The Local Tourist Guide Summer 2022

They swiped rightDaylesford wins the Big Rainbow

Daylesford has been named the home of the Big Rainbow, Australia’s first “big” landmark dedicated to the celebration of regional LGBTIQA+ pride and inclusion.

Daylesford was chosen after 16,000 public votes were cast, ahead of fellow shortlisted towns Broome (WA), Hay (NSW) and Katherine (NT). The Big Rainbow project is an initiative by online dating website Tinder Australia. After the decision, Hepburn Shire Council worked with Tinder and ratepayers through its Participate Hepburn website, to chose from four potential sites - Lake Daylesford, the Community Skate Park, the Lost Children’s Reserve or Victoria Park. And the announcement is imminent. Hepburn Shire’s mayor at the time, Cr Tim Drylie, said it was brilliant to see the Big Rainbow, which is 12 metres long and 6 metres wide, coming to a town considered to be the rainbow capital of regional Australia. It is also envisaged as being a tourism drawcard. Read the full story at www.tlnews.com.au - Edition 264

It was probably a bit of a “pinch me” moment. Liz Liddle had been running a soap making/bath products business for five years when she saw a callout for Uncovered at the Sydney Opera House.

In its third year, Uncovered is a platform for Australian artists, makers, creatives and artisans to showcase their artistic excellence at the Opera House’s on-site and online retail shop. The Creswick businessperson, who runs Mwerre, saw the opportunity, applied and was accepted – as were just two other creatives. “It is still pretty early days, we only recently launched, but the feedback I am receiving is that of the giftboxes and the bar soaps I produce, it is the giftboxes which are selling really well and to international tourists.” Liz is also busy thinking about production, with the lead-up to Christmas for her wholesalers, and increased demand from Sydney. She is also working on product design. “I am looking at how I can be fairly sustainable but also meet the needs of the product.” Read the full story at www.tlnews.com.au - Edition 264

Only 54 life memberships have been awarded by the Hepburn Football and Netball Club in a century and a half. And the Burras, famously built on truck raffles, fittingly rewarded a recent president who runs a trucking firm.

Jason ‘Dools’ Dooley says he is humbled to join “this esteemed group”. What’s more, his medallion was presented to him by his father, 73-yearold Russell who, like Jason, is a former club president, as well as a life member. The Dooleys join the Rodonis as only the second such fatherson combination. Besides acknowledging the honour, Jason is keen to emphasise just how much is done by so many others at the club. “My life membership has definitely been carried on their backs. I look at guys like Billy Pedretti to draw inspiration - he recently celebrated 70 years of service.” At 49, Jason can reflect on 15 years as a committee member. As his citation says, he was “born into the club” playing junior and reserves footy before joining the committee. Read the full story at www.tlnews.com.au - Edition 265

Ruth Irving has come a long way. Raised on a farm at Mollongghip, she is now gracing the front cover of Hepburn House’s latest calendar - albeit disGracefully!

Ruth is pictured gleefully giving drivers the bird as she holds up traffic in her mobility scooter. The image has gone Australia-wide with publicity for the fundraising calendar hitting newspapers and television shows - with Tommy Little even paying a visit recently for a segment on The Project. Calendars are available from Hepburn House (weekdays only) and Blooms the Chemist in Daylesford. They are $20. To have a calendar/calendars posted within Australia send contact details, address and numbers to reception@hepburnhouse.com.au Postage is $10 within Australia for one or more calendars to the same address. Payment via direct transfer to Bank of Melbourne with account name: DACS CALENDARS, BSB: 193 879 and account no: 163 673 293. Read the full story at www.tlnews.com.au - Edition 267

Rain, rain, go away

Like many country areas, the Central Highlands had a wet spring and some flooding. Just a few of the places snapped by locals included Lake Daylesford, Jubilee Lake, Hepburn Bathhouse and Tipperary Springs. Thanks to all those who sent us their photos. If you would like to see more just scan the QR code for a quick movie.

A few years back Glenlyon resident Jill Teschendorff was feeling depressed. About the loss of habitat for wildlife, the rapid urbanisation of the region and climate change.

But rather than sit back and whinge, Jill decided to get involved. First up, she wrote and published Grow Wild: Gardening to Sustain Wildlife in the Hepburn Shire. “And then I thought, that’s all very well, but how do I get it out there. I had heard about Gardens for Wildlife Victoria, a movement spreading right across Victoria, which involves a partnership between councils and the community, and in our case, the neighbourhood centres. So, (now) we run free eight-week training courses to teach people about how to create habitats for wildlife and they can provide advice and support for any residents who want to set up their own habitat garden. We discuss how the best aspects of somebody’s garden can be presented and plant indigenous species as well.”

Read the full story at www.tlnews.com.au - Edition 262

►Central Highlands Rural Health URGENT CARE CENTRES

Our Urgent Care Centres in Daylesford and Kyneton are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

It's your first stop for unplanned medical attention.

Professional care is provided by our highly skilled nurses, many of whom are Rural and Isolated Practice Registered Nurses (RIPRNs)

RIPRNs are specially trained to provide a wider range of primary care and emergency services for rural communities.

The UCC teams work with local GPs who are available on-call for phone consultations or visits.

On your arrival

• You will be assessed for treatment based on the urgency of your condition.

• You may not be seen in order of arrival.

• Please tell us if your condition changes or if you are experiencing increased pain

• We may contact the oncall doctor.

• Do not eat or drink without first speaking to a nurse as it may delay treatment, x-rays or anesthetic.

Conditions we treat

• Allergic reactions

• Asthma

• Burns (minor)

• Chest infections

• Dehydration

• Dental or mouth pain/infection

• Diarrhoea

• Dressings

• Eye conditions, such as foreign body or abrasion

• Falls

• General injuries

• Laceration

• Mental health/anxiety

• Nose bleed (epistaxis)

• Pain and pain management (analgesia)

• Sprains and strains

• Traumatic injuries (minor)

• Urinary problems

Fees may apply Urgent Care Centres are not like Emergency Departments in large hospitals. Fees may apply for some services. Tests

Radiology and pathology test are normally bulk billed. Fees may apply after-hours.

GPs

If you are seen by a doctor you may be charged a fee. If a fee is charged, this will be discussed with you prior to treatment.

Serious medical conditions may require transfer by ambulance to a larger hospital. We strongly recommend you have an Ambulance Victoria membership.

Artist Keele Breen is holding an exhibition at Radius Gallery in Hepburn Springs until December 7. It somehow involves a marriage proposal from over 50 years ago.

“I grew up in Glen Iris and went to the local primary school, followed by Korowa - an all-girls private school where I was a bit of a square peg. I went to Box Hill Tafe in 1987 where I studied painting, drawing, printmaking and playing pool. I’ve always loved to draw, and would write and illustrate ‘novels’ starting around age 4. My paintings are largely abstract, though sometimes there might be glimpses of figurative or other representational elements. People often point out the “things” they see in my paintings, some of which can be quite surprising. I went to kindergarten with (Radius owner) Morgan nearly 50 years ago. We hatched a plan at the age of five to get married...and although an argument over furniture placement put an end to that, we’ve had a wonderful friendship all these years.”

Read the full story at www.tlnews.com.au -

Rural Australians for Refugees Daylesford – the group perhaps best known for its “toots for refugees” vigil at the top roundabout in Daylesford every Friday from 5pm - is finishing up on January 6 after 20 years of supporting refugees detained around Australia and beyond.

Long-time member Janet Gaden said the decision came after the active group numbers had dwindled to about 10 – despite an email list of 40. “The stalwarts are getting older and less well and are, frankly, tired. We started RARD 20 years ago and have been very active all that time. Our struggle to get Australia to deal humanely, legally and generously toward people who approach us for help as asylum seekers and refugees has been a long haul. The change of (federal) government, with some better policies, is an advance, but even they cannot make a quick fix to this problem and will need support and reminding. The number of people on various restrictive visas needing aid is increasing. It is still a long haul.”

Read the full story at www.tlnews.com.au -

An ever-evolving tough climate garden, created around an 1850s stone farmhouse in Clydesdale, The Stones was opened to the public for a ‘once-only’ with Open Gardens Victoria in September.

Owners Jeremy Valentine and Grant Francis purchased the historic property nine years ago, and were faced with waist high grass and a sea of weeds. The property’s tough utilitarian past meant there was little in the way of garden, except for a few walnut and fruit trees. There was much work to be done and the owners had little experience gardening in a region known for its savage winter frosts and searing dry summer heat. “In our first blind-sighted year we lost a lot of plants,” says Jeremy. “Things that initially did well in the first summer were crucified in the winter to follow, so we slowly learned the climatic language, and the plant limitations it governed.” Jeremy said the open garden was well attended and might happen again next year “but at the moment, it’s nice not having to think about that just yet”. Read the full story at www.tlnews.com.au - Edition 262

Numbers you might need

Emergency – Fire, Police, Ambulance - 000

Daylesford Taxis – 5348 1111

Springs Medical Centre, Daylesford – 5348 2227

Daylesford Hospital – 5321 6500

Daylesford Police – 5348 2342

SES – 132 500

Daylesford Regional Visitor Information Centre – 5321 6123

Places you might need

Daylesford Post Office – 86 Vincent Street ATMs in Daylesford:

Bendigo – 97 Vincent Street

Westpac – 45 Vincent Street

Commonwealth – 36-40 Vincent Street

ANZ - 52 Vincent Street

A secret you might like!

If you are after a little tree house, or not so little, you could have a look around Glenlyon. Formerly known as the Tree of Knowledge, this oak, or is it an elm, now apparently houses a few fairies. If you can’t find it ask around the area, or just ask David Worthington, pictured. He’s the only grown-up who has been inside so far.

The region’s young artists were a new feature for this year’s Daylesford Art Show, presented by the Rotary Club of Daylesford.

Administrator and artist Fiona Morgan said the inclusion of youth artwork was an exciting new chapter for the long-running art show. “Being interested in art and culture can have a positive legacy for life. As a young person it is important for you to find your place in the world.” Twenty-year-old Alexis Saville also believes showcasing local youth and their artistic endeavours – whatever they may be - is so important. Alexis returned from Paris this year and has always been involved in the arts –her latest ventures involving cosplay, like the outfit above she created for the Netflix series Stranger Things. “Cosplay helps me find the balance and like most young people I love popular culture.” Each year local businesses proudly support the show and it is because of their continued support that the show has been able to run year after year. Read the full story at www.tlnews.com.au - Edition 262