The state government is strengthening Victoria’s labour hire laws to help stamp out the poor culture that has been exposed in the construction sector.

Minister for Industrial Relations Jaclyn Symes has introduced into the Victorian Parliament the Labour Hire Legislation Amendment (Licensing) Bill that will make changes to the Labour Hire Licensing Act 2018 to help target criminal and unlawful conduct in the construction sector.

The new reforms progress the government’s response to the Wilson Review, with recommendations three to six being addressed in the legislation.

This will strengthen the powers of Victoria’s Labour Hire Authority to prevent those with links to criminal organisations from operating labour hire businesses. The amendments will also:

• Strengthen the test to determine who is a fit and proper person
• Introduce a new criminal offence of causing or threatening to cause detriment to a person who makes a complaint to Workforce Inspectorate Victoria (WIV)
• Better define the coverage of labour hire licensing, and
• Enable the Labour Hire Authority to publish more information about licensing decisions.

The government will further clarify applicability of the labour hire licensing scheme in the construction sector by amending the Labour Hire Licensing Regulations 2018, consistent with Recommendation 4 of the Wilson Review.

Victoria’s Labour Hire Authority has taken strong action against non-compliant labour hire providers, including in the construction sector.

In November 2024 the Supreme Court of Victoria issued a total of $759,674 in penalties to five companies and three company directors for their involvement in unlicensed labour hire operations in the construction industry.

The Authority has also cancelled 126 licenses and refused 44 license applications from businesses in the
construction industry.

These reforms will strengthen labour hire regulation for all sectors that utilise labour hire – helping workers and businesses in agriculture, security and beyond

The Real Estate Institute of Victoria has announced the appointment of Toby Balazs as Chief Executive Officer, commencing November 10, 2025. 

Sam Hatzistamatis, REIV President, said Mr Balazs’ extensive industry experience and high-performance credentials distinguished him as the standout leader to progress the REIV’s vision.

“An authentic contemporary business leader, with a track record of driving growth and effecting change through collaboration and innovation, Toby is expertly placed to lead the REIV in its role as the state’s peak real estate representative body,” Mr Hatzistamatis said.

Mr Balazs brings more than 20 years’ real estate and property technology sector experience. The current COO at property and financial investment advisory company, Empower Wealth, he was previously the CEO of property listing platform realestateview.com.au. This followed more than 13-years working at REA Group across sales, marketing, strategy and operations leadership roles.

As CEO, Mr Balazs will be responsible for leading the delivery of the REIV organisational strategy, including its ambition to deliver sector leading services, education and training, and accelerate its government engagement and advocacy efforts at a crucial time for Victoria’s property sector.

Mr Hatzistamatis confirmed that the appointment by the REIV Board followed a comprehensive, nation-wide selection process conducted over recent months.

“Amid the ongoing housing crisis, heightened regulatory scrutiny and a complex stakeholder network, the contemporary Victorian property sector represents an increasingly challenging operating environment,” Mr Hatzistamatis said.

“What became clear through the selection process was that Toby possessed the ideal combination of industry know-how and future-focused leadership credentials to enable the REIV to successfully navigate these challenges.

“Toby’s proven ability to strategically implement technology in enhancing business function means he is ideally-placed to build on the likes of the recent launch of our VicForms 2.0 platform in meeting the evolving needs of our members.

“As a Board, we look forward to welcoming Toby to the REIV and working together to deliver on the Institute’s agenda.”

Mr Balazs said he was proud to be assuming the leadership of the REIV, and excited by the Board’s focus on leveraging best practice innovation and digital solutions in driving continued modernisation and growth.

“The importance of the REIV in building and supporting capability in the sector has perhaps never been more evident, and the Board’s commitment to delivering value for the industry makes this an exciting time to be joining the organisation” Mr Balazs said.

“A high-functioning property sector is vital to the state’s ongoing prosperity, and I feel privileged to represent REIV members and contribute to positive outcomes for an industry I am passionate about.”

Mr Balazs’ appointment will see current Interim REIV CEO, Jacob Caine continue in his role as a highly valued REIV Director.

“On behalf of the REIV Board and members, I sincerely thank Jacob for ably leading the Institute over recent months and take the opportunity to pay tribute to the significance of his ongoing contribution to the REIV,” Mr Hatzistamatis said.

A world leader in artificial intelligence-enabled medical technologies is expanding its global footprint in Victoria, turbocharging the state’s position as a hub for lifesaving medical research, health technologies and AI.

Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs Danny Pearson has announced that Optain Health will establish its Asia-Pacific headquarters and substantially expand its global Research and Development (R&D) and Engineering Hub in Melbourne.

The new headquarters and expansion will create up to 49 new jobs and $10 million in R&D expenditure, boosting local employment and economic growth.

Optain is a healthcare technology company applying AI, robotic retinal imaging, and teleophthalmology to detect eye and systemic disease earlier.

The groundbreaking technology was first developed in Victoria and has since scaled internationally, recently launching in the United States with the backing of global software investor Insight Partners and seven major U.S. health system strategic investors.

Optain enables earlier detection of health conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and even cardiovascular disease risk – all from a simple, non-invasive eye test, using a portable robotic camera and integrated AI workflows.

Optain will now be able to develop new AI applications for more accurate, rapid and efficient detection of a wider range of conditions, while unlocking the potential of oculomics – the science of using the eye as a window into whole-body health.

Optain’s APAC headquarters and R&D and Engineering Hub will deepen partnerships and collaboration across Victorian industry, universities and government.

The Melbourne CBD is now home to 188 AI companies and about 22 per cent of all clustered Australian AI firms – the most significant single AI cluster in the country.

Health technologies and digital technologies are identified as top priority sectors in Victoria’s Economic Growth Statement, which is unlocking the state’s economic growth opportunities, driving job creation and fostering a culture of innovation and cutting-edge ideas.

Agriculture Victoria research scientists have developed a new, pesticide-free way to help almond growers manage a major pest in their orchards.

Agriculture Victoria Senior Research Scientist Dr Samantha Edley said the almond carpophilus beetle (Carpophilus truncatus) is a serious challenge for almond growers, but a world-first lure developed at AgriBio and trialled at the Mildura SmartFarm offers a targeted approach to tackling it.

‘The lure mimics natural odours that attract the beetle and draws it into a purpose-built trap, making it easier to detect and manage outbreaks early.

‘It uses a precise mix of synthetic pheromones and yeast odours that are highly attractive to the beetle.

‘The lure is designed to be very specific to this pest, which means it doesn’t attract or affect beneficial insects.’

‘It’s a new and sustainable tool for growers that could reduce the need for broad chemical sprays.’

‘The lure has been extensively trialled in almond orchards across the Sunraysia region, and it has shown impressive results.

‘When used as part of a mass trapping strategy – known as attract and kill – it can reduce damage by around 60%,’ she said.

The almond carpophilus beetle emerged as a serious pest in Australia in 2013 and is now present across all almond-growing regions.

‘It attacks at hull split and can severely damage crops if not detected early, costing the industry millions of dollars in lost value from kernel damage and impacts to crop quality.

‘This breakthrough will help reduce pest-related losses, improving the long-term quality and profitability of Australia almond production’.

‘Almond growers across the country are trialling the trap as a monitoring device, which will help them be more informed about the pests in their orchards,’ Dr Edley said.

The lure is now being prepared for commercial release through Agriculture Victoria Services, with the potential to support more productive and sustainable almond production across the country.

The release will be staged, with the lure becoming available for monitoring in late 2026, with expectations for late 2027 as an attract and kill tool, pending further trials and approval from the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA).

This research is part of the Almond Integrated Pest Management project, delivered in partnership with Agriculture Victoria, Hort Innovation, the Almond Board of Australia and Agriculture Victoria Services.

To learn more about the research, visit integrated pest management.

by Kerri Goschnick, land management extension officer

Maintenance is the key to reducing soil and sediment movement in paddocks. While spring rain is valuable for pastures and replenishing farm dams, run-off may also carry sediment into livestock dams, particularly where there is exposed soil in heavily grazed paddocks.

Hay bales or netting held together with steel posts or stakes to control sediment flow into dams can be a good starting point, although the cost of hay and the hazard of steel posts should be considered. Coir logs are a potential alternative to hay bales.

Fibreglass posts and construction site hazard fencing (barrier mesh) are another, often safer option. Using 20 m of barrier mesh and 4 fibreglass posts upstream of a dam is both highly visible and relatively low cost, at around $85 per site.

Aim for mesh openings that are no smaller than 100 mm square. Smaller openings will block up with debris too quickly and the fence will fail. It is also important to remove stakes or mesh once the risk of sedimentation has reduced, to avoid debris build up.

Building earthen banks to protect areas from sedimentation usually requires survey design, knowledge of soil type and risks, and suitable equipment and expertise to successfully construct. A good understanding of catchment size and potential water volumes is necessary to avoid failure.

Road and track maintenance is also important. Annual maintenance, with a slight camber in the road surface to shed water to the side with the shortest distance possible, will help to prevent wheel tracks from developing into drains and washing out the track surface.

Culverts and side drains should also be cleaned annually to prevent blockages and water from being redirected to less suitable discharge areas.

Visit the Agriculture Victoria website for articles on soil retention and sediment movement on agricultural land following drought, fire, strong winds and rainfall events.

Grants of up to $5,000 are available for farmers to support investment in on-farm drought management activities and be better prepared for future droughts.

Eligible activities include water infrastructure upgrades such as pipes, tanks, troughs and dams, stock containment areas, grain and fodder storage, water carting and pasture re-establishment.

Visit www.ruralfinance.com.au/grants/ to apply.

Find more information about available drought support at www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or call 136 186

New analysis from Homelessness Australia has revealed increases in the leading causes of homelessness in Australia and Victoria, as the globe marked both World Homeless Day and World Mental Health Day on Friday, October 10.

Across Australia in June this year, family and domestic violence and cost-of-living were the biggest drivers of homelessness. People seeking homelessness help because of family and domestic violence is also the homelessness driver that has increased most in the last two years; up 13% between June 2023 and June 2025.

The analysis of AIHW monthly homelessness data found the top four reasons people sought homelessness help in June 2025 were family and domestic violence (35,736 people seeking help), eviction (34,094 people), financial difficulty (33,038 people), and housing affordability stress (32,979 people). People needing homeless help due to housing affordability stress increased by 8.1% over two years.

In Victoria, during the month of June 2025, 14,520 people sought homelessness support because of family and domestic violence, up from 13,675 in June 2024. Of those 14,520, 10,783 were female clients.

“Australians have been calling attention to domestic and family violence and the housing crisis for years. We have sounded the alarm again and again over the risks to safety when survivors have nowhere to go to escape violence. This data clearly shows that governments have not done enough to stop rising homelessness and protect victim survivors of violence,” Homelessness Australia CEO Kate Colvin said.

Homelessness Australia is urging the federal government to use the Mid-Year Financial Economic Outlook to turn the tide on rising homelessness.

Practical and impactful measures should include:

• preventing more people from becoming homeless in the first place by delivering early intervention programs, increased income support and more social homes
• matching rising demand for homelessness support with the resources to respond so people in need can connect with the help they need

The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) welcomes the appointment of Treasure Jennings as the Aged Care Quality and Safety Complaints Commissioner.

Ms Jennings will commence in the new role on November 1, which coincides with the new Aged Care Act taking effect.

OPAN CEO Craig Gear said the appointment is a significant milestone in fostering a fairer and safer sector.

“We welcome this appointment and congratulate Treasure Jennings,” Mr Gear said.

“Treasure brings a wealth of invaluable experience and a track record of leading consumer complaints and dispute resolution across the public and private sectors.

“Older people consistently inform us of the need for improved complaints mechanisms, and this is an important step in ensuring high quality aged care.

“Our independent aged care advocates are a key pillar in supporting older people and work alongside the complaints system and Complaints Commissioner.

“OPAN and other community organisations pushed for this role to be independent and have a direct line of responsibility to the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors. This will help build trust and deliver strong restorative justice pathways, ensuring complaints are managed in a timely manner.

“We look forward to working with Treasure and her team to ensure the rights of older people accessing aged care are respected and promoted.” 

More doctors are on their way to rural and regional Victoria – thanks to an expanded state government program that’s helping health services recruit and retain the doctors they need most.

Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas has announced that the Connecting the Docs program will grow to include up to 10 additional public health services across Victoria – backed by a $680,000 investment over the next two years.

Building on the program’s success in the Loddon Mallee region, the expansion will begin in East Gippsland with Omeo District Health, Bairnsdale Regional Health, Orbost Regional Health and Gippsland Lakes Complete Health among the new services to join.

Since launching in September 2023, Connecting the Docs has registered more than 70 doctors, with seven already successfully recruited to towns including Swan Hill, Kerang and Echuca.

The program is helping to address long-term workforce shortages by streamlining recruitment, supporting international transitions and creating flexible career pathways across hospital, community and primary care settings.

Connecting the Docs also helps reduce recruitment costs, strengthen smaller practices and build a connected network of healthcare professionals through peer support and ongoing career development.

The program is co-funded by participating health services, with the government support including an initial $50,000 investment in 2023 to enhance its online job directory, digital content and recruitment campaigns targeting domestic and international candidates.

The state government is boosting the safety of Victorian students and staff, giving schools stronger protections and making it easier to ban aggressive and violent parents or carers from entering school grounds.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll has released the statutory review into the School Community Safety Order Scheme, which has empowered school principals to issue orders for parents or carers engaging in harmful threatening or abusive behaviour to leave school grounds since 2022.

The scheme also allows schools to limit the engagement of aggressive adults with school staff, including on school-related online platforms and has built in protections to support children whose parents or carers are subject to an order, particularly if they are vulnerable.

The recent review found that school staff and principals at Victorian government, independent and Catholic schools back the scheme as an important tool for protecting school communities which should remain in place.

The importance of the scheme was highlighted in the review through real incidents experienced by schools, including one parent who had a 12-month order issued against them for aggression directed at another student who was not their child.

Another school used the scheme to issue an immediate 14-day order – extended to nine months – against a parent who engaged in unacceptable aggression towards school staff.

The review also identified opportunities to strengthen and refine the scheme, including reducing the admin work that principals need to complete to issue an order, ensuring they have more capacity to support the students who need them.

Other recommendations include streamlining processes for issuing orders – intended as a last resort option – and clarifying the protections available for school staff on social media.

In response to this important review and its recommendations the government will now begin working to strengthen the scheme.

As part of this work, consultation on how best to implement the recommendations started on Friday, OCtober 10 with the launch of an online survey for principals, teachers, parents and carers to share their views.

To have your say, visit engage.vic.gov.au/keeping-school-staff-safe

The rollout of free pad and tampon vending machines is helping remove barriers to work, education and community life.
In Hepburn Shire vending machines are at Central Highlands Rural Health and the Daylesford Library. Once the rollout is complete, up to 1500 free pad and tampon machines – both smart and battery-operated – will be available at more than 700 public locations across Victoria. Sites will include regional libraries, hospitals, TAFEs, train stations and other community hubs.

Until October 19, Victorians can cast their votes for their favourite pie, bánh mì and potato cake – with the top entry in each category to be crowned Victoria’s Pick.

Food has always been part of Victoria’s story – from country bakeries serving up generations of family recipes, the suburban fish and chip shops feeding locals after Friday night sport, and the family-run Vietnamese bakeries behind the iconic bánh mì. Every vote cast is a chance to back the local legends who turn everyday bites into state pride. Link: www.bit.ly/vics-picks-vote

Hepburn Shire Council is holding a Positive Ageing Expo at The Mechanics Trentham on Tuesday, October 28 from 10am to 3pm.

The free, fully catered, 55+ community event celebrates healthy ageing and brings together people from all walks of life to connect, learn, and thrive. Speakers include: Dr. Brad Mitchell from Ulysses Motorcycle Club; Linda Black from Rebel Elders; Jackson Fyfe from Deakin University; Dean Mawby from Stronger Longer Gym; John Bradshaw from LiveUp; and Central Highlands Rural Health.
Registrations: www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/pae-2025

An article in the last edition of The Local (Issue 341, September 22) raised the ire of some in the planning industry. The article raised the issue of harassment against Hepburn Shire Council staff with CEO Bradley Thomas saying it had to stop. Here are the thoughts of building designer Stephen Schenk and Julie Lee. And a right of reply by Mr Thomas.

Building designer Stephen Schenk, owner and operator of Unicorn Architecture in Daylesford, says he first approached Hepburn Shire Council in 2022 to talk about planning delays.
“I had a meeting with CEO Bradley Thomas and five or six senior managers and pleaded with them to treat this as a destination for planners, not a training camp for young kids out of university.
“And I said if they didn’t pay suitable wages, they were going to lose all their planners and within three weeks, three of them left and went to Mount Alexander.”
Since that time, unacceptable delays in planning applications have continued, he says. There’s also a lack of communication.
“I have customers who have been waiting 12 and 18 months for a permit and they’ve documented their phone calls and their emails to the council and they’ve got six and eight months’ worth of calls that have never been returned.
“Now, they’re happy that a permit might take a while, they understand that. But the fact that they’re being blatantly ignored and never getting a return call to keep them advised… I’ve got clients threatening legal action against me for not doing my job.
“My entire portfolio is within the shire, making the council my single largest stakeholder. Every decision impacts my clients, and I have an obligation to keep them updated. The council’s lack of communication places me in a difficult position.
“And there’s no-one to hold the council accountable. I have written to the Local Government Inspectorate, Catherine King, the state planning department. And I get nothing back. They currently have 175 applications outstanding. That’s crazy.”
Stephen said he had told the council to think of building designers, architects and planners as “cash cows”.
“People buy a property, they pay land rates. Once they engage us, we pay planning fees. We pay for property reports. We pay for building reports. Then we’re paying bin rates, we’re paying planning fees for the septic to go in. This is where the council’s money comes from.
“The planning permits that are outstanding at the moment are going to help you over time create a bigger income for the shire. Instead, they put rates up by 10 per cent.
“All we want is communication. Every other builder, planning person, architect, designer are all saying the same thing. There’s no communication.”
Stephen said his own mental health was suffering and he admits he has used inappropriate language at times with council staff and officers.
“I do get frustrated and angry and I know I am turning into someone I don’t want to be. But there have been so many broken promises. I have closed the office, and work from home now, because it’s better to financially cut your losses eventually than go bankrupt. And that is where council are pushing me at the moment.
“The CEO (Bradley Thomas) consistently portrays himself and the council as victims, while failing to acknowledge that these issues stem from council practices. The situation will not improve until accountability replaces defensiveness.
“As long as governing bodies ignore this behaviour and until systemic change occurs, ratepayers and professionals like myself will continue to raise concerns. In the meantime, the CEO will continue to frame criticism as ‘harassment’ while avoiding accountability for poor service delivery.”

Town Planner Julie Lee, owner of Clunes-based NR Links, said while it had been a nightmare over the past few years, she believed things could be looking up.
“They have two planners and there are another two starting next week. One from Pyrenees and one from Mount Alexander – which tells me that they’re paying the right amount because no-one’s going to move from Mount Alexander and come down (in wages).
“So, the planning team is back to double what it has been for many years plus they have a cadet town planner and two administration staff – one is sharing with Central Goldfields Shire which is what I have been pushing for since last year.”
Julie said she believed while the staff numbers will be up, it will still take a long time, perhaps a year, to get through the backlog of planning applications. She last heard there were 180 outstanding.
“It is legislated in the Planning and Environment Act that a council has 60 days plus 30 days to process referrals for an application. As well, town planning is a state statutory requirement for councils, and other items are not, and funds should be channelled from different areas to meet their statutory requirements. I understand why the council have to make cutbacks but it’s a statutory responsibility.”
Julie said people also had the opportunity to take their planning matters to VCAT – at a cost of about $3000-$4000.
“I do think people need to be fairly proactive and not get angry, but know that if this happens again, you’ve got these steps you can take. And we should be working through our councillors and getting them to stand up as well.
“I know that, tragically, staff are crying, but homeowners are trying to get planning permits through.
“These delays also mean development, monies, tourism opportunities, accommodation, new retail etc, all go elsewhere, and this has a critical impact on our community. What has been happening is not normal, but hopefully the future is looking better.”

Hepburn Shire Council CEO Bradley Thomas said the turnaround times on planning permits was “absolutely not where we want it to be but that’s pretty consistent across the state”.
“We need to do things to improve that and we certainly are – we’ve increased resourcing within the planning team over the past couple of years.
“Planners do come and go from time to time, so sometimes we’re fully staffed, other times we’re not fully staffed. We’ve just been through a bit of a recruitment drive, so we do have some more staff coming on in the short term, but there’s a whole range of factors that contribute to where we are.
“Part of that is complications of the planning system. We’re obviously trying to get the decision right, not just rush it. Often we’ve got to get more information off the clients and off the people that are putting their applications through. We’ve got to get to referral agencies.
“I think also it’s important to note that planning is not just planning permits, the planning team is also doing enforcement when people do the wrong thing. The planning team is the one that really puts through the submissions in regards to Dan Murphy’s, the Western Renewable Link Project…
“So there’s a lot happening in that space. At the end of the day, we know we need to get better in terms of our planning permit turnaround. We’re certainly doing that with more system improvements.
“We’re trying to work with everyone. I know people might be frustrated but they can still conduct themselves in a professional manner when dealing with us.”

Words: Donna Kelly

Fran Fitzpatrick is the president of the Highland Games Heavy Events which are traditional feats of strength including the caber toss, hammer throw, stone put and weight for distance. She is looking forward to this year’s Daylesford Highland Gathering on November 6 with about 20 athletes taking part in those events, including some from interstate. Fran, pictured, talked with Kyle Barnes.

Kyle: How did you get involved in the heavy events?
Fran: The heavy events have been around for a hundred years but we didn’t have a women’s division until 2018, so I was always involved because my boyfriend as a teenager used to do the gathering, used to do the heavy events in the off-season of athletics. Once Nick Weaver and the Maryborough Highland Society decided to include women with equal prize money I trained exclusively for the heavy games.

Kyle: I hear you have won quite a few championships.
Fran: I was the Australian Women’s Champion from 2018 to 2023 and then I decided to concentrate on getting myself to the World Championships in Florida for 2024. I trained about 20 hours a week and a lot of that was in the dark out the front of my shed under a spotlight. I got there and won seven out of nine events and was 2nd place in the other two events, along with six world records.

Kyle: Can you describe the events?
Fran: The events in the heavy games are a stone put, which is similar to a shot put, and then there’s what they call a brain mass stone, which is a shot put again but it’s an extremely heavy stone. Then we do what’s called a weight for distance, which is a light weight of 14lbs and a heavy weight of 28lbs. Then we do the two hammer throws, a light hammer and a heavy hammer. Then we do a caber toss and then a weight over the bar which for women is 28lbs and we start at 9-feet, so you’ve got to do a vertical throw and hope it goes over the bar. In 2024 I won both the shot puts, the light weight for distance, the weight over the bar, and both the hammers.
I’d spent a lot of time getting ready so it was quite rewarding when it all came through. It’s amazing the Scottish, they have such an affinity with throwing things, don’t they? I think it’s all weapons of war, it all comes from being able to throw stuff at your enemies, I guess. Here’s a big log, take that!

Kyle: What is your involvement with the Daylesford Highland Gathering?
Fran: I am president of the Victorian Heavy Events and committee member Chris Sinclair asked me to see if the heavy games could come back to the Daylesford Gathering. Last year was fantastic but this year is even bigger and better. With the Victorian Highland heavy events we offer training days and backyard events which get everybody ready to do the competitions at the gatherings. That way everybody’s confident, everybody’s safe and the crowd are all safe also, we’re not going to throw something towards the crowd because everyone’s done their training. We have coaching by some very experienced people.

Kyle: Can anyone have a go?
Fran: We take all fitness levels and all skill levels although you must do a training day before you can come and compete at a competition. If someone sees what’s going on with the heavy events at the Daylesford Highland Gathering, they can come and talk to us any time. We also have some corflute signs around the perimeter of our throwing area and that directs people to our website and we also have a merchandise stall.

Kyle: Are you competing on the day?
Fran: Definitely. I’m going to try and do all of the events.

Kyle: Sounds like a great day. Anything else you would like to mention?
Fran: Just that the Daylesford Gathering is probably the best in Australia at the moment. The chieftain of the entire event was our original coordinator, Billy Binks, so it was just a wonderful gesture that the Daylesford Committee offered Mr Binks to be the chieftain and we were very proud that he was our former coordinator. He kept the Highland Games alive in Australia, so that was very nice. The Daylesford event was quiet for a few years, but it’s come back and it’s come back big and it’s just going to get even bigger, so we’re very proud to be involved.

Link: www.daylesfordhighland.com/
Image: Contributed

The Local is proud to be a media partner with the Daylesford Highland Gathering.

The Old Sniff Classic Sheepdog Trials took place at the Dean Recreation Reserve last Sunday, October 5.

Held under the auspices of the Victorian Working Sheep Dog Association, the event attracted 43 dogs and 23 handlers from across the state with judging by Norm Severs.
The association supports close to 200 members and coordinates about 30 trials statewide each year.
All donations from the well attended Dean event will be going this year to the Newlyn-Dean Fire Brigade, CFA.
Dean Recreation Reserve Committee president Brian Maher said while it was always great to watch the trainers, the stars of the show were the dogs.
“They manoeuvre three sheep around a course on the command of their handlers, while being judged on time and ability. ”

Words & images: Tony Sawrey

Scan the QR code for a short video.