The Local

10-12-2024

This is one of my fav Clunes walks. It’s a slight adaptation of a loop walk that appears in a newly released brochure detailing several choice walks and saunters in and around the Clunes township. More on that later.

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Plenty of heavy lifting for this gathering

05-12-2024

Mel Gibson is “to blame” for inciting a teenage Langley Rowbottom to play the bagpipes.

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Daylesford town hall restoration works starting soon

05-12-2024

Restoration works at the historic Daylesford Town Hall are set to begin in the coming weeks.

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AIDS Memorial Tree plaque unveiled

04-12-2024

I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree. So wrote the poet (Alfred) Joyce Kilmer. Last Thursday, just a few days out from international World AIDS Day, a special tree beside Lake Daylesford - an autumn blaze acer to be exact - came in for a bit of extra media attention.

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Walks of the Central Highlands

09-11-2024

We’re “guinea pigs” today, joining the Great Dividing Trail Association on a walk led by Professor Barry Golding. It’s a kind of test run for a walk forming part of a fairly spesh little public tour series that Prof Golding will lead in early December. More on that later.

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Jean’s Kitchen opens with high tea at Korweinguboora

08-11-2024

Long-standing Korweinguboora resident Jean Howard has had the local reserve's kitchen named after her - as part of a revival of the reserve's complex.

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Book launch of Naku Dharuk (message on bark)

08-11-2024

My husband Malcolm Bray and I, Ruth Bray, were recently fortunate to attend the launch of Professor Clare Wright’s book Naku Dharuk, The Bark Petitions. How the people of Yirrkala changed the course of Australian Democracy.

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Sneak peek at Six Peaks Speak

08-11-2024

Gurutjanga (Mount Kooroocheang), Nyaninuk (Mount Beckworth), Mount Greenock, Dharrang Gauwa (Mount Tarrengower), Liyanganyuk banyul (Mount Alexander) and Lalgambuk (Mount Franklin). If these ancient peaks of southern Dja Dja Wurrung country could speak they’d no doubt tell remarkable stories like those to be found in the significant new book by Professor Barry Golding.

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Surprise $250k donation for Daylesford Health

26-10-2024

A surprise phone call to Daylesford Health will change lives in rural Victoria thanks to Harry and Peggy Maddicks.

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Clunes booktown on Sunday returns

18-10-2024

Coming up November 10, Clunes' Booktown on Sunday series will feature Ross McMullin, author of “Life So Full of Promise: Further Biographies of Australia’s Lost Generation”.

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Family pilgrimage

12-10-2024

In every community around the country there are a multitude of stories to be told. So many of those tales are ones of diaspora, of individuals and families from all backgrounds fleeing poverty, war and social upheaval and creating a new life.

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Something old, something new: the tale of a wedding dress

11-10-2024

The story of a lavish 1880s wedding dress and its painstaking restoration is about to be shared as the historic Trewhella gown goes on display later this month at Daylesford & District Museum.

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Future taking shape for Daylesford Town Hall

22-09-2024

The Daylesford Community Facilities project team has been given the green light to develop designs to locate the library and community multipurpose facilities at the Daylesford Town Hall site, ahead of proposed community engagement.

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Township structure plans adopted

12-09-2024

The Hepburn Shire Council has unanimously adopted Township Structure Plans for Clunes, Creswick, Daylesford and Hepburn Springs, Glenlyon, and Trentham, and also a Rural Hepburn Strategy at a Special Council Meeting held last week.

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Events program to celebrate 170 years since the Stockade

11-09-2024

Ballarat's Eureka Centre will join with the wider local community to mark the 170th anniversary of the Eureka Stockade, unveiling a program of events across November and December.

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The Rex – No Report

02-09-2024

The Local Government Inspectorate has issued a media release about the Hepburn Shire Council and The Rex Theatre Development.

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A tree to honour Clarence at Kingston Ave

29-08-2024

Just in time to catch the first stirrings of spring, a very special tree planting took place in the famed Avenue of Honour at Kingston on Saturday, August 10.

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Gardens historic ‘day basin’ transformation soon to start

23-08-2024

Work is soon to begin to renovate the historic day basin at Daylesford’s Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens.

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Walks of the Central Highlands

18-08-2024

It’s curious how long you can live with an iconic slab of national mythology sitting on your doorstop and never actually go check it out.

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The Castle actor digs another link to Bullarto

15-08-2024

Forever famed for his role as Dale Kerrigan in 1997 Aussie Move classic The Castle, actor Stephen Curry has quite a special connection to Bullarto it seems.

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Chance to name a place in Victoria

12-08-2024

The state's Department of Transport and Planning is inviting all Victorians to nominate someone who has made a significant contribution to be considered for a new place name.

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Good news for Daylesford’s historic Stanbridge Hall

10-08-2024

Work to rennovate Daylesford's historic Stanbridge Hall is expected to start within days after funding was secured from the Anglican Diocese of Bendigo from the sale of church properties.

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Baroque masterpiece performed in Ballarat concert

09-08-2024

CLASSICAL vocal group Vox is preparing to perform the third part of one of the most celebrated choral works of the Baroque era with a concert in Ballarat tomorrow afternoon.

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Heritage application for Wombat Hill gardens proposal

04-08-2024

A number of early morning walkers in Daylesford will have seen the sign advertising an application to Heritage Victoria on behalf of Friends of Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens.

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Don is good, but out, and the show goes on

01-08-2024

Don Harvey sharply remembers the jargon of a local council officer when he was getting involved with the Daylesford Show.

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Garage girls coming to Kyneton

23-07-2024

Alice Anderson and her All Girl Garage are coming to town.

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Bushwalks of the Central Highlands

21-07-2024

“This would have to be the classic Daylesford walk,” enthuses Paddy H as we head off beneath an ominous sky to sample the Two Lakes 8km loop.

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Town criers all about history and tradition

04-07-2024

It’s the sense of tradition, history and occasion that Creswick’s Philip Greenbank most loves about his role as town crier.

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Newstead station readies for very big birthday

03-07-2024

The community of Newstead is getting set to celebrate a big birthday milestone for its historic railway station with a free public event planned.

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Melbourne Cup coming to Trentham

25-06-2024

The Melbourne Cup is coming to Trentham as part of the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour.

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Regent closes its doors

25-06-2024

Ballarat’s Regent Cinema has suddenly closed its doors – just a week out from the winter school holidays.

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How Alan ‘took’ his dad to Gallipoli

24-06-2024

The desire to go to Gallipoli for the Dawn Service burnt strongly in Daylesford’s Alan Eaton. Major heart surgery and three operations firstly stopped him, but even when he did go it was with an undiagnosed broken leg.

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Bushwalks of the Central Highlands

23-06-2024

Paddy H and I are in luck as Creswick artist and keen bushwalker, Craig Barrett has kindly offered to guide us on one of his favourite local walks.

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Time extension on strategy consultation: a closer look

19-06-2024

The consultation period on Hepburn Shire Council’s draft Township Structure Plans and Rural Hepburn strategy has been extended to June 26.

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TRATA plans for former railway station

29-04-2024

In the second half of the 19th century Trentham was a major hub for timber production, much of which went underground supporting the tunnels excavated at mines in nearby Daylesford.

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Final service held at Daylesford Uniting Church

28-04-2024

Sunday, April 21 was the final service held by the Daylesford Uniting Church - as it is now prepared for sale by Uniting Vic. Tas.

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125 years roll by for Daylesford Bowling Club

28-04-2024

Daylesford Bowling Club has celebrated its 125th anniversary in style with an afternoon tea party held at the Camp Street club rooms recently.

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Walks of the Central Highlands

27-04-2024

Today we’re tackling the Andersons Tramway Walk at Mollongghip just east of Newlyn. This 8km (16km return) bushwalk is a bit of a surprise packet. Who could have guessed there would be a “tramway” running through the bush here?

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Pubs and women’s work in Australia’s history: guest talk in the ‘Rat

15-04-2024

Professor Diane Kirkby is presenting a guest talk on the socio-political history of women running pubs in Australia at Ballarat's Eureka Centre on Thursday May 2.

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Ballarat to host antique fair

15-04-2024

Ballarat is preparing to host its popular annual antique fair next mnth as part of the city's heritage festival.

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Prof Lake to give guest talk at Ballarat Heritage Fest

15-04-2024

One of Australia’s leading historians, Professor Marilyn Lake AO will present a talk on colonial radicalism and democratic equality as part of next month's Ballarat Heritage fetival.

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Good news for Daylesford’s historic guide hall

16-03-2024

It’s been a long wait for the Daylesford Girl Guides but after two years the good news finally came through.

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Those fascinating folk, now at rest…

14-03-2024

Retired Anglican priest, Trentham’s Peta Sherlock admits she’s more than a tad addicted to fossicking out fascinating stories of the past.

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Keep you posted: Mick makes our postal heritage sing

13-03-2024

Former Bushwhacker Mick Slocum has been in Daylesford in recent days to do something he absolutely loves besides making music – working to make the town’s heritage post box sing.

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Ex-prisoners of war memorial clocks up two decades

09-02-2024

This month marks a significant milestone as the Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial in Ballarat commemorates 20 years since its grand opening in February 2004.

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Walks of the Central Highlands

20-01-2024

If you haven’t yet done the Lalgambook (Mount Franklin) crater rim walk, now’s a great time to get cracking.

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New protection guide for Macedon Ranges heritage

24-12-2023

A document aimed at guiding future heritage protection throughout the Macedon Ranges Shire features among several significant items endorsed by the Macedon Ranges Shire Council at its final scheduled meeting for the year.

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Ballarat’s Boer War memorial statue to be replaced

16-12-2023

The Boer War Memorial statue that has stood proudly in Ballarat's Sturt Street for 117 years is slated for replacement.

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Madame Borovansky and 46 West Street, Daylesford

10-12-2023

WHO'S BEEN SLEEPING IN MY HOUSE was the title of an ABC television series which researched the fascinating history of a selection of Australian homes and the people who once inhabited them.

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Trip back to the ’20s: Bullarto station repro

06-12-2023

The reproduction of the beautiful 1920s Bullarto Station building is now complete.

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Days of the old school yard: Bullarto Primary celebrates 150 years

24-11-2023

Things were way different back in the 1940s when Graeme Orr attended the local Bullarto Primary School.

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Brigades of CFA: Kangaroo Flat

22-08-2023

If fire brigades were assigned a number, Kangaroo Flat Fire Brigade would be number 16, reason being, it was the sixteenth brigade to join the Country Fire Brigades Board 150 years ago.

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Keep the legend simmering

17-08-2023

In his day yesteryear Creswick identity Simon (Simmy) McDonald was something of a household name in folk music circles.

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Researching sonic boom times at Werona

02-08-2023

THE world is a strange place. Even after most of the earth has been explored, mapped and explained there is always something weird which can rattle our peace of mind.

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Glen, about the house

21-03-2023

For love of a rose The incredible story of the creation of a magnificent hybrid rose that brought love to its creators, peace and new life to a war-torn world and, ultimately gave inspiration for Antonia Ridge’s heartwarming novel...

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ChillOut 2023

12-03-2023

ChillOut 2023

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Orbs and all: Creswick town hall repairs make pace

10-03-2023

Hepburn Shire Council says repairs to the Creswick Town Hall are progressing well, with recent fine weather providing ideal conditions for masonry and render restoration to the building exterior, along with replacement of roofing and spouting sections.

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Dollars go up for grabs to preserve local history, heritage

29-12-2022

Local history and heritage groups are being encouraged to apply for grants of up to $15,000 to fund projects to preserve and celebrate the region’s rich history.

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Shed shots: style & history

With nice little sheds, you see individual style and history come together.

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The Scotch oven is the heartbeat of the bakery

26-10-2022

COMING from a long line of bakers, it’s no surprise that Rebecca Barnett grabbed at the chance to run her own bakehouse in Maldon, and become the proud new owner of the longest running bakery in Australia: the Maldon Bakery.

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The Big Rainbow comes to Daylesford They swiped right!

05-10-2022

DAYLESFORD has been named the home of The Big Rainbow, Australia’s first “big” landmark dedicated to the celebration of regional LGBTIQA+ pride and inclusion.

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St Augustine’s Church celebrates 150 years

28-08-2022

ST AUGUSTINE'S Church Creswick will celebrate its 150th anniversary on the weekend of September 17 and 18.

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Amy’s connection with Olivia

17-08-2022

WITH the news of the death of Olivia Newton-John last Tuesday, there were many shared tributes and memories.

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Where is the Big Rainbow?

17-08-2022

Six weeks after voting closed, there is still no word if Daylesford will be the home of Tinder’s Big Rainbow, the first big landmark celebrating regional LGBTQIA+ Pride and inclusion.

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Trains almost back to Bullarto

15-08-2022

DAYLESFORD Spa Country Railway trains are not far from heading back to Bullarto after the track was covered by fallen trees and debris in the June 2021 storm.

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Back on track

15-08-2022

The Daylesford Spa Country Railway volunteers have been kept busy since the June storm last year. But they are almost back on track to Bullarto thanks to their hard work and that of Bushfire Recovery Victoria.

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Hepburn Shire still can’t get no satisfaction

14-08-2022

THE 2022 Victorian Community Satisfaction Survey has found that Hepburn Shire Council has shown a decline in 14 of 16 key areas since last year including Overall council direction, Overall performance, Community decisions and Sealed local roads.

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Spotlight on homelessness with Narelle Groenhout

14-08-2022

‘LET’S go far – together.’ There’s an African proverb that resonates across our local towns. “If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

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First stage of Daylesford Museum roof repairs complete

11-08-2022

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) provided funding of $337,000 to the Committee of Management for the first stage of the works identified in the museum’s conservation management plan.

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Just sayin’…

01-08-2022

SO, The Rex is for sale to the highest bidder. Not really a big surprise although it did look like a last-minute reprieve might have happened thanks to Councillors Halliday, Bray and Drylie. But it was not to be. No stalling, said the other councillors, it was time to bite the bullet and put up the For Sale sign.

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Community needs to lobby for healthcare

31-07-2022

COMMUNITY stalwart Danny Moynihan, pictured, has been involved in three major community drives to get upgrades for the Daylesford Hospital but says the current campaign as the most important. That's because it's been 20 years since a serious site upgrade.

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Planning permit issued for Dan Murphy’s

31-07-2022

Liquor giant Dan Murphy’s may be coming to Daylesford. And Hepburn Shire Council has already issued a planning permit.

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The Rex now for sale to the highest bidder

31-07-2022

HEPBURN Shire Council will sell The Rex building to the highest bidder despite 66 per cent of survey respondents being against the move.

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Looking back

07-07-2022

BACK in September 2013, Glenlyon Anglican Church held a wonderful Blessing of the Pets service, above. Father Andrew Eaton met with a 20-strong crowd with their beloved pets - all canines on the day.

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Memories are made of this

10-07-2022

In a way, the internet was made for people like Doug Larson, a journalist in the United States, writing for much of the 20th century for relatively obscure newspapers in Wisconsin, in the northern midwest.

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A tribute to Dear Fay

03-07-2022

WHEN well-known and much-loved local John Hungerford started sharing Facebook posts about his beautiful wife ‘Dear Fay’, he never expected the outpouring of emotions from friends and strangers alike. John and Fay were well known in the Newlyn and wider district with Newlyn Antiques and Nursery and their shared love of people.

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Travel time

19-06-2022

IT'S been a long two and a half years. And while we are still in a pandemic most of us are vaccinated, know when to pop on a mask and distance, and are ready to either go full speed ahead into the the world, or just take some baby steps.

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Multiple portfolios for Catherine King

06-06-2022

BALLARAT Federal MP Catherine King has been sworn in as the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.

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Hospital redevelopment

06-06-2022

STATE Health Minister Martin Foley visited Daylesford Hospital last week to announce the $4.548 million upgrade of its operating theatres will start late this year.

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The Last Word – Gun control, or not

05-06-2022

THE New York Times recently published a graph illustrating the number of “mass shootings”, defined as “public shootings in which four or more people were killed”, in “developed countries”, from 1998 to 2019.

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Big Rainbow for Daylesford?

05-06-2022

Daylesford is one of four finalists for Tinder’s Big Rainbow, the first BIG landmark celebrating regional LGBTQIA+ Pride and inclusion.

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Not so much a Victorian gold rush, a job rush

24-05-2022

THE great Central Victorian gold rush brought thousands of people to the region. Today most people imagine men humping swags and tools ready to scratch away at the earth in a fevered hope of finding something to secure their fortune.

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Celebrating Daylesford Hospital

30-05-2022

Daylesford Hospital was officially opened on 22 May 1862 so this May, it is celebrating 160 years of serving the people of Daylesford and the surrounding districts.

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Making tracks: the timeless history of our trees

04-05-2022

WHO would guess that to some people big storms and bushfires are almost welcome? The measured pleasure they get is because these disasters may laying bare secrets tucked away in the bush, such as century old timber-getting tramways in the Wombat state forest.

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The local who killed off Neighbours’ Madge

25-04-2022

FOR many of us who grew up watching iconic Australian television series Neighbours, news of its axing after nearly 38 years on our small screens is unthinkable.

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Turn on, tune in, drop out with Jeff Glorfeld

15-04-2022

THERE'S a joke told on baby boomers that goes: “If you remember the 1960s, you weren’t there.” The funniest part about that old witticism is that no one remembers for certain who said it first.

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Lest We Forget

14-04-2022

Anzac Day services for April 25

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From convict to land holder

13-04-2022

ON THE river flats along Creswick Creek in the area known today as the township of Clunes, European settlement emerged to take advantage of the land for the growing of livestock.

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Bullarto Tractor Pull great success at Trentham

11-04-2022

THE Bullarto Public Hall Committee reports that the 2022 Tractor Pull and Classic Car Show at Trentham was a great success, with over 700 people attending.

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Upgrade for Lauriston Hall

07-04-2022

The 90-year-old Lauristone Hall in Lauriston has been transformed from a much-loved community hub into a more accessible space to be better equipped to host more events.

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Listening to veterans

05-04-2022

Minister for Veterans Shaun Leane has asked the Victorian Veterans Council to commission the third Veterans Sector Study, an assessment of the needs and priorities of veterans and their families, as well as the ex-service and community organisations that support them.

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Blackwood Woodchop & Easter Carnival

02-04-2022

THE Blackwood Woodchop & Easter Carnival will be held on Saturday, April 16.

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Romeo and Juliet

30-03-2022

OZACT is presenting Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, at Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve next month.

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‘Mortar-fied’: no council cash for old gun

29-03-2022

WORLD War I lasted four years. Paul Dwyer has spent that much time trying unsuccessfully to restore an historic weapon from that conflict that is rusting away in Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens.

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Rethink The Rex

29-03-2022

A public meeting to Rethink The Rex will be held at the Daylesford Town Hall on Tuesday, April 5 from 6pm.

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Operation Cookies

28-03-2022

MANY of us have watched in horror and disbelief as Russia has rolled over Ukraine, killing soldiers and civilians, and wondered what we can do to help.

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Daylesford…not just a place but a community

28-03-2022

Sarah Flemming 31, and Marlie Regis 30, met in England six years ago.They left their IT and marketing careers to see the world and have been in Australia for four years and are now influencers and bloggers, highlighting the sights and people they come across on their journey. Their recent return to Daylesford, a community that supported them during lockdown, homeless and alone, has seen them spread the joy of ChillOut with their Instagram, Facebook posts and videos - so far reaching more than 200,000 keen followers. This is their story.

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Public meeting to Rethink The Rex

27-03-2022

The sudden decision by Council in November 2021 to sell the Rex, against the recommendation of council officers, prompted the formation of the ‘Rethink the Rex’ community group aimed at halting the sale pending a proper community consultation.

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Boosters for winter

24-03-2022

Victoria’s priority postcodes are at the heart of an autumn push to increase COVID-19 third dose vaccination rates in the lead up to winter.

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Supporting the arts and recovery

23-03-2022

The federal government continues to support the recovery of the arts and entertainment sector in Ballarat with $85,000 awarded to Regent Cinema Central Ballarat under the $20 million Supporting Cinemas’ Retention Endurance and Enhancement of Neighbourhoods (SCREEN) Fund.

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Blooming good news for Daylesford

21-03-2022

Daylesford locals and visitors will soon have another reason to visit the iconic Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens, with new upgrades well underway thanks to an investment from the state government.

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Redress for women

Victorian women who had their children taken from them under heartbreaking historic forced adoption practices will receive redress, counselling and formal apologies from the Victorian Government.

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Celebrating 150 years of education

15-03-2022

This year, 2022 marks the 150th anniversary of the Victoria’s world-class public education system. Victoria was the first state in Australia – and one of the first in the world – to make education free, secular and compulsory to all children aged 6-15. Around 600 schools opened across the state in the five years following the passing of the Education Act.

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Rallies to Stop AusNet

14-03-2022

TRACTORS rumbled through Melbourne last Tuesday, March 8, as hundreds gathered to protest at Parliament House against 85-metre high towers planned to cross valuable farmland and destroy pristine vistas in Hepburn Shire and beyond.

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Principal inducted onto shire honour roll

14-03-2022

INSPIRATIONAL Bullarto Primary School principal Joanne Pegg has been inducted onto Hepburn Shire’s Heather Mutimer Honour Roll.

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Our Time To Shine

13-03-2022

ChillOut was back with a bang with the Sunday Street Parade.

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Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival

12-03-2022

Macedon Ranges Shire Council is committed to fostering respect, understanding and trust between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and all Macedon Ranges communities.

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Celebrating our schools

12-03-2022

While the state government is getting on with building the schools of the future, 2022 marks a massive milestone – the 150th anniversary of the Victoria’s world-class public education system.

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Supporting stolen generations to heal

10-03-2022

The state government has unveiled its landmark Stolen Generations Reparations Package, recognising the lasting suffering caused by the forced removal of Aboriginal children from their families.

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Vaccinating the vulnerable

06-03-2022

More than 10,000 Victorians have now been vaccinated against COVID-19 through a dedicated liaison program that helps those living with disability or with special needs get protected against coronavirus in their local area.

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Lyonville Hall – the township’s heartbeat

05-03-2022

WHEN Lyonville’s Anne Bremner was approached to be featured in a story given her devotion to the local area, her commitment to the preservation of the original mill town and its history, she agreed on the proviso the little country hall was part of the story.

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Regional sales supercharged by Covid

04-03-2022

REIV president Adam Docking says Covid-19 has just “supercharged” the move for many to the regions. “Over the past few years (pre-Covid) we were seeing more of a focus on people moving to the regions because of the internet, infrastructure and technology, and realising they don’t have to work in a concrete jungle.

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New show for Daylesford

02-03-2022

DAYLESFORD and District Agricultural Society president Don Harvey, pictured, says the last two years of Covid cancellations have hit "terribly hard".

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Curtain goes down at Trentham

02-03-2022

THE historic curtain at the Trentham Mechanics Hall has been taken down for refurbishment.

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Helping Basin communities

23-02-2022

The Australian Government has announced more successful grant recipients under the $20 million Murray–Darling Healthy Rivers Program, which is helping Basin communities to get out on the ground and restore their rivers and wetlands.

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End of pine plantation at Miners Rest

20-02-2022

IT CAN be hard taking down a Christmas tree at the end of December… but imagine taking down over 100 pine trees at the end of an era.

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Avenue may be overshadowed by AusNet

15-02-2022

IN AUSTRALIA , Avenues of Honour are a ubiquitous feature of the landscape. Planted to commemorate those who fought and died in theatres of war, particularly WWI, there are 547 known Avenues of Honour in the country with over half of them in Victoria.

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Blooming good work during Covid crisis

08-02-2022

STAFF working in clinics and hospitals have received plenty of well-earned praise, but those trying to offer both vaccines, medication and advice, pharmacies, are also in the firing line.

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Food on its way

30-01-2022

The Victorian Government is ensuring those who are doing it tough during the pandemic can continue putting a meal on the table, with funding to deliver food to Victorians who need it most.

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Local Lines

27-01-2022

Local Lines

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Your Say

27-01-2022

Why I voted "No" to selling The Rex - Cr Jen Bray. At the November council meeting the 4-3 decision to halt the Hepburn Hub at The Rex project, and sell the building, has sent shockwaves through the Hepburn community.

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Just sayin’…

27-01-2022

THIS edition is all about looking back so I thought I would take a stroll down memory lane, to my "born and bred" town of Frankston.

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Australia Day protest

26-01-2022

A number of people gathered outside the Daylesford Town Hall on Wednesday, January 26 to protest against Australia Day.

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New citizens and community awards

26-01-2022

HEPBURN Shire Council hosted its annual Australia Day Eve to welcome new citizens and announce community award winners.

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VicEmergency website improvements

20-01-2022

A series of improvements will be made to the VicEmergency website, app and social media channels from this week, in line with a national approach to emergency information and warnings.

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Child friendly vaccinations

08-01-2022

State-run vaccination sites across Victoria are being transformed into an Australian-themed ‘forest of protection’ creating a friendly environment for children aged 5 to 11 years to receive their vaccination.

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Shire Hall returns to former Glory

25-12-2021

The eight month restoration of the historic Kyneton Shire Hall, funded jointly by the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program and Macedon Ranges Shire Council is set to be completed in December.

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Your say

09-12-2021

Film-going captured me at the age of seven. The thrill of sharing in The Adventures of Robin Hood starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Claude Rains and Basil Rathbone in 1938 are with me still.

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Megan and Tom excited to take on The Guilly

22-11-2021

THERE is a real vibe happening at Guildford. And driving around you get the feeling it’s about to boom.

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Sprouting joy

20-11-2021

THE shopfronts of Daylesford and surrounds came alive over the weekend with 120 beautiful floral installations designed to celebrate spring.

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Women recognised

16-11-2021

Women leading their communities through disaster, helping address cybercrime and lifting-up vulnerable communities are some of the 23 remarkable inductees to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women this year.

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Help for veterans

09-11-2021

Veterans making the transition from the Australian Defence Force to civilian life are being helped into the workforce through multiple state government wage subsidy and employment programs.

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Boost for Victorian health system

05-11-2021

Victoria’s health system will be boosted further with a range of measures to free up capacity in public hospitals, as we head toward an expected surge in COVID patients.

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Summer re-opening for Melbourne

04-11-2021

Melbourne’s top public galleries, museums and performance venues are gearing up for a big summer as they re-open their doors to the public.

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New gold rush

25-10-2021

Victoria’s prospects of unearthing more precious metal are brighter with a major mineral exploration tender given the green light as the state enjoys a modern-day gold rush.

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New jobs for aviation

25-10-2021

Victoria’s aviation industry will benefit from an influx of new jobs as the sector begins to recover from the effects of the pandemic and looks to the future of flying.

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Volunteer nominations open

25-10-2021

Nominations are now open for the 2021 Volunteering Awards, which celebrate the extraordinary efforts of Victoria’s hard-working volunteers.

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The Last Word: The history of Vaughan Springs

25-10-2021

VAUGHAN was once a bustling town known as The Junction and the name itself conjures up images from the wild west, gunslinging bushrangers and miners duking it out on the muddy streets.

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Just briefly

25-10-2021

Just briefly

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Movie extras needed

25-10-2021

A FEATURE film, In God’s Care, is being shot in Hepburn Shire in November and December - and they need extras! Harvest Pictures Group co-CEO Tony Coombs said the film was inspired by tragic and true events which happened in the mid-90s but the story line was being kept under wraps for the time being.

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Daylesford to come alive with ‘Art on Vincent’

25-10-2021

DAYLESFORD'S town centre will come alive with colour when ‘Art on Vincent’ kicks off this Friday. As part of the 2021 Daylesford Art Show, hosted by Rotary, the exciting new concept will bring artwork to the community and truly highlight our region's remarkable talent.

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Stories of the Storm

25-10-2021

SANDY Scheltema's Stories of the Storm series is supported by Hepburn Shire Council, Trentham & Districts Community Bank and the Trentham Lions Club. The series showcases stories of courage, tenacity, bravery and resilience within the community from people who experienced the terrifying storm of June 10, 2021.

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Fresh wave of myxomatosis concern for domestic pets

25-10-2021

RABBITS came to Australia with the First Fleet in 1788 and were bred and maintained as food animals with more introduced in later years for recreational huntin

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Strong position to reopen state

19-10-2021

The Victorian Government’s work to bolster the economy, support workers and protect businesses against the devastating effects of the coronavirus has put Victoria in a strong position to rebuild as the state reopens.

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Mental health tools for students

20-10-2021

Schools will be able to pick the mental health tools that best match the needs of their students, with the Victorian Government’s Schools Mental Health Fund providing a suite of options to give students tailored support.

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Lest We Forget

20-10-2021

Schools, ex-service organisations and community groups across Australia will soon receive resources to help them plan Remembrance Day commemorative services and activities.

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Free access for childrens’ mental health

18-10-2021

Victorian parents and carers now have free access to dedicated online programs to support children experiencing anxiety, as part of the Victorian Government’s latest mental health funding boost.

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Recruiting healthcare workers

18-10-2021

The Victorian Government will recruit up to a thousand healthcare workers currently living overseas, including Australian healthcare workers wanting to return home, as part of a package designed to help ease the pressure on hard-working staff in the state’s hospital system.

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Funding for business events

11-10-2021

The Victorian Government has expanded the National Business Events Program in further support for the business events sector in Melbourne and regional Victoria.

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Storm help

11-10-2021

Macedon Ranges Shire Council is continuing community recovery sessions to help local residents and landholders directly affected by storm damage.

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Storm help ending

11-10-2021

Macedon Ranges Shire Council encourages residents who were impacted by the June storm, and whose property is eligible for the Bushfire Recovery Victoria (BRV) Residential Storm and Flood Clean-up, to make sure they register by 31 October.

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News from Ballarat Health

14-10-2021

As part of the state-wide response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ballarat Base Hospital is now a designated streaming hospital for adult COVID-19 patients, as required. Ballarat Health Services will continue to provide the best possible care for our community and broader Victoria.

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A gratitude page to our Local Legends!

11-10-2021

The Local asked people to tell us who is helping them through this tough time, and our readers responded. Some were quite specific and others just sent us the names of their legends. Send us more and we will print them in the next edition. Email: donna@tlnews.com.au

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In brief

11-10-2021

Eight of the state government's promised mental health pop-up clinics have opened with one for the Central Highland still to appear.

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New sporting facilities

11-10-2021

THE Hepburn Burras Football and Netball Club and Hepburn Cricket Club now have more room to grow, with the completion of a new, female-friendly pavilion at the Laurie Sullivan Reserve.

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Affordable housing snub

11-10-2021

HEPBURN Shire has been left off the preference list for the state government's four-year $5.3 billion Big Housing Build which calls on developers and landowners in regional Victoria to put forward any developments or vacant land that could be turned into social or affordable housing.

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Hospital appeal done

THE $100,000 needed for a masterplan for the Daylesford Hospital has been raised 10 weeks ahead of schedule. The committee had hoped to reach its target by Christmas but was overwhelmed with the support, passion and generosity of the Daylesford community.

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Stories of the Storm

11-10-2021

SANDY Scheltema's Stories of the Storm series is supported by Hepburn Shire Council, Trentham & Districts Community Bank and the Trentham Lions Club. The series aims to showcase stories of courage, tenacity, bravery and resilience within the community from people who experienced the terrifying storm of June 10, 2021.

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Proposed renaming of Jim Crow Creek

Hepburn Shire Council is working with project partners, Mount Alexander Shire Council, North Central Catchment Management Authority and Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation trading as DJAARA, on the proposed renaming of Jim Crow Creek to Larni Barramal Yaluk.

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The Last Word: Daylesford Lawn Tennis Club

26-09-2021

HELEN Jenkin joined the Daylesford Lawn Tennis Club as a player in 1967, before becoming secretary the following year, holding the position until 1970. She was also president for two years from 1987 and started running the juniors for 10 years from 1997.

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Communities rally together after the storm

19-06-2021

THE great storm of June 9/10 will go down in history as one of the most devastating events in the Central Highlands. Thousands of trees came down, crashing onto homes, cars, sheds, fences and powerlines. More continue to fall as people deal with the aftermath and the clean-up.

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Storm damage and relief in sight for Trentham

10-06-2021

Just a few photos of some of the damage around the region

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Kevin Tolhurst – a life devoted to forests and fires

01-06-2021

KEVIN Tolhurst is one of many leading Australian foresters whose career commenced with training at the Creswick School of Forestry.

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Hepburn Hub at The Rex project in doubt

24-05-2021

The current Hepburn Hub at The Rex project may be cancelled.

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Ford: Councillor, horticulturalist, artist

15-05-2021

THE Clunes Town Hall and Courthouse is a striking municipal building designed by Percy Oakden. Built in 1872, the distinctive building reflected the prosperity of a gold mining town in its heyday. But this is not a story about the Clunes Town Hall as such, though it is worth mentioning that the grand building has recently had a substantial makeover, returning it to its original glory.

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Concern over transmission lines

15-05-2021

HEPBURN Shire Council says it continues to advocate on behalf of community groups concerned about the construction of 190km of overhead transmission lines, proposed as part of the Western Victoria Transmission Network Project.

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Lest We Forget

26-04-2021

Numbers were down at some Anzac Day services around the region, again thanks to Covid concerns.

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Creating BOOM in Clunes to avoid a bust

12-04-2021

THERE is something truly special about living in a smaller community. The sense of connectedness, caring and support, in good times and in bad, continues to live on in smaller communities across Australia, and it’s seen every day across the Macedon Ranges and Hepburn shires.

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Celebrating 40 years of the Daylesford Sunday Market

12-04-2021

DAYLESFORD Sunday Market, at Daylesford Railway Station, celebrates its 40th anniversary on Sunday, April 18 - with plenty of fun for everyone.

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A century on, a dinkum digger’s medals glisten

12-04-2021

ALF Morrison of Yandoit was two months short of his 21st birthday when a bullet cut him down. Now, 104 years later, his nephew, 89-year-old Don Morrison, plans to wear replicas of Alf’s medals at the Anzac Day service in Daylesford. The two medals shine brilliantly on Don’s chest as he talks in his Yandoit home, with its glorious views of the countryside, including Mt Franklin.

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It’s a grave job but Alan never lost the plot

12-04-2021

ALAN Graham, gravedigger at Daylesford Cemetery, is tall and weather tanned, with the demeanour of a solitary man who has worked with his hands for a long time.

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COVID vaccine roll-out in Hepburn Shire

29-03-2021

Trentham Aged Care Facility was bustling with activity and there was an air of excitement when the Grampians' mobile vaccination team from Ballarat Health Services arrived with the AstraZeneca vaccine last week to begin vaccinating aged care residents.

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The life and times of our Swiss Italian settlers

15-03-2021

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Corruption, intrigue and damn delays and danger

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Kyneton frontline workers get COVID jab

15-03-2021

FRONTLINE workers at Central Highlands Rural Health's Kyneton campus received the Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19 last week.

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The Last Word: Another shot in the arm

01-03-2021

Vaccination Part II

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Dr Monica Nolan at the COVID front line

08-02-2021

FRANKLINFORD’S Dr Monica Nolan is among those leading the way in developing and implementing an innovative program monitoring wastewater across Victoria state for traces of the COVID pathogen as an early detection tool.

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Uncovering the history of the Convent Gallery

15-02-2021

THE Presentation Sisters, officially the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, are a religious institute of Roman Catholic women founded in Cork, Ireland, by a pioneer of Catholic education Nano Nagle in 1775. Historically, the Sisters have focused their energies on creating and staffing schools to educate young women.

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Uncovering Lauriston’s history

25-01-2021

THE hamlet of Lauriston, nestled in the Coliban Valley between Drummond and Kyneton, boasts around 235 residents. It is a figure, give or take a dozen people, that has remained unchanged since World War I.

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The Last Word – A pandemic reading guide

18-01-2021

IT LOOKED like Victoria had beaten COVID-19 into submission, and then new cases began leaking in from NSW.

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One step forward… the Hepburn Hub

21-12-2020

THERE is no doubt, the Hepburn Hub at The Rex in Vincent Street, Daylesford has been an absolute disaster from the outset.

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Bland life in Clunes

21-12-2020

THE site of the old Port Phillip Mine in Clunes is nothing but an intriguing pile of dirt and gorse these days. But while every scrap of plant and infrastructure has been long obliterated, the remains still dominate the heart of the town.

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Joan looks back on sowing her wild Oates

21-12-2020

THE many friends of Joan Oates remark on her capacity to respond to life with grit and determination. She is seen as a shining example of independence and strength, with a wonderful, sometimes wicked, sense of humour and a sharp, observant mind.

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Out of the frying pan…

14-12-2020

IT'S been an 'unprecedented' year and for most Central Highlands residents it's been one of lockdowns but also open spaces for enjoying masked walks. But for some former residents it's been a different year. Some better, some worse. "Out of the frying pan…into ???. In the fourth of our series, former Glenlyon resident Jill de Vos, pictured far right, talks about life in Europe with partner Shelley Beer, right, aboard their boat SV Eucalyptus.

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No picnic at Hanging Rock

07-12-2020

WHEN Dr Amy Spiers, artist, writer and researcher, chose Woodend’s Hanging Rock to study as part of her artistic research into a significant Australian landmark, she had no idea where her work would take her.

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Out of the frying pan…into???

07-12-2020

IT'S been an 'unprecedented' year and for most Central Highlands residents it's been one of lockdowns but also open spaces for enjoying masked walks.

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Keeping up with the Joneses in Clunes

30-11-2020

MOST people are aware of Clunes’ gold mining history. It was home to Victoria's first registered discovery, made by one William Campbell in 1850. Up to the 1890s, gold powered the town’s growth and gave it many fine buildings which survive relatively intact from ornate public halls to austere worker cottages.

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Out of the frying pan …into ???

23-11-2020

IT'S been an 'unprecedented' year and for most Central Highlands residents it's been one of lockdowns but also open spaces for enjoying masked walks. But for some former residents it's been a different year. Some better, some worse.

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Restoring Park Lake to its former glory

19-10-2020

CRESWICK’S Park Lake Botanical Reserve turns 160 this year, but celebrations are on hold until April 18, 2021.

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The Local celebrates its 200th edition

05-10-2020

ONE thing the pandemic has done is bring us to Edition 200 much quicker than we had planned.

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Trentham community hub pushes ahead

24-08-2020

AN 1890s painted wall-hanging capturing a sardonic depiction of the Australian coat of arms will be incorporated into Trentham’s new community hub in the town’s revamped Mechanics Institute building.

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The Peacocks: Putting first things first…

10-08-2020

THE history of Creswick, indeed the entire geography of the Victorian political and social landscape, would be much different if not for Sir Alexander and Lady Millie Peacock. And they have left a fascinating legacy for anyone who chooses to look.

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Our history: The Convent Gallery

29-06-2020

Looking north over the town centre the Convent Gallery has received thousands of visitors since its refurbishment.

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Daylesford Courthouse recollections

22-06-2020

And next up are memories of the Daylesford Courthouse, now the Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre.

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The unofficial history of…

04-05-2020

THE series continues in May featuring the Daylesford Court House (now the Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre).

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The history of the Mountview Theatre

04-05-2020

IN 1972, resident Neville Thurgood gathered together a group of locals to form The Mount Players.

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Bringing history alive

20-03-2020

THE unofficial history of …… series starts in April featuring the Daylesford Town Hall.

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History