Featured
-
The forest maker
Tony Rinaudo, widely known as the ‘forest maker’, is an Australian agronomist who has lived and worked in Africa for several decades. During the great famine of 1984, at the age of only 26, Rinaudo was placed in charge of delivering emergency food aid to tens of thousands of families. He discovered and put into…
-
Permanent settlement welcomed
The federal government’s decision to allow 19,000 refugees to settle permanently in Australia has been welcomed by local refugee support group, Macedon Ranges Rural Australians for Refugees. The group’s chairperson, Jean Ker Walsh, expressed relief and satisfaction with the decision and noted that it honoured an election promise made by Labor. “These people, acknowledged by…
-
The wonderful world of fungi
“Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness” wrote Keats, and as autumn approaches, so does the emergence of hundreds of different fungi. Newham and District Landcare Group has invited world fungi authority and photographer, Alison Pouliot, to give a free talk and display at Newham Hall on Friday, March 3 from 6pm. Alison’s new book, Underground…
-
Next stop nationals
Amy Hume Swimming newcomer India Paleg has blown expectations out of the water with her rapid rise to nationals. Diving head-first into competition training just over a year ago, India never thought she’d reach a major milestone so soon. Now the 15-year-old from Newham is one to watch at the 2023 Australian Age Championships in…
-
Flooding frustration
Eight years of flooded roadways and lagging action to remedy poor drainage has taken a toll for Martin Eden. The owner of Kyneton’s Eden Lodge equine stabling and swimming complex has had to pause operations many times over the years following heavy rainfall. His property is located at the corner of Beauchamp Street and Campaspe…
-
Duck death toll climbs
The mass bird casualty situation at the Bells Swamp Conservation Reserve near Maldon continues to worsen with 640 dead birds pulled from the wetlands as of Friday afternoon. A Parks Victoria spokesperson told the Express they were still awaiting test results at the time of going to press. However, it is strongly suspected the birds…
-
New brewer at Shedshaker
It’s a new year and new chapter for Castlemaine’s Shedshaker Brewing. Andrew Cronin, formerly of Melbourne’s Cavalier Brewing, has taken on the role of head brewer at Shedshaker, bringing more than 10 years of independent beer brewing experience to Castlemaine. Shedshaker director Doug Falconer said Andrew was a standout candidate with his combination of brewing…
-
Remembering Ash Wednesday
This Thursday, February 16, marks the 40th anniversary of one of the most horrific natural disasters ever to hit this country – the Ash Wednesday fires. Raging widespread throughout parts of Victoria and South Australia, the Macedon Ranges was one of the areas worst hit by the fire storms. Locally 379 homes in total were…
-
CAM director reflects
Lisa DennisCastlemaine Art Museum director Naomi Cass celebrates her fourth year at the helm of the beloved local institution in 2023 and says it has been an honour to lead the gallery through the period of ‘renewal’. Ms Cass joined the CAM team just before the Castlemaine State Festival in 2019, after 15 years as…
-
Mobile coverage plans for Kyneton
Telstra is planning to improve mobile phone coverage for Kyneton by erecting a macro base station as a light pole swap out at the Kyneton Showgrounds. Steve Tinker, Telstra regional general manager, said Telstra had been working to improve the mobile service situation in Kyneton for some time, including installing a new site at Mineral…
-
Respite decision ahead for carers group
Amy Hume The future of a proposed respite day care centre for dementia patients in Macedon Ranges will be determined next week. MacGregors Farm proposes short-term, day respite care for up to 15 early-stage dementia patients living at home. It’s a project that has been years in the making for Woodend Lifestyle Carers Group, which…
-
Friendship and respect
A Welcome to Country ceremony held at the Kyneton Police Station last Tuesday served as a marker of friendship and respect between local police and the Traditional Owners of the land. Taungurung elder, Auntie Joanne Honeyset, was invited to perform the smoking ceremony by Officer in Charge at Kyneton, Senior Sergeant Marty Kappel. Sgt Kappel…