News
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Pottery art as big as an ox…
For years the old Taradale roadhouse has sat vacant and gathering dust – but recently all that has changed. The transformation of the old main drag roadhouse into a unique new ceramics business and gallery is turning heads. Oxart Pottery is the creation of enterprising couple Ian McColl and Leanne Manniche who bought the old…
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Bridge saga to council tonight
The intense degree of public interest surrounding the future of Castlemaine’s historic Froomes Road Bridge is expected to draw a packed public gallery at this evening’s Mount Alexander Shire Council meeting. Lobbying stepped up this week ahead of this evening’s anticipated council decision on whether to review the design of the structure that’s planned to…
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Early morning anger: commuters speak out
Fed up Castlemaine commuters have slammed the early morning passenger train service to Bendigo as totally unreliable and are demanding answers from the state government and V/Line. Workers, students, apprentices and those unable to drive themselves are among many locals who say the 7.54am train service from Castlemaine is supposed to get them to Bendigo…
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$3.2M to sports precinct
The multi-million dollar Macedon Ranges Regional Sports Precinct has been boosted by a guaranteed $3.2M from the state government. “This is a project of state-wide significance, one that can hold state-wide and national events,” district MP Mary-Anne Thomas stated on Friday on site at New Gisborne. The $3.2M via the Growing Suburbs Fund will help…
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FRONTLINE FIGHTER
In February 2020, the United States was still largely unaware of the impending COVID-19 pandemic. Yanti Turang, a Kyneton born and raised nurse who now calls New Orleans home, joined her colleagues and the rest of the city taking part in the city’s annual Mardi Gras, completely unaware they were participating in a super-spreader event.…
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Journey back to our past
Take a journey back to our mechanical past at the Mount Alexander Vintage Engine Club’s 24th Annual Vintage Engine Rally this weekend. The rally will take place at MAVEC’s home base at the Dave Bennett Reserve alongside the Muckleford Railway Station and is always a great day out for the whole family. The popular annual…
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Deserving attention – A guide to our beautiful and hardy native peas
Friends of the Box Ironbark Forests members Bernard Slattery and Bronwyn Silver have teamed up to produce a comprehensive guide to native peas of the Mount Alexander region. Their new book, Native Peas of the Mount Alexander Region, identifies and details numerous common native pea species. It’s the fourth in the Friends’ well-received series of local…
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Beverley Downie – a celebration of 50 years
The huge diversity of work in Beverley Downie’s new exhibition spotlights a prodigious talent. For this acclaimed local artist, her new exhibition at Castlemaine’s Market Building is a bitter-sweet celebration that comes as she shoulders a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. “Both my father and mother had Alzheimer’s but my father lived to 102 and when…
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Kyneton farmer joins Farm2Plate
Kyneton farmer Alex Sims says he had no money, no experience and no land when he decided to plunge head-long into regenerative farming with his wife Emily. It was also a huge change from their media production careers in France, but the one thing they did have was unwavering enthusiasm, which has seen them succeed.…
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Local housing prices spiral
A local analysis of housing prices over recent months indicates it’s getting harder than ever to crack into the housing market in Mount Alexander. Newstead and District Affordable Housing member John Nieman says the group’s analysis of the local property market highlights the trend. The former local councillor is also raising concerns about what the…
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INSPIRATIONAL OPENER
Kyneton Football Netball Club’s FIDA team took the field for the first time on Saturday, taking on Rupertswood in the league opener for the all-abilities Football Integration Development Association. The team entered the ground running through the Tigers’ handmade banner, put together by Trout and club volunteers. The banner read “If I can take this…
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Trentham gallery defies odds
Trentham’s artist-run Little Gallery is expanding and coming home to its original High Street premises after defying COVID lockdown odds that badly affected much of the arts industry. Rose Wilson, one of the artists who helped found the gallery nine years ago, said the gallery was grateful for outstanding support of the town and local…