Macedon Ranges Shire Council is continuing community recovery sessions to help local residents and landholders directly affected by storm damage.
After sessions in Lancefield, Romsey and Kyneton earlier this year, the coming two sessions will focus on:
 6.30pm, Wednesday 13 October – Macedon, Mt Macedon and surrounds
 6.30pm, Wednesday 20 October – Woodend, Ashbourne and surrounds
Due to current COVID-19 capacity restrictions, these sessions will be held online. Register your attendance and submit any questions you would like addressed by going to mrsc.vic.gov.au/storm-recovery
Representatives from Council, Bushfire Recovery Victoria, DELWP, Country Fire Authority (CFA), Parks Victoria, State Emergency Service (SES) and Sunbury Cobaw Community Health will be available to speak with residents and provide advice and information.
As well as updates, these sessions will give the community an opportunity to ask questions and share feedback.
If you have an immediate need for advice or support call our Recovery Operations Centre on (03) 5422 0237 or email recovery@mrsc.vic.gov.au

Macedon Ranges Shire Council encourages residents who were impacted by the June storm, and whose property is eligible for the Bushfire Recovery Victoria (BRV) Residential Storm and Flood Clean-up, to make sure they register by 31 October.
Registrations for the program will be closing at 11:59pm on Sunday 31 October 2021.
The cut-off date is for new registrations only. If you have already registered and are waiting for a call-back, site assessment, or works to begin, this cut-off date does not apply to you.
To find out more about the clean-up program, call 1800 560 760 or visit www.brv.vic.gov.au/cleanup
The initiative, known as the Residential Storm and Flood Clean-up program, has been accepting registrations since early July 2021.
Tony Grimme, Municipal Recovery Manager, said residents across the shire are still feeling the effects of the June storms and encouraged people to register before the 31 October cut-off.
“If you were impacted by the June storm, make sure you register now so you can take up the assistance being offered. Once you have registered, a BRV representative will make contact to discuss how the program works.”
Mr Grimme said inter-agency partnerships have been an important part of the ongoing recovery process.
“We would like to thank Bushfire Recovery Victoria for their ongoing support during the clean-up and recovery, and acknowledge the work they have done with many local property owners.”
“There is still time for Macedon Ranges Shire residents to register, and I encourage them to do so,” he said.
For more information on Council’s storm recovery program, go to mrsc.vic.gov.au/storm-recovery

The Upper Campaspe Landcare community group in Macedon, have received $24,000 in funding as part of the Community Volunteer Action Grants program, aimed at supporting communities and community organisations and volunteers across Victoria and in Macedon.
Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas congratulated the successful grant recipient. The Community Volunteer Action Grants program provides funding to a variety of local community and volunteer groups including local Landcare groups and networks, committees of management and traditional owners.
The Upper Campaspe Landcare Network’s Pollinator Corridor Project is designed to engage and empower the community within the Upper Campaspe Catchment in a cooperative and interactive ongoing program that encourages participation in the enhancement, establishment, and preservation of native pollinator habitat through the creation of Pollinator Corridors on private and public land.
The grants offer a range of positive biodiversity outcomes across the Macedon and across the state by assisting communities to conserve, rehabilitate, restore and protect Victoria’s native flora, fauna and vegetation and supporting community groups to increase and build their capacity to act for the environment.
Previous funding has assisted community groups across Victoria to engage a total of 992 community members in conservation or improved land management, with a contribution from community members of approximately 23,515 volunteer hours.
The grants are spread across a range of geographic locations to align with the goals and targets identified in the Victorian Government’s plan to improve our natural environment, Biodiversity 2037.
This is part of the $7.4 million Community Environment Grants package funded by the Victorian Government to support small and large-scale projects dedicated to preserving AREAS.

“YOU should be a paralympian.” What?!
There are two problems with that text, sent to me by one of my closest friends. One problem is that there’s no capital P for Paralympian. Nouns get Capitals. And you would automatically write Olympian. See? That looks right, without even thinking about it. P-P-P-Paralympian.
The second problem is that just because I’m blind, that does not mean I automatically qualify as a Paralympian. It’s not just people with disabilities. It’s the world’s elite athletes with disabilities. People who have trained hour after hour, day after day, month after month, year after year. There’s a reason that Malcolm Gladwell defines ‘outliers’ as having practised something for 10,000 hours to become the best at it. I’m way too distractable for that. But thanks for thinking the best of me.
I mean, I get it. For two weeks, every four years, we are all Olympic experts. Suddenly, we know everything about all sports. We can remember all 10 of the decathlon events, even though if you ask us at any other time of the Olympic cycle we’d vaguely wonder if equestrian is part of the triathlon. Then, when we all do our morning walks, our weekend runs, we’re suddenly giving the Olympic records the side-eye, thinking we might just be able to do it. If we had more time, less work. That’s all it would take, right?

Nope. Wrong. Which comes to the very thing that defines the difference between the Olympics and the Paralympics. Nothing. They’re not really different at all. Both events feature athletes who run, swim, ride, lift weights, practise, train, practise some more, train some more, run, swim and ride. And then do it all again tomorrow. And every day. For four years. Just for one moment in time. One shot at glory.
Sure, Paralympians can’t see or hear or may have one leg or one arm. But they all have exactly the same Olympic spirit. It’s not about the bodies at all. It’s about the mental strength. The determination to succeed, the dedication to the training, the skill, the talent, the need to win at all costs, overcoming the pain of injuries. It’s what separates ‘athletes’ from ‘Olympians’. And it’s equal for those competing at both the Paralympics and the Olympics.
So do I have a social responsibility to be a Paralympian, then? Because that’s the vibe I’m getting from that text. I’m blind, therefore is it my civic duty to be inspiring? Ha. Ha ha. Ha ha ha ha ha, ha ha ha. Ahem.
No. I did not sign a social contract exchanging your goodwill towards me having a disability in return for me inspiring you.
I’ve said it before. People before me have said it before. And we’ll echo it again as our chorus grows louder across the globe. We are not your inspiration porn. Some of us are amazing, yes. Most of us are just living our regular lives. Let us be who we are. Lift your burden of inspiration expectation from around our shoulders and put it back on your own. See how that feels. And while you’re wearing that burden, watch this video. It’s less than two minutes out of your day. And learn from us, we the 15 per cent of the population with disability.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHCDvdCaJhI
No, look, I really must insist that you please go back and really do click on that link. I mean it. It’s an ad by WeThe15, sport’s biggest ever human rights movement to end discrimination. And I promise you, you’ve never seen anything like it.
So, Australian Olympians who competed at the Olympics received a $20,000 bonus for a gold medal. But it was only this month that the Federal Government announced that Olympians competing at the Paralympics will also now get that same bonus when they return from Tokyo. It took a bit of a fight to get it, too. A big push by Olympians and Paralympians, then Prime Minister Sco-Mo bowed to the pressure and made the announcement. It was such a proud, proud day. Just shameful that it took until 2021. The Paralympics were held in their first incarnation back in 1960. Still. A win is a win.
Me? I don’t have that strength, dedication or spirit. Even for $10K. I swim 7km a week and that’s it for me. Sometimes I manage about half an hour on the bike before I get distracted and jump off and just dance to the workout music instead. Did you know that even with all of the anabolic steroids, illegal transfusions and therapies, Lance Armstrong still was on his bike six hours a day? Turns out I can’t even be bothered cheating my way to becoming an elite athlete then. Let alone a bloody Paralympian.
“You should be a paralympian.” Nah. I’ll stick to watching the Paralympics at home like everyone else, throwing popcorn at the screen when it goes to a penalty shootout and sobbing when Dylan Alcott wins again. But hey…you should be an Olympian…
Kate Taylor is an award-winning journalist…and she’s also blind. In this four-part series, she explores world issues through the lens of living in regional Victoria with a disability. Sometimes dark, sometimes funny, her stories will always make the reader think.
Email: kate.elizabeth.taylor.1@gmail.com

untrue grit

when you’re outside
and feel a bit of grit
between your toes
you sit

untie your bootlace
peel off your sock
turn it inside out
take stock

find nothing much
it doesn’t seem fair
it certainly felt
like something was there

In lockdown
for something else to do
try inserting
some grit in your shoe

• Bill Wootton

Bill lives in gritty Hepburn Springs.

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

NICK Carpenter’s Music Is My Muse exhibition will open at the Wildwood Instruments Art Gallery at Mount Franklin on the Cup Day long weekend, October 30.
Nick is a luthier and artist, and has created a very inviting gallery space, dedicated to the theme of music. He creates stunning 3D artworks that draw on the grit and glitz (and everything in between) of our musical culture.
The exhibition will be open Saturdays and Sundays 10am to 4pm and when it finishes at the end of November, the gallery will continue to open on weekends, with a changing array of Nick’s works on display.

Everyone is welcome to drop in and have a chat with the artist and see some notable art. There is a viewing window into the workshop where people may be able to catch one of Nick’s guitar-making courses in progress.
Nick has been involved in the music industry for over 30 years. He is an instrument maker and has been in bands playing various instruments, as well as writing, performing and recording music. He has been running Wildwood Instruments since 1999, where he has made over 1000 instruments and taught hundreds of people the art of instrument making.

His work as an artist is a love affair of what he calls “Art X Music”. His visual art is based around musical instruments and themes surrounding music, a natural extension to his life’s passion. Bringing together the skills of luthier, musician and artist, he creates a very original and intriguing style of art.
While the handcrafted instruments he makes are beautiful works of art, it is his visual art that speaks volumes.
Nick says there is so much to be said about music and the enormous impact it has had on our culture, all throughout human civilisation. It is these songs he sings with his art.
For those unable to make it to the exhibition, just head to Music Is My Muse online at www.wildwoodinstruments.com.au from the opening date.
Wildwood Instruments Art Gallery is at 11 Phillips Road, Mount Franklin.

THERE’S a building revolution happening – in Daylesford – and it couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.
Structural Panels Australia owners Per Bernard, Tibor Hegedis and Martin Bird have worked together for years specialising in energy efficient building systems. But the more efficient the buildings became, the more they cost, putting them out of the reach of most people, as Per explains. “The more efficient buildings become, the dearer they get and whilst we can design and build a house that needs no heating or cooling, it costs a lot of money, and most people can’t afford that.”
A couple of years ago the trio started looking at a new product, structurally insulated panels (SIPs), and when Victoria’s main manufacturer decided to retire, they took over the business and moved it to their premises in East Street, Daylesford.
“SIPs creates a really high insulation level that is also affordable. It does that by taking away most of the timber in a building, including the studs and trusses, so you are down to using about 10 per cent of the timber you would normally need.
“And because you don’t have a normal timber frame stud wall, which is how most buildings are done here, even those with brick veneer, there are no thermal breaches in the walls or floors or even roof, if you use it for all of those areas.
“If you take an infrared photo of a new house that is supposed to be working efficiently you will see every single stud is a heat leak. You can see them as a red patch through the side of the building. But because a SIP panel hardly has any timber you see a completely different picture of insulation.” And alongside the great insulation properties of the panels it also resolves a current worldwide shortage of building materials including timber. A win, win.
Per said the company was looking to upscale their factory, which already employs two people, and within the next year start producing a complete pre-fab system, building entire walls onsite with doors, windows and cladding, ready to be put together in a couple of days. The trio also works with professional engineers, building designers and architects and can offer a one stop shop for a complete building package.
There are also discounts being passed on of up to 30 per cent, thanks to some savvy shopping, and a genuine wish to create sustainable, affordable projects for their community. “We are achieving comparably efficient buildings like we have done for a number of years, however using SIPs, we can now offer a much less complicated, less expensive system. This really is a game changer. And pretty cool.” Advertorial

WE GOT a tip! Nah, not one of those: “I know what you should do in The Local…” to which the reply is easy. “Well, great, when you have worked on other papers for about 30 years, take the plunge, open your own and then just do whatever you think we should be doing.”
Nah, it was a real tip, saying thanks for what do you. It came as a surprise. Kyle headed to the letterbox, on one of his three-monthly trips, armed with a plastic bag, a long-handled pincer sort of thing, and fly spray. You can take the Kiwi out of New Zealand but you can’t take the fear of spiders that can kill you out of a Kiwi.
Now, I bet you are thinking we are super lazy, not going to the letterbox every day, but in our defence it is across a road, one that is becoming very busy, and we just don’t get that much mail now. And any mail we do get is usually something we don’t want, like bank statements which we have asked for years to just be online, or election promotion materials when we already know who is standing and when, or random bits of paper asking to stop development in Glenlyon (sorry, but the horse has bolted on that one) and other bits saying we need more development (really?).
Anyway, Kyle came back with his bag half full, and offered me an enveloped card. Now, being an old-school journo, that threw me a little. The last time I opened a card at a former workplace, we had anthrax protocols in place. Luckily, being a pandemic, I had plenty of masks, gloves and sanitiser at the ready – and being a bit tired of the ennui I am currently experiencing decided it was time to just go for it. I choose life so I opened the envelope.
Whoa. Inside was a really nice Thank You card, with real handwriting about what we do at The Local and how we are appreciated. And also inside, a $100 Visa gift card! Yep, a tip. Talk about make my day, week and year.
Now, this is not the first time I have been tipped. Once when I was working in Cairns as a Japanese tour guide I was given a $20 tip by the father of a family I took out on a reef trip. And that’s back in the 80s so, you know, $20. It was a lovely gesture and the only downside was that he took so long to thank me that I missed my free ride home and the bus and had to pay for a taxi which was $22. Still, it’s the thought that counts, right?
But it is my first tip as a journo. Because of course journos can’t accept tips. It’s like taking a bribe. When I worked at a suburban newspaper group we were sent a memo from the general manager that any money changing hands was a sackable offence and any gifts we received had to be sent straight his way. Oddly, the only thing I received was some free incontinence underwear (I think I might have been the health reporter for a bit) so I quickly packaged them up and sent them on. Anonymously of course. Didn’t want it to look like I was buttering him up…
Now, I am the boss, well the managing editor, and I have made a rule that all tips are most welcome. Not that I want to start a trend, but you know, if you feel like it…
Anyway, thank you so much, tip giver. It was unnecessary but much appreciated. And I have decided I am going to use it towards something fun at our Christmas crew party. After all, this thing we do called The Local is a team effort. And our team has worked tirelessly over Covid, for pay and for nothing at times, to keep our readers reading and our advertisers getting their messages out. And tip or not, I do know we are appreciated by many.
It was funny timing actually. We had lunch with some good friends a few weeks back at a restaurant far, far away from the Central Highlands, with OK service and food. Nothing bad, nothing outstanding. At the end of the meal our friends wanted to leave a tip, we didn’t see the point. They asked why. We couldn’t really explain. But now I get it. Australian wages are not like America. A tip is not needed to make up a real wage. Yes, it is nice to tip, but I don’t think it should be expected.
Now, if you get amazing service and food, above and beyond, sure thing, tip away. But also think about all those other industries, not food, that also go above and beyond to serve you, make sure your experience is so fantastic that you walk away feeling like your money was well spent.
This is my first tip in the journalism game. But I think I have gone above and beyond many, many times, listened to people’s stories, told them honestly and truthfully and I hope that over the past eight years people have read The Local and thought: “I feel better for reading that.” And so many others do it as well in all sorts of businesses and organisations. And so many never expect a tip. Sometimes just a thank you will have people almost crying. Although, I must admit, a great meal with great friends is pretty priceless just now.
Oh, another shout-out to our crew. Being an essential service, we had to make sure everyone was vaccinated. So I sent out a quick email asking if everyone was and could we put a VV next to their name on page 2. Yes, they all replied, vaccinated ages ago. All done and dusted. No worries. I friggin’ love our people. Just sayin’…

“ALL welcome, no judgement” is the sign above the doors and in the social media of a few local businesses in the Central Highlands.
At first thought my deliberations went to, well, there has been a lot of anxiety and division in the community, so it is nice to see some good vibes and lightness around the place.
However my next cognition drew a different conclusion that perhaps “All welcome, no judgement” was in reference to the vaccination and the wearing of masks at premises. If it is referring to the latter, there is no way I would or will be frequenting an establishment that doesn’t cover me in terms of my safety.

The last thing I would put up with is an open-masked earth mother or father, for that matter earth-person, walking around an eatery because of their rights. This battle has been too long, too wearing and with too much heartache to let the minority have no judgement in terms of vaccine choices and mask wearing.
On the other hand, I might have the whole statement upside down. Does it mean when I enter your establishment under the “All welcome, no judgement” banner I am able to flash-up a cigarette 70’s style or better yet clip and cut my Cuban before sharing that rich fruity aroma with the other patrons? Or would I still have no judgement thrust upon me as I didn’t quite make it to the ablutions, squeezing one out on the floor, kicking it aside and asking the help to “take care of that for me love” in an East End accent?
We have rules and laws that have been developed over the ages and embraced by most in society that separate us from the jungle animals and these commandments have to be followed if you want to move around in a world with the other seven billion individuals.
For instance, the rule for mandatory seatbelts had a bit of backlash, nowadays it is the first thing you do before setting sail and if you don’t, most vehicles will make loud abusive noises until you have rectified the offending behaviour.
Here at TL HQ, all our contributors, contractors and staff are fully vaccinated and if they weren’t there would be no more dealings with The Local, as we are in and out of places reporting on the goings on of the whole community including the vulnerable.
We want to have a clear conscience that, as a result of reporting the news, we haven’t made the news by starting a super-spreader event, destroying livelihoods by shutting down venues or killing people because of our selfishness.
Anyway I do hope that the “All welcome, no judgement” statement simply refers to loving all the people in the world what ever colour, sexuality or religious leanings you have.
Great judgement rant over…

Streaming hospitals 

As part of the state-wide response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ballarat Base Hospital is now a designated streaming hospital for adult COVID-19 patients, as required. Ballarat Health Services will continue to provide the best possible care for our community and broader Victoria. 

Ballarat Health Services CEO Dale Fraser said that under directive from the Department of Health, Ballarat Base Hospital would accept adults who need high-acuity treatment for COVID-19, with COVID-positive children streamed to Melbourne at this stage.   

“We have undertaken extensive planning in preparation for our COVID-19 response since the pandemic began, and caring for COVID-19 positive patients is the next step for us,” Mr Fraser said. 

“This will not impact our ability to provide care to non-COVID patients; the Base Hospital will continue to provide a high level of safe care to the community.  

“However, we remind the community to please consider whether their injury or illness is an emergency before presenting to Emergency, and of the alternatives that are available to provide non-emergency care including their GP, medical clinic or pharmacist.” 

A number of beds have been allocated to COVID positive patients and suspected COVID-19 patients at the Base Hospital on a dedicated ward and in the ICU. As a streaming hospital, the available dedicated beds are included on a state-wide dashboard, and patients are allocated based on availability. 

Ballarat Health Services is also monitoring and providing care for COVID-19 positive people in their homes, when clinically appropriate to do so.  Due largely to strong vaccination rates in our community, this is the case for the majority of Covid-19 positive cases. 

“Home monitoring of COVID-19 positive patients is our biggest strength as a health service facing COVID, particularly as we know we will be living with COVID across Australia and locally into the future. 

“Now is the time for the community to act responsibly and get vaccinated if they are eligible, as we know vaccines are the most reliable means to avoid serious illness from COVID-19.” 

Readiness for COVID patients 

Ballarat Health Services’ planning and preparation for a higher volume of COVID-19 patients has been underway since the pandemic began.   More recently, plans have been put in to action, including fit-testing high-level Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for staff on high-risk wards, the purchase and installation of a number of air purification devices for the COVID ward and other areas of the hospital. 

Additionally, a temporary marquee has been erected on Mair Street between the Emergency Department ambulance off-load bays and the BHS car park. This marquee will be used as an Emergency Department triage space for people who require emergency care and are: 

• COVID positive 
• Potentially COVID positive (ie are experiencing COVID symptoms such as difficulty breathing) 

Over the coming weeks and months, when arriving at the BHS Emergency Department, the community is asked to read the signage at the Emergency entrance.   

When the marquee is ready for use, there will be signage instructing people with COVID, or COVID symptoms on what they need to do, to ensure other people seeking emergency care are not exposed to the virus.  

Executive Director Acute Operations at Ballarat Health Services, Ben Kelly, said he expected to see an increase in cases in Ballarat. 

“While the first-dose vaccination rates are great, we are only at 63.5% for second doses, which means we can expect to see very unwell people from our community over the coming weeks and months,” Mr Kelly said. 

“One dose is good, but two doses are what we need everyone over the age of 12 years to get.”  

The Moderna vaccine is now widely available in Pharmacies and at the BHS clinic at the Mercure.  Moderna and Pfizer work in the same way, and everyone over the age of 12 years can get vaccinated quickly if they choose to. 

In the majority of cases, those hospitalised and dying of COVID-19 have not been fully vaccinated.  

The dose intervals for each vaccine is as follows: 

• Moderna – four weeks apart 
• Pfizer – three weeks apart 
• AstraZeneca – six weeks apart 

For more information go to bhs.org.au/covid 

THE Macedon Ranges community is being called to action to speak up against sexist and abusive behaviours. Research demonstrates that being an active bystander can discourage perpetrators of sexist and abusive behaviour and at the same time supports the victim.
Two online active bystander training opportunities are being offered in the lead- up to the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence.
The 16 Days of Activism is a global movement raising awareness of and challenging gender-based violence. It runs from November 25, the International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women to December 10, the International Human Rights Day.
The first workshop on Tuesday, October 19, delivered by Women’s Health Loddon Mallee, is an Introduction to Bystander Action. The workshop will introduce participants to the bystander effect, that is how social norms, exclusions and disadvantage is maintained through our collective silence. Participants will also explore bystander actions, including current examples and why people often don’t intervene.
The second workshop delivered by the Centre for Non-Violence is on Tuesday, October 26 and will provide participants with knowledge of the drivers of gender-based violence as well as the skills to recognise the signs of family violence, how to respond appropriately and refer survivors to appropriate local services.
For information on how to register for either workshop contact Rhani Dean-Talbett at Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health on 5421 1666 or healthpromotion@scchc.org.au.

Support for women:
Centre for Non-Violence – 5430 3000; Safe Steps – 1800 015 188
Support for children:
Kids Helpline – 1800 551 800
Support for LGBTIQA+ community:
Rainbow Door – 1800 729 367
Support for men who use violence:
Men’s Referral Service – 1300 766 491

YOU can find everything you need at weekend markets, from fresh fruit and veg to handmade jewellery and wares, throughout the Central Highlands and surrounds. Here are just a few.

Daylesford Sunday Market – every Sunday (pictured)
Wesley Hill Market – every Saturday

Trentham Neighbourhood Centre Makers Market – first Saturday
Golden Plains Farmers Market – first Saturday
Woodend Farmers Market – first Saturday
Castlemaine Artists’ Market – first Sunday

Trentham Community Group Market – second Saturday
Kyneton Farmers Market – second Saturday
Ballan Farmers Market – second Saturday
Kyneton Rotary Community Market – second Saturday
Maldon Market – second Sunday
Clunes Farmers Market – second Sunday

Trentham Farmers Market and Makers Market – third Saturday
Glenlyon Farmers Market – third Saturday
Leonards Hill Market – third Saturday
Creswick Market – third Saturday
Talbot Farmers Market – third Sunday
Woodend Lions Market – third Sunday

Rotary Daylesford Farmers Market – fourth Saturday
Trentham Station Sunday Market – fourth Sunday
Buninyong Village Market – fourth Sunday

Check for any restrictions…image, pre-Covid

Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs
It may be no fairy story, but it could mean a few garden dreams can come true. There are so many times, especially at this time of bountiful blooms, that you may wish you could find space for yet another flowering tree such as the spectacular snow white flowering cherry, pictured here. Or, perhaps one of the many acacias, rhododendrons, camellias or even a free- flowering magnolia. But you can’t really find the space for yet another large tree.

But thanks to the skills and dedication of dedicated botanists and plant breeders it’s now possible to obtain miniature (or dwarf) versions of almost every popular garden plant known – either discovered or created.
There are also other miniature, mainly fruiting trees available through the technique of grafting the scion (growing wood) of normal fruiting trees onto miniature, size-restricting root stocks.

The Seven Dwarfs
Among the countless varieties of scaled-down trees and shrubs available for your garden, are these seven of my favourites to get you started.
Rhododendrons: These spectacular trees in full bloom right now may be too large for your garden. However, there are quite a few dwarf hybrid rhododendrons available with all the attributes of their larger relatives, only in miniature – usually 1 to 2 metres in height. Like the R. lemon mist pictured here courtesy of Shan Lin.

Magnolias: Who can resist the double charm of those two outstanding magnolias, the evergreen M.grandiflora with its dinner plate-sized fragrant white blooms and glossy green foliage, and the gorgeous vase-like flowers of magnolia soulangeana?
Pity they would probably take up most of the garden. The good news is that there is a mirror image “mini me” for the grandiflora called “little gem” growing to about 3 metres high. The other forms are replicated by various hybrids including M. yunnanensis and M.stellata.
Camellias: There are two major forms of these magnificent plants, japonica, the tree-proportioned, large-leafed group with huge rose-like blooms and the dainty much smaller proportioned and infinitely more versatile sasanquas. Within the sasanqua tribe the ultimate growth size can vary from 1- 5 metres.
Lagerstroemia indica: Crepe myrtle is a group of deciduous shrubs originally from China, with attractively distorted branches and stems with smooth white bark and light green oval foliage that colours in autumn. They are covered throughout summer with masses of crepe paper-like flowers in various colours from white through mauve to soft red. A miniature form, no less appealing is the lagerstroemia nana, growing to around 1 metre high and available in all colours.
Our native flora hasn’t missed out either.
Acacia cognata: Naturally a small narrow-leafed weeping tree with tiny yellow floral balls. These days a.cognata comes in a variety of hybrids in all sizes from metre-sized balls of green and in colours from lime green to gold and bronze.
Agonis Flexuosa: Willow myrtle/ peppermint tree is a handsome tree with graceful willow-like foliage on long slender stems, bronze-coloured new leaves and covered in late spring with small white flowers. A. flexuosa nana, is a delightful metre high miniature replica.
Eucalyptus leucoxylon: A delightful slender medium-sized tree with pendulous trails of white, pink, or red flowers. A hybrid form euky dwarf is now available, still a small tree, growing to just 5 metres.

Cornish Hill

East Daylesford residents received letters on August 30 from the State Government (DELWP) advising that one acre of public parkland adjoining Cornish Hill Reserve was “surplus to government requirements” so would be rezoned to residential land and sold exclusively and privately to the few adjoining property owner/s. This sale includes a section of public walking track.
The state claims this sale “delivers a positive contribution to the township of Daylesford”. The opposite is true. The shire loses one acre of public parkland. Sale monies go to the state government, not Hepburn Shire.
Daylesford loses a heritage walking trail. Daylesford loses access to an historic rail embankment.
The Daylesford CFA and Cornish Hill Reserve both oppose the sale because the track is essential to protect public bushland and residents. Hepburn Shire supports the concerns of the CFA and residents. The state government failed to obtain the prior agreement of the Dja Dja Wurrung people as required.
Selling public parkland in regional towns to private owners as a cash cow is a very dangerous precedent. Please respond to the DELWP feedback line engage.vic.gov.au/glsac/tranche-30 by 5pm, Monday, October 11, 2021.

• Meyer Eidelson, Amanda Palmer, Daylesford

Transmission lines

I am fed up with the politicisation of the WVTNP by known opponents of renewable energy pretending to be concerned about our community.
Ripon’s MP Louise Staley has been exposed for her part in this debate by Jeremy Harper, Your Say, The Local, 13/09/2021. Louise knows this project was commissioned by the AEMO, a federally constituted and funded body.
But Ms Staley has a long record of standing against renewable energy. She voted against the Victorian Renewable Energy Target legislation in 2017. She has been reported as saying “targets for (renewable) energy will hurt Ripon” and she has announced “the Victorian Liberals will protect thousands…from Daniel Andrews’ ill-conceived WVTNP”.
Meanwhile we have scores of misleading signs on people’s properties, blaming Dan Andrews, or asking where various Labor politicians are. All based on lies perpetrated by Liberal Party politicians. And these signs are not cheap, with many being enamelled metal, corflute or printed canvas signs all up worth many thousands of dollars. From whence does the money come?
Or a crass sign adorning a hill over which a transmission line passes, and under which the same farmer who claims that the sky will fall if the WVTNP goes ahead is farming his fields. If it wasn’t so sad I would laugh.
Opposite this hill is a farm gate adorned with signage that tells the passer-by that the local economy will be devastated if the WVTNP is built. Farmers won’t be able to farm, tourists won’t come because of the transmissions lines, and we will have to “get up in morning ‘fore sun goes down and lick t’ road clean”.
So I have some questions for the people who proudly display these signs. Why haven’t people already stopped coming to our region since there are already plenty of transmission lines here? And why are you able to farm under these transmission lines, but not the WVTNP? And why do I have to smell bulls–t every time I go out?

• Ross Redwin, Creswick

THE Convent Gallery is proving a popular meeting place for Hepburn House’s LGBTIQ initiative Ageing (Dis)gracefully.
It all started when Hepburn House’s general manager Dianne Jones applied for a state government grant after the aged care facility’s LGBTIQ committee realised there was a need for more social interaction in the community.
Convenor is Carmel Dennehy-Yardy, a former teacher who has worked in the mainstream system along with in a youth centre in Maribyrnong, who moved to the region with her husband three years ago.

“Ageing (Dis)gracefully is designed for the elders (and not so elderly!) of the community, who are perhaps feeling isolated, especially with Covid,” she said. “We are meeting regularly on Thursday mornings at the Convent Gallery, thanks to the wonderful Tina, and have also already held a few outings to places like Castlemaine. It’s all about being social and having fun.”

Glenlyon resident Max Primmer, who has become a bit of a poster boy for the program, said other outings were being planned as soon as lockdown ended with trips to Kyneton, Castlemaine and Tylden all on the agenda.
“It is really important for people to be able to mark their calendars with things to do. And it is just an outlet for people to talk to like-minded people, maybe make friends and seeing people outside of this group as well.
“We are really thrilled we got the funding and we hope we can show how popular it is and get some future funding as well.”
For anyone keen to take part, call Carmel on 0456 889 431.
And while Covid limits are currently 10 people indoors, no-one will be turned away, with another sitting or venue arranged if necessary.
Hepburn House acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.

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