Welcome to the March edition of The Bright Raclette, a monthly community newsletter where we will be sharing upcoming local events, announcements, initiatives and haikus to brighten your day and help you plan your month.
If you keep finding out about fun stuff after it’s already happened… well, that’s exactly why we’re here.
If you are reading this as procrastination from training for Buffalo Stampede, we welcome you with open arms.
👇 Enter your email for monthly issues
Calling for contributions
TBR is open to submissions. We’ll consider pretty much anything at this point, but to give you a steer please share: love notes, training advice, favourite places to carb load over the next three weeks, inspirational pictures of your pet and reviews of anything you have experienced recently.
We can’t promise we’ll include your latest self-portrait be it in sketch form or otherwise, but we promise we’ll consider it.
**If that button isn’t working, email us at bright.raclette@gmail.com
THIS MONTH
March is a running month in Bright, a town where every day is a running day for too many people already. To help you Buffalos with your training, we’re seeking advice on what not to do during the ol’ Stampede. Kicking us off is Stomping Stampede Joe, local trail runner and Course Director:
Don’t eat raclette the night before the race. (We fundamentally disagree, it is the perfect food.)
Don’t go too hard too early, and don’t think you have to run the climbs, everyone walks.
Don’t forget your head torch if running the Twilight 10k.
Don’t say “it’s all downhill from here”, ever.
Don’t look at the view, it’s not worth stacking it.
Don’t say “only 5k to go”, 5k is not and never will be “not far”.
Don’t worry too much if you have done zero training.
Don’t enter the 100k if you have done zero training.
Don’t run past a volunteer without a high five or a hug.
Don’t stress if someone runs past you saying any of the following: “carbon plate; bi-carb; topical cooling; ketones; proprioception; high heel recovery; celery juice”. They are running faster than you because they know their sh*t.
Don’t randomly scream “SNAKE!”, it is not appreciated unless it is accurate.
Don’t overthink it, it’s just running, you got this!
We at TBR would like to add: don’t run really quietly behind someone, don’t run past someone smiling as if it’s all very easy, and don’t forget to use code RACLETTE10 for a 10% discount when you register. Enter before midnight on Sunday (Mar 2) to avoid a price hike, the worst of hikes.
In other news, read on for more info on a month chock full of music, dancing, eating, drinking and generally making merry!
👉 Jump to stuff from us: SEE | DO | WATCH | READ | EAT | FYI
👉 Jump to stuff from you (including much anticipated goat content): Marjorie Beavis-Warren auditions for the theatre, skin check advice and March’s love note.
SEE
— one-offs —
Feb 28 - Mar 2 | FEASTIVAL Falls Creek, a three-day extravaganza of food, drink, live music, comedy and general merrymaking. The Cat Empire, Budjerah and Slowly Slowly will feature during the ‘Feast de Resistance’ on Saturday, but there’s also comedy, an art exhibition, yoga and markets. While you wait, check out Harry from the Cat Empire, speaking ant.
Hello hello to you, Cat Empire. Mar 1 | Grab your tickets for a day packed with great music, food, drink, boot tossing, sack races, wood chopping and general family fun at Spring Ditch in Stanley. A tip of the hat to the much-beloved and long running Stanley Sports Day, with a modern spin and soundtrack to match — ft. Afrobiotics, Magic Bean Guillotine, Minnie & the Moonrakers and many more!
Mar 7 | From the West End to Wangaratta, listen to Bernadette Robinson belt out strains from Edith Piaf, Kate Bush, Shirley Bassey, Barbara Streisand, Dolly Parton and other dames. (NB: This is a fundraiser for Dr Helen Haines, Indi’s Independent Federal Member of Parliament).
Mar 8 | Enjoy the last of Myrtleford’s Summer Series with Minnie and the Moonrakers at the Piazza in Myrt. 6-9pm.
Mar 21-23 | Head to the Yackandandah Folk Fest for a weekend of folk music. A local event worth experiencing, totally community run, kid (and adult) friendly, see a mix of folk, jazz, soul, roots, ska, swing, and bluegrass across seven venues in the town. Last year, the hit was high-energy Norwegian folk metal jazz band Gangar with the once banned “devil’s instrument” the Hardanger fiddle. This year, looks forward to smooth Americana from identical twins The Brother Brothers, ancient mythical warrior Irish fiddle from Clare Sands, bluegrass from Grassy Strings and dance-floor chaos from Gusto Gusto. The Yackandandah Community Choir is not to be missed either, with over 100 members (that’s one in every twenty Yackandandians).
The fearless Clare Sands is playing Yackandandah Folk Fest. 
Listen to blood harmonies with The Brother Brothers at Yackandandah Folk Fest. 
Souvik Hazra and Subhankar Dhar from Grassy Strings will bring high energy bluegrass and some traditional Indian songs to Yackandandah Folk Fest. Mar 21-23 | The High Country Hop is celebrating the local hop harvest with local and guest brewers and music from Cut Copy, Kaiit, The 5.6.7.8’s, Darren Hanlon and more. Free Friday night opening party featuring Ajak Kwai and Jarabi Band and DJ sets from Mike Gurrieri and MzRizk. Bridge Road Brewers.
Mar 26 | Pssst! Country music royalty is coming to Albury. See in true colour with Kasey Chambers on her Backbone Tour. 7pm.
Mar 28 | You haven’t lived until you’ve rattled a few spoons at a bush dance. Shine your boots and head into Tawonga for a good old fashioned (and free) bush dance with Squidjig. Experts say it’s totally easier without kids, BUT kids love it. Pizza at 6pm, dancing at 7pm.
Mar 29 | Rock out to Icehouse, Noiseworks, Wolfmother, Eskimo Joe, Baby Animals, Killing Heidi and Bachelor Girl on the grassy lawns of the Gateway Lakes in Wangaratta for the Red Hot Summer Tour. 1.30-10pm.
—Weekend regs —
FRIDAYS
Don Mungo’s | Usher in the weekend with Friday knock-offs at Don Mungo’s, from 6-9pm. Benny Williams (Mar 7) and Dean Haitani (Mar 28).
Harrietville Hotel | Head over to the ‘ville to listen to Bo Jenkins (Mar 7) and Tahlia Brain (Mar 14 & 28). 6pm.
SATURDAYS
Harrietville Hotel | Saturdays are for tunes with Angus Montaigne (Mar 8) and Dean Haitani (Mar 29). 6pm.
Don Mungo’s | Mungo Disco every Saturday from 10pm with DJs from near and far. Check out Decx (Mar 1), DJ 1AM (Mar 8), Berryberry (Mar 15), Tim Shady (Mar 22) and Meggie (Mar 29).
SUNDAYS
Bright Brewery | Join Sunday sessions with Tahlia Brain (Mar 9), Rain of Animals (Mar 16), Dog Gone South (Mar 23) and Dean Haitani (Mar 30). 2-5pm.
Wandi Pub | Ride out for lazy Sunday afternoons in the beer garden: Asha Bright (Mar 2, 12.30pm), The Troubadour (Mar 9, 12.30pm), Jared Buckley (Mar 9, 5pm), Brent Shirley (Mar 23, 12.15pm), Adam Lindsay (Mar 30, 12.30pm). One bonus Saturday (Mar 8) too with Jus Gordon (12.30pm) and Corrinne Gilbert (5pm).
—sneak peak—
OK it’s not strictly this month, but you probably need to book it soon, so we’ve included it:
Apr 3 | Support and celebrate local talent with Angus Montaigne’s release of his debut album “Something More Than Good”. Angus will bring his stories to life with Liv Cartledge at The Courthouse Theatre. It’s an intimate venue, the performances there are always special, so get your tickets now. 7-10pm.
Apr 26-27 | Are you a nut from Wandi, or know a nut from Wandi? Get your tickets (or even better, volunteer!) for the Wandiligong Nut Fest and enjoy a weekend of salami-judging, shell-crushing, pony-riding, dance-grooving nuttiness.
👇 Did we miss any gigs? Message us below or at bright.raclette@gmail.com for upcoming gigs or venues we should contact for April/May/June.
DO
For those of us whose sporting abilities don’t extend to ultra-marathons (or even ‘easy’ 10k events), never fear! Alongside our usual list of exciting local activities, TBR has pulled together a list of alternative sporting events — some more sporting than others — for every level of athleticism.
See below for more info on vigorous local sports: darts, pool, chess, croquet, scrabble and pickleball. Does trivia count as sport?
Feb 28 | Mount Beauty Beerstival brings the best of the High Country brewery trail. 3-11pm.
Mar 1 | Bright & Surrounds Food Swap at the Myrtleford Community Garden. Head down and swap your abundant produce (if your garden has been kind to you), share eggs, jams, kombucha scobies, hot tips and anything else that might be helpful in producing or storing home grown produce. 10am.
Mar 1 | Run or walk the 45th Mt Bogong Conquestathon starting from the Mountain Creek Campground in Tawonga, with 21km 1430m elevation loop up and around Mt Bogong and back. It’s probably a little late to start training for this one if you haven’t already.
Mar 1 | Do pickles bounce? How does one hit a pickle with a racquet without it splitting? Answer these questions and more at Pickleball Day down at the Bright Tennis Club. Coaches will share demos and drills, you can try it out with friends and enjoy a post-play sausage sizzle. Bright Tennis Club, 10am-12pm.
Mar 2 | Like to spend your Sundays scrubbing the floor? Take your cleaning outside this week to the local parks and rivers of Bright and Myrtleford for Clean Up Australia Day. Your scrubbing brush probably won’t help (it’s quite difficult to scrub dirt off dirt - like, where does it end?), but a keen eye for forgotten dog-bags, bottle caps and lost hair ties might.
Mar 2 | Learn about climate change and the local alpine environment, communities and economy at POWFEST. Read this report from ANU to scrub up. Bright Brewery, 12-5pm.
Mar 3 | Tap into your competitive side with Scrabble at Bright Library. Every Monday from 1.30pm. Brush up on these 2-letter words, TBR’s particular favourite being “yo” defined as “a call for effort”.
Mar 4 | Every Tuesday night is darts night at Don Mungo’s. $10 buy in, winner takes all + eternal glory.
Mar 4 & 18 | No Lights No Lycra is on twice this month, where you can finally dance like no one can see you (because they really can’t). For 16 and up, Porepunkah Hall, 7:30pm-8:30pm.
Mar 5 | Join the discussion at Tough Guy Book Club. February’s book is The Beach (yes! the one made into a movie with Leo and Tilda) by Alex Garland. Brewery, 7pm.
Mar 6 | Hop to it! Celebrate International Women’s Day with a new beer, Fred’s Trail Blazer Moteueka IPA, created by Madi Bruce and Claire Lock (watch the origin story here). Tickets include prosecco on arrival, two delicious courses, inspiring speakers and tunes from the stunning Liv Cartledge. 12-2.30pm.
Mar 6 | Head to the Bright Croquet Club for club mornings to learn croquet from friendly members (mallets supplied). For more info, phone 5750 1437. Thursdays, 9am-lunch.
Mar 7 | Pop over to Rutherglen for opening night of the Rutherglen “Tastes of Art” Prize as part of the Tastes of Rutherglen Festival. Exhibition running until Mar 16. Rutherglen Memorial Hall, 6.30pm.
Mar 7-9 | Celebrate (motor)bikes, cars and loads of live music at the Brighter Days Festival with proceeds donated to children’s charities. Take your babe to the Babes Brunch, or witness people swaying in silence at the all-ages Silent Disco. We’re intrigued by The Amazing Chase, with clues, puzzles and activities around town for the whole family to solve. Pioneer Park.
Mar 9 | Ride the 235km and 4000m of climb of the Peaks Challenge.
Mar 9 | Dust off your sense of direction and try orienteering at Magenta Mine near Chiltern (if it’s not too hot and dry as events are cancelled on Total Fire Ban days). Novice to hard courses, 2.5km to 7km. Call Liz 0431778515 for details. 10am-11.30am.
Mar 9 &16 | Build your skills at two clinics (beginner & intermediate) at Big Hill MTB park in Mt Beauty.
Mar 13-14 | Take your kids (4+) to Saltbush, an interactive theatre show at HotHouse (at the causeway in Wodonga), shows at 10am, 12pm and 6.30pm depending on the day.
Mar 14 | Lunch for a long time at The Long Lunch amongst the magical snow gums at Falls Creek. 9am-5pm.
Mar 15 | Paint your face like a tiger at the Make it, Bake it, Grow it Market down at Howitt Park. 8.30-12.30pm. Roar.
Mar 15 | Be part of history with the re-opening of St Clements Church in Eurobin. 12.30pm.
Mar 15 | Do the 22, 40 or 64km Razorback Run starting at Harrietville or Diamantina Hut depending on length.
Mar 17-20 | Back your swing? Join the 22nd Annual Great Alpine Golf Classic, with competitions across Wangaratta, Myrtleford and Bright.
Mar 20 | Show off the size of your brain muscle at Hops and High IQs trivia. Wait, is the brain a muscle? Enjoy some bevs, argue with the quiz master about the correctness of their answers and be in the running for the ultimate Meerkat prize. Bright Brewery, 6pm.
Mar 21 | Join the screening of the 2025 World Photographic Cup in the morning, and cheer on local photographers, Alpine Light, who are in the Top 10!
Mar 21-23 | Go hard on mountain biking this weekend. You’ll need to time travel to catch all of these. First up, Phat Friday Racing at Mystic. 4pm. Next, on Saturday morning, head up to Falls to cheer on our local kids for the Victorian Interschools. Then wind the clock back to Saturday morning, and do MTB de femme, part mountain biking, part retreat with accommodation, meals, shuttle passes, skills coaching and guided rides all weekend. Then wind it back to Saturday again for Enduro Jam. Not actually jam, but don’t let that stop you. Enter now, or volunteer for a 1-day uplift pass. Special event for beginners and kids called Taster Jam (also not actually jam).
Mar 26 | Community Keg night at Bright Brewery, supporting the Bright Croquet Club. Every beer from the brewery’s community special ale keg will help keep the club up and running. Come support the second oldest croquet club in Victoria!
Mar 28 | Head down to the Bright Art Gallery’s opening night for the 63rd Annual Autumn Art Exhibition. 7pm.
Mar 28-30 | Run the Buffalo Stampede. Choose your length: 152km (probably don’t start with this), 100km (that’s still quite far), 100km team relay (more achievable), 72km, 42km, 20km, 10km, 5km family run or 2km junior run (everyone gets a medal in this one!).
Mar 29-30 | Throw yourself down Sky Line, Thunder Bolt, Long Vortex or some other trail for the Superflow Enduro Series at Falls Creek. 9am.
👇 In the know about an upcoming event? Message us below or at bright.raclette@gmail.com.
WATCH
Cinema | Choose from Bright’s Sun Cinema March releases:
Captain America: Brave New World (does what it says on the tin), Mickey 17 (Robert Pattinson volunteers as an ‘expendable’ on a mission to colonise an ice world, from the director of Parasite), Spit (loved Gettin’ Square but wish there’d been more Johnny Spiteri content? Look no further than David Wenham in this sequel to the cult favourite), Black Bag (Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender star in this slick spy thriller), White Bird (sequel to Wonder), Disney’s Snow White (does what it says on the tin).
If you do see a film, send us your review!
Star-watch | GIRD YOUR LOINS! Mercury once again enters retrograde on March 14. Your messages are likely to be misunderstood, so may as well give up on communication until April 6. In good news, however, that ‘city killer’ asteroid with 3% chance of hitting earth in 2032 has been revised to ‘no longer a concern’. One less thing to worry about.
Weather-watch | Skies are blue, the sun is hot, and has been for a while now. Here’s some friendly advice we received on looking after your skin.
“As we wave goodbye to summer and note our tanned complexion, it’s time to consider whether you’re due a skin check! A skin check? Why, yes, I do have skin. Check, done.
Not quite! You probably know that Australians have high rates of skin cancer, but it’s not just those who spend all day on a Queensland beach, the Ovens river pebbles have been known to receive some ferocious sun.
So what is a skin check and when should I have one done?
Well, firstly, this is a preventative health check, similar to the test you get in the mail for your 50th birthday or your BreastScreen visit. So, if you have a mole or a changing bump or coloured thing you’re worried about, this is not that - go get that checked asap!
A preventative skin check is where your GP takes a history and your skin’s tendency to burn and then looks at all your spots and bumps using their dermatoscope. A dermatoscope is a tool that shows what’s going on under the mole by magnifying it (it doesn’t hurt). This then helps to put that mark/ spot/ lesion into one of three categories - totally fine, take at least a small part out to send for further testing or remove it completely.
This skin check usually takes 15-30 minutes, depending on how many spots you have over your whole body. You might need one every 3-24 months (wide range depends on your skin!), with your own checks in between, watching for anything that grows, changes or bleeds.
After more info? Read this.
👇 Saw something you liked? Or didn’t? Submit your own review below or at bright.raclette@gmail.com.
READ
The bit you really came for: contributions from locals about life and times in the valley.
This month, local reviewer Marjorie Beavis-Warren casts aside her total lack of talent and experience, and auditions for the theatre.
Marj auditions for the theatre
— Marjorie Beavis-Warren
My three regular readers know that this column exists purely for your (well, my) entertainment as I throw myself into new experiences around the Shire. So join me this month as I tell you the story of my audition for Bright Theatre Company’s Autumn 2025 play, ‘There’s a Chair Over There’.
Let’s first float back to 1989, when my acting career began with a bang as the title role of ‘Mary’ in my kinder nativity play; an auspicious debut for any young thespian.
A few bit parts followed over the years, culminating in 1995, at 10 years old, with my critically panned portrayal of the Wicked Stepmother in St. Mary’s C of E Primary School’s revisionist revival of Cinderella. My stage dreams crushed, I dramatically retired from the stage forever! [Italics are there to emphasise the dramatic tragedy].
So when I saw the theatre’s audition call, painful memories and regrets flooded back. Could I have been Ryan Gosling’s famous actor wife by now if I hadn’t let the haters win?
Determined to reclaim my lost destiny, I swanned (drove) to the Bright P-12 library that fateful Sunday afternoon.
Trepidation filled me as I arrived, my brother’s comforting words, “Auditioning for what? You can’t act, dance or sing. You’re the literal opposite of a triple threat,” still ringing in my ears.
But I need not have worried. When I arrived (unfashionably early) I was immediately met with a warm, welcoming group of people who were delighted I was there (it’s only now come to my mind that they may very well have been acting).
My nerves melted away, and before I knew it, I was laughing, meeting new people, and having a lot of fun. I left feeling so glad I’d ignored all the negative thoughts and just done it.
Two days later, I got the call. Three decades after the Cinderella debacle, I was back. I had been cast. Glory is back within my reaches - at last.
And all I have to do to achieve afore mentioned glory is commit to rehearsals every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday for 12 weeks. Twelve weeks. Had I considered this? No. Did I panic? Slightly. But I’ve calmed down (mostly). I mean, Mr B-W can handle a bit more cooking, and the crossword will still be there when I return to normal life [regular readers will note the callback to last month’s column…that’s what real writers do you know].
Really, what’s a little sacrifice for my grand theatrical rebirth?
Given that maintaining my anonymity is crucial to the journalistic integrity of this column, I’m unable to reveal the role I have been cast in, which I know you’ll be sorely disappointed to hear.
However, what I can tell you is that the production consists of three comedic plays packed with local Alpine talent. So, bookmark the end of April in your calendars and prepare for some local laughs.
I want to end this month with some advice for life. Think about that guy at your office (you know who I mean), and remember that talent and experience are clearly not prerequisites for success. Just give it a red-hot go.
Next month: Since my life is now 90 percent rehearsals, expect an exciting in-depth review of the Bright P-12 library (aka ‘rehearsal space’). Stay tuned for next month’s exciting instalment.
The Bright Theatre Company’s Autumn 2025 play ‘There’s a chair over there’ will be running at the Bright Courthouse Theatre on the 24th, 25th and 26th of April and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of May. For tickets, keep an eye on their social media.
G.O.A.T. goats
— community-sourced
Last month we asked for your submissions about goats. Apart from goats and goat-related products now appearing across our advertising feeds (don’t tell us they’re not listening), we also received responses from you. Some sad, some funny, some confusing.
“Ray Dyer, a prominent alpine shire local … dressed up as Ned Kelly and along with his goat campaigned to ‘sack the shire CEO, and save Mount buffalo chalet’…. He had slogans painted on his car, which was often parked by the roadside and occasionally had a goat tied to it, if you were lucky you could see the goat on the roof. I was lucky enough to see him … down the main street during hotrod [weekend] with Ray driving and the goat in the back of an old yellow Corolla. Truth can be stranger than fiction.”
“I met a mother and daughter in a shop and we were talking about animals we feel passionately about. The daughter told me that where she was residing for a couple of years, there was a goat on a chain on the neighbour’s property next door. It was never let off the chain. She would at times take it snacks. One morning she felt prompted to look out at the goat. It was lying on its side and was obviously in trouble. She went and knelt down with it and could tell it was dying. She felt/heard the goat say "Please take this chain off me". So she took it off and lifted the goat’s head onto her lap and sat with it until it took its last breath in this world. Released at last from that chain and its suffering. Hopefully this happening will awaken our hearts to love and kinship for all our animal brothers and sisters. And then, this goat’s suffering would have served a great and necessary purpose.”
“I did follow a goat on Instagram for a while, but we lost touch.”
“I don’t know a lot about goats, but I do enjoy The Goat Track.”
Bought a goat? Need to transport it?
— Myrtleford truck ad goes viral
Notable moments in this masterclass of a marketplace post:
He’s reliable, roadworthy, and ready for work – whether that’s on the farm, the job site, or tearing through the paddock like you're at a bush doof.
Terry’s clocked 500,000 kms, but don’t let that scare you – this bloke’s been looked after better than your dad's super account.
Who’s Terry For? Young tradies who want a ute that says, “I’m here to work,” but also, “I might do a burnout at Macca’s.” Need something rugged enough to survive smoko runs and Bunnings trips? Look no further.
Just love a 4x4? If your idea of a good time is getting bogged and calling it “adventure”, this is your dream ride.
Read the full description and up your game next time
March Love Letter
— a new column, open for your contributions.
This month, a haiku to cherry tomatoes.
“Little, red, yummy
Fruit or vegetable, don’t know
But you are the best”
— An Admirer
👇 Do you write things? Draw things? Make jokes (that more than one person finds funny, though truly our bar is low and we will probably accept it either way)? Send them to us below or at bright.raclette@gmail.com
EAT
Spotted. Over one hundred people braving the unseasonal weather (3cm of snow) at Mt Hotham for masterclasses on pairing wine with cheese, fermenting 101, how to make gravlax, and 15 local producers showing off their products. Accompanied by food (cooked with that very produce), good tunes and vibes. It’ll be on again next year, so put it in your calendar. Just support and follow along with JF at Alpine Nature Experience.
Forget grinding away at passata, deal with your over-abundance of tomatoes the lazy way, by chucking them all in a pan with a drizzle of oil, some onions, balsamic vinegar and wine and roast until it becomes saucy.
FYI
Recyclers and scavengers alike rejoice! The Alpine Tip Shop will open for business at the Myrtleford Transfer station. There’ll be an opening party (March 6, 10.30am), then it’ll be open Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends from 10am-2pm. Donate or pick up building materials, furniture (not mattresses), sports equipment, working mechanical items, working electronic items.
There’s free wildlife training happening across the valleys to help you better care for injured wildlife.
👇 Do you know something we don’t? Drop us a line below or at bright.raclette@gmail.com