Words and Images: Eve Lamb

Potato and bacon soup, baked ham with roast seasonal veg, piping hot apple and rhubarb pie with cream… I could be at a cafe, pub or restaurant – or a good friend’s place about to be fed. But no I’m in the Uniting Church Hall on a Thursday surrounded by the Good Grub Club’s good deeds in action… and it’s all pretty yummo.

Everyone needs tasty nutritious nosh – and good company – in their life. But for an increasing number of local folk, getting a good square meal on a regular basis isn’t always easy. Or possible.

That’s where Daylesford’s Good Grub Club comes in to cheerfully help out, not just with the proverbial “good grub” but also with plenty of good companionship as well.

Every Thursday the club does exactly as its name suggests – dishes up hot nutritious lunches, free of charge, to those who are struggling to make ends meet.

These companionable sit-down three-course lunches are entirely free of charge and take place at the Uniting Church Hall at the corner of Central Springs Road and Camp Street, Daylesford, from 11.30am – 12.45pm. As volunteers point out, the only thing asked in return from diners is their first name.

And, that’s not all. The club also does food hamper and pre-cooked meal deliveries to those in the community who are unable to make their Thursday community lunch sittings in person.

Lately demand for the club’s services has been increasing, say stalwarts who volunteer with the club, people like Daylesford’s Cathy Walker, Gary Carter, Liz Bennett and the (retired) Reverend Jenny Hayes, who’s really anything but retired when it comes to making The Good Grub Club happen.

Cathy and Gary say that the type of social demographic represented among the diners has been changing in recent times.

“Every week there’ll be one or two new faces and it’s working people, which is the thing that’s disturbing, at the moment,” Cathy says.

“People will do anything to keep a roof over their head and sometimes that means no food.

“Some are regulars who come every week and there are some one-offs that we get. These are people who might just have had a big dental bill or something like that. That can throw the budget out. It’s a real mixed bag of stories.

“We deliver as well to 15 or 20 households, people who are isolated and elderly,” Cathy says.

“We probably have 15 to 20 people who sit down to lunch each Thursday but we also have others who aren’t looking for the social engagement as well, who will just get take-aways.

“All up at the moment we’d have about 60 to 70 households (using the club’s services) – or about 100 people.”

Gary, who’s the club’s acting secretary, says that sometimes it’s the need for social connectivity, a good chin-wag, that people are most in need of when they roll up to a Thursday lunch with the club.

“I love it because it’s something that is very direct and you can see the results of what you do,” says Gary when asked why he volunteers with the Club.

“There are no middle men, no bureaucracy, no means-testing of people, just a friendly and direct way of making a contribution,” he says.

Gary is “semi-retired” and has a background in the corporate world, in franchising. His professional background has left him with distaste for “bureaucracy”. It’s also left him with the ability to write successful funding applications, a talent which has very recently resulted in the Club’s receipt of a tidy $6000 grant from the Bendigo Community Bank Daylesford and District. The dollars are being bestowed on the Club at a rate of $1500 per quarter for the new financial year.

Marking that happy fact, two staff from the local Bendigo community bank, including branch manager, Melanie Tudball had also dropped in to visit the Club – and have lunch – while The Local was visiting.

Enjoying a seat at the Good Grub Club table, Melanie described the soup of the day – potato and bacon – as: “Great. Really good! Hitting the spot.”

In the kitchen, volunteers including former professional chef Rose Carrington, Robyn Zanon, who previously taught in a Stephanie Alexander Kitchen, and Robyn’s husband, Walter Zanon, were bustling about with delicious dishes featuring the aforementioned baked ham with roast veg and a dessert choice of apple and rhubarb pie or golden syrup, apple dumplings with cream or ice cream.

They were even happy and able to cater for special dietary needs, like gluten sensitivity.

“It’s very rewarding to do something for people who otherwise may not have a decent meal,” Rose said.

All of the diners that The Local chatted to gave the menu a decisive thumbs up, while many regulars mentioned that another main motivation for being there was the companionship.

“Basically it’s for the social interaction and it does get difficult cooking for yourself if you live by yourself,” said Hepburn local, Paul, enjoying the soup of the day.

“The food is very yummy and there is good community spirit. I’m a social butterfly. I like being with other people,” said fellow diner Sharon.

“The food is lovely,” added another regular, Nola of Daylesford.

The club runs on the goodwill and community-mindedness of its volunteers and more are always welcome, as are donations of in-date non-perishable food items.

“We currently have probably 15 to 20 volunteers. Some do the deliveries. We’ve got a couple of really good cooks, some of our volunteers pack hampers or help with serving lunch,” Cathy says.

The Good Grub Club is an independent registered and incorporated charity, and at times works quite closely with other community service organisations like the local Rotary club.

“Over the last 12 months, and especially since the pandemic, the demand has increased significantly, but surprisingly many people in our community are still not aware of the support services we provide even though we’ve been doing this for coming up ten years now,” Gary says.

“The (Thursday) lunches are cooked on site on the morning, and volunteers also cook on Mondays and Tuesdays and then we freeze so we can distribute,” says Rev Jenny who describes herself as “the general dog’s body actually”.

“We rely entirely on volunteers to keep the kitchen going. We also get good support from Coles through its Second Bite program. So every Thursday I go to Coles and pick up perishable fruit and vegetables that are left over.

“We can always do with more non-perishables and people can drop them off here (at the Uniting Church Hall) on Thursdays.”

Rev Jenny also says anyone keen to sign on as a volunteer and help keep the Good Grub Club dispensing its warming food and hospitality is more than welcome to contact her on 0408645248.

Words: Eve Lamb | Images: Louise Gay English

There’s a moment of aural frisson, the needle dropping, the prelude crackle just before the soundwaves hit and transport you to…

When the romance with retro vinyl began to bloom, Luke Cameron (pictured above) had something special to offer those smitten. A massive collection of vinyl records he’d been lovingly assembling over a quarter of a century, many of them coveted original press.

Last September this local music lover and former DJ turned his vinyl record collecting bug – that had begun at the tender age of 14 – into a flourishing business, opening Daylesford Records in the town’s Howe Street.

He has not looked back.

“I love vinyl and have for many years,” says Luke who lives just out of Daylesford.

“I’ve been collecting vinyl for about 25 years and my personal collection is about 15,000 records.

“The reason I started collecting was my mum gave me a crate of records when I was 14. From there I just started collecting.”

Offering between 1500 to 2000 highly collectable vinyl records in store at any one time, Daylesford Records has taken off and is now inviting music lovers to help it celebrate its first birthday with a special event on Saturday September 23.

“We’re having a really special day with DJs all day, and some other special things happening that we’ll be announcing closer to the day,” says Luke.

“It’s been amazing. We’re so busy and on weekends in particular we’re packed. We specialise in vintage vinyl. We’ve got new records as well.”

Much of the vinyl on offer in store is sourced from Luke’s own back-catalogue of collecting including many “holy grail of record collecting” first presses, made in the first year the record came out.

“We’ve got amazing records in stock and we can also source records for people,” Luke says.

“That’s been really popular with locals who are hunting for specific records. We can pretty much get any record in”

Luke says they also buy records from people who have them to sell and who may otherwise be unwittingly “sitting on a heap of money”.

“We’re basically cleaning and pricing records all day long,” he says.

“We grade the condition and we include the pressing year and the pressing location. We put a lot of detail into our pricing so you can browse through and know what you’re getting.

“We also sell turntables and amps, vintage turntables and new turntables and we can set people up with packs.

“I’ve always thought vinyl is fantastic, but what we’re getting now is young people who are picking up vinyl again. They have Spotify in their pockets but they’re loving the tangibility of vinyl.

“The sound of vinyl is so rich and deep, and full spectrum. People put on an album and listen to it from front to back the way the artist intended, and they discover tracks that they love but may otherwise not have heard. I love seeing it.”

Since the shop opened last September it’s been drawing music lovers and collectors from far and wide – Melbourne, as well as from close to home.

The gift cards are proving particularly popular. The act of physically browsing through all those collectible recording moments captured in time and in vinyl is a big part of what collectors love.

The shop situated at 8/11 Howe at is open Wed-Sunday 10am-4pm – and keep an eye out
for NBA Jam arcade game round robins happening soon on Friday nights.

Vinyl facts
Manufacture of disc records began in the late 19th century. Price, ease of use and storage made the disc record dominant by the 1910s. The standard format of disc records became known to later generations as 78s after their playback speed in revolutions per minute. In the late 1940s new formats pressed in vinyl, the 45 rpm single and 33 rpm long playing LP, were introduced,
A new report published by the Recording Industry Association of America revealed that US music lovers snapped up 41 million vinyl records in 2022, compared to 33 million CDs.
In Australia, vinyl is the fastest growing category in music sales, increasing by nearly 23 per cent in 2022, according to the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).

Words: Eve Lamb. Image: Supplied

Keep an eye out and you may just spot him hiking along the chilly, muddy Hepburn Shire roads this week.
While many of us stay rugged up indoors, much loved Ballarat-based Tamil refugee, Neil Para, 44, is this week walking through Hepburn Shire as part of his far bigger 1000 km trek all the way from Ballarat to Sydney.
Neil (pictured above) who with his family arrived by boat in Australian waters in August 2012, has set himself a target of covering 30 kilometres a day as he highlights the plight of refugees who have been left in limbo after their bridging visas were removed with no assurance of residential permanency anywhere sight.
Starting at 8am from federal minister Catherine King’s office in Ballarat this Tuesday, August 1, Neil aims to reach Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s office in Sydney within a month.
There, he will intend to present a petition bearing 11,000 signatures and calling for “fairness for refugees who’ve lived here in Australia for more than a decade”.
Supporting him logistically will be groups like Ballarat Rural Australians for Refugees and others in the network.
Neil says the idea for the long walk came to him as he reflected on the response to a four-day sit-in protest that took place at Parliament House in Canberra in March.
“I feel we were seen, but we were not heard,” says Neil who lives with his wife, Sugaa, and their three young daughters in Ballarat.
“Every single politician – they were passing by – but they didn’t come and talk to us.”
Neil says that reaction has prompted him to launch the Union of Australian Refugees group and to tackle the walking challenge to draw attention to the plight of his family and those on bridging visas.
Before settling in Ballarat in September 2013, the Para family had spent months in offshore and onshore detention facilities, including in Darwin and Dandenong.
Neil says the move to Ballarat was part of what immigration officials told him was a program to “fast-track” visas for refugees and asylum seekers moving to regional Australia.
But he says the promise of a visa was later reneged on, and the family’s bridging visas were removed, leaving Neil and Sugaa in a situation where they struggle to survive without the ability to work.
Neil volunteers with the State Emergency Service in the evenings, while Sugaa, also volunteers in aged care and for a local community centre.
Refugee advocates say there are as many as 12,000 asylum seekers and refugees in Australia who were excluded from the federal government’s announcement in February on a pathway to a permanent visa.
Those eligible included 19,000 people – from the Legacy Caseload – who had been living in Australia on temporary protection visas (TPV) or safe haven enterprise visas (SHEV).
Neil and his family are now understood to be among the up to 12,000 people who missed out. Meanwhile, data released by the Department on July 13 shows it has approved 2740 applications from asylum seekers and refugees who pursued the permanent pathway option announced in February, while 15,676 claims are still being processed.
Of the 32,045 individuals in the Legacy Caseload group, 7725 are reported to have had their cases closed either through refusal, cancellation or expiration.
After leaving Ballarat this Tuesday, Neil plans to head on to Newlyn, and then to continue on Wednesday from Newlyn through Daylesford and on to Malmsbury.
Former members of the now disbanded Rural Australian for Refugees Daylesford are supporting him during the Daylesford section of his walk and locals are being encouraged to get out, welcome him and cheer him on.

Words & image: Tony Sawrey

THE world is a strange place. Even after most of the earth has been explored, mapped and explained there is always something weird which can rattle our peace of mind.
Take for example the occurrence of mysterious sonic booms also known as Sky Quakes. Often perceived as far away cannon or heavy artillery fire, they have unsettled people across the world.
In the regions where they have been reported, the phenomena has acquired different names. These include Fog Guns and Seneca Guns in the United States, Barisal Guns in Bangladesh, Cape Barren Island Guns in Bass Strait and in the rolling countryside between Werona and Campbelltown, Pat Hanley’s Guns.
One person who has been intrigued by this local sonic mystery is Patrick Stokes, pictured above. By day he serves as an associate professor of Philosophy at Deakin University, Melbourne but in his downtime he has been researching the phenomenon for an upcoming book.
“I am not an historian by any means,” says Patrick, “but when we bought a place up at Werona I started looking into the history of the area and came across a reference to Pat Hanley’s Guns.
“I suddenly remembered reading that name in a book I had when I was maybe 10 years old called Amazing Mysteries by Carol Odell. So I started digging into it out of interest. It is really quite fascinating because it is a hyper-local piece of history that has been almost entirely forgotten.”
Though little known today, Pat Hanley was a notoriously combative Werona farmer living at the turn of the 20th century. He also served on the Newstead Shire Council before it was amalgamated with Mt Alexander Shire in 1916 and during his tenure spent much of this time fighting with other councillors and the editor of the Newstead Echo, the local paper of the day. Unfortunately for history buffs no confirmed photos of him are known to exist.
“The phenomena became associated with him very early on because Hanley appears to have had a really combustible personality and a quick temper. He also seemed to have enjoyed some of the notoriety around him. He was quite active discussing the sounds and also using them a little in his political campaigns.”
The explosions were certainly not isolated incidents separated by months or years, they came in rapid sequence and were heard as far away as Daylesford and Guildford. All of which prompted investigations by journalists and government geologists. One D. Maclaren of Yandoit in a letter to the Melbourne Argus in April 1911 stated that: “For the last six months they have been more numerous and intense than at any other former period known of. Last Saturday at midnight three very severe explosions occurred and in quick succession.”
While there may have been lots of conflicting opinions as to the sources of the disruptions, ranging from weather anomalies and volcanism to meteors and mining blasts, a general agreement was the noises were centred around Hanley’s farm at Werona. In time the term Pat Hanley’s Guns ended up being used to describe any form of mysterious explosion or boom in the region as far afield as Beaufort.
“With the proviso that I’m not a scientist,” Patrick says, “it is interesting that there were some similar noises heard around Maldon in late March this year and they did apparently correspond to some very light seismic activity. The Campbelltown fault runs through the area.
“It is possible that it is something to do with swarms of very shallow earthquakes and I’m told that those swarms can last a very long time, but it is probably something we will never really know. However it does have some interesting lessons to teach us about our relationship to place, landscape and our relationship to sound as well.”
For anyone keen to learn a little more about this curious piece of regional folklore, Patrick will presenting a talk about his research on Pat Hanley’s Guns, alongside historian David Waldron and author Johanna Craven, at Goldfields Gothic: Festival of Dark Ideas being held at Maldon from August 4 to 6.

Fans of strings music will be well pleased to see that Ballarat-based Klemantyne Ensemble, pictured above, have a few performances in the Daylesford-Ballarat region on their agenda.
This group of talented musicians has performance dates coming up at Maldon, Creswick and Daylesford.
“Our concert Number 2, is on Saturday, August 5 in Maldon at Holy Trinity Church,” Klemantyne leader Nicci Dellar says.
“This is a baroque concert, which will tie in with the Maldon Gothic festival.
“Concert Number 3, is at the Creswick Woollen Mill on Sunday, October 15.
“And finally, concert Number 4 is on Saturday, October 28, back again at the Christ Church in Daylesford,
“We are hoping to have our lovely harpist coming out from Italy. (That’s) not yet confirmed though.”
Pictured above, front row from left, Elise Wright, Yvonne Holley, Nicci Dellar, Jill Gilbert and Louise Hildyard, back row, Kate Carman, Nigel Smith, Francis Chataway, Kate Both and Miriam Kriss.

Victoria’s fire services are calling on households to develop or review their Home Fire Escape Plans.

Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) and CFA respond to more than 3,000 residential fire incidents across the state each year, many of which are preventable.

House fires move fast and can fill your home with smoke in a matter of minutes. They can be devastating and fatal. While the dangers of fire are very real, there is a lot you can do to protect your family and your home.  

Fire Rescue Commissioner Gavin Freeman, AFSM said that families and households spending time at home this weekend should take the opportunity to make a plan together, practice it, and ensure they are well prepared.  

“During winter, we spend much more time inside, out of the cold, so it’s important to establish or revisit your Home Fire Escape Plan,” Commissioner Freeman said.   

“Nobody wants to think about a fire in the home, but sadly in Victoria every year, on average 18 lives are lost in preventable house fires.”

“Knowing how to quickly exit your home in case of an emergency could mean the difference between life and death, and it is crucial that all members of the household, including children, know what to do in the event of a house fire.” 

CFA Chief Fire Officer Jason Heffernan said winter is a good time for Victorian residents to re-educate themselves on their Home Fire Escape Plan.

“Whether you are a homeowner or renting, you should have a plan in place and practice it regularly, deciding on a safe place to meet, like the letterbox, should an emergency arise,” CO Heffernan said.

“To keep your loved ones safe, it is essential smoke alarms are installed in all bedrooms, living areas and hallways so everyone in the property is alerted to a fire.”

“The safest plan is to get down low to stay out of the smoke, close nearby doors to slow down the spread of the fire, and call triple zero once you’re safely outside.” 

For more information on how to make a Home Fire Escape Plan, visit frv.vic.gov.au or cfa.vic.gov.au. 

When making your Home Fire Escape Plan, remember:   

• Know what to do if a fire occurs. Whether you are a homeowner or renter, you should have a home fire escape plan in place. 
• Practice your plan for when there is an emergency with your whole household. 
• You can’t escape if you have deadlocked your doors.
• Tips for when there is a fire:
• Get out and stay out or get down low and stay out of the smoke.
• If it is safe, close doors to slow down the spread of fire and smoke.
• Alert other people on your way out.
• Meet at a safe place, such as the letterbox out the front of your home.
• Call triple zero from a mobile phone or a neighbour’s phone.

Combining virtuosic piano playing with a whiskey-smooth voice, Damon Smith and his trio are headed to The Palais, Hepburn.

The Trio has built a reputation for dynamic sets featuring foot-stomping boogie woogie, New Orleans-flavoured blues, rock ‘n’ roll, heartfelt ballads, and crowd-pleasing covers that meet with rave reviews and standing ovations at theatres, pubs, clubs, and festivals across Australia.

In 2022, Smith’s album Skeletons Skeletons Skeletons debuted at #2 on the Australian Blues and Roots charts, earning a Music Victoria award nomination, and winning the MBAS Chris Wilson award.

The Trio features: Damon Smith – Piano, vocals; Adam Coad – Drums; Trent McKenzie – Upright bass and they play The Palais, Hepburn on Saturday, September 2.

It may be brrrisk out but in The Palais, Hepburn things will likely be pretty cosy as the venue hosts this month’s Words in Winter Gala with special guest Jon Faine.

Organisers say it’s a top opportunity to sit back, be entertained and support the community event that gets started from 6pm on Saturday, August 26.

The warming winter special event will feature Marieke Hardy in conversation with Jon Faine, and music by Jarrah Olive, The Bedridden – David M Lewis, Alex Miller & Emma Rassmusen: the world’s only muppet punk trio, plus Poet Sean M Whelan.

Doors: 6pm

7pm – 7.20pm: Jarrah Olive (solo acoustic)

7.30pm – 8.20pm: In Conversation with Jon Faine hosted by Marieke Hardy

8.30pm – 8.40pm: Performance Poet – Sean M Whelan

8.40pm – 9.30pm: The Bedridden (three piece) feat. Dave M Lewis, Emma Razz & Alex Miller

Hailing from small town Heathcote and a darling of the thriving Bendigo music scene, folk artist Mariah McCarthy is one of Central Victoria’s most talented musos.

With delicately woven songs rich in storytelling, Mariah captivates her audiences through honest and affecting tales that hang around in your head long after listening.

Mariah broaches themes of love, loss, betrayal and tragedy with authenticity, and often haunting melancholy but always a glimmer of precious hope.

Mariah will be joined by fellow singer/songwriters Ben Langdon (The Bean Project, Grand Baxter) and Cassie Ward (Cass) when Mariah McCarthy Trio plays The Palais, Hepburn on Friday September, 8.

The seamless blend of Mariah and Cassie’s voices is something that can only be created through years of singing together, which for them began early on in primary school. With the addition of Ben’s smooth vocals and intricate guitar work, the trio creates something very special.

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan recently led by example, donating blood, in support of the 2023 Lifeblood Emergency Services Blood Drive.

With a little over a month remaining for this year’s blood drive, he used this as an opportunity to inspire CFA volunteers and staff to make a blood or plasma donation.

Since the blood drive kicked off on 1 June 2023, CFA members have made a total of more than 540 donations, including more than 335 plasma, 190 whole blood and nine platelet donations.

“Once again, I’m proud of the continued support so many of our CFA members give to the Emergency Services Blood Drive, by rolling up their sleeves to save lives,” said Chief Officer Heffernan who made the donation earlier this month.

One in every three Australians will need blood in their lifetime and yet only one in 30 Australians choose to donate.

“Our members put people and their communities first in everything that they do,” he said.

“I’m calling on members who may have never donated blood before, as well as those who’ve made a habit of it, to make an appointment during the next few weeks and help contribute to CFA’s tally.”

Last year, CFA volunteers, staff, friends and family racked up a total 1361 donations and 4083 lives saved.

CFA members can register to have their blood or plasma donation counted under the CFA Team.

“Let’s beat last year’s tally and top the list for the 2023 Emergency Services Blood Drive, once again.”

The Lifeblood Emergency Services Blood Drive runs from 1 June to 31 August.

CFA members or anyone interested in registering to donate blood can register at www.lifeblood.com.au.

To find a donor centre near you, visit https://my.donateblood.com.au/app/appointments/location.

Five new trams recently arrived on the Gold Coast as construction continues on QLD’s $1.2 billion Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 expansion, the Federal Infrastructure minister and Member for Ballarat Catherine King says.

Ms King issued a media statement as Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk last week welcomed five new trams to the Gold Coast, which will be used as the light rail line is extended to Burleigh Heads.

The five new trams take the Light Rail fleet to 23 – putting the $1.2 billion expansion project on track to deliver the high frequency tram services from day one.

It comes as the Gold Coast Light Rail surpassed 73 million paid passenger trips since its opening in 2014.

The Light Rail is the only public transport mode in the state to regularly exceed pre-covid patronage levels, demonstrating strong demand from the community and tourists.

This makes Gold Coast Light Rail the model for post-pandemic bounce-backs, ahead of Sydney and Melbourne public transportation use.

Light Rail has transformed public transport on the Gold Coast, helping to create an integrated network that connects more people to more places in one of Australia’s fastest growing cities.

The five new light rail vehicles made the journey by sea to Port of Brisbane before being transported down the M1 on a 76-wheel trailer.

They will now undergo testing at the Southport depot before being absorbed into the current operational fleet.

The five new trams will feature enhanced accessibility elements, including double accessible spaces, braille signs, 20 priority seats on every tram and vertical handrails have been shifted to create wider passageways for wheelchairs, prams, walkers and other mobility aids.

Major construction for Stage 3 is underway on the Gold Coast Highway as John Holland upgrade and relocate essential underground utilities. Track laying will begin in 2024 for completion in 2025.

Stage 3 construction is expected to directly support more than 760 local jobs.

The Palaszczuk Government, in partnership with the Federal Government and the City of Gold Coast, is delivering the $1.2 billion project.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Member for Ballarat, Catherine King MP: “The demand for public transport on the Gold Coast will only grow as the population does, and it’s clear that light rail has been strongly embraced by the community.

“The arrival of new trams for Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3, plus the incredible milestone of 73 million trips, marks an exciting step for this project, where past success meets future plans.

“With the Gold Coast’s status as a domestic and international tourism must-see, this project is a prime example of the Australian Government’s 10-year $120 billion infrastructure pipeline, delivering nation-shaping projects with national significance.

“I look forward to seeing even more progress in the months to come.”

The Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre precinct development is a step closer, with the announcement last week of the preferred bidder to build the much-anticipated project and the unveiling of proposed designs, the Federal Infrastructure Minister and Member for Ballarat says.

Catherine King MP issued a statement last Monday after Victorian Minister for Regional Development Harriet Shing joined the Member for Geelong Christine Couzens and City of Greater Geelong Mayor Trent Sullivan to officially announce the appointment of Plenary Conventions to lead the project.

The Australian Government is investing $30 million in the project as part of the Geelong City Deal, with the Victorian Government contributing more than $260 million and $3 million from the City of Greater Geelong.

The project will transform the 1.6-hectare waterfront car parking site into a world-class precinct, with the construction of a purpose-built convention and exhibition space.

There will be a 1,000-seat venue, two large exhibition spaces, meeting rooms, conference facilities and flexible event spaces.

New retail spaces will feature hospitality offerings; a large public plaza will become a feature of the Geelong waterfront and a new 200-room hotel under the Crowne Plaza brand will boost local visitation.

More than 600 jobs will be created during construction, with an extra 270 ongoing jobs created once the precinct is complete – driving more economic growth and employment opportunities.

The Victorian Government is helping local organisation gforce recruit almost 30 new local apprentices and trainees who are experiencing disadvantage in entering the workforce.

These apprentices will be employed full-time for the duration of their apprenticeship and until they secure full-time employment with private contractors.

The project consortium includes Plenary Group, Built, Woods Bagot, BGIS and Quintessential Equity.

The Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation is being consulted on the precinct’s design, identity and recognition of local cultural heritage.

Once complete, the Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre will be managed and operated by the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Trust (MCET) that operates Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre – cementing Victoria as a premier global destination for events. Preliminary site works are underway, and construction is set to begin shortly, with the convention centre and hotel expected to be complete in 2026.

The precinct development is the centrepiece of the $500 million Geelong City Deal, a collaborative plan to transform the region by the Australian and Victorian governments, and the City of Greater Geelong.

Victorian Minister for Regional Development Harriet Shing: “This project is a game-changer for a rapidly growing region, generating hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars into the local economy – once complete it will be yet another drawcard for this vibrant, prosperous and beautiful part of the state.”

Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Member for Ballarat, Catherine King: “The City of Geelong has undergone significant growth in recent years. This development will build on its reputation as a business and sporting powerhouse in regional Victoria.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Corio Richard Marles: “The Australian Government is pleased to be contributing to what will be one of the biggest developments in regional Victoria and is expected to start soon.

“This exciting new project for Geelong will not only bring great employment opportunities during the build, but a much-needed, long-lasting venue and facility for the future of this part of Victoria.”

Jan Hull has been striving towards captaincy within CFA for over 30 years, and now as Sutton Grange and Myrtle Creek’s first woman to become Captain, she is ready to put her promising ambitions into action.

To ensure the brigade continues making progressive advancements, Jan is hoping the 58-strong cohort can boost their skills through a number of proactive initiatives. 

“I’m most looking forward to leading the brigade itself and to lean into the future to utilise more technology, get people up to speed through more training and implement a few different ways of operating.” she said.

For Jan, volunteerism is at the core of all aspects of her life, so it’s no surprise she is leaving a dedicated legacy across many other organisations within the community.

“I started out at Harcourt CFA and was in the Ladies Auxiliary doing refreshments with my mum. I then went onto becoming their first woman to graduate as a firefighter.”

With four generations of her family now involved in CFA, and most paving the way in a leadership role, Jan couldn’t be prouder of how far they’ve come in their respective brigades. 

“My grandfather was Secretary of Harcourt, dad was the Captain and Group Officer, now my brother is Harcourt’s Captain, his wife is Secretary and Treasurer and one of their girls is now an active firefighter.

“I couldn’t do this without the support of my husband and two children. He’s been involved for over 20 years, and both of our kids are active firefighters, with our youngest now 4^th Lieutenant.

“Pre-election, I was 3^rd Lieutenant for Sutton Grange and Myrtle Creek, and previously in a comms role.

“We all love helping and supporting people at a time when they’re in need. To be able to give back to our community and help protect them is why we do what we do.”

Working as a primary school integration support officer, Jan has found her CFA and teaching skills go beneficially hand in hand.

“At school, I’m helping the kids and staff problem solve through various circumstances, then at CFA we develop the ability to work under pressure, so I do reap the rewards of both skillsets.

“If you’re wanting to give CFA a go, jump in, become a sponge, learn off others around the brigade and always put your hand up for any training opportunities to keep evolving your skills.”

More than one hundred Dandenong and Knox volunteer firefighters and CFA staff members have recently been honoured with National Emergency Medals for their efforts in the 2019-2020 Australian bushfire crisis.

The National Emergency Medal is part of Australia’s Honours and Awards system and recognises significant or sustained service to others in a nationally significant Australian emergency.

At ceremonies on Wednesday, 12 July and Sunday, 16 July at Mater Christi College in Belgrave, 158 firefighters from across CFA’s District 13 became the latest of more than 5,500 CFA members to receive the honour for the 2019-2020 fires.

CFA Board Member Peter Shaw AFSM, presented the medals and said they were an important recognition of the valiant efforts of CFA members.

“The National Emergency Medal is a formal recognition that Australia appreciates the efforts and contributions of CFA members during the 2019-2020 bushfire crisis,” Shaw AFSM said.

“It is a great honour to receive this medal and I hope it goes a small way to thanking our members for their service.”

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan spoke of his pride for the CFA members’ efforts.

“The 2019/2020 fires devastated East Gippsland and the North East of Victoria,” CO Heffernan said.

“But from that crisis arose the most remarkable human spirit of generosity and ‘lending a hand’.

“Our medal recipients have exemplified that spirit, and I am incredibly proud of each and every one of them.

“Whether they joined a firefighting strike team, worked in an Incident Control Centre or provided other assistance to affected communities – every contribution made a real difference.”

Knox Group Officer, Master of Ceremonies and recipient on Sunday, Peter Carew, said it was an honour to be formally recognised.

“Volunteer fireys don’t do the job for praise or awards – we do it to help our fellow Australians in need. We come home, dust ourselves off and get ready for the next one,” Peter said.

“However, this honour goes a long way in recognising the significant efforts members went to, to protect the communities and their assets under threat, in what was such a challenging event.”

A further 106 volunteers from Maroondah and Yarra Valley will receive a National Emergency medal on Sunday, 23 July at Yarra Valley Lodge in Chirnside Park.

Sustainability, conservation and restoration practitioners from Melbourne and Yarra Valley regions recently gathered for a recent workshop facilitated by Greening Australia at Haining Farm to explore practical and innovative approaches to managing landscapes for future climates.

Knowledge exchanges to support effective, practical and immediate action are increasingly vital as Australia is seeing the largest documented decline in biodiversity of any continent.

“The more we learn about what’s driving biodiversity loss, the more complex it is for land managers to navigate ways forward for protecting and restoring Australian ecosystems – for example, ensuring that populations have the genetic diversity and adaptive capacity to survive in changing climates,” said Greening Australia’s Zoe Birnie, who organised the workshop.

“Applying climate-adjusted approaches in the real world is challenging. There’ll be compromises and trade-offs – but we really wanted to encourage practitioners to share their experiences and see that even putting a few principles from science-based tools and guidelines into practice is better than none.”

Sharing ideas and experiences can help inspire environmental practitioners with new ways to approach managing climate impacts on landscapes. Photo: Annette Ruzicka.

Those attending on the day included representatives from state and local governments, universities, utility companies, and natural resource management organisations.

Workshop participant Monique Miller from Bush Heritage said: “Unpredictability is one of the biggest challenges. There’s a cascade effect of biodiversity breaking down. How can we make restoration sustainable with those missing puzzle pieces that are becoming evident all of the time?

“Workshops like these are helpful because we can discuss different approaches and experiment – which in turn helps with feeling like we’re dealing with the unknown. Cross-pollinating knowledge between restoration practitioners is essential to effectively do our jobs. Innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum.”

Workshop participant Geoff Lockwood from Southern Fauna Resources said: “It’s useful to know there are future planning tools available for site rehabilitation; it’s challenging to know how to choose a strategy for the future if we can’t be sure what’s going to happen with such a variable climate. But it’s how you look at it: do we see sites where rehabilitation has not worked as a failure, or as a learning and keep adapting?”

Workshop participants Geoff Lockwood (L) and Alan Scoble (R) in conversation, walking among thriving revegetation at Haining Farm. Photo: Annette Ruzicka.

Melinda Pickup, Greening Australia’s Manager of Seed Science, presented to the group on emerging seed tech that will feed into practical climate-adjusted approaches to conservation and restoration.

“We really believe in the sense of collective momentum that’s gained when you get people together to share knowledge and experiences and brainstorm ways forward. In the seed science field, for example, we’ll soon be seeing approaches that bring together a practitioner’s on-ground understanding of an ecosystem with the underlying genetics of a species.

“We’re talking about finding parts of the genome that are relevant to climate adaptation, and unlocking that potential by relating that back to the practicalities of what we can do on ground.

“There are always limitations to any approach, but that’s where bringing people together is so valuable – so we can fill in the gaps and form a more holistic solution.”

Greening Australia’s Melinda Pickup explains to attendees how seed genetics, influenced by their provenance, can support practical approaches to climate ready revegetation. Photo: Annette Ruzicka.

Haining Farm provided the perfect setting for these discussions. It exemplifies the opportunity to use restoration sites as knowledge hubs for practitioners, where new ways of working can be tested and the learnings shared to improve conservation and restoration efforts.

Parks Victoria Ranger and workshop participant Melissa Tuliranta said: “Haining Farm has a long history as an environmental education centre, so it’s great to see a workshop like this with people from various organisations unpacking a complex topic and sharing ideas.”

“It’s exciting to be working in a space where we are looking into implementing a whole new approach to future revegetation projects to create climate resilient habitat. It is truly inspiring to see so many organisations and individuals interested in the topic and making their way to Haining Farm to learn more about it.”