MOT Tour Day 72 & 73 - Jindivick

Friday morning was pretty nerve wracking, with the drive from Geelong - to the south west of Melbourne - via the freeway systems to Jindivick - north east of Melbourne. Heavy rain was predicted but it stayed away. Being Good Friday, the traffic was lighter than normal.

Until less than ten years ago, the only reference I had to what I thought was a mythical place of Jindivick, was Flash Nick, a Graham Bond character but then, two dear friends, Markus and Virginia did the tree change thing and my thought constructs had to be re-written.

The image most of us who grew up loving English comedies of the seventies had of those who chose to turn their back on all of the infrastructure trappings of modern life would probably be the hapless Tom and Barbara Good who set out to pursue the good life in suburban Surbiton.

That's not how it is.

Starting with a small farm with a crappy house and all the things they needed in short supply, our great friends have developed an admirable lifestyle of their small holding and are completely self-sufficient. They have developed systems to sustain them and their goats and few cows and few ducks and vegetable patches and sometimes pigs. They generate their own power, store their own water, heat their house from a very clever combustion stove and everywhere you look is innovation, efficiency, hard work and collaboration.

They are special people and even though we have not spent near enough time with them because of distance, every moment stolen is precious and fun and insightful.

We had two nights with them after arriving in Victoria. 

The pottery of Sue Acheson

On our one full day, we toured the district, meeting the metal sculptor Laurie Collins and admiring his quirky, whimsical creations, many of which form a pleasant trail in his yard. He gave us a demonstration of plasma cutting and he made Sue and little bird on the wing from a piece of Core 10 Steel. Moving on, we visited with mastery potter Sue Acheson, originally from England but many years now a resident of the district. She was generous in sharing her time and expertise with us, especially in describing the wood-fired kiln she uses to bring her creations to their startling life.

We had a delicious lunch at the Noojee Pub, who impressively made a space for us despite being completely swapped with diners on Easter Saturday. A bold Kookaburra swooped endlessly, stealing food from fork while dumbfounded patrons gawped in shock. 

The Noojee Trestle

The old railway passenger line which ran out that way is now a walking and bicycle track and a highlight is ridiculously high Noojee Trestle, which still stands in wooden pride, spanning 100 metres across a deep gully. Its spans and supports, cut from local timber, still maintain their strength since 1885.

The afternoon also included a visit to a trout farm, where Markus showed further skills by catching a trout for dinner at the counter of the shop front. Others were casting with rapid success in the breeding ponds.

Click here for today's photos.

Our return to their brilliant home was via bush tracks through the State Forest which share their boundary.

The evening ran late, fueled by produce from their gardens and meat from their paddocks. Wine stirred the conversation into reminders of why we are such good friends.