This week in the Macedon Ranges (March 31-April 6)

Welcome to Your Macedon Ranges for Monday, March 31, to Sunday, April 6.

🥕 The Edgy Veg Awards are back for a fourth year – and this time the search for the most delicious plant-based food has been expanded to include not only cafes and restaurants in the Macedon Ranges but also those in and around Castlemaine. The competition runs from April 1-30. Click here for participating venues.

🍕 The school holidays are almost here! Among the children’s activities during the two-week break are zookeeper workshops at Wild Action Zoo in Macedon and chocolate and pizza classes at Cleveland Estate in Lancefield. Check out the school holiday guide.

🍁 In this week’s smartphone photography article, Tiffany Warner shares a simple yet effective tip for highlighting the quiet beauty of autumn. Scroll down past the event guide to see her advice and stunning photo.

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

Click the links for more info 👇

Wednesday, April 2

Game Canasta Club: Join a friendly group to play the card game Canasta. Beginners welcome. Macedon & Mount Macedon Community House, 47 Victoria St, Macedon. 2pm-5pm.

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.

Nature Creatures of the Night – New Gisborne: Help to record the night animals found by the roadside. These may include nesting birds, common ringtail and brushtail possums, koalas and even the rare brush-tailed phascogale. Barringo Reserve, New Gisborne. 7pm-8.30pm. Free.

Singing Community Sing-along: Sing songs from the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s. With guitarist James McDonald, from The Amazing Valentinos. The Albion, Mollison St, Kyneton. 7.30pm-8.30pm. Free.

Friday, April 4

Painting Art in the Garden: Watercolour masterclass with local artist Elizabeth Barnett. Enjoy a private tour of the gardens at Duneira, plus morning tea. Duneira, 1 Officer Ln, Mount Macedon. 9.30am-12.30pm. $250.

Games Barefoot Bowls: Play bowls in bare feet or flat-soled shoes. All welcome. Macedon Ranges Bowling Club, Tony Clarke Reserve, Waterfalls Rd, Macedon. From 5.30pm. Adult $20, Child $10.

Quiz Friday Night Pub Trivia: Topical and fun questions plus some games. The Victoria Hotel, High St, Woodend. 7pm. Free.

Entertainment Circus Latino: Clowns, aerial acts, hand balancing, jugglers, and fire and hoops. Performers from South America and Australia. Gisborne Steam Park, 10 Webb Cr, New Gisborne. 7pm-8.40pm. $20-$50.

Ghost Hunt Kyneton Auctions Paranormal Investigation: Discover the spirits who haunt an auction house in the heart of Kyneton. Plus optional psychic medium reading. Kyneton Auctions, 51-53 High St, Kyneton. 7.30pm-9.30pm. $35.

Saturday, April 5

Exercise Parkruns: 5km fun runs/walks in Gisborne (Dixon Field), Lancefield (Lancefield Park) and Woodend (Campaspe Dr). All abilities welcome. 8am. Free.

Community Lancefield Whole Town Garage Sale: Maps $5. Lancefield Men’s Shed, 76 High St, Lancefield. 8am-2pm.

Gardening The Cutting Edge (online): Macedon Ranges-based garden designer, writer and broadcaster Michael McCoy’s online conference for home gardeners and garden designers. Hear from world-renowned experts. Online event. 9am-12pm. $95.

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

Market Woodend Lions Community Market: Rear of Woodend Neighbourhood House, Forest St, Woodend. 9am-1pm.

Community Woodend Repair Cafe: Enjoy a cuppa while your broken household items are being mended. The Undercroft, Woodend Neighbourhood House, Forest St, Woodend (enter via the community garden near the skate park). 9am-1pm. Free.

Art & Craft Phoenix Macedon Ranges Art and Craft Exhibition: Includes paintings, ceramics, paper craft, glass art, jewellery, woodwork, knitting and textiles. Old Court House. 4 Hamilton St, Gisborne. 10am-4pm.

Garden Duneira Open Garden: Enjoy the visual splendour of the historic hill-station garden. Duneira Estate, 1 Officer Ln, Mount Macedon. 10am-4pm. Adult $17, Child (under 16) free.

Garden Viewfield Open Garden: Majestic trees with brilliant autumn colour, stunning views, a fruit forest, a children’s fairy garden, perennial gardens and a sparkling stream through shady fern glades. Viewfield, 651 Mount Macedon Rd, Mount Macedon. 10am-4pm. Adult $15, Child free.

Community The Police are Coming!: Open day at Trentham’s old police station to celebrate 160 years of policing in the district. Vintage car and uniform displays. Sausage sizzle and refreshments. Old Police Station, 3-5 Camp St, Trentham. 10.30am-2pm.

Plants Kyneton Horticultural Society Autumn Flower Show: Plant stalls, artist in residence, refreshments and a display of the best the Macedon Ranges has to offer in blooms, foliage and floral art. Watts Pavilion, Kyneton Showgrounds, Mollison St, Kyneton. 11.30am-4pm. $6.

Workshop Blacksmith Class: Make your own fire poker with Rob Nansen. Materials provided. Plus afternoon tea. Dromkeen, 1012 Kilmore Rd, Riddells Creek. 1pm-4pm. $150.

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

Food & Drink Wine Under the Stars: Take a tour of the night sky with the Astronomical Society of Victoria while enjoying dinner and wine. Hanging Rock Winery, Jim Rd, Newham. 6pm-11.30pm. $99.

Music Gypsy – The Australian Fleetwood Mac Show: Tribute band Gypsy will perform the hits of Fleetwood Mac. The Telegraph Hotel, Hamilton St, Gisborne. 9pm-11.30pm. $25.

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Sunday, April 6

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

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

Market Malmsbury Brocante Marché: Vintage market. Goods sourced from France and across Europe. Plus second-hand household items. Madame Vintage, 69 Mollison St, Malmsbury. 9am-4pm.

Walk Walk into History – The Marvels of Malmsbury-Coliban System: Learn about the 70km water channel between Malmsbury and Bendigo, one of the earliest water supply systems in the state. Bendigo Historical Society event. Non-members welcome. Malmsbury Reservoir Picnic Ground, Sullivan St, Malmsbury. 10am-11.30am. $15.

Garden Duneira Open Garden: Enjoy the visual splendour of the historic hill-station garden. Duneira Estate, 1 Officer Ln, Mount Macedon. 10am-4pm. Adult $17, Child (under 16) free.

Poultry Helmsman Poultry Auction: About 700 birds on offer. Organised by Kyneton & District Poultry Club. Kyneton Showgrounds, Mollison St, Kyneton. 11am-1pm.

Food & Music Big Tree Sunday Session: Live music, pizza, gin. Big Tree Distillery, 307 Hennerbergs Rd, Newham. 11am-5pm. $40.

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.

Music Music Amongst the Barrels: Live music from Jared Brentnall. Wombat Forest Vineyard, 189 Springhill Rd, Denver. 1pm.

Music Opera in the Garden: The Australian Contemporary Opera Company’s young artist cohort will perform at Tugurium, home of nurseryman and broadcaster Stephen Ryan. 8 Centenery Ave, Macedon. 2.30pm-4.30pm. $90.

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

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.

Ghost Hunt Lancefield Mechanics Institute Paranormal Investigation: Who is the stage spirit who likes to hear singing? And what’s special about the number four? Lancefield Mechanics Institute, The Crescent, Lancefield. 7pm-9pm. $35.

Exhibitions

Kyneton The Old Auction House: Exhibitions: Elle Pervez and Carolyn Brennan-Tucker, Jahne Hope-Williams, Cathy Mackay and Larissa Taylor. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm.

Kyneton Art on Piper: Exhibitions: Autumn Delight; Tru Dowling and Sharon Greenaway. 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.

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

Kyneton Kyneton Museum: Exhibition: Good Sports, Leisure and Recreation in the Macedon Ranges. Fri-Sun 11am-4pm.

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

Mount Macedon The Gallery: Exhibition: The Gallery Mt Macedon Art Prize. Fri-Tues 10am-4pm.

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

Riddells Creek Dromkeen: Exhibition: John Nicholson. Tues-Sun 10am-4pm.

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

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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AUTUMN BEAUTY

Professional photographer Tiffany Warner shares a tip to help you capture the quiet beauty of autumn.

📍 Cameron Drive, Mount Macedon

Autumn is a magical time of year, offering countless opportunities to get creative with your photography.

While wandering up to the Memorial Cross, I picked up a beautiful red maple leaf and looked for a spot where I could photograph it in a way that isolated it and highlighted its natural beauty in greater detail.

I chose the top of a bench seat – I loved the seat’s weathered, mossy appearance. Framing the picture at an angle adds visual interest to the image, but the neutral tones of the bench seat don’t detract from the beauty of the leaf.

In photography, this is known as minimalism: isolating a single subject to admire its beauty.

💡 Tip: Try isolating subjects to appreciate their intricate detail.

Happy snapping!

Tiffany

📷 In addition to portrait and commercial work, Tiffany Warner runs short courses on smartphone photography for social media. See more of her images on Instagram.

🍂 If you enjoy gardens and gardening, there’s lots to see and do in the Macedon Ranges this autumn. Click here for a guide to autumn open gardens, workshops, shows and more.

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