Community News
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Spreading festive cheer
Kyneton Christmas Collective is determined to spread the festive spirit this year. The newly formed collective is a small group of passionate community members planning Christmas activities in Kyneton throughout December. “We really felt there was a lack of cohesive community Christmas spirit and wanted our kids to experience festivities,” member Andie Webster said. “This…
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A very tiny, big issue
I was chatting to new YIMBY composter Laura Jade about things that make it through our compost piles virtually unscathed. Laura started composting with her partner Lesley back in June as part of the West End Compost Cluster, a rapidly growing YIMBY area, in West Castlemaine. Laura and Lesley have already composted over 700kg of…
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Palestinian film fundraiser
To commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People this Friday November 29, a film screening of the award-winning documentary No Other Land will be held at Theatre Royal Castlemaine. The film is being presented by the Theatre Royal and Free Palestine Central Victoria in proud partnership with the Palestinian Solidarity Film Festival.…
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A Year of Abundance
Growing Abundance is hosting an event on Saturday to celebrate its 2024 program ‘A Year of Abundance’. The last event in the year for Growing Abundance, it is also the final event of the organisation in its current form, as the current committee prepares for the program to become part of the suite of activities…
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How to test for herbicide residues
In last week’s conversation we looked at synthetic auxins, a group of persistent herbicides that can have devastating impacts on broad-leafed plants like beans and peas, tomatoes and eggplants and pumpkins and cucumbers, causing stunting, curled leaf tips and in some cases death. Synthetic auxins are coming into our food systems in commercial composts, garden…
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Kyneton Show competition smashes records
The Kyneton Show has again set records with the biggest crowd ever at the Friday night carnival. The showgrounds were abuzz with about 9000 people across the two-day show. Kyneton Agricultural Society president, Andrew Ferrington, congratulated all who attended, entered and volunteered to make the 162nd show such a success. “We aim to improve every…
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Kyneton up to the challenge
Kyneton High School is powering up for the Energy Breakthrough challenge this week. For weeks, students have worked together to design and construct a human-powered vehicle to compete in a 24-hour endurance race. Kyneton High will have 16 students participating across two teams, aged from year nine to 12. KHS’s racing team coordinator Megan DeMoel…
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Meet the author
Woodend Library will host a talk with Macedon Ranges author and pilot Kathy Mexted in celebration her latest book Take Flight. Mexted celebrates the determination, skill and expertise of 10 Australian women who have beaten the odds to find success and joy in our skies. Beautifully written with captivating stories about amazing female pilots, from…
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Invisible, persistent killer
‘Synthetic auxins’ are a group of herbicides that have been quietly killing off backyard and market gardens in our region for some time now. ‘Aminopyralid’ is a type of synthetic auxin, but is commonly used as a name for the whole class of these herbicides. I have seen dozens of gardens devastated by synthetic auxins,…
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Eleanor Bryant remembered
Macedon Ranges residents have shown an outpouring of support for the family and community of Eleanor Bryant who died at the scene of a truck crash at Riddells Creek last Monday. The beloved teacher’s aide was killed, and a boy injured, when a water truck veered off the road and crashed through the playground at…
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Safe Space finds a home
A new facility in Castlemaine is offering a community led, non-clinical, inclusive and comfortable sanctuary to anyone who may be in emotional distress or experiencing suicidal thoughts. After more than two years of dedication and perseverance, the Castlemaine Safe Space volunteers officially open the doors to their permanent base at 74 Mostyn Street last Thursday.…
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Drumming up interest
YIMBY composters teamed up with ‘Dig It’ MainFM program and Growing Abundance and took to the streets in the Castlemaine Show Parade last week to make some noise! These three down-to-earth institutions in Mount Alexander Shire highlight the fun and serious business of composting and gardening. By all accounts, much fun was had in the…