Sweeping beaches, dappled seascapes, crashing waves – Torquay’s Jacki Burke tells LUKE VOOGT how her move to the coast inspired her art.

The secrets of art exist to be shared, says Torquay painter Jacki Burke.
Jacki is more than happy to share skills with contemporaries, unlike artists who jealously guard techniques from rivals.
“There are enough walls in the world to hang everybody’s art, as far as I’m concerned,” she declares.
“I love people having success.”
Jacki teaches painting and recently celebrated opening Surf Coast Gallery.
“It’s like a dream come true for me to have this,” she says
“It’s been a long time and it’s just sort of manifested.”
The 54-year-old grew up and spent most her life in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs before moving to Torquay three years ago.
“We just love the beach, we walk it every day,” she says.
“It really is a part of my inspiration.”
Jackie fell in love with art as a child, “surrounded by colour” on a trip to the National Gallery of Victoria.
The gallery’s paintings and its mosaic ceiling enchanted her.
“I just was lying on the carpet staring up full of wonder,” she says.
The love continued, though Jacki never took formal art classes. Her family never had the money to put her through university, she says.
“Art school wasn’t really that important in my family – it was just get out and get a job.”
Working in administration, retail and for people with a disability, Jacki would get in front of the canvas as often as she could.
Primarily self-taught, she sought out professional artists – like Archibald winner Garry Shead.
“I always think the right teacher will cross your path when you’re ready to for them to,” she says
Her marriage in 1981 gave her some more time to explore her art, she says.
“I did my first oil painting when I was pregnant with my son 30-odd years ago.”
Her art picked-up when the last of her children “packed up and left” their North Ringwood house five years ago.
“I was just more focussed that’s all it was,”
Two years later, she won Ringwood Art Society’s Artist of the Year which was the “final trigger” to paint full-time.
“That was the moment I said ‘You know what? I can paint so get on with it’,” she says.
Ironically, it was recent art classes which motivated Jacki to teach. Originally, she started lessons to meet new people and sharpen her skills.
“I don’t think you ever stop learning,” she says
“If I learn just thing I’ve got my money’s worth.”
That was until classmates started to notice her work.
“They would say ‘How do you do that? I want to paint like that’,” she says.
Jacki says fantastic local artists, like Lianne Gough and Janne Kearney, inspire her teaching, which is “about helping people find their own style”.
“A painting is really about them being in their own space – everyone needs colour in their life,” she says.
Painting is a compulsion for Jacki.
“I can’t not paint,” she says.
She paints impressionistic shapes, predominantly landscapes, which come to life before the beholder.
Rather than imitating “photographs”, she says, her impressions “morph” into different objects depending on the viewer.
“I let the eye find what it wants in the painting. Everybody sees something different in it – that’s what gets me going.”
“I can paint photos too – people certainly will buy them – but that’s not where I get my joy.”
Jacki also teaches resin art, which is “much less predictable than paint”.
“It’s expensive, messy and addictive,” she says.
“It’s not a cheap workshop but I can’t keep up with the demand of them.”
It’s important to support local artist, says Jacki.
“Don’t buy art from dead people, buy it from the living. They need the money.”

By Luke Voogt

Hamlyn Heights actress Tara Vagg is earning worldwide exposure thanks to her latest role in Geelong-based comedy Rostered On.
The 25-year-old plays Tess, an employee whose workplace “romances” find her deep water.
“A lot of (her storyline) is how she deals with the consequences of that,” Tara says.
The web series, filmed at Waurn Ponds, explores the lighter side of retail. The show’s now had more than 170,000 views.
Unlike independent films and plays, says Tara, web series can reach well beyond their initial audience.
“Social media is an amazing tool for promotion and it’s done wonders for the series.”
Tara’s also thrilled to work with writer-director Ryan Chamley in her hometown.
“It’s so much fun – the writing is so funny that everybody is bursting into laughter every few minutes,” she says.
“A lot of the time these creative opportunities only happen in Melbourne.”
The Sound of Music introduced Tara to the acting world at 17.
She played Liesl in a Queenscliff Lighthouse Theatre Group production of the timeless classic.
“I love being other characters – you have to create this imaginary world where it’s just you and the other person,” Tara explains.
Tara will star at local film festivals for recent roles in independent movies.
In Fire and Ice she portrays a young woman in a downward spiral into methamphetamine addiction.
Her research included documentaries and YouTube interviews of drug users.
“That was intense – a lot of them wish they never started it but are stuck in that cycle,” she says.
“You don’t judge them. You have to just understand why they do it.”
After studying acting at Federation University in Ballarat, Tara returned to Geelong to teach singing and acting at Moore-Grace acting studio.
But she’s still chasing the dream of making it big in the film industry.
“Since then I’ve been auditioning for as many things as I can,” she says.
Tara’s other loves are music and wildlife.
She sang in Italy and Switzerland for Matthew Flinders Secondary College’s band, Sweethearts, and volunteered with elephants in northern Thailand and orangutans in Borneo.

Geelong’s Murrell family is looking forward to its Chrysler 300 Super Stretch limousine returning “better than ever”.
Murrell Group owners Daryl and Sharon and their staff were devastated when the vehicle was stolen and damaged in April.
But the company’s insurer has confirmed the family’s pride and joy can be repaired.
“It’s a huge deal to have it back,” says Daryl’s son Tim.
“It’s a flagship for the company and holds sentimental value.”
Always turning a negative into a positive, Daryl and the team at Murrell Chauffeur Drive will use the opportunity to undertake some soon-to-be-announced extensive upgrades and refurbishments to the vehicle so Geelong regains access to a state-of-the art limousine.
The limousine will also return re-badged Spirit of Gordon 2 in honour of Daryl’s late father.
Daryl said the family was sincerely grateful for the overwhelming number of Geelong residents who extended their support after the vehicle was damaged.
The ordeal only confirmed his long-held belief that Geelong residents will go out of their way to “look out for one another”, he says.
Progress, rebuild and upgrade information can be followed on Murrell Chauffeur Drive’s Facebook page, which will include pictures.
The company is taking booking inquiries for the limo’s return, tentatively set for 1 January.

By Luke Voogt

For last the 40 years Elizabeth Vorrath has transformed Brambledale Farm from acres of paddocks into vibrant garden full of colour.
But its the views of Port Phillip Bay that make her garden special, she says.
“Lots of people have got better gardens than me – but they haven’t got the view.”
Elizabeth bought the property with husband John in 1974, so he could be near the surf.
John, a 76-year-old former surgeon, still enjoys surfing with his son and grandson out on the bay.
He also received a Medal of the Order of Australia in February, having invented a scope which revolutionised eye, nose and throat surgery.
But despite being “the famous one” of the couple, says Elizabeth, he is mostly relegated to cutting grass.
“He’s not a gardener and he’s not a farmer,” she says
“He mows the grass because he has to – otherwise I get upset.”
“And he’s quite good with chainsaw – under strict supervision,” she adds.
The couple moved from Melbourne to Geelong in the 1970s so John could set up his private practice.
When they bought the property on the Bellarine Highway, near the outskirts Clifton Springs, it was a sheep and potato farm with 85 hectares of empty paddocks.
“There was hardly any trees at all and it had quite bad erosion, because of the potatoes,” Elizabeth says.
The couple built a small “weekender“, before building a permanent home there years later, in 1989.
They built their current house on the middle of the slope, finding a compromise between the best views of the bay and protection from strong winds.
“When you go up on top of the hill the view is incredible,” Elizabeth says.
“But the winds can blow you away.”
The couple love living in the Bellarine and catching up with friends, most of who live in Point Lonsdale.
“We feel like we belong here,” Elizabeth says.
“You sort of feel you live in the country but you’re right near the city.”
Elizabeth is constantly changing her garden, which she likened to a painter’s canvas or an embroiderer’s tapestry.
“I find it creative – as well as a hell of a lot of work,” she said.
For Elizabeth, who has a chemistry degree, getting her hands dirty is the best part of gardening.
“I know I’m creating an artificial environment but when you’re feeling down it can be great to get out in nature and get your hands in the soil,” she says.
“Even weeding can be fun at times – I think gardeners would probably understand that.”
The 77-year-old still does most of the work herself, despite recent knee surgery.
“I had such a brilliant surgeon that it’s given me a new lease on life,” she said.
The garden is colourful mixture of native, Mediterranean plants and a number of trees, which have grown large since Elizabeth planted them decades ago.
“We can’t have things like azaleas or camellias,” she says.
“They just say nup, we don’t like it here.”
The couple’s one surviving whippet, Wol, loves running around Brambledale chasing rabbits.
“It’s a doggies’ paradise down here for him,” Elizabeth says.
Elizabeth has put the garden on display for the last decade or so for local children’s charity Cottage by the Sea.
She’s one of a number of property owners on the Bellarine who do so.
“It’s worth making the effort for them,” she says.
“They’re a great organisation.”

By Luke Voogt

This month Geelong Coast looks at stunning coastal scenery, through the lens of the Bellarine Camera Club, and speaks to original member John Gallichan.

With a beautiful coastline and iconic landmarks, the Bellarine has plenty for local photographers, says long-time camera club member John Gallichan.
John was at the first meeting of the Bellarine Camera Club in 2009 and has rarely missed one since then.
“I’ve met some lovely people being involved in the club,” he says.
The 79-year-old, from St Leonards, loves having the coast and a plethora of native wildlife in his backyard.
The Ozone shipwreck, the old St Leonards Pier and Edwards Point nature reserve are just some of his favourite spots.
“If you feel like going and doing a photo shoot it’s not far to go,” he said.
“It’s all within 30 minutes drive.”
John has seen technology advance from black and white film to digital since a camera on his 12th birthday in Geelong West inspired his love of photography.
“I’m on my fourth or fifth digital camera. Digital has made it so much easier,” he says.
“Going back in the older days you had to get them developed to see the result.”
Despite having taken photos around Geelong for 60 or so years John is still learning new skills at the club.
“It’s interesting seeing what other people are doing and talking about,” he says.
The Bellarine Camera Club has about 50 members and meets on the first and third Monday of the month at SpringDale Neighbourhood Centre.
For more info visit bellarinecameraclub.org.au

He plays six instruments and created a debut EP last year in his Clifton Springs bedroom. LUKE VOOGT speaks to young one-man-band Guy Perkins about his unique talents and plans for the future.

Playing five instruments was never enough for Guy Perkins.
A fascination with a Game of Thrones song and a quest for a tattoo drove the 19-year-old to develop his latest musical talent.
Since hearing the Rains of Castamere – made famous by the notorious Red Wedding episode – Guy longed to play violin.
Four months ago, Guy and a mate were searching for a place to get inked when they came across an opportunistic buy.
“We rocked up and the parlour was closed, so instead we went to the Cash Converters down the road,” he says.
“I saw this violin and it was cheap – $100 bucks with a hard case, bow and everything.”
Guy has been practicing since and has even added violin to tracks in his debut EP, which he released last November.
He played guitar, bass and drums, and performed vocals for the four-track EP, recording it all in his bedroom, despite having access to a studio.
“Some of the songs I recorded in the past sounded as good in my bedroom, so I decided I’d save some petrol,” he says.
“It was a pretty long process; it took a lot of trial and error.”
Guy started his journey to musical mastery at eight years of age when his cousin gave him his guitar.
At the time, his mum – a skilled pianist – started teaching him the piano.
“Once you get your head around a piano you can sort of get your head around the basic structure of all music,” he says.
Guy grew up surrounded by music. His uncle – a traditional Japanese musician – gave Guy three guitars and let him use his studio when he visited Japan.
Back in the Bellarine, friendly competition with his muso mates helped him expand his repertoire.
“All my Bellarine Secondary College friends have got their own musical careers now,” he says.
In his high school years, his friends would play for him on stage and he was happy to return the favour.
“A lot of times I’d be playing drums in a friend’s band or bass,” he said.
“I just slowly got better and better.”
Guy was a regular at Bellarine gigs, meeting local talents like Ambrose Kennedy Smith, who plays harmonica for alternative outfit King Gizard and the Lizard Wizard.
He carved a niche for his indy pop-rock across the Penisula, playing live at the Queenscliff and Anglesea Music Festivals and Festivus in Ocean Grove.
Guy moved to Melbourne recently, to study a bachelor of audio, and plays regularly at CBD bars and pubs.
“I’m very lucky, getting to study what I love and live off it, it’s kind of what everybody dreams of,” he says.
Guy is working on his first full-length album, which he hopes to have out by the end of the year.
“This one is a lot more nitty gritty, heavier and dark than my last one,” he says.
“In terms of song writing it’s a lot more mature. The EP last was kind of childish – I guess – I wrote a lot of the songs when I was 15 or 16.”
He is looking to outsource some the work this time to his musical friends, and hire a string section, despite his latest musical talent.
“The violin’s going well but I’m not that good yet,” he says.
“I’d definitely get someone professional for the album.”

Words: Emily Robinson Pictures: Louisa Jones

They lived on opposite sides of the planet but a chance meeting led to an international romance between Laura McCann and Rhys McConachy.

HOW THEY MET
It must have been Irish luck.
Neither was meant to be out that evening but in 2012 Ireland’s Laura and Geelong’s Rhys locked eyes in a Melbourne bar.
“It was a very random night out,” Laura reflects.
“He was watching the Geelong Cats playing and I was out with some friends.
“We bumped into each other on the dance floor – it was a very chance meeting.”
Soon after, Laura returned to Ireland but kept in touch with Rhys. The bond grew ever stronger.
“We decided we couldn’t do long distance forever, so we made the decision that I would move to Australia and Geelong would be our base,” Laura says.

THE PROPOSAL
Rhys took Laura out for breakfast at Jan Juc.
“After breakfast we went for a walk and were standing at a lookout,” Laura says.
Rhys had planned a walk along the beach but rain literally dampened his plans.
“So he dropped down on one knee at the lookout . It was a real surprise, I didn’t see it coming.
“He proposed with a ring, it’s absolutely beautiful,” says Laura, flashing the princess-cut diamond design with more diamonds in the band.

THE PLANNING
Laura embraced the planning stage by herself and had everything ticked off her list in 14 months.
“I enjoyed taking my time and didn’t feel rushed into decisions.”
For the wedding invitations, Laura came across Tara, from Thanks for the Invitation, who she knew would be able to create just what she had in mind.
And her bonbonnieres?
“I actually made them myself. They were little bird cages with green loveheart chocolates and gold coins inside – they were a nod to Ireland.”

HENS AND BUCKS
For her hen’s day, Laura and friends spent the day in the Yarra Valley.
“We did a winery tour, it was just beautiful,” she reflects.
“Rhys went to the Geelong races with his friends two weeks before the weeding, they had a great day.”

THE WEDDING ATTIRE
A new bridal shop, Embrace Bridal, opened in Geelong two months before Laura went shopping for her dress.
“The dress was one of the first I tried on,” she says.
“I just loved it. It was very lacy and comfortable and didn’t have much weight for a wedding dress.”
Laura also wore a veil, which featured matching lace.
Her best friend from Ireland travelled to Australia to be maid of honour.
“Sheila came here with her husband – we’ve been best friends for 22 years.
“My other bridesmaid was Rhys’s older sister, Jacinta, and we’ve become very close. Rhys’s family have welcomed me with open arms.”
Both bridesmaids wore blue full-length dresses.
Rhys and his groomsmen wore navy blue suits.

HAIR
Laura was lucky enough to have a hairdresser in the family.
“My hairdresser, Maryanne Stuchbery, is Rhys’s cousin’s wife – we’re very connected and close,” Laura says.

THE FLOWERS
Emma, from Flair To Make You Stare, worked her magic on Laura’s big day.
Her bouquet and bridesmaids’ bouquets featured a mix of roses and foliage in a romantic pastel colour palette.
“I highly recommend Emma – she was unbelievable,” Laura says.
“She really goes the extra mile with the planning.”
Emma also created a hanging floral installation which made an impact without distracting from the scenic view.
“The floral arch she made was just so beautiful.”

THE CEREMONY AND RECEPTION
Laura arrived at The Pier Geelong in a sleek black Chevrolet on 2 April this year.
The wedding party stayed at the venue for the reception.
The service was “high-class from start to finish”, Laura says.
“I couldn’t fault it. The terrace at The Pier was so well decorated and the setting was just phenomenal.”
Eighty guests attended.
“It was just perfect,” Laura says.

THE ENTERTAINMENT
Laura chose Irish band Zeon, based in Melbourne.
“They’ve played in Geelong before – they’re very entertaining,” she says.
The couple’s first dance was to Queen’s Crazy Little Thing Called Love.
“It’s very up-tempo, probably not a common first dance song,” Laura explains.
“My dad died five years ago and he was a massive Queen fan.
“It was a nod to my dad because he loved it. We really enjoyed dancing to it.”
The rest of the night consisted of lots of “Irish jigging and dancing”.

THE CAKE
Sonja, from LoveIt Cakes, created a three-tiered beauty.
“Geelong has real talent – our cake was beautiful and very tasty,” Laura says.
“We had three flavours: white chocolate, white chocolate and raspberry, and melt chocolate.”

THE PHOTOGRAPHY
Laura and Rhys met photographer Louisa Jones at a local bridal expo.
“We clicked straight away. She’s lovely and very professional,” Laura says.
“We’re really happy with the work that she’s done – she’s also reasonably priced.”

THE HONEYMOON
The pair spent their first wedded days on Hamilton Island.
“We stayed at the Beach Club for five nights, then we stayed three nights at Noosa,” Laura says.

IN REFLECTION
Laura says her wedding day was “magical”.
“It was more than I ever dreamed of.
“The bridal party laughed and smiled so much that day – that’s what we wanted.”
The couple now lives at Grovedale.

Laura’s dream team:
Dress: Embrace Bridals, Geelong
Suits: Ferrari, Melbourne
Hair: Maryanne Stuchbery, Geelong
Invitations: Thanks For The Invitation, Geelong
Flowers: Flare To Make You Stare, Geelong
Venue: The Pier Geelong
Photography: Louisa Jones Photography
Celebrant: Denis Minogue, Melbourne
Cake: LoveIt Cakes, Geelong
Band: Zeon, Melbourne

JOHN VAN KLAVEREN visits the studio of Sara Paxton, a Geelong artist with a novel technique that’s turning heads.

Going back to her childhood opened up a new artistic world for Newtown oil painter Sara Paxton.
Discovering pigment sticks enabled her to achieve effects impossible with brush alone as she experimented with the new application.
Pigment sticks or oil sticks as they are also known are actually oil paint in an easy-to-use stick form, resembling a crayon from everyone’s childhood.
Made from a highly refined pigments and linseed oil in a pure wax, pigment sticks are easy to apply and can be blended with brushes, knives, and paint wedges. Most importantly for Sara, they deliver a smooth texture and vibrant colour.
“Colour is the thread for me,” Sara explains.
“I’m drawn to works that are bright and attractive.”
“I do sometimes like to try different things and do some experimentation but when I saw the pigment sticks in an art supplies store it opened up a new world for me.
“They are like crayons and it was like going back to my childhood.”
At just five years old, Sara was already copying illustrations from a book of dog drawings.
“My treat was to go to the art shop once a week and buy a new colour pencil,” Sara laughs. “It didn’t take long and I had a complete set.”
Sara’s journey to accomplished artist represented by a slew of galleries around Australia, and locally by the renowned Seaview Gallery in Queenscliff, had its twists and turns.
“My family was always creative. My brother is a photographer and he’s even photographed the Queen,” Sara recalls.
Like many students with an artistic bent, Sara did art in school and when she graduated she was accepted into art college. But the economic realities of trying to eke out a living as an artist intervened.
“I realised you have to be on the top echelon of artists to be able to make a living out of it,” Sara says.
“So I dropped it for 20 years and worked as an exhibition and trade show organiser instead.
“I got back into when we moved to Geelong. I had three young kids and didn’t know anyone so I enrolled in an art class and picked it up again.”
As she developed her style and produced more works, Sara did the rounds of the galleries.
“As an artist it takes just one gallery to give you a break and that gallery for me was Seaview, so I am grateful to Colleen (Kenwood) for taking me on.
“We have developed a friendship and she is honest enough to tell me what she likes and what will sell.
“I am represented by eight or nine galleries now so I am always busy keeping up the supply of works as they sell and doing annual exhibitions.”
Far from the artist who gave up her dream to earn a living, Sara now paints daily and often receives commissions.
“There’s a balance between the artistic and commercial realities. I’m not so precious that I ignore what people like, but I still only paint what I like. No-one dictates to me.
“But I often receive emails from buyers letting me know how much they love my work and that seeing one of my paintings on their wall every day makes them happy.
“That’s a reward for me.”

By LUKE VOOGT

He wrote a West End hit, but few know his name. LUKE VOOGT discovers Oscar Asche, one of Geelong’s greatest playwrights.

When people think of Geelong acting stars, Portia De Rossi and Guy Pearce spring to mind.
But few remember Oscar Asche – a Geelong boy who wrote one of the greatest West End plays of all time – Chu Chin Chow.
The play ran continuously at His Majesty’s Theatre for five years, a 40-year record.
Asche made 200,000 pounds for writing the show alone ($36m in today’s money) and 500 pounds a week as its lead actor and producer ($92,000).
Flamboyant and bombastic, Oscar’s huge appetites would see him fade into obscurity, despite being one of the West End’s greatest playwrights.
Maroochydore historian Chrissy Fletcher travelled to Geelong and England in search of archives, newspaper clippings and birth certificates to write a biography of Asche.
“He was a brilliant actor and producer but he was hopeless with finances, a gambler who flew by his heart and not his head,” she said.
Oscar Asche was born in Geelong in 1871 and spent his first six years in Yarra Street, while his parents ran Mack’s Hotel overlooking the waterfront.
He lived at various hotels his parents owned and managed in Melbourne and Sydney, meeting travelling actors who inspired his fascination with theatre.
Oscar’s father wasn’t keen on the idea. According to his autobiography, Oscar “just missed a right-hand swing” when he suggested a stage career.
At 18 years of age Oscar was a large man, and had won several heavyweight amateur boxing bouts.
After a lucky win at the races, he took to country NSW with his horse, greyhound and wirehaired terrier, and a pocket edition of Shakespeare’s plays.
When he returned home Oscar and his mother put on private theatricals at their Sydney home.
Just after his 20th birthday, Oscar moved to Norway, then England, to pursue his acting career.
His father was forced to sell the Royal Hotel in Sydney during the 1890s depression, and stopped Oscar’s weekly allowance.
Oscar lived on the street and slept under bridges, according to his autobiography.
“I don’t know how much creative license he’s taken in his autobiography – you’ve got to remember he was a playwright and an actor,” Chrissy said.
Oscar joined a Shakespearian theatre company where he rose to fame and met actress and future wife Lily Brayton.
Together, they created a theatre company, and Oscar launched his playwright career, with Kismet, an oriental spectacular which captivated the public.
He searched futilely for years his next big hit, until he and Lily launched Chu Chin Chow at His Majesty’s Theatre in August 1916.
The play would run until July 1921 and is still the second-longest-running West End play.
Swarms of soldiers on leave from the war flocked to see the spectacular scenery and scantily clad women.
“The glamour, music and vitality was such a contrast to the hardship in the trenches,” Chrissy said.
“Over its five-year run, three million people saw Chu Chin Chow.”
Oscar directed and played the lead role of Abu Hasan and Lily played Zahrat al Kulub – roles they would play nearly 2000 times.
Oscar’s appetites became legend in London theatrical circles.
“He was easy fodder for Sydney bookkeepers on his Australian tours,” Chrissy said.
“He was eating a 2lb or 3lb steak every night and drinking a bottle of whisky.”
He had a taste for luxury too, bringing his Rolls Royce and chauffeur from England to drive across Australia during a tour.
Lily refused to accompany him on his last Australian tour after a scandalous affair with Chu Chin Chow chorus girl Rose Martin, with whom he later had a daughter.
The downslide into obesity and financial trouble continued for Oscar, after he returned from his last trip to Australia in 1924.
Oscar’s theatre company collapsed in 1926 and he filed for bankruptcy the same year.
Lily was comfortably settled at Marlow and Oscar turned to her for help, she rented him a house in her garden
It was there he died of stroke on 26 March 1936 and his brilliance was lost to the world.

A little inspiration and a whole lot of elbow grease have transformed a forgotten Catholic church into a charming heritage home at Curlewis. JOHN VAN KLAVEREN pays a visit to owners Merle and Jim Francis.

For many years it was almost forgotten, hidden behind a growing screen of trees and shrubbery.
Merle and Jim Francis passed it almost daily, living at the time in Curlewis, and we’re only alerted to it when friends expressed an interest.
But when they stopped and peeked behind the greenery, a vision of what the former St Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Portarlington Road could be came to them.
A decade later, that vision became a reality, not only preserving the heritage contained in the 154-year-old church, but creating a unique living environment that blends the old and the new.
Built in 1863, Merle and Jim bought it in 2005 and set about restoring the church to its former glory, to the delight of heritage authorities.
“The heritage people were happy with what we were doing,” Jim says.
“It was far better than just allowing the church to continue decaying.”
During the lengthy restoration, the pair would often greet visitors to the property who could recount their experience with the church.
After the parish no longer used the church for regular services, it was only opened for the occasional wedding.
“Many people would introduce themselves and tell us the story of when they got married at the church,” Merle says.
The church was influenced by a Basque French architectural style of the time, so Merle and Jim decided to continue the French provincial theme through the extension.
With a keen eye for detail, Merle designed the roofline of the extension at the same angle as the roof of the church.
The floor was restored to its original Baltic pine and the original solid marble altar, weighing almost a tonne, was retained and takes pride of place as an island bench in the kitchen.
The confessional in what was once the vestry is now a pantry on one side and a fridge nook on the other.
“We still have the original sliding panel between the two,” Merle smiles.
“If only the walls could talk.”
The vestry itself has been converted into a butler’s pantry complete with Miele microwave, combo oven, dishwasher and wine fridge.
A farm-style door leads to a brick paved courtyard with central fountain, sheltered on the three main weather sides.
Despite the modernity of the extension, with its creature comforts sparing no expense, the design and décor ensure a smooth transition.
Old oak doors re-used from other properties have been fitted to a door cavity to add the provincial flavour throughout.
A brick paved floor in the front living space, with its soaring atrium, matches the courtyard, privatised behind dark glass allowing sight out but not in.
The line of sight down a long passageway provides the frame to a perfectly poisoned sculpture in the rear courtyard, a second outdoor sheltered area.
Mod cons such as hydronic heating, solar powered blinds in the attic space, energy saving lights, security intercom and camera and an audio system have been discreetly included.
Artistic touches, such as a stained glass reproduction of the bell boy fresco from the bell tower, abound.
Recycled bluestone has been used extensively in the landscaping, with mounds giving the grounds an undulating look.
All up the property covers some 70 squares incorporating four bedrooms, three bathrooms, three living areas, a hideaway home office and a huge vaulted roof garage.
The property has been listed for sale by Bryan Hanson, director of Eview Werribee.

A Geelong business is developing robots to assist children in rehabilitation, with surprising results. JOHN VAN KLAVEREN processes the data…

The future is robotic, if a father and son team behind a unique and innovative Geelong business is right.
And so far their excursion into the world of robotics and digital technology is proving a hit, especially in the fields of education and health.
But it’s less about robots of the Hollywood blockbuster variety and more about interactive technology, The Brainary co-founder Jonathan Kingsley says.
The business is the brains behind the innovative use of robotics in children’s rehabilitation, kick-starting the concept of using a humanoid robot to help young Victorians recover from major illnesses and injuries in a world-first trial at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Jonathan says the project built on work the business had already done with assistive technology and children on the autism spectrum.
The humanoid robot, NAO (pronounced Now), is a 58 centimetre tall, friendly, cute robot that moves, recognises and hears people and responds.
Jonathan says NAO had revolutionary applications for healthcare, rehabilitation and special education.
“NAO helps break down communication barriers, especially for children on the autism spectrum, because it simplifies everything.
“With the rehabilitation project we’ve taken it a step further, working with Swinburne University and the TAC.”
Experts from Swinburne University worked with rehabilitation therapists from the Royal Children’s Hospital to program NAO to deliver tailored rehabilitation programs to young patients.
The project was funded by a $25,000 Transport Accident Commission grant.
NAO is being trialled on children with conditions ranging from brain and spinal cord injury to cerebral palsy. It has found that children are better motivated and engaged with their rehabilitation programs, primarily physiotherapy, when delivered by the talking robot.
Jonathan says The Brainary’s work with NAO showed it could be programmed to do just about anything.
“So we wondered how to get the robot engaged with motor accident victims,” he said. “NAO performs exactly the same each time and it doesn’t get bored or tired.
“It’s a great story of collaboration between the private, university and hospital sectors backed by government funding.
“For a fairly small Geelong-based business, it’s great to be working with the likes of Swinburne, the TAC and Royal Children’s Hospital.”
Jonathan said Swinburne University would carry out further research into the benefits of the program.
“Anecdotally, the kids are really receptive to the robot and it helps to motivate them and so improve the quality of the rehabilitation.
“It’s partly the novelty but it’s also because it is amazing, it’s non-invasive and non-threatening, because NAO is smaller than most kids.
“The program is based on game play, engaging kids to have fun while doing rehabilitation. It takes it out of being a chore into something that’s fun.”
While NAO’s usefulness in rehabilitation has taken the spotlight, Jonathan says it has wider implications for education along with other aspects of assistive technology.
The Brainary has also developed a disability product called TapIT, an interactive learning station comprising a screen able to be easily moved around and adapted to various uses in the disability field.
It can be used for computer-based learning applications utilising the Internet, educational software or communication devices and can even be controlled through eye-tracking.
Noosa Library Service was the first Australian public library to recruit NAO to provide fun and practical robotics and computer programming training for adults and young people.
Named Dewey, he helps Noosa Library Service by presenting robotic demonstrations, programming workshops, cyber safety messages, storytelling and special appearances at all three branches.
“This type of technology can change lives, so it’s exciting to be involved in it,” Jonathan says.
“For instance, we helped a rehabilitation client to do even simple things like read a paper and make phone calls which she couldn’t do before.”
And when it comes to fears of robots taking over, Jonathan laughs.
“Part of what schools and other organisations are using NAO for is to teach programming, so when it comes to that, the programmers will always be in control.”

Pictures: Pam Hutchinson Photography

The latest looks from some of Pakington Street’s leading boutiques went on show for a Business and Professional Women (BPW) Geelong Ageless Beauty fashion show fund-raiser at the Mercure Hotel in June.
Proceeds from the event went to a special mentoring program for Karen refugee girls in Geelong.

Pictures: Pam Hutchinson Photography
Models: Ellen Bennington, Marianne Valitutti, Mandy Lovett, Anabelle Saleh, Paola De-Grace Begg, Lisa Chantel Emanuel