In late January 2017 an insignificant US Republican Party dogsbody named Kellyanne Conway earned long-lasting infamy and ridicule when she told television interviewer Chuck Todd on the Meet The Press program that clearly false claims made by newly elected president Donald Trump’s press secretary,  Sean Spicer, were not lies, or “falsehoods”, but “alternative facts”.  

It’s worth remembering that Conway trotted out her logic-defying statement in defense of a lie over a trivial matter.

Trump claimed the crowd at his inauguration ceremony in Washington, DC, was the biggest ever seen, which was a demonstrable lie.  

Call it an alternative fact, or “untruth”, if you want, but The Lie is the hallmark of the Trump era in US politics.

In 2021 the fact-checking unit of the Washington Post reported that, “By the end of his term, Trump had accumulated 30,573 untruths during his presidency – averaging about 21 erroneous claims a day.”  

One of the strategies mastered by Trump and those who serve him is to deny and lie whenever confronted by inconvenient facts, and, if all else fails, profess your devout Christian faith. If you keep the lies coming fast and fantastical, any media watchdogs that might choose to check them will be overwhelmed, and the 24-hour news cycle is such that yesterday’s lies will be buried under layers of new lies.  

In my 30-plus years living in Australia, it seems to me that political discourse throughout the layers of government was often heated, sometimes rancorous, but generally took place with a policy outcome in sight.

Admittedly, some of Paul Keating’s  withering takedowns of rivals were pure theatre: “The little desiccated coconut’s under pressure and he’s attacking anything he can get his hands on,” he said of Liberal leader  and future prime minister John Howard; and for another Libs leader, John Hewson, this: “He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up;” and for Howard’s treasurer,  Peter Costello, “He’s all tip and no iceberg.”  

A lot of Trump’s shameless, cruel, thuggish behaviour has found favour among certain types of people in Australia, and not just fools carrying Nazi flags. Still, I cannot  imagine an Australian politician showing such complete lack of human decency as he and his trolls have during the recent fires in southern California.  

While the fires raged, while firefighters and first-responders were on the ground,  risking their lives, while the people of Los Angeles and its surrounding suburbs  were in the midst of experiencing devastation and loss and heartbreak, Trump and his stooges were delivering a torrent of lies to gullible and subservient media about who supposedly was at fault for the ongoing disaster.

Their completely transparent intent was to score political advantage over Democrats and culture-war opponents in  positions of authority.  

Even before the fires ignited in Los Angeles, Trump was preparing an assault on California’s progressive Democratic political structure.

Here’s a statement he made in September while still on the campaign trail: “…and the reason you have no water, you have the canals, the reason you have no water is because [California Governor] Gavin  ‘Newscum’ [his surname is Newsome] didn’t want to do it. I had it all done … So you have millions of gallons of water pouring down from the north, with the snow caps in Canada, and it is all pouring down, and they have essentially a very large faucet, and you turn the faucet, and it takes a day to turn it, it takes one day to turn it, it’s massive,  it’s as big as the wall of that building right there behind you, and you turn that, and all of the water goes into the – aimlessly into the Pacific, and if they turned it back, all of that water would come right down here and right into Los Angeles … And you have so  much water. And all those fields that are right now barren, the farmers would have all the water they needed.”  

It sounds like the mad rambling of someone in the throes of dementia, but it’s part of the formula – surround the lies with gibberish and no one knows what to make of any of it. It almost sounds funny, the old fool trash talking about things that clearly  don’t exist.

But then his pet media pals pick it up, clean it up, and suddenly the focus isn’t on the victims but on supposed scapegoats: Democratic politicians; the Mayor of  Los Angeles, Karen Bass, a black woman; Kristin Crowley, the first openly LGBTIQA+  person to serve as Los Angeles fire chief; and a tiny endangered fish, the smelt.  

As Trump and his minions embraced and amplified the lies, officials who could have been working on recovery efforts, instead were forced to spend hours defending themselves from false accusations.  

On January 20, as he was taking the oath of office to become US president for a second term, Trump took a moment to further denigrate the people who battled the Los Angeles flames. “From weeks ago, without even a token of defense, they’re raging through the houses and communities.”  

“Without even a token of defense”, he said. I wonder how the thousands of first responders with boots on the ground, putting their lives on the line, feel about that.    

After many happy years living in Victoria and working at The Age,  journalist and former Wheatsheaf resident Jeff Glorfeld, and his wife  Carol, went back to California, the land of his birth, where in the past  seven years he has survived bushfires, snowstorms and drought. And  Trump. And Covid. And Trump again. The cicadas and locusts didn’t arrive. Well, not yet. Jeff is also the voice behind The Down Under Hour which is broadcast every Wednesday at 1pm, in California, on  radio KKRN 88.5FM. The show can be live-streamed at KKRN.org. In Victoria that’s 7am Thursday. Several programs have been archived on the website – well worth a look!  

A partnership of Ballarat’s leading organisations is calling for major investment in infrastructure that supports growth ahead of this year’s federal election.

Ballarat Now and Into the Future – Enabling Growth is a joint advocacy campaign between nine of Ballarat’s key organisations representing the health, education, tourism, commercial, local government and advocacy sectors. 

It identifies eight priority projects that are thought to be needed to support the future prosperity of Ballarat and Western Victoria and ensure Ballarat is prepared for future growth.

The eight projects are:

Enabling Community

• Eastwood Community Hub
• Wendouree Library and Learning Centre

Enabling Infrastructure

• Ballarat West Growth Area Housing and Growth Enabling Infrastructure
• Duplication of Dyson Drive

Enabling Regional Investment 

• Circular Economy Precinct
• Western Victoria Aviation Precinct Ballarat

Enabling Workforce and Economic Growth

• Ballarat Co-Operative Education and Skills City Centre
• Sovereign Hill Master Plan: Gold Vault

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves said the projects would deliver a broad range of economic and social benefits, ensuring Ballarat and the region can make the most of the opportunities presented by future population growth.

“Federal investment in these projects will help ensure Ballarat will grow in a way that allows our city and region’s economy to thrive, supports local business and creates jobs,” she said. 

“We need significant investment to build on our established strengths in tourism and higher education, to deliver essential community facilities for existing and future residents, enhance aeromedical services and commercial aviation and build the circular economy.

“We also need the roads, pipes and pumps that will fast track new housing needed to support growth.

“With support for these key projects, Ballarat is well placed to do more of the heavy lifting when it comes to population growth, easing pressure on metropolitan growth areas and generating economic growth and new opportunities for business in our city and western Victoria.”

Ballarat Now and Into the Future – Enabling Growth is proudly supported by nine Ballarat organisations:

• Australian Catholic University Ballarat
• Central Highlands Water
• City of Ballarat
• Commerce Ballarat
• Committee for Ballarat
• Federation University
• Grampians Health
• Sovereign Hill
• Tourism Midwest Victoria

Cr Hargreaves said the joint campaign would help ensure Ballarat’s priorities were well understood by all sides of politics in the lead up to the federal election, which is due before the end of May this year.

“As a collective, we speak on behalf of thousands of employees, businesses and most importantly, the residents of Ballarat and the region,” she said.

“Our united voice means our representatives and candidates can be in no doubt about Ballarat’s priorities and the projects that will enable growth and deliver the greatest benefit to our community.”

This story based on a City of Ballarat media release

By Donna Kelly  

Like many, our first Radio Springs experience was during their first week.  Ken and Jackie had opened during Easter and it was a disaster.  

Service was crap, food was late, no one seemed to know what was happening…  But still, it felt like our kind of place.  

So we gave it another try. And then another try. And then finally it was our place.  

We were Radio Springers.  What caught our eye was the fun, the eclectic experience, the bar where anything could, and would, happen.  

Ken was the maestro, Jackie was the perfect host, people like Simon, Julian and then Graeme, were the perfect bar people. Great with bar banter and great with whatever drop you preferred.  

The kitchen was always pumping. Chips from local spuds, my favourite of all time, the scallop salad reigned supreme, and Kyle found his best scotch fillet with multiple gravy and jus combinations. And plenty more.  

The late, great, David Wellings called it the Centre of the Universe, and it was.  We filmed a fun little piece, I don’t know why now, with some Daylesford locals  chanting: “Time travel, when do we want it? It doesn’t matter.” I kid you not.  

Strange things happen at that pub. Magic perhaps.  

Thanks to Radio Springs you are still reading The Local. It was early days and the cost of our print bill was killing us.  

We sat at the bar and wondered how we would continue. Then I looked down the  bar and slowly said: “You’re not Tony, are you?” And the guy said: “Donna?”  And we realised we had worked together on the Frankston Standard, before Leader days, in the 1980s.

And we told Tony about our printer issues and he told us about an affordable printer and we were away again. The magic of Radio Springs.  

Another time we were sitting there and Kyle said to some bloke: “You’re not Grubby (from radio) are you? and he said:”That’s my brother.” And it turned out to  be my late uncle’s best friend whose daughter had just bought in Glenlyon. Talk about the six degrees of seperation.  And so much more.  

Kyle spent many days over many months working with the late Don Breen,  another great bloke. They worked on the generator and Don shared plenty of  knowledge with Kyle. Slowly changing him from his usual “rip, shit, bust” to a more  methodical way of working.  

He also taught Kyle to worry less. Kyle called Don his “Daylesford Dad”. Sweet.  

With The Local we have covered so many events from car club gatherings to the longest lashes, from the opening of the Henri Langlois Screening Room to Toga parties. Always wild and wacky.  

Of course, not everyone got Radio. You could sit at the bar and watch people come in and they were either in the “I love this” camp or the “how odd” camp.

The lovers lingered and came back again and again, the odd ones drank up their wine or  beer as quickly as possible and drove off in search of a pub with televisions, perhaps  pokies, and maybe not someone behind the bar, looking a little like Tim Finn,  wearing a suit with a vest and tie.  

But despite all the big memories I think most of all I will miss just heading over on a Thursday or a Sunday arvo, pulling up a chair or a barstool and just shooting the breeze with whoever is behind the bar, whichever local has turned up, or one of  the “lovers” who has pulled in on a whim and randomly found the Centre of the Universe. And get it.  

Radio Springs is just one of those magical pubs where things happen. And you never know if you will end up friends with the republicans but it has happened. And that is just lovely. Ken and Jackie are now our friends, and we feel very lucky to have them in our lives. Even though they went and closed our favourite pub! Just sayin’..  

Mostly I charge my Tesla at home with a normal 10-amp plug, which means I  wake up in the morning with a full tank. That way I am ready to traverse the plethora of potholes we refer to as roads around the Hepburn Shire.  

But I got caught short a little the other day and found myself at the Daylesford Town Hall’s charger. I guess I should have picked up on the clue, which was the spider webs around the handle of the charger, meaning no one had been there for  a while.

It clearly wasn’t working and on further investigation it had been dead the whole time, well before Christmas right through to mid-January.  

While parked in the non-operational charging bay I noticed that out from under the barrier around the Town Hall renovations white liquid with paint flakes was pouring all over the footpath and flowing into the drains.

It was clearly coming from the works behind the screen and my guess was they were water blasting the paint off.  

And although on mere battery fumes I thought it my civic duty to report it to the council. To  council’s credit the fix was almost immediate, in the form of a guy with a hose blasting away the  evidence into the drains. WTF…  

Now the only other charger in the immediate area is at the Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve,  which has two charging stalls but only one fitting suitable for a Tesla. So I limped along, by this time on four per cent battery capacity.

Luckily, a fellow  who had just plugged in and was about to enjoy a two-hour treatment at the Bathhouse, gave me his spot. Thank you kind sir.  

I bought the Tesla before Elon turned into even a bigger wanker than he was by  joining Trump and making a Nazi salute at the president’s inauguration last Monday.  

But I do think there is noticeably a lot more electric and hybrid cars on the road. In fact, over 120,000 EVs or non-ICE (internal combustion engine) cars were purchased  by Australians last year.  

Surely it’s time to do a bit better around the Hepburn Shire, where even in terms of tourists trying to come for a holiday, range anxiety is a huge issue.  

We have the land and I am sure there are a lot of grants around; besides tourism is a huge economic driver and our local economy is flailing.

For those in the world of EVs, charging is everything, destination charges such as the 50 amp at the bathhouse or the one in the main street of Daylesford (which doesn’t even rate a mention on the  Plugshare app) are okay if you are having a bit of lunch and you plan to be at a place for two to three hours.  

But we need a bank of serious superchargers somewhere in the Hepburn Shire,  ones that deliver 250–500 watts for a full charge in 20 minutes.  

We need this infrastructure not only so we can embrace the change to electric  and give locals choice as to what cars they have. We also need this infrastructure to  literally drive tourists up here.

I feel like all the amazing work that has been done by local businesses and various tourist affiliations over the years to create our village destinations will go to waste if we don’t keep up. EV rant over…  

Detectives from the Financial Crime Squad have charged five people and seized four luxury vehicles worth over $600,000 as part of an investigation into fraudulent loan applications allegedly submitted to obtain the vehicles.

Investigators will allege those involved were using fraudulent identity documents to submit loan applications to financial institutions to purchase high end vehicle which were then on sold for profit.

Over the course of the six-month investigation, four luxury vehicles have been seized, including:

• An Audi RS7 valued at $219,880

• A Toyota Landcruiser valued at $144,990

• A Land Rover Defender $159,990

• A Mercedes Benz C Class AMG valued at $98,000.

Police yesterday executed search warrants in Wollert.

A 54-year-old Wollert woman was charged with two counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception.

A 28-year-old Wollert man was charged with two counts knowingly deal with the proceeds of crime.

The duo was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court tomorrow, 3 February.

A 27-year-old Donnybrook man was charged with three counts of knowingly deal with the proceeds of crime. He will be summonsed to a filing hearing.

Four search warrants were previously executed in Wollert on 5 November 2024, Tullamarine and Craigieburn on 15 November 2024 and Donnybrook on 13 December 2024.

A 26-year-old Wollert man was charged 1 January with obtaining financial advantage by deception.

A 23-year-old Roxburgh Park man was charged on 1 January with obtaining financial advantage by deception.

The duo will appear at Broadmeadows’ Magistrates Court on 12 May.

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

Detective Sergeant Thomas McGowan, Financial Crime Squad: “These people were living an extravagant lifestyle on stolen funds. Not only were they gaining profit from the loans, but they were also further ripping people off by selling vehicles that had been purchased as proceeds of crime.

“What could have been someone’s dream car has turned out to be a nightmare.”

This story based on a Victoria Police report

Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives are investigating following a fatal collision that happened in the Ballarat suburb of Wendouree last week.

Emergency services were called to Creswick Road where a ute and motorbike collided about 6am last Thursday, January 30.

The rider, a 50-year-old Brown Hill man, died at the scene.

The driver of the ute, a 38-year-old Miners Rest man, was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Investigations are ongoing into the circumstances of the collision.

Anyone who witnessed the collision, has dashcam/CCTV footage or information was urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

For the current provisional lives lost tally please see https://www.police.vic.gov.au/road-safety-0

This story based on a Victoria Police report

The Art Gallery of Ballarat will close in March to prepare for extensive interior upgrades that will enable the gallery to display more works from its permanent collection and secure international exhibitions.  

From today (February 3), de-installation of some temporary exhibitions including Medieval to Metal will begin, and some galleries will close, while the permanent collection remains on display and open to the public.

From Monday, 3 March the Art Gallery of Ballarat will close entirely. It is anticipated that it will re-open in early 2026.  

Once closed, the de-installation of the permanent collection will take place ahead of stage one of the works. The first stage includes interior wall lining enhancement which will enable dynamic displays of artworks at varying heights, allowing more of the 11,500 permanent collection artworks to be displayed.

Additionally, as part of the State Government’s Regional Collections Access Program, a $536,707 upgrade of the building’s skylights to energy efficient LED panels will also occur. With the correct lighting conditions, the gallery can display more works on paper which are sensitive to light and UV.

Integral to the program of works is the installation of a new Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system.  

The $5.5 million project, funded by the City of Ballarat, will replace the existing HVAC system which is at end-of-life. A new state-of-the-art HVAC system that meets international museum standards is essential for securing the best international exhibitions and loans of significance. Refurbishment of both the passenger and freight lifts will also take place.

In 2024 the State Government announced funding of $388,850 for the Art Gallery of Ballarat to complete a Master Plan that will drive the ambitious future direction of the Art Gallery of Ballarat. The 2025 interior upgrade works are an integral part of the long-term plan.  

While closed, back-of-house staff will work on much needed collection digitisation and documentation, as well as forward planning. Front-of-house staff will be re-deployed to other projects along with off-site programs and activities.  Examples include:  

• The Gallery Shop pop-up at 50 Lydiard Street, Nth (formerly Evans Bakery)  
• Backspace exhibition program to continue at 43 Mair Street off-site venue  
• NextGen 2025, which showcases the best student art from the Ballarat region, taking place at GovHub  
• Further off-site education and public program activities to be announced  

Art Gallery of Ballarat Director Louise Tegart said she understood that a closure was disappointing for those who love visiting regularly, but that the interior upgrades are essential to maintain operations and would result in more compelling experiences.  

“Home to more than 11,500 works, the Art Gallery of Ballarat holds the most significant permanent collection in regional Australia. The interior upgrades project will allow us to better display rarely seen paintings, sculptures and works on paper,” Ms Tegart said.    

“Most importantly, replacing the HVAC system, which is at end of life, will ensure that we comply with the strict environmental standards required to host international exhibitions and also preserve our incredible collection.

“The Art Gallery of Ballarat is the oldest regional gallery in Australia, founded in 1884. We are so proud of our heritage, and we know these capital works will ensure our future programming meets international standards and expectations of our community.”  

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Tracey Hargreaves said the Art Gallery of Ballarat delivered enormous cultural and visitor economy impact and the works would further enhance its role in Ballarat’s community and tourism sectors.    

“The interior works and upgraded HVAC system will ensure the Art Gallery of Ballarat’s team is able to secure iconic loans from respected institutions and put on blockbuster shows that will engage our community, attract tourists and contribute to our economy,” Cr Hargreaves said.  

“In 2023-24 the Art Gallery of Ballarat had 150,607 visitors through its doors and had an estimated economic impact of $46 million. Once these works are completed, we expect the impact to be bolstered further.” 

This story based on a City of Ballarat media release

The Glenlyon Progress Association will present the first in its Music at the Hall series with UK duo Dan Webster and Emily Lawler performing on Saturday, February 8.  

Dan and Emily bring to the stage a unique blend of country/Americana fused  with folk and roots from both sides of the Atlantic – ‘Anglicana’, it has been called.  

Thier music features a combination of distinctive warm and powerful vocals and guitar interlaced with a dexterous meld of celtic and country-style fiddling and beautiful harmonies.

Their last two Australian tours captivated folkies and country fans alike through upbeat energising tunes and introspective ballads.

Apparently they cannot wait to be back again.  

Doors open at 6pm with music from the Glenlyon Ukelele Group starting at 7pm.  

Tickets are $30 plus a booking fee. Food and drink available for purchase with complimentary tea and coffee.  

All profits go towards “enahancing the hall experience”.  

Details: Bronwyn at bronwynjr icloud.com or 0409 400 281. There are limited  seats available so pre-booking is recommended.  

Tickets: www.events.humanitix.com/live-music-in-the-hall

Got some music news to share? Email donna tlnews.com.au  

Highway Patrol officers have charged a man after a woman was left with life-threatening injuries following a crash that happened in Kilmore on Wednesday, 22 January.

It is alleged the driver of a Mitsubishi SUV was travelling along Kilmore East Road when they left the roadway and crashed into a tree about 8pm.

The driver, a 29-year-old Kilmore East man, fled the scene.

The passenger, a 38-year-old Kilmore woman, was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries where she remained in a stable condition at the time a police report was issued last week.

The Kilmore East man was located and arrested by police after he self-presented to hospital where he remained under police guard at the time a police report was issued last week.

He had been charged with:

• drive manner dangerous causing serious injury

• drive in a manner dangerous

• careless driving

• fail to render assistance

• unlicensed driving

• fail to keep left of dividing lane

He was remanded to appear at Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on 30 April.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or the vehicle prior to the crash, has dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

This story based on a Victoria Police report

Who are the people behind the redevelopment of Phoenix Cinema at The Rex?  

For Jules McDonald this all began when she was a small child. She saw Bambi  with her parents in their hometown, Meeniyan, near Fish Creek in South Gippsland.  

“It was very exciting going to see a movie,” she remembers. “There was a huge  screen and the kids sat down the front. As I was quite little, I had to have a sleep in  the afternoon before going.”  

Then there was boarding school where films were the Saturday night  entertainment, everyone looked forward to. Classics such as The Importance of Being  Earnest, helped form her enthusiasm which was furthered by frequenting Carlton’s  storied ‘Bughouse’ cinema and the Australian Film Festival at the Longford cinema in  South Yarra.

Since moving to Daylesford 35 years ago, Jules looks forward to trips to  Melbourne which usually include a movie at Westgarth or Nova cinemas.  

More for young people  

While working as a social worker with Child and Family Services Daylesford  she became aware of the lack of social and cultural opportunities for young people  in town.

Then as a youth development officer with the Hepburn Shire Council  around 2003, Jules gathered some young people together and they spent a weekend  imagining what they would like Daylesford to be for young people.

 “The young people wanted to transform The Rex from being a bargain basement  shop back to being a cinema with associated activities.

They envisaged a bowling alley,  shops and a restaurant that would also offer hospitality training. There were also to be  spaces available to lease as shops.  

“The owner of the building was interested and wanted to make a sizeable  donation.” During school holidays 10 students went to see cinemas around Victoria  and New South Wales, returning inspired.  

New designs  

Student Michael Huggard drew up a plan for the cinema building, bowling alley, hospitality hub and shops. Richard Spence, a local businessman, helped the group  develop a business plan.  

Council support was needed for the plan as funding was to be sought for the education and training opportunities envisaged. But the council did not provide this  support, which was a devastating blow to the group and the plans could not go ahead.  

The skatepark that was envisaged and designed by young people went ahead together  with several successful “Small Day Out” youth festivals.  The cinema development plan came to life again in 2015 when Loretta Little, a  local community activist, decided to get a group together and raise money to kick it  off.

Linda Carroll became the first president of the community-run cinema and later Gina Lyons took over. Gina, described by Jules as a “powerhouse,” did a fantastic job of running the  cinema helped by a wonderful committee and great group of volunteers, from 2015  to 2018. While paying a commercial rent the cinema was able to make a respectable  profit.  

Down the drain  

All went well until the fateful council decision to buy the property for its offices  and a public lavatory (readers may know of Clochemerle, the satirical French novel about the furore when a mayor wants to put a public urinal in the middle of town, next to the church).

In Daylesford 1000 people signed a petition calling for the return  of the cinema.  The council realised its mistake and committed to building a new cinema upstairs  in The Rex.

The council demolished the old cinema and built the shell of a new  cinema upstairs. But this work stopped when costs blew out and the council then  decided to sell the building.  

As the cinema had no home in the foreseeable future, the committee sold  equipment that was likely to be outdated and kept what could be safely stored at  no cost.

The seats were sold because storage would have been expensive. Because  many seats had been bought by community members their name plaques have been  retained so that they can go on new seats when the cinema reopens. Money from sale  of property went to the cinema bank account.  

The future  

That was then. Now, heading the Daylesford Cinema Group, Jules is energetically  leading the campaign to bring back the much-loved cinema in The Rex.

A public  meeting led to community consultation and the formation of a new committee to  restore cinema to Daylesford. The committee explored potential sites for the cinema but concluded that  the only appropriate site and the natural home for the cinema is The Rex.

The Comelli and Bromley families, as new owners of the building, are open to a cinema  development using the cinema shell built upstairs by the council. The committee  encouraged several commercial cinema developers to submit expressions of interest,  but the size of the population meant that this was not commercially viable.  

Chris Jones, a Ballarat cinema enthusiast who has developed several commercial  cinemas, encouraged the committee to pursue the project on a community-run basis  and has provided generous help and support.

Following a successful negotiation with the new owners of the building, a  campaign began, seeking volunteers and funding. “There has been a great response  from a wide range of highly skilled people, with different teams now hard at it.”  

This is the first in a contributed series on people behind the campaign to bring back The Rex.  

with Eve Lamb

Clunes’ Christine Lethlean is renowned for her beautiful textile work and well known through her role as a textiles art tutor and regional  co-ordinator for the biennial Textile Palette exhibition held at Clunes’  Warehouse. But this talented 3D conceptual artist is equally at home working with media spanning print, sculpture, paint and lead to create  works that constantly push her own creative boundaries in a quest to elicit in others a desire to look more closely.  

Eve: Hi Christine, what are you working on there?  

Christine: This sculpture is a 3D depiction of my own hands. I’m using papier mache and I will paint it and then add a rust treatment so that it looks metallic.  

Eve: Once it’s completed will it be able to be displayed outdoors?  

Christine: Yes. It will be suitable for display outdoors. Right now I’m doing the undercoat. I’m aiming to capture all the imperfections of my own hands, things like wrinkles and sunspots.  

Over the past 22 months I have been creating work focusing on the ageing woman, body shape, and the concept of letting go of what was and moving into what is. Work I have produced as part of this project was exhibited in several different exhibitions last year including at the fortyfivedownstairs gallery in Melbourne and at Oxygen College in Ballarat, and I’m continuing with this  project.  

Eve: What sort of work has this ongoing project included so far?  

Christine: It has included making a full-scale cast of my own body, working  predominantly in papier-mache using layers and layers of tissue paper, but also  using electrical duct tape and plaster cast. It’s my first ever full-scale life-sized  sculpture.

It’s called How Did I Get Here? and it’s concerned with the issue of homelessness that’s impacting more and more middle-aged and older women in our community. My daughters, who are both creative, have helped me with this project by  taking photos of me because the work is based on my body.

The girls take the  photos of me and then I work it up. But I’m also working with textiles, painting – I prefer acrylics, printing, graphite and charcoal for drawing. All of what I use in my work is recycled.  

Eve: Do you have any special events or exhibitions coming up?  

Christine: Yes. I will have work in a show called Threaded that will be running for three weeks at Caelene Nee Glen Gallery in Brighton opening February 20. It runs to March 9.

I will probably have six or seven pieces in that, predominantly  textiles. It will involve four textile artists. Three of us are from regional Victoria and one is from Melbourne.

Eve: Do you have any preferred subject matter?  

Christine: Portraiture, landscape, even abstract. But I also do a lot of still-life.  Still-life but really moody…  

Eve: Have you ever worked in any other field?  

Christine: Yes. In a former life I was a health professional, a registered nurse. I was brought up on a farm in Western Australia’s eastern wheatbelt. We learned how  to make something out of nothing. I’ve always had an eye for aesthetics. I’m very  privileged now but I’ve had a difficult and challenging life.  

Eve: What area of nursing have you worked in?  

Christine: Aboriginal health, mental health, drugs and alcohol. I’ve learnt to walk with people.  

Eve: And you teach art as well don’t you?  

Christine: Yes, I teach people how to create a masterful art piece using textiles and  scraps. I have my studio here in Clunes where I teach on Mondays and Wednesdays,  and I also really like to regularly invite guest artists in for special workshops as well.  Every January I do printing classes – woodcut, linocut, monotype printing.  

But I also teach all over the place. This year I’ll be teaching in Melbourne, Ballan,  Broken Hill, Adelaide, Mildura, probably Geelong…  

I do like to teach. I think curiosity is a quality that is so underrated. When  something is giving you the shits you’ve got to get to a space where if something  hasn’t worked you just ask ‘well, what happens if I do that instead?’.  

I’m always working on projects that stress the shit out of me. But you’ve got to  make mistakes because it pushes you into new parameters.  

Police are appealing for information as they investigate a fatal collision that occurred in Gisborne earlier in the week.

Emergency services were called to Bacchus Marsh where a car and motorbike collided about 6.20am on Tuesday (January 28)

A male mtorbiker rider died at the scene. The male driver of the car had stopped at the scene.

He was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Investigations were ongoing into the circumstances of the collision.

Anyone who witnessed the collision, has dashcam/CCTV footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

For the current provisional lives lost tally see https://www.police.vic.gov.au/road-safety-0

This story based on a Victoria Police report

This year’s Australian Open will officially go down as the biggest ever, drawing a record crowd of more than 1.2 million tennis fans passing through the gates during an exhilarating three weeks of competition in the state’s capital.

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos during the week celebrated the completion of another spectacular Australian Open in Melbourne, highlighted by the triumph of men’s singles winner Jannik Sinner and women’s singles winner Madison Keys.

Surpassing the previous attendance record set just last year, daily attendance records continued to be broken throughout the tournament, culminating in last year’s overall record being exceeded on day 14 of the main draw.

The huge influx of interstate and overseas visitors has been a boon for accommodation across Melbourne with STR (Smith Travel Research) confirming 93 per cent of all hotel rooms were booked on Saturday 18 January, the midway point of the tournament.

The 2024 Australian Open generated more than $533 million in economic benefits for the state, with this year’s edition set to top that figure and add to the $3.14 billion the Open has generated for the Victorian economy over the past decade.

Victoria’s major event calendar will keep rolling with more blockbuster sporting action as the MCG makes history, hosting its first ever day-night Test match with Australia taking on England in the CommBank Women’s Ashes Test match that got under way on Thursday and runs through to tomorrow (February 2).

The single Test match is the culmination of the Women’s Ashes which is a multi-format, point-based series made up of three ODIs, three T20Is and one Test. 

The Ashes Test match is the first women’s Test played at the MCG since 1948-49 and is celebrating the 90^th anniversary of the inaugural women’s Test series between Australia and England in 1934-35.

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos: “This year’s Australian Open has broken records with over a million tennis fans flocking to Melbourne Park to witness the world’s best tennis players, and many millions more watching at home as we showcase Victoria to the world.” 

“We’re the major events capital of Australia because of world class events like the Australian Open, they bring thousands of visitors to Melbourne, filling hotels and boosting businesses across the state.”

This story based on a state government media release

with Marita McGuirk

On a hot day in January, a bushwalker was enjoying a walk along one of the Hepburn Shire tracks when he saw a koala sitting at the base of a tree.

It was mid-afternoon, an unusual time to see a koala on the ground, as they are nocturnal and usually stay in their tree and sleep throughout the day.

So, he went over to see if the koala was hurt. It was a large animal, panting rapidly and clearly unwell. A healthy koala would quickly try to get away from an approaching human by climbing the nearest tree, but this koala remained sitting.

As the bushwalker was concerned for the koala’s safety he phoned the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter.

Trevor, a wildlife rescuer, was contacted to go and pick up the koala. This meant walking for an hour to the site where the koala was located, and then carefully picking up the koala and carrying it for an hour back along the track.

This was no small effort as it was a large male. Rescuing a koala is a specialised task as they have very strong sharp claws, and a frightened animal can bite.

Trevor is very experienced and was able to pick up the large koala and carry him for an hour back to his car and then on to the shelter.

At the shelter Jon Rowdon had to clear out an enclosure for the koala, meanwhile Gayle Chappell conducted a health assessment and concluded that the koala was very dehydrated and possibly blind in one eye.

Gayle put the koala into the ICU and gave him rehydration fluids.

The koala spent the night in the ICU, where his condition was closely monitored, and the following day he was moved to his enclosure to recuperate.

Gayle is hoping to get an animal eye specialist to come and assess the koala’s damaged eye and, in the meantime, he is in safe hands.

Marita McGuirk is a field ecologist and environmental scientist, and a volunteer at the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter. Marita will write monthly columns about the shelter and the animals it cares for. If you would like to donate or volunteer, or just for more information, head to www.hepburnwildlifeshelter.org

As part of Hepburn Shire Council’s budget savings measures, Trentham and Clunes libraries will no longer open to the public on Saturday mornings from March.  

Acting Council CEO Bruce Lucas said that the decision to not open the two libraries on Saturday mornings was made after careful consideration of usage and borrowing rates, and aimed to minimise disruption to the community.  

“As we worked on developing our Financial Vision, we carefully examined each council service to identify potential efficiencies. As we move forward with this effort,  we expect to make ongoing adjustments to our services to ensure they are more  efficient and cost-effective for our community.  

“The adjustments we’re making to our library operations will allow us to operate  more efficiently and offer services in a cost-effective manner, focusing on peak demand  times.

“Saturday mornings are our least busy times at our Trentham and Clunes sites.”  

The council will continue to have two libraries open to the public on Saturday mornings at Daylesford and Creswick.  

Meanwhile, the council has received a grant to expand community access to its four libraries beyond opening hours through the Open Access Libraries initiative, which allows library members to upgrade their membership to access library buildings beyond regular opening hours in the absence of onsite staff.

“This initiative supports our community to utilise their local library at a time that  suits them most. It aims to increase their opportunities to learn and share knowledge,” Mr Lucas said.  

“The extended hours will suit families to come and enjoy their love of reading, students to study, and our community to access knowledge and learning outside our regular library hours.”  

Council will roll out Open Access Libraries from March starting with the Trentham library, and then introduce the program at Clunes, Creswick and  Daylesford.  

Library members will be invited to participate in a comprehensive induction program to upgrade their library membership.

This will grant them exclusive access to facilities during non-operational hours, from 8am to 8pm, seven days per week, including public holidays.