Latest
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Tempo builds for jazz fest
A month after their release, ticket sales to this year’s Castlemaine Jazz Festival are building tempo with organisers now encouraging jazz fans to snap up an early bird pass while they can. Staged over the June 7-10 Queen’s Birthday long weekend this year’s festival will bring more than 50 bands and around 300 musicians to…
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Licensed to kill
Hundreds of kangaroos across the region shot by incompetent hunters issued state government permits to kill, need to be euthanised by wildlife rescuers to put them out of their misery. Manfred Zabinskas, who runs a wildlife shelter in East Trentham, said rescuers were regularly finding kangaroos that hadn’t been “killed cleanly”. “They’ve been shot horribly.…
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Traffic plan draws criticism
A Kyneton residents group has criticised a council plan to manage increased traffic flow through the town as new housing estates and infill development are expected to see the population reach 10,000 by 2036. The draft Kyneton Movement Network Study, currently on public exhibition, aims to guide and provide the transport infrastructure needed to cope…
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Hungry for more
Central Victoria’s reputation as a foodie destination stands to gain international recognition from Greater Bendigo’s bid to become a designated City of Gastronomy. The submission to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network could put the region on the world map for food and beverage alongside the likes of Gaziantep (Turkey), Chengdu (China), Parma (Italy) and Tsuruoka…
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Pearcy’s inspirational pledge
Five months ago, Kyneton local Jacob Pearce started a campaign called Pearcy’s Pledge to Mental Health. He started this campaign because he believed he had a great opportunity to make a difference. Not only did he battle with his mental health and lose close people to suicide, but two years ago he survived a horrific…
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Meet the museum makers
If you’ve ever marvelled at the preserved real-life bodies of dinosaurs, whales or famed racehorses displayed in museums, you may well be a candidate for a unique taxidermy workshop coming up in Castlemaine next month. Launched during the recent Castlemaine State Festival, Museum Makers is a new niche business that brings together two of Australian’s…
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The right to farm
Macedon Ranges agribusiness operators are fighting against urban expansion and seek to secure the industry as the Victorian Government moves to protect Melbourne’s outer green wedges and peri-urban areas. Strategic agricultural land identified in the Macedon Ranges forms part of the state government initiative, which aims to permanently tighten controls to improve land use and…
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Sky-high result for cancer fundraiser
Despite overcast skies, more than 350 people packed the hangar at the Kyneton Aero Club on Saturday for the annual Cancer Council morning tea fly-in. The fly-in attracted aircraft from Melbourne, Euchca, Bendigo, Geelong and other parts of Victoria who parked up in the display field beside the dozen or so planes owned by aero…
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Fireworks and tango
The online ticket window is now open for the Woodend Winter Arts Festival, with some concerts already selling fast – including now London-based Australian pianist Piers Lane performing Chopin in one concert only. But the festival opens with fireworks and dancing – albeit in different locations – and will close with a Finale Dinner at…
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Rainbow flag to fly
The rainbow flag will replace the Australian flag at Woodend’s war memorial clock tower for seven days in support of International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia. Macedon Ranges Shire Council approved the move last week at the request of Cobaw Community Health to extend the annual celebration of inclusivity and support for the…
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Cranberry, crimson and sapphire!
Fifth generation North Blackwood potato farmer John Dunn grows no less than 18 varieties of potatoes! John Dunn and Sons grow coliban, cranberry red, crimson pearl, desiree, dutch cream, exton, kennebec, king edward, kipfler, maris piper, nicola, otway red, pontiac, purple congo, sapphire, spunta, toolangi delight and Wilwash potatoes. John is teaching his granddaughters Sophie…
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British bike invasion
Hundreds of British bikes invaded the roads around Castlemaine over the weekend for the annual All British Bike Rally. Triumphs, Nortons, Vincents and BSAs were among the makes that rolled into Newstead Racecourse Reserve where motorcyclists camped en masse for the run organised by the BSA Motorcycle Owners Association. On Saturday Maldon’s main street served…