Welcome to Your Macedon Ranges for Monday, December 18, to Sunday, January 7.
🚒 Before jumping on his sleigh, Santa will be touring some of our towns and villages aboard CFA fire trucks on Christmas Eve. If you’d like to see him, here are the Santa Run routes: Gisborne, Kyneton, Macedon, Mount Macedon, Riddells Creek (Dec 23), Woodend.
🍷 Summertime Fling, the Macedon Ranges’ festival of “everything wine, food and fun”, will take place next month. Cellar doors will be holding special events from January 5-28. Click here to see what’s on.
🦘 In this week’s article on smartphone photography, Tiffany Warner has some advice for taking pictures of kangaroos. (She says the technique also works with children!) See her photo and tip below the event guide.
🙌 The school holidays are here! Looking for things to do after Christmas? Click here for a round-up of children’s activities.
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See you on January 7
💛 This is the last edition of Your Macedon Ranges for three weeks. Have a happy and safe Christmas and New Year!
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Here are the events and activities happening in the Macedon Ranges:
Click the links for more info 👇
Wednesday, December 20
Quiz Pub Trivia: Put your knowledge to the test. The Lancefield Hotel, High St, Lancefield. From 7pm.
Singing Woodend Warblers: Community choir. Norma Richardson Hall, Buckland St, Woodend. 7.30pm. $12.
Thursday, December 21
Kids Christmas Storytime: Enjoy a Christmas story plus art and craft activities. With author Natasa Xerri, of The Macedon Ranges Reading Club. For ages 4+. Romsey Community Co-op, 126 Main St, Romsey. 10.30am-11.45am and 12.30pm-1.45pm. $10. Click the link to email your interest.
Music Ugly Shirt Christmas Party: Featuring music with Marlee Grace. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 6pm-9pm. Free.
Friday, December 22
Kids Christmas Storytime: Enjoy a Christmas story plus art and craft activities. With author Natasa Xerri, of The Macedon Ranges Reading Club. For ages 4+. Romsey Community Co-op, 126 Main St, Romsey. 10.30am-11.45am and 12.30pm-1.45pm. $10. Click the link to email your interest.
Music & Drink Songs and Cider: Live music with Matt Katsis. DV Cider, 39 Darraweit Valley Rd, Darraweit Guim. 12pm-9pm.
Community Carols in the Garden: Bring a picnic blanket and your singing voice. Entertainment includes Ranges Little Big Band and Woodend Uke Group. St Mary’s Church, High St, Woodend. 6pm-8pm.
Community Christmas Carols with Woodend Warblers: Listen or sing along. The Victoria Hotel, High St, Woodend. 6.30pm. Free.
Saturday, December 23
Exercise Parkruns: 5km fun runs in Gisborne (Dixon Field), Lancefield (Lancefield Park) and Woodend (Campaspe Dr). 8am. Free.
Music & Drink Songs and Cider: Live music with Matt Katsis. DV Cider, 39 Darraweit Valley Rd, Darraweit Guim. 12pm-9pm.
Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.
Sunday, December 24
Market Daylesford Sunday Market: Daylesford Railway Station, Raglan St. 8am-3pm.
Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.
Wednesday, December 27
Environment Sanatorium Eco-Trail Walk: Join Parks Victoria volunteers on a 3km moderate-level walk. Learn about plants and animals as well as the history of the Macedon Regional Park. Days Picnic Ground, Lions Head Rd, Mount Macedon. 9.30am-11.30am. Free.
Thursday, December 28
Food & Drink Lavender Dayz: Stroll through the lavender fields and pick your own bunch to take home. Plus food and drink. Chin Chin Farm, 673 Chintin Rd, Chintin. 11am-4pm. $10.
Friday, December 29
Music & Dance See You Later, Alligator!: Dance to swing and rock ’n’ roll hits from the 1950s and ’60s. With Big Horn and The Six-String Bandits, and The Martini Set featuring Steven Howard. Woodend Bowling Club, High St, Woodend. 6pm-10pm. $30 ($24 in advance).
Saturday, December 30
Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.
Sunday, December 31
Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.
Food & Music Baker Boys Band: Welcome the new year with live music from Baker Boys Band plus a three-course dinner. Cleveland Winery, 55 Shannons Rd, Lancefield. From 6pm. $119.
Music So 80s Band: Live music to see in the new year. The Victoria Hotel Woodend, High St, Woodend. 7.30pm-12.15am. $35.
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Monday, January 1
Community Glenlyon New Year’s Sports Day: Old-time competitions including woodchopping, horse racing, spinning wheel, bull-boar sausage eating, mineral-water drinking, nail drive, and gumboot throwing. Bar and food. Glenlyon Recreation Reserve, Dysart St. Gates open 10.30am. Woodchopping from 12pm, horse events from 3pm. Admission $15, Under-16 free.
Sport New Year’s Day Racing at Hanging Rock: Celebrate the start of 2024 with an afternoon of racing and family activities. Hanging Rock Racecourse, South Rock Rd, Woodend. Gates open 11am. General admission $25.
Saturday, January 6
Exercise Parkruns: 5km fun runs in Gisborne (Dixon Field), Lancefield (Lancefield Park) and Woodend (Campaspe Dr). 8am. Free.
Market Woodend Farmers’ Market: Cnr High St & Forest St. 9am-1pm.
Community Woodend Repair Cafe: Enjoy a cuppa while your broken household items are being mended. The Undercroft, Woodend Neighbourhood House, Forest St (enter via the community garden near the skate park). 9am-1pm. Free.
Kids Minecraft Lab: Take part in Minecraft challenges. For ages 8-12. Laptops supplied. Gisborne Library, Hamilton St. 9.30am-10.30am and 11am-12pm. Free.
Drink Gin-blending Masterclass: Learn about distillation and how recipes are created. Animus Distillery, 89a Piper St, Kyneton. 10am-2pm. $185.
Food & Drink Vintage Beats and Mezze Eats: Wine by the vines with food and tunes. Turkish food by Woodside Food & Co. Summertime Fling event. Zig Zag Rd Wines, 201 Zig Zag Rd, Drummond North. 12pm-3.30pm. $25.
Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.
Sunday, January 7
Market Daylesford Sunday Market: Daylesford Railway Station, Raglan St. 8am-3pm.
Market Gisborne Olde Time Market: Aitken St/Hamilton St. 9am-2pm.
Food & Music American Barbecue and Live Music: Low ’n’ slow barbecue. Plus live music. Double Oaks Estate, 104 Ashworths Rd, Lancefield. 12pm-5pm. $35.
Food & Music Sunday Music Sessions: Enjoy music, food and wine. Summertime Fling event. Kyneton Ridge Estate, 517 Blackhill Rd, Kyneton.
Flowers Tour of Fleurs de Lyonville: Join Janae and Chris Paquin-Bowden for a tour of their flower farm. Make your own bouquet to take home. Fleurs de Lyonville, 35 Leishmans Ln, Lyonville. 1pm. $95.
Relaxation Lavender Oil Distillation Workshop: Pick fresh lavender blooms and participate in the distillation process. Chin Chin Farm, 673 Chintin Rd, Chintin. 1pm-3pm. $150.
Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.
Exhibitions
Gisborne The Ranges in Focus: Images of the Macedon Ranges by members of Macedon Ranges Photographic Society. Gisborne Village Shopping Centre, Brantome St, Gisborne.
Kyneton The Old Auction House: Exhibitions: Shikha Yadav and Billie Douglas. Until January 2. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm.
Kyneton Art on Piper: Wed-Mon 10am-4pm.
Kyneton Stockroom: Exhibitions: Natalie Ryan, Becc Orszag. Until January 7. Thu-Sat 10.30am-5pm, Sun 11am-3pm.
Kyneton Cusack & Cusack: Fri-Sun 10am-3pm.
Kyneton Stitch in Time: Historical folk art and craft materials. Fri-Sun 11am-4pm.
Mount Macedon The Gallery: Fri-Tues 10am-4pm.
Newham Art in the Vines: Sculptures by 26 acclaimed artists. Every day 10am-5pm.
Riddells Creek Dromkeen: Exhibition: Between the Pages (art by children’s writers and book illustrators). Sat & Sun 10am-5.30pm.
Trentham Trentham District Story: Outdoor display telling the story of Trentham from its earliest indigenous inhabitants to the present day. Open every day in the grounds of the Old Police Station, 3-5 Camp St, Trentham.
Trentham Little Gallery: Fri-Mon 10am-4pm.
Woodend The Back Shed Gallery: Multimedia. 33 Urquhart St, Woodend. Tues-Sun 10am-5pm.
Have a great three weeks!
Richard
P.S. I’ve tried my best to ensure accuracy, but please follow the links above to confirm details before attending events.
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Snap it with your phone
KANGAROOS
As part of a series on smartphone photography, professional photographer Tiffany Warner explains how you can take better pictures of children and animals.
📍 Gisborne Golf Club, Daly St, Gisborne
Children and animals are generally hard to photograph as they really don’t stay still for long.
My trick is to get down to their eye level, showing that you’re nothing to be afraid of, which often calms them.
Once the animal or child realises you are not a threat, they relax their facial muscles, and this makes their expression soften.
In this example, I approached the kangaroo slowly, knelt down, and took a few snaps. Note the kangaroo’s body language appears to be relaxed, and you can really see its baby-face features and big doe eyes.
💡 Tip: Get down low to win trust and encourage natural expressions.
Happy snapping!
Tiffany
📷 In addition to portrait and commercial work, Tiffany Warner runs classes on smartphone photography. See her images on Instagram.
🙌 Looking for things for children to do in January? Click here for a round-up of school holiday activities.
In the news
🏗️ MALMSBURY: Malmsbury Reservoir’s heritage-listed access bridge has been removed for inspection as part of an $895,000 refurbishment. The 50m bridge and tower were constructed in 1906.
⚽ KYNETON: Kyneton District Soccer Club’s Ron Cole has been named Football Victoria’s Male Volunteer of the Year for 2023.
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