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  • This ole house …

    This ole house …

    For many restoring a dilapidated house solo on a budget of practically nothing could be a headache. But for Castlemaine’s Cr Max Lesser it’s become a creative challenge and one he’s relishing since taking on the job to convert a degraded house at Harcourt’s Victoria Road entryway into something to catch the public eye. “I…

  • Fun of the fair

    Fun of the fair

    Thousands travelled to the historic township of Maldon for the 142nd Maldon Easter Fair last weekend. The five days of festivities included a scone bake, torchlight procession, billy cart races and Dancing in the Streets event on Saturday evening. The fair was capped off with the spectacle of the grand parade on Easter Monday. The…

  • Contaminated water fear for Campaspe River landowners

    Contaminated water fear for Campaspe River landowners

    Landowners along the Campaspe River downstream from the Kyneton Water Reclamation Plant fear they may have been drawing contaminated water from the river for the past decade. Unusually high stock deaths in recent years and the disappearance of aquatic wildlife have led landowners like Huntly Barton to demand answers from Coliban Water in relation to…

  • MCG a showpiece

    MCG a showpiece

    Malmsbury Cricket Ground has become a showpiece among sporting grounds in the Macedon Ranges at the completion of a $150,000 upgrade. Minister for Sport Martin Pakula and local MP Mary-Anne Thomas joined club members and locals to celebrate the leap forward for the ground which features the only turf wicket in the entire Gisborne District…

  • Revved and ready

    Revved and ready

    Lovers of British motorbikes are revved and ready for this Anzac weekend’s All British bike rally that brings hundreds of classic British motorcycles cruising through Mount Alexander Shire. Among those itching to get two wheels on the road are local Mount Alexander Shire councillor Dave Petrusma who is quite a fan of the British breed…

  • Chloe’s number one

    Chloe’s number one

    Kyneton’s Chloe Stewart has achieved a burning ambition to reach the pinnacle in her chosen sport of lawn bowls, with Bowls Australia confirming her number one nation-wide women’s ranking at the beginning of April. The 23 year-old star has rocketed up the rankings in recent months, and has 254 ranking points, replacing Tasmanian Rebecca Van…

  • Gisborne gas leak

    Gisborne gas leak

    A gas main ruptured during excavation works in Gisborne yesterday morning shut the area down for four hours. Brantome street was closed off between Hamilton and Fisher streets while Riddells Creek and Gisborne fire brigades worked to make the area safe. Residents and shop owners in the direct path of the vapour cloud were briefed…

  • Quad Fit making good times roll

    Quad Fit making good times roll

    For some exercising conjures images of pain and puffing. Then there’s others, like Castlemaine’s Jo Christy for whom keeping fit is so much fun she doesn’t want to stop. About five years ago Jo started Castlemaine Quad Fit, a fun aerobic workout done to music – with a twist. It’s all done on wheels –…

  • Young achievers celebrated

    Young achievers celebrated

    Victorian Youth Week and the school holidays kicked off in style on Friday with a Youth Festival in Castlemaine’s Victory Park celebrating the achievements of young people in our community. The Mount Alexander Shire Youth Festival saw community members enjoy a range of fun activities including tie-dying, a Young Makers Market, live entertainment from young…

  • Doctor in the house

    Doctor in the house

    Overweight high school drop-outs from low socio-economic backgrounds don’t get to be doctors – especially if they are single mothers. At least that’s what Carolyn Siddell believed. Now a GP registrar at Campaspe Family Practice in Kyneton, Carolyn has discredited that voice of negativity but getting to where she is today was no easy ride.…

  • Car park confusion

    Car park confusion

    The installation of new one-way traffic signage and line marking arrows in the Woolworths car park in Kyneton caused considerable confusion for shoppers taken by surprise last week. Sections of the car park are owned separately by Woolworths and Macedon Ranges Shire Council and the safety improvement works were undertaken by council in response to…

  • Sunny for senate

    Sunny for senate

    A Kyneton local with an innovative plan to address immigration and regional growth in Victoria has announced he will be standing as an independent candidate for the Federal Senate in the upcoming elections. Sunny Chandra believes his policy of redirecting international students to regional areas is economically sound and of no cost to the taxpayer.…