Words: Eve Lamb. Image: Supplied

Melbourne African Traditional Ensemble (MATE) are headed to Creswick later this month to bring their irresistible sound to Odessa at Leavers Hotel.

Set for 7pm, Saturday June 28 this gig promises to be lively and rhythm-rich.

The Melbourne African Traditional Ensemble is a Pan African music project that brings together a range of traditional instruments from different parts of Africa to create new musical concepts based on the principles of Ujamaa.

The idea of Ujamaa emerged from the writing and speeches of Tanzania’s first president, Julius K Nyerere, from the late 1950s and into the 1960s.

Usually translated as “familyhood,” it was a form of African socialism that blended broadly conceived socialist principles with a distinctly “communitarian” understanding of African societies, and a strong commitment to egalitarian societies.

More details are available through the venue’s website with booking online via Humanitix.

Words & Images: Eve Lamb

A bit like that cantankerous yet amazing pud itself, Creswick’s Magic Pudding Playground is serving up some fabulous new “slices”.

New colourful character bollards, similar in style to those at Geelong’s popular Eastern Beach waterfront area, are set to be installed at the much-loved local playground in coming months. More on that later.

Establishment of the playground as part of Lindsays Arts Trail, dates back over a decade and celebrates the town’s famous creative Lindsay family, and particularly the iconic Aussie children’s book, The Magic Pudding created by Norman Lindsay.

The Magic Pudding is Norman Lindsay’s best known children’s book. He wrote it in 1917, partly to settle an argument with his friend Bertram Stevens of The Bulletin and Art in Australia, who maintained that children liked to read about fairies, whereas Lindsay said they liked to read about food.

So, Norman Lindsay cooked up a whimsical children’s book that is still loved around the world by both adults and children today.

For more than a century The Magic Pudding amused generations of children and their parents with the fun and harrowing adventures of Bunyip Bluegum, Bill Barnacle, Sam Sawnoff, the Puddin’ thieves, and Albert, the cheeky ‘never-ending’ pudding.

Creswick was the birthplace and home for many members of the famed Lindsay family including Norman who was also a famous artist, wrote 11 comic novels and illustrated 30 other books.

Proud of their Lindsay family heritage, today’s Creswick locals say planned developments of the Magic Pudding Playground had stalled going back quite a few years ago.

However a dedicated small committee of locals recently got back on the case and has been working hard to see new additions and developments.

Among the committee members, Creswick’s Margaret Giles (pictured above) says those efforts are now yielding the kind of results that kids and families can enjoy.

These include the very recent installation of children’s steppers and balancing planks, a picnic setting and seating  along with some fun new pieces of playground equipment.

New signage featuring some text and illustrations from the original book is also soon to go in, with funding for the various developments coming from multiple sources including two sausage sizzles held at Bunnings, a Bendigo Community Bank Creswick and District, Hepburn Shire Council, Creswick Garden Lovers weekend, state Tidy Towns funding and federal funding.

Margaret says the committee’s efforts have also been assisted through contributions of recycled salvaged timber, and also from the area’s Timber Training School.

Now she says they’re eagerly anticipating the addition of some life-sized colourful bollards featuring six favourite characters inspired by The Magic Pudding book.

“The bollards  are interpretations of the characters and they’re being painted by Talbot artist Penny Hetherington,” Margaret says.

“There are six bollards and we’re hoping to see them installed in September or October,” she says.

“We’ve also been donated a small children’s slide and we’re talking to council to get that OK-ed and approved to install as well. It’s very expensive to install  playground equipment and it all has to be approved and ticked-off.

“We’re also taking about getting some decorative mosaics, we want to reinvigorate the (existing timber) hut as well and also put a rudder on the (playground’s existing timber) boat.”

Fellow committee member Chrissy Austin is also manager of the town’s neighbourhood centre which auspices the working group to assist with fundraising and profile-raising for the playground.

She also has a couple of primary school aged sons who are among the many local children who use and appreciate the playground.

“I don’t think there’s a family with young kids in the area here who wouldn’t use and enjoy the playground,” Chrissy says.

“Yes, we’re only a small committee and we’re always keen to welcome new members to the working group. If anyone is interested in contributing and becoming part of the group they can contact me at the neighbourhood centre.”

Margaret says that as the committee looks to continue its work at the much-loved playground it’s also planning to hold another sausage sizzle at Bunnings in the future and would welcome volunteers.

Those keen to help out can contact Margaret on 0419326453.

In partnership with The Vet Project, the Hepburn Shire Council is again offering free cat desexing, microchipping, and first year of council registration.

The upcoming session is set for Friday 20 June at the Doug Lindsay Recreation Reserve in Creswick.

Cat owners keen to take advantage of the free session and book a spot for their cat need to be a resident of Hepburn Shire. Proof of address required They must also hold a current concession card.

A limit of two cats per household applies to the upcoming session.

Limited spots are available, with local cat owners being advised to get in quick and Click here to book a spot for their moggie.

Celebrated musicians Dave Graney and Clare Moore play Odessa at Leaver’s Hotel in Creswick this Saturday, evening, May 24.

Dave Graney and Clare Moore released two albums in 2024. The first was ‘(strangely)(emotional)’, an exotic, lyrical album that involved interior journeys of memory of family and time and place.

Journeying through inner and outer worlds with jazz voicings, vibes, keys, guitars and harp. A very much Covid influenced work, including the affectionate blues Poor Covid.

The second was the hot and sprawling ‘I Passed Through Minor Chord In A Morning’ which was an auto harped, cut and pasted, improvised, deep fried, distorted hip hop beaten affair that came with a t-shirt.

When they play, they bring a vast songbook and bring it to life with vibes, keys, guitars, voices and rhythm machines.

More details are available through the venue’s website.

Hepburn Shire residents are being invited to register to attend a free Emergency Services Panel and Morning tea event being hosted by the Hepburn Shire Council in Creswick next month.

Free to attend, the panel will take place in the Creswick Town Hall from 9.45am on Thursday, June 16 and offers a chance to hear about the high level arrangements that are in place for Victoria, followed by panel members from the likes of CFA, Police and SES.

In Australia, the risks that we face are becoming more frequent and complex. Whilst the Hepburn community is strong and resilient, there is more that can be done to prepare for, respond to, and recover well from disasters. ​

Experience shows that communities that are well connected, and have done work to prepare for disaster are able to cope better and recover faster from the impacts.

This upcoming Emergency Services Panel event will provide attendees with an understanding of the arrangements in place in Victoria, as they hear representatives from a range of different agencies that have legislated roles and responsibilities as part of the Emergency Management framework in Victoria.

Each will be asked the same two questions about their agency and given up to four minutes to present to the community including:

What are the roles and responsibilities their agency during and immediately after an emergency? (ie. what does your agency do?)
What can the community expect from their agency during an emergency?

Bookings to the free event are available through Eventbrite online.

The Hepburn Shire Council is preparing to celebrate the contribution of local volunteers with two special free community dinners.

National Volunteers Week (19-25 May) is fast approaching and to celebrate the contributions of local volunteers and community groups, the council is inviting residents to join one of the volunteer week dinners as a thank you for the difference volunteers make to the wider community.

The upcoming dinners are set for Daylesford on Monday 19 May, and Creswick on Wednesday 21 May.

It’s a chance to attend, connect with others and celebrate with free tickets here: https://hepburn.eventbrite.com.au.

This event is alos being made possible with the support of the Victorian state government.

Geoff Achison has toured the world delivering memorable solo shows with his beloved Gibson guitar and this May he’s headed to Creswick for a gig at Odessa @ Leavers.

A master of his instrument, Geoff employs a truly stripped-back approach, using no electronic loops or gadgets, treating his old guitar like an orchestra with sweeping chords, and cascading arpeggios.

His latest album, ‘Don’t Play Guitar Boy’ held the #1 spot on the Australian Blues and Roots Airplay chart for two months running.

His upcoming gig happens May 30 and is a prime chance to witness a scintillating show and get your fix of old-school blues, fabulous fingerstyle and heartfelt songwriting.

More details are on the venue’s website and tickets are available through Humanitix online.

Daniel Champagne lives and breathes live music. Playing upwards of 250 shows a year he’s passionate about spreading it around the the world and coming up this May he’s bringing it to Creswick.

Growing up in the Bega Valley, on the Far South Coast of New South Wales the story goes that the young singer-songwriter and one of a kind guitar virtuoso first picked up his instrument of choice as a 5-year-old following in the footsteps of a musical father.

He began writing songs at 12, training classically throughout his teens and performing wherever he could, honing his craft and developing the dynamite live show that he is renowned for today.

At 18 he finished school, turned professional and hit the road without looking back.

The following 15-plus years have seen him independently release 7 studio albums, tour relentlessly around the globe, play some of the biggest festivals under the sun and share stages with the likes of Tommy Emmanuel, John Butler, Lucinda Williams, Ani DiFranco, Judy Collins and Rodrigo y Gabriela.

He has been described as “the finest guitar player of this generation”, “a leading light in acoustic music” and “a performer that must be seen to be believed”.

Daniel plays Odessa @ Leavers in Creswick on Friday May 23 from 7pm with more details available through the venue’s own website and tickets through Humanitix.

A determined group of Creswick locals is keen to progress efforts to establish a gravel cycle and pedestrian pathway running along Ascot Road and linking the town to Gillies Road.

Safety is the main motivator behind the proposal that has already garnered support from Hepburn Shire Council, Central Highlands Rural Health, state MP for Ripon Martha Haylett, and federal MP for Ballarat Catherine King.

The group is now urging more people to support their efforts to see the proposal through to reality by adding their names to their online petition, making their support known or becoming an active part of their efforts.

“We’ve got unanimous council support and strong community support,” Creswick’s Lisa Rodier says.

“What we want is a low impact path that blends in with the environment and that would run from Elizabeth Street (where the existing concrete footpath ends) to Long Point Bushland Reserve on Gillies Road.

Group members say the road is extremely dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists to navigate, yet it is heavily used by young families, children and older residents getting some exercise or dog-walking.

 “There is no walking or cycle path until you reach Elizabeth Road, and cyclists and pedestrians are forced onto the road, competing with trucks and tip traffic often going over 60km per hour,” group member Sophie Ellis says

Lisa says they’d also like to see the 80km section further out reduced to 60km.

“It’s very dangerous. There are heaps of blind corners,” says Creswick Neighbourhood Centre manager Chrissy Austin, among those eager to see a safer means to stroll or cycle into town along the road, a popular residential area for families with young children.

“The other issue is the kids who use this road to get to the bus stop along here. The traffic is fast and It is unsafe.”

“It’s really scary,” Lisa says.

“And when cars get to the edge of town, here, they just take off.

“We have costed it. There is funding available but most of the funding requires matching funding.

“We  want to submit a funding application but  first we need a management plan. We’d like to see a commitment from the shire to assist in developing a management plan.”

While safety is the primary motivator, those pushing for the path say it would also be great for encouraging locals to exercise and enjoy a more environmentally friendly means of getting about.

Lisa says that ultimately they’d like to develop the project in several stages, extending it to provide a loop connecting to the Creswick Creek and including creek-side beautification plantings as well.

Those keen to find out more about the pathway proposal and sign the online petition can go to https://chng.it/2rLPFgFnfj

Words & Image: Eve Lamb

Jazz lovers are in for a treat as Creswick venue Odessa at Leavers Hotel hosts Ilaria Crociani with Mirko Guerrini and Aussie jazz legend Paul Grabowski in performance this Saturday evening April 26.

Currently touring in Australia with the support of Creative Australia to present her latest work for the ABC JAZZ, Ilaria Crociani is an award winning lyricist and composer who migrated to Australia in 2013.

In her first appearance at Odessa At Leaver’s Hotel, Ilaria will perform pieces from her latest recording “Connecting The Dots”, a concept album of original vocal jazz songs inspired by significant women of Australian history and beyond.

“Connecting The Dots” is not just a simple collection of songs. It is also an inspirational anthology of nine stories, all with a unique female character at their centre.

The album weaves together narratives of hardship, vulnerability, resoluteness and redemption to paint an uplifting picture of resilience and hope.

With all lyrics by Ilaria Crociani, this intensely coloured repertoire derives from the juxtaposition of Ilaria’s compositional style to the pens of her longtime collaborators Mirko Guerrini (sax, duduk) and Niko Schäuble (drums) and the inimitable and sophisticated voice of legendary pianist Paul Grabowsky – all of whom will be with her on stage.

Ilaria has worked with artists such as Tony Gould A.M, John Griffith A.O, Geoff Hughes, Ben Robertson and managed her jazz quintet Radiosuccessi.

Since 2018, she has been the soloist singer of Exstasy Morricone, a septet showcasing a monographic collection of psychedelic compositions authored in the ‘70s by Ennio Morricone.

A semi-finalist with her original compositions in the 2020 and 2023 International Songwriting Competition (USA), Ilaria is a recipient of the “2021 ABC Classic and Jazz Composer Commissioning Fund and a 2021 Arts Grant from the City of Melbourne.

In 2022 on commission by the ABC Kids Listen she produced “Evergreen” a small collection of children’s songs with bilingual lyrics in Italian and English.

More details can be found on the venues website or at https://events.humanitix.com/ilaria-crociani-4lfa9737.

A range of community Anzac Day commemorative services are planned to take place throughout the Hepburn Shire later this month.

Organisers are inviting everyone to attend any of the community events that include the following:

Creswick-Smeaton RSL Sub-Branch

Anzac Day – Saturday, April 25

Wreaths can be ordered up to April 19 via creswicksmeatonrslsec@gmail.com for $40.

Creswick 5.40am – Dawn Service – assemble at the Cenotaph (cnr Albert and Raglan streets) for a 5.50am start followed by the Gunfire Breakfast in the Senior Citizens Centre. (Water Street next to the Town Hall).

9.30am – Service at the Soldiers Graves at the Creswick Cemetery, 141 Clunes Road.

10am – Service at the Memorial Stones, RSL Hall, 60 Albert Street.

10.15am – Anyone wishing to take part in the March to assemble at the Splash Park (Bottom of Albert Street).

10.30am – March commences. Following the March – Anzac Day Service – Creswick Cenotaph. Incorporating “60th Anniversary of the Creswick-Smeaton RSL Field of Crosses”.

12.30pm – Two-up at the front of the RSL Hall.

Kingston

Kingston Friends of the Avenue Anzac Day service and wreath laying at Cenotaph. Time: 9am at the corner of Victoria and Kingston roads, Kingston.

Daylesford

Dawn service at 6.30am

March to the Cenotaph, Burke Square, at 10.30am for a service at 10.45am.

Hepburn

Service at 10th Street at 8am.

Eganstown

Service at 9am.

A group of creative, focused and determined Creswick women will soon open  Art on Albert, a not-for-profit art gallery for local and regional artisans,  including painters, woodwork, ceramics, pottery, textile artists, sculptors and  photographers.  

Creswickians have long talked about what a bonus an art gallery would be to  the town and the region.

Fortunately, a group of like-minded people have formed a committee and made this a reality.  By good fortune, the perfect space recently became available at 86 Albert Street.  

Negotiations were finalised with work commencing in record time to fit out the space.  Julie Reed is president, with Heather Ingram treasurer and Traycie Walker secretary.

Interest in the gallery has been fantastic and thanks to members of the  committee – Glenis Edwards, Christine Dobson (pictured with her work Blue Moon),  Jo Flood, Jennifer Powell and Christine Reed working together to have the gallery ready in time for CresFest – visitors will be able to purchase quality art work.  

As a not-for-profit gallery the aim is to return a surplus from sales of art back to  the community to organisations like Shannon’s Bridge or the Men’s Shed.

Exhibitors  will pay for a space and will be able to leave their work for up to three months.  Ms Dobson said they were keen to encourage young and emerging artists by  providing a wall where young people can proudly display their art.  

Art on Albert, 86 Albert Street, Creswick, will be staffed by volunteers and opens  on Sunday, March 30. It will then be open Thursday to Monday from 10am to 4pm.   

Words & image: Fiona Watson  

Many years of lobbying to see the speed limit reduced from 100km to a uniform 80km on a section of the Midland Highway at Creswick now look as though they will soon pay off for locals concerned about safety.

“We have committed to reduce the speed limit on the Midland Highway outside Creswick by the end of May,” a Victorian Government spokesperson has confirmed.

Creswick locals had long lobbied to have the short 100km section of the main road out of town on the Ballarat side of Creswick brought in line with the connecting 80km limit, amid safety concerns.

Last April, responding to the concerns, the Hepburn Shire Council resolved to contact the Department of Transport seeking the proposed speed reduction on the short stretch of Midland Highway that passes the main entrance to Creswick’s RACV Forest Resort. 

With the 100km section also passing through a pre-existing wildlife corridor, the high rate of wildlife trauma in the area has also been highlighted as devastating for wildlife, increasing the danger for motorists and frequently upsetting visitors and locals.

Until now, however, the council had not heard back from the department in response to the request it submitted for the 80km section to be extended.

But after The Local recently ran a story examining where the issue was at, and amid further inquiries lodged by locals, news came through, via the office of local MP Martha Haylett, confirming that:

“DTP (Department of Public Transport) has reviewed the speed zone on the approach to township of Creswick.

“Based on the number of access points in this location, including the RACV Resort entrance and O’Keefes Dam recreation area, it has been assessed that extension of the existing 80km/h zone is considered appropriate.

“DTP will now seek approval for the implementation of the 80 km/h speed limit extension.”

Among the many Creswick residents pleased to hear of the development, local wildlife rescuer Marg Phillips says bringing the 100km section in line with the existing 80km zone will significantly improve safety for locals, visitors and wildlife.

“There has been research done in the Geelong area that found reducing the limit by just 20km reduced kanagaroo hits by over 50 percent,” she said.

“They found it made a huge difference. I hope they get these (new 80km) signs up before winter because that’s the worse period for roo hits along there. And then the road is wet and icy and even more dangerous.”

Hepburn Shire Council mayor Don Henderson has also welcomed the news and says he expects it will now take four to six weeks to see the 100km section brought in line with the adjoining 80km section.

“It’s so important to locals and people who live and work in the (RACV) resort. They run the gauntlet all the time, and for people who use that road, and particularly for people who are visitors and who don’t know the road,” Cr Henderson said.

Words & Image: Eve Lamb

The Florence Thomson Tour is heading to Ballarat, and the Daylesford  Amazing Mill Markets, this weekend.  

Created in 2017, the tour is a unique rally for women drivers celebrating the  pioneering spirit and contribution of women to Australian motoring.

The tour was  aptly named after Florence Thomson, who, in 1905, was the sole female entrant in the Dunlop Reliability Motor contest from Sydney to Melbourne.

She was one of the  16 entrants who successfully completed the five-day trial, driving a six horsepower  Wolseley, over what was then nothing more than 562 miles of dirt track between the  capital cities.  

This year more than 95 vehicles have entered, ranging from veteran to vintage  then to more modern classics and over 200 people are participating as either drivers  or passengers.

All participants are encouraged to dress to match the era of the vehicle that they are driving.  The community is invited to see the tour vehicles and talk to the participants at  Windmill Drive, Ballarat on Sunday, March 30 from 9am to 11.30pm.  

The day before, Saturday, March 29, many drivers will head to Kingston and Creswick before stopping at the Daylesford Mill Markets about noon.  

The powerful rhythms of Africa are not only coming to Creswick, they’re becoming part of the lives of a whole new generation of locals.

In the lead up to CresFest (April 4-6) children at each of the town’s three primary schools are participating in some pretty special workshops, learning how to play African drumming rhythms and to sing traditional African songs.

Ghanaian musician and master drummer Kofi Kunkpe and acclaimed local musician and music educator Stella Savy are leading the workshops.

The children will then get to perform what they’ve learned as part of the free Rhythms of African Extravaganza that’s set to transform a large whack of the town’s main street on Saturday April 5 at 4pm as part of the festival.

Stella, who is also co-director of the festival says it’ll be a prime chance for everyone and anyone to enjoy the sounds of Africa and get involved in the fun themselves.

The African extravaganza and the in-school workshops have been enabled with a $17,6000 grant through the federal government’s Festivals Australia grants initiative. It’s also seen Stella go into the schools earlier this term to teach the African songs in original languages.

“They are singing in about five different Ghanaian languages,” says Stella whose gift for teaching Aussies of all ages to sing in multicultural languages is the stuff of local legend.

Stella says the funding has been particularly valuable for the local schools in delivering music education for the students, particularly as two of the three local schools do not otherwise have music programs already in place.

“It’s a great joy seeing kids learn new things,” Kofi Kunkpe told The Local in the lead up to the in-school workshops.

The charismatic Ghanaian musician says the experience of stepping out of normal routine and into a different musical world is often transformative and surprising for the children, and also for parents hearing what their kids have learned.

“At the end of the day, when they get it, it makes me happy,” Kofi said.

The Rhythms of Africa Extravaganza will also feature other talented musos including Creswick Drum Circle, and the Creswick Chorus who have also been busy learning songs in original languages especially for the event.

“We’ve got a world class music festival happening in this town so I think it’s fantastic for the children to have this opportunity to interact with it in a real way,” Stella says.

“To have an opportunity to perform at a big event like that is the kind of thing that they’ll remember for the rest of their life.

“The main thing that I see is joy. Kids who are allowed to be loud and move and sing and dance and I know that they’re all going to love playing the drums with Kofi.

“And that in itself is worth it. In these times, joy is not always easy to find. That’s where music plays a crucial role in everyone’s life.”

The wider CresFest festival features a great multicultural diversity of top national and international music talent and CresFest co-director Judy Turner says if you haven’t already it’s time to move fast and snap up a ticket.

Words: Eve Lamb.