News

MOVING can become a habit with some people. Carol and I drifted through our share of flats and houses in St Kilda and Elwood before we finally settled on a five-acre block in Wheatsheaf. It wasn’t that we were stuck, or had lost the urge to pack up and go, it’s just that the thought of living anywhere else just didn’t quite feel right.

THE site of the old Port Phillip Mine in Clunes is nothing but an intriguing pile of dirt and gorse these days. But while every scrap of plant and infrastructure has been long obliterated, the remains still dominate the heart of the town.

THE many friends of Joan Oates remark on her capacity to respond to life with grit and determination. She is seen as a shining example of independence and strength, with a wonderful, sometimes wicked, sense of humour and a sharp, observant mind.

Back tracking

THERE are people in this world who are so truly inspirational, that it’s hard to know where to begin to tell their story.

CR DON Henderson asks to meet me at Caleembeen Park. He proudly tells me he was recently successful in achieving funding after lobbying for 12 years for upgrades at the popular swimming spot, including making it more accessible for those with disabilities.

MANY readers find statistics and reports awfully tedious, so let’s get them out of the way right now.

TRENTHAM Houses have been vying for the title of best Christmas decorations.

Christmas lights in Clunes!

HARRY Scascighinis's lights in West Street have been a Daylesford institution for more than 20 years. He started off small. They all start off small but then the obsession grows.

Song of the Moon

FLOYD first appeared in The Local's Pick Me, pick me column in May. He announced to the world: "I am a charming playful guy looking for an indoor, solo cat home. I am FIV positive, so I need a bit of extra care to keep me healthy. FIV can lower the effectiveness of my immune system when I am stressed but generally cats with the disease can live normal lifespans. I’m worth the effort because I am social and confident."

IT’S no secret that Daylesford and the wider region is a destination of choice for many in the public eye. Some say it’s because they can enjoy privacy. For others it’s a place to blend in with the locals and tourists alike.

THE new councillor for Holcombe Ward is Juliet Simpson, and her connections to the area go back to the late 19th century. Her great-great grandfather, William Stanbridge, settled in the district before the gold rush four generations ago and became a sheep farmer.

IT'S been an 'unprecedented' year and for most Central Highlands residents it's been one of lockdowns but also open spaces for enjoying masked walks. But for some former residents it's been a different year. Some better, some worse. "Out of the frying pan…into ???. In the fourth of our series, former Glenlyon resident Jill de Vos, pictured far right, talks about life in Europe with partner Shelley Beer, right, aboard their boat SV Eucalyptus.

We look at the world once, in childhood The rest is memory – Louise Gluck

COMMEMORATIVE Quilt, a book which charts the creation of a triptych quilt made to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the opening and naming of the Redesdale Bridge on January 23, 1868, has been published.

COUNCILLOR Tessa Halliday’s infectious smile lights up her face as many locals driving past slow down to wave and chat.

MUSICIAN Steve Douglas has been living in Daylesford with his partner and band mate Stacy Kilpatrick for 16 years. He grew up in the USA but decided to stay here after performing at the Harrietville Bluegrass and Traditional Music Convention in 2004. Best if Steve describes the circumstance that made him an Daylesford Aussie.

WHEN Dr Amy Spiers, artist, writer and researcher, chose Woodend’s Hanging Rock to study as part of her artistic research into a significant Australian landmark, she had no idea where her work would take her.

THERE’S a saying about croquet players, according to Kyneton Croquet Club president Dave Wauchope – it’s a game played by the nicest people with the nastiest minds.

Bill Wootton lives and writes poetry in Hepburn Springs and is endlessly appreciative of the sterling work of local CFA and other fire management groups.

A GROUP of Hepburn Shire residents has recently started their own war on waste - and they're looking for input from the wider community to collaborate and contribute across the shire's communities.