Reconsider the East Street rezoning plan

The HSC proposal for potential rezoning of prime agricultural land along East Street must be reconsidered and removed from the Draft Structure Plan.

On page 10 of the draft plan under the heading 3.3 Strategic and Statutory Context – State Policy, Plan Melbourne states that “development in peri-urban areas must be in keeping with local character, attractiveness and amenity.

Growth boundaries should be established for each town to avoid urban sprawl and protect agricultural land and environmental assets”.

In the draft plan there is no mention or mapping of the natural spring that starts on that farm and becomes Smith Creek, which runs through the old trout hatchery and eventually into Lake Daylesford.

It’s like the councillors and planners haven’t even read their own document.

It should also be noted that the current owners of ‘Mayfield’, the farmland intended for rezoning, were not consulted and have no intention of selling, but may be forced to if this current proposal is adopted. We must not let that happen. Pastures not pavements!

From: Martin Hinck, David Triscott, Daylesford

Proposed re-zoning a shock

I’m part of the family who owns the farm on East Street, Daylesford (called Mayfield) which is being proposed to be rezoned, and I’m currently living on that farm.

It was bought by my great-grandfather in 1921 and has been farmed continuously and productively since then (as well as before my family bought the land). My family are proud of having farmed it all this time, and wish to continue doing so.

It was a shock to all of us to discover when the draft plan was released that 14 hectares of our farm (one third of the entire farm) was being proposed to be rezoned into residential. Despite the potential for profit, all of the family are opposed to the proposed rezoning, and have had no part in that proposal.

Although there seems to be a number of inconsistencies and problems in the draft structure plan, I commend the council on the plan overall. It’s been a huge effort by many people to put together, and I think it’s important for the shire to have such a structure plan.

I understand there is pressure from the state government on council to allocate
new housing for growth in the town. However, Daylesford is not an ideal location
for much growth with its geographic constraints, forest to the west, farmland to the
east. Perhaps council needs to push back on the state government’s required growth
obligations for the town?

For whatever growth is necessary, I would argue it should be contained within the existing urban growth boundary, including vacant blocks, in three-storey buildings in parts of the centre of town, on some of the more difficult hilly terrain and in some of the bush-fire prone areas when built to the appropriate bushfire attack level, before developing prime agricultural land.

Our farm is on amongst the best farmland in the entire country, with its rich volcanic soil and good rainfall. It has the potential to feed a good portion of the town if farmed intensively, and offers future food resilience to the community, especially with it being located right beside the town. The whole reason we have farmland zoning is to protect the best farmland.

My principal objection to the proposal is on these grounds. Farmland should be valued more highly in the structure plan assessments and should be amongst our highest priorities to protect.

The council goes on about how important it is to them to protect our farmland, yet this just seems like rhetoric when I see such a proposal in the draft plan. This is our chance to stand up for our farmland! I would urge all the councillors to uphold their purported values, to put their rhetoric into action, and
vote to remove this proposed rezoning of prime agricultural land from the plan.

Of course not everyone will agree on all aspects of the plan, but I believe there is widespread opposition, both in the neighbourhood and the wider community, to the proposed rezoning on East St.

As others have mentioned, it would be good to see the alternative options for growth to the East St rezoning, and perhaps community could vote on the options, or provide their feedback. Considering the alternatives seems especially prudent given that my family do not wish for the land to be developed, and without increased rates pressure forcing our hand, do not intend to sell the land.

A slide from the meeting’s presentation claims that our rates will not increase if our land is rezoned to residential so long as it continues being farmed, but I am quite sceptical of this.

It is contrary to my own prior understanding and to what I’ve heard from several other people, including a former Hepburn Shire mayor.

Surely such a rezoning would increase the property’s valuation and thereby incur higher rates, not to mention land tax and windfall gains tax. What assurance would we have that our rates would not increase with this proposed rezoning?

This is of great concern to my family, as the future of our farm would hinge on it.

From: Farmer Ned Powell, East Street, Daylesford.

A new Daylesford chapter of the Queer Book Club has started this week.

Club founder Robyn said “Queer Book Club started in 2022, we’ve been attracting people who are not only interested in exploring LGBTQIA+ literature, but also connection to community.”

After moving regionally, they found there were fewer opportunities for social meetups specifically within the LGBTQIA+ community.

The monthly meetup has resonated with many and has now branched out with Daylesford is the newest chapter to bring people together monthly for the love of literature and community connection.

The new Daylesford chapter start this Wednesday 15 May 2024, and will now meet monthly on the third Wednesday at a local hospitality venue.

Attendance at meet-ups is free, and food and drinks are available to purchase at the venue.

The queer books for discussion were chosen by an annual online survey of book club members. Members can access the books by buying them (most are available as ebooks) or borrowing them from a library or friend.

Queer Book Club hopes to donate some copies of the selected queer books to Hepburn Libraries so they are available for the whole community.

Anyone interested can obtain more information about the Daylesford chapter by joining the Queer Book Club private Facebook group.

An Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea will once again be hosted by Carol Collins, far right, at the Daylesford Bowling Club on Monday, May 27 from 10.30am.

The cost to join in is $15 with plenty of raffle and door prizes and lots of great morning tea temptations – created by Carol and her friends. Every dollar raised through Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea helps fund Cancer Council’s life-saving research, prevention, support programs and information.

Every cuppa makes a difference. Just $150 provides two people recently diagnosed with cancer with one on-one support, connecting them to a trained Cancer Connect volunteer, $500 helps provide training to leaders of cancer support groups where people can meet and share their experiences in an emotionally supportive environment and $1000 pays for an analysis of two gene samples for a research project.

RSVPs not needed, just pop along to the Bowlo.

Words: Donna Kelly | File image: Kyle Barnes

Christ Church Concerts presents Lost Gems from the Golden Age of Hollywood with Australian-born virtuoso violinist and film composer Patrick Savage, and acclaimed pianist Konrad Olszewski.

Touring Victoria and Tasmania the concert will feature music from Patrick’s recently released CD The Golden Age of Hollywood: Concert Works for Violin and Piano.

Patrick, pictured above, a leading virtuoso in Britain along with the brilliant pianist Konrad will present obscure works from Hollywood’s Golden Age with film music by some of the most acclaimed film music composers at Christ Church, Daylesford on May 25.

Researched and compiled through Covid lockdowns the album was recently named BBC’s album of the week and has already received rave reviews from many including from The Strad.

Patrick brings to the stage a formidable career including (former) Principal First Violin for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and first violin in the Tippett Quartet.

Now a freelance concertmaster, soloist, studio session player and West End musician, Patrick is also a film music composer with scores including the cult horror

The Human Centipede and forthcoming puppet horror, Abruptio. Patrick has also composed for theatre and video games.

All concerts in this series commence at 2.30pm. Link: https://www.trybooking.com/eventlist/christchurchconcerts

A Mount Macedon resident will face a six-day contested committal hearing in September for the November crash in Daylesford last year that led to the death of five people.

The man is charged with five counts of culpable driving causing death, two counts of negligently causing serious injury, and seven counts of reckless conduct endangering life.

During the hearing and it is expected the hearing will reveal new details about the high-profile case.

The date for the case was set at the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court last month where it was revealed the defence will question 13 prosecution witnesses. 

At the conclusion of the hearing the magistrate will determine whether there is sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to trial.

Police allege Mr Swale drove after ignoring warnings his blood glucose levels were low. 

At a previous court hearing in December, lawyers for Mr Swale indicated he would be pleading not guilty, arguing the crash was the result of a medical episode.

By Donna Kelly

What an extraordinary thing Ros Pyers has done. Generously donated to not just one but four organisations.

And that is after a lifetime of already donating her time as a volunteer to even more groups – and working as an educator, surely one of the most important roles in our community.

So it is no wonder the beneficiaries of her generosity are Hepburn Primary School and Daylesford Primary School along with the Daylesford Community Brass Band (pictured above) – her love of music shining through, and Daylesford and District Historical Society – another love, history.

As Hepburn Shire Mayor Cr Brian Hood, who attended a small celebration of the donations last week said, the impact of Ros’s generosity and compassion will be felt for many years to come.

“This is such a wonderful gesture and one that will make an incredible difference to our children and the wider community.”

Now I don’t know the Pyers couple very well – although in recent times I have spent a bit of time, in his role with the Daylesford Highland Gathering, with Ros’s husband of 67 years Keith.

I also know Keith as the go-to Justice of the Peace, who during those dark days of Covid, continued to offer his services with a desk and a couple of chairs on the verandah of the couple’s home. That is commitment and kindness, which is what Keith and Ros seem to be all about.

Keith was also a teacher and involved as a volunteer in many organisations – and has spent a lot of time and effort ensuring Ros’s donations came to fruition.

Congratulations to you both, and thank you from myself and your community. It would be wonderful if your actions encourage others to do something similar. It certainly has me thinking. Oh, and a very happy 90th to you both!

I would also like to thank our journo Narelle Groenhout for writing the story, on page 3 if you skipped past, with such love and kindness. I would have loved to have gone along myself but was away – and just knew this had Narelle’s name all over it.

You might remember Narelle writing about the terrible accident in Daylesford last year – she was there when it happened and felt compelled to share her feelings, again, all about love and compassion. And just between us, she and her husband Pat, did amazing, although they would never tell you that.

Finally, I really have enjoyed putting this edition together. Sometimes, to be honest, it’s work but this time it was just fantastic to see so many stories, and advertising, coming through. Like we are really back.

We started off with 28 pages and then more stories arrived, so I bumped it up to 32 pages and then more stories arrived so I made the decision on Friday to go up to 36 pages. Hopefully it will stay there, because I am running out of steam now.

But it’s a great edition and nice to get back into after our break in Japan. We had a great time, and our grand-nephew loved it too. He really “got” Japan which not every one does.

And here is a final Japan pic I just had to share. We found ourselves in a bar, strange that, and as I chatted to the manager in Japanese, he said he had a surprise for us. He disappeared and returned with a geisha. True story.

But Kyle was just a little too enamoured. Just sayin’…

The recent inclusion of the Old Daylesford School of Mines building on the Victorian Heritage Register has significant positive implications for the future of the building.

It means that the building that now houses the town’s museum will be able to attract crucial funding through Heritage Victoria for maintenance works into the future.

It also recognises the significant place that the 1890s brick building at 100 Vincent Street occupies as part of the state’s mining and education history.

The nomination was lodged by the former Daylesford Museum Reserve Committee of Management back in 2019.

Its successful listing on the register was confirmed in February this year providing much cause for celebration particularly among locals who played a key role in lodging the nomination.

Former Daylesford Museum Reserve Committee of Management chair Ken Warren is among them and delighted with the result. He notes how rare and difficult it is to have such a nomination succeed.

“We’re very, very fortunate to get this up on the register,” Mr Warren said.

“Everybody worked so hard to get there.”

Mr Warren says the listing has major implications for the ability of the current and future committees of management to attract ongoing funding required for upkeep of the building.

“It also preserves well into the future the building as significant for the shire and the state so it doesn’t disappear,” he said.

“Lots of places disappear because people don’t appreciate their sense of significance.

“This listing mean there is a sense of permanence and a line of funding into the future and it makes it even better as a site for the museum.”

Current repair and upgrade works are continuing on the building that today houses two much loved cultural institutions, the Daylesford and District Historical Society and the Daylesford Community Brass Band.

The museum building dates back to the early 1890s when it was used by the School of Mines to teach classes on science and art.

The building retains many of its original features including one of the earliest and most intact School of Mines laboratories and metallurgical laboratory interiors in Victoria.

The Victorian Heritage Database Report associated with the new listing notes that the School of Mines is historically significant as a forerunner of the technical schools that were a key part of the state’s education system for many decades.

The database records that: “The Daylesford School of Mines is architecturally significant as it retains a combination of fine features that are characteristic of an early technical school – roof lanterns for daylighting, distinctive brick assay chimney, furnaces, fume cupboards, and 1890s joinery”.

The old Daylesford School of Mines comprises the laboratory building with chimney and the art department building dating from 1890, and the technical school addition of 1914.

Local resident Graeme Orr was a student at the technical school in the late 1940s and the 1950s and said he was delighted to see the building gain heritage listing.

“I think it’s wonderful,” said Graeme who attended school there from 1949 to 1951, starting at the tender age of 12.

“This is really exciting as there are not many Daylesford buildings on the State Register,” says Heather Mutimer who was secretary with the committee of management that lodged the successful application for listing.

“A lot of work went into the nomination and was underpinned by the completion of a detailed Conservation Management Plan,” Heather said.

Words & Image: Eve Lamb

On a beautiful autumn day, surrounded by loved ones, friends and community, Ros and Keith Pyers, holding hands in the family home sitting room, did what they have done so well for so long – shared their love, kindness and generosity.

This article could easily have been written as a love story. Ros and Keith met as young teachers, fell in love and raised a family.

They navigated their way through Victorian schools and around the world, finally carving out a life on the outskirts of Daylesford. Ros and Keith have also dedicated thousands of hours to helping community groups, causes and committees prosper for generations.

But the real story is about Ros (pictured above) and her love and devotion to children’s education, music and local history and her desire to give back to her community.

Thanks to advice from her astute father, Ros invested in a parcel of shares which later she set aside as a gift to the community. During her long years of retirement, these shares grew to fund the four bequests, helping Ros to realise her dream of giving back to her community.

“It certainly wasn’t millions,” said Keith.

“But Ros always talked about giving back to community groups using that money and as a family we knew it was important for Ros to see it happen. It was just a matter of when.”

Of course, there were no objections from Keith and the family but there was a great deal of organising and planning that Keith has undertaken on Ros’s behalf, including bank meetings, the setting up of trust funds and liaising with the recipients.

Given how widely she has volunteered and the number of community groups she has devoted her time to over the years, it must have been quite a challenge for Ros to choose the recipients.

The grateful beneficiaries of her generosity include Hepburn Primary School, Daylesford Primary School, Daylesford Community Brass Band and Daylesford and District Historical Society.

For more than 30 years Ros was a member of the Daylesford & District Agricultural Society and the Daylesford Highland Gathering collective.

She was also a valued member of the Daylesford & District Historical Society and helped establish Australia Day celebrations in the town. A founding member of the Friends of Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens, Ros also supported Keith in his role as local Mayor over a four-year period.

Her devotion to charity, community work and volunteering roles was carried out while raising a young family, continuing her studies, and working as a school principal over a 40-year period.

Recipients spoke with gratitude and outlined the contribution the funds would make to their respective organisations.

A Rosalind Pyers stamp will be included in all new library books bought with the funds for Daylesford Primary School among other essential items.

Hepburn Primary School will plant a tree in Ros’s honour and will use funds to extend the school’s annual camping program.

An academic excellence award will be set up in honour of Ros to help children transition from primary to secondary school.

The Historical Society will use its donation to help preserve its newspaper collection. Funds will also support Daylesford Brass Band members to attend music camps. In a touching tribute to Ros, the band has also commissioned a piece of music to be written in her honour.

The gathering at the Pyers home celebrated important local institutions, each with their own unique stories. They are all an important part of Daylesford’s past and, thanks to Ros’s generosity, will continue to pave the way for the future.

Ros never wanted any accolades, just the knowledge that her community was being cared for. Ros’s legacy is so important for a small community like ours.

Making sure our history is preserved, our school children are cared for, and local institutions like the brass band can continue to proudly pop up at every community event.

At 90 years of age, her memory is fading at times. But on this beautiful autumn day, her husband of 67 years sits by her side along with her three boys and three grandchildren.

There is a strong sense of Ros’s contentment and happiness, emotions that are shared by most of the people gathered to honour her and her extraordinary legacy.

The gathering honoured family bonds, long-term friendships and a woman who embodies the very essence of community and generosity. It was one of those occasions when the true meaning of the words love, legacy and loyalty to a community shone through.

Hepburn Shire Mayor, Councillor Brian Hood perfectly summed up the feeling in the room.

“This is an extraordinary event. The impact of your generosity and compassion will be felt for many years to come. This is such a wonderful gesture and one that will make an incredible difference to our children and the wider community. What an extraordinary event to be a part of.”

Words: Narelle Groenhout | Image: Contributed

The cost of living is cutting into demand for property locally and further afield, the latest real estate trends indicate.

“There are a very high number of properties on the market with properties taking between four to six months to sell,” Belle Property Director Will Walton says.

“After COVID there were five buyers for every property. Now it’s the reverse.”

CoreLogic’s national Home Value Index shows that nationally property prices continue to rise, but that prices in regional Victoria have gone against the trend and declined by 0.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2024.

According to Mr Walton, properties that are realistically priced are still selling locally and there are signs of renewed interest heading towards May. Locally about half of houses are now selling above $890,000 and half below, local real estate agents report.

Renovated three bedroom, two bathroom properties on a good size block go for between $1.2 and $1.5 million.

Most economic commentators expect interest rates to remain stable during 2024 and it’s forecast that inflation will slowly decline to below three per cent heading into 2025.

In the medium term it is expected that average mortgage interest rates will fall to between five and six per cent.

Nationally, the shortage of housing remains the major reason for high property prices and rents.

The impact on local property prices is expected to be influenced by factors, including the supply of properties, the trend toward flexible work, government regulations on short term accommodation and tax policies.

And while times are tougher at the moment, Daylesford and Hepburn Springs remain attractive destinations for visitors and residents and it is likely that demand will continue to be robust over the medium term.

Daylesford is getting its own adult drama classes, run by local theatre company Lab Kelpie.

Led by the company’s artistic director Lyall Brooks (pictured above), a professional actor, director and teaching artist for nearly 25 years, the evening classes at Stanbridge Hall will start Monday 22 April.

First up is an eight-week term of fun group work ideal for beginners and those wanting to refresh past skills, before offering more advanced options as classes grow.

“I’ve worked with community theatre-lovers all across regional Victoria over the last decade, from Gippsland to Shepparton to Glenelg, so it’s wild I haven’t yet done the same in my home town,” Lyall says.

While Lyall will lead the teaching to begin, he has a small stable of other professional artists all skilled in acting techniques and ready to share their expertise as the classes develop and grow.

The direction the classes take will be responsive to the skills and knowledge the participants want to explore.

Over time it’s hoped participants will go on to tackle a variety of different classes and forms, scene study and text work, monologues, improvisation, Meisner and Russian Masters, devising, and even playwriting.

“Daylesford has such a passionate artistic community,” Lyall said.

“We’re crying out for more creative opportunities, so my hope is that we can help fill some small part of that greater need.”

“Meet you at the Bowlo,” has been a part of Daylesford’s dinning vocabulary for many, many years.

While other establishments come and go, the Daylesford Bowling Club has been a centre of the community for 125 years. And that tradition is set to continue with recently arrived chefs Geoff Wellington and Sharnee Halson and a new menu commencing this month.

“We are just putting the finishing touches to it now” says Geoff, “including local beef cheek and mash with red wine, chicken scaloppini and scotch fillet.

“It will also feature some blasts from the past specials such as ham, steak and pineapple, lambs fry, steak and kidney, curried sausages and salmon patties.”

I decided to see what was on offer on a busy Sunday afternoon and brought friend Gabrielle along, who did not need too much convincing.

Aside from the great selection on the current menu, there was a host of specials on the board.

I choose Sharnee’s chicken kiev with chips and salad ($36) and a Hollick the Bard Cabernet Sauvignon ($8.5). A fantastic dish and sure to become a popular choice from the specials board with sumptuous chicken breast drenched in garlic butter encased in a golden breadcrumb crusted chips and a crispy garden salad.

Gabrielle selected the pan grilled salmon with tossed salad, chips and hollandaise sauce ($36) accompanied by a 750ml bottle of Villa Jolanda Prosecco ($10).

It was a great choice with a thick salmon steak grilled to perfection smothered with a fresh, vibrant hollandaise sauce.

Dessert was a straightforward matter with two choices. I took the pavlova with berries, couli and cream while Gabrielle had the sticky date pudding. Both were only $12 and the perfect finish to a great Sunday lunch.

The Daylesford Bowling Club is very much a part of the local community supporting families and the young and older with kids-eat-free offers and seniors’ discounts. There is also a tradies’ lunch Monday to Friday with a 25 per cent discount on all main courses.

Or opt for the Sunday lunch carvery with roast pork, crackling, apple sauce and vegies accompanied by one more selection of beef, lamb or chicken and dessert for $30.”

As part of the Bowlo’s 125th anniversary celebrations the club will also have a promotion where every main meal purchased gets a ticket to go in the raffle drawn on the first of every month.

First prize is a $125 club voucher. Second is any meal in the pub for $12.50 and 3rd prize will get you any drink including a bottle of wine. All this and one of the best views over Daylesford.

Words & images: Tony Sawrey

A 58-year-old woman had a lucky escape after falling into a flooded stormwater drain in Daylesford last night.

The Daylesford woman fell down an embankment and into the Raglan Street drain about 8.50pm.

She was carried some distance in the fast-flowing water before coming to a stop in a culvert and managing to grab hold of a metal pole.

With water reaching her neck, she cried out for help but wasn’t heard over the roar of the water.

Miraculously, the woman was able to fight against the force of the water and climb up the embankment to safety.

She walked to a nearby friend’s house where she was treated for only minor cuts and bruises.

Jakob Lindberg will perform at Stanbridge Hall at Christ Church, Daylesford on Saturday, April 13 at 2.30pm.

Celebrated for his profound musicality and virtuosity, Swedish lute master JakobLindberg will present an intimate performance on the noble lute and stunning theorbo.

Accompanying slumbers and rousing celebrations of the kings and queens of Europe venture through the royal courts of the 17th-century in this unmissable program.

This rare event explores the great works of the English, French and Italian baroque with music by John Dowland, Robert Johnson, Alessandro Piccinini, Giovanni Kapsperger, Robert Ballard and Robert de Visee.

Combined with the haunting folk melodies of Scotland, in the abundant acoustic of Stanbridge Hall, explore a fascinating time in European history in the hands of the world’s greatest lutenist.

Jakob Lindberg read music at Stockholm University and studied lute and guitar at the Royal College of Music, London. Towards the end of his studies he decided to focus on renaissance and baroque music and is now one of the most prolific performers in this field.

Jakob has made numerous recordings for BIS Records, many of which are pioneering in that they present a wide range of music on CD for the first time, he has also brought Scottish lute music to public attention, demonstrated the beauty of the Italian repertoire for chitarrone and recorded chamber music by Vivaldi, Haydn, Boccherini and more, on period instruments.

An active continuo player on the theorbo and arch lute, Jakob has worked with many well-known English ensembles, it is however, particularly through his live solo performances, that he has become known as one of the finest lutenists in the world today.

Those keen to make the performance can visit the Christ Church Concerts Facebook page for more information

The New School of Classical Painting will hold a student exhibition at Stanbridge Hall, Central Springs Road, Daylesford on Saturday, April 6 from 1pm to 5pm.

Deny Christian, the director and teacher of the school, said the exhibition of drawings and paintings was the progressive works of her students in their path of the atelier study of fine art.

“Some of these students have been with the school for the past two years, some are in their third or fourth terms.

“All are showing great progress, through application and critique, toward the goal of painting from life.

“There will be several works from each student exhibited. These are unframed drawings on paper, pastel on paper and oils on canvas which study tone, form and construction principles.

“Most are for sale, at student prices. And many excellent studies are included.”

There will be an opening presentation at 1.30pm.

Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Work by teacher Deny Christian