Macedon Ranges
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People connectors reach out
Sometimes all it takes is a conversation. A new project in the Macedon Ranges aims to talk with community members about their mental health and help link them with wellbeing services in the area. With the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic still felt throughout Australia, the Assisting Communities through Direct Connection project is going door-to-door…
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Exemption on farm worker accommodation
Farmers will no longer require a permit to build on-farm worker accommodation under new Victorian planning changes. The permit exemption is available to accommodate up to 10 workers engaged in agriculture and must be on at least 40 hectares of land in the Farm Zone. Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas said the amendment would remove…
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Hundreds turn out for testing
New COVID exposure sites across Macedon Ranges and Castlemaine led hundreds of people to front up for testing on the weekend. On late Friday afternoon the Health Department listed seven new local exposure sites including two contacts at Coles Gisborne, Gisborne’s Woks N Dumplings, McDonald’s Gisborne, Romsey Compounding Pharmacy, and Castlemaine Hospital. Most were listed…
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Ranges interrupted
Poor telecommunications is hindering business, social interaction, health and learning online in the Macedon Ranges. A survey conducted across the shire in May identified that more than 70 per cent of respondents were not satisfied with their current reliability. Just under 60 per cent of survey responses referred to being unable to access education. More…
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Police report influx of unauthorised workers
Police have reported an influx of unauthorised workers from metropolitan areas coming into Gisborne and Macedon Ranges. They warn that under the current restrictions, employees of businesses such as nail and hair salons and other beauty services are not listed as authorised workers at this time. “We wish to remind people that those living and…
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Meet our new commander
Drugs, firearms, road policing, youth engagement and COVID response are areas of focus for Macedon Ranges’ new police area commander Inspector Tom Ebinger. He began in the role in July, marking his first regional post in a policing career that spans 34 years. “I come to this role with a bit of experience behind me…
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Six months on – heading in the right direction
How time flies! Six months ago Liam Howley Racing was launched and has become firmly established at a state-of-the-art training complex in the Macedon Ranges at Pipers Creek. “Spring is the best time of the year (from a racing viewpoint),” meticulous trainer Liam Howley said yesterday. Howley and his valued staff were buoyed when ultra-consistent…
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Timeless Macedon
Tonight’s instalment of ABC TV’s Back to Nature mini-series will feature the Macedon Ranges. When we’re in nature, it sometimes feels like time slows, and becomes elastic. This episode begins at Organ Pipes National Park, on the eastern edge of an ancient lava flow. Hosts Aaron and Holly meet Indi Clarke, who has a strong connection to…
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‘We can’t take your word for it’
People from lockdown postcodes have been caught flouting restrictions and trying to gain entry to businesses in the Macedon Ranges. State-mandated identity checks for hospitality and retail have revealed an alarming number of rule-breakers, people refusing to cooperate and abuse directed at small business owners.Businesses found serving people who should not be in the regions…
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Mental health support – locally
Romsey Neighbourhood House is seeing the benefit of addressing mental health support – locally. A collaboration between RNH and MindHealthHub is providing individuals in the community a supported connection to psychologists via telehealth in a safe and private space. This is the first face-to-face supported telehealth service connecting individuals to mental health clinicians in the…
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Hop to it and do wildlife rescue
People keen to help injured native wildlife are about to get a great chance to do just that.A wildlife rescuers’ and transporters’ course delivered through Wildlife Victoria is coming up next month and Mount Alexander and Macedon Ranges locals are being encouraged to take part. “We’re desperately short of rescuers and transporters in our area,”…
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Storm over but event not ended
Macedon Ranges is expected to face repercussions from June’s destructive storm for the next month as initial clean-up continues.Woodend SES unit controller Kevin McNair warned “the bulk of the storm is over but the event has not ended”.The Woodend unit responded to almost 600 calls for storm assistance – doubling its yearly average in a…