IF YOU flip back to page 11 you will find Kevin Childs’ story on the sad or sick state of our health system.
Kevin talked to health workers, on the condition of anonymity, and wrote about how many things are going wrong – some life and death situations.
I must admit I ummed and ahhed a bit about running it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a must read, it’s just that old fashioned editors don’t often do anonymous.
In the old days, when I worked at The Cairns Post, we had a dedicated person whose only job was to contact everyone who had written a letter to the editor and make sure they were who they said they were. All letters were published with a full name and suburb, or not at all.
These days, papers run letters sent via email with sign-offs like “Mary, from Victoria”. Which Mary. Or really Mary? It might be a Jan who is not happy with a competing cafe and just wants to get a barb in. Just look at dine review sites like TripAdvisor or Google. So easy to lose a good rating with just one, one-star review. And no need for it to be genuine, or even if it is, to make sense. I know one cafe which got a four-star review because “I loved everything about your place, the service staff and food, but I didn’t eat dessert so I don’t know if you do that well”. Really?
Anyway, the more I read Kevin’s piece, the more I realised we really are going through a crisis of care. I have also been watching the news about an Ambulance Victoria Code Red with no ambulances available in Melbourne last Tuesday night, and Grampians Health just recently declaring a Code Yellow because they were overrun trying to manage and isolate patients with, or suspected of having, Covid.
I reckon everyone has a harrowing health story to tell but it’s hard to put your name to something in the public domain. Especially if you work in the health field. Sometimes, to get the news out, it just has to be anonymous.
Our local MP Mary-Anne Thomas has just taken over the portfolios of health and ambulance services after the resignation of Martin Foley. As someone from the regions she would know first-hand the issues we are facing in the country. And I know Covid has thrown a massive spanner in the works but surely after two and a half years, we are starting to catch up and get ahead of the game, rather than lag behind like we did with vaccines and RAT tests. (Yes, I know that was the Feds.)
Everyone knew winter and the flu were coming, we know that Covid likes the cold best, and with masks mostly off, it was another perfect storm brewing. Then there is just the backlog of “normal” health issues that need to be attended to. Hip replacements, mental health services, mammograms, appointments with specialists. Why are we still waiting?
In September last year, I found myself struggling to breathe. Being asthmatic, I upped my medication and eventually was told to have a lung function test. I called the numbers offered, in Ballarat and Bendigo, and was told I was on their waiting lists. For February or March. It’s July and still no call. Luckily I had a think, Googled private places and got it sorted. (All good now.)
But this is Australia, not America, and I think we all believe we have a right to medical attention when it is needed. Instead it has become a class distinction. Relying on Medicare? Be ready for a long wait. Got expensive private health insurance? In you go. When Kyle had his back operation he was asked not only what day suited but morning or afternoon?
The system is sick and needs urgent attention. Hopefully Ms Thomas is up to the task because sometimes we are literally talking life and death. Just sayin’…

I WATCHED with interest our first intergalactic space launch from Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. Just a couple of days prior we had been reminiscing about our trip to Cooktown.
We had been discussing what had happened to the York Peninsula spaceport rumoured in the 80s. And out of the blue, with little to no hype, I watched as the first Australian rocket crackled through the night sky.
I must admit it was a long wait and I did hear the clink of ice cubes in the glass of one of the commentators as he said, “God I need a drink”. And when the final countdown began and the explosions of the jets ripped through the night sky, he seemed a little too excited. The sort of excitement that burbles up from inside you after a couple of sneaky snorts.
We certainly do it a bit differently in this country if you compare our spaceport to the pristine environments of the likes of Cape Canaveral. Except for a small launch pad most of our site is red dirt and scrub and God only knows how many bullants and other critters make their way into the innards of the rockets during the wait for launch.
It makes me wonder what happens when the aliens take a tin opener to one of our intergalactic rockets to reveal its pilots, in anticipation of taking over the precious resources of our planet and dissecting the occupants to prepare for war. They will get the makeup of their enemy wrong and come down to earth with a few cans of Pea Beu prepared for an all-out assault on a bunch of bullants rather than humans.
Speaking of precious resources, I am betwixt in my feelings about the latest breed of climate warriors. Blockade Australia has been hitting the headlines lately but to be honest I have not been affected by these guys, so only know what I see on TV. Still, what about freedom of speech and democracy?
Throughout the ages disruptors have made change for good. Homosexuality was decriminalised in the Victoria in 1980 thanks to protestors and then there are women’s liberation, the rights of first nation’s people and even the Franklin Dam. Oh, and look at the protests over the anti-abortion ruling in the US.
It seems that history simply repeats itself with protestors referred back in the day to as long-haired layabouts, hippies and good-for-nothing and just a few days ago, the New South Wales deputy premier told climate change protesters to “go and get a real job”.
But that’s exactly what they are doing, someone’s real job. No change would happen if we left it up to the government unless it is to do with upping the taxes or tightening the squeeze on our freedoms.
My conspiracy opinion is that it is in the interests of governments to lock the youth into the labour yoke of a mortgage to keep them subdued, quiet and happy with their lot in life. The dream of home ownership has now gotten away from the young, so these guys have more energy to disrupt and create change.
Climate change acknowledgement followed by change has to happen, not for me and my cohorts of non-breeders, but for the children and unborn children that will inherit this dry, shrivelled up and spent planet.
It’s going to get hot, rant over…

Winter

Nose thumbing winter catches
late May unawares
beating down the last

straggling seed heads
navigating kamikaze plastic
bags to barbed wire.

Life shrinks back
over grey boulders
tight as skull skin.

A green desert
sparse and shivering
coats waterlogged clay.

Patient in paddock corners
rain driven ewes stand muddy
tails to the wind

waiting for bitter August
when they will drop their lambs
for spring slaughter.

• Margret Lockwood

Margret has a background in teaching in Riyadh, (Saudi Arabia) Nhulunbuy, (NT) country Victoria and finally at Daylesford, and has lived in and around Glenlyon for 26 years. Her companions of choice are Jack and Cobber, two Hungarian Viszlas.

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

Operation green thumb

With all of the main northern states’ fruit and veg providers devastated and unlikely to even return to their properties for quite some time, let alone produce crops, it’s painfully obvious that we will have make do for ourselves – and that simply means growing our own. Easy.
The establishment of even the simplest vegetable garden can mean that you could enjoy at least one or two favourite vegetables, fresh-picked, at any time of the year.
You don’t need a market garden with massive crops all maturing at once to provide a year-round supply of greens and vegetables for your family. Simply a continuous supply of all that you can eat at one time and that can be achieved by planting or sowing a handful of seeds or seedlings at regular intervals throughout their specific planting season.
Even the smallest garden can turn out useful crops because you can integrate most vegetables with your existing plant life. Any free sunny spot in the garden will do, as long as they won’t be getting too much competition from tree or shrub roots. The climbers, peas and beans, will thrive on a tripod or wire trellis-covered fence in the sun.
Although every plant species has its own particular needs when it comes to soil, a general rule of thumb is to plant them all out into a bed or container of a generous mix of crumbly loam, well-rotted compost or leaf mould (saved from autumn) and enough sand to guarantee good drainage, all at a depth of at least 30cm. This is especially important for root crops.
Naturally, coming into the coldest winter months of the year, your choices of crop other than leaf or roots are limited, simply because long sunny days are a pre-requisite for the development and ripening of fruits and berries.
Luckily everything else will be fine to plant now. We just need to get things growing as soon as possible to avoid these horrendous prices. And who knows how long they will last or whether there’s more rises ahead.
Fortunately, most varieties of vegetable are available both in seed and seedling form. Obviously the seedlings are more expensive than seeds but they have a three- or four-week headstart and at least you know they are growing.
The trick would be to plant out seedlings of whatever variety you need, be it lettuce or Brussels sprouts, and then sow a similar number of seeds in weekly batches to extend your cropping in manageable quantities. Your first batch should be well and truly ready by the time the original seedling crop are exhausted.
Perennial leafy greens, such as silverbeet or Swiss chard and especially rhubarb, unlike the cropping plants, can be regularly harvested for several years before needing replacement. Being highly ornamental they won’t seem out of place if planted in small clumps throughout the shrubbery, under fruit trees, or as garden border plants. Harvesting of the outer leaves can begin as soon as there are sufficient growths remaining to support healthy regrowth.
There are many suitable and easily grown varieties of vegetable to choose from including: potatoes, Jerusalem artichokes, onions, shallots, parsnips, turnips, beetroot, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and Brussels sprouts, and a whole range of Asian cousins. And don’t forget the culprit that started all of this – lettuces – all can be planted (or sown) right now.
Who knows, you may be so successful that you decide to build yourself an amazing self-watering ‘wick garden’. For a full explanation and details of this, read my column in Issue 190, July 27, 2020 or email glenzgarden@gmail.com for a copy.

Got a gardening question: Email glenzgarden@gmail.com

CENTRAL Highlands’ artists and creative organisations are invited to hit the road and take their performances, exhibitions and events across regional and outer-metropolitan Victoria.
Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas has called for applications for the Touring Victoria program which provides grants of between $10,000 and $250,000 to support tours by Victorian arts and cultural organisations and creatives.
The most recent round of grants supported regional tours from acts including singer Kutcha Edwards, all-female circus-comedy show Trash Test Dummies, The Australian Ballet, Finucane and Smith and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
The 2022 round of the program will support touring activity that hits the road from November 1 this year.
Ms Thomas said Touring Victoria was supporting the creative community “to hit the road and re-connect with audiences across the state, delivering the cultural experiences that make Victoria our nations cultural heartland”.
“Touring Victoria not only brings amazing gigs and experiences to Macedon, it supports our local creatives to present their work, build their audiences and bring visitors from across the state.”
Applications close on July 14.
Link: creative.vic.gov.au/grants-and-support.

HEPBURN Shire Council has formally adopted its 2022/23 Annual Plan.
Mayor Cr Tim Drylie said that the Annual Plan was based on key projects identified in the Budget 2022-2023 and included priorities in the adopted Community Vision 2021-2031 Council Plan 2021-2025, which includes the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan.
The Annual Plan priority projects are all linked to one of the five council plan focus areas which are:
• A resilient, sustainable and protected environment;
• A healthy, supported and empowered community;
• Embracing our past and planning for our future;
• Diverse economy and opportunities; and
• A dynamic and responsive council.
“The Annual Plan highlights priority projects that are either large, new, significant or strategically important to our community and truly reflects the priorities that our community told us they want council to deliver,” Cr Drylie said.
Progress on the Annual Plan will be regularly reported throughout the year and published on council’s website.
Link: www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/Council/Plans-and-publications/Performance

BACK in September 2013, Glenlyon Anglican Church held a wonderful Blessing of the Pets service, above.
Father Andrew Eaton met with a 20-strong crowd with their beloved pets – all canines on the day.
He sat, in his robes, face-to-face with each dog and offered them the Blessing of the Lord and a dab of sanctified water.
Father Andrew said the Blessing of the Pets was a way the community could give back to their best friends.
“Pets instill in us wonder and awe of the creation around us,” he said.
Father Eaton, who also blessed his own dogs, ended the service with handshakes all round for the two-legged partipants, and a sprinkling of Holy Water.
The Local is looking back at a few of its early photos and stories. This first ran in The Local on October 14, 2013. For all the back issues head to www.tlnews.com.au
Father Andrew is now the parish priest at St Luke’s at Wallsend. He is also the Anglican Chaplain at the University of Newcastle, the chair of the Anglican EcoCare Newcastle, and a member of the Diocesan Domestic Violence Taskforce, the Hunter Interfaith Network and the Sodality of Mary, Mother of Priests.
He moved to Wallsend with his wife Monica and two girls in February 2017 from Diocese of Bendigo.
Father Andrew celebrated five years at St Luke’s in February this year.

HEPBURN Springs Golf Club is among eight regional clubs across Victoria to receive major upgrades from state government funding.
Minister for Community Sport, Ros Spence, visited the club last Tuesday, June 28 and announced the state government was investing over $400,000 in the eight clubs through the Golf Infrastructure Fund.
Ms Spence said the program was about supporting the growth of golf and encouraging more people regardless of their age or skill level to play and enjoy the sport.
“It’s all about giving our community clubs even stronger foundations so more people can have a swing and the future of the game is even brighter at a local level.”
At Hepburn Springs Golf Club the project consisted of new double-glazed windows and blinds, an all-abilities toilet and male and female change and toilet facilities. Access ramps to the front and rear were also constructed.
The funding for the project provided by the state government was $157,000 with the club contributing $19,000 which covered additional items such as vinyl flooring, extra insulation and sundry project costs.
Along with club members, other guests at the opening included the Hepburn Shire Mayor Cr Tim Drylie, and Birch Ward councillors Cr Lesley Hewitt and Cr Jen Bray.
Club president Barry Files thanked all those who had played a part in achieving the result of modernising the clubhouse and making it more attractive to members and visitors.
Ms Spence added that the state government was very pleased to be in partnership with the golf club especially as it had made not only a financial commitment but also provided many hours of volunteer work in demolition, painting and concreting to extend the reach of the funding.
The golf club is keen to attract new members or anyone wanting to take up golf. The clubhouse has a well-stocked bar and is available for functions.
To contact the club call 0401 128 964. Link: www.hepburngolf.com.au

FRANCE’S national day celebrations will be presented by the Daylesford Community Brass Band and U3A Hepburn Shire’s Le Cercle Français.
On Thursday, July 14, the band and solo performers will entertain with French music and songs in the Daylesford Town Hall.
Come at 6.30 for a 7pm start. BYO food, drink, crockery, cutlery and glasses.
Make up a table of 10 or join one and make new friends. Wear something French.
There are plenty of raffle prizes along with prizes for best table and best costumes.
Tickets are $25 and bookings are essential with Janet Quilty on 0419 134 136 or quilrobe@bigpond.com
Proceeds go to the band for new instruments. The band’s major sponsor is the Bendigo Bank – Daylesford District.

The 2022 Venie Holmgren Environmental Poetry Prize, in partnership with Rabbit, a journal for nonfiction poetry, has been launched.
Judges are Georgina Wood, a poet and environmentalist living on Worimi and Awabakal land, in Muloobinba/Newcastle, and Joel Davison, a Gadigal and Dunghutti poet, technologist and sustainable fashion entrepreneur.
Venie Holmgren started to write poetry in her late 50s and published her first anthology, The Sun Collection for the Planet in 1989, becoming a poetry best seller.
At the same time, she applied her environmental activist skills and commitment to the campaign to save native forests near her home on the far south coast of NSW, where she was arrested twice for obstructing log trucks.
After 16 years of solo self-reliant living she moved to the local town of Pambula where she penned her travel memoir, several more books of poetry and travelled widely as a performance poet.
In 2010 Venie moved to Hepburn where she wrote her last poetry collection, The Tea House Poems. In January 2016, Venie “caught the bus” at the age of 93.
The main prize is $1000 and entries close on Wednesday, August 10. The winner will be announced at the Words in Winter festival in Daylesford on Sunday, August 28.
Link: www.holmgren.com.au

Maldon’s Porcupine Village tourist attraction will create more than 100 jobs and attract more visitors to the Central Goldfields region.
The state government is investing $1.7 towards restoration works and new accommodation, bringing Maldon’s gold rush history to life for visitors. The restoration includes the school, blacksmith and lolly shop. The new accommodation includes glamping tents and safari-style cabins. The project will also feature a native wildlife sanctuary.

Hepburn Shire Council invites the community to get together this NAIDOC Week from Sunday, July 3 to Sunday, July 10.
Council is hosting two free film screenings. Satellite Boy will be screened at the Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre on July 6. Tickets: amillar@hepburn.vic.gov.au or 0477 970 828. A second screening will be held at the Trentham Neighbourhood Centre on July 7. Bookings: www.trenthamnc.org The theme for NAIDOC Week 2022 is Get up, Stand up, Show up.
Link: Details: www.participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/reconciliation

Trentham Rural Australians for Refugees, with sponsorship from the Community Bank Trentham & Districts, worked with Trentham District Primary School principal Arthur Lane, to bring Refugee Week celebrations into the school.
The school celebrated with the Rhythm of Life African Drumming group and a visit from Rebecca Wour from SisterWorks in Bendigo, pictured with Karen Williams from Trentham Rural Australians for Refugees, who came along to share stories about her life in Southern Sudan as a child. The school also received a donation of books about refugee stories. Link: Facebook @RARtrentham.

Nominations are open for Victorian Senior of the Year.
For more than 20 years, the awards have highlighted the role of seniors who inspire others as mentors, educators, role models, leaders – as well as their impact in supporting diverse causes and communities across the state. Nominations close on Friday, July 29.
Link: www.seniorsonline.vic.gov.au/awards

Hepburn Shire residents and businesses can now have their say about community batteries.
The Community Sparks project is assessing potential models and sites for community batteries in the shire, with this survey seeking to capture local priorities and concerns regarding the technology. It is led by the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance, in partnership with Hepburn Energy and the Hepburn Shire Council.
Link: www.participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/community-sparks