: Anthony Webster, Imagine Pictures LEFT: There was something old, something new and lots of blue when Eliza Stephens and Leigh Murphy wed at Forest Street Uniting Church on March 27. Photography: Anthony Webster, Imagine Pictures
187
feature bride
uno, i love you so When Adrian Carr met Erica Black there was definitely something in the air, but little did they guess as 18-yearolds that life together was in the cards. How did you and Erica meet? Erica and I met in 1997 through a mate who worked with her at Joe Joe’s Restaurant. After our first meeting we often bumped into each other out on the town at venues like Studio 54 and the Sundance Saloon. I left Bendigo in 1998 and Erica not long after that, so the little flame burning between us at the time certainly extinguished. Well, that’s what we both thought at the time. Then six years later Erica returned to Bendigo in 2005 and I returned in 2007 after respective journeys throughout Australia and overseas. We were re-acquainted at the Black Swan one Saturday night and maintained regular contact from that point. Finally after a total of 13 years had passed we finally “hooked up” in 2009. At that moment I knew my instincts as an 18year-old were spot on and furthermore why Erica was so often in my thoughts throughout the time since we first met in 1997. Was it love at first sight? There was certainly a mutual attraction to each other right from the moment we met in 1997. However, we both endured the experience of being unable to attract each other’s attention on the same night! We both made several attempts to engage each other in conversation but on each occasion the other person was oblivious to the approach hence our courting attempts failed dismally, which was most likely due to inexperienced 18-year-olds. We both agree that there was definitely an instant attraction to each other from the first moment we met! This attraction obviously went into hibernation for a few years until 2007 when the flame suddenly started to flicker and by 2009 it well and truly began to burn brightly and continues to do so! Erica is the most stunningly beautiful woman whose intelligence is like no other on this planet and when she walked toward me on our wedding day I was lost for words. Where did you go on your first date? We enjoyed a lovely meal at Piyawat Thai Restaurant in Mollison Street. I picked Erica up from her house at 6:13pm and noted that she was favourably impressed with my white Toyota Prado! So things got off to a good start. We enjoyed a lovely dinner with no awkward moments of silence, spillages or food caught on the end of our noses and mouths. We returned to Erica’s house at around 9:35pm where we enjoyed another wine on the balcony followed by a kiss at the kitchen bench. From that very kiss we have barely been apart.
188
Photographs courtesy: Hamilton Island Weddings www.hamiltonislandwedding.com
How did you propose? The proposal was more of a discussion followed by a mutual agreement. We were sitting down on our lounge room floor playing the card game UNO and enjoying a glass of Giesen’s sauvignon blanc. There was suddenly a moment after Erica claimed UNO victory that we started rolling about in laughter because it was the first time she had won a game after about 50 attempts. After the laughter had subsided we gazed at one another intensely. Right at that moment we both felt an overwhelming feeling of adoration and love for each other. It is truly hard to explain those feelings in words but I can speak for both of us by saying that we’d never felt them before. Following that moment I can’t recall who actually said it but the words: “Do you want to get married?” rang in our ears simultaneously. The biggest smiles beamed from both our faces with a definitive answer of “Let’s do it!” coming from both of our mouths and we embraced each other with a huge hug.
Erica’s sister Vanessa Robertson with her husband Matt Robertson and my mate Matt Sandiford with his partner Benita Caplan. It was a small but very intimate ceremony on May 15 in the gardens of the Beach Club Resort followed by a dinner in at Romano’s restaurant in the Hamilton Island marina. We spent only a few short days on the island after the wedding before returning home to a celebration with 150 family and friends at Wild Mint restaurant & bar. Were you nervous? We both were a little nervous. However we were overwhelmed by a very intense period of emotion prior to the wedding which further solidified our strong bond of love. Unfortunately my father (Ian Carr) passed away on August 6, 2004 and I certainly felt his absence on what was the most special day of my life. Erica’s father (Graham Black) has been battling with his health and to watch him walk Erica down the aisle certainly brought a tear to everyone’s eye.
Tell us about your chosen wedding location?
What would your No.1 tip to other grooms to be?
Erica and I were married on Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays! Initially our plan was to elope and we certainly wanted to escape the cold Victorian weather. We ended up escaping the Victorian weather but didn’t quite elope as we couldn’t get married without Erica’s proud parents Graham and Di Black, my proud mother Joan Carr,
A groom should maintain some control of the wedding arrangements prior to the day. Don’t be steamrolled and keep an eye on everything. PLUS two or three beers before the ceremony settles everything down. In all seriousness I am the happiest I have ever been in my entire life and would love to go through the whole ceremony again. n 189
feature bride
love, reign o’er me Neil Pickering promised he’d marry Tanya Tonkin when “the rains came” and so it was that the power of love broke the drought. How did you and Neil first meet? Neil and I first met in the spa at the recreational complex in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. I am from a sheep station near there and was just completing my first year as a qualified nurse. Neil had come over from Bendigo where he had finished his apprenticeship as a fitter machinist and was working on the mines. We became friends over a few beers and as he was from an irrigation farming property near Kerang we both had a love of the bush and the outdoors. Was it love at first sight? There was definitely chemistry which I spent a bit of time fighting as I have a pretty strong independent streak, but it was always so easy to be in the company of each other. We appreciated each other’s idiosyncrasies and both loved to get out and about.
Neil had been saying for the past two and a half years he’d marry me when the drought broke
190
How did Neil propose? Neil had been telling me for the past two and a half years that he’d marry me when the drought broke. When I jokingly suggested it whenever it rained, he put on extra conditions saying the farm needed 100 percent water allocation and Lake Meran needed to fill. Lake Meran was a freshwater lake just a kilometre from his house which had been dry for the past 15 years! I had just finished night duty and a group of us had organised to go camping out near Moulamein. We took the dog, the motorbike and the camper trailer out and Neil suggested we go have a look at the campsite we usually stop at as there had been a bit of rain and he was interested to see if the river had risen at all. We slipped and skidded over clay mud roads to the river where we stopped. As I was trying to extract a couple of beers from the esky in the camper trailer and was up to my elbows in mud, Neil was checking the trailer wheel bearings on the other side. He then came round my side where he felt the bearings and casually said “the trailer wheel bearings are hot on this side as well”. Then, while still half crouched, he asked me to marry him with ring in hand. I wasn’t expecting it at all at that stage but there was never any doubt of my answer. We camped there and had the perfect night with a slow-cooked roast in the cobb cooker with a few beers and great company. That weekend was the first of many wettest days for the year where we had three inches of rain and very nearly didn’t make it out of where we were camping with our mates the next day. Where did you get married? In honour of the two prominent religions in my family we had an Anglican service in the Sacred Heart Cathedral with the blessing of both the Anglican and Catholic bishops. Bendigo was a fantastic choice as I was living and working there, but it is also such a beautiful city and has very similar historical origins as my home town of Kalgoorlie. The ceremony was a fantastic combination of formal and casual with Reverend Greg Harris saying a prayer for everyone at the start for those that couldn’t make it.
A serious crash on your hen’s night almost derailed your plans can you tell us a bit about that? My housemate and very close friend had organised a fantastic ladies’ day out with a wine tour around the Bendigo region. We had a brilliant day with gourmet food platters, boutique wine tastings and though many people had not met each other we all mixed well and had many good laughs. After we had visited our last winery and had decided watching Mr Darcy on DVD was a good option, we were heading home for more fun. The end of the day became headlines for the wrong reasons as we were “the” Bendigo bus crash that floated round in the news for the next week. The most badly injured was Neil’s mum, Helen, who was unable to come to the wedding and is still undergoing intense rehabiliation. We were fortunate in finding a company available and willing to video our wedding with such little notice and they put together a great DVD so we could show it to Helen and whilst it’s not the same as the real thing, so many of the emotions and the small things were captured and show through. Tell us all about the dress? The dress is a sexy little number I pulled off the shelf at Bendigo Bridal Collections. It is a beautiful strapless gown, beaded to fall lower at one side and whilst feminine was not over the top for me as a jeans and shirt girl. The ladies in the store, Dot & Bron, were wonderful and let me take photos to send to my mum in WA and fussed over me like my mum would have had she been there. Between them and my housemate they worked hard on making me excited and feel pretty as I have a very practical nature and was just keen to have it organised. What were the greatest highlights of your day? There were so many great moments on the day it is hard to pick between them. The nature of the week before the wedding meant that all of the girls involved became much closer. As we nearly cancelled the wedding it was difficult to get excited in the lead-up but on the day, with my bridesmaids and close girlfriends we had a
191
fantastic morning getting pampered with our hair and makeup and by the end we looked and felt beautiful and were ready to bring it on! Seeing all of the people who had come to support us as well as latching eyes on my future husband at the top of the aisle was huge to me. The beautiful touching things that people said and did have all been stored safely and the efforts people went to for us all. I love that despite everything it was such a joyful and happy day and although two people we really wanted there were still in hospital they were still remembered and very much present in other ways. The speeches were heartfelt and honest and I’m now really pleased to have a DVD to be able to look back at them. Our first dance, whilst very much nontraditional, was great fun and very much “us”, as our choice of song was Kenny Chesney’s She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy, What advice would give to brides-to-be ? It is just one more day to add to the memory bank of great ones with your special someone and there’s no point stressing about the small stuff. Not only is it the stuff that is barely remembered but generally creates the most tension. Kick back, hold on and enjoy the ride! Most of all remember to keep the big picture in sight ... two greying old people dressed in terry towelling dressing gowns, together. n
In a field of dreams, a farmer’s son from Kerang weds a West Australian sheep farmer’s daughter. Left: Love me, love my dog. All wedding photos by Gail Hardy Above: The scene of the bus crash. Photograph courtesy of The Bendigo Advertiser.
192
photo opportunity
bendigo spring racing carnival A cocktail party was held recently by the Bendigo Jockey Club at Wild Mint to celebrate the Bendigo Spring Racing Carnival. The 150th Melbourne Cup including the 2010 Emirates Melbourne Cup Trophy was also on hand for guests to admire. Tour Ambassadors John Russell and Pat Hyland were also in attendance. For more information on upcoming racing meets, visit www.bendigojc.com.au â&#x2013;
Bendigoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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
photo opportunity
women in union Margot Spalding recently moved a step closer to her long held dream to bring together a think tank of 1000 women with the launch of Women.i.s.e. Hundreds of women (and a handful of brave men) turned out for the launch of Women.i.s.e – a new network to inspire, support and encourage women. The inaugural function stretched the Foundry Hotel’s Platinum Room to capacity to hear how three well known local women juggle serious careers and family commitments. bendigo magazine and LittleOne Baby publisher Amy Doak, Dr Diana Badcock from Bendigo Health’s emergency department and Marika McMahon of O’Farrell, Robertson and McMahon all gave remarkable insights into a fortnight in their lives. Auspiced by many of Bendigo’s leading women, Women.i.s.e aims to hold several functions each year where local women will be able to meet, mingle and listen to inspirational speakers. For more information about Women.i.s.e events contact admin@bendigobusinesscouncil.com.au or phone: (03) 5442 7816 ■
UÊ ÀiiÊÀiVÀÕ Ì i ÌÊÃiÀÛ Vià UÊ VVÀi` Ìi`ÊÌÀ> } UÊ" ÊÌ iÊ LÊÃÕ«« ÀÌ UÊ Ãà ÃÌ> ViÊÜ Ì ÊÜ À « >ViÊ ` wV>Ì Ã UÊ6 V>Ì > ÊÀi >L Ì>Ì ÊÃiÀÛ Vià UÊ* Ãà L iÊi « ÞiÀÊ Vi Ì Ûià UÊ >L ÕÀÊ Ài UÊ/À> iià «Ã Ó ÎÎÊ Õ `ÞÊ-ÌÀiiÌ]Ê*"Ê ÝÊÓÇÈÊ i ` } Ê6 VÊÎxxÓ Phone:ÊäÎÊx{{xÊ nääÊFax:ÊäÎÊx{{£ÊÇänn Email:ÊL>iJ>VViÃÃi « Þ i Ì°V °>Õ
Lic: QAC/R61/0081
www.accessemployment.com.au
good health - Narelle Wright, Senior physiotherapist St John of God Hospital Bendigo
:PVS SFDPWFSZ
45"354 )&3&
dry needle away pain There is more than one way to relieve pain and a method that’s becoming more popular is “dry needling.” Dry needling is a treatment technique used by health professionals to relieve muscle pain, and is used in many countries. It involves inserting very fine, solid (not hollow) sterilised needles into trigger points in muscles, which causes the muscle to relax. The needles are very similar to those used in acupuncture, but the points chosen are based on the physiotherapist’s vast knowledge of anatomy and Western medicine, rather than Chinese medicine. Acupuncture and dry needling techniques may be similar, but their rationale and use in treatment differ. Treatment involves the insertion of needles usually in or around myofascial trigger points. Myofascial trigger points are points in muscles which are painful when pushed. Trigger points can refer pain and create dysfunction else where in the body. Before doing the extra study to be able to perform dry needling, I was always very reluctant to believe that dry needling worked. But one of my colleagues at another St John of God Hospital is a lecturer in the area and he convinced me to do the course. I’ve never looked back! I’m amazed at what can be achieved in just a few minutes of dry needling. Some of my patients get almost instant relief, while others need a few treatments. I had one patient who’d had various forms of therapy for many years to keep him mobile and reduce his pain. He wasn’t too sure about trying dry needling, but eventually agreed, and says he feels the best he has in years. He’s only needed treatment once since, after spending all day in the garden. Like many, this patient is delighted at the results. Narelle has practised physiotherapy for eight years and has worked in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. She has worked in rehabilitation, private practice, hydrotherapy centres, chronic pain and orthopaedic medicine, and in the UK also managed a physiotherapy department. Her special interests are hydrotherapy, clinical Pilates, back rehabilitation, pain management, and dry needling for trigger point release. St John of God Physiotherapy is open to everyone, with no referral needed. The unit is also happy to accept WorkCover, TAC, DVA and enhanced primary care patients. The HICAPS system is available for direct payment for privately insured patients. You can contact St John of God Physiotherapy on (03) 5434 3216 ■
t Physiotherapy t *OKVSZ NBOBHFNFOU t 3FIBCJMJUBUJPO HFOFSBM PODPMPHZ DBSEJBD
t &YFSDJTF QIZTJPMPHZ t /FDL BOE CBDL QBJO IFBEBDIFT ESZ OFFEMJOH t %JBCFUFT NBOBHFNFOU
t 8PNFO T IFBMUI t 0OTJUF IZESPUIFSBQZ QPPM HZN t 4QFFDI QBUIPMPHZ t 0DDVQBUJPOBM UIFSBQZ t 5"$ 7FUFSBOT "òBJST 8PSLDPWFS t )*$"14
Ph: 5434 3261
Lily Street, Bendigo
www.sjog.org.au/bendigo
your personal trainer
the bottom line If you really want to get into shape for summer it’s time to ditch the excuses and get real. I asked my husband if my bum looked big in my lovely new skirt and he said: “Yes”. What should I do? Fat-bottomed girl, Faraday Dear FBG, Some advice columnists might suggest you could shed a few pounds by losing your husband, but, to my way of thinking, this man is a gem. It takes an extraordinarily honest man to answer this question truthfully. Confronted with this question most men will fib. In fact a recent British survey found the line: “No dear, you bum doesn’t look big in that” is one of the top 10 fibs husbands routinely tell their wives. Most men would say this was a white lie told to protect their loved one’s feelings. But, it also conveniently shields them from the inevitable meltdown once our worst suspicions are confirmed. FBG you should be glad your hubby cares enough to be honest with you and put the issue on the table. Now you know the truth (as if you didn’t really) you can get to work. There are plenty of exercises you can do that will have you back to your bootylicious best in no time. But, the bottom-line, so to speak, is that you will have to work at it. It is this time of year that every one starts crash dieting wanting to look their best in short skirts and cossies. Girls, girls, girls when will you ever learn that starvation is no solution ... it just makes you tired and mean. The absolute truth is that no diet will work without the combination of cutting calories and increasing exercise. It is not just about the loss 196
of weight. It is about the feeling you get from a walk around the lake. The fresh air and mental relaxation is part of helping us feel good about ourselves and gives us confidence to know we look fabulous. FBG let’s look at why you asked your husband if your butt looked big when you already know the answer. You wanted him to lie, you expected him to conspire with you, but let’s not keep deceiving ourselves. You know you are wearing a size bigger trackie dacks because you don’t want to feel the tightness of your other clothes reminding you that you spent all of winter and most of spring sitting on your butt. It is usually when we are feeling most lousey that we ask these kinds of questions. Why do we feel bad? Usually because we haven’t been doing enough to look after our bodies and get those endorphins buzzing. But you don’t have to run a marathon every day to get into shape, some simple squats will do wonders. Just put your feet a shoulder width apart, push your knees forward and just as your backside goes down to touch the seat push back up again. Before you sit down do this 10 times, then 20 times. If you are going for a walk around a park step up on all the benches like a big kid. If you are walking around lake Weeroona don’t cut the corner and take the low road, take the high road and do two circuits instead of one. Some of us have even become lazy about hanging out the clothes on the line. Unless it is pouring, don’t use the dryer. Go and hang your clothes on the line and raise the height of the line a bit so you have to stretch. And instead of inviting your hubby to lie about your weight, go shopping with him. You walk or run to the shop while he drives and reverse roles on the return trip and you will both achieve something. Just remember there’s no ifs or buts. ■
Photographer: Kate Monotti
Dear Brikitta,
- Brikitta Kool-Daniels Campus Captain at Australian Institute of Fitness
:H DUH VWUHHWV D
KHDG
WRS V 5HYLHZ :HHNO\ HV LQ XV \ % E HG RW DQFH WHDP DV Y OLD FFRXQWLQJ DQG ILQ LQJ ILUP LQ $XVWUD %HQGLJR¡V EHVW D UHJLRQDO DFFRXQW VLRQDO VHUYLFH XW WKH VDPH SURIHV V E FH IIL R HZ Q QG RN D WDQWV 56' KDV D QHZ OR KDUWHUHG $FFRXQ [SHFW IURP 56' & \RX¡YH FRPH WR H FRP DX _ 3K V RU LV GY GD UV ZZ W %HQGLJR _ Z )RUHVW 6
Kids Love Drama Parents the Results! D RSLove Char tered Accountants
DAMIAN PEARCE
URBAN GARDEN DESIGNS â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Garden design to suit your lifestyleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;
Helen Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Grady Drama Classes encourage students aged 5-17 to develop conďŹ dence and communication skills. They provide excellent preparation for growing up in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s competitive world.
Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x203A;ll just love it! St Andrewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Uniting Church Hall, 26 Myers Street, Bendigo
ph: 1300 ogrady or 5448 3166 www.helenogrady.com.au
â&#x20AC;˘ Consultation and Design â&#x20AC;˘ Contemporary and Functional Living Spaces â&#x20AC;˘ Plant selection advice â&#x20AC;˘ Plans speciďŹ cally staged for DIY â&#x20AC;˘ Project Management of your whole garden â&#x20AC;˘ On-going consultation and advice
Phone: 5448 5273
damianpearce.urbangardendesigns@gmail.com
City Warehouse Apartment BOUTIQUE ACCOMMODATION
Ultra modern New York style warehouse, in the heart of Bendigoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Arts and Cultural Precinct, Restaurants and Shops; and only 30 metres from the Alexandra Fountain. Stunning views of Rosalind Park and the Sacred Heart Cathedral. Secure under cover parking, Free internet.
I=>C@ EG>CI I=>C@
Apartment 3, 23 View Point, Bendigo 3550 P: 0427 422 951 F: 03 5447 7170 E: info@citywarehouseapartment.com.au W: www.citywarehouseapartment.com.au
I=>C@ HI:K: Steve Bright
18 Deborah Street, Bendigo P: 5441 6600 www.bartnprint.com.au
bendigo homemagazine solutions
in the frame
Photographer: Anthony Webster
Beautiful drapes and some well chosen objects can make your window view as pretty as a picture both inside and out. When it comes to window dressing, Judy Keatch has tackled every shape, size and style. The Elegant Concepts owner gave bendigo magazine a lesson in how to finesse the fenestra.
days, but drapes are still my favourite after all the years I’ve been doing the job. They are the best insulators. They are not just heat and cold insulators but they also cut noise and keep the noisy street at bay.
“The thing to remember is that window dressing can make or break a room,” Judy says. “A window is not just about the view out on to the world. Window treatments can be used to make a bold statement, enhance a look. Security, ventilation, noise reduction and internal air temperature are all factors that come into play.
“Here, I have used lamps and cushions to tie the scene together. People are often afraid to mix and match patterns. As long as your colours work together you can put pattern with pattern and here we have three different patterns. Sometimes putting a toning solid-coloured cushion between two patterns is all it takes.”
“The specific consideration in this room was to have the leadlights showing at the top of the window. These windows are dressed with pure silk drapes with bumph lining with reverse valance and goblet pleats on a timber pole.
Drapes (made to order) ceramic lamps $220 each, trinket box $73, vase $80, tie back $160, ceramic doves $25 each, cushions (made to order) all available from Elegant Concepts, 36 King Street, Floral arrangement kindly supplied by The Green Lily, 82 Pall Mall. n
“Many home owners are going for a more sterile look with blinds these
199
(03) 5445 8700 Whatever scale of development project you have in mind, make a point to talk to us at Tomkinson Group. Tomkinson Group has a strong group of dynamic personnel who have recognised expertise and award-winning ability in the provision of town planning, land
surveying, civil engineering and project management services. It is the consistently high standard of work produced by Tomkinson Group that guarantees accuracy, efficiency and reliability. Tomkinson Group’s primary interest rests with the success of our client’s projects.
New Showroom Now Open Bridge St Bendigo
photo opportunity
healthy choice A handsome architect-designed wellness centre has opened its doors in Golden Square. The stunning n8health Bendigo building was a vision five years in the planning. N8health Bendigo provides modern chiropractic care, onsite x-rays, remedial and relaxation massage therapy and yoga. Naturopathy, nutritional consultation, and psychology are also part of the suite of services. The offical opening of n8health Bendigo in August was an occasion to thank all the people involved in supporting the creation of the new health facility. N8health Australia directors Dr Andrew Cameron, Jane Cisera, Dr Mark Pearce and Kim Pearce delighted in thanking their colleagues, staff, families and the wonderful tradespeople for their support and incredible skills in creating this architectural building and concept. For more information visit www.n8health.com.au, call in to the new premises at 505 High Street, Golden Square or phone (03) 54470557. ■
200
Over 35 y the B ears servin endig o area g .
www.tomkinson.com
`v`qc vhmmhmf athkcdq
AWA R D W I N N I N G B U I L D E R
JOHN BUCKELL HOMES OfямБce 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
pt`khsx athks gnldr
QUALITY BUILT HOMES
round the garden
the wow factor When a leading builder wanted a dramatic entrance to his new display home he naturally turned to the Luke Bullock Garden Design team. First impressions are never more important than when buying a home and, as Luke Bullock can tell you, the assessment begins well before you step inside. “It is a shame when you go into a new estate and you can tell the properties where people have spent all their money on the house and then think they can do the garden themselves with a few random trees and railway sleepers,” he says. “They end up ruining the whole look of the house.” “That’s why we say, ‘look we have done the schooling, we have the experience – hire a professional and you will be happier with the result over a longer period of time because we know how to install things properly. Landscaping isn’t just about putting in a few garden beds. It is about finishing off a vision.” Reuben Beazley Builders’ new display home in Marnie Road is a case in point. “This was a modest courtyard-style front yard and we were seeking to give it a bit of ‘wow’ factor,” Luke says. The centrepiece of the design is a large urn framed by classic stonewalls with paths of sawn bluestone. The hard landscaped areas provide structure for extensive plantings of dianella, convolvulus and dwarf polygala with a deciduous cercus silquastrum, or Judas tree, as it is commonly known, as the feature. The front of the property also looks attractive at night with strategic lighting providing the dual bonus of added security and safe passage.
The garden in Marnie Road will eventually ripple silver, dark green with a seasonal purple blush of the polygala flower. It is designed to be low maintenance, hard-wearing and to look attractive year-round. “The idea with the stone is to create a natural backdrop. “Over the last couple of years we have started doing more and more stone work for our clients,” Luke says. “People love it. Stone has a timeless class about it. It doesn’t matter whether it is in a really modern, contemporary environment or a classic environment, it works brilliantly and there is no maintenance. We use a lot of timber and stone with our planting because they all complement one another.”
202
Photographer: Anthony Webster
“It can be hard being a landscaper sometimes because you put plants in with a picture in your mind’s eye that won’t really come to fruition for three years.”
The Luke Bullock Garden Design team can turn their hands to any style of garden from the stark, modern pool surround to an awardwinning cascade creek and pond landscape. “My brief is to make the garden suit people’s lifestyle and their budget,” Luke says. The trick, he adds, is to get the right balance for your block. “Say you have a blank block there are all sorts of things you have to consider apart from plantings. People have to get to the front door so you need a pathway. How are you going to get to the clothesline? You are probably going to dive out there in your socks sometimes so you need some hard standing – all these things come into consideration.” But, the biggest factor for Luke is practicality. “Most of my clients are very, very busy. They are either business people or professionals of some sort and they don’t have a lot of time to maintain a garden. “The drought has obviously had an incredible impact. There is now much more emphasis on the installation of tanks and the use of grey water or dam water in landscaping. There are no longer the huge, huge expanses of lawn. We put a small lawn in which is always Sir Walter, the soft leaf buffalo, big gravel areas and big mulch garden areas “The consciousness has changed. People are aware you can’t let water run down the street because you forgot to turn the sprinkler off. We are designing gardens now that aren’t using much water apart from what falls from the sky.” Times have indeed changed from the days Luke did his apprenticeship in the leafy eastern suburbs of Melbourne. “I have been in the game 20 years now. Back when I did my apprenticeship round Toorak we did some amazing stuff involving acres of lawn. But, nowadays landscaping isn’t just about rolling lawns and the realm of the rich.” As people have become more conscious of their carbon footprints and total home environments, they are increasinlgy turning to landscapers. “Landscaping is now really an essential part of a new home package,“ Luke says. ■
RESIDENTIAL GARDENS SMALL COMMERCIAL GARDENS LANDSCAPE DESIGN
inside out
a load of rubbish Now we have your attention, let’s take a tour of the fabulous house the tip built. – Sarah Harris
The afternoon sunlight glows a dozen different colours through the patchwork of glass. “Those metal window frames came from Harcourt. The glass was all smashed and this guy said we could have them,” Deirdre reveals. “A friend of ours does huge leadlight commissions for synagogues and would often give Ray the left over bits of glass. Ray composed those windows making use of the scraps and made them sort of mirrors of each other.” Ray Pearce, her partner and fellow artist, considers his handiwork. “It is sort of like the anti windows to the windows in the synagogue. It is all the negative bits.” It is a metaphor that might be applied to the whole house; a vision made glorious from the refuse and off-cuts of other people’s lives. The couple may have been discouraged if they’d known – when they laid the foundation stones on the bush block at Marong – it would take them near 16 years to get the roof on. That was a momentous occasion, Ray recalls. “We had got to the point where we were just going to embark on that last bit of roof and it was going to improve our lives so much and suddenly I had this kind of epiphany that we were about to make a reality of that piece of architecture. That thing we had designed was going to finally come together and look like the drawing and it really did.” Part adobe meets castle, it is a labyrinth construction with breezeways and balconies and curly stairs. It can’t be measured in modern real estate parlance because the builder has no idea how many square metres it is, nor how many bricks it includes. Asked to pigeonhole it by style, Ray suggests “medieval” and that certainly describes those early days when they scraped clay from a pit to build the first habitable rooms. Back then Deirdre was living in a tin shed with her two young children while Ray was resident in the pottery. “I rushed to live in here too soon for the builder, but all the
204
food was rotting up in the tin shed in the heat,” Deirdre laughs. “Look, there were times when it was definitely miserable,” Ray admits. “It is miserable when the rain comes into your house, but the building has been fun.” Not that they ever really had a choice, if they wanted their own home. “The point is we never had a budget,” Ray says. “The bank would never give us a loan to build because as artists you don’t earn enough for them to think you will pay it back. The choice just wasn’t there. “And, if it had been there it would have meant making millions of pots to pay the mortgage where, in reality all I have done is make one great big one. “Building this has taught me how to deal with a lot of things in life. If you want something you can get it, but you just need to be imaginative about it.” He cites the press he was given by a former teacher as an example. “I got given a press, and I wanted to print, but I couldn’t afford copper plate and I didn’t want to use acids to etch so I tried perspex. Perspex just adores being scratched and people throw it away every day so I get it, scratch it up, and print from that.” In every nook and corner of the house there is evidence of this improvisation. An old iron bed head forms a handrail at the top of the stairs, worn out bulldozer blades become lintels, discarded cupboard doors become panelling and old copper tank becomes a beautiful crane perched atop the roof. “The first day we had the first truss up on the roof a beautiful blue crane landed right in that spot,” Ray reveals. “I am really not into omens, but it just seemed such an appropriate thing to put the bird up there.” Even more propitious was the visit of a professional bellringer friend out from England to inspect St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral. “He said: ‘I think you have created a lightning rod up there and you better earth it’. Fortunately we got a lot of three phase power cable from the tip so I connected it from the bird straight to the ground That’s how it happens … it is all quite random and I really love that part of it. “The policy is to use whatever is there. You have the job and you have a problem and you find something. For example all the cabling and steel bits that hold the roof up are made up from old signal box equipment and a crane from the Odnance Factory. “
Photographer: Anthony Webster
When Deirdre Outhred sits down at her kitchen table for a coffee she sometimes wonders what became of “Dano”. The bored boy who once scratched his name into the supports of the old Catholic College domestic science block could never have envisaged his graffiti winding up in the home of artists. But, there he is indelibly etched into a beam above us as we sit clutching fresh-brewed cups of coffee on chairs rescued from the tip.
205
Deirdre offers the trusses that give the roofline its distinctive shape as another example. “Those trusses came from a building where the Marketplace is now. We went there because we were after curved bricks from a well, but the demolition guy kept distracting us with blue stones and then he said we could have the trusses.” That is not to say that the couple haven’t spent any money on their creation. There was the $12,000 for solar power, the money to bulldoze the dam. “If we added it all up we would probably be surprised,” Deirdre says, “but it would only be a fraction of what this house is worth. Both doubt anyone could achieve the same result so cost-effectively now. “When we first started out better stuff was available. It was still rubbish, but it was better quality – less of the
awful ruinous product there now,” Deirdre says. “I guess I would distinguish it from other places in that it is definitely recycled,” Ray adds. “This was stuff people jettisoned, but to us it was valuable stuff. It really hasn’t got great stories or historical connections. Most of the things we have no idea of the provenance of, except that it came from the tip. It is rubbish. “I think it is the way of the future. Maybe it won’t be to this extent, but people are going to have to reuse all of this crap we have produced.” Ray and Deirdre’s annual sculpture exhibition Gallery Without Walls will return to their property at Easter. For more information email: gallerywithoutwalls3515@gmail.com n
OPEN 7 DAYS 206
Monday to Friday 9.00am – 5.30pm Saturday 9.00am – 4.00pm Sunday 10.00am – 3.00pm
BENDIGO 53–55 Williamson Street Bendigo VIC 3550 Phone 5444 0277 www.thecompletegarden.com.au
photo opportunity
howdi audi Audi opened its first dedicated dealership in Bendigo with a well known local family at its helm. Audiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s super stylish $1.8 million regional centre was officially opened by Audi Australia managing director Uwe Hagen along with owner and dealer principal Stephen Rechter. The spacious and modern dealership with space for 16 prestige Audi vehicles is the realisation of a dream for Stephen Rechter and his wife Terri. Stephen and Terri first approached Audi with a view to opening a dedicated dealership in Bendigo more than three years ago. After an extensive vetting process the couple were given the green light and construction of the Audi Centre began. The new centre will sell and service all Audi vehicles with five bays to ensure after sales service is a top priority. Congratulations to the Rechters and their five children, all of whom will be working in this family business. Check out the new Audi Centre Bendigo at 140-150 High Street, Bendigo phone 03 5443 1122. â&#x2013;
207
real estate advice
home in the range
- John Pawsey CEA (R.E.I.V.) Director P.H. Property
Why do some real estate agents list properties within a variable range and others prefer the fixed price method? Dear John, We are considering putting our family home up for sale and downsizing. If we go ahead we need to settle on an agent as we don’t want to list it with multiple agents. One of the things we don’t understand is why some agents list a price range. Just what is the psychology behind this? Surely if you list a property at between, say, $375,000 and $390,000 , a would-be buyer would never offer above the lowest quoted figure or even below this? Susan R, Strathdale Dear Susan, Thank you for your interesting question. This is something we get asked more often than you might think. Although here in Bendigo the majority of agents favour a fixed price sale as do we at PH Property. However, the price range is commonly used in Western Australia and has been in practice there for many years. The system does work well there and is favoured by vendors, purchasers and the agents who generally subscribe to what is known as the “Pilling system” after David Pilling who introduced this method of selling real estate in the west many years ago. I guess at the end of the day it comes down to what you are
comfortable with, but there are a few things to point out in respect of this question. You ask specifically about a price range of between $375,000 and $390,000. It would be quite unusual for an agent to list a property with such a short price range. Usually the variance would be more like $360,000 and the upper limit of $390,000. This then allows a more acceptable enquiry range from the prospective purchasers. If your property is advertised for this range it usually means you are looking at achieving a sale price somewhere in the middle, around $380,000. Of course the big question is how does your agent get the buyer to offer $380,000 when the property has been advertised with a lower figure. With some difficulty I would think, as it would be the figure at the bottom of the range that would obviously most appeal to the would-be buyer and the one most likely to lodge in his or her head. If the property is marketed at $390,000 (a fixed price) it would be much easier for your agent to achieve and probably in a much shorter time. A fixed price is certainly my preference and the method I recommend you use to market your home. Whichever method you choose to sell your home, if it’s priced to meet the current market conditions it should sell in a relatively short time. Best of luck, John Pawsey If you have questions about buying and selling property our resident property expert is happy to answer them. Simply email your query to mail@bendigomagazine.com ■
We know what you want… PROFESSIONAL ADVICE, KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, FRIENDLY SERVICE & HONESTY!
Ph: (03) 5454 1999 38 Mitchell St Bendigo
www.phproperty.com.au
on site
a team effort The success of Luke Drummond Builders is built on a foundation of hard work, professionalism and a dedicated husband and wife partnership. Cyclists would say that without dedication and passion, you’ll always be just another rider in the peloton and that explains how Luke Drummond Builders made the break from the pack. A talented cyclist in his youth, Luke has always applied to the same commitment and determination which carried him across the line in many races to the business he now runs in partnership with wife Nikki. From the moment the pair met it was clear they had a lot in common. Nikki, was also a competitive athlete and, in the parlance of the carpentry and joinery trade, their skills also dovetailed perfectly. Nikki was studying a Bachelor of Business, majoring in accounting and Luke was just out of his apprenticeship looking for a career in an industry that was then in recession. “I was in an unusual situation where my parents had moved away to operate a business in Clarkefield and left him me the family home,” Luke recalls with a laugh. “While work was hard to find, I enjoyed undertaking renovating projects on my parent’s home. Family and friends started asking me to undertake small carpentry projects and Nikki was helping me set up and learn the business side, typing up my quotes and invoices and helping with the administration. Almost without realising it, we had started laying the foundations for our own future business.” As the industry picked up, Luke was fortunate to gain a full time carpentry position with a high quality, old-style custom builder Greg Hammond. One of the major projects Greg and Luke worked on was the restoration of the Bazzani restaurant – now La Piazza. The restoration won a Master Builder’s Association award. “The pride and joy that Luke and Greg shared was amazing,” Nikki says. “I think at that point Luke set his goal to become a successful, high quality builder in his own right. Luke worked seven days a week for quite a while, taking on his own small projects on weekends for a few years, while I was also working full time at Bendigo Bank and studying nights and weekends to complete my degree.” When they weren’t working for others or studying Luke and Nikki
were building their own first home. Typical of their relationship they constructed it together, Nikki even being hit in the leg by a stray from a nail gun!. “We completed our home and were very proud of the result,” Luke recalls. “We advertised our home as “open house” for two weekends and had hundreds of people through. We started getting inquiries immediately and with such low overheads we entered the custom home market with very competitive pricing and hands on, quality craftsmanship. Our first client home was entered into the MBAV building awards in 2000 and we won.” From there on business grew and grew and so too did the Drummond family. Luke and Nikki now have three georgous children, Zahli 8, Jayda 6 and Axel 2, 11 employees and scores of subcontractors. It is a great challenge to operate your own business and raise young children who thrive on your love and attention. We try very hard to keep the pressure and stress of our business at work and make our family time happy and fun. Today Luke Drummond Builders boasts its own impressive headquarters on the corner of Contempo Court and Powells Avenue in an upmarket 13 lot commercial subdivision they have developed with partners Steve and Rosemary Jackel. Luke now serves on the board of the Master Builders Association of Victoria Council of Management which keeps him abreast of industry issues and trends. “We are motivated, hard working and constantly looking to improve with Luke managing construction and Nikki as the general manager “We are a professional builder, no surprises or short cuts with us!”, Nikki says. This commitment continues to pay off with Luke Drummond Builders recently being named MBAV 2010 Regional Residential Builder of the Year for Victoria. “Business is going really well and we have a terrific team of people working with us in LDB. We cater for all types of work, residential or commercial and love to help people of any budget achieve their dream ... we strive to exceed expectations,” Nikki says. n 209
green scene
shining bright Bendigo is blazing a trail for communities across Victoria with its solar park. So grab your sunnies and let’s take a tour. Bendigo and Ballarat have switched on to the development of large scale renewable energy technology with the construction of Victoria’s largest solar parks. Based on the amount of energy produced within the first year of operation, the future looks very bright for large scale solar parks and for investors looking to profit from renewable energy sector. Developed and managed by Central Victoria Solar City, the Bendigo and Ballarat solar parks are producing 480 megawatt hours and 420 megawatt hours of locally-produced clean energy respectively. In the case of the Bendigo Solar Park, 480 megawatt hours equates to switching on 4.8 million 100 watt light-bulbs simultaneously for an hour. Central Victoria Solar City is a locally based research trial offering incentives to local residents and businesses to participate in a trial range of energy efficiency, local energy generation and energy management products and services. It developed the solar parks as part of its mission to test new approaches reducing household electricity use and to measure the effectiveness of large scale solar in the provision of renewable energy to Bendigo and Ballarat residents. Speaking with Central Victoria Solar City project director Leah Sertori, it’s clear that having a power plant in one’s backyard has a lot of merit, not least how much energy a solar park can produce. And it doesn’t take a genius to imagine a time in the not too distant future where individual suburbs or street clusters could build a park on vacant land, taking advantage of the sun to power their homes. But, just how cost effective are they? And how long will it be before we can begin to incorporate these parks on a large scale into our communities? Leah is optimistic about solar parks’ increasing affordability. “As the developer and manager of the Bendigo and Ballarat parks our experience has been very positive. We secured a loan from Bendigo Bank to finance construction of the parks as well as some initial funding from the State Government to set up battery storage and tracking solar panels. We also access subsidies from the Australian Government that help us meet our operating costs,” she says. “In return, we sell the power the park generates to Origin Energy, who then on-sell the energy as accredited GreenPower. The park has several revenue streams and with the State Government planning to introduce a ‘feed-in tariff’ for large scale solar parks, we hope to 210
secure additional revenue from the State soon.” Understanding how solar parks produce energy is simple enough. The parks use solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to convert sunshine into energy. The energy is converted from AC to DC format through a bank of inverters and fed back into the electricity grid. Is it the same as people putting solar panels on their roofs? “Yes, although there are a couple of differences,” Leah explains.“People use the power that the panels on their roof generate to power their home. The Bendigo Solar Park creates power in bulk and sells it to a retailer. The solar panels you install at home are either connected to the main electricity grid or can stand alone. We are testing a combination of both, at scale, in Bendigo. We store power at times when our system generates lots of energy in the batteries, and we release the power back into the grid at times when it’s in greatest demand. This process ensures that we can secure the highest possible price for our clean power from energy retailers.” Solar parks have been in the news a lot lately, with other big parks planned for regional Victoria. Solar is becoming more and more popular as Victorians work out the benefits of “going renewable”. “The price of solar panels for homes and for large scale parks is really coming down,” Leah notes. “It’s making it cheaper to build solar parks and cutting down the time investors need to wait for a return. The introduction of a State Government feed-in tariff for large scale solar is certainly making investment in solar more attractive. “Central Victoria Solar City regularly conducts tours of the park, which is based in Huntly at the stockyards. Our team takes members of the public through the park and explains how it works. We recently hosted all of Castlemaine Secondary College’s year 9 students out at the park. Some of these year 9 students competed at the Model Solar Vehicle State Championships in October. The project supports students at the school in their passion for solar technology by connecting them with future career pathways in renewable energy. By linking their work designing solar powered cars with the Bendigo Solar Park the project is showing students how viable it is for them to go on to work in the renewable energy industry.” Central Victoria Solar City will launch a campaign for local businesses to boost their sustainability credentials by becoming a solar park supporter. For more information visit wwwcentralvictoriasolarcity.com.au n
211
new business
drop by, say hi An exciting eatery, a prestige car centre and a gallery full of vibrant silks are among the new businesses to add spice, dash and a splash of wine to summer. global concern Just Planet is a coffee bar and gift shop providing certified fair trade, and environmentally friendly products giving people in the community an opportunity to buy products that benefit others locally and globally. The coffee, teas and iced chocolates are all fair trade and organic, and so is the milk and sugar. There is an additional benefit, all fair trade coffee and cocoa is organically grown, no pesticides are used around the workers, and part of the profits are put back into the community to fund schools and other community projects. The gifts available range from handbags made of recycled food packaging from Sri Lanka to fly screen curtains made of bottle tops. All of them support workers directly, and fair trade co-operatives. Other environmentally-friendly items include shampoos, cleaning products and gorgeous soaps made using natural ingredients. Visit Just Planet at 98 Queen Street, Bendigo (03) 5441 3435.
public invitation Castlemaine’s former Criterion Hotel has been transformed into a warm, inviting provincial bistro & bar complete with a remarkable fitout of natural timbers and textures. A beautiful feature stone wall made from locally sourced Yapeen slate and a staircase of recycled Ash timber, rounds out a stunning interior. Public Inn’s main attraction, their unique “barrel wall”, is complete with six working wine barrels. Wine grown at the vineyard up the road is pressed to the barrel then to the glass at Public Inn. Does it get more local than that? Food is under the direction of the well-credentialed Spencer Clements, with his menu clearly aimed at showcasing local produce within a framework of unfussy European based cooking. The two course “Innand-Out” lunch menu offers great value at $25 (including a glass of wine from the barrel wall) while dinner is a casually-elegant affair. The bar is available at any stage for a quick coffee through to a lengthy drink with an all-day menu to match. With a separate function and events space for up to 60 guests, a sister courtyard dining room to be opened in the New Year and a leisurely 400 metre stroll to the train station with frequent return carriages to Bendigo day and night there are more reasons than ever to visit Castlemaine. The Public Inn corner Barker and Mostyn Streets, Castlemaine is open every day for lunch from 12pm with dinner from 6pm until late. There is an all day menu with breakfast available from 9am on weekends. Phone (03) 5472 3568 or visit www.publicinn.com.au
all wired up Pacies is the new fencing business on the block. Simon worked in the industry for more than five years deciding to make the move out on his own. Whether you need a new boundary fence, pool fence or just an extension on your existing fence when you call Simon you can expect personal and efficient service. Simon has plenty of experience in all types of fencing including commercial and domestic chain mesh constructions, farm fencing and many more boundary and front fencing styles. Pacies are also able to install new gates with your fence or to an existing fence. And, when installing a new fence you needn’t worry about the old as Simon will clear and remove all your old fence from the fence line. Pacies is based in Bendigo, but Simon is happy to travel to Kyneton, Castlemaine, Echuca and Shepparton. Give Simon at Pacies a call for a free no obligation quote on 0438098029 or email pacies@live.com.au
made with love The poor old burger has taken a bit of battering in this increasingly health conscious world, but now there is an option that really is good for you. The opening of Grill’d Bendigo has been greeted by whoops of delight from hamburger connoisseurs already familiar with the Grill’d promise. Grill’d takes the burger back to its wholesome nourishing roots ... to the good old days before the burger became mass-processed and processed. All Grill’d products are made from the highest quality, freshest ingredients to ensure we meet our promise to deliver the best burgers in town. A study by Food & Nutrition Australia in 2007 comparing Grill’d burgers with fast food burgers and cafe style products, found that in almost every weight for weight (per 100g) comparison, Grill’d comes out on top. They make every burger fresh to order on the flame grill in front of you so there’s no hidden secrets. The grill gives the food its unique flavour and it’s healthier than using a hot-plate. Even the chips are cut to absorb less oil. You can’t go wrong with a Grill’d burger. Grill’d Bendigo, 88 Pall Mall (03) 5443 1239.
driving force Audi is making inroads in the heart of Bendigo with a new $1.8 million dealership and service centre. The centre was officially opened by Audi Australia managing director Uwe Hagen with familiar local face owner and dealer principal Stephen Rechter at his side. Stephen, a fifith generation Bendigonian, carries on his family proud business tradition together with wife Terri. The couple’s five children will join them in this exciting new venture. The stylish new showroom has display room for 16 prestige vehicles plus five dedicated service bays. The new centre has been built to Audi’s exacting standards and is part of the company’s drive to become No 1 premium car maker in Australia by 2015. “This is the first time Audi has established a dedicated dealership in Bendigo and I’m proud to say that more than $1.8 million has been invested into this facility – an investment that will benefit not just Audi, but the entire community of Bendigo through job creation and economic stimulus,” the Audi managing director said of the opening.
furnishing flair Deb and Tony McAliece are behind the creation of Oliver Birch. They have previously operated several successful businesses in the service industry and have now enthusiastically launched themselves into the retail furnishings market. The renovation of the old JF Furniture store in Bath Lane took months. “We saw the huge potential in this wonderful building and we knew that with some creative flair and talented local tradespeople, this space had many possibilities,” Deb said. Oliver Birch stocks an exciting range of individual, quality furniture from Australian and overseas makers, plus a variety of stylish home accessories to mix, match, contrast and coordinate.
The Audi Centre is centrally located at 140 – 150 High Street, Bendigo phone (03) 5443 1122.
Oliver Birch 19 - 21 Bath Lane through to Hargreaves Street is open seven days a week. Phone (03) 5444 1112.
it’s all organised
e-beauty The team at Silk Day Spa have just made pampering a friend or loved one as easy as a click of button with their new e-vouchers. Express Silk gift vouchers are now available to be purchased and emailed via the website. If you have forgotten a special occasion or left shopping for a gift too late, an express Silk gift voucher is the perfect answer, providing something really lush in a rush. Express Silk gift vouchers are available by visiting www.silkdayspa.com.au
pedal to the metal Metal Bohemia houses a metal art gallery and a silversmithing workshop. All of the work within is created by local artists and each piece is entirely handmade and individual. Inside you will find sculpture, wall art, jewellery and a space for relaxing, reading and discussion. There will be new works and metal artists joining us regularly. Metal Bohemia has been created by local silversmith and artist Mel Stockx and stems from her passion for metal art and her belief that Bendigo deserves a space dedicated to promoting metal as an artistic medium. Visit Metal Bohemia at 97 Bridge Street Bendigo between 10.30am and 4pm Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. For more information contact Mel Stockx on 0429 393 989 or email stockx@impulse.net.au
Busy Homes Happy Families is an essential tool in any family home, big or small. Make the most of your precious time by being organised with this fabulous calendar. Sonya, a working mum and mother of four children, has used her experience to create a calendar designed for the busy family. The Busy Homes, Happy Families Calendar helps to manage a busy household and create routine so that you can make time for what is important for you and your family. Special features include menu planning, room for 6 family members, essential phone numbers, milestones and achievements and lots of room for all those essential dates. It is perpetual which means it starts on the day you purchase. For more information and orders contact sonya@foundryhotelcomplex.com
gone gothic Metal Mosh is an alternative alternative gothic and metal shop specialising in body piercing including dermal jewel skin implants. The shop stocks a range of alternative clothing including Metal tees and the Demonia range of boots, cosmetics and collectibles. It has a casual sit-in area where people can bring their laptops and plug-in to the wireless network, have a cup of coffee while they browse through the growing music section. Metal Mosh 95a Mitchell St Bendigo (03) 5442 6291 n
vet check
pests be gone A simple treatment regime can prevent parasites from making your petâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life miserable.
- Dr Joanna Reilly, Bendigo Animal Hospital
keep coming back.
Dear Dr Joanna
Worms
Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s summer and I know I should treat for fleas but what about worms and ticks? How often should I treat my dog? Itching for answers, Spring Gully The close bond we share with our pets means that we are more exposed to sharing some of their parasites, too. Fleas and worms can be a real headache for pet owners, especially in summer when things really heat up. Fleas Like all parasites, fleas need another animal to live off. For the common household flea, dogs and cats are its preferred host. Some pets react to being bitten by developing an allergic reaction that causes them to become intensely itchy, making them miserable and can lead to hair loss and skin infections. The fleas that you can see in their coat are usually the tip of the iceberg when it comes to problems associated with this parasite. That is because the adult stage of the parasite, makes up just 5 per cent of the total population of fleas. The other 95 per cent of the flea population is made up of flea eggs and other developing stages. These immature parasites are usually well hidden throughout carpeting, bedding, furniture, and other areas of your household. Once you have treated your pet you will also need to treat their bedding and environment where they live, otherwise the fleas will
There are many types of worms that can affect the health of your pet. Heartworms are deadly and are transmitted by mosquitoes. Gastrointestinal worms such as hookworms, whipworms and roundworms can affect dogs, cats and humans. Worms are usually out of sight and may not be something you think about much. Yet, disturbingly, up to 80 per cent of Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dogs carry intestinal worms. Ticks Ticks are blood-sucking parasites that live on the exterior of your cat or dog. The most common ticks in Australia are the brown dog tick, the bush tick and the paralysis tick. Paralysis ticks present the most risk to your pets. You should check your pet daily if you are in a tick area. To examine your pet, carefully feel all over, paying particular attention to the head and neck, inside the ears, between the toes and under the front legs and around the anal and genital areas. If you rub your fingers through the coat it will be easy to find them rather than solely trying to look for them. Use a preventative treatment such as Advantix, or a Kiltix collar as directed. If you find a tick on your animal seek veterinary assistance immediately. Prevention is always better than cure The best way to protect your pet from annoying parasites is by treating them regularly with AdvocateÂŽ. AdvocateÂŽ for cats and dogs is the most complete all-in-one parasite protection for dogs and cats. With one easy monthly application, Advocate eliminates fleas and flea larvae, heartworm, hookworm, roundworm and ear mites. AdvocateÂŽ for dogs also kills whipworm, mange mites and lice. â&#x2013;
Bendigo Animal Hospital We are more than your petâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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: BN m QN Saturday: BN m QN Sunday: BN m BN
Veterinary Practice â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Companion Animals r 7BDDJOBUJPOT r $POTVMUBUJPOT r %F 4FYJOH r .JDSPDIJQQJOH The most complete all-in-one parasite protection
r %FOUBMT r (SPPNJOH r 1VQQZ 4DIPPM r 1FU 'PPE .FSDIBOEJTJOH
Phone (03) 5443 3322 for an appointment. 294 Napier Street Bendigo â&#x20AC;&#x201C; (opposite Lake Weeroona) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; EASY PARKING
LUKE DRUMMOND BUILDERS VICTORIA’S REGIONAL BUILDER OF THE YEAR
Residential | Commercial | Design
61 Powells Avenue Bendigo, Victoria
Tel: (03) 5445 8400 Fax: (03) 5441-2877 Email: info@ldbuilders.com.au
Consistently high standards, awarded with back to back titles in 2009 & 2010 Regional Residential Builder of the Year – North West
for more information visit www.ldbuilders.com.au
photo opportunity
good staff on tap Bendigo business managers are discovering attracting the brightest and best employees in a competitive environment begins with a good breakfast. Bendigo business managers received an update on the regional employment climate and tips on attracting good staff in a competitive skills environment when they joined Workforce on Tap managing director, Keiran Laurent for breakfast. Workforce on Tap Bendigo Branch Manager, Adam Hargreaves said Bendigo businesses were experiencing the same shortages in skilled staff that Workforce on Tap has found throughout north east Victoria and southern NSW. “Those attending learned about the value of a job analysis and skills audit as well as behavioural interviewing and the importance of multiple reference checks,” Mr Hargreaves said. ■
215
kids in the kitchen It is never too early for children to start to appreciate good nutrition and now two local chefs are offering to share their knowhow. With four children, and twins on the way, Brendan and Nicole Tuddenham joke their household is a perfect test kitchen for their new business.
that the children have first learned to cook from family members. It is a generational thing with the love of food coming down through the family – that is what has been lost in this fast-food era.”
The husband and wife chef team behind Kidz in the Kitchen have always actively involved their children in the preparation of family meals. This includes the youngest, two-year-old Eve, whose chair is set up at the end of the work bench so she can not only see what’s going on but also gets to fling a bit of flour around now and again.
Brendan agrees. “So much of our attitude to food stems from childhood memories – good and bad. My own passion and love for food came from my grandmother. We would go round there and we would have tea parties and make cakes and pavlovas and sponges. She used to make home-made chips and put them in a brown bag and I would sit in front of a Disney movie eating like I was at the movies,” he recalls with a smile.
“We know ourselves that kids are more likely to eat good food if they have been a part of making it,” Brendan says. “It is that simple concept that is at the heart of our business. The idea is to get kids into the kitchen helping their parents with the cooking and preparing of food that is nutritious, healthy and also fun to make.” The couple stress they are not trying to churn out the next Neil Perry. “It is not about trying to teach kids to temper chocolate. Children don’t have to become super chefs.” Nicole says. “This is about basic life skills. So rather than go out for pizza we make a bit of an event of it and make pizzas and there is a bit of fun. What we are really interested in is trying to break the cycle of lifestyle disease like type 2 diabetes and obesity. “I have heard people criticise Junior Masterchef for making cooking a competitive sport, but the really important thing about it for me is 216
The couple believe children’s birthday parties are one of the great untapped opportunities to create wonderful food memories. They are offering themed birthday parties where children create their own party menu. “Being chefs we know how easy it is to do things from scratch,” Nicole says. “Things like making your own stocks, pasta and bread are quick and easy to do. The other thing is that you waste far less because you are using everything and it has never been more important that the kids see that and understand that.” For details of the Kids in the Kitchen cooking classes these holidays or to book a themed cooking party visit www. kidzinthekitchen.com.au or call Brendan on 0423 260 828.
Pryceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pizza 1 tablespoon of dried yeast 1 teaspoon of salt 400 grams of plain flour 1 cup of very warm water Splash of olive oil Mix everything, knead, cover with a damp cloth and set aside somewhere warm to double in size. Roll as desired & top with any flavours you like. Tomato base Roasted capsicum Tomato & basil Mushrooms Anchovies & olives Cheese The toppings are only limited by your imagination, have fun and try various combinations. 217
Perry’s “rumballs” 2 tablespoons of cocoa 1 can of condensed milk 1 packet of Marie biscuits Fine coconut Method Process biscuits in a food processor or wrap in a tea towel and roll with a rolling pin. Add condensed milk & cocoa, mix well, shape into balls & roll in coconut. Place in fridge until set, then eat.
Paige’s chicken carbonara Serves 4 500 grams fettucine 300 grams diced chicken 100 grams diced lean bacon ½ bunch finely sliced spring onion 1 cup cooking cream 50 grams butter or olive oil Method Bring a pot of water to the boil, with a couple of drops of olive oil. Place the fettucine in and stir, cook until al dente In a frying pan, heat a little butter & olive oil, sauté bacon & chicken with the garlic until chicken is almost cooked through. Add cream & reduce, add spring onions , season with salt & cracked pepper. Drain pasta, toss through sauce , serve into bowls and dig in. You can top with shaved parmesan if desired.
218
Patrick’s prawn ravioli Pasta dough 400 grams flour 4 large eggs 1 teaspoon salt Method Mix in a food processor until dough starts to come together , don’t over work. Tip onto a floured bench and knead by hand to combine. Wrap in cling film and let rest for about an hour. Prawn mix 500 grams prawn cutlets ½ bunch dill, finely chopped 1 clove garlic finely chopped Cut prawn tails into small diced pieces Saute onion & garlic with a lttle olive oil Season, let cool & mix in dill & prawns. Assembling ravioli Roll pasta out into thin sheets, either with a pasta machine or by hand. Cut discs with a round cutter. Place a small amount of prawn mix in the middle of each disc, brush with water & top with another disc, press edges to seal and smooth out. Place into a pot of boiling water with a splash of olive oil. When ravioli rises remove with a slotted spoon into bowls. A quick lemon sauce can be made with some butter, fresh lemon juice & a bit of cream, reduce this slightly & pour over ravioli, serve right away.
219
meet the crew
the big picture It’s been a helluva long break in local programming but now ... here is the news. Stephanie Anderson might still be pinching herself if she weren’t so polished. To walk straight out of a journalism course into a related job is hard enough these days, but to wind up on camera presenting a news and current affairs program ... in your dreams kid! “You could never waltz into any of the metro stations and end up anchoring the news,” Stephanie, 23, agrees. Nope, that could only happen in Bendigo – at Bendigo IPTV to be precise. This willingness to take a chance on young, untried talent is one of the hallmarks of one of Australia’s first internet television stations. The number two to Stephanie is a 21-year-old who, initially, didn’t even have the benefit of rudimentary broadcast training. Jacinta Mangan just walked in off the street and did a test that lit up the screen. If general manager Denis English and his team are breaking the rules, he makes no apology. It’s more than 30 years since Denis first started in mainstream television as a dispatch boy and he’s forging into new territory with the zeal of a missionary. Or, as he puts it somewhat disingenuously: “the lunatics are taking over the asylum”. It was back at the turn of the millennium a group of local business people first tossed up the idea of starting a Bendigo TV station. A decade on, technology has finally caught up with them and it’s no longer a pipe dream, but there on the screen in front of you.
the big picture
depression and drug abuse. The global environment is not ticking the boxes on all those little things that build bridges between people in the community boxes. We think we can. “We have 18 shareholders and they are all local people. We see it as a big mirror being held up to life in Bendigo. Whether it works or not is going to be driven by the local community. If it works really well I am in favour of floating it to the whole community in six to 12 months so Bendigo gets to own it. I wouldn’t want the mums and dads to be in here now because we could fall flat on our face although, obviously, I don’t believe we will.” Bendigo IPTV officially launched at the start of October, but test programming went to air weeks before this. This was how the parents of Bendigo Bombers general manager Peter Lodewijks were able to watch Alan Besley’s interview with him on SportsNite via webcam in Amsterdam. The local station can be viewed online, on mobile phones, or on television through a set-top box including Telstra’s T-Box. A deal struck with Telstra makes Bendigo IPTV available to its customers as a free download, although other carriers will charge for streaming content and you need to check your data allowance before viewing IPTV on your phone.
jobs producing them have all but disappeared, but now we have the technology to enable us to correct that.
While the station is on air around the clock, initial content is limited to a handful of programs. “We are conscious of the need to crawl, before we walk,” Denis says. The first programs on offer include local news, Bezo’s SportsNite, Bendigo Life which is a lifestyle and shopping program with Sarah Reilly, a Bendigo old girl returned home after an international career for one of the world’s leading auction houses and a stint with Foxtel. There is a music program Loosen Up with Deanno, the Gaming Lounge with Blair Harris and Keith Sutherland’s issues investigation The Pointy End.
“We are being told there will be a 40 per cent population growth by the year 2030 and with that sort of growth the city is going to change and we think that is why this sort of technology is justified in building a local communication medium.
“The technology is there for people to be able to come in on webcam, text or email and engage in the forum. We have Twitter and Facebook set up, so in terms of trying to engage with the community we have tried to open as many doors as we can,” Denis says.
“Younger people are much more engaged with technology and, my own belief is, while that is happening on a global scale there is a level of disconnection locally that leads to all the issues like suicide,
“The Bendigo Cup, Bendigo grand final, Bendigo Easter Festival and events like that we hope to bring back to the screen the way they were.”
Long-time Bendigo residents will remember the days when a raft of locally-produced programs went to air. Back then you could actually watch the Bendigo Easter Parade as it was, long enough to recognise faces in the crowd.
It’s been a helluva long break in local “What has happened is that nownow we have... more choiceis of the media than programming but here we have ever had globally, but the one area that has contracted is news. local,” Denis says. “So programs that were once here and the local
220
And now, back to you Steph. n
mind & body
- Melanie Frank Yoga teacher & Kehry Frank Yoga teacher, kinesiologist & nurse
breath of life Life is dependant on breath. We can live for days without food or water, but only a few minutes without breath. Every moment of the day our breath is open to minute changes, as we react to different events in our daily lives. Unlike other mammals, it is only humans that possess such a complex range of breathing rhythms, largely because it is only humans that experience such a complex range of emotions. But both humans and animals breathe long deep breaths when they are calm and relaxed, and take fast, shallow breaths when they are stressed.
Vitality Yoga Vitality Clinic Beginners Yoga Kinesiology Gentle Yoga Feng Shui
Fitness Yoga Kids Yoga Well being Products & Shop Meditation Classes Prenatal Yoga
Pranayama Breathing classes Advanced Yoga Relaxation classes
New Yoga teachers course beginning March 2011 12 weekend retreats held over 12 months in our lush bush retreat 20mins from Bendigo Contact Vitality for your 2011 prospectus today
VITALITY YOGA TEACHER TRAINING ACADEMY & NATURAL THERAPIES CLINIC Level 2/402 Hargreaves Street Bendigo (Above Tile Mart)
www.vitalityclinic.com.au info@vitalityclinic.com.au or visit us on facebook - Vitality Yoga
GIVE US YOUR BODY, GAIN A TRANQUIL MIND
Most people use only a fraction of their potential lung capacity when breathing; only using the top third of their lungs in every day life. Ask the average person to take a deep breath, and they will lift the shoulders and often tighten the neck muscles to inhale. Not only is this ineffective breathing but it can actually add strain and stress to the body. Poor breathing patterns have been attributed to a range of conditions from respiratory problems to poor energy levels and even depression. Recent studies have shown that breathing patterns can actually indicate the state of our physical and emotional health. Yet improved breathing practices will improve our physical and emotional health. In fact, simple, conscious breathing practices can be a simple step towards a healthier lifestyle. The question is how can we breathe more deeply? Correct breathing can be identified by checking the movement at the abdomen. Full deep breathes begin with the diaphragm. The diaphragm is a thin half-domed shaped muscle which separates our chest from our abdominal organs. When we inhale, the diaphragm contracts downwards, which causes the chest to expand and draw oxygen to the base of the lungs. When we exhale, the diaphragm returns to its dome shape, pushing air out from the body. The abdomen pushes out when we inhale and draws in when we exhale. Abdominal breathing maximises the oxygen we draw into the body and maximises the toxins we expel from the body. In fact correct breathing can expel up to 70 per cent of toxins from the body; the remaining 30 per cent via defecation, urination and perspiration. To practice abdominal breathing, lie on your back, bending the knees and placing hands on the abdomen. Inhale through the nostrils and gently push abdomen upwards, aiming to relax the shoulders and upper chest completely. Exhale through the nostrils and encourage the naval to draw back to the spine. Do not be discouraged if you find that your abdomen moves the opposite way; this is very common but a strong indicator that you have much to gain from correct abdominal breathing. Continue to practice and you will soon perfect the technique. Abdominal breathing can also be practiced sitting or standing at any time of the day, except whilst practicing strenuous exercise. Aim to practice for at least a few minutes each day to bring more calm and vitality into your life. When you can practice abdominal breathing with minimal concentration and effort then you are ready to attempt thoracic breathing. Remember that correct breathing practices often require us to change a lifetime of poor breathing habits. However, with practice you will master these simple techniques and experience the benefits of full conscious breathing; renewed energy, improved posture, strong immune system, improved coping skills and a calm, clear mind. These breathing practices are the foundation for all other pranayama techniques, yogic breathing practices to reduce anxiety, develop a calm mind and eventually lead to the practice of meditation. Contact a reputable yoga school to learn more. Next issue: learn how the way you think affects your emotional and physical health. n
bank notes
paws for thought Animal lovers can now help their four legged friends with a funky looking special credit card linked to the RSPCA. In October 2005, Bendigo Bank formed a partnership with the RSPCA to launch a very special credit card with a heart. Bendigo RSPCA Rescue Visa cards raise money for the RSPCA’s Adopta-Pet program, saving the lives of cats and dogs in RSPCA shelters around Australia.
To celebrate five years, nearly 60,000 lives saved and $780,000 raised, Bendigo Bank has released two very special limited edition card designs. Perfect for all style-savvy, animal loving shopaholics, the “shopping guy” and “shopping girl” cards are a must have accessory if you’re looking for a great looking credit card with a social conscience. You can choose from two different card types: • The Bendigo RSPCA Rescue Visa card lets you raise money for Adopt-a-Pet every time you use your card – because Bendigo Bank donates a percentage of the revenue generated by your card to the program. • Or the Bendigo RSPCA Rescue Rewards Visa card which comes with free membership to Bendigo Rewards and one reward point for every dollar you spend. Rescue Rewards card customers make a $3 monthly tax deductible donation to the Adopt-a-Pet program. And while Bendigo RSPCA Rescue Visa cards save the lives of our furry friends, they’re also great for you, too. Both card types feature a highly competitive interest rate, a low annual fee and are one of the fairest credit cards available on the market today. That’s because with a Bendigo RSPCA Rescue Visa card you only pay interest on purchases you don’t repay on time. And the Bendigo will only charge this interest from your statement date, rather than backdating it to the date of purchase. Plus, you pay the same interest rate on cash advances as you do on purchases. So even if you have a credit card with the same interest rate as an RSPCA Rescue Visa card, you could be paying more than twice as much in interest. So sign up today and save lives every time you shop. But be quick because these limited edition designs are only available until 31 January 2011 or until sold out. n
Save lives every time you shop We’re celebrating five years, nearly 60,000 animals saved and more than $780,000 raised for the RSPCA’s Adopt-a-Pet program with a special limited edition Visa card design, perfect for all style-savvy, animal loving shopaholics. The Bendigo RSPCA Rescue Visa card can be used anywhere Visa is accepted – while shopping, eating out, paying bills or on holiday. And every time you use it you’ll be reminded of the good work you’re doing for the RSPCA’s Adopt-a-Pet program. With a low annual fee and a six month introductory rate, you’d be ‘barking mad’ if you didn’t get one soon. But you’ll need to move fast. Our limited edition cards are only available to shopping girls and shopping guys for a strictly limited time. To apply, simply call into your nearest Bendigo Bank branch, apply online at www.bendigobank.com.au/rspca or phone 1300 BENDIGO.
VOIDVOID
Get yours now!
VOIDVOID
7512
5412
64MONTH/YEAR 40 4500
ID ID VALVAL MM FRO FRO
12-10
3456
/YEAR
12-10
GOOD GOOD U U THRTHR
PLE
M SAM SA
5412 7512 3412 3456 4000 4564
VALID VALID FROM FROM
MONTH/YEAR
12-10
SAM SAMPLE
Limited edition cards available until 31 January 2011 or until sold out. Terms, conditions, fees and charges apply. Subject to the bank’s normal lending criteria. Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited ABN 11 068 049 178 AFSL 237879. (S31839) (11/10)
3412 MONTH
limited edition
Adoptapet.com.au is the perfect destination for pet adoption and pet care information. And one of the great features of the site allows you to search for your perfect pet based on breed, age, location and gender. You’ll also find heart-warming stories from happy pet adoption “parents”.
ition limited ed
The Adopt-a-Pet program is a national pet adoption website, which posts photos of cats and dogs available for adoption at RSPCA animal shelters.
GOOD GOOD THRU THRU
MONTH/YEAR
12-10
legal eagle
photo opportunity - Russell Robertson Accredited wills & estates specialist O’Farrell Robertson McMahon
will power You may be gone, but do you really want to be best remembered for the mess you left behind? Dear Russell, I always hated paperwork. When someone dies without making a will doesn’t the estate just get divided up between the family anyway? Herman Rip Dear Herman I suspect you are among the approximately 40 per cent of Australians who die without leaving a valid will. Some people will have no idea who will be the beneficiary of their estate when no will has been made. I think it is staggering that people do not seem to care where their hard-earned assets will go. There is a statutory formula set out in the legislation which results in the estate going to the immediate next of kin. The formula can be quite complicated and some of the distribution is by no means obvious. For example: If hypothetical Fred was married to Betty, had been separated for three years and had, during that time, been in a permanent relationship with Carol, the distribution becomes interesting. More so if you put the six-year-old child Fred had from his marriage with Betty into the mix. If the estate was worth $700,000 then the distribution would be: Betty would receive $200,000; Carol would receive $100,000; The child would receive $400,000. Betty as the mother of the child (who has become the beneficiary with the greatest entitlement) becomes the person entitled to administer the estate. But, if Fred and Carol have been together for four years and one week then Carol and Betty each would have $150,000. The formula is arbitrary and can produce some very strange results. If there are superannuation benefits then they do not normally form part of the estate but will be paid at the discretion of the trustees unless a binding nomination is in place. If you are in a domestic relationship then your partner may, depending upon the circumstances, be entitled to some, all or nothing of your estate. Generally the relationship has to be continuing for at least two years or there has to be a child from the relationship if the duration has been for less than two years. As you can see the distribution and entitlements can be very unusual. A simple and straightforward will solves most of the problems that would otherwise occur. Most significantly a will includes the appointment of an executor. This person has the responsibility for carrying out your wishes and is also responsible for making decisions about your funeral arrangements. Some very common provisions in wills are: Appointment of executors and a choice of alternate executors; Provisions for children, including holding the funds until the child is much older i.e. 21 or 25; Provisions for beneficiaries with special needs; Funeral arrangements; Gifts to charities; The distribution of your assets. If you are separated, but not divorced, your spouse is still considered to be your next of kin. You must make a will if you do not want that person to benefit from the laws of intestacy. Homemade wills or use of will kits are a tempting thought. It is natural to want to save money. In my experience, homemade wills or the use of will kits cost the estate a lot more money than might otherwise be saved. It is always much better to get expert advice. ■ 224
bendigo vintage cars launch This exciting new business recently launched itself in Bendigo with a fun day of tours, a sausage sizzle and showbags to celebrate. Greg and Jennifer will be excited to either share your special occassion or show you the historic sites of Bendigo in a way that you will never forget! Bendigo Vintage Cars will provide you with friendly service, a reliable gorgeous vintage model car for your wedding, formal, graduation, anniversary, party, deb or any special occasion! Bendigo Vintage Cars will also be running winery tours, shopping tours or will be happy to tailor a tour to meet your needs! Visit our website at www.bendigovintagecars.com.au or call us on 0402 329 799 for more information. ■
employment advice
daydream achievers
- Paul Murphy, AtWork Consulting
The Christmas holiday is a time of reflection for many workers who will wish they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to return to the same old jobs. Christmas is a time for celebration and giving. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a time when many workers head to a favourite spot to unwind. We kick back, drink, eat, get physical, forget about work â&#x20AC;Ś as the holiday goes on we relax, get a tan (or not if weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re careful), stop wearing shoes â&#x20AC;Ś And many of us start reflecting and dreaming, on how life could be. What if it was like this all the time, what if we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to workâ&#x20AC;Ś? By late January, the dreamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s over. From mountains, beaches, Bali, and all over the world â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Bendigonians come back to their jobs. Dangerously for employers, this can be when people decide to leave. Unfortunately many cannot leave physically, so they just check out mentally! In workplaces everywhere, there are workers whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve mentally departed. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just their bodies that turn up, while they dream and Google, about another life. Research early this year revealed that most Australian workers were not happy with their careers. Three quarters wanted a new job, 9% â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;hatedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; their jobs, and only 22 percent were happy with their careers. Only 13 percent planned to stay in their current positions, and many were networking already to get the ball rolling. In Greater Bendigo with our working age population of roughly 50,000 and 62 per cent participation rate we have about 30,000 people in work, and on these figures up to 25,000 unhappy workers wanting a new job!
optimise your organisation for performance and satisfaction. Do some internal research. Get in place programs that make your workplace a great place to be, somewhere that makes your people lie on the beach thinking â&#x20AC;&#x153;Damn, I wonder what Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m missing out on at work!â&#x20AC;? Consider health and wellbeing programs, community volunteering programs, â&#x20AC;&#x153;swap a jobâ&#x20AC;? programs that give people a taste of another role. If you have people you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to lose over the coming months, use the Christmas lead-up to recognise and acknowledge them. For individuals, get serious about it and take charge. Are you after a new job, or a new career? If a job, identify the possible employers and start marketing. If a career, what new direction would you genuinely feel passionate and committed to? A recent story reported on tracking down five Australians who totally loved their jobs. Unfortunately, the jobs were a plus-sized model, an Antarctic chef, a mermaid, a stilt walker, and a whale-shark spotter. The reality is, there just arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t too many of these jobs around. Look at your real interests in life. What fires you up with passion and enthusiasm? If nothing, what makes you least bored and uninspired? Go with that and work out how to make a career out of it. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s some great help around town in terms of career advice â&#x20AC;&#x201C; use it to get past just dreaming.
Have 25,000 people across Bendigo changed jobs in this year? No! The alternative is that all over the city there are people ranging from marginally to totally disaffected. This is heightened in January when they return from leave.
Consider the old lines by Steven Stills â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be with the one you love, love the one youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re withâ&#x20AC;?. If you try that with your job you might find that it takes on a new life, as you come at it from a fresh angle. It helps if you change your approach from being a workplace prisoner or whinger, to being a committed â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;volunteerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. And they are often not only the best contributors, they enjoy their work more.
Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something terribly wrong with this scenario, and neither organisations nor individuals should just accept it. For organisations, ensure you have the best possible people in your jobs. Set out to
Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re welcome to contact me for help with your career, or your workplace. Enjoy the break, have a fantastic Christmas with your family and friends, dream, and act. n
$PBDIJOH CFDBVTF JU XPSLT &YFDVUJWF DPBDIJOH GSPN "U8PSL $POTVMUJOH JT B TVQFSC XBZ UP EFWFMPQ NBOBHFNFOU BOE MFBEFSTIJQ DBQBCJMJUZ
8IBU ZPVÂľMM BDDFTT BOE BDIJFWF Â&#x2026; Â GFFECBDL QSPDFTTFT
Â&#x2026; #VJME PO FYJTUJOH DBQBCJMJUJFT
Â&#x2026; .BOBHFNFOU DBQBCJMJUZ BOE QFSTPOBM QSPžMJOH
Â&#x2026; 0WFSDPNF MJNJUJOH CFIBWJPVST
Â&#x2026; $PNQSFIFOTJWF SJDI QMBUGPSN GPS EFWFMPQNFOU
Â&#x2026; *NQSPWF UFBN TBUJTGBDUJPO BOE QFSGPSNBODF
Â&#x2026; $BSFFS SFEJSFDUJPO TVQQPSU BT EFTJSFE
Â&#x2026; &OIBODF MPOH UFSN TVDDFTT
²1BVM¾T DPBDIJOH IBT JNQSPWFE NZ VOEFSTUBOEJOH BOE CVJMU NZ DBQBDJUZ UP NPUJWBUF PUIFST UP QFSGPSN 5IF BCJMJUZ UP TIBSF TUBGžOH NBUUFST PO B DPOžEFOUJBM CBTJT BOE HBJO NFBOJOHGVM BEWJDF IBT CFFO IJHIMZ WBMVBCMF BOE B TJHOJžDBOU DPNQPOFOU JO BDIJFWJOH IJHI QFSGPSNBODF GSPN NZ UFBN³ ° %JSFDUPS 1BVM .VSQIZ JT B NFNCFS PG UIF *OUFSOBUJPOBM $PBDIJOH 'FEFSBUJPO *$'
453"5&(*$ )3 Â&#x2026; &9&$65*7& 3&$36*5*/( Â&#x2026; )*() *.1"$5 $0"$)*/(
,*/( 45 Â&#x2026; Â&#x2026; XXX BUXPSLDPOTVMUJOH DPN BV
cogho’s couch
photo opportunity - Bryan ‘Cogho’ Coghlan Program director 3BO/Star FM
one brave lady Basketball star Gabrielle Richards steps up to the microphone. Cog: Welcome to bendigo magazine’s “On the Couch with Cogho” first of all … Now, tell me about your sporting triumphs. Gab: Wow, I can’t remember what I did last week … let alone my entire basketball career. But there were a few national championships, an AIS scholarship, a few Australian Junior teams, world championships, and a stint in the US at the University of Oregon. Oh and then there’s the Lady Braves and Spirit stuff. Cog: Did Mum and Dad push you hard with your sport? Gab: Ha, ha not at all. They’re extremely supportive! But my mum would rather be shopping than watching basketball … She’s happy as long as it makes me happy. Dad loves basketball. He’s devastated if he misses a game. He used to schedule days off and sit at the computer to podcast all our games when I was in the States. Cog: What’s something bizarre that one of your coaches has said to you? Gab: Well, my personal coach Shaun Makepeace once told me that I need to add more waggle/wiggle to my free throw. Your guess is as good as mine about that one. Cog: Tell us what you do for your day job? Gab: I do so many different things from making you coffee, to cleaning whatever mess you’ve left in the kitchen … oh wait, you mean my real job? I work as a journalist for Southern Cross Ten, sourcing and writing our news content for regional Victoria. I also enjoy a morning stint on 3BO with your good self and the crazy Shaun Makepeace. Although that can’t really be considered work, because all I do is laugh for an hour. Cog: There’s a rumor going around that you are also famous for your singing efforts? Please explain ... Gab: That’s hilarious. I’m terrible. Although the Lady Braves have a pretty good reputation at a certain karaoke bar in Brisbane. I was our house drummer for a bit there during our rock band days, not because I was good, but because my roommates Kelly and Andrea were tragic. Cog: What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen on the basketball court? Gab: When one of our coaches threw her hand out while directing one of our players and accidentally KO’d a ref who was running past at that exact moment. Cog:Tell me the first thing that pops into your head when I say... Bryan Coghlan…Glen 20 Bendigo...Great place to live! Julia Gillard…“Moving Forward” Ally Drower (boss at SCTen)...Amazing. Not that I’m a suck, but she’s genuinely awesome. 3BO…13 27 10 Bernie Harrower...Spirit 2010/11 “Get On Board” U2... Etihad Stadium December 1, can’t wait! Lady Gaga…Outrageous. Great music but she’s crazy. Kelly & Andrea Wilson...Practically family and the best/funniest housemates ever. Collingwood...Ben Jones Roger Federer...Devastated that he married someone else. 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? Gab: Bugsie Pollard Cog: Thanks for sitting on the couch Gab! Gab: Cheers Cogho. ■ 226
ucc committee room opening. After many voluntary hours by club members the United Cricket Club officially opened the new committee room and pavilion at Ewing Park The clubrooms are something UCC are very proud of and are acclaimed by all who enter them. The style reflects the historic cricket story with characteristics of a traditional English pavilion and an Australian country cricket pavilion. The new room has timber lined walls, leather couches and antique sporting memorabilia that gives it an ambiance of when Don Bradman was in his prime. It has taken club members many voluntary hours to reach this stage as the pavilion has been a work in progress since 1990. With the opening of the new committee room, it is now finally completed. Well done to everyone! ■
chiropractic care - Dr Deanne Esposito B.App.Sc. (Clin Sc) B.Chiro.Sc
cause & effect
Creating a lifetime of wellness
Simply dismissing symptoms as “growing pains” may condemn a child to a lifetime of discomfort. A young teenager has been suffering headaches, aching in the legs (which her parents have been told are “growing pains”) and having problems sleeping. Her history shows that as a young baby she was very unsettled, not sleeping well and suffered from “colic”. Could it be possible that the problems she was having as a newborn are related to the problems she is experiencing now? The answer is yes. This child has been struggling through life with a nervous system which is not functioning optimally. Nervous system function can be effected by their position in utero or through the birth process initially and then when they start rolling, crawling and walking other injuries may build. Problems can also develop from using walkers and jumpers when the child is not standing on their own. A child should only stand when they are ready. Do not encourage them to walk with assistance earlier as this can lead to problems in their hips. As a child gets older they have falls, accidents and injuries which further adds to their irritation on their nervous system. Children don’t usually grow out of these problems what usually happens is the symptoms just change. For example a child may suffer from colic and feeding problems and then when a little older suffer with constipation or ear infections which then may eventually change to headaches. If the child’s body is not working 100 per cent their body may struggle to adapt to the environment. Usually a child who has a nervous system functioning without interference will be able to adapt to the changing environment without showing symptoms. Nerve interference may cause a range of symptons in babies as they grow. These may include feeding and attachment problems, not settling and not sleeping well, constipation/diarrhoea plus colic, reflux and wind problems. A flat skull or irregular shaped skull along with ear and upper respiratory tract infections may also be indicative. How may nerve interference effect a young child? He or she may continue to suffer some of the above symptoms as well as bedwetting, asthma, reading and writing difficulties, poor concentration and poor socialisation skills. By the time the child becomes a teenager nerve interference may also manifest in headaches, poor co-ordination, menstrual and digestion problems. It is not normal for a child of any age to be showing signs and symptoms. The body is designed to be healthy and if it isn’t you need to start to ask the question why. The child is not getting these symptoms due to a lack of panadol, neurofen or paracetamol. There is some interference there. If you just dull the symptom with medication you are only masking the problem not correcting the cause. This can lead to more issues as the child gets older as more damage can be building even though they are not feeling it. The body will literally be aging before its time. Wear and tear builds in the spine of young children, as much as adults, if their nervous system is interfered with. When the nerves are interfered with they then tell the muscles to pull harder on one side of the body as compared to the other. This then pulls on the spine leading to imbalance and degeneration.
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.
Imagine you were driving a car with one flat tyre. The rim will wear out much quicker on the flat tyre even though it is the same age as all the other tyres. Age is therefore not the reason we get wear and tear (arthritis) building in the spine it is a direct result of improper nervous system function. As a wellness chiropractor we work to locate the cause of the problem and then assist the client in finding ways to stop recreating the problems in the future. This will then lead to the client feeling better, having a better quality of life and literally reversing the effects of the aging process. ■
Chiropractic
Massage
47 Myrtle St Bendigo | p. 5444 3388 www.globalchiropractic.com.au
sporting hero
line in the sand In spite of the complete absence of surf growing up, life’s pretty beachy for Bendigo’s hottest volleyball talent. – Raelee Tuckerman STANDING on a beach in Portugal – the sun on her face, the sand between her toes and a medal hanging around her neck – there’s no place in the world Eliza “Karley” Hynes would rather be. The Bendigo teenager is living out her dream of playing elite sport in far-flung corners of the globe, and can’t hide her smile after winning bronze with partner Taliqua Clancy at the 2010 world under-19 beach volleyball titles. But there’s little time to celebrate – in less than 24 hours she is on a plane heading back to the Australian Institute of Sport’s beach volleyball headquarters in Adelaide. As an AIS scholarship-holder, a strict schedule of intense training and gym sessions, physio appointments, ice recovery baths and even spin bike workouts in a humidity chamber awaits her. Though there are times she misses her family, friends and her old home town, the girl who grew up in Maiden Gully says she wouldn’t have things any other way. “Like most people who have left home for one reason or another would say, there is always such a feeling of ‘home’ for wherever you grew up,” Karley says. “I will always miss coming home to such a familiar place full of memories. But as a kid, I wanted only to play sport and travel to the furthest places on Earth, and being here in Adelaide training full time is allowing me to do so.” The talented 18-year-old has a heavy workload, combining her sporting commitments with studying year 12 subjects by correspondence. And a quick glance at her weekly planner reveals just how little “spare time” she has from Monday through Friday. But she knows that dedication and commitment can bring the rewards of success, having already been a member of Australian junior indoor volleyball and netball teams in years gone by. Karley began playing volleyball in 2005, when she was in year seven at Kangaroo Flat Secondary College, now known as Crusoe College. “My sister had been involved in the Bendigo Academy of Sport and I was really interested in it so I got involved in a school team,” she recalls. “From there, I was instantly hooked on volleyball.” Karley’s potential was immediately noticed and she was part of the Bendigo academy throughout her junior high school years. “My coaches through the academy taught me all the basic skills and Gary Roberts, the head coach of volleyball in
228
Bendigo, has been a great influence on my career so far.” She earned selection in Victorian teams before joining the Australian Volleyball Federation’s national talent identification program and being scouted for the beach variety of the game. After moving to Melbourne in 2009 to study at a specialist sports secondary school, Karley joined the AIS beach volleyball program at the start of 2010 and lives in a provided unit just a good, solid serve away from the National Centre of Excellence in the Adelaide suburb of Brooklyn Park. Her mum, Gayle, has moved to Adelaide to be close to her, while dad Peter, sister Rebecca, brother Justin and many of Karley’s friends are still here in central Victoria. “They have all given me great support,” she says. “My family and friends are always an important factor to have, no matter where I am living, and keeping good contact with them helps me look forward to new journeys.” If all goes to plan, there could be plenty such “journeys” in the nottoo-distant future. “The squad I am involved in is focused on success in the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016,” Karley says. “In the coming two years or so, I’m looking forward to building my body stronger to withstand the weeks on end that the (International Federation of Beach Volleyball) World Tour requires. “I’ll also look to increase my competition load with some time overseas on the world tour next year, and in the following years I’d like to complete a few world tours leading onto the 2016 Olympic qualification period.” The world tour runs annually from April to October in 16 or so countries around the world. So can Bendigo genuinely hope to see a home-grown talent on the beach volleyball courts at the biggest sporting event of all in years to come? “Well yes, there’s always hope,” she says, “and certainly a big drive for me is the amount of support I have had from family, friends, and the whole community of Bendigo.”
Karley’s timetable for a typical week at the AIS in Canberra is jam-packed. Monday 6.30-9am: Gym and daily exercises/injury prevention from strength and conditioning coach. 10.30-11.30am: Pre-training meeting - check in with coaches and find out what we can look forward to and prepare ourselves for. 11.30am-1.30pm: Training on sand – break game down into smaller focus areas to practise skills. 1.30-2.30pm: Recovery – either travel down to beach and do active recovery (running, lunges, squats) or do ice baths at AIS recovery centre. 2.30pm onwards: Free time for work, school or study. Tuesday 9am-10am: Physio - time to check body and asses any niggles or injuries. 10am- 11am: Daily exercises/injury prevention. 11am-3.30pm: Free time for work, school or study. 4pm-5.30pm: Training session on sand. Wednesday 6.30am-9am: Gym and daily exercises/injury prevention. 10am-11am: Pre-training meeting. 11am-1pm: Training on sand. 2pm-3pm: Humidity chamber - travel to SA University for hourlong conditioning session on spin bikes in about 37 degees at around 60 per cent humidity. Thursday 7.30am-8.30am: Physiotherapy. Photographs courtesy: Teresa Henderson
10am-11am: Daily exercises/injury prevention. 11am-1pm: Training on sand. 1pm-2pm: Active recovery at the beach. 4pm-5pm: Nutrition meeting to discuss diet and eating habits. Friday 6.30am-9am: Gym and daily exercises/injury prevention. 10am-11am: Pre-training meeting. 11am-1pm: Training on sand. 2pm-3pm: Humidity chamber workout.
The squad I am involved in is focused on success in the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016. 229
sporting extreme
karate kid It may not be quite what Mr Miyagi meant when he urged “first learn stand, then learn fly”, but a trip in a jumbo rekindled one young man’s fighting spirit. – Raelee Tuckerman Alexis Carrasco said goodbye to more than just family and friends when he flew out of his homeland of Chile in 2005, destined for the adventure of a lifetime Down Under. He also left behind a promising sporting future in karate, having been a national junior champion and regular member of the Chilean representative team. The black belt from Santiago had even won medals at South American and Pan American championships. But Alexis grew tired of the tough training regime required to stay at the top of his martial art and was looking for a change of pace, so he took up an offer from an uncle in New South Wales to come out and experience life in Australia. That decision changed his future. Fast forward five years and Alexis, now 24, is living in Bendigo with his partner Eloise, a local girl he met at university, and has been working in a restaurant here as a chef. What’s more, he is back winning medals in international karate competitions. The difference this time around, though, is that the tracksuit he’s wearing is green and gold.
After a brief stint back in central Victoria, he returned overseas in September for a training camp and competition in Turkey and a tournament in Croatia. A holiday with Eloise is also on the agenda, including a much-anticipated trip back to Santiago to visit his family. Alexis first took up karate at the age of 10, following in the footsteps of his father. He got his black belt in 2004 and was considered one of the best juniors in South America. But deep down, he started to wonder if there was more to life. “I just stopped when I came to Australia,” Alexis says. “I was a little bit bored of all the training – it was three times a day, every day. I have got cousins in Griffith and they invited me here. I wanted to see something different.” It would be fair to say that Alexis liked what he saw and ended up staying.“I really like the lifestyle here … it’s more relaxing, the people are nicer and it is also safer.” Just over a year ago, while living in Brisbane, Alexis decided to head back to the gym and try to resurrect his karate career. He hadn’t lost his touch, making the Queensland state team before settling in Bendigo early in 2010.
Photographer: Anthony Webster
In July, Alexis toured Europe with an Australian team from the Kimekai karate club in Melbourne. He won an individual bronze at the British International Open in Glasgow, and a team bronze at the Kobe Osaka International in Evia, Greece. Both were for events known as
“kumite”, which involve sparring against opponents.
230
I think he will definitely be considered for Australian representation in the future.
He is now a regular at the Australian College of Sports Development’s FitRepublic gym in Abel Street, where he works out three times a week. He also catches the train to Melbourne for four weekly training sessions at the Kimekai club.
helped fund the recent overseas tours. Without that support, he says, it would be very difficult financially for him to follow his dream.
It is in the gym café that I catch up with the quietly spoken young man and we talk about the twists and turns his life has taken in recent years – and his hopes for the future. His ultimate ambition is to make the Australian Karate Federation national team and represent his adopted country at a world championship, but says there is still much hard work ahead.
Alexis’s coach, Marco Mazzanti, believes the talented martial arts exponent may just have what it takes to reach his lofty goals.“His potential is excellent and he has got a great background and foundation in karate,” says Mazzanti, who coaches at Kimekai and also with the Australian squad. “He will have to apply next year to become a member of the state and AKF national teams, but I think he will definitely be considered for Australian representation in the future.”
Alexis is full of praise for ACSD and FitRepublic director Barry Johnston, a former Australian karate representative whose sponsorship has
There’s one thing you can count on as Alexis prepares to take on the challengers – this Bendigo boy will put up a good fight. 231
travelogue
tamara goes troppo It’s very hard work! You might get wet and even have to hold you own drink in the jacuzzi ... but someone has to do it. - Sarah Wainwright As a travel agent with a number of years under my belt I wouldn’t have minded charging $1 for every person that asked me do you get to go on free trips all the time? Oh how I wish! But it’s not to say that we don’t get the occasional junket come our way. It was the start of my week. Outside it was minus degrees and inside the heater was cranked up to to the max when ... ding ... an email arrives inviting a staff member to the warmer climates of tropical north Queensland. Instantly I’m in daydream mode….. blue skies, cocktails by the pool, SUN, SUN, SUN. Um. . . . no no no. Enter “newbie” to Eaglehawk Cruise & Travel, Tamara. Fair’s fair it was time to initiate our innocent newbie to the wonders of the travel agent “educational”. With approximately a week-and-a-half to prepare for the trip Carol and I shared our “eduo” experiences to a wide-eyed Tamara. I’m not sure if she was thrilled or petrified after the stories we relayed, but as the trip grew closer Tamara grew more excited. I would love to be able to say that on an “educational” we are free to do as we please, however this is not the case. From the moment you arrive at the airport you are already put to work. So to Tamara’s first stop … the Virgin Blue lounge. For a minimal fee, the Virgin Blue Lounge offers a relaxed environment for patrons to go to while waiting for their flight. Food and drinks are available with plenty of variety to choose from. Waiting times can easily be passed with a game of billards or just watching the comings and goings of the aircraft. Not a bad way to get started! Once arriving into Cairns, off the group went in their hire car bound for Port Douglas. For one glorious night Tamara had the special privilege of staying at the Sea Temple Resort and Spa and it was “AMAZING!” Upon arrival the group were greeted with a complimentary tropical drink and hand towel however our young adventurer’s eye was drawn to the swimming pool. Tamara was gobsmacked …. “it was huge”. “I thought it might just be the biggest swimming pool in the world,” she told us that evening. And it turned out she was nearly correct – it is actually the biggest swimming pool in the southern hemisphere. Impressive! This wasn’t all that was deemed impressive though! Once escorted to their rooms and with the hotel representative well out of sight Tamara’s inner child surfaced. As excited as a five-year-old at Christmas she ran through the apartment. The room was located on the second level with a view of the golf course. A spiral staircase led from the balcony up to the rooftop and “my very own private jacuzzi”. With one site inspection down there were still five to go. Easy, you think! Actually I should say exhausting. As simple as “checking out hotels” sounds the process is exhausting. Everything must be inspected and considered from the perspective of different clients. Every room style from standard rooms, deluxe rooms to penthouses and apartments, room facilities, check in and check out times and costings. The hotels most suitable for families versus hotels best for couples. If there are too many stairs it’s not going to suit those with immobility problems unless there is a lift. If breakfast isn’t served at the hotel where are the closest restaurants? There are so many factors that you need to note with each property and after seeing a number 232
of hotels in a row they start to merge into one. One seemingly minor detail that can actually make a property stand out is when a meal is hosted. It is a lovely touch that we are lucky enough to enjoy and Tam was treated to such an experience at The Hotel Cairns. With live music playing in the background and surrounded by tropical trees and bamboo fire lanterns, the group were presented with their main meals. It quickly became apparent this was no ordinary meal as a sizzling was coming from each plate. The manager quickly explained that they were having the “hot rock experience”. With a quick flip of the beef on her plate Tamara’s meal was served and she soon learnt that the “hot rock” was underestimation. The meal sits on a rock heated to 450 degrees and cooks before your eyes. Now who would have thought that such an experience could be classed as one of the highlights of a trip. However Tamara got to enjoy something
she had never done before and vows it is on the list of must dos for when she returns to Cairns. In between all of the hotel inspections and eating time (it truly, truly is exhausting) time was allotted to experience some of the sights that Cairns has to offer. Two of the main attractions located on the Esplanade in Cairns that won Tamara’s vote were the Night Markets and The Lagoon. The Night Markets are full of locally made products including jewellery, artwork and clothing. There are also souvenirs for tourists and if you wish you can purchase a massage for a bargain. The markets are a great way to spend an evening and operate between 4:30pm through to 11pm. The Lagoon area is open for public use daily and is a great area to just sit back and relax or enjoy a swim in the huge pool. Classed as one of the major tourist attraction it’s an area that Cairns has become famous for.
CAPTIONS: (Left) Loose yourself in lush tropical rainforest
Of course you can’t enjoy a visit to tropical north Queensland without taking in the Great Barrier Reef. During her time in Cairns, Tam experienced a day tour with Quicksilver. The day began with transfers to the Port Douglas Marina where the group boarded the impressive vessel with capacity for 300 people. The trip out to the Reef takes about 45 minutes during which morning tea is provided (as well as sea sickness tablets just in case). Once at the reef it’s crystal clear blue waters as far as the eye can see and stunning colour below the surface. The Quicksilver crew are on hand to cater for your every need and happily assist in arranging activities with something available for every one. There is diving along with snorkeling, an underwater viewing deck, helicopter rides and a semi-submersible. All of these activities are conducted from the Pontoon where the Quicksilver vessel attaches to this for the duration of the day. Also included is a buffet lunch and afternoon tea before arriving back at the Port Douglas Marina for your transfer back to your accommodation.
(Below) Swim safe in the mega pool
(Left bottom) Connect with Koori culture (Above) How can you go past the colours of the reef
Tamara’s recommendation? “This tour is one not to be missed when going to tropical north Queensland. You can’t truly comprehend what is out there until you have been there for yourself!” Hear,hear! ■
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 magazine sporting tour
playing the field From the world’s greatest greens and cricket’s most hallowed turf in cricket to the ball parks of America, Bendigo police Sergeant Jamie Ward didn’t miss a beat. – Jamie Ward My grandad and uncle introduced me to sport. Some of my fondest memories of growing up in the Goulburn Valley are of kicking footies, swinging golf clubs and playing cricket in the back yard. As I’ve grown older my love for sport has not waned and my desire to travel has intensified. After saving up many frequent flyer points, I decided it was time to pack the bags (and the clubs) and embark on what became an eight-week sporting odyssey through the UK and US. After arriving in London I was whisked out to the lush green hills of South Wales. Within 72 hours I had been joined by my great friend Alan from Melbourne and we were teeing up at the Celtic Manor Resort, home of the latest Ryder Cup (the biannual tournament between the USA and Europe’s 24 finest golfers). There, at the resort, which is about 20 minutes from Cardiff, we experienced two rounds on superb courses, plus accommodation and buffet dinner and breakfast for $158 – a truly great deal. From Cardiff we flew north to Edinburgh for a flying visit of the marvellous historic city. A foggy mist hung over the city and it was a mystical setting to enjoy the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle. We took in the World Cup soccer final at the Tass hotel and joined in the celebrations with a few Spaniards who were ecstatic at their country’s 1 - 0 victory over the Dutch. After meeting up with a couple more Aussies we journeyed 65km north to the home of golf – St Andrews. This was to be a very special week, coinciding with the 150th year of the Open Championship or the British Open as it is better known. Experiencing the Open at St Andrews has long been on my “bucket list” - the fact that I made it there for the 150th anniversary was an amazing bonus. Our St Andrews experience started with a round at the St Andrews links trust’s newest and most picturesque course. The castle course is the seventh course constructed here and is set on clifftops overlooking the town and the Firth of Forth. The scenery is breathtaking and the weather on this day was simply marvellous. It was links golf at both its finest and most brutal with undulating greens that had to be seen to be believed. Our base for this part of the trip was the village of Strathkiness. One of the members of our party commented that the tavern we frequented in the town was not dissimilar to the Axedale Tavern and, I agreed wholeheartedly.
234
My Open experience began on the Tuesday practice day. The pro-tour had arrived in earnest and the Old Course was taken over by the 150odd players who would be vying for the Claret Jug. I had the fortune of chatting with Aussie pros Robert Allenby and Mike Clayton as we collected our course passes and stepped onto the hallowed turf that is the Old Course where golf has been played for more than 300 years. For anyone passionate about watching pro golfers live at a major tournament, I strongly recommend attending a practice day. On these days there are no crowd crushes. You can get up close and you can take along your camera, which is strictly prohibited on tournament days. A long day at the course also proved to be a beneficial reconnaissance mission for the tournament days when crowd numbers can make viewing difficult. The pleasant Scottish summer turned nasty for the final practice day, when no play occurred. Our group ventured out to a scheduled game at the historic Leven Golf Links. However, the persistent rain and brutal wind meant that we only managed three holes before retreating to the sanctuary of the club house. Even Bendigo in the depth of winter was warmer on this UK summer day when the mercury peaked at 11 degrees! When the rain eventually eased we were able to explore the township of St Andrews and take in its amazing history, and architecture. Even for non-golf lovers, St Andrews is a fabulous place to visit. Later in the afternoon the “Harr” rolled in; a dense North Sea fog that blanketed the district and reduced visibility to less than 10 metres. Working night shift in Bendigo in the middle of winter had nothing on this one! The four days of the Open were truly magical and we were fortunate to witness some awesome performances. Unfortunately an Australian couldn’t reproduce Kel Nagle’s victory in the centenary Open of 1960 The shot-making of Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa triumphed after a very polished display over the four rounds. After enjoying another day picking up a few bargains at the postOpen golf shop sales and a visit to the British Golf Museum behind the Royal & Ancient clubhouse it was time to bid my friends and Scotland goodbye and travel south to Leeds. Australia and Pakistan were facing off in the Second Test at Headingley and – as I had missed the Ashes which had occurred during the previous English summer –
this would serve to provide a “cricket fix” (no pun intended). The skies had opened the previous evening and although the pitch was under-prepared Captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and decided to bat. What unfolded that first morning was incredible with Australia bundled out for a humiliating 88 runs just 20 minutes after the lunch break. After such a poor start Australia never looked like winning the Test and Pakistan recorded a well-deserved victory on the fourth morning, breaking a 15-year drought against Australia. After enjoying Sunday lunch at Jamie Oliver’s Italian Restaurant in Leeds it was back to base in Abersychan. Over the next few weeks I enjoyed some more of South Wales’ fine (but somewhat hilly) golf courses including Monmouthshire, Green Meadow & Pontypool GC all of which were very affordable and most welcoming to visitors. A visit to the local cricket one Saturday afternoon provided me with an opportunity to put the whites on the following day. The boys at the Pontnewynydd Cricket Club convinced me to become their “international recruit” for a day for a Sunday one-dayer against neighbouring Abergaveny. Home at Mandurang I very rarely roll the arm over, however the overcast Welsh day and a seaming wicket had me return figures of 4/28 and then back up with 31 with the bat to see us chase down the 250 run total with two overs to spare. After the match the locals were most hospitable, with several pints thrust into my hand in the club rooms and Waltzing Matilda featuring during the post-match sing-along. Thanks to a bargain on the net I managed to venture across the Irish Sea for a three day visit to Dublin. There – as well as doing the obligatory visits to the Guinness factory and Jameson Whiskey Distillery – I walked a few blocks out of the city to Croke Park, home of the Gaelic Athletic Association. This is where the best of Ireland’s Gaelic footballers will take on the AFL’s finest in the international series. As well as Gaelic football, Croke Park hosts Ireland’s other sporting passion – hurling. The tour of the arena also takes in a museum of Ireland’s GAA sporting history. What is truly amazing about this place is the fact that the GAA is an amateur organisation and even the finest players in Ireland are not paid to represent their counties at the highest level. It is no wonder that the likes of Jim Stynes and Tadhg Kennelly made the move to AFL when they found out they could be paid for playing footy. My last few days in the UK were spent in London doing a whirlwind tour of the famous landmarks and taking in Phantom of the Opera in the West End. My last English sporting destination was Lord’s cricket ground. The tour of this place takes in so much history and cricket lovers from all around the world were among my tour group. Sitting in the dressing rooms or the Long Room where the likes of W.G. Grace, Don Bradman and Viv Richards had all been had a special feel about it.
A 10 hour flight had me touching down in the desert heat in Las Vegas and catching up with my good mate Hamish from Sydney. After a day of settling in we ventured out to Bali Hai Golf Club to experience a tropical oasis in the middle of the dessert. The 40 degree heat was not unbearable as the low humidity and a golf cart eases the journey out there. The course and the hospitality were first rate as was my golf game on the back nine! A couple of nights later we took on our next sporting challenge, as a nationwide pool tournament was being played at the Riviera Casino. Some players who had been eliminated decided that the Aussies looked like a couple of worthy opponents, so it was game on. After dropping the first match, we quickly redeemed ourselves and then with Aussie pride on the line won game three as well. We invested a whole $5 in gambling for the whole five nights we were there (there’s too much other good stuff to do in Vegas than sit around a table or a slot machine!). After taking in Crowded House in concert at the Warfield Theatre, we motored off to Lake Tahoe on the California/Nevada border. The climb up into the mountains was truly breathtaking and despite being in the middle of summer some snow was still visible on the highest mountain peaks. Another round at Genoa Lakes Golf Club saw Hamish square the ledger at one match each before we headed back towards California’s capital city, Sacramento. There we squeezed in our last round for the trip at Dark Horse GC near Auburn with two fellow law-enforcers from California. A tied round saw neither Hamish nor I emerge the victor of our golfing challenge and it was on to the beautiful city of San Francisco There we headed to the Oakland Coliseum to take in an NFL game between the Oakland Raiders and (my team) the San Francisco 49ers. Although it was only a pre-season match, the “Battle of the Bay” fixture meant that a 35,000 strong crowd turned out and each town’s pride was on the line. In a great contest, the 49ers scored a touch down with only 90 seconds left in the game to clinch the match 28-24. The following day I bid Hamish farewell and teamed up with an old friend from south San Fran. Jen had her last ice hockey game for the year to play so I ventured down to experience my first ice hockey match. Although disappointed this was a no-checking and no-fighting league, it was still a great laugh and I left having to admire the skill and stamina of the chicks out on the ice. On the final night of my trip it was time for a vist to the ballpark. Jen and I ventured downtown to AT&T park on the edge of San Francisco Bay to check out the SF Giants v Colorado Rockies. In a game dominated by the pitching staff, the Rockies squeezed home two runs in the last innings to take a 2-1 win. Despite the low scoring, it was another great game and brought to a close what was a remarkable eight weeks of sport and culture. n 235
test drive
luv u suv Looking for a family wagon capable of blistering performance? The zippy new BMW sports utility vehicle is hot stuff. - Curt Dupriez If variety is the spice of life, then the motoring industry is fast becoming a vindaloo curry. Want a high-performance, peoplemoving, snowmobile motocross tow truck? There’s probably someone somewhere out there who makes them. Of late, BMW has been the king of throwing car genres into the blender, creating new styles of vehicle that smash misconceptions. And its new X1 is a perfect example. The X1 is the little brother to the mid-sized X3 and large X5/X6 SUV models. The German company’s marketing spin-doctors call it a “SAV”, or sport activity vehicle. But don’t let that confuse you. The X1 is what’s commonly known as a compact SUV, a segment paved by the likes of Subaru’s Forester yonks ago. And while the idea might not be new, what the X1 brings to the hugely popular “soft-roader” universe is something quite unique. First up is the look. It’s lower and longer than many of its competitors, and its space and proportions, inside and out, have a just right feel. It’s not big and wieldy, yet it’s not straining for enough accommodation to comfortably swallow your average-sized family. It’s a tricky balance,and one the X1 does superbly. Next up is the luxury factor. The X1 has all the quality and sheen
236
you’d expect from the popular German marquee, to levels that its rivals struggle to match. It’s slick, nicely done, not too over the top. The quality of the materials and construction is typically rich, wellexecuted BMW stuff. The iDrive system – a push-dial in the console that controls many of the car’s functions – is simpler and easier to use than ever. And the rear seats also fold forward, offering the flexibility of a huge payload area. In fact, the X1 is pretty much the only premium offering of its kind on the market – though Mercedes-Benz has an equivalent rival in the nifty GLK range, it’s not offered in Australia. And it’s the one compact SUV out there that comes closest to providing a proper carlike experience. Here’s why. Strip away X1’s angular, muscular wagon-style bodywork and you find a mechanical “platform” based on BMW’s 3 series touring. It feels exactly like a car to drive because, in and nut and bolt sense, it’s very much is a luxury German rear-drive car underneath. Our test car is a manual xDrive20d, which is equipped with a 130kW 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine, BMW’s ‘xDrive’ all-wheeldrive system, a six-speed-manual gearbox, and a base price of $52,700 before options.
The first surprise is how effortlessly the engine’s 350Nm can propel what is quite a sizeable car. The second is how frugal it is on fuel consumption – BMW claims it’ll sip just 5.8 litres per 100 km on the highway cruise. Optional extras bump the price up considerably, to $68K. But once you live with such niceties it’d be tough to downgrade. Essential are the gorgeous 18inch light alloy wheels and road performance tyres, rear view camera, park distance control and what BMW calls its “design cool elegance package”, which includes sport seats, leather trim and a host of interior spruce ups. BMW’s naming is a bit confusing these days, but the range kicks off with the (2.0-litre 110kW petrol, rear-drive) sDrive18i at around $43K and tops out with the you-beaut (2.0-litre150kW turbo diesel all-wheel-drive) xDrive23d at almost $60K. All up, there are five variants to choose from, which mix and match petrol and diesel engines and two- or-four-wheel drive. In a nutshell, there’s something for everyone. ■
Symes Motors BMW
BMW 3 Series M Sport Innovations Package.
$8700
03 5442 3111
worth of extra value at no extra cost.^ M Sport Bodykit 17" M Alloy Wheels M Sport Suspension Navigation System M Sport Interior Trim Bi-Xenon Headlights
Other offers available across the BMW 3 Series Sedan range.
THE ULTIMATE DRIVING OFFERS. There’s never been a better time to drive the perfect sports sedan. With exceptional offers available across the BMW 3 Series Sedan range at Symes Motors BMW for a limited time, now is the time to arrange a test-drive. Offers only apply to vehicles ordered and delivered before 30 December, 2010.
IT’S TIME TO DRIVE A BMW 3 SERIES. Symes Motors BMW 239-241 High Street, Bendigo, Victoria. (03) 5442 3111. www.symes.bmw.com.au LMCT 1140 ^Offer applies while stocks last on new BMW 3 Series Sedan (excluding 335i) ordered and delivered between 14/10/10 and 30/12/10 and cannot be combined with any other offer.
my car
ambulatory care When a beautifully restored post World War I ambulance motored past, bendigo magazine gave chase. Time was there was fleet of Dodges ferrying the sick and injured around the state. Today there is only one survivor. The handsome ivory and black vehicle that once served as an ambulance in south Gippsland, now calls Bendigo home. Ian McCorkelle has been the proud owner of this old classic for 31 years, but even before that he had his eye on her. “It first appeared in Melbourne in about 1968,” he recalls.“The bloke who had it seldom did anything with it. It mainly sat in the shed. He lived a suburb away from me and sometimes, when I went to Vintage Drivers’ Club meetings, he’d come up to me because he couldn’t get the car to start so I would go round and help him.” After Ian married, he and his wife moved from Melbourne to Yarram. “In 1979 this guy rang me up and asked if I would be interested in buying it,” he recalls. “Of course I jumped on it.” When he returned to Yarram with his prize it was a serendipitous homecoming. “It had been the town’s ambulance until 1952 and every one was quite excited I had brought it back,”
“The Yarram Auxilliary contributed £62 and the Edward Wilson (The Argus) Trust donated the rest,” Ian reveals.“By the time it was retired as an ambulance in 1952 it had done 7100 miles (11,400km). It was sold on to the Yarram and District Hospital where it was used as a general purpose van until 1966. “I actually met the old bloke who used to drive it and when I bought it, it had probably done about 15,000 to 18,000 miles. I have probably done the same again over the past 30 years. “When I first got it, it was just a raw box. It had no fittings in the back and no back doors. What I did was I managed to get a photograph taken in 1926 or ‘27 of the back of one and I used that to reproduce what was in the back. 238
Photographer: David Field
Yarram had been the first rural town in Victoria to get its own ambulance after the Victorian Civil Ambulance started up a country division in 1922. The first vehicle, a Ford Model T, had been donated to the town in 1923. The Dodge, which arrived on the scene in 1927, was the second vehicle to serve the town.
“I actually managed to get an original stretcher from the deputy superintendent of the ambulance here in Bendigo. The driver’s spotlight I picked up at the Bendigo Swap meet and the bell I had cast because no one who had one would part company with them for love or money. “It is the sole survivor of a fleet of Dodges. Melbourne had eight in 1925 and they were then sent out to the rural areas as well. But, mine is the only survivor. “So I made a number of compromises when I restored it. All the Melbourne fleet, and most of the rural ones, were painted ivory and black, but for some obscure reason Yarram had its painted duck egg blue which was a Red Cross colour. “But I painted it up in the more traditional colours. The other thing I did was fit it with a bell on the roof like all of the metropolitan ones. After all these years the old girl still runs beautifully and draws admirers where ever she goes. It has been in a few period dramas on television and appeared in a few movies including Squizzy Taylor“. Hiring it out for use on film sets has helped pay for the upkeep over the years. But, it is not the only vehicle Ian owns that draws attention. “I have had an interest in vintage cars since I was a little fellow,” he admits. “My grandfather had a Dodge and there’s been a four cylinder Dodge in our family for the last 71 years. My first car was a 1925 Dodge Tourer I bought when I was 17 and I still have it.” But, that’s a another story. n
It’s almost Christmas and Bendigo is lit up like a Christmas Tree. You don’t have to stop celebrating to see the Christmas lights this year. For just $35 per person or $100 per car we will drive you around in one of our beautiful 1920’s Chev’s with the top down. We will provide the car, driver and a small gift - you provide the Christmas cheer. We will be running these tours every night during December up until Christmas Eve from 9pm - 10pm, pick up and drop off at your front door. You can also purchase gift vouchers for a Christmas gift with a difference. Check out our website for other ideas and Historic Tour timetable.
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
Above luxury, beyond progressive. The new Audi A8. The ultimate marque of prestige. Above luxury lies the ultimate marque of prestige. Where an uncompromising commitment to excellence transcends comfort to also deliver benchmark efficiency, safety and performance technology. Where unmistakable Audi design is complemented by relentless attention to detail. This is the art of progress – the supreme synergy of elegant form and innovative function; the embodiment of Vorsprung durch Technik, the very best of everything Audi. This is the flagship of one of the world’s great luxury marques – the incomparable new Audi A8. Experience the ultimate marque of prestige, contact Audi Centre Bendigo or call (03) 5443 1122 today.
Dealership Name | 140-150 High Street, Bendigo, Victoria Tel. 03 5443 1122 | www.audicentrebendigo.com.au Audi A8 4.2 FSI® quattro® pictured with optional LED headlights and high beam assist , 20” aluminium wheels in 10-parallel-spoke design alloy wheels and adaptive cruise control. Overseas model shown. LMCT: 10758 ABN: 94 214 220 100
“The Dispensary Enoteca offers 100 different whiskies, 80 sparklings, 50 beers, 40 cocktails and 150 assorted aperitifs, and that’s not counting an expansive wine list.
marks the spot
Extraordinary collection of specialty beers, spirits and cocktails, plus expanding international wine list with changing options by the glass.”
The Age Good Food Guide 2011 ST EAVES
MSON ST
NE ERY LA
T BULL S
CHANC
HARGR
WILLIA
IGO BENDHA LL TOWN
ALL PALL M
RS VISITOATION INFORM CENTRE
protagonists of hospitality & drink culture
Hidden away down Bendigo’s hippest laneway is a small, stylish and inviting restaurant.
9 Chancery Lane Bendigo 3550 Victoria
Offering a contemporary Australian menu that spans breakfast, lunch, dinner and everything in between.
03 5444 5885 F 03 5442 7377 E info@thedispensaryenoteca.com.au /w www.thedispensaryenoteca.com T
NOW ON FACEBOOK