The Local Issue 183, June 6, 2020

June 8, 2020 Issue 183 Mad about saffron

The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

2 About Us

www.tlnews.com.au

Chrissy Rawson-Harris, pictured witih her pooch Chelsea, is busy growing saffron, and now everyone can taste it in a new ice-cream just on the market. Read her story, by Kate Taylor, on page 21.

June 8, 2020 Issue 183 Mad about saffron

The Local is a weekly community publication covering the Central Highlands. The next edition is out on Monday, June 15, 2020.

Or online on Sunday, June 14 at www.tlnews.com.au Space bookings: Wednesday, June 10 Copy deadline: Thursday, June 11 Editorial deadline: Thursday, June 11 Managing editor | Donna Kelly General manager | Kyle Barnes

Image: Kyle Barnes

Sub-editors | Nick Bunning and Lindsay Smith

The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

Writers | Kevin Childs, Kate Taylor, Tony Sawrey, Peter Young and Donna Kelly Photographers | Kyle Barnes and David White

The Local is a registered trademark of The Local Publishing Group Pty Ltd. The Local is a member of the Victorian Country Press Association, with editor Donna Kelly, a director.

Graphic designer & HLH coordinator | Dianne Caithness Contributors: Glen Heyne (gardening), Indre Kisonas (design), Tanya Loos (nature), Glenn Robinson (cartoons), Darren Lowe (music) and Matthew Richardson (money) Accounts | Julie Hanson Delivery | Tony Sawrey

The content expressed within this publication does not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of The Local Publishing Group Pty Ltd. The Local Publishing Group's editorial guidelines and complaints-handling process can be found at www.tlnews.com.au We welcome all feedback.

5348 7883 or 0416 104 283 | news@tlnews.com.au or sales@tlnews.com.au See all our e-editions at www.tlnews.com.au

Our vignerons 3

www.tlnews.com.au

In from the cold to pick up a double

L

OÏQUE Allain and Chris Dilworth were settling in for a quiet night in Hepburn while keeping an eye on the streaming of national wine awards, when up came their names.

They thought they had a chance for Best New Act in the competition – and there it was.

Just then there was a knock at the door and, as they held their four-year-old and 18-month-old, there stood a messenger with the trophy.

Flabbergasted, the husband-and-wife team invited their visitor in for a cuppa, but she declined, saying she had to get back to Melbourne.

After settling the trophy in an appropriate place, they watched more awards when up came their names again, this time as the top Young Gun. Again there was a doorknock – for only the second time in 14 years a winemaker had won two of the five awards.

Dilworth & Allain is the name of their three-year-old label. They make a riesling, chardonnay and pinot noir from three vineyards, one of which they help farm organically.

The award’s founder, Rory Kent, said, “Loïque and Chris are a husband and wife team that do everything from farming and making truly exceptional wines, right through to the artwork that adorns the labels.”

According to Kent, Macedon may be one of Australia’s coldest regions but it is now white hot, with four makers in the top 50.

For Dilworth & Allain to win in their first year of entering was “phenomenal”, he said.

Chris, 37, had an early introduction to wine. His parents owned a restaurant in Willoughby in Sydney before buying a farm in Belford, in the Hunter Valley.

Straight out of school he worked for legendary Hunter Valley chef Robert Molines in Pokolbin, before serving in restaurants in Sydney, Melbourne and London.

An interest from his Pokolbin days led him to study viticulture and winemaking in Adelaide. His career took him back to the Hunter Valley, then the Mornington Peninsula, Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale, Tasmania, Tuscany and Burgundy.

His time in Tuscany changed his outlook. He saw a vineyard that had been farming organically since the early 90s, and then using biodynamic methods at the end of that decade.

“There is significant exploration in the cellar using different techniques and vessels and the wines are allowed to be expressive and reflective,” he says Loïque, 33, is an artist whose parents are also artists. Graduating in fine arts, she undertook study trips through her homeland France, and to Italy. A love of wine led to vintage work in the McLaren Vale.

After a time in France, they moved to Hepburn when local Owen Latta offered Chris work at Eastern Peake in Coghills Creek, overlooking the Creswick Valley.

Says Chris, “Our philosophy has been to make wines that we would love to drink, wines that have a sense of place and are able to tell a story. We seek to make wine that is refreshing and interesting, allowing time for maturation and evolution in the cellar.

“We believe in producing wines that are un-fined, unfiltered, using natural yeasts and with sulphur being the only additive along the way.”

They make only 400 dozen bottles a year.

Loïque said their triumph was a boost for the region.

Now their dream is their own vineyard. “We’re going in that direction,” she says.

Words: Kevin Childs | Image: Contributed

ays,

ven !d e s , open 6pm Now 10am-

“Our philosophy has been to make wines that we would love to drink, wines that have a sense of place and are able to tell a story.”

4 Local Lines

www.tlnews.com.au

Local Lines Voluntary Service 1990 Eighteen seagulls stand gawking where yesterday we sat, questions and myths about duty prickly as the dry grass.

As I approach, the birds turn their backs, disperse, perhaps nervous of the artist’s intense gaze.

Or aware there’s no food in those hands.

One seagull limps.

Sometimes, during these three days when I have touched my face, the skin felt smoother, cleansed.

The others say they too feel released, ready to face whatever’s next.

They have given me words that flew from my pen, sprang onto paper, sometimes colliding, other times rolling into fluid lines.

I watch how the butterfly dares, jitters around lawnspray’s sweeping arm swing, avoids being drenched, leaps through the damp air, as erratic as my thoughts.

The butterfly works with water without having to dive or swim.

I work with listening.

Red flowers, young men, common birds pecking at the bases of tree trunks.

One woman on a seat, reading.

An elderly woman screws up her eyes resisting sun. How open you must be to let it in. How courageous, to hold your face up, willing.

Services opened up

H

EPBURN Shire council has opened up a range of services to the community.

Chief executive officer Evan King said the easing of restrictions allowed some community facilities and services to re-open, albeit with restricted numbers and social distancing requirements in place.

"Council will take a risk-based approach to re-opening services," said Mr King.

Playgrounds, skate facilities and outdoor fitness equipment across the shire are now open. State Government regulations are that people should not gather in groups of more than 20 and stay 1.5 metres apart from others.

Council has installed signage to remind the community of appropriate social distancing measures and have scheduled regular cleaning of the playgrounds.

Mr King said council was pleased to announce a new Library Click-and-Collect service at branches. Libraries will be open from 10am to 2pm on specific days with Clunes open Thursday and Friday, Creswick on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Daylesford on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and Trentham on Tuesday and Friday.

"Library Click-and-Collect is a temporary service adjustment so that we can serve the public safely until restrictions are lifted further.

"To avoid disappointment, we are asking the community to please wait for confirmation that their items are ready for pick-up. Wait times and queuing outside the library may be necessary, with information available on our website and Facebook page."

Mr King said the libraries would increase their cleaning regime to ensure the health and safety of staff and patrons.

"We're really excited to see people in our libraries again. We know there will be a lot of grateful patrons, who have really missed the facilities available at a library. We would like everyone to follow the restrictions and be respectful of the changes being made to the library service.

“We are also required to record the names of people who attend our facilities, but we assure library patrons that if personal information is retained, it will be stored and protected and only be made available to health authorities if contact tracing is required."

- Jennie Fraine Jennie Fraine moved west of Melbourne (to Bacchus Marsh and then Ballarat) from the eastern side back in 2004 and has never regretted it. She is a prolific poet and the poem here was written when she had hired herself out as an “Onthe-Spot Poet”, her business then was called Poetic Licence.

ADVERTISEMENT

Poems for Local Lines come predominantly from a group of poets. However, other locals who would like a poem considered for publication can contact Bill Wootton - cottlesbreedge@gmail.com

Mary-Anne Thomas MP LABOR MEMBER FOR MACEDON

As your local Member of Parliament I am keen to hear from the community and assist with any State Government matter.

Mary-Anne Thomas Shop 14, Nexus Centre, 9 Goode Street, Gisborne, VIC 3437 P: 5428 2138 E: mary-anne.thomas@parliament.vic.gov.au Authorised by MA Thomas, Shop 14, Nexus Centre, 9 Goode Street, Gisborne. Funded from Parliamentary budget.

Our essential services

B

A glance over their shoulders sees a back room filled to the brim with packages ACK in April, the reality of the pandemic began to sink in. People gradually realised the crisis was going to affect everyone, not just a few and mail, spilling out into the side hallway. And yet, it is easy to forget, as you make a grouchy enquiry about some overdue letter, just how critical the human component tourists coming back from overseas.

Even here in the Central Highlands, a place well removed from the distractions of national and international news cycles, the reality of the health situation really began to bite. And if there was one instance that truly brought the situation home before anything else, it was when Luke Zu and Steve Mason at the Daylesford Post Office suddenly began greeting customers wearing masks and gloves.

“Most people understood why we did this,” recalls Luke. “But even today some are still going, ‘what’s with the masks?’

“Others say, ‘come on, look at you guys, you look like mummies,’ and I have to say, ‘this is all part of the work regulations coming from the government, not just me.’ But we always wear them to protect ourselves, the customers and also the whole community.”

At a time when mask wearing was something you saw on the news in places such as Wuhan, such a precaution put into clear focus just how important the humble mail service was and remains in a town like Daylesford.

Most people like to think they understand the importance of essential services, citing the value of medical facilities or supermarkets. The postal service is another of those essential services, but it tends to operate under a form of invisibility that is extraordinary.

Nonetheless, they operate despite health risks under a workload that has increased immensely over the last few months. To anyone visiting the grand old building at 86 Vincent St, the pressure Steve and Luke work under is clear.

is to the mysterious unseen process that shunts tonnes of physical mail around the country every day.

“It has been very, very busy,” remarks Steve thoughtfully. “Everyone’s been ordering and everyone’s been sending. Most of the shops in the area and beyond are working almost solely online now and their regular customers are now buying online.

While that’s happening, the entire mail delivery system has been subject to social distancing which has led to delays and disruptions.”

Theirs is a never ending task that must not falter, but if someone on the staff should get sick due to the virus, that’s it, the service is down for weeks. Incidentally, they also do not go out to eat during work hours, nor use the local supermarket.

They have imposed a degree of lockdown on themselves well beyond what many others would be prepared to accept. All in the name of keeping the service they provide open. Think of that the next time you are weirded out by the social distancing markers on the floor, the queues out the door or the masks and gloves.

Going to pick up your mail in Creswick or Kyneton as an alternative is not a great option.

Above, left, Steve Mason and, right, Luke Zu, keep the community connected at Daylesford Post Office Words & image: Tony Sawrey

EXPERIENCE THE WARMTH AND CHARM OF A MUCH LOVED AND HISTORIC PUB 65 Gingell St Castlemaine VIC 3450

P 5472 1250 LOCALS BAR • BEER GARDEN BISTRO AND BAR • FUNCTION ROOM •COSY AND WARM SURROUNDS

www.railwayhotelcastlemaine.com.au f railwayhotelcastlemaine OPEN FOR DINNER DAILY AND WEEKENDS FOR LUNCH

THANK YOU For the way we’ve faced these past few weeks.

With courage. With humility. And with hope.

We’ve kept our distance, we’ve looked out for each other and we’ve kept our cool.

Thank you especially to those who have been tested.

Because of your efforts, we’ve achieved the biggest testing blitz in our state’s history.

Or to use Victoria’s standard unit of measurement – more than one MCG’s worth of Victorians who’ve played their part in protecting our state.

Thanks to you, we are finding out more about the spread of coronavirus in our community.

If you haven’t been tested, and you are feeling unwell, you can still visit one of the regional clinics or speak to your GP. To find out how and where you can be tested go to vic.gov.au/CORONAVIRUS Because getting tested keeps us together.

visit vic.gov.au/CORONAVIRUS Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

www.tlnews.com.au

Our kids 7

Special Lego delivery asks bank for funding

T

WO very enthusiastic grade 4 Daylesford Primary School students are keen to start a Lego club, to help their fellow schoolmates to create new friendships and build positivity.

Arlo, pictured left, and Liam, right, put together a letter to ask The Daylesford & District Community Bank for some funds to help them buy Lego for the school.

They delivered their letter, below, to the bank by remote control Lego car, last Friday.

"Dear Bendigo Bank, We are requesting a donation from you to start a Lego club at our school (which is Daylesford Primary School). We would invite kids that have trouble making friends and walk around by themselves at lunchtime, and any other kids that like playing with Lego. Some reasons we are requesting this donation are: • That we could find Lego for people of all ages.

• The Lego club could help people find more friends.

• Lego could help kids get more creative.

• Some kids can't afford to have Lego at their own houses.

Some of the things Lego can help with are: • Getting kids more imaginative.

• If you are feeling sad it can help cheer you up.

• If kids don’t have many friends, they can make worlds with people and pretend the people are their friends.

We would be very happy to see kids making more friends and would be very grateful if you could donate some money to help start up the Lego club.

Sincerely Arlo and Liam, grade 3/4E" Bank manager Simon Robinson said the bank was happy to fund the project.

Hepburn Kindergarten delivering rainbows

H

EPBURN Kindergarten has been running an intergenerational program with Lumeah Lodge for a few years - and a small pandemic was never going to stop them.

Educator Karley Powell said because of COVID-19, students were not able to make their regular visits.

"We didn't want the residents to feel lonely or like we had forgotten them so we asked our children attending the kinder to make rainbows to hang up in their rooms," she said.

"We currently have four students on site, with the rest home-learning. Our home-learning students receive packs, delivered by myself and our kindergarten teacher Catherine Meadows, fortnightly. These packs include resources for the children at home to make rainbows and ask that their artwork is either delivered to our drop-off box or they take a photo and send it to us.

"We then deliver the rainbow package to the hospital to deliver to Lumeah Lodge residents."

Students taking part include Chey, Grace, Tilly, Tyson, Tom, Tristan, Joel, Lucas, Roman, Harry and Heath.

Left, just some of the colourful artworks delivered to Lumeah Lodge from Hepburn Kindergarten students

YAY! WE ARE OPEN Rosi, Anne Marie and the team welcome you all back to the Daylesford Hotel.

Bookings are essential as there will be specific time slots.

We look forward to seeing you! Cheers, R & AM

03 5348 2335 LUNCH SAT & SUN DINNER WED - SUN

DAYLESFORDHOTEL.COM.AU

JobKeeper.

Getting us back to business sooner.

JobKeeper is here to help Australian businesses keep their current staff and employees keep their jobs. So, when you’re ready to start up again or get back to work, we can all get back to business sooner. To find out more, visit jobkeeper.gov.au

Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra

Treading the Path of the Horse

Words: Tony Sawrey Image: David White

H

UMANS and horses as a species have been intertwined for nearly 6000 years and it has been for the most part, a relationship built on necessity.

But the arrival of machines and internal combustion engines was far from the end of the horse as far as our relationship with them was concerned. They remain as our companions in sports, recreation and in recent decades, as participants in the practice of equine psychotherapy. Dean Mighell, founder and director of the fundraising charity The Path of the Horse is a practitioner of this form of treatment based in the Wombat State Forest near Trentham, at the John Monash Equine Therapy Centre.

“After working in the labour movement for 25 years I decided to get away from the conflict and politics and get some peace in my life. At the same time, I became interested in the treatment of US military veterans suffering post-traumatic stress disorder using horses. I thought ‘Wow, I have a lot of experience with horses and I’ve got a beautiful place in Trentham, I’ll do something like that here’.”

Dean began his own journey on the path of the horse in his early 20s. And over the years he continued to develop his skills working on weekend trail rides through the Barmah Forest. But he realised that he did not know enough about helping people with mental health issues and would have to learn more about the profession; especially if he wanted to include horses.

Then while on a trail ride, someone mentioned Meg Kirby of the Equine Psychotherapy Institute, based at Mt Prospect near Daylesford. He got in contact and soon completed its Equine Assisted Learning Practitioner program. He has also completed an Advanced Trauma Training course and continues to study at the Gestalt Institute of Australia.

By 2015, Dean began developing his property with facilities for conducting treatment sessions and gradually acquired a motley collection of horses and ponies who love nothing more than to say hello, make friends, get pats and help people heal.

“My herd ranges in age from two to 20. Montana is the youngest and Rocky is the oldest,” says Dean, “and they are trained specifically for their role as therapy horses. Most of the work we do is ground work and very gentle but the training is really important because safety is paramount physically and mentally for both horse and person. However, I still want my horses to be an inquisitive bunch. They are all very individual and very curious about new people, new opportunities.”

Since The Path of the Horse was established, they have been building up a client base that covers a wide spectrum. Dean has worked with children as young as 10 and teenagers. He has assisted people with autism, people battling addictions, grief and issues with self-harm. Sessions at the John Monash Equine Therapy Centre have also included soldiers, emergency services workers and nurses with conditions such as PTSD, anxiety and depression. There are also many clients, especially women, recovering from relationship trauma and other conditions.

And while the last few months have been difficult, with visitors thinning and group sessions out of the question, the time has been a very enlightening one.

"It did go pretty quiet for a while but we continued much of our critical work helping those with trauma, anxiety and depression via Facetime and Zoom.

"In fact, some of our client base actually were really enjoying the time out.

"The solitude, the slowing down, the time to reflect on themselves, relationships and such. But what we also have noticed, especially in the last month since COVID-19 started to really bite, was other people feeling the negative effects of isolation. Some found it very, very difficult particularly in the last month.”

However, things are looking good for The Path of the Horse now that social restrictions have been eased. In recent weeks they have already started to get more enquiries. “We have seen more people coming out for support work,” says Dean “and more are really beginning to understand what lovely assistants our horses are.”

St Michael’s School

Excellence, Nurture, Community Enrolments for 2021 now open, contact us for a personalised tour.

A quality education, open to all.

Excellence

‘I learn’

Nurture

‘You matter’

Community ‘We grow’

St. Michael’s School 29 SMITH STREET DAYLESFORD Contact us on 5348 1261 for a tour time and an enrolment package principal@smdaylesford.catholic.edu.au www.smdaylesford.catholic.edu.au

Online works but face-to-face best for garlic grower

Our producers!

With the COVID-19 pandemic still lingering we thought we would continue from last edition, catching up with more of the producers who are helping us weather the storm. Read their stories here and on page 21.

LATY Creek Organics could once be found at the Daylesford Farmers Market, the Ballarat Lakeside Market and Creswick Market. But just not at the moment and we all know why. That would seem to be a problem if you had just harvested a big swag of garlic and were getting ready to sell it all. But Ross Jones? Well, these days he couldn’t be happier.

S

“COVID-19 hit pretty much in the middle of my garlic-selling season at the markets so yes, I was freaking out initially,” he says. “I had a lot of stock left but I simply put it online through Facebook doing home delivery to Ballarat, Daylesford, Clunes and environs. I moved it all in half kilo and one kilo lots and the response was phenomenal; I sold out in three weeks. Switching to online for me has been outrageously successful, better than my wildest dreams. I dropped it on doorsteps with my invoice details, working on a trust exercise and everybody paid. The interesting thing was nearly 80 per cent of them were new customers who had never dealt with me before, never been to a farmers market.”

Before moving into growing organic garlic, broad beans, snow peas and a few potatoes, Ross spent 20 years in the film and television industry including 10 years with the Blue Heelers’ art department. He moved to Creswick nine years ago to start Slaty Creek Organics, a certified organic farm with its produce sold at just a few markets in the Central Highlands area.

The 60-year-old said his first foray into growing garlic was during his film and television career when he bought a church in the Otways.

“A very good friend of mine, a marvellous gardener who just looks at things and they grow, suggested I grow some garlic. So I planted my first garlic in 1994 and showed it to my friend and he thought it was hilarious. I love a challenge so from then on I was going to become the best garlic grower in the world.”

Ross, a voracious consumer of garlic, said Creswick had the same perfect climatic conditions as the Otways.

“All through the Central Highlands you have great conditions, it is a dry land crop and I never irrigate, so as long as you get about 600mm of winter rainfall you are pretty good.”

Along with its flavour, Ross loves the “extraordinary health properties” of garlic, saying it is a natural antibiotic, a blood thinner and “there are probably things that garlic cures that they are not even aware of yet.”

“I never get a cold and am healthy as, I partly put that down to garlic. I swear by Kick A Germ Joy Juice, an old recipe handed down by hippies for years.”

Ross said there were about 700 different cultivars of garlic in the world and at the moment he has four growing on an economical scale with another six he is experimenting with. As for being an organic farmer, he never knew there was another way.

“I have always been an organic farmer and what I do now is just natural progression. I do like the credibility of that little piece of paper, it is outrageously expensive to be organically certified, but I like to say to people ‘I am for real'.”

Ross says organic is appreciated by certain demographs including older people and those demanding quality in their food.

“I find, especially here in the Central Highlands, that there is a very discerning, food-savvy clientele. I knew when I moved here, that they were pretty switched on and tended to support local organic farmers. And even when I shifted sales online over the last months, they continued that support.”

These days things haven't changed much at the farm. Organic farming was never something Ross started doing to make a fortune, it was always a lifestyle option.

However, that said, he is very optimistic for the future. None of his produce is coming on until October and he is sure the local markets will be back up and running as before, albeit with a few social distancing restrictions in place. And while it is very comforting to know he has a very loyal online customer base if public gatherings are closed again, he prefers the real thing.

“While the shutdown did make me consider how I do business, I thoroughly enjoy person-to-person interaction. I will keep the online option there but I still want markets to be my main business.”

Words: Donna Kelly & Tony Sawrey | Image: Kyle Barnes

www.tlnews.com.au

News 11

Wrong turn at hall

I

T WAS just as well it was quiet in Daylesford last Thursday, June 4, when this sedan drove into the electric charging station and then the iron fence outside the Daylesford Town Hall.

Police and fire crews attended but there were no casualties.

A Daylesford Police spokesperson said the car was being driven by a woman in her 80s with the only passenger, her husband.

The spokesman said no charges had been laid.

Image: Charlene Pryke

Letters

I guess, on a perfect Summer's day, and a weekday, between about 10am and 4pm 100kmh would be OK. On most other days, with rain and frost and black ice and ignorant drivers trying to get somewhere five minutes earlier, it is not safe.

I hope that everyone realises it is now 80kmh sooner I am indebted to The Local for the two-part series than later. I have been tailgated twice over the past two exploring the gripes about recent council planning days and they only put the signs in two days ago. Please stick to the speed, and back off. decisions.

Council watching

The catalyst for much of the recent angst seems to date back to Goosegate - the removal of the geese from Lake Daylesford.

As it happens, I was present at the meeting when the vote took place for their removal and can confirm that the decision itself, to a non-Daylesford local, seemed a relatively mundane matter concerned with animal welfare.

Besides myself there was less than a handful of the public present. In fact, Hepburn Shire meetings are notorious for being poorly attended.

The recent emergence of a vociferous group wanting to get more involved can only be a good thing if it can be sustained and be conducted with civility.

The role of scrutinising local government has lately fallen to The Local with the apparent demise of The Hepburn Advocate, so it will be interesting to follow how this responsibility is handled.

- Louise Oldfield, Wheatsheaf

And from social media...

Don't disagree sections should be 80. Specially Glenlyon to Denver with the forest and bends/ blind spots. But not sure in the open wide reconstructed mainly flat Denver-Malmsbury section.

The people who instigated this bad decision have played into the hands of the bean counters who run the state’s roads. The "wide consultation" did not occur. We’ve been in the village since 2010 and we’re never consulted, either at our door or via the Progress Association. Selective language to cover a snow-job on those of us who need to use the road daily.

And from Ms Beaumont Seems to be a misunderstanding. We weren’t consulting. As individual residents we weren’t seeking a community view to represent.

As I said in my opinion piece I, and many others, have been raising the problems on the road for years.

We had already been doing things about the danger we were personally experiencing on a daily basis, particularly coming in and out of our driveways from or into a There are "safety signs" for bends/blind spots. Far more 100km zone (like into a freeway). We were telling others effective. in the community about what we had done, as examples of what action they might like to take.

In the shire we door-knocked and letterboxed, with Unless it will be policed more or speed cameras every other day, it will continue to be an ‘open limit’ road. our main focus being driveways, or smaller roads which come off the Daylesford-Malmsbury Road (for example Of all the roads in the area, that is the one I try and Denver, Tori's Road, Sutton Lane, Holcombe Road or avoid. into Wheatsheaf ).

Our concerted action, through many residents It is quite hard to stay under 80 in most sections of - Pat Hockey, Clunes writing letters and logging onto Regional Roads and the road, given it is so unpopulated and open. Strange reporting unsafe conditions, led to Regional Roads decision in my opinion.

Ed's note: With great power comes great Victoria undertaking a review of the speed limits along responsibility. We'll just do our best. :) this road. They came to the view that a speed limit It’s an excellent way to negate having to do roadworks reduction is appropriate. to maintain the road appropriate to the 100kmh In addition to seeking speed reduction, individuals limit. Reduce it to 80kmh and then pat yourself on in the community have lodged requests for fixed speed the back in a government kind of way. cameras to be installed, the need to keep verges clear of vegetation which obstructs the view of the road and Last week's letter from Marilyn Beaumont "Locals I drive this road every day. There are a couple of sections maintaining the surface of the road. applaud Minister Pulford, Minister for Roads and that should be 80kph, but most regular drivers slowed In my discussions with my neighbours no-one has Road Safety taking such decisive action to reduce down there anyway. The rest could easily remain at 100 said don’t reduce the speed limit, they have said that this the speed limit on Daylesford-Malmsbury Road" kph. And I am a normal cautious driver. isn’t enough. There is also a view that the road should be has received roses and brickbats. moved, or trucks stopped from using it!

I would say it’s a continuing story without ‘sides’.

This is ridiculous felt like I was crawling home tonight

Speed reduction

Congratulations to those who lobbied to have the speed reduced to 80kmh along the DaylesfordMalmsbury Road.

- Marilyn Beaumont, Denver and honestly for no good reason. Fair enough make small sections of 80 if you like but not the whole way.

Letters to the editor are always welcome. Please I have lived in the area for 10 years and have dreaded keep them shortish, to the point and interesting.

Just found out the hard way.

Speeding fine. driving along that road many times, especially when Email donna@tlnews.com.au expected to keep up to 100kmh.

Any addressed Dear Sir will be deleted.

House.Land.Home.

Design

with Indre

Looking through the lens To gain mastery you must have passion. You require hours of dedication and without a love for your subject or career, you just can't fake it.

I want to introduce you to a school mate I admire - simply because he has dedicated himself to looking through a lens. He started as a photographer but he was always a first adopter of technology. He enrolled at Australian Film and Television school to study film editing and worked hard to get himself through.

Link: www.montyphotos.com The grass was greener for Ian in America, so opportunities were sought in San Francisco, the Bay Area, where Ian Montgomery still lives. A client challenged him many years ago to learn 'one of those drone things' as they were just gaining public attention. Ian spent many hours and many (four) cheap drones later, chasing the dog around the backyard, gaining footage whilst mastering the drone. The footage ended up being edited by Ian and becoming a GoPro video of the day. It happened to go on to win the Bay Area Drone film festival.

Much has changed since those days as Ian must now be licensed and insured.

He has been able to work in many different countries flying his drones, for films, advertising, TV shows and his art.

Along the way Ian explored ways of using this tool as an artist. In particular, he combined the developing LED lighting technology with his drone and has had some extraordinary results. Ian now has a heavy-lift hexacopter with LED aerial lighting that outputs around 130k lumens of light. It is able to light approximately half a football field and is currently the world's brightest drone.

Ian says his first film shot with this light was in Utah where their rock formations are unique to the world. Ian set to challenge his viewers' sense of scale and reality.

Link www.sfdrones.tv/#5 Last year Ian used the drone to film glaciers in Iceland and Greenland, which to his knowledge, hadn't been done before, and makes for a fabulous snapshot in the melting of the ice sheets. Making those films has been very rewarding for Ian and is a way for him to stay fresh for his commercial work. Staying fresh is something every artist needs to be able to do.

He collaborates with a core group of specialists, including colourists, audio engineers and composers. “Film is the most collaborative form of art and you have to have people on board who believe in the project because usually its a labour of love."

Link: www.sfdrones.tv/#0 Many an artist works for the labour of love. Fortunately, drones have a financial, environmental and statistical contribution to make. Not only are farmers embracing them for a view of their boundaries, troughs and stock but for mapping, government analysis and the CFA has started using them. Add infrared technology and you can see the extent of fires in hard-to-reach areas as well as hot spots on fire grounds.

With privacy laws firmly in place, learning to fly a drone can be used for good and not evil.

Indre Kisonas - principal designer - iok design indre@iokdesign.com.au www.iokdesign.com.au

Ian says his first film shot with this light was in Utah where their rock formations are unique to the world. Ian set to challenge his viewers' sense of scale and reality.

Construction grants

T

HE Federal Government is supporting jobs in the residential construction sector with the introduction of the new HomeBuilder program.

Until December 31, HomeBuilder will provide all eligible owner-occupiers (not just first home buyers) with a grant of $25,000 to build a new home or substantially renovate an existing home. Construction must be contracted to commence within three months of the contract date.

HomeBuilder applicants will be subject to eligibility criteria, including income caps of $125,000 for singles and $200,000 for couples based on their latest assessable income. A national dwelling price cap of $750,000 will apply for new home builds, and a renovation price range of $150,000 up to $750,000 will apply to renovating an existing home with a current value of no more than $1.5 million.

The program is expected to provide around 27,000 grants at a total cost of around $680 million.

A media release said this increase in residential construction would help to fill the gap in construction activity expected in the second half of 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"In doing so, HomeBuilder will help to support the 140,000 direct jobs and another 1,000,000 related jobs in the residential construction sector including businesses and sole-trader builders, contractors, property developers, construction materials manufacturers, engineers, designers and architects.

"HomeBuilder complements existing state and territory First Home Owner Grant programs, stamp duty concessions and other grant schemes, as well as the Commonwealth’s First Home Loan Deposit Scheme and First Home Super Saver Scheme.

"This year, the Government delivered the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme to help eligible first home buyers to purchase their first home with a deposit of as little as 5 per cent, allowing them to get into the market sooner. HomeBuilder will create even more opportunities for first home buyers to enter the property market, as well as support other eligible Australians to build a new home or renovate an existing home."

More information on HomeBuilder, including eligibility, can be found on the Treasury Coronavirus Economic Response website.

Now I’ve downsized, I’m living my best country life.

Brand new boutique retirement village in Trentham.

•

Sunlit two bedroom units

•

Spacious, open plan living

•

Superb location, amenities closeby.

Call Brent to find out more.

McAuley | Retirement Village 1 Bridge Street, Trentham

0408 956 114 vmch.com.au

House.Land.Home.

Bells Water Gardens @ Newlyn

Do you do anything for houses, land or homes?

Advertise here.

Contact Kyle on 0416 104 283 or kyle@tlnews.com.au

Bells Water Gardens has been in the water garden business for over 25 years, building and maintaining ponds and growing a diverse range of aquatic plants for the nursery trade and public.

We are passionate about building natural eco-system ponds, adding beauty and encouraging wildlife, allowing interaction with nature. Water gardens built by us are quiet, contemplative places to rest and energise the senses.

Contact us for all your water garden requirements or come and see our nursery at 1 Campion Rd, Newlyn.

0418 567 195

Moving experience Sometimes trees and shrubs may need to be moved to another part of the garden, or perhaps even to another garden. The safest and best time of the year is now, Winter, when plants close down to protect themselves from the cold, some even shedding their leaves.

Deciduous trees and shrubs, while in the depths of their dormancy, can handle a lot more abuse than evergreens and don’t normally suffer any setback if transplanted during the cold months. Provided their roots aren’t allowed to dry out, they can even withstand having the soil completely removed from their root systems for short periods. Hence the ability to purchase “open-rooted” deciduous ornamental and fruiting trees, berries and vines, and the semi-deciduous roses. These usually come with their roots packed in sawdust or straw and wrapped tightly in black plastic. In pre-plastic time we used hessian cloth, which I think was much better because, apart from being more environmentally-friendly, you could delay planting out by keeping the hessian damp. Leave the plants too long in the plastic and the roots sweat, or worse, dry out.

If you plan to shift a deciduous tree or shrub, water the soil thoroughly around it a few days beforehand. At the same time, with a spade dig down in a circle around the “drip line” - just outside the branch ends - to sever the roots to make lifting easier.

To give the plant a good start in its new location, trim any damaged root ends and use a good, friable potting mix to pack around them in the new location. This treatment obviously applies to planting out new deciduous trees or shrubs.

Evergreen trees and shrubs, especially the delicate magnolias, camellias or rhododendrons, need more care and need to be transplanted with a ball of earth packed tightly around the roots. Even if the plant won’t be out of the ground for any length of time, wrap the ball tightly in a sheet of sacking or an old tablecloth or bedsheet to prevent it breaking apart.

This way you can plant it sheet and all, merely cutting away any showing above ground to keep the roots intact. The cloth will soon erode enough for the roots to penetrate.

In the case of well-established plants, I recommend a little preparation to lessen the shock. Several weeks ahead of the move, mark out a drip line circle around the plant and dig a spade-depth trench about a quarter of the length of the circle and fill the trench with straw, sawdust...anything that will stay moist. Dig another section on a weekly basis until the circle has been completed for at least another week. Keep the soil moist with regular watering until it’s time to move. Pre-dig the new hole a week before the move.

To make the move, work the spade around each side to sever the roots under the ball before lifting the plant. Large ones will usually need several people with spades to get the plant out cleanly. Have the sheet ready for the plant and be ready to wrap it tightly at the top to keep it all together and slide, rather than carry it to its new home.

Be sure to pack the soil down around the root ball and water it in thoroughly even if it is raining, and then support the plant with three well-spaced stakes to prevent wind damage.

Above, Winter is a great time for planting deciduous ornamental and fruiting trees like this beautiful bronze-leafed crab-apple, malus x purpurea eleyi Below, right, digging a hole to move a plant, and left, when planting roses and deciduous trees, always plant with the bud joint above ground

Got a gardening question? Ask Glen. Email glenzgarden@gmail.com

FLYSCREENS MEASURED,

MADE, AND FITTED ON THE SPOT! FROM $ 00

03 5464 7380

• Roller Shutters • Security Doors • Fly Screens

39

SECURITY DOORS MADE TO MEASURE AT FACTORY DIRECT PRICES *Conditions apply.

Hepburn Shire & Ballarat

Phone: 03 5464 7380 or Michael 0422 643 901 Email: sales@onsiteflyscreensballarat.com.au www.onsiteflyscreens.com.au

FARMERS ARMS HOTEL DAYLESFORD MAJOR SPONSOR Proudly supporting our community’s news

Pride-Solation - celebrating Pride Month

C

HILLOUT Festival is among 15 regional LGBTIQA+ organisations coming together to bring Pride-Solation, an online event to celebrate Pride Month.

The event will take place on Saturday, June 20.

Pride-Solation is an Australian first. COVID-19 isolation has inspired the organisations to come together online to celebrate the LGBTIQA+ community in a one-off live streamed event to celebrate the uniqueness of rural and regional Victoria and unify the community in pride.

The organisations participating are Koori Pride Network, OUTintheOPEN Festival Shepparton (Goulburn Valley Pride), Mallee Pride, Gippsland Pride Initiative, Wimmera Pride Project, Geelong Rainbow Festival (Geelong Rainbow), Ballarat Frolic Festival, Castlemaine Pride, Trans and Gender Diverse Bendigo and Beyond, ChillOut Festival and Thorne Harbour Country (part of Thorne Harbour Health) who will program health and wellbeing content. The event is being livestreamed on Facebook by LaNCE TV. Each festival is programming content to highlight local artists and community members from their regions. This online event will truly be a ‘Best of LGBTIQA+ Victoria’ showcase featuring musicians, artists, burlesque, cabaret, interviews with community members, and plenty more exciting surprises.

Thorne Harbour Country Program coordinator Claudia Validum said she had heard great things were happening in rural and regional Victoria and she approached festivals with the idea of showcasing what every region of Victoria was doing in the LGBTIQA+ Festival space.

"With COVID-19 restrictions, an online initiative works well and with the technical power of LaNCE TV, everyone now has the chance to see the amazing things happening."

Holistic Funeral Directors

Sustainable & authentic funerals Call 5427 3112 visit NaturalGrace.com.au

LaNCE TV host Lance DeBoyle said they were excited to bring an Australian-first to highlight rural and regional LGBTIQA+ communities in a unique live-streamed event accessible by anyone.

"We know people are feeling disconnected from their community, but there’s plenty of pride to celebrate. Come celebrate Pride Month with us."

Pride-Solation acknowledges all the indigenous peoples whose land on which the festival organisers and viewers meet. It is their hope that traditional owners will welcome festival viewers onto their country, and look forward to watching this pivotal moment of the festival unfold.

Pride-Solation will take place on Saturday, June 20 from 12pm to 6pm. It will be streamed on the Pride-Solation Facebook Page and LaNCE TV page.

Link: www.facebook.com/Pride-Solation-109276617445464/

Meet your Kyneton GPs Dr Sandeep Dhaliwal

• Aged Care • Emergency and Acute Care • Infants/Children/ Family Medicine • Wellness Management • Sexual Health • Men’s Health • Skin • Women’s Health • LGBTIQ+ health

Dr Fortunato Mazzei

Dr Falak Naz

• Emergency Medicine • Palliative Care • Sexual Health • Mental Health • Implanon Accredited • Men’s Health

• Women’s Health • Ante natal & post natal care • Implanon Accredited • Geriatric medicine

Dr James Smith

Dr Jake Osborne

Dr Karen Thompson

• Sexual Health • Integrative Medicine • Chronic Disease • General Medicine Management • Biomedical Therapies • Paediatrics • Skin Cancer Clinic • Men’s Health • Yellow Fever vac. accred.

• Aged Care • Implanon Accredited • Travel Medicine

• Men’s Health • Skin • Travel Medicine

New Patients Welcome - Safe In Person appointments available BOOK ONLINE WITH

www.springsmedical.com.au In an emergency always call 000 89B Piper Street KYNETON | tel: (03) 5422 1298

Do you keep people happy & healthy?

Advertise here.

SUE’S PLACE

Dr. Susanne M. Heringslake Chiropractor Moments To Ponder a little gift from me to you

Speak the truth gently, with compassion and love, to yourself and others every day.

There is strength and healing in doing this.

Are you ready?

For all enquiries and to book appointments, please contact: Dr Susanne M Heringslake Chiropractor Mobile: 0407 301 352

Trentham’s St George’s Church bell has been chiming 12 times at noon every day as a signal of community solidarity and connection ever since the coronavirus lockdown started. The town has only got one church bell, at the Anglican Church in High Street. But the daily signalling has been an interdenominational effort, with a roster of seven bell ringers from the Anglican and Catholic churches. Each is rostered for one day of the week. The town's Fay Magee, a local property owner for 22 years, got lucky when she and her dog, Chubbs, scored fine sunny Winter weather last Thursday for her turn chiming out to the town this week with her message to keep collective spirits up.

Words & image: Peter Young

ON THE BANKS OF LAKE DAYLESFORD

Drinks 19

Quarantini O'Clock

with Leon

Welcome to Barry & Co. Travelling Libations Cocktail Hour.

Exquisite water views from any vantage point, The Boathouse Restaurant offers a sophisticated dining venue for lunch and dinner. You can take in the beautiful views from our warm and cosy indoor dining area for winter catch ups and our outdoor deck and seating area during the warmer months.

The Boathouse Restaurant provides year-round comfort with stylish food and a relaxed yet professional style of service, making it the perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine over a meal with family and friends.

The Boathouse is very excited to be reopening Lunch - Wed-Sun - opening at 11.30am Dinner - Fri & Sat - opening at 5.30pm

Reservations are recommended for lunch and dinner We will of course, be adhering to all government safety protocols to ensure a safe environment. Due to Covid19 restrictions on the number of patrons permitted in the restaurant at any one time all diners are required to order a minimum of a main course each and for the next few weeks the menu will be slightly smaller than the menu currently online.

Please refer to the website - boathousedaylesford.com.au for the latest updated information. at

this

time

and

Barry & Co.

Lemon Meringue Pie 25ml lemon juice 15ml sugar syrup 15mls of Limoncello 30mls of Frangelico 30mls of egg white (approx 1 egg)

Wednesday June 3rd

We appreciate your understanding to seeing you back at The Boathouse.

We’ve finally been let out of the house and had a great time mixing up a cocktail storm for a few friends here and there over the last week. It’s been so nice to catch up with everyone, but still a bit awkward with the social distancing rules – going in to automatically hug someone, then remembering there’s a virus hanging around that stopped and changed the world, so no hugs allowed.

But we can still have cocktails and that almost makes up for no hugs, right?

A big hit from last week was this delicious Lemon Meringue Pie Cocktail, it really is just like the dessert and you might not be able to stop at one.

look

2 Leggatt Street, Daylesford | 03 5348 2199

G’Day All,

We have free delivery for all orders over $50 within a 10km radius.

We can make some exceptions if you are outside that zone for a small fee.

Delivery times are Monday to Saturday between 10am and 4pm.

We accept credit cards over the phone or we have an onboard EFT machine.

You will need to be at home for the delivery with proof of age if asked by the driver.

Give the Foxxy team a call on 5348 3577.

Keep safe, everyone.

Now delivering

forward

Method Add the egg white to your cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for about 10 seconds. Add the rest of the ingredients into the cocktail shaker, along with a handful of ice and shake until the shaker becomes cold in your hand. Pour into a martini glass or a glass of your choice.

Sprinkle some ground cinnamon to garnish. Enjoy!

www.tlnews.com.au

20 News

Jobs on offer

H

No picnics at Hanging Rock

EPBURN Shire Council has been successful in attracting $1.6 million from the Working for Victoria Fund to employ an additional 33 staff to carry out a range of roles to support the community and business through COVID-19 relief and recovery.

Hepburn Shire Council is one of fifteen of the latest councils to have signed up to the Victorian Government’s $500 million program. Council will be employing new staff in various areas, including cleaning and sanitisation of buildings and public places, clean up of waste management facilities, outdoor works, parks and open spaces, maintenance of community buildings, community support, procurement, IT, business and economic development recovery, communications and OH&S. CEO Evan King said the boost to council resources was a welcome relief after a difficult few months delivering services during COVID-19 lockdown and restrictions.

“This boost to resources will help ensure that we have more staff delivering public hygiene and land maintenance services around the Shire, helping slow the spread of COVID-19, particularly after the easing of restrictions allowing visitors back to our shire.

“This funding creates local employment and an opportunity for many in the community to work after possibly losing jobs due to COVID-19. We’re looking forward to welcoming this new temporary workforce into the council team,” said Mr King.

Link: www.vic.gov.au/workingforvictoria

H

ANGING Rock Reserve remained closed over the long weekend.

Macedon Ranges Shire's CEO Margot Stork said the health and safety of visitors and staff was council’s top priority, and council had taken the difficult decision not to reopen the area to public access at present.

“While government restrictions imposed due to the current pandemic are easing, council is taking a measured and careful approach to the reopening of all of our facilities, including Hanging Rock Reserve,” Ms Stork said.

“There are many factors to take into account before reopening any service or providing access to any area.

"This includes how to effectively limit the number of people inside the facility or area, ensuring appropriate physical distancing measures and signage are in place, and there are adequate registration arrangements to ensure council can meet contact-tracing requirements.”

Meanwhile, the council has reopened access to playgrounds, outdoor gyms and sports grounds, and parks remain available for use; other facilities are yet to reopen. These include pools, gyms, libraries, some public toilets, council service centres, community halls and sports pavilions.

Decisions regarding the opening up of services and any modifications in place will be made in coming weeks, and residents will be kept informed of any developments.

www.tlnews.com.au

Our producers 21

Chrissy loving her saffron - and ice-cream

T

HE hills are alive with the sight of saffron, thanks to Chrissy RawsonHarris.

Although technically, it’s more of a ‘slope’ than a ‘hill.’ Still, Chrissy really is Austrian and in real-life, she’s more vibrant than any movie character.

“I am so incredibly fortunate and lucky that I am able to do this, you know. No, seriously!” Chrissy said. “I’ve always wanted to grow saffron, but I’ve never had the chance to do so.”

To be fair, she has been busy with other things since making the move from her home country of Austria 24 years ago. She moved to Australia for love, but when that ended, Chrissy stayed for the beautiful family and community she had discovered around her.

She first moved to Spring Hill and it was quite a learning curve.

“I come from the city, from Europe straight onto the farm - I had to learn how to use the tractor, working in rain, in snow, it’s totally different to the work I used to do before, mostly in hospitality. It’s very hard, different work.”

Chrissy is happily independent and has a strong work ethic, going on to work at the local bakery and the supermarket in Trentham before she bought the hardware store and ran it for seven years – now, she works at the community bank.

In the meantime she met Sweetheart, who goes by ‘Finn’ to everyone but Chrissy, owner of Autumn Joy garden centre at Newbury.

Chrissy and Sweetheart took a trip to Tasmania and popped into a saffron farm.

That visit sparked something in Chrissy, and this bubbly, strong, hard-working Austrian woman brought saffron to Newbury.

“I did everything myself, all the ploughing with the tractor - I’m very independent so I wanted to do a lot of it myself.”

Chrissy has even written a small part in a new book, Red Gold, being published in Europe, all about growing saffron around the world.

“I told my sister, she is in Austria, she has to buy the book.”

It’s subject matter worthy of a book because saffron is so very, very temperamental. Surprisingly, the local climate is perfect because saffron loves a good frost, and Chrissy has planted it on a slope for good drainage and the full sun it also needs.

“Everything is grown by hand, every flower is hand-picked, that’s thousands and thousands of flowers, using tweezers to put them into little jars, laboratory-style, as it’s very little.”

‘Little’ is kind of the point when it comes to saffron. It’s famous for being expensive, more expensive per gram than gold. But a woman doesn’t need as much saffron as she does gold.

“You only need a little, tiny bit to go yonks to create products and not just saffron Above, Chrissy Rawson-Harris, left, with Dele Foodstore and Catering owner Adele Stevens, and the saffron ice-cream rice but saffron jam, cardamom and saffron cakes, orange saffron scones, it’s just delicious.”

This year marks her third harvest and in growing her saffron, Chrissy has worked Words: Kate Taylor | Image: Contributed closely with the community that she first fell in love with when she moved to this country – friends helped her put up the fencing and another friend’s bees pollinate her crops.

Now, her community has combined in the most delicious way.

The divine folk at Powlett St. Ices in Kyneton, and at Dele Foodstore and Catering in Daylesford, have created a new saffron honey ice-cream, using Chrissy’s produce.

“It’s delicious, it’s fantastic.”

Chrissy has successfully pioneered growing saffron. But she still isn’t sitting back and relaxing. Now, she’s exploring making more produce to take to markets and she has sent off a sample to the ISO to be graded at the international standard.

From Austria to Newbury, Chrissy is a happy soul right where she is.

(This article is supported by the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas.)

“Have a lovely, happy, jolly day.”

Our producers!

Editor’s note: Chrissy is well worth following on Instagram, @trenthamfields, featuring beautiful happy photos of everything from the snowman that Sweetheart made her to the stunning multi-coloured flowers of the saffron in bloom.

22 Opinion

www.tlnews.com.au

Pick me, pick me

Just sayin’...

By Donna Kelly

W

HILE we were looking the other way, our main road from Daylesford to Malmsbury, has gone from being 100kmh in parts to all 80kmh. It has caused some angst. (See letters on page 11.)

Now the innovatively-named, Daylesford-Malmsbury Road, and I guess, Malmsbury-Daylesford Road if you live at the other end, has some history with accidents. There have been fatalities and also lots of little bingles, mostly into trees. It's always the tree that causes the problem, not the slide.

But while it has curves and bends, there are also stretches which are clear and wide and overlook paddocks. So some people think 80kmh is too slow. Others think 100kmh is too fast.

A group, many from Glenlyon Progress Association, has lobbied for the speed change and say they have talked to about 100 residents along the road who agree. They say that many people have driveways from which they pull out onto a road pretty much like a fast-moving freeway. We live in the township of Glenlyon, which has always been 60kmh, but even there sometimes cars and trucks hurtle through.

I have done the new 80kmh limit a few times now and sometimes it feels a bit slow but then in other places it feels pretty right. I guess, in the past, I have mostly driven about 90kmh, just to be on the safe side. At dusk and dawn there's always the worry of kangaroos, during Winter black ice is not much fun and then there are visitors who don't know the road too well and want to tailgate.

I just hope they will overtake as long as they do it on clear, straight stretches.

Preferably not over the bridge at Coomoora, where it has always been 80kmh, or Cooper's Corner. I am pretty sure the Cooper family is pretty tired of hearing smashes outside their place.

Anyway, the speed limit is here to stay, at least for a while. Some Facebookers said the road towards Eganstown was dropped to 80kmh for a while and then, after lobbying, was brought back up to 100kmh again. Who knows if the angst will be enough to turn into lobbying. We will have to wait and see.

Talking of driving, a driver was unlucky enough to make a left turn and take out the electric charging station and then hit the fence outside the Daylesford Town Hall last week. Luckily with few people out and about, no-one was injured, including the driver, I believe.

We are living through strange times and I think there should be "leave passes" for many people doing things they would never normally do. In last week's The Local we spelt community with three m's. Hmmm. I call "pandemic". Just sayin'...

'

Hi there, I’m Addie, an independent girl searching for a really special home. I have been at the shelter for eight months slowly learning to trust humans and gain my confidence. I’d be happiest with my own space or room where I can look out the window and have a good snooze. I must have a cat friend in my new home. MC#95600001121748354 BR100938 Mount Alexander Animal Welfare is in Castlemaine. Call first on 5472 5277.

(Pick me, pick me is run in memory of Rosie and Curly we picked them!)

The Local - Connecting the Community

T

he Local is all about Connecting the Community. We run good news stories about amazing people and places, and festivals and events. And our fantastic advertisers run great deals for locals and visitors alike.

To give back to the community, The Local has been running its Connecting the Community adverts for seven years. The adverts are for not-for-profit groups and organisations to lend a hand when finances can be a bit tight - or just don't exist. We all know how hard it can be to make volunteer-run organisations work on the smell of an oily rag!

To apply just email donna@tlnews.com.au with your event or organisation. We also put call-outs on our Facebook page and those of the various communities in our wonderful region. We work on a first-in basis, with a nod to time-lines too.

There are a few conditions, well mostly that not-forprofit bit, and also that you aren't grabbing a free advert and then we see a whacking big paid advert in other media. That wouldn't be fair.

Cheers, Donna (Ed)

Hepburn Regional Community Cheer We are in need of items for our Silent Auction.

Business that donate to our ‘Christmas in July Fundraiser’ receive a tax-deductible receipt that can be used for their 2020 tax refund.

With all the business closures due to COVID-19, this can be a great way of increasing your refunds while supporting your community.

5348 3458 or info@hepburnregionalcommunitycheer.org.au

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES We support people with disability through meaningful employment in our ADE program.

You can work for us in our various enterprises.

For details visit windarring.org.au or call 03 5422 7001

www.tlnews.com.au

Opinion 23

Kyle’s Rant

T

HERE is a lot going on in the news at the moment, it almost seems as if the spiky red blob rolling around the TV screen is a bit of a distant memory.

But is all the COVID bug news gone or is it about to rear its head again as protestors around the world get up close and personal, scrumming each other, fighting for civil rights?

I mean, I get the outrage and the protest participation, but I would be terrified not only of the violence, flashbangs and rubber bullets, but of the lack of social distancing, and what that looks like two weeks down the track.

And then there are our own Australian youths who, according to them, get roughed up by the cops all the time because of the colour of their skin, and I am sure to some extent that is true. I also have lived in Alice Springs and up in the Pilbara, where there is third world style poverty in the Aboriginal communities, but money and overbearing constabulary are not the answer.

And if you think I have the answer, you might as well tune out now. But my thought is respect. That is, respect from the police to the community they serve, as they are public servants. And certainly, it is not in the interest of mutual respect for the youth to be yelling insults and threats at officers who are simply trying to uphold the law. I hope that what is gleaned out of all this unrest is respect and education of people’s similarities, that all most of us want is to live in a safe world. Anyway, enough of the motherhood statements.

I mostly just hope we can walk the balancing act between getting our economy back on track by way of, up here, letting the tourists back in and not letting the bug back out of the bag. It is a long road to hoe, with our struggling eateries restricted to 20 diners and facing virtually the same running costs as if they were at capacity. Not to mention the throngs of well-meaning folks that have come to our pristine part of the world over the long weekend, bringing their wallets but potentially their bugs.

Also, our little villages and towns of the Central Highlands are mostly oldeworlde and not designed for practical social distancing measures, which is the very reason tourists come to eat our amazing local tucker and snuggle beside an open fire.

But back to the un-COVID mainstream news. I see brown paper bags are back at the supermarkets. I did suggest this in my rant last year, so the boss up at Woolies HQ must have been listening to my waffle.

October 21, 2019 rant: But why can’t the supermarkets supply paper bags like back in the olden days? I looked at a couple of websites and I can personally buy good old-fashioned paper grocery bags in lots of 1000 for 15 cents a bag and with the supermarkets' buying power I am sure they could make a profit on them, so why not?

Yes, marketing person, you’re welcome to my idea. And you are probably toking on a fat cigar behind your large vintage oak desk, sipping on a 1950s merlot you keep for the occasional bright idea, which results in a huge end of year fat-cat bonus.

Meanwhile, I keep working away, actually connecting the community.

Un-COVID news rant over…

TRENTHAM PETROL & .....................................

STUFF Petrol, oil, swap & go gas, Motorpass, farm produce, farm produce store, ice, milk, soft drinks, take away pies, coffee, confectionery, local honey, etc Rusty junk, secondhand books, old wares

..................................................

1 Market Street ~ ph: 5424 1611

Monday–Sunday 8aM~6pM

PALMER STEVENS & RENNICK Barristers & Solicitors Property and Conveyancing Criminal Law Family Law Wills and Estates Commercial Law Employment Law Appearing in Castlemaine Court PLEASE CONTACT US

(03) 5422 6500 SINCE 1852

8 Jennings Street, Kyneton Email - psr@psr.net.au | Website - psr.net.au

7 acres of well organised, easy to navigate, recycled goodness in the heart of castlemaine.

Salvage Yard

Structural timbers, hundreds of doors and windows, landscaping timbers, ex-commercial double glazed glass, steel, masonry and found objects... right down to hard to find hardware and homewares!

Now also supplying a range of small production, sustainably sourced new timbers for flooring, decking, overlay and cladding.

Also, manufacturers of custom designed engineered trusses from recycled timbers.

6 Lewis Drive Castlemaine • 0435 500 112 • www.thesalvageyard.com.au

24 Crossword

www.tlnews.com.au

W RD

CROSS

services

SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION & MAINTENANCE

LAND CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT

services

SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION & MAINTENANCE

SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION & MAINTENANCE

WISH MOVING HOUSE WAS THIS EASY? No matter if you are moving into the area for the first time, moving to the big smoke or just moving across town - we will take care of you and your prized possessions like its our own home we are moving. Locally owned and operated, Oz Trans are the leading local removalist and general transport specialists in the entire Daylesford and Central Highlands region for over 25 years.

PERIODIC INSPECTION AND REPORTING OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS TROUBLESHOOTING AND MAINTENANCE SUPERVISION OF SLUDGE PUMP-OUT

• Home, piano and commercial removals • House packing services • Sensitive freight • All kinds of art cared for

LATEST SLUDGE-JUDGE TECHNOLOGY

www.sanae-svcs.com.au

PO Box 1040, Daylesford, VIC 3460 koos.hulst@sanae-svcs.com.au (03) 5348 4852 or 0437 747 619

Here is the solution for last edition's crossword, Edition 182. How did you go?

FREIGHT · TRANSPORT · RE MOVA LS DAY L ESFO R D AND CENT R AL HIGH LAN DS

• Furniture deliveries (new & second-hand) • General freight and produce cartage • Bulk freight, dry and chilled • Packing supplies available CALL JASON 0407 697 877 WWW.OZ-TRANS.COM.AU

REGULAR RUNS TO MELBOURNE, GEELONG, BALLARAT, BENDIGO AND EVERYWHERE IN-BETWEEN.

www.tlnews.com.au

The Local Classifieds STOLEN Super Axe/Aussie Chopper Wood Splitter

Classifieds 25

5348 7883 or donna@tlnews.com.au

Innovative Farm Implements

Specialised implements for most types of farming Small and large acreages All soils and conditions Check us out

www.fixengineering.com.au

Links to YouTube working models If it isn’t quite what you’re looking for, If it doesn’t quite do what you want, If you have some ideas of your own to explore:

Ask Mike: 0418 508 573 info@fixengineering.com.au

Cnr Daylesford-Malmsbury Road and Griffiths Lane, from Wheatsheaf via Daylesford Between 9pm, April 8 and 4.20am, April 9

LARGE REWARD For information relevant to the theft of our splitter.

The backbone of our livelihood.

Please contact 0407 066 310 or Daylesford Police on 5348 2342.

Trades & Services

HOUSE CLEANER REQUIRED Require a local person with experience in cleaning and setting up for our 3-bedroom, one-bathroom house for short term rental guests.

Previous experience and references will be required.

Contact Steven at airrentalz@gmail.com

Add an image

Classified advertising in The Local Cost: $6.60 per cm line, Column width is 55mm Add an image...

Events, Birthdays, AGMs, Public Notices Birth Notices, Death Notices Employment adverts Call 5348 7883 or email donna@tlnews.com.au

5348 7883 or donna@tlnews.com.au

26 Trades

www.tlnews.com.au

Earthworks

Drives, drains, moving dirt, excavation, $400 half day $750 full day man and machine.

Caterpillar Bobcat, excavator and Dual Roller.

Phone: 0438 662203

Ph:0434 357 882

Consulting in Administration & Management Book-keeping Administration Payroll Temp service Supplier monthly reconciliation Qualified to manage a small team of office workers Christ Jules Services Julie Hanson 0459 619 701 julphil.hanson@gmail.com www.christjulesservices.com.au

POOL AND SPA MAINTENANCE SERVICES DAYLESFORD AND SPA COUNTRY Over 25 years’ experience in the Pool and Spa industry.

Cleaning and servicing of pools, hot tubs and jacuzzis.

Water chemistry and water balance Commercial properties Domestic applications Reasonable rates All enquiries welcome Noel 0419 554 319 Declan 0438 212 107

ALL ROUND CARPENTRY

Pierre: 0425 783 871 SOLUTIONS | SOLUTIONS SOLUTIONS | SOLUTIONS

PLASTERER DAYLESFORD FIBROUS PLASTER WORKS (MACKLEY’S) • NEW HOMES • RENOVATIONS • CEILING ROSES • ORNAMENTAL CORNICE Daylesford

Peter Mackley 5348 3085 or 0418 571 331 Gary Mackley 5348 1108

www.tlnews.com.au

Clement F Mooney

Email: c.mooney@bigpond.net.au Available to assist with all general accounting services and preparation/electronic lodgment of Tax Returns and BAS for Individuals, Sole Traders, Partnerships, Trusts and Companies.

Tel: 03 5424 1441 Mobile: 0412 584 555

A.B.N. 37 961 487 978

Certified Practising Accountant Registered Tax Agent B.Com, C.P.A., M.B.A.

Office: 19 Albert Street, Trentham 3458

Trades 27

E L E C T R C I A N

John Roberts Electrical Services REG 15644

Domestic Commercial Industrial Mobile 0439 682 619

Servicing the local community for over 45 years

Phone: 5348 1291

Malone Tree Services Liam Malone . Limited Access . Fully Insured .Specialists Qualified . Mulching Available

0423 945 436

trenthamselfstorage@outlook.com

Daylesford Newsagency & Tattslotto Newspapers, magazines, Tattslotto, dry-cleaning, stationery, photocopying and lots more...

We stock The Local!

55 Vincent Street, Daylesford 5348 2061

DAYLESFORD APPLIANCE SERVICE

das3460@bigpond.com

electrical appliance repair service washer, dryer, fridge, dishwasher, oven, cook top etc.

Call Kiyo on

0419 267 685

das3460@bigpond.com

PH: 0400 059 613 - 5348 6634 ADMIN@JESSEDAWKINSGARDENS.COM.AU WWW.JESSEDAWKINSGARDENS.COM.AU

The Little Local

! w o n y

p o rc

u o y b a

Gr

E E FR e! m e Tak A visitors guide to the Central Highlands

Winter 2020

EAT | ADVENTURE | STAY | RELAX WELLBEING | WHAT’S ON | SHOP