Health
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Community rallies for maternity services
Local group ‘Support Birthing at Castlemaine Health’ garnered more than 1000 signatures in 72 hours calling for birthing services to be reinstated at the hospital during the current review. Castlemaine Health announced on May 16 that it had temporarily paused birthing services to review its policies, procedures and processes to ensure they aligned with the…
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Bulldogs back Beanies
Gisborne Football Netball Club has launched a strong campaign to sell large numbers of special beanies with all proceeds to go to the FightMND program. Last season the Bulldogs ran activities over several weeks and a massive $42,000 was raised; this year’s major plans have been put on hold as a direct consequence of the…
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Coronavirus testing ramps up with new sites opening in Kyneton and Daylesford
Coronavirus testing is ramping up across the Macedon Ranges and Hepburn Shire regions, with testing now available at Kyneton District Health, and a testing location soon to be established at Daylesford Community Health Centre. This follows an announcement from the Victorian Government of a major testing blitz across the state to better understand how the…
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Pen pals multiply
The Pen Pal Project launched by the Rotary Club of Castlemaine last month has taken off! Another 25 letter writers joined the initiative aimed at sending cards and letters to residents at Castlemaine Health’s aged-care facilities since the article appeared in our sister paper the Castlemaine Mail a fortnight ago. Pen Pal Project coordinator Kerry Anderson said…
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Family violence … you’re not alone
Mount Alexander Shire Council is urging anyone at risk of family violence to seek the help you need from the dedicated support services available. While we are all being asked to stay at home to prevent the spread of COVID-19, home may not be the safest place for everyone. “It is important to know that…
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Health facility completed
A year since works first began on the Caroline Chisholm Drive site, Cobaw Community Health’s new Kyneton home has now been completed. The purpose-built new facility, made possible by a $9.7M grant from the Victorian Government’s Regional Health Infrastructure Fund, will replace Cobaw’s main office at 47 High Street. “This vital part of local infrastructure…
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Community pantry up and running
Local volunteers, community groups and organisations are working together to provide food relief for residents in need in Mount Alexander Shire. The newly created Mount Alexander Community Pantry is a centrally coordinated food relief system that aims to provide assistance in the absence of a local foodbank. Castlemaine Community House manager Martyn Shaddick said everyone…
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Ready to tackle the crisis
An army of volunteers has been working behind the scenes to sew gowns, caps and masks for Castlemaine doctors to ensure they are well protected and ready to tackle the coronavirus crisis. A grateful Dr Richard Mayes and Dr Dominic Blanks of Castlemaine’s Lyttleton Street Clinic described it as a “massive effort”. “We have had…
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Coronavirus update for Victoria
The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 1291 – an increase of 10 from yesterday, as testing for the virus expands in Victoria. There were no new deaths reported yesterday. To date, 14 people have died from coronavirus in Victoria. The total number of cases is made up of 672 men and…
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Good Friday Appeal online not on foot
For more than 40 years, CFA brigades in the Mount Macedon and Mount Alexander regions have been collecting for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, and in that time they have collected many millions of dollars. However, this year, due to the virus, things have had to change. Traditionally, brigades have used the Good…
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Coronavirus update for Victoria
The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 1191 – an increase of 33 from yesterday. Yesterday a woman in her 80s died in hospital, taking the number of people who have died in Victoria from coronavirus to 11, as new measures come into force from tonight to further slow the spread. The…
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DOCTORS, NURSES NOT PROTECTED
Stress is mounting for medical professionals as they struggle to access basic personal protective equipment to face the coronavirus pandemic, including Macedon Ranges’ own. A local doctor, who did not wish to be identified, said supplies were shockingly low and healthcare workers were now resorting to desperate measures to feel safe in their work environment.…