News
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New chapter for Soldier and Scholar
It’s just shy of two decades since Joyce Sanders opened her character-packed bookshop on Castlemaine’s Barker Street. The Soldier and Scholar second-hand store rapidly became a favourite shopping experience for bibliophiles from near and far. But time marches on, and so it appears will the inimitable Soldier and Scholar and its well-read owner who hails…
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Get to know your grower
With the issues currently faced by supermarkets in being able to keep the shelves stocked due to high rates of COVID-related absenteeism, Macedon Ranges locals are being encouraged to source their fresh produce locally and discover the many growers and makers in the region. A new website is helping connect families to the abundance of…
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In the Hall of Fame
The precision that Gisborne’s Stevie McGee displayed as an aircraft mechanic for about 40 years is in many ways reflected in the attributes that led to him being inducted into the AFL Masters National Hall of Fame. And at the age of 67, he’s not showing many signs of slowing down, with his enthusiasm for…
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House’s handy courses
A new course aimed at equipping local women with handy fix-it skills is among the diverse swag of offerings to be found in Castlemaine Community House’s new semester course guide. Leading the new Handy Me (For Women) course that’s set to start in coming weeks is Perry Campbell. Perry is a qualified carpenter with an…
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Out of the shadows
Four Macedon Ranges artists will soon unveil their works in a new project that uses visual expression to explore mental health issues. The Art Bomb Project is set to showcase the work of visual artists from Romsey, Gisborne and Kyneton. Project artists – Mark Ingall, Fiona Farrugia, Aimee Timpson and Lachlan McKenzie – have very…
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Bike workshops now in Castlemaine and Newstead
For the fourth year in a row the On Your Bike! school holiday program, supporting teens and tweens to ride safely to school, will be hosted by CycleSafe Mount Alexander. This year the group has extended the workshop to cover two towns – Castlemaine and Newstead. Newstead’s newly sign-posted tracks by the ‘Walks and Wheels’…
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Strawberry summer
It’s a bumper season for strawberries. In fact it’s the best they’ve ever had out at the Blackwood Orchard in Harcourt, providing a welcome foil to the trickier cherry season with which they’ve been contending amid strong demand for both fruits. “This is the best season for strawberries we’ve ever had,” Blackwood’s Suzanne Pickering told…
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Holiday park a finalist
BIG4 Castlemaine Gardens Holiday Park is a finalist in the 2021 Victorian Tourism Awards. Nominated in the Caravan and Holiday Parks category, it is the only Mount Alexander Shire tourism business and the only Victorian holiday park to reach the finals of the prestigious awards. Winners will be announced in Melbourne in early February. BIG4…
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Rock home in doubt
Hanging Rock Cricket Club may be forced to move from its long-held home at Hanging Rock Reserve if a draft masterplan released by the state government is implemented. Under the plan, released last week and now open for community consultation, the cricket, petanque and tennis clubs will be moved offsite to enable the relocation of…
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New headache for Backyard Fest
A new shadow of doubt has been cast over planning for the debut Backyard Fest live music event proposed for Newstead Racecourse and Recreation Reserve in February, following relocation from its originally intended Elphinstone venue. Expected to attract up to 1500 patrons, the live music festival had originally been proposed to happen last November at…
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Fuel load fears in Woodend
A dangerously high fuel load along the roadside of Black Forest Drive at Woodend is causing increasing concern for neighbouring property owners. Residents of Garner Quadrant whose properties back onto the road are appealing for Regional Roads Victoria to attend to the danger. Vicky Ruschin has had a local fire brigade representative come out to…
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Are you the next Castlemaine Idyll?
Castlemaine Idyll returns to Lot 19 in March to once again give aspiring stars their moment in the spotlight to shine. And performer registration is now open! After a triumphant return last year due to the pandemic, Idyll is celebrating with musical treats to the theme ‘Chutzpah’. The man behind the event Mark Anstey said…