April 13th, 2023Brendan rocking his life at Hepburn House

BRENDAN Dundas is, in his own words, a rock star.
And it’s true. Brendan was one of the lucky 12 residents of Hepburn
House who appeared in the 20/21 fundraising calendar with the theme of
famous movies. Brendan donned a leather jacket and a plastic wig to transform
into the role of John Travolta in Grease. And in the latest calendar, all about “ageing
disgracefully”, he is back just strutting his style again.
Celebrating his 70th birthday on December 4 this year, Brendan moved into
Hepburn House 12 years ago and clearly loves his home. “There are great meals, great
staff and great views,” he says. “I like everything here.”
On a Wednesday, “when I am not being a rock star”, he studies cooking at
Daylesford Neighbourhood House, where his favourite meal is snags on the barbie.
He also heads there on Tuesdays to get involved in their gardening classes and
happily joins in on trips to Melbourne for different excursions.
“I love being involved in different things. I enjoy my life, and everything is good.
“I grew up in Daylesford, went to school here, and I know a lot of people. It has
changed a lot but I like that, it’s all good.”
Brendan was born in Melbourne and grew up with nine brothers and three sisters.
His father worked in the cement industry and Brendan remembers lending a hand
and helping carry bags of cement for delivery. He still has fond memories of his pet
pooch at the time, a labrador called Blossom.
At Hepburn House, he keeps busy doing the vacuuming and still does his own
washing. He will often meet up with his brother Ross and head out for lunch and the
odd pot of beer.
As evident with his Grease role, Brendan loves listening to music and has quite the
collection of tapes from the local opportunity shop. Horses are also an interest. He
also has a ready smile and is always up for a chat with other residents or visitors.
Hepburn House is a progressive aged care centre offering a highly advanced, fully
personalised range of aged care services for residents.
The dedicated staff work to create a comfortable, friendly and diverse community.
Opening later this year is a LGBTIQA+ friends and allies wing along with a 15-bed
state-of-the-art wing to cater for residents with dementia with a gym and theatre.
For information call 5348 8100 or head to www.hepburnhouse.com.au
THE Drop, a $30,000 Hepburn Shire Council public art commission
by artist Yu Fang Chi, has been installed at the Glenlyon Dam.
The sculpture is a 2.5 metre high reflective stainless steel sculpture in the
form of a giant water droplet.
The work was chosen from a shortlist of artist proposals by members of the
council’s Public Art Advisory Committee.
A media release said the committee felt the artist’s concept connected on many
levels to the local area “through the environment, climate change, community
interaction with the dam, springs and river, the Djaara people and the overall
importance of water to our community”.
“A series of circular inlays on the concrete base of The Drop provide clues to
the artist’s intentions. The Dja Dja Wurrung word ‘wanyarram’, (meaning ‘water’)
connects the work to the importance of water to First Nations peoples. The colour of
the inlaid details references the role gold played in the area during the 19th century.”
Mayor Cr Brian Hood said the internationally renowned artist had created an
important addition to public art in the shire.
“This piece fits so beautifully in the landscape. It reflects the surrounding area and
is placed where it is visible right across Glenlyon Dam,” Cr Hood said.
“Public art is meant to be accessible and engaging. It starts conversations and I
expect this will get people talking.”
The track to the artwork is blocked by a locked chain on both sides of the dam.
A council spokesperson later said as “a water production reserve” vehicle access was
restricted.
The council will host an official opening on Thursday, May 4 at 2pm.
Yu Fang Chi is a Taiwan-born, Melbourne-based artist working within textile,
silversmithing, sculpture, and spatial installation.
Chi gained a doctorate from RMIT University and received the Diana Morgan
Gold & Silversmithing Prize in 2018. In 2019, she received Career Development
Grants from the Australia Council for the Arts and International Cultural Exchange
Grants from Taiwan National Culture and Arts Foundation.
Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Kyle Barnes & contributed