Horoscopes July 18^th to August 1^st

All signs:

The planets are on the move again, quickly zipping through the signs and giving us all a different flavor from the past fortnight. Mercury is moving very quickly, and only spent two short weeks traversing the sign of Cancer and now moves forward into Leo. Mercury in Leo can see us communicating in a way that’s more uplifting and positive, maybe a bit more superficial and self centered. A change from Mercury in Cancer where it was more about others, deep emotional connections, a sympathetic ear, or shoulder to cry on. The Sun is also moving into the sign of Leo, putting further emphasis on our desire to be in the spotlight, take the lead and usher others along for the ride with us. Leo energy is warm, charming, and insightful but not the best when it comes to putting other first, like Cancerian energy does. If you’ve been floundering a little lately, Leo season might help you sharpen up the image of what it is that you want to go after and the confidence to do it.

Venus is also changing signs from Gemini to Cancer, trailing behind Mercury and the Sun. Venus in Cancer loves to feather the nest at home, buying beautiful things to enjoy in our private spaces and make them more comfortable. A great time to have your nearest and dearest around for a meal, nourishment for body and soul. Read on to see how you might harness the power of the planets. If you know your rising sign, start there first.

Aries:

Your desire to feather the nest is strongest of all the twelve signs! Fair Venus has entered the part of your chart associated with home and family and oh how she loves her trinkets. Make your home feel as inviting and welcome as possible. It doesn’t mean that you’ve got to buy a new velvet sofa, but a bunch of flowers or just shifting around the furniture that you’ve got can bring a freshness to your space. There is also a focus on having some fun in the coming month, through play, creativity, and leisure activities. We can’t all be super productive all the time and finding a hobby that you can do just for fun without the pressures of monetizing it can help with balancing out the stresses in life. Jump in and take the class or workshop that you’ve been eyeing off, you won’t regret it.

Taurus:

You are more charming than usual in this coming month, negotiating skills are improved and even your pick-up lines are better received! If you’ve been a bit of a wall flower lately, this can be a good time to ask out that secret crush! Mars is still giving you energy, passion, and confidence, so what are you waiting for? Your home is also highlighted right now, a little spring clean won’t go amiss, getting your cupboards organized and refreshing your space is a great idea. A decluttered space can often help soothe a cluttered mind. Memories and past family times might be floating around, using this energy to organise scrap books and photo albums (digital or tangible) can be a great way to reminisce and tidy things up. If you find that you are dwelling on the not-so-great pastimes, you can rewrite your history, finding forgiveness for others and some tea and sympathy for yourself as the lead character.

Gemini:

This is a time of year, each year when you might have a little extra cash to splash (maybe a little income tax return) and you want to buy yourself something lovely and luxurious. Mind-set, thoughts, communication, and ideas are highlighted for you over the next four weeks, giving you the opportunity to address any of these topics that you would like to change. Starting a mindfulness practice or journal, positive affirmations and resolutions can help you create a happier internal space. You will have a greater ability to master one or more of these skills at this time, you might find that you are flooded with ideas and your memory is sharp. Writing and communication are your thing right now, if you’ve ever wanted to start a blog or a book, this is your time to shine.

Cancer:

When harmonious Venus enters your sign, pampering yourself is the order of the day. Get yourself to the day spa if you can, or even to the hairdresser/barber to freshen up your look, purchase a new piece of clothing for your wardrobe if your budget allows. On a less surface level energetic, this can be a time when you are more diplomatic, charming, and able to disarm any adversary. Your focus might also be on money, assets, and possessions. Your ability to close deals, scrutinize the fine print and even learn more about financial products is heightened, making you a most formidable opponent right now. You might be better able to repay a loan, balance the books or finally get around to fixing any broken possessions at home.

Leo:

It’s Leo season, when it is finally your time to shine. The lead up to this can be a little bit bleak for some, more reflective for others, prompting you to take stock of where you are at so that you know what direction to move to when the Sun is shining its favourable light on you. Venus is moving into a place that is asking Leo’s to show themselves a little love and kindness, sometimes you can get caught up in lifting others that you forget to take a little time to give yourself some of that goodness too. This month sees a time when you want to focus on yourself, Leo’s tend to lead others and all that that entails, often neglecting to inspire yourself, to contemplate the best next steps for you as an individual. Birthday time is great for setting a new course or a little course correction if you aren’t pointed to the place on the horizon that you want to reach.

Virgo:

Birthday time is just around the corner, which means that the Sun and Mercury are offering you the opportunity to reflect and take stock in your life. It’s a time when you might want to shy away from others and duck off for a little alone time. Turns out that the band Chicago had it right – everybody needs a little time away. It’s hard to pour from an empty cup, if you can take some to time to fill yours, you will be much better placed to pour for others. It’s the one time we get each year to nourish ourselves, if you can’t physically get away, immersing yourself in an insightful book or podcast, a mindful activity or hobby that you enjoy each day can help just as much. Magnetic Venus might be bringing friends to your door this month too, make sure that you guard your ‘yes’ as best you can.  

Libra:

The Sun is shining on your friendships this month, bringing you closer together or even helping you to cultivate new friendships. Chats with mates will be smooth and plentiful, a good opportunity to reinforce the ties that bind your closest friendships and tighten up any bonds that might have loosened up over time. You are charming and magnetic in your career setting, bringing positive opportunities your way. If you have lost a bit of the love for your chosen path, this might be a time when you rekindle the passion for what you do out in the world, weather it’s a traditional type of career or if you’re a care giver to someone in your life. Be on the look-out for people that do what they love, what they are passionate about in hopes that it might give you some inspiration or gratitude for what you get to do on a daily basis.

Scorpio:

This month can be a fabulous time to revisit or revise your career goals. If it’s been a while since you have checked-in or even set some goals, now is the time to do that. If you’re overwhelmed at work, try to find ways to delegate, simplify or streamline your tasks where possible. The Sun is at the top of your chart, casting a flattering light upon you, giving you new opportunities to shine under the spotlight. On a more internal note, you might find enjoyment in further study, foreign cultures, or art works. These might help to inspire you or broaden your horizons. When there is so much emphasis on work, it can be easy to let life’s pleasures slip through the cracks. Nature, art, and music can offer solace as well as being muses for new ideas and directions that we want to pursue.

Sagittarius:

Late July to late August might see you contemplating the bigger picture type of topics in life. You might be literally contemplating the heavens with the new NASA photo drop! Or perhaps you are thinking about places to jet off to, new adventures to be had, that is what absolutely what floats your Sagittarius boat. By the end of this time frame, you might find that you have developed new ideas or beliefs, opening your mind to something new. Dig a little deeper in the stories that you are defined by as you never know what revelations or epiphanies might be in store for you. You are also able to attract positive, supportive, and possibly financially viable relationships to you right now. If you are looking to take out a loan or ask for a favour, you could be better received until the end of August than you might otherwise be.

Capricorn:

Venus has moved into the part of your chart that rules committed romantic relationships, tight partnerships, and marriage. This can herald a time of tenderness, harmony, deep connections, and emotional sensitivity with the people that you might consider to be your better half. If you’re looking for love, some contenders might show up this month to temp you. Practical matters pertaining to investments, insurance policies and loans could also be in the spotlight, a great time for scrutinizing and researching new opportunities. This is also a time when you might find yourself collaborating in what could turn out to be a lucrative joint venture.

Aquarius:

There might a new person that shows up in your daily life, perhaps at work, that is turning up to lend a hand and make life a bit easier for you. This is also a time when you might notice that you are craving more sweet treats and goodies, look out! Relationships are featuring prominently for you this month, perhaps a new relationship might be on the horizon for you or the igniting of an old one. If you are already in a committed relationship this can be a time when new life is breathed into it, with new energy around clear communication. You might find that you are better received by your partner at this time or that you are more in tune with this person and can see their point of view more clearly.

Pisces:

Romantic, playful, joyous times are on the cards for you! This month sees that you are living life to its fullest and having a great time. Fun times with children, indulging in your favourite hobbies, sports or leisure activities are here for the next few weeks. You might even have a spot of luck with a flutter on the races if that’s something you’re into. Your health and well-being might also come into focus at this time. You might find that you have more energy or determination to start a new health routine, it could be that you come across a new modality or practitioner that is able to help you.  It could also be that you are helping others, maybe you have learned something new that you are able to share with people around you to help them on their health and wellness journeys.

The Lancefield Tigers Football Netball Club can now play and train day and night thanks to the completion of the upgraded oval lighting at Lancefield Park.
Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas announced the official launch as well as the ‘flicking the switch’ of the upgraded lighting at the popular ground, made possible by a $209,520 funding boost from the Victorian Government.
Sport is the lifeblood of regional communities. Up until recently the 530 members of the Tigers senior and junior clubs were limited in their ability to train and compete due to poor venue lighting. The project installed four new lighting towers and 100 lux lighting, allowing the Tigers to maximise its use of the oval. The upgraded lighting also opens-up the park to more night-time events such as markets and community celebrations, including the Lancefield Agricultural Show, Lancefield Swap Meet and the Macedon Ranges Relay for Life.
Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas: “For too long clubs like the Tigers have been left in the dark due to outdated lighting facilities – they deserve appropriate facilities they can be proud of.
“The upgraded sports lighting at Lancefield Park provides a real incentive for local clubs to ramp up training and development and for locals to join in the fun.
“Better sport and recreation facilities make it easier for Victorians to get back to local sport and recreation and lead healthy and active lifestyles.”

The Bendigo Bowls Club has today been confirmed as the home of lawn bowls when the Commonwealth Games comes to town in four years’ time, joining Bendigo Stadium where athletes will compete in netball.
Bendigo Bowls Club was established in 1872 and is one of the largest clubs in the region – boasting Gold Coast 2018 lawn bowls gold medallist Aaron Wilson among its members.
At the Commonwealth Games in 2018, lawn bowls featured 240 athletes from 28 nations.
The Commonwealth Games will be held between 17-29 March 2026, beginning with the Opening Ceremony at the Melbourne Cricket Ground where athletes and visitorsfrom around Australia and the world will gather to celebrate the start of the Games.
The Opening Ceremony will be followed by 12 days of competition between the Commonwealth’s best athletes across regional Victoria, allowing the regions to shine on the world stage.
As a regional hub alongside Ballarat, Geelong and Gippsland, Bendigo is expected to benefit significantly from the Games, including the creation of additional housing, world-class sports facilities and thousands of jobs.
An expressions of interest process for additional sports to be included in the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games has commenced and will involve submissions from international sporting federations with support from recognised or affiliated Australian organisations. The period for consideration will close on 19 August.
International Federations wanting to express an interest in participating in Victoria 2026 should contact
Victoria2026Sports@sport.vic.gov.au
Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery and Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan: “The Commonwealth Games will deliver major benefits to the regions, and it is fantastic to see local clubs including Bendigo Bowls Club and Bendigo Stadium will soon become the home of some of the world’s best athletes.
“Not only will the Games provide a boost to jobs, hospitality and our local economy, but it will also allow use to share our incredible regional communities with the rest of the world.”

It’s estimated 10 Victorian jobs are created for every 10,000 tonnes of waste material kept out of landfill – leading to approximately 3,900 jobs in the next decade.
eMesh is made from 100% recycled polypropylene plastic and has been used to replace steel mesh in concrete for shared user paths across 22 road and rail projects and dozens of other infrastructure projects in Australia.
The recycled product is manufactured in Ballarat by Danbar Plastics for Enviromesh.
The eMesh is packed by McCallum Industries, an Alfredton-based disability support organisation and social enterprise that employs approximately 90 people with disability under the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Since it was introduced in 2020, Recycled First has led to five times more recycled materials being used than previous years – with 1.3 million tonnes being integrated on Victorian transport projects.
Enviromesh has already seen stronger demand, with 100% year-on-year growth for eMesh in recent years.
eMesh is used across 22 Victorian major infrastructure projects, with 10 more planned, including the Monash Freeway and Barwon Heads Road Upgrades, Toorak Road and Hoppers Crossing Level Crossing Removals and the Pakenham rail line upgrade.
Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan: “Recycled products like eMesh are keeping hundreds of tonnes of plastic out of landfill and significantly reducing the carbon footprint of projects – as well as creating jobs and investment in regional communities like Ballarat.
“Our Recycled First Policy plays a crucial role in this, as it requires transport infrastructure contractors to optimise their use of recycled and reused materials.”

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos has joined the TAC and AFL Victoria to launch the third annual Road Safety Round – with all AFL Victoria-affiliated clubs encouraged to take part.
Kicking off this weekend, coaches, players, and supporters from more than 1,000 Victorian football and netball clubs will don a blue armband to show their commitment to eliminating death and serious injury on our roads.
So far this year, 132 people have lost their lives on Victorian roads, with 77 of those in regional areas – a concerning rise on the 59 regional deaths at the same time last year.
There has also been a worrying rise in young people dying on Victorian roads, with the number of lives lost in the 18-25 age group currently at 24, compared to 16 this time last year.
The TAC’s partnership with AFL Victoria provides the perfect platform to speak directly to thousands of Victorians who are travelling hundreds of kilometres on the state’s road network for games and training every year.
Clubs can extend their support and involvement in the TAC Road Safety Round, with all AFL Victoria-affiliated clubs given the opportunity to take part and earn up to $10,000 in funding by promoting road safety to their community as part of the TAC Club Rewards Program.

Grieving families will no longer have to share the cause of a loved one’s death as they navigate difficult
administrative tasks following a loss.
The Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages now offers a new death certificate package, containing the original death certificate and a new legal death certificate, which has some sections removed.
The new legal death certificate excludes the cause of death and burial information and is available immediately, allowing families to start managing the estate of the deceased quickly. The new certificate will be accepted for administration processes at organisations such as banks, government entities and utility companies.
The original death certificate listing cause of death will still be available as it is required by superannuation and insurance companies.
The certificate package eases the burden of administering a deceased estate, by offering families the choice to censor sensitive information such as cause of death and cutting the waiting time for a certificate for deaths being investigated by the Coroner.
This new approach has been carefully developed in response to community feedback and advice from the Coronial Council of Victoria.
The Council’s advice has been informed by the experience of families and support agencies as well as insights provided by experts in bereavement and therapeutic laws.
The new death certificate is available via www.bdm.vic.gov.au/deaths/get-a-death-certificate

Minister for Environment and Climate Action Lily D’Ambrosio has announced that the management of Kyabram Fauna Park will be taken over by Zoos Victoria, supported by a $3 million grant.

Kyabram Fauna Park joins Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary, benefiting the resident wildlife, delivering improved staff opportunities and increased tourism to northern Victoria.
From October, Kyabram Fauna Park will be included in the $20 million Kids Go Free offer, where children under 16 receive free admission to Victoria’s Zoos on weekends, public holidays and school holidays, and members of the two zoos will have access to both.
The 55-hectare parkland and wetland Kyabram Fauna Park site is two and a half times bigger than Melbourne Zoo and has more than 600 animals, the largest collection of Australian animals in Victoria after Healesville Sanctuary.
The extensive collection of Australian animals includes Tasmanian Devils, quolls, dingoes, koalas, kangaroos, wombats, echidna, emus, flying foxes and southern cassowary along with an impressive collection of reptiles and birds.
The Park has looked after wildlife and delivered conservation programs since 1979, planting more than 7,000 native trees and plants to create a range of habitats to provide food and shelter for free-ranging wildlife and encouraged the return of 35 species of birds to the local Kyabram area.
The two wildlife organisations already share close strategic alignment across animal welfare, conservation,
sustainability and visitor experience. The transition process is now underway, with full integration to be complete within the next 18 months.

Three hundred 300 forest firefighters are being recruited to help keep Victorians safe over the upcoming fire season.

Recruitment is open for the firefighters to work with Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) over summer, encouraging Victorians who are passionate about protecting their communities and the environment to apply for a new challenge.

They will be based at more than 80 locations throughout the state with a range of seasonal roles including general firefighters, fire support officers and rappel crews.

The fixed term positions are based across regional Victoria and successful recruits will undertake emergency response activities, planned burning, pest and weed control, road maintenance and other land management activities.

Eighteen of the roles are dedicated for Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people, helping Traditional Owners to care for Country and lead cultural burning.

The new recruits will add to Victoria’s existing 300 project firefighters who are supported by more than 2,000 permanent staff who can be called on to perform emergency roles when required.

Crews will work alongside key fire management agencies including the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Fire Rescue Victoria.

Applications for project firefighter positions close on Sunday 31 July. For further information and to apply visit ffm.vic.gov.au or call 136 186. 

Hepburn Shire Council has released a tender for construction of the Creswick Trails Network, a major milestone for the multi-million dollar project, which will see 60km of mountain bike trails built in and around the Regional Park, State Forest and plantation lands of Creswick.

“This is a major project for our Shire and we are incredibly excited to see it progress to the next stage,” said Mayor, Cr Tim Drylie.

“These world-class mountain bike trails will be an important drawcard for visitors to our Shire, and a fantastic resource for our community to get active and enjoy the great outdoors,” said Cr Drylie.

“It’s been a complex project that has required a range of approvals with many stakeholders, including the Traditional Owners, the Dja Dja Wurrung and land managers, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, HVP Plantations and Parks Victoria.

The project has been designed where possible to avoid, preserve and protect important cultural, historic and ecological values inherent in the area.

Work is already underway on the Hammon Park Trailhead in Creswick, which will serve as a community and youth precinct focusing on accessible play, cycling safety, cyclocross, and a site for local, regional and national events.

“With the Commonwealth Games coming to regional Victoria in March 2026, we are lobbying in partnership with the City of Ballarat for mountain biking to be included in the games, and for Creswick to be the heart of the mountain biking competition,” said Cr Drylie.

Creswick Trails is well located, being less than 15 kilometers from Eureka Stadium in Ballarat, which will be home to the athletics.

“Mountain biking at this international level will help to make the most of these facilities, and bring considerable benefits to our community through tourism,” said Cr Drylie.

“The Creswick Trails Network will be one of Australia’s leading mountain biking destinations. We cannot wait to get on with it and deliver these trails for our community,” he said.

Council is anticipating a strong response to this tender. It is advertised on Council’s website at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au.

The tender documentation places emphasis on a quality outcome that is compliant with the processes in the suite of documentation designed to protect the cultural, historic and ecological values of the project site.

It is anticipated that Council will consider awarding the contract at the November or December 2022 Council Meeting, and begin construction early 2023 for completion in mid-2024.

The tender is open until Tuesday 6 September.

Council received a $2.56 million grant from Regional Development Victoria’s Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund. Council has contributed $1.52 million to date and is investigating additional funding sources.

Minister for Mental Health Gabrielle Williams has unveiled the Regional Mental Health Workforce Incentives program, which aims to attract and retain workers in state-funded mental health and alcohol and other drug (AOD) services across rural and regional Victoria.
The $13.7 million incentive program will cover regional mental health workforce incentive grants, support for workers and their families to settle in a new community and support for health services to promote priority jobs.
The program aims to attract workers from metropolitan Melbourne, interstate and overseas, offering flexible grants of up to $20,000 to support costs such as accommodation, relocation, childcare, school fees and vehicle costs.
It will support around 200 grants for workers in Area Mental Health Services and up to 80 grants for community managed mental health services. Additional funding of $300,000 will go towards a pilot program to trial similar relocation grants for the AOD workforce.
The grants will be administered by Rural Workforce Agency Victoria (RWAV).
The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System highlighted significant workforce gaps in rural and regional areas and this program delivers on the Commission’s recommendation to address these supply shortages.
Information on the Regional Mental Health Workforce Incentives program, including job vacancies and eligibility requirements is available on the RWAV website rwav.com.au

Applications are now open in regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne for the $20 million Living Local Fund.

The Fund is supporting a wide range of potential projects from upgraded halls to art installations and community gardens.

The Living Local Fund is part of the state government’s Our Regions and our Suburbs: Living Local Initiative and is designed to ensure local towns will have the infrastructure and equipment they need to continue to thrive.

Local councils and community organisations can apply for two types of grants:

• Grants between $20,000 to $200,000 will be available for infrastructure projects including new playgrounds and community gardens, splash pads, art installations and community halls upgrades,
• Grants between $2,000 to $20,000 will also be available for local councils and community organisations to undertake minor refurbishments, buy new equipment such as kitchen appliances, laptops and audio-visual equipment.

Through Metropolitan and Regional Partnerships, the community has advocated the importance of living locally. The Fund is designed to support a wide range of locally led projects and equipment purchases for community organisations to improve livability.

Projects in areas most impacted by the pandemic and projects that align with the Government’s 20-Minute neighbourhood principles will be given priority. The 20-Minute Neighbourhood principle aims to create local hubs where people can access services, like health facilities, parks and shops within a 20-minute walk from home.

The Living Local Fund grant applications close on Sunday 14 August 2022.

For more information visit djpr.vic.gov.au/living-local.

Property owners whose fence lines are encroaching onto a road reserve in Lancefield will no longer need to move the existing fences as part of the footpath construction process.
Council’s Director Assets and Operations, Shane Walden said that the construction plans have been reviewed in response to concerns and feedback from residents.
“Our officers have developed new evaluation criteria ensuring this project is able to continue without impacting fence lines. This outcome ensures that the township has good connectivity for people of all abilities along the new 265m concrete footpath connecting into the existing footpath in this area,” he said.
The new evaluation criteria takes into account existing constraints and hazards, and the overall impacts to the footpath plans and compliance.
It is anticipated that works will begin later this year. Once confirmed, Council will advise residents on the planned commencement date for construction.

More Aboriginal athletes will be winning on the field, court and track with grants to boost participation and cover the costs of things like uniforms, equipment and travel to sporting carnivals.
Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence has launched the latest round of the Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant Program with more than $50,000 now available.
Grants of up to $1,500 are available for teams to participate in state-wide or national sport carnivals, up to $1,000 to cover team uniforms and sport equipment, and up to $750 for travel and accommodation expenses.
Previous recipients include Indigenous Basketball Australia which received $1,500 towards costs for the team to travel to the Indigenous Community Basketball League in Bendigo in February and March.
Both men’s and women’s Melbourne Stars Aboriginal T20 cricket teams received $1,500 for travel to Albury for the inaugural T20 Aboriginal Tournament against the Sydney Thunder, Sydney Sixers and Melbourne Renegades.
Greensborough College received $750 for student and up-and-coming basketballer Heath Hay to participate in player development programs to help refine technical basketball skills.
Applications for funding are open until 16 August 2022. For more information or to apply visit sport.vic.gov.au.
Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence: “Sport has the power to foster connections and a sense of belonging while also building confidence. These grants will open doors for young people and increase participation in sport, which can have long-lasting positive impacts.”

The Friends of Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens, Daylesford are delighted with the success of their recent Autumn Raffle. Launched on March 20 at our Gardens Celebration Tea Party it was drawn at our Taylor and Sangster Lecture on June 17.
With prizes valued at just over $3000 we were very grateful to all our generous donors.
The raffle raised $6400 which is a wonderful success and all these funds will be reinvested in the Gardens with a variety of projects linked to the master plan.
Fund raising by the Friends has mainly been through the sale of plants from our nursery and the open gardens we have hosted in significant gardens across the district. The raffle was an innovation for the Friends.
In addition to thanking our donors we wish to thank the public who supported the raffle both in Daylesford and district and across the whole state and especially Melbourne.
Finally we wish to especially thank our wonderful band of volunteers who organised the sale of raffle tickets, braving the elements for some outdoor selling in the township.
Thank you to everyone for making the Autumn Raffle such a major success.

Ageing DisGracefully members, including Max Primmer, get together at the Daylesford Mill Markets cafe on Thursdays at 11am. All welcome.
For information email ageingdis3461@gmail.com or head to the Ageing DisGracefully facebook page.
Ageing DisGracefully is an initiative of Hepburn House.