Latest
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Dramatic palettes
Creative Castlemaine couple Rosie McKenry and Bruce Mitchell have notched up the sort of travels many would envy. In their upcoming exhibition this inspired duo share much of what they’ve loved most about some of our planet’s most powerful landscapes. Earth’s Shapes and Colours: Australia and Beyond is the title of this new exhibition opening…
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Residents vow to fight
The residents of Kyneton’s oldest street are readying their pitchforks to greet council contractors planning to dig up their street’s heritage bluestone guttering. Macedon Ranges Shire Council has plans to dig up and relay the bluestone gutters in a new configuration along the east side of Edgecombe Street where the bluestones were the first to…
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Planning pigsty?
No piggery has operated in Monegeetta for 10 years yet locals remain restricted by its planning triggers and are demanding answers. Neighbours to the former Monegeetta Piggery on Chintin Road are facing unnecessary red tape when seeking to make changes to their properties, which has cost them time and money. Macedon Ranges Shire Council introduced…
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Women celebrate
A festive crowd picnicked, danced and celebrated in Castlemaine’s Botanical Gardens to mark International Women’s Day on Friday. The event featured a lineup of live music acts and raised more than $500 for a literacy and life-enrichment program run by the Friends of Castlemaine Library for local prisoners at Tarrengower women’s prison in Maldon. “You’re…
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Advocates for women
Half the Sky – How to Change the World is a powerful book that will make its way into the hands of many in the Macedon Ranges as part of International Women’s Day. The book explores barriers to gender equality for women across the world and each local Neighbourhood House has five copies to circulate,…
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Kyneton collaboration – Songwriter brings in artist on new single
Home-grown singer/songwriter Taylor Sheridan has his first chance to chart in Australia with the release of his new single Nothing wrong. Opening with lyrical honesty and building throughout to a tribal heartbeat, the song explores relationships and was inspired by the bitter-sweetness of saying goodbye to someone you love. “The music I have written and…
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Working together to protect waterways
On a dry hot summer day last Wednesday, citizen scientists, government agencies, landcare and a platypus ecologist worked together collecting water samples from 20 sites along the Coliban and Campaspe Rivers. The focus of the day was to identify critical refuge areas where platypus can survive during the dry periods. Last Wednesday the lack of…
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Buddhist temple refused
A Buddhist temple and assembly hall has been refused for Gisborne South following strong community backlash. Macedon Ranges Shire councillors voted 7-2 in favour of the 52 objectors who aired concerns surrounding loss of amenity, neighbourhood character, increased traffic, sewerage and impacts on local waterways. The Lao Buddhist Society of Victoria’s application sought to build…
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Power to community – Woodend wind energy project gets go ahead
A community wind energy facility at Woodend has been given the go ahead following the state government’s approval of a planning scheme amendment to facilitate the project. The Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group is developing the community energy park project, which is expected to include wind turbines, solar panels and battery storage. The project will help…
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The harp electric!
Mary Doumany has performed in some of the world’s grandest opera houses and concert halls, including the Sydney Opera House and Albert Hall in London. But those who have not yet had the privilege of hearing the incredible harpist perform will get an opportunity to do so next month in Kyneton. A Kyneton local herself,…
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Firies back tower
Emergency warnings and communications are expected to improve for the previously fire-ravaged Benloch as Telstra moves to install a second telecommunications tower. Telstra has proposed a mobile telecommunications network base station at Feeneys Lane under the Victorian Mobile Black Spot Program, and local firies are backing the move. Benloch Fire Brigade captain Gary Deer said…
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Protecting precious species
The unassuming little basalt peppercress plant, a nationally endangered species, is being given a new chance of life at the iconic Hanging Rock Reserve. As a result of funding from the state government, Newham and District Landcare group is propagating and planting the nationally endangered basalt peppercress and the matted flax lily. The two species…