St Patrick’s Day celebrations are taking place at Trentham East on Sunday, March 16.

The day begins at 11am at the Sacred Heart Church to hear stories from local Irish people before the crowd, led by the bagpipes, marches to the Pig and Whistle Hotel, a pub with Irish history dating back to 1887.

There the celebrations kick off with a traditional Irish menu, plenty of Guinness on tap and live Irish music.

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.” 

The Hepburn Shire Council will be hosting a series of community listening post events throughout the year with the first in the series scheduled for this month.

 The listening post events are aimed at strengthening communication and engagement with the  community.

They will be held in major townships as well as smaller  communities, with the opportunity for residents to share their ideas,  provide feedback on services, and discuss matters that are important to  them.  

As part of the initiative, senior council staff and councillors will be attending local community spaces throughout the year.  

The first three listening posts scheduled are:

• Saturday 15 February – Creswick IGA, 10am to 12pm  

• Thursday 27 March – Daylesford Coles, 4pm to 6pm  

• Saturday 3 May – Trentham Spudfest, 10am to 12pm  

Details of other Listening Post events, including dates and locations, will be  made available on the council’s website – www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/listening-posts  

As part of Hepburn Shire Council’s budget savings measures, Trentham and Clunes libraries will no longer open to the public on Saturday mornings from March.  

Acting Council CEO Bruce Lucas said that the decision to not open the two libraries on Saturday mornings was made after careful consideration of usage and borrowing rates, and aimed to minimise disruption to the community.  

“As we worked on developing our Financial Vision, we carefully examined each council service to identify potential efficiencies. As we move forward with this effort,  we expect to make ongoing adjustments to our services to ensure they are more  efficient and cost-effective for our community.  

“The adjustments we’re making to our library operations will allow us to operate  more efficiently and offer services in a cost-effective manner, focusing on peak demand  times.

“Saturday mornings are our least busy times at our Trentham and Clunes sites.”  

The council will continue to have two libraries open to the public on Saturday mornings at Daylesford and Creswick.  

Meanwhile, the council has received a grant to expand community access to its four libraries beyond opening hours through the Open Access Libraries initiative, which allows library members to upgrade their membership to access library buildings beyond regular opening hours in the absence of onsite staff.

“This initiative supports our community to utilise their local library at a time that  suits them most. It aims to increase their opportunities to learn and share knowledge,” Mr Lucas said.  

“The extended hours will suit families to come and enjoy their love of reading, students to study, and our community to access knowledge and learning outside our regular library hours.”  

Council will roll out Open Access Libraries from March starting with the Trentham library, and then introduce the program at Clunes, Creswick and  Daylesford.  

Library members will be invited to participate in a comprehensive induction program to upgrade their library membership.

This will grant them exclusive access to facilities during non-operational hours, from 8am to 8pm, seven days per week, including public holidays.  

Hepburn Shire Council announced the recipients of the 2025 Community  Awards last Friday, January 24 at a civic event at The Mechanics Trentham.  

The awards recognised individuals and community organisations that have made  outstanding contributions to the local community.  

The event was attended by a number of councillors along with Ballarat MP  Catherine King and Ripon MP Martha Haylett.

Dja Dja Wurrung Elder Aunty  Marilyne Nicholls performed a moving Welcome to Country.  Citizen of the Year was awarded to Steve Ellis, a member of the Creswick CFA for  40 years, for his exceptional community service and volunteer efforts in various local  initiatives.  

“Steve has over 40 years’ service to the Creswick Fire Brigade with his many  leadership roles, CFA and the Running Championships, as well as his service to the  football community.”  

The Event of the Year was awarded to the 160th Anniversary Clunes Show, for its  significant impact in celebrating and promoting the region’s heritage and community  spirit.  

“The Clunes Show has always shown a wonderful exhibition from local and  surrounding districts, of stock, machinery and homecraft exhibits, illustrating the  abilities and dedication of both the farmers and townspeople to produce only the best  products.”  

Hepburn Together was awarded to the Daylesford and Hepburn United Soccer  Club, for fostering inclusivity, team spirit, and youth development in the region  through soccer.  

“Daylesford and Hepburn United Soccer Club is a 100 per cent not-for-profit  community-run sports club with its number one commitment to provide a safe,  welcoming and inclusive environment for all members of the Hepburn Shire  community.”  

The civic event also included an Australian citizenship ceremony, with six people  becoming citizens. The new citizens hailed from Germany, Philippines, Vietnam,  New Zealand and Ireland.  

Words & image: Contributed  

Preparations are already well under way for this year’s returning Trentham Easter Art and Craft Show which will be staged in the new Mechanics in High St Trentham this April.

Organisers say the beautiful new home will provide a lovely space to celebrate original art and craft while accommodating plenty of visitors.

The show was last held at the old Mechanics in 2019 where over 350 entries were exhibited.

The show’s organisers say they regard the Trentham Show as important to revive interest and expertise in crafts including: knitting, crochet, macrame, embroidery, textile, patchwork, cross stitch, tapestry, weaving, lace/tatting, glasswork, leatherwork, metalwork, ceramics, basketry, jewellery, and sculpture as well as art such as oil, acrylic, watercolour, pencil, charcoal, pastel, ink, photography, and digital design.

There are three age groups for submitting entries: ‘under 12’, ’12 to 18’ and ‘above 18’, and 17 Award categories with significant prizes including two honouring the much loved Trentham community members Dr Gweneth Wisewould and Stan Fallon.

“We hope in future shows to incorporate artists in residence during the show and classes for visitors to see and learn about how to make these artworks,” organisers say.

“We are even hoping to introduce a community art project to encourage everyone to get involved in making art together.

“Our aims might be a bit too ambitious to achieve by April 2025, but we’re hoping TEACS will return as a permanent, growing and vibrant feature of the Trentham activities calendar.”

The Trentham Easter Art and Craft Show will open on Thursday April 17, 2025 and remain open every day over Easter, closing at lunchtime on Easter Monday 21st.

Those interested in volunteering or assisting organisers with prize sponsorship are being invited to chat with Lynne Farrell on 0408 013 391, Leonie Hehir or Elizabeth Parsons.

<a href=”http://www.teacs.org.au”>www.teacs.org.au</a>

All are invited to get along to two upcoming Australia Day events organised by local community groups in the Hepburn Shire and taking place on Australia Day, Sunday January 26.

At Trentham there will be a flag raising ceremony with a community BBQ and entertainment. taking place from 10am in the town square.

At Creswick, the town’s Doug Lindsay Recreation Reserve will set the scene for a community event taking place from 9.30am and including speeches followed by morning tea at 10am.

The Hepburn Shire Council is inviting all residents to attend a special event this Friday and celebrate the Community Award  winners for 2025, while also welcoming the shire’s newest Australian citizens.  

The free community event will take place at 2pm this Friday January 24, in the Loddon River Room at The Mechanics Trentham.

The council will announce its Citizen of the Year,  Community Event of the Year, and Hepburn Together Award winners.  

The Community Award winners for 2024 were ChillOut Festival  (Event of the Year), Pat Tacey and Neville Cartledge (joint Citizens  of the Year) and Alice Newitt (Young Citizen of the Year).

During last year’s event a Special Commendation was also presented to the local band Elysium.  

NGV Kids on Tour 2025 has partnered with more than 150 community venues across Victoria this January to offer free art-making activities – and that includes Daylesford, Clunes, Creswick, Trentham and Kyneton. 

Activities include making a playful cat and dog ear headband, illustrating a Kusama-inspired pumpkin and creating fashion designs for paper dolls. Coinciding with the NGV’s summer exhibitions Yayoi Kusama and Cats & Dogs, NGV Kids on Tour celebrates the work of local and international artists and designers, as they draw inspiration from the colour and vibrancy of nature and the world around them. 

In celebration of the Cats & Dogs exhibition, children can design a Furry Friend Headband, a set of cat or dog ears inspired by their own beloved pets or furry animals in their lives that they can take home and wear. 

Kids will also be able to enjoy the work of iconic Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama in the Lots of Dots with Yayoi Kusama activity and children’s book.

Pumpkins have appeared in Kusama’s artworks since a young age growing up on a seed and plant farm, and this drawing activity invites children to add their favourite colours and designs to dots on a pumpkin and write a short poem about the humble fruit. 

Younger children will be able to spot big dots, little dots and shiny dots in Lots of Dots story time sessions. 

Melbourne-based fashion designers and sisters Fatuma and Laurinda Ndenzako from slow fashion label Collective Closets celebrate the beauty and history of the African continent through their designs.

The designers have developed the Fashion, Culture & Creativity with Collective Closets activity where kids and families will create paper dolls and design their own vibrant clothing for the dolls to wear. 

Children will learn about bogong moths in the drawing activity developed by Dr Deanne Gilson, a proud Wadawurrung woman living on her ancestral country at Ballarat.

And the tour invites teenagers to learn about the creative practices of emerging artists and build skills for their own art portfolios through an activity developed with Gamilaroi Yinarr weaver and textile artist Sophie Honess. Link: www.ngv.vic.gov.au/kids-on-tour 

Looking back on 2024 the year that was, one highlight – particularly for Trentham locals – came on Wednesday, October 16 when The Melbourne Cup international tour paid the town a visit in the lead up to The Race That Stops The Nation.

You know things are warming up and Christmas is almost here when the public pool season starts.

In the Hepburn Shire it started on Saturday (December 7) with council-managed outdoor pools opening for free throughout the shire.

To celebrate the start to the pool season the Clunes, Daylesford and Trentham outdoor pools all opened over the launch weekend (Dec 7-8) between 1pm to 6pm regardless of any predicated cooler weather (21 and below).

The new aquatics season for the shire’s pulbic pools and Creswick Splash Park is now scheduled to run through to March 13 2025 (Labour Day public holiday).

2024/2025 Pool Opening Times

 Fees

Entry is free to all council pools and the Creswick Splash Park.

Locations

Daylesford pool

Location: Central Springs Road, Daylesford

Facilities: 50m Pool and toddlers’ pool

Trentham pool

Location: Corner of Market Street and Camp Street

Facilities: 25m pool and toddlers’ pool

Clunes pool

Location: Bull Millgate Reserve, Clunes. Turn off at Ligar Street and Clunes – Campbelltown Road intersection

Facilities: 25m pool and toddlers’ pool

Calembeen Park toddlers’ pool

Location: Calembeen Park, access via Cushing Avenue, Creswick

Facilities: Toddlers’ pool

Creswick Splash Park

Location: Opposite IGA Creswick, Turn off from Albert Street

Facilities: Splash pad with numerous water play features

Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa – locals’ discount 

While not managed by the council, the Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa is another bathing facility in the shire and it’s worth noting that Hepburn Shire residents can head to the bathhouse year-round to take advantage of the locals’ discount.

The rate for residents in the shire is $12.50 per session or a ten pass for $99. The offer is for Monday to Thursday excluding public holidays. Walk in only.

Further information about the local public pools, including the new hours is at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/pools

The Hepburn Shire Council has announced a series of workshops to help local community groups successfully apply for grants.

Set for Trentham, Creswick, Daylesford and Clunes, the sessions are designed to make the grant application process more accessible, practical, and successful for organisations across the shire. 

The training will be led by the council’s grants specialist, who brings experience in securing funding for local projects and initiatives.

Participants will learn valuable skills in grant writing including how to identify the right funding opportunities, craft compelling applications, and understand the key criteria that funding bodies are looking for. 

Hepburn Shire’s Director Performance and Transformation Brooke Holmes says the workshops aim to empower local community groups with the knowledge and confidence they need to secure grants and make their projects a reality.

 “We want to create a fun and interactive environment where participants can ask questions, share ideas, and leave with practical tools to boost their chances of success,” she said. 

The training sessions are open to all community groups within the Hepburn Shire including sports clubs, arts organisations, environmental groups, and others.

By participating, local groups are expected to not only improve their grant application skills but also build stronger links with other groups and organisations across the region. 

The timing of these workshops coincides with council’s grants program being open for applications until January 31 2025.

“So this is a perfect opportunity to refine your application and pick up some valuable grant writing skills,” Ms Holmes says. 

Workshop details

Trentham Neighbourhood Centre – 16 December, 2pm – 4pm  

Creswick Neighbourhood Centre – 17 December, 2pm – 4pm  

Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre – 21 January, 10am – 12pm  

Clunes Neighbourhood House – 21 January, 2pm – 4pm  

For more information, or to register, community groups are being encouraged to contact the neighbourhood centres. 

Trentham ambos have celebrated the official opening of the town’s upgraded ambulance station in recent days.

The state’s Minister for Ambulance Services Mary-Anne Thomas joined local first responders to attend the opening of the upgraded station that’s sited in Station Street, on Friday, November 15.

The new station has been fully fitted out with a training room, kitchen, bathroom and rest and recline areas, security upgrades, car parking, and houses a fully fitted out ambulance capable of transporting patients to care. 

The new branch houses Ambulance Community Officers (ACOs), who are trained to respond to medical emergencies, provide early interventions and respond with paramedics in the delivery of care.

ACOs can also transport patients to hospital. ACOs are an important provider of care in rural and remote communities. 

Minister for Ambulance Services and Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas: “This upgrade will ensure Trentham’s dedicated first responders can continue to provide our growing community with the high-quality care they deserve.” 

“Living in rural and regional Victoria should be no barrier to receiving quality care, and investments like this are helping to ensure that these communities can get the care they need, when they need it.” 

After a long period of closure, retired sportsperson Chris Anstey re-opened the refurbished Trentham Hotel last January. 

While it is still early days, the return of this beloved pub to the main street has had an extremely positive effect on both locals and visitors alike.

In that time Chris has hosted numerous guest appearances and events, even getting Trentham included as a stop on the official 2024 Melbourne Cup Tour last month. 

Operating a business such as this is a great commitment and no doubt a challenge. But challenge and commitment are the two pillars that make up the former basketball champion philosophy both in his sporting career and now as a businessman. 

His playing career spanned from 1994 to 2010. In that time he played for the Melbourne Tigers, South East Melbourne Magic and Victoria Titans in the National Basketball League and spent several seasons with the American National Basketball Association.

He was also away for three years playing in Russia and Europe, and played with the Australian Boomers in the 2000 and 2008 Olympics in Sydney and Beijing.

After retiring he continued coaching. Playing at the top level in any sporting discipline is a specialist world, one that most of us will never experience.

It is for this reason among many that people look up to athletes for some wisdom gleaned from the sporting ring that will help with the challenges of daily life. 

One of those questions we may ask is what does it take to operate under the expectations and pressure of fans, coaches, management and other players.

Surely there is something as ‘non-combatants’ we can learn from an athlete to manage our personal endeavours. However the reality of being in this world, at least according to Chris Anstey, is enlightening as it is surprising. 

“Pressure is not real, pressure is only other people’s expectations,” says Chris. “That’s one thing you learn as an athlete. If you are prepared and if you have done the work, then whatever the results are the results. That’s what a lot of people who haven’t been around sport don’t quite understand.

“They just see the scoreboard at the end. But for us, it’s more about process and finding small wins on the way, making or contributing to others around us, getting better and trying to achieve something collectively.” 

After his retirement, Chris moved easily into the business sphere and like so many sports people who have made this step, he sees parallels, significant contrasts, but also a realisation that the desire to improve, found so readily in sporting teams, does not always make it over into the working world. 

“A general observation is that in the workplace people don’t come in seeking to improve themselves, they just want to turn up, get paid and go home. Whereas being around sport for a long time, you know that everyone turning up to work isn’t just doing so because they get paid to do it. They are (there) to improve themselves and improve the group.

“A lot of athletes invest in themselves in their own time and that’s a big one for me. (In daily life) it’s a little bit rare for people to invest in themselves in their own time. They want to do it on company time or team time.” 

Now that the Trentham Hotel is up and running, Chris has the business where he can apply his personal philosophy to growing as a person along with the people and staff around him.

Perhaps his approach is unique or the way of the courageous. But Chris prefers to see his attitude as being a little bit naive in the way he approaches things and not worry about setbacks.

He sees this as one of the most important things he learnt as a player, having your eyes wide open and accepting that if you fail you come back the next day and start again. It’s not fatal. 

“Over my career I learnt as much at the end of my career from the rookies as I did from those that had been coaching for 30 or 40 years. Having a very open mind and being open to different personalities, different ideas and different challenges.

“I think one of the most dangerous phrases in the English language is: ‘We have always done it this way so it is the right way to do it,’ whereas I was always looking to something a little bit different. I like to ask ‘why not?’ instead of ‘why?’”

An important thing to note is even though Chris has written books on his experiences and been placed in the role of motivator to aspiring sportspeople and business leaders, he does not consider himself to be a mentor in any sense of the word. He just has a story to tell like all of us. 

“I don’t consider myself a teacher,” he says. “I’m simply a big believer in whatever question you ask, the answer is going to be the people around you.

“Furthermore I just like to share stories and if it resonates with people that’s great. But everything is only a suggestion, and as much as anything, I like listening to other peoples stories just as much as I like telling my own.” 

Words: Tony Sawrey | Image: Contributed 

The CFA is hosting a Bushfire Planning Workshop for the Trentham and Lyonville region next week.

The workshop will take place on Monday 18 November from 7-9pm.

The event is aimed at helping residents and local landholders to prepare in the event of a bushfire while also providing an opportunity for attendees to test out their bushfire plans.

The event will take place at the Trentham CFA shed in Market Street, Trentham with more detail available from CFA West Region.