Front page: Clunes' Earle Kent reckons his tree is one of the biggest in the region. Well, his golfing mates reckon it is. The Murray River red gum is about 15 metres high and was on his property when he bought 38 years ago. If you have a bigger treewe'd love to hear from you. More at Just Sayin'... p25.
Image: Kyle Barnes
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The Local is a fortnightly community publication covering the Central Highlands of Victoria.
The next edition is out on Monday, February 23, 2026 or online on Sunday, February 22 at www.tlnews.com.au
Space bookings: Wednesday, February 18
Copy deadline: Thursday, February 19
Editorial deadline: Thursday, February 19
General manager: Kyle Barnes on 0416 104 283 or kyle@tlnews.com.au
Editor: Donna Kelly on 0418 576 513 or news@tlnews.com.au
Sub-editors: Nick Bunning, Lindsay Smith & Chester the Cat
Writers:
Kevin Childs, Tony Sawrey, Kyle Barnes & Donna Kelly
Photographers: Tony Sawrey, Kyle Barnes & Donna Kelly
Graphic designer: Dianne Caithness
Contributors:
Darren Lowe (music), Jeff Glorfeld (US life), Bill Wootton (poetry), Dr Marita McGuirk (wildlife), Natalie Poole (history) & John Beetham (gardens)
Accounts: Julie Hanson | Delivery: Tony Sawrey
The Local - The Heart of the Highlands
Musk CFA lending a hand and raising funds
Putting their local area to good use, the Musk CFA brigade recently transported 50 rolls of hay to the Harcourt Relief Station.
CFA secretary John Franklin said the majority of the grass was donated by Rijk Zwaan of Musk from one of their surrounding paddocks with farmer Trevor Brown cutting and rolling it with help from Jed Neville and the rest of the brigade.
Four trucks driven by CFA members were loaded and the hay was moved to Harcourt. The Victorian Farmers Federation got involved too, donating a fuel subsidy for the trucks driven by Wayne Orr, Greg Orr, Trevor Brown and Aaron Orr. But wait, there’s more.
John said the Musk CFA was an active brigade and had just recruited seven new members from the area as part of succession planning.
“They're living locally and they're not farming or part of the farming community. They're people who are working from home or doing some trades and so forth. It’s been good that when we're broadening it we've got younger ones and now they're very enthusiastic. Things like this hay organisation is a lot easier to do.”
The next move is the Musk CFA getting permission to start a GoFundMe page to raise money for another tanker for their region – which takes in businesses like Rijk Zwaan Australia, Dairy Flat Farm, Passing Clouds winery, Daylesford Cidery and the Daylesford Spa Country Railway.
The
John said the Musk CFA took part in strike teams which meant their one tanker could be called on to leave the area to help elsewhere.
While other CFAs in the Glenlyon Group can help out, another tanker would be a much valued addition, he said. The cost of the tanker is about $250,000 but if $45,000 can be raised the rest may be found in a grant. Finally, mark your calendar for May. The Bullarto Bush Dance is another major fundraiser, not to be missed. Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Gavin Orr Scan the QR code for a short movie.
Musk CFA is also responsible for the area's two key potable water reservoirs - Wombat and Bullarto.
new tanker would double the current number of tankers – just one.
Daylesford Community Op Shop needs help
It's not every day an opportunity shop says it does not want any more donations of clothing, furniture, books, pretty much everything.
But it's not every day a bag of goods infested with bed bugs is dropped off.
And that's what happened to the Daylesford Community Op Shop - and while they do need donations, it's the monetary kind.
Spokesperson Michelle Clifford said the op shop was forced to close about a month ago after the infested bag was dropped off.
Health protocols were followed and the much-loved op shop in Mink Street, Daylesford closed down while the infestation was dealt with. Thousands of dollars of donated goods were destroyed.
Now it's all about raising funds to pay bills and re-open in March.
"I've been telling everyone not to donate goods," Michelle said. "And we haven't had anyone so far, so that's been pretty grand of our community.
"People can help now by giving us money through the GoFundMe page or into our bank account, or give us something for our upcoming online auction."
Michelle said when the incident first happened she was worried the op shop might close permanently but the generosity of the community showed that was not a concern.
Donations can be made to Daylesford Community Bank. Account: Daylesford Community Op Shop. BSB: 633000 Account: 145 943 866. All donations over $2 are tax deductible. More: Just Sayin'...page 25 Words: Donna Kelly
THIS WEEK’S SPECIALS FOR OUR LOCALS
GREENHILLS NATURAL LAMB LEG FROM
$27.99/kg
Boneless legs of lamb, whole legs of lamb and lamb leg chops are all on special this week. Chops are perfect for the BBQ, boneless leg meat is great on barbie as well as diced as skewers, shish kebabs and curries and of course, there’s nothing more delicious that roast lamb on the bone.
GREENHILLS NATURAL WHOLE 3KG RUMP $99
Rump is a hardworking muscle, but this means that it has bangs of flavour. From quick stir-fry’s to slow cooked goulash, Vietnamese pho, Brazilian picanha, or just a great steak on the bbq, there is no better value than to buy the whole rump - we will even cut it into steaks at the thickness of your choosing! Amazing value for premium grass-fed beef. Visit daylesfordmeatco.com.au/rump for great recipes!
Just briefly... Your say...
Daylesford’s community cinema, The Phoenix@The Rex, will open in April.
The month will kick off with a soft opening for volunteers with tickets then available online. An application has been made for a liquor licence and the Daylesford Carpet Flooring Group donated and installed covering for a storage area, which was painted by Daylesford’s Peter Sagittarius. External and internal signage is being planned, along with the interior design for the upstairs toilets.
The people behind Hotel Trentham and Heatherton's Arcobar have taken on the project of bringing the Palais Theatre in Hepburn Springs back to life.
To be rebranded as Hepburn Palais, the historic venue celebrates its 100th birthday this year, and should be ready to reopen its doors to live music, dancing, comedy, theatre, and a plethora of special events just after Easter. The venue will initially open for ticketed events only. Read about the venue's history by Natalie Poole on page 19.
Macedon Ranges Council, in partnership with the Goldfield Libraries and Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group, has announced the return of ChangeMakers Macedon Ranges: a two-week festival of climate and sustainability events.
From Saturday, March 21 to Saturday, April 4 the festival will offer inspiring ‘how to’ workshops, locals teaching locals info sessions, community forums, author talks, film screenings, sustainable home and garden tours, and Eco Story & Rhyme Times in the libraries throughout the shire. All events are free, family-friendly and designed to inspire behaviour change and collective action to protect the region's beautiful environment and respond to increasing climate emergencies.
Link: www.mrsc.vic.gov.au/Changemakers
Victoria’s smallest towns have an extra month to apply for a Tiny Towns Fund grant.
Applications for Round 3 of the $20 million Tiny Towns Fund have been extended by four weeks and will close at 4pm on Wednesday, March 4. Grants of between $5000 and $50,000 are available to towns with fewer than 5000 people for projects that provide more opportunities to connect, attract visitors, improve facilities and deliver infrastructure upgrades.
Link: www.rdv.vic.gov.au/tiny-towns-fund
More than 271 medical interns will head to regional hospitals this year.
Those around the Central Highlands include Bendigo Health (43) and Grampians Health (6). Under the guidance of senior doctors, interns rotate through a range of specialties over 47 weeks, including medicine, surgery, emergency, mental health and other clinical areas.
Hepburn Shire Council is offering residents a reusable product voucher to reduce the upfront costs associated with purchasing reusable nappy, period and incontinence products.
The council has partnered with Kyneton business Darlings Downunder to provide residents with a voucher to reduce the cost of transitioning away from disposable products. Each household in the shire can access one $50 voucher to purchase eligible items. The program runs until May 31 unless funds are exhausted prior. Minimum spend $50.
Child and Family Services Ballarat (Cafs) is encouraging individuals and families across the Central Highlands region to seek support early if they are feeling overwhelmed by financial stress, following new research released by The Salvation Army.
The nationwide survey revealed that nearly half of all Australians (44 per cent) will start 2026 in debt, and almost nine out of 10 people report feeling the same or more stressed about their finances compared to last year. Cafs’ Financial Counselling service provides free, confidential, and independent support to anyone experiencing financial difficulty. The service helps people negotiate with creditors, understand debt options, and work towards greater financial stability. Cafs also provide a Financial Capability Program to support and strengthen budgeting skills and financial literacy.
Australia Day
Why is anyone looking to the Hepburn Shire Council to celebrate any holiday or commemorative day? Shouldn’t that be up to individuals?
In my opinion it is a ridiculous and outdated sentiment to look to the council for how to celebrate holidays. The council should be neutral on matters of celebration and holiday.
I understand some individuals want ‘the government’ to agree with their opinions … but that’s not what the council should be there to do. I’d rather the council not celebrate any holiday or commemorative day. I’d like if and how I mark the day to be up to me as a free-thinking individual.
I’d like the council to maintain parks for public (everyone) use. Fix roads for public use.
My thoughts and commemorations are not for public comment and therefore have nothing to do with the council. People need to be responsible for their own minds. Not look to a local government to mirror whatever it is they believe.
- Denver resident
I'm reading the January 26 edition (of The Local) and the comments included in your opening article.
It's interesting to note how people are kind, gracious and considerate in their wording as they try to navigate the exclusionary date for the Indigenous population. Which is in direct contrast to the inflammatory, angry and defensive wording for daring to disrespect the 233 year 'history' of colonisation - blithely ignoring and riding roughshod over 65,000 years of history.
An oral tradition of history is far more accurate than a written history; because it is not edited, censored or altered into doublespeak to inflame and incite others when convenient.
- Name and address supplied
Council news
Community Awards nominations open
Volunteers are the lifeblood of our community. To recognise the work of volunteers, the annual Community Awards are being held during National Volunteers Week (18-24 May). Nominations are now open, so please consider nominating in the categories of Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Community Event of the Year and Hepburn Together Award.
Find out more at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/community-awards
Heat Safe Pool Party
Join us for three fun-filled afternoons in the pool and learn how to stay safe in the heat at these family-friendly events. We are celebrating Extreme Heat Awareness Day by partnering with the Grampians Public Health Unit and Ambulance Victoria to bring attention to the risks associated with hot weather. There will be music, games and giveaways.
Wednesday 11 February, 3–6 pm Clunes pool
Thursday 12 February, 3–6 pm
Trentham pool
Friday 13 February, 3–6 pm Daylesford pool
Find out more at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/pool-party
Interested in volunteering?
Are you a passionate member of the Hepburn Shire community and able to spare three or four hours a week (or even once or twice a month)?
Become a volunteer at one of our visitor information centres and share your knowledge of the local area with visitors.
Find out more at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/Volunteer or email tourism@hepburn.vic.gov.au
2026 Reusable product voucher program
To help you make the switch to reusable nappies, period or incontinence products, Council is offering households a $50 voucher code to use on the purchase of eligible reusable products from local business Darlings Downunder.
Vouchers can be used for cloth nappies, swim nappies, training pants, wet bags, period products, nursing pads, incontinence underwear, and more.
The discount voucher code is valid until 31 May 2026, unless allocated funds are exhausted prior.
Find out more at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/reusables
Cr Don Henderson Cr Lesley Hewitt
Cr Brian Hood
Cr Tony Clark
Cr Tim Drylie Cr Pat Hockey Cr Shirley Cornish
Image: 2025 National Volunteer Week function
Creswick Town Hall celebrating 150 years
Creswick Town Hall is celebrating 150 years since its building began in 1876.
In 1873 the town council decided to build new offices and offered £50 for a winning design, won by architect W.R.H. Creber of Ballarat. The builder who won the tender was A.J. Boulder at a price of £3000.
Council meetings were held in the upstairs chamber for many years and portraits of many mayors, shire presidents and councillors adorn the walls. The building was the centre of town activities – the large room was the library, people paid rates etc.
In the 1960s there was talk of demolishing the building, but after much lobbying the council offices were opened as a museum, housing many historic exhibits and artworks by local artists including the famous Lindsay family.
The main hall has been used over the years for many events, concerts, dinners, balls, flower shows, orations and as a movie cinema when the biobox (projector room) was added in the early 1940s.
To celebrate the 150th anniversary, the Creswick & District Historical Society in conjunction with the Creswick Museum will be open from Thursday, February 26 until Sunday, March 1 from 9am until 3pm each day, with displays of historic interest.
At 10.30am on the Thursday there will be an official opening with invited guests, and anyone who would like to come along at that time is welcome. There will be a birthday cake and refreshments.
Other community groups will also be involved – the Creswick Brass Band will play at 2pm on Saturday, February 28, the Creswick Garden Club will have a floral display to acknowledge one of the first events in the Town Hall, and several other groups will have displays. Entry by donation.
The Havilah Masonic Lodge in Albert Street will also be open during this time. The building is unique and not to be missed.
The Creswick Senior Citizens will provide refreshments on Saturday and Sunday.
Words: Contributed
Drew loving his lifestyle at Hepburn House
Drew Muscat celebrated 10 years working at Hepburn House last August – and he is not going anywhere.
The personal care assistant, more recently turned lifestyle assistant, cultural support officer and member of the Ageing with Pride committee, loves his job.
The lifestyle side of things sees Drew doing activities five days a week, like going into the garden with the residents and reminiscing with them about their own gardens and, with Valentine’s Day coming up, what they had in their wedding bouquets.
There’s also movies, the in-house theatre and even a progressive writing project which he tries to keep on the rails as the residents add one-by-one to the original sentence. “We had a story about a bus tour and the bus got flooded but one of the ladies added that she was so full of hot air, the bus refloated. It’s all good fun. Now we are doing a ghost story treasure hunt.”
The cultural side is a bit more intense. Drew steps in if anyone thinks they are not being treated respectfully or spoken to as well as they should be - a form of OH&S.
The Pride position sees Drew as part of the committee talking about and maintaining the house’s Rainbow Tick and education about Pride. They are also busy now working on their ChillOut Parade float.
For Drew, it all adds up to having a great job. Or not even that. “I know it’s a cliché but if you enjoy what you do, you don't really work. I spent many years working in hospitality and it's just nice not to have to handle money anymore. We always have a laugh.”
Drew said he found his way into aged care the same way he fell into hospitality. “Almost 20 years ago my brother’s fiancée said they were doing a hospitality course – and did I want to do that too. So I did, and they didn’t.
“Then 10 years ago, a neighbour said they were doing an aged care course. And I did that too. And so did they this time. Since then I have also done my certificate four and a diploma in leisure and health."
Drew said he felt an affinity for older people which he puts down to being adopted, at one week, to older parents. They were born in 1925 and 1930 and he was adopted in 1971. “So I can really relate to the residents. I know the kind of humour my parents liked. You can be a bit bawdy without being crude. I find it easier to relate to them. We have fun.”
Hepburn House, 1 Hepburn Road, Daylesford, is a Commonwealth Government-funded aged care facility focussed on providing personalised and advanced services to accommodate the needs of all residents as they experience change over time.
Email reception@hepburnhouse.com.au or call 5348 8100. Advertorial
EAT | DRINK | ENJOY
Out & About in the Central Highlands
Kim: The person you wish you could create
Good businesses don’t fail - they leak.
Not because the work isn’t good. Because follow-ups slip, details drift, and visibility fades while you’re flat out doing the job.
That’s why Kim James has created The Wombat Collective – an initiative designed to strengthen the middle layer - the systems, touchpoints and consistency that protect revenue, reputation, and repeat work.
Ballarat born and bred, Kim is a down-to-earth animal lover who’s worn many business hats. Over the years, she has learned that clear communication and solid customer care matter far more than chasing new sales.
After a career working with small businesses in Melbourne, Kim is bringing back those skills to the Central Highlands region to help business owners strengthen their systems, from customer follow-through and operations to simple digital tools where required.
“They are the things that connect local businesses to the people in the town, quietly protecting the local economy and keeping money, skills and confidence in the community.” Kim said her aim was to be the “person you wish you could create” when starting or running a business — someone who can step in flexibly, whether the work is hands-on or technical, and identify the missing pieces that often make or break small businesses.
She said many businesses don’t have every skill in house or the capacity to outsource fully, and that her approach allows specific pieces of work to be handed over affordably to someone who understands how the business actually operates.
“A local who understands how things work in the town, someone who speaks plainly and can actually sit with you and help to keep your business thriving with local people supporting local business. We don’t need to lose business to Melbourne. We have everyone here.
“I see The Wombat Collective eventually being a shared hub for businesses where help is available without the usual cost barriers.” She added that she kept her fees affordable for small businesses and would “help create a really sensible flow of support in the town”.
Kim said most small businesses were born from passion and the region is full of skilled, creative people. But being a wonderful tradesperson did not always translate to keeping a website up and running or being on top of quotes and emails.
The name The Wombat Collective came from her love of wombats, a symbol of the region, and being grounded. Literally. “The Wombat Collective is also grounded, not flashy and unattainable. The Collective came from a vision that this is about sustaining the local, circular economy. Being able to learn from each other, which is the great opportunity we have in these smaller towns.”
For anyone running a small business who could use a hand, in the first instance give Kim a call on 0435 905 962 for a free, no commitment, chat. Or head to www.thewombatcollective.com.au
Clunes Booktown celebrates 20 years
Clunes Booktown Festival will mark its 20th anniversary on March 21-22 with a stellar program on the theme of defiance and hope.
More than 15,000 people are expected to join the festival, creating a bustling hub of readers, authors, booksellers and music-lovers of all ages.
Festival creative director Suzi Cordell says the event will include more than 130 book stalls, a Kids Village, writers' workshops, panels on crime writing, speculative fiction, romance, First Nations storytelling, playwriting and historical fiction, as well as free music and entertainment across the weekend.
“The weekend will be packed with activities including Historical Walking Tours of Clunes, a First Nations Night Sky Dreaming event, the annual Poetry Slam, free Kids Village events with the creators of bestselling children’s series Real Pigeons and Oceanforged plus the iconic Hay Bale Maze,” Suzi said.
“We’re so excited to be celebrating our 20th anniversary and what this event means for a small regional town like Clunes. We want to pay tribute to the festival founders, who have brought so many iconic Australian authors to our town over the years including Helen Garner, Kate Grenville and the late John Marsden, as well as former Prime Ministers, journalists and - most importantly - almost a quarter of a million book lovers.”
Events include:
Lifelong environmental activist and former Greens leader Bob Brown talking with broadcaster Hilary Harper about his new book Defiance;
Hear Me Roar: Fearless Female Characters in Crime with podcaster and author Vikki Petraitis (The Stolen, The Unbelieved), Ned Kelly award-winner Christian White (The Wife and the Widow, The Ledge), Fiona Hardy (Unbury the Dead) and Jacqui Horwood;
How to Live and Die with screenwriter and playwright Marieke Hardy (From The Heart: Women of Letters, You’ll be Sorry When I’m Dead), Hannah Gould (How to Die in the 21st Century) and Antonia Pont (Plain Life);
Miles Franklin winner Sofie Laguna (The Underworld, The Choke, The Eye of the Sheep) discussing Myth and Coming of Age with literary journalist and novelist Jane Sullivan;
Real Pigeons creators Andrew McDonald and Ben Wood sharing the latest on their crime-fighting birds, and Oceanforged author Amelia Mellor helping young readers invent magical creatures in the Kids Village;
Historical fiction authors Toni Jordan (Tenderfoot, Addition), Marion Taffe (By Her Hand) and Jock Serong (Cherrywood, The Settlement), discussing characters fighting the tide;
First Time Lucky will explore the new wave of romance writing with Emma Mugglestone (In The Long Run), Holly Brunnbauer (What Did I Miss?), AFL and queer romance devotee Darcy Green (After The Siren) and multicultural romcom author Cynthia Timoti (How to Find a Guy In Five Weddings);
Join writer and academic Dennis Altman, human rights lawyer Paula Gerber and biographer Jill Blee for a discussion on the struggle for equal rights in Defiantly Queer; and
Explore The Poetics of Hope with Maxine Beneba Clarke (Beautiful Changelings, The Hate Race); Wiradjuri writer and Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Poetry winner Jeanine Leane, and arts journalist and poet Thuy On (Essence). There will also be workshops on short-story writing, self-publishing, and writing oral history.
For the full program head to www.clunesbooktown.org.au
Festival entry is $15 (covering both Saturday and Sunday), and is free for locals and children under 16 years of age. Author talks are $25, with ticket discounts for multiple events. Workshop tickets are $30 each.
The Local is a proud media partner of Clunes Booktown.
Advertorial
Artists of the Central Highlands with Donna Kelly
Clunes artist Colin Clark grew up in the UK, just north of London where his family had a diverse range of interests with the artistic side very much in the world of music rather than the visual arts. His father was a huge opera fan and as a teenager Colin used to join him regularly in the cheap seats at the Royal Opera House. Colin's sister was the one who inherited the musical talent however, while he inherited his father's sporting prowess playing a lot of cricket and hockey. There was not a real arty career for Colin although he did deal with creative designers during his time in product engineering at Jaguar and Ford. Colin and his partner moved to Australia in 2004 after a job at Ford in Australia sort of fell into his lap while they were on a one-year sabbatical travelling round the world.
Donna: When did you know you were an artist?
Colin: I love this question because it gets to the heart of imposter syndrome. I have a huge cognitive dissonance between how I see myself and how I see others. I think that anyone who does art has the right to call themselves an artist in the same way as anyone who plays golf has the right to call themselves a golfer. At the same time, it took a while to consider myself as one, probably when I started to sell some pieces and win some awards. I am a real advocate of just doing art for the enjoyment of it. It seems to me that we love it as kids and then we go to school and come across some super-talented classmates and then give up. We don’t really do this in other things so why do we do it in art? We call our studio “The Crap Art Studio”, a bit tongue-in-cheek these days, but just to remind ourselves that it’s about doing it and sometimes pushing boundaries and that it doesn’t matter if some of what comes out is not very good. You can still enjoy making it and you always learn something, even if it’s just not to do that again.
Donna: What attracts you to print and lino?
I was inspired by old black-and-white newspaper photos which, if you looked closely, you could see were printed using varying sizes of dots to create a convincing greyscale picture. I decided to try to do the same thing using a Dremel with different drill sizes to make the different dot sizes. My first trial image was not perfect but promising and I then created Uncle, an image of an imaginary Aboriginal elder, which I was very happy with.
Colin: I have worked in many media, and continue to do so, but I just get drawn back to printing. There’s something quite cathartic about carving away at a piece of lino and also a sense of not 100 per cent knowing what it will come out like when I pull that first proof.
Donna: What images are you drawn to?
Colin: I am drawn very much towards contemporary art. I have seen enough landscape oil paintings and portraits of inbred nobility to last a lifetime. I would much prefer to see something new, clever and innovative.
In my own work I do feel some tension between what I really want to do and what I think will sell. I still get surprised sometimes by which artworks sell well and it is often not the ones that win awards. Definitely things with a local theme are popular. For example, I created a street scene of Creswick for a shared exhibition at Art on Albert in the town and that was the top seller. Animal and bird themes are also popular. I guess you just need to create something that a few people really love rather than something that most people quite like.
Donna: I see you have won quite a few awards...
Colin: I won three prizes last year in regional art shows at Bacchus Marsh, Beaufort and Avoca. Two were for my artwork Uncle which was something I created using a new, experimental technique.
Donna: Second last question, why Clunes?
Colin: We were inspired to convert a house to be totally sustainable after reading the book Sustainable House by Michael Mobbs. It all seemed a bit too hard to convert our Altona house for a variety of reasons so we decided to find some land and build one from the ground up. We looked all around Central Victoria but really fell in love with the Clunes area and found the ideal block on the corner of Clunes State Forest where we designed and built (literally) our off-grid, straw bale house. It is located on 70 acres of pristine forest and is the perfect place to create in peace away from the hustle and bustle of the modern world.
Donna: Where can we see your work?
Colin: I currently have works in a few galleries. I have some prints at Castlemaine Market Arts Show in the Visitor Centre and in Gallery 127 in Avoca. I also have a small exhibition but with lots of prints in a flip-box at TBH Studio in Bridge Mall, Ballarat and some of my digital work is on display at Art on Albert in Creswick. I am in discussions for a solo exhibition at Gallery 127 later this year and will no doubt be entering work into various Rotary and other art shows. You can find me on Facebook at CC Art Printmaking or on my brand new website at www.ccartprintmaking.com
Image: Contributed
Gigs with Darren Lowe
Woodfordia’s Festival of Small Halls has announced that Canadian folk/blues artist Joe H Henry and Australian guitar slinger Tullara will feature on their next tour in April 2026, which takes in 13 regional towns.
Presented by veteran festival producers Woodfordia Inc, the 49th edition of the not-for-profit music tour is meandering from Bullarto through to Deepwater.
The pair will play at the Bullarto Hall on Friday, April 10.
The Cosmopolitan Hotel, Trentham
Jeremy Beggs - Saturday, February 14, 1.30pm–3.30pm
The Home Road - Saturday, February 21, 3pm–5pm
Cat Canteri - Saturday, February 28, 3pm–5pm
The Daylesford Hotel, Daylesford
Emily Davis Duo Valentine's Day Love In - Saturday, February 14, 8pm10.30pm (below right)
Soul/blues singer Oscar LaDell - Saturday, February 21, 2pm-4pm
Songwriter Georgia Rodgers - Saturday, February 28, 2pm-4pm (below left)
Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
ThornBird is the electrifying solo project of Vikki Thorn.
With a voice honed over three decades at the heart of The Waifs, Australia’s iconic globally touring folk-rock band, ThornBird emerges as a bold new force on the global stage. Her debut self-titled solo album (2022) drew critical acclaim, earning nominations for both an ARIA and a WAMI Award for Best Blues and Roots Album.
ThornBird draws on a life lived traversing the wild geographical landscapes of Utah and Western Australia. Intertwining Americana grooves with blues harp and a folk storytelling ethos, she presents a sound that is uniquely Australian. Channelling stories of strong women, solitude, untamed places, love, loss and life lessons into every song, ThornBird's Big Girl Pants Show will be at the Theatre Royal in Castlemaine on Wednesday, February 18.
This year is the fifth season of concerts at Christ Church Daylesford.
The 2026 program is particularly special, as it features a range of world-class performers, including several distinguished artists making a welcome return to the series.
The season is anchored by two baroque concerts curated by the versatile Nicholas Dinopoulos. A renowned opera, concert, and recital singer, Nick also brings his expertise as a teaching artist and conductor to help shape the musical journey.
Christ Church Concerts 2026 Series will be a showcase of rare and historical instruments. The series is virtuosic and rare with programs ranging from the golden age of 1720s London theatre music and soulful lute music of John Dowland to delightful 19th century miniatures and modern vocal settings of composers' personal letters.
The focus is on smaller, evocative ensembles, such as voice paired with guitar or a unique consort of four recorders, all designed to bring the great spirit of these musical periods alive in a resonant, historic setting. Tickets: www.trybooking.com/eventlist/christchurchconcerts
Our history
with Natalie Poole
Hepburn's Palais de Danse
The Palais de Danse was a purpose-built dance hall that offered glamour and sophistication for those wanting to be seen in social circles in the 1920s. The French name meaning ‘palace of dance’ elevated the experience beyond the simple Mechanics Hall dances and generally featured a café, restaurant, orchestra space and modern entertainment.
From 1922, getting your dancing shoes on and doing the charleston, foxtrot or tango was a regular event at the venue. The building consisted of a large dance hall with a sprung floor and dressing rooms. It also doubled as a picture palace with Herbert Crowle the proprietor. In 1926, it was known as the Palais Theatre and was sold to Mr F. H. Williams of Caulfield for £5000.
Over time, the space has changed its name and has had an evolving range of entertainment options. In 1932, The Age newspaper advertisement showed: ‘The Palais Hepburn Springs. The popular place of amusement. Dancing, Euchre Parties and Special Holiday Programmes. First Class Dancing Floor. The famous Black Cat Orchestra. Old Time and Modern Dancing. Cool Drink Lounges and Tearooms." And more changes were on the horizon.
The Age, March 26, 1938 shows the diversification of the business space with a lease consisting of large dance hall and dressing rooms, two hairdressing saloons, a large cafe (seating 80), a fruit and vegetable shop, with tobacco, cigars, cigarettes, confectionery available to buy. There was also a soda fountain.
In effect, the space had become the cultural hub of the Hepburn region and a major venue for local and international musicians. From the 1950s to the 1990s, the history becomes sketchy until The Age newspaper of October 22, 1994 offers a description of the space: 'The old Palais Theatre in the main street of Hepburn Springs is still stuck back in the '50s, and that's a feeling I like because those were the days when family was still family. Somehow, it's very wholesome.'
The next stage in the Palais Hepburn’s life from 1995-2025 is a mix of turbulence and success with multiple owners, and closures, taking place. Restoring the Grand Old Dame to her former glory was an ongoing narrative throughout this period.
Tarragon Leg of Lamb with Roasted Vegetables
BY SARAH LANG
This dish is so easy to prepare – it just needs a little marinating time – but whilst you can marinate the leg for just an hour – you can just as easily (and with arguably even better results), pop it in the marinade the day before and then be ready to roast the following day. French tarragon is superb in this dish, but if you can’t find it or its out of season, you can substitute for fresh rosemary or thyme, or a combination. Just adjust the vegetables to those that best complement the herbs.
Click on the QR code below or head to our website for full recipe.
The Australian Financial Review of September 25, 1998 describes the venue as a well restored 1920s theatre with an elegant, rather eccentric cocktail bar, restaurant and café with big lounge chairs and fires blazing. In 2006, Emmy Award winner Guy Pearce owned the Palais. He said 'I only bought it 'cause a mate was stuck and needed some help', according to the Independent Newspaper in the UK.
In 2010, Hepburn’s live music scene suffered a blow. The closure of the Palais in the November ended the continuity of national and international acts to the region.
Then the following year in May 2011, a couple of locals leased the venue and turned it into a space for food and music. The MX newspaper date June 7, 2011 reported the Palais Hotel opened its doors with a new look and new energy with its Art Deco ambience retained. The energy lasted two years before the doors closed.
In 2016 a vintage and retro shop was opened in the building with the likelihood of launching a European restaurant and delicatessen in the future. Another rebirth attempt in 2018 gave life to the venue for another six years until the costs of running the place caused the closure of Palais Hepburn in July 2024.
Soon, the venue will be up and running again with the people from Hotel Trentham and Heatherton's Arcobar taking over. Hotel Trentham's Facebook page said intially the venue will be open for ticketed events only. 'No restaurant. No fuss or fanfare. Just a selection of great entertainment that will hopefully help bring a very diverse audience to the region, with a very diverse selection of artist announcements to be made in the coming months.' Image: Valentine Series
Beetham's Botanicals
Well here I am again writing an article for you, the reader, to enjoy.
This time I'll be entering the world of endangered flora around the world.
Simply, the term endangered relates to any plant that lives in a threatened natural habitat that is still needing preservation or has indeed been lost.
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has established a public access database that lists not only plant species but animals as well, with categories that range (in the case of this article) from endangered to critically endangered to extinct in the wild.
So buckle up and travel around the globe with four trees and one shrub that I have selected for you.
1. Acer griseum (paperbark maple), a member of the Sapindaceae family, is one of the finest medium-sized maples to add to your garden with its extraordinary peeling bark (see image top right) and stunning autumnal foliage. Native to parts of China it has been declared endangered due to heavy deforestation - worth seeking out from rare plant nurseries.
2. Clianthus puniceus (New Zealand glory pea or kaka beak), a member of the Fabaceae family, is a small, wide-spreading shrub (see image middle right) endemic to New Zealand's North Island where it is now extinct in the wild. However there are now efforts to reintroduce this species back into the wild after a chance discovery of a pack of seeds in a garden shed that were found to have origins back to a recognised habitat before the species was overrun by rabbits, goats, deer and snails. They were germinated successfully and subsequent plants produced more viable seed and so hundreds of plants will be let loose to form new populations.
3. Sequoiadendron giganteum (giant redwood), a member of the cupressaceae family, is represented most famously in the wild by the specimen (the largest of any known tree species by volume) with the name of the General Sherman Tree (see image lower right) whose dimensions are dazzling - a height of 84m, average canopy width of 31m, a circumference of 31m at the base and a diameter of 5.3m at 18.3m above the base. Declared as endangered, this remarkable species can live for over 3000 years and can only be found in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada in California USA. There are many registered significant giant redwoods in Victoria including a ripper down at the Spa Reserve in Hepburn Springs.
4. Sophora toromiro (toromiro), another member of the fabaceae family, is a small tree that has also been listed as extinct in the wild. Once common on the island of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) its population was lost due to heavy deforestation. When Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl sailed to Rapa Nui in 1955-56 he collected seed from the last existing tree that was then cut down in 1960, took the seed back to Europe and now plants can be found growing in gardens around the world. The National Arboretum in Canberra has a dedicated forest - #77.
5. Wollemia nobilis (wollemi pine) another member of the araucariaceae family that is critically endangered, is last but not least, as its botanical history is almost unimaginable in this day and age. Back in the early 1990s a NSW park ranger (David Noble) came across a hidden canyon in Wollemi National Park that contained a forest of these living fossils and so the process of identification and naming began. Propagation was successful and there are now specimens to be found all over the globe all with the same DNA.
I hope you, the reader, have been entertained by these anecdotal notes on a small selection of plants that have struggled to survive in their native habitats around the world.
Cheers John Beetham (Trees in Australia)
Next time: Creating micro-climates in the garden Scan the QR code
The Cemetery Club
After a short break the Mountview Theatre in Macedon is buzzing again with rehearsals in full swing for its first show, The Cemetery Club, a comedy by Ivan Menchell.
Synopsis: Three New York widows meet once a month for tea before visiting their husbands’ graves. Ida is sweet-tempered and ready to begin a new life, Lucille is a feisty embodiment of the girl who wants to have fun and Doris is priggish and judgmental, particularly when Sam the butcher enters the scene, along with that other woman.
It's a story filled with laugh out loud humour and pathos about love, navigating grief and the challenges of moving on. The season runs from February 20 to March 8 with Friday and Saturday evenings at 8pm and Sunday matinees at 2pm.
Tickets include a complimentary sherry, free tea/coffee and treats at interval and the bar offering a range of drinks at reasonable prices.
Link: www.themountplayers.com or call 0419 329 052.
Above, from left, David Runnalls, Justine Press, Bernadette Tonna and Margaret Rawlinson
Words & image: Contributed
Let’s support
community and shop local “Locals supporting Locals” Restaurants, Bakers, Butchers, ineyards, Distillers, Brewers and of course each other.
Remember we offer free delivery, T&Cs apply.
Delivery times are Monday to Friday between 10am and 4pm.
We have an on-board EFTPOS.
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.
First Saturday Trentham Neighbourhood Centre Market, Woodend Lions Market, Woodend Farmers Market
Second Saturday Trentham Community Market, Kyneton Farmers Market, Kyneton Rotary Market
Second Sunday Maldon Market, Clunes Farmers Market
Third Saturday Trentham Farmers & Makers Market, Glenlyon Farmers Market, Leonards Hill Market Creswick Market
Third Sunday Talbot Farmers Market
Fourth Sunday Daylesford Farmers Market
Kyle's Rant
There's a new advert on the TV about Medicare. The scenario is that a bloke walks into the doctor's room and with lots of smiles exchanged, walks out.
Obviously, he wasn’t too worried about the rash he had just reported or the fact that he had just contracted Covid for the 10th time or, even worse, had a brush with the latest Nipah virus. But I digress.
He goes to pay the bill and the nice smiling girl at the counter says, “no worries Medicare’s got this”. The advert finishes with a bloke saying "authorised by the Federal Government, Canberra". And not at a horse-race commentator or auctioneer speed, a kind of nah-nah-nah speed slowed right down so we are certain that the opposition hasn’t bought it in.
Now for those who remember, Medicare was launched in its current form on February 1, 1984, by then Prime Minister Bob Hawke. It is a national, tax-funded universal health insurance scheme and was designed to provide free or subsidised access to medical services, hospital treatments, and medicines. It evolved from the earlier 1975 "Medibank" system, which was introduced by the Whitlam government. Originally one per cent of your wage, it has now gone up to two per cent of your hard-earned cash.
To break it down in terms of what the change is I took to old mate Google which spat out an estimated income impact, which is very compressed but good reading, and for all you kiddies thinking about new careers, a consideration.
Salary growth: A full-time, fully bulk-billing GP who earned roughly $280,000 in 2023 could see their salary exceed $400,000 by late 2025/2026.
Practice Revenue: Practices that adopt full bulk-billing may receive approximately $350,000 a year in additional Medicare payments, ranging from $90,000 for small to $1.2 million for large, metro practices.
Note: These figures are based on metropolitan 2025–26 Budget projections and "fully" bulk-billing, meaning the practice has opted into the new incentive program for all eligible services.
So, this is a great outcome, however as I told one politician when they opened a new roundabout outside the Daylesford Farmers Arms Hotel: “It isn’t your money.”
Medicare was a program set up for universal healthcare for all Australians. We have paid for, and continue to pay for this level of care, and I don’t mind, but stop patting yourselves on the back for doing your bloody job.
Speaking of bloody jobs, and the Hepburn Shire Council sticking to theirs, which is roads, rates and rubbish. Australia Day is well in the rearview mirror, but we shouldn’t have to check in with the council, who have enough on its plate, to check on our own moral compasses. Next year if you want to celebrate Australia Day or feel incensed at the whole thing – you do you and let others do themselves. For me the date has nothing to do with anything much. It was the day Captain Arthur Phillip and his crew raised the Union Jack flag on the beach and had a couple of beers.
But the thing is he actually arrived in Botany Bay six days earlier with the rest of the fleet. And there had been a load of comings and goings before that and not just the British. You have to make up your own mind on these matters and not rely on government bodies. And as we next wrap up 2026, gorge on our body weight of delicious food and booze and slide into 2027, the same argument will ensue, pitting the celebrating and non-celebrating camps against each other. The cookers will hit the streets to protest on whatever cause is going at the time and the rest of us will wait until the ruckus clears. And then we can truly raise a glass to this wonderful place we call home.
Aussie, Aussie, Blah rant over…
Local Lines
TIME IS UP
They say that times are tough
Yet time has no discernible traits
It cannot present as strong or weak
It can only be an hour, a day, a week and its characteristic does not care what you seek
They say that it is enough
To wake, and breathe, and work
And time will inevitably reward
The pain of each day of facing the sword
Yet time is nothing more than a tick then a tock and a hand moves forward
They say that love transcends time
That it lays above and beyond
Such a fickle, man-made construct
Yet both have the power to ultimately disrupt
All the dreams in one’s heart and deliver nothing but constant mistrust
They say that time makes everything ok
The bleeding will thicken and stick on the edges of exhausted skin
Mend bones and bruises on bludgeoned shins
Yet its passage degrades the flesh within
They say that time is fleeting
Yet its momentum can be relied upon
Measured and metered out with maths
No variance in its existence reacts
To the will of every little whim and desire of every single psychopath
They created time to manipulate
The beating of one’s heart to a new rhythm
A way of life governed by bells and alarms
Devoid of natural and simple charms
Flayed to the core by clocking on to a life full of lies and harms
- Anita Chompff
Anita is a poet, writer, and sandwich queen living in the Central Goldfields of Victoria.
Local Lines features poetry by locals about local and any other matters. Please submit poems to Bill Wootton at cottlesbreedge@gmail.com
Pick me, pick me!
Hi there, I am Sally. I am one-yearold and people say I have a sweet, friendly nature.
I am very gentle, am always ready to offer a cuddly lap and a soft purr to brighten your day.
My affectionate demeanour makes me an ideal friend for those seeking a calm and loving presence in their lives. Come and meet me at MAAWs in Castlemaine or call 5472 5277. Microchip no. 956000018387012
Pick me, pick me is run in memory of Rosie the Kelpie & Curly the Cocker Spaniel - we picked them from the Peninsula RSPCA. (Pick me, pick me is also proudly supported by Daylesford's petstock - where pets are family.)
Just sayin’...
By Donna Kelly
Had a chat with Michelle Clifford from the Daylesford Community Op Shop last week.
Many of you would know that somehow they received a bag of clothing infested with bed bugs. Yuk. They did all the right things; made sure their volunteers were safe, shut down and then chucked out so much stuff.
Some people said they went overboard, but they're doing the best they can to keep the community safe, which is what they do. And now the op shop crew are running a big donation blitz, because they really need money.
Of course, people jumped in to help. The GoFundMe page is going well and people like Eddie and Malinka Comelli have let them off paying rent. Loads of other people have also donated great items for a raffle, with the date still to be decided. Well done everyone for what you have done so far.
If you have a few dollars, and I know things are tight for many people, please think about donating if you can. They are so much more than just an op shop and do things behind the scenes we will never know about.
And when I say we, people who sleep in warm beds every night and don't have to think about running from domestic violence or trying to find a place to stay. And be assured the money will stay in the region.
When they're up and running again, if you can donate goods, that's fantastic as well. So have a look in your cupboard, see what you don't need. Just please make sure it's decent quality that you would be happy to own yourself. Being strapped for cash doesn't equal taking crap.
What else? On the ankle front, by the time you read this, I'll be four weeks through the six week non-weight bearing period, which has been a pain in the butt, literally, because I'm always sitting.
And thanks to all the people who have asked how I am going although Kyle would rather you ask about the carer. Poor Kyle. He has done a great job - the only thing I would change is getting an adult carer, not a child. But it's been OK.
I also want to thank the person who sent me some flowers. I have looked everywhere for contact details but nothing. They were really beautiful and certainly tsumaranai mono de wa nai yo! Arigato gozaimusu.
Another story we covered, which sort of came in per chance, was the Musk CFA organising a donation of hay for Harcourt.
That was amazing enough but they have also done a bit of a recruitment drive after some next-generation planning and have about seven new members, men and women.
We've got a lot of new people in the region, so if you've thought about giving your time back, maybe join your local brigade? You're going to make some friends really quickly, get to know who's who and if you are not designed for fighting fires there's plenty of other things to do.
Also, Musk CFA has started a GoFundMe page to raise funds for a second tanker. At the moment they just have the one with a huge area to cover and when they join the strike teams it means they're leaving their region without a tanker. Sort of. Other brigades cover them but it's not the same.
So, again, if you can help with fundraising...
Finally I had a call from Earle Kent at Clunes. His golfing mates read an article by our tree guy John Beetham about fabulous trees around the region and reckon he has better at his home. Well, bigger. So Kyle and I popped out to Clunes and there was a massive tree. A Murray River red gum some 15 metres high, with a huge girth. It's on the front page so you might have spotted it by now.
Earle said the tree was there when he bought the property 38 years ago and while it waned a bit during years of drought, it keeps on keeping on. He actually asked the forestry people at Creswick about it in the early days and they pretty much said to leave it to its own devices. So he did - and it is magnificent. Size does matter.
I love these stories. They are known in the newspaper game as 'pumpkins'. In the life of all journos, well those working on smaller community newspapers, some time or another a call will come in from someone who has the biggest pumpkin/apple/ zucchini ever. And you go and take a photo and pop it in the paper and then, as soon as you hit print, someone else will call with a bigger pumpkin/apple/zucchini. And on it goes.
It's really good fun until someone then writes in to say bigger is not necessarily better and huge fruit and veggies don't have the same flavour...stop now if you were about to write in.
When I worked on the Centralian Advocate in Alice Springs we had a dedicated journo, Crispin, who wrote about people making their way across Australia on bikes, trikes, unicycles...they always assumed they were the wackiest ever. I was deputy editor by then so it was lovely to call out: "Crispy, got one for you." Just sayin'...
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Early Music &Beyond
Saturday 14 March
Stanbridge Hall
HOP, SKIP AND JUMP
Ann Morgan, harpsichord
Kamala Bain, recorder
Ruth Wilkinson, recorder
Rodney Waterman, recorder
Nicholas Dinopoulos, recorder
century comes alive through this rare, soulful consort of four recorders and harpsichord. The performance showcases a legendary set of instruments by the late Australian master-maker Frederick G. Morgan in a vivid reunion of Baroque dance and spirit.
Saturday 2 May
Stanbridge Hall
CELEBRATING THE GENIUS OF JOHN DOWLAND “whose heavenly touch upon the lute doth ravish human sense” Jakob Lindberg, lute
Saturday 15 August Christ Church
LONDON CALLING
Mikaela Oberg, recorder & flute
Nicholas Dinopoulos, recorder
Adam Masters, baroque oboe
Kailen Cresp, baroque oboe
Ben Hoadley, baroque bassoon
Linda Kent, harpsichord
Saturday 5 September
Christ Church
ENCORE! AN AFTERNOON OF SALON MUSIC GEMS
Patrick Savage, violin Coady Green, piano
scene with this adventurous exploration of rare Baroque double-reed instruments, recorders and harpsichord. Featuring the works of underrated expatriate composers and including William Babell’s sublime F Major concerto. A concert of delightful surprises and instrumental brilliance.
Patrick Savage returns with a nostalgic celebration of the "salon" tradition, from virtuosic miniatures to beloved classics b y Debussy and Kreisler . A heartfelt tribute to the legendary Donald Scotts, this performance captures the charm and intimacy of a bygone era.
Saturday 14 November Stanbridge Hall IN LOVE’S SWEET CHAINS
Kate Macfarlane, soprano Aleksandr Tsiboulski, guitar
Experience the "heavenly touch" of the Renaissance with Jakob Lindberg, the world’s pre-eminent interpreter of the lute. This is a rare opportunity to hear Dowland’s hauntingly beautiful masterworks performed by a great master lutenist.
All concerts commence at 2.30pm and will be held in Christ Church or the Stanbridge Hall. 54 Central Springs Road, Daylesford
A captivating dialogue between voice and guitar, weaving together Spanish melodies, Italian arias, and personal letters from history’s great composers. Soprano Kate Macfarlane brings these intimate correspondences to life in a program that is both deeply personal and musically irresistible
