Latest News
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CFA loses council contract
Local fire brigades have lost their longstanding fire equipment maintenance contract with Macedon Ranges Shire Council, which provided a valuable source of income for their work. The council has instead awarded the tender to a private contractor, Bendigo-based Elliots Fire and Safety Services. For decades, qualified volunteer technicians from Macedon Ranges CFA brigades have serviced…
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Changing hearts and minds
Edgar’s Mission Farm Sanctuary founder and director, Pam Ahern, has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the King’s Birthday 2026 Honours List, in recognition of her service to animals. The award recognises more than two decades of sustained, hands-on work rescuing farmed animals from cruelty, neglect and slaughter, and the sanctuary…
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Community champion awarded OAM
Long-time Gisborne resident Patricia Kaye has been recognised for more than five decades of dedicated community service, receiving a Medal of the Order of Australia in the King’s Birthday Honours. Patricia was honoured for her extensive contributions to community organisations across Gisborne and the wider region, particularly in the areas of health, emergency services, arts,…
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Haste on Clarkefield plan “unreasonable”
Macedon Ranges Shire Council has called out the state government’s haste in its four-week consultation on a development planned to change the face of Clarkefield. At council’s meeting last week, Cr Jennifer Anderson revealed the council had been informally refused a time extension on its submission to the process. With submissions closing yesterday, MRSC has…
Sport
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Showdown at Bomberland
There was plenty to like about the way Kyneton and Riddell senior footballers won their ninth-round matches on Saturday — now these two sides clash at Bomberland in the match of the round this weekend. Kyneton’s playing coach Ethan Foreman turned back the clock by kicking nine goals against Gisborne Giants as his side piled…
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World Cup kicks off
Castlemaine Goldfields Football Club hosted a World Cup live screening at The Goods Shed on Sunday. More than 300 fans, young and old, went along to watch the Socceroos overcome Turkiye 2:0 in an enthralling game. The club organised the live site to celebrate the amazing opportunity to bring the local football-loving community together to…
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Countdown on for championships
Exuberant Romsey youngster Billy Jarvis is looking forward to his 12th birthday on July 6, especially as a day later he flies to Brisbane to represent Victoria in the 2026 Australian Schools Boxing Championships. Last December the Express outlined how boxing has been a life-changer for Billy, after he successfully made his amateur boxing debut…
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Johnstone makes VFL debut
Talented young Gisborne footballer Dylan Johnstone has enjoyed a great week on his journey towards the top. Playing for the Bendigo League, Johnstone excelled and won the Derek Filo Medal as best afield against Ovens and Murray at the Queen Elizabeth Oval on May 23. Several days later he was selected to make his debut…
Community
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Station stalwart retires
Maxine (Max) Clohesy has retired from her position as admin clerk at the Kyneton Police Station after 39 years. Max was unsworn by Victoria Police in September 1987 (to work as a civilian) and has worked at Kyneton ever since. Her main responsibilities were making sure all charges got to court, all briefs and evidence…
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Tigers take the plunge for FightMND
Kyneton Football Netball Club has raised more than $2300 and counting for FightMND after a successful Big Freeze fundraiser held during the club’s MND Round on May 30. Players, volunteers, supporters and community members gathered at the Kyneton Showgrounds to support the cause, with 10 brave club representatives taking the plunge down a giant slide…
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Air League squadron for Woodend
Australia’s oldest uniformed Cadet organisation, The Australian Air League Inc. (founded 1934), is establishing a new Squadron in the Macedon Ranges. The AAL is a uniformed, disciplined, fun organisation open to girls and boys aged 8-18 and adults as officers (18+) with aims to promote an interest in aviation among the youth of Australia, and…
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Williamson’s ‘Most Outstanding’ store
Frances Noonan Following their 50th year anniversary celebrations, Williamson’s FoodWorks Gisborne has been crowned ‘National Most Outstanding Local Area Marketing store of the year’ at the 2026 Australian United Retailers Store Excellence Awards. Independently owned Williamson’s FoodWorks Gisborne was announced the national champion at a gala event in Melbourne in late April. The supermarket is…
Leisure
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Genesis Baroque returns to Castlemaine
Following a sold-out opening night performance at this year’s Castlemaine State Festival, acclaimed early music ensemble Genesis Baroque will return to Castlemaine this week with an intimate new concert, The Directors’ Cut. Founded in 2018, Genesis Baroque brings together some of Australia’s leading historically informed musicians, performing dynamic and engaging programs on period instruments across…
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The Goddess comes to the Theatre Royal
After 40 years composing for films and television, including The Truman Show, The Secret River and Wolf Creek, Burkhard Dallwitz was interested to take on the challenge of a live performance score. And not just co-composing it, but performing it too. “Getting out of my studio and performing again made me nervous but also excited,”…
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The Sunset Six do Broadway
Local Macedon Ranges singers, Tasha Luke, Rexine Perry, Lucy Watson, Erin Haberecht, Kate Kennedy and Katy Somerville, will this month present a cavalcade of songs from an array of musical theatre shows including 42nd Street, Les Miserables, Funny Girl, Company, Waitress and more, accompanied by pianist Dan Rigby. Tasha, Rex and Lucy have been performing…
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Washington joins Jazz Festival lineup
The Castlemaine Jazz Festival returns this King’s Birthday weekend and once again promises an incredible lineup with more than 40 bands and performers set to feature across six local venues. Castlemaine Jazz Festival director Lyndal McClure said this year’s lineup was incredibly diverse and truly offered something for everyone. “Opening night at The Goods Shed…