The Local January 15, 2024

January 15, 2024 Issue 297 Petition returns to Country

The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

2 About Us

www.tlnews.com.au

Front cover: In 1962 Malcolm Bray went to Yirrkala Mission in Northern Territory to work as a mechanic. His wife Ruth joined him three years later. There the Daylesford couple learnt the local Aboriginal language, and would often go to listen to the singing, the didgeridoo and the clapsticks in the evenings, and loved going out on Country with the Yolngu people. Late last year they received an invitation to return. Read Ruth's story on page 15.

Image: Kyle Barnes

January 15, 2024 Issue 297 Petition returns to Country

The Local is a fortnightly community publication covering the Central Highlands of Victoria.

The next edition is out on Monday, January 29, 2024. or online on Sunday, January 28 at www.tlnews.com.au Space bookings: Wednesday, January 24 Copy deadline: Thursday, January 25 Editorial deadline: Thursday, January 25 General manager: Kyle Barnes on 0416 104 283 or kyle@tlnews.com.au Editor: Donna Kelly on 0418 576 513 or news@tlnews.com.au

The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

Editorial: Eve Lamb on 0493 632 843 or editorial@tlnews.com.au Sub-editors: Nick Bunning, Lindsay Smith & Chester the Cat

The Local is a registered trademark of The Local Publishing Group Pty Ltd.

Writers: Eve Lamb, Kevin Childs, Tony Sawrey, Simone Kaplan & Donna Kelly

The Local is a member of the Victorian Country Press Association, with editor Donna Kelly, a former director.

Photographers: Kyle Barnes & Eve Lamb

Want to support local, quality journalism? Donate by scanning the QR code.

The content expressed within this publication does not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of The Local Publishing Group Pty Ltd. The Local Publishing Group's editorial guidelines and complaints-handling process can be found at www.tlnews.com.au We welcome all feedback.

Graphic designer: Dianne Caithness Contributors: Glen Heyne (gardening), Darren Lowe (music), Sarah Lang & Richard Cornish (recipes), Clive Hartley (wine) & Bill Wootton (poetry) Accounts | Julie Hanson

Delivery | Tony Sawrey

Hepburn House Open Days What: New extension open for inspection When: 1pm-3pm, Saturdays until January 29 Where: Hepburn House, 1 Hepburn Road, Hepburn Bookings: dianne@hepburnhouse.com.au Covid RAT tests are not needed until the extension opens. For inspections during the week contact Hepburn House to arrange a time.

Hepburn House is also keen for more staff, either working or doing a Certificate 3 onsite next year. Anyone interested should bring their resume. During the open days the original building will not be open for viewing. For those interested in taking a look at that building, they need to make an appointment and complete a RAT test.

Details: www.hepburnhouse.com.au or 5348 8100.

www.tlnews.com.au

News 3

106-lot subdivision plans lodged for Clunes

The township of Clunes looks as though it may be poised to expand with a planning application lodged seeking to subdivide a 29.31 hectare parcel of land to create 106 new housing lots.

Daylesford Land Development Pty Ltd have lodged the application seeking a staged multi-lot subdivision of 106 lots and removal of native vegetation at 35 Paddock Street, Clunes.

Documents recently lodged with the Hepburn Shire Council indicate the 106 proposed new residential allotments would range from 2000 square metres to 2856 square metres in size.

The proposed site for the subdivision is situated in Paddock Street, neighbouring the town’s primary school, and the staged proposal includes internal roads, street trees and green space within the mooted housing estate.

The proposal is currently being advertised until January 24, enabling opportunity for public response.

Planning documents lodged with the council state: “The site is located within a lightly populated rural-residential area of Clunes, with the nearby area zoned for Low Density Residential, Farming, Rural Living and Neighbourhood Residential.

“Extensive land surrounding the property is located within the Farming Zone, with some land also identified as being environmentally significant.

“The site abuts Esmond Park, with Clunes Common Nature Conservation Reserve further to the north.”

Last year, the Hepburn Shire had forecast that 300 new dwellings would need to be built in Creswick and Clunes by 2041.

Compiled by the state government in 2014, the Central Highlands regional growth plan had identified Creswick as a town experiencing medium growth while Clunes had been identified as destined for limited growth and sustainable change.

Words & image: Eve Lamb Above, 35 Paddock Street, Clunes

4 Opinion

www.tlnews.com.au

Your say...

Wildlife shelter concerns

I read with interest your article, and comments, re the impending 'delicensing' of the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter. (The Local, January 1, 2024)

The change of acronym struck me as particularly noteworthy under the circumstances. It's virtually an unwritten law that whenever a new CEO is appointed or restructured into these semi-government bodies, a first move is to change the name so that the new structure can effectively distance itself from the assumed incompetence and poor judgment imposed by the previous management.

A long time ago I retired after some three decades in a position in tertiary education which required a talent for hands-on technical and personnel management.

From this viewpoint I was able to see the destruction and chaos created by ruthless corporatisation of higher education.

The fallout is very apparent today in the lack of trades skills and scientific research that is modern Australia.

Upper level academics started to take early retirement, or moved to other disciplines fairly early in the piece when top level decision-making positions were handed willy-nilly to inexperienced MBA graduates and the like.

Fee-paying overseas and remote learning students were expected to create massive profits, while the education standard plummeted - you were not allowed to fail a feepaying student.

We all saw how well that worked out during the pandemic. Many of the lost tenured positions, and innumerable casual and sessional staff, who were made redundant have moved interstate or elsewhere and will probably never return to education. "The Education State" imprinted on your Victorian car number plate now looks like a sad joke.

Anyway, back to DELWP/DEECA. Look familiar? Which brings us back to the matter of volunteering. I can't imagine what goes on in the heads of these pseudo government authorities that gives them the idea that volunteers are merely out-ofwork dilettantes who are there for the presumed prestige, and to help to fill in their spare time.

The fact that most volunteers are, and have been, experts in their fields and are now earnestly taking up positions from which they can contribute to society. They do not need to be bullied by some johnny-come-lately puffed up latter day executive.

Unless governments value the contribution of these thousands of unpaid workers, and start treating them with the respect they deserve the nation will lose a highly valuable sector and workforce.

My wife, who prior to retirement held high-level managerial positions in the public health and education sectors, now volunteers in the local/regional health and aged care field. With the most recent government 'shake-up' which has produced masses of new and revised legislation purporting to 'regulate' the sector, she and other volunteers are expected to understand and oversee the implementation of new (and frequently ambiguous) regulations that even paid and experienced CEOs have difficulty interpreting.

Your use of the words "unrealistic, unreasonable and absurd" barely scratches the surface when it comes to the tangled and bully-ridden mess of authorities claiming to be responsible for regional services.

Unless and until more helpful and supportive oversight is forthcoming, together with adequate funding for implementation, the State will continue to alienate and lose the goodwill and services of this army of very competent and willing volunteer workers.

- (Mr) Kerry Williams, Creswick

Bring back sanitiser station I note that Coles Daylesford has removed its sanitiser station from the front door. There is still one at the side entrance.

Surely we have learnt one thing with Covid, that hygiene is of the utmost importance in stopping the spread of disease. Even if that is just stopping the 'flu or a cold spreading, surely that is good thing that is easy to continue.

I appreciate all the store and staff have done over the years but please bring back the station. It was well used.

- Louise Oldfield, Hepburn Springs

Letters to the editor are always welcome. Keep them short and to the point, or long and interesting. Some letters may be edited for clarity or length.

Email news@tlnews.com.au Any addressed Dear Sir will be deleted :)

LGBTIQA+ workshop A free workshop, produced by Justice Connect, "Preparing for your future: A conversation guide for the LGBTIQA+ community" is specifically designed to encourage older people to engage with the process of future planning.

A facilitator from Justice Connect will expertly lead people through the conversation guide, answer questions and help discuss ideas.

The workshop, on Monday, January 29 at the Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre, is funded by Justice Connect, The Country LGBTIQA+ Inclusion Program - Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health and the Silver Rainbow Social Club – Castlemaine and Hepburn Shire.

Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health spokesperson Belinda Brain said talking about older age was not always easy.

"However planning now means that you take the steps you need so you can live the life you want as you age," she said.

"People are invited to attend this free 2.5-hour workshop that will help them clarify what matters most to them and help them communicate their wishes and decisions to the people around them."

The workshop runs from 11am to 2pm and lunch will be provided with RSVPs essential for catering. Register at www.surveymonkey.com/r/PFYFJan29

Writing

Words: Donna Kelly

the

Rainbow

Community event

Hepburn Shire Council is inviting the community to a free event at the Daylesford Town Hall on Thursday, January 25 from 2pm to congratulate the Community Award winners for 2024 and welcome new Australians.

The Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Community Event of the Year will be announced. Refreshments will be provided.

Individual Care for You Continuity of Care for Our Community

We welcome new and existing patients.

Book your appointment online or by calling our reception team.

Bulk Billing available for concession card holders and under 15s

BOOK ONLINE WITH

Talk to us about registering for MyMedicare

If you have an urgent, non-threatening health concern after hours, call the After Hours GP Helpline 1800 022 222 In an emergency always call 000

www.springsmedical.com.au Daylesford

10 Hospital Street Tel 03 5348 2227

Kyneton

89 Piper Street Tel 03 5422 1298

Closed on Friday 26 Jan 2024 Trentham

22 Victoria Street Tel 03 5424 1602

www.tlnews.com.au

Advertorial 5

Raffles raise money for rural health service Central Highlands Rural Health provides acute care, urgent care, residential aged care, social support, community nursing and community health services to the 60,000 people living in the Hepburn Shire and Macedon Ranges Shire areas with campuses in Clunes, Creswick, Daylesford, Trentham and Kyneton.

Each campus has a range of programs that care for the community that they serve with the health service recognised at the Victorian Public Healthcare Awards in November last year.

Fundraising manager Kathryn Kosloff said the night was a celebration of health services around the state and highlighted the important role they played in their communities.

"It was great to have the incredible team at Central Highlands Rural Health acknowledged for their commitment to high quality care."

Ms Kosloff said Central Highlands Rural Health was incredibly grateful for all the support it received in 2023.

"We received gifts and donations from generous donors that have enabled the health service to complete facility upgrades and internal refurbishments, purchase much-needed equipment and resources, as well as organise experiences for our patients, residents and clients.

"In 2024 the service has allocated donated funds to the Clunes Health Wellness Garden landscape designs and refurbishments in the Kyneton Health Dialysis Unit as well as upcoming campaigns to raise funds for a scalp-cooling machine for oncology patients and construction costs for the Wellness Garden."

Ms Kosloff said rural health services continued to need local support. While they receive government funding, donations enable them to expand their programs and services, build new infrastructure and purchase the latest medical equipment that would otherwise not be possible.

"There are many different ways that people can assist their health service to deliver quality care to their community such as donations of funds, vouchers and goods or volunteering to assist with the delivery of meals on wheels and other projects.

"Community contributions have an enormous impact on the wellbeing of a town’s population."

Ms Kosloff said each campus was currently raising funds to support their programs through their Christmas/New Year raffles. The prizes are impressive and include a currently sold-out, limited edition Thermomix® TM6 Sparkling Black along with a Cookidoo®, its exclusive recipe library.

People can also win a $500 fuel voucher or a $250 grocery voucher from a local business.

Ms Kosloff said limited tickets were for sale so the chance of winning was good!

Tickets are $25 each and available now via www.chrh.org.au/donate or campus receptions. The raffles will be drawn on Monday, February 12 at 12.30pm.

To find out more about the services offered around the region or how to contribute to the wellbeing of family, friends and neighbours visit www.chrh.org.au or call your nearest campus reception.

Image: File photo

www.tlnews.com.au

Our writers 7

The secret lives of a writerly town A significant number of secret lives have been uncovered in Clunes.

There was once a man, let’s call him Toddy, and he stumbled quite unawares into one of them.

It all happened one Saturday when Toddy, visiting Clunes from inner Melbourne sauntered into Boom Clunes, the main street community retail hub representing local makers and selling books new and pre-loved.

Inside the handsome double-storey 1800s building, Toddy had wandered past a diverse array of handmade products created by local artisans, craftspeople and cooks, and took himself straight to the pre-loved books room. He wanted some good holiday reading.

Toddy selected a biography penned by a reputable writer and took it to the counter, delighted with his find and pleased to see that all of the pre-loved books cost only $5 each.

“A bargain,” he thought, as the biography he’d found on the life of a former notorious sporting personality was in top-shelf condition and, he knew that if acquired new would have cost him that asking price many times over.

The friendly woman at the desk flipped the book over and told Toddy “Ah! That book has a secret life”.

“Sorry?” replied Toddy, unclear as to what she meant.

“Yes,” said the woman. “It has a secret life which means it comes with this…”

She reached beneath the counter, pulled out a cardboard box and from it extracted a neatly filed white envelope which she handed to Toddy. “That’s yours to keep,” she told him.

And that’s how Toddy ended up immensely enjoying a secret life.

He’d just discovered the Secret Lives of Books project happening at Clunes. It’s a unique project, where anyone who may be feeling writerly (and there are reputed to be quite a few in Clunes who regularly do) can volunteer to pen anywhere up to a page-long “secret life” for any of Boom’s pre-loved books that they choose.

When a customer then purchases a book that has had a secret life written for it (and is especially demarcated with an ‘S’ on its back cover as such), they receive not only the book but also its written secret life in an envelope to take away and delve into as well.

It’s a bit like getting a surprise gift, or participating in an exclusive book club where you get to receive a personal original response to the book in hand.

A creative initiative between Boom Clunes, the Clunes Neighbourhood House (which manages Boom) and the Western Victorian Primary Health Network, it all started during Covid in 2021 and since then has produced all kinds of “secret lives” to go with numerous selected books.

“It’s taking the interaction with the book to another level,” says Lois Nichols, pictured, project manager at Boom Clunes. Lois is a keen amateur short story writer with a background in magazine publishing who has so far penned 15 secret lives for selected books through the project, and counting…

Locals feeling inclined to pen a secret life for one of Boom’s pre-loved books get to read the book themselves for free first, before handing it back along with the secret life they’ve written for it.

These secret lives range from imagined fantastical globe-trotting pasts peopled by characters whose hands and lives the book previously graced, to interesting factual aspects of its narrative teased out for special focus, to genuine heartfelt personal responses to the book’s content.

“Everyone’s got a different take on it,” says Lois. “Some write about how they related to the book as they were reading it or, if they were struggling with something, how the book helped them. It’s a bit of fun. It gets people writing and encourages people to read and it’s a way of connecting people.

“We sell pre-loved books donated to us by local people and we have two book rescuers here, Rhonda and Patsy, one is a book lover and one is a professional librarian, and they clean, sort and beautifully file the books on the shelves so we have a fabulous range and just about every known genre.

“The idea was inspired by a book called The Secret Life of Dresses which is about a pre-loved dress shop owner who made up stories for her dresses.

“At the moment we have about 60 books in stock that have secret lives. The books with secret lives are marked with an ‘S’ on the back and each secret life is very different.

“The customers who pick up a secret life book are fascinated, thrilled, and want to know more. What started as a retail promotion has become a community activity.”

The Secret Lives of Books project fits snugly with Clunes’ reputation as a Book Town. “We get a lot of visitors here on weekends,” says Lois.

Clunes Neighbourhood House manager Lana de Kort says the Secret Lives project is reaching and appealing to a wider range of people than the usual suspects who put their hands up to get involved in community activities.

“It’s a project that really appeals to people who are perhaps a little more introspective and who wouldn’t necessarily connect or volunteer in other ways,” she says.

“A good book really captures your imagination and this project takes that further.

It’s brought a lot of people together and it’s drawn people in from Clunes and surrounding areas as well.”

Many have heard that Clunes has an annual Book Town event and they expect to be able to find and purchase books in the town. Open Thursdays to Mondays, Boom Clunes is helping to meet that expectation, Lois says.

“We also have a really strong writers’ group in town and two book clubs which isn’t bad for a little town of this size,” says Lois, herself a member of the Clunes Book Club that meets at Attitude Clunes on the third Monday of the month at 7.30pm.

Meanwhile, the Book Lovers book group meets at Boom once each month as well, she says.

With the project now set to continue throughout 2024, anyone interested in writing a secret life for any of the Boom books can simply roll up at the Boom Clunes counter in person to learn more, or can call the Neighbourhood House.

Words & image: Eve Lamb

www.tlnews.com.au

Our producers 9

A berry fine way to while away a day Going summer berry picking makes for an idyllic holiday activity whether you’ve got kids along for the fun or not.

At Eganstown, Claire Gunner and Peter Monea operate Morningswood Farm growing strawberries galore and plenty of different types of cane berries including raspberries, boysenberries, youngberries, loganberries and blackberries.

At any one time, they’ve got 20,000 strawberry plants growing on the property which, although not certified, is run as a spray-free organic operation.

Berry-growing season is in full swing right now with the season running through to March and plenty of demand from locals and visitors to get out and pick the ripe fruit, or snap some up pre-picked.

Claire and Peter say the recent deluge over the Christmas weekend didn’t cause as much damage as you might have guessed, because at that particular moment they’d just been temporarily picked out of strawberries, while the cane berries are growing under protective netting.

But since then there have been plenty of new berries ripening up to be picked, particularly strawberries, and a good range of different cane berries.

“It’s a big job,” says Peter, who has a background as an accountant.

“We do everything sustainably so we don’t use single-use plastics. We use heavy-duty plastic for weed suppression so it can be re-used.”

Several years back, with a little “This year it went off with a bang in the second week in November.” creative input from a neighbour, the couple devised their own special compostable She says the berries they grow at Morningswood also go to supply local restaurants punnets for people who go fruit picking on their farm to use.

The hand-made punnets are created using the sustainably sourced timber veneer including some well-known top end eateries.

Meanwhile, Peter is also onsite “chief jam maker” cooking up a delicious range of discards of a Melbourne-based timber business, Peter says. berry jams, including triple berry options, which make for another source of income.

For the cost of entry to the farm to pick their own berries, visitors receive one of Peter says dehydrated berries have also proven to be a real winner for use in their the punnets to place their haul in and take home.

As far as Claire and Peter are aware, they are the only people in Australia offering own household.

He says rain in itself is not necessarily a problem at this time, providing it doesn’t such punnets, although Peter says they are in pretty widespread use in Europe and hang around too long and is not accompanied by too much high humidity.

Asia.

It’s been almost eight years that the couple have had the farm at Eganstown, and “Before we started sourcing it, the timber veneer was going straight into the rubbish bin. It’s taken us on a five-year journey. No one else in Australia is using these the berries they grow, and the pick-your-own activity they offer visitors during the warmer part of the year have won them a legion of fans and followers. timber punnets,” he says.

“We get a lot of locals and a lot of tourists who travel easily up to an hour from In an interesting twist, the little hand-woven punnets that they devised to Bendigo, Ballarat and Melbourne, and a lot of regulars,” Claire says. help run their pick-your-own berries business, have since led to another additional “Some of them will come and pick berries every second week.” enterprise and income stream, producing more elaborate natural packaging boxes using the same timber veneer industrial by-product.

Claire Gunner and Peter Monea with daughter Amelia and some freshly picked “They’re used by a large online retailer and by Source Bulk Foods. It’s actually become as much of a business as the berries themselves,” Peter says. strawberries at their Morningswood Farm in Eganstown “We also use the veneer under the mulch to help with weed suppression. We’ve had the berries in the ground here for the past seven years and the farm has been open for four years.”

During the summer berry season, picking your own berries at Morningswood Words and images: Eve Lamb Farm is available to the public on weekends (unless they’re picked out or they’ve been impacted by a destructive weather event) with updates going out on their Instagram and Facebook sites.

“This has been the earliest start we've ever had to our picking season,” says Claire, who has an environmental science background and also works at local properties as a professional gardener.

Foster Care is about creating a safe space for children in our community. And we don’t need superheroes, just everyday people who care.

F O STER C A RE

Home care you can trust

Do you keep people happy & healthy?

Advertise here.

Community Aged Care and Disability Support

Remedial Massage · Facials · Oncology Massage Lomi Lomi Hot Stone Massage · Aromatherapy Relaxation Massage Cupping · Take home aftercare products available Health fund rebates available. If you live in the Hepburn Shire discounts may apply.

BOOK NOW: Text Fiona Harris 0417 371 587 or scan My home clinic is on the edge of the Wombat Forest in Glenlyon

Nightingale Home Care provides tailored, personable and highly qualified in-home nursing, aged care, and disability support to those in Daylesford and the surrounding region. Would you or a loved one benefit from the daily care of a professional in the comfort of your own home? Our nurses and support staff are here to help.

03 5223 1909 info@nightingalehomecare.com.au www.nightingalehomecare.com.au

News 11

www.tlnews.com.au

Two climate drivers The Bureau of Meteorology recently announced that two major climate drivers linked to hot, dry conditions are officially under way in Australia.

They also added that extreme heat could hit us this summer, confirming the world's most consequential climate driver, the El Niño weather pattern, is active over the Pacific for the first time in eight years.

BOM also announced the lesser known, but also significant climate driver, known as a "positive" Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), has also developed.

Combined with the background warming of climate change, climate scientists have warned Australia could be in for a summer of severe heat.

"When (an El Niño and positive Indian Ocean Dipole) occur together that tends to increase the severity of rainfall deficiencies," BOM's head of climate monitoring Karl Braganza said. "Those conditions are accompanied by an increase in fire danger and extremely hot days."

Why has this summer been so wet? You may ask. Well, the climate experts say it's a combination of misconception surrounding El Niño, and several other climate drivers that are contributing to wetter conditions.

Research director for the CSIRO's Climate Intelligence program Dr Jaci Brown likened El Niño's behaviour to a chocolate pinwheel. Dr Brown says: "Without any forecast, there is an equal chance it could be a wet, dry or normal year, it doesn't mean it is always hot and dry, but it does mean that in some regions and seasons of the year there is an increased chance of hot and dry conditions. It is just a higher probability we can see those conditions arise."

Madonna lilies, lilium candidum, one of the finest of all and as always, adding grandeur to the garden

Storms

Storms and thunderstorms are a completely different kettle of fish. Several factors have been triggering increased rain and thunderstorms along the east coast, but the main driver is the relatively warm sea surface temperatures near eastern Australia.

So this all still means carry on taking care as usual in your summer garden, only pay a little extra care in keeping the water up to the less hardy plants, providing shade for the more delicate foliaged ones and staking up the windswept.

El Niño could still be with us until next Christmas.

RENEWABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS ON & OFF GRID SOLAR SPECIALISTS

Trim roses

Our roses had a bumper season this summer and deserve a bit of a tidy-up now in readiness for a good autumn flush of bloom. This is an excellent idea so long as it doesn’t result in an excessive loss of leaf.

Partial defoliation is almost inevitable under certain conditions and, although this may not help the plants' metabolism to any extent, it does leave young stems to the danger of sunburn.

When trimming back, make sure you cut just above a pair of leaves and remove only those which are obviously no longer functioning.

Before their autumn burst of flowers they still need a resting period. Give them enough water to keep them fresh and healthy, but try not to encourage too much fresh growth. Certainly don’t feed them before the end of February.

Earthworms

Earthworms are a must for any well-kept, healthy garden bed. The addition of any humus-forming material to the soil encourages them. They drag the compost, leaves and other similar materials into the soil, helping decomposition and improving the fertility of the soil.

Earthworms eat the soil through which they burrow, their digestive process breaking down and dissolving the food elements it contains.

They also improve the aeration of the soil and its drainage by tunnelling through it in all directions. You can encourage them into your beds by keeping the soil moist and adding organic matter.

The casts thrown up by worms are five times richer in nitrogen, seven times in available phosphates and eleven times richer in potash than the topsoil itself.

Got a gardening query? Email glenzgarden@gmail.com

• GRID-CONNECTED SOLAR • OFF-GRID SOLAR • SOLAR PUMPS & IRRIGATION • BACK UP POWER • SOLAR BATTERIES • HEAT PUMP HOT WATER • EV CHARGERS

0438 162 615 PROUDLY SERVICING: HEPBURN, MT FRANKLIN & MACEDON SHIRES WWW.TRENTHAMELECTRICAL.COM SOLAR@TRENTHAMELECTRICAL.COM

REC 22757

Council news JOIN OUR RECONCILIATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

We are inviting expressions of interest from the community to join our Reconciliation Advisory Committee (RAC). The RAC provides a forum for Council to consult key stakeholders and seek advice regarding the process, development and implementation of our next Reconciliation Action Plan.

Complete an expression of interest by Thursday 15 February via https://participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/reconciliation Artwork design created by KINYA LERRK

ENJOY OUR POOLS THIS SUMMER

Our aquatics season is in full swing. Make sure to visit one of the facilities in our Shire to beat the summer heat. Entry is free to all Council pools and the Creswick Splash Park.

With warmer weather here, we have planned some free inflatable fun sessions at our pools. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for dates and times.

To find out the opening hours of all our Council aquatics facilities visit www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/swimming-pools

CELEBRATE LOCAL LEGENDS We invite you to come along and celebrate the Community Award winners for 2024 and welcome new Australian citizens.

The free event will be held from 2pm on Thursday 25 January and held at Daylesford Town Hall. Refreshments will be provided.

At the event we will announce our Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Community Event of the Year.

COUNCIL PLAN FOCUS AREAS

SUSTAINABLE HEPBURN DAY

After the success of our first Sustainable Hepburn Day in 2022, this informative community event will return on Saturday 16 March 2024 at Victoria Park in Daylesford.

Save the date for what promises to be a fun, interactive and educational expo of what’s going on in our Shire and how residents and businesses can join in nature conservation, climate action and circular economy. There will be lots to do, taste and enjoy for the whole family.

Are you interested in hosting a stall on the day? If your business or community group would like to share your sustainability work, wares or engage people through an activity, please register via our online form at https://ow.ly/lgek50QnCuY before 31 January.

A YEAR OF SUSTAINABILITY ACTION Council committed significant effort and focus on further progressing climate action and local sustainability initiatives in 2023, laying the foundation for our work in 2024 and beyond.

Here are a few highlights and all of the detail can be found at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/sustainability-2023-wrap • Reduced Council’s corporate emissions by 29% on the baseline year of 2021, with a reduction of 18% on the previous financial year 2021/22. Our decarbonisation efforts included the replacement of streetlighting with highly efficient LED lighting, the purchase of clean renewable electricity for all facilities and streetlighting, the addition of two electric vehicles into our fleet and other energy efficiency and emissions reduction measures.

• Partnered with Hepburn Energy and Chargefox to install electric charging stations in Creswick and Hepburn Springs, with more to come at Clunes and Trentham.

• Continued the collection of food and garden organics in Clunes, with processing occurring at Creswick Transfer Station in in-vessel compost units, and secured approval to roll out to townships across the Shire in 2024.

• Developed a Circular Economy Toolkit for businesses and hosted the first of a series of Circular Economy Business Breakfast workshops in Creswick.

• Completed biodiversity assessments of five major townships to inform township structure planning and general biodiversity management.

Did you know that we have a Sustainable Hepburn e-news?

Learn more at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/Sustainable-Hepburn The Council Plan 2021-2025 describes how Council will strive towards our vision, where to focus efforts, and how to measure progress. Each Focus Area has a series of priority statements, with actions against each item.

 5348 2306  shire@hepburn.vic.gov.au  www.hepburn.vic.gov.au www.facebook.com/hepburncouncil

EAT | DRINK | ENJOY

Out & About in the Central Highlands

The original and the best!

Visit us for tastings and sales of our award winning herbal liqueurs, gin, vodka, tawny.

www.herballoreliqueurs.com

An experience like no other!

Cellar door open every day 10am-5pm.

2 Railway Crescent, Daylesford (03) 5348 1920

www.tlnews.com.au

Our history 15

Teaching the next generation - The return of the Fourth Bark Petition to Country Words and small images: Ruth Bray Main image: Kyle Barnes In 1962 my husband Malcolm Bray went to Yirrkala Mission in Northern Territory to work as a mechanic. I joined him three years later. We learnt the local aboriginal language, and would often go to listen to the singing, the didgeridoo and the clapsticks in the evenings, and loved going out on Country with the Yolngu people.

We were thrilled when we received an invitation to a Bungul, or ceremony celebrating the return of the Fourth Bark Petition to Yirrkala in the first week of December. As Malcolm was unable to travel, our grandson Keaton from Hepburn, and I travelled to Yirrkala.

Yirrkala Bark Petition was the first formal petition presented to the Australian Parliament on Aboriginal Land Rights, and is considered a significant turning point in the recognition of Indigenous Rights in Australian history. As a result a Select Committee on Grievances of the Yirrkala Aborigines, Arnhem Land Reserve, was established. This was followed by the 1976 Land Rights Act, and eventually the Mabo ruling.

During this year, children from the local schools at Yirrkala, Nhulunbuy and Gunyangara attended workshops, learning the history of the Bark Petitions. They were told how when the government, without consultation with the Yolngu or the mission, permitted mining exploration at Yirrkala, Aboriginal Elders from the 13 clans sent a petition to the Australian Parliament concerning land rights, attached to bark paintings.

In 1963, there were four Bark Petitions. Two representing the different moieties of the Yirrkala clans are now on display in Parliament House and one is in the National Museum in Canberra. The fourth was recently discovered in Derby, Western Australia by Professor Clare Wright of La Trobe University and was returned home to the Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Centre at Yirrkala.

On the morning of the Bungul, Keaton and I accompanied Aboriginal Elder, Witiyana Marika and Professor Clare Wright, as the students were taken to each place of significance, in the preparation of the petitions.

In the church Clare told the students how in the 1960s, at the request of Rev Edgar Wells, local elders had painted two large significant bark paintings. These stood in the front of the church, and told their important traditional stories. I remember seeing them each time I was seated in church. These large bark paintings are now in the Buku-Larrngay Mulka Centre.

When MP Kim Beazley senior, was brought to Yirrkala by activist Stan Davey in response to the Elder’s concerns, and saw the magnificent bark paintings in the church, he suggested that the Elder’s petition should be attached to bark paintings.

Then we followed the schoolchildren up to a shady tree on the cliff top, beside what was the site of the old Mission House. The story of the night the Elders painted the barks under that tree was told. My husband Malcolm was there that night and recollects watching the elders as they painted the barks.

To celebrate the return of the petition, some weeks previously, each school collected ochre, cut a bark, and painted it. Like their elders before them, they wrote and fixed petitions to their bark paintings. Their petitions included modern problems with children not attending school and the need for better roads.

The children learnt how mission staff, mainly the wives, carefully translated the words of the Elders into English. Ann Wells, wife of the Superintendent Edgar Wells, typed 12 copies of the petition in both Yolngu language and English. One key on her typewriter had been altered to type the tailed n, common in Yolgnu language. This typewriter has been donated to the Buku-Larrngay Mulka Centre.

The students were then taken to the place where the Elders gathered to sign the petition. We heard how as the copies were passed around, each Elder made his thumb print, which was witnessed by younger literate members of the Yolngu community who then signed the petition.

After visiting these places and hearing these stories, the students then returned to the shade outside the Buku-Larrngay Mulka Centre and gathered around their own bark petitions, and added their thumb-prints.

Later that day, women in red, carrying long digging sticks, were seen singing and dancing towards the centre, accompanied by a replica of the fragile Fourth Bark Petition. It seemed to me that the original Djankawa sisters from the old stories, who arrived with their digging sticks and occupied the land way back in history were bringing the claim for land rights.

After speeches from the different Yirrkala clans, the replica petition was slowly danced into the centre by the men, with the clapsticks echoing, and the sounds of the singing. It was powerful. The replica disappeared and the petition, already hanging on the wall, was suddenly unveiled. The clapsticks went on and on and on, with the men standing there in front of the petition singing and singing and singing, louder and louder. When they eventually stopped, the Fourth Bark Petition was home.

Professor Wright has not only researched the Bark Petitions, discovered the lost petition, facilitating its safe return to country, but she and Elder Witiyana Marika have taught and encouraged the younger generation at Yirrkala to learn about the importance of the Yirrkala Bark Petition.

Above, Daylesford couple Ruth and Malcolm Bray, below, from left, a copy of the thumbprints and signatures on the Bark Petition, the Fourth Bark Petition, the Student Petition

FOR RENT

17 Barkly Street, Glenlyon.

Stunning Schoolhouse with Utilities included One Large Bedroom with WIR And Ensuite Second Bedroom or Study Two Bathrooms Split System with Fans Throughout Log Fire plus electric wall heaters Large Covered Entertaining Deck Situated on a large Acre Block with beautiful established gardens

belleproperty.com

2 a 2 b 3 v Mitchell For rent $480.00 per week View

By Appointment or as advertised

Roberts | 0427 481 700

www.tlnews.com.au

Our walkers 17

Walks of the Central Highlands with Eve Lamb Lalgambook (Mount Franklin) crater rim walk If you haven’t yet done the Lalgambook (Mount Franklin) crater rim walk, now’s a great time to get cracking.

I first sampled this little must-do hike several years ago as part of a longer guided walk led by Professor Barry Goanna Golding AM. The guided Golding trek had focused on the significant Dja Dja Wurrung Aboriginal history of the wider landscape here, particularly including the Franklinford area, known to the Dja Dja Wurrung people as Larne-ne-barramul or the home of the emu.

Ever since then, I’ve wanted to return to take a little longer to focus on the ancient extinct volcanic feature itself. This prominent local landmark, Lalgambook (648-metre elevation) is part of the Hepburn State Regional Park and jointly managed by Djaara (Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation) and Parks Victoria.

The crater circuit stroll is just 1.7km in length, so there’s few excuses for not doing it. But despite its very leisurely post-lunch length that won’t do much to enhance your reputation as a serious bushwalker or rid you of that extra padding acquired over the festive season, this is a great little short walk.

To properly appreciate it, it’s best to understand something of both the geomorphology of this ancient area and the Aboriginal mythology and significance of Lalgambook.

Situated about 10km north of Daylesford and accessed off the Midland Highway via a road that traces an ancient breach path of lava exuded from the crater, Lalgambook was created by a fiery volcanic eruption about 470,000 years ago. Today it’s classed as a prominent, breached conical scoria cone with a deep crater.

The resultant caldera (a large crater, formed by the eruption leading to the collapse of the volcano mouth) is one of the deepest in the Central Highlands.

Lava flow from Mount Franklin and other volcanoes that preside over the surrounding rolling ancient plains had buried gold-bearing creeks that would become the 'deep leads' sought out and excavated by gold miners during the subsequent gold rush era.

The volcanic eruptions of Mount Franklin are believed to have been witnessed by members of the Dja Dja Wurrung who referred to this ancient country as the 'smoking grounds' and to the mountain itself as Lalgambook.

Literature records that: “Mount Franklin and the surrounding area appears to have been a place of considerable significance to the Aboriginal people. Both ethnographical and archaeological evidence indicates that frequent large ceremonial gatherings took place in the area.”

Research had also led me to the following traditional creation story, as previously told by Justice B Nelson - Dja Dja Wurrung, Jaara - and published by Culture Victoria, telling the tale of two feuding volcanoes named Tarrengower (overlooking today’s township of Maldon off to the north) and Lalgambook: “A long, long time ago, long before anyone but the Traditional People walked our Country, our lands, rivers, mountains and animals alike, all had magical life. They had personalities, purpose, speech and they could think for themselves.

“Tarrengower in the Dja Dja Wurrung means to be big and heavy and indeed he was just that; big, bold, wise and a very proud old volcano who had become very tired throwing out rocks and lava and preferred to sit humbly watching over the plains.

“Another volcano called Lalgambook was a young, loud and cheeky volcano that started to challenge old Tarrengower’s wisdom and authority, and began grumbling and building up anger towards the old volcano. But Tarrengower, being the wise old volcano that he was, decided he should just try to ignore this cheeky little volcano.

“Lalgambook grew even angrier that Tarrengower wasn’t acknowledging his threats and started to put on a display of smoke, ash and brimstone to impress the land and animals who were also watching, but this didn’t intimidate the wise old Tarrengower. Instead he just laughed at Lalgambook.

“Lalgambook became so frustrated that he began to throw large rocks at Tarrengower who grumbled with annoyance at this cheeky volcano and Tarrengower now began to taunt young Lalgambook by telling him he wasn’t very strong at all because the rocks couldn’t reach him.

“Lalgambook exploded with great fury, spurting out lava and smoke high into the sky and hurled gart gart in Tarrengower’s direction, but still could not reach him. This caused Lalgambook to completely blow his core.

“Tarrengower’s anger eased and he just grumbled at this cheeky little volcano who was now just coughing and spluttering with no energy left at all.

“All the rocks thrown by Lalgambook at Tarrengower can still be seen today and have formed what is known in the present day as the Guildford Plateau where the Jaara people would perform ceremonies on the Bora grounds also known as Yapene.”

Reflecting on this lively heritage, my tireless walking companion Paddy H and I elect to start with a picnic inside the Lalgambook caldera which these days is an arboretum featuring established leafy exotics including silver birch, white poplar, sycamore and sequoia sempervirens (Californian redwoods).

It’s an attractive spot offering free camping complete with composting loos, and following our lazy picnic here, we start out on the signposted crater rim walk from the western side of the caldera.

It’s a very gentle climb through pine trees and other exotics, gaining some expansive views to the west to gradually reach the summit.

All the while I’m keeping an eagle eye out for rumoured semi-precious gemstones as I remember Prof Golding saying something about their being here. I’ve since read that, as a consequence of the now extinct volcano erupting all of those thousands of years ago: “the coarse ejecta exposed around the summit includes red and green olivine and megacrysts of high-temperature (some of the largest known Victorian examples) and orthoclase (to 7cm long) and augite (over 9cm long)”.

Megacrysts? The potential research associated with this place is probably endless...

By about the half-way mark I still haven’t located any megacrysts, but we’ve reached the summit telecommunications tower and don’t spend too much time here before we begin the descent, sunlight filtered and flickering through the pines.

It needs to be noted here that the country around Mount Franklin was described in 1855 as "thickly timbered with box and stringybark". Unfortunately, in 1944, a devastating bushfire destroyed most of the native vegetation on the mount.

As a result, the inner and outer slopes of the crater were planted with the exotic species we see today, mainly conifers. The caldera was planted with the leafy ornamentals I mentioned earlier, and whose shade we soon reach again to find that during our walk, more campers have rolled up to forest bathe in its charms.

At this time of the year, summer school holidays, the short but heritage-rich Lalgambook crater rim walk is a choice option for young families to sample, while this beautiful leafy free camping and picnic area is well worth a visit in its own right.

18 Out & About

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

Daylesford Sunday Market – every Sunday

daylesford bowling club & Bistro Your Community Club

Happy Hour 6 - 7pm Every Friday

LUNCH Wed to Sun DINNER Tue to Sat

Daylesford Farmers Market – first Saturday Trentham Neighbourhood Centre Makers Market - first Saturday Woodend Farmers Market - first Saturday Castlemaine Artists’ Market – first Sunday Trentham Community Group Market - second Saturday Kyneton Farmers Market - second Saturday Ballan Farmers Market - second Saturday Kyneton Rotary Community Market – second Saturday Maldon Market – second Sunday Clunes Farmers Market - second Sunday Trentham Farmers Market and Makers Market - third Saturday Glenlyon Farmers Market – third Saturday Leonards Hill Market - third Saturday Creswick Market - third Saturday Talbot Farmers Market – third Sunday Woodend Lions Market - third Sunday

MEMBERS, GUESTS & VISITORS ALL WELCOME! OPEN 7 DAYS FROM 10am Bookings strongly advised

Trentham Station Sunday Market - fourth Sunday

d ay l e s f o r d b o w l i n g c l u b

8 Camp St - Daylesford | 03 5348 2130 www.daylesfordbowlingclub.com.au

Natural Constipation Relief

FREE OFFER*

Get your daily dose of regularity with Sunraysia Prune Extract & Get a FREE jar ($59.95 value) with every Festive Value Pack* Free from chemicals and one hundred percent natural

Helps relieve constipation naturally

More than 70 prunes in every jar

Helps promote gut health and improved digestion

Naturally rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals including potassium, dietary fibre, magnesium, Vitamin K, Boron and Sorbitol

Enjoy a teaspoon daily, or mix with any food, tea, yogurt or use in cooking

Sunraysia Prune Extract is a food and not a medicine

*Festive Value Pack includes 2 Jars for $199.90 to

get the third jar free *While stocks last. Subject to Ts & Cs

Scan to get Value Pack & Get a FREE jar sunraysiaprune.com/locx

1800 778 637

Out & About 19

www.tlnews.com.au

Gig Guide

Mollongghip Hall

with Darren Lowe

Newstead Live '24 – Australia Day Weekend The Central Victorian folk-roots musical festival, Newstead Live, has announced its line-up for 2024.

There are almost 40 acts who will all perform multiple times over the four days of the festival with headliners including Austral, Sam Buckingham, Tuck Shop Ladies and Greg Champion, who both bring their unique comedy styles alive with music.

Other acts include Apolline, Khristian Mizzi, JoJo Smith, Dingo’s Breakfast, John Flanagan Band, Lucy Wise and the always glamorous and highly infectious The Royal High Jinx.

According to Golden Guitar winner and stalwart of the long running Coodabeen Champions radio show, Greg Champion, Newstead Live holds a special place in the festival calendar. "As the festival scene has kept evolving in recent years, Newstead has taken prime place on the festival landscape. What Newstead offers is getting rarer, a weekend of great artists doing great shows."

Running over the January 2024 long weekend, Newstead Live offers six performance stages in easy walking distance around Newstead and there are always impromptu performances and jams in the streets between venues and around the pub.

There is a wide range of food and drinks from the local Newstead traders as well as a selection of van options. And there are plenty of accommodation choices in the district, including two specialty campgrounds in Newstead.

Festival director Kelly Skinner is always amazed when first-time attendees tell her Newstead Live is the best-kept secret.

“Every year I have people come up and tell me how they have been blown away by the quality of our festival and what a fantastic time they have had, like they are really surprised by that. However, although we are a small town, we know how to put on a big success of a festival, so I hope to have plenty more people tell me this year how surprised they are.”

Circle Saturday, January 27 on your calendars. Harry Hookey is coming back to Mollongghip Hall.

Kick off the evening with food and drinks at 6pm with Harry's music from 8pm.

Harry Hook Is Real, also known as Harry Hookey, is an ARIA-nominated artist and songwriter with a rich history of performances across Australia, Europe, and the USA. From state theatres to small halls, he's done it all, playing alongside Kasey Chambers and supporting legends like Lucinda Williams, Paul Kelly, Ryan Bingham, and Busby Marou. Entry is $25, under 16s free.

Hepburn Springs Golf Club A bit short of pubs here in Hepburn at the moment. Filling the void is this great venture. Drinks and music every Friday, in a great community atmosphere.

Friday, January 19 - Vida Jazz Fronted by the soulful vocals of Tania Petrini, accompanied by award-winning jazz pianist Jeremy Challender (Anticlinal Fold), together with accomplished double bassist and guitarist, Bruce Millar.

Friday, January 26 - Silverjam Playing classic hits from the 60s, 70s and beyond.

More gigs at www.tlnews.com.au

McKenzie & King @ the Cosmo Trentham Opening launch 4pm, 14th January until Easter

Escape & Rejuvenate Paintings and limited edition graphic prints Escape to the country, surround yourself with nature, the tonic we all desire.

Purchase works from: kingstudio.com.au juliemckenzie.com.au 0415836194 • 0432719402

20 Out & About

Bowling club celebrates 125 years Do you recognise these bowlers?

The Daylesford Bowling Club will celebrate its 125th anniversary in April this year.

The club is keen to record and copy any photos, objects or records related to the club activities that current or former members may have at home or with family and friends.

The Daylesford & District Historical Society is assisting to photograph and scan items for the anniversary.

Email history@daylesford.net or contact the club committee representative Dot Bull on 0419 482 866 or Daylesford & District Museum curator Gary Lawrence on 0412 665 087.

The Daylesford Bowling Club was formed on April 17, 1899 and was opened on December 20, 1899 with 64 founding members. The first club president was J Wheeler and the first secretary was J Anderson.

In 1904, the club joined the North Western District Bowling Association and in 1907 the Daylesford Tennis Club was brought in. This combined body then became The Daylesford Bowling and Tennis Club. The Bowling Club had four rinks and the Tennis Club had two asphalt courts.

Just 10 mins from Daylesford 3155 Midland Hwy Newlyn North

Open every day in the Summer Holidays!

THIS WEEKS SPECIALS GREENHILLS LEG OF LAMB

$14.99 KG

CELEBRATION HAMS

FROM $99

The true Aussie family roast. Amazing flavour being cooked on the bone. Is incredibly versatile and can be roasted traditionally or slow roasted in a wet braise with a myriad of flavours. Or just with old-fashioned garlic and rosemary.

Great for the BBQ too.

We had some hams that weren’t quite ready for Christmas but they are now simply perfect. And you get to enjoy them at a super special rate. Half ham on the bone (approx 5kg) $99 or Full Ham on the bone (approx 10kg) $198.

In store or delivered to your home.

FREE DELIVERY FOR ORDERS OVER $100 TO DAYLESFORD, HEPBURN, TRENTHAM & SURROUNDS. USE CODE: LOCALFREE ON CHECKOUT OR PLACE ORDER VIA THE PHONE.

37 VINCENT ST DAYLESFORD

CALL 03 5348 2094

OPEN 7 DAYS

DAYLESFORDMEATCO.COM.AU

GUILDFORD FAMILY HOTEL Let’s support our community and shop local!

“Locals supporting Locals”

Restaurants, Bakers, Butchers, Cafe’s, Local vineyards, Distillers, Brewers and of course each other.

Remember we offer free delivery, T&Cs apply.

Delivery times are Monday to Saturday between 10am and 4pm.

We accept credit cards over the phone or we have an on-board eftpos machine. You will need to be at home for the delivery with proof of age if asked by the driver.

Give the Foxxy team a call on 5348 3577.

Keep safe, everyone.

THE REGION’S BEST KEPT SECRET

Friday Night Raffle Raffles drawn at 7.30pm OPENING HOURS Wed/Thurs/Fri - 3pm till late - Dinner from 5.30pm Sat - 12pm till late - Lunch from 12pm - Dinner from 5.30pm Sun - Lunch only from 12pm 35 Fryers Street, Guildford Victoria Bookings Essential - 03 5473 4021

22 Opinion

www.tlnews.com.au

Kyle’s Rant

Local Lines

Some statistics say that over 90 per cent of resolutions have been parked or failed

by February and about eight per cent travel the course of the year.

If it is a fitness promise you made there is only yourself to blame if it fails and as to why we make these stupid 'guaranteed to fail' promises to ourselves, I guess it is the same reason we continue to buy Lotto tickets, chasing the elusive better life.

In terms of fitness my go to is Pilates. "What's that?" I hear you ask. Well mostly the guys out there. So a quick bit of history from the ever-reliable Wikipedia.

Pilates was developed by Joseph Pilates from Mönchengladbach, Germany. His father was a gymnast and his mother a naturopath.

Pilates developed a system of exercises while interned for four years during WWI intended to strengthen the human mind and body, believing that mental and physical health were interrelated.

Pilates accompanied his method with a variety of equipment, which he called "apparatus". Each apparatus was designed to help accelerate the process of stretching, strengthening, body alignment and increased core strength started by mat work.

The best-known and most popular apparatus today, the Reformer, was originally called the Universal Reformer, aptly named for "universally reforming the body".

So that's Pilates, and by and large I seem to be one of the only blokes in the class while I see other 50-somethings getting around with bad backs and stiffness in the legs, knees and hips.

I started my Pilates journey when my back went on the blink. Bulging disc - you know the sort of thing. Very painful. I worked for quite a while with my surgeon to try and avoid back surgery but when it became inevitable I continued doing Pilates right up until the day of surgery.

(I know not everyone can afford private health cover but I can't afford not to pay it now after starting it at the age of 30. And it worked out well. When I booked in for the surgery it was pretty much "what day next week?" and then "morning or afternoon". It finally paid off.)

Anyway, I was given a post-surgery plan by the surgeon and as soon as I was able I was back on the Reformer and as a result I cut down my surgery recovery time by about half.

The sport is truly amazing and gets you thinking about how you move around including stopping you from lifting a fridge or table without thinking - classic big boy behaviour - and it has truly extended my flexibility and core strength.

But still it’s overwhelmingly a woman’s game and of course there are lots of jokes from my buddies about me sitting down the back of the class watching for the downward dog, but if they paid attention, they know that would be a Yoga move.

Pilates terms are more "the nutcracker" - which when you think about it is really a bloke's move, or the "hello boys" as we stretch our thighs. And if you get the right trainer, hello Erin, it is a lot of fun while getting fit.

There are plenty of Pilates classes around in our villages and towns with an explosion in Daylesford among a plethora of other fitness pastimes, so there is no excuse not to get active in whatever sporting vocation you choose.

Yes, the first five minutes for the first time can seem daunting, but most of the fitness places also have breakaway social groups, so go on, get in amongst it.

Move into the New Year rant over…

soft buzzings, shrill beeps, dual alarms, slow and rapid, these are the noises of the ward.

The Ward As we all settle down into the rhythm of 2024, it is worth considering our New Year's commitments and resolutions and if they are likely to be stuck by, Monitoring, always monitoring, or just drunken rhetoric and false promises.

Catherine

KING MP

Federal Member for Ballarat 03 5338 8123 Catherine.King.MP@aph.gov.au CatherineKingMP @CatherineKingMP

Standing up for our Community!

www.catherineking.com.au Authorised by Catherine King, Australian Labor Party, 5/9 Sydney Avenue Barton ACT.

There is a subdued urgency, medicines, tasks, exercises, visitors, sleeping, resting, this is the energy of the ward.

Quiet whispers, open dialogue, endless mutterings heard throughout, good news and bad intermingle, such is the way of the ward.

Regimented, yet disruptive, times for your care may not coincide with your sleep, it matters not in the ward.

Patients within the rooms, each with their own story, pain, hope, anguish, all reside in the ward.

Continuous comings and goings, cleaners, food services, doctors, surgeons, nurses, they are the angels of the ward.

There are so many others, administrators, fundraisers, clerics, technicians; mostly unseen, yet vital to the running of the ward.

- Gary Wilkinson Gary had a short stay in Ballarat’s St John Of God Hospital, recently, where he had a bit of time to reflect and appreciate.

Local Lines features poetry by locals about local and any other matters.

Please submit poems to Bill Wootton at cottlesbreedge@gmail.com

www.tlnews.com.au

Pick me, pick me!

Hey! I’m Gus. I’m an easygoing, four-and-a-half-yearold, ginger and white domestic medium hair moggie.

Opinion 23

Just sayin’...

By Donna Kelly Sometimes I wonder if the world is going mad. Or is it me? Probably me.

I am an absolute sweetheart and I am a big cat. I love having a lot of attention and I am very smoochy.

I like spending time watching out of my window or being showered with pats and I would love to find a home where I will be given plenty of love.

I would fit in well with most families and you can come and meet me at the Mount Animal Welfare Shelter in Castlemaine.

Call 5472 5277.

Microchip no.

956000016196751

Link: www.maaw.org.au (Pick me, pick me is run in memory of Rosie & Curly - we picked them. And proudly supported by Daylesford's

PALMER STEVENS & RENNICK Barristers & Solicitors Property and Conveyancing Criminal Law Family Law Wills and Estates Commercial Law Employment Law Appearing in all Courts PLEASE CONTACT US

(03) 5422 6500 SINCE 1852

8 Jennings Street, Kyneton Email - psr@psr.net.au | Website - psr.net.au

During the Christmassy period we looked at footage from one of our cameras and found someone wandering on the property, with their dog, later seen peering through the front door.

We were away for a few days at the time so I posted the image on social media and asked if anyone knew "this clown" and asked them to email me if they did.

I mean, in the country things do go missing, so you need to be a bit careful. And Glenlyon has a pretty nice community who looks out for each other. So, just putting the word out as well. Who knows who's next.

Then I got an email from "the clown".

He said he was really sorry, was just interested in having a quick look and promised not to return. All good.

Nah. Of course he didn't apologise. He said he was just wanting a look at the school, which everyone knows is up for rent while we try town life (as in Daylesford) for a bit, without the agent. Strike one.

Then he said he entered through the main entrance but of course another one of the cameras spotted him walking across the yard. Strike two.

Finally he said having a beer while walking a dog under our Eureka flag on our property was acceptable in his world. Strike three.

I wrote back and mentioned that in any logical world it was trespassing, we have an agent for a reason and a simple sorry would have been appreciated.

I think that was a pretty reasonable reaction. Nothing too crazy. Told the police not to worry about it. And didn't think much more about it.

Until last week when I noticed a comment from a new participant under the original "anyone know this clown" saying they think I am the clown. WTAF? Apparently people should be allowed to wander on private property. Who knew?

I wonder if anyone has told the police, lawyers and the courts this snippet of information. Going to make a hell of a difference to the court lists.

The other thing that was a bit nuts this week was someone posting, again on social media, that a certain business was not offering great service. Just their personal opinion - no facts to back anything up. Who does this stuff? Wouldn't you just mention it to their face, or send an email or even just stop going there. Nah, rather be a keyboard warrior.

The annoying thing was, and there was a torrent of comments saying how wonderful this business actually is, it was also was one of the many essential services that saw us through the pandemic. And they did it really well then too.

As did many other businesses, trying to survive yes, but also dealing with a pretty hard-to-handle public at times. I remember one staffer in a shop saying to me that the big takeaway from Covid was who were the arseholes.

So, although Covid is slowly wandering away, or at least not as scary as it was once, a big shout out to those businesses who kept their doors open and made us feel welcome and safe. And cared about QR codes, licences and wearing masks and providing sanitiser. We, and many others, remember you. That goes to Tony too, our delivery driver, who fortnight in and out, and weekly for a bit there, delivered local good news to our readers.

Oh, and to our staff who when we said we had to let people go because we were doing it too hard, offered to work for free, to help us ride out that initial storm.

Let's be kind everyone. Been a tough few years. And everyone has their own recovery time. But please, unless you would like to rent a wonderful old school, keep off my property. Just sayin'... (Oh, I deleted my social media post.)

24 Crossword

www.tlnews.com.au

W RD

CROSS

www.tlnews.com.au

Our advertisers 25

TRENTHAM PETROL & .....................................

STUFF Petrol, oil, swap & go gas, Motorpass, farm produce, farm produce store, ice, milk, soft drinks, take away pies, coffee, confectionery, local honey, etc Rusty junk, secondhand books, old wares

..................................................

1 Market Street ~ ph: 5424 1611

Monday–Sunday 8aM~6pM

FLYSCREENS MEASURED,

MADE, AND FITTED ON THE SPOT! FROM $ 00

03 5464 7380

• Roller Shutters • Security Doors • Fly Screens

75

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 MON-FRI: 7.30AM-5PM SAT: 7.30AM2.30PM

SLEEPERS & EDGING

topsoil & compost

FEATURE ROCK

AGGREGATES & SCREENINGS

Mulches

SAND

15 Mink Street Daylesford

Business Directory - Support Local!

John R Dorsett AIPA IFA

Tree Removal Tree Pruning Stump Grinding Cable & Bracing Wind & Storm Damage Weight Reduction Fully Insured

Registered Tax Agent / Public Practitioner Available to assist with all general accounting services and preparation / electronic lodgement of Tax Returns and BAS for Individuals, Sole Traders, Partnerships, Trusts and Companies.

john.cfmooney@bigpond.com 0420 751 640 03 5424 1441 19 Albert Street, Trentham VIC 3458

Chris Mackenzie - Qualified Arborist

0407 768 477 chris@ascenttreesolutions.com.au

www.ascenttreesolutions.com.au

Josh Nicholas | 0431 764 750 Professional Arborists servicing the Hepburn Shire. jueshuex@yahoo.com | thetreedavinci.com.au

Garden Maintenance

Malone Tree Services Liam Malone . Limited Access . Fully Insured .Specialists Qualified . Mulching Available

0423 945 436

For the best looking garden in the street...

Call our new franchisee James Lindsay today for a free quote on 131 546

Your local Jim’s team can help

For all your LPG needs WHY ELGAS? Australia's largest LPG provider Easy online ordering Flexible plans to suit your needs Free and reliable delivery from ay Stihl Shop Daylesford Sign up tod Local Safe Reliable

131 161 elgas.com.au

Servicing commercial refrigeration domestic and commercial air conditioning

trenthamselfstorage@outlook.com

DAYLESFORD APPLIANCE SERVICE

das3460@bigpond.com

electrical appliance repair service washer, dryer, fridge, dishwasher, oven, cook top etc.

Sales-Service-Maintenance-Installation -Mobile coolroom hire Garry Rodoni: 0417 734 206 Chris Milham: 0436 402 730

Call Kiyo on

0419 267 685

das3460@bigpond.com

Business Directory - Buy Local 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

Ph:0434 357 882

www.christjulesservices.com.au

REMOVALISTS

SWIFT CONVEYANCING

Ballan

KIRSTIE SWIFT Licenced Conveyancer

0451 065 913 kirstie@swiftconvey.com.au PO Box 256, Daylesford, Vic 3460

Plumbing

swiftconveyancingvictoria.com.au ABN: 20 007 065 410

Licenced Plumbers & Gasfitters

5368 1036 / 0419106518 www.ballanplumbing.com.au

Wastewater

DELIVERING THE REGION’S BEST FREIGHT FOR OVER 25 YEARS. BULK DRY FREIGHT PRODUCE CARTAGE BULK REFRIGERATED FREIGHT PARCELS AND PALLETS

FURNITURE REMOVALS FURNITURE DELIVERY ART AND SCULPTURE MELBOURNE DEPOT LARGE & SMALL TRUCKS

ABN: 69 105 671 412

Systems

Peace of Mind.

Reliable Friendly Service.

Locally owned and operated.

Specialists in the installation, servicing & maintenance of all wastewater treatment systems.

Call 03 5348 6611 www.oztrans.com.au

www.wastewateraus.com.au

F R E I G H T · T R A N S P O RT · R E M OVA L S DAY LES FORD AND CENTRAL HIGH LANDS

REGULAR RUNS TO MELBOURNE GEELONG BALLARAT AND BENDIGO

1800 020 093

1800 020 093

www.wastewateraus.com.au

LET US HELP YOU MOVE TO YOUR HOME WITH OUR CARING FRIENDLY TEAM No matter if you are moving to our region for the first time, moving to the big smoke or just moving down the road - we will take care of you and your prized possessions like it’s our own home we are moving.

Peace of Mind.

Reliable Friendly Service.

Locally owned and operated.

Call 03 5348 6611 www.oztrans.com.au F R E I G H T · T R A N S P O RT · R E M OVA L S DAYLESFO RD A ND CENTRA L HIGH LA ND S

REGULAR RUNS TO MELBOURNE GEELONG BALLARAT AND BENDIGO

Ballan Ballan Plumbing Pl20u007 m065b410 ing ABN: ABN: 20 007 065 410

Licenced Plumbers & Gasfitters

5368 1036 / 0419106518 www.ballanplumbing.com.au

Artists of the Central Highlands

with Eve Lamb