Odessa at Leaver’s Hotel in Creswick is bracing as it prepares to host The Leather Lungs as part of this weekend’s ChillOut program, that’s spreading its rainbow-coloured wings well beyond Daylesford for this year’s festival.

A love singing, comedy queen, master of falsetto and stiletto, The Leather Lungs takes to the stage at Odessa this Saturday March 11 from 2pm to dispense a free cabaret public singalong as part of the festival.

The Leather Lungs has been widely described as “the award winning, power house of drag cabaret”.

This Saturday’s free festival gig is expected to ensure Odesa cops a leather lung-full for three solid hours with more information available via both the ChillOut festival website and the venue’s own socials.

Officers from Altona Police are investigating an affray which occurred on the Westgate Freeway last month.

Police have been told traffic had slowed in the outbound lanes of the Westgate just after the Williamstown Road exit about 4pm on 11 February.

Two men in a grey BMW pulled up next to a charter bus, believed to be carrying a group of men returning to Geelong from a bucks’ day.

An empty beer bottle was allegedly thrown from the bus and smashed into the bonnet of the car and dented the vehicle.

The driver of the car stopped the bus and he and his passenger got out and approached the bus driver.

A number of occupants got out of the bus and assaulted the victims before turning their attention to the car and smashing windows and mirrors before jumping on the car.

The group then got onto the bus which drove off.

One victim suffered a dislocated shoulder while the other suffered facial injuries.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or with dashcam footage or CCTV is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or log onto the Crime Stoppers website online.

Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives have been investigating a fatal crash which occurred in Murtoa last Tuesday morning, February 28.

Emergency services were called to Wimmera Highway after a truck and car collided just before 11am.

The male driver and female passenger of the car, who are yet to be formally identified, died at the scene.

The male driver of the truck was arrested and is currently assisting police with their enquiries.

He was taken to hospital under police guard with minor injuries

Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives had travelled to the scene in an effort to determine the cause of the collision.

Anyone who witnessed the crash, has dashcam/CCTV footage or further information was urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report via the Crime Stoppers online website.

A man has died following a collision involving a car and a garbage truck in Dalyston last Tuesday morning.

Investigators have been told a car and a garbage truck collided head-on along the Bass Highway about 5.45am.

Sadly, the male driver of the car died at the scene.

His female passenger was not injured and taken to hospital for observation.

The truck driver, a 63-year-old man, was not injured and has been assisting police with their enquiries.

Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collision were continuing.

Anyone with footage or information about the collision was urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report via the Crime Stoppers website online.

Water Police Squad with the assistance of the police Air Wing have rescued three men in distress from a yacht in Bass Strait in recent days.

Police were called after the 10-metre yacht was caught in big swells, strong winds and taking on water, about .75 nautical miles off St Andrews surf beach about 10.15pm on Tuesday, February 21.

The skipper was unable to steer the yacht and it was blown out into Bass Strait.

Due to the conditions, the helicopter was not able to winch the trio during the night however it remained on scene in an aerial position to assist with monitoring the incident.

The disabled yacht, which was involved in a collision with a carrier ship just after 1.30am, was guided by a commercial bulk carrier ship which was tasked to assist in providing cover until water police units made it to the scene.

Luckily no one was injured and there was no reported damage to the vessels.

Water police attended the scene and pulled three men from the yacht just before 3am, Wednesday February 22.

The men, aged in their 70s and 60s, were all taken to the Queenscliff Marina where they were assessed by paramedics.

An on-farm emissions action plan ilot aims to help Victorian farmers reduce on-farm emissions with grant support funding from a pool of up to $5 million.
The  pilot is being delivered as part of the Agriculture Sector Emissions Reduction Pledge to provide practical information, tools and services to support farmers to understand and reduce emissions.
Over three years, Agriculture Victoria will work with up to 250 producers who are interested in understanding their emissions output, adapting their practices, growing their business in a low-emissions future, and are willing to help other farmers by sharing their experiences.

 Since the pilot opened in May 2022, engagement with industry and key stakeholders has seen strong interest from the beef, dairy, and sheep sectors.

Six more rounds will open over the next two years, with opportunities for local beef and sheep farmers to participate. 

Agriculture Victoria Emissions Specialist, Alison Kelly has been visiting beef and dairy producers across the state.

“During the visits and working one-on-one with participants, it’s become really clear that no two farms or businesses are alike and there is no single solution to emissions on-farm,” she said.

“Victorian farmers have a great desire to improve their understanding of climate change and work toward decreasing on-farm emissions.

“The pilot is an opportunity for them to get 1:1 support for their emissions journey, so they can achieve their business goals no matter what starting point they are at with emissions knowledge,” Mrs Kelly said. 

Through the farm visits, the team has identified several emerging themes which will be explored in detail over the remaining two years of the pilot. 

“We’ve observed that farmers have already been implementing emissions and sustainability action on-farm, but they want to understand how they can capture evidence of their emissions and carbon stocks, as well as practical advice about managing this over time,” Mrs Kelly said.

“For the beef farmers that we have been working with for round one of the pilot, improving data collection, herd and feed efficiencies, and reducing inputs where possible are also important so they can maintain their productivity and continue to operate their businesses efficiently as the climate changes,” she said.
Those interested in participating can stay up to date with the pilot by visiting the  On-Farm Emissions Action Plan Pilot webpage.

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council has announced it will start scheduled works to reconstruct a section of Jennings Street in Kyneton this month.

From Monday 20 March to mid-May, Jennings Street will temporarily close to vehicle traffic at the Mollison Street intersection.

Signage and detours will guide vehicles via Hutton, Ebden and Baynton streets to access shops and businesses along Jennings Street.

The bus stop on the corner of Jennings and Mollison streets will be temporarily relocated to Mollison Street in front of the post office.

Pedestrian access will remain open during these works, while road users are encouraged to plan ahead as minor delays may occur due to the road closure.

Council’sDirector Assets and Operations, Shane Walden, said Council worked closely with the Department of Transportand Planning to maintain bus access and minimise disruption to local traffic and businesses.

“Council identified that this section of Jennings Street needed improvement to ensure safe use for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. Council’s capital works budget is funding the work,” he said.

“I would like to thank all residentsand businesses for their patience and understanding during these works, which have been awarded to a local contractor.”

Shepparton Divisional Response Unit detectives seized cannabis plants worth more than a $1M in Orrvale in recent days.

Investigators executed a warrant at an address on Orrvale Road about 8.30am on Wednesday February 22 and discovered cannabis plants throughout the house.

No one was at the two-storey house and police seized more than 400 plants.

No arrests had yet been made as at the end of last month and the investigation remained ongoing.

Anyone with information about illicit drug activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report via Crime Stoppers online.

Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives have charged a man in recent days, following a fatal collision that happened in Caulfield South last year and claimed the life of an elderly man.

It is alleged a car collided with a man on a mobility scooter on the pedestrian crossing at the intersection of Kooyong Road and Glen Huntly Road on Sunday, 17 April 2022.

Emergency services were called to the scene about 9.25am and the 87-year-old Caulfield South man on the mobility wheelchair was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

He died as a result of his injuries on Wednesday, 20 April.

The driver of the car, a 23-year-old Kalkallo man, stopped at the scene.

He was on Wednesday February 22 been charged with dangerous driving causing death, careless driving and fail to give way to a pedestrian on a pedestrian crossing.

He had been bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 27 February.

A woman was held down by members of the public until police arrived following an alleged carjacking in Hamlyn Heights in recent days.

Investigators have been told a 74-year-old woman was in her car at traffic lights at the intersection of Shannon Avenue and Church Street about 5.15pm on Sunday, February 26, when a woman approached the car and threatened the victim with a knife.

The victim got out of her car at the direction of the woman who then got into the vehicle but was unable to drive it away.

Several witnesses rushed to assist the 74-year-old, removed the woman from the car and held her till police arrived.

A 27-year-old woman from Norlane had been charged with aggravated carjacking and has been remanded to appear at Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday February 28.

The Water Police Squad rescued a 68-year-old man who fell overboard from his boat at Indented Head, Geelong, in recent days.

Police were called after reports a tinnie was located doing circles in waters 4km off Indented Head in Geelong about 9.30am on Monday, February 27.

No one was on board and the Water Police Squad with the assistance of Air Wing searched the area.

Water Police located a man wearing a life jacket in waters about 1.5km from where his boat was located and 2.5km offshore at Indented Head about 1.20pm.

Officers pulled the Altona man onto their boat, and he was taken to the Indented Head boat ramp where he was taken to hospital for observation.

Inspector James Dalton at Water Police Squad: “We had grave concerns for this man’s welfare. To locate him so far away from his tinnie and so far off shore is like finding a needle in a haystack.”

“It was brilliant work by our members who really demonstrated their expertise on the water…

“We understand this man had been in the water for about six hours.

“Without a doubt he is alive due to the fact he was wearing a life jacket, those people who noticed something was wrong called the police and provided that large-scale response.”

Apologies if you have been so absorbed in the holiday mood or just so tired that, apart from the watering. you’ve hardly got around to doing much else in the garden but I’d like to point out a few seemingly unimportant tasks that would make an enormous difference to your plants.

Summer hygiene
For a start, don’t leave fallen fruit lying about the trees, it will breed pests and diseases by supplying a base for their complicated breeding cycle. Many of the fungal diseases such as brown rot etc., mature and disperse their spores from this fruit. The dried fruit beetle is one that breeds there, and so does fruit fly and a whole raft of other nasties.

Garden hygiene is the first step in controlling these pests by eliminating their breeding grounds. Collection of fallen fruit should be a continuous practice through the ripening season. Destroy the fruit or place it in a 60cm or more deep hole, covering each batch with at least 10cm of soil.
Summer pruning, or green pruning, is also an important maintenance program at about this time, especially in this high rainfall year. Surplus growth, mainly watershoots, should be removed just before they become a burden to the tree by overtaxing its reserves, causing overcrowding.
The main purpose of the removal is to save all nourishment, concentrate on that part of the tree where it is most needed and serves the best purpose at the time of fruit bearing. To let the useless watershoots and overgrowth develop and then have to cut it off at the winter time of pruning makes little or no sense.
All this nourishment can be diverted into and saved in the tree at this time, increasing the cropping ability of the tree. The removal can be done in stages or at one time. Besides getting rid of competing growth, limit most of the other young shoots by cutting them back to a strong, healthy growth bud at their end.
You should also keep an eye on young developing trees. They need every bit of foliage at this stage, so instead of cutting off any badly shaped or misdirected branches, tie them up into the proper position. Use either a wooden stake to hold them in place, or soft cord to tie them up. Don’t cut off all the trunk spurs – shorten them by only two or three leaves.
Feeding of fruit trees is very important. The formation of next year’s fruit or flower buds usually takes place at about this time. If the tree gets enough nutrients and water, just after the crop has ripened, a lot more of the ordinary developing leaf buds will turn into fruiting buds in the next few months.
Organic, animal manures or any general fertilisers, especially containing potash and phosphorous in particular, will play a big part in this transformation. So feed your trees and provide sufficient water in the hot weather so they can get the best use out of it. Contrary to some misguided belief deciduous trees don’t need a rest in the middle of the growing season. They get plenty of that in winter.
Trim roses
While you’re wielding your secateurs…at this time of year as soon as the spring burst of flowers has ended, it can be a good idea to give them a light trim to remove the remnants of the last flowers and tidy them up in readiness for good autumn flush of bloom. It doesn’t need to be excessive, just remove anything that’s untidy or looking as though it’s at an end.
When trimming back, make sure you cut just above a pair of leaves, and remove any which are obviously no longer functioning. You can leave the heavy pruning for winter.
One of the joys of having a fully organic, chemical-free garden is the amazing number of wildlife, both avian and and microscopic. Insect pestilence is almost nil because many of the inhabitants are carnivorous and tend to keep the sap-suckers down.
The latest arrival last week was this pinup girl Ms Austracantha Minax, commonly called the Christmas or jewel spider. I know it’s female because at 12mm across, the females trump their 5mm mates.
Absolutely harmless, these members of the orb webset sit at the centre of their massive tangled web and feast on all the flying insects that don’t pass by.
Got a gardening query? Email glenzgarden@fermigiohousegmail-com

Local grassroots sports and active recreation clubs and organisationsare being urged to get on the front foot and apply for funding to boost their equipment, skills and administration expertise.

Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas, last week announced applications had opened for the state government’s latest round of the Sporting Club Grants Program.
The program provides payments of up to $1,000 for new uniforms and equipment, up to $2,000 for training coaches, officials and volunteers and up to $5,000 to improve club operational effectiveness.
Grassroots clubs and organisations in Macedon are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
The Sporting Club Grants Program is part of the state’s commitment to make community sport accessible and inclusive, stimulate local economies, build sustainable sport and recreation and volunteer opportunities, and increase local participation.
For more information and to apply for the Sporting Club Grants Program visit sport.vic.gov.au/grants-and-funding
Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence: “Sport is the lifeblood of Victorian communities. That’s why we’re backing more clubs to help with uniforms and equipment, plus grants to invest in the future through training for coaches and volunteers.”

“This is about helping clubs get back in the game so more Victorians can join in the fun and tap into all the sport and career pathways that grassroots community sport offers.”
Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas: “The Sporting Club Grants Program is giving grassroots sports clubs in Macedon the support they need to come back better than ever, grow their ranks and help more people play the sports they love.”

An additional consultation report into the Victoria to New South Wales Interconnector West project has been released in recent days by the Australian Energy Market Operator and Transgrid.

The report, a summary document and information on how to provide feedback are available at www.aemo.com.au/initiatives/major-programs/vni-west … with feedback due by April 5.

The terminal station proposed for Mount Prospect is no longer the preferred option.

However, commenting on the report, Hepburn Shire Mayor Cr Brian Hood said the largely unchanged power line route and significantly larger towers recommended in the report were of major concern.

“The report recommends an increase in the overhead power lines from 220kV (kilovolt) to 500kV through our shire,” Cr Hood said.

“This would require significantly larger towers, which will have an even greater impact on our important landscapes, farming and the community.”

Hanging Rock is the backdrop for Craft Market’s Hanging Rock Market.
It’s not just the incredible surrounds that will tempt people to this market; stallholders and their vast range of products are also a beautiful enticement and well worth setting aside the time for.

The market brings together a variety of both local and regional Victorian stalls,
all sharing their talents in this magical location beneath the trees and the rock
itself. Find unique pieces for your home, body, table and family, all handmade or
homegrown by the people selling them. By buying from our stallholders, you’re
supporting small local businesses to grow and thrive.
There is fresh gourmet food and drinks, both to enjoy there and to take home
for later. Come for the market, stay for the beauty of Hanging Rock. It’s the autumn
outing your soul needs.
Hanging Rock Market is on Saturday, March 18, 9am-2pm. Please leave your
pooch at home. Park entry fee of $10 applies.