Community News
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Learn about living with wildlife
Join Newham and District Landcare Group on Friday April 4 for a presentation by Tanya Loos on Living with Wildlife. Tanya Loos is a field naturalist, writer and science communicator who lives in the Wombat Forest near Daylesford. Copies of her book will be available for purchase Living with Wildlife: A Guide for Our Homes and…
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The greatest meal is a grateful one
The Gisborne Community Care Foodbank is the biggest of its kind in the region, moving 11 tonnes of food and essential items each year for those in need. The not-for-profit charity was set up in 2019 and is run by trained volunteers each Wednesday and Friday behind the Uniting Church in Gisborne. Aldi, Josh’s Rainbow…
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Rats, mice, compost and food growing
It’s a tricky subject, but one we can’t avoid, particularly as we head further into autumn and the harvest season: how do we deal with rats and mice in our compost, gardens and houses? Every person will have their own ethical and personal boundaries around taking the life of another creature or being, so let’s…
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Navy veteran to lead service
Kyneton Navy veteran Luke Bordonaro will lead this year’s Mount Macedon Anzac Day Dawn Service, which will take place on April 25 at the Mount Macedon Memorial Cross. This year’s theme, ‘The Unseen Wounds of Conflict’, will explore the many impacts that war has on those who serve, from the physical injuries to the mental…
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I just made the worst compost I have made in years!
I was putting a finished compost pile out on the garden recently, but as I was forking it into the barrow, I realised, with disappointment, it was the worst compost I had made in quite a few years! The ‘finished’ compost was dry, woody and full of fine root filaments, not the rich, moist, greasy,…
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Four hours of magical music
Resonance String Orchestra is hosting a Big String Day on Saturday at Castlemaine Secondary College. The all-ages event will include music, team-building games, whole orchestra sessions and instrument-based tutorials. The tutorials will be led by Resonance co-artistic director Emma Wade, and Maryborough Education Performing Arts Coordinator Sarina Walter and co-artistic director Heather Cummins. Sam Goble,…
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Cancer care project appeal for funds
Kyneton Health is calling on the community to help raise funds for a scalp cooler to enhance the care provided to their oncology patients. An appeal launched in August last year has to date raised $10,231, with a further $37,012 needed to purchase the much-needed equipment. Central Highlands Rural Health is reaching out to individuals,…
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Kitchen garden grows
Kyneton High School has partnered with Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health and successfully secured a $50,000 grant from the state government to grow a kitchen garden. The project is one of 84 recipients who successfully outbid over 600 applicants to receive a share of $4.87 million from VicHealth. A spokesperson from VicHealth said this application…
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Are they maggots in my compost?!
Over the warmer months it is not uncommon, when turning our compost piles, to uncover a particular fly’s larvae (or maggots) in our compost. They are long, segmented grub-like creatures, ranging in colour (white – dark brown) and length (5mm – 20mm), depending on where they are at in their life cycle when we discover…
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Bakery in full Blume
Blumes Historic Bakery in Harcourt was officially reopened to the public last Saturday after years of restoration work. About 60 people attended the event, including locals, city-folk who travelled for the opening, MP Maree Edwards and Blume family members. Karen Blume, the granddaughter of Ernest and Pearl Blume, said the bakery was a great reflection…
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How’d you like them apples?
Hundreds of people flocked to Harcourt Recreation Reserve last Saturday for the town’s 31st annual Applefest. Marquees were set up on the oval and offered food, drinks and bric-a-brac to visitors, while various kids activities ranged from camel riding to medieval sword fighting. George Milford, president of the festival’s organising committee, said the day had…
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What to do with a compost that is too hot?
In last-week’s Compost Conversation we looked at what makes some batches of compost go over temperature (over 68o Celsius), and why that is a problem. This week we’ll look at the remedies. The suggestions made in this article could be detrimental to a compost not suffering overheat, so please read this week’s and last week’s…