Words: Donna Kelly | Images: Kyle Barnes/Supplied

Tourism stalwarts Carol White, Tina Banitska and Alla Wolf-Tasker, will be the guests of honour when the Rotary Club of Daylesford celebrates its 70th anniversary next month.
Carol created and owns Lavandula at Shepherds Flat. She bought the property 35 years ago and started out with just 1000 lavender bushes.

Carol then started up European-style festivals which saw up to 10,000 people attending.
“The police told us we had to stop because we had cars banked up on all the roads,” she told The Local.
Carol decided early this year that it was time to move on and Lavandula is now for sale.
Tina created and owns The Convent in Daylesford. It was in 1975 when she first saw the old building. She knew then one day it was going to be one of the best galleries in Australia – which it became after she bought it in 1988 from the Presentation Sisters.

Alla created and owns Lake House in Daylesford. An icon in regional dining, Lake House has long been
considered to be one of Australia’s best restaurants, championing local seasonal cuisine long before it became a mantra for many. Alla is widely credited for getting regional destination dining started in Australia – against all odds.
The celebrations will be held at the Daylesford Town Hall on Saturday, September 23 from 6.30pm. Tickets are $60. To book a ticket contact Danny Moynihan on 0407 501 994. Tickets are selling fast and the cut-off date is September 13.

The Coomoora Ensemble, with Alison Catanach on baroque flute, Elizabeth Welsh on baroque violin, Edwina Cordingley on baroque cello, Ruth Wilkinson on viola da gamba and Ann Morgan on harpsichord, will play at Christ Church, Daylesford on Saturday, August 26.
The performance offers the elegance of Telemann’s Paris Quartets and an opportunity to enjoy the exquisite sonorities of these baroque instruments.
The Coomoora Ensemble brings together outstanding musicians who are passionate about performance on historical instruments. They have performed together over many years and in various chamber music combinations. Their 2023 Daylesford concert presents some of their favourite repertoire, Telemann’s wonderful Paris Quartets, and is an opportunity for an audience to enjoy the exquisite sonorities of baroque flute, violin, cello, viola da gamba and harpsichord.
Georg Philipp Telemann was held in high esteem by his 18th century musical contemporaries. Employed as musical director of the principal churches in Hamburg from 1721, Telemann composed prolifically in a wide range of genres, directed concerts and developed his own music-publishing business.
In 1738 Telemann published his six new quartets while on an extended stay in Paris. They were immediately recognised as outstanding chamber music and successfully taken up throughout Europe.
The Daylesford performance includes three of the Nouveaux quatuors, often called Telemann’s Paris Quartets. The quartets pay homage to French style with each designed as a suite.
Telemann wished to flatter his Parisian audience as well as impress with his musical inventiveness. The quartets display Telemann’s masterly exchange of musical ideas; the musical dialogue is constant and highlights the colour, virtuosity and character of each instrument.
The concert starts at 2.30pm and will be held at Christ Church, 54 Central Springs Road, Daylesford. Links: Christ Church concerts facebook page. Tickets: www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1040691

Words & image: Janise Slater

Not to be outdone by The Matildas, Daylesford College junior girls soccer team was victorious in the Greater Western Region finals, earlier this month.
The pressure from Daylesford was relentless from the beginning of the game, with an early goal coming from winning the ball back from pressing the opposition.
Neisa Drogriski, captain on the day, lead by example, winning the ball back in the midfield, scoring a hat-trick and setting up a number of attacking phases.
The team went in at half time 2-0 against the wind, with goals from Lilly Willcocks-Fernandez and Neisa’s first goal after Martha Richard’s fantastic work as goalkeeper in the first half, including her great distribution with the ball.
Katie Newton took the gloves for the second half making an outstanding one-on-one save. With the wind behind them, the team dominated the territory battle, pouring on another four goals in the second half.
Abby Dunstan scored with a hard, low strike finding the bottom corner after Paula Ielo beat a defender, and played a ball for Abby to run onto.
Neisa found the net twice in the second half, the last being a great strike from range to give the goalkeeper no chance as she rounded out her hat-trick. Emma Koleski finished off a fantastic display in which she controlled the midfield with a goal coming from her stealing the ball off a defender before a tidy finish.
The final score was 6-1 with some incredible goals and passages of play. The team will now prepare for the state finals in September.

Words and Images: Eve Lamb

A diagnosis of dementia can be incredibly upsetting, and unfortunately the incidence of this lethal disease is rising across Macedon Ranges and Hepburn Shires.

However, some good news is that last week saw the local launch of a new federally-funded, free, three-day retreat offering people with dementia and their carers a valuable new source of respite and support.

Last Monday’s launch of the new three day (two night) Treehouse4Two retreat program follows Central Highlands Rural Health’s successfully securing $1.3 million in federal funding to make it happen.

They will now begin offering the new retreats in both the Hepburn and Macedon Ranges shires.

Launched at the Macedon Ranges Hotel and Spa, the retreats are designed to provide essential support, education and resources to navigate the difficult journey through dementia.

The specialised retreats are funded as an ongoing series through to mid 2026, and will take place in quality scenic local accommodation venues – with plenty of good food on the menu and an enjoyable “holiday vibe” as key aspects.

The first of the retreats are happening from this week with an initial intake of five couples attending.

Beyond this week’s, the retreats are then expected to accommodate six couples per retreat with all costs covered for participants.

“Sadly, there is quite an increase in dementia in both Hepburn and Macedon Ranges shires,” CHRH executive director Phil Catterson said.

According to a 2022 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report, 517 people were living with dementia in the Macedon Ranges Shire, of which 204 were males, and 314 were female. In Hepburn Shire, there were 389 people living with dementia, with 240 females and 149 males diagnosed.

The Treehouse4Two retreat program builds on CHRH’s existing Treehouse program which, for the past five years, has been supporting people living at home with dementia.

“We have had Treehouse for over five years now and it has been a great thing for us to understand how important respite is for people who have dementia,” Mr Catterson said.

“If you are given a diagnosis and it’s happening to you, it scares the heebie jeebies out of you and you don’t know how to react.”

CHRH Treehouse and Social Support manager Dora Mansbridge has an extensive nursing background, including in palliative care, and will be a leader for the new retreats that are based on a similar successful program run by Sydney’s Hammond Care.

“There’s a stigma that comes with having a dementia diagnosis,” Dora says.

“But dementia is not the end of the conversation. It’s the start.”

Knowing where to turn and how to begin managing and coping following a new diagnosis can be challenging and the new retreat program will especially aim to help those contending with a recent diagnosis.

Dora says couples who attend the retreats will enjoy time out to relax in a beautiful safe location.

But while it will feel like “a holiday” a skilled team of health and support care professionals will use the time to meaningfully engage with those who have the diagnosis and to provide their carers with skills and knowledge needed.

“Our aim is to provide essential support, education and resources to help people navigate this journey. It’s a tough gig – 24/7,” Dora said.

Sharing the load is a main aim and friendships and other valuable support contacts are expected to result.

“It’s going to feel a little like an extended family,” said Treehouse4Two Retreat Coordinator Paula Weekley.

Paula says the retreats’ outcomes will be closely watched with the hope of seeing them gain funding to continue beyond the initial four years.

Following this week’s very first Treehouse4Two retreat, three more will be held this year – in September, October and November, with ten then scheduled for each of 2024 and 2025, and six scheduled for 2026.

Among those keenly looking forward to attending one coming up soon is Hepburn Shire same-sex couple Chris Ling and Lewis Short, and Chris attended Monday’s launch.

“Lewis was diagnosed in 2016 and we have already been using the Treehouse program in Trentham,” Chris said.

The (pre-existing) Treehouse program is also offered at Kyneton and is now being launched at Daylesford with plans to make it available at Clunes into the future.

“With the retreat, I am looking forward to being with other carers and I’d like Lewis to be comfortable in a different place other than at home,” Chris says.

“For him it’s a chance to be with other people besides me and that will hopefully be a break for us from our normal routine.”

Dora says that additional suitable safe and scenic accommodation venues across Hepburn and Macedon Ranges shires are being sought as potential sites to hold the retreats.

More information about the Treehouse4Two retreat program is available through Central Highlands Rural Health.

In the 1990s, Em Ireland ran open mic events, combining poetry and music. Now, as director of the Words in Winter event, Em has loved calling in poets and friends “from back in the day” to be a part of the community festival, held on August 25, 26 and 27.
“Words in Winter is all about our community and its poets and authors, and people from further away, coming in to show how writing and poetry can be exciting.”
Em said she had worked on growing the festival and a gala launch would be held on the Saturday night with media legends Jon Faine and Marieke Hardy, at the Palais- Hepburn.
“I really do hope everyone comes to honour Jon Faine on Saturday, I am sure all of us would have had a chat to him on his radio show about bushfires or potholes over the past decade or so.
“It will be a gorgeous event and I really like the idea of the community coming together for these festivals. They can be honouring our potato farmers, our goats, our Swiss Italian heritage…our community is just so supportive.
“And it is really important that we get out from behind books, into a room and talking about them.”
Em said the festival started on Friday, August 25, the same day as Wear Purple Day, and that had been incorporated with author Erin Riley coming from Sydney to talk about gender diversity.
On the Saturday, there were many events from Women to the Front brunching, to workshops and poetry readings at venues including Paradise Books, Daylesford Hotel, Radius Art Gallery and Cliffy’s.
There are also events at Creswick, Trentham and Maryborough with free readings in the shire’s libraries and shadow puppetry performances.
Words in Winter was started by David Hall and his late wife Lorelle in 2001. Link: www.wordsinwinter.com

Words and Image: Eve Lamb

In his day yesteryear Creswick identity Simon (Simmy) McDonald was something of a household name in folk music circles.
The well loved local character lived on his family property at Springmount just out of Creswick, without electricity, all his life (1906-1986) eking out a living from gold fossicking and agricultural work.
But he was also a fixture at local pubs, particularly Creswick’s American Hotel, where he would sing for food and beer.
At a time when ‘The Folk Wave’ was on and folk music was the Rap of its era, Simmy was called ‘the best traditional singer in the British style ever recorded in Australia’.
Possessing a “fantastic voice” and a splendid repertoire of Irish and Scottish folk songs, he was also “a self confessed alcoholic” and no stranger to the town’s historic courthouse.
He even spent a night in the adjacent lockup, an experience about which, in true folk legend style, he penned a poem.
However, despite his misadventures with the law, Simmy’s folk music talent was so considerable that many hours of recordings from 1959-1967, featuring both his music and himself in conversation, ended up in the National Archives in Canberra.
And it was there that current day local Neil Adam (pictured above, outside the old Creswick Courthouse Theatre, with one of Simmy’s album covers) unearthed this rich recorded legacy, after learning about Simmy, who was in danger of becoming lost to the mists of time.
The result is The Simmy Show which is playing at Creswick Theatre this Saturday evening August 19 as part of the wider Words in Winter festival.
The show was sold-out when staged previously during Cresfest and features live music and discussion from Neil, himself a talented guitarist and singer songwriter, carefully curated excerpts from those precious archival recordings with Simmy himself, and also live music by Ballarat Irish folk singer Paddy Caulfield.
“Simon McDonald lived at Springmount just outside of Creswick, Victoria and became a bit of a household name in music circles during the Folk Revival of the 1950s and 60s,” Neil says.
“He made an LP of songs, a book was written about him, and there are hours of old reel-to-reel recordings of interviews with him. He had a fantastic voice.
“The old courthouse is a great place to stage this show because Simmy was an occasional ‘performer’ at the courthouse himself for public misbehaviours.
“He called himself an alcoholic and he wrote a poem about being locked up in 1939.
“He used to perform at The American (hotel in Creswick) where they paid him in food and alcohol. He had a great repertoire of songs and he kept these 200 songs alive in his head because it was helping him survive.”
Neil, who is also Creswick Theatre Company’s current president, describes this Saturday’s show as “half live music, half local history and half recordings from the National Library… So that makes it a show and a half,” he reckons.
Dollars raised from the show support the little courthouse theatre and tickets are available through Humanitix.
Neil says he’s also keen to get copies of the archival recordings with Simmy which are held in the National Archives made readily available at the Creswick library.

Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Contributed

A STOP the Towers rally went all the way to the steps of Parliament House in Spring Street, yesterday Tuesday, August 15.
A convoy of tractors, agricultural vehicles, horses and fire trucks departed Cathedral Place at 12.45pm and formed a distinctive procession along Spring Street and around Parliament House.
The event was organised by the Regional Victoria Power Alliance, consisting of farmers, their rural, regional, and suburban neighbours, retail and tourism business owners, and many other community members. Alliance members come from Central, Western and North Western Victoria and are deeply concerned about “the irreversible environmental, social, and economic impact that will occur from two 500kV overhead transmission line projects known as VNI West and Western Renewables Link (VNI West Stage 1)”.
The members say their fight is against the industrialising of the regional and rural areas with the message: The Victorian Government must Stop the Towers – save the environment, communities, and farms and find a better solution to transmit electricity and support the transition to renewable energy.
Spokesperson Glenden Watts, “the naked farmer” from Yeungroon, says that he and everyone else in the western and north-western regions only learnt earlier this year that they were in an area of interest for VNI West.
“Over the past few years whenever we heard about the people fighting the Western Renewables Link, we had thought ‘poor buggers’ but we never thought this would happen to us,” he said.
Glenden said to deliver both projects the Victorian Government, in consultation with AEMO, was proposing to construct over 800 steel towers up to 80m in height, around the same height as the MCG lights.
The steel towers will carry the high-voltage transmission lines for over 400km, running westwards from Sydenham on the edge of Melbourne to Bulgana near Ararat and then northwards to Kerang and beyond before crossing over the Murray River into New South Wales, he said.
“The farming families who will be impacted have already cared for their land over many generations. We grow and raise food and fibre for our state and our nation, and we look after our environment.”
Glenden said the alliance supported renewable energy, action on climate change and protecting the environment.
“But we want the transition away from fossil fuels to use environmentally sustainable energy solutions. A green generation solution requires a green transmission solution. Constructing more overhead electricity transmission lines using century-old technology is not in Australia’s strategic national interest, nor cost-
effective given its irreversible environmental, social, and economic impact.”
Ballarat federal MP, Catherine King said she had been deeply concerned about the project since she first heard about it “and my position hasn’t changed”.
“I have been clear from the start that our community should have been better listened to throughout this entire process. This is a beautiful, productive part of the world. While new transmission lines do need to be built to connect renewable energy into the electricity grid, this is not the way to do it.
“Through my submission to the most recent AEMO consultation process, I continued to encourage AEMO and the project’s proponents to properly consult with impacted communities.”
Macedon state MP Mary-Anne Thomas said new transmission was vital for securing affordable power for Victorians and enabling the development of the renewable energy industry as “we work towards net-zero emissions by 2045”.
“These transmissions projects will form part of the national electricity grid and deliver more affordable and renewable power to Victorians. VicGrid is already providing greater oversight of the development of the WRL and VNI West projects that are being developed by AusNet and AEMO. WRL is still subject to an EES, which will consider alternative routes and undergrounding.
“There will be full and fair compensation payment for landowners who host new transmission infrastructure. The details of these payments will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis with property owners once a final route for the project is determined.”
An AusNet spokesperson said AusNet was working with government and stakeholders to accelerate critical transmission projects that will secure affordable, renewable and reliable energy to Victorian homes and businesses.
“We continue to consult with communities as we refine the proposed route to minimise impacts on landholders, the environment and farming operations, and thank those landholders who are working with us.”

Words: Linda Newitt

Clunes
Graeme and his wife June moved to Clunes in 1997 from Melbourne where they had raised a family of three while working as secondary teachers. Graeme, the maths whizz with a penchant for drama and theatre, June with an expert knowledge and passion for music and love of gardening.
They purchased the former Duke of Edinburgh Hotel and transformed it into The Dukes B&B. June working on the garden, Graeme on the premises. They were licenced and put in a coffee machine (only the second one in Clunes).
A gregarious host, Graeme’s provision of massive, cooked breakfasts soon became legendary, as did the nights when the tipple was from the top shelf.
Graeme soon joined in community life, always ready to lend a hand, run with a good idea and help in any way to promote the town. And he had plenty of fun along the way. As a former drama teacher and enthusiast, he was part of the Clunes amateur theatre group and directed two plays. Whenever there was a film made here in Clunes, Graeme was usually to be counted among the extras, including Ned Kelly back in 2003. He was also instrumental in establishing the pétanque piste in Collins Place and an enthusiastic member of the Clunes Golf Club. And the smaller private moments of generosity and caring, such as helping to tutor a student.
Clunes Tourist and Development Association
One of Graeme’s first forays into community life was through the Clunes Tourist and Development Association. At a time when the town was in decline he worked closely with a small team of other enthusiastic locals, notably Jane Lesock and former local councillor Michael Cheshire, to bring a new energy to the group. As part of the CTDA he was for 12 years the Clunes representative on the Hepburn Regional Tourism Board, with countless trips to Daylesford, day or night, to ensure Clunes got its fair share of publicity and acknowledgement. Graeme’s time on the CTDA included many years as president, eventually retiring from this role in 2009.
One of the CTDA’s early efforts to promote the town during this time was to include a Clunes calendar of events in the Words in Winter festival emerging in Daylesford – it would be a precursor to bigger things to come with Booktown. Other significant annual community events flowed from the CTDA’s work during this time, including the much celebrated Clunes Community Dinners and Clunes Citizen of the Year Awards. Graeme was a recipient of this award in 2014, named Clunes Male Citizen of the Year. He was Hepburn Shire Citizen of the Year for 2015.
Clunes International Booktown
With the town in rural decline, community members started to look for a way to revitalise the town while at the same time holding on to its history. Again, joining with a few other committed locals, the notion of a Booktown was born, with the first festival held in 2007. The original crew of Graeme, Tim Hayes (Clunes’ then local councillor), Tess Brady and Linda Newitt founded Creative Clunes and worked together to develop the Clunes Booktown concept and festival for over 10 years. Graeme was chair and deputy chair during his time with Creative Clunes.
Clunes Ceramics Award
Graeme was also an assiduous advocate for the arts. Inspired by June’s love and growing talent for pottery, Graeme set up the idea of a biennial Ceramics Award. The first event was held in 2009. Graeme forged links with the Hugh Williamson Foundation for funding and later with Castlemaine and Ballarat Art Galleries.
Free Lending Library
A long-time member of the former Free Lending Library Committee of Management, Graeme went to work to preserve the historic building. Again, as part of a small but enthusiastic team, including Denise Fordham and Phil Taig, he helped secure funding through the Hugh Williamson Foundation to undertake the necessary engineering reports and then to carry out repairs to stabilise the 1882 building. In February 2023, Clunes Neighbourhood House was able to move into the building and give it a bright, second life. The town is indebted to Graeme, who was also a member of the Clunes RSL sub-branch after an early career in the Royal Australian Navy, for his commitment, enthusiasm and tireless work.

State and territory governments are being invited to apply for funding for new and upgraded railway crossings under the Australian Government’s Regional Level Crossing Upgrade Fund (RLCUF).

The Australian Government has committed $40 million annually over four years ($160 million total) for infrastructure projects under the RLCUF, to improve railway crossing safety in regional areas across the nation.

This funding will help make railway crossings safer by investing in safer protections such as making passive controls active (meaning drivers are actively warned of an approaching train), improving line markings, speed humps, speed reductions and increasing sight distances around railway crossings.

State and territory governments are encouraged to apply. Collaboration and co-funding from local government councils and private organisations are strongly encouraged.

Jurisdictions will be able to submit applications for consideration by 29 September 2023, with a second round of applications closing on 27 September 2024.

The funding is part of the broader Regional Australia Level Crossing Safety Program, which is investing $180 million to deliver a holistic and coordinated approach to improving railway crossing safety.

The program is also investing in education and awareness activities to promote safe behaviours around railway crossings, improved data and risk assessments, and research and trials to promote the adoption of low-cost, innovative railway crossing safety solutions.

The number of deaths and serious injuries happening around these railway crossings, particularly in regional and rural communities is tragic. Upgrading level crossings is critical to help keep regional Australians safer. 

US-born blues and soul singer Oscar LaDell brings his band The Earth Tones for their first appearance at Palais-Hepburn next month.

Drawing influence from the greats of 20th Century American Roots Music, this will be a night to remember, filled to the brim with grooves and ballads.

The Palais gig happens Friday, September 29th and those who plan to be there are being prepare to dance, listen and be moved by Oscar LaDell and The Earth Tones!

Oscar LaDell is a singer, songwriter and guitarist who brings a timeless vulnerability and passionate approach to his original blend of Soul, Blues & Roots.

Hailing originally from Denver Colorado, LaDell grew up in Purakaunui in the South of Aotearoa. Drawing from the moody and poignant scenes of his home, LaDell writes, plays and sings with incisiveness and depth.

With his band The Earth Tones, Oscar’s live shows are incendiary sermons of soul, blending swaying grooves with dynamic storms of guitar and organ, all tied together by Oscar’s magnetic voice.

Four years ago Greening Australia embarked on a project to restore habitat for the impressive but nationally endangered South-eastern Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, when it was realised that their stringybark habitat was in desperate need of help.

This work pioneered important new planting and direct seeding techniques to cope with the difficult access and low fertility, in addition to extremely sandy soils.

Through further funding from the Victorian Government’s Biodiversity Response Planning Programme, we’re working with local partners in both the Drajurk State Forest and the Wimmera. Across the two sites we’ll be working to restore 1,200 hectares of Stringybark habitat over the next three years to increase food supply for the endangered Red-tail.

In the Wimmera we’ll be working on private land that is protected under a Trust for Nature conservation covenant, with 30,000 seedlings planned for the first two years.

Greening Australia project officer Dave Warne said: “This project is not only really challenging and necessary for the long-term survival of the Red-tails, it also provides us with a great opportunity to continue improving large-scale reforestation techniques in partnership with other businesses and the community across the region.”

With a total population of no more than 1,400 birds, the endangered South-eastern Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii graptogyne) is found only in part of South Australia (between Keith to Lucindale to Mt Gambier), and in south-west Victoria between Portland, Casterton, Toolondo, Natimuk, Dimboola, Nhill, and Kaniva.

Male Red-tails have glossy black plumage with stunning, bright red tail panels, while the females have brown-black plumage but the feathers of their head, neck and parts of their wing are speckled with yellow.

One of the main threats to the survival of Red-tails is the lack of nesting trees (large hollows close to suitable feeding habitat) and inadequate food supply. Red-tails rely totally on the tiny seeds of Brown Stringybark (Eucalyptus baxteri), Desert Stringybark (Eucalyptus arenacea) and, in the northern half of its range, seeds of Buloke (Allocasuarina luehmannii) when they are available in late summer and autumn.

Availability of Stringybark seed has decreased dramatically in recent decades, due mainly to wildfire and invasion by weeds. The lack of a reliable food supply is a major cause of breeding failure; incubating females are forced to leave their nests to forage because their male partners are unable to provide an adequate food supply.

Teams of planters work from GPS coordinates to revegetate the degraded Stringybark habitat. Each planter carries a maximum of 160 trees on a harness to plant the trees with planting tubes known as Potti Putkis, walking through the forest at approximately 20 metres apart from each other, with each planter able to cover 600 metres before having to re-fill.

The project team will drop additional seedling trays at pre-arranged drop-off points within the forest to allow the planting team to re-load and continue planting to minimise down time.

A slow release fertiliser tablet is also placed down the planting tube before the seedling is dropped in, so that the fertiliser tablet sits immediately below the root zone of the newly planted seedling to boost growth rates (particularly of roots) before the critical first summer.

250 hectares have been ‘direct seeded’ at the Drajurk State Forest site in this first stage of the project. Direct seeding involves placing the appropriate seed directly into the soil on site, rather than planting a seedling. Direct seeding can be a highly cost-effective way of reforesting large areas, as it avoids the cost of propagating, transporting and planting the seedlings.

In this project, direct seeding teams are working in a similar way to the planting teams, but rather than carrying trays of seedlings, they carry a seeding mixture of Stringybark seed, compost, slow and fast release fertiliser, and a small amount of water crystals.

Using a specially developed hand seeding tool, the design of which has been refined over recent years, the person planting makes a slot in the sandy soil and injects 40 cubic centimetres of seeding mix, containing approximately 0.2 grams of Stringybark seed. This year for the first time, team members also added a slow release fertiliser tablet to the bottom of the seeding tool, ready to boost growth of the newly germinated seeds.

he site is protected under a Trust for Nature covenant thanks to Pamela Lloyd and David McClaren, demonstrating the strength Greening Australia’s local conservation networks. The pair are based in Melbourne but became involved in conservation in rural Victoria through the Wimmera’s famous Project Hindmarsh planting weekend – an event that creates valuable links between the city and country populations.

The planting weekends inspired them to get more involved by monitoring Malleefowl nests in the Wimmera and in 2012 they jumped at the chance to buy a property adjoining the Nurcoung Flora and Fauna reserve.

This property provides significant habitat for both the Malleefowl and South-eastern Red-tail Black Cockatoo. After purchasing the property, Pamela and David placed the Trust for Nature covenant on the title to protect the land forever.

‘We fell in love with the Wimmera’ said Pamela ‘and its wonderful people at tree-planting weekends in Hindmarsh, going back over two decades now.

When you leave the overpopulated city it really strikes you just how precious and fragile this environment is with its unique animal and plant life. Every time we return to the big skies of Wimmera we love it more.

Our neighbouring farmers are great characters, very friendly and helpful, and we value their work feeding the country. We are also very grateful for the support we receive from Greening Australia, Landcare and Trust for Nature in looking after our special block so that wildlife can survive.’

Both Greening Australia and Trust for Nature have been working closely with these dedicated landholders to improve the habitat quality of their bush block and assist with on-ground works as Pamela and David can’t be at the property on a consistent basis.

This project has been funded by the Victorian Government’s Biodiversity Response Planning program and is helping to ensure that Victoria’s natural environment is healthy, valued and actively cared for.

Federal Transport minister and Member for Ballarat Catherine King has announced the appointment of Peter Wilson to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) Commission.

The appointment of Mr Wilson (pictured above) recognises his significant operational and senior executive experience in leadership and corporate roles across the aviation sector.

Mr Wilson accumulated approximately 17,500 professional flying hours over an operational career spanning almost 30 years at Qantas Airways, along with senior leadership experience at Virgin Australia and Tiger Air.

His experience at Australian airlines has included technical managerial roles, Chief Pilot, General Manager and Chief Operating Officer.

Mr Wilson has served on a number of boards and will bring to the ATSB high levels of technical expertise, experience and credibility across the aviation industry.

This appointment ensures that the ATSB’s Commission continues to have high levels of experience across rail, maritime and air transport – the three modes of transport for which they have investigatory responsibility.

“I look forward to continuing to work with the ATSB Commission to ensure the highest transport safety for the Australian public through independent investigations and influencing safety action,” Ms King said.

Victorian fire services are recommending homeowners across the state prioritise cleaning their chimneys this winter to help prevent a fire occurring.

A chimney fire in a house in Raglan, just outside Beaufort, late last month is a timely reminder of the importance of cleaning your chimney flue after a free-standing wood heater went up in flames.

Elmhurst Fire Brigade firefighter Hamish Keith witnessed the impacts first-hand of the flue that was 95 percent blocked by soot.

“Because of the design of the heater and the way it was burning, there was a significant build-up of black tar, which evidently caused the blockage and the fire to ignite,” Hamish said.

“It looked like cancer inside an artery. From the top to bottom of this five-metre-high flue, you couldn’t see a torch light.

“Luckily, the family had working smoke alarms that alerted them to the fire, as smoke filled 60 percent of their house due to the chimney being unable to exhaust it.” 

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the recent Raglan fire is a strong reminder to residents to have their chimneys professionally cleaned each year.

“This is just one of the damaging 48 chimney fires CFA have responded to this year,” CO Heffernan said.  

“As you warm your home this season, simply use a torch to regularly check for soot build-up or obstructions to reduce the risk of a fire starting from your fireplace or wood heater.

“Our latest statistics show us most fatal fires start in sleeping and living areas, so for your family’s best protection, smoke alarms should be installed in every bedroom, living and hallway area.”

FRV Commissioner Gavin Freeman AFSM said maintaining your working fireplace is essential for home safety.

“Those of us with a fireplace at home are enjoying them a lot at this time of year. Proper maintenance ensures they don’t pose a risk to your family home,” Commissioner Freeman said.

“Always use a fire screen in front of an open fire and keep wood, clothes and other combustibles at least one metre from fire.

“Extinguish your fire before going to bed or leaving the house, and check that embers are cold before disposing of them.”

Victorians are reminded that long-life battery or interconnected smoke alarms located in all bedrooms, hallways and living areas of the home can save lives for as little as $20.

Chimney fire safety tips:

• Chimneys and flues should be cleaned annually. 
• Over time there could be a build-up of creosote, a black tar-like residue, which is highly flammable and could clog up chimneys.
• Creosote is not only caused by general use, it can also build up quicker if you are using incorrect fuels, such as green wood or treated timbers.
• To reduce the risk of a fire starting from your fireplace or wood heater, you should:
• Use a torch to check for creosote build-up or obstructions.
• Have your chimney professionally cleaned annually.
• Only burn dry, clean wood.
• Extinguish your fire before going to bed or leaving the house.

Introducing The Well Strung Trio, showcasing a blend of Gypsy Jazz, Latin and yes even some classical music. Comprising virtuosic guitarists, Lyndon Kyrss and Adam Seery and Double Bass player extraordinaire Andrew Vincent this Trio has enchanted audiences far and wide with their exciting interpretations of instrumental music from a bygone era.

They’ll be playing The Palais, Hepburn (pictured above) on Friday, September 22 from 6.30pm.

Intricate guitar work, characterized by lightning-fast arpeggios and scintillating bass solos, will transport listeners to the vibrant streets of Paris in the 1930s…then a short musical walk to a New Orleans Jazz bar in the 1950s.

Over the years the Trio have performed extensively from concert halls and cafes, tents and pergolas, gardens and festival stages. Their music is a celebration of the freedom, joy, and timeless spirit of Gypsy and Latin Jazz. Swing is back and The Well Strung Trio are here to prove it through their harmonious blend of styles and captivating artistry.

Bluehouse has earned a reputation for folk pop with grunt.

With nearly a 30 year international touring career behind them, these girls are also noted for their ‘harmonies from heaven’.

On Friday, September 15 they are returning to Palais-Hepburn with their original songs of love and loss ranging from tear jerking ballads to absolute foot stompers.

Their stories of life and becoming aging musicians are reputed to leave audiences in stitches.

Bluehouse is an Australian independent band with self-described folk-flavored pop melodies and intricate harmonies. Active since 1995, originally as a trio, then, from 2006 on, as a duo comprised of Bernadette Carroll (2) and Jacqui Walter, Bluehouse have shared the stage with Neil Young, Cowboy Junkies, UB40, Elvis Costello, and Neil Finn (of Crowded House).