In 2025, NAIDOC Week (celebrated from 6 to 13 July) will mark a powerful milestone: 50 years of honouring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience. The 2025 theme, The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy, celebrates not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of our young leaders, the vision of our communities, and the legacy of our ancestors. On Saturday 12 July 2025, Council is partnering with Sunbury Aboriginal Corporation and Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health, to host a free community event aligning with NAIDOC Week celebrations. The event, also supported by Creative Victoria and the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA), invites community members to participate in meaningful activities and workshops centred around immersing and celebrating culture, reflecting and connecting. The community event will include a performance and interactive workshop, cultural sessions, a yarning circle, craft and artistic activities, and face painting. There will also be a free barbecue on the day for anyone keen to grab a bite and join in the fun. Council’s Director Community, Maria Weiss, encouraged the community to join in on the event and recognise our First Nations community. “NAIDOC Week is an opportunity to bring our community together,” she said. “It’s a chance to recognise the voices of our First Nations people – to say clearly: we hear you, we see you, and we stand beside you – now and always.”
This free event is being held at Gisborne Secondary College from 11am – 2pm. Registration is required. Please visit mrsc.vic.gov.au/NAIDOC for tickets and further information.

Hepburn Shire Council has formally adopted a suite of key strategic documents – including the 25/26 Budget, to guide the future of the shire.
They are the Council Plan 2025–2029, 2025/26 Budget, Financial Plan, Revenue and Rating Plan, and Asset Plan.
Mayor Cr Don Henderson said the shire was entering an important new chapter, “with a renewed commitment to improving our community responsiveness, providing essential services and ensuring our financial sustainability, and that is reflected in these plans”.
“The development of these important strategic documents has been informed significantly by our community. Through the work on the Financial Vision conducted last year, the community surveys held this year, and the work of our Deliberative Engagement Panel, we have been able to incorporate a broad range of perspectives.”
The council received nearly 200 community submissions during the final consultation period, with most community members focused on shaping the Council Plan and Budget.
Cr Brian Hood told councillors at the June meeting that he would not support the adoption of the budget in its current form.
“The budget presents an illusion. The $5.5m underlying deficit to be incurred this year becomes a $0.5m surplus next year – due to an additional $2m income from rates and a $4m reduction in cash costs (from $35m to $31m).
“Cash flow is projected to break even or be marginally positive in future years after a decrease of $1.5m in 25/26. The claim that it ‘ensures there are sufficient cash reserves to sustain service delivery and fulfil obligations’ simply isn’t true. The budget and plans explicitly state that not all services and obligations will be met.”
Cr Hood said with the adopted budget there would be no cash to fund construction of new assets, for co-contributions to grants or for emergencies.
“Therefore, the ability to fulfil budget and plan commitments and provide essential services will be severely compromised when there is inevitably insufficient cash to fund them.”
Cr Hood said the council should have asked for an extension of time to allow for further budget considerations and start genuine discussions with the state government on the shire’s viability. Words: Donna Kelly

A group of Daylesford residents are calling on Hepburn Shire Council to resolve issues around the former landfill and transfer station in Ajax Road.
The group, who asked not to be individually named, said the issue had been “festering for more than five years with the council failing to resolve it despite a number of promises”.
“During Covid restrictions in 2020 Hepburn Council exhibited Amendment C80 to its Planning Scheme with many items across the shire. Hidden away in the detail was a proposal to force in a 500-metre buffer around the Daylesford Transfer Station which would prohibit or severely restrict any new housing being built or renovations taking place.”
The main reason from the council was that there could be methane gases coming out of the former Daylesford landfill which was closed in 2004 and capped with a clay base.
Eventually the council abandoned the buffer but last year exhibited a draft Structure Plan for Daylesford which proposed to again introduce the buffer. Later in the year the council planners introduced a requirement that anyone wanting to build within 500 metres needed to engage consultants to check their property for methane gas.
The group believes that there are no issues with the former landfill and/or transfer station but if there are the council is legally liable to address these rather than attempting to penalise residents.
“We estimate that the council has spent much more than $100,000 on several messy failures to honestly progress and resolve this. It could have been resolved at least three years ago if the council had any commitment to working with the community on this issue.
“In 2024, the council engaged another environmental consultancy firm which again stated, in December, that testing for methane gases should be conducted and that they had not received adequate information from the council.”
Earlier this year the group engaged town planning lawyers who advised the council they were not following proper process and had failed to gather evidence.
Council CEO Bradley Thomas then wrote to the group that the council had identified the need for further work including gas monitoring and testing would start in mid-April with the results to be publicly available and reported to the EPA.
The group says testing did not happen, rather a desk-top analysis was conducted, but it did not provide enough information including council reports that the landfill had been capped with clay exceeding EPA guidelines.
“The affected residents have had enough of the council dishonouring undertakings, misleading us and treating us as they have stated, as ‘confused’.”
Mr Thomas told The Local he had been meeting with the group of concerned residents, and after the final testing currently underway, everything would be finalised within 12 months.
He said, in hindsight, it had “probably dragged on for too long and I’d agree with that”.
But Mr Thomas said the council was working now to finalise the issue “once and for all”. “To do that we need to do some testing like gas monitoring to have a really clear picture that there’s no health and safety risks or anything like that. And then we won’t need to put a buffer in or change any of the planning rules around the transfer station.
“When the landfill closed down, it was appropriately capped, so there are no problems. We’re not expecting any significant works, we just need to finalise the testing and then we can work through a process and there is nothing that is happening there that we didn’t expect. That’s a good outcome. We’ve got no evidence that anything’s wrong.”
Mr Thomas said the issue was raised five years ago when the council was working on the structure plan and a Development Design Overlay led to the 500-metre buffer around the transfer station.
“It’s really the flow-on from that. In hindsight, we should probably have got the testing done, moved forward and put a line in the sand on it a bit quicker. I think in hindsight, if I had my time again, we’d probably do the testing (then).
“We just had some other projects that had a greater priority. You can’t do everything at once.”

Words: Donna Kelly

Kattemingga film set, Newbury. “There was movement at the station, for the word had passed around…” is a famous line from the Banjo Paterson poem.
Kattemingga, meaning ‘hill of trees haunted by spirits’, is notable for being the filming location of The Man from Snowy River television series, changed to Snowy River: The McGregor Saga for overseas audiences, along with productions such as The Ponderosa, Gundown, The Mole and Gunslinger. Small budget films, commercials and documentaries were also produced on the site.
Built in the 1990s, Kattemingga was a modern-day ranch constructed on a 60-hectare property in Newbury which blended accommodation with rustic charm and a small touch of Hollywood magic. This setting attracted visitors and cinematographers from all over Australia and even the Americas.
The location and grounds were totally isolated, and film crews could shoot footage in a 360-degree rotation without any interference from power lines, houses, cars or roads and with an open plain of land before them.

The film set area had the ability to transform from a western-style environment to representing the landscape of Australian bush life. The buildings had different finishes: logs for a Western influence and hardwood palings for the bush. Such metamorphoses enabled the production of multiple film genres including dramas, action, spaghetti westerns and adventure as well as reality television.
The Man from Snowy River (1994-1996) ran for 65 episodes and showed the adventures of Matt McGregor (Andrew Clarke), a successful squatter who was widowed and raising three children, Colin (Brett Climo), Rob (Guy Pearce) and Danni (Sheryl Munks). Other actors included Josh Lucas and Olivia Newton-John.

Matt is the hero immortalised in Banjo Paterson’s poem – The Man from Snowy River, and the series is set about 25 years after that famous ride was undertaken.
Locals worked on series and also have happy memories of other activities undertaken at the lodge such as horse-riding, holiday gymkhanas, bushwalking and children’s camps for Trentham Primary School and Kyneton’s Sacred Heart College.
There were carnivals at the film set (the children would dress up in olden day clothes and get their photo taken), Christmas in July celebrations, conferences or workshops and movie nights with favourites being Phar Lap and, of course, The Man from Snowy River.

Over time, the film set became rundown and encountered public safety issues and the filming of low budget movies or visitors to the site were no longer permitted. However, it was used occasionally by students and independent filmmakers who needed the buildings as backdrops.
In 2015, custodians Nola Whitehouse and Gary Matheson passed the baton to the Newbury Buddhist Monastery. The rolling countryside, surrounded by the Wombat State Forest, provided the peace and seclusion needed for meditative learning.
The cherished memories and the fun and laughter of the many film crews, locals and visitors saw the final curtain call. The horses would go on to greener pastures – Spook, Choco, Chuca, Cinnamon, Rajah, Barney, Yankee, Dolly and Thumper, to name just a few, had completed their final ride at the lodge.
While movie making in the area has declined, a procession of TV programs (Postcards, Getaway and others) regularly showcases the beautiful offerings of the area.
Sadly, the Kattemingga film set was found engulfed in flames by the Trentham Fire Brigade on May 8, 2016. Another piece of local history lost to the ravages of fire.

Four years after the state government pledged to create 60,000 hectares of new national parks and conservation reserves, community and conservation groups are demanding it deliver on its original commitment.
On June 24, 2021, the government accepted expert recommendations to give forests and woodlands across Wombat, Wellsford, Mt Cole and Pyrenees forests increased protection as national parks and other conservation areas.
Wombat Forestcare’s Gayle Osborne said the community’s patience had worn thin. “We don’t want more hollow announcements or empty rhetoric. The government must immediately legislate the Wombat-Lerderderg National Park.
“These delays mean the Wombat Forest continues to be managed as a state forest rather than for the conservation of its biodiversity. The ongoing salvage logging significantly degrades habitats by disrupting natural processes and compacting soils.
“If the parks had been legislated as promised, Parks Victoria would be the forest manager and with its focus on ecological preservation, Parks Victoria would probably have adopted a different position on the log removal.”
Ms Osborne said after extreme weather events, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action deployed a Rapid Response Team to assess and respond to environmental damage and recovery efforts.
“A draft internal working document authored by DEECA’s Rapid Response Team was obtained under Freedom of Information and points to the risks to flora and fauna from storm clean-up activities.
“The longer we wait for the legislation, the longer it will be before we have strategies in place for the preservation of species and new walking tracks and interpretive signs to welcome visitors to enjoy the forest. Expressing our disappointment that the state government has failed to legislate the promised park.”
Victorian National Parks Association nature conservation campaigner Ben Gill said the delays had eroded public trust. “These constantly broken promises betray communities, like mine, who’ve fought for decades to make sure our precious wildlife has a future. Instead of seeing legislation pass, we’ve seen bulldozers and chainsaws carve up the very habitat that should be safe in new expert-recommended national parks.”

A state government spokesperson said: “The government announced in 2021 that it would create three national parks, two conservation parks, and seven new and expanded regional parks in the state’s central west – this includes the Wombat-Lerderderg National Park covering more than 44,000 hectares between Daylesford and Bacchus Marsh. The new national parks will be created by linking existing state forests, parks and reserves. Legislation to create three new national park will be introduced into parliament as soon as practical.
“The great outdoors are to be experienced and admired, not locked away. Our focus is bringing more families to the bush and more jobs to the regions – while making sure keep our forests healthy for future generations to experience and enjoy.
“Forest Fire Management Victoria is responsible for managing bushfire risk on public land to protect communities and the local environment. No timber harvesting is taking place in the Wombat State Forest, no trees are being removed unless they present a hazard and no clear-felling is occurring in these operations.”

Safe Place Homes, a co-operative association started in 2017 by Daylesford’s David Hall, pictured below, wants to help solve hidden homelessness with its latest “infill project”.
Spokespeople Mary-Faeth Chenery, pictured above, and Peter Duncan, right, said Hepburn Shire Council’s recent Housing Strategy documented an unmet need for 300-plus affordable homes.
The pilot project aims to demonstrate how landowners can make a huge difference for someone needing affordable housing while also improving the value of their own properties.
All financial aspects of establishing the dwelling will be managed by Safe Place Homes, and may include initial purchase via a mortgage, or land lease arrangements with the owner – with the total cost around the $150,000 to $200,000 mark.
A tenancy manager will help identify suitable tenants who will probably be older women in need of affordable housing, or other suitable tenants.
The tenant then pays rent, covering the mortgage interest and utilities, and the landowner commits to renting the unit for 10 years.
“The rules around second dwellings changed recently and so we have decided to focus on a single project this year of infill housing,” Ms Chenery said.
“We have visited two sites so far of people who are open to considering a second dwelling on their land and we hope to hear from other landowners.
“We’re also trying to find a local modular builder or some form of inexpensive, sustainable building that we can do to fit within our budget.
“Hopefully once the model is set up and we’ve got the contracts it will be fairly straightforward and then we can document the first one and show how well it’s working.”
Ms Chenery said the organisation works with community housing providers who then recommend one or two people with the homeowner then able to interview them as well, to ensure they are a suitable match.
“We’ve been talking with the Hepburn Shire’s housing officer and the planners about making this speedier than usual. There is a 10-day approval process if you fit the criteria for it, and we’re hoping to massage this one so that it does.”
Ms Chenery said she was unaware of any similar projects in Victoria and hoped this would become a model for other regions.
“Whatever we learn, we share,” she said. “We certainly hope to pull this off within 12 months and we are three or four months into the project. So hopefully by the end of the year.”
Mr Duncan said the removal of the need for planning permission for a second small dwelling had allowed for the project to proceed.
“We would deal with all of the building permits, in discussion with the owner, and owner would help with the design work.”

Mr Duncan said it was hoped the mortgage would be repaid withing 10 years but if not, Safe Place Homes would take care of any deficit, through charitable contributions.
The rent, or mortgage repayments, would be capped at the affordable housing definition of 30 per cent of disposal income.

Mr Duncan said he was unaware of the project being carried out anywhere else in the state “but if the pilot proves successful, you can be quite sure we’ll be trying to publicise it around the state”.
Link: www.safeplacehepburn.org
Words: Donna Kelly

With the first trailer for The Block now airing across Australia, presenters Scotty Cam and Shelley Craft have found themselves in hot water – after being filmed “driving” a truck with no seatbelts.
In the sneak peek Scotty reveals the new contestants, where they’re headed (Daylesford) and which familiar faces are returning.

“This year we’ve packed up the whole shebang and we’re heading for somewhere special,” Scotty says from the driver’s seat of his truck.
On The Block’s Facebook page, where presumably fans of the show head, there is plenty of interesting, and inane, chatter about the lack of seatbelts and the location.
“Where’s your seatbelts?”
“Obviously CGI… not a good example for the youngins watching though is it.”
“Older model Kenworth fitted with waste (sic) belts.”
“LOL. Everyone complaining about no one wearing seatbelts – it’s pretty obvious they aren’t actually driving.”

“How irresponsible of Channel 9 to advertise in prime time showing celebrities driving on country roads and not wearing seatbelts. Clearly not aware of the road toll related to driving on rural roads.
“Clearly you are not a first responder or work in a hospital telling people they now have a lifelong disability from a preventable incident.”
“Do a 2000km trip on outback roads and you’ll see why us truckies don’t wear seatbelts.”
“Ya might wanna flip them long vehicle signs Scotty or Mr NVHR might jam a pineapple up ya freckle cob.”
“Hopefully it’s about building and designing, not keeping up with the Kardashians.”
“Real country yeeha. Only yehaa’ing is all the bareback ridding (sic).”
“It would be great to see a show centred around relocating and renovating homes affected by the recent and not so recent floods in rural communities.”
“Daylesford is the best place to live.”
“Gee has Scotty thought about this ? Who wants to live out in the middle of nowhere?”
“Yup they’re in Daylesford and they have picked the shittiest block of land too so good luck trying to get your moneys (sic) worth.”
“Wow Darren (on horse) has been working out.”
And then the random…“Hello gorgeous I know it’s awkward texting you because we don’t know each other or have any friends in common…
“But looking at your amazing beautiful attractive profile picture I would like to be friends with you if you don’t mind. We can be friends.”
No one seemed to complain about Scotty’s dog Frankie taking the wheel in one of the shoots.
The program goes to air in August ahead of auctions in October or early November.
Words: Donna Kelly | Images: Nine Network

DJAARA, the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation has launched two strategic documents – the revised Dhelkunya Dja, Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Country Plan (2014–2034), and Wuktjarrang – Trading Our Way, DJAARA’s first Economic Strategy.
Interim Dja Dja Wurrung Group CEO Cassandra Lewis described the Dhelkunya Dja Country Plan as the foundational roadmap and 20-year vision for Dja Dja Wurrung People, Country and Culture. “Ten years ago, the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation was a small, single entity, with a modest team, focused primarily on securing rights and recognition for Dja Dja Wurrung People. Today, we are a large, thriving organisation with multiple enterprises that enable us to achieve more goals, across many fronts.”

The Environmental Effects Statement for the proposed Western Renewables Link project will open for public exhibition from June 30.
Hepburn Shire Council Mayor Cr Don Henderson said the council has allocated significant funding to support a comprehensive submission, reflecting strong community concern and a clear opposition to the project. “We have made our opposition to this project very clear, over many years. It not only impacts prime agricultural land, but it threatens our visitor economy.”
Links: Engage Victoria: www.engage.vic.gov.au or
Western Renewables Link: www.westernrenewableslink.com.au

Harcourt Organic Farming Co-Operative is looking for people to set up farm enterprises on their 38 hectare property beneath Mt Alexander. This is a fantastic opportunity for all those aspiring farmers out there who lack good viable agricultural land to make their dream a reality.
“We are open to new enterprises doing all sorts of interesting agricultural projects,” says co-founder Katie Finlay, “and are very keen for people to approach us.”
Katie’s family has been growing fruit in the area for three generations. The property which today’s HOFC sits on was established in the 1870s with some of the oldest continuously running orchards in the valley.
Katie and her husband Hugh took over the farm from her father in the 1990s and ran the orchard for more than 20 years before founding the co-op in 2018.
“There were lots of different factors which brought this move about. We had been through the drought, then a big flood and we were pretty burnt out and knew we needed a succession plan.
“But we were aware that there were young farmers who wanted to get into farming and who couldn’t access the land and so the idea of a co-op just evolved. We got both federal and state funding to help us decide what model we would set up including the services of co-op and farm leasing experts.
“Then last year we got some additional funding from the World Wildlife Fund that let us create a comprehensive plan on small farm viability.”
Katie says there are two different levels to the model they have set up. As the owners of the property Katie and Hugh hold conventional leases with each individual enterprise.
But together with all of their tenants they have established the co-op. This structure means everybody has an equal voice, a cohabitating of the land as it were, levelling out the traditional power imbalances between landlord and leaseholder.
Today the co-operative has several enterprises making use of the land within this structure. This includes Sellar Farmhouse Creamery, a micro-dairy run by Tessa Sellar milking 10 cows using sustainable farming principles and sold locally via subscription and weekly farmers’ markets.
The Orchard Keepers headed by Katie and Hugh manage an organic fruit orchard growing cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums, apples and pears. Carr’s Organic Fruit Tree Nursery, under the mentorship of Merv Carr, Katie’s father, who has been grafting and budding heritage fruit trees for over 50 years, Katie and her sister Liz Carr continuing the family tradition here growing a variety of heritage fruit trees for sale in winter as bare-rooted trees.
“We also have bushfoods on the property as part of Murnong Mummas, an Indigenous-led social enterprise involved in the native foods and botanicals sector,” says Katie.
“Since we set up the co-op, we’ve had a really strong commitment to working with First Nations people acknowledging the pre-colonial history of this place. Part of that commitment is working with Murnong Mummas and other indigenous organisations to help achieve their aims.”
Even though the co-op is tiny compared to typical industrial scale agricultural operations, Katie feels it is important to maintain all these businesses and be open to other new enterprises that may want to share their resources.

“These little farming enterprises are actually vital to local communities’ long term food security,” she says. “If we just rely on large scale agriculture we are really vulnerable to supply chain breakdowns that may come with any form of economic and social disruption.”
Image: Katie with Jedda at Harcourt Organic Farming Co-operative
Words & image: Tony Sawrey | Scan the QR code for a little video

The Daylesford and Hepburn region is one step closer to ensuring long-term water security needs are met, with the final stage of the Daylesford Water Supply upgrade now underway.
With 17 kilometres of 400mm diameter raw water pipeline already installed and pump capacity upgrades near complete, the project enters its final stage to upgrade the existing water treatment plant. The $25 million total investment represents the largest ever water-funding investment by CHW into the Daylesford water supply system.
Once complete, it will enable high-quality treatment of more than 300 million litres of supplementary water to be delivered into this system per annum, boosting urban water supply needs during times of drought or low rainfall.
The new pipeline will provide water to supplement Daylesford’s existing surface water supplies at Wombat and Bullarto reservoirs.
CHW managing director Jeff Haydon said the investment supported the long-term liveability, growth, and economic prosperity of the region.
“This project is a significant step forward in securing the region’s water future for the next 50-plus years. By investing in climate-resilient infrastructure today, we’re ensuring that communities like Daylesford and the Hepburn region have a reliable and sustainable water supply for generations to come.
“During periods of dry climate and drought, the pipeline will complement Daylesford’s two existing major surface water sources – Wombat and Bullarto reservoirs – strengthening the region’s overall water security.”

The 11th Ballarat International Foto Biennale will receive $26,800 in support from the federal government’s Festivals Australia program.
Ballarat MP Catherine King and Biennale CEO Vanessa Gerrans visited the National Centre for Photography in Lydiard Street with Natimuk artist, Dave Jones and Wadawurrung artist, Dr Deanne Gilson to see plans for the upcoming installation titled Life Force Mumu Mirri. The public art project will see a large-scale illuminated installation of a bogong moth on the facade of the National Centre for Photography over the 60 days of the Biennale program.

The winners of the Macedon Ranges Community Choice Awards 2025 have been announced.
The winners for the Excellence in Customer Service awards were: Agribusiness and Primary Production – Josh’s Rainbow Eggs; Health and Wellbeing – Macedon Ranges Aqua Aerobics; Hospitality and Accommodation – Woodend Cellar & Bar; Professional, Retail and Service – Riddells Creek Nursery; and Trades and Manufacturing – Magnum Signs.

Hepburn Shire is on life support.
Whatever you think about assisted dying for people, the shire council should be allowed to die with dignity – put out of its misery.
They can still pick up the garbage, do some road work, but they are not doing other things that need to be done. One of these is called statutory planning.
If you need to make a change to your property, you apply for a permit. You wait for months, and months. And then more months.
This can be solved quickly. It needs management performance. They complain about lack of money, but really what is needed is competence. The ability to get the important things done.
On the internet you will find “Know Your Council”. It shows the performance of your council compared with the other 56 councils in Victoria. A few years ago Hepburn came near the top for planning. Now it is near the bottom.
The short-term solution is to get someone in there to clear out the planning backlog. The longer term solution is that Hepburn Shire is too small to be viable. It needs to be broken up and the pieces added on to bigger shires. Hepburn Shire RIP.

• Ian Goudie, Trentham

Agriculture Victoria has issued a warning for producers trying to navigate their way through the drought.
“The green pick available on swampy land or dried up billabongs and dams may seem a boon for producers, however, it’s important to check for toxic weeds and plants in swampy areas before allowing stock access for grazing,” senior veterinary officer Paul Beltz says. “There are many plants that grow where the land is usually wet and rarely dried out which could cause issues.” Farmers anywhere in Victoria can register now for a one-on-one farm advisory consultation, to take stock and discuss the best way forward for their business. Head to www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or call 136 186.