The Victorian state government has announced it’s boosting mental health support for young people across Ballarat and surrounding areas, with construction now underway on a new Youth Prevention and Recovery Care (YPARC) centre.

Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt joined Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison, Member for Eureka Michaela Settle and Ripon Martha Haylett last week to turn the first sod for the new multi-million-dollar, 10-bed centre being built at 31-39 Durham Street.

A key recommendation from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, YPARC services provide 24/7 clinical care in a home-like setting for young people aged 16-25 experiencing mental health challenges – reducing pressure on hospitals by offering an alternative to acute hospital admission.

Its central location and proximity to health services including the Ballarat Base Hospital and other mental health service means consumers and their families will have easy access to other medical and support services.

To be built by McCorkell Constructions, designs released last year showcased the future centre’s welcoming, home-like environment, including private bedrooms to support young people throughout their recovery journey.

Operated by Grampians Health, the new Ballarat centre is part of a $141 million investment by the state government that will more than double the capacity of Victoria’s current YPARC network with five new, 10-bed centres to be built across the state and upgrades to three existing YPARC centres.

The new centres will be located in Ballarat, Geelong, Shepparton, Heidelberg and Traralgon, with three existing centres in Bendigo, Dandenong and Frankston also being refurbished and modernised.

Delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority, the new centres are aimed at ensuring more young Victorians each year can access the tailored support they need.

Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt: “We’re making sure young Ballarat locals get the mental health support they need, closer to home – delivering a local service that offers tailored care that sets them up for a positive and healthy future.”

This story based on a state government media release. Image: Supplied

More than a third of Australians have gone on a sporting or adventure holiday in the past 12 months and age doesn’t seem to limit desire with close to 20 per cent aged between 68 and 77, according to some travel insurance and survey data.

It seems Australians don’t want to just relax on holiday, with new survey findings – supplied by Budget Direct Travel Insurance – indicating that 80 per cent of respondents holidayed to either hike, fish, or ski. 

Sporting-led holidays located within Australia are the go-to, according to 2024 data from Budget Direct Travel Insurance which shows that 64 per cent of Aussies booked their holiday domestically, with the next popular choice being our neighbours, New Zealand.

When discussing key motivators for going on a sporting-led holiday, 55 per cent of respondents said they wanted to indulge their passions, while 44 per cent wanted to challenge their skills. 

“Australians are born adventurers, and there’s no better way to embrace that spirit than with an active holiday in our own backyard,” a Budget Direct spokesperson said.

“Whether it’s hiking through stunning national parks, fishing along pristine coastlines, or exploring the incredible ski fields down south, Aussies love combining their passions with the chance to discover the diverse landscapes Australia has to offer.”

A sporting-led holiday calls for no rest, with half of those surveyed saying they were comfortable with a physically challenging holiday. Only seven per cent were comfortable with a physically ‘tough’ holiday, with 42 per cent admitting a mildly physically challenging holiday was ideal.

As for who we holiday with, most travelled with family on their sporting-led holiday (46 per cent), with almost a quarter going with fellow sport/training friends. 

Travelling alone was more popular than travelling with strangers, with 15 per cent holidaying by themselves compared to 11 per cent with a tour guide. 

When it came to what factors are most important when choosing an adventure-led holiday, Queenslanders valued the location the most (80 percent of respondents) whereas Victorians were the most cost-effective, coming in first for cost being the most important factor when choosing a sporting-led holiday (75 per cent).

While mostly taking local sport-led holidays, Australians are still keen to book their next, with 41 per cent of respondents planning their next adventure holiday within the year, and 32 per cent in the next two years. 

Almost 70 per cent had booked their holiday either in advance completely, or at least 75% of the trip. Western Australian respondents were the most prepared for their sporting-led holiday, with 47 per cent planning the trip completely in advance. 

Victorians were the least prepared with five per cent preplanning none of their trip before jetting off for their adventure holiday.

Words & Images: Supplied

The Western Bulldogs and Mars Wrigley have announced a three-year partnership extension, which will see Ballarat’s showpiece AFL, sporting and events venue continue to be known as Mars Stadium until at least the end of 2027.

Over the next three years, the Bulldogs and Mars Wrigley will offer bespoke match-day and inner sanctum experiences and initiatives for members of the Ballarat community, while an increased investment will see local community heroes and sporting clubs around the region thrive through a range of new initiatives; the first to be revealed in the coming weeks.

This latest partnership renewal between the Western Bulldogs, City of Ballarat and Mars Wrigley will mark 10 years of an ongoing commitment towards giving back and helping grow the Ballarat sporting and events community.

“Since 2017, Mars Stadium has become our second home for our AFL and AFLW teams, so this extended partnership with Mars Wrigley and the City of Ballarat will see us continue to strengthen our connection within the region,” Bulldogs Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer, Kon Karavias, said.

“The atmosphere at all three of our Mars Stadium games last year was really special. Ballarat is now our third largest postcode of members, and we are excited to continue delivering amazing experiences for our members, fans and the wider Ballarat community across the next three years.” 

Michael Ryan – General Manager, Mars Wrigley Australia – said it was an honour to sponsor such an iconic and important part of the local Ballarat community, as well as deepen the company’s association with the Western Bulldogs. 

“This sponsorship signifies Mars Wrigley’s commitment to the great city of Ballarat, which has been an important part of our history for more than 40 years, producing our iconic confectionary brands including Mars, Snickers, Maltesers, M&M’s and Pods,” Mr Ryan said. 

“We’re thrilled to be using this sponsorship to give back to the local community, including launching a number of new community initiatives that we’ll proudly be working to deliver alongside the Western Bulldogs.” 

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves also expressed her delight with the partnership renewal. 

“Together with the Western Bulldogs, we share the excitement that Mars Wrigley has extended its agreement as naming rights partner of Mars Stadium for a further three years,” she said.

“Mars Stadium is now well and truly associated across the country with AFL football in Ballarat and this agreement will only strengthen our reputation as the sporting capital of regional Victoria.”

The Bulldogs will host Port Adelaide (Round 8) and Adelaide (Round 18) at Mars Stadium this year, making it 15 AFL games at the venue since the first match played for premiership points in 2017.

The AFLW Bulldogs have also hosted five games at Mars Stadium across four seasons.

This story based on a City of Ballarat media release

In some great news for music lovers, Victoria’s creative industries minister Colin Brooks visited Odessa at Leaver’s Hotel in Creswick in recent days to announce a new round of the state’s Live Music Festivals Fund.

The fund provides grants to established Victorian festival organisers to expand much-loved music events and bring more festivals to music lovers statewide.

Delivered by Music Victoria on behalf of the Victorian Government, Live Music Festivals Fund applications are now set to open on February 25 and operators of festivals with more than 1000 attendees are eligible to apply for grants of up to $50,000. 

The first round of the Live Music Festivals Fund in 2024 awarded grants to 22 festivals, with almost two-thirds from regional Victoria.

Previously supported festivals included roots and folk music festival CresFest, set to be held over April 4-6, and Echuca-Moama’s popular Riverboats Festival.

CresFest Co-Director Judy Turner was quick to respond to the minister’s new announcement, stating that securing a grant through the Live Music Festivals Fund had been a “game changer” for CresFest this year.

“It means we can finally stop worrying about the last-minute nature of ticket sales, and in another brilliant thing for our town, this funding has enabled CresFest to contribute to making events at the Creswick Courthouse accessible to all,” Ms Turner said.

At a time when the industry is facing a challenging operating environment, the grants aim to help organisers stage their events, creating local jobs for people on and off the stage, and attract music lovers to towns, suburbs and cities across Victoria.

Applications for the Live Music Festivals Fund open on Tuesday, February 25 at 10am and close on Tuesday, March 25 at 2pm. An online information session will be held on Tuesday, March 4 to help people with their applications.  

To find out more about the Live Music Festivals Fund visit musicvictoria.com.au. For information on other Victorian Government support for the music industry, including Music Works and 10,000 Gigs: The Victorian Gig Fund, those keen to know more can visit creative.vic.gov.au.

“Victoria’s music festivals are the lifeblood of communities across our state. They provide jobs for event workers, they’re a rite of passage for young music lovers, and they provide real opportunity for artists to build their careers,” Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks said.

“Music festivals across the country have faced a challenging time, and we are proud to back our much-loved local festivals and the communities that host them.”

Live Music Festivals Fund

• Grant applications open: Tuesday 25 February 2025, 10am
• Applications close: Tuesday 25 March 2025, 2pm
• Info session: Tuesday 4 March 2025

Words: Eve Lamb. Image: Supplied

Anticipation is building as the City of Ballarat’s biggest annual event of the year draws closer.

The 73rd annual Ballarat Begonia Festival is now just a couple of weeks away, with tens of thousands of people expected to flock to the Ballarat Botanical Gardens for the three-day festival held over the March Labour Day long weekend.

The Ballarat Begonia Festival offers a diverse range of free activities, entertainment, and educational experiences for all ages.

This year there will be a renewed focus on conservation of native flora and fauna, highlighted by headline act ‘The Last Numbat’. The Last Numbat is a large-scale, interactive performance installation that uses puppetry to tell the story of the decline of the endangered Australian marsupial.

The Ballarat Begonia Festival’s full program is now available online at ballaratbegoniafestival.com and was officially launched earlier this month.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves says the festival had cemented itself as the city’s premier event over many decades.

“The Ballarat Begonia Festival is an absolute treasure on our events calendar and every year delights our locals and visitors alike,” she said.

“The entertainment that will be on show this year is absolutely incredible and we can guarantee that it will be an event that has something for everybody.

“From the guest presenters on the main stage to the family friendly activities, from the food and drink offerings to the incredible garden displays, and of course the PowerFM Ballarat Begonia Parade – this is an event not to be missed.”

This story based on a City of Ballarat media release

Hepburn Shire Town Crier, Philip Greenbank, has officiated at the establishment of the “Parliamentary Friendship Group with Thailand” in a special event held this earlier month in Toorak, Melbourne.

The Creswick-based town crier (pictured above, during the event) was invited by the Kingdom of Thailand to officiate at the event that was attended by 300 special guests including representatives from 29 embassies, politicians and many organisations in Victoria that have been involved with the Kingdom of Thailand.

These included Her Excellency Ms Arjaree Sriratanaban, Ambassador to the Kingdom Thailand, Canberra and Mrs Tessa Sullivan OAM, Honorary Consul to the Kingdom of Thailand, Melbourne.

“I opened the evening and then read the proclamation As the Official Town Crier, I now announce the commencement of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Thailand on this day, Monday 3rd February 2025 and acknowledged by all in attendance in the State of Victoria,” Mr Greenbank said in a social media post.

Mr Greenbank, in his post, also said:

“The Parliamentary Friendship Group consists of politicians from all parties and from both State and Federal governments and with Thai’s representation in Australia, to continue the close ties with Thailand.

“Over 300 special guests were in attendance including representatives from 29 embassies, politicians and many organisations in Victoria that have been involved with the Kingdom of Thailand.”

As official town crier for Hepburn Shire since 2015, Mr Greenbank belongs to a formal and unique group of individuals in Australia and worldwide who continue to preserve the town crier tradition dating back to at least 1066 and the Norman conquest of England with William the Conqueror.

Ozact Theatre Company is preparing to bring its new autumn season of A Midsummer Night’s Dream to the Hepburn Sound Shell with performances announced for April 5 and 6.

Following unprecedented demand in Ballarat, Williamstown, Geelong, and two sold-out weekends at Cloudehill Gardens in Olinda, Ozact has just recently announced the launch of its 2025 autumn season of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. 

As one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies, A Midsummer Night’s Dream needs no introduction with the leafy surrounds of the Hepburn Sound Shell deemed particularly well suited to the famed Shakespearean play.

Since its inception by Bruce Widdop in 1995, Ozact has merged the natural environment with classic theatre, building a legacy of loyal audiences and unforgettable performances.

This year’s autumn season clearly aims to continues that tradition, transporting audiences into the whimsical world of fairies, lovers, and mischief-makers. 

As part of the newly announced autumn season, Ozact Theatre Company will also be bringing this magical production to Camperdown Botanic Gardens, Mont de Lancey Historic Homestead, Coolart Homestead in Somers, and Heatherlie Quarry in the Grampians. 

More information can be found on the Ozact Theatre Company website.

Words: Eve Lamb. Image: Supplied

Victorian wines will be on show at the world’s largest wine museum in France, highlighting the state’s reputation as a premium wine makers.

Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs, Danny Pearson this week announced that Victorian wineries will be featured at the iconic La Cité du Vin trade museum in Bordeaux, France. La Cité du Vin is a major tourist attraction that welcomes more than 400,000 wine lovers every year.

The Victorian wineries on display at La Cité du Vin include Ten Minutes by Tractor, William Downie, Bests Great Western, Yarra Yering, Brown Brothers, and Chambers Rosewood Vineyards. As part of the two-year partnership, other Victorian wineries have the chance to be displayed in the future. 

The wineries on show are from Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Gippsland, Grampians and Hume – highlighting the diversity and vibrancy of the wines Victoria produces as part of its $9 billion wine industry.

The partnership with La Cité Du Vin follows the Wine Paris Vinexpo 2025 held last week, where Victorian wines was also celebrated on a global stage.

Boasting over 800 wineries and 21 distinctive wine regions, Victoria is home to more wineries than any other state – with the exports generating about $141 million a year. 

Wine is one of Victoria’s key tourism drawcards and plays an important role in regional economies – jobs at wineries, vineyards and cellar doors provide people with good jobs close to home, while serving as popular tourist attractions.

The state’s Economic Growth Statement identifies trade as a critical driver for boosting Victoria’s economic growth and the new $10 million Boosting Victorian Exports Package will help more businesses take their home-grown products to global markets.

Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs Danny Pearson: “We’re promoting Victorian wines at one of the most influential wine museums in the world, strengthening our reputation as a premium wine destination and attracting more people to Victoria.”

This story based on a state government media release

Police have dismantled an organised crime syndicate allegedly involved in a series of commercial burglaries targeting crypto ATMs and collector cards across Melbourne’s north west.

Detectives from the North West Metro Regional Crime Squad arrested four people over the last week as part of their investigation into the commercial burglaries.

It’s alleged the group were involved in stealing six cryptocurrency ATMs, as well as committing a recent series of burglaries at collector card stores since mid January.

The ATM’s were stolen from businesses in Hoppers Crossing, Bentleigh, Brunswick, Werribee and Vermont.

It will be alleged the group targeted three collectable card stores in Epping, Moonee Ponds and Eumemmerring.

Detectives believe the group have been utilising stolen cars to commit their offending.

The investigation led police to uncovering an Aladdin’s cave of items, including approximately $50,000 worth of collectable trading cards.

Warrants have been executed across Melbourne over the last week in Reservoir, Coburg North, Greensborough and South Morang, leading police to seize the following items:

• Approximately $50,000 worth of collectable trading cards including Pokemon, Disney Lorcana, Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic the Gathering, Dragon Ball Z, AFL and NBA.

• Five alleged stolen firearms

• Approximately 100 alleged stolen car keys

• Ammunition

• Pill press machine

• Stolen power tools

Four people have been arrested in total, which includes the two alleged primary offenders, a 37-year-old man from Reservoir and a 32-year-old man from Epping.

The Reservoir man was charged with 14 counts of burglary of commercial cryptocurrency ATM and commercial games stores, prohibited person possess trafficable quantity of firearms, prohibited person possess firearm and handle stolen goods.

He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on May 2.

The 32-year-old Epping man was charged with five commercial burglaries, three counts of theft of motor vehicle, theft, unlicenced driving, possess methamphetamine, drug of dependence and possess prohibited weapon.

He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court tomorrow, February 21.

Two other men, a 33-year-old and a 46-year-old both from Reservoir were released pending further investigation.

Anyone with information about drug or firearm trafficking is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or file a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

North West Metro Regional Crime Squad, Detective Inspector Patrick Watkinson: “This was a highly organised and coordinated police operation, and we thank the vigilance of the affected trading card community and the invaluable support from industry partners – which assisted in the dismantling of a significant network of offenders.

“We are confident that we have apprehended the main offenders who were sharing their criminal trade craft with lesser offenders.

“Police have also identified the lesser offenders supplying stolen goods and more importantly the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Syndicates tasking the apprehended offenders.

“Our focus continues to be on bringing the suppliers to justice, while intensifying efforts on impacting the illicit lifestyles of those involved in organised crime.

“And to the organised familial crime syndicates operating across Melbourne – paying others to do your dirty work won’t keep you hidden. With every arrest we move one step closer to dismantling your enterprise and all those connected to it, seizing your illicit wealth and holding you accountable.

“Your luck will eventually run out!”

This story based on a Victoria Police report

Close to 530,000 Victorians who appear to have failed to vote in the October 2024 local council elections will have a chance to explain why when they receive an ‘Apparent failure to vote notice’ in the coming days. 

Electoral Commissioner Sven Bluemmel says the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) is urging people who receive a notice to respond with a detailed explanation, as the VEC is required to issue a fine of $99 if a person fails to respond in writing within 28 days. 

‘An ‘Apparent failure to vote notice’ is not a fine – it’s a chance to explain why you appear not to have voted,’ Mr Bluemmel said.  

‘If you respond to the notice in writing with a valid reason and evidence, you are much more likely to be excused.  

‘Completing and sending the notice back to us within the 28-day timeframe gives us a chance to consider your explanation and whether you can be excused.’ 

Voting in local council elections is compulsory in Victoria if you were enrolled to vote.  

Voters are encouraged to sign up to receive VEC VoterAlert updates to receive reminders about future state and local council elections at: vec.vic.gov.au/VoterAlert

This story based on a Victorian Electoral Commission media release

January was the busiest month in Melbourne Airport’s history – with a record 3,393,977 passengers welcomed through the terminals.

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events and Melbourne Airport Chief Executive Lorie Argus this week celebrated the milestone at Melbourne Airport – shattering the previous record from December 2019 by more than 70,000 passengers. 

The Victorian state government continues to secure a calendar of exclusive sporting, music and cultural events that attract people from around the world – with a massive 600,000 people walking off international flights in January. 

A new single day record was also set – on Friday, 24 January more than 23,000 international visitors arrived at Melbourne Airport for the Australian Open and to enjoy Lunar New Year in Victoria, filling hotels and restaurants and backing local businesses and jobs.

Earlier this month the state government secured a deal with Melbourne Airport for Delta Air Lines to deliver three new direct flights per week from Los Angeles to Melbourne from December this year.

The flights will bring thousands more tourists from the USA and Canada – typically outdoor and adventure seeking travellers, and Victoria is brimming with natural wonders for them to explore. Leisure travellers from the USA spent $239 million in Victoria in the last year.

Overseas travellers continue to flock to Victoria and the latest data shows tourism spend has hit a record high of $39.7 billion, with the international spend now surpassing 2019 levels.

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos: “We are the events capital and we continue to secure the best events in Australia. The Australian Open, the Formula 1 Grand Prix and the NFL – these events are only here in Victoria and they bring people from all around the globe.”

“This is great news for the whole state – these record numbers of travellers are filling our hotels and restaurants, supporting tourism operators across the state, and backing local businesses and jobs.”

This story based on a Victorian government media release

Detectives from the Cybercrime Squad are warning people not to fall for the gaslighters, the ‘warriors’ and the romance scammers of the dating world.

Since January 2024, romance scams have cost Victorians in excess of $30M. Women aged between 60-69 reported a total of over $8M lost and men aged between 20-29 lost over $6.5M.

The highest reporting frequency, though, belongs to people who identify as female aged between 30-39, with over 60 reports from that age group.

Every age bracket was represented, and from January 2024 to date, both males and females reported a total loss in excess of $18M each.

Don’t be fooled by anyone looking for a certain type, a shared love of cryptocurrency or someone ten years younger than them – romance scammers will utilise online platforms such as dating apps or social media to connect with their victims, gain their trust, before ultimately obtaining funds from them.

Cruel scammers target victims at their most vulnerable and will often take advantage of people looking for romantic relationships.

They’ll create fake profiles to make themselves appealing and to play on the emotions of their victim.

They will appeal to their victim’s romantic or compassionate side, playing on emotional triggers and expressing strong feelings in a relatively short space of time.

They might spend weeks or months messaging their victim, making them feel like they’ve formed a genuine connection before shifting the conversation to money or investment or cryptocurrency opportunities.

Once the victim has been reeled in, the scammers will use various deceptive techniques to squeeze money out of them.

Red flags to look out for:

• Love bombing – someone who expresses strong feelings for you in a short amount of time. Scammers will spend time ‘grooming’ their victims with techniques such as professing their love or sharing emotionally evoking personal stories that pull at the heartstrings of victims
• Someone who tells you an elaborate story – such as a sick child, illness, injury or travel costs – with a sense of urgency as to why they’re asking for money or your credit card information
• Someone who says they can’t meet in person. The scammer will often say they live overseas or interstate. Reasons can vary, but they’ll often say they work overseas for a government agency or the army
• Anyone who asks you to accept a money transfer before further transferring those funds to another account (known as a money mule)
• Gaslighters

Protect yourself by:

• Never providing your financial details to a stranger
• Never sending money to someone you’ve never met. Be sceptical of urgent requests for money or person information, even if they appear to come from trusted sources
• Trying to avoid emotion when considering requests for money. Take a step back and evaluate the request logically
• Checking for inconsistencies in the person’s story – conduct name checks online or reverse image searches to see if the name and/or photo of the person you’re speaking to actually belongs to someone else
• Talking to a friend or family member before sending any money
• Trusting your gut. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is

If you think you may have provided account details to a scammer, contact your bank immediately before making a report on ReportCyber. To help others avoid similar scams, you can also report it to ScamWatch.

If you have been affected by an online dating and romance scam, help is available from counselling and support services.

• ReportCyber
  The national online reporting platform for a cybercrime, incident or vulnerability.
• Scamwatch
  The National Anti-Scam Centre has set up Scamwatch to support awareness and reporting of scams. Visit for more information, advice and to report different scams.
• IDCARE
  Help with advice on scams that involve stealing your identity. This free Australian and New Zealand service can help you limit the damage and recover from the scam. Counselling and support services are also available. Call 1800 595 160.
• Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS)
  You may be eligible for financial help through the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS). Help can be for counselling, medical expenses, and loss of earnings.
• eSafety Commissioner
  You should report any cyber abuse (regardless of your age), or image-based abuse to the eSafety Commissioner. They also investigate cyber bullying and help you deal with online abuse.

Detective Sergeant John Cheyne, Cybercrime Squad: “These staggering figures could represent a lifetime of savings for many victims, and these are reflective only of those who have made a report to police. That’s the devastating reality of romance scams in 2025, they have the potential to be financially crippling.

“Importantly, no age group was immune – romance scammers target us all, so we’re urging the community to remain vigilant online.

“Protect your information, be aware of who you’re talking to and importantly, never give money or your financial details to a stranger.”

This story based on a Victoria Police report

Police are keen to hear from anyone with information relating to a fatal house fire that occurred in Maryborough last week.

Emergency services were called to reports of the fire at a residential property on Barr Street about 11.45am last Thursday February 13.

The fire was contained to the single-storey house where a male occupant died at the scene.

Two women, in their 30s and 60s, along with a 3-year-old child were treated at the scene for non-life-threatening injuries.

A 2-year-old child was airlifted to hospital in a serious condition.

A crime scene had been established and an arson chemist had attended the scene with the investigation remaining ongoing.

Anyone with information was urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

This story based on a Victoria Police report

Lyster Opera is returning to the historic Creswick Town Hall this April in a rousing new production of Mozart’s great comedy, The Abduction from the Seraglio.

Featuring a vibrant cast and all new sets and costumes, this is a fast paced romp with some of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s most demanding and exciting music.

Part of a wider tour of regional Victoria that also takes in towns like Charlton, Milawa, Castlemaine and Drysdale, the Saturday afternoon matinee performance at Creswick takes place April 26 from 2pm.

Lyster Opera derives its name from William Saurin Lyster (1828-1880), an Irish born entrepreneur who made it his mission to provide opera to the growing population of Australia.

Under Lyster’s auspices, Australians were given their first taste of operatic composers as diverse as Mozart, Donizetti, Auber, Meyerbeer and Wagner.

Local stars such as Marie Carandini and Fanny Simonsen brought these works to a new public.

Lyster’s extraordinary life and career were documented by Harold Love in his book The Golden Age of Australian Opera (Currency Press, 1981) and today the Melbourne suburb of Lysterfield is named in his honour. 

Tickets through TryBooking online and more details available through the Lyster Opera website.

Words: Eve Lamb. Image: Supplied

Keen-eyed koala scouts ahead for likely new home.  

There was great excitement recently, when this solitary koala was spotted atop one of the massive eucalypts fronting our house, much to the delight of the local children and their parents.  

Unfortunately, it was only a whistle-stop. After  a couple of days of scouring our local properties –  with a grunt and sigh he/she did a moonlight flit to ‘greener pastures’.  

This wasn’t the first koala experience we’ve had.  Our property includes an easement that runs right down to the old gold mines in Doctors Gully, and over the years we’ve encountered a few adventurous youngsters off to find a tree and a mate of their own.  

Garden queries for Issue 325:  Q. Hi Glen, Where have all the flowers gone? Not one of my rose bushes has flowered  this year, although they look healthy and have lots of leaves. What could be causing this? In previous years they have never failed to flower. – Sandra, Clunes  

A. Blame it on El Niño. And maybe a little too much care and attention? Roses  are fond of well-drained, compost rich soil and a little boost feed once the flowers are in bud. Any other time it all goes into the new growth… hence the lack of flowers.  

Another cause could be the use of a growth stimulating, nitrogen-rich fertiliser. I  must confess that we mis-judged the weather with our rose pruning this year – they  have responded with fewer flowers – and lanky long stems.  

Q. Is there such a thing as a salad tree? My neighbour said she read that there were fruit trees that bear more than one type of fruit on them. Is this possible, and if so, would  it be successful in our climate? – J.B. Kyneton  

A. Yes, the tree you are thinking of is known as a multi-grafted fruit tree, where several varieties of similar fruits are all grafted or budded to a parent tree. The most  common are nectarine and apricot.

ln the case of apples, pears and plums more than one variety is needed for pollination. The simple reason is to have more fruit varieties in a limited space. I am not too sure that they would suit our climate. You would  have to contact one of the wholesale specialist nurseries for an answer to that.  

Q. Glen, I started a strawberry patch last year and have had some very nice fruit this  season, but now they are sending out young plants all over the place. What should I do  with them? – Keith W, Creswick  

A. This is great. Leave them growing until they have established roots then cut them off at the plants. Plant them into pots of sandy soil mix and if you have the  space once they have established, extend your strawberry patch, or place them in large  pots.  

Your garden questions answered!  Simply email your enquiry to:  Garden queries c/o glenzgarden gmail.com. You should see your answer in the next edition of The Local