Dja Dja Wurrung People of the Central Victoria area are the first Traditional Owner group to register intent to negotiate a Traditional Owner Treaty.
Under Victoria’s Treaty Negotiation Framework, Traditional Owner groups across the state can negotiate their own treaties, which will reflect the aspirations and priorities in their local areas.
DJAARA (the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation) acting on behalf of Dja Dja Wurrung People (Djaara) started that process with a formal notification to the Treaty Authority – the independent body established to oversee negotiations for a statewide Treaty and Traditional Owner treaties.
Dja Dja Wurrung Reserved Seat Holder at the Assembly and a director of the DJAARA Board, Djaran Murray-Jackson, said local treaties would provide a mechanism for Aboriginal communities to use local knowledge to come up with practical solutions at a local level.
“Local Treaty will be led by our mob and focus on the issues that are important here on Dja Dja Wurrung Country,” said Mr Murray-Jackson.
“Country, our connection to the land, is such an important part of who we are as Aboriginal people. So, there’s no doubt that initiatives around land and caring for Country, as articulated in our Dhelkunya Dja, Dja Dja Wurrung Country Plan, will be a focus for the negotiations.”
Rodney Carter, who is the Dja Dja Wurrung Group’s CEO, said communities thrived when local people could call the shots about local decisions and when there’s a sense of connection and understanding.
Words: Donna Kelly

Musicians Paul Wookey and Kris Mizzi will sit together in The White Room at Glenlyon and share songs on Saturday, June 28 from 2pm. It is one of Paul’s last performances as a solo artist.
Paul Wookey has been a stalwart of the Australian Folk and Americana scene, picking and singing his way both here and overseas for more than 50 years. His award-winning songs, his prowess as a guitarist and his witty banter, charms his audience.
Winner of 2017 Troubadour Award as well as 2021 Folk Alliance Australian Solo Artist of the Year, Melbourne singer/songwriter Kris Mizzi is making waves throughout the folk circuit across the country.
Kris has spent most of his life dedicated to his work as a songwriter and performer. Born in Moe he spent his years balancing life as a travelling musician.
BYO drinks and a plate to share, and head to 31 Morton Street, Glenlyon. Donations: $30 at www.events.humanitix.com

Cosmopolitan Hotel, Trentham
Luke Watt – Saturday, June 21, 3pm-5pm (free)
Victoriana Gaye, pictured – Saturday, June 28, 3pm-5pm (free)
Abby Dobson (Leonardo’s Bride) with support Freya Josephine Hollick – Saturday, June 28, 8pm (Ticketed gig)
Jess Parker – Saturday, July 5, 3pm-5pm (free)
Emmy Ryan – Saturday, July 12, 3pm-5pm (free)

Odessa at Leaver’s Hotel, Creswick
Lior – Saturday, June 21
Debra Byrne – Friday, June 27
Melbourne African Traditional Ensemble – Saturday, June 28
Mande Spirit – Saturday, July 5

Daylesford Hotel, Daylesford
Late Night Radio – Saturday, June 21, 8.30pm-10.15pm
Dolly’s Disco Bingo – Thursday, June 29, 5pm-9.30pm
Maggie Jackson NY Jazz Duo – Saturday June 28, 8.30pm-10.15pm

Music Victoria, in partnership with the Victorian Music Development Office and with help from the federal and state governments, is offering $2500 travel bursaries to help passionate regional Victorian music workers attend the Regional and Remote Music Summit in Byron Bay for July 23-25.
The bursaries can be used for travel, accommodation, and per diems. Plus, summit registration is free for bursary recipients – thanks to the support of MusicNSW. Applications close Monday, June 16. Link: www.musicvictoria.com.au
All gig times correct at time of publishing…check with the venue.

The crisp winter air is settling over Daylesford and Hepburn while the 24th annual Words in Winter Festival is preparing to spark warmth and wonder with its 2025 theme, “Light in the Dark”.
Running across two weekends (August 22-24 and August 29-31), this beloved event will transform venues – from the historic Hotel Bellinzona to the vibrant Yandoit Cultural Centre – into hubs of storytelling, creativity, and connection.
This year’s festival celebrates the power of words to illuminate, offering a rich program of local and visiting authors, live performances, and interactive workshops.
Whether you’re drawn to the polished charm of a literary salon or the raw energy of an open mic event, festival producer Devon Taylor assures there’s a space for every story lover. “We’ve crafted each venue’s atmosphere to reflect the diverse ways stories can be shared and celebrated,” Devon says.
A highlight for 2025 is the introduction of Re-Page, a town-wide exhibition that breathes new life into forgotten books. Guided by lead artist Michelle Newton of ReAwear Design, this exciting project aims to celebrate creativity, sustainability, and the magic of repurposed literature.
“We’re inviting artists to transform discarded books into extraordinary works of art,” explains Michelle. “It’s about finding beauty in the unexpected – just like our festival theme.”
The festival could not exist without its volunteers and opportunities are now open for those eager to contribute behind the scenes. Morgan Williams of Radius Art says: “Words in Winter is more than an event – it’s a gathering of curious minds and kindred spirits.”
Mark your calendars: the full program launches in early July at www.wordsinwinter.com. Join us to celebrate stories, creativity and the warmth of community – because even in winter’s depths, there’s always light to be found.
Call to artists: Submit your book-inspired creations by 15 July to be part of this unique exhibition. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or first-time creator, Words in Winter welcomes your vision. Visit www.wordsinwinter.com/re-page for submission details.

Words & image: Contributed Artist Michelle Newton ReAwear Design

The Local is proud to be a media partner with Words in Winter

The state government is making sure the benefits of government contracts and projects stay right here in Victoria – supporting local workers, local businesses and local manufacturers.

Today the state government will introduce the Local Jobs First Amendment Bill, delivering new enforcement powers to make sure government contracts and projects benefit Victorian workers and businesses first.

The Local Jobs First Act 2003 is Australia’s first and longest-standing industry participation legislation – it ensures that Victorian Government projects create real opportunities for local contractors, apprentices, trainees and cadets.

This new Bill will give the Local Jobs First Commissioner new compliance and enforcement powers to ensure contractors are meeting their commitments to use local workers, products and services on government projects, including the ability to issue civil penalties and conduct site inspections.

It will also give the government stronger levers to hold suppliers to account, linking payments to performance and making sure suppliers who fail to meet their commitments can be deprioritised for future work.

The Bill includes greater support for Aboriginal and regional and small to medium businesses, and stronger guidance for agencies to prioritise Australian Standards and prevent imported products being “locked in” by design specifications.

It also includes new powers for the Minister to mandate locally made uniforms and PPE on certain projects.

The reforms follow extensive consultation with unions, industry associations and other key stakeholders – with the aim of creating more good local jobs, strengthening regional opportunities, and giving Victorian small and medium-sized businesses a fair go.

The state government is building on its record-breaking school infrastructure blitz – so that more growing communities across the state will have access to world-class education schools close to home.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll has said that land will be acquired for future schools and campuses for students including in Arden, City of Darebin, Casey and Melton – supported by $237.4 million of funding in the Victorian Budget 2025/26.

By 2051, Arden will be home to around 20,000 people – and with the new Arden Metro Tunnel Station opening in 2025, it’s set to become one of Melbourne’s most connected neighbourhoods.

As part of planning for future growth, the Victorian Budget 2025/26 is investing $1 million through the Precincts and Activity Centres Planning Fund to identify sites for new schools in areas experiencing population growth and aligning with new housing developments.

This is part of the state government’s plan to deliver more services in established suburbs – close to jobs, transport, homes, and services – giving more young people the chance to live near where they grew up and reducing future growth pressure on families in Melbourne’s booming outer suburbs.

Cloudburst – it’s coming your way during the month of July.
The Daylesford Regional Arts Cooperative (DRAC) has partnered with the kind support of Vincent Street traders to showcase some of their work and herald their coming September Stanbridge Hall exhibition.
The cooperative has been gifted some wonderful support from Daylesford’s main street retailers who have offered space in their shops to help showcase the work of cooperative members.
DRAC is a resident-led, not-for-profit community initiative founded as a result of the lack of spaces for our Hepburn Shire artists to show, meet and network.
The contribution of semi-professionals, hobbyists and amateurs to the cultural economy of the shire often goes unnoticed and yet by number and volume of work alone, they are the largest producers of creative works in this region. DRAC is a response to this issue.
The cooperative’s inaugural exhibition last year was the result of nine weekend pop-ups over the previous two years, providing both experience and confidence to members.
The cooperative has a ‘community give-back’ clause in its constitution and the show provided enough funding to purchase 15 Backpack Beds for Homeless thanks to the creative donations of members and businesses within the town.
This year, Stanbridge Hall will again host the 2025 exhibition and the cooperative is looking to support the work of the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter, given the drought conditions affecting the region over the summer.
Look out for the works of art and please compliment the business for its support of our work. Regards to all, DRAC management. Words: Contributed

Whimsical, powerful and fantastical are just a few of the words that spring to mind on viewing the work of Glenlyon sculptural ceramicist Rowena Hannan. This ceramics artist draws on classic mythology, folklore, legend, spirituality and the natural world as she creates highly engaging and original pieces that capture the imaginations of all fortunate enough to see them. Rowena has her Clayscape studio in the bushland just out of Glenlyon and will be among the artists represented in the upcoming Little Gallery Winter Show, a fundraising favourite on Trentham’s annual arts calendar set to open from July 11.

Eve: Your work is quite remarkable, all sorts of flights of fancy. What inspires you?
Rowena: I’m interested in responding to the environment which I’m in and also personal history. A lot of my earlier work has a bit of a religious context to it and I’m interested in story-telling. Mythologies, stories of Greek mythology. Stories of the Christian saints, Pagan stories…when we moved up here I began responding more to the environment. My work started evolving, looking at the spirituality in the natural environment. Some of the pieces, like these Kangaroo Girls, are also a bit about play too. Sometimes my children tell me my work is scary, but it’s just that whole idea of putting on masks. They’re not animals. They’re not humans. They’re somewhere in-between. The face is more about the spirit.

Eve: How long have you been here now? Why did you choose here?
Rowena: We bought the (bushland) property about nine years ago now. I always wanted to have somewhere around the area. I wanted to have a treed block and wanted to build a garden. And it’s just such a lovely community too. I grew up in Williamstown and then lived in Yarraville.

Eve: You have also travelled.
Rowena: Yes. I really wanted to do residencies, work in a studio, absorb the culture, and I spent a month in Vallauris, the French medieval town revived in the 1950s through Picasso coming to the area. It’s famous for its ceramics. All of those beautiful pots that he did came out of the Madoura pottery there.
I went to a symposium years ago in China and I spoke on how you can teach spatial awareness through ceramic education. I had a professional scholarship through the school I was working at. So that was pretty exciting and I think that really opened my eyes to what was out there. I met lots of ceramic artists from around the world. Some I’m still in contact with which is really lovely. That sort of lit the flame, really. Now that I’ve retired from full-time teaching it’s allowing me to do some things that I previously couldn’t do. This year, in a couple of months, I’m lucky enough to be going to Barcelona.

Eve: What will you be doing there and for how long?
Rowena: I’m working at the Taller Gingell Foundation. They offer a residency where they give you a studio and an apartment in the middle of Barcelona. I’ll be working there looking at Art Nouveau architecture and responding to that. I’ll be there for five weeks.

Eve: And you’ve previously worked full-time as a teacher.
Rowena: I was head of art at Firbank Grammar for about eight, nine years. I taught there for 23 years. Then I went to Korowa Anglican Girls’ School and was head of art there. I still exhibited. I exhibit every two years. My last exhibition was in Fitzroy. But it takes a bit longer to get a body of work done when you’re actually teaching.

Eve: I understand you are still teaching.
Rowena: Yes and I love it. Clayscape is the name of the studio space here and on Monday mornings I teach a nine-week course called Constructing the Figure and Form. It’s a really lovely group and a lovely way to start the week.

Eve: Do you have any exhibitions or other special events coming up ahead?
Rowena: Yes. I usually have work at Stony Creek Gallery in Daylesford, and I will be exhibiting some work as part of the upcoming Winter Show at Little Gallery in Trentham. One of the people there encouraged me to apply and I was really chuffed. I’m looking forward to it.

Northern Books has a number of events coming up in July.
A High Tea with Jacinta Parsons will be held at The Convent, Daylesford on Sunday, July 6. Demystifying Dementia, with aged care educator and dementia care expert, Rose Capp and writer and playwright, Sean Wilson, will be held at The Taproom in Castlemaine on Tuesday, July 15. Finally, A Day Festival of Books, Writers and Poets will be held in the Garden Room at Castlemaine’s Buda Historical Home on Sunday, July 27. Link: www.northernbooks.com.au

Motoring memorabilia and rare farm equipment, including stationary engines, are among 450 lots assembled over three paddocks at two properties at Yandoit and Muckleford, all to be auctioned online on Sunday, June 22.
The starting point was when local identity and president of the Mt Alexander Vintage Engine Club, Stephen O’Connor, decided to step back from his passion projects. His vast collection of passenger cars, vintage tractors and cropping equipment is up for auction. The club’s other members then got involved. The auction starts at 10am. Details and inspection: Martin or Annie on 0403 894 455.

The next Christ Church concert will feature Unholy Rackett + Ensemble 642 on Saturday, July 5 from 2.30pm.
The performers are: Brock Imison – soprano, alto, bass, quint bass curtal, Simon Rickard – soprano, tenor, bass octave bass curtal, Laura Vaughan – viola da gamba, Hannah Lane – baroque triple harp and Nick Pollock – theorbo, baroque guitar. This concert centres around the earliest ancestor of the bassoon, the curtal, today often referred to by its German name, the dulcian. Christ Church is at 54 Central Springs Road, Daylesford. Bookings: www.trybooking.com/eventlist/christchurchconcerts

Guildford’s Raymond Pattle received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for services to his town in the King’s Birthday Honours.
Mr Pattle’s achievements include being a member of the Guildford CFA, the Guildford Hall Committee, the Guildford History Group, Guildford Grumpies Car Club, Castlemaine Historical Society, Guildford Cemetery Trust, Guildford Banjo Jamboree, the John Powell Reserve Committee, Save Our Store campaign, Guildford Primary School, Guildford Grumpies Men’s Shed, the Guildford Grumpies and the Guildford ANZAC Day Dawn Commemoration Service. He is also the co-author of Guildford Cemetery: Commemorating 150 Years Since the First Burial 1871-2021, A History of Guildford and A History of Tarilta.

Hepburn Shire Council’s Djuwang Baring (Creswick Trails) have won two gongs in the LGPro Awards – Outstanding Small Rural Council Initiative, and Community Assets and Infrastructure (Projects $5 Million – $20 Million) and Population less than 50,000.
Council CEO Bradley Thomas said the awards were testament to the collaboration between the council, community members, traditional owners and land managers for the $9.4 million project.

The North Central Catchment Management Authority is on the lookout for volunteers to help monitor the health of two key waterways.
The CMA’s WaterWatch team is keen to recruit volunteers for sites along the Coliban and Little Coliban rivers, as well as Kangaroo, Birchs, Creswick, and Tullaroop creeks. Details: citizenscience@nccma.vic.gov.au or 0447 824 514.

Trentham is a finalist in the 2025 Victorian Top Tourism Town Awards.
With its gold rush-era streetscape, warm community vibe and gourmet food scene, it’s no surprise Trentham has landed in the spotlight. Think waterfalls, fine dining, cosy pubs, boutique stays and country charm. Link: www.vtic.com.au