by Darren Lowe

The Rolling Stones – Metlife Stadium, NJ, 23/05/2024

A nasty, weekly weather forecast, was the focus of my and Susan’s attention preceding this very major concert, and was the main reason for our extended trip to The Big Apple.

Thankfully, thunderstorms and very heavy rain were all over by midday. The Stones played two
concerts at Metlife Stadium, a short 20-25 minute journey by coach from the port authority.

We attended the first Thursday evening after purchasing tickets when the sale went online at some ungodly hour. Stressful but we managed to get floor tickets.

This was an absolutely mind-blowing concert experience. The best stadium sound I can remember with a fantastic view, and a great, vocal and excited US audience. In fact, the walk from bus to entry was my first live view of the tail-gating phenomena.

Rows of people with full camp and BBQ set up with beverages and a different Stones song every
few metres at full volume.

This was a major event, in a city with a lot of major events, which was a talking point over the next few days as we walked the streets of NY in Stones’ logo t-shirts.

Jon Batiste, with a 10-piece band including back singers and dancers, gave us a wonderful 45-minute support set. The multi-instrumentalist was a consummate showman with his funk infused, New Orleans-inspired set.

Fantastic musicians, back up singers/dancers and a taste of how the catwalk was to be used. We were closer to the action than I can remember in any of the umpteen times I’ve seen The Stones.

The Stones came on stage about 9.25pm with a glorious, intense exciting build up including Mick’s silhouette through the very large rear stage curtain.

As has been the cast throughout the first few gigs of the tour, the band opened spectacularly, with Start Me Up.

Now, as I’ve said to many friends in the past few days, I really don’t care how old these guys are anymore. This gig was amazing.

To the set list soon but the musicianship is astounding, possibly among the best gigs I’ve seen the
band play.

Mick is often remarked upon re his fitness, but it really needs to be acknowledged, as I know it always is, that he is of a certain age, running about on stage for two hours while singing! Incredible.

For the first time I can really remember, I was able to distinguish the separate playing of Keith and Ronnie, they are in remarkable form.

Listening, waiting, knowing when to back-off. That fabulous loose Stones sound. Clear, crisp, particularly on Jumping Jack Flash and on their acoustic interlude where we got to hear the very exciting You Got the Silver.

The touring musicians, many long term, were exemplary. Chuck Leavell, Bernard Fowler, Matt Clifford, Darryl Jones, Tim Ries and Karl Denson have all played with band for extended periods.

More recently there has also been Steve Jordan, since 2021 and Chanel Hanes since 2022. As usual, she blew the house away with her part in Gimme Shelter.

Despite playing hits in the bulk of their set I don’t see them as a nostalgia act, as they are still playing remarkably well and with 60+ years of material to draw from.

Being in New York, sorry Jersey, we got Shattered and Miss You and the fan voted Wild Horses. Nice choice. And a sprinkling of early hits including Get Off My Cloud and Paint It Black. I personally loved hearing It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll.

You know it’s a great gig when you are on a high the next day, exciting, glorious rock sings, still played with passion and enthusiasm after 62 years.

Next edition – Neil Young and Crazy Horse at Forest Hills Stadium, NYC.

The weather may be cooling down but Maldon is determined to warm up with its annual Maldon in Winter Festival starting today and running through to July 14.

The entire town is in on the act with offerings from steam trains and bonfires to art exhibitions and live music. And much more!

A heritage steam train will depart Castlemaine in darkness and make its way through the chill
night air to Maldon.

There will be entertainers on-board from the Castlemaine Circus and once it arrives at Maldon visitors will be taken to the Maldon Machinery Museum where there will be plenty of food stalls, musical entertainment and of course a bonfire to keep everyone warm on a brisk night.

There’s also a stop at Muckleford to experience something very rare – a listening stop where the train will slowly back away from the station in to the ironbark forest and then repeat the arrival in to the platform with a mix of steam, whistles and movement, all illuminated only by the steam train’s headlight and the full moon.

The Cascade Art Gallery will be hosting its Winter Salon exhibition featuring artworks by David Moore, Liz Sullivan, Dean Bowen, Sam Varian, Julie Andrews, Craig Gough, John O’Loughlin, Robert Maclaurin. Introducing Chris Delpratt, Roz Avent and Sheridan Jones.

Meanwhile the Maldon Artists Network (MANet) Small Works Exhibition showcases works from a number of selected local artists.

And don’t miss the tongue-in-cheek Comedy Cabaret Burlesque from the Queens of Tease. Performing at the Maldon Progress Hall on July 5 and 6, The Bliss Bombs will perform sultry cabaret, dance and tease with lashings of vintage costume and cheeky comedy.

To make the night a real occasion, dress to impress in vintage glamour and book a table with friends. There’s plenty more happening throughout the festival so check out the website at www.maldon.org.au/maldon-in-winter

Words: Donna Kelly

Half Light, the duo of Rennie Pearson and Bob McNeill, is coming to play at The Palais Hepburn tonight Friday, June 21 at 7.30pm.

Known for their driving, hypnotic Celtic music, the duo is set to embark on their second tour of Australia, with shows scheduled across Victoria and New South Wales in June.

Half Light promises to deliver a captivating performance, blending original and traditional folk tunes for an enchanting experience.

Half Light’s magic lies in their ability to take these folk melodies and songs, both old and new, and weave them into fresh and exciting arrangements.

Drawing inspiration from a rich tapestry of musical styles, they transport listeners to faraway lands with one melody and have them tapping their toes and clapping their hands with the next.

At the heart of Half Light’s show is what they call the “lift” – a high-energy musical experience fuelled by flute, whistles, guitars, and infectious rhythms.

Pearson and McNeill bring a unique perspective to live folk music, infusing it with energy and creativity.

Both Pearson and McNeill are well-respected figures in the folk music scenes of New Zealand and Australia, with extensive experience touring all over the world as solo artists and group members, earning recognition with numerous awards.

They have shared their expertise at many festivals and workshops across the globe, promising an evening of diverse folk music.

The Half Light show will feature a range of instruments, including wooden flutes, Irish tin whistles, guitars, and heartfelt vocals. This fresh approach to traditional folk music is sure to appeal to all music enthusiasts. Link: renniepearsonmusic.com

It’s time to tap your inner druid, commune with your alternate mystical self, and warm up beside the dancing flames as Creswick’s Park Lake sets the scene for the town’s annual Winter Solstice bonfire.

The local CFA team will be lighting the bonfire at 5pm this Friday June 21 with the Friends of Park Lake inviting all pixies, fairies, elves and other mystical woodland creatures to join them for what promises an enchanting night to celebrate the solstice.

Friends of Park Lake secretary Andrew Bell, says this Friday is the actual Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, with the days to start lengthening beyond then.

He says that at Friday evening’s solstice bonfire the local scouts will be running a warming sausage sizzle, and there will be best costume prizes with everyone encouraged to don their best druid, fairy, pixie, elf or mystical woodland creature outfit for the event.

“I’d just advise the pixies to wear two sets of tights,” laughs Andrew, adding “rug up”.

The wintery weather is all part of what makes the Winter Solstice a special and atmospheric time of year.

Andrew says all members of the community are invited to get along and it’s free to attend but there will be a donation box with all contributions helping the Friends of Park Lake to maintain and further beautify the significant historic location.

“And we do hope to reinstate the fountain in the old fernery gully,” Andrew says.

Fun fact: Creswick Park Lake is surrounded by parklands and interpretive signage and there is also a section of the Creswick of the Lindsay Arts Trail, which focuses on the famous Lindsay family and their history in Creswick. Trail guides are available from the Visitor Information Centre.

Words: Eve Lamb | Image: Contributed

Creswick Theatre Company is inviting everyone to get along to its play reading at the Courthouse this Sunday afternoon.

It’s a chance to either participate and read a role, with scripts provided, or just kick back and be entertained.

This time theatre company members are taking on a time-tested script by famed 19th century Irish playwright, Oscar Wilde.

“It will be lady Windermere’s Fan,” says long-time Creswick Theatre Company member Jacinta Antonelli.

Lady Windermere’s Fan is a four-act comedy, first performed in 1892, at the Saint James Theatre in London. The story concerns Lady Windermere who suspects that her husband is having an affair with another woman.

As part of Creswick Theatre Company’s play reading series, they’re also planning to next month tackle a reading featuring an original script by a Glenlyon playwright with the possibility that one may lead on to a stage production as well, Jacinta says.

“We want to mix it up and have old favourites and originals,” she says.

Entry to this Sunday afternoon’s play reading is free and participants are invited to bring a snack along to share, with drinks, tea and coffee also available at the court house theatre bar.

“No prior experience is needed and we are encouraging people from all over the Hepburn Shire,” CTC president Neil Adam says.

“We would just like to encourage anyone who as ever thought of participating in something like this to come along.”

The play reading will take place 2-4pm this Sunday June 23 while the local theatre company also has plenty else happening in the wings including some school holiday fun called You’re an Instrument on Friday July 12, a night of live music and poetry on Saturday August 17, and a Spring racing season “interactive murder mingle” entitled A Murder at The Derby in November.

It is also currently accepting play submissions and production proposals through its website creswicktheatrecompany@fermigiohousegmail-com.

Neil says the committee is also especially keen to increasingly open up use of the local theatre company’s home venue, the historic Creswick Courthouse theatre, to other groups and activities.

Words: Eve Lamb

Swimmers from across Victoria are set to converge on Ballarat this weekend as the 2024 Victorian Relay Competition comes to town.

To be held in regional Victoria for the first time, the Swimming Victoria event will see an action-packed day of action at Ballarat Lifestyle and Aquatic Centre this Saturday, June 22.

The event will be held using the long-course 50-metre pool and is open to Swimming Victoria members but also to swimmers not currently registered with a club.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said securing the event was a win for the city’s premier swimming venue.

“To be the first regional venue to host the 2024 Victorian Relay Competition is fantastic,” he said.

“We believe our sporting facilities are of high quality standard and we have invested significantly in them over the years to ensure we can continue to attract significant events such as this.

“We can’t wait to welcome people from all over Victoria to the event.”

Among the teams to have travelled for the event are: CGGS Aquatic in Canterbury, D5 Swim Club in Mt Eliza, DVE Aquatic in Greensborough and Westbourne Swim Club in Truganina.

Swimming Victoria Events Experience Manager Narelle Holding said the annual relay event was one of the highlights on the calendar, as it created a fun, team environment, without the added championship-level pressure.

“It is clear from all our events, state championships level included, that everybody loves the relay races the most,” she said.

“They are fun and for a sport that often feels like an individual sport, it can really provide a great team connection.

“We can’t wait to bring the event to Ballarat.”

Racing will get under way at 11am.

The consultation period on Hepburn Shire Council’s draft Township Structure Plans and Rural Hepburn strategy has been extended to June 26.

The draft documents were released on May 1 with the original consultation period ending on June 12.
Mayor Cr Brian Hood thanked everyone who had already lodged their submissions.

“We know there is a lot of detail and so we’ve decided to extend the consultation period so we can gain more insights from the community.

“Though the deadline is extended by a fortnight, it will still give us time to fully consider that feedback and work to adopt the strategy in early September.

“I encourage every resident to access the information via council’s ‘Participate Hepburn’ page. This is a
once-in-a-generation planning strategy that will guide development for many years to come.”

Cr Hood said all the submissions would be considered by councillors and he assured the community
that all feedback was being taken into account “and (we) will continue to do so before we consider possible adoption”.

A council media release said the Rural Hepburn strategy provided a comprehensive planning and action framework for the use and development of private rural land.

“It will provide a safeguard for rural land. Initial community feedback reaffirms that agricultural land is
highly valued, contributes significant economic benefits, that conservation and biodiversity are important, and that rural tourism is a significant growth contributor,” the release said.

“The strategy proposes to introduce contemporary and clearer planning provisions, so getting feedback from community on these options is important.”

CEO Bradley Thomas said community engagement had been integral in providing further local knowledge.

“The small, but highly skilled strategic planning team have gathered great insights from the community and submissions to date, which they will review and provide recommendations to councillors.”

The council has held face-to-face meetings in each of its townships, which attracted many interested
individuals. Online there have been thousands of visits to the Participate Hepburn site, and almost 500 people have completed the survey.

“We have all these farms around us, a form of food security for the town, and that should never
be taken for granted. We have really good soil, really good water, and can just throw seeds on the
ground and food will grow for us. To destroy that is ludicrous.”

These are the words of Vasko Drogriski, one of the “very active” members of grassroots community group Pastures not Pavements.

The Daylesford and Hepburn Springs group’s aims are threefold. To stop plans to rezone land in East Street from farmland to residential, to stop extensions to Daylesford’s town boundary and also stop the rezoning of another parcel of farmland to industrial.

“The hopes of the group are that the extension of the town boundary gets dropped and the council also puts aside the rezoning of farmland to residential. There is not sufficient evidence for it to be warranted and these are very big modifications to the town.

“We are just saying if there is no urgent need for it, why do it now? Why not just step back, look at it again in 10 or 15 years’ time and if there is any such need, reassess then and have another discussion with the town.”

Mr Drogriski, a builder, said councillors were listening and understood it was an important issue for
the community but “we don’t know which way they are going to vote”.

“They are certainly hearing this is a serious thing for the town and people are quite unanimous about it. That message is getting through.”

If the plans do make it through council, despite opposition, Mr Drogriski said the group would continue to fight.

“The next stage would be the planning scheme amendment and we have been collecting evidence and
if we have to, we will take that to the minister.

There is evidence of improper consultation, flaws in the plans themselves and insufficient evidence for some of the changes they are proposing.

“The community, including our group have done a lot work in terms of fleshing out and exploring options and we think we have some very good viable options we want the council to look at and consider seriously.

“We have a lot of expertise and experience and some of us have been here 20, 30 or 40 years. I am a building designer myself so I have some insight into where housing is possible and it doesn’t need to go on a farm which is sitting on top of a spring that flows into one of our main tourist attractions, the Lake.

“There is a lot of space for housing within the town boundary and there are viable alternatives which will keep the town as it is and how people and tourists like it.”

Mr Drogriski said the shire’s councillors needed to leave a legacy of “retaining the beauty and structure of this town – why any councillor would want to leave a legacy of destroying a big heritage beats me. If you want to leave a legacy, leave a good one.”

He said farmer Ned Powell, whose East Street property is in the firing line for rezoning, was “probably
partly overwhelmed but also actively engaged in the fight”.

“It is not just Ned, it is his uncles and his aunty who own the property together, who have been dragged into something they don’t want. But Ned is in there batting for his whole family because he sees his future in farming, and he wants to be that next generation with his kids who want to farm that property.

“I think he is also inspired by the support he is getting from the community. It has been a fantastic community effort, and it shows me for the first time in the 20 years I have been here how supportive the community is of our farmers and the farmland around own town.

“I have seen how much people value the farmland, the open spaces, the rural edge. And that has been fantastic.”

Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Wayne Hammond

Coomoora’s Patrice O’Shea recently received an Order of Australia Medal in the General Division for services to the environment and secondary education in the King’s Birthday Honours list.

Patrice has been secretary of the Friends of Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens since 2010 and was a teacher at Ballarat Grammar from 1982 to 2009.

Patrice said the award was “affirming” but was keen to add that many people were just as worthy. “But it is a lovely thing that people have gone to considerable effort to make it happen and it is pretty affirming to know that.”

“I think the vast majority of people in education work bloody hard and why do you single out one person, but having said that it was a profession that I certainly enjoyed enormously.

“I enjoyed where I worked, the kids I taught, the stuff I taught. It is hard work, there is no doubt about that, but the vast majority of people who do it are worthy of recognition.”

Patrice said she entered teaching because she enjoyed being a student. “I enjoyed stuff, understanding things, working things out, finding out about things, so it was something I enjoyed personally and seemed an OK thing to do as a career.

“But also, given the age, there was a tendency on the part of girls to either go into nursing or teaching.”

Patrice, who attended Catholic schools, said she had good teachers who made a difference in her life.

“All of my education was with nuns, and there is sort of the luck of the draw at any school, but I had remarkable women teaching me.

“You would hope good teachers make a difference – that’s the plan, what’s supposed to happen and you would hope if you were in the (teaching) game you would be one of them, you would give it your best shot anyway.”

Patrice said she had retired some years ago so the full implications of the digital age in teaching were not something she had experienced but she believed personal engagement was the critical element for teachers.

“During Covid teachers did work from home and my observations are that it near killed them. Really it is one of the jobs where you just have to be there. A bit like a GP.

“Telehealth is a wonderful thing but in the end you really have to be in the room with the person in my view.”

Patrice and her family lived in Daylesford, just below Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens, from 1976 to 1990, and they were “sort of like a big backyard”.

“Like many people I do enjoy gardens, trees in particular, plants and people so the Friends of the Gardens is really a terrific focus for all of those interests. That is what made the Friends such a good thing for me and for others too. It is a community organisation but also a community in itself.”

Patrice said she believed people were increasingly realising the importance of the gardens and how precious they are to the region.

“They are so wild and romantic in so many ways and so pleasant to be in, in so many other ways. Even when the weather is terrible there are pleasures to be had up there, as long as you are appropriately clothed.”

Patrice said the Friends of the Gardens were holding a first, a community Winter in the Gardens Festival, with the intriguing subtitle of “mists, magic and mystery”.

“It’s the first weekend of August, all orchestrated by one of the Friends, Frank Page, and we are having a series of talks, a dinner on the Saturday night to which people are cordially invited, tours of the gardens, the Daylesford Museum is putting on an exhibition and there’s even a winter flower show in the conservatory.

“It’s a wonderful community event with the Friends of the Gardens, the Daylesford Horticultural Society, the Agricultural Society, the Historical Society and U3A involved.

“It’s all free, except for the dinner, and we will be enjoying the gardens at a time of the year which is not what you see in the glossy magazines. It is a fantastic thing.”

Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Eve Lamb

Newstead Railway Arts Hub is hosting a concert by local artist – Jo Huf on Friday evening, July 5.

Jo is a singer-songwriter, sometimes a one-lady band of electro-pop sounds or sometimes playing and singing bossa nova, one thing is for sure you get a variety show! 

Jo will take listeners on a musical journey through all these genres helping to warm up your winter.

Jo’s resplendent, soaring vocals will get under your skin and make your soul sing!

Refreshments to hand on the evening will include Welshman’s Reef wines, beer and drinks will be available at bar prices, from 7pm and during interval. 

The concert will commence at 7.30pm sharp with more information about ticketing available through the local Railway Arts Hub’s website.

Words: Supplied

The community has just a few days remaining to provide feedback on the City of Ballarat’s Draft Footpath Construction Strategy.

The draft strategy guides how the City of Ballarat will prioritise and fund where new footpaths are built to improve safety, transport choices, health and wellbeing, as well as supporting local economic activity and productivity.

It also identifies where new footpaths are needed most, where sealing of existing unsealed footpaths should take place, and highlights missing links in the city’s footpath network.

The strategy features an equitable approach to the construction of footpaths, outlining a community-informed prioritisation framework for identifying which gaps in the footpath network should be built first.

The strategy is designed to improve accessibility for communities most in need including, but not limited to, carers, people with disability and those without access to private transport.

The Draft Footpath Construction Strategy features a raft of key recommendations, which include:

• Undertake regular demographic analysis of population segments to ensure a clear understanding of which communities may have greater needs from the footpath network
• Explore opportunities to apply special rate and charge schemes to footpath provision, where willing residents could help co-fund their local footpath, if the path is not earmarked for construction
• Engage with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners on each year’s Footpath Construction Plan to support landmarks or sightlines of cultural significance near planned footpath construction
• Investigate opportunities to improve personal security, physical safety, accessibility and connectivity of footpaths to ensure women have equal opportunities to benefit from footpath construction, and
• Prioritise footpath gaps for construction according to a framework that prioritises primary and secondary pedestrian routes aligned to the Principal Pedestrian Network, as well as local connectivity, adjacent road speed and suburb and locality footpath index of need.    

So far, about 208 people have provided feedback on the draft strategy.

City of Ballarat Councillor Ben Taylor encouraged those yet to provide their feedback, to do so before consultation closes on Sunday 23 June.

“Footpaths play a vital role in keeping our community safe and connected to others, as well as to community facilities, services, public transport and open spaces,” he said.

“This strategy will ensure that our community has access to footpaths that encourage them to walk to local destinations and better connects them to all that our community has to offer.”

The City of Ballarat held extensive community consultation in the development of the Draft Footpath Construction Strategy.

Community consultation, which was held from 5 February until 3 March, worked to understand how residents use the footpath network and to gather feedback on the proposed decision-making framework.

Workshops were held with key stakeholders including the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and City of Ballarat’s Ageing Well, Community Inclusion, LGBTIQA+ and Youth Services teams. Two community pop-up sessions were also held at the Ballarat Farmers Market and the Skate Park Leagues Competition.

More than 460 residents contributed to the consultation, with 264 surveys completed and 580 contributions made to the interactive pin-drop map.  

Feedback from the Ballarat community will inform the final Footpath Construction Strategy.

Those eager to provide feedback on the Draft Footpath Construction Strategy can do so up until 5pm, Sunday 23 June at mysay.ballarat.vic.gov.au/footpath-strategy. 

Words & Image: Supplied

As the 2024 snow season gets started, concerns about historical trends and future projections are raising issues for alpine risk management.

Many are wondering whether it will be a good year for skiing. In 2023, we had a poor snow season due to unusually warm and dry weather from June to September (PDF, 4.81MB).

We delve into the recent trends and projections for the Australian alpine regions, exploring the impact of climate change on snow depths, and potential impacts for alpine ecosystems and resorts.

Let’s take a closer look at long-term variability and trends. Maximum snow depth data from 1954 to 2023 were analysed at three sites in the Snowy Mountains with high-quality records.

All three show there is large variability from year-to-year, with downward trends of about 0.4-0.6 cm per year over the past 70 years.

Projections for the alpine region over the coming decades indicate further increases in temperature and decreases in precipitation. A number of studies have shown this means further reductions in snowfall, snow cover and snow depths. Natural variability will provide yearly fluctuations, so there will still be variable snow seasons. But long-term projections show more bad snow seasons than good ones.

Several snow projections have been published for Australia. From 2011-2030, maximum snow depths in mainland Australia are projected to decline by 15-80 per cent at sites below 1600 metre (m) elevation and 5-50 per cent at sites above 1600m elevation. These projections are relative to a 20-year period centred on 1990 (1981-2000).

By 2050, in Victoria, maximum snow depths at Falls Creek and Mount Hotham may decline 30-70 per cent for a low emissions scenario (B1) and 45-90 per cent for a high emissions scenario (A1FI) relative to 20 years centred on 1990. 

At the same time, maximum snow depths at Mount Buller and Mount Buffalo may decline 40-80 per cent for B1 and 50-100 per cent for A1FI. For a medium emissions scenario (A2), the snowpack may decrease 15 per cent by 2030 and 60 per cent by 2070, relative to a 20-year period centred on 2000.

By 2050, the average snow season becomes 20-55 days shorter for the low scenario and 30-80 days shorter for the high scenario (PDF, 5M).

Words: CSIRO

A lack of scientists specialised in plant breeding could lead to ‘dire’ food security implications in Australia, and around the world, according to new research conducted across three continents. 

Plant breeding is a multidisciplinary science that underpins the global production of food, animal feed, fuel and fibre.  

A joint paper between Australia’s national science agency CSIRO, Lincoln University in New Zealand and McGill University in Canada to address the issue, has painted a concerning picture about future capacity in the plant breeding area. 

The paper found that to maintain our level of agrifood, fibre and feed production, we need to urgently address the skills shortage. 

Lead author and CSIRO scientist Dr Lucy Egan said the shortage has been building for some time and has the potential to impact agricultural production worldwide.  

“What we’re seeing is a whole generation of highly-skilled plant breeding specialists who are now reaching retirement age, with a gap left as university graduates opt to focus on other areas of plant science including molecular biology,” Dr Egan said.  

“The implications of this shortage could be dire, including affecting global food security and the economies of different countries around the world, including Australia.” 

Words & Image: CSIRO

Crime Investigation Unit detectives have charged a man and a woman in relation to an elaborate Facebook Marketplace scam last month.

It is alleged that a woman organised to meet an unsuspecting victim who was selling a high-end designer handbag online, worth thousands of dollars.

Officers have been told that during the meeting, the female buyer allegedly inspected the item, before a man approached her, and then assaulted and robbed her of the handbag before fleeing.

Police allege the female buyer and the man are known to each other and staged the robbery.

It’s alleged the pair then on sold the items, splitting the profit.

A 21-year-old Gladstone Park woman has been charged with perjury, theft and handle stolen goods.

A 28-year-old Broadmeadows man was charged with theft, handle stolen goods, and obtain property by deception.

The pair have been bailed to appear before Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on 9 October.

The Daylesford & Hepburn United Soccer Club will participate in the Act@Play cultural change initiative this year following its successful application to be part of the program.

Delivered by Women’s Health Grampians (WHG) in partnership with Council, Act@Play is a gender equality, cultural change initiative that recognises the power that regional sporting clubs have to influence attitudes and beliefs about what is acceptable behaviour.

Hepburn Shire Council mayor, Cr Brian Hood, said that the program aims to develop and deliver culture change programs that support clubs to develop welcoming and inclusive environments for all genders.

“This is achieved through education and empowering leaders on and off the field and we’re excited to be working with the soccer club to achieve this,” Cr Hood said.

“Daylesford and Hepburn United Soccer Club submitted an excellent EOI noting that working in the space of gender equality is a key priority area for the club’s leadership.

“Their club’s commitment ensures women’s participation and visibility in the club and the game will not be an afterthought, and the club should be commended for that. Their participation in Act@Play is a good and strong fit,” said Cr Hood.

Renee Smith from DHUSC says, “Creating a safe, respectful and inclusive culture and playing environment has been a core priority of the Daylesford and Hepburn United Soccer Club for many years. 

The club is reported to be thrilled to be selected to be part of the Act@Play program in 2024 and work alongside Women’s Health Grampians to promote and further embed gender equality outcomes within our club community.

The Act@Play program furthers the club’s recent achievements of 44% female participation for the 2024 season.

The club has been named only the 50th regional club in Australia to receive 1-star ‘Club Changer’ accreditation by Football Australia.

The club will now commence a six-month intensive program facilitated by Women’s Health Grampians.

Partnering with the club and with Women’s Health Grampians, the council will share outcomes and to inform future opportunities for other local sporting clubs.

Talented young creatives have recently been recognised at the City of Greater Bendigo’s 2024 RAW Arts Awards at a special presentation held last night at The Capital with the Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf.

The RAW Awards showcase and foster the talents and artistic pursuits of young people in the region 25 years of age and under, and this year’s awards attracted 76 applicants.

The winner and a highly commended entry are recognised in five categories: Visual Arts, Literature, Performing Arts, Short Film and the Yo Bendigo/Ambedo award. 

The Ambedo prize in partnership with Yo Bendigo is given for work that captures the experience of being a young person living in Greater Bendigo in 2024.

The Ambedo magazine is a free quarterly magazine designed, produced, and edited for young people.

Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said the RAW Arts Awards evening and accompanying exhibition provided a fantastic opportunity for young talent in the region to showcase their work.