Community News
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Five decades of drumming
Lisa Dennis Castlemaine Highland Pipe Band stalwart, Trevor Kuhle, has been recognised for 50 years’ participation in the annual Maryborough Highland Gathering. This year marked the 160th anniversary of the highly anticipated New Year’s Day event, which draws Scots and admirers from across the country and further afield. Trevor, 65, said he was shocked but…
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Enrol in U3A
U3A Kyneton (University of the Third Age) provides a stimulating social and learning environment for mature age members of the Macedon Ranges community who are not in full-time employment. Members and interested individuals are encouraged to attend the 2023 Enrolment Day on January 13 from 9.30am -12.30pm. On that day you will be able to…
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Spreading kindness
The members of the Kyneton Country Women’s Association have been dubbed Hunger Heroes for donating $1000 to The Kindness Collective’s Christmas hamper drive. Money raised at the CWA’s monthly market provided a welcome boost to the local foodbank’s distribution of 200 Christmas dinner boxes to local families experiencing financial hardship. CWA secretary Christine Jessop said…
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Laps for Live4Life
LAP it UP has made a splash for Youth Live4Life raising $38,926. The fitness and fundraising challenge encourages people to swim laps for youth mental health awareness and suicide prevention in rural and regional communities. This year’s event on November 20 saw an incredible 25,028 laps made – that’s 625 kilometres! Youth Live4Life CEO Bernard…
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The giving tree spirit
Kyneton’s Little Swallow Cafe is once again opening its Giving Tree to donations for community members in need this Christmas. The spectacular three-metre-high Christmas tree is located at the rear of the cafe and people are encouraged to contribute what they can. Last year the giving tree project raised $12,500. This year its has raised…
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Woodend gives back
Woodend Neighbourhood House will be able to help more locals this Christmas, thanks to a generous donation from the craft groups at Gemlife Woodend. Susan Lawson runs Gemlife’s weekly mosaic class, and the group has been busy producing mosaic pots, plates and decorative ornaments all year. “We’ve had lots of interest in our mosaics, so…
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Double the Christmas joy
Kyneton Community House is again hosting two inclusive community Christmas lunches on Tuesday December 20 and Wednesday December 21. Things will look a bit different this year with both lunches taking place in KCH’s new Good Food Hub at 35 High Street in Kyneton. The venue already hosts Small Bites, a program to help upskill…
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The mask of disability
Jade Jungwirth A large group gathered in the sunshine at the Castlemaine Botanic Gardens to celebrate this year’s International Day of People with Disabilities. It was a morning of celebration with local musicians Joe Smith and Benz performing for the crowd as they enjoyed a delicious morning tea of cakes and honey joys. Between MainFM’s…
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Bank backs community
The Lancefield and Romsey community is celebrating an investment of $296,837 in 2022-23 sponsorships and grants. Community Bank Lancefield Romsey announced the funds at a special event in Lancefield last month. The funding included $211,087 in grants to 16 local community groups and not-for-profit organisations, $16,500 in continued investment in the local ShareRide vehicle, and…
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Zonta says no to violence
Wednesday November 25 was the International Day for the elimination of violence against women and December 10 is Human Rights Day. The 16 days that begin and end on these dates are recognised internationally as the ‘16 Days of Activism’ to prevent violence against women. This year’s global theme is ‘UNITE! Activism to end violence…
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Our versatile band
Castlemaine’s Thompson Foundry Band, now in its 137th year, is getting into the swing of Christmas. Bandmaster Dan Bendrups told the band’s recent annual meeting that “it matters for a town like Castlemaine to have a band it can call its own”. He said the band had played at range of community events and festivals…
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A little bit of Christmas magic
Jade Jungwirth A group of local women has spent endless hours making hand-crafted Christmas wreaths to place around the townships of Castlemaine and Maldon. Seventy-three-year-old Lana Osterfield organised the wreath-making efforts, using vines pruned from her ornamental grapevine, with eight other retired crafters. “The council had approached a group of craft people to make decorations…