Melbourne East Police have arrested a man after two large plastic ice cream cones were allegedly stolen from a general store in East Melbourne last week.

It is alleged the 1970s cones had been stolen at about about 2am from the front of the store on Hotham Street on Sundae, May 25.

Officers executed a search warrant at an address in Templestowe Lower on Monday night, June 2.

A 50-year-old man was arrested and interviewed in relation to the theft.

He was released and was expected to be charged on summons, police said in a report.

The plastic ice cream cones, which had been on the East Melbourne shop front for around 50 years, had allegedly been stolen and then sold online before being recovered at a Gisborne address on Tuesday morning, June 3.

It was understood the two large plastic ice cream cones had been on the front of the store on Hotham Street since it opened in 1974.

Officers had initially been told offenders stole the two cones and damaged CCTV cameras at the business at about 2am at the time of the alleged theft.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, with dashcam/CCTV footage or information was urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

More than 900 firefighters have been competing in the 2025 CFA/VFBV State Firefighter Championships held over the past two weekends.

Held at the Mooroopna Recreation Reserve, CFA junior running teams from across the state have showcased their skills in the Urban Junior State Championships that were held on 22 and 23 March.

And over the past weekend the Senior Urban, Senior Rural and Junior Rural events were held on 29 and 30 March.

Running for the second year in a row, was Gisborne Fire Brigade’s junior team. Following a 12-year hiatus, Gisborne returned stronger than ever, under the watchful eye of former runner and coach for the brigade Bruce Harker.

Bruce is passionate about the sport and ran for almost 45 years. He has been guiding Asher, Nick, Zack and Lincoln who also recently won the under-17 aggregates at Geelong.

“This is the first time in the brigade’s history we have had a junior running team,” Bruce said.

“I’m quite pleased how they’ve gone this year and there’s a lot of pride for me in the success of the team.

“The brigade has been running since the 1960s, and we were unbeatable for a while. It’s great to have a team back competing.”

Asher Kroon one of the team’s founding members loves the sport and how many opportunities it has given him.

“I think everyone should do it, I have learnt a lot of valuable skills, especially the teamwork aspect,” Asher said.

“I love all the long drives and places I get to see as part of competing.”

Asher also wants to see more people put their hand up to participate.

“We’ve done really well this year,” Asher said.

“We only have four people which is the minimum to compete. Even though it isn’t a sport you’d normally consider we would love more people to join.”

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the State Championships are an important tradition for CFA members and regional communities.

“The Championships are always one of my favourite events in the calendar. They are a great display of the skills, dedication and enthusiasm of our members in a fun environment,” Jason said.

“It’s always a great place to see the camaraderie among our brigades, their families and the broader community.

Attendees also enjoyed food and drink vans, firefighting equipment and training demonstrations, CFA programs and education hubs, award presentations and much more. 

Events at the State Championships are based on practical firefighting activities, with a focus on physical fitness, teamwork and equipment skills using hoses, hydrants and other tools.

For more information and updates on results from the recent CFA/VFBV State Firefighter Championships visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au/champs.

This story based on a CFA report. Image: Supplied, CFA

Police are investigating after heartless thieves stole memorial plaques from a cemetery in Gisborne last week.

Investigators believe eight plaques were stolen from the cemetery on Aitken Street sometime between 10am on January 23 and 12pm last Tuesday, January 28.

The plaques, worth approximately $250 each, are thought to be made out of cast bronze.

Police are investigating the incidents and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

Detectives warn scrap metal dealers to be wary of thieves attempting to sell the plaques and report any suspicious activity to police.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has dashcam/CCTV footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or file a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

Police are appealing for information as they investigate a fatal collision that occurred in Gisborne earlier in the week.

Emergency services were called to Bacchus Marsh where a car and motorbike collided about 6.20am on Tuesday (January 28)

A male mtorbiker rider died at the scene. The male driver of the car had stopped at the scene.

He was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Investigations were ongoing into the circumstances of the collision.

Anyone who witnessed the collision, has dashcam/CCTV 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 see https://www.police.vic.gov.au/road-safety-0

This story based on a Victoria Police report

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council is hosting a range of fun activities for children and young people throughout the summer school holidays including an intensive learn to swim program.

The aquatic centres in both Kyneton and Gisborne have both begun running a series of week-long summer intensive swimming programs during the holidays.

Dates ahead for the program include: 

• Gisborne Aquatic Centre (GAC): Monday 13 to Friday 17 January, Monday 20 to Friday 24 January 
• Kyneton Toyota Sports and Aquatic Centre (KTSAC): Monday 13 to Friday 17 January 

Those keen to enrol children in lessons can call 5421 1452 (GAC) or 5421 1477 (KTSAC). 

The Macedon Shire Council has rubber-stamped a new plan that sets a protected settlement boundary and will be used to guide Gisborne’s development until 2050.

At its July meeting held last week the council endorsed the new Gisborne Futures Structure Plan that
will set a protected settlement boundary to protect the surrounding landscape from further outward
growth.

The newly endorsed plan was developed following extensive planning and consultation over six years.

A total of 129 submissions were received and considered during the most recent consultation period for the
revised plan in late 2023.

The council will now write to the Minister for Planning to request an amendment be prepared for the
protected settlement boundary as indicated in the plan.

Police have been appealing for public assistance as they search for missing woman, Harriet.

The 23-year-old was last seen on Mollison Street in Kyneton about 8.15am on 30 May.

Police and family have concerns for her welfare due to her disappearance being out of character.

It is believed she may be driving a white 2013 Toyota Corolla sedan with the registration MCAODA.

Police have released an image of Harriet in the hope that someone can provide information on her current whereabouts.

She is described as being Caucasian, of medium build with long black hair.

Harriet was last seen wearing a black polo top, black pants and black sneakers.

Anyone with information was urged to contact Gisborne Police Station on (03) 5428 2500.

RMIT University and the Macedon Ranges Shire Council have teamed up to conduct a world-first coffee concrete footpath trial.

Led by RMIT’s Dr Rajeev Roychand and his colleagues, the trial aims to transform organic waste such as ground coffee and wood chips into a viable option for concrete and a valuable resource for the construction industry.

As part of the trial, sections of a footpath along Howey Street in Gisborne were constructed using both roast coffee grounds and wood-chip biochar to test their viability.

Shane Walden, Council’s Director of Assets and Operations, was pleased to be working with RMIT on this innovative project.

“We’re going to have people walking across the concrete that includes these products and RMIT is going to be coming back and doing testing to see how they stand up,” he said.

“Despite the fact that we’re using coffee grounds or mulch, residents aren’t going to really see or smell any difference in this concrete product.

“It’s really important for Council to be involved in projects such as this and to be working closely hand in hand with universities such as RMIT.

“This not only helps improve the knowledge level of our contractors and our staff, but it also has lots of other benefits and benefits that are important to our community.

“This includes helping the environment, acting sustainably and, most importantly, reducing waste to landfill and having a circular economy.”

Australia generates 75 million kilograms of ground coffee waste every year – most of it goes to landfills, but it could replace up to 655 million kilograms of sand in concrete because it is a denser material.

Globally, 10 billion kilograms of spent coffee is generated annually, which could replace up to 90 billion kilograms of sand in concrete.

A new outdoor play space has been completed at Gisborne’s Manna Gum Family and Children’s
Centre, providing more outdoor learning and fun for local pre-schoolers.

Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas MP, officially opened the new playground earlier this month.

The new community asset has been funded by a Victorian School Building Authority Building Blocks Refurbishment and Minor Works grant of $360,000.

It extends the existing play spaces and features nature-based play elements, a sculpture of ‘Bunjil the Creator’ (a wedge-tailed eagle), a stage for performances, and a yarning circle, alongside traditional play equipment.

“A key priority area in our Municipal Early Years Plan … is that children’s needs are recognised in infrastructure and the built environment,” said Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s Director Community, Maria Weiss.

“A key theme of this is to actively seek and respond to opportunities for children to play, explore, solve problems, communicate, think, create and construct.

“This fantastic new outdoor space definitely ticks those boxes and will ensure a nature-based learning
environment where children can play, learn, grow and thrive for many years to come.”

Registrations are currently open for 2025 across the council’s eight kindergartens with families encouraged to register before 31 May.

“Demand for our kindergartens can be high, so we encourage families to register by this date to have the best chance of being offered a place,” Ms Weiss said.

Those who register by 31 May will go into a draw to win a six-month family swim pass or 12 months (four terms) of swimming lessons at Gisborne or Kyneton aquatic centres.

The EPA Victoria and Macedon Ranges Shire Council have raised serious concerns about building industry practices after inspected 34 building sites around Gisborne and New Gisborne.

Two teams staged a one-day campaign of unannounced inspections in the Willow Estate and Cathlaw Estate, checking that builders, developers and construction workers were meeting their safety, environmental and building compliance obligations.

The EPA issued seven regulatory notices – each one a legally enforceable order to fix a problem by a set deadline – with two more to follw. 

The EPA will also issue an Infringement Notice for a duty holder that had multiple sites with repeated non-compliances that required clean-up.  Four Official Warnings are also planned, which come with no sanction but go on the official record.

Council officers issued 52 infringements for breaches of local law related to building sites with lack of – or non-compliant – building site signage, incorrect management of building waste onsite, lack of toilet facilities, unsecure site fencing, skip bins on council land without a permit, and general rubbish on council land. 

Local laws fficers also issued three parking fines and referred seven unsafe sites to WorkSafe Victoria for further investigation.  

EPA Northwest Regional Manager Paul Ratajczyk says businesses and tradies must know their responsibilities.

“The warnings were about sediment being discharged from sites, paint-contaminated water entering the stormwater system, plaster, brick dust or cement washing into drains and creeks – careless breaches, easily fixed but they should never have happened,” Mr Ratajczyk.

“The regulatory notices dealt with actions such as clean-up of waste, building waste and concrete scraps that were dumped on an empty block,” he said.

Macedon Ranges Shire Council Director Planning and Environment Director Rebecca Stockfeld said Council would continue to take a strong regulatory approach to building site compliance.

“We want to ensure that all building sites across the Macedon Ranges are doing the right thing, for their own benefit and for the environment around them,” she said.

“Officers reported disappointment in the non-compliant state of many of the building sites recently inspected – this is simply not good enough, particularly given the warning of inspections ahead of time.” 

“We encourage members of the public to support us in our monitoring by reporting any alleged breaches directly to Council for further investigation.”

While the inspections were unannounced, EPA and the Council had separately written to more than 50 companies working on the Estates, reminding them of their responsibilities under the Environment Protection Act 2017 and the Community Local Law 2023.

The General Environmental Duty (GED) in the Environment Protection Act makes it everyone’s job to take reasonable actions to protect the environment.  

For builders that means understanding how their activities can impact land, water and air quality, or cause harm from waste and excessive noise.

Young Gisborne artist, Charlie Jackman has been named as a finalist in the 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards (Victoria) in the Josh’s Rainbow Eggs, Ethical Business category.

Proudly autistic, Charlie, 17, communicates a powerful message of inclusion and inspiring others.

Charlie is a talented artist who runs Charlie by Art, an art micro-enterprise he co-founded with his mum.

His vibrant art works have earned commissions from prominent figures like former Victorian Premier Dan Andrews and Federal NDIS Minister, Bill Shorten.

Charlie uses his platform to raise awareness and promote acceptance for the autistic and neurodivergent
community.

He sells thousands of his greeting cards and framed prints online, at markets and through a growing list of stockists that include the Corner Café and the HMS Community Clinic, both in Gisborne.

A 2023 recipient of a Macedon Ranges Youth Award, Charlie is a full-time VCE Vocational Major student and works locally as a kitchenhand.

Charlie and his family will attend a presentation dinner at the Sofitel Melbourne on June 14 for the announcement of the winners in each category.

A People’s Choice Award is an additional way that the Young Achiever Awards acknowledge young people and Charlie says he would love people to vote for him.

Link to voting: bit.ly/4d8tOnW

Words & Image: Supplied

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council has endorsed a planning amendment paving the way for the development of a small supermarket, medical centre, office, two cafes and parking in Gisborne’s south.

At its recent February meeting the council adopted amendment C153macr, which will rezone vacant land at 101-105 Willowbank Road in Gisborne’s south from residential to commercial.

The proposed amendment had earlier gone on public exhibition from 8 May – 13 June 2023, with submissions presented at a Planning Delegated Committee on 12 July 2023.

The matter was referred to an independent planning panel on 8 December 2023, where it was determined the proposal was consistent with strategic policy directions, the location was appropriate, and the proposal could deliver acceptable planning outcomes.

However, the panel had recommended some changes to the plan, specifically regarding drainage, and the amendment which has now been adopted by the council includes these recommendations.

The council will now submit the amendment to the state’s planning minister for approval in accordance with the Planning and Environment Act 1987.

Police have been investigating the circumstances surrounding a fatal crash which occurred in Gisborne last Friday morning.

Emergency services were called to the intersection of Campbell Road and Kilmore Road about 3.40am last Friday, February 2, after reports a car had left the road and rolled.

On arrival services located the male driver deceased in the vehicle.

The exact circumstances surrounding the crash had yet to be determined and investigations remained ongoing.

Anyone who witnessed the collision, with dashcam footage or information was urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via the Crime Stoppers website online.

Works to upgrade a section of Sheedy Road in Gisborne are now complete.

Beginning in September 2023 and completed in ecent weeks, works between the Howey Street intersection and Willowbank Road include road pavement and surface upgrades, installation of a new roundabout at the intersection of Fersfield and Sheedy Road, extension of a shared path and drainage improvements.

The upgrade cost about $2.4 million, including close to $2.2 million provided through Phase 3 of the Australian Government’s Local Road and Community Infrastructure Program.

The Macedon Ranges Shire’s Acting CEO Shane Walden said that the project was one of many infrastructure upgrades across the shire already completed or planned for delivery in the 2023/24 financial year.

“Sheedy Road services an area of Gisborne that experienced recent development, and this upgrade ensures Council’s infrastructure meets community needs,” he said.

“I want to thank residents for their patience during the construction works, and thank the Australian Government for the funding support to help us prioritise upgrades like these.”

Work on the new, multi-million-dollar Gisborne Ambulance Station is complete with paramedics now operating from the upgraded site.
Located on Robertson Street, the new Gisborne Ambulance Station includes a four-bay garage for ambulances, four rest and recline areas for our hard-working paramedics to recuperate, training facilities, a fully equipped kitchen and improved security and car parking to make sure paramedics are safe.
The project involved knocking down the old Gisborne Ambulance Station and replacing it with fit for purpose amenities to give local paramedics the modern facilities they need and deserve to support their life-saving work.
It’s one of more than 30 new ambulance stations built by the state government since 2015, Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas says.
Delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority in partnership with Ambulance Victoria, the new Gisborne Ambulance Station is one of several new ambulance stations being delivered across the state – including in Rochester, Euroa, Paynesville, Avoca and Yarram.
Minister for Health Infrastructure and Ambulance Services, and Member for Macedon
Mary-Anne Thomas: “Our paramedics are the very best of us, and in areas like Gisborne, we know locals rely on their expertise, compassion and commitment in times of crisis – making the bigger and better new Gisborne Ambulance Station all the more important.”
“The new Gisborne Ambulance Station will provide paramedics a fit-for-purpose workplace with the latest equipment and facilities to keep them safe and ensure they can deliver world class care to their community.”