The Hepburn Springs Sound Shell sets the scene for community carols this Sunday evening from 7pm.

Live brass band music and a visit from Santa are all part of the family-friendly program that runs through to 8.30pm.

Around the region there’s plenty of festive season fun happening with many special Chrismas church services, masses and events scheduled in the lead-up to Christmas, and on Christmas day as well.

Here’s a bit of what’s scheduled:

Catholic Ministry District of Creswick, Daylesford & Wendouree

Christmas Mass Times 2024

Christmas Eve – Tuesday, December 24, 6pm. Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church, Wendouree

Christmas Eve – Tuesday, December 24, 8.30pm. St Peter’s Catholic Church. Daylesford

Christmas Day – Wednesday, December 25, 9am. St Augustine’s Catholic Church, Creswick

Christmas Worship at Christ Church Anglican 54 Central Springs Road, Daylesford

Christmas Eve – December 24, 9pm – Eucharist

Christmas Day – December 25, 9am – Crib Service & Holy Communion

Daylesford Community Brass Band

Carols in Vincent Street, Daylesford – Saturday, December 21, 10am – noon.

Community Carols at the Hepburn Springs Sound Shell – Sunday, December 22, 7pm-8.30pm. Santa will make an appearance and the Daylesford Community Brass Training Band will give a short performance.

Bring a chair, jumper, picnic, mosquito repellent and Christmas spirit.

The Melbourne Road bushfire is not yet under control and is travelling north-easterly towards Sawmill Road at Springmount.

Advice messages are currently in place for communities in Newlyn, Newlyn North, Dean, Springmount, Clarkes Hill and Wattle Flat.

The Creswick-Dean Road between Melbourne Road and Ballarat-Daylesford Road and the Melbourne Road between Creswick-Dean Road and Howards Road remain closed after fire broke out in bushland on the outskirts of the township late yesterday afternoon.

Forest Fire Management Victoria is advising people to stay informed, monitor conditions and avoid the area. Firefighting vehicles and machinery will be moving around the area.

A relief centre is open at Doug Lindsay Reserve in Creswick.

You know things are warming up and Christmas is almost here when the public pool season starts.

In the Hepburn Shire it started on Saturday (December 7) with council-managed outdoor pools opening for free throughout the shire.

To celebrate the start to the pool season the Clunes, Daylesford and Trentham outdoor pools all opened over the launch weekend (Dec 7-8) between 1pm to 6pm regardless of any predicated cooler weather (21 and below).

The new aquatics season for the shire’s pulbic pools and Creswick Splash Park is now scheduled to run through to March 13 2025 (Labour Day public holiday).

2024/2025 Pool Opening Times

 Fees

Entry is free to all council pools and the Creswick Splash Park.

Locations

Daylesford pool

Location: Central Springs Road, Daylesford

Facilities: 50m Pool and toddlers’ pool

Trentham pool

Location: Corner of Market Street and Camp Street

Facilities: 25m pool and toddlers’ pool

Clunes pool

Location: Bull Millgate Reserve, Clunes. Turn off at Ligar Street and Clunes – Campbelltown Road intersection

Facilities: 25m pool and toddlers’ pool

Calembeen Park toddlers’ pool

Location: Calembeen Park, access via Cushing Avenue, Creswick

Facilities: Toddlers’ pool

Creswick Splash Park

Location: Opposite IGA Creswick, Turn off from Albert Street

Facilities: Splash pad with numerous water play features

Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa – locals’ discount 

While not managed by the council, the Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa is another bathing facility in the shire and it’s worth noting that Hepburn Shire residents can head to the bathhouse year-round to take advantage of the locals’ discount.

The rate for residents in the shire is $12.50 per session or a ten pass for $99. The offer is for Monday to Thursday excluding public holidays. Walk in only.

Further information about the local public pools, including the new hours is at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/pools

The Hepburn Shire Council has announced a series of workshops to help local community groups successfully apply for grants.

Set for Trentham, Creswick, Daylesford and Clunes, the sessions are designed to make the grant application process more accessible, practical, and successful for organisations across the shire. 

The training will be led by the council’s grants specialist, who brings experience in securing funding for local projects and initiatives.

Participants will learn valuable skills in grant writing including how to identify the right funding opportunities, craft compelling applications, and understand the key criteria that funding bodies are looking for. 

Hepburn Shire’s Director Performance and Transformation Brooke Holmes says the workshops aim to empower local community groups with the knowledge and confidence they need to secure grants and make their projects a reality.

 “We want to create a fun and interactive environment where participants can ask questions, share ideas, and leave with practical tools to boost their chances of success,” she said. 

The training sessions are open to all community groups within the Hepburn Shire including sports clubs, arts organisations, environmental groups, and others.

By participating, local groups are expected to not only improve their grant application skills but also build stronger links with other groups and organisations across the region. 

The timing of these workshops coincides with council’s grants program being open for applications until January 31 2025.

“So this is a perfect opportunity to refine your application and pick up some valuable grant writing skills,” Ms Holmes says. 

Workshop details

Trentham Neighbourhood Centre – 16 December, 2pm – 4pm  

Creswick Neighbourhood Centre – 17 December, 2pm – 4pm  

Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre – 21 January, 10am – 12pm  

Clunes Neighbourhood House – 21 January, 2pm – 4pm  

For more information, or to register, community groups are being encouraged to contact the neighbourhood centres. 

Hepburn Shire Council has officially opened the 60-kilometre mountain bike trail network, Djuwang Baring (Creswick Trails) with a special event at the Hammon Park trailhead in Creswick held on Saturday.

Mayor Cr Don Henderson said the event was a festive culmination of years of hard work from multiple stakeholders, and years of advocacy by the community and the council.

“We know that the community was very much looking forward to this and we are proud of what we have been able to achieve with a diverse range of stakeholders,” Cr Henderson said.

Despite the rainy weather on the day, there was an impressive turn out at the opening on Saturday November 30, many who made the trek from Melbourne and beyond.

The trail network was designed for a wide range of abilities and skill levels and works to build a healthy, connected community, Cr Henderson said.

The 60-kilometre trail network is designed for a wide range of abilities and skill levels and works to build a healthy, connected community,” said Cr Henderson.

The project is being hailed as instrumental in strengthening the relationship between the Hepburn Shire Council and DJAARA. The branding and signage suite has been designed by Dja Dja Wurrung enterprise DJANDAK and features art by Nukara Nicholls-Moore, a Dja Dja Wurrung artist.

The trail network is expected to generate positive tourism outcomes, including increased visitation, providing a strong return to local and regional businesses and tourism destinations.

Cr Henderson said that since the partial opening of the trails in August, the trails have been extremely popular, and well-used by local and visiting mountain bikers and biking groups.

“We are noticing our local mountain bikers taking advantage of this trail network that weaves its way through Creswick’s iconic landscape,” he said.

“Village of the Old Goldfields Association (VOGA) and Ride Creswick are two local groups that have been putting the trails to the test, and we have heard from our business community who are seeing an increase in customers,” he said.

“The trails are extremely popular, so we understand that they will need to be monitored, along with any impacts on nearby residents,” said Cr Henderson.

The council has committed resources to the ongoing auditing and maintaining of the trails. 

The Whale Tail, a black or extremely difficult jump line, was also re-opened after being closed for a full safety audit. Some minor changes have been made to improve the approach to the jump.

The $9.4 million project included funding from the State Government’s Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund ($2.56 million), with additional funding coming from State Government ($2.1 million) and the Creswick Community Bank ($250,000) to supplement Council’s contribution to the Hammon Park redevelopments.

Anyone with information relating to a large variable messaging sign being vandalised in the Creswick area recently is being urged to contact police.

The Variable Messaging Sign (VMS) is the property of the Hepburn Shire Council and was vandalised in the Creswick area in recent days, the council reported via online social media during the week.

The sign is used to communicate important messages and promote events to the community and acts of vandalism cost ratepayers, the social media post reminded.

A report had been filed with Victoria Police and those with information were being urged to reach out to the Creswick Police.

Artists for next April’s CresFest have been announced with a huge diversity of music and acts in store for the award winning folk and roots festival.

Headliners for the April 4-6 festival that’s set to transform the township of Creswick, range from Neil Murray, The Maes and Queenslands’ Joe Geia to Grace Barbe from the Seychelles, Grassy Strings from India and Kofti Kunkpe bringing West African grooves to the party.

Organisers say friend and subscriber offers are already proving very succesful with sales up on any previous year, and earlier this month they opened sales to the general public.

Alongside the concerts featuring a generous array of international stars and talented newcomers over the three days, festival-goers will also get the chance to participate in a packed program of workshops including singing, dancing and playing.

There’ll also be the chance to learn new skills and take part in an African Extravaganza when Kofi Kunkpe’s ensemble and the Creswick Drummers take over the centre of town.

Budding performers will also get the chance to enter the IGA Busking Competition for a chance to take home prizes along with the glory. Local players will be invited to perform with visiting professionals, in an inspirational two way collaboration.

Tickets and camping have now on sale now via the festival website, where the impressive diversity of music that will be on offer can also be perused at https://cresfest.com.au/.

The Hepburn Shire Council is inviting everyone to get along to this Saturday’s official opening of Djuwang Baring, the new 60-kilometre Djuwang Baring mountain bike trail network.

The event happens from 11am to 1pm this Saturday (November 30) at Creswick’s Hammon Park Trailhead & Recreational Park.

To be attended by a range of community groups and plenty of keen mountain bikers, it will include:

• Opening Ceremony
• Music
• Food trucks

Parking will be limited so, in keeping with the theme, those planning to attend are being encouraged to arrive by bike.

The council is celebrating the partnership with the Traditional Owners, the Dja Dja Wurrung and acknowledges that the trails are located on Dja Dja Wurrung Country.

The project has been instrumental in strengthening the relationship between the Hepburn Shire Council and DJAARA. The branding and signage suite has been designed by DJANDAK and features art by Nukara Nicholls-Moore, a Djaara artist.

Meaning ‘long track’ in Dja Dja Wurrung, Djuwang Baring begins at the Hammon Park Trailhead, a five-minute walk from the centre of Creswick, and winds its way through to just north of the Cosgraves Reservoir.

Those eager to know more can visit www.djuwangbaring.com for more information about the trails

With Darren Lowe

Mick Thomas’ Roving Commission, the hard-working band led by ARIA award winning singer songwriter and former Weddings Parties Anything main man Mick Thomas, is headed our way as part of their All you Christmases tour.

In the tradition of ‘Weddings, Parties, Anything’, Mick will play a series of festive shows, this time on an extensive tour, including two shows in the region.

The band are fresh from recording a new album in Neil Finn’s Roundhead Studios in Auckland with award-winning producer Steve Schram.

To help make the record, which will follow their 2023 ARIA Top 40 Coolin’ By Sounds record’s release Where Only Memory Can Find You, the band has announced a number of pre-order crowd funding packages.

Mick explained the decision to cross the Ditch: “It’s a really important thing for us to keep going forward each year and actually make new music and even though there’s been plenty out in the past few years, the origins of this album go way back to pre-Covid lockdown days when we had planned to go to America to make another album.”

Expect a selection of Mick’s recent solo material with the band featuring stalwarts Jen Anderson (fiddle), ‘Squeezebox Wally’ ( Mark Wallace on accordion), Brooke Taylor (vocals/guitar), Mark Foley (drums) and Ben Franz from The Waifs (bass).

They’ll be playing at the Bridge Hotel in Castlemaine on November 29 and Leavers in Creswick on December 1.

Leavers, Creswick live gigs coming up include:

Isobel Knight – Friday, November 23

Emily Lubitz and Tom Woodward – Friday, November 39

Mick Thomas – Sunday, December 1

Elly Mack and the Unbelievers – Friday, December 6

The Royal Highjinx – Saturday, December 7

Ben lee – Sunday, December 8

Creswick Theatre Company is determined to pave the way to improving accessibility to the town’s historic Courthouse Theatre – one paver at a time.

The active little theatre company is inviting everyone to pitch in by purchasing a personalised paver, thus paving their own way to becoming part of Creswick’s Courthouse Theatre history.

CTC secretary and fundraising coordinator Heather Ingram says the main aim is to build an accessibility ramp leading up to the front entrance to the Courthouse Theatre which is the theatre company’s home. 

They’re also keen to see the venue used by more groups, and to ensure that it is readily accessible for all. 

Last month CTC started selling personalised brick pavers that will be used to build a paved path linking to the planned all-abilities access ramp. 

So far the fundraiser has been gaining good momentum but the chance to be part of history ends on November 28. 

“Construction will take place next year and we’re now in the planning permit stage. We are hoping to secure a grant as well,” Heather says.

“The ramp is going to look gorgeous and the path will be part of the landscaping. Inside the theatre we’re also going to get the foyer raised so as to be at the same level as the theatre.” 

The pavers cost $50 for an individual or $75 for businesses and they can be obtained online at events.humanitix.com/bricks. 

“They’ll be there for posterity and they will be engraved, so you can get them engraved in your own name or as a memorial to a loved one.” 

At the moment the main front entrance to the historic theatre – that once served as the Creswick’s courthouse – is accessed by some fairly large steps making it extremely difficult for some to get in. 

“It doesn’t even have to be someone in a wheelchair,” Heather says. “It’s difficult for anyone on a walker or even just someone with a bad knee.” 

The ramp and flooring upgrades are estimated to cost around $50,000 all up, and if sufficient funds can be raised fast enough, CTC members hope work can get started by the first half of 2025 and in time for CresFest.

Words: Eve Lamb 

Set to fill the Creswick’s Courthouse Theatre with music, next month’s Fabulous Christmas Karaoke Fundraising Party offers an opportunity to get up on stage and let rip with your best vocal effort.

Open to over 18’s, attendees can sing and dance as a group or give a solo performance of their favourite songs and organisers, the Ceswick Theatre Company, hope the audience will join in for a good ol’ sing-along to help everyone get in the Christmas spirit.

The Creswick Theatre Company is raising funds to make the Court House Theatre venue accessible to enable more people the opportunity to enjoy the space with money raised from the event going to support the goal.

The over 18’s fabulous Christmas Karaoke Fundraising Party gets started from pm and will follow the earlier Children’s Christmas Open Mic Fundraising Party happening on the same day – Saturday December 14.

The children’s open mic afternoon will provide a platform for under 18s to practice and improve their skills, whether it’s singing, playing an instrument, stand-up comedy, or spoken word.

More information about both events is available through the the Creswick Theater Company via email Creswicktheatrecompany@gmail.com .

As owner and managing director of Marshmallow, Creswick’s contemporary and innovative hair salon, Casey Lenaghan will affirm the importance of continuing to deliver products that are a point of difference from other salons in the Central Highlands region.  

In choosing Creswick to create a salon that would make a difference to people wanting to feel good about themselves, having hair styled to suit their personality and lifestyle, Casey was determined to introduce practices that were holistic in their delivery.  

“I understand that my clients trust me to keep ahead of trends, to introduce  products that are not available elsewhere in the region, and to employ hair stylists that  share my values and philosophy,” Casey said.  

Casey recently introduced Nanoplasty, a high-tech product from Italy, that restores and straightens hair without the use of harsh chemicals.  

“I’ve always been concerned about the use of harsh chemicals on young children, or pregnant women. Now we can safely give our clients the look they want, knowing that their hair will be straightened and nourished with organic and amino acids. The  really good news is that the treatment lasts for up to eight months!”  

Two months ago, Casey was delighted to welcome to Marshmallow a highly regarded hair stylist and long-term friend, Adam Noel. With over 30 years’ experience, and having worked with Casey 15 years ago in her Ballarat salon, Soho, Adam brings a unique understanding as stylist, cutter and colourist.

He has quickly  acquired new clients from around the district as well as retaining his loyal clients from  Ballarat.  

“I can’t be more excited that Adam has joined the team at Marshmallow along with Sophie and Corina,” Casey said.

“Adam has already made a positive impact on both the salon and on Creswick in general. A broader client base, from as far as Melbourne, means that there will be a whole influx of new people coming into Creswick, supporting all the amazing local businesses. That’s what’s so good about  working in a small community. We all benefit by working in together.”  

Marshmallow opens from Tuesday to Saturday inclusive. Bookings can be made  in person or by phoning 0439 329 754.  

Advertorial Words & Image: Fiona Watson  

“Ah, look at all the lonely people.” The Beatles.  

Loneliness can be savage on aged people. There  is, however, a way to ease it.  

Creswick’s Nalina Phillips, pictured, is working with Elder Rights Advocacy to build relationships  with local groups, organisations and aged care homes on a scheme to break down isolation.  

Starting with two local volunteers who visit four people in Creswick and Trentham, she has taken on two more volunteers from Clunes.  As well, she is looking for local people who are feeling lonely or isolated.  

Besides easing the burden of loneliness on the aged, the scheme also gives volunteers a sense of purpose and meaning, improving their confidence through knowing that they are giving back to the community.  

Volunteers “genuinely love visiting their matched older people and hearing all the amazing stories  about how they grew up and the lives they lived,”  she says.  

The volunteers learn of the not-for-profit program through Seek Volunteer, Facebook groups and community events.  

The scheme has been running for almost more than six years. Regular visits from volunteers can help to both improve quality of life and make older people feel less isolated.  

Visits are available to anyone who is socially  isolated or gets government-subsidised residential aged care or Home Care Packages, including approved care recipients or those on the National Priority System for residential or home care  packages.  

Loneliness can affect some older people because they feel cut off from their culture and heritage, have little contact with friends or relatives, are immobile and so unable to take part in social or leisure activities, or feel different in some way.  

The scheme also focuses on the needs of older people from particular linguistic, cultural and complex vulnerability backgrounds who may be at greater risk of alienation.

These include people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and those who live in rural or remote areas.

Regular visits from volunteers can help to improve quality of life and enable older people to feel less alone, help the financially or socially disadvantaged, and the homeless or those at risk of being homeless.  

It also aims to help parents separated from their children by forced adoption or removal, those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex, people living with a disability, who are deaf or hearing impaired/hard of hearing, people living with cognitive  impairment, including dementia, those experiencing mental health conditions and/or who  have been exposed to trauma.  

Under the scheme, community organisations are paid to recruit, train and support volunteer visitors, conduct police checks for volunteers, match volunteers to older people receiving aged care and support relationships between the volunteers and the people they visit.  

Volunteers visit at least 20 times a year for one-on-one or group visits, to residential aged care homes, and to people receiving Home Care Packages.  

The scheme is federally funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care.  Older people can refer themselves.

The scheme also accepts referrals from aged care  service providers, family members, friends and health professionals. Monash University is testing the effectiveness of the scheme over three years to 2026.  

To find how to become a volunteer visitor or ask for a volunteer or visitor, see the Federal Department of Health and Aged Care website and look under Aged Care Volunteers Visitors’ Scheme.  

Words: Kevin Childs | Image: Contributed  

A range of commemorative services and events will be taking place throughout the Hepburn Shire to mark Remembrance Day on Monday, November 11.

They will include the following public services and wreath laying events:

Creswick

Remembrance Service and wreath laying at 10.40am at the Fallen Soldiers Memorial, Creswick Cenotaph, corner Raglan and Albert streets, Creswick.

Following the service, light refreshments at the RSL Hall. Details: Secretary on 0490 374 006.

Kingston

Remembrance service and wreath laying at 10.45am at the Kingston Cenotaph, corner Victoria and Kingston roads, Kingston. Details: Julie on 0448 071 583.

Kyneton/Trentham:

Kyneton

Remembrance service at 10.45am at the Cenotaph, Mollison Street, Kyneton.

Trentham

Remembrance service at 10.45am at the Cenotaph, High Street, Trentham.

Aged Care

Services will also be conducted on Friday, November 8 at BUPA Kyneton at 10am, Trentham Aged Care at 11.45am and Respect RM Begg Kyneton at 2pm.

Daylesford:

Remembrance service and wreath laying at 11am at the Daylesford Cenotaph.

Clunes:

Remembrance service and wreath laying at 11am at the Clunes Cenotaph.

Wreaths can be ordered via creswicksmeatonrslsec@gmail.com until November 6 for $40.

Judy Turner, the dynamic musician and founder of the hugely popular CresFest folk and roots festival held in Creswick every April, was awarded the Contribution to Folk Award late last month.  

CresFest president and Kingston resident Mark Myers said “a group of us  travelled to Melbourne to be part of the celebrations at the annual Australian Folk  Music Awards, held at Brunswick Ballroom”.  

The event, Myers said, was a gathering of the tribe, from all over Australia, with  people from every state honoured for their contributions.  

“We are very proud of Judy and of all she has achieved for Creswick. At the  awards night we realised how much she has contributed over many decades, to make music an essential part of hundreds, if not thousands, of lives.

Her energy and commitment are awe inspiring, and we are lucky to have her living in our region.”  

Judy was nominated for the award by Ballarat legend, the singer and choir  leader Stella Savy, who nominated her for her pioneering work providing musical opportunities for players of all ages through the creation and maintenance of the Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club, Stringmania Camp and CresFest.

“Above all, Judy’s secret magical power is having great ideas, making them come alive, then enthusing and inspiring other people to the extent they eventually want to take them over,” Stella said.  

Less known in the local region perhaps is her work creating and growing the now famous Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club, which grew under her leadership to a mighty performing group as well as a place for people of all ages to get together and build a life in music.  

Judy ran the club, with her partner Neil Adam, from 1995 to 2011, when she ‘bequeathed’ it to younger players.  

“The kids who came to the club in their teens have now been running the club for 15 years or so, and in 2025 will take the group to Nova Scotia on a 30th anniversary celebration tour,” Judy said.  

Starting her working life as a violin teacher in western suburbs technical schools, Judy says she has always loved sparking the joy of group playing in people of all ages.  

“One of my favourite teaching gigs was at the Council of Adult Education in  Melbourne, where adults as ‘young’ as 80 came along with – say – a late uncle’s violin,  to learn a few tunes in memory of him.

They were never going to really be players, but there was no doubt they were going to experience the joy of making their sound better by combining it with others.”  

And that, Judy says, is the secret of music in community. Stella, now the co director of CresFest, agrees.

“We have made a festival that’s for players and singers of all ages and stages. We want them to be inspired not only by what they can see and hear, but also by  what they can do.

“There are opportunities for everyone to join in, and in 2025 the  Rhythms of Africa Extravaganza will stop the festival with singing, dancing and drumming in the streets.”  

Thousands of people across Australia have reason to be grateful to Judy Turner for their engagement with music, and we in the Ballarat region can celebrate the opportunities she and her band of volunteers are bringing, with the creation of a festival with national appeal.  

There are opportunities for engagement for new groups like Creswick Chorus,  Hepburn Players and Creswick Ukestra, alongside established groups like Creswick Brass Band, Creswick Primary School singers and Creswick Drum Circle.  

Words: Fiona Watson | Image: Eve Lamb