By Donna Kelly

I have two quite interesting stories this edition. Well, maybe more, but we’ll see where these end up. First one came to mind after reading Eve’s latest Bushwalks of the Central Highlands.

I hope you are enjoying the reads, I certainly am. I can imagine people tearing them out and making a little folder about where to head when the weather improves. Although that doesn’t seem to slow down Eve and her faithful companion Paddy H.

Anyway, I read this one and enjoyed that she liked the lovelocks on the bridge at Lake Daylesford. You read a lot about fake news these days but that was something we dreamed up when we started The Local.

I had been reading about bridges around Europe being weighed down by so many lovelocks they were going to have to start cutting them off. And I thought, what if Daylesford had a lovelock bridge?

So we asked a couple we know and they posed with the sun behind them as they sealed their love with a lock.

And we added a few more, one for us, one each for Rosie and Curly, maybe one for my mum and dad. And slowly, but surely, the locks grew in number and they became “a thing”.

I even thought about setting up a little lock stall on weekends but then I remembered I don’t like the general public so that put paid to that.

A few years later some knob cut the wires and slid many of the locks into the lake, but the council repaired the wires and back the locks came. All nice and new.

We put a few more back on as well. Seeing we started it and all. So that was fun to read – like when someone quotes something back to a journo they have read “somewhere” and it was written by that journo. Little thrills and all that – just to get you through.

The other interesting story, well funny in a way, also came from Eve. She sent through a story about plantings at Creswick Creek in Clunes. And it got me thinking. I was either working for The Courier at Ballarat or The Advocate at Daylesford and was called to the Clunes Bowling Club one morning to photograph an act of vandalism.

Over I went and arrived at the club to hear the sad tale. Someone, after the club had cleared quite a few saplings from the creek, had got their knickers in a twist and poured sump oil on the carefully tended green.

Club members had tried to help out by dumping white kitty litter on the oil in an attempt to soak it all up. Good idea, sort of.

Inside I talked to a very clearly upset president, an older gentleman who said he couldn’t believe it when he arrived at the club and saw the metre long letters spelling out the word CLUNES.

“Donna, who would do such a thing?” he asked. I looked around the room, wondering who would help me out. Everyone just looked down at the floor and I realised it was up to me, as a journalist and with my code of ethics, to tell the truth.

“Hmmm,” I said. “It doesn’t say Clunes.” The president looked at me blankly and asked “well then, what does it say?” Again, no help. “Hmmm. It does start with a C and ends with an S but it’s not Clunes.”

I don’t think we ran the photo. Just sayin’…

Words & Images: Eve Lamb

“This would have to be the classic Daylesford walk,” enthuses Paddy H as we head off beneath an ominous sky to sample the Two Lakes 8km loop. 

“You’re probably right,” I reply after we’ve exchanged pleasantries with a beaming couple and their well rugged-up Italian greyhound.

Ahead, our walk will take us from Lake Daylesford to Jubilee Lake, and return, through some lovely remnant native bushland and past some notable physical remnants of Daylesford’s colourful 1800s past.

We’re responsibly equipped with a printed walk description and map that I picked up from the Daylesford Visitor Information Centre much earlier in the year when the days were still warm.

Now, heading out clockwise around Lake Daylesford, from the main car park off Bleakley Street, we reach the spillway, its guidewires festooned with lovelocks, poignant little emblems of personal commitment.

The words “40 years married,” are etched onto the nearest lock on which my camera lens lands.

Sauntering along, discussing diverse things and feeling fairly glad we’ve worn serious coats, we complete the Lake Daylesford circuit and cross Bleakley Street, heading left along the path that takes us past the rear of the Lake House to Wombat Flat Springs.

We then follow the lake edge to reach the boardwalk and continue on to the end of the boardwalk. Here we need to wake up and pay attention as about 30 metres or so past the boardwalk we must take a grassy and indistinctly marked uphill track to our left, and follow it until we reach bitumen Burrall Street.

There we turn left and continue on, the caravan and cabin park on our right, to the intersection with Ballan Road near the entrance to Victoria Park. From here we cross the Ballan Road and walk just a short way to our right to pick up the Jubilee Lake walking track that’s marked with a weather-faded sign.

The walkers who were braving the elements at Lake Daylesford are now nowhere to be seen. It’s instantly just us and the kookaburras.

The track meanders along, continuing straight ahead, through the bush and past private properties until it reaches the bitumen Lake Road.

Here we turn left and walk about 30 metres to spot an ever-useful Great Dividing Track/Goldfields Track sign marking the way ahead, on the other side of the road.

From here the beautifully tree-lined track leads gently uphill until we reach the old railway footbridge at the far northern end of Jubilee Lake.

We cross the old bridge beneath which water rushes after a little recent rain, and we keep walking in an anti-clockwise direction around the glittering lake edge toward the kiosk with its damply upturned colourful canoes dreaming of summer.

Suddenly a brilliant, sparkling burst of gorgeous winter sunlight turns the lake surface to a sheen of dancing diamonds.

Paddy H and I choose a sun-splashed park seat alongside the silvery spectacle on which to have a late lunch and coffee. But no sooner have we unravelled the first sandwich than the delicious sunlight vanishes, to be swiftly replaced by a scud of dark cloud that dispenses first drizzle then decisive showers.

We grab up our camera gear, backpacks and lunches and go helter-skelter for the nearest shelter, counting our lucky stars there’s one to be had.

And here we sit for a good half hour, lunching, reading the walk notes for the section ahead and waiting for the cloudburst to end.

After a while it does and we resume, following the lake’s edge, keeping it to our left for a kilometre or so until we reach the mossy wooden footbridge at the lake’s southern end.

We cross and continue on, anti-clockwise, headed back around the lake toward the old railway bridge. At the entrance to the old bridge we now turn sharp right and climb up a steep short flight of steps to enter the old railway line.

Later, a spot of research enlightens us that: “opening in 1887 and closing in 1953, the Ballarat to Daylesford railway line ran from the North Creswick railway station northeast across Jubilee Lake to connect with the existing Daylesford- Carlsruhe (Bendigo) railway line, launched in 1880.

“The construction of these two railway lines was part of the railway-mania that accompanied and fed the property speculation boom of the 1880s. Every town and hamlet agitated for a railway line. They were regarded as both a symbol of progress and a passport to prosperity”.

Admiring the tall eucalypts, noting evidence of wombat habitation, we walk on until we reach the intersection with a gravel road where an Italian Hill sign is visible.

We turn left and walk downhill for about 50 metres to find a Great Dividing Trail sign. We turn right here and follow the track downhill and across a little gully, following GDT signs and then climbing fairly steeply up to Cornish Hill and its pine tree forest ambience.

From here we basically just follow the path past the old Cornish Hill gold mining relics down and back into town, emerging at the skate park and walking down to Ruthven Street.

We turn right and pick up the well-made path leading back to the lake edge to complete the last scenic little stretch of Lake Daylesford in a clockwise direction, reaching the car park just as the drizzle sets in again on dusk.

The Hepburn Shire Council recently hosted David from Central Highlands Water at Lake Daylesford’s new Choose Tap water fountain installed at Chatfield Reserve.

David, who is project managing the Daylesford Water Supply Pipeline project, is pictured above with Lee, the council’s project manager responsible for the Chatfield Reserve improvement works.

Central Highlands Water (CHW) and Hepburn Shire Council have joined forces to continue installing water fountains in the region, as part of the Choose Tap program.

Located in Chatfield Reserve at Lake Daylesford, this latest water fountain will help reduce single-use plastic waste while providing easy access to quality drinking water.

With one single plastic water bottle taking up to 450 years to decompose in landfill, CHW is encouraging the community to ‘bring your own bottle’ (BYOB) and Choose Tap water over bottled water for health and the environment.

As part of the installation, thirsty four-legged friends, like Russell pictured above, will also have access to fresh drinking water with the push of a button through the inclusion of a dog bowl.

This includes the existing water fountain located at Burke Square in Daylesford, having been upgraded to include a new dog bowl, as it’s important our canine friends stay hydrated all year round.

Hepburn Shire Council Mayor, Brian Hood: “Hepburn Shire Council is pleased to continue its partnership with Central Highlands Water on the Choose Tap project.

“We are committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of our community, and these Choose Tap water fountains are an important initiative to help the community stay hydrated, while reducing the impact of single-use plastic bottle waste on the environment.”

Central Highlands Water Managing Director, Jeff Haydon: “CHW is dedicated to improving the health of the local community and are thrilled to continue joining forces with Hepburn Shire Council, so we can all play our part for the environment by making a sustainable choice and reduce single-use plastic bottle waste.”

Recently a friend of mine was walking around Lake Daylesford with their dog and was verbally assaulted by an idiot after an off-leash dog incident.

It was an ordinary day in their mind and the fresh air was beneficial simply because of the ordinariness of the day and the chance for a tiny bit of “me time”.

You see, they are part of the sandwich generation, folks around their 50s who are sandwiched between teenage kids becoming adults and ageing parents. Trying hard to carve out time for themselves to keep healthy both mentally and physically, rather than taking a back seat to the others in their lives who require their constant attention.

But back to the attack. Lake Daylesford, despite what people think and do, is not a leash-free area and my friend had a small dog on a lead.

The attacker in question’s unleashed larger dog got a little too close for comfort and my friend asked if they wouldn’t mind heeling their dog.

This birdbrain then called her a “Karen”. You know, Karen from Brighton who shot to infamy after complaining about lockdown walks around her posh beach-side suburb.

This was “whatever” in my friends’ eyes until the guy took a second look and decided she was not only a Karen, but she was a fat Karen. WTAF?

Now I know quite a few Karens, and they are great people, and it is a pity Ms Brighton gave them a bad reputation, but it is the buzz-word, meme-ridden universe we live in. But the fat comment? And he repeated this a couple of times.

“You’re not just a Karen, you’re a fat Karen”, he laughed. Just like a parrot.

I have yoyoed my way along life’s road and know if I’ve put on a lump or two and I don’t need anyone to enlighten me. I have multiple mirrors I can look at and clothes that become a little tighter now and again.

I don’t need someone to point it out. And it’s not like the surprise of having your fly down when someone kindly points it out (thanks lady in the chemist the other day). Or like someone saying you have left a bit of food on your cheek. Those comments all come from a good place.

Being honest, guys are particularly cruel, and say things to one another like “it looks like you’ve been in a good paddock”. I am sure my guy didn’t mean anything wrong, while I was just looking around the supermarket for a dinner idea, but I just wanted to shrink away.

But maybe he should think about it next time. I hadn’t been busy exercising as I had spent the last three years of my life dragging his free newspaper from inception to a great read. Read that!

Back to my friend’s aggressor. Just don’t be a dick. My friend is a wonderful person who spends her time helping others. Not just family, also friends and the community. And she has been through a lot. And you made her cry.

Believe me if people knew your identity it would not end well. Aggressor rant over…

Good progress is being made as part of the first phase of work to upgrade the Central Springs Reserve at Lake Daylesford, the Hepburn Shire Council says.  

On Friday 26 April, the Federal Member for Ballarat, Catherine King and Hepburn Shire Mayor Cr Brian Hood inspected ongoing work as part of the first phase of the upgrade.  

Mayor, Cr Brian Hood, said the project will create a safer and broader space for visitors to the Springs precinct.  

“The design was closely coordinated with Djandak, the working arm of traditional land owners Djaara, including elements such as the picnic shelter, signage, and mineral spring pump area design,” said Cr Hood.  

This is the first stage of implementation of the masterplan which was adopted following community consultation in 2021 and sees three new mineral spring pumps (1 accessible), complemented by Djaara artwork. The project will also include: 

• A paved picnic area with a BBQ, picnic tables and an indigenous-inspired shelter 
• Rejuvenation of the hydroelectric pump infrastructure and the Hard Hills spring 
• Directional and interpretative signage 
• Landscaping with plenty of seating opportunities to take in the beautiful surrounds 
• The design of the works takes into account the health and safety of the significant trees within the reserve. 

“This wonderful upgrade is expected to be completed in time for Spring this year and was made possible by the Federal Government’s election commitments under the Investing in Our Communities Program. This beautiful area will further enhance our vital and growing tourist economy,” said Cr Hood. 

The $1.47 million project was approved by Council at the December 2023 Council Meeting and is funded by $350,000 from the Federal Government, with the remaining funding from Council, particularly through our Mineral Springs Reserve fund. 

Catherine King MP:  “We’re delivering on this election commitment to upgrade the iconic Central Springs Reserve and support Daylesford’s vital and growing tourism economy. 

“Central Springs Reserve is a perfect place for families and many of us have childhood memories of picnicking and pumping water from the springs here. This investment means that families in the future will be able to make the same great memories.” 

BOREALIS, the light show and immersive experience, is set to return to Lake Daylesford from 20 July with sessions every Thursday to Sunday evening until October.

“BOREALIS delivered significant economic benefit to our Shire last year, with more than 35,000 people attending across the season,” said Mayor of Hepburn Shire, Cr Brian Hood.

“It is estimated this brought an economic benefit of more than $6 million to our Shire, which was incredibly welcome as the economy sought to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said. 

BOREALIS is presented by Andrew Kay and Associates, in partnership with Gluttony, supported by the Victorian Government, Council and Daylesford Macedon Tourism. Andrew Kay acknowledged the support of the many organisations working together for a second season.  

“We acknowledge and appreciate the support of Hepburn Shire Council and Daylesford Macedon Tourism in facilitating the return of Borealis to Lake Daylesford. The magic and awe of Borealis is elevated in darkness and surrounded by nature. With its own unique natural beauty, we couldn’t think of a more perfect setting than Lake Daylesford to recreate this spectacular effect,” said Andrew Kay AM.

“Add to the mix, Daylesford’s progressive dining scene, multiple wellness experiences and its amazing collection of quality accommodation offerings, and you have all the ingredients for a truly magical weekend away,” he said.

Winter Sounds is also returning to Hepburn Shire from 17 to 20 August. After completely selling out last year Winter Sounds 2023 will see performances by artists, including Tex Perkins, Jen Cloher, Adalita, Mo’Ju, Gareth Liddiard and many more, take place within the historic churches, grand town halls and villages of Dja Dja Wurrung country.

This year the program will include an event at the Clunes Town Hall. Tickets are on sale on line.  

Words in Winter, an annual literary and arts festival, is also returning across the region and the program is set to be released shortly. This will take place from 25 to 27 August.

Cr Brian Hood said that events like these help contribute to making the Shire a wonderful place to live and visit.

“These events build community spirit and are so important for our local businesses and community, particularly over the cooler winter months,” said Cr Hood. 

“We encourage visitors to stay for the weekend and experience a feast of art and culture, explore the many offerings around the region or simply relax,” he said.

“Hepburn Shire really is the premier regional Victoria events destination. We look forward to welcoming visitors throughout winter and beyond.”