News
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Maldon’s makeover powers ahead
The first stage of historic Maldon’s multi-million dollar makeover is well under way, with works to move the town’s electricity underground powering ahead. Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards visited the former mining town on Friday to officially turn the first sod on the $5.5 million dollar Maldon Streetscape Revitalisation Project. The state government has committed…
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SITE SALE STALEMATE: Value of Hanging Rock’s East Paddock in dispute
Question hangs over the true value of Hanging Rock’s East Paddock as Macedon Ranges Shire Council and the state government draw lines in the sand over its sale. The council rejected an offer made by the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning in May, which it described as “significantly below” council’s own valuation of…
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‘Rock’ races switch to Kyneton
The traditional New Year’s Day race meeting that draws thousands of people to Hanging Rock is being transferred to Kyneton. The Kyneton and Hanging Rock Racing Club investigated all possible options to enable the drawcard January 1 meeting to take place at ‘The Rock’, but found it would be too difficult to hold the meeting…
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Hepburn war on waste
A group of Hepburn Shire residents has begun its own war on waste and is looking for input from the wider community to collaborate across the shire’s communities. Forty people met (via web) in late September to hear from Peter Cox, who was key in initiating the very successful Bendigo social enterprise, the Eaglehawk Recycling…
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A gnawing problem
Quite a few people are said to keep a secret in their closet. Turns out one Castlemaine area woman had a secret in her closet she didn’t even know was there. But when Karen Micallef recently shifted a suitcase that had been sitting beside her closet, all that was about to change. “I looked down…
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Reverse advent calendar to share some Christmas cheer
A different kind of advent calendar aims to bring cheer to Macedon Ranges families in need this Christmas. Woodend Neighbourhood House is inviting locals to take part in the reverse advent calendar project. Unlike a regular advent calendar where the focus is on receiving a treat every day, the reverse advent calendar takes the focus…
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Mid-20th century Kyneton captured in calendar
Life in mid-20th century Kyneton features in the Midland Express 2021 ‘The Way We Were’ Kyneton calendar, now available from our office at 3 Market Street Kyneton or from the Kyneton branch of the Bendigo Bank for just $2. Inside you’ll find faces, places and events from Kyneton in times past, in images kindly provided…
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Profound change: Film documents feminist movement
Castlemaine’s Theatre Royal is looking forward to again partnering with the Castlemaine Documentary Film Festival on a screening tomorrow of must-see feature-length doco, Brazen Hussies. The film shows us how a daring and diverse group of women joined forces to defy the status quo, demand equality and create profound social change – contributing to one…
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Double-rail ‘disaster’
Double-rail steel safety barriers on Romsey Road have been described as a “bureaucratic mess that has made the road less safe” and a “bumper bowling lane” disaster for local wildlife. Residents say wildlife road trauma has increased on the stretch of road between Romsey and Hesket as animals find themselves trapped when attempting to cross.…
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A match made in toastie heaven
The Social Foundry in Kyneton can take credit for many community success stories and now the team can add to the list helping to match-make a couple and celebrate a COVID wedding! It all began when customer Rowan Theel came in to check out the cafe on the major Kyneton corner two years ago and…
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Concern over church plan for Castlemaine
A proposed church development that would become the largest place of assembly in Castlemaine is currently before Mount Alexander Shire Council. Residents have raised concerns about the application for 83 Blakeley Road, which would have the capacity to seat up to 870 people and an adjoining car park to accommodate 160 cars. The application outlines…
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Breaking down disability stigma
Breaking down the stigma faced by people with disabilities is a passion for disability champion Hayden Walsh. Hayden has cerebral palsy but it doesn’t prevent him from making a contribution in the workplace and giving back to his community. He is advocating for fairness in the workplace and increasing opportunity but says people with disabilities…