The Spa Quilters Guild of Daylesford will hold its biennial Quilt Show on the King’s Birthday Weekend, June 6 and 7, on Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday, from noon to 4pm at Daylesford’s St Peter’s Catholic Church and Parish Hall, Duke Street, Daylesford.
The theme is Peace.
There will be a challenge display, raffle, member’s boutique and quilt shops in attendance. Entry fee is a gold coin donation.
The proceeds are used to make quilts for children in foster care and people in aged care homes.
Sometimes when children are taken into foster, kinship or residential care they will arrive at a home with nothing but the clothes they are wearing.
These quilts provide comfort, warmth and represent something handmade (with love and care) that the child can keep wherever they go in the future.
Spa Quilters has been operating for 41 years and new members are very welcome. They meet at the St Peter’s Parish Hall on Thursday from 11am to 4pm.
Enquiries: Carol on 0407 668 938 or Denise on 0407 252 746.

The first time I met Smeaton’s Joan Pickering she was encouraging a craft group at Daylesford Library to weave vintage lace, wool and fabric into future projects.
Joan, now 86, was clearly in her element after being taken by a community carer to see for herself where surplus materials, sent to the group on earlier occasions, had landed.
Her eyes lit up when a piece of stretch fabric was pulled out of a box by someone determined to turn it into a pyjama top, putting the material to good use.
Wasting time and things simply isn’t in Joan’s nature; a quality developed growing up in a block of houses built for returning WWI veterans.
“My parents got it just as the second world war was starting…my father was a signalman, at a time when they sent messages out with carrier pigeons,” Joan said.
However, being born in 1940, it’s her father’s post-war charity work and time at the PMG (Postmaster-General’s Department), she recalls.
“We all called the PMG ‘private monkey’s garden’, it was like Telecom, took in public phone boxes and all that sort of thing,” she said.
“I remember my father saving little globes and torches from the PMG. He painted them all different colours and then he wired them up so we had lights on our Christmas tree which was a piece of pussy willow – there was no money for anything as frivolous as Christmas lights.”
Joan credits her father, who belonged to a band of charity entertainers, for her own creativity and community spirit.
“My father would dress up as a girl, white stockings, white dress, red wig, and they’d go around entertaining on the back of a truck to raise money for dogs for the blind.”
But it was Joan’s mother and brothers she was with the first time she set foot in a dance school.

“Mum lost a baby and we were out walking; in those days there was a dancing school in nearly every empty hall (and) Mum took us in one, I was only a tot then, hadn’t even started school, and I just loved it.”
Joan said her community-minded father organised debutante balls at Preston Town Hall and as a result when she was six or seven she led a deb set as part of their presentation.
“I had to do the whole length of the hall on my toes, today there’s no way you’d have ballet shoes on at that age, but in those days if the ballet shoes fit you’d do it.”
When Joan was 19 one of the mothers in a dance class she was enrolled in asked if she would like to teach, pointing towards an empty hall.
She then went on to teach tap, ballet and character dancing in Lalor and Preston venues between 1959 and 1976 through her own school.
“It started as JD Dancing School because my brother was with me, it became the Miss Joan Scott School of Dancing. My mother took over playing the piano.”
Joan said early craft skills learnt at school, from her mother and a young Scottish woman in her neighbourhood, allowed her to become a costume creation seamstress.
“Most of the mothers were working, so the first year there wasn’t much in the way of costumes, you’d ask for them and they’d turn up with flowers attached with safety pins and what have you, so I started doing costumes for one or two of the girls and by the next year I was doing the whole lot, about 200 pieces, two or three pieces to a costume.
“I loved the dancing, putting concerts together, the colour, everything about it, but I love helping people, that’s been my life since I was a little kid.”
Joan said when she was six or seven one of the returned soldiers who lived a few doors up from her family home was in a wheelchair following his war service and after school she would “sit on the grass and talk to him because he was on his own and had no-one to talk to”.
“You were involved with everyone. You didn’t have meals on wheels, if someone was sick up the corner of your street everyone went up and took a meal up or did something. There was one phone in the whole block so everyone would come and use it and paid sixpence for the use of the phone.
“If you were growing rhubarb and people knew you had it they’d come up and get a bunch of rhubarb from you for sixpence and that sixpence would buy your sausages for tea from the butcher.”
Today Joan, who moved to Smeaton when she married her second husband Louis Pickering 20 years ago, is herself thankful to have lovely neighbours nearby and fellowship within St John’s Creswick Church community, particularly since Louis passed.
She said it was too late for her to have children of her own when she married her first husband at 36 years of age, but she doted on her dance students, occasionally taking those with busy parents for outings to Como House and other interesting places during school holidays.
“I like doing the quilts, hand embroidering, knitting, crochet, cooking, gardening – anything I can make – it keeps you going.”
Joan said she would like to think sharing her crafting remnants encourages others to make good use of their hands through a hobby you can enjoy at home or with others. “That’s been my life’s work – doing for others.”

Above, Joan in her self-embroidered apron; inset, a School of Dancing advertisement (contributed)

Below, debutantes and partners at the Fairytale Ball in Northcote 1969-70 hosted by Cr Larkin and Mrs Larkin

Words: Kate Foulds | Images: Kate Foulds & Darebin City Council

Hmmm. The end of May was upon us and we were ready for the slab to be poured. Hooray.
But – I hate buts – we were then sent the plans through an online portal, a brilliant method of keeping customers in the loop, to sign off on.
Now I can write a pretty good story but show me anything technical or financial for that sake, and I am lost. When I worked for another local paper I was the managing editor which meant I had to head to a weekly meeting with my P&Ls. (Profit and Losses – as I found out.)
Now the paper did really well, and always made a profit, but after every meeting I just threw the report into the back to the car where it stayed until the next week.
Anyway, we got the plans and Kyle looked over them. I also have a really great out for doing this sort of stuff because Kyle was the one who wanted to build.
Looking at the plans he found that the hot water system and the LPG services had been placed on the road side of the build. This has already been talked about with the builder because the house will be on a corner block and we really want to conceal all the services to the other side.
But, there that word is again, it then turned out the amended plans – as in we were now building with Sherridon and not our original choice of builder (too expensive) – had not been lodged with Hepburn Shire Council.
We had the stamp for the first building, and it is on pretty much the same building envelope but the council still needs to give it another stamp.
As it turned out Sherridon thought we had submitted it, because we have a good working relationship with council, while we thought Sherridon, as our builder, had done it.
The long and short of it, mostly the long, is that it will now take longer to get the amended plans through and that means no slab and no building just yet.
(If anyone in the council planning department is reading this, please help us…we will put you on our Christmas party invite. It’s a good party.)
Anyway, apart from the time, and paying interest on a mortgage, we are still looking forward to moving in later this year – and I have been looking around on FB Marketplace to find some retro furniture for one of the lounges.
I already have a really cool Parker piece that my nan gave to my mum and then I inherited it. Along with some really cool Tessa chairs that mum gave Kyle who has had them reupholstered. So I am on my way.
Kyle meanwhile continues to work on his secret room – with a door that no-one will know about. It opens with an old book. So I need to go op shopping and get some more oldy worldy books.
Secret rooms must be a guy thing. Every single male friend Kyle has spoken to is rapt with the idea. Some have even already done one. Every single female friend I talk to says “why”. And I don’t know the answer. But it keeps Kyle happy. And you know the saying “Happy husband, happy wife”.
Home Watch.
NB: As I said in the last edition, the slab should be in by the end of the month!
Words: Donna Kelly

Bushfire support is available for impacted farmers.

Primary Producer Bushfire Recovery Grants: up to $75,000 is available to primary producers impacted by the January 2026 bushfires, to help cover the costs of clean-up and reinstating their enterprises. You don’t need to contribute any funds to apply for this grant.

Primary Producers Bushfire Recovery Concessional Loans: up to $250,000 is available for producers who have suffered significant damage to assets, while loans of up to $100,000 can support those experiencing a major loss of income due to the bushfires.

Applications will close at 4 pm on 21 October.

Check your eligibility via Rural Finance www.ruralfinance.com.au or call them on 1800 260 425 with any questions.

If you need help working through what support you can get or how to apply, the Rural Financial Counselling Service is available at:

• Rural Financial Counselling Service Victoria North East for farmers and small farm businesses.

RFCS Victoria West | Home (Mildura and north western).

Farmers in south west Victoria may be considering cleaning out sediment from their dams after prolonged dry weather.

However, Agriculture Victoria Land Management Extension Officer Clem Sturmfels is urging farmers to carefully assess the risks, timing, and likely benefits before starting any works.

‘Cleaning out dams at this time of the year can be difficult, dangerous, and expensive. Handling wet dam sediment requires specialised equipment.

‘Using a bulldozer to remove this sediment is slow and tedious work and excavators usually don’t have the reach to do this work efficiently,’ said Mr Sturmfels.

He said dams with fresh deposits of soil, manure, and other organic matter are more likely to grow algae and bacteria. In these situations, allowing these deposits to dry out first can make removal easier using a scraper or bulldozer.

‘It’s important to closely monitor the dams while waiting for them to dry out to avoid any animal health issues.

‘Dams with older sediment are less likely to have water quality concerns. However, it is important to bear in mind that a metre or so of sediment will have little impact on dam capacity.

‘Assessing the depth of sediment in a dam can be difficult. Farmers can make an estimate by measuring the depth of the dam and comparing that to the dam’s dimensions,’ he said.

Mr Sturmfels said a depth sounder or Damdeep measuring device can also be used. See video of making and using Damdeep. He said farmers are encouraged to consider the following when undertaking dam cleaning activities:

• the sides of dams can be slippery and pose a risk to humans, stock, and plant operators
• dam sediment should be placed in a location where it cannot re-enter the dam or other waterways
• steepening the sides of the dam can result in erosion and further sedimentation
• avoid any works which impact the structural integrity of the dam or associated outlet devices.

Farmers may find they get a better water security return by focusing on improving capture, reducing losses, and improving water quality or access instead.

It’s recommended to contact the local rural water authority in your area prior to commencing sediment removal works, as a permit may be required. Find your rural water corporation.

For information about available support visit Drought support or call 136 186.

Drones, also known as remotely piloted aircraft, are increasingly being used for aerial spraying of agricultural chemicals, but operators need to be aware of the rules to keep people, animals and crops safe.

Agriculture Victoria’s Alex Perera said operators and pilots are required to be appropriately authorised by Agriculture Victoria and comply with Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) requirements.

‘There are special licence categories under CASA and Agriculture Victoria to authorise and regulate piloting, spraying and business operations using drones for aerial spraying,’ Ms Perera said.

‘Similar to any sort of licence, these ensure operators and pilots hold the appropriate training and accreditations and understand their responsibilities when using drones.

‘Victoria’s agricultural chemical laws also apply to drone operators, in the same way as other aerial spraying contractors.’

There are 2 Agriculture Victoria licences operators and pilots require:

• Agricultural aircraft operator licence: this licence is required by the operator (owner, leaseholder or equivalent) of a drone conducting aerial spraying of agricultural chemicals, or to employ pilots to do so.
• Pilot (chemical rating) licence: this licence must be held by any person piloting a drone for aerial spraying of agricultural chemicals.

‘As part of receiving these licences, operators must adhere to key operating conditions that are designed to ensure operations are safe for people, animals and crops,’ Ms Perera said.

‘These conditions involve the drone’s setup and operation, while others relate to product use and compliance with CASA requirements.’

Some of the conditions include:

• Drones must weigh under 150 kg gross with equally spaced nozzles and active pump and nozzle shut-off systems fitted.
• Spraying must be conducted in daylight hours only.
• Drones cannot be operated autonomously (pilots must be able to intervene).
• Only spray a product where the label or permit allows aerial or spot spraying, and follow all aerial/spot spraying directions, including water rates.
• Follow the label/permit wind speed parameters. If none are stated, only spray when wind speed is greater than 3 km/h and less than 13 km/h at the time and place of application.

Victorian and interstate operators must comply with all applicable CASA requirements when piloting drones for aerial spraying.

Details of CASA’s current operating rules are available at www.casa.gov.au/drones

For more information on using remotely piloted aircraft for aerial spraying, visit Drone or remotely piloted aircraft spraying

Join us for a day of practical, producer-focused learning for the BestWool/BestLamb conference on 23 June. This year, keynote speakers John Francis, Rick and Marni Luhrs, Peta Bradley and Matt Dalgleish, will challenge producers to rethink how they view risk, costs and decision making particularly when coming out of drought.

Presentations will share insights into how a family operation with dual purpose Merinos has built a flexible enterprise that can perform in both favourable and challenging seasons, explore the bigger genetics picture and what’s changed in the tools available to producers. The conference will finish with a session on how global conflict is shaping the day-to-day reality of the Australian sheep industry and the risks and opportunities it creates.

Our concurrent session topics include feeding lambs, pasture forecasting, insights and observations on water quality and lamb growth rates, perennial pastures post drought, using in paddock weighing data to improve decisions and improving productivity in Merinos – along with dedicated time for discussion and networking throughout the day.

BetterBeef Conference

Join us for a full day of practical insights, market outlooks and producer-focused learning at the BetterBeef Conference on 24 June.

This year’s BetterBeef Conference returns to a full-scale, in-person format following the 2025 roadshow. It is being delivered through clearly timed, structured session blocks with 2 streams running side by side – Feeder Steer Masterclass and Whole Farm Beef Systems. This approach is designed to keep the day moving, make it easier to choose the topics most relevant to your business and maximise learning, with dedicated opportunities for Q&A and networking between blocks.

A new survey of regional businesses has demonstrated worsening trading conditions, rising costs, and collapsing confidence under the state government.

The Victorian Regional Chamber Alliance (VRCA) Business Health Survey shows:

• 81.1% of respondents said they had little or no confidence in the State Government – worse than any other level of government.  
• 58.8% of respondents are currently operating at 80 per cent or less of typical sales.
• Only a little over half are drawing a living wage for the significant hours they invest and risk they take.
• 54.2% of respondents believed that tax reform and reduction, regulatory compliance and burdens, and grants and financial support would make business easier.
• 42.3% of businesses did not recruit staff in the previous 12 months, with many reporting severe recruitment and retention difficulties.

Mrs McArthur said: “Regional and rural Victorians are working harder than ever, but are being forced to cut discretionary spending as households grapple with cost-of-living pressures and receive little tax relief – meaning less money flowing through local businesses.

A leading manufacturer is expanding its local operations  in Victoria.

Minister Brooks today visited Rinnai Australia’s Braeside facility which is increasing its capacity to develop new heating, cooling and hot water technologies.

The move will secure 110 jobs and many more across the supply chain.

It’s backed by the state government’s Victorian Investment Fund.

Rinnai employs 442 people across its three Victorian sites.

It’s one of Australia’s biggest heating, cooling and hot water appliance manufacturers, selling locally and overseas.

The expansion will increase the design and manufacturing of energy-efficient appliances, including heat pump technologies for heating, cooling and hot water, helping support Victoria’s transition to clean energy.

Rinnai also took part in our Digital Jobs Program to ensure its workforce could build digital and AI skills.

Victoria has the largest manufacturing workforce in Australia, employing more than 260,000 people.

The Victorian Industry Policy and the $150 million Victorian Investment Fund are driving jobs and the economy by securing investment in targeted areas like advanced machinery manufacturing.

The state government is undertaking a winter blitz of works to slash congestion and make life easier. 

Melton will be a step closer to becoming boom gate free, when the Ferris Road level crossing is removed this winter.

Crews will finish building the new road bridge over the rail line and continue work to build the new Melton Station – with Ferris Road to be closed to traffic from 23 June to 15 July.

Coaches will replace trains on sections of the Ballarat Line from 22 July until last service on 26 July. There will be further changes to train services in August, with dates to be confirmed closer to the time.

Level crossing removal works will also progress at:

• Coburns and Exford roads in Melton – with – with road closures expected at times throughout August and September
• Maddox Road in Newport, closed between 18 June to 1 July

Buses will also replace trains on sections of the Belgrave line for a week in late July to upgrade Boronia Station, set to reopen to passengers in spring.

Over the weekends of 13 to 14 June and 27 to 28 June, buses will replace sections of the Frankston, Cranbourne, Sunbury and Pakenham lines, including all Metro Tunnel services, to carry out vital maintenance works near Armadale Station.

To make the most of the quieter July school holidays, the Metro Tunnel will also close to remove temporary tracks from 9pm Tuesday, 7 July until last train on Sunday, 12 July.

Flinders Street will be closed to westbound traffic between Russell Street and Swanston Street/St Kilda Road from 9:00pm Thursday, 6 August to Tuesday, 11 August, to reinstate the road and kerbs.

As part of North East Link works, the Eastern Freeway will close between Chandler Highway and Tram Road from 10:00pm Friday, 19 June to 5:00am Monday, 22 June to asphalt new freeway lanes – with further monthly weekend closures to be confirmed closer to the time.

There will be lane closures at the intersection of Whitehorse Road and Station Street in Box Hill as demolition works begin to prepare for the construction of the new Suburban Rail Loop station, and tunnelling to begin later this year.

The Point Cook Road and Central Avenue Intersection Upgrade will close the Point Cook Road bridge over the Princes Freeway from 10:00pm, Sunday 28 June until mid-September. Delays of up to 30 minutes are expected in peak periods.

In Clyde North, the Thompsons Road and Berwick-Cranbourne Road intersection will be closed from 26 June to 9 July while crews will ramp up work on the intersection upgrade.

Work on road projects at Ison Road in Werribee, Ballan Road in Wyndham Vale, Ferntree Gully Road, and Clyde Road in Berwick will mean closures at times throughout winter.

For information about the planned disruptions over winter visit bigbuild.vic.gov.au/disruptions.

Agriculture Victoria is urging landholders and land managers to report locust activity to support reducing the risk of damaging infestations this spring.

Adult locusts are active in north-west Victoria following favourable conditions, with numbers above usual levels for this time of year.

Dr Kyla Finlay, Victoria’s Plague Locust Commissioner, said high numbers are also seen in New South Wales and South Australia and have likely contributed to migrations entering Victoria.

‘Agriculture Victoria is encouraging all landholders and land managers to report locust activity to us using the report locusts form,’ Dr Finlay said.

‘Early reporting allows for locust activity to be monitored and supports collaborative action to reduce the risk of widespread crop and pasture damage in spring.’

Adult locusts will lay eggs during May and into June, which will remain dormant over winter and hatch in spring if rainfall conditions are favourable.

Agriculture Victoria leads planning and response to locust outbreaks. Landholders and land managers also play a critical role by monitoring and managing locusts on their land to reduce impacts and damage.

‘Preventative management is the most effective approach and relies on regular monitoring,’ said Dr Finlay.

‘Early intervention such as treating hoppers before they can fly is critical. Identifying potential egg-laying sites will help plan for targeted management of the hoppers following hatching in spring.’

You can report locusts using the online locust reporting form, www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/reportlocusts, or by calling the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.

Victoria’s strong biosecurity system helps detect and respond to seasonal threats like locust outbreaks, protecting farms, communities and the state’s food supply.

Biosecurity staff can provide practical advice, help identify locusts, explain their behaviour and guide landholders on appropriate management options.

For more information, visit www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/locusts

Dr Jeff Cave, Senior Veterinary Officer

As we move further into winter, sheep producers may begin to see cases of pregnancy toxaemia or twin lamb disease in their ewes.

Twin lamb disease occurs because of an inadequate energy intake during the last 4 to 6 weeks of pregnancy.

During this final period of pregnancy, a ewe’s energy needs increase substantially, as she has to provide energy for both herself and her rapidly growing lamb.

Ewes that are carrying twins are particularly susceptible, hence the name.

An outbreak of twin lamb disease is often triggered by stress and environmental conditions that lead to low food intake, such as during yarding, holding off feed or severe weather.

Affected ewes usually appear dopey, blind and unresponsive. The condition may progress over several days.

The presence of affected ewes is an indication that all is not well in the remainder of the flock.

Many other ewes may also be sub-clinically affected and may progress to become further cases of twin lamb disease.

Twin lamb disease occurs because of a breakdown of body fat at a rate with which the ewe’s liver is unable to cope.

As a result, on autopsy, an affected ewe’s liver will appear swollen, yellow, crumbly and greasy.

Affected ewes can occasionally be successfully treated with an energy-rich drench, such as glycerine, provided the drench is given in the early stages of the disease.

More importantly, good-quality supplementary feeding should be provided to the ewes most at risk.

Increasing the ewe’s energy intake through appropriate ration formulation during the last 8 weeks of pregnancy can prevent twin lamb disease.

For further advice, please contact your local veterinarian or an Agriculture Victoria veterinary or animal health officer, or call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

The state government is bringing down power bills by fast-tracking renewable energy projects. 

Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny has recently approved a further $2.4 billion in projects through the Development Facilitation Program (DFP).

This will add enough battery storage to power more than half a million homes during peak demand.

The latest approvals include:

• $1.3 billion Morwell Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) (Latrobe Valley) – powering 344,000 homes during peak demand.
• $600 million Nine Mile BESS (near Geelong) – Stages 1 and 2 powering 172,000 homes during peak demand.
• $388 million Gelliondale Wind Farm (Gippsland) – generating enough energy for 49,000 homes annually, plus battery storage for 14,000 homes during peak demand.
• $130 million Chivers Road BESS (Glenrowan) – powering 34,500 homes during peak demand.

The DFP pathway is about making good decisions faster and projects continue to undergo rigorous planning assessments, agency referrals and consultation.

These approvals mean more than 30 projects worth $11 billion have been approved through the DFP over the past two years – accelerating cleaner, cheaper energy.

Together they have capacity to power 800,000 homes each year and battery storage to power 2.6 million homes during evening peaks.

These projects will create more than 3,800 jobs across construction and operations.

There will be no sitting in silence at Rod Laver Arena this September, when a star-studded lineup of some of the world’s best performers honour Australian singer and living legend, John Farnham.

Performers including Jimmy Barnes, Keith Urban, Ross Wilson and Richard Marx will perform some of Farnham’s most popular classics live on stage on Sunday, 20 September.

The epic line up also includes guest performances by Celine Dion and Hugh Jackman, who will perform via satellite from Paris and Los Angeles respectively.

Jessica Mauboy, Jon Stevens, Mitch Tambo, Diesel and Human Nature will also perform.

The event is being delivered in partnership with Head & Neck Cancer Australia, a cause close to Farnham’s heart after being diagnosed with oral cancer in August 2022.

Farnham is one of the most popular performers to ever play at Melbourne Park.

He starred in 94 shows at venues across the precinct throughout his career – attracting a total of more than 1 million fans.

The world-class production will also include a 38-piece orchestra and 16-piece choir celebrating Farnham’s iconic catalogue.

The event will have a special focus on Whispering Jack to mark the album’s 40th anniversary.

It adds to a huge pipeline of events across the state, including the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces: Cartier exhibition at NGV, AFL Finals Series, the historic NFL Melbourne Game and Rory McIlroy’s return at the Australian Open golf.

The record-breaking $46.7 billion Victorian visitor economy supports more than 288,000 jobs in the sector across the state.

Tickets go on sale on Tuesday, 2June 2026 through Ticketek.

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are challenging to conduct in rural areas, however, a new Griffith University study examined how high-quality research could be conducted when RCTs were not possible.

Dr Tanvir Kapoor from Griffith’s School of Medicine and Dentistry said rural areas posed challenges due to small populations, limited infrastructure, and workforce constraints.

“But RCTs are considered the gold standard in medical research, so it is imperative we find a way to include rural communities who are often underrepresented in research and health policies, which often reflect evidence generated in metropolitan settings,” Dr Kapoor said.

“A method known as ‘target trial emulation’ offers a rigorous and practical alternative as it involves using data which has already been collected during routine care.”

Researchers first defined what an ideal RCT would entail then replicated that design using real-world data.

This approach could produce robust and practical evidence without the cost, delay or logistical challenges of running a traditional trial, when it otherwise might be unfeasible.

Dr Kapoor said the approach would allow rural health innovations such as telehealth, workforce initiatives, and point-of-care diagnostics, to be researched quickly and rigorously.

“It ensures policies and funding decisions are informed by evidence generated in rural settings, leading to more equitable and effective healthcare,” he said.

“This work provides a pathway for embedding research into everyday clinical practice.

“By leveraging routinely collected data, it supports the development of learning health systems which generate timely, high-quality evidence to improve care and reduce health inequities in rural and remote communities.”

The paper ‘Target trial emulation and the target guideline to advance rural and remote health research’ has been published in the Medical Journal of Australia.