Chewton
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Lightning Queens bound for Shitbox Rally
Local hot rodding identities Sharon Soldatos and Stacey Raselli are set to take part in the July edition of the Cancer Council’s Shitbox Rally fundraiser. The ‘Lightning Queens’ will be making the journey in a four-door BA Ford Falcon Station, which was originally purchased by late hot rodder and Graffiti publications founder Larry O’Toole from…
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Preserving life’s memories
Talented Chewton filmmaker Noora Niasari is offering residents an incredible opportunity to document their loved-ones’ stories, immortalising their memories forever. Noora and her partner Keiran Watson-Bonnice, who has years of post-production experience, brought their collective love and expertise in filmmaking together to form Parandeh Pictures in 2022. Back from the whirlwind tour of Noora’s 2023…
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Push for safer parking
Liberal MP for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell spoke in parliament last week asking that the Minister for Environment fund construction of new on-site parking at Expedition Pass Reservoir in the 2026-27 state budget. Mount Alexander Shire Council has identified a location for building a new car park on Parks Victoria land on Llewellyn Road, Chewton.…
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Nurturing connection on Country
An excited crowd of local First Nations and non-Indigenous community members gathered on Friday at Me-Mandook Galk Indigenous Education and Bush Tucker Place in Chewton for a celebration filled with music, connection and hope for the future. The event marked the launch of Uncle Rick’s Community Shed and the announcement of major BIG Project funding…
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Celebrating 50 years of wildlife rescue
For 50 years, Tehree and Hamish Gordon have been rescuing and caring for Australian wildlife, first in Barwon Heads and for the past 20 years in Chewton. The pair established Jirrahlinga (to seek a home for kangaroos) in 1975 at Barwon Heads, where they rescued and rehabilitated native animals for decades. Following the death of…
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Old ‘Res’ needs some TLC
A project is under way to explore options for strengthening the dam wall of Expedition Pass Reservoir, near Castlemaine. The project, supported by a $6.2 million state government investment, will help ensure the ‘Res’ remains safe for residents and visitors who enjoy visiting the tranquil swimming hole located in the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park.…
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Parking, parrots and potential fires
Mount Alexander Shire Council is seeking a permanent speed reduction along a one-kilometre stretch of Golden Point Road at Chewton to address road safety issues at Expedition Pass Reservoir. Following on from the article ‘An accident waiting to happen?’ (published in the Express on January 7), which outlined community concern about haphazard parking along the…
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Dingoes thriving at Jirrahlinga
Jirrahlinga Dingo Conservation and Wildlife Education Centre at Chewton has been a hive of activity over the school holiday period with visitors enjoying an up close and personal experience with wildlife at the centre. Centre founder Tehree Gordon said they had been working hard behind the scenes for a number of years now to redevelop…
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An accident waiting to happen?
As the weather heats up, so too does public outrage at the parking situation at the ‘Res in Chewton (Expedition Pass Reservoir). The issue of limited parking at the popular swimming spot has been occurring for years, as visitors and residents keen for a dip, park haphazardly on the narrow roadside curb on the sharp…
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A defining moment in history
In December 1851, 173 years ago, 15,000 gold miners gathered for a Monster Meeting at Forest Creek to defy colonial governor Charles La Trobe’s plans to double the cost of their gold licence. The annual celebration of the Diggers’ 1851 Monster Meeting at Forest Creek is set to take place once again this Sunday December…
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Stolen relic recovered
The Friends of Wattle Gully Gold Mine and the Prospectors and Miners Association have recovered a heritage-listed item stolen from the historic Wattle Gully gold mine at Chewton. The two groups have been working together since May 2023 in an attempt to protect the former Chewton mine site from continued acts of theft and vandalism.…
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Roo on road to recovery
Volunteer rescuers from Wildlife Victoria, Wildlife Rescue and Information Network and local community members joined forces last week to rescue a male kangaroo that had been cruelly shot through the head with an arrow at Chewton. The kangaroo, estimated to be about seven to nine years old, was first spotted in bushland behind homes in…