I also think that Melton is not a good place to leave from, it's too hard to get to with public transport. And it's not the sort of area that I would like to leave my car overnight. Buses should leave from Southern Cross station and stop at Melton and pick up on the way past.
Don't die wondering !
Yes HRTW is definitely operating and as far as I am aware, no contact was made by either HRV or the Stawell club to have it included.
In saying that by the time the Stawell trip was announced the HRTW itineraries were well and truly published and many bookings for their tours made - the brochure usually come out in late August for a December Interdom.