The Local Issue 62 January 4, 2016

January 4, 2016 Issue 62 The year that was...

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, January 18, 2016.

Advertising deadlines for the next edition of The Local:

January 4, 2016 Issue 62 The year that was...

This edition is mostly all about looking back.

Space bookings: Wednesday, January 13 Copy provided by: Thursday, January 14 Editorial deadline: Thursday, January 14 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

And while everyone, well, some of us, are still enjoying the holiday season, we have chosen a few of our favourite stories from throughout the year for your summer reading pleasure.

The Local The Heart of the Highlands’ own community publication

Money, money, money...

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...

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)

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

But wait, there’s more!

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.

The Pool Room!

The Local - winner of:

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.)

*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’...

Front cover: The year that was...a look back at the front covers for 2015. Image: Kyle Barnes

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

Even more reasons to get in touch today.

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

“The Local is the future of regional publishing!”

- Victorian Senator John Madigan in the Australian Parliament Just sayin’... :)

www.tlnews.com.au

News 3

Electrical fault possible cause of college fire

P

OLICE are not ruling out an electrical fault as the cause of the fire at the Daylesford Secondary College which started in the early hours of Monday, December 28.

The fire destroyed three specialist science rooms, a computer room, three general purpose rooms, and while it remained standing, the library will also be demolished.

Moorabool CIU’s Detective Senior Constable Brian Malloch said the police’s arson scientist was “leaning towards” an electrical fault.

“But we still want to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious on the night,” he said.

Principal Graeme Holmes said the school community had been gutted by the devastation of the fire.

“There are people who have been working at the school for 35 to 40 years, it’s their life…they have invested so much time there.”

But Mr Holmes said there was also “a lot of optimism” as the school and the Education Department worked towards a solution for the start of the new school year.

“Everything should be in place by the start of the year and our big issue is making sure we have a science room but the department may be giving us a science portable. We have plenty of other classrooms for another computer room and to house a library but the big loss is the resources in the science rooms and the library.

“The department is doing an evaluation on resource funding towards replacement but it is going to take years to replenish all those supplies.”

Mr Holmes, who has been at the school for two years, said clearing of the buildings would start this week and be carried out by specialists because of asbestos on the site. The air around the site was also being monitored for asbestos particles but none had been found so far, he said.

He said the rooms, in the older part of the school, had been earmarked to be knocked down as part of a $10 million rebuilding program but “we had wanted to build a new building first”.

Meanwhile, Daylesford CFA fourth lieutenant and incident controller at the fire, Alex Pearce, said about 24 appliances and up to 70 firefighters had fought to save as much as possible.

“We got the call about 3.23am and were quickly out the door. On arrival we found a lot of smoke and flames issuing. There was a strong southerly wind which hampered us and made fire-fighting difficult.”

Mr Pearce said the fire spread quickly and once contained, crews remained for the next 12 hours. CFA crews who attended included Daylesford, Hepburn, Musk, Glenlyon, Porcupine Ridge, Franklinford, Trentham, Creswick, Guildford, Blackwood, Ballarat City and Newlyn.

Gordon also responded but were turned back.

Mr Pearce, who graduated from the college in 2005, said fire crews worked to save the fire spreading to the administration block and limit damage to the library.

“I attended school there so I knew where the buildings were. I knew the fire was in the science and computer rooms so I concentrated on saving the library and stopping it spreading to the admin building. From a CFA point of view, it was a really good team effort by everyone. To save the admin building and partially save the library was a very good outcome.”

Mr Pearce said fighting a fire at his former school was all part of the job.

“The brigade is always prepared for jobs like this, we have plans in place, especially for structures and you just get on with 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 The year that was...

www.tlnews.com.au

Woodworking in the blood for chairmaker Glen Rundell

I

N 2008, Glen Rundell sold his motorbike and headed to America to learn chair-making from the best in the business.

And specifically Windsor chairs.

The chair-maker said there was no-one in Australia doing them “in the correct way” – using rotary grinding discs instead of hand tools for example - so he decided to head to the country that did them best.

“English chairs are very agricultural in comparison to American chairs. The Americans were always better in woodworking. And their Windsor chairs have a depth and contours – it’s like comparing a sponge cake to a cracker.

“So I studied with Curtis Buchanan, who is the best Windsor chairmaker in America, and I went back a couple of years later to learn from Peter Galbert, who does more contemporary chairs.”

Glen, who obviously just loves chairs, said they were also notoriously difficult to make.

“A lot of things aren’t necessarily important in other furniture. A chest of drawers just has to look good and be functional and strong.

“But a chair has to look good from 360 degrees, they are not against a wall often, and they have to be comfortable. Virtually no other furniture has to be comfortable.

And a chair may be the most amazing looking chair but if it’s not comfortable it’s useless.”

Glen said while he was not a woodworker it was definitely in his blood.

“It’s in the family. My great-great grandfather was a bridge builder, his son was a shipwright, and mum’s side of the family had coffin makers and carpenters.

“My grandfather worked in the high country in East Gippsland and was a carpenter but also constructed some amazing bush furniture and huts. I enjoy that simplistic side as well – and their chair follows on from that.”

Glen, who is busy with his wife Lisa restoring and turning an 1850s property in Tylden into their home, also offers chairmaking classes.

Many of his clients are doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists and teachers who all agree it’s great therapy and unlike their usual work, they get to take home something tangible.

“But it’s for anybody and everybody. It is quite cathartic to use your hands to create something and it’s also about developing skills and increasing ability to tackle other projects. We have had people as young as 13 and as old as 80.”

Glen, who, with Lisa, organised the second Lost Trades Fair in Kyneton in March 2015, said the industrial revolution had “pretty much wiped out” many of the old chairmakers’ businesses by flooding the market with cheaper mass-produced chairs.

“The fair is not necessarily about making people want to quit their jobs and become chairmakers or silversmiths but to make them understand there are options out there, rather than mass-produced items.

“If we buy something new, a few years later it breaks, and we just buy something new and throw the old one out for landfill. We have been conditioned to do that.

“These chairs will last for generations. When people come to a class I always say to them that the first thing they need to think about is who they are going to hand their chair down to. I tell them ‘it will outlast you’.”

Glen’s work can be seen at Rundell & Rundell, 29 Piper Street, Kyneton. The Lost Trades Fair will be held at the Kyneton Racecourse on March 12 and 13, 2016.

Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Kyle Barnes Glen’s story first ran in The Local on February 2, 2015

www.tlnews.com.au

The year that was... 5

Mia Mala shooting the Big Day Out at 14

I

F YOU are into the New York Times, Frankie, Yen or Rolling Stone magazines, or perhaps come across Lake House photographic shoots, chances are you have seen the work of Mia Mala McDonald.

But chances also are you don’t realise the 32-year-old shooting star of the photography world was born in Daylesford Hospital, went to Yandoit Primary and graduated from the then Daylesford Technical School. Even as a teenager Mia was probably not your average 14-year-old. She was into the music scene – her brother is a music promoter and among other gigs runs the Meredith Music Festival – and when she realised she was no good at playing Mia decided to shoot bands.

“I would go to gigs and shoot all the bands because I really sucked at playing music. And that’s where my photography started. I shot the Big Day Out when I was just 14. I snuck in and then managed to get a ticket to the pit so spent the day shooting people like the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I was half the size of anyone there and had a really crappy film camera. But I am quite a stubborn person.”

At 17 Mia moved to Melbourne which she says, despite being allowed by her parents to attend underage events and stay in the city when she was in her early teens, was “a huge transition from Daylesford - but I had finished school and I just had to get out of here. If you stay it is really hard to get out, particularly as a young person. I do love it but I got out when I was young”.

“And it was tough. I had house mates – I think we had two minute noodles for two years, but at 17 you just don’t realise how little you are. I was missing the community, things like going to Chappies’ and him saying ‘mmm, $3, I will give you some chips’, just that familiar thing the Daylesford community offers. The big city is quite different.”

Mia tried her hand at performance studies which was “a disaster” and then a few other courses but friends kept encouraging her to do photography.

“I was shooting for street press and then applied for a photography degree at RMIT and started being really interested in portraiture. After I finished RMIT I thought I was brilliant! I took my folio to Rolling Stone in Sydney, and Vogue Travel, and Eve and Frankie magazines. I was like ‘hello, here I am’. In my head I was ready, I even made them presents with books of my work all wrapped up. I met with the editors and they all said they loved my enthusiasm but to come back in five years.”

Next stop was an internship in America and then it was straight into freelance work.

“Being a freelance photographer and your own boss is so hard and it’s still hard.

Each week you don’t know how much you are going to earn and each day you don’t know what you are doing. Yesterday I had no jobs booked for two weeks and then I got three jobs including Wednesday before I fly out that night to Japan for a month.

But you have got to make that income when you can.”

Last year Mia completed a masters in fine art at RMIT and she is also a lecturer at Holmesglen TAFE – all adding to her portfolio.

“With photography you can do commercial, magazines, weddings…I really needed a shift and after eight years in struggle town I thought I would do my masters in art photography just to give myself another option. And that’s been awesome. They sent me to Singapore and now Japan. It’s a very exciting career. You can get a call that Shane Warne needs photos in two hours, or Courtney Barnett needs photography and then the next day you can be doing something terrible like maternity wear. They don’t use pregnant women, they use real models with fake tummies.”

Mia said her advice for budding photographers was to be determined and passionate. “If you get a good degree it doesn’t mean you will be a good photographer.

You have to cold call Rolling Stone and make a fool of yourself. I guess it’s bravery and stupidity and persistence. I lived off about $8000 for seven years, I was a nanny, you do what you have to but as soon as you succumb to work for a five-day week it’s over.

“I was working as a teacher two days a week during my masters and even that was really difficult, driving to the same place each day, making the same lunch. Ughhh.”

Mia also has advice for people growing up in small towns – get out.

“I am not saying Daylesford is not an incredible town, I love it, and I will live here one day but there is nothing for teenagers to do. We used to try and organise gigs here, when my brother was 16 he said ‘we’ll put some bands on and organise it’ but the council wouldn’t have a bar of it. I remember sitting on the post office steps.

You just do that. But you have to live life and see the world. 100 per cent – get out.”

Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Kyle Barnes Mia’s story first appeared in The Local on July 6, 2015

Central Highlands Pain & Well-being Centre Dr Shelley L Beer Chinese Medicine NEW i Book A handy reference for a myriad of life’s stumbling blocks. www.blurb.com or print version from www.tcmconsultancy.com

COMMUNITY OPEN GROUP ACUPUNCTURE $30 Tues pm/ Thurs & Friday am Visit website or Facebook for sessions PRIVATE CONSULTATIONS Tues - Sat by appointment Daylesford - 12 Albert St Castlemaine -147 Mostyn St (Wed@ Healing Well) Phone 0417 036 153 www.tcmconsultancy.com Please check out new look website

6 The year that was...

Under ferret attack

T

HE old adage of never working with children or animals came true for our photographer David White in the lead-up to the Kyneton Daffodil and Arts Festival last year.

David was asked to photograph some pet ferrets who were taking part in the ever popular ferret races.

And while they looked quite placid and friendly in their cage, they came out fighting with David copping a few injuries.

Meanwhile their handlers took it all in their stride - and watched the action from the sidelines.

This year’s festival will be held from September 1 to 11.

Oh, The Local won Best Commercial Float in last year’s parade - just sayin’...

This photo, and many more of well-behaved ferrets, first appeared in The Local on August 31, 2015

Here’s the solution to The Local’s crossword for Issue 61. The next crossword will appear in the January 18 edition of The Local. Even cruciverbalists need a break sometimes...

www.tlnews.com.au

The year that was... 7

There’s no place like (this) home...

D

OUG Strates has been building houses since he was 22 so it’s no surprise that he’s just finished another one – this time in Hepburn.

“We didn’t want a deck, which we have had in the past and found limiting, we just wanted the inside to open up to the outside – which we have achieved.”

Doug said the house was also perfect for entertaining and easily handled up to 100 guests recently for an Aperitifs event.

“We had the sliding doors open at the back, the fire pit going, and even though it was a pretty cold night, the house stayed warm. We have a wood fire which keeps the whole house heated – but we also have electric central heating.”

Doug said the house was also sustainable with three kilowatt solar panels, double glazed windows, plenty of insulation and concrete floors. Being partly underground also adds to its energy efficiency.

But Doug said building the house from scratch and now living in it meant he and Lyn sometimes forgot how lucky they were.

“We love it when people come over and say ‘wow’. It makes us remember just how lucky we are to be living in such a beautiful and functional home.”

And is it a forever home?

“No. I have been building since I was 22 so it’s my modus operandi. It will be lovely for a while but I think there will be one more….”

And as usual, it was the WOW factor. Doug, who is semi-retired but dabbles as a currency trader in the financial market, and Lyn, who is also semi-retired but works part-time at Springs Medical Centre, started their Central Highlands life in Coomoora. They built a provincial style home in the bush but were always keen to build something more modern and architectural. So they sold and moved to a smaller home in Daylesford as a temporary measure while they looked around for the right block of land. Once bought, they asked architect Clinton Krause to come onboard – the first time they had used an architect.

“Usually I design my own homes with a draftsman but Clinton definitely delivered what we wanted – something beautiful and functional with a ‘wow’ factor.

I tore lots of pages from magazines and we went to him with our ideas and he came up with a model of the final design. I then worked as an owner-builder using a local building company for the carpentry and subbing out the other trades.”

Doug said the topography of the land guided the shape of the house with almost half of it underground.

“You enter the house on the top level and inside is a balcony and curved staircase Words and images: Kyle Barnes which takes you down to the lower level which is the cavernous open plan living, dining and kitchen area. We have high ceilings and the walls are all glass so people say it’s like looking down to a McCubbin painting where you just see the tops of the trees Doug and Lyn’s story first appeared in The Local on July 20, 2015 through the glass.

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

8 Opinion

www.tlnews.com.au

Just sayin’...

My rant...

By Donna Kelly

By Kyle Barnes

J

UST putting the final touches to this edition of The Local. It’s been a crazy couple of weeks - read opposite of my computer woes - but also just keeping a check on exactly what day it is.

First we had Christmas on a Friday, which is fine, but that means Boxing Day is on the Saturday, and then again on the Monday. Mmmm.

And then we just recover when it’s time to welcome the New Year on Thursday evening and then celebrate on Friday for New Year’s Day. Which, I guess, means next year New Year’s Day will be on Sunday, thanks to the Leap Year, and then again on Monday.

Add a couple of drinks to the mix and I don’t know what day of the week it is.

We had a lovely Christmas. My mother was off to Queensland to catch up with my brother and his family, so no need to head to Frankston. So we opted for an “orphans’ Christmas” which basically meant just the two of us. We have done them a few times and they are fantastic. (Not that Frankston isn’t great too - just nice to be a bit selfish.) We headed to Melbourne for a couple of nights at a nice hotel, gave no presents, made no calls and ate lots of lovely Japanese and Chinese food as we grazed our way around Little Bourke Street. Bliss.

We came home, panicked a bit about my computer woes - again, read opposite and then headed to Melbourne one more time. We opted for a nice hotel again, but with a 29th floor and a 180 degree view of the city from the Dandenongs to the Bay. Fantastic.

Again we chose Japanese and found a really cool spot - Izakaya Den - and then returned to our room in time for the fireworks at midnight. Now, I have watched them on television on the New Year’s Eves we’ve done nothing, or the morning after, but seeing them live is fantastic. I was holding onto the balcony rail, absolutely enthralled by the colour, the lights, the sounds. I wouldn’t go every year, it is a tad exxy, but it is certainly a bucket list item.

And then it was back to reality, well the reality of the Glenlyon Mixed Sports Day at the Glenlyon Reserve. It’s an event that dates back more than 150 years and still has the charm of an old-fashioned day out in the country. And it really brings the community together with their folding chairs and eskies as everyone enjoys a beer and a bullboar sausage or two. It’s all volunteer-run, which is an amazing effort, and runs like clockwork. This year an added poignant event was the naming of the oval at the reserve after Glenlyon stalwart Des Leonard, who passed away this year. A fitting tribute for a tireless volunteer. Des really was one of the good ones. Just sayin’...

T

HIS edition of The Local is brought to you by sheer will, determination and a healthy respect for the inner workings of a computer.

The Local is made up on a computer by Donna. She puts together the jigsaw puzzle of stories, advertisements and images. We call this computer, for good reason, “Donna’s computer”. Unfortunately, just after we had finished the pre-Christmas edition Donna’s computer, which is new, decided to play up. But hey, no worries, we have a full two weeks before the next issue needs to hit the printers and the ether.

So enter the nice computer tech who arrived shortly before Christmas and left the computer in a worse state – read, no sound and a day later no power. He also managed to scratch the screen while trying to clean it with a bit of spit and a small white teddy bear - I think it is one of Donna’s good luck charms. I hope it is…

Then of course Christmas provided us with a four-day weekend, time to start worrying a little, so on the first available business day I called the nice people at the computer company. When we bought the new computer we also took up their offer of “pro support” which indicated a high level of breakdown support. However, on that day, the only thing they could offer was for me to find a redundant computer, rip the guts out of it and then transfer the new computer’s hard-drive into that computer and Bob’s your uncle. Sadly my uncles are Jim and the late Jeff…

But I am nothing if not a trier. I started down this journey believing it was the only option using a speaker phone, a Phillips head screwdriver and a credit card. The card was not for payment, just to prise open the computers without damaging them.

I felt like I was in a movie scene where someone is talking to another person over the phone telling them how to diffuse a bomb. “NOOO, not the red wire!”

Cutting an extremely long story short, it turns out the casing for the old harddrive was too large for the new hard-drive and I was advised to improvise, which I did by tying the new hard-drive in using picture hanging wire. I was minutes away from finishing, and quite pleased with my IT work, when another division of the computer company called saying they had organised a tech for the next day. So it was a case of “step away from the computers”.

I am happy to report, and you must know if you are reading this, that all is now well at TL HQ. The first edition for 2016 is out, the computers are whirring, the panic is long subsided and the bear has been returned to its rightful place overseeing Donna’s work. I just worry for those who chose not to sign up for “pro support”.

What would you get for pauper support?

The Local - Connecting the Community Creswick and District U3A is holding an Expo at the Creswick Neighbourhood Centre on January 15 from 11am to 3pm.

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.

The Kyneton Community Lunch is volunteer-run and served on Wednesdays at the Kyneton Mechanics Institute during school terms.

About 60 people attend each week with food largely donated from local businesses, community gardens and local residents.

The lunch is an initiative of the Kyneton Community & Learning Centre and has been developed as a community building project where people can connect, network, catch up with other locals and in many cases avoid isolation.

Cost is $5 donation for a two-course meal with tea and coffee. Everybody is welcome!

The next lunch is on February 3 from 12.30pm.

Activities include an eye health talk, free hearing tests, an update on CPR techniques along with table tennis, displays by tutors and even a game of cards on offer.

There will also be a sausage sizzle throughout the event.

Aimed mainly at over 55’s, the Expo is open to anyone who feels it could be of value.

Details: 0459 981 066 or u3a3363@gmail.com

www.tlnews.com.au

A dingo took Hugh Jackman’s smalls, and other horsey tales Words: Kevin Childs | Images: David White

W

ITH an almighty thump of his great hooves the white stallion rears up. And up. Sand in the round ring scatters as Jack rises, his coat glowing in the light. A few minutes ago he was “dead.” Flat out on the ground as his trainer said “dead boy.”

Then at the command “cranky” the four-year-old Clydesdale pounds the sand first with his right front hoof, then the left, followed by a regal bow. Backing up, then coming forward and forward Jack performs stylishly, then is told to lie down while trainer Bruce Gleeson uses him for a seat. And slips him a carrot.

In steps fellow trainer Evanne Chesson, her two whips are wands as she gets him to rear. “The best rearing horse in Australia,” says Bruce. It’s hard to disagree.

“He started off horrible,” says Bruce. “Didn’t like the harness. I used to muck around with him and one day he just twigged.” It was quite a “twig” because the trainers refused an offer for Jack from the Gold Coast Movieworld on the elegantly simple basis that it would only mean money, while this horse is something wonderful.

Jack has been a hit in advertising, taking a pedestrian crossing leading to Myer glass doors, a gift card in his mouth. Throw in a dingo called Jedda, who ate Hugh Jackman’s underwear, and you have the thread of seemingly endless yarns to mark the launch of their latest venture Silver Brumby Trails at their property at Shepherds Hill, near Lauriston. According to 66-year-old Bruce this all began after he had been farming using horses for somewhere between 15 and 20 years.

“We grew varieties of wheat which we got after it had been thrown out by an experimental farm. The seeds dated from 1835 to 1952. I was driving up the road to Maldon with four horses when a film company went past. `We’re doing a film in town,’ they said, ‘do you want a job?’.”

That was the start of an animal training career that has included monkeys, a crow, kangaroos (six are needed for each shot), buffaloes and camels. Bruce tells of Marbuk, a 198-centimetre tall kangaroo who was something of a star for Evil Angels. “He used to come up like Arnie Schwarzenegger going boom! boom! boom! We had a punchball hanging on a tree and he would be over there working out.”

Bruce grew up on 10 hectares at Warrandyte, then a region outside Melbourne in which to roam free, but now, he says, too trendy and too expensive. Two years ago he bought Shepherds Hill Farm, settling in with 110 horses including some former film stars. Then there are the eerily squawking guinea fowl, which are apparently excellent at keeping snakes away, some furry llamas that come when called and “about seven” dingoes.

Most of these are at a second property of 104ha where he is building rough-hewn huts for what he calls a mountain cattlemen type of experience for Silver Brumby trail riders. After riding through the nearby Wombat State Forest they will be able to sleep in cots, gazed on by a couple of authentic looking boars’ heads, with tusks rampant.

Bruce will be able to regale the riders with tales of moviemaking, including films such as Silver Brumby, one of the all-time top five horse films, in which a mare played a stallion and now has a deserved retirement. Others include Australia, Tomorrow when the War Began, Phar Lap, Ned Kelly with Heath Ledger and Evil Angels - none of the crew could pull weights equal to a baby from the dingo’s jaws. Evanne worked on the ABC’s first colour series, Ben Hall, and has just finished The Legend of Ben Hall. Her work in films with animals was recognised by a unique AFI award in 1997.

Apparently in the US an enclosed area is needed for animal stunts, whereas here they are done in the open. And, says Bruce, Evanne is the only person in Australia who can do this. “As a liberty trainer she would be the best in the world.”

As well as keeping the magnificent Jack, the trainers retain the name Silver Brumby, which Warner Bros had wanted. Evanne became close to the late Elaine Mitchell, author of the story, who gave Evanne the naming rights. Beside the animals there is an astonishing collection of horse-drawn vehicles: an 1836 English mail coach, a landau, a brougham, four Cobb & Co coaches and a magnificent Bible-black hearse.

With Bruce stepping sombrely ahead, in 1890s burial garb, black Friesian horses drew the hearse bearing a Daylesford woman to rest in the Franklinford-Yandoit cemetery, with the undertaker telling Bruce it was the best funeral of his career.

Trail riders will be invited to mount Orlando Bloom’s horse Red from Ned Kelly or one of five of Heath Ledger’s mounts. There are also Andalusians and a new breed called Worlander. And in future someone will doubtless ride Witchetty Grub, now a leggy five-day-old foal cheekily bumping against his mother, Black Jellybean. The passion of these trainers is contagious. So is Bruce’s delight in always using pre-metric measurements. As a horseman, he seems from a past century. When this is put to him he quickly says, “no, 200 years ago”.

Bruce’s story first appeared in The Local on November 9, 2015

The year that was... 9

10 The year that was...

www.tlnews.com.au

When Andy first met Barry: the one that didn’t get away

Woords: Kevin Childs | Image: Museum Victoria

W

HEN the world was learning that a gigantic fish that looked like it came from the age of dinosaurs had been pulled from the sea, Daylesford’s Andy Greenwood brimmed over with excitement as he sprung into action.

The Portland trawler men who accidentally caught the rare 6.3 metre basking shark smartly put a call from their boat to Museum Victoria, where Andy has the catch-all title of head of Production and Technical Services.

Barry, Andy’s personal nickname for the fish, was dead, so the call meant that processes could be started to acquire the specimen for the museum collection and capture significant data about it for scientists and museums throughout the world.

Exceeded in length only by whale sharks, a fish like Barry can reach twice his size and are known for their gentle nature and that they can dive to 1000 metres and stay there for months. When he was taken off Portland Barry was the first of his species found there in 80 years. All this meant a flurry of activity at Museum Victoria, with wide international interest and an opportunity to use new technology to scan and map Barry as a 3D image.

“We are extremely lucky,” says Andy. “They could have sold it or thrown it overboard.” Valued for their large fins, used to make shark fin soup, these fish are protected in many places but still hunted illegally. They are named from their habit of basking near the surface.

For Andy Greenwood the path from his early life in Britain’s Royal Air Force to helping produce a 3D image of this magnificent fish is as intriguing as Barry’s story. He signed up as a 17-year-old radar technician, majoring in avionics. This took him to North Wales where, during the first Gulf War, his duties included searching vehicles for weapons and explosives. A high security alert in the UK had Andy searching under his car, which is why his neighbour Helen, now his wife, thought that he had the most unreliable set of wheels in Wales.

Performing military duties and repairing aircraft radar systems Andy learned to be both self-sufficient and to work well in a team. These are qualities that he says proved invaluable. With the ending of the Cold War, military options were narrowing so at 24 he bought his way out of the Air Force for 1500 pounds. He had signed up for 12 • Guarantee your audit fees in advance years and had to give 18 months’ notice. Andy decided that his future lay in Australia and emigrated with Helen • Deadlines honoured in 1992. Surprisingly, his military experience and electronics skills took him down an unexpected new path and he • Financial Statement Audits quickly found himself in the theatre working on lighting and stage automation.

• Guarantee your audit fees in advance Deadlines honoured • SMSF Audits Shows such as Phantom of the Opera and Beauty and the Beast were part of his 13 years in• this world.

• Financialat Statement Audits • AFSL Compliance Working internationally meant being on call to fly to Hong Kong, Paris, Japan or just about anywhere a • SMSF Audits moment’s notice to fix problems local crews could not handle.

• Trust Account Audits • AFSL Compliance Ten years ago he switched to a major technical operations job at the museum, where his responsibilities • Review Engagements • Trust Account Audits included lighting and the restoration of steam engines at Scienceworks. They have grown to a •boggling array: Review Engagements • Statutory Financial Reporting multi-media, carpentry, workshops, taxidermy and preparation, photography, media production, live exhibits, • Statutory Financial Reporting technical events and special projects.

Cooper Audit and Accounting Pty Ltd To say that Andy Greenwood is passionate and articulate is like saying Daylesford is pleasant.www.cooperauditandaccounting.com.au “I’ve got the best Email: grantlco@bigpond.com job in the world,” he says. Daylesford is where Andy spends his time away from this all-consuming work.

“I can separate from it here and also work happily up here. I consider myself to be extremely lucky.” Mobile: 0428 384 194 One of his joys is finding that you “don’t have to be a local to be part of this community”. Director: Grant Cooper BBus CPA RCA “Having lived and worked all around the world I have never known a place to be so welcoming.”

Cooper Audit and Accounting is a CPA Practice

AUDITOR

ODK18328827

Andy and Barry’s story first appeared in The Local on August 3, 2015

www.tlnews.com.au

The year that was... 11

Richard Tuohy following his Super 8 passion

W

HEN experimental filmmaker Richard Tuohy moved to Daylesford in 1997 he had no idea the town had a thriving Super 8 Group.

Richard, who also just happens to have the only Super 8 (a type of small gauge film) processing laboratory in the southern hemisphere, Nanolab, had quit Melbourne and tree-changed with his partner Dianna Barrie, also a filmmaker.

He had been heavily professionally involved with the Melbourne Super 8 Group in the 1980s and 1990s before quitting to study philosophy with an undergraduate degree at La Trobe university and then a PhD at Australian National University – which he quit after three years. (For the record he also dropped out of high school and says he is ready to “drop out of anything at a moment’s notice”.)

But he believed he had left that life behind until a chance meeting while he was working at the Book Barn when someone mentioned the group which included names such as Toby Sime, Gary Thomas and Brendan Murray – and a screening that was happening soon.

“I thought I would make one last film to polish things off but then went crazy and made 40 to 50 experimental films over a few years – and the group put up with them. The group is not really still going although it has not been dead terribly long and some would not admit to it being dead.

“My interest now in Super 8 is in having a lab that supports what else I do in film. I don’t particularly work in Super 8 myself but we process and transfer it. The Nanolab as a business is very much about people shooting in Super 8 now.”

So what, exactly, is Super 8 film?

“Super 8 came out in 1965 and was extremely popular.

It was a home movie format, long before video, and unlike Standard 8, it had no complex threading, you didn’t need to know about photography to get your exposure right…

“Super 8 was the biggest motion picture gauge and it sold more cameras than anything else on the market. But they stopped making Super 8 cameras and projectors in the early 80s.

In 1984 they just switched off the machine and walked away because people had switched to video.

“And they switched not because it was better, because it was far inferior, but there was this thing about being on the television in the corner that previously had only been the domain of Bert Newton or Don Lane. That was magical for people. And it was also kind of easier because you didn’t have to dim the lights or set up the projector.

“So in about 1983 it just began to decline and kept declining relatively slowly, and then digital became available for the domestic market – and then it bounced back.”

Richard said most of Nanolab’s clients were using Super 8, and its unique style, to film weddings, surfing, skating and BMX.

“Why? That’s a good question. The answer’s going to have something to do with a different look.

These kids, and they are all kids, they watch a lot of stuff online, their skating or surfing heroes and some of that is period stuff, and they want to transport themselves back there. There’s a retro association with Super 8 and also within those activities there are also often people with a photographic or video interest. They like videoing themselves so it is natural to explore film as well. It is a cachet that is still sexy – ‘I shoot on film’ – that’s a cool thing to say.”

And, as Richard, said, it provides an income for him and Dianne to follow their passion of experimental film-making.

“I make films that I screen all over the place. I just did a two-month tour of the US and screened at institutions including universities and did roughly 10 workshops.

“I do that a couple of times a year which is nice. I also like to screen at film festivals like Rotterdam and New York.”

Meanwhile, the move to Daylesford came at a time when it was still possible to buy cheap land, and trips to visit his mother, who lives in Hepburn, also prompted the move.

“We bought the land, built the place – I hate renting - and we’re probably also the only Super 8 lab anywhere in the world where the people who run it, built it.”

Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Kyle Barnes Richard’s story first appeared in The Local on January 19, 2015

12 The year that was...

www.tlnews.com.au

IVF helping to create happy, modern families

J

ENNI Thompson and Emma Wells describe their lives as “extremely happy and blessed”.

And it’s no wonder. The pair, who met at a gay venue in St Kilda, now have two beautiful children, Mackenzie and Graycie, and are living their dream life in Hepburn, both working as teachers at Daylesford Primary School.

When they met both were just out of long-term relationships so not looking for a new partner – but as it sometimes just happens, they connected and it went from “not taking it too seriously to realising it was serious”.

Along with sharing a love of teaching, both women also like to keep fit. Jenni is a keen runner and just completed her first marathon last year while Emma does “a bit of boot camp” and both are into meditation.

Emma experienced her first silent retreat recently – leaving Jenni with both children.

And managing to have those children also took them on a shared journey. Jenni said she always wanted to have children while Emma was “not as keen as me”.

“But because Emma was older I said she should go first if she wanted to give birth. I was really ready but Emma had to think about it for a while – just whether she wanted to give birth or not.”

It turned out that Emma was keen and after choosing an anonymous donor with a teaching background through Melbourne IVF, was pregnant with the first try.

“Prior to that we had looked at a few different options, like donor sperm from interstate. It wasn’t legal in Victoria at that point because I was deemed infertile because of my age. But then the rules changed and I was able to go and see a doctor at Melbourne IVF. I believe it is a lot easier now.”

With Emma bearing their first child, Jenni was keen for her turn, to keep their children’s ages close together.

“It was harder for me and took quite a while. I didn’t get pregnant until I took time off work and we found out Christmas Eve. It was a nice journey and I have tried to give back. I donated my eggs twice to a woman who couldn’t have children but they (the eggs) weren’t good enough. I think Graycie is probably a miracle child.”

Both Jenni and Emma said they would “highly Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Kyle Barnes recommend” IVF, and in particular, Melbourne IVF. “We feel privileged to have been able to have the Jenni and Emma’s story first appeared in The Local opportunity and Melbourne IVF were wonderful – on March 2, 2015 they are very much part of our journey and our family.

And we nearly named one of our children after the IVF nurses, they were so caring, and our doctor, John McBain was one of the founders of Melbourne IVF. He was amazing.”

Jenni said while the initial outlay was expensive quite a lot was refunded by Medicare – and that was increasing all the time.

“For Emma, because she got pregnant straight away, it cost about $6000. For me, because it took six tries, it was more expensive. I guess when it takes longer that gets people stressed as well. For us it was the only way. And now you look back and feel like it just went but while you are in it, you put your life on hold for the process – the injections, the doctors, the trips to Melbourne. We were with the Royal Women’s Hospital because of my age at the time, I was 39, and then we wanted to both be at the same hospital.”

Jenni said both women had been amazed by the support from the community, especially from same sex couples who had already been on the journey and were willing to share their experiences.

“And when Emma was pregnant I had people coming to the school and leaving notes asking if we CONVEYANCING wanted cots or other things. This whole community is BUSINESS SALES and LEASING just amazing. And sometimes you forget how special and WILLS and ESTATES accepting it is here – you might go to Melbourne and be COMMERCIAL AGREEMENTS asked if you are sisters and get a funny look when you say you are partners. It’s easy to forget about that when you live here.”

202 / 370 St Kilda Rd, MELBOURNE Both Jenni and Emma were regular visitors to the 19 High St, KYNETON region before they met, with Jenni looking at Daylesford 40a Victoria St, MACEDON Primary School one day thinking “when I finish studying (by appointment) to be a teacher I am going to work there and live here” and then promptly forgetting for a couple of years before Phone 5426 3500 or 5422 1615 making the move.

“We are extremely happy and blessed. And at this Info@noy.com.au stage in our life this is where we want to be. It is right for www.noy.com.au our kids and our family.”

noy

l e g a l

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

www.tlnews.com.au

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.

THE COTTAGE HERBALIST Caroline Parker BHSc Western Herbal Medicine

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

Shamanic Healing

Trentham 0418 364 497 www.indriya.com.au

Intuitive Counselling Illuminations Soul Retrieval Extractions Readings

• Herbal Medicine • Bush Flower Essences • Diet & Lifestyle Advice • Wellness Programs • Hand Blended Organic Teas and Tisanes

Healing is within Us

0402 366 242 thecottageherbalist.com.au thecottageherbalist@gmail.com

Jaqi Mudge 0423 499 901

ANTA member 12687 Aframe_bird_draft2.indd 1

8/2/13 1:12:03 AM

www.tlnews.com.au

Happy & Healthy 15

'KOMBUCHA MAKING DEMONSTRATION' Saturday 23rd January 2016 11am to 11.30am at Alter Your Health 18 High Street Kyneton.

Join Naturopath Inka Ferkova for a step by step demonstration on how to make Kombucha.

Learn about the health giving benefits of this delicious drink.

For bookings visit Alter Your Health or call

03 5422 3483

ALTER Your Health 18 High Street, Kyneton info@alteryourhealth.com.au www.alteryourhealth.com.au

restore balance naturally... with us massage - remedial - pregnancy - reflexology - hot stone - warm bamboo reiki - spiritual healing - crystal healing - astrology - tarot - past life regression archangel aromatherapy ritual - facials - body scrubs, wraps & polish - foot treatments

daylesford massage healing centre

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

16 The year that was...

www.tlnews.com.au

To shave or not to shave, that is Jeff’s question

E hair.

VER since man first gazed at his reflection in the surface of a limpid pool and wondered “Does this beard make me look cool?” us blokes have grappled with the daily grind of removing facial

We’ve tried so many tools, from oyster shells to straight razors to electric shavers to multi-blades and more. But let’s face it - shaving every day is a drag and for most of us going grizzly with a beard isn’t an option. Most full beards look silly anyway and, besides, groomed properly, they take as much attention maybe more - as a daily shave.

Most men try all kinds of shaving implements, not because they’re seeking some mythical ultimate shave but because they’re bored. Thus it is that I decided to have a go with the recently revived so-called safety razor. These razors were big deals in my father’s time. When I started shaving, it was with one of his safety razors. But now they’re back and being advertised on television.

Instead of a cut-throat straight razor that needed frequent sharpening on a leather strop, a safety razor holds in place one super-sharp disposable blade that can also be used to scrape paint off windows when they become too dull for scraping faces.

Because I saw it on TV, I went with the Micro Touch One. For $30 I got a well-made stainless steel handle, a chrome-plated stand, and 12 double-edge blades. Once those blades wear out, replacements cost $4.95 for a package of five. This replacement blade price is a key selling point of the revived interest in safety razors. The multi-blade replacements can cost more than $30 for a package of six.

As for shaving with the Micro Touch One: well, to borrow from the title of the 2008 Paul Thomas Anderson film, “There will be blood”. Be sure you’ve got a good supply of tissues on hand and be prepared to go out looking like Norman Gunston, the renowned “little Aussie bleeder”.

Maybe it’s because I’ve mainly been shaving with a Philips electric for the past three years and my face has gone soft, but when my wife saw the bathroom sink she considered calling 000. I’d say it was a close shave, which is also a euphemism for narrowly escaping a messy situation, and I pretty much ruined a good bath towel after my first Micro Touch shave.

There’s something attractive about going back to basics in all kinds of endeavours. The stylish simplicity of a single blade in a metal handle still appeals to me. And once the wounds heal, I may give the Micro Touch another go. Or maybe I won’t.

Words: Jeff Glorfeld | Image: Kyle BarnesJeff’s story first appeared in The Local on August 17, 2015. Jeff was not injured in the making of this image.

Standing up for the Hepburn Community

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

www.tlnews.com.au

The year that was... 17

Love of reading leads to desire to write

L

YONVILLE resident Saskia Heath has just published her first book, Community of Us. The former director of the Hepburn Springs Swiss Italian Festa and business owner of Hookturn Industries – where she spent five years making reusable takeaway coffee cups, took time to chat with editor Donna Kelly.

DK: When did you know you had a book inside you?

SH: My dad taught me to read before I even started school and my best friend in primary school was the librarian. I think my love of reading naturally led to the desire to write. I have always kept a journal and have done some copywriting in my career but it was many years between wanting to write and actually completing a novel.

DK: What was the writing process like for you – easy, hard…

SH: I loved writing the first draft and found it very easy, I became totally absorbed in it to the point where I almost bought items at the supermarket that my characters needed. The editing and rewriting process I found hard at times and it was many drafts before it was ready to be published.

DK: How long did it take to write your book?

SH: The first draft three months, all the editor notes and rewrites took over a year.

DK: What’s it about – without giving too much away?

SH: Lapsed naturopath Matilda dreams of a quieter life, away from the city, while disillusioned scientist Jessie wants to escape his lab and get a girlfriend. A change in circumstance means Matilda heads off on an adventure to a sustainable community in northern NSW. Neither of them can envision the catastrophe that lies ahead.

Community of Us is a thrilling ride about the lengths we will go to to survive.

DK: How did you find your subject matter?

SH: It started from not being able to find what I wanted to read. I wanted a strong female character but a bit of romance too, I wanted a bit of sci-fi but not all robots and zombies then I thought well I am going to write it. Then it took on a life of its own, I’m not sure it ended up where it started out but I let the story take me.

DK: And where can we find a copy?

SH: Community of Us is published through Amazon Kindle. You don’t need a Kindle device to read through Amazon Kindle, the app is available on all tablets and smartphones. The direct link is amazon.com/dp/B00VHWOCYU and like my Saskia Heath - Author Facebook page at facebook. com/saskiaheathauthor

DK: Thanks. Oh, what’s your Lyonville story?

SH: Spending some of my childhood living in the country gave me a love for country life. I had yearned to get out of the city for years but work and friends kept me tied there. Life seemed to be flying by and I thought - come on just do it. After looking around the district and never finding the “perfect” house I went and looked at some land in Lyonville DK: Can anyone write a book? and fell in love with it. Then I built a house just SH: I think anyone can start a book, it takes a lot of how I wanted it and it’s been the best move. The commitment to keep on going, it is lonely and hard work. community is so welcoming and I enjoy knowing But if you love it, you can definitely do it. I used an editor all my neighbours. It’s only got a pub, but that’s all twice, once early on for structural and content notes then we need.

I used a shark-eyed copy editor at the end of the process to fix my grammar and typos. My book is much better for professional help and I would recommend anyone starting Image: Kyle Barnes Saskia’s story first appeared in The Local on out to use an editor. As Stephen King says “to write is April 13, 2015 human, to edit is divine”.

DK: With one book under your belt do you have more wanting to come out?

SH: Community of Us is part of a series so the next one is under way and I hope to have it out before the end of the year. I have heaps of other ideas too but I want to get this series out first.

“The community is so welcoming and I enjoy knowing all my neighbours. It’s only got a pub, but that’s all we need.”

SHE’S BACK!!!!!!

Australia’s leading transformational therapist and advisor to the stars returns to the region after a six-year absence.......

“She’s one of the finest human beings I’ve ever met” Lionel Richie

The list of names is mind-boggling. The number of people with diverse backgrounds and achievements all point to the amazing talent in the world.

Yet there is one common denominator these leadings lights of show business, sports, business and politics share: Teymara Antonio-Wright.

Teymara is perhaps the most successful ‘transformational therapist’ on the planet. She is a motivator, life coach, emotional eating expert, seminar presenter, corporate trainer, trauma therapist, intuitive astrologer and more. Most of all – in the words of one of her celebrity clients – she is an enormous help to people coping with life’s challenges no matter what form they may take. You may have seen her working on “Celebrity Overhaul” and “Overhaul” or being interviewed on “Sixty Minutes – The Heroin Debate”; on “ET” out of LA; or “Mornings” discussing emotional eating, addiction and marriage break ups. Someone who sings her praises is none other than Lionel Richie and his ex-wife Brenda who consulted with her during the ‘Dancing On The Ceiling Tour’ February ’87. So impressed were they by her professionalism, accuracy and down-to-earth approach that upon return to America they spread word of their find from ‘down under’ to friends like Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Quincy Jones, Cicely Tyson, to cite just a few.

Teymara says she is forever grateful for their trust in her and belief in her work. “It was like Lionel and Brenda were stones thrown into a pond and the ripple effect started and it’s still going 29 years later.” Teymara has continued being consulted by Lionel to this very day and is considered part of the family.

Closer to home we’re looking at the likes of Tina Arena, Sigrid Thornton, Marcia Hines (who says of Teymara – “Sometimes life doesn’t make sense and that’s when Teymara comes in. Trust me on it.”) Peter Morrissey (“She is one amazing individual. Basically she is the essential ingredient to everyone’s lives.”) and the late Peter Brock who met Teymara through his daughter attending one of her “Born To Be Free” seminars. Peter was so impressed with the work Teymara was doing with young people and adults that he became a patron of her youth foundation along with Mary Coustas, Peter Morrissey and Marcia Hines. From there she became Brocky’s spiritual advisor and close friend.

When asked about Teymara and her work Peter said “She has a very powerful tone in her message. Things just seem to fall into place after speaking with her.”

Teymara is bringing her “Women’s Only” seminar to “Hotel Frangos” in Daylesford, the first being Sunday 31st January plus, through her professional & personal association with the new owners, will be directing her corporate clients to hold their trainings at the venue. She will be the resident trainer and motivator presented to organisations wishing to use “Hotel Frangos” for their corporate or staff trainings.

Teymara is known to have an uncanny ability to get to the bottom of what businesses and organisations require to create their desired outcomes be it financial or aligning staff to create the goals of their employers. Her work is totally unique and created around her long list of qualifications including Government-accredited Work Place Training; Government -accredited Conflict Resolution; Clinical Hypnotherapy (dip); Clinical Nutrition (dip); Business management (dip). Some of the companies who have enlisted her support have been Endota, Perfect Events, Frat House and a division of Healthscope.

Teymara teaches that people get into trouble when they start defining who they are by what they do. You are not and will never be your career!

To learn more about Teymara, her seminars, trainings plus her one-on-one sessions go to www.teymara.com

www.tlnews.com.au

The year that was...19

Oven opened

T

HE 5000 Club has presented a “flash Italian Ilve” oven to the Anglican Parish of Daylesford.

Last Friday, at the weekly lunch, Ballarat MP Catherine King performed a special “opening of the oven” celebration. Also present were Harry Santavas and Simon Burgess of The Good Guys in Brighton who reduced the price of the oven making the purchase possible.

The oven will be used by The 5000 Club for its weekly three-course meals and other groups using the hall. Committee organiser Loretta Little said the volunteers had been working with a 16-year-old oven which “took 20 minutes just to light”.

“I decided, with the volunteers’ approval, that we had enough money to buy a new stove but the Ilve, which is commercial grade, was more than $4000.

“But when I told The Good Guys why I wanted it, they did a bit of magic on their calculator, and brought the price down to just over $2000. The parish council then paid for it to be delivered and installed.”

Ms Little said the 5000 Club, which started in 2011, served an average of 40 meals each Friday, meaning volunteers had worked over an old stove for 7360 three-course lunches.

The 5000 Club’s story first appeared in “We now have a plethora of volunteers because The Local on June 8, 2015 once they start, they stay. It is really all about them. It all works really well. We are very happy with what we do. We have a happy atmosphere. It’s wonderful.”

NOW OPEN

every weekend & public holidays UPCYCLING HOME STUDIO

11am to 5pm

TRENTHAM EASTER

&

SHOW

CECEBAIN Upcycling Home Studio has new products being created every two weeks.

Lots of products for the garden, along with metal and wood coffee tables, and bespoke furniture.

Come and see us soon!

Address: 20 Coomoora School Road, Coomoora (4 mins from Daylesford centre) Phone: 0428 654 549 | Email: admin@cecebain.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/CecebainStudio

Calling all artists!

The Trentham Easter Art & Craft Show will be on from March 25 to March 28 over Easter 2016 - so start thinking about your works for entry as it will come quickly once the rush and excitement of Christmas is over.

Entry forms will be sent out to all artists on our mailing list during January.

Entries closing date is Friday, March 11.

Enquiries – Jill McCallum on 5424 1483 jillmccallum@live.com Or Bette McLaren on 5424 1127 mclarenjr@bigpond.com

DAYLESFORD’S New Year’s Eve Parade attracted plenty of floats and onlookers.

Daylesford Secondary College took out Best Float. Images: Lindsay Smith and Karen Brothers. For more images go to The Local’s Facebook page!

GLENLYON’S Mixed Sports Day was a big success with people enjoying the mineral water drinking, bullboar eating and old-fashioned activities. Clockwise from above: Joanne Murdoch finishes two bullboars to win in a time of 2 minutes and 36 seconds, the children’s races were hotly contested, an appreciative crowd watches Fiona McDonald win the women’s mineral water drinking competition in 4.61 seconds and past champion Matt Blackwell is consoled by Barry Phypers after he was disqualified by judge Jack Cooper for “spillage”.

Images: Kyle Barnes

A Day In The Life...

Words: Kate Taylor | Image: David White

S

HE won’t chuck you in the back of her ambulance and drive off, as might have happened 30 years ago - these days modern paramedics like Eileen Henderson are highly skilled, degree-holding frontline specialists.

The team manager for Kyneton Ambulance, Eileen has seen a lot in doing a job that has no average day.

Su m

me r

20

15

you Advert r bu i sine se s Litt s le L In The o for cal $13 less than p kyle @tln er wee ews. k com .au *Co nd ition s ap ply

8am: First up for each shift, it’s a vehicle check – equipment is also checked, along with drugs and medications so that the team is ready to respond. Even if they are out getting fuel, if the ambulance is dispatched then the team will respond immediately, no matter where it is.

9am: Back at the branch to do some study; refreshing on protocols is a must because as a paramedic, you never know what situation you’re going to walk into, and there are guidelines to cover everything. There’s a lot to know. This time, it’s revising the changing guidelines on paediatric pain relief, as well as approaches to cardiac arrest.

10.30am: A netball player has gone down, and the initial paramedic assessment shows a muscular-skeletal injury; pain relief is administered, along with supportive care in the form of a splint. The patient is transported to hospital for x-rays.

11.30am: A quick stop back at the branch to re-stock equipment and medications.

12pm: Dispatched to a cardiac arrest; as first response the team works hard to get a good outcome but sometimes that doesn’t happen. The paramedics stay at the scene for three hours to give immediate care to the grieving widow, along with family and friends affected by grief – they also liaise with other services, such as police, to ensure that their well-being is cared for long-term.

4.30pm: Dispatched to transport a patient to a Melbourne hospital for surgery; as a neuro-case it requires major intervention and more definitive treatment than is offered at Kyneton. The long round-trip takes four hours, but a lot of travelling is just a part of another shift as a paramedic covering an area stretching from Trentham to Gisborne, Lancefield to Castlemaine.

Eileen’s story first appeared in The Local on October 12, 2015

www.daylesfordcinema.org.au

Tuesday 5 January 10am The Good Dinosaur (PG) 1pm Star Wars: The Force Awakens (M) 4pm The Good Dinosaur (PG) 6pm Star Wars: The Force Awakens (M)

Sunday 10 January 11am The Good Dinosaur (PG) 1:15pm Alvin & The Chipmunks 4 (G) 3:15pm Star Wars: The Force Awakens (M) 6pm Bridge of Spies (M)

Wednesday 6 January 11am The Good Dinosaur (PG) 1:15pm Star Wars: The Force Awakens (M) 4pm The Good Dinosaur (PG) 6pm Star Wars: The Force Awakens (M)

Tuesday 12 January 10am Alvin & The Chipmunks 4 (G) 12pm The Good Dinosaur (PG) 3pm Star Wars: The Force Awakens (M) 6pm Bridge of Spies (M)

Friday 8 January 1pm The Good Dinosaur (PG) 3:15pm Alvin & The Chipmunks 4 (G) 5:15pm Star Wars: The Force Awakens (M) 8pm Bridge of Spies (M)

Wednesday 13 January 11am The Good Dinosaur (PG) 1:15pm Alvin & The Chipmunks 4 (G) 3:15pm Star Wars: The Force Awakens (M) 6pm Bridge of Spies (M)

Saturday 9 January 1pm The Good Dinosaur (PG) 3:15pm Alvin & The Chipmunks 4 (G) 5:15pm Star Wars: The Force Awakens (M) 8pm Bridge of Spies (M)

Thursday 14 January 6pm Nowhere Boys: The book of Shadows (PG) Q&A with producer Open Caption Selected Sessions

www.tlnews.com.au

The year that was... 23

The Trentham Farmers Market has joined with Trentham Makers Market

Third Saturday, 9am - 1pm

SUNDAY JANUARY 10TH Fresh local produce including a wonderful range of meat, fruit and vegetables, cheese, wine, honey, preserves, pastries, coffee, plants, chickens and more.

Free music and entertainment, and gorgeous alpacas.

SECOND SUNDAY O F E V E RY M O N T H

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

Collins Place, Fraser Street, Clunes.

Enquiries: 0439 717 006 Visit us at www.clunesfarmersmarket.com.au Connect with us on facebook

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!

Country Market Leonards Hill Hall Saturday, January 16 9am - 2pm Locally grown produce, Plants, Sausage Sizzle, Jewellery, Devonshire Teas, Wines, Preserves, Crafts, Collectables & much more...

STALLS AVAILABLE (No Take Away Food Stalls) Enq/bookings phone 5348 3351 or 5348 6569

24 News

www.tlnews.com.au

Lavender Festival

L

AVANDULA Swiss Italian Farm at Shepherds Flat is again celebrating its lavender harvest with an exciting festival on Sunday, January 10.

Visitors are welcome to learn about the lavender process from cutting in the field to watching the flowers being distilled for their precious essential oil.

Hundreds of bunches will hang beneath every available verandah and, of course, fresh lavender will be for sale.

The Lavender Harvest festival wouldn’t be complete without great local music and entertainment with the Morris Dancers, Brandragon, joining in to help celebrate the lavender harvest. Alex Larm will stir the heart strings with his versions of classic songs.

Another treat will include Mara Ripani singing and cooking in the original stone farmhouse.

For the young-at-heart Darryl and his farm will have plenty of baby animals to pet and feed. If you need a bit more colour, Annie can paint you or your child’s face with character and flair.

A number of artisan stallholders will have their local wares and produce available for sale. The original 1850s stone farmhouse will be available for tours and a travelogue of Ticino hosted by descendants, Faye and Boyd.

There will be plenty of good local food available, plus – if the weather isn’t too extreme – the wood-fired oven will be cranked up. The fun starts at 10 am and it’s $6 per adult and $2 per school-aged child. Dogs are welcome on a leash.

Established in 1974

Cellar Door Open 7 days 10am-5pm Kitchen Open Friday-Monday 12-4pm 30 Roddas Lane, Musk 03 5348 5550 office@passingclouds.com.au

Oh what a games it is, to make wine from vines and passing clouds…

www.passingclouds.com.au

www.tlnews.com.au

Nom nom nom 25

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 Blue Bean Love Cafe, Hepburn - Curry Night with vegan options available - $18

Tuesday 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 Belvedere Social, Daylesford - four shared courses with glass of wine - $50

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 Belvedere Social, Daylesford - four shared courses with glass of wine - $50

Friday Grange Bellinzona, Hepburn - Two courses and a glass of wine - $35 Blackwood Hotel - Fab 5 meals specials from $18 Blue Bean Love Cafe, Hepburn - Burger Night with vegan options available - $16

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

Sunday 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.

Blue Bean Love Cafe, Hepburn has Happy Hours from Friday to Monday, from 4 to 6pm with $5 beer, wine or bubbles.

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

www.daylesfordbowlingclub.com.au

HAVE A TASTE OF HISTORY

The hisToric

Blackwood hoTel

nd Gre

N

Martin

am renth ale T

Street

Est.1868

Blackwood Hotel ad

ad

t Ro

s Fore

Golden Po int Ro

Enjoy the relaxed local atmosphere, Music & Entertainment or just a quiet cool one anytime.

New owners, new chef and new menu. l Open 7 days/nights - Lunch and Dinner. l Quality Wines/ Fresh Seafood. l Accomodation l Functions (and friendly Kookaburras)

Blackwood Hotel 1 Golden Point Road Blackwood 3458.

Phone 03 5368 6501

CFA

Visit ‘JINDARUP’

Blackwood’s newest destination for gifts, art, craft antiques, books & more (opposite the pub).

Live music Saturday nights!

65 Gingell St Castlemaine VIC 3450 Phone 5472 1250 www.railwayhotelcastlemaine.com.au railwayhotelcastlemaine

www.tlnews.com.au

The year that was... 27

Move to Creswick for Ian “Wally” Wallace

L

EADING Senior Constable Ian “Wally” Wallace joined the Victoria Police in June 1995. Since a young boy he had always wanted to be a policeman but instead joined the Australian Army at 17. When the opportunity came up in 1995 he “grabbed it with both hands - no regrets” and started duties at Daylesford Police Station in December 1999 “just in time to see the new millennium in”. Before moving to take up duties at Creswick, Wally took up The Local’s offer to tell his story.

“I was living here prior to working here and loved the community and felt by working here I could give something back. My initial duties in Daylesford were general duties but over the years I have had many portfolios including youth, liquor licensing, event planning and emergency management.

I can say without any doubts that I have enjoyed working with the youth of the area more than anything. I have been fortunate to have worked in Daylesford long enough to follow an entire “generation” of students from kinder to VCE. I am a very big believer in building partnerships between youth and police from a very, very, early age.

I feel it is very important to show the kids that police are extremely approachable and are here to help. I always encourage the kids to say hello if they see me in the street, on or off duty.

I am lucky enough to go away with the primary school every second year on the grade 5 and 6 camp and always find this a very rewarding experience both for me and the kids. I have also had a fair bit to do with the secondary school age kids with cybersafety and cyberbullying presentations.

The job can have some tough aspects to it that the public don’t always see. I recall a weekend quite a few years ago where I had to attend four separate jobs where four people, including two who were very young, had passed away.

All four jobs were over an 18-hour period.

I knew two of the families of the people who had passed away and that was pretty tough for everyone. You live and work in a small community and this is what can happen.

I have had to deliver bad news to quite a few friends over the years which has been pretty tough as well. But overall the good aspects have far outweighed the bad ones.

I have to say that I will miss the kids the most, without any doubt. Next would be the community. When new members have come to Daylesford over the years they always comment on how friendly the community is. Everyone always waving and smiling. A little different to Melbourne.

I have had my name down for a transfer to Creswick for quite some time and a vacancy recently came up. I am seeking new challenges and experiences in a different community.

I am hoping to become involved in the youth side of things again, especially kids at risk, again trying to build up the partnerships between local services and schools involved in youth. I am also hoping to build the positive relationship that I had with the community in Daylesford.

I will definitely still be involved with the local community in Daylesford. I will still be heavily involved in the organising and running of the Blue Light Discos and hope to get the Creswick primary aged kids involved too. I am on the committee at the Daylesford RSL Sub Branch in Daylesford and still have many friends here in town so you will see me floating around.

I have absolutely loved my time at Daylesford. The community is unbelievable and it has been an absolute pleasure working in Daylesford.”

Wally’s story first appeared in The Local on April 13, 2015

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 17/01/16 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

28 The year that was...

Gig Guide

www.tlnews.com.au

Singing a “lifebuoy”

Perfect Drop, Daylesford SIN Service Industry Night with DJ – Monday, January 4 Family Farm Band – Friday, January 8 Tanya Petrini and Vida Jazz – Saturday, January 9 SIN Service Industry Night – Monday, January 11 Cat and Clint – Friday, January 15 Jennie Brown and Bruce Millar – Saturday, January 16 SIN Service Industry Night – Monday, January 18

Blackwood Hotel, Blackwood Page Spiers – Sunday, January 10, noon-3pm Harry J Nanos – Sunday, January 17, noon-3pm Page Spiers – Sunday, January 24, noon-3pm Shaw and Wilkinson – Sunday, January 31, noon-3pm

Bluebean Love Cafe, Hepburn Buck Jr and The Reputation – every Sunday, 5pm-7pm

Daylesford Cidery, Musk Lunar Dust – Saturday, January 16, 12.30pm to 4pm

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

J

ONATHON Welch started his full-time singing career when he joined the Victorian State Opera chorus in 1980 – but he is probably most famous for creating the Choir of Hard Knocks for the ABC. A parttime Daylesford resident, Jonathon told The Local a bit about himself.

“After joining the Victorian State Opera chorus I then went on to study at Queensland Conservatorium before I joined Opera Australia at the end of 1987 and made my debut with Dame Joan Sutherland in the Merry Widow. After 15 years of full-time singing in opera, musicals, G&S and in concert here in Australia and overseas I decided to take a break and returned to teaching singing and choral directing. It was in 2001 I began the first choir experiencing homelessness and disadvantage in Sydney with Sydney Street Choir before I returned home to Melbourne and created the Choir of Hard Knocks for the ABC. My vision for arts and cultural programs for the disadvantaged was launched in 2012 with the School of Hard Knocks where we have a whole range of arts programs including a very extensive Absolutely Everybody choral program with 14 choir programs across Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

I owe much of my love of singing and choirs to the influence of my mother who was a great singer, accompanist and church organist. Most of my early experiences of singing in choirs were at the little church in Balaclava in Melbourne, before I went onto Melbourne Boys High School and really found my love of choral music and singing. I suppose in many ways it has been the “lifebuoy” that has carried me through many difficult twists and turns in my personal life. I just love sharing the knowledge, skills and passion I have for singing with people now and “playing it forward” which is our program philosophy at the School of Hard Knocks.

I’ve been very fortunate to perform in many wonderful theatres around the world including Sydney Opera House (many times), Royal Albert Hall in London, Basilica Notre Dame in Montreal and of course many of our beautiful theatres in Melbourne. But I must admit I love coming back to Daylesford and performing in the town hall for all the local residents. It has such a fabulous acoustic and atmosphere.”

Jonathon’s story first appeared in The Local on March 2, 2015

26 - 28 Albert Street Daylesford 5348 3711

www.tlnews.com.au

Wining & Dining 29

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 & $1 Oysters

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

Sunday (Funday) $3.50 Pots all day

THURSDAY

DECEMBER/JANUARY

Locals Menu

EXTENDED TRADING HOURS Sunday – Wednesday: 12noon – 4pm Thursday – Saturday: 12noon – 11pm*

2 courses $25/3 courses $30

NEW YEAR'S EVE

*Christmas Day: 12noon – 4pm online booking only

Open until 11pm

31 High Street, Trentham (03) 5424 1144

The Plough Gift Voucher

the perfect gift for everyone at Christmas

theplough.com.au

Beer Garden $18 mains

S PA C E N T R E M E A T S Suppli e rs of Ge nuin e l ocal prod uce

Your Local Steak Specialists OUR AGED PRIME RIB EYE

OUR OWN SCOTCH FILLET

OUR RESTAURANT GRADE AGED T BONE

OUR EXCLUSIVE ‘SHER WAGYU’

k you are after If it’s real stea is the place to go esford. yl a D ts Spa Centre Mea in aged beef We specialise e, Rib eye, T- bon agyu er nd Sh W Scotch Fillet a is produced b & aged beef ar Our prime lam Hills Natural’ ne en re ‘G m far s on the family on our premise ed ag y dr ef be e Malmsbury & th . rd sfo yle Da in cellent range of We make an ex and babs, Schnitzels preprepared Ke famous e th ing lud es, inc gourmet sausag ar’, Malaysian chicken, ll Bo Swiss Italian ‘Bu d more.

Greek lamb an

. Daylesford.

37 Vincent Street us on Facebook nd Fi .

Phone 5348 2094

Seniors card holders 10% off !

30 News

www.tlnews.com.au

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.

“Australians all let us ring Joyce” Make sure your Aussie Day message doesn’t get lost and get your business’s advert in our fantastic Australia Day Feature!

Bookings close on Wednesday, January 13 and it’s filling up fast. You know what to do!

Call team TL! on 5348 7883

SATURDAY

FRIDAY

HAPPY HOUR $5 115 MAIN ROAD HEPBURN SPRINGS 5348 2297

HOUSE BEER| WINE | BUBBLES

4PM 6PM

LIVE MUSIC 5-7pm

BURGER NIGHT

$16

HAPPY HOUR $5

HOUSE BEER| WINE | BUBBLES

LIVE

MUSIC

5PM 7PM

SUNDAY 4PM 6PM

HAPPY HOUR

$5 $10

HOUSE BEER| WINE | BUBBLES COCKTAILS

LIVE

MUSIC

5PM 7PM

SUNDAY 4PM 6PM

HAPPY HOUR AS YESTERDAY

4PM 6PM

CURRY NIGHT DO YOU MISS COSY CORNER? WE DO! HEPBURN’S NEW CURRY NIGHT @ BLUE BEAN LOVE CAFE

www.tlnews.com.au

The year that was... 31

Feasting as a cultural education Words and image: Anthony Sawrey

S

ITTING down to eat food, preferably with a table full of friends, has always been the quickest and simplest way to learn about the world around us and garner a deeper appreciation of other cultures. It is for this reason that Uncle Phil Ahwang, also known as The First Cook, is so passionate about his craft. But unlike most eating experiences, he brings to his table so much more than good food.

Phil is a respected elder from the Torres Strait Islands and an inspiring communicator and cultural teacher. He grew up in north Queensland but now lives in the Yandoit hills with his wife Sonja.

While the chilly regions of Victoria may be far removed from the lifestyle of the tropics, he carries his rich knowledge in his heart, taking every opportunity to teach spirituality, language, dance and storytelling to people of all ages.

To achieve this, he uses cooking and the traditional Torres Strait feasting ceremony of Kup-Murri. Kup-Murri is the regional word for an underground oven where an array of food is wrapped, buried and cooked over several hours.

But Kup-Murri is much more than just an oven; traditionally it is an important part of communal life and of all social gatherings from weddings and birth to funerals.

Unlike our usual public eating experiences where the diners are separate from the chef in the kitchen, Kup-Murri is a lengthy ritual involving all participants from beginning to end. Uncle Phil has hosted Kup-Murri feasts at lifestyle festivals such as Rainbow, NAIDOC Day, Aboriginal men’s camps and other community events. In recognition of his work he recently won a national Deadly award for his contribution to indigenous cultural development.

Phil firmly believes in Kup-Murri’s ability to not only provide great tucker, but its importance in teaching self worth, team work and vital knowledge regarding health and well being. “It’s a way of encouraging community and healthy living,” says Phil, “so we can be stronger, have focussed decisions and make them to look after our children of the future.”

The traditional foods of the Kup-Murri consist of fish, dugong and turtle, vegetable and fruits such as yam, sweet potato cassava, mangoes and paw paw.

However, just about anything can be added to the pit, it is only limited by the chef ’s imagination. What is most important is bringing people together to celebrate and thank the creation spirits for looking after them.

The work is divided into four teams reflecting the traditional four elements that maintain life. The fire team tends the oven, the earth team prepares the food, the water team focuses on hygiene and wind team takes care of setting the table for the feast.

Through these collective actions - work, song, dance, eating and conversation, food becomes a conduit for education and cultural learning.

“It allows traditional teaching to move beyond the negative elements in the foundations of Australia’s past and become something that celebrates the great multiculturalism in the history of our nation,” says Phil.

“I have always believed we should celebrate indigenous people every day, not just during NAIDOC Week or Sorry Day and that happens every time we do Kup-Murri.”

It is special thing when something as universal as eating together can be embodied in such a way; to become a true mediator between people and an empowering act. You won’t see that happen on MasterChef anytime soon.

Uncle Phil’s story first appeared in The Local on May 11, 2015

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

32 Trades

www.tlnews.com.au

FLYSCREENS MEASURED,

MADE, AND FITTED ON THE SPOT! FROM $ 00

03 5464 7380

• Roller Shutters • Security Doors • Fly Screens

39

SECURITY DOORS MADE TO MEASURE AT FACTORY DIRECT PRICES *Conditions apply.

Hepburn Shire & Ballarat

Phone: 03 5464 7380 or Michael 0422 643 901 Email: sales@onsiteflyscreensballarat.com.au www.onsiteflyscreens.com.au

www.tlnews.com.au

The year that was... 33

The Local, a multi-award winning publication

T

“This style of writing - highlighting local characters - will be appreciated by The Local’s audience and is what such publications should be about.”

The Local’s editor Donna Kelly said the award was peer recognition at the highest The award was for the series, On The Land, which ran for five editions. level.

Stories were written by Donna Kelly, Kate Taylor and Anthony Sawrey, with “The Local has gone from strength to strength. We were first officially recognised photography by Kyle Barnes and Anthony. in November last year when Senator John Madigan declared in the Australian The idea of the series was to showcase different people working the land around Parliament that we were the future of regional publishing and then in January The the region and continuing rural traditions.

Local was announced as the Daylesford Rotary Club’s 2015 Business of the Year. And The first was George Mercieca, who breeds Brahman cattle, and was happy now we have the Rural Press Club of Victoria saying what we do, highlighting all enough to pop his grand-daughter on Norman, who weighs in at 950kg. things local, is the way to go. That’s a nice compliment.

The second was about drystone walls which have become a bit of a tourism hit “But while awards are great, it’s just as good, maybe better, to have a local come around the region. Eric Sartori’s Yandoit property is surrounded with stone walls up to us while we are out and about and say ‘loving The Local – keep up the good which were started by his Cornish great grandparents in the 1860s. work’.

The third documented the life of Bob Conroy, a horse trainer from “And they can rest assured, we will.”

Korweinguboora, who is the only person still using the track at the former Daylesford The awards were held on Friday, August 22 with the best feature series award Trotting Club. sponsored by Telstra.

The fourth took us back to Mr Sartori, a dairy farmer of 50 years who has also been a member of the British Society of Dowsers and a water diviner for 60 years.

Finally, The Local headed to Bullarto for the colourful annual tractor pull and Since this story was printed on August 31, The Local also won 2015 Best clapped as a few drivers managed the cherished Full Pull.

Commercial Float in the Kyneton Daffodil and Arts Festival. Just sayin’...

The award judges said in “an era of depleted newspaper resources and stronger focus on online news, maintaining links to local communities is becoming harder and harder”.

“The best feature series in a non-daily newspaper is a reminder of why grass roots journalism is so important. The value of maintaining these local connections and highlighting the good human interest stories that exist wherever we live is something that should carry local newspapers into the future.

“The importance of farmers and people who live off the land or continue longheld rural traditions is well captured in this series of five articles, each showcasing a different occupation in the rural area.

“The articles nicely capture the colour and character of the subjects and are accompanied by suitable photos.

HE Local has won the prestigious Rural Press Club of Victoria’s Best Features Series (non-daily) award.

High Spa invites you to its Open Day Saturday, January 30th, 2016 | Day 4 of Beef Week Brian & Wayne Mobbs, 45 Lyman St, Daylesford Vic 3460 Ph (03) 5348 2357 Brian: 0427 482 357 Wayne: 0427 373 044 Kevin: 0428 531 173 Email: highspa@highspa.com.au Website: www.highspa.com.au

• High Quality, performance recorded, working age and yearling sale bulls from top sires • Sale PTIC performance recorded females

Details and directions visit www.highspa.com.au

34 Sport

No excuses for not giving tennis a go

D

AYLESFORD Lawn Tennis Club is holding a “no excuses” January.

President Greg Malcher said the New Year was the perfect time to “decide that in 2016 you are finally going to get back on the tennis court after 10,15, 20 or 30 years away from playing”.

“And to make it easier for locals the beautiful grass courts in West Street, Daylesford are yours to use free for the whole of January. So what are you waiting for?

“If you have never played on grass then you have a great experience awaiting you: it is a natural surface which is cooler to play on than those hard synthetic surfaces and also nicer on knees and feet.”

Greg said anyone could drop down and play as long as they like anytime in January. And on Saturdays from 3.30pm to 5pm, Tuesdays from 6pm to 7pm and Sundays from 10am to 11am, (9am to 10am if it’s hot), the club will try to provide tennis balls along with racquets if they are available.

Contact Haig Becker on 0434 284362 for Tuesdays and Sundays, and Greg Malcher on 0419 482 230 for Saturdays.

Greg said the Daylesford Lawn Tennis Club had more than 150 members with a large range of abilities and was as keen for white line fever players as hit-and-giggle players.

“This is because tennis is such a fantastic game that whole families can play together, as well as being a way for individuals to get fit by being involved in a great community sport.”

Membership is $100 for the year.

Link: www.daylesfordtennis.com/

OZ TRANS DAYLESFORD --------------------------------# REMOVALS # PRODUCE # FURNITURE #GENERAL FREIGHT ---------------------------------MELB. & COUNTRY VICTORIA DAILY --------------------------------FREE QUOTES

0407 697 877

Ballarat Tiles The Tile People Winner 2008/2009/2010 Vic. Tile Council BEST Regional Showroom

www.ballarattiles.com.au

Your Local Tile expert.

• Ceramic Tiles • Porcelain Tiles • Mosaic Tiles • Glass Tiles • Decor/Listellos

• Tessellated • Outdoor Tiles • Natural Stone • Facade Tiles • Fireplace Tiles

• Kitchen Tiles • Bathroom Tiles • Swimming Pool Tiles • Tools & Accessories • Timber & Laminate Flooring

The Tile People Members will provide you with the best in service, advice, quality and value for money.

2020 Dawson (BallaratCentral) Central) DawsonStreet, Street,North North (Ballarat

5333 5336

Open 6 Days 5333 5336 Fax: 5331 8366 Email: sales@ballarattiles.com.au

Open 6 Days Fax: 5331 8366 Email: sales@ballarattiles.com.au

www.tlnews.com.au

The year that was...35

60 years with CFA

I

N THE old language it’s three score, but in today’s terms it’s 60 years. Either way, it’s a long time.

And that’s how long Len Orr, Robert Cooper and Peter Brown have served the Musk Fire Brigade. The trio, all farmers, joined up on July 1, 1955, two of them just 15 years old and keen to help keep their homes, and neighbours, safe.

Robert, better known as Bert, said when he joined he found himself with a knapsack and a wet bag.

“In those days we had worn out second hand trucks which quite often didn’t get to where they were supposed to be. Now they give us new trucks, and when the new truck smell is gone, we get another truck. I just joined for safety.

If a fire got away from someone the local brigade was there to help, and we could go and help others too. I didn’t join to be a hero or get a medal.”

Peter, who is from nearby Bullarto said his first memory was fighting fires with an engine and pump popped on top of a truck. “I was about 15, my father was a member in the really early days, and I just came along with him.

“I don’t even know if I was a member in those early days.”

Len, who’s well known as the organiser of the Bullarto Tractor Pull, said he had always been a brigade member. “You were given a knapsack and if a fire started you just headed to the fire.”

Len, who had bulldozers and heavy machinery on hand, was also often called out to clear land and create firebreaks.

And while all three agree joining the local brigade is a good move they say they were never in any situations where they felt in danger. As Bert summed it up – “only the good die young, we weren’t worried”.

Bert, Len and Peter received their 60-year clasps at a ceremony yesterday, Sunday, October 25, at the Musk Fire Brigade Station. A number of other members also received long-service clasps and medals, and a new truck was duly handed over.

This story first appeared in The Local on October 26, 2015

SCRUBCUTTER

SS Y I M AR T ’ U N DO JAN AL! I R OU SPEC

Holistic Woody Weed Management Blackberry, Gorse, Broome, Bracken etc Removed & managed with NO chemicals Small block, difficult & awkward areas a specialty Using hand tools and a low impact walk-behind machine Environment and animal friendly Phone Sean for a quote on 0438 029 628 Check out Scrubcutter on Facebook!

Merbau $28.22 per 5.7m length On special for January or until stocks are sold.

Finger Jointed 90mm x 19mm x 5.7m Merbau $28.22 length.

Stylish, natural warm-brown coloured hard wearing hardwood, ideal for decking screens or fencing.

Come in to see our extensive range of timbers for all purposes.

RETAIL AND TRADE WE DELIVER ANYWHERE

WHITEHEADS TIMBER SALES BALLARAT 831 Creswick Road, Wendouree PH: 5339 3081 - FX: 5339 2636

www.wtsales.com.au

e: ballarat@wtsales.com.au

Call Jonathan Hurst 0411 216 043

Gardening: • Mowing including ride-on • Hedging, Pruning • & Brushcutting • Maintenance & Establishment of all gardens • Holiday rental Maintenance

Landscaping: • Fencing -Paling -Colourbond -Picket, post & rail • Retaining walls • Raised garden beds • Drive-ways & paths • Paving • Irrigation systems

Owner-operated, Established Local Business Fully Insured Free Quotes s_mountgardens@optusnet.com.au

36 Trades

www.tlnews.com.au

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

Cleaning and servicing of pools, hot tubs and jacuzzis.

Water chemistry and water balance Commercial properties

3 X3 STORAGE CONTAINERS 6 X3 STORAGE CONTAINERS SHIPPING CONTAINERS

Domestic applications

Inspection welcome by appointment

Reasonable rates All enquiries welcome Noel 0419 554 319 Declan 0438 212 107

Railway Crescent Daylesford P: 0437 482 586 F: 03 5348 1200 E: sales@chss.com.au www.chss.com.au

Consulting in Administration & Management Book-keeping Administration Payroll Temp service Supplier monthly reconciliation Qualified to manage a small team of office workers Christ Jules Services Julie Hanson 0459 619 701 julphil.hanson@gmail.com www.christjulesservices.com.au

Servicing Daylesford and Districts.

185

65

Ring John on

0427 508 840

www.tlnews.com.au

Trades 37

Need more calls?

Advertise your trade here for just $18.15 per week.

Phone 5348 7883. www.hepburnfencing.com.au

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

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

We stock The Local!

55 Vincent Street, Daylesford 5348 2061

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

Business & shopfront Vehicles & transport Digital printing & modern solutions Illuminated - lightbox & LED Gold leaf Promotional & events General signage & much more

services

SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION & MAINTENANCE

(03) 5348 6749 or 0437 747 619 PERIODIC INSPECTION AND REPORTING OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS TROUBLESHOOTING AND MAINTENANCE SUPERVISION OF SLUDGE PUMP-OUT LATEST SLUDGE-JUDGE TECHNOLOGY

www.sanae-svcs.com.au PO Box 1040, Daylesford, VIC 3460

koos.hulst@sanae-svcs.com.au

Moss Shading Solutions ‘Your complete flooring solutions’

Carpets, rugs, vinyls and timber floating floors

BALLARAT

VINCENT ST

MIDLAND HWY

HO

WE

ST

RA

IL

WA

Y

EAST ST

MI

DL

AN

D

HW

Y

Corner East and Mink Streets, Daylesford 5348 4097 All the best names in the business, call or call in for free quote.

Daylesford Floor Coverings

CENTRAL SPRINGS RD

MINK ST

For Central Highlands’ total shading solutions talk to Brian & Deborah Moss.

Exterior Awnings Folding Arm Tension systems Drop screen Traditional canvas Internal Blinds Roller & sunscreen Roman Blinds, Shutters SOMFY MOTORISATION SPECIALISTS

RING FOR QUOTATION / ADVICE 5348 4045 Studio 18 37 East Street, DAYLESFORD

www.tlnews.com.au

The year that was... 39

Sam Johnson on sisters, acting and canal boats

Words: Dan Lonergan | Image: Kyle Barnes

A

CTOR Samuel Johnson has had a great career but doesn’t think he is important. The 37-year-old, born in Daylesford and a self-confessed practising minimalist, has become one of this country’s most respected television and stage actors as well as voice-over person.

Sam’s most recent television production is Molly which hasn’t aired yet. As the title explains, he portrays colourful Australian music identity Ian “Molly’’ Meldrum based on the book, The Never, Um, Ever Ending Story.

He said it was a hoot playing him and meeting Molly. When asked have you seen the finished product, Sam says not yet and without his own television will watch it at Molly’s.

Sam has had more tragedy in his life than most, if not anyone, with his mother committing suicide when he was a toddler, his sister being diagnosed with cancer and his girlfriend, Lainie Woodlands also committing suicide in 2006. As expected he took a step back from his career, which at the time included an 18-month stint as the morning announcer at the radio station Nova FM, after Lainie died.

Remarkably despite having to endure all of this, Sam believes he has had a lucky life. He says, matter of factly, you just have to deal with it. “I probably have a poor man’s street version of a PHD in grief and loss and it’s made me a better person.”

Johnson is a self-proclaimed gypsy living here, there and everywhere and yearns to move back to his home region one day. However, he thinks he may end up somewhere else. “Yeah! On a canal boat in London, drinking red wine and reading a trashy novel.” And there goes that cackling laugh again. Whatever happens, let’s hope it’s not for a long time, because Sam Johnson the actor, the voice-over man and the organiser of a wonderful charity, Love Your Sister has too much to offer this country for many years to come.

His raspy sound is one of the most recognisable in the cut-throat world of voice-overs, where he says a day’s work in this field pays enough for him to do many projects other than acting including his most important, running the charity he set up called Love Your Sister.

He is raising money to find a cure for breast cancer after his sister Connie was diagnosed four years ago. Sam is very proud of how hard his sister has fought this disease. “However, mate the big picture is not good. She’s losing movement,” he says in a resigned manner. He has already raised $2 million, with his aim being $10 million and his message always being hammered, is to remind women to have their boobs checked regularly.

He rode a unicycle for a year in 2013 riding 15,000 kilometres in a year-long attempt to break the Guinness World Record and raise $1 million dollars. That was more than a success as he raised almost $1.5 million in that 12-month journey but he says there’s so much more to do.

“I am always working on Love Your Sister and trying to come up with new ideas and that’s why I love touring regional Australia doing plays.”

Sam’s story first appeared in The Local on July 20, 2105 Sam’s currently involved in a major tour with his production company performing the play Sex with Strangers with Tottie Goldsmith. “Ít’s a perfect mix.

Treading the boards and then rattling the tins for the charity after each show and the public have been great, the way they have supported it.”

BUSHFIRE ROOFTOP SPRINKLER SYSTEMS Sam has a unique Australian style that would probably succeed in Hollywood but he has no interest in trying his luck there. “Mate, I have set up this production company to do plays around the country and work on Love Your Sister. I am too 9 in 10 Houses in North America busy and besides, I love this place.” are saved from WILDFIRE He adds that he does encourage other Australian actors to try their luck in the by the same systems States so he can pick up the crumbs and then produces that cheeky laugh, which made his character Ewan so popular in the TV series, The Secret Life of Us, which ran between 2001 and 2004. That was where Sam shot to fame, but he almost didn’t as it took plenty of arm twisting to get him interested in the role. He described his Estimations for your requirements appearance at the audition as laissez faire to say the least. followed by a detailed plan and installation.

“I wasn’t wearing any shoes and was a bit untidy but the producers and directors said that’s the character we want. I turned it down but they kept asking and I kept saying no, until they mentioned that acclaimed Australian actor Claudia Karvan was joining the cast. When I heard that I said ‘where do I sign?’.”

Bainbridge Sprinkler Systems 0417746059 or 53482392 He also starred in another Australian series Rush, playing humorous communications expert, Leon Bronzic, which, when you get to know Johnson and it’s easy to get to know this likeable and talented actor, he in many ways played himself.

THE Glenlyon Cup is always a popular event at the Glenlyon Mixed Sports Day on New Year’s Day. In 2016, Abbey Fanning was the winner riding Just In Case followed by Marnie Turner on Adikah, Lauren Cocks on Scotty and Hugo Fanning, coming in hot, on Indi. For more images from the day go to page 21 or The Local’s Facebook page.

Image: Kyle Barnes