HelloPlus: Exploring Life & Philosophy.
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Woodend CFA women on fire
The important role that women play in the efficient running of the Woodend CFA was celebrated at the brigade’s recent annual dinner and award presentations. Four of the top six awards presented at the dinner were given to women, with the Member of the Year award going to Cara Nolan for an outstanding year of…
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Co-op offer officially launched
A packed house attended the official launch celebration of the Castlemaine Community Investment Co-operative debenture offer at Shedshaker Brewing on Sunday evening. The atmosphere was filled with possibility as the Co-op’s inspiring vision to raise the capital to purchase The Hub, a beloved landmark property in the heart of Castlemaine, was laid out by multiple…
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Tackling Australia’s hidden housing crisis – one spare room at a time
Three women, in their 50s or older, are being offered a unique, long-term, co-living opportunity in a large Mount Macedon home. Wanting to fill his empty family home with life, Sev Clarke joined The Room Xchange – an online homeshare platform matching home owners with tenants. Sev’s adult daughter lives in Melbourne, and his wife,…
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Restoring the mountain’s waterways
As the Winter Solstice approaches, the Macedon and Mount Macedon Landcare Group has been preparing to launch a visionary plan for the restoration of local waterways on the southern slopes of Mount Macedon. “We worked with our landcare facilitator to identify seven stretches of local creeks for regeneration, that will help wildlife move, feed and…
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Woodend Winter Arts Festival kicks off this weekend
The stage is set as Woodend prepares to come alive with music, conversation and more as the Woodend Winter Arts Festival returns this coming weekend (June 6–9). Tickets are selling fast and at pre-pandemic levels. Celebrating its 20th festival in 2025, the event promises a rich and diverse program that caters to all tastes—from a…
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Volunteers ‘priceless’
The winners of the Macedon Ranges Community Awards 2025 have been officially announced, with inspiring individuals and groups recognised for their contributions to the shire. Held at the Kyneton Town Hall on Thursday May 22 during National Volunteer Week, the event celebrated outstanding efforts across eight award categories, as part of a newly consolidated format…
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Transgender ban follows club’s threat
The Riddell District Football Netball League is in the spotlight for a gender dispute once again after its board removed two transgender athletes from its senior netball competition. League CEO Jordan Doyle sent an email to all clubs after Melton South Football Netball Club threatened to forfeit matches if two players competed. The email cited…
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A perfect compost recipe?
I was recently asked just how much of those carbon-rich materials, like straw, autumn leaves and chopped up woody garden prunings, should we blend into our compost each time we add a bucket of food scraps from the kitchen. At YIMBY we train hot composters to a level where they no longer need a recipe,…
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Beau is back cooking up a storm
Local MasterChef Australia season four contender Beau Cook, 40, is back on our television screens as one of the contestants on MasterChef Australia: Back to Win currently airing on 10 and 10 Play. MasterChef Australia: Back To Win marks the 17th season of the popular show and is full of fan favourites from seasons one…
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STATE FIRST TREATY BID
The Dja Dja Wurrung People of central Victoria have become the first traditional owners to seek to negotiate a local treaty with the state government. Under Victoria’s Treaty Negotiation Framework, traditional owner groups can negotiate their own treaties, which will reflect aspirations and priorities for their local areas. DJAARA (the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal…
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The government’s bitumen
EXCLUSIVE – The state government denied responsibility for a public road in the Mount Alexander Regional Park and for years failed its statutory duty to inspect, repair and maintain its condition. Joseph Young Drive is an 8.5km stretch of winding road that cuts through the regional park from one end to the other. It amassed…
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Magpies fall short in nailbiter
The Castlemaine Magpies lost an absolute nailbiter to the Strathfieldsaye Storm at Tannery Lane in the Bendigo Football Netball League’s Indigenous Round on Saturday, going down by just two points. Storm were on top early with a four-goal haul in the opening term, holding the Magpies to 2.4. The second quarter was a closer affair…