News
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Cobaw State Forest closed
Forest Fire Management Victoria has closed the Cobaw State Forest due to storm damage. Loddon Mallee deputy chief fire officer Scott Falconer said the forest would be closed until June 30 as a result of extensive storm and wind damage across this area. “We are asking people to please avoid visiting the forest until it is…
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Refugee advocate to speak in Castlemaine
Refugee advocate Jana Favero will speak at Castlemaine’s Phee Broadway Theatre next week as a highlight of Castlemaine’s Refugee Week program of activities.The title of the talk is ‘Refugees, Reactions and the Australian Response’. Ms Favero is the director of advocacy and campaigns at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and was invited by Rural Australians…
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Digital health leader honoured
Harcourt North resident Professor Kathleen Gray has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to medicine through digital health education.Prof Gray said she had been working in the ever-evolving sector for more than 20 years and was delighted and overwhelmed to be acknowledged for her contribution. Digital health is the use…
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Nixon awarded AO
Former Victoria Police Commissioner and Castlemaine resident Christine Nixon has been made an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.The latest award for distinguished service to law enforcement, to women in policing and to tertiary education, adds to many awards Ms Nixon has received including the Australian…
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OAM for passionate planter
Declaring to all and sundry that you’re going to plant a million trees is a fairly big boast.But Chewton’s Dr Maggie McLeod did just that.“It was back in the ’80s at an Werner Erhard seminar that I got up and opened my mouth and said ‘I’m going to plant a million trees,” she recalls.“I had…
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A super contribution
Joe Farrugia is a self-confessed advocate for industry superannuation funds and would recommend anyone thinking of joining one to do so.It’s sound advice too, coming from a man whose 49-year contribution to the superannuation sector has just been recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours. “All the…
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AFSM honour for incident manager
The dedication of Stephen Walls to the Country Fire Authority has been recognised, with the long-serving member announced as a recipient of the Australian Fire Services Medal.The prestigious honour is awarded to those who have rendered distinguished service as a member of an Australian fire service. The Campbells Creek resident said he was shocked to…
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Missing dogs feared stolen
Five missing dogs are feared stolen after not being sighted since mid-May in the Macedon Ranges.The dogs, all desirable breeds, disappeared within two weeks of each other from Lancefield, Clarkefield, Hesket and Benloch.missing are a black staghound, two dachshunds, a tri-coloured border collie and a pure-bred husky. Owners have contacted local authorities and made a…
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Line crossed at school crossing
Police are ramping up their focus on Castlemaine’s school crossings following a concerning near-miss last week.The increased policing focus follows last Wednesday’s incident in which a motorist drove a car through the Hargraves Street school crossing as an on-duty supervisor stood in the middle to assist school children who were preparing to cross the road…
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Storm ravages region
Power and communications cut for days, damaged property, fallen trees blocking roads, entire towns isolated and undrinkable mains water.This is the destruction from one of the worst storms to lash the Macedon Ranges region in years.Wind gusts in excess of 100km/h wreaked havoc across central Victoria last Wednesday and Thursday.Powercor crews worked to restore power…
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Fourth win easy as pie!
Country Cob Bakery has reclaimed its crown for Australia’s Best Mince Pie for the fourth year running.The win was among five national titles and 14 gold medals for the Kyneton bakery at Australia’s Best Pie and Pastie Competition in Sydney. This year’s Baking Association of Australia competition attracted almost 2000 entries nation-wide and Country Cob…
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Prepare for power outages ahead of extreme weather
Householders are being urged to prepare for potential power outages with strong winds expected to hit parts of the state late tonight and into tomorrow. Weather forecasts are predicting wind gusts of more than 100km/h in parts of central and western Victoria, with strong winds also predicted for the metropolitan region.The worst of the weather…