Woke up to subdued sunrises and spectacular Autumn weather and leaf swirls. Lascelles is an ideal location and the sunlight really picks up the decor. What a find!

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Breakfast at The Turret on the corner of our street was a culinary experience enhanced by the interior decoration which gave attention to all the minor details. My gf cauliflower fritters with chilli jam and poached eggs did the trick.

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Then when we arrived at Clunes Town Hall for the opening session for the day, the coffee van brought a smile to the dial. Apparently you can never have too much of a good thing!

Ross Garnaut and Bill Bowtell, both eminent specialists in their fields of economics and health, shared their perspectives on the impact of global pandemics, political versus social policies to address them and the impact we will feel for a long time to come during The Recovery. A heavy topic to start Day 2, but one which left me with many thoughts – sadly not one of them was about wanting to buy their books. 😥

Shirl the Pearl and I ducked in to the Clunes Museum on our way to the next session – and found quite a collection of Gold Mining history, the machinery of the once thriving knitting mill, and more local Aboriginal hsitory and artefacts. Worth the gold coin donation for sure.

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Session 2 was an entertaining one – Monica Dux shared her novel Lapsed. Yes, the personal story of her family’s rather fraught relationship with Catholicism and her uncoupling from its childhood entrenched practices and rituals. It obviously resonated with the interviewer, Sue Lawson whose own experiences echoed Monica’s. A fun romp through my strict Methodist upbringing parallels. Perhaps it was that generational weight of expectations which lapsed in my own adulthood, or perhaps because the Senior Citizens’ Hall was so stuffy, but it was a relief to escape in to the fresh air, and explore the Lolly Shop instead. The less said about purchashes there the better.

Then it was back to the Town Hall for the final session of the weekend.

Palawa man, Prof Wayne Quillam, shared his journey through culture and Country to publish his book of beautifully captured photographs of Indigenous Australian diversity. He explored the protocols of gaining the trust and permission from different groups, and the promise of an understanding and acceptance of cultural mix in to the future via the younger generation.

And we waved farewell to Clunes, headed back to Ballarat and our own platter and wine dinner. Now sadly we are driving back to Melbourne and leaving regional Victoria behind, with much gratitude for our ability to be back flying, and enjoying such wonderful festivals as this.