Ten years ago this month, Justin D’Ath and his partner quickly packed up a few belongings and their two dogs and fled their bush home in Flowerdale, in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range. 

here was not a great deal of panic, he recalls. He had a fire plan in place and at the time thought he had left with more than an hour to spare. In hindsight, it was really just in the nick of time. The sky had filled with thick smoke and an eerie glow and the bank of tall pines near his house posed a risk. 

Justin is one of the lucky survivors of Black Saturday - one of the worst bushfire episodes in Australian history. 

Through his newly-released book,47 Degrees, the prolific children’s author revisits events of February 7, 2009 for the first time. 

He does so through the eyes of a young heroine, Zeelie. 

“I thought it would be interesting to look at the bushfires from a young girls’ point of view. She’s just about 13 and I transposed her and her family into my Flowerdale house. There was just her and her dad there on the day of the fire.”

The book, which has received rave reviews for its sensitive approach to the tragedy, is poignant, fast-paced and with ultimately positive outcomes. However D’Ath - who has penned close to 50 mostly young adventure books - was adamant the story not be “sugar-coated.”

While much of what happens to Zeelie is fiction, the events under-pinning 47 Degrees are very real. 

​“Physically it was my house so it was very real to me,” D’Ath says. “I gave her and her family some of my own feelings. It made it a much more real story.

“The father has a fire plan, the girl was a bit ambivalent about staying but she trusted her father and then they left at about the same time we did on that day and escaped to the relief centre at Yea, and spent the next few nights there. 

“There’s strong a strong educational element, but I’ve made it exciting and interesting and ultimately uplifting at the end. It’s got as happy an ending as you can have,” D’Ath says. “I’ve acknowledged that people did die in the fire, a lot of people died, and so I included that element in the story, but I distanced it from the main character.

“I handled it quite sensitively I think. One-hundred-and-73 people died and we need to acknowledge them in the book and so that’s the way I did it and I’m pleased with the way I’ve done it.” 

D’Ath, who lost his home and belongings on that day, did not return to rebuild in Flowerdale. Property insurance allowed him to rent elsewhere for 12 months. 

He chose Point Lonsdale and has lived here ever since.

​In reflecting on Black Saturday and his own personal story, he says he takes away many positives.

“Now when I read the finished book there’s a couple of places that just about bring me to tears. When I was writing it I didn’t experience that at all. It was more moving to read than it was to write.

​“I just felt lucky. I didn’t know anyone who died or lost any loved ones so that was a total bonus and then in the aftermath people were so kind and generous, it was just extraordinary. It really put a positive spin on my view of fellow Australians. I’ve got more positive memories, than negative.”

​47 Degrees is published by Penguin books and can be purchased from The Bookshop at Queenscliff.

The talents of revered cartoonist and former Queenscliff resident Ron Tanberg will be showcased with the addition of a new artist board to the municipality’s Arts Trail.

The Board, to be launched on Sunday 21 October, will be placed on the boardwalk stretching between the Queenscliff ferry terminal and pier.
“Ron Tandberg was a much-loved and admired member of our community,” said Mayor Susan Salter. 

“His work made a huge contribution to our nation’s culture.” 
The Arts Trail runs between Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale and celebrates the works of artists and photographers who have visited and captured the local landscape. 
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 An  exhibition of Mr Tanberg’s  work, including a series of short videos of him discussing the creation of his famous caricatures, will be on display in the Queenscliff Library from Friday 5th until  Saturday 27th October.

Upwards of 20 artists from Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale will showcase their talents over the Melbourne Cup long weekend as part of the annual Bellarine Arts Trail. 

The popular two day event will include a total of 33 galleries and venues and more than 75 artists from across the Bellarine.

Hosted by the Barwon Heads Arts Council, the Trail gives visitors an opportunity to met and talk to the people who make our local art scene vibrant, in some cases, in the very space they work from. 

A highlight this year is the inclusion of world renowned sculptor Rod Dudley, who will open his Queenscliff studio to visitors, displaying sculptures in wood and bronze created in his Italian studio - where he spends six months of the year.  Rod will also exhibit at the Queenscliff Council Hall his Empire Day group sculpture of 1981, first shown at the Adelaide Festival. 
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Tussock Upstairs Gallery will host November Spaces 18 – paintings, prints, jewellery and ceramics by local and regional artists, Salt Gallery will be holding an exhibition titled Creatures Great and Small and Soula Mantalvanos will open her personal Queenscliff Gallery and Workshop studio, welcoming conversations about latest works.
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A community initiative to tackle plastic pollution has arrived in Queenscliff. 

Boomerang Bags encourages locals to donate unwanted material and to transform it, via sewing bees at the Neighbourhood House, into reusable shopping bags. 

The program, already running in other communities, is among three local projects to share in $6,800 under the Queenscliffe Community Environment Association (CEA) grants program. 

“Boomerang Bags is a grassroots, community driven movement aimed at shifting societies throw-away mentality to a more sustainable revolution of re-purposing and re-use,” said project spokesperson Jane Rodwell. 

 “We are looking for volunteers from all walks of life to get together to help make re-usable bags. We need to enlist people who can help mark out and cut materials, pin, iron, stamp and sew.

“The bags will be given away to friends, family, colleagues, local retailers, bagless strangers and so on, as a plastic bag alternative that can be used and reused, or passed on to others,” Mrs Rodwell said.

The program coincides with Queenscliff IGA’s decision to scrap single use plastic bags from this month and ‘Plastic Free July’ – an initiative of the newly-created Transition Towns group.  

“The circulation of reusable bags within the BOQ creates an opportunity to spread an important social and environmental message about sustainable solutions, and fostering conscious habits that extend well beyond the plastic bag,” said Mrs Rodwell. 

The St Aloysius Primary secured funding under the CEA program to host a ‘Kid’s Teaching Kids’ conference in September. The one-day event will bring students from across Geelong to Queenscliff to teach each other about sustainability initiatives and environmental issues.

The Swan Bay Environment Association also gained funding to extend its Gardens for Wildlife program, providing residents with advice on improving the ecological value of their garden. 
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To donate fabric or participate in Boomerang Bag-making workshops email: qnhouse@fastmail.com or phone 5258 3367.  All ages are welcome and no experience required.

Original toys, fashion, books, letters and an original menu from a local guesthouse feature in a newly released book showcasing the Queenscliffe Historical Museum’s 50 most significant items.
 
Former Premier and recently-named Museum patron Ted Baillieu officially launched Celebrating History…Items from the Queenscliffe Historical Museum Collection on Sunday October 15. 

Compiled by volunteers Rosemary Brown, Jocelyn Grant, Sandra Lee and Diana Sawyer, the book celebrates the Museum’s 50th anniversary. 

Mr Baillieu spoke of his own family’s long ties with our municipality, including his great grandfather, James George Baillieu, who jumped ship at Portsea in 1853 and swam ashore here, and carved out one of the region’s strongest pioneer dynasties. 

He also presented a new addition to the Museum’s collection - his own father’s christening cup, dating back to 1903.  
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Ms Grant said the book was a tribute to the volunteers “who have accepted the roles of archivist and keeper of the many thousands of items now in safe-keeping in the Museum’s purpose-built facility and to the continuing support of the community.

Melbourne Cup long weekend will serve up a feast for art lovers, with more than 40 galleries, private studios and cafes signing on as venues for this year’s Bellarine Arts Trail. 

In only its second year the event will showcase the works of more than 100 painters, sculptors, photographers, illustrators and jewellers.

“The Barwon Heads Arts Council is thrilled with the development of the Bellarine Arts Trail.  We have more than doubled since the first event last year,” said event coordinator Karen Shirley.  

“This year we have more than 100 artists participating at 40 venues across Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove, Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff.  We’ve also included the very popular Ocean Grove Rotary Art Show this year, which attracts a huge following.  

“The depth of talent on the Bellarine is incredible.  One of the main aims is to provide opportunities for artists to raise their profile and take their art to the market.  This event provides opportunities for artists of all levels from hobbyists through to professionals.  We also want to showcase the Bellarine Peninsula as an arts destination.”

Ms Shirley said she would not be surprised if last year’s patronage of the trail double from 3,000. More than 5,000 maps have been printed to cope with the anticipated interest. 

“We are hoping to be able to continue with the Arts Trail next year, but of course that is subject to funding.  At this stage we will aim to limit the number of artists and venues in future years to a manageable number, given the event is completely organised and run by volunteers.  

Salt Contemporary Gallery will host world renowned artist Robert Ingpen’s exhibition, Marginal World. It features paintings inspired by a “curious” object he found in Queenscliff in 2015.  

Queenscliff Gallery and Workshop will showcase the works of local artists Joel Wolter, Amanda Firenze and Andrew Gunnell. Artists will be demonstrating printmaking during this event.

Renowned glass artist David Hobday will be in his studio and represented at Seaview Gallery.

In Point Lonsdale, Tussock Upstairs Gallery will show an exhibition of ‘small works’ – paintings, prints, jewellery and ceramics by 13 well known artists – and Lighthouse Arts Collective will showcase a range of artistic endeavours including painting, music, performance and poetry.

Other local artists participating in the Bellarine Arts Trail include:
Carolyn McKinnon with sculpture, silver jewellery and photographic works at the venue she shares with Meryl Hodgson in Point Lonsdale
Photographer Tom Rayner at Belsize Cafe
Helen Martin, Vicki Clissold and Kelly Koumalatsos at St Georges Old School Hall
Eight diverse and talented artists at the Queenscliff Uniting Church
Darin Frankpitt and Jane Flowers at the Marina in venues 39 and 40
Botanical artist Lavinia Cuming at her studio in Pt Lonsdale
Textile artist Cheryl Toth and many artists and art students at the vibrant and exciting Queenscliffe and District Neighbourhood House

Queenscliff Music Festival organisers believe they’ve finally struck the right recipe for success, after recording yet another bumper profit .

Last year's event attracted 15,800 patrons and raked in more than $200,000 in profit over its three days.

“There will be some minor tweaks this year but clearly based on last year’s success, we know we have a good thing going now and we just need to focus on building on it,” said Director Andrew Orvis.
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“We’re extremely happy with the result of course and we look to try and maintain it going forward. The festival industry is a tough one though, so we know that things can change. It’s our job to future-proof things now so that QMF can continue on to our 30th and 40th festivals.” 

Last year’s was the first sell out in the event’s 20 years.  It was also named Victoria Tourism’s best festival and the Borough of Queenscliffe’s Community Event of the Year.
Ninety-five percent of close to 880 patrons surveyed rated the festival as “very good” or “excellent” and 99 percent indicated a wish to return.  

It also delivered: 

• Record volunteer participation
• Record cash and fundraising contributions from the QMF back into the community ($52,000 total),
• An economic boost to the local economy of $3.3 million, and
• Over $100,000 in marketing and promotion of Queenscliff and the surrounding region

Locals have been warned to purchase tickets early or risk missing out this November.

“Ticket sales this year are phenomenal, with an unprecedented level of Early Bird sales. We’re well on our way for another sell out,” Mr Orvis said.

The Queenscliff Bowling Club's Good Friday Eggstravaganza has raised a record $38,000 for the Royal Children's Hospital. 

Hay was sent flying as hundreds of children and adults took part in the drawcard egg hunts. 

Local businesses donated thousands of dollars in goods for auction on the day and  school children set up their own stalls - hair braiding, football handball competitions and nail polish bar - contributing upwards of $700 to the tally. 
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The final result takes the amount raised by the club during the event's four years, to more than $100,000. 

A new festival is set to chase Queenscliff’s winter blues away. 

The state government has announced $30,000 in funding to help deliver the town’s inaugural Winter Arts Fest this coming June. 

The event, an initiative of the Borough of Queenscliff’s Tourism and Economic Development Advisory Committee (TEDAC), will showcase artists, musicians, performers and local food an wine to “create an indulgent festival of soul-warming entertainment and experiences.”

Illuminated sculptures and light projections linking with the towns’ significant historical and maritime pasts will be also a key feature of the programs.

“The Winter Arts Fest is a great chance for the community to welcome visitors and enjoy a rich diversity of arts and performance in regional Victoria,” said Bellarine MP Lisa Neville. 

“We’re the events capital, and we want to stay that way. Our Regional Events Fund is helping grow our world-class calendar of events.”
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The Borough has pledged close to $20,000 for the event.

Some time in the early 1900s Arthur Streeton stood on the cliff face overlooking Queenscliff front beach and painted the beautiful view layed out before him. 

It was a return trip for the artist, who had lived here for a time as a child, while his father was Principal of the local primary school. 

Early next year Streeton will make yet another return visit to our shores, his most significant yet. 

In what is being regarded as a major coup, Queenscliff Gallery and Workshop will exhibit never-before published prints of etchings done by the artist during his travels to England in 1908. 

For eight weeks from March the gallery will exhibit the works in a landmark show, set to draw potentially thousands of visitors to the town. Nine contemporary artists in residence will also be part of the exhibition, demonstrating Streeton's influence. 

By luck, chance or maybe even karma, the Gallery’s Theo and Soula Mantalvanos were entrusted with the precious pieces after meeting Streeton’s grandson, William Streeton early in 2016. 
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“It’s funny how this story all comes together,” says Theo. “William came into the gallery and I just said to him, like I do to any customer, ‘how’s your day, what have you been doing,’ and then I asked if he had seen the lovely exhibition of Streeton’s at the Geelong Gallery.  He said, ‘I have seen the exhibition, I’m his grandson.’” 

When William mentioned he might pop back in, Theo thought little of it until a week later when he returned with the badly damaged plates, wrapped in a blanket. 

“He asked did we want to have a look at them and did we want to have a go at repairing them,” says Theo.
 
“My immediate thought and comment to him was ‘we don’t want to damage them’ and his response was ‘they already are so let’s do something, the worst thing that’s going to happen is they get damaged more so.’” 

The couple immediately turned to highly-regarded Queenscliff-based mezzotint artist Graeme Peebles – an “icon” of printing, according to Theo. 

“We got excited but we realised we couldn’t keep cleaning by hand, it was going to take days and days and that’s when we engaged Graeme to clean them further as best he knows how. 

“Without his help we would not have got as far as we did and he’s humble and he’s genuine and he loves what he does and we love having his work.”

The precious bounty has remained secret for some six months while the trio, with full blessing from Streeton’s remaining family - worked behind the scenes to revive the plates. They managed to illicit his stunning imagery from 11. 

One, used as a putty palette, was unsalvageable. A chunk of copper had been removed from another and used for running plumbing repairs in the Streeton family home. 

Revered the world over for his stunning landscape paintings, the etchings, although never previously editioned printed, reveal Streeton also showed promise in printmaking. 

“They’re beautiful pieces, I’m not just saying that,” Theo says. “Arthur Streeton would have drawn on the plates as a lot of artists do and he would have had another artist doing the technical side of it.”

The significance of the find and its potential impact on Queenscliff is unfathomable. A selection of works by an artist of Streeton’s stature has never before been exhibited here before. 

The Land of Golden Fleece - The Geelong Art Gallery’s recent show of Streeton’s significant works drew thousands. As luck would have it, the Queenscliff show will also coincide with an Australia Post celebration of the artist's 150th anniversary. 

Soula and Theo are hoping local business and the wider community will embrace the event - even take up the chance to be one of a few corporate sponsors.

“We’re about art and we’re about art education as well,” said Soula. “These prints may have gone away and never be seen and we didn’t want that to happen. And we also wanted to show the process behind them, and we don’t think that that’s ever going to be possible again either.

“The plates are going to be up, the prints are going to be up, admission will be free and everybody is going to be able to walk straight in and see that but also the legacy that an artist like that leaves behind.
Any business or individual wishing to become a sponsor can obtain a proposal document by emailing; gallery@qgw.com.au

A group of local artists, writers and musicians has unveiled a "big picture' plan to turn Point Lonsdale’s Lighthouse Reserve into a leading arts and cultural precinct,  drawing inspiration from other prominent destinations including Heidi, Monstalvat and the Abbotsford Convent. 

But they have stressed the vision is not a profit making venture, rather a plan to ensure the reserve is protected from the threat of inappropriate development once and for all. 
 
“We are residents of Point Lonsdale who are passionate about the area, its heritage and landscape,” said project director Matt Davis.

“We have long been struck by the beauty of the Reserve space, and disturbed by its lack of accessibility and functionality. It has been fenced off, left derelict for years and past proposals have polarised the community, highlighting the desire of many to see the landscape untouched, while others are in support of the site’s potential development,” he said. 

Titled a “Creative Step Forward,” the detailed proposal includes several elements;
■ An annual “Lighthouse” festival celebrating local history, art, music, food, wine and culture. This would incorporate around 20 musical acts performing across three stages, installations commissioned by local and international artists, talks and discussions by leading scholars, a children’s area, health and wellbeing space and a celebration of locally-produced food and wine 
■ A Lighthouse Cinema – screening free open air movies for children and adults on Saturday evenings throughout Summer, supported by food vans and a wine bar
■ A Welcome Centre would be situated at the entrance to the area and designed "to present the history of the area in a new and exciting way."
■ A Gallery to showcase the work of emerging and established artists.
■ A theatre dedicated to live performance across all artistic disciplines.
■ An artists residency program, and  
■ A cafe

The creative team behind the vision includes Mr Davis, a freelance writer and musician, his wife, actor and writer Jayne Tuttle, freelance artist, musician and yoga teacher Suzie Wyllie and her husband, record producer Nick Huggins, as well as Kitty Walker - Development team manager of the acclaimed Bangarra Dance Company. 

The proposal would use existing buildings on site, or work within existing development footprints. 
"We see this renewed site becoming the heart of the Borough, a home for the art and cultural heritage of the area and, in this way, truly returning it to the community."

Mr Davis said he had floated the idea to newly-elected councillors and some community groups and had received a “generally positive response.” 

Given community anger over the talk of development and, more recently, a push to have the precinct heritage listed, he is also expecting rejection from some sections.

 “Our proposal is to return the site to the community by using the existing landscape and buildings to create an arts and cultural centre that honours the history and heritage of the land, while inviting the local and wider community to engage with it.

“Our vision is inspired by such arts precincts as The Abbotsford Convent, Heide, Montsalvat, CERES, MONA in Hobart and Le Centquatre in Paris,” he said.

“In short we feel the strength of the idea is this: it would keep the area in the community’s hands while offering a cultural hub to residents and the wider community, putting Point Lonsdale on the map as a place of cultural and artistic relevance.”
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The proposal can be viewed in full and the group is keen to hear community feedback at; facebook.com/creativestepforward.

Fresh to performing his unique show to multiple standing ovations at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, internationally renowned musician Matthew Fagan is this month set to wow Queenscliff audiences. 

From Bach to the Beatles, Spanish Flamenco to Led Zepplin and Celtic Harp Music on unique 10 String guitar, Lord of the Strings provides the ultimate music journey packed with humour. 

Fagan is a gifted virtuoso guitarist and composer of over 30 years of performance, composition and educational experience. He has toured and performed in over 120 countries and alongside international celebrities Natalie Cole, The Original Buena Vista Social Club, Billy Connolly, Shirley Bassey and Michael Crawford. 
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The tour with Billy Connolly was so successful that Billy made a gift of his own Banjo to Matthew as a token of his gratitude and was quoted saying: “Matthew is the best guest artist I have ever toured with.”
Lord of the Strings is on at the  Uniting Church, Queenscliff at 4pm, Sunday 20th November. Tickets $20.

Two significant exhibitions are sailing into Queenscliff this month and are set to provide a major drawcard for maritime enthusiasts. 

A perfectly scaled model of the Queen Mary II is among the highlights of the fourth annual Model Boat Exhibition. 

The event, from September 25 to October 1, will feature upwards of 100 craft, highlighting a rich tradition of miniature boat building skills. 

“We approached the Victorian model maker clubs and the response has been positive, said Darren Albutt, who together with renowned boat building father Gil have initiated the exhibition. 

“There should be around boats including the Queen May 2, which is 3.6 metres [in length]. There will be all sorts of models from yachts, Navy ships and couta boats,” he said. 

A water tank will also be set up to display radio-controlled craft.
 
The popular fundraiser is returning to the Queenscliffe Maratime Museum after a haiatus of several years. 
“Dad put together the previous three model boat exhibitions in the 90’s and he thought one was well overdue,” Mr Albutt said.

Meantime the Museum has secured the Victorian rights to host the Australian National Maritime Museum’s (ANMM) acclaimed ‘War at Sea’ travelling exhibition.

It includes a stunning pictorial display detailing the history of the Australian Navy during World War I. 
The exhibition features many rare artefacts from the collections of the ANMM, National Film and Sound Archives and the Australian War Memorial.
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War at Sea will be officially opened by Commander Terry Makins, Shrine of Remembrance Governor and President of the Naval Commemoration Committee of Victoria President, on Sunday September 11 at 2pm. It will run until Friday November 30.

Some of the Bellarine's brightest young artists will showcase their talents during this month's Headstart Youth Art Exhibition. 

Queenscliff Neighbourhood House is playing host to the event  which seeks to give loal youth, aged 14 to 20, a platform to "express their creativity, ideas, talents and imagination." 

Youth coordinator Aaron Ford said upwards of 14 pieces had been submitted for the show, including paintings, photography and other genre. 

"Hopefully it is something we will do every year and hopefully we will get more schools involved  as it grows," he said. 

"The theme is home and that can be whatever the artist interprets it as, It can be abstract, it can be literal or it could be where you think your home is." 

Point Lonsdale's Beth Hodge has created a chair in the shape of a seated man, wearing a dress. 

"I've twisted the word home, the chair man is a transgender woman. I want to show in some homes this is normal way of life.  

Harley Olsen has submitted an embellished portrait of his sister's face. 
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"I did that to show I can take a part of my family, my home,  anywhere with me," he said.