Latest News
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Windfall doco to screen
Blackwood-based film Windfall, which documents the extreme weather events of June 2021, will be showing at Woodend this month. Director Brendan Hehir said the film was filled with amazing footage, local insights and humour, as well as expert analysis and explanation. While the film captures the fear of an extreme weather event, it also uses…
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Artist leaves his mark
What began as a plain Colorbond fence has become a vibrant work of art thanks to Solomon Islander artist Donald Suakapu, whose talent is leaving a lasting impression on the Castlemaine community. Local resident Margaret Grey recently commissioned Donald to paint a sweeping landscape across the inside of her backyard fence after discovering his work…
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‘Let’s get on board’
Acting Sergeant Erin Barkway joined the Castlemaine unit earlier this year. While she has been welcomed by the members, there are only a handful of women and she would love to see more join the force. “Women in policing – let’s get on board,” she said. “There are only a handful of women at Castlemaine,…
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Housing questions left unanswered
Housing targets for the Macedon Ranges are set at 13,200 dwellings by 2051 but council queries about how those figures were formulated have so far been unanswered. The state government set targets for each municipality last year and warned councils they would need to unlock land for housing or it would “do it for you”.…
Sport
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Cats clinch third spot
Systematic and methodical, Macedon senior footballers wrapped up third spot on the Riddell League ladder by defeating fifth-placed Melton South by 40 points at Tony Clarke Reserve on Saturday. The Cats were runners-up to Riddell in a pulsating grand final in 2025, and they will now play sixth-placed Kyneton in an elimination final. Reigning premiers…
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Netball spots still uncertain
This Saturday the Riddell League A-grade netball final home and away round has plenty at stake for several sides. Macedon, after languishing just outside the top six for most of the season, jumped into sixth spot at Kyneton’s expense on Saturday. To remain there, the Cats would need to defeat third-placed Lancefield at Tony Clarke…
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Magpies fall short against Hawks
Castlemaine Football Netball Club hosted a bumper weekend of football and netball competition at the Camp Reserve last weekend. The action kicked off Friday evening with the Magpies Senior Women’s Football side and Under 18 Girls sides playing host to Eaglehawk and Kangaroo Flat under lights. The 18 Girls were first up and were thrilled…
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Sizeable losses for Riddell, Kyneton
Home ground advantage did nothing to help Riddell and Kyneton as both suffered sizeable football defeats in RDFNL round 16 matches on Saturday. The Bombers expected to bounce back hard after an upset loss to Gisborne Giants a week earlier, but a promising start gradually fizzled out as ladder leader Diggers Rest surged ahead to…
Community
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Memorial garden works continue
Works to restore the Heritage Memorial Rose Garden continue at Kyneton High School. Last month Kyneton High School parents, teachers and Kyneton U3A volunteers took part in a successful working bee. The volunteers laid irrigation donated from Midland Irrigation and planted two pencil pines that were donated by Kyneton Horticultural Society. U3A Gardening in a…
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Giving the gift of life
Three years ago, Gail Laycock lost her adored husband Darren ‘Muddy’ Laycock, a week before his 56th birthday. Darren was a motor mechanic and a ‘dinky-di bloke’ who loved football, speedway racing, camping and fishing. His nickname ‘Muddy’ came from his habit of coming off the football grounds with mud on him – even on…
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A celebration of nature and art
From a graffitied drainpipe to the beautification of Murnong Creek – a new mural project at Lions Memorial Park in Riddells Creek is transforming an eyesore into an inspiring celebration of nature, art and local collaboration. Riddells Creek Lions Club worked along two local artist, Lyn Hovey and Jarryn Pitts, to convert a graffitied structure…
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Active Living Census stats a wake-up call
The results of the 2025 Active Living Census are in, and some results are concerning. People living in the Loddon Campaspe region have higher rates of risky drinking, poorer health and lower life satisfaction than the rest of the state. People are not eating enough fruit and vegetables, and more than 50 per cent of…
Leisure
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Deeply personal amid devastation
A new exhibition by award-winning realist artist Chris Moule has been unveiled at Harcourt Produce and General Store. A Brush with Colour features watercolours, acrylic and oil paintings and intricate pen and ink and pencil drawings. It includes a series around a central theme, ‘Before, during and after the 2026 bushfires’, which left devastation and…
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Folk singer to perform
Rising Naarm/Melbourne-based dream folk singer and songwriter Bec Sykes is headed to Castlemaine to perform songs from her Australian Music Prize-nominated debut album Pepperpot Magic and preview the new music she’s been creating since its release. Lauded for her songwriting prowess, striking voice and captivating stage presence, the magnetism of Bec Sykes’ live performance is…
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Maayan Licht set to dazzle
The Castlemaine State Festival is counting down the days until its next highly anticipated fundraising event on August 14. Imagine Farinelli meets Freddie Mercury. Enter Maayan Licht, the dazzling sopranista hailed as one of Europe’s most electrifying new stars, making his long-awaited Australian debut, which will include a stopover at the Castlemaine Town Hall. With…
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Dancing in your 60s and beyond
What began as a simple idea between two local dance teachers has grown into one of the week’s highlights for many older residents. Designed for older adults, Dance for Wellbeing 60+ is a combination of uplifting music, stretching and dance phrases. Following the enthusiastic response to their Castlemaine classes, dance teachers, Edna Reinhardt and Heidi…