The Local January 1, 2023

January 1, 2024 Issue 296 Happy New Year...

The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

2 About Us

www.tlnews.com.au

Front cover: Happy New Year! 2024 has arrived and hopefully will bring health and happiness to all our readers and clients! To celebrate we take a look back at just a few of the stories we covered over the past 12 months. We hope you enjoy the read of this January 1, 2024 edition of The Local.

January 1, 2024 Issue 296 Happy New Year...

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

The next edition is out on Monday, January 15, 2023. or online on Sunday, January 14 at www.tlnews.com.au Space bookings: Wednesday, January 10 Copy deadline: Thursday, January 11 Editorial deadline: Thursday, January 11 General manager: Kyle Barnes on 0416 104 283 or kyle@tlnews.com.au

Image: Dianne Caithness

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, Jeff Glorfeld, Narelle Groenhout, 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

Looking back 3

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Looking back...

Happy 2024! This edition of The Local is all about looking back at the past year at the big stories that made the headlines and just some of the many people who inspired us. We hope you enjoy this as much as we did putting it together. If you want to read more about the year we just shared feel free to head to www.tlnews.com.au and jump into the archives. In the meantime, enjoy the read. We are back to regular programming from January 15, 2024.

January 16, 2023 Issue 271 Rex revival

January 16, 2023 Issue 271

The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

We bought The Rex - Bromley/Comelli coup

C

And the new owners are also not closed to creative ideas and input from the HRISTMAS came a few days early for two of Daylesford's best known families who discovered they'd just become the proud new owners of community either, Eddy Comelli says.

"I'm excited to work with someone as creative as the Bromleys. I think we can The Rex.

Following a unanimous councillor decision at Hepburn Shire Council's December 20 meeting, Eddy and Malinka Comelli and David and Yuge Bromley were delighted to discover their $3.75 million bid to purchase The Rex had been successful - from among the six EOIs formally submitted.

David Bromley said a clinching factor in their decision to submit their joint EOI together with the Comellis was a mutual love of the town and a wish to see The Rex become a vibrant contributor to showcasing its main street.

"Our mutual love of the town, our belief that the main street is one of the figureheads that you get to see when you come to town.

"We're really keen to see it come alive and stop the blockage in the street and, ideally, to become the complete opposite - a resounding symbol for how stunning the street is. We all have a similar feeling about it. Between us we think we've got what it takes."

Both the Comelli and Bromley families live in Daylesford, have strong connections in the community and say they're now keen to make the most of The Rex’s considerable potential. They would not be drawn on whether the cinema will stay - or not - at this stage.

"We want to make it a really culturally rich hub, whether it's retail, hospitality, art, entertainment. It's going to be a real combination," Yuge Bromley said.

"I think being part of the community, we are the consumers of those things ourselves so we feel like we do have a heartbeat connected with it.

“With both of our families local to the Daylesford community, the honour of purchasing and developing this iconic building into a thriving destination spot for both locals and visitors alike was our key driver,” Yuge said.

“We will take time to regroup and plan but our intention is to tap into our combined passions, connections and resources to transform the building into an evolving dining, retail and entertainment destination with a diversity of culture, food, art, music and entertainment.

“We have some initial plans regarding the arcade and atrium, making it a place where visitors local and from afar can frequent time and time again."

Malinka Comelli said “honouring” the heritage-protected building was part of their plans for the future.

“Let's see what we can do with it. It's like a blank canvas but we're going to honour the building for what it is," she said.

turn this into something," Eddy said. "We'll give it our best shot."

The price paid for the building - that's sited next door to the Bromley&Co Daylesford gallery - was just above the reserve price of $3.7 million set in accordance with an independent property valuation and the Local Government Act 2020.

Hepburn Shire mayor Cr Brian Hood said the sale proceeds would be used to repay the loan linked to the council's 2016 purchase of the site with remaining funds allocated to a financial reserve for future expenditure on staff accommodation and community facilities.

“We have begun our planning, and we will progress our investigation into options for staff accommodation and community facilities throughout 2023. This will include community consultation,” Cr Hood said.

He also acknowledged the challenging history of the building since the council bought it in 2016.

The council’s original purchase of The Rex building and other matters relating to the Hepburn at The Hub project remain under investigation by the Local Government Inspectorate.

Cr Hood was keen to point out that the council had cooperated fully with the investigation and called for the release of the inspectorate report.

Mr Bromley says the path ahead for The Rex will not be rushed.

"I think we'll give ourselves a good three to four months if not longer to really make sure that we get it right," he said.

"We're going to be getting a lot of advice and really making sure that this time it is a big success. We're open to the challenges.

“We'll be making a lot of commercial decisions about its wellbeing. We'll have to weigh up everything with a common-sense approach."

Above, from left, David and Yugi Bromley's children and Eddy and Malinka Comelli's children and grandchildren, Sophie, Liana, Arlo, Wen, Joe, Edison, Adam, Amelia, Daisy in front of the iconic building Words & image: Eve Lamb

4 Breaking News

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Hepburn Wildlife Shelter under threat

Ms Chappell and Mr Rowdon say that forcing the relocation of animals currently in their care to other shelters would be extremely stressful for the animals and potentially risk causing some to die.

A Conservation Regulator spokesperson with the department told The Local that: “On two separate occasions in July 2023, Hepburn Wildlife Shelter advised the The departmental threats come after the shelter, that’s been operating for more Conservation Regulator, in writing, that they did not intend to continue operating than two decades, refused to reapply to renew its authorisation (or licence) due to the beyond the expiry date of their current authorisation (31 December 2023) and would imposition of conditions which its operators say are “unrealistic, unreasonable and therefore not be re-applying for a new permit.” absurd”.

The spokesperson said that on December 20 “the Conservation Regulator Experienced wildlife carers Jon Rowdon and Gayle Chappell have been running received further communication from the authorisation holder indicating they would the shelter just out of Daylesford for 22 years, rehabilitating hundreds of orphaned like to continue operating beyond the expiry date”. and injured wildlife annually, and say it’s the first time the department had ever “This request will be assessed with consideration of the minimum legal attempted to enforce such conditions. “We can’t reapply for our authorisation because requirements for shelters and carers to operate under the Wildlife Act 1975 and we can’t operate under those conditions,” Ms Chappell says.

Their current authorisation to function as a wildlife shelter had been due to expire relevant Code of Practice. The Conservation Regulator cancelled a planned inspection at Hepburn Wildlife Shelter on 20 December 2023 due to the prioritisation of other on December 31 with tensions building during 2023 and coming to a head in the operational matters.” week before Christmas.

Last Thursday, December 28, Ms Chappell confirmed that the shelter had since On Wednesday, December 20, Ms Chappell and Mr Rowdon had been expecting “been given a three-month reprieve” beyond December 31. Ms Chappell said they DEECA officers to visit and inspect the shelter that had some 100 animals, including wanted to continue operating the shelter indefinitely but said the DEECA conditions some threatened species, in its care. would make that impossible. “Of course we want to continue operating indefinitely Anticipating the visit, Mr Rowdon, Ms Chappell, fellow wildlife carers, but they haven’t budged at all.” shelter operators and rescuers from across the region, and Animal Justice Party Carers from across the region agree that the difficult situation highlights the wider representatives, gathered at the shelter in a show of support. But at the eleventh hour need for the work of the state’s wildlife carers, rehabilitators, rescuers and shelter the DEECA representatives themselves cancelled their visit and failed to show. operators to be “properly valued and funded accordingly”.

“We’re a good shelter. They need to extend our authorisation to at least allow “We’re all volunteers and we get no funding support at all,” says Mount Alexander us to keep the animals currently in our care to the end of their rehabilitation, and region wildlife rescuer Glynn Jarrett. “We do it because we love it and we rely on essentially they need to engage with us properly,” Ms Chappell said. people like Gayle and Jon. We feel the department is working against us not with us.”

A letter, dated December 18, to the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter from DEECA A fundraiser for the shelter will be held at the Hepburn Golf Club on Saturday, Regulatory Program manager Ash Burns with the department read: January 20 from 5pm. Cost is $30 per head with children under five free.

“Please be aware that from 1 January 2024, any wildlife acquired under your Link: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555291070472&mibextid=LQQJ4d authorisation must either be released or transferred to another authorised shelter or Words: Eve Lamb foster carer with the appropriate skills and experience to continue their care.”

The future of much-loved Hepburn Wildlife Shelter hangs in the balance with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action threatening to enforce the removal of all wildlife in its care in coming months.

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.

Looking back 5

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Looking back at 2023

February 27, 2023 Issue 274 ChillOut 2023

February 27, 2023 Issue 274

The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

Blackwood hosts Australian Gold Panning Championships Basalt grandmother Verna Baker is flexing her forearms to compete in the Australian Gold Panning Championships at Blackwood this Saturday, March 4.

Verna is a dab hand with the gold pan. She’s been honing her gold panning prowess since the age of five.

Over the years she’s found “probably 100 specks” of gold – enough to have turned into a lovely little gold pendant.

“I’ll be competing in the women’s skilled, the veterans’ and the teams’ categories on Saturday,” says Verna, 68, who has plenty of other “golden” aspects to her life as well, including farming daffodils.

Another golden facet to Verna’s life is the fact that this year marks the professional childcare educator’s 50th anniversary of working at local kindergartens.

“I love my work,” says Verna who has worked at pre-schools across the shire and beyond, including Daylesford, Hepburn, Franklinford, Glenlyon, Creswick, Clunes and Wallace.

And there’s no doubt the kinder kids at Daylesford Preschool, where Verna currently works three days a week - and at all the other little local kinders where she’s worked over the years - return the love.

For one thing, Verna not only teaches the littlies how to gold pan, sharing her enjoyment of the sport that gets her out into some beautiful places, she also brings in small animals from her Basalt farm to teach them about caring for critters and to impart her own love of nature.

Verna has won many firsts and seconds in the women’s skilled gold panning competition and team event prizes over the years she’s been competing in the gold panning competitions.

The mother of three and grandmother of four – who also runs a native tree nursery and volunteers with Franklinford CFA - is keenly anticipating this Saturday’s competition.

“It’s a really, really fun day,” she says.

Run by the Victorian Gold Panning Association, the annual Australian Gold Panning Championships are expected to draw around 100 competitors from near and far.

Victorian Gold Panning Association president Marcus Binks is also keenly anticipating the event which he says offers good competition for all skill levels from established champs to those who have never wielded a gold pan before in their lives.

“It’s a great family event and really we’re trying to preserve the history of gold panning,” says Marcus, a geologist by profession who has a couple of national gold panning championship titles to his name.

“I’ve been gold panning since I was a kid and I started at the first Australian championships that were held at Sovereign Hill in 1993,” he says.

This year's event will see gold panners racing against the clock to find a number of tiny golden pieces that have been carefully pre-counted and hidden in sand buckets.

“We even provide pans for those who have never panned before,” Marcus says.

At the top end of the competitive spectrum the competition is keen and close and the addition of an electronic timing system in recent times comes in handy.

“We have a heap of prizes on offer including two metal detectors,” Marcus says.

The championships are taking place at the Blackwood Cricket Ground on Recreation Reserve Road and getting along to watch the competition as a spectator is free.

“It’s a great way to come and learn about panning,” Marcus says.

“We’ll have catering by the Ballan First Scouts and a coffee van. We’re affiliated with the World Gold Panning Championships and we get competitors from New Zealand coming over. They really like our competition. We also get them from interstate - Queensland and Western Australia.”

Words: Eve Lamb. Images: Kyle Barnes

Over the years she’s found “probably 100 specks” of gold – enough to have turned into a lovely little gold pendant.

6 Looking back

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Looking back at 2023

March 13, 2023 Issue 275 Chris? Mick? John?

Issue 275

The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

The Big Rainbow The Big Rainbow has been erected at Victoria Park in Daylesford.

Sponsored by Tinder, the rainbow is made of marine grade plywood and is in the colours of the Philadelphia Pride Flag.

Daylesford won the Rainbow in a competition last year when it was up against three other regional towns - Broome in WA, Katherine in the NT and Hay in NSW. The Big Rainbow is 12 metres wide and six metres tall. It was placed in Victoria Park after the Hepburn Shire Council asked for community input on a number of sites including the Lost Children's Reserve, the Community Skate Park and Lake Daylesford.

It was officially launched last Thursday, March 9, right, and, above, had ChillOut committee members Debbie Greig and Tom Shaw jumping for joy!

Top image: Kyle Barnes | Right image, contributed

Writing the

Rainbow

March 13, 2023

Looking back 7

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Looking back at 2023

April 10, 2023 Issue 277 Happy as ...

April 10, 2023 Issue 274

The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

Legends: Eastoe and Murray drop a new life track It also includes doing guitar and keyboard for children’s entertainer megastars, The Wiggles.

Gillian (Gilly) Eastoe’s background is just as colourful. She and her band Gillian Eastoe and King Dog featured on Countdown in heady 1979. Alongside Gilly’s Now, after 14 good years living at Strangways near Daylesford, these consummate powerhouse rock vocals, the Sydney-based band also featured Phil Emmanuel as lead muso entertainers are about to bid this region farewell to begin living a new melody guitarist, and Gilly toured extensively, performing on stage with many R & R greats in coastal NSW. Woolgoolga, about 25 minutes from Coffs Harbour, to be precise. including Tom Waits, Jimmy Barnes, Dragon, Midnight Oil, Rose Tattoo, Air Supply Anyone who’s ever enjoyed some ripping live music at a local pub in recent years has likely caught this generously talented duo doing what they do best. Since moving and Jon English.

In fact Gilly and Terry met while recording material for the ABC about 20 years to the region 14 years ago they’ve become firm favourites on the local live music ago.

You don’t have to talk to them long to work out that theirs has been a winning scene. partnership.

They’ve travelled all around Australia dispensing hundreds and hundreds As hinted at above, the background tales that these two have to tell are impressive.

To give you just a little taster, Terry’s include playing and organising gigs for the Royal of live shows, including many school-based shows, and inspiring countless new young musicians along the way.

Family at Windsor Castle in England and performing with stars like Tom Jones, “It’s been a magic life. We’ve ridden the wave exactly when things were right,” Randy Crawford, Tommy Emmanuel and Jimmy Barnes.

Gilly says. “You had to be absolutely versatile,” she says. “It was brilliantly demanding Originally an Englishman who left school at 15 to play with Thunderclap but I think we can say that we’re proud of the fact that we came up with the goods Newman - known for their hit single Something in the Air - Terry’s CV also includes every time. We’ve loved being part of this community. This has been my little piece of supporting Pink Floyd at the ridiculously tender age of just 17, as part of the band, heaven and I adore it here.”

Berlin. He moved to Australia in the 80s, became an Aussie citizen and chose not to Suffice to say, they’ll be missed. But this is a duo whose truly extensive repertoire return to his homeland due to the “dismal weather”. straddles country, rock, classical and jazz and Terry says they’re already envisaging Once over here Terry’s professional experiences spanned working with guitar some intimate wine bar type gigs as they write their new life melody ahead. legend Tommy Emmanuel and gigging with Jimmy Barnes to doing live stuff for Words: Eve Lamb Sydney’s Triple M, with Peter Garrett, Nirvana and Guns 'n' Roses.

From supporting Pink Floyd and featuring on Countdown to doing guitar for The Wiggles, the combined experience of local musos Gilly Eastoe and Terry Murray is the stuff of legend.

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Looking back 9

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Looking back at 2023

May 8, 2023 Issue 279 World class

May 8, 2023 Issue 279

The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

Beth heading to Hungary for world champs

D

AYLESFORD'S Beth Whiting is heading to Hungary next month to take part in the World Kettlebell Sport Federation championships.

Looking at the woman many people call “a pocket rocket”, there are plenty of toned muscles and a very healthy glow from a strict workout regime. But it wasn’t always that way. Eleven years ago, Beth was working with the Melbourne Festival and on tour for six months of every year. With no fridge or pantry stocked with healthy food, and always on the go, she found herself losing control of any food or fitness regime.

Beth used that moment to change her life around and rather than just find a diet, she did a personal training course and started to eat well and work out. Still with the Melbourne Festival, she took part in a boot camp at The Tan in Melbourne, worked out on the stage of the Sidney Myer Music Bowl and toned up. It was fun however Beth certainly never thought it would be the start of a career. But it was.

She moved to the Central Highlands to live with her now husband, Brett, and found work at a gym where she was also approached by a few people to see if she was interested in starting an early morning local boot camp. Victoria Park in Daylesford was the first location, starting on the oval, eventually moving into the table tennis pavilion and finally now running full-time fitness classes for all abilities and ages at Integrate Fitness, out of a purpose-designed space off East Street with “an incredible community all keen to be the best versions of themselves”.

It was during the building of her fitness business that kettlebells came along and life changed again. Beth had always loved them and had been looking for something for “just me”.

“As every mum knows you lose yourself a bit and working in the business meant I didn’t have time for my own workouts and my mental health needed that. I did a kettlebell coaching course in 2014 with my now coach Shannon Pigdon and then basically stalked him until he agreed to train me. He lives in Albury and I go up there every three months or so to do a session with him.

“In the first competition I ever saw, the competitors were lifting continuously for 30 minutes so I went home and wondered if I could do that, and I picked up a kettlebell and did it. It turns out I can do that – and more.

“Shannon sent me a program that involved three sessions a week, and I am all about being accountable, so since 2019 I have done those three sessions every week. And it was about finding me – I was a mum running a business – kettlebell is my meditation, my flow, my time. And I had found not only something I was good at, and enjoyed, I also found the strength it brought into my life.”

Beth says being good at kettlebells is all about a combination of mental and physical resilience and the ability to keep going, no matter how tough that going gets. In competition, once you start, you never, ever put a kettlebell down. The kettlebell itself is a hollow ball of iron with a handle made of iron, weighing from eight kilograms to 50kg.

They are all the same size with the same handle, just the weight and colour vary.

Competitions include single and double lifts and range from 10 minutes to half marathons of 30 minutes and full marathons of 60 minutes. The competitor’s weight, the weight of the kettlebell and repetitions completed all come into the winning equation.

Beth sometimes competes against people who weigh five kilos less than her, or 40kg more.

And after competing at the Australian Nationals in September last year she was offered a place on the Australian team to compete in Hungary.

“I am excited and I can’t wait to experience being a part of the Australian Kettlebell team with 10 other incredible athletes. We have a wonderful community and this is a really good opportunity to be involved in that.”

“But I would love to get more of the community involved. We have two Beth is the Girevoy Sport Australia treasurer and also among those working to have competitions being held at Integrate Fitness on May 20 and July 15. Athletes will the organisation recognised nationally, to gain some much-needed funding, with a dream be competing from Daylesford, Melbourne, Geelong and Albury. We'd love for to one day have the sport in the Olympics. people to come along to see what the sport is all about.

Back home, she now trains five people in kettlebell at Integrate Fitness. “We have an “It’s not for everyone, throwing a kettlebell around, some people find it a bit incredible lifting community in Daylesford. I love watching our athletes achieve things scary, but I love it and I love my kettlebells – they are affectionately known as my they never dreamt possible. They inspire me every day. They are amazing people who all babies. And if you don’t want to watch a competition, we train most Saturday do incredible things. mornings from 8am – contact us to join a session.”

“We had wanted to call ourselves The Daylesford Swingers, but the name was already Details: Beth at info@integratefitness.com.au taken - with a very different meaning,” she laughs.

(Update, Beth won! - Read www.tlnews.com.au Issue 280)

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Looking back 11

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Looking back at 2023

June 5, 2023 Issue 281 Voice and passion

June 5, 2023 Issue 279

The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

Beautiful vocal music coming to Daylesford Renowned opera singer and director Christine Douglas may have had a distinguished career, and continues to do so, but she remains down to earth when it comes to describing her passion.

The flyer says Christine Douglas & her Studio Singers, accompanied by Adam Przewlocki, will perform a feast of song from Purcell to Puccini on Saturday, June 24 at Christ Church, Daylesford.

Christine says she has “a bunch of really interesting singers” and she “thought it was a good time to bring some beautiful vocal music to Daylesford”.

The musical feast will include a big range from Purcell, to Puccini, to some very comic Rossini, she says. “It’s music that people would know, a lot of highlights, and everyone is going to recognise these pieces. They are not highly esoteric, they are melodies that people are familiar with.”

The Studio Singers are people the Daylesford resident is currently teaching - some close to starting careers, others just singing opera for the love of it. They range from in age from 22 to 45 and hold down a variety of full-time careers or are studying, but are committed to juggling their time, and Christine’s, to learn their craft.

“Lots of people want to sing when they are growing up but they become accountants, or whatever seems to be the most practical thing. It’s all about money. It is very hard to support yourself as a young singer. I did a lot of waitressing, working in department stores, trying to pay bills to become a singer.

“And many of these people have gone and worked in these regular jobs and done singing on the side, but are now really starting to prioritise their singing. And you have to be quite brave to do that, but they are saying at 27 or 40, ‘I am going to pursue this’ because if not now, when?

“And one of the singers came to me thinking she could maybe just muck around with a few songs but has developed into the most wonderful singer and I have just suggested that she applies to Opera Australia’s chorus – it’s been quite a journey.”

“And, of course, sometimes, no matter how good the voice is, if the ear is not sufficiently trained it is extremely hard to get that voice right.

“Especially if someone comes to you in their 30s – we have to lay down a pathway in the brain for any skill we want to have and the older you are, the trickier it is. But some others have a wonderful talent and if they are determined, they will get there.”

Christine said some people looked at opera as highbrow and “it probably is”.

“The difficulty with opera is that it was invented in Italy so Italian in the core language and for people to learn to sing in a classical way they do have to approach the Italian language to some extent to get the vowel sounds right.”

With audiences, such as at Christ Church, Christine is also the compere and will be explaining to people what they are about to hear “to demystify the pieces”.

Christine’s own move into opera came from being born into a theatrical family with a well-known singer as a father and a dancer mother. Christine tried singing a variety of genres but everything sounded operatic. “It is just my voice.”

She trained at the Victorian College of the Arts with Dame Joan Hammond and has since sung opera all over Australia in leading roles. She also started a young artists’ program in Sydney and moved into directing.

The move to Daylesford after decades in Sydney came in 2020, renting and then buying. She and her husband have two groodles, walk them every day around Lake Daylesford and have found their tribe. “It was the best move of our lives moving here.

We love it. I just can’t tell you how many wonderful people we have met.”

A Glenlyon local also got Christine back into singing. “Jenny Jordan got me to sing at the Bastille Day celebrations at the Daylesford Town Hall last July. I had been focusing on teaching and she said ‘you need to sing’ and got me a special arrangement with the brass band. It was great and I thought, I am going to start singing again!”

Words: Donna Kelly

“The difficulty with opera is that it was invented in Italy so Italian in the core language and for people to learn to sing in a classical way they do have to approach the Italian language to some extent to get the vowel sounds right.”

12 Looking back

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Looking back at 2023

July 17, 2023 Issue 284 Care to tango?

July 17, 2023 Issue 284

The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

Artists of the Central Highlands

Castlemaine's Neil Tait has built up an admiring following for his artistry when it comes to decorative ironwork. This local creative – ably assisted by his team – designs and creates wrought iron pieces that are aesthetically pleasing works of art which frequently also serve the most functional of purposes. Neil’s well-established local business, Tait Decorative Iron, uses a variety of materials – including bronze, mild steel, copper and stainless steel, to create a unique range of sculptures and decorative pieces. Garden sculpture, wrought iron furniture, imposing gates, and beautiful balustrades that please the eye while providing a practical function are just a few of the sorts of pieces Neil creates at his local workshop. He chatted with Eve Lamb.

Eve: When you are creating a piece of work what does the process entail?

Neil: The process of commissioning sculpture or custom work involves discussing details of the commission with the client, a site visit, budgeting, material choices providing detail visuals and working drawings.

Eve: Can you tell us a bit about some of your most satisfying or exciting projects to date?

Neil: I’ve had a great range of satisfying projects, working on sculptures for landscape projects, playground elements, and custom gates. There have been so many for private properties but also for public spaces.

with Eve Lamb

I’ve done some sculptural works for the Victoria to New South Wales Long Paddock Project. The sculptural pieces were designed by the artist Geoff Hocking and every sculpture had a story with it. Also some interesting pieces for the Catholic Church throughout Victoria, designed by Jenny Steiner, including interior light fittings for churches and decorative installations. Another one was a piece made out of stainless steel for the Conservatory at Fitzroy Gardens, behind Parliament House.

We did all the elements in the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens children’s playground, and we’ve just built a giant frog for a public space in Caulfield.

Eve: What are some of the main challenges that you encounter?

Neil: Some of the main challenges of any creative outcome are constantly having fresh ideas, working within time and cost restraints. To be viable is always a challenge but I’ve been making things and been self employed for over 35 years so I must be doing something right!

Eve: And the main rewards?

Neil: The rewards are many. I’m fortunate to have a very talented team of staff who can make almost anything I design. I also have a son with amazing skill in design and computer skills for the visual and computer work involved on large projects.

One thing that always makes my day is seeing a project completed and the client has commented on how it was a good experience through the journey to outcome.

EAT | DRINK | ENJOY

Out & About in the Central Highlands

Image: Donna Kelly

14 Looking back

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August 28, 2023 Issue 287 Maddy had a little lamb

August 20, 2023 Issue 287

The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

Good life down on the woollen mill farm

The animals at the farm now include adorable seven-month-old chocolate male alpacas – Choc and Chip – whose very apt names are the result of a recently concluded naming competition.

Maddy Viola – also known as Farmer Maddy when she’s at work - is one of two There’s also full-grown alpacas - Solomon who is a Suri alpaca and who sports a farmers at the Creswick Woollen Mills’ onsite demo farm, the other being local particularly cool fleece that would look right at home on the head of a surfer, and his resident, Lyn Wozny, who is also a shearer. best buddy, Juicy Bear, who is a Huacaya breed alpaca.

Besides tending to all the basic needs and creature comforts of their four-hooved Then there’s Babar the sheep and his mate Shawn the sheep who has just charges, Maddy’s and Lyn’s job is to talk all day long about one of their all-time celebrated a birthday in style. In fact, Farmer Maddy and Cassandra say all of the favourite topics – the critters in their care.

“It’s fun. I get to hang out with the animals all day and provide information about animals get to have their birthdays properly celebrated with cakes especially prepared them – their names, their ages, their breeds,” Maddy, pictured with Choc above, and to their personal taste – think something along the lines of a tasty mixture of specialty pellets and lucerne chaff.

Timmy right, says. “It makes a lot of people happy, especially the little kids.”

Maddy says getting to know the unique personalities and character traits of the Creswick Woollen Mills, famed for its beautiful fibre products including fine alpaca and merino fleece luxury items, has been operating at Creswick for more than animals in her care is part of what she most enjoys about her work.

“Shawn is like a teenager. Every now and then he has temper tantrums and tries 75 years now, becoming an important tourism drawcard. to head-butt me. Juicy Bear and Solomon have brotherly fights over food. But they all But the pandemic had an impact, with a significant drop particularly in the love each other,” she says. number of Chinese and other Asian visitors, who up to then had been visiting the There’s also the super-pretty little multi-coloured Persian cross Dorper lambs, Creswick attraction in droves.

Bill and Ted and, as of very recent weeks, two special new additions – rare Valais They’d often come in coachloads after visiting Ballarat’s Sovereign Hill with the Blacknose lambs Milo and Timmy who have beautiful white fleece with charming Creswick Woollen Mills a must-do on their Aussie itinerary. black point markings.

“Before Covid we used to have hundreds of internationals every day, and yes Sometimes known as “the cutest sheep in the world,” the Valais Blacknose breed they’re slowly starting to come back now,” Creswick Woollen Mills store manager originates from the Swiss Valais region and there are very few of them in Australia.

Cassandra Ellis says.

“Milo and Timmy are rare Valais lambs from the Alpine region and the breed is She says that now the pandemic is over they’ve also been able to start bringing the animals back to the site, something that’s only happened over the last few months, new to Australia,” Cassandra says.

Maddy, who also works on a local horse property, says chatting to children and although not quite to the same levels as pre-Covid.

“Pre-Covid we had 40-plus alpacas here and crias (baby alpacas) being born here,” educating people about the animals is a really rewarding aspect of her work at the woollen mill farm. “I could never sit down for a whole day at a desk,” she says.

Cassandra said.

The farm at Creswick Woollen Mills is open to the public to visit, see the animals Alpaca shearing demonstrations took place twice a year on the especially built demonstration stage, and now, Cassandra says, management thoughts are once again and chat to Farmer Maddy or Farmer Lyn, five days a week, Thursday-Monday from 11am-3pm. turning to bringing these back as well.

“There’s a lot for love for the animals,” she says. “They’re all superstars. People Words & image: Eve Lamb come up from Melbourne to learn about them.”

It’s a job many would envy and Creswick Woollen Mills’ Farmer Maddy says it’s one she’s not about to swap for a desk any day soon.

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September 25, 2023 Issue 289 Vale Harold Suckling

September 25, 2023 Issue 289

The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

Farewell to a woodchop champ: Vale Harold The state’s woodchopping sports fraternity is mourning the recent loss of one of its favourite locals, Korweinguboora’s Harold Suckling.

Mr Suckling’s dedication to responsible management of the timber industry in which he worked - hands-on - for much of his life, and his prowess as a champion woodchopper led to widespread recognition in his community and further afield.

Harold passed away on August 23 at the age of 79 after many years of receiving dialysis. However his loss still came as a shock. Behind him this well-known local has left a legacy of many friends and of advocating for the responsible management of the forests in which he spent so much of his life.

His daughter Linda says her father’s recognition particularly in woodchopping circles meant that he had made friends nationwide. “He had a very welcoming character,” Linda says. “Everyone knew him. You could go anywhere and people knew him. He’d stop and talk to everyone and say g’day to anyone.”

Highlights of Harold’s life ranged from taking tea with former Prime Minister John Howard in 2005 when he was advocating for his industry sector, to taking out numerous woodchopping championships including those at famed local events in Glenlyon, Blackwood and Daylesford.

Harold’s prowess in the sport saw him travel Australia to compete successfully in numerous high-profile woodchopping events and later, together with his son Gary, in crosscut-sawing events. Father and son made a formidable team, frequently dominating their sport at events.

In 2002 Harold was squad captain for the Victorian woodchopping side that competed in Perth to take out the state titles three-nil.

Born and bred in Korweinguboora where he resided all his life, the young Harold entered the timber industry at the tender age of 14, working at his father’s Barkstead sawmill initially before branching out more widely in the sector.

He went on to become president of the Central Highlands branch of Timber Communities Australia.

Former TCA state manager Kersten Gentle once previously reported that Harold had “dedicated his working life to the wellbeing of the forest and wood products industry, leading a team of passionate volunteers who either worked in or supported the sector”.

As president of the TCA branch he engaged with politicians, interacted with the media, gave talks at schools and generously offered his time at local shows, Ms Gentle had reported when Harold was earlier undergoing dialysis.

Having spent many years of his life as a timber worker Harold’s “affinity for the forest was deeply ingrained,” Ms Gentle wrote, adding: “he grew up with sawdust in his boots cherishing the laborious work in this natural setting”.

Gentle had also reported that Harold: “Worked to ensure the forests were responsibly managed by replanting one to three seedlings for every tree harvested”.

As part of TCA Harold attended conferences in Canberra, Tasmania and Western Australia. Through his infectious charm he forged lasting friendships nationwide while woodchop events he helped to organise became significant fundraisers for local causes including the Daylesford Hospital.

Harold also served as president of the Midland Axemen’s Association for a quarter of a century and was made a life member. The association has described him as “a true legend of our club,” in its recent online post announcing his passing.

Harold once appeared on Channel Seven’s World of Sport much to the delight and entertainment of his family who also have especially fond memories of watching Harold compete in woodchopping events at the Royal Melbourne Show.

“Growing up as kids we’d be in the car and be off to the Melbourne show to watch him compete,” Linda says. “He loved family and he loved family life and teaching the kids, especially the grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”

Harold is survived by his wife of 58 years, Gwen. “But we were actually together for 61 years,” Gwen says. Harold is also survived by the couple’s children Linda, Gary and Kerrie, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Words: Eve Lamb | Images: Contributed (More images - www.tlnews.com.au)

16 Looking back

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Looking back at 2023

October 9, 2023

October 9, 2023 Issue 290

Issue 290

TH

27

FROM TH 29 UNTIL R

OCTOBE

STREET

PARADE IL

N VIG LANTER STA FERKS FAMILY FIREWO

2023 The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

National human rights award for Tony Clark Creswick’s Tony Clark has received the inaugural Kimberley Kitching Human Rights Award at the recent ALP National Conference in Brisbane, using the opportunity to advocate strongly for a cause so dear to his heart.

A passionate advocate for inclusivity of people with disability, the CreswickClunes Labor branch member received the award from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

The citation on the award states: “For demonstrating an outstanding commitment to the advancement of human rights in Australia or globally.”

Deemed legally blind since the age of 20, Tony was accompanied at the national conference podium by his guide dog Timmy and, in perfect timing, worked in a quick quip to assist the PM in ushering him to the lectern to accept the award.

“Take my elbow, Albo,” Clark tactfully advised, before going on to deliver an impassioned speech to the 500 or so decision-makers in the room.

A member of the Victorian Labor Party since 2008, Tony has spent much of his adult life challenging organisations, business and the Labor Party itself to be more inclusive and more accessible for people with disability.

“I took the view that I was going to use my blindness as a great strength,” he told delegates at the national conference that he attended with his partner Melanie Bellingham, who is also a member of the local party branch.

“Those strengths are around tenacity, determination, thinking laterally, thinking outside that square, and persistence in the face of challenge.”

These are all things Clark knows about first-hand.

“I was diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition when I was 19 and declared legally blind at 20. Tough thing for a young man of 19,” he said.

“I remember one of my greatest fears was ‘who the hell’s going to want to marry a blind guy?’ And I did have a moment. It was with the Commonwealth Employment Service, the old CES. I’d just finished telling them I was looking for work. I had an honours degree in science in immunology.

“The response was ‘most people like you weave baskets’. I kid you not. And I have to be honest, people might not say it in those words anymore, but that’s still there.

That’s absolutely still there.

“Attitude is the big thing and we all have some responsibility to think about how we can change,” said Clark who, besides his honours degree in science, also has a Masters in communication, is a qualified company director, and chairs a board.

“I can tell you first hand of the passive discrimination and barriers that are out there that prevent good quality people getting jobs. We have higher unemployment.

Higher poverty. These things have not moved for decades.”

Driven by his strong desire to see these things change, Clark has stood for Parliament three times including for the federal seat of Deakin in 2016 when he ran with the catchy slogan “No Sight, Great Vision”.

Believing that leaders should reflect the people they seek to represent, he ran for the seat hoping to be a voice for the one in five Australians living with a disability.

“When I got to 38, I thought: You know what? I don’t respect people who sit on the side and throw mud. I believe you’ve got to get in there... and government is what changes our community.

“It sets regulation, it sets job policies, it sets legislation. Everything comes from government and that’s where change can be made.”

Although Tony didn’t win the seat of Deakin, the campaign trail nevertheless provided an opportunity for him to generously engage with the voters, the media, the ALP and the parliament to get a fairer deal for people experiencing disability.

His decades of advocacy have resulted in the founding and formalisation of Labor Enabled Victoria, where, alongside Annie Payne, he has successfully argued the need for a Disability Action Plan for the party - a national first.

He continues to advocate across the broader community to achieve greater access for people with disability to education, employment, economic opportunity, and healthcare.

Giving the example of the ALP’s quota system for gender equity, he is particularly keen to see quotas similarly introduced to ensure fair representation for people with disability in Parliament at state and national level.

“Twenty percent of people in Australia – one in five – experience some kind of disability. Yet we’ve only had eleven people with a disability in Federal Parliament since Federation. Since 1901. It’s appalling,” he said.

“We are spending billions on billions of dollars supporting people with a disability and yet we are not taking advantage and grasping the value that they bring with their lived experience,” he told the recent national conference.

“I think the biggest barrier we face is perception and giving people an opportunity for a job.”

Tony said receiving the inaugural Kimberley Kitching Award was “very humbling - it’s just wow”.

In Creswick, he is currently advocating for a new scout hall.

“The current scout hall is in a flood zone and has been flooded several times. We want a new hall that’s fully accessible and can be used for the First Creswick Scout Group and many other community groups as well.

“We want it to be built at a site near the train station and we’ve applied for $500,000 through the federal regional grant fund. We’re also seeking $400,000 through the state and working with our local member Martha Haylett.”

Words & image: Eve Lamb

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November 6, 2023 Issue 292 Budburst Festival

November 6, 2023 Issue 292

The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

Community mourns loss of much-loved Serge Popular Daylesford taxi driver Serge Kislinsky often told his daughter Natasha Waters he couldn’t visit the grandchildren in Melbourne because “the village needs me”.

And Serge’s sudden death early last week has left the Daylesford and wider community shocked with many taking to social media to talk about their love of the 73-year-old.

His family posted: Forever loved by your ex-wife and angel, Sue. Loved and adored by your Princess Natasha, Prince Edward, Billy and Floss.

Life will not be as colourful without you.

I am certain taxis will never be the same in Daylesford.

Natasha said while she knew her father was loved by many she had been amazed by the comments on Facebook. “It has been just beautiful for Mum and me to read that daily. It makes us laugh and remember lots of things about him, it is just incredible.

“We worked out that Dad had lived in Daylesford for 25 years and he went there because he had a hard life in Melbourne and was ready to move and make a new life for himself, and he did.

“He just loved his job and put that first before everything, it was the most important thing to him. He would often call and say ‘I can’t come and visit the grandkids, I have to look after the village, they need me’.

“And he took such pride in his job and his uniform. When we went up last Wednesday he had all his shirts and pants ironed and his shoes polished. Not many people would be proud of driving a taxi but he made that his profession and he loved being good at it and he loved that he brought such joy.

“I used to love hearing stories about him driving people, getting out and opening the doors for older women, carrying their shopping, taking one woman to different halls for dances. I just loved hearing his stories.”

Natasha said Serge lived a very simple life – with his family, job and the locals the most important things. He also had a passion for a good red wine, which he couldn’t really afford.

“Dad loved me, loved my mum and his grandkids and, with his job, they were the most important things in his life. Mum and Dad separated when I was 15 but Dad absolutely adored Mum, and Mum adored Dad. They just fell out of love but Mum said they married for friendship, not love.

Serge is survived by his ex-wife Sue, daughter Natasha, son-in-law Edward and “Dad would save up his pennies so he could take her to the finest restaurants, grandchildren Billy, 10, and Flossy, seven.

Lake House, Bistro Terrior…and I love that he would get dressed up – the most overdressed person in Daylesford – to take mum out and spoil her. He probably worked for two months just to be able to do that.”

Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Contributed Natasha said Serge was born in Russia and came to Australia by boat with his family when he was 15. He had a hard childhood with parents who were always battling to make ends meet.

“But when my friends met him they always thought he came across as the wealthiest man in the world and he was, but it wasn’t with money, he was wealthy with the pride and love he had for his family and his work. He gave everything he had, every day.”

Natasha said over the past few months, Serge had changed a little and perhaps knew deep down that he was not well.

“But he didn’t change and he wasn’t going to change his life. And I take comfort that he was not ill for a long time because my Dad would never have done that well.

He has died a proud man and done it his way.

“And I also take comfort in how much people loved him. I always knew people did love and respect him but not to the extent we are hearing. It is a real blessing for our family. He never really talked about that – but I am sure he knew how much people cared about him.”

“I take comfort in how much people loved him.

It is a real blessing for our family.”

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December 4, 2023 Issue 294 Summer Real Estate Guide

December 4, 2023 Issue 294

The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

Walks of the Central Highlands

with Eve Lamb

Today we’re tackling a short, sharp, little gem of a walk known as the Cork Oaks Track. Traversing the northern east-west flank of Mount Beckworth Scenic Reserve, just out of Clunes, this under-acknowledged little beauty is noteworthy for several reasons, the most obvious being its namesake – the cork oaks (quercus suber). More on that when we reach them...

As mentioned, this is a short walk, only 6.5km for the round trip, but don’t be fooled. By the time you’re finished with it you’ll feel like you’ve had a decent little workout as it does pack a couple of pulse-raising small punches of elevation.

The first challenge is getting to the starting point. We enter the Mount Beckworth Scenic Reserve at its north-eastern end, by vehicle, having driven from Clunes and taken the Maryborough Road, followed by Cemetery, Golf Course, Pickford’s and Kierces roads to reach the dam in the reserve. There’s one or two points where extra careful driving may be called for, particularly depending on recent rainfall activity and the degree of gravel road maintenance that’s occurred since.

The Dam. This is our starting point, on the north-eastern flank of Mount Beckworth. It’s a top little picnicking spot with tall native water grasses making a sweet habitat for various birds. Above us a black kite shoots the breeze and from here we first start out on the Dam Track skirting around the northern edge of the dam itself before we encounter the first short sharp little climb.

By this stage we’ve already enjoyed plenty of native flora, eucalypts full of blossom and the drowsy afternoon drone of working bees, and some native casaurina as we climb the Beckworth lower flank with its rocky granite ridgelines.

The Oval. It’s a small, flat, grassy plateau offering excellent views back to the east over the volcanic plains with their ‘mammeloid’ hills rollicking away to far shimmering horizons. At this time of year, late spring, the oval itself is a tangle of native, and some not-so-native grasses interlaced with intricate indigenous wildflowers.

From here there’s a very gentle climb, gaining great views to the west, across agricultural land and the distant Waubra wind farm towers.

Leaving The Oval, we join the Yellow Box Track for a short while, and the trail weaves through splendid examples of the namesake yellow box gums and some remarkable rocky outcrops and large boulders festooned with rugged apple-green lichens. The track is pretty well signposted and soon we find the turnoff to the Cork Oaks clearly marked ahead.

Snakes. We’ve reached mid-walk, the sun’s beating down, late afternoon and, camera in hand, I’m admiring yellow native paper daisies in full brilliance and magnificent swirls of bark on old growth gums, when I almost step on a brown snake.

Fortunately it’s about as happy to see me as I am it and when I see it, all of a school ruler’s length from my boot, it’s already sliding away from me about as fast as its belly muscles can carry it.

At this point, my trusty walking companion for this expedition – Paddy H – declares a lunchbreak.

Refuelled, we head on toward the Cork Oaks through an undulating and visually interesting section of trail. The bushland all around is dry but with all of those rocky boulder features and views, it’s also imposing with a grandeur all its own, not to mention generous wafts of that classic hot Aussie bushland scent.

Lucky. Having almost stepped on a highly venomous brown snake I’m pretty vigilant at this point in our trek and we count ourselves lucky to have had such a peaceable warning encounter as the track now descends toward a dry watercourse; dry yet, in late November, still green enough along its immediate riparian zone to suggest the sort of small life forms that attract plenty of hungry reptiles.

The Cork Oaks. After crossing the dry creek bed there’s only a few hundred metres left to walk before we finally reach the Cork Oaks. They’re nothing if not a surprise packet out here on the western flank of the Mount Beckworth Scenic Reserve. Prior to doing this walk I’ve done a bit of research and discovered that these 40-odd, mature, exotic trees were planted here back in 1965 as a then Forests Commission Victoria trial.

The goal was to determine the viability of growing cork oaks (quercus suber) for domestic commercial uses and came about following some fairly intense lobbying by a persistent and well-connected captain of industry of the day.

My research also informs that cork oaks occur naturally around the western Mediterranean and that cork from cork oaks has been used since ancient times as bottle stoppers, footwear, insulation and floats for fishing.

Since the 17th century the production and export of cork has been an important industry in Portugal and Spain, the bark first harvested when the trees were about 25 years old and thereafter at nine to 12-year intervals.

Unfortunately, it appears nothing much beyond an interesting diversion for the more horticulturally-minded boffins in the Forests Commission ever really came of the trial. Beyond the living legacy that endures of course.

Today the western-edge Mount Beckworth cork oaks are one of the very few traces remaining of a handful of early cork oak trials conducted by the Forests Commission Victoria last century. This little remnant trial plot features some truly beautiful trees with their corrugated trunks and wizened leaves offering welcome shade in a frequently parched land.

We arrive and fling down our backpacks for a while to lie back in the oaks’ silvery shadows and appreciate these imposing specimens and their novel place in history, along with a well-earned coffee or two. Time slips away easily here, but don’t leave it too long to start heading back if you’ve taken on this walk toward dusk as the return leg may seem longer than you’d think, particularly the last descent from the oval back to the dam which can be super slippery, particularly when it’s really dry.

This is a top shelf little walk for its views and unique points of interest. If you’re sampling it in the warm part of the year, just watch out for the snakes.

22 Opinion

www.tlnews.com.au

Kyle’s Rant

Local Lines

OH, OH, OH

OH, OH, OH on thy festive card o Yule and I concede that the year has not been for many a crowning jewel Oh well for the No Voice voter so proud and paranoid Oh well for Peter Dutton negatively overjoyed Middle Eastern mayhem Jasper floods up north Last drinks for Shane McGowan The Pogues a good man short But hang on for a second The Pies this year were premiers and here’s the first tomato Times must be getting merrier

Ed's note: It's been a long year and young Kyle is very tired but not grumpy so he has decided to have a break from his rant. Instead, if you scan this QR code, you will find a little New Year video from him and a look back, with music, at the front covers of the past 10 years. You are bound to know someone! Sit back and enjoy. Oh, and feel free use the white space below to write your shopping list. Probably more interesting than Kyle's usual rants:)

And look what I have just found it’s not OH, OH, OH When I turn the card round it reads HO, HO, HO - Bill Wootton

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

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

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.

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Pick me, pick me!

G’day. I’m Pete. As you can see I’m a gorgeous golden retriever.

Opinion 23

Just sayin’...

By Donna Kelly First of all, Happy New Year! It's 2024 already - and the years just keep rolling around. My lovely Nan told me once that time goes faster as you get older, and it's true. But getting older is also a privilege not open to everyone.

So who's complaining.

I am a real sweetheart and I love being with people and am eager to please. I love to run around to play and I absolutely love playing in water. I have basic training but would benefit from ongoing training. I can be a little nervous with sudden movements, but I walk well on a lead and I am dog-friendly.

I require daily grooming and grass seed checks. You can come and meet me at the Mount Alexander Animal Welfare shelter in Castlemaine. Phone: 5472 5277. Microchip no: 956000010220713.

Link: www.maaw.org.au (Pick me, pick me is run in memory of Rosie & Curly - we picked them. And remember a pet is for life!)

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This edition came out on January 1 and, as usual, we decided on a retrospective edition with just a few of the stories we wanted to share again, including the sad loss of a couple of wonderful community stalwarts. Vale Harold and Serge.

Of course, you can't cover everything and some things are best left in the past.

We mostly try to be a good news publication but it's hard sometimes. You know what I mean. It's not that we are not thinking about those situations but just not bringing them to the fore. I hope everyone is OK. And I hope you have enjoyed the past year of editions of The Local - we love putting it all together and have a fantastic crew who do all the hard yards. Thanks to all of them for their work, commitment and, most of all, friendship and support.

Also thanks to our advertisers. I hope that you do support them. It is not because of us, but because of them, that you have a lovely free read each fortnight. Have a look through the pages each edition and if you can thank them by using their services it would be much appreciated.

Now, as I said most of this edition is looking back but we do have new adverts, check them out, and also a bit of a distressing story on the potential closure of the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action. Or DEECA. Formerly DELWP. If you check out our story on page 4 by journo Eve Lamb you will read that the departmental threats come after the shelter, that’s been operating for 22 years, has refused to reapply to renew its authorisation (or licence) due to the imposition of conditions which its operators say are “unrealistic, unreasonable and absurd”.

Those operators are Gayle Chappell and Jon Rowdon. Both very experienced and trained wildlife carers who have basically put their lives on hold for those 22 years and dedicated themselves to saving wildlife. Day in, day out, night in, night out, they take in injured wildlife and nurse them back to health. There is no funding. They are helped by amazing volunteers who wash and dry bedding, make up formulas, feed animals around the clock, provide compassion, raise funds and collect donations of sheets and blankets and anything that could possibly help an animal in need.

As far as I know no injured animal has ever been knocked back. They all get the care, and love, that they need in the most stressful time of their lives. I remember seeing Jon in town during the 2009 bushfires and he looked exhausted. Fifteen years ago - and still they continue with their life's work.

I don't know what's going on with the department, but surely the fix is a helping hand not a fist. Maybe some of the department's cost to change its name could have gone to wildlife shelters. I don't think an injured joey gives a stuff if the overriding wildlife body is DEECA or DELWP. Hmmm. Maybe if the shelter is shut down we take any injured wildlife to the nearest DEECA office? And if it's after five, perhaps we drop them off at a manager's home for the night. I am sure they wouldn't mind doing the 2am feed.

This is just bureaucracy gone mad. This is an essential service. You help not hinder. Gee, a thank you might even be nice as well, for 22 years of service to the community. Oh, stop the press, read page 4 about a fundraiser at the Hepburn Golf Club! It's such a great cause. Just sayin'...

Ageing DisGracefully members, including Max Primmer, get together at the Daylesford Mill Markets cafe on Thursdays at 11am.

All welcome. For information email ageingdis3461@gmail. com, call 0427 131 249 or head to the Ageing DisGracefully Facebook page.

Ageing DisGracefully is an initiative of Hepburn House.

24 Gardening

Beat the heat

www.tlnews.com.au It is a rather precarious system requiring a good memory or an accurate timer to avoid under watering or the inevitable wastage of an overflow, to say nothing of the frequent trips out to move the hose on.

The solution is a garden-wide, easily installed, and relatively low priced, brown poly pipe system with inbuilt, non-blocking drippers. They come in various length rolls, have plastic attachments to enable you to create your own network and require only a sharp knife or secateurs, pliers and a pot of hot water to soak and soften the tube ends.

Our large and rambling garden is now fully installed with six such systems, each on independent taps and the whole garden is watered in hourly stages ranging from one to three hours depending on the season and weather.

The length of watering needed can be judged by feeling the soil to a depth of several centimetres for dryness.

The frequency of summer watering can be further reduced by covering the beds and drippers (actually they're really dribblers) to a depth of 4-5cm with mulch or compost such as pea straw, dried grass clippings, leaves, almond shells, sawdust or pulverised horse or cow manure.

Hot, dry summers can play havoc with your garden but if proper precautions are taken during its establishment and early stages of development, the summer months should be pleasurable and present few problems.

The first and most obvious step is, of course, to plant only those which are most suitable for your particular area and climate. It is by far better to plant any tree or shrub that will grow well in your area, than a less hardy one simply because you like it better. A slow tour of your neighbourhood should be sufficient to give you a clue as to Got a gardening query? Email glenzgarden@gmail.com what would grow well in your garden.

By planting in stages, beginning with the hardiest varieties and allowing them to become established to provide shade and wind protection for the less hardy, it is then Below, one of the mighty protea tribe, leucospermum cordifolium, known by his mates as red pincushion possible to grow a great range of colder climate plants Many native shrubs and trees are particularly well suited for this purpose since they have had millenniums of seasons to adapt themselves to the climate, the soils and, of course, the droughts.

Amid the most versatile families are the melaleucas. They range from tiny shrubs to mighty 10-metre high trees. Although they all have the typical brush-like flowers the difference in growth habit and foliage is so vast that several of them can be planted without giving your garden a look of sameness.

Other similarly suitable plant families are grevilleas, acacias, banksias and the proteaceae group - such as protea, leucadendron etc. They are all evergreen.

The second step is to make sure you are watering correctly. To gain maximum benefit from watering, particularly during the hot weather, it is far better to water well, than to water lightly and often.

Remembering that trees and shrubs take in all nourishment via their root systems, it follows that it is best to supply their water directly on to the ground around their roots. As well as maintaining soil moisture longer it will encourage tree and shrub roots to grow stronger and deeper.

Deep roots will find water and food for themselves and not become so reliant on frequent watering. This makes it possible to lengthen the period between watering - a great help when you are planning to get away on holidays.

Before the arrival of polypipe and micro sprays, it was necessary to control the delivery of water to each specific tree by digging a shallow moat around the drip zone or the outer periphery of the branches) and leave a slow running hose to fill the moat.

Here is the crossword solution for Edition 295.

How did you go?

All words in the crossword appear somewhere in the same edition of The Local.

Our cruciverbalist is on leave until January 15.

So no crossword in this edition.

Maybe try sudoku...

Happy New Year!

www.tlnews.com.au

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