Gisborne
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Lakey, Stewart, Gisborne’s best
Bill West Gisborne’s highest football award, the Gardiner Medal, has been won by 19-year-old dynamo Flynn Lakey. And not unexpectedly, star netballer Maddy Stewart – twice a Bendigo League Betty Thompson Medal winner – took out Gisborne A-grade netball’s best player award. The club’s awards night on Thursday was at the Starlight Room at Taylor…
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New coach for Tigers
Bill West Gisborne resident Tim Bannan is really looking forward to being the new senior football coach at Lancefield next season. His appointment was confirmed last week, and the 43-year-old comes to Tigerland having had a long involvement at a playing and coaching level in both football and cricket. Last year Bannan coached a youthful…
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Swim school seeks move
Gisborne South-based Splash Buddies Swim School could be forced to shut down if its bid to relocate is rejected. Owner Rynelle Mills told Macedon Ranges Shire councillors last week that the school could no longer operate from its current site. “At our current Gisborne South location we have no ability to heat our pool year-round…
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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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Learning and connection
Have you ever wanted to learn how to restore treasured antiques and give them a new lease of life? A course on offer at the Macedon Ranges Further Education Centre can teach you just how to do that while you pick up a variety of woodworking skills. The class covers everything from repairs to finishes.…
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Big reveal soon
Excitement is in the air as The Block enters the final production weeks for its upcoming season set in Gisborne South. Last week the Midland Express had a sneak peek as contestants prepared for potential buyer walk-throughs with just two weeks of production remaining. This year’s couples have worked on the biggest Block yet, each with a home to renovate as…
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Shared intelligence and earlier resolutions
Macedon Ranges residents will be better connected to local police through a new state-wide Neighbourhood Policing model. For Gisborne-based Senior Sergeant Amanda Cohen, the grassroots model means better community engagement, shared intelligence and earlier resolutions. “It’s so important for us to engage directly with the community in regional areas. The more we engage, the more…
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Protection nod too late
An independent planning panel has found heritage protection was “appropriate and justified” for Bunjil Creek bridge, which was dismantled for Gisborne roadworks in March. Regional Roads Victoria reneged on an in-principle agreement with Macedon Ranges Council to protect heritage features to progress intersection works on Melbourne/Kilmore Road. The bridge was removed before permanent heritage protection…
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Promises to fix mobile blackspots
New Optus and Telstra mobile phone base station sites will be built at Gisborne South. The federal government announced funding for the blackspot area last week, and election pledges also revealed Woodend is in sight for improvements. McEwen Labor incumbent Rob Mitchell and Liberal candidate Richard Welch have pledged to work with the community and…
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Crafting a career in origami
A popular pastime in Japan has developed into a professional practice for expat artist Chieko Hester. As a child, Chieko was taught by her father to fold origami cranes and she practised with friends at school. “Origami itself back then was just that, it wasn’t something that you learnt properly, you just learn as you…
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Pedestrian hit by truck
A Woodend woman was critically injured when she was hit by a tipper truck at Gisborne last Friday afternoon. Police said the truck was travelling north into the township at the intersection of Aitken Street and Hamilton Street when it struck the woman as she was crossing Aitken Street just before 5pm. She was dragged…
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Gisborne’s good oil
Villa Pileggi Olive Oil at Gisborne is making a name for itself as a premium producer of organic olive oil. The Pileggi family has its origins in Calabria Italy, where in a small country town named Cosentini, they began producing olive oil straight from the press. This extra virgin olive oil is cold pressed, non…

