Geelong: A New Home for the Spirit of Tasmania

In 2022 Port Melbourne bid farewell to the iconic ship that was a familiar site at the end of the Port Melbourne Pier. Setting up new at brand new facilities at Geelong Quay in North Geelong, the local community of Geelong were excited to see the day finally arrive when the Spirit of Tasmania called this once sleepy town its new Victorian home.

The picturesque coastal city of Geelong has recently become the proud new home of the Spirit of Tasmania, marking a significant milestone in the maritime history of this vibrant region. With its deep-rooted maritime heritage, Geelong proves to be the perfect harbour for this iconic vessel, known for bridging the gap between the Australian mainland and the enchanting island state of Tasmania. As the Spirit of Tasmania finds its haven in Geelongs waters, a new chapter unfolds, promising boundless opportunities for travellers and locals alike.

Why Geelong locals are so excited

1. Embracing Geelongs Maritime Heritage:

Steeped in maritime traditions, Geelong has always had a close affinity with the sea. Its strategic location on Corio Bay made it a bustling port and a hub for trade and travel. With the Spirit of Tasmania now calling Geelong home, this connection is revitalised, rekindling the citys love affair with the ocean. Geelong&#821...

Queenscliff Music Festival 2023 revealed its second artist announcement yesterday, adding another 10 artists to the bill, including Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls (UK), Katy Steele (Little Birdie), the Merindas and bluesman Frank Sultana.

Also named in the latest reveal was Melbourne Americana band Georgia State Line, who were nominated for an ARIA last year and won Music Victoria Awards Best Country Work for 2022.

Georgia Delves, the bands singer, acoustic guitarist and principal songwriter, said she and the band were so excited to be joining QMF 2023.

I think Queenscliff is up there as one of the festivals weve been hanging out to play, she said.

Queenscliff and Port Fairy (Folk Festival) are kind of the big names in the industry in terms of folk festivals, theyre the ones you really strive to get, so were definitely ticking a little bucket list number off.

Georgia State Line have been recognised in recent years as a genuine talent in the Australian country and Americana scene, with Delves herself receiving comparisons with American legend Lucinda Williams.

Delves said playing bigger shows was still not the norm for Georgia State Line, but she was really looking forward to having the opportunity again at QMF in November.

Those moments when you play to a massive audience, its amazing, but still kind of a rarity for us, she said.

We did Port Fairy in March and one of our shows was to a very full tent, it was just a really nice moment.

Were still mostly playing small to medium audiences, and we like that. But its those moments where you feel like youre in the zone and youre doing what youre meant to be doing, its just nice.

Im just committed to a life of creating and writing music. Ive tried many other jobs and nothing brings me as much joy as stepping on stage with my band and playing songs. Its such a fulfilling creative journey.

For a full list of artists at the 2023 Queenscliff Music Festival visit www.qmf.net.au/artists.

The post QMF second artist announcement appeared first on Ocean Grove Voice.

Its a rollercoaster in Tennis Geelongs Section 1 Girls at the end of round 10 with top spot changing three times in the last four weeks and only 17 points separating all the teams.

The six teams have now played each other twice, so with the remaining five matches, all the girls will be pushing for every game, to ensure they arent the unlucky ones to miss finals.

Geelong Lawn backed up its 4-2 round 5 win over Barwon Heads, reclaiming top spot in the process this week rolling the Heads 6-0.

While the points and games were hard fought, Lawn proved too strong, with a broken string not hindering Alex Tidlacka in her 6-3 singles win.

The Heads dropped from first to fourth with the loss, highlighting how close the battle for finals positions is.

Beachside and Surfcoast Torquay tied on sets with Torquay ahead by three games in their last meeting, but the home court advantage this week helped Beachside avenge the loss in empathic fashion, also taking a 6-0 win.

Torquay struggled in the singles, but Adele McNamara and Elyssa Mutton were pushed in the first doubles winning through 6-4 for Beachside, while Jasmine Phillips and Pearl Thompson had to fight hard for the second doubles, eventually winning 7-5, pushing the team from fourth to second.

Highton and Wandana Heights have had two of the closest results in both their matches, both level on sets and the result going to Wandana by one game in round 5, and Highton by seven games this week.

Wandana started well with Neena Cumming and Putu Coco Warita winning the first two singles, before Jemima Stansfield won the third for Highton and Wandana was unable to field a player for the fourth singles.

Cumming and Warita then teamed up to take the one doubles set 6-4.

Highton finished the morning with a win and is now only 10 points out of the four.

This week will see Geelong Lawn host Highton, Barwon Heads hosts Surfcoast Torquay and Wandana Heights faces Beachside, with every outcome likely to affect ladder positions.

Good form running into the finals couldnt be more important for all teams to give themselves the best chance of making the grand final on September 2.

The post Top spot up for grabs appeared first on Ocean Grove Voice.

A new photography exhibition showcases the natural beauty of Queenscliffs landscapes and inhabitants.

Queenscliff Neighbourhood Houses (QNH) Through Our Eyes gallery exhibition features works from five amateur photographers that opened on July 15 and will run to August 20 from 10am to 4pm.

Gallery committee member Jocelyn Adam said she was glad to be able to offer a very unique opportunity for the photographers to showcase their work.

Its a real thrill to watch them all come together, she said.

We like to support emerging artists and artists that havent exhibited before.

One of the five featured photographers, Dennis Parrish, said his inspiration came from his travels and that it felt a bit strange to have his photos included in the exhibition.

I like how you can play around with different angles and techniques of photographing to create an interesting image that evokes a thought or feeling, he said.

To actually see them up on the wall with people looking at them is a bit surreal, but its exciting and quite thrilling.

Mardi Simons said she liked to focus on how light, design, pattern, and colour could occur in a photo and that being included in the exhibition was exciting and rewarding.

I dont take photos with the view of exhibiting them, she said.

I take them because something there has caught my eye and because its satisfying to me.

Fran Faulkner said she used her phone to produce photos and that the exhibition came together really well.

Its nice to have people looking at them and appreciating the things weve appreciated, she said.

The exhibition will also include works by Ocean Grove photographers Grant Allen and Carole Poustie.

The post New exhibition at QNH appeared first on Ocean Grove Voice.

Torquay Lions Club has received a Certificate of Appreciation for its teddy bears and koala project.

Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) Torquay unit controller Mark Heaysman presented the certificate to Torquay Lions service chair Catherine Rowe and Lion Bill Ferguson on Monday, July 10.

Mr Ferguson said the club distributed teddy bears and koalas to the local police, VICSES, Country Fire Authority (CFA) and ambulance personnel to give out to traumatised youth.

Those emergency response people are often the ones that deal with situations where theres trauma or some sort of emergency has occurred, he said.

We give them these bears so that they can hand them over and maybe that provides some comfort for the child and family.

Mr Ferguson said the club regularly provides teddy bears and koalas to the local emergency services and that they all do a fabulous job.

We can all visualise how children involved in some unsuspecting event can be disturbed at not understanding what is happening around them, he said.

The bears and koalas are just one other way Torquay Lions is able to serve its local community through the services of others.

Mr Ferguson said the club was looking to potentially deliver more teddy bears and koalas to needy families through Torquay Lions work with Feed Me Surf Coast.

You see a lot of people who are doing it tough and in need in that situation too, he said.

We were thinking about taking bears with us on some of those runs because its not uncommon to deliver food to a single mum with a couple of kids. So that will cheer up their day as well.

The post Lions helping children with bears appeared first on Ocean Grove Voice.

Prepare those taste buds folks! The 18th Amendment Bar, Geelongs coolest speakeasy, and the scrumptiously new Bahjong Dumpling Bar have joined forces in a match made in foodie heaven that will take your cocktail game to a whole new level!

Picture this: Youre sipping on a delightful cocktail at the 18th Amendment, soaking in the swanky atmosphere, and suddenly, the tantalizing aroma of fresh dumplings fills the air. Its not a mirage; its the real deal! Thanks to their epic collaboration (kicking off on 21 July), you can now summon dumplings straight to your table as you sip your favourite concoctions.

Keep up with the latest food and booze news across the region here.

 

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APA will perform Shadows of Angels, directed by Iris Walshe-Howling and Janine McKenzie, at 3pm and 7pm at Lorne Community Connect on Saturday, July 22.

Based on true events and set in the slums of Melbourne in the 1920s, the play focuses on four women and their connections to a violent crime.

Played by talented actors Stacey Carmichael, Julie Fryman, Lina Libroaperto and Nikki Watson, the four women relate their recollections of the horrific events, slowly exposing the mysterious connections that led to the crime.

Shadow of Angels features a haunting and emotionally rich original score composed and performed live by Kirsten Honey that intensifies the works themes of marginalisation, gender, sexuality, class and crime.

Co-director McKenzie said the issues explored in the play, as well as its poetic and powerful language, were what drew her to Shadows of Angels.

Three of these characters operate in the shadows of society so the spotlight is put on these characters who would otherwise not have a prominent voice and place in the telling of Australian stories and history, she said.

Women are placed very much at the forefront of this story. I think its really important. Were telling this story because there are echoes and shades of those lives still present in our own society.

APA will also hold an open rehearsal of Shadows of Angels at Kildare Theatre, Clonard College on Sunday, July 23, the last rehearsal before heading off to Edinburgh.

The open rehearsal will also include a performance a/lone, a dynamic physical theatre work featuring Stacey Carmichael that is also travelling to Edinburgh Fringe, at 6pm. Entry will be via donation.

For more information and tickets visit angleseaperformingarts.com/productions. To support APAs travel to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival visit australianculturalfund.org.au.

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Featuring an Asian-inspired menu that pays tribute to owner Shanny Ohs Malaysian and Chinese heritage, this Hamlyn Heights caf is kicking all the foodie goals, especially when it comes to sweets. 

Keep up with the latest food and booze news across the region here.

 

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The Geelong Fly Fishing Club will welcome fly casters from across the state when it hosts the Australian Casting Federations (ACF) Victorian Fly Casting Championships this weekend.

Held at the Geelong Casting Pool at Barwon Valley Park in Belmont on Sunday, July 23 between 9.30am and 3pm, the event features three accuracy events and three distance events.

Competitors will vie for awards for both disciplines as well as the title of Victorian Champion for the aggregate top scorer across all events.

Geelong Fly Fishing Club member and ACF vice president Ron Heath encouraged members of the public to wander down, watch the event and speak to club members if they were interested in taking up the sport.

Were always encouraging people to come down and have a look, Mr Heath said.

We always get people having a look and asking questions about it, and I always find that if theyre interested enough to come and ask questions they might just come along and try it.

Mr Heath has represented Australia at the sports world championships and is currently the official casting coach for the ACF.

He said fly casting was a fantastic sport for people of all ages and one that would improve anyones fishing.

Ive been fly fishing since about 1967, and (involved in competition) since about 1970; a long time, Mr Heath said.

Its all about the camaraderie. Im 80 years old and I still enjoy it. Its all about catching up, having a chat and talking a bit of rubbish; thats what most fishermen do.

The club will also host the national championships in Geelong on August 20.

The post Geelong welcomes Victorias best fly fishers appeared first on Ocean Grove Voice.

Its a good time to buy a home in the Greater Geelong region, according to new data from the Real Estate Insitute of Victoria (REIV).

House prices dropped by 4.4 per cent in Geelong during the second quarter of this year, with many areas across the region seeing more than a two per cent movement in each direction.

Drysdale had the biggest median price drop, which fell by 9.4 per cent with a median sale price of $700,000, followed by Barwon Heads (-5.4&percnt) at $1.85 million and Belmont (-4.8&percnt) at $690,000.

Other suburbs to see a more than two per cent quarterly price decrease during the April to June period were Portarlington (-4.6&percnt), East Geelong (-3.5&percnt), and Corio (-2.9&percnt).

Manifold Heights had the largest quarterly growth with an increase of 22.8 per cent and 1.21 million median sale price, while Geelong West rose by 0.5 per cent at $1.01 million.

REIV president Andrew Meehan said it was interesting how Greater Geelong house prices had lowered during the quarter but increased over the past six months.

As the markets seen with the quarterly change increase regionally from Victoria, I would expect that to be continuing and would be reflected in the Greater Geelong pricing, he said.

The prices are stable, were seeing increases elsewhere, so despite them being down for the quarter but up for the six months in Geelong, Id say its a reasonably good time to buy.

Mr Meehan also said the days on the market for homes were less than the regional average, with many suburbs recording less than 40 days, such as Highton and Corio, which reported only 31 days.

Its a good time for buyers to be entering the market with a bit of a downturn in the last quarter, but up in the last six months, he said.

From what I am hearing there is strong buyer demand which is probably why theres shorter days on market in the Geelong area.

The post Regional house prices lowered appeared first on Ocean Grove Voice.

Film fans will have the opportunity to support the Bellarine Historical Society (BHS) when it partners with the North Bellarine Film Festival (NBFF) to present acclaimed Australian film The Drovers Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson.

The Drovers Wife is the directorial debut of Indigenous playwright and actress Leah Purcell, who also won Best Lead Actress at the 2022 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards for her performance in the films lead role.

The film will be screened at the Indented Head Community Hall on Sunday, August 6 as a fundraiser for the BHS.

The proceeds will be used to install a ramp for wheelchair and aged access at the societys Court House Museum site in Drysdale, where it holds its impressive collection of photos, records and maps of the Bellarine area.

BHS president Lorraine Stokes OAM thanked the NBFF for facilitating the event to help the historical society raise funds for the access ramp.

The NBFF committee have come up with this idea and theyll run the movie night for us, which is fantastic; its really good of them to help us out here, Ms Stokes said.

Were a volunteer organisation, we receive no funding from any level of government. We raise our own money through research, book sales and donations.

We get busloads wanting to come in from aged care facilities and elsewhere, but we dont have access for people whove got disabilities. So this fundraiser will allow us to be open to everybody.

NBFF chair Bill Lussier said his organisation was proud to help the BHS with its fundraising efforts.

The North Bellarine Film Festival is happy to support the BHS, which has an important role in documenting and educating residents and visitors about the regions history and cultural identity, he said.

For tickets and more information visit trybooking.com/events/landing/1071365

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Fresh from earning herself a nomination as a finalist in this years Australian Women in Music Awards (AWMA), Geelong-based live music photographer Lucinda Goodwin is hosting her second solo show for the year, this time setting up inside Rock O Cashel Lanes Medusa Bar.

LIVE! An Exhibition of Music Photography is the follow-up exhibit to her largest show to date, Retrospect 001 at Platform Arts earlier this year, celebrating her extensive catalogue of 13 years of live music.

Stay up to date with whats happening within the regions art scene here. 

Lucinda Goodwin brings Retrospect 001 to Geelong, a celebration of live music and photography 

LIVE! now aims to shine a spotlight on some of the most iconic images from the internationally published and phenomenally talented creative.

The collection of works in the latest exhibition features Goodwins favourite images from her 13-year career, showcasing a range of local, national and international acts, with never-before-seen commentary on the stories behind the images.

To celebrate the exhibitions arrival on 20 July, esteemed musician Hassall will be playing some tunes from 7pm.

A household name in the Australian music industry and a family favourite in the Geelong music scene, Goodwin has forged herself a strong reputation for capturing the euphoria of the stage, uncovering the opaque nature of backstage, and magnifying musician identity.

Beginning her journey as a photographer as a fresh 18-year-old at Falls Festival in the crowd, Goodwin has has gone on to work with some of the biggest names in the business. Were talking music royalty Sir Elton John, Ed Sheeran, Foo Fighters, Fleetwood Mac, Lauryn Hill, Liam Gallagher, Molly Meldrum, and punks godfather Iggy Pop. She has also snapped Gang of Youths, Good Charlotte, The Kooks, Yungblud, Katy Perry, Seal, Flume, Charlie XCX, Foster The People, Sia, and most...

Queenscliff just got a whole lot more luxurious as SAGRES officially opens its doors to guests.

This iconic beach house, nestled on Victorias stunning Bellarine Peninsula, is now a sought-after luxury accommodation property, and its everything youve been craving for your next coastal escape.

Keep up with the latest Victorian travel destinations, news and tips here. 

Originally constructed in 1991 by the visionary Lady Susannah and Sir Rupert Clarke, the design of SAGRES bears the distinctive touch of the late Wayne Gillespie. A revered architect in Melbourne, Gillespies style is known for its clean lines, abundant natural light, and seamless blending of indoor and outdoor living spaces. Now, SAGRES stands proudly as a contemporary haven, capturing breathtaking views of Nuns Beach in Queenscliff.

After a significant renovation in 2022, the property combines its original luxurious essence with modern elegance. Interior specialist Emily Fitzgerald, along with owner Jo Youl, has curated the finest furniture, art, and textiles from across Australia to create spaces that inspire quality time for families and couples alike. Jo perfectly describes SAGRES aesthetic as a delightful blend of relaxed organic fibres, neutral tones, and textures, sprinkled with playful pops of colour, soft patterns, and quirky objects.

 

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There are those unspoken countries and icons you must visit when travelling, and France is one of them. Known as one of the most romantic cities in the world, French culture is generally synonymous with croissants, coffee, kisses and art, and the one-day music and culinary festival So Frenchy So Chic has managed to tap into that but draw out so much more.

Celebrating the music and culinary decadence of France, the annual event is an unmissable staple of the summer cultural calendar and is set to return to the remarkable Werribee Park Mansion in 2024, the perfect setting for SFSC with the lawn speckled by flower crowns and navy striped parasols amongst the backdrop of 19th-century architecture.

Stay up to date with whats happening in and around the region here.

Produced and catered by admirers of French culture, the garden party will wine and dine patrons through an eclectic array of European wines, showcasing all things fabulous and French at the lush grounds of Werribee Park on the outskirts of Melbourne on 14 January before heading to Centennial Park in Sydney on 20 January.

 

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