Dr Marita McGuirk is a field ecologist and environmental scientist, and a volunteer at the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter. Every month, Marita writes a column about the shelter and the animals it cares for. You can read her column at www.tlnews.com.au The most recent column, at the time of publication, is in Edition 332. If you would like to donate or volunteer, or just to find out more information, head to www.hepburnwildlifeshelter.org
Image: David White
It’s just over one year since Ellen Gladman took over Maldon’s much-loved Lolly Shop. April 24, 2024 to be precise. So she’s made it through the chocolate rush of her first Easter.
Ellen had been in retail before and was looking for her own business and a bit of flexibility for her work/life balance. And she has always loved Maldon. “The Lolly Shop was available and ticked all the boxes along with a lot of potential in areas that I have skills in. It was already running very well and people loved it, but I knew I could make a few little changes.” They included turning a unit out the back into a lovely B&B – using her background in interior design, and decorating the shop by “leaning into the enchanted nature of the business”. “I’ve done it all quietly and slowly. The community was a little worried when I bought the business, just because they love it, but they are happy with the changes I have made. I’m getting good feedback.”
Read the full story at www.tlnews.com.au - Edition 330
Three Lost Children Walk, Daylesford, 15 km (total) Part B
Today is the day we shoulder our packs once again to finally complete the remaining half of Daylesford’s famed Three Lost Children Walk. We start where we left off last time, in Hogans Lane at Musk Vale surrounded by comfortable homes on acreage, and it’s a couple of kms of hiking on gravel, across the Ballan-Daylesford Road blacktop, and onwards, following unsealed Hogans Lane right to its end. Then it’s right into Foxs Lane, then left into Manna Gum Track. Here, finally, we begin to leave the lifestyle acres, goats and alpacas behind, and things start to get a bit bushy. For a start there’s a large male kangaroo eyeing us off and making me feel just a tad nervous, recalling tales of how these fellas, who have every right to feel miffed at people invading their ancestral home, have been known to eviscerate folk with a well-placed claw hook. Thankfully the big roo merely stares peaceably. And we walk on.
Read the full story at www.tlnews.com.au - Edition 327
ChillOut 2025
The Block 2025 is being filmed in Daylesford and the Scotty Camburger is the latest offering from the Daylesford Seafood Bar.
It’s named after Scott Cam, one of the two faces of The Block, meanwhile Shelley Craft, the other on-air talent on the show, is loving Daylesford where she now heads every week from her home in Byron Bay. “I just love the actual feeling of a small town. You go into every store and everyone knows everybody else who comes in. They might not know us particularly, but they say hi to all the other customers, like their friends. And I really appreciate that, being from a small town myself. But just that idea, I think, of being able to get off site, and for the intensity that happens here every day, for our crews and for the contestants themselves, and all the production, to actually take a step back and just slow down a little bit on those few hours a week they have off, is a really lovely thing.” Filming winds up this month.
Let’s support our community and shop local!
“Locals 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.
Spring Hill’s Paul Jamieson is Australia’s biggest llama farmer - by herd number. His career has taken a journey from being a physical education teacher at Sacred Heart Primary School in St Albans in the late 1980s to current-day farmer.
With no farming background, Paul left teaching in 1996, bought the property in Spring Hill and started a mobile animal farm, visiting schools and kindergartens. In 1996, the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria was looking for a promotions person and Paul wasn’t sure he could fill the role but said ‘yes’ anyway. He was given the position and worked in promotions for two years and then spent another 17 years with the RASV running the Animal Nursery at the Royal Melbourne Show. One day, sitting with mates in the Spring Hill sun and enjoying a quiet beverage, he saw an advertisement with llamas for sale. With the powers of creative thinking, generated by a beer or three, his mates encouraged Paul to make an enquiry about the stock. He bought 200.
Read the full story at www.tlnews.com.au - Edition 329
The intricate beauty of the landscape that surrounds her is a major source of inspiration for established Daylesford artist Loïque Allain.
Working predominantly with linocut printmaking and weaving, her work has seen Loïque awarded both national and state art prizes, and is held in private collections around the world. Loïque says working in large format gives a sense of freedom, an expansiveness. “It correlates to being in the land as well because it is all encompassing and I guess working in large format gives you the opportunity to express that. When I’m working I can carve a large 1.5 metre by 1 metre piece in about seven working days. That is if I work constantly.” Loïque says her parents have been inspirational. “They work in the arts and always encouraged me. My dad managed some Indigenous arts centres and my mum would run a lot of workshops with the women, painting and weaving.”
Read the full story at www.tlnews.com.au - Edition 330
Today I am joining the Great Dividing Trail Association walkers to tackle the 10.5km Muckleford Heritage Walk. GDTA member and experienced bushwalker John Lewis is our walk leader. But members with different specialisations and areas of interest lead different walks that are offered on the GDTA regular events program. At 9.30am, a total of 24 walkers - most of them GDTA members plus a small handful of non-member guests - rendezvous at the Red, White and Blue mine site in the Muckleford Nature Conservation Reserve. The historic mine is worth a look. It features an intact poppet head, a mine shaft, machinery site, mullock heap and dams. The poppet head was originally from the Bendigo Deborah United Mine. Read the full story at www.tlnews.com.au - Edition 331
The Little Local - thelittlelocal.com.au
10 Stony Creek Road, Daylesford VIC 3460
P: (03) 5348 1884
E: info@stonycreekgallery.com.au
Trading Hours:
Open: Thurs - Mon 10:30 am - 5:00 pm
Closed: Tues - Wed
Michael Parker welcomes his Galleries and Sculpture Daylesford. Featuring original paintings sculptures, including mediums by regional .Paintings .Sculptures .Jewellery .Ceramics
Daylesford’s Lynda Poke, one of five women who received International Women’s Day recognition with their inclusion on the Hepburn Shire’s Heather Mutimer Honour Roll, says that while many great strides have been made in improving gender equity there is still much ground yet to cover.
“We are still seeing women here in Australia retiring with, on average, about thirty per cent less super than their male counterparts,” the founder and operator of local walking tour business, Alice’s Journeys, says. “And while the full-time gender pay gap is at a record low, women are still earning an annual taxable income that is on average 29.2 per cent less than men.” The other inductees were Mary-Faeth Chenery, Mary Harvey, Donna Kelly and Jessie Leggatt (posthumous). To read about Mary-Faeth Chenery and Mary Harvey head to The Local’s website www.tlnews.com.au and click on Edition 328.
Read Lynda’s and Jessie’s full stories at Edition 329
Places to go for free!
Creswick’s Calembeen Parkrun
Jubilee Lake
Mt Franklin Reserve
Thomas’ Lookout/Cornish Hill
Glenlyon Reserve
Daylesford Mill Market
Lake Daylesford
Wombat Hill Botanic Garden
Trentham Rail Trail
Trentham Falls
Myriad mineral springs
Bush walks
Lerderderg Gorge
Glenlyon Falls
Sailors Falls waterfall/lookout
Djuwang Baring (Creswick Trails)
Little Gallery in Trentham is no stranger to high-profile artists exhibiting, as over the past 14 years the gallery continues to showcase many Central Victorian artists who have achieved greatness in their field.
One of the founding members of the Little Gallery, Rose Wilson says: “We are truly blessed to be able to represent some of the finest artists that this region has to offer, not only are these artists known within Australia but are internationally acclaimed.” Over the years, the artist-run space has had a number of high-profile artists as members of its dynamic team with the most recent addition of sculptors Maria Coyle, pictured, and Jimmy Rix. Rose said the gallery’s annual Winter Show fundraising exhibition would open on July 11 with 16 artists exhibiting to celebrate regional identity through art. “Each year we source new, emerging and established local artists to participate in this exhibition.” Little Gallery is open 10am to 4pm, Thursday to Monday and most public holidays.
Read the full story at www.tlnews.com.au - Edition 331
• Extensive
• Rustic
• Accessible
• Coffee,
• Parking
• Activities
• All
Ballarat’s famous Eureka Pizza & Bistro has spread its Italian love to Ballarat and opened its second branch in Howe Street, Daylesford on Sunday, June 1.
Owners are BJ and Vips, who have years of experience in the food industry and are currently operating the iconic Eureka Bistro in Ballarat. Eureka Bistro was opened in Ballarat in 1972, and BJ and Vips are only its second owners. It’s loved by everyone who loves a classic margherita, a hearty meat lovers, or a fresh, veggie-packed primavera. Each dish is craft with love, using only the freshest ingredients and time-honoured recipes.
BJ said Eureka Pizza was all about a warm and welcoming atmosphere where friends and family can gather to enjoy great food and company. And for those keen to stay in, there are delivery and pick-up options available.
“I think the original and traditional recipes we have will be our point of difference. We have very old Italian recipes. The first owner, John, opened it in 1972 and stayed there for 50 years. That says a lot about the business. And most of the core staff are still with us.
“The chef has been there for 15 years, the manager for 20, the lead pizza maker around 18 years. When we bought the bistro we only did very subtle changes and it’s going well.”
BJ said the Daylesford chefs had been trained in Ballarat for the past three months – so they will be doing exactly the same recipes – but all of the front of house staff will be local. “We want people who know the community, who live here. We are here for the long run. We want to link up with the community and be part of that community for a long time. Maybe another 50 years.”
Eureka Pizza Daylesford is at 5/22-24 Howe Street, Daylesford. Opening hours are Wednesday and Thursday 5pm-9pm, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12-9.30pm.
Ph: (03) 7047 6676 | www.eurekabistro.com.au
Numbers you might need
Emergency – Fire, Police, Ambulance - 000
Daylesford Taxis – 5348 1111
Springs Medical Centre, Daylesford – 5348 2227
Daylesford Hospital – 5321 6500
Daylesford Police – 5348 2342
SES – 132 500
Daylesford Regional Visitor Information Centre – 5321 6123
Places you might need
Daylesford Post Office – 86 Vincent Street
ATMs in Daylesford:
Bendigo – 97 Vincent Street
Westpac – 45 Vincent Street
Commonwealth – 36-40 Vincent Street
ANZ - 52 Vincent Street
A secret you might like!
Macedon’s ‘Anti-Gravity Hill’ is a strange place - you really do have to see it to believe it. If you roll a ball at the bottom of the hill it “rolls up” the hill, not down. You can do the same thing in a car, if you have a manual. Just pop it in neutral and off you go. And if you slip your trainers on, when you run downhill it feels like you’re running uphill - and vice versa. Baffling...
Jodie Fergusson-Batte is a Daylesford-based artist with a passion for painting using oil on board. Her engaging figurative works frequently feature women whose captivating ‘female gaze’ wins her plenty of fans.
While her innate creativity means art is always a faithful companion and a personal release throughout life’s journey, Jodie has plenty of other strings to her bow. She co-founded tea company She Tea, sold it in 2017, then worked in the health area again and also did a Masters in Human Rights. She then started her own company providing remote digital monitoring for aged care, enabling people to remain in their own homes longer. “I stepped down from that role about a year ago and started an Airbnb, Piccolo Lane, here at the house and did that for about six months. Discover Daylesford are running it now. I’m also doing a bit of work with TEDx.”
A300 to Mt Franklin 4km to Castlemaine 30km to Bendigo 68km
Jacksons Lookout Tower
SPRINGS
C316 to Glenlyon 9km to Malmsbury 27km to Kyneton 31km
to Malmsbury 27km to Kyneton 31km
View Hill Rd
Rosella
Smith Barkas
Parker
Jamieson Trewhella
Little
Vincent Nth
Langdon
HEPBURN
Daylesford Malmsbury
Barkas
Vincent Nth
Rosella Ln
C317 to Trentham 25km to Woodend 45km to Melbourne 113km via Calder Fwy
The Little Local - thelittlelocal.com.au
Barkas
Parker Trewhella
Frazer
Grenville
Stanhope
Stanley
Queensberry
Orford Daly
Camp
Duke
Vincent
Bridport
Harts Ln
Langdon Crt
Millar
West
Perrins
Fulcher
Tierneys Ln
Grenville
Lake Road
A300 to Blampied 8km to Newlyn 15km to Creswick 24km to Clunes 41km to Ballarat 39km
C141 to Sailors Falls 3km to Ballan 30km to Melbourne 109km via Western Fwy
