Australians for Mental Health is urging the federal government to appoint a dedicated Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, after new research revealed younger Australians are more likely to report suicidal thoughts, self harm and suicide attempts than older generations.

A landmark study from the University of Melbourne of more than 14,000 Australians has found people aged between 16-25 were more likely than their older counterparts to report suicidal thoughts, self harm and suicide attempts and that those behaviours were emerging earlier in life.

“After a decade of noble efforts to reduce the rates of distress among our young people the problem is getting worse. It is time for a radical overhaul of how we tackle the mental health crisis. That must start with good policy, placed as a top priority at the centre of government,” Australians for Mental Health Executive Director Chris Gambian said.

“Mental health is not just about a clinical diagnosis and treatment through the medical system. Keeping Australians mentally well means getting serious about the levers that sit outside the health system, including areas such as employment, housing, education, community and connection.

“If we want to keep out young people well, we must start by listening, and responding, to their needs, whatever those might be.

“By appointing a dedicated Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing who is responsible for co-ordinating whole-of-government action on mental health and wellbeing, the Albanese Government can set itself apart as the first government in the history of Australia to recognise that the prosperity of the nation is directly linked to the mental health and wellbeing of its people,” Chris Gambian said.

Australians for Mental Health last month released its own landmark study which found 59% of Australians believe the nation is facing a mental health crisis that needs urgent action, while 76% believe we can fix the crisis with the right approach, investment and leadership.

“We know mental health is influenced by so many different factors, from family dynamics, financial and housing security, relationships and access to services and community connections. With the right leadership, we can turn the tide and stop these extremely concerning trends in their tracks.

“The lives of our young people are literally at stake,” Chris Gambian said.

Australians for Mental Health has been consistently calling on the government to take bold action, including:

• Passing a Wellbeing Act to embed mental health and wellbeing issues in all policy making; and
• Appointing a Minister for Mental Health & Wellbeing located in the Prime Minister’s department to drive a whole-of-government response to the mental health crisis.

Thousands of passengers were among the first to travel on the Metro Tunnel in a historic day for Victoria.

Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams announced more than 70,000 passengers turned out to experience the five new stations last Sunday.

The Metro Tunnel is the biggest transformation of the city’s public transport system in 40 years, and it has doubled the size of Melbourne’s underground rail network.

More than 1,100 customer service staff were out in force helping passengers as 54 trains travelled 486 kilometres through the tunnel.

State Library saw more than 22,000 passengers through its doors – followed by Town Hall Station at more than 16,000, Anzac Station at around 13,000, Parkville Station at around 12,000 and Arden Station at more than 8,000 passengers.

The Summer Start timetable is officially in full swing – delivering 240 extra services every week along the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury corridors.

This will allow the new infrastructure and technology to be tested in real world conditions, so bugs can be ironed out without disrupting the rest of the train network before the Big Switch on 1 February fully integrates the Metro Tunnel into the network and delivers an additional 1,000 weekly services.

To celebrate, everyone can travel for free every weekend until Sunday, 1 February.

To plan your journey on the Metro Tunnel, visit transport.gov.au.

The future of agriculture is moving ahead with a new Plant Protein Hub and glasshouse at Agriculture Victoria’s Horsham SmartFarm.

Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence announced that the hub is operational following a $12 million investment – $9 million for the hub and $3 million for the glasshouse.

The Plant Protein Hub provides collaborative spaces for start-ups, researchers and growers, alongside a fully equipped test kitchen, advanced analytical equipment and facilities to explore new plant-based products.

The cutting-edge facilities will help researchers and industry partners discover and develop high-protein crop varieties that are tailored to meet growing global demand for plant-based foods such as lentils, chickpeas and field peas.

The hub is already a leading centre for innovation, with PhD students working alongside industry and researchers. It has capacity for up to 10 PhD students and three start-ups, and Agriculture Victoria is collaborating with industry to shape future research opportunities.

Construction of the hub created dozens of jobs across trades, suppliers, professional and technical services. Moving forward, it will continue to create opportunities in research, education and industry collaboration.

Students from primary school through to post-graduate level in the region will benefit from hands-on learning in a dedicated education space, creating pathways for future careers in agriculture.

The new glasshouse will accelerate crop research, improve pest and disease management and boost climate resilience – helping farmers adapt to changing conditions and maintain productivity.

Western Victoria is already a leader in growing crops for plant-based protein products. Victoria’s pulse industry generated $638 million in export income last year, and Australia exports around 2.5 million tonnes of pulses annually, making it the second-largest pulse exporter in the world.

Kyneton Town Hall is gearing up for a huge year of live performance in 2026, with an exciting program featuring major names, international acts and a vibrant mix of music, comedy and contemporary performance.
Join us as we go all-out in 2026, bringing some of the best talent from across Australia and beyond to the Macedon Ranges.
Audiences can look forward to standout shows including Mamma, Yokai! in partnership with local puppet makers Things of Foam and Wood, comedy favourites Jimeoin and Kitty Flanagan, the high-energy Ballyhoo, and crowd-pleasers such as Seven Drunken Nights and Women of Wit. The program also features The Deplorables, Luke Kidgell, and the ever-popular Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow.
Jimeoin returns with his unique blend of observational humour, physical expressiveness and spontaneity, turning the everyday into the absurd with his trademark off-the-cuff style.
Kitty Flanagan, award-winning star of Fisk, Utopia and Have You Been Paying Attention?, brings her new stand-up show to Kyneton, asking – but not necessarily answering – all the big questions: Were we smarter before social media? Has your call ever really been used for training purposes? And what exactly is an empath?
Luke Kidgell steps out from behind the screen and onto the stage as he attempts to prove, once and for all, that he really does have Good Intentions.
Music lovers won’t miss out, with Country Struts Honky Tonk starring Kerryn Fields and DJ Queenie, Mo’Ju with Wild Gloriosa, and Ruby Gill performing alongside the Rainbow Voices Community Choir and Annie-Rose Maloney.
With an impressive lineup of established stars, emerging talent and genre-spanning performances, the 2026 program promises something for everyone. Tickets for all events are now on sale.
View all event dates and get your tickets fast at mrsc.vic.gov.au/KTH-Events

Ageing DisGracefully members, including Max Primmer, get together at the Daylesford Mill Markets cafe on Thursdays at 11am. All welcome.

For information email ageingdis3461@gmail.com, call 0427 131 249 or head to the Ageing DisGracefully Facebook page.

Ageing DisGracefully is an initiative of Hepburn House.

I started my Christmas shopping with some hyper local purchases.
I must admit, I did get caught up for a minute in the Temu craze but I have since deleted the app and refuse to buy any more from the site. There are many reasons. Lack of quality, not knowing what you are getting, air miles…but really it comes down to wanting to support local people.
So that is my motto from now on. The new shiny thing, Temu, is no longer distracting me. It’s over. And my first Christmas buys were from the Daylesford Show. More specifically, from the Daylesford CWA.
The women had a stall in front of the food and craft pavilions at the show and it was too tempting to pass up.
I bought two very stylish, hmmm, hand protectors to hold hot bowls of soup. It sounds strange but they are very practical and look amazing. That was $10 gone. Then two bags stuffed with aromatic lavender. Another $2 spoken for. A CWA cookbook was $30 so I added that to the pile.
One of the women, Peta Heyne in fact, said it was “a basic” cookbook but for me, it’s wonderful. All of those recipes from my childhood. Even Ki Si Ming which mum made regularly using Keen’s mustard powder. I hated it but reading the recipe made me feel all nostalgic. I am not sure yet who I will give these gifts to but who would not be happy to receive them?
Next up, I am no longer buying boring (but lovely so don’t sue me) Mumm bubbles but rather some really local drops for my handmade bottle bags. There are so many stores which stock great drinks, I love Cellarbrations (and their staff) and then there’s Herbal Lore for something really special.
And then there are heaps of makers and creators in this wonderful region we are lucky enough to call home. They will provide the rest of the gifts. Yes, more expensive, but real crafts last a lifetime. And they have meaning.
Mum was a potter and attended markets all over the Mornington Peninsula. I went along with her in my latter teenage years and watched as people tried to get a bargain. “How much are the coffee cups?” they would ask. “Five dollars each,” Mum would say. “How about six for $25?” they would ask. “No, sorry, they’re $5 each,” Mum would reply. Some would then point out the imperfections. “This one is slightly bigger….”
At this point Mum would go quiet. What she wanted to tell them was to bugger off and head to Kmart or Big W for their perfect cups. She never did. But she never negotiated. Integrity. Go Mum.
Oh, don’t forget the value of op shops. One I love is the Daylesford Op Shop off East Street, it’s fantastic. If you need more cutlery, or crockery or just some fun decorations – it’s all there. As are gifts or maybe a new, to you, outfit for the big day.
Pre-loved means stopping items going into landfill and just a huge selection of a bit of everything. I once bought a glass platter, popped it through the dishwasher, loaded it with rumballs and my sister was deliriously happy. Maybe that was the rum?
And of course, if you buy locally, it all helps with our economy and keeps the money going around to pay for local businesses, and employing locals and then everyone shopping locally if they can. I think it’s called a circular ecomony? Just do your best to support local – if possible.
And Hepburn Shire Council needs to support locals and volunteers as well. It was going to charge the Daylesford Show $3234 for the carnival people to camp at Vic Park. The council did drop it to $700 but say the show has been undercharged in previous years. So the “correct fee” starts from next year. Bah humbug. The show is a wonderful example of volunteers and community. Give them a break. Just sayin’…

Hi, I’m Indi and I met you last edition but I am still waiting for my forever home carer.
I have a lot of energy, am very smart and love other dogs but I am not good with small children.
I do need a home with a high fence so I don’t go exploring alone, but once I warm up to you I will want to stay home. I am a female, desexed, two-year-old, white and tan bull arab x staffy.
Microchip no. 97810108732207
Come and meet me at MAAWs in Castlemaine or call 5472 5277.

tourist news

free
tourist news magazine

on the glossy cover
two blondes clink glasses

under a sun umbrella
Budburst wine festival

Nov 15-16
but my eyes missed

the bur bit
in the middle

and supplied
other letters

thought I read
Buddhist wine festival

Now that
would be something

the fifth precept
prohibits intoxication

but swirling and
contemplation ok

– Bill Wootton

Bill lives in Hepburn Springs, as do kangaroos. He writes for Local Lines regularly and encourages others to contribute.

Local Lines features poetry by locals about local and any other matters.
Please submit poems to Bill Wootton at cottlesbreedge@gmail.com

I swear if one more kid asks me to say “sixes and sevens” one more time I will punch them in the head. If you don’t know what the phrase “sixes and sevens” means, please Google it and get back to me with the answer.

The kids don’t even know what it means. It is as nonsensical as “rizz” (charisma), “slay” (to do something well) and “sus” (suspicious). Other common words include “bet” (okay/I agree), “drip” (style), “mid” (average), and “yeet” (to throw forcefully).
For God’s sake just use the English language. A quick search on the internet reveals: “Six seven,” or “67,” is a vague, slang term popular among young people in 2025 that has no single, defined meaning. The term was named 2025’s “Word of the Year” by Dictionary.com, even though dictionary creators admit they are still trying to figure out its exact meaning. WTF…
So, this is what the kids do for fun now, they get perfectly tried and true words and turn them into stuff that doesn’t make sense to have a giggle at the adult population.
And here I go with the in-my-day stuff. We used to do phone pranks, like calling a random number and asking if “Mr Wall was there?”. The response was always “no”, so we would then ask what about Mrs Wall? “No” would say the confused prank victim. So, are any of the Walls there? “No” Well, we would say, you better get out of the house as the roof is about to collapse. Now that was funny.
Teachers would have it worse with our brand of 80s pranking. We would rig up all the teacher tools like the blackboard duster, chalk and classroom cupboards, with strands of cotton.
One time I had the teacher so frustrated as he searched for the duster he had just put down, so after a while he stormed out of the classroom. It was there all the time, just above his head floating in mid-air on a thread of cotton. Chalk would fly across the room, cupboard doors would mysteriously open. And when he came close to tracing the cotton back to the prankster, you simply had to break it off and throw the end away.
This leads me to a point where social media has kept the little buggers in a bit of a haze for years now, with their Tik/Insta lives being played out at arm’s length on a screen in front of them. Making them blurry eyed, unsocial and not totally connected to life.
And now the government has intervened and has stripped the opiate of the screen away from the under 16-year-olds. And for those little cherubs who aren’t clever enough to figure out how to do a workaround using an offshore IP address to pick up their social media fix, the world will begin to come into focus.
And we must ask ourselves are we ready for the zombie awakening, are our hospitals prepared for the up-tick in broken bones, cuts and abrasions? As the mass-teenager migration with all the pent-up youth energy, freshly released from the indenture of the screen, set themselves upon the streets, parks and neighbourhoods.
And with this sudden explosion of energy, breathing the fresh air and running through the streets, will the parents have enough food in the cupboards to feed them or for that matter have a conversation with them?
This is a being that you know lives in your house, but you rarely see or engage with, and you’re okay with that as it keeps things easy. I guess time will tell how “teenager-gate” turns out as their attention, energy and enthusiasm suddenly turn to our adults’ world of reality that we have previously shielded them from via a little screen in their palms.
What have we done rant over…

The Local sent out invites to local charities and not-for-profit organisations asking for their Christmas activities. Here they are, in no particular order.

Odessa at Leaver’s Hotel is hosting an Orphans’ Christmas lunch with orphan musicians. Pay what you can. Money goes to the banquet. Xmas raffle donations welcome. Bookings: www.events.humanitix.com/orphans-christmas-at-odessa

The Daylesford Community Brass Band is holding its annual Community Christmas Carols at the Hepburn Springs Sound Shell on Monday December 22, starting at 7.30pm. Guest appearances from the Daylesford Pipe Band, the HoneyTones Choir – and the man in the red suit. The band will also be playing carols: December 8 – Carols at the front of the Hepburn Primary School, 7.15pm-7.35pm; December 12 – Sue’s Twilight Christmas Market, Daylesford Masonic Hall, 6pm-7pm; and December 20 – Carols in Vincent Street, Daylesford, 10am-11.30am.

The Trentham Lions Club has its annual Christmas Carols on Friday, December 5 in the Lions Park at Quarry Street Reserve from 6pm. Bring the children to meet Santa, enjoy a picnic or grab a Lion’s sausage. Christmas hamper raffle!

CWA Trentham Night Owls will be selling Christmas goodies at the annual Christmas Fair on Saturday, December 6 from 10am to 3pm at the CWA Hall, 662 Mt Macedon Rd, Mt Macedon.

Light up Talbot will be held at Pioneer Park on Sunday, December 14 from 5.30pm to 8.30pm. There will be a barbeque, picnic boxes, music from the Back Creek Band and a visit from Santa.

Cliffy’s Emporium in Daylesford proudly presents its much-anticipated Christmas Raffle. The proceeds from this year’s raffle will directly support our local CFA brigades. Tickets: www.rafflelink.com.au/christmasatcliffys25

Sue’s Twilight Christmas Market will be held at the Daylesford Masonic Hall, 16 Vincent Street, on Friday, December 12 from 5pm to 8pm. Indoor and outdoor stalls still available. The market raises money for the Daylesford Community Op Shop’s Community Christmas Day Lunch.

Dee White is a Woodend children’s author and has a free Christmas Hullabaloo story time happening at Squishy Minnie Bookstore on Saturday, December 6 at 10.30am. She will be reading The Hullabaloo About Elephant Poo and story lovers will get to do fun activities including making a Christmas hat.

Clunes IGA will hold its annual Christmas Party on Saturday, December 13 at 11am. Forty prizes to be won and $1000 worth of vouchers. Entries now open.

St Mary’s Primary School, Clarkes Hill has its End of Year Thanksgiving Mass and Graduation on Wednesday, December 3 at St Peter’s Church, 1120 Ballarat-Daylesford Road, Clarkes Hill. Everyone is welcome.

Christian Bible Fellowship, Creswick will hold a Christmas Day Church Service at North Creswick Primary School’s multi-purpose room (at rear of site) 9.30am to 10.30am. Enquiries: Don and Lindy Oswin on 0488 944 337. All welcome.

Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group has its Christmas party for members and friends on Tuesday, December 16 from 6pm at 600 Above Wine Bar, Macedon.
More information and tickets: https://mrsg.org.au/events-calendar/2025/11/11/mrsg-end-of-year-2025

Newlyn Primary School will hold its Twilight Carols on Friday, December 5 from 5pm to 8pm. Older students will be selling their crafts along with the younger kids cooking and baking biscuits, rhubarb jam and other goodies. There will be a sausage sizzle, Creswick Brass Band and a special visit from the local CFA Santa.

The Glenlyon Annual Community BBQ will be held at the Glenlyon Reserve on Saturday, December 13 from 6pm. BYO food, drinks, seating. Say hi to Santa!
Woodend Neighbourhood Centre will hold a Kids Christmas Treats Workshop for children in Prep to Grade 6. Guided by volunteers, participants will create Christmas treats to take home. Held on Thursday, December 11 from 4pm to 5.30pm. Bookings: www.socialplanet.com.au/activity/view?id=41879
The centre will also hold the Gift of Creating with Yoga, also for children in Prep to Grade 6. Children can enjoy a blend of yoga and hands-on creative activities. There are two sessions on Monday, December 22. Bookings: www.socialplanet.com.au/at/woodend-neighbourhood-house/collection/66

Catholic Christmas Mass Times are on Wednesday, December 24, 8.30pm at St Peter’s Catholic Church, Daylesford; Thursday, December 25, 9am at St Augustine’s Catholic Church, Creswick.

Lights on for Corey and Christmas Carols, with a visit from Santa, will be hosted by Tell Tales Bed and Breakfast at 155 Melbourne Rd, Creswick on Sunday, December 21 from 5.30pm. There will be a smoking ceremony, music and fun.

Kyneton CFA is hosting photo sessions with Santa. There will be a vintage truck and children’s activities. Walk up sessions are on Friday, December 12 from 4pm to 5.30pm and Saturday, December 13 from 9am to 1pm. Sensory friendly sessions (bookings required on snapphotos.kynetoncfa.com) are on Friday, December 12 from 6pm to 8pm. $10 per photo, all proceeds to Kyneton CFA.

Not Christmas but Daylesford’s NYE Parade and Gala is well on the way with just a few weeks to go. Visit our Parade Inspo page at daylesfordnye.com.au/parade-inspo Register your float at daylesfordnye.com.au/parade-info

More Christmassy things from December 15? Email donna@tlnews.com.au

Daylesford RSL

The Cartwheels – Friday, December 12 

Odessa @ Leaver’s Hotel, Creswick

The Royal High Jinx – Friday, December 12
Aaron D’Arcy with special guest Marcus Cassells – Saturday, December 13
Deborah Conway and Willy Zygier – Friday, December 19

Daylesford Hotel, Daylesford

Okey Dokey Karaoke – Thursday, December 4, 7pm-10pm
Jeremy Beggs – Saturday, December 6, 2pm-4pm
The Darlings Family Trust Album Launch – Friday, December 12, 8pm-11pm – Tickets $20
The Martini Set – Friday, December 20, 2pm-4pm
Dayglow Disco with Mr. Smith DJ – Sunday, December 28, 2pm-5pm

Cosmopolitan Hotel, Trentham

Kier Stevens – Saturday, December 6
Victoriana Gaye – Saturday, December 13
Joyce Prescher – Saturday, December 20
Freya and Tom McGowan – Saturday, December 27

Theatre Royal, Castlemaine

Mick Thomas and the Roving Commission – Friday, December 19

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

As a child, Rosa Fedele was avidly in love with books and devoured anything with beautiful and spellbinding words and imagery that would allow her to escape into other worlds. By the age of 10 she had already decided she wanted to be an artist and a writer. Rosa chatted with Donna Kelly.

Donna: What is your media/medium?
Rosa: My preferred medium is oil, my style can change from realism to figurative/illustrative, with a touch of absurdism thrown in – all a tad genre-defying and often veering into the world of whimsy.

Donna: You do great animals and classic cars – what is the drawcard for you?
Rosa: Many years ago, I was asked to paint several scenes from the iconic movie, Mad Max. It was then I realised that I loved painting cars, especially those from the 1950s to late 1960s; they have a unique design finesse – the fins, the curves, the chrome – hailing from another exciting era, devoid of the generic same-same we see today.
Then, one day, I added a golden retriever to a 1954 FJ Holden ute and suddenly – bam – I seemed to touch a magical place that resonated with both vintage and classic car-lovers and dog-lovers.
I’m passionate about preserving these beautiful machines on canvas; reflections and sunshine flashing off seductively curvaceous chrome, the patina of old duco, bumpers wrapped lovingly around steel bodies, the layers of colour and texture and, of course, delicious red rust. I’m the crazy lady you’ll see lying on the ground trying to photograph your old mini or caddy from a new angle.

Donna: Where can we see your work – I know you just had an open studio…
Rosa: The Kyneton Ridge Artspace will feature two of my darling doggos at their upcoming Summer Show, which opened on Saturday, November 29 and runs through to Sunday, February 1, 2026.
The Convent Gallery have also invited me to participate in the Rainbow Exhibition, as part of the 2026 ChillOut Festival in March.

Donna: So finally, why the move to Trentham?
Rosa: Trentham is my second “tree change”. My first was from Balmain, Sydney to stunning Bowral in the Southern Highlands, New South Wales. I moved out of the city in order to find a larger studio space and expand my art practice.
The Daylesford Arts Cooperative have now kindly welcomed me into their fold, and I was absolutely overwhelmed with visitors to my recent open studio weekend.
Already I’ve met so many local classic car and dog-lovers and am bursting with excitement about all the wonderful new projects ahead.

The United Nations International Mountain Day is celebrated each year on December 11. Its goal is to raise awareness about the role that mountains play in the lives of people and their importance to the planet.

Barry Golding and Clive Willman made reference in their 2024 book, Six Peaks Speak (Chapter 9) to the origins of Mountain Day in the US in autumn 1838, the exact same time that peaks in the Central Highlands of Victoria were being unsettled.
In 2024, DJAARA, for the Traditional Owners invited the community to share their very successful IMD celebration in the stunning and culturally significant volcanic crater at Lalgambuk/Mt Franklin.
In 2025, during the week leading up to IMD, the Great Dividing Trail Association is organising six interpretive loop walks to the summits of six diverse and special mountains in Victoria’s Central Highlands, across three adjoining First Nations regions (Dja Wurrung, Wadawurrung & Wurundjeri) celebrating IMD.

The walks are:
• Saturday, December 6: Mount Kooyoora/Guyura (486m) including Melville Caves in Mt Kooyora State Park, near Dunolly. Stunning granite landscape. Leader: Barry Golding. 8 km. Medium. 10.30am meet at Melville Caves Picnic Ground.
• Sunday, December 7: Mount Buninyong/Bonan Youang (745m) in Mt Buninyong Scenic Reserve, south of Ballarat. Amazing volcanic craters, messmate forest and views. Leader: Tim Bach. 10 km. Medium. 9.30am meet in Buninyong township.
• Monday, December 8: Mount Steiglitz/Kal Kal Karrah (637m) within the seldom visited Mt Steiglitz Scenic Reserve north of Ballan, including glacial deposits at nearby Pykes Creek. Overlooking extensive First Nations’ volcanic plains. Leader: Arie Baelde. 4 km. Steep but easy. 9.30am meet at Pykes Creek Reservoir.
• Tuesday, December 9 (dawn walk): Mt Beckworth/Nyaninuk (629m), within Mt Beckworth Scenic Reserve near Clunes. Diverse granite landscape. Leader: Barry Golding. 6 km. Medium, some steep/off track. Meet 4.30am at Glendaruel CFA.
• Wednesday, December 10: Wombat Hill (670m), a town walk around historic Daylesford in Dja Dja Wurrung Country, starting with a 10am Welcome to Country and launch of the Lerderderg Track Walk or Ride Guide by GDTA patron Steve Moneghetti, concluding with a picnic in Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens. Leader: Tim Bach. 7 km. Medium. 9.45am assemble at Lake Daylesford. Walk starts at 10.30am.
• Thursday, December 11 (IMD): Blue Mountain/Wuid Krruirk (871m), little- known mountain within the Wombat – Lerderderg National Park south of Trentham on the forested Great Divide between Dja Dja Wurrung, Wadawurrung and Wurundjeri country. Leader: Arie Baelde. 10 km. Medium. Meet 9.30am Newbury.

Registration is necessary and available for any of these IMD walks two weeks prior to each walk. Link: www.gdt.org.au/events
Non-walking club members are welcome – bring $10 cash to cover GDTA walker insurance.
Details: Barry Golding on 0427 216 337 or b.golding@federation.edu.au

Words & Image: Contributed

The invention and continued use of barbed wire is a casual cruelty that people continue to inflict on the animal kingdom. The use of barbed wire in suburban and urban areas is restricted so that it cannot cause harm or injury to people and animals, but this restriction does not apply to rural areas.

Rural properties are commonly bordered by new and old barbed wire fencing. Brand new or fallen into rambling disrepair barbed wire fences are dangerous hazards for wildlife as they navigate a landscape of ever-increasing obstacles.
Last week a beautiful, mature, female kangaroo and her pouch joey were admitted to the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter because mum had a terrible, jagged tear to the bottom of her pouch. Her pouch had been torn open by barbed wire as she tried to jump over a fence.
This is a frequent injury for female kangaroos weighed down with large pouch joeys as they find it difficult to easily clear the many fences in their way. If these beautiful mums are not found and rescued, both mum and joey will suffer prolonged pain, fly strike and infection, eventually leading to death. Sadly, this mum’s injury was badly infected and she died, leaving her orphaned joey in the care of the shelter. It will take two years for this joey to be returned to its land and full independence.
The wildlife friendly fencing website (wildlifefriendlyfencing.org) states that as many as 75 different species of our native animals have been found trapped on barbed wire fencing. Nocturnal animals are particularly vulnerable as wires can be difficult to see. Wings and gliding membranes are caught on the barbs and animals are then unable to free themselves. They twist and struggle in the fencing, knotting their flesh around the barb and tearing open muscle. It is very painful and very distressing, and many animals die still caught in the fence.
Often animals arrive at the shelter entangled in pieces of barbed wire strands as it can be very difficult to extricate distressed animals safely and without further injury. Over the years the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter has treated kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, boobook owls, tawny frogmouths, magpies, kookaburras, sacred kingfishers, cockatoos, ravens, various raptors, grey headed flying foxes, little red flying foxes, microbats and sugar gliders for injuries caused by barbed wire entanglement.
The Hepburn Wildlife shelters admits about 50 joeys to the shelter every year. It costs about $1000 over two years to raise a single orphaned joey.
The little rescued joey, now named Stitch, is still very young (8-9 months old) and will require feeding at least four times a day. Stitch will become part of the mob of orphaned joeys that the shelter has saved, for the years it will take for the joey to reach an age where she is self-reliant. Image: Stitch | Barbara Davies

Dr Marita McGuirk is a field ecologist and environmental scientist, and a volunteer at the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter. Marita writes monthly columns about the shelter and the animals it cares for. If you would like to donate or volunteer, or just to find out more information, head to www.hepburnwildlifeshelter.org

Well here I am again penning another column for you, the reader, to enjoy…
This time I’ll be featuring summer-flowering trees and shrubs that will continue to brighten up the garden after the riot of spring colour is beginning to fade.
So here, in alphabetical order, is a selection of species that do well here in the Central Highlands of Victoria and are, for the most part, readily available in the nursery trade.

1. Carpenteria californica (Californian bush anemone) forms a medium-sized evergreen shrub native to California that can be smothered in white flowers with a boss of yellow stamens in the middle (see below image) and here’s a tip: best to prune back after flowering to encourage more bushy growth, as this shrub can become quite leggy otherwise.

2. Catalpa x erubescens ‘purpurea’ (purple-leaved Indian bean tree) can be obtained as bare-rooted stock in winter and will stun you with lovely emerging purple-tinted heart-shaped large leaves that are followed by trusses of predominantly white orchid-like flowers (see below image)…it grows into a medium-sized deciduous tree (of garden origin) that does best in full sun.

3. Corymia ficifolia (red flowering gum) is an evergreen Western Australian native medium-sized tree that is now usually grafted to ensure flowering at a younger age. And what a flower – ranging from orange through to orange-red, it is one of the most outrageous flowering trees around but be careful choosing this plant as it is seriously attractive to bees.
4. Elaeagnus angustifolia (Russian olive) may be hard to find but this European evergreen medium-sized spreading tree has excellent willow-like grey foliage that gives way to sweetly scented small yellow flowers that may be followed by olive-like brownish-red fruits that are best used for making jellies and preserves.
5. Heptacodium miconioides (seven-son flower) can be found in rare plant nurseries and is well worth tracking down, as this multi-trunked (Chinese) tall tree-like deciduous shrub has many ornamental characteristics such as attractive stringy bark, beautiful scented flowers (see below image) that, after falling, reveal a display of crimson-red bracts (calyces) that make it appear to be fruiting.

6. And here is a short list of other species that you might like to consider planting in your old or new garden: Clethra arborea (lily-of-the-valley tree) is an evergreen, tall upright tree from the Canary Islands; dichroa x versicolor (evergreen hydrangea) is a medium-sized shrub of garden origin; grevillea robusta (silky oak) is a tall upright evergreen tree native to eastern parts of northern NSW and southern Queensland; hebe cvs (garden veronica) are evergreen small to medium-sized shrubs of garden origin; Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Apple Blossom’ (rose-of-china) is a small tree, best planted against a wall facing the sun, of garden origin; lagerstroemia cvs (crepe myrtle) are lovely ornamental small trees of garden origin and telopea speciosissima ‘Wirrimbirra White’ (waratah – see QR code) can form a small tree and is of garden origin.
And there you have it. Some exotic and Australian native trees and shrubs to consider planting as part of a seasonal palette of flowering plants throughout the year.

Cheers John Beetham (Trees in Australia)

Next time: Plants with tropical-like foliage for cool temperate gardens.

Scan the QR code for JB’s Instagram post.