All signs:

Mercury retrograde is finishing up around in the first week of October, indicating that we can breathe a sigh of relief that those pesky miscommunications and bloopers will hopefully now be less frequent. I’ve noticed that this retrograde in particular has seen me feeling as though I am speaking a different language and unable to glean any sort of answers despite feeling certain I was asking straight forward and direct questions. I will be so grateful to see the back end of this one! Mercury has shifted backwards into it’s favoured sign of Virgo, giving us all a second chance to clean up our diets, homes or habits that perhaps didn’t go to plan a few weeks ago. Anything that you started during the retrograde cycle might need to be revisited or done over and what a great time to do it, while Virgo is giving us all that keen eye for the details once again. We might also find that if life has felt like it’s taking place under water, we might now surface and benefit from a sharpening of our minds, as well as attention spans.

Fair Venus is moving into one of her favoured signs of Libra, to join the Sun and reminds us that living life in balance can see us better able to enjoy the finer things, instead of dwelling in one area of life above all others. Venus in Libra is living life in all her finery, immaculate vernacular, charming and eloquent though perhaps appealing to our ostentatious sides. But fairness, equality and togetherness are also qualities that we can expect when Venus is in Libra, though I would advise choosing ones’ company carefully over the next few weeks. If you suffer from the modern affliction of “fear of missing out” or find that you are easily triggered by the have’s and the have not’s, I highly recommend that you take this time to have a break from social media. Sometimes we are desperate to keep up with society and feel the need to present ourselves as something that we aren’t or don’t genuinely agree with to feel like we are keeping pace with everyone else. This will likely increase over the next few weeks. Take a social media break if you are feeling a little fragile, or on the flip side of the coin, if you find that you are too engaged in the game of likes and follows, take a little time out and experience real life without attempting to get the right filter or frame. I recently watched the funeral of Queen Elizabeth the II and was shocked to see what looked like the Nazi salute from the crowd as her Hearst drove by, only to realize it was everyone holding their phones up and out to video the moment.

Please take this is your friendly reminder to put your phone down, breathe in the beauty of your everyday life and enjoy it, privately, just for you, not to be shared with the masses.

I will also be taking a look at the Sun making a helpful aspect with the planet of responsibility, Saturn and how we might take advantage of that. Read on to see how you might harness the power of the planets in your life, if you know your rising sign, start there first.

Aries:

If you found that you weren’t able to implement the new daily routine that you were striving for, this is a great time to try again. Having a spring clean and getting your kitchen cupboard organized might help you keep on track for the rest of the year. Your closest relationships are still in the spotlight and there is more unity and romance available to you now. Passionate conversations with others might spark new ideas and you might find yourself better able to take on more responsibility within a community organization.

Taurus:

You might have found it a struggle to commit to that relaxation time that you so desperately were trying to set aside. You get a second chance at making some changes, getting a new hobby organized or it might be that you are better equipped to handle interactions with the children in your life. Your daily habits and routines are in the spotlight, asking you to find the beauty in your daily life. Someone helpful might pop up, offering you a hand or a good idea to implement to allow for a smoother running of your daily chores.

Gemini:

If times at home have been rife with blunders, bloopers, and miscommunications, you might find that those wrinkles start to smooth out now. Giving your house a tidy up or even getting a bigger project started at home will flow with more ease and not seem so muddled. Romance, love, and fun times with children abound over the next few weeks, take advantage if you can. If you’re able to take more time out to indulge in your hobbies and leisure time, you will get a lot out of it at the moment.

Cancer:

You might have been feeling like no one is speaking your language lately, especially at home, but this is about to change. You will be better able to organize your thoughts and communicate more clearly over the next week or so. The spotlight is shining on your home and family life, offering you the opportunity to spend some lovely quality time with your family members. If you have been putting off the arduous tasks in the realm of taxes, insurance, or estate planning, you might find that around the middle of October you will be better supported in taking on those tasks.

Leo:

You might have found that the Mercury retrograde wreaked havoc in your conversations with others, or that serious brain fog has been swirling around, but fear not as the mist is about to clear. An emphasis on connecting others with your communications, whether it be through writing or speaking are heightened now. You also get a second chance to get your finances in order and get organized around your household budget. If there is something that you have been trying to save for, opportunities to have more discipline or clearer steps to get there abound.

Virgo:

Lucky lady Venus has entered your house of money and possessions and hopefully she brings you good news and blessings. Money matters might be what occupies your thoughts at the moment and the welcome sight of Venus here can offer up some unexpected gifts. If things have felt like they have been moving backwards on the financial front, they should hopefully start moving in the right direction very soon. If you have been feeling like your daily routine, your health goals or chores in general are not where you want them to be, you will have the opportunity to get on top of things with more discipline than before.

Libra:

Life can be grand with the Sun and Venus in your sign, giving charm and grace, shining a flattering light on you for a glorious four-week window that only happens once a year. If you have found that things have been a bit rough or confusing lately, you should hopefully start to experience at turning of the tides. Responsibilities around the children in your life might have been feeling rather restrictive lately, hampering your freedoms but you might find that abates now, and you are better able to just enjoy their company.

Scorpio:

This is a great time of the year to get out of dodge if you can swing a cheeky getaway. It doesn’t have to be a big adventure to the ends of the Earth, but a little time on your own can be most beneficial. You might already be feeling a little bit like the hermit in the mountains, so if you can embrace it and take some space for yourself, you will be better able to recharge your batteries. If things in your social circle haven’t gone to plan or perhaps some friends from the past have come out of the woodwork, it should start to smooth over now.

Sagittarius:

Any hiccups that have been happening with friends or at work over the past few weeks should clear up now. Lovely, connective times with friends or groups are on the agenda, offering you time to enjoy those people that you have chosen to be in your life. Communications at work are strong, seeing you better able to make deals and get organized where needed. Passions might be running hot in your closest partnerships right now, make sure that you enjoy this time as it won’t always be like this. If you are unattached, this is a time when you might be more focused on finding ‘the one’, try looking at connections through work, you just don’t know who you might bump into at the watercooler.

Capricorn:

Work is most definitely in the spotlight for you at the moment, and a flattering light it is. If you have been feeling unsteady in your career or uncertain of your life’s direction in this arena, you might find that you fall in love with what you’re currently doing or find that niche that you want to pursue. Exploring the wider world might also be on the agenda, whether through travel or conversations with new people from different backgrounds to yourself can seem clearer and more direct. If money matters have felt heavy or restrictive lately, you might be better able to get organized and find a little financial freedom.

Aquarius:

Pack your bags and grab your passport friends and get ready for takeoff. If you are one of the lucky ducks that have been able to hop on a plane and have a great adventure, congratulations! If you’ve been planning your great escape and have felt hampered at every turn, I urge you to try again, doors will be open now that were shut before. If you aren’t one of the lucky ones that finds yourself exploring foreign lands, perhaps try to create an experience for yourself at home, foreign foods, music, movies, or literature can still delight the senses.

Pisces:

 Venus is offering some blessings to you that might take the form of inheritance or (fingers crossed) a juicy income tax return headed your way. If you have been looking into insurance policies, estate planning or investments lately, now’s a good time to make decisions and go for it. If things have been muddled regarding these topics lately, do try again, it will be much clearer and perhaps beneficial now as opposed to a few weeks ago. Home and family life might seem to be in high gear, moving a good clip, but it is soon to settle down feel less hectic.

FIRST we had AusNet. Proposed high voltage transmission lines across Hepburn and Moorabool shires – with a terminal station at Blampied.
Now we also have the proposed Victoria-New South Wales Interconnector (VNI) West project, a high capacity 500 kilovolt double-circuit overhead transmission line – with a terminal station at Mt Prospect.
At this rate the region will become a criss-cross of overhead wires linked by massive metallic towers, ending in buzzing terminal stations. What a great look for locals and visitors to enjoy. Farewell pristine vistas and valuable farming land, and hello giant webs of wire.
Why are the federal and state governments allowing this? Because it’s cheaper to run wires overhead than think about the future, spend a bit more and go underground.
How do they sell it? They say it’s all about renewable energy. So, if you complain about these ugly lines running through pristine vistas, you’re against renewables. Don’t you care about our future, or the future of your children and your children’s children? How very selfish.
Oh, you do care about renewables! That just makes you a NIMBY. You want to save the planet but not if it’s in your backyard. How very selfish.
It’s a hard one to fight. The governments are well funded with taxpayer dollars and also very good at holding information sessions to make people think they have been listened to and had their say. Good at dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s.
(Ed’s note – fellow editors please do not write in and tell me those two apostrophes don’t belong there. I know, just looks odd otherwise.)
But I think we have to fight. Decisions like these cannot just be about dollars. There must be another value on people and livelihoods and vistas.
How much value do you place on a farmer, working land bought with their hard-earned money, selling fresh produce to their community and raising their family?
How much do value you place on a visitor to the region, driving through pristine countryside, breathing deeply, relaxing, before returning to the business of Melbourne?
How much value do you place on the many small communities coming together to celebrate births and weddings, to mourn deaths, to dance and chat, to play sport?
And how much value do you place on the environment, on native habitat which is already under threat by the continuing urban creep into the regions?
Governments must place value on these things and that value is greater than the dollar savings of building lines overhead rather than underground. To do otherwise is short-sighted and, quite frankly, devaluing lives.
Governments are only elected to carry out the wishes of the people. And it is clear the people of the region do not want these lines or terminal stations. If you are in doubt just head towards Newlyn and look to the left to read Piss Off AusNet on the hill. Nothing subtle about that sentiment.
I think the really selfish move here is by the governments and shareholders of these massive energy companies to try and railroad regional communities and people into something by calling it for the greater good.
It is not good. It is bad and ugly and damaging to lives and livelihoods. Piss off AusNet and VNI. And the federal and state governments who allow this to happen. Spend some of your huge profits and your taxpayer money and put these lines underground. Respect our region and value our lives.
Ugly transmission wires rant over!

Archie Roach

He stopped me in my tracks,
I had to reconsider my way of living,
nothing to do with the ways of whites or blacks,
only the vibes I felt while he was singing.

I feel his resonance deep inside my bones,
resounding often at quiet times of day,
amazing, this inner music of deeper zones,
things I can sing, songs my bones can play.

• James Baillie

James is a lazy and industrious, happy and sad, normalish bloke growing from old to ancient and loving it.

Local Lines comes mainly from a group of local poets but other submissions are always welcome. To have a poem considered for publication
contact Bill Wootton at cottlesbreedge@gmail.com

Winter’s over (almost)
I know. Spring has barely had time to sweep away the dark clouds, pack up, turn on the sunlight, but I’m sure, like me, you’ve had your share of the dark and dingy and can’t wait to spend some time in the great outdoors.
According to my calendar, September 1 has just come and gone, so it’s time for our gardens to come alive with spring growth buds and banks of flowers.
That may be so, but don’t be too anxious to put your planned planting spree into action just yet. Mother Nature can be quite fickle at this time of year and liable to turn on a bout of wintry showers among the blue sky days. The Antarctic blasts, strong winds and snow-tinged showers of last week certainly bear a chilly testament to that.
Make the best of the good days and get the beds ready for your vegetable sowing, and work up the soil for trees or shrubs you’ve been waiting to plant, because the very best time to plant is at hand.
Just remember there can still be late frosts in our area so don’t be tempted to plant out frost-tender plants until you’re sure the last frosts are over and the soil has started to warm. To be sure you can always protect them with a glass frame or one of those portable plastic greenhouses, and don’t be in too much of a hurry to remove the cover from the really frost-tender ones until the worst of it is over. To be safe and sure, plant only the guaranteed frost-hardy ones now. The delicate ones will catch up if they’re left until later.
If you think you’ve missed the boat in planting deciduous, bare-rooted fruit trees or roses, this rainy, last winter blast has given you a short reprieve. You can still safely plant them out for at least the next two weeks provided you water them in well and make sure they aren’t allowed to dry out at any time. The same applies for any forgotten rose or fruit tree pruning.

Pest patrol
Now for the downside. Those ever-present and ever so persistent weeds and ever- hungry pesky insect pests are on the march. Especially keep eye an out in the warm weather for sap-sucking aphids etc.
If you get to them while they are few you can eradicate enough of them to make it easy for their natural predators to control the rest and that’s far better than having to use noxious chemicals that wipe out the good guys as well as the baddies. Don’t forget those precious bees are desperately needed as back-up pollinators in these times of honey bees’ viral disease.

Mulch is the word
A much used descriptive term for a multitude of uses performed by an equally various number of materials that can be summed up as “protection of growing plant life” by acting as a barrier between plants and their environment.
Mulch can consist of almost anything, organic or not, so long as it keeps the surface of the soil around plants cool and moist, and suppresses the growth of unwanted weeds etc. Preferred materials are organic plant material such as well-rotted compost, wood chips, pea straw or well-decayed horse or cow manure. These will gradually break down and become a natural food for the plants. Rake the soil over to create a fine ‘tilth’ on the surface to encourage new feed root growth and ease of penetration of any watering or rain.
Got a gardening question? Email glenzgardens@gmail.com

A number of activities are being planned for R U OK? Day on September 8 to help people to be able to start a conversation that could change a life.
R U OK? Day is a nationwide campaign that was started in 2009 by Gavin Larkin following the death of his father to suicide. With the aim of preventing other families from experiencing the pain that he suffered, he chose to encourage people to ask the question “Are you okay?”. Human connection is a powerful protective factor in preventing suicide and poor mental health and starting a conversation can potentially make a significant difference to someone who is not coping well with life.
Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health, in partnership with Macedon Ranges Shire Council, invites community members, local businesses and community groups to get involved.
A free webinar, Feel Confident to Ask, “Are you OK?”, is being held on Thursday, September 1 at 6pm. Presented by Matt Gleeson, pictured, an accredited mental health first aid trainer and community partnership and engagement officer, the 30-minute webinar will provide a framework to be able to confidently ask how someone is doing and know what to do next if they are not. To register go to www.surveymonkey.com/r/RUOKSMRS.
Leading up to R U OK? Day people are encouraged to sign up for a stencil kit which includes information and handouts on how individuals, businesses or community groups can share the message and get people talking about how to prevent suicide and poor mental health. To get a stencil pack go to www.surveymonkey.com/r/RUOKstencil.
Selected cafes across the Macedon Ranges will be offering free coffees on R U OK? Day and will have handouts explaining how to have these important conversations as well as information on local support services.
“Last year we worked with 20 cafes across Sunbury and the Macedon Ranges to provide 400 free coffees,” Matt said. “This meant that people had the opportunity to be exposed to the R U OK? message and discuss mental health. This year we hope that the free webinar and the stencil campaign will take this important message even further across our communities and help to save lives.”
Contact Matt Gleeson at healthpromotionsunbury@scchc.org.au or 9744 4455.

THE Mt Alexander-based Regional Community Vet Clinic held its second free cat desexing day on Sunday, August 21 thanks to a donation received in May specifically for cat desexing, with a total of 28 cats desexed.
The clinic welcomed volunteer vets and vet nurses from Vets for Compassion who assisted Dr Yvette Berkeley, a clinic director, castrate 11 male cats and spay 16 females.
The desexing of 16 females means RCVC has prevented the birth of about 400 kittens in the next 12 months. The clinic also handled an unexpected wildlife emergency helping local wildlife rescuers with critical care of a juvenile kangaroo who had been caught in a fence.
Director Robyn Slattery and volunteers spent the day hard at work looking after cats from as far away as Maryborough. This free desexing program is saving generations of misery by preventing the births of unwanted kittens and is also saving the lives of thousands of birds and native animals who become prey to cats.
Director James Mack said despite not yet having a permanent home, the clinic would continue “to operate pop-up clinics and will shortly launch its outreach program assisting elderly and frail residents care for their companion animals and maintain the vital human/animal bond”.
The clinic is working towards building a not-for-profit, low-cost vet clinic in Campbells Creek, with a grant of $200,000 announced in April from the state government giving them a big boost towards the estimated $400,000 building cost.
The clinic is not-for profit and all donations over $2 are tax deductible. Donate via https://rcvc.org.au/donate/
The aim of the clinic is to establish facilities that provide affordable, quality veterinary care for companion animals when their owners are experiencing social disadvantage or financial hardship in Central Victoria. It is hoped the clinic will be up and running by the end of 2023.
To volunteer or contact the clinic email info@rcvc.org.au or call 0493 447 394.

Melbourne Chamber Orchestra’s A Feast of Music festival is returning to Daylesford for the first time in three years, after the pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 festivals.
The weekend festival runs from September 9-11 and brings some of Australia’s biggest chamber music names to perform in intimate performances in Daylesford.
This year’s guests include pianists Stefan Cassomenos and Timothy Young, violinists Elizabeth Sellars, Sulki Yu and Tair Khisambeev, and clarinettist David Griffiths.
The festival’s Saturday afternoon orchestral performance this year includes Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Tickets to the Four Seasons are nearly sold out and will soon be limited to package purchasers only.
The annual highlight of the festival is the Chamber Music Dining event at Lake House. For this year’s dinner, guests will be serenaded with iconic chamber works including music from Mozart and Weber’s clarinet quintets and Mendelssohn’s fiery sixth string quartet.
Hepburn and Macedon Ranges shires residents can receive 10 per cent off all festival events and packages by booking at eCasa in Vincent Street.
Link: www.mco.org.au/feast

ChillOut has announced its first headliner for next year – Kate Miller-Heidke! Kate will be performing at Carnival Day on Sunday, March 12.
Kate is an award-winning singer-songwriter who traverses the worlds of contemporary pop, folk, musical theatre and opera.
Her work has been nominated for ARIAs in categories as diverse as Best Pop Release, Best Adult Contemporary Album, Best Classical Album, Best Cast Recording, Best Comedy Release and Best Australian Live Act.
Kate’s latest album, Child In Reverse, was released in October 2020 to critical acclaim, debuting in the top 10 of the ARIA charts. In March, Kate released her latest single You Can’t Hurt Me Anymore featuring Jaguar Jonze, alongside a new deluxe edition of the album with 10 bonus tracks.

The state government has invested $3 million for a new LGBTIQ+ Homelessness Support Service to assist LGBTIQ+ people who face challenges accessing housing, including young people.
The program will include a team of 12 specialist staff working across homelessness services and LGBTIQ+ support services in Victoria – nine in Melbourne and three in Ballarat.

Primary school-aged artists are being asked to create their own water story as part of Central Highlands Water’s National Water Week poster competition.
National Water Week is held in October and the 2022 poster competition theme is Our Water Stories. Entries are now open and close on September 2. To enter go to www.nationalwaterweek.com.au

“I NOW have a better understanding of what homelessness means and realise everyone has a story to share. We all need to think more about others.”
Fifteen-year-old Sofie from Kyneton High School is among her Year 9 peers learning about homelessness and social isolation. While other year levels are also engaging in excursions and classroom discussions on topics such as empathy and personal capability, the issue of homelessness is now part of the Year 9 home group program lessons.
Aimed at breaking down stereotypes surrounding disadvantage in our community and gaining a better understanding of social isolation, the program is being led by teacher Jane Strickland and her fellow home group teachers.
“We all felt while home group classes centre on connectedness to students’ pastoral care and supporting their wellbeing, there was a disconnect with teaching social and emotional skills,” she said.
“We wanted a meaningful topic as a vehicle to help students experience empathy, so we thought choosing homelessness as a topic we could all explore social issues and how people often have prejudicial views without knowing much about a topic. It was an important way to help us all understand the issues around homelessness and isolation.”
“Different year levels are taking part and lessons included watching episodes of the television series Filthy Rich and Homeless and You Can’t Ask That. Clearly there are film crews out with the people on the streets but it was a chance to start the conversation around homelessness and, while confronting, it’s a way we can all develop a greater understanding and empathy,” she said.
Through several excursions, classroom lessons, discussions and external presentations, the students have been able to reflect on the causes of homelessness, the role of support networks and the importance of community.

One group of Year 9 students recently attended the Kyneton Mechanics Institute to be part of a pop-up soup kitchen. The activity provided them the chance to see first-hand the work local support groups perform in the community and they were able to speak to people accessing the services.
Last week representatives from Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health spoke to Year 9 students about the issue at a local level and discussed the range of reasons people become homeless or isolated. They broke down stereotypes, misconceptions and shared statistics that related to their audience.
The students heard there was no single definition of homelessness. The term broadly covers people who are living in a dwelling that is inadequate, whose rental terms are short or not extendable, or who are living in non-conventional accommodation including on the street, on a friend’s couch or in short-term accommodation including crisis accommodation and caravan parks.
The students heard about the issues faced by many people in their own community and how easy it is for anyone to find themselves in this situation. Hearing how the local organisation supports kids as young as 15 had a clear impact on the students and teachers alike.
While the students took notice of the incredible work being carried out locally by the government funded organisation, focus was also on the grassroots community, church and food bank groups, as well as how we can all make an important difference locally. The representatives also provided insights about how the students can make a difference, with initiatives such as holding food drives for the various groups that offer food resources, volunteering, pressuring local government for more affordable housing options and above all showing empathy and compassion.
A pivotal moment during the presentation was when teacher Alex Frank shared her own experience as a result of the school’s focus on homelessness.
“I was in Melbourne and walked past a group of homeless people. I feel like I have learned so much from the lessons myself, that I started chatting to a homeless man outside Coles. I asked if I could buy him some food and he came in with me. When we started chatting and I said where I was from, he said he had lived in Trentham but had to move to Melbourne given the housing shortage in the region.
“He mentioned he was a former drug addict but has no suitable accommodation. By the time we got to the checkout he became uncomfortable worrying whether the security guards would approach. He was incredibly grateful and I realised how my thinking had changed as an adult. I have a greater awareness and understanding.”
The lessons will continue at the school as will the discussions regarding an issue that, as Jane shared with the kids “could affect any one of us at any stage of our lives”.

Above, from left, back row, Damian, Kate (Cobaw) Alex (teacher) Stella & Sofie, middle row, Ella, Eloise, Shayla, Liam, Connor, Cooper & Jane (teacher), front row, Alice, Bronte, Jorja, Charlie-Jean & Jeddah

Words & image: Narelle Groenhout
Do you have a story to share? Email news@tlnews.com.au

THE new chef at the Daylesford Bowling Club Bistro, Lenny Giri, has a philosophy which is that food is the way to healthier living if it’s made with soulful dedication and emotions.
I don’t know about that but I do know that the food we had last Friday was just fantastic. And if that happens as part of Lenny’s mantra, that’s fine by me.

First up, don’t worry, all your bowlo favourites are still there. Fish and chips ($26), chicken parmigiana ($28), chicken schnitzel ($24) or the classic spaghetti bolognaise ($24).
But Lenny has brought his cooking knowledge – we’re talking William Angliss training, and 20+ years’ experience – now we’re talking Embassy@97 in St Kilda, the Phoenix Hotel in Geelong, Strange Concept in Beaumaris and Donovans in St Kilda, to the region. He’s also worked alongside the master chefs, literally, Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris.

Last Friday we left the menu choices up to Lenny, and he did not disappoint. We started with three entrees – I know, but it was out of our hands – and all three were fantastic.
First up were Polenta Fat Chips ($18) – crunchy, golden, shallow fried squares with vegan flakes and dried rosemary with two dipping sauces, one with a nice hit of heat. Just yum. Next was Chicken Tikka ($19) – a great dish with three pieces of flame-grilled tender-as chicken accompanied by a crisp rice pappadum, raita and a coriander root dressing. The third entree was Risotto ($26) – perfectly cooked rice with a trio of mushrooms, truffle, vegan cheese and a fig balsamic glaze. Now, having lived in Japan, I don’t usually like risotto, but this was good, really good.

While we ate we chatted to manager Neil, a really friendly bloke, who has ably steered the club through Covid, keeping ties with the club’s members and the local community, making sure tourists feel welcome, getting Dolly’s Disco Bingo happening again on Thursdays, and now having Lenny at the helm of the bistro.
It can’t have been an easy job but Neil always has a smile and a friendly hello for everyone – and that smile is even more ready with Lenny taking over the bistro operations. But back to the food.
Just when you didn’t think it could get any better, the mains arrived. Yep, three again. Lenny is nothing if not generous! Now the first one, off the specials’ menu, sounds simple enough, BBQ Pork Stirfry ($28) but it is a complex dish swooning with flavours – chow mein noodles in a Cantonese style dish with loads of rich pork pieces, vegies and a hint of sweetness. Kyle loved this – and I am pretty sure he loaded his plate three times.

The second was Canadian scallops ($19.50) – served in their shells with a housemade sweet chilli jam after being shallow pan fried. I do love scallops and these are just pops of deliciousness.
Finally, Lenny brought out his signature dish, just named Salmon ($34). A lovely piece of Atlantic salmon with crispy skin atop a perfectly executed bearnaise sauce with scallops and latke – a crispy, grated potato and zucchini fritter. Beautiful to look at and delicious to eat. You can see it in the image below left, where you also see the wonderful views the Daylesford Bowling Club has to offer. What’s not to love?
We are full and happy. Friday is deadline day but it has become “the world is lovely day” and we sit back and sip on a wine and beer and enjoy the view. And then Lenny returns to our table with a Creme Brulee ($18).
We smack the toffee open and suddenly the day has become “can this get any better” and we share a spoon to take turns at this dish of deliciousness. If you see any white space in The Local this edition – blame Lenny. Sometimes you just need to kick back and enjoy life.

Words: Donna Kelly | Images: Kyle Barnes

All signs:

It’s coming up to that special time of year again when Mercury slows down and begins to move backwards, signalling the time to batten down the hatch’s folks, it’s Mercury retrograde. Starting on September 9^th, you do want to avoid purchasing vehicles or technology themed items. I often preach that these regular cycles are nothing much to fear, they take place four times a year and each year it happens in a set of signs associated with one particular element. In 2022, Mercury’s retrograde cycles all take place in Zodiac signs that are represented by the element of air, meaning that all things to do with that element can be revisited, revaluated, revised, or reunited. You see the connection between the retrograde cycles and words with an ‘re’ prefix, words that mean again or back, especially verbs. Rearrange, rediscover, redo, and so on, you get the idea. Signs that are represented by the element of air are often human focused, interactive, thinkers, idea generators and life-long learners. If you put those two concepts together, this retrograde cycle in Libra is a good time for us all to reassess thoughts processes and perhaps communication styles. Libra is about being diplomatic and fair sometimes to a fault, finding the balance between what’s best for you and what’s best for the collective can be difficult for people with a Libran emphasis. Mercury retrograde in this sign can ask us to rediscover or recalculate how we find that balance.

Venus is known as the lesser benefic planet in astrology (with Jupiter being the greater benefic), the term is derived from the word beneficial, in other words bringing blessings or good news. As Venus moves around our charts faster than Jupiter does, it’s my hope that she brings good tidings to more topics of our lives more often. In early September, Venus moves out of confident Leo and into modest Virgo shining her light somewhere new for us all. This sign is not a favoured location for Venus, not her strength to be buttoned down, reserved, and modest. But this placement does offer up the opportunity for us all to get our bits and pieces together to look after our health better, getting organised and find enjoyment in taking care of ourselves, or maybe having a little spring clean around the house.

Around the 10^th of September the Sun will make a supportive aspect to the planet Uranus, offering us the chance for creative self-expression, unexpected awakenings, and breakthroughs on the positive side. The shadow side of this meeting can be self-celebration, or excessive urges for independence, impatience, and restlessness. I’m planning to bask in a little bit of this sunshine in hopes of some absorbing some of that creative juiciness. Read on to see how you might harness the power of the planets in your life, if you know your rising sign, start there first.

Aries:

Did you know that if you use cauliflower to replace potatoes in your diet, you can reduce the joy you have in life by 80%? Seriously though, Venus is moving into your house of health, perhaps it’s time to buy a new juicer or invest in a flash new diary or planner. Getting your life organized doesn’t have to be dull, you can find items that please the senses and get the job done at the same time. Mercury moving retrograde is asking you to find the balance in your relationships, rediscover your role within your partnerships and see where some redistribution might need to happen. Communication with your better half is a must, sharing ideas and thoughts about where you are headed can help you both feel like you’re on the same page. If you’re single, this might be the time to revise the checklist and revaluate what’s really important to you right now when looking for a life partner.

Taurus:

Creative times, romance and the enjoyment of life’s little joys are heightened for you right now. Lovely times with children, or just sinking into your favourite hobby or book can offer you some respite from the daily grind of life. Mercury retrograde is giving you the change to reassess your daily routine, to look for better balance with your health. Be mindful that you aren’t people pleasing at the expense of your own health or wellbeing, it’s a slippery slope. It’s worth rocking the boat a little bit to make sure that you are on the right course, you won’t be any good to anyone if you aren’t taking care of yourself first. Look for ways to refine daily routines and be more efficient in this area of your life so that you can prioritize your health and wellness on a regular basis.

Gemini:

Home is where your heart is, especially for the next few weeks with joyful, loving, and connective times happening at home. Nothing outlandish or over the top, just quiet times with your loved ones, offering up some nourishment for you. A good time to do some spring cleaning and organization of things in general around the house. Making time to explore new creative interests and hobbies is important at this time too. You might need to reassess how much time you have to do things that you love just for the pure enjoyment of it. Sometimes we can get caught up in a constant pressure from the outside world to monetize every little hobby craft or interest that we have, and we forget how important it is to be able to do things for the pleasure of it, without that sort of pressure. It allows us to indulge, decompress and find balance between doing things that will bring us the income and resources that we need and have pressure-free enjoyment in life to explore and expand ourselves.

Cancer:

Lots of lovely ideas, thoughts, plans, and schemes coming to the fore in the next few weeks for you. You might find that you are attracting new people to you from your neighbourhood, or perhaps these are the people that you are taking inspiration from. This can be a time when you’re keen to pick up a new skill, learning something new that brings you pleasure. Mercury retrograde is happening in the area of your chart that refers to your home and family, it might be a time when you reunite. If things have crumbled lately, this is a time for rebuilding, whether it’s a physical structure or emotional ties. Striking the right balance of boundaries and openness can be tricky in relationships, especially when it comes to our families, but this is the best time to find a balance that will give you peace of mind, as well as a feeling of connectedness.

Leo:

Venus has moved into the part of your chart that speaks of money, resources, and assets, lets hope that she brings that good news. Perhaps some ease when it comes to earning money or opportunities might flow your way more easily to boost what you’ve got. Mercury is the planet associated with deals, contracts, and negotiations. If you can, make sure that any important deals are finalized, contracts are signed before the retrograde starts on the 9^th, if this isn’t an option, make sure that you are double or triple checking everything so that you won’t need to redo them later. Measure twice, cut once kinda situation if you catch what I’m saying. You might find that during the retrograde, you aren’t as well received or understood as usual, more opportunities for mixed messages are abound for you, try not to lose your patience.

Virgo:

You have charm in spades for the next few weeks, this only happens once a year, use it to your advantage if you can. If you can afford to update the wardrobe, you might find more flattering pieces at the top of the pile rather than having to search around. While being out in the spotlight rarely a Virgo’s idea of a good time, you might attract more favourable people your way and find yourself the centre of attention. Keep a keen eye on money matters from the 9^th of September with tricky Mercury hanging about. This might also be a time when you need to find a balance between your personal accounts receivable and payables. If you are in the red more than the black, it might be time to revaluate what’s important to you, what matters most, is it possessions or perhaps experiences? Once you are clear on what you value most, it might be easier to be more discerning about where you focus your funds.

Libra:

Mercury is spending some of its retrograde cycle moving backwards through your sign, this may offer the possibility of rediscovering yourself. If you’ve gotten lost in the shuffle of daily life, you might need to reassemble the deck and put yourself closer to the top of the pile. You are being asked to look more deeply at how you treat yourself when no one is looking, what your innermost sanctuary looks like. Is it a cluttered, messy kind of space that needs a little clean out? This can be a space in your home or a metaphor for your thoughts swirling around in your head. That spring clean might be needed to help you reassess where you are and where you would like to be. Your inner world doesn’t have to be perfect, ordered, neat and tidy, but remember to be as kind to yourself as you are to others, you deserve it too.

Scorpio:

Lovely, fun times with friends and groups are on the horizon, allowing you to bond with others and find enjoyment in their company. You might find that you’re almost magnetic, attracting new people your way. Mind that you don’t get stuck people pleasing to fit in or make yourself uncomfortable to avoid hurting someone else’s feelings. This might be a time when you want to reconsider how you escape or retreat into your own unconscious. If your brain is constantly ticking over or you find that your thoughts are clouding your brain, this can be an opportunity to retrain your inner workings and take back some control. Start journaling if this isn’t a part of your regular routine, getting your thoughts down on paper might help empty out the mind enough for you to see more clearly.

Sagittarius:

You’re more magnetic at work for the next few weeks, attracting favourable people or opportunities to you. You might find that you’re feeling a renewed love for the life path that you have chosen, or it might be that you discover a newfound passion for something that leads you somewhere new. The Mercury retrograde cycle could be asking you to put some of your friendships up for review. Are you feeling like the scales are evenly balanced in these relationships? If not, this can be the time to communicate the disparity, but stand firm and try not to appease the other party or you’ll only wind up in the same place you started. The retrograde might also see old friends popping back into your life, how big a role they might play is ultimately up to you.

Capricorn:

If you can make an effort to broaden your horizons in the next few weeks, you might find yourself feeling more inspired or expanded at least. Influences that have an international flavour might sizzle on the taste buds and give you a little extra zest for life. This might also be a time to revaluate your career situation, set some new goals and contemplate where you would like to be in the future, both short term and long term. Finding the balance between what you do or are known for in the public arena and how you spend your time in a more private setting is important, if your goals can reflect this, you are winning. You might find that delays or miscommunications are likely at work with this Mercury retrograde, try to be as clear as possible in your communiques involving your career.  

Aquarius:

Your belief systems might come into question over the next few weeks, not necessarily from an outside source but an internal one. You might find that you’re questioning what you think you know about the bigger picture points in life. This could be a time when you learn something new that blows the doors wide open and offers you the opportunity to expand your horizons. Even just sitting down and reflecting on what you believe and how that fits into your life can be clarifying and a little life-defining at the moment. You might receive some good news about your partner’s earning situation, perhaps a larger than expected income tax return. If you’ve been pondering taking out a loan or insurance policy, you might find that you are better able to get a good deal or perhaps the entire process is much easier than you thought it would be.

Pisces:

Strengthening the ties that bind with your life partner can make you feel lovey, warm, and generally gooey in the next few weeks. If you are without a partner-in-crime in your life currently, this can be a fabulous time to find someone of substance. It might seem that finding the person you want to share your life with is an all-consuming task at the moment, at the top of the agenda and honestly this is the best time all year for you to make such a connection. If you are dealing with any paperwork regarding your estate, inheritances, insurance policies, taxes or loans try to ensure that you are signed, sealed, and delivered before Mercury turns retrograde on the 9^th of September. If this isn’t possible and you find yourself traversing such terrain during the retrograde, triple check everything before you sign on the dotted line. It might mean that you will have to redo or reapply once the cycle ends. Better to save yourself the hassle and try to get it right the first time.

Central Highlands Water (CHW) is inviting customers to get snapping to help resolve any water or wastewater service problems, quickly and easily.

CHW has partnered with Snap Send Solve, a free app which enables customers to simply report non-urgent water and sewer faults.

Through the app, customers can photograph a problem, add some basic details and send it via the app. The information is then directed to the appropriate team for action, with the customer kept informed of the progress, and when the work is completed.

“Supporting our customers is extremely important to us,” said Jeff Haydon, CHW’s Managing Director.

“Our introduction of the Snap Send Solve app means it is now even easier for customers in our community to report a fault, like a water main leak, and for us to then resolve problems swiftly,” Mr Haydon said.

The technology supports customers to send reports in real time, knowing the correct authority will receive them, based on the geo-location of the image and report. Reports for water and sewer faults are sent to the CHW Works Management Centre team to prioritise the works for our response.

For any emergency or urgent water or sewerage issues, CHW asks that customers please phone 1800 061 514, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Fishers will have more opportunities to cast a line, thanks to the stocking of 1,000 rainbow trout into waters across greater Melbourne.
Minister for Fishing and Boating Sonya Kilkenny visited Caulfield Racecourse Lake, Karkarook Lake, Berwick Springs Estate Lake, Navan Park Lake and Spavin Lake – which have all shared in the rainbow trout stockings.
The stockings have been funded by recreational fishing licence fees.

Rainbow trout are great stocking option for beginners because they’re easy to catch and take a variety of baits and lures.
Stocked waters across greater Melbourne include:
• Albert Park Lake
• Berwick Springs Estate Lake
• Casey Fields Lake
• Caulfield Racecourse Lake
• Don Lake
• Emerald Lake
• Ferntree Gully Quarry
• Garfield Lake
• Karkarook Lake
• Lilliput Lane Reserve
• Lilydale Lake
• Navan Park Lake
• Pakenham Lake
• Rowville Lakes (Sutton and Hill Lakes)
• Roxburgh Park Lakes
• Spavin Lake
• Yarrambat Lake
Rainbow trout formed part of the record-breaking stocking effort of 10 million fish released right across Victoria over the past year – a national record.
In regional Victoria, a free fishing festival that celebrates the opening of trout season will also return to the Goulburn River and Ballarat next month. The Goulburn Fishing Festival and Ballarat Fishing Festival will both be held on Saturday 3 September.
A total of 10 stocking sites along the Goulburn River, between Eildon and Molesworth, will share in 1500 trout, with Eildon Pondage set to receive 500.
More information about the stockings can be found online at: www.vfa.vic.gov.au/metrostonker