New regional experience sees guests lunch, learn and reconnect with themselves

Words by Della Vreeland
Images supplied

Partners in life and business Gorgi and Simon Coghlan have launched yet another inspiring enterprise, set to allure lovers of nature, food and wellness.

Set amidst the stunning surrounds of the Coghlans’ Bermingham Farm (and aptly titled as such), the project aims to nourish the body, mind and soul through a series of special events that will “provide a space for people to be the best version of themselves. To be better connected to their own story and the stories of others”.

‘We’re doing this for people to connect with themselves and come home to themselves,’ Gorgi says. ‘It’s a magical place for people to reconnect with who they are.’

People have come out of the pandemic after so much self-reflection, thinking – I am in control of my happiness and destiny, and that’s where I want to spend my time and my money.

Located just outside of Ballarat, the Coghlans have lived on their property for 10 years and have spent a decade pouring time, love and energy into perfecting their home. Now, they are ready to share it with all those who would like to partake of its wonder.

‘We’ve been planning this unconsciously for 10 years,’ Gorgi says. We’ve had friends here for parties and events who have said this is exactly what they’ve needed – to be back in nature, to reconnect and have their loads lightened.

‘There is something special about this place and about simplifying your life.’

The initial events to be held at the farm include a series of Lunch and Learn personal growth and wellness workshops at the property’s stables – facilitated by leading health professionals who will explore the acclaimed works of Dr Brené Brown, and hosted by Gorgi herself.

The events are comprised of meditation sessions, tours of the perfectly-manicured Bermingham gardens, delicious locally-made fare, immersive presentations, and – ultimately – the chance to “come home to yourself”.

‘When you want to seek help, you don’t know where to start. But Dr Brown’s work is so relatable. She shares her own flaws and struggles, and we are so lucky to have her work and her facilitators coming to our farm and acting as an entry point.’

From next year, the space will also play host to the Bermingham x Chef series and Bermingham Farm Garden series which Gorgi says would be a ‘celebration of agri-tourism’.

‘The Garden series will be really cup-filling and feature nourishing country cooking and preserving techniques, bringing exciting people to Ballarat and also showcasing bigger names in exciting different ways.’

With the Coghlans’ award-winning boutique Ballarat hotel The Provincial now on the market, the duo now has more time to spend on this labour of love and other projects – including more on-stage performances and a return to broadcasting for Gorgi in 2023.

‘We love hospitality and entertaining and so we thought – how do we combine all those things together? That’s what Birmingham farm has ended up being.’


THE DETAILS:

WHAT: Bermingham Farm
WHEN:  Events commencing in 2023
BOOKINGS: Bermingham Farm

We wish to acknowledge the Wadawurrung people as traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

An immersion into nature and the outdoors this spring at Sovereign Hill

Words by Della Vreeland
Images Supplied

As the bleakness of the last few months drifts away and the springtime unfolds in its stead, our readiness to shake away the winter blues and embrace all that nature has to offer becomes much more pronounced.

To help sate our yearning to reconnect with our surrounds, Sovereign Hill is hosting a whole suite of activities during the spring which will encourage visitors to explore the beauty of Ballarat’s natural wonders all while discovering the best elements of the award-winning outdoor museum.

Bush Fun Day

Sovereign Hill School HolidaysThis school holiday program held at Sovereign Hill’s Narmbool property is a family-friendly event set to enchant all the nature lovers out there.

Cook some warming damper for morning tea before setting off on an exploration of the 2000-hectare working farm. Narmbool’s expert guides will walk you through the property where native wildlife thrives, and the sights, sounds and smells of Mother Nature abound.

The day will end with lunch and roasted marshmallows over an open campfire. Pure bliss.

Take a look here.

Herbal Medicine Foundations

Sovereign HillThis special workshop will give you the chance to explore what lies beneath nature’s surface as you discover the medicinal properties contained in plants. Concoct your own herbal oils, salves and balms, create tinctures and tonics, and learn how the land can contribute to your health and well-being.

The workshop will be conducted by qualified Ayurvedic practitioner, chef and horticulturist Naomi Ingleton who is currently studying a degree in Western Herbal Medicine. Having worked with herbs from a young age, Naomi grew up on a self-sufficient dairy and potato farm in Gippsland where her grandmother taught her how to use herbs for medicinal purposes.

According to Sovereign Hill deputy chief executive officer Katrina Nitschke, springtime offers the perfect opportunity to explore the wonders of the natural world.

‘Spring is a time for renewal in nature, it can also be a time when we renew our sense of wonder and awe at nature’s capacity to improve our health and well-being,’ she says.

Details here.

Children’s Activities

Ballarat KidsSovereign Hill’s spring calendar of events is also jam-packed with activities to keep the children entertained, so the school holidays don’t need to be so anxiety-inducing!

The Friends of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens will encourage play and creativity, introducing young ones to the beauty of gardens using items found around the grounds of Sovereign Hill, while the 1850s pantomime Blackbeard the Pirate will have the kids and adults in belly laughs.

A new outdoors game has also been conjured up in time for the new season, featuring a map to find clues and hunt for a special prize.

‘Sovereign Hill offers a showcase of new ideas and events designed to inspire and nourish our sense of curiosity and potential,’ Katrina says.


THE DETAILS

WHAT: Sovereign Hill’s Spring Series
WHEN: Now
FIND OUT MORE: Sovereign Hill

We wish to acknowledge the Wadawurrung people as traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

Vegecareian Festival is back, along with a new immersive lightscape

Words by Tehya Nicholas
Images Supplied

If it’s universal compassion you’re after, a day trip to Vegecareian Festival might be an excellent place to start.

In 2013, the Western world’s largest stupa — aptly titled the Great Stupa, standing tall just a short drive outside of Bendigo — began hosting an annual spring festival dedicated to the love of animals and plants. They called it Vegecareian Festival (emphasis on the care) and fast became one of the state’s most popular multicultural family-friendly events before it was shuttered by the pandemic. The one-day extravaganza returns this October 1st, marking a new period of exciting events brightening the Great Supa calendar.

Vegecareian teaches a lot more than just the joys of eating vegetables. The day is infused with the stupa’s central principle of compassion; market stalls of locally made produce are available to purchase, cooking demonstrations feature dishes from around the globe for some free education, and family activities are dotted throughout the day. In an outstanding act of 21st Century altruism, a Buddhist monk will be present to bless your pet if you’re up for bringing them along. Dogs, cats, chickens, and donkeys have been known to receive a blessing in the past.  Even if vegetarianism isn’t your thing, soaking up the goodwill in the air does something nice to your insides.

Marketing and Events Manager at Great Stupa Matthew Griffin told us recently visitor numbers can be expected to grow to between 1000 and 2000 people on the day, plus animal companions. “We wanted to bring people together for education about animal care, introduce people to a vegetarian lifestyle, and give them an opportunity to learn how to cook vegetarian food,” he explains. This free, multifaceted festival is an awesome expression of compassion (a rare and valuable practice in today’s fast-paced world) and marks an exciting opportunity to mingle with the local community.

Once your belly is full with uniformly excellent food and you’re ready for more pleasantries at Great Stupa, head back once a month for their brand new lightscape experience, Enlighten. Vermillion red, cobalt blue, canary yellow, and more vibrant lights have been designed to shimmer off the canvas white of the stupa and flow across their garden, Peace Park. The immersive show presents an exclusive opportunity to view the stupa after dark while live performers roam throughout the evening for your entertainment. Their first event is slated for August 13th, and will be held throughout the year on multiple nights and on special occasions. Tickets are available via their website.


THE DETAILS

WHAT: Vegecareian Festival
WHERE:
Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, 25 Sandhurst Town Road, Myers Flat (Bendigo) VIC 3556
WHEN:
 Saturday October 1st, 10am-3pm
MORE INFO: Great Stupa of Universal Compassion

We wish to acknowledge the Dja Dja Wurrung people as traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

World-class centre celebrates rare and forgotten trades

Images Supplied

According to the Global Footprint Network, if the world lived and consumed resources the same way Australians did, the years’ worth of resources on the planet would be used up by March 12.

But what if we all started to harness our inner artisan, embracing the capacity within to make and create ourselves instead of buying and tossing and leading an ultra consumerist path comprised of low-quality items, cheap plastics and products of low value.

Therein lies the premise behind the all-new Sovereign Hill Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades. Set to open up in September, the highly-anticipated facility will offer budding artisans the chance to dabble in a series of crafts they never knew existed.

An Australian first, the world-class space has been built from a love of heritage and a desire to create things that last.

The educational facility will provide an opportunity for traditional trades, crafts and skills to be explored in a bid to preserve knowledge, encourage innovation and sustainability, and create an environment that champions traditional arts and trades.

Through a series of regular workshops and masterclasses, participants will be offered advanced training in specialist trades including silversmithing, locksmithing, cane rod making, knifemaking, and longbow making, as well as Indigenous crafts such as traditional Wadawurrung weaving.

The Centre’s first workshop will launch in mid-September with local silversmith Rachel Grose where participants will be able to fashion their very own ring to take home.

Over the next few months, artisans including the likes of globally-accredited SAORI weaver Prue Simmons, Wadawurrung weaver Tammy Gilson, armourer and blacksmith Sam Bloomfield, edged tool maker Peter Trott, leather plaiter Bill Webb and bowyer Robert Geddes will take to the stage – showcasing their craft for the benefit of all.

Informed by the past, the Centre for Rare Arts has been imagined as “a world where contemporary practice and future innovation is supported by our dedication to expertise and skill sharing”.

And as it further states on the website: “We think value and worth is defined by more than just price, and that working with expert tradespeople, everyone has the potential to create and contribute to the enduring legacy of human skill.”


THE DETAILS

WHAT: Sovereign Hill Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades
WHEN: Spring 2022
FIND OUT MORE:
raretradescentre.com.au

We wish to acknowledge the Wadawurrung people as traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

Three top chefs to headline Heritage Harvest Weekend

Words by Teyha Nicholas
Images supplied

Ballarat’s favourite tourist spot Sovereign Hill will come alive this Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 May with three top chefs headlining a weekend of food, fun and family.

Heritage Harvest Weekend, now in its delightful Autumn Series, is a celebration of all things old-school, with a real focus on local, fresh produce and cooking techniques. The event will span two days and sees a range of family-friendly tutorials, games and workshops sure to make you forget about your iPhone and pine for a horse and cart.

Top chefs Jo Barrett (Future Food System), Jung Eun Chae (CHAE) and Derek Boath (Underbar) will be welcomed to the Victorian Theatre for six special workshops, guided and facilitated by the former chief restaurant critic for The Age, Gemima Cody. Punters are encouraged to come along and learn about the important arts of preserving, pickling, distilling, curing, drying and fermenting – as well as why local, fresh and seasonal produce are the heroes of these chef’s tables.

Saturday’s sessions belong to Jo Barrett and Jung Eun Chae and will take guests through two very different, yet very intriguing demonstrations. Barrett, an accomplished chef whose days are split between Oakridge Winery and the part art installation, part environmental activist manifesto Future Food System, delights in creating delicious food with a tiny carbon footprint. Her session focuses on unveiling the flavours in proteins of the future; think crickets and alternate meats, as well as the many oft-forgotten foods right under our noses like tiger nuts and grass.

Jung Eun Chae, the legendary Korean chef behind the eponymous six-seat restaurant CHAE, will be guiding folks through the ancient fermenting techniques behind soy sauce, sake and kimchi. In a fast-paced world, her slow cooking produces food that has rarely tasted so good, so best to pay attention to this one.

Sunday sees Ballarat’s own star chef Derek Boath of the well-known yet mysterious Underbar, take to the stage for a classical French style cooking class with a native Australian spin. A chef with the courage in his conviction, he’ll be walking visitors through dishes like wattle seed and lemon myrtle pot de crème sure to wow any guest.

Aside from the food extravaganza, there are plenty of other events across the weekend for all to enjoy. From bowling to candle-making, mine tours to backyard beekeeping, Heritage Harvest Weekend is not to be missed. Tickets on sale via their website.

THE DETAILS
WHAT: Heritage Harvest Weekend | Autumn Series
WHERE: Sovereign Hill, Ballarat
WHEN: Saturday 28 – Sunday 29 May
TICKETS: Admission – $39 for an adult | $20 for a child | $99 for a family
MORE INFO:
Heritage Harvest Weekend

We wish to acknowledge the Wadawurrung people as traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

Experience the High Country at Home with these online sessions

Images Supplied

Lockdown scaries got you down? Looking for a virtual escape? Join some of the High Country’s best hosts in their new series of online interactive experiences, High Country at Home.

Launching this September, High Country at Home brings some of regional Victoria’s most beloved activities and personalities straight into your living room with a collection of classes and virtual visits, all delivered via Zoom.

All online sessions are totally iso-compliant, but that doesn’t mean they compromise on quality or engagement. Some of the region’s best producers, winemakers, distillers and chefs have teamed up to share their knowledge and help sharpen your skills in the kitchen and behind the bar. Each class is designed to get your body moving, and could just be the antidote to the lockdown blues.

Whether you want to upgrade your barista skills to pro-level with Luke Dudley from Sixpence Coffee, or learn how to prepare herbaceous, pillowy gnocchi under the masterful eye of Katrina Pizzini, there’s sure to be a High Country at Home experience for every taste.

Our personal favourite is the rather voyeuristic and adorable High Tea with Meerkats at Mansfield Zoo, where participants watch the meerkats have their (as far as they know) private afternoon tea. If that doesn’t get the serotonin flowing, then nothing will.

All you need to do is book online, wait for your event package to arrive and log on at the prescribed time for your tasty evening with regional Victoria’s best.


THE DETAILS
WHAT: High Country at Home
WHEN: September 2021
WHERE: Online
MORE INFO: High Country at Home

How Bendigo plans to ignite your senses this wintertime

Words by Della Vreeland
Images Supplied

Australia’s first (and only) UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy is taking things up a notch this wintertime with its magical Ignite Festival.

With a sprinkle of razzle and a whole bunch of dazzle, the city will be transformed into a centre of vibrant activity where spirit and imagination abound!

Featuring a plethora of food and drink events, masterclasses and retreats, art and cultural soirees, markets and music festivals, there is an experience set to indulge all.

Here are some of the ways Ignite is set to sparkle your senses this winter season.

See the magic unfold

Ignite BendigoThere is an abundance of performance and culturally instilled events taking place during Ignite, making up the core of the festival program.

The Awaken event will illuminate Rosalind Park, and the Mary Quant Fashion Revolutionary exhibition will continue at the Bendigo Art Gallery (with an accompanying 60s Quant Up Late event).

Taste and smell the fine fare

As a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, you know you’re in for a real (culinary) treat no matter when you visit Bendigo. But come time for the Ignite Festival, and the city’s cafes, restaurants and bars put their best foot forward with a whole series of specially-curated events showcasing the best in local food and drink.

Enjoy a high tea in style, sit down for a Bastille Day feast, experience a Spanish Christmas in July, devour regional fare at the launch of Bendigo’s newest foodie neighbourhood Lyttle Eat Street, get your meat fix at the Slow Smokin’ Saturdays, share a night of wonder and wine under the stars with the Astronomical Society of Victoria, and savour a whole lot of other dinners, lunches and brunches in regional Victoria’s leading food destination.

Proud Dja Dja Wurrung, Latje Latje and Wotjabulluk woman Raylene Harradine will also be hosting a 6Seasons Dinner along with chef Gina Triolo from Bendigo’s Hoo-gah Cafe. The special degustation-styled event will feature six courses, each focussed on the six Aboriginal annual seasons of Birak, Bunuru, Djeran, Makuru, Djilba and Kambarang.

Hear the tunes and tales

Ignite BendigoAnother sure way to warm up during the chilly months is with some sweet melodies and stories – blues on the Victorian Goldfields Railway train or live at Castlemaine’s Taproom, a two-day festival of Americana bands at Shiraz Republic or a session of storytelling about People and Country at the Ulumbarra Theatre.

Feel the warmth as your hands make and create

The festival program has all the hands-on folk covered too, with workshops and masterclasses that will ignite a passion for cooking, creating, cheesemaking and croissant-ing (don’t mind our love for alliteration).

Take up cheesemaking sessions with resident French makers at Long Paddock Cheese, learn the art of croissant making from a Michelin-trained pastry chef, enrol in a cooking class or two, enjoy a one-day mosaic workshop, or try your hand at writing at the Hidden Writer retreats.

Once you’re done making, you can also head to one of the different markets and find some handmade goodness for yourself – nicely rounding off your Ignite experience.

Now there’s a delight for the senses.


THE DETAILS:

WHAT: Ignite Bendigo
WHEN: 1st June – 31st August
FIND OUT MORE: bendigoregion.com.au/explore-bendigo/ignite-bendigo

Our top picks of the East Gippsland Winter Festival you definitely don’t want to miss

Words by Tehya Nicholas
Map by @alex_hotchin
Images Supplied

East Gippsland Winter FestivalAs the frosty winter months set in, there is nothing like an escape to the countryside for a reset. A place to sit by a roaring fire, cosy up with a steaming mug of coffee and marvel at the stars above. Maybe even indulge in an abundance of local produce and fresh seafood, tag along in a moonlit lantern walk and get creative in a cosy art workshop. All this and more is just a short drive away with the East Gippsland Winter Festival happening across three weeks in June and July.

 

 

Kicking off June 19th and wrapping July 11th, the festival will see 86 events – from lavish winter feasts to art installations – pop up across the region. Whether you’re into sampling the finest drop of pinot or getting your hands dirty at a resin workshop, the festival has an event sure to brighten up your winter.

With so much on show, creating an itinerary can be a bit of a struggle. So we went ahead and curated our top seven picks for a winter festival you won’t forget.

Winter Festival and Lane Way Launch

East Gippsland Winter FestivalThe crowning jewel of the festival has got to be its opener. Set in the favourite Gippsland town of Bairnsdale, this launch is one huge, free afternoon of entertainment. You’ll meet friendly locals, community artists and plenty of out-of-towners as you meander down High street catching all the fun. There’ll be live music, roaming performers, art projects and installations, as well as plenty of local food and wine to get your hands on.

Date: Friday 18th June
Location: 154A Main St, Bairnsdale VIC 3875

Winter Seafood Festival

East Gippsland Winter FestivalA little while ago one of the best regional seafood restaurants opened up in Lakes Entrance. Now that restaurant, Sodafish, is hosting a one-day seafood feast for the senses. Chef Nick Mahlook is curating an oyster shucking station, roaming canapés and fine wines to match. Tickets are essential for this one, and we can tell you now it’s going to sell fast.

Dates: Wednesday, 23rd June and Thursday, 01st July
Location: Sodafish, Middle Boat Harbour, The Esplanade, Lakes Entrance

Lakes Light Festival

East Gippsland Winter FestivalMake the most of the long winter nights at the Lakes Light Festival, a moonlit walk to the rugged coastline. After months of steady craftsmanship, community members will light up the night with their handmade lanterns and meander from Cunninghame Arm to Lakes edge, where they will be met by local Elders and a lake chorus. There’s even a unicycling lantern- juggler to show you the light sculptures and projections dotted along the shoreline.

Date: 5:30PM Saturday, 26th June
Location: Main Beach Walk, Lakes Entrance VIC 3909

Winter Solstice Fire and Light

East Gippsland Winter FestivalOn the evening of Winter solstice, guests are invited to gather by the bonfire in Bruthen for a night of sharing stories and entertainment. United by the theme of fire and light, expect fire sculptures, food trucks, Wacky Wombat roving entertainment and later an exciting fire act. Primary school kids from Bruthen and Tambo Upper Primary School, plus little ones from Bruthen Kindergarten and community members will parade their homemade lanterns under the guidance of two experienced artists. Pack a picnic rug, some woollen blankets and cosy up for a spectacular night.

Date: Saturday 19th June
Location: 29 Main St, Bruthen VIC 3885

Resin Art Workshop

East Gippsland Winter FestivalWhether you consider yourself creative or not, the gentle art of resin painting is one to soothe the soul. This workshop is guided by professional artists to help you make your very own epoxy resin masterpiece. With a huge range of colours and pigments available, you’ll be whiling away the morning or afternoon with playfulness in the beautiful Saltwater Creative Studio. No experience needed!

Date: Wednesday 23rd June, Saturday 26th June, Saturday 10th July
Location: The Saltwater Creative Co, Marine Parade, Lakes Entrance

World Bathing Day Celebrations

East Gippsland Winter FestivalThis one is definitely not to be missed. In celebration of World Bathing Day, bright-eyed punters can partake in some sunrise pop-up bathing at the Metung Hot Springs. While soaking up the morning sun, you’ll join the live streamed Global Sound Bath Movement as sites from all over the world capture an Instagram image at the same time to celebrate WBD.

But the good times don’t stop there; at 11am or 4pm there’s a special guided tour of the hot springs (which haven’t even opened to the public yet), followed by some feel-good tree planting and refreshments.  Best of all, it’s entirely free.

Date: Tuesday 22nd June
Location: 73 Storth Ryes Ave, Metung VIC 3904

Fire and Rain Exhibition Opening

The Great Alpine Gallery is swinging open its doors for an evening of artistic celebration. In this new exhibit, local artists and makers have been reflecting on cataclysm, regrowth, beauty and vulnerability – themes existing with abundance in the rugged Gippsland region.

Mingle with community members, artists and fellow art-lovers amongst the warm glow of locally crafted lanterns by the Great Alpine Basketry Group, and maybe take a postcard or two home from the gift shop.

Date: Friday 2nd July
Location: Great Alpine Gallery, 6881 Great Alpine Road, Swifts Creek


THE DETAILS
WHAT:
East Gippsland Winter Festival
WHERE: Various venues across East Gippsland
WHEN: June 19th – July 11th, 2021
MORE INFO: East Gippsland Winter Festival

A new 3 week festival is coming to East Gippsland this winter

Images Supplied

One takeaway from 2020 we’re glad to embrace is the backyard getaway. Amidst the uncertainty of international (and at times interstate) travel, there’s never been a better time to explore your own state. From charming small towns, a vibrant arts scene, local produce the envy of many, spectacular coastlines, excellent eateries and much more, there’s one place that has this all wrapped up – East Gippsland.

East Gippsland Winter Festival (June 18 to July 11) is a celebration of all things art, music, wine, craft beer and local produce. Spread over three weeks there will be a raft of activities including interactive art installations, pop-up events, live music, workshops, exclusive dinners and lavish feasts showcasing the best the region has to offer.

With bushfires, drought and Covid challenging many a local business, festival founder Adam Bloem was looking for a way to attract more people to the region. ’I wanted something that encouraged people to stay a bit longer and travel around and explore all of the little towns and villages.’

We now have over 70 events on our festival program and the majority of these have been devised and organised by local businesses, community groups and passionate locals. The response has been overwhelming and we can’t wait to welcome thousands of visitors to East Gippsland over winter where there will be lots of things to see, do, eat and drink right across the region.

From Mallacoota to Paynesville, north to Omeo and everywhere in between, friendly locals can’t wait to share their special corner of the world with you. Kick it off on Friday, June 18 with the official festival opening in Bairnsdale with live music and roving performers, as well as a bevy of food/wine options and art projections throughout the town.

Pencil in the Pinot Picnic and Masterclass on Sunday, June 20 thanks to the acclaimed Sardine Eatery + Bar and Lightfoot & Sons Winery. This not-to-be-missed event salutes Gippsland Lakes District’s exceptional pinot noir at Lightfoot and Son’s cellar door. The winemaker-guided Masterclass will take place in their barrel room with guests enjoying a Sardine Eatery picnic box filled with cheese, charcuterie and conserves.

This year’s winter solstice on Monday, June 21 just happens to coincide with World Bathing Day. Join bathers from across the globe at sunrise for a live-streamed Global Sound Bath. From the new pop-up bathing area on the future Metung Hot Springs site, drink in the beauty of the natural surrounds for a calm and balanced start to your day.

#worldbathingday

The Lakes Light Festival on Saturday, June 26 promises to be a festival highlight. Watch a mural painting as it unfolds in both a virtual sense and in reality at the former iceworks factory, and now arts hub, in Lakes Entrance.

Is it time to unleash your inner artist? Then don’t miss the lantern making workshop on Tuesday, June 29 in Swifts Creek. This idyllic town in the Tambo Valley is quickly developing a strong reputation for its arts scene and part in the Great Alpine Arts Trail. Experienced local artists will guide you through the process and shine a light on your creative side. Great fun for all ages!

One of the festival standouts has to be the Sailors Grave Deep Winter Festival on Saturday, July 3. Sailors Grave is a darling of the craft beer scene for good reason. Their complex beers (and idiosyncratic branding) tell the story of their unique region, their terroir. None more so than their recent release Dark Emu Dark Lager, a collaboration with Uncle Bruce Pascoe honouring indigenous culture and knowledge.

The Deep Winter event kicks off at 6 pm at the home of Sailors Grave brewery, a 100-year-old butter factory on the banks of the Snowy River. Music will be provided by post-punk Oz rock band Shepparton Airplane and other special guests, with food by Melbourne butchers Meatsmith. Co-founders Gab and Chris Moore can’t wait to welcome you.

By now you’re thinking it might be a great idea to plan a little exercise and thankfully the area has some of the most scenic trails in the state. Little River Gorge Walk will certainly get the blood pumping but also rewards that effort with a stunning view over one of Victoria’s deepest gorges and the mis-named Little River. Of course, a leisurely stroll around one of the area’s many lakes might be more your pace. Check out some of the options here.

So many activities – both day and night – means you’re going to need somewhere to stay. With accommodation options from traditional B&Bs, luxe glamping or maybe a waterside retreat complete with mooring for your boat, there’s no excuse not to head east this winter.

THE DETAILS

WHAT: East Gippsland Winter Festival
WHERE: Various locations around East Gippsland
WHEN: Saturday 19th June – Sunday 11th July 2021
MORE INFO:  Register for program updates at the East Gippsland Winter Festival website.

Learmonth Cider branches out

Images by Café Sidra & 321 Cider

With this year’s bumper harvest, it’s all happening for Learmonth Cider. Maybe it was something to do with Covid-19’s enforced dormancy but this year is already bearing plenty of fruit.

You’d think they’d be busy enough with this season’s cider production. Well, they’re also about to launch classes in orchard management and cider-making. Sign me up!

Kingston Black, Michelin and Yarlington Mill are only some of the genuine cider apple cultivars grown at the nearby picturesque Spring Vale Farm. These apples are then picked, juiced and processed into three different cider styles. It is these UK and European traditional varieties, as opposed to reconstituted apple concentrate used in some ciders, that gives the finished cider its complex flavour profile.

‘The fruit will now go through processing, that is juicing and cider-making, to produce our Cuvée, Traditional and Heritage products,’ explains Philip Comrie of Learmonth Foundation, the organisation that governs Learmonth Cider. ‘The other thing that’s happening is we’re also doing community cider.’

Local residents can also bring in their own homegrown apples to receive the cider treatment and raise funds for local projects along the way. This ‘community cider’ is only part of Learmonth Cider’s commitment to the region.

Words like innovation get thrown around too easily but this is one time it sticks. Plans are afoot to transform the old primary school and surrounds into a multi-use destination featuring an education, research and training centre, brewing facility, plantings of experimental varieties of apples and pears as well as an upgrade of buildings and gardens.

Pretty soon you’ll be able to visit their cider hall for a tasting, a slice of pizza and a game of pétanque. What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

THE DETAILS

WHAT: Learmonth Cider
WHERE: 322 High St, Learmonth
WHEN: Tuesday to  Saturday 8:30am – 2pm
MORE INFO: Learmonth Cider