News
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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…
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Bid to host Games
Eve Lamb It may not yet be approved as a Commonwealth Games inclusion. But if mountain biking does get the official nod then Harcourt’s La Larr Ba Gauwa Mountain Bike Park should be the place to host it. This is the case being strongly – and jointly – put by both the City of Greater…
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Snap rally to stop logging
More than 50 people attended a snap rally in Gisborne on Friday to voice their concerns about VicForests’ salvage logging in the Wombat State Forest. Members of landcare and friends groups, Wombat Forestcare members and the Sybil Disobedients (Extinction Rebellion Ballarat) rallied to demand that the Victorian Government cease the logging and legislate the promised…
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Our organics are not ‘waste’
Transitioning to a localised economy is both pressing and exciting. As we learn of recycling industries in crisis, rising fuel prices and unaffordable lettuce, the YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard) members scratch their collective heads, especially when it comes to removing food organics from landfill and increasing local food growing capacity. YIMBY composters are…
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Bust of the late Felix Cappy unveiled
Lisa Dennis A huge crowd gathered at the Castlemaine Town Hall on Sunday to witness the unveiling of a bronze bust to celebrate the life and achievements of the late Felix Cappy OAM. Felix was born and bred in Castlemaine and devoted his life to community service, charitable work and preserving the town’s history. Felix…