News
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Pearcy’s inspirational pledge
Five months ago, Kyneton local Jacob Pearce started a campaign called Pearcy’s Pledge to Mental Health. He started this campaign because he believed he had a great opportunity to make a difference. Not only did he battle with his mental health and lose close people to suicide, but two years ago he survived a horrific…
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Meet the museum makers
If you’ve ever marvelled at the preserved real-life bodies of dinosaurs, whales or famed racehorses displayed in museums, you may well be a candidate for a unique taxidermy workshop coming up in Castlemaine next month. Launched during the recent Castlemaine State Festival, Museum Makers is a new niche business that brings together two of Australian’s…
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The right to farm
Macedon Ranges agribusiness operators are fighting against urban expansion and seek to secure the industry as the Victorian Government moves to protect Melbourne’s outer green wedges and peri-urban areas. Strategic agricultural land identified in the Macedon Ranges forms part of the state government initiative, which aims to permanently tighten controls to improve land use and…
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Sky-high result for cancer fundraiser
Despite overcast skies, more than 350 people packed the hangar at the Kyneton Aero Club on Saturday for the annual Cancer Council morning tea fly-in. The fly-in attracted aircraft from Melbourne, Euchca, Bendigo, Geelong and other parts of Victoria who parked up in the display field beside the dozen or so planes owned by aero…
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Fireworks and tango
The online ticket window is now open for the Woodend Winter Arts Festival, with some concerts already selling fast – including now London-based Australian pianist Piers Lane performing Chopin in one concert only. But the festival opens with fireworks and dancing – albeit in different locations – and will close with a Finale Dinner at…
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Question over candidate
Early voting in the nation’s federal election opened yesterday with seven candidates contesting the federal lower house seat of Bendigo including several rival elements of Australia’s political far right. Among them former Bendigo councillor Julie Hoskin – who many voters will recall from her failed legal challenge to a mosque being established in Bendigo –…
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Rainbow flag to fly
The rainbow flag will replace the Australian flag at Woodend’s war memorial clock tower for seven days in support of International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia. Macedon Ranges Shire Council approved the move last week at the request of Cobaw Community Health to extend the annual celebration of inclusivity and support for the…
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Cranberry, crimson and sapphire!
Fifth generation North Blackwood potato farmer John Dunn grows no less than 18 varieties of potatoes! John Dunn and Sons grow coliban, cranberry red, crimson pearl, desiree, dutch cream, exton, kennebec, king edward, kipfler, maris piper, nicola, otway red, pontiac, purple congo, sapphire, spunta, toolangi delight and Wilwash potatoes. John is teaching his granddaughters Sophie…
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British bike invasion
Hundreds of British bikes invaded the roads around Castlemaine over the weekend for the annual All British Bike Rally. Triumphs, Nortons, Vincents and BSAs were among the makes that rolled into Newstead Racecourse Reserve where motorcyclists camped en masse for the run organised by the BSA Motorcycle Owners Association. On Saturday Maldon’s main street served…
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My message to others
Luke Brown was just 34 years old when he collapsed suddenly and died, leaving a young family heartbroken and the community of Kyneton in disbelief. His wife Vanessa was 28 weeks pregnant with the couple’s second child, George, and had 16-month-old Harvey to care for also. Luke had suffered a coronary artery atherosclerosis – a…
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Cost blowout halts powerlines project
Lifesaving safety measures planned for one of the highest fire risk areas in Victoria will no longer be completed as planned due to a project cost blowout. A key recommendation of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission was that powerlines be run underground in high fire risk areas and locally, Spring Hill was one of…
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Pilots execute precision task
Anzac Day is an early start for many people, including members of the Kyneton Aero Club who for the past eight years have been a part of Anzac Day services at Mount Macedon and Kyneton. Performing these Anzac Day flyovers are a precision task requiring special approval by the air safety regulator CASA, coordination with…