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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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…
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New trainer settles in
Experienced horseman Nelson Smyth is the latest to establish a thoroughbred training enterprise at Kyneton, close to the town’s long-established racecourse. “We’re trying to build a Kyneton base and a successful business,” trainer and part-owner Smyth said after his seven-year-old Triple Triple scored a last stride win at Kilmore last week. The 34-year-old Smyth runs…
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Chances slip in last term
Kyneton and Macedon footballers went into the last quarter with narrow leads, but finished up on the same side of the ledger — being beaten — by respective highly rated opponents Diggers Rest and Wallan on Saturday. It was absorbing football for most of the time, with spectators and players alike wondering what the outcome…
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Tight at the top in A-grade netball
Macedon A-grade netballers missed out on a golden opportunity to catapult into fifth place on the ladder when beaten by two goals in an exciting finish against Wallan on Saturday. The Cats were tied 30-30 at home at the last change, but the visitors rallied to stay in second place, behind Lancefield on percentage. After…
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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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…
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Music, ideas and creativity
The Woodend Winter Arts Festival is just days away, ready to transform Woodend into a vibrant hub of music, ideas and creativity over the King’s Birthday long weekend. Festival and artistic director Jacqueline Ogeil said anticipation was building as audiences prepared to welcome an exceptional lineup. “We are excited to bring together extraordinary artists from…
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A dedicated space for art
The newly opened Campaspe Mill Gallery will launch its exhibition program with Landscape by the Painter, a new collection of works by Kyneton artist Daniel Butterworth. Opening on July 4 and running for three months, the exhibition will feature between 30 and 40 works, all available for purchase, with free entry for visitors. As part…
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A ripper of a British farce
Kyneton’s not-for-profit Cathouse Players will soon prove that laughter is the best medicine, in their cosy pop-up theatre at the Kyneton Masonic Centre, 7 Yaldwyn Street West. Not Now, Darling by Ray Cooney and John Chapman, is a ripper of a British farce, and is set in the exclusive London fur salon of Bodley, Bodley…