Peninsula Essence May 2023

PENINSULA

Living & Visiting on the Mornington Peninsula

STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT

The Mount Martha Observatory; one of a network of registered global monitoring stations of night-sky light pollution.

Writers: Andrea Louise Thomas, Joe Novella, Muriel Cooper

Photography:

Yanni, Gary Sissons

Creative: Sam Loverso, Dannielle Espagne

Publisher: Melissa McCullough

Advertising: Andy Jukes, 0431 950 685, andy@mpnews.com.au

Phone: (03) 5974 9000

Registered address: 63 Watt Road, Mornington 3931 W: peninsulaessence.com.au

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All material is copyright, and may not be reproduced without the express permission of Mornington Peninsula News Group, or the original copyright holder in the case of contributions. Copyright of contributed material rests with the contributor.

Disclaimer: The authors and publisher do not assume any liability to any party for any loss, damage or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident or any other cause. This publication is not intended as a substitute for the medical advice of physicians. The reader should regularly consult a physician in matters relating to health and particularly with respect to any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. Peninsula Essence is produced monthly. 30,000 copies (mix of home delivery and bulk dropped at an extensive network of outlets across the peninsula).

10. Seeds of Change

At Conservation Collective, Kylie Robertson and her crew not only work in bushland restoration and indigenous plant propagation, but they have started teaching workshops on it too.

14. Star Light, Star Bright

High on the hill overlooking the Briar’s Park Ranger’s Station, sits the Mount Martha Observatory; the first registered amateur observatory in Australia and one of a network of registered global monitoring stations of night-sky light pollution.

20. Pearls of Wisdom

Called the live chat superstar, Yvette O’Dowd has been awarded for her service of 30 years volunteering as a counsellor and educator with the Australian Breastfeeding Association.

Leading Arts

24. Art On Trend

Artist Jill McFarlane wanted to create something more rustic and textured than works on paper, so she prints her artwork on wood or fabric to bring out an almost three-dimensional painterly quality.

30. Island Pilot

Silva McLeod was a Tongan girl from a small island with little hope of anything beyond getting married and churning out babies. Her dreams of becoming an airline pilot seemed just that - dreams.

40. My Heart Lives in My Garden

Jac Semmler, director of Super Bloom Plant Practice, followed the beauty and wonder of her Frankston garden 'Heartland' in the writing of Super Bloom: A field guide to flowers for every gardener

Focus On

54. Focus on Dromana

Historical facts, café recommendations and what to do in one of the most popular peninsula destinations.

History

59. The University of Arthurs Seat

It was referred to, humorously, as the ‘University of Arthur’s Seat’. The small slab hut roofed with thatch stood a short distance from where the McCrae family’s homestead was being built on the lower slopes of Arthur’s Seat.

HP FIRE

The Escea EK1250 was designed with entertaining in mind from cooking a feast to enjoying the flames and ambience, the EK1250 can do it all. The EK Series features everything required to feed the masses, with ember generator, 3x adjustable cooking grills/plates, meat hooks and an optional pizza attachment.

3/100 Hallam S Rd &, Centre Rd, Hallam 9796 5088 hpfire.com.au

PENINSULA Styles

BIG DOG & SKIPPY

Fashionable and comfortable, this gorgeous corduroy adjustable harness has a mesh lining to keep your pup cool, two adjustable neck straps and a fully adjustable chest strap. Available is sizes XS-L, hand washable or machine wash in a delicates bag.

Little Beauty Market

littlebeautymarket.com.au

BAYSIDE SHOE WAREHOUSE

OZ DESIGN FURNITURE

The Alli Bowl is a unique and stylish bowl crafted out of iron with a striking rust red finish. It boasts two cut out handles on either side serving as a decorative feature and providing easy carrying. This bowl is sure to add a touch of style to any room in your home.

HomeCo. Peninsula 1128, Showroom D4/1132 Nepean Hwy, Mornington ozdesignfurniture.com.au

What's on? MAY 2023

MAY 5 - 14

SOUTH SIDE FESTIVAL

An immersive, thought-provoking, innovative festival held across Frankston city featuring art, culture, heritage and food like never before. Taking place 5-14 May, the festival will include performances, activations, workshops and exhibitions. southsidefestival.com.au

MAY 13

WHISKY DISTILLERY TOUR & TASTING

Immerse yourself in the whisky world with a guided tour of the distillery, tasting of four Single Malt Whiskies, new make spirit and pure cask strength whisky, then enjoy a curated cheese board by Boatshed Cheese. You'll also take home a 100ml bottle of whisky. chiefsson.com.au/the-distillery

MAY 6

FIONA CHANDLER EXHIBITION

Fiona Chandler's solo exhibition, "I LIKE YOUR HYPERBOLE", is inspired by the Australian landscape, how connected we are as people to it, how excited we get recognising the colours, the textures, and how surprised we are by what we are actually seeing in scale and size. The exhibition runs until May 6. manyunggallery.com.au

MAY 14

MOTHER’S DAY CLASSIC

Get active this Mother's Day for breast cancer research. Lace your running shoes and dust off your tutus and walk or run the picturesque golf course at Peppers Moonah Links Resort Fingal to raise life-saving funds for research. mothersdayclassic.com.au/vicmornington-peninsula

MAY 6

CANDLE MAKING WORKSHOP

Join the team at Red Hill Candle Co in their Scent Lab located in the Dromana Industrial Estate to get hands-on and learn the basics of candle making. At the end of the workshop, you will have designed two of your very own custom fragranced candles to take hom. redhillcandleco.com.au

MAY 28

MOUNT MARTHA BRIARS MARKET

Visitors will discover a range of home-made, home-grown products, all while exploring the beautiful grounds, wildlife, walking trails, galleries and heritage homestead of the historic Briars. Purchase the freshest produce, the most unique gifts and the most innovative homewares from across the region. craftmarkets.com.au

SEEDS OF change

By Andrea Louise Thomas Photos Yanni

According to Kylie Robertson, Managing Director at Conservation Collective, an indigenous plant nursery in Somerville, it is possible to regenerate the local environment and mitigate biodiversity loss right from our own backyards. This is refreshingly optimistic considering that only 18% of the Peninsula’s native vegetation remains and much of that is highly degraded. Still, Kylie believes, with knowledge and effort, positive change is possible and the nursery has the plants to achieve it.

Truly unique in its biodiversity, the Mornington Peninsula needs protection to stop species endangerment, or worse, extinction. Now is the time to learn about indigenous species and start planting them so future generations can enjoy the Peninsula as it ought to be. Historically, the area would have been an unbridled natural paradise teeming with unique flora and fauna. Sadly, some species are now extinct, but the remainder needs support through weed control and sometimes revegetation.

Mornington Peninsula Shire has an excellent local native plant guide on their website that makes it easy to know what to grow in each unique region of the Peninsula. Choosing to grow indigenous plants regenerates regional biodiversity bringing all the right fauna, who in turn, do their part in nature’s cycle.

At Conservation Collective, Kylie and her crew not only work in bushland restoration and indigenous plant propagation, but they have started teaching workshops on it too. The property has a purpose-built classroom where staff share their extensive knowledge and tell stories of success having seen first-hand, the impacts of revegetation on conservation projects, hence, Kylie’s sense of optimism.

Kylie has worked in the conservation industry her whole career. She has a degree in Environmental Science (Charles Sturt University, Wagga, Wagga), a Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management (North Melbourne Institute of Technology) and a Graduate Diploma in Education (Deakin University) amongst others. She teaches Conservation and Ecosystem Management as a sessional teacher at Swinburne University and at Chisolm before that.

Growing up in Albury, rural NSW, was fundamental to Kylie’s connection to nature. She spent a lot of time outdoors as a child. Her step-Dad was a science teacher, who made a point of identifying things in the natural environment. This sparked Kylie’s interest in studying science in high school. Her family also camped a lot. Being in nature was a big part of their lives.

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Kylie was amazed to learn that 70% of today’s parents would have spent time in nature as children, but only 18% of their kids would have done the same. “Kids need green time instead of screen time. Being in nature provides so many benefits from boosting the immune system to improved mental health. It’s the best kind of mindfulness,” she says.

After finishing her degree, Kylie moved to St Kilda to work with Earthcare. Their slogan, ‘I do what I can where I am.’ really stuck with here. It became the driving force behind her work. A traineeship with Naturelinks, a company that specialises in bushland conservation, restoration and revegetation early in her career was so enriching, she ended up staying for ten years. “It’s so satisfying and exciting to see a restored area come back to life,” she says.

Now her own team at Conservation Collective feels that same satisfaction.

In 2004, Kylie and her then partner, started a new business called SEEDS Bushland Restoration providing weed control and restoration services predominantly for councils and Parks Victoria.

Clients usually provided the plants, but SEEDS staff started growing plants in their own backyards as some species couldn’t be sourced elsewhere.

In 2016, the nursery part of SEEDs became Conservation Collective. Both businesses now operate out of the same property. Conservation Collective has been growing exponentially. It has taken a lot of time and effort to grow the plants. They now have about 350 species. Lots are grown for seed production and many are collected from wild populations.

“Peninsula residents have a vital role to play in helping maintain biodiversity. The threatened species advisory list states that 63% of native Victorian plants are threatened, but each person can help reverse that by planting any of the hundreds of indigenous plants that attract the right insects, birds and mammals native to the area,” she says. Get planting!

conservationcollective.com.au

SEEDSbushland.com.au

need green time instead of screen time

Kiwi House stocks a range of beautiful possum / merino garments and accessories in different styles, colours and sizes that will keep you warm this winter.

STAR LIGHT, STAR bright

By Joe Novella Photos Yanni & Supplied

The Briars Historical and Conservation Park is a muchloved treasure for the residents of the Mornington Peninsula. It’s a place where the local community and visitors come together to take in the local flora and fauna, attend local markets and events, learn about the area’s history and ecosystem and so much more. But there is one part of the park that is relatively unknown and it’s a true hidden gem.

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Photo: Nerida Langcake

Photo: Steven Mohr

Photo: Steven Mohr

Photo: Nik Axaris

Photo: Nik Axaris

High on the hill overlooking the Briar’s Park Ranger’s Station, sits an observatory, but not just any observatory. The Mount Martha Observatory at the Briars is the Mornington Peninsula Astronomical Society’s (MPAS) registered observatory and the first registered amateur observatory in Australia. It is one of a network of registered global monitoring stations of night-sky light pollution.

The society has five permanently mounted telescopes of different types and sizes in two buildings, one of those buildings being a roll-off roof observatory and the other a rotating roof dome. There is also a large auditorium called the Don Leggett Astronomical Centre where the MPAS holds meetings, lectures and public stargazing events. The MPAS also has several portable instruments that members use when visiting schools and Scout/Guide halls around the region, as well as a very specialised, purpose-built, solar telescope that can only observe the sun and nothing else.

So, while the Mount Martha Observatory is registered as an amateur observatory, its telescopes are research grade and capable of looking deep into the night sky, unveiling objects in space otherwise hidden to the naked eye. The telescopes also provide

the perfect vehicle for astrophotography, enabling many of MPAS's members to take breathtakingly beautiful pictures of the moon and planets of our solar system, and of nebulae, galaxies and other bodies that exist deeper in space.

It hasn’t always been 'state-of-the-art' telescopes for the MPAS; the society started from very humble beginnings in July 1969, when four Frankston residents got together following Apollo 11’s landing on the Moon, and set about creating the Astronomical Society of Frankston (ASF). In January 2004, it changed its name to the Mornington Peninsula Astronomical Society (MPAS).

Now, more than 50 years later, the Society has about 300 members, making it the second-largest in Victoria. The Society’s President, Mr Peter Skilton, is excited about the growth and future of the MPAS. “We grew from four founding members in 1969 at the time of the Moon landings, to hundreds of volunteer astronomers today, with many families joining in recent years, and many community groups and schools of all types and levels seeking us out for talks about space and wonderful evening adventures of star gazing under the heavens.

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We grew from four founding members in 1969 at the time of the Moon landings, to hundreds of volunteer astronomers today

At Woodleigh, we challenge young people to be adventurous with their learning – to take risks, to go beyond their comfort zone and break new ground. When young people have choice to pick their own path, their school journey is more challenging and more rewarding. This is how they learn to thrive.

To learn more about Woodleigh School, scan the QR code below, or email our Enrolments Team –enrol@woodleigh.vic.edu.au

“We’d like to see this continued interest from the younger generation continue indefinitely,” he continued. "It's the young ones who are the future and, who knows, it may be an Australian child that someday in years to come walks on the Moon or Mars having been inspired by a visit to us.”

And while the MPAS and the Observatory are relatively unknown by the wider Peninsula community, the volunteers and members are passionate. “Everyone has a hobby, pastime or passion for a plethora of reasons important to them,” said Mr Skilton. “To me, it’s all about passing on knowledge and developing others to move beyond their comfort zones and have a real adventure, sharing a magical, almost spiritual, experience with others who have a similar curiosity. Age is no barrier.”

And neither is background according to Mr Skilton. “Being part of an astronomy society is a great social leveller. We have members of all backgrounds, cultures and socio-economic and life circumstances who come together under a common interest. Some come from very humble backgrounds, while some have university degrees in a range of areas including science, medicine and the arts. The commonality seems to me to be a burning desire to know more about the universe and what makes it tick. In essence, it’s about trying to understand answers to the very big questions of existence, such as 'why?' and 'how?'”

As well as the social benefits, talks and a host of amazing events including the recent ‘Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind Trivia and Star Gazing Night’ accompanied by live music performed

by the Southern Peninsula Concert Band, the MPAS also offers incredible development opportunities for its members.

“Some members enjoy photographing the night sky,” said Mr Skilton. “And several of our members have received international recognition for their night sky photography. Other members over the years have enjoyed participating in ‘observing’ projects for organisations such as NASA and others, where their humble observations are put to very practical use in worldwide efforts. Some go on exciting co-ordinated field trips such as to Woomera, Parkes, and more recently some MPAS members have headed to Exmouth by car or on cruise ships to experience first-hand the total solar eclipse which was on April 20th this year.”

So, if you’re looking for a magical experience then a trip to the Mount Martha Observatory at The Briars should be on your bucket list, and make sure you take the kids. “One of the most wonderful experiences I’ve had,” said Mr Skilton, “is when a couple brings their children to one of our stargazing and talk nights and they tell us that their parents had done the same when they themselves were children, and that they wish to share the inspiration it provided them, and the magical experience they had, with the next generation of their family.”You can find more information at the MPAS website.

mpas.asn.au

Photos: Nerida Langcake

Being part of an astronomy society is a great social leveller

The Hub is the heart of Village Glen, already home to the village shop and hair salon, and the now newly completed facilities offer residents so much more. It’s designed to be a place where residents and their guests can gather to relax, converse and rest in a beautifully appointed and furnished communal precinct.

pieces of the jigsaw are all in place at Village Glen

Caravan Storage

9-Hole Golf Course

Croquet Lawn and Bowling Green

PEARLS OF wisdom

By Muriel Cooper Photos Yanni

The pearl signifies a 30th anniversary, and Yvette O’Dowd is proud of her award for 30 years of volunteering as a counsellor and educator with the Australian Breastfeeding Association but incredulous that so many years have gone by. “I don’t feel my age,” she says. Yvette will celebrate her 60th birthday next year.

Having her first baby when she was twenty found her needing help with breastfeeding, and she turned to the association for help. “I wouldn’t have been able to breastfeed if I didn’t come across what was then the Nursing Mother’s association,” she says. “I found a village, and before long, I was training to be a volunteer breastfeeding counsellor and giving breastfeeding classes. When it was suggested that I could be a counsellor, I thought it was a wonderful opportunity to give back for all the help I’d received.”

From the 1960s to the 1980s, volunteer shifts were up to 24 hours long. ‘Now, Yvette answers the helpline for two hours at a time and spends two hours on the association website’s chatline. She’s been called the live chat superstar. Yvette has answered calls from the top of Hanging Rock to the Manly Ferry in the middle of Sydney Harbour. Questions range from ‘When is my two-year-old ever going to wean’ to ‘What rights do I have in the workplace?’ One of her most poignant calls was from a woman who’d lost her breast pump during the last bushfires.

Yvette says the need now is greater than ever. “New mums are in hospital for just a few days, and this is not enough time to learn how to breastfeed. The health system is not supporting them enough.” Yvette says emphatically that breastfeeding is a learned skill and that almost every mother can learn how to do it with patience and practice.

“It’s not a lifestyle choice; it’s a health choice, beneficial for both mums and babies. Yet women are giving up on breastfeeding, especially when they return to work, despite better-paid parental leave, and there are social and economic reasons for this. If they don’t have family or community support or can’t afford to pay a professional lactation consultant, then people turn to formula.”

The ‘Breast is best’ slogan is one Yvette disagrees with. “Breastfeeding isn’t best,” she explains, “it’s just biologically normal. I don’t judge parents for the choices they have to make due to circumstances. The vast majority of mothers initiate breastfeeding after birth and have the intention to continue. They don’t need to be hit over the head with the reasons breastfeeding is important, they need support and understanding to reach their goals.”

Yvette is so passionate about giving parents a high level of support that she formed the Southern Natural Parenting Network on the Peninsula. People asked why a grandmother would start a parenting community. Yvette says that when her daughter began to have children, they both saw the need. Their Facebook page now has over eleven thousand members – globally. Meetups and discussion groups cover core practices such as breastfeeding, babywearing (using slings and wraps), co-sleeping, and cloth nappies. Members don’t have to do them all; just support them. Yvette reports that parents are sometimes made to feel guilty for wanting to follow these practices. “Judging is a problem’” she says, “especially on social media. Parents are made to feel guilty for making these choices.”

Do some women feel guilty if they don’t breastfeed? “Yes,” says Yvette, “but women don’t fail to breastfeed; society fails them in not helping them to reach their breastfeeding goals.”

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It’s not a lifestyle choice; it’s a health choice, beneficial for both mums and babies

Ways of achieving this are the modern equivalent of the wet nurse; sharing breastmilk. Social media provides the ideal platform for finding other mums with milk to spare.

The Red Cross even has a breast milk bank as well as a blood bank to help women who are unable to breastfeed. Increasing awareness of breastfeeding options and education is crucial. The demand is increasing but there are fewer volunteers, partly due to Covid-19, and the Australian Breastfeeding Association desperately needs more of them. “It’s been devastating to see women unable to access the community support they need,” she says.

Attitudes to breastfeeding in public is one area that has improved, but Yvette says women are still apprehensive. She points out that it is illegal to prevent someone from receiving goods and services because they are breastfeeding, and women need to know that they have this right. Also, it’s not necessary for it to be discreet, although people may choose to do that. “We have these wonderful things called eyelids. If you don’t like it, you can stop looking,” she laughs. “Opinions don’t override the law. Several years ago,

my own daughter had a pool attendant tell her she couldn’t breastfeed. The Australian Breastfeeding Association produces stickers saying, ‘Breastfeeding is welcome here.’ Needless to say, those stickers are now all around that pool.”

Can she ever see herself retiring? “No,” is her emphatic reply, “I’m not very good at short-term options. I’ll keep answering the phone until I drop.”

What does Yvette take away from her 30 years of volunteering?

“It’s got to be seeing the mothers having the confidence to breastfeed,” she says. “The lightbulb moments when they say, ‘I understand now!’ It’s every single time I help someone to resolve their problem and seeing them become more powerful as a parent.”

FB: SouthernNaturalParentingNetwork

Australian Breastfeeding Association: breastfeeding.asn.au

I don't judge parents for the choices they have to make

ART ON trend

By Andrea Louise Thomas Photos Yanni

Mount Eliza artist, Jill McFarlane, grew up in rural Scotland, surrounded by natural beauty. Her family home backed onto a woodland where she and her siblings had the outdoors as their playground. Her father, a high school teacher, was also an adept artist who drew and illustrated for his children. He would take Jill with him along to go sketching in the countryside. Jill’s mother was a skilled seamstress and talented craftworker.

“Being surrounded by creativity taught me to look at the world differently. Creative people see things differently. I have a sense of wonder. I see beauty everywhere - plants, animals, sky, sea, landscapes and light. As an artist, you want to capture that beauty,” she says.

Jill won her first art prize at four with a drawing of a hamster. She has always had a natural eye for capturing detail. As a child, she was forever drawing and making. She would borrow craft books from the library and have a go. As a teenager, Jill loved visiting art galleries and poring over art books. Her high school teachers recognised her artistic talent and were very encouraging.

During her high school years, Jill realised she had the skill to be a professional artist. With a strong foundation in technical drawing, she then turned to painting. “Painting is more forgiving than drawing, but you still need the drawing skills for the painting to work,” she says.

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After high school Jill worked on her portfolio. She applied to the Edinburgh College of Art and was accepted. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Drawing and Painting (with Honours) and immediately embarked on a career as an artist. A little studio with an Edinburgh castle view was the perfect inspiration. She began exhibiting in group and solo shows.

While working as an artist Jill also had an interesting variety of other jobs such as working at the National Library of Scotland helping people with their research, and at a theatre during the Edinburgh Festival. Jill met her husband in Edinburgh and they later moved to his native Australia.

Brisbane is where Jill really established herself as a professional artist, exhibiting in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. She was shortlisted for a number of prestigious national art prizes, including the Archibald Prize. Her portrait of Justine Clarke was accepted into the 2014 Salon des Refuses.

Jill’s favourite medium is oils. She fondly remembers the smell of linseed oil in her grandmother’s art studio and looking through her collection of art books. “I love oil paint. It’s so organic, so tactile - almost sculptural. I love the colour mixing. I also like working in pastels for their texture and I like the fine detail in drawing. It’s so satisfying to capture something realistically in pencil just with my eye,” she says.

Before painting, Jill takes a quick sketch or photo to work from as she never knows how the weather is going to behave. Then she twists the scene or reinvents it in some way, particularly in her oil paintings. Symbolism is frequently found in her figurative work. Jill’s painting style is contemporary; inspired by current trends in art, fashion and home decor.

“I want my art to be a part of what’s on trend. I look at colour palettes, interior design trends and adapt my work to stand out on white walls and interiors. I have to keep changing to make a successful business,” she says.

I want my art to be a part of what’s on trend

That business is colourmeadow, which Jill launched in 2019 after moving to Mount Eliza from Brisbane. She wanted to create something more rustic and textured than works on paper so she prints her artwork on wood or fabric to bring out an almost three-dimensional painterly quality. This method changes the colour and line, taking away the flatness of the linear work.

Mostly, her prints are of iconic Peninsula scenes, such as, beaches, bathing boxes, piers and vineyards. She starts by creating a fine line pencil drawing by hand, then digitally colours it and prints it on fabric or wood. This method of printing makes her art very affordable.

“It’s important to me to make work people can afford. I get a great deal of satisfaction out of selling my work. I’m happy knowing people are enjoying my art in their homes,” she says.

Inspiration is never far away. “I’m surrounded by amazing natural beauty. The Peninsula has such varied landscapes in such a small area. It’s endlessly inspiring. There is also a great network of artists and art appreciators here. Just look at the artisan markets,” she says. Jill is proud to be one of them.

See her work at Little Beauty Market (Frankston), Emu Plains Market (Balnarring) or Artisan’s Alley (Mornington).

colourmeadow.com

jillmcfarlane.com

It's important to me to make work people can afford

ISLAND pilot

By Liz Bell Photos Yanni & Supplied

Rye’s Silva McLeod describes herself as an “island girl”, a nickname suggestive of the now 61-year-old’s idyllic and simple teenage years growing up in a small community in Tonga.

Her new book, Island Girl to Airline Pilot, tells a very different story of ambition, determination and achievement against the odds as the first Tongan woman to become an airline pilot.

The book, released in April and being launched on the Mornington Peninsula on 5 May, is part love story, inspirational message, tragedy and feel-good memoir as Silva tells of her first meeting more than forty years ago with Australian electrician Ken McLeod (who was working in Tonga for an Australian aid organisation), their marriage in 1980 and their enduring love. It also tells of Silva’s other love, flying, and of the burning desire she had of becoming an airline pilot that she eventually fulfilled through self-belief and the support of family.

Silva was a Tongan girl from a small island with little hope of anything beyond getting married and churning out babies. Her dreams of becoming an airline pilot seemed just that - dreams. Then Ken McLeod, an Australian hired to build a hospital on her island of Vava‘u, came into Silva’s life.

Not long after the 19-year-old met her 29-year-old Aussie sweetheart, the pair married in a traditional Tongan ceremony and moved to Australia, where they had two children and lived in Rye, Ken’s former home. Silva was thrust into a new lifestyle far away from the restrictive but idyllic Pacific island life, and

as a woman of colour in the 1980’s it wasn’t easy. Silva says she encountered frustration and racism, along with the immense guilt of leaving her Tongan family.

But in between working in hospitality, looking after the home and family, and making community connections, Silva never dropped her dream of flying a plane, even when disaster struck. “About 10 years after moving here I was given a voucher for a flight lesson and really loved it.” Her husband, who was in hospital after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma, turned around in his bed and said that if she wanted to still pursue flying, she should do it and they would make it happen.

“There was no doubt in my mind and he knew it was important to me. I would never have been able to do that in my village in Tonga, where women look after the home mostly and can’t pursue worldly ambitions…I would have been ridiculed.” Silva said the pair had to stick to a budget to be able to afford the lessons, but after nearly two years of dedication she achieved the necessary licences to fly for a commercial airline and was employed in her ‘dream’ job with Tonga Airlines, which of course required a move back to the island nation.

Living away from her husband and girls was difficult, as was the twice-monthly commute between countries to maintain a ‘normal’ family life. “That was the hardest part; I missed my husband and kids, but I knew it had to be done. There really wasn’t any other way,” she said. “But because we had a strong relationship, we both knew it would be okay.”

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I would never have been able to do that in my village in Tonga.

Four years later Silva was able to move back to her family in Rye when she secured a job flying a Boeing 777 with Virgin and spent almost three decades in a career she had once thought an impossibility. But life constantly throws challenges at us all, and Silva’s next move is an example of the true test of her spirit.

Her beloved husband, who had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma when he was just 40, passed away in 2020, and at around the same time Silva was made redundant. Grieving and trying to hold her life together, she faced a frighteningly uncertain future. But again, her tenacity and optimism shone through, and at close to 60 she pursued another passion – property and houses – to become a licensed real estate agent. “Suddenly I was on my own and had lost the job I loved, but I was used to having doors shut in my face, so I kept looking for options,” she said. “I had always had a strong interest in real estate, and I’m a people person, so I set my sights on my next career.”

Despite initial resistance from prospective employers - one who insisted on administering a questionable psychosomatic test and then telling her she wasn’t suitable – two years ago Silva secured a position with a firm on the peninsula. She says the metamorphosis gave her a new energy and zest for life. “I was feeling a bit lost for a while when Ken died and my career ended, but now I adore my new job; it gives me a reason to get up in the morning again,” she said.

Silva says she feels incredibly lucky to have lived her dream many times over and wants to remind readers that anything is possible if determination and passion are involved.

Her book is being launched at The Dunes in Rye, where she once worked before becoming a pilot. “I really wanted to have the launch locally, to share it with my community; that’s a big thing for me,” she said.

STRESSLESS AND MUCH, MUCH MORE

RADIATING COLOUR AND MESMERISING DESIGN IN PAINTINGS OF PLACE

Shimmering colour and minimalist design feature in the solo exhibition of paintings by Pitjantjatjara artist Samuel Miller at Everywhen Artspace in May.

Born in 1966 at Ernabella, SA, Miller grew up in the remote communities of Amata and Pipalyatjara and later settled at Kalka, where his people's art centre Ninuku Arts was established by his mother and other Anangu (Aboriginal people) of the region, in 2006.

Over the last decade, Samuel has painted at Ninuku Arts almost daily, depicting the iconogrpaphy of the camps, sacred rock holes, creeks, and hills, immersed in the laws, beliefs, creation stories and knowledge of place, its plants, animals, and people (tjukurpa).

While his composition is minimalist and his technique fastidious, Miller makes extensive use of vibrant, radiating colours, spread out around him while he paints and drawn largely from the colours of the once prevalent wildflowers of his country in the times before the invasive buffel grass dominated his lands.

His works have featured in group exhibitions since 2006 in leading galleries that represent Ninuku Arts throughout Australia and internationally. He has held two solo exhibitions in Luxembourg and Darwin. This is Miller's first Victorian solo exhibition.

Samuel Miller: Ngayku Ngura (My Place) runs from May 5 to 23 In partnership with Ninuku Arts

Everywhen Artspace

A: 39 Cook Street, Flinders, Vic 3929

T: + 61 3 5989 0496

Open Friday-Tuesday | 11am-4pm

View online

W: everywhenart.com.au

Left: Samuel Miller, Ngayuku Ngura, acrylic on linen.

Right: Samuel Miller at his homelands near Pipalyatjara.

Photo Meg Hansen

YOUNG ARTIST INVITES AUDIENCE TO BE HIS EYES

Peninsula-based artist, Ceberio (Ceb) Johnson, was thrilled to win first place in the 2022 Open Exhibition at Frankston Arts Centre for his joyous photographic self-portrait titled ‘Ceb and Early’ in which he embraces his equally happy rescue dog Early.

As a blind photographer, Ceb asks his audience to be his eyes: “I take the photo of my moments, then they see the moment for me”.

Frankston City Council Mayor Nathan Conroy said of his winning artwork: “Cebby’s beautiful photograph is an absolute delight –shining with optimism and happiness.”

Guest Judge Suzette Wearne, who is Assistant Curator at McClelland Art Gallery + Sculpture Park, said: “In a cultural landscape saturated by posed and edited selfies, this self-portrait stands out for the joy and spontaneity of its subjects—a young blind man and his dog. It captures Ceberio Johnson's remarkable fortitude and optimism.”

Ceb took the self-portrait in his garden using a remote with a cord and a tripod, adding that it was difficult because his dog, Early, kept chewing the cord and knocked over the tripod.

“So I give him a treat to make him good. He is a very beautiful dog but at one time no one want him and he wander the streets … we feel happy because we are together and together we belong.”

Ceb’s prize for the 2022 Open Exhibition included a cash prize of $1,000 along with an exhibition of his new works titled ‘Your Eyes. My Heart’, which will feature in Frankston Arts Centre’s Curved Wall Gallery from 22 June to 19 August.

This upcoming exhibition features a series of photographs from a recent trip back to his birthplace in Northern Territory; Ceb's first trip back home since losing his vision.

Cebby Johnson with his joyous photographic self-portrait, ‘Ceb and Early’.

“It was hot. Last time I was there, I could see everyone and everything. I know what everything look like so I know what I’m taking pictures of but not exactly. It was hard making sure the camera is straight and not wonky.”

“I hope people feel like they are in red sand with me seeing what I can feel. You feel it out there. Like you can feel the ocean here.”

To explore the works of Ceberio Johnson in ‘Your Eyes. My Heart’,

visit Frankston Arts Centre during open hours from Thursday 22 June to Saturday 19 August.

An Opening Event will be held on Thursday 6 July, 6pm. Bookings through the Frankston Arts Centre website are essential. Entry is free.

W: thefac.com.au

Two images from upcoming exhibition, Your Eyes My Heart: Ceberio Johnson, (both pieces untitled.)

From the trauma and heartbreak of war in their country, to the major cities of USA and Europe. Now to the stages of New Zealand and Australia...this is the Grand Kyiv Ballet of Ukraine.

The Grand Kyiv Ballet of Ukraine was formed in 2014 by the premier dancer of the National Opera of Ukraine, Oleksandr Stoianov. Oleksandr is not only the principal dancer of the Grand Kyiv Ballet, but also Artistic Director and Producer. He is renowned for his high jumps, energy and is known as the modern Nureyev.

The company perform a diverse range of classical repertoire, including the legendary ballets Forest Song, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Giselle, and Carmen Suite, as well as other contemporary ballets.

Since the outbreak of war in 2022, at the request of their families, the Grand Kyiv Ballet have remained outside of Ukraine. They now dance all around the world including tours throughout Europe, United States of America, China, and South America.

Oleksandr Stoianov - People’s Artist of Ukraine, 2019

In April, May & June 2023, the Grand Kyiv Ballet of Ukraine will perform their double bill, Forest Song & Don Quixote, throughout New Zealand and Australia

Act One – The Ukrainian showpiece...Forest Song

This legendary ballet has for more than 75 years remained the pride of Ukraine and a reflection of their cultural heritage. Forest Song is a magical love story, full of mysticism, highlighting the conflict between the human world and nature. It tells a tale of love between a man Lukash, and a fantastical forest creature, Mavka. The fearless and brave Mavka longs for peace in her world, just as Ukraine longs for peace in her country today. The ballet is filled with intricate duets, fouettés and complex choreographic pieces. Forest Song will be performed for the first time ever in New Zealand.

Act Two – Don Quixote

Edited into one vibrant act, this flamboyant and festive Spanish ballet is a much-loved romantic comedy. It tells the story of a courageous but troubled man’s quest for love.

Gypsies, bullfighters, lavish costumes, breath-taking dancers, and an inspiring music score ensures that this is a...not-to-bemissed experience. Book your ticket at the FAC on (03) 9784 1060 W:

MY HEART LIVES

By Jac Semmler Photos Sarah Pannell (Insta @sarahpannell)

Jac Semmler, director of Super Bloom Plant Practice, followed the beauty and wonder of her Frankston garden 'Heartland' in the writing of Super Bloom: A field guide to flowers for every gardener. A recent release Super Bloom is a cook's companion of flowers filled with fundamentals, profiles and planting partners, a must have garden book. 'To garden on the Peninsula is to be in a community of plant lovers with a gentle climate, the extent to what you can grow and share is so abundant'.

My heart lives in my garden. In the garden I know who I am – my family, my history, my loves and losses, and my dreams for the future.

The practice of gardening and tending plants has nurtured my relationship with the landscape and helped me form a sense of place and identity. There is a wholeness I feel being with plants in the everyday. It is a source of sustenance, strength, freedom, care and calm, and boundless creative expression. Learning about plants and how to nurture them together as a meaningful community within the garden is ever fascinating. It has always been plants for me I grew up on a farm in a rural region of south-eastern Australia I have rich memories of being a country kid immersed in the beauty of bushland and family gardens These tough gardens, created by my grandmothers and aunts, were wonderlands of rural beauty.

IN MY garden

In time I pursued a career that was filled with the outdoors, panoramic landscapes and big skies, but the practice of tending plants was missing I made a career change to train and work with plants My passions pulled me towards it and I found a new way of working that feeds a deep hunger for beauty and belonging.

Plants have become an all- encompassing part of my intellect, life and work Gardening is my art practice as well as my life teacher. Through plants I have found a rich community to be part of When I garden, I can feel in my hands the generations of plants women that came before me.

There is an everyday, heroic quality to flowers and foliage and the immersive experience of growing something with care. The relationships we forge with plants connect us to something deeper The act of tending flowers and absorbing their beauty provides immense satisfaction and a wonder in the ‘super bloom’

A super bloom is a natural phenomenon in which plants flower in such profusion that they transform the landscape, bathing it in colour When a super bloom arises, it is a miraculous sight Plants bloom with a maximum abundance of flowers and colour, applied in giant brushs strokes across hills and plains.

Every individual flower has a ‘super’ quality Flowers are heroic in their fine details as well as big blooming events – flowers hold layer upon layer of beauty within them. There is the wonder of the bloom but also beauty in the bud, the foliage, the fading flower and in the structural seed head, down to the unique detail of the seed.

continued next page...

There is wonder in the life cycle that plants transition through, the seedlings grow to maturity, the flowers bloom and fade Like us, plants are growing despite the prevailing conditions.

Flowers are evocative, drawing up fond memories or creating experiences as you see and share these plants. Flowers call for our attention and presence to enjoy beauty in a hectic world.

The practice of caring and tending plants also calls to something heroic within each of us As we find ourselves within the garden, be it a single planter or a large garden bed, we experience nature and the microcosm surrounding plants We are part of something bigger. The metaphors and human lessons that gardens and plants have for us are rich Time with plants can feed us.

It is an honour to witness the seasons and to be part of the process of nature in a garden When I feel overwhelmed or angered by the modern world and a society seemingly full of injustice, coming home to the garden makes me whole It is a source of energy to meet the elements This deep joy is available to us all

Super Bloom: A field guide to flowers for every gardener is available widely online and in great bookstores. Signed copies are available direct from local author Jac Semmler via her website.

Extract from Super Bloom: A field guide to flowers for every gardener, by Jac Semmler, published by Thames and Hudson. W: thesuperbloom.com.au

Photo: On Jackson St (Insta @on_jackstonstreet)

HOW TO WORK COASTAL-STYLE FLOORING INTO ANY DECOR

For a natural-looking and hard-wearing foundation to your interior, nothing beats classic blonde oak flooring. And it’s not just for coastal homes, says Mark Chaz, co-founder of Kustom Timber; “Blonde oak flooring is the ultimate design chameleon, blending seamlessly into coastal and modern-rustic homes, as well as more sophisticated urban and contemporary schemes. It all comes down to the layout you choose and how you style it.”

Beach House – a luxurious blonde engineered European Oak flooring that comes in two board sizes as well as herringbone and chevron patterns – is Kustom Timber’s best-selling flooring. “It took years to perfect,” says Chaz. “It is crafted with clean-grade, premium blonde European Oak and has a natural-looking stain that removes those unappealing yellow and green tones in order to create a wonderfully soft and natural blonde oak appearance, without looking painted.

“It is specially heat and moisture treated to suit Australian conditions, so you know it will look great and perform brilliantly in your home for years, whatever kids, pets or life throw at it.

“Plus, it’s made with our never-fail, multi-layer, tongue and groove system, so it’s quick and easy to apply, can be sanded back up to five times, and it won’t move, buckle or warp like solid timber,” he says.

Here are Mark’s top tips for working timeless blonde oak flooring into some of Australia’s most popular interior styles.

Coastal

“The coastal look has had something of a luxe upgrade recently,” says Mark. “While the nature- inspired tones and rustic finishes are still there, additions such as woven rattan furniture and joinery inserts, luxurious pale-grey marble benchtops, and soft and earthy tonal layers across walls and floors are giving it a more sophisticated feel.

“Opt for wide, blonde oak floorboards, such as Beach House 260x2200x15/4mm boards, for a more casual, lived-in look, or a patterned floor such as a Beach House herringbone to really amp up that barefoot-luxe vibe designers are loving right now,” he says.

Urban Contemporary

“Choosing a light oak floor is a great way to balance out the rich, darker tones we’re seeing in many modern urban houses and apartments today, making spaces feel bigger and brighter, and bringing in a warm, natural feel,” says Mark.

“A patterned oak floor, such as Beach House Chevron or Herringbone, is a clever solution if you’re looking to add character and depth to a modern build or a pared-back room scheme,” he says. “Pair it with matte-black joinery, dark, richly veined stone benchtops and splashbacks, bold, contemporary artwork and curvy furniture with slender, metal frames,” he says.

Modern Country

So what exactly is modern country? “It’s all the things we love about traditional country styling – the timber furniture, panelled joinery and patterned fabrics, but executed in a more streamlined way,” says Mark. “So you might expect to see classic Shaker kitchen or bathroom cabinetry, for example, but with an elegant, slender edge profile; timber furniture, but with slimmer lines and minimalist detailing; fine VJ panelling on the walls; and just one or two patterned pieces, such as an upholstered armchair or a few patterned scatter cushions on a plain sofa.

“A beautiful timber floor is the starting point to any rustic look, and modern country is no exception. Opt for classic, mid-size boards, such as Beach House 190x1900x15/4mm, for a timeless foundation to this look, layer it up with one or two fabulous rugs, and ensure you allow plenty of breathing space around your key pieces of furniture so they sing,” says Mark.

Boho Luxe

“This is a look for those who love quirky, individual interiors,” says Mark. “A boho luxe interior might feature one-off vintage finds from different periods, such as a mid-century floor lamp, an ‘80s boucle armchair, and touches of metallics such as bronze or brushed gold for a glam edge,” says Mark.

“But don’t mistake this look’s playful vibe for an ‘anything goes’ approach or you risk creating cluttered spaces. It’s all about finding pieces you love and curating them with care. It’s also a good idea to look for pieces that have a common thread to create a sense of cohesion. For example, you might take your colour cues from the tones in a statement artwork.

“A blonde oak floor, such as Beach House in either a plank or patterned format, creates the perfect, neutral base to work off when building a boho luxe scheme, and it will help maximise the sense of light and space. Choose planks for a more subtle backdrop or herringbone or chevron if you want flooring to play more of a starring role within the scheme,” he says.

Beach House premium European Oak timber flooring comes in four formats; planks measuring 190x1900x15/4mm and 260x2200x15/4mm, herringbone parquetry 150x900x15/4mm and chevron parquetry 120x600x15/4mm.

Learn more about Beach House premium European Oak timber flooring at the Kustom Timber website, or view it in person at the Kustom Timber showroom.

A: 1/4 Torca Terrace, Mornington

W: kustomtimber.com.au

INTERIOR DESIGN TIPS FOR THE COOLER SEASONS

As the days are getting longer, we retreat indoors into the comfort of our homes. The cooler season calls for family to gather around the fireplace, and friends to wine and dine near the kitchen. There is nothing better than coming home to the feeling of instant warmth, ready to relax on the couch after a long day. Here are 5 easy ways to transform your interior just in time for winter.

Bring the outdoors in. Utilise gorgeous florals and greenery. Introducing fresh plants into your space can make a world of difference. Not only do they look beautiful, but plants also freshen the air indoors and bring life to your space. This also provides an opportunity to change around your pot plants seasonally or choose new vases to welcome in lush greenery and florals around empty corners in your home.

Switch out your rug. Rugs can transform the look of a room by simply changing materials and finishes. For those looking for a rug to weather the winter months, a thick woolen rug is ideal for providing warmth and comfort underfoot that will hide your hard floorboards and absorb heat. Embrace your individual style and experiment with bold colours or patterns for a contrasting look.

Layers are your best friend. The cooler season calls for thick textured throw blankets and oversized cushions. Follow a general tonal theme when picking décor for your sofa, armchair

or bedroom to make sure your home has a consistent look. This includes table lamps or floor lamps to bring a soft warm glow into your room. Find artwork to fill empty white walls with pops of colour and visual texture for added interest.

Get organised. Stylish cabinets, buffets, and shelving can be used to hide your clutter away and make it look like a part of your home’s design. There is a huge variety of home storage solutions to choose from, ranging from materials such as wood, metal, glass, and plastic to styles such as contemporary, rustic, and traditional. With the right storage solutions, you can make your home look neat and stylish without sacrificing your interior design.

Introduce a new colour palette. Rich, dark tones are great choices for the colder months. This can include charcoal, maroon, khaki or navy décor for a bolder look in your space. These tones offer a cosy, comforting feel and can balance out perfectly when paired with lighter accents for a contrast.

Make your house feel like a home and discover furniture and homewares collections that will live with you through every moment. OZ Design. For Life.

A: HomeCo. Peninsula 1128, Showroom D4/1132 Nepean Hwy, Mornington

W: ozdesignfurniture.com.au

BEACHSTONE HOMES AWARD-WINNING HOMES BUILT FOR LIFE

As a custom design and build company committed to delivering high-quality outcomes, Beachstone Homes is thrilled to be recognised once again by the HIA for its stunning new homes - with the recent award of Winner 2022 HIA Victorian Custom Home ($750,001 - $1 million) for a client in Edithvale.

Servicing Melbourne eastern suburbs and the Mornington Peninsula, Beachstone Homes undertake the entire process from initial site assessment and design brief through to completion, or build-only services starting with the review of prepared plans.

With core values of honesty and integrity, more than 25 years of experience in building and development, a professional team, and an on-line client portal, Beachstone Homes delivers award-winning homes built for life and welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with you to deliver your new dream home.

www.beachstonehomes.com.au

TRUST WOODPECKER TO DELIVER YEAR-ROUND COMFORT

Woodpecker Mornington has been a one-stop destination for anything heating, cooling and BBQs for nearly 30 years. As a local and family-owned business, we pride ourselves on quality service and products. We endeavor to provide end-to-end service on gas, wood, electric, ducted heating and cooling and continue to provide ongoing maintenance for your new or existing units.

Our range of leading Australian and international brands is huge. We can design heating and cooling systems combinations to suit your home, budget and STYLE.

We pride ourselves on providing end-to-end service, from advice through to installation one ongoing servicing of your units.

We are truly a heating and cooling ONE STOP SHOP

Woodpecker is the peninsula’s exclusive retailer top industry brands such as Heat & Glo, Escea, Regency, Sculpt, Eureka and so many more, and these are all on display in our huge showroom in Mornington.

Our team of licensed installers have made a career out of installing just heating and cooling - so there is no guess work!! Our experienced staff can assist you with finding the perfect unit to turn your vision into reality, from the drawing board to installation.

With new units on display such as the JC Borderlet wall-mounted suspended fireplace serving as a statement piece for your space while providing cozy radiant heat. Style and function all in one! A new release from Regency is now here.

The GFI750 is a contemporary gas log fire that boasts new features in realistic flame patterns, logs and overall viewing experience, and with the upcoming new Heat & Glo i25X and i35X, you can have the latest in fireplace technology in your home with more size options now available to suit existing or new spaces.

Woodpecker is also specialist Daikin dealer offering effective heating and cooling solutions all in one! Split systems are an efficient way to control your climate in certain rooms and provide all-year-round comfort in the home. It is also a cost-effective way to ensure that your rental and Airbnb are in tip-top shape!

So stop by our showroom and our team will be more than happy to assist you with your next home project.

W: woodpecker.com.au

Heat Glo i35X

Escea DS1400 DS

Bordelet Zelia 908

Seguin Europa 7

GFi750 Regency

BUILDING HOMES THAT MATCH YOUR LIFESTYLE, YOUR BUDGET AND YOUR VISION

Masterline Homes services the Mornington Peninsula and around Westernport Bay up to Phillip Island. Whether building your first, or fourth home, Masterline Homes has the blueprint to suit you.

Because our focus is to provide you with the home you want, we can change colour schemes to suit your personal taste. You can even design your own home for us to build. In contrast to many large builders, we will alter house plans and change the design to suit your block of land and your budget. Alternatively, you can provide us with your own plan if you prefer.

Our home design philosophies are born from our combined experience of 55 years in the housing industry, inspiration from our client’s input, paying attention to our client’s desires, and our adaptable approach to all important issues. We do our best to make the whole process a happy and exciting one.

Specialising in:

• New homes

• Knockdown and Rebuild

• Dual occupancy

• Duplex

From a dual-occupancy to a multi-unit development , Masterline Homes can handle all size projects as both the builder or developer.

All our projects can include our full homemaker pack (Turnkey), ready to move in, thus taking all the stress out for you.

Masterline Homes has built many developments ranging from a single unit in a backyard, to duplex dwellings and multiunit projects, specialising in residential property design and development, offering an exclusive, yet affordable collection of homes and town-houses to suit all buyers.

Using Locally based suppliers where possible, we can maintain a quality product while ensuring employment opportunities for the future. Building with Masterline Homes is a co-operative effort between our company, our suppliers and you, our valued client.

Masterline Homes is a long-time member of the Housing Industry Association, the Master Builders Association and is registered with the Victorian Building Authority Reg # CDB-U 48889.

Benefits of choosing Masterline Homes for your next development:

• Flexibility in approach and design

• Dealing direct with the builder

• Getting the home you want

• Enormous range of colour choices

• Quality fixtures and fittings

• Designing your own home

SUPERBLY CRAFTED RETIREMENT LIVING

Inspired by some of Australia’s most celebrated, heritagelisted retirement properties, Peninsula Lifestyle Retirement Village is designed to be both beautiful and practical.

With gardens and walking paths arranged around the beautifully appointed clubhouse, its pedestrian-friendly village layout connects residents to friends and neighbours, and to the village’s social hub.

You’ll revel in the benefits of smartly designed one- and twobedroom villas in a keyless swipe-to-enter gated community set among stunningly landscaped gardens.

Peninsula Lifestyle Retirement Village delivers retirement living at its best.

Discover a boutique, familyfriendly, comfort-plus lifestyle village – with just 46 Villas that’s what Peninsula Lifestyle Retirement Village in Baxter offers. Each Villa offers retirement luxury living with Caesarstone benchtops, air conditioning, built -in-robes, double glazed windows, high ceilings and European appliances. Share stories with other residents over a cuppa in the community centre or get creative with those who share similar interests.

Whether it be a craft morning, a game of indoor bowls, darts, billiards or simply enjoying a movie or sports event on our big screen.

Tone up in the gym, while away hours in the potting shed and raised vegetable gardens or simply relax with a book from the library. Discover Independent Living with a sense of community complete with security for peace of mind. There’s something for everyone.

Talking about Backyard Hens on the Mornington Peninsula

Talking Hens is a small, family business situated in the heart of Merricks on the Mornington Peninsula. The business is run by Jason Nethercott and Giuliana Postregna and specialises in the sale of entertaining, friendly and placid laying hens along with all of the products needed to keep them happy and healthy.

The journey began back in 2012 when the family started a freerange egg farm in Keysborough on Melbourne's outskirts. As their business grew, they began selling eggs at farmers markets as well as to local customers. Over time, they started selling greater numbers of their hens and bags of their chicken feed mix created by Giuliana’s father, an egg farmer of 40+ years. Eventually, they focused exclusively on the needs of families wanting to own backyard chickens.

By moving away from selling free range eggs, they found that they could spend more time with customers and indulge in their passion for teaching and education. Giuliana and Jason were able to provide talks, videos, workshops and informative handouts for customers to help transfer their experience and knowledge.

The Hy-Line Brown laying hens have been one of the most popular breeds sold to customers due to their suitability in suburban backyards. Not-only are they child-friendly and placid but they integrate very well with the family pets and lay eggs regularly.

From tales of cheeky hens stealing dog food to surprise kitchen visits through cat flaps, customers never tire of sharing their amusing stories with us about their feathered friends.

Talking Hens is increasingly focused on increasing sustainability in all of their business practices and products. This has been reflected in their use of fully compostable chicken feed bags (an Industry first), which can be returned to the business for a $1 credit and recycling. They have also developed a range of chicken coops made from recycled wood and hempcrete which is a highly sustainable building material.

Winter series presentations on backyard hens

Part 1 - How to Successfully Keep Backyard Chickens - for those new to chickens. Sunday 18 June 2023 at 2pm.

Part 2 - Best Practices with Backyard Chicken Coops

Sunday 16 July 2023 at 2pm.

Part 3 - Maintaining a Healthy and Happy Backyard Flock over Time! Sunday 20 Aug 2023 at 2pm. Visit the website to purchase tickets.

Looking for backyard hens but unsure where to start?

Talking Hens is a family business that enjoys backyard hens. We specialise in friendly, egg laying hens with quality products to keep them happy and healthy.

There’s nothing like the friendship and entertainment that you receive from our laying hens - a pleasure to be shared!

on Dromana

Dromana is a bayside centre, nestled between Safety Beach and McCrae, and situated at the foot of the towering peak of Arthurs Seat, 66 km south of Melbourne.

Dromana's commercial centre is concentrated along the coastal boulevard of Point Nepean Road, with Arthurs Seat and its surrounding bushland providing a scenic backdrop to the shops and cafes along this route.

Dromana's foreshore reserve lines the coast and consists of grassy picnic areas, shelters, walking tracks and designated camping areas. The calm, sandy beaches provide safe swimming and boating opportunities. Points of interest along the coast include the Dromana Pier and the rocky cutting at Anthony’s Nose where a boat ramp is situated.

Heronswood is a historic property situated on an elevated 2 hectare allotment on Latrobe Parade, overlooking the bay. The house and surrounding gardens date back to 1871 and are open for visitors to explore and enjoy. The property includes a cafe which serves organic produce from the gardens and fresh food from local growers where possible. There is a retail shop and nursery, with garden workshops held regularly. Heronswood is managed by Diggers Club, Australia's largest garden club.

It is believed that the name Dromana is of Irish origin and that it came about from the influx of gold prospectors in the mid 19th century. There is a Dromana on the tidal section of the Blackwater River, near Cappoquin, County Waterford in Ireland, and this is the most likely origin of the name.

Dromana and neighboring Tuerong to the north, are home to a number of vineyards, some with cellar doors open for wine tasting.

CoffeeSafari

In 1841, Hugh Jamieson purchased 5,120 acres (2,070 ha), or eight square miles, of land from the Crown for ₤1 an acre under the terms of the short-lived Special Survey regulations. The purchase included the northern part of the present suburb of Dromana to the east of Safety Beach. The area is known as Jamieson's Special Survey in cadastral surveys.

The first subdivision of Crown lands in Dromana occurred in 1854. Dromana Post Office opened on 12 April 1858.

The completion of Dromana pier took place in 1872, allowing the shipping of produce to the city markets. By 1881, Dromana was well established as a seaside resort.

A major contributor to the development of Dromana was Spencer Jackson. One of his greatest achievements was the facilitation of the construction of a road to the summit of Arthurs Seat in 1929. Dromana's pier was much longer in those days and Dromana shared with Sorrento the ability to accommodate the bay steamers which did much to promote Dromana as a tourist destination. The McKeown and Shaw families ran guest houses for over half a century.

The Dromana Drive-in cinema is a popular entertainment spot for locals and holidaymakers alike.

The Dromana Industrial Estate is home to a range of artisan producers, microbreweries and distilleries making it well worth a visit.

Freshly brewed coffee is a must-have and the Mornington Peninsula's coffee haunts are second to none. Check out these when you're visiting!

Laneway Espresso

167 POINT NEPEAN ROAD

A much-loved, eclectic space serving coffee made from beans by Odyssey Coffee Roasters alongside cafe favourites. Enjoy brioche french toast or maybe a croissant burger, while you soak up the sun in the laneway.

Little Rebel

22 COLLINS ROAD

A boutique coffee roaster situated in the Dromana Industrial Estate. Choose from the house blend, single origin blends, filter, pour-over or cold brew, all made by expert baristas.

Millers Bread Kitchen

116 NEPEAN HWY

Choose from a mouthwatering array of delicious breads, pastries, cakes, pies, sandwiches and more. We guarantee that you won’t leave hungry.

Pier St Kitchen

19 PIER STREET

Serving breakfast, brunch and lunch with a Mediterranean twist, Pier Street Kitchen is known for its friendly atmosphere, amazing food and extensive locally-driven wine list.

What to do

There’s always something fabulous to do in Dromana. Head down to the beach with its white sands and calm waters, and then enjoy a relaxed lunch at one of the many cafes or restaurants. Sip amongst the vines at one of the many wineries or taste an award-winning drop at one of the local distilleries. Check out the peninsulas must-visit Dromana Industrial Estate and the array of producers and hidden treasures to be found there. Catch a movie at the Dromana DriveIn, or for history buffs there’s plenty to check out at the Dromana Historical Society. And don’t forget to call into the picturesque gardens at Heronswood Estate, the home of the Digger’s Club.

Photography: Yanni

Corner Puzzle

DOWN ACROSS

1. Excessive leanness

6. Finds

10. Freehold land (4,6)

15. Former East/West barrier, ... Curtain

18. Penned in

19. Estimated

20. Adhesive strip, sticky ...

22. Profession

23. Rasping 24. As one, in ...

25. Maiden name indicator 26. Carried

28. Famed UK racecourse 30. Unprecedented 31. Authoritative doctrine

32. Globes

33. Went on horseback

34. Unsighted

35. Disguise

37. Explorer, ... Heyerdahl

39. Fancy carp

40. Cotton spool

42. Currency of Italy & Spain

45. The ... Scrolls (4,3)

48. Brass wind instrument

49. Distinguished visitors (1,1,2)

50. Amalgamations

53. Mock-modest

54. Brazilian dance, ... nova 56. 1000 mm

59. Resigned gesture 61. Mars, the ... Planet 62. Boozer 63. Salted pig meat 64. It is (poetic)

Pre-storm state

100. Fattiest

101. Nobleman

104. Uniforms

105. Biblical Jericho attacker

107. Convent

108. Be wary, walk on ...

112. Late Princess of Wales

113. Church ministers

115. Casino chips dispenser

117. Slide on snow

118. Phone line post, ... pole

120. Send short text message (1,1,1)

121. Daily journal

123. Insulting

125. Prompt (memory)

126. Kid's squirting toy (5,6)

127. Jet-bath

129. Genus

130. Fled

131. Stage of trip

133. Birch rod

134. Feminist movement, women's ...

136. Freezing up

137. Chores

140. Scientist, ... Curie 141. Opponent 142. Scavenges

146. Reminder note 147. Adds soundtrack to

Abhors 152. Slight quarrel 154. Heredity unit 155. Gents 156. Those people 157. Principal

159. Thin, layered (pastry) 160. Hitler follower 162. Pinnacle

164. Glowing coal fragment 165. Just manage, ... out a

167. Alliances

169. Spoken tests

171. Heart monitor (1,1,1)

173. Falsely charming

174. Bell tongue 175. Weighing device 177. Serpents

178. Runny nose 179. Zoo inmates 180. Fable 181. Presence 182. Cleans (harbour bed) 183. Road ridges to slow traffic (5,5)

1. Layla singer, ... Clapton

2. Idolise

3. Typically scored

4. Prepare for hatching

5. W African republic

6. Paying guest

7. Scrooge

8. Cabbie (4,6)

9. Sank in middle

10. Coral banks

11. Congregate

12. Suffering

13. Belittle

14. Garden of Creation

16. Mountain chain

17. Taunt

20. Kindling

21. Strength

27. Canada's continent (5,7)

29. Constantly 35. Hook & loop fastener 36. In a casual way

41. Muslim chieftains

43. Soviet Union (1,1,1,1)

44. Excelled

51. Clothing business (3,5)

108. Marriage separation

109. Sullivan's operetta partner

110. Acts as link

111. Teacher

114. Hampering

116. Sinless

119. Looks awestruck

122. Actor, ... McGregor

124. Circus insect

125. Romeo's lover

128. Ancient (3-3)

130. Hair-colouring wash

132. Class

135. Polish

138. Bad

139. Child-snatching

141. Melt together

143. Proposals

144. Scientifically examined

145. Cairo native

149. Tinted sun visor

150. Printed with raised design

151. Looming danger

153. Single articles

158. Cherub

161. Take to the air

163. Standards of behaviour

166. Broken

168. Milky espresso, ... latte

170. Awry

172. Assert

173. Lengthy account

176. Darns

See page 64 for solution

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THE UNIVERSITY OF ARTHUR’S SEAT

By Ilma Hackett & Keith Murley

It was referred to, humorously, as the ‘University of Arthur’s Seat’. The small slab hut roofed with thatch stood a short distance from where the McCrae family’s homestead was being built on the lower slopes of Arthur’s Seat on the Mornington Peninsula. At one end was a massive chimney tapering upwards and at the other, the doorway. A small window let in light. This was the schoolroom for the McCrae boys and their tutor’s hut. The year was 1844.

The Search for a Better Life

John McLure was twenty-nine when he was engaged by Andrew McCrae in 1842 to tutor his three young sons.

Born at Sleat, a village on the Isle of Skye, McLure had somehow achieved a good education and had studied classics and divinity at the University of Glasgow. Like many of his countrymen, McLure migrated to the colony of New South Wales to escape the rising poverty in Scotland.

Arriving in Melbourne in 1838, aboard the Brilliant, he found employment as a teacher. His first position was at a private school in Windsor then at Scots School, a government-subsidized school in Collins Street attended by both boys and girls.

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Top: John McLure's hut (watercolour by Edward Latrobe Bateman)

Below Right: John McLure

His new position as tutor was a live-in one, with McLure joining the McCrae family at their new home ‘Mayfield’ in Abbotsford on the rural outskirts of Melbourne. His promised salary was £100 per annum.

His employer, Andrew McCrae, was a lawyer. McCrae arrived in the colony in 1839 leaving his wife, Georgiana, in London with their four small sons, one of whom was newborn. Other members of the McCrae family, an old Scottish family with good connections but little money after being disinherited, had migrated also.

Andrew had married Georgiana Huntly in 1830 at Gordon Castle, home of the 5th Duke of Gordon, Georgiana’s father. Born illegitimately but acknowledged by the duke as his daughter, Georgiana was raised by her mother in Somers Town, a bohemian district in London, home to a large number of French emigrés.

Having attended schools where lessons were in French the little girl grew up bilingual. Georgiana’s biographer, Brenda Niall, writes that her education, both formal and informal, was rich and diverse.

It was while living in Somers Town that her drawing ability was first recognised and she received skilled tuition from several wellknown artists. In her late teens, after her mother was injured in an accident, Georgiana went to live at Gordon Castle with her grandfather, the 4th Duke of Gordon.

She became his companion and secretary until his death. A planned marriage between Georgiana and her preferred suitor, a Roman Catholic, was blocked by the new Duchess, a devout Protestant. Georgiana left for Edinburgh where she supported herself painting portraits until Andrew McCrae, a distant relative, proposed. Georgiana wrote in her diary “Left my easel and changed my name.”

She had been promised an inheritance but her father died leaving an unsigned will and the Duchess was under no legal obligation to carry out his wishes. Georgiana lived in constant expectation of receiving her inheritance.

A Home by the Yarra

In Melbourne Andrew McCrae set up in partnership with James Matheson and prepared for the arrival of his family. They came in 1841 aboard the Argyle and moved into ‘Argyle Cottage’, a small cramped, weatherboard house for which they paid an exorbitant rent.

McCrae had bought nine and a half acres of land at Abbotsford, then a rural area on the outskirts of Melbourne. Despite the fact that Melbourne was facing financial chaos in the early years of the 1840s, and he could ill afford it, he entered into a complicated mortgage arrangement with the property’s owner, with a further loan for building.

McCrae was hopeful that there would be work for his law firm during this Depression and there was but, increasingly, clients were not able to pay their legal fees.

He pressed ahead with building ‘Mayfield’, and Georgiana happily drew up plans for a substantial house overlooking the Yarra River. As soon as it was habitable the family moved in along with their cook, a housemaid and the nanny. They would soon be joined by the tutor.

John McLure entered the household as ‘one of the family’. The Mc Craes valued education and good, qualified tutors were hard to find in the new colony. The three oldest children, George, William (Willie) and Alexander (Sandy), were now eight, six and five, respectively.

Above: Andrew McCrae (a minature by Georgiana)

Right: Georgiana McCrae (self portrait)

McLure was well suited for his position. When he first met with them Georgiana had noted, “He appears to be fond of young children and has a pleasant manner.” The boys took to him immediately and he became not just their tutor, but companion, mentor and big brother figure.

Evenings were spent playing charades and he composed nonsense rhymes and word games for the children. He and the children sang songs while Georgiana accompanied them on the piano. McLure loved the outdoors and he encouraged the boys to explore their surroundings, to learn the names of plants, birds and animals they encountered.

He accompanied them on long walks to visit children on neighbouring properties and often walked with them to the ‘kirk’ on a Sunday. He was genuinely fond of his young charges. The boys’ father was often engrossed in business or the affairs of his brothers and McLure substituted as a father figure.

Changing fortunes

The McCraes were part of Melbourne’s socially elite. They entertained lavishly at ‘Mayfield’ and were hospitable hosts to many house guests at various times, despite the Depression.

Money, or rather, the lack of money was an ever-present problem and many people, including McCrae’s brother, faced financial ruin. The McCraes themselves had mounting debts. McLure was aware of his employers’ problems and of their generosity. He recommended they cut back his own wages to £60 a year.

When McCrae and his partner quarrelled and there was talk of the partnership being dissolved, Georgiana was hopeful of returning ‘home’; she had opposed the move to Australia in the first place. In anticipation, she offered McLure the chance of accompanying the family to England, passage paid, but he refused. His saw his future in Australia, not in Great Britain.

When it seemed likely they would have to give up ‘Mayfield’, Andrew McCrae toyed with the idea of taking up a run on the Mornington Peninsula. Influenced by Captain James Reid who held the lease to ‘Tichingorourke’ at Mt Martha, he took an unwilling Georgiana with him to inspect ‘Wango’, a run that covered just over 21,000 acres (8,500 hectares) and included the peak, Arthur’s Seat.

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Below: Mayfield

Georgiana hated the idea of leaving ‘Mayfield’. She wanted to earn money by painting portraits but the McCrae family frowned on this idea. In desperation she wrote to the Duchess, asking her to buy the property as an advance against Georgiana’s inheritance. The Duchess refused but sent £100 “for immediate needs”. ‘Mayfield’ had to go.

As soon as the lease to ‘Wango’ was secure the McCrae family made preparation to leave ‘Mayfield’. McLure was offered an alternate situation, at £100 a year, as tutor to a family moving to the Goulburn.

He refused on the pretext that he suffered from lung trouble and the McCraes were moving near the sea. This would be better for his health. Andrew McCrae left for Arthur’s Seat.

Henry Tuck, a builder, was employed and two men hired to help. The first shelters were tent-shaped and thatched with grass-tree fronds. Back in Melbourne Georgiana made the drawings for her new mountain home.

The name ‘Wango’, the local Aboriginal name for the Run, did not appeal to her and she urged for it to be changed to ‘Arthur’s Seat’, a name given because of the peak’s resemblance to the one in Edinburgh.

McLure visited Arthur’s Seat. In October 1844 he wrote a letter to his pupil George describing the boy’s new home. “You have no idea of what a fine place this is, with its lofty hills and deep glens, white sandy beach and rippling waves, but above all the mountain towering so high over the rest that you see an immense distance..."

He describes the ascent and how the “sides of the mountain are hollowed out into deep and abrupt chasms or gullies as if dragons had been through them”, an image that undoubtedly enthralled the young lad.

Their ‘Swiss Family Robinson’ Existence

Early in December Mc Lure was back in Melbourne enthusiastic about the prospect of living on the mountain. It was agreed that he would take the older boys back with him to give them the unique experience of pioneering. The Jemima, a lime carrier skippered by a stout, freckled face, grey-haired highlander made the run frequently. On the morning of 15 January word came that it was ready to sail and they hurried to board, only for the boat to be becalmed.

When they finally got underway poor Sandy was seasick for most of the trip. They landed on 20 January and for two months lived a Swiss Family Robinson existence. The boys slept in the “huts made of tea-tree sides and grass”.

For warmth they had a camp fire and meals consisted of boiled rice with milk and sugar, salt beef and damper and whatever they could catch by fishing and hunting. Lighting came from a primitive grease lamp with a wick. McLure, drawing on his Isle of Skye background, taught them the skills they needed.

Work was progressing on the main house and the separate building that was the kitchen.

The boys and their tutor worked on the school house. Willie

describes the process in a letter to his mother, “The way to build a house is, first dig a trench and put some posts in, next daub it, then to shingle it or to thatch it. The chimney may be made of brick or split she-oak.” They helped peg out the foundations and dig the trenches. McLure accompanied them into the bush to watch trees being felled then carted back to site and sawn into lengths for the walls.

The boys made the floor of lime and earth while McLure was responsible for the roof, again using his islander knowledge to thatch it. He used firstly straw then bundles of swamp rushes secured by pegs and cords. The thatch was finally anchored with two long peeled saplings, overlaid horizontally and strongly pegged down.

Youngest son, Perry, joined his brothers when the McCrae’s cook, Ellen, arrived accompanying more of the family’s belongings, kitchenware and poultry. Perry, then aged six or seven sent back a letter, “As I cannot write very well. I am telling Mr McLure all about our voyage coming down and he is going to write it and send it to you.”

On the same boat were bricklayers and three thousand bricks and ‘Count Rumford’s design for building chimneys’ sent by Georgiana to McLure, now in charge as McCrae was back in Melbourne finalizing business. He planned to continue practising law but in a new partnership. McCrae brought Georgiana and their two small daughters, four-year-old Lucia and baby Margaret, to Arthur’s Seat in time to celebrate the baby’s first birthday in June, 1845. With them were the girls’ nanny and Sarah, a companion and helper for Georgiana.

The homestead was not completed. The floor was not in place and the windows were unglazed. Georgiana was not impressed with having to sleep on a mattress on the floor in the kitchen. With just two men employed full time, work had been slow.

The McCrae’s Mountain Home

However, two months later the homestead was finished.

It was a slab construction with horizontal boards dropped between upright posts to save on nails. The roof was shingled. There was a separate kitchen, dairy and wash house. Additional huts, stables, stockyards and the school house completed the station. Georgiana’s furniture was installed, bookcases filled, paintings hung on the wall.

As well as a vegetable garden and orchard, Georgiana planned a terraced, ornamental garden. Socially, life was as busy as it had been in Melbourne albeit of a different nature. Neighbours, friends and travellers called. Their house was situated near where the road to Cape Schanck diverted from the one that ran further south to the tip of the peninsula and the McCraes kept an open house as they had at ‘Mayfield’.

McLure continued with the boys’ lessons inside their schoolhouse but also ensured they had time to learn practical skills and to understand their environment. They learned how to plough, how to fish and sail. He showed them how to make rope and how to make wicks.

A typical schoolday might start with a swim or fishing expedition before breakfast, then a morning spent learning French history, a chapter from the Bible, part of the Aeneid. Willie and Sandy were reading Caesar’s Commentaries while Perry was learning English history.

They wrote out lists of plants before taking a break for practical tasks. Back in the schoolhouse their tutor questioned them on the map of Scotland until the dinner bell rang.

The afternoon’s lessons included the life of Hannibal, Latin verbs, essay writing. McLure turned maths into a practical exercise when

Left: Mapping exercise by George McCrae, 1848 (note Victoria did not exist at that time but was part of New South Wales) Below: George's childhood sketch of a corroboree

he made them find the height of his hut by using the square root method. Willie was sent up onto the roof while George measured distances on the ground.

Later they went to plant potatoes. McLure instilled in them an interest in plants that grew on the mountain and the wildlife they encountered.

They were also learning from the Aboriginal people who often “quambied” (camped) close to the homestead. There was a mutual trust between the McCraes and their Bunurong neighbours. Benbenjie, in particular, became a companion who taught the boys how to fish and hunt, gave them boomerangs and waddies and taught them Bunurong words and expressions.

This continued an association with the Aborigines which had begun at ‘Mayfield’ when the boys had played with the children camping along the river bank. For the boys it was an “Edenic existence”.

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McCrae was not a man born to the land. The run, although large, had just small pockets of good land but much that was too vertical and they lacked the money to stock it sufficiently to return a profit.

The way leases were handled was under question. The government was considering compulsory purchase of land at a minimum price of £1 per acre. A squatter unable or unwilling to buy could see his land and home sold at auction. The scheme was not brought into effect but its proposal caused anxiety among the small squatters.

By 1851 McCrae realized that he was not able to make a decent living from the land. In their six years at Arthur’s Seat they had become more or less self-sufficient but it was a frugal lifestyle.

His family had grown with the birth of two more daughters. After briefly contemplating finding a better run in Gippsland he accepted a government position as Police Magistrate at Alberton, a post for which he was well qualified.

A Parting of the Ways

The family was again uprooted. Georgiana did not accompany

McCrae to Alberton, a rough, new settlement in Gippsland. She returned to Melbourne and moved with her children into a rented home in LaTrobe Street. It was also a parting of the ways for McLure and his pupils. The three older boys were old enough to find employment. Sandy, passionate about horses, stayed with his father in Alberton before working on a station in Omeo. At the age of seventeen he joined the police and had his own horse to ride. Perry, now thirteen, returned to school for a couple of years before finding a position in a bank as Willie had done. George became a clerk, studying business methods, in a business run by an acquaintance of his mother. Georgiana taught her own daughters until they were old enough for a governess. Georgiana saw all this as temporary until her inheritance came her way. (It never did. When the Duchess of Gordon died Georgiana received no mention in her will.)

For a time McLure became a partner of a school in Melbourne. He abandoned that for Mount Pleasant in Central Victoria. A small quantity of gold had been discovered there in 1853 but it would be a year before a rush occurred. Three years later a bigger find led to an influx of miners and the resultant growth of Stawell.

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Enjoy a lifestyle and leisure program, providing experiences and social engagement for the promotion of mental and physical health and wellbeing

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John McLure held the position of Clerk of Courts at Mount Pleasant until his death in 1859, at the age of forty-two. He was buried in the Deep Lead cemetery, a short distance from town but a long way from his University of Arthur’s Seat. His protégés remembered their tutor. The four McCrae brothers erected a memorial at his gravesite to express their esteem and affection. Over time the gravesite deteriorated and lichen covered the headstone and memorial tablet where John McLure lay buried.

In 2018, the Mornington Peninsula Branch of the National Trust, through its close connection with the McCrae Homestead, undertook a project to restore the grave and the marble inscription at its base. It commenced fundraising and the restoration work was undertaken by the local stonemason from Stawell. Work was completed in 2019.

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Above: The restored memorial plaque

Below: McCrae Homestead today

Georgiana McCrae

Georgiana McCrae had a talent for capturing on paper the people and places that made up her world. Her sketches, in pencil, ink or watercolour, left a record in the same way as photographs would do in the following century. She excelled at portraiture, especially miniatures which were very popular in the early 19th century. Before her marriage Georgiana earned money from her art. Her Australian portraits include those of members of her family and friends. When she designed her mountain home she included a small sanctum, her own nook to which she could retreat to paint and write.

References:

'John McLure B.A.: Tutor to the McCrae Boys at Arthur’s Seat' by Keith Murley (unpublished mss.)

'Georgiana' by Brenda Niall

'Georgiana’s Journal: Melbourne 1841 – 1863' by Hugh McCrae (ed.)

Fragment of a diary kept by George Gordon McCrae (aged 13 years)

‘Our mountain Home’: The Mc Craes of Arthur’s Seat National Trust publication.

Illustrations and photographs: courtesy of the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) and the State Library of Victoria. McCrae Homestead, a National Trust Property. 11 Beverly Road, McCrae, 3938. Open on Sundays, 11am – 4pm. (closed July & August)

Sketches by Georgiana

Top: "The University of Arthur's Seat"

Above: George Gordon McCrae, eldest son of Andrew and Georgiana (1851)

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