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  • Town powered down

    Town powered down

    Malmsbury business operators have suffered through an extraordinarily bad run of power outages this past summer. On seven occasions since November, traders experienced power outages at some of their busiest trading times. The outages have been the result of severe weather combined with the use of bushfire mitigation technology installed at electrical substations in areas…

  • Growth groan – Riddell rail under pressure

    Growth groan – Riddell rail under pressure

    Train users are feeling the squeeze of Riddells Creek’s service as commuters from outside the town descend to take advantage of cheaper fares, and service pressure is about to increase. It’s not uncommon for Gisborne, Macedon and Mount Macedon commuters to board at Riddells Creek to slash their fare, but impending population growth for the…

  • Landing with wings

    Landing with wings

    Castlemaine author and talented artist Trace Balla will this month launch her latest book, Landing With Wings, which is set right here on Dja Dja Wurrung country. Trace is the much-loved creator of creator of Rivertime and Rockhopping, The Thank You Dish and Shine. Her latest offering, published by Allen and Unwin, tells the story…

  • ‘Sweet’ music to launch Woodend Winter Arts Festival

    ‘Sweet’ music to launch Woodend Winter Arts Festival

    Easily some of the most recognised works for cello, Bach’s Cello Suites continue to delight audiences and cellists alike. These iconic works of classical music have inspired many other musicians and artists across the centuries. Many of us are familiar with them through movies and theatre. Composed nearly three centuries ago, the Solo Cello Suites…

  • ‘Declare a climate emergency’: XR

    ‘Declare a climate emergency’: XR

    Local Extinction Rebellion protesters last month launched coordinated protest actions across the Macedon Ranges to demand immediate action on climate change. The actions took place as part of the statewide XR Rural Day of Climate Change Action on February 21 in the lead up to the Climate Justice Alliance’s Climate Crisis National Day of Action…

  • Macedon Ranges Council calls out ‘greenwashing’

    Macedon Ranges Council calls out ‘greenwashing’

    Macedon Ranges Council has called out “greenwashing” in a push for a national ban on harsh fragmentable plastic products and mandatory product recycle labelling. Councillors have slammed “false advertising” on plastic products that are not fully biodegradable and will take their fight to the Australian Local Government Association’s national general assembly in June. They want…

  • New Castlemaine locomotive stable takes shape in $1M move

    New Castlemaine locomotive stable takes shape in $1M move

    Work has begun on Victorian Goldfields Railway’s new Castlemaine locomotive stable as part of a wider project forecast to boost tourism to Castlemaine and surrounds. The $1 million service reorientation project has $500,000 in state funds with VGR adding the rest in a move that will see it shift its operating base from Maldon to…

  • The price of fun: CASA fines for drone activity at Kyneton reservoir

    The price of fun: CASA fines for drone activity at Kyneton reservoir

    Fun has come with a high price tag for two men fined over a daring drone fishing stunt at Upper Coliban Reservoir, Kyneton, last year. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has issued nearly $4000 in fines for aiding and abetting unlawful drone flight following a four-month investigation and two house raids. Project leader, Sunbury local…

  • Lancefield (Macedon Ranges) Relay effort ‘awesome’

    Lancefield (Macedon Ranges) Relay effort ‘awesome’

    The annual Lancefield (Macedon Ranges) Relay for Life held at the weekend raised $58,312, with anyone wishing to make further donations having until March 29 to do so online. Seventeen teams participated this year, with favourable weather conditions appreciated by participants, organisers and helpers alike. The progressive total for funds raised to help the work…

  • Let’s celebrate – New women’s group forms in Macedon Ranges to celebrate diversity

    Let’s celebrate – New women’s group forms in Macedon Ranges to celebrate diversity

    A new group has formed in the Macedon Ranges that aims to celebrate women and their cultural origins. Women Of Macedon Ranges Equality Network (WOMEN) was born from a conversation between three Kyneton locals from culturally diverse backgrounds. Terry Morley from the Philippines, Maryla Korinfsky from Poland and Teaote Davies from Kiribati saw a need…

  • Seed library to sprout benefits

    Seed library to sprout benefits

    The Macedon Ranges community will reap the benefits from growing its own plants as a new initiative gets underway. The Macedon Ranges Seed Library will launch on March 7 in a bid to encourage locals to grow their own food supply and help to protect plant diversity in the region. The idea of the seed…

  • GDCA celebrates a centenary

    GDCA celebrates a centenary

    Gisborne District Cricket Association celebrated its centenary in style with a memorable gathering at Romsey on Sunday afternoon. The milestone was marked with 36 inductees into the new Hall of Fame to honour former players, administrators and umpires who had played prominent roles in the GDCA’s growth from humble beginnings into one of the strongest…