Rolling Stone Magazine once described Kevin Welch as “One of the best songwriters in America”.

Welch has written songs for Roger Miller, Waylon Jennings, The Highwaymen, Solomon Burke and Linda Ronstadt and he is headed to Hepburn Springs to play the Palais this month together with The Weeping Willows.

Three-times Country Music Assocation of Australia ‘Golden Guitar’ winners and two-times Australian Folk Music and Music Victoria Award winners, The Weeping Willows (Laura Coates and Andrew Wrigglesworth) are a couple of old souls, steeped in Bluegrass tradition and draped in Gothic Americana imagery.

They regale their audiences with stories of sunshine and romance, God and the devil, murder and decay.

Together again, Kevin Welch and The Weeping Willows return to the Palais-Hepburn, performing a set each before joining forces for some fairly special collaborations on Friday evening April 19.

Bendigo Crime Investigation Unit detectives have charged a man following the theft of reptiles from Kangaroo Flat late last month.

It is alleged the man forced entry to a business on Lockwood Road in the early hours of 30 March.

An estimated 50 reptiles, including snakes, bearded dragons, monitors and lizards were allegedly stolen from the premises.

Detectives last week charged a 24-year-old California Gully man with burglary and theft.

He has been bailed to appear before the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on 14 June.

Australian culinary icons Julie Goodwin (inaugural winner of MasterChef), Darren Purchese (host of The Great Australian Bake Off) and Tim Bone (co-host Good Chef Bad Chef) will headline Sovereign Hill’s Heritage Harvest happening over next month’s Ballarat Heritage Festival.

Heritage Harvest Weekend is a celebration of autumnal flavours, rustic food, and traditional culinary practices brought to the Goldfields from around the world but with a modern twist.

The weekend-long foodie takeover will see Julie Goodwin and Darren Purchese present live demonstrations, Q&A sessions, and meet and greet sessions hosted by guest moderator Kara Monseen, Herald Sun food and wine editor.

The special guests will also spend time across the weekend connecting with visitors, answering their questions, and meeting local producers.

For the first time in the festival’s three-year history, Sovereign Hill will open up cooking demonstrations with the much-loved chefs and other cooking, craft and historical experts at no additional cost.

Over 30 producers and artisans will transform Sovereign Hill into a food-lovers feast with a village market stocked with quality wares from the region, live demonstrations of traditional crafts and cooking along Main Street, special kids’ activities to inspire the little ones, as well as cooking and craft sessions hosted by the Country Women’s Association.

Heritage Harvest Weekend is part of the Ballarat Heritage Festival that happens over May 17-26.

The Palais at Hepburn Springs is delving into its in-house spirits as it prepares to host a Paranormal Investigation with medium later this month.

The evening event is set for Wednesday April 17 at the local venue that is reputed to be home to it’s own spirit diva who loves messing with the stage lights and parading her feathers backstage.

There is also said to sometimes be a Mafiosa gentleman sitting and smoking in the middle of the dancefloor, a touchy feely and well known spirit loitering in the ladies room.

Organisers reckon there could be more so they’ve decided t explore with psychic medium and hostess Dolly Adamson of Kyneton Paranormal.

Further details are availabe through the venue’s website.

The Ballarat public library’s first major redevelopment and expansion since 1993 is now complete.

The $7.47million redevelopment of the library, located at Doveton Street North, includes an expansion of the second level of the building, a new entrance, purpose-built teaching areas, quiet areas, open space, as well as specialised children and family areas.

Library staff will nw be operating a reduced programming schedule for a few months to allow library staff to continue setting up at the new facility – as such, some programs that community members regularly attend may not be running during this time.

The building uses as many natural products as possible, to keep the footprint as neutral as possible.

The main library floor is called Marmoleum. It is a natural material made from linseed oil, while the carpet squares in high traffic areas are made from natural goat hair fibres.

The lighting around the perimeter of the building has in-built sensors so lights turn themselves off where enough natural light is detected, as an energy saving feature.

All the lighting is sensor controlled and turns off when no movement is detected for a period of time.

The community kitchen includes a low-energy use induction stove top and natural stone benchtop.

Filament for the 3D printers in the Maker Space is a natural corn starch/sugar cane derivative, so it is biodegradable.

Any waste filament will be thermally processed to be used in other products, such as chopping boards, by arrangement with Ballarat Hacker Space.

The redeveloped community asset has retained its car park.

Steamrail Victoria will be inviting all rail enthusiasts – and others – to jump aboard vintage steam shuttles with two heritage steam locomotives running as part next month’s Ballarat Heritage Festival.

“Wave to the Ballarat locals and the lineside photographers while we take you back in time aboard the vintage train,” A Steamrail Victoria spokesman said, ahead of the event.

“Our shuttle trips run 18km to the tiny country town of Lal Lal. Stopping just out of town, the train will then return you to Ballarat Station, passing high speed V/Line trains on the approach to Ballarat.”

One-way trains will also be operating between Melbourne and Ballarat, offering a unique chance to experience regional travel, 1920’s style during the festival held over May 17-26.

The City of Ballarat has stood proudly with its transgender and gender diverse community and celebrated their contribution to the city in a dedicated ceremony in recent days.

A flag-raising was held last Thursday at the city’s Queen Victoria Square, followed by an afternoon tea inside Ballarat Town Hall.

International Trans Day of Visibility is held annually on 31 March, with the City of Ballarat this year holding its flag raising on 28 March due to the Easter break.

The day is dedicated to celebrating transgender and gender diverse people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide, as well as being a celebration of their contributions to society.

Speaking at the event was Abbie Clark, a trans woman who transitioned in Ballarat in 2019 and has been leading the charge with Trans.au, the national directory of trans and gender diverse services and community groups.

The event is one of four celebratory events in 2024 that have been identified by the LGBTIQA+ Advisory Committee and led by the City of Ballarat.

Words and Image: Supplied

The City of Ballarat’s Draft Ballarat Biodiversity Strategy has been released for community review and feedback.

The draft strategy maps out a future for biodiversity across the municipality, outlining actions that will protect and strengthen Ballarat’s natural environment.

Those keen to make a contribution are able to lodge their input up until 5pm, Tuesday 30 April via the council’s website. 

The strategy will help guide the management and protection of the region’s unique landscapes and species, and is the first co-designed strategy the City of Ballarat has delivered in partnership with Wadawurrung and alongside the Country Plans of the Wadawurrung and Dja Dja Wurrung Traditional Owners.  

The City of Ballarat held community consultation in the development of the Draft Ballarat Biodiversity Strategy, Healing Country Together, late last year, including hosting a Young People’s Forum with 20 participants.

As part of the community consultation, more than 100 surveys were completed, more than 20 detailed submissions were made, 30 community members representing active community groups attended workshop discussions and more than 70 City of Ballarat employees contributed to an ideas workshops.

Feedback from the community will inform the final Biodiversity Strategy, which is expected to go before the council for consideration later this year.

Words & Image: Supplied

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council is inviting community feedback on its draft infrastructure master plan for Stanley Park in Mount Macedon with submissions able to be lodged up until April 19.

The six-hectare forest, grassland and passive recreation park has been used by residents and visitors for walking, picnicking and nature study for more than 100 years.

This is the second stage of consultation for the popular reserve following previous community consultation for the Stanley Park Environmental Management Plan in mid-2023, and its endorsement by the council at the December 2023 council meeting.

The EMP provides recommendations to protect the site’s flora and fauna values and has helped to guide the draft IMP.

The council’s Director Planning and Environment, Rebecca Stockfeld, said the key aim of the draft IMP was to balance the needs of the reserve’s users, while safeguarding its ecological values through considered infrastructure design.

“It’s important we provide opportunities for the community and visitors to enjoy everything Stanley Park has to offer, while making sure we protect the natural environment which makes it so unique,” she said.

“We will continue to work closely with the community to find out what they would like to see for Stanley Park and how they would like the park to be managed going forward.”

Key features of the draft IMP include updated interpretive signs and provision to update or maintain existing infrastructure such as footbridges, stone steps, toilet facilities, the car park and fencing near waterfall vegetation.

A long-term vision for the park includes consolidating all infrastructure to focus passive recreation in the north-east corner of the site.

This involves the staged removal of existing infrastructure in the north-west section as it reaches its end of life, and rehabilitation of the former playground, picnic area and car park in accordance with the EMP.

The draft IMP proposes the new north-east passive recreation zone, including a nature play area and other recreation infrastructure that celebrates the site’s natural values. 

Users of Ballarat’s Yarrowee River trails are being asked for feedback on how to best provide safe and engaging off-road walkable and rideable connections at four key locations surrounding the Ballarat CBD.  

The Yarrowee River Trails and Connections Project aims to address the following:

• Accessibility and safety  
• Rest and contemplation areas  
• Trees and other planting  
• Information and directional signage
• Connections to other walking and cycling paths

The first connection identified is between Nicholson Street and Scott Parade, linking Black Hill to the Eastern Oval and onto Mair Street.  

The second location looks at providing new shared paths along Anderson Street East and West, connecting into the CBD and recently constructed tracks along Steinfeld Street.

This is hoped to allow for a seamless active transport route to and from the city.  

The third connection would link the trail from Grant Street along the Yarrowee River past White Flat Oval and the river reserve through to Sunnyside Mill at Hill Street.  

The final location will see improvements to the Prest Street Reserve including providing a lookout platform and site interpretation.  

These four connections have been identified from the Yarrowee River and Tributaries: River Corridor Masterplan, which includes 34 plans spanning the whole length of the river.  

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said design work to connect the Yarrowee River trails to the CBD is an important step in improving active transport links.  

“We are asking the community for their thoughts on these connections, and what we would do along these paths to improve the experience of using them,” he said.  

Community feedback will help shape these connections and the facilities along them, before further advocacy work is undertaken to fund the construction of the upgrades.  

To provide feedback, those interested can visit mysay.ballarat.vic.gov.au. Consultation closes at 5pm Monday, 15 April 2024.  

CFA volunteers that fought the recent fires in the west of Victoria were recently given an opportunity by the Western Bulldogs Football Club to thank them for their service.

At the recent AFL round 2 match, Western Bulldogs vs Gold Coast Suns, CFA volunteers formed the Guard of Honour and did the coin toss.

CFA Deputy Chief Officer West Region Brett Boatman said the gesture from the Western Bulldogs was warmly received.

“The west of the state has had a hard couple of months and our volunteers have worked tirelessly to protect their communities,” Brett said.

“Our volunteers involvement in the Western Bulldogs game on home turf is a fantastic gesture and recognises the hours of time our volunteers have given and reinforces the Bulldogs strong connection to the west.”

Sheep stud farmer Ellie McDonald, 25, from Dadswells Bridge Fire Brigade was chosen to do the coin toss and while an Essendon supporter, was thrilled to be picked.

“On the 13 February the first call came through about 11.30am and we saw the smoke and knew this was going to be a big day,” Ellie said.

“We quickly rang a lot of the locals – the vulnerable ones we thought would be in danger and anyone else we could think of to get them out of the way.”

“We saved one house and went up the road to help out.”

The crew with Ellie worked from 11.30am to 12.30am.

Dadswells Bridge is a small community up of about 20 homes. During the recent fire one home and several sheds were burnt.

Ellie owns a stud farm with 800 acres of land and about 270 breeding stud sheep. On 13 February 30 sheep were burnt and only two paddocks on her farm were not burnt.

“It could have gone very differently,” Ellie said.

Ellie joined the CFA when she was 16 years old in 2015 and is now the first lieutenant.

“If you’re in the local community, it’s something you’ve got to do and it’s good catching up with the locals all the time.

“It’s about sharing the load – if you are available you go.”

20 CFA volunteers made of the Guard of Honour on Sunday March 24 and 100 CFA volunteers were offered general admission.

Words & Image: CFA

Dayleford Fire Brigade’s Kayla Manning is the sole regional Victorian representative on the CFA’s youth council… and loving it by all accounts.

Last year, the Good Friday Appeal (GFA) took a significant step by establishing the youth council to actively participate in the planning process and to better engage with young individuals, shaping the future of the appeal.

The GFA team collaborated with CFA to nominate a CFA representative aged between 16 and 26 years old to contribute to the council.

Kayla Manning, a dedicated youth volunteer from CFA District 15 and a member of Daylesford Fire Brigade, expressed interest and was selected for her exceptional commitment to youth initiatives in CFA and her local community.

Among the 10 members of the youth council, Kayla now stands as the sole representative from regional Victoria.

“I’m excited about the opportunity and the potential to provide a youth perspective and encourage greater youth involvement in the appeal’s activities,” Kayla said.

She also noted the benefit to CFA, seeing it as an opportunity to bring back valuable insights to CFA and explore ways of how brigades can support the appeal all year round.

The council has already convened several times, contributing ideas such as the design of new fundraising pins to be sold during the 2024 Kids Day Out event at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Good Friday.

Another exciting achievement was the suggestion to invite Bounce, a youth-centric trampoline centre, to support the appeal.

The proposal was discussed at a meeting and confirmed by Bounce, resulting in Bounce pledging to donate all proceeds from ticket sales on Good Friday to the appeal.

“It was amazing to see such a quick transformation of ideas into tangible fundraising opportunities geared towards youth,” Kayla said. “It was very rewarding”.

This year Kayla and other members of the youth council were at the Good Friday Appeal Kids Day Out event, selling the Good Friday Appeal pins and volunteering to count donations.

“I am really excited, I have always collected with my brigade but this year I will be able to help out in a different way,” Kayla said.

Following this year’s recent Good Friday Appeal, the youth council will now meet again to review the appeal and look at how it can have a positive impact on future appeals.

The Fire Danger Period will finish on Monday April 8 in several Victorian municipalities.

The Fire Danger Period finishes at 1am on Monday April 8 in the following municipalities in CFA’s District 17, 18 and 20:

• Yarriambiack Shire
• Gannawarra
• Loddon
• Campaspe

While restrictions are lifting in these areas, the CFA still expects the grassfire risk to remain across the state over the next month so Victorians need to remain alert and prepared. 

Residents are reminded that Total Fire Ban days may still occur so any fires that are lit must be able to be extinguished immediately.

CFA District 17Assistant Chief Fire Officer Mark Gunning said reduced fuel loads across the Wimmera and Southern Mallee have allowed an easing of restrictions.

“We’re urging everyone to stay safe, whether you’re living in or travelling to high bushfire risk areas. 

“Please monitor the conditions on hot, dry and windy days, as we may still see some days of elevated fire risk.” 

The end of the Fire Danger Period (FDP) will be an opportunity for some landowners to burn-off again, however it’s important that residents check that local conditions are safe before undertaking these activities. 

“You must still register your burn-offs, check weather conditions and follow local council laws, as well as EPA laws and applicable regulations,” ACFO Gunning said. 

“Registering your burn-off ensures that if smoke or fire is reported, the incident is cross-checked with our register, which prevents firefighters from unnecessarily responding.” 

“When conducting burn-offs, remain alert and always have resources on hand to extinguish the fire. 

Landowners can register their burn-off online at www.firepermits.vic.gov.au or call 1800 668 511. 

If possible, landowners should also notify their neighbours and others nearby who may be sensitive to smoke so they can take necessary precautions. 

Tips for looking after your health when there is smoke can be found on EPA’s website.

Keep your burn off safe and legal:

• Check fire restrictions in your area and always register your burn
  
• Check and monitor weather conditions – particularly wind. 
  
• To avoid unnecessary calls to emergency services, notify your neighbours beforehand.
   
• Leave a three-metre fire break, free from flammable materials around the burn. 
  
• Have sufficient equipment and water to stop the fire spreading. 
  
• Never leave a burn-off unattended – stay for its entire duration. 
  
• If your burn-off gets out of control, call ‘000’ immediately. 

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council is continuing to host a range of activities and events for children and young people in the shire throughout the April school holidays.

Among them, the Kids Creative Building Jam is taking place at the Kyneton Town Hall, April 8-10.

It’s described as being “a hands-on, super fun creative school holiday collaboration for children aged 6-13 years”.

The concept is that “someone is in trouble and 100 creative-minded kids are needed to help design and build a safe place for them”.

Using “a huge range of reclaimed materials, we will collaboratively dream up and build a never-before-seen structure in the town hall” a council spokesperson says.

The program will run over five separate two-hour workshops, culminating with a public grand opening to celebrate the build.

More details and registratins are available through the council’s website.

After 11 years of supporting the Good Friday Appeal, this year’s appeal was particularly special for Wendouree CFA firefighter Ryan Patrikeos.

Last month, his newborn Sophia, just six weeks old, was taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) for an operation.

Ryan and his wife Maddie knew something wasn’t right when Sofia kept vomiting, after taking her to the GP, it was recommended their first born go to the RCH.

Sophia was diagnosed with pyloric stenosis, a condition that blocks the small intestine, just one in 500 babies are diagnosed with it. 

The operation took place just days after Ryan was on a strike team for the recent fires around Beaufort.

Ryan said he was nervous going to the hospital, but knew they were in the best place they could be.

Now, Ryan wants to raise awareness of how important the work the hospital does to help babies like Sophia.

“I kind of felt like we were their priority, I know there were other kids at the hospital but at the time it didn’t feel like that because the care was absolutely awesome,” he said.

“It makes me emotional thinking about it, the care we were given. They are a sensational group of doctors and nurses there.”

He said now Sophia was back to being the baby she was before she got sick.

“It’s been amazing to see how far she has come and the recovery she has made has been incredible,” he said.

“She is now back home and smiling and cuddling.”

Prior to the recent Good Friday Appeal this month, he urged others to get behind the annual fundraiser to help other children.

“I am a massive community man, always have to be helping someone or something I can’t be sitting on my hands, I just want to have an impact.”

The overall total for the Good Friday Appeal this time ’round is $23,368,724 – a record-breaking final tally.

Words & Image: CFA