This week in the Macedon Ranges (January 31-February 6)

Welcome to Your Macedon Ranges for Monday, January 31, to Sunday, February 6.

🎶 Do you like to sing? The Gisborne Singers are inviting anyone with an interest in singing – no previous experience necessary – to join them on Saturday for a “come and try” afternoon. Woodend Warblers will also be meeting for the first time this year (on Wednesday). And if karaoke is your thing, head to Gisborne on Friday night.

🧒 The school holidays are over and kids are heading back to school (and let’s hope this is a year of fewer disruptions for them). I remember well the first-day nerves and excitement. I’m sure you do too. It’s timely, then, that this week’s local history article looks back at some of the state schools we once had, and what rural education was like. My thanks for this go to Sue Worthington, of Trentham & District Historical Society.

Here are the events and activities happening in the Macedon Ranges this week:

Click the links for more info 👇

Wednesday, February 2

Singing Woodend Warblers: Community choir rehearsal. Norma Richardson Hall, Buckland St, Woodend. 7.30pm. $12.

Thursday, February 3

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. 5pm-8pm.

Friday, February 4

Music Shane Nicholson: Country music singer-songwriter. Macedon. From 6pm. $35.

Music Karaoke Night: Gisborne. 8.30pm.

Saturday, February 5

Exercise Campaspe Parkrun: 5km fun run along the Five Mile Creek path. Campaspe Park, Campaspe Dr, Woodend. 8am. Free (registration required).

Market Woodend Farmers’ Market: Cnr High St & Forest St. 9am-1pm.

Food & Drink Smoked Sausages, Pork Belly, and Wines: Double Oaks Estate, 104 Ashworths Rd, Lancefield. 12pm. $60.

Food & Wine Lorena Corso at Lyons Will Estate: Enjoy Sicilian-style small shared plates of food from guest chef Lorena Corso, of Fitzroy wine bar Napier Quarter. Lyons Will Estate, 60 Whalans Track, Lancefield. 12pm-7pm. Adult $45, Under-18 $25.

Singing Come and Try Day with Gisborne Singers: Beginners and experienced singers welcome. Afternoon tea provided. Uniting Church, 23 Brantome St, Gisborne. Double vax policy, QR code, masks required. 2pm-5pm.

Music Kim Salmon: Haunted Grooves is Kim’s telling of some of the stories left to him by people he’s collaborated with. Macedon Railway Hotel, Smith St, Macedon. 7pm. $25.

Music Breckin and Rebecca Jane: Heather Marsh (aka Breckin) attracted international attention with her debut album Shiner. With Central Victorian singer-songwriter Rebecca Jane Howell. Major Tom’s, 57 Piper St, Kyneton. 8.30pm-11pm. $15.

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Sunday, February 6

Market Daylesford Sunday Market: Daylesford Railway Station, Raglan St. 8am-3pm.

Market Gisborne Olde Time Market: Aitken St/Hamilton St. 9am-2pm.

Food & Drink Smoked Sausages, Pork Belly, and Wines: Double Oaks Estate, 104 Ashworths Rd, Lancefield. 2pm. $60.

Music The Cartridge Family: Hillbilly harmony with humour. Macedon Railway Hotel, 33 Smith St, Macedon. 2.30pm. $25.

Exhibitions

Kyneton Over the Horizon: An exhibition of work by five local artists. Until January 31. Mon 9am-5pm.

Kyneton Creatures of Art: Kylie Cuthbertson pairs the vibrant colours and textures found in nature with her whimsical, energetic style. Until February 14. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm.

Kyneton Stockroom Artists: Elynor Smithwick, Madeleine Lesjak-Atton, Anthea Kemp, Michael McCafferty. Until March 13. Thu-Sat 10.30am-5pm, Sun 11am-3pm. Official opening Saturday 4.30pm.

Kyneton Dictionary of Animism: Amber Cronin playfully uses text-based sculptural objects. Until March 13. Thu-Sat 10.30am-5pm, Sun 11am-3pm. Official opening Saturday 4.30pm.

Kyneton A Biodiversity Crisis – Animals and Plants of the Macedon Ranges: Interactive exhibition. Contains taxidermy. Until February 27. Fri-Sun 11am-4pm. Adult $5.10, Concession/student $3.10, Child under 5 free, Family $10.20.

Lancefield Community Art Gallery: Paintings, sculptures, glass jewellery by local artists. 34a High St, Lancefield. Wed-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 10am-2pm, Sun 10am-1pm.

Mount Macedon The Gallery Members: Monthly guest artists. Fri-Tues 10am-4pm.

Newham Art in the Vines – AV4: Sculptures by 26 acclaimed artists. Until April 25. 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

Comedy Arj Barker Comes Clean: Australia’s adopted son of comedy returns with a new hour-long show. Kyneton. February 9.

Motoring Picnic at Hanging Rock Car Show: Retro cars, trucks and motorbikes, plus miniature train and exhibitors. Hanging Rock Reserve. February 13.

Theatre Love Song: The Mount Players present a romantic comedy about an oddball and his mysterious new love. Macedon. February 18-March 6.

Nature Hanging Rock Night Walk: Experience Hanging Rock after dark on a ranger-guided walk. See gliders, wallabies, native birds, bats, possums, koalas and many other animals. Hanging Rock Reserve. February 18.

Dance A Taste of Ireland: Starring dancers from the West End’s Lord of the Dance, Riverdance, and Gaelforce Dance alongside Irish Dancing world champions. Kyneton. March 4.

Opera Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: Family-friendly production by the Australian Contemporary Opera Company in the magnificent grounds of Bolobek. Two performances. Bolobek, 370 Mount Macedon Rd, Macedon. March 12

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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Back to school

PAST TIMES

With thanks to Trentham & District Historical Society.

***Tylden State School, 1885. Picture: Trentham & District Historical Society***

In the Trentham district, we’ve had 21 schools to head “back to” since the first was built on the goldfields in the 1850s: from Garlick’s Lead, to North Blackwood; Fern Hill to Little Hampton.

Of these, only two are still operating: Trentham Primary, originally in Pearsons Rd from 1860, then in its current position entering Trentham from 1875; and Tylden Primary, built in 1861.

For most children in the area, these small single-class rural schools were their only experience of formal education.

Secondary school attendance was unusual and at 13 most went into the workforce to help support families.

Until World War II, classes in these schools covered grades 1–8, hence often one teacher alone influenced a child’s entire schooling.

✍️ Sue Worthington, curator of Trentham & District Historical Society.

📘 For more memories of school life in early Trentham, read February’s Trentham Trumpet.

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