January 13th, 2026Glen making his mark at Hepburn House

Glen Heyne is the eldest fourth-generation member of Adelaide’s leading nursery, where he worked until his two younger brothers finished school.
He then entered the world of journalism writing for gardening columns for newspapers including The Chronicle, South Australia’s Weekly Times counterpart
He then moved into PR and was promotions manager for the South Australian Festival of the Arts for some time.
Melbourne beckoned and Glen became the promotions manager of the Jam Factory Shopping Centre, where he met his future wife, Peta.
They made the perfect team and when he finally left the centre, both Glen and Peta ran the Prahran Festival for a few years.
The couple also wrote a number of gardening books together with Glen, and his smooth voice, always moonlighting with radio gigs – in SA and Victoria – about all things gardening.
Victorian stations included 3AW, 3DB and 3UZ – with the latter he drove into Melbourne every Sunday for a five-hour stint on a lifestyle program, covering anything from legal matters, finance, pets and motoring.
When 3UZ moved to a sports format, Glen was given then midnight to dawn shift doing talk-back radio chatting with people who loved his friendly manner and gentle advice.
Meanwhile, he and Peta had made the move to Daylesford in 1986 and bought The Coach House, a craft shop, tea room and nursery.
They then bought Daylesford Cottage Directory, an accommodation business, in 1995. After a year, Glen left radio and joined Peta full-time.
Glen, always keen to be a part of the community, also put his hand up and was voted onto council for a year for the then Shire of Daylesford and Glenlyon.
He was also involved in the Daylesford Cinema doing all of the programs and projection for about five years. And both Peta and Glen were on the steering committee of the Daylesford District Bendigo Bank.
The pair finally retired in 2015 and headed overseas travelling around Asia and Europe – with plenty of river cruises.
Peta said Glen started having some health issues last year and moved into Hepburn House in July for some respite care. When those issues failed to resolve, the care became permanent in September.
And Glen has already joined the aged care facility’s cinema group, and happily took on the role of Crocodile Dundee in its annual calendar.
Peta said Hepburn House was wonderful.
“The staff are great, meals are all cooked in-house, which is great, and Glen has found friendship and takes part in all the activities. There are also outings like lunch at Trentham or a trip to Ballarat or the Chocolate Mill. And I take him out most weeks. They really encourage everyone to be active.
“He does his exercises in the morning and then takes part in activities and loves a chat. After he finishes his meals he always joins the ladies’ table for a chat.
“Shelley’s (manager Shelley Simpson) door is always open, and the staff and nurses are wonderful.
“I couldn’t fault Hepburn House. And at the end of the day, he’s still my Glen.”