News
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Castlemaine Art Museum to reopen
Castlemaine Art Museum has announced that it will reopen its doors to the public this Saturday June 20 at noon. CAM will be open Thursday-Sunday only initially from 12pm-4pm, closing a little earlier to enable staff to clean the gallery at the end of each day. CAM renewal director Naomi Cass said CAM’s magnificent galleries…
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The district captured for the screen
Its natural beauty, gold rush history and character are just some of the reasons that have made Macedon Ranges and Mount Alexander attractive backdrops for film and television. From bushrangers and historical figures, to the setting of famous Australian novels, you may not be wrong in thinking you’ve spotted a local landscape or talent on…
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Kyneton’s cinema pioneer
With the Australian film industry on coronavirus pause and even Hollywood hanging up the slate, Kyneton set designer Leslie Binns is finding work as an illustrator until his film work returns. The talented art director has more than 40 feature film credits to his name including Healing and Moby Dick, and three of his film…
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FUTURE FOR FACTORY? Objections and support for Woodend retail plan
Parking and traffic flow need a re-think in a $4.7 million Woodend retail redevelopment plan to breathe new life into ‘The Old Factory’, objectors say. The proposal for 30 Brooke Street includes a 40-stall market, 75-seat licensed restaurant and tavern, but neighbouring residents have slammed a waiver for car parking as unacceptable. It has been…
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The Tough Guys are back in town
After two months of COVID-enforced hibernation the Tough Guys are back – and this time they’re reading Steinbeck. The return of the Castlemaine chapter of Tough Guy Book Club to the town’s Taproom venue has been none too soon for the local members of this international book club for blokes. “To see everyone come out…
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Loss, pain and dementia
Woodend Lifestyle Carers is a group of people who have travelled the dementia path with a loved one. They have published their stories in the hope that other carers may reach out for assistance. Here, Irene Jones shares her story of losing her partner, the acclaimed English Australian actor Alan Cassell, to the disease. I’m…
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Farm Zone win for Lancefield family
A Lancefield couple has fought to build their dream home and business in a Rochford-area Farm Zone and won unanimous support from Macedon Ranges councillors, against planning department advice for refusal. The Sankey family purchased their 10.12-hectare property at Rochford Road seven years ago hoping to build a home, relocate their established earthmoving business and…
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Distinguished service to health and education
Julien O’Connell AM has carried the titles of pro-chancellor, chair and CEO but he credits the strong teams of people around him with helping him to achieve. The Gisborne man was made an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours for distinguished service to community health in the aged…
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Expanding opera’s reach
A long and distinguished career in opera has taken Dr David Kram all over the world, but it is his work here in Australia that fills him with the most pride. Born in London, Dr Kram studied at the Royal College of Music (London), at Luigi Ricci (Rome) and at Adelaide and Monash Universities where…
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An elite contribution
The worlds of football and ballet have collided under Susan Mayes’ world-leading physio research and she has been acknowledged for her work in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. The Riddells Creek resident has been named a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia for significant service to physiotherapy, particularly to ballet. Working with elite dancers from…
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Fryerstown photographer gets OAM
Receiving a Medal of the Order of Australia, acclaimed local photographer Julie Millowick has taken this Queen’s Birthday opportunity to urge for decisive support for renewables transition, describing our times as at a “turning point”. The Fryerstown-based creative has received her accolade for service to the visual arts – particularly photography. The long-serving lecturer in…
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Queen’s Birthday gong for a ‘£10 Pom’
Arriving in Australia in 1957, aged 25 and a proud ‘Ten Pound Pom’, Ron Alexander never looked back. The carpenter loved the larrikin fun of Australian building sites and was soon dubbed ‘Ron the Pom’. “I didn’t take offence to it, it was a term of endearment as far as I was concerned. You give…