BOMB THREAT Residents evacuated - March 2021
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Edition 479, March 2021
Residents evacuated
BOMB THREAT
Some residents living in the southern The man, aged in his 40s, who had made The thieves broke into the CFA station and
end of Buninyong were evacuated the bomb threat was taken by the police found the keys to the Hyundai car in his
from their homes on the night of 27 to the Ballarat Base Hospital for a mental clothing. The car was later found burnt out
January after a man threatened to health assessment. It is understood that he in Bacchus Marsh early the following day.
blow up himself and his house in a lives alone in the house. The nature of the
Three weeks later, four police units (below)
tightly-built neighbourhood. explosive device has not been made public.
attended another incident at the property
After the threat was made in a call to police Car theft following reports that a person carrying
at about 8.30pm, two police cars, four CFA In an unfortunate twist to the incident, a chain saw had been wandering nearby
units, ambulances and emergency lighting the car of one of the local CFA volunteers streets for several hours.
were despatched to the house. was stolen from near the
Buninyong CFA station while
Adjoining neighbours were told to
the emergency was taking
evacuate by police. One family with small
place. The car belonged
children, unable to return to their house
to local travel agent Ed
by midnight, had to spend the night in a
Bradford who, after moving
Ballarat hotel at their own expense.
to Buninyong, had joined the
Police called in a negotiator from local CFA after previously
Melbourne and the Critical Incident having been a member of
Response Team was also called to the CFA brigades at Darley and
scene. (Photo: Victoria Police website). Bacchus Marsh.
The incident lasted more than four hours.
L O C A L N E W S
Lorraine
gets gong
A Buninyong resident was awarded
an Order of Australia medal in the
2021 Australia Day Honors List.
She is Lorraine Powell, a Vice
President of the Friends of the
Buninyong Botanic Gardens (FBBG).
President of FBBG Roger Permezel
said, “Lorraine has an extensive
knowledge of our local gardens and
of their history and development. She
has contributed greatly to the Gardens’
current master planning project, has
a hands-on involvement with many of
the village’s household gardens, and
is of great value to our annual Open
Gardens program”.
She has also been a long standing
member of the Ballarat Botanic
Gardens group. She authored a book
Local CFA brigade members tackle the burning auto. about those gardens – An Eden of
Loveliness.
Downtown drama Lorraine also is a volunteer with many
Luxury car up in flames other community groups including
being a voluntary guide at the Art
Gallery of Ballarat.
The centre of Buninyong was covered driver escaped from the car, flames were
in acrid black smoke in late January soon seen.
when a compact Porsche vehicle
From their nearby station the local CFA
travelling to Geelong burst into flames
was soon on the scene and, concerned
on Learmonth Street near the Uniting
about a possible explosion, used powerful
Church.
hoses taking more than 30 minutes to
The car had just passed through the extinguish the blaze. The explanation given
business centre when the driver found the by onlookers was that the car had been
vehicle rapidly filling with smoke. He made refilled with an incorrect fuel. The car was
a smart move by steering the car across a total write-off.
the highway to a vacant allotment on the
A total of six CFA vehicles and other
corner of Inglis Street. After the male
emergency vehicles attended.
2 Buninyong & District Community News Edition 479, March 2021
L O C A L N E W S
Community
Bank reports
a boom year
Grants reach $1.16 million
At the Annual General Meeting The Chairman
of Buninyong & District Financial presented ten-year
Services – the Board of Directors of certificates to three
the Buninyong Community Bank – it staff members
was reported that despite the impact who had been with
of the COVID crisis, record levels on the bank since its
all key indicators had been reached opening. These were
by the local bank in the 2019-2020 Narelle Tatt, Jenny
(Above) Bank Board Chairman Ian Corcoran (left) and Board Treasurer
period. Murphy and Leah
Richard McDowell look pleased as they report the results of a record
Mullins. Likewise, year’s trading to shareholders.
The AGM, the first to be held in the newly
ten-year certificates
completed Community House which will Three other members of the original
were presented to three Directors – Ron
be officially opened in the near future, was Board of Directors which first met in 2008
Delaland, Steve Falconer and Gary
attended by company directors, bank staff – Foundation Chairman John Emery,
Trotter – who had served on the Board
and shareholders. Russell Luckock and Barry Fitzgerald –
since its establishment.
were in attendance at the meeting.
Chairman Ian Corcoran reported that
the bank’s business performance for the
previous financial year was “outstanding.”
Records roll Surprise for old Vets
Features referred to included World War Two veterans Vic Bradley Ballarat Legacy lunch on 11 December.
• Overall profit $520,429 (in 2019 and Bill Cook have been recognised The presentations came as a surprise to
$387,423) for their service to the nation. both Bill and Vic.
• Community grants, donations Federal Member for Ballarat Catherine More than one million Australian men
$268,160 ($233,377) King presented each with their and women fought during the WW2
• Total net assets $768,808 ($630,874) 75th Anniversary of the End of WW2 campaigns. Currently there are 12,000
• A dividend of 10.0 c per share (8.0c) medallion and WW2 veterans still alive and eligible to
to shareholders. certificate, receive the award.
The year’s record distribution of some during a
$268,000 to district groups, clubs,
projects, youth and schools took the
amount invested back into the local
community to over $1.16 million since the
start of the bank in August 2010.
The number of projects funded in the past
year was 79, an increase of 23 per cent.
Great staff
Bank Manager Randall Dreger thanked
the bank staff of nine for their “dedication,
diligence and effectiveness”, and
reaffirmed the community bank’s value of
“putting the customer first and the results
will look after themselves”. A small growth
was also noted in customer numbers Ballarat Legacy’s President Jeremy Bannister with 98-year-old Bill Cook and 97-year-old Vic
which now totalled 3,724. Bradley following the presentations.
Edition 479, March 2021 Buninyong & District Community News 3
L O
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N E W S
Streetscape project
HAVE YOUR SAY This publication is a community
project of the Buninyong & District
The February edition of The News will bring up a page with the Buninyong Community Association (BDCA)
carried a four page City of Ballarat Streetscape Improvement project clearly supported by the Buninyong
supplement of concept plans and evident. The simple steps then are to Community Bank.
information about streetscape Published monthly
• enter your email address and a
upgrade works about to happen along Editor: Barry Fitzgerald
password
Warrenheip and Learmonth Streets in Design: Sian Blohm
• look for the SURVEY tab
downtown Buninyong. Advertising: Gayle Adams
• then hit Complete Survey, and express
There was also an editorial/opinion piece your views about the overall concept Reporters: Cassandra Carland,
Ray Sullivan, Russell Luckock, Rita
titled Bus Stop Blues which detailed the or any part of it.
Russell
strong concern held by the Buninyong &
The opportunity to express your views All contributions (copy, letters,
District Community Association (BDCA) and photographs or advertising) must be
through the mySay survey page is one that
many residents and business owners that submitted before the twelfth of each
will be available there for a limited time,
the retention of the little-used bus stop in month to buninyongnews@gmail.
probably until 5 March. Work on Stage 1, com. Enquiries to 5341 2844.
that location in the middle of the business
the Warrenheip business strip between Copy should not exceed 400 words and
strip would compromise the possibilities
Forest and Eyre Streets, is expected to a maximum of two photographs per
and potential of the upgrade works. item may be submitted. Material may
start before the middle of 2021
be edited because of space, style, or
A large area of nature strip and roadway
Five years clarity, or for legal reasons.
is taken up by the bus stop’s huge strip of
The BDCA has been lobbying for The name and address of the person
concrete and roadway restriction. In the submitting any material must be
improvement to this part of the village
new project, this area could be used for provided (address not for publication).
for more than five years, and now with
planting, al fresco areas, seating or other The Management Committee
funding for the project secured, the reserves the right not to publish
features.
Community Association calls on all material considered to be offensive or
In its supplement, Council advised that residents to have their say. inappropriate or not deemed to have
larger versions of the concept plans community interest or relevance.
The Community Association has argued The views expressed or information
included in The News would be on display
strongly for years about removing this bus provided in this publication are not
in shop windows and at the Community
stop. It’s little used and is not needed as necessarily those of the Buninyong and
Bank. Take the chance to look at them District Community Association or of the
Warrenheip Street as there are others just
carefully and form your own opinions on Buninyong Community Bank, including
150 m to the north and to the south of the any officers, members, agents or
this major project designed to improve an
one in question. contractors.
important part of the village.
Feedback to the BDCA indicates that most Printed by Baxter and Stubbs, Ballarat.
Your feedback agree. But whether you do or you do not, Available online in full colour at:
There was also an invitation to readers to give buninyong.vic.au/news/newsletters
please take this rare chance to have your
feedback on the overall concept plans or any
say on the project.
parts of them via Council’s mySay page. Member of the Community
– Gayle Adams, BDCA President Newspapers Association of Victoria
This page can be accessed by simply
Googling City of Ballarat mySay. That
4 Buninyong & District Community News Edition 479, March 2021
L O C A L N E W S
NEAR MISS. A collective gasp came
from al fresco coffee drinkers at the Pig
& Goose one recent Sunday morning
when a youth wheeling his bicycle
pressed the pedestrian crossing button,
got the green, and headed off across. A
small white car travelling south zoomed
through the red light, missing the kid by
a just a metre or so.
DUMB TIMING. It’s been a battle
to get the Council street-sweepers
out here. To Council’s credit one is
now visible occasionally. But could
someone tell the drivers on what days
rubbish bins are out front of township
properties. One recent Wednesday we
watched the bloke enjoy his drive up
and back mostly along the middle of a
Double water storage dead-end street, happily driving past the
many rubbish bins – and cleaning about
30 per cent of the gutters.
from earthworks at golf club
It was dusty at times for neighbours The deep new 20 megalitre dam will DISTRESS CALL. One resident
and club members during the eight double the water storage held on the called The News in a state of
weeks or so that the Buninyong Golf course and was expected to have been shock after looking at the Council’s
Club has had two teams of earth- completed in mid-February prior to the supplement about the Warrenheip
moving contractors at work on the Club’s annual tournament. Street project in the February edition.
major dam project in the north-west
Cost Over the image of the Old Library in the
corner of the course. Warrenheip Street concept plan was
The estimated cost of the dam project is
Fortunately, for the majority of this time, $140,000 with an additional expenditure the single word Demolish. A huge sigh
prevailing winds have been from the of $20,000 being allocated for the of relief followed the advice that the
north, blowing most of the dust back development of new tees and associated word had somehow slipped down from
onto the course itself. Also several good irrigation and landscaping. a legend just above, and that the old
falls of rain during the construction library would still be there long after the
During the project works, the short works on the street were finished.
period has kept the soul moist and dust
second hole was out of play and
to a minimum.
adjustments were made to the length of
One team using two large excavators the third and sixteenth holes. UNPRINTABLE. Most of the words
and two huge dump trucks has been
In the meantime Club President Ron that first come to mind to describe
excavating an extensive new dam
Delaland is continuing negotiations with those morons who dump rubbish of all
adjacent to the former sixteenth tee.
a health-related company interested in varieties in and outside of charity bins
The excess soil from the site have been
leasing out the total area of the top floor sadly would not make it past the News
moved to the unused area of the course
of the golf clubhouse. At the same time censor. Now these uncaring idiots
near the corner of Macs Road and the
new costings for the refurbishment of the have found the local Lions Op Shop
Midland Highway.
ground floor area are being undertaken. which recently has been swamped with
There it is being spread and covered with useless and dirty rubbish and junk.
A report on the major earthworks project
top soil by another contractor to form a Helping out in the shop is one thing for
and the final proposal concerning the
new landscaped area which may include volunteers – having to remove those
clubhouse restoration is expected to be
an additional golf hole or practice area piles of rubbish is another.
put to members in a few weeks’ time.
replanted areas.
Edition 479, March 2021 Buninyong & District Community News 5
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Danny the farmer...
a tennis champ too
Les George, long-term Secretary (from Danny was involved in the formation of
1970 to 2006) of the Buninyong & the Navigators Tennis Club which was
District Tennis Association (BDTA), has admitted to the BDTA in 1955 and played
written to The News saying, “It every season for Navigators until he
was great to read the article regarding retired in 1993.
Danny Spruce in the December 2020
Painted cows
edition”.
In 1961 he was a member of the
However, Les pointed out, “There is a lot Navigators A grade Premiership side,
more to Danny than farming. Playing and but it was a long time until his next
administering tennis has been a huge part premiership in A2 in 1987. This was the
of his life.” year of the infamous “painted cows”
episode. Anticipating long celebrations on
The BDTA has a history of long-serving
grand final night, Danny painted numbers
Secretaries and Presidents. Bill Eldridge The rapid expansion of the Association in
on his cows so that brother Ron would
was Secretary from 1937 to 1967. Perc the 1970s saw the need for more courts
know the order in which they were to enter
Pepper was President from 1934 to 1964. and Danny was instrumental in gaining
the dairy on the following morning.
Danny Spruce filled the role of President Council approval to build six courts on
from 1968 to 1998. In Danny’s first year as The incident received wide coverage when former railway land in Buninyong. He was
President there were 38 senior and eight it was later leaked to the media. again at the forefront in 1977 organising
junior teams. By 1989 it had grown to 67 the transport of an ex-army hut to the site
In 1988 Danny again was in a winning A2
senior, 72 junior and 44 midweek teams. to be used as clubrooms.
premiership side and in 1993, captained
He was also President of the Ballarat Navigators A3 to victory – his third
‘As a player...
Country Tennis Association from 1985 for premiership in six years. Not a bad effort
many years. for a player who told The Courier in 1990
Danny put far
that “Sometimes when I get up on a
In 1994 Peter Griffiths wrote A Tribute to
Sunday morning and my legs are aching,
Danny Spruce. The following are extracts
from that article.
I think to myself that it might be time to
take up bowls”.
more back into
the sport he
loves than he
ever took out.’
Danny first played Country Week in 1956,
and in 1958 represented Buninyong A
Grade for the first time. Then followed 17
successive A Grade appearances until
1975 which included eight premierships
and four runners up.
He played in every Country Week from
1956 until1993. In 1961, 1963 and 1965
he was selected in the All-Star Country
Week representative side
As a player and administrator, Danny put
far more back into the sport he loves than
he ever took out of it. He was an excellent
sportsman and administrator, has a great
sense of humour, and is respected by
everyone. In 1983 he was made a Life
Member of the Association.
6 Buninyong & District Community News Edition 479, March 2021
LP O
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Father and son...the Ballarat
FOOTBALL MAKERS
With the AFL football season now
about to start, News reporter Russell
Luckock met up with a Buninyong
man with interesting past links to
football and footballs. This bloke
loves a chat…and can do most things
under the sun, including building his
own houses.
From the age of fourteen, Graham
Coulter, 87, started off by making
footballs by hand with his father Hugh in
Howitt Street, Ballarat.
His father had worked at the Olsen
Clothing factory, and decided that footballs
and basketballs should be easy to make
as he had the required pattern templates.
All that was needed was leather, twisted
string, a strong grip and much grit.
Money was scarce in the 1940s and
1950s, so to fund the purchase of leather
to get ready for the winter football season,
Graham’s summertime job was repairing Article in The Courier of yesteryear showing the ‘Coulter Special’ footballs being made in Howitt St
by Graham and his father.
the celluloid ‘windows’ mounted in the
canvas hoods of the cars of yesteryear. The leather which came from Greenhalgh’s Match II footballs as then being used in the
Tannery in Haddon, was tanned before Ballarat and Wimmera leagues.
being put through a thicknesser machine
The list of other jobs Graham has done is
to ensure an even thickness. Then it was
extensive – such as delivering milk for the
stretched to ensure the resultant football
Modern Dairy company (where he often
would not go out of shape.
ducked across the closed Forrest Street
Sewing twine was twisted together from railway gates on his bike to quickly deliver
a ball of hemp, rubbed with beeswax to the other side of the tracks before the
to preserve it and used to pull the four train came!).
leather panels together. Raven oil and
On the go
shellac were then used to brand each HC
Other jobs included delivering bread,
Coulter football.
working in abattoirs (where there was
A sales approach to G.J. Coles stores always the risk of being sacked any day
resulted in an order for 2,000 footballs – of the week), butchering, framing houses
creating a supply problem for Graham and and being in the army for national service.
his dad, as just six-could be made by hand Graham seemed to always be on the go!
each day!
So the next time there’s a game of
Scarce rubber backyard football with the kids or
During and after WWII, rubber for bladders grandkids – just think of those relatives of
became so scarce that some of the smaller sixty or seventy years ago who probably
footballs had to be stuffed with flex. The would have been sticking their boot into
available rubber was saved for the full-sized a Coulter Special Match II, made by the
ever-resourceful hands of Graham and his
Graham and his wife Val on the wooden ‘horse’ father right here in Ballarat.
with the foot-operated clamp that enabled him
to sew the four panels of the football together. – Russell Luckock
Edition 479, March 2021 Buninyong & District Community News 7
L O C A L N E W S
Studying maps and plans of the streetscape project are Michaela Settle MP, centre and (L to R)
Katrine Taylor, Simon Coghlan, Gayle Adams and Ian Corcoran.
Looking to settle
bus stop problem
Hopes of getting the best result The battle with PTV to have the bus stop
from the Warrenheip Street upgrade removed from the business strip between
project have been buoyed by local MP Forest and Eyre Streets has been in
Michaela Settle’s agreement to take up process since 2015. Since then recurring
the bus stop removal problem with the concerns have been raised about safety
Minister for Transport, Ben Carroll. issues, the economic development impact
on business and tourism, the extensive
Ms Settle met with representatives of
intrusion of the bus stop area on what
four key community groups at her office
is planned to be a greatly improved
recently to be briefed on the project and
community amenity, and of the restrictive
the restrictive impact on it resulting from It was pointed out to Ms Settle that use of
effect on parking in the vicinity.
the refusal of Public Transport Victoria the stop at Eyre Street just 150m away
(PTV) to remove the bus stop near the Pig Details was an obvious low cost solution. She
& Goose restaurant. Attendees at the meeting provided details agreed to take up the matter with the
of such issues and concerns and provided Minister when State Parliament resumed
Key players
Ms Settle with details of the history of the sitting in mid-February.
The meeting with Michaela Settle was
efforts to remove the bus stop.
convened by the President of the BDCA In the February edition of The News
Gayle Adams, and was attended by She was told of the move by the the City of Ballarat included a detailed
Buninyong Business Network President Community Bank to provide seed funding supplement concerning plans for the strip.
Simon Coghlan, together with BBN’s for the project resulting in flow-on Concept plans clearly show the impact on
Katrine Taylor, Community Bank funding from Council and from RDV. the development. Residents are invited to
Chairman Ian Corcoran, and editor of The express their opinions on Council’s mySay
Details of the low usage data for the
News and long-term lobbyist for the bus page (see Opinion this issue).
stop also were tabled.
stop removal, Barry Fitzgerald.
The COVID-19 pandemic is the biggest challenge small
business has ever faced.
Please show your support to local businesses wherever
possible so they have a chance of surviving.
BUNINYONG
BUSINESS NETWORK Thank you, mask up and stay safe.
“Bringing Business to Buninyong”
www.facebook.com/buninyongbusinessnetwork | buninyongbusinessnetwork@gmail.com
8 Buninyong & District Community News Edition 479, March 2021
L O C A L N E W S
Council boots barrels
Now VCAT hearings soon
In a major boost for the many
residents and groups opposing the
erection of six ‘sky barrels’ on the
southern slopes of Mount Buninyong,
at a Special Planning meeting held on
10 February, the Council of the City of
Ballarat voted unanimously to refuse
the application.
Council’s Planning Team had
recommended that the application be
refused on six major grounds. They
reported that the Application was
inconsistent with three key clauses of the
Planning Policy Framework which seek
fifteen-page written objection. He stressed As reported in the February edition of The
• to ensure development “respects the the fact that the Mount Buninyong area News, the barrels’ applicant had taken the
valued areas of rural character” was considered to be “a significant matter directly to VCAT citing Council’s
• to protect Mount Buninyong “from landscape icon of Western Victoria”. lack of a response within the statutory
unsuitable design that will significantly period (which spanned the stand-down
impact landscape values and key view
Concerns
period associated with the elections).
Ian Dodds spoke on behalf of himself and
lines”
wife Judy in stressing the serious concern The next stage will be a compulsory
• to avoid inappropriate development by
held by the overwhelming majority of the ‘Conciliation’ conference slated for 2
maintaining the rural landscape.
community about the barrels application. March, and if agreement cannot be
It also failed to meet a key objective of the reached there, four days of formal
Editor of the Buninyong News Barry
Rural Living Zone that seeks to “protect hearings have been set for mid-May.
Fitzgerald told Council that there was a
the landscape values of the area”. Council will now join with the many
“clear groundswell of community anger,
objectors in opposing the Application
Other concerns were that the application cynicism and disbelief” about the barrels
before VCAT.
failed to provide sufficient information proposal. He pointed to the dangers from
concerning effluent management and fires on the Mount and said that “Council
protection of “human life” from bushfire should not expose itself to potentially
danger. ‘fatal’ litigation”.
Three speak He invited the Councillors to consider what
Three verbal presentations were made to their response might be if an application
Council by local residents. Secretary of was received to erect a 16m high building
the BDCA, Kevin Zibell, summarised the shaped like a big black swan (with five
extensive technical and planning concerns smaller swans alongside) somewhere near
that the Association had identified in its the shores of Lake Wendouree.
Edition 479, March 2021 Buninyong & District Community News 9
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The Buninyong Hotel
Grand hotel now gone
There’s a blue plaque on those old visit to the district. He described it as Branch, spent some time at the hotel
sandstone walls on the southern side “very comfortable, painted, papered and and adjacent cottage where he was
of Learmonth Street 100 metres or so cleaned”. well entertained by Margaret whom he
west of the RSL Hall. It notes that the described as “an extraordinary specimen
In the road
sandstone is all that is left of ‘Mother of a Scotch landlady”.
In 1850 a survey was made of the
Jamieson’s’ grand Buninyong Hotel.
township and a section of Mother D’Ewes was later implicated in the Bentley
While Selleck’s Hotel, later renamed Jamieson’s hotel was found to be affair in Ballarat, a spark for the Eureka
the Crown Hotel after the gold mine encroaching on the middle of Learmonth rebellion. Governor Hotham sacked him
immediately behind it, is still very much in Street. The pre-gold rush building was in 1854 for corruption in the matter of
business today, on the opposite side of required to be moved. But, it was still hotel licensing!
the street was the village’s other grand there in 1855 despite efforts by the
Demolition
hotel, the Buninyong Hotel, which was first Central Roads Board to have it moved.
After his mother’s death, Neil Jamieson
licensed in 1843 to John Vietch.
In 1853 Mrs Jamieson had decided to carried on the conduct of the Buninyong
Jamiesons build an impressive, two-storied building Hotel until the mid-1860s, when the
Vietch sold the licence to Margaret of 28 rooms constructed of sandstone sandstone building was demolished, and
(‘Mother’) Jamieson and her son quarried from the local Stone Gully Quarry. he built a new wooden building (photo)
Neil in 1847 to concentrate on his The cost was 20,000 pounds – a huge on the land now occupied by RSL Park.
other businesses in town -– the role of sum in those days. But Mrs Jamieson died The sandstone wall on which today’s blue
postmaster and running the Buninyong in 1854. Her son Neil attributed her death plaque is attached was built from the
Store. to the expense and worry of building the stone of the demolished hotel.
grand hotel.
But before he sold out, Veitch found A succession of licensees followed until
himself in the middle of a major murder In 1854 the Government formally licensed the hotel was delicensed in 1933 and
case in which one of his staff, Edward hotels on the goldfields and the Buninyong demolished soon after.
Martin, died after a fight at his Buninyong Hotel, together with the Crown Hotel
The Melbourne Argus (17 March 1934)
Hotel. An Irishman, Jeremiah Connell, opposite, then finished up with a duopoly
reported that, while wrecking the old hotel,
was found guilty in the Geelong Circuit of the local, legal hotel business.
“Messrs N and E Delaland found a shilling
Court, and was hanged in Melbourne in
The licensing of local hotels was not dated 1817, a half-crown piece of 1842…
January 1847.
without its own stories of corruption. For and that the parlour walls had been
In 1848 the Buninyong Hotel hosted a example, in 1853 John D’Ewes, a police soundproofed by the use of sawdust”.
stay by Governor LaTrobe during a magistrate and chief of the Licensing
10 Buninyong & District Community News Edition 479, March 2021L O C A L N E W S Edition 479, March 2021 Buninyong & District Community News 11
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no sink, everyone washed once a week
in a tin dish. The last one to wash got the
dirtiest water. This dish was also used to
wash the dishes!
Clothes were changed once a week, new
clothes a rarity and most of the children
relied on hand-me-downs! The washing
was done by hand using scrubbing
boards and, in the winter, dried inside on
a clothes rack.
Percy owned a lot of land in and around
Buninyong, and the land surrounding the
cottage was mainly orchard. But Percy
also had pigs, chickens, ducks, geese and
a few sheep and cows for milking. Meals
consisted of chicken and bacon and, as
Gordon was a keen shooter, there was
always rabbit.
Tripe and liver
A Coolgardie safe kept the food cold.
Percy used to have the chops, and the
children had the leftovers. There was also
tripe and liver from the nearby Whykes’
old slaughterhouse and, as Gordon
remembered, ‘If you didn’t eat it, you
Eason cottage went hungry”.
Tumbledown…but Whilst these times may now seem far in
the distant past, there will still be some
residents within the Buninyong community
full of local history who remember life as Gordon has
described it. Maybe this brings back some
memories.
If you have ever walked in the were three small bedrooms, one for
– Rita Russell
vicinity of Easons Road on the hill the five boys, one for the four girls and
Painting the fence
behind the Buninyong golf course one for the parents. At first the children
you surely will have noticed the slept top-to-tail or between each other in
very small timber cottage standing one double bed in each room until there The fence and gates at the northern
forlornly in a nearby field. were too many of them, when a second end of the Buninyong Cemetery
double bed was bought. No sheets – just were given fresh life with a new coat
It is almost impossible to believe that this
grey blankets! of paint by a team of six inmates
tiny, now-ruined dwelling once housed a
family of eleven – nine children and their Apart from the bedrooms, there was only and a prison officer from Langi Kal
parents. It was bought by the Eason a kitchen with seating around the table – Kal recently.
family in the 1940s when they moved up no comfy easy chairs! Cooking was done Shown discussing the works with
there from a cottage in Warrenheip Street. on the top of a wood fired stove or in cemetery Maintenance man Graeme
the oven and water was heated in a four Penhall is Prison Officer Jonathon
Early settlers
gallon square drum situated on the edge Young.
They are one of the oldest families to
of the stove. Bacon was cured and hung
have descendants still living in Buninyong,
from the ceiling.
having moved into the area in 1855.
Gordon Eason, the sixth child of Ernest Kindling troubles
Percival Eason (known as Percy) Initially there was no electricity and lamps,
and Alice Hilda Platt, remembers his lanterns and candles lit the house. Percy lit
childhood well and what would now seem the fire every morning and if Gordon hadn’t
to us as very harsh times. brought in the kindling, there was trouble!
No such luxuries as a bathroom, and of
Gordon remarked that “it was normal for
course the toilet was outside. There was
us- we didn’t know any different”. There
12 Buninyong & District Community News Edition 479, March 2021L O C A L N E W S
Saving their loved places
Just before Christmas, students of Other mentions included forests, country
Lal Lal Primary School undertook a roads and scenic lookouts.
project which explored the district of
In conjunction with Moorabool Shire and
Lal Lal and the places and spaces that
DELWP, the CFA currently is surveying
the students love to live near.
local residents to gather further evidence
The project was completed in conjunction of the community’s awareness of
with CFA and DELWP as part of the community planning to reduce the risk of
Community Based Bushfire Management bushfire and the loss of local treasures.
(CBBM) project being facilitated by the
Selected
CFA’s Bridget Clarke as part of the Safer
“The Community Based Bushfire
Together Program.
Management project is one that
“We wanted to get a picture of the area encourages residents to plan for and
and its local assets from the community’s provide local, innovative solutions to
perspective,” said Ms Clarke, “and who reduce local fire risks at a strategic level,”
better than the district’s young people to Ms Clarke said.
give us some great feedback on that.”
“Lal Lal is one of 21 communities in
Loved places the State that has been selected to
Delivered online during lockdown, the brief strategically address fire risk locally. This
to students was to take a photo or draw is more than managing an individual’s
a picture of a local place that they love block, it is about getting together as a Local mums Melanie Bainbridge (left)
and explain why it’s important to them. community to think of things that can and Chloe Morganti watch as daughters
Ariane, 4, and Quin, 5, enjoy their time
“They became very engaged in the project be prioritised and done to empower and amongst the blueberries.
and it delivered some great results,” said prepare the town in case of bushfire.”
Principal Siobhan Gosney.
Popular amongst the local listings was
Bridget Clarke (0436 330 700) is happy
to respond to questions about the CBBM
Mums, kids,
the Lal Lal Falls, the water tower, the
primary school, train station, and the pub.
or the survey.
blueberries
CFA Community Based Bushfire Management Project Officer Bridget Clarke with Charlie, Matilda and
Becky with their prize winning entries in the Special Places in Lal Lal Project – Grades Prep-3. One of Buninyong’s most popular
spots in the post-Christmas period
was at the Blueberry Farm on the
western slopes of Mount Buninyong.
Established in 1982 by Helen and
Bruce Muir, the blueberry farm covers
some four acres of the rich volcanic
soil and was one of the first in Victoria.
It was taken over by Ernie Neale in
2009.
Now growing six varieties of blueberries,
the farm is in an ideal location as
the blueberry fruit require some 750
‘chill’ hours during winter for best
development of the fruit.
On the day in late January when The
News visited there were over fifty
cars parked along the gravel road
adjacent to the Midland Highway and an
estimated 80 people, including many
small children, were in the afternoon
‘pick your own’ group of visitors.
Another large group had been previously
scheduled into a morning session.
Edition 479, March 2021 Buninyong & District Community News 13L O C A L N E W S
Year’s start –
a gentle roar
The amazing summer we have just
experienced puts a different spin
Gardens neighbour Mark Jones (left) with Corrie Olsen (guitar) and members of the
U3A Celtic Band in the QV Rotunda. on the old maxim “we don’t know
what we’ve got until it’s gone”. Gone
GARDENS ALIVE WITH this summer was the annual battle
against hot and dry conditions and
the subliminal threat of fire. In its
THE SOUNDS OF MUSIC stead we have enjoyed a summer
that was lush, smoke-free and safe.
Each Monday during Summer, local and performing up to twenty concerts
residents and visitors to the Buninyong around Ballarat each year. The rainfall figures speak for themselves.
Botanic Gardens have enjoyed the Average rainfall for January is 44.5mm.
The evolution of the band has meant About that much fell on 29 January alone.
music floating around the heritage-
that, rather than a strict emphasis on By the end of the month we had received
listed grounds as the University of the
the Celtic genre, more diverse pieces 104.4mm, more than twice the monthly
Third Age (U3A) Celtic Band practised
are now performed featuring a range average. In conjunction with temperatures
in the Queen Victoria Rotunda.
of instruments including recorders, rarely above 30º, it was aptly described
Mark Jones from the Friends of flute, clarinets, brass wind, accordions, as one of the wettest and mildest
Buninyong Botanic Gardens committee concertinas, ukuleles, banjos, guitars, January’s in a lifetime.
told The News that the Gardens are violin, cello, double bass, harp and
BOM’s forecasts of a distinct La Nina
becoming increasingly popular for percussion.
event were spot on, and with a 65 per
creative pursuits including art displays,
Great alternative cent chance of greater than median
theatre, music and choral performances.
Corrie Olsen the band’s director, rainfall being indicated for March to May,
Band start conductor and musical arranger, told more can be expected. Weather-wise,
Back in 2009, Corrie Olsen and a The News that the Buninyong Gardens 2021 has certainly arrived gently, but
small group of music-loving friends got rotunda was a delightful out-of-doors with a roar.
together as a band to play music drawn coronavirus alternative to the band’s
from the Celtic tradition purely for their usual rehearsal site at the Ballarat North
JANUARY 2021
own enjoyment. Community Centre.
Date Rain Date Rain
Fast-forward a decade or so and the “We have really appreciated the ambience
3-7 31.7 26-27 11.9
band, now the U3A Celtic Band, has and inspiration of the beautiful Gardens
15-18 8.2 29-30 52.8
some 25 talented amateur, aspiring environment that enabled the band
and professional musicians, looking and to continue with rehearsals during Total 104.4 mm
sounding more comprehensively like the warmer months. We’ll be back to Average 44.5 mm
an orchestra, with three CD recordings Buninyong in the future,” she said.
14 Buninyong & District Community News Edition 479, March 2021L O C A L N E W S
Rash of car
crime here
Police have reported a large number of
car-related crime in central Buninyong
recently. Unlocked cars are being targeted
with thieves looking for any items of value
in them, and also looking for spare car or A recent photo of Rocky Hazlett (right) with son Paul and grandson Mitchell.
house keys.
A specialist team of detectives from
Ballarat is investigating and are appealing The Hill has lost Paradise in
for anyone with CCTV material that might
assist (such as that of cars being driven
its Rock the gardens
Well-known Cambrian Hill resident Robert Buninyong’s Botanic Gardens will be part
past slowly or in a suspicious manner,
(Rocky) Hazlett died on 6 February of a Begonia Festival celebration of some
or persons looking into garages). CCTV
2021, aged 77 years. of the city’s best open spaces along
material from around mid-February would
Rocky’s death came just a few weeks after the Floral Frame Trail during the popular
be of interest.
the 15 December 2020 opening of the annual festival.
Call Snr Constable Sean Almeida of
Cambrian Hill Avenue of Honour project Tas Wansbrough, an award-winning
Buninyong police (5341 3431).
which he had instigated earlier that year. Fine Arts graduate from Fed Uni, will
The completion of this avenue was dear to be dressing a giant pink frame entitled
Join the him, and, despite his serious illness, he was
able to be present at the ceremony and the
Paradise with stunning crafted white
blooms to be on display in the Gardens
CCMA vision following social event at the local hall.
Along with many others from that area,
6-28 March.
Friends of Buninyong Botanic Gardens
The Corangamite Catchment
Management Authority (CCMA) is inviting Rocky was also a familiar face at the encourages locals to visit the Gardens
local community members to help renew Thursday night dinners held at the during this period, get familiar with some
its Regional Catchment Strategy (RCS). Buninyong Golf Club where the table of ten the district’s most magnificent trees and
The renewal of this document will define or twelve mainly from the Cambrian Hill/ linger longer with a picnic lunch.
a long-term vision for land, water and Napoleons area, and known as the River Audio stories of gardens of the Ballarat
biodiversity management within this Rats, was a regular fixture. region and the begonia heritage will be
Region. After a career on the railways as an accessible to visitors via a QR code
John Riddiford CEO of the CCMA said, ironworker, for many years he was a well- available during the event.
“This strategy will be important for known staff member at the SMB where he
developing projects that protect and taught blacksmithing.
enhance both regional and community His funeral service, badly impacted by
environmental assets such as our the lock-down, was held at the historic
rivers and creeks, our biodiversity and old Black Lead church on the Colac Road
supporting sustainable agriculture”. in Cambrian Hill, now part of the local
Community members are invited to historical society. He was buried at the
participate in the planning process. Buninyong Cemetery on 15 February
For further information, or to express Rocky is survived by his wife Mary, and
interest in the renewal process, call sons Paul and Clinton. A daughter, Tas Wansbrough will bring her creative talents
Olivia Brandimarti on 0429 805 825. Alannah, was deceased. to Buninyong during March.
Edition 479, March 2021 Buninyong & District Community News 15L O C A L N E W S
Guides group into recess
After a move from the RSL Hall to “Tanya and Mel have agreed to continue much of the last twelve months. This
the Masonic hall in early 2020 the to assist in various ways, but changed led to a drop in active members of the
local Girl Guides group has now been circumstances have made it difficult group.
placed in recess after being active for for them to go on with the current
Tanya Burrows said that the remaining
more than 26 years. arrangements,” she said.
eight girls in the Buninyong group will
For much of that period, a key leader in the Program join nearby Guides’ groups in the interim.
group was Buninyong’s Chris Kerr who Girl Guides are usually aged between
In a final cruel irony, a farewell dinner for
retired some two years ago handing over the five and seventeen years. They enjoy a
the local Leaders and the Guides was
care of the group to younger Guide Leaders program of activities that can involve
planned for 17 February, but it too was
Tanya Burrows and Melinda Stewart. the girls ‘finding their place in the
called off because of the five day lock down.
world’, leadership skills, service to
Chris said that over the years she derived
their community, outdoor and camping
great satisfaction from “seeing girls’
experiences, and learning a wide range
confidence grow as they achieve new skills
of life skills such as cooking, crafts,
and develop new friendships.”
and environmental and sustainability
Guides Region Manager for the Central activities.
Highlands, Louisa Watts, said that it was
The impact of the COVID virus was
hoped that if more women came forward
severe on the Buninyong group with face
interested in becoming trained as Girl Guide
to face activities almost impossible for
leaders the group could be re-started.
Buninyong Guide leaders Melinda Stewart, Chris Kerr and Tanya Burrows.
Corbin
Customer Service
For all your local
electrical
requirements
Phone Murray on
0417 518 930
REC 11582
16 Buninyong & District Community News Edition 479, March 2021L O C A L N E W S
Our bits and books help
needy overseas
Lions Club news this month highlights example of their use of funds
the return of the Book Shop and Op can be seen in the work of
Shop to the delight of both shoppers Dr Francis Onen Sebabi, a
and volunteers. These two mighty Ugandan GP and member
institutions of the Buninyong retail of Gulu Metropolitan
landscape fill a vital role and are a Lions Club.
valuable source of fund raising.
He knew of
Opening hours at the Book Shop are the desperate
Wednesdays from 11.00am to 4.00pm, on need for
Fridays from noon to 5.00pm and then on specialist
Saturdays and Sundays from 10.00am until eye care in
3.00pm. his country
so decided to
The Op Shop is open on Thursdays and
apply for a LCIF Sight First grant to help him A small purchase or donation in our
Fridays from 10.00am until 4.00pm, and on
qualify as an ophthalmologist. Buninyong village shops can become part of
Saturdays between 10.00 and 2.00pm. Op
the help given by Lions to someone like Dr
shop donations can be dropped off during its This was a dream of Dr Sebabi – to take
Sebabi.
opening hours. clinical specialization in eye care to the
people who were needing it most. His work – David Searle
Some of the funds raised by these two little
in curative and preventative eye health
ventures is passed on to the Lions Club
services covers Uganda, Southern Sudan (Above) Dr Francis Sebabi shown with a grateful
International Foundation (LCIF). A simple patient in Uganda after an eye operation.
and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
VILLAGE The first of these will be the Buninyong
Village Autumn Market which is set for
• Buninyong Art Prize and Exhibition on
29-31 October
MARKET
Saturday 27 March (see advertisement • the Buninyong Festival also set for 31
on p 4). Fifty stall sites were booked very October
quickly. • the Crack the Crater Mt Buninyong Run
RETURNS Other markets scheduled for later in the
year will be the Winter Market on 31 July,
Challenge also on 31 October.
The Autumn Village Market will be located
Buninyong Community Events has the weekend-long Springtime in Buninyong at and in the Buninyong Town Hall from
advised that with the relaxing of COVID across three days in late October, and the 3.00pm to 7.00pm on Saturday 27 March
restrictions, three ‘seasonal’ village Christmas Market on 11 December. and will feature arts, crafts, food and
markets are back on the planning music. More information can be found at:
Major events on the schedule include
schedule for the coming year together facebook.com/buninyongvillagemarket.
with other important events such as • the Buninyong Film Festival in Information on all events is on: www.bceinc.
the Film Festival, the Art Prize and September com.au.
Exhibition and the Buninyong Festival.
ADVERTISEMENT
MICHAELA SETTLE MP
State Member of Parliament for Buninyong
Delivering for Buninyong
e: michaela.settle@parliament.vic.gov.au p: (03) 5331 7722
Authorised by M Settle MP, 15 Main Road, Ballarat. Funded from Parliamentary Budget
Edition 479, March 2021 Buninyong & District Community News 17L O
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Crowds down but
From bike
Great Super Sunday to a mike
Over two days in early February Buninyong Primary School singing the
One of Ballarat’s former champion
all eyes in the cycling world were national anthem before the start of the
cyclists, Patrick Shaw anchored
on Buninyong and they would not Men’s Championship race.
the course race commentaries
have been disappointed in what they
Former champion Ballarat cyclist, Patrick over the weekend and proved
saw. Crowd numbers were down on
Shaw (pictured below), was the course once again his transition from
previous years but this was to be
race commentator for all of the events in “bike to mike” is now well and
expected. Fields were also smaller in
Buninyong over the two days of racing. truly established.
the men’s and women’s elite races as
His expert knowledge of cycling and of the
some of the top riders from overseas Pat was tasked with keeping our local
competitors on the course was one of the
were unable to attend because of crowd informed as races unfolded
event highlights for this News reporter and
quarantine problems. throughout the weekend. He did this
for many others in the small crowd. (See
superbly. His running commentary
Despite this, Super Sunday did not fail panel right).
on all races, his knowledge of every
to deliver some amazing racing. Unusual
– Ray Sullivan facet of the course, the riders
summer weather patterns prevailed as
and their tactics and his ability to
the Women’s elite
keep going for hour after hour was
race started in cold
amazing.
drizzly conditions
that gradually cleared Those who were gathered around the
during the day. The finish line near the end of the Men’s
sun finally shone for Elite race didn’t need big screens.
the last few laps of Pat’s commentary and his enthusiasm
the men’s elite race painted a more exciting picture than
in what turned out to any television screen.
be one of the best The News caught up with Pat a
finishes since the few days after the event. He was
event came to the very pleased with the four days of
Buninyong circuit. Ballarat/Buninyong cycling events
Global and said his aim was to impart
Television coverage information about the races, the
of the event went tactics, the individual competitors,
world-wide for the first and the challenges of the events in
time. There was some the hope that the spectators would
great footage of the learn more about the sport and will
Buninyong village come back next year.
and the surrounding Pat, 35, is a former Herald-Sun Tour,
areas. It also was Tour Down Under and international
great to see and hear competitor.
the students from
18 Buninyong & District Community News Edition 479, March 2021L O
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Champs claim the medals
The winner of the 2021 Elite Women’s Championship at the
event held in Buninyong on 7 February was Sarah Roy, 34
(pictured right).
She was part of a six rider breakaway on the first lap of the nine
lap race, and rode alone for the final two laps winning by over one
minute from Grace Brown with Lauretta Hanson in third place.
In the Men’s Championship race, last year’s winner Cameron
Meyer (below) won with a late lunge to defeat Kelland O’Brien.
Experienced international cyclist Meyer gave much credit for his
win to his Bike Exchange team-mate and fellow international rider
Luke Durbridge who had won the road race championship here
in 2013, along with numerous wins in time trial events.
Volunteers While the star cyclists took centre stage at the National Road Cycling
Championships, the event would not have been possible without the efforts of
more than 100 community volunteers.
keep cycle The News checked out volunteer headquarters in the Buninyong RSL Hall where Brayden
from GTR Events was in charge. He was studying maps of the course and surrounding
stars going streets, making sure his team of volunteers was well supported.
Complex work
Tony, from Rode RAGE (Ride Against Greenhouse Emissions) was working with
Brayden, arranging car pick-ups, lunch breaks, time schedules and making sure that
there were no gaps. Tony was responsible for his group of volunteer students from
Ballarat, Horsham, Mount Eliza and Drouin.
There were over 100 volunteers working in various roles over the four days of racing in
Ballarat and Buninyong. Imagine standing on the corner of Yankee Flat Road and Gear
Avenue at 6:00 am on Wednesday morning for the Time Trials after driving up from
Geelong. Two mates, Jim and Bob did just that, and they were then back in downtown
Buninyong again at the weekend supervising circuit crossings.
Clare’s cool
The Sebastopol Lions club was also well represented in the volunteer ranks. Friends
Clare and Edna were directing foot traffic at the roundabout corner in Buninyong.
This was their fifteenth year supporting this event. Clare’s only complaint was the cold
weather. “Got sunburnt last year, and am freezing this year,” she said.
– Ray Sullivan
Volunteer Clare closely guarded the roundabout crossing.
Edition 479, March 2021 Buninyong & District Community News 19Just
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