Artists

Xani @ Bullarto Hall

June 18, 2026

Xani Kolac is a violinist, composer, and improviser redefining what the electric violin can do in contemporary and improvised music. She has spent over a decade pushing the boundaries of her instrument with her unique sound shaped by influences ranging from Jimi Hendrix and Stuff Smith to art pop pioneers Camille and Bjork, alongside her […]

Songwriter shares songs, stories and life

June 18, 2026

Central Highlands songwriter Glenn Musto will present a special afternoon performance at The Cosmopolitan Hotel in Trentham, blending live music, storytelling and reflections gathered across more than 30 years of songwriting, touring and creative life later this month. Known for his work with cult Australian indie bands Showbag!, The Nordeens and College Fall, Glenn has […]

Ivan’s time to Shine

June 18, 2026

Ivan Carter grew up in “the foggy forested hills of Drummond”, where his parents built a mudbrick house in the 1970s. The area, which was a lovely place to begin life and explore the landscape, recently gave him the inspiration to produce his first album, Shine. He chatted with Donna Kelly. Donna: How did you […]

Swiss Italian Festa

June 16, 2026

The Hepburn Spring Swiss Italian Festa, to be held in October, is looking for amicis – or festival friends or sponsors. The Festa is a not-for-profit community organisation, overseen by a dedicated volunteer committee. The committee’s aim is to make the Festa accessible, inclusive, educational and community-driven. To do this, it relies on the generous […]

Joan Pickering’s life’s work – doing for others

June 7, 2026

The first time I met Smeaton’s Joan Pickering she was encouraging a craft group at Daylesford Library to weave vintage lace, wool and fabric into future projects. Joan, now 86, was clearly in her element after being taken by a community carer to see for herself where surplus materials, sent to the group on earlier […]

The Productive Garden Companion

June 3, 2026

Natasha Morgan was approached last year by Murdoch Books and this year, The Productive Garden Companion, the book she had hoped to find her entire life, was created. She chatted to Kyle Barnes. Kyle: How did it all come about? Natasha: They had seen one of my posts on Instagram and out of the blue […]

Daylesford resident appointed to Craft Victoria

June 2, 2026

Daylesford-based designer and creative practitioner Ty Symonds has been elected as a non-executive director on the board of Craft Victoria, one of Australia’s leading organisations for contemporary craft and making practice. The appointment was confirmed at Craft Victoria’s AGM last week. Ty, who lives and works in Daylesford, brings more than two decades of experience […]

2026 Community Awards

June 2, 2026

Hepburn Shire Council’s Community Awards have recognised the valuable contribution of community members and volunteers in the shire. The awards were presented during Volunteer Week. Citizen of the Year went to Daylesford’s Frank Page, Event of the Year went to to art event Radical Fields and was accepted by Glenlyon’s Ryan Kennedy and the Hepburn […]