THE most ambitious item on the modest bucket list of Clunes local Margaret Fox was to have one more hit of golf at her beloved local Clunes Golf Club.
Unfortunately the popular and respected member of the Clunes community never got to
fulfil that final wish.
The keen local golfer died in October 2020 after an 18-month battle with cancer leaving her partner Brendon Butler, friends and family all mourning her loss.
But determined to honour her memory – and her bucket list wish – those she left behind got together and inaugurated a special new tournament as a tribute to Margaret’s memory, and to help promote women’s
golf at Clunes.
“We have a very low membership of women in the club so we’re hoping to
encourage more women,” said club member Jo Love, who used to enjoy teeing off
alongside Margaret.

And so it was that almost exactly two years to the day since Marg passed, that the
Margaret Fox Inaugural Memorial 4BBB (four ball best ball) event happened on the
scenic sand greens 18-hole course last Wednesday.
With entries open to golfers in mixed or ladies’ pairs, there was a strong turnout
of competition from near and far under a faultless blue sky.
Club president Ray Skinner said that while the club’s membership was a healthy
65 or so, there were only a very small number of active female players and the new
memorial event hoped to turn that around.
“We really would like to pick up some more women members,” said Ray who is a
qualified community golf instructor with Golf Australia and happy to teach anyone,
even raw beginners, the golfing basics at the clinics he runs.
Awarded to the female player with the best individual stableford score, the keenly
contested inaugural Margaret Fox perpetual trophy was ultimately clinched by
Clunes’ Chris O’Donnell with a score of 37, while runner-up went to Elaine Jones of
Queen’s Park Golf Club.
Having only taken up golf herself last year, after attending one of the Clunes
club’s clinics, Chris was a great example of exactly what the newly inaugurated event
is all about, encouraging more women to hit the greens.
Chris said she was delighted with her result on a day when “everything just went
right.”.
“I never got to have a hit of golf with Marg but I knew her. She lived just around
the corner from me.”
Chris said she had decided to give golf a try after being a long-time tennis player.
“It’s a tricky little game. You’ve just got to persevere,” she said, clutching the
perpetual trophy. She also got to take home a smaller, unique trophy.
“Just stick with it. If you end up in the rough a few times, just keep going.”
Margaret Fox’s partner Brendon Butler said it was now expected that the new
event would take place annually – and he had no doubts that Marg would highly
approve.
“This is pretty special. Marg was very emotionally intelligent. She would have
absolutely loved it,” he said.
The day also featured sparkling bubbles on the eighth hole. The hole has a
bench with a plaque for Marg and the bubbles were sponsored by club member Phil
Johnston in her memory.
Proceeds raised on the day went to the Ballarat Hospice Care which provides
home-based palliative care and had attended Margaret daily in her final weeks.
Along with Chris’s win, the ladies pairs went to Judy Guest and Julie Hutchinson
from Midlands Golf Club with runners-up Elizabeth Fenton and Jody Frost from
Avoca Golf Club.
The mixed pairs winners were Chris O’Donnell and Rob Dean from Clunes Golf
Club with the runners-up Jo Love and Lawrie Lees, also from Clunes.

Words: Eve Lamb

ONLY 54 life memberships have been awarded by the Hepburn Football and Netball Club in a century and a half. And the Burras, famously built on truck raffles, fittingly rewarded a recent president
who runs a trucking firm.
Jason ‘Dools’ Dooley says he is humbled to join “this esteemed group”. What’s
more, his medallion was presented to him by his father, 73-year-old Russell who,
like Jason, is a former club president, as well as a life member. The Dooleys join the
Rodonis as only the second such father-son combination.
Besides acknowledging the honour, Jason is keen to emphasise just how much is
done by so many others at the club. “My life membership has definitely been carried
on their backs. I look at guys like Billy Pedretti to draw inspiration. He recently
celebrated 70 years of service with a testimonial day at the club and I have never seen
so much emotion and love in one room in my life.”
At age 49, Jason can reflect on about 15 years as a committee member. As his
award citation says, he was “born into the club” playing junior and reserves footy
before joining the committee. “I was on the committee when I was young, then
returned in the 2000s and was president for eight years from 2014 to 2021.” To him,
being president is like having a second job.
From Thursday nights cooking dinner, to helping rescue the netball club, running
the raffle and lots more, he has, says the club’s Facebook page, been behind the scenes
doing all the hard work for many years.
As vice-president now, he considers his time at the helm as one that did not
have many great changes but instead there were improvements such as a new netball
changing rooms and courts, new footy changing rooms, as well as an electronic
scoreboard.
Premierships have been won in footy and netball juniors and seniors, which
was amazing, he says, while adding: “Premierships are very special and a time that
you will always remember, but it is great to have the club in a financial position
to build facilities for the future, with the help of grants from the council and state
government. And a lot of hard work from volunteers within the club.”
To him, sporting clubs are the glue binding communities.
Which raises this question: how did such a relatively small club of between 300
and 500 members sell 1000 raffle tickets for a truck at $1000 each?
“This began with a Kenworth raffle in the 90s. Not only did tickets sell out, 1200
more people missed out.”
Initially, there were 2000 tickets at $250. This prize, a Kenworth T900 model,
was legendary, Jason says, because it just kept going in the harshest conditions on
earth.
Raffles with prizes over $5000 are closely watched by the gambling authority.
“The club has always had a strong and tight-knit committee committed to
professionalism and integrity in running our raffles.”
Luckily, Jason has an aunt, Colleen, with a professional clerical background. Since
retiring about six years ago she has not only designed the flyers but also recorded
orders, balanced the books, reported to the gaming authority and more. Tickets were
sold online, at truck shows and similar events.
“You’ve got to work hard at selling tickets…be on the road every weekend, find
somewhere to go to sell tickets, find volunteers.”
Like some others on the club committee, Jason had the advantage of being in the
transport business. His father began the family firm Oz-Trans in the early 90s and
Jason now runs six trucks carrying fresh produce, furniture, parcels, pallets and doing
house removals. On the day we talked, floodwaters were stopping one truck from
getting back to Daylesford from northern Victoria.
And along with the transport business, Jason and his sister Amber ran the Old
Hepburn Hotel for 16 years. It’s set to become a B’n’B, with housing on the land
behind it. But back to the trucks.
“As for the raffled trucks from the 90s, one was won locally. Another went to
Finley NSW, and one to Castlemaine, I think,” Jason said.
“The 2017 Legend T900 prize was a limited edition nod to the same legendary
model that we raffled in the 90s, so it was a great opportunity to do another truck
raffle. It was sent to auction by the guy who won it. Everything clicked into place for
the winner, an invalid pensioner from Queensland who saved hard for his ticket. He
sent the truck for auction and was set up for life!”
That truck is now a road train in Port Lincoln, South Australia.
After just six weeks half the tickets in the latest raffle are sold. The prize is another
special vehicle, an American Kenworth Legend SAR limited edition, based on an
iconic model built here from 1975 to 1987 and the first to be designed, engineered
and made in Australia for local requirements.
Clearly, for the Burras, Kenworth keeps kicking goals.
Words: Kevin Childs | Image: Kyle Barnes

SHARING their own private garden with others is a source of joy for Creswick couple, Claire and Clive Chadder.
Their home, Vention Cottage, features one of eight private local gardens
soon to open to the public as part of the Creswick Garden Lovers Weekend over
Saturday and Sunday, November 12 and 13.
“Claire is the gardener and I’m the builder,” explains Clive who relocated to
Australia in 1981 after living in Zimbabwe.
The property is named after Clive’s old family home in Zimbabwe and over the
11 years that Clive and Claire have lived at Vention Cottage they’ve transformed the
site in a big way.
“There was nothing here originally,” says Claire who focuses her talents on the
plants and garden beds which are well complemented by Clive’s creations that range
from the rustic brick edgings and paving to the quaint little garden cottage and the
new outdoor timber slab table.
“We’re a team,” Claire says.
Careful mulching allows shade-loving plants like viburnum, hosta, hellebore, and
hydrangea to flourish here, while in sunny spots there are classics like roses, salvias
and eremophila.
When The Local visited in recent days the tulips were in full bloom,
demonstrating Claire’s capacity for creating with a palette of living colour, while the
quince blossom was doing its spring thing.
“With the open gardens we love having people come through. We love sharing it.
It’s a deciduous garden so it’s really coming into its own now,” Claire says.
The upcoming Creswick Garden Lovers Weekend will be the third time that the
Chadders’ Vention Cottage garden has participated in the event that’s organised by
Business and Tourism Creswick and now in its seventh year.
Inside the garden gates: a weekend for garden lovers
“I love collecting plants and I try to plant in varying gradations of colour,” Claire
says.
“It’s a shade garden and I plant things close together so things pop up through
other things giving that blend of colours and textures. It’s my passion.”
Claire and Clive are not the only ones keenly anticipating next month’s Garden
Lovers weekend which is making its return following a two-year hiatus due to Covid.
Other beautiful – and diverse – local gardens that will be participating over the
weekend include Creswick’s private BeauVue, Nandina, Ophir and Pozieres gardens,
along with Shirley’s Garden at Creswick North, Thyme Cottage at Eganstown and
Field House at Springmount.
The cost to get through the garden gates is $5 per garden (kids free) with all
profits raised used for Creswick projects.
The Creswick Neighbourhood Centre in Victoria Street will serve as the venue
for purchase and collection of all tickets and maps on the weekend. Online bookings
are also currently available through Eventbrite with more information available from
www.creswick.net
Garden lovers also won’t want to miss the Creswick Garden Club’s plant sale and
mini flower show that will coincide with the Garden Lovers Weekend.
Due to renovations in the town hall, the Creswick Garden Club is planning a
scaled down mini flower show in the Senior Citizens Hall in Water Street, as well as a
plant sale outside the IGA supermarket on both days.

Words and Image: Eve Lamb

CRESWICK taps its rich vein of arts heritage this Melbourne Cup long weekend with the town hosting two concurrent art exhibitions.
The Creswick Arts Pavilion is staging both its Creswick Spring Art Show at the town’s Neighbourhood Centre and also the Creswick Old Masters’ exhibition celebrating the wealth of artistic talent the town has fomented over the decades.
This includes Australia’s historically famed Lindsay family with five of its talented members getting a look-in at the Old Masters’ show staged in the town’s Havilah Masonic Lodge Hall.
Creswick Arts Pavilion president Andrew Bell says the hall itself is an artwork of sorts with the
exhibition affording a rare chance for art lovers to check out its interior.
“We feature the hall itself because the interior is rather intricately painted and that’s a feature in
itself,” he says.
The purchase of a $5 ticket will get you into both the Old Masters’ Show and the concurrent
Creswick Spring Art Show which launches 7pm on Friday, October 28 with the announcement of the
winning artist, who will take the $1000 prize.
Tickets to the 7pm opening event are $15 at the door, and the evening will feature a performance
of live baroque music by Newlyn and Hepburn players. They will be accompanied by the vocal
talents of Hepburn Shire’s own mayor, Cr Tim Drylie – a lyric tenor.
Andrew says artworks across a wide range of media including painting and sculpture will be on
show with entries from across the state to be judged by Ballarat Art Gallery curator Kiri Smart.
“Last year we had 120 works entered from 70 different artists and we’re expecting
we will end up with about the same this time as well,” Andrew says.
Among local talent preparing to enter work is sculptor and blacksmith, Ernie
Terry who produces his imposing works at his Lucky Monkey Blacksmith forge in
Creswick’s Albert Street.
“Ernie won first prize at our mid-year Park Lake Art Show and for this show he is
donating one of our raffle prizes – a beautiful forged iron sculptural piece featuring a
eucalyptus leaf design,” Andrew says.
Another of the raffle prizes up for grabs is a beautiful stone birdbath made by
Creswick’s David Barclay.
The Spring Art Exhibition also offers a People’s Choice award – “that will be
awarded at the end of the exhibition on the Tuesday night when the raffle will also be
drawn,” Andrew says.
He says the Old Masters’ exhibition will this year feature 20 works highlighting
some of Creswick’s most noteworthy yesteryear arts talent including Earl Milton de la
Lande, Ali van Beveren and Allan Bernaldo.
A self-confessed arts lover and retired advertising creative, Andrew says the main
aim of staging the events is to celebrate Creswick’s significant place on the nation’s
arts heritage map.
“We’ve got it in our blood,” he says.
Both exhibitions will run over the Melbourne Cup long weekend from Saturday,
October 29 to Tuesday, November 1.

Words & image: Eve Lamb

The state government is supporting primary producers and small businesses across Victoria affected by the devastating floods to get back in business, with an initial package of support to help kickstart their relief effort.
A $73.5 million package will deliver grants to help farmers and business owners
clean up their properties, while business mentoring, concessional loans and transport
subsidies will help businesses get back on their feet.
The $19.5 million Primary Producer Flood Relief Program will deliver a one-off
$10,000 payment – administered by Rural Finance – to primary producers directly
affected by the floods to help them clean up, re-establish their properties, and get
their businesses up and running again.
Primary producers whose properties have been directly hit are also eligible for
concessional loans of up to $250,000 to restore or replace damaged assets, and meet
general expenses incurred while the clean-up is underway.
Flood-affected primary producers can also claim up to 50 per cent of transport
costs – up to $15,000 – for the transport of emergency fodder or stock drinking
water, and moving stock to agistment, sale or slaughter.
Small business owners whose livelihoods have been affected by the floods will
also be supported through the $54 million Small Business Immediate Flood Relief
Program.
Directly impacted small businesses will be eligible for a one-off payment of
$5,000 to support clean-up, safety inspections, repairs, the hiring of equipment and
purchase of stock that businesses need to get back in business as quickly as possible.
The program will also support a dedicated Business Relief Service – with
dedicated mentors to guide business owners through the available Commonwealth,
state and local supports and manage insurance and landlord issues.
Applications for both grant programs opened on October 20 – with applicants for
the agriculture grants encouraged to visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/farm-management/
emergency-management/floods/flood-advice-and-support. For small business grants,
call the Business Victoria hotline on 13 22 15.
This natural disaster is a distressing time for many Victorians, whether their
homes have been inundated, they have been temporarily displaced or lost part of the
business they have given so much to – and a $4.4 million initial package will support
any extra mental healthcare flood-affected Victorians need.
The government’s Mental Health and Wellbeing hubs, which were set up during
the pandemic to support extra mental health demand, will see $1.5 million in surge
funding in the worst-affected areas across regional Victoria and Melbourne’s west,
supporting Victorians doing it tough as a result of the floods.
Primary producers whose properties, livestock or crops were lost in the floods
will get the dedicated mental health support they need, with $500,000 for specialist
agriculture organisations including the National Centre for Farmer Health.
Victorians are reminded they can contribute to flood recovery efforts at givit.org.

Flood-impacted residents in Hepburn Shire will be able to dispose of flood
waste free of charge until the end of December.
To help flood-affected communities recover, the state government has removed
charges to dispose of flood waste, with the waste levy for all flood waste waived and
landfill operator gate fees covered in 46 flood-struck local government areas.
Working with councils and the waste industry, the government has announced it
will ensure all impacted communities have access to a facility to dispose of their flood
waste quickly and safely.
Up to December 31, the waste levy for flood waste and the gate fee usually
charged by landfill site operators will be waived for the 46 worst-affected local
government areas including Hepburn, Macedon Ranges and Mount Alexander shires.
The state has also announced that other LGAs impacted by floods will be added
to the list of 46 LGAs as required.
The move aims to ensure all flood waste can be disposed of at landfill free of
charge, with the waste levy usually between $62.95 per tonne and $125.90 per tonne,
depending on waste type and landfill site location.
It’s projected that at least 300,000 tonnes of waste will be sent to landfill as a
result of this month’s flooding.

THE Daylesford Art Show is ready to kick off this Thursday, October 27, with the Community Bank Daylesford District Awards Night at the Daylesford Town Hall.
The event runs from 6pm to 8pm with drinks, nibbles and live music with people
able to view the work of the 73 participating artists.
The show then continues for the long weekend from Friday, October 28 through
to Tuesday, November 1.
Of the 73 artists, many are locals, and The Local caught up with a few of them last
week.
Jenny Pyke said she favoured pen and ink and watercolour paintings and had
worked with many different mediums over the years.
Along with her partner, Jenny ran a Melbourne-based business specialising in the
restoration of Victorian and Edwardian buildings with etched, painted and stained
glass windows and door surrounds as well as modern bespoke art pieces featuring
large kiln-fired glass panels. This also included designs for both printed and embossed
wall and floor tiles, finished artwork for screen printing, mould making, wax
modelling and a few trompe l’oeils.
“Now retired I am concentrating on furthering my skills as an artist
experimenting with different mediums and materials.”
Andrew Littlejohn said he was introduced to creating art in 2012 when he and his
partner completed a CAE mosaic course.
“I loved it and that led to exploring water colour and oil painting. I have attended
classes on a regular basis at the Victorian Artists Society since 2014 and shown my art
in various exhibitions around the state. My key subject interests are landscapes and
still life.
“I live and work in Daylesford and enjoy engaging with the Goldfields’ art
community. This includes regular catch ups with the local Friday night life drawing
group and still life classes in Elphinstone.”
Caitlin Hope Brown lives in Eganstown and specialises in watercolours with her
work featuring portraits and landscapes, especially scenes of the local scenery.
She studied academic drawing from 2016 to 2019 and learnt watercolours from
several Melbourne artists.
Originally from Melbourne, Caitlin has called Hepburn Shire home for nearly
two years and says she couldn’t be happier here.
Paul Ainsworth is a self-taught artist now living in Daylesford, working primarily
in oil paint.
Although painting has always been an interest, only relatively recently has Paul
been able to devote his time to learning and developing his art.
Subjects range from portraiture, landscapes and still life painting in a traditional
style. It was during the limitations of the lockdowns that Paul explored still life
subjects with objects at hand as inspirational sources. “These works are a collection of
reflective and nostalgic themes that will continue to develop and evolve with universal
appeal.
“What’s important is the relationship of the objects in the painting and how they
become an integration of the whole narrative.”
Sandy Breen spent many decades in the advertising, marketing, graphic design
and illustration world in Melbourne (including 25 years running her own business)
but then felt she needed a change.
“When I turned 50 I decided to ‘do myself a favour’ and I started painting again.
“I enrolled in a watercolour course in my local area. I loved it and after several
years there I had my first solo exhibition at a gallery in Hawthorn.
“It was a great success which was an unexpected thrill. Subsequent to that I had
several other exhibitions, the most exciting of which was taking over the atrium area
of the Sofitel in Melbourne for two months.
“Since moving to Daylesford 14 years ago I have been a regular Daylesford Art
Show exhibitor. I love the ‘vibe’ of this now time-honoured event and can proudly say
I have sold several pieces over the years.
“These days I have embraced working mainly with acrylics. Watercolours are so
‘immediate’ but acrylics allow me more time latitude.
“In Melbourne I had my very own, gorgeous studio/work space but these days I
happily work at my kitchen bench. The area is bright with natural light. I often have
the fire going and I always have my music playing for company. The hours just float
away.”
For Kristen Leigh it’s about telling a story and capturing a moment and “giving
voice to that which has none”.
“With painting, drawing, ceramic sculpture and music I highlight a wisp of a
prayer or sometimes an ancient memory.”
The Daylesford Art Show and ‘Art on Vincent’, is organised by Daylesford
Rotary, and along with the show at the Daylesford Town Hall, many shops and
businesses along Vincent and Albert streets, Daylesford also display artworks.
The show incorporates the Hepburn Swiss Italian Festa Central Victoria
Landscape Art Prize.
A percentage of the sale price of each painting sold during the Daylesford Art
Show supports Rotary projects in the community. Paintings will also be available to
view and purchase online from November 2.
Link: www.daylesfordartshow.com.au
Words: Donna Kelly | Images: Kyle Barnes

Horoscopes October 24th to November 7th

All signs:

A busy couple of weeks happening overhead with eclipse season upon us, as well as Mars turning retrograde, both might cause some upheavals. Eclipses take place in pairs, a solar eclipse on October 25th and a lunar eclipse on November 8th. These events typically leave us all feeling a little unsettled, like things aren’t as stable or reliable as they usually are. Eclipse season can also bring about new beginnings and turning points, keeping in mind that oftentimes something needs to end so that something new can begin. It can be both unsettling and unpredictable. Many people like to work with the lunar cycles for manifestation or to charge their crystals, I don’t recommend using the eclipse lunations for such activities owing to their unpredictable nature. Throwing some of the other astro weather into the mix, this eclipse season could see us all reaching for a little more independence, freedom, and space from anything in our lives that feels too restrictive, a desire to break free from the boundaries we have been bumping up against lately.

All this desire to break away from our bonds will unfortunately likely be hampered by Mars turning retrograde in the sign of Gemini. Mars speaks of our energy, our drive and determination. Mars in the sign of Gemini can make us feel a little overwhelmed or pulled in many directions at the best of times. When Mars starts moving backwards, we might find that we are less motivated, less active, and could feel like our grand plans are going nowhere fast. On the upside, it’s a fabulous time to slow down, if you have been moving at warp speed and feel like you have been spread too thin, take a sharp knife to your schedule, and start cutting things out that don’t serve you right now. Not a good time to start new projects if it can be helped, you might find them languishing until the new year. But a good time to take stock, reassess your situation and perhaps start plotting a new course for 2023. Read on to see how you might harness the power of the planets in your life, if you know your rising sign, start there first.

Aries:

The eclipse might bring about some financial struggles either for you or for your spouse/partner. It could be that you are reliant upon money from others, or you’re tied up in a joint venture that sees a lack of financial independence for you. This could be a turning point when you need to break free from the pack and trust your own earning capabilities, it might help your confidence grow in other areas of your life as well. Your communication skills might not be at their peak so think twice before you let fly, there will be other times to charm people and play the diplomat. You might be a little more prone to road rage over the coming months, make sure that your commute playlist is a relaxing one.

Taurus:

All things to do with marriage, partnerships and relationships are in the spotlight, with perhaps some upheavals headed your way. If a partnership (romantic or business) is struggling, this might be the time when things start to wind down and come to an end. Any relationships that have felt draining or cumbersome could be on the chopping block. If, on the other hand, things are solid and working well, you have nothing to fear, it might even be a time when your relationship deepens or strengthens. Money matters might be contentious for the remainder of the year, there might be conflict or passionate discussion about your financial picture. If you have been working at a fast and furious pace to earn your dosh, you might be facing a bit of burn out and need to take a step back.

Gemini:

The next few weeks might pose some challenges for you, around your daily routine, your health, or your pets. You’ve had Mars providing you with some extra oomph these past few weeks and now he’s about to move backwards and it could mean that you start to feel the effects of being stretched too thin from doing too much. The eclipse taking place could be offering you a fresh start with your health and daily routines, if your daily life has been causing some health problems, this is the time to take your power back and reinvent a routine that will provide better balance. It’s never easy to admit when something isn’t working and needs a change, but better to be on the front foot, making the changes than to be reacting to the consequences later.

Cancer:

The focus on romance, leisure time, creative self-expression and children continues for you. If you have found some of these topics have been weighing you down, feeling draining rather than uplifting, there might some major changes coming your way. You might also find that you have a lightbulb moment, find something or someone new that turns your world upside down. Mars turning retrograde might mean a bit of a hit to your confidence, that self-doubt might creep in a little. It’s imperative that you are kind to yourself right now, that you don’t let any poisonous little voice inside your own head get too loud. There are times when these things can affect us more, be more damaging, and this is that time for you when you need to be a little more aware of your inner monologue and how it can taint how you feel about yourself.

Leo:

Contemplating a big move, selling all your worldly possessions and living the life like a gypsy? If you aren’t, you might soon be with a pair of itchy feet, desperate for adventure and looking to escape the heaviness of responsibility that can come with the home that you live in. There might be outside incidents that cause challenges are where you are living or with your family perhaps. If you have been finding that your home is too much of a burden, this is the time to downsize, or conversely, that you need to upgrade to make more space. If your social calendar has been full to the brim, it might be time to take a step back, reassess friendships or group associations that are taking more from you than they are giving back. This is a great time to set some boundaries with friends and be more choosey as to who you give your energy to.

Virgo:

The eclipse might see you find a whole new way of communication or self-expression. You might start to learn a new language or find a more artistic form of expression. Your immediate surroundings, like your neighbourhood might be in for an overhaul or some sort of upheaval. If you have found that your work life has been in overdrive, this is the time when things might come to a grinding halt. It won’t last forever, just know that this isn’t going to be the best time to initiate new projects or deals at work. You might feel like what you do have going on in your career is stalled, and that’s ok, it will take off again in the new year and you will feel that you are back on track in no time.

Libra:

Your financial picture might be headed for a shake-up, for better or worse. New opportunities might show up, but they might require you to end other streams of income that you have been reliant upon. It might be how you manage your money and assets or how you earn your cash. You have the skills to investigate and shine a light in all the corners before you sign on the dotted line, use that to your advantage. If you have been pursuing any post-secondary education, you might find the rest of the year a bit of a slog. Any new projects that are undertaken before the new year might be require more energy than you anticipate, be warned. Perhaps you are planning an overseas trip and need to be prepared for a bumpier journey with more plot twists than you envisioned.

Scorpio:

Big changes are a foot for you, with the eclipse taking place in your sign! You might be going through a major reinvention of self, working out who you are and who you want to be. It could be as simple as a physical make-over and could be as complex as a major turning point in how you see yourself. This might also be a time when you are trying to find a balance between your sense of self and who you are within your closest relationships. Your self confidence is due for a boost, just keep in mind that you want it to come from within and try not to seek validation from others. If you are happy with who you see in the mirror, the opinions of other’s don’t really matter. Try not to fall into the trap of making yourself over to please the masses, be your own lovely unique self.

Sagittarius:

You might be desperate for some alone time, to retreat into the comfort of your own company and you have the permission of the planets. If you can

take some time away by yourself, I highly recommend it, you might find that you have an epiphany or two. This could be a major turning point for you where your mental health is concerned, if you have been feeling like you are bearing the weight of the world on your shoulders and that you can’t seem to turn down the volume on your inner monologue, try your best to take care of your own need for quiet time. The eclipses are hitting you in a difficult way and can really make you feel lost in the dark, fear not, the lights will soon be switched back on. Relationships might feel hard, stale or stalled for the next little while, if you can focus on yourself, this is the time to do so and let some of the other people in your life sit on the back burner, if they are worth your time, they will still be there when you are ready.

Capricorn:

This might be a time when you aren’t feeling so sure about your place within your social scene or the groups that you are associated with. New friendships might form, or you might find a new group that you want to join, the cost might be letting go of other commitments you currently have. The hum drum of daily life might feel like you are running on a hamster wheel and not really making up any ground, not to worry as it won’t last forever. If you are feeling the frustration of not getting to where you want to be in life or perhaps like you are moving backwards, try to keep in mind that there are seasons within our lives and in some of those seasons we are kicking goals and moving forward and in other seasons we are more stationary, hibernating a little perhaps. While you might not be making gains, this can be a time to cut away bad habits or parts of your daily life that aren’t serving you the best.

Aquarius:

Things at work might be feeling unsettled, unstable, or uncertain. Big changes might be afoot, either shaking the ground now or seeds planted behind the scenes that sprout up a little late on. You might be offered a career opportunity that involves moving your residence, or that you have the option to work from home. If you have children, the next few months might be challenging, pushing your limits, and testing your patience. This might also be a time when any of your artistic endeavours are moved to the back burner, leisure time might need to be put aside. The major headlines are going to be regarding your career right now, and it might mean that it’s a time to make hay while the sun shines and put a few of your hobbies hold.

Pisces:

New opportunities and options might show up for you with this eclipse season, something with an international flavour. It could be that you are taking a trip, meeting someone from a different background to your own or exploring a new philosophy or religion. Your world can be cracked wide open if you are willing to play the role of the seeker and be receptive to new ideas, people, and places. It doesn’t mean that this is going to be easy peazy lemon squeezing, but if you have been in rut, a little more stressed, depressed,

lemon zest, your ability to have a refreshing glass of lemonade is heightened at the end of this month. In contrast, things at home might be more tense and testy right now, trying your patience and perhaps fuelling your fire to embrace a new adventure.

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FOLLOWING their successful tour of Donizetti’s Don Pasquale in May/
June, Lyster Opera returns to the stage with Rossini’s hilarious take on
the Cinderella story, La Cenerentola.
Considered by many to have some of opera’s finest writing for solo voice and
ensembles, La Cenerentola takes the famous story in a number of different directions.
Mistaken identities and reworked characters are woven into the narrative before the
inevitable happy ending.
Lyster Opera presents this opera in the style of the great touring companies that
roamed Australia in the Gold Rush era. Singers of note would travel from town to
town to perform to audiences in local venues, often providing linking narration to
break through any language barrier.
“It’s a remarkably resilient format,” says company founder Jamie Moffat. “It has
great appeal for all audiences, from opera buffs to those new to the art form.”
Lyster Opera is named for William Saurin Lyster, the great 19th century
entrepreneur, and shares his vision of celebrating the art of opera with new audiences,
at an affordable price.
In this production, emerging mezzo-soprano Alexandra Mathew takes the
title role of Cinderella, with tenor Hew Wagner as her handsome prince, Ramiro.
Vying for his attention are Cinderella’s evil step-sisters, sung by Helen Koehne and
Angelique Tot. A plot by Ramiro’s tutor, Alidoro (Angus Grant) involves the valet
Dandini, sung by Michael Lampard, aided by courtiers sung by James Macaulay and
Luke Belle.
This new, staged production is directed by Jamie Moffat, assisted by Luke Belle,
with accompaniment and musical direction by Pamela Christie. New costumes have
been designed and executed by Maddy Connellan. La Cenerentola is being performed
at Christ Church, Daylesford on November 5 at 2.30pm.
For tickets, and more venues and dates, head to www.lysteropera.com.au

Connect with regional ceramicists in their studios on the Central Victorian Clay Trail, held on Sunday, November 13 and Monday, November 14 from 10am to 4pm.
This year 18 ceramics studios will open to the public, offering a glimpse into the
working life of a potter.
The event is part of The Australian Ceramics Association’s annual open studio
program and makers from around the country are participating.
Artists from Mount Alexander, Hepburn, Golden Plains and Macedon Ranges
shires will welcome visitors and be on hand to explain the individual processes they
use to take clay through to its final state.
There will be a huge range of styles, from sculptural work to tableware and
everything in between, and techniques, including hand-building, wheel-throwing and
mould-making, on show.
Central Victoria is celebrated for its wonderful food and accommodation but the
arts community is the beating heart of the area.
All of the studios are those of professional artisans and the high quality of the
work speaks for itself.
Download the map from the website centralvictorianpotters.org and follow us on
Instagram @central_victorian_potters
Brochures are available from visitor information centres in the area and many
other locations.

COMING from a long line of bakers, it’s no surprise that Rebecca Barnett grabbed at the chance to run her own bakehouse in Maldon, and become the proud new owner of the longest running bakery in Australia: the Maldon Bakery.

“There are five generations of bakers in my family,” says Rebecca. “My earliest memories are of my grandparents’ bakehouse. Poppa Kevin was the baker and Nanna Betty ran the shop. When my Mum was old enough to help, she was rolling the dough and serving in the shop.”
An added bonus for Rebecca is her love of the town.
“The idea of restoring such an important historic landmark in Maldon was an irresistible challenge.”
The bakery’s Scotch oven, in Rebecca’s words,“the heartbeat of the bakery”, is also the oldest brick structure in Maldon, dating back to 1854.
“It was built to feed the huge population of gold miners as they rushed to the area to try their luck. The town grew up around the bakery.”
With the help of family and friends, Rebecca has redesigned and expanded the current shop, as well as reopening the cosy original bakery shop for takeaway service.
She has also installed an old door with glass windows “so that customers can see into the actual bakehouse”, and added her own touches – including an original 12- foot tin-lined dough bin, made from huge slabs of Kauri and said to be around 150 years old.
Rebecca is employing all locals to help, many of whom know the bakery well.
“There’s a great talented pool of local people with stacks of experience. Jodie has worked at the Maldon Bakery for an amazing 34 years. She is recognised as a constant in the shop. She knows the people and the people know her.”
Head baker is renowned expert and author on the subject of traditional bread making, John Downes, inset photo.
“John has a lifetime of experience in using Scotch ovens, and has revolutionised bread making in Australia. I’m just so lucky to have him baking for us.”
With the Scotch oven running once again, Rebecca is excited to be reigniting a vital part of Maldon’s history, while providing good quality food for the community and visitors alike.
The bakery is open from Wednesday to Sunday, selling freshly baked traditional breads, cakes, pastries and pies, using top quality ingredients mostly sourced from local suppliers and growers.

Words: Sandy Fairthorne | Images: Kyle Barnes

EQUINE specialist Dr Emma Nicol knew from a very young age that she wanted to devote her life to caring for horses.
Now, as a vet specialising in all things equine, she’s busy doing just that as
she runs her EquiVets Victoria practice from her lush 50-acre property at Musk.
It’s an ambulatory and clinic-based practice seeing patients from racehorses and
competition horses to pleasure horses and pony club mounts, across Central Victoria
including Daylesford, Ballarat and Bendigo.
The Musk property is not just where Emma’s clinic is based, it also accommodates
brood mares, racehorses and horses recovering from injury or surgery.
“Spring gets very intense with breeding and foaling,” Emma tells The Local
following a morning’s successful emergency foaling.
Her main interests encompass equine medicine and everything from foals to
geriatrics, and she’s passionate about thoroughbred and standardbred racing.
“I started the business in 2013. I bought the Musk property at the end of 2019
but I’ve been here now for about a year,” she says.
Emma grew up on a sheep and beef farm at Lismore in Victoria’s Western District
and was around horses, enjoying eventing and showing, from a very early age.
“I think I was about two when my parents realised they’d lost me to the horses,”
she said.
After realising where her passions were leading her, Emma completed a Diploma
of Horse Business Management at Marcus Oldham College before undertaking her
veterinary degree at Massey University, New Zealand.
After completing her veterinary degree in 2005, she then went to further her
veterinary education at Kansas State University, USA, completing an internship in
equine internal medicine and surgery.
That included intensive training with world-renowned equine medicine and
surgery specialists.
“There’s lots to my job that’s rewarding,” she reflects.
“With racing and sports horses you’re getting the best out of these athletes and we
get to see them fulfil their potential and perform at their best.
“There’s also the pleasure of seeing healthy foals, seeing the good work pay off,
and sending horses that have been unwell, home as healthy horses.”
As an ambulatory practice, many hours are spent on the road, travelling out to
clients’ own properties to see patients, as well as seeing them at the Musk property
that Emma has poured countless hours into developing especially for the purpose.
“It’s been a very big project, putting in a lot of horse-safe fencing, planting lots of
trees,” she reflects.
A qualified international equestrian federation vet and FEI treating vet, Emma
is also a member of the Australian Veterinary Association and Equine Veterinarians
Australia, and a former EVA Victorian state representative.
She says the hours involved in veterinary practice can be demanding, and as a solo
practitioner amid the current global shortage of vets, she’s keen to secure an associate
to join her busy practice.
“There is a worldwide shortage of vets at the moment, not just equine vets, and I
think the reason is multi-faceted,” she says, naming long and at times irregular hours
among the challenges of her calling.
“You need a passion for it. It can be tough and we do work long hours. Horses
don’t know when it’s 5pm.”

Words: Eve Lamb | Images: Kyle Barnes

COMMUNITY Bank Daylesford District has conditionally committed $750,000 over 10 years to the Daylesford Hospital upgrade.
The commitment is conditional on the Victorian State Government funding the upgrade (currently estimated at $75 million) contained in the Daylesford Health Precinct Masterplan.
The Daylesford Health Precinct Masterplan was released in May by Central Highlands Rural Health’s board of directors, following community consultation.
The masterplan was funded by community contributions of $100,000, the cornerstone of which was a $25,000 contribution from Community Bank Daylesford District.
The masterplan includes upgraded and expanded aged care, new wards, increased space for dialysis, shared rooms replaced with single rooms, improved disability access and new community health facilities, all within the existing Daylesford Hospital site.
Bank chair Mark Rak said the local community needed access to better local health services.
“The Daylesford Hospital, which opened 160 years ago, was built with community support, which it continues to enjoy to this day. It’s the right time now to begin the upgrade of the hospital to reflect community needs and expectations into the future, with local facilities better suited to modern health care.
“We are delighted to announce our support for the upgrade of the Daylesford Hospital. Our 10-year commitment of $75,000 to $100,000 per year is consistent with the staged modular upgrades in the masterplan, which are likely to take 6 to 10 years to build.”
The Community Bank Daylesford District celebrated its 10th anniversary in April this year. Since it started operating in 2012 the bank has returned more than $1 million to the community through community investment and shareholder dividends.
Mr Rak said its strong balance sheet and positive financial outlook boded well for continuing significant community investments into the future

Christ Church Daylesford is holding a Trash & Treasure at Stanbridge Hall as the first initiative for the hall’s renovation fund campaign.

The hall, built in 1857 and funded by William Stanbridge, started as a girls’ school and place of worship. The fund will pay for repainting, upgrading kitchen facilities and exterior works.

The stall will be held on Saturday, October 29, 10am-3pm. Trestle tables are $50. Contact Anne on 0408 038 717.

KORWEINGUBOORA local Abigail (Abbey) Wehrung loves where she lives on the fringes of the Wombat Forest.

Surrounded by her menagerie of animals including nine horses, dogs, chooks and a goat, she knows there is no place like home. But her day job as a professional women’s basketball star is constantly demanding her time, energy and commitment.

As well as local games she was part of the Australian women’s national basketball team (The Opals) in the 2021 Asia Cup in Jordan, taking third place. Abbey was born in Daylesford in 1995 and began her professional basketball career in 2014 when she joined the Canberra Capitals competing in the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) but her interest goes back many years before that.

One of three competitive siblings, she began by playing basketball with her dad Duane in the backyard. Unfortunately he died before seeing Abbey begin playing organised matches at the age of nine.

After rising through the junior leagues in Ballarat and making her international debut at the 2011 FIBA U16 Oceania Championship, she won a scholarship to study at the Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, graduating in 2013.

“When I first moved away it was really hard,” recalls Abbey.“It was just Mum and my two brothers at home and I was pretty used to the country lifestyle and a quiet household. It was a bit of a shock to the system initially. It is always hard moving away and leaving. I just love home so much.”

However travel has remained a large part of Abbey’s life and sports career. She did four years with the Canberra Capitals and during the off seasons would come back and play with the Ballarat Rush in what was the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) competition now known as NBL1 South.

“After I finished with the Caps (Canberra Capitals) I came home and played for Bendigo Spirit in the Women’s National Basketball League before joining Adelaide Lightning. Now I’m back for another season with Bendigo Spirit again. So I’m back home, which is really nice.”

To maintain this form of high level commitment is trying for any talented player no matter what sport they play but Abbey must call on an inner strength beyond that of many of her colleagues. In 2020 Abbey along with her brothers Nathan and Dan also lost their mother Kerryn; a loss that put an incredible strain on Abbey’s sporting commitments, almost prompting her to retire.

“Mum did a tremendous job raising and supporting us when Dad passed. To then lose her was really hard. I had to go to Adelaide pretty soon after and I kinda tossed and turned about whether I went or stayed home. But I knew she would not have wanted me to stop so you just kind of have to keep going. I know she would be looking over us happy that we are still happy and finding joy in, kind of a shit storm, I guess.”

To embody this form of personal loss says so much about Abbey’s personal motivation and personal resilience; qualities she will have to call on again and again with more trips away from her beloved Korweinguboora. And while she is developing business plans to put in place post-career, at this stage she considers herself blessed to be able to purely focus on basketball as a job with all the future experiences it can offer.

“Female athletes, specifically basketballers don’t really hit their peak until 28-29,” she says, “and I’m just enjoying it while I can. My next goal is to make the Opals squad again and hopefully take part in the 2024 Paris Olympics.”

Words: Tony Sawrey | Top image: Contributed |On court action image: Craig Dilks