Here’s the thing nobody tells you about building a house. The walls and the slab are the quick bit. It’s everything before them that gets you: the snail’s-paced planning and the slow haemorrhaging of money that makes death by a thousand cuts sound like a lazy afternoon on the beach. So here we are. Walls […]

B Y R I C H A R D C O R N I S H Lamb.   It’s part of spring in Australia. As the days become longer and the yellow blossoms erupt on the wattles, the supply of spring lamb begins. This is the time of the year when lamb is as it […]

Golden Wellness Festival is an immersive celebration of holistic health, taking place in Castlemaine at the Sunken Oval on Saturday, October 31.   The one-day festival will offer workshops, movement classes, ceremonies, creative sessions and insightful panel conversations, bringing together a plethora of wellness practitioners and alchemic explorers. Explore and restore with yoga, tai chi, […]

Kristeena Saville was an only child to a single mum, giving her time to draw. Her mother worked long hours as a waitress, spare-parts driver, cleaner and delivered telegrams; some of these jobs were simultaneous. Her struggle was noble. Her dad had been a gaolbird. She didn’t really see him, but was close to his […]

Donna thinks I’m becoming a nutjob. We had our 30th wedding anniversary the other week and we ended up (as couples do) in a bit of an argument. The thing is, I told her about human brain cells being grown over a computer chip and she said I was a nutjob conspiracy theorist. But surely […]

A daffodil   Well hey, look who’s here! Sun-bright hair, long green limbs, round brown boots … A daffodil. Dance and laugh, smile and bow, stretch and grow … My daffodil. Bringer of hope, bringer of peace, bringer of joy … Hi, Daffodil! – Marg Robinson Marg lives in lovely downtown Broomfield, where the multiple […]

Hi there, I am Dipsy.   Funny, playful and definitely a kitten who has a mind of my own. I know what I like and am not afraid to let you know it. I love to keep busy and am always ready for some fun. That might be chasing toys, exploring my surroundings or getting […]

By Donna Kelly If you read this column regularly you will remember I broke my left ankle at the start of the year.   Of course, I hoped it was just a sprain but when I went for x-rays at St John of God in Ballarat, the surgeon came back with the bad news it […]

The state government has opened the $10 million Creating Safer Places grants program. Councils can apply for up to $250,000 to buy practical upgrades such as CCTV and improved lighting. This will help councils protect local businesses, workers and customers by making shopping strips and community spaces safer. Applications for the grants close on October […]

The Victorian Government has published the 2026-27 schedule for its popular Detox Your Home program, giving more opportunities to safely dispose of household chemicals and other hazardous waste free of charge. The program helps keep dangerous materials out of landfill and waterways, reducing the risk to community health and the environment while making it easier […]

Cafs is calling for more foster carers to open their doors and hearts. To mark Foster Care Week in September, Child and Family Services is encouraging people across Ballarat and the Central Highlands region to consider whether they could provide the safety, stability and sense of belonging that a child needs. Cafs Home Based Care […]

One of the unique features of the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra’s annual A Feast of Music festival in Daylesford is the intimate relationship that develops between musicians and audience over four concerts and a musical dinner. The freshness and immediacy of the performances are easily shared and appreciated, adding to an exhilarating chamber music experience. With […]