DAYS for Girls Daylesford, supported by Daylesford Rotary, recently came together to pack 50 menstrual kits to be sent to Vanuatu for young women.

Days for Girls International is an award-winning non-government organisation that is changing the status quo through quality menstrual care solutions, health education and income-generation opportunities. In 11 years it has reached more than 1.5 million women and girls in more than 125 countries on six continents.

 In 2019 Worldwide DfG provided 46,221 kits to World Vision for the Refugee Project. Australian Teams contributed 12,543 kits to the project. That’s 12,543 refugee girls who will be able to manage their period with dignity each month.

Days for Girls increases access to menstrual care and education by developing global partnerships, seeding social enterprises, mobilising volunteers and innovating solutions that shatter stigmas and limitations for women and girls.

The DfG Kits are recognised as a world leader in responding to menstrual health challenges. They are uniquely tailored to the cultural, environmental, and physical needs of the women and girls of each country and last up to three years, saving money and helping the environment.

Daylesford DfG has been meeting monthly since June 2019 and all components for the kits have been sewn by volunteers. Each kit takes about two and a half hours to sew and costs around $11 to produce.

Daylesford DfG was given a seeding grant by Daylesford Rotary to purchase its first supply of materials.

To get involved, contact Terri on daylesfordvic@daysforgirls.org or to make a donation go to CommBank, BSB 064-032, account number 1018 1408. 

All donations are tax deductible.

(Warning: This rant is very typical of a mainstream news program, doomsday, end of the world stuff up front, followed by a cute animal or human to brighten your day.)

IT’S been a scary few months with the bushfires wreaking havoc across the country, those poor people left homeless and scarred, and those awful images bandied across the TV screen, featuring our poor defenceless indigenous animals left dead and singed by the disaster.

You could be forgiven for thinking the end of the earth is upon us with the climate change catastrophes around the world dominating our news feeds and our screens. And on a local level the weather: huge rocks of hail thrown violently from the sky followed by dust storms and topped off with heavy rain falls, and it’s back to winter again. WTF. It seems to me the weather gods are bloody pissed off with what we humans have done to their planet.

Then throw in iguanas dropping from trees in Florida because of the unseasonal cold snap and the introduction of the coronavirus, a cataclysmic apocalyptic virus which by the time this piece goes to print will probably have swallowed up the best of humankind. Mind you, there are some that I would like to offer a free trip cooped up in a plane into the hot zone in China like that dill on his way to being impeached, the orange-haired buffoon from America. I would happily offer him a one-way ticket in economy near the toilets on Air China.

Then there has been my own health struggle which has dogged me for a couple of weeks. It all stemmed from a rather hastily-scoffed chef’s treat from the BBQ – I was just checking the sausage was cooked. The next day I was off to the dentist for a clean when she spotted a lesion in my throat. I mentioned it to wifey (think Henny Penny) and after a rather emotional couple of weeks thinking I had throat cancer, I was given a clean bill of health by the Ballarat specialist. But let me tell you the worry is very wearing.

Finally, as promised, the end of this rant gets lighter. I was privileged to be asked to shoot a calendar fundraiser at Hepburn House, see page 29. How amazing to see the enthusiasm of the staff and the subject as we recreated a scene from the movie American Beauty. Then it was off to the Kyneton Croquet Club. This was such a treat to be invited into the rooms after the shoot for a cup of tea, a biscuit and a chat with these great people. Things seem to get so busy and we forget with all the helter-skelter going on around the place, we actually need to slow down and appreciate the smaller things in life. Calming rant over…

THERE is no doubt we are living in traumatic times.

The bushfires, road accidents, the crazy world of politics where a man in power (Trump) can make fun – and mostly get away with it – of a teenager trying to get the world to listen to her message about climate change.

But there are also good things happening. Every day. It’s just that the media, and I am talking mainstream, love a good bad story, if that makes sense. If it bleeds, it leads.

Luckily, at The Local we are able to concentrate on good news and hopefully spread a bit of much-needed cheer.

For example, the new events we have on the calender which we have featured in the first few pages of this edition. Whether you are into music, or words, or, well, OK, music or words, then you are going to love Winter Sounds, the Book Club Friday symposium, the Mountain Writers Festival and Festival No. 23. There’s also the Winter Spirits Solstice which is not about scary spirits but the feeling good kind along with craft beer, cider, artisanal food and even a craft spirit cocktail competition.

Festivals, and we have plenty, are a great way to not only bring people together but to also bring others to our wonderful part of the world. Motorfest kicks off for the second time in February – and I love that the month was chosen because it is traditionally pretty quiet. So lots of peeps coming to see some great vehicles and then hopefully staying on to spend a bit of money in Daylesford and the Central Highlands. A win-win.

We also responded to an email from the Kyneton Croquet Club asking if they could have one of the free community adverts to lift their profile. They asked very nicely so we went one step further and ended up doing quite a decent spread. Check out pages 14 and 15. Turns out they are not so nice after all. (You have to read the story to get that bit…)

Finally, I had a chat with Harriet Churchill, who we had photographed for the front page. Well, she didn’t know that at the time. Harriet and her husband Henry were all set to become Australian citizens last Saturday. And talking to Harriet, I could understand it was a very thought-out decision – nothing rash. The couple, who run Zig Zag Wines, love Australia, our way of life and the community. Of course, Harriet said her English family were calling it a personal Brexit but they also understood the couple’s need to take the next step to fully embrace their chosen home. 

Along with a celebration with friends at a restaurant, Harriet and Henry will also head somewhere out bush for a night or two with their son Albie to really connect to their new land. Wow, when Kiwi Kyle became a citizen he just had a Chinese meal with mates.

So, hard times, but also good times always being created. The ying and the yang. We give and do what we can to help, but we also have to live our lives. Just sayin’…

REIV president Leah Calnan said the Victorian property market continued its strong run with the latest REIV quarterly median price data showing that many price records have been eclipsed throughout the state.

House prices are up in regional Victoria by 2.2 per cent in the latest REIV December 2019 quarterly data, setting a new median price record of $422,500.

Regional units are up by 3.2 per cent, having climbed to $307,500 which is a new high.

Ms Calnan said the December quarterly medians show the long-term strength of the Victorian property market, returning to strong growth after a short period of uncertainty.

“These are outstanding figures. The Victorian real estate sector continues to soar and set new heights,” Ms Calnan said.

Strathdale (15.3 per cent), Portland (9.8 per cent) and Ballarat Central (6.2 per cent) all recorded growth above 6 per cent for the quarter.

Churchill, Morwell and Stawell have been identified as the most affordable suburbs to purchase property in regional Victoria.

Bendigo (26.4 per cent) and Portland (22.27 per cent) are the consistent performers, having achieved the highest growth out of any regional Victorian suburbs over the past year.

Ms Calnan said the latest REIV quarterly median price data shows that Victoria’s property sector has achieved new heights across most metrics.

“Buying in Victoria is a great investment; house and unit values are growing across the entire state,” Ms Calnan said.

“Victorian real estate record growth during the December quarter will put smiles on a lot of faces; anybody who invested here is getting a great return. 

“With new high prices being set, Victorian real estate is undergoing a golden patch of form, which is great news for everyone.

“These numbers will attract investment from across the globe, and our beautiful region is the envy of the world.”

THE Pig & Whistle Hotel is nestled in the wee hamlet of East Trentham and it’s long been a popular stomping ground for both locals and visitors.

Owners Jenny and Scott took over in April last year and Jenny says to this day she still can’t believe where all the people come from, even on those cold and foggy days.

The place maintains its country tavern charm with an interesting selection of model pigs scattered throughout, both inside and out. The front bar is always occupied, with a great selection of beers on tap and wines locally sourced, with the house wine coming from St Anne’s Estate at Myrniong.

The main dining lounge is cosy with intimate corners and an open fireplace and Jenny and Scott have made a few changes, including opening up the back section and turning it into a family room with a kiddies’ corner. It would also be ideal for larger groups or functions. The windows in the back room let in a lot of natural light and it opens up to the courtyard and beer garden. And then there’s the Pigpen, complete with jukebox, pool table, pinball machine and a sports TV.

The regular menu is packed with variety from burgers, parmas, fish, pies and steaks ($24-$38) to lighter salad meals ($15-$24) and the kids’ piglet menu ($10-$12). There is also a specials board and locals’ night is on Tuesdays. One of the biggest surprises has been the introduction of vegan and vegetarian options, which have been a huge success. A vegan burger is coming soon!

Entrees

To start we ordered the bruschetta ($9) and it was by far the best I’ve had. Explosive bursts of flavour with a light crunchy base, feta and a drizzle of reduced balsamic vinegar. The Trentham potato skins ($10.50), sourced locally, were a generous serve and perfectly deep-fried.

Mains

The seafood, delivered daily, was our go-to straight from the specials board. I had the honey-glazed salmon on black rice with Asian vegetables and shallots ($30). Cooked medium – slightly pink with crispy skin – it was light and infused with sweet, salty tastes and the black rice absorbed all the flavours.

Andrew had the Moreton Bay bugs with squid ink shrimp risotto ($38) – shelled Tasmanian scallops and prawns topped with parmesan cheese. The sweet prawns and scallops with the strong flavours of the Moreton Bay bugs complemented each other nicely. And the risotto was perfect.

Desserts

With very little room left it was hard to say yes to desserts (all $11) but why not? I had the white chocolate brûlée, which was decadent, sweet thick custard with a perfect crunch on the toffee top. Andrew had the Malteser cheesecake, which was sublime, a beautiful creamy smooth flavour that wasn’t too rich and had a nice crunch in the pastry. All desserts are served with a pink chocolate confectionery piggy mascot. Cute!

One more thing

Each Monday night $1 from every pie or parma meal goes towards the Farmers’ Run, a great cause that is close to Jenny and Scott’s heart and something they will continue to be involved with.

Words & images: Charl Parris

Marriage Equality because Love is Love

LOU McLachlan and Deb Clarke have known each other for nine years and two years ago got engaged in Paris – with matching rings from Tiffany’s. As you do! Two years later the pair, who live in Mollongghip, are still waiting to get married.
Lou, who runs Daylesford’s Secret Garden, said it wasn’t until she met her soul-mate that marriage became important to her. But after the “beautiful moment” of their engagement they decided it was the inevitable next step – in Australia.
“A lot of people, and let’s say straight people, say, ‘Why don’t you go to New Zealand or America (to get married)’ but why would you go overseas to get married when it would not be acknowledged in our own country?”
Lou, pictured on the left with Deb, said her father called a few weeks back and told her the Liberal Party was about to vote for marriage equality and that he was sure she and Deb would be married by Christmas.

“I told him not to get me excited but it would have been perfect because Deb’s brother and his husband, who just recently married in LA, were coming over, so we started thinking about where to get married, home or maybe the Convent (Gallery), then two weeks later they (the Liberal Party) had that cabinet meeting.
“Next, they were saying they were going to do a non-binding, voluntary postal vote and I thought ‘where does that leave us?’. I was really upset, it hit me in the heart, and I also furious at the lack of leadership. You don’t take a minority and then hang them out to dry with the general public with the bigotry and ignorance. The role of leaders is to lead the way – it’s a human rights issue more than anything.
“The impact on me was that I was really excited to be going to have a consensus, which in a community creates a context, so I can say ‘this is my wife, we were just married’. At the moment, I never introduce Deb as my fiancée, we suppress that because there is no consensus.
“What gay marriage would mean to me is the safety of speaking into an agreement, an agreement that has been passed and if people still don’t understand, it doesn’t matter because it is the law. But there is no law, we are still swimming, we are not acknowledged and our love is not acknowledged as equal. The job for our leaders was to create that context and then it just disappeared again.”
Deb said she felt gays and lesbians were not considered human beings. “But we love the same way, we hurt the same way…why are we discriminated against for that. If Ireland of all places, one of the most Catholic places in the world can have gay marriage, where the hell is Australia?
“I went to my brother’s wedding in America and they just couldn’t believe we couldn’t marry here, that we were still waiting. You don’t choose to be born gay, you are born that way, the same as you are born with blonde hair or blue eyes. This is the same as the women’s vote, the black vote, it’s the same struggle. You have to prove you are human beings first and have the same rights as everyone else. We were the first country to get women’s votes and we are the last for same sex marriage.”
Deb, who works with Ambulance Victoria, said it was also important for children growing up gay to see good role models and acceptance. “There are a lot of young males hanging themselves and they need to see support in rural areas.
“We need to think how does this affect our youth – it’s time for Australia to wake up and see what’s happening.”
Two weeks ago, Lou and Deb took their story to Daylesford’s main street to ask shopkeepers and businesses to fly rainbow flags or place leaflets in their windows promoting marriage equality. From 11am to 5pm they went in and out of every business they could find “and there were only two that turned us down”.
“We thought how can we raise people’s consciousness – although I think Daylesford already has the highest regional gay population and it’s really built on the shoulders of that with its colour and expression and creativity in this town. It was a long day and I was spent, but when I came back up the street and saw the flags flying outside the Daylesford Hotel I felt quite emotional,” Lou said.
“Both Deb and I have come a long way to feel really comfortable being gay, and now I love having a beautiful woman who is going to be my wife, but I am 50 and it has taken that long to get a sense of self. This (the plebiscite) is like throwing a spanner in the works and bringing up all those emotions we have gone through to get here.
“It is easy really. If people are confused, or say they don’t care, they are either coming from love or fear. If they are coming from love there is nothing to fear, if they are coming from fear, then those feelings are unfounded.
“We just hope people vote yes.”

Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Kyle Barnes

Just sayin’…
By Donna Kelly

AS I watch more and more rainbow flags appear around the region, I feel hopeful that people will vote yes, in this stupid plebiscite – and then the politicians will vote yes, in their stupid parliament.
It just beggars belief that we are spending $120 million, or more, on a postal vote, and that vote has no legal standing. Why do we vote in politicians? Surely it is up to them to show some leadership and just make marriage equality happen.
And I hope the issue, which hasn’t even got to the voting stage (but if you failed to enrol by last Thursday, you don’t have a say anyway), doesn’t divide the nation. Already there has been plenty which has shocked people – maybe especially those of us who live in this wonderful bit of a bubble where equality already pretty much reigns.
Mind you, I am from Frankston, and was pretty rapt to see it was the first town/city to officially hoist the rainbow flag. Daylesford followed suit and last week Trentham also managed to find the keys to the flagpole (don’t ask) in the town square and do the same thing. Well done Mel for making it happen!
Meanwhile plenty of businesses are flying their own flags, or stickers, or leaflets, asking people to vote yes. I mean, if you come up this way and have a problem with marriage equality you are probably in the wrong place.
Anyway, there’s a lot being spread around on this so here are some nuts and bolts just for the record.
At the moment the plebiscite faces two High Court challenges, which will be heard on September 5 and 6. One case has been brought forward by the Human Rights Law Centre, representing Australian Marriage Equality and Greens Senator Janet Rice. The other case is from the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, representing Andrew Wilkie MP, Felicity Marlowe and Friends and Parents of Lesbians and Gays Brisbane.
If they don’t get up the Australian Bureau of Statistics will start sending out surveys over a two-week period from September 12. You can ask for a replacement if something goes awry but requests will only be accepted until October 11. The survey form asks only one question: “Should the law be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry?”.
Voters are being encouraged to post their forms back, in the reply paid envelope, by October 27. Responses received after November 7 won’t be processed. Legally, you don’t have to vote.
The result will be published on the ABS website on November 15. The postal survey is not binding so politicians can still vote against legalising same-sex marriage even if a majority of people vote yes. PM Malcolm Turnbull reckons the pollies will abide by the vote. Hmmm.
More questions? The Australian Marriage Law Survey Information Line is open seven days a week, 8am to 8pm. Call 1800 572 11.
But let’s vote yes and move on. Just sayin’…

The flag was raised on Sunday, July 5 at 10.30am in in recognition of the traditional owners of Hepburn Shire, the Dja Dja Wurrung people and in recognition of indigenous culture, land and the living heritage that is unique to the region.

A Hepburn Shire spokesperson said it had “worked in collaboration with Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation to present this event but would encourage all members of the community to communicate with council about future reconciliation initiatives”.

“We look forward to working with traditional owners, local indigenous representatives and colleagues in reconciliation organisations to further discuss local government reconciliation initiatives in 2015-16.”

A new flag pole was recently erected at the town hall.

The move comes after Glenlyon’s Sissy Austin first led the New Year’s Eve parade in Daylesford and then approached Hepburn Shire Mayor Kate Redwood to see the Aboriginal flag flying.

Hepburn Shire was one of just eight councils in Victoria, of 79, which did not fly the flag.

The Local first reported on this January 19, 2015

Sissy Austin “100%” keen to see the Aboriginal
flag flying

SISSY Austin is a young woman on a mission.
The proud Gunditjmara woman is working on gaining recognition “for the first people of Hepburn Shire” and she’s winning.
First step was leading the New Year’s Eve parade in Daylesford with rousing cheers for the 20-year-old, family members and friends.
Sissy, pictured with her 13-year-old cousin Tinjani Austin, then uploaded a video of the event to her Facebook page which has had, at the time of writing, 3571 views.
She is hoping to lead other events and is also often called on to deliver the Acknowledgment to Country at a range of festivals and gatherings.
But the next big step is seeing the Aboriginal flag flying in Daylesford. And Sissy believes the current state of play within the Hepburn Shire Council is mostly a token approach.
“The Dja Dja Wurrung Corporation says it has a member sitting on a committee at the (Hepburn Shire) council but does the community know there is someone working in the town hall?
“Whatever is going on in there isn’t getting out to the community base level. It’s out of sight, out of mind. So what I am doing is getting it out into the community at the forefront of people’s minds. And I am getting heaps of support from the community.
“I, 100 per cent, want a flag flying. Of the 79 councils in Victoria only eight don’t fly the flag and Hepburn Shire is one of those.
“It’s insane. We have been told many reasons but the main one is because of the heritage overlay in the main street. That just doesn’t make sense to me – if it can’t go on the town hall there are other flag poles.”
Sissy said she had approached Mayor Kate Redwood after doing the Acknowledgment to Country at the Daylesford Community Fair last year and found she was “definitely supportive”.
“She said ‘I can’t help you with everything but we can fly the flag’.”
Sissy, who is the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education officer at Loreto College and a casual presenter for the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience, both in Ballarat, said she had made a conscious decision to focus on her own community this year.
“I usually travel to Ballarat for anything to do with my culture but this year I changed and decided I can do it in Daylesford as well. I was a bit nervous but the community support has been overwhelming.
“And if no one else is going to step up to the challenge of fighting to acknowledge the first people of this land I feel the need to as I have lived on Dja Dja Wurrung land my whole life.
“The land, the water, has taken care of myself and my family for 20 years so this is my way of paying my respects also.”
Cr Redwood said she personally totally supported council flying the Aboriginal flag “all the time like the Australian flag”.
“As you know, at present it is only flown on particular occasions eg NAIDOC week. The Ballarat Council flies both flags above the town hall all the time and we should too. I have asked to have our flag flying policy reviewed and I understand that is happening.
“This year as mayor I will be looking for ways in which we can recognise the Dja Dja Wurrung more widely. We need to go beyond just an acknowledgment at the beginning of meetings and events. I believe we need to arrange to meet again formally with their elders to discuss what they would see as appropriate. I think that they did this last year with Mt Alexander Shire with good results.”

But while Cr Redwood may be keen, Hepburn Shire Council Corporate Services general manager Grant Schuster said “in accordance with the Australian Flags guidelines and protocols issued by the Federal Government, only the Australian National Flag may be flown from the flagpole on Council’s buildings when we only have one flagpole”.
“However, council is able to fly other flags, including the Australian Aboriginal Flag and Torres Strait Islander Flag, if we have more than one flag pole. Council has utilised its flagpole in Vincent Street, separate to the flagpole on the Daylesford Town Hall to fly the Australian Aboriginal Flag during NAIDOC Week and the National Reconciliation Week.”