The previously confidential Local Government Inspectorate report  into Hepburn Shire Council and The Rex/Hepburn Hub has been published by Council Watch on its Facebook page.  

It has since been widely shared around the community with comments  across social media scathing.  

The report into the failed creation of the Hepburn Hub in Vincent  Street, Daylesford was started in 2019 but last September the LGI said  the investigation had been finalised and there was “insufficient evidence to  prove to the requisite standard of proof the commission of any disciplinary  breaches or criminal offences contrary to the 1989 Act”.  

“Accordingly, the LGI will not be taking any further action in respect of  the investigation. Nor will the LGI be publishing any report.”  

The LGI also requested all draft copies of the report be destroyed or  returned. It is believed all were watermarked with the name of the recipient.  

The Local was sent a copy of the report in 2021 but was told by the LGI  it was illegal to publish it in any form and to do so could lead to hefty fines.  

As a small publisher keen to continue to produce a free newspaper for its  community, and which cannot afford to be fined or stage a legal battle, The  Local decided not to publish the report .

The report released by Council Watch is dated June 2022 but is believed to be different to the April 2021 draft given to councillors and others  involved.  

The Local wrote to the LGI last week asking if any action would be taken against Council Watch, and now parts of the report had been published in metropolitan newspapers, was it no longer confidential, and would it be  formally released.

The LGI wrote back saying last September’s media release  had not changed but did not answer other questions.  

On its website, Council Watch has a piece titled The Rex – What  Happened? “What began as a well-intentioned initiative to create a  community hub in Daylesford, Victoria, spiralled into a financial disaster,  resulting in a cash loss of $5.6 million, reputational damage, and a failure to  deliver on community expectations.”  

In a media release issued last week, Hepburn Shire Council  acknowledged the apparently unauthorised release of the Local Government Inspectorate draft report on the Hepburn Hub at The Rex project.  

“Council also acknowledges that due to the report’s release, our  community will be feeling a range of emotions; frustration, anger, sadness,  discontent and discomfort. Council has been calling for the finalisation and  release of the LGI report for many years, to bring closure to the situation  and allow our community to move forward.  

“The way the confidential draft report has been made public is  concerning and council has formally written to the LGI to request a  thorough review of the situation.  

“As far as council’s awareness of the matters raised in the report, in 2021 a number of councillors and officers were provided with an earlier draft  for comment. However, they were under a legal obligation not to reference  receipt of the report or disclose its contents.

“This 2022 version of the report,  though, is unfamiliar to our organisation and councillors and council cannot  comment on its origins or accuracy.”  

Mayor Cr Don Henderson said the current council leadership (post-  2018) had implemented important improvements to governance, service  delivery, community engagement, and transparency.  

“The financial loss associated with the Hepburn Hub at The Rex project  was $5.65 million. This included the purchase of The Rex in 2016 for  $6.345 million, additional expenditure of $3.04 million, and proceeds from  the sale amounting to $3.74 million.  

“The $5.65 million is significant, however, it is important to be clear  to the community that the current rate cap variation and savings associated  with the implementation of our Financial Vision would still be required  even without it.

“The Financial Vision notes an annual shortfall of $4 million  per year across the 10 years so, had the loss associated with The Rex project  not been incurred, the shortfall would still have amounted to $3.5 million  annually.

“The community has every right to be disappointed, but any anger, attacks or threats are inappropriate and will not be tolerated. Over recent  weeks we have seen an increase in poor behaviour by community members  towards staff and councillors who continue to work hard to deliver services  and projects for the benefit of the community.”

 Community anger with release of Rex report  

On its website Council Watch calls itself “a team  of volunteers with a keen interest and history in local  government”.

“We seek to advocate on behalf of all  residents and ratepayers in Victoria. Local government has  very little oversight and makes its own rules. This leads to  consumers’ rights being removed or restricted.  

“We seek to help people know their rights and to  challenge council where they have acted inappropriately.  We seek to educate Victorians about local government and  create a fairer system for all.”  

Council Watch president Dean Hurlston, pictured above says “council bureaucracy is strangling the goodwill  in our communities, rates are ever increasing and service  standards are lower than ever, there are far more of us than  them”.  

Words & Rex image: Donna Kelly | Profile shot: Contributed  

The Hepburn Shire Council has acknowledged an apparently unauthorised release of the Local Government Inspectorate (LGI) draft report on the Hepburn Hub at The Rex project.

The draft report concerns an investigation of the management of the project which proposed to convert an art deco shopping arcade (Rex Theatre) on the main street of Daylesford into a community facility, including library and council offices.

The council also acknowledges that due to the report’s release, the community will be feeling a range of emotions; frustration, anger, sadness, discontent and discomfort.

The council has been calling for the finalisation and release of the LGI report for many years, to bring closure to the situation.    

In a media release issued this week the council has stated that: “The way the confidential draft report has been made public is concerning and Council has formally written to the LGI to request a thorough review of the situation.”

The council’s media release also states that:

“As far as Council’s awareness of the matters raised in the report, in 2021 a number of Councillors and Officers were provided with an earlier draft for comment.

“However, they were under a legal obligation not to reference receipt of the report or disclose its contents. This 2022 version of the report, though, is unfamiliar to our organisation and Councillors and Council cannot comment on its origins or accuracy.

“The report obviously highlights significant areas for improvement, and a media release issued by the LGI in September 2024 noted that they were ‘satisfied that the Council has taken remedial action to put in place measures to avoid future complaints of a similar nature, including the creation of a new governance and policy framework’.”

Hepburn shire mayor Cr Don Henderson, said: “The current leadership (post-2018) at Council has implemented important improvements to governance, service delivery, community engagement, and transparency.

“These vital improvements have occurred while we have responded to the pandemic and the impact of three major storm events (costing Council $3.5 million), and delivered key projects including Djuwang Baring, The Mechanics Trentham, Future Hepburn and our Financial Vision”.

Chief Executive Officer, Bradley Thomas said he was proud of the organisation’s willingness and ability to ensure that the failings identified in the report do not occur again.

“Our organisation and community deserved better, so over the last six years we have put in place countless improvements to systems, processes and governance; the implementation of Project Control Groups, creation of a Major Projects Unit and an increased oversight by the Audit and Risk Committee and Councillors.

“This has resulted in improved project delivery, governance and financial oversight,” Mr Thomas said.

The financial loss associated with the Hepburn Hub at The Rex project was $5.65 million. This included the purchase of The Rex in 2016 for $6.345 million, additional expenditure of $3.04 million, and proceeds from the sale amounting to $3.74 million.

“The $5.65 million is significant, however, it is important to be clear to the community that the current rate cap variation and savings associated with the implementation of our Financial Vision would still be required even without it,” mayor Cr Henderson said.

“The Financial Vision notes an annual shortfall of $4 million per year across the 10 years so, had the loss associated with The Rex project not been incurred the shortfall, would still have amounted to $3.5 million annually.

The council is working with the relevant stakeholders to bring closure to and recover from this incident and will continue to advocate for the community and their interests now and into the future.

This story based on a Hepburn shire Council media release. Image: File

The community engagement period for the Daylesford Community Facilities project in the historic town hall building has started.

The project is investigating the potential of establishing a community hub at Daylesford Town Hall, with the proposal to include a library, customer experience hub and multipurpose community facilities.

Hepburn shire residents and ratepayers are now being invited to review the council’s engagement materials and provide feedback before Sunday April 13.

Those keen to provide input can visit the project page on the Participate Hepburn website to view floorplans, artistic images and complete the community feedback survey.

They can also attend one of three drop-in sessions to discuss the project with council officers and members of the Project Advisory Group.

Hard copies of the designs can be printed on request at the Daylesford Library or the Daylesford Customer Experience Hub at Duke Street.

Those keen to have a say should go to https://ow.ly/m2zb50Vfer6 online.

By Donna Kelly

Congratulations to the five women inducted onto the Heather Mutimer International Women’s Day Honour Roll. They are Mary Harvey, Jessie Leggatt (posthumous), Mary-Faeth Chenery, Lynda Poke and moi.

It was an absolute honour to be included among these women – and many more who have gone before them – on this prestigious roll.

I hope to follow up with stories about each of the new inductees in later editions.  I must admit to having a bit of impostor syndrome but when I heard my citation I thought “wow, she’s done a bit”.

I also listened to a very inspiring speech by guest speaker Shae Graham, a wheelchair rugby Paralympian and world champion.

Apart from making me wonder what the hell I had been doing with my life compared to hers, Shae also said sharing stories was very important. So that was a nice  justification.  

I reckon if you read this column, even now and again, you have heard enough about me so I will use this as a thank-you opportunity, as I did with my speech last Wednesday night.  

First up, thanks to former Hepburn Shire councillor Heather Mutimer. Heather  spent many years as the only woman on the council and handled her role with  aplomb, strength and kindness. I saw her in action a lot and she was impressive. So  thanks for paving the way for many more women councillors and also for starting the  honour roll.  

Secondly thanks to Hepburn Shire Council for running the annual event, and to  the IWD committee for their hard work throughout the year.

Thanks also to Mayor Cr Don Henderson. I did not realise it but when the continuation of the roll was  looking a bit dodgy Don stepped in to keep it running.  

Fun fact. On the night, Don reminded me of a letter to the editor, anti all the  parks etc named after men, I ran in The Advocate – in my former life there. He called to ask if I would run a letter from him and I apparently had a go at him over the  phone.

The letter duly arrived, and I ran it, despite Don writing that people could be assured, that if another tip was ever opened it would be named after a woman, the  Donna Kelly Tip, for my services to journalism. Very funny really.  

Also thanks to Cr Lesley Hewitt for her wonderful MC-ing of the event. Even  though I was a little disappointed that when I ended my speech – and I was last up –  with “I am sure, like everyone here, you are looking forward to a glass of wine so let’s finish up and enjoy the refreshments” and Lesley leaned over and whispered “I don’t think there’s any wine”.  

And thanks to Cr Brian Hood for saying I should end my speech with a Just  sayin’… which I did. Oh, also thank you to Aunty Sandra for a great, and her first,  Welcome to Country – great job and really interesting speech. Don’t you love wombats.

And thanks to Ballarat MP Catherine King for coming along. Catherine certainly attends events when she can.  

Finally thanks to the young people from Daylesford College for their music and  speeches on feminism and what it means to them.

Jamie Martin-Lukoszek performed Anything by Adrianne Lenker while Zara Drogriski performed Teenage Dream by  Olivia Rodrigo, accompanied by Arlo Schwarz-Deakin.

Hayley Smith and Stevie Rigby talked about this year’s IWD theme which calls for action that can unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all and a feminist  future where no one is left behind.  If they are representative of our young people, the future is bright. Just sayin’…  

Damn, I just read this to Kyle and he reminded me to thank him, as I did on the night. So thank you Kyle – for sharing the passion of sharing the stories of the community.

Hepburn Shire Council marked International Women’s Day on March 5 with a free community event celebrating the remarkable achievements of local women and marking the 20th anniversary of the Heather Mutimer Honour Roll. 

The Honour Roll, which celebrates the exceptional contributions of women in our community, inducted five new members this year: Mary Harvey, Jessie Leggatt (posthumous), Donna Kelly, Mary-Faeth Chenery and Lynda Poke.

These women have made significant impacts in their respective fields and have become role models for future generations. 

Mayor Cr Don Henderson said the program honoured local women whose achievements are paving the way for future generations, recognising their vital roles in shaping our community. 

“Tonight was a special occasion to reflect on the incredible accomplishments of local women and to honour those who have demonstrated unwavering resilience, courage, and dedication. We look forward to continuing to support women’s empowerment in our community and beyond,” Cr Henderson said. 

This year’s event featured a powerful keynote address from Australian Paralympian, Shae Graham. Once an avid sportsperson, Shae’s life took an unexpected turn at age 18 when a motor vehicle accident left her with a severe spinal cord injury, leaving her unable to walk. 

Defying all odds, Shae went on to become the first female to represent Australia in wheelchair rugby at the 2021 Paralympics.

Her resilience and passion for breaking down barriers in male-dominated sports have made her an inspiration to many. 

Former Hepburn Shire councillor Heather Mutimer made a speech at the event, which also showcased presentations from the next generation of changemakers at Daylesford College, offering a glimpse into the future of women’s leadership and empowerment. 

The Local will run stories about the inductees in future editions. 

Words & image: Hepburn Shire Council   

A new eight-lot housing subdivision proposed for Hepburn Springs has got the green light to proceed subject to multiple conditions following a Hepburn Shire Council vote late last month.

The proposal, relating to a 7,327 square meter site at 12-14 Vanina Street, within a residential zoning area, had attracted 12 objections.

Concerns about increased traffic flow, impacts on native flora and fauna and that the proposal was not in keeping with the existing neighbourhood character, and that the density was too high for the Hepburn township, numbered among objectors’ concerns.

The application had originally proposed an 11-lot subdivision but several planning amendments that had later been lodged by the applicant had reduced the number of proposed lots to eight, creating stronger protection of existing native vegetation on the site.

A report to the council noted that: “Whilst the development will result in the future loss of some surrounding native vegetation in order to create defendable space, the applicant has accepted council officer advice to ensure an acceptable balance between vegetation loss and fire protection has been reached through the implementation of carefully considered building envelopes which will control the location of future dwellings on the proposed new lots.”

Due to the number of objections, the matter went before councillors for a decision at the council’s February 25 meeting, with the planning officer recommendation supporting approval of the application subject to numerous conditions.

These included bushfire  protection measures, traffic management, stormwater management, landscaping, screening and vegetation planting requirements, as well as building height controls among others.

But not all councillors were in support of the officer’s recommendation to grant approval, with Cr Brian Hood opposing it, naming concerns about emergency access provisions and design factors among his reasons for doing so.

“The bit I really struggle with is either a court bowl or battle axe driveway. To me they are very, very urban and not consistent with the character and amenity and rural setting of our towns,” Cr Hood said.

“This needs a bit more work and therefore I can’t support it.”

Ultimately, though, the application got through in line with the planning department’s recommendation with councillors voting 6:1 in favour.

In support, Cr Lesley Hewitt said “I’m impressed with the thoroughness that has gone into this application and also the willingness of the applicant to do the negotiation and to shift it from an 11 lot subdivision to an eight lot subdivision.”

Words: Eve Lamb. Image: File

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

A robust community turnout has greeted the Hepburn Shire Council’s first public listening post for the year, held earlier this month.

On Saturday February 15, the Hepburn Shire Council hosted its first Listening Post event in Creswick.

Despite the cool weather, it was a productive day, the council has since reported.

Attending council executive team members and councillors listened to the more than 20 community members who rolled up to chat about matters important to them.

The council’s next two public Listening Posts are scheduled for Daylesford on Thursday March 27 and Trentham on May 3.

Additional Listening Posts are also planned to be announced beyond that, the council says.

The Hepburn Shire Council is again offering residents a reusable product voucher to reduce upfront costs associated with purchasing some essential personal products. 

The council has partnered with Kyneton business Darlings Downunder to provide residents with a voucher to reduce the cost of transitioning from disposable nappy, period and incontinence products to more sustainable and reusable options.  

Mayor, Cr Don Henderson, said that the program would benefit families, young people and some of the older people in the community. 

“Making the switch to reusable products is the right thing to do for the environment, and for the hip pocket, in the long run,” Cr Henderson said.

“By reducing the upfront costs associated with reusable products, we can help our young people, families and older folk access these products.”

Each household in the Shire can access one $50 voucher to purchase eligible items:

• Cloth nappies
• Swim nappies
• Training pants
• Wet bags
• Reusable wipes
• Reusable liners
• Inserts and boosters
• Cloth nappy covers
• Period products (incl. swimwear)

The program runs until May 31 unless funds are exhausted prior.

Disposable nappies, period and incontinence products are one of the state’s biggest landfill issues and approximately 660 million disposable products end up in landfill in Australia each year.

Choosing reusable products can significantly impact the number of disposable products being sent to landfill.  

This story based on a Hepburn Shire Council media release

The Hepburn Shire Council is preparing to celebrate International Women’s Day at a free community event on Wednesday March 5, featuring a keynote address by Australian Paralympian Shae Graham.

The event taking place from 6pm in the Trentham Mechanics centre, will also feature new inductions onto the Heather Mutimer Honour Roll and will mark the 20th anniversary of the Honour Roll.  

The keynote address will come from Australian Paralympian Shae Graham who was a passionate sportsperson throughout her teens when at age 18 she sustained a severe spinal cord injury in a motor vehicle accident and was told she would not walk again.

Instead Shae went on to become the first female to represent Australia in wheelchair rugby (a mixed gender sport) at the Paralympics in 2021. Her story is one of resilience and a passion to pave the way for women in male-dominated sports. 

Hepburn Shire Mayor, Cr Don Henderson, said that the event would be a welcoming space for all to unite in support of equality and empowerment for women and girls.  

“This year’s event will reflect on the theme ‘For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.’ and will honour the remarkable achievements of local women,” Cr Henderson said.

“This is an opportunity to recognise women and their achievements, and the vital role women play in shaping our community.”

The event program will also feature presentations from the next generation of changemakers from Daylesford College. 

Attendance is free, but bookings are required. Free tickets can be booked online or by visiting any of the council’s community hubs. Return coach transport from Creswick and Daylesford will be provided if needed.

Seating must be pre-booked and the council is encouraging those needing transport to book early. A light supper will be served following the event. 

More details are available through the Hepburn Shire Council website.

Words: Eve Lamb. Image: Supplied

The Hepburn Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee (MEMPC) is seeking expressions of interest from community members to join the committee in a voluntary capacity.

The MEMPC is made up of representatives from government and non-government emergency response and recovery agencies and works to integrate resources to prevent, mitigate, respond to, and recover from emergencies in the Hepburn region.

The MEMPC plans for a range of emergencies that may occur within Hepburn Shire and is responsible for the preparation of the Municipal Emergency Management Plan (MEMP).

Community representatives will serve a term of two years on the MEMPC and will be expected to attend four meetings per year. Meetings take place in Daylesford or Clunes on a Thursday morning each quarter.

Expressions of interest will be assessed against the following criteria by a panel of current MEMPC representatives:

• An understanding of Hepburn Shire’s diverse communities and the risks they face
• Demonstrated community links
• Knowledge of Victorian emergency management arrangements
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Stakeholder management experience
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to provide community perspective over personal perspective

Expressions of interest should be a one-page statement outlining your interest in the position and the attributes you would bring to the role. Expressions will close on Friday March 14 with more details available through the council’s website.

This story based on a Hepburn Shire Council media release

Local small business owners looking to sharpen their social media and content marketing skills are invited to a free workshop facilitated by Hepburn Shire Council with Business Victoria.

This month’s free workshop is designed to help participants master the essentials of social media and create content that connects with their target market.

It will be held at Daylesford’s Victoria Park Pavilion next Monday, February 24 from 9am to noon.

The face-to-face workshop is for small business owners and entrepreneurs who want to master social media and create compelling content.

Participants can expect to learn how to:

• choose the right platform to reach your target market
• curate and create content that engages your audience
• enhance your content marketing social media skills
• use Google Business Profile to boost your visibility.

They will also create a social media and content marketing plan to attract more customers and help drive their business goals.

RSVPs: www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/business-events

Landholders across the region can enjoy the benefits of having native vegetation on their property, under a local carbon offset project aimed at helping councils in Central Victoria reach their net-zero emission goals. 

Grow Towards Zero is a project managed by the North Central Catchment Management Authority with funding from the City of Greater Bendigo, Macedon Ranges Shire Council, Hepburn Shire Council, and Mount Alexander Shire Council. 

The project is seeking expressions of interest from landholders across the North Central CMA region or within the areas of participating councils. 

“We’re looking for landholders keen to have trees planted on their property to offset local carbon emissions and take on-ground climate change action,” North Central CMA Business Development manager Matthew Dawson said. 

“Native trees and shrubs bring all kinds of benefits to a property. As well as looking great, native vegetation means increased habitat for wildlife and can help reduce soil and wind erosion. Increasing native vegetation can also play a big part in helping owners pass on a healthier property to the next generation.” 

Grow Towards Zero is looking for individual sites where the combined planting area is five hectares or more, or a group of neighbouring landholders looking to create corridors of native vegetation. 

“Undertaking revegetation on private property can be costly. This program addresses this by using carbon offset needs to source and plant the trees and shrubs and maintain them for two years,” Mr Dawson said. 

The first round of expressions of interest for the project is open until March 31.

The project will develop a portfolio of potential sites, with intentions to stagger implementation on a selection over the coming few years. 

Hepburn Shire Council Facilities and Circular Economy manager Sean Ludeke, pictured inset, said: “Grow Towards Zero demonstrates the power of local and regional collaboration on climate action, uniting landowners, council and the North Central CMA to create biodiversity habitat and build in stronger resilience to climate impacts here in the Hepburn Shire.” 

Link: www.nccma.vic.gov.au/grow-towards-zero

Words: Kyle Barnes 

With Eve Lamb

My sturdy walking companion, Paddy H, and I had been planning to complete Daylesford’s famed 15km Three Lost Children Walk for this series, having trekked the first half for the last installment.

However, with weekend temperatures nudging 40 degrees we decided to delay until the arrival of kinder bush-walking weather. Instead, a leisurely mid-week sampler of the following fairly special new short stroll seemed just the thing. 

Since launching a couple of months ago, Trentham’s new self-guided walk honouring the life of Dr Gweneth Wisewould has been proving a real winner – much like the good doctor herself. 

Featuring an informative brochure, the self guided tour takes walkers around numerous Trentham township sites that were of central significance in the life of the much loved local medic (1884-1972). 

The new Gweneth Wisewould Walk brochure has been developed by the Hepburn Shire Council, drawing on detailed information that the Trentham & District Historical Society compiled a couple of years ago to mark the 50th anniversary of Dr Gwen’s January 1972 death. 

The walk brochures are now available at both Daylesford’s and Trentham’s information centres. So armed with our copy, as the mercury climbs to 32 degrees, we set out to follow it to the letter, starting at No 15 Market Street, the site of the good doctor’s surgery from 1938 to 1954. 

Along the way we are joined by Trentham & District Historical Society treasurer Nat Poole. The walk covers an easy distance of about 3.5 km all up and includes sites like Dr Gwen’s old surgeries in both Market and High Streets, the former butcher shop (now a cafe) where she used to store her perishable drugs in the cool room before reliable refrigeration arrived in the town, and the town’s former bush hospital site where she performed surgery and delivered a whole generation of Trentham babies. 

For those who haven’t yet had the pleasure of reading Dr Gwen’s biography by Ian Braybrook, or her own (at times hair-raising) autobiographical work, Dr Gwen arrived in Trentham late one rainy evening in 1938, steam erupting from the overheated radiator of her ancient Plymouth.

She would spend the next 34 years supporting the most vulnerable and sick in the Trentham district – and becoming much loved by the community in the process. 

She hailed from a wealthy Melbourne family and had recently left her role as a leading surgeon at the Queen Victoria Hospital (now closed). 

Together with her devoted housekeeper and companion Ella Miller Bell (Ellabelle) and their two dachshunds, Dr Gwen arrived in the Central Highlands seeking a new start – and what a new start it would prove to be. 

Her training and superb surgical skills saved many an injured local and those seeking treatment for all manner of incidents, mishaps and conditions, at the Trentham Bush Hospital. 

Dressed in her trademark boots and greatcoat, Dr Gwen often worked tirelessly through the night to attend to patients, driving all hours on muddy tracks in a variety of vehicles including her old Dodge truck – she was also known to ride a motorcycle. She was never known to refuse a request for help. 

The walk also takes in many more points of interest from her life including St Chads at 69 High Street, one of Trentham’s oldest residences which became Dr Gwen’s home after her prior Trentham residence was lost to fire. 

The walk brochure records that: “It (No 69) was built for Donald McPherson and later given by then owner Patrick Murphy to the Catholic Church and enlarged for use as a convent.

Following the loss of Westacres, Dr Gwen’s beloved earlier Trentham home of 20 years (in a 1965 house fire) St Chads was the house that the people of Trentham quietly cleaned and thoughtfully filled with new household goods as a surprise for the town doctor on her move-in day.” 

Especially noting the contributions of historical society member, Sue Worthington who is currently overseas, Nat says the walk is a great way for people to learn about this larger-than-life character whose community involvement also extended to plenty of lively civic activities as well. 

“I think everybody should know about her,” Nat says. “She was a pretty amazing woman. If you mention the name Dr Gwen, even today, people just start telling you stuff.” 

But Nat reckons that if Dr Gwen was to look down from somewhere lofty above today she’d be a bit “flabbergasted” to see herself honoured in such a way. 

“She was one of those people who just gave and gave and gave and never expected anything in return.” 

Paddy H and I continue on to complete the walk, including the final resting place of Dr Gwen, a peaceful grave-site at the town’s cemetery. At rest also in the same plot are Ellabelle and Dr Gwen’s foster sister Dorothy Bethune. 

As the walk brochure notes: “All three graves face west to capture Trentham’s gorgeous bush sunsets.” 

With structural cracks clearly visible and many of its exquisite little features broken and decayed, the historic fountain in Queens Park, Clunes, is clearly in need of some significant TLC.

Responding to questions from The Local, the Hepburn Shire Council has, in recent days, confirmed that it intends to explore future funding opportunities “to achieve renewal works to the historic feature”.

Much to the concern of locals – and visitors – who appreciate and value unique heritage assets, the little 1880s fountain is visibly falling victim to time and weather.

The Local wanted to know what’s being planned to restore and renovate this much-loved aesthetic treasure before it crumbles and cracks much further. In an email responding to the questions Hepburn Shire Acting CEO Bruce Lucas said:

“The Queens Park fountain is a much-loved historic feature in the township of Clunes. Our Parks and Open Spaces team monitor the fountain and carry out water quality maintenance as required.

“The Queens Park Masterplan, that has established the long-term vision for the parklands, was formally adopted at the 19 March 2024 Council Meeting.

“The Masterplan identifies and addresses gaps in infrastructure requirements; improved accessibility and safety; and increase participation, visitation and reserve connection opportunities for the local community.

“One of the actions contained in the Masterplan is to ‘Refurbish the existing Queens Park Fountain and check for any damages, leaks or blockages, (and to) provide feature paving around the fountain which is consistent with the post-contact heritage aesthetic’.

“Delivering this action from the Masterplan is currently unfunded and would need to be considered with other Council priorities and attracting relevant external funding.

“Council has commenced implementation of the Masterplan actions through the installation of a shade structure over the Queens Park playspace. The project is co-funded by the Victorian Government’s Tiny Towns Grant Program and Council.

“Council will continue to explore future funding opportunities to achieve the renewal works to the Queens Park Fountain.”

Featuring a recurrent floral motif, the unique little fountain was built to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887.

Words: Eve Lamb