News
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Visitor centre set for move
Macedon Ranges Shire Council plans to relocate the Kyneton Visitor Information Centre from its current site on High Street to the Kyneton Museum in Piper Street, in a move that has alarmed local volunteers. The relocation is part of a review and restructure of council’s Economic Development and Visitor Economy department, although it is not…
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Roads a risk to riders
South Gisborne motorcyclist Rodney Brown is part of a growing chorus of road users urging action on dangerous road conditions. He has long championed motorcycle road safety, and said it was time road repairs were carried out with motorcycles specifically in mind. “On a motorcycle you can feel it go through your neck and spine,…
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Fight to keep open space
The fight to keep Gisborne Pine Plantation as public open space in perpetuity has reignited as the site’s future is up in the air. Local families and community groups donated the 4.5 acres at 121 Aitken Street to Gisborne Primary School in the 1920s. It was intended for use as ‘Endowment Plantation Scheme and Bird…
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Local bee losses alarming
A concerning number of amateur apiarists across the Mount Alexander Shire and beyond have reported bee/hive losses in recent months. While many attribute this to the bee-killing Varroa mite (Varroa destructor), some say they are unsure of a clear cause. One local amateur beekeeper told the Express they lost four hives, but only one showed…
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Five years and 65 local films
Castlemaine Documentary Festival is celebrating its archive of 65 locally made short films and inviting anyone interested to help make the next ones. LOCALS is Castlemaine Documentary Festival’s (CDoc) annual homegrown documentary showcase of short films (six minutes or less) made by people with a meaningful connection to central Victoria. Over the past five years,…
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Exciting new project for young creator
When an alien object lands in a backyard in rural Victoria, one family will stop at nothing to capitalise off the anomaly. It’s the story that young Gisborne multimedia artist, Lucas Taylor, tells through creative animation and puppetry in his latest project: Out of Halmsway. Lucas describes the film as an absurd, short bush-sci-fi set…
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Parents call for halt on tree carnage
Elphinstone Primary School parents are calling on the Department of Education to halt vegetation removal works at schools across the region, after finding large sections of the small school grounds cleared during the school holidays. Parents say they support measures to protect children from bushfire but want the department to allow time for community consultation…
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Let your imagination run wild
The Newstead Arts Hub will transform into a literary village this Sunday as some of Australia’s best-loved children’s authors, illustrators and storytellers gather for the Newstead Young Writers Festival. It will be a full day of creativity, stories and inspiration for young people and their families, with something new, exciting and whimsical around every corner.…
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Fuel apps help motorists find cheaper prices
With fuel prices stretching household budgets, motorists are increasingly turning to online tools to find cheaper petrol and diesel. Unleaded and diesel prices have fluctuated significantly in recent months, with prices currently ranging from about $2.30 to $3 a litre depending on location. Earlier this year, the Australian Government temporarily halved the fuel excise on…
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The science of the super oil
A Macedon Ranges olive oil producer’s focus on the potential health benefits of olive oil has been rewarded with a gold medal at the International Australian Olive Oil Awards. Quartz Hill, founded by Melissa Lococo and Deb Radford, received gold for its Q600 oil, along with silver medals for its Estate and Gilt oils. The…
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Residents push for 60km/h on Grahams Road
A large amount of in-depth evidence has been collected to justify action to cut the speed limit from 100km/h to 60km/h on an unsealed rural road close to Lancefield. “In summary, the problems could be solved through three major signage installations, saving the shire council considerable time and money,” local resident Denis Graham said yesterday.…
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Songbird joins campaign to ban duck hunting
“Duck hunting in Victoria needs to end.” That’s the emphatic statement of acclaimed Malmsbury singer songwriter Lucy Wise who is throwing her weight behind the fight to end the annual blood sport. “These beautiful animals are vital to the ecosystem that we and all living things on this land depend on,” she said. “It is…