News
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Run the Maine a success
Runners from across the region and beyond descended on Castlemaine on AFL grand final eve, September 23, for the annual Run The Maine fundraiser. It was the first time in two years that runners could return to the track after pandemic disruption forced the popular annual event to move to an online format. Hundreds of…
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Ranges rallies for the Ramshaws
The Macedon Ranges community has rallied to raise more than $20,000 for a Carlsruhe family devastated by house fire. Sally Ramshaw and her four children were lucky to escape their home after it caught fire in the early hours of September 15. She woke to what she described as an “unforgettable, synthetic wheat smell”. A…
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Creek safety concerns
Farmers are demanding answers following the release of Class B recycled water into Deep Creek across Romsey and surrounds. Greater Western Water announced on Wednesday, sustained heavy rainfall had led to “a significant rise in water held in storage at the Romsey Recycled Water Plant”. It follows Coliban Water sewer spills in the Kyneton area…
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Inspirational wartime women the focus of new novel
Lisa Dennis Castlemaine multi-award winning crime author Ellie Marney is in the US today for the worldwide release of her latest book, The Killing Code, based on the inspirational story of the role of female allied codebreakers in World War II. The Killing Code is a thrilling standalone historical fiction novel from the author of None Shall Sleep – which…
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Special anniversary for cemetery
Eve Lamb There are as many stories as people buried at the historic Sutton Grange Cemetery and a lot of them are about to come in for some telling. The little local cemetery is preparing to celebrate its 150th anniversary with a special event, book launch and community lunch on Sunday October 2. Cemetery trust…
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Forced to flee: Afghani women make film in the ‘Maine
Eve Lamb A group of young Afghani women who recently fled the oppressive rule of the Taliban have visited Castlemaine to play key roles in a new short film. The three were all in Castlemaine to participate in filming of My Yellow Dress, a short art film being made by local creatives and filmmakers including Castlemaine’s Bruce…
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Prepare to huff n puff
Eve Lamb With hundreds of runners already limbering up for Friday’s long anticipated Run The Maine, organisers have their fingers crossed for ideal conditions. “We’re on target to raise at least $15,000,” event director Gavin Krasner says ahead of the multi-distance afternoon running event happening this Friday’s Grand Final public holiday. Since Run the Maine’s…
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Ballantinia, banksias and blue-banded bees
In 1997 an enthusiastic group of local residents joined forces to form the Harcourt Valley Landcare Group. Twenty five years later the enthusiasm of this hard-working local group has been sustained and they will celebrate their longevity and success with a special event this Sunday. Since its inception, Harcourt Valley Landcare has completed more than…
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Energy park on hold
Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group has put its community energy park project on hold indefinitely after receiving confirmation from the state government that regulatory barriers can’t be overcome in the next term. The vital step to enable the project to move forward was for the government to amend the Plantations Act to allow for non-forestry uses,…
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Blaze at Carlsruhe
Fire tore through a two-storey mudbrick home at Carlsruhe early last Thursday morning. Brigades from across the district turned out to the blaze at a property on Institute Road about 2.30am. The fire gutted the upper storey of the home while the lower level sustained significant smoke and water damage. All occupants of the home…
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Artists deliver new course
Eve Lamb Established Castlemaine artists Zoe Amor and Helen Kelly know what it’s like to turn a personal passion into a professional practice. Unfortunately, for many talented artists, it’s not always something that comes about easily – or ever. But now the two accomplished practitioners are teaming together to deliver a new course aimed at…
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Hoons to face court
Two men have been charged after police responded to a hoon driving incident in Woodend on July 15. Police received reports of two utilities doing burnouts in High Street about 11.45pm. Police discovered tyre marks on the road and located two vehicles matching the description nearby. The driver of one of the vehicles, a 19-year-old…