SEPTEMBER 2026
FREE
LEIGH NEWS An Inverleigh Progress Association Publication ISSN 0313-8453
inverleigh.org.au
Vol. 52 No. 3
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The Inverleigh Progress Association What is the IPA? An organisation that is made up of local residents who want to contribute to making Inverleigh a great place to live. What does the IPA actually do? Publishes the Leigh News quarterly & local phone directory Undertakes community projects (e.g. town stone entrances) Executes Community Plans Advocates for Inverleigh with government organisations Meets with local council every quarter to discuss local issues Maintains specific community assets (e.g. water standpipe & clocktower) 2026 IPA Meeting Dates 7:30 P.M. at the Inverleigh Public Hall September 16th October 21st November 18th
Become a member of the IPA today and support your local community!
Find us here: Website: inverleigh.org.au/ipa Email: leighnews@inverleigh.org.au
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INVERLEIGH’S BIGGEST MORNING TEA The Cancer Support Victoria phone number 13 11 20 is a free, confidential information and support service. Operating 9am to 5pm Monday – Friday. The service is available to anyone affected by cancer – including those diagnosed, as well as family, friends, and carers. Anne-Maree Tarbett 0417 512 240
Raising funds for Cancer Council Victoria was by way of a morning tea on Friday June 19. The morning tea was attended by a small but generous group of locals. The tables of food provided by members of local committees was amazing, accompanied with the blue and yellow theme and imitation daffodils to highlight the flower of the Cancer Council complimented the occasion nicely. Along with online donations and cash donated on the morning a wonderful amount of $2089.00 was raised. Thank you to everyone that supported this fundraising event. Sadly, many of us have been impacted by cancer either personally or by family members and friends. Funds raised will directly help research, prevention and support services. You can also donate at any time to the Cancer Council if you wish. A cancer free world is the ultimate goal! I would also like to thank the many local businesses that gave a donation for the raffle held at the Morning Tea. The generosity of these businesses was remarkable.
INVERLEIGH BOOK BAZAAR 2026 Another successful Book Bazaar was held at the Inverleigh Public Hall on Saturday May 30th. $4000 was raised which will be for ongoing refurbishments required at the hall facilities. The original bluestone Mechanics Institutes building, now known as the Supper Room, was built in 1866 therefore maintenance is something that the hall committee are committed to undertake to retain the building at it’s high level of presentation. A huge thanks also to the community volunteers who helped during the week with setup and then pack up of the Book Bazaar. Many hands make light work! Much appreciated by our committee. We are very grateful to the community for your book donations throughout the months leading up to the Book Bazaar. The generosity was remarkable with many books received – thousands! We have however cut back on the books that we used to accept as it is very labour intense work and also there is only so much room we have in our new shed to store them all.
The books all set up in the main hall
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A table will again be set up on the decking at the back of the hall to leave book donations as of the start of Spring this year. PLEASE ONLY DONATE IN GOOD CLEAN CONDITION: NOVELS, BIOGRAPHIES/MEMOIRS, CHILDREN’S and additionally COFFEE TABLE BOOKS ALONG WITH MAGAZINES OF “SPECIAL INTEREST” (NOT THE WEEKLY ISSUES). The next Book Bazaar will be held in May 2028 on a date yet to be decided Thank you to everyone that came along and supported the Inverleigh Book Bazaar 2026! Anne-Maree Tarbett 0417 512 240
The kids books set up in the supper room
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NEW MEMBERS WELCOME – There are currently over 20 members in the Club. Anyone who thinks that they may be interested in joining, or wishes to find out what is involved, is encouraged to contact any of the people listed above. Also, any suggestions for projects are invited through any Club member. Some of the recent Lions Club activities:
Induction of new member Gail Platt by Bill Hughes. Also in photo is Stu Platt (Gail's Sponsor) and Club President Geoff Spiller.
Saturday BBQs at Kings Camping in North Geelong. Raising money for charity. (Stu, Tim, Ian and Stef behind the camera).
Soldier Settler Memorial Shed at Shelford. Roof replacement project. (Stef, John and Wayne)
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THE STORY BEHIND LAMBEX 2026'S “DISCOBALL SHEEP”
When delegates met for the Elders Grandslamb Gala Dinner at the LambEx 2026 conference in Adelaide, they were greeted by an unexpected highlight: a two-metre tall, shimmering "Discoball Sheep". Accompanied by a roaming saxophonist, the centrepiece helped lead 1,012 people into the dinner and encouraged them onto the dancefloor. However, behind the glitz and glamour of its Adelaide debut lies a months-long story of hard work and craftsmanship by two Inverleigh locals, Nathan Scott and Matt Fry. The idea originated with Nate Scott, who envisioned a unique, sheep-themed statement piece made specifically for the LambEx conference hosted in Adelaide. After exploring various materials such as polystyrene, Nate decided on metal to ensure the sculpture would be durable and built to last. In August 2025, Nate reached out to Matt Fry from local business Metal Edge. Though Matt initially thought the idea was a joke, he quickly came on board to bring the vision to life, and official approval to begin construction was given in January 2026. To map out the shape and structural geometry of the sheep, the build process started with Matt creating a paper mockup, and after about a collective month of work, the Discoball Sheep was finished. Now made from lightweight aluminium, the giant sheep can easily be lifted by two or three people.
The sheep’s signature sparkle required extraordinary attention to detail. Nate and Matt spent 40 hours applying selfadhesive mirror tiles across the entire sculpture, and in total, the project incorporated 200,000 of these tiny tiles! Keeping the project under wraps from the majority of the conference attendees was a big priority. To preserve the element of surprise, the completed sculpture was wrapped tightly in protective plastic (though very much still appearing sheepshaped, complete with googly eyes), strapped onto a trailer, and transported from Inverleigh to South Australia. Once in Adelaide, it was then snuck into the venue undetected before its official unveiling. The secret reveal went off without a hitch! As guests entered the gala dinner to live saxophone music, the Discoball Sheep was unveiled to the public for the first time. Disco sheep immediately became a primary attraction of the evening, drawing massive crowds for photos and even requiring security to guard it as some enthusiastic delegates attempted to climb it. Now, following its standout performance at LambEx 2026, the Discoball Sheep remains in storage in Adelaide rather than returning home to Inverleigh, leaving behind a memorable highlight from one of the industry's biggest events. Article by Julia Kennedy, Editor
PHOTOS FROM LAMBEX 2026
Discoball Sheep at LambEx
Matt Fry (L) and Nathan Scott (R) with Discoball Sheep
Saxophonist playing with Discoball Sheep on display
Discoball Sheep at LambEx
Discoball Sheep enroute to Adelaide LambEx photos provided by Nathan Scott
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INVERLEIGH HISTORICAL SOCIETY CALENDAR JULY 2026
Rev. Alexander Maxwell and his conveyance at “Lullote” c. 1895 Occasionally you research a person whose enthusiasm for being involved in everything just jumps off the page, not just the quiet image of a vicar visiting a parishioner c. 1895, but a personality of Inverleigh. Reverend Alexander Maxwell, the Church of England vicar at Inverleigh from 1888-1903. Coming to Australia in 1879 with his first child being born on the journey, he practiced in Sorrento, Doncaster, Inverleigh, Drysdale and then moved to Queensland. A family man with five children.
Photo from Flickr
In Inverleigh with the patronage of Mrs. Charlotte Moriarity of Lullote, he moved the worship centre from the church/school near the cemetery to a new building in High Street. He enlarged the four-roomed vicarage to an imposing home, had a garden worthy of a visit, built and paid for the new Sunday School, (now the Surprise Shop), as well as ministering to the parishioners of Murgheboluc and Bannockburn and surrounding areas. All up, it is quoted in church history, that he built ten church buildings in the parish in his fifteen years at Inverleigh.
He enthusiastically involved himself in local organisations including the Inverleigh Improvement Society and the Mechanics Institute, but his main achievement outside of the church was the commencement of the local Rifle Club where he was founder and Captain. He was integral in the Boer War monument to SM Albert Houghton and organised the shooting match between Inverleigh & Bannockburn clubs on the Native Hut Creek before the unveiling of the monument and then took the church service at the conclusion of proceedings.
It appears the Reverend Maxwell was a motivator and enthusiastic publicist and not adverse to Letters to the Editor of the Geelong Advertiser on a variety of topics, and a shameless self-promoter. For example, he suggested a solution to the number of drownings in the waterholes of the Barwon and Leigh rivers by having a town boat available.
The 80th anniversary church history mentions his “financial ability and wonderful energy. He was a most enthusiastic gardener, and many were the visitors to the Vicarage garden”.
The calendar image of his horse drawn transport was obtained on Flickr, but several photos have recently been posted on the internet showing the Maxwell family activities and this cart features in many of them from a general conveyance, a covered wagon taking the family to Lorne for holidays, on picnics and rabbit shooting excursions.
Leaving Inverleigh for Drysdale, he then moved to Queensland and became a Chaplain in the Army in 1915 aged 58 and travelled with the troops as a ‘journey chaplain’, but of course he remained in the war zone and was at Gallipoli. Obviously, he was older than regulations allowed to serve (52) but we can assume he talked himself into staying and was able to deliver a funeral service for over 100 soldiers from the Gallipoli peninsular. With little explicit instructions, the chaplains used their own training and initiative on the long sea voyages, organising study groups, sing-alongs and boxing tournaments but as troopships did not have suitable room for church parades or services along with seasickness and rough passage, preaching was kept to a minimum. On board ship and later on land, chaplains were responsible for burials and recording of the soldier’s details and effects. Often these took place at night for safety reasons. On land they undertook activities to improve morale and welfare and keep soldiers diverted from the nearby towns and one diary mentions the need for prayer by the men facing the horrors of war. Looking back nearly 140 years, I am a bit in awe of his enthusiasm for life, his family and the people of Inverleigh. Article by Liz McDonald
INVERLEIGH HISTORICAL SOCIETY CALENDAR AUGUST 2026
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HISTORIC GRAVE, INVERLEIGH CEMETERY SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF CHARLOTTE PELLET DIED 9th APRIL 1876 AGED 76 YEARS DIEU SEUL EST MON LIBERATUER, MON ESPOIR, MON AISLE, SOUS LES MAINS D’UN TEL PROECTUER, MON AME SOIT TRANQUILLE. (God alone is my liberator My hope, my shelter Beneath the hand of such a protector May my soul rest in peace.) Charlotte Matthey was born in 1800 in Neuchatel, Switzerland. She worked as a highly regarded nurse in the household of the de Montmollins, an old established family of Neuchatel. In 1836 Charlotte married Jean Pellet, a carriage maker, eight years her junior. They had a daughter Rose Augustine. On 30th September 1840, Charlotte had been granted the ‘separation de corps at biens’, the Swiss equivalent to divorce. By 30th November 1840, she had received her passports and took up the suggestion by the de Montmollins to travel to Australia to join the La Trobe family, arriving in Melbourne in March 1841.
Photos by Bronwyn Price
Charles La Trobe returned to Switzerland and then married Sophia’s sister, Rose. He wrote to Charlotte that should she desire to return to the La Trobe family, she only needed to go to the bank where arrangements had been put in place to fund her with the means of rejoining them wherever they may be. Charlotte however decided to live with her daughter in ‘Woodbine Cottage’ in Inverleigh, to help her with her four children, as Frederic had been killed in an accident on the rough roads when returning from the gold fields. It was here that Charlotte passed away either 8th April 1876 or 9th April 1877 (the headstone has the earlier date, but the death certificate records the latter).
Sophia de Montmollin had married Charles La Trobe, who went on to be appointed Superintendent of the Port Phillip District of New South Wales. They had arrived in Melbourne in 1839, buying 5.1 ha on the edge After a long consultation period between Charlotte’s of the city, in an area now known as Jolimont. Rose was descendants, Geelong Cemeteries Restoration Group, to be Agnes La Trobe’s first playmate, then playmate to Inverleigh Cemetery Trust, Golden Plains Shire and Eleanor who was born in Melbourne, followed by Cecile other interested parties, the grave site has been and Charles. Charlotte was a companion to Mrs. La restored and was unveiled on 9th April 2009. Trobe who was somewhat shy and retiring and not of robust health. She also worked hard as a housekeeper, As an aside there is a statue of Governor Charles La keeping the residence clean and tidy even when Trobe outside the State Library and one at the La Trobe Governor La Trobe took up temporary administrative University campus in Bundoora, the latter statue is duties in Tasmania. notable for being upside-down in appearance, symbolising the notion that universities have a duty to One of Charles La Trobe’s last acts in Australia was to “turn ideas on their heads”. The university also uses give Charlotte away for her wedding to Frederic Amiet, the La Trobe family motto: “whoever seeks shall find”. a vigneron born in Switzerland but now living at the ‘Hermitage’, Murgheboluc, making award winning wines and growing produce to sell at the goldfields. Rose Article by Bronwyn Price with excerpts from Joan Ritchie’s wore black, as Sophia La Trobe had not long passed ‘Housekeeper of Jolimont’, a biographical sketch. away.
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INVERLEIGH HISTORICAL SOCIETY CALENDAR SEPTEMBER 2026 Remnant Orchard Blossoms
This photo was taken from the banks of the Leigh River, east of Federation Bridge, looking towards the township. It shows a mass of blossoms from trees on what was once the Costain family’s orchard. You can still see old pear trees along the Rayner’s Walk track on the north side of the Leigh River. The district pioneers grew fruit for personal use and to supplement income from dairying, cartage, agriculture, horticulture and town businesses. Henry and Margaret Costain, from the Isle of Man, arrived in Inverleigh around1854. Henry was a blacksmith’s wheelwright who built all kinds of horse-drawn transport. Their family lived at ‘Craigneish’, the cottage which still stands on the north-east corner of Dundas and High Streets. Their blocks backed onto Cambridge St and the Costain orchard ran from the other side of the Cambridge St down to the river – the area of our photo. An article by the Geelong Advertiser’s unnamed ‘Horticultural Reporter’ on Saturday 11th May 1907 gives us a snapshot of how far fruit growing had come as an industry in Inverleigh and Victoria in the 50 or so years since the Inverleigh township was surveyed. There were now 250 acres of productive orchards within a few miles of Inverleigh. J Nicholson, the McQueen brothers, H Savage, T Irniger, W Trudgeon, W Alderson and the Peel brothers were listed as prominent growers along the terraces and slopes of the Leigh River Valley. J and L McDonald, W Bath and J and W Robson were named as orchardists along the banks of Native Hut Creek. The report of the Government Inspector of Orchards was quoted, showing that ‘growers have been successful in their efforts to keep their trees free from insect or fungus pests.’ Orchard practices included planting trees 20 feet apart, cultivating the soil, and dealing with codling moth by spraying, bandaging of trunks and removal of affected fruit. Hopes for a codling moth solution were pinned on Californian fruit growers who were then on a world search to find a parasite. Mr. J Nicholson’s more than 15-year-old orchard showed evidence of the experimentation required to establish the best fruits and varieties for the conditions. He regretted that some space is occupied by less productive trees, but replanting could result in a loss of income for up to seven years. Mr. Robert Costain, son of Henry and Margaret Costain, was able to take advantage of others’ experience and select apple, apricot and pear varieties for his seven-year-old orchard with ‘a view to local conditions and the trend of the markets.’
Photo by Ross Peel
Most fruit and dairy products were sent to market via Bannockburn Railway Station. The reporter commented that, ‘It is evident that fruit growing and dairying will be greatly stimulated by the railway communication which is being asked for by the new group of grain growers on the extensive plains to the north-west.’ The railway through Inverleigh opened in 1913 for freight and passengers and did make a massive difference to marketing local produce of all kinds. In 1907, apricots averaged £9 per ton sold prior to production due to competing factories in Melbourne. There were also town and city fresh fruit markets. Locals put their hopes on improvements in export markets for apples and pears. Pears were selling at 20 shillings a case in London while the same Inverleigh pears were netting 9 pence a case in the local market. Issues raised were forming a centralised authority instead of each grower negotiating shipping space, and the Department of Agriculture setting proven procedures and regulations which would ensure fruit arrived in good condition. The Inverleigh Historical Society has a map which shows where many orchards have been over time and photos of some of the families and locals working together on orchard tasks. During the 1940s, the brown spot fungus destroyed the orchard industry in our district, but the beautiful blossoms remind us of it each spring. Article by Christine Windle
High drama in the Inverleigh Nature Conservation Reserve: the Cuckoos are back! Every Spring, Inverleigh Reserve sees the return of birds which birdwatchers love to see, but which are feared by the local resident birds. Cuckoos are wellknown for not building a nest (there are exceptions) but for laying their eggs in the nest of other species, leaving the ‘host’ birds to feed and raise their young. They time their arrival with the breeding season of the local birds, having travelled from northern Australia or from the islands further north. This year, the Fan-Tailed Cuckoos have already started arriving. The commonest cuckoo seen here, it is a handsome bird about 25cm tip to tail. It is smooth grey on the back with warm cinnamon colouring on the chest. Like all cuckoos, it has a striped undertail, a good ID pointer as these birds sit very still and can be tricky to locate, despite their constant call – a downward mournful trill. They lay their eggs usually in dome-shaped nests – of fairywrens, honeyeaters and scrub-wrens. A smaller cuckoo, the Shining-Bronze, also parasitises small songbirds. It is often heard in the Reserve but more easily seen around the townships, preferring to sit in the open on telephone wires to advertise for a mate, with a persistent “dog-whistle” call. At the end of summer, the cuckoos will head north again, leaving at least some of the local birds to raise their young.
Shining Bronze Cuckoo, Source: Wikipedia
In the Reserve, and all over the world, the battle between cuckoos and their hosts is a continuing one. A visit to the Reserve in Spring will give you a ringside seat to watch the drama unfold. Come and join some Friends of the Inverleigh Nature Conservation Reserve for two bird walks: Sunday September 20, 9.00 – 11.00 Meet at Common Rd entrance. Saturday October 3, 9.00 – 11.00 Meet at the Information Shelter on the northern Teesdale-Inverleigh Rd entrance to the Reserve. Parking available on the tracks either side of the road. Glen White
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GOLDEN PENS
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G’day from the penners for this issue of the Leigh News. As promised in the last issue, we have some great news on the progress of our book project. We are happy to announce that we will be launching ‘Between Fencelines’ on Sat 10th October 2026, at the Bannockburn library from 10am. All the stories we received from the school children will be featured in this book, as well as some from past members and also our new members. It has been 6 years since the release of the last book, ‘Pearls on the Plains’, so we hope everyone who follows us will help support our local and aspiring writers of the future by coming along. The launch is an open and free event, and we will be supplying some light refreshments on the day. We would love to see as many of our followers as possible, and purchases of the book will be available for only $10 (cash only) at the launch. This month’s poem is from Laima McArdle, and it is featured in ‘Between Fencelines’. We hope you enjoy it. We can be contacted via our email goldenpens4@gmail.com and if you have any queries please don’t hesitate to contact us. Regards, Wendy.
FLING Fling or toss it That’s all I say Do not keep it Throw it away Why dwell upon a thing That’s gone A thing that’s old And worn and torn On a thought That is no longer needed Just fling it out And know you’ve weeded All the bad from life and limb Just do not be afraid to fling Anything that doesn’t suit Replace it all with fresh to boot Know that everything that’s flung Leaves room for new to be sung
Thanks to: Ross & Caroline Wilson of Shelford and Mora Leach of Inverleigh for faithfully supplying the monthly rainfall figures. Your efforts are very much appreciated.
And welcomed into a life Without evil, toil or strife.
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THE IPA AT GPSC On Wednesday, 29 July, members of the Inverleigh Progress Association (IPA) were invited to the Golden Plains Shire Council (GPSC) offices in Bannockburn to celebrate their successful collaboration on the Inverleigh Active Youth Space. During the morning tea, GPSC shared the AFE award for Outstanding Small Rural Council Initiative with the IPA to recognise their vital role in bringing the youth space to life.
Photo by Julia Kennedy
Mayor Cr Owen Sharkey thanked the IPA for their ongoing contributions to the Inverleigh community and commended the strong partnership between the local community group and the Council. GPSC CEO Adam McSwain also praised the recent Inverleigh gazebo upgrade as another shining example of this successful collaboration. The IPA expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to attend the event and to represent the Inverleigh community on such a platform. Article by Julia Kennedy, Editor
Photo by Georgia Stefanovski
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THIRD QUARTER 2026 POLICE REPORT Hello all, Spring is upon us, football season is coming to an end, and the summer cricket season is fast approaching. Before we get to Christmas, if you are considering buying an electric scooter/electric bike for your child know that: Children under 16 cannot ride an electric scooter on public footpaths or roads at all! CHECK THE RULES BEFORE BUYING ANY KIND OF ELECTRIC SCOOTER OR ELECTRIC BIKE, ESPECIALLY THE BIKE KITS. Just recently I had a couple of 10 and 11 yr old boys on a dark road at sunset in Teesdale: two on an electric scooter (illegal to tandem) and one on an electric kit bike with pegs instead of pedals (motorbike). On seeing me in my marked police car, the first instinct of the child on the bike was to try to flee. The kids all knew they shouldn’t have had them. Peer pressure to have electric scooters and electric bikes results in kids nagging their parents, and some parents give in and buy them. Sometimes parents just need to say ‘NO’. I have had some locals driving at excessive speed and drink driving after leaving the Inverleigh Hotel recently. Our PBT devices are all recorded and subject to download and monitoring at the Traffic Branch. Our cars and captured speed readings are filmed and recorded and stored centrally as well. If you are caught doing more than 25 kms over the speed limit, you will have your licence suspended for at least 3 months. It is no good putting yourself in this situation and then pleading with me that you need your licence. Don’t put yourself in this situation at all, as some have done recently. If you are going to drink a few alcoholic drinks at the Hotel or other places, don’t drive afterwards. Don’t do 85 km/h+ coming into town in the 60 km/h zone. I should not be getting locals for this kind of behaviour. You know the speed zones. I have been seeing a few reports of petrol driveoffs occurring some with ‘cloned’ plates. If you are selling a car online, consider obscuring the number plate so others don’t use your plate details on their similar car to avoid getting fines, paying for petrol etc.
I am also seeing some cybercrime reports coming in where people are transferring money to unknown sellers online for goods they don’t have and the buyer never receives. Sometimes sellers are purporting to be from addresses that are fake or do not exist. If you are seeking to purchase goods online from sites like Facebook Marketplace from private sellers, consider meeting in-person where you see the item before paying any money. Often money transferred online is very hard to recover or get back. Try to research the seller and addresses online first to see if they exist and are legitimate to ensure your safety. I have been serving a few intervention orders around the area in recent times. Even though I read out the conditions on serving the orders and provide people with a copy, I still receive reports of people breaching the orders which can then result in a court hearing. If you are served with an order which says no contact, whether it be the ex-partner or kids, do not contact! That means no text, no calls. If you do, you will probably face a police interview and summons for court. If it states you are prohibited from publishing anything on the internet – by email or other electronic communication – such as material about the protected person, then don’t put anything online about them at all, even to your friends. If you do not agree with the conditions of the order you need to attend the court hearing dates and have your say to the court about why you do not agree with a condition/s. The court will ultimately decide what the conditions will be on any final order. Read them carefully and do not contravene them. I have been seeing a lot of potholes around the roads while patrolling recently. If you see one you are concerned about, you can report it online through the Transport Victoria website. I encourage anyone who sees any to make a report to keep our roads in a safe condition. Keep safe, Chris
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INVERLEIGH CFA NEWS Seasons of Change Winter is over and the fresh signs of Spring are all around us with flowering plants and extra growth as the temperatures rise. It is a great time of the year, and it reminds us that the colder winter months have passed and the hotter summer months are ahead. Reflecting on the winter months, things have been quite for the fire brigade, which is good and the way we like it. Mainly smaller jobs with house incidents and car accidents. Heating in the home is a very necessary thing, but it is not without its risks, and this last winter has seen incidents involving heaters and ashes from wood fires. Anyway, that is now behind us, and we are now looking forward to preparing for this coming summer and if you listen to the forecasts most are claiming an El Nino event along with hot and dry conditions. What ever the future weather turns out to be, preparation over the next few months will be the key to protecting you and your property from any fire threats. Currently the season has plenty of moisture in the soil and so grass growth will certainly be an issue and so controlling it will be an ongoing task. Clearing long grass and vegetation around your property is the best way of ensuring you are fire ready and given that we have several months to do it, there is plenty of time to do it properly and get the family involved in some good outdoor activity.
The talk about the El Nino and even a super El Nino can be worrying for some people, and while these predictions are out there, we have seen in the past when these predictions are made, they have proved to be false. A good example was about 3 years ago when we ended up with a wet summer after similar predictions. At the end of the day, it does not really matter what the season turns into because we cannot control it, we just have to deal with it. So, how do we do that? Firstly, it is preparation, like what is mentioned above, and then later on during the summer we just have to deal with the dangerous days with things like fire bans, community warnings and all the various ways the fire brigades prepare and work together. So, rest assured that whatever the future summer months turn out to be, the fire brigade will be there and trying to assist the community in every way it can, whether it is an El Nino or not. Try and do your preparation and hopefully you won’t need us. Ewen Peel Inverleigh Fire Brigade
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32 We specialise in & offer the following services: · Animal health · Chemical products/garden, cropping · Agronomy · Fertiliser · Faecal egg worm counts · Soil testing Pictured above: the friendly Staff at H&W Inverleigh Danny, Sarah, Charli and store mascot Clover the cat.
Hours of trading: 8.00am till 5.00pm Monday to Friday 8.30am till 12 pm Saturday 28 High Street, Inverleigh. Phone : 5265 1648 Hewitt And Whitty is a family-owned business and has been servicing the local & rural community for over 85 years.
A great supporter of local community sporting clubs and events.
· Hardware · Fencing · Grainline products · Stockfeed · Plumbing · Tanks/troughs & poly pipe . Seed · Elgas · On-farm deliveries
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NOTICEBOARD
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42 TABLE OF CONTENTS Meet Our Vets Kitten Season Sheep Castrations IN OTHER NEWS AFL Grand Final Public Holiday Closure
Bannockburn Veterinary Clinic will be closed for the AFL Grand Final Public Holiday on Friday 25th September. If your pet requires urgent veterinary attention during this time please call Geelong Animal Emergency on 03 5222 2139 or Geelong Animal Referral Services on 03 4219 2169. Spring Time - Flea Treatment For Your Pet
Meet Our Vets Meet one of our wonderful veterinarians Dr Gen! Where did you go to university and what year did you graduate? Melbourne University - graduated in 2024. Do you have any special interests in the veterinarian field? Anything equine related but I enjoy a bit of everything. What made you want to be a veterinarian? I grew up on a farm so always knew I wanted to do something with animals.
What are your hobbies outside of work?
As we head into spring and leave the cold winter behind we start noticing a change in temperature. Fleas thrive in the warmer weather and spring is often when we may realise that we may have let flea and parasite control lapse over the winter months. There are many flea and parasite products available such as Simparica Trio for Dogs and Nexgard Spectra Spot On for Cats. Both are easy to administer monthly treatments to prevent not only fleas but also worms, mites, heartworm and ticks. These products can be purchased directly from the clinic. Call us on 03 5281 1221 or drop into the clinic to discuss which product is best for your pet!
Horse riding, pilates and running. What is your favourite food? Cheesecake. Do you have any pets? A border collie called Winston, a cat named Walter, a horse called Woody and 4 chickens.
Kitten Season Cats start breeding when the days start getting longer, usually around August. They can continue to breed throughout spring and summer. Cats are breeding machines. A queen cat (the term used for a female cat) can start to breed from as young as 4 months of age and can produce up to two litters every season. This means animal shelters and rescue groups are often overwhelmed with kittens and cats needing homes.
Desexing your cat is an important part of responsible pet ownership and there are many benefits including the following: • Unwanted pregnancies. Your cat should be desexed before they reach the age at which they can start breeding which is around 4 months of age. • Less behavioural issues such as spraying. A queen in season can become agitated, meow loudly repeatedly and rub up against everything. Tomcats can also be a handful becoming agitated, spraying urine and desperate to go outside.
• Less likely to roam which reduces the risk of them getting into fights and being exposed to infectious disease such as FIV (Feline AIDS)
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• Reduced risks of health problems. Females are less likely to get mammary cancer and will not get uterine infections. You can contact our clinic on 03 5281 1221 if you would like to book your cat in for their desexing procedure.
Sheep Castrations Dr Hugh and Dr Millie teamed up recently to perform a surgical castration on a pet sheep fittingly name Lambert. Lambs are usually ringed at a young age which acts to cut the blood supply to the testicles. This causes them to become unviable and drop off.
Ph: 03 5281 1221 info@bannockburnvet.com.au Mon-Fri: 7:30am - 6:30pm Consults: 8:45am - 6:00pm Sat: 8:00am - 1:00pm Consults: 8:30am - 12:45pm
Pet sheep often miss this step and over a certain age castration is performed under anaesthesia to meet humane standards. All went well and Lambert woke up 2 stone lighter!!
Clinic Hours: Monday - Friday 7.30am – 6.30pm Saturday 8.00am – 1.00pm Telephone: 03 52811 221 OUR VETS
Dr. Peter Bond Dr. Kylie Flanagan Dr. Hugh Gibson Dr. Charlie Sinclair Dr. Gen Nicholson Dr. Millie McClure
OUR SERVICES
We recognise animals large and small are part of your family and our team is committed to providing the best health care available.
1759 Midland Highway, Bannockburn info@bannockburnvet.com.au www.bannockburnvet.com.au
Annual Health Checks Full Surgical Facilities Digital X-Ray Equine Facility Large Animal Home Visits Dentistry AQIS In House Pathology
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Directory of Clubs, Services and Organisations Below is a directory for clubs, organisations and services operating in Inverleigh, Teesdale, Shelford and surrounding areas. If you are interested in obtaining further information about an organisation, please feel tree to ring and have a chat with them. Any club or organisation who wishes to be listed, please forward details to us and we will include your listing. We would also appreciate being kept up to date with contact details. INVERLEIGH AREA Anglican Church Inverleigh (St Paul’s) 38 High Street, Inverleigh Services: Please check Leigh News for current times Rev. Dr Tim Smith 5265 1284 / 0412 673 152 Friends of Inverleigh Nature Conservation Reserve President: Keith Windle 0429 651 298 windle.keith@gmail.com Geelong & District Carriage Drivers Christa Jones 0408 342 403 gdcd.secretary@gmail.com Inverleigh Bowls Club Pres. Adrian Hurring 0418 593 849 Sec. Jenny Peel 0418 301 939 Inverleigh Cemetery Trust Chairman: Bruce McDonald 0408 567 970 Sextant: Alex (Sandy) McCallum 0408 378 752 Secretary: Tonya Allen 0411 624 309 inverleighcemetery@gmail.com Inverleigh Cricket Club President: Marcus Warton ph. 0400 199 309 Inverleigh CWA Brooke Wauchope 0431 006 761 inverleighcwa@gmail.com Inverleigh Football/Netball Club President: Wayne McMeekin 0418 365 397 Inverleigh-Leigh Valley Lions Club Keith Robson 0408 270 107 inverleigh.lions@gmail.com Inverleigh Golf & Disc Golf Club President: Greg Erwin 0408 651 744 golf3321@bigpond.com Inverleigh Historical Society Christine Windle 0403 267 286 or Liz McDonald 0417 066 433
Inverleigh RSL Sub-Branch Anglican Church Inverleigh (St Pauls) President: Deema Johnston 38 High Street, Inverleigh 5281 1106 Inverleigh Tennis Club Shane Lubcke 0410 483 690 Leigh District Landcare Group Pres: Campbell Brumby 0419 889 757 Sec: Louise Blersch Leigh District Riding Club President: Narelle Bogle 0438 034 313 Admin & Enquiries: Sue Debets 0401 149 226 Victoria Park Reserve Bookings: Narelle Bogle 0438 034 313 MURGHEBOLUC AREA Murgheboluc Recreation Reserve 0459 042 910 Committee member booking site: spacetoco murgheboluc.hall@outlook.com SHELFORD AREA Shelford Cricket Club Pres: Robert Rice 0459 491 698 Shelford Progress Association Sec: Glenn Jeffery 0413 317 779 TEESDALE AREA CWA Native Hut Branch Shirley Wild 0447 873 763 Leighdale Pony Club Inc. Pres: Tom McCann 5265 1169 Sec: Sue Moran 0437 914 454 Teesdale Branch Liberal Party Charlie Hartup 5281 5222
Inverleigh Playgroup playgroup.inverleigh@gmail.com
Teesdale Cricket Club Alister Woods 0439 395 456
Inverleigh Progress Assoc. President: Hilary Hamilton 5265 1384
Teesdale Pre School Mandy Bartlett 5281 5488
Inverleigh Riding Club Leighdale Equestrian Centre Mark Mummery 0437 807 675 or Melinda Spiller 0413 648 012
Teesdale Sporting Complex Kay Hower 5281 5389
Teesdale Tennis Club Judy Evans 5281 5328 Teesdale Community Hall (Teesdale Mechanics Institute) Dale Smithyman 0493 426 861 Working Sheepdog Club Glenn Agnew 0427 325 905 BANNOCKBURN AREA Bannockburn & District Men's Shed Pres: Syd McConachy Sec: Geoff Wild 0407 835 731 Probus Club Bannockburn Sec: Judith 0447 621 776 bannockburndistrictprobus@gmail.com Bannockburn Surgery 5281 1481 Bannockburn Vet 5281 1221 GENERAL CONTACTS SES (Wind, Storm and Flood Help) 132 500 EMERGENCY Police, Ambulance, Fire 000 Non-urgent Police Help 131 444 Lifeline 13 11 14 Surfcoast Taxi 0408 325 992 Barwon Water 1300 656 007 Power Failure 13 24 12 Geelong Hospital Accident & Emergency 5226 7564 Golden Plains Equine Vets 0437 467 097 Golden Plains Medical Centre 5281 2320 Wildlife Rescue 0500 540 000 Women's Domestic Violence Crisis Service 1800 015 188 Shire Ranger 5220 7111
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49 Estia Health Bannockburn is a Residential Aged Care home and has availability for both respite and permanent care.
Call Kelly on 0419 030 510 if you would like to have a look at our wonderful home and find out more details on Aged Care.
71 McPhillips Road, Bannockburn 5281 1991.
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Dr Cameron Profitt Dr John Henderson Dr Benjamin Fry
Dr Rupali Jain Dr Veronica Donahoe Dr Edward Carson Dr Rimas Liubinas
A humble beginning for Bannockburn Surgery when it first opened its doors in 1983 – small rooms located between what was the original supermarket and pharmacy. Soon outgrowing these rooms, they moved in 1986 to 19 High Street with two consulting rooms, a small treatment room and tiny tearoom for its team members. Its current building (16 High Street) was opened in the year 2000 – a purpose-built practice complete with five consulting rooms and a sixth added in 2010. The practice has grown from strength to strength and has a wonderfully dedicated team of Doctors, Nurses, Reception team and Practice Manager. They also have access to high-quality Allied Health services including podiatry and newly introduced acupuncture with Dr Rimas Liubinas, with plans for more services to follow. For Bannockburn Surgery who celebrated their forty-year anniversary a few weeks ago, this was a proud milestone. The surgery welcomed back former team members: doctors, nurses, administration staff, and allied health for an evening of festivities reminiscing on the past forty-years and what the future holds for the practice. The Directors (and Principal GPs) of Bannockburn Surgery would like to take the opportunity to say thank you to those whom have been part of their practice team, past and present. And also extends a warm thank you to patients for ongoing support in entrusting their health to the team at Bannockburn Surgery and their journey. The surgery has a proud history and is incredibly excited for the future. Not only the future of Bannockburn Surgery, but also in continuing to support the growing community of Bannockburn and its surrounds. The surgery has grand plans and is eagerly awaiting to commence build
Bannockburn Surgery is a fully accredited medical practice that provides comprehensive GP services and have been practising within the community for 40 years. Bannockburn Surgery is the largest practice within the shire. We are an accredited teaching practice – training medical students, nursing students and future GPs.
Dr Rebecca Tidd Dr Bushra Akhund Dr Abhirami Selvakumar Dr Ernest Cheng
of their purpose-built facility to be located next door to their current premises. It is pleased to announce that another GP Registrar will be joining the team from August, Dr Ernest Cheng, which will extend the provision of service even further. They are also very fortunate that their two current GP Registrars; Dr Bushra Akhund and Dr Abhi Selvakumar will be continuing at the practice for an additional six months. Bannockburn Surgery doctors will be continuing to bulk-bill patients with healthcare cards and pension cards, as well as those under 16 years old. Appointments are available daily and the doctors are welcoming new patients. Book online via the website or contact (03) 5281 1481.
We also offer the following services:
Diabetes Education Podiatry • Dietitian Q Fever (Testing & Vaccines) Yellow Fever (Vaccine)
NEW PATIENTS WELCOME
16 High Street, Bannockburn VIC 3331 Tel: (03) 5281 1481 www.bannockburnsurgery.com.au Online bookings available
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Local knowledge. Local agents. Winners of
03 5281 4500
goldenplainsfn.com.au
Golden Plains
We put you first
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Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 8:30am - 6:00pm Saturday: 9:00am - 1:00pm Sundays & Public Holidays: CLOSED
Located in the New Bannockburn Shopping Centre.
Pharmacy Features * Professional - Vaccination Clinic (Flu, Covid, Shingles, Whooping Cough & Travel Vaccinations) - Victorian Community Pharmacy Pilot allowing us to prescribe for: (i) treatment of shingles (ii) treatment of flare-up mild psoriasis (iii) resupply of select oral contraceptive pills without a prescription for women (iv) antibiotics for uncomplicated pills without a prescription for women - Absence from work certificates - Blood Pressure Testing - Diabetes Australia (NDSS) Agency - Home Medicine Reviews - Webster-paks - Free Prescription filing service - Free Prescription reminder service (myTWC app & medAdvisor app) - Extensive range of Vitamins & Supplements
- Medela Breastpump Hire - Hiring of crutches - Weight Loss products - Ear & Nose piercing - Home Delivery Service to: Bannockburn Teesdale/Shelford Inverleigh Lethbridge Batesford * Other Products & Services - TerryWhite Chemmart Rewards PLUS Program
* FREE to join * 20% Discount off gifts ALL YEAR - Extensive GIFTS to choose from, including: * Glasshouse * Frank Green * Handbags & Wallets * Fragrances * Aromatherapy & Wellbeing
- Afterpay available - MooGoo products - Natio
- Maybelline - Designer Brands
Follow us on Facebook and be kept up to date www.facebook.com/bannockburnpharmacy
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Sell with a local agency who supports their community. Major Sponsors of: Bannockburn Football & Netball Club Bannockburn Men's Shed Bannockburn Inclusive Group Teesdale Cricket Club Inverleigh & District Good Friday Appeal SALES - RENTALS - COMMERCIAL
DEAN WILSON Sales Manager & Licensed Estate Agent
M 0418 521 322
JULIE KAYE Director & Licensed Estate Agent
M 0411 059 001
ANDREW WILSON Sales Consultant
M 0452 498 254
FLETCHER WILSON Sales Associate
M 0490 120 668