Featured
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Respect our cyclists: road aggro alarm
Castlemaine health professionals, parents and cyclists are calling for more care and respect on our roads following recent incidents of motorist aggression towards local cyclists. Castlemaine chiropractor Dr Marg Peck and psychologist Susie Burke both have cycling sons who regularly train on the roads, and they contacted the Midland Express to raise concerns about incidents…
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A long road to recovery
Clare Claydon and Win Westerhoff live on mainly agricultural land at Glenhope. Fire shouldn’t be able to tear through that land but the perfect storm of Black Saturday’s heat and wind, and 10 years drying out in the Millennium Drought, meant it stood no hope. The fire had been snaking its way along the boundary…
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Community spirit shines through
February’s dry heat has stirred emotion for Redesdale residents with memories still fresh of Black Saturday that was almost 10 years ago to the day. For third generation farmer Andrew Campbell it’s knowing the destruction a fire of that intensity can leave in its wake that “sets your teeth on edge”. “It roars through in…
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Expansion planned for Gisborne Business Park
The future mapped for Gisborne Business Park could completely change the New Gisborne area it sits within but now the community can have its say. About 29 hectares of Rural Living Zone land has been earmarked for industrial and commercial development in a proposed amendment to the Draft Gisborne Business Park Development Plan. The plan…
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AM for career in theology
Charles Sherlock spent 26 years among the exclusive membership of the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission. Just 18 scholars of theology are selected world-wide for ARCIC – nine from each of the two churches – tasked with bridging the gap that had grown between the churches since the reign of Henry VIII. Before the posting,…
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Valuer-General calls Woodend home
Woodend residents could be forgiven for taking pride in the knowledge that Victoria’s Valuer-General also chose the area to call home. Robert Marsh has lived in the district with his family – wife Victoria and daughters Lucy and Sophie – since the late 1990s, originally on a farmlet just out of town but now in…
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Young trailblazer
Last year Jessica Cockerill-Wright made history as Kyneton Fire Brigade’s first female member elected lieutenant in the brigade’s 134-year history. Since then, the Kyneton local has put her own true stamp on the position and been a role model worthy of Macedon Ranges’ Young Citizen of the Year, Australia Day honours. She first joined the…
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A strong voice
Just a few years ago Shaylyn Blyth, 17, did not expect to spark change nor the positive impact she has on those around her. Now a strong voice for youth and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, the Woodend teen has been named one of Macedon Ranges’ Young Citizens of the Year. Shaylyn is a founding…
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Path-breaking project
The first residents are expected to begin moving into Castlemaine’s new cutting-edge eco village housing development, as early as this September. The Paddock Eco Village is being developed on a site off Castlemaine’s Reckleben Street by a team – that includes architects, a landscape architect, town planner, civil engineer and energy consultant – led by…
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Field day to double
Tree changers and farm novices will have access to practical advice and demonstrations to get their property thriving at This Farm Needs a Farmer’s second annual field day. Already promising double the exhibitors on last year, the February 24 event will feature mentors, community groups, roving farmers, demonstrations and guest speakers at the Kyneton Showgrounds.…
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Worth his salt
Rob Renton is exactly the kind of bloke who could brighten your day when you are down on your luck. The Vietnam veteran has done that and so much more for many war widows and veterans in the community through his role as pension and welfare officer at the Kyneton RSL since 2003. He draws…
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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…