Police are investigating after a fatal crash in Ripplebrook on New Year’s Day.

Emergency services were called to reports a motorcycle had lost control and crashed on Westernport Road about 11.50am.

The rider, a 68-year-old Longwarry man, was treated by paramedics but died at the scene.

The exact circumstances surrounding the crash had yet to be established as at the time of the latest police rport issued, and the investigation was ongoing.

Anyone who witnessed the crash, with footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

For the current provisional lives lost tally please see https://www.police.vic.gov.au/road-safety-0.

This story based on a Victoria Police report

The city of Ballarat is currently hosting Australia’s Under 16 female’s Cricket Championship.

The national chamionship competition started on Monday this week and continues through to Monday January 13.

The championship contest will pit state against state and has drawn more than 200 competitors, plus coaches, officials and spectators to the city over the eight days.

All matches will be played on turf wickets including at Ballarat’s: Eastern Oval, Frank Bourke Oval, CE Brown Reserve, Alfredton Reserve, Western Oval, Mt Clear Recreation Reserve, Buninyong Community Facility, Russell Square, and St Patrick’s College.

Every match of the Under 16s National Female Championships is being streamed live on the Cricket Australia YouTube channel, while scorecards can be accessed through Play Cricket.

Melbourne Divisional Response Unit detectives last week charged a man following an attempted armed robbery that happened in Southbank, Melbourne, in late November.

It is alleged a 33-year-old Werribee man was withdrawing cash from an ATM at a licensed premises when he was approached by an unknown man on Saturday, 30 November.

The man attempted to snatch the cash from the victim’s hand and was unsuccessful.

Police were told the offender then attempted to hit the man with an axe and missed.

The offender fled on foot.

Detectives arrested a 26-year-old man from Werribee on Thursday 2 January in relation to the incident.

He was charged with armed robbery, attempted armed robbery conduct endangering serious injury theft and other offences.

He was held in custody and was listed to appear this week at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.

Starting from tomorrow and rolling through to this Sunday, the City of Ballarat is hosting the Bowls Victoria Region Sides Bowls Championships.

More than 200 bowlers from around Victoria will converge on Ballarat, each vying to be crowned state champions.

Held over January 10-12, the event will include 16 regions from around the state, with each region selecting a representative team of 14 players to compete across the three days.

The host venues are Sebastopol Bowls Club, Webbcona Bowls Club, Victoria Bowling Club, and Central Wendouree Bowling Club.

Police will prepare a report for the Coroner following the death of a boy in Cobbannah late last week.

Emergency services were called to a camp site off Angusvale Track about 11.50am on Friday, January 3, after reports the boy had been seen in the river around 11.20am that morning, but had not been seen since.

A search was conducted and the boy was located deceased in the water about 2.50pm on Friday afternoon.

The investigation into the incident remained ongoing as at the most recent Victoria Police report.

After three weeks, the bushfire in the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park is now contained, the CFA has reported this week.

The fire began on 17 December after dry lightning started multiple fires in the southern part of the national park, and this Monday (January 6) the CFA confirmed that the fire had now finally been contained.

With a fire footprint circumference of 422 kilometres, more than 76,000 hectares of national park and agricultural land has burned.

Communities near the fire were urged to leave when several Emergency Warnings were issued in the lead up to the Christmas period.

The fire claimed four residential properties in Moyston and Mafeking, and 40 outbuildings in Moyston, Willaura, Willaura North, Mafeking, Pomonal, Glenthompson and Mirranatwa.

Preliminary data indicates livestock losses include 775 sheep, one horse, one beef cattle and 1,285 beehives. Additionally, more than 13,538 ha of farmland, including 10,053 ha of pasture was burnt, and 540 km of fencing was damaged.

Leading up to the past weekend’s elevated fire danger, firefighters conducted burning out operations to reduce vegetation and strengthen containment lines.

Firefighters and aircraft were actively patrolling the areas in and around the national park throughout the elevated fire danger period, addressing hotspots early and preventing any further spread of the existing fire.

This work helped to reduce fire activity and contain the fire ahead of more settled conditions over the next week. This means there is no active or running fire, and the perimeter is within control lines. 

Whilst Halls Gap and the Grampians National Park remain closed to visitors, fire agencies are planning to reopen Halls Gap to visitors during the week. Planning is also underway for opening parts of the Grampians National Park later in the week. 

Incident Controller Peter West: “This fire represents a significant environmental and social incident and one that deeply affects people connected to the national park, including Traditional Owners, tourism operators and visitors.

“Coinciding with what is typically the busiest season for tourism in the area, the fire has resulted in considerable hardships and financial losses for local businesses and communities.

“Declaring the fire contained allows us to begin the process of reopening Halls Gap and areas of the national park.

“Firefighters will continue to monitor and patrol the fire; this could still take a number of weeks. It is likely we will still see smoke and small flare-ups in the area, but we will continue to be present to deal with these when and as they arise.

“I want to thank the community and the public for their remarkable patience during our battle with this fire. We understand that many plans had to be altered and that the resulting inconvenience has had a significant impact on daily life and significant events such as Christmas.

“Your cooperation in following our messaging and adhering to road closures has been invaluable. It has allowed our crews to focus their efforts on fighting the fire effectively while prioritising community safety. Thank you once again for your understanding and support during this challenging time.

“Whilst we continue to focus on the suppression of the fire, planning is well underway to ensure a prompt and thorough recovery from this event.”

Victorians are reminded to always have more than one source of information, including:

• The VicEmergency app
• The VicEmergency website www.emergency.vic.gov.au
• Emergency broadcasters such as ABC local radio, commercial and select community radio stations, or SkyNews
• The VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226
• VicEmergency on Facebook and X (formerly known as Twitter)

This story based on a CFA report

Road safety will remain a key priority for Victoria Police throughout 2025 in the wake of a devastating year on the state’s roads.

There were 282 lives lost in 2024 compared with 295 in 2023, Victoria Police have reported.

While the number of lives lost is slightly below 2023, concerningly there has been an overall increase in the number of fatal collisions.

There has been a 6 per cent rise in single fatal collisions, with 256 in 2024 compared with 241 in 2023.

However, there was a significant decrease in the number of multiple fatality collisions, with 13 double fatalities in 2024 compared with 2023 which saw 14 double fatalities, four quadruple fatalities and two quintuple fatalities.

Vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, motorcyclists, bicyclists and e-scooter riders made up 45 per cent of all lives lost on Victorian roads in 2024.

There were 66 motorcyclists killed compared with 53 in 2023.

Pedestrians accounted for 47 deaths compared with 44 in the previous year.

Driver fatalities made up 45 per cent of all lives during 2024, with 126 driver deaths compared with 128 in 2023.

There were 133 lives lost on metropolitan roads, up from 123 in 2023. A total 149 lives were lost on regional roads, down from 172 in 2023.

November was the deadliest month on Victoria’s roads with 35 lives lost during the month.

Police have identified single acts of non-compliance or people making basic driving errors contributed to more than half of fatalities in 2024.

These are behaviours such as low-range speeding, lower-level drink driving, failing to obey road signs and distraction, like using a mobile phone while driving.

More than 20 people killed in vehicle collisions weren’t wearing a seatbelt.

Extreme behaviours such as driving without a licence, travelling at extreme speeds, high-range drink driving, illicit drug driving or often a combination of these behaviours contributed to approximately a quarter of fatal collisions in 2024.

Police are determined to drive down road trauma in 2025 and are urging all road users to consider their actions and behaviours when getting behind the wheel.

Victoria Police will continue to work closely with its road safety partners to reduce the number of fatal and serious injury collisions.

Road policing enforcement will continue to be a priority, with a number of operations to be conducted throughout the year both during high-risk periods but also at random, in-line with an ‘anywhere, any time’ deterrent approach.

For more information and tips for staying safe on the roads, visit the Road Safety page on the Victoria Police website – https://www.police.vic.gov.au/road-safety

Goldfields Libraries and Eaglehawk Festivals are calling for entries from writers all over Australia for the annual Mulga Bill Writing Award, a celebration of creativity at the Eaglehawk Dahlia & Arts Festival.

Poets and writers, experienced and aspiring are being invited to showcase their talents in the 2025 Mulga Bill Writing Award.

This year’s theme is ‘Fiesta!’ with more details available by going to the Goldfields Libraries website at https://www.ncgrl.vic.gov.au/mulgabillwritingaward .

Categories and prizes:

Short Story (up to 2,000 words)
Judge: local author and writer, Lauren Mitchell.

• First Prize: $500
• Second Prize: $150

Poetry (up to 25 lines)
Judge: Local writer and poet, Anne Gleeson.

• First Prize: $200
• Second Prize: $50

Cost

Entries: $5 per submission.

Key Dates:

• Entries open: Saturday, 4 January 2025
• Entries close: Monday, 24 February 2025
• Winners announced: Friday, 14 March 2025 (at the Dahlia & Arts Festival opening)

In a new initiative for this year’s CresFest, festival-goers will have a chance to win an attractive prize by capturing photographic images from the April event.

Organisers of the Creswick folk and roots music festival are introducing the new competition with visitors invited to enter up to three great images capturing the vibe of the 2025 festival coming up April 4-6.

By entering their three top images they’ll be competing to win two day passes or one weekend pass to CresFest 2026. 

“We will be looking for funny, quirky, soulful, heart warming pics we can use in our reporting to partners and in marketing future festivals and you can help out,” CresFest founder and co-director Judy Turner says.

“All good quality images will be considered by a panel of local judges. Phone cameras of course accepted.”

Organisers say that full conditions and details for the debut CresFest photo comp will be announced on March 1.

Words: Eve Lamb

Local kinders and early childhood services in Daylesford and Hepburn Springs are among those to share in $1.4 million in state grants to upgrade IT equipment, the local MP for Macedon says.

Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas in recent days announced that seventeen services across the Macedon state electorate will receive funding through the latest round of Building Blocks IT grants which will help services deliver educational programs and support administration.

Grants up to $2,000 are being distributed to over 760 eligible services for equipment such as laptops, iPads, screens and IT hardware used to deliver kindergarten programs.  

Those to benefit include:

• $2,000.00 for Daylesford Community Childcare Centre

• $1,769.26 for Daylesford Preschool  

• $1,769.26 for Hepburn Kindergarten  

• $1,560.18 for Trentham Early Learning 

• $1,701.82 for Woodend Kindergarten

• $1,344.45 for Macedon Kindergarten  

• $860.00 for Kyneton Kindergarten  

• $1,882.20 for Goodstart Early Learning Kyneton  

• $1,882.20 for Goodstart Early Learning Woodend   

• $1,738.18 for Manna Gum Family and Children’s Centre  

• $1,465.36 for Swinburne Avenue Children’s Centre  

• $1,411.73 for Riddells Creek Kindergarten  

• $1,634.55 for Lancefield Kindergarten  

• $1,634.55 for Romsey Kindergarten  

• $2,000.00 for Goodstart Early Learning Riddells Creek  

• $2,000.00 for Goodstart Early Learning New Gisborne  

• $1,999.00 for Rothschild Road Kindergarten at Willowbank Primary School

The Building Blocks Program, which offers grants to contribute to kindergarten infrastructure and equipment, is rated important to ensure the success of the roll-out of the Best Start, Best Life reforms across Victoria.  

Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas:  “We’re delivering IT upgrades and improvements to more than 760 eligible childcare and  kindergarten services across the state, so teachers, educators and children have the facilities  they need.”  

“These grants build on our investment in early childhood infrastructure and free kinder –  providing the tools for childcare and kindergarten services to provide quality services to local  kids in Macedon.”  

Organisers of this year’s upcoming CresFest folk and roots music festival are keen to hear from Creswick locals who think they may be able to host a muso – or maybe even a group of performers – over the weekend of the festival in early April.

In an update on preparations ahead of the April 4-6 event, the award-winning festival’s co-director and founder Judy Turner says hosting a performer or a group promises to make for a rewarding experience.

She says it’s a chance to get to hear the music up close, getting to understand more of the musician’s life, “and, of course, getting a free weekend pass for the festival in return for each artist hosted”.  

The requirements of hosting a performer or group “are not onerous, and you can even use an on-site  caravan or cabin to offer a bed, or space for a tent or campervan in  your garden – all types of hospitality considered”.

Ideally host houses will be situated within 5km of the Creswick Town Hall. Those interested to know more about hosting can check out the  festival’s website online and click on ‘get involved’.

Words: Eve Lamb. Image: Supplied

From quick-thinking Creswickians who came to the aid of someone under attack, to young jiu jitsu champs, the diversity of stories and the locals behind them made sure 2024 was a year to remember.

The Local had a great time meeting the local news-makers of 2024, hearing their stories and helping to share their positivity with the wider community.

Now as a new year starts gaining momentum once again, the team at The Local is looking forward to sharing a whole new swag of stories with the community of the Hepburn Shire and beyond.

If you know of anyone doing something special and worthy of recognition, or if you have a great yarn to tell or a significant event to let others know about, be sure and let The Local know. Get in contact at email: editorial@tlnews.com.au. We’d love to hear from you.

Finally, here’s just a few more locals who helped put our region on the map in 2024…

The state government’s Access Policy Roadmap is now state-wide, ensuring women and girls right across Victoria have equal access to sporting facilities and opportunities.

The state’s minister for community sport, Ros Spence recently announced the statewide adoption of the policy.

All of Victoria’s 79 councils and Alpine Resorts Victoria will now adopt the framework for their local communities including the shires of Macedon Ranges, Hepburn, Mount Alexander and Moorabool in Macedon.  

Since being launched in August 2022, the Roadmap is helping councils and their local sporting clubs to create equal access and opportunities for women and girls so all Victorians  can take part in the sports they love.  

As part of the Roadmap, councils must have policies in place to be eligible for community sport program funding.

The policies are tailored to the local community and designed to  achieve long-term change resulting in more equal participation for women and girls.  

Examples include how women and girls will be considered when it comes to allocating community sport facilities, like ovals, changerooms and courts.  

Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence:  “Victoria is proud to lead the nation in creating a level playing field for women and girls, so  they have the same access and opportunities as men when it comes playing the sports they  love.”  

Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas:  “This policy will make a big difference for the women and girls of Macedon, ensuring they  get access to the sport facilities and opportunities they deserve.”

Developed in partnership with Sport and Recreation Victoria and VicHealth, the Roadmap supports councils with obligations under the Gender Equality Act 2020.

Those interested can learn more about  the Fair Access Policy Roadmap at changeourgame.vic.gov.au/initiatives/fair-access-policy roadmap.  

This story based on a media release from the office of Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas

Clunes’ Mulberry Manse sets the scene for an evening of beautiful music featuring celtic harp this Wednesday January 8.

Multi award-winning Scottish singer songwriter and harpist Chloe Matharu (above) is on her second Australian Tour.

She will perform at Clunes’ Mulerry Manse alongside acclaimed folk-soul duo Andrea Kirwin and Claire Evelynn.

Matharu is an award winning Scottish-Indian singer songwriter and harpist from the west coast of Scotland.

Many of her songs draw on her time as a navigational officer in the merchant navy, inspired by the natural world as experienced at sea.

On tour she performs solo with her harp in English, Scots, and Welsh. She is now on tour with Kirwin and Evelynn enroute to Tasmania’s Cygnet Folk Festival.

Australian/Fijian folk-soul artist Andrea Kirwin and her wife Claire Evelynn (above) have been performing as a duo together since 2021.

In this time they’ve developed a very special live show blending the ethereal sounds of the celtic harp with Andrea’s originals that feature guitar, cigar box guitar, harmonica and stomp and her rich, velvety vocals.

Date

Wednesday January 8, 2025 7:30pm

Location

Mulberry Manse
8 Roses Lane, Clunes, Clunes VIC 3370

Details

More details can be found through the Mulberry Manse Facebook page, with bookings online through Trybooking

Words: Eve Lamb. Images: Supplied

From Olympians to town criers, the people of the Central Highlands make the place in which we live rich indeed.

The Local had the pleasure of meeting quite a few of them throughout 2024, the year that was. Here are just a few…