Featured
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Speed reduction supported
Councillors have pitched their support behind a call from Yapeen residents to lower the speed limit on the Vaughan Springs Road at the increasingly popular lifestyle locality.At last week’s June meeting Mount Alexander Shire Council unanimously endorsed the local residents’ call, agreeing that the current 100km/h speed limit on the winding Vaughan Springs Road should…
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Storm over but event not ended
Macedon Ranges is expected to face repercussions from June’s destructive storm for the next month as initial clean-up continues.Woodend SES unit controller Kevin McNair warned “the bulk of the storm is over but the event has not ended”.The Woodend unit responded to almost 600 calls for storm assistance – doubling its yearly average in a…
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Colombian rhythms move Castlemaine
Afro-Latin dance teacher Castlemaine’s Camila Serrano is among country-dwelling Victorians set to feature on new ABC TV series Movin’ to the Country.Originally from Colombia, Camila moved to Australia in 2009 and lived in Melbourne before three years later making her treechange to Castlemaine where her dance and fitness classes have since taken off. Camila’s decision to…
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Clubhouse condition critical
Woodend golfers are urging action to bring their dilapidated clubhouse up to building code or for demolition to rebuild.Last year, Macedon Ranges Shire Council set aside $200,000 to bring facilities up to scratch but members report little movement. “We haven’t seen any evidence of that money being spent,” Woodend Golf Club secretary, Barney Hearnden said.“The…
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Austin on the road to recovery
Courageous Castlemaine youngster Austin Vearing has successfully conquered two rounds of surgery in the United States and is now on his road to recovery.The four-year-old and his family flew to America earlier this month where he underwent life-changing SDR (selective dorsal rhizotomy) surgery at St Louis Children’s Hospital. Austin’s mum Kat and dad Julian said…
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Communication breakdown?
Residents cut off from power and telecommunications for days in June’s storm are questioning Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s communications with residents in emergency.Web, social media and phone proved ineffective means of communication for thousands of residents cut from power for between one to six days. “We were cut off from power and running water for…
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Missing dogs feared stolen
Five missing dogs are feared stolen after not being sighted since mid-May in the Macedon Ranges.The dogs, all desirable breeds, disappeared within two weeks of each other from Lancefield, Clarkefield, Hesket and Benloch.missing are a black staghound, two dachshunds, a tri-coloured border collie and a pure-bred husky. Owners have contacted local authorities and made a…
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Line crossed at school crossing
Police are ramping up their focus on Castlemaine’s school crossings following a concerning near-miss last week.The increased policing focus follows last Wednesday’s incident in which a motorist drove a car through the Hargraves Street school crossing as an on-duty supervisor stood in the middle to assist school children who were preparing to cross the road…
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Storm ravages region
Power and communications cut for days, damaged property, fallen trees blocking roads, entire towns isolated and undrinkable mains water.This is the destruction from one of the worst storms to lash the Macedon Ranges region in years.Wind gusts in excess of 100km/h wreaked havoc across central Victoria last Wednesday and Thursday.Powercor crews worked to restore power…
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Fourth win easy as pie!
Country Cob Bakery has reclaimed its crown for Australia’s Best Mince Pie for the fourth year running.The win was among five national titles and 14 gold medals for the Kyneton bakery at Australia’s Best Pie and Pastie Competition in Sydney. This year’s Baking Association of Australia competition attracted almost 2000 entries nation-wide and Country Cob…
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Prepare for power outages ahead of extreme weather
Householders are being urged to prepare for potential power outages with strong winds expected to hit parts of the state late tonight and into tomorrow. Weather forecasts are predicting wind gusts of more than 100km/h in parts of central and western Victoria, with strong winds also predicted for the metropolitan region.The worst of the weather…
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Artist makes Archie 100
The work of a local artist and painting teacher from Castlemaine has been included in the landmark Archie 100 exhibition that opened at the Art Gallery of NSW last Friday. Gabrielle Martin’s painting, Tony Clark with Jasperware (Landscape), 2003, was selected from thousands of Archibald Prize finalists to be included in this exhibition of 100 paintings drawn from…