“I always wanted to be a painter when I was at school and while I tried a few other things I really didn’t like them so much. Then I got my first job painting and have pretty much stuck with it since being out of school. I do everything from repaints, to roofs and houses on new buildings, and pretty much everything in between. And yeah, I do still enjoy it. Every job is different and that is another aspect I enjoy. And if you are fixing up a house, painting is probably the best value for money because when you paint a house it looks totally different.”
Chris said not much had changed in the painting industry over the years although enamel was pretty much out and water-based paint in, offering faster drying times and less odour.
Colour schemes have also changed a little, with brights out and neutrals in, although the myriad colours available now, even just within the white range, is staggering.
“I try not to interfere too much with colours and let clients choose what they want, although I am happy to give advice. But there are a million different whites out there and when someone says ‘I just want a white ceiling’ you have to ask ‘what kind of white?’ which can be difficult.”
Chris said COVID-19 had seen him busier than ever with bookings through to Christmas. “Usually Winter is pretty quiet for me but this year has been really good and it could be that people are at home more and thinking they should get that painting job finally done. Interior work has been flat out. I pretty much haven’t stopped so that has been good. I have also been working on my own for the past three years, so it’s just me, which I guess is not as invasive as five painters turning up at the one time. So that’s probably something people like – they can really control the situation.”
Chris moved to Bullarto from the Mornington Peninsula five years ago after years of travelling to the region to enjoy his passion of dirt bike riding.
“I was in Dromana and Mt Martha but I wanted to do something else and coming here made sense. People said ‘but you were so close to the beach’ but I never went to the beach. And yes, it was a big move, but I love the country life. Less people.”
See Chris’ advert below left in The Local’s Tradie pages.

Firstly we find ourselves living in “unprecedented” times, we are all “pivoting” our businesses and lives and “reaching out” to our community who are all “bingeing” on “TikTok” while “self-isolating” in “lockdown”.
Secondly, folks are getting eye strain from the computer and TV while the “covidiots” roam the streets without masks giving the bird to the cops and wondering why they are wrestled to the ground.
And finally, the “frontline workers” have become the heroes and we are all trying to figure out if the “mute” button has been turned on or off as we make a quick exit to the loo after an intensive one-hour “Zoom” meeting.
Some days I feel like heading back under the doona just thinking about it but yesterday instead of giving up I went for a walk after two days of not seeing anyone, apart from the better half, and I made a huge mistake. I left the sanctuary of TL HQ without a mask. Now, I am all for wearing a mask but not being a social butterfly, and with the weather inclement, I hadn’t ventured out for a while and simply forgot.
What pricked my memory was about a kilometre into my walk I saw a guy driving a car by himself with a mask on, which I think is a bit OTT, but this threw me into a spin as I hunted through my pockets only to come up with an old tissue. So I quickly secreted myself into the bush beside the road to find a solution.
The first that came to mind was to put my hoodie on backwards but how was I going to see? Could a tissue be enough of a face covering to get through the next few kilometres? But how should I tie it on?
I was in a pickle, even though there wasn’t a soul about I wasn’t only breaking the law, I was putting mankind and myself at risk. Surely I could fashion something from the bush, maybe some leaves, but it is Winter and there is not a lot around. I spied a bird’s nest…but what to do with the early-born chick inside? Perhaps not.
I finally decided that if anyone saw me, I would pull my tee-shirt up over my face and walk quickly, while rubbing my head with my sleeve, that would surely throw them off the scent.
I wouldn’t have thought back a year ago that a face mask would be such a dilemma, but it does just go to show our new reality presents a lot of extra external pressures which weigh heavily on a lot of people, so we do need to exercise patience towards others.
Weirdly gooey rant over…

True story. But like Anne of Green Gables, it later turned, not into a deep rich auburn, but a dirty blonde. And stayed that way, lately thanks to supermarket products, all these years. (Check out the photo above. Yes, I know that is about 10 years old but if I took one now you would realise that the pandemic has not been kind.)
But then a week or so ago, I got bored. Not that we have much time for getting bored, what with being weekly and all, but I ran out of things to do. Well, there were things to do like laundry and dishes and sort out the pantry, so I guess I ran out of things I wanted to do. So I dyed my hair. And now like Anne of Green Gables, it is a deep rich auburn for the first time ever.
I did try the same thing about 15 years ago. Kyle had disappeared on an overnight business trip to the Gold Coast – yes children, there was once a thing called travel – and once again I got bored. There may have been a glass or two of chardonnay involved as well. Anyway, I dyed my hair, sat back to let it “develop” and promptly fell asleep. I woke up four hours later wondering why my head felt cold.
Now as any woman knows, and many men I suspect, you only need to leave hair dye on for about 30 minutes. At home, anyway. So I ran to the bathroom and washed it out and felt quite happy when I saw the water finally running clean. And being late, I went to bed. Yes, with pretty wet, and dark, hair, but sure it would lighten up in the morning.
And it did. I woke up early, ready to head off to a big editors’ conference that morning, only to find my hair was now clown orange. Not even slightly red or auburn. So I did the only sensible thing I could think of, and no, not a call-in for a sickie. I plastered it with gel to darken the colour and tied it back. No-one in the meeting said a word but there were some sympathetic glances. As soon as it was over I headed to the nearest hairdresser and explained my predicament. The woman pulled at pieces here and there and finally asked “what colour were you trying to achieve?” “Well, not clown orange,” I replied haughtily.
Anyway, I am now sporting a nice auburn look. Which I don’t mind except for one thing. That getting bored thing happened a few months ago…and I cut my hair. But being a journo and not a hairdresser, I just tied it back, grabbed the kitchen scissors and went “chop”. So my nicely coloured hair is also a kind of strange reverse mullet. Just as well we’re in lockdown a few more weeks. Just sayin’…

This past week, the stars were aligned for one of my favourite times of the garden year…the time of rejuvenation and reproduction of most perennial plants. And this year the rains came at the right time and in sufficient quantity to ensure the soil was moist and friable for the job.
And then the sunny side of the dreaded COVID-induced solitary confinement, a golden opportunity for a few hours of exercise and mild mental stimulation.
A great number of our favourite perennial plants don’t rely on the “birds and the bees” and seed production to multiply. They either produce bulbs or tuberous root systems or, as with most herbaceous varieties, produce young plantlets either attached at the base of the main stem or at intervals along adventurous ground-hugging stems. As with the colourful, pink flowering “elephant ear” bergenia cordifolia, pictured above right, or a free-flowering sturdy plant ideal for garden edges or as groundcover. These produce thick fleshy stems that produce roots and plantlets at sufficient intervals, to ensure the new growths don’t crowd out the parent.
One task last week was to duplicate a line of bergenia along an edge of a grassed area. My main achievement though was to lift and divide three single clumps of various-coloured dwarf agapanthus.
If you know anything about agapanthus you will know that they grow into a fleshy, many-stemmed clump atop a tangled mess of fleshy roots. Unlike the other more sedate perennials which produce dainty little replicas around and adjacent to the main root system, all easily removed intact, these beasts require the services of an axe, or at least a large, sharp knife (in my case, a rusty old pruning saw) to divide the various growths. Remember to carefully leave sufficient roots for the survival of each segment.
I am relieved to report that my garden is now richer to the tune of a dozen new plants. Hopefully the rains will continue long enough to see them well and truly established by Spring’s end. Last year’s efforts saw a huge variegated New Zealand flax morph into seven new plants.
Now, for the easy part – the salvias, Shasta daisies, water iris, dwarf Californian iris, etc. All of which will be lifted on a garden fork and pulled apart. The tired parents retire to the compost heap and the sprightly new plantlets return to the bed.

Layered progeny
My next target is my large flowering quince, chaenomeles, pictured below right, is Winter Cheer, which has produced two healthy offspring by natural layering without my help.
Quite a few plant species will naturally extend a low branch either on or just under the surface of the soil and produce suckers for planting elsewhere.
Carefully dig around the base of the plantlet, sever the connecting root on either side and plant it out either in the garden or into a pot. Take care to water the plant regularly until it produces healthy, strong new growth. You can encourage most woody shrubs to “layer” by selecting a low-growing branch and pegging it down into a shallow depression in the soil.
First, strip enough leaves from the stem, leaving about 4-5cm from the tip. Scratch the bark from a small area that will be at the bottom of the depression and peg the stem down firmly using bent wire pegs. Thickly cover the area with mulch or compost and keep it well watered. Once any Spring growth is strong enough to convince you that it has taken root, carefully remove the soil and sever it from the parent plant. But be sure it has sufficient root growth for survival before you make the cut.

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

Ingredients:
Paste:
• 1 medium brown onion
• 4 garlic cloves
• 40g ginger
• 1 stalk of lemongrass, chopped roughly
• 4 red chillies
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground white (or black if unavailable) pepper
• 1 coriander whole
• 1 tsp salt
Curry Sauce:
• 2 tbsp oil
• 600 ml coconut milk
• 3 kaffir lime leaves
• 400 ml water
• 1 tbsp tamari
• Juice of 1 lime
• 1 tsp raw sugar
• Chopped mixed veg of your choice
Method:

1. In a food processor, combine all the paste ingredients until finely chopped.
2. Heat up oil in a heavy-bottomed casserole dish on a low heat and add curry paste. Fry off gently for 10 minutes, stirring the entire time.
3. Stir in coconut milk (you can use low-fat coconut milk if you want)
4. Finally add in the lime leaves and water. Start off with 300 ml water and add more to achieve the desired consistency. Traditionally this curry sauce is fairly thin and soupy in consistency.
5. Add veg of your choice. We like using beans, cauliflower, capsicum and eggplant but you can use whatever you have left in the fridge.
6. Allow the sauce to come to a gentle simmer. Simmer for 10-15 minutes on a low heat.
7. Season with tamari.
8. Serve over rice (Wine pair: Richardson Chockstone pinot gris)

Club vice president and collective volunteer Dianne van Baalen said the collective had approached the tennis club because they had outgrown the building they had been operating out of – the former police cells behind the Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre.
“President Beverly Risstrom approached me about our clubrooms which had housed the Daylesford Dharma School for many years until they moved to their new site.
“They asked if they could have a co-lease – so we have half of the space each and also a common area. It’s a great building although it was looking a little tired, but when we agreed on the lease the collective got very busy with heaps of volunteers and paint and really spruced it up. It looks a million dollars now, a really beautiful space.”
Dianne said it was great for the collective because their former home had been too small to operate during the pandemic and they had been restricted to deliveries, but they were now back to being able to have members come in and shop – all COVID-safe.
“And I really do believe that it is a perfect match. Hepburn Wholefoods is all about organic food and local produce, and no packaging and a very strong environmental principle – all based on health for the community and the country.
“And the tennis club is totally about that too. About people being healthy and getting out and having fun and enjoying themselves. I really feel we are on the same page about healthy communities.
“And with their work they have created a better facility for us which we will be able to use after the pandemic. It has also given us a bit of impetus in using that space in a better way and we are currently looking at using the historic nature of the club to create links to the past – with photos and stories from the heydays of tennis in the town.”
Dianne said tennis was still up and running with asphalt courts used over Winter and the grass courts coming into their own over Summer. Even with COVID rules, couples and family groups of up to four could play, she said. However, plans for a Welcome Week to see Summer back in are on hold for now.
Beverly Risstrom said the collective had been “bursting at the seams” when it started looking for a new site 18 months ago but everything was either too small or, mostly, too expensive.
Earlier this year she visited the clubrooms with her husband Pete, a 20-year tennis club member, and realised it would be perfect.
“It had been empty for about 18 months and was a little tired and cold but we had a mad rush of energy and repainted the place, bought a gas heater and transformed it – with many thanks to artist Kristeena Saville for the colour scheme.
“Everything also seemed to come at just the right time. One of our volunteers was short of work so he put in the shelves, we had a massive fridge donated and that took eight people to get it in place – and we are talking about people who just wanted to help. It has been a really bright spot during this time.”
Beverly said the only downside was that the collective would generally be a place for people to gather, share a cuppa and a chat, perhaps a hug.
“For now, we only have four people inside and it’s ‘shop quickly, don’t chat and when you are done, please leave because we have others waiting’, so that’s not so much fun.
“But the feedback from people is just glorious. And when this is over we will have 10 openings!”
Hepburn Wholefoods Collective is open to members only on Mondays 9.30am-11.30am, Wednesdays 2pm-4pm, Thursdays 3pm-5pm and Saturdays 11am-1pm.
Annual memberships are $40 ($20 concession) with volunteers free. Head to www.hepburnwholefoods.org.au to join up.
For information about the Daylesford Lawn Tennis Club call Dianne on 0481 393 342 or email vanbaalen@mmnet.com.au

Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Mara Ripani

She also has a business brain and is already mentoring other artists keen to get their work out there.
Born and bred in Hepburn Shire, Tahlia said at just 18 months old she could be found in a corner in her bedroom painting circles. “Art is something I have always been drawn to and that I just love so much.”
Pretty much self-taught, although she did win an art scholarship to Ballarat’s Clarendon College at 15, where she spent all her spare time painting rather than other homework, Tahlia loves “anything that is bold”.
“You are able to express yourself in such a unique way when you combine the abstract and realist side of things, you can really capture who you are on the canvas.”
Tahlia said among her immediate family she was the only one immersed in art but there were some members of her family who used to work with Disney. And it was the movie The Lion King that really got her obsessed with the characters and painting. From there it “grew and grew and grew”.
Family has also been important, with unwavering support from everyone. “They have always encouraged me to do whatever makes me happy, as long as you are happy that is all that matters at the end of the day.
“Even as a kid they supported me and if they knew I wanted to try something they would save up and buy whatever art supplies I needed. I am so incredibly grateful for that. I have a younger brother and sister, 9 and 10, and we all live on the same big property on my grandparents’ farm so they can come down to the cottage my partner and I share and see what I am working on. My family is very close.”
And while President Trump may not be a fan, Tahlia just loves TikTok, a Chinese-owned social video-sharing app. Her siblings nagged her for ages to get involved and she now has almost 170,000 followers which she agrees is “pretty full on”.
“I just started commenting on my journey, showing behind the scenes processes, and running tutorials with tips for other artists and it has been absolutely amazing. Because of it I have been able to expand my business quite a bit, with two fine art printers in the studio, and it’s given me a world-wide audience. It is pretty overwhelming, but I just feel so grateful to have this amazing opportunity.”
Pandemic-wise, Tahlia said she had been able to dedicate more time to focus on the business side of things including offering advice to other artists on their commission structures and pricing, starting lower and moving up as they sell. “We need to make art more accessible.”
Tahlia said her future was bright but busy. “I have a habit of setting three-year goals and then achieving them in six months so it’s all pretty full on. For the future I can see myself starting an online course for artists, helping them start their business, and also expanding with opening a second studio and having more room to do prints.”
And when travel is up and running again she has invites from New Zealand, England and the US to do “meet and greets – just meet up and talk and hang out for a bit”. But as Tahlia says “who knows – everything is happening so quickly”.
And for anyone out there pondering a career in the arts, the advice is to “find your voice first”.
“Anyone can learn to paint, to be more skilful, but the questions you should be asking are what do you offer other people, what value to bring to others, what do you have to say to the world?
“That way, your artist’s voice will be with you no matter what you do, an artist, a music artist, a lyricist…there are so many things you can do but find your voice first, find what you have to offer and remain authentic and genuine.”
Tahlia also realises that she is lucky to wake up every day and do what she loves.
“I have a pretty amazing life and am so grateful. It is very overwhelming and very humbling that I get to do what I love each and every day, surrounded by amazing, inspiring and encouraging people. That is really powerful and if there was one thing I would wish for everyone, that would be it.”
You can see Tahlia’s work on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and at the Empress & Wolf in Daylesford.
Watch this space!

Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Contributed

(This article is supported by the Hepburn Shire Council’s coronavirus grants.)

These days, Tiffany is balancing her opera work with home-schooling, as well as pre-planning the two massively popular local events she organises annually –Malmsbury’s Easter egg hunt, and the Christmas carols.
Her drive emerged at an early age though, while her school friends were playing tennis on the weekends, Tiffany was at rallies with her dad, who was heavily involved in unions – meanwhile her mum was advocating for women’s rights.
“I loved it, I really did. My family was always involved in the community, in fighting for people,” Tiffany said.
And from sitting on the back of a truck yelling “solidarity!” Tiffany’s voice began to grow – in an unexpected and beautiful way.
“I was about four or five, that’s probably when I got my first taste for it, getting up and singing and dancing and I think everyone kind of realised then that there was something in it, and it’s just kind of kept going from there for me.
“So I packed up my bags and off I went for an audition. I didn’t get it, but the conductor suggested that maybe my voice wasn’t suited to a chorus and maybe I should think about having a solo career and to find myself a teacher – at this point, I was about 16.
“I ended up going to the College of the Arts, in Melbourne, and it’s just kind of kept going from there. I went to Opera Australia and since then I’ve travelled the world, it’s taken me so many places, this career. And I’ve met so many amazing people.”
And while Tiffany’s career has been sparkling, it’s a good thing that she has a background in fighting for people because that’s what she is doing now for her scholars, as the pandemic ravages the arts world.
As vocal director of Opera Scholars Australia, Tiffany is guiding the 18-25 year olds through the trickiest part of their career in an even trickier time for the industry.
“The word that we use at the moment? Decimated. There are a few companies opening up again, certainly in Europe, and I’m keeping in contact with all my colleagues all over the world but there’s nothing, there’s no events.
“People are getting really resourceful, there’s a lot online but you know, it’s really tricky when you’re dealing with young people. They’re trying to start their careers, and I’m trying to keep them motivated when we know there’s certainly nothing in the foreseeable future – we just don’t know. And I think ‘oh God, are we prepping people for unemployment?’ It’s terrible.”
Tiffany has, however, been coming up with some fabulous solutions.
“So I’ve been working with them and doing Zoom sessions, it’s been great fun. I can coach them, but we just can’t sing together – if you’ve ever tried singing Happy Birthday on Zoom you’ll see the time delay, the internet connections… it’s the only thing we can’t do. So we sing individually, then edit it together and it takes 10 times as long as if we were all together. But it’s worth it.”
And there, right there, you can almost hear a faint echo from the past.
“Solidarity!”

Words: Kate Taylor : Image: Pia Johnson

Many people nominated the Daylesford business with comments including “such a great community service”, “amazing effort from Tonna’s” and “yay, Tonna’s – and a big hug for David”.
Danielle Tonna said when the pandemic hit the family closed the shop down but quickly opened a new shopfront, pretty much benches under the verandah.
They then went online, started a click & collect system and began delivering around Hepburn Shire.
“We wanted to keep ourselves, our families and our community safe,” she said. “And we were able to keep all six staff on.”
Danielle said while there had been a decline in business this past week, with the second lockdown, the aim was to continue to provide healthy, fresh food and keep everyone safe.
The 34-year-old, who has been in the family business since she started helping out as a six-year-old, said the Legend of Lockdown nomination was a welcome surprise.
“We are very honoured and appreciate our community knowing that we have been working our little chops off to keep us and them safe.
“We do get a lot of email orders with messages from the clients thanking us for what we are doing, that we are making them feel a bit better about the current situation and that we are keeping them safe. They are very open and beautiful about that.
“And that is really lovely.”

Image: Kyle Barnes

Pictured from left, Paul Middleton, David Tonna, Theresa Coleiro, Adam Tonna and Danielle Tonna, absent, Ryan Coleiro

Ode to Our Farmers

It is the Day before Christmas,
I’ve been sitting and thinking;
The weather’s been Cruel,
It’s been hot, dry and stinking.

Vast tracts of Australia,
Have been stricken with drought;
With all the farmers’ hard work,
Has it all been for nowt?

With the price of water and feed,
Getting scarce, going up and still risin’,
There appears to be little hope,
Any time soon, on the horizon.

But farmers on the whole,
Are a tough and hardy bunch;
They’ll dig in their heels
And wait for the crunch.

But it’s not only them,
That are doing it tough;
The businesses in small towns,
Are also doing it rough.

So spare them a thought,
Whilst gathered around your tree;
Unwrapping your presents,
Full of food, laughter and glee.

What can we do,
How can we give them a hand;
All our hard working farmers,
Trying to survive, working the land.

Maybe that overseas trip,
We could delay or forego;
Travel into the outback;
Stop frequently, observe and go slow.

Stop and look in the shops,
Spend a little and spread some good cheer;
Leave a little something extra,
So they can shout a local, a coffee or beer.

It’s the little gestures,
The goodwill, that all count;
If enough of us do it,
The numbers with depression won’t mount.

C’mon, let’s all band together,
So our farmers can continue to toil;
For this is what feeds us,
From Australia’s harsh climate and soil.

• Gary Wilkinson 2019

Gary is married to Kerrie with two children and four beautiful grandchildren. He and his family have lived in the region for around 25 years and run a small Angus Stud in Blampied called Kyah Park Angus.

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