Hit me with your best shot ! Trentham Rifle Club No 243

The Victoria Government Gazette of May 25, 1900 paved the way for a rifle club to be set up in Trentham. “The Lieutenant-Governor in Council, has by orders made on May 21, 1900, been pleased to approve the formation of a detachment of a rifle club in Trentham.”
A meeting was called on June 16, 1900 to form a committee for the Rifle Club. The office bearers were: President Dr. Sleeman, Vice President Mr H. McCashney, Treasurer Mr W. S. Twentyman, Secretary Mr A. McCallum, Committeemen Messrrs Cox, Trewhella and Captain Mr Charles Howell. An entrance fee of 2 shillings 6 pence, with a yearly subscription of 2s 6d per member was fixed at the meeting. The range was inspected by Mr Cox, of the Defence Department, and the approval had been given.

The first range was situated in a westerly direction from what is now known as Horvath’s Lane (along the boundary of the current football ground). No signs remain of any shooting mounds which may have existed on the flat where the shooting must have taken place. The initial length of the range is unknown, but it is believed to have been approximately 1100 metres.
A second range was later located at the continuation of Gleeson Street through to and just across Countess Road. The target was about 45 metres south of Countess Road, with a large mound and a trench. This range was over 900 metres long and the shooting direction was from north to south. Today, if you drive down Countess Road to roughly the end of Rahills Road paddocks, an old mullock heap about 10-15 metres off the right side of the road can be seen.
By July 1900, the first range was in full operation and a musketry course focusing on the use of small arms with a revolving target invented by Mr McCallum and Mr Trewhella, was used and worked flawlessly. A similar course was used by the armed forces which included the care and maintenance of guns, a firing discipline and distance judging to prepare soldiers for military combat.
In September 1900, the first competition match occurred between the Blackwood and Trentham clubs. The team consisted of 10 men with 10 shots at 365 metres and seven shots at 460 metres. Blackwood won the match with 488 points to 413 with most participants new to the sport of rifle shooting.
The rifles initially used were Martini-Henry, single shot, lever action with a black powder cartridge of .577/450 calibre. These rifles were later produced in .303 calibre and were used during WWI. The Martini-Henry rifles were then superseded by the .303 calibre Lee-Enfield bolt action rifle with a 10-shot magazine. The government initially subsidised rifle and ammunition purchases as they considered proficiency in the use of firearms to be an asset to the protection of the country.
The local teams continued competitions up until the 1950s when the facilities fell into disrepair and were dismantled and all materials taken to the Kyneton Rifle Club.

Funny incident
One humorous incident which could well have been a tragedy occurred one day while the men were about to shoot when a chap, ignoring the red flags, proceeded across the range in a horse and dray totally oblivious to his actions and much to the consternation of the range officer Cecil Robson.

Image: Trentham Rifle Club c1907, standing G Hammond, W Trewhella, J Matheson, R Elliott, C Murphy, W Dunn, B Trewhella, J Cartwright and J T Robson, kneeling, P Drummond and F Robson, lying, H McCashney Jnr

Got a historical query for Natalie? Old building, town, memorial, person?
Email news@tlnews.com.au

Trentham is the 2025 Victorian Top Tourism Town in the Tiny Tourism Town category – for its “charm, community spirit, and visitor appeal”.
As the Victorian winner, Trentham will now be considered for a national award, announced on September 3 at Parliament House, Canberra.
Hepburn Shire Cr Brian Hood, long-time councillor for the previous Coliban Ward and resident, said winning the small town tourism award was fantastic recognition for the town of Trentham and its wonderful people.
“Trentham really is a hidden gem, perhaps not so hidden any more. Visitors enjoy Trentham’s walking trails and forest, the iconic Trentham Falls and a very warm welcome from locals and traders – from boutiques, eateries and our fabulous pubs to accommodation providers. This award is a great result for a great community. Congratulations to all who make this a fantastic place.”
If you are new to the region, haven’t been for a while, or a visitor to the Central Highlands here are just a few places to pop on your must-do/must-see list. As chosen by TripAdvisor.com.

1. Trentham Falls
2. Domino Trail
3. Quarry St Reserve
4. Trentham Farmers Market
5. Trentham Railway Station
6. Wombat Trail
7. Historic Trentham Police Station
8. Trentham Golf Club
9. Little Gallery
10. Trentham War Memorial

Image: Sandy Scheltema

Rebecca Lister was born and raised in the mining town of Mount Isa in northwest Queensland. It was the boom years for mining and the town flourished both financially and culturally. Rebecca was involved in both the performing arts and sport. Her mum loved going to see plays and took her to see local and touring productions. This has had a lifelong influence on Rebecca who goes to see theatre as often as she can. She was and still is an avid reader – encouraged by her parents. Rebecca studied social work at university but was heavily involved in student theatre and began writing then. She wrote her first full length work in 1989 with her company Feral Arts. They made large scale works with community members – young offenders, school truants, young parents and the mothers of the young people. Rebecca talked with Donna Kelly.

Donna: What is your preferred genre? Writing method?
Rebecca: I am a playwright. My work is often naturalistic, and narrative and dialogue driven. I work on different projects simultaneously, so I have learnt to be disciplined, organised and focused. I am very content when writing and that’s important, I think, to all art makers. Keeps us going when the going gets tough.

Donna: Who are you reading?
Rebecca: I’m currently reading Women & Children by Tony Birch, The Introvert’s Guide to Leaving the House by Jenny Valentish and listening to the songs of Eliza Hull. These acclaimed artists are my guests on my show On the Couch with Beck Lister which is happening at the Words in Winter Gala. All create work that is informed by their own experiences. I’m looking forward to robust conversations with them and hopefully a few karaoke duets afterwards.

Donna: What’s happening with the Words in Winter Festival for you?
Rebecca: My new play big beautiful female theory will be read on Saturday afternoon at the Daylesford Hotel. It’s based on the memoir (of the same name) by local writer Eloise Grills. It’s a feminist exploration of fat bodies in a society obsessed with thinness. Like the memoir, the play is defiant, poignant, harsh and humorous. It will be read by actors Joanne Davis, Taylor Griffiths and Devon Taylor and directed by Hallie Shellam.

Donna: Will you be checking out others in the program?
Rebecca: I’m looking forward to opening night. The Words in Winter committee will honour two locals – David Hall and Petrus Spronk – for their many years of dedication to the arts and in particular, Words in Winter.

Join Rebecca Lister on Saturday, August 23 from 1.30pm at Daylesford Hotel for big beautiful female theory – play reading and Saturday, August 23 from 6.30pm at Hotel Bellinzona for Words in Winter Gala. Get your tickets and check out the program at www.wordsinwinter.com

Tim Loveday grew up on the south coast of NSW on acreage, where the closest he had to a poetry collection in his house was the TV guide. “Mum, though, was an avid reader of romance and mystery novels. From as early as I can remember, I was taping pages together, trying to scribble out the next best seller. I was desperately obsessed with the YA fantasy writer Emily Rodda. I earnestly believed that Rodda was a multi-millionaire. I thought Australian writers were living it up on Manhattan skylines drinking cosmopolitans. I read quite a lot of Capote in my teens, and watched too much late-night Sex in the City, which solidified this false perception. That’s where the initial spark of writing came from: otherworldly wealth. Jokes on me, really.” He chatted with Donna Kelly.

Donna: How/what do you write? What’s your method?
Tim: I’m mostly known for poetry, but I’m secretly a fiction writer. I was trying to write a novel and poetry happened. Nowadays, I spend time between forms. Fiction wise: there’s an eco-literary novel about a man who loses his dog during a bushfire, which is going to my agent soon; and as part of my PhD at Unimelb I’m writing a satirical novel about the manosphere. Likewise, I’m currently floating a poetry collection about regional masculinities and just got funding for another collection about Marxist discourses on leisure. Generally, I’m a pragmatic writer; I don’t have the time to wait for lightning to strike. I sit at my desk and tap.

Donna: What are you reading?
Tim: When it’s not poetry, it’s mostly satire at the moment (the PhD, alas). I just finished reading Nock Loose by Patrick Marlborough, which I thought was an exceptionally weird and wonderful novel.

Donna: What are you doing with the amazing Words in Winter Festival?
Tim: I’m moderating a debate called ‘To be or not to be: the poet laureate debate’ on Sunday, August 24 at 11.30am featuring poets Eartha Davis, Barry James Gilson, and Izzy Roberts-Orr. I think you can expect things to get a bit heated. The laureate role is a contentious one, with a lot of poets vehemently against it (and for good reason). So, expect a big conversation about what it means to ‘poet’ within so-called Australia.

Donna: Who are you going to be checking out in the program?
Tim: So many things! But if I’m forced to get picky, I can’t wait for ‘Shifting Perspectives – the role fiction and storytelling can play in climate action’, which features Alice Robinson, one of my favourite fiction writers working today. I’m also keen for ‘Queering the Body Through Poetry’, which includes two exceptionally good poets: Alex Creece and Jasper Peach.

Join Tim Loveday on Sunday, August 24 from 11.30am to 12.30pm at Hotel Bellinzona, Hepburn for ‘To be or not to be? The poet laureate debate’.
Get your tickets and check out the program at www.wordsinwinter.com

The Mount Players next production, A Skull In Connemara by Martin McDonagh, runs from August 15-31.
Featuring dark deeds and daft locals, this razor-sharp dark comedy is set in a quiet Irish village where the dead don’t always stay buried – and neither do the secrets.

Each year, gravedigger Mick Dowd is tasked with clearing out old graves to make space for the newly departed. But this year, something – or someone – hits a little too close to home.
With biting wit and a mounting sense of unease, the play spirals into a hilariously macabre investigation of small-town gossip, suspicion, and the skeletons we should all keep buried…but where’s the fun in that?
Director, Travis Handcock backed by producer Sonja Prater, bring their wealth of experience to the Mountview Theatre and promise patrons a theatrical experience that will both delight and surprise.
A brilliant set, special effects and a strong cast of four, it’s one not to be missed.
(*Warning: Some coarse language and herbal cigarettes used in the performance – mature audience only.)
The Mount Players offer a complimentary sherry on arrival and tea/coffee and biscuits during interval. The bar is open to purchase drinks before and after the show, and during interval. Ticket: www.themountplayers.com or call 5426 1892.

Words: Karen Hunt | Images: Karlana Santamaria

Artist, and The Local journalist, Anthony Sawrey has won the Environmental Advocate award at Ephemera Trace-less 2025 in Townsville.

The outdoor show was facilitated by Townsville City Galleries and featured 29 artists presenting works in a variety of mediums.
Anthony’s work, titled The Stain, used the medium of non-toxic grass paint to create a large work on the grass along The Strand, a public park on the city’s foreshore overlooking the Coral Sea.
Engaging with the events theme of Trace-less, The Stain was intended to address overlapping themes of hidden trauma and memory.
The biennial event ran from July 19 to August 3.

Turtles

As anyone who has lived in Daylesford knows, this town is a very popular tourist destination.
Recently a family from the eastern suburbs of Melbourne came to stay for a long weekend. They were enjoying a walk when to their delight they spotted a turtle crossing the road.
Their delight soon turned to horror as a car came hurtling around a corner and hit the turtle. They gently picked up the injured turtle, wrapped it in a jumper and took it to the local vet.
The turtle was x-rayed to see if she was gravid (carrying eggs), which she was, and the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter was contacted.
The turtle was badly injured, and at the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter, sadly, she did not survive her injuries. But before she died, she laid 20 eggs.
Gayle Chappell, from the shelter, says that car strike is a big issue for turtles. They seek to lay their eggs in moist warm places which, these days are often the sides of roads.
Female turtles being run over by cars is a very threatening issue for turtles as the potential for hundreds of hatchlings is also lost with the female. Injured females are always x-rayed to see if they are gravid and will often need assistance to lay their eggs. If the mother cannot be saved the eggs will be retrieved from her body.
The turtle eggs were placed in a specialised incubation chamber. It took two to three months of incubation at a specific humidity to hatch the turtles and under the expert care of Jon and Gayle, the eggs hatched, and the young turtles have now hibernated for the winter.
They are independent once they hatch, but because of the time of year they will be protected throughout winter in the safety of the shelter. This will give them a fighting chance of survival and when they are old enough, they will be released into a more natural habitat.
In Victoria we have three native freshwater turtles, the Eastern Long-Necked turtle, the Broad-Shelled turtle and the Murray River turtle.
This was a long-necked turtle, these turtles sometimes travel between waterways when one dries out. They can live up to 50 years and are carnivorous, feeding on insects, frogs, tadpoles and yabbies.
Please consider these animals as you drive around our country roads.

Dr Marita McGuirk is a field ecologist and environmental scientist, and a volunteer at the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter. Marita writes monthly columns about the shelter and the animals it cares for. If you would like to donate or volunteer, or just to find out more information, head to www.hepburnwildlifeshelter.org

Panel speakers, Amanda Jean, Jackie Gorring and Helen Kaptein, will talk about Maryborough’s rich textile history at the Central Goldfields Art Gallery, Maryborough on Wednesday, August 20 from 10.30am to noon.
Amanda Jean is a licensed architect who specialises in cultural heritage and building conservation focusing on the Central Goldfields of Victoria, Jackie Gorring is a Central Victorian artist and was highly commended for her art quilt (Bunny quilt) in the Golden Textures Contemporary Art Quilt Award 2025, while Helen Kaptein is the gallery’s coordinator. Bookings: cgsc.art@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au or call 5461 6600.
Link: www.centralgoldfieldsartgallery.com.au

After 130 years of welcoming guests to its mineral-rich waters, Australia’s oldest, longest running and most iconic bathhouse has officially reopened following a stunning $1.7 million refurbishment.
To mark the milestone, Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa has unveiled a series of exciting upgrades including five new private bathing areas. These modern, unique bathing areas each offer a bespoke experience and were part of a wider renovation by contestants of the Daylesford-based 21st season of Channel 9’s The Block.

Thanks to this collaboration, Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa will imminently feature across several weeks of programming on the popular renovation series, culminating in one of the teams winning the biggest challenge prize in The Block’s history.
The upgrades were officially launched at a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Belgravia Group chairman Geoff Lord and Hepburn Shire Mayor Cr Don Henderson, pictured from left.
The $1.7 million renovation also includes upgrades to the property’s change rooms, an entrance refresh, new tiling, lighting, fittings and fixtures, ceiling restoration, a new audio system to enhance the guest experience and a general refresh of all internal areas.
Mr Lord said Belgravia Leisure was committed to rejuvenating the property back to its iconic status.
“Through this restoration, we were very careful to pay homage to the history and heritage of the property – which we know locals hold very close to their heart – whilst modernising various areas to guarantee an elevated experience for our guests.
“Today is a proud day for all of us here and I’d like to thank the team on site for their hard work and dedication while these renovations have been underway.
“This property plays an integral role in our aim of supporting the health and wellness of communities across Victoria, and we certainly can’t wait to hear the feedback from our guests on the transformation, and of course, I’ll be tuning in to see the property and the region enjoy the national spotlight on The Block.”

Words: Donna Kelly | Images: Contributed

A big congratulations to our own Greg Bekker who won first prize at Sheepvention Rural Expo’s Western Ag Inventions competition.

His winning invention – DAMDEEP – is a simple, safe and smart tool to help farmers measure dam depth with ease. 

Made from a hand reel, float, fluoro beads and sinker, DAMDEEP has helped many farmers to take stock of their farm water supplies during the drought. 

Used in conjunction with the summer water calculator, which can be found here, farmers can use DAMDEEP to determine how much water they have in their dams. 

Farmers can get help with water planning by booking a one-on-one session with a specialist from our panel of farm advisors here.

Find more info about drought support: www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or call 136 186. 

Geelong’s next generation of construction workers are getting job-ready, connecting with employers, and prepared to start their apprenticeships with confidence.

A showcase hosted by Apprenticeships Victoria and The Gordon in East Geelong, had construction apprentices demonstrating their skills and connected with employers.

The showcase was for students and graduates from pre-apprenticeship courses in carpentry, electrotech and plumbing.

Apprenticeship pathway courses – commonly known as pre-apprenticeships – give students the opportunity to experience hands-on training. This helps students to find out what it’s like to work in a particular industry before going on to an apprenticeship or further training.

A recent NCVER report shows that pre-apprenticeship programs significantly boost the chances of a student successfully completing an apprenticeship.

Students who complete a pre-apprenticeship and then go on to do an apprenticeship in the same field as their training are 16 per cent more likely to finish their apprenticeship than apprentices who did not enroll in a pre-apprenticeship program.

During a pre-apprenticeship, students gain essential industry knowledge along with basic on-the-job skills. Students can also access support to improve their literacy and numeracy skills so they can get the most out of their training and are prepared to enter the workforce.

Apprentices can also access free support through the Apprenticeships Victoria Helpdesk, part of a $9m package to improve support, safety and fairness for apprentices and trainees.

To find out more about apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships, visit apprenticeships.vic.gov.au

More Victorian families are slashing their power bills by upgrading to energy-efficient heating and cooling thanks to the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program.

99,000 households have used the program this year, with participation on track to exceed 170,000 by the end of 2025.

These upgrades are helping Victorians stay warm in winter, cool in summer and take control of their energy costs.

More than 41,000 households have already accessed discounted heating and cooling upgrades in 2025, saving households up to $5,530 on the cost of upgrading appliances and more than $1,000 on their annual energy bill.

So far this year more than 18,000 households have upgraded their inefficient gas water heating to electric, saving them up to $330 off their energy bills annually. 

Hot water systems are one of the most popular upgrades, with savings of up to $2030 available off the cost of installing a locally made energy-efficient hot water system when you combine a Solar Victoria rebate and a Victorian Energy Upgrades discount.

A new all‑electric home with solar can save up to $1,820 a year on energy bills. An existing home can save around $2,000 annually by going all‑electric with solar.

Last year the VEU saved households almost $54 million off their energy bills, putting money back in the pocket of Victorian families.

Victorians can access discounts on a wide range of upgrades including reverse cycle air conditioners, heat pump hot water systems, induction cooktops, weather sealing and more.

The program also supports businesses and tradespeople delivering installations, supporting 2700 jobs and boosting the economy. For more information, visit energy.vic.gov.au/victorian-energy-upgrades.

A better central enrolment system will make it easier for families to secure a kindergarten place.

More than $1.6 million in grants has been awarded to councils in 58 local government areas to improve or establish a Central Registration and Enrolment Scheme (CRES) – helping families enrol in kindergarten.

CRES gives families a single point of entry to register for multiple local kindergarten services – helping to reduce stress, cut red tape and ensure every child has access to quality early learning.

The funding also makes registration and enrolment in kinder free for families – reducing the burden of hidden fees and paperwork at a time when households are feeling the pinch from cost-of-living pressures.

Councils receiving CRES grants will also receive implementation support from the Municipal Association of Victoria.

With Free Kinder saving families up to $2600 per child per year, central enrolment means another thing parents don’t need to worry about.

Dr Jeff Cave, Senior Veterinary Officer, Northern Region

If your young cattle’s coats are looking a bit rough, it could be due to lice or ringworm, which both thrive under similar circumstances.

Both lice and ringworm are typically a greater problem in young cattle in either poor nutrition or with a compromised immune system. Neither are a significant problem to cattle in good health.

Lice are small sucking or biting insects found mostly around the head, neck and shoulder area, and along the back to the tail.

The irritation they cause lead to a rough scruffy appearance, and areas of skin rubbed raw particularly around the neck and shoulder. The main effect of lice is skin damage as well as reduced grazing.

Cattle are infested through animal-to-animal contact with other cattle from which the population of lice can build up rapidly. Cattle lice do not infest other animals.

The cattle’s denser winter coat along with cooler weather favours the lice’s survival.

Without treatment the problem will remain until spring, when increasing temperatures and day lengths along with improved nutrition naturally reduce lice numbers.

Ringworm is a transmissible infectious skin disease caused by a spore forming fungi. It too is spread by direct contact and can spread rapidly through a group of cattle, particularly in poorly growing young animals with underlying poor health or nutrition.

It causes grey-white areas of slightly raised skin with an ash-like surface. It can become extensive being seen predominantly around the eyes, ears and along the back of calves, also the chest and legs of adult cattle.

It causes little permanent damage or economic loss; however, it can be transmitted to humans.

Ringworm usually clears up within one to two months without any treatment particularly when conditions improve.

For further information please contact your local veterinarian or Agriculture Victoria animal health or extension staff, or in NSW your Local Land Services.

Bradshaw Primary School in Alice Springs, Friends of Finney Park in Perth’s northern suburbs and Span Community House in Melbourne’s inner north are among 20 community groups awarded grants to plant pollinator-friendly trees and shrubs in their local communities.
The Carman’s Trees for Bees Community Tree Grants program is providing a total of $10,000 to 20 community groups across eight states and territories, including schools, environmental organisations, Landcare groups, a kindergarten, a botanic garden, a cricket club, an RSL branch and an Aboriginal not-for-profit.
The projects will plant about 2,200 trees and shrubs and bring together more than 12,600 community members to support pollinator habitat.
Wheen Bee Foundation CEO Fiona Chambers said the response to this year’s grants showed the growing passion to create and support pollinator habitats across Australia.
“This year we received a record 135 applications from across the country which is both wonderful and incredibly difficult,” Ms Chambers said.
“The creativity and commitment shown by every applicant was remarkable.
“While we couldn’t fund everyone, I look forward to seeing the successful projects deliver meaningful impact for pollinators and local communities.”
Osborne State School, located 100 km south-east of Townsville, will plant native trees and shrubs to attract more native bees to the school grounds and surrounding area. The project brings together students, families and volunteers from the small rural community to improve habitat, soil health and air quality.
Principal Cassandra Turnbull said the project offered a meaningful way to support biodiversity and engage the community in their heavily farmed region.
“In Osborne we are surrounded by sugarcane monoculture, so creating a space that supports native pollinators is really something special,” Ms Turnbull said.
“Plants and pollinators are at the heart of a healthy environment, and this project helps our students and the whole community connect with that.”
The Community Tree Grants program is a collaboration between the Wheen Bee Foundation and Carman’s and offers grants of $500 to community organisations to plant pollinator-friendly trees and shrubs in their local area.
Carman’s Founder Carolyn Creswell said she was thrilled to be working with the Wheen Bee Foundation again on such an important program for our bee populations and grassroots communities.
“What I love most about this program is seeing the impact it has on both a community level bringing people together for the planting days, and on a bigger level supporting the pollination of crops for Aussie farmers,” Ms Creswell said.
Other grant recipients include Back to Country, an Aboriginal-led organisation on Yuin Country in the Shoalhaven region of New South Wales, Ulverstone Community Garden in northwest Tasmania, UC Senior Secondary College Lake Ginninderra in north-west Canberra and Newman Community Centre in one of Australia’s most remote towns, located 1,200 km north of Perth.
wheenbeefoundation.org.au
The individual planting projects will begin in the coming weeks, with the majority of projects expected to be completed by 31 October 2025.
To register your interest for future rounds, visit wheenbeefoundation.org.au/our-work/projects/community-tree-grants/
For the full list of recipients visit wheenbeefoundation.org.au/communitytreegrants