News
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Mass murderer relocated to Castlemaine
Notorious Hoddle Street killer Julian Knight, 57, has been moved from maximum-security incarceration into the medium-security Loddon Prison in Castlemaine. On August 9, 1987, the then 19-year-old Knight fired a semi-automatic rifle on Hoddle Street, Clifton Hill, killing seven people and injuring 19. The former Australian Army officer-cadet pleaded guilty and was sentenced in 1988…
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Hall of Fame honour
“Wow!” was the first word that came to mind when Lancefield local and Edgar’s Mission founder, Pam Ahern, learned she had been inducted into the Garryowen Hall of Fame, announced at this year’s Royal Melbourne Show. The Hall of Fame, established in 2009, recognises riders, horses and individuals who have displayed outstanding commitment to the…
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Deer control to begin
The impact of increasing feral deer populations has put control of numbers in the spotlight. Parks Victoria will, this week, begin its night deer control program in Macedon Regional Park with licensed and professional shooting contractors. Deer are an introduced species and Parks Victoria recognises they “pose significant risks to native biodiversity, water quality, public…
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Fire quickly escalates
A grass and scrub fire broke out on a property along Coffeys Road at Bullengarook, about 2.40pm, on Sunday afternoon and quickly escalated to a 10 tankers call-out. Air support was brought in to assist, along with multiple dozers working hard to bring the blaze under control. CFA crews also responded to another grass and…
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Illegal burn-off sparks warning
An out of control burn-off at Wildwood, south of Clarkefield, last Wednesday has sparked warnings of illegal rubbish burning. On arrival, firefighters identified multiple large burn piles containing waste materials that are illegal to burn under Victorian law. Several district fire brigades worked for four hours to bring the fire under control and make the…
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Luke claims title
Woodend’s Luke Kirby has claimed the national dressage (secondary) all abilities class title at the Australian Interschool Championships. He joined more than 100 student riders as part of team Victoria to compete at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre last month. Luke, 18, has autism, a moderate intellectual disability, very little language and epilepsy. He may…
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Open space plans open to feedback
Destination-level open spaces, use changes for existing sites and new open space areas are among plans highlighted in the draft Macedon Ranges Open Space Strategy. Last week, Macedon Ranges Shire Council endorsed release of the draft document for community consultation for four weeks, launching in early October. The strategy outlines how the council plans to…
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Trump’s headache advice
Medical practitioners across this region and wider Australia have refuted the U.S. President’s claims last week when he suggested there was a link between autism and the commonly-used painkiller paracetamol. Donald Trump announced last Tuesday, “I think we found an answer to autism”. A White House press conference proceeded and U.S. officials suggested pregnant women…
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Antisemitism confronts Gisborne
A bridge in Gisborne received a swift paint job after upset residents walked along a footpath underneath and were confronted with antisemitic graffiti on its structure last Tuesday morning. The bridge’s pillars were spray painted with swastikas, cartoon drawings of faces with exaggerated noses, and statements – “f**k Israel” and “Jew scum” – on the…
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Masked offenders strike
Police are investigating a burglary at a Kyneton business on August 11 involving two masked offenders. It is believed offenders attended the Baynton Street business about 5am where they stole cash and two vehicles. The first offender is described as being of average height, large build, wearing a pink balaclava, black and white jumper and…
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‘Electrify Loddon Mallee – Power Together’ officially launched
An ambitious new project aimed at encouraging central Victorians to ‘electrify’ their homes was officially launched at Castlemaine Community House on Wednesday. The ‘Electrify Loddon Mallee Project’, backed with $110,000 from the state government, will support Mount Alexander Sustainability Group and Bendigo Sustainability Group to work with councils and groups across the region to accelerate…
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Public toilet thefts costly
Vandals stealing copper wire forced closure of five public toilets across the Macedon Ranges last week as another tourist-centric toilet was closed over lease concerns. Macedon Ranges Shire Council reported closure of toilets at Sankey Reserve (Gisborne), Ross Watt Reserve (New Gisborne), Stanley Park (Macedon), Campaspe Park (Woodend) and Kyneton Botanic Gardens following significant vandalism…