Work will soon start to reconstruct just under two kilometres of the Dean-Newlyn Road at Newlyn after the Hepburn Shire Council approved awarding the tender to Ontrack Civil Earthworks for the project.

Mayor, Cr Don Henderson, said that the council was committed to maintaining and upgrading its road network to enhance safety and accessibility for the community.  

“With the roadworks in Newlyn, Council aims to deliver long-term benefits to the community and ensure that our infrastructure is future-proofed for years to come,” Cr Henderson.

“The proposed reconstruction will deliver essential improvements to our road network.”

Back in 2023 the council had completed a shire-wide detailed condition audit of its road network, gaining valuable insights into the state of local infrastructure and helping to identify key priorities for intervention, including road reconstruction and resurfacing works in both township and rural areas. 

As part of this process, a number of sections of Dean-Newlyn Road were identified for upgrade.

The first section, Stage 1, is included in the 2024/25 Capital Works Program, while Stages 2 and 3 were designed for future consideration. 

In addition to the Dean-Newlyn Road reconstruction, another major infrastructure project, Chanters Lane at Fern Hill, was initially set to be funded by the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program as part of the 2024/25 program.

This grant requires project completion by June 30, 2025. However, there have been delays in the construction of Chanters Lane in order to meet Cultural Heritage Assessment requirements which will mean that the works will not be able to be delivered within this financial year.

Instead, they will be incorporated into the 2025/26 Capital Works Program, the council confirmed in a media statement.

“With no possibility of extending the grant funding for Chanters Lane, the council proactively identified that bringing forward Stage 2 of the Dean-Newlyn Road reconstruction is a good alternative to ensure funding is used before the grant deadline.,” Cr Henderson said.

“Stage 1 and 2 of the Dean-Newlyn Road reconstruction can now proceed. This will ensure that the necessary road improvements are completed promptly while also maximising the use of available funding.”

Reconstruction of the 1.9 km section of road is slated to start late this month.

This story based on a Hepburn Shire Council report. Photo: File

Top sheepdogs and their trainers are headed to Dean this Sunday, October  13, for the eleventh running of the Old Sniff Classic Sheepdog Trials.  

Among them, veteran sheepdog trainer Jim Dodge and his dog, Connor’s Cash,  will be back to defend Cash’s title after the four-year-old border collie took out the  open competition last year.

The duo from Snake Valley will be the ones to beat and the competition is likely to be intense with Jim also competing with Viewfield Sam, a three-year-old border collie that he bred as well as trained.  

Jim has never missed an Old Sniff Sheepdog Trial in all the years it’s been  running. He and his wife Kerry love to get along to the annual Dean Recreation  Reserve fixture that raises money for local causes.  

“Brian and the committee do a really good job,” says Jim, referring to the  president of the Dean Recreation Reserve Committee, Brian Maher.  

“We won the Old Sniff Classic open with Cash last year and Sam finished  fourth.”  

Jim and Kerry are well known on the sheep dog trial circuit and have recently  been made life members of the Victorian Working Sheepdog Association.  

The accolade recognises their major contributions with Kerry providing untold  hours behind the scenes toward the smooth running of events and admin, and Jim  breeding and training champion working sheepdogs for the last five decades.  

Jim and his dogs have won at state supreme championship level and notched up  an impressive number of Australian and Commonwealth championship level wins,  while Jim’s knowledge has also seen him judge Australian Supreme Sheepdog Trials as  well.  

“We’ll be trying anyway,” he says ahead of this Sunday’s competition.  

Kerry says that over the many years they’ve been attending sheepdog trials, she’s  noticed some interesting changes take place.  

“It’s very much changed over the years. It used to be just farmers competing but  now you get city folk who will train a dog to compete as well,” she says.

“There’s always a good crowd (at the Old Sniff Classic). We get a lot of people  come along and they’ll just sit there for hours and watch it.”  

Busy preparing for this Sunday’s running, Brian Maher is particularly hoping  the sun smiles down on the Old Sniff after foul weather cancelled the committee’s  other main fundraiser for the year, the Dean Kite Festival which was meant to have  happened last month.  

Brian says this Sunday’s trials will see about 40 well-trained and work-honed dogs  competing, offering spectators a pretty pleasant way to spend the day.  

“The stars of the show manoeuvre three sheep around a course on the command  of their handlers, while being judged on time and ability,” he says.  

“National, state and local champions are among the field and spectators can chat  to the handlers and learn the finer points of the sport.”  

Food sales, raffles and a vintage machinery display are part of it as well with entry to the grounds by gold coin donation.  

Words: Eve Lamb    

It was a happy occasion in Creswick.

Dean Recreation Reserve president Brian Maher and treasure Rob Turley both rolled up at the Creswick Neighbourhood Centre a bit over a week ago, especially to do one of their favourite things – present a cheque.

This time it was to Anglicare Victoria’s food relief program that runs out of the Creswick Neighbourhood Centre.

The cheque was for a handy $1500 and was the proceeds of money raised through raffles run at this year’s Dean Kite Festival in September, and the Dean and District Sheepdog Trials in October.

The Dean Recreation Reserve committee run both popular events on their attractive little rec reserve and each year donates the proceeds raised to good local causes.

“We like to see the money we make go to the local community and we’d especially like to thank all our supporters who donated items for the raffles,” said Dean Recreation Reserve treasurer Rob Turley.

On the receiving end of the cheque this time round, Anglicare Victoria’s Ballarat-based community development manager, Kim Boyd said demand for the emergency relief program is increasing.

“We’re certainly seeing an increase this year in the demand for food support and extra support around Christmas,” Kim said.

“The demand on us is steadily increasing.”

The swiftly accepted $1500 cheque will be used to purchase food items which will now be distributed to those in need in the local area.

“This is an outreach centre and we work in partnership with the Creswick Neighbourhood House and the local parish and other community groups,” Kim said.

Creswick Neighbourhood Centre manger Chrissy Austin said they’ve also noticed the increased demand from people seeking help through the emergency food relief program.

“We see people in need daily here. We’re so grateful to Anglicare,” she said.

“This is a very important program to us. We have a steady stream of people. There’s just so much need in the community.”

Words and Image: Eve Lamb

Words: Eve Lamb. Image: Supplied.

For champion sheepdog trainer John Tuddenham, training winning woofers is a bit like educating smart children.

“You don’t give them too much too early. You’ve got to let ‘em grow up a little,” says the renowned local sheepdog trainer.

John, from Ross Creek, is among the many sheepdog trainers who’ll be heading to compete at the upcoming annual Dean and District Sheepdog trials set for Sunday October 8.

“It’s a bit like teaching a young child,” says John whose dogs have come away with the silverware at many top competitions in Victoria and interstate.

“You’ve got to form a bond with the dog.”

John trains border collies, and at next month’s famed Dean trials it tends to mainly be the collie breed that competes.

Conducted under the rules of the Victorian Working Sheepdog Association, the annual trials have become a real favourite in the diaries of many of the state’s top trainers and draws many of the very best dogs from across Victoria.

They take place at the Dean Recreation Reserve and date back to 2013, says Recreation Reserve president Brian Maher who is keenly anticipating the day’s competition.

“The dogs work three sheep at a time and we’ll have up to 40 dogs competing for the day. Each dog gets 15 minutes,” he says.

“We get competitors from all over the state and in the past we’ve had entries from Tasmania and from South Australia.”

The trials missed a couple of years during the pandemic lockdowns but have since made a very successful comeback.

Funds raised through entry donations at the gate, many raffle prize draws that are held, and onsite refreshment sales all go to support important local causes and charities.

Brian says that this year funds raised will be benefiting Creswick Anglicare.

The day offers a great chance for people who have never watched sheep dog trials before to learn a lot.

Brian says he particularly likes to introduce newbies, first-time visitors, to a trainer so they can ask questions and learn about how point-scoring works during competition.

With some loyal sponsors backing them, the trials offer some great prizes and trophies for the winners and the event has become renowned for its country hospitality and good ol’ fashioned vibe.

Homemade baked goodies and refreshments on site are all part of the atmosphere, as is the vintage engine display.

And, just quietly, those who get along can also expect to be treated to a bit of live country bush verse as well.

By way of demonstration, while chatting to The Local about the upcoming trials, Brian recited the lyrics to a favourite Slim Dusty number – word for word.

“I call this event the Old Sniff Classic,” he says. “That’s a name I came up with ten years ago. It’s the name of a Slim Dusty song,” continues Brian, reeling off a few verses, a process which serves as useful practice before hitting the crowd with a bit more of the same over the trials PA system on the day.

“We are a small committee but we are very proactive,” says Brian, who is clearly a man who enjoys his work

Brian likes to be present on the day, to personally circulate and make new visitors and competitors feel welcome. But he is quick to credit veteran trainer and competitor John Tuddenham with being “instrumental” in getting the event off the ground from the outset.

“It’s a great event,” says John, himself. “And what Brian does is unbelievable in running it. The competitors just love it because of the atmosphere. It’s a very friendly event.” John and his dogs have been competing at the Dean and District Trials ever since they first took place, and this year he’s bringing Tintagel Peta and Mia – both border collies – to take on the competition.

John and Tintagel Peta were overall winners at last year’s trials so many will be watching them particularly closely this time ‘round.

“It takes you probably 12 months to train a dog to be able to do competition,” says the master trainer.

John has also bred winning working dogs at his Ross Creek property in the past, and has competed with dogs he has trained all over Victoria

and interstate, representing Victoria four times in the Australian Supreme Sheepdog Trials.

He is a life member of the Victorian Working Sheep Dog Association and has also judged the Australian Supreme Sheep Dog Trials on five occasions.

John and his wife Mary are also busy getting ready to host a sheepdog training school at their property, Belmonte over October 21-22.

“I’ve got nothing against kelpies at all,” says John. “But border collies are a little bit more steady and tend to get on with working just three sheep a little bit better because they are so calm.”

In the past the Dean and District Sheepdog Trials have benefited a wide range of local charities ranging from the local fire brigade to Shannon’s Bridge which helps terminally ill people to pass over peacefully in their own homes.

Brian says that when people donate $5 to get in the gate at next month’s trials, they’ll receive three raffle tickets into the bargain, with some great raffle prizes to be won.

The trials happen at Dean Recreation Reserve on the Daylesford – Ballarat Road, Sunday, October 8 from 7 am.