Welcome to Your Macedon Ranges for Monday, February 13, to Sunday, February 19.
When Don Garden and his family moved to Mount Macedon, little could they have known that the February 1983 bushfires were only a few weeks away.
In an article he wrote for The Age less than a month after Ash Wednesday, Don described the harrowing experience of losing their home twice in the fires.
I stumbled upon Don’s account 10 years ago, soon after I arrived here from the UK. It is powerful and moving.
Don has allowed me to republish it, and has written a postscript in which he reflects on the bushfires and the effects they had on him and his family.
I believe it’s an important story to share with you now, as we as a community commemorate the 40th anniversary of Ash Wednesday this week.
Click to read Don’s article: Burned out twice – but the dream lives on
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Here are the events and activities happening in the Macedon Ranges this week:
Click the links for more info 👇
Tuesday, February 14
Community Remembering Ash Wednesday – Community Lunch: Woodend Neighbourhood House was started as a drop-in centre after the 1983 bushfires. This month’s community lunch will remember these events. Woodend RSL, Anslow St. 12pm-1.30pm.
Wednesday, February 15
Singing Woodend Warblers: Community choir. Norma Richardson Hall, Buckland St, Woodend. 7.30pm. $12.
Ghost Hunt Blackwood Hotel Paranormal Investigation and Dinner: The pub has a rich history of ghost stories. Hosted by Kyneton Paranormal. Blackwood Hotel, 22 Martin St, Blackwood. 7.30pm-9.30pm. $57.
Thursday, February 16
Drink Pups and Pints: Catch up with friends and bring your dog along too. In an enclosed area where dogs can be off-leash. Woodend RSL, Anslow St. 5pm-8pm.
Community Ash Wednesday Community Gathering: Join others to commemorate the 1983 bushfires. The Church of the Resurrection nearby will also be open for prayer and reflection. Centennial Park, Mount Macedon Rd, Macedon. From 5.30pm.
Community Ash Wednesday Commemorative Service: The Rev Dr D’Arcy Wood will lead a special service on the 40th anniversary of the bushfires. The Uniting church was one of more than 400 local buildings that were burned out on February 16, 1983. Mount Macedon Uniting Church, Mount Macedon Rd, Mount Macedon. 7pm.
Quiz Trivia Night: General knowledge quiz. Gisborne Golf Club, Daly St. 7pm. Free.
Friday, February 17
Quiz Trivia Night – The Office: How well do you know The Office? The Victoria Hotel, High St, Woodend. 7pm start. Free.
Saturday, February 18
Exercise Campaspe Parkrun: 5km fun run along the Five Mile Creek path. Campaspe Park, Campaspe Dr, Woodend. 8am. Free.
Market Riddells Creek Farmers’ and Makers’ Markets: Memorial Dr, Riddells Creek. 9am-1pm.
Market Trentham Farmers’ Market: Town Square, High St, Trentham. 9am-1pm.
Market Glenlyon Village Market: Shire Hall, Barkly St, Glenlyon. 9am-1pm.
Gardening Tuberous Begonia and Fuchsia Show: Hundreds of nursery-grown tuberous begonias. White House Nursery, 691 Ashbourne Rd, Ashbourne. 10am-4pm.
Exhibition Remembering Ash Wednesday Exhibition: A commemorative exhibition for the 40th anniversary of the bushfires. Includes before-and-after photographs. Macedon and Mount Macedon Community House, 47 Victoria St, Macedon. 10am-4pm. Free.
Food & Music Songs and Cider: Live music with Louise MacGregor. DV Cider, 39 Darraweit Valley Rd, Darraweit Guim. 12pm-8pm (music 3pm-7pm).
Food & Drink Animus Distillery Long Lunch: Animus co-owner Luke Jacques will be presenting gins from the distillery’s core and special-edition ranges while you enjoy a five-course menu by Kyneton Hotel head chef Tim Austin. Kyneton Hotel, Mollison St, Kyneton. 12.30pm. $180.
Gardening Creating a Wicking Bed: Horticulturalist Craig Castree will show you how to construct a self-watering garden bed. Trentham Neighbourhood Centre, 56 High St. 1pm-4pm. $10.
Craft A Curious Circle – Vision Boards: Create things in a friendly and inclusive setting. Different activity each month. Romsey Library, Main St. 1pm-4pm. Free.
Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.
Music Inventi’s Enchanted Forest: Seven-piece chamber music ensemble will perform an arrangement of Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony and Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun along with new work by Australian composer Melody Eötvös. Kyneton Town Hall, Mollison St. 5pm-6.15pm. Full $40, Concession $30, Child (under-12) $10.
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Sunday, February 19
Market Daylesford Sunday Market: Daylesford Railway Station, Raglan St. 8am-3pm.
Market Malmsbury Farmers’ and Artists’ Market: Mollison St, Malmsbury. 9am-1pm.
Market Woodend Lions Sunday Market: Cnr High St & Forest St, Woodend. 9am-2pm.
Walk & Wine Macedon Ranges Gourmet: A 13km walk along bushland tracks and a visit to two wineries. Mount Macedon. 9.30am-3.30pm. $175.
Gardening Tuberous Begonia and Fuchsia Show: Hundreds of nursery-grown tuberous begonias. White House Nursery, 691 Ashbourne Rd, Ashbourne. 10am-4pm.
Food & Drink Sicilian Summer Lunch: Enjoy Sicilian-style small shared plates of food from guest chef Lorena Corso. Lyons Will Estate, 60 Whalans Track, Lancefield. Adult $85.
Food Pizza and Pooches: Every dog has its day and at Cleveland Winery that day is Sunday. Cleveland Winery, Shannons Rd, Lancefield. 12pm-3pm.
Music Fleetwood Rocks: The hits of Fleetwood Mac and rock classics of the 1970s. Plus bar and pizzas. Hedge Farm, 124 Three Chain Rd, Carlsruhe. 12pm-6pm. Adult $24, Child (16 and under) $18.
Music Party Dozen: Saxophonist Kirsty Tickle and drummer Jonathan Boulet. Major Tom’s, 57 Piper St, Kyneton. 2.30pm-5pm. $15.
Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.
Beekeeping Woodend Bee-Friendly Society: Monthly meeting. Woodend Neighbourhood House, Forest St, Woodend. 3pm-4.30pm.
Singing Rainbow Voices Community Choir: LGBTQIA+ and allies choir. For anyone aged 13 and over. Kyneton Community House Good Food Hub, 35 High St, Kyneton. 4pm-6pm.
Exhibitions
Kyneton The Old Auction House Artists: Exhibitions: That’s So Gay!, Glenda Anstey-Sprigg. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm.
Kyneton Stockroom Artists: Exhibitions: Carly Fischer and Edwina Stevens, Jarrad Martyn, Minaal Lawn. Wed-Sat 10.30am-5pm, Sun 11am-3pm.
Kyneton Art on Piper Artists: Showcasing work by local artists. Exhibitions: Try Something Different (window), Brian Falkenberg (exhibition), Macedon Ranges. Wed-Mon 10am-4pm.
Lancefield Community Art Gallery: Paintings, sculptures, glass jewellery by local artists. 34a High St, Lancefield. Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 10am-3pm, Sun 10am-1pm.
Mount Macedon The Gallery Members: Fri-Tues 10am-4pm.
Newham Art in the Vines: Sculptures by 26 acclaimed artists. Every day 10am-5pm.
Trentham Little Gallery Members: Artwork by Rose Wilson, Helen Cottle, Kim Haughie, Ri Van Veen, Larissa Gray, Llael McDonald, Frances Harkin, Liz Archer, Ruby Wilson-Peirce, Sam Bloomfield. Thu-Mon 10am-4pm.
Coming up
Community Woodend Whole Town Garage Sale: Maps $5 on the day. Woodend Neighbourhood House, Forest St. 8am-1pm. February 25.
Food & Film An Evening with Alby Mangels: Meet the Australian adventurer and documentary film-maker. Three-course meal followed by his film World Safari I. (World Safari II will be shown on March 17.) Lancefield Lodge, Main Rd, Lancefield. 6pm-11pm. Adult $159, Child $89. Both nights Adult $280, Child $159. March 3, 17.
Author Talk Alexander McCall Smith: Hear from the author of the No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, the Corduroy Mansions series, the Isabel Dalhousie novels and 44 Scotland Street. Kyneton Town Hall, Mollison St. 7.30pm-8.30pm. $10. March 16.
Have a great week!
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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In the news
🎸 MALMSBURY: Tim Rogers and The Twin Set raised more than $6000 for the Taradale and Malmsbury fire brigades at a concert for 250 people this month.
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