Daylesford is soon to experience a rare operatic experience when Lyster Opera presents the first professional revival of Friedrich von Flotow’s Martha in many years.

From the mid-nineteenth century until the outbreak of WWI, Martha was amongst the most performed musical works in the world.

Its unique blend of comedy and romantic drama, coupled with a rich and beautiful score, endeared it to audiences worldwide, and it was said to be Queen Victoria’s favourite opera. It was a direct influence on many composers, including Sir Arthur Sullivan, who conducted it many times.

For director, and Lyster Opera founder, Jamie Moffat, its neglect in recent years is inexplicable. “The score is amongst the most ravishing I have ever heard,” he says.

“Apart from some instantly recognisable pieces, such as The Last Rose of Summer which is woven throughout, it is in turn funny and at times unbearably moving. Finding a cast to do it justice is a challenge, and we are so lucky to have singers who can bring it to life.”

Martha tells the story of two Irish noblewomen who, bored with life at the Queen’s Court, decide to disguise themselves as servants and visit the local fair at Richmond. There they are hired by two farmers to attend to their housework – when comedy turns to romance and a bad case of mistaken identity.

The cast is made up of experienced singers who have performed regularly at Melbourne Opera and Victorian Opera, as well as newcomers.

Paul Biencourt and Michael Lampard play the brothers Lionel and Plunkett who hire Lady Harriett
(Jesse Linke) and Nancy (Maria Woolford) without knowing their true identities.

Newcomer Nicholas Sheppard plays the Richmond Sheriff, who ensures that the laws of the Shire are adhered to, and Troy Castle brings slapstick comedy to the role of Lord Mickelford.

This is Lyster Opera’s first visit to Daylesford Town Hall and is on a larger scale than previous productions, and features new costumes and sets. Musical direction is by Pamela Christie, who has been an audience favourite at previous Lyster performances.

There is one performance only on February 24 at 2pm. Tickets: lysteropera.com.au (concessions available)

Dr Tegan Brown is one of many researchers paving the way for women and girls who are looking to take on careers in STEM (science technology, engineering and maths). 

As part of International Day of Women and Girls in Science (11 February), the CFA has applauded Dr Tegan Brown’s work which uses climate models and landscape data to predict future fuel types.

This data is then used in her work to predict future fire activity and model the number of fire management resources Victorian fire agencies will need in coming years. 

Growing up in the Latrobe Valley, fire was synonymous with summer for her family. For as long as she can remember, Tegan loved the outdoors and the environment.

This laid the foundations for what is an incredibly meaningful career in research and land and fire management. 

After school Tegan enrolled in a general science degree which led her to taking subjects in fire, some taught by the late Professor Kevin Tolhurst.

Tegan then completed the Science Graduate program through the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) which opened her eyes to the importance of research in the emergency and land management space.  

Reflecting on her own experiences and looking to the future, Tegan is passionate about ensuring we continue to recognise and encourage women from all walks of life to pursue careers in science. 

“My parents really encouraged my pursuit of higher education which I am very grateful for,” Tegan said. 

“I recognise my privileged position in not having faced hurdles in my career that can be present for women in science. 

“That said, I have frequently been the only woman in the room, which can be challenging.

“There are incredible women working in land and fire management and research. It’s all of our responsibility to support their development and leadership. 

“I would love to see us continue to encourage more women and people with a range of lived experiences to pursue careers in science and for organisations to continue opening those doors for the next generation of science leaders.” 

She said that science needs diversity to better the knowledge that is created to help serve the community.  

“Data isn’t neutral, it is interpreted by scientists through a lens built from context and lived experiences,” Tegan said. 

“Having more diverse people contributing to and making decisions in land, forest and fire management will enhance our organisations and our contribution to communities.” 

Tegan’s found an incredibly rewarding experience through her life in science and now with CFA. 

“The environment is something that people interact with every day, and I love being able to work in an area that facilitates getting people into the outdoors and managing the landscape we live in,” she said. 

With Eve Lamb

Creswick Heritage Walk

If there’s just one walk to take visitors on while in the Creswick area, this would have to be it.

The Creswick Heritage Walk is a little beauty, chock full with points of interest and diversity despite its comparative brevity at just 8.5ks. It’s supposed to take three hours to complete but, lingering indulgently along the way, it took us about five.

It takes in the University of Melbourne’s historic Creswick Campus grounds, and the rich history of pioneering forester, arbourist and conservationist John La Gerche, incorporating the leafy La Gerche Trail with its established trees, including oaks and conifers, that were among the many species La Gerche trialled here in the late 1800s.

We set off one fine Saturday, late summer. A cracker of a day to hit the trail, equipped with the Creswick Heritage Walk map (easily obtained online courtesy of the Great Dividing Trail Network) a picnic lunch, and a sense of adventure.

The walk sets off from the town’s central Visitor Information Centre, crosses the main drag, Albert Street, and follows Victoria Street past the Creswick Water Splash Park on your left and the IGA supermarket on your right, across the Creswick Creek footbridge.

Then there’s a short stroll, to the right along Moore Street, to reach the starting point – the wrought iron gates of the University of Melbourne’s Creswick campus, formerly the School of Forestry, established 1910.

We enter the gates, admiring the park-like setting, and follow yellow-topped Goldfields Track posts heading diagonally through the campus, past the heritage- listed Victorian splendour of Tremearne House near the entrance, and past the imposing white historic façade of the former Creswick hospital, a fetching habitat for ghosts. If they existed.

The campus grounds here host some splendid old significant trees, established as part of an arboretum (grab a pamphlet from the Visitor Centre). Following the markers, we reach a sealed roadway and turn to the left to pick up the trail markers on the opposite side of the road and link with the Landcare trail, now on Parks Victoria land.

For a short stint now the trail features colourful tiles with environmental messages made by school students, and takes us to the start of the 2km long La Gerche trail winding through a diversity of conifers and the extensive Oak Gully, established more than 135yrs ago as a state nursery for rehabilitating the mined moonscape of the era.

This is a superb slice of arboreal heritage, and the great significance of La Gerche and Creswick’s role in the state’s forestry and conservation heritage is detailed on plaques, markers and monuments along the way.

As it’s getting on lunch time we take a good moment here to soak in the cool ambience and appreciate this special place, its history and its living presence.

The sandwiches and home-baked black forest cake that Paddy H thoughtfully packed go down a treat in the depths of the Oak Gully, but eventually it’s time to move on as we’ve got a walk to finish.

It’s easy to find the right place to turn off and leave the forested La Gerche trail, as the correct point to do so is well marked with signage boards. Look out for them in the Oak Gully and you can’t miss ‘em.

Leaving the leafy La Gerche legacy, we diverge from the Oak Gully (point 5 on the map) forging due south uphill through a re-establishing young radiata pine plantation to the lookout on Brackenbury Hill.

Appreciating the sense of isolation here, we gain elevation following the sandy track uphill, brushing through tall native grasses. Views behind us open up to Spring Hill a few kilometres to the north, north east. Dramatic against the season’s blue sky.

Gaining elevation further, we reach the lookout point (1757 foot) where a stone cairn marker, a historic gift from the yesteryear Creswick Old Boys, helpfully provides a 360 degree pointer to various landmarks unfolded before us in a sun splashed geographic pastiche.

After pausing to admire it all, we wend our way downhill and onwards toward St Georges Lake. I’m fairly glad, around about here, that my ever-watchful walking accomplice is tuned in so we don’t actually miss the (unobtrusively marked) right hand veer that comes up quicker than expected, as you begin descending, diverting you quite abruptly to St Georges Lake. Its watery expanse makes for a lush reward on a hot day. Note to self: Pack swimmers for next time!

Arriving at its glistening edge, we first take a quick little turn to the left simply to join the lakeside track that then leads Creswick Heritage Walkers to the right, hugging the pine-fringed northern shoreline.

We follow the green Parks Victoria posts leading to the concrete spillway and then to the inviting lawned bbq area that’s alluringly visible across the water towards the south side of the lake.

Today, there are plenty of kayaks, picnickers and swimmers and it’s all pretty scenic. So we opt for a lakeside chocolate and coffee reviver with a good view to the spillway just beyond the craggy remains of a disused jetty where kayakers now frolic.

Moving on, we next traverse the spillway, reaching that lawned picnic area which today is offering a concise demonstration in what fruit salad days are made of.

We’re now back in civilisation and at the car park’s west end, locate a yellow- topped marker and from here follow the Goldfields Track posts of the Eureka Track back into town with Creswick Creek a stealthy companion on our right.

We finish this fairly excellent day with a brew at one of the town’s two pubs and a sense of satisfaction at having completed this top little hike. It delivers an insight- rich crash course on the area’s unique historic significance, with captivating features around pretty much every turn.

The CFA is urging farmers to ramp up their hay maintenance for the remainder of the season, following a surge in haystack fires, with fire fighters responding to more than 50 since November.

With haystack fires igniting predominantly in the western parts of the state across the Wimmera and Loddon Mallee, so far, the CFA has already responded to at least 29 in the North West Region and 12 in West. 

The rise calls for the agriculture sector to monitor the moisture and temperature of their hay more regularly, to store in separate stacks and in sheds away from farming equipment and structures.  

A recent haystack fire of over 1,000 hay bales in Arapiles on a total fire ban day in the Wimmera and the Mallee serves as a timely reminder for the agriculture sector to ensure they are implementing the appropriate management tools to prevent fire risk.

CFA District 17 Commander Lindsay Barry said spontaneous combustion is the leading cause of haystack fires in Victoria and just one damp bale is enough to ignite a whole stack.

“We are currently in the storage phase of hay season, and there are some contributing factors that lead to ignition,” Lindsay said.

“Unfortunately, at the beginning of the season, some bales weren’t produced to industry standard, and were stored away with too much moisture.  

“Green or damp hay is susceptible to overheating, so those two in combination will make a fire.”

Lindsay said due to the significant rain we have received during summer, haystacks that were neither placed inside a shed nor covered with a tarp have been considerably exposed.

“The hay has been pressed for so long, and because of the summer we’ve had, the majority of fires are where hay has been stored outside and exposed to the elements.’ Lindsay said.

“Water and hay don’t really mix, especially when they stack together. This creates organic decomposition which produces heat, and you end up with a hay fire due to spontaneous ignition.”

Having experienced something similar this time three years ago, Lindsay recalls farms received over 100 millimetres of rain in one storm hitting their haystacks, and a trail of fires as a result.  

“For farmers who own hay, or who manage haystacks, we need them to be more vigilant and ensure they’re doing regular temperature checks,” Lindsay said.

“If they are warm, put measures in place to break down and separate the stacks and use machinery to put in strategic breaks if you can.

“Because of recent weather, we can only implement maintenance and management now.”

More information on how to prevent haystack fires can be found on the CFA’s website.

Sometimes there are people who wander into our lives and our communities with an unexpected gift
of compassion and connectedness. It is often hard to articulate the extent of their reach. Raman Richards is one such example.

Moving to Daylesford around four months ago, it’s incredible how this man with a passion for honouring his mum’s Indian cooking and a love of connecting people through food has had a much-needed positive impact on our little community.

It all started with Raman making a simple request on a local Facebook page asking where to purchase local produce and has now had an unexpected and beautiful impact on the lives of many.

“It has been overwhelming. The people I have met in such a short time; the friends I have made; the food producers and the local butchers and fruit shop owners I have connected with has been humbling. I’m so grateful for the love I have been shown in such a brief time,” he said.

“I have met people from all walks of life. From people living in small units to large properties, I have connected with people through my mum’s recipes and my love of sharing and connecting through food.”

When Raman received so many responses to his first request on Facebook, he responded with a thank you and a photo of the recipes he had made. Then people started asking for his recipes, and many then shared their attempts.

The messages continued. People sharing their photos with Raman, asking where to buy certain spices.

For Raman, it was a natural progression to have a cook up and share his recipes. He wasn’t expecting the response he received when he asked publicly if anyone would be keen to taste test.

“It was never planned. It all happened so organically. There was such a genuine passion for my recipes and food that sharing it was a natural progression. My passion is connecting people with local produce and sharing recipes and food with people.”

So, after a mammoth 18 hours of cooking, Raman drove around the countryside literally – delivering Indian food or as one Facebook message read: “His little gift of love.”

“I was humbled to receive produce from those I had visited, beautiful handmade gifts and most importantly the connections I made. I delivered a meal to a lovely lady in Hepburn who said it was hard for her to afford takeaway.

“She said she had invited her neighbour in to share the meal I had delivered. She recently told me they are now sharing a meal weekly. That’s what food does. It brings people together. It provides companionship.”

What’s also remarkable is that all of the private and public messages have been positive. Raman said initially he was warned that some messages might be negative, he has only had messages of support and kindness.

For Raman, sharing his food is his way of paying tribute to his mother. A strong woman, he says, who has taught him the importance of respecting others, connecting with others through the sharing of food and most importantly through kindness.

“My mother grew up in a little Indian village. After she moved to Australia, she opened several restaurants and still raised a family and imparted a love of sharing food on all of us. All of my knowledge of food, my love of food and sharing of food is all because of my mother. To be able to pass that on is so humbling,” he said.

For now, Raman continues to work in his corporate IT role, volunteers with Beyond Blue and has connected with local groups including the 5000 Club and the Good Grub Club and cooked up a feast for a local wildlife fundraiser – to help share his passion of food and his mum’s ideal that food connects us all.

His plan is to have a little patch of land where he can grow his own produce, have five kelpies running around and continue to share his mother’s legacy. But for now, he is preparing his next cooking adventure following a recent trip back to India with his mum.

And for the hundreds of us who have been part of Raman’s story to date, we are all looking forward to seeing his journey of food and friendship unfold.

Words & image: Narelle Groenhout

People with a disability have a much higher risk of injury in a house fire.

More than 60 per cent of people who die in house fires have a disability, the CFA has reported this month.

A national residential fire fatality report published in 2019 was a wake-up call to both CFA and Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) about who is at higher risk in a house fire.

As a result, the fire services are working together to engage people with a disability and the organisations that support them. On 5 and 6 February 2024, CFA and FRV attended the VALiD conference and expo in Geelong, with a shared stand. 

VALiD is the Victorian peak advocacy organisation for adults with intellectual disability. Each year it hosts the ‘Having a Say’ conference and expo. This is the second year in a row that CFA and FRV have attended to engage people about home fire safety. 

It provides a way to share CFA and FRV’s ‘Prevent Detect Escape’ home fire safety training and resources with disability providers and individuals. 

“Disability providers are grateful to hear we have free online training about bushfire and home fire safety,” CFA’s Tim Marchinton said.

“They always have questions about smoke alarms and what to do if a person cannot escape from a house by themselves. They really are lifesaving conversations at these types of events.”

CFA and FRV collect the contact details of disability provider organisations to enable us to stay connected and share the latest fire safety resources.

The most reassuring part of the VALiD conference and expo is talking to people who have an intellectual disability. These individual conversations allow us to hear what matters to the individual and then tailor our advice to their circumstances.

“Roslyn and Luke from Rochester stopped by the stand to learn about how to prevent fires starting inside and were interested in the ‘Prevent Detect Escape’ online training course. We spoke about different types of smoke alarms and the importance of interconnected smoke alarms,” Tim said.

CFA also has specialised resources that may be suitable for people with an intellectual disability. These are available through the CFA website. 

The Daylesford Speedway Drivers Association, administrators of the Daylesford Speedway track in the Basin Reserve, have set up a GoFundMe page to raise $50,000 for a new concrete safety wall for the historic circuit.

While already part of the club’s six year infrastructure improvement plan, the fundraising efforts have been given greater urgency by the track’s temporary closure after the death of competitor Stephen Douglas at a meeting in February last year.

“Everything’s been on hold since the accident,” says club president Aaron Meakins, pictured above.

“Our land is managed by Hepburn Regional Council who have been very supportive. But DEECA, (Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action) who own the reserve, have said we are not to run any more meetings until the report from the Coroner is released and any recommendations are carried out.”

The Daylesford Speedway is the oldest speedway in Victoria and has been in operation for over 60 years after being built in the late 1950s by two returned servicemen, Kim Walker and Keith Cole.

A community-orientated track, its meetings have always had an air of nostalgia about them recalling the rough and ready fender-bending action from the sport’s earliest days.

While the club has struggled with adversity from bushfires to flooding in the past, the current situation has been difficult. There has been no racing now for 12 months and it is a sad experience to visit the site, see fixtures rusting and weeds spreading across the banked corners of the old ring.

There is no clear indication when the Coroner’s report will be released and the situation has obviously been frustrating for the DSDA’s dedicated members.

But ever optimistic, they are using this downtime to coordinate fundraising initiatives so as to be on the front foot once permission is given to hold meetings there once again.

“We are expecting some form of directive from the Coroner regarding safety upgrades,” says Aaron.

“Ultimately, putting a concrete wall in at a speedway is a natural progression that we as a club have to take. It was already in our six-year plan prior to the incident but of course, with losing 95 per cent of our income that we could normally generate in a season, it has put a hold on everything.

“We have had to resort to other avenues to try and get funding to get the place reopened.”

Besides the GoFundMe page which has received $2000 in pledges so far, they have created a legislative council petition for State Government assistance and begun the process of applying for state and federal grants.

Other support is coming from the various competitors and sponsors across the entire dirt track speedway fraternity who have fond memories of the Daylesford circuit which they would like to see continue.

“I’m very optimistic that we will have the work started within the next six months and everything ready for the 2025 season.

“Every club needs to fight to keep their tracks open and Daylesford is the oldest speedway in Victoria. To lose a piece of history like that would be a massive loss.”

Link: www.gofundme.com/f/help-daylesford-speedway-build-a-wall

Words & image: Tony Sawrey

Police have been preparing a report for the coroner following the death of a man in Colac West on Sunday morning, February 11.

It is understood the man was operating a microlight aircraft when he crashed into a paddock in the intersection of Kennys Lane and Rossmoyne Road just before 9am.

Emergency services performed CPR however the man died at the scene. The exact cause of the crash had yet to be determined.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV, dashcam footage or any other information that could assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online via the Crime Stoppers website.

When the Historic Vehicle Show happens at Clunes showground next month look out for the
retired truckies as they catch up with tales tall and true.

Starting the day before, the town’s attractive little showground gradually transforms as it fills to the
hilt with retro vehicles, many of them historic commercial trucks as this annual fixture is staged by the Historic Commercial Vehicle Club of Australia, Ballarat branch.

For Strathlea retired career truck driver, Barry Dodson, for example, it’s a time to show off a historic vehicle or two from his own collection, and also for some serious chin-wagging as he catches up with
others in the scene that has its own staunch following.

“This show is on the circuit,” says Barry who clocked up seven million kilometres (but who’s counting!) during his 52-year pro trucking career that started when he was a mere youngster of 20. Imagine the stories to come out of clocking up that many ks.

Yes, Barry says, there are a few. But some of them involve witnessing some things on the road that
you’d probably rather not recount.

“I’m a worn out, retired truck driver,” he laughs.

“I drove for seven years interstate, Adelaide and Brisbane, and then local, bulk grain and fertiliser.”

By “local” he means the state of Victoria and pushing a bit over the NSW border as well.

“I drove Internationals and Western Stars. The first semi I ever drove was an International. It was a C
Line Butterbox. I’ve always had Internationals and loved ‘em.”

These days Barry loves few things better than to spot some old neglected vintage vehicle and then
lovingly restore it to full gleaming glory.

He currently has a collection that features three vintage International trucks including a 1970 International C Line with V8 engine, Tasmanian oak tray and chrome features, that he loves to take
along to shows like Clunes’ as a conversation starter.

Suffice to say he’ll be heading along to the upcoming show here on Sunday March 10 to add the
beautifully restored 1970s workhorse (named Greenie) to the impressive number on display.

“This is the 13th show here and I came to the first and then joined the club,” Barry says.

Many who get along to the Clunes show also link in with other similar vehicle shows on the state’s
calendar.

“Besides this show at Clunes there’s another one at Lancefield before it and one at Kyabram after it
and people will go from one to the other over the three weeks,” Barry says.

“You do get a lot of retired truck drivers.”

Camping is encouraged at Clunes and many make a weekend of it, says the club’s Jon Paine, a Clunes
local who helps make it all happen.

“It’s a get-together for people to chat about old times and who used to work with who,” he says.

And it’s not just trucks. There’s also all sorts of collectible cars, small engines, caravans and tractors
that roll up as well, Jon says.

Vehicles that go on show must be at least 25 years old and Jon says they never quite know what’s
going to roll through the showground gates until the day arrives.

In the past, the surprise packets that have shown up have ranged from a vintage agricultural crop
header to the musician “Chooka” Parker.

“Last year there were roughly 80 trucks here on the Saturday night before the show and over the
Sunday of the show we had 180 trucks and 200 plus cars,” Barry says.

The admission fee is $10 for adults with kids under 16 free and the HVCA Ballarat branch donates
proceeds raised to good local causes and organisations, having given away $200,000 over the past
decade, Jon says.

The event is also a significant fundraiser for other local entities as well, including the Clunes and
District Agricultural Society and the local primary school which provides on-site food, alongside various food stalls that get along as well.

“It’s a time for everybody to come and enjoy themselves and relax,” Jon says.

The Historic Vehicle Show, presented by HCVCA, Ballarat branch, takes place Sunday March 10 at
Clunes Showgrounds with gates open 9am-4pm

The Hepburn shire council’s latest community grants round is expected to support sustainability initiatives, protect heritage, encourage sport and recreation, boost children’s programs, support local agriculture, enhance events … and more.  

Councillors recently met with representatives from the successful groups to congratulate them on receiving the first round of community grants for 2024.  

“We are very pleased to award more than $17,000 to community groups who are doing fantastic work in their communities,” said. Hepburn shire mayor Cr Brian Hood.

“These funds complement the extraordinary contribution of volunteers who support so many important events and programs in our shire,” he said. 

“Their hard work continues to enhance the social, environmental and economic life of our shire.” 

Representatives from the successful community groups, councillors and council staff met at the historic Trentham Railway Station to celebrate and acknowledge the recipients for Round 1 in 2023/24.  

Over 30 members of the local community groups were able to attend this event. One of the grant recipients for Round 1 was the Trentham Rail and Tram Association, who manage the historic Trentham Railway Station site.

The successful projects in this Round 1 are: 

• Creswick Neighbourhood Centre – Lift-up for all – $1,500 
• Clunes and District Agricultural Society – Outdoor games for children – $1,850 
• Trentham Rail and Tram Association – Heritage Preservation Storage – $4,910 
• Daylesford and District Agricultural Society – Purchase of Marquees, tables, and Chairs – $2,100 
• Trentham Sustainability Group – Purchase of items for Trentham Fashion Swap – $1,897 
• Daylesford Lawn Tennis Club – Replacement Ride-on lawn Mower – $5,000 

The community grants program enables eligible community groups to access funds in three rounds annually across six categories that support a range of community needs. 

“I strongly encourage community groups to get involved and apply for future rounds,” Cr Hood said.

After 18 years Rob Hands and Annie Reeve have stepped away from their Mind Your Pet
business in Daylesford.

It was a hard decision to make – because of the customers, or as they know them after so many
years, friends.

Farewell tea

The Porcupine Ridge couple hosted a farewell afternoon tea a couple of weeks back and were
overwhelmed with how many people turned up, some even bearing gifts and cards.

“There have been a lot of tears,” says Annie.

“And that was the hardest part, our customers. Because they are not just customers, they are our
friends. But we exchanged a lot of phone numbers and have been invited for many cups of tea.

“And some came back after that just to say how much they had enjoyed the afternoon. It was pretty
wonderful and we have just loved getting to know them all – and their pets.”

Time to move on

Rob said they were offered a three-year lease but after 18 years, and with pretty much most of Covid working with just Sundays off, decided it was time to move on.

“It’s a lot of heavy lifting with the stock and we just thought we couldn’t do it for another three years. It was time and now we are enjoying having a break – and cleaning out everything that came home from the shop!”

Keen cyclists

Both keen cyclists, the couple met while working on a bike race in South Australia. Annie was on the Ballarat team, working as a massage therapist, but someone took her place and she found herself on the same team as Rob.

They travelled in the same vehicle to get to the next stop ahead of the team, and well, what happens on the bus stays on the bus. That was 31 years ago.

Rob had a former life as a sparky also working at Home Hardware in Daylesford and Hepburn Bathhouse while Annie managed Women’s Health Grampians, worked in hydrotherapy at St John of God and also at the Bathhouse.

Why a pet shop?

The move to owning Mind Your Pet came as they shopped for feed in Ballarat for their sheep and cats – they have two feline friends, one 18 “going on two and ruling the roost” and one 13.

The couple realised there was nothing available close to home, saw the opportunity and opened up their own store, specialising in premium brands.

There was never any issue about working together although some people have asked how they will fare being at home together now. “We just say we have already been together every day,” Annie laughed.

Staying put

The couple has no plans to leave their Porky Ridge home, where they are both active long-term members of the Porcupine Ridge CFA – Rob was captain some years back.

“We have had a wonderful time with our store and really want to emphasise how much we have enjoyed it and how much our customers mean to us. Those friendships have just been terrific,” Rob said. Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Kyle Barnes

Ballarat Crime Investigation Unit detectives have charged three men following an alleged burglary in Dimboola last week.

It is alleged a stolen Ford Falcon pulled up outside a service station on Ellerman Street where two men got out and smashed the front windows of the store about 12.35am on Monday, 5 February.

They allegedly stole cigarettes, tobacco products and cash before fleeing the scene in the vehicle.

Responding police sighted the Ford along Remembrance Drive in Burrumbeet heading towards Ballarat.

It was then located at a licensed premises on Lydiard Street a short time later.

Police entered the premises and arrested three men.

Cigarettes and lighters were seized from inside the vehicle and cash allegedly stolen in the burglary was located on the men arrested.

A 19-year-old Lucas man has been charged with burglary, theft of motor vehicle and possess prescription drug of dependence.

He has been remanded in custody and is listed to next face Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on 20 February.

A 19-year-old Mount Pleasant man has been charged with theft of motor vehicle, burglary, theft and handle stolen goods.

He has been remanded to face Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on 19 February.

A 20-year-old Mount Pleasant man was charged with theft of motor vehicle and possess drug of dependence.

He was bailed to face Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on 4 March.

It was in Germany, of all places, that they eyes of Creswick’s Susan Greenbank were first opened to Scottish Country Dancing.

Eight years on it’s clear it was to be an enduring passion as Susan is among the region’s legion of Scottish Country Dancing devotees now keenly anticipating the resumption of the Daylesford Dancers’ Scottish Country Dance Group sessions from March 5.

From that date the Daylesford group will be dancing on the first and third Tuesday of each month at the Masonic Hall in Vincent Street.

The group’s Heather Ross says it’s a very sociable session and Scottish Country Dance is itself a very social activity.

“It’s not Highland Dancing,” Heather says.

“It’s more like square dancing and it’s purely for fun.”

Like many of the Daylesford group members both Heather and Susan also dance regularly with the Ballarat Scottish Country Dance Group as well.

Members from both groups recently joined forces to give a demonstration of the time-honoured dance form as part of a multicultural event at Ballarat’s Lake Wendouree.

Chatting with them after catching their engaging kilt-swirling performance it quickly became clear that members of both groups jump at just about any opportunity to dance with others who share their passion for the dance form.

“People come to our Daylesford group from as far as Werribee, Melbourne, Castlemaine, Ballarat,” Heather says.

“The Daylesford group was actually started by (the late) Les Morrow from Castlemaine, for people who love the dance form to come together from across regional areas.

“The group’s been going for at least nine or ten years now. It’s just kept going and it’s very casual but we’d love new dancers to come along. We’d love to have more Daylesford area people coming to the group.

“When we get new dancers beginning we take it very slowly. We introduce them to it slowly.

“You don’t have to wear tartan. No special clothes are needed. The main thing is just to have soft shoes and a sense of rhythm, and you’ve got to be reasonably fit.”

There must be something fairly addictive about Scottish Country Dancing as many of the region’s members become so engrossed in it that they travel to Melbourne on a weekly basis to participate in social dance sessions there as well.

“I’ve been going (to the Daylesford dances) now since 2016,” Creswick’s Susan Greenbank says.

“It’s not competitive. It’s all social. The thing I enjoy most about it is the fun and the laughter, especially when you mess up. You laugh your head off.”

Many of the Ballarat group members regularly travel to Daylesford to participate in the sessions at the Masonic Hall in Vincent Street as well as attending their group’s regular dance sessions on offer in Ballarat.

One of their members, Graham Gooding, says the dance form seems to particularly appeal to people with a maths or science background. Perhaps because of the repeating patterns, sequences and symmetry involved.

For these reasons it’s also recognised as being pretty good for the brain as well as the body, dancers say.

Graham is pretty clear about what the main attraction is for him – “the music and the fitness and the fun,” he says.

No partner is necessary to participate and the upcoming Daylesford dance sessions take place between 10am and 2pm with those who attend invited to bring lunch along with them, and drinks provided as part of the $10 session cost.

Heather says all newbies are more than welcome and should give her a call first on 0418-313-060.

Words & Image: Eve Lamb

Detectives from the Missing Persons Squad are appealing to the public to submit any CCTV or dashcam footage covering the Ballarat East, Mount Helen and Buninyong areas on Sunday February 4 in their search for missing woman Samantha Murphy.

Even if the footage does not depict Samantha, detectives are keen to review all footage in the areas between 7am and 7pm on Sunday, 4 February.

Police previously urged everyone in the Ballarat East and Mount Helen areas, particularly around the Canadian Forest, to check their CCTV for any possible sightings over the past six days however would now like to collect all footage.

The Missing Persons Squad will continue to work in conjunction with local police, as they have done since the early stages of her disappearance, as part of the effort to locate Samantha.

The specialist detectives will manage the investigation into her disappearance and will be embedded alongside local police, who will continue to lead the search when required.

The current phase of the active search for Samantha was scaled back over the weekend.

Despite extensive searches in the area over recent days, no sign of Samantha has been located.

Police continue to be in regular contact with Samantha’s family regarding the developments of the search and the status of the investigation.

The investigative stage of the investigation continues and as any new information comes to hand identifying areas of interest, the search will be scaled up.

While no sinister factors have been identified in Samantha’s disappearance at this time, there are significant concerns given the amount of time that has elapsed without her being sighted or any signs of her current whereabouts.

The 51-year-old was last seen leaving her property on Eureka Street to go for a run, about 7am Sunday, 4 February.

Police, with assistance from a number of other agencies, have conducted a search in the Canadian Forest area where Samantha was known to regularly run.

Following further information about possible run routes, on Wednesday 7 February the search moved to the nearby Mount Helen area to the east of Geelong Road.

Police have again released two images of Samantha in the hope someone recognises her and can provide any information about her movements since Sunday.

Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives have been investigating the circumstances surrounding a fatal crash that occurred in Lancefield on Sunday afternoon.

It’s believed a white four-wheel drive travelling north along Pyalong Road left the roadway and struck a tree just before 2.30pm.

A yet-to-be formally identified passenger (as at the most recent police report issued) died at the scene.

A second passenger was airlifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the vehicle was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

The exact circumstances surrounding the crash are yet to be determined and investigations remain ongoing.

Anyone who witnessed the vehicle prior to the collision, with dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via the Crime Stoppers website online.