Community News
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Oz Day gong for Ken
Citizen of the Year for Mount Alexander Shire, Ken Maddern has not let having chronic fatigue stand in his way. Instead, the passionate local volunteer, sports administrator and junior sports promoter has done more to benefit his local community than many achieve in a lifetime. It’s a fact that on Saturday saw Ken named the…
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Parlez-vous Francais?
The hot, dry bushland of Walmer is a very long way from Canada’s French Quebec famed for its icy winter carnival. But you don’t have to chat to local French language tutor, Emma Dubuc, for long to see she loves the Aussie bushland she now calls home. Originally from Quebec City where French was her…
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Park plan push
Momentum is building for a Gisborne community park on the spot where development could have taken hold five years ago if it was not for a strong community campaign. Macedon Ranges Shire Council has endorsed the Wyralla Reserve Landscape Plan to develop the reserve on the corner of Wyralla Crescent and Kurung Court. The estimated…
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Local cactus warriors honoured
The Tarrangower Cactus Control warriors have been honoured with a national Froggatt Award. The accolade is awarded to those who have made a major contribution to protecting Australia’s native plants and animals, ecosystems and people, from dangerous new invasive species. The passionate local group have lured university students, local scouts and even Work for the…
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From Paris to Newham
This is the story of a reunion…the kind of reunion people who sold something years ago only to find it is worth a small fortune today will well and truly relate to. It’s also the story of a grand old fire truck with a secret life… It all began locally around Woodend way when well-known…
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New pooch park proving popular
Since it opened last month, Guildford’s new off-lead dog park has been proving very popular among dog owners and their four-legged friends who have been travelling from near and far to enjoy what it has to offer. This includes just over four acres of space to stretch, run, sniff and roll – all off-lead –…
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Born by the river
Kyneton local Nancy Mortimer welcomed a new grandchild before Christmas who was in quite a hurry to arrive. Nancy’s son Anthony and daughter-in-law Rachael live more than 100 kilometres away in St Andrews but had their first child, Xavier, delivered at Castlemaine Hospital and wanted to return there for their second. When Rachael’s labour began…
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Romsey site sought for new enterprise
Once ‘hidden’ local artisans can soon showcase their wares with the emergence of a new social enterprise in Romsey. The local Neighbourhood House is seeking a shopfront to help people sell and promote handcrafted goods as well as support a range of community initiatives including tearooms, a fix-it shop and community garden. Romsey Neighbourhood House…
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Honouring a legend
Bobby Adams joined his local brigade to fight fires when he was just 14 years old. Today at 95 he still takes a big interest in his home brigade, Newham, nearly always making a guest appearance at its special events and supporting it strongly financially. In fact, the newest four-wheel-drive support vehicle the brigade has…
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Peonies bring joy to special visitors
Karen O’Sullivan A surprise visit to the Spring Hill Peony Farm put smiles on the faces of Trentham Aged Care residents. Owner Nicky Thomas decided to spread some early Christmas cheer, opening up her beautiful fields of peony flowers for her very special visitors. “This outing for the aged care residents was free of charge,…
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A polished production
Moonlight Theatre Company has debuted at the Theatre Royal in Castlemaine with a very funny, clever radio play called The Wrong Box. Director John Rowland adapted the radio play from the original story by Robert Louis Stevenson and Lloyd Osbourne. The Theatre Royal was transformed into a 1940s radio studio and the actors looked like…
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Spread a little joy
Imagine being unable to give your child a gift this Christmas. Sadly, this is a reality for struggling local families doing it tough this year. For the past eight years, the Combined Churches of the Macedon Ranges have organised a Christmas ‘Toy Shop’ for families living in the shire who might struggle to afford a…