Residents and visitors who love Woodend are being encouraged to help cement the unique local town’s status as Victoria’s most liveable regional town by voting in the 2023 TAC Victorian Top Tourism Town Awards.
Woodend has been announced as a finalist in the Top Small Town category of the annual awards –
for townships with a population from 1,000 to 5,000 – alongside Heathcote, Koroit and Sorrento.
The awards recognise and reward Victorian towns that demonstrate a strong commitment to tourism,
offer an excellent visitor experience, and show strong collaboration with tourism operators, local
businesses and the community. Winners at state level then represent Victoria in national awards.
Mayor Annette Death encouraged everyone to show their support and vote for Woodend in this year’s
awards.
“Awards like these help get the word out about our beautiful region and attract more visitors, who
ultimately end up supporting our local businesses by buying products, dining in our cafes and
restaurants, or staying in local accommodation,” she said.
“Woodend’s chance to win is based on a public vote and voting only takes a matter of minutes – we’d
love to see it come out on top among some impressive competition.”
As an extra incentive, governing body Victorian Tourism Industry Council is offering voters to go into
the draw to win a luxurious weekend for two in Melbourne, including accommodation and dining.
Woodend was named most liveable regional town in Victoria earlier this year in a study conducted by
PwC, with the analysis citing a range of liveability metrics including a mix of entertainment, family
amenity, jobs and transport links.
Mayor Death said Woodend had many elements that made it a top tourist destination, as both a
relatively easy day trip from Melbourne and an equally great destination for a longer stay, to better
experience more of what the area has to offer.
“Woodend has a beautiful natural environment with views of Mount Macedon, the iconic Hanging
Rock just a stone’s throw away, delicious local produce, amazing cafes and restaurants, an awardwinning brewery and amazing wineries close by,” she said.
“There is always something to see and do too, such as regular markets and the annual Woodend
Winter Arts Festival, coming up again soon from 9-12 June.”
Woodend’s nomination comes a year after Mount Macedon won the Victorian Top Tiny Town award
for 2022, followed by bronze at the national awards.
Voting is open from now until 22 June, with state winners to be announced on 26 July.
Visit vtic.com.au/toptourismtown/woodend to view Woodend’s page and vote, with public voting
competition terms and conditions also on the VTIC website.

The autumn-flowering sasanqua camellias, such as the beautiful pink Hiryu (pictured), have seemed to be overshadowed by their larger, bolder camellia japonica cousins. It’s unfortunate that a plant, to some extent, seems to be judged by its name, or perhaps, appearance.
My plant-wise old grandfather once told me: “Had the sasanquas belonged to
any other family of plants than camellias, they would be among the most popular
flowering shrubs of our time.” It made little sense at that time, but I grew to
understand and agree with him.
I certainly believe they are no less spectacular than than their cousins – and my
small collection of camellias are all sasanqua! With sasanquas, the leaves, and bush are
much smaller and daintier, as are the flowers.
Flowering begins in April and extends through May and into June. Although
small, the flowers mass themselves on short stems in a blaze of colour. They lend
themselves ideally to training and the taller-growing ones can be most effectively
grown as a hedge, or espaliered against a wall or hedge. The smaller varieties thrive as
tub plants.
All camellias are semi-shade loving plants that will grow well in full sun, provided
that they never become dry and a good protecting mulch is maintained throughout
summer.
However, the flowers will last longer if some shade is provided. Under deciduous
or light-foliaged evergreen trees are good places. Tub-grown plants – being movable –
can have the benefit of full sun during winter and semi-shade in warmer months.
Uniform moisture, a porous soil well supplied with humus, and good drainage
all make for successful growth. Camellias need a neutral or acidic (non-limestone) soil
to thrive. Never let a camellia plant become dry. In their natural habitat 180-200cm
of rain per year is the order of the day.
This rainfall occurs over very well-drained soil, so be careful not to over-water in
heavy soil. But always give a good watering so that harmful salts etc, may be taken
right past the roots.
Frequent light waterings only help build up surface roots which may be in the
water. Besides the plants would be very prone to drought damage.
On very hot, dry days spray over the foliage several times to raise the humidity.
Always maintain a substantial coverage of mulch during the summer months.
This is a great help in keeping the surface of the soil cool and an aid in moisture
conservation.
Do not cultivate around your camellia plants. A good 5-6cm deep mulch will
prevent weed growth but it also attracts surface feed roots. If these are cut about with
hoeing, the plant will suffer.
If you’re gardening in the limestone area, a small amount of iron chelates applied
once or twice a year will compensate. It isn’t a fertiliser but is making it possible for
camellias, boronias, ericas, daphnes and a whole range of trees to be grown where it
has normally been impossible.
Now is the time to purchase your new camellia plants, while they are flowering.
Some nurseries have blooms of the ones they have in stock, on display to aid you in
your purchase choice.
And now, some exciting news for Mrs Heyne. Now is a good time to plant out
those gifted, gladioli bulbs. Plant them in an open, sunny bed in well-drained soil.
When planting, surround each bulb with a handful of clean sand. As well as
keeping the bulb clean it makes it easier to remove them when it comes to the time to
lift and store them for their next season.
Got a gardening query? Email glenzgarden@gmail.com

with Clive Hartley

I consider Best’s Great Western as a national treasure and one of only a handful
of wineries that everyone should visit. It is an historical place for a number of
reasons.
The property’s ‘Concongella’ vineyard was planted in 1868 by founder Henry
Best and is a treasure trove of old vines. One patch cutely called the ‘Nursery Block’
has a staggering 39 grape varieties, some of the most extensive pre-phylloxera
plantings in Australia and the world.
A number of varieties remain unidentified, but amongst the vines are rare
grapes for the southern hemisphere such as fer, fermint and bourboulenc. The
property also contains extremely old dolcetto, incorrectly named as malbeck (sic).
The Thomson family bought the property from Henry Best’s sons in 1920 and they
remain the owners today.
Best’s 1.2 hectare planting of pinot meunier also dates from 1868. It is related,
and similar to, pinot noir, but a tad more resistant to cold weather, and ripens
earlier than its relative.
They are the oldest meunier vines in the world. The grape was called Miller’s
Burgundy, due to the bottom of the leaf looking like it has been dipped in flour.
Best’s Young Vine Pinot Meunier 2022 is outstanding. It has aromas of cooking
spices and red fruits such as cherries and redcurrants.
Palate has a similar red fruit focus but backed up with some fine powdery
tannins. It reminded me of a cross between pinot noir and gamay. The young vines
were planted in 1971, which are considered young compared to 1868 vines. Only
Best’s can think that way.
You might think that the company could rest on its historical laurels. But it
doesn’t. The company is looking for ways to innovate and keep up with market
trends.
Take for example their 2022 Foudre Ferment Riesling. It is a skin contact wild
yeast foudre fermented wine. Foudre is a large 2500 litre oak barrel. This type of
old, yet new treatment produces a more intense and interesting wine with depth of
flavour and texture.
Clive Hartley is an award-winning wine writer, educator and consultant. His
Australian Wine Guide (7th edition) is available for purchase from his website –
www.australianwineguide.com.au

Regional Community Vet Clinic, a Mt Alexander Shire-based not-for-profit organisation, has reached its goal of raising $500,000 construction costs for a dedicated veterinary clinic.
Mt Alexander Shire have offered the clinic space on the grounds of the Campbells Creek Community Centre. The goal of the clinic is to support veterinary practices in the region by servicing clients and their companion animals where their owners are experiencing social disadvantage or financial hardship. The clinic plans to hold a public meeting at the Campbells Creek Community Centre on Sunday, June 18 with
the aim of opening the clinic by December.

Veg Action Macedon Ranges has announced the winners of its annual Edgy Veg Awards, celebrating innovation and excellence in culinary use of vegetables by eateries in the Macedon Ranges area.

The overall winner of the Most Veg Friendly Eatery Award was the Social Foundry in Kyneton where more than 65 per cent of the menu is plant-based.

In the Cafes and Pubs category, the Best Plant Based Dish award went to The Corner Boutique Coffee Bar’s unassuming, middle-eastern inspired creation, Maghmour.

In the Restaurant category, Sizzler Restobar’s Saag Methi Mushroom and Flying Pigeon’s Yuxiang Eggplant tied for first place.

Veg Action is a sub-group of the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group dedicated to promoting an increase in the availability and consumption of plant-based food in the region.

The group aims to drive changes in local food systems – encouraging local and seasonal eating, buying food directly from local growers, reducing food waste, and eating more nutritious and planet-loving plant-based food.

The annual Edgy Veg Awards, supports eateries in the Macedon Ranges to experiment and innovate with plant-based food, submitting their creations for popular vote during the Edgy Veg Trail. Over 700 scores were collated from residents and visitors alike to determine the winners. This initiative supports local business development and provides residents with the opportunity to try delicious and sustainable plant-based meals cooked by the best chefs in the region.

If you could use a good travelling companion with a playful personality then come on out to the Mount Alexander Animal Welfare shelter in Castlemaine and let’s catch up.

I’m Gigi and I’m a loveable gal. I’m a beautifully fawn neopolitan mastiff/boxer. I’m 14 months young and I’m a sweet girl, good with people, older children, travelling, and I’m house trained.

I can be very playful, so I need to secure a special someone who is used to handling big dogs. I’m really hoping to find my good, loving, responsible forever home as soon as I can. Microchip No. 9910030018883557

Hepburn Energy is set to become Australia’s first energy park on the distribution network with wind turbines and battery storage at Leonards Hill after funding from the federal government’s Community Batteries for Household Solar program.
The project will see the co-operative install Stage 1 of its planned battery, helping the wind farm put more renewable energy back into the grid when needed most and cutting emissions in line with community targets.

This initial battery is the first stage of a long term project, which looks to eventually install between 5-10MWh and would complement a proposed 5MW (AC) solar farm at the same site.

Hepburn Energy (formerly Hepburn Wind) is the owner and operator of Australia’s first community owned wind farm, at Leonards Hill, just south of Daylesford Victoria. Hepburn Energy is a co-operative with over 2,000 members. The wind farm consists of two 2.05 megawatt turbines called Gale and Gusto providing a total of 4.1 megawatt capacity.

I bought my first house in the early nineties when I was a young fella in my twenties. I had had a bit of bad luck with employment and was bouncing around on a lot of low paying boats and ships, when finally, I got the call.

After years applying to the Auckland tugboat company Seatow, I finally got a gig as a deckhand. On the initial voyage the First Mate made a huge mistake which almost cost me my life, it involved releasing a large portion of giant anchor chain with me in the anchor locker. Things got fixed up without red tape and litigation in those days, I was promoted to the First Mate position. And he was carted off to hospital with a busted nose courtesy of the Chief Engineer.

Long story short is that I was finally on a good solid wage so was able to take on a mortgage, but with no deposit had to borrow from my dad the tidy sum of $5,000.

Whether it being that dad was a smartarse or wanted to further my education from the school of hard knocks, he agreed to lend me the money. The deal was made on the proviso I paid him back the sum of $10,000 within 12 months, yes, the bank of Dad had strict unbreakable terms.

My house cost me $45,000 it was in a neighbourhood sprinkled with gangs and wild dogs, but I didn’t care. The salary that I was earning was double my debt $90,000, can you imagine that debt to salary ratio now?

They were definitely the good old days, fast forward to now and the property prices are through the roof, while the wages have stagnated and been negotiated down with the weakening of unions. You just have to look at this edition’s properties, which is in fact the answer to the question, when is it the right time to buy?

The right time to buy is as soon as you can afford it, since records began in old blighty property prices have pushed up 10% per annum. Sure, sometimes they drop and sometimes they sit, but as you can see with the hindsight of the last few years they go up with a wallop.

If I was to give advice around the property market through personal experience I would point to my a close relative who sold a home back in June of 1987. They decided to play the money on the stock market and those with long memories (older folk) will remember what happened a couple of months later in 1987. It was the day that would come to be known as “Black Tuesday” a global, sudden, severe, and largely unexpected stock market crash which occurred October 19, 1987.

They lost the lot and were because of age never able to recover their situation, so my conservative and sage advice is that if you can get on the merry-go-round that is the property market get on. And once your on, stay on and what ever you do buy and sell in the same market. Don’t get off for a breather or because you have seen another bright shinny way to pull some cash.

Real estate rant over…

By Donna Kelly
IF YOU see me looking a bit dishevelled, don’t worry, it’s all about my new exercise regime.
Like many over Covid – and yes I know it is still very much here – I kind of gave up. Well, the gym was pretty much shut and when it was open I didn’t really fancy either working out in a mask or working out with people not wearing masks who were puffing a lot.

I did try walking Lake Daylesford and the Glenlyon Reserve quite a few times but
people running the other way always had me reaching for a scarf to cover my mouth.
Germs and all that. Anyway, I mostly gave up.
That is until earlier this year when I decided to buy some smallish, five kilo
weights and do a bit of a DIY home workout. Bit of music, bit of dancing, bit of
weightlifting. And I started to feel better about myself. I guess that’s how it works.
And then I took the next step and found a private trainer. And they are great. I
am not going to tell you who they are because then they might become too busy.
Kyle and I turn up once a week and exercise pretty much non-stop for an hour.
It’s a really great workout. Lots of variation to keep us interested and it’s more about
keeping moving and creating a fitness for all the things you do around the home and
in your life.
So no trying to bench-press 100kg or plank for 30 minutes. There is not a lot of
call for that in my life. But lots of stuff with three to seven kilo weights moving from
hand to hand, or through the legs, or over the head. And it’s a lot of fun. And when
you come to think about it, exercise should be fun.
As school kids we just piled out into the playground at lunchtime, ate as fast as
we could, and then ran around playing chasey or British Bulldog or anything on
the move. Before we got all politically correct we played on the bars, dangled upside
down and swung around and around. And then it was back into the classroom before
we headed home and did it all again in the garden or down the street or in the local
park.
And no-one called it exercise or even incidental exercise, it was just about having
fun and playing. I reckon if someone built an adult-sized playground it would be
overrun with people just wanting to have a bit of fun. And I am not talking about
those pieces of exercise equipment dotted along beachfronts and parks. Just some old
fashioned slides and climbing bars. I know, the lawsuits would be happening within a
minute, but if we didn’t live in such a litigious world I reckon people would be fitter.
Anyway, after a few weeks doing the personal training I decided to take it up
another notch and start reformer Pilates. How long’s that been going on? It’s fun, you
can feel your core strengthening up and you can literally do it lying down. I kid you
not. Again, I am not saying who or where. For the reasons above. And also because I
was specifically told only last week “what is said at Pilates, stays at Pilates” – which is a
bummer because there’s some great goss.
So between the personal training, the Pilates and the continuing home workouts,
I am feeling pretty good each morning. Less groaning and more springing. But that
is in the morning. When the workouts finish, which always seem to coincide with a
trip to the supermarket or greengrocers, I look a bit of a wreck. That’s the dishevelled
part. Bit sweaty (even in winter), red face, messy hair, maybe still panting a bit. That’s
my public face these days. But I will keep on keeping on and maybe one day I will
just come away with a healthy glow.
If you have given up a bit, it’s never too late. I know from experience. Just sayin’.

Back on Track, an exhibition of artworks by MAGNET is being held at the Art Trax Gallery, 30 Pratt Street, Beaufort until July 3.
Open hours are Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm and Friday and Monday
from 11am to 3pm.
The Pyrenees Arts Council’s gallery is in the refurbished historical railway station at Beaufort.
The station restoration program was funded by Public Transport Victoria under the Community Use of Vacant Rail Buildings Program and was officially opened to the public in October last year.
The building, which was first opened in 1874, now houses three gallery rooms, a shop and modern kitchen area, along with an artist’s workroom

says Jeff Glorfeld

AUSTRALIAN online news services have recently carried stories about government efforts to take gambling advertising off the airwaves.
According to one report, Goldstein MP Zoe Daniel introduced a bill to “rid television entirely of advertisements from bookmakers, which have surged in recent years along with the number of players in Australia’s lightly regulated market”.
The news story said there was evidence of “considerable public support for reducing the number of gambling ads”, and it quoted Ms Daniel as saying: “It’s increased by more than 300 per cent in the last 10 or so years, and that is creating a situation where our children are desensitised.”
Two-up and pokies
When we came to Australia in 1985, a common quip we heard was that
Aussies would bet on two flies crawling up a wall. On Anzac Day at The Age there
would usually be a game of two-up in the locker-room, and I was surprised by the
number of my colleagues who took horse racing extremely seriously.
We would sometimes drive for a holiday up to Wahgunyah, in the Rutherglen
wine region, on the south bank of the Murray River, opposite Corowa on the
NSW side, and of an evening we’d walk over the bridge to the bowls club, have a
few drinks and play the pokies.
My wife Carol enjoyed playing. She would allocate an amount to lose and play
until it was gone. I usually enjoyed uncommonly good luck; I would toss in a few
coins, win a couple of small jackpots, and retire to the bar and spend my winnings
on a bottle of good wine.
That was pretty much it for gambling, as far as we were concerned, until
the pokies – and Crown Casino – came to Victoria. I always admired the way
progressive politicians from the local all the way up to the federal levels worked to
limit the number of pokie machines allowed in various communities.
I don’t know if gambling is a disease or simply indicative of a weak character,
but while living in Wheatsheaf we saw first-hand the damage it can cause. When
a friend of ours had to travel overseas for a family emergency, his partner stayed
home, and lost nearly their entire retirement savings playing pokies.
She knew what she was doing, knew how much she’d lost, but simply had no
control over her actions. Apart from the financial difficulties it caused, it left a
permanent scar on their relationship.
Nanny state
Many Australians resent such regulations, decrying what they call the “nanny
state”, but I say good on Australia for trying to put controls on gambling in all its
various formats.
In the US the problem is of a whole different magnitude. Starting in the
1970s, the federal government began granting native American tribes the right to
establish gaming facilities on tribal lands in states where gambling was legal. Today
there are more than 500 such “tribal casinos” in 29 states.
These are in addition to the more than 450 commercial casinos operating
legally across the country. According to reports, native American tribes gaming
gross revenue was $US27.8 billion for the 2020 fiscal year, and the gross gaming
revenue of the gambling industry in the US in 2022 was more than $US60 billion.
In 2021 the sports betting industry in the US reportedly brought in more than $US4 billion. Meanwhile, an estimated 10 million Americans live with a gambling
addiction, and surveys have indicated that as many as 20 million people in the US say their gambling habit interferes with their work and social life.
Media
You might think the media would be full of government-sponsored ads pointing out the damage inflicted upon people by problem gambling, and there would be news stories about politicians making impassioned speeches in support of imposing controls upon the gambling industry.
You’d be wrong. If you’ve been following the news coming out of the US lately
you’ll know the most pressing issues facing the country – from the standpoint of
the Republican Party, which controls of House of Representatives – are transgender people, limiting the provision of women’s healthcare (including abortion),
and making sure white children aren’t made to feel bad by learning about the country’s brutal racist heritage.
It is possible that US politicians will come to their senses and start working on finding solutions to real problems facing the country – but I wouldn’t bet on it.

Le quatorze juillet’ – the French National Day party is on again in the Daylesford Town Hall on Friday, July 14.
This celebration of France’s National Day is presented by the Daylesford Community Brass Band and U3A Hepburn Shire’s Le Cercle Français.
The band and a cast of solo performers will entertain with music and songs. The music this year will follow the tradition of the European Grand Tour.
Beginning in Paris, it will be a journey of musical treats from such places as Italy, Spain and the Czech Republic before heading back to Paris for the grand finale.
Doors open at 6.30pm for a 7pm start. BYO food, drinks, crockery, cutlery and glasses. Make up a table of 10 or join one and make new friends.
As is the annual tradition, people should try to wear something French. There will be prizes for best table and best costumes as well as a feast of raffle and auction prizes. Bookings essential. Monica Cole on 0425 851 679 or onicaske@hotmail.com Tickets are $25. Proceeds go to the band for new instruments.

More children will have improved access to two years of quality kinder because of the state government’s Best Start, Best Life reforms, Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas says.
The local MP says the Victorian Budget 2023/24 is delivering $1.8 billion for early childhood education, ensuring more children get the best start in life while giving more parents – particularly working mums – the choice “to do what’s best for their families”.

In a recent media release Ms Thomas said:

The investment will lock in Free Kinder, continue the roll-out of Three-Year-Old Kindergarten and start
the transition of Four-Year-Old Kindergarten to Pre-Prep from 2025. It will also support Aboriginal
community organisations and Traditional Owners to improve cultural safety and inclusion in early
childhood services.
This historic expansion of early education means a need for more educational toys and equipment so
Victoria’s littlest minds grow and learn. Supporting this need, $14.7 million will deliver a one-off
$5,000 grant to every kinder in Victoria, helping them purchase new equipment for play-based
learning.
This funding means each kinder will see new, inclusive and age-appropriate materials including
construction blocks, musical instruments, puzzles, chalk, gardening tools and sensory toys –
encouraging children of all abilities to use their imagination and creativity, while learning through play.
With wear and tear inevitable, services will be encouraged to purchase toys made of natural and
sustainable materials – extending their durability and keeping them out of landfill.
Up to 140,000 children and families are already benefitting from the first year of Free Kinder, which
gives children 5 to 15 hours of funded kindergarten each week – while putting money back into the
pockets of hard-working families by saving them up to $2,500 in fees per child.
Pre-Prep will start in 2025 in the local government areas of Ararat, Gannawarra, Hindmarsh,
Murrindindi, Northern Grampians and Yarriambiack – with other LGAs progressively joining the rollout in following years.
Funding in this year’s Budget will support the continued transformation of early childhood education
in Victoria and includes $1.2 billion for infrastructure projects critical to the delivery of 15 hours of
Three-Year-Old Kindergarten each week by 2029, and 30 hours of Pre-Prep each week by 2032.
Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas: “I’d like to thank our local early learning educators across Macedon for their amazing work. $5000 for additional educational toys and equipment will help give our local kinder kids the best start to life, close to home.”

Image: Kyle Barnes | Words: Donna Kelly
AFTER it was shut down more than three years ago, the Daylesford Sporting Clays club is set to return to the Glenlyon Reserve.
The closure came after a couple of people raised lead contamination and high PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) level concerns around the reserve from the club’s activities.
But after lengthy investigations and testing, it was found all of the figures were well within any legal requirements or cause for concern.
Vice president Jody Wallace said the club and its around 40 members were keen to get back to their home of 43 years.
And with the change to a biodegradable wad and steel shot, and pretty much PAHs-free clay targets, they were probably the most environmentally friendly gun club in Australia.
“The wad is made out of starch from potato skins and breaks down into the ground within a month of being fired – and they are nontoxic and can even be added to compost. And while the clay targets are
not biodegradable they are environmentally friendly, and we all love anything good for the environment.”
Jody said over the past three years some members had moved to other clubs “they had to shoot somewhere and we didn’t know if we
would be up and running again” but it was hoped they would return once shooting started again in July.
“We’ve probably got about 39 members now and before we had about 60 so we would definitely like some new people too.”
The club had been given the green light to hold a shoot last Saturday, June 3 but had been notified by Winchester that the shells would not make the deadline.
Jody said the first shoot would now be Saturday, July 1 with the reserve grounds inside the oval/racecourse closed to the public from 9am to 5pm. “It’s pretty much closed all day Saturday because of the set up and then cleaning up but the playground, carpark and camping ground are still open to the public. They are safe as houses because we only shoot towards the centre of the ground.”
Jody said there had been fantastic support from the Glenlyon community along with other reserve user groups like the Glenlyon Pony Club.
“I had to do a letter drop recently and talked to about 40 people and everyone I spoke to was happy for the club to be back.
“And we had huge support from the community after we were closed down with petitions and things like that. We are going to hold a barbeque once we are up again to thank the community for helping
us out.”
Jody said he joined the club about 15 years ago after “starting off like everyone just turning up to have a shot”.
And anyone who wants to do the same is welcome. “The club has a couple of try guns and on a sporting ground people can fire a gun under the instruction of a licenced gun shooter.
“If you do follow it through you’ll need a gun and a licence.”
Shoots will be held on Saturdays on July 1, August 5, September 2, October 14 and November 4. Details: Jody Wallace on 0417 592 952.

Words: Kevin Childs | Image above: Contributed | Image below: Kyle Barnes

WHEN Edward Benedict lived in a bedsit in East Melbourne, his neighbours called him The Farmer. He had a small patch opposite the MCG, where his veggies grew and grew and grew.
Today, he grows even more at Adsum Farmhouse, a thriving market garden in Glenlyon and his produce has keen followers at the Daylesford Sunday Market and local restaurants. His property is three acres of which an acre is under cultivation.
“It’s great to know that you can make a living on an acre of land. You don’t need 100 acres. Think of this as a vitamin shop. This is the preventative stage of health care.”
He elaborates: “There are four keys to longevity: nutrition, exercise, sleep and emotional health.” He tracks both his calorie intake and his 15,000 daily steps.
For 53-year-old Edward, who previously worked in sales for an organic food company, there is greater purpose in growing clean, healthy food for the community.
His market garden is meticulously ordered. All beds are standardised at 20 metres by 7.5 metres wide, which allows drip irrigation to be interchangeable. To continue the maths: where there was nothing nine years ago, there are 18 sections in six rows.
Add up all his plants and they would just about stretch from Daylesford to Hepburn. He shows an area. “Three months ago, this was gherkins. My pickled gherkins
have a terrific local following.” Once the frost comes, the gherkins are out. Nothing is planted in the same spot for three to four years.
He points to a section, from this garden came a tonne of pumpkins and further on, capsicums and jalapeños. He shows beds of coriander and rocket, long stretches
of still-selling broccoli, an orchard of nashi pears and apples and, after one attempt, manages to wrench a carrot from the earth and chew on it. “You need a pitchfork,”
he explains. Once the garlic is out, in goes the basil, and now parsley, which he says grows like a weed.
Here are three varieties of blueberries, then asparagus, some spinach, rainbow chard in a greenhouse, tomatoes for next year. Oh, and he had rocket, onions and
chillies, plus a rhubarb patch and some leeks. There are 3000 garlic plants readying themselves for the harsh winter ahead to emerge after spring into rich fat bulbs.
We look at the handsome lavender cauliflowers and cabbages that seem to be almost bursting with life. “The soil,” he says, “is like chocolate cake.”

Also under cover are the last of the tomatoes and baby spinach. We gaze at a massive mulberry tree. “The farm is like a wild beast…something coming at you from every angle…insects, weeds, weather and wild life.”
Among his attributes is a lot of re-using. For instance, now that his daughters are aged 11 and 14 their playground has become a nursery, home to two worm farms. He rakes his hand almost lovingly through thousands of worms. A bucket catches their juice. “Black gold,” he says. The juice is diluted to water the plants.
Another nursery is for seedlings but is now holding pumpkins and firewood. A repurposed wash station incorporates sinks and timber rescued from the tip. All of this is tracked on A2 sheets of paper.
Just to add variety, and perhaps to show it’s not all deadly serious, a replica blue British police box stands nearby, just like the Tardis in the Dr Who TV series. “If I make a mistake I just get in the Tardis and fix it.”
There is no tractor, just a tiller which uses little fuel and doesn’t have much impact on the ground. What’s more, he can listen to podcasts, gaining more knowledge and philosophical insights, while he works.
He has a commercial kitchen for the pickled and sliced jalapeños and jars of traditional gherkins with dill and garlic that he sells at the market. The label of the gherkins says it is “packed by the gherking and his family”.
Sitting in the shade of a massive Himalayan cedar, their 1880s house is a former blacksmith’s shop (horseshoes are still uncovered while cultivating the soil as well as blue and white china). The front room of the house hosted lunches for local
councillors when they met down the road in the Glenlyon Hall. Some visitors remember being in the house as children when the great fire of the 1930s burnt out a third of the town. Now part of it is an AirBnB run by Fiona, Edward’s wife.
Spectacular bird and animal themed murals enliven the house and fences. Adsum Farmhouse was a title given to the property many owners back. Edward found it literally means to be present. When Latin was still taught in schools, students responded with “adsum” at roll call. It seems to fit: all present and correct.