The Hepburn Shire Council has announced that it is partnering with Women’s Health Grampians to deliver Act@Play to two sporting clubs located within the region.  

Act@Play is a gender equality, cultural change initiative that recognises the power that regional sporting clubs have to influence attitudes and beliefs about what is acceptable behaviour. 

The program aims to develop and deliver culture change programs that support clubs to develop welcoming and inclusive environments for all genders through education and empowering leaders on and off the field.  

Sporting clubs located in Hepburn Shire who are committed to fostering an inclusive, family-focused club culture are being encouraged to apply to participate. 

Expressions of Interest opened this Monday 15 April and close Sunday 28 April.  All registered sporting clubs located in Hepburn Shire can apply and will be assessed against the selection criteria.

Those interested can obtain more information from the council’s sport and active recreation officer – 0484 586 689.

The Kyneton Horticultural Society is hosting its Annual Autumn Flower Show tomorrow Saturday April 20 from 1-4pm and Sunday April 21 from 10am – 4pm.

The Kyneton Horticultural Society began in 1894 and its history timeline demonstrates that it has been presenting regular flower shows since that time.

This year the Autumn Flower Show will include flash mop performances on both Saturday and Sunday, while local florists have been invited to showcase their work.

There will also be trade stands, a plant stall, second-hand gardening book sales and refreshments such as
finger sandwiches, slices and devonshire teas.

The Society’s motto is Show what you grow and tell what you know and the two-day event has over 100 categories for gardeners to show what is growing in their autumn gardens.

There is a very competitive floral art section for novice, intermediate and open floral artists and a section especially for children.

Those keen to know more can check out the show schedule at the Society’s own website.

The flower show is being held in the Watts Pavilion at the Show Grounds on Kyneton’s Mollison Street and will be opened by the President of the Royal Horticultural Society of Victoria, Don Rickerby at 2pm tomorrow, Saturday 20th April.

The pavilion will be open tomorrow 1pm – 4pm and Sunday 21st April10am – 4pm. Entry to the pavilion is $5.

The Hepburn Shire Council is encouraging members of the community to check out its Community Grants Program with round three of the program currently open to receive applications until April 29.

The program supports community-based projects and initiatives that enhance the social, environmental and economic life of the Hepburn Shire.

Community Grants can help community groups to implement projects that promote community wellbeing, increase social connection and build capacity for leadership and independence.

Funding is awarded for projects and initiatives that show community benefit and align with one or more of the focus areas in the council plan up to a value of $5,000. 

Further information is available via the council’s website.

The Fire Danger Period (FDP) will finish at 1am on Monday, April 22 in the Hepburn Shire, the CFA has declared.

While restrictions are lifting in these areas, CFA still expects the grassfire risk to remain across the state, so Victorians need to be alert and prepared.

CFA District 10 Assistant Chief Fire Officer Aaron Worcester said recent rainfall has allowed for fire restrictions to ease.

“Due to the wet weather over the last couple of weeks, conditions are now more favourable for residents to burn off,” Aaron said.

“Farm paddocks are starting to green up, and it is now safer for landowners to clean up their properties from recent storm damage and take the opportunity to reduce fuel loads ahead of next summer.”

It is important that residents check that local conditions are safe before undertaking these activities.

You must still register your burn-offs, check weather conditions and follow local council laws, as well as EPA laws and applicable regulations.

“Registering your burn-off ensures that if smoke or fire is reported, the incident is cross-checked with our register, which prevents firefighters from unnecessarily responding,” Aaron said.

“When conducting burn-offs, remain alert and always have resources on hand to extinguish the fire.”

Professional Standards Command detectives have charged a first constable with traffic offences following an incident in California Gully last year.

The 26-year-old man, from Western Region, has been charged with reckless conduct endangering life and drive in a manner dangerous.

He will appear at court at a later date.

The charges relate to a collision between an allegedly stolen MG sedan and a police car on Bright Street about 1pm on 13 April.

The three occupants of the stolen car and three police officers were injured in the collision.

At the time three people were arrested in relation to the stolen car, with a 20-year-old California Gully man and 16-year-old Kangaroo Flat girl charged with theft of motor vehicle.

Mill View, a passive solar house in Smeaton near Daylesford will feature as part of national Sustainable House Day this Sunday April 21 alongside over 100 of Australia’s most inspiring sustainable homes.

Established in 2001, Sustainable House Day is a national community-driven event hosted by Renew, that allows the public to see and learn from Australia’s greenest homes.

It aims to inspire people to live sustainably, showing them how to lower energy bills, live comfortably and help the environment through good home design, practices, and technology.

Architect Matthew Turner of Enduring Domain Architecture — owner of Mill View — will join more than 120 homeowners nationwide in opening their home to the community to provide tips and advice on building and living sustainably, including passive design, all-electric, off-grid living, innovative building materials, tiny homes, and tech such as batteries, solar and more.

Each home is showcased on the Sustainable House Day website and features a virtual tour and the
ability to connect with homeowners to ask questions about their homes.

Following the main event this Sunday, 21st of April, a number of homeowners will join industry experts to
participate in a series of online panel discussions taking place from 30th April – 23rd May.

These sessions will cover a range of topics including orientation, insulation, and air flow; solar, home batteries and EVs; prefab and modular house design; and building small and clever and allow a valuable opportunity for anyone embarking on their own sustainability journey to seeking guidance from those have completed their own projects.

Further information and booking links for these sessions can be found on the Sustainable House Day
website: https://sustainablehouseday.com/

A 45-year-old Bendigo man has had his licence immediately suspended after he was allegedly found drink driving his white Toyota Camry in Bendigo over the weekend.

A brand-new Toyota pulled into a booze bus site on Calder Highway about 8.15pm on Sunday night, April14.

Officers spoke to the driver, and he accompanied police for an evidentiary breath test.

He returned an alleged reading of 0.219, more than four times the legal limit.

His licence was immediately suspended, and his car was impounded for 30 days at a cost of $1200.

He is expected to be charged on summons with drink driving offences.

Bendigo Highway Patrol officers are appealing for public assistance following a car crash at Kangaroo Flat last week.

It is believed a white LDV T60 utility was travelling along Station Street near the intersection of Church Street when the driver lost control and veered off the road about 8.30am on Wednesday 10 April.

The vehicle continued down an embankment came to a rest on the nature strip next to the creek on Danson Avenue.

Police have been told a passer-by stopped and assisted the 75-year-old driver who was not seriously injured and drove him home.

Investigators are keen to speak to that passer-by or any witnesses.

Anyone with information or anyone with CCTV/dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report via the Crime Stoppers website.

Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating the circumstances following the death of a woman in Clunes, Sunday, 14 April.

“It is believed a woman was at a retreat on Fraser Street when she became ill after ingesting a drink just after 12am,” police said in a statement.

“The 53-year-old Ringwood North woman died at the scene.”

An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson has  confirmed that  two other people were taken to the Ballarat Base Hospital.

The Palais Hepburn hosts Suzie So Blue and her full band on Friday May 3rd for what promises an unforgettable Friday night’s live music.

Making her debut in Hepburn, Suzie brings a hypnotic tenor guitar sound, heartfelt vocals, and a captivating blend of cathartic music.

Accompanied by a talented ensemble featuring a double bass, electric guitar, and drums, the mood is set for an immersive experience.

Suzie So Blue is a singer-songwriter whose music delves deep into the heart of human emotions with just four strings and the truth.

Blending the soulful essence of blues with the storytelling charm of country, Suzie’s hypnotic tenor guitar style and evocative vocals create a mesmerising sonic tapestry.

Influenced by luminaries like Yola, Amythyst Kiah, Tracy Chapman, Gillian Welch and Sierra Ferrell, she weaves tales of love and life that resonate with Americana and dark folk enthusiasts.

Daylesford is getting its own adult drama classes, run by local theatre company Lab Kelpie.

Led by the company’s artistic director Lyall Brooks (pictured above), a professional actor, director and teaching artist for nearly 25 years, the evening classes at Stanbridge Hall will start Monday 22 April.

First up is an eight-week term of fun group work ideal for beginners and those wanting to refresh past skills, before offering more advanced options as classes grow.

“I’ve worked with community theatre-lovers all across regional Victoria over the last decade, from Gippsland to Shepparton to Glenelg, so it’s wild I haven’t yet done the same in my home town,” Lyall says.

While Lyall will lead the teaching to begin, he has a small stable of other professional artists all skilled in acting techniques and ready to share their expertise as the classes develop and grow.

The direction the classes take will be responsive to the skills and knowledge the participants want to explore.

Over time it’s hoped participants will go on to tackle a variety of different classes and forms, scene study and text work, monologues, improvisation, Meisner and Russian Masters, devising, and even playwriting.

“Daylesford has such a passionate artistic community,” Lyall said.

“We’re crying out for more creative opportunities, so my hope is that we can help fill some small part of that greater need.”

Cylists across the region are being invited to brush off their best fetching tweed outfits and prepare to participate in Ballarat’s annual Tweed Ride which returns Saturday May 18 as part of the Ballarat Heritage Festival.

For the unitiatiated, it’s a cycling event of style, conducted at a leisurely pace through the autumn streets, with fashion awards and … tweed.

A Tweed Ride is a bike ride where a group of cyclists dress in historic and vintage attire and ride through local city streets with Tweed Ride events are held all around the world.

The Ballarat Tweed Ride has been running annually since 2012. The riders take a leisurely pedal or scoot around Ballarat’s autumn streets.

The pace is relaxed, the company is light-hearted and the route is flat. The complete ride route will be around 3km long with the opportunity for less experienced or fit riders to take breaks and pause easily.

Spectators are very welcome along the ride route, or at the Tweed Fair location at Cathederal Hall on Dawsonn Street South, where the ride will begin and end.

The ride will begin after a presentation of fashion award rosettes for the best-dressed riders and participants at the Tweed Fair. All bikes are welcome on a Tweed Ride but vintage and interesting bikes aren’t just welcomed, they are celebrated.

The Tweed Fair and Dance happens at the Cathedral Hall, Dawson Street South with a dancefloor, fashion parade, pantomime, refreshments and sweet treats, handmade bespoke items and vintage collectable stalls.

Registrations are essential for riders and they opened on April 1.

The Gisborne & District Bowling Club can welcome more players all year round following the opening of a new synthetic rink at the club on Friday 5 April.

The local Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas MP officially opened the new rink which replaced the old turf green, ensuring the club now has two year-round bowling greens, reducing ongoing green maintenance costs for the club and enabling them to expand their usage.

The old natural turf green was past its prime and beginning to deteriorate, while climate conditions in the Macedon Ranges meant it was only able to be used for around half the year.

It is anticipated that the new synthetic green will increase participation levels by about 30 per cent due to the additional months of the year that the facility will now be available for use.

New fencing, retaining wall and drainage, shade structures, seating, scoreboards, and rink markers were also included in the upgrades.

The $568,336 project was jointly funded by the Victorian Government’s 2021-22 Local Sports Infrastructure Fund ($245,164), Gisborne & District Bowling Club ($172,436), and the Macedon Ranges Shire Council ($150,736).

Macedon Ranges Shire Mayor Cr Annette Death thanked the Victorian Government for its contribution to the upgrades and for supporting recreational activities in the shire which have so many positive benefits.

“Activities such as these provide opportunities for socialisation and inclusion within our community, as well as physical activity, all of which is a positive for our health and wellbeing,” Cr Death said.

“Council would also like to thank and acknowledge the dedication shown and time spent on the project by Gisborne & District Bowling Club whose hard work is one of the main reasons these upgrades were able to happen.”

The Great Takeaway 24 is a chance for visitors to dine using some of the finest materials, textiles, glassware and ceramics produced in the Ballarat region – and then take the handcrafted materials home with them.

Set for May 23, the event is part of next month’s wider Ballarat Heritage Festival happening over May 17-26.

Diners who pay $275 for a ticket to attend the Great Takeaway in the Ballarat Mining Exchange building will get to experience a lavish food event served on individually handcrafted plates, cutlery, glassware and napery.

The point of difference is that at the close of the night they then get to leave with their lushly wrapped dining setting.

Further details are on the Ballarat Heritage Festival website.

Songwriter Skyscraper Stan is returning to Palais-Hepburn on Saturday April 27 for a repeat solo performance.

Lyrical, observant and occasionally profound, Stan has cemented himself as a stalwart of the Australian songwriting scene over a decade of touring and recording.

Joining Stan on the night is fellow songsmith Freya Josephine Hollick – a rising legend of Australian country music.

It’s a prime chance to join Stan and Freya for an evening with two songwriters at the top of their game.