Daylesford locals and visitors will soon have another reason to visit the iconic Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens, with new upgrades well underway thanks to an investment from the state government.

Minister for Regional Development and Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas has visited Daylesford to view the progress of the gardens upgrade project, supported by a $500,000 grant through the Regional Infrastructure Fund – Stimulus Round in partnership with Hepburn Shire Council and Friends of Wombat Botanic Gardens.

The project is on track for completion at the end of this year and is a key part of the Hepburn Shire Council’s Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens Landscape Master Plan. The plan aims to protect the gardens’ 19th century heritage while ensuring it is equipped with modern facilities to meet the needs of locals and visitors.
The heritage-listed gardens have been a staple of Daylesford’s attractions for more than 150 years and were developed during Victoria’s Gold Rush.

They now attract thousands of visitors to the town each year. The gardens’ day basin, which historically served as Daylesford’s town reservoir, will be transformed into an eye-catching water feature as part of the project. The works will also deliver better access to the gardens through improved pathways, with recently installed stone steps inviting visitors to explore all areas of the gardens including a fernery space.

Glass refurbishments to the Alf Headland Conservatory which is located at the west end of the gardens will allow all-year-round seasonal displays of plants, in addition to the stunning begonia flowers that are a key tourist attraction at the gardens. Blooming from January to March, begonias are both challenging to grow and rare to find, making the displays at Wombat Hill an exciting reason to visit regional Victoria. The heritage 1930s art deco toilets will also receive a makeover to modernise the amenities and provide all abilities access.
The Regional Infrastructure Fund is part of the Victorian Government’s flagship $156 million Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund, designed to help businesses create more jobs in regional Victoria, support community projects and support councils to build the infrastructure locals and visitors need.
The Fund is key to the Government’s almost $30 billion record investment across regional and rural Victoria since 2015. Information and guidelines for the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund can be found at rdv.vic.gov.au/rjif
Minister for Regional Development and Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas “It’s great to see these beautiful gardens getting the love they deserve, encouraging more visitors to explore Daylesford while preserving its iconic heritage.” “The revitalisation of the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens will boost tourism to the area, create more jobs and stimulate the economy. These upgrades will be enjoyed by both locals and visitors alike.”

AN INITIATIVE that’s sure to surprise attendees at the inaugural CresFest from Friday, April 1 to Sunday, April 3 is an A2 folded map with the full program on one side and on the other a list of venues and other important information.
The CresFest information map is the work of renowned printmaker and teacher Loris Button, a resident of Creswick. Her lino cuts on the map detail the historical buildings where performances will take place as well as other notable buildings in the streetscape.

The map itself is a remarkable piece of art that Loris has hand drawn with coloured pencil. Loris is a generous artist in so many ways, and says that the success of the combined project relies heavily on the skill of the digital graphic designer Jo Marchese, who has transformed the art piece into a workable map.
“I’ve had great fun developing the map. As a printmaker I am addicted to paper. I marvel at the way natural dyes can affect the colours and I have used a different paper for each heritage building on the map.
“Using a traditional printmaking technique called linocut, I carve into the lino exposing a relief image of each building. The block is then inked using a roller and the image is transferred from the lino to the paper either by hand or with a printing press.
“In the development of the map I worked with our clever and talented CresFest convenor Judy Turner. We’ve looked at the priorities for CresFest as well as making the map an exciting journey for visitors to wend their way through Creswick exploring its hidden gems.”
A walk through Creswick is a journey of European settlement. The historical buildings have much to teach the current generation and demonstrate the richness of the land and the legacy of the gold rush. Buildings that were built to last.
Starting at the bluestone St Andrew’s Uniting Church built in 1862, to the Masonic Lodge which opened in 1890, and will be open for viewings twice over the weekend, past The American Hotel whose history began in 1850 and will be the venue of jam sessions throughout the weekend plus serving great food and beverages.
And before you cross the road to the Town Hall, which celebrates its 145th anniversary this year, stop for a moment and marvel at Leaver’s Hotel. It has been, among other things, a fish and chip shop and a milk bar. and is now an amazing creation of its current owner Chantelle Leaver who, along with her partner Cam, runs Odessa at Leaver’s.
They have transformed an ordinary shopfront to what it is now, with all its original roofing and stone walls. The interior is truly amazing. The intimate space is the perfect environment to listen to great music and eat Thai-inspired food. Now take a slight detour to the Creswick Court House built in 1859, venue for theatre shows and movies over the weekend, and finally to the IGA green which has become a bit of a community hub and will be the venue for the busking events.
Judy is delighted that these buildings will all come alive with music, dance, the written and spoken word. “The aim of CresFest has always been to open up our town to those who have usually driven through. Our community has so much to offer and CresFest will deliver world class performances throughout the weekend. I couldn’t be happier with the map and how Loris has interpreted everything that the committee has asked for even down to a QR code which, once activated, takes the reader to the detailed program online to learn about our amazing performers.” Loris’ unique images will also be available as postcards and a tote bag.
CresFest is ready and a great team of volunteers are eager to welcome everyoe to Creswick. Tickets, performers and full program information at www.cresfest.com.au

Words: Contributed/Advertorial

Thousands of Victorians found work last month as Victoria’s steady recovery continued on the back of ongoing investment to keep Victorians safe and businesses growing.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that 16,500 extra jobs were created in Victoria in February, boosting the total number of people in work across the state to 3.48 million.
More than 550,000 jobs have been created in the state since the state government was elected in November 2014 – the nation’s strongest proportional increase – with growth strongest in full-time work.
Full-time roles have increased by 410,000 with full-time jobs for women reaching a record of 901,000 in February.
The state has been leading the nation in job creation since the peak of Victoria’s second COVID-19 wave, with more than 282,000 jobs created since September 2020.
Victoria’s participation rate increased to a record high in February, and there is now a higher proportion of Victorians with a job than ever before.
In November 2020, the state government set an ambitious Jobs Plan target to create 400,000 jobs by 2025 – 200,000 of them by 2022. Victoria has already exceeded that target and the state’s unemployment rate sits at a near-record low of 4.2 per cent.
The Government’s allocation of $13 billion in business support since the COVID-19 pandemic began has been one of the keys to the state‘s economic resilience.
ABS data released this month confirmed the extent of Victoria’s economic recovery, in line with December’s Victorian Budget Update 2021-22 that predicted a strong reboot for the economy and jobs as the state got back to business.
State Final Demand grew faster than any other state last year. In the December quarter alone, State Final Demand grew by 3.7 per cent.
Retail trade figures show a pick-up in consumer spending – in January the state’s retail trade increased by 2.5 per cent to $8.4 billion. Over the year to January, retail sales increased by 8.2 per cent in Victoria – well above the national increase of 6.4 per cent.
Treasurer Tim Pallas: “The growth in jobs is great news for households across the state – it shows that the confidence Victorians have in the future is well placed.
“A job means more than just a pay cheque and that’s why we’ll keep working to create the conditions for businesses to grow and put on more people.”

Global online retail giant Amazon will establish its first dedicated Australian sort centre in Melbourne, creating hundreds of new jobs and building the strength of Victoria’s logistics sector.
Minister for Economic Development Tim Pallas has joined Amazon leaders in Craigieburn to announce the new purpose-built centre which will support 200 ongoing jobs, including employment for workers under the Jobs Victoria initiative.
The specialist centre will sort picked-and-packed customer orders by final destination, then ship them to logistics sites for “last mile” delivery to customers.
Work has started on building the new facility which at 15,600 square metres will be close to the size of the MCG playing surface. Some 700 jobs will be created during construction, which is due to be completed this year.
The centre will be Amazon’s fifth site in Melbourne to open since the company’s arrival in Victoria in 2017, joining centres in Dandenong South, Mulgrave, Ravenhall and Tullamarine. More than 1,500 people currently work in Amazon’s businesses in Victoria.
Located in Melbourne’s fast-growing northern region, the sort centre sits within Goodman Group’s Amaroo Business Park, which is a key link to the adjacent Craigieburn North Employment Area, a state-significant industrial and commercial precinct of just under 500 hectares.
Invest Victoria, the state government’s investment attraction agency, facilitated the investment by helping the company to identify the site and understand regulatory requirements.
The investment shows that the government’s International Investment Strategy is attracting global companies from growth industries crucial to creating jobs in Victoria.
Minister for Economic Development Tim Pallas: “Investment of this scale by a marquee company like Amazon sends a clear message that Victoria is the place to do business.
“This is a vote of confidence in Melbourne’s burgeoning north that will have major flow-on benefits for the region.”

Victoria and its iconic tourism accommodation, attractions and experiences have been recognised at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, with the state taking home eleven honours.
Acting Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Mary Anne Thomas today applauded the successful local businesses and operators, commending them on their resilience and commitment as the sector continues its bounce back from the challenges of the global pandemic.
Held on the Sunshine Coast, Victoria was honoured with five gold, four silver and two bronze awards for 2021.
Leading the way with gold were the Royal Botanic Gardens in the Major Tourist Attractions category, Ballarat Heritage Festival in Festivals and Events, Destination Gippsland for their stunning tourism marketing campaign, Wilsons Promontory Cruises in New Tourism Business and Green Olive in Red Hill for Excellence in Food Tourism.
The Alexandra Hotel in Alexandra was awarded two silver awards for its three-star accommodation and restaurant and catering services, joined by Heytesbury House in Hosted Accommodation and the Bendigo Visitor Centre for their visitor information service offering.
Rounding out the Victorian winners were Searoad Ferries for their work as a major tour and transport operation and the Tesselaar Tulip Festival in the Major Festival and Events category.
Acting Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Mary-Anne Thomas: “Victorians are back enjoying the things they love and that includes the best destinations and attractions in the state.”
“It is fantastic to see the quality of the Victorian tourism industry recognised and we are backing businesses in this sector to grow and create jobs right across the state.”

Senator for Victoria Sarah Henderson has joined students and staff members at Iona College Geelong to open a new secondary school funded by the federal government.

Senator Henderson said the fresh modern facilities would enhance future learning in a wonderful new environment.

“It was great to visit Iona College Geelong to see the new facilities and hear about the positive impact it will have on students,” Senator Henderson said.

“The government provided $5 million for the project through the Capital Grants Program, which provides funding for non-government schools to improve capital infrastructure.

“Iona College Geelong has a wonderful school community, and this new secondary school will further enhance the learning environment.

“We are ensuring that every child gets a quality education no matter where they go to school, providing record funding for government schools, for Catholic schools and for Independent schools.

“We are delivering real, needs-based funding that is matched by national reforms that will drive better results and outcomes, as recommended by David Gonski in his Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools.

“Our government is funding improved facilities at schools, like the new secondary school at Iona College Geelong, as part of our commitment to education.” More information about the Capital Grants Program is at https://www.dese.gov.au/payments-and-grants-schools/capital-grants-non-government-schools

Share the overflow of fruit and vegetables from your garden with neighbours in jams or sauces this autumn and reduce the risk of spreading Queensland fruit fly (QFF).
Agriculture Victoria Statewide Fruit Fly Coordinator Cathy Mansfield said homegrown fruit and vegetables can look great on the outside but still be infested with maggots inside.
“Instead of sharing your backyard bounty fresh, cut it up and use it to make preserves or pastes as this will go a long way to stopping the spread of QFF around your neighbourhood,” Ms Mansfield said.
“Cutting open fruit and vegetables is one of the best ways to check for QFF, so whether you’re part of a big family sauce day or working solo in the kitchen keep an eye out for creamy coloured maggots inside your plums, peaches, quinces or tomatoes,” Ms Mansfield said.
To stop maggots from developing into adults, any infested fruit and vegetables should be sealed inside a plastic bag and placed in a freezer for two days or microwaved or boiled to kill any maggots.
Alternatively, double-seal fruit or vegetables inside two plastic bags and place in the sun for at least 14 days, then discard in your rubbish bin (not the green waste bin or your compost).
Queensland fruit fly can remain active in autumn, with some surviving over winter by sheltering in trees.
Keeping your garden free from unwanted fallen fruit and rotten fruit will stop QFF from breeding in your backyard.
Agriculture Victoria has provided a wide range of resources on its website to support home gardeners control QFF, including tips on monitoring, garden hygiene, netting, baiting, insecticides and trapping. Home gardeners can also seek advice and purchase QFF traps, exclusion netting, baits and insecticides from nurseries, home garden stores and online retailers. For more information including a list of host fruits and vegetables in your garden, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/qff

The state government is helping hundreds of industry experts upskill to become TAFE teachers under an incentive program that is bringing extensive industry experience into classrooms across the state.
Just six months since the TAFE Teacher Training Scholarship launched, 125 skilled workers have signed-up across a variety of in-demand industries, including health and community services, construction and electrotechnology.
More than 15 per cent of the scholarship recipients are on a path to teach future nurses while more than 12 per cent will help upskill the next generation of plumbers – joining the existing Victorian TAFE teaching workforce which is one of the best paid in Australia.
Among the recipients is seventh-generation dairy farmer Danielle Wright who is now teaching at South West TAFE and was inspired to pass on her knowledge and help inspire more women and girls to join the agriculture industry.
The TAFE Teacher Training Scholarship provides up to 200 study assistance scholarships valued at $10,000 each to enhance the TAFE teaching workforce amid growing student enrolments.
The program is also a unique opportunity for skilled workers seeking a career change or for those affected by the coronavirus pandemic to pass on their industry-relevant skills to TAFE students. Another 75 scholarships are still available to Victorians who want to contribute to the next generation of highly skilled local workers.
Since 2014, the Government has made a record $3.2 billion investment to rebuild TAFE and support universities and higher education to ensure Victorians have access to high quality education and rewarding career pathways.
To sign-up to the TAFE Teacher Training Scholarship visit vic.gov.au/tafeteacher.

Australian artists Nick Cave, Warren Ellis and Tash Sultana will perform at locations across the state as part of a major music festival supported by the state government.
Following a sold-out performance by the Foo Fighters in Geelong last week, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula today welcomed the latest program announcements for ALWAYS LIVE.
Nick Cave and Warren Ellis will perform two nights at Hanging Rock, supported by Courtney Barnett on 25 and 26 November. International superstars the Foo Fighters will return, this time playing AAMI Park on 4 December.
A new First Nations concert featuring multi-platinum selling singer Isaiah Firebrace will take place at the Girgarro Sound Shell near Echuca on 4 December and Tash Sultana will headline Ocean Sounds on Phillip Island on 10 December.
ALWAYS LIVE is a new statewide music festival taking place across regional Victoria, the CBD and surrounding suburbs in 2022 – showcasing everything Victoria has to offer and attracting music fans from across the country.
Featuring a diverse mix of local and international talent, the events are expected to drive music fans into the regions, suburbs and CBD – helping to support local jobs and tourism businesses.
ALWAYS LIVE also brings to life a long-held dream of late Australian music icon Michael Gudinski AM – one of the country’s most unwavering and influential live music champions.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula: “This is just the beginning of the ALWAYS LIVE program, which will feature dozens of acts and reinforce Victoria’s place as the cultural capital of Australia.”
Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas: “Having Nick Cave and Warren Ellis perform at Hanging Rock will be a big hit with local music lovers.”

The federal government is delivering an extra $50 million under round six of the Safer Communities Fund to improve community safety and help divert local at-risk youth from a life of crime.

Seventy-five practical community-led projects across Australia will be supported to work with local high-risk young people to break the cycle of repeat offending, and brings early intervention funding to a total of $69.5 million.

Senator for Victoria Sarah Henderson said programs will benefit young people to find direction and gain valuable skills and experience.

“The government is backing our community-led solutions to crime – to ensure all residents can go about their daily lives free from violence, harassment and anti-social behaviour,” Senator Henderson said.

“All local residents deserve to feel safe and all of our local young people should have the chance to achieve their full potential.

“I’m delighted the following community organisations have received grants including:

Ballarat electorate:

• $1.1 million for Berry Street for ‘Goldfields Education’ up to 40 youth who are disengaged from education and at-risk of offending in the City of Ballarat. 
• $328,000 for the Young Men’s Christian Association of Ballarat to run the ‘Jump Start’ automotive program supporting young people to gain skills, experience and explore automotive as a possible future career path.

Bendigo electorate:

• The Reach Foundation at Bendigo received $232,500 for programs for fifteen-to-twenty-five year olds to help them craft their future.

Gorton electorate

• $1.12 million for Odyssey House at Melton for support services for people who experience severe problems with alcohol and/or other drug use and associated mental health issues.

Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs Jason Wood said the additional funding was in response to overwhelming demand from the community and will support organisations with demonstrated experience in helping marginalised youth, to build resilience, strengthen community connections and job readiness skills.

“These community organisations do vital work in helping get young people on the right track. We know that some young people engage in activities or have negative experiences that leave them at risk of joining gangs, committing serious crimes and disengaging from the wider community,” Assistant Minister Wood said.

“The challenges we’ve faced over the last 2 years as a result of the pandemic have only added to the sense of social isolation and disconnection that some young people feel.”

“This program ensures young people can get the support and assistance they need.  I thank and congratulate the local grant recipients for their ongoing work, which we are proud to support. It’s all about creating a stronger, safer community.”

The funding will be delivered under the latest round of the Safer Communities Fund which has invested more than $265 million and provided over 720 grants directly to local communities to deliver grass roots crime prevention initiatives since 2016.

The state government is supporting self-determination and economic independence by putting renewable energy projects directly in the hands of Aboriginal community groups across Victoria.
The Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation is slashing emissions and saving on power costs thanks to two solar-battery and storage projects funded by the state government’s $1.1 million Traditional Owner Renewable Energy Program.
Under the program, the Corporation installed two integrated solar energy generation and storage systems − a 15kW-48kWH solar-battery system in Ballan and a 7.4kW-13kWh system in Ballarat.
The renewable energy system is providing a sustainable, clean energy source that reduces the Corporation’s associated energy costs and will reduce carbon emissions by 45 tons per year.
Traditional Owner Renewable Energy Program is designed to support Aboriginal participation and adoption of new energy technologies, boost skills and help fuel a clean energy driven economic recovery with grants of up to $100,000 available to Traditional Owner Corporations.
Other Traditional Owner Corporations that have received funding under the program include: Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation, Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, Wurundjeri Land & Compensation Cultural Heritage Council Aboriginal Corporation, First People of Millewa-Mallee Aboriginal Corporation, Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation, Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation and, Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.
The Government acknowledges the right to self-determination and recognises that only when Aboriginal people are central to the decision-making processes that affect their lives, will sustained and long-term changes in wellbeing and the health of Country be achieved.
For more information, visit: energy.vic.gov.au/renewable-energy/aboriginal-energy
Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio: “We’re supporting Aboriginal communities to harness renewable energy, save money on bills and help meet our goal of halving the state’s emissions by 2030.”

White Night will return to Bendigo on 3 September this year, with tens of thousands of locals and visitors expected to attend the event and provide a significant boost to tourism businesses.
Supported through the state government’s Major Events Fund, the city will come alive for an extra special event this year after the pandemic forced White Night Bendigo to be postponed in 2020 and 2021.
The program, directed by Joseph O’Farrell, will feature artists from the categories of installation, visual art, lighting, audio-visual, projection, film, music and performance. The theme will be ‘everything on the land is reflected in the sky’.
In 2018, White Night Bendigo attracted more than 60,000 people and delivered a $5.5 million boost to the local economy.
Since the first White Night in Melbourne in 2013, the event has built a strong reputation as a vibrant and inclusive celebration of immersive art and community participation.
This year, tens of thousands of visitors are once again expected to visit Bendigo to see the city transformed through illumination. The program will capitalise on the best of Bendigo and elevate the city’s cultural and gastronomic credentials.
White Night adds to Bendigo’s strong cultural events offering with the city hosting an Australian exclusive exhibition, Elvis: Direct from Graceland, from 19 March to 17 July.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula: “Welcoming back White Night to Bendigo is great news for locals, visitors and the region’s tourism and hospitality businesses that are set to benefit from this spectacular event.”

Victorian women who had their children taken from them under heartbreaking historic forced adoption practices will receive redress, counselling and formal apologies from the Victorian Government.
The Andrews Labor Government is investing more than $4 million in response to last year’s Parliamentary Inquiry into Historical Forced Adoption in Victoria, including a plan to design and establish Australia’s first redress scheme for people affected by forced adoption.
The funding will immediately provide crisis counselling, as well as the option of integrated birth certificates which include the names of both the adopted person’s natural parents and their adoptive parents.
A $500,000 hardship fund will be established to provide discretionary payments to mothers affected by forced adoption with exceptional circumstances, including those who are terminally ill. A further $200,000 in funding will assist community groups to support applicants.
Tabled in Parliament this morning, the Government’s response to last year’s Parliamentary Inquiry recognises the trauma experienced by women who gave birth between 1958 and 1984 and were subjected to cruel and damaging forced adoption practices, many of whom have suffered lifelong trauma.
In 1984, Victoria was the first Australian jurisdiction to legislate for openness and properly informed consent in adoption – and continues to lead the way in making amends for these unacceptable historical policies and practices.
In 2012, the Victorian Government issued a formal apology to those harmed by past adoption practices and pledged to provide practical assistance to them.
Over the past year, the Government has put in place sweeping reforms to adoption services, centralised decision making to ensure better oversight and consistency and most importantly provided a better experience for children whose best interests remain central to any decision making.
The inquiry made 56 recommendations across broad themes such as redress, support services, operational changes and legislative amendments. Of those, 33 are supported or supported in principle by the Government, including plans to introduce a redress scheme, with the remaining 23 subject to further consideration.
Several of the recommendations are either already implemented or in the process of being implemented, such as centralised adoption services, retention of birth certificates, management of adoption records and data publication.
Premier Daniel Andrews: “The grief and trauma caused by shameful historical forced adoption practices lasts a lifetime – it continues to affect thousands of parents and adopted Victorians to this day. We can’t undo what was done, but we can recognise the harm that was caused and provide meaningful support – and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

Victoria’s minerals sector is going from strength to strength with industry investment for in-demand materials growing seven-fold in six years.
Minister for Resources Jaala Pulford has released the March 2022 Minerals Sector Snapshot, also revealed at the Melbourne Mining Club’s Cutting Edge event.
The Melbourne Mining Club’s Cutting Edge events enable small-to-medium exploration and development companies to showcase their activities, providing a great opportunity for Victoria’s minerals players.
Despite challenges posed by the pandemic, total statewide mineral exploration expenditure rose by over a third increasing to $183.4 million in 2020-21 according to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data. The latest ABS data also shows October-December 2021 exploration spending up almost 50 per cent compared to the same period in 2020.
Since 2016, the average quarterly growth rate has been more than double the national average.
The Snapshot shows gold-class exploration results are flourishing and gold continues drive mineral exploration investment in Victoria, with $149 million in exploration expenditure for gold in 2020-21, an increase of 83 per cent from the year before.
The North Central Victorian Goldfields Ground Release announced in October last year, is expected to see more than one hundred million dollars invested and last week further minerals exploration ground was made available in the Stavely Arc, boosting the chances of finding copper, other base metals and rare earth elements.
Valuable rare earth elements found in our mineral sands could be vital inputs for wind turbines, rechargeable batteries and hybrid cars.
Victoria has a quarter of global zircon resources, a key input to ceramics, digital printing and electrical components. There are also sizable occurrences of titanium-bearing rutile and ilmenite, utilised in paint and medical implants.
A summary of the strong performance of the booming sector is available available at earthresources.vic.gov.au.
Minister for Resources Jaala Pulford: “Minerals exploration is important to Victoria’s economy, bringing investment and jobs to regional areas. We welcome responsible minerals companies to Victoria that will work with communities to deliver growth, protect cultural heritage and safeguard the environment during their operations and rehabilitation phases.”

I WASN’T going to write this, because it’s all a bit too close, but Mum loved being in this column, even when she jokingly told me she was going to sue for some mostly imagined slander, so here goes.
Last Sunday, March 6, 22 months on, we finally managed to hold a memorial day for Mum. And it was perfect.
She had always told us, for years, she wanted her funeral to be “big and sad”. “None of those jokey ones, Donna, I want everyone crying.”

Of course, Covid had not made the same promise as Kyle and I, and the funeral was sad but not big. Just 20 people and no gathering afterwards. (Mind you, we did stream it across Australia and the world and I know it was watched in America, Japan and England. Mum would have been impressed by that…)
So we planned on that day to hold a memorial, almost a year later on June 21, Mum’s birthday. Again Covid raised its ugly head and changed that with a lockdown. And so we decided by October last year all would be fine. I mean, how long could Covid last against a country with a vaccine. But it’s a feisty little bugger.
So the last ditch attempt was March 6 this year. If that didn’t work, I was giving up. I can be determined but also realistic. And you know when you telephone an older person, perhaps late 80s or early 90s, and they ask “Betty who, dear?” and you have to say “You know, Betty Kelly, one of your best friends”, that time is running out.

Anyway, the invites went out, with the request that everyone who attended was triple vaxxed and did a rapid antigen test on the day. And as the day drew closer Kyle and I stopped going anywhere or seeing anyone, pretty much our norm now, in case we caught the dreaded Omicron.
We also watched the weather with dismay. Mum had tasked Kyle with scattering her ashes many years ago, off Olivers Hill in Frankston. “Not from the shore, Kyle, from a boat, don’t be lazy.”
So we booked a hire boat but a couple of days out from the event they texted to say the weather was too rough and it was a no go. FFS.
But to the rescue came the Frankston Yacht Club. We were holding the event there and got in touch to see if they could find a volunteer to drive a boat out for us. Yes, they said, we can do that.
Sunday finally arrived and Kyle and I, my brother Rick and his wife Dawn, and our nephew Ryan, met at the boat ramp off Olivers Hill. As promised the boat was waiting and off we went to a spot just off the viewing area on the hill. If you know Frankston, you know where I mean.
Mum was a potter, of some renown which I can say now she is not here listening, ready to protest, and we had her ashes in a pot she had made with a very good lid. Making good lids that fit, that’s the hard part of pottery. And Alicia from Verey’s Funerals had very kindly transferred the ashes and put a light run of silicone around the lid to make sure there were no accidents. “Just make sure you take a knife with you to give it a bit of a slice through on the day,” she said.
So there was Kyle, on his knees on the floor of the boat, sawing away at the lid, to no avail. “How much bloody silicone did she put on?” he asked. Even the young volunteer driver commented “She’s a stubborn woman” in reply to Kyle’s “She’s not coming out!”. Of course, it worked eventually and we did everything Mum asked, along with dropping her pot and lid to the bottom of the sea where I hope one day some snorkler will find it and give it a new life. Oh, for 10 minutes while we were out there, just reminiscing, the wind dropped, the rain stopped and it was perfect.
Then it was off to the yacht club where about 50 people gathered to remember Mum. And it was lovely. We had a couple of speeches, looked at a great video and just chatted. For many of the older people it was the first time they had been out and about in two years and it made my heart swell to see them all, not just honouring Mum but enjoying an afternoon together looking out over the bay.
We stayed the night at a mate’s house and drove back on Monday, both feeling very light and happy. I guess it has been weighing heavily on our minds, my role to make it big, and Kyle’s to “sprinkle” as he says, Mum from the water “not the land”.
I was talking later to someone who had done something similar, after Covid dealt its hand, and we decided sometimes it is nicer to have some space to grieve and recover and then hold a happy memorial day – yes, with tears, but also with laughter.
I miss Mum every day but she is now where she wanted to be.

(If anyone feels they would like to see the video it’s at https://youtu.be/fHNAWlJ6wyk – she would kill me if she knew I was doing this!)