This week in the Macedon Ranges (March 10-16)

Welcome to Your Macedon Ranges for Monday, March 10, to Sunday, March 16.

🎭 Tickets for The Mount Players’ next production, The Girl on The Train, are due to go on sale tomorrow (March 10). The play is an adaptation of Paula Hawkins’ thriller about a woman who watches a seemingly perfect couple every day through her train window. It will run from May 9-25. Click here for ticket details.

🌸 Gardening expertise will be on show this weekend at Mount Macedon & District Horticultural Society’s autumn flower and produce show. The show is one of many local garden events due to be held in the next few months. Click here for my guide to autumn garden events.

🍑 Duncan Cocking has some unwelcome garden visitors. If you have fruit trees, check out Duncan’s article (below the event guide) so that you know what to do should you face the same problem.

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

Click the links for more info 👇

Monday, March 10

Photography Macedon Ranges Photographic Society: Presentation/practical meeting. Jubliee Hall, Smith St, Macedon. 7.30pm.

Wednesday, March 12

Singing Woodend Warblers: Community choir. Norma Richardson Hall, Buckland St, Woodend. 7pm. $12 (first session free).

Quiz Trivia Night: General knowledge quiz. The Victoria Hotel, High St, Woodend. 7pm. Free.

Storytelling Tenx9: Nine people have up to 10 minutes each to tell a real story from their lives. Major Tom’s, 57 Piper St, Kyneton. 8pm. Free.

Thursday, March 13

Music Tim Rogers: The former You Am I frontman will perform with guitarist Kathleen Halloran. The Cosmopolitan Hotel, Cnr High St & Cosmo Rd, Trentham. 8pm. $65.

Friday, March 14

Environment Memorial Cross Group Hike: Join Parks Victoria volunteers on an 8km moderate-level walk. Learn about plants and animals as well as the history of the Macedon Regional Park. McGregor’s Picnic Ground, Cameron Dr, Mount Macedon. 9.30am-1pm. Free.

Music The Mods: Up-and-coming four-piece band from the Macedon Ranges. Major Tom’s, 57 Piper St, Kyneton. 8.30pm-11pm. $15.

Saturday, March 15

Exercise Parkruns: 5km fun runs/walks in Gisborne (Dixon Field), Lancefield (Lancefield Park) and Woodend (Campaspe Dr). All abilities welcome. 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.

Market Hanging Rock Craft Market: Crafts and produce. Hanging Rock Reserve, South Rock Rd, Newham. 9am-2pm.

Sustainability Enviro-Energy Expo: Practical and affordable solutions for the home, planet and our pockets. Hear from speakers including Professor David Karoly and Annabel Sides, founder of Green Planet Sport. Plus panel discussions, one-on-one consultations, and live music. Riddells Creek Leisure Centre, Sutherlands Rd, Riddells Creek. 10am-3pm.

Gardening Tuberous Begonia and Fuchsia Show: Hundreds of nursery-grown tuberous begonias. White House Nursery, 691 Ashbourne Rd, Ashbourne. 10am-4pm.

Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4.30pm. $25.

Gardening Mount Macedon & District Horticultural Society’s Autumn Flower and Produce Show: Categories include roses, hydrangeas, dahlias, perennials, pot plants, fruit and vegetables, and floral art. Plus Devonshire tea. Mount Macedon Horticultural Hall, 583 Mount Macedon Rd, Mount Macedon. 3pm-5pm. $5.

Music The U2 Show Achtung Baby: Celebrate St Patrick’s Day with Australia’s No.1 U2 tribute band. The Victoria Hotel, High St, Woodend. 8pm-11.59pm. $30.

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Sunday, March 16

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

Market Malmsbury Farmers’ and Artists’ Market: Mollison St, Malmsbury. 9am-1pm.

Sustainability Open Edible Gardens – Kyneton: Tour thriving local gardens and discover how fresh, healthy produce is grown sustainably. Kyneton (locations provided upon registration). 10am-3pm. Free.

Gardening Tuberous Begonia and Fuchsia Show: Hundreds of nursery-grown tuberous begonias. White House Nursery, 691 Ashbourne Rd, Ashbourne. 10am-4pm.

Craft Weaving with Recycled Materials: Learn to weave using recycled materials with Janet Bromley, a Yorta Yorta woman and winner of the 2018 Koorie Art Show. Malmsbury Town Hall, Mollison St, Malmsbury. 10.30am-12.30pm. Free.

Food & Music Music in the Vines: Live music from Fifth Layer Music. Glen Erin at Lancefield, 200 Rochford Rd, Lancefield. 12pm-4pm.

Home Sustainable House Tour – Kyneton: Learn how passivhaus principles have been applied in a contemporary “country shed” home that has climate resilience at its heart. Kyneton (address provided upon registration). 12.30pm-1.30pm, 2pm-3pm.

Music Summer Tunes: Live music in the beer garden. Covers of songs by artists including The Eagles, Dire Straits, Neil Diamond, and The Doobie Brothers as well as classic Aussie rock songs. Baringo Food & Wine Co, 283 Station Rd, New Gisborne. 1pm-4pm.

Music Jenny Lu and James Littlewood: An afternoon of music at Duneira Estate with pianist Jenny Lu and trombonist James Littlewood. Duneira Estate, 1 Officer Ln, Mount Macedon. 2pm-3pm. Full $40, Concession $38.

Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4.30pm. $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.

Music Kristina Olsen: American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (acoustic guitar, steel-body slide guitar, saxophone, concertina, banjo, mandolin and piano). Food and drink available. Glenlyon Shire Hall, Barkly St, Glenlyon. 6pm-10pm. $35.

Ghost Hunt Victoria Hotel Paranormal Investigation and Dinner: Meet spirits Gwendolyn, Isabella, the two-up players, and Wild George drinking at the bar. The Victoria Hotel, High St, Woodend. 7.30pm-9.30pm. $65.

Exhibitions

Castlemaine Stitched in the ‘Maine: Featuring needlework by embroiderers from the Macedon Ranges. Mt Alexander Golf Club, Wimble St, Castlemaine. Mon 10am-3pm. $5.

Kyneton The Old Auction House: Exhibitions: Florescence (group), Elle Pervez and Carolyn Brennan-Tucker, Jahne Hope-Williams. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm.

Kyneton Art on Piper: Exhibitions: 7 Elements of Art, Grant Medbury. Every day 10am-4pm.

Kyneton Stockroom: Exhibitions: Rhett D’Costa; Carly Fisher, Juan Ford, James Guerts, Desmond Lazaro, Nick Mangan, Michael Vale, Lisa Waup; Kris Coad. Thu-Sat 10.30am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm. Exhibitions open Sat 4pm-6pm.

Kyneton Cusack & Cusack: Fri-Sun 10am-3pm.

Kyneton Kyneton Ridge Artspace: Exhibition: Beneath the Surface (group). Fri-Sun 11am-5pm.

Mount Macedon The Gallery: Exhibition: Amaya De Silva. Fri-Tues 10am-4pm.

Newham Hanging Rock Winery: Exhibition: Art in the Vines (sculptures). Every day 10am-5pm.

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: Thu-Mon 10am-4pm.

Woodend Woodend Lions Art Show: 50th annual show featuring diverse work by local artists. St Ambrose Hall, Templeton St, Woodend. Mon 10am-4pm. Gold coin entry.

Woodend The Back Shed Gallery: 33 Urquhart St, Woodend. Tues-Sun 10am-5pm.

Coming up

Community Kyneton Whole Town Garage Sale: Maps can be bought for $5 on the day. The Good Food Hub, 35 High St, Kyneton. St. 8am-12pm. March 22.

Music Macedon Ranges Music Festival: Featuring Emma Donovan, Steph Strings, Hot Potato Band, Fools, Son Quba, Joshua Batten, Country Struts Boot Scooting and the Macedon Ranges Music Festival Youth Stage winner. Hanging Rock Reserve, South Rock Rd, Newham. 12pm-9pm. Adult $40, Concession $35, Ages 6-17 $15. March 29.

Music & Dance Lauriston Hall Bush Dance: The band Eat Ya Greens will play a mix of Irish and Australian music. They will also teach and call dances. Lauriston Community Hall, Lauriston Rd, Lauriston. 5pm-10pm. Adult $30, Under-15 free. March 29.

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.

🍂 If you enjoy gardens and gardening, there’s lots to see and do in the Macedon Ranges this autumn. Click here for local autumn garden events.

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Ugh, they’re back!

GARDENING

Horticulturalist Duncan Cocking, who runs Kyneton-based Leaf, Root & Fruit, discusses the dreaded Queensland Fruit Fly.

Last autumn, I was full of despair and panic about discovering Queensland Fruit Fly in my homegrown fruit for the first time ever. Well, they’re back.

Fortunately, the damage is limited to one tree thus far, and only around 20% of the fruit on that tree was affected. But those pesky flies will continue to breed and infect future crops, so I’ll continue to be vigilant. My number one aim is to prevent fruit from falling from the tree. It’s the easiest way to break the life cycle. Any fruit that I identify as infested is cut up and placed in the freezer for 24 hours.

If you’re dealing with your own Queensland Fruit Fly infestation, here are a few control options to consider:

Net your tree with insect exclusion netting. This needs to be done before the outbreak occurs and you need to ensure no fruit is touching the netting – the flies can sting through the netting.
Practise good hygiene. Pick fruit before it falls and break the life cycle.
Use baits. Spinosad is a certified organic bait that you can spray in locations around your orchard. Be mindful that “certified organic” products can be just as harmful to beneficial bugs as synthetic products.
Use traps. There are many different types of traps available, and it’s easy to make basic DIY traps.

I’m just beginning my journey with Queensland Fruit Fly, but one of my readers, Eileen, has been successfully managing it for years and she kindly agreed to share her wisdom with my readers. Read Eileen’s account here.

Good luck and happy gardening!

Duncan

🍑 For more gardening tips see my latest planting guide and garden update.

In the news

🛩️ KYNETON: The runway at Kyneton Aero Club will be extended and resealed following a federal government grant of $413,500 for the airport.

🐨 MACEDON RANGES: Wildlife rescuers have placed bold yellow signs on roadsides to warn drivers of koala hot spots. Mel Fraser, from The Wildlings Woodend Wildlife Shelter, said local koala rescues had tripled in the past two years.

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