Belgrave Wizard Continues to Enchant Locals in Melbourne
AI-Generated Summary
The Belgrave Wizard, also known as Baba Desi, is a beloved figure in Melbourne's east, known for his unique appearance and friendly presence in local cafes.
Up in the hills in Melbourne's east, the enigmatic Belgrave Wizard has been a familiar sight for decades.
Until a few years ago, the Wizard, also known as Baba Desi, would walk up to 15 kilometres of the Dandenong Ranges paths and forest trails a day.
Although he did not practise any actual magic, he looked like an Eastern mystic, with a wispy white beard, a turban, colourful robes and one of his many handmade staffs. Hence, a nickname of the Wizard caught on.
Now 95 years old, Baba Desi, whose real name is Des Bergin, is still a familiar sight in the cafes of Belgrave, where friends drop in for a natter and strangers ask for selfies with him.
