Perfect conditions shone down on the ChillOut Parade on Sunday, March 9, transforming Daylesford’s Vincent Street into a sea of circus-themed razzle-dazzle.

It was a bumper turnout for the Rainbow Circus Spectacular-themed event. These photos capture just a bit of the colour and vibe.

Images: Eve Lamb

There are so many festivals and exhibitions to choose from as the Labour Day long weekend rolls into the Central Highlands.

First up, ChillOut. The long-running LGBTIQA+ festival is huge and happening right over the weekend, from March 7 to 11.

There are too many events to list here but the Grand Parade along Vincent Street on Sunday is always a hit (feel free to cheer on The Local) and then head to Victoria Park to relax for the afternoon. Check out pages 14 and 15 (This edition of The Local, online and hard copy) for loads more ideas.

If art is more your thing, head to Newstead and surrounds for the Newstead Open Studios Art Trail happening over the long weekend and also March 16 and 17.

There are plenty of talented artists who are opening their studio doors so people can take a peek inside to see how they work and create their amazing pieces.

Head to page 7 to read about ceramicist Sarah Koschak, whose fascination with pottery began as a small child and never really left.

And Newstead Hub is hosting Mysterious Landscapes over the weekends of March 2 & 3, 9 & 10 & 11, 16 & 17 and 23 & 24 with the opening on Sunday, March 3 at 2.30pm.

Another great event is the Clunes Historic Vehicle Show, happening at the Clunes Showground on Sunday, March 10. There are trucks, cars, tractors, engines and caravans on display – maybe make a weekend of it and take up the offer of camping.

Women are also celebrated in March with International Women’s Day on Friday, March 8. The Cosmopolitan Hotel is holding an inaugural charity lunch that day with proceeds to Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health.

And the International Women’s Day Heather Mutimer Honour Roll event will be held at the Daylesford Town Hall on Thursday, March 7.

And that’s all just for starters. Read the rest of The Local for more great events, festivals and exhibitions happening throughout March. Oh, Blackwood Woodchop & Easter Carnival is coming up. Check out the back page. Words: Donna Kelly

Creswick’s Neville Cartledge OAM and Pat Tacey have shared the top honour and jointly been named Hepburn Shire Citizen of the Year.

Alice Newitt was named Young Person of the Year, with a special commendation to the youth band, Elysium, while ChillOut Festival took out Event of the Year.

Mr Cartledge has long been a contributor to the Creswick community. He began raising funds for the Creswick Hospital in 1953, and joined the Creswick Hospital Board in 1970. In 1983 he became a foundation board member of the John Curtin Memorial Hostel Committee.

He has made an enormous contribution to scouting in the district over his 70 years of service, during which time he trained 33 Queen Scouts, an extraordinary number from one scout group, and is also a Scout Life Member for Victoria.

He has also been a member of the CFA since he was 17, last year marking 68 years of service.

Mr Tacey has also made an incredible contribution to the Creswick community. His experience as an educator and leader has come to the fore in his work leading community resilience and disaster recovery efforts in Creswick, as well as fundraising for Creswick residents in need, distributing essential resources and supporting mental health programs in Hepburn Shire.

Mr Tacey works collaboratively with groups and organisations and is described as always having the community at heart.

Ms Newitt is an active volunteer with the Clunes Football Netball Club, Clunes Booktown Festival, Hepburn Shire Youth Forum and as a dance leader for young people through Clunes Neighbourhood House.

ChillOut Festival took out the Event of the Year award, an event that brought more than 30,000 people to the shire last year. ChillOut is an incredibly successful, fun and colourful event which has grown to become Australia’s largest queer country pride festival since its inception in 1997.

Others nominated for Citizen of the Year were Michelle Clifford, Wendy McKillop, Trish McMahon, Jenni Sewell and Margaret Orr.

Other Event of the Year nominees were Calembeen Parkrun Launch, CresFest 2023, Spud Hut Tours during Spudfest and Creswick NAIDOC Week Celebrations.

The council will create a new category for the 2025 awards. This will be the Hepburn Together Award, which will recognise and celebrate the contribution of community groups and organisations. Nominations for the 2025 Community Awards will open later this year.

Words & image: Contributed

SOME fresh faces and feel-good favourites join the line-up as ChillOut
Festival approaches.
Choir of Hard Knocks and Lion will perform at the annual LGBTQIA+
pride festival event.

Australia’s most famous choir was introduced to the public in 2006 in the award-
winning ABC TV series Choir of Hard Knocks. Now in its 16th year, they continue
on their journey, with some of the original members from the award-winning
documentary, to ChillOut Festival’s annual carnival day.
The choir is an incredible tool for members to overcome social isolation and
homelessness through the joy and connection of singing.
Also joining the line-up is queer, black electropop/alt artist, singer, songwriter,
producer and dancer Lion who recently wowed audiences at Big Sound festival and
the Midsumma Festival Victoria’s Pride street party.
They join a star-studded rainbow line-up including MCs Nate Byrne and Art
Simone, Kate Miller-Heidke, Karen From Finance, The Lost Girls, Cerulean (Miss
First Nation 2021), Jude Perl, Elektra Lite, Tuck Shop Ladies, Greg Gould, Freddie
Merkin, Dean Arcuri, DJ Eddie, Diamond and York and DJ Du Jour.
Festival ambassadors Rudy Jean Rigg, commissioner for LGBTQIA+
Communities Dr Todd Fernando, Sally Goldner and Jude Munroe will also make
appearances.
Festival director Emma Ireland said that ChillOut Festival was for the whole
LGBTQIA+ community, young and old, city and country. “We’re so excited that
Lion will bring his high energy, joyful performance to the stage in Daylesford.”
The ongoing and regular contact the Choir of Hard Knocks provides to the
members has had a profound effect on their lives, leading many of the original 52
back to either part-time or full-time study or work.
Many had become socially excluded due to their socio-economic circumstances,
and the choir has enabled them to acquire new skills and rebuild personal confidence
and self-esteem, which Ms. Ireland said “is the goal of ChillOut Festival for the
broader LGBTQIA+ community, and the essence of this year’s theme ‘Find Your
Wings’”.
“ChillOut Festival was founded on the principle of being a safe space for people
to be themselves, connect, to create and celebrate community. The Choir of Hard
Knocks is a gorgeous example of that in action. ChillOut is a space for people to
overcome social isolation to connect with community. We are thrilled to have them
perform at ChillOut Festival.”
The full festival program features over 50 events running over five days around
Daylesford and Hepburn Springs. Events will range from large late night outdoor
dance parties, circus, drag and comedy shows, and a Sunday morning street parade, to
the more intimate, like art gallery exhibitions, social drinks, speed dating, all-gender
sport events, and rainbow storytime.
ChillOut Festival will run from March 9-13 (Victoria’s Labour Day long
weekend) in Daylesford and Hepburn Springs, with events also organised in nearby
towns Clunes and Creswick.
Lion will perform at Ballroom Blitz on Saturday, March 11, 8pm–midnight.
Choir of Hard Knocks will perform at Carnivale, Victoria Park on Sunday, March
12, 11am-5pm.