Featured
-
A curious and collectable affair
There’s something special about picking up an antique musical instrument. The saxophones in Ken Smith’s collection hint at something of the lively past of their former owner. “They belonged to Ian Punton who played with the Passalaqua band in Guildford around the 1930s or 40s,” says Brian Owens who, along with Ken, is co-organiser of…
-
Yards too hot?
Scorching temperatures brought animal welfare to the fore as Kyneton prepared for its annual weaner calf sale last Wednesday. Despite a forecast well above the mid-30s the sale proceeded with 1300 quality steer and heifer weaners yarded, which is typical practice according to Macedon Ranges Shire Council. “Sales are usually only cancelled if dangerous conditions…
-
Don KR evacuated: Hazardous gas leak
About 250 workers at Castlemaine’s Don KR factory had to be evacuated from the factory late last Thursday night following a hazardous ammonia gas leak on site. Ammonia is used as an industrial refrigerant and the leak was understood to be due to an equipment breakdown. Once in volatile gas form ammonia may cause severe…
-
Our fire bird
A Newham born and raised helicopter pilot was among the air attack team fighting a bushfire that broke out at Benloch last Tuesday. Amy Miller flew a Firebird 306 and said it felt good to help out around her home area. “I knew mum and dad’s place was fine because they’re on the other side…
-
Set for sound: Newstead goes live
Newstead is a town in anticipation just days out from its biggest event of the year. The annual Newstead Live Music Festival is about to triple the town’s population over this Friday evening through to Monday throughout the Australia Day long weekend. And while there’s more at the racecourse reserve, camping at the town’s oval…
-
Why so high?
Kyneton locals are fed up with their town’s three petrol stations consistently boasting some of the highest fuel prices in the state. Unleaded fuel was priced at about $1.40 a litre last week at the BP service station owned by Vantage Fuels, the Woolworths Caltex station and the independently owned Kuppers Fuel Stop, while prices…
-
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…
-
Residents petition for water change
A petition calling for Coliban Water to stop its chlorination trial, which began in October, has so far attracted a total of 204 signatures. Lead petitioner Vivienne Hamilton said she began the petition as she was offended by the strength and nasty quality of the smell and taste of the water since the treatment change.…
-
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…
-
Tigers kick off year with upgrade
Kyneton Football Netball Club will kick start the year with a $13,636 upgrade to its pavilion kitchen. Federal Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters announced a Stronger Communities grant for the refurbishment at the Kyneton Showgrounds last week. “The refurbishment will not only benefit KFNC in terms of revenue and service to members and the public,…
-
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…
-
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…