Welcome to Your Macedon Ranges for Monday, March 6, to Sunday, March 12.
🩺 In the late 1930s, Dr Gweneth Wisewould swapped her career in Melbourne hospitals for the life of a country GP. Her devotion to her work ensured she became a beloved member of her local community. Find out about “Dr Gwen” – and how the grateful people of Trentham commemorated her – in this week’s history article. Click here for the article or read it down below.
👩 It’s International Women’s Day on Wednesday. Melburnian of the Year Antoinette Braybrook will be speaking at a gathering at Kyneton Town Hall and musicians Sage Roadknight and Rhiannon Winchester will be performing. There will also be a women’s wellness event in the evening.
🍎 We have a long weekend coming up. Yay! On Saturday it’s also Australian Cider Day. DV Cider in Darraweit Guim has lined up a day of celebration, and if you wanted to venture further afield, Applefest will be taking place in Harcourt (the pie-eating competition begins at 1.15pm!). A little further up the road, the Lost Trades Fair – which, of course, has its roots in Kyneton – will be taking place in Bendigo over the weekend, and the ChillOut festival will begin on Thursday in Daylesford.
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Here are the events and activities happening in the Macedon Ranges this week:
Click the links for more info 👇
Tuesday, March 7
Photography Macedon Ranges Photographic Society: Camera club meeting. Visitors welcome. Dromkeen, 1012 Kilmore Rd, Riddells Creek. 7.30pm.
Wednesday, March 8
Women Crack the Code for Gender Equality: Celebrate International Women’s Day with local leaders, artists and changemakers and keynote speaker Antoinette Braybrook, the 2022 Melburnian of the Year. Plus music from Sage Roadknight and Rhiannon Winchester. Kyneton Town Hall, Mollison St. 10am-1pm. Free.
Film Movie Club – Don’t Worry Darling: A 1950s housewife living with her husband in a utopian experimental community begins to worry that his glamorous company could be hiding disturbing secrets. Gisborne Library, Hamilton St. 1pm-3pm. Free.
Women Women, Wine and Wellness: Networking event. Wine and grazing boards. Plus a short talk about women’s wellness. Chiropractic Life, 47 High St, Kyneton. 6.30pm-8.30pm. Free.
Singing Woodend Warblers: Community choir. Norma Richardson Hall, Buckland St, Woodend. 7.30pm. $12.
Thursday, March 9
Festival ChillOut Festival: Australia’s largest and most popular regional LGBTIQA+ pride event gets under way. Daylesford. Until March 13.
Drink Pups and Pints: Catch up with friends and bring your dog along too. Woodend RSL, Anslow St. 5pm-8pm.
Quiz Trivia Night: General knowledge quiz. Gisborne Golf Club, Daly St. 7pm. Free.
Friday, March 10
Environment McGregor’s Loop Walk: 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-1.30pm. Free.
Sustainability Gardenhaus Tour and Talk: A rare chance to see a Passivhaus home under construction. Architect Talina Edwards, of Envirotecture, and builder Stuart Lee, from Enerhaus, will host the tour. Woodend. 10.30am-11.30am and 12.30pm-1.30pm. Free.
Community Macedon Ranges’ Filipino Community Gathering: Experience the rich culture, traditions, and mouth-watering cuisine of the Philippines. The Kindness Collective, 60 Mollison St, Kyneton. 6pm-8pm. Free.
Theatre The 39 Steps: A fugitive and a woman he meets on a train go on the run. Can they save Britain from a den of spies? Performed as a radio play. Mountview Theatre, Smith St, Macedon. 8pm-10pm. Adult $30, Concession $25.
Saturday, March 11
Exercise Campaspe Parkrun: 5km fun run along the Five Mile Creek path. Campaspe Park, Campaspe Dr, Woodend. 8am. Free.
Market Kyneton Farmers’ & Makers’ Market: St Paul’s Park, Piper St, Kyneton. 8.30am-1pm.
Market Kyneton Community Market: Bric-a-brac, art, clothes, plants, food and local produce. Ebden St & Yaldwyn St West, Kyneton. 8.30am-1pm.
Community Applefest: Market stalls, art show, competitions, music, and children’s activities. James Park, High St, Harcourt. 9am-4pm. $5, Under-12 free.
Gardening Tuberous Begonia and Fuchsia Show: Hundreds of nursery-grown tuberous begonias. White House Nursery, 691 Ashbourne Rd, Ashbourne. 10am-4pm.
Art Woodend Lions Art Show: 48th annual exhibition of work by local artists. St Ambrose Hall, Templeton St, Woodend. Until March 13. 10am-5pm. Entry gold coin.
Hobbies Model Railway, Craft and Hobbies Exhibition: Model railway layouts and stands. Plus other craft stalls. Sacred Heart College, Kyneton (entry via New St and Begg St). Until March 13. 10am-5pm.
Music & Drink Australian Cider Day Celebration: A day of cider appreciation, featuring live music with Jay Howie. Plus food truck. Darraweit Valley Cider, 39 Darraweit Valley Rd, Darraweit Guim. 12pm-8pm (music 3pm-7pm).
Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.
Music Daniel Champagne: Australian-born singer-songwriter renowned for acoustic folk/Americana music. Kyneton Town Hall, Mollison St. 8pm-9.50pm. $33.90.
Theatre The 39 Steps: A fugitive and a woman he meets on a train go on the run. Can they save Britain from a den of spies? Performed as a radio play. Mountview Theatre, Smith St, Macedon. 8pm-10pm. Adult $30, Concession $25.
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Sunday, March 12
Market Daylesford Sunday Market: Daylesford Railway Station, Raglan St. 8am-3pm.
Market Romsey Market: Bric-a-brac, woodwork, jewellery, candles, handmade goods, and food vans. Run by Lancefield Romsey Lions Club. Romsey Skate Park, Cnr Main St & White Ave. 9am-1pm.
Yoga & Wine Yoga in the Vines: Join Belinda Firmstone, of Return to Earth Yoga, for a yoga class. Followed by a tour of the winery and a wine tasting. Lyons Will Estate, 60 Whalans Track, Lancefield. 10am.
Gardening Tuberous Begonia and Fuchsia Show: Hundreds of nursery-grown tuberous begonias. White House Nursery, 691 Ashbourne Rd, Ashbourne. 10am-4pm.
Community Taradale Mineral Springs Festival: 50 stands offering food, wine, craft beer, gin and whisky. CFA display and activities. Classic cars, acoustic and rock music, plus children’s activities. Taradale Mineral Springs Reserve, Cnr High St & Jackson St, Taradale. 10am-4pm. $5.
Art Woodend Lions Art Show: 48th annual exhibition of work by local artists. St Ambrose Hall, Templeton St, Woodend. Until March 13. 10am-5pm. Entry gold coin.
Hobbies Model Railway, Craft and Hobbies Exhibition: Model railway layouts and stands. Plus other craft stalls. Sacred Heart College, Kyneton (entry via New St and Begg St). Until March 13. 10am-5pm.
Food Pizza and Pooches: Every dog has its day and at Cleveland Winery that day is Sunday. Cleveland Winery, Shannons Rd, Lancefield. 12pm-3pm.
Food & Music American Barbecue Pies, Wine and Live Music: Four gourmet pies and four wines. Plus live music. Double Oaks Estate, 104 Ashworths Rd, Lancefield. 12pm-5pm. $50.
Music Aruba Ariba!: Reggae favourites plus Latin, soul and disco. Bar open for food and drink. Hedge Farm, 124 Three Chain Rd, Carlsruhe. 12pm-6pm. $22.
Theatre The 39 Steps: A fugitive and a woman he meets on a train go on the run. Can they save Britain from a den of spies? Performed as a radio play. Mountview Theatre, Smith St, Macedon. 2pm-4pm. Adult $30, Concession $25.
Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $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.
Exhibitions
Kyneton The Old Auction House Artists: Exhibitions: Nature (group), Martha Iserman, 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: Art in Fives (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 Martin Leitch – Abstracts: Photographs showing different ways of looking at built and natural environments. Fri-Tues 10am-4pm.
Newham Art in the Vines: Sculptures by 26 acclaimed artists. Every day 10am-5pm.
Riddells Creek John Nicholson – Walls: Paintings and drawings by local artist John Nicholson. Wed-Sun 10am-4pm.
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
Photography Adrian Whear: The street photographer will share tips for sharpening your photographic storytelling skills. Macedon Ranges Photographic Society event. Visitors welcome. Dromkeen, 1012 Kilmore Rd, Riddells Creek. 7.30pm. March 13.
Drink Gin-blending Masterclass: Learn about distillation and how recipes are created. Animus Distillery, 89a Piper St, Kyneton. 10am-1pm. March 18.
Design Sustainable House Day: Sustainably-built homes in Gisborne South, Woodend, Lancefield and Kyneton will be open. Get ideas and practical suggestions to help you make your home more comfortable, cheaper to run and more environmentally-friendly. Various locations. 10am-4pm. March 19.
Music Macedon Ranges Music Festival: Featuring Joe Camilleri and The Black Sorrows, Vaudeville Smash, Velvet Bloom, One Spirit Africa, Leslie D King and The Trembling Shakes, Sunday Lemonade, Norwood, and the youth stage winner. Hanging Rock Reserve, South Rock Rd, Newham. 1pm-10pm. March 25.
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
🚧 KYNETON: Jennings St will be closed to traffic from Mollison St to the Woolworths car park from March 20 until mid-May so that the council can reconstruct the road. Motorists will have to detour via Hutton St, Ebden St and Baynton St to access shops and businesses in Jennings St.
⛹️♀️ NEW GISBORNE: Work on the first phase of the $46.8m Macedon Ranges Regional Sports Precinct is progressing after delays caused by rain during the spring. Construction of the stadium walls is now under way.
🍺 ROMSEY: Romsey Football Netball Club has unveiled a proposal to revive and run the old Romsey Hotel, which has stood unused for years.
The good doctor
PAST TIMES
With thanks to Trentham & District Historical Society.
The distinctive 1970s clock in High St, Trentham, holds special significance for the town: it commemorates the life and career of Dr Gweneth Wisewould (1884-1972).
From a well-to-do Brighton family, Dr Gwen had already enjoyed a full career in Melbourne by the time she arrived in Trentham in 1938. She had worked at the Melbourne, Alfred and Queen’s Memorial hospitals, performed surgery at the Women & Children’s, and instructed students in anaesthetics.
Her unconventional life attracted much rumour, so she sought escape in country Victoria.
Here she used her considerable skills to face the realities of life as a rural GP, working tirelessly for the community, often free of charge. She carried out daily consultations, made house-calls day or night, and performed operations in isolated cottages or Trentham’s Bush Hospital.
Tall and sturdy, invariably wrapped in a greatcoat, she observed “you cannot do this work looking pretty”. The community quickly took her into their hearts.
Dr Gwen’s reminiscences, Outpost, published in 1971, is regarded as a minor socio-medico classic – a portrait of a community and the doctor they loved.
✍️ Sue Worthington, curator of Trentham & District Historical Society.
🗺️ Trentham & District Historical Society has developed a walk around Trentham to remember Dr Gwen. Email the society for a free map of the route.
🎧 Listen to a podcast about Dr Gwen, from a series by the historical society called Archive Treasures.
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