Andrew was working in a factory when he saw an advert for an apprentice locksmith in 2001 and, wanting a trade, has kept with it ever since finishing his four-year apprenticeship
He now has 19 years of experience and can handle any locksmithing job – from domestic to commercial to automotive.
Andrew moved to Daylesford in 2015, following his parents who moved to the town just over 10 years ago.
“I was visiting my parents pretty often and every time I arrived I just loved the town and the region more and more,” he said.
“It’s such a great community and everyone is so friendly. So I made the decision to move as well and I couldn’t be happier.”
Andrew said once here he realised that Daylesford had most business needs covered but was lacking a locksmith.
“I realised then that I could offer the community my services rather than people having to travel to Ballarat or Melbourne, and also being able to call a local locksmith when needed.
“I cover pretty much anywhere within 30 minutes of Daylesford so Trentham, Hepburn, Clunes, Creswick and Ballan.
“My service is 24/7 so I am on call for all and any emergencies – which is great for my clients – not that too many lock themselves out these days!
“And with my 19 years’ experience I can offer really quality workmanship and same day service along with that 24-hour callout.
“I hope that people put my number in their phone now because you never know when you are going to need the service of a locksmith!”
Just some of the services Andrew provides are: locks repaired, deadlocks fitted, keys cut, window locks, locks opened, safe sales and service, door closers, locks re-keyed and digital locks.
Check out Andrew’s advert The Local’s trade pages.

He continued playing until he was 18 when he had the chance to try out for Japan’s newly formed pro league. But Hiroshi also realised he would need a career to fall back on and so instead headed to college to study teaching for four years.
He came out qualified and also realised that his passion for soccer had diminished a little, with every game’s sole objective to win. “I had a bit of a loss of joy for soccer and I thought that it was going to be just my hobby from now on.”
He later met his wife Meaghan Quinsee and they returned to Australia 17 years ago. Living in Melbourne, Hiroshi said he didn’t see one soccer match and came to the conclusion that the game was not played in Australia.
But the couple had been spending some time in Daylesford and had fallen in love with the country life. “I like the countryside for living and after being in Tokyo I had more than enough of city life. At the time we were in publishing but the financial crash of 2008 left us with nothing, so we decided to restart in Daylesford and make the commitment to move. That was 10 years ago.”
The move also led Hiroshi to the Daylesford Soccer Club, which at the time, had fewer members and was struggling a bit to survive.
“For some reason the club was small and there were not a lot of players. But Ivan (Carter) and some other people organised the games and within a couple of years we got our soccer back. Now I feel a little bit of satisfaction for bringing soccer back to this town. Daylesford has very nice quality soccer which is good to watch and play. I find it very interesting and exciting. And I can enjoy soccer again.”
Hiroshi, who coaches the Under 9s, including his son Finn, said the club also had one of the largest group of junior players in Victoria. “It is fun to coach them although the hardest part is getting them focused. But it is very satisfying because at that age kids improve surprisingly quickly.”
Of course, COVID-19 closed down the season which Hiroshi says was to be expected but was very disappointing for the youngsters. “But hopefully we can continue next year. It’s very exciting.”
Meanwhile, Hiroshi and Meaghan’s latest business venture, creating unique visits to Japan, has also been impacted by the pandemic but they are taking it in their stride. Hiroshi, like so many others, has pivoted and is starting to offer Japanese language lessons – along with Japanese cooking lessons like one pot dishes. Oishii so!

Words: Donna Kelly

DAYLESFORD and Hepburn United Soccer Club had a stellar 2019 season, with junior teams in grand finals and the Division 1 seniors winning the league and cup double for the first time in nearly 20 years. This was some achievement for a club that didn’t have a team in Division 1 in 2018, and struggled with numbers and youth.
The club and players have had time to reflect on this rare achievement, and came to the realisation that a strong squad comes from leadership and consistency. There were none more consistent and effective than Daylesford’s captain, and fan favourite, Hiroshi Masuda.
Hiroshi led by example, crunching tackles all season and sweeping up in midfield and creating chances for the strikers. He scored goals and set up goals and prevented goals, but also gave the youthful squad much direction and leadership. Admiration for Hiroshi only grew throughout the season, he somehow managed to lift for the big games every time, and was in the best players most weeks.
Daylesford were blessed with Masuda’s talent over the past decade, but it wasn’t until 2019 that he was surrounded with players in his team of similar talent. This lifted his presence and allowed him to teach a possession-style football to the youth and play champagne football.
Masuda moved to Daylesford over a decade ago, and has grown in stature around the club, as a junior coach and top player. His strong soccer background trumps anyone in the Ballarat & District Soccer Association league, having represented Japan as a junior player. His talents are something to see, and despite being in his mid-40s, he scored the second most league votes for Daylesford.
Daylesford were also blessed with one of the greatest coaches the league has ever seen, Dragi Koleski. Koleski’s relationship with Masuda has grown close over the decade, with two soccer masterminds. Koleski, a superb player also, found the perfect role for Masuda in defensive midfield, and a winning combination. Koleski coached to perfection in the nail-biting final series, coming from behind in the last three games to win each in thrilling fashion.
The cup final echoed Masuda’s popularity and respect in the Ballarat League, with other clubs chanting “Hiroshi” and wearing his facemasks as support.
Masuda will be remembered as one of the greats for his 2019 heroics and captaincy by fans and players alike, as will Koleski in his coaching role. It is hoped both will play on and enjoy a bright 2020.

Words: Ivan Carter Image: Kyle Barnes

I called my dear old dad up the other day in New Zealand for his 76th birthday. The last time I saw him was March last year for a few days and about a year before that for the same amount of time. He is not good with technology, although back in the day could strip down and put back together engines in the pitch black while rolling around on the briny with a force-six southerly buster under way.
But back to the other day. When I made the time to call him something suddenly dawned on me as he enlightened me on his various theories that come to retirees with too much time on their hands. (Like his statement that I am catching up with him in terms of age, because when I was born, I was zero years old and now I am 52 to his 76 – what a head-scratcher that equation is.)
Anyway, what dawned on me was pertaining to the S word. Dad is now officially old as every S word has a slight whistle to it that our elders develop, maybe through hearing loss and therefore particularly pressing down on the S sound. Or is it that the weather strip of their lips start to lose the seal and lets out that gentle whistle that becomes a choir when they all get together over bingo.
It doesn’t really matter the how of it, it just matters that now he does it, just like my grandfather before him and as genetic telltales of my own makeup would suggest, I will probably develop the same habit.
Meanwhile the rest of my family are scattered from one end of Australasia to the other, making me reflect on where I want to visit when this border closure débâcle finally grinds to a halt. You really have to think about the importance of family and friends, and instead of checking another country off the bucket list, I think everyone will reprioritise in the new world post-2020.
In the old world, people would throw out hugs and those horrible European double kisses like they didn’t matter, whereas in the new world I think a hug should have a value and be directed at people you truly care about.
In the old world, we would get around to seeing the family once a year or so, when it was convenient. But for me anyway, in the new world family will hold a much higher priority than my work and travel.
I miss my dear old dad rant, over…

Cork it!
Cork was popular for flooring when I was a kid and with most things, it went out of fashion and now I’m hoping it cycles back into fashion. I like slate too and would be happy to have its use resurrected. I cannot say the same for the colour mission brown. It was too flat and boring a colour to ever have it reinstated again.
I have a garage conversion that is my ‘gunna’ project. I’m gunna get it done when I take some measurements, then I’m gunna get around to drawing up a plan, then I’m gunna get some material samples together and then perhaps wait for the stars to align.
I was thinking of cork for the flooring. It is very forgiving, warm and insulating on a concrete slab. Then, what do you know, I am contacted by a cork supplier. Not only do they do floor tiles but wall sheeting and acoustic panels.
I was under the impression that cork was an endangered material and as such was not ethical to use. Kind of like ivory or tiger oil. The story goes like this…
Cork oak forests grow around the Mediterranean sea in Spain, Italy, France, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria. Portugal is the largest cork producer and as such made a law to protect and preserve its forests from development. It was then that the world panicked about a cork shortage.
Cork in fact is an environmentally sustainable, renewable material. The outer layer of bark from the cork oak is stripped every 9 or 10 years, which regrows. These trees grow to be 200–300 years old and trees are replanted and maintained. Thousands of acres of protected forest have resulted in a rich biodiversity of birds, animals and plants endemic to these forests.
Cork is naturally mould- and mildew-resistant. When cork is submerged in water (or wine) the suberin, a natural wax-like substance, prevents it from absorbing water or liquids thus protecting it from rot or decomposition. Cork is a natural acoustic and thermal insulator by helping absorb and dissipate sound and heat or cold. This property makes it perfect for use on floors, walls and ceilings. Perhaps not all at the same time unless you are sound proofing.
Cork naturally does not leak toxic gases with a structure that is difficult to smoke or burn, giving it good fire resistance. These particular cork tiles use non-toxic binders, so the product is recyclable and biodegradable.
Win, win I think, as I was pleased to see the sample products come in a variety of colours. As the cork naturally has a pattern, as does wood, it goes well in a simple, walled interior. The cork is sealed and care is to be taken with scratching, as on a laminate floorboard.
Taking all of this into account, I am now happy to be one step closer in completing my gunna project.
If you have a gunna project and have hit a roadblock, call me in and let’s get started.

Indre Kisonas – owner and principal designer- iok design
www.iokdesign.com.au | indre@iokdesign.com.au

Ingredients:

1 large potato, peeled and diced
1 medium onion, peeled and sliced
1 cup cauliflower, cut into small pieces
6 shortcut rindless pieces of bacon, chopped
5 eggs
½ cup oil
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup grated cheese
1 cup milk
Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Add a little water and microwave or boil vegetables on the stove until just tender. Drain off water.
Beat eggs gently, add oil, flour, baking powder, grated cheese, bacon pieces, milk, salt and pepper to taste.
Add drained vegetables.
Place in well-greased 25cm x 30cm tin and bake at 190 degrees celsius for 30 minutes.
Delicious.

Little is known about the banner or the artists (Messrs Will Eagan and Mr Charleton according to newspaper reports at the time ) but it is obviously a thumbs down to the British Empire and probably reflected quite a controversial feeling at the time, according to Trentham historian Nicole Poole.
Ms Poole is part of an advisory group set up to push ahead with the community centre development. The project, which has been in the planning for years, has ignited its own controversy, dividing the community. Heated debates have played out in Hepburn Shire Council meetings and on social media between residents who are keen to bring the Mechanics Hall back to life and those who believe the town would be better serviced by a larger, new facility able to seat up to 250 people.
Questions have also been raised as to the historic value of the building which has been renovated many times over the last century.
“There are those who doubt its relevancy but there is so much history in the place,” Ms Poole said. “We have to remember that in coming years all these artefacts will be special, you really have to preserve what you can.”
Mayor and Coliban Ward Cr Licia Kokocinski said there had been four years of talk and it was “a very hard and emotional subject for many people”.
“The reality is Trentham is a small town with a population of around 1500. The cost of a new, bigger hall would be much more than the $3.5 million that has been projected.”
Hepburn Council has set aside $800,000 for the development with the balance to be sought in government grants.
“If we went to the state or federal government and asked for funding for a hall of that size to serve such a small population we wouldn’t be taken seriously,” she added, noting that larger ongoing costs would be left to ratepayers.
Cr Kokocinski said that although the results of a 2018 community poll as to where the hub should be located were close, the vote to keep the Mechanics Hall won out. An advisory board, made up of representatives from a cross-section of the town’s population, project managers and architects, has developed a draft concept design which is now up for public review and feedback.
The design includes a council customer service building, library, visitor information centre, community meeting rooms and a hall with either a fixed or portable stage. The design and survey response forms have been posted online. Fliers will be sent out to residents and hard copies can be accessed on request.
“We want to use the many photos and historic artefacts which are in the hall to come up with a design which is faithful to the iterations of the building,” Cr Kokocinski said.
“The message we’re receiving from residents so far has been very clear, the majority of people want to keep the hall and build something in keeping with the times and the area.”
Community consultation closes at the end of August.

Words: Jane Williams

Spokesperson Jen Bray said Community Voice aimed to shift the process of local government in Hepburn Shire towards participatory democracy by encouraging continual community participation.
Ms Bray said over the past eight or nine months there had been a number of issues with the council with many people unhappy about decisions and governance.
“There was a need to focus this energy. You could look back to the Local Law 2 issue where people started to catch on to the things council was starting to push through and realised if they didn’t get involved laws could be passed without questioning.
“Other issues are the Smith Street (Daylesford) development, the planning scheme, just different things that council was not doing a very good job communicating with us (residents). Then when the state government’s Satisfaction Survey results came out it was clear that the areas that council were very poor in were consultation, community decision making and engagement. That kind of says it all really.
“And that’s the key to this group, it’s been the tone for the past eight or nine months, just one of general dissatisfaction. So, a group of people said ‘Let’s focus on this’ and with the elections coming up the timing seemed good. We are going to see if we can look at new councillors with a new mindset, something more aligned to a participatory democracy model. At the moment community consultation seems very tokenistic, like ticking a box.”
Ms Bray said council candidates would be given a rating on how closely they aligned themselves with the democracy model and if they scored well, would be supported by Community Voice.
“After the October election, Community Voice will monitor each councillor’s commitment to community engagement, push for better models of community participation and hold them to account in their decision making. We’re encouraging all shire citizens to use their community voice and participate in our local democracy.”
Words: Donna Kelly

Pictured, a community-led meeting in November last year regarding Local Law 2. About 150 residents attended, sitting in a democratic circle. Councillors and council officers were invited to attend and listen, but not speak.

The Local received a number of emails saying the staff have remained friendly and polite throughout these trying times.
“I talked to one staff member, at Click & Collect, and they said they sometimes received abuse because they didn’t have certain products available or had to offer substitutes but they remain unfailingly polite – and always have a ready smile,” one Woodend resident wrote.
“I can’t believe that anyone would be anything but kind right now, and I think the staff that make it through each potentially difficult day deserve to be recognised.”
Another shopper, a Drummond resident, singled out the deli section, saying staff there were particularly helpful.
“They always serve with me a smile and nothing is too much trouble. And I know it must be hard with people standing on those dots and not realising if they need a number or not to get served. Nothing seems to faze them. Well done to everyone.”

Coles Woodend manager Mark Birkett said he was very proud of his entire team and pleased they had been given recognition by customers for their service and friendliness through a potentially difficult time.
Mark, who moved to the store just five weeks ago from managing Coles Deer Park, said the store had always had a good reputation for friendly staff and being a great supermarket.
“I have only been here a short time but I am already very proud of the team. And I am loving being back in the country. I am Ballarat born and bred, so a country boy at heart.”
Mark said his team would “100 per cent” enjoy that they are thought of as Legends of Lockdown. “They are a great team and all deserve recognition for what they do.” And customers agree!

Image: Photo taken at the opening of the new Coles Woodend in November 2018.

The price we pay buying our plants from supermarket and chain store outlets is that mass production equals less and less varieties and all based on the demands of high volume city-based outlets. This can often mean that not all plants on offer are necessarily suited to our local soil and climatic conditions. Limited choices will no doubt satisfy those who merely wish to produce a useful vegetable crop or a bright floral display. For those of us who strive for something different or individual the only way out is to seek out a specialist nursery, or raise our own plants from seed. Even then the selection may be limited.
Fortunately for us the advent of online trading and its multitude of suppliers offers myriad options, and seeds being featherweight, cost little to mail. If, like me, you relish the thought of producing old tried and true varieties we remember from your childhood there are now a great many seed growers Australia-wide who also specialise in heritage or heirloom flower and vegetable seeds.
You will find literally pages of them on Google, or, as in my case, the less commercially-invasive Duck Duck Go.

Raise your own
Growing plants from seed is both interesting and rewarding – especially for children – and a definite cost-cutting exercise. provided a few simple rules are followed.
Keys to success include good quality seeds and correct soil mixtures, careful sowing and after care. Seed freshness is essential. Be sure to look for the safe sowing periods and used-by date on the back of the packet. Most seeds can be safely sown for some time after that date but the success rate does drop dramatically over time.
Large seeds such peas, beans, sweetcorn, lupins and sweet peas can be sown directly into a shallow drill or trench in their permanent position. Seedlings that transplant easily, such as chives and onions, cabbages, silverbeet or chard, pansies, marigolds and zinnias, should be sown into pots or a seed box in the garden. A place under glass is safer for more tender species such as petunias, asters and primula.
Prepare your seed beds by digging over the existing soil and then add compost, leaf mould or peat moss, and a dusting of lime. Finally, bring the surface soil to a fine tilth by careful raking and levelling, then firm it by patting gently with the back of the spade.
If you plan to pre-sow into a seed box, use either a shallow plastic or foam vegetable box, making sure the box is suitably drained with at least six holes of 10mm diameter. Cover the bottom with 2-3cm of coarse screenings or bark chips and top up to within 20-30cm of the rim with a good potting mix. An ideal growing mix is two parts sandy loam, one part each of peat moss or compost, and coarse sand. Add 30gm of superphosphate and 20gm of garden lime to every bucketful of the soil mix. Make sure the soil is flattened and firmed down, especially at the corners. The seeds can be scattered over the surface or sown into shallow farrows.
Cover the seeds with a layer of sieved sand or soil to a depth equal to the thickness of the seeds and place the box on bricks to assist air circulation, in a light, warm spot sheltered from wind.
Water the seeds with a fine mist spray to prevent wash-away of the surface. Until the seeds germinate and the first shoots appear it is essential that the soil is not allowed to dry out, even if it means several waterings each day.
Next week: The seedlings. Once large enough, like these healthy chives, they can be planted out into the garden beds.
Got a gardening question? Ask Glen. Email glenzgarden@gmail.com

She trudged
alone
through swamps of lies
meandered through mergers
of banks
and straddled corporations
agitated
for equality of wages
to save trees
and sacred sites
until skinned of hope
she slept
under
the Leunig tree
She revived when a teapot
clanked
as it fell
onto her billycan
She picked up her swag
whistled to the duck
and followed it
through a desert
where lizard’s toes
had sketched the sand
She marvelled
at cloud formations
birds chirruping
plants that clung to rocks
then caught
a web-thread
and sailed
with spiderling
courage across the continent
until grounded
by the morning’s dawn
drawn dew
She was back to her Holub home

• Gael Elliott

(This poem is a sequence to Miroslav Holub’s poem, Fairy Tale which
describes his house before he goes into the world.)

Gael – Often it is the small things in life that catch Gael’s attention such as slug-slime on a leaf or frost growths on barb wire. She loves the way even in solitude your mind can sail to the edge of the universe and back in a second – especially in this weird time of lockdown.

Poems for Local Lines come predominantly from a group of poets. However, other locals who would like a poem considered for publication can contact Bill Wootton – cottlesbreedge@gmail.com

Biggin & Scott Daylesford principal Michael DeVincentis said the market had been strong with many people looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Melbourne “and everything the pandemic has caused down there”.
“From my training years ago as an architect, 75 per cent of city people dreamed of moving to the country but only 30 per cent ever gave it a go. Everyone has the dream but now with this situation they are forced to make a decision and are finally living the dream of moving to the country.”
Mr DeVincentis said he had a few great properties on his books including the newly-listed Continental House in Hepburn Springs and The Mayfair in Daylesford.
“There are also a few more at Hepburn and we are always getting more coming up with 10-15 in the pipeline. People are just waiting to see what happens with lockdown and of course, people from Melbourne can’t come here and even locally, people are waiting. But we have certainly sold all our existing stock and the demand hasn’t dropped in terms of the number of sales. The people who are looking are serious.”
McQueen Broadhurst director Robert Broadhurst said the company was stockpiling a few homes waiting for Melbourne’s Stage 4 lockdown to finish on September 14.
But some savvy vendors were beating the rush with four properties sold in the past seven days, with prices ranging from $660,000 to $2.68 million.
“It’s a two-tiered market here. Properties over one million are generally being sourced by out of town buyers but not all from Melbourne.
“One we recently sold was Stone and Straw on the Midland Highway on the way to Castlemaine – with an asking price of $1.55 million. We were going to hold off on that but a buyer came along.”
Mr Broadhurst said when the lockdown restrictions were lifted in June and the start of July, there had been “a tsunami” of people coming up to the region to look at property. And it would happen again when the lockdown was lifted again.
“Kim (McQueen) and I have a lot of agent friends in Melbourne and they have told us they are selling properties for people who want to move to the country for good. They want out.
“This new way of working via remote with things like Zoom and Snapchat, that has just brought the whole thing forward with a lot of people liking the idea of living, working and bringing up their families in the country.
“In the past they have put up roadblocks like waiting for their children to finish high school or waiting until they retire, but COVID has a silver lining which has been showing people what a lovely place to live and work regional Victoria is, compared to being locked up in an apartment in Melbourne.”
Mr Broadhurst also said new technology meant people in Melbourne could view homes via 360 degree photography tours and even Facetime.
Belle Property Daylesford real estate agent Gary Cooke said the market had been really busy with Melbourne buyers who were realising the city was not the best place to be living.
“They can be living in the country, have a great lifestyle, be a stone’s throw from the city and not have to pay city mortgages. We have a huge amount of interest from Melbourne buyers and over the past week and a half I have sold four properties – and of those I have sold two to people looking at the houses purely online.
“I have heard of these purchases happening in the city before with an expat wanting to come home and getting a buyer’s advocate to look at a property for them, but up here I can’t say it is particularly common. It hasn’t happened with me before and the fact that it has happened twice in a week is fascinating.”
Meanwhile, Daylesford Mineral Springs Real Estate Agents director Luma Whitehead said there had been a huge demand for permanent rental properties in the region.
Ms Whitehead said that since the first lockdown, people from both Melbourne and interstate had been showing keen interest in renting. Many of the holiday rentals had been taken off the holiday market and converted to permanent rentals, she said.
“When that first lockdown ended, the weekend market went through the roof, and some people were not even coming here for just a weekend, they were staying for a week or two.
“With the second lockdown not so many holiday properties have gone down the permanent rental road because they know what will happen when it lifts again. But that means there is a real shortage of permanent rental properties. I am a small-time operator but I have let out five rentals in the past six or seven weeks. The quickest turnaround was three days and the longest was probably two weeks just because you have to check references.”
Ms Whitehead said the average weekly rental had been around $350 a week but the last property she had leased, a two-bedroom home, had been snapped up for $440 per week.
NB: The next edition of House.Land.Home.Premium is out on October 26.
Words: Donna Kelly & Kyle Barnes

The amendment, known as DD06, takes in a 500-metre zone around the Daylesford Material Recovery Facility area.
A council document said the design objectives of the schedule were to operate and manage the facility appropriately, reduce amenity impacts on surrounding land and limit further intensity of residential development and subdivision in the area.
But to do that, the council is proposing the buffer zone which greatly impacts on residents already living within that area.
Those impacts include that a permit is required to construct a fence, and all fences must be at least 1.5 metres high and solid or 50 per cent transparent with screen landscaping, no building used for accommodation can be built within the area and no balconies or private open spaces can face the facility.
In addition, any land can only be subdivided to a minimum of one-hectare (and no residential building can be built on it), and new access to any land cannot be from Ajax Road.
A flyer circulated via email, by residents concerned about the new schedule, say it will stop construction of any new homes and even the rebuilding of any existing homes destroyed by domestic fire, winds or a tree fall. Buildings destroyed by bushfire may be exempt but it was not clear, the flyer says.
“Within the zone, there is no provision in the proposed schedule for you to knock down your existing house and rebuild or extend to improve your property’s value.
“You will no longer be able to subdivide your land as previously possible. (Acknowledging that most people in the area are on large rural blocks, and typically would like to keep it that way, but if you do want to subdivide, you won’t be able to as before). Subdivision within the zone will be limited to a minimum of one hectare. But few will want to subdivide when the possibility of building on the new lots no longer exists.”
The flyer also says the 1.5-metre high fence is not in keeping with a rural area, the restrictions on balconies and open spaces are unfair and the value of properties will plummet.
Spokesperson Helen Tobias said residents had met with Mayor Cr Licia Kokocinski and Cr Kate Redwood last week and she believed both now understood the issues involved.
“It was a good meeting and I think it really is a case of councillors just not getting the actual severe impacts on residents,” she said.
“We are really asking for councillors’ help in stopping this going through and to be clear on what is in the document and appreciate it removes rights in terms of development and land use. It appears to have no strategic purpose.”
Ms Tobias said residents would meet again with councillors next week and continue to keep them informed.
Residents were making as many submissions against the schedule as possible. The residents hoped the schedule would be abandoned by council at its next meeting in September, she said.
Hepburn Shire Council replied to requests from The Local on the issue by saying:
“As part of Amendment C80hepb to the Hepburn Planning Scheme, a 500m buffer is proposed to be applied around the Daylesford Waste Transfer Station. The intention of the overlay is to limit the intensification of residential development in close proximity to the site which includes an operating Waste Transfer Facility and a closed land fill. The basis of the proposed DDO6 is the EPA Publication 1618 and Clause 53.10 – ‘Transfer station receiving organic waste buffer distance’, the latter applying to planning schemes across Victoria.
“In the preparation of the amendment, council has worked closely with the Department of Land, Water and Planning prior to placing it on exhibition. These checks ultimately ensure that when the Minister for Planning authorises an amendment for exhibition, that it meets the requirements of the Ministerial Direction, ‘The Form and Content of Planning Schemes’ and the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and any potential flaws are addressed prior to it being released to the community.”
Written submissions close on August 28. Email planningscheme@hepburn.vic.gov.au or call 5348 2306.
A video link explaining the residents’ concerns by Ms Tobias is on The Local’s website – www.tlnews.com.au and check out the zone on page 10.
Words: Donna Kelly

The Local received a number of emails saying the staff have remained friendly and polite throughout these trying times.
“I talked to one staff member, at Click & Collect, and they said they sometimes received abuse because they didn’t have certain products available or had to offer substitutes but they remain unfailingly polite – and always have a ready smile,” one Woodend resident wrote.
“I can’t believe that anyone would be anything but kind right now, and I think the staff that make it through each potentially difficult day deserve to be recognised.”
Another shopper, a Drummond resident, singled out the deli section, saying staff there were particularly helpful.
“They always serve with me a smile and nothing is too much trouble. And I know it must be hard with people standing on those dots and not realising if they need a number or not to get served. Nothing seems to faze them. Well done to everyone.”

Coles Woodend manager Mark Birkett said he was very proud of his entire team and pleased they had been given recognition by customers for their service and friendliness through a potentially difficult time.
Mark, who moved to the store just five weeks ago from managing Coles Deer Park, said the store had always had a good reputation for friendly staff and being a great supermarket.
“I have only been here a short time but I am already very proud of the team. And I am loving being back in the country. I am Ballarat born and bred, so a country boy at heart.”
Mark said his team would “100 per cent” enjoy that they are thought of as Legends of Lockdown. “They are a great team and all deserve recognition for what they do.” And customers agree!

Image: Photo taken at the opening of the new Coles Woodend in November 2018.

We would be out walking at 7am with the dogs and never saw a soul. I often remarked to Kyle that I had thought country folk were early risers, but not in our neck of the woods.
Being Frankston born and bred you would think I would have no fear, but the stillness of the country and the darkness at night was quite scary, and we spent most of our early weekends on the Calder heading back to the noise and streetlights of suburbia.
But, after a while, and after we had cut the lawn to a manageable level, and put aviary wire at the bottom of all our farm fencing to keep out snakes, we relaxed a little. (Yes, we later realised we may have trapped the snakes in the property or, perhaps, that a snake could actually slither over a foot of wire.)
Anyway, move forward 15 years and, until the pandemic anyway, we were finding it harder and harder to exit onto the main road – because of all the cars. And if you drive around Glenlyon you will find many homes have popped up on all manner of formerly vacant land.
And when we made the trip to Melbourne, by about Gisborne we would start with the familiar refrain of “they’re coming”, as we watched more and more houses being built and the suburban creep head towards the Central Highlands.
And now they are pretty much here, or ready with cash in hand to buy their dream property and move to the country. The flip side of the pandemic is that Melburnians have realised they can work from home and no longer have to hold off on their dream life – looking out over meandering cattle, listening to laughing kookaburras and now and again, hopping on their ride-on.
We talked to quite a few real estate agents this week (see page five) and they all say they are in touch with people ready, as soon as lockdown ends, to make the move. Some have already sold their city properties, others are in the process. Some have bought properties sight unseen, other than a Facetime tour.
And that is all well and good. I love this region and totally understand that others want to come here. I hope they fall in love with all the same things I did – the people, the quirky shops, the fantastic restaurants, the friendly service, the pubs, the festivals… But then a little selfish side of me wonders how many we can handle? Everyone who lives here, well most of us, appreciate that we need visitors to survive, but we all breathe a sigh of relief on a Sunday night as they make their way back home to Melbourne.
Now they will be a permanent fixture. Sure, not thousands, but hundreds more – and that’s just looking at estates happening in Daylesford and even little old Glenlyon. But even if it gets a bit busier, would we move on? No. Because, as everyone we talk to asks, where would you go? We love this region and all it offers. I guess, like children, we will just have to learn to share. Just sayin’…

My Baby Just Cares For Me from Daylesford Community Brass Band on Vimeo.

The Daylesford Community Brass Band has probably never been busier – and is using social media to spread their music throughout the local community and overseas.
Acting musical director Mark Lyall said when the coronavirus first hit Australia, the band started to think how it could stay together but with smaller rehearsals. But then the lockdowns happened and it was time to change tack.
Mark, who has a sound engineering background, said he watched an iso recording done overseas quite early in the piece and decided the band could keep going.
They are now up to their fifth recording with the first four on their Facebook and web pages – gaining plenty of likes.
“We wanted to do two things. We have always rehearsed every Monday night which brings us together to further our craft, our music, and also we very much enjoy each other’s company – so it was important that during this time we could keep both of those aspects of engagement going.
“So, we now meet in Zoom every Monday night which helps with the social aspect of keeping connecting, and we are doing recordings which means we are also picking up those instruments every day and practicing and connecting with our craft.”
Over the past months the band members have chosen five pieces with each one taking about a month to create. It must be done individually because internet speed means even singing Happy Birthday on a Zoom meeting is almost impossible.
The pieces start with Mark putting together a click track, using the same methodology as film and television composers record scores in time with images. The clicking at the back of the track is much like listening to a metronome, he says.
Once that is done, they are circulated to members with all their parts and they all spend a few weeks rehearsing and then recording it, along with video. That is all returned to Mark who then puts it all together into one recording, producing both music-only and video pieces. Band member Stuart Gunn is responsible for most of the video recordings.
The first iso piece was The Floral Dance, and it just happened to be released one week before The Furry Dance, a festival held in Helston, Cornwall with the piece an English song describing the festival. It was posted to a British website giving the band international exposure and likes.
Next up is The Teddy Bears’ Picnic, with two band members having their teddy bears featured in the video and all members able to find at least one teddy for their videos.
A slower piece, Down by the Salley Gardens was the third piece with the poem recited by band member Val Goodwin, and the fourth was My Baby Just Cares For Me, a swing band number, pictured above.
“There are four quite different genres represented – I really wanted to take band members to somewhere different with each piece, a different journey each time.
“The next piece is a march and we are in the process of looking through our photographic archives so we can assemble a history of the band for the video.”
Mark said both he and the band members were happy with the results although they were all very much looking forward to rehearsing again when it was safe to do so.
“This is not a replacement, it is a very different process to rehearsing in our band room where you get instant feedback – smiles, frowns, get told off by the conductor, get congratulated by the conductor. But it has been a good motivator during this time when some members perhaps would not be thinking about practising. It’s kept people engaged.”
Mark said he had joined the band 10 years ago after moving to Daylesford. He watched them playing Christmas carols and when they finished asked if he could attend rehearsals. Cornet is his main instrument but he spent a number of years playing the euphonium. “When I turned up with my cornet they said ‘that’s great but we need one of these’.”
And 2020 Christmas carols are now on the mind of band members who are hoping they will be able to play at least some concerts and perhaps stream them for those who can’t attend.
“Our band room is a bit small at the moment but we will find a way for the band to have a presence at Christmas. And when we do go back to the band room it will be one in, all in. We go back when we can all go back.”
To listen to the band’s recordings so far head to www.daylesfordbrassband.org or their Facebook page. And if you’ve got kids, or not, watch The Teddy Bear’s Picnic – it’s a lot of fun.
Check out the Vimeo link on The Local’s website – www.tlnews.com.au

Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Facebook screenshot

How is your community group keeping in touch? Let us know.
Email donna@tlnews.com.au