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CHEWTON CHATCHEWTON DOMAIN SOCIETY

(INCORPORATED)Reg. No. A0034364L

P.O. Box 85, Chewton, 3451.

Published on the 1st of each month Issue 208 June, 2016.

www.chewton.net

Students and teachers at Chewton Primary School will soon be able to enjoy upgraded buildings and other facilities after receiving a School Pride grant from the Andrews’ Labor Government. The funding, worth $90,000, was formally announced by Member for Bendigo West, Maree Edwards MP.

“The pride the school community has in Chewton Primary School is clear and I’m proud to be part of a Labor Government that is investing in our students and teachers,” Maree said before being photographed with the dignitaries – the school captains, school council president Daydd Kelly, principal Julie Holden and federal member for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters. An all-star cast!

And the Bendigo Advertiser reporter attending the event found time to answer children’s questions about the life of a reporter – then it was reporters’ notebooks out and time for another photo (see it on Page 15).

High profile visitors at Chewton School

And it didn’t end there! The Minister for Education (who’s also the Deputy Premier of

Victoria) James Merlino was brought on a tour of Chewton’s fantastic school by Maree Edwards, the State Member for Bendigo West.

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Introductions took place beneath the newly installed Aboriginal and Torres St Islander flags that now fly alongside the Australian one. The School Council President Dayyd Kelly, School Captains Samuel Butterworth and Amara Goodwin were introduced to the minister before the captains gave an acknowledgment of country in front of the assembled school.

Engaging with the children, the minister introduced the scope of his role (how many schools are in Victoria?) and the recent budget decisions (what is a budget?) to staff, students and the wider school community. Questions such as ‘what is the best thing at this school’ saw hands enthusiastically pop up but the children didn’t pick up on Nicole’s hints! Nicole had to be satisfied with a selfie taken with James afterwards.

Photographs were taken of the assembled children before the visitors were taken on a tour of the school’s grounds. Sustainability and sustainable practices were emphasised as explanations took place. The back gate of the school ground was opened and the tourists moved out to Post Office Hill. This is the area where the school’s Coastal Ambassadors are working on a frog and reptile monitoring project in conjunction with Connecting Country. Several of the coastal ambassadors briefed the minister on their project.

Back inside the school-ground, a visit to the Grade 2-3 classroom was next. An ICT class was underway, with students saving their created work onto their drive accounts. This activity absorbed the guests, with many questions asked of the children.

As with all of these events, it was soon over - but not before James made himself available for brief media interviews. The Castlemaine Mail’s Lisa Dennis took advantage of this opportunity.

Please support our advertisersWithout them there would be no Chat!

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The Long, Lazy LunchWho doesn’t love a chance to relax and kick back with delicious food, family and friends? The inaugural Long Lazy Lunch, held at Bress Winery, provided an opportunity to do just that. It was an opportunity for old and new Chewtonians and their friends to reconnect. Some people had only previously met at the pool and it was noted that some of us had never seen each other with our clothes on!

The day was just warm enough to enjoy the winery,

gardens and surrounds, and the cosy fire pit was a big hit. Talented duo, Jasmine and Jayde, who performed as “Sista from Another Mista” got the day off to a rocking start with a range of familiar classic songs. The 58 guests were treated to a delicious and very generous seasonal lunch of three entrees, a main course of roast lamb and seasonal greens and a dessert of apple strudel and pana cotta.

The main point of the day was to raise funds for the Chewton Pool. In addition to the entry fee, the guests also contributed generously to the raffle. The prizes included a mixed half dozen wines and a Bress voucher for lunch for four. We thank everyone who attended for their support of the pool.

We can’t thank Bress enough for the work they put in to make this event a resounding success. They are a great local business that have built something wonderful and sustainable for people in our region to enjoy. We look forward to continuing our partnership in the future. We already have had several people demanding that the event be repeated next year, so look out for the announcement and put the date in your diaries.

Jacki Heath (for the Chewton Pool Fundraising Committee).

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A tan and white 5kg Chihuahua/Jack Russell cross named Cuddles went missing on Easter Friday from the top of Mt. Alexander. She is 16 years old with minimal hearing and sight. If anybody sighted her on the mountain or surrounding properties could they contact us on 5470 5759. She is dearly loved and missed by her family.

Missing...Missing...

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Federal Election July 2ndPolling at Chewton Community Centre

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Chewton Fire Brigade sent April off with a bang by hosting the Chewton Fire Brigade Car Boot Sale. The event was held at the Fire Station on Saturday the 30th of April and proved a highly successful day, especially given that the weather wasn’t the best.

The night before was a worrying night for all our mem-bers as stall holders began to ring and cancel due to heavy rainfall that day. Thankfully, around 15 stall holders came down on the day offering a wide range of items to all who came to grab a bargain. The rain held off for most of the day and a steady crowd filtered in throughout the event. Those who didn’t make a purchase were able to enjoy the BBQ or grab a tea/coffee along with a piece of cake. A raffle was also run by the Brigade with plenty of locals winning some amaz-ing prizes, all of which were kindly donated.

On this note a massive thankyou goes out to The Dove Café, Top Dog, Auto Electric, Top End Servo as well as our very own, John Maxfield! Special thanks also goes out to all our volunteers who came to make tea and coffee, cook the BBQ, sell raffle tickets and staff the CFA Stall, as well as those who worked tirelessly to put the event together.

Finally, a huge thanks to everyone in the community who came down to support the Brigade on the day.

Overall, the event helped the Brigade raise some much needed funds which, in the years to come, will be used to help replace the brigade-owned Slip-On which is reaching the end of its service years.

In other exciting news, May also saw us welcome two newly qualified firefighters to our ranks! Bill and Krista both completed their minimum skills training in May and are now ready to climb up on the truck and help out the community. A big congratulations to the pair from all of us in the Brigade and we look forward to helping you put your new skills into action.

Paige Mounsey, Chewton CFA Communications Officer.

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Argus Flat one late April evening - alive with visitors...and Argus Flat again – the next very morning when it was alive with the commercial transactions of a Car Boot Sale. And conversations, as bartering and transactions involving everything from bags of composted poo, treated pine poles, a mulcher, sausages and cups of tea took place. A market in Chewton? What a great idea…

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Know Your NeighbourHave you met Ann Quinton?

When Ann Quinton was seven, her grandmother, Daisy Birnie bought her a century old stone cottage in Chewton. ‘I lived there with my Mum. I would wander in the bush and do all the kinds of things that young kids do. I just loved it.’ Later, she attended Castlemaine High, which was where the supermarket is now.

When she grew up Ann moved to Melbourne where she met Bruce, her future husband. ‘We rented a place in Fryerstown, and Bruce got a job at the brick factory behind Wesley Hill. When it closed down we moved back to Melbourne and lived in rooming houses. Jobs were very hard to get. I had six children; four boys and two girls.

In 1960 Bruce was killed driving a truck. ‘I was pregnant with my sixth child when he died, so it was quite a battle.’ In 1962, while living in St Andrews, and only three months after buying there, she was burnt out in bushfires. ‘I was on the pension and didn’t know what I was going to do.’ Monies from insurance allowed her to rebuild. ‘We remained there for about thirteen years. I drove a taxi for Yellow Cabs in Melbourne for a few years.’

Back in Castlemaine area, Ann was a community volunteer in several capacities; at Creative Living, then for the Community House, and later for Vision Australia.

Ann has now lived in her own home in the Chewton Bushlands for thirty years. She says that ‘ I was becoming aware of how much damage we humans were doing to the planet. I’ve been a bit of a tree hugger most of my life, so I thought I’d buy a place that was off the grid. This was 1985. This block, with its incredible views across to the Pyrenees etc, was my choice from several blocks up for sale.

Ann is proud of the fact that ‘my kids built my home

here, using as many environmentally friendly materials as I could afford. We ran out of money so there is no plumbing, but I love it. I have a hose that that comes from the tank through my kitchen window. The kids built me a little shower room, and its only in the past few years that this has hot water. I love the fact that I am doing as little as I can to harm the environment.’ Her power comes from solar panels. Prior to that she had two twelve volt car batteries and every thing ran off that. She has long been a member of the Chewton Bushlands Association, and is thrilled that many of them have, like Ann, covenanted their properties with Trust for Nature.

Ann has twenty six grandchildren, sixty six great grandchildren, and eight great, great grandchildren. ‘My kids are wonderful. When I’ve needed them they’ve been there. I recently celebrated my 80th birthday. We put an ad in the local paper inviting family and friends along to the botanical gardens. It was a big turnout. I wasn’t sure I was going to make it.’ Ann was diagnosed with lung cancer a year ago. She admits that ‘initially I just fell in a heap, but afterwards I was fine. I am able to talk about it now. I think my head is still working on all cylinders.’

Ann loves animals. ‘The wallabies and ‘roos come here, I’ve seen a koala once, and an echidna family lived up the hill ‘til a bloke moved in with dogs. We haven’t seen the echidnas since. Because of the covenant, cats aren’t allowed here, and dogs must have a enclosed area.’

Ann is very happy that her block is protected from developers, even after the place is sold, so wildlife habitats are as safe as possible. ‘It has never occurred to me to move back to the city.’ Gloria Meltzer.

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Digging into Post Office Hill’s past and present

What a difference a shower or three of rain makes! The harsh surfaces at Post Office Hill have mellowed, there is moisture in the ground and foliage on plants is filling out.For several days a Green Army group was engaged across the site removing rubbish, extracting small gorse, cutting and painting larger feral plants. All of which has enhanced the area quite noticeably. The Green Army group, led by Peter Barrow, was made available through the auspices of Connecting Country. We sincerely thank Connecting Country for including Old Post Office Hill in their environmental program, and hope to be included again in 2017.

The Green Army also applied their energy to tasks with Chewton Landcare and Golden Point Landcare. On 19th May we gave them a joint "thank you" lunch at the Chewton Town Hall.

As a follow-up to the invitation for interested people to participate in a conducted walk over Old Post Office Hill, there was mixed success.

• Day 1 - two of us stood and shivered for a short time then left.

• Day 2 - again wet. Five hardy souls arrived and we ventured forward and enjoyed the outing.

• Day 3 - one lone figure.We may re-visit this venture later on. The 90 minute

tours allowed an exploration of the area’s terrain - across the old tip site on the west side of Railway Street, down to the last remaining vestiges of Chewton’s Railway Station, finding a quiver and some abandoned arrows, seeing an illegal trap chained to a tree, past the rock wells, visiting the stone arch, past the piles of Cootamundras the Green Army are building (especially for Monty it seems), down to the incredible surface remnants of reef rock, to Post Office Hill Mine’s site, looking down on the spectacular railway cutting - and back to the vehicles. And near the vehicles on the recovering tip site there were a group of tyre swings of unknown origin, and looking beyond them were some piles of rubbish waiting for collection.

We may re-visit this venture later on.Next Meeting - Chewton Town Hall,

Sunday 12th June, at 10:00am. All welcome!

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Fryerstown and VaughanHere is a continuation of Jeannie Lister’s May Chewton Chat article which was the basis for her presentation at the launch of Elaine Appleton’s video on Vaughan, Chewton and Fryerstown.

“A substantial new red brick State School No 1985, which cost £780 to build, “was opened in January 1878. In 1876, the average attendance reached 135. In its opening year, the school had an enrolment of 172 with an average attendance of 128. By 1886, only eight years later, average attendance had dropped to 25. In July 1892, it was made half-time with Tarilta, but despite the volume of petitions and protests from local residents, including a desperate letter written by a mother on behalf of the mothers of Vaughan, the School closed in September1892. After its closure, the school was still used as the town’s hall – for meetings, concerts, an electoral polling station and so on. Amid local protests, the building was sold for demolition in about 1917.

A snippet in the Castlemaine Mail on Anzac Day 1918 reported “The old Vaughan State school, which was one of the relics of the past, has been torn down, and carted to the Guildford railway station, from whence the timber was despatched by rail to Melbourne, to be utilised for the construction of tile crates. The purchaser was ex-police Inspector Dungey, who since his retirement from the police force, has opened a timber business at Oakleigh. It is understood that the bulk of the bricks were purchased from Mr Dungey by a local resident.”

Ball and Welch began its trading career in Vaughan in 1855. The partnership began when the wives of Charles Ball and his nephew William Welch, visited England on holiday. They had been asked by friends to bring back lace, silk, frills and other personal items that were almost impossible to obtain at the time. They realised this was an opportunity and brought back enough to open a shop. The Ball and Welch business in Vaughan was a very successful one and I’ve read reports that Castlemaine women

travelled to Vaughan to shop there. In addition to selling drapery and clothing, they were gold buyers and issued tokens in lieu of currency which was a common practise of those times. While some of the tokens were found in subsequent dredging, I’ve never seen one, so they must be fairly rare. When the population of Vaughan declined, they opened a shop in Castlemaine, where Coles used to

be. It ran from September 1882 till 1941 when the company concentrated on its Melbourne stores. A fire at their Carlton store destroyed all the records from the Vaughan shop and the only item they retained from that period, is a photograph of staff standing in front of the store.

The Staley family were also an early Vaughan family who made good. Sadly, their two year old daughter, Margaret Jane, was the first recorded burial in the Vaughan Cemetery on 1st of May 1860. Daniel Gray Staley and his nephew Andrew Gray Staley, began a hosiery manufacturing business in Brunswick, and they formed an association with American company, Holeproof, and brought

their manufacturing methods to Australia. As you can imagine, this business was highly successful. After his death in 1939, Daniel Staley was brought back to Vaughan to be buried beside his parents and other family members.

When I was a child, there was a willow tree on the bank of the Loddon, just downstream a little from where the Soda Water Factory was. It had been hit by lightning a number of times and looked very old and gnarly. John Belot, who owned a big hotel, billiard room, confectionery and bakery business in Vaughan, brought back a number of cuttings from a willow at Napoleon’s grave when he went home to Jersey for a visit in about 1874. He planted several cuttings and they grew into trees along the creek and river. I looked for the old tree a few years ago, but it’s completely gone now. However, Mum grew the willow trees on David’s property at Vaughan from slips of it, so perhaps a little of it still around.

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1859 and closed in 1968. The first Post Master was Mr J Chapman. He was followed by John Rogers, then his son George who relinquished it in 1898 but took it on again in about 1902. It passed from the Rogers family, who operated it out of the Soda Water Factory, to Mrs O’Shannessy in about 1930. It passed from her to her daughter, Mrs Greenwood in about 1949. Mrs Greenwood was Post Mistress until the Post Office closed and Vaughan went to a roadside delivery system in 1968. During those 44 years, it operated out of the Bank of Victoria building. The telephone exchange was located at Ray and Em Bradfield’s home and Emmy operated it.

The Chinese were an interesting and fairly colourful group at Vaughan and after the first rugged decade or so, they seem to have been accepted into the community quite well. When the alluvial gold was exhausted, many Chinese miners commenced vegetable gardening and supplied the local district with fresh produce. There were large market gardens along the Loddon between Glenluce Springs and Vaughan. There are two wonderful photos of the gardens at Central Springs that are on Elaine’s DVD. The last of the Chinese lived in and around Vaughan into the early 1900s. There was some intermarriage, but mostly they lived lone lives. Some of their stories are really sad. Lots of mining accidents, in-fighting and some went a little mad I think from the loneliness. The British Queen Hotel seems to have been their chief meeting place and the hub of their social lives. There’s a wonderful photo of the British Queen Hotel with a one-legged Chinese man hanging onto the veranda post for all he’s worth.

Dr James Burn Malcolm, who was living in Vaughan by 1856, was the Father of Vaughan and he seemed to have a finger in every pie. He was a JP, sat on the bench, conducted inquests, was on most of the committees in town and when he moved his practice into Castlemaine, it must have seemed like going into semi-retirement for him.

One thing that has really stood out for me when I read through the early newspaper articles was the strength of character of the women at Vaughan. Conditions must have been terrible for them with large families, poor water

and living conditions, horrendous infant mortality, poor diet, insufficient income, quite often widowed young and left with large families to support – the list goes on. Dad’s Mum told Mum about a woman she saw, who was brought in from Norfolk Island near Vaughan. She was strapped lying down, to the roof of a coach and screamed all the way into and through town. (I’ve got to say, I’d probably scream too if I’d been strapped up and transported on the roof of a coach.) But Granny said she’d heard the woman had gone mad from her appalling living conditions and loneliness. But from what I’ve read, she was of a minority. Most not only survived but they raised families that went on from strength to strength down the generations.

Ray Bradfield knew of four burial grounds within one mile of Vaughan Township. There’s the Chinese Cemetery which I believe has more Europeans in it than Chinese, the main cemetery which has about 900 interments, a burial ground at New Year’s Flat with maybe a dozen or so, but I really don’t have a clue as to where the fourth one is. It’s the old story - I should have asked Uncle Ray more questions

when I had the chance. If Vaughan had roughly 13,000 people through the 1850s, and the cemetery didn’t open till 1860, I find it difficult to believe everyone who died during that decade, would have fitted into the very small area of the Chinese Cemetery. There has to be other areas around but just where is anyone’s guess now.

Mum came to Vaughan to live when she and Dad were married in 1938, though she had been visiting regularly since Pop started sluicing at the Red Knob in about 1930. In her memoirs, she wrote, “All Chinese like to return to China to die or to be buried there. If they were too poor to return, they would always be buried with their feet pointing in the direction of China. They preferred to be buried with their feet at what we term the head of the grave, that is, where we place the headstone. When I first moved to Vaughan, the Bendigo Chinese Society held their celebrations there every year. They would parade the small dragon down the hill to the reserve at Vaughan, then back up the hill to the Chinese Cemetery. There, they would explode fireworks and leave food on the graves for

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the Spirits of the dead Chinamen. The unemployed men on sustenance pay, or the “susso” as it was known then, would take the food and eat it.”

The Cemetery Trust is still using the original 1860 burial register for Vaughan Cemetery. Some of the entries in the comments section make interesting reading. Beside Annie Cremon’s 1862 entry, is “alias Cockney Annie”. My favourite is Yee Pow, bones in a jar. The burial was ordered by the police who apparently found the bones in a jar at the Chinese camp and ordered they be buried. Wah Chin and Yo Faw were exhumed and their bones sent back to China, though this didn’t happen for poor Yee Pow. Thomas Mather, killed in a tunnel at Bald Hill. Little Annie Hunt, who was murdered at Glenluce. And James Hague who was tunnelling under the cemetery in 1861, which I’m sure he wasn’t meant to be doing, when the roof of the tunnel collapsed and he suffocated. They dug him out, only to re-inter him a couple of days later. There are a large number of entries where the fees were remitted by the Trustees, as the family was too poor to pay for the grave. The poverty is nowhere more obvious than in the number of graves that have no headstones. In the front row of the cemetery, I counted 58 mounds, many of those have more than one interment, and there is only one headstone. There are very few old headstones in the cemetery in relation to the number of early burials. Early burials are mostly from Vaughan, Tarilta, Glenluce and Yapeen.

Rogers Aerated Waters Factory was known locally as The Soda Water Factory. It was located at the Fryers Creek end of the bridge across the Loddon and it was a bakery, soft drink and cordial factory and the Post Office for many years. They also catered for tea parties. They drew the water to make their soft drinks from a deep hole in the Loddon River only metres from the premises. The business was started by John Rodger in the 1850s and continued on after his death by his stepson George Rogers and his wife Matilda. George Rogers, was known as “Ginger Beer” Rogers, and his ginger beer must have been pretty good stuff as he was fined £3 in 1905 for making temperance drinks that contained over 2 percent proof spirit. After the Rogers family sold the property, it was used as a weekender for some years but Council had

fought to have it demolished, believing it to be a nuisance to motorists as it impeded vision of cars coming over the bridge from Tarilta Hill. After a battle lasting over 30 years, Council finally won and it was bulldozed in 1964, despite the protests of local residents.

When it was demolished, Ray Bradfield said he felt Vaughan had lost its soul and to a degree he was right. More distressing to me was how the whole picturesque landscape of Vaughan was ripped to shreds to put the sealed road through at the same time. It was so pretty and a fabulous place to play and poke around in, with the

outlines of the old stone houses, the remnant gardens, broken blue and white china, ancient fruit trees – all gone and left in its place were ugly clay and gravel embankments – and fifty years on they’re still ugly. That’s when Vaughan truly bled and it was so sad to see.

There are lots of stories about early Vaughan, but I’ve well and truly run out of time, so will only quickly mention the Springs, as

their development is a whole story on its own. Mineral springs were uncovered in the bed of the

Loddon River by a bucket dredge in 1908 and this led to the development of the Vaughan Springs tourist centre with the main facilities established between the 1920’s and 1940s. The Loddon River was dammed to provide swimming facilities with a toddler’s pool and diving board. An ongoing development programme provided two camping grounds, a kiosk, playground equipment, two mineral springs, rotunda, bandstand, wishing well, miniature railway, dressing sheds, toilet and laundry blocks, barbecue facilities, (foot) race track and picnic tables and seats. It was common to have hundreds of people visit every weekend and for a time a bus brought tourists to Vaughan on a regular service.”

(Jeannie Lister 28.2.2016)Article provided by Kay Thorne.

Photos of Vaughan images posted on the internet.

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Mount Alexander Shire Heritage Awards

The 2016 Mount Alexander Heritage Awards received 23 nominations and judges Jim Norris, Warren Hughes and Emily Piper made their decisions. The calibre of the nominations was very high this year. The final nominees were:

• Harcourt Heritage Centre• Newstead Railway Arts Hub• 31 Urquhart Street, Castlemaine• 11 Hornsby Street, Maldon• Edifice Constructions Pty Ltd• Chewton Town Hall• Old Gov Café, Old Castlemaine Gaol• Castlemaine Goods Shed• Das Kaffeehaus• Celebrating Fryerstown Committee• Buda Historic Home and Garden• Victorian Goldfields Railway• 11 Templeton Street, Castlemaine• Maldon Museum and Archives Association Inc• Public INN• L.Ward Carpentry• London House, Guildford• VR Builders• John Horan (Buda)The winners in each category were announced at the presentation event at

the Castlemaine Art Gallery and Historical Museum… and guess what?The Chewton Town Hall won the “Restoration of a Heritage Place”

category and members of the Chewton Domain Society (Marie, Margot and Helen) and tradies (Morgan, Richard and Peter) were on hand to celebrate with judge Emily Piper. And the Domain Society’s president Helen McGeachin was invited to make a speech.

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It was summed up beautifully by the framed banner headline Cath South brought to the occasion! A Bendigo Advertiser headline that had graced the outside of the Chewton General Store some years ago – “It’s time for change”. It was, it is and it’s happening.

Chewton and Fryerstown turned out in force to farewell Chris and Brett from the Chewton General Store. An afternoon tea, bring a plate, sign the card, welcome Janelle and celebrate community – and they did in bucketloads. In what was one of the greatest displays of “community” in Chewton’s recent history, a really moving and emotional afternoon unfolded.

Tempting food covered the tables and sampling it only momentarily interrupted the conversations. So much so that the old town hall bell was needed before CDS President Helen McGeachin began the formal proceedings. Cr. Christine Henderson explained why she was a fan of the shop, often dropping in during her constant trekking between Taradale and Castlemaine. She mentioned the “barista machine” and the applause was deafening when she said the words “best coffee in the district”! One couldn’t help but wonder if every business change-over in the shire attracts the presence of an appreciative mayor?

Barbara Dry welcomed Janelle to the community and presented the now owner with flowers and best wishes. And then Chris was ready to have a say thanking everyone and, when speaking of the six years serving the town, he let us into some of the “secrets” of the shop’s life. The “breakfast club” that met daily before most of Chewton arose, the wonderful staff members who came on board and allowed him worry-free weekends, the regulars attracted from Castlemaine and Wesley Hill – and then the emotion lifted even further when Chris listed the valued friends lost during their six years. Those names and those memories really resonated.

It must be many years since the Chewton Town Hall has seen so many hugs and hand-shakes in one afternoon. So thanks to Chris and Brett for transforming our shop into a community hub – and thanks to the instigators and organisers of the farewell afternoon tea who tapped so well into that community feeling!

And thanks to Marion Williams for sharing her photos of the occasion… the three on this page.

Time for change - and time to say thanks...

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...time to say welcome!

...and time to hoist the new sign!

A new sign, a windy day, slippery acrylic rope and lots of advice. A lethal combination when all you want to do is fly an “Under New Management” sign. But, with many hands to make light work the installation went ahead at the rate of knots…

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Nurturing the whole child

in every child

A lot has happened at Chewton Primary since the last edition of the Chat.

Flying our three Australian flags has always been high on my list of improvements for our school and I am very pleased to see the flags looking magnificent on our hill. Many people would question why we needed all three,

however if you read Nathan’s report (above) I hope it will all become clearer. There is no better way to learn than to teach and I have certainly learnt heaps about the importance of representing the Torres Straight Islanders. I have also learnt about flag protocol as many have questioned why the Australian National Flag is not in the centre of our group. We all know that digging a hole in Chewton rock is no easy job. I did warn the flag pole

installers of this when I placed our order. Having failed to dig further than a few centimetres the task was left to our school handyman Rob. Rob assured me that he would install the poles to engineering standards complete with photos should we ever be questioned. This meant that the poles are all at slightly different heights. The Australian National flag must fly on the highest pole. Julie McHale and Christine Henderson were our official guests at the launch.

It has been quite the month for official visits. Early in May I answered a call from Maree Edwards’s office requesting a media visit to celebrate our $90,000 School Pride money. This was an unexpected surprise and was soon followed by a $36,000 maintenance grant,

Jarrod, the oldest child at Chewton School with Christine Henderson and Harry, the youngest, with Julie McHale at the flags’ launch.

Why we have three flags…The three flags represent three parts of Australia, the Torres Strait Island flag, the Indigenous Australian Flag and the Australian National Flag.

Torres Strait Island Flag:The white head-dress represents Dhair and the five sided star supposedly represents the five major islands that make up the Torres Strait Island. The green represents the land, the blue

represents the sea, the white represents peace and the black represents the people. The flag was designed by a man called Bernard Namok and was adopted in 1992.

Australian National Flag:The symbol in the corner is the Union Jack and the six stars represent the six states and the Southern Cross.

Indigenous Australian Flag:The Black represents the peo-ple, the yellow represents the sun and the red represents the sand.

By Dash and Nathan.

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equally as surprising. There were photos all round for the first announcement followed by a second visit including the Education Minister, James Merlino. Mr Merlino just loves having his photo taken and some fantastic images were captured on the day.

It is all very nice to receive unexpected funds, however there seems to be far more things that we are not allowed to spend the money on than what we can. Badly needed air conditioning for two of our classrooms is a definite no-no as is building any additional structures as this would give us more space than what we are entitled to. At this early stage roof repairs, gutter guard and improved car parking facilities are high on the list and we will be working as a committee to make decisions on the remaining expenditure.

Book Day is a highlight on the children’s calendar and this year we seemed to have more creative staff and parents than usual. The book parade, rotational activities and second-hand book sale are part of the day’s events.

Our Coastal Ambassadors have started their reptile and frog monitoring project with support from Asha, the Landcare facilitator from Connecting Country. Jett and Dash presented an excellent description of the project to Mr Merlino during his visit.

During Reconciliation Week we have students attending two school events. The grade 4-6 class will be travelling to Bendigo to participate in a day of cultural dance whilst the grade 2-3 class will be in Castlemaine as part of the ‘Sharing the Teaching’ sessions in the Phee Broadway Centre.

Fifteen of our students entered the Castlemaine Chess Challenge and a further 6 teamed up with Elphinstone to form a soccer team for the Regional Soccer Tournament.

As a student of Chewton Primary you can be confident that there will be an extra curriculum activity that suits you. Julie Holden.

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Why all the excitement?Obviously it’s Book Week at Chewton School. This annual highlight sees children, staff and parents celebrate the wonderful world of words. Characters are created. Personas are paraded. And afterwards the videos are viewed and the pictures are posted. All a sort of literary alliteration really…

Characters abounded. A Very Hungry Caterpillar, Pippi Longstocking, Princesses etc. etc. all under the spell of a Fairy Godmother as they filled the playground.

No doubt a new page will be turned in 2017 in this never-ending story!

CHEWTON SERVICE STATION

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Since becoming a local councillor I’ve learnt a huge amount about roads and drains, waste disposal, sports grounds management, heritage protection, public buildings etc. Town planning, or statutory planning as it’s called in local government, has been the biggest challenge of all. In the past I’ve written about the challenges for people wishing to build on township-zoned blocks in unsewered areas.

Currently councillors are grappling with decisions on planning permit applications for houses in rural areas. In our Shire, all rural land is zoned ‘farming’, apart from some rural living zoned land on the edges of Castlemaine. The Planning Scheme says that a planning permit is needed for any house in the farming zone on a block of under 40 hectares, and that a house should only be allowed where it will support agricultural activity i.e. the farmer has a need to live on site. So a ten hectare block in the farm zone may be given a planning permit for a house if the applicant has submitted a farm plan that involves some form of high maintenance agriculture, such as dairy goats, berry or vegetable cultivation, free range hens, etc. Running a few sheep or beef cattle would not be seen as requiring the farmer to live on site.

That seems straightforward enough. The argument against allowing a house on a small block, without an approved farm management plan, is that it prevents future sale of that block to a farmer seeking to expand their landholding to build a more economically viable farming enterprise. I’ve been told that you need at least 1000 acres (400 ha) for a viable sheep or cattle enterprise, or for cropping. While it presently seems unlikely that much land consolidation will happen in the Shire, it’s important to keep in mind that planning decisions have implications for land use well into the future. Who knows what farming possibilities may exist in 50 or 100 years’ time?

Planning decisions become complicated when a rural development is proposed in an area where there are already a number of houses on blocks under 40 ha, forming a de facto rural living area with houses on anything from 2 ha to 20 ha. These developments have come about in previous times, before the current zoning was introduced after amalgamation of shires in 1995. Is it fair or reasonable to refuse an application to build on a block that’s surrounded by developed rural properties? If there’s no farming happening in the local area and all properties are in different ownerships, what difference will one more house make?

But wait. Farming land does not have to be contiguous. A farmer can and often does own parcels of land separated from each other. So the mistakes of past eras - allowing non-farming development in land set aside for farming - should not necessarily be used as justification to allow more development in the farm zone.

How on earth to make the right decision? It’s never cut and dried. An often decisive factor is the quality of the land under consideration. The Shire’s good farming land lies towards its borders, with granite soils providing good grazing country in the east and basalt flats making

good cropping land in the west. With a few exceptions, such as the Muckleford valley, the middle part of the Shire is gold country, with poor soils and relict box-ironbark vegetation, unsuitable for broad acre farming. Therefore the planners are more likely to recommend approval for a house on a small rural block on the outskirts of Chewton or western Taradale and Elphinstone, and refusal for more viable farming country.

A recommendation to refuse a permit is considered by Council for a decision. The responsibility of making the right decision, not only for the applicant and their potential neighbours but also for future local farming needs, is one which all councillors need to take seriously.

Christine HendersonColiban Ward councillor 0466 004 628Coliban@mountalexander.vic.gov.au

Councillor’s Chat

Our rates pay for these...

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May’s St. John’s concert featured Denise Davis with her healing vibrational crystal bowl and vocal toning. Steve Davis recited beautiful original poetry and sang with his guitar. Platform Souls are a quartet from Maldon and Castlemaine who selected a variety of styles. Michael on guitar and vocals, Jo plays recorder or sings, Jill on harp and Abbie the mandolin. Another quartet with harmony by the Blenders.

More local performers will be appearing on June the 19th, again starting at 2 p.m. Donations towards afternoon tea will be most appreciated. Julie Henchman 0497 231 209.

Chewton’s St. John’s

St. John’s in JuneThere will be service at St John’s• Saturday 4th June, 6pm• Saturday 11th June, 6pm• Saturday 18th June, 6pm• Saturday 25th June,6pm

Everyone Welcome

The next concert is Sunday 19th June at 2pm. $5 which includes afternoon tea.

The FOBIF exhibition, Trees in the Mount Alexander Region, is being held in 2 locations this year, TOGS and the new Newstead Railway Arts Hub. The TOGS show which finished recently was a great success with lots of positive responses and sales of photos. Now it’s time for the move to Newstead.

The exhibition in Newstead will run throughout June. It will include the photos from the TOGS show as well as a slide show which will have at least one image from each person who sent in photos for our Flickr site.

The Gallery will be open at weekends and the Queens Birthday holiday on Monday 13 June. Opening hours are 10am to 4 pm. The address is Dundas Street, Newstead (directly across from Railway Hotel). If you would like to view the exhibition outside these days/hours, or help with staffing the show, contact Bronwyn Silver on 5475 1089

The opening will be at 10.30 on Saturday 4 June. There will be refreshments and everyone is welcome. Bernard Slattery from FOBIF will open the exhibition.

FOBIF’s tree exhibition moves to Newstead

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Poe try

Corner

Election

Parliament has reached an end. Come men and women, foe or friend, Upon your vote your lives depend

When it’s time for an election.

Old pollies rub their hands for glee “I’ll give my all, just vote for me”. But every thimble hides a pea

When it’s time for an election.

When we were young our eyes shone bright We knew wrong policies from right. Pollies keep policies out of sight

When it’s time for an election.

You can’t escape. You have to vote. That’s what our federal founders wrote. How else could the nation stay afloat?

When it’s time for an election.

Labour? Liberal? what’s to choose? Different slogans - same old views, Obfuscation designed to confuse

When it’s time for an election.

Number each box against each name Nazi, racist, whatever their game Senate and Reps it’s all the same

When it’s time for an election.

So off we go to the polling booth Adult, senior, callow youth We’re all confused and that’s the truth

When it’s time for an election.

by David Watson May 2016.

REGULAR TRADING HOURS FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY

10am – 4.00 pmA curry every day

Laksa on Sundays and MondaysMonk Dish on Friday & Saturday

Vegetarian & Gluten Free selections

146 Duke Street, Castlemaine Telephone: 54 706 038

Your Host: Onn Ho

Five Flags Hotel

155 Main RdCampbells Creek

54721010

* Open 7 days for Lunch and Dinner

* Monday to Friday $15.00 lunch menu available

*Sunday Roast

*Warm cosy fires

*Tab and Keno

*Drive through bottleshop

Small business helpSmall businesses in the Castlemaine area will be able to access relevant, reliable and affordable information on growing their business at a workshop to be held on Monday 6 June 2016.

Last year more than 4,000 people participated in Small Business Victoria’s workshops across the state. Program topics for 2016 include starting a business, financial management, employing staff, marketing and digital business.

This successful and long-running government program allows established and prospective business owners to access the advice they need to make informed decisions so they can expand their business and grow their profits. All Small Business Victoria Workshops are delivered by experienced private sector business specialists.

With more than 530,000 located across the state, Victorian small businesses generate more than 30 per cent of the state’s goods and services and provide almost 50 per cent of jobs in our private sector. Small Business Victoria partners with over 55 host organisations to deliver more than 360 local workshops each year, with this workshop hosted by Mount Alexander Shire Council.

“The Small Business workshops and seminars are a great opportunity for local business owners and operators to get reliable and affordable advice from the experts,” the Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards said.

The workshop will be held at the Ray Bradfield Room, Frederick Street, Castlemaine VIC 3450 at 5:30 PM on Monday 6 June 2016. For more information and updates on this event or other available Small Business Victoria Workshops, please visit business.vic.gov.au/workshops. Taken from a Press Release.

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Chewton’s Biggest Morning Tea ever!

•QualityRedGumalreadysplit•Bulkordersavailable•Canarrangedelivery

They came from everywhere. By 10 o’clock the street was car-parked out and people were lined up on the town hall steps anxiously trying to move out of the rain – but even more anxious to get inside for a seat if one was left! It was a full house. All 50 chairs occupied and many standing. Those without chairs were quickly pressed into service so the kitchen and the spaces between tables became very busy areas.

The conversational noise was intense and kept building – until the town hall bell hushed it. Some housekeeping and arrangements, then Mark Hudson was introduced. In a brilliant move, Mark launched into audience participation and quickly kept the attention of the audience as they sang along through the 20s, the 50s and decades in between. It seems that if you select the right favourites you are on a winner – and Mark was just that.

Back to the conversations and cuppa refills so when the Blenders were ready to start the bell was needed again. But the Blenders quickly made the hall their own through their harmonies and humour and they held rapt attention through their repertoire.

As if getting a seat in a packed hall wasn’t a lottery, the real lottery began with the raffle drawing. Again, a wonderful array of donated prizes was introduced in 2016 – and the extended draw began. Prizes were going off like nine-pins and the tables just emptied of food began filling with plants, books, bottles, aprons, schnapps, coffee cards, shop vouchers – something for everyone . Then it was the big one – the raffle for the quilt created and donated by Diane Frape-Linton. It was won by Judy Thomas.

As the conversations died away and people wandered off (for lunch? Couldn’t be!) the packing up began. And even the

WOW!

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carefully washed and stacked china caught the eye of photographer Marion Williams.

But the real wash-up was: • Donations at the door $116.20• Quilt raffle $384.00• Rafferty’s Rules Raffle $476.00• Donations $315.00

• TOTAL: $1,291.20 for the Cancer Council.An extra $9 donation followed, bringing the

total to $1,300 and 20 cents! And why the huge crowd in 2016? Well,

the reputation of this event has been growing for years. And, of course, there was the article and photo in the Castlemaine Mail and the huge push on Wednesday morning by Fiona Parker on ABC Centralvic (91.1fm) - that caught the organizers unaware so Fiona was contacted and asked who’d passed the information along.

Her response? “The Chewton Chat!”

Will an extension on the town hall be possible? And before BMT 2017?

A short walk along Forest creek from the Monster Meeting site is always stimulating.

Firstly, there are the views. Houses and sites that are part of our everyday life take on a different persona when looked at from a different perspective. There are also historic relics that have survived from when this stretch of creek was a hotbed in the frantic search for gold, personified by the Cornish chimney running up the hillside. And more modern “relics” are there too, created as the stones in the creek have provided inspiration to passers-by. The red top of a new Forest Creek Track marker was placed just perfectly… and in the right light the hillsides of coffee bush just glow.

And looking up, the mysterious Chewton Bushlands reveals some of its secrets. Buildings surrounded by “bush” and a very active NBN tower overseeing them all. The Bushlands, another walk, another day…

Along Forest Creek

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Thank-you Green ArmyThe Green Army is still at it! You can see where they have been on Argus Flat. There are now two low picnic tables installed beside the Forest Creek Track as it passes through – one in the old Chewton Swimming Pool! And the Green Army was busy at Chinamans Point installing the third picnic table when the camera caught up with them.

So Chewton to Expedition Pass Reservoir has three new picnic tables as well as Barbara’s Rest – the seat placed near the historic Welsh Street Bridge and named to honour the late Barbara James for her contributions to Landcare and her great contribution to the documentation of the area’s history.

And not content with that work, the Green Army is now working across Post Office Hill. They are certainly making a difference to Chewton!

One of the problems of abandoned old gold mining areas like Post Office Hill is the arrival and rapid spread of pest plants. Two species that have really got a grip of that area are being removed at present – Acacia Baileyana (Cootamundra Wattle) and Acacia Decurrens (Early Black Wattle). Both are natives from other parts of Australia but thrive here if they get a foothold. And they have such a foothold on Post Office Hill that they appear to be hybridizing! There are plants growing there now that show characteristics of both species.

But amongst this work was a surprise find. A trap was located there. Chained and padlocked to a tree, it is baited with an apple (whole) and located in a gully with a rudimentary disguise of coffee bush placed over it. Discussions about the trap inevitably followed – who and why predominantly. And why use an apple for bait? Did the land manager okay this site? Trap usage means constant surveillance in case something is caught – so where did the “trapper” walk(?) from to do the monitoring? Questions and questions but no answers as yet.The Green Army has been working with Chewton groups in the Chewton area for some time now. Posts on this site have detailed some of their activities.

It was time to say thanks… so a BBQ was arranged in Ellery Park and the Green Army was invited. Representatives from Golden Point Landcare, Chewton Landcare, Post Office Hill Action Group and Connecting Country were there to say thanks and well done. And coming down Golden Point Road to the 1 o’clock BBQ the Green Army vehicle was parked near Burns Hill and the familiar green fluoros were dotted over the hillside – still working with the BBQ only minutes away.

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So the food was ready by the time the bus arrived, and eating won out over conversations for the duration. Ian O’Halloran presented a collection of dianellas as a thankyou present and each of the Army personnel spoke briefly in response. Certainly a group of impressive and perceptive young people.

The clear up of the BBQ saw everyone gather and transport the dishes and excess food and deliver them to the town hall’s kitchen. Allan Dry had arranged some of the People and Places Display’s big books around the tables to give an historical context to the areas the Green Army had been working in. A perfect way to end a thankyou afternoon…

ADVERTISEMENT

Authorised by M Edwards, 8 Panton Street, Golden Square.This material has been produced by Maree Edwards MP using her Parliament’s Electorate Office & Communications budget.

Listening Post held in Castlemaine last Friday of the Month 10am to 2pm.Please phone for appointment.

8 Panton Street, Golden Square VIC 3555P: 5444 4125

@mareeedwardsmp mareeedwardsmp

www.mareeedwards.com.au

A Chewton Pines thank youYou will all have noticed that the Chewton Pines area has been cleared and mulch has been laid. We have been keen to hear from the community on how it wants the site to be revegetated and are really pleased with the level of community input we have received on this. Thanks to all those who volunteered their ideas.

From here we will consider all the input we have received and make a plan for future work at the site, keeping in mind the wishes of the community and environmental needs. We will of course be keeping fire safety top of mind in anything that is done on the site.

Just some of the ideas that may be considered include plant-ing the area with indigenous low shrubs, native shade trees and grasses, open space for community to use, and an indigenous food garden.

Once we have a plan for what will happen on the site we will look at ways to involve the community.

So once again, thanks for your ideas and we will keep you up-to-date with work as it progresses.

Noel Muller, Ranger Team Leader, Parks Victoria.

WED is World Environment Day

June the 5th every year!

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While Lynda, Marie and Carol continued to make brief comments to each, triggering another bout of hysteria, what was said seemed to be in language understood only by hysterical women and perhaps spiders.

The next BBQ will be on 4 June at Ellery Park from 6 pm. It is a black hat night, so bring your best black hat. Rob Palmer.

There has been a regular visitor to Chewton’s Community BBQ (aka MoBQ). Every month she is there, but only when the lights come on, never before. She is the motionless observer, quietly watching everything and everyone. That is until a hapless flying insect, flying towards the light strikes her web. She then moves with alacrity going in for the kill.

There was not much insect action at the May BBQ so Madame Spider could sit and watch. Some of the time she found herself staring at humans who were staring straight back at her. The humans blinked first.

But on the bench seat just below and to her left tears were flowing, even streaming. The spider and male BBQers observing were taken aback by Lynda, Marie and Carol on the bench. People don’t cry at the community BBQ; people eat, drink, talk, and laugh. What was going on?

After watching closely for some time, the mystery was solved. What seemed like inconsolable sobs turned out to be uncontrollable tears from hysterical laughter. However, the source of this strange episode remains a mystery.

Web of Intrigue Ensnares Snaggers

June’s Community BBQ will be on 4 June at Ellery Park from 6 pm. A black hat night, so bring your best black hat...

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Phee Broadway Theatre, Castlemaine, Saturday June 4MAMA ALTO: TORCH SONGS - “Mama Alto is an exceptionally talented singer, who makes the question as to whether it is a woman or a man singing obsolete. It is clearly an angel.” (The Conversation) Cost: $20/$25

Phee Broadway Theatre, Castlemaine, 11am, Wednesday June 29. SPIKE, by Little Wings Puppets. An original Australian work for families combining shadow puppetry and physical comedy, Spike is the story of an echidna, stolen from his nest, and found by a lonely little girl. Cost: $15

Phee Broadway Theatre, Castlemaine, Saturday August 6 DEATH IN BOWENGABIE - Death in Bowengabbie is a big, black, tender-hearted comedy about love, loss and the mourning after…

Phee Broadway Theatre Foyer, Castlemaine June 6 - 30SHOWCASE OF PHOTOGRAPHS BY CASTLEMAINE CAMERA CLUB. Free entry.

Castlemaine Art GalleryBILL HENSON - April 30 - June 30Bill Henson is one of Australia’s foremost contemporary artists. Henson’s work has been exhibited extensively in Australia and internationally since the mid-1970’s. Bill Henson: Landscapes presents a selection of Henson’s urban and rural landscape works made between 1997 and 2006.

Faulkner Gallery, Templeton St, CastlemaineJuly 21 - August 28Greg Somerville - Stitched to Everything in the Universe, drawings & textilesIan Clark - Green Ants, paintings & prints

what’s on?

Treasure in CastlemaineSince moving to Chewton in late 2014, I am regularly reminded of the treasures to be found in the area. And no, I’m not talking about gold, although I do keep an eye out on my bush walks for any gleaming nuggets possibly missed by the diggers.

What I am talking about today is cultural treasures, and in particular, a quick visit to Castlemaine by Spartimu, a brilliant five voice male à capella group from Corsica, famous for singing traditional songs unique to Napoleon’s birth place. Their intricate melodies and rich, resonant harmonies are helping to preserve an ancient tradition on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

Brought to Australia for their first visit to Australia by Melbourne based The Boite, Spartimu gave one workshop and one concert in Castlemaine with home-grown choir, The Chat Warblers.

Chewtonite, Margot Ryan, a member of The Chat Warblers, gives us her impression:

On Thursday 5th May in Castlemaine I was extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to attend a workshop and concert with Spartimu, a five voice male à cappella group from Corsica.

The traditional polyphonic singing forms a strong part of the Corsican identity. There are no written scores, the learning of songs is by oral techniques. The 40+ people who came to the workshop at Castlemaine South Primary School learnt the Greek Christian song Kyrie Eleison with great encouragement from Spartimu leader, Frederick.

After dinner, provided by members of the Chat Warblers, a concert was held for the general public at the Uniting Church.

The Chat Warblers sang two songs followed by Jane Thompson and James Rigby who sang ‘Murrandil’, a song by Gurramul Yunupingu and a song about singing at Yandoit church at Christmas. A great choice to give the Spartimu group a taste of Australian culture.

Spartimu then enchanted the audience with their

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sheer brilliance, singing their traditional songs in Latin, Italian, French and Greek.

Castlemaine was the only town Spartimu visited outside of Melbourne on their week long tour to Australia. We were fortunate indeed.

For more treasures from The Boite, check out http://www.boite.com.au/calendar

For more information about the Chat Warblers: http://www.cch.org.au/choirs/chat-warblers/

A message from the Friends of the Castlemaine Art Gallery and Historical Museum Group:

Befriend Your Gallery!A new group, Friends of the Castlemaine Art Gallery and Historical Museum has recently been formed to widen the audience of the Gallery within the local communities of Central Victoria and to raise funds.

For just $5, additional to the gallery annual membership fee, members of the CAGHM can join the Friends group, for the lively events planned and enable members to enjoy exclusive Gallery viewings, excursions and have some fun with like-minded art enthusiasts.

Enquiries to: members@castlemainegallery.com or 5472 2292

More treasure in Castlemaine!The exhibition, Bill Henson: Landscapes at the Castlemaine Art Gallery, is treasure indeed!

Walking into the gallery housing the exhibition is akin to walking into a place of worship in that one’s voice becomes hushed and conversation trails off unfinished as the space and the exhibition surround you. The very large format photographic images glow and seem to be lit from within as they hover over the black walls. Congratulations to the Gallery staff for creating this magic of lighting.

The images draw one closer and invite the eye into and beyond the surface until an unwritten story formulates in the brain, given cues and clues from these extraordinary images of rather ordinary subjects.

Bill Henson is one of Australia’s foremost contemporary artists. Born in Melbourne, Henson’s work has been exhibited extensively in Australia and internationally since the mid-1970s. Bill Henson: Landscapes presents a selection of Henson’s urban and rural landscape works made between 1997 and 2006.

Henson’s atmospheric and ambiguous landscapes resonate with a cinematic intensity, their dramatic chiaroscuro at once revealing and concealing urban spaces, lonely country roads, and glimpses of nondescript bridges amid the inky depths of an encroaching natural environment. As photographs, they simultaneously contain evidence of something real, while also existing in the realm of the imagination.The exhibition is on display at Castlemaine Art Gallery until 30 June 2016.

Enquiries: (03) 5472 2292 or director@castlemainegallery.com

Call for entries - 2016 Len Fox Painting Award

The 2016 Len Fox Painting Award is a bi-annual $50,000 acquisitive award at the Castlemaine Art Gallery & Historical Museum. Initiated and funded by Len Fox (1905-2004), this prestigious award commemorates the life and work of his uncle, the influential and internationally recognized Australian born painter, Emanuel Phillips Fox (1865-1915). Known for his plein air, impressionist style, Fox’s paintings are characterized by vibrantly coloured landscapes and scenes of everyday life.

The 2016 Len Fox Painting Award is an exciting opportunity for artists to interpret these qualities in a contemporary context.Entries close: 2 September 2016Opening and announcement: 8 October 2016

Go to the Gallery’s website to download the application form - http://www.castlemainegallery.com/2016-len-fox-painting-award/

30 June Social Media DayOrganisation: Mashable

In the spirit of these technologies that connect us, Social Media Day brings us together - both online and offline.

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Treasure in MelbourneIt was Mother’s Day and I had a lunch date in Melbourne with my daughter, then off to an exhibition she thought I’d like. Lunch was wonderful (Mankoushe in Lygon St, East Brunswick), but the exhibition at The Ian Potter Gallery was underwhelming.

Wandering off into a different room, I found ancient treasure! Case after case of ancient Greek vases in all their finely painted glory surrounding me begging to be inspected at close range. So with nose very nearly pressed against the glass cases, I spent the next hour or so drinking in the wonderful brush strokes, fine sgraffito, red and black colouring and some glimpses into life in ancient Greece.

On reading the University’s website, I discover that this exbibition is but a cameo from their Classics and Archaeology Collection comprising approximately 2,400 objects. It includes papyri, coins, vases, lamps, figurines, manuscripts, sculptures, weapons, tools, scarabs, seals, jewellery, artefacts, bones, inscriptions, ceramics, bronze, stone, gold, silver, lead, iron, ivory, glass and paper. The objects come from Greece, Italy, Britain, France, Egypt, Libya, Palestine, Israel, Jordon, Syria, Turkey (Asia Minor), Iraq, Iran (Persia) and India.

From the website: Most of the important pottery producing centres of the Greek world are represented in the University of Melbourne’s Classics and Archaeology Collection: Athens, Corinth, east Greece and south Italy. The Greek vase collection held at the Ian Potter Museum of Art covers the period from the thirteenth to the fourth centuries BCE, and is regarded as one of the most significant in Australia.

The images and iconography of Greek vase-painting are a tremendously rich resource for looking

into the attitudes and values of the ancient Athenians and classical civilization. The diversity of scenes provides one of the best sources for understanding Greek society, from

daily life to religious beliefs. Images of Life includes vases showing mythical narratives and heroic subjects alongside more prosaic scenes such as sporting events, music lessons, domestic chores and children at play, all painting a vivid picture of life in ancient Greece.

Looks like a few more visits to this quiet gallery are needed!

Images of Life: Ancient Greek Vases - until 18 September 2016.

Objects are on display in the Classics and Archaeology Gallery located on Level 1 of the Ian Potter Museum of Art, Swanston Street, Carlton.

For further information about the Classics and Archaeology Collection contact the Lecturer-Curator in Classics and Archaeology, Andrew Jamieson, on telephone (03) 8344 3403 or email

asj@ unimelb.edu.auBeverley Bloxham.

Missed an exhibition at the Castlemaine Art Gallery?Did you know that the Gallery’s website has archives of exhibitions going back over ten years? Ok, it’s not the same as being there, and sure, the exhibitions are not shown in their entirety, but it’s a good overview of what has been shown at our gallery over the years. For more, go to: http://www.castlemainegallery.com/archives/To make sure you don’t misss another exhibition in the Gallery, check out the upcoming calendar at http://www.castlemainegallery.com/

.

21 June International Day of Yoga

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Logo designed

by Morgan

Williamson.

Real Estate Gossip

NICK HASLAM

167 BARKER STREET, CASTLEMAINE 5470 5811

Thinking of selling? Want to know what your property is worth?

Call Nick for an obligation free market appraisal. www.wallerrealty.com.au

M: 0418 322 789 E: nick@wallerrealty.com.au

FOR ALL YOUR BUYING & SELLING NEEDS

Properties for sale around Chewton are listed as follows:Bendigo Property Plus:• 40 Eureka Street, stone and weatherboard 4 bedroom,

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Cantwell Real Estate:• 1/40 Madigans Road, craftsman built off-grid on

14.5 acres in the Bushlands with space for 6 vehicles, $298,000.00;

• 11 Eureka Street, rear vacant level lot of 3030sqm with views across to the Bushlands. Township Zone with services available. Building covenant applied. $185,000.00;

• 28 Albert Street, 2 elevated allotments with a total area of 1555sqm vacant site with north-eastern views to the Diggings Heritage Park, services available, $279,000.00;

• 41 Gallway Street, 2 bedroom mud brick with stone facing home in peaceful setting not far from the centre of town on 5.26 hectares of box iron bark trees. Trust for Nature protected adjoining Crown land. Well set up for off grid living with organic vegetable garden. Additional Architecturally designed plans for an 8.5 energy rated dwelling by local Architect Geoff Crosby available upon negotiation, $359,000.00;

• Lots 1 & 2 Archers Road, each lot measures 1600 – 1700 sqm, spectacular views and planning permits for a dwelling on each, $185,000.00 each lot;

• 562 Pyrenees Highway, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms with multiple indoor and outdoor living areas. Multiple shedding on 2 hectares. $695,000.00;

• 1/72 Steele Street, north facing vacant allotment of approximately 2234sqm. Backing onto state forest but with services available. $190,000.00;

• 225 Sparks Road, 58 hectares on the edge of the Bushland for sale, reduced to $480,000.00.

Cassidy Real Estate:• 97 Pyrenees Highway, 2 bedroom, 2 living areas and

plenty of period features. Large allotment of 1500sqm with workshops and room for several cars. For sale at $515,000.00;

Castlemaine Property Group:• 27 Hoopers Road, individually designed house with 3

bedrooms and 2 bathrooms offering a flexible living/working plan. Set on 1 hectare with heritage features improvements include a double carport, four 5,000 gallon water tanks, a water bore, watering system, fire sprinkler system, manageable grassed areas and extensive stone work in addition to all modern

comforts. Expressions of interest invited by 20 May, indicative price $600,000 - $610,000.00;

• 12 Old Settlers Road, substantial stone and timber home on 2.4 hectares of bushland. Offering 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms over 2 levels. This is comfortable off-grid living. For sale at $635,000.00;

• 23 Archers Road, light filled contemporary home designed around environmentally principles, 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, with professionally designed gardens and spectacular views, $740,000.00,

• 77 Pioneers Road, single bedroom log cabin set high in the Bushlands with views over Chewton and onto Castlemaine, $259,000.00.

Waller Realty:• 50 Dinah Road, 3554 sqm gently sloping allotment

with substantial shedding and an indoor pool. For sale at $189,000.00;

• 14 Church Street, elevated 1050 sqm lot with northern views to Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park, services to front boundary, $149,500.00;

• 2/85 Main Road, 570sqm elevated lot with cleared area for a house, close to all facilities, with access to all services, $110.000.00;

• 173 Main Road, renovated 1800s miners cottage right in the middle of town, 2 bedrooms and terraced rear gardens, $329,000.00;

• 184 Goldspeck Road, 2 separate mudbrick homes, off grid and bursting with character. Located high in the bushlands, on over 2 hectares, with dam and bushlands. For sale at $410,000.00;

• 717 Pyrenees Highway, 3 bedroom double storey home on 3 acres on the rural edge of town, in ground solar heated pool, great outdoors areas and outbuildings, $565,000.00;

• 16 Main Road, 1 acre of views over the Diggings National Heritage Park. With a sealed road frontage and the walking track into Castlemaine at rear. Connected to the reticulated sewerage system and with all other services available. For sale at $239,000.00.

For sale by owner:• 734 Pyrenees Highway, large family home with 4

bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, an indoor pool and recreation room. Set on over 1 hectare of maintained grounds, for sale at $569,000.00. Lynne Williamson.

29

Chewton Domain Society Golden Point LandcareA recent Sunday morning saw a group of people (closely related to mountain goats) meet on Golden Point Road, walk along Havelock Reef Road for a short distance before heading up a near vertical gully on their way to check out Golden Point Reservoir. Jennifer Pryce led the walkers through the recovering bushland (this time recovering from the recent drought) where we came across a number of small, very resilient groundcover native plants. The reservoir itself was used as part of the Coliban system and workers for one of the previous managers, State Rivers and Waters, used to stock it with redfin and spend their lunch breaks fishing there. The quality of the water has been affected by the lack of rain but also the amount of silt that has been washed into it over recent years.

The executive members who have been working hard on completing the 2 projects designed to help people better understand our area will have a full report in next month’s Chat - by then the information posters will be on the 3 posts at the Monster Meeting, Chinamans Point and Expedition Pass Reservoir and the rest of the projects will be in place.

A “thank you” BBQ for the Green Army Crew and its leader was held in the Chewton Town Hall park recently - members from Post Office Hill Action Group, Chewton and Golden Point Landcare groups along with the Landcare Facilitator Asha Bannon enjoyed their lunch and then spent some time in the town hall looking at the records, photos, maps and books that Allan Dry had put out on display. The records showed these great young people where they had been working over the last few months and gave them a better understanding of how helpful they have been to the local volunteers.

The event that Golden Point Landcare wishes to promote in June is World Environment Day. World Environment Day is a United Nations program for environmental awareness and action. This year’s theme – ‘Seven billion dreams, one planet, consume with care’, focuses on the use of natural resources.

The Chewton Visitor’s Guide and Heritage Map has been reprinted with 10,000 copies now available, thanks to John Veeken’s organization. The $972.00 cost has been paid thanks to the generosity of Ewen and Linda MacDonald and Bettie Exon who have supported the Chewton Domain Society in this exercise. This means 30,000 of these brochures have been printed – the success of this brochure is amazing!

The CDS is to produce an ad/flyer that would promote the hall’s assets and advertise the availability of it for hire.

The treasurer reported the balance at 8.5.2016 was $18,443.75 with accounts for payment of $2,061.80 leaving a balance of $17,542.75. Committed funds stand at $5,500.00.

Membership secretary Glen Harrison reported that membership is 172. He also reported that between 18.4.2016 to 16.5.2016 that the People and Places Display had 7 visitors and door takings of $16.

Marion Landy reported that Legion Officeworks could do a digital copy as well as a photocopy of the of the original Bachelors Retreat Visitor’s Book and it was agreed to go ahead with this.

The Castlemaine Jazz Festival has booked the hall over the long weekend June 10, 11, 12 and 13 June for a festival venue.

The town hall toilets are an old system and are continually not working. There is a need to obtain quotes for upgrading them. The hall’s security light and exit lights have been replaced and an examination of the front and rear doors is being organized.

Margot Ryan reported on the Chewton website progress (www.chewton.net) Photos are being selected for various parts of the site and Beverley Bloxham has offered to help with management of the site once it established.

The preliminary quote for the Monster Meeting flag reproduction is to be followed up, the CDS is currently out of stock.

It was moved, seconded and carried unanimously that Julie Henchman be co-opted as a CDS Committee Member.

The meeting closed at 8.05 p.m. The next CDS Management Committee Meeting is on Monday June 20th, 2016 at 7.15 p.m. in the Chewton Town Hall.

30

Along the Forest Creek Track a walker was very surprised to see a new timber “alien” near the Monster Meeting site – one that wasn’t there yesterday! And had they walked further along the track they would have found another one at Chinamans Point and yet another at Expedition Pass Reservoir.

These timber poles have been installed as part of a partnership program between Golden Point Landcare and Parks Victoria to show both locals and visitors what a changed landscape we live in - and in the next few weeks information panels will be placed on the poles telling the important story of Forest Creek using text, maps and photos.

As part of this project the red topped walking track posts starting – or ending, depending from where you start – at North Street in Chewton follow Forest Creek to Expedition Pass Reservoir. The yellow topped posts (at North Street and again at Llewellyn Road) are the Goldfields Track signposts and the Forest Creek Track forms a loop to this main track. The Green Army has also been busy helping with the installation of the Forest Creek Track posts and bench tables as well as improving the area by cutting and painting gorse, briar rose and hawthorns.

The posts are now in thanks to the efforts of Dredge Earthmoving and The Salvage Yard. Impressive posts that are believed to have been former bridge timbers from further north. And they have squared heads to take the new interpretive panels that are in production. Chinese camps, dredging, rakalis (look that up), chimneys and wildflowers will be among the representations to inform walkers about the special area they are in.

Funding and support for these projects has come from both State and Federal Governments but it has taken a lot of local people power (and knowledge) to get things to this stage. Like the walkers on the track – this project is on the way!

Poles apart...

Next FOBIF walkOn the 19th of June to Sailors Gully and beyond...

From Vaughan Springs along Italian Hill Track then off-track along the ridge before descending to Sailors Gully. Follow Sailors Gully south, then cross to meet the Goldfields Track at the Tubal Cain Mine. Return to Vaughan Springs on the Goldfields Track passing some interesting stone huts and other mining relics. c. 8km. Enquiries: Jeremy Holland 5472 4821.

31

Kyneton Guardian, 3rd June, 1916.Metcalfe-Chewton Amalgamation.- The amalgamation of the Borough of Chewton with the Shire of Metcalfe took place in accordance with the Order in Council yesterday, and hence forth Chewton will be a riding of the Shire of Metcalfe, the whole of its nine councillors being entitled to sit in the council until August next, after which the rid-ing will be represented by three councillors, making a total of 15 in the united shire. As in the case of other amal-gamated municipalities the whole of the councillors of the shire must retire in August, and consequently, the normal procedure will be upset and outside returning officers will have to be appointed. This will be done at the next meet-ing of the Metcalfe Council. At the meeting of that body on Tuesday President McKnight said that the custom in the past had been for one councillor in each riding to retire each year, but he did not know how the order of seniority was to be determined under the new regime. He presumed that the councillor who headed the poll would remain in for the full term of three years, and that the other two would retire in accordance with their position on the poll.

Cr. Salathiel enquired what would be the procedure in case of uncontested elections. The President said he did not know. Other awkward questions were put which the president could not answer, and the problem remained unsolved.

Mount Alexander Mail, 19th June, 1916.ALBION HOTEL.

Owner, National Trustees Co. licensee, Elizabeth Curtin. Mr Cornish appeared for the owner and licensee.Constable O’Brien gave a description of the situation and building. It contained nine rooms; furniture plain and good, and the rooms well kept. The trade came from the travelling public, and residents of the locality. The stables were poor, and the out-buildings dilapidated. The conduct of the hotel was good. In his opinion the hotel was not required.

To Mr Cornish: The Red Hill would supply the wants of the locality, if the Royal at Chewton were closed. The Albion would then suit the convenience of the public better than the Globe. Constable O’Mullane said the Albion was more necessary than the Globe. Constable Fowles gave it as his opinion the hotel was not required. One hotel was sufficient on the road to Elphinstone, and he would leave the Red Hill Hotel. Of the Globe, Albion and Royal, if one had to stand, it should be the Albion.

Mr Cornish said it was evidently a clear case be-tween the Royal and the Albion. The Royal had had a conviction against it and therefore, had to prove that it was of great benefit to the public. With the Royal out, the Al-bion and the Red Hill (which was not on the list) could ca-ter for the travelling public sufficiently. There was, under law, a handicap in favor of the Albion. He submitted that evidence would show that one hotel was wanted, and the balance or favor rested with the Albion and his contention

was borne out by police evidence.Elizabeth Curtin, licensee, said that she had held the

license for 18 months. There were about 380 residents of the locality, which the house was capable of catering for. The recent reduction of hours had unquestionably affected the trade.

Morton Van Heurck (baker) said he had resided in Castlemaine for 29 years, and in his opinion the Albion Hotel was required for the convenience of the locality. There were 81 bona fide male residents within a radius of about half-a-mile. Little Bendigo, Moonlight, and Penny-weight could be supplied from the Albion. In his opinion, the Albion should be allowed to remain in preference to the Royal or the Globe, because the closing of the Albion would make a stretch of three miles in which there would be no hotel. The Red Hill was quite sufficient for the requirements of Chewton. The Albion could supply the travelling public as well as the Royal.

The Age, 19th June, 1916

The Licences Reduction Board after a four days’ sitting on Saturday determined to recommend that the follow-ing hotels should be delicensed at the end of this year: Royal Hotel (Chewton) Butchers’ Arms (Winter’s Flat)) Globe Hay Market and La Mascotte (Castlemaine). The board at previous sittings dealt with Castlemaine and the surrounding districts, and in addition from time to time it has accepted the surrender of a number of licences. Origi-nally the districts mentioned were very considerably over-stocked, but the excess has been gradually reduced until Castlemaine alone is now above the statutory number, be-ing nine hotels in excess.

Glen Harrison.

Chewton - 100 years ago

Oops! Last month’s Chat had a story from The Ballarat Star about a death at Post Office Hill Mine and it carried the date 1958! The Star was only printed from 1855 until 1924. The date should have been 1858. Oops!

We need friendly people with an appreciation of Chewton’s history, who are prepared to give 3 hours one Saturday or Sunday each month. Please ring Allan Dry 54723385 if you would like to be part of the team.

June, 2016Saturday 4 GlenSunday 5 FrankSaturday 11 Closed for Jazz Festival Sunday 12 Closed for Jazz Festival Saturday 18 MarionSunday 19 IreneSaturday 25 AllanSunday 26 Elaine

TOWN HALL EXHIBITION ROSTERSATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS (& most Public Holidays) 1pm to 4pm SCHOOL HOLIDAYS WEEKDAYS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

32

The live.life.well. ProjectThe live.life.well. Project developed as a result of concern across the Mount Alexander Shire about the mental health and wellbeing of community members. Following round table discussions, organised by the Maldon Community Bank, a group of citizens and organisations was formed to respond to the major issue of focus, that being suicide prevention.

Castlemaine District Community Health took the lead to apply for funding. The William Buckland Foundation was approached and very generously provided funding for a three year community development project to address this issue within the community. The William Buckland Foundation supports activities, organisations and projects which create lasting benefit for the Victorian Community.

The project commenced in early 2015 and is overseen by a Reference Group made up of a diverse, committed and a well-qualified alliance of individuals who live and/or work within the Mount Alexander Shire community.

The key objectives of the live.life.well. Project are to build a community of individuals who are equipped with the skills, knowledge and confidence to: improve and maintain their own positive mental health and wellbeing and respond to other community members in their immediate network who may have a mental health problem.

The live.life.well. Project, is built around the catchphrase/mnemonic – I WILL. I WILL look after myself, & [I] W.I.L.L – Watch out for others, Invite conversation, Listen respectfully and Lend a hand.

As well as the I WILL action plan, the information

session briefly covers information about mental health, mental illness, and alcohol and other drugs. This two hour live.life.well. information session is available to all members of the Mount Alexander Shire community, and presenters will deliver this session free of charge to your club/organisation/community group/business, at a time and place that is convenient to you.

For further information please contact Doug Doran or Sarah Day

Community Development Workers by phone 03 5479 1000 or email

ddoran@cdch.com.au or sday@cdch.com.au

Advertising in the ChatCurrent advertising rates are:

These costs are based on A4 page layout, 2 columns of 90cm width:• Column centimetre $2.50 (equates to $10 a business card

sized ad or $20 a double b/c sized ad.)• Half Page (app. 240 square cm) $100 • Full page (App. 480 square cm.) $200

N.B. Most ads carried by the Chat fall in the business card or double business card sizes, and sizes for regular ads dovaryslightly frommonth tomonth tofit thesurroundinglayout.If you know anyone who might consider advertising for 6 months or a year let’s know so it can be followed up.

Please support our advertisersWithout them there would be no Chat!

33

Trap...Three years ago, Cathouse Players performed their first Chewton show at the Senior Cits. Hall. And now, now, this wonderful mystery thriller is set to be reprised - not at that lovely little venue, but in Kyneton, where, since 2014, we’ve been permanently based. We all have fond memories of our 3 productions at Chewton - “Trap”, then “Blithe Spirit” then “Deathtrap” and of the locals’ enthusiastic support for our small company.

One of Chewton’s sons - Michael-Gillies Smith is appearing as Daniel - rehearsals have been such fun with him, and he’s going to be fab!

Online bookings at www.trybooking.com/LDGU. For phone bookings and cash sales, please phone Lynn on 0407 610 656.

34

Vocal Nosh! A good sing & good food in convivial company

Sunday 5th June at 6pmAt Newstead Community Centre

Led by the wonderful Polly Christie

Theme: Celebrate the Planet for World Environment Day• 6:00 - 7:00pm Vocal entrée - warm up and easy stuff• 7:00 - 7:30pm Food - Hearty soup, crusty bread, fresh fruit• 7:30 - 8:30 pm Musical main course - delicious harmonies

Songs in the folk style, mostly a cappella

No prior musical experience necessary. No need to read music.

Singing for the pleasure of it.

Whole session including food $15, concession $12, children $5, first hour only $5

Bookings by email: faywhite.music@westnet.com.au or phone Fay 0447 576 642

FIELD NATSVISITORS ARE WELCOME AT CLUB

MEETINGS AND EXCURSIONS

Ordinary membership: Single $30, Family $40, Pensioner or student: Single $25, Family $30. Subscription includes postage of the monthly

newsletter, Castlemaine Naturalist.

General meetings - (second Friday of each month, except January) are held in the Uniting Church (UCA) Hall (enter from Lyttleton St.) at 7.30 pm.

Field Trips - (Saturday following the general meeting) leave from the car park opposite Castle Motel, Duke Street at 1.30pm sharp unless stated otherwise. BYO afternoon tea. Outdoor excursions are likely to be cancelled in extreme weather conditions. There are NO excursions on total fire ban days.

CASTLEMAINE FIELD NATURALISTS,PO BOX 324, CASTLEMAINE 3450http://castlemainefnc.wordpress.com/

JUNE WHEEL CACTUS KILL

In June the Cactus Warriors Field Day will be on Sunday 26th, meeting from 10 am to 12.30. It is a friendly occasion, with a free BBQ lunch at midday. Equipment will be provided for the morning and any newcomers will learn the nitty-gritty about getting rid of this very invasive and resourceful weed.

For this month’s venue or any other queries, please visit our website

www.cactuswarriors.org

or ring Ian Grenda on 0412 015 807.

Where our water comes from...

35

Advertisers in this Chewton ChatAppletown, Party Hire P 4Baker Earthmoving P 12Ben Ross, All building work P 7Blues music, jam sessions P 35Bold Café P 19Buda Historic Home and Garden P 23Cameron Stewart, Podiatrist P 21Castlemaine Mini-Diggers P 23CastlemaineOfficeSupplies P13CAE Performance Products P 5Chewton Garage P 3Chewton General Store P 13Chewton Playgroup P 19Chewton Pool fundraiser P 5Chewton Service Station P 16Chewton Then and Now P 11Collector’s Cafe P 9Come Clean Window Cleaning P 16Computers in the Shire, Computer/Web support P 29Doug Drury, Carpenter and Handyman P 10Elphinstone Firewood P 20EzyDig P 8Five Flags Hotel P 19GoldfieldsConcreting P24Lisa Chesters, Federal M.P. P9Luca Ruiz Massage P10Marcus Houston, Bricklayer and Stonework P 9Maree Edwards, State M.P. P 23Merlarue, Etching Presses P 3Mo’s Antiques P 7Newstead Natives, Native Nursery P 30Nick Haslam P28Phee broadway Theatre P33Printz Plumbing P 4Ray Fowler, Master Painter P 7Red Hill Hotel P 32Robin Haylett, Gardens P 29Soldier and Scholar, 2nd Hand Books P 11Surtierra Alpaca Stud P 11Thompson Family Funerals P 20Tim’s Gardening Services P 21Vault Self-Storage P 6Waylaines Tiling P 5Wesley Hill Market P 5Wildlife Rescue P 25

Paper used in producing the Chewton Chats is donated by Ewen and Linda MacDonald of Moroolbark Excavations

Chewton Town HallThe Chewton Town Hall offers a beautifully restored space

available for a variety of events and uses. (Because of the age of the building universal access is limited)

To discuss what you might need, what we can offer and the costs of hiring all or part of the hall...

contact Bettie on 5472 3892 or goldenpoint2@bigpond.com

Chewton Chat• 2007 - Winner - best editorial comment• 2008 - Finalist - best hard news reporting• 2009 - Finalist - best history article• 2010 - Special mention - best community reporting• 2011 - Finalist - best editorial comment• 2012 - Winner - best editorial comment• 2013 - Winner - best news feature story • 2013 - Finalist - best editorial comment• 2014 - Winner - best history article• 2015 - Finalist - best editorial comment

Published by the Chewton Domain Societyand produced on a voluntary non-profit basis

P.O. Box 85, Chewton 3451goldenpoint2@bigpond.com or 5472 2892

A CDS subcommittee of John Ellis (Ed.),Bettie Exon, Gloria Meltzer, Debbie Hall, Phil Hall and Glen Harrison is responsible for the publication. Many volunteers help with production and circulation. It is circulated on the first of each month, necessitating a deadline of about the 22nd of the month before. Material can be left at the Chewton General Store, with any of the sub-committee members, sent by e-mail goldenpoint2@bigpond.com or by contacting 5472 2892.

Contributions of ideas, news items, articles, and letters are always welcome; as are advertisements that help meet monthly production costs. Circulation is via the Chewton General Store, Chewton Pet Supplies, Chewton Post Office, Chewton Service Station, Red Hill Hotel, Castle Automotive Enterprises and Tourist Information Board, as well as the Bold Cafe, Castlemaine Library, Market Building, CHIRP, CIC, Castlemaine Copy Centre, Castlemaine Office Supplies and Castlemaine Art Gallery and Museum. Mt. Alexander Hospital Residential receives monthly copies too. Whilst copies are free, there are donation tins at many collection points and donations can be mailed to the CDS address below. Subscriptions for mailed copies can be arranged. Circulation is now 700. A full colour Chewton Chat can also be downloaded each month from www.issuu.com - as can some earlier issues. Email subscriptions are also available.

The Chewton Chat wishes to advise that the views or remarks expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of the editor, the management team or the Chewton Domain Society and no endorsement of service is implied by the listing of advertisers, sponsors or contributors.

Are you interested in

BOPPING THE BLUES?

You are invited to a monthly Jam Session at Elphinstone

This is a non-professional, informal get-together

of people who want to make some noise and have some fun!

If you are into Blues, R’n’B and Rock music and sing or play an instrument

you are welcome!

For more information: Email: patrickcox53@gmail.com

36

It’s official. The El Nino event is now ended. The Bureau of Meteorology has given their word to its end. Pacific Ocean surface temperatures have fallen to their usual levels and atmospheric pressures around Hawaii have normalised. The “little-boy” is on his way back to Peru, where he will at some time in the future bring despair to the west coast of South America, the place from which he came. Many of you will now know that the El Nino phenomena is an irregular event that occurs here in Australia at intervals of typically seven to fifteen years. It always brings a hot dry spring and summer, receding as autumn/winter approaches. The event we have just experienced was more pronounced than usual. It brought more heat and less rain than usual El Nino events. It begs the obvious question, “Is the greater intensity due to Climate Change?” No-one seems to know.

My last visit to the Bureau of Meteorology website indicated that the conditions were ripe for the opposite effect to occur, that of La Nina, the little-girl. This event brings more rain than usual to the same South-east region of Australia. I have been reading about the El Nino phenomena effects in other parts of the world too. Southern Africa, Central America, South America and India have all had significant negative effects from El Nino. Let’s hope that these areas do not experience devastating floods.

On a recent trip to Papua New Guinea, Beryl and I went to the north-coast of Papua, to Madang. There, people from the inland areas of the Fly River were rioting because their gardens had failed due to lack of rain. They had no food in their gardens and were

The end of El Nino has been declareddemanding it from the people living on the coast who at least had ocean fish. On a totally different scale, I have also been reading about the need by the Panama Canal Authority to reduce the draft of vessels passing through that waterway. The lack of rain in the area has reduced the quantity of water available from the nearby lakes to maintain the normal canal depths.

At last I am able to report a month of good rains. I have recorded 70 millimetres to the 25th of the month. We had two good periods of rain. The first at the end of April/ beginning of May when we had a string of falls amounting to some twenty-nine millimetres. The following weekend, we repeated the dose with yet another thirty millimetres. The remaining ten millimetres came from occasional single digit falls. Since those early weeks of the month, it has been little more than threatening.

The temperatures have behaved much as we might have expected. They held up quite well until the end of last month, in the lower twenties but since then have fallen to upper and mid teens. We had another short burst mid-month, but we are now down to the lower teens, even one day of only ten degrees Celsius. Our average daytime temperature has fallen to 17.5 degrees Celsius.

Night-time temperatures followed a similar track. Mainly mid-level teen temperatures at the beginning of the month, but down to single digit temperatures in the first week of the month. It picked up a bit whilst the rain did its best in the second week, but is now consistently down at low positive values. No frost at my place yet, but it can’t be too far away now.

John Leavesley.

Calendar of EventsJune 4th FOBIF Trees Exhibition launch, 10.30 a.m., Newstead Arts Hub (see page 18).June 4th Chewton Community BBQ (MoBQ), 6 p.m., Ellery Park (see page 24).June 4th Service at St. John’s, 6 p.m., St. John’s Anglican Church (see page 18).June 5th World Environment Day.June 5th Vocal Nosh, 6 p.m., Newstead Community centre (see page 34).June 6th Small Business Workshop, 5.30 p.m., Ray Bradfield Room, Castlemaine)see page 19).June 11th Service at St. John’s, 6 p.m., St. John’s Anglican Church (see page 18).June 12th POHAG meeting, 10 a.m., Chewton Town Hall.June 13th Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday.June 14th MAS Council meeting, 7.30 p.m., Castlemaine Civic Centre.June 18th Service at St. John’s, 6 p.m., St. John’s Anglican Church (see page 18).June 19th FOBIF Walk to Sailors Gully, 9.30 a.m., (see page 30).June 19th Concert at St. John’s, 2 p.m., St. John’s (see page 18).June 20th Chewton Domain Society M. Comm. meeting, 7.15 p.m., Chewton Town Hall.June 24th Deadline for July Chewton Chat.June 24th School Term 2 ends.June 25th Service at St. John’s, 6 p.m., St. John’s Anglican Church (see page 18).June 28th MAS Council meeting, 7.30 p.m., Chewton Community Centre.June 30th Chewton Chat folding, 2.30 p.m., Chewton Town Hall (Thursday).