Year In Review – It’s ‘Go time for great times

At this time every December, as we get ready to celebrate the start of a new year, we also take a look back the twelve months that just were (well, really ten-and-a-bit) in our traditional Year in Review.

 

It’s ‘Go time for great times

February

WHILE there’s not much to look back on in February, one major thing did happen on the media front in town.

The Bendigo Times launched!

With our commitment to bringing news that helps you feel good about where you live, along with all the information you need to make important decisions about your life, we jumped right in on those ideals.

They were sentiments echoed by our Editor, Alistair Finlay.

“It’s a privilege to serve this wonderful city and we look forward to telling your stories with respect and diligence,” he said.

“As a publication of the Times News Group, our focus at the Bendigo Times is on all the things that are great about where we live.

“Whether it’s the people working hard to make our community a better place, the groups who make a meaningful difference, the events that bring us together, or that hidden gem just waiting in the wings and ready for the spotlight, we’re here to tell those stories.”

Seemingly our arrival was subsequently well received by some.

“How very exciting to have the birth of a new ‘local’. ?? It’s fabulous… l’ve been telling all in sundry,” said one letter writer.

“I hope it goes really well and establishes itself here. Thank you… With appreciation… and excitement.”

On the news front, and has it’s been for almost two years now, COVID-19 was the major story.

 

 

Opening up, again

March

AS March got underway things continued to open up, quite literally, when the ribbon was finally cut on Kangaroo Flat’s upgraded library.

Works included fixes to the building structure, a new entrance, the creation of an open floorplan, plastering and painting, as well as sustainability improvements.

In the centre of town, the success and importance of the Bendigo Community Farmers’ Market mid-week event was being celebrated.

Born out of lockdown, the Thursday market had become an important place to access food during the pandemic.

“Peo

ple felt safer shopping outside rather than in supermarkets and ended up falling in love with buying directly from the producer and maker and supporting local business,” said organiser Chris Hain.

Bendigo Pride also got underway in March for its 17-day long celebration of diversity, inclusion and respect.

“It’s the pride in ourselves and the pride in where we live because Bendigo is a great place to live and I have found it surprisingly warm, inviting and inclusive,” said festival director John Richards.

As March 4 Justice events took place across the nation, Bendigo also joined in campaign when on 15 March in Rosalind Park’s piazza, people rallied against sexual and gendered violence.

“It was fantastic to see people from all walks of life that are motivated to join because they’re just sick and tired of seeing what’s going on,” said CEO of Annie North Women’s Refuge, Julie Oberin.

Meanwhile across at Bendigo Stadium, Anthony Mundine’s time in the boxing ring came to an end when he was knocked out in the first round by Michael Zerafa.

 

We will remember them

April

FURTHER cementing its position as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, April saw the launch of the Bendigo and Region Gastronomy Guide.

The online document focused on five categories – eat, drink, buy, experience and explore, and aimed to give people all the information they need about the region’s food destinations.

“The Gastronomy Guide is going to be an extraordinary way of not only showcasing what we do to local community but to visitors and tourists too,” said Liz March of PepperGreen Farm.

A week later, then Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien came to town and called on the State Government to do more to help small business in the wake of COVID-19 restrictions.

“A lack of certainty and a lack of support from State Government is holding this region back from what it could be,” he said.

Quarry Hill Golf Club marked a major milestone as 100 years ago a small, privately owned golf course was established in the mines, creeks, and gullies of the area.

“The centenary is a celebration of the forethought of our ancestors to open it up, we’re planning to have a tournament and make that in memory of the forefathers,” said treasurer and life member Sandra Davey.

After having events limited in 2020, 25 April saw the return of people to one of the most sacred days on the national calendar, Anzac Day.

Bendigo District RSL president Peter Swandale was happy to see the services across the region well attended.

“Very pleased to see the amount of people coming out today, the Bendigo community, just absolutely fantastic,” he said.

 

 

Jabs a go-go

May

 

WHITE Hills Primary School student Malakye Taylor became Bendigo’s newest sporting hero when the 10-year-old came back from Geelong as the reigning regional handball champ.

As part of his prize, Malakye received $1000 and as a Geelong supporter said he’s said he had an idea about what he was going to spend the cash on.

“Two Geelong hats, a badge with Joel Selwood’s number and face on it, an Xbox, some clothes, and a footy,” he said.

In what would become an ongoing story throughout the year, we first met the driven and focused people behind the Bendigo Women’s Shed.

In early May, after several false starts, the group announced they had secured a permanent space.

The region’s COVID-19 vaccination effort carried on with first jabs opened up to over 50s, then under 50s for Pfizer, and lastly the opening of the mass vax clinic on Mollison Street.

Married couple Rob and Kerry Dennis travelled from Strathallan, near Echuca, to get vaccinated at the centre because their local GP was booked out until late July.

“It’s really easy. You come in and they check you in, it’s good to see so many people lining up to do it,” said Ms Dennis.

At the end of the month the State budged dropped and there was a fair bit in it for Bendigo.

Included in the local cash splash were $8.5 million for works at the Central Deborah Gold Mine, $6 million to referb the Bendigo Youth Prevention and Recovery Care Unit, $5.5 million for California Gully Primary School, and $1.5 million for the Healthy Heart Victoria initiative in the Loddon Campaspe region.

 

Back into lockdown

June

 

AND just like that, we were back into lockdown. As part of the response, the State Government announced a $250 million support package to help businesses survive the seven-day shutdown.

But in a touching story about paying it forward, the team at Luchiano’s Pizza sought to look after the community that had supported them.

After receiving overwhelming backing during lockdowns in 2020, when restrictions hit again, owner Juliette Kabalan didn’t hesitate to support others.

“Anybody that’s needing food, that’s lost their job and can’t put food on the table for their family, I’d like to help with that by giving them the opportunity to come in and grab some pizzas on us,” she said.

Away from COVID and restrictions, four locals received Queen’s Birthday honours.

Julie Oberin was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia, while Paul Penno, Carolyn Naunton and Fiona Gardner all received medals in the Order.

“I was notified that I was nominated on April 1st, I thought it was an April Fool’s Day prank,” said Ms Oberin, a domestic and family violence campaigner.

If you’d been watching social media over the months leading up to late June, you may have come across the story of guinea pigs living near Epsom Station.

It turned out they were runaway pets belonging to the Kinross family and that’s when the community sprang into action and captured the critters.

“I just felt like it would be a good thing to do for someone as I’ve lost some animals myself, they’ve gotten out and I felt horrible and I wish that someone would do that to my animal if they found it,” said 16-year-old rescuer Tylah Armato.

 

Tasting success

July

 

THE interregnum between the lockdown of June, and the lockdown in July was broken up with a debate about outdoor dining on View Street.

Some, like retailer Paul Skinnon, said the overflow of tables onto the street had created a shortage of carparks.

While others, like co-owner of Borchelli Ristorante, Simon Lock, said outdoor dining spaces had positive flow-on effects.

“Every one of those businesses, except Wine Bank, want us to get rid of the marquee. They fail to see that we’re sending over 100 people a week to their businesses,” he said.

The push to vaccinate the region hit a major milestone, with 100,000 doses administered, meaning about 86,000 people, or one quarter of the Loddon Mallee population, have received their jab.

“We know a good portion of the population, in particular under 16s, are not yet eligible for the vaccine, so to have good overall numbers for first doses is fantastic,” said Loddon Mallee Public Health Unit director Dr Casey Nottage.

What started out as a humble Facebook competition went global for the Elmore Bakery after a guess how many pies post ended up with over 21 million views and 700,000 comments.

While no stranger to making a viral competition post on the bakery’s Facebook page, co-owner and baker Travis Wilson said he’d never had one do this well.

“That’s what it is, social media, and you can hit gold sometimes,” he said.

And… then we went back into a statewide lockdown, again.

July also saw the beginning of a partnership between the Bendigo Times and the Bendigo Sports Star Awards where we get the privilege of telling the stories of award winners, scholarship recipients and the organisation’s history.

 

Winter weary

August

 

THE Bendigo Art Gallery’s latest coup opened, and it was all about celebrating one of Australia’s most famous twentieth century artists.

Curatorial manager Lauren Ellis said Brett Whiteley: Drawing is Everything went beyond what people knew about the late, high-profile creator.

“If you think you know Brett Whiteley, you’ll get a surprise because I think it’s a wonderful opportunity to be reminded of the talent that is below the hype,” she said.

Tuesday, 10 August saw regional Victoria exit a snap four-day lockdown over concerns about rising case numbers of the Delta strain of COVID-19.

The release of the regions came a day after people aged 18 to 40 were given the okay to access the AstraZeneca vaccination with a rush on the shot at state run clinics.

“Young people are coming forward to get vaccinated, they’re doing it for their local community, sporting clubs, their cultural organisations, they’re doing it for their workplaces and they’re doing it because they want to get to a COVID normal world as rapidly as we possibly can,” said State Health Minister, Martin Foley.

One of the biggest developments in Bendigo at the moment, GovHub, got the green light to go ahead, with construction officially underway.

Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan said the landmark project is on track for completion in late 2022.

“By the end of next year, the new GovHub building will bring together State Government and local government services providing better access for our community to be able to go and talk to their council, talk to State Government,” she said.

And of course, there was yet another snap lockdown.

 

 

Ride of our lives

September

 

AS the latest round of lockdown dragged on, it meant some small businesses in the community saw a bump in business.

Once such sector was bike shops, where people like Brad Steigenberger of the Bicycle Centre Bendigo was rushed off his feet.

“We certainly get a bigger influx prior to lockdowns, for sure. Even during COVID, this last 18 months, our influx of people has been quite a bit more than the normal time of year,” he said.

“There’s people buying bikes, there’s people getting bikes fixed that haven’t been fixed for 20 years, it’s just that whole range of people that’s getting everything fixed so they can go and do something.”

Speaking of bikes, La Trobe University lecturer Dr Brad Hodge completed his fundraising ride from Bendigo to Uluru in early September.

After dealing with border closures and lockdowns and everything else that goes with riding 2229 kilometres, he raised $11,000, for his charity I Am Someone.

On the footy field one of Bendigo’s greatest exports, Geelong skipper Joel Selwood became the club’s all-time games played record holder, surpassing Corey Enright.

After on going concerns about knee injuries early in his career, Selwood has been part of the Cat’s best period in half-a-century and led the club as captain for nearly a decade.

“I feel pretty lucky,” he said. “It was a bit of a dodgy start but it’s a ride I would love to do all over again and experience the highs that I have.”

Off the track, and closer to home, the bosses of the Bendigo Football Netball League called time on another COVID affected season without declaring a flag or best and fairest medal winners.

 

HEAD –

Awards all-round

October

 

THE month started with the delayed, but not forgotten, Be.Bendigo Businesses Excellence awards.

Fifteen winners were announced across 16 categories, including the big one, Business of the year presented by the Bendigo Bank.

In the end workplace learning and development company Thinka took home the grand prize.

“We’ve got such an incredible team of 15 behind us and we’re really happy to share it [the awards] with them,” said head of digital projects Tara Ridsdale

While some places in town were taking part in the hastily announced vaccinated economy trial, one major event missed out, the Bendigo Cup.

Short of the trial by a day, the Cup would run without spectators for a second year in a row.

Mid-month came the news that founding member and vice-president of the Suicide Prevention Awareness Network of Central Victoria, Alannah McGregor, had been recognised as a nominee for the inaugural Fred Hollows Foundation Humanitarian of the Year.

“I was honoured and humbled,’ she said. “I don’t do it for accolades.

“I’ve always been really clear that I’m doing this because I’ve never been ashamed that my children died by suicide. I’ve always said that it’s a shame they never had another option.”

Awards were the flavour of the month, literally, as Bridgewater Bakehouse claimed the honour of the nation’s best snot block, named Best Vanilla Slice in Wotif’s Uniquely Aussie Awards.

In yet another coup for the Bendigo Art Gallery it was announced that Elvis was entering the building in 2022.

Elvis: Direct from Graceland will comprise three hundred artifacts from the King of Rock and Roll’s life and is drawn from Presley’s personal collection held at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee.

 

HEAD –

Reunited

November

 

AFTER almost three months apart due to the regional/ metro Melbourne COVID-19 divide, families from across the region, including the Marchingo’s, were able to embrace their loved ones again.

Eva Marchingo had been living in Melbourne and was separated from her parents.

“I just cried because as much as it’s nice to go out to the pub, the thing that COVID has made me realise is that the only thing I want to do is come home,” she said.

“There’s nothing like being home, so every step closer you get is just a little bit more happiness that you get back.”

Unlike Anzac Day some 10 months before, public Remembrance Day events were called off due to uncertainty around COVID restrictions, yet that didn’t stop many from making a personal observance.

“Australians have been gathering for over 100 years to remember the fallen, those who made the ultimate sacrifice, initially with The Great War, and it’s come to symbolise remembrance for all conflict from that date,” said Private George Northend from Bendigo’s Charlie Company of the 8th/7th Royal Victoria Regiment.

Bendigo Stadium will be hot to foxtrot in early March next year with the news the site will host the Australian DanceSport Championships.

The event will see National champions crowned in professional and amateur categories, with world representatives selected in the open amateur classes.

On the education front, Premier Daniel Andrews cut the the ribbon on Bendigo TAFE’s new $60 million city campus.

Works at the 167-year-old site included two new buildings, refurbished heritage buildings and a new home for the Bendigo Technical Education Campus.

 

Action stations!

December

 

WHILE mid-year may have delivered Travis Wilson and the team at Elmore Bakery social media success, early December saw the news that their bread and butter (well, really a pie) had brought them a gold medal at the Official Great Aussie Pie Competition.

The bakery sensations received the gong for their pulled beef, jalapeno and cheese pie and Wilson said the recognition could deliver the pastry some permanence.

“We really did want to get something recognised to say ‘yes, this is a great pie’ and this is definitely what’s helped us put it on the menu,” he said.

A partnership between Gobbé Wellness Centre and Kirkland Lake Gold has seen the cancer centre’s complementary therapies locked in for another three years.

The program can see up to 50 patients a day doing things like yoga, massage, tai chi, and mindfulness classes.

Clinical director of cancer services at Bendigo Health, Robert Blum, said the sponsorship means there is potential to work with patients and their families on ways to expand the program.

“This is a sustainable source of support which is absolutely fantastic and it’s great for our community, it means we can spend a bit more time, and in consultation with our patients, how we can expand and improve it,” he said.

Out in Goornong a passenger train pulled into the town for the first time in over 40 years with a new station opened to the public.

Yet back in Bendigo a different kind of station was about to start its journey, with the announcement the Golden Square Fire Brigade, the oldest continuously operating CFA brigade in Victoria, was getting a new home on Specimen Hill Road.