The Local Issue 59 November 23, 2015

November 23, 2015 Issue 59 Movember hits the Highlands

The Local The Heart of the Highlands’ own community publication

2 About Us

www.tlnews.com.au

The Local is a fortnightly community publication covering the Heart of the Highlands. The next edition is out on Monday, December 7, 2015.

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

Advertising deadlines for the next edition of The Local: Space bookings: Wednesday, December 2 Copy provided by: Thursday, December 3 Editorial deadline: Thursday, December 3 Editor | Layout: Donna Kelly General manager | Photographer: Kyle Barnes Sub-editors: Nick Bunning and Lindsay Smith Sales: Nick Bunning (Ballarat), Kate Coleman (Kyneton) Contributors: Kevin Childs, Dan Lonergan, Anthony Sawrey, Kate Taylor, David White, Glen Heyne, Robin Archer and Dianne Caithness.

Great 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...

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...for six editions, or more, in a row.

An eighth of a page - $55 plus GST A quarter page - $110 plus GST A banner - $110 plus GST A half page - $220 plus GST A full page - $440 plus GST (Prices are per edition) But wait, there’s more!

The Local is a registered trademark of Kyle Barnes and Donna Kelly

Front cover: Movember is coming to an end and fundraising for men’s health is taking place all over the Central Highlands. At the Farmers Arms Hotel in Daylesford, Rodney Peacock is the “poster boy”. See p19. Image: Kyle Barnes

The Pool Room!

The Local - winner of: *Rural Press Club of Victoria 2015 Best Feature Series *Daylesford Rotary’s 2015 Business of the Year *Kyneton Daffodil Festival Parade 2015 Best Commercial Entry Now that’s award winning - just sayin’...

All adverts in The Local are full colour (it is 2015...) and we have fantastic graphic designers who can help you with adverts and branding - also at very affordable prices.

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

Oh, we also have an average reach of 14,000 readers - in print and online!

Even more reasons to get in touch today.

“I can’t find The Local...”

Really? Mmm. That’s odd. There are a lot around - and you are reading this one...Anyway, where to find your copy of The Local?

Here goes: In no particular order The Local is bulk drop delivered to Daylesford, Hepburn, Trentham, Trentham East, Lyonville, Glenlyon, Newlyn, Kyneton, Malmsbury, Tylden, Creswick and Clunes.

Copies are also dropped at most cafes and hotels in the region.

And of course it’s online at www.tlnews.com.au that’s real home delivery for you.

Still looking? Just give us a call on 5348 7883.

The Local is the future of regional publishing!

- as stated by Victorian Senator John Madigan in the Australian Parliament - November 2014 Just sayin’... :)

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News 3

Delta Dog Tigger bringing joy to seniors

Words: Donna Kelly | Images: Kyle Barnes

T

HE faces of Dil Taylor, left, and Joan Matthew, right, lit up when Kathleen Phillips arrived at Lumeah Lodge with Delta Dog, Tigger.

The maltese/shiatsu/toy poodle “we’re not really sure” was certainly the star of the show last Thursday on his regular weekly visit to the aged care service.

Tigger, who belongs to Kathleen’s neighbours, is fairly new to the role, having been a Delta Dog for just four weeks – but it was obvious he was relishing his work.

“We don’t train them but they are assessed in Geelong for their personality,” Kathleen said.

“So Tigger’s personality obviously was great – and he has such a beautiful smiling face. We bring him to Hepburn House in the morning and then to Lumeah Lodge in the afternoon.

“I have been with Delta Dogs for about 10 years and I love it. I did have a break but came back and now I am a team leader.

“You walk in and when the residents see the dogs they just smile, or sometimes they cry a little at first.

“It helps them feel a little bit better and a lot of them will talk about their own dogs and what they used to do. It is absolutely beautiful and what they get out of it makes you feel so good. That’s why we do it.”

The Delta Dog program for Daylesford Aged Care is sponsored by Daylesford Rotary which has just donated $500 so it can continue for another year.

Delta Society Australia is a national not-for-profit organisation with one core belief: that the human-animal bond remarkably improves our quality of life and leaves a lasting paw print on our hearts.

“There is a special and indescribable kinship shared between dogs and people of all ages. Attention from a dog can brighten your day, make you feel loved and, as has been scientifically proven, improve your overall health and wellbeing. We believe that a better relationship between people and dogs will lead to a more enriched and fulfilled life for humans and dogs alike.”

“It is absolutely beautiful and what they get out of it makes you feel so good.

That’s why we do it.”

Welcome to The Farmers Arms Open 7 days a week for lunch & dinner As the oldest pub in Daylesford, ‘The Farmers’ is brimming with real character.

An iconic corner pub that boasts the perfect blend of country charm, with sophisticated menu, wine list and professional service.

Find all the details and information about the pub and our current menu at: thefarmersarms.com.au You’re Welcome to Eat, Drink & Be Local at ‘The Farmers’.

1 East Street Daylesford, ph: 03 5348 2091

4 Our artists

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Human rights and environment at the forefront Words: Anthony Sawrey | Image: Kyle Barnes

N

ICO Van Dalen has painted all his life, starting from the age of four. As he was growing up in his native Holland he was lucky enough to have an artistic father who helped train him in the skills of naturalism and the realist painting techniques of the old masters.

But for Nico, like many others of his generation in Europe, World War II intervened. Events dictated that his career path would not be focused on the artistic centres of his homeland but much further afield.

The economic situation in post-war Netherlands was not good but there were opportunities elsewhere and he decided to immigrate to Australia in 1955. As fate would have it he met his wife Anne on the boat coming over and they started a new life together beginning at The Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre in North East Victoria.

Australia was a big change from the networks of Europe and a culture steeped in countless strands of history. In its place was a vastly different environment and way of life. Nico took all of this in his stride and soon found his feet in the new land. “To me the strongest impressions I received in Australia were from the landscape itself.

“As you could imagine, Bonegilla was like a wilderness, the mountains, the light, the clear air, wide open spaces and no crowds.”

Nico’s artistic career has now stretched across seven decades and in that time he has worked in many creative fields. After Bonegilla he moved to Melbourne where he worked as a pictorial artist, sign writer and set designer.

He also worked as a cartoonist and illustrator for surf magazines that supported his wife and three children and eventually allowed him to move to, first Wheatsheaf, then Daylesford, where he continues to work today.

If asked, Nico cannot honestly say that his oeuvre has been informed by clear and distinct influences. In a place like Australia, a relative isolation from art movements of the northern hemisphere means your growth occurs in a much more organic way.

“My influences are more about the experiences that come to you in life. When I see something funny I do a painting, when I see something serious I do a painting.

“I also draw ideas from sources ranging from the natural environment to the human body, from molecular structures in medical textbooks to the work of 18th century Flemish or Italian artists. I see something in one place, then another and think hey, there’s a painting in that.”

Today Nico continues to find new and challenging directions to send his art.

Interestingly, he does not consider his painting to be expressions of creativity or inspiration as much as a condensing of his own insatiable curiosity and a concern for important social issues from human rights to the protection of the environment. In one of his latest works entitled Global Warming, we see these processes in action.

It contains an amalgam of symbols and allegory that address the spectre of human-induced climate change.

The picture plane is bursting with a range of images from indigenous totems to western religious symbols placed over Australian landscape elements. In essence, this work implicitly states that the environment is the cradle for all beliefs and all people. It must be looked after and protected at all costs for future generations.

Such a work embodies the potential of painting to not just represent something of the world but to give expression to universal concerns. Art, if utilised as such, can influence a viewer and perhaps be a catalyst for a change in a person’s attitude beyond the gallery.

“When I put a work together like this I am saying ‘have a look’. I want the viewer to involve themselves in the forms, and symbols, but also to stimulate thought, to laugh, to provoke argument, but at the same time to register something in them. To have them step away from my painting with something to think about.”

There can be no higher aspiration for art and it is what Nico seeks every time he puts brush to canvas.

“I want the viewer to involve themselves in the forms, and symbols, but also to stimulate thought, to laugh, to provoke argument...”

www.tlnews.com.au

News 5

Celebrating 12 months as a country copper Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Kyle Barnes

S

ERGEANT Barry Hills wanted to join the police force from the age of 10 but, being a kid who didn’t like school much, he failed a couple of exam sections during his first attempt to join at 18.

Sgt Hills, who has just celebrated his first year in charge of Daylesford Police Station, decided to go and get some life skills before hiring a tutor nine years later to get his VCE and pass the police exam.

His training station was Geelong but the job then took him onto detective work with the Transit Criminal Investigation Unit and then Ballarat Criminal Investigation Unit before he returned to uniform life three years ago – and then Daylesford.

“It’s all very different, detective work gets to you after a while, there’s lots of investigation, interviews, statements and travel, while here it’s also a lot of work with management and community interaction.

“I have been here 12 months now, it’s good. I brought some different ideas and views and have the members more involved with the community. The community is also starting to come in to have a chat and we are getting good feedback. The guys are doing foot patrols and having a yack to the people up the road.”

Part of that work also recently involved a two-day exercise with VicRoads targeting trucks. A total of 20 trucks were issued with major defect notices and there were also three unlicenced drivers and four unregistered vehicles.

“We are talking B-doubles with cracked rotor disc, cracked brake drums, coil springs with three-inch gaps between the springs, oil leaks…we also did 275 preliminary breath tests. So that was a really good exercise.”

Sgt Hills said police had also been working to target out of town criminals who were breaking into businesses earlier this year.

“Crime is way down now. We had those issues in relation to break-ins by opportunistic out of towners but they have been arrested by Melbourne and Ballarat CIUs. We also had some plainclothes police from Ballarat and we have had a few of our own operations happening.”

Sgt Hills said the installation of closed circuit television cameras was still on the books and before the Department of Justice. But he said store owners could also help themselves by installing strategically placed cameras and putting valuable items out of sight at night.

“The shops are still leaving valuable items in their windows and I know you have to have a display but at night no-one will see it except the crooks.”

Sgt Hills said while Daylesford remained a 16-hour station, the hours police were working had changed to better service the community – helped by an additional vehicle and management is working on another for the station.

He said even if the station was not attended, members on patrol were often just a phone call away. Bacchus Marsh also offered back up and for any emergencies Triple Zero (000) was the best number to call.

“I have had a few locals say ‘I don’t want to annoy Triple Zero’ but that’s what they are there for. If people don’t ring us or Triple Zero then we don’t know what’s going on.”

Another recent task for Sgt Hills was giving a talk to year 7 students at Daylesford Secondary College about bullying. “I spoke to the year 7 students in general about Brodie’s Law and one-punch. I think the message got across. Gone are the days when you went to school and had a blue, it’s just not on.”

And Sgt Hill’s latest campaign is to educate locals and tourists about locking up their homes and cars.

“People think we are sleepy hollow but if crooks are moving through or just young kids, even if they are cleanskins, if they see a phone on a car seat and the door’s not locked it’s a temptation.

“And I could probably go to half the houses around here, walk in the back door, make myself a cuppa and walk put the front door, and no one would be any the wiser.”

Sgt Hills said tradies needed to make sure their trailers were locked up and locals should keep their trailers in their yards, not on nature strips.

“Stealing trailers by just hooking them up is not common but it does happen. If out of town crooks see them and word gets around we can lose 12 trailers in a week.”

Fire is also front of mind with Sgt Hills reminding people that the fire danger period was in place and without a permit, no-one could burn off.

“We really need to be diligent, it’s a lot drier this year. All the information is on the website as to what people can or can’t do and if they are uncertain they can call the CFA or us. And if anyone sees someone burning off, or smoke, call Triple Zero straight away to let the firies and police take care of that.”

It’s certainly a diverse role and Sgt Hills is happy to stay where he is, offering “the town and the troops some stability and confidence that someone will be here for a while”.

“As a kid I always had admiration for police and wanted to be a copper from 10 years of age. There was nothing else I wanted to do, I just wanted this job, and I am glad I did because it’s really rewarding. It’s great.”

Central Highlands Pain & Well-being Centre Dr Shelley L Beer Chinese Medicine Community Open Group Acupuncture $30 ea Tuesday 2pm - 5pm / Thursday 9.30 - 11.30 am - Drop in or by appointment Friday 9.30 - 11.30am BY APPOINTMENT only Private consultations still by appointment Tues – Sat. Daylesford - 12 Albert St., Castlemaine (Wednesday)- Healing Well, 147 Mostyn St. Phone 0417 036 153 - www.tcmconsultancy.com

6 News

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Daylesford Field and Game

T

HE November 75 target shoot was held on Saturday, November 7.

Good targets were thrown by Sam the “Happy Man” - with the wind making his job harder. Some good scores were carded including two possible (25 straight) by Col Johns in AA and Rex Barber in Super Vets.

The pack up crew again did a top job and Jody was doing well with our new clean up machine until he slipped the chain, the “Blue Girl” said he has a habit of that.

Results

AA Grade - 1st Col Johns 72/75, 2nd Grant Scorfield 62/75, 3rd Matt Libbis 62/75.

A Grade - 1st Russ Pigdon 61/75, 2nd Dave “Hills” Collins 60/75, 3rd Glen Phillipson 59/75.

B Grade - 1st Allen Coates 61/75, 2nd Darby Conroy 57/75, 3rd John “Squizzy” Taylor 51/75.

C Grade - 1st Frank Doblie 44/75, 2nd Mark Hefferman 42/75, 3rd Paul DaMore 42/75.

Ladies - 1st Nancy Disher 37/75.

Juniors - 1st Cameron Kivenin 67/75.

Sub Juniors - 1st Jonno Ragatz 42/75.

VETS - 1st Neil Peart 65/75, 2nd Phil Stowe 58/75.

Super VETS - 1st Rex Barber 64/75, 2nd Jack Johns 62/75.

The next shoot will be the Christmas Shoot on Saturday, December 5 with a barbeque lunch and novelties. All welcome.

Here’s the solution to The Local’s crossword for Issue 58. The crossword for this edition is on page 22. All the answers can be found in the pages of this edition of The Local. Good luck!

Celebrating our first birthday!

Daylesford 3460

La Vita eclectic and elegant homewares

39 Albert Street, Daylesford Thursday to Monday, 10am - 5pm

www.tlnews.com.au

News 7

Tower hijacked from emergency to economics Words: Donna Kelly

R

ESIDENTS of Glenlyon and surrounding villages continue to fight to have a proposed Telstra mobile phone tower moved from the lowlying centre of the village to a hill less than three kilometres away in a bid for more coverage to the most people possible.

Telstra engineers told The Local that modelling showed that if they placed the tower on somewhere like Gooches Hill, with an elevation of 600 metres, it would increase coverage by at least 20 per cent and provide better mobile phone coverage to not only Glenlyon, but its outskirts and three other more bushfire prone areas – Wheatsheaf, Porcupine Ridge and Coomoora.

The fight comes as the idea behind the Federal Government’s Mobile Black Spots Programme seems to have been hijacked from one of providing communications in times of emergency to one of “economics”.

In April this year Emergency Management Victoria released a statement saying “the emergency management sector has worked closely with government and business to support a joint bid to the Commonwealth Government’s Mobile Black Spots Programme”.

“As a result, the Victorian Government has partnered with Telstra and signed a Memorandum of Understanding, in what is a first step to reducing mobile black spots in Victoria. Emergency Management Victoria was asked on behalf of the emergency management sector to help prioritise locations.”

Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley said that building safer communities was central to the thinking around the black spot programme submission. He said Victoria was able to put a case forward around those areas at highest risk of fire and flood and with little or no network coverage.

Two months later Victoria Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett followed up with a media release about the “regions’ win” saying “this is a great project that will improve communications throughout the regions, providing much needed mobile coverage to small communities and areas prone to natural disasters in Victoria”.

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“We have worked closely with Emergency Management Victoria to ensure the new towers will provide coverage and enable easier access to emergency information specifically in bushfire-prone areas,” she said.

But as the Round One locations were tendered to Telstra (429) and Vodafone (70) and then announced on June 25, it appeared it was more about ticking the boxes than real communications for many regional and rural towns and communities.

In November at a meeting at the Glenlyon Hall, Telstra area general manager Bill Mundy said the mobile phone towers were not about safety or emergency services but about “economics”.

In an email to The Local, Mr Mundy said: “Telstra is not an emergency services organisation and doesn’t have a responsibility to provide for your individual safety by way of the delivery of a mobile network”.

“People get confused that since the state government has made a decision to deliver emergency warning messages over the mobile network that it is our responsibility to provide the network to deliver the messages, well that just isn’t true, since we have no obligation to deliver a network for safety purposes.”

“Telstra is not an emergency services organisation and doesn’t have a responsibility to provide for your individual safety.”

Meanwhile Porcupine Ridge CFA captain Rob Hands has written to Victoria’s Emergency Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley saying the proposed location was too low to provide mobile coverage to areas which have been identified in the black spot programme, such as Porcupine Ridge, Wheatsheaf and Coomoora, not to mention parts of Glenlyon itself.

“A location known as Gooches Hill, at 600 meters in elevation and just 2.5km from the Telstra exchange, is a preferred location for the tower as it would provide coverage for the identified black spot areas. Mr Mundy stated (at the meeting at the hall) that the location was not about community safety, but about economics.

“NBN are proposing to roll out in early 2016 and they have stated they would have to seek a higher location as Telstra’s location at their exchange is too low for coverage.

“In my brigade’s assignment area is Woolnoughs Road which contains approx 25 homes. This road and it’s topography is of great concern in the event of fire. Any type of communication in this road is difficult, however Gooches Hill has a line of sight to this road.

“Another large accommodation business, Tarascon Ridge Estate which has a 32 people accommodation capacity and a 60 person function licence, has currently no mobile service but also has line of sight to Gooches Hill.

“My concern as captain of Porcupine Ridge CFA is for the safety of my community and it appears that the decision has been made regarding the location of the tower for economic reasons, when the Gooches Hill location will give greater coverage to more areas at greater risk of fire.”

An email from The Local to the federal Communications Minister Senator Mitch Fifield received an automated reply on November 10 that the correspondence would be given “early attention”.

And an email to the federal Shadow Minister for Communications Jason Clare was returned with a letter dated November 11 stating the correspondence had been forwarded to Senator Fifield.

“As soon as I have a reply from the Minister I will be in contact with you again.”

Meanwhile Ballarat MP Catherine King has written to Bill Mundy asking for information on the cost of relocating the tower to Gooches Hill.

“The community indicated it had talked to Telstra and inquired about the possibility of changing the location and been given an ‘off-the-cuff’ figure of $500,000. I would appreciate any information you can provide on the cost of relocation.”

And former Hepburn Shire Council mayor Kate Redwood said the relevant organisations needed to come up with “a win/win proposition as the mobile phone coverage is needed but not at the expense of visual amenity or functionality”.

“As I understand it Telstra looks to use the cheapest solution and not the one that delivers the best transmission or meets amenity considerations. I’m not sure what the proposed tower would cost but I imagine that if the coverage elsewhere (on a hill) would save putting in more towers later on, then there would be a significant saving over time.”

8 Opinion

www.tlnews.com.au

Pick me, pick me...

Vale Geof Brown

By Donna Kelly

J

UST back from a memorial service for the wonderful Geof Brown.

It was held at the Daylesford Masonic Hall and it was standing room only by the time everyone had found their way in.

I reckon about 200 people were there - which already says a lot about Geof.

Now I didn’t know Geof, or his lovely partner Theo Gioulikidis very well. We did get together for a cuppa now and again when their store, Upstate Living was a couple of doors down from The Advocate office where I was working. We, and Rob and Annie from Mind Your Pet, would lean on the wall, or the nearest car, and have a bit of a natter.

When they moved to Howe Street and opened Finishing Touch Decor I didn’t see them as much but would drop in now and again to admire their wonderful decorating taste.

And then we started The Local and you couldn’t have had more supportive people than Geof and Theo. In the early days we would drop off a bundle and the pair of them would hand them to customers - whether they wanted them or not. When they found out we were disposing of a few leftover copies, Geof asked for them as well - again to hand out to visitors popping in for a look. It was one of our best distribution points.

I think Geof liked The Local because he started life as a journo and once you have that in your blood you never really let go. He would often send an email with a story idea - no pressure - but it was always a great idea that we followed up.

And Geof wrote a letter to the editor once. It was one that many people talked about later. And it came after someone wrote to us after seeing our ChillOut edition - with two women on the front cover with their children - saying they were disgusted that we would promote same-sex anything.

In his poignant letter Geof made it clear he and Theo have had some hard times for being gay, especially when they lived in the Western District. But it had led them to Daylesford where they were among the organisers of the first ever ChillOut held at Musk.

Even that proved difficult with some businesses refusing to accept brochures advertising the event. But Geof was pleased to write that three years later those same businesses were asking where they could get “the coloured flags”.

He also wrote “During our time in Daylesford we have made more friends than we imagined possible. We have a wide circle of friends (gay, straight or whatever as Theo says) and we would never want to live anywhere else but in this beautiful town. Moving to Daylesford has given Theo and I the best chapter of our life and we intend to stay here until we go over the rainbow.”

Vale Geof. You were a true gentleman and Daylesford is a lesser place without you.

H

i there, I am Misty, a lovely staffy cross bull arab.

I am two years old and looking for a special home. I am a very timid girl seeking a quiet adult home for rehabilitation. I need to be the only pet at this stage as I am afraid of other animals and require very secure fencing. But I would love to go home with you, so pick me!

MC# 956000008839275 Castlemaine RSPCA is at 24 Langslow Street, Castlemaine.

Phone: 5472 5277. Open: Monday to Thursday 10am-5pm, Friday to Saturday 10am-2pm.

The Local - Connecting the Community Trentham Whole Town Garage Sale Saturday, December 5, 8am-2pm

Gherkin Workshops

THE Local believes in giving back. So we created a “Connecting the Community” project. Each edition The Local has two free advert spaces to give away to not-for-profit organisations. Just because we can. So if your group needs a helping hand just email donna@tlnews.com.au If we receive more than two we will use the tried and true “put them in a hat” system but also work a little bit on timing.

Traditional garlic and dill Pick your own gherkins, learn to pickle, and take your jar home to enjoy!

Includes a tour of the farm at Glenlyon and a two-hour workshop.

Maximum of five people per workshop.

Cost is $75 per person.

Workshops are held on Sundays from 2pm to 4pm. Dates: January, 3, 17 and 31, February 14 and 28, March 13 and 27.

Bookings: adsumfarmhouse@gmail.com or 5348 7757. Bookings confirmed when payment is received by EFT. Adsum Farmhouse: BSB: 633 000 Account: 152 404 364.

Please use name as reference.

With more than thirty garage sales already registered, the Trentham Whole Town Garage Sale promises to be a great opportunity for bargain hunters. Maps will be available for $3 at Trentham Neighbourhood Centre from 8am, where there will also be a sausage sizzle.

The Trentham Whole Town Garage Sale is a fundraising event for the Trentham Neighbourhood Centre.

Contact Trentham Neighbourhood Centre on 5424 1354 or admin@ trenthamnc.org.au to register your garage sale or for further information.

www.tlnews.com.au

News 9

Hidden gem offering student connectivity

H

EPBURN Primary School is a “hidden gem” according to new principal Robert Walsh.

Mr Walsh, who has taught at schools in Melbourne’s east and most recently at Alfredton near Ballarat, said he had taken on leadership roles from his second year of teaching.

“At Alfredton I was focused on teaching and learning and improving student outcomes. I led the school review, worked with the principal and assistant principal, taught every year level and was a PE specialist.”

Mr Walsh said the principal’s role at Hepburn was a chance to challenge himself.

“I had been through an emerging leader program at The Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership and Hepburn was just a really good opportunity – and I am really glad I took that because it’s a fantastic school.

“I have gone from a school of 600 to 60 and it’s really good, I am really enjoying it.”

Mr Walsh said he was enjoying getting to know all of the students and watching the connectivity between the students, families and community.

“It’s great to know everyone and their stories – being able to assist them.

“And so many good things happen here already. It might be a small school but they have Italian classes, a science specialist, PE, IT…thanks to the skills of the teachers they are getting as much as any large school.

“And the facilities and the grounds are amazing. There’s the oval, three playgrounds, a gym – it’s really a bit of a hidden gem.

“Then there is the support of the parents and the wider community – there is a lot going for it. My job is really to provide leadership and help build on the programs they already have. It’s about effective teaching in every classroom.

“We’ve also just leased new technology in 22 touch screen computers and iPads are coming next year – a mix as a tool to enhance engagement of teaching and learning. It’s all for the children.”

Mr Walsh said he was also keen to ensure transparency with the community by letting them know the direction and vision of the school through engagement such as the school newsletter and the school council.

“The school is very much an important part of the community.”

From left, Jake, Mitchell, Daniele and Maddy with principal Robert Walsh

PUBLIC

AUCTION NO RESERVE

Chairs, Tables & Sofas Washing Machines Commercial Cleaning Equip Vehicles Fitness Equip Office Equip Spa Equip Beauty Therapy Equip Machinery Old Spa Country Laundry – 39 East St Daylesford Saturday 5th Dec Starting at 11am Sharp Viewing Thursday 3rd December 11am – 4pm On Site 0419 700 002

10 News

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Up, up and away in my beautiful balloon

Words: Kevin Childs | Photos: Contributed and Ben Ananantavara

S

O THIS is what a magic carpet, if it ever existed, would be like. With a smoothness that seems hard to believe we rise slowly as if on an airborne escalator, and ascend to a sound track of a rooster’s alarm clock and other birds’ dawn chorus.

Our hot air balloon is soon above Hepburn as up and up we go, heading towards the vast ceiling of blue that is the sky.

As one who has in, a foolhardy moment followed by panic, bungy-jumped to dip hair into an icy New Zealand river, just missed a head-on when a landing plane found a large one lined up to take off in England, experienced several burst tyres when landing at Bangkok airport and tolerated a jaded helicopter pilot enlivening a jaunt by going under a waterfall in PNG, this flight has a special place for serenity. Bliss.

The flights are new to the district, having expanded from the Yarra Valley and Melbourne. And the notoriously fickle weather, especially the wind, means they cannot be guaranteed. Our first attempt was called off because of swirling gusts.

A few days later conditions seem perfect. At 5.45am pilot Simon Beare, pictured below right, arrives from his Blampied home, where he has been on the phone to the Bureau of Meteorology’s aircraft flight experts, whose forecast turns out to be spot on.

Simon’s been aloft over Daylesford many times in the past 10 years and, gratifyingly, is the personification of confidence. With him is his partner, artist Krysteena Seville, whose paintings of scenes from flights are at the Convent Gallery. She’s also the “chaser” in radio contact with Simon as the balloon meanders over the countryside directed by the wind until she spots it before it lands and has to be packed away.

But now we are off to Jubilee Lake to try for a take-off to fly over Daylesford. First, though, Simon must inflate and release a black helium balloon because the wind behaves differently at varying altitudes. The balloon may be going in one direction, while down below, smoke from household fires goes the other way.

As the balloon becomes a dot the news is not good.

So it’s back into the four-wheel-drive, with its trailer loaded with the charming wicker basket in which we are to fly, and the rest of the balloon, and across town to Hepburn. There, in a space behind the oval, Simon sends up a pearl white balloon to glint in the first sun.

“Yep,” he says, “good.”

The balloon is unpacked and laid out. The basket is slid off on its runners of round poles, the method the Egyptians used to get those pyramids up, says Simon.

We learn that hot air ballooning is, firstly, cold air. The chilly stuff is blasted in by a fan as Simon and Krysteena secure the top. Then Simon turns on the LPG and we shelter behind the fireproof material as the flames roar. The inflated balloon is secured to the 4WD. Three of us hop in to share space with four gas tanks then, eerily, ghostlike, we are up, drifting at 100 metres over homes, dams, duckponds and horses, passing Elevated Plains with its stylish houses, and glancing towards Mt Franklin. Cockies squawk in a landscape made soft by early sun.

Only the occasional belch of flame interrupts the serenity. Sometimes it isanswered by the mooing of cows or barking of dogs, as Simon explains the gas burners’ sound has a pitch that gets these animals going.

Out comes Simon’s map. We are on a course towards Glenlyon. Over the Wombat State Forest we go at 150 metres into open country where the ’roos bounce. Sometimes a fox is seen.

As we glide at 24km an hour, the sun starts to heat the parachute-style fabric of the balloon, so less gas is needed. Ballooning is held early in the morning to avoid over-heating from the sun and any “whurly whurly” winds that can cause havoc.

We examine homes tucked away in the bush, some otherwise hidden by trees, as we traverse two arms of Porcupine Creek. Then Simon spins the balloon 360 degrees because he can, and points out far-off Castlemaine. Asked about birds, he says sometimes eagles will take on a balloon flying at treetop height, especially if its nest seems threatened.

We are near the Malmsbury Road when Simon spots a likely landing spot. With the gentlest of bumps we are in long grass. The predicted westerly wind worked.

Mowing the grass at Drummond Primary school, as he has done for the past 10 years, after agreeing to do it for six weeks, Richard Wyatt is startled by an orange object descending towards him out of the blue.

Once a commando who parachuted into Port Phillip Bay and for 40 years a ship’s engineer, he still has a sharp eye at 70 and soon joins us in his paddock, with a mock formal welcome. Soon we are being photographed from the road. Others, including chippies on a new house, stop to stare, photograph and wave. The Wyatts kindly invite us in for coffee or breakfast but once packed it’s time to go. As Dionne Warwick sang, “The world’s a nicer place in my beautiful balloon”.

www.tlnews.com.au

A Day in the Life 11

A Day in the Life...nurse Sarah Corfe Words: Kate Taylor | Image: Kyle Barnes

F

OR Sarah Corfe, her day job as a nurse at the Daylesford Hospital is a far cry from being part of the award-winning Project Hamrahi team helping palliative care patients in India.

But at the end of the day, it’s all about helping people.

Having been a nurse for 13 years, the past four spent at Daylesford following her work at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, travelling to India – twice – to help endof-life patients was quite the change of scenery.

“It’s about progressing palliative care in India…access to medicines such as morphine is usually not available at all, because the government has a fear that people would abuse it in terms of stealing it,” Ms Corfe said.

It’s one thing that the project, with Ms Corfe’s help as a volunteer, has had a huge impact on – lifting the ban on morphine for palliative care cancer patients.

The project, which is also run by Woodend resident and Peter MacCallum Pain and Palliative Care specialist Dr Odette Spruyt, won Palliative Care Australia’s inaugural Innovation In Palliative Care Award - and showing nurses in India how they can improve their fledgling palliative care practices is what it’s all about.

A Day in the Life...in India 9am: Getting to work in the morning is easy; the nurses are dedicated and live within the hospital grounds. As part of increasing the visibility and community awareness of palliative care, it’s interview time. Stories on Ms Corfe appear in the Bengali and Hindi newspapers, as well as one appearance on a local television program, all helping to raise the profile of end-of-life care.

10am: Going on patient rounds is, not unexpectedly, very different in an Indian hospital. Talking with the nurses about what they do and offering advice on things that they can add to their current practices is an important part of improving clinical expertise when it comes to palliative care; it’s new in India, but something Ms Corfe specialises in and passing on the knowledge gained from her experiences is vital.

11am: Still on rounds, it’s time spent dealing with patients with cancer so advanced that it’s palliative – only because India does not have the resources to pick up the diseases earlier. They don’t have access to things like pap smears, so cervical cancer gets picked up at very late stages, meaning a lot are palliative by the time they are diagnosed. People don’t know what symptoms to look out for with breast cancer or cervical cancer, and also tobacco use is very high, as people don’t understand the risks of lung cancer, and by the time it is diagnosed it is often too late.

12pm: It’s one surprise after another. India is a lot cleaner than some may anticipate, but some practices are a bit left-field; for example, it’s normal for family members to do personal care of patients. And while it’s their recommended practice, helping out a patient is still a nurse’s duty when no family members are available.

3pm: Attending conferences is also part of living and working in India; and there are a lot of medical developments coming out of the country. It’s home to the most up-to-date research into using honey on wounds – there are some very exciting things coming out of India in terms of nursing.

“It’s about progressing palliative care in India…access to medicines such as morphine is usually not available at all, because the government has a fear that people would abuse it in terms of stealing it.”

A Day in the Life is an occasional series by journalist Kate Taylor.

12 News

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Letters...

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Email news@tlnews.com.au

Y HUSBAND and I visited your region to participate in a family working bee on the Enders Bridge at Trentham.

We are keen walkers and members of Landcare and we took the opportunity to do some bush walking around the area.

We were dismayed at the extent of blackberry infestation almost everywhere, something that would not be tolerated at home in Gippsland.

On bush tracks we saw remnant ferns and native bush almost completely inundated with the accursed blackberries. To us it was a nightmare to see.

At the end of our weekend we happened to read the article in The Local on “Liz sees progress with council’s war on weeds” (November 9, 2015). I could hardly believe what I was reading.

It is nonsense to suggest that shade from eucalypts will shade out blackberries. Rather blackberries will smother everything to the extent that native flora will cease to exist.

Our native birds do not need blackberries in which to hide. They need a rich biodiversity of native flora, including the many dense, prickly shrubs that provide both food and shelter.

The fruiting blackberries encourage an imbalance in currawongs aptly termed “the wolves of the sky” who also prey on our native birds.

Soon you will begin to experience something approaching Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring”.

No one likes to spray toxic chemicals but the new blackberry sprays are selective and do not kill native grasses and I’m afraid nothing else is going to be effective on the appalling area covered by blackberries in this shire.

Congratulations to the Landcare group in Trentham who are working to combat the blackberry infestations on the Coliban River. As for us we are cutting our visit short to flee back to Gippsland where we have our blackberries under control and have a generally delightful diversity of native flora.

Good luck with the battle to control your blackberries but the longer you leave it the more impossible a task it will become.

Heather and Keith Enders Gippsland

2016 ENROLMENTS

We have some places in most levels Contact Assistant Principal Pam MacdonaldP

(03) 5421 1100

7 Epping Street, Kyneton www.kynsec.vic.gov.au Principal - Mark Ridgeway

Geelong Businessman, Mark Ward has ownership of the Mill Markets group and brings years of expertise to this amazing concept. The Mill Markets operate three massive venues located in Ballarat, Daylesford and Geelong. With a total of over 12,000 square metres of undercover floor space, (3 acres), treasure hunters have the opportunity to spend many hours browsing and meandering through the eclectic mix of products. There is a fantastic variety of home decor, furniture, records, vintage clothing, books, fine china, glassware, industrial items, jewellery, antiques as well as Australian pottery, homewares, memorabilia, retro fashions and collectables. We also have many stalls selling new products and have gift vouchers for those people who have everything!

All goods are from the 1850’s right through to present day. Mill Markets lease space to hundreds of dealers, which allows small business operators and collectors who otherwise could not afford the overheads of their own shops, to showcase their goods. This equates to a wide and diverse range of products, available and open to the public, seven days a week. Enjoy a wonderful trip down memory lane through hundreds and thousands of items available for purchase at all three locations. With over 500 stall holders over three venues, there is always something for everyone. Travel The Amazing Mill Markets ‘Golden Triangle’ and enjoy quality food and coffee at each. All venues open 7 days 10.00am-6.00pm (excluding Christmas Day).

14 Happy & Healthy

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www.healthwith jaqi.com

Integrating the Ancient Wisdom of Ayurveda and Naturopathy with Emotional Balancing Techniques and Bioenergetics to cleanse the body, calm the mind, heal the heart and nourish the soul.

Creating balance between the body, heart, mind and soul through the senses.

Catherine Laurent Holistic Health Practitioner BHSc Naturopathy, certified Ayurvedic Diet and Lifestyle Consultant

Shamanic Healing Healing is within Us Intuitive Counselling Illuminations Soul Retrieval Extractions Readings

Trentham 0418 364 497 www.indriya.com.au

Jaqi Mudge 0423 499 901

Aframe_bird_draft2.indd 1

8/2/13 1:12:03 AM

elax, dream and feel great

THE COTTAGE HERBALIST Caroline Parker BHSc Western Herbal Medicine

xperience . . . Day Spa

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39 High Street, Kyneton Phone (03) 5422 3795 ellenis.com.au

• Herbal Medicine • Bush Flower Essences • Diet & Lifestyle Advice • Wellness Programs • Hand Blended Organic Teas and Tisanes 0402 366 242 thecottageherbalist.com.au thecottageherbalist@gmail.com ANTA member 12687

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Cars and Coffee

C

ARS and Coffee is happening again at Lake Daylesford on Sunday, December 6 from 8am to 11am.

But in 2016, the successful Daylesford Hospital fundraiser held on the first Sunday of the month, will move to Lake Jubilee with a new start time of 10am, finishing at 1pm.

Organiser Peter Olver said the events in October and November had already raised $1600 for the hospital.

Mr Olver said vehicles for the events came from far and wide including Melbourne, Castlemaine, Ballarat and Geelong – as well as plenty from the local region.

“We welcome anyone with an ‘interesting’ vehicle to come along – from cars and trucks, to motorbikes and anything in between.”

Vehicle owners are asked for a gold coin donation and visitors are welcome to donate as well. There are also raffles, a silent auction and trivia competitions to take part in.

Details: Mr Olver on 0400 482 427.

Happy & Healthy 15

White Ribbon Day

C

OBAW Community Health Services is supporting White Ribbon Day - Australia’s campaign to stop violence against women.

On Wednesday, November 25, Cobaw staff members will distribute White Ribbon posters to businesses in the Macedon Ranges and invite business owners, managers and staff to take the oath of standing up, speaking out and acting to prevent violence against women.

Cobaw will also display White Ribbon stickers on cars stating “Shouldn’t everyone have a safe place to go home to? – Prevent Violence Against Women”.

Globally, White Ribbon is the world’s largest male-led movement to end men’s violence against women. White Ribbon Australia annually observes November 25 as the International Day of the Elimination of Violence Against Women, also known as White Ribbon Day. It signals the start of 16 days of activism ending on December 10, Human Rights Day. According to the 2013 World Health Organisation report, intimate partner violence is the most common type of violence against women, affecting 30 per cent of women worldwide.

In Australia over 12 months, on average one woman is killed every week as a result of intimate partner violence. One in three women has experienced physical and/or sexual violence perpetrated by someone known to them.

If anyone is affected by or witnesses violence in their home, workplace, school or community and is seeking support contact Cobaw on 5421 1666 for information on support services.

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11 howe street, daylesford 03 5348 1099 massage@massagehealing.com.au www.massagehealing.com.au

16 Advertorial

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Old building back to life with new businesses

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ou may have noticed the rebirth of one of Kyneton’s favourite historical buildings this week. Fondly referred to as the ‘old fruit shop’, 59 Mollison Street has sat empty for many years. This week has seen the old building come back to life with new businesses opening the doors.

The front of the shop is now home to Illuminate Yoga Studio which has relocated from another of Kyneton’s beautiful old buildings: the old mill in Piper Street. The new studio boasts a beautiful 90 square metres of natural light-filled space, 18-foot ceilings and a lovely contemporary feel.

“Our previous location at The Mill had really low ceilings – it was literally in the roof space so people were constantly banging their heads on the ceiling. It was a lovely intimate space, but it was time for Illuminate to grow and when we found this building we felt an instant ‘cosmic yes’” says Illuminate Yoga Studio and building co-owner Milly Dabrowski.

Illuminate Yoga Studio prides itself on a welcoming atmosphere that is inclusive of all ages, abilities and experience. “We love the idea that you don’t need to be good at yoga for yoga to be good for you. People have this idea that you already need to be flexible to enjoy the benefits of yoga. We don’t think of yoga as something that is only for flexible people – there is so much more to it than that - peace of mind, relaxation, health, wellbeing – yoga is for the willing!”

In a unique turn of events, Milly and her husband Brad Sadler have purchased the old building in partnership with the ex-owner of the yoga studio and local Psychiatrist, Dr Fiona Cairns. This is where the back of the building has found its new life with three consulting rooms housing a range of health practitioners. Dr Cairns has moved her practice in and is joined by Milly practicing acupuncture, Isabel Mettler (Osteopath), Maddison Sharman (Massage Therapist) and counsellors Helen Swinburne and Suzie Kilby.

“We’ve created a little hub of health and wellbeing that we hope will serve the community and feel like a safe and inviting place for people to achieve wellness, find support, experience the many benefits of yoga and connect with community,” says Dr Cairns.

The Macedon Ranges community will be welcomed into the building during an open day/ launch party to be held on Friday, December 4. Tour the building, sample a ‘come and try’ yoga class and stick around for a drink and snacks from 5pm. For more information about our open day, see www.illuminateyogastudio.com.au. And for more information about leasing rooms at 59 Mollison Street, contact Brad Sadler at info@illuminateyogastudio.com.au.

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

9.30 – 10.30am GENTLE YOGA Simone

9.30 – 11am HATHA YOGA Jo

9.30 – 11am SLOW FLOW YOGA Lucy

9.30 – 11am VINYASA FLOW Renata

9.30 – 11am RESTORE YOGA Simone

7.30 – 9am LEVEL 1 Milly

9 – 11am MINDBODY REBALANCE YOGA Tracey

11.30 – 12.30pm MUMS & BUBS YOGA 6 WEEK COURSE Lucy

11.30 – 1pm PRE NATAL Nina

NEW TIME 11am – 12.15pm YIN YOGA Melissa

9.30 – 11am IYENGAR YOGA Lee

2 – 3pm COMMUNITY YOGA Milly 4 – 4.45pm LITTLE YOGIS Jo 5.30 – 6.45pm LEVEL 1 Milly 7 – 8:30pm HATHA YOGA Simone

11.30 – 1pm PRE NATAL Nina

4 – 4.45pm LITTLE YOGIS Jo 5.45 – 7pm HATHA YOGA Jo

4.30 – 5.45pm SLOW FLOW YOGA Lucy

5.45 – 7pm VINYASA FLOW Renata

7.30 – 9pm 7.30 – 8.45pm BEGINNERS YOGA BACK TO BASICS 10 WEEK COURSE Lucy Lee

5.45 – 7.15pm YIN YOGA Brad 7.30 – 8.30pm GUIDED MEDITATION Brad

info@illuminateyogastudio.com.au illuminateyogastudio com Telephone: 0438 010 199

We will start seeings patients from 4th of May & phone bookings accepted from 27th April.

Servicing CHILDREN, TEENAGERS, ADULTS and SENIORS All aspects of general dentistry

BLEACHING

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6 MONTH ORTHODONTICS

We accept and BULK BILL vouchers from public hospital dental clinic (VEDS & VGDS) and the Medicare childhood dental benefits schedule (CDBS).

16 Albert St, Daylesford For bookings phone: 5348 2939

VR2124364

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• Child Dentistry • Cosmetic dentistry • Prompt Emergency Care • Snoring/Sleep Apnoea Appliances • Orthodontics (braces) • Dentures

www.springsfamilydental.com.au

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Inspiring 17

Joel’s run raises $30k for cancer research Words: Dan Lonergan | Image: David White

J

UST over a month ago, The Local featured inspirational young man Joel Bertoncini.

He was in the middle of training to run the 888.8 kilometres from Kyneton to Sydney to raise money to continue the never ending campaign of finding a cure for cancer.

It was in memory of his best friend’s father, Peter Connor, who he called Big Pete.

The project was themed “Doing it for Big Pete”. Joel described him as his second father.

Joel is now back to tell the tale of his gruelling journey. His body is a little bit worse for wear thanks mainly to blisters which he had never experienced before, despite his heavy training schedule. They happened on the second day.

“I wasn’t warned about the blisters despite the training, but it seemed to have plenty to do with the socks being too hot. I actually lost five toenails due to those blisters.”

Joel says the ongoing massages were a godsend. “I had at least one every day after that and that kept me going.”

Support from the public also helped, as he passed through myriad towns on his long trek.

One of the highlights was arriving at Gundagai and meeting one of the business owners at the Dog on the Tuckerbox. “He was a game changer as he had survived cancer and really inspired me for the rest of the trip.”

Joel said people everywhere just kept pushing him with basketballer Michelle Fletcher and runner Damien Hughes running a large portion of that last day from Broadford to Kyneton.

Then there was his best mate, little Pete Connor, whose father’s death was the reason Joel elected to do what most would describe as crazy.

Joel believes their bond increased, especially towards the end when another 10 runners including myself dropped off coming into town at Kyneton after all running together from Carlsruhe.

CELEBRATE ART! 30 ACCLAIMED AND EMERGING LOCAL ARTISTS SHOWCASING SMALL AND AFFORDABLE WORKS CATHERINE ABEL • HANNAH-ROSE AYERST • DAVID BRYANT DANIEL BUTTERWORTH • MATTHEW BUTTERWORTH PETER BUTTERWORTH • HELEN COTTLE • DI DONELAN FLYNN SILVER • LARISSA GRAY • MATTHEW HARDING FRANCES HARKIN • HELGA HART • ANNEKE HOEKSTRA MAX IRVINE • HENRY JOHNSON • TINA LEE • DIANNE LONGLEY LOUISE OTTEN • CHRIS ROWE • MICHAEL RYAN KEVIN SMITH • NOLAN TYRRELL • ANTHONY VANDERZWEEP DEE WATERHOUSE • LINDA WHEELER • JULIAN WIGLEY ROSE WILSON • RUBY WILSON PEIRCE PETER YOUNG

“Yapper (little Pete) and I ran the rest of the way together to St Paul’s Park in Piper St. I loved the end. I just wanted to soak it up.”

They were met by a huge crowd and finished the day with a well-earned beer.

“When the blisters took hold in the first few days, I was worried I wouldn’t get through it, but I am glad I did it,” Joel said.

And as a fundraiser it was successful too. At the time of writing $30,000 had been raised for the Cancer Council of Victoria.

Despite running almost 2000 kilometres with the run and training leading up to it, Joel says he would love to do a run every year.

But it’s good news for his weary body.

“I don’t need to do one like that every year!”

WHAT IS HAPPENING AT ELLENDER ESTATE LUNCH WITH CHEF MICHAEL DE JONG SUNDAY NOVEMBER 29 AT 12.30 PM $75.00 PER PERSON INCLUDES GLASS OF “ELLENDER” SPARKLING ON ARRIVAL BOOKINGS RING JENNY ON 5348 7785 NEEDLEWORK SALE THURSDAY DECEMBER 3 AT 11AM - 3 PM GARAGE SALE

JOIN US OPENING NIGHT • FRIDAY 4 DECEMBER • 5.30 PM

SATURDAY DECEMBER 5 FROM 11AM- 4PM Household items, books, clothes and wine sales

4 DECEMBER to 4 JANUARY

2016 WATCH THIS SPACE!

FRIDAY TO SUNDAY 10 AM TO 4 PM (OR BY APPOINTMENT) 32 HIGH STREET, TRENTHAM VIC 3458 • ENQUIRIES 0439 984 314

18 News

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Around the traps in Hepburn Shire...

Lest We Forget Daylesford had a big turn-out for its 2015 Remembrance Day Service with guest speaker former Hepburn Shire mayor Cr Kate Redwood. For more photos go to The Local’s Facebook page.

Happy worms FREE workshops on the most effective ways to create nutritious compost and maintain happy, healthy and well fed worms will be held by Hepburn Shire Council in partnership with the Neighbourhood Centre network.

The workshops will be held at Trentham Neighbourhood Centre on Thursday, November 26 at 1.30pm (5424 1354) and Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre on Thursday, December 3 at 10am (5348 3569).

Contact the neighbourhood centres for details.

New mayor for Hepburn Shire

CAMERON Ward councillor Neil Newitt is the latest mayor of Hepburn Shire Council.

Birch ward councillor Pierre Niclas was elected deputy mayor.

Cr Newitt is a photographer with more than 30 years’ experience working with newspapers including The Age. He now runs a gallery and wine bar in Fraser Street, Clunes.

Open day

DAYLESFORD Transfer Station will hold an open day on Saturday, November 28 from 10am to 2pm.

There will be a free barbeque, free e-waste disposal and free mulch. Green waste is also free during November. The new name, Waste Transformation Station, will be launched with displays and information, and face painting for the kids.

Standing up for the Hepburn Community

START NOW OR ENROL FOR 2016

P: (03) 5338 8123 F: (03) 5333 7710

“MOVEMBER” AT THE FARMERS ARMS...

The tradition continues!

FRIDAY NIGHT MEAT TRAY RAFFLE NOVEMBER 27 IN THE FRONT BAR. All proceeds to the Movember Foundation for research into men’s health issues.

THE BIG SHAVE-OFF FEATURING THIS YEAR’S POSTER BOY RODNEY PEACOCK FROM 6PM, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27. $25,000 RAISED IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS - AIMING FOR $10,000 THIS YEAR! ‘MOVEMBER’ RAFFLE AT THE FARMERS ARMS 1ST PRIZE..Chauffeur driven pick-up from your home in a classic Rolls Royce with red carpet entry and champagne during the trip.. PLUS dinner for two to the value of $150 at the Farmers Arms Hotel PLUS.. a night's accomodation at a Daylesford Escapes property...PLUS chauffeured home the next day.

Value...Priceless 2. LEGENDS PRIZE..Spa Meats Monster Meat Tray... to be auctioned on the night.

3. ICONIC PRIZE..Bar girl Megan’s framed head band!!

4. Magnum of French Champagne. Value...$500 5. Mercato Restaurant Dinner Voucher. Value...$100 6. Debbie Moses Scented Candle. Value...$75 7. Natures Wheel One Hour Massage. Value...$85 8. Istra Smallgoods Food Hamper Voucher. Value...$200 9. The Local’s Basket of Books. Value...Value...$500 10. Tonna’s Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Voucher. Value...$100 11. One Metre of Sugargum Firewood. Value...$120 12. Sandy Breen Original Artwork. Value...$500 13. Summerfield Wines - Six of the best Reds. Value...$250

THU RS NIG DAY NI HT I GH From N NOV T IS MO EM 6 Nove mber pm to 7p BER! m on free t 2 rimm 6 in the front ing, colou sculpting bar, and ring.

+ TICKETS - $5 EACH + All prizes to be collected at the Farmers Arms Daylesford + Raffle drawn in the Front Bar at the Farmers on Friday 27 November after the Shave-Off.

FARMERS ARMS HOTEL - 1 EAST ST DAYLESFORD

20 News

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Around the traps in Macedon Ranges Shire Business networking

BUSINESSES can celebrate the successes of 2015 and find out what’s planned for next year at the annual social business networking night on Monday, November 30 in Kyneton.

The 2016 Business Seminars, Networking & Training Program will also be launched on the night. The event will be held at Piper Street Food Company.

Bookings are essential. Register online at www.mrsc.vic.gov.au/business-events or 5421 9616.

Council joins WHO network MACEDON Ranges Shire Council has become a member of the World Health Organisation’s Global Network of Age Friendly Cities and Communities.

Cr John Connor said the membership supported and strengthened the council’s commitment to creating an age-friendly community. “By creating an age-friendly community we can plan and implement strategies that will support our community as it grows older.” Link: www.mrsc.vic.gov.au

Free Xmas lunch at Kyneton A FREE Christmas Day lunch will be held at the Kyneton Town Hall from 11.30am to 2pm hosted by Cobaw Community Health and Macedon Ranges Shire Council.

Transport is available and Santa will visit. The council is looking for Christmas Day Lunch Ambassadors to make guests feel welcome. Bookings are preferred and the event is alcohol-free. Bookings: 1300 888 802 or kthtickets@mrsc.vic.gov.au To

From left, Kyneton Primary School principal Alistair Rayner, students Kaitlyn register as a Christmas Lunch Ambassador contact Steph Harper on 5422 0258.

Foreshaw, and Isaac Morris-Perrott and Michael Gretton were among those at the 2015 Remembrance Day at Kyneton

Graham Hackett new mayor EAST Ward Councillor Graham Hackett has been elected as the new mayor of the Macedon Ranges Shire. Cr John Connor, from the West Ward, will serve as deputy mayor.

noy

l e g a l CONVEYANCING BUSINESS SALES and LEASING WILLS and ESTATES COMMERCIAL AGREEMENTS 202 / 370 St Kilda Rd, MELBOURNE 19 High St, KYNETON 40a Victoria St, MACEDON (by appointment)

Phone

5426 3500 or 5422 1615 Info@noy.com.au

www.noy.com.au

Call the team at Peter Stevens Motorworld on 5336 8777 for deals too good to print.

Or visit us at www.psm.net.au Or 615 Creswick Rd, Ballarat.

Jeep is a registered trademark of FCA US LLC. DACM0279.

Jeep is a registered trademark of FCA US LLC. DACM0279.

22 Crossword

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Stony Creek Gallery Presents A “World Music Concert� with Vinod Prasanna (Bansuri flute) & Gerard Mapstone ( Guitar)

Date: Saturday, December 5th Time: 5.30pm - 7.30pm Address: 10 Stony Creek Rd, Daylesford Price: $30 pp (complimentary glass of bubbly on entry) Buy your tickets either at Stony Creek Gallery, Michael Parker Gallery or phone 5348 1884 or go on line http://www.trybooking.com/JQGW

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150th Anniversary St Andrew’s Uniting Church Trentham

St Andrew’s Uniting Church, and its antecedent churches, commemorate 150 years of continuous worship in Trentham this year. A celebration is being organised and details are as follows: Sunday, November 29 2015 2pm Service of Celebration Guest Speaker – Dan Wootton, Uniting Church Moderator Afternoon Tea & Gathering ALL WELCOME Contact: Rev Jenny Hayes, phone 0428215291

News 23

INTEREST RATES! TAX REFORM? A LOOMING GST INCREASE? THE RISK OF RECESSION! CONSUMER/RETAIL CONFIDENCE – CAN WE RELY ON IT?

Kyneton Shoes 23 High Street, Kyneton 5422 2090

Spring racing shoes in stock now!

Summer stock also arriving.

The economics of financial markets - what to expect in 2015/2016 and the likely effect on YOUR business.

How does one sustain a small business & remain innovative whilst juggling these sorts of issues & the demands of new regulations & new technologies?

David Robertson, Head of Financial Markets for Bendigo & Adelaide Bank, draws a link between market conditions & what it really means to be a small/micro business.

The evening will include opportunities for Q&A and will be MC’d by Alla Wolf Tasker AM, Culinary Director & co-proprietor of Lake House.

Space is limited. Seats are ticketed. Limit of 2 seats per business.

A glass of local wine is included in the entry price.

Also - Gisborne Shoes 32a Aitken Street, Gisborne 5428 1797

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Gift Certificates GHD Irons, Dryers & Brushes Matrix Hair Products

48 High Street Kyneton 0413 489 712 & (03) 5422 1200 Studio48hairandbeauty@gmail.com

Nico van Dalen Fine Art Studio For appointments please call 03 5348 3150 email: vandalen@mmnet.com.au Commissions taken

“EQUAL RIGHTS NOW!” Learning to Thrive Engaged in the World

Senior School Information Evening Enrolments 2017 and 2018 Monday 7 December 7.30pm Wendouree Performing Arts Centre, Howitt Street Wendouree.

Phone 5338 0830 www.bgs.vic.edu.au

BALLARAT AND QUEEN’S ANGLICAN GRAMMAR SCHOOL

201 Forest Street, Wendouree Victoria 3355 Australia p 03 5338 0700

www.bgs.vic.edu.au

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Markets 25

To market, to market...

Y

OU can find everything you need at weekend markets, from fresh fruit and veg, to handmade jewellery and wares, throughout the Central Highlands and surrounds. Here are just a few.

Daylesford Railway Market – every Sunday Wesley Hill Market - every Saturday Daylesford Farmers’ Market – first Saturday Golden Plains Farmers’ Market – first Saturday Trentham Neighbourhood Centre Makers’ Market - first Saturday (pictured) Castlemaine Artists’ Market – first Sunday Kyneton Farmers’ Market - second Saturday Kyneton Rotary Community Market – second Saturday Ballan Farmers’ Market - second Saturday Maldon Market – second Sunday Clunes Farmers’ Market - second Sunday Trentham Farmers’ Market and Makers’ Market – third Saturday Glenlyon Farmers’ Market – third Saturday Creswick Market – third Saturday Leonards Hill Market - third Saturday Talbot Farmers’ Market – third Sunday Woodend Lions Market - third Sunday Buninyong Village Market – fourth Sunday Trentham Station Sunday Market - fourth Sunday

Do you have a market happening? Wanted it listed here?

Email donna@tlnews.com.au

The Trentham Farmers Market has joined with Trentham Makers Market

Third Saturday, 9am - 1pm

TRENTHAM PETROL & STUFF

1 Market St PH 5424 1611 Mon - Sat 8am - 6pm Sun 9am - 6pm

Petrol, oils, swap & go gas, firewood permits, farm produce / produce store, ice, milk, soft drinks, take-away pies, coffee, confectionery, local honey etc. rusty junk, secondhand books, old wares

TRENTHAM STATION SUNDAY MARKET Victoria Street, Trentham On the fourth Sunday of each month 8.30am - 2.30pm Enquiries/Bookings – Kaye / Leigh 54241466 or Ross 54241509 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!

Are you looking to get into

business for yourself?

Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses, one of Australia’s oldest baking families is looking to join the Daylesford community. If you are a local dreaming of opening a bakery café business then please get in touch with Fiona at fiona@fergusonplarre.com.au We are also seeking local suppliers and energetic staff.

So if you are a builder, shopfitter, milk supplier or super–smiley shop retailer then we want to speak to you! Get in touch with Fiona at fiona@fergusonplarre.com.au

Financial support available through our accredited Westpac, NAB and Silverchef partners

Tuesday 24 November 10am Southpaw (MA15+) 6pm Miss You Already (M) Friday 27 November 5:30pm Legend (MA15+) 8pm The Dressmaker (M) Saturday 28 November 3pm Legend (MA15+) 5:30pm The Dressmaker (M) 8pm Southpaw (MA15+) Sunday 29 November 1pm Southpaw (MA15+) 3:30pm Legend (MA15+) 6pm The Dressmaker (M) Tuesday 1 December 10am The Dressmaker (M) 6pm Southpaw (MA15+)

www.daylesfordcinema.org.au Friday 4 December 2:30pm Spectre (M) 5:30pm The Dressmaker (M) 8pm Spectre (M) Saturday 5 December 2pm Spectre (M) 5pm Spectre (M) 8pm The Dressmaker (M) Sunday 6 December 12:30pm Spectre (M) 3:30pm The Dressmaker (M) 6pm Spectre (M) Tuesday 8 December 10am Spectre (M) 3pm Spectre (M) 6pm The Dressmaker (M) Friday 11 December 5pm Spectre (M) 8pm The Martian (M)

Open Caption Selected Sessions

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News 27

The roulette dealer whose number came up Words: Kevin Childs | Images: The phone

A

MYSTERIOUS hut in the bush. A mobile phone that is virtually a family photo album lost in the vastness of the Wombat State Forest. A discovery, followed by amateur detective work. And joy.

Our story begins when a couple set off in their 4WD on a trip of about 100 km to try to find a hut they read about online. Bush-bashing fans have been going there for years apparently, sometimes driving at night to celebrate Australia Day at the hut.

On a Sunday in April, Emma Lancaster, her partner Jason Rice, a diesel mechanic, and their infant son Vincent set off from Wyndham Vale near Werribee in search of the elusive hut.

“We kept going around in circles,” says 27-year-old Emma, a roulette dealer at Crown Casino. “We stopped when we didn’t find the hut.”

They let their four-year-old American bulldog Mack out of their modified Toyota Triton. Jason put the phone either on the car roof or a tyre.

“We forgot about it and drove to the end of the road and realised the phone was gone.”

Back they went to fruitlessly search the scrub.

Then they pushed on to Le Franchi’s, a rare heritage-listed gold era pise (rammed earth) hut off Basalt Road, Shepherds Flat.

They had given up on the phone and with it photos of son Vincent, now 20 months, since infancy, and shots of Mack when a pup.

Enter Hepburn resident Richard Butler about five months later.

“I was out gathering wood and went to a designated legally approved place, where I found a phone in the long grass.

“It seemed to have been there most of the winter. It was wet and when I picked it up water dripped from inside and the screen was broken.”

But within was a compact storage card which he loaded into his phone to see if there was anything identifiable.

“I found many young family photos showing a beautiful baby and a loyal dog. One photo was of a Medicare card with a name on it. When I got home I searched Facebook for the name, but there were many, many Facebook pages in the woman’s name, so I spent about half a day trawling through the names.”

Finally he found photos on a Facebook page which matched those on the compact storage card.

Through Facebook he sent Emma a message. Being busy and not a heavy Facebook user it took her about a month to reply.

So there the happy story ends. Except for one twist: why was Emma’s Medicare card in a picture?

The answer would ring a bell with many families. Jason took son Vincent to the doctor. He needed their Medicare card, which Emma photographed, texted and did not delete.

Now Richard is returning the phone to the family. Besides the baby and pet photos it contains a record of Jason’s life in Australia since moving here from New Zealand four and a half years ago.

The hut’s worth visiting, says Emma, although it is dilapidated and there was a mattress in it, but you don’t even need a 4WD.

28 Nom Nom Nom

www.tlnews.com.au

An Authentic Indian Experience in the Heart of Daylesford

New creative menu has arrived with exciting prices and items.

Our new banquet menu starts from $28 per person.

For functions and parties we can create special menus according to customer budget.

Lots of choices available for customers with Vegan, Gluten and Dairy Free requirements.

Take Away & Delivery available.

BYO

Summertime.

Let’s play outside.

We have the largest balcony and the biggest beer garden in town so you can enjoy our fantastic meals and summery cold drinks enjoying the outdoors either overlooking the town or under the shade of big trees in our huge private beer garden.

With a new team in the kitchen, a great new menu and refurbished pub-style accommodation, we’ve got Summer covered.

LUNCH FRIDAY-MONDAY FROM NOON. DINNER SEVEN NIGHTS. (OPEN 7 DAYS FROM NOON DURING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS) EVERY THURSDAY IS OUR FAMOUS $20 STEAK NIGHT FROM 5:30PM.

BOOK HOTEL ROOMS ONLINE. FOR FUNCTIONS OR ENQUIRIES OR CALL US ON 03 5348 2335

DAYLESFORDHOTEL.COM.AU

www.tlnews.com.au

Nom Nom Nom 29

Peerless wine and food pairing at Passing Clouds Words: Nick Bunning | Photos: Contributed

W

AY back in 1973, electrical contractor Graeme Leith and his thenpartner Sue threw caution to the wind and pursued their dream of making the best wine in the world. They established Passing Clouds vineyard at Kingower, near Bendigo, planting shiraz and cabernet sauvignon vines on old gold diggings. Perseverance and hard work paid off, with their wines garnering widespread acclaim and numerous awards ever since.

Graeme branched out and established a second vineyard at Musk in 1998, where the high altitude and cold climate was ideal for pinot noir and chardonnay grapes.

Around 2010 the decision was made to move both the winemaking and cellar door to Musk.

Nowadays it’s a second-generation family wine company, with Graeme’s older son Cameron as owner/winemaker and younger son Jesse at the helm of their great new eatery.

Lindsay and I visited on a glorious spring day, and we were greeted by cellar door manager Hugh Burton, who explained that Musk’s cold climate and 770 metre altitude imbues their grapes with complex flavour profiles and appealing acidity. With around eight different wines to choose from, we started off our tasting with a 2015 unwooded chardonnay from their ‘Fools On The Hill’ vineyard - crisp and delicious, with appealing citrus flavours.

Next was a 2014 pinot noir - a luscious drop featuring cherry, cinnamon and raspberry flavours. We followed this with the 2013 pinot noir. Rightly acclaimed as one of the best pinots from the Macedon Ranges, it features rose petal and forest floor flavours, with a gentle acidity.

Time to proceed up a few steps to the recently-opened eatery. In response to numerous requests, it’s an extension to the cellar door for visitors wanting to match the wines to great, rustic food. “Come and eat the food we like to eat,” says Jesse.

A light-filled, airy space adjacent to the working winery, it features a deck area and a fantastic outlook across the dam and up to the vineyard.

Chef duties are shared between Cameron McKenzie (ex-Darmagi) and David Willcocks (ex-Argus). These guys know their stuff. Most of the produce is sourced locally, with fresh veggies and herbs coming straight from Passing Clouds’ own springfed kitchen garden. The constantly-evolving blackboard menu is divided into sections for charcuterie, charcoal roasted local meats (vegetarians are catered for too), cheeses/ pate and a couple of dessert options.

To begin, we ordered the Prosciutto di Parma ($14) and the Istra Bresaola ($15).

Both were finely hand-sliced and bursting with flavour, accompanied by pickled carrot and cauliflower from the kitchen garden, and Stella’s sourdough bread. Mmmmmm…but wait, there’s more. We also sampled chef Cameron’s own ‘Max & Delilah’ chicken liver pate ($12.50), with pickled radishes and sourdough. A taste sensation not to be missed.

On Jesse’s recommendation, we ordered Beef Girello ($30 per person) for our main meal. The presentation was fabulous, with grated horseradish, broad beans, asparagus, artichokes and shallots (all from their kitchen garden) heirloom carrots and fresh garden salad. The visual appeal was easily matched by the various taste sensations. There’s nothing quite like fresh, home-grown flavours to send your tastebuds into overdrive…

All wines are available by the glass ($8 to $12), beer and soft drinks are available, and table water is from their own mineral spring. We both opted for a glass of that amazing 2013 pinot noir ($12) - it was quite a buzz drinking wine made on the premises from grapes grown in the vineyard we looked out on, while enjoying tasty, locally-grown/sourced food.

Although we were extremely satisfied, we thought perhaps we’d push the boat out and share a dessert. The grilled nectarine with hazelnuts and yoghurt ($10) looked sensational and provided a delicious note to wind up on.

Photos on opposite page

Establish ed i n 1 9 7 4

Cellar Door open 7 days 10am-5pm 30 roddas lane, Musk phone (03) 5348 5550

office@passingclouds.com.au

Now serviNg fooD friDay to MoNDay

www.passingclouds.com.au follow us...

30 Dining

OSABAH

en Op ery Ev y Da

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COOL-ROOM FOR HIRE Perfect for party or butchery, featuring fully equipped shelves and rails.

Available for delivery Daylesford and district.

Phone: 0417 734 206.

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Lunch - Friday to Sunday - 12 noon until 3 pm Dinner - Thursday to Tuesday - 6 pm until late Locals’Night - Monday Night

MERCATO @ daylesford

32 Raglan Street Daylesford 03 5348 4488 www.mercatorestaurant.com.au

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Sport 31

Hepburn Springs Golf Club

A

LMOST 50 women lined up to play 4BBB Par sponsored by Daylesford Day Spa on November 2.

The Golden Putter winners were Glenda Rozen, pictured far left, and Vicki Horrigan, right, +11. Runners-up were Jan Thompson and Joy Nunn +10. Nearest the pin went to 2nd - Bev Smith, 8th - Trina Jones (Ballarat ), 11th - Jenny May and 17th - Jan Livingston ( Ballarat ).

The women played the November Monthly Medal and Norma Pilmore Memorial Event on November 4. Winner of A Grade was Rose Mobbs 63. Winner of B Grade was Shirlene Nevill 63.

Winner of C Grade and medal and trophy was Pam Hicks 61. NTP went to Rose Mobbs. Men’s summer golf started on November 1. Best score of the day was Lindsay Priest with 38 points on a countback from Mick Yanner. Paul Langdon got the NAGA and made it into the test team. NTP on the 2nd was Lindsay Olver, 11th was Lindsay Priest. The summer golf played on November 8 was won by Tom Pedretti with 75-10-65. Paul Langdon got the NAGA again, while Terry Olver made it into the test team. NTP on the 8th was Shane Nevill, 11th was Mick Yanner. The men played for the November Monthly Medal on November 7. Winner of A grade was Ian Rodgers 75-10-65. Winner of B grade and the medal was Jon Barrell 77-13-64. NTP on the 13th was Kevin Gilchrist. Shane Richardson got the birdie hole.

The women played the Medal of Medallist Stroke on November 11. Winner of A Grade was Julie Azzopardi 65. Winner of B Grade and Medal of Medallists was Wendy Wetzel 67. NTP was Ann Bull. The men’s 13 hole competition played on November 12 was won by Andrew Bruno with 32 points. NTP on the 11th was Stan Collins. The mixed doubles (American) championship, sponsored

by Ann and Noel Bull, was played on November 14. Winners of the handicap event were Gaye and Ian Rodgers with 60 ½ .Runners-up were Julie and Andrew Guiney with Julie scoring a hole-in-one on the 11th. Winners of the scratch event were Bev Smith and Charlie Robertson with 70. NTPs were John Evans 2nd, Irene Frith 8th, Julie Guiney 11th. The summer golfers played par on November 15.

Best score of the day was Shane Nevill with +5. The Pedrettis made it a family affair with Peter Pedretti making it into the test team and Tom Pedretti taking out the NAGA. Meanwhile, away from Hepburn, Shirley Rodda played in the State Final of the Silver Spoon at Kew Golf Club and Mary Davis, Pam Hicks, Andrea Holmes and Bev Smith came 3rd at Gisborne Golf Club in a 4-person ambrose competing against men’s, women’s and mixed teams.

Mary and Bev teamed with Julie Azzopardi and Julie Higgs to come 3rd in the Ballarat District Seniors 4-person 4-Ball event with an equal top score of 49 points.

6:00

What’s Happening at the Kyneton Bowling Club Morning Melodies 4th

Monday of Month 10.30am.

Free Entry. Tea and Coffee provided

Muso Club 3rd Sunday of Every Month Free Entry 2pm-5pm Bingo Every Tuesday 7-9pm and Sunday 11.30-1.30pm

Kyneton Bowling Club (03) 5422 1902 Bistro reservations (03)54221744 www.kynetonbc.com.au manager@kynetonbc.com.au tonysplacerb@kynetonbc.com.au 61-79 Mollison Street Kyneton

Big Bucks Jackpots starting at $30,000 plus inhouse jackpots.

32 Music

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World music concert at Stony Creek Gallery AWARD-winning bansuri (flute) virtuoso Vinod Prasanna was born into one of India’s greatest flute-playing families.

He shines as an outstanding performer of authentic, traditional and contemporary Indian music.

Vinod’s emotive melodies, exquisite improvisations and divine flute song distinguish his performance of Indian classical, world and meditation music.

Meanwhile Gerard Mapstone, right, is one of Australia’s leading classical and flamenco guitarists.

A powerfully evocative musician and composer, he’s supported and worked with many Australian and International artists including.

Gerard’s unique style of music explores classical, flamenco, jazz and world music streams.

The pair will play a World Music Concert at Stony Creek Gallery, Daylesford on Saturday, December 5 from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. Tickets at the gallery or www.trybooking.com/JQGW

Blue Bean Love Cafe is now taking bookings for your work do’s and Christmas break-ups!

Contact via: p: 53482297 e: bluebeanlove@gmail.com |

www.daylesfordbowlingclub.com.au

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On show 33

The Art of Lids

A

RTIST and designer Morgan Williams’ latest creative project, “Plastikos – The Art of Lids”, is on display at Alfred Deakin Place, 55 Camp Street, Ballarat.

Plastikos, installed inside a shipping container, is an art work using plastic bottle caps. It will be on display until December 3.

Morgan’s passion for all things “lids” began during time spent as an artist in residence at Gunyah several years ago.

He was inspired by the beautiful natural environment and toyed curiously with introducing the antithesis of nature – plastic - into the landscape.

“The idea of introducing plastic into this beautiful natural environment was both repellent & compelling,” he said.

“I was captivated by the visual effect of slowly introducing small amounts of bright plastic into nature - one by one, like a growth, spreading forth, covering rocks and trees.”

This exhibition is Morgan’s fourth using bottle caps, and second as part of the containART series. It is inspired by the inaugural exhibition where the bottle caps began to melt due to extreme heat within the container.

Morgan found the unexpected effect so compelling that it is the basis of this current exhibition.

“I began with a genus board similar to those where butterflies are pinned, exploring the idea of transition from intact caps to those that are quite melted. What I was surprised to discover was they remain colourful and attractive even when they are melted.”

Morgan said he had many people collecting “lids” for him.

“I enjoy the dialogue this entails. They appear on my desk at work, hanging in bags off my back door, in my letter box, tied to my car. I love that other people add to my collection and in turn become participants in my work.”

At � he Local we never snooze, because if you snooze you lose!

That’s why we will not be closing down over the Christmas break, for us it is business as usual.

So if you have a special event, Christmas happening or a NYE function, make sure you get it into � he Local, for our bumper Christmas editions on December 7 and December 21.

For all our details go to page 2.

- verb | feast | fi:st | eat and drink sumptuously

6-course “feed-me” menu $75 pp, Wed-Sun Book for Christmas lunch & New Years Eve feasts! belvederesocial.com.au 82b Vincent St Daylesford 53482088

34 News

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Performance inspired

T

HE Music In The Central Highlands (MITCH) piano recital at the Trentham Primary School on November 15 was a significant event for the school. The grand piano there has been donated to MITCH and is being kept at the school to be used in its music program.

Peter Toohey, who grew up in Springbank and completed his Master in Music Performance at the University of Melbourne in 2014, gave an inspired performance of a program built around two great works from the classical period - Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata and Schubert’s Wanderer Fantasy.

His technical mastery over these grand compositions and several of the Chopin etudes was complemented by sensitive lyricism in the G flat Impromptu of Schubert, Debussy’s Claire de Lune and two delightful pieces from Michael Nyman’s score for the film The Piano. The power was never overstated, allowing the details of the music to speak directly to the audience.

The support that MITCH gives to young musicians in the district is of vital importance to the cultural wellbeing of the whole community. Peter Toohey’s recital demonstrated the great possibilities that exist for our young musicians through commitment and the right support.

Advertise your dining establishment here from just $27.50 plus GST per week!

Words: Bronislaw Sozanski

Tourism gongs

C

ENTRAL Highlands businesses have taken home silver and bronze awards at the 2015 RACV Victorian Tourism Awards.

Isabella at Kyneton won silver for Self-Contained Accommodation, and first year entrant and new business Piper St Food Co also took out silver for New Tourism Business. Creswick Woollen Mills won bronze for Cultural Tourism.

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Wining & Dining 35

Meal deals for locals...and tourists too!

E

VERYONE loves a locals’ deal. Especially a meal deal! So here are the dining establishments to head to for great value and meals.

Monday Mercato, Daylesford – main dish & a glass of local wine - $30 The Grande Hotel, Hepburn Springs – two courses and a glass of house wine, beer or bubbles - $38 Old Hepburn Hotel, Hepburn – Parma Night - $17.50

Tuesday Old Hepburn Hotel - Cheap Eats - Nothing over $20 Blackwood Hotel - Parma Night - with pot or glass of wine - $15

Wednesday Perfect Drop - five courses with a glass of bubbles or beer - $50 Daylesford Hotel, Daylesford – Pot and Parma - $20 Old Hepburn Hotel, Hepburn – Roast - $17.50 Sault, Sailors Falls – a la carte menu with glass of wine

Thursday Daylesford Hotel, Daylesford – Steak Night - $20 The Plough, Trentham – two courses - $25, three courses - $30 Source Dining, Kyneton - main course and glass of wine - $35

Friday Cosmopolitan Hotel, Trentham – two courses - $25 Bellinzona, Hepburn - Two courses and a glass of wine - $35 Blackwood Hotel - Fab 5 meals specials from $18 Daylesford RSL - Main meals from $20 with great priced wines (night)

Saturday Daylesford RSL - Main meals from $20 with great priced wines (night)

Sunday Moor Please, Hepburn - pizza + a glass of MP wine or 961 Lebanese beer - $20 Daylesford RSL - Freshly cooked traditional Sunday roast with great priced wines

Happy Hours Daylesford Bowling Club has Happy Hour ‘n’ a half, from Monday to Thursday, from 4.30pm to 6pm.

Perfect Drop, Daylesford, also has a Happy Hour, every day, from 4pm to 6pm with $12 cocktails and $1 oysters.

Raffles Fundraising raffles for local organisations are held on Friday evenings at The Farmers Arms Hotel, Daylesford, Cosmopolitan Hotel, Trentham and the Old Hepburn Hotel, Hepburn.

Want to share a locals’ deal? Email news@tlnews.com.au

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 06/12/15 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

36 Gigs

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Gig Guide Perfect Drop, Daylesford SIN Dance Night w/ DJ Clay Ravin – Monday, November 23 Buck Jr aka Nico – Friday, November 27 MacLean & McMurray – Saturday, November 28 Sam’s Birthday Bash w DJs Swami Salami and Shimmy Shake – Monday, November 30 Memphis Joe – Friday, December 4 Cartwheels – Saturday, December 5

Blackwood Hotel, Blackwood Homesick Ray - Saturday, November 28, 8.30pm Eaten by Dogs - Saturday, December 5, 8.30pm DJ Carlson - Saturday, December 12, 8.30pm

Bluebean Love Cafe, Hepburn Live music - Friday to Sunday, 5pm-7pm Blueband jam session - Mondays, 5pm (bring an instrument)

The Cosmopolitan Hotel, Trentham Family Farm - November 25, 1pm-5pm

The Grande Hotel, Hepburn Springs Love and Other Disorders - Friday, November 27, 8pm Poptastic piano bar - Friday, December 4, 8pm

Daylesford Cidery, Musk Arkie T Williams Sunday Sessions - Sunday, December 20

Want to publicise a gig? Email donna@tlnews.com.au

All gigs subject to change.

Check with the venue.

26 - 28 Albert Street Daylesford 5348 3711

www.tlnews.com.au

Wining & Dining 37

The Perfect Drop Restaurant & Wine Bar

Locals Night - Wednesdays $50 - 5 courses inc bubbles

Monday to Thursday - 4pm until late Friday to Sunday - 12pm until late

Happy Hours 4pm - 6pm Daily $12 Cocktails & $2 Oysters

Live Music in the bar on weekends. www.theperfectdrop.com 5 Howe Street, Daylesford 5348 1100

Sunday (Funday) $3.50 Pots all day

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38 News

www.tlnews.com.au THE Daylesford Community Fair was a huge hit with young and old alike - with plenty of people dressing up for the occasion. For more photos go to The Local’s Facebook page. Images: Glen Heyne

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Opinion 39

The trials and tribulations of riding V/Line If the conductor says, ‘‘the train ahead is running late’’, it really means, ‘‘I have no idea what’s wrong, we’re gonna be late’’.

However, if the conductor blames a points failure, signal fault, or police action in S MELBOURNE house prices climb beyond the ridiculous to Sunshine, St Albans or Sunbury, it means, ‘‘I have no idea but I hope you have a good ludicrous, more of my city-dwelling office-worker friends have book to read because we’re gonna be extremely late’’. expressed interest in the practicalities of moving to the country.

The point being, conductors are really just friendly passengers in uniforms, so be Foremost among their questions is the matter of commuting. nice to them.

For myself, I don’t think driving every day is viable, which pretty much leaves the The biggest problem with V/Line is it doesn’t have enough money to maintain V/Line service as my best option. So, for anyone considering the train as a means of or upgrade equipment. With unfortunate regularity your train will be late because getting to and from the city on a regular basis, here is a short guide to travelling on of track faults, signal faults, faulty trains, broken boom gates on level crossings, and V/Line. more.

The rail system is reliable, except it has some issues with weather. There are But recently some bright spark in V/Line management thought it would be a mandatory restrictions on hot days so the trains go slow, which isn’t so bad except good idea to spend a lot of money installing automated pre-recorded systems on when kangaroos bounce alongside, pointing at us and grinning, before racing away. train platforms around the state to dispense information to waiting passengers. These V/Line can also have equipment problems in the cold that affects service. And in the recordings kick in every few minutes with a cheery greeting and some suggestions wet. Plus, wind can wreak all kinds of havoc. And of course perfectly still days can be for important issues like where to stand when waiting for the train, how to board problematic. But the absolute worst is when there are electrical storms. the train, how to use the myki – helpful tips for people who’ve never used public Basically, the system simply isn’t designed to cope with weather of any kind. transport, like V/Line managers and Victorian politicians.

It is important to remember, when using V/Line, the conductor and station staff Recently the train I was sitting in, waiting to be taken home after a long day at are your friends. Also bear in mind that V/Line is operating with a communications the office, had its departure delayed by almost 30 minutes because the driver’s sidesystem that is at least a decade out of date. This means no one knows what is going view mirror was broken. on out on the rails; the conductor on your train knows about the same as you do as to The thought occurred to me, why did no one notice this faulty mirror before the what is happening on the line up ahead. train was brought in from the yard? Surely someone knew earlier in the day that a So, when you are stuck on a train that has stopped in the middle of nowhere, train was going to be needed for the 5.31 Epsom service. But more to the point, why for no apparent reason, don’t be angry with the conductor if he or she has no good does the driver need a side-view mirror? explanation for what is happening. Here are a few translations of conductor speak: And then it came to me: the driver requires a side-view mirror to allow him to If the conductor says, ‘‘we’re just waiting for a signal and we’ll be on our way’’, it keep track of those kangaroos that are overtaking the train. really means, ‘‘I have no idea what’s wrong, we’re gonna be late’’.

If the conductor says, ‘‘there’s some congestion up ahead, we should be moving Jeff Glorfeld is a journalist of many years - and is very nice to all conductors. again shortly’’, it really means, ‘‘I have no idea what’s wrong, we’re gonna be late’’.

Words: Jeff Glorfeld

A

Do you wake with back ache?

If you said yes then your mattress may be the problem. Waking with aches and pains that disappear once you have a shower often is an indication that your mattress may be past its use by date or simply no longer suitable. In fact the quality lifespan of a mattress is approximately 7 years. Mattresses are designed for comfort, back care and rejuvenating sleep. So now you are thinking maybe you need a new mattress and have some questions about purchasing the ideal mattress for you.

Purchasing a new mattress, your questions answered...

Jenny from thebedshop Ballarat answering your most frequently asked questions about purchasing a new mattress.

Q, How often should I buy a new mattress?

A. The quality lifespan of a mattress is approx. 7 years, therefore we recommend replacing your mattress every 7 years.

This is because mattresses are designed for your comfort, back care and quality of sleep, thus every 7 years our bodies will have changed our needs have changed and the mattress will be is wearing.

Q. The mattress has 10 year guarantee so why will it only last 7 years?

A. Your mattress will last longer than 7 years it of course will not be as good as it was, however if you are still comfortable and sleeping well, 7 years is a guide.

Q. What does the guarantee cover then?

A A product warranty/ guarantee will cover any manufacturing fault. eg: stitching coming apart. A spring breaking.

Q. My partner is a lot heavier than me, how can we get a mattress to suit us both?

A. This is not really a problem with todays modern mattresses, the springs systems used are designed for differing weights.

The individual pocketed spring system will also minimise disturbance caused from your partner moving.

Q. I wake up with a lower back ache and then I have a shower and it goes away is this my mattress?

A. It is most likely your mattress, this means that your mattress may have worn, or is simply is no longer suitable Q. So how do I know if my new mattress will stop this from happening?

A. On your new mattress you will be lying very straight, you will be comfortable and sleeping well. You will have tested the mattress in the store and have discussed this with your sales assistant and you will feel very confident in your decision.

Q. Should my mattress have indentation?

A. Yes. It definitely should, all luxury, comfortable and good quality mattress will indent, they have been designed to do this. It is the indentation or the contouring that is giving you support and comfort.

Q. How much should I spend on my new mattress?

A. The most expensive mattress in the store is not necessarilry the most suited to you and your partner.

We all have different needs and budgets, I would recommend if you have a budget in mind to let the sales assistant know so you can choose the best mattress for you and be within your budget. thebedshop Ballarat pricing guide. Queen mattress starts around $400.00 and can go up to $4000.

Q. What size is a queen mattress?

A. A queen mattress is 1500 X 2030, a king mattress is 1800 X 2030 a double mattress is 1350 X 1880.

Chiro Latex sprung mattress. $1199.00 - (Mattress & Base - Queen) A gently firm mattress with a (bonel Spring system) strong gauge wire spring, producing a firm feel bed. The Chiro features a pillow top (cushion of comfort layers). These layers are of latex & wool. Completing this mattress is a soft stretch knit covering. The chiro latex ensemble is featured in thebedshop Ballarat showroom.

Q. Is latex mattress hot to sleep on.

A. A full latex mattress can be quite warm to sleep on. Latex retains the body heat, A full latex mattress would not suit someone who is a normaly a warm sleeper.

(A latex layer in a sprung mattress is generally more suitable) Q. Do I need to purchase a new base?

A, Yes. Your old base may be in good condition,however it is as old as the mattress you want to replace . You will spend a lot of money on your new mattress, it is not recommended to put it on an old base. By doing so it could void part of your warranty.

Q. I have an odd size antique bed frame, how will I get a mattress to fit?

A. thebedshop Ballarat stocks only Australian made mattresses therefor we are able to have mattresses custom made to any size or shape that you need.

Spinal Contour mattress $1799.00 - (Mattress & Base - Queen) Is available in 3 comfort levels, firm medium and plush.

The spinal posture features a pocket spring system which contours to your body shape, also features a latex and wool pillow top. The hi tek “tencel� fabric covering is a natural fibre that feels soft also draws heat way from your body giving you a comfortable nights sleep. The Spinal contour ensemble is featured in thebedshop Ballarat showroom.

thesofastore

thebedshop Ballarat is a bedding specialist store and is in its 17th year of successful trading. thebedshop Ballarat recently moved into larger premises and joined forces with thesofastore they are both situate at 65 Mair street east, Ballarat (for those of you who know us already we have moved next door to our original site)we have updated our image and are now ready for the next seventeen years. thebedshop Ballarat offers an extensive range of mattresses and bedroom suites featuring in todays local is the spinal contour advance & chiro latex ensembles We invite you into the store and also welcome enqiry or any questions you may have via email thebedshopballarat@gmail.com Web site is currently being updated to reflect our new logos and our partnership with thesofastore, the old site is still available at www.thebedshop.com.au however the new website will be much easier to navigate as soon as it up and running I will let you all know.

thebedshop

Thebedshop (no more sleepless nights) invites you to their modern showroom.

Ground level 65 Mair Street East, Ballarat P. 03 5333 2226 | F. 03 5333 3221 E. thebedshopballarat@gmail.com

www.thebedshop.com.au (the web site currently being updated)

Bedshop Advert.indd 5

19/11/2014 3:59 pm

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F

OR a time, from the late 60s with the onset of informal and native gardens, it seemed that the day of the neatly trimmed garden hedge was past.

Recent landscaping trends back to more formalised, geometric gardens saw the return of neatly trimmed hedges as a major design element. Unfortunately, with it came the need for regular trimming of untidy straggly growth.

I have “hedged” my own garden bets by planting a small curved English box hedge, backed by a row of iceberg roses as a feature piece of the garden. As for the rest I have stuck to the flowing free, school of landscape design.

There is a way to have the benefits of privacy and wind protection without regular maintenance and that is a “living fence”, a row of closely planted shrubs, usually of the same variety, that are left to grow to their natural size and shape.

An annual pruning during spring, as if they were planted individually in the garden, is all that is necessary to keep them tidy.

Another option, especially where space is a premium, is to cover a purpose-built fence or trellis with a climbing plant.

Usually a hedge would be required to grow from two to four metres high depending on its purpose.

For a low, merely decorative “fence” you could choose something like one of the many new forms of lavender, rosemary, or delightful little dwarf form of non-climbing honeysuckle - lonicera nitida - with bronze-tipped deep green foliage, or in a golden form.

Suitable medium height shrubs include one of the many forms of grevillea, correa or coprosma - especially the bronze-tipped and variegated forms. In windy, exposed areas, the range of cistus, or rock rose, are particularly appealing.

Taller choices could include smaller growing versions of the ubiquitous variegated pittosporum, or one of the smaller growing melaleucas. Also worth considering are the range of new hybrid weeping acacias and the Japanese sasanqua camellias.

Our gardens 41

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Ales 43

My Shout

Blue – both beer and cheese can trace their history back to the farmhouse (women making both in large quantities) A strong sharp cheese needs a strong beer to support it. Therefore a stout will match just nicely. The chocolate flavours in the beer complement very well with the moulds in a blue cheese, as from a chemistry point of with Roy Lever view, chocolate and blue cheese are very similar in their makeup. The complementary ATURDAY is a busy day in my household. It usually consists of flavour between beer and cheese enables then the strong blue flavours to be brought running my boys around to their various part time jobs and activities in back to the front of the palette. I recommend Coopers Best Extra Stout or Holgates the first up, followed by a trip into town with my wife, to our favourite Temptress.

Why is beer a great choice to match with cheese? Cheese produces acid; beer deli for a coffee and to select some of their awesome range of meats and cheeses. The afternoon is usually spent “phaffing” about in the garden which has alcohol which is a good palette cleanser. The carbonation of the beer will also refresh the palette, whereas the residual sugars in a beer like an abbey ale, barley wine ends at beer o’clock*. or a vintage ale will assist the cheese flavours to linger in the mouth a little longer.

It is at this time the cheese platter comes out and we are often joined by our Essentially, why it all works so well is that the texture and mouth-feel of the cheese, is neighbours for a drink and catching up on the week’s events. I love this part of my highlighted by the carbonation, and maltiness of the beer. week. So I thought that I would share my passion for beer and cheese pairing with Beer nurtures the flavours of the cheese in your mouth. Just remember this some fundamental matching tips. general rule of thumb – think about the flavours of the cheese and then the flavours of the beer. Try and match “weight for weight”, a big cheese needs a big beer to Brie / Soft Cheeses – are a natural match with fruits, so a beer with subtle fruit match. A more subtle cheese needs a more subtle flavoured beer. I hope this puts a characters is a great match. The flavours of the cheese are subtle so a more mellow new light on your weekend cheese platter and inspires you to go out and experiment flavoured beer is preferred as to not overpower the cheese. I recommend as a fruity with flavours. beer, Stone & Wood Pacific Ale, 4 Pines Pale Ale, or even a lager such as a Carlsberg Enjoy! would go well with these cheeses.

S

Cheddar – a brown or amber ale is a great pairing here, the nutty flavours of the beer match with the bite of a sharp cheddar, whereas the texture of the beer is highlighted by the malt background of this beer. An IPA is also a good match with an aged cheddar or smoked cheese. The higher hop content will assist in cutting through the bigger flavours of the cheese allowing more subtle flavours to appear. I recommend Brookes Brown Ale or Brooklyn East IPA Marinated Fetta – as the cheese is in an olive oil base, a Pilsener will assist in cleansing the palette, stripping the oils from your mouth due its higher hop bitterness and refreshing your palette for another mouthful! Often these cheeses have other added herbs which will often complement the hop flavours in the beer. A crisp Lager would also suit in this instance. I recommend Hawkers Pilsener, Hix Beer Pilsener or Mythos Lager

Deck your yard this Christmas

*Beer o’clock is a fluid time (pun intended) and can be as early or as late in the afternoon as you desire.

To catch up on past reviews head to my blog: www.myshoutbeerreviews. wordpress.com Follow me and feel free to leave a comment.

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44 Trades

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POOL AND SPA MAINTENANCE SERVICES DAYLESFORD AND SPA COUNTRY Over 25 years’ experience in the Pool and Spa industry.

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Water chemistry and water balance Commercial properties Domestic applications Reasonable rates All enquiries welcome Noel 0419 554 319 Declan 0438 212 107

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Ring John on 0427 508 840

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Trades 45

Cartage

Drenching

Marking

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R.J’s Livestock Services

Contact Russ

0403 500 657

Jamie Liversidge Mini Excavations 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

1.7 tonne Excavator Landscaping, trenching, post holes, retaining walls Livo 0438 483 432 livo@mmnet.com.au

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

We stock The Local!

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Sports 47

Fitness with Sam Redlich

S

INCE opening the Xistence gym a year ago, I am in awe of what has transpired and how that has shaped the culture of the gym.

We are a gym that people who are used to a city gym style often comment “is like no other”.

Yes, the gym is in Daylesford where many eclectic people live or tree change to, so you might expect something a little different.

While I supply the venue and equipment, it is in combination with the cohesiveness of members, that the gym sparks the flame of vitality in us all and my hunch is that this vitality ripples out into the community at large.

The culture of inclusiveness, sharing of space through different age and gender groups, a common goal toward health and wellbeing as well as the gutsy training that occurs through events like Mudderella, group fitness and the after school teams has created a wonderful alchemy for supported exercise and personal change.

What make me smile most is that it was this clear intention of connection, cohesiveness, love and health that I held on to for dear life as a vision for the type of gym I wanted for the community.

It has not been an easy year. We have had breakups and breakdowns, a traumatic family car accident, reshaping and reshuffling and lots of change to deal with.

However going into Christmas, and high-fiving my first year of running a gym, I am grateful for all of these experiences and how they have helped me, and the gym grow.

My gift back to the gym and wider community this Christmas is to share with you some ideas that may help you discover your own inner vision and passion.

We all have the potential to be great people, and it is the greater person who can bring their passions to the fore and activate them in life.

Some ideas you might find useful to think about over the holidays: Visualise the person you want to be and hold it firmly in your heart. If adversity strikes, you have an anchor of hope at all times; Take small steps to activate your vision and know that patience is the key to success; Remove personal blockages. Seek professional help if you stumble or are stuck; Celebrate your wins. This will keep you on track and on the upward spiral; and Practice mindfulness. Clarity of mind, thoughts and the effect on your behaviour, learning new ways to respond or to make clear decisions are essential for beneficial outcomes.

All the best for the holidays Sam (Sam Redlich owns and runs Xistance gym in Daylesford. She writes a monthly column for The Local in the lead-up to The Comp in May. And she may keep writing after that.)

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Time for a dip

SUMMER is a few days away but young Rose didn’t let that stop her from enjoying a dip in one of the region’s many pools. The five-year-old is also the cover girl of the summer edition of The Little Local - out on December 1.

It’s for tourists but lots of locals are also enjoying the great “mini” reads and plenty of information about festivals, events, places to dine and even a few “secrets”. Copies are available from, well, everywhere.

Image: Kyle Barnes