Ciao di nuovo! Hello again!
We can’t wait to celebrate Swiss Italian Festa 2025 with you — a joyful weekend where la dolce vita meets country charm! From a lively street parade and fireworks to pizza, gelati and spritzes at Lavandula Farm, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Wander through open gardens, join heritage tours, hear choirs in historic churches, or simply bask in the music at Carnevale in the Mineral Springs Reserve. Most events are free, but a few — like the Heritage Gala Dinner, Yandoit Stone House Tour, and Villa Parma Open Garden — are ticketed, so book ahead to avoid disappointment!
Viva la Festa!
The Farmers Arms Heritage Dinner
Thu 23 Oct, 6:30pm
Join us for an enchanting evening celebrating the rich Italian and Swiss heritage of the Hepburn Shire. Enjoy a delicious twocourse meal inspired by European flavours, paired with stories of culture and community.
Scan here for tickets and additional info:
Lavandula Open Gardens
25 - 26 Oct, 10am - 4pm
Join Lavandula for live music all weekend, a special performance by an Italian choir on Sunday, and all the Festa favourites — woodfired pizza, bullboar sausage sizzle, an Italian spritz bar, and our much-loved gelati cart.
Scan here for additional info:
Yandoit Stone Houses Tour
Sun 26 Oct, 1:30 - 4pm
Three generous Yandoit residents have opened the doors of their iconic stone houses for a special guided tour with local historians, who will guide you through the stories of the families who built and lived in these remarkable stone homes.
Scan here for tickets and additional info:
Cammino di Hepburn Walking Tour
Fri 24 Oct, 3:45pm - 5pm
Let Alice’s Journeys take you on a very special guided walking tour, Cammino di Hepburn, finishing with a private tour of The Old Macaroni Factory, where you will be nourished in the centuries old Italian style Aperitivo.
Scan here for tickets and additional info:
Gold & Mineral Water Screening
Sun 26 Oct, 11:30am
Join us for a special screening of Gold and Mineral Water, a film by Michelangelo Gandolfi, featuring stunning locations across Hepburn Shire. This documentary offers a moving reflection on history, heritage and connection to place.
Scan here for tickets and additional info:
Villa Parma Garden Soirée
Sun 26 Oct, 2 - 6pm
Discover the elegance of Villa Parma with a rare chance to explore its Italian-inspired gardens and grand interiors. Then unwind at the Festa Finale Aperitivo with prosecco, cocktails, and antipasti from the Argus Bar, at the Mineral Springs Hotel.
Scan here for tickets and additional info:
Betty Togni celebrates her 100th by
Family. Home. Church.
Three things Daylesford’s Betty Togni has devoted her life to. A life that has spanned a full century.
Recently, Betty’s family and friends converged on Daylesford from across the country to recognise Betty’s 100th birthday.
Betty’s celebrations included an afternoon tea with fellow residents at Hepburn House, which she has called home for four years. Then the family gathered the next day to share stories and memories with Betty.
Chatting with Narelle
Exhausted after a busy weekend, she still made time to welcome me in her room and chat about her milestones, her early years, her family and her marriage.
“My late husband Lou, my children, my home and my church. That has been my life, and I have been very lucky to live in a wonderful community,” she said.
“To be honest I hated it at first – arriving in the early 1940s when my father George began working as the local steam train diver. It was cold and wet. But I soon adapted, and I couldn’t imagine a more wonderful place to raise a family and call home.”
The Togni name
“I am so proud of the Togni name. The Swiss Italian heritage is such an important part of the local history. All those brave and wonderful people coming to an unknown little town and playing such an important role in the area. I admire them so much.”
Betty’s early years were incredibly hard. Born in Donald, her mother died when she was 18 months old while giving birth to her sister. She was sent to Williamstown to live with her grandmother.
Living with her grandmother
“My grandmother Emma was gorgeous. She was the most loving and wonderful woman, and I can still remember my early years being with her and surrounded by her love,” she said. “There were always so many people in our home and it was a happy and loving house. I was sent back to live with my father and stepmother and stepbrothers.
“I didn’t know them, and I was only eight. It was hard and I can still remember it. I missed my grandmother terribly. My stepmother was very tough, but I just had to adapt to it all.”
A baby doll call Louise
One memory Betty has never forgotten was the time she fell in love with a baby doll in a local shop window. At the same time, she was told that something very special was coming for her birthday.
“I thought I was going to receive this beautiful doll for my birthday but when the time came, I was told I was getting a baby brother. That was my surprise. I’ve remembered that my entire life. So, when I moved into Hepburn House, I bought myself a lovely baby doll. I named her Louise after my husband,” she said.
Family
Betty and Lou raised six children – three girls and three boys. Sadly, one of her sons died. Two of her children now live locally, while the others live in Maryborough, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Betty and Lou raised their family in their Jamieson Street family home. Betty later moved into a smaller home in Camp Street where she lived for 17 years.
“I knew after two visits to hospital in the ambulance it was time to move into care and I wanted to make it easier on my daughter Elizabeth. I have lived here for four years now and have the most wonderful views from my room. The staff here are so caring,” she said.
Gardening, golf, bowls, art and church
Over the years Betty was a keen gardener, loved her golf and enjoyed lawn bowls. She also discovered her love of art when she bought a Paint by Numbers kit for her son Ross. There were two in the pack, so she completed one and loved it. A beautiful painting hangs above her bed and all the other work has been given to family members.
While her congregation in the local Uniting Church declined in numbers over the years and recently amalgamated following the sale of the church in Daylesford, Betty still enjoys attending the regular Wednesday church service at Hepburn House. She is also still an important member of her church family, and many were at her birthday celebrations.
Narelle
Groenhout
Letters for her birthday
Betty was particularly delighted to receive a letter from King Charles. “I was pregnant when Queen Elizabeth was pregnant with Charles, so I have always felt a connection to him and look at him as one of my own” she said.
She also received letters from the Governor of Victoria and the Prime Minister. But it was a letter from the Department of Veteran Affairs that moved Betty.
“My husband Lou served in the army and the letter from the Minister mentioned Louis’ remarkable efforts in the war and thanked me for supporting him. It was very moving,” she said.
A family legacy
It’s clear Betty’s entire adult life has been centred around her family. And when her family gathered for her birthday, including many of her 23 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, two of her granddaughters (sisters) told her on the day they were both having babies. And Betty couldn’t be more delighted as the family she began many years ago with her beloved Lou continues to grow.
Featuring Betty and Kyle's Rant
This is the first time in 100 years Betty has been in any local newspaper. She loves reading The Local and her favourite section is Kyle’s Rant. From the team at The Local and most importantly Kyle, we are delighted to feature you in this edition, Betty.
Finally, from Kyle
Hi Betty, It sounded like you had a much deserved, wonderful birthday with family and friends. I loved reading your story and feel like I know you. Next time I am passing the wonderful Hepburn House I will pop in to say g'day if that's ok? Glad you like my rant - years ago when I first started writing them I used to pretend I was a grumpy old man, now I think I might be! Kyle xx
(Ed's note: Betty, please don't encourage Kyle by liking his rants. He will get an even bigger head! Happy Birthday from Donna xx)
Front page: The Swiss Italian Festa is almost here. Get ready for the action this Friday October 24, Saturday October 25 and Sunday October 26. Read all about this festival, with The Local a media partner, on pages 1, 2, 27 and 28.
Image: Contributed
The Local is a registered trademark of The Local Publishing Group Pty Ltd.
The Local is a member of the Victorian Country Press Association, with editor Donna Kelly, a former director.
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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.
The Local is a fortnightly community publication covering the Central Highlands of Victoria.
The next edition is out on Monday, November 3, 2025 or online on Sunday, November 2 at www.tlnews.com.au
Space bookings: Wednesday, October 29
Copy deadline: Thursday, October 30
Editorial deadline: Thursday, October 30
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
Sub-editors: Nick Bunning, Lindsay Smith & Chester the Cat
Writers:
Kevin Childs, Tony Sawrey, Kyle Barnes, Natalie Poole & Donna Kelly
Photographers: Tony Sawrey, Kyle Barnes & Donna Kelly
Graphic designer: Dianne Caithness
Contributors:
Darren Lowe (music), Sarah Lang (recipes), Jeff Glorfeld (US life), Bill Wootton (poetry), Dr Marita McGuirk (wildlife) & John Beetham (gardens)
Accounts: Julie Hanson | Delivery: Tony Sawrey
Residents' group
A new Hepburn Shire Residents Association will be formed at a public meeting to be held at the Victoria Park Pavilion, Daylesford on November 13 from 7.30pm.
Resident and convenor Tim Anderson said it was time for residents to organise themselves into a formal group to fight for their future.
"The association is aimed at giving the residents a vehicle that can engage with the Hepburn Shire Council and its councillors, providing a constructive path for community consultation, but also to lobby and campaign against any decision from the council that is counter to community values and expectations," he said.
"HSRA will not be limited to pursuing its agendas at the shire level but also at the state government level if it believes it needs to have higher intervention or is being ignored by the council. The association is for Hepburn Shire residents, resident property owners, renters, and residents forced to live in their cars, tents or couch surf because there is no affordable housing available."
Tim said the shire had a high number of absentee property owners with many using their properties as holiday houses and short-term accommodation businesses.
"What these owners expect from our shire is not necessarily in line with that of full-time residents. The association will not be there to push commercial interests."
An early aim for the association is a skills and experience audit of its members and to use this for a forensic audit of the shire’s finances and expenditure.
Meanwhile, a number of residents have used social media, and contacted The Local, to express their concern about Future Hepburn plans for Daylesford's east.
Resident Shai Tabassi said the change of farming zones for residential use, with no new roads, schools, supermarkets or doctors' clinic, made it hard to understand "how this town can handle another 200 houses with an average of four people per house".
"Already the traffic in Vincent and Raglan streets is shocking. To get an appointment at the clinic takes weeks, our roads are in so much stress and need upgrading. Simply put, there has been almost no improvement in the infrastructure of the town. We must make sure this project is done with the utmost attention to our environment and infrastructure."
Submissions on Future Hepburn plans close on Friday, October 24 and can be sent to strategicplanning@hepburn.vic.gov.au
Glenlyon Hall refurb
A council media release said the move came after work by a Project Advisory Group which met four times between April and June 2025 to assess options for the reserve's community facilities. The PAG unanimously recommended renovating the existing pavilion as the preferred option.
The project cost is $1.3 million with a federal government grant of $500,000.
In her social media councillor column Cr Shirley Cornish said three Rs reflected the heart of what Hepburn Shire can be - Renewal, Respect and Resilience.
"Respect for each other, our history, the environment and the land we share. We have attended workshops, contributed to masterplans and structure plans, and conducted surveys to gather community ideas and feedback to shape how we grow.
"One place where this truly comes alive is in Glenlyon. The Glenlyon Recreation Reserve is not just a park but part of our local heritage.
"Council recently made the thoughtful decision to renovate and restore the heritage-listed Glenlyon Pavilion rather than replace it. This isn’t just about replacing timber and tiles – it’s about preserving identity and honouring the memories held in those walls, while upgrading it with modern facilities, accessibility and safety.
"The project has been guided by many, and I sincerely thank the Project Advisory Group for their contribution and support as we travelled through the process ensuring this decision remained grounded in community values."
Hepburn House's Memory Lane Unit
Hepburn House's Memory Lane, a 15-bed unit built specifically to assist residents with dementia, is now open! Hepburn House is at 1 Hepburn Rd, Daylesford. Book a tour of the new unit or the existing accommodation and living areas.
The Glenlyon Recreation Reserve Pavilion will be renovated instead of being knocked down for a new build.
Celebrating International Mountain Day
United Nations International Mountain Day is celebrated on December 11. Its goal is to raise awareness about the role that mountains play in the lives of people and their importance to the planet.
Barry Golding, pictured right, and Clive Willman made reference in their 2024 book, Six Peaks Speak to the serendipitous origins of Mountain Day in the US in autumn 1838, the exact same time that peaks in the Central Highlands of Victoria were being unsettled.
In 2025, during the week leading up to IMD, the Great Dividing Trail Association is organising six interpretive loop walks to the summits of six diverse and special mountains in Victoria’s Central Highlands, within three adjoining First Nations regions. They are:
• Saturday, December 6 - Mount Kooyora/Guyura (486m) including Melville Caves in Mt Kooyora State Park, near Dunolly, in central Dja Dja Wurrung Country.
• Sunday, December 7 - Mount Buninyong/Bonan Youang (745m) in Mt Buninyong Scenic Reserve, south of Ballarat in Wadawurrung Country.
• Monday, December 8 - Mount Steiglitz/Kal Kal Karrah (637m) and the glacial deposits at nearby Pykes Creek. The seldom-visited Mt Steiglitz Scenic Reserve north of Ballan in Wurundjeri Country accessed via private land.
• Tuesday, December 9 (dawn walk) - Mt Beckworth/Nyaninyuk (629m), within Mt Beckworth Scenic Reserve near Clunes in southern Dja Dja Wurrung Country.
• Wednesday, December 10 - Wombat Hill (670m), a town walk around historic Daylesford in Dja Dja Wurrung Country. The walk will start with a launch of the Lerderderg Track Walk or Ride Guide and conclude with a picnic in Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens.
• Thursday, December 11 - Blue Mountain/Wuid Krruirk (871m), a littleknown mountain within the proposed Wombat-Lerderderg National Park south of Trentham, on the forested Great Divide, between Dja Dja Wurrung, Wadawurrung and Wurundjeri country.
Registration for the walks and more information at www.gdt.org.au/events
Non-walking club members are welcome, but will need $10 cash on the day to cover GDTA walker insurance. Words: Donna Kelly | Image: File
BLOCK Watch
Lambo Man, aka billionaire and LMCT+ founder Adrian Portelli, has featured in a TikTok video - filmed at The Block in Daylesford, in a wine cellar built by Victorian contestants Emma and Ben.
Mr Portelli last year bought up all five houses from the Phillip Island show, raffled them off, and then paid the Ballarat winner $8m in cash instead of her taking ownership of the homes.
He then declared he was taking a break from being involved in the show with co-host Scott Cam telling radio, Mr Portelli had been asked nicely to step aside for the year.
Mr Portelli has also since signed a multimillion dollar deal with rival network Channel 7 to produce My Reno Rules in 2026.
Meanwhile, there is another kid on the block, just not the human kind. Scotty's Sawmill, a 2649-square-metre parcel of land at 2 Armistice Way, Daylesford has been listed for $1.1 million. Domain has reported the sale will include the Stratco shed along with plans to convert that into a four-bedroom home by The Block architect Julian Brenchley of Group Architects.
Real estate agent Natalie Fagan, who is selling the property with Ashlee McKee, told Domain: “Lot 106 has stunning views, so it gives you the same sort of grandeur as The Block houses have with the land size, the location, the possibilities.”
The Sawmill is in a private corner at the end of The Block houses about which Domain says: "Adding to the sense of both space and privacy is the fact that this block shares a border with the heritage farmland of Wombat Park."
Meanwhile the auction is set to go ahead on Saturday, October 25 with the nation tuning in to watch the results on Sunday, October 26.
In August, price guides for The Block homes were revealed, with each of the five Daylesford properties seeking $3 million to $3.3 million – four times the town’s median house price.
And while the audience waits to see if being part of the The Block was worthwhile for the contestants, the Channel 9 hit has been a winner for Daylesford and surrounds.
Not only has it shone a national and international spotlight on the region, The Block cast and crew also offered a helping hand to a number of local organisations such as Phoenix@The Rex, Daylesford Men's Shed and the local schools.
Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Narelle Groenhout | Inset: TikTok
Images: The Block site, inset, from left, Ray White Sunbury's Jamee Favorito, Mr Portelli and Ray White Sunbury's Aaron Hill
VIC STATE ROOFING
Metal Roof Specialist
Just briefly...
In the last edition of The Local we ran a piece on Fran Fitzpatrick, the president of the Highland Games Heavy Events.
That was all good but the article said Fran was looking forward to this year’s Daylesford Highland Gathering on November 6. Wrong date! The event is on Saturday, December 6. The mistake was made by Kyle Barnes. He is very sorry.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council is encouraging residents to get their properties ready for summer with a free green waste disposal week from Monday, October 27 to Sunday, November 2.
Residents can drop off green waste at council’s resource recovery facilities in Kyneton, Romsey or Woodend. Only residential loads are accepted, and residents can visit as many times as needed. Free self-loaded mulch is also available to help with garden maintenance. Links: mrsc.vic.gov.au/green-waste & mrsc.vic.gov.au/fire-ready
October is Probus Month and Daylesford Probus Club wants the next generation to get involved.
Treasurer and publicity officer Ted Goodwin said the club had been a proud part of the local community for many years - bringing people together through friendship, learning, and shared experiences. "To keep our club strong and vibrant, we need to welcome a new generation of members, younger retirees, semi-retired people, or those who simply have a bit more time and want to connect with others in a friendly, social environment." The Probus Club of Daylesford meets at 10am on the third Monday of each month at the Daylesford Bowling Club. Details: Susan Priest at daylesfordprobus@gmail.com or 0428 487 674.
The Emergency Services Expo 2025 is set to take over Victoria Park, Daylesford this Saturday, October 25 from 10am to 2pm.
It will bring together emergency service agencies, community organisations, local businesses, and residents in one accessible, interactive setting. Over nine emergency services agencies including the CFA, SES, Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, Forest Fire Management, Parks Victoria, Australian Red Cross, and council will showcase the vital roles they perform during emergencies.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council is calling on residents to have their say on three consultations open for feedback on its website until early November.
The council is reviewing its Immunisation Program, its Affordable Housing Policy and Strategy and its draft Open Space Strategy. Residents are invited to join workshops for the Open Space Strategy to learn more and provide input. Details and registrations at www.yoursay.mrsc.vic.gov.au/OSS All three consultations are open until early November.
All Victorian farmers can register for a free consultation with a farm management specialist.
The advisory service offers a session of up to three hours (face-to-face or online) and a follow-up call, to help farmers take stock and develop a plan for managing drought conditions. Specialists include agronomists, livestock nutritionists, veterinarians, pasture and grazing specialists and farm business advisors.
Castlemaine Fringe is joining the nationwide AusArt Day celebration to help sustain the future of the local arts scene and keep creativity accessible, and affordable for everyone.
On Thursday, October 23 gather outside the newsagent on Mostyn Street, Castlemaine from 11am–2pm for the Fringe Pop-Up Hub. Grab a snag or snack, pick up some discounted Fringe merch, renew or sign up for your membership, and help fuel the future of the Castlemaine Fringe Festival.
RATIONALE is a Victorian-owned skincare product manufacturer which invested $7.8 million to relocate its headquarters from Melbourne to Kyneton in 2022.
Previously, 100 per cent of RATIONALE’s manufacturing was outsourced. After spending six months testing its systems and procedures, it launched an 80 per cent in-house-production capability at the end of 2023. The relocation has created 64 new jobs, with 54 roles based in Kyneton and 10 roles based at other locations across Victoria. At the same time, sales have experienced a 17 per cent boost over the past three years, alongside a 400 per cent or $1.5 million increase in export revenue since December 2024.
Got some news to share? Email news@tlnews.com.au
Save Tree of the Year
Online voting in the National Trust 2025 Victorian Tree of the Year closes at midnight on Thursday, October 23.
Kingston locals are hoping the winner will be Kingston’s Algerian Oak, one of the nine finalistsand under threat of being cut down.
If the tree can be saved, it is hoped that will also protect the town's 1883 bluestone Kerrins Bridge and Kerrins Streamside Reserve, Kingston’s only piece of public land.
Kingston resident Jeremy Harper said the oak, at least 130 years old, is to be cut down if the Western Renewables Link goes ahead as planned. Jeremy says one of the 85-metre towers is to be erected right next to Kerrins Bridge, an arched bluestone structure built in 1883, and as the nearby tree is directly under the proposed transmission lines, AusNet says its removal is required.
"In 2023 this oak was placed on the National Trust Register of Significant Trees because of its 'scientific, social and aesthetic' importance yet AusNet says 'the loss of the tree is considered to be a low impact'.
"The National Trust listing refers to its age, size, good health and the fact that it is unmodified, having presumably never been pruned.
"The tree is near the cobblestone remains of a ford across Birchs Creek, believed to have been used by Cobb & Co coaches before the bridge was built and may have been a stopping point for the horses." Link: www.nationaltrust.org.au/treeoftheyear/
Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Contributed
Clunes Spring Show
The annual Clunes Spring Show is always a family favourite and this year will be no exception. Mark the calendar for Saturday, November 15.
One of the program highlights is comedy magician Scott Stunz who will entertain on the main stage at noon and 3pm. There will also be roving balloon magic for all the family to enjoy.
The horse arena is always busy on show day but this year the amazing clydesdales will make a comeback from 1pm - joined by the Sandy Creek Clydesdales with their magnificent horses on display. Their blacksmithing demonstrations during the day will take everyone back to days of old.
The main stage will be buzzing throughout the day with local musicians such as local soloist Caylee Jane and the Wesley College student band in the morning and then the zany Ballan Community Street Band for the lunchtime gig.
Mitch Matheson is back again - catch him at 3.30pm.
Animals are always a huge part of any country show and Clunes is no exception. The “Big Ones, Tall Ones, Small Ones and Really Tiny and Slimy Fun Pet Show” is always a hit - bring along anything other than a horse for the judging at 1pm. There’s also Wicked Wildlife, pony rides and ferret racing throughout the day, not to mention the livestock competitions and judging.
The Dog High Jump competition, on at 2pm, is an annual crowd favourite followed by the ladies woodsplit, gumboot throw, keg throw and tug-of-war throughout the afternoon.
The Bute Ute competition has been a much-loved feature of the show for years. BYO and be a part of it, with entries taken until 11.30am.
For the kids, there is the Giant Sandpit, carnival rides, face painting, puppets and showbags.
Meanwhile, the homecrafts pavilion will be filled with home cookery, floral displays, art, photography and more. Competition entries close for most sections on Tuesday November 4 . The schedule can be found on the website clunesshow.com.au.
The Clunes Show is a cracking good day with heaps to entertain all ages. Admission for adults is only $20 and kids under 16 enter for free. Don’t miss it! Words: Contributed
Love Creswick gardens
The Creswick Garden Lovers Weekend, now in its 10th year, is an annual community event organised by the Creswick Garden Club.
This year offers a new program of gardens and events and, as in previous years, local iconic commercial gardens, nurseries and community groups will also be participating in the event.
The community event, held over November 8 and 9, showcases private and commercial gardens and retail outlets which celebrates the skills of passionate gardeners in and around Creswick. Profits are used for Creswick projects and to provide ongoing sustainability for the event.
Open Garden entry fees are adults $6 per garden with children under 16 free. Tickets are available on the day at the Creswick Neighbourhood Centre Hall on Saturday and Sunday, from 9am to 5pm.
Tickets can also be bought online at Humanitix. (Search for Creswick Garden Lovers Weekend.)
Tickets for the Secret Garden Home Garden - Garden Party are $20 and available on the day at the hall or online at www.thesecretgardenofdaylesford.com.au
The Creswick Garden Club also will hold its annual flower show at the Creswick Neighbourhood Centre Hall on Saturday, November 8 from 10am to 5pm and Sunday, November 9 from 9am to 4pm.
Entries may be submitted by November 7 by 8pm at the hall. For entry and category information visit the Creswick Garden Club website. The entry fee for the flower show is a gold coin donation
The Creswick Garden Club will also hold a monster plant sale at Coopers Reserve outside the Visitor Information Centre on Saturday until sold out. If plants remain unsold they will be for sale outside the Community Centre Hall from 9am on Sunday.
Volunteers are very welcome. For the Garden Club contact Margaret Giles on 0419 326 453 or email info@creswick.net For the flower Show contact Leanne Murray 0437 518 159 or cgc.flowershow@gmail.com Links: www.creswickgardenclub.com | Facebook: Creswick Garden Lovers Weekend | Instagram: @creswickgardenloversweekend
CLUNES SHOW
The show must go on
Regional agricultural shows in Hepburn and Macedon Ranges shires date back to 1865 when the Glenlyon, Franklin and Daylesford Agricultural Society began having an annual show.
The main aim of the show was to serve as a meeting point for farmers who could share knowledge and showcase their produce and livestock. There was an extra incentive of prize money and the prestige of winning.
According to a blog on country shows by everythingaustralian.com.au, agricultural shows have written the history of Australian farming by providing farmerto-farmer education and innovation. All the great technological advances have been revealed at these community events, from the first automated shearing machines to the first GPS-controlled tractors. The promotion of rural industries was an ongoing objective.
The earliest event showcased livestock, crops and farming innovations with the Daylesford Mercury of March 11, 1869 showing the classes for the events on show day, held in the Jamieson Hotel Yard.
They were Class C (cattle), Class D (swine), Class F (dairy produce), Class G (grain and farm produce), Class H (grapes and wines), Miscellaneous (honey, jam and pickles), Fruits and Vegetables, Implements and Machinery (swing plough, harrows, roller, grubber or scarifier). There was also a knitting and fancy goods section. These shows provided a social outing for townsfolk to appreciate and be educated on aspects of rural life.
The Argus newspaper, dated March 20, 1865, said there were just 60 entries and "in general the exhibition was inferior to what had been expected".
"Some fine samples of wheat, barley and oats were sent in and the potatoes were unsurpassed in the colony. The cheese, bacon, butter etc were satisfactory. One or two of the entries attracted attention. The dairy department was not only the best represented but the most creditable to the district."
Over time, the shows evolved and ‘sample bags’ were introduced. The earliest ‘sample bag’ in rural Victoria was in the 1920s and gave people the opportunity to try a product or two.
Initially free, the sample bags popularity grew and by 1930 a nominal cost was attached to the bags. Eventually, the bag contained more and more items and the highly sought-after contents saw prices rise.
Today, ‘showbags’ range from $5 for the Bertie Beetle (my favourite) to $168 for a beauty bag and you can get football teams, confectionery, cartoon characters, pets, TV and movies and so much more. The world of showbags has never looked back.
The showground rides were an exciting introduction by the Wittingslow family in the 1950s. The opportunity for children to have fun and experience the thrill of the carousel, the merry-go-round and the ferris wheel was only the start of the rides evolution.
Today, crazy cars, teacups, helter skelter and the roller coaster are high on the list for children. And let’s not forget the adults and the adrenaline-pumping rides on offer which could include alien abduction, freestyle, haunted houses and panic rooms.
Today’s agricultural shows are a mix of family entertainment, live performances, flowers and plants, craft demonstrations, petting zoos, sideshow alleys, rides and showbags. They still continue to showcase produce and livestock as a central aspect of the day with many opportunities to win ribbons, sashes and ‘bragging rights’ in the equestrian, sheep, poultry and cooking sections.
And with so many shows coming up, it's time to go and organise your jams, pickles and preserves or maybe knitting, crochet, spinning and weaving if that’s your style.
For the artisans, leatherwork, metalwork, woodwork or ceramics may be more up your alley. If not, watch the show jumping, be in awe of the photographic demonstrations or take a gander at the preschool or school children displays.
Show days are filled with plenty to see and do as a great tradition continues on into the future. The show must go on!
Fun fact: The 1890 Glenlyon Franklin Daylesford Agricultural Show had a Class for the greatest number of sparrow eggs.
Head to the shows at Kyneton on November 14 and 15, Clunes on November 15, Daylesford on November 22 and Kingston on December 6 and 7.
Clunes
The first show of the Clunes & District Agricultural Society took place in 1868. The agricultural show, initially known as the Glendaruel, Beckworth, Clunes, Eglinton and Glengower Agricultural Society, has since become an annual event in the community. Many thanks to the Clunes Museum for the images reproduced with permission.
with historian Natalie Poole
On October 29, 1856, a public meeting of farmers of the district decided to form the Kyneton Agricultural Association. The association's first event was a ploughing match, held on the St Agnes Farm on Wednesday, August 5, 1857.
The association met every fortnight and quickly decided to establish a showgrounds to hold its annual ploughing match as well as an Exhibition of Stock and Grains. By 1857 it had successfully lobbied the state government and was given five acres opposite where the old Kyneton Hospital still stands today. The new grounds were quickly fenced, and cattle stalls and pens built to hold the First Annual Exhibition of Stock and Implements on November 10, 1858. This was the very first Kyneton Agricultural Show.
Kingston
The Agricultural Society originated at Smeaton and was formed in April 1859. In 1923 the name of the Society was altered to The Kingston, Smeaton, Newlyn, and Dean Agricultural Society. In 1984 the Society became incorporated, and the name changed to the Kingston Agricultural Society. In 1861 the first show of the Smeaton, Spring Hill, and Bullarook Agricultural Society was held at Smeaton. In 1873 the Grand National Show was held in Smeaton.
Kyneton
Above, The Clunes Show in 1919, centre 1913 and bottom 1913 Image: Clunes Museum
EAT | DRINK | ENJOY
Out & About in the Central Highlands
Township structure plans
The consultation period has been extended until Friday 24 October to allow the community more time to read through the documents.
At the Council meeting in September last year, Council made additional community-led changes to the structure plans for Clunes, Trentham and Daylesford/Hepburn Springs. You can have your say on the Participate Hepburn website, www.participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/future-hepburn
This will not be the last opportunity to provide input on the structure plans. There will be more opportunities to have your say as the project progresses.
Upcoming community expos
Emergency Services Expo 2025
You are invited to this year’s Emergency Services Expo at Victoria Park, Daylesford, Saturday 25 October, 10 am – 2 pm.
Connect with CFA, VICSES, Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, Australian Red Cross and more emergency services workers and volunteers all in one place.
A fun, family day out with a free sausage sizzle, ice cream, doughnuts, face painting, coffee and more.
Positive Ageing Expo 2025
Mark your calendar for this year’s Positive Ageing Expo. Come along to The Mechanics Trentham on Tuesday 28 October from 10 am – 3 pm to learn about ageing well.
Free entry and everyone is welcome, from older adults to families, carers and professionals.
Featuring special guests, live music, stalls, local community groups and free lunch.
Join our team
We have an exciting opportunity open in our Community Safety team.
As a Community Safety Officer, you will help to create a safe and compliant environment for all.
You will respond to issues raised by the community, enforce local laws and carry out inspections that reduce risk and improve amenity.
Your day-to-day activities will range from animal management and fire prevention to parking enforcement and local law compliance.
The role will have you out and about in the community some days and in the office collaborating with the team on others.
If you are confident, practical and community-focused, apply today at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/jobs
Open Access Libraries
Open Access Libraries is coming to our libraries in Clunes, Creswick, Daylesford and Trentham.
This means you will have greater access to all the services on offer at the libraries. During unstaffed Open Access hours, you will be able to use the library to borrow books, pick up reservations, use the wi-fi, study or work and use the computers and printers.
To use the library during Open Access hours, you will need to be aged 16 and over, be a library member and be inducted at the library. Young people aged 16 and younger can use the library after hours with an inducted adult.
Daylesford is the first library to have Open Access activated. Patrons will be able to use the library from 8 am to 8 pm all week. Staff will be there during the day to assist you to find what you need and to deliver the usual early years and adult programs.
Visit www.participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/open-access
Container
Deposit Scheme (CDS) baskets
CDS baskets are being trialled across our region to help recycle eligible drink containers. You will find them attached to public recycling bins in our towns.
Items with the 10c mark can be placed in the baskets and include cans (do not crush), glass bottles, plastic bottles and small liquid paperboard containers (e.g. juice boxes).
Items such as takeaway coffee cups and wine bottles cannot be placed in the baskets.
For more information visit www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/other-waste
Cr Don Henderson
Tim Drylie Cr Pat Hockey Cr Shirley Cornish
Trentham Primary School celebrating 150 years
There were a number of settlers with large families who felt a school was needed in the Trentham area and from late 1867, a movement had been afoot seeking aid from the Board of Education by way of a teacher’s salary.
The Board eventually decided to give the salary July 1869, provided the settlers organised the erection of a schoolhouse to approved specifications and also provided the necessary furniture for the school.
The Daylesford-Trentham Road site was decided upon which was close to Enders Steam Saw Mills. Mr Enders gave the timber for the building, Mr Phipps provided the shingles, and the settlers provided the labour to clear the site and fell the timber which was later used for the building.
The Union Steam Saw Mills School No. 1010 was finished on March 15, 1870 and was officially opened on June 27, 1870 by head teacher James Thompson. The school was well attended with 82 on the roll in 1874. Numbers eventually waned and the school closed in the late 1890s.
Trentham School No. 629 was opened on April 1, 1860 and was established by the Presbyterian Church in a rented building on land donated by Isaac Pearson. Ebenezer A. Gilruth was appointed the head teacher. The average attendance in the early years of the school was 25.
The Centenary History of State Education stated the School Committee had made a tentative approach to the Board hoping to have the school vested in 1868 (funded by government) but the proposal did not eventuate. In 1873, the rented building needed a lot of repairs and was deemed not centrally located. The Board suggested a new site for a school and No. 629 was closed on May 31, 1875.
Trentham School No. 1588 was the new suggested site with dual frontages on Victoria and Bridge streets in the heart of Trentham. This site was gazetted on May 22, 1874 and a 30ft x 18ft timber schoolhouse, plus teacher's quarters of three rooms were erected.
The school was operational from May 10, 1875 but wasn’t officially recognised until June 1, 1875 after No. 629 was closed. Thomas Raw, head teacher at No. 629, transferred to No. 1588. Enrolments were 112 in 1884 and calls for a bigger school were necessary. Another classroom was added in 1885. Five years later enrolments peaked at 170 and more classrooms were needed. Late 1890, another room was added and the school continued to grow. The school grounds were also being cared for by the students.
The Weekly Times of July 9, 1910 reported: "On July 1 (Arbor Day) the correspondent of the local board of advice presented the association's prize for the best-kept grounds to the Trentham State School. This is the sixth prize which now hangs on the walls of the school, and there are also seven first-class certificates from the Education Department awarded to the school."
Fast forward 20 years and enrolments are 88 in 1930 and 98 in 1937. Two more classrooms are added and the school remodelled with an official opening for the additions on October 22, 1938. School enrolments stayed steady over the next 20 years with numbers at 90 in 1956.
Another 20 years passed when an invitation appears in the King Island News on October 9, 1974. "A Back to Trentham (incorporating the Centenary of the Trentham Primary School) will be held on March 14-16, 1975 and a warm invitation is extended to all ex-pupils and teachers of the primary school and of St. Mary's and all ex-residents to return for the celebrations. A ball will be held on the Friday evening and on Saturday at 1.30pm a procession from the post office to the school, then the main gathering and reunion will be at the school."
The school website shows in 1994 the school merged with Little Hampton Primary School after its closure by the Education Department. The school would now have a bigger capacity and accommodate more local families in readiness for an upcoming celebration. The Weekly Times of April 14, 1999 shows Trentham Primary School No.1588 holding its 125th anniversary in March 2000.
In July 2009, the new main building was completed, and the Minister of Education Bronwyn Pike opened the building on March 26, 2010. The school website states the first stage of the building included an office and reception area, four classrooms, multi-purpose area and library.
In April 2011 the school opened a second building, funded through the ‘Building the Education Revolution’ program, which houses the art program, a commercial kitchen for cooking classes and activities, and two classrooms and was opened by the Federal Ballarat MP Catherine King on December 6, 2011.
Next month, the school celebrates its 150th anniversary on November 23.
Current enrolments are 85.
Words: Historian Natalie Poole | Images: Trentham Historical Society Next edition: The history of Trentham though the eyes of a young Jack Sleeman.
student memories from long ago
I once got the cuts (strap) from Miss Fahey and I didn't deserve it. All I did was throw a stone up high in the air and this silly girl ran underneath and it hit her on the head. It wasn’t my fault.
One teacher had a car which he kept in a garage in the school yard. As it was on level ground, the car was normally left in neutral. The usual starting procedure was to set the choke, the hand throttle, turn on the key and then turn the motor over with the crankhandle until it started. Unbeknown to him that day, someone had sneaked in and put the car in gear and when the teacher swung the crank-handle, the motor fired, the car moved forward and shoved him up against the end of the garage, bruising his legs. Again, no offender was caught.
There was a rabbit eating things in the school garden and the headmaster Dan McCann asked me to get rid of it. After school I went home and got a trap which I set on the run where the rabbit went under the school. Early next morning I got on my bike and rode to school, but I was too late. There were signs to show that the rabbit had been caught, but the rabbit was gone and so was the trap. One of the kids had beaten me to it.
One teacher who stands out in my mind was Eric Coutts who often read to us poetry like The Man from Snowy River and Where the Pelican Builds her Nest. I never forgot them.
There was once a terrible thing, when the head teacher's leather strap was chopped into little pieces. Many suspects were questioned but the culprit was never caught.
One year, mumps were very prevalent. Children with mumps in those times had to stay home for some time after recovery so as not to infect other children during the incubation period. Rupe Morris and several others who I have forgotten, used to take great joy during this incubation period in going rabbiting with the ferrets and the dogs past the school ground at play time and laughing at the poor kids at school.
Random
Music
Town Hall Festival – Castlemaine, Saturday, November 15
The festival returns to Castlemaine, centred around central Castlemaine, with four venues within easy walking distance. This is an accessible, userfriendly festival, with various food and drink options and a great line-up.
Artists include Sharon Van Etten, King Stingray, Pigram Brothers, Witch, Jenny Don’t and The Spurs, pictured, Meg Washington, Jazz Party, Dan Kelly and Charm Of Finches.
with Darren Lowe
Tickets are available online. The first performance starts at 12pm and the event finishes at 10pm.
To set the scene...
A balmy LA evening, a perfectly located AirBnB a block from Hollywood Boulevard, and on the Monday evening, myself and Susan, my wife and fellow traveller, joined the throng of undeniable Neil Young fans.
I needn’t go into the unmistakable Neil Young demographic, perhaps I resemble that remark, heading into the Hollywood Hills, a short 10-15 minute walk to the Hollywood Bowl. A dream venue, so LA, so California, with its beautiful location and design which resembles Melbourne’s Myer Music Bowl, with ample seating and where picnics and even some BYO alcohol is encouraged. The unmistakable smell of something I vaguely recognised in the air and the presence of young people in a range of Neil Young tour t-shirts, certainly let me know this was no Australian gig.
As with last year’s tour with Crazy Horse, the presence of local and national environmental groups was in the foyers and entrances, and there was a stronger political presence with petitions, no surprise to which side they were leaning.
Following the warm-up of gospel-inspired environmental group, Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir and his sister, Astrid Young, Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts were looking like a band who had played together for a long time.
Consisting of Neil Young (vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano), legendary Spooner Oldham (keyboards, organ - fresh from a basketball injury at the age of 82), Micah Nelson (guitar, vocals), Corey McCormick (bass, vocals), and Anthony LoGerfo (drums), they are nothing short of superb. The setlist featured both acoustic and some extended electric numbers, and some new songs where he let his lyrics do the talking.
Gloriously ragged in appearance, the band began with Ambulance Blues, an unusual opening song choice, but certainly one for the fans. This was followed by some glorious, extended shredding, stunning version of Cowgirl in the Sand. The first of three extended electric guitar work outs, this was as blistering, raw and urgent as when it was recorded. Southern Man and Like a Hurricane received similar treatment.
Two selections from the performance concept album of 2003 Greendale featured. The first, Be The Rain, providing the introduction to a four-song political statement, with no spoken monologue. The disturbingly still-apt Ohio from the late 60s was received with rapturous applause and the very new, almost wet paint tune Big Crime, had no subtlety with its clear and poignant narrative.
A move to the piano for Long Walk Back served to provide another reminder that nothing much has changed, politically, since first being recorded, but also where the band could allow Neil to stretch out vocally.
New acoustic material included Silver Eagle about his tour bus, and there were crowd pleasers such as Only Love Can Break Your Heart and of course Harvest Moon.
Old Man allowed the band to add flourishes, helping to keep the light and shade of this set list. Hey Hey My My and Roll Another Number rounded off the evening.
Almost 80, Neil is showing no sign of slowing down. As he remarked at the start of the gig: "I first played here with Stills and The Springfield in 65, and here I am again.”
Live at Glenlyon
Scott Cook & the Little Rippers will perform on November 7 as part of the Glenlyon Progress Association’s 'Live Music at the Glenlyon Hall'.
Tickets are $35 (plus booking fee) with the doors open at 6pm for refreshments.
Music starts at 7pm with the Glenlyon Ukulele Group, then Scott Cook & the Little Rippers start at 7.30pm.
Scott was born in West Virginia and raised on the Canadian prairies.
In 2007 he quit his job teaching kindergarten in Taiwan to move into a minivan and embark on the life of a full-time troubadour.
Since then he’s toured almost incessantly across Canada, the US, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere, distilling his experiences into empathetic, keenly observant verse.
Scott has already completed 10 tours of Australia and his seventh album Tangle of Souls was recorded in Trentham and comes packaged in a cloth-bound, 240-page hardcover book of road stories and ruminations.
This year he’s returning to Australia with his eighth album Troubadourly Yours and has formed a new band called Scott Cook & the Little Rippers with longtime collaborator Liz Frencham on upright bass, Justin Vilchez of the High Street Drifters on mandolin and Pete Fidler on dobro.
Above, Trentham's Liz Frencham
Bookings: www.glenlyoncommunityhall.org.au/event/scott-cook/
Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts – Hollywood Bowl, LA , 15/09/2025
Merry Wives of Windsor
Lyster Opera, now in its 10th year of touring country Victoria, proudly unveils its latest production: The Merry Wives of Windsor, a spirited operatic adaptation of William Shakespeare’s beloved comedy.
Composed by Otto Nicolai and infused with the wit and warmth of Elizabethan England, this opera promises an afternoon of laughter, music, and theatrical delight.
Directed by Daniel Sinfield, this production brings together a cast of seasoned performers and emerging talent to breathe new life into Shakespeare’s timeless characters.
Sinfield’s direction blends historical authenticity with modern relatability, exploring themes of love, jealousy, and social mischief through a comedic lens that resonates with today’s audiences.
The opera follows the misadventures of Sir John Falstaff, a pompous knight who attempts to seduce two married women, Mrs Fluth and Mrs Reich, for financial gain.
The clever wives uncover his scheme and orchestrate a series of hilarious pranks to teach him a lesson. Meanwhile, romantic entanglements and mistaken identities ripple through the town, culminating in a jubilant finale that celebrates wit, loyalty, and love.
Along with Daniel as director, costume design is by Maddy Connellan, production imagery by Blair Parkinson with a cast of internationally experienced performers and rising stars from Victoria’s opera scene.
The production’s visual storytelling is enhanced by period costumes and evocative imagery, creating a rich theatrical experience that transports audiences to the heart of Elizabethan England.
Composed in 1849 by Otto Nicolai, The Merry Wives of Windsor is a comic opera in three acts with a German libretto by Salomon Hermann Mosenthal. It follows the Singspiel tradition, combining musical numbers with spoken dialogue, similar to modern musical theatre.
Nicolai, a child prodigy from Prussia and co-founder of the Vienna Philharmonic, tragically passed away just days after the opera’s premiere, making this work his most celebrated legacy.
Tickets for the Creswick performance on October 25 can be bought from www. lysteropera.com.au/coming-soon
Image: Phil Thomson
Genesis Baroque
Genesis Baroque presents Death and the Maiden at Christ Church, Daylesford, on Saturday, November 8 at 2.30pm.
Founded in 2017, Genesis Baroque brings together some of Australia’s pre-eminent historically-informed musicians. In this program, the ensemble performs Schubert’s famed quartet, written in 1824 when he was in the throes of severe illness and aware of his impending mortality, trawling the depths of despair with unparalleled vibrancy and urgency.
Experiencing Schubert’s momentous work on gut strings will introduce audiences to the vivid colours and expressive sensitivities that Schubert intended, bringing it to new life. Coupled with the wonderfully rich palette of Beethoven’s quartet Opus 18, No.1, the second movement of which depicts the vault scene from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
The program will include Ludwig van Beethoven String Quartet Opus 18, No.1 in F Major and Franz Schubert String Quartet No.14, D 10 in D Minor. Artists are Anna McMichael, period violin, Jennifer Kirsner, period violin, Meg Cohen, period viola and Josephine Vains, period cello.
Anna McMichael is a distinguished Australian violinist who returned home in 2010 after 17 years with major European ensembles.
Jennifer Kirsner is a Melbourne-based violinist and early music specialist passionate about chamber music. She has performed in diverse genres, from Renaissance ensembles to Ceilidh bands in Northern England.
Meg Cohen is a Melbourne-based violinist actively involved in various musical projects as a chamber musician, orchestral player, and artistic director of Moirai and Wattleseed Ensemble.
Josephine Vains is a prominent Australian cellist and chamber musician, frequently performing in concerts both locally and internationally. She collaborates with various artists across genres, including baroque, contemporary, and tango music.
Bookings: www.trybooking.com/eventlist/christchurchconcerts
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. 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.
Now Showing at “ART ON ALBERT” 86 Albert Street Creswick
Thursday to Sunday : 10am to 4pm, Monday : 10 am to 1 pm *From September 4 to November 3
Crumbed Pork Cotoletta with Fennel and Blood Orange Salad
BY RYAN ANDRIJICH
Cotoletta, crumbed cutlets or chops; What you call them may depend on how hard it is for people to pronounce your surname, or it could be that you lean a little more Bouquet than Bucket. Whatever the name, crumbed meats on the bone are a much-loved dish from family dining tables to bistro menus. The thinner schnitzel is also delicious, but there is something special about a thicker cut, perfectly crumbed and cooked cutlet.
The simplest crumbing processes advise seasoning just the breadcrumbs, but this overlooks the opportunity to infuse deliciousness into every layer. I season the meat, flour, egg mix, and crumbing. I nearly always add mustard, hot sauce, or other condiment to the egg layer, and citrus zest, fresh herbs and parmesan to the crumb.
Dry spices are best added to the flour to minimise the chance of burning.
Frying your cotoletta is not the time to skimp or take shortcuts. Use the best olive oil and butter you have. The olive oil coats the bottom of the pan, protecting the butter from burning, and the combination makes a delicious crust, without the greasiness of seed or vegetable oils. The cooking temperature is gentle; you don’t want to burn the crumb.
The salad is great as it is. It can also be used as a topping over wedges of lettuce or mixed with warm potatoes. If you want to use up all the vegetable ingredients, I keep the watercress aside, and dress the fennel, herbs, and cucumber with good-quality wine or sherry vinegar and salt; these last a week, and over time, soften into a pickle. I mix in fresh greens and dress with olive oil when serving.
Ryan Andrijich has over 30 years experience as a chef, food lover and passionate cook & teacher. He ran the wood-fired BBQ Cooking School at the Queen Vic Market so knows his way around how to select, prepare and cook the finest cuts of meat. He was also at Stephanie Alexander’s Richmond Hill Cafe and Larder for many years and during this time would site with customers and plan their Christmas ordering and menus. He is also a familiar face to many having been the “Food and Wine Guy” on the Australian Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Daylesford Meat Co. is thrilled to be working with Ryan on some great recipes. Stay tuned for some big news regarding how Ryan is going to help our customers plan, prepare and cook for this years Christmas!
For full recipe, head to our website or scan the QR code. Happy Cooking!
HAPPY SWISS ITALIAN FESTA TO OUR REGION!
This week, Hepburn Springs comes alive with Swiss Italian Festa – a celebration of the rich heritage that’s shaped our region for generations. And what better way to honour this tradition than with one of the most beloved dishes from the old country: bullboar sausages.
We are proud to craft authentic bullboars the traditional way – a recipe that’s been passed down through local families and perfected in our kitchen. It’s hearty, flavourful, and practically impossible to find anywhere else in the region.
TO CELEBRATE THE FESTA, WE ARE OFFERING 10% DISCOUNT OFF THE FOLLOWING FAVOURITES:
s BULLBOAR SAUSAGES (MIN 2KG)
s PORK CUTLETS / MIDLOIN CHOPS (MIN 2KG)
s PORK SHOULDER (MIN 2KG)
Kyle's Rant
I have read a lot recently in The Local about Daylesford's Rex and the Phoenix@The Rex community theatre within it.
For those of us who have been around a long time, history in the news game has repeated itself. I remember dragging a few cinema seats out onto Vincent Street in Daylesford to take a photo for The Ballarat Courier, winding open the aperture in the dark cinema doing a few more photos for The Advocate and once again for The Local, with former president Gina Lyons, pictured.
And it seems like here we go again. Don’t get me wrong, I want the thing to work, especially with all the work the volunteers have put it into, along with the dollars and work from The Block.
But what has happened to all the stuff, investment and fundraising from the last venture after a mammoth effort from around 2009 until the eventual opening in 2013 by the last committee, in terms of fundraising and volunteering.
New seats were bought as well and the latest (at the time) of cinematic technology. I even remember plaques on seats being available for purchase then.
In 2017 the cinema was closed for what was only meant to be a year or so while the Hepburn Shire Council built the new hub.
Sadly, they eventually bungled the project, running into the streets with their hands in the air screaming "the sky has fallen in" and again the cinema's future was unknown. So what happened to all the equipment and why isn’t it still around today to make the re-opening a little easier for the committee?
Well, here is the answer. After a quick phone call to The Local journalist and all-round ripper bloke and cinema volunteer Kevin Childs, I found out the following about The Rex cinema 1.0, 2013-2017.
In summary, $150,000 was spent on building and outfitting the cinema, and the expenditure did not relate day-to-day operations. The equipment purchased was re-usable and was therefore sold. The projection equipment had major issues as it was unused for some time, and the cinema group were advised that it would be best to sell it.
The cinema group still owns some sound equipment which is being reused by Radius Gallery for community screenings. The chairs were sold, as storage would have been too costly (wouldn't the council have had some spare space somwhere?) and the donor tags will be displayed in the new cinema.
But here we are gazing into 2026 with no sign of the Phoenix pulling its body from the funeral pyre. I believe most of the renovations have been done but even that being the case, the entry to The Rex is still a worksite. And you can’t have theatre patrons traipsing through a construction site to get to the movies. Hard hats anyone?
On to worldly events - I nearly threw up when I heard the Israeli hostage families swooning over Trump, the great saviour.
I am all for peace but even a blind man can see that the horse trading was done months, if not years ago, and Gaza probably will never truly be home to the Palestinians again.
Not unless it is in the service of the world’s wealthy, jetting to what will be one of the best tourist hangouts in the world. Which is going to be built after the rubble is cleared by none other than Trump himself and his treacherous tribe. And it’s just another Trump real estate deal.
And now I read that the billionaire buffoon has just gotten into the banking game according to the Financial Post’s headline “US approves new bank backed by billionaires with ties to Trump”.
How much do you need mate rant over…
Local Lines
Driftwood
In the rolling trance of tidal pull a lone piece of driftwood circled the island after his death.
Mum walked alone with her thoughts on the Day of Jubilation when she came upon it washed ashore on Dili beach.
We her other children kicked a ball with local Timorese children splashed our feet in the waves. We didn’t see what she was doing.
She picked up the smooth wand and wrote his name in the sand, the crest and fall of her breathing rhythmic sobs, grief’s ebb and flow.
Even the mighty tide would not wash away years of sadness
Tony Stewart
- Anne E Stewart
Above, Tony Stewart, one of the Balibo 5 murdered in Balibo, East Timor on October 16, 1975. Below, his sister, storyteller and poet, Anne E Stewart
Storyteller and poet Anne E Stewart was a long-time Daylesford resident who now lives in Brisbane. Crossroads is available at Paradise Books or online at https://anneestewart.bigcartel.com/
(First published in Oystercatcher One by Steve Meyrick (ed), 5 islands Press 2024 Reprinted in Crossroads: My stories of Balibo by Anne E Stewart)
Local Lines features poetry by locals about local and any other matters. Please submit poems to Bill Wootton at cottlesbreedge@gmail.com
Hi there, I am Nyx, a sweet
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The staff here love me and say my personality and zest for close companionship make me the perfect candidate for anyone looking to enrich their life with a loyal feline friend.
Come and meet me at MAAWs in Castlemaine. Just call first on 5472 5277 to make sure I haven't been snapped up.
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Just sayin’...
By Donna Kelly
By the time you read this, depending on whether that is online on Sunday, or in print on Tuesday, The Block's final room reveals may be over.
It's been an interesting ride for the region and for The Local - with lots of bumps along the way. Here is my memory of the whole shebang.
It started with the planning permit being knocked back and Phillip Island being taken up as a better spot for 2024.
But those pesky people at Channel 9 do not give up easily and the permit went all the way to the top, the minister, and got rubber stamped for approval. Here comes The Block Daylesford 2025.
The land chosen was nicely presented on television as an idyllic piece of country paradise. But every local I spoke to, except for the real estate agents involved in the game - and fair enough, said that if they were spending $3 million on a house, they would choose some lovely quiet acreage with rolling hills, rather than somewhere on the Malmsbury Road, near a now very busy roundabout and a concrete works.
I agree. If anyone reading this wants a very private piece of land, in a lovely hamlet, just out of Daylesford, please get in touch. I was actually thinking of attending the auction and handing out brochures with: "Can't afford Daylesford? What about Glenlyon?" Only joking. Sort of.
(Pick me, pick me is also proudly supported by Daylesford's
are
And then the building started and we found out each house had the same footprint - each with its own swimming pool. Now, for some reason, swimming pools just aren't that popular in Daylesford, so to have five in a row is quite interesting.
When I worked on a Mornington Peninsula newspaper I remember taking a helicopter flight, and we wandered over Sorrento and Portsea. Every house had a tennis court but all that meant, the pilot told me, was that you could never get enough players. They were all in their own courts. Money.
So the houses went up and a few of the locals were up as well, in arms against the only McDonald's in town. But it only served coffees so plenty of tradies were wandering the streets of Daylesford looking for breakfast, lunch and dinner deals. And so the locals were happy again. Most of them. Some are never happy.
And then the people from The Block decided to help out with some community organisations. And some of the people were unhappy again. Why should The Block help the community cinema when it is housed in a private building? Why should The Block help the Bathhouse, a private business housed in a council building?
No-one seemed to mind them helping out the Daylesford Men's Shed, or the schools or being judged by the Daylesford CWA. Our friend Peta Heyne was one of the CWA judges and she had the position of telling Scotty Cam that his Chocolate Ripple cake was too late to enter - also it wasn't cooked. Some people on The Block social media said they thought the judges were bossy. I think Peta, who is the nicest person you could meet, would have enjoyed that.
Kyle and I had a few visits to The Block over the year. It was muddy and cold, but fun and interesting. We attended a final lunch with everyone and met all the contestants. They all seemed really lovely - I guess the editing has to be done in a certain way to make for good television.
And now they are up for sale. Will they reach their reserves or beyond? As I write this I saw that Lambo Man had returned, despite saying he would bow out, so who knows. And Scotty Cam's shed and land is up for sale - the sixth spot on The Block.
It's been a fun ride, but I am kind of glad it's over. And all the best to Mt Eliza in 2026. Just sayin'...
Pick me, pick me is run in memory of Rosie the Kelpie & Curly the Cocker Spaniel - we picked them from the Peninsula RSPCA.
petstock - where pets
family.)
Beetham's Botanicals
Well here I am penning another article for you, the reader, to enjoy...
This time I'll be showcasing broad-leaved plants for your garden. These bold beauties can add a striking "tropical" feel to the landscape, evoking thoughts of those early Victorian garden enthusiasts from England who wanted to create a luxurious environment to promenade through...think of a lot of our regional and urban botanic(al) gardens in Australia that reflect this movement.
So here we go...
1. Bocconia arborea is known as a tree poppy and is native to Mexico and Central America, growing as a tall multi-caned shrub to 4m high with plumes of creamy white flowers that fade into insignificance compared with the deeply cut large leaves that may grow to 45cm long x 30cm wide. There are fine specimens growing in the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne Perennial Border.
2. Catalpa bignonioides (Indian bean tree), a deciduous tree up to (at least) 16m x 16m, has its native home in eastern USA and is infamous for its broad heart-shaped leaves up to 15cm long x 15cm wide...but not to be outdone, the large slightly scented flower clusters have an almost orchid-like appearance. The long brown flaky beans that may follow open to allow a featherweight winged seed to float away with the prevailing winds. There is a fab registered specimen growing in the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens - a visit here in mid to late December should guarantee a photo opportunity.
3. Fatsia japonica (Japanese aralia) is often seen as an indoor plant but seems quite happy growing outside here in the Central Highlands (you can find a spreading specimen in the full sun at the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens, Daylesford). I have trialled it in dappled shady positions in some of my landscapes and they are flourishing. The glossy large palmate leaves up to 40cm wide are home to large sprays of creamy white rounded clusters of flowers that are followed by jet black berries (better to photograph than eat).
4. Quercus dentata is native to China, Japan, Korea and the Russian Far East and is commonly known as the daimyo oak. I have included this deciduous widespreading tree (15m x 18m) because it is has the largest leaves of any oak species on the planet, up to 30cm long x 15cm wide. It's certainly not for the small courtyard garden but would show off its majesty in a large paddock (offering stock a welcome refuge from our hot summer days). As a quick aside, many global tree conservationists feel that oaks may play an important role in battling climate change models...just saying.
5. Greyia sutherlandii is the last choice for your amusement. This spreading (almost scrambling) shrub can be seen growing in the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne (a welcome observatory of plant species from all over the world). The shock of bright red flowers complement the large leaves (like geraniums on steroids). Native to Southern Africa, it would do well planted within your arid plant border/ rockery.
And so I must away. I hope you've liked my latest instalment. We know that spring has sprung but watch out for those dry spells. Cheers JB (Trees in Australia) Next time: Scented foliage and flowers for the garden
From top, Catalpa bignonioides, Fatsia japonica, Greyia sutherlandii
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Proudly partnering over the years with these great events!
Here is the crossword solution for Edition 342.
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All words in the crossword appear somewhere in the same edition of The Local.
Sunday - Daylesford Sunday Market
First Saturday - Trentham Neighbourhood Centre Makers Market, Woodend Farmers Market, Woodend Lions Market
Second Saturday - Trentham Community Group Market, Kyneton Farmers Market, Kyneton Rotary Community Market
Second Sunday - Maldon Market, Clunes Farmers Market
Third Saturday - Trentham Farmers Market and Makers Market, Glenlyon Farmers Market, Leonards Hill Market, Creswick Market
Third Sunday - Talbot Farmers Market,
Fourth Sunday - Daylesford Farmers Market, Trentham Station Sunday Market
Business Directory - Buy Local
Carnevale Day
SATURDAY OCTOBER 25
HEPBURN MINERAL SPRINGS RESERVE
Join us for a spectacular day of colour, music, food, and community spirit at the Swiss Italian Festa Carnevale Day — a celebration of our region’s vibrant Swiss and Italian heritage!
12pm
Street Parade
The festivities kick off with our famous Street Parade, starting at the Savoia Hotel (corner of Main Rd & Sixth St). Gather from 11:30am to join the procession as it winds down to the Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve Sound Shell. Expect flags, costumes, music, and a whole lot of joy!
More
12:45 - 8:30pm
Carnevale!
7:30pm
8:30pm
Lantern Parade
Fireworks
Enjoy a full afternoon of live music and entertainment, from local primary & secondary school performances, food & beverage stalls, artisan market featuring local makers and producers, kids’ activities including a petting zoo and jumping castle, plus historical demonstrations and talks.
As dusk settles, gather for the magical Lantern Parade, lighting up the evening with creativity and community spirit. Make your lanterns in the Kids’ Zone during the day, then meet at the corner of Main Rd & 10 St at 7pm. The parade will whimsically wind down the reserve and to the Sound Shell.
th
End the night with a bang as fireworks illuminate the Hepburn sky — a dazzling finale to a day of celebration and connection. Enjoy food and drinks from the market, and settle in at the Sound Shell on beanbags to listen to the sunset DJ and watch the fireworks from above.
free events to attend during the Festa:
Veneto Choir at St Peter’s Church
The Swiss Italian Landscape Art Prize returns for 2025 — a much-loved tradition celebrating creativity, community, and the beauty of our region. This year, 28 talented artists will showcase works across painting, photography, printmaking, drawing, and textiles, each piece capturing the unique spirit and landscape of Hepburn Shire.
Exhibition runs Oct 11 - Nov 1
at Radius Art, 76 Main Rd , Hepburn Springs
Open Thu / Fri / Sat 10am - 4pm
Prize Presentation & Celebration Saturday Oct 25, 4pm - 6pm
Sun 26 Oct, 10:30am
Experience the soaring harmonies and heartfelt passion of the Veneto Choir, performing live in the stunning surrounds of St Peter’s Catholic Church.
No bookings required, arrive early to get your seat
The Swiss Italian Festa 2025 is a joyful celebration of culture, heritage and community, honouring the Swiss and Italian migrants whose spirit continues to shape life here in Hepburn Shire.
This much-loved event comes to life thanks to the incredible support of local businesses, community groups, individuals and volunteers — with valued backing from the Victorian Government and Hepburn Shire Council.
Our heartfelt thanks go to every sponsor, supporter and volunteer who makes Festa possible. Please take a moment to check out those listed in this program — when you support them, you support Festa, and help it thrive for years to come.
— The Festa 2025 Committee
Thursday 23 October
HERITAGE GALA DINNER | 6.30pm
2 course dinner hosted by Farmers Arms Hotel Tickets at swissitalianfesta.com/program
Friday 24 October
VIP LAUNCH | 6.30pm Mineral Springs Hotel (invitation only)
CAMMINO DI HEPBURN & OLD MACARONI FACTORY WALKING TOUR | 3.45pm Hosted by Alice’s Journeys. Tickets at swissitalianfesta.com/program
Saturday 25 October
Why do we celebrate Festa?
In the early 1850s, more than a thousand Swiss-Italian gold miners came to central Victoria from Val Brembana in Lombardia, northern Italy, and the Swiss canton of Ticino. Many settled here, shaping the region’s landscape, culture and community.
The Hepburn Swiss Italian Festa celebrates their enduring legacy — a story of courage, hard work and belonging that continues to influence who we are today.
We acknowledge the Dja Dja Wurrung as the traditional custodians of the land where we celebrate the Swiss Italian Festa. We recognise and value their unique relationship to traditional Country, and pay respect to all elders past and present.
LAVANDULA SWISS ITALIAN FARM OPEN GARDEN | 10am - 4pm
Pizza, Gelati, Spritz Bar & Live Music
Entry $5 Adult $1 Children
STREET PARADE | 12 PM
Main Road, Hepburn Springs to Hepburn Springs Mineral Reserve. To join the parade, meet at 11:30am on the corner Main Road and Sixth Street.
CARNEVALE | 12:45 PM - 8.30pm
Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve
Welcome to Country. Music including school performers, Gruppo Italian Choir, Tom and Freya, Liv Moneghetti, Olivia Everitt, and more. Food vans, beverage stalls, artisan stalls, mineral water lemonade stand, lantern making craft stall, drystone walling exhibition, kid’s zone.
LANDSCAPE ART PRIZE CELEBRATION | 4 - 6pm
Landscape Art Exhibition on display at Radius Art, Main Road Hepburn Springs. Running 11th Oct - 1 Nov, Gallery Hours: Thu/Fri/Sat 10-4pm st
LANTERN PARADE | 7:30 pm
Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve FIREWORKS | 8:30 pm
Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve
Amici 2025
Beniamino and Maria Schergat, Bill Guest, Candy Broad, Cellarbrations, Cherry Eaton, Daizy Poke, Danny McDiarmid & Louise Johnson, Darren Collinson, David Hall, David Perry, David Reilly, the Dooley Family, the Dudley Boutique Hotel, Eileen Thomson, George and Matilda Eyecare Daylesford, Hal Swerissen, Helen Davey, Hepburn Energy Cooperative, Ian and Robyn Head, Ivan Inderbitzin, Jess Kail, Juliette Buchanan, Kate Redwood & Neville Oddie, Linda Hancock, Michelle & Allan Crawford, Nicky Dorrell, Oz-Trans, Paul Carr, Peter Beer, Robert McDonald, Sarsha Hutchinson, Shane Foletti, Stephen Doyle, Susan Flynn, Wayne Cross, Yandoit Cultural
Sponsors & Supporters
Sunday 26 October
LAVANDULA SWISS ITALIAN FARM OPEN GARDEN | 10am - 4pm
Veneto Italian Choir, pizza, gelati, spritz bar & live music
Entry $5 Adult $1 Children
VENETO ITALIAN CHOIR AT ST PETER’S CHURCH | 10:30 AM
13 Duke St, Daylesford FREE DAYLESFORD AND DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY | 11:30am
100 Vincent Street Daylesford, showing “Gold and Mineral Water” a film by Michelangelo Gandolfi. Tickets at swissitalianfesta.com/program
YANDOIT STONE HOUSE TOUR | 1:30pm - 4pm
Departs Yandoit Cultural, returns for afternoon tea. Tickets at swissitalianfesta.com/program
VILLA PARMA OPEN GARDEN | 2pm - 6pm
Live music and cocktails. Tickets at swissitalianfesta.com/program
www.swissitalianfesta.com @swissitalianfesta
CATHERINE KING MP