The Local journalist Tony Sawrey continues his US journey. “I simply wanted to see the USA at ground level through my own lens and form an opinion of this land via actual experience. I hope it’s worth reading.”

As of April 30, American President Donald Trump and his Republican administration completed their first 100 days in office.

The commencement of his second term was one of the most anticipated events in recent memory, and depending on who you talked to, was characterised by trepidation and anxiety, or anticipation and excitement.

For me, wandering around the United States, asking stupid questions, getting people’s names wrong and generally testing folks’ good-natured tolerance, allowed me to see that views on Trump and his administration were extremely diverse.

While Trump is often called a wannabe dictator it is important to note that most dictators start early so they have decades to really grind the boot in. Perhaps, being nearly 80 he is a little old and could very well die in office and leave us with Vice President Vance.

However his cultivation of an inward-looking America First agenda will be a hardship to reorientate even if his successors tried to attempt it and represents, in the words of historian Jason Steinhauer, The end of the 20th century.

Or, the end of a period marked by the (perhaps misguided) belief that post WWII diplomacy, cooperative agreements and open markets, fuelled by United States economic might could allow humanity to find solutions to global challenges.

But Trump has reinstalled the fences characterised by a climate of fear and uncertainty.

For Stacy Scheff, an immigration and prisoners rights lawyer in Arizona, the US government’s crosshairs seem firmly targeted on people such as her, her rights advocacy work and the marginalised people her firm supports. Over the next 18 months she predicts an American diaspora.

“Things are now at a crisis point,” she says. “The restraints on the executive branch (the office of the President) are being tested and they are not holding. In such a political climate, leaving the United States may become a real necessity. But of course, not everyone has that option.”

And regarding the international community: “No matter if there was a new leader tomorrow”, says Ted, a retired Tucson community organiser, “the trust that other countries had in the US previously will take years to recover. They cannot trust that the country will respect treaties or look after its friends.”

Meanwhile over on the east coast there is yet another range of opinions on the Trump effect. For retirees Tim and Cathy, they see that anyone with money likes Trump, no matter what steps he takes to avoid judicial oversight or bypass a meek compliant Congress.

But then, if you talk to young couples such as Drew and Elle working several jobs with kids to raise, they say: “Trump’s OK. He’s going to drain the swamp (meaning US federal bureaucracy) and bring jobs back to American soil.”

In Washington DC, the outlook tends to hover between grim or just fine depending on who you talk to.

Richard, a teacher at Georgetown University, put it like this: “Washington is a factory town and the industry is government. And in every street around here there are people who have had their employment abruptly terminated, often without access to pensions which they have worked their whole lives towards.”

For Stephan, a Christian revivalist shouldering a cross outside the White House, he hopes Trump can succeed. “If he is truly a religious man which I believe he is, he has an opportunity to take part in the impossible and expose what’s really going on. He came in to drain the swamp but found out it was an ocean.”

Nadine, a street busker from the Caribbean working in the Capitol Hill area says: “I believe that we are heading towards fascism. Do you know about Project 2025? It’s already more than two thirds completed.”

The Project 2025 plan was published by The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank which now has many of its members in government. And the Trump administration has actioned numerous directives that mirror proposals from the paper.

These include firing federal workers, funding cutbacks and, in keeping with the project’s expressly Christian cultural stance, suppressing diversity and inclusion programs and going after museums and institutions that don’t defer exclusively to ‘western cultural values’ or promote ‘non-traditional gender ideology or propaganda’.

It seems that tariffs may go up and down, international treaties and agreements can always be renegotiated. But if there is anything that Trump has been most keen to push down and exclude in his second term then it is anything that doesn’t adhere to a patriotic family-centric neo-classical meta narrative.

Ultimately, the wholesale suppression of dissenting artistic voices may in fact be his most profound legacy for the culture of the United States of America.

People love the Daylesford Community Op Shop and for good reason. It has great bargains, friendly volunteers and all its profits go back into the Daylesford community and those in need.

And those are just a few things that secretary Roux Aradia, pictured above, also loves about volunteering there – so much so she is now the secretary. Roux spent 12 years with Christmas Cheer, volunteering alongside Michelle Clifford, and then moved over to the op shop six months ago, where her mum Rebecca was already a volunteer.

“I love the community work we do here. If someone is in need of something, and they don’t have the money for it, we can help out and get it for them. It is just really fulfilling to be able to help with that.

“At the moment, with the cost of living crisis, we do get quite a few people coming in looking for help. They might be regulars and they get to know us and sometimes they will reach out to us privately or someone might ask on their behalf.

“Everyone is struggling at the moment and there is no shame in asking for help but we always do it very delicately and behind the scenes. We have great empathy for people – many of us have been in that same situation of needing a helping hand.”

Roux might have a committee role but she is still selling and sorting goods and gets a great vibe from customers.

“We constantly have customers coming in, telling us how comfortable they feel here and how this is their happy place and things like that. I like that.” Michelle said the volunteers were a fantastic crew and were always up for a laugh and bit of fun.

“I would have to say the best part of being here is the camaraderie and the fun we have together, and how relaxed it is. We have people of all ages and genders – we really are a bit of a mix. And we welcome anyone – you don’t need any experience.”

Back to fun and Roux says the strangest thing that has been donated so far is an old chamber pot inside a built-in toilet box which she thinks was “pretty cool”.

There’s also a tendency for things to come in, not in threes, but many more, like a stack of walking canes, or the same knick-knacks.

“We just get waves of random things.”

Roux said with Volunteer Week upon us, the board wanted to thank all the op shop’s volunteers.

“They’ve been putting in 100 per cent and we just want to thank all of them because they’re fantastic.”

The op shop is always keen to hear from people wanting to volunteer, especially on weekends at the moment, so pop in and grab a form soon.

Cornish Hill, named after its miners, was almost lost in 1994, when the then Victorian Department of Conservation and Natural Resources proposed selling the 47.5-hectare parcel of Crown Land for housing development.

Luckily a group of concerned residents formed an action plan in order to save it as a historic precinct and for the establishment of flora and fauna of the Central Highlands.

Today, the management of Cornish Hill, bordered by Grenville, Patterson and Orford streets with Smiths Creek fed by the East Street Spring, is looked after by the Friends of Cornish Hill. Volunteers work hard to search for relevant grants to fund works on the Hill for anything from tube stock and tree guards to weed contractors.

Grant applications take quite a lot of work to put together and sometimes FoCH is successful, sometimes not. The Friends’ volunteer engagement officer Kath Anderson joined the group three years ago after moving to the area from Sydney.

“I didn’t know a single person in Daylesford or anywhere near so I joined because it gives you an opportunity to be with people without the pressure of social engagement. You’re out doing something really positive, you’re in nature, and get a shared activity that everyone’s quite keen on.”

Kath said the group was always looking for more volunteers to take part in monthly Sunday working bees, on the second Sunday, which only last two hours, and are followed by a decent morning tea. “

At the moment, volunteer numbers are pretty good, but not really consistent. But we still get things done and during winter we try to find a sunny spot to work and enjoy a hot cuppa afterwards.

But with more people it’s more fun and more ideas, and just more energy in the groupAnd that doesn’t have to necessarily mean physical energy. We do quite a bit of physical work, but we also do planting, we do planning, we do have little walk-throughs and just figure out things and enjoy the reserve.

“And we partner with local growers and seed collectors, and try to replant the indigenous bushland plants. A lot of our work over the past two years has been weed control and trying to mitigate fire risk. It’s been a great project to be involved in and it’s fun, satisfying and the more people the merrier so please feel free to join in.

With Eve Lamb

Jodie Fergusson-Batte is a Daylesford-based artist with a passion for painting using oil on board. Her engaging figurative works frequently feature women whose captivating ‘female gaze’ wins her plenty of fans. While Jodie’s background spans professional nursing, corporate  sales and successful start-up business ventures, her innate creativity means art is always a faithful companion and a personal release throughout life’s journey.

Eve: Jodie, your paintings featuring women are quite striking.  The eyes, or gaze in particular, really hold the viewer. What’s behind this recurrent theme in your art? Where does it come from?

Jodie: It’s probably my alter-ego, my own moods. Eye contact is a way to connect with people.  Women go through so many stages and incarnations. Painting the women is very cathartic. I think they represent my own various incarnations.

Eve:  Your background is pretty diverse and includes completing a Bachelor of Nursing, working as a nurse and then moving into corporate sales and then co-founding the successful tea company making She Tea. Are you still involved in that?

Jodie: I sold the tea company around 2017 and then worked in the health area again and also did a Masters in Human Rights, and then started my own company providing remote digital monitoring, for aged care, enabling people to remain in their own homes longer. But I stepped down from that role about a year ago.

I started an Airbnb, Piccolo Lane, here at the back of the house and did that for about six months. That was like a sabbatical from corporate life. Got that up and running and now Discover Daylesford are running it which means I’m now able to concentrate more on painting. I’m also doing a bit of work with TEDx. I haven’t decided if I want to go back into the corporate world again yet.

Eve: That’s a pretty diverse and interesting professional and working background Jodie. How does art fit into all of this?

Jodie: I’ve been painting since I was about 15. I’ve always just loved it. It’s always been a big part of my life and sort of ebbs and flows.  It’s  a good form of expression for whatever you’re going through. I’ve always painted no matter how small the space I’m in is.

Eve: Did you study art as well?

Jodie: I studied nursing when I left school. I studied art at  school. At school I was one of those people who use to just stay inside at lunchtime and just paint and draw. I had a very encouraging art teacher. My art teacher bought the first painting I ever sold.

Eve: And your art also became a part of the She-Tea business too. Each canister of She-Tea featured one of your original oil paintings didn’t it?

Jodie : Yes. We wanted to make them stand out and be more gift oriented using my paintings. Not everyone can afford an original oil painting but they can afford a canister of tea with a painting printed on the label. It was fun.

Eve: So what are you focusing on now with your arts endeavour Jodie?

Jodie: I’ve been actually changing my style a little and started doing more semi-abstracted floral work. I’m enjoying exploring the floral world. It’s a bit more for everyone, a bit less intense.  And I have just now starting talking about having an exhibition again – looking to 2026.

On just about every Friday for the past 14 years, Hepburn Shire locals have shared delicious home-cooked meals and companionship, located for the past six years at Daylesford’s Victoria Park Pavilion.

Of course, it is only possible thanks to the volunteers of the Daylesford 5000  Club and generous donations from local businesses, as well as grants from the  Community Bank Daylesford District, the Rotary Club of Daylesford and Hepburn  Shire Council.  

Each week our volunteers, some of whom have been with the 5000 Club since it  started all those years ago, work tirelessly to create a thoughtful, tasty and nutritious  three-course meal for up to 50 people.

The lunches are prepared with love, including  the special touches that make all the difference – colourful tablecloths, background  music, beautiful floral arrangements (thank you Kristy from Wombat Hill Florist)  and, most importantly, a warm smile and welcome to make everyone who walks  through the doors each Friday feel cared for.  

I initially volunteered to help out as the affectionately coined ‘dish pig’, filling  in for a friend and tasked with washing the dishes and being a general kitchen hand.  I loved it so much that I stayed on.

The banter in the kitchen is joyous, as is the  laughter and chatter coming from a full house of locals sharing friendship and a  delicious meal.  

The volunteers in the dining room operate like a well-oiled machine – serving  soup, mains and dessert with the care they would show to their own families at home.  They even make sure that those who arrive a little late always have a meal.  It’s non-stop in the kitchen but everyone pitches in to make sure that it is left  spotless for the next community group to use.  

The 5000 Club was founded by local Loretta Little and the Daylesford Uniting  Church, to help support those experiencing financial hardship or social isolation, which is still very much the focus.

But importantly, everyone is welcome, and the weekly luncheon has grown into a fabulous community gathering where people from all walks of life, all ages and backgrounds come together to share a meal and each  other’s company.  

Connecting our community through food and love  

It’s become a meeting place for the local Men’s Shed fellas, the table tennis crew  who play locally each Friday, and local faces that have really become the heart and  soul of the 5000 Club.  

Locals including Raman and Pat treat the guests to Indian and paella feasts. Our  local greengrocers Tonna’s, generous community members and businesses, and local  farmers all help to keep the club going with donations.  

And it wouldn’t happen without Sandy Breen working tirelessly each week  guiding the ship and bringing it all together as the president.  

Of course, like any of the incredible community initiatives we have in our  region, the dedicated volunteers make it happen week after week. If you can spare a few hours on a Friday or even a few hours a month, the 5000 Club would love  to welcome you.

Every set of hands helps and you will be volunteering in an environment that connects people over food and love. Call Sandy on 0419 880 220  for further information.  

– Volunteer Narelle Groenhout 

It’s not often there’s good news reported about youth. Recent crime statistics in the Hepburn Shire show a concerning uptick in youth-related offences with a 12 percent increase in criminal incidents compared to the previous year.

The Hepburn Shire Council has developed their ACE Youth Strategy partly in response to the increased crime rates, but also to celebrate and elevate young people.

One initiative that is both elevating and setting young adults on the right path is the Traffic Accident Commission’s L2P program. This learner driver mentoring program is a state-wide program that breaks down barriers for young people to gain their driver’s licence.

In rural areas like the Hepburn Shire, a driver’s licence isn’t just a convenience – it’s often essential for accessing education, employment, and community resources.

Many young people in the region face significant barriers to obtaining their driver’s licence because they do not have access to a car or do not have a suitable supervising driver to help obtain their required 120 hours as a learner driver.

Through the L2P program, participants are paired with volunteer mentors who help them build their driving skills behind the wheel of a provided vehicle.

This program is particularly valuable in rural areas, where access to public transport is limited, and having a car can mean the difference between securing a job or continuing with education.

Josephine, a recent L2P graduate from Daylesford said: “I felt so grateful to Jordan, my mentor, and the L2P program because I was able to finish Year 12 with a good ATAR and my licence. This gives me a great start to my new life as an independent adult.”

Recent research undertaken by the Ballarat Foundation, who runs the program in the Hepburn Shire, found that 88 per cent of past participants in the program had secured employment or further education as a direct result of gaining their probationary licence.

Importantly for mental health outcomes for rural youth, 97 per cent of past participants felt less socially isolated. A staggering 100 percent of learners said their volunteer driving mentor had a positive impact on their life and the way they made decisions.

For young people in the Hepburn Shire, the L2P program offers a path forward, making driving lessons accessible and affordable.

If you’re a young person in Hepburn Shire looking to take control of your future, the L2P program can help you get started on the road to success. Reach out to the Ballarat Foundation to find out more about how you can get involved.

Fook Shing in Kyneton has won the Macedon Ranges Shire’s Edgy Veg Award for Restaurant, pub and bar category while Shedshaker Brewery in Castlemaine has won the same category for Mount Alexander Shire.  

Fook Shing won for its Taste of Sri  Lanka vegan curry plate, which included a  coconut cream cashew nut curry, sweet &  sour pineapple curry, and a jackfruit curry served with a coconut sambal. Shedshaker won for its gnocchi alla Romana.  

The awards, run by Veg Action of the  Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group, started four years ago in Macedon Ranges Shire and have expanded to Mount  Alexander Shire, with 46 incredible, inventive venues on board.

This event is the longest-running trail in Australia that  celebrates food made 100 per cent from plants with 46 venues vying for the titles this  year.  

Coming a close second to Fook Shing was the Woodend Wine Bar with its  tomato tartare. The Railway Hotel, also in Castlemaine, came second to Shedshaker  Brewery.  

In the Macedon Ranges cafe category the winner was Macedon Ranges  Wholefoods in Gisborne for its mushroom jaffle, with a second to the Social Foundry in Kyneton, followed by Harvest & Soul in Macedon.  

In the Mount Alexander café category Five Flags Merchants has won with Toby’s chocolate cake with seasonal fruit compote. Togs Café came a close second.  

Mount Alexander also introduced a new category of bakeries this year, with Maldon Bakery taking the award for its curried lentil and vegetable pie.  

Above, from left, Fook Shing’s Robert Mariotti, Veg Action Group’s Claire  Rowland and Macedon Ranges Wholefoods’ Kat Buttigieg  Image: Tiffany Warner  

Lauren Eagle joined Riding for the Disabled in January 2021 after seeing an article in The Local. It was just after Covid and as with many organisations, a lot of volunteers had left during that period.

 “Several of us responded to that article and we’re still there today, so that’s how  I got involved. And I wanted to reconnect with horses and the horse environment  because I’d had horses when I was young but not much as an adult rider.

“It was a fantastic way of working with people with disability volunteering as well  as getting my fix on the horses.  “And I love it, it’s my happy place and I think I’m probably speaking for the  volunteers that are there too, because we’ve been there all that long.  

“For me, it’s the interaction with horses again. But it’s also about seeing how the  riders improve each term. Sometimes you can see it weekly but mostly you can sort of  see it term by term.  

“It builds a lot of confidence and trust between the rider and the horse and the  volunteer and that’s why consistency is important. Volunteers really need to be there most Fridays so that that relationship can be built up, and the trust and the comfort  level can be built up, particularly from the riders, but also horses.”

Lauren said horses were very empathetic and could quickly pick up what a rider  was like, as well as volunteers.  

“One of the riders says that he can almost feel what the horse is thinking so that  is very symbiotic. The horse always picks up on the rider, their ability, their weight  distribution, and they just seem to adapt accordingly. They’re amazing. Equine  therapy is fantastic.”  

Lauren said experience with horses was helpful but not essential. Some volunteers  lead the horses while other are sidewalkers and interact more with the rider.  

“They walk beside the horse and rider so they’re more rider-focused and the more  physically disabled the person is, the more sidewalkers are required.”  

The commitment for volunteers is every Friday during terms 1, 2 and 4, from  1pm to 5.30pm at Boomerang Ranch in Daylesford. That allows for three one-hour sessions and then a cuppa afterwards for a debrief. Generally, the same volunteer  works with the same rider and horse to build up familiarity.

There’s also taking part in  the Daylesford Show and the occasional trail ride.  Lauren said the highlight of volunteering was seeing the riders improve and build their confidence and self-esteem and that its rewarding to get feedabck from parents and carers telling of the positive changes that have happened for their riders.  The activities are tailored to the ability of the rider.

“The kids love doing the  games and trying to catch the volunteers, while others are getting ready for different  competitions. And riders range in age from primary school students to seniors in  their eighties.”  

“Some have physical disabilities and others have cognitive or sensory disabilities.  We have to adapt to each rider differently because each rider is different.”  

Lauren said it was the overall camaraderie, and working with volunteers from  teenagers to those in their seventies that she really loved.  

“It’s also important for people thinking about volunteering that safety for  everybody involved is paramount. The horses used in the program undergo an assesment and are all RDA approved. And volunteers are offered training and  support”.  

For more details email rdadaylesford gmail.com    

with Marita McGuirk

As the weather becomes cooler and fire bans are lifted, we start to notice a faint smell of smoke in the air as people begin to burn off leaf litter and branches that they may have had in piles for many months. They may also  be carrying out fuel reduction burns of roadsides, gullies and paddocks.  

An important fact to keep in mind when planning your burn, is that animals often make their home in piles of leaves and branches.

Birds such as pardalotes will build nests amongst the branches. Lizards will readily live in the thermally protected piles of leaves, not to mention all the insects that will be living in these  leaf and branch stacks.

Echidnas are one of the animals that will make a home for themselves and their young (called puggles) in piles of leaves and branches.

So, if your stack has been in place for a few months, it is a very good idea to move it before you set it on fire. This will give all the animals that have made it their home a chance to avoid being burnt.  

The echidna which is recovering at the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter was found in a private garden beside a block that had been burnt to reduce the fuel load.

The  echidna has burns to its back and side and was thin and dehydrated when found.  Gayle Chappell is optimistic about its chances of recovering.  

Gayle tells me that there is a myth that echidnas can bury themselves and avoid being burnt in a fire.

When echidnas are frightened, they will bury themselves in leaves and softer soil around trees.  The problem is that the leaves and organic matter in the soil will burn and the quills (spines) on the echidna will also burn.

Echidna quills are hollow and when  they are exposed to fire, they become super-heated. The heat travels down the  quill and into the muscle tissue causing severe damage.  

Unless the echidna can bury itself under many centimetres of soil and the soil  does not contain any organic matter that will burn and the fire is not very intense,  it will be burnt in a fire.

If the echidna can take shelter totally underground, it can survive a fire. But  this is not the case for echidnas that are caught above ground when people burn off.  

Hepburn Wildlife News  with Marita McGuirk  Gayle and Jon at the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter have treated many animals that have  been burnt by fire.

Please take care and consider the animals when conducting your fuel reduction burns and burn-offs around your property.  

Dr 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 to find out more  information, head to www.hepburnwildlifeshelter.org  

Article sponsored by The Local Publishing Group  

In 2014, Kirsty Plews was living in Melbourne. She was married, pregnant with her second child, completing her psychology degree and raising a toddler. At 36 she was busy but had her life mapped out.  

The day she went into hospital to have her second child, her world fell apart.  

Kirsty suffered several inexplicable seizures prior to giving birth and two days later she woke from an induced coma with no memory, a newborn baby and the news she had brain cancer.  

Nothing could have prepared her for the life-shattering news that forced her on a path of determination and survival.

“The diagnosis was a devastating shock and I knew it was life limiting. I had just finished a degree in psychology and understood how statistics work so I told myself I’m going to be an outlier…the one that the stats don’t apply to,” she said.  

Sharing Kirsty’s story has been years in the making. We first met in 2020 while swimming in Lake Daylesford with our kids. We often spoke about sharing her story in The Local as a way to raise awareness and for Kirsty to thank the loyal  friends, school communities and charities, including the Good Grub Club and  The Daylesford Foundation.

Kirsty especially wanted to thank those involved in fundraising that helped her and her children to visit Scotland and see her family.  Importantly, Kirsty wanted to share her story this month to help raise awareness about brain cancer through the global campaign Go Grey in May.  

When she lived in Melbourne, Kirsty loved visiting Daylesford but never expected to make it her home. Then again, she had always planned to return home to Scotland  following a trip around the world 21 years ago.

Although she had a strong support network in Melbourne, family connections, a stable medical routine and an active  life, Kirsty and her family made the move.  

“We would occasionally drive to Daylesford for mini-breaks and in 2016 after seeing a house by chance, we put in an offer and made the move early in 2017.”  

Looking back, that first year turned out to be one of the toughest and saddest times of Kirsty’s life. Two friends died of brain cancer, her step-mum died days before her brother’s wedding in Scotland, her marriage broke down and by October she was a single mum living in a new town with no family support.

“It was supposed to be a fresh start. It wasn’t. I felt isolated and had to start my journey all over again. New doctors, new friends and a new town. It wasn’t the start I’d imagined.”  

Some days, Kirsty said she just made it through minute by minute, hour by hour.  With incredible support from friends she made in Daylesford, and online through a  brain cancer Facebook page she set up when she was first diagnosed, she was able to  keep moving forward. But accepting help was hard.  

“I was raised in a family that made sure others were okay so it was difficult for me  to drop my guard and ask for help. Thanks to medical support from my wonderful Professor Kate Drummond through to occupational therapists, the local community  and the most amazing friends I have made, I was able to navigate my way through.”  

Anyone who knows Kirsty knows that, along with her razor-sharp wit delivered with her distinctive Scottish brogue, she possesses an astounding determination and will to be that outlier and beat the odds.

“Brain cancer wasn’t really highlighted in the media and I knew little about it. But all the while I knew I had to beat the odds, even if I didn’t know what those odds were.”  

In  2015 when (TV and radio personality) Carrie Bickmore wore a beanie at the Logie Awards in memory of her late husband and to raise awareness, I was relieved that  brain cancer would be better understood and supported.

Initially, Kirsty was told that she would have to undergo the first surgery one month after her diagnosis and a possible second surgery in the future. When she did  have the second surgery she was diagnosed with PTSD.  

“When I was told I had an acquired brain injury, I didn’t know who I was anymore.  

“I was trying to put on a brave face but was internally falling apart. My nerves  were on high alert and I had to learn basic skills again like cooking and interacting  with people,” she said.  

Her bi-annual magnetic resonance imaging scans and numerous appointments are  taxing and she knows a third brain operation is possible. But as time has progressed, new medical opportunities have opened up, improving the odds just a little bit more  each time.  

“There is new gene targeted therapy and my surgeon said I’m a suitable candidate  for the therapy. It’s all about hope and belief.”

And while she continues her medical  fight, Kirsty isn’t wasting a single moment, still focused on giving back to the  community that has supported her through her battle.  

Kirsty coaches the local Under 9’s soccer team, something she never imagined  doing but that has helped her reintegrate into the community and allowed the kids to  continue to play.

She will soon complete her Certificate 3 in crisis counselling and continues to  raise awareness for brain cancer that affects thousands around the world with little  media focus compared to other life-threatening diseases.  

Among all her astounding achievements, Kirsty said her greatest honour was receiving the Dave Endacott Medal awarded by the Daylesford and Hepburn United  Soccer Club.

A small but fitting recognition for someone who has already given so  much to our community and continues to inspire through her goodness and strength.  

And despite her tiredness and health restrictions, Kirsty has never once given up  on life and lives daily with courage and the strength that inspires those in her life.

She  uses humour to get through the tough times and her love of her children, family and community is nothing short of inspirational.  

“It was a difficult beginning here in Daylesford but I can’t imagine being  anywhere else.”  

Donate  

Go Grey in May is an international brain cancer awareness campaign raising  funds for vital research and to support those living with brain cancer. Kirsty is  highlighting the cause through her social media presence by completing a cycling  challenge and hopes people support the campaign.

For Kirsty, that means we could be  a little closer to finding a cure. Scan the QR Code to find out more or donate.  Peace of Mind is the only organisation of its kind in Australia to help brain cancer  patients with one-on-one personal, financial and practical support.

The foundation  has been there for Kirsty through her brain cancer journey.  To donate go to challengebraincancer.gofundraise.com.au/page/TourdeForce  

Words & image: Narelle Groenhout  

A number of firefighters across regional Victoria have walked off the job after the state government passed its new emergency services levy late last week.

Other CFAs have said while they support the action, they will remain ready for their communities.

The action comes after government and crossbench politicians struck a deal with some amendments made to get the vote over the line.

The levy comes into effect on July 1 and will hit farmers hard, with them paying up to 150 per cent more than under the previous fire services levy.

Local farmers say the state’s Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) unfairly impacts regional communities already struggling with disturbingly dry conditions, and have been loudly calling for it to be abolished.

Replacing the Fire Services Property Levy, the new state government-imposed levy would significantly increase the amount collected from farmers in Victoria.

On Tuesday, May 6 About 300 people including local landholders from Clunes, Creswick and surrounds attended a meeting in Ascot near Clunes to discuss their significant concerns about the levy.

Speakers at the meeting said the levy particularly hurts farmers already struggling to cope with what is shaping as an alarming dry trend on the land.

Victorian councils also are “deeply reluctant” to enforce the state government’s increased emergency services levy as backlash from the agriculture sector intensifies.

The Victorian government’s Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund legislation passed through the Upper House last Thursday night and was met with outrage from some volunteer fire fighters.

The fund, which replaces the cheaper fire services levy, is designed to raise revenue for fire services, the State Emergency Service, triple-0 and the state control centre.

Councils across the state are now tasked with collecting the new tax from ratepayers from July 1, despite many local government bodies vehemently opposing the tax.

Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) chair Shane Sali said he was worried some residents would simply refuse to pay the new line item.

Mr Sali said councils were uncertain as to how they were expected to collect and handle any issues with the levy payment.

Acting CFA chief officer Gary Cooks said firefighters were pleased the government had added some exemptions for volunteers and drought-affected farmers.

On Friday Premier Jacinta Allan said CFA volunteers and farmers in 24 shires eligible for state drought support would be “exempt” from having to pay the levy.

The government said the new tax was needed to fund emergency services to respond to an increasing number of calls for assistance for fires, floods and extreme weather events

The Hepburn Shire Council is inviting community feedback on a suite of draft strategic documents that will shape the future of the Shire, including the draft Council Plan 2025–29.

At a Special Council Meeting held last week councillors endorsed the release of the following draft documents for public consultation:

• Council Plan 2025–2029 (including the Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plan)
• Annual Budget 2025–2026
• Financial Plan
• Revenue and Rating Plan
• Asset Plan

Mayor, Cr Don Henderson, said the draft Council Plan reflects extensive community engagement and a commitment to returning to the basics.

“Our Council Plan 2025–2029, including the Health and Wellbeing Plan, lays the foundation for a strong future. We’re focusing on core services like maintaining roads, improving parks, planning for our growing community, and delivering services that are truly centred around our residents’ needs,” said Cr Henderson.

The draft Council Plan is built around three domains or strategic objectives:

• Hepburn Life – creating a connected, inclusive and thriving community.
• Future Hepburn – protecting our unique towns and landscapes while supporting sustainable development and infrastructure.
• Hepburn Working Together – ensuring strong governance, a skilled workforce, and high-quality service delivery.

The plan clearly outlines the outcomes the council aims to achieve throughout the term, focusing on tangible benefits for the community and the organisation.

“This plan reflects what we’ve heard. It’s about going ‘Back to Basics’ and focusing on what really matters to residents and ensuring we can deliver, even during financially constrained times,” said Cr Henderson.

“Road maintenance, parks and open spaces and delivering on Future Hepburn are front and centre.”

The Essential Services Commission has approved a 7% rate cap variation. This will generate an additional $1.36 million in revenue, alongside $2.53 million in operational savings identified by Council, ensuring the plan is fully funded and ready for implementation.

Community members are being encouraged to review the draft documents and share their feedback by Thursday, 5 June 2025.

To provide feedback visit Hepburn Together 2025 – 2029. Hard copy surveys will be available in the shire’s libraries and customer service hubs.

At a Special Meeting held on Tuesday 13 May, the Hepburn Shire Council released its draft Asset and Revenue and Rating plans for community consultation.

The Revenue and Rating Plan outlines strategies for generating income to fund Council services and infrastructure, while the Asset Plan details how Council manages community assets, ensuring transparency, financial responsibility, and accountability.

Mayor, Cr Don Henderson, said that the plans, alongside the draft Budget and Financial Plan, are essential elements of the Council’s Integrated Strategic Planning Framework.

“Council provides a wide range of services and facilities for our community. These plans help us manage revenue and infrastructure sustainably while meeting community needs,” said Cr Henderson.

Key highlights from the draft Revenue and Rating Plan include:

• No proposed changes to rating differentials.
• The pensioner concession will increase from $21 to $42 following a successful rate cap variation.
• Council will advocate for the Victorian Government to review statutory fees and fines to better align with service costs.
• Ongoing exploration of diverse funding sources, including partnerships, shared service models, and collaborations with aligned organisations.
• A 2025/26 review of the Leases and Licences policy will be presented to ensure shire-wide compliance.

The draft Asset Plan aligns with the Council Plan, providing a structured approach to managing the full lifecycle of community assets, from acquisition and maintenance to renewal and disposal.

The council manages public assets with a total replacement value of just under $500m, for the benefit of its community. As the shire grows and changes, our existing infrastructure ages and demands change for services.

“It is critical that our infrastructure is maintained and developed to reflect the expectations of our community,” said Cr Don Henderson.

Community feedback on the plans is open until Thursday 5 June 2025.

To view the plans and submit feedback, visit Participate Hepburn. Hard copy surveys will be available in the shire’s libraries and customer service hubs. Details of upcoming community drop-in sessions are also available on the site.

Police have detected close to 1,000 traffic offences during a major road safety operation across Victoria last week.

Operation Action was conducted on Monday 12 May as part of National Road Safety Week.

The annual initiative highlights the impact of road trauma and the importance of safe driving habits, with each day incorporating a road safety theme.

Monday’s nationwide focus on speed saw Victoria Police Highway Patrol units, Public Order Response Team officers and general duties police enforcing speed across the state’s roads.

There were a total 930 offences detected during the operation – with speeding offences making up more than half of all detections.

Of the 530 total speeding offences, 80 per cent were drivers caught speeding between 10km/h and 25km/h over the speed limit.

Police conducted 5,661 preliminary breath tests, with eight drink driving offences detected, and a further 19 drug driving offences were detected from 277 roadside drug tests.

The total 930 offences detected during Operation Action included:

• 530 speeding offences
• 50 disobey signs/signals
• 41 disqualified/suspended and unlicenced drivers
• 39 mobile phone offences
• 19 drug driving offences from 277 roadside drug tests
• 8 drink driving offences from 5,661 preliminary breath tests
• 5 seat belt offences
• 23 vehicle impounds; and
• 72 unregistered vehicles.

Police will continue to be highly visible and enforcing across the state’s roads, in an effort to drive down road trauma.

It followed a horror period on Victorian roads, with multiple lives lost.

National Road Safety Week ran from Sunday 11 May to Sunday 18 May 2025.

Victoria Police encourages all road users to show their support for the initiative, which calls on motorists to “pledge to drive so others survive”.

Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa has teamed up with The Block to mark its 130th anniversary with the unveiling of newly refurbished private bathing rooms, a refreshed treatment menu and a new look throughout the property.  

Hepburn Shire Council owns the property and leases it to Belgravia Leisure. A council spokesperson said the cost of the lease was not available to the public.  

The Block co-presenter Shelley Craft, on YouTube, said the Bathhouse and Spa was a great place to hold a challenge but viewers would have to wait until the series  aired later this year.

“Suffice to say, the contestants are loose on the ground and  probably creating havoc, but also some magic as well,” she said.  A media release from the Bathhouse said The Block‘s cast members “recently called  ‘tools down’ on a renovation onsite.  

“The results of their hard work will be revealed in the highly anticipated series of  episodes airing later this year, with the project resulting in one of the teams winning  the biggest challenge prize in The Block history.

“Whilst the Bathhouse Sanctuary bathing remains closed until July for restoration  works, guests are still invited to immerse themselves in the many other indulgences on offer, including soaking in serene seclusion in the private baths, the all-new  treatment menu, the luxe accommodation, the historic Pavilion café and the gorgeous  bushwalks surrounding the property.”  

The Block contestants have also been helping out with works on the Phoenix The Rex community cinema project.  A spokesperson for The Block said there were no real guidelines “with what we do with the community projects but with both projects we wanted to showcase something that is iconic for the community that will be seen around Australia and  potentially the world”.  

“The Hepburn Spa is such a great facility and we loved working with them.  “As for the Rex cinema, we saw there was so much community support for the re opening of the cinema, including lots of volunteers working to raise money, this was  an amazing project to work on for The Block too.  

“Now they are done, we hope all the community can enjoy the projects when  they open and also enjoy seeing it come together on air later in the year.  

“We have also enjoyed filming at local tourist attractions every Monday night which the cast and crew have loved, exploring the beautiful Daylesford and surrounds – along with weekly challenges for the contestants which will showcase so many  amazing tourist attractions.  

Above The Block presenters Scott Cam and Shelley Croft, with Frankie Cam  

Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Hepburn Bathhouse