The Regional Victorian Power Alliance, representing western and north western Victorian communities, has issued a resolute declaration opposing the proposed construction of high voltage transmission towers in regional Victoria.

In an open letter to Premier Jacinta Allan, the Alliance underscored the unacceptable risks posed to regional communities and the environment by the proposed infrastructure.

The Alliance’s concerns come in the wake of the collapse of six transmission towers at Anakie on February 13.

It says this incident, coupled with past failures, highlights the grave dangers associated with outdated infrastructure and underscores the urgent need for action.

ARIA Award winner C.W. Stoneking will headline this month’s popular annual Blackwood Woodchop & Easter Carnival.

The carnival was crowned Winner of Moorabool Shire’s Community Event of the Year 2023.

Now in its 122nd year, the event offers an action-packed day out for the whole family on Saturday, March 30. It features one of the oldest woodchopping competitions in Victoria, attracting competitors from across the state.

The carnival begins with a street parade, followed by a host of activities including tug-o-war, gumboot throwing, pet show and novelty races.

This year’s live music program is absolutely top-notch. One of the fabulous headline acts is none other than ARIA Award winner C.W. Stoneking.

It’s difficult to summarise all that this genre-spanning artist has to offer – old-time bluesman, potent storyteller, songwriter, guitarist and banjo player. C.W. himself describes his style as “Hokum Blues”, a musical brew influenced by pre-war blues, ragtime, vaudevillian tunes, old hillbilly songs, jazz, and calypso.

Another incredible headline act is four-piece band Austral – hot favourites on the folk festival circuit. Austral is a high-energy, Australian tunes band combining didgeridoo, Irish pipes, high powered fiddling, journeying songs and energetic foot percussion.

Also on the bill is Scots singer Fiona Ross. She’ll be joined by fellow songstress Christine Kydd, who’ll be visiting from Scotland. There will be bluegrass from Hardrive, old-time from The Greater Glider Stringband and Celtic tunes from Is the Big Man Within?.

With market stalls, food vans, licensed bars and an abundance of fun, family-friendly activities – the Blackwood Woodchop & Easter Carnival offers something for everyone.

Tickets are on sale now with kids under 15 free of charge. Link: www.blackwood3458.com.au | www.trybooking.com/COPBM

See you in Blackwood.

Ballarat’s Civic Hall is set to be transformed into a high-octane battleground this year when professional wrestling returns to the local regional city.

Oceania Pro Wrestling (OPW) will once again bring world-class wrestling entertainment to Ballarat on the weekend of 30 August – 1 September 2024 for its ‘Gold Rush’ weekend of events.  

The Gold Rush weekend will feature three nights of top-tier wrestling and officially launch OPW’s partnership with the international promotion Major League Wrestling (MLW). In addition, a major international star, to be revealed soon, will headline one night of the event.

Fans can anticipate high-level competition as OPW’s fan-favourite stars go head-to-head with MLW’s formidable international roster. With multiple championship belts on the line, the bouts promise high-stakes drama to captivate crowds.

In addition to premium in-ring action, attendees will have opportunities to engage directly with larger-than-life competitors during meet and greets and other fan events organised throughout the city that weekend.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said the wrestling event was a great way to diversify the usage of Civic Hall.

“It certainly looms as an event with a difference and we look forward to having a packed Civic Hall for what is certain to be quite a spectacle,” he said.

“We understand wrestling has a significant following, and I’m looking forward to having it broadcast from within Civic Hall, showcasing Ballarat throughout Australia and the rest of the world.”

Oceania Pro Wrestling Managing Director Cameron Vale said he was excited to bring more wrestling action to Ballarat.

“We are thrilled to bring our electrifying OPW action back to the passionate fans in Ballarat,” he said.  

“Teaming up with a premier wrestling organisation like MLW will allow us to deliver even more hard-hitting, dramatic championship action to our loyal fans. We can’t wait for fans to witness our homegrown OPW athletes battle MLW’s international all-star roster for three nights of must-see title fights.”

Major League Wrestling CEO Court Bauer said this will be a world class event, not to be missed.

“This partnership and weekend of matches packs a punch, much like the world class fighters fans will experience from Major League Wrestling and OPW,” he said.

“We’re excited to work with OPW, celebrate combat sports, and bring the incredible fans of Australia matches that the world will be talking about.”

The City of Ballarat secured the event via its Event Development Fund.

Tickets for the ‘Gold Rush’ weekend of events will go on sale in April, with an early access offer to those who pre-register.

The Daylesford Highland Gathering committee has donated $10,000 to Daylesford Health to be used to improve comfort levels for residents at Lumeah Lodge, its residential aged care facility.

On the first Saturday in December for over 70 years, the Daylesford Highland Gathering has entertained crowds in Vincent Street, Daylesford with a fundraising parade of Scottish culture, music and dance, followed by a fun gathering at Victoria Park.

The current committee is looking to hand over the reins to a new generation of community members who can carry on its incredible legacy.

If you are interested in joining the Daylesford Highland Gathering Committee please get in touch via
www.daylesfordhighland.com online.

Committee secretary Anne Heriot said the donation was a token of appreciation for the wonderful facilities provided for the elderly of our community.

“Daylesford’s aged citizens are truly blessed to have a facility that provides such caring support and residency prospects, and we thank your dedicated staff for all their efforts.”

Daylesford Health’s Director of Nursing Meagan Harding said the money would play a pivotal role in
enhancing the facilities at Lumeah Lodge.

“This contribution will ensure that the residents of Lumeah Lodge enjoy an improved environment, characterised by safety, comfort, and inviting spaces for all who reside there. We are extremely thankful to the Daylesford Highland Gathering Committee.

“Community is at the heart of what we do at Central Highlands Rural Health. For more than 160
years, we have been supported by the generosity of those who contribute their time and money to ensure that we can best meet the health challenges of our local communities.”

It’s been a long wait for the Daylesford Girl Guides but after two years the good news finally came through.

They have a builder.

Back in 2022 the local guide group secured government funding of $47,000 through Regional Development Victoria’s Living Local Regional Grants Program, for a long awaited revamp of their historic hall – including removal of asbestos.

But guide leader Susan Verbyla says the widespread shortage of tradies meant they had been unable to proceed with the work … until now.

Recently the guides secured the services of local builder Alan Ware of Ware Carpentr, meaning they can also go ahead and bring in the asbestos removal experts to rid the vintage hall of the unwelcome material.

The asbestos is – thankfully – not in the main body of the hall that guides have used all the way back to 1958, Susan says.

“It’s on the outside eaves, and in part of the kitchen and there’s a piece behind the electrical switchboard,” she says.

“The grant will cover removal of all of the asbestos, replacement and repair of walls, ceiling, front steps, electrical work, plumbing, painting, carpet and curtains and some exterior work. It was an exciting grant to receive as the hall is in dire straits. The builder is just starting now.”

Susan was not making any secret of her excitement over the fact that after the long wait work can finally get going which is not just good news for the guides.

It’s also great news for many other local community groups who, once work is complete, will be able to use the hall for their gatherings as well.

Susan says a main aim is ensuring some ongoing income with rent coming in, and a couple of local playgroups already lined up as regular hirers of the beautifully positioned old hall in Duke Street, neighbouring Daylesford’s civic offices.

“It’s just in the ideal spot. This is the original hall in the original spot,” Susan says.

The guides are hopeful the work will be competed by Easter, at which point Susan hopes to hold a public open hall week so current and former users of the hall can get along and admire the upgrades.

“I’d like to have it done by Easter and I think we will,” she says.

“I would love to have an open hall week for the community. I reckon there are women here in the community who were probably part of that original group.”

It would also be a chance for any community groups who are interested to take a peek and see if the hall may just suit their own ongoing meeting needs as well.

“Quite often other groups in the community contact me and ask if they can hire the hall,” Susan says.

The hall’s presence in Daylesford dates back to the late 1950s with a plaque naming the date of 1958, and Susan says it was moved to its current site in Duke Street especially for the guides of the day.

Former guide leader with the group, Glenda Fleischer started with the guides back in the late 60s as an assistant for the rangers (older guides) and remained with them for three decades including a stint as assistant regional leader.

“The hall came from near Glenlyon. It was donated by the Ogden family,” says Glenda who lives at Glenlyon.

“Before the hall, I think they used to meet at the church behind the guide hall. Daylesford was a very early unit.”

The guiding movement in Daylesford has been going for well over 100 years – right back to the early 1900s – and Daylesford’s Marj Green is among those who remembers back to the days before the current hall arrived.

“The hall came from Spring Hill and I’m fairly sure it used to be a church,” Marj says.

Marj started as a brownie (which have since been replaced by junior guides) back in the 1940s when the Daylesford brownies and guides of the day used to gather in the town’s Baptist Hall.

“Back then we belonged to the Clunes District and we used to have lots of fun,” recalls Marj who went on to become a brownie leader (or Brown Owl) in 1977 and stayed on with the movement in Daylesford until 1996.

Back in the day, Marj says the young brownies would learn about many things including how to do the dishes properly, clean their shoes correctly, and set the table properly including correct placement of soup spoon.

Today, the Daylesford unit has about 18 guides whose ages range from six to 14 and they enjoy a wide range of activities. Things like skateboarding, swimming, camping – and yes, a bit of knot-tying. A few of the more traditional things remain, like cookery, craft and community service.

But the movement has changed quite a bit since the 1950s, says Susan who has been with them for at least a decade with her own daughter, Lucinda, having grown up a keen guide.

“Girl guides is very different these days. It’s got to be girl-led,” she says.

Words: Eve Lamb

Creswick’s Robert (Bob) Orr is one of the finalists in the Fundraising Institute Australia’s Fundraising Champion of the Year.

The awards were presented in Brisbane late last month. Bob and his wife Margaret along with Central Highlands Rural Health’s fundraising chair Kate Redwood and fundraising manager Kathryn Kosloff, attended the dinner.

Bob’s passion and commitment to rural health care in Creswick was recognised by experts in the fundraising sector from across the country. The Fundraising Champion of the Year category was established in 2021 to acknowledge “the importance and highly valued contribution of ‘non traditional’ fundraising advocates and supporters” and is “designed to recognise that effective fundraising doesn’t happen in isolation”.

Ms Redwood congratulated Bob on his nomination.

“Bob has accepted the challenge to fundraise for the Creswick hospital on more than one occasion and is always willing and able to rise to the occasion. It is wonderful that he was recognised by Fundraising Institute Australia as a finalist.

“We are thrilled that Bob has been acknowledged for his incredible contribution to rural
health care.”

A former Creswick & District Hospital president, Bob continues to be an incredible leader within the Creswick community. In 2023, he accepted the challenge of raising $150,000 for his local health service which he achieved with the assistance of the Creswick Health Upgrade Appeal Committee.

In the 1990s, Bob successfully campaigned to raise $1 million to save the Creswick Hospital and has continued to guide and support the future of health care for the town.

Bob has created an incredible legacy, along with his wife Margaret who has been a member of the Creswick & District Hospital Auxiliary for 50 years.

“We want the township of Creswick to continue to thrive into the future,” Bob said.

“Rural health care continues to need community support and we do what we can to contribute.”

Brimbank Highway Patrol have impounded a motorbike after detecting it travelling more than double the speed limit in Keilor last Saturday March 9.

Police were performing speed detection duties on the Calder Freeway as part of Operation Arid just before 3pm.

Officers detected a white BMW S1000R motorbike allegedly travelling at 210km/h in a 80km/h area.

The motorbike was intercepted before police spoke to the 26-year-old Tarneit rider.

It was impounded for a period of 30 days at a cost of $932.40. The man was to be summonsed to attend court at a later date.

A state-wide road policing excercise, Operation Arid, was aimed at reducing road trauma and lives lost on our roads over the Labour Day long weekend.

Over the long weekend police targeted speeding, impaired drivers, distraction, fatigue, seatbelts and unauthorised driving.

Operation Arid ran from 12.01am last Friday 8 March to 11.59pm on Monday 11 March.

Geelong Divisional Response Unit detectives have charged a man after a series of alleged electricbike and scooter thefts in Ocean Grove over the past two months.

Investigators had been told e-bikes and e-scooters were being stolen from caravan parks and public places in the Ocean Grove area throughout January and February.

Following an extensive investigation, detectives arrested a 26-year-old man of no fixed place of abode and a 26-year-old Clifton Springs woman.

The man was charged with 10 counts of theft and other associated offences. He had been remanded to face Geelong Magistrates’ Court last week.

The woman was released pending further enquiries. Investigations into the incidents remained ongoing.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online via the Crime Stoppers website.

CresFest 2024 will be the third time around for the small Goldfields community of Creswick.

This folk and roots music festival is earning a reputation for punching above its weight, with imaginative programming and a can-do attitude.

In 2024, the bar will be raised even higher with the inclusion of an original opera written by staff and students of the University of Melbourne’s Master of Opera program, plus a performance by a string orchestra backing well-known local crooner Archer Shepherd, in arrangements by Finnish-Australian composer Erkki Veltheim.

“It really comes back to community,” said director and founder Judy Turner, “with the opera and the chamber players – it’s all about bringing local issues and local people to the fore. And getting together with like-minded people, wherever they are from, whatever their musical background, is what makes the magic happen. ”

Creswick Flood Opera

In August 2023, Professor Jane Davidson, Head of Opera at the Conservatorium, University of Melbourne, brought a group of students to meet locals at the Creswick Neighbourhood Centre. Interviewed in her Southbank office, Professor Davidson was full of enthusiasm for the Flood Opera project, and how it has opened opportunities for her young students.

“We came to CresFest 2023,” Professor Davidson said, “just for the experience of playing out of town, and we were blown away by the vibrancy of the local music scene. We got talking about the devastating floods of the year before, and the idea grew that we, as musicians, could do something to shine a light on the impact of such climate events on a small community: we could make it personal, bring out the emotion through our music.”

Enter Pat Tacey (Hepburn Shire Citizen of the Year 2023) and the Creswick Lions, and the community was involved. After a day spent interviewing local residents whose lives were flood impacted, the group went back to Melbourne to create their work.

Presenting it in ‘draft’ form at the Clunes Town Hall for a Seniors Festival audience in October 2023 was so impactful that the team decided to bring the full opera back to CresFest 2024.

“This will be the first time people can hear our opera in Creswick, and we are really thrilled to be able to present it free for the community, thanks to Creswick Woollen Mills,” said Professor Davidson.

In addition to the Flood Opera, CresFest recognises the anguish of community members affected by the floods of 2022 in a podcast series This CresFest World. Listeners can find three episodes on the floods and listen to excerpts of the opera here.

CresFest invites all locals to attend the free performance on Saturday, April 6 at 2.30pm at the Creswick Woollen Mills, Railway Parade, Creswick. Special thanks go to the residents who shared their stories for this project: Adriana (Teeny) Cunnington, Terry Cunnington, Mark Shalless, Pauline Stapleton, Bernie Tacey (Flynn), Pat Tacey and Ellie van Oirschot.

Archer and the Hepburn Players

Collaborations between popular artists and classical players are well established, almost the norm these days, and after a successful partnering with Tibetan musician Tenzin Choegyal at CresFest 2023, the Hepburn Players (pictured below and led by Daylesford harpsichordist Andrew Welsh) are thrilled to be back on stage, this time supporting Archer.

“Archer’s music is timeless,” says Ms Turner, also a viola player with the group, “and these string arrangements by the wonderful Erkki Veltheim will give his lyrics a chance to really shine. As community players we jump at the chance to play such sophisticated parts, supporting a truly international singer from our own region.”

The group was formed by Andrew Welsh and Judy Turner before the pandemic, with many lost opportunities over the lockdown years. Since the re-opening, they have steamed ahead, performing at community events at Daylesford Anglican Church, Creswick Art Shows, Newlyn Mechanics Institute, Daylesford Town Hall, Creswick Woollen Mills, and at CresFest 2023.

To see the Hepburn Players with Archer at Creswick Town Hall on Saturday, April 6 you need to have a festival pass. Tickets and the full program are available now at https://cresfest.com.au/

More on the festival

Now in its third iteration, CresFest has appointed Ballarat superstar Stella Savy as Associate Artistic Director.

“Stella brings a wealth of knowledge of the music industry and networks across a broad range of genres, especially deep roots in African and other world musics,” says Judy. “This year there will be dancing in the streets when Sydney band Chutney brings its exciting brand of klezmer music to Creswick.”

Stella said the festival was bringing artists from Canada, New Zealand, Argentina and the UK – the strongest international contingent yet presented.

“And along with that we have a truly national showcase of the best acoustic acts in our folk and roots genre – there’s Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse from WA, Gosti from QLD, The Cherry Pickers from SA, Spooky Men’s Chorale and Chutney from NSW and Super Rats from the ACT.”

In addition to four concert stages running from Friday night April 5 to Sunday evening April 7, CresFest will present three new ‘zones’ in 2024. KidsOwn KidZone is where puppet shows and plays meet circus skills and marimbas. Street Zone has acts coming from across Victoria to create fun in the streets.

There’s a magician – Cath Jamison – from Hepburn Springs, a kids circus expert – Luth Wolff – from Melbourne, and an acrobat – Malachi Frost – from SA, bringing high-speed juggling a 10-foot pole and a giant flyswatter, and finally Doc Andrew, all the way from Dallas, Texas, will bring his sleight-of hand and trickery.

With the ChoirZone, across the whole of Saturday community choirs will sing their hearts out on the steps of Creswick’s charming old post office. So, as well as the established choirs, you can come along with your festival ticket and join the pop-up Festival Choir.

The former Creswick Courthouse will once again host a series of fascinating conversations presented by First Nations artists Gina Williams (WA) and Trudy Fatnowna Edgeley (Ballarat) to discussion of pre colonial land management practices with famed historians Professor Bill Gammage and Professor Barry Golding.

Hosts Cate Kennedy and James Fremantle will talk with visiting artists about food, fishing, family, fame and much more.

CresFest 2024 is once again partnering with a range of visual artists to ensure there’s a feast for the eyes as well as the ears. And then, of course, at the heart of it all is community, with six Creswick groups taking part on stage, in collaborations and mashups across the weekend.

“The point of all this,” says Stella, “is to create a musical legacy for the community, where people get a chance to not only see and hear great visiting acts but also to learn from and play alongside them.”

Links: www.cresfest.com.au/program | www.cresfest.com.au/tickets/

Retired Anglican priest, Trentham’s Peta Sherlock admits she’s more than a tad addicted to fossicking out fascinating stories of the past.

“It’s a nice addiction,” chuckles the dedicated amateur historian who simply loves to share her keen
interest in the lives of those who have gone before with those living today.

Right now Peta, a member of Trentham Historical Society, is preparing to indulge that passion a little
when she leads a historical tour of the Trentham Cemetery on Saturday, March 23.

Everyone is welcome to join Peta as she leads the 75 minute tour being presented by the Trentham Historical Society in conjunction with Trentham Neighbourhood Centre, for the very nominal cost of $8.

Tour participants will not only be taken on a rollicking journey through the past, “meeting” some of the intriguing characters who lie at rest in this local cemetery, they’ll also receive the benefit of Peta’s extensive research – and an informative printed pamphlet she has prepared as well.

“I love the cemetery. It’s the people, and this is full of people,” says Peta whose prior tours of this local cemetery, including one earlier this month, tend to be very well received. They’ve all got stories,” she says.

They certainly have. The Trentham Cemetery was established in 1870 and even one quick tour looking into the former lives of those who lie at rest here provides a rich dip into Trentham’s post European past.

There are the early settlers, the captains of industry, the visionary, the wealthy, the mysterious, the
heroic and the tragic. There are love stories buried here and tales that could make you weep.

A look into the lives of those who now lie at rest here provides a potted history of the development of the township and lively insights into how the movers and shakers of the 1800s and early 1900s got things done.

Peta says that as the town’s built environment changes, the cemetery increasingly becomes the only
physical connection left to many significant threads of its past.

“It’s not a scary place. To me they are still ‘alive’,” she says.

“Some have had horrible lives. Some have lost all their babies. There are people who made a mess of their lives and people who made a great success of their lives. But they are all God’s creatures.”

Peta’s research into the lives of those interred in the Trentham cemetery dates back to 2014 when
she started researching the history of the town’s Anglican Church to mark the 150th anniversary of
the denomination’s presence at Trentham… “Then you start to get interested in everybody,” she says, recalling how the history bug bit.

Peta has her own personal favourite grave sites, the memorial resting places for characters like 1800s businessman about town J.W.S. Wolff, local humanitarian Catherine (Kit) Trewhella, and much-loved yesteryear medic Dr Gwen Wisewould. She loves to share their stories and the way their legacies have shaped the community that Trentham is today.

“I want to know who talked to whom when they spotted them in town, and who walked on the other side of the street,” she says.

In carrying out her research, Peta has noticed certain patterns emerge. Patterns that she has come
to realise can point to significant demographic trends. She mentions early sanitation problems, the disposal of night soil, by the “dunny men” of the day, down old mine shafts, the subsequent pollution of local waterways, the potentially lethal link to typhoid.

There are the tragic trends whose ghostly fingerprints have left their traces in the early burial records… The yesteryear deaths of an unusually high number of men of a certain age, the potentiality of syphilis playing its part. People lived and partied hard in those days, apparently. But speculation is speculation, and Peta strives always to find the facts.

“Only God is perfect and history is an ongoing thing,” she muses as she hands me with a copy of the
pamphlet she has produced to accompany her tour.

“This is pretty accurate and nobody has pulled me up on anything quite yet,” she says.

One of the elements Peta relishes about leading a cemetery tour is the input from those who take the tour.

“Often people will tell me stuff,” she says.

“A cemetery can be a confronting place, partly because here we realise our own mortality.”

Peta is no stranger to the presence of human mortality, having conducted funeral services during her
many years spent working as a priest.

“Even though some of the stories today are about the full and fruitful lives of past Trenthamites, some are also sad, the death of children especially so,” she says.

“It’s a lovely cemetery. It’s been really well looked after and it’s run by a local trust of volunteers.”

Those keen to take the upcoming tour and “meet” many of those colourful, now at rest, characters who once peopled Trentham and surrounds can contact the Trentham Neighbourhood Centre to book into Peta’s next tour taking place on Saturday March 23.

Words: Eve Lamb

Detectives from Taskforce Lunar arrested an additional four teenagers last Friday as part of their investigation into incidents linked to the ongoing tobacco dispute.

With assistance from the Gang Crime Squad, the VIPER Taskforce and the Southern Metro Regional Crime Squads, warrants were executed simultaneously at five residential addresses in Springvale, Princess Hill, Cranbourne East, Brighton East and Preston about 7am last Friday morning, March 8.

Four boys have now been arrested and were to be interviewed by police. They include:

• A 16-year-old Springvale boy,

• A 14-year-old Princess Hill boy,

• A 17-year-old Cranbourne East boy, and

• A 16-year-old Preston boy.

In addition to four teenagers previously charged, investigators will now interview the additional four boys in relation to an aggravated burglary in Wonga Park, as well as two arson attacks at a Mill Park restaurant and a tobacconist in Ballarat last month.

A white Isuzu D Max and a silver Ford Ranger were stolen during an aggravated burglary in Wonga Park between 10pm on Monday 19 and 7am on Tuesday, 20 February.

The Ford Ranger was then used in an arson attack at a reception centre in Thomastown on Thursday, 22 February. It was later located burnt out in Bundoora.

A 20-year-old St Albans man was charged last month (Thursday, 29 February) in relation to that incident.

On Tuesday, 27 February about 3.40am, the Isuzu D Max was involved in an attempted arson at a Mill Park restaurant on The Link.

The D Max reverses towards the front door of the premises and a number of offenders exit the vehicle, with one reaching back in to remove a jerry can.

A witness observes the vehicle and runs towards the scene, causing the offenders to flee.

The same vehicle is then used the following day in an arson attack at a tobacconist on Sturt Street in Ballarat about 3.35am. The store was significantly damaged during the incident.

A short time later, the vehicle was located burnt out on Ballarat’s Eureka Street. A second vehicle, a stolen BMW X1 bearing stolen plates was captured on CCTV in convoy with the Isuzu.

The BMW was seized from a Springvale address during the recent warrants.

Four teenagers, a 15-year-old Springvale boy, a 14-year-old Mulgrave boy, a 16-year-old Mulgrave girl and a 16-year-old Pakenham girl, were charged earlier this month (Friday, 1 March) as part of the investigation into the incidents.

The investigation remained ongoing and anyone with information on any organised crime activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via the Crime Stoppers website.

A large crowd gathered in Daylesford last Thursday evening to congratulate five new inductees to the International Women’s Day (IWD) Heather Mutimer Honour Roll.

Hepburn Shire Council inducted Anne Bremner, Nikki Marshall, Marj Green, Michelle Clifford and Yvonne Sillett to the honour roll, which was established in 2005 to pay tribute to the women in Hepburn Shire whose contributions, courage and efforts have led to significant social change for women.

Mayor, Cr Brian Hood, said the inductees had made an enormous contribution over many decades.

“Our inductees have demonstrated exemplary service to our community and in many instances their deeds have impacted people well beyond our shire boundaries,” he said.

“They have made incredibly valuable contributions both to their communities and to causes that are close to their hearts. We sincerely thank them for their tireless efforts over many years and congratulate them for joining a long list of significant local women on our honour roll.”

For the town hall ceremony, Peta Hudson performed a Welcome to Country and students from Daylesford College entertained the crowd with music and speeches. Professor Paula Gerber, associate dean in the Faculty of Law at Monash University, was the guest speaker.

International Women’s Day is held annually on March 8. The theme for 2024 is Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate progress.

Anne Bremner

Anne epitomises the spirit of pioneering women, seamlessly managing household chores, caring for family and contributing to the family farm, Wombat Organics, until into her 60s. Her leadership shines through her quiet yet effective management style, effortlessly steering community events and fundraisers.

Gender equality is intrinsic to Anne; she tackles tasks head-on, excelling in every endeavour with dedication and humility. Her leadership extends to various roles, including club champion and board member at the Daylesford Bowls Club, where she ensures financial stability. Anne’s 50-year commitment to the Lyonville Hall as president and treasurer underscores her dedication to community spaces.

Her volunteer work spans over 50 years, encompassing roles in community committees and initiatives like the Healthy Lunches Program. Anne’s altruism extends to delivering Meals on Wheels and supporting school nutrition programs, showcasing her unwavering dedication to community welfare. Additionally, she provides invaluable support to friends and family during health challenges and serves as a compassionate presence during end-of-life care.

Nikki Marshall

Nikki is a beloved, wise and respected community leader and change agent. She has been described as a village builder for her unique ability to bring people together, nurture ideas and forge pathways for action. Nikki has spent a lifetime developing initiatives to facilitate change, to address inequities and to strengthen communities. Before moving to Hepburn Shire, Nikki spearheaded pioneering projects supporting refugee and migrant women in Victoria.

Notably, she established the English Language and Settlement Support Program for women from war-torn African countries, revolutionising teaching methods and influencing agencies like the Adult Migrant Education program.

She also played a pivotal role in developing educational programs to combat female circumcision/genital mutilation, empowering the affected women to develop and implement the program which was subsequently adopted by state government health services. She developed the Multicultural Home Support Program for ageing migrants and won an award for excellence from Department of Human Services.

In Hepburn Shire, Nikki confronts climate change head-on, organising impactful events like the Local Lives Global Matters conference, which attracted over 3000 attendees and spurred the formation of the action group, Localising Leanganook. Committed to sustainable farming, she initiated and supported milking cooperatives, empowering local women and young families.

Additionally, Nikki facilitated the preservation of the Yandoit Uniting Church for community use and pioneered Yandoit Cultural, a vibrant community-led performance program. A passionate advocate for storytelling and local history, Nikki organises events for the shire’s literary arts festival, Words in Winter and History in Story series.

Instrumental in establishing the Daylesford Repair Café, she champions waste reduction through repair and re-use and encourages community skill-sharing. As co-editor of The Chronicle for 12 years, Nikki builds community cohesion through her writing and editing skills, inspiring a dedicated team of contributors.

Known for her transformative leadership and compassionate nature, Nikki embodies wisdom, empathy and courage. She serves as a trusted mentor, offering support to individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Nikki’s enduring commitment to building relationships and addressing social and ecological challenges with integrity underscores her invaluable presence in the community, enriching the lives of those around her.

Marj Green

Marj Green has dedicated decades of her life to numerous local organisations, championing the advancement of women’s status as a shining example of service. Notably, her involvement with the Daylesford Girl Guides from 1964 to 1996 showcased her commitment to empowering girls through education and leadership development, aligning with the Girl Guides Victoria’s mission. Marj’s steadfast support for the Daylesford Ladies Benevolent Society, spanning 60 years, underscores her tireless efforts in promoting women’s welfare and housing security.

A lifelong member of Christ Church, Marj has actively contributed through music, service on the Parish Council and caring for the church’s environment. Her dedication extends beyond the church as she actively participates in preserving its historical documents. Marj’s wisdom is widely sought after, both in organisational matters and personal guidance. Despite her humble nature, she has served as captain of the Newstead Croquet Club, nurturing members and fostering a love of the game.

Additionally, her leadership within the Girl Guides movement and Brownies section has impacted countless young women, reflecting her enduring commitment to empowerment and mentorship. Through her unwavering dedication and selfless service, Marj Green has left an enduring legacy of empowerment and community enrichment.

Michelle Clifford

Michelle Clifford is that rare blend of person who is both the hub that organises action as well as a person who gets the job done. She has been recognised for her tireless efforts for her community and makes a difference in the lives of our community members every day.

Michelle demonstrated three of the five categories for inclusion to the Honour Roll. She is a local champion who has worked tirelessly for our community through her involvement with Daylesford Community Op Shop, Hepburn Regional Cheer, Hepburn Blue Light Committee, the Daylesford Community Childcare Committee, the Bullarto Primary School and Daylesford College councils and committees.

She is a change agent – or a force of nature. Michelle tackles challenges head- on, leveraging her extensive network to find solutions. From sourcing a new battery to lobbying for recognition and rights for First Nations’ peoples; she leads through disaster. Hepburn has been through floods, fires, storms and pandemics. Michelle has been there.

Beyond community-wide initiatives, Michelle provides invaluable support to individuals facing personal hardships, leaving a profound impact on all fortunate enough to encounter her kindness and selflessness.

Yvonne Sillett

Yvonne’s journey as a trailblazer began in 1979 when she enlisted in the Australian Army, breaking barriers in a male-dominated field. Despite achieving the milestone of becoming the first female corporal responsible for training recruits at Kapooka, her career was abruptly halted due to discrimination based on her sexuality.

Undeterred, Yvonne embarked on a mission for justice, advocating for an apology from the Australian Government and Defence Force for the unjust treatment of LGBTIQA+ personnel.

Her story gained recognition at Victoria’s Shrine of Remembrance and in the book Serving in Silence, showcasing her resilience and advocacy. Yvonne’s voluntary testimony at the Government Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide further amplified her cause, aiming to empower LGBTIQA+ individuals serving in the defence forces.

She remains committed to inclusivity and equality, advocating for LGBTIQA+ rights within the Hepburn Shire community and supporting initiatives like the Rainbow Wreath ceremony for Anzac Day. Yvonne’s educational efforts extend to fostering awareness and understanding of LGBTIQA+ needs at Hepburn House and securing grants to support LGBTIQA+ elders in the community.

As a co-founder of the Discharged LGBTIQA+ Veterans Association, Yvonne continues to advocate for justice and recognition, inspiring others through her compelling story. Her unwavering commitment to authenticity and advocacy has sparked artistic tributes and invitations to speak at various events, solidifying her role as a champion for inclusivity and equality in both local and broader communities.

Words: Hepburn Shire Council

Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives have charged a man following a fatal collision that took place in Winchelsea on Saturday March 9.

It is alleged a white Volkswagen Passat collided with a green Toyota Avalon on Winchelsea-Deans Marsh Road just after 10pm on the Saturday evening of the March Labour Day long weekend.

The driver of the Toyota, a 55-year-old woman from Deans Marsh, died at the scene.

Her passenger, a 25-year-old woman also from Deans Marsh, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the Volkswagen, a 31-year-old Mount Duneed man, has been charged with culpable driving, dangerous driving causing death, and dangerous driving causing serious injury.

He had been remanded to appear before Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 12 March.

The incident had been being investigated by Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives and anyone who witnessed the collision, with dashcam footage or information, was urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via the Crime Stoppers website.

Moorabool Crime Investigation Unit detectives are appealing for public assistance following a burglary at a jewellery store in Daylesford last month.

Investigators believe the store on Vincent Street was broken into about 3.40am on 27 February.

Once inside the premises the offender has smashed a number of display cases and has stolen jewellery and designer bags worth $100,000.

Most of the items stolen are unique and easily identifiable. Victoria Police has released images of some of the stolen items (below).

Detectives are keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity on Vincent Street or who has been offered jewellery for sale.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit the Crime Stoppers website online.

Former Bushwhacker Mick Slocum has been in Daylesford in recent days to do something he absolutely loves besides making music – working to make the town’s heritage post box sing.

Restoring the state’s 120 or so red heritage pillar post boxes has become a self imposed labour of love for Mick, well known to many through his former role as a muso with Aussie band the Bushwhackers.

It all started with his own local heritage post box in suburban Ascot Vale in April last year, when Mick became aware that it had been besmirched with graffiti.

First he cleaned up the graffiti, but then could not resist going a little further to restore the vintage postal piece properly back to its former glory.

“I came home, bought some cleaning material, cleaned off the graffiti, and stood back and looked at it and thought, I’ll just keep going,” he says.

 “So I went down to the hardware store, bought a can of red, a can of gold, and a can of black and went back and rubbed it all down and sanded it and resprayed it.”

From there the bug bit and, gaining the full-hearted support of Australia Post, Mick has since restored more than 20 heritage post boxes on streets in various Melbourne suburbs and in regional centres including Kyneton and Castlemaine, before most recently turning his attention to Daylesford’s own historic number on the corner of Camp and Raglan Streets in Willis Square.

“This is the 26th one I’ve restored so far and there are about 120 statewide, all in varying states of disrepair and all seriously deteriorating,” Mick said as he got to work on the Daylesford box, painstakingly bringing out its intricate heritage details.

Mick is more than keen to lovingly restore each and every one of the remaining boxes in Victoria, with Australia Post not only remunerating him for his troubles, but also paying him a bit for his contribution to the nation’s postal heritage as well.

“But I never set out to get paid,” said Mick who is also a professional pharmacist and remains a working musician as well.

But, being a showman at heart, he dresses especially for his heritage restoration activities, sporting a tartan vest suit that emphasises the sense of occasion and reinforces the heritage significance of what he is doing.

 “This one’s got about 10 coats of paint on it and the original features are covered,” he said in Daylesford.

 “There isn’t a single person alive now who was here when this was installed. The oldest of them dates back well over 140 years and every third one is still useable.”

Daylesford’s is one of these. In fact someone popped over and posted a letter in it while Mick chatted about the restoration process that typically takes him a couple of days depending on the state of the box.

“I’ve sort of invented myself a job for life,” he said.

“It’s a bit like painting the Sydney Harbour Bridge because once you’ve finished it will be time to start all over again.

“It’s extremely meditative and I particularly enjoy it when I put the red paint on it and you can see it coming to life.”

Next up, following the restoration of Daylesford’s, Mick is turning his attention to Ballarat where, he says there are eight of the vintage post boxes and he plans to start with the one near the regional city’s train station, and then move on to the one in the CBD.

“They are priceless examples of our Victorian heritage,” he says.

When not bringing vintage postal boxes back to their yesteryear glory, Mick is also a professional pharmacist and an active muso who, together with his current band The Exciting McGillicuddies, has a regular Sunday evening gig at an Irish pub in inner city Kensington.

 “We’re lifting the veil on Australia’s heritage. There aren’t many things on the streets these days that are 130 years old. They’re so beautiful,” he said. Words: Eve Lamb