The Regional Community Vet Clinic has secured a permanent home for its clinic.      

The Castlemaine clinic, which will be wholly owned by RCVC, is the first not for-profit community veterinary clinic in regional Victoria.

Co-founder and director Robyn Slattery said the site had been found after a long  search for a suitable and affordable property and lengthy negotiations with funders.

The property previously housed a retail nursery.

It is hoped to have the clinic open one day per week in the first quarter of 2025, providing preventative veterinary services to financially disadvantaged residents who are recipients of a government support payment.      

Since 2022 the clinic has held monthly pop-up clinics de-sexing cats, providing dental and general health checks and, in June for the first time, a de-sexing clinic for dogs.

It has also offered an outreach program, assisting older members of the  community to keep their companion animals at home and assisting with emergency care for pets whose older owners require unplanned emergency hospital stays.      

The clinic, a volunteer-run organisation, is now reaching out to community members, businesses and individuals who can offer in-kind or financial support towards the renovation and fit-out costs for the clinic.

Any donation over $2 is tax deductible.      

The clinic’s operator and supporters believe companion animals play a vital role in the welfare and overall well-being of residents in regional communities and aims to reduce isolation and build social cohesion, while improving the lives of companion animals.      

To help those interested can call 0493 447 394 or email info   rcvc.org.au      

Coming up this month, Daylesford Regional Arts Co-operative’s From Behind Closed Doors fundraising art exhibition promises to be a treat for anyone who loves original art.   

Launching Thursday evening, September 26   with a special auction event, and running through to   Sunday, September 29, the exhibition is raising funds   for Backpack Bed for Homeless Australia.

“Our goal is to raise at least $1000 for Backpack   Homeless Australia,” says Daylesford Regional Arts   Co-operative treasurer, Glenlyon-based artist Pam   Gleeson, one of the member artists with work on   show, pictured above.   

“There are a lot of homeless people out there and   it’s getting worse. Really, it could happen to anyone   and there are people in this area who are homeless. It’s   about giving back to the community.”   

The exhibition is free to attend and is being staged   in Daylesford’s Stanbridge Hall at 54 Central Springs   Road, offering the chance to snap up some fine   original artworks by members of the co-operative.   

But the event offers quite a lot more, with a   children’s art workshop led by artist Sandy Angliss   being offered on Friday, September 27, and an   adults’ art workshop with artist Jennifer England representing a great opportunity to learn and get   creative on Sunday, September 29.   

Pam says the opening night event, a ticketed event   at $20 per person, is not to be missed as it will feature   the fundraising auction with dollars raised going to   the cause and many donated items going under the   hammer.   

“We’ve got Cr Lesley Hewitt doing the official   opening and we have wonderful items that have been donated by our generous   sponsors and are being auctioned, including a four-course lunch for two at Lake   House,” says Pam.   

“We also have some wonderful spa bathing experiences for two, wine gift packs   and an accommodation package.   

“The auction will be conducted by our auctioneer, Mick Winter and we will also   have an art auction of one artwork from each participating artist.”   

The Thursday evening opening event will also feature music by Silverjam, nibbles   and drinks, while Sunday will feature artists’ talks.

Pam says 13 artist members of the co-operative will be represented, with each   showing up to 10 works as part of the exhibition which is now hoped to become an   annual fixture on the calendar.   

The co-operative was formed to enable local artists to join a group of like-minded   people, offering support and the chance to exhibit works on a regular basis.   

Pam says that over the past couple of years they’ve had several successful pop-up   exhibitions but now aim to have a major exhibition at least once a year.   

Tickets to the opening night event are available on Eventbrite but will also be   available at the door with more information through www.daylesfordarts.com.au   

Words & image: Eve Lamb    

While most are content to pit their wits against the latest Wordle or tackle the crossword in their local newspaper, not so Daylesford’s Arlo Schwarz Deakin.   

The year 11 student at Daylesford College has gone a step further, not only solving but also creating original crossword puzzles for others to solve.   

Also a keen budding musician who plays bass and double bass with a particular appreciation for jazz, Arlo says his recent new obsession for setting crossword puzzles grew out of trying to keep boredom at bay.   

“I’ve been heading to Castlemaine in the afternoons   because my sister does the circus over there and my grandmother is there. My grandmother gets The Age in paper form and so it’s something to do to pass the time waiting for my sister to finish her class.   

“My dad and my grandmother were always really good at getting the cryptic ones. The cryptics are a bit more mathematical in a sense. They’re kind of like equations and I’ve always been interested in things like that, which test your brain a bit.   

“My auntie came from Spain and she’s very good at them too. She says it’s the most fun waste of time and I think that’s kind of the beauty of them, the fact that they’re pointless and a waste of time but somehow can still be fulfilling.”   

In moving on to actually devising crosswords himself, Arlo was also much inspired by the work of word-umpire and anagram-meister ABC Radio’s David Astle.   

Astle is well known for his work as The Dictionary Guy on SBS’s Letters and Numbers and as creator of his DA crosswords in Friday’s Age.   

“I was inspired by David Astle and his clue construction, whilst around my grandmother’s kitchen   table. I make quicks and cryptics so I can cover a range of puzzle-solving skill sets,” Arlo says.   

“I can never do any David Astle clues because they’re just too outlandish but I’ve got a book by him.   

“I’ve sent a few that I’ve done off to him…but I haven’t heard back what he thinks of them yet.”   

Devising devious clues for cryptic crosswords is especially satisfying for the talented local wordsmith, as is sourcing lesser-used and unusual words in the lexicon – like “kibosh” for example.   

“Recently I’ve made some crosswords for (English   teacher) Amanda DeClifford to put into Words in Winter as well as other school-related publications,” Arlo says.   

“I’m planning to make a little zine myself. We’ve got the printers here at school so I can print as much as I want and just put them around the place.   

“Clueing is the hardest part. I immediately spent my budget on the software that they use and it’s pretty incredible. You can fill the grid pretty easily if you’ve got   a few cool words you’ve thought of.

“That’s another good thing about them, you extend your vocabulary a lot.”   

Arlo is now keen to find a remunerative outlet for his crosswords.

He says any media outlets out there that may be in need of a good crossword offering for their   readers or subscribers are more than welcome to get in contact with him and see if some mutually beneficial arrangement might be found.   

“Anyone who wants to publish them regularly, that would be cool. I think my rates will be very reasonable,” he says.   

“I really should try to get some people to try and publish them. I’m really just making them now for fun.  I’ve made a few.   

“I’m not sure how many other people are setting crosswords and David Astle’s going to have to retire at   some point.”   

Those who think they may be able to offer Arlo an outlet for his talents can get in contact at arloautumnus@gmail.com   

Words & Image: Eve Lamb    

Candidates ready to stand in the upcoming Hepburn Shire Council election are being urged to use the Victorian Electoral Commission’s newly refreshed  Candidate Helper to get their applications ready for submission as nominations opened this Monday, September 9.

Electoral Commissioner Sven Bluemmel said there were several important steps candidates must complete before nominating.   

“If you want to represent your local community, make sure to confirm your eligibility and complete the mandatory online candidate training through Local Government Victoria before lodging your nomination,” he said.

“This rule applies to all candidates including those who are currently, or have previously been, a councillor.”   

The VEC’s online Candidate Helper at www.vec.vic.gov.au/council-candidate allows intending candidates to pre-fill their nomination forms before submitting them at their nomination appointment.

Candidates can also watch a series of videos on key topics such as the nomination process, including the rules and procedures that apply.

More information is available   online at www.vec.vic.gov.au. The Candidate Handbook is also available on the VEC  website.

Prospective candidates had also been encouraged to attend the candidate information sessions held in each electorate before this week’s opening of nominations.   

Prospective candidates must make an appointment to submit their nomination forms and pay the $250 fee in person during business hours.   

They must provide evidence that they have completed the online candidate training, as this is required by law and will be shown on each candidate’s nomination form.

Candidates must make an appointment to submit their nomination form in person at the election office.

From Monday, September 9 candidates can call 131 832 and they will be directed  through to the relevant election office.

Nominations close at noon on Tuesday, September 17. Late nominations will not be accepted.

More information on nominating is available at www.vec.vic.gov.au        

Daylesford’s Big Rainbow will be returned to its original glory after it is painted in December.   

A Hepburn Shire Council spokesperson said the council had scheduled some minor repairs and full painting of the rainbow “so it is looking its best for the next ChillOut event”.

Quotations for the works close this week.   

The move comes after a number of people, including ChillOut Festival committee members, said the Rainbow, at Victoria Park, was started to looking a little tired.   

Committee member Tom Shaw, pictured above with fellow member Nell Simpson, said it was time for the Rainbow to be restored, with bits of paint peeling off along with some strips of timber coming away from the structure.   

“It came with a budget for maintenance but originally it was built for Sydney so  maybe it was never designed to withstand Daylesford weather and temperatures,” Tom said.   

“But it is pretty embarrassing for ChillOut especially, with a big sign saying ‘Big Rainbow in here’ and then it’s really a bit of a white elephant.”   

Tom said the Big Rainbow had pretty much failed to sparkle from day one.   

“It’s a bit dull and while it might have sparkled on one side, it didn’t on the other and that’s the one people see and get their photo taken in front of.   

“It is certainly in decline now and in need of maintenance and having some money spent on it.”   

Tom said quite a few people in the community had told him they had brought friends to see the Rainbow and many were underwhelmed.

“It is something we really need to be proud of in our little rainbow community here – but it just doesn’t sparkle. And it’s only in its first year – it won’t make many more at this rate.”   

A Hepburn Shire Council spokesperson said the council was monitoring the condition of the Big Rainbow which includes a full structural engineering assessment every six months, as was recommended at the time of installation.   

They said with some of the deterioration of the timber panelling, the repair works were being bought forward to minimise any further deterioration. The repairs will be   followed by complete repainting of the rainbow.   

A Tinder spokesperson said the council were responsible for the upkeep.

“We have been in recent comms with them and they are actively looking into this right now.”

Voting for the placement of Tinder’s Big Rainbow closed in June 2022. The final town choices were Daylesford, Hay, Broome and Katherine.

Daylesford was announced as the winner in October 2022.   

Words: Donna Kelly. Images: Eve Lamb    

Prepare to be swept away by the magic of the viola da gamba  at Christ Church, Daylesford, on Saturday, September 21 from  2.30pm.

Consortium – Laura Vaughan, Laura Moore, Reidun Turner, Ruth Wilkinson and Victoria Watts – is a band of Australia’s finest viola da gamba players to explore the rich repertoire for viol consort.  

The viola da gamba is often just called the ‘viol’. When different sizes of viols are grouped together it’s called a consort, and this is where the name Consortium comes from.  

Having all met at different times through the Early Music Studio at the University of Melbourne, the musicians share a love of the viol and the  beauty and crystalline purity of the traditional repertoire for viol consort.  

The 2024 program Highs and Lows will highlight the rarely heard voice of the double bass viol, the violone.

The extensive spectrum of the viola  da gamba consort – from the ethereal whispers of the treble to the rich,  resonant hum of the bass, and the profound depths of the violone – are  enticing.  

Ensembles of a family of instruments, such as the viola da gamba,  playing contrapuntal lines of polyphonic music with no real hierarchy,  extended from shortly before the middle of the 16th century until nearly the  end of the 17th century.

This would become known by the name still used  today – consort music.  

The performance will present Renaissance gems by William Byrd,  Thomas Lupo, Tobias Hume, John Dowland, Martin Pearson, Mr Pickforth,  Thomas Weelkes, Christopher Tye, Orlando Gibbons and Henry Purcell.  

Viol Juice, composed by Sydney based composer and performer Alice Chance, will be a highlight of this performance.  

Link: www.trybooking.com/eventlist/christchurchconcerts  

Locals considering their options for remaining at home as they age are  being invited to a public information session on the Home Care Package program.  

Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health will hold the information session on  Wednesday, September 25 at 1.30pm in Kyneton.

To book your place, or to find out more, those interested can call 5421 6061 or email hcp@scchc.org.au.

Services provided include personal care, gardening, meal preparation, escorted transport services, and allied  health services such as physiotherapy, osteopathy, occupational therapy, podiatry and nursing.   

A report examining the feasibility of housing Daylesford’s public library and community multipurpose facilities in the town’s historic Town Hall will go before councillors at this month’s Hepburn Shire Council meeting.

Scheduled for Monday September 16 the ordinary meeting is the last for the current council which then enters caretaker mode until October 26.

A new council will be elected by postal ballot next month with newly elected councillors set to then to be sworn in to what will become a wardless council, in November.

 While the new shift to a wardless arrangement is creating plenty of community discussion in its own right, the future of the Daylesford Town Hall is also set to change.

Currently council officers have been working with project architects, k20 Architecture, to investigate the feasibility of refurbishing and developing the historic site to accommodate a library and multi-purpose community spaces. 

The Daylesford Town Hall was built in the 1800s and until recently housed Council chambers, offices, and hosted events.

“The project team is supported by the Project Advisory Group (PAG), which is comprised of two councillors and seven community members,” Mayor, Cr Brian Hood said.

To date, the PAG have convened on four occasions to provide input into the design.

The PAG members bring to the project professional and special interest backgrounds, as well as connections to community, to shape the design that’s hoped to ultimately best meet community needs.

Besides outlining the feasibility of locating the library and community multipurpose facilities in the Town Hall, the report to go before councillors at Monday’s meeting will also seek endorsement to proceed with design work.  

Subject to the council’s endorsement, the project team will continue to develop the design to a schematic level ahead of proposed community engagement either late this year or early next year. 

“We are also examining the Town Hall’s essential roofing works and have a tender underway,” Cr Hood said.

“The Town hall is now closed as we undertake this essential work,” said Cr Hood. 

Staff that operate from the Town Hall and the council chambers have recently relocated to leased premises at 24 Vincent Street. 

Meanwhile, those keen to know more are being directed to go online at https://participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/daylesford-facilities 

The Hepburn Shire Council has unanimously adopted Township Structure Plans for Clunes, Creswick, Daylesford and Hepburn Springs, Glenlyon, and Trentham, and also a Rural Hepburn Strategy at a Special Council Meeting held last week.  

The Township Structure Plans and Rural Hepburn Strategy were developed after extensive consultation with community panels, community and stakeholder groups throughout 2023, along with specialist technical advice from consultants and council officers with expertise in planning, ecology, infrastructure, transport, recreation, and economic development. 

Mayor, Cr Brian Hood, said that this was a critical body of work for the shire’s future, and a key goal of the council plan.    

“The adoption of the Township Structure Plans and Rural Hepburn Strategy is the culmination of over two years work by our strategic planning team and others in the organisation and community, and is a once in a generation project,” Cr Hood said.

“We couldn’t have achieved this without the feedback, knowledge and expertise of our community.

“We listened and we acted on submissions thereby making community-informed changes to all the draft township plans and the Rural Hepburn Strategy.

“We believe our genuine engagement will put the next Councillor group in a strong position for the next phase of the project,” said Cr Hood. 

The final engagement period for the draft township structure plans and rural strategy ran between Wednesday 1 May to Wednesday 26 June 2024. 

Engagement included 32,441 page views of the Future Hepburn project page on Participate Hepburn, 12,971 letters and 8,016 text messages were sent to the community to encourage submissions.

There were also seven Community Information Sessions with 623 participants attending, a Future Hepburn webinar with 80 participants and 366 views, and a total of 577 submissions from community members and other stakeholders.  

“We thank community members and groups who provided feedback on these important strategic documents online or in-person. It played a vital role in arriving at the final documents,” Cr Hood said.

“Council is required to follow Victorian State Government planning policy mandates that all municipalities have sufficient land available to cater for projected population growth, and this was a significant driver for adopting these plans and strategy.

Strategic land use planning has been a major focus in this council term, embodied in the council Plan 2021-25.” 

“The adoption today does not mean any immediate changes to planning provisions. Changes will take some time and involve future planning scheme amendments, along with more formal community and stakeholder consultation. 

“There will also need to be future council decisions at key stages, independent expert scrutiny of council’s strategic work, and a decision from the Minister for Planning on whether to adopt or reject council’s proposed planning scheme amendments,” said Cr Hood. 

The council will now prioritise the administrative updating of the adopted documents incorporating changes, development of an implementation plan and advocacy to other tiers of government to assist with funding to proceed implementation of the plans.

Key elements of recommendations:

• Overarching settlement strategy – By planning the entire Shire as a whole, rather than in a piecemeal staged manner, we can better understand where growth should and should not go.
• Improved protection of prime agricultural land – Our precious agricultural land varies across the shire, and a more tailored approach will be achieved that better protects the vast majority of our land but also identifies that there are emerging and innovative new forms of agriculture that should be supported and encouraged. 
• Updated policies and controls will add clarity, consistency and certainty to all parties involved in Hepburn Shire’s planning processes. These include neighbours, landowners, public authorities, and council decision makers. VCAT decisions will also be better guided by our more specific, updated planning provisions that capture the diversity and uniqueness of the shire.
• Implement contemporary planning controls that will better protect township character, cultural heritage, and our environment.
• Community led visions for each town, which set out a future plan for housing, urban design, business, transport, environment and heritage, and community facilities
• Our structure plans and rural strategy can inform advocacy on future community facility and infrastructure grant funding, or advocacy on State led projects and infrastructure, for example lower speed limits or physical changes to main roads in our identified future pedestrian precincts.

As it grapples to gain financial sustainability, the Hepburn Shire Council has decided to apply to the Essential Services Commission for a 10 percent rate cap variation, including the applicable rate cap for the 2025/26 financial year.

Councillors endorsed the significant decision at their recent special financial vision meeting, just days before entering caretaker mode (September 17-October 26) ahead of next month’s council elections that will see a new council elected into the controversial new wardless council structure.

The newly adopted Financial Vision aspires to support the council’s obligations towards financial sustainability and outlines, for the next councillor group, the parameters for development of the Council Plan 2025-2029 and accompanying Financial Plan.

The council issued a statement confirming that it will begin the process of making an application to the Essential Services Commission, with the application required to be submitted between February 1 to March 31.

The ESC must then notify the council of their findings within two months of receipt of the application.

Mayor, Cr Brian Hood, said that for many years and especially throughout this term, the council has grappled with financial difficulties due to a sharp increase in costs of service delivery and construction, the small and dispersed population base, very limited range of additional revenue options, low-rate base and recovery from numerous costly natural disasters.

“Our Shire has been adversely impacted by rising inflation affecting the delivery of services and infrastructure, cost shifting from other levels of government, and extraordinary costs associated with the recovery from recent flooding and storm events,” Cr Hood said.

“As a rural council we have limited opportunities for alternate income streams, and the financial sustainability of all Councils is of concern to many.”

This year the council submitted to two major inquiries initiated by Federal and State governments to assess the financial sustainability and service delivery standards of local governments. These inquiries are expected to release findings in late 2024/early 2025.

In its 2024/25 budget, the council determined to implement reductions to operational budgets by $1.50 million, while seeking to minimise the impact on service delivery.

 The budget also identified that an annual cash shortfall of approximately $4 million is projected from 2025/26 onward.

Councillors and officers have conducted a number of workshops over the last 12 months to review available means to improving the council’s beleaguered “financial sustainability”. 

The council hosted an online survey inviting ratepayers, residents and visitors to provide feedback and share their priorities regarding service delivery, community infrastructure renewal or upgrades, and the potential for a rate increase – providing vital feedback to the input of the Financial Vision.

The community engagement identified that 61.6% of the community were open to a rate variation above the rate cap (at various percentages), and 38.44% of community were not open to a rate variation. 

“The difficult task facing councillors and staff over the last few months was to find $4 million in savings for the 2025/26 financial year, and ensuring they were permanent savings or increased revenue,” Cr Hood said.

“We considered many options, avoiding the need for additional borrowings. We have determined to generate $1.56 million of additional revenue from rates and $2.44 million from operational and service delivery savings.

“To ensure our financial sustainability, we have made the difficult decision to make an application to the Essential Services Commission for a rate cap variation of 10% including the applicable rate cap for the 2025/26 financial year.”

“We appreciate that this will not be a popular decision with all, and there will be concerns from many in the community about their ability to pay.

“To support some of the most vulnerable in our community, we will increase Council’s rebate to assist pensioners from $21 to $42. Ratepayers continue to have the ability to apply for special payment arrangements based on financial hardship.”

“The detail of the operational and service delivery changes earmarked to generate $2.44 million in savings will be determined over the coming months, as Council creates a Council Plan 2025-29,” Cr Hood said.

“We will continue to advocate to the State Government for a review of its funding of Local Government, along with the rating and revenue system in Victoria that leaves rural councils at a significant disadvantage,” said Cr Hood.

The full resolution adopted by the council can be found on its website.

The late Bob Conroy has been inducted into the  Victorian Harness Racing Hall of Fame.  

The honour celebrated not only Bob’s on-track deeds but also his much-admired “gentleman” status off the track.  

A video presentation on the awards night said:  “A 16-year-old boy from Korweinguboora named Robert Conroy won all three horse events at the 1947  Daylesford Gymkhana, however the trotting bug didn’t  hit him until 1962 when Bob won a three-year-old race  with Butch at Ballarat.  

“Later, he resurrected Mary Beverley from the  breeding paddock and won his first metro race with her  as a pacer on Anzac Day, 1972.

Then eight months later  remarkably he transformed her into a trotter that won  the Group One V.L. Dullard Cup.

“His training methods utilising Hepburn Regional Park were responsible not only for Bendigo Cup winner  Lincoln Star, but more so for the transformation for the  unraced pacing breed, Amazon.

He became the fastest  trotter ever in Australia.  

“Bob’s name became synonymous with trotters,  winning no less than 15 Victorian trotter training titles.  

“His marriage to Pat and his family of five children  was always paramount and there were no prouder  moments than when Bob, and sons Peter and Glenn,  trifected a race at Moonee Valley and daughter Anne Maree represented Australia overseas.  

“There was no was more determined man on earth when it came to  winning the last ever TAB race at the Showgrounds with Lucy Lastic.  

“Bob was renowned as Mr Integrity.”  

Image: File   

The Local Government Inspectorate will not take any further action into the  investigation of Hepburn Shire Council and The Rex Theatre development –  and its report will never be released.  

The Inspectorate issued a media release last week which said it found there was  insufficient evidence to prove to the requisite standard of proof of the commission of  any disciplinary breaches or criminal offences contrary to the 1989 Act.  

“Further, the Chief Municipal Officer is satisfied that the council has taken  remedial action to put in place measures to avoid future complaints of a similar  nature, including the creation of a new governance and policy framework.”  

The release said in 2019, the LGI received a complaint that made allegations  relating to the council’s involvement with The Rex Theatre redevelopment.  

“Since receipt of the complaint, the LGI has undertaken a rigorous investigation  of the allegations. Throughout, Hepburn Shire Council and its councillors have co operated. The LGI’s investigation has now been finalised.”  

The release says the Local Government Inspectorate is the dedicated integrity  agency for local government in Victoria.  

“The Chief Municipal Inspector leads the LGI and has functions and powers,  including those set out in the Local Government Act 2020, to enable the LGI to  examine, investigate and prosecute any matter relating to a council’s operations and  any potential breaches of the 2020 Act and its predecessor the Local Government Act  1989 (1989 Act).”

Hepburn Shire Council response  

Mayor Cr Brian Hood said that it was extremely disappointing that it had taken so long for the Inspectorate to arrive at its conclusion and no report would be issued.  

“We are frustrated and very disappointed that a comprehensive, detailed  report won’t be released. The failure to issue a report into The Rex project denies  transparency and accountability and lets down the community, councillors and  council officers,” he said.  

Cr Hood said ensuring the appropriate checks and balances were in place meant  failures of the past would not be repeated and emphasised the importance of “having  a culture where officers of all levels feel able to raise concerns about governance”.  

“The same applies to councillors. The LGI media release acknowledges the current  officer and councillor group had improved governance oversight.”  

Cr Hood said he had other concerns including that the LGI undertook a  “rigorous investigation” yet has provided no reason why it will not issue any report.  

“The failure to report denies an explanation the community is owed. It prevents  accountability and transparency.”  

He added that the LGI concluded there was “insufficient evidence” to warrant  any disciplinary or legal action.  

“For any organisation to self-report to a regulatory authority is a significant  step. Council management of the day were obviously of the view that some matters  warranted investigation by an independent regulator.  

“It would seem there is a significant disparity between the council management  who self-reported to IBAC and the Inspectorate’s unexplained conclusion.”  

Cr Hood said The Rex saga highlighted what can go badly wrong in any  organisation if the culture isn’t right or if there is a light-handed approach to  governance.  

“The purchase of The Rex, contrary to community consultation, led to a  substantial financial loss – a waste of ratepayers’ money – and tarnished the council’s  reputation.  

“And let’s not forget while all the attention was on The Rex, the Daylesford Town  Hall was shamefully neglected and is only now getting its much-need new roof and  replacement electrical systems.”  

History

Hepburn Shire Council bought the Vincent Street, Daylesford former theatre in  2016 for $6 million – a move prompted after its toilets were closed to the public.  The council then spent $3 million on the building which was to house a cinema,  staff offices, a library and public toilets, with another $6 million needed to complete  the project.

Interim CEO Bruce Lucas paused the Hepburn Hub at The Rex project in June  2018, becoming concerned about governance failures, also reporting the issue to the  Audit and Risk Committee. Incoming CEO Evan King reported concerns to the  Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC), and ultimately the  Inspectorate commenced an investigation.  

In December 2021, council officers recommended that the council continue with  the project. However, four councillors voted against the project – Cr Lesley Hewitt,  Cr Don Henderson, Cr Juliet Simpson and Cr Brian Hood. In favour of continuing  with the hub were Cr Jen Bray, Cr Tessa Halliday and Mayor Cr Tim Drylie.  

Present day  The Rex was bought from the council in December 2022 by entrepreneurs and  businesspeople Eddy and Malinka Comelli, and David and Yuge Bromley, for $3.75  million.

Words & image: Donna Kelly  

The Local journalist Tony Sawrey is one of the  artists taking part in the SWELL Sculpture  Festival being held at Currumbin Beach,  Queensland, until September 15.

Tony’s piece is titled Personal Space Elevator with its description: “10 tonnes of atmosphere press on  you. Enter your personal space elevator. Tsiolkovsky’s star ladder made manifest.

“Forget Newtonian physics;  this column gives you flight via pure thought, pure  imagination. Face into the sky, find the rips in the fabric, launch, accelerate, dodge the veil of space junk  around this world, and cast your imagination into the  cosmos.

“The earth evaporates beneath your feet. All  that is solid melts into air. Faster than the speed of  light, faster than time, faster than reality. What awaits  you in the infinite beyond?”  

Tony, who lives in Musk, completed a Bachelor  of Fine Arts at Sydney College of the Arts and a Masters of Fine Art at Victorian College of the Arts in  Melbourne.

His major studies were in studio painting but in time he began to create large scale environment art utilising marking fluids and a motorised spray pump.  

He has produced commissions for numerous  exhibitions and clients including Sculpture by the Sea  Bondi and Cottesloe, Lorne Sculpture Bienniale and  Sculpture in the Vineyards Wollombi.  

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a fatal collision that happened in Ballarat’s north over the weekend.

It is understood a motorcycle collided with a trailer, being towed by a car, turning into a driveway on Gillies Road, Sulky about 3.45pm.

The motorcycle rider died at the scene and officers were speaking to the driver of the car as at the time of their most recent public report on the incident.

The investigation remained ongoing.

Investigators were told there was a line of traffic on the street at the time of the incident and want to speak to those witnesses.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam or CCTV footage, are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

Ballarat’s Eureka Centre will join with the wider local community to mark the 170th anniversary of the Eureka Stockade, unveiling a program of events across November and December. 

The government forces’ attack on an encampment of protesting miners at the Eureka Diggings on the morning of 3 December 1854 — which became known as Eureka Stockade — profoundly shaped Australian democracy.  

In the lead up to the anniversary, the Eureka Centre will host a number of activities that commemorate and reflect upon the events surrounding the Eureka Stockade and its impact on Australia’s democratic traditions, social values and cultural identity. 

Program highlights include the community-focused Eureka Sunday event, featuring live music at the Eureka Stockade Memorial Park with the Shane Howard Band and the Emma Donovan Duo.  

The Peter Tobin Oration is also not to missed. Former Wallaby, best-selling author, broadcaster and raconteur, Peter FitzSimons AM and trailblazing historian and Stella Prize winning author, broadcaster and podcaster, Professor Clare Wright OAM will discuss ‘Why Eureka Matters’.  

Visitors can also enjoy free entry to the Eureka Centre from Friday 29 November to Tuesday 3 December 2024.

The Ballarat Town Hall clock and the Lake Wendouree and Eureka Stockade Memorial Park fountains will be illuminated in blue from 29 November until 3 December 2024 to mark this special anniversary. 

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said it was important to mark the anniversary of the Eureka Stockade with a program of events. 

“Eureka is a great Australian foundational story that speaks to our national values. But it has a special, more personal significance to the people of Ballarat,” Cr Hudson said.  

“We feel a close connection to those who were involved in this tragic event, annually gathering to honour their sacrifice and the legacy of their struggle.

Eureka lives on in Ballarat, finding expression throughout our enterprising, energetic and inclusive community. It is the essence of who we are. 

“It is important we keep that legacy alive, which is why I am pleased to see that this program of events truly has something for everyone — young and old, we can all embody the spirit of Eureka and stand up to injustice.”