News
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Travel writer sets down swag in the ‘Maine
There’s not much of Australia that Lee Atkinson hasn’t seen. But when it came to setting down her swag on a more permanent basis the acclaimed travel writer chose Castlemaine. And after buying a house with her husband Bill and shifting to Castlemaine from northern NSW about two months ago, Lee has just launched her…
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Abuzz for new microscope
Honeybees will be put under the microscope to give diseases like nosema and American foulbrood the buzz-off in the Macedon Ranges. Woodend Bee-Friendly Society has acquired a new compound microscope that will be key in early disease detection to minimise impacts to local hives and agricultural ventures. WBFS bio-security officer Paul Green said nosema had…
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400 reasons to celebrate
Ask learner drivers Lily McMahon and Tilly Donkin what they’ve got out of doing a unique intensive local learner driver course and they’re quick to respond. Both learner drivers immediately list gaining better parking skills among the obvious benefits of participating in the Maldon and District Community Bank learner driver program, while driving in testing…
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The buzz on honey
Buying honey from local beekeepers and reading the label are both good ways to ensure you’ll get pure honey, local beekeeper Peter McDonald says ahead of this Sunday’s beekeeping field day at Harcourt. The adulteration of honey has made national news headlines in recent days following a study by Macquarie University researchers that found a…
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Don’t panic, call a beekeeper!
Spring is a busy time for beekeepers as this is the time of year when honeybees swarm. Castlemaine beekeeper Daniel BeeShepherd from the Castlemaine Bee Sanctuary recommends that if people see a swarm of bees that they stay calm and contact a beekeeper. “Seeing so many bees in once place can be very intimidating but…
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Lose yourself to dance
It’s Mental Health Week across Mount Alexander Shire and there’s no better time to put on your dancing shoes and lose yourself to dance. Join the next No Lights No Lycra dance session in Castlemaine this coming Friday. “Dancing is good for your emotional health and has been proven to help fight stress, anxiety and…
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Support networks vital
New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveals suicide rates are at a 10-year high. The Causes of Death Australia 2017 report, released last week, indicates the national suicide rate increased 9.1 per cent over 12 months, with 3128 taking their lives in 2017 compared to 2866 in 2016. beyondblue clinical advisor Dr Stephen…
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Balloons no party for wildlife
Balloons may be an international symbol for celebration but that is the last thing on the minds of livestock owners when the litter lands in grazing paddocks. Drummond North’s Nina Dougall is calling for more responsible use after having to wrestle to save cattle that chewed up balloon litter. She said she knew of others…
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Fuel prices skyrocket
Victorians have been hit by the biggest surge in fuel prices in more than a decade. RACV motoring experts explain why this has happened and offer some fuel-saving tips. Leanne Tolra Fuel prices in Melbourne last week hit 167.9 cents a litre and averaged a four-year high, just as the school holidays began. RACV vehicle…
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Do the time warp
When Castlemaine’s Leslie Thornton was a schoolboy he lived next door to the school – but was always late. In class the young Leslie would stare longingly at the schoolroom clock and today reports that he could often observe the second hand slowing down – or even stopping completely. Now the acclaimed contemporary artist gets…
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Platypus plans
What uses electroreception to find its prey, is venomous, and is a semi aquatic mammal that lays eggs? One of Australia’s iconic species, the platypus. The word ‘platypus’ comes from the Greek for ‘flat-footed’ as they walk on their knuckles when travelling on land to protect their webbed feet. If you’d like to learn more…
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Childcare centre rejected
A lack of suitable sites for new services in Romsey has hindered plans for a desired childcare centre. The Reynolds Grove proposal was to service families in the growing town with capacity 100 children and 18 staff but was rejected at Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s meeting last week based on location and traffic concerns. The…