Rolling way from the north rim of the Tower Hill Volcano, Koroit (Population 2332) is set amidst rolling green pastures where potato crops thrive in the mineral rich soil. William Rutledge first saw its potential as a potato cropping area and began employing his countrymen to work on his land. The irony of which I’m sure wasn’t lost on those that had fled the potato famines that ravaged their homeland in between 1844-1852. Many permanently settled and took up their own blocks.

As a result, this corner of Australia, saw a significantly higher concentration of Irish immigration than any other. Many of the original families still live in the district and the township celebrates the Koroit Irish Festival every May. Koroit proudly declares itself, Ireland’s 33rd County.

For the small Victorian town of Willaura (population 440), their local hero is very deserving of his status in the collective consciousness. His name, is Dr Cyril Checchi and is still in living memory for many of the residents. He was a WWI veteran who treated wounded soldiers on the battlefield. When he returned to Australia, he settled in the sheep and wheat farming town of Willaura, at the base of the Grampians.

As the the town's trusted doctor, it's believed he delivered 2000 babies... which means at one point in the town's history... most Willaura residents were probably delivered by Dr Checchi!

It’s not often a small shire is suddenly granted a large sum of money. And when it happened to my local area… we were horrified. We demanded it be sent back.

See, the $1 million dollars the Moyne Shire in south-west Victoria was allocated in 2019 by the Federal Government at the time, was for emergency drought relief. But our paddocks were green, our sheep were fat and the crops were tall.

I’ve been reflecting on what has drawn me to collaborating with Kirsten on the Town Criers Podcast. How did a northern suburban Melbourne boy become so enamoured with regional Australia, and small towns in particular, that he finds himself embarking on a project celebrating the heart of country life.