News
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Stunt horses star at Cox Plate
Two Newham horses were the proud bearers of the Australian flag at the Ladbrokes Cox Plate last month. Riders Damian Everard and Stephen Cox partnered Frisian Zulu and Andalusian Ruby for the big moment that formed part of the presentation. Moonee Valley Racing Club head of racing Charlotte Mills said the concept came from the…
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“Passion alone can’t keep the lights on”
Financial strain is putting Macedon Ranges’ Neighbourhood Houses at risk of closure and threatening the vital programs they provide. After years of inadequate funding, almost half of Victoria’s houses have been forced to operate at a loss for two consecutive years, according to Neighbourhood House Victoria data. NHV said the Neighbourhood House Coordination Program —…
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Shipping a container of hope to Uganda
For the past four months, I Am Someone founder Steve Argent has worked alongside a group of local volunteers to fill every inch of a 40-foot shipping container with essential items to send to Uganda. On Friday, the container, full of clothes, shoes, a ute and a mini-bus, pencils (that were packed into water bottles…
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Free energy efficiency workshop
The Loddon Mallee Public Health Unit is launching free community workshops in Kyneton and Romsey to help residents improve home energy efficiency, lower bills and improve their health and wellbeing. Funded by La Trobe University’s Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health and delivered in partnership with Enviroshop, the workshop offers practical advice on reducing…
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The best drop of cool red
Kyneton Ridge Estate has won two national awards within a matter of weeks for their Skipping Rabbit Pinot Noir. On October 7 at the 2025 Australian Pinot Noir Challenge there were eight awards available for the best pinot noir in different regions across Australia. Those were: Geelong, Adelaide Hills, Macedon, Orange, Western Australia, Mornington Peninsula,…
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Community in the dark on Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre reopening
By Morgan Reinwald and Angela Crawford Malmsbury residents and the local Indigenous corporation have said they were blindsided by the state government’s plans to reopen the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre. The government says it will reopen the centre, which was closed just two years ago, to manage stricter new bail laws and reduce the high…
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Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre to reopen
The state government will reopen the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre to accommodate spiralling levels of youth offenders in custody due to the state’s new strict bail laws. It comes despite claims made to the Midland Express by the Department of Justice just weeks ago that there were no plans to do so. The government has…
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Plan to reclaim old station aired
The old Riddells Creek Fire Station could become home to local groups like the Men’s Shed and Lions Club if the Victorian Government backs a new plan for its revival. Macedon Ranges Shire Council has recognised the site as a potential haven for ‘homeless’ community-strengthening clubs as the town’s population is soon to double. “When…
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Ranges backs away from Live4Life
Live4Life has been celebrated for breaking ground in youth mental health but now its Macedon Ranges founders will turn away from the model by December. An external evaluation of Life4Life in the Macedon Ranges has revealed significant challenges affecting the program’s viability and effectiveness in recent years. Increasing costs, low engagement and delivery inconsistencies are…
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Recreating a lost giant
On a frosty morning in Castlemaine, in a large tin shed at Lot 19, a small team of humans gather together. Clad in dusty op-shop clothes, hands and tools working feverishly on hard plastic, bone and steel. All jacked up on lattes, their monkey brains are busy with problems to solve. They are here to…
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Paving the way forward
Older Women in Cohousing is a stone’s throw from reaching its target of $1.4 million to support the Middle Women’s Housing Fund, paving the way for the construction of a sustainable, low-impact cohousing village on their five-acre property in Castlemaine. Wanting to reflect the diversity and financial status of all women, WINC is ensuring that…
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Reforestation takes seed
Mount Macedon is undergoing a landmark reforestation project to restore native forests to former pine plantation sites. The project received $1.13 million funding through Victoria’s BushBank program. “The Mount Macedon Plantation Restoration Project is a huge win for our region,” Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas said. “It’s helping to stop the decline of our native plants…