News, Media & Stories
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Best Western Motel wins for most
upgrades and improvements
The Best Western Beechworth Motor Inn (Beechworth, Victoria) has been announced as the winner of the Best Western Award for Excellence in the category of Most Improvements and Upgrades within a Best Western Property.
The award, announced at the Best Western Annual Convention in Auckland, New Zealand, recognises the Best Western property that has made the most improvements throughout the year.
The Best Western Beechworth Motor Inn spent $140,000 on renovating all 10 suites. Bathrooms were replaced, wall lighting was removed and replaced with elegant lamps and indirect lighting, and all soft furnishings and carpets were replaced with new items in muted autumnal colours. On the strength of these, the Best Western Beechworth Motor Inn was judged to have made the most outstanding improvements.
“This award justifies the time and effort that has been put into this project,” says Robert Ransom of the Best Western Beechworth Motor Inn. “The result has been overwhelming. Using local tradesmen to contribute to the refurbishment has injected more confidence in us to expand the motel to the next level.”
The Best Western Beechworth Motor Inn is a three-and-a-half star property featuring single, queen and large family rooms on one-and-a-half acres of leafy landscaped gardens.
Located only one kilometre from the centre of Beechworth, the property is an ideal base for corporate guests. All suites feature undercover parking and easy access to a large swimming pool, sun deck and private BBQ area.
For more information or to book accommodation at the Best Western Beechworth Motor Inn
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Yackandandah gets set for Spring Migration 2008
Friday 5 – Sunday 7 September
With Winter 2008 now on the home stretch, picturesque Yackandandah in Victoria’s north-east is getting ready to celebrate the change of season with the fourth annual Spring Migration Gay and Lesbian Festival from Friday 5 September to Sunday 7 September.
Fast becoming one of regional Australia’s most popular Gay & Lesbian events, Spring Migration offers a packed weekend program for all people to enjoy, regardless of their sexuality.
Featuring live music, parties, DJs, drag shows, tours and the sensational Spring Migration Sunday market, the event attracts visitors from around Australia and increasingly, overseas. The 2008 festival will also include a group of Tibetan Monks as very special guests who will run meditation sessions, create a Sand Mandala over the weekend and officially open the festival with a traditional Tibetan dance.
Another new feature of the 2008 festival is an art show with local artists displaying their work in the Yackandandah Visitor Information Centre throughout the weekend.
Highlights of this year’s Spring Migration Festival include:
- 10am-4pm Friday 5 September: Tibetan Monks running meditation workshops and creating the Sand Mandala
- 8pm Friday, Yackandandah Hall: Meet & Greet, featuring non-stop entertainment including Drag Shows, comedy and Anita Beer, Aida and two DJs Eleni and Gazbear
- Noon Saturday 6 September: Magical Winey Tour
- 8pm Saturday, Yackandandah Hall: Dance Party featuring live bands, DJs and shows
- 9am– 3pm, Sunday 7 September: Who’s Yer Daddy Fathers’ Day Market featuring live music, great stalls, sculpture and wine tastings.
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Indigo Shire ranked the
15th most livebable shire in Australia
Indigo Shire Council has been named the 15th best Shire to live in nationally, and the 6th best in Victoria, in The BankWest Quality of Life Index. With 4 of these Victorian Shires situated in Melbourne, Indigo is the second best Victorian regional Shire to live in.
The index ranked 590 local government areas (LGAs) across Australia against 10 key criteria including employment levels, crime rates, internet access, health, education levels, earnings, home ownership rates, house size, proportion of empty homes and community involvement.
“We are absolutely delighted to have obtained such a high ranking in the study. In my time as Mayor of Indigo Shire Council I’ve traveled around the region and am not all that surprised with the study’s findings. Our Shire is aesthetically pleasing, affordable, has access to larger cities and outstanding education and health services.” said Indigo Shire Council’s Mayor Vic Issell. “The level of volunteering, and the enterprise and endeavour of those in our agriculture, manufacturing, retail and tourism businesses have all contributed to the high ranking.”
Indigo Shire Council was also named the best value for money LGA in Australia, with a median house price of $228,500, $88,410 or 28% less than the median Victorian house price.
Melbourne is Australia’s most liveable city with four of ten top communities. Of the 25 top communities nationally, eight are in Sydney, six in Melbourne, four in Perth, two in Adelaide and one in Canberra. Halls Creek in Western Australia has the lowest quality of life in Australia, followed by Woorabinda in Queensland and Meekatharra in Western Australia.
“Victoria boasts four of the top 10 communities in Australia for overall quality of life, while Queensland is home to the areas with the highest employment levels. South Australia has the areas with the highest proportion of volunteers, which serves as a barometer of community involvement. Western Australia has the best education record with 13 communities having 100% of their 16-year-olds in high school.” Said BankWest Retail Chief Executive Ian Corfield.
To derive the rankings in the BankWest Quality of Life Index each LGA was systemically scored out of 10 for each of the 10 variables contained in the index. These scores were then summed to create an overall quality of life score and ranking by LGA.
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Indigo Shire Council Elections Taking Place in November
Have you ever considered how you could get more involved in decisions affecting your local community? Have you ever felt like you would like to have more of a say in what goes on at your local sporting reserve, kinder, library or the latest housing development? If the answer to those questions is yes, then why not consider running for Council? Local Government Elections will be held across Victoria on 29 November 2008 and dates to remember are:
- Thursday 25 September – Municipal Association of Victoria information evening, Chiltern Senior Citizens Club, 7.30pm
- Monday 20 October – Victorian Electoral Commission information evening, Chiltern Senior Citizens Club, 7.00pm
- Thursday 23 October - Nominations Open
- Tuesday 28 October - Nominations Close at 4pm
- Saturday 29 November - Election Day
- Sunday 30 November - Results Declared
- Tuesday 2 December - New Council Sworn In
In Indigo Shire the election is held by postal ballot and those eligible to vote will receive their Ballot Packs from the Returning Officer in mid-November. The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) has a Stand for Council Website www.standforcouncil.com.au for prospective candidates and others interested in the council elections.
“Councillor? – Yes, I Will Run” is an on-line learning program run by the Local Government Leadership and Learning Centre, for those interested in becoming councillors. The course covers being a candidate, planning and running your campaign, developing campaign material, and budgets and fundraising. To enrol in this course go to: http://www.learningseat.com/public/lgllc, click on the browse link, then Local Government Elections. You can contact the Local Government Leadership and Learning Centre on 1300 797 713.
For more information about the Local Council elections, contact Indigo Shire’s General Manager Corporate and Visitor Services, David Montgomery on (03) 5728 8000 or 1300 365 003. You could also speak to any of Indigo’s current Councillors to see what their experiences have been.
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TAKING OUR COMMUNITY TO THE WORLD
Indigo Shire Council residents have a unique opportunity to help paint a picture of our local community in the nation’s mind by submitting a photograph as part of a new national awards program.
Photographers also have the chance to provide a welcome financial boost to a local community group, school or kindergarten as part of the Our Community Photo Bank Awards program, which is offering prizes of $2500 to be shared by the photographer and their nominated group.
Prizes will be awarded for the most popular photo, and the photo that most exemplifies the work of the Australian community, with the photographer in each category winning $1000, as well as $1500 for their nominated community group.
Photographs will be stored and displayed on the Our Community Photo Bank website and made available under a Creative Commons licence for others to use.
Indigo Shire Council Mayor Vic Issell said local community groups could download photos from the online Photo Bank to use in their brochures, annual reports and other materials. Images might be generic or reflect a particular aspect of life in the Indigo Shire.
“This is a terrific opportunity for us to present to the world our great community in all its beauty and diversity,” Mayor Vic Issell said.
“I’d encourage local Indigo community groups to consider getting involved and show Australia all the great work they do and the variety of people that make up our local identity.”
The Photo Bank and awards are an initiative of Australia Post and Our Community, a national social enterprise that provides resources, training, advice and tools for Australia’s 700,000 community groups.
The initiative is designed to provide access to a valuable marketing resource for Australian community groups, as well as the opportunity to showcase Australian communities, and the great work being done within them. Our Community CEO Rhonda Galbally said community groups did not have much money to spend on showing themselves off, but the Photo Bank could help them get over that hurdle.
“I’d love to see at least one photo in the Photo Bank from every single community in Australia,” Dr Galbally said. “Australians often don’t have such a clear idea of all the things that community groups add to our society – let’s make it easier for them.”
The competition closes on October 22, but the Photo Bank will remain as a permanent resource for community groups around the country and a permanent showcase for the communities that contribute their images.
To find out more about the Photo Bank awards or see some of the pictures already on display, go to www.ourcommunity.com.au/photobank.
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Beechworth Kelly Weekend starts Friday
Australia’s most significant celebration of the Ned Kelly story returns to Beechworth’s Historic & Cultural Precinct this weekend with a packed program of re-enactments, music, threatre performances, art, a sensational Heritage Market, fascinating talks by leading Kelly experts, exhibitions at the Burke Museum, the inaugural Best Beard competition and a commemoration of the marathon 20-Round bare knuckled stouch between Ned and Wild Wright.
The program officially gets underway this Friday 1 August at 5:45pm when Indigo Shire Mayor, Cr Vic Issell opens the 2008 Framed? art exhibition, this year featuring nearly 60 original works by artists from across the State on show at the Sub Treasury Building in Beechworth’s Historic & Cultural Precinct across the weekend. The opening will be followed at 7pm by Ned at the Nic, a rollicking knees up at the Nicholas Hotel featuring live music, a three course feast, trivia, prizes and dancing until late.
Now in its fifth year and regarded as Australia’s most significant annual celebration of the Ned Kelly story, the Ned Kelly Weekend commemorates the anniversary of the outlaw’s committal hearing held in the historic Courthouse from 6 to 11 August 1880.
Highlights
Saturday 2 August
- 9am – 3pm: Heritage Market. Historic Precinct. Displays of traditional bush and home crafts and skills, including wood workers, blacksmithing, coopering, spinning, weaving, knitting as well as street artists, buskers, book signings, live music, hearty country-style food and a variety of Ned Kellyana on sale. Ford Street will be closed to traffic for the day. (NB. Outdoor events will be cancelled in the event of wet weather)
- 10:15am - 10:45:: Re-enactment of Ned Kelly’s arrival at the Beechworth Courthouse. Ford Street. Colourful, fully costumed re-staging of Ned’s arrival under police escort.
- 11am – 1pm: Re-enactment of Ned Kelly’s Committal Hearing. Based on the actual court transcripts from August 1880.
- 2 – 3pm: Official unveiling of new Burke Museum display of Ned Kelly’s Death Mask. One of four original death masks made after Ned Kelly’s execution. The Burke will also feature an exhibition on loan from the National Museum, Canberra, Ned Kelly: Fact & Fiction, in conjunction with the Burke’s own collection of Kelly artefacts, including three original telegrams about gang sightings, a photo of Ned’s mother, Ellen Kelly and the door step from Aaron Sherrit’s home. Loch Street.
Sunday 3 August
- 11– 11:30am: Juding & trophy presentation, The Great Ned Kelly Weekend Best Beard competition. Police Paddocks (behind the Historic Precinct buildings)
- 11:30am - 12 noon: The Great Fight. Commemoration. Costumed.
Visit the events section for more information.
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Beechworth set to celebrate a legend
Fri 1, Sat 2 & Sun 3 August
Ned Kelly enthusiasts from around the country are set to flock to Beechworth in the North East of Victoria for the historic gold-era town’s celebration of its links with Australia’s most notorious bushranger from Friday 1 to Sunday 3 August.
This year’s packed program, taking place in the 150 year-old Historic & Cultural Precinct, has attracted bookings from as far afield as Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland.
Many Ned Kelly Weekend visitors are regulars at the annual event, and include direct descendents of some of the principal players in the Kelly story. This year they include Nola Love, the great granddaughter of Constable McIntyre who was the sole survivor of the police shooting by the Kelly Gang at Stringybark Creek and Leigh Olver, a direct descendent of Ned’s mother, Ellen Kelly.
Now in its fifth year and regarded as Australia’s most significant annual celebration of the Ned Kelly story, the Ned Kelly Weekend commemorates the anniversary of the outlaw’s committal hearing held in the historic Courthouse from 6 to 11 August 1880. Sentenced to death and hanged later that year, the bushranger’s celebrity shows no sign of fading nearly 130 years on.
This year’s Ned Kelly Weekend offers a lively and entertaining program to suit all tastes and pockets and includes new events as well as old favourites.
New this year is the Ned Kelly Weekend Heritage Market on Saturday 2 August. From 10am until 3pm, the Historic Precinct area of Ford Street will be closed to traffic and transformed into a colourful market square featuring delicious, good old-fashioned food such as soup and damper and tea and scones, as well as traditional crafts including spinning and weaving, knitting, demonstrations of wood crafts, blacksmithing, coopering and whip making, along with live music and buskers.
And back by popular demand is the Ned Kelly Weekend opening event Ned at the Nic – a traditional Music Hall ‘knees up’ at the Nicholas Hotel, featuring a sit-down three course dinner, entertainment from another local legend, Lazy Harry and his sensational band, dancing until late and the hugely popular Ned Kelly trivia quiz.
Also featuring across the weekend are theatre productions, a fabulous Kelly-themed art show, the unveiling of a new display of one of the four original Ned Kelly death masks at the Burke Museum, talks in the Historic Courthouse by Ned Kelly experts, the re-enactment of the Committal Hearing on Saturday and Sunday, the new Best Beard competition, The Great Fight commemoration and Ned On the Big Screen in the historic Town Hall.
Visit the events section for more information.
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INDIGO SHIRE GETS BUSY BEING GREEN
Indigo Shire Council is creating a whole of shire environmental plan encompassing a number of activities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including introducing smaller, more economical cars to its vehicle fleet, trialling the use of biodiesel for select plant machinery at the Rutherglen depot, developing an inventory of current greenhouse gas emissions, and setting targets to reduce these by 20% by the year 2015.
As part of the whole of shire environmental plan, Council is calling for interested community members to apply to be part of an Environmental Advisory Committee. The proposal to establish this committee has been initiated as a result of increasing community concern regarding drought, bushfires, climate change, weeds and water, coupled with a need to ensure that new and existing environmental programs undertaken by Council are carried out in a strategic manner.
In 2006, an audit of greenhouse gas emissions emitted by the Indigo Shire Council revealed energy useage within Shire buildings is responsible for 37% of greenhouse gas emissions, the vehicle fleet is responsible for 24%, streetlights emit 35% and waste is responsible for 2%. Council has responded to the call to become more environmentally friendly by becoming a member of the North East Greenhouse Gas Alliance and establishing an Eco Awareness Committee of staff members, who monitor the Council’s commitment to improving work practices to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and keep to the 20% reduction target by 2015.
Over the past decade Councils have been delegated more and more roles in environmental management. Traditionally, municipalities were charged with the responsibility of waste, whereas Councils are now involved in issues such as stormwater, roadsides and water conservation, firewood, Code of Forest Practice, biodiversity and most recently climate change. In addition, David Montgomery, General Manager Corporate and Visitor Services has been appointed the Council’s Carbon Offset Officer, who will keep a watching brief on the Federal Government’s proposed Emissions Trading Scheme.
“Indigo has a number of roles and responsibilities when it comes to the environment, however, we can’t do everything. In turn, we need to make sure that the programs we do deliver are properly funded and delivered well to be effective, and assist in planning or provide support to community or other organisations also undertaking environmental programs,” says Council Mayor Vic Issell.
Council has welcomed the proposal to establish an Environmental Advisory Committee under Section 86 of the Local Government Act, 1989. The committee will be comprised of a mix of 15 people from community and government, with appointments to be reviewed annually. The purpose of this committee will be:
- to guide strategic delivery of the environment portfolio
- to act as a recognised forum that Council and community alike can refer environmental concerns
- to provide advice on, and throughout the development of, an environment strategy
- to provide support to Council’s environment staff
- to provide recommendations to Council to participate / not participate in State or Federal environment programs (particularly funding)
- to provide representation of Indigo Shire Council to regional environmental committees
- to encourage the community to join with Council in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2015
Application forms can be obtained on request by contacting the Yackandandah office on 02 6028 110 or downloaded from the website www.indigoshire.vic.gov.au. Applications close Monday 11th August 2008 and any queries can be directed to NRM Officer Shay Simpson.
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Seating increased 50 percent for
Tim Flannery’s talk in Beechworth
The response to this year’s Kerferd Oration in Beechworth by Professor Tim Flannery has been so strong that organisers have enlarged the seating capacity from 300 to 450 seats.
The oration is being held at the Kerferd Conference Centre at the Beechworth campus of La Trobe University on Sunday, July 27, at 11am.
Kerferd Oration committee member Joan Simms said the response this year had been “quite overwhelming”
“So many people want to hear from someone like Professor Flannery. His oration on The Climate Change Challenge is more topical than ever. There’s been the recent draft Garnaut report, various local moves towards forming sustainability groups and a growing awareness of the need for all of us to do our bit for the environment,” Ms Simms said.
“We’ve had to increase the seating in the Kerferd Conference Centre to 450 seats and we have provision to stretch that a bit more to the deck outside,” Ms Simms said.
“We have advertised that doors open at 10.15am and the feedback we are getting is that some people are coming quite early to queue up before that. One group has told me they are bringing their breakfast to have in the grounds while they keep an eye on the length of the queue.
“And I know of another group from Melbourne who are extending their holiday at the snow, and staying in Beechworth overnight to attend the Oration.”
Ms Simms stressed that no booking was required for this free community event, however only the first 450 people at the door would be certain of getting a seat inside the conference room.
Students from Year 7 at the Beechworth Secondary College will have artworks and installations on the theme of sustainability on display inside the conference centre.
Parking is limited close to the conference centre and Ms Simms advised people to park in nearby streets and walk in to the venue.
Contact Roberta Baker for more information, phone (03) 5728 1984 or
0418 962 131, or email roberta.baker@activ8.net.au
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128 years on, Ned Kelly legend still inspires
Framed? returns to Ned Kelly Weekend
Friday 1 – Sunday 3 August Sub-Treasury
Three weeks ahead of the opening of Beechworth’s annual Ned Kelly Weekend, a steady flow of entries for the sensational Framed? exhibition of Kelly-inspired art highlights once again the timeless appeal of Australia’s most famous bushranger.
Nearly 130 years after his death, the Ned Kelly legend still fires the imagination of artists. The iconic imagery of the armour, the robberies, the Last Stand at Glenrowan, the Jerilderie Letter, the execution at the Old Melbourne Gaol and even the Death Mask continue to spark a wealth of new creative expression and artistic reinterpretation of every element of the Ned Kelly story.
Following a successful debut in 2007, this year’s Framed? at the Sub Treasury Building of the Beechworth Historic & Cultural Precinct will again highlight the amazing diversity of Kelly-inspired art. Dozens of entries from regional and metropolitan Victoria and interstate are now being received, with organisers expecting more than 60 original artworks to be shown across the Ned Kelly Weekend.
This year the general public will have the chance to vote for their favourite work in the new Framed? People’s Choice Award. The winning artist will receive a gift voucher for art supplies.
Now in its fifth year and regarded as this country’s most significant annual celebration of the Ned Kelly story, the Ned Kelly Weekend commemorates the anniversary of the outlaw’s committal hearing held in the historic Beechworth Courthouse from 6 to 11 August 1880.
This year’s event has the added significance of the 150th anniversary of the Historic & Cultural Precinct, being commemorated throughout 2008. For the first time this year tours of the Courthouse will be available across the weekend in recognition of the sesquicentenary.
Other highlights of this year’s program include:
- A critically acclaimed theatrical staging of The Jerilderie Letter in the historic Courthouse. Introduced by Australia’s foremost Kelly biographer, Ian Jones, and devised and performed by Peter Finlay and musician, Malcolm Hill, this fine production has received rave reviews since its debut performance at the 2007 Melbourne Fringe;
- Acclaimed Melbourne-based musician/songwriter, Ashley Davies’ production of Ned Kelly, is a mesmerising live multimedia show incorporating a four-piece band and visual display including photos, historical documents, footage of Kelly country, and narration by Ian Jones;
- The Ned Kelly Trial Re-enactment, including Ned’s arrival at the Beechworth Historic Courthouse and his subsequent committal hearing based on actual court transcripts.
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Beechworth businesses ‘tread softly’ as environmental
art takes to the streets
Art on show in Beechworth shop windows 1 – 30 July
Beechworth businesses have offered their shop windows for the month of July to display the work of dozens of regional artists taking part in tread softly, an exhibition focusing on environmental issues relating to climate change, global warming and loss of habitat and biodiversity.
The exhibition is being presented in the lead-up to the 2008 Kerford Oration which will be delivered by Professor Tim Flannery on ‘The Climate Change Challenge’ at LaTrobe University’s Beechworth campus on Sunday 27 July at 11am.
tread softly, which includes works on paper, photography, paintings, objects, jewellery and sculpture, celebrates the environment and draws attention to environmental issues as well as provides a showcase for the ideas and work of regional artists.
A diverse range of subjects tackled by artists featuring in the exhibition include a commentary on the impact of domestic pets on native wildlife, declining river systems, salinity, drought, the massive and mounting global problem of waste disposal and the warming of the planet as a result of human impact.
But while many of the themes are both confronting and alarming, the work Milagros for Beechworth by gold & silversmith, Rose Wedler, on display in the Pots of Thyme window, tells a good news story. The work celebrates the small miracle of the rediscovery near Beechworth a few years ago of a plant previously thought extinct – the Swainsona recta or Purple Pea.
Catalogues for this intriguing and innovative exhibition are available from the Beechworth Visitor Information Centre at 101 Ford Street. In keeping with the theme of tread softly, collection points for recycling the catalogues are available around the shopping precinct.
For more information about either the tread softly exhibition or the Kerferd Oration with Tim Flannery, please contact Roberta Baker (03) 5728 1984 or 0418 962 131, or email roberta.baker@activ8.net.au
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The legend returns as Beechworth gets set for
Ned Kelly Weekend 2008 Friday 1 – Sunday 3 August
Beechworth’s famous Ned Kelly Weekend returns from 1- 3 August with a lively program of
re-enactments, theatre, art, music, displays, market stalls, competitions and talks by leading authorities on the subject of the life and times of Australia’s most notorious bushranger.
Now in its fifth year and widely regarded as this country’s most important annual celebration of the Kelly legend, the weekend event commemorates the anniversary of the outlaw’s committal hearing held in the historic Beechworth Courthouse from 6 to 11 August 1880.
This year’s Ned Kelly Weekend has the added significance of the 150th anniversary of the Beechworth Historic & Cultural Precinct, being commemorated throughout 2008. This year for the first time, tours of the Courthouse will be available across the weekend in recognition of the sesquicentenary.
Among the many highlights of the 2008 program are:
- Introduced by Australia’s foremost Kelly biographer, Ian Jones, a critically acclaimed theatrical staging of The Jerilderie Letter in the historic Courthouse. Devised and performed by Peter Finlay and with music and vocals by Malcolm Hill, this fine production has received rave reviews since its debut performance at the 2007 Melbourne Fringe Festival
- From Sidney Nolan to Norman Lindsay, Ned Kelly has long provided inspiration for artists. One of the most popular events of the 2007 Ned Kelly Weekend, Framed, returns to Beechworth’s Historic Precinct in 2008. This sensational art exhibition is again expected to attract entries from regional, metropolitan and interstate artists. This year the general public will have the chance to vote for their favourite work with the new Framed People’s Choice Award.
- Talks by experts in the Courthouse, including Brad Webb, whose authoritative www.ironoutlaw.com is Australia’s most respected Kelly internet resource and one of the world’s most visited history-related internet sites
- The Ned Kelly Weekend Heritage Market in Ford Street, outside the Historic Precinct, featuring a host of good old-fashioned food stalls, buskers, games for children and demonstrations of traditional crafts such as shingle and whip making, wood working, blacksmithing, spinning, coopering, quilting and weaving
- The Ned Kelly Trial Re-enactment, including Ned’s arrival at the Beechworth Historic Courthouse and his subsequent committal hearing based on actual court transcripts.
- A crowd favourite in 2006, The Great Fight returns in 2008, commemorating Ned Kelly’s marathon bare-knuckled 20-Round stoush with Wild Wright. The warm-up bout for this rollicking event will see the Judging of the Great Ned Kelly Weekend Beard Competition which will see a gathering of the finest beards in the north east vying for the inaugural Best Beard Trophy.
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Leading Judge to do the honours as
historic Courthouse turns 150
Justice Lex Lasry QC, one of Australia’s best known and most respected legal practitioners arrives in Beechworth next Saturday 14 June to deliver the first Beechworth Law Lecture at the historic Courthouse in recognition of the 150th anniversary of the building.
His address, Justice then and Now, will offer a fascinating and lively insider’s view of today’s judicial system contrasted with the vastly different world in which the famous 19th century Victorian judge, Sir Redmond Barry operated. A regular at the Bench of the Beechworth Courthouse, Barry cemented his place in Australian history as the judge who sentenced Ned Kelly to hang.
A high-profile opponent of capital punishment Justice Lasry will bring his own perspective to that notorious case as well as those famous cases which have so defined his own career including his work on behalf of many well-known defendants including Jack Thomas, Van Nguyen, David Hicks and two of the Bali 9, Myuran Sukamaran and Michael Chan.
Tickets are still available to the evening, which includes refreshments prior to the lecture served in the adjacent Sub-Treasury Building. Excellent red and white wines from local vineyard, Amulet, along with a delicious selection of gourmet savouries are included in the price of the ticket.
This event will officially mark the 150th anniversary of the Beechworth Historic Courthouse which saw its first County Court sitting on 17 June 1858. Still with its original furniture and fittings, the Courthouse is a jewel in the crown of the Beechworth Historic & Cultural Precinct and the setting of some of the most fascinating court cases in Victoria’s history, including trials involving Ned Kelly and his mother, Ellen.
Justice Lasry will take questions from the audience immediately after the address.
THE BEECHWORTH LAW LECTUREDate: Saturday 14 June
Time:
7:30-8:15pm - Pre-lecture refreshments at the Sub-Treasury Building adjacent to the Courthouse
8:30 – 9:30pm - Beechworth Law Lecture at the Historic Courthouse, Ford Street
Tickets: $50 per person includes superb local wines & delicious gourmet finger food served at the Sub-Treasury Building
Bookings: Beechworth Visitor Information Centre, 1300 366 321 or www.beechworthonline.com.au
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Indigo towns serve up a warm
welcome, whatever the season
Proving yet again that Indigo Shire, with its picturesque historic towns, fine wines, mouthwatering local produce and beautiful countryside, is indeed a place for all seasons, the coming cooler months will see a packed calendar of events showcasing the many delights of this special region.
This month, visitors to Beechworth, Chiltern, Yackandandah and Rutherglen will be spoiled for choice, with a host of markets, annual events and performances taking place across the Shire.
This Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 May sees the welcome return of the annual Beechworth Harvest Celebration. In its fifteenth year, the event is a dream for food and wine lovers.
The Harvest Celebration kicks off at 7am on Saturday morning with a traditional Bavarian breakfast at Beechworth’s award-winning Bridge Road Brewers. Breakfasters will have the chance to learn first-hand the art of brewing with Bridge Road’s Ben Kraus and tuck into a hearty meal of German weiss-wurst, sweet German mustard, traditional German wheat beer and Maria Kraus’ famous hand-made pretzels.
On Sunday 18 May the Harvest Celebration showcases local produce including venison, pork and lamb, apples, pears and chestnuts, preserves, jams, relishes and pickles, olive oils and table olives, bread, cakes and pastries, lavender and saffron products as well as fortified and table wines, boutique beers and cordials. Huge marquees in the centre of Beechworth’s Historic & Cultural Precinct will transform the area into a giant smorgasbord all day from 10am to 5pm.
The Harvest Celebration Presentation Stage will be hosted by actor and comedian, John Walker and will feature demonstrations by talented local chefs, expert tips on cooking chestnuts, pretzel-making, the word on organic wines and having fun baking bread and pastries. Full program details at: www.harvestcelebration.com.au
Also this Sunday 18 May visitors to St. Leonards Vineyard at Wahgunyah can spend a lazy afternoon with good food, fine wine on and free live music from the fabulous Dalby Duo as part of its regular series, Music on the Murray. www.prbwines.com.au
This Sunday 18 May is also a treat for bargain hunters with the excellent Beechworth Country Craft Market returning to Queen Victoria Park and the Lions Club Community Market on in Yackandandah.
And throughout the weekend of 23 – 25 May, visitors to the delightful village of Chiltern can pop on a beret, set up an easel and soak up more than 200 works of art at the annual Visual Art Exhibition presented by the Chiltern Tourism Association and Arts Chiltern. Featuring paintings, drawings, sculptures and photographs by artists from across the region, the exhibition at the Memorial Hall in Conness St is offering $1500 in prize money to the best two dimensional, three dimensional and photographic artwork. Inquiries to Meaghan Aitchison: meaghan@meaghanart.com
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Indigo Shire Council welcomes the
decision of the Supreme Court
Indigo Shire Council welcomes the decision of the Supreme Court’s ruling in favour of the Macedon Ranges Shire on behalf of the community of Romsey, that the local community’s strong opposition was relevant and should be considered by VCAT.
Mayor Cr Vic Issell said “the decision is great news for communities who are whole heartedly opposed to the introduction of poker machines into their community”.
Cr Issell commented that he applauded the actions of the Macedon Ranges Shire in taking this matter to the Supreme Court with the outcome vindicating the Council’s leadership.
Cr Issell went on to say that this decision supported the right for communities and councils to determine their own position about the appropriateness of poker machines.
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Charles Dickens’ writing desk
unearthed in Beechworth
Two days out from the official opening of the Cabinets of Wonder at Beechworth’s Burke Museum, an astonishing assortment of privately owned artefacts and collections from the local community are still coming to light.
A portable writing desk owned by Charles Dickens is one of the many treasures individuals and organisations have loaned to the Burke for the six-month exhibition.
An amazing collection of skulls of small native mammals, cranial instruments from the Beechworth Hospital, book marks, Egyptian artefacts, egg cups, brooches, a rock collection and a 100 year-old Chilean bird-eating spider have recently found their way into the Burke’s Cabinets of Wonder.
Burke Museum Collections Officer, Linda Peacock, says response has been overwhelming: “Once word got out about the exhibition we were inundated with offers of objects for display.. And what’s been really surprising is the variety and quality of artefacts that have come in. We could fill the entire museum with community collections alone!”
The Hon. Tim Fischer, the Patron of the Indigo Tourism Board, officially opens Cabinets of Wonder: Treasure from the Beechworth Community this Thursday 21 February. The exhibition runs until 30 June.
With its extraordinary collection of Aboriginal artefacts from the early to mid-19th century, an amazing natural history collection including an extremely rare stuffed Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger) as well as thousands of artefacts, journals and photographs Beechworth’s historic Burke Museum could be described as a Wunderkammer (Cabinet of Wonder) in its own right.
Named in honour of the ill-fated explorer, Robert O’Hara Burke who was Police Superintendent during Beechworth’s heady gold rush days of 1854 – 1858, the Burke Museum is part of the town’s nationally significant Historic & Cultural Precinct, which this year celebrates its sesquicentenary.
For more information visit www.beechworth.com/burkemus
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2008 milestone for Beechworth Historic Precinct
In 2008 Beechworth celebrates the sesquicentenary of its nationally significant collection of gold era buildings known as the Historic & Cultural Precinct.
Indigo Shire Council will kick off a year of activities marking the 150th milestone of the Heritage Victoria, National Estate and National Trust-listed buildings with a public Open Day on Sunday 2 March offering free access to Precinct buildings, re-enactments and stalls.
Several of the buildings, including the Courthouse where Ned Kelly and his mother Ellen famously appeared, the Telegraph Station, and Gold Warden’s Office were completed in 1858. Built of local honey-coloured granite, they replaced the weatherboard structures that sprang up soon after gold was discovered in 1852. By then more than 8000 miners were camped on Beechworth’s Spring and Reid’s Creek goldfields alone, and as the population grew, so to did the need for improved services such as law and order, communications, town planning, education, goldfields management and local government.
Still with its original furniture and fittings, the Beechworth Courthouse is the jewel in the Precinct crown. Completed in June 1858, it operated continuously as a working Court for 131 years and has been the setting for some of the most fascinating court cases in Victoria’s history.
Ned Kelly appeared there twice, including his committal hearing over the murders of Constables Lonigan and Scanlon. Ned’s mother Ellen Kelly received a three-year jail sentence for the attempted murder of Constable Fitzpatrick and Elizabeth Scott, the first woman executed in Victoria, received the death sentence in this building.
Robert O’Hara Burke the ill-fated explorer, and Police Superintendent in Beechworth from 1854-58, once sat at the bench and Justice Sir Redmond Barry presided over many trials there. Sir Isaac Isaacs started his legal career here before rising to become Australia’s first native-born Governor-General.
The Precinct also includes the Chinese Protector’s Office, the Gold Warden’s Office.
Police Stables, Police Lockup, Police Reserve, Town Hall, Robert O’Hara Burke Memorial Museum and the Powder Magazine, located a short distance from the Precinct complex.
The 150th anniversary of the Beechworth Historic & Cultural Precinct will be commemorated throughout the year.
For more information or to book a Ned Kelly or Gold Walking Tour, contact the
Beechworth Visitor Information Centre, phone 1300 366 321 or visit www.beechworthonline.com.au
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Indigo Shire appoints new CEO
The Mayor, Cr Peter Graham OAM, has announced that Council has unanimously agreed to appoint Mr Brendan McGrath, currently the General Manager Community and Recreation at Mitchell Shire Council, as the new Chief Executive Officer of Indigo Shire Council.
Cr Graham said that Council selected Mr McGrath after an exhaustive process facilitated by FM Consulting, with 30 applicants expressing their initial interest in the position.
Cr Graham indicated that the whole Council was delighted with the appointment and look forward Mr McGrath commencing with the Shire by late January.
Mr McGrath has also been in the role of Acting Chief Executive Officer and Acting General Manager Corporate Services in his time at Mitchell Shire. Prior to obtaining the General Manager’s position he was the Recreation and Leisure Manager with Mitchell Shire.
He has also worked in private industry with the Lancemore Group and Leisure Management and Marketing and also with the YMCA. In these roles he has had close associations with Council operations in a number of municipalities in managing municipal swimming pools and recreation facilities.
He has tertiary qualifications as a Batchelor of Applied Science and is proposing to recommence his Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management.
Cr Graham said that this wide range of experience and his current experience as part of the Senior Management Team at Mitchell Shire will be easily translated to the CEO’s role at Indigo Shire. Councillors and staff are looking forward to Mr McGrath commencing soon after current CEO Mr John Costello vacates the position.
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Indigo scoops Tidy Town Awards!
Indigo Shire towns scooped the awards pool at the 25th Annual Sustainable Communities – Tidy Towns Regional Awards held in Rutherglen last week.
Beechworth was named the overall North East Regional Sustainable Community – Tidy Towns winner and will now go on to represent the North East region at the state finals to be announced on 6 October.
Nine other Indigo Shire town projects were recognised ascategory winners and will advance to the state finals:
- Community Pride: Rutherglen – RSL Park
- Heritage & Culture: Chiltern – Chiltern Railway Station
- Environmental Innovation: Beechworth – Beechworth Vignerons Association
- Zero Waste Award: Beechworth – Public Place Recycling project
- Biodiversity & Conservation: Beechworth – Wildlife Corridor Project
- Community Government Partnership: Beechworth – Waste Oil Recycling Project
- Young Leaders: Beechworth – Spring Creek Revegetation Project
- Proud School: Rutherglen – St Mary’s Primary School
Indigo Shire Mayor Cr Peter Graham said the awards highlighted the wonderful environmental and sustainability projects underway in Indigo Shire. He paid tribute to the businesses, community groups and volunteers who have shown great dedication and community spirit.
“The Tidy Towns annual awards are an important part in recognising the value of the hundreds of volunteers who provide support to local communities throughout rural Victoria,” Cr Graham said.
“It is wonderful to receive recognition across so many categories and we are particularly thrilled Beechworth will contest the overall Victorian Tidy Towns award.”
Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria Chief Executive Officer Wendy Jones said, “The power of local communities working together can achieve great community and environmental benefits for all to enjoy and benefit from, and this was definitely highlighted during this year’s judging.
“The Sustainable Communities – Tidy Towns judges found it very hard to split this year’s category winners, which highlighted the dedication those communities who participated in this year’s program have towards their communities, environment and sustainability.”
The 25th Annual Sustainable Communities – Tidy Towns awards are supported by Sustainability Victoria, the Packaging Stewardship Forum – AFGC “Do the Right Thing” Program and Cartridge World.