Community News
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Lancefield market makes a comeback
The Lancefield and District Farmers Market has been rescued by a passionate group of locals and will go ahead this Saturday at a new location: the Romsey Community Sports Oval. The market, usually held along Lancefield’s village green, has operated at Lancefield Park for the past few months to allow for greater social distancing, but…
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Events play a role in recovery
Events will play an important role in Macedon Ranges’ economic recovery from the impacts of coronavirus, according to the draft Macedon Ranges Event Strategy 2020-25. The strategy suggests establishing ‘signature events’ of state or national interest and support for events that promote the shire’s ‘brand strengths’ such as arts, culture, nature and produce. It also…
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Teen’s generous donation
Demand for Piper Spaltman’s handmade face masks in Gisborne is high and with good reason. The 14-year-old last week donated $1000 from their sales to Gisborne Foodbank, which helps locals put food on the table in hard times. With the need higher than ever, Piper donated 30 per cent of her face mask sales, which…
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Library lovers panic borrow
Forget panic buying toilet paper – panic book borrowing was higher on the agenda for many as libraries state-wide prepared for their second COVID-19 shutdown last week. Libraries were inundated with bookworms hoping to take home a tall enough pile of reading material to keep them occupied during the service’s six-week closure. Goldfields Library Corporation…
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Employees rise to the challenge
The aged-care workforce in Australia is made up of more than 360,000 people working in nursing, personal care, allied health, catering, cleaning, leisure, administration, maintenance and more to contribute to the care and wellbeing of older people. RM Begg Kyneton Aged Care will celebrate these dedicated team members on Aged Care Employee Day on August…
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Capturing life in the time of coronavirus
Trentham photographer Sandy Scheltema is thrilled to be successful in her Sustaining Creative Workers grant application, part of the Victorian Government’s survival package for the state’s creative sector. Funding from Creative Victoria and Regional Arts Victoria will help her work on her photographic series ‘Life in The Time of Corona Virus in Central Victoria’. The…
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Successful bid to reduce speed limit
Sutton Grange residents have successfully lobbied to have the speed limit on the Bendigo-Sutton Grange Road within the township reduced from 100km/h to 80km/h. The local community has been lobbying for the change for 20 years. Mount Alexander Shire Council submitted a request to Regional Roads Victoria to reduce the speed limit, following consideration of…
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Young Voices continue to Zoom
The Young Voices of Macedon had planned to return to live rehearsals at the Norma Richardson Hall in Woodend in third term but it has proven necessary to extend the Zoom arrangement until restrictions in Greater Melbourne are lifted. Several choristers and teacher Emma West live in Sunbury and are experiencing lockdown. Choir director Dianne…
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Hub push for funds
Macedon locals are fighting to keep momentum for a much-anticipated community hub as they face a cost blowout for the project. Volunteers are seeking $90,000 in Macedon Ranges Council’s 2020/21 budget to meet the funding shortfall for the building contract and continue efforts. Macedon’s Samara Hodson said the community had rallied behind the project and…
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Farmers looking after their own
Arnold-based primary producers Carly and Darren Noble of small farm business The Agri-Food Network recently launched a Mental Health Gift Hampers initiative aimed at bringing a smile to the face of fellow central Victorian farmers and small producers doing it tough during COVID. The couple launched the program in late March after close friend and…
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Milestone for Romsey Men’s Shed
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Friday to mark an important milestone for the long-awaited Romsey Men’s Shed project. With a lease signed and a building permit obtained, the slab for the shed is expected to be poured within the next fortnight. Rain on Friday failed to dampen the enthusiasm of those present at the…
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Warming Woodend with cheer
Woodend Library has been yarn-bombed and its bright new look is bringing joy to visitors. The library’s frontage, bike racks, trees, posts and outdoor bench-seats are covered in hundreds of knitted and crocheted pieces created by the community. Library manager Lulu Cockram said the temporary street art project continued the fun from previous years. “It’s…