The Local Issue 25 August 4, 2014

August 4, 2014 Issue 25 Meet actor Tom McCathie in our Trentham feature

The Local - Hepburn Shire’s own community publication

2 About Us

The Local - tlnews.com.au

The Local is a fortnightly community publication covering the Hepburn Shire. The next edition is due out on Monday, August 18.

Advertising deadlines for the next edition of The Local: Space bookings: Wednesday, August 13 Copy provided by: Thursday, August 14 Editorial deadline: Thursday, August 14 Editor: Donna Kelly Manager/photographer: Kyle Barnes Graphic designer: Glen Heyne Sub-editors: Nick Bunning and Lindsay Smith Gardening writer: Jackie Airey Editorial and affordable sales - 5348 7883 / 0416 104 283 donna@tlnews.com.au | kyle@tlnews.com.au e-editions at www.tlnews.com.au See a photo you like? Photos are just $20 each and will be emailed at high resolution. You can print as many copies as you like!

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/DHSLocal to receive your e-edition early - on Sunday evening!

Money, money, money...

Advertisements in The Local are very affordable - unlike traditional print media we don’t charge like wounded bulls!

So here goes with our loyalty prices...

An eighth of a page - $40 plus GST A quarter page - $75 plus GST A banner - $75 plus GST A half page - $150 plus GST A full page - $300 plus GST But wait, there’s more!

All adverts in The Local are full colour and we can help with graphic designs and layouts too! At no extra cost, of course.

Front cover: Actor Tom McCathie made the tree change to Trentham years ago, before it was trendy, but wouldn’t live anywhere else. Read his story in our Trendy Trentham feature from page 18 to page 25.

Image: Kyle Barnes

So, if you want to get your business or organisation out there in the community, in the best-read publication in Hepburn Shire, give us a call or send an email. (See our details left.)

Oh, we also have an average of 67,000 impressions online each edition at tlnews.com.au - even more reasons to get in touch.

(The tourists love The Local too - just sayin’)

The Local - tlnews.com.au

News 3

Dave to hang in Hilton

L

OUISE Otten’s portrait of Motherload tattoo artist Dave Bamberger will hang in the Hilton Hotel Gallery from August 18 to October 15.

The life-size painting was entered by the Trentham artist in the Archibald portrait prize and while it did not win, it has been selected for the Hidden Faces of the Archibald or Salon de Refuses.

Ms Otten said she really admired Dave as a skin artist.

“It’s a real art form and beautiful with all that detail. I couldn’t do it.”

Ms Otten said she had taken licence with some of Dave’s tattoos covering one arm with roses to show his gentlemanly side and the other with skulls.

Ms Otten did two paintings of Dave, acrylics on canvas and titled The Weapon 1 and 2, a few months ago using a combination of a sitting with Dave and photos.

Dave said when he first saw the paintings it was “just me looking at me”.

And Ms Otten said he told her on hearing the latest news he’s thinking about taking up a role at Melbourne City Council – perhaps Lord Mayor.

Trying but just can’t get no satisfaction

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EPBURN Shire Council’s performance on overall job performance, community consultation, customer service, advocacy and overall council direction remain significantly below all local government averages on every measure, a survey has found.

to an index score of 49. The score is also five points lower than the Small Rural Shires average for 2014 and four points lower than the statewide average.

Community consultation ratings dropped two points from last year to an index score of 50.

The 2014 State-wide Local Government Community Satisfaction Survey, The score is eight points lower than the Small conducted by JWS Research, coordinates and auspices the survey though Victorian Rural Shires group average and seven points local government areas. lower than the state-wide average index.

A total of 400 residents took part in the Hepburn Shire survey, which cost Meanwhile, advocacy ratings received an $8863, which was carried out over the phone – including 10 per cent mobile index score of 49 - five points higher than 2012 phones - with respondents all aged 18 and over.

The survey found that the council, as do other small rural shires and the state as but a significant eight points lower than the Small Rural Shires group average of 57 and seven points lower than the state-wide a whole, performed best on overall customer service. It received an index score group average. of 63 however this was two points lower than last year, eight points lower than In two additional service areas – “Decisions made in the interest of the the Small Rural Shires average in 2014 and nine points lower than the state-wide community” received an index score of 49 while “The condition of sealed local average. roads” received an index score of 43.

Meanwhile, residents rated the overall performance of the council over the past Meanwhile council chief executive officer Aaron van Egmond said he was 12 months at an index score of 50. This is a one point improvement on last year disappointed at being below average “in context of the state but very pleased with but is still 10 points lower than the Small Rural Shires and 11 points lower than the increase over the past two years”. the State-wide average.

“Our goal is to close the gap between Hepburn and other councils over the next The survey found the council’s rating on overall council direction, which asks three years. We made some major steps forward last year with increases greater “over the last 12 months, what is your view of the direction of Golden Plains Shire than most areas of the state, if not the largest increase.”

Council’s overall performance” (sic) was also down two points from last year

4 Our artists

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The Local - tlnews.com.au

TEFAN Nechwatal moved to the Central Highlands in 1987 for his health and says his artwork keeps him sane.

He took time out from his Sailors Falls studio and gallery to chat to Donna Kelly.

DK: When did you realise you were an artist?

SN: In early 1979 I had been retrenched from my job as a real estate property manager and was excited by the opportunity to now increase my self taught skills to make handcrafted country furniture. I had been selling these uniquely styled pieces at the Country Arts Store in Eltham and because of the successful sales the owners asked me to put on an exhibition. In early 1980 I exhibited 15 works all in recycled timbers and old metal hardware.

DK: What do you do?

SN: In 2000 with the demise of the antique furniture industry, I found that people no longer wanted my one-off country furniture as modernism was the new catchcry. I decided to add to my metalworking skills from previous years and create a new business activity designing and making decorative furniture and sculpture using recycled metals.

My long term love of mosaics also became a common theme.

DK: What does your artwork mean to you?

SN: My artwork keeps me sane and alive. It keeps me awake at night designing and gets me up in the morning. Entering my workshop, the first time for the day I feel invigorated and feel the worries of the world wash away.

DK: What are the challenges of being an artist?

SN: One of my biggest challenges has been my health and how to accommodate my arts activity subject to this. In 1984 after a long mystery illness, I was diagnosed with 20th century disease. In reality my immune system was severely compromised and I became allergic to nearly all chemicals in society. On my specialist’s advice I relocated to clean, green Daylesford in 1987. Unfortunately to this day I have to balance what I can achieve artistically with how well I feel on the day. My passions and the love of what I am doing give me strength and purpose.

DK: What do you hope your art says to others?

SN: I have always worked with recycled materials, timber and steel, and I believe that seeking to re-use the earth’s resources is important, even when there is a greater labour content involved in fabricating them into art. I hope to create artworks that engage the viewer so strongly that there is an emotional experience to widen their horizons. I believe my work is strongly imbued with the atmosphere of history and culture, the colours and textures of which still are relevant to decorating today’s homes.

DK: Where can people view your works?

SN: I have a gallery and workshop, Paradiso Arts in Sailors Falls, south of Daylesford. My artwork may be viewed at any time through the large picture window or at the side gateway which looks onto the courtyard display.

DK: Do you have a particular piece that’s a favourite? If yes, why?

SN: I have always been inspired by Spanish décor, architecture and culture, and in 2006 designed a metal wall shelf or shrine based on the traditional wrought iron window grille called a reja.

DK: What you would say to a young person who is thinking about embarking on a career in the art world?

SN: I am self-taught and did not attend technical school or arts college. My passion has always driven me to discover, learn and welcome challenges. I believe that it is important to have life experiences which teach self-discipline, commitment and general business skills, rather than simply launching into an arts career straight from arts school.

Link: stefanofparadiso@gmail.com

Engaging viewers to widen their horizons

The Local - tlnews.com.au

News 5

Rae’s rehoming service her life’s passion

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Rae Pfeiffer with Bonnie the pug, Cooper the cavalier, Rhonda the goat and Olaf and Elsa the kittens

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F RAE Pfeiffer had one wish, it would be for a year of desexing Hepburn Shire’s cats and dogs.

A zero balance vet bill would be nice too – although there are people helping with that when they can.

With the first wish, the founder of Precious Paws Private Rehoming says there are already plenty of animals in the shire and owners need to desex their pets before they reach breeding age. She would love to see a program up and running alongside an education program of what happens to the many animals who are just no longer wanted.

And with the vet bill, Rae is quick to point out, while the community is a fantastic help, it is her passion and choice to try and ensure all animals in her care find new homes.

“We do take a big hit in vet bills but I don’t expect anyone to actually do it, although it would be nice, but this is my thing, my choice, and it’s on me. That’s why I work seven days a week, so I can fund it.”

Rae founded her rehoming service, which operates throughout Hepburn Shire, eight years ago, with the aim of helping people who need to rehome their animals, for myriad reasons, or to help animals that have been found without microchips or pet registration.

She says people give up their animals for many reasons from the elderly who just can’t care for their pets anymore, or have to go to a retirement home, to people involved in marriage break-ups who perhaps find themselves in rental accommodation and unable to have pets.

Truly lost animals have everything possible done to try and find an owner before the animal is “vetworked” – desexed, microchipped and vaccinated - and then put up for adoption.

Meanwhile, Rae is clearly in awe of the support from the community.

“They all get behind us all the way. We don’t get any funding and pay up to $300 for an animal to be fully vetworked while I only charge $200 as an adoption fee.

“But the community is great with donations of towels and we have accounts at Mind Your Pet in Daylesford and the Hepburn Vet Clinic which people donate to. We don’t have charity status so can’t take cash, and I don’t want to anyway, but people are just amazing. We also have a drop-off point for towels and blankets at Frances Pilley in Daylesford and Danny and Julie Wanke at Albert Street Butchers give us a lot of offcuts which really help.”

Social media has also played a huge part with the Precious Pets Private Rehoming Facebook page having 1432 likes. It’s where lost and found pets are advertised, pets waiting for adoption are put on show and where the community comes together as clear pet lovers.

“Basically we want that any animal that is lost and found not to go to the pound.

Even just a couple of hours in that cold area can do a lot of psychological damage. If they are in a home setting, even if they are still stressing, it is much better for them.”

Rae says while she is not an activist, more of rehomer, she also had a “non-kill” position and not a single animal had ever been euthanised.

“It’s a service to the community, and if they have to rehome their animals, they know we will make sure they are desexed, not bred from and we do house checks of all potential owners. If I had more foster carers I could take more in…”

“I just think there is an owner for every animal – we just need to match them up.”

6 Opinion

My Say

The Local - tlnews.com.au

by Donna Kelly

The longest day

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OMETIMES, just sometimes, you shouldn’t get out of bed.

But when you’re looking down the barrel of production deadlines, you just get up anyway.

And when Kyle got up on Friday – he started the day with a blood nose.

He gets them now and again, don’t know why, but they are not your little, grab a tissue, dab and it’s all over, blood nose.

They are “grab a tissue box, or a full toilet roll, or a bath sheet, whatever is closest, and sit down for at least 10 minutes”, blood nose.

But we didn’t have a lot of time for that because we were off to Trentham to grab shots of our friendly faces of the town feature. Of course we chose the coldest winter day and it was snowing.

So we had the freezing cold, and the heat of warm stores and dining establishments, and that isn’t good for blood noses either. So while we tried to keep up the professionalism, Kyle kept slipping off to hidden corners to dab at his nose, coming back with little tell-tale signs of blood on his moustache.

Thank you to all the friendly faces who just kept smiling and said nothing. We hope you don’t think he’s a crack addict.

Anyway, photos done – and how amazingly creative are Trentham people… just sayin’, and it was back home about 1.30pm. We were hungry by then so we dialled the Glenlyon General Store and ordered two burgers. Yum. Kyle popped off to pick them up about 15 minutes later and shortly after that came running into the office with the odd announcement “the general store kitchen is on fire” before grabbing his camera and driving off.

(There was a feeling of déjà vu there. On Valentine’s Day evening in 2005, about midnight, after we had gone to bed, I was woken by Kyle yelling “fire, fire”. And I thought, ‘nice idea, romantic fire, but a tad late in the day’, only to finally realise our house was burning down. But that’s another story.)

I drove to the store too and there were two fire engines, people on the roof trying to put out the timber shingles under the corrugated iron around the chimney, and the three staffers looking on in shock.

Apparently Kyle had just paid for the burgers when it all started. As a former merchant navy person, who has a fair bit of fire training (no CFA to help on a ship) he did turn off the power and helped locate the gas bottles to turn them off too. But then it was over to the firies and their expertise.

Anyway, we couldn’t do much more so went home, ate our burgers hoping it wasn’t our fault, finished up our work and were about to head to the printer, only to find a stray dog in the yard. Collar but no tags, almost 5pm so places like vets most likely closed, and a reluctance to ever get the pound involved because of our own dogs’ histories. (We have paid fines saying “allowing your dog to roam”. Really? Have you seen our fences? We so do not allow our dogs to roam but they are bright little things and seem to work out ways under, over and through fences.)

So we Facebooked on a few sites and popped the dog in the back seat of the car and while I went to the printer Kyle went to Coles, where he accidentally came across the mother of the owner of the dog – just by asking ‘have you lost your kelpie?’ and her saying ‘well, it ran off yesterday but came back’. And half an hour later, at The Farmers Arms (where else on a Friday night?) the dog handover was done.

And surely that would be enough for the day. But wait, there’s more.

With all that cold weather our deck froze up. I went out to shut a gate to keep the dogs in and Kyle watched from the comfort of the couch as I nearly went head over tail. Mmmm.

But an hour later, as he went out to get more firewood, he also slipped, remembering too late my earlier save, and went down like a sack of potatoes, winded and barely able to catch his breath.

Apparently he called out my name – but I was watching a good movie by then – and finally he rolled to his side and managed to stand. He came back in about 15 minutes after leaving – limping along looking for sympathy for his bruised ribs, arms and legs. Poor thing.

Not long after that he went to bed. It had been a long day.

Our students...

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IX students from Daylesford Primary School made up the first ever debating teams from the school to take part in Ballarat’s Royal South Street competition.

The boys’ team, made up of Jaida, Cooper, Ben and back-up/researcher William, won and are waiting to hear if they will take part in the finals on August 18.

Meanwhile, the girls’ team was Kaiah, Blossom, Lizzy and backup/researcher Nioka with the program lead by teacher Trudi Blick.

Assistant principal David Garner said the school was “extremely proud of all the students and how they represented the school as the inaugural debating teams from Daylesford Primary School.”

D

aylesford Secondary College will hold a World Challenge Trivia Night at the school’s theatre this Friday, August 8 from 7pm.

There are tables of 10 and the cost is $15 per person. Bring your own snacks and non-alcoholic drinks. Tickets at the college or 5348 2367. All money raised will go to students taking part in the World Challenge in November.

Teacher Natalie Kirby said 18 students from year 10 and 11, and two teachers, would head to Malaysia on the 28-day World Challenge expedition.

“They will spend the trip trekking through some of the world’s oldest jungle environments including Kenong Rimba State Park and the Cameron Highlands developing leadership skills and independence,” she said.

“The students will also be involved in a project phase where they will spend a week working in a Malaysian orphanage or school. The students will also spend some time in Kuala Lumpur and Pulau Pangkor.

“In order to attend the trip students have been working part time jobs and fundraising, like the trivia night, to raise money for their trip.

“They have received lots of support from local businesses and have lots of excellent prizes and auction items for the night.”

News 7

The Local - tlnews.com.au

Solomons trip life changer for Anouk

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NOUK Ride is a busy woman.

She just spent a few weeks catching up with her parents at Werona (near Kingston) and her research supervisor Di Bretherton who lives in Daylesford, then flew up to Brisbane to accept her PhD from the University of Queensland and give a few talks about her work, before returning home to the Solomon Islands.

Anouk, who originally went to the Solomon Islands for just a year, six years ago, says some days she does find herself thinking “oh my goodness a lot can change in a short time”.

“I went to the Solomons thinking I would get some experience of a new place and wound up working for an international organisation.

“And as I went on I got more involved with my PhD research and became fascinated with local culture.

“My background is in journalism and so I started a local writers’ group to help them get their work published and as a result of that decided to take my PhD in a different direction.

“The workshop brought writers together, some experienced, some not, and they wrote stories about conflict. Why it happened, how it happened in their community – from domestic violence to conflicts between groups.

“As a result we also talked about why these things happen and we could talk about issues that are usually hard to talk about but here it was done naturally through the characters in their stories. There was no direct confrontation.”

The stories led to a book being published, Talemaot, pigeon English for Tell it out.

Meanwhile, Anouk’s PhD morphed to compare what academic literature says about conflict, with what the Truth and Reconciliation Commission says – and what the writers says.

“The participants in the workshop had a role and shaped the way the research was written up. A lot of researchers go and do their own methodologies, ‘people from Daylesford think this’ but often it is based on the assumption of the researcher.

“I was keen to open up the research so the writers could choose what the time period was for the study, what the parameters were around the research and then they analysed the stories to come up with the findings.

“It changed my life, looking at research being opened up to the people.”

Marrying a Solomon Islander, and having a daughter two years ago (in Ballarat), has also changed Anouk’s life.

She has two home bases, one there and one with her parents, but says there are good things about both.

“It’s very different in the Solomons and you have to embrace the differences.

“People always ask me which do you like more but it’s hard to compare them. There are good things about each. I love the climate of the Solomons, being close to the beach and nature and rainforests. It’s your typical tropical paradise.

“But then I come back to Australia and there’s so much more choice.”

Living in the Solomons is also a little complicated because of the long British rule of the country, and then the introduction of a peacekeeping intervention called Ramsey by Australia after conflict from 1988 to 2003.

“It did have some really good outcomes in that it did restore some sense of order but some people felt it was too domineering. So there is a mixed feeling about Australians.

“And I think my parents would prefer if I was here but they are also happy about how my life has developed and what I have achieved.”

And with her PhD under her belt, what’s the next move?

“That’s the big question I am thinking about now. I would like to move forward with research projects that makes a difference in people’s lives.”

Link: anoukride.com

8 News

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What’s up!

Daylesford Market

A Farmers’ Market is held on the first Saturday of the month at the Daylesford Primary School oval from 9am to 1pm.

Creswick Market

The market is held every third Saturday outside the Creswick Neighbourhood House, Victoria Street, from 9am to 1pm. Food, music, art, craft and produce.

Link: creswickmarket.com.au

CHS Security • • • • •

Alarm Systems Alarm Monitoring Alarm Responses Security Guards Security Patrols

Conversations in Pubs

Former deputy director of the National Gallery of Victoria Frances Lindsay will be the guest conversationalist in the next Winter Series of Conversations in Pubs at The Royal George, Kyneton on Sunday, August 10 from 11am. Bookings and enquiries: 5417 5228 or 0418 389 189.

Trivia Night

Daylesford Secondary College will host a World Challenge Trivia Night to raise money for students travelling to Malaysia in November. The trivia night will be held at the school’s theatre this Friday, August 8 from 7pm. Details and bookings: 5348 2367 or from the school.

Melbourne Limited

An illustrated talk about the romance of a very special train, the Melbourne Limited at the Ulumbarra Room, Clunes Warehouse, 36 Fraser St, Clunes on Saturday, August 9 from 8pm. Details: Rhonda Fawcett on 5476 6227 or rhondajfawcett@yahoo.com.au

Do they have to break in BEFORE you think about it?

0407 881 918

Got an event happening? Email news@tlnews.com.au

Your Local Security Company

Pets@Work with Rex and Christine

Danger Pets@Work

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EX has many visitors at Trentham Hardware.

In fact one woman, a former Glenlyon resident now living in Trentham, apologises as she enters the shop.

“Oh dear, I’m just here to see Rex, not you Chrissie.”

But owner Christine Rawson-Harris doesn’t mind.

She loves the extra visitors – many of whom also bring their own dogs along.

Rex is an English pointer, eight “and a half” years old who, Christine says, has an “old soul”.

“And pointers are a very obedient breed, very kind-hearted and with amazing souls and temperaments. I also love his eyes.”

Along with Rex, there are another two pointers at home, Otto and Chelsea Bluebell, but they are rarely employed at the store – preferring to lounge around the house.

But it makes for a big pack when the bedroom door opens in the morning for “cuddles time” so much so that Christine opens the door and then hides behind it as they all rush in.

And while Rex is already kept busy at the store, Christine says if she ever finds the time she would love to take him to the Trentham Hospital and Hostel.

“He has such a calming presence.”

10 News

The Local - tlnews.com.au

HERE’S the solution to last edition’s crossword. See page 33 for the crossword for Issue 25. All the answers are contained within the pages of The Local! Good luck.

The Local - tlnews.com.au

News 11

Your Say

Your Say contributions, kept short and sweet if possible, can be emailed to donna@tlnews.com.au

I WRITE in reply to Donna Kelly’s ‘My Say’ column published in the July 21 edition of The Local. In particular, I wish to raise the issue of my announcement last August of $1.25 million to build a multi-purpose community centre at Victoria Park, Daylesford.

A GOOD news story for your readers. I recently had a problem with my MacBook Pro.

Hepburn Shire submitted a fantastic proposal to seek funding for the project from Labor’s Regional Development Australia Fund. The Daylesford community have also been strong supporters of this worthy project.

The assertion that this was an election pledge contingent on Labor retaining government at the last federal election is incorrect. Funding for the project was, in fact, signed off before the caretaker period and I expected it to be honoured regardless of the outcome of the election.

Unfortunately we were all disappointed to see the Abbott Government axe RDAF funding for important regional projects across Australia.

Notwithstanding a partial reversal last December with the announcement that a handful of these projects would be honoured, millions of dollars of funding to support important community infrastructure in our region has been axed by Tony Abbott.

This includes funding for the Multi-Purpose Centre at Victoria Park, Daylesford and $7 million for the Bacchus Marsh Indoor Swimming Centre.

These projects were fully funded in the Labor’s last budget and would have delivered critical community, recreational and job–creating infrastructure.

It is important that we all fight for local investment for our community, and while the intention of the story to ensure politicians honour their promises in the lead up to the state election is a good one – as the Federal Member who fought for this funding, I am equally concerned about the impact of these cuts.

Catherine King Federal Member for Ballarat

I WISH to respond to the article on page 3, Issue 23 of The Local titled “A shire without a town crier a crying shame”. I believe a more suitable title would have been “A shire with two criers is very lucky indeed”.

It is true that the original concept of town criers was to restrict the activity of those officially appointed by a municipal authority.

However some time ago the Australasian Guild of Town Criers amended its rules to allow it to accept membership from a wider field of candidates including the appointment of more than one crier from a municipality where there were a number of different towns and attractions to promote.

The Shire of Hepburn is one such shire and luckily has the diverse attractions of Daylesford and Creswick to promote and is very lucky to have two men with the enthusiasm and ability to promote the particular areas in which they reside.

All candidates for admission to the guild have to prove to the executive committee that they are of impeccable character and genuinely interested in preserving the ancient craft.

Whether the shire wishes to officially appoint either gentleman is entirely up to the council as the participation of criers in official civic events is no longer a requirement of this guild. In the meantime, the guild is delighted to have Mr David Goldman promoting the Daylesford/Hepburn end of the shire and Mr Philip Greenbank representing the Creswick area.

Brian Whykes President - The Australasian Guild of Town Criers Official Town Crier - City of Ballarat

As a relatively un-expert user with a previously unhappy outcome to a problem beyond my ability, I found an ad for Geeks Plus in The Local. Consequently, I contacted a guy called Callum and arranged a convenient time for him to visit me.

He arrived, he saw, he conquered! I was elated! And he fixed a problem with my printer too!

Callum is a very calm, expert computer ‘geek’ and I would recommend him to anyone with a computer hassle, particularly if one is not an expert.

Sandy Breen Daylesford

Advertorial

Daylesford Hepburn Smash Repairs keen to be part of the community

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E’VE all been there. Our cars have hit a kangaroo, slipped on black ice or we’ve just backed into someone at the supermarket.

It’s the service you never want to use – but it’s great to know it’s there.

Daylesford Hepburn Smash Repairs has just opened off East Street in Railway Crescent, and they (that’s owners Bryce Marks and Niall Cardillo, and Bryce’s father and the face of the business, Jim Bright,) know how important customer service is when you’ve just had a bingle.

Firstly there is the all important 24-hour tilttray towing service. That’s 24/7 365 days a year. So the dread of waiting hours in the freezing cold or blistering sun is gone.

(Oh, before you read on, put that emergency number in your mobile phone – 0403 028 044…and the phone of everyone member of your family who drives!)

Then there’s the courtesy cars available – no more begging rides from neighbours and family just because your car is in the shop, free pick up and drop offs and complimentary valet services. That’s true hospitality.

And while they may be new to Hepburn Shire, there’s a lot of experience on offer. Both Bryce and Niall have been in the industry for 20 years apiece – they currently own Gisborne Smash Repairs - while Jim has clocked up 45 years in some of the biggest and the best in Australia. And they are all clearly passionate about their work.

Jim, who has always worked for other repairers, was ready to step back a bit but jumped at the chance to lead the team at Daylesford. He calls it his seachange.

“It’s exciting for me. I have been a part of shops opening for 45 years so I know what it takes to repair a car, but most importantly how to look after the customers.

“When people come here they don’t want any hassles. They want to be looked after and to know their car is being repaired with state-of-the-art equipment and to the highest standard possible.

“Late model cars are technical beasts now, it’s all electronics, and in order to repair them you need to follow set procedures. It has to be done right.

“We are also big on the environmental side with our water systems, waste and recycling. That’s something that has always been important to us.”

Bryce said clients could also nominate Daylesford Hepburn Smash Repairs as their preferred repairer through their insurance company.

With their history in the trade, the insurance companies have already got them well on their radars as a no-fuss business that works to the book.

And Jim, Bryce and Niall are also just happy to be a part of a friendly community and get involved with sponsorships for sporting clubs and charitable organisations. That’s something they have long done at Gisborne.

“We just want to project a friendly happy vibe, offer fabulous customer service and be a part of the community. It’s exciting to be here,” Jim said.

After emergency services, and your mum, the most important number for every driver to have dialled into their mobile phone is 24-hour towing 0403 028 044!

WHY CHOOSE DAYLESFORD HEPBURN SMASH REPAIRS? 24-hour accident towing services Courtesy vehicles (conditions apply) Free on-site estimating and advice Free assistance with insurance claims and liability advice Free vehicle pick-up and delivery Comprehensive ‘Not At Fault’ repair and recovery service – at no cost to you!

Expert crash repairs by trained technicians Services available for all foreign and domestic passenger, 4WD and commercial vehicles Latest technology straightening and measuring systems

Daylesford Hepburn Smash Repairs 3 Railway Crescent, Daylesford 5348 3663 | 0400 288 087 info@dhsmashrepairs.com.au

Computerised diagnostics and damage reports Spray painting and colour matching using climate controlled paint booths All repairs are guaranteed for the lifetime of the car while it is in your possession Strict time management – our number 1 goal is to repair your vehicle in the best time possible.

14 Happy & Healthy

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Jaqi Mudge 0423 499 901

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Rocklyn Ashram

The Ashram is distinguished by its tranquil setting nestled within the depths and silence of the Wombat State Forest near Daylesford.

The ideal place for a day visit or yoga retreat. www.yogavic.org.au yogarock@yogavic.com 03 5345 7434

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Happy & Healthy 15

Daylesford Holistic Massage Remedial and relaxation massage $75 per hour treatment $100 1.5 hour treatment Phone Richard on 0425 751 293 Ask about our locals’ discount

Natures Wheel

Massage Therapy and Body Mechanics

Therapies available: Relaxation Massage, Deep Soft Tissue Massage, Myo Facial Manipulation, Therapeutic/Remedial Massage Reiki For Bookings: Phone: 0400

017 623 Email: paul@natureswheel.com.au

Get set...glow!

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Introducing microdermabrasion at EKO. Microdermabrasion is safe and so effective for all skin types. This age-defying process can give a brighter, smoother appearance to any skin area in need of exfoliation.

Book now for a free consultation or to make an appointment to get your glow back!

60 minute micro facial only $95 Call 5348 3154 mob 0429 681 030 1 Camp Street Daylesford

restore balance naturally... with us massage relaxation therapeutic deep tissue pregnancy remedial reflexology hot stone therapy ear candling reiki energy balance we are open everyday! spiritual healing chakra balance crystal healing astrology tarot Mon - Thu 10 - 5 Fri - Sat 10 - 6 facial body scrup body wrap body polish foot treatments retail therapy gift vouchers shop 5, 11 howe street, daylesford 03 5348 1099 massage@massagehealing.com.au www.massagehealing.com.au

Sun 10 - 5

restore balance naturally ...

16 Glenlyon Fayre

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Glenlyon Fine Food & Wine Fayre

G

LENLYON Fine Food & Wine Fayre attracted a big crowd keen on, naturally, food and wine - and a Dolphin beer here and there. Daylesford Rotary kept everyone happy with their bullboar offerings while the local wineries were kept busy pouring plenty of good drops. The Local’s Kyle Barnes got into the swing of things with his Go Pro camera - a new take on a traditional event. Thanks to everyone who was happy to play to the camera with some interesting results! Meanwhile, The Local’s Donna Kelly went with the more traditional shots, right.

The Local - tlnews.com.au

News 17

Trendy Trentham

T

ALK about being right on trend.

Every trip to Trentham brings another find - another fabulous store, another dining choice and some amazing people who have chosen to make it their home.

One of the long-time local loves is The Cosmo (Cosmopolitan Hotel). I know people who moved to this region because of The Cosmo and its laid back atmosphere, great food and drinks, and fantastic live entertainment each Sunday.

It’s all back up and running now - after a tiny glitch a few years back called a fire - but it’s better than ever. Rod and the team make everyone feel welcome and there’s myriad seating options from the bar, to the dining rooms to the alfresco area.

But if you are after more casual, cafe dining, you can’t go past Chaplins. Mel, who sometimes plays Chaplin as a performer, thus the name, has made this place a real joy to visit. There’s always a friendly smile and “g’day” and I don’t know how she does it but she remembers everyone’s coffee order. That’s amazing. The food is yum, the coffee is perfect and there are plenty of sweet treats for anyone looking for dessert to eat in or takeaway.

Now you would think that would have Trentham covered but just over the road is The Plough. Newly opened, just this year, by Mark who has The Plough at Myrniong it is offering great locals specials on a Thursday and free wine with your main on a Friday. That’s great value. And it’s just been named Pub of the Week on 3AW - so that’s a ringing endorsement. And it also means you’d better make sure you book because Mark and the crew are going to get busy.

But it’s not all about eating...wait a minute, maybe it is. Over the road and down the little alley is Redbeard Bakery. This award-winning bakery has people travelling for miles to experience its amazing sourdough offerings. But there is more than bread with breakfast and lunch on offer along with great coffee and drinks. It’s a place to while away a little time at rustic tables with plenty of reading material to keep you busy.

OK, we’re done with food. Full and satiated. So it’s probably time for a stroll along the main street.

First stop is The Litterl Gallery on High (the main street is High Street so it all makes sense) where a group of artists Rose, Frances, Dianne and Ettore have a wonderful space with loads of interesting exhibits. There’s always all sorts of amazing mixed media on show, from jewellery to paintings to ceramics.

At the moment, Dianne, who has just moved to Trentham from Adelaide and loves it, has an exhibition of her print works. They are amazing - from tiny brooches to framed prints for the wall. Dianne is a leading Australian print-maker so make sure you make your way while it’s still happening otherwise you will have to wait until Dianne opens her own home studio and accommodation, Agave Print Studio, in November.

Next stop, for a really friendly face, is Trentham Hardware. Actually two faces, Christine and her English pointer Rex. Christine moved to Australia from Austria and is one of the happiest people in Trentham. She is always up for a chat and Rex is always up for a pat. Christine said she found herself in the world

of hardware after encouragement from friends. But then she remembered her childhood spent tinkering with tools and nails and all thing hardware. So it was probably meant to be. She also sells some great dog accessories...Rex gets to trial them all.

While you are still in the township, if it’s a Sunday, make your way to the former Trentham Railway. That’s where you’ll find the Trentham Railway Market happening each Sunday. Well, there’s a big market on the fourth Sunday of each month but there are also permanent carriage stalls open every Sunday. There’s lots of variety so perfect for browsing and buying. Trentham Information Centre is also down at the Railway Station so if you need to know any more about the town or the region just pop in there.

Next, and a little off the beaten track, but still in Trentham, is Advanced Trees.

Now you have to drive down a bit of a dirt road but it’s in pretty good condition and when you get there you’ll find Japanese Maple, Ornamental Pear, Pin Oak and Dogwood trees, just to name a few, direct from the grower, Ian. Well worth the trip and plenty of advice also comes for free. It’s all done by appointment so make sure you call first. (The number is on the advert on page 23.)

Over in East Trentham, is Gold Street Studios. It’s a workshop and gallery run

by Ellie who embraces early photographic printing methods and photography techniques. There is even a dark room! Does anyone know what that is these days? Ellie has a host of workshops happening from letterpress to photopolymer advanced to concertina photo book. If you are into “real” photography, or perhaps after photographic chemicals, supplies of conservation picture framing, this is the place for you. Oh, it’s not in Gold Street - that’s the name of a street in Collingwood where Ellie had her studio before Trentham beckoned.

Finally, if you are heading to Trentham but have done enough driving for the week, why not jump on the Hepburn Health Service community bus? The bus heads out to Musk, Bullarto and Trentham every Monday and Wednesday from Daylesford and return. You can be picked up or dropped off anywhere along the way - and it’s just a gold coin donation - cheaper than filling up with petrol. And you get to meet great travelling companions along the way. All the details are on page 23.

So, as you can see there are many reasons to visit Trendy Trentham and catch up with the friendly faces of the town.

See you there!

Trentham Hardware Š Elizabeth Opalenik WindSwept #14 Mordancage

39 High St Phone:5424 1732 Come and meet Rex the wonder dog

Workshops & Galler y Photog raphic chemicals & supplies Conservation Picture Framing

613 54241835

7 0 0 J a m es L a n e T r en th a m E a s t 3 4 5 8

w w w. g o l d s t r e e t s t u d i o s. c o m . a u

2013 YEAR E H T F O PUB NNER UP

JOINT RU

03 5424 1516 Cnr High St & Cosmo Rd, Trentham

www.thecosmopolitanhotel.com.au

20 The friendly faces of Trentham

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Max & Caroline

Rex and Christine

Rose

Mel

Dianne

Ian

Ellie

Mark

Victoria

Hepburn Health Service

Rod

Trentham Station Sunday Market

AGAVE PRINT STUDIO DIANNE LONGLEY

Fine Art showcasing 4 artists, A Printmaker, A Painter, A Silversmith and A Glass Maker.

Opening Hours 11 - 4 Friday - Sunday Artist: Rose Wilson. Frances Harkin, Dianne Langley & Ettore Dippilla Contact No. 0439 984 314 or 5424 1307 32b High Street Trentham

will open a new printmaking studio with accommodation in a striking 1970s A-frame at 9 Bowen Street Trentham in November 2014. Visit during the Daylesford Macedon Ranges Open Studios: November 1-2, & 8-9, &15-16. www.dmropenstudios.com.au AGAVE PRINT STUDIO will offer workshops for printmakers: studio access for printmakers: printmaking collaborations: editioning services: residencies: craft classes in on-glaze porcelain, letterpress stationary and concertina books.

For information: 0414 891 952 dianne@diannelongley.com.au

Trentham’s hearth + soul • Open 7 days • breakfast lunch coffee sourdough

w w w . r e d b e a r d b a k e r y . c o m . a u

22 Trendy Trentham

The Local - tlnews.com.au

Australian stories inspiring Trentham’s Tom

A

CTOR Tom McCathie realises he has a certain look.

The Trentham resident says himself it “lends itself to grotty, manky types – a biker who is drug cook, a manky dero or a scary, angry guy”.

But just sometimes it’s a tad upsetting. Like when he turned up to the set of Fat Tony to play ‘Smokin’ Joe the meth cook’.

“I signed in, walked into wardrobe and the two ladies there looked me up and down and said ‘fine’. So I left there in my street clothes, walked into makeup and everyone is getting patted down with make-up and having their hair quaffed, and the women there take one look and say ‘fine’.

“So I say ‘it’s not fine, I’m sick and tired of walking into these multi-million dollar sets to be told I’m fine. At least give me a puff of powder. I’m over it’.”

And while he plays the part as he talks, the wry smile and the twinkle in his eyes make you realise it’s all good fun.

Tom, who grew up in Melbourne, said he had always been interested in some sort of arts and performance but was steered towards the sciences and languages.

At university, while still doing science including a nursing stint, he balanced life by picking up performance courses and something just clicked.

“I dropped my final year of microbiology, went overseas and went performing. Some idiot passed me a didgeridoo at a party and I picked it up and played it like I had been playing forever.”

With no indigenous background, Tom traded the didge for other “unvalved lip vibrated aerophones” and started travelling and performing with his music. He also found, despite hating poetry, he was pretty bloody good at it “much to my chagrin”.

“That took me around festivals in Europe and I scored a gig with the Australian Embassy in Paris which thrust me into an artistic circle. I was welcomed there with open arms as an artist and that gave me all the encouragement I needed to keep going in the places in the world which are not really interested in cultural pursuits – like Australia. It’s all football or beer.”

After two years in Europe and America, Tom returned to Australia full of “vim and vigour” and immediately “felt flat”.

“Nobody is interested in poetry in Australia, let alone Shakespeare, it’s much more important to be a lawyer or a real estate agent, to make lots of money or innovate something. There is no allotment of time for the esoteric side.”

So Tom got a “real job” in the corporate world and after a year he was called into the office and told how much they liked him, how safe his job was, and to go and do young man things like buy a house and a car.

And he did.

“I scraped together every penny, bought a tumble down cottage in Trentham and a shitbox car on the Wednesday and promptly got retrenched on the Thursday.

“So I was stuck in Trentham with $20, it was winter, the first night it snowed, and I spent my $20 on a plastic toilet seat because I stuck to the tin one. It wasn’t funny.”

He also grew back his beard to save on razors and aftershave lotion – and was in “the right place at the right time” to score a part with the American television series Ponderosa – being filmed in Australia in 2001 to save money.

Since then Tom has worked full-time in acting with more than 60 short films to his credit along with numerous television commercials and working with the

Victorian College of the Arts.

Bigger roles have included that meth cook in Fat Tony and a miner in Beaconsfield. Tom has also just been cast in The Legend of Ben Hall, an historically accurate, docudrama which is being filmed at the end of August around the Central Highlands.

There’s also a new television series, Under the Milky Way, which starts filming in November.

But as busy as he sounds, Tom would love to be busier, and would also love to be telling more Australian stories like Ben Hall.

“I am really excited about the Australian history thing, it’s a string (of stories) that could be produced creatively and professionally. It is important for our Australian story-telling. Because we have to tell our stories – I am sick of having American stories shoved down my throat because they are inaccurate anyway.

“Australia’s stories are bigger and better than America’s.”

Finally, how does a Melbourne actor, who lived in Paris, and gets followed by detectives whenever he enters a department store, find his way to Trentham?

There’s a story, of course.

“I was playing a barfly in an Aussie bar in Paris. We sold a lot of Fosters and I was paid to drink there – which was funny because I don’t drink an awful lot.

“So this guy turns up looking for a job and we don’t have any. But a few years later, back in Australia, I am at a party and he rocks in. He asks if I would like to go to Trentham so we drive up and he takes me to meet his parents who live there.

“And I see this photo on the mantelpiece and ask who it is and he says ‘my sister with her nursing school training class’ and I say ‘and who is the bloke two people up’. He says ‘I don’t know’ and I say ‘well, I do, that’s me from mu nursing days’. It’s just crazy.

“And now I have brought my parents to live here too.

“And we have the big trees, the beautiful sky, the little community, the changing light, you can smell the weather, there are no traffic lights and there is space and colour.

“How could I not live here?”

“I signed in, walked into wardrobe and the two ladies there looked me up and down and said ‘fine’”.

(Meanwhile, Tom is keen to hear from any well bearded blokes with “crusty, interesting old time faces” who would like to play the roles of extras in a big pub scene shot between Trentham and Blackwood for The Legend of Ben Hall.

The scene will be shot on August 25 and while there’s no pay there is a big, high quality barbecue and a couple of beers on offer. Email your headshot to thrumblepark@yahoo.com)

The Local - tlnews.com.au

Trendy Trentham 23

Daylesford & district

Need a lift?

Bookings are ESSENTIAL Call

1300 44 35 34

BEFORE 12pm NOON the day before travelling

Musk / Bullarto / Trentham

Wheatsheaf / Glenlyon / Denver Denver

Daylesford Glenlyon Musk Lyonville Bullarto

Coomoora

Wheatsheaf

Trentham

Mondays and Wednesdays

Daylesford

Tuesday and Fridays

Two return trips from/to Daylesford a day

Mornings: leaves Daylesford after 9am* and returns to Daylesford at 10.30am.

Afternoons: leaves Daylesford at 1pm and returns to Daylesford by 2.30pm* The bus will come to you Pick-up or drop-off ANYWHERE on the way, even your home Four stops in central Daylesford Child seats (0-7 years) and hoist available Over 12 years can travel without an adult $ gold coin donation

* The actual bus stop locations and times will change depending on bookings. Routes and service may change, please call the booking line to confirm.

Everybody Welcome!

To provide feedback or find out more: Janine Fleming ph 5321 6556 or janinef@hhs.vic.gov.au.

Date updated: 17 June 2014

TRENTHAM STATION SUNDAY MARKET Victoria Street, Trentham On the fourth Sunday of each month 8.30am - 2.30pm Enquiries/Bookings - Gwenda on 5424 1611 or Ross on 5424 1509 A great variety of stalls in and around the beautiful Trentham Station **Permanent carriage stalls open every weekend** Including - Craft in the Carriage, Kaye’s Soaps and Candles, Leigh’s Homemade Preserves, Snax on the Trax & Trentham Olde Worlde Lolly Shoppe Trentham - Always relaxed and refreshing!

24 Trendy Trentham

The Local - tlnews.com.au

Real, genuine food in a stylish setting

T

HE Plough at Trentham’s owner Mark Mills has been offering the salt and pepper calamari with lemon aioli at The Plough at Myrniong for 10 years. Because it works and it’s what people want.

After the popularity of his Myrniong pub, Mark decided to open at Trentham earlier this year.

It’s a move that’s working well and giving Trentham locals and tourists a new dining option - and a chance to see what all the fuss has been about.

It was a blustery winter’s day but inside was just right and we were seated by the roaring Ned Kelly wood heater. I love wood heaters you don’t have to stoke yourself.

The attentive waiters, and there were an army of them, soon had us settled in with a glass of chardonnay, a beer, some lovely housemade rolls and then an amuse-bouche of potato and mushroom cappuccino. It had a foamy consistency and was just delicious.

While we looked at menus, I also had a look around the room. There are loads of cushions on long banquettes, vases filled with lillies and old potato sacks popped in minimal frames lead from the dining room through to the bar (a great nod to Trentham’s spud past). Someone knows detail here.

Entrees

But we’re here to eat - although the extensive menu, and list of specials, makes it hard to decide.

I’m tempted by the charcuterie board to share ($24) and Kyle’s talking about the heritage pork and potato croquettes with frisse and chutney ($12). But at the last minute, like a Hotseat contestant, we both changed our minds to seafood.

I went with the prawn and salmon Thai fish cakes with sweet chilli sauce ($12) while Kyle opted for the salt and pepper calamari with lemon aioli ($15).

Both were perfect. The fish cakes were a perfect mix of prawn and salmon without being overpowering and the sauce was just right for dipping.

Meanwhile, the calamari was tender to the bite, beautifully flavoured and quickly devoured. I think there were fingermarks on the plate...

Mains

With a little break it was on to the mains although there is also a “something light” section for when you just want, well, something light and all only $22. It includes beer battered fish and chips with salad - we saw loads of them passing by, Moroccan lamb sliders with chips and salad and a Sher wagyu crunchy Thai beef salad.

I stayed with the seafood theme and ordered the seafood linguine with a hint of chilli, garlic and lemon dressing ($28). The scallops were plump and tender, the prawns were perfect and there was more of that calamari. Talk about loaded with seafood.

Kyle likes a good steak and was almost talked into the dry aged rump steak (aged 49 days minimum) with chips and salad and choice of pepper or red wine sauce ($31). But at a whopping 680 grams he wasn’t sure he would make it through. So he opted for the black angus porterhouse (finished on grain for 86 days) with mashed potato, bok choy and red wine sauce ($30).

It was still a massive piece of steak, but full of juice and flavour. The mash was super creamy and the bok choy was ever so wilted but still crunchy to the bite.

Dessert

Dessert is not something we do much of but we decided to share the Baileys and chocolate bombe alaska with hot chocolate sauce ($16). Other options are a vanilla panna cotta with mixed berries and raspberry sorbet ($13) and a Golden Gaytime with honeycomb and caramelised peanuts ($12).

The bombe alaska was a mound of mouth-watering ice-cream, full of flavours, with the chocolate sauce adding just one more layer of decadence. There were definitely finger marks on that plate.

Mark is clearly passionate about his pubs, his menu and his customers. He is not after any chef’s hats but wants people to come and enjoy real, genuine food in a comfortable, stylish setting. That’s what The Plough, at Trentham and Myrniong, are all about. And no-one goes home hungry!

One more thing...

Oh, Mark is also keen to show off regional wines and is holding a Wine Dinner with Zig Zag Rd Wines on Friday, August 15. There’s a five-course menu with matched wines for $80 per person.

Bookings essential on 5424 1144 or theplough.trentham@gmail.com

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Locals Menu Every Thursday 2 courses $25 3 courses $30 Bookings essential: (03) 5424 1144 A la carte and kids’ menus available at regular prices

Open Thursday to Saturday 12 noon - late, Sunday 12 noon - 5pm

FREE Glass of Wine with each main course

31 High Street, Trentham (03) 5424 1144

Every Friday

theplough.com.au

Bookings essential: (03) 5424 1144

*

The Local - tlnews.com.au

Trendy Trentham 25

Trentham Fire Brigade celebrates 100 years By brigade secretary John McLaren

T

he summer of 1914 saw the official formation of the first Trentham bush fire brigade, equipped [as far as we can discover] with galvanised iron buckets, beaters, knapsacks and a portable water tank with hand pumps and a few dozen feet of canvas hose.

The first captain was Mr Duncan Matheson who continued until 1925.

In the days when the telephone was a novelty, streets were lit at night with kerosene lamps and kitchens had a wood fired stove, the risk of sparks escaping from a brick chimney through crumbling old mortar was an ever present threat.

Often, the only available water supply was from domestic tanks and the presence of a fire brigade was quite a comfort to a township composed almost entirely of weatherboard houses.

The construction of a water reservoir in Lagoon Road, East Trentham and the subsequent piped reticulation into the town from 1912-1913, meant that house fires could eventually be fought from access to hydrants networked through Trentham’s streets.

However, beyond the township’s edge, tanks and dams were still the only water supplies.

Grass and scrub fires were fought largely with beaters: a tool consisting of a wooden frame like a garden rake, with a canvas flap replacing the tines. The flap could be saturated in water if it was available.

Beaters were supplemented by knapsacks: small, back mounted copper water tanks with hand pumps that could squirt five to ten metres.

If firefighters could get well ahead of a slower moving blaze, fire breaks could

be constructed using rake hoes; these were a similar size to beaters but fitted with a square steel head that had a set of tines on one edge and a square blade on the other.

The tool was used to clear a narrow break in the bark and leaves on the forest floor, theoretically robbing the fire of fuel at that point.

This was a very physically demanding, labour intensive method of fighting a fire. Fire fighters had no eye protection or face masks and they were dressed in whatever they were wearing when the call went out for volunteers.

However, equipment and co-ordination improved steadily when the Country Fire Authority was formed by the Victorian government following the Royal Commission into the 1939 Black Friday catastrophic losses.

Now, well into the 21st century and eleven brigade captains later, the Trentham Urban Fire Brigade relies on two fire tankers and a truck-mounted, high volume fire pump, capable of filling three tankers simultaneously from a creek or dam in a few minutes.

But, as ever, it still relies essentially on volunteers who respond to the call to do what they can to keep our community safe.

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new & pre-loved clothing recycled and Belgian furniture skincare - giftware locally made art 38 High Street,Trentham ph: 035424 1164

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 

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    

Frank Spencer Live At

flyingconnoisseur presents....

CONVERSATIONS IN PUBS

Arts and Culture Unplugged Sundays Winter 2014 Jill Rivers & Movers, Shakers and Motivators of Arts & Culture

PRESENTING

PRESENTING

PRESENTING

13 JUL

10 AUG 14 SEP

PRESENTING

19 OCT

The Daylesford Town Hall Vincent Street. In

“SOME MOTHER’S WISHED THEY HADN’T” FEATURING JOHN BUNKER AS

FRANK SPENCER Running time approx 1 hour.

Marilyn Jones

Frances Antonia Tim Lindsay Syme Jones

Former Prima Ballerina, Australian Ballet

Curator and Art Consultant

Founder, Australian Institute of Classical Dance

Former Deputy Director, NGV

VENUE:

The Royal George 24 Piper Street Kyneton TIME:

Director, Australian Tapestry Workshop

Leading Sculptor, Printmaker & Teacher

TICKET OPTIONS: a) $30 per Conversation, including glass of wine/beer/coffee b) $100 for all 4 sessions, inclusive c) $65 for Conversation, plus 2 course lunch at the Royal George $1 from each ticket is donated to charity

BOOKINGS: Bookings & Enquiries: jill @flyingconnoisseur.com 03 5417 5228 | 0418 389 189 Doors Open 11 am.

ENQUIRIES: fcconversations@gmail.com | 0418 389 189 Conversations 11.30 am -12.30 pm

Cost $14 Per Head : Show Rated PG

Saturday 16th August: Show Starts 7.15pm Book Early to Secure a Seat For bookings either go to our web page and click on the Daylesford show at www.frankspencer.net Or Phone 9743 1733 or 0409 100 532 For future bookings phone 9743 1733 or 0409 100 532or email jbunker@tpg.com.au / web page www.frankspencer .net

The Local - tlnews.com.au

28 Out & About

Sault’s Wedding Barn Chapel now complete

S

AULT is excited to announce its Wedding Barn/Chapel is now complete.

Overlooking the lake, the carefully crafted barn is now ready for ceremonies at Sault.

It is a unique and beautiful way to begin any wedding day. Guests can enjoy views over the lake and perfectly placed windows either side give glimpses of the lavender fields and olive grove.

Sault provides 110 wooden folding chairs as part of the ceremony, and registry table with linen. Their wedding planner is also on hand to assist the guests as they arrive and the barn can also be hired independently of having a function at Sault.

Fittingly, it was through their own wedding reception at Sault in 2006 that led owners Jodi and Damien to conversations about buying the business.

Having moved to Daylesford from Melbourne a few months earlier and with 10 years’ hospitality and event management experience between them, the couple was excited with the prospect of a new venture.

Sault is one of Daylesford’s most sought after wedding venues, set amongst picturesque lavender fields, beautifully manicured acres of garden and a stunning feature lake. With a fast growing reputation as a restaurant and function venue, it attracts guests from all corners of the globe.

With such zest and determination to create a wonderful dining experience at Sault, Jodi and Damien - with help from their wonderful kitchen and ‘wait’ teams aim to please all who dine there.

And with its excellent team of experienced staff, Sault is able to cater for weddings and group bookings of all sizes.

Details: sault.com.au | 5348 6555 | jodi@sault.com.au Sault is at 2349 Ballan-Daylesford Road, Sailors Falls.

You can also select the Barn/Chapel option on the wedding booking enquiry form at www.sault.com.au and they’ll send you through all the details.

(Advertorial)

Come and holiday with the peace of mind that your best friends are safe and secure in a large yard behind high fences.

From $165 per night – 2 to 6 guests

Enjoy a holiday at Bells By The Beach with nothing else to bring except your food, personal items and your furry friends!

Contact: Jan and Lin Bell 0403 221 737 www.bellsbythebeach.com.au bellsbythebeach@bigpond.com

The Local - tlnews.com.au

Dining 29

Locals’ meal deals

F

or the locals - by the locals

LAKE House’s food and beverage team including sommelier Stacey Lee Edwards has received the Gourmet Traveller Wine Awards 2014 award for Victoria’s Best Wine List and a joint win of Australia’s Wine List of the Year with Rockpool Bar & Grill in Perth. Above Lake House owner Alla WolfTasker tastes just one of the very good drops.

Fully Licensed

Call for bookings 0414 830 435 Try our sumptuous winter warmer menu including homemade soup and damper and our deliciously spicy mulled wine

105 Central Springs Road

Locals are always looking for a great deal – and the region’s restaurants and hotels are keen to make sure there is plenty on offer.

Weekday specials are on offer from a host of establishments.

Monday head to Mercato in Daylesford or the Bean and Barrow in Creswick.

Mercato offers a main dish and a glass of local wine for $30 per head and there are always four options on the locals’ menu, generally fish, chicken (poultry), red meat and vegetarian.

At Bean and Barrow it’s pre-book your $10 plate or “rock up and risk it”.

And it’s popular.

On Tuesday try Cosy Corner’s Curry and Hot Pot Night for just $18 at Hepburn Springs.

On Wednesdays it’s time for Sault where tapas and starters are from just $4.50 and a main and a glass of house wine is $31. A dessert, including the decadent Chocolate and Grand Marnier buñuelos, orange cream, vanilla bean ice cream are all $13.50. And check out the new barn.

Thursdays and The Daylesford Hotel has a $20 steak on offer – or maybe you have already been for the Wednesday $20 Pot and Parma…

Also on Thursday The Plough in Trentham offers two courses for $25 and three courses for $30. But bookings are essential. And on Friday there’s a free glass of wine with every main meal.

Oh, it’s not just for locals, but it is a bit of a local secret. Radio Springs Hotel in Lyonville does an amazing Thai night on Thursdays. Chef Bancha does the original thing using his mum’s recipes. Yum. And while it’s not confined to locals The Farmers Arms Hotel in Daylesford has its famous Friday night meat raffle raising funds for a range of community groups. Over the next fortnight they are collecting for Daylesford Men’s Shed – ticket sales from 6.30pm with the raffle drawn at 7.30pm.

Also offering a Locals’ Night on Friday is Trentham’s Cosmopolitan Hotel. There is a meat tray raffle for a local community organisation, complimentary bar snacks and a two-course menu for $25.

Oh, don’t forget The Old Hepburn Hotel. It has specials nights on Mondays - parma, Tuesdays – tight arse Tuesday and Wednesdays – roasts.

And the popular Choke the Chook raffle on Fridays – also for a worthy cause.

Finally, Daylesford Bowling Club has Happy Hour ‘n’ a Half from Monday to Thursday from 4.30pm to 6pm. On Fridays there are raffles and a members’ cash draw from 6pm. And you get some of the best views in Daylesford.

And really finally, Perfect Drop in Daylesford also has a happy hour, every day, from 4pm to 6pm with $10 cocktails and $1 oysters.

What are you waiting for?

30 The Garden

The Local - tlnews.com.au

THE GARDEN by Jackie Airey

W

e didn’t really plan this garden. Instead, it grew like topsy in sections added when the whim caught us, or we had adopted too many plants in need of a good home (aka – been to a nursery), or some event required acknowledgment in the form of earth, living things, energy and love.

There are at least four feline members of our family helping to feed things from the bottom up and each is responsible for the nourishment of a particularly important plant – two for specifically chosen roses, another for a huge, hungry paeony, ‘The Golden Hind’ and our darling Big Ginge is looking after a variegated hydrangea...

Commemoration has played a big part in determining the shape of things here, with two of our large beds created specifically to hold plants that once belonged to other gardeners, close and important to us. Our friend Charlie Miller once ran the local general store and he and his wife Elton grew beautiful huge, blowsy dahlias. Many of these tubers came to us when the property changed hands, along with some English primroses, luxuriously fragrant violets and poppy seeds.

His huge brown boronia megastigma – the largest I have ever seen, with perfume to match – was a definite risk to try to transplant. As its choice of fates was between the tip and a chance of a new life, we took the latter. It gave us two good years, before finally giving up the ghost. The dahlias are the backbone of ‘The Charlie Bed’, bordered by buddlejas and apple trees as the southern windbreak. They give us an amazing blaze of colour in late summer, with yellow thalictrums, verbena bonariensis and various bulbs filling out the other seasons.

Several old roses from my mum’s garden, plus some more added to keep them company, help to fill ‘Dot’s Bed’. The focal point here is a magnolia soulangeana, as she often admired them, but never managed to have her own.

Of course there are pansies here, and daffodils and bergenia – a wonderfully old-fashioned plant that seems to flourish in established, neglected gardens.

For me, this perennial is a symbol of toughness and endurance exhibited through beauty.

A similar quality seems to emanate from mum’s collection of small garden gnomes which peek out from behind the foliage in this bed, all of their colours now faded from decades of sun and rain. Are they kitsch? Do I care?

So our garden is not in any way the result of an intellectual exercise in design and cleverness. While it is no doubt unfashionable to admit it, there are certainly elements of sentimentality here. It unashamedly reflects us, our desires, philosophies and predelictions.

Gardens can offer us more than prettiness, relaxation and exercise. They can be resting places for living reminders of our own soul’s journey, the iconic (and I use that term in its correct sense here) power of these plants and objects offering spiritual comfort in a world with few opportunities for introspection and stillness.

th Zucchini

the zucchini then coarsely grate and place bowl. or leave the seeds in the chilli if you wish and

chilli to the zucchini with the scallions, eggs, cumin, chia, salt and pepper. Stir in the flour combine. n a frying pan until medium-hot, drop the zucchini mixture into the oil and cook until oth sides about 2–3 minutes. It is best not to he pan. rom the pan with a slotted spoon and drain on er towels. oghurt and extra mint together and serve the a sprinkle of sea salt flakes and a dollop of the

The Local - tlnews.com.au Chia and Amaranth Zucchini Mint Fritters

(Makes 10–12 Fritters) 13 oz/375 g zucchini/courgette 1 long red chilli 4 scallions/spring onions, thinly sliced 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 2 tablespoons finely chopped mint 1–2 cloves garlic, finely grated 1 teaspoon ground cumin 2 tablespoons chia seeds salt and freshly ground black pepper ½ cup amaranth flour olive oil for shallow frying 1 cup Greek yoghurt 1–2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint

Nom Nom Nom 31

Top and tail the zucchini then coarsely grate and place into a large bowl. De-seed or leave the seeds in the chilli if you wish and finely chop. Add the chilli to the zucchini with the scallions, eggs, mint, garlic, cumin, chia, salt and pepper. Stir in the flour and mix to combine. Heat oil in a frying pan until medium-hot, drop spoonfuls of the zucchini mixture into the oil and cook until golden on both sides about 2–3 minutes. It is best not to overcrowd the pan. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper towels. Mix the yoghurt and extra mint together and serve the patties with a sprinkle of sea salt flakes and a dollop of the yoghurt.

This recipe was reprinted with permisson by New Holland, the publishers of “Superfoods - 7 essential ingredients for living well”

by Rena Patten. The Local has a copy of the hardback book to give away. Email donna@tlnews.com.au by August 13 for your chance to win. Include your name and phone number. Good luck!

This is definitely a proposal that is hard to refuse!

Winter Wedding Offer Host a winter wedding between 01 May – 30 August 2014 or 2015 and enjoy a special rate of just

$110 per person No conditions

End of Financial Year Wedding Special

$110 per person

when you book for 90 guests or more (Weddings between 70-90 guests $130 per person)

Wedding reception booked and confirmed between now and 30th September 2014, for reception held between 1 September 2014 and 30 April 2015 at Bellinzona.

Great offers. No exclusions. All you need to do is say “I do”

one call, complete service

Welcome to The Farmers Arms Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner The Farmers Arms Daylesford offers the perfect blend of country charm combined with a sophisticated menu, wine list and professional service.

For more information about the pub and also our current menu, please visit our website: www.thefarmersarms .com.au 1 East Street Daylesford ph. 03 5348 2091

A 5-star boutique winery in the heart of the Macedon Ranges.

An award winning winery, Paramoor wines are recognised as some of the best cool climate wines in Victoria.

Nestled between Woodend, Kyneton and Hanging Rock, Paramoor’s rustic cellar door offers a range of elegant wines and delicious wood fired pizzas in a beautiful unique setting.

We are open for wine tastings and sales every weekend.

Wood fired pizzas are served on the first two Sundays of each month.

Bookings for pizza lunches are recommended.

Paramoor Winery Open Friday to Monday 10am until 5pm 439 Three Chain Road Carlsruhe 3442 Phone: 03 5427 1057 Email: enquiries@paramoor.com.au

www.paramoor.com.au

Crossword 33 Last week’s answers on page 10!

Show this ad in store and receive

20% off 4 or more bottles of wine One per customer per day.

Conditions apply - see staff for details Offer ends 13/08/14 Cellarbrations @ foxxy’s our region’s largest local and boutique wine specialists Open every day until late 55 Vincent Street Daylesford Tel: 03 5348 3577

The Local - tlnews.com.au

34 The Scene

Gig Guide!

Old Hepburn Hotel, Hepburn Springs Nico Ellerby - Friday, August 8, 9pm Cam Kettle, Saturday, August 9, 9pm Sideshow Brides, Sunday, August 10, 4pm Alana & Alicia - Sunday, August 17, 4pm

Radio Springs Hotel, Lyonville Gillian Eastoe & Terry Murray - Friday, August 8 Anan Chara - Saturday, August 9, lunch The Duck Down Pickers, Saturday, August 9, evening A Suitcase Full of Blues, Sunday, August 10, lunch The Chris Paul Jazztet, Sunday, August 10, evening

Born to perform

S

allie Harvey had everyone in tears when she sang “And the Band played Waltzing Matilda” at this year’s Daylesford Anzac Day ceremony. And there was the same haunting sound last year when she sang at interior designer Stuart Rattle’s memorial. With a new band in the making, Sally and the Drunken Uncles, she took time out to chat with Kyle Barnes.

KB: When did you know you were a musician/singer?

SH: Well, I guess you could say I was born that way...I am lucky enough to have an ability to sing in tune and an ear for harmony. I have sung for as long as I can remember.

KB: Can you give us a bit of your history?

SH: Well, I grew up in Kew, in Melbourne, the oldest daughter in a family of creative artists and performers.

Dad was always excited about good food and music, and often we would all gather in the kitchen to sing and prepare food together. One of my nana’s favourite songs was “You Perfect Drop, Daylesford are my Sunshine” and we would all gather around her and sing it to her, even at her funeral. Christmas carols Family Farm - Friday, August 8 were also a speciality. Each Christmas my family would Pete Rowland & Jennie Brown host Carols by Candlelight with dad playing guitar and Saturday, August 9 me sitting up with him helping him remember the words.

Hooked on Bossa - Friday. August 15 I eventually auditioned for the Victorian College of the Geoffrey Williams - Saturday, August 16 Arts at 22 and was accepted for music improvisation (jazz) majoring in voice. At the college I met all kinds of amazing creative performers and was exposed to all styles Cosmopolitan Hotel, Trentham and concepts to do with music and performance. I became involved in the a cappella scene performing with a number (Every Sunday, 1pm, no cover charge) of groups at events, festivals, and a “Music in Schools” Gussy & the Barn Cats - August 3 program. Around this time I started developing an interest Jarrod Shaw & Sarah Wilkinson in cooking and hospitality and started a vocal duet called August 10 “Caramelle” with a fine singer called Andrea Watson.

The Flames - August 17 We incorporated wine, women and song with food, and Pugsley Buzzard - August 24 operated as singing waitresses and sometimes caterers.

Hooked on Bossa - August 31 Andrea and I recorded a disc of original and cover material and left for Europe to sing and travel. We performed in a Creswick Market Zeebz vs. Miss Vitula - Saturday, August string of countries and had a wild time but eventually we went our separate ways to perform and have families. Since 16, 9am to 1pm returning I have had three kids - Franki, Herbie and Coco and been involved in various events and performances KB: How did you come to be in Daylesford?

Got a gig you want listed? including fundraisers, recordings, funerals, weddings and SH: Whilst growing up I travelled and camped a lot, and Email donna@tlnews.com.au singing at the Anzac Day services which I love. overseas, most of my time was spent in smaller towns and villages, so when I came home I was pregnant with my first KB: Wow! Great story. What is your style of music? child, Franki, and I came to visit the only person I knew SH: I have an aversion to pigeonholing myself but here, and decided it would be a good place to bring up a influences include folk, jazz, blues, world, country, family, and within a few days I had a job and a house, and classical and some popular styles. I have also been known the rest is history. to do rock!

KB: What’s the band you are teaming up with?

KB: Where do you perform?

SH: “Sally and the Drunken Uncles” has just started SH: Anywhere I am required really. Churches, performing, doing country rock. There are more exciting graveyards, paddocks, halls, boats, pubs, the sky is not plans afoot too.

The Local has four tickets for “Some even the limit!

Mothers Wish They Hadn’t”, with KB: Where can people see you next?

John Bunker playing Frank Spencer, KB: How do you feel when you are performing?

SH: I’ll keep you posted. at the Daylesford Town Hall on SH: Nervous and anticipatory. I am aware of a sense Saturday, August 16. For your chance of responsibility to honour and respect in the delivery of KB: Anything else you would like to add? to win email kyle@tlnews.com.au songs, especially at weddings and funerals. And for myself SH: Food and music are universal languages. If you can with your name and contact number I am striving for honesty and challenge in the performance cook, you can feed yourself, you can feed others, you can

by August 13. Good luck. and when I nail it, it feeds my soul. work anywhere in the world. And music talks. No culture is without both and really we could spend more time eating KB: What does music mean to you? and making and listening to music with each other, and we SH: It is emotive expression. There is a song to suit most could learn a hell of a lot. Some of the people we idolise emotions and situations. most in the world are chefs and musicians.

Giveaway

The Local - tlnews.com.au

Dining 35

Bustling country cafe serving local produce, homemade cakes and quality coffee A large selection of gluten free cakes & food Free wi fi

Open 7 days from 8am FRIDAY - pasta night eat in or take-away SATURDAY - pie day & half price local Pinot SUNDAY - all day roast MONDAY - locals night Prebook your $10 plate or rock up & risk it Bookings & pre-ordering welcome info@beanandbarrow.com.au

03 8376 9605 / 0402 204 991 86 Albert St, Creswick

36 Business Guide

Promote your business here from just $25 plus GST!

ian petty legal 53 North Vincent Street Daylesford 3460 5348 1080 Fax by arrangement ianpettylegal@gmail.com

Miles Electrical.Rec15116.

Small Job Specialist All household electrical work guaranteed Daylesford /Hepburn region...

Phone Gary Miles 0458 112 777 106 Albert St, Creswick garymiles5 @gmail.com

Mccarthy Firewood Sugargum firewood sales Bags of kindling & Bags of small wood.

Leonards Hill 0418 137 195 Mob 0407 688 792 Mob Railway Crescent, Daylesford Phone: 03 5348 2586 Fax: 03 5348 1200 Email: sales@chss.com.au

DAYLESFORD CARPET CLEANING ........nothing cleans like steam........

carpets – rugs - upholstery- hard floors windows (hi reach to 12m) – solar panels

servicing Daylesford and district for over 20 years

www.daylesfordccs.com.au

Ph 5348 2267 + 0419 482 267 !

Promote your business here from just $25 plus GST

COMPUTER PROBLEMS?

Franklin Property Maintenance

I will come to you!

On-site support for PCs and Macs, home and business.

Phone: 0466 238 178 ** Qualified Builder ** Commercial / Domestic Property Maintenance / Carpentry repairs Renovations / Restorations Weatherboarding / Decking / Stairs Gate construction / Welding / Retaining Walls Quality | Professionalism | Honesty | Reliability

Call Josh Franklin 048-777-3313 josh@franklinpropertymaintenance.com Facebook - Franklin Property Maintenance

Business 37

DAYLESFORD FLOOR COVERINGS Your LOCAL flooring experts cnr East and Mink Streets, Daylesford Phone for a chat about your flooring needs on (03) 5348 4097

The Local - tlnews.com.au

Qualified Arborist - Jason Scholten Tree & Stump Removal Tree Pruning Storm Damage Removal Mulch Sales

Outdoors 39

VOLLEYBALL The latest season of volleyball has kicked off, with Gary Thomas keen to show his style, at Daylesford’s ARC. The competition is held each Monday from 6.30pm with teams of girls, boys, adults, community groups, social and open divisions.

Details: Colin Priest on 5348 7674 or 0447 487 674.

Howe Automotive Your Safety is our priority

Automotive Electrician on site Front end wheel alignments

Servicing all automotive air conditioning 4X4 Servicing and repairs

19 East Street Daylesford

Ph: 53482389

Repairs@howeauto.com.au