Featuring eleven string players – plus harpsichord – this month’s “Splendours of the Baroque” concert promises to be a memorable experience for music lovers.

Daylesford’s Christ Church Concert series is welcoming back the Hepburn Players for another concert on Saturday, October 26 at Christ Church, Daylesford.

The beautiful Christ Church space with its acoustic qualities is expected to be the ideal setting for this concert of very special concertos and arias.

The concert will include Antonio Vivaldi’s fiery Concerto for Strings in G Minor along with his Ciaccona in C Major.

The composer Georg Muffat, a student of Lully in Paris, will be featured with his most well-known work, the Passacaglia from Sonata No. 5 for strings and continuo.

The tenor aria ‘Erwäge’ from Johann Sebastian Bach’s St John Passion will be one of two vocal works presented by Creswick’s Tim Drylie, who, with more than 35 years of diverse performance experience, charms his audiences.

Tim will also sing an exceptionally moving cantata by Franz Tunder, a German composer and organist of the early Baroque era.

Franz Joseph Haydn’s Harpsichord Concerto in F Major and Johann Sebastian Bach’s Double Violin Concerto in D Minor will be the two major works showcased in this diverse and fine concert. Both are beautiful examples of Baroque music and truly splendours of the period.

Hepburn Players were originally formed by a small group of musicians based in Newlyn. From early appearances playing background music at local art shows, they have grown to sell-out concerts of Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos and have performed two years in a row at CresFest.

last year at CresFest, the orchestra collaborated with the Grammy-nominated Tibetan singer Tenzin Choegyal, and this year they appeared with local singer/ songwriter Archer when they were directed by violinist Shane Lestideau.

Shane is an Australian violinist with a passion for historical music and instruments. Renowned for her talents as a baroque and classical violinist, she is also in demand as an artistic director, teacher and music researcher.

She is passionate about Australian music, commissioning new works from local composers, as well as playing from 19th- and 20th-century Australian music collections. The orchestra is delighted that Shane will join them again as guest director for this month’s concert in Daylesford.

Andrew Welsh grew up in South Africa playing the piano, though his greatest interest was always in music of the Baroque period so it was inevitable that he would switch to the harpsichord sooner or later.

Once he moved to England, he was able to perform regularly with a wide range of Baroque ensembles and orchestras.

Andrew took up the Baroque cello and co-founded London’s largest amateur period-instrument orchestra, Belsize Baroque, with whom he played in the cello section for the next 14 years.

Belsize Baroque would routinely engage guest directors who are leading figures in the early music world, and it was a great privilege to learn from them in his time in the orchestra.

In Australia since 2016, Andrew has concentrated mostly on harpsichord again, though he is currently enjoying learning the viola da gamba while directing Hepburn Players and playing harpsichord and organ with VOX choral ensemble in Ballarat.

Jason Yong, a soloist in the Muffat Passacaglia and Vivaldi Concerto, is a graduate of the Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music and the director of Progetto Corelli, an early music ensemble that regularly presents inventive programs in Melbourne.

Susan Pierotti will join Shane as a soloist in the Bach Double Violin Concerto. Susan’s career experience as a violinist spans symphony orchestras, opera, ballet, chamber music, teaching, reviewing and adjudicating, and she has been the concertmaster of Zelman Memorial Symphony Orchestra since 2016.

Date: Saturday 26 October 2024
Time: 2.30pm
Venue: Christ Church, Daylesford.
More information: Christ Church Concerts facebook page
Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/eventlist/christchurchconcerts

A huge success is how artists have summed up last month’s From Behind  Closed Doors fundraising art exhibition.  

Staged by Daylesford Regional Arts Co-operative in the town’s renovated  Stanbridge Hall, the event has raised $2200 for Backpack Bed for Homeless Australia.

“That’s 15 backpack beds and sleeping bags for the homeless of Hepburn Shire,”  says Pam Gleeson, a Glenlyon artist who is also treasurer with the co-operative.  

“Our target was $1000 so yes, we smashed it. We had over $10,000 of art sales.  Not bad for a very small group of 12 artists.

 “Stanbridge Hall proved to be the perfect space to hold an exhibition. We had  over 180 people at our Gala Opening Night and close to a further 300 people visited  the exhibition.  

“We’ll definitely have a major exhibition every year.”  

Pam had suggested that funds raised from the debut event go toward assisting  people contending with homelessness, after becoming aware of the extent of the  problem.  

“I think a lot of people may not even realise that homelessness is an issue even  here in the Hepburn Shire where it’s a problem that is not openly on display,” she  says.

“Many of the homeless find shelter in hidden corners of the towns and villages  or live in the Wombat State Forest.  

“Homelessness can affect anyone at any time. People suffer illnesses, loss of  employment, marital breakups or the need to escape domestic violence. All these  factors can mean loss of home and employment.  

“Backpack Bed for Homeless can’t keep pace with the demand. They supply a  backpack bed every two hours, but, in fact, need to supply one every 11 minutes.  

“Child & Family Services office in Daylesford is the access point or first point of  contact for people at risk of or suffering homelessness. In the past 12 months Cafs  has provided assistance to 111 individuals, families or couples in the Hepburn Shire,  providing tents, swags and backpack beds.”

_{Words: Eve Lamb | Image: Supplied}

Residents throughout the Hepburn Shire are being invited to attend the upcoming free Emergency Expo taking place on Saturday October 19 in Daylesford.

The free expo will take place from 10am – 2pm at Daylesford’s Victoria Park.

It’s a chance for all local residents to meet the shire’s first responders and learn how to prepare their properties, families and animals for emergency events including fire, flood (like the one pictured above) and storms.

It’s also a chance to catch some live rescue demonstrations and take home a lucky door prize worth more than $200.

Food and drinks available, including a free sausage sizzle

The event is being organised by Hepburn Shire Council with event partners Victoria State Emergency Service, CFA (Country Fire Authority), Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, Australian Red Cross and Rapid Relief Team AU.

The CFA’s District 15 recently held a successful showcase of its resources and capabilities at the Victorian Emergency Management Training Centre (VEMTC) in Ballan on Friday 13 September.

Organised by the District 15 (D15) Women’s Development Group, with support from Will Hodgson and the VEMTC team, the event allowed CFA members and their families to explore the equipment and services they may need in the future.

Despite the threat of snow, rain, and hail, the weather held, making for a smooth day of activities and demonstrations.

Highlights included VEMTC’s hot fire display, which drew attention in the blustery conditions, and flare-off demonstrations from the Sebastopol LPG Support Unit.

Pad staff led interactive training sessions on safe working at heights and low-voltage fuse removal, offering hands-on experiences that gave families a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by their loved ones during emergencies.

Firebird 07, piloted by Amy Millar and Kelly Krajnc, was a popular photo attraction, while those curious about air observation were introduced to the training required for the role.

District Mechanical Officer Garry Drabsch proudly presented his new vehicle, and the Bacchus Marsh Brigade displayed their new Breathing Apparatus (BA) support unit, which has already been used multiple times by Daylesford. Smythesdale’s Rehab Unit also demonstrated its capabilities.

The event featured further displays, including Headquarters Fire Brigade’s toilet trailers, food setups, and staging resources, along with Ballarat City Fire Brigade’s Field Command Vehicle (FCV) and Ultra Heavy Tanker.

Ararat’s Mobile Education Unit was also showcased, with recognition given to the volunteers supporting these essential resources.

Overall, the showcase provided valuable insight for CFA members, their families, and friends into the wide range of resources available and the dedicated individuals behind them.

By Donna Kelly

Hmmm. So Dan Murphy’s is appealing a Victorian Liquor Commission decision and still trying to open a store in Daylesford.

Back in August, the Commission decision was the first using the new definition of “harm” under the Liquor Control Reform Act, a landmark decision.

Hepburn Shire Council CEO Bradley Thomas said the decision was made namely on the basis that granting the licence could pose a public risk, encourage harm (particularly to minors) and have adverse social impacts.

In announcing its decision the Commission concluded “that granting the Licence would be conducive to or encourage harm, specifically to minors”.

“In particular, the Commission concludes that there is an appreciable risk that granting the Licence would result in an increase of secondary supply of alcohol to minors in Daylesford and (therefore) an increase in alcohol consumption by minors and (therefore) increased harm from the misuse and abuse of alcohol by minors.

“This conclusion is driven by the accumulation of a number of factors … deriving from the ‘particular local, social, demographic and geographic circumstances’ of Daylesford.”

But Dan’s apparently knows better and is giving it another go. I guess, if you were sceptical, you would think owners, The Endeavour Group, would be just a little bit worried it could lead to more knockbacks in other small towns.

Daylesford leading the way. Or do they just think we all have the right to cheap alcohol? Not sure. But it is a bit of a body blow to many in the town.

As Kyle, just over there to the left, has written, we have put our wonderful Glenlyon property up for sale. So many people say they would love it, and we did for many years. And still do but there comes a time when you realise you are getting a bit older and it’s time for some downtime in between getting The Local out each fortnight.

I remember when we first bought the property, we were so excited. Mum called it “a ruin” at the time but we just thought it was full of potential and fun.

We loved everything about our move from Frankston to the country – our home, its history, the people, the surrounding region. We even got rugged up and sat at the Glenlyon Store enjoying mulled wine during winter. Outside!

But it is time to call time, and we will look for somewhere in Daylesford, closer to restaurants and pubs, and supermarkets and stores. To be honest, the taxi ride home from Daylesford was always a bit of an adventure, thanks to the great, late, Serge. Miss him and his “hello lovers”.

I worked out I have lived in about 25 homes so far. And apart from perhaps 22 years all up at 2 The Range, Frankston, the second longest has been at Glenlyon.

There have been some strange places. Japan twice, in Niihama in the island of Shikoku and Ome, about an hour from Tokyo, Alice Springs, Karratha in northern WA and quite a few places around Queensland.

Then there is Caulfield, near the track, and Mordialloc, where we felt like we lived in a retirement village. Now and again an ambulance would arrive during the night and the next morning someone would tell us, “another one of us has gone”. I kid you not.

Anyway, time for a new caretaker for the school, and hopefully someone who gets the history, potential future and myriad possibilities. And The Local will continue, in a new office, with the same passion for sharing stories and connecting the community. Love this place. Just sayin’…

The timeworn tale of the wicked stepmother is given an about-turn in a sold-out Melbourne show which had its final rehearsal in Daylesford before its world premiere.       

An enthusiastic audience of around 60 people saw Hepburn’s Aurora Kurth, actor, singer and cabaret performer, produce a performance that showed why critics describe her as one of the most extraordinary cabaret performers ever produced in Australia.       

And it was her captivating comedienne craft that moved an expatriate Australian playwright, Hannah Pyliotis, to ask Aurora to help stage the play.       

For this, Aurora turned to Daylesford’s Megan Jones, who is directing Mara, described as a fearless retelling of the Cinderella story from the stepmother’s perspective. Mara struggles to find work as a single mother of two children.

She marries a wealthy grieving widower but there is no happily ever after.  Says Megan: “It throws a light and helps us understand why the stepmother in Cinderella became cruel.

Cinderella was the victim of her stepmother, but here Mara is excluded by her step-daughters, who punish and abandon her, so Mara returns to her mother.”       

Playwright Pyliotis, who has lived in France for 20 years, took six years to write Mara. And there is a fascinating real-life connection: Megan taught her for two years when she was in her twenties.       

“I directed circus for two years,” says Megan, “and had a successful theatre company. I’ve been directing since I was in my twenties. In Mara we had to take the words off the page and have the story make sense of it.”      

 It’s a demanding work, with Aurora playing 10 characters, using five accents. With quick costume changes, athletic leaps, including onto a table, she captivated the  audience, who followed the run-through with keen questions and suggestions.       

Then there is the music, plus sound effects. Astonishingly, this was written in a matter of days by Ania Reynolds, who comes from Circus Oz. She also plays it with a lot of verve.      

 “It’s been so much fun working together,” says Megan. “We’re all working for nothing, and so we were so happy to get such outstanding feedback and hear from people who want to see how the play ends. We are hoping to get it into a European festival.”       

Mara is part of La Mama’s Explorations season and to Megan it also shows  the potential for part of the Daylesford Town Hall to become a much-needed  performance centre.       

Words: Kevin Childs | Image: Supplied       

With its cute retro body, classic details and gleaming indigo duco, Paul  Dwyer’s very collectible 1956 FJ Holden ute turns heads and start conversations wherever it rolls up.

But Paul’s treasured and restored little FJ ute will be just one of in a throng of character-packed cars headed to the upcoming Cars and Coffee event that’s making a comeback for Daylesford on October 6.

Set to happen from 8am to 10am at Daylesford’s Amazing Mill Markets site, the upcoming Cars and Coffee event marks a return for this  previously popular fixture on local car-lovers’ calendars.

The brainchild of local car collector and motoring enthusiast Peter Olver, the  first Cars & Coffee happened in March 2016, and was replaced in 2017 by MotorFest which was last held in 2023 but is currently in recession.

While the event has previously raised some serious dollars for good local causes including the Daylesford hospital, the returning version is firmly focused simply on fun and providing a social outlet for car owners and their prized sets of wheels, Peter says.

“It will be happening each month on the first Sunday of the month from 8am to 10pm at the Mill Markets,” he says.

“There’s a need for it. People have been wanting it back again. We’d like to invite anyone who has got a classic or vintage car, or any auto of interest.”

“Something that people want to stop and look at,” adds Paul who a fair way back was able to purchase and restore his beloved FJ ute from another local resident on the proviso that he love and cherish it appropriately.

“This local person had purchased it in 1956 and then left it parked in a shed in 1978. I came to know about it and made an offer.”

The classic little ute’s conversation-starting features extend to what’s carried beneath the rear tarp – a retro Victa lawn mower and gladstone bag containing yesteryear “gentlemen’s reading matter”.

“The public are invited to come along and view the vehicles and chat to the owners. It’s a social gathering,” Peter says.

“And a really good reason to get the vehicles out of the garage,” Paul adds.

As the name suggests, this returning local event is all about cars and … coffee.

“So we’d really like to say a special thankyou to Mark Ward of The Mill. The Mill cafe is even opening early for us,” Peter says.

He says anyone who’d like to know more about the returning event can get in contact on 0400482427.

Words: Eve Lamb

The Hepburn Shire Council has expressed its disappointment by the Endeavour Group (Dan Murphy’s) decision to appeal the Victorian Liquor Commission ruling to refuse a licence to operate in Daylesford.

CEO Bradley Thomas said the council and community strongly advocated for the refusal during the submission process and at hearings.

” We continue to believe that there is a public risk, and any decision to grant a licence would have adverse social impacts,” Mr Thomas said.

The council will seek legal advice and determine what steps it will now take.

Surrounded by family photos, keepsakes and memories of her late husband Donny, Daylesford’s Sandy Breen creates magic on canvas sitting on a stool in her kitchen.

Her happy place. It’s here she’s putting the finishing touches on her latest exhibition of botanical artwork. 

“I called this exhibition My Botanical Phase as over the years I developed a love of botanicals. It first started when I spent many happy years conducting colouring classes with a local senior citizens’ group,” she said. 

“Then around five years ago a friend asked if I could paint Australian botanicals that she could use for a series of scarves she was having produced for the local and overseas markets. I called on a local horticulturist who gave me three images to paint…I have been in my botanical phase ever since.” 

Sandy and Donny had been long- time visitors and over that time cemented life and connections in the community before moving here permanently in 2009.

Sandy spends countless hours giving back to the community every week, running the weekly community lunch in Daylesford – the 5000 Club. 

‘Honoured’ to be showcasing her botanical artwork at the Convent Gallery in Daylesford from October, Sandy’s love affair with art began as a child.

As a teenager she landed a cadetship in the advertising department at Myer Melbourne. These were the days when artwork was done by hand and Sandy created thousands of layouts for press ads with her own manual artwork, not design software on computers. 

While still living in Melbourne, and with three children, Sandy started her freelance design company in order to have the flexibility to work from home.

It wasn’t long before her clientele included major fashion houses, magazines, shopping centres and her beloved St Kilda Football Club. 

In the late 1990s Sandy experienced a yearning to get back to painting. She enrolled in a watercolour course and her love of painting bloomed.

In the early to mid- 2000s Sandy exhibited at the Gardiner Contemporary Gallery in Hawthorn and held a residency at the Sofitel Hotel in Melbourne.

Twenty years on and Sandy feels honoured to be exhibiting again. 

“Sandy Breen: My Botanical Phase (aka Pearl’s Petals), given Pearl has been my nickname for more than 50 years, is an exhibition of over 40 of my botanical images which I am delighted to be showcasing at the iconic Convent Gallery,” she said.

“My exhibition includes a trip down memory lane with a display spanning my working life.”

And while Sandy said she feels Donny’s presence sitting at her kitchen bench, paintbrush in hand, a canvas perched on a cushion, her exhibition will also feature her artist daughter Keele’s contemporary works.

Fitting for Sandy who believes her family is her greatest achievement, she is delighted that her daughter Keele will be exhibiting some of her works in tandem with hers.

“I never dreamed of having an exhibition at the Convent Gallery, but I am truly thrilled.” 

Sandy Breen: My Botanical Phase exhibition will be held at the Convent Gallery, 7 Daly Street, Daylesford commencing on October 3 until December 5. 

Words & Image: Narelle Groenhout 

A scruffy terrier from Daylesford called Squid is about to hit the big screen as a star that rescues a drought-hit farm. 

Not only that, three cats that live with Squid have been cast in a horror film. 

Rebecca Faulkner, who has lived in Daylesford for seven years, spent five months hunting for a dog to play Runt in a film of the same name. 

“We knew roughly what we were looking for,” says Rebecca. “We wanted a dog that would thrive and enjoy it.”

The search was online and also by word-of-mouth with animal rescue people.

“We went to see 10 to 12 dogs and searched Victoria,” she says. 

Squid, “a mixed-breed mutt like some of the best ones” to train, was found in her third home.

“She was a ‘nightmare’ terrier. Terrier, terrier through to her bones. You get problem behaviour in animals just as you do in humans. I gave her a job to do. 

“She could easily have become an all-day barker, easily have become the kind of dog that tears up the houses and digs up the garden. 

“There was a lot of training from scratch. She needed agility and dogs’ agility is like that of Olympic athletes. They build muscles and coordination. 

“Squid just had to show her agility and do a lot of specific exercises. She would have been a nightmare left to her own devices. She has very long, supermodel legs and can jump fences like they’re not even there.” 

Little wonder, for the gruelling filming ran for six weeks of 10 hour days, five days a week.

“The biggest thing is building confidence,” Rebecca says.

“There was a lot of noise on the film set, with people coming and going.” 

Squid, as Runt, worked with nine-year-old Annie Shearer, who overhears her parents worrying about the loan on their farm.

With her compulsion for fixing things, she enters Runt in the Agility Course Competition at a local fair. Runt wins, getting $500, so Annie goes on to enter him in the massive Krumpets Dog Show in London. 

So there are hoops and hurdles, tunnels and see-saws in the film Runt, adapted from a best-selling book by Craig Silvey. 

Sharing the screen with Runt are stars such as Jack Thompson, Deborah Mailman, Jai Courtney and Celeste Barber.

Rebecca, who runs a specialised business finding and training animals for film, with her Sydney business partner Peta Clarke, reckons Squid, who is aged between two and three, could be up for another film.

“She’s got a lot of experience under her collar.”

As for the cats, named Birdie, Moss and Todd River (from Alice Springs), they will be in the upcoming movie Bring Her Back.

“All our animals co-exist. They live in the same house together, except for the chickens, but sometimes they do figure out how to stroll into the house. 

“It’s important that we teach all the animals how to interact with each other appropriately and co-exist without being worried about one another. 

“When we filmed The Rooster, a feature film by Mark Winter that was shot around Glenlyon, the introduction of the rooster to the family/team was really smooth because we had already gone through the process of introducing dogs to cats, cats to dogs and everyone to the chickens. It’s a process that we now all understand: family doesn’t hurt family.” 

But how in the name of felines do you train cats?

“Training is basically the same for all animals, tweaked to the species and the individual animal’s personality. 

“When working with cats we manage the environment on set so it’s safe and calm. We do not want them to get a scare or be fearful in any way. 

“We want the cats to be confident and comfortable. Just like the dogs.”

 Words: Kevin Childs | Image: Michelle Donnelly 

Daylesford is headed for massive exposure via TV show The Block.   

Channel Nine says the 20-year-old show averages 1.3 million viewers on Sunday nights and a million on the following three nights, as well as being shown in 170 countries.   

What is called pre-construction starts on the Raglan Street property this month, with filming likely to begin in February or March.

Casting started nationally last week. So far, 176 contestants have taken part in more than 900 episodes, winning more than $34 million in prize money.

For lovers of detail, there have been 98 homes renovated, 200 bathrooms built and 98 kitchens built. At least 70 crew members are expected to move to Daylesford, renting locally for three months.   

Hepburn Shire Council was anxious to make soothing noises about the advent of The Block, saying it believes it will create tourism and economic development opportunities by showcasing the district to a national audience.  

Asked about how the town would cope with the influx of so many crew members, with the attendant rubberneckers, the council said: “The production of The Block will enable opportunities for our tradespeople to work alongside the many cast, crew and in-house trades that will temporarily reside within our shire.”   

As for the possible influx of tourists after The Block is shown, the council  welcomes visitors and understands that there will be interest at the site.   

“The producers of The Block will be required to have traffic management in place to ensure the safety of people on and around the site.”   

As to whether the council had experience with something similar and if so, what it was and how was it handled, the council responded: “Council has experience with major festivals and events around our shire.

“We will be working with the producers of The Block to support them. We have  also consulted with other councils that have had involvement with the production of various seasons of The Block.”   

Words: Kevin Childs | Image: Kyle Barnes        

Victorian prosecutors will “carefully review” a magistrate’s decision to dismiss all charges against William Swale, the diabetic driver accused of causing the fatal Daylesford crash that killed five people last November.

Swale had been charged with five counts of culpable driving causing death, two counts of negligently causing serious injury, and seven counts of reckless conduct endangering life.

William Herbert Swale, 66, successfully fought to have the charges against him dropped last week, with defence counsel arguing the prosecution could not prove his decision to get behind the wheel was made consciously and voluntarily.

Defence barrister Dermot Dann KC argued the crash was the result of a medical episode and the prosecution had failed to prove his client was aware of what he was doing.

Last Thursday in the Ballarat Magistrates Court Magistrate Guillaume Bailin agreed, determining that no reasonable jury could convict him and directing that all charges against Swale be dropped. 

But families of those killed in the tragedy say the magistrate’s decision to drop all charges against the driver has left them questioning the justice system.

And in a statement, Victoria’s Office of Public Prosecutions has now said that Mr Bailin’s judgment will be reviewed and next options considered.

“The Office of Public Prosecutions acknowledges the decision of Magistrate Guillaume Bailin not to commit Mr William Swale for trial over the tragic crash in Daylesford last year,” an OPP spokeswoman said.

“As is the usual course, His Honour’s decision will be carefully reviewed in accordance with prosecution guidelines with a view to considering whether the matter should nonetheless proceed to trial.

“Our Office reiterates its deepest sympathies to the victims injured in this tragic event, and all the families of those who lost their lives.”

Under the criminal procedure act, prosecutors have powers to file charges directly in a superior court if a magistrate dismisses a case in what’s known as a direct indictment.

A magistrate has discharged the charges against the 66-year-old accused of culpable driving following the tragic deaths of five people in Daylesford last November.

William Swale, 66, had been charged with culpable driving causing death, negligently causing serious injury and reckless conduct endangering lives over the tragic November 5 crash.

But following a three-day committal proceedings hearing that began on Monday, Magistrate Guillaume Bailin has ruled the prosecution would be unable to convict Swale if the case were to go to a trial in the Supreme Court.

During the hearing in the Ballarat Magistrates Court, barrister defending Swale, Dermot Dann argued Swale’s brain function had been affected by a hypoglycemic episode at the time of the incident.

Mr Dann said evidence pointed to Swale having entered a severe hypoglycemic episode at least an hour before the crash, with his blood glucose levels reaching their lowest point in the immediate aftermath of the crash.

On November 5 last year Swale’s SUV mounted the kerb and hit several patrons seated on the front lawn of the Royal Daylesford Hotel just after 6pm.

Pratibha Sharma, 44, daughter Anvi, 9, partner Jatin Kumar, 30, their friend Vivek Bhatia, 38, and his son Vihaan, 11, all died.

A coronial investigation into the deaths remains ongoing.

Hit & Giggle Pickle Ball has become a popular sport in Daylesford on a Sunday.

Recently there were participants from the age of 11 right through to 70+, with lots of smiles and great attitudes.

A dynamic, hybrid sport, Pickleball combines features from both badminton and tennis.

Using a plastic ball and paddles, it’s played on a smaller court with a lowered net and is designed for two or four players.

Using a paddle and plastic “wiffle” ball, played on a hard surface indoors or outdoors, the game is a combination of tactical shots, patience, and easy to learn strokes, which encourages an inclusive play environment with no need for modifications or adaptations to cater for gender, ability, or age differences.

Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre is supporting the sport at the Daylesford College ARC with participants invited to meet at 11am.

Images: Linda Carroll DNC

Daylesford’s Big Rainbow will be returned to its original glory after it is painted in December.   

A Hepburn Shire Council spokesperson said the council had scheduled some minor repairs and full painting of the rainbow “so it is looking its best for the next ChillOut event”.

Quotations for the works close this week.   

The move comes after a number of people, including ChillOut Festival committee members, said the Rainbow, at Victoria Park, was started to looking a little tired.   

Committee member Tom Shaw, pictured above with fellow member Nell Simpson, said it was time for the Rainbow to be restored, with bits of paint peeling off along with some strips of timber coming away from the structure.   

“It came with a budget for maintenance but originally it was built for Sydney so  maybe it was never designed to withstand Daylesford weather and temperatures,” Tom said.   

“But it is pretty embarrassing for ChillOut especially, with a big sign saying ‘Big Rainbow in here’ and then it’s really a bit of a white elephant.”   

Tom said the Big Rainbow had pretty much failed to sparkle from day one.   

“It’s a bit dull and while it might have sparkled on one side, it didn’t on the other and that’s the one people see and get their photo taken in front of.   

“It is certainly in decline now and in need of maintenance and having some money spent on it.”   

Tom said quite a few people in the community had told him they had brought friends to see the Rainbow and many were underwhelmed.

“It is something we really need to be proud of in our little rainbow community here – but it just doesn’t sparkle. And it’s only in its first year – it won’t make many more at this rate.”   

A Hepburn Shire Council spokesperson said the council was monitoring the condition of the Big Rainbow which includes a full structural engineering assessment every six months, as was recommended at the time of installation.   

They said with some of the deterioration of the timber panelling, the repair works were being bought forward to minimise any further deterioration. The repairs will be   followed by complete repainting of the rainbow.   

A Tinder spokesperson said the council were responsible for the upkeep.

“We have been in recent comms with them and they are actively looking into this right now.”

Voting for the placement of Tinder’s Big Rainbow closed in June 2022. The final town choices were Daylesford, Hay, Broome and Katherine.

Daylesford was announced as the winner in October 2022.   

Words: Donna Kelly. Images: Eve Lamb