President Robyn Rogers said the committee was also launching a refreshed website featuring Lliam Amor’s artwork with a whimsical alpine design on Monday, September 28.
“As well as keeping people up to date with the Festa’s return in 2021, the site has information on the history and legacy of the Swiss Italians who settled in this region in the mid-1800s.
“It will also feature stories about the great life enjoyed in the region today. swissitalianfesta.com”
Anna is a descendant of the Adami and Rolleri families who arrived in Australia to find their fortune on the Victorian Goldfields. Striking gold, the Rolleris purchased Parma House and the nearby hotel, running a successful guesthouse for many years. The Adamis established vineyards, bringing a touch of their previous life to their new homeland.
Anna’s maternal grandmother Nina Millman (née Rolleri, daughter of Ernest Rolleri and Kate Adami) entertained her grandchildren with tales of growing up in and around the guesthouse and vineyard.
Ms Rogers said Anna spoke at a fundraising dinner last year, telling some fascinating stories about her family and memories of life in Hepburn Springs.
“The Springs have been an important part of my life, since childhood visits with my grandmother, to recent visits with my own children. It has been a joy to see the area preserved, enhanced and thriving. The Festa has become a key part of the area’s history, a great opportunity for descendants to learn more of their heritage, for others to experience the rich culture, produce and beauty of the springs, and at the same time boosting the local economy.
“I always love coming to the Festa, bringing my mum who has a deep connection to the place, catching up with relatives, experiencing a sense of belonging to a precious thing – that is what the Swiss Italian Festa means to me.”
Ms Rogers said besides being a descendant of one of the first Swiss Italian families to settle in the area, Anna was a former MP and Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives, and continued to work in the government sector today as a Member of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
“Anna has continuing ties to the area and a high public profile, both of which the committee felt were important in the selection of a Patron.
“We are very grateful that Anna has accepted our request to be our patron and look forward to working with her throughout the coming year. Locals and visitors can expect a fantastic Festa in 2021 including traditional and artisanal food and wine, parades, performances, art shows, heritage tours, bocce tournaments and fireworks.”

Link: www.swissitalianfesta.com

They also show a recommendation by Community Safety coordinator David George for “a front page newspaper article or similar for consultation” because “the removal of the geese will create a lot of public comment” was ignored.
And in a query from council to Nigel’s Animal Rescue, which was paid $2750 to remove 29 geese and six ducks, about where the birds had gone, the contractor “did not provide any documents which contained the address of the property” and “advised that he does not know the actual address, only how to drive there”.
In response to a query from The Local about the FOI documents, a council spokesperson said in its July 16 council meeting, Hepburn Shire Council resolved that it: acknowledges the community concerns and the impact of the domestic waterfowl on the ecological function of the lake; approves the removal and re-homing of the domestic geese and waterfowl from Lake Daylesford and the proposed community engagement plan; and approves the installation of signage at Lake Daylesford to reinforce the messages and encourage responsible animal ownership.
Asked why the council had not followed Mr George’s advice on a front page story or similar, the council spokesperson told The Local the council had undertaken engagement and communication activities. They included: direct contact with key stakeholders; social media following council determination; staff available to address community enquiries during relocation; post-relocation signage to be installed to reinforce the messages and encourage responsible animal ownership; customer service and other frontline staff having key messages; and consideration of the relocation and rehousing for posting on council social media to reassure community of a positive outcome.
The Local has seen the FOI documents which were supplied by a number of people.The paper trail started with Cr Robson emailing Hepburn Shire Council CEO Evan King on January 23, 2019 saying: “I have had a number of people voice concern regarding the absence of swans at Lake Daylesford. Apparently there used to be many. There is a theory that the geese are scaring them away. Is this something that we are able to explore as part of our biodiversity plan?”

On January 24, Mr King forwarded Cr Robson’s email to the council’s biodiversity officer Brian Bainbridge saying: “I’m not sure what the best way of responding to this is. I would be interested in your thoughts.”
On March 6, Mr Bainbridge emailed Mr George saying: “After the positive response to removing geese at Daylesford lake (sic), I have been asked to supply a briefing for council on the issue for the April (sic) so will try to get this written up by the end of next week.”
Two days later, Mr George replied: “Regarding any action for removal, I am unsure of the consultation that has been put forward already but I would recommend a front page newspaper article or similar for consultation. The removal of the geese will create a lot of public comment.”
On March 12, Mr Bainbridge posted a question on the Local Government Biodiversity Network Special Interest Group website saying: “I am developing a brief to Council in response to requests from community to remove domestic geese from a public waterbody due to their environmental impact…there will be a significant community pushback and I would like any case to be well-founded. I have failed to find State or National information for domestic goose impact and it seems likely most experience with the species will be held by Local Government.”
An April 2 briefing paper then went through the council’s internal processes. The paper’s introduction said: “The purpose of this briefing is to identify issues and options for responding to community concerns on the impact on biodiversity of Domestic Geese present on Daylesford Lake (sic)”. The report stated that “the impact on visitor experience of geese threat displays to protect goslings during breeding season has also been relayed by community”.
Under “What Happens Next” the paper said: “Pending councillor discussion and approval, a project for removal of the geese and associated communication plan will be developed for consideration.”
On June 28, Mr Bainbridge emailed Nigel Williamson from Nigel’s Animal Rescue saying “we are close to completing the process for approving the goose removal at Daylesford Lake (sic)”. Mr Bainbridge also provided a map of the geese removal area on the lake with the numbers and locations they tended to congregate.
On July 15, the day before the council meeting to decide the fate of the geese, Mr Bainbridge had a conversation with native animal expert Tanya Loos following with an email saying he would be interested in bird data for Lake Daylesford including any on the diversity and abundance of native and domestic waterfowl and how this might have altered in the past few years in particular.
The following day he emailed Roger Thomas, who writes for The Courier in Ballarat on environmental matters saying: “You may have noticed Hepburn Council is in the news regarding our proposal to remove a flock of Domestic Geese (and some domestic ducks) from Lake Daylesford.
“I am interested in documentation or credible observations that support (or refute) community members’ anecdotal evidence of impact on native wildlife. In particular, interactions with Black Swans or other native waterfowl.” There is no record in the FOI documents of any reply from either Ms Loos or Mr Thomas.
At the council meeting in Clunes on July 16, the decision to remove the geese was unanimous and on July 17, a purchase order for Nigel’s Animal Rescue was approved.
On July 19, Mr Watson emailed infrastructure manager Bruce Lucas, Mr Bainbridge, Mr George and others, with an email marked “Confidential – Monday 22 July 2019” saying the geese rehoming would take place on July 22 and given the amount of interest to keep the information to themselves.
On July 22 the geese were removed from the lake by Nigel’s Animal Rescue with the address of the property they were moved to “not provided to council”.
Cr Robson said earlier in September that a number of people had raised their concerns regarding the geese at Lake Daylesford and when she received an official complaint she forwarded it Mr King and asked for a report to be brought to council.
“I stand by the decision of council and still believe this was in the best interests of Lake Daylesford, the geese and the community as a whole.”

Words: Donna Kelly | Image: The Local’s July 29, 2019 front page

As of the close of nominations, 26 of the 298 individual elections were uncontested, where the number of candidates is equal to the number of vacancies. Voters in these uncontested elections will not be required to vote.
Meanwhile, in Hindmarsh Shire Council’s East Ward, an insufficient number of candidates nominated to fill the vacancies while no nominations were received to fill the single-councillor vacancy for South West Ward in Northern Grampians Shire Council. By-elections to fill the vacancies will be held at a later date.

Local council elections will be held in Victoria by post in October 2020 with voters in each council receiving a ballot pack in early October. The roll closed for this election at 4pm on Friday, August 28 and candidate nominations closed at noon on Tuesday, September 22. Voting closes at 6pm on Friday, October 23.

Hepburn Shire Council candidates, in ballot paper order, are:

Birch Ward (2 vacancies)

Fiona Robson, Celia Waldron, Lesley Hewitt, Jen Bray, Gary Carter and Anne E Stewart

Cameron Ward (1 vacancy)

Tessa Halliday, Dorothy Russell and Nicholas Ayres-Wearne

Coliban Ward (1 vacancy)

Brian Hood, Licia Kokocinski and Ethan Brown

Creswick Ward (2 vacancies)

Tim Drylie, Don Henderson and Stuart Jonas

Holcombe Ward (1 vacancy)

John Cottrell, Daniel McMillan, Bill McClenaghan and Juliet Simpson

Macedon Ranges Shire Council candidates are:

East Ward (3 vacancies)

Deborah Alford-Kerr, Geoff Neil, Bill West, Annette Death, Henry Bleeck and Natasha Gayfer

South Ward (3 vacancies)

Rob Guthrie, J. S. Amenta, Dominic Bonanno, Anne Moore, Adrian Gauci, Graham Hackett and Christine Walker

West Ward (3 vacancies)

Mark Ridgeway, Hayden Walsh, Jennifer Anderson, Janet Pearce, Wes Turner, Brian Wilson, Diana Abruzzi and Lenka Thompson

Daylesford Sunday Market – every Sunday
Wesley Hill Market – every Saturday

Daylesford Farmers Market – first 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

Trentham Station Sunday Market – fourth Sunday
Buninyong Village Market – fourth Sunday

Markets are all subject to change due to COVID-19. Some may not be operating yet. Please check before you head out. And wear a mask, maintain social distancing and maintain hand hygiene.

The pub’s updated calendar, from this weekend through to the end of October, is below, supporting live music and local musicians.

Friday, October 2, 6pm – Crumpled Suits
Saturday, October 3, 6pm – Old Married Couple (pictured below)
Sunday, October 4, 1pm – Mark Wardle with Barry Fitzpatrick & Fred Lakerink
Friday, October 9, 6pm – Broderick Smith
Saturday, October 10, 6pm – Jazz Deuce
Sunday, October 11, 1pm – Serenada & Friends
Friday, October 16, 6pm – Featherhead
Saturday, October 17, 6pm – Charlie Bedford
Sunday, October 18, 1pm – 3 Chord Club for folk, blues & country musicians
Friday, October 23, 6pm – Terry & Gillian
Saturday, October 24, 6pm – Alawishus Jones & The Outright Lies
Sunday, October 25, 1pm – Original Words – open mic for songwriters, poets & storytellers
Friday, October 30, 6pm – The Cartwheels
Saturday, October 31, 6pm – Mick Coates & The Shallow Gravediggers

All gigs are outside in the Big Backyard with the kitchen open for dinner on Fridays and Saturdays, and for lunch on Sundays. For all gigs, bookings are required, with limited numbers, masks required unless eating and drinking (fairly sensible), names recorded upon arrival and a maximum two-hour stay. As I said, cautious baby steps.
Next in line The Palais – Black Sorrows at the end of the month, which when you say it quickly almost starts to sound normal.

Got a gig happening? Email news@tlnews.com.au

They were either quite helpful, or just a good laugh. I still get the magazine today and nothing has changed.
The latest edition has a good idea to stop glasses fogging up when wearing a mask. Just wipe them with shaving foam and polish with a microfibre cloth. Not sure if it works or not. When I was a young swimmer we were taught to just spit in our goggles and give them a quick dip. Worked fine but I don’t think in the time of corona that anyone should be spitting.
But the handy hint that had me laughing was on how to remove a splinter. Simple. Just tape a piece of ripe banana, skin side up, over the offending area and leave overnight. Hmmm. Splinters generally end up in fingers but I can’t imagine going to bed with a banana peel taped to my hand. Who knows where it would end up during the night?

Away from handy hints and over to food, is the suggestion that “grazing tables, boards and platters are in fashion today” and they “allow guests to mingle”. Not sure what planet they are living on but the last thing I want to do is share utensils or mingle. Maybe the writer is from WA or NT, but here in Victoria I think it will take a while before we are all comfortable bumping into each other as we sample the camembert from the grazing table.
Another person who is from another planet is Gwyneth Paltrow, who has a company called Goop, and who has released a new candle with the catchy title of “This Smells Like My Vagina”. She says the candle is a “funny, gorgeous, sexy, and beautifully unexpected scent” with “geranium, citrusy bergamot, and cedar absolutes juxtaposed with damask rose and ambrette seed”.

Now, I am not going into details here, but wouldn’t you rather just a plain old “Vanilla Candle” or “Sandlewood Candle” or maybe go crazy and buy a “Vanilla Sandlewood Candle”. I mean, who would you buy Gwyneth’s candle for? I can’t imagine your grandmother would appreciate opening the gift with everyone gathered around the Christmas tree. “Oh, thank you dear, oh my, well, I’ll take your word for it…” WTF?
Anyway, back to my reality and I am pleased to say we are getting lots of nominations for Legends of Lockdown. Nominations close at the end of this month, with lockdown starting to lift, but we will keep recognising those we have received. And if you have someone who is going above and beyond, let us know anyway. And feel free to call. I just talked to Nola who said she is not a typer these days but had a nomination. We had quite a nice chat, which is always lovely, and you will find out who she nominated in another week or so! These wonderful legends all make me think what a fantastic place we call home. Strange time but lucky us. Just sayin’…

Travelling around the streets of the Central Highlands, with my windows wound up tight and the air conditioning on reticulation, for fear that someone will recognise me and want to have a chat, I have noticed a few folks miswearing a mask.
And so I have come up with a list of them, which has also been the inspiration for GROB’s front page of this edition. Now the list is in no particular order of intelligence or one’s need to breathe fresh air, take on sustenance or cater to addictions…so here goes.

The Flapper: This is the mask over one ear variety. These folks are ready to spring the other loop over their ear at a moment’s notice or if the police show up.
Your Doodle Is Showing: This is the tucked under the nose look, showing off all kind of proboscus. I mean, you wouldn’t get around in your Speedos at the local pool with your bits out exposed to the world, would you?
Who Turned Out The Lights: This is the classic where the participant wears the device so high, they can no longer see but their bottom lip is getting plenty of air – they generally look a little confused.
The Ambler: That sometimes not so fast-moving creature who is claiming to jog but is actually moving quite slowly. Vigorous arm movements don’t always equate to speed.
The Snood: This is where the player has a coffee cup in their hand, which may or may not still have fluid in it, but by the holding the perk trophy they are no longer bound by the law and their mask remains around their neck.
The Smugster: Then there is a gang I have found myself in while treading the backroads with nobody around and that’s the “I have a mask in my hand therefore I am wearing one”. Sort of like if a tree falls in the forest and no one sees it fall, did it really?
The Chuffer: That is where the citizen chooses to light a ciggie and needs to keep their mask well away in case it catches fire.
The Ding-a-ling: And the world wouldn’t be the same without the person on their mobile phone who believes either the people on the other end need to see their lips, or they don’t want to talk with a muffle. WTF?
Now, briefly, to the other end of the scale.
The Safety Officer: This is my OTT but preferred person who wears both a mask and a shield – and are sitting in their car, alone.
So for the flappers, doodle showers, amblers, lights-out brigade, ding-a-lings, snoods, smugsters and chuffers out there, please simply fit the mask over your nose and mouth, squeeze down the wire on your nose if applicable, and make sure you have a good seal around your nose and mouth.
If you can’t live without your caffeine, don’t wander around the joint while drinking it, spitting your bugs around the place. Simply find a quiet spot out of the way, drink your coffee, replace your mask and continue your day.
The same goes for the smokers, amblers, ding-a-lings and smugsters, simply do what you have to do by yourself in situ and while moving about among your fellow humans, put a mask on properly. As for the “lights out” mob, maybe we just keep you around for shits and giggles…
How to wear a mask rant over…
Check out GROB’s cartoon on the front page!

There could be several reasons for buying an old house. Financial for one, where an old house is cheaper than a new house. There may be more land included with the old house which is a bonus for many. Perhaps you love its old-world charm and character? Older houses were usually built well with solid materials and had stylistic period features. Perhaps you are a handyperson and love projects and renovations. What could be better than putting your love and effort into your own home?

It is one thing to love an old house but another to take on its restoration. There must be a delicate balance between the renovation’s authenticity and keeping of character and the limitations of available cash.
When looking to buying an old home there are a few things to consider.
Check the house and land values in the area to see if you are getting a good buy. This will also give you an idea for your renovation budget range. You don’t want to overcapitalise if you want to eventually sell. Alternatively, you don’t want any nasty, expensive surprises that will blow your savings. Check for any heritage overlays and factor in costs for inspections, engineering structural inspections and council permits.

When initially inspecting the property, assess the foundations. Take a ball with you to roll across the floor if it looks to have a slope but you are not quite sure. Don’t be embarrassed to do this. Open windows and doors to check for subsidence, as well as checking for rot and flaking paint.
If the house was built before 1950, the paint will contain lead. Built between 1950 and 1978 it may contain lead. Paint samples can be tested so you can be sure you are safe in using extra precautions when stripping and working with the old paint.
Flush toilets and run taps to check water pressure and water colour. You are quite entitled to do these things during your inspection as old rusty or cracked pipes may need to be replaced.
Check the roof, chimney and masonry for repairs. Take a pair of binoculars with you to make it easier. Inside the house, look at ceilings for mould or staining indicating water leakage. Check bathrooms and laundries for mould and odour also.
Never buy a house without getting at least one, preferably two, building inspections done. It is better value to dish out cash on an extra inspection than have a big-ticket flaw missed and end up blowing your money on the repairs.
Renovating can be both overwhelming and satisfying depending upon how much you have bitten off. It is always better to be prepared for as much as you can since you always add 10 per cent minimum on top of your expected expenses for those unforeseen repairs. Old houses in particular hide repair needs.
Tune in to the next article for some old-fashioned renovation suggestions, one of which includes molasses. Interesting.

Indre Kisonas- owner and principle designer- iok design
www.iokdesign.com.au / indre@iokdesign.com.au

I’ve made a little departure from my usual format this week to concentrate on a couple of requests for assistance whose answers, I’m sure, would apply to many of us who have moved here from totally different climates.

Hello Glen,
We moved to Trentham some four years ago and planted a few fruit trees including plum, apple, pear, cherry and quince.
Last year I lost the cherry tree, it just died on me. The blossoms of the largest of the plums turned brown and died off, but thankfully I have some blossoms this year. Now I have a problem with the two quince trees that appeared to be healthy but now this has happened to them. As you know we get severe frosts here so I thought this to be the problem but now I am worried – could it be fire blight? It would be terrible to lose them as they are positioned in a strategic spot close to the house.
Also the leaves of my three to four-year-old eucalyptus trees are covered in dark spots and what looks like a form of rust. Some are quite black with two shedding their leaves. I would be grateful for your advice.
We successfully gardened in The Dandenongs for 40 years but are finding this climate challenging.
Thank you, Sylvia.

Hi Sylvia,
Whenever a drought-breaking Spring follows years of parched soil there is always significant stress placed on young or suffering trees’ young feed roots – especially if they are growing in heavy or clay-type soil where the soil becomes waterlogged. Instead of assisting the roots to become established it can cause them to rot and die, as is the case with cherry trees which can fail in heavy soils. Luckily plums, often used as root stock for other fruiting varieties, once established have little or no problem at all, as was the case with your tree.
From your photos of your quince tree it would appear that the damage is restricted to fresh tip growth – the first target of frosts. Botrytis, or fire blight, would first appear as a brown, oozing substance on the branches, and would attack all stages of the foliage especially the fruit-bearing branches. It is an insidious bacteria that first appears at this time of year.
The only real treatment, seemingly, is to quickly remove the affected parts of the tree before it can spread, following careful sanitisation of the tools to prevent spreading the blight to the rest of the garden. Full details are rather lengthy – so I have emailed a printout to you. (Anyone else can go online and type in “fire blight”.)
As for the black spots on your eucalypts, they’re more than likely one of the common bacterial pests and are usually overcome in healthy trees. Regular sprays of an organic fungicide will help minimise their spread. Glen

Hi Glen,
I would like to ask you how to prevent pear slugs from killing my pear trees and cherry trees. At the moment there are none but as the weather gets hotter and more humid they are sure to return. Any ideas on controlling it from happening?
Many thanks, Sean, Kyneton

Hi Sean,
Cherry/pear slugs are actually the larvae of the sawfly, who lay their eggs in the soil at the base of most stone fruit trees. Their slimy appearance keeps them safe from most predators, allowing them free rein to skeletonise the leaves. Your best line of attack would be to spray your trees, particularly around the base of the trunk with one of the organic insecticides – preferably Neem oil-based. This should be done at first sighting or late October and again in February/March. As an added precaution, tie a band of Neem oil-soaked cloth around the base of each trunk to catch them on their way up. Glen

Images: First, magnolia soulangeana – the queen of Spring, second, a promise of an Autumn bounty, a pear blossom

Got a gardening question? Ask Glen. Email glenzgarden@gmail.com

“Snake species commonly found in the Grampians region include the Eastern brown, tiger and less often, copperhead and red-bellied black snakes.
“These four species are venomous, but it is rare for them to bite people. Most snake bites occur when people try to capture or kill a snake.
“Snakes can bite animals, such as dogs, if they feel threatened. If your dog or cat encounters a snake, the best course of action is to remove your pet from the area or tie it up while the snake passes and if you suspect your pet has been bitten, take it to a vet immediately.

“Snakes are generally very shy and prefer to keep away from people and often when a snake is found in a backyard it’s because it’s moving through the area to other habitat.

“Being aware that snakes may be around and being informed about how to react to them is very important at this time of year.”

If people live in an area with snakes, they must remember:
• When left alone, snakes present little or no danger to people:
• If you see a snake, keep calm and move yourself and anyone with you (including pets) away from the area;
• Don’t attempt to capture or harm snakes. Instead call DELWP on 136 186 for further advice and local licenced snake catchers;
• Maintain lawns and clean up around your house, as snakes are attracted to shelter such as piles of rocks and timber, sheets of metal, and building materials; and
• Undertake first aid training and ensure your first aid kit contains several compression bandages, and if someone is bitten, call 000 immediately.
Snakes are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975 and it is illegal to capture, harm, or kill them. Reports of people wilfully destroying protected wildlife will be investigated accordingly.

Images: Atlas of Living Australia

He stopped while in year 11 when his parents divorced and never realised he had been offered a scholarship with the Australian Institute of Sport.
Will was also into BMX since childhood, training with the Victorian Institute of Sport at times, and taking part in plenty of races.
In 2012 he got back into sailing – hoping for the London Olympics – but his body wasn’t performing properly; he would later be diagnosed with a cyst which was causing his spinal cord to degenerate, so instead he designed and built a hydrofoil to try to make sailing a more feasible sport for all. That took four years and Will ended up with a Masters of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Melbourne in 2017.
“I sailed a little until 2015 and realised it was too hard to be an Aussie Olympian and was going to move to represent Malta, but my body wouldn’t perform for some reason. Then they found the cyst and I was told I would need a major operation.”
Will then moved to Daylesford “to seek refuge and relax” and while he loved the place he got involved doing small building projects under Artisan Projects as well as being the Hepburn Handyman.
He has helped renovate and fit out the Daylesford Steakhouse, making the dining table, even pouring beers. Clayfire Gallery displayed some of his furniture and he has also become involved with the Daylesford Foundation, a community-based philanthropic organisation helping people when needed.
“2018 was a tough year, learning the cyst in my neck was serious. To be honest, when something attacks your personal health so severely, COVID is a walk in the park compared to struggling to move.
“But it wasn’t done alone, some nice people up here, people you can count on like my 78-year-old neighbour Gill who will give you a mental tug-of-war to challenge even the most alert of minds. She was a real help early on, back when just a walk around the block was an achievement.
“And I have some great clients and friends who have helped my wife Mary and I feel at home here – Gill, Megan, Jen and John, Jane, Tim/Nicole, the crew at Home Hardware and the good people of the Hepburn Shire.
“So I guess it turns out not all the blow-ins from Melbourne are bad news after all. And last week I expressed interest in the Paralympic cycling team and someone interviewed me this week. Within a few weeks a physio will assess me. I may be trying to put in some good lap times over in Mt Buninyong at the National Road Race this coming February as a para-entrant. And the best part is, the future is unwritten. Bring it on.”
See Will’s advert in The Local’s Tradie pages

I thought I was fat as a kid but when I look back on my photos now I see I was anything but plump. There’s me in the backyard looking like I knew something about rugby, ten pounds wringing wet dressed in a tattered top with tighty whitey shorts.
Fast forward to 52. I have had moments of body dysmorphia growing up and now I don’t really care what people think. Well, I didn’t until something came into my life recently. Or actually, someone.
This someone is not who your average middled-age bloke gets involved with. I have developed a relationship with a weird breed of human, some would call them sub-human, the sort of person you find behind a bush watching people, calculating and sizing folks up with their photographic memories. The sort of person who looks for small faults in people to embellish. They don’t say much, they just observe. These sorts of beings are often referred to as cartoonists.
Yes that’s correct, the past year of my life this guy Glenn Robinson, whose signature appears as GROB, has been illustrating my rants and created a new wave of body dysmorphia. I have only met him a few times due to the pandemic but have had hundreds of conversations with him about my weight.
The thing is that while most folks have been “isoing up” with experimental cooking and nothing to do in the day but raid the cookie jar, I have been working hard, and as a result have lost over 10 kilos. But I cannot seem to get that through my cartoonist’s head. I have sent him photos but no, he still has this vision of me 10 kilos heavier plus an extra 30 per cent artist’s discretion. Even this rant did not work, see above right!
Speaking of weird things, The Local has been sent some FOI documents regarding last year’s #Geesegate. You have probably had it up to the back teeth with the geese abduction story, but I still find these FOI documents fascinating. And where are the black swans that where meant to touch down as soon as the geese were gone? You can read all about it in the next editon.
But for now, the geese are gone, like my 10 kilos, and I look skywards for the swans to return, and for my cartoonist to finally trim off a couple of kilos.
Dysmorphia rant over…

It is great and long-awaited and what a completely crap six months it has been. I have made a few little bookings here and there, but as I have said before, I am not the canary, I am the coal miner. It’s going to take a while to lose the anxiety and it seems I am not the only one.
I called for a “telehealth” appointment the other week and said I was feeling a bit down, you know, and maybe it was time for a mental health top up. “Sure,” said the doctor, who is only doing telehealth calls which does not instil the greatest of confidence, “I can give you a referral”. And they did.
Now, a few years ago I found myself in a bit of a bad/sad patch, and went through the process of finding a pyschologist. It’s not as easy as you would think! You can check out the Yellow Pages, if you are my generation, or just Google “psychologists near me” and they appear. But who works best for who? It’s a lot like finding the right doctor. A bit like Goldilocks. Not too hard, not too soft, just right. As in not “you need to stop smoking immediately or you will die”, not “well, you know, smoking, my grandfather smoked until he turned 100 and he was fine” but just right “yeah, I know it’s going to be hard but we can work on this together for a great outcome”.
Finding a shrink is just as hard. (Interesting fact: Why are psychiatrists and psychologists called shrinks? It’s a jocular reference to the ritual practice in certain tribal societies of literally shrinking the heads of one’s vanquished enemies. The term shrink was adopted as a joking reference to psychotherapists in the 1960s.)
I tried a few before I found the right one. One asked me to lie back on a bed (ewww, who had been on that pillow before me) and then played really strange music into headphones. Apparently it was meant to bring you to a new awareness. It just annoyed the crap out of me. Another one chatted for ages and then asked if I was drinking too much and when I said probably, suggested adding ice to the glass of wine. No wonder they have a degree in this and I don’t. Not.
Anyway, I finally found someone who was just right. Interested, informed, non-judgemental – and really helpful. So I had my referral sent to them. Just got a call back yesterday. I listened to the voice recorder and they said it was great to hear from me but they had no spots available for at least a month and I could try again then.
Maybe I will, maybe I won’t. I just hope those really in need are getting the help they need. It’s a strange time for us all, yes getting easier, but there are plenty of people still struggling and that will not end with the end of lockdown. So if you do need help, please seek it, and don’t give up. Just sayin’…
If you need help now, call LifeLine on 13 11 14, MensLine on 1300 789 978,
Beyond Blue – Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service on 1800 512 348,
Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or SuicideLine on 1300 651 251.

Sorry about that, but this damned silly doggerel springs to mind every year at this time of awakening in the garden – a time of golden daffodils, hyacinth and tulips. That very special time when the gaunt, bare branches of our deciduous trees and shrubs are clad with plump buds which are suddenly about to be clad with fresh, new leaves, and, the air is filled with the sounds of birds. Even my love-lorn, little spotted pardalote friend has returned, with his persistent love song seeking that ever elusive mate.

A blooming season
Most pleasing however, this rain-enhanced Spring, is the promise of a bountiful display from such flowering trees and shrubs as azaleas, camellias, lilacs, magnolias and rhododendrons. Our ancient rhododendrons, and the multicoloured camellia copse at our gate, are currently laden with buds.
One special delight is our three-year-old dwarf camellia, Wirlinga Bride (pictured) which, for the first time, has covered itself with its delightful, glistening, white little flowers.
The original, tiny-flowered camellia lutchuensis species, a native of Southern China, Taiwan and Japan, seems relatively unknown to local gardeners compared to the more popular chinensis and sasanquas. However its sturdy but compact growth, and fragrant blooms, have made it the foundation of many extremely popular hybrids including Wirlinga Bride. This, unlike most of its dwarf cousins, produces willowy drooping branches which makes them perfect for training as a miniature, almost bonsai, weeping tree.

Sweet soil
Correct soil acidity is an important yet often neglected aspect of good soil management. Except in the extreme cases where such plants as camellias, rhododendrons, magnolias and gardenias need a truly acidic soil, most plants grow best in a neutral to slightly acidic soil.
In neutral to alkaline soils, the soil pH level – a measurement of soil alkalinity or acidity, can naturally rise for various reasons but the most common is high rainfall where excessive water leaches lime from the soil. Alkalinity can also be countered by the use of peat moss, ammonium sulfate-rich fertilisers and, to the delight of my fellow caffeine enthusiasts, tea leaves and coffee grounds. (Another recycling exercise.)
On the other hand, a highly acid soil is not always welcome. Continuous cropping necessitates constant use of manures and compost to help decompose any organic matter, resulting in all available lime being used up.
Lime is the most used product to correct soil acidity. This is called sweetening the soil as it makes the soil more conducive to healthy plant growth. The careful application of lime simply returns the pH to a more neutral position where all available plant food can be released from the soil. In addition, a neutral pH level encourages earthworm colonies to multiply and so further improve the soil structure. Lime helps in the decomposition of organic matter as well as assisting clay soils to become more friable. It also contains calcium and magnesium, two plant foods important to plant health.
Heavy clay soils usually result in oxygen starvation, reduced solubility of the important plant nutrients and subsequent destruction of some of the desirable soil organisms. Many gardens in this area, including mine, are prone to a shallow clay sub-structure, which as well as being almost physically impenetrable, does nothing to allow water to reach the fine feed roots of plants. Gypsum is a great material to dig in to break up clay. This can also be obtained in liquid form from most garden suppliers.
If you wish to find out and control the pH levels of your garden soil, simple and inexpensive litmus paper pH kits are available from most garden outlets and, for the technically-minded, electronic probe meters can be had online by consulting your favourite browser.

Got a gardening question? Ask Glen. Email glenzgarden@gmail.com

The cost to finish The Rex, a former movie theatre in Vincent Street, Daylesford, is now more than $13 million. But despite the amount being spent on the project, the long-mooted social enterprise cafe was dropped at last week’s council meeting.
A Hepburn Shire Council media release said in order to meet the requirements of the State Government Library Funding, and to deliver an exceptional new library for the Daylesford community, the Social Enterprise Café at the Hepburn Hub at The Rex had to be removed from the project.
“Other factors that supported the decision to remove the café included the lack of funding for the fit-out of the café and no interest from community groups to run the café. As a result of removing the café from the project scope, the library is bigger and will include a youth space. Council will be developing a youth strategy over the coming 12 months and will be looking for ideas and feedback from the community, especially our youth, in its development.”
A council media release in March 2017 said incorporating a community theatre into The Rex facility, “and the proposal to have a social enterprise café, will make this a true community building”.
Daylesford teenager Eden Clifford queried the move with an email sending a question to council and The Local saying he had been excited along with many other young people to have funding set aside for the social enterprise café.
“We could all hang and work alongside each other and get learning and be paid. (But) council took this away. How can dollars go to something else when they were meant for us? How can it go to stuff we already have? We don’t need a community space, we need a youth space. A happy fun one.
“I wish you could all remember what being young was about, no offence but old people don’t help us. Kyneton has the Social Foundry, friggin’ awesome, and Albury Council has the Retro Lane Café, both are successes that bring dollars and kudos.”
Kyneton’s Social Foundry’s website says: “We seek to mentor and share life-skills to young people right here in our local community. We call these people our friends, and believe they have the potential to change the world. We focus on hospitality, conservation land management, and woodworking. We’re training and equipping our friends to reconnect and sow good into our local communities…”
Albury City’s websites says its Retro Lane Café supports social enterprise activities, sourcing environmental and ethical Vegware packaging that is vegetable based and compostable, with a strong focus on separating waste and recycling. The cafe is also aligned with Love Food Hate Waste and the Trim Bin Program.
“The cafe aims to make a social difference to young people. This includes programs such as regular Friday night gigs, school holiday and after school programs, homework and study assistance, arts and performance workshops, résumé writing, job seeking skills and much more.”
Meanwhile, Hepburn Shire Council last week endorsed the awarding of the building contract to complete works on the Hepburn Hub at The Rex project to J Hutchinson Pty Ltd.
Council CEO Evan King said Hutchinson was based out of Melbourne and was considered to provide the best overall value for council and the community with proven experience and quality projects.
“They will spend 80 per cent on regional contractors and suppliers and have committed to providing opportunities for youth in the region and will encourage apprentices and trainees to be hired on the project,” he said.
“They will coordinate a site tour for local schools in the area as well as engaging the local community in the form of work experience. They are also a member of Supply Nation; Australia’s largest national directory of verified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses. Through Supply Nation we are able to identify local indigenous businesses that could be engaged on the project.”

Words: Donna Kelly