Fern Hill forefather William Middlemiss was born on June 5, 1831 at Dunira Estate, Perthshire, Scotland. His parents were Thomas Middlemiss and Janet Ewan. The family sailed on 20 March 20, 1849 on the ship Saxon and while travelling William wrote a diary of his experiences. Here are some excerpts from his diary writings on […]

Nicholas Ellerby is returning to the Shedshaker Taproom in Castlemaine. Uniquely blending roots, alt-country, folk and blues styles, Nicholas brings his engaging, intimate yet energetic live presence back to the Taproom during his Victorian tour. His original material harnesses his honed story-telling abilities, captivating listeners with each song. Utilising his rhythm-driven guitar playing with tasteful […]

Forget body obsession Adapted from the 2016 Disney version, Moana is a highly popular musical adventure film. The super-heroic Moana sets out on a mission to the Oceanic seas to save her people. It has won praise for promoting diversity and rejecting the trappings of romance, as well as having a fine message for young […]

Well here I am again penning another article for you, the reader, to enjoy… This time I’ll be featuring somewhat unusual ornamental fruiting trees and shrubs for the garden. So let’s start (in alphabetical order) with one of my favourite maples: 1. Acer fabri (Faber’s maple) is a medium-sized evergreen tree native to central and […]

What a rollercoaster for councillors, council staff and ratepayers. Last week five of Hepburn Shire’s councillors – Don Henderson, Tony Clark, Shirley Cornish, Pat Hockey and Lesley Hewitt – and former CEO Bradley Thomas were cleared of all criminal charges brought against them by shire resident David Penman. Apparently, the Director of Public Prosecutions attended […]

I am so bored talking about the council, potholes and how cold it is. Yes, it’s bloody cold, we have just had a huge bunch of ratepayers’ money that we can ill afford swallowed up in litigation (what was all that about, FFS?). So I thought I’d talk about a dark theory I spotted on […]

Hi there, I am Olive, just one and still finding my way in the world. I am growing more confident and curious, which the shelter guys say show just how resilient and adaptable I am. I like calm interactions and am learning to like human companionship – you guys are lovely. I would love a […]

My garden wears a shawl of lace an icy shimmering across the grass. Cold morning air kisses my face and air tastes sharp and bright as glass. Chilly mornings I inch from my bed coldair coldroom coldfeet coldface in the waking day, not easy to comprehend all joy of warm and snug gone, without trace. […]

Caitlin Marks was raised by her maternal grandparents from an early age, following the unexpected death of her mother. Her grandmother was a craftsperson and her grandfather an author and journalist, her mother’s brother a musician. Caitlin says creativity has always pulsed in her background and through her veins, and she continues to find large […]

Daylesford classical artist Deny Christian will hold an exhibition of her New School of Classical Painting students’ work in Stanbridge Hall on Saturday and Sunday, September 19 and 20. The exhibition will include works of drawings, pastels and oil studies. Deny said two years ago, she and her students held their inaugural exhibition at the […]

Since March, the Bigger Hearts Dementia Alliance Ballarat has provided the opportunity for 15 people from Creswick and surrounds district, to come together on a weekly basis in Creswick to participate in Art Escape 2026. Art Escape is a program funded by the Community Bank Creswick & District, to enable people living with dementia to […]

The Swiss Italian Festa will return to Hepburn Springs in October, bringing together food, wine, music, history and community for a celebration of the unique Swiss Italian heritage that helped shape the region. Running across the weekend of October 23–25, with the traditional Heritage Dinner commencing celebrations on Thursday, October 22, this year’s Festa will […]