A man has had is car impounded and his licence immediately suspended after he was caught almost five times over the limit in Horsham on Christmas Day.

The man first came to police attention following reports of alleged excessive speed westbound on the Western Highway in Drung, about 2.10pm.

Officers from Horsham Highway Patrol attended the scene and intercepted the Honda Civic sedan.

The driver of the vehicle, a 30-year-old South Australian man, returned a positive breath test before providing an alleged evidentiary breath test result of 0.228.

The man was served with an immediate suspension of his licence and had his car impounded for at a cost of $1455.

It is expected the man will be summonsed in relation to drink driving and speeding offences, as well as using an unregistered motor vehicle.

This impound forms part of Operation Roadwise, a statewide road policing operation conducted over the Christmas and New Year period.

Police are targeting impaired driving, speed, distraction, and fatigue in high-risk areas throughout metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, in an effort to reduce road trauma.

The operation commenced at 12.01am on Friday 15 December and runs until 11.59pm on Monday 1 January.

Georgina Trgovac loves her job — she would recommend it to anyone.

Having worked as a school crossing supervisor with the City of Ballarat for more than 20 years, Georgina’s favourite part of the role has been the relationships she has built over the years.

“The children, parents and teachers come and speak to me, it is very nice,” she says.

“In the morning, the children come out and say ‘Good morning, Georgina’ and even if I feel sad, the children make me feel happy.”

School crossing supervisors play an important role in keeping students safe as they travel to school, and Georgina is grateful to live in a community that appreciates the importance of the role that she plays.

“Parents leave their children and they trust me to take care of them — it’s a very important job,” she says.   

Police have reunited a specialised wheelchair worth $14,000 with its grateful owner after it was stolen in Numurkah last week.

A member of the public located the motorised wheelchair dumped in Zeerust around lunchtime, Saturday December 23, and took it to Numurkah Police Station.

Officers were pleased to be able return the specially fitted and designed wheelchair to its 13-year-old owner in time for Christmas.

The wheelchair was inside the family’s silver Hyundai Santa Fe, with registration 1UK-9RO, when it was stolen from Quinn Street sometime between 10pm Thursday 21 December and 9.30am 22 December.

Officers are yet to locate the vehicle and urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at the Crime Stoppers Victoria website.

A 53-year-old Wyndham Vale man will face court next year after blowing more than double the legal alcohol limit in Maddingley on Sunday morning.

Police were patrolling Parwan-Exford Road around 7.20am when they intercepted a Mercedes sedan.

The driver of the car underwent a preliminary breath test and then accompanied police for an evidentiary test and returned an alleged reading of .131.

He is expected to be charged on summons with drink driving offences, his licence has been suspended and his car was impounded with $1425 in towing costs.

Earlier that morning officers detected a Honda sedan travelling at 131km/h along the Western Freeway at Hopetoun Park.

The car was intercepted and police spoke to the driver, a 21-year-old man from Keilor Lodge.

He is expected to be charged with speeding, learner driver fail to have supervising driver, fail to display ‘L’ plates and other offences.

These intercepts form part of Operation Roadwise, a statewide road policing operation conducted over the Christmas and New Year period.

Police are targeting impaired driving, speed, distraction, and fatigue in high-risk areas throughout metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, in an effort to reduce road trauma.

The operation commenced at 12:01am on Friday 15 December and runs until 11:59pm on Monday 1 January.

The Water Police Squad will be out in force both inland and along the coast this summer in a major effort to bolster safety, Victoria Police say.

Police will conduct proactive patrols and targeted operations at boating hotspots including the Mornington Peninsula, Lake Hume, Lake Eppalock, Lake Eildon, Lake Ouyen and Wilsons Promontory to ensure everyone is following the rules.

The effort will see police, with support from local officers, blitz boat ramps to conduct breath tests and licence checks.

They will be also making sure boat operators are carrying mandatory safety equipment including lifejackets, torches and fire extinguishers.

Targeting unruly boats and jet ski behaviour will be another key focus.

The Water Police Squad won’t hesitate to remove impaired or unsafe jet ski operators from the water, with anyone caught travelling too close to swimmers, exceeding speed restrictions or ignoring no boating zones to face significant fines.

The newly-formed Small Boat Team, launched last week as part of the Water Police Squad, will also boost enforcement efforts against anyone who thinks it’s okay to flout the rules and put other water users at risk.

The team will be using a mix of jet skis and inflatable rescue boats to respond to search and rescue incidents on the water and target boats and jet ski riders putting others at risk.

On top of this, special strike teams are regularly deployed to key waterways to target anti-social behaviour and boating offences.

The Water Police Squad will be working closely with enforcement agency partners including Safe Transport Victoria, Parks Victoria and the Victorian Fisheries Authority to enhance safety on the water.

Water Police Squad Senior Sergeant Lynden Blackley: “We want everyone to enjoy Victoria’s beaches and waterways this summer – but we want them to do it safely.

“That’s why we’ll be out in force and teaming up with local units to ensure our presence is highly visible and everyone is doing their part in keeping the water safe.

“We’ll have zero tolerance for anyone who puts other water users at risk and won’t hesitate to remove impaired or unsafe boat and jet ski operators from the water.

“Jet ski and boat operators need to know the rules and adhere to them – if you don’t you will be held to account. So please help us out and make smart decisions out on the water this summer.

“Whether it’s inland or along the coast, Victorians can expect to see us out in force.”

There will be fewer excuses for the Sunday night blues in Ballarat this January, as the city gets set for its favourite free music festival to hit the stage once again.

Summer Sundays, a four-week music series, returns in January 2024 and promises to provide the perfect ending to the weekend every Sunday throughout the month.

Presented by the City of Ballarat, Summer Sundays will be an entertaining showcase of talent in 2024, including a great mixture of local, First Nations and culturally diverse performers.

Summer Sundays have become a tradition in Ballarat, providing a wonderful platform for local musicians to gain experience on a big stage by performing to large crowds and this year is no different. 

More than half of the performers in the 2024 event will hail from the Ballarat region, delivering on the City of Ballarat’s Creative City Strategy, and the Ballarat Events Strategy.

Each Sunday in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, four different acts will be on-stage between 4pm-8pm, with the traditional spectacular fireworks display to cap off the 14 January show at 9.30pm over Lake Wendouree (subject to weather conditions).

City of Ballarat Deputy Mayor, Cr Peter Eddy said Summer Sundays was an integral part of the city’s events calendar, forming part of a busy period including the Federation University RoadNats Ballarat, the Lake Wendouree Fireworks and the Australia Day Picnic in the Park on January 26.

“Last year we had well in excess of 10,000 people come along throughout the whole month of Summer Sundays, which shows just how popular this event is,” Cr Eddy said.

“As a Council we are delighted to be able to provide this event each and every year for the people of Ballarat and any visitors at zero cost to attend.

“We’ve also made a real effort to diversify the on-stage talent and we think we’ve landed on something special this year.

“There really is no better way to spend a summer night in Ballarat.”

Returning in 2024 will be an expanded array of local and regional food and beverage vendors, with about 10 different food trucks on hand offering a range of cuisine at each Summer Sundays event.

The pop-up Garden Bar will also return, highlighting some of the Ballarat region’s best wine, spirit, and beer producers.

The Bean Bag Lounge will also be back to provide an extra layer of comfort, although numbers are limited. Patrons are welcome to bring their own rug and picnic.

A Draft Complaint and Unreasonable Behaviour Policy is among several iniatives for which the Macedon Ranges Shire Council will invite community feedback early in the new year.

During its last scheduled meeting for 2023 held earlier this month the council endorsed putting out a number of iniatives for public consultation in early 2024.

The iniatives include the:

• Draft Complaint and Unreasonable Behaviour Policy: the draft policy outlines how Council will manage complaints and unreasonable behaviour and provides clear guidance for both the complainant and Council.  The draft will be available for public consultation in February 2024.

• Draft Special Charge Scheme Policy: this policy applies to Special Charge Scheme (SCS) infrastructure projects such as resident-funded upgrading of roads and drainage. It outlines the decision-making process and criteria for SCS projects where providing these services or infrastructure items is deemed to provide a special benefit to property owners or certain community members.

• Draft Fair Access Policy: this policy supports Council in the identification and removal of systemic factors contributing to gender inequality relating to the availability of quality community sports infrastructure at times that are suitable.

People hoping to gain a building permit projects in the Hepburn shire will now have to lodge their building permit applications with a private building surveyor, rather than the council, following a recent announcement.

The council in a public statement issued this month has described the change as temporary, with its statement informing residents that:

“You may have heard that many councils are dealing with a shortage of qualified building and planning staff. Unfortunately, Hepburn Shire is no different.

“As a result, we have made a temporary change to the building services on offer. Building permit applications now need to be made through a private building surveyor rather than through council.”

The council will continue to process building permits applications that had already been submitted prior to the change being made.

But in its statement it has also confirmed that at this stage there is no clear date for when it will again be able to process building permit applications.

Artists and creatives in the wider Hepburn and Macedon Ranges shire areas are being encouraged to apply to the state government’s Creative Projects Fund.

The program supports independent artists and creative workers to build their skills and careers, develop new creative work and experiences, and take them to local, national or international
audiences and markets.

Grants of $5000 to $20,000 are available to Victorian professional artists, creative practitioners, collectives, groups and organisations working in all creative disciplines – from design to dance, fashion
to film, theatre, augmented and virtual technologies, visual art, music, literature and more.

The Fund aims to support a wide range of ideas and perspectives, reflecting the diversity of the creative industries and Victoria’s wider community. It includes dedicated streams for First Peoples and
Deaf and Disabled applicants.

Applications are also encouraged from culturally and linguistically diverse, LGBTIQA+ and regionally
based creatives.

The Creative Projects Fund invests in the creative people and ideas that fuel the state’s $38.4 billion
creative industries, and is an action of the Victorian Government’s Creative State 2025 strategy.

Applications for the General, Deaf and Disabled and First Peoples streams opened earlier this month
and will close at 3pm on Thursday 1 February 2024.

Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas: “The Creative Projects Fund helps professional artists and small creative businesses to develop new work, bringing their ideas to life.”

The Hepburn Shire Council has launched a new event toolkit to help local event organisers plan and carry out events successfully.

Available via the council’s website, the toolkit caters for events of all sizes and all types and will be updated as information changes.

Mayor Cr Brian Hood said whether the event was big or small, the Event Toolkit was a one-stop-shop for event organisers.

“Events are an important drawcard for community and visitors in our shire and a driver in our local economy. The toolkit features information on event planning, risk management, sponsorship, grants, coordinating volunteers and staff, how to run committee meetings and post-event reviews and surveys,” said Cr Hood.

“It aims to make it easy to access everything organisers need when planning an event in our Shire,” he said.

The development of the toolkit delivers on two aspects in Council’s Event Strategy 2020-2025; to build the capacity of the event industry and to enhance and measure the value and impacts on events.

“The toolkit provides event organisers with the resources, templates and tools to run events that are successful, sustainable and compliant,” said Cr Hood.

Not just for Christmas

Like puppies and kittens, they’re to keep and cherish for their lifetime. I’m talking about house plants, because with a little care and the right treatment and conditions they can be expected to last for years…especially if presented in an attractive, decorated pot.

But it doesn’t stop with indoor plants. I’m yet to hear of anyone turning down a flowering shrub or garden ornament as a gift.

As an ardent last-minute panic Christmas shopper perhaps resorting to “something for the garden” I know there’s an endless supply of garden goodies to be had from all of the little nurseries, florists and gift shops scattered throughout our area.

Now, if ever a range of gifts was waiting for you it has to be those destined for the garden. Whether it be pot plants, garden ornaments or sculptures, the choice is all yours.

If the choice is plant life, more than a little care is needed to select something that is both appealing and capable of surviving way past the euphoria of Christmas Day. So buy locally from the people who know and grow for themselves.

Obviously any gifted tree or shrub will yearn for the outdoors and should not be kept indoors any longer than Christmas/New Year before being released in the garden.

But the indoor varieties are a different matter. They will mostly thrive if placed in front of a well-lit window, preferably a southern one away from direct sunlight.

Out of the sunlight is best for the soft-leaf ferns. Coming mostly from the depths of rainforests, they can tolerate longer spells of low light. But for other cool climate species, early morning sunlight is fine.

Frost-sensitive plants such as poinsettia need the protection of double glazing or a constantly warm room to survive the worst of winter. Take care not to overwater your plants, they are more likely to rot off or drown than to suffer from a few days without water.

Potted plants for indoors, or a sheltered spot on the porch or terrace are always welcomed, especially if they come with an attractive container.

Most homes have a well-lit spot indoors where indoor plants will flourish but away from direct sunlight is best. These can range from such ornamental foliaged plants as ivy, sansevieria (snake plant), ficus, philodendrons or among the vast range of ornamental ferns – many of which are native to Australia.

The all-time favourite saintpaulia or African violets are in bloom right now in a range of delightful colours from white to deep purple. For outdoors, larger plants, along with suitably large containers always make terrific gifts.

For a cool, shaded spot, nothing compares with hydrangeas. In sunny places plants grown simply for their attractive foliage include cordyline flax, conifers and the slender-foliaged, weeping dwarf acacias.

Among my favourites would be the new range of fruiting miniature citrus trees and the ubiquitous aspidistra. Since Victorian times, through decades of ridicule and downright rejection, these stalwarts (especially the striped variegated form) have survived neglect in dark, dusty corners to now rightfully claim their place of honour in our homes and gardens.

Got a gardening query? Email glenzgarden@gmail.com

with Clive Hartley

Christmas specials

‘Tis the season to be jolly. So here are some recommendations to enjoy the festive season that can be sourced locally.

You don’t need an excuse to drink Champagne and sparkling wine but Christmas and New Year is generally the most popular time to pop a cork.

I like a couple of Australian sparkling wines, but I often gravitate towards Champagne. My favourites
are Louis Roederer NV or Taittinger for a pre-meal drink and Bollinger to have with a meal. Roederer is elegant, a tad lighter is Taittinger, whilst Bollinger is heavier and more autolytic in style.

One Australian example I’d recommend is our Hanging Rock Macedon Brut Cuvée XIX NV. This is a complex wine made from 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay. Half the wine goes through malolactic fermentation and is then barrel aged, the other half is fermented in tank.

They use reserve wine to add more complexity. Another local wine, which I got to taste recently and can recommend, is the Blue Pyrenees Vintage Brut selling for a modest $28.

My suggested white wines for Christmas include a bunch of fresh and light wines for a hot day. Granite Hills do a lovely aromatic Pinot Blanc 2023 – this Alsace grape variety is becoming popular in Australia. Best’s Great Western do a great riesling and their 2023 is on special at the moment, two for $50.

Brown Brothers Wine Maker’s Series Fiano 2021 comes highly recommended. The wine has strong lime and lemon zest aromas. On the palate it is dry, fleshy with pear skin and lemon flavours on a well balanced, medium bodied framework, currently on special at $20 a bottle.

With red wines I’d keep them light to medium bodied in style. Pinot noir, gamay, and sangiovese are all suggestions. Try Curly Flat Pinot Noir 2021/2020 or the lighter Scotchmans Hill Pinot Noir 2021.

Lyons Will Estate are specialists gamay producers so I’d drink their 2022, or you could try a cru village Beaujolais such as Morgon. For sangiovese I’d recommend Vinea Marson from Heathcote.

Local producers Red Hare and Musk Lane also do recommended sangiovese (both from the 2021 vintage). If you require something heavier then try Majella’s Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 from Coonawarra which offers blackcurrant and ripe mulberry aromas wrapped around cedar, mint and earthy notes.

The palate is rich, full bodied with black cherry fruits and a tannic finish. Or the Blue Pyrenees Richardson Shiraz 2019 for a more full-bodied rich, concentrated red with bags of Black Forest cake-inspired fruits.

Clive Hartley is an award-winning wine writer, educator and consultant. Read his Australian Wine Guide (7th ed) available from Paradise Books, Daylesford, Stoneman’s Bookroom, Castlemaine or via his website – www.australianwineguide.com.au

Christmas started way too early this year with the first signs, including mince pies, making their annual debut hot on the heels of the Halloween landfill which wrapped up in early November.

I don’t know how those nice people at the supermarket checkouts keep a smile on their faces and put those bloody hats and reindeer ears on every year. And keep listening to that infuriatingly sickly, looped yuletide music that wafts through the aisles. And a special shoutout to always happy Maree at the Daylesford Coles.

(If I worked in a shop listening to that music I would apply for some sort of post-traumatic stress payout – but that’s just me, a bahhumbugged, emotionally numb bloke that winces at the sight of tinsel.)

Speaking of Coles, the other day while shopping for a bachelor’s handbag in Daylesford I had to brush past a scrawny, potty-mouthed idiot of a woman around the cheese section. It must have been the day she had run out of calm-down medication.

The thing was, that the usually large aisle had been turned into two aisles with Christmas chocolates and other seasonal rubbish, which makes for a close-quarters situation between fellow shoppers.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am the biggest physical distancer around. Particularly post pandemic, I can’t air kiss and hugs are something I do around 3am after a skinful, unless it’s with the wife on the odd auspicious occasion.

So, back to potty-mouth who screeched at me “you had to come down this aisle, didn’t you?” and due to the proximity of the cheese counter being next to the hot chicken counter my retort was “yes, I did”.

She then told me to “fornicate off” and then rudely added something about being fat and a woman’s anatomy. You get the idea. I remained polite. I thought perhaps she was having a bad day and to cheer her up I went with flattery.

And with imitation the sincerest form of flattery my considered response was “fornicate off yourself ”. I might have added “this is my town.”

This would have to be the first time I have ever had this sort of encounter in a supermarket with someone I don’t know. Usually people wait until they know me a little before they tell me to “fornicate off.”

And the only time I have experienced a little bit of argie-bargie was over the last four pack of lavender-scented toilet rolls around the middle of March 2020.

(It was toilet paper war time and there was not a sheet to be found. Until we entered a country store down the coast where a bloke was putting out a stack of the aforementioned lavender toilet rolls. I asked him why he hadn’t nabbed them for himself? Allergies apparently. I hate to think what that meant… but I digress.)

So this is Christmas. The season for peace for all mankind, and womankind, and goodwill for all unless it doesn’t suit you.

And the most magical time of the year keeps on giving with my most recent exposure to a shopping centre.

Santa and his Kodak elves had set up camp in order to snap photos of the line-up of little darlings perched on his lap. How is that still legal?

Anyway, one of the little cherubs was next and he was all dressed up in what looked like Christmas pyjamas – even his parents were dressed like that. And then he decided to have a meltdown.

Even with the intervention of two elves and Mrs Claus the whole show quickly turned to custard. In my day…

For me, Christmas is a good time to kick back for a bit, unwind and reflect a little. I hope the holiday season brings you whatever it is it means to you and I’ll catch you in the New Year.

Christmas wishes rant over…

By Donna Kelly

Kyle and I are having an orphans’ Christmas this year. I literally am an orphan now, and one of his parents lives in another state and one in another country.

Now it may sound sad, especially if you are used to big celebrations, but we have had some of our best Christmases alone.

Two were in Queensland, one in Cairns and one on the Gold Coast. The Cairns one was quirky. We bundled up some chicken and bread rolls and champagne (simple tastes) and headed to some waterfalls known as the Crystal Cascades.

It was really hot and muggy and we ate and drank a little and then decided to go for a swim. But the water was dark and we kept thinking about crocodiles and in the end we freaked ourselves out and packed up the picnic.

We then headed back into town, watched a James Bond movie at the cinema and then had dinner at a Chinese restaurant – which was packed with Chinese tourists oddly enough. Wouldn’t you think they would be at an Australian restaurant sampling kanga and emu meat. Eating the coat of arms of Australia.

Quick fact. The emu and the kangaroo were chosen for the coat of arms because neither of them can walk backwards. So Australia is always moving forwards. Hmm.

The second Queensland orphans’ Christmas saw me working for the day. I was a Japanese speaking driver guide – back in the 90s – and the day started with picking up my itinerary from a darkened Gold Coast office about 3am then driving to collect my passengers from Brisbane Airport about 4.30am.

Then it was a day of fun, taking them to their hotels, then off to a sheep/ whipcracking place for breakfast, then Movieworld for the day, then out to dinner.

Kyle, who was not working that day, kept calling asking when I would be back. I finally turned up about 9pm and found a veritable seafood feast spread out on the floor as an indoor picnic. It was fantastic but had not been without difficulty.

Kyle had gone to buy all the goods from a local supermarket but at the checkout his card was declined. The staffer, instead of saying “do you have another card?” said nastily “you don’t have any money in your account”. So Kyle said something equally unpleasant back and stormed off.

Of course, he rallied, worked out his finances and returned, after a shift change, and shopped again. He is nothing if not determined.

Not sure what we will do this year, but I am sure lots of food and drink will be involved. And a few calls to friends and family. Maybe a present or two.

It’s been another funny, peculiar, not ha-ha, year. Covid is still sort of wandering around, but at least we don’t have that same fear which I don’t think anyone from other states understand.

And that terrible accident has taken its toll on many people and continues to be in the headlines.

So I hope you get a chance to have a bit of a silly season. I think we all need a bit of silliness or joy or whatever makes you smile. And drink the champagne (unless you are an abstainer!) and eat the pavlova and spread a bit of good cheer.

Our next edition is out January 1, 2024. The New Year. So this is my chance to say thanks for reading, for advertising, for supporting and for enjoying a publication that is all about Connecting the Community.

Have a wonderful Christmas, or whatever it is that you do, and catch you in the New Year. I hope it’s a good one, without any fear. Just sayin’…

A new road safety strategy aimed at protecting both motorists and wildlife features among several significant items that have been endorsed by the Macedon Ranges Shire Council at its final scheduled meeting for 2023.

Items given the green light by the council at its December meeting included the adoption of four different significant plans, reports or strategies, following earlier community consultation

Among them, the Mobility and Road Safety Strategy 2023-32 identifies key road safety issues in
the shire and will assist in implementing proactive initiatives to enhance safety for all
road users.

The strategy supports the council and the Victorian Government’s vision of reducing
road fatalities and crash injuries within the Macedon Ranges over the next ten years.

It also includes non-vehicle road user considerations in road design and targets a reduction in wildlife
road trauma.