The town of Creswick has seen an influx of visitors eager to explore the stunning local landscape since the opening of the Djuwang Baring mountain bike trails.

To help local businesses maximise this potential, the Hepburn Shire Council is facilitating a free “Gear Up for MTB Success” workshop at the Doug Lindsay Recreation Reserve on Monday March 24 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

This interactive workshop is designed to provide valuable insights into how businesses can attract and cater to the diverse needs of mountain bike enthusiasts.

Attendees will learn how to create compelling packages and experiences for riders and their families or friends, collaborate with other local businesses and develop effective marketing strategies.

Mayor, Cr Don Henderson, said that businesses in Creswick and surrounds have an excellent opportunity to grow by connecting with the mountain biking community.

“This workshop is about providing the tools and strategies to succeed in this unique growing market. I encourage local businesses to take up this opportunity and register for the workshop,” said Cr Don Henderson.

The session will look at upcoming opportunities for leveraging local events and aligning business efforts with broader marketing campaigns for the Djuwang Baring trails, ensuring that Creswick becomes a must-visit mountain biking destination.

The workshop will be facilitated by Karen Oliver, an experienced industry development specialist with a strong track record of working with tourism operators, councils and regions to foster business growth and create memorable visitor experiences.

Local business owners, managers and anyone interested in growing their business in Creswick and surrounds are being encouraged to attend the informative session.

This story based on a Hepburn Shire Council media release

Creswick locals are continuing to call for the speed limit on a section of the Creswick-Ballarat Road (Midland Highway) to be lowered from 100km to 80km amid outstanding safety concerns. 

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

Residents say the section of road is particularly ill-suited to a 100km speed limit with traffic frequently turning in and out of the RACV Forest Resort – where the internal grounds speed limit is 20km – directly onto the 100km stretch. 

Residents say the safety of motorists, visiting tourists and pedestrians is the main issue at stake with a permanent bus stop used by school children, visitors and locals an additional factor in the potentially lethal mix.

“It’s actually 20km inside the resort grounds and then right alongside here it’s 100km,” says permanent resident in the RACV estate grounds, Kerry Williams. 

“People plant it when they hit the 100km sign. They come hurtling down that hill and at 100km there’s no way they’re going to be able to stop if someone pulls out or walks out.” 

Hepburn Shire mayor and Creswickian Cr Don Henderson is among those who say the speed limit reduction is needed to help reduce the risk of serious accidents. 

“It’s extremely dangerous and it’s an issue that needs a resolution,” Cr Henderson says.

“It’s a real concern to the residents and to anyone using the Midland Highway and anyone using the resort.” 

Creswick wildlife rescuer Marg Phillips says the 100km stretch of road passes right through a pre-existing wildlife corridor and has a particularly high level of wildlife road accidents, in a mix that’s highly dangerous for both people and wildlife. 

“The sheer number of incidents here causes a lot of pain and suffering, and subsequent distress,” Marg says. “I’ve had to console a number of traumatised tourists, and the tourists will actually often come here to enjoy seeing the wildlife. 

“Many people who collide with our wildlife are often very distressed themselves. And studies show that reducing speed, even by 20km, significantly reduces these incidences. It’s interesting to see just how much car wreckage you find here beside the road.” 

Residents also said additional signage to help warn motorists to be prepared to slow down and take extra care for wildlife crossing in the area would also make a lot of sense. 

Judy Henderson says efforts to see the speed limit reduced date back to at least 2017 and the town’s former Creswick and District Residents Association. 

“I’d just like to know if Regional Roads or Transport Victoria have ever counted the number of wildlife that are getting killed here,” Judy says. 

At the moment, however, it remains unclear as to whether there has been much progress at all towards actioning the request at a Departmental level. 

“Council followed up the matter with the Department of Transport in late 2024 and is yet to receive an update,” Hepburn Shire Council’s Infrastructure and Delivery acting director Sean Ludeke said. 

“Considerations of amendments to speed limits can be complex and it is not uncommon for this assessment to take some time to work through,” he said. 

“However council will continue to advocate for these changes on behalf of the community.” 

In a prepared statement emailed to The Local, after multiple phone calls, Department of Transport and Planning Barwon South West and Grampians executive director Michael Bailey said: “We are continuing to engage with the Hepburn Shire Council around the speed limit on Midland Highway, to explore how we can make our network safer on this stretch of the road.

“We urge motorists to drive to conditions as we continue to monitor the speed limits on Creswick-Ballarat Road. Speed limits are subject to a rigorous review process and are considered on a case-by-case basis.” 

Words & Image: Eve Lamb  

In some great news for music lovers, Victoria’s creative industries minister Colin Brooks visited Odessa at Leaver’s Hotel in Creswick in recent days to announce a new round of the state’s Live Music Festivals Fund.

The fund provides grants to established Victorian festival organisers to expand much-loved music events and bring more festivals to music lovers statewide.

Delivered by Music Victoria on behalf of the Victorian Government, Live Music Festivals Fund applications are now set to open on February 25 and operators of festivals with more than 1000 attendees are eligible to apply for grants of up to $50,000. 

The first round of the Live Music Festivals Fund in 2024 awarded grants to 22 festivals, with almost two-thirds from regional Victoria.

Previously supported festivals included roots and folk music festival CresFest, set to be held over April 4-6, and Echuca-Moama’s popular Riverboats Festival.

CresFest Co-Director Judy Turner was quick to respond to the minister’s new announcement, stating that securing a grant through the Live Music Festivals Fund had been a “game changer” for CresFest this year.

“It means we can finally stop worrying about the last-minute nature of ticket sales, and in another brilliant thing for our town, this funding has enabled CresFest to contribute to making events at the Creswick Courthouse accessible to all,” Ms Turner said.

At a time when the industry is facing a challenging operating environment, the grants aim to help organisers stage their events, creating local jobs for people on and off the stage, and attract music lovers to towns, suburbs and cities across Victoria.

Applications for the Live Music Festivals Fund open on Tuesday, February 25 at 10am and close on Tuesday, March 25 at 2pm. An online information session will be held on Tuesday, March 4 to help people with their applications.  

To find out more about the Live Music Festivals Fund visit musicvictoria.com.au. For information on other Victorian Government support for the music industry, including Music Works and 10,000 Gigs: The Victorian Gig Fund, those keen to know more can visit creative.vic.gov.au.

“Victoria’s music festivals are the lifeblood of communities across our state. They provide jobs for event workers, they’re a rite of passage for young music lovers, and they provide real opportunity for artists to build their careers,” Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks said.

“Music festivals across the country have faced a challenging time, and we are proud to back our much-loved local festivals and the communities that host them.”

Live Music Festivals Fund

• Grant applications open: Tuesday 25 February 2025, 10am
• Applications close: Tuesday 25 March 2025, 2pm
• Info session: Tuesday 4 March 2025

Words: Eve Lamb. Image: Supplied

Hepburn Shire Town Crier, Philip Greenbank, has officiated at the establishment of the “Parliamentary Friendship Group with Thailand” in a special event held this earlier month in Toorak, Melbourne.

The Creswick-based town crier (pictured above, during the event) was invited by the Kingdom of Thailand to officiate at the event that was attended by 300 special guests including representatives from 29 embassies, politicians and many organisations in Victoria that have been involved with the Kingdom of Thailand.

These included Her Excellency Ms Arjaree Sriratanaban, Ambassador to the Kingdom Thailand, Canberra and Mrs Tessa Sullivan OAM, Honorary Consul to the Kingdom of Thailand, Melbourne.

“I opened the evening and then read the proclamation As the Official Town Crier, I now announce the commencement of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Thailand on this day, Monday 3rd February 2025 and acknowledged by all in attendance in the State of Victoria,” Mr Greenbank said in a social media post.

Mr Greenbank, in his post, also said:

“The Parliamentary Friendship Group consists of politicians from all parties and from both State and Federal governments and with Thai’s representation in Australia, to continue the close ties with Thailand.

“Over 300 special guests were in attendance including representatives from 29 embassies, politicians and many organisations in Victoria that have been involved with the Kingdom of Thailand.”

As official town crier for Hepburn Shire since 2015, Mr Greenbank belongs to a formal and unique group of individuals in Australia and worldwide who continue to preserve the town crier tradition dating back to at least 1066 and the Norman conquest of England with William the Conqueror.

Lyster Opera is returning to the historic Creswick Town Hall this April in a rousing new production of Mozart’s great comedy, The Abduction from the Seraglio.

Featuring a vibrant cast and all new sets and costumes, this is a fast paced romp with some of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s most demanding and exciting music.

Part of a wider tour of regional Victoria that also takes in towns like Charlton, Milawa, Castlemaine and Drysdale, the Saturday afternoon matinee performance at Creswick takes place April 26 from 2pm.

Lyster Opera derives its name from William Saurin Lyster (1828-1880), an Irish born entrepreneur who made it his mission to provide opera to the growing population of Australia.

Under Lyster’s auspices, Australians were given their first taste of operatic composers as diverse as Mozart, Donizetti, Auber, Meyerbeer and Wagner.

Local stars such as Marie Carandini and Fanny Simonsen brought these works to a new public.

Lyster’s extraordinary life and career were documented by Harold Love in his book The Golden Age of Australian Opera (Currency Press, 1981) and today the Melbourne suburb of Lysterfield is named in his honour. 

Tickets through TryBooking online and more details available through the Lyster Opera website.

Words: Eve Lamb. Image: Supplied

with Darren Lowe

Stella Savy Avek Frer, Leavers Hotel, Creswick, Friday, February 28 

Stella Savy’s singular blend of funk, soul, reggae and ska is unlike any other performer in Australia.

Her original music is influenced by her Seychelles heritage – the sounds of the islands fused with reggae and ska guitar rhythms.

Her original material showcases her talent as a songwriter and vocalist. Her expressive and soulful vocal style captivates audiences all over Australia.

Stella has been a professional musician for over 20 years. A multi-instrumentalist, Stella is a renowned percussionist and vocalist. 

During the course of her career, Stella has worked with musicians from all over the world and the Avek Frer (with ‘brothers’) line-up is world class – with her musical brothers fully committed to the groove.

Andrew Vincent on double bass and Lesley Fromholtz on drums form a mean rhythm section, Bryn Hills on trombone while Wayne Parker adds pure groove and melody on guitar to Stella’s original roots-based tunes. 

After 30 years together, Kevin Quick and Ivy Owen have said “I do”, marrying in Creswick on February 5.

The pair met in 1994 and spent the next 14 years together travelling around Australia. However Ivy thought she was still married to her first husband and would need a divorce to marry Kevin.

After years of not knowing, in 2024, she found out her first husband had died in 1986. She was free to remarry and the idea became a reality. 

The wedding was held at Creswick Health’s nursing home on Wednesday, February 5 – with Ivy, aged 91 to Kevin’s 83 years, joking she was a cradle snatcher. 

The event was planned by staff at Creswick Health who went to town ensuring the aged care facility was transformed into a wonderful wedding venue. 

The ceremony was attended by many of the residents in the nursing home, as well as family, friends and staff from Creswick Health and was presided over by Ballarat civil celebrant Tania Gunn. 

Tania, who also works full-time in aged and community care for Grampians Health, said it was a beautiful event. “

It brought tears to my eyes because there was so much love for Ivy and Kevin – and event organiser Cindy Stone and her team went above and beyond. 

“They even had a lovely honeymoon suite for them to have a nap and Kevin stayed on for the evening meal. It was all just delightful. 

“They are the most senior couple I have married and are just as in love as the younger couples I’ve married.” 

Tania said Ivy’s dress was beautiful. “It belonged to the grandmother of Cindy, and it looked gorgeous on Ivy. It was a dress with jacket and she had a beautiful necklace of pearls to complement that along with a lovely bouquet. 

“It was a very emotional day and there were lots of tears from everybody there.” 

Kevin, who lives independently in Clunes, proudly uploaded photos to the community’s Facebook page within an hour of the nuptials. 

Words: Donna Kelly | Images: Contributed 

The Hepburn Shire Council is preparing to start applying the first batch of compost to its Parks and Open Spaces trial sites to measure the benefits as part of a Sustainability Victoria funded trial.

The picture above features 40 cubic metres of compost made from kerbside food and garden organics collected from townships across the Hepburn Shire.

The volume of compost produced is less than the volume of material collected because, just like spinach, organic matter dramatically reduces as it ‘cooks’.  

The first stage of composting occurs in the council’s rapid in-vessel composting units at the Creswick Transfer Station. After two weeks, the compost is taken out of the vessels and allowed to cool outdoors while it continues to mature and gets closer to being ready to be applied to plants.

Matthew Daniel of Hepburn Shire Council’s Parks and Gardens team said that much like the story Goldilocks and the Three Bears, good compost needs to “not be too hot, too cold, too wet or too dry”.

He has been closely monitoring the temperature and moisture of the maturing compost to determine when it will be ready to use. Recently, the compost was 40 degrees which is an indicator that it is almost ready to use on sites.

The temperature of the compost indicates how active the thermophilic (heat loving) bacteria are. Now that the temperature is decreasing, the team knows that the bacterial activity is slowing.

Once it reaches an ambient temperature, the compost is considered ‘optimised’ (has the right mix of microbes) and is ready to apply to plants.  

Optimised compost helps to prevent disease but also improves the structure of soil to reduce compaction and increase water retention, a bit like a vaccine does for humans.

Matthew will also test this compost to see the microscopic organisms (like bacteria, microbes, fungi, protozoa) present, before putting it to use.  

Matthew also demonstrated the compost tea making kit he is putting together. Soon he will be adding small amounts of compost to ‘brew’ up a microbe rich tea that can be sprayed around the base of trees to improve their health. 

Council staff are working hard to remove contamination at various stages, mainly by hand. However, it is very difficult to remove completely. They are still seeing some contamination (for example, plastic) ending up in the compost pile.

By far the easiest way to keep the compost clean is for residents to avoid putting any plastic (such as bags) or other rubbish in the lime-green bins.

Those keen to know more can visit the council’s Food and garden organics webpage to find out what you can and cannot put in your kitchen caddy and lime-green lidded bins. 

This story based on a Hepburn Shire Council report

‘Standing room only’ is the way a meeting held in Creswick this month to  discuss local concerns about crime – and try to find solutions – has been described.  

An estimated 130 to 150 local residents gathered at the town’s senior citizens rooms and met with police after a perceived rise in crime in the town has left many  residents deeply concerned and fed up.  

Social media posts had triggered a community discussion about crime, with  residents sharing phone and CCTV footage of individuals in the act of casing parked cars after dark and hooning around the town.

Police say the stats show the area’s crime rate has actually decreased since 2016-17,  many locals say they’re extremely fed up with what they’re seeing.  

Theft of private and public property – ranging from cars to copper piping and  even water meters – property damage, and burglary of local businesses are among the many recent complaints from the wider Creswick-Clunes area.  

In an effort to help tackle the issue, Hepburn shire mayor and Creswick local Cr Don Henderson convened this month’s public meeting, with local police and Member for Ripon Martha Haylett attending.

Cr Henderson says the meeting was constructive, allowing locals a chance to voice their concerns and experiences.

He says the formation of a taskforce bringing together  police, local government and support services, is now a priority.  

“It was positive. It highlighted to police and to Martha that we want something  done,” Cr Henderson said.

“A taskforce needs to be set up and people want it to happen reasonably quickly.  

“We need to tackle it as a community. There are a lot of families that are very  financially stressed, a lot of desperation, a lot of drug issues and a lot of mental health  issues.  

“We want to provide a safety net for people who genuinely need help. The idea of a taskforce is not just to catch the crooks but also to provide some answers to the  social problems.”  

Cr Henderson also believes the meeting resulted in residents gaining useful insights into how policing in Creswick and across the wider region operates, increasing community confidence around reporting crime, and about their ability to  obtain police attendance if required, at any hour.  

Creswick’s Acting Sergeant Marley Mookhoek, who attended, also rates the  meeting as positive.

He said that while the town’s station operates on 16-hour shift rosters, the community does have police coverage 24 hours a day.  

“A main concern of the community was that we are not a 24-hour station but  we do have 24-hour coverage in this area. We have units from Ballarat and Bacchus  Marsh patrolling this area.  

“Right now we’ve got six members (stationed at Creswick) which I believe is the most this station has ever had – and another one is gazetted.  

“I think that the meeting was great for the community to have a talk about what  they want to have addressed – a bigger emphasis on hoon behaviour and a bigger  emphasis on opportunistic crime.”

Acting Inspector Mookhoek said a weekend State Highway Patrol road blitz in the area had immediately followed the meeting and recorded strong results.  

“As a result of the operation two motorists were caught driving under the  influence of drugs, one drink driver was charged, three lost their licences due to excess speed, and we also impounded a car in Creswick yesterday (last Wednesday, January  22).  

“That vehicle was unregistered and was being driven by a 17-year-old driver who was unlicenced. And that State Highway Patrol operation is ongoing.”  

Acting Sergeant Mookhoek said much of the crime that has been occurring  locally is opportunistic, involving properties or cars that have been left unlocked.

He  urged locals to ensure they lock their houses, garages and cars.  “Most of the offences that are getting reported to us are opportunistic thefts.  

Seven out of 10 burglaries in Creswick involve houses being unlocked.  “I just want the community to know that we are here and very enthusiastic about  doing the best we can in helping the community.”

Ripon MP Martha Haylett, who attended the meeting, says she has raised the  issue with Police Minister Anthony Carbines.  

“A lot of great ideas were shared about how we can better address crime locally,” Ms Haylett said in a social media post following the meeting.  

“I have invited the Police Minister to visit and talk through options, and will keep  the community updated on next steps.  “Any victim of crime is one too many and our community deserves to feel safe.”  

Words & image: Eve Lamb  

All are invited to get along to two upcoming Australia Day events organised by local community groups in the Hepburn Shire and taking place on Australia Day, Sunday January 26.

At Trentham there will be a flag raising ceremony with a community BBQ and entertainment. taking place from 10am in the town square.

At Creswick, the town’s Doug Lindsay Recreation Reserve will set the scene for a community event taking place from 9.30am and including speeches followed by morning tea at 10am.

A huge diversity of multicultural music and acts have been announced for this year’s CresFest that’s set to transform the township of Creswick over three days in early April. 

Headliners for the award-winning folk and roots festival happening April 4-6, range from Neil Murray, The Maes and Queenslands’ Joe Geia to Grace Barbe from the Seychelles, Grassy Strings from India and Kofi Kunkpe bringing West African grooves to the mix.

Festival co-directors Judy Turner and Stella Savy say that alongside the many featured concerts, festival-goers will also get the chance to participate in a packed program of workshops.

“Local players will be invited to perform with visiting professionals, in an inspirational two-way collaboration,” Turner says ahead of the multicultural  music feast.

Just before Christmas, the festival secured a $17,000 grant from Festivals Australia.

Festival co-director Stella Savy says the grant will enable a program of music to be taken into each of Creswick’s three primary schools in the lead-up to staging a featured African Extravaganza as part of the festival.

It means local students will be able to learn repertoire with guest artist Ghana’s Kofi Kunkpe and Savy, herself a renown music teacher.

They will then be able to perform, participating in the African Extravaganza set for Saturday afternoon of the festival.

A coming together of cultures, it will also involve local choirs and the Creswick drumming circle as well as the featured African musicians and will “take over the street” Savy says in anticipation.

“We’ve got an incredible line-up of first nations and overseas artists. It’s so exciting.”

Encouraging people to check out the the festival website, Savy says another particularly pleasing aspect is the sizeable component of free community offerings and workshops, with the focus on participation.

In the countdown to the event, Turner says they’re now keen to hear from Creswick locals who may be able to host a muso – or even a group of performers.

She says hosting a performer or group promises to make for a rewarding experience.

It’s a chance to hear the music up close – “getting to understand more of the musician’s life and, of course, getting a free weekend pass for the festival in return for each artist hosted”.  

Ideally host houses will be situated within 5km of the Creswick Town Hall with those interested to know more able to check out the festival’s website and click on ‘get involved’.

And in a new initiative, the visually-minded will have a chance to win an attractive prize by capturing photographic images from the colourful annual event.

Turner says they’re introducing the new competition with festival-goers invited to enter up to three images capturing the festival vibe.

By entering their three top images they’ll be competing to win two day passes or one weekend pass to CresFest 2026. 

“We will be looking for funny, quirky, soulful, heart warming pics we can use in our reporting to partners and in marketing future festivals,” Turner says.

“All good quality images will be considered by a panel of local judges. Phone cameras of course accepted.”

Full conditions and details for the debut photo comp will be announced in early March.

Tickets to CresFest are on sale through the festival website at https://cresfest.com.au/.

Words: Eve Lamb. Images: Supplied

NGV Kids on Tour 2025 has partnered with more than 150 community venues across Victoria this January to offer free art-making activities – and that includes Daylesford, Clunes, Creswick, Trentham and Kyneton. 

Activities include making a playful cat and dog ear headband, illustrating a Kusama-inspired pumpkin and creating fashion designs for paper dolls. Coinciding with the NGV’s summer exhibitions Yayoi Kusama and Cats & Dogs, NGV Kids on Tour celebrates the work of local and international artists and designers, as they draw inspiration from the colour and vibrancy of nature and the world around them. 

In celebration of the Cats & Dogs exhibition, children can design a Furry Friend Headband, a set of cat or dog ears inspired by their own beloved pets or furry animals in their lives that they can take home and wear. 

Kids will also be able to enjoy the work of iconic Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama in the Lots of Dots with Yayoi Kusama activity and children’s book.

Pumpkins have appeared in Kusama’s artworks since a young age growing up on a seed and plant farm, and this drawing activity invites children to add their favourite colours and designs to dots on a pumpkin and write a short poem about the humble fruit. 

Younger children will be able to spot big dots, little dots and shiny dots in Lots of Dots story time sessions. 

Melbourne-based fashion designers and sisters Fatuma and Laurinda Ndenzako from slow fashion label Collective Closets celebrate the beauty and history of the African continent through their designs.

The designers have developed the Fashion, Culture & Creativity with Collective Closets activity where kids and families will create paper dolls and design their own vibrant clothing for the dolls to wear. 

Children will learn about bogong moths in the drawing activity developed by Dr Deanne Gilson, a proud Wadawurrung woman living on her ancestral country at Ballarat.

And the tour invites teenagers to learn about the creative practices of emerging artists and build skills for their own art portfolios through an activity developed with Gamilaroi Yinarr weaver and textile artist Sophie Honess. Link: www.ngv.vic.gov.au/kids-on-tour 

In a new initiative for this year’s CresFest, festival-goers will have a chance to win an attractive prize by capturing photographic images from the April event.

Organisers of the Creswick folk and roots music festival are introducing the new competition with visitors invited to enter up to three great images capturing the vibe of the 2025 festival coming up April 4-6.

By entering their three top images they’ll be competing to win two day passes or one weekend pass to CresFest 2026. 

“We will be looking for funny, quirky, soulful, heart warming pics we can use in our reporting to partners and in marketing future festivals and you can help out,” CresFest founder and co-director Judy Turner says.

“All good quality images will be considered by a panel of local judges. Phone cameras of course accepted.”

Organisers say that full conditions and details for the debut CresFest photo comp will be announced on March 1.

Words: Eve Lamb

Organisers of this year’s upcoming CresFest folk and roots music festival are keen to hear from Creswick locals who think they may be able to host a muso – or maybe even a group of performers – over the weekend of the festival in early April.

In an update on preparations ahead of the April 4-6 event, the award-winning festival’s co-director and founder Judy Turner says hosting a performer or a group promises to make for a rewarding experience.

She says it’s a chance to get to hear the music up close, getting to understand more of the musician’s life, “and, of course, getting a free weekend pass for the festival in return for each artist hosted”.  

The requirements of hosting a performer or group “are not onerous, and you can even use an on-site  caravan or cabin to offer a bed, or space for a tent or campervan in  your garden – all types of hospitality considered”.

Ideally host houses will be situated within 5km of the Creswick Town Hall. Those interested to know more about hosting can check out the  festival’s website online and click on ‘get involved’.

Words: Eve Lamb. Image: Supplied

Dean Recreation Reserve president Brian Maher has presented a couple of cheques to some well deserving locals.  

The cheques were the result of this year’s annual Dean Sheep Dog Trials, otherwise  known as The Old Sniff Classic, and a must-do competition on the calendars of many  of the state’s top sheepdog handlers and their highly trained working dogs.  

First up was a $1000 cheque that Brian presented to Creswick’s John Curtin Aged Care via CEO Steve Bruechert followed by a $200 cheque for the Newlyn-Dean CFA Brigade accepted by the brigade’s Dominic Prendergast.  

Mr Bruechert said the money would go toward ongoing efforts to raise funds to  purchase a new minibus while Mr Prendergast said the money would likely go toward  a new floor covering for a brigade shed.    

Words: Eve Lamb