The Local Issue 180, May 18, 2020

May 18, 2020 Issue 180 Smeaton singer/songwriter

The Local - Now weekly!

The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

2 About Us

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Front cover: Smeaton singer/ songwriter D'Arcy Spiller is home for a while but keen to get back travelling as soon as she can. Read her story on page 5.

May 18, 2020 Issue 180 Smeaton singer/songwriter

The Local is a weekly community publication covering the Central Highlands. The next edition is out on Monday, May 25, 2020.

Or online on Sunday, May 24 at www.tlnews.com.au Space bookings: Wednesday, May 20 Copy deadline: Thursday, May 21 Editorial deadline: Thursday, May 21

Image: Contributed

Managing editor | Donna Kelly General manager | 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

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Community 3

Father Neil streaming the words of a service

F dry”.

ATHER Neil Fitzgerald could be living in Wales right now. The vicar for Christ Church Daylesford was visiting his uncle with his partner and parents when COVID-19 hit and their airline left them “high and

Luckily, Father Neil’s other job is as a steward with Qantas so he cashed in all of his staff travel benefits and credits and managed to get all four of them on the last Qantas flight from London to Melbourne.

“When we checked in we were told it was 40 (seats) oversold with 30 staff on standby and I thought ‘OK, we are not getting out of here’ but miraculously we did.

I was rapt to get home and I didn’t even mind the 14 days’ isolation, it was actually good to get some work done for the church. If we had not caught that plane we would still be in Wales, mind you we had a lovely cottage, but I think the family welcome would have worn out after a while.”

Father Neil said while all travel was now off the cards, he continued to be employed by Qantas for another month after his isolation, a position decided on seniority. But his only duty was to sit at the airport for seven hours a day on standby in case he was called out.

“There were just two of us in the crew lounge and nobody in the airport which was just bizarre to be in a place like Tullamarine and have no-one around and nothing going on. It was a bit apocalyptic in a way.”

He was officially stood down at the end of April, along with 95 per cent of crew.

It’s not the first time Father Neil has been stood down, the other was at the start of his career when the end of his training coincided with the pilot’s strike of 1989. The irony, as he reaches the end of his career, is not lost on him.

Other cabin crew have taken on positions with supermarkets and delivery companies, but Father Neil has been retained by the church which he says has helped with finances.

It has also kept him busy with online streaming Sunday and Wednesday services and podcasting evening prayer four times a week. Podcast CDs have also been delivered to parishioners who are not online.

“The church is going really well. One of my first sermons at the church a couple of years ago was how a church was not just a vicar in a nice building, it’s about the community and the people who turn up each Sunday, whether that is in a nice building or a tin shed.

“We have really had to put that to the test and the response has been overwhelming. We were averaging on the streaming service well over 100 viewings and people have not only maintained but increased their giving which is humbling and incredibly supportive. We are doing food deliveries and still collecting food and clothing for the refugees and the homeless. People have really stepped up and thought outside the box.

“However it is strange to do a church service to an empty church and it’s not something I want to get used to. I feel like Father McKenzie in the Beatles’ song, Eleanor Rigby, ‘writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear’.”

There’s also a phone tree to make sure everyone is in contact, newsletters are still being published and people are meeting via Zoom. “We have actually been one of the most forward-thinking parishes in the diocese. I am incredibly proud of the congregation, they have really shown compassion and care to one another and to complete strangers and to me as well, it has been lovely. I have been overwhelmed by their support and it just goes to show a church isn’t just a building and a vicar, it’s a community. It has been heart-warming.”

So what does the future hold, both in the air and on the ground?

“We have been told by the airline that it will be a totally different animal on the other side of coronavirus so we are not sure what we will be going back to, we are just waiting to see.

“We keep our qualifications up and running either online or at the training centre but we have no idea what is happening from month to month. We are hoping there may be some domestic flights happening by July and perhaps trans-Tasman flights will be one of the first to open up, along with the domestic.

“With the church, we initially had to cut down on the social contact side, telling people just to make eye contact and smile rather than a handshake in a greeting of peace. And there will be more social distancing to come with this relaxation (of the rules) coming. How that will work? We have no idea. I may have to produce a 'safety onboard card' to hand out at the door. Or perhaps people can ring up and make a reservation for an aisle or window seat.

“What is it going to look like with 10 people per service and two per pew? Maybe we will have multiple services on a Sunday. But I am hoping the first 10 people are those who are not on social media because they will really be feeling the isolation.

We have no idea how it is going to look but it is certainly going to be an interesting time.”

*Donations of food and clothing can be left at the church door.

Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Kyle Barnes

4 Local Lines

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Local Lines Catholics need not apply Catholics need not apply it read, the banner when I was a boy You can’t catch this bus the driver would say Wait for the ‘Roman’ Catholic bus Knowing there wasn’t one We were like the Jews A tribe, not trusted Living in our own ghetto, Doveton Our loyalties always lay elsewhere it was thought We weren’t Australian enough the children of ignorant Irish, Poles, Dutch, Maltese, Poms You have strange practices they said, like confession, fasting And we laughed But it made us stronger and we became a people with something to prove

Venie poetry prize

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HE 2020 Venie Holmgren Environmental Poetry Prize, in partnership with Rabbit: a journal for non-fiction poetry, has been launched.

In her late 50’s Venie Holmgren began to write poetry and her first published anthology, The Sun Collection for the Planet in 1989, became a poetry best seller.

At the same time, she applied her environmental activist skills and commitment to the campaign to save native forests near her home on the far south coast of NSW, where she was arrested twice for obstructing log trucks.

After 16 years of solo self-reliant living she moved to the town of Pambula where she penned her travel memoir, several more books of poetry and travelled widely as a performance poet. In 2010 Venie moved to Hepburn where she wrote her last poetry collection, The Tea-House Poems. In January 2016, Venie ‘caught the bus’ at the age of 93.

The judges for the 2020 $1000 prize are Jeanine Leane and Michael Farrell.

Jeanine Leane is a Wiradjuri writer, poet and academic from south-west New South Wales. She has published widely in the area of Aboriginal literature, writing otherness and creative non-fiction.

Originally from Bombala in New South Wales, Michael Farrell has lived in Melbourne since 1990. His new poetry book is Family Trees, the follow-up to the Queensland Literary Award-winning I Love Poetry. He has also won the Peter Porter Poetry Prize. He co-won the Venie Holmgren Poetry Prize in 2017 and was runnerup in 2018.

Poems must have an environmental theme and all entries must be received by 11.59pm on Monday, July 20.

Link: www.holmgren.com.au/the-2020-venie-holmgren-environmentalpoetry-prize/

So we clawed our way up and so did our children breathing in their parents’ struggle Over the years we were accepted and included And then we destroyed ourselves The betrayal was of our trust and never our fault but that of our leaders Between the age of eleven and twenty one I knew five priests convicted of sexual abuse and later the cardinal himself Never a victim because I had a dangerous father I went to school with victims We deserved better for our loyalty Yet I still taught for forty years in Catholic schools And made lifelong friends of good people We don’t want outsiders howling from the wings and jumping on our graves The people will rebuild from the ruins - Tom Perfect Tom Perfect had a seriously privileged upbringing within a household of love and love for learning, for the arts, sport, and surviving, where people were always visiting.

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

CALLING ALL ARTISTS GLENLYON PUBLIC ART COMMISSION Council is currently seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) for a $30,000 public art commission in Glenlyon. Local artists are encouraged to apply. Please visit Council’s website (www. hepburn.vic.gov.au) and e-tendering portal for more information on the proposed sites, history of the area and a link to apply.

For more information please contact Donna Spiller, Arts, Culture and Reconciliation Officer, on dspiller@hepburn. vic.gov.au or 5321 6498.

EOI closes Wednesday, 10 June 2020.

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Our musicians 5

Music to express emotions and experiences

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'ARCY Spiller is from a family of seven which moved around when she was young. They started in Sydney, then New Zealand, Melbourne and then moved to Smeaton when she was about seven. D'Arcy went to Smeaton Primary School - the same school her grandmother attended, although she didn't know that at the time.

When she was 12 the family moved back to Sydney for a year where she started to love jazz music - D'Arcy learnt Lullaby of Birdland from her vocal teacher who was a Russian opera singer, and also received her first guitar that year which she still uses in gigs. D'Arcy says looking back it was a pivotal year for her musically. The family then moved back to Smeaton where she started writing originals and entered a national song-writing competition and came third. The ABC interviewed her and played her song on the radio and "I got a taste for it and my desire to make original music started there".

At 15, the family moved to America and D'Arcy attended an arts high school and was admitted to a summer program at Berklee College of Music. Her taste in music grew and she developed a taste for alt blues, bluegrass, rock and grunge music, and she started going to big music festivals. Instead of prom, D'Arcy went to Coachella.

D'Arcy said her childhood included a lot of travel, freedom in the country, exposure to city life, many different experiences and she tries to keep all of that in her life now. She chatted with Donna Kelly.

Donna: That's a great childhood. Is your family musical?

D'Arcy: When my mum was pregnant with me she was working on a festival in Hong Kong, she attended an Indian concert and when the tablah drums started playing she felt me kick with the beat. It was then she knew I’d love music. My dad, who was in advertising also introduced me to the sync world when I was around five, where I was able to dabble in how you can express emotion in voice. I started doing regular voice sessional work. So, while neither are "musically inclined" they both work around the arts and creative industries. My sister Gypsy plays the piano and we have started collaborating a little. My parents have always been extremely supportive and encouraged my siblings and I to do what makes us happy.

Donna: When did you first realise you had a real talent?

D'Arcy: I guess when I started having success in national and international song writing comps, that’s when I thought "hmm, maybe I could do this, maybe I could do song writing". It's a series of little things I guess. Being asked to perform at events, people acknowledging my voice or musicality. Of course, being signed to 100s + 1000s, a Mushroom group label, was the exciting, I must have some talent moment.

Donna: Are there any musicians or songwriters who inspire you?

D'Arcy: I really love LP as a songwriter she’s great at telling a story and so is Patti Smith, Alison Mosshart, Kaleo, Amy Winehouse and Hozier. Chris Isaak and Edwyn Collins I love because I grew up listening to them. My parents played them a lot.

Donna: What is your music about? How do you go about writing music?

D'Arcy: Sometimes I find it hard to understand what I’m feeling or I need to express an idea or story. The fire to understand or tell that story is where the writing kicks in. My music helps me to express emotions and describe experiences.

Donna: What is it like being in the industry?

D'Arcy: Oh man, I’m still trying to figure the industry out and I probably always will be. It’s constant change and new things to learn, but it’s exciting!

Donna: I saw you were a Triple J unearthed artist – what was that like?

D'Arcy: Being the Triple J unearthed feature artist was brilliant! I first started thinking about what it would be like to be the feature artist when I was about 20. So almost six years ago, I feel like I really achieved one of my personal goals.

Donna: What are you hoping for in the future?

D'Arcy: I’m hoping to travel more and have more experiences. It’s what fuels my music. I hope to be touring and meeting/collaborating with amazing artists and producers.

Donna: How has COVID-19 impacted on your career?

D'Arcy: On the down side, in simple terms, COVID-19 has created a loss of income. On the positive side, I have experienced something unimaginable and so far my family and friends have remained safe. It has given me valuable creative space and time. Doing writing sessions online though, it has been somewhat difficult not being able to really suss out the other person's vibes but writing a new song has been achievable.

Image: Contributed

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Inspiring 7

Creating beautiful floral displays for all

D

ENISE Robinson’s work is truly beautiful and even more than that, she is a beautiful person.

Her connections to the natural landscape run quite deep, as do her connections to the community that she loves.

For more than 20 years, Denise has volunteered at the Daylesford Regional Visitor Information Centre and it’s fitting because of her passion for the area and its history.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me, I just don’t leave,” Denise joked.

“Ever Tuesday, except for now of course, I’m at the information centre. I’ve worked with some wonderful people, it’s my little Tuesday team.”

Gardening has always been a passion as well and Denise has been involved with the Friends of Wombat Botanic Gardens group for several years.

“It’s an active and interesting group, I’d like to retire and spend a bit more time with it. I can’t commit to that yet but I can’t wait to get my hands dirty and be part of the growing group, being able to propagate things and raise funds for the gardens.”

Pre-COVID-19, Denise could also be found at Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre, tutoring.

“I would usually do a Winter series of flower arranging, very loosely, as an introduction to floristry, using things from the Winter garden. This is the first Winter I haven’t done it in about 12 years. It’s a really nice thing to do through the centre.”

Keeping with the beautiful floral theme and the natural landscape that she loves, over the past nine years Denise has also been involved in the Fabulous Flower Festa, the flower show raising funds as part of the Swiss Italian Festa.

She also loves history saying “if I had another life I’d be a volunteer at the museum, what they do there is just amazing, I need more time to do all these things”.

Denise’s own history in the area is interesting too – her grandfather was one of the four original owners of the Mineral Springs Hotel – and the decision that she and her husband Rodney made 27 years ago to turn their holiday spot into a permanent home on the lake was an easy one.

Denise had been living in Daylesford for only a year when she started working as the floral stylist at Lake House.

“I made Alla some posies, tiny little things just the size of your hand, and we presented them to diners on the Sunday of Mother’s Day. I had inherited an old garden, so I pulled the posies together and that was the start.”

That was 26 years ago and since becoming the in-house florist, Denise estimates she has been the Lake House bridal florist for about 500 to 600 brides.

Her picking garden, at Dairy Flat Farm at Musk, is a more recent passion for Denise. It’s two years old and she’s picking more of her beautiful posies from it and selling them at the Lake House's Wombat Hill Café at the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens.

“I’m the Lake House in-house floral stylist, but I’ve never actually sold my work before and just over the last couple of months that we’ve been shut down, we’re trying to be ‘something from your garden’ and not ‘something that you would pick up at the supermarket’ - it’s a little posy that you might pick up while you buy produce and things like that, it’s always fragrant, always beautiful.”

Even in the middle of a global pandemic, Denise finds ways to present “beautiful” to her community.

“Nothing is the same, that’s the lovely thing about being a floral stylist, it’s a gift.”

Right, Denise plants jonquil bulbs as part of Daylesford Erlicheer

Words: Kate Taylor | Image: Contributed (This article is supported by the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas.)

“I made Alla some posies, tiny little things just the size of your hand, and we presented them to diners on the Sunday of Mother’s Day. I had inherited an old garden, so I pulled the posies together and that was the start.”

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

Confessions from the great Glenlyon Confest

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HE Hare Krishnas were making meals. Just about everyone else was making love.

When the stories of festivals are written, there’s Woodstock, Glastonbury and even Sunbury. Add to that Glenlyon.

In the early 80s they came in their thousands to the Glenlyon Recreation Reserve: alternative thinkers, social change agents and community dreamers is what they now call themselves.

Back then, however, they were pretty much hippies. “Sex ‘n’ drugs ‘n’ rock‘n’roll…,” is how one festival-goer now describes the festival, “without the rock‘n’roll”.

That’s the recollection of Daylesford wedding celebrant Beverley Risstrom, who remembers the Down to Earth Confest as a fabulous time when one of the few hiccups was after a kid in childcare aged about three requested and got a Mohican haircut. Then his mother arrived.

“There was so much angst,” she says, “we had to move to the healing circle.”

Beverly rocked up to the festival with her brother, her boyfriend and two girlfriends, camping in the warm weather, swimming, then rolling in the mud and freshly mown hay.

“I got an 'elephant skin' and also four or five straight lines on my arm, scratches either from a platypus or 'a spirit animal'. It was pretty wild, but I don’t remember any violence.”

She does remember the local CFA coming out to hose the mud off the naked revellers…and the look on the face of a young kid on the firetruck as the mass of naked bodies among the 5000 were washed down. That kid may have been Damian Leonard, now a potato farmer at Glenlyon, who says he would have been 12 at the time, had a dad in the CFA, but doesn’t recall the incident.

Like Beverly, however, Shelley Beer remembers the festival pottery necklace which was the pass-out before wrist-bands. She harks back to the 1982 Confest, one of the hundreds held across the country since 1976.

“My most vivid memories? Nudity, rebirthing, noise. Swimming in the reserve creek. The view of all the campers set up above the oval among the gum trees of the amphitheatre hill. The smell of dope.”

At age 25, she enjoyed the exciting atmosphere - and the Chai Tent as a great place to gather. The Rainbow Chai Tent still operates.

Among the characters was a bloke who was prone to stand atop a bus with a warning sign while wearing a gas mask.

“My cousin played at Glenlyon for the Panton Hill Umbrella Club (PHUC), who were known for having performed regularly around the St Andrews area,” says Shelley.

Images: Top, Beverly Risstrom at left with friends, above kids at the festival, left one of the displays, above Shelley Beer, at left with a friend, Lindsay All contributed

She arrived in Daylesford in 1993, and moved to Glenlyon in 2006, living in the district for 25 years.

At 62, she now lives permanently on a catamaran. When interviewed by e-mail, she had been locked down in Spain for eight weeks.

“The plan was to sail into the Mediterranean this summer. We’ll be sailing until we can’t...so that’s semi-permanent. We plan to eventually sail across to the Caribbean, explore there, the Panama Canal, and Pacific Islands before maybe returning to Australia/ New Zealand in five to 10 years.”

When the Down to Earth Confest was set up all those years ago, one aim was to shape a future of choices where individual needs were not suppressed and people were encouraged to follow their own paths.

Clearly, Shelley Beer acted on that message.

Words: Kevin Childs

10 News

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Vale Bill Hickey 1940 - 2020

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ANY people could write the story of William Thomas Hickey, known to all as Bill, but perhaps my memories of walking or riding to and from Sacred Heart, East Trentham between 1950-54 go back further than most.

In the last 80 years or so, many others from far and wide got to know the man who has been referred to over the last few days as - gentlemanly, supportive, generous, genuine and, above all, an iconic presence in our district.

Bill passed away in his usual understated way, quietly in his sleep on Friday, 8 May 2020. With him has gone a huge number of stories, recollections and much history of the district which he loved, served, understood and promoted during his lifetime.

Born to Jack and Edna (née Kennedy) on April 8, 1940, Bill lived all his life at Chanters Lane, East Trentham. He attended school for only eight years, and not particularly successful ones at that according to his own admission, but what he lacked in reading and writing skills he made up for in eloquence of speech, which saw him serve his riding of Trentham/Tylden on Kyneton Shire Council from 1968-1995 where he was acknowledged for his ‘down to earth manner, forthright participation in discussions, common sense, homespun philosophy, logic and sense of humour.’ An entertaining and informative interview of Bill's school life by Ina Bertrand in 2007 is available in Trentham & District Historical Society archives.

Always a farmer at heart, Bill's apprenticeship started early and by the time he was six or seven with older brother John was driving a dray, learning the life cycle of potato growing, and caring for his father's beloved Clydesdales. Milking before and after school was a part of family life and eventually Bill and John took up full-time dairying. It was a sad day when Bill was forced to despatch his herd on November 3, 2016, yet another nail in the coffin of serious farming in his beloved East Trentham.

Retirement didn't quite sit all that well with Bill, it made him feel "a little useless" but he told me in recent times he missed "growing things" - perhaps he just didn't have enough time to develop that dream veggie garden he spoke of! However, one upside of this forced "early" retirement was the time Bill then had to chat - and didn't he enjoy a chat!

Knowing so many people - oldies, locals, returnees, newcomers and visitors enabled Bill to keep in touch with most things going on, and his ongoing interest and support of the T&DHS among other community activities was invaluable.

Bill Hickey enriched life in our little part of the world and with the constant love and support of Susie Spence they together contributed much to the district. Bill is gone, but not forgotten, Susie in her inimitable way will continue to contribute while she along with many others will mourn a great loss in her life, and our lives.

Words: Elizabeth Toomey/Trentham & District Historical Society Images: Above, Richard Ryan, below, contributed

Daylesford COVID clinic

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RESPIRATORY clinic to test for COVID-19 will open in Daylesford from Monday, May 25.

Local teachers will be able to access the clinic on Thursday, May 21 and Friday, May 22 for asymptomatic testing before the clinic is open to the general public.

Teachers can begin to book into the clinic from Wednesday, May 20. This service is open to all teachers in the Hepburn Shire region in preparation for return to school from Tuesday, May 26.

The new Victorian School Staff Coronavirus (COVID-19) Testing Scheme provides all Victorian school staff with access to testing for coronavirus even if people are not experiencing any symptoms. This initiative is available for all Victorian school staff in Hepburn Shire between May 21 to 26 and is voluntary.

Members of the public can register for a booking from Friday, May 22. Public access is for people experiencing symptoms such as cough, fever or sore throat.

Other symptoms include chills, shortness of breath, runny nose and loss of the sense of smell. In certain circumstances headache, muscle soreness, stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea may also be considered.

If you are symptomatic, until your test results are known it is very important that you self-isolate and monitor your symptoms.

The clinic is at the Central Highlands Rural Health Community Health Centre at 13 Hospital Street Daylesford, (corner of Jamieson Street).

Appointments can be made on 5321 6654.

Funding for pool

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AYLESFORD Pool will receive $500,000 from the Victorian Government as one of 35 projects in rural and regional communities to share in more than $16 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to improve liveability and attract more residents and visitors to towns.

The money will go towards developing the aging and under-utilised Daylesford Pool, new family friendly facilities and a new Civic Plaza within the grounds of the swimming pool, activating it as an important community greenspace in the CBD. The project will also be made possible through a $832,992 investment from Hepburn Shire Council.

The Regional Infrastructure Fund is part of the government’s flagship Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund, which helps businesses create more jobs in regional Victoria, supports community projects and helps councils to build the infrastructure locals need.

Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas said families across the Daylesford and Hepburn community had been eager to see upgrades to their pool and the facilities surrounding the pool precinct.

“Although we may not be able to enjoy our community spaces such as swimming pools at the moment, it’s vital that we continue to invest in them.”

A council spokesperson said pool heating was not included in the scope of works.

Cat curfew coming

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CAT curfew comes into effect on July 1 for Macedon Ranges Shire.

From that date, all cats within the shire must be confined to their property from sunset to sunrise, and will also be prohibited from our most sensitive environmental areas. The cat curfew is part of Council’s Dog and Cat Control Order 2019, which also saw dog off-leash areas introduced.

Assets and Operations director Shane Walden said cat owners should prepare now for the new requirements.

“Council recognises building cat enclosures and making behavioural adjustments for cats takes time. We’re asking cat owners to act now, well before the 1 July curfew.

“With many cat owners currently spending more time at home, this is a great opportunity to start thinking about how to confine your cat overnight and minimise stress while it adapts to change.”

Cat owners should consider appropriate overnight housing for their cat or cats, including adapting, designing, building, and/or buying an appropriate cat enclosure. Owners should also seek out information about cat behaviour training and enrichment options.

Link: www.mrsc.vic.gov.au/cats

Our schools - A feature by The Local

Sacred Heart College Kyneton Learn. Care. Flourish.

Join a Virtual Conversation with our Principal, Students & Staff Interested in learning more about life at Sacred Heart College and the learning pathways on offer?

Our Principal, Dr Darren Egberts, invites prospective parents and students to participate in one of our Virtual Conversations via Zoom.

When: 27 May & 10 June commencing at 9:30am 24 June commencing at 9:30am & 6:00pm How: Register using the online booking form on the Tours page of the College website. A Zoom link will be sent by email.

Enrolments close for Year 7 2022 (current Grade 5 students) in Term 3.

Contact our College Registrar for bookings or enrolment information.

T: 5421 1200 E: dlawrence@shckyneton.catholic.edu.au W: www.shckyneton.catholic.edu.au A Ministry of Mercy Education Limited ABN 69 154 531 870

DAYLESFORD DHARMA SCHOOL Live to be Kind. Learn to be Wise.

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rejoicing for ot concentrating

generous

When asked “What does a learner at the Dharma School look like?” here is what our Prep through Grade 6 children shared: pa

g a go giving everythin le kind to all peop

mindful

listening deeply

sharing our tim

e aware of actions in the moment kind

forgiving us compassionate

respecting people and the planet

tient

calm

focused caring f or a

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friends relaxed

As an independent, values-based primary school, our vision is to nurture our children’s capacity to grow into kind and wise individuals. We are inspired by Buddhist philosophy and the Reggio Emilia view of the child as infinitely capable, creative and intelligent.

Currently accepting enrolments in grades Prep through 6. We invite you to come and experience our unique and engaging approach to education. www.dharmaschool.com.au 03 5348 3112 info@dharmaschool.com.au

St Michael’s School Excellence, Nurture, Community

2021

Enrolments for 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

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        

     

Let nature be your teacher...

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O YOU remember playing outdoors as a child? Climbing trees, riding billy carts, building forts or cubby houses, and collecting insects? In the past 20 years, safety fears, lack of family time and increased use of technology have helped to shape a generation of children who spend less and less time outdoors.

Planet Ark research shows three out of four adults played outdoors more often than indoors when they were young, compared to one in 10 children today. Toddlers are using digital devices, parents are working long hours, and heightened fears of child safety and pressure to engage in extracurricular activities all limit the amount of time children spend in nature. Only one in three Aussie kids today play outside every day, compared to around three in four children a generation ago. (Survey-based research from Planet Ark, 2011, 2015 and 2017.)

Growing evidence also suggests that spending time in nature has been shown to be associated with lower levels of stress and also to lessen the symptoms of depression and anxiety (It’s not easy being green: the great outdoors and health and wellbeing, www. vichealth.vic.gov.au) The Ballarat Grammar Year 4 program aims to rebalance time in nature for our students, with an innovative model which has a focus on place-based learning, designed to empower students to become active members of their community and to nurture wellbeing and a love of nature.

Ballarat Grammar’s 120-acre Mount Rowan Farm Campus is only 10 minutes away from the grounds of the main Wendouree campus, and yet it feels a world away.

Year 4 coordinator Clarice Lisle is thrilled at the way each Year 4 student takes hold of the different experiences the campus offers. “Four days per week for the entirety of Year 4, students are immersed in rich learning opportunities, connecting with the natural environment and developing a deep respect and appreciation of the interdependence of the human and natural worlds.

“An example of this is where the students run a number of clubs of their own choosing; one of these is the Chicken Club, where a group of students are responsible for taking care of the flock of chickens under the guidance of a teacher.

“As well as caring for the birds, and learning how to look after them, the students also collect and sell the eggs – it’s a great way to introduce and learn the basics of farming enterprise, and the simple joys of working with nature.”

Connecting with the environment...

BALLARAT AND Q U EEN ’S ANGLI CAN GRAM MAR SC H O O L

Students are immersed in an academic program that has been carefully linked to the Australian Curriculum and the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program, which Ballarat Grammar is authorised to deliver. There is a strong focus on the explicit teaching and monitoring of students’ core literacy and numeracy skills through quarantined maths and English blocks of time each day. The natural environment acts as a springboard for the explicit teaching of skills in these core academic areas, as well as inquiry-based learning, where students are driven to discover and learn through their own curiosity and interests.

Farm manager and senior school agriculture/horticulture teacher Matt Dickinson, is justifiably proud of the farm and the opportunities it offers both junior students and senior agriculture/horticulture students.

“We have 40 Australian lowline cattle and 120 corriedale sheep, along with various other farm animals; we also run a rotational cropping program and an orchard. The kids love getting their hands dirty out here and learning the ins and outs of running a small farming business.”

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Limited 2021 places available; book a tour or visit our website www.bgs.vic.edu.au to find out more.

For more information, please contact Admissions on (03) 5338 0830 or admissions@bgs.vic.edu.au

Hepburn Primary School: care and support

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EPBURN Primary School is the combination of a supportive community, talented and caring teaching staff and a real sense of inclusiveness and student connectedness. As I stated when I was first appointed as principal, Hepburn Primary School is the hidden gem of the area.

Student enrolments have increased over the past few years. This has meant we are able to provide students with the opportunities of a larger school, but remain small enough to maintain connections on an individual level.

The school is currently operating four classrooms. We are in the fortunate position of being able to offer below-average class sizes.

The students have access to specialist programs in music, art, drama, physical education, library and Italian. We also offer the Extending Mathematical Understanding specialised mathematics support program, and an increased allocation of the MiniLit and MacqLit specialised reading support programs.

The implementation of clubs has been a positive initiative. During certain terms, the children select a club to be part of. This semester included knitting, drama, creative media, bike education and Eco Warriors.

Programs implemented over the years such as Cook in a Box, Move Dream Create, Robotics and private music tuition have enhanced engagement and have allowed students to flourish in a variety of curriculum areas.

The children have an extensive camp program. Camping opportunities include Canberra Camp, Camp Wyuna, The Sovereign Hill Experience and the Lady Northcote camp.

Hepburn Primary School recently joined the Wathaurung Sport Cluster. This enables children access to athletics, cross-country, tennis, basketball, soccer, netball, football and swimming competitions and the opportunity to progress to higher levels.

The school runs a range of special purpose events, including the enormously popular Book Parade/Grandparents and Special Friends day, Mother's Day afternoon tea, Father's Day barbeque and Education Week activities. The annual Walkathon and Mini Fete has become a highlight of the year, as well as being keen participants in the Rotary Music Concert, The Swiss Italian Festa, family barbeques and an annual Christmas concert.

The above strengths and programs have been reflected in the annual Attitudes to School Survey. This is offered by the Department of Education and Training to assist schools in gaining an understanding of students' perceptions and experience of school in Years 4, 5 and 6.

The results below validate the strategic work we as a learning community have been focusing our energy towards. The areas below placed the school at and above the state and similar schools and schools in our network in: • Sense of connectedness • Sense of inclusion • Advocate at school • Managing bullying • The teacher has high expectations for success Over the past three years, significant resourcing provided by Equity funding, has resulted in staff having access to world-renowned educational consultants. Teachers have the greatest impact at school and are the school’s most valuable resource, so we invest in their development. The school provides a comprehensive curriculum across all learning areas, underpinned by literacy and numeracy. Significant investment in the area of Excellence in Teaching and Learning ensures evidence-based pedagogical approaches.

We continue to implement School Wide Positive Behaviour (SWPB) and the Bounce Back social skills and welfare programs. Bounce Back promotes positive mental health and student wellbeing, providing students with practical strategies and life skills to handle challenges and adversity encountered.

Hepburn Primary School continues to promote the values of Respect, Perseverance and Kindness. These values are incorporated into learning programs, which develop the children’s social skills. The School Chaplain plays a vital role in coordinating this work.

Hepburn Primary School has established transition programs with Hepburn Kindergarten and Daylesford College. The reading and play-based transition program between the local kindergarten and the Year 5/6 children is extremely rewarding for all involved. The local secondary school provides many opportunities each term for the Year 5/6 children to attend whole-day activities.

Prospective parents and caregivers are most welcome to contact the school on 5348 2342 for a tour.

- Robert Walsh, principal

Community News A WORD FROM THE MAYOR We as a community are starting to tentatively look over the parapet of this pandemic to our future. 2020 will certainly go down in the history books as a catastrophe affecting the whole world, regardless of geography, colour, creed, religion, nationality, class or gender!

The Victorian Premier on 11 and 12 May announced the commencement of the easing of isolation restrictions following a similar statement from our PM. Council notes these changes, but asks that residents continue to observe the social distancing regulations and maintain additional personal hygiene practices. As schools will be slowly opening up and as businesses look to reopen, we ask people to remain vigilant to the potential of a second surge in infections, and urge people not to be cavalier in their practices and attitudes. We have seen that at times like these, it brings out the best in people where community members have taken upon themselves to cook for other people and support those who are vulnerable. On behalf of the Council, I honour and acknowledge these selfless people.

I also want to take the opportunity of giving credit to our Council staff, from our CEO down. I know that criticising Council is a favourite past-time. But during times like these we should be aware that most of Council staff (at all levels) have been working extraordinarily long hours and weekends (without additional pay) to not only keep Council services going, but to develop new programs and responses. We have not laid off staff, and casual staff have been swung into other areas of Council’s operations.

All ratepayers by now will have received their rates notice for the last quarter in this financial year. I, fellow councillors and staff, all appreciate this may cause consternation for those residents feeling the full impact of this pandemic and are urged to contact Council to take advantage of our hardship policy. Some people have suggested that Council defer or even waive the rates for this quarter. Waiver of one quarters rates and charges would amount to over $5.2 million, which would result in many important services and projects needed to be reduced or cancelled.

On 19 May we will be conducting our first public ‘virtual’ Council meeting at 6 pm. Residents will be able to see our Council meeting in real time. The conduct of such meetings will be governed by strict Ministerial guidelines and the capacity to hold virtual meetings will cease from 1 November 2020, or the social distancing regulations are withdrawn.

Stay safe, and please let me know if you would like me to cover any particular matters of interest to you.

Cr Licia Kokocinski Mayor

CONTACTS 

General enquiries

5348 2306



@

Mail Email Website

PO Box 21, Daylesford 3460 shire@hepburn.vic.gov.au hepburn.vic.gov.au

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Aged & disability services enquiries - 5345 8399

Daylesford Aquatic & Civic Plaza Precinct Project Council has been successful in attracting $500,000 funding for the Daylesford Aquatic and Civic Plaza Precinct project.

This is fantastic news for our community. The funding will be combined with previous Sport and Recreation Victoria funding and Council’s contribution of $832,992, to make it a $1.53 million project. The funding is to deliver a new Civic Plaza within the grounds of the swimming pool precinct, activating it as an important community greenspace in the CBD. The plaza will provide: • a much-needed public accessible open space away from the main retail strip that can also cater for markets, public exhibitions and community events • a break out space from the highly utilised Daylesford Town Hall • Disability Discrimination Act compliant access to the Senior Citizens Centre.

We are also looking to develop a 10-year Aquatics Strategy which will involve community consultation. This will guide the future strategic direction and all the things that are involved in infrastructure and asset development for the entire Shire.

Trentham Community Hub Milestones: • Project Advisory Group meetings held • Architect engaged • Reviewing previous designs and consultation.

The progress of the Trentham Community Hub project is well underway. Perkins Architects has been engaged to complete the design, and is reviewing previous design work, including community feedback. The Project Advisory Group (PAG), made up of community members, has met a number of times. The PAG are: • developing strategies to engage the broader community, and • discussing key elements of the project to ensure the Trentham Community Hub meets the community’s needs.

The Trentham Community Hub will include the library, visitor information centre, customer service, meeting and function rooms, and original main hall.

As the project progresses, the project team will be seeking input from the community.

For after hours emergencies please call:  Animal Control - 0419 587 955  Other Council Emergency - 0419 583 573 hepburncouncil

Community News Trentham Early Learning Project

The Trentham Early Learning Facility has begun the construction phase. The works are expected to take about 6 months.

Some tree removal is required for bushfire safety rating. This tree removal has been minimised as much as possible, and will be offset with certified vegetation offsets.

The existing kindergarten services will continue to operate. We’d like to hear from you if you’re thinking of utilising the increased services once the construction is complete – please email our service provider ecka@vic.chariot.net.au for more information.

For the project FAQs visit www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/trenthamearly-learning/.

Glenlyon Recreation Reserve Soil Investigation Last year, the Council undertook a preliminary soil contaminant investigation and it self-notified the results to the regulator, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).

The EPA instructed, via Clean Up Notice (CUN,) that a more detailed soil, groundwater and surface water investigation is required to better understand the extent of the possible contamination on the site.

Council engaged a second independent contractor to undertake these Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) works. They have finished on-site testing and are currently waiting on a laboratory to provide results.

At this point, the project is on schedule to comply with the EPA Clean Up Notice, with the ESA report to be submitted on 27th May 2020.

When results are known and the ESA report is submitted to the EPA for their recommendations, the Council will be in a better position to determine what to do next.

If you have any queries regarding this project, please contact the project manager on doweyoung@hepburn.vic.gov.au.

CONTACTS 

General enquiries

5348 2306



@

Mail Email Website

PO Box 21, Daylesford 3460 shire@hepburn.vic.gov.au hepburn.vic.gov.au



Aged & disability services enquiries - 5345 8399

Artisan Agriculture Project We’re excited to announce the following members are on the Project Advisory Group for the Artisan Agriculture Project.

• Carmel Masterson (Springmount Foods – Blampied) • Danny Kinnear (Danny’s Farm – Blampied) • Tammi Jonas (Jonai Farm – Eganstown) • Darren Rose (Two Good Acres - Newlyn North) • Sophia Christoe (Holy Goat Cheese - Sutton Grange) • Natalie Hardy (Brookland Free Range Farms – Blampied) • Richard Bales (Regional Development Victoria – Ballarat) • Angela Clough (Agriculture Victoria – Ballarat) • Sharon Hebbard (Artisan Agriculture Facilitation Specialist) We’re looking forward to working with our artisan producers to make our region the envy of the state and nation. We want the sector to be more successful by understanding the key barriers and needs of the industry and addressing them.

Virtual Council Meetings In response to COVID-19, the State Government has recently introduced temporary measures that allow for virtual council meetings to be held. The change to legislation ensures the safe continuation of local government decision making for both Councillors and the community.

In light of this, for the foreseeable future, Council will hold virtual council meetings commencing on Tuesday 19 May 2020 at 6.00pm.

The community is at the forefront of our decisions. As such we have implemented additional means to enable participation, whilst adhering to the advice of the health and government agencies relating to COVID-19.

Should you wish to participate in the Council Meeting, our Governance Team is here to help you and can be contacted via email at Governance_Compliance_Risk@hepburn.vic.gov.au before noon on Tuesday 19 May 2020.

The Council Meeting will continue to be live streamed via Council’s Facebook page and will be recorded for archiving purposes.

More information on Public Question Time and Addressing Council www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/council-meetings/.

For after hours emergencies please call:  Animal Control - 0419 587 955  Other Council Emergency - 0419 583 573 hepburncouncil

20 News

www.tlnews.com.au

Holistic Funeral Directors

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

SUE’S PLACE

We’re here for you

Dr. Susanne M. Heringslake Chiropractor Moments To Ponder

Welcome to the team

a little gift from me to you

Dr Kate Turnbull

is now practising at our Trentham clinic.

Today I choose to live simply.

I move gently, with purpose.

•Adolescent Health

I laugh lots; smile even more.

•Family Medicine

I connect with others,

•General Medicine

and myself, in lightheartedness.

•Paediatrics

I am at peace, at one with nature.

I breathe.

To book your appointment, call our Trentham reception team or visit our website and book online.

Bliss.

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

Daylesford Kyneton Trentham 10 Hospital St 89B Piper Street 22 Victoria St tel: (03) 5348 2227 tel: (03) 5422 1298 tel: (03) 5424 1602 Follow us

https://www.facebook.com/springsmedical

Funding to stop violence Red Cross connecting

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R

RISC Family Violence Support, which provides services for ED Cross is offering a free national telephone service to help people women and children experiencing family violence in the Hepburn maintain or improve their level of social connection.

Victorian director Sue Cunningham said COVID CONNECT allowed Shire region, has been given a grant of $329,050 by the Victorian regular access to a friendly voice, a listening ear and tips to improve social connection.

Government.

The funding is part of a $40.2 million investment in crisis accommodation and specialist services for people suffering or at risk of family violence Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas said for some in the community, home is already an unsafe place.

"Sudden unemployment, extended periods of isolation and the family at home together, can contribute to a heightened risk of family violence.

"Family violence frontline services, just like WRISC, continue to operate to support vulnerable women, children and families across our community."

WRISC Family Violence Support executive officer Libby Jewson welcomed the funding and said it meant the organisation would be able to respond to women and children at risk during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The funding will help to keep women and children safe during these uncertain times - when risk to women and children is higher.”

As part of the package, the government will invest $20 million in short-term accommodation for family violence victim-survivors who do not feel safe isolating or recovering from coronavirus at home.

An extra $20.2 million will help Victorian family violence services meet the expected increase in demand during the coronavirus pandemic and provide critical help for victim-survivors.

This includes nearly $10.4 million to help more women and children escaping family violence get access to safe accommodation and related support, and $5.1 million for more flexible support packages across the state.

Just under $5 million will go towards new technology and protective equipment for up to 120 family violence and sexual assault organisations, so they can adapt their services and keep their staff safe, while protecting and supporting victim-survivors and their families.

For help and support, and to find out more, visit safesteps.org.au or call safesteps 24/7 on 1800 015 188.

"Red Cross volunteers are making these social phone calls to people wherever they are during the COVID-19 pandemic, helping reduce the stress of isolation.

"We acknowledge the incredible efforts of people who are staying at home and helping to save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. As we all do our bit to prevent the spread of the virus, it can be easy to lose the connections that can give us meaning and make us feel part of a community.

"We know the one thing many of us are missing right now is human contact. For those who are living alone or who are in isolation this becomes more acute.

"If you or someone you know would like to start receiving these calls please register at https://connect.redcross.org.au/covid-connect/ or by ringing 1800 733 276. We’re looking forward to chatting with you!"

House.Land.Home.

A waterlogged garden?

It’s been a long time since I’ve written that line but, judging by this year’s promising start, we could be faced with the double-edged benefits of that longawaited wet Winter. At least, we have got off to flying start.

I said double-edged because copious rainfall after extended periods of drought can not only cause flooding and even washaways, but it can also bring harm to established trees and shrubs, especially in heavy, poorly-drained soils.

This is especially so when after several years of drought many beautiful old trees simply collapse and all too often die, overcome by the sudden rush of water. The lack of water causes the fine, water nourishment-seeking hair roots to wither and in many cases die, and the tree to virtually shut down and almost hibernate until better times.

Then it becomes susceptible, in its weakened state, to attacks from predator pests and fungal disease. The real problem comes, especially in heavy and poorly-drained soils, when what’s left of the root system can’t cope with the sudden flood. That would be a bit like force-feeding a Sunday roast to a starving castaway.

Fortunately most of our local soils are well drained, but there still could be lowlying problem areas or those with heavy, impervious clay subsoil. Plant roots can’t survive in waterlogged soil as they are unable to get sufficient air. Worse still, wet soil restricts the activity of earth worms and beneficial soil organisms. Besides, the garden If a large area is to be drained, you may need to direct the water to a main beds take longer to warm up in Spring. pipeline from several pipes in a grid pattern.

If the drainage problem is localised and without an outlet, it may be wise to direct Hydrophobia the main pipe to a rubble-filled sump at the lowest point, 2 metres wide and deep, The other problem created by extended periods of drought is water-repellent and filled with gravel or similar coarse material to allow the water to soak away. soil. Simply put, the surface of the soil, even well-drained sandy loam, becomes hydrophopic or waterproof. You can soon tell by the way the water pools on the Pictured, cotinus coggygria purpurea, (purple smoke bush) luxuriating in the surface and then runs off. In areas where you can simply cultivate the surface, first of the many autumnal downpours working in fibrous organic material such as compost or well-dried lawn clippings etc, the problem is easily solved. Where digging or hoeing is impractical, the answer is to Got a gardening question? Ask Glen. Email glenzgarden@gmail.com let a wetting agent break the surface tension of the soil particles to let the moisture in. A liquid wetting agent is available from most garden stockists and can also be available in powder form from health food shops.

Down the drain There are several ways to overcome most soil drainage problems. On shallow soils that lay over heavy clay, shale or rock, garden beds can be built up simply by adding friable loam, straw and compost to the area so that you have at least 60cm of growing material over the impervious layer. This works well for small beds or where the ground slopes to provide natural drainage.

On slower-draining areas, the effects of heavy downpours can be permanently reduced by installing large-diameter slotted PVC drainage pipes. These merely need a narrow-slit trench dug down to the surface of the subsoil, or even further if necessary.

The trench floor should be flat and even, with a slope of 25mm for each 10 metres of length.

Lay the pipes in the trench and cover them with at least 15cm of gravel, scoria or rubble and fill the trench with sand or screenings to prevent the slits from becoming clogged.

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A retirement lifestyle

V

MCH’s retirement villages and apartments are located throughout Victoria and are designed with long-term comfort and security in mind.

We aim to maximise your independence and provide environments where you can feel safe and well-connected, where you can enjoy complete peace of mind.

According to VMCH sales manager, Brent Peters, the demand for retirement living has increased significantly.

“During my 11 years in sales and the five years I have focused on retirement living, I have seen a huge shift in the popularity of retirement villages. Personally, selling over 250 homes has given me a better understanding of the needs of our retirement clients and what they look for in a community.

“There are a number of retirees that are now choosing to live in retirement communities, and with that has come a shift in the style of communities on offer.

Undeniably the largest trend is moving from large, gated villages to more CBDcentral medium density styles that are connected to the wider community and are less isolated.”

Brent says making the move to retirement living can be daunting but visiting a village for a tour to see what they offer can make the decision easier.

“Most will allow you to join in with their events and meet some of the locals. It’s also a good opportunity to learn more about the village from the on-site manager.”

Brent says there are a lot of reasons why people choose retirement communities, and generally lifestyle is the main one. But security, safety, community and quality of life all play their part in the decision-making process.

“Just remember that it’s about your needs and the community should tick all the boxes for you.”

To book a tour of McAuley Trentham, call Brent on 0408 956 114 to learn more.

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Call Brent to find out more.

McAuley | Retirement Village 1 Bridge Street, Trentham

0408 956 114 vmch.com.au

House.Land.Home.

Selling your house, land or home?

Make sure you are in the Premium edition of House.Land.Home. out in time for the Queen's Birthday long weekend.

In print Monday, June 1, online Sunday, May 31.

Call Kyle on 5348 7883 or 0416 104 283 or talk to your real estate agent today.

Bells Water Gardens @ Newlyn

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

REIV news Auctions and open for inspections return Real Estate Institute of Victoria president Leah Calnan has welcomed the Victorian Government’s decision to allow on-site property auctions and open for inspections to return in Victoria with restrictions.

The State Government last week announced their plans to ease COVID-19 restrictions in Victoria, which included that property auctions and open for inspections can return as of last Wednesday.

Both on-site property auctions and open for inspections will be restricted to 10 people in addition to staff required to facilitate the auction or inspection, the contact details of attendees will also be recorded.

Ms Calnan said the real estate sector was prepared to take the measures necessary to assist with a safe return to business.

“The real estate sector has adapted extremely well during this pandemic, while restrictions are being lifted, the threat of coronavirus remains and it is imperative that we continue to run auctions safely and responsibly.

“The REIV encourages all members to download the COVIDSafe App and implement strong safety protocols as we begin our return to work routines. In addition, the REIV recommends that all individuals attending an open or auction should also download the app, provide contact details to the agent and follow social distancing measures as required.

“Online auctions have worked well over the last few weeks and we encourage members to use this as an additional channel for wider engagement.

“Having public auctions will inspire increased confidence in our economy, auctioneers across the state are looking forward to getting back to what they do best.

“We are very excited about auctions coming back; the real estate sector is prepared to do the right thing to ensure auctions and open for inspections are run safely.”

26 Dining

www.tlnews.com.au

This Goat is all it’s quacked up to be

B

EFORE COVID-19 some disasters overtook Melbourne restaurants, with places associated with former Masterchef judge George Calombaris and international celebrity Heston Blumenthal shutting up shop.

This left a noted duck farm at Port Campbell with a lot on their hands.

Enter COVID-19 and Hepburn’s David Willcocks, whose Surly Goat café/ restaurant morphed into the Socially Isolated Goat. Through a chef friend in Melbourne, David heard about the ducks and, whoopee, here was one on our plates, delivered to the door and only in need of heating.

It had been blanched to tighten the skin and eliminate any nasties, then washed in a solution of Maltose, also called malt sugar, and vinegar, to crisp the skin and give a delicious lacquer effect.

Then the ducks are hung in a cool room for 10 days with some breeze. This makes the flesh both denser and more tender. Oven-roasted without a fan at a high temperature, the duck is a stunning meal, tasty, juicy and with a scrumptious texture.

A main course and sides for such a dish is $30 (three courses $45).

The duck came with a potato dish that lasted three nights. It’s called Pommes Boulangere. The spuds had been sliced and layered between caramelised onion, then baked with chicken stock, butter, rosemary, thyme and garlic. It could scarcely have been better.

David says one story has it that French bakers would cook this in the oven at the end of the night. Another is that people would get the baker to cook it for them, the “seal” of potatoes on top ensuring the baker didn’t pinch any.

The accompanying treacle and thyme tart was a ripper also, and was such a generous serve it lasted two nights.

Another little wonder is David’s self-saucing chocolate pudding, “just like Mum used to make”, except for the addition of cumquats and walnuts.

A further dose of bounty from the pandemic is the availability of Wagyu beef.

Normally the price of this course is beyond reach (a single cow has brought $30,000).

Its tenderness and flavour is no less than exquisite.

David also secured Oysters Appellation from the south coast of NSW. Truly succulent was our opinion on the dozen we bought for $40.

I could go on about the chocolate pretzel tart, but you get the picture that the Socially Isolated Goat is fired up in these trying times.

David says the pandemic has meant many personal things, such as spending more time with his family. Part of the restaurant resembles an abandoned classroom for his six- and nine-year-olds.

He had only run the restaurant for about 18 months before the pandemic hit. It was set up in mid-2016 by Simon Bevanda, himself a mine host par excellence.

As David puts it, he had no choice but to start again, helped by his 25-year-old cousin Morrison and a newcomer from Ballarat, Jake Gladman. Before COVID-19 he employed seven people, some of them part-time.

“The question was whether to run it normally or tailor it to home cooking. We’re not so much a pop-up and eat but prepared home courses, doing about 20 meals a day, Tuesday to Saturday.”

David, 41, describes the community support as phenomenal, considering his is not the cheapest place around. He predicts a difficult transition back to nearnormality for many cafes and restaurants because some suppliers will be gone and some produce unavailable.

One big question is how will things go on (re) opening night? It may be a case of first in…because on a normal Saturday night the Goat just copes with in excess of 60 diners, coming and going. Before then, however, more duck is on the way. This time he will confit the legs and serve the breast separately. Please form an orderly queue.

Words: Kevin Childs

"The duck came with a potato dish that lasted three nights.

It’s called Pommes Boulangere.

The spuds had been sliced and layered between caramelised onion, then baked with chicken stock, butter, rosemary, thyme and garlic. It could scarcely have been better."

www.tlnews.com.au

Quarantini O'Clock

Drinks 27

with Leon

The Campari Nobile Welcome to another Quarantini O’Clock, the print edition. Restrictions are beginning to ease in Victoria and we can now see people other than those we live with. Finally, I’ll get to see someone better looking than just my face in the bathroom mirror. If you like a tart and fruity cocktail, here’s one to try out when you all reunite. We made use of lovely fresh ripe raspberries from Daylesford Sunday Market. Cheers!

Campari Nobile Ingredients: 20ml vodka 20ml Campari 15ml Limoncello 45ml orange juice Handful of fresh raspberries Ice Method: Muddle raspberries and alcohol in a shaker, add the orange juice and ice, shake and double strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a few raspberries skewered on a cocktail stick. Serve to your friends at a safe distance and enjoy each other’s company for the first time in weeks.

Sadly no hugging.

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 we’re still here Our Cellar Door and Dining Room may currently be shut but we’re still here turning grapes into wine, and shipping it to you!

passingclouds.com.au | 0408 120 376 |

28 Our writers

Pandemic poetry

G

ORDON Nightingale has used the downtime of COVID-19 to assemble his poetry into a book, Poems for the Pandemic.

"I began writing 18 months ago when I joined a Hepburn U3A program called The Writers’ Group managed by Jude Brown and Millie Gouldthorpe, with a membership of about 20 who would meet on a fortnightly basis at the famous Old Coach House in Daylesford.

"Each of us would try to produce a poem or a story based on a single word as decided at the previous meeting. The very first word I had to write roughly 500 words on was ‘gift’.

"The rules were fairly simple; anything goes as long as the word was in there somewhere. No critical comments were allowed. No adverse reactions or jeering was allowed. It was all good fun and most inspiring.

"Inspired to write as much as I could outside the Writers’ Group I began posting stories and poems on my Facebook page. Every ‘like’, ‘love’ or comment was encouragement to inspire the creative juices.

"A regular “liker” was Anne Milton. It was her suggestion that prompted putting the poems into a book. Poems for the Pandemic is the result. Her original suggestion was Poems in Isolation. The only reason I switched was for the alliteration affect.

"I do have ambitions to become a published author, having recently submitted one of the three full-length novels I have written. It may never happen but we do live in hope."

For a PDF copy of the book, email knighttime.drafting@bigpond.com

* The Local has had a sneak preview, well worth a read!

South Coast Fresh Seafood Now trading Wednesdays @ Piper St Emporium Carpark 7.30am-11am Pizzeria

La L na Home deliveries Thursday to Sunday Get your pizza fix during COVID-19 Thursday, Sunday, Monday | 5pm - 9pm Friday and Saturday | 5pm - 10pm Tuesday & Wednesday | CLOSED

5348 4123 | 24 Albert St Daylesford | pizzerialaluna.com.au

www.tlnews.com.au

Recipes 29

Recipes for lockdown Ramen (Serves 4) Ingredients: Small handful of shitake mushrooms Small handful of enoki mushrooms 375gm fresh ramen noodles (2 packets) 1.5lt chicken stock 3 tablespoons soy sauce 1 teaspoon sugar 350gm eye fillet or good quality beef, finely sliced 1 small fresh red chilli, seeded and sliced 8 cooked prawns 4 boiled eggs, peeled Nori sheets, shredded Spring onion, chopped Method: Place the stock in a large saucepan and bring to the boil. Add the beef, chilli, mushrooms, soy sauce and sugar, simmer for two minutes.

Throw in the prawns and ramen for one minute or until heated through.

Place the eggs in four bowls and divide the ramen mixture into the bowls. Top with nori and spring onions, from up high!

Serve up with chopsticks and a spoon. Slurping is encouraged!

- Kyle Barnes

Disclaimer: All recipes subject to failure...

(A reader has written in regarding the contentious Belgian Lemon Teacake in Edition 178: "The following adjustments were made to the Belgian Lemon Teacake after discussion with my chef partner which led to a successful and delicious outcome.

"I lined the base of a spring form tin with baking paper not baking powder. The cake was removed from the tin when it was warm not cool." No further discussion will be printed. )

Do you have a recipe to share?

Email donna@tlnews.com.au #keepingthecommunityconnected

The Local - weekly in print and online at www.tlnews.com.au Read our tourist publication here

Read the latest issue here

May 18, 2020 Issue 180 Smeaton singer/songwriter

The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

Read past issues here Hear the podcast when Kyle gets his act together...

30 Opinion

www.tlnews.com.au

Pick me, pick me

Just sayin’...

By Donna Kelly

G Yay.

REAT to hear Daylesford Pool is going to get some funding. More than $1 million. Whoo hoo. And now that cold, well freezing pool, will be heated.

Oh, no heating.

But then I guess if you were really sensible, you would realise you would need a lot more than $1 million to create an indoor heated pool. Or even a heated outdoor pool.

Maybe $20 million-ish.

Public pools are notoriously really bad at raising revenue. You never make your money back, it's just a public, well, pool. Funded by whatever local council. And Hepburn Shire Council just doesn't have much money. Small rate base and lots of ageing infrastructure.

So that pool space will have a great civic space - not quite sure what a civic space is, but it sounds important, and lots of upgrades for people with disabilities, which is really important.

When I was working on another paper, one that closed its doors when the pandemic struck and said it would be back later, gee thanks for that, I joined a morning swimming group at the Daylesford Pool.

It was pretty discounted (wonder why?) and you could swim for an hour or so, from about 7am during summer. So I dived in. F...! How cold is that pool? Probably at any time, but try 7am.

Now, I used to swim as a youngster. I was diagnosed with asthma at two. Happened when the family was seeing my Nan off on a cruise. The old days when you went to the docks and stood and watched until the ship wandered off. It was cold and I coughed and that was the start of a lifelong asthmatic connection which saw my parents deciding that I should swim to improve my lung function. (Apparently mum smoking 24/7 did not come into the equation.)

So, at the Daylesford Pool in 2009 I swam some pretty fast laps, hoping to warm up, but despite being a real swimmer I could not go fast enough and gave up after just two mornings, leaving the pool with purple lips and close to frost-bite.

I know lots of people want a pool with warmth and others want a hydro-pool but the reality is we are probably not going to get either. Realistic choices are Kyneton or Ballarat or further afield.

But I guess the question is whether the state government or council, or other bodies, should be sinking more money into a really underutilised space like the Daylesford Pool?

Maybe it's time to push it into other opportunities that are more needed with COVID-19 hot on our heels. Just sayin'...

Hi there, I am Lilly, an American bulldog. I am four and a sweet-natured girl who needs a calm home and an experienced owner to help me gain confidence, learn lead skills and polite behaviour. I prefer women to men, and I like children. I am strong, so I need someone able-bodied to handle me. And no cats, pocket pets, birds or small dogs. Not keen on them. I have specific needs but lots of love to give. MC# 95600001111220166 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 five years. The adverts are for mostly for not-for-profit groups and organisations - which is most of us these days - 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 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)

Chaplin's at the Muse, Trentham - is back!

Monday to Friday, 7.30am - 10.30am.

Serving takeaway.

Lindy and Mel will be on the coffee machine, and Luise will be in her kitchen making breakfast rolls, frittatas, and baking muffins, croissants and soups, along with some delicious and easy take home meals.

LEAVE NO ONE IN NEED Please donate now

salvationarmy.org.au

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Opinion 31

Kyle’s Rant

W

E HAVE taken the first baby steps in easing restrictions. Well, actually no, we have not. The Victorian Government has simply added one more reason to leave your home.

The reasons are: shopping for what you need - food and essential supplies; medical, care or compassionate needs; exercise in compliance with the public gathering requirements; work and study if you can’t work or learn remotely; and visiting friends and family - if you really need to.

And it is the common sense bit at the end of the message that we need to take notice of. "If you really need to." The rules have not relaxed and in terms of social distancing won’t be relaxed until they come up with a vaccine and the vast majority of us should stay home, not cruise the streets seeking caffeine.

The being at home for me is not too far from my old life anyway. My biggest highlights in the old life were a couple of local pubs and eateries every two weeks or so and my office is at home so not much has changed. Although I have found myself probably throwing a little more caution into routine than usual. A walk around the park is a bit more like a black ops routine with a full reconnaissance of who's walking in what direction, followed by a risk assessment of who might want a chat and who to avoid. Then the first steps are gingerly taken, until I get my stride on.

The post click and collect routine after the supermarket is something out of a pre-op scene from M*A*S*H - my TV tip of the week. All the vegies washed in the sink and all other groceries wiped and scrubbed down, and then it’s off with the garments and into the shower.

All this paranoia and anal-retentive behaviour is probably OK now, however coming through the other side of this, and adjusting said behaviour, I am tipping I will be dragging my feet. Everyone will be out and about in a year's time and life will have returned for most, but not me. I will be the guy holed up in the house, the crazy man with 10 cats (and I hate cats) and newspapers piled to the ceiling. The sort of bloke that only comes out when the moon is full, creeping around and peering through windows to see what real humans are doing. You only know I’ve been lurking because of the lingering musky smell of body odour and cheap wine.

Well, maybe not to that extent, but it will take me a while to readjust. When the pandemic hit I was due for a haircut. Now I can almost sit on my hair. The missus is well overdue for a nail-job and we are over our "natural hair colour". We both need a bit of maintenance. My face hasn’t come within 10 feet of a razor blade since we went into lockdown. I do own a razor, but I guess it is part of my whole Survivor persona.

I truly am a changed man. Life in lockdown 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

32 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 179. 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 O’BRIEN – Annie Sybil (nee Suckling) 8.2.1923 – 9.5.2020 Dearly loved wife of Jim(dec). Dearly loved mother and mother-in-law of Kevin(dec), Kathleen & Ray Wapshott, Alan & Ellen(dec), Trish & Brendan Mason.

Devoted and caring grandma to Kellie & Matt, Damien & Jess, Mat & Heather, Cade & Beth, Tom, Ben, Jess, Sally & Craig, Lachie & Jo. Cherished Granny Annie of Cody, Mason, Aeris, Storm, Mackenzie, Eve and Riley.

A private funeral to be held.

We will love and miss you every day.

Sleep Peacefully.

5348 7883 or kyle@tlnews.com.au

PERRY - Edwin Arthur “ED” 11.8.1963 – 3.5.2020 We loved you then, we love you still, Always have, always will.

Beloved son of Ted and May. Loving brother of Vernon, Donna, Lindon, Genevieve (Jenny), Juston and Jesse.

A private funeral to be held but a live streaming can be viewed at Verey Funeral Directors' Facebook page on Tuesday 19th May commencing at 12.30pm.

Rest Easy Son, Now free from your pain and suffering.

Trades & Services -

Classifieds 33

Classified advertising.

5348 7883 or donna@tlnews.com.au $6.60 per 55mm column centimetre

Add an image to your classified advert.

Missing you in lockdown Mum!

Happy Birthday Claire!

Advertise here for just $44 per week

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

We stock The Local!

55 Vincent Street, Daylesford 5348 2061

Servicing the local community for over 45 years

Phone: 5348 1291

Earthworks

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

Caterpillar Bobcat, excavator and Dual Roller.

Phone: 0438 662203

34 Trades

www.tlnews.com.au

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 Servicing Daylesford and Districts.

Pierre: 0425 783 871 0427 508 840

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

Trades 35

Painting & Signs

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.

Local. Reliable service.

No job too small.

Contact Jason on 0418 397 803.

A.B.N. 37 961 487 978

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

Tel: 03 5424 1441 Mobile: 0412 584 555 Office: 19 Albert Street, Trentham 3458

E L E C T R C I A N

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

0423 945 436

John Roberts Electrical Services REG 15644

Domestic Commercial Industrial Mobile 0439 682 619

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

Servicing all Daylesford and Districts wastewateraus.com.au MOB: 0427 508 840

trenthamselfstorage@outlook.com

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

Autumn colours

T

HE Local's Autumn photography competition had loads of entries on both Instagram and Facebook.

The competition was judged by The Local's photographer David White who said colour landscape was by far the hardest photographic genre.

"My choice for the winner is Blair Smith's image. I really like the way the leaves have cascaded down to form a pool within the green of the rest of the garden, the colours are simplified to red and green, while the manmade component of the house remains stark, white and boring in contrast to the nature it is witnessing.

"It's an image that is at first a snapshot but then, upon consideration, becomes quite a well thought-out, visually literate image.

"I also liked the shot leading up to the house, a local landmark in season is always good, and also the fungus poking out of the hole in the log, seems relevant and metaphoric as we all come out of our isolations."

www.davidwhitephotography.com.au Main image, the winning shot by Blair Smith, below, Kim James' Peppers and bottom, fungus

by Helen Greenwood