BY SARAH LANG - EDITOR IN CHIEF AND PUBLISHER

March is always one of my favourite months of the year: Summer is in full swing and is always reluctant to let Autumn appear; vegetable gardens are in full flight with tomatoes seemingly growing and ripening overnight; it is the finale of “Gay Christmas” – a period of GLBTIQ festivals and events across the country starting in January with Midsumma Festival then ending with Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney and our very own ChillOut Festival in Daylesford; and finally, the days start to get a little cooler and decidedly shorter. It has been a long, hot Summer. The hottest on record in fact. And I am constantly in awe of our farmers and producers who continually manage to produce incredible bounty in our region despite an ever-difficult climate in which to operate. 

We’ve been kept incredibly busy with many new businesses opening across the region – a testament to the growing, thriving regional communities and the thousands of visitors to our region every week. We spent a wonderful evening at the Palais-Hepburn when they held their official grand opening event complete with a traditional smoke ceremony followed by a heartfelt Welcome to Country and moving sound healing by local Dja Dja Warrung residents. A small but fabulous camp store in Howe St Daylesford, Ruby Slippers has opened by none other than Lost’s very own Ritchie Rich. His opening hours are “on fabulous days only” and this tiny space is jam-packed with an eclectic array of men’s couture (it is literally the very high-end, very designer and rarely worn wardrobe of a shopaholic), fantastic millinery, original art, ceramics and a smattering of deliciously camp and sometimes naughty “whatnot”. 

Richard Cornish spent time in Kyneton talking to some serious new hospo additions to this already talented foodie town. See his stories on the legendary Tansy Good on Page 14 and the return of gastro-pub icons to the region, Frank Moylan and Melissa Macfarlane on Page 19. 

Richard compiles his Top 5 Reasons to Visit on Page 33 (but I couldn’t help but make it 6 reasons) but I can’t wait for the new Bottomless Boozy Brunches at Cliffy’s Emporium in Daylesford which will run every Saturday and over 1.5 hours, we will dine on classic brunch dishes whilst enjoying free-flowing Bloody Marys, Breakfast Negronis and their signature Mimosa’s. Call Cliffy’s on 5348 3279 to book. On Saturday March 23, local food champion Kathryn Russack will host a Macedon Ranges Harvest Dinner at Colenso in Kyneton featuring some of our favourite produces including Vue du Volcan duck, Sidonia Beef and Barfold Olives. Only $99 for a magnificent 4-course feast, tickets are selling fast. Email hello@colenso.com.au for more details. 

We have two fantastic reader giveaways this month – Garden of St Erth have given our readers the chance to win a night sleeping in a dreamy billowing bell tent to celebrate the opening of Garden Beds Glamping. Turn to Page 13 for more details. And Alison Pouliot, ridiculously talented photographer, trained ecologist and queen of the fungi, is offering one lucky reader a spot in her upcoming Creswick workshop. Richard chats to her about her ‘amazing underworld’ on Page 20 about her new book The Allure of Fungi, 1000 Days in the Forest and her love of mycology. 

Until next time, enjoy life to the fullest.

Sarah Lang
Publisher and Editor-In-ChiefLost Magazine