Woodend
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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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Watsonia in Woodend
Watsonia: A Writing Life, is the 13th and latest offering by author Don Watson. It is a collection of essays on subjects as diverse as Travel and Terrorism, Language and Leadership, Football and Faith and, most intriguingly, the question of Australia: Who are we? Where are we? And where do we go from here? Watson…
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What! Me? Sing?
Notes from a wobbly Woodend Warbler Lindsay Cumming When my daughter, newly arrived in Woodend with her family last year, suggested I join her to give Woodend Warblers a try, all I could think of were obstacles. I hadn’t sung in a choir since school, over half a century ago. I don’t read music. I…
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Idea takes seed
Three friends are establishing a native nursery for the Macedon Ranges, with a goal of continuing and expanding the legacy of Woodend identity Robin Baker. Robin was the owner of Acres Wild Nursery and his death in 2019 affected many people in the community. He was passion about native plants and conservation. In discussion with…
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Accolade for Woodend filmmaker
Veteran filmmaker Michael Dillon AM has been honoured for his lifetime’s work, which includes more than 100 mountain and adventure film projects stretching over 50 years. He has been awarded the Grand Prize of the International Alliance for Mountain Film – and it’s the first time it has been presented to someone from the Southern…
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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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Garden the fire-wise way: Woodend brigade shares tips
Woodend Fire Brigade’s new fire-wise garden has opened and members have shared tips for anyone seeking to take a similar approach. Located at the front of the station, the garden was a combined effort of members including removal of hazardous trees and careful planning and design. The garden also offers the community landscaping ideas in…
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Local stars shine at MVAs
Soul virtuosos Emma Donovan & The Putbacks were the standout triumph at the 2021 Music Victoria Awards. The group, which has a local connection, scooped up three awards at the 17th annual event at the Melbourne Recital Centre on Thursday evening including Best Soul, Funk, R’n’B or Gospel Act, Best Group, and Best Album for…
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Mine shaft rescues
Two dogs have been rescued from mine shafts by local CFA brigades and a specialist unit in the space of week. In the most recent incident, a dog was rescued from a shaft in a remote location in the Wombat Forest near Woodend in darkness last Friday night. Woodend CFA volunteers took some time to…
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No safe crossing
St Ambrose Parish Primary’s community doesn’t want to see a disastrous traffic accident resulting from a lack of safe pedestrian access in the school precinct. The Woodend school is one of the only ones in the district without school crossings and the school community wants action. More than 150 parents lodged concerns with the council…
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RRV to consult on Black Forest Drive
Calls for further community consultation on proposed changes to Black Forest Drive have been heeded. Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas has announced in-person listening sessions in December to allow the Macedon Ranges community to provide more feedback on the project. The $6 million project for 11.7 kilometres of works on the road linking Woodend and Macedon…
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Epic orchestra performance
This Saturday is a special one for Resonance String Orchestra as it delivers Epic, its debut Mount Alexander Shire live performance in the Castlemaine Town Hall. Led by its artistic patron Zoe Knighton of Victoria’s acclaimed Flinders quartet, the 50-piece community string orchestra comprises both adult and junior members who live in the Macedon Ranges and Mount…