Central Highlands Water and Hepburn Shire Council have launched two new Choose Tap drinking fountains at Doug Lindsay Recreation Reserve, Creswick.
The fountains will provide easy access to quality drinking water, in a sustainable way, to the Creswick community as well as many user groups across the precinct, including the Creswick Football Netball Club, Creswick Bowling Club, Creswick Soccer Club, Creswick Cricket Club and Doug Lindsay Reserve Committee of Management.

Small Space Music and Radio Springs Hotel present the Magic Lantern Sessions #4 – live improvised music scores with classic silent movies – on July 31.
The fourth session features the 1924 Soviet film Aelita; Queen Of Mars, arguably the first ever science fiction film. Tickets: www.trybooking.com

Christmas in July, HRCC’s major fundraiser is coming up in Daylesford on Wednesday, July 27.
The charity is hoping to hit their fundraising target of $50,000 – and it will mean they can help those in the Daylesford and Hepburn community who need it most.
The event includes a two-course dinner, auction and entertainment. Almost 50 businesses in the region have donated goods, services and gift vouchers to be auctioned off at the event.
Tickets at www.trybooking.com/CAAUN and/or donate goods or services by contacting Wendy Berry via info@hepburnregionalcommunitycheer.org.au

The Trentham Historical Society has been awarded a $9000 grant to install equipment that will enhance the storage and protection of the existing collection and improve the society’s capability for further historical research for the community.
Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas announced the funding and said the society was “a wonderful asset for the region ensuring the stories of the past continue to be told”. “This funding will enable the Trentham Historical Society to undertake vital upgrades to its infrastructure and facilities, to enhance its collection and attract more visitors.”

Liquor giant Dan Murphy’s may be coming to Daylesford.
Endeavour Group Limited applied to the Liquor Control Victoria on July 13 to grant it a packaged liquor licence for 63 Central Springs Road.
Daniel Murphy opened his first liquor store in 1952 in Prahran. After growing his business to five stores across Victoria, he sold to Woolworths in 1998. In 2019, Woolworths restructured its alcoholic drinks business to form the Endeavour Group which also owns BWS along with Young & Jackson in Melbourne.
Objections can be made within 30 days of the application if granting the application would detract from, or be detrimental to the amenity of the area and/or would be conducive to, or encourage, the misuse or abuse of alcohol.

Three hundred forest firefighters are being recruited to help keep Victorians safe over the upcoming fire season.
Recruitment opened last week for firefighters to work with Forest Fire Management Victoria over summer, encouraging Victorians who are passionate about protecting their communities and the environment.
The firefighters will be based at more than 80 locations throughout the state and new positions are for a range of seasonal roles including general firefighters, fire support officers and rappel crews.
Applications close July 31.

Dogs on leads please

One of the biggest delights of living in Trentham is the wildlife.
The kangaroos right in town, the diverse birdlife in our Quarry Street and Stoney Creek reserves, and visits from echidnas, wallabies and wombats throughout the year.
I also love dogs. Trentham is home to oodles of cavoodles, spoodles, labradoodles, and many other breeds of dogs, owned by residents and visitors. I meet wonderful people walking my dog, a daily pleasure.
Yet I frequently see dogs off lead, not under the owner’s control, wandering, chasing, and at times frightening other dogs, their owners, and wildlife in our parks and on the Domino Trail that starts in town. I also see lots of dog poo on nature strips and along paths and tracks, which is pretty unpleasant.
Apparently dogs are required by local law to remain on lead in town, and council has provided handy doggy bags to take care of doggy business. Excellent – that’s if these measures are respected.
In the recent past my dog and I have had to fend off aggressive dogs on the loose on several separate occasions. The owners are not in control, always seem surprised, and are often unapologetic.
There is very little if any signage in town to remind people to keep their dogs on leads, and no appropriate fenced-in dog park where they can safely run free. Trentham’s population of dogs and owners has grown dramatically, so I implore council and dog owners to take responsibility for their dog and their dog’s business.
I would like us all to be able to enjoy the smell of nature, not what we have just stepped in, and to feel safe walking in our neighbourhood.

• Mez Lanigan, Trentham

I think regardless of who wins the Big Rainbow, Daylesford should build one anyway.
It would attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Hepburn Shire and spread equality throughout the community. Imagine if you could drive under it as you descended to Leonards Hill Hall where there’s heaps of parking. The monthly Sunday market would go off.
I think the long-term locals need to realise that the Hepburn Shire is a tourist town and a Big Rainbow would be a money spinner. This would be a much better investment than The Rex which I think, like the swimming pool, has become a dinosaur.

• Chris Hartigan, Barkstead

The Big Rainbow

I’m writing in response to Yvonne Fix’s article titled Big Rainbow that appeared in the Your Say section of Issue 257.
When I first moved to this area five years ago, I applied for a job at a local law firm. During the interview my potential employer thought it appropriate to remark that “gay people sure do seem to move around a lot”.
I never got to explain to this person why – as offensive as it was – they were correct, but I’d like to try and explain it now by responding to Yvonne.
Yvonne, when I read your letter, I see you using terms like “us” and “them”, and it makes me so incredibly sad. Why do we have to be like this with each other?
What makes this area unique is the fact that we do have a varied group of people – they come from all walks of life, lived experiences, political persuasions and economic positions. This is what I love about the area. There is always someone new to meet, and you’re probably gonna love ’em, or hate ’em! It keeps life interesting, and it certainly keeps me on my toes.
You use terms like “complete takeover” and “we are in a minority these days” and “they are fighting back and succeeding”. We don’t want to erase your story or deny you your identity, and if you genuinely believe that same courtesy should be applied to everyone – regardless of their sexual orientation – you might have a different opinion on the Big Rainbow.
Despite all your sins against the gays (I can say that because I am one), the greatest sin you committed in your letter was comparing the loss of your “identity” to what our ancestors did to our First Nations peoples. Yvonne, no one is dispossessing you of your land and locking you up. Please get some perspective and show some respect.
Your coded language around concern for visiting “families” completely misses the point of who and why people visit this area. It is a safe haven for everyone, which is what makes it so attractive. From what I can tell, the tourists that visit our area are a diverse bunch of people, many of them with very “different” views as you say – including families.
The qualities that represent queerness – inclusivity, acceptance, pride in yourself – are qualities that should be and are celebrated by most members of our community. The Big Rainbow also makes sense economically – Daylesford and its surrounds takes in a lot of business from queer folk – a large tourist attraction in their honour that drives more income into the community isn’t exactly a terrible idea…
I agree it is always important to look back Yvonne, especially in the name of learning our lessons and trying to improve upon them, but we need to look forward, too.
There is a reason why gay people move around a lot – it’s because we have trouble finding spaces where we don’t have to feel inferior, othered, or attacked. Words cannot express how bloody proud I am to live in a town, in a community, in a shire that embraces me and treats me as an equal. That has not been my experience in other areas of Victoria, and I think that’s worth celebrating in these bleakish-but-hopefully-getting-better times.
That’s what the Big Rainbow would represent to me, if we were lucky enough to win it.

• Adam Fawcett, Hepburn Springs

An advert in the local paper – and his wife’s avid reading – led Peter Matthews to the Board of Kyneton District Health. After almost a decade as a board director, including a long stint as board chair, the Woodend local is stepping down from the now Central Highlands Rural Health.
Emeritus Professor Peter Matthews landed an interview for a KDH board position in 2013. At the time, KDH faced significant community engagement challenges. Peter recalled that the health service seemed to have lost its way.
“The level of care was not the problem, it was understanding who we are and what we do. A health service can’t offer everything – it can’t be everything to all people – but if someone turns up unwell, we either need to know how to look after them, or know where they need to go.”
Peter has lived and worked in rural communities most of his life. He’s also forged a leadership career in the arts and academia. But for Peter, the local community context remained front and centre.
“It gave KDH staff such a sense of achievement to have made it through a rough patch and out the other side. There were a couple of community-based events – an open day and tree planting day which had an impact, and the local Treehouse program has had an impact too.
“The amalgamation with Hepburn Health to become CHRH was a big challenge and achievement. We made sure to incorporate the local history of each health service and named each campus after the area – Clunes Health, Creswick Health, Daylesford Health, Kyneton Health and Trentham Health.”
The pandemic hit three months after the amalgamation. And yet the merger was a smooth experience for staff and local people. “The first 100 days after an amalgamation are critical, and the way staff adjusted, and then responded to COVID, was inspirational. The challenge resulted in us working more closely together with other health services. It was a common problem that needed a common solution.
“I have learnt to keep an open mind and to distil ideas, not dilute them. I tried to pull out the core idea from what everyone’s saying, to capture the story – what are we doing, why are we doing it, and who will do what?”
Link: www.chrh.org.au/articles/farewell-and-thank-you-to-peter-matthews-board-chair/

TRENTHAM artist and PR legend Peter Young passed away last Thursday, July 14, after a short illness.
His own Twitter handle describes him as: “Former Cricket Aust head of public affairs-turned-slow-left-arm painter. Of canvases, not houses.”
In 2015, Little Gallery ran a short piece on Facebook to promote a “Talk with Artist” the following weekend. It said: “Peter Young sold cartoons to his local newspaper as a schoolboy, has drawn all his life, and has haunted galleries for decades. But he came late to painting, picking up a brush after 42 years of media and corporate life, the last 25 as head of corporate affairs at Ansett, Medibank Private and, most recently, at Cricket Australia.”
In Trentham, Peter and his wife Sally were involved in many organisations including Spudfest, the Trentham Urban Sketch Club and the Little Gallery. Peter was also always ready to knock out a media release for any group needing a bit of publicity. Sally and Peter also loved to travel and many people loved reading their grey nomad trials and tribulations with Neurotica the dog on Facebook.
Ed’s note: The Local was lucky enough to entice Peter to write now and again and feature some of his fantastic art. His latest piece ran in the June 20 edition with his painting on the front cover. The Local crew are all, like so many others, devastated by his passing. Pete, you have left us too soon and we’ll miss you. You touched the lives of so many people and your legacy will live on through them. Hope they have a brush and easel up there – and they get your fantastic sense of humour. (The family has requested, in lieu of flowers, donations to curebraincancer.org.au or your favourite charity.)

DAYLESFORD’s David Endacott has sadly passed away after an accident on July 1, just short of his 76th birthday.
David, born on July 25, 1946, was the son of Norman and Joan (nee Poynter) and brother of John, Judy and Barbara.
A private cremation has been held.
A memorial service to celebrate David’s life will be held at the Verey Chapel, 43A Millar Street, Daylesford on Monday, July 25 at 1.30pm.
David was born in Sandringham, when his father Norm was finishing his Forestry degree at Melbourne University. In an 2021 article in the Victorian Forestry Heritage publication, David said his first memories were of the Upper Murray Forest district and, after the 1953 move to Daylesford, the Wombat State Forest. His working life was in manufacturing and toolmaking.
David served on several forest and land management advisory committees, notably a 30-plus-year stint on a ministerial advisory committee, the Victorian Mineral Water Committee.
He was a local historian, publisher of local history and had previously been a long serving curator of the Daylesford Museum and on the committee of the Central Highlands Historical Association. He worked closely with John Wright on the publication of A Fraternity of Foresters.
In The Local’s May 4, 2022 edition, journalist Kevin Childs and photographer Kyle Barnes headed out with historian Norman Houghton and David, pictured, for an article titled, Making tracks: the timeless history of our trees. Kyle said he worked hard to keep up with David as he strode through the forest.
*Editor’s note: The Local will run a feature article about David in an upcoming issue. Vale David – you are, and will be, missed.

The Mount Players are currently in rehearsal for its third show for 2022, Reservoir Dogs, due to open August 19.
Meanwhile auditions are scheduled for its fourth show in November and the Players have welcomed new director, Vicki Smith, to bring her own creative touch to the acclaimed Australian drama, When The Rain Stops Falling by Andrew Bovell.
Bovell is a well-known playwright having written the play Speaking in Tongues which was the basis for the successful film Lantana and he also co-wrote the screenplay for Strictly Ballroom.
Vicki, now based in Trentham, has been involved in theatre for 40 years both in Perth and Melbourne and in many capacities. She originally started out as an actor but when she moved to Melbourne around 20 years ago, she was given the opportunity to direct.
She has staged many successful productions, from classic to modern, across a number of theatre groups in Melbourne.
While Vicki has loved some of the period plays she has directed with realistic and detailed sets and beautiful costumes, she enjoys the challenge of staging modern pieces with a minimal set and limited furniture and props. Such will be the case with this production.
When the Rain Stops Falling is told through the interconnected stories of two families spanning four generations of dysfunction in a lineage of secrets, abandonment, and searching for answers.
It travels backwards and forwards through time as each generation struggles to come to terms with family, legacy, abandonment and betrayal, inherited secrets, and the search for connection and forgiveness. It starts with a prediction in London in 1959 and ends in Australia eighty years later.
Vicki will be conducting auditions on July 23 and 24 for eight roles of various ages. Rehearsals will commence in August with performance dates of November 4-20.
Details and tickets: www.themountplayers.com

The Daylesford Parish launched its Ukraine Appeal in late April 2022 and is currently remitting close to $800 to the Anglican Diocese of Europe who are managing this appeal and the distribution of aid.
Spokesperson Frank Page said the parish was very grateful for the wider Daylesford community who have also supported the appeal.
The Anglican Diocese in Europe has already raised more than $A600,000 for Ukraine. This fundraising has come from England, the US, Japan, Bangladesh and Australia. Some of the refugee support provided through these funds have included: help with accommodation and transport in Warsaw, Poland; establishment of a day centre in Budapest, Hungary; provision of a hostel in Budapest, Hungary; provision of a community centre in Helsinki, Finland; provision of food and shelter in Riga, Latvia; funds to the Anglican Parish of Christ Church in Kyiv, Ukraine; and new projects being developed.
Partners in this support include The Lutheran World Federation and Caritas.
“Our name-sake Anglican Parish of Christ Church in Kyiv, Ukraine has been a obvious concern for our parish.
“Christina Laschenko, church warden, wrote on Friday, June 3, a day that marked the 100th day of Russia’s attack on Ukraine. ‘People in Kyiv do their best to live normal lives: they gather friends to celebrate birthday parties, go to the Opera House, attend museums with new exhibitions, and volunteer day and night for the needs of the army and internally displaced people.
‘And, of course, people call to God. Religious life in war-torn Kyiv is quite intense. People are resolute to overcome any obstacles to get to places of worship to pray together for the lives of Ukrainian people, for the success of the Ukrainian Army, for the victory of Ukraine. We encourage you to join us in prayer for restoration of peaceful life in Ukraine. We want to rebuild the houses, to plant gardens, to raise children and to overcome the wounds of war through the joy of new life.’
Mr Page said Christina’s words and the daily reporting of the ongoing war had encouraged the Parish to continue its Ukraine appeal “and to continue to hold the people of Ukraine in our prayers and thoughts”.
Donations can be made at: Account Name: Anglican Parish of Daylesford, BSB: 633 000, Acount number: 165242702, Reference: Ukraine Appeal.

ALISON Parkinson was raised in a farming family and had all the space in the world to explore in the Warracknabeal district where “the lands are flat with the biggest skies”. Her creative mother always had a project on the kitchen table, teaching her three children how to sew, cook and garden and the watching of satellites in the night sky, naming the constellations, inspiring them in the ways of beauty and how to question. Alison’s father worked the land, instilling in her, her sister and brother, an amazing work ethic. She told her story to Donna Kelly.

Donna: When did you realise you were an artist?
Alison: I remember being in grade three and we were doing art. Next thing my work was being shown to the class and to the other teachers. I had faithfully reproduced a scene of poplars and a stream which hung on the wall. I made pots with the clay on the dam banks, jewellery at an early age buying copper from the local plumber using Dad’s anvil and my grandfather’s plenishing hammer to make rings and bracelets. I was accepted in Gould’s League of Birdlovers’ competitions. Loving art, I had learnt from watching my mother’s Paint by Numbers. My grandparents’ art collection was incredible. There were paintings by family members, very old paintings and a reverence of my drawings as they were pegged up in their lounge room. This all lead to me attending art school in Ballarat. In 1969 the farming space was reshaped by buildings and lots of people, excitement. The creative possibilities were endless in four years of discovering.

Donna: You have a number of mediums…
Alison: I adore line, paint and clay and silver slips in there as well.

Donna: How do you switch from one form of art to another? Is it seamless?
Alison: Drawing has been the foundational discipline. Teaching me how to see, to design, to do my compositions and to transpose the human figure from two dimensions to the three dimensions of sculpture. When I am contemplating a sculpture I hire a model. I draw from at least four views, giving me profiles to check with on my clay work. The joy of discovering the likeness of someone in a lump of cold wet clay is fabulous. My recent experience of having a bust cast in bronze and then overseeing the patination process has me contemplating: “How can I do more of this?” A highly addictive and hugely expensive process.
My paintings are generally portraits or landscapes. The lines of the hills or trees or paddocks or face or body have the same requirement, to see, to work like a cartographer. Everything in relationship to the last feature. The oil paint colours laid on, juxtaposed in light and shade or subtle shifting hues to round the cheekiness of the hill. And then when I need a change I go to the silver that continues the childhood story with the plumber’s copper. Yes, a seamless story of weaving modalities. Responding to a commission, a whim or an urge.

Donna: What is your artistic inspiration?
Alison: I am inspired by beauty, when my heart leaps and I look at someone or something that has a classical air or something that says to me: “Pay attention”. I wish to help bring a smile or relief or enquiry from the viewer. To find the emotional reflection in my work that resonates or the landscape that unfolds into the distance.

Donna: How did you fare over Covid? (Not that Covid is quite over…)
Alison: Oh Covid, oh Covid. Well I painted for 18 months, I painted the hills in this area as they evolved through 12 months of summer, autumn, winter and spring. I painted 100 paintings. All the same size and hung them up in my studio. They are like wallpaper. The dilemma: “I don’t want to separate them” – so there they stay. I loved the excuse to stay at home. Now I love the excuse to go out.

Donna: Do you feel like the artistic scene is returning to the public at large?
Alison: I do feel that like the drawing back of the stage curtain, the arts are slowly showing themselves again. Music is back and people are becoming more courageous about going out. A freedom reclaimed.

Donna: Where can we see your work?
Alison: Little Gallery Trentham – The Winter Show between July 15 and August 8. I am delighted to be invited to exhibit in this beautiful, light gallery with nine other invited artists. I met the Little Gallery group through having participated in the DMROS open Studio Trail pre-Covid. Such a professional creatively diverse group of artists. I was delighted when the invitation to participate arrived and now the time is here. Worth a drive to Trentham.
I also have work displayed at the Convent Gallery, Daylesford and at Leaver’s Wine Bar in Creswick. I have recently had work in the Toorak Village Sculpture Prize and have packed up my poster exhibition last week from Blake’s window in Creswick. And there is always work to see, if attending my studio, by making an appointment. My Instagram Account alison.parki10 has a comprehensive overview of my creating.