News
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Teachers take the test
Castlemaine health services combined forces last week to undertake a mass COVID-19 screening of teachers and school staff from across Mount Alexander Shire. The state government introduced a voluntary testing scheme offering all Victorian public, independent and private school staff who were asymptotic the opportunity to be tested between May 13 and May 31. Castlemaine…
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In Your Face at Newstead
A new art project at Newstead will invite people to try their hand at portraiture, capturing the faces that make up the local community. The Newstead Art Salon In Your Face Portrait project has just received $3000 in grant dollars through Mount Alexander Shire Council’s latest community grants round with a series of 25 In…
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Tastings back on the menu
Cellar door operators are toasting their return in time for the Queen’s Birthday weekend following pressure on the state government to ease COVID-19 restrictions on the sector. Yesterday wine tastings returned to the menu but doubt hung over the industry until Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes threw a lifeline on Friday. Ms Symes announced cellar…
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Spit roast sparks blaze at New Gisborne
Residents in a duplex house in New Gisborne woke in fright to find their home on fire in the early hours of this morning. Firefighters were called to the Monaghan Road address at 1.52am to find the rear verandah on the southern dwelling fully alight with flames spreading to the home. The homeowners had alerted…
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Staff member assaulted at Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre
Police are investigating the assault of a staff member by an inmate at the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre yesterday. Paramedics were called to the centre shortly before 6pm. The male staff member was taken to hospital in a stable condition with upper body injuries. A Department of Justice spokesperson said the department took the safety…
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Coronavirus update
The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 1628 – an increase of 10 since yesterday. There have been no new deaths reported. To date, 19 people have died from coronavirus in Victoria. No recorded cases in the Macedon Ranges, Mount Alexander and Hepburn shires remain active. There have been 165 confirmed cases…
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School arts shine
A grade six student’s portrait of his best friend has been awarded this year’s Primary School Children’s Portrait Prize by the Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society, Central Victoria. ADFAS CV chair Nicky Peters said Newham grade six student Eli Jacobsson greatly impressed the judges with his winning entry. “We all felt that his technique…
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Riddells Creek supermarket interest
Owners of a proposed Riddells Creek supermarket site have applied to extend their permit as they move to sell the land. Representing the applicants, Andrew McPherson addressed councillors at a submitters hearing earlier this month, seeking a two-year extension for 1-3 Station Street, with potential buyers “waiting in the wings”. The permit is for the…
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Grants cash splash
Maldon Urban Landcare has reason to feel well pleased with itself this week after being named among the local groups to secure some grant dollars through Mount Alexander Shire Council’s latest round of community grants funding. All up, 16 successful local groups and organisations have secured a grant – sharing in close to $48,000. Announced…
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Community rallies for maternity services
Local group ‘Support Birthing at Castlemaine Health’ garnered more than 1000 signatures in 72 hours calling for birthing services to be reinstated at the hospital during the current review. Castlemaine Health announced on May 16 that it had temporarily paused birthing services to review its policies, procedures and processes to ensure they aligned with the…
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Foundry powering on through pandemic
Castlemaine’s Billmans Foundry was gearing up for the unveiling of its largest project to date – two beautiful bronze whales created by Wollongong artist Julie Squires and fellow artist Theresa Ardler in Sydney’s Botany Bay – when the coronavirus pandemic took hold. Regarded as Australia’s leading manufacturer of bronze fountains, street park, garden furniture and…
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Shared trail on track
Construction on a Macedon Ranges shared-use trail will soon begin with the state government announcing $8.75 million towards the project last week. Woodend’s cycling community has welcomed the move following years of residents “crying out for more options” to cycle and walk safely between towns. Spanning about 23 kilometres, the Macedon Ranges Trails Project will…