Front page: The Wombat Forest community recently joined with Extinction Rebellion to draw attention to what it says is environmentally damaging salvage logging in Wombat State Forest. Read the full story on page 9.
Image: Matt Hrkac
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The Local is a fortnightly community publication covering the Central Highlands of Victoria.
The next edition is out on Monday, July 28, 2025. or online on Sunday, July 27 at www.tlnews.com.au
Space bookings: Wednesday, July 23
Copy deadline: Thursday, July 24
Editorial deadline: Thursday, July 24
General manager: Kyle Barnes on 0416 104 283 or kyle@tlnews.com.au
Editor: Donna Kelly on 0418 576 513 or news@tlnews.com.au
Sub-editors: Nick Bunning, Lindsay Smith & Chester the Cat
Writers:
Kevin Childs, Tony Sawrey, Kyle Barnes, Natalie Poole & Donna Kelly
Photographers: Tony Sawrey, Kyle Barnes & Donna Kelly
Graphic designer: Dianne Caithness
Contributors: Darren Lowe (music), Sarah Lang (recipes), Jeff Glorfeld (US life), Bill Wootton (poetry), Dr Marita McGuirk (wildlife) & John Beetham (gardens)
Accounts: Julie Hanson | Delivery: Tony Sawrey
Overall satisfaction rating for council drops
Results from the 2025 Satisfaction Survey for Hepburn Shire have been released. And in the words of Mick Jagger, the community still can't get no satisfaction.
The council’s overall rating dropped three points from last year’s rating of 49 and now sits at 46. There is an eightpoint difference between the council and the average for small rural councils across the state.
The council also rates lower than the average for small rural shires in every category, 17 in total.
It is lower than the council's 2024 rankings in 13 categories, equal in one and higher in three.
Despite this, a council media release says: "Compared to 2024, overall satisfaction with most council services remains the same."
The rankings are:
Hepburn 2025 | Hepburn 2024 | Small Rural Shire 2025 | State-wide average 2025
Overall performance 46, 49, 54, 53
Value for money: 39, 42, 47, 47
Overall council direction: 38, 44, 46, 46
Customer service: 64, 64, 65, 66
Appearance of public areas: 63, 64, 70, 68
Tourism development: 63, 61, 62, 60
Recreational facilities: 60, 61, 66, 67
Waste management: 58, 65, 66, 65
Environmental sustainability: 56, 57, 58, 59
Enforcement of local laws: 55, 56, 58, 59
Business & community development: 53, 56, 55, 54
Consultation & engagement: 47, 52, 51, 50
Lobbying: 45, 48, 51, 49
Slashing & weed control: 44, 42, 49, 47
Community decisions: 42, 46, 50, 49
Sealed local roads: 33, 29, 44, 45
Planning & building permits: 33, 35, 43, 43
Mayor, Cr Don Henderson, above, said that while the council's overall performance score was disappointing, it reflected how the community currently feels "and urges us to do better".
"Our focus for the next year and beyond will be on continued transparency, maintaining sealed roads and refining our processes in the planning and building department," he said.
"It is vital that we respond to the community’s concerns and continue to work towards a better future for all.
"Positively, we have improved in the areas of Appearance of public areas, Tourism development and Recreational facilities, maintaining a higher satisfaction level.
"Similarly, customer service continues to be one of council’s best-performing areas and is at par with the small rural council average and just below the state average.
Winter Show
"We recognise that we do not always get things right, but we are striving to build a financially sustainable, transparent and community-focused organisation."
In its findings, the Victorian Community Satisfaction Survey noted that Hepburn Shire Council’s overall performance saw a (not significant) three-point decline in 2025.
"Ratings in the majority of individual service areas evaluated are on par with the previous year’s results. Significant declines in perceptions of performance are evident in waste management, consultation and engagement, and community decisions.
"On a positive note, council achieved a significant improvement in the maintenance of sealed local roads, reversing three consecutive years of significant declines since 2022.
"Community decisions, community consultation and engagement, and the related area of lobbying are among council’s lower performing service areas, with the two former areas experiencing significant declines in the past 12 months.
"Due to their strong influence on overall perceptions of council, these areas should be prioritised for improvement. Further, the condition of sealed local roads, and planning and building permits should also be a focus, as these areas also have a moderate to strong influence on overall perceptions.
"On the core measures of overall performance and value for money, council performs significantly lower than the Small Rural group and the State-wide average for councils.
"Council also performs significantly lower than both averages in 10 of the 13 service areas evaluated. Council is rated in-line with the Small Rural group averages in the remaining service areas.
"In the area of tourism development, council performance is rated significantly higher than the State-wide average. Recreational facilities and the appearance of public areas are among council’s strongest performing service areas. However, these areas have experienced minor (not significant) declines this year.
"Given these service areas have a positive influence on overall performance perceptions, maintaining a strong performance here is warranted to prevent further declines. These are tangible areas where enhancements are more readily noticed.
"Consistent with previous evaluations of the trade-off between rates and council services, 50 per cent of residents ‘definitely’ or ‘probably’ prefer service cuts to maintain current council rates, far more than prefer rate rises to improve local services (23 per cent)."
The Victorian Community Satisfaction Survey creates a vital interface between the council and their community. Held annually, the CSS asks the opinions of local people about the place they live, work and play and provides confidence for councils' in their efforts and abilities. Participation is voluntary.
The full results are at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au - search satisfaction survey
Words: Donna Kelly
actnowstaysecure.gov.au
Aged care: The ugly, the bad & the good
Australia is suffering a crisis in aged care and Hepburn Shire is not exempt. Here are just a few of the people and their lives. On the opposite page are the responses and perhaps some good news.
The ugly
Somewhere in Daylesford a 92-year-old woman is bed-ridden. She has been end-of-life for some time and her choice is to die at home.
One of her daughters, retired, has moved in to be her full-time carer. Her other daughter lives and works in Melbourne but comes every week to help out.
The elderly woman is under the care of Central Highlands Rural Health. She receives four hours of respite care a week, three bed baths, incontinence products and some hospital sustenance.
It is just not enough. The two daughters are at breaking point, and don't know if they can fulfil their mother's wish to die at home. As one says, it's a disaster.
“I cannot fault the workers on the ground, the girls that come and visit mum, they're fantastic. There's just not enough of them.”
She says when her mother was assessed as needing a higher class of care, the amount of money they received actually dropped, due to higher fees. She had been receiving 16 hours' respite, along with shopping and housework.
At one stage they had to place her into Hepburn House for two weeks to save money to get her income up again. “There’s a monthly amount and when it’s gone, it’s gone.”
The daughter said on occasion her sister also helped with bathing her mother because sometimes only one carer arrived while two were needed to perform that task.
“It makes me worried for those people in Daylesford and district who are elderly and have high needs and their advanced care directive says they want to die at home.
“What if they don't have family to assist them? What's happening to those people? I'm pretty sure we're not the only people in Daylesford who have had this problem. “I guess the only thing you can hope for is a terminal disease and you can hope for euthanasia. That is how bad it is.
“Our mother’s wish is that home is where she wants to be. Absolutely, but it's coming to the point of can we do this, and for how much longer?”
The bad
An 86-year-old in Daylesford reflects ruefully on his experience with Benetas. “As I watch Benetas’s slick TV advertising I cannot but wonder how it can, in conscience, spend money on this sort of promotion when it says it does not have any for a basic service.
“The service I mention is a rail to help with steep steps. An occupational therapist came from Ballarat and during a longish appointment agreed the railing was needed, and even seemed concerned. Nothing happened until we received a call to say the rail was outside the Benetas budget.”
Oddly, he says, the next call was from another occupational therapist seeking an appointment for the same reason. She seemed confused when told her colleague had already been.
Benetas, which was founded by the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne in 1948, provided a sizeable glossy document that says that for over 70 years it had been “providing exceptional quality care and support” to older Victorians.
Within, a card with a picture of a jolly older fellow slicing an avocado, watched by a badge-wearing younger bloke using a grater, carries the message: “Home care your way, tailored support to help you stay at home longer.”
Elsewhere, it says: “Benetas Home Care puts you in control, providing the support you need to safely stay at home, remain connected to your community and live your best life as you age.” The in-home services, it says “will relieve some of the stresses of everyday life, giving you more time and peace of mind to enjoy living at home longer”.
Spotting that garden maintenance was on the list, this would-be client thought he might get help with his large, steep block. So began phone calls, including some to interstate.
“There’s 1000 people on the waiting list,” he was repeatedly told by one of the “caring consultants”. One interstate adviser regaled him with her joy for beach walking, while telling him he had dipped out.
Worn by weeks of failure, the applicant and his wife decided to plough on together, although he did get some help: podiatry every nine weeks.
In Creswick, a woman suffering from crippling pain due to fibromyalgia has spent months trying to get home help.
On a pension, and only 67, the woman has just spent a week in bed. Today is her first day up. That took half an hour but she is determined to get her exercise inwalking up and down the hall.
Living alone, she is qualified for aged care packages but has been told numerous times everything is "booked out". "I was hoping to get some house cleaning - just the floors and bathroom done - and home maintenance - I really need a rail for my steps because I fall - but nothing's available anywhere. I have tried everyone - Central Highlands Rural Health, Benetas..."
The woman, who also suffers from bi-polar, said because she could not guarantee when she would be home, thanks to numerous medical appointments, even meals were not available. "I asked if they could leave it on the porch but they won't do that.
"The system's broken. I will have to pay for a handyman to come and put a safety rail in for my stairs but I am on a pension."
The woman said for some years she had a home carer from Hepburn Shire Council before the organisation stepped away. "She was fabulous but then it changed. I got used to being really good friends with my carer. Sometimes she would sit with me for 15 minutes after she finished and we would just have a cuppa.
"I know you don't have answers but I just wanted to share my story. I'm not asking for a lot."
The good
A Daylesford woman said her father was lucky; as a returned serviceman he had a Gold Card and help through Vasey RSL.
“They were absolutely fantastic. The care and support we got from different agencies was so good. They would have a carer come in twice a week for two hours and we’d (she and her husband had moved into her father's Mornington Peninsula house) go for a bike ride while they were there. Can I put in a thank-you to Mary, Raylene and Michelle from Vasey?
“We also had a psychologist who would come in and see Dad and just check that everything was going OK - he had full-blown dementia. And Dad had a guardian as well, who was a retired lawyer and with the Office of the Public Advocate and he was fantastic, with Dad’s best interests at heart.”
“We also had the support of local doctors and allied health – so he would go to the gym twice a week with personal trainers.”
Louise and her husband looked after her father for two years before finding an aged-care home as his dementia worsened. There, still being active, he appointed himself as carer for all those needing help for visits back and forth to the toilets.
“He was a wonderful man and it was a real privilege to look after him.”
And then on one of his carer details, he fell and broke his hip. “That was pretty much the end, but he had a good life.”
The responses, and can community help?
Central Highlands Rural Health
The Local spoke with CHRH@Home Manager Jo Cocks with queries about the 92-year-old woman having less services despite being on a high package.
"With the cost of services it is frustrating for families because people have an expectation about how far their money will go and sometimes it doesn't align with what their funding is."
Ms Cocks said a percentage of fees were taken out so "it would look like more money is coming out (of her funding) because she's got more money in her package".
Ms Cocks also said service fees for the carers had also risen on July 1 in line with the CPI and CHRH had also asked for another 2.8 per cent on top of that.
Ms Cocks said staffing was sometimes difficult especially in rural areas and being winter. "It's the same challenges that all services have. But all our services, the personal care is done in house, we provide it all and don't contract out our personal or home care."
But despite those assurances Ms Cocks agreed that the amount of home care the woman was now receiving would continue into the future. "That's what they can afford. There's only so much money.
"The aim of support at home and home care packages is to keep everybody at home for as long as they're safe and, well, we say independent. But obviously they've got people around to help them stay at home past that independent stage. There's a set amount of money and that's what they've got to pay for services to keep them at home longer."
Because of privacy legislation she could not explain why when the woman was assessed for a higher level of care, she received less services.
"That said, I’m more than happy to clarify any general queries or correct any misunderstandings about the care we provide. I'm also open to discussing matters directly with the client and/or their nominated representative."
A schedule of fees sent shows that on a Level 3 package, of the $41,847.25 from government, $8190.60 went to care management fees, $6142.95 went to package management fees with $27,513.70 left for the client. On a Level 4 package, of the $63,440.65 from government, $12,413.65 went to care management, $9311.15 went to package management and $41,715.85 was left for the client.
Ms Cocks said feedback was always welcome and regular surveys were carried out. Information sessions for those on the packages were also on the way.
"We take it really seriously. Feedback is important. I collect all of that and attend meetings with sector development and other groups more globally, and then it goes up through that channel."
Benatas
The Local contacted Benatas and asked questions about the gentleman's concerns regarding the lack of help available.
A Benetas spokesperson, re funding for a hand rail, said: "There are two funding streams. 1. Under the Home Care Packages Program, the Department assesses and allocates funding to clients taking into account their health needs and requirements. 2. Under the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP), the Department provides a funding allocation to the Hepburn region to deliver specific services to approved clients.
"The current requests for home modification services in the Hepburn (Shire) area are exceeding the federal funding that has been allocated to the area under the Commonwealth Home Support Program.
"As a provider, we are only able to take on clients into these services when others leave or move on to differently funded programs. Providers do not determine the amount of funding allocated to a region and operate within the constraints of the funding that has been allocated by the government.
"As current funding for the region for this type of service under the CHSP Program has been exhausted, we recommend clients who are not able to remain living independently without this service, contact the government’s My Aged Care phone line to be reassessed for a funded Home Care Package."
The Local asked if there were 1000 people on the wait list for gardening help?
"As the funding allocation has been exhausted, in line with the guidance from the Department we are no longer able to accept referrals to the current list.
"In line with the broader aged care industry, we have been calling on the government to focus on addressing funding and waitlist challenges to enable older Victorians to receive appropriate support to remain at home for longer.
"It’s essential that the funding for a region reflects the current need for services in that region."
The Local asked what programs were available to people who wanted to stay in their own homes.
"The Department would be best placed to provide some guidance about the range of services offered and its rationale regarding how it allocates funding per region. https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/help-at-home"
The Local sent questions to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
A spokesperson said: "To access the Home Care Packages program an older person undergoes an aged care assessment to ascertain what level of care they need. There are 4 levels of packages, at July 1, 2025, Home Care Package funding ranges from $10,931.75 (level 1) to $63,440.65 (level 4) annually. Depending on the level of package a person receives, they can get assistance with a range of different services.
"Together with their Home Care Package provider, the older person will work out if a care or service they need: is directly linked to their identified care needs and goals; will improve their health and wellbeing; is necessary for them to remain living safely and independently in their home; can be delivered within their Home Care Package budget; and would be considered an acceptable use of government funds.
The Home Care Packages program is currently operating at record levels. Package wait times fluctuate and are dependent on a number of factors such as the number of packages available, the number of people in the National Priority System and package take-up rates. Older people who are assessed as having a high priority need for inhome aged care services are being assigned a package within one month.
"There are other options available to people who are waiting to be assigned a Home Care Package. Older people can call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 for support in accessing CHSP.
" Older people are encouraged to research and compare providers by calling My Aged Care or using the ‘Find a Provider’ tool at www.myagedcare.gov.au/find-aprovider. The Government also funds the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) to deliver the National Aged Care Advocacy Program.
From the inside
The Local talked to a former health worker for both Hepburn Shire Council and Benetas asking her perspective.
"Overall, whether it's CHSP funding or home care package funding, there's not enough money in the story. There never will be. And that is what a lot of people don't understand.
"I thought when I was with the shire and it had the CHSP funding, what they were doing was pretty f#@ked. But now I can see we did a pretty good job.
"What I would like explained is the workings of the admin fees coming out of a home care package. They equate to about 25 per cent to 30 per cent. Level 4 is $63,400, so 30 per cent is $19,032, that's a whole bucket of money.
"I know that if you have a really full on package, your case manager will do a lot of work. You'd be looking well over $100 an hour for them and you'll be charged travel.
"Your support worker might be $75 an hour. And you have to pay for travel. And then if you have to send out a personal care worker on a weekend, that's double time.
"A nurse might be $250. I know of a woman in Hepburn who was sent an occupational therapist from Ballarat, for an hour, and that was $500.
"And when the money's gone, it's gone. I can't believe that some case managers let their people run out of money."
The woman also said people should watch their invoices.
"They shouldn't have to. But they need someone, even if it's not family, someone who they trust to go through those invoices. And if they're not right, you question.
"What makes me more angry than anything is that it is the elderly who are so vulnerable. They don't have a voice and the system rips them blind."
The woman said volunteers for respite care were available from Ballarat Hospice and Shannon's Bridge in Creswick but she said it might be time for the community to step in and help its elderly.
"When my husband was dying, and he wanted to die at home, the community gathered around me but for years after I didn't have the energy, but now it is my time to give back. I am sure there will be good that comes from this, even if it starts with just a group of us. Let's try and help these people in our community.
"Everyone has the right to die at home."
Words: Donna Kelly | donna@tlnews.com.au | Opinion p23
FIRST STOP DISABILITY SERVICES
Grieving Wombat Forest destruction
The Wombat Forest community recently joined with Extinction Rebellion to draw attention to what it says is environmentally damaging salvage logging in Wombat State Forest.
An Extinction Rebellion spokesperson said theatrics took place on the roadside of the Forest Fire Management Victoria log-storage site near Daylesford where large volumes of logs are stored from nearby industrial scale salvaging.
"Dressed in black mourning attire, the gathering grieved the recent forest destruction by FFMV salvage-logging works. Red Rebels silently communicated distress. After short eulogies, Red Rebels and some mourners visited the nearby forest coupe where many larger trees once stood tall.
"Red Rebels performed again in silent contrast to the broadscale logging destruction. A vast field of upturned tree stumps, logging slash, recently churned mud and discarded logs was surrounded by tall native forest and creek lines. Mourners noted how the vast log clearing punctured the forest canopy horizon; a new landscape scar that can be seen from satellites.
"In June 2021, a large storm impacted significant patches of Wombat State Forest bringing down swathes of forest. Roads and tracks were quickly cleared of fallen trees. From 2022 until its 2024 demise, VicForests intensively logged the nearby ‘stormrecovery’ areas. Vast volumes of timber were removed locally.
"FFMV commenced ‘debris-management’ works in late 2023. The organisation repeatedly emphasised to local communities that its works were distinct from VicForests with no heavy machinery used, taking only fallen logs and isolated hazardous trees, all works were ‘non-commercial’ and low impact."
were causing serious environmental harm.
"Soils are being compacted, young plants destroyed, and future habitat for many species is being lost - all the while failing to mitigate fire risk.
“We have had three years of unrelenting industrial scale salvage of storm-thrown trees from the forest. At one stage there were 14, 35-tonne machines removing large logs and compacting the soil. The log depot contains just a very, very small percentage of logs that have been removed from the Wombat Forest.
"There are many reasons these logs should remain in the forest, they are a critical part of the ecosystem - providing habitat for small reptiles and mammals, food for fungi, and moisture retention that helps keep the forest floor damp."
In the last edition of The Local (Edition 335) a state government spokesperson said: "The government announced in 2021 that it would create three national parks, two conservation parks, and seven new and expanded regional parks in the state’s central west – this includes the Wombat-Lerderderg National Park covering more than 44,000 hectares between Daylesford and Bacchus Marsh.
"Legislation to create three new national parks will be introduced into parliament as soon as practical. The great outdoors are to be experienced and admired, not locked away. Our focus is bringing more families to the bush and more jobs to the regions –while making sure to keep our forests healthy for future generations.
"No timber harvesting is taking place in the Wombat State Forest, no trees are being removed unless they present a hazard and no clear-felling is occurring in these operations."
Words: Donna Kelly | Images: Matt Hrkac
Wombat Forestcare convenor Gayle Osborne said it was clear the salvage works
Just briefly...
Trentham Rail and Tramway Association has received $2429 from the state government to help capture, preserve and share the unique stories and histories of Victoria.
TRATA will use its funding towards educating community and visitors as to the history of the old rolling stock and what the 1880s buildings were used for. The project will deliver three interpretive panels about the history of the Trentham Railway Precinct.
Hepburn Community Wind Park Co-operative has been funded through the Community Electrification Engagement Program to run a localised energy literacy program, educating households on the benefits of replacing gas appliances with efficient electric alternatives.
Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas said the co-operative would use the funding to accelerate the take-up of cheaper electric energy through tailored projects that met the unique needs of the community. Working with community and climate groups across 11 local government areas, Hepburn Community Wind Park Co-operative will up-skill and train home-energy champions to share learnings within the community.
Victoria Park's soccer field has received $269,780 for the installation of lighting infrastructure to provide 100-lux lighting for the 2026 season.
The project is supported by the state government and includes contributions from Council and the Daylesford & Hepburn United Soccer Club.
Victorians who failed to vote in last year's council elections will start receiving penalty-reminder notices, which carry a fee of $29.20 in addition to the original $99 fine.
Electoral Commissioner Sven Bluemmel said anyone who received a penalty reminder notice in the mail had three options: pay the fine, request an internal review, or elect to go to court. "Once we hand it over to Fines Victoria for enforcement action, we are unable to further assist."
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Your say...
Re: Just Sayin’ – Town Hall Hub Development (Edition 335)
As members of the Daylesford Town Hall Project Advisory Group, we write to clarify recent commentary and reinforce why investment in the Town Hall is critical for our community.
Despite speculation, no construction will commence unless council commits and external grant funding is secured. That said, strategic planning and minor improvements if desired - such as access upgrades - could begin immediately to return the hall to optimal use while grant applications are underway.
Daylesford accounts for nearly 43 per cent of Hepburn Shire’s population yet remains underserved in community facilities. Other towns in the shire enjoy purposebuilt hubs and modern libraries; Daylesford has been left behind due to failed management of The Rex. We cannot afford to let this happen again.
The Town Hall redevelopment is more than a refurbishment - it’s an investment in the social fabric, cultural vitality, and future resilience of our town. Enhancing accessibility with a lift, improving lighting, and upgrading facilities would not only preserve the hall’s heritage but also support a broader range of performances, meetings, and cultural events. This matters deeply to our population, with many struggling with current access and set-up demands.
Combining a new library and community space within the Town Hall precinct is smart, inclusive, and efficient. The current library is outdated, undersized, difficult for staff and does not provide an optimal space for all those that could use it. New plans meet modern library standards and offer a welcoming, safe, climate-resilient spacevital in times of extreme heat or cold. Importantly, this would provide a free public gathering point in a town where many meeting spaces require commercial spending.
The PAG has worked constructively, consulting widely and balancing diverse needs. We fully support the proposed design, and the current budget allocationdrawn from the sale of The Rex - allows for either a comprehensive plan or a first stage that unlocks grant eligibility. Council holds the decision-making power.
Creswick, Clunes and Trentham are already well-equipped. It's time Daylesford received its fair share. A revitalised Town Hall with preserved heritage will serve locals, attract visitors, and breathe life back into a landmark that should be a proud community hub - not a missed opportunity.
- Louise Johnson, Matt Johnson, Sarah Bibby and Adam Fawcett
Four years ago, the Victorian Government accepted VEAC’s recommendations to create new national parks in Wombat-Lerderderg, Mount Buangor, and the Pyrenees. Yet we are still waiting.
These forests contain threatened species, vital water catchments, and immense carbon stores. They should be a cornerstone of our biodiversity and climate strategynot left vulnerable to logging under government inaction.
I call on our local representatives and the premier to introduce the promised legislation this year - without more vague promises and shifting deadlines.
Forests don’t have the luxury of waiting.
- Vanessa Brown, East Trentham
Hepburn Shire Council recently approved a dynamic Arts and Culture Strategy. Why did we spend this money for a consultant? It was full of wonderful hopes for our community.
However council has allocated zero to an Arts and Culture budget and the officer has gone - more valuable knowledge lost to our community.
Quotes from the strategy: "The Council Plan recognises arts as an important part of Hepburn Shire’s social and economic fabric. While less tangible benefits to wellbeing and community cohesion are reason enough to support a healthy local arts and culture environment, the sector also contributes significantly to economic activity in the shire and more broadly in the region.
Uncover unique pre-loved items – each piece with a story. Every visit’s a treasure hunt. 22 Howe Street, Daylesford
"Arts and culture is a key drawcard for visitors to the region, with Hepburn Shire attracting 1.4M visitors annually (Tourism Research Australia 2023) with these visitors spending more than $335M in 2023.
"Arts and cultural experiences improve the visitor experience and increase the length of stay in-region as well as encouraging return visitation. The 2023 REMPLAN data indicates that tourism is the largest employer in the shire, accounting for 949 jobs in the Shire which is one in six of total jobs.
"Arts and culture also generate direct income and employ people at numerous levels for artists and in the production and delivery of cultural services."
Wouldn't it be wiser to drop the $300k plus on yet another feasibility plan for the town hall dream that is so out of reach? Council should divert that budget and invest in our youth, our arts and culture and libraries.
- Gary Lawrence, Daylesford
Metal Roof Specialist
First sod at Clunes
ELC
Building work at a new Early Learning Centre in Clunes is now underway –with Ripon MP Martha Haylett recently turning the first sod.
The centre, next to Clunes Primary School, will have outdoor play areas, a maternal and child health consulting room, and a carpark. It will also have a community room for meetings and playgroup.
The centre will provide long day care and three- and four-year-old kindergarten programs with space for up to 102 children each day.
Construction is on time with completion expected later this year ready for opening early next year.
Positioning kindergartens on or close to schools supports children to get the most out of their early learning, makes drop-off more convenient for busy parents and carers, and helps with a smoother transition to primary school.
Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn said the government was delivering "unprecedented investment in early childhood services" so our children can get the most out of great local kindergartens.
"We’re proud to be funding early childhood infrastructure because we know how important the early years are in setting our kids up for the rest of their lives."
Above, from left, Department of Education's Anne Gawith, Centre director Ben Sweeney, Ripon MP Martha Haylett and Clunes Primary School principal Sonia Jardine
The centre, next to Clunes Primary School, will have outdoor play areas, a maternal and child health consulting room, and a carpark. It will also have a community room for meetings and playgroup.
Vale Ray Robinson
Ray was an intensely private man and lived his life on his terms. He saw a lot of changes in the country and in the world during this time.
Although we know he led a long and interesting life, and there are snippets of that we can share, we don’t have huge amounts of detail to go on when telling his story.
Our friendship and memories with Ray spanned only 12 years, yet we learned so much from him in this short space of time, and appreciate and thank him for the special opportunity to know him.
Ray Robinson was an enigmatic, astute human being. A finely educated man, a character with a wicked sense of humour. Having studied the classics in his early adulthood, it was this knowledge that naturally flowed freely into his deep understanding of the horticultural environment.
His honed intelligence covered much ground. His horticultural expertise started from his early childhood where his grandfather was a significant influence. This was developed and nurtured over time through wide experiences and projects in Australia and overseas.
His travels broadened his deeply felt connection to the natural world. The wisdom gathered was readily passed on and shared with others through educated discussion and practical endeavours.
His life was full and nothing excited him more than seeing the results of his labours with those who shared and benefitted from his teachings and supervision. Ray also delighted in the success of others who likewise enjoyed the pleasure of their own gardens.
Ray’s professional career saw him work in and design numerous notable gardens large and small in Australia and overseas, and many around Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges.
He worked tirelessly at Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens and led a dedicated group of volunteers to support and actively advance the potential of the gardens.
Ray possessed the ability to bring people together, never missing an opportunity to encourage, advise, educate and share his knowledge in a generous and enthusiastic manner, with a hands-on inclusive approach.
Ray showed genuine interest in the culture of other countries, fascinated by the stories, cuisine, art and history. He travelled widely and never lost interest in adventure. We were fortunate to join Ray overseas on a number of occasions.
Tim was Ray’s dog, a loyal companion of many years who was loved dearly.
During Ray’s final years at Deborah Cheetham Retirement Village, Ocean Grove, he continued to be inspirational, working with residents, giving advice about their gardens, establishing a small propagating group and advising the village gardeners who also benefitted from his wisdom.
Ray will leave a huge legacy in so many places for so many people along his life journey and with much respect.
We will miss him. Doug Wright and Annie Saunders
Prelude
The avenues of poplar go But leave their reflection
The avenues of poplar go but leave us the wind
The shrouded wind lies full length beneath the sky
But it’s left its echoes floating on rivers
The world of fireflies has invaded my memories
And a tiny, tiny heart is growing from my fingers
Federico Garcia Lorca
Ray at the Gardens in 2016The Local's December 5 front page image
Council News
Council
Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve Masterplan
Council is preparing a Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve Masterplan to guide future improvements, remediations and new works.
The Masterplan considers the grounds, trails and amenities with the exception of the Bathhouse itself which is managed separately. While there is no funding to implement any of the actions suggested in the Masterplan, it will allow Council to seek future grant funding.
To gather your thoughts, we’ve created two surveys - one for local businesses and one for visitors or community members. To learn more and to have your say visit https://participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/hmsr-masterplan
The First 72 Hours
What will you do for the first 72 hours if you have no access to power, water, gas, reception, road access or food? We’re hosting three events to help you prepare for emergency events.
Wednesday 16 July, 9:30 am – 12 pm
Doug Lindsay Recreation Reserve, Creswick
Thursday 17 July, 11 am – 1:30 pm
The Mechanics Trentham, Trentham
Thursday 17 July, 2:30–5 pm
Council Chambers, 24 Vincent Street, Daylesford Book now at: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/the-first-72-hours-workshop-4216913
Community Satisfaction Survey results
Council has received results from this year’s community satisfaction survey which indicated a slight drop in satisfaction with Council’s overall performance. Council’s overall rating moved three points from last year’s rating of 49 and now sits at 46 - an eight-point difference between our Council and the average for small rural councils across the state.
Council improved in the areas of Appearance of public areas, Tourism development and Recreational facilities, maintaining a higher satisfaction level. Similarly, customer service continues to be one of Council’s bestperforming areas and is at par with the small rural council average and just below the state average.
Read our media release at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/css2025
Have your say on Western Renewables Link EES
The Western Renewables Link Environmental Effects Statement (EES) is now available for public review. Hard copies of the EES documents are currently on display at our Daylesford Library, Clunes Library and Creswick Hub.
Council is now preparing its own submission informed by our community and in conjunction with neighbouring councils. Council will host independent community information sessions to enable discussion, provide guidance on making a submission and answer questions.
Newlyn Recreation Reserve pavilion: 16 & 30 July 2025, 4 to 6 pm
Creswick RSL: 17 July 2025, 4 to 6 pm
Join us to discuss the project and how it may impact our community.
EAT | DRINK | ENJOY
Out & About in the Central Highlands
Trentham history book launched - and sold out BLOCK Watch
The Mechanics Trentham was filled with more than 150 people late last month to celebrate the launch of the new history book, Trentham: an incomplete history
Written by Ina Bertrand and Alice Petherbridge with the design and artwork completed by Janine Bryant, the book has a thematic approach to the region's history with the prelude including the Indigenous history and early European settlement of the area.
Some of the other chapters in the book include The Forest, Gold, Churches and Schools, Villages and of course The Trentham Township.
In a display of literary popularity the first print run is sold out, giving people an insight into the love of history in the Trentham area and how much the people of Trentham and its district appreciate such a rare achievement in the town.
Ballarat MP Catherine King formally launched the book after presentations by historian Vicki Steggall on writing history, Gary Enders on the process of researching and a sharing memories segment with Elizabeth Toomey as the moderator and long-time local residents Kit Manning, Kath Morrison and Lawrence O’Brien giving insights into the past. Ina then spoke about the almost four-year process of producing and collaborating on the history book. She said she thoroughly enjoyed the experience from its beginnings through to seeing her work in print.
The event was followed by an afternoon tea from the Trentham and District Historical Society Committee and a few locals.
More copies of the book are being printed to keep up with demand.
To order a copy email info@trenthamhistoricalsociety.org.au The book will also be available from www.trenthamhistoricalsociety.org.au/shop
Words:
Natalie Poole
Creswick Arts Trail 2025
The Creswick Pavilion Arts Trail 2025 kicks off this weekend.
The trail is a curated weekend event, beginning with an opening night for artists to gather as a creative cohort.
The trail is held over July 13 and 14 and details of the open studios and commercial partners can be obtained from the Town Hall during the event.
It provides a platform for artists to open their studios or exhibit and run workshops in the Creswick Town Hall, which will serve as an Art Café for those without personal studio access.
Visitors can explore the trail independently using a provided map or guide, or take advantage of the Art Bus for convenient transport to participating locations.
The event is supported by Hepburn Shire Council's Community Grants program.
Pavilion Arts & Sustainability was established after the first floods happened in Creswick. Its aim was to help treat trauma experienced during the floods by providing art-focused events.
The Local's Block Watch is having a break this edition but there's a party happening soon - and we have been invited.
So look out for the July 28 edition with all the latest on the contestants, houses and, of course, Shelley Craft and Scott Cam, pictured above.
Meanwhile, the first episode of The Block will hit the small screen on Sunday, July 27 on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Winter Show
Participating artists: Dale Cox, Nadia Kliendanze, Julie McKenzie, Mark Dober, Jill Noble, Antoinette Braybrook, Neil Matterson, Brian Falkenberg, Rowena Hannan, Diane Thompson, Maxine McKee, Jonathon Lane, Fiona Orr, Jennifer Leggett, Jody Galvin, Emma McAdam-Marmont in collaboration with Struan Hopwood, Rose Wilson, Helen Cottle, Kim Haughie, Maria Coyle and Jimmy Rix.
donated to Trentham Health Open Thursday to Monday 10am–4pm www.trenthamlittlegallery.com
Head to Trentham for everything words!
Trentham Words in Winter is celebrating its 21st year in 2025.
The very first event of the festival was a book launch at Reverie Books – now Trentham General, and originally home to the old National Bank. Next door, the Trentham Hotel hosted a concert of Irish and Australian music in the Back Room, a venue well known to local music lovers.
Over the road Trentham Café and Crafts hosted Bush Poetry Old and New, an event organised by the Trentham Historical Society. The Old Bakehouse down the laneway – now Red Beard Bakery - served up pizza along with blues/roots music that was the passion of the owner, Adrian Kosky.
The Trentham Neighbourhood Centre – still a venue nearly two decades later, was the place for a Village Glee Club and also a Scrabble Fest which was an event imported from Daylesford and run by Daylesford local Clive Rutherford.
Trentham local, Peter Fernon, was already on his feet in a performance poetry item at the Fir Tree Bistro – the old Commercial Hotel - alongside the famous Ken Buddha Trio.
Food and entertainment was in full swing at both Wilding’s, a restaurant in the Cosmopolitan Hotel, and The Chimney, a European-style café where Kuki now stands. A book workshop ran at the Trentham Railway Station while Trentham’s combined churches hosted Melbourne Football Club’s chaplain for some Sporting Words at St Andrew’s Uniting Church.
Spokesperson Sylvia Johnson said a few years ago the committee decided to include staged and musical events, with some well-known authors also making appearances. The addition of the Mechanics also made a huge difference.
Just a few of the events this year include:
* Melbourne-based writer Madeleine Cleary shares the story behind her salacious first novel, The Butterfly Women. She describes the life of her great-great grandmother, a prominent brothel owner in colonial Melbourne's notorious Little Lonsdale Street. Madeleine pens a daring novel of danger and intrigue in the once disgusting and dark lanes around the many houses of ill-repute. Madeleine now balances writing, podcasting, and life in the Dandenong Ranges.
* Experience two exhilarating hours with the acclaimed poet, performer, and creative powerhouse Joel McKerrow. Whether a seasoned writer, an emerging author, a secret scribbler, or simply someone who loves the music of language, this workshop is an invitation to dive deep into the heart of storytelling and poetic expression.
* Enjoy a cosy afternoon of bush poetry featuring the works of local bush poets and heroes of the past. The rafters of this historic and fitting venue will ring with tales of the Aussie bushland. Submit an original unpublished work or compete to be the most compelling performer of your favourite classic.
* From famous authors and memorable characters to plot twists and literary quotes, challenge your wits and immerse yourself in the world of words to raise money for the Trentham Play Group and Trentham Kindergarten. Suitable for all ages, with children's literature included.
* At Those in Our Midst: 'I Have a Story to Tell' you will hear from people in Trentham with fascinating life stories, professions, and interests including: Professor John Long, palaeontologist at Flinders University, author of 30 books, documentary maker, a master scientist and storyteller; Simon Rickard, specialist in historical bassoons, a leading exponent of bizarre renaissance woodwind instruments, and horticulturist; Simon Phillips, multi-award winning director of plays, musicals and operas, including Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Love Never Dies, and Muriel’s Wedding; and Sylvia Johnson, award-winning restaurant owner, inaugural producer and director of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, and seasoned civil celebrant.
Along with the events Sylvia said there were lots of cash prizes on offer for contemporary poetry, bush poetry, short story competitions and more.
“I hope the people of Trentham and beyond come along and make the most of this fabulous festival of words. There really is something for everyone to get involved in.”
Trentham Words in Winter is held over the five weekends of August.
For tickets and information head to www.trenthamwordsinwinter.org
Advertorial
Hepburn Wildlife News with Marita McGuirk
Article proudly sponsored by The Local Publishing Group
Blue-tongue lizards
In the cooler months of the year lizards such as the blue-tongue, often disappear from view.
These lizards don’t actually hibernate but go into a dormant state known as brumation. This allows the lizard to conserve energy. Lizards do not produce their own body heat but rely on heat from their surroundings.
Blue-tongue lizards are territorial, and they will have safe places in their territory.
They are most active in the warmer months of the year during daylight hours and take shelter at night inside holes and burrows.
They are well adapted to suburban areas and will live in the same place for many years. If they are moved or exposed to the weather when they are in brumation it can be lethal to them.
If you accidentally disturb a lizard at this cooler time of year it is kindest to leave it where you find it under that log or rock. If you move a brumating lizard it could become ill and unable to recover, and if you see a lizard outside when the weather is cooler and the sun is not shining, then there is a good chance that the lizard is not well. Lizards are prone to lung sickness (like pneumonia) and require antibiotics to recover.
Lizards love the rocky habitats provided in the Central Highlands. Local gardens will often have resident lizards that have been living there for many years. Problems often occur when new people and pets move into a property with resident lizards. Many lizards that are brought to the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter to recover have been injured by pets. With persistence it is possible to train our pets to live in harmony with the resident lizards.
It is a kindness to be aware of your resident wildlife when moving to a new location. Another danger to our lizards is all our grass-cutting machinery.
When a lawn mower or whipper snipper is in use near blue-tongue lizards they will not run away but will hide in the longer grass that is about to be cut. The results can be dire and another reason lizards end up in the care of the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter.
Part of the diet of suburban blue-tongue lizards includes snails and slugs, so they are great to have around your garden to protect your plants, but unfortunately they can also be poisoned by eating snails and slugs that have eaten snail bait. It’s good to be aware that if you are using snail bait to kill the snails and slugs you could also be poisoning your local lizards.
Blue-tongues are ovoviviparous, which means that eggs develop and hatch inside the mother lizard; often 10 to 19 young are born. They can live up to 20 years old, so that lizard living in your garden could potentially be older than your teenaged children.
Dr Marita McGuirk is a field ecologist and environmental scientist, and a volunteer at the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter. Marita will write monthly columns about the shelter and the animals it cares for. If you would like to donate or volunteer, or just to find out more information, head to www.hepburnwildlifeshelter.org
Words in Winter 2025 – Light in the Dark
With a remarkable line-up of local and visiting authors, and supported by a dedicated team of volunteers, tickets for Words in Winter 2025 are now available - and if last year is anything to go by, tickets (many free or low cost) will be snapped up in no time.
This year the treasured event, which started more than 24 years ago, features an eclectic mix of authors, performances, readings and music and showcases the amazing group of residents who devote hours into bringing words, ideas, and stories to life.
Held across two weekends (main festival weekend August 22-24, encore weekend: August 29-31) this year’s event Light in the Dark, celebrates the town's literary and musical talent, welcomes revered authors from across the country and offers space for courageous discussion, literary discovery, and the importance of celebrating stories, community and creativity.
This year events will be held across a number of venues including Hotel Bellinzona, Radius Art, Daylesford Hotel, Paradise Bookshop, Stony Creek Gallery, Daylesford Library, Yandoit Cultural Centre and Spade to Blade.
The original founders, stalwart David Hall and his late wife Lorelle, had a vision to connect people through words and literature during the winter months. They could never have imagined the evolution of Words in Winter which has gained recognition Australia-wide as a significant event on the literary calendar.
As a fitting tribute, David Hall and Petrus Spronk will be inducted into the inaugural Words in Winter Hall of Fame at the festival launch at Radius Art on Friday, August 22. Local choir the HoneyTones will kick off the festival with winterinspired harmonies alongside readings from Daylesford Secondary College students.
Performances by well-known locals Toby Sime, Trevor Shard and Petrus Sponk, as well as newer voices including Shele Parker Black and Lu Sexton, will highlight the diverse local talent pool.
Writers from across Australia will join homegrown talent for intimate discussions, poetry pop ups where multilingual readings will take place in unexpected settings, and author workshops that will provide a personal deep dive into storytelling craft.
Family highlights across the festival weekends include local authors Kate Foulds and Claire Clifton and visiting author Julie Murphey for storytime at the Daylesford Library. Craft activities, a comic workshop and the School Writing Awards will all feature across the festival with Daylesford’s own Family Farm Band also in the lineup.
The all-local festival team includes program curators Lu Sexton, Rebecca Lister and Heather Robinson and Hepburn’s Devon Taylor as festival producer. This passionate team, including youth representatives Sasha Taylor-Holmes and Ruby Middleton-West, devotes hundreds of hours year-round to create a festival line-up unique to Words in Winter.
“Having locals shape every aspect – from our school programs to the Conversation Hub – ensures the festival reflects what our region cares about. Even while hosting national stars like Tony Birch and Marieke Hardy, its heart remains firmly local, with volunteers from across our towns creating spaces where stories spark”, Devon said.
Pick up a printed program from Paradise Bookshop or from the festival program pull-out edition of The Local on August 11 (online from August 10 at tlnews.com.au Tickets on sale now at www.wordsinwinter.com
Festival Highlight
Words in Winter Gala, hosted at the glorious Hotel Bellinzona on Saturday, August 23 from 6.30pm-11pm, will feature music by Late Night Radio, On the Couch with Beck Lister with guests novelist and essayist Tony Birch (Women & Children), author and journalist Jenny Valentish (The Introvert’s Guide to Leaving the House), and musician, writer, and disability advocate Eliza Hull (Running Underwater). Tickets are available for dinner and the show, or the show only. Book fast - this is guaranteed to sell out.
shop local!
supporting Locals” Restaurants, Bakers, Butchers, Cafe’s, Local vineyards, Distillers, Brewers and of course each other.
Remember we offer free delivery, T&Cs apply. Delivery times are Monday to Saturday between 10am and 4pm.
We accept credit cards over the phone or we have an on-board eftpos 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.
Gigs with Darren Lowe
Cosmopolitan Hotel, Trentham
Jesse Lawrance and Pete Fidler - Saturday, July 19, 3pm-5pm
Deborah Conway & Willy Zygier - Saturday, July 19, 8pm
Pete Daly - Saturday, July 26, 3pm-5pm
Odessa at Leaver's Hotel, Creswick
Stiff Gins - Sunday, July 20, 2pm-4pm
Zoj - Friday, July 25, 7pm-9pm
Dave Favours and the Road Side Ashes - Saturday, July 26
Meg Washington - Sunday, July 27, 1.30pm-4pm
Daylesford Hotel, Daylesford
Blow Ins Comedy - Friday, July 18, 9pm-11pm
Live Piano with Valient von Thule - Friday, July 25, 7pm-10pm
Dolly's Disco Bingo - Thursday, July 31, 5pm-10pm
Ballarat's Choral Festival
The festival has been encouraging established and emerging choirs to embrace the joys of choral music. This year 12 choirs are participating, each demonstrating their love of singing and finally coming together in one big combined celebratory finale.
The chosen pieces range from traditional folk songs, a well-known song by Lennon and McCartney, Schubert, ABBA, Rutter, ancient and modern - something for everyone - and a firm favourite: The Tongan Children's Choir.
The festival is at St Patrick's Cathedral, Dawson Street South on Sunday, July 27 at 1.30pm.
Got a gig happening? Email news@tlnews.com.au
All gigs correct at time of publication, check with venues!
Reconciliation Action Plan launched
Hepburn Shire Council launched the Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan last Friday, July 11 at the Hepburn Pavilion.
The plan has been developed in collaboration with Djaara and Djaara Timbers, a Dja Dja Wurrung specialty and cultural timbers project.
The event was part of NAIDOC Week celebrations and marked a significant step in the council's commitment to truth-telling, respect and meaningful change for First Nations' people of the region.
The RAP plan outlines practical actions that will drive the council’s contribution to reconciliation both internally and in the wider community over the coming years.
The afternoon began with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony delivered by respected Elders Uncle Rick Nelson and Jason Kerr, followed by a celebration of the newly signed Memorandum of Understanding with Djaara Timbers, reflecting shared goals in cultural and economic development.
The agreement will permit the collection of material from the shire’s day-today tree works including roadsides, development, hazardous tree work and storm damage.
This will be taken to Djarra Timber and used to produce high-value timber products for cultural use that give back to country including artistic installations and musical instruments. Djaara Timber will also have the opportunity to supply park signage and shelters to reserves and parks in the shire.
"Not for profit, but for preservation practice," explained Partnerships, Policy, and Cultural Heritage manager at Djaara Harley Douglas. "It is really important to separate that. This new partnership is an example of what reconciliation in action can look like - practical, respectful and in collaboration."
Another highlight from the day's event was a live performance by artist Amos Roach, son of the late Aboriginal musical legends Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter, whose music deeply honours Country, culture, and spirit.
Clockwise from top, Amos Roach, Elder Uncle Rick Nelson, from left, Djaara's Harley Douglas and Hepburn Shire Mayor Cr Don Henderson Words & images: Tony Sawrey
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Beetham's Botanicals
Wel, here I am penning another article for you, the reader, to enjoy…
This time I’ll be commenting on predicted climate change and what it means to those working in horticulture, landscaping, garden design and to the home gardener. The plants we'll be looking at will be trees.
So let's start with figures that were sourced from an app that was put together by various institutes including the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and the Botanic Gardens Conservation International, supplying a wealth of information on trees that culminated in the climate assessment tool that I am using now.
The current mean annual temperature for Daylesford is 11.3 degrees Celsius, the projected mean for 2050 is 13.1 and for 2090 15.3 which amounts to an increase of an average 4.0 degrees over 65 years. It doesn't sound a lot but these figures would make Daylesford's future weather akin to a range of areas around the world including here in Australia from Parkes (New South Wales) to Toowoomba (Queensland), South-Central China and parts of Mexico. Scary hey, and by the way, Hepburn's mean annual temperatures were consistently just 0.5 degrees warmer than Daylesford.
So how will this affect our choice of trees to plant? Well, for starters our range of trees available is dependent on current nursery stock and a lot of these trees have been tried and tested in the past and are now guaranteed best sellers.
At this point I think I'll mention Climate Resilience which is to say that some trees will naturally adapt to increasing temperatures. This has already happened in the past with many species existing well outside their native climatic conditionsthose that instantly spring to mind include many araucaria spp. such as A. bidwillii (bunya pine) from Queensland, A. cunninghamii (hoop pine) from New South Sales, Queensland and New Guinea, and A. heterophylla (Norfolk Island pine), magnolia grandiflora (southern magnolia) from the warmer parts of southern USA and sequoiadendron giganteum (giant redwood) from higher altitudes of the Sierra Nevada in California.
Of all those above only the giant redwood may struggle with forecast temperature increase. I am currently acting as a consultant to the Kyneton Botanic Gardens to research what tree species would be suitable for future plantings in the gardens and so I can tell you there are many fine trees that would make themselves at home here in Daylesford/Hepburn including eucalypts from southwestern WA, native rainforest species from around Toowoomba (figs and tulipwood - harpullia pendula), oaks and pines from Mexico, conifers and maples from South-Central China, drought and frost specimens from Capetown to Zimbabwe, camellia spp. from warmer parts of China to northern Vietnam and rhododendron ssp. from the Himalayas.
Of course it's all very well to speak of such wondrous new trees from our own Aussie backyard and exotic parts of the world, but how will we source them? I guess it will come down to empowering the nursery trade to offer more of these suggested tree species for us to try in our gardens and so in the meantime consider choosing tree species that, as they mature, have a better chance of coping with warmer climes.
I thought to finish off I'd give you three climate-resilient tree species (see images) that I consider to be fine future additions to any landscape, garden design or the home garden: hymenosporum flavum (native frangipani) from far-eastern New South Wales into far-eastern Queensland and onto New Guinea, pinus patula (weeping Mexican pine) widespread throughout Mexico and Buckinghamia celsissima (ivory curl) from north-eastern Queensland.
Cheers John Beetham (Trees in Australia)
Scan the QR code to JB's Instagram post Next time: the wonderful world of bark, flowers & foliage...
Clockwise from top left, hymenosporum flavum (native frangipani) from far eastern New South Wales into far eastern Queensland and onto New Guinea, Buckinghamia celsissima (ivory curl) from north-eastern Queenslan and pinus patula (weeping Mexican pine) from widespread Mexico
Scan the QR code to JB's Instagram post
Sharing great food & giving back to community
As a parent in a tourist town, it’s terrific when an affordable restaurant with family-friendly food opens up, and Eureka Pizza & Bistro in Howe Street ticks all the boxes. In the short time since this Italian-themed eatery opened its doors, it’s already become a Daylesford favourite, much like its flagship Ballarat restaurant, which is still going strong after 53 years.
My plus one for the night was my teenage daughter. She loves Italian food and is great company. And the fact that she can take food photos like a pro is an added bonus. We were warmly greeted by Martha who settled us in with drinks. There’s a small but well thought out wine list, soft drinks, Italian aranciata and chinotto, milkshakes and hot beverages. On the job, I decided not to have wine so we both settled for sparkling natural lemon mineral water.
Bella ordered her favourite pizza, margherita. The small pizza ($18) was still a generous size and even with my help we needed a doggy box. You’d think with minimal toppings you can’t go wrong but as said teenager attests, it’s a delicate balance and her verdict was ‘they nailed it.’
Small pizzas range from $18-$22 while the large are priced from $24-$28. Gluten-free bases are available as is vegan cheese.
I’m someone who routinely suffers from food envy, when I eat out I always order something I wouldn’t usually make at home. This time I went for the chicken and avocado risotto ($27). The creamy textures and rich flavours were delicious, and the serving was so generous, even with help, I couldn’t get through it all. Another thing I love about going to a family friendly restaurant – good sized portions.
We shared a garden salad which for the price ($6) was amazing and again a great size. It was fresh and colourful and the perfect pairing with pizza and risotto.
Eureka offers more than 20 pizza options, a range of yummy starters including minestrone soup ($16) and arancini ($15), as well as an extensive pasta menu with prices starting at $25.
Mains options include seafood (calamari and prawn dishes), steak (T-bone and scotch fillet), and favourites including chicken parmigiana and veal scaloppine which are already becoming hits with the locals. There really are options to cater for everyone.
Throughout the night there was a steady stream of takeaway pick-ups and for a Wednesday night, the tables filled up very quickly. One table said it was their third time visiting and that Eureka has already become their favourite local.
As one of the owners, BJ, is quick to point out, creating an environment where people of all ages and tastes are catered for is an important motivator for the restaurant.
“We try to ensure there is something for everyone on the menu and believe creating a restaurant where people feel comfortable and welcomed is what drives us. We love sharing great food and already we have had incredible support from a generous community.”
BJ said Eureka is supporting the local footy club by sponsoring Best on Ground and looks forward to becoming part of the community and giving back.
We were too full for dessert but that’s for next time because the homemade tiramisu ($13) looked like something out of an Epicure magazine shoot.
And the pancake stacks are a must next time we go back - perfect for a weekend afternoon tea on a typical winter's day in Daylesford.
Nestled amidst the charming streets of Daylesford, Eureka Pizza Daylesford captivates hearts as a haven for Italian food enthusiasts. Indulge in the rich flavours of traditional Italian cuisine, expertly crafted pizzas, delectable pastas, and hearty parmas. With a history dating back to 1972, the restaurant’s passion for culinary excellence shines through in every bite. As the second branch of the beloved Eureka Pizza & Bistro from Ballarat, Eureka Pizza Daylesford promises an extraordinary dining experience in the heart of Australia’s Spa capital.
Kyle’s Rant
I had a colonoscopy last week which turned into a double ender with an endoscopy suggested at the last minute.
To the chase, nothing is wrong, it was just a quick check, but when I met with the surgeon he had noticed something in a scan pertaining to my upper bowel, which again turned out to be nothing.
I have been waiting a long time for the check-up because I was told by a local doctor that it wasn’t necessary, the poo in the bag thing is sufficient. That was even when I explained I had one done in my midthirties and was meant to go back five years later and here I am at 57.
So, it was a doctor shop for me and I found a guy with the same view as me to get a referral for what is the gold standard in checking for bowel niggles.
A lot of folks know the pre-flight to a procedure like that, it requires plenty of dunny paper (thank God it wasn't during the time of the Great Toilet Paper Wars in 2020), a quiet afternoon or for people like me, an early morning start.
At one stage I nearly moved the TV into the en suite, I was there that long, it felt like even my soul had departed. One particular incident involved hopping off the dunny only to make it to the door and then it was a quick reverse back.
Donna took the day off in sympathy as we made an hour and 40-minute movie stretch out for five hours due to my many intermission breaks.
Finally, I arrived at the hospital and dressed in my magic paper pants and robe I shuffled into the waiting room and made a friend out of a stranger after I asked him “how do I look?”
We then discussed our experiences of the pure hell we had both just faced, it was about that time my new brother in arms let me in on a little trick to use Vaseline. (Thanks, mate, where were you 24 hours ago?)
It is then I found myself toe-to-toe with the surgeon who wanted to do the endoscopy at the same time. I don't know why I resisted at first, he's the expert, but I didn’t put up too much of fight and drank the special liquid.
About five minutes later I was lying on the bed with my final words to the nurses to not forget to clean the camera and, unlike the old Covid swabs, start at the top and then work your way down. Surely that kept them laughing, the first time they have heard that joke.
Forward wind a few hours and I was talking to my quack and he informed me he had removed four polyps, which can be the pre-curser to bowel cancer, so I was right to chase the test. He also handed me some polaroids, proof that my bowel was not entirely clean. I told him I had done my best.
Finally I was home, feasting after the 40-hour fast. And feeling a few kilos lighter. We are so lucky to live in a country that services its citizens so well in terms of health; imagine living in the no-medical safety net of America.
Big beautiful bill my arse rant over…
(Ed's note: It's like man-flu but man-colonoscopy. I didn't really go out in sympathy it was just the furthest room from the toilet.)
Local Lines
muesli
aftermath
pasty flaps of nothing much smelling of hospital corridor feeling like damp scabs of skin pallid triticale flakes taste like tastelessness mere base for fruity cousins
glistening with soy milk they park on ceramic noiselessly as they settle in for dry adhesion
Bill likes his muesli of a morning, especially when augmented with banana, berries and yoghurt.
Local Lines features poetry by locals about local and any other matters. Please submit poems to Bill Wootton at cottlesbreedge@gmail.com
Alex Stoneman talk
Alex Stoneman has a distinguished career with the Victorian Education Department and is a longterm and much respected tutor with Maryborough U3A.
He will speak about Geological Inspirations at Central Goldfields Art Gallery on Wednesday, July 23 from 10.30am to 11.30am
Accompanied by visual examples of art works, Alex Stoneman’s focus is on representations of Australian landscape paintings by John Glover, above, Eugene Von Guerard, William Tibbits, Arthur Streeton, Russell Drysdale and Fred Williams. Reference is made to the critical writing of Bernard Smith, John Berger, Patrick McCaughey and Wally Canuana. The talk raises questions about hidden ideologies in visual images.
Cost: $5, U3A Maryborough members free. Bookings essential as places are limited. To book please call 5461 6600 or email cgsc.art@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au Link: www.centralgoldfieldsartgallery.com.au
Pick me, pick me!
Hi there, I'm Buffy, a young canine girl full of love and zest for life.
I am friendly to everyone I meet and am always ready for a game or two. I also love a good snuggle session.
I am just 10 months old, black and white, desexed and a large breed mix.
Microchip no. 956000018518757
Come and meet me at MAAWs in Castlemaine.
Ph: 5472 5277.
(Pick me, pick me is run in memory of Rosie the Kelpie & Curly the Cocker Spaniel - we picked them.
Pick me, pick me is also proudly supported by Daylesford's petstockwhere pets are family.)
Just sayin’...
By Donna Kelly
It was heart breaking to talk to some of the people involved in our home care story on pages 6 & 7.
Usually, as a journo, you try to offer a few words of comfort but in the case of the 92-year-old woman being cared for by her daughters so she can die at home, I had nothing to say. Just sorry. Sorry you are going through this hell. Might as well be thoughts and prayers.
Under her "package" (sounds like a Christmas present all tied up with string) the woman receives just four hours of respite care for the daughter who lives with her. That's four hours out of 168 for the week. This is not a nine to five job.
And then there are three bed baths a week - and sometimes when only one carer comes along the daughter must help out. No refunds here. There is also a bit of money left for incontinence products and some sustenance from the Daylesford Hospital.
As one daughter told me, when the money runs out, it runs out. This is real life, not The Block where Scotty can always magically find another $5000 for a spendthrift contestant. At one stage they had to move their mum into Hepburn House for a couple of weeks so they could save on all those respite hours and bedbaths, and get a little nest egg started again. Is this really how we treat our elderly?
Oddly, they once received 16 hours' respite and shopping and housecleaning. Assessed for higher needs, the services dropped. Go figure that one.
Less drastic but still hopeless, is the 86-year-old bloke who just wants to stay in his house and would like a safety rail for some steep steps. The occupational therapist says yes but the budget says no. Bit of gardening help? Sorry, already 1000 waiting ahead of you in the queue. If we help 100 a year we can get to you in 10 years. Luckily he's a sprightly guy and probably will make it.
(The only good story was another bloke who had a Gold Card for being a veteran. I have always counselled people away from the armed forces, just seems like a poor choice at times, but I would now tell them to join up. Although I think you need to do overseas service - but that might be OK until we get involved in another war.)
No one I wanted to talk to wished to be named. Fair enough. You never know the backlash. And I reached out to all the care agencies involved along with Ageing Australia and the Australia Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. As of Saturday, all had returned my emails and calls, except the national peak body for aged care, Ageing Australia. Hmmm.
There are also a lot of other stories, some sad, some ridiculous, which are never published but true none-the-less. A personal story from the latter category is when my mum fell and hurt her spine. Not so much at-home care but temporary care.
She had to wear a back and neck brace for six weeks and we got her a spot in the nursing home just over the road from her retirement village unit. How lucky, we thought, until we arrived and there was just a bed in the room. I asked about a chair, for her or for visitors, and was told that was not available. Then I enquired about a television - six weeks is a long time to just sit. Again, no go.
So Kyle being Kyle, marched across the road and came back carrying a huge lounge chair from her home. And then went back again for a television and stand. All sorted. But as the above daughter pondered, what do people without children, and fairly able ones at that, do?
I know of another woman who moved into aged care after being on a home care package for a short time. Her daughter asked what happened to the leftover money and was told it went back into the general coffers. She called bullshit and was able to use the money for things her mum needed in aged care. Why do we always have to fight for our rights? And what if you don't know how to fight, or don't have someone to advocate on your behalf?
The Department of Health, Disablility and Ageing says: "Aged care is the support provided to older people who need help in their own home or who can no longer live at home. It can include: help with everyday living; assistive equipment and home modifications; personal care and health care; and accommodation. Aged care can help you to: stay connected to your community; be more independent; take care of your health and safety; and meet your cultural and social needs."
I also call bullshit. It's not about care and support, staying connected, being independent. It's about money.
If you ever want a read, Google the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. Read fun things like: "Discovering the extent of substandard care in any human service should be quite straightforward. In Australia’s aged care system, it is exceedingly difficult. Those who run the system do not seem to know about the nature and extent of substandard care, and have made limited attempts to find out. " I just turned 60 and was OK with getting older and being more carefree. Not so sure now. Just sayin'...
W RD CROSS
Business Directory - Support Local! Markets
Here is the crossword solution for Edition 335.
How did you go?
All words in the crossword appear somewhere in the same edition of The Local
Every Sunday - Daylesford Sunday Market
First Saturday - Trentham Neighbourhood Centre Makers Market, Woodend Farmers Market, Woodend Lions Market
Second Saturday - Trentham Community Group Market, Kyneton Farmers Market, Kyneton Rotary Community Market
Second Sunday - Maldon Market, Clunes Farmers Market
Third Saturday - Trentham Farmers Market and Makers Market, Glenlyon Farmers Market, Leonards Hill Market, Creswick Market
Third Sunday - Talbot Farmers Market,
Fourth Sunday - Daylesford Farmers Market, Trentham Station Sunday Market
Ageing DisGracefully members, including Max Primmer, get together at the Daylesford Mill Markets cafe on Thursdays at 11am. All welcome.
For information email ageingdis3461@gmail.com, call 0427 131 249 or head to the Ageing DisGracefully Facebook page.
Ageing DisGracefully is an initiative of Hepburn House.
Business Directory - Buy Local
Artists of the Central Highlands
Emma McAdam-Marmont grew up in New Zealand and studied at Elam School of Fine Arts in Auckland, majoring in sculpture, photography, and mixed media. She moved to Australia in her early 20s to work in advertising and eventually became a television producer. That’s how she met her husband-to-be Struan Hopwood - they were both working creatively, just not yet as painters. Struan was born in South Africa and moved to Melbourne in 2003. He studied arts and fine art here, but was always painting in some form - from sketchbooks and murals to spraypainted boards and canvas. He says he always knew he'd find his way into a studio practice. The pair chatted with Donna Kelly.
Donna: How did you get together?
Both: We met in our advertising days, but it was during a trip to Praguesitting on the banks of the Vltava River - that we decided to leave that world and build a life around painting. That was May 13, which is where the name Thirteen 05 (their Daylesford gallery) comes from.
Donna: What do you do, artwise?
Emma: I work mostly in acrylic, using spatulas, palette knives, and sponges to build texture and softness. My "Suits" series focuses on faceless, androgynous figures that carry a certain emotional weight - quiet confidence, vulnerability, sometimes nostalgia. I also paint nude works that treat the body more like landscape than object - soft, powerful, grounded in presence rather than performance.
Struan: I paint bold, character-driven work influenced by street art, manga and pop culture. There’s a lot of colour, linework, and symbolism in my pieces - sometimes humorous, sometimes darker. I work with acrylics, spray paint and acrylic markers, blending illustration with abstract textures.
Both: Our collaborative portraits combine both of those energies - Struan creates the character and linework, and Emma brings the skin, the flesh, and the realism. It’s an intuitive back-and-forth. Sometimes a piece will go between us five or six times before it lands.
Donna: What do you love about art?
Emma: That it says things we don’t have words for. It can stop someone in their tracks and invite them to feel something quietly and deeply.
Struan: That it can be cheeky, nostalgic and emotional all at once. I love that art holds contradiction - it can be fun and still mean something.
Donna: Are you competitive with each other?
Both: No, not at all. We paint in the same studio, share feedback constantly, and collaborate closely even when the work is technically solo. There’s trust in the process, and we’re usually better for each other’s eyes. If anything, the collaboration gives us permission to push further than we would alone.
Donna: Why are you part of the Winter Show at Little Gallery in Trentham?
Both: Little Gallery feels like a natural fit, we live in Trentham and truly appreciate and admire the team at Little Gallery - artist-led, thoughtfully curated, and committed to showing work with heart. The Winter Show has built a reputation for quality and integrity, and we’re really proud to have both our individual and collaborative work included.
Donna: Where else can people see your work?
Both: We run our own space - Thirteen 05 Gallery in Daylesford. It’s our own boutique gallery and is constantly evolving. New work arrives weekly, and we also showcase a selection of other contemporary Australian artists. We’ll also be exhibiting together at the Affordable Art Fair in Melbourne this August, alongside Sally Hastings and a few other brilliant creators.
Donna: Do you have a Central Highlands story?
Both: Like a lot of people, we came to Daylesford thinking we’d slow down - and we did, a little, but we also found this incredible, creative community and freedom to create a space that is ours. There's room to think and make, and there's genuine curiosity from the people who walk through our doors. It’s home now and has been for nearly nine years.
Donna: Anything else you’d like to add?
Both: Just a thank you to the Little Gallery team, to everyone supporting artists in real, meaningful ways, and to those who take the time to really look and have a conversation. That moment of connection between the artist and the viewer is the reason we do this. Lastly, if there’s something you think about, a passion of yours that pops into your mind every day in those quiet moments, we challenge you to take the step and do it. Create that thing, build that project, travel to that place. Life is short and you should do what you love.
The Little Gallery Winter Show opened on July 11 and will run until July 28, open 10am-4pm from Thursday to Monday.
