Local News
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Councils sign on to renewables
Macedon Ranges, Mount Alexander and Hepburn are three of 46 state councils to sign on to the largest ever emissions reduction project by local government in Australia. The Victorian Energy Collaboration, led by Darebin City Council, will provide 45 per cent of all Victorian Councils’ electricity requirements with 100 per cent renewables, reducing greenhouse emissions…
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Gas on the nose at climate rally
Gas was on the nose as hundreds of locals gathered in Castlemaine’s Victory Park on Friday as part of nationwide protests demanding genuine climate action from the federal government.Many more Castlemaine students and more mature residents caught public transport to Melbourne to join the estimated 5000 people who gathered at Treasury Gardens for a rally…
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More than a word …
A rich program of cultural events, tours and activities are in store in Castlemaine and surrounds during Reconciliation Week launching this week.Nalderun Education Aboriginal Corporation and Mamunya have organised a packed program that opens with this year’s Sorry Day commemoration at Castlemaine’s Market Building steps tomorrow, Wednesday May 26. Starting 11am, tomorrow’s Sorry Day program…
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School run ends in shock crash
Two children were injured in a dramatic incident at school drop off at Candlebark School in Kerrie this morning. A Romsey mother had stopped her car outside the school with her four young children on board about 8.35am. She got out of the vehicle to help the children out when the car began rolling backwards…
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Family's close shave
Woodend’s Steve Cutajar has family who would do almost anything for him – even shave their heads. It’s not your typical 60th birthday gift, but for Steve, who has been diagnosed with a rare form of leukaemia, it meant more than he could say. His children Bianca and Matthew Cutajar, along with Bianca’s husband Marcus…
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Podcast goes global
Saltgrass, a Castlemaine sustainability podcast proudly supported by Mount Alexander Sustainability Group and MAINfm 94.9, has gone global! The podcast was recently picked up and highlighted by the New York Times when it ran a list of five environment podcasts to listen to on Earth Day. Saltgrass is the brainchild of MASG team member and long-time MAINfm presenter…
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Sweet smell of success
When the Whiteman family moved from inner city Melbourne to rural Chintin in the Macedon Ranges in 2018, they had no plans to become leaders in the lavender oil industry. With a desire to create a sustainable, mixed farming enterprise, Stuart and Sonia set about planting 12,000 plus lavender plants at Chin Chin Farm with…
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Call for sanctuary – Petition to ban shooting at Cairn Curran
A petition calling for a ban on recreational duck shooting on Cairn Curran Reservoir at Baringhup has attracted hundreds of signatures, the majority of them local, in less than a week.The petition calls for the reservoir and surrounding wetlands to be made a sanctuary and supports a vote made by Mount Alexander Shire Council two…
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POWER PARK STALLED
Plans have stalled for a major community renewable energy park to help power Macedon Ranges. The Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group project, south of Woodend, proposes a facility to combine wind energy, a solar plant and battery storage, but now awaits legislative change for progression. Earlier this month MRSG president David Gormley-O’Brien estimated a four-year delay…
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Love to sing?
The Pollyphonics Choir has found its voice again after a year-long COVID-19 hiatus and is regrouping this Thursday in Woodend.Conducted by vibrant choral conductor Polly Christie, this mixed voice choir sings a blend of soul, global folk, African rhythms and delicious harmonies. Polly says the choir meets fortnightly and is open to all lovers of…
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Better angels of our nature
Whether you believe in angels or simply endorse the values they represent, the latest exhibition to launch at Maldon’s Cascade Art gallery will likely elevate your spirit. Launched over the weekend, Someone to Watch Over Me is subtitled The Better Angels of Our Nature and features photographic artwork by Castlemaine’s Michael Wolfe in a collaboration with writer Kirsten Krauth.…
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K-town reflections
The interesting mix of people who make up the Kyneton community fascinates local artist Adam Lee. Lee is among 11 artists exploring their creative views of Kyneton in preparation for this year’s Kyneton Contemporary Art Triennial in October. The nine-day event has commissioned the artists to present context-sensitive artwork in a variety of media across…