Karen Maloney's Dispatch: Daylesford Spring Dispatch

Dear Friends, we enjoyed breakfast last Sunday, and were delighted that Janine was able to join us again, after the death & funeral of her mother. Conversation centred around the American elections & the horror we all share of a Donald Trump victory and what that would mean for the world.

Afterwards we dropped Bilbo home and headed off on our postponed trip to Buninyong, which is close to Ballarat. We went first to Mount Buninyong and climbed the lookout to enjoy the spectacular views. It would have been good to have known exactly what we were looking at, but had to make do with guessing.

We then drove into the town and parked in the Anglican Church grounds so we could do a walk. First stop was the Sunday Market, but it was mainly plants & children’s clothes, so we moved on and walked around the streets, admiring the beautiful architecture and lovely old Churches.

We found the Botanic Gardens, which has this Queen Victoria Rotunda, an ornamental lake and a walled garden, as well as a children’s play area, picnic tables & barbecues. It is very picturesque and we were lucky enough to be the only ones there until a couple of people with their free-range dogs spoilt the tranquillity.

We strolled along to look at The Gong, which is a reservoir dating back to the 1800s and from there to the old Brewery, which has been restored and is now privately-owned and available for concerts, exhibitions & parties. We finally made our way back down to our car and set off to find the Cemetery. We headed in the wrong direction as Trip Advisor took us to a private home on the Midland Highway and it was only when I read a Trip Advisor review that I realised we needed to be heading in the other direction. The Cemetery didn’t delight us as much as previous ones have and it could do with an updated diagram and signage.

Looking for long lost ancestors – Adams & Cartwrights - at Buninyong Cemetery

We drove home via Bungaree, home of our dear friend, John Hanrahan, who died many years ago. He was born & brought up in this spud town, which boasts two pubs, a Catholic Church & school, a railway station, general store & all-purpose hall & not much else. We did find some plaques dotted around giving us the history of the various building.

Back home we were in time to watch most of the VFL Grand Final, where the Footscray Bulldogs were too good for the Casey Scorpions and won what we were all hoping would be the first of two Premiership Cups for the Club. I apologise to all our Swans supporting friends, but we have all grown up wishing the Doggies well and they are finally playing in their first Grand Final for 55 years.

On Monday, I went to gym and Wes worked hard in the garden. He cleaned out the pond, which should please the frogs & waterlilies, as well as mowing the grass at the top of the back garden, which delights the rosellas & magpies. After gym I caught up with Judi over pots of Jasmine tea at The Food Gallery, where we discussed wart remedies, healthy eating, holidays and Spring cleaning.

The next morning, I decided I would go to both films on offer during Wes’s shift at the Daylesford Cinema. Sadly, there was only a small audience to see a stunning Australian film, ‘Goldstone’, which we both recommend. It is well written and cast and provides Jacki Weaver with a chance to show what a wonderful actress she is. Aaron Pedersen is unforgettable and David Wenham shines as a baddie.

This early Peanuts cartoon is so like my game of golf I’m blushing!

The second film, ‘The Secret Life of Pets’, attracted an audience of 98, mostly children, including 28 from Daylesford Day Care (who didn’t think to let the cinema know that they would be bringing such a large group of kids, but luckily arrived early enough for them all to be accommodated). We all enjoyed it – good fun as well as being educational about the instincts of the various pets we have or crave for.

After gym, Dot & I met at Muffins & More to play Mah Jong and I won just about every game, which is unheard of, and would have pleased Valerie enormously as she thought Dot always won more than her fair share!!

I took a couple of pieces of spinach quiche home for lunch for Wes and I, and he enjoyed having a day off cooking, as I even made a salad & served it all, instead of sitting around like Lady Muck being waited on hand & foot.

We had been promised wild weather that night and sure enough there was 20 mls of rain and a few tree branches down in the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens when I walked Bilbo later in the morning. Wes worked very hard in the garden and cleared a huge area where he plans to plant our newest wisteria – Double Japanese, which is not a common one and we were very lucky that Chris Rae remembered our interest and bought the only one he saw at the wholesale nursery.

I felt quite sick that night and ended up spending Friday in bed with nausea, dizziness, and the beginnings of a head cold. Meanwhile Wes drove to Prahran to attend the launch of a podcast based on the murder of his great grand-father, Frank Cartwright, by Dead & Buried. The link is www.deadandburiedpodcast.com.

We had planned a lunch for Warren’s nephew, Kyahl and his partner, Loz, with our lovely neighbours, Rob & Dene, but that had to be cancelled when I was so unwell. I spent most of the day sleeping on and off as I really wanted to be well enough to attend yesterday’s Grand Final.

Fortunately I woke yesterday morning feeling much better and up to the early morning drive to Melbourne. I queued up with thousands of others and was lucky enough to get a good seat on Level 4 of the MCC on the wing. After finding my seat and leaving my bag there, I headed out of the ground to the Square & Compass, where I snagged a table for breakfast and awaited the arrival of Jane & David Knox from Sydney with Danny Millman. Danny had very generously offered them his guest room if they decided to come to Melbourne for the Grand Final, and when Jane was able to get a couple of Standing Room tickets, they drove down on Thursday, attended the Parade on Friday, and were in good spirits when we met yesterday.

Danny & Jane

Karen & David

After breakfast Danny went back home to prepare for his Grand Final party, while the three of us walked to the MCG. I discovered that this was David’s first Grand Final, so we did a circuit of the ground, looking for celebrities and trying to get close enough to hear the Coodabeens, before heading across Birrarung Marr to Federation Square for cuppas and a chat.

David & I wearing our scarves!

Eventually we walked back to the ground and parted company as we were on opposite sides of the ground. I enjoyed the pre-match entertainment, as did everyone around me, but we were all a mass of nerves waiting for The Big Dance to start.

It was a stunning game of footy, and until the Doggies finally broke away towards the end of the last quarter, it was anyone’s game. I stayed to watch the presentation of the medallions and the Premiership Cup, before heading home while it was still daylight. Like most people at the ground, my favourite moment had to be when the coach, Luke Beveridge, called his injured and much-loved Captain, Robert Murphy, onto the podium and gave him his own medal, saying that Bob deserved it more. If you weren’t crying before that, you certainly were afterwards!!!!