Santiago Delasa made the move from hospitality to working in aged care at Hepburn House a year ago and couldn’t be happier.
Born in Buenos Aires in Argentina, the 39-year-old, also loves languages and is fluent in four – English, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish, with his Nepalese on the way.
“My English might not be perfect (it is) but I feel like I really connect with languages, and I love English even more than Spanish. Spanish is very romantic but the sentences are very long and it takes ages to convey anything.”
Fuelling that love of English, Santiago graduated from high school in America and then spent some years working on the ski slopes around the US, also working as a chef for vegan restaurants, before taking up a position in his father’s real estate business.
But about four years ago Santiago decided it was time to move from Argentina, a country he says where it is difficult to build a career or get ahead. His parents were also onboard with the decision.
“My parents just want what is best for me and at the momemt that is to stay here. My country is heading towards communism and is just not a good place. I just want to be able to live in a stable country where there is not a 300 per cent annual inflation rate. I want to live in a country where people can work and progress.”
At first Santiago thought about Canada but the agency he applied to was more involved with Australia and also “inspired confidence in me” so he filled in the paperwork and found himself in Melbourne.
He eventually moved to Ballan and all the time Santiago was learning about Australia, its culture, its First Nations people and the way of life. He discovered Daylesford and knew that his hospitality skills would be sought after and made the move.
Harvest Cafe was where he found a job and the people there became his friends. But then he discovered the joys of working with older people and became a personal care worker at Hepburn House.
He is loving the position so much next year he will start his Bachelor of Nursing – “the next step”.
“I love working with people, being helpful and trying to make them have a good experience or just make them feel good.
“I have always felt that way, and thought it was all about hospitality but working with the elderly has really woken a passion in me and let’s just see where it takes me.
“Nursing comes with so many opportunities so I could be working with the elderly, or kids or in the ICU – there is so much potential.”
Santiago said while Hepburn House was his first job in aged care he loved it and was also really pleased to see how well the residents were looked after.
“We dedicate a lot of time to our residents and I get to provide a quality service, a really personal care approach, and connect with the residents to make sure they never feel like they are being rushed. That is very important to me and everyone who works there.
“And all the staff are great, very lovely and very loyal.”
Santiago said he really hoped to remain in Australia – “I love everything about this country” and Daylesford – “I think it is very healing and very mystical”.
But he realises that with studying nursing next year, he is opening a new chapter in his life.
“I have opened a new door, working in aged care, and now I just need to see where that takes me.”
Hepburn House in Daylesford offers a unique mix of a fabulous environment, progressive personalised care, and excellent lifestyle amenities.
Call 5348 8100 or visit www.hepburnhouse.com.au

After an absence of nearly three years, the Kyneton Horticultural Society will host its Spring Flower Show at the Watts Pavilion, Kyneton Showgrounds on Saturday, September 4 from 1pm to 4pm and Sunday, September 5 from 10am to 4pm.
President Nicholas Scott said it seemed apparent that with past lockdowns over recent years many people had shown a growing, if not newly discovered, interest in horticulture.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone and everyone to share and show what you grow as something bright and positive for all,” he said.
“The flower show is a major highlight of the Kyneton Daffodil Arts Festival celebrating its golden jubilee this year.”
The show highlights an extensive range of daffodils, hellebores, cut flowers, shrubs, pot plants, cacti and succulents, and floral art.
There will also be a special section to mark the platinum jubilee celebration of HM Queen Elizabeth II – time for creative minds to grow.
An excellent range of plants will be available for sale grown by the KHS members as well as potted bulbs, quality used garden books and a raffle.
Everyone of all ages is encouraged to participate to make this the best flower show yet. Website www.khs1894.com to download the entry schedule.
Entry $5. For general enquiries contact Mr Scott on 0438 664 849.

Central Victorian Friends Of Palestine will screen two multi-award winning short films from leading female Palestinian directors in Kyneton – The Present by Farah Nabulsi and Like Twenty Impossibles by Annemarie Jacir.
Senator Janet Rice, pictured, from the Australian Greens will be attending and holding a Q&A between the films.
Senator Rice is the Greens Foreign Affairs spokesperson and a leading voice on human rights, the climate, and equality.
Friends spokesperson Peter Wicks said in the Foreign Affairs portfolio, the occupation of Palestine by Israel was controversial and the debate often heated.
“In recent months we have seen Amnesty International join the many other human rights organisations declaring Israel’s occupation as apartheid. We have witnessed the assassination of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, and the horrific attack on pallbearers at her funeral. We have seen the continued brutal expansion of illegal Israeli settlements.
“All this while the memory of last year’s Israeli missile attacks on Gaza drew world condemnation as hundred of civilians were left dead, injured and homeless and the media organisations trying to cover the carnage saw their offices attacked and destroyed with missile attacks.
“With so much happening in the region it is important to hear the stories from those who live there. We are excited to have been given permission to screen these short films from two of the best storytellers in the region.”
The event is also a fundraiser with proceeds donated to Australian charity Olive Kids, supporting Palestinian children suffering under brutal occupation through healthcare, education and financial aid. All the work of Olive Kids is delivered by local volunteers and done through local businesses and provides children whose rights have been stolen with hope and opportunity.
“We are extremely fortunate to have two acclaimed short films to screen and a senator so focused on Human Rights here to address the communities’ queries,” Mr Wicks said.
The screenings will take place at the Mary Maloney Theatre, Sacred Heart College, 94 High Street, Kyneton on Saturday, August 6.
Tickets: www. trybooking.com

Last weekend, clubs in the Central Highland Football Leagues plus over 1000 clubs across Victoria banded together donning blue armbands for TAC Road Safety Round in honour of every life lost on the roads.
The round – a joint effort by the Victorian Transport Accident Commission and AFL Victoria – was first played in 2019 to promote leadership and advocacy for road safety among some of the most at-risk road users and serve as a reminder that everyone has a reason to drive safely.
Regional roads continue to be overrepresented on the road accident and death toll with 126 people dying last year compared to 85 in metro areas. People driving on regional roads travel longer distances and at higher speeds, meaning when mistakes happen the consequences are often worse.
Hepburn Football Club president Pete Pedretti said the club’s footballers, netballers and supporters travelled thousands of kilometres every season “so it is really important to us that they arrive to every game safely and return home safe every week”.
“Zero is the only acceptable number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads, and this round helps raise awareness to achieve that. The round highlights this issue and it provides an opportunity for the club to remind everyone to drive safely. As a club, we are very conscious of the important role we play in mentoring our young players.”
Meanwhile, in terms of football, Pete said after two years of Covid lockdowns it had been a challenge to get everyone enthused again. “But we have found the club to be in a good position this far into the season, with more and more interest every week. It’s a very open year, where I think anyone in the top eight are very capable on their day and as the old saying goes, we’re just taking it one week at a time, but if all the cards fall right, hopefully yes, another grand final.”

Hepburn Shire Council is working with the City of Ballarat for a mountain biking program to be included in the 2026 Commonwealth Games and for competition to be held at the Creswick Trails.
With the announcement that the games will be held from March 17 to 29, 2026, both councils are calling for mountain biking to be included in the Victoria 2026 program and for the program to be conducted at the Creswick Trails. Mountain biking has been held at a number of Commonwealth and Olympic games recently, and will be held at the upcoming Birmingham 2022 games.
Hepburn Shire Council Mayor Cr Tim Drylie said it was an exciting opportunity to include mountain biking in the 2026 games and to showcase what will be the world-class Creswick Trails.
“The Creswick Trails is a strongly supported project that is expected to be completed in 2024 and will include the construction of a 60-kilometre mountain bike trail,” Cr Drylie said.
“The Creswick Trails will also be supported by the Hammon Park trailhead, which is currently under construction and suitable for a race start and finish area. Earthworks are under way on the path network, learn to ride track, playspace and barbeque area.
“The opportunities and benefits the 2026 Commonwealth Games will hold for regional Victoria are significant.”
Cr Drylie said Creswick’s proximity to the Ballarat Commonwealth Games regional hub, and especially the athletics villages, made it an attractive option for any potential mountain biking events.
Ballarat Mayor Cr Daniel Moloney said the inclusion of a mountain biking program would be a great addition to the program and ensure the games appeal to a broader audience.
“Having the event staged in Creswick would provide a significant economic boost to the region, reduce cost of staging the event and provide an incredible athlete experience in the Ballarat Athletes Village,” he said.

A CAMPAIGN is under way to stop gold mining in Yandoit, within what is said to be among the hottest exploration areas in the world.
Debra Waters, whose family has lived in the area for 30 years, is organising objections to the planned mine, which she sees as a danger to the environment.
Lock the Gate signs produced by the Alliance For Responsible Mining Regulations and calling for the shutting out of mining companies are being distributed. About 20 people were at a recent community meeting, she said.
Already, however, she has been unable to extend the deadline for objections to the mine. She also wanted wider advertising of the plans, which she says is required by law. “This affects Daylesford and the Wombat State Forest,” she said.
The deadline decision was made by the State Government’s Morwell-based Earth Resources Regulator, which sits under the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions.
Its acting manager for licensing, Jess Stephenson, told Debra that the company had met all legal requirements, while adding: “Any comments and objections that are received will be taken into consideration when the assessment and decision to grant or refuse the licence is being considered.” The Local has sighted the email.
Debra, whose work is e-commerce and building websites, said because the application was not advertised locally, it was difficult for residents to track it. It was advertised in the Ballarat and Bendigo daily papers and the state-wide Weekly Times.
“It is supposed to be advertised in local papers in the affected area,” she said.
Objectors had three weeks in which to lodge their opposition.
She said that new mining released big amounts of arsenic and other heavy metals into the environment. “Some mining projects disturb legacy mining areas and carry the risk that mercury from historic processing operations will be released into the environment. These heavy metals are carcinogenic.”
Debra said a 2020 Victorian Auditor General’s Office found some mining companies do not rehabilitate their projects and that the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions had become a passive observer to these failures.
The report said: “Systemic regulatory failures encompass: using outdated cost estimates; not periodically reviewing bonds for their sufficiency – including a four-year bond review ‘moratorium’ for which there is no documentary evidence that it was duly authorised; failure to assure that site rehabilitation had actually occurred before returning bonds; approving inadequately specified rehabilitation plans; and lack of enforcement activities.
“DJPR is not effectively regulating operators’ compliance with their rehabilitation responsibilities. This exposes the state to significant financial risk because some sites have been poorly rehabilitated or not treated at all. If not addressed, these sites also present risks to Victorians and the environment.”
Canadian-based miner Nubian Resources recently announced success of its drilling at Yandoit. More than 2700 soil samples were taken, finding “dozens of new prospect areas”.
Gold was located in more than half of the holes, said company president and CEO Martin Walter. This “helped us to formulate a strategy for future discovery at Yandoit”.
To him it is one of the world’s premier gold districts, especially because of the richness of the state’s biggest gold producer at Fosterville near Bendigo. With gold hitting record prices of $US2000 an ounce, Yandoit was found to have veins about 50 metres apart and the company believes less than 5 per cent of the prospective length of the vein has been drill-tested.
The company says soil tests show “dozens of potentially gold bearing locations”.
Gold was first unearthed at Yandoit in 1854.

Above, from left, Jessica Bleachmore, Alison King, Luke Bryant, Sandra Polousi, Di Waters, Kath Mcmicken, Kevin Waters

Words: Kevin Childs | Images: David White

Hepburn Matters is calling on the Hepburn Shire Council to hold off on any decision to sell The Rex until the end of November and “commit in principle to a co-design process between the council and community, to explore and reach mutually satisfactory outcomes”.
The move comes as the council meets this Tuesday, July 19, to vote on Infrastructure and Delivery manager Bruce Lucas’ recommendation for the sale of the historic Daylesford building.
In his report, Mr Lucas said the council had received feedback that demonstrated how parts “of our community are invested in this asset and officers have endeavoured to balance the passionate feedback with the longer-term sustainability of council”. Mr Lucas said the council received 373 survey responses, “a strong response to community engagement”, with 66 per cent against selling The Rex, 30 per cent in favour and 4 per cent not sure or neutral.
He said retaining The Rex as a community asset was not viable with the costs now likely be in excess of $18 million – in addition to the costs already expended. This is estimated on a commercial building rate of $9000 / m2 for a facility of 2052m2.
Hepburn Matters president Jules McDonald said The Rex building offered exciting and broad opportunities for the community and visitors, creating social connection, nurturing and promoting arts and culture and potentially training future generations of young people in a variety of areas to prepare for local employment.
“It is time to explore strategic options for community fundraising, including community investment models, that can be rigorously assessed and applied in realising the potential of The Rex as a huge asset for the community as well as cost containment through stepwise development of a proportion of the building, such as the historic front section and sale of the adjoining house.
“While the purchase of The Rex building and other matters relating to the project remain under investigation by the Local Government Inspectorate, now is not the time to sell The Rex when a report of this investigation is pending. The community deserves transparency on this subject before further decisions are made.
“The Rex is too important to lose – once it is gone, it is gone.”
Words: Donna Kelly

‘Babble on’ Hanging Gardens
Old King Nebuchadnezzar II and his Babylonians certainly started something when they draped their multi-tiered citadels with lush greenery. They would, no doubt, have found success with quite a few plant species that would have barely survived out in the harsh desert below. For a start, they would certainly have faced less trouble with water supplies and maintenance of soil quality.
If you can be tempted to share in the pleasures of a hanging garden you won’t be desperate for garden space either nor do you necessarily need the expense of a greenhouse, unless you feel the urge to try your hand with a few exotics.
Hanging plants will take up precious little space in fact the bargain will be an added layer to your garden. Even then, your hanging plantings need not be restricted to suspended baskets or pots.
Although spectacular with their long pendulous trails of foliage and flowers, an even more spectacular effect can be obtained by draping container-borne pendulous plants over ledges, steps and shelves. Many plant species will thrive in small airborne containers, there are many more that require greater quantities of root space, so your range of suitable plants is wider than first thought.
For seasonal colour spectacles nothing can look better than hanging baskets or pots of cascading flowering annuals such as petunias, trailing lobelia or other similar plants, but only if you are prepared to spend the time, replanting at the end of each season.
I’m getting a little lazy in my old age so, after too many years of establishing too many gardens, I’m quite content to enjoy the pleasure of watching and tending the more permanent ferns, succulents etc.

Hanging baskets & pots
Always choose the largest basket you can find (up to 40cm), to allow for maximum amount of soil mix to allow for plenty of root growth and water. It will mean it will also be heavy, so you will need fairly strong supports. You should also set up some sort of watering system to avoid having to constantly move them. A simple black polypipe with tiny drippers would suit fine.
Hanging plant baskets come in many varieties and include wrought iron types, generally with open wire mesh sides. Whichever you choose, the basket will need to be lined before filling with soil. The traditional method was to first line the walls with hessian, or these days, shadecloth, and then, pack a layer of moistened sphagnum moss, coconut fibre or recycled wool. Alternatively you can purchase a pre-made fibre liner.
Your plants will grow best in specifically potting grade mix, or a home-made mix of well-rotted compost, sand and crumbly loam. A thin layer of composted autumn leaves or peatmoss will assist in keeping the soil moist. Remember, the basket sides are still very porous and subject to evaporation via the wind and, if open to sunlight and heat. If you aren’t too sure about using baskets, there are plenty of suitable plastic pots readily available at hardware and garden outlets.
If, like me, you would prefer to take the permanent option, there are copious evergreen and deciduous trailing plants to select from as well as the beautifully appropriate ferns, ivies and orchids.
Much the same applies to the sundry planter box and pot-grown trailing and weeping shrubs and weeping trees that can be situated on outdoor stairways and decks to complement your “hanging garden”.
I’ll cover that when I suggest some choice plants when we next meet in issue 259.

FOR many landholders controlling gorse is an uphill or lost battle, says Ron Cosgrave, chair of the Victorian Gorse Taskforce.
But it doesn’t have to be, he says.
“When you think about it, it’s not a hard weed to kill. Today you can find a wide range of gorse-appropriate herbicides on the market that will do the job well and if you have more money to spend you can even have it mechanically removed, which will leave you feeling like you never had a gorse problem to begin with, at least for a while.
“There are also huge benefits in bringing gorse under control, such as reducing the risk of fire, preventing devaluation of your property, and stopping feral animals from making your gorse their home.”
So why do landholders throw gorse into the too hard basket?
“We understand there are several barriers for landholders when it comes to controlling gorse, but we also know there is some misinformation out there too. We want to offer landholders fundamental information to increase their understanding and capacity on where and how to start controlling gorse. These key areas include planning, seed longevity and germination, control methods and follow-up.
“A good management plan can save you time and money. We encourage anyone battling gorse big or small to pull out their property map and start planning short and long-term goals. How do you know where to start though? It’s important to look at your infestation and consider where the risks are. Do you have gorse next to a fence line, an asset, bordering public land or roadsides? It’s also important to point out gorse has a high oil content and will burn under mild conditions, so if your gorse caught fire what is at risk?
“Let’s say you have a big gorse patch and some individual outliers on your property, you’re going to want to target the outliers first, they are likely to be smaller, easier to remove and you’ll be preventing it from becoming a bigger infestation. Then consider working on the perimeter of the large infestation, this will prevent further spreading and will keep it from producing more isolated patches. Planning will help outline the necessary steps needed to prevent the growth and spread of your infestation and stop it from jumping the fence to your clean neighbour’s property.”
Mr Cosgrave said it was also critical that follow-up was possible.
“There is no point spending big on primary control when you are unlikely to have time and money for the follow-up in the subsequent years, you’ll just make the problem worse. The aim of the game is to stop the gorse from seeding, so plan your gorse follow-up annually and treat the plants before they go to seed.”
Mr Cosgrave said the longevity of the gorse seed was 30 years plus. Which means when gorse ejects seeds it may stay dormant in the soil for decades.
“Understanding different types of control methods will also put you in a good position to appropriately consider which one is right for you. We’ve spoken to many landholders that engaged contractors to mulch their gorse down. It cost them thousands, but they forgot to ask the contractor what follow-up will be required in the future. When you mulch gorse, you just remove the above-ground plant, no herbicide is applied so the plant hasn’t been killed, the mulched plants will grow back, and you’ve exposed the area, so more seeds germinate. The takeaway here is do your research on methods of control you are interested in or being offered and ask questions about what to expect in the following years.”
Mr Cosgrave said the taskforce encouraged landholders to learn about gorse before trying to control it, to map out and plan control based on risks, high value and clean areas for protection.
“We can assure you that many gorse success stories started with a property map rolled out across the car bonnet or the kitchen table. Ensure you understand the control method you want to employ; and remember all methods will require follow- up to prevent seeding again.
“By making an effort to consider these key areas landholders can avoid wasting time, money and their patience. The taskforce website is a fantastic place to start building your knowledge base, it offers everything landholders need to know before they start.”

Link: www.vicgorsetaskforce.com.au

FIRST we had the vaccine stroll out, now we have a new federal government and we apparently have the antivirals stroll out.
Both are game changers but it’s like “they” just don’t want to quite hand them out. But they are really happy to spruik about how good they are.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler has been busy telling Australians to have a conversation with their doctor about getting the antivirals. And just last week “they” decided all Australians aged over 70 who test positive to Covid will be able to access antivirals on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Fantastic. Until you read the fine print. I thought people would just be able to contact their doctor, talk about their risks, and be given a script for the antivirals – all ready to combat Covid when needed. Simples, right?
Nah, “they” wouldn’t do anything like that. So you have the chat with your doctor, they tell you that, yes, you should take them if you get Covid – and within a few days of symptoms.
But what “they” are not saying is that if you get Covid, and you actually have a RAT that works and does indeed come up with the dreaded double lines, you then need to book an appointment to get a “medically supervised” RAT test and then get the antivirals. And then, while isolating, you go to a chemist to get them doled out.
So, here is what I don’t quite get. Who do you book a supervised RAT test with now that most testing sites have wound up, and if you head for a doctors you have Buckley’s chance of getting in when you explain you actually do have Covid. Hard enough to see someone when you have a negative test but have a cough or wheeze. Not only that, but if you find a doctor who is happy to PPE up, they are pretty much booked out for a few weeks in advance these days – and the window for antivirals to work is tiny. Five days at the most.
I do realise it is a whole new world happening with Covid – well, almost 30 months on – it just seems that Australia is always lagging behind the rest of that new world. But always happy to grab the headlines with never-ending media releases.
Talking of media releases, you may have read journalist Kevin Childs’ horror health stories in the last edition. We all have them.
Anyway, it was published after emails, more than one, to the Health Department and new Health and Ambulance Minister, and our very own Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas, received no replies. But on the Monday of publication, the department found its voice and called and texted to say they could not find those emails but would like a right of reply. Hmmm. Both Kevin and I keep our emails and they were there, but you know, in the spirit of fairness, OK.
So I just sent Kevin’s entire story – about five or six examples of people being really let down by the health system in our state. And got an email back asking for specific questions. So I sent questions. And on Wednesday last week I got the “right of reply” back. Again, hmmm. Just a long, rubbishy media spin about all “they” are doing to fix the system including $236 million to double emergency department capacity in Casey and Werribee.
I am sorry but I couldn’t give a stuff about Casey and Werribee and that was not what I asked about. I want to know if Daylesford and Ballarat Base hospitals are coping, if regional ambulances can attend people in need, if we have enough doctors for the influx of new residents, or if elective surgery will continue for those with bad backs and hips and knees. And it’s not a personal query, it’s on behalf of readers who don’t have access to important information. But I guess I don’t either, just sayin’…

I DON’T seem to have much luck with online ordering.
There was the plane that mesmerised me on Instagram with a wingspan of 1.8 metres and promises of going from amphibious to airborne in seconds with some new tech jet engine. However, when it arrived it was simply a 10cm tin toy with flashing lights and traction wheels. A quick check on the company who sold it and its ratings were abysmal. And, like my $US50, it had pretty much disappeared.
My postal-ordering dysfunctionality started as a child of eight. I guess I was at a loose end, my parents had split and I shared a small room with my two sisters in a tiny two-bedroom flat in Whangarei, New Zealand. I had found an advert in a cartoon magazine which promised to deliver plans on how to build a submarine in the backyard so I upped the ante to $2, popped it into the mail and waited with bated breath for my plans to materialise. Nothing arrived.
But I did not give up. In another magazine I tore out an advert for sea monkeys which showed mum and dad sea monkeys and lots of children sea monkey creatures, all floating around with big smiles having great lives. I hadn’t quite come to terms with how big these creatures would be or how they would be delivered or even in which part of our tiny little flat they would reside. There were other questions like did they live in water permanently or just require a bath a day, as we had one of those. We also had a creek that ran out the back of the flats where all the divorcees’ kids would play but this raised a whole other set of questions. I could settle the sea monkeys in the creek but amongst the wildlife down there was a huge legendary eel we called Jaws. The rumour was it could gobble down whole ducklings from the surface although none of us kids had actually seen this happen. Once again I sent my hard-earned, actually hard-found or probably hard-stolen, pocket money away with no result.
Fast forward slightly south of half a century (that’s scary) and I tried to order some online booze for our stay in the northern beaches of Cairns a few weeks ago. I was simply trying to stay out of the busy Dan Murphy’s store and tried to organise a click and collect from Smithfield – about nine kilometres from our BnB. After half an hour of setting up an account I was in. We were going to be there for a few weeks so my goal was to order two boxes of quaffable wine and one box of nice sippable wine.
The order went through and multiple texts and emails came through saying my order was on its way. On the way? It turned out I had put an order in for delivery which was dispatched from Burleigh on the Gold Coast, some 1800 kilometres away and was to be delivered in 10 working days. I then had a riveting conversation with a “bot” on the computer, was issued a complaint number and told, by the bot texting, they were going to stop the process and refund my money.
About a week later I got a card in the letterbox to say the booze was at the local post office waiting for collection. There, after queuing in a state where people don’t know about social distancing or covering their mouths if they cough, I found just two, extremely well-packed, bottles of the quaffable and the ordered box of the sippable.
With no idea about my refund or where my extra booze has gone, I sit here dry and frustrated chatting to my bot friend.
It is nice to be able to shop local again, rant over…

Five

Take five
by four
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
Take a moment
to ease down and recharge

Take five cents
the Australian echidna clad coin
the American Jefferson nickel
the full digital complement of foot
hand and starfish appendage

Take the back number
for gliding Nathan Buckley
titanic Gary Ablett
and nifty Neville Crowe
the old Tiger warrior

Take the Roman V
the poker hand
win or lose
the end of the working day
the o’clock shadow

Take a high five
a star quality hotel room
you can’t afford
the only Fibonacci number
equal to its position

Take the only prime
that is the sum
of two consecutive primes
the most destructive
hurricane category
Take the trad number of senses
the faces of Shiva
the Pillars of Islam
the books of Moses
the Olympic rings

Take the Jackson
the Dave Clark
the Furious sidekicks
of Grandmaster Flash
the Famous

Take the time in seconds
as a rule of thumb
for edible dropped food
the Thunderbirds Space Station
the feet in iambic pentameter

The Slaughterhouse
the cadre of US
Supreme
Court
judges

-Bill Wootton

Bill just remembered Five Years by David Bowie but it missed the cut here.

More than 50 people attended a snap rally in Gisborne last Friday, called by the Wombat Action Group to voice their concerns about the VicForests’ salvage logging in the Wombat State Forest.
Members of Landcare and Friends groups, Wombat Forestcare members and the Sybil Disobedients rallied to demand that the Victorian Government cease the environmentally destructive salvage logging in the Wombat State Forest and legislate the promised Wombat-Lerderderg National Park.
The rally moved to the office of Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas to deliver a letter of demand.
Wombat Forestcare president Gayle Osborne said in 2021 the Victorian Government undertook to create a new Wombat-Lerderderg National Park but instead they authorised a “log grab” by VicForests.
“This salvage logging operation has seen hectares of forest cleared for machinery and log storage, wide tracks carved through the forest and heaps of inflammable branches and bark created,” she said.
“The Wombat State Forest has conservation values that make it worthy of national park status, yet the government has failed to legislate the park and failed to protect its threatened species including the greater glider, recently listed as endangered.
“The industrial scale ‘salvage’ logging by VicForests is being promoted as reducing bushfire risk, but instead is destroying critical habitat for wildlife. It has become overwhelmingly clear that this operation is a log grab to prop up a failing industry.”

IN THE last edition of The Local, journalist Kevin Childs wrote of the sick state of the health system.
He talked, anonymously, to a number of healthcare workers who outlined myriad examples of people being badly let down by the system.
At the time, Kevin and editor Donna Kelly both wrote to ministerial staffers of Health and Ambulance Minister, and Macedon MP, Mary-Anne Thomas offering right of reply – sending the entire article one and two weeks prior to publication. No reply came before deadline.
After publication, Ms Kelly was contacted by a ministerial staffer who said the emails could not be found. The staffer then said there had been some changes in the public relations area of the new minister and asked for the email to be sent again to four separate email addresses.
The staffer then wrote back and asked for specific questions. Ms Kelly sent this:
“As Kevin has outlined we have been given many examples of the health system not working. So, how are you going to fix the system?
“Will the average person be able to get the treatment they need, Covid or otherwise? What is the next step in the pandemic – will you mandate masks as epidemiologists have asked for?
“What credibility does the average person put into the health system? When will ambulance ramping stop? When will a fourth vaccine be available for all those who want them knowing that the vaccine wanes after four months?
“Finally, a story from this week, a bloke living in Daylesford calls 000 and gets an ambulance crew turning up because he is close to dying with Covid. He asks to go to hospital for monitoring because he lives alone but is told he will be on a chair if he goes in for the night. When will that stop?”
The staffer replied last Wednesday with the following, attributable to a Victorian Government spokesperson.
“Every health system around the country has been under unprecedented pressure and we’re investing billions to get it back on track as quickly as possible and help manage the ongoing impacts of the Covid-19 global pandemic, deferred care and a spike in influenza cases.
“The $12 billion Pandemic Repair Plan is delivering record levels of funding and resourcing to expand and upgrade our hospitals, improve patient care, reduce the surgery waitlist and ensure staff are well supported. This includes a $1.5 billion investment to increase surgical activity beyond pre-pandemic levels by providing 40,000 extra surgeries in the next year – reducing the waitlist and building up to a record 240,000 surgeries annually by 2024.
“Our Pandemic Repair Plan includes getting more paramedics on the road, more Triple Zero call takers, expanding emergency departments and the training and recruitment of up to 7000 healthcare workers to reinforce our health system.
“We’ve invested heavily in system changes and new and expanded programs like Better at Home, Covid Positive Pathways and the Virtual Emergency Department run out of Northern Hospital. They all work to increase bed availability in our hospitals, decrease pressure on emergency departments and ease ramping issues.
“The Pandemic Repair Plan will include: Training and hiring up to 7000 healthcare workers, of which 5000 are nurses; More paramedics, more support for paramedics and increased capacity for Triple Zero call-takers and dispatchers; An unprecedented package to recruit, train, upskill and support healthcare workers across the sector, helping relieve pressure on the system and improving care for all Victorians; $2.3 billion to upgrade and build new hospitals, including $236 million to double emergency department capacity in Casey and Werribee; A record investment in surgical capacity across the state to give Victorians the specialist care they need before they end up in the emergency department; and Funding to manage the pandemic across our health system and in the community into the future.
“The Department strongly encourages Victorians to remain up to date with their vaccines, in particular people eligible for third and fourth doses, and to stay home if unwell and test for Covid-19.The wearing of masks and measures to make indoor air safer will have a significant impact in reducing transmission of the BA.4/5 sub-variants and help to reduce the demand on our health system.
“Masks are strongly recommended in shared indoor settings, if you can’t physically distance or you are with those more vulnerable to Covid-19. Improve ventilation by opening doors and windows, using fans or purifiers, and gathering outside where possible.
“Face masks are still required for everyone aged eight and above in some locations, including on public transport, rideshares and taxis, and in sensitive settings such as hospitals and care facilities. They are also required by household contacts in quarantine who meet the criteria for leaving home.”
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The former Kyneton Primary School is being repurposed to deliver a thriving creative precinct for the local community.
Development of the masterplan – led by future site operator Working Heritage and local architect Winwood Mckenzie – is now under way. Link: www. engage.vic.gov.au/old-kyneton-primary-school-redevelopment