Welcome to Your Macedon Ranges for Monday, May 1, to Sunday, May 7.
🥔 The humble spud has been integral to Trentham’s economy since the 1850s. During the potato season, many farms relied on itinerant workers. Harvesting began in April, after the first autumn frosts, and continued into the harsh winters. This Saturday, as part of Spudfest, bus tours will be running to three of the “spud huts” that provided basic accommodation to the spud diggers. Hear incredible true stories from tour host “Reg, the spud digger” and see what life was like for those who performed this backbreaking work.
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Here are the events and activities happening in the Macedon Ranges this week:
Click the links for more info 👇
Monday, May 1
Community Refugee Sponsorship Information Event: Find out how you can help refugees. Norma Richardson Hall, Buckland St, Woodend. 6.30pm-9pm.
Tuesday, May 2
Author Talk Amanda Hampson – The Tea Ladies: Bestselling author Amanda Hampson discusses her new crime novel. Gisborne Library, Hamilton St. 2pm-3pm. Free.
Wednesday, May 3
Singing Woodend Warblers: Community choir. Norma Richardson Hall, Buckland St, Woodend. 7.30pm. $12.
Friday, May 5
Gardening Grow Great Berries: Most berries can be grown in small spaces, including pots. Learn how to propagate, plant and maintain blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, currants, jostaberries and gooseberries, strawberries, and more. Leaf, Root & Fruit, 21 Dettmanns Lane, Kyneton. 9.30am-3pm. $120.
Food & Drink Lebanese Pie Trail & Wine Flight: Choice of Lebanese pie. Served with house-made hummus, labneh and salad. Double Oaks Estate, 104 Ashworths Rd, Lancefield. 12pm-5pm. $35.
Talk Dr Heather Wearne: Hear from a campaign convenor and educator on behalf of The Uluru Statement From the Heart, the lead campaigners for the referendum on a First Nations Voice to Parliament. Hosted by Kyneton U3A. All welcome. Kyneton Mechanics Institute, Mollison St. 2pm. Free.
Craft Make-do and Mend – Preemie Scent Heart: Stitch a scent heart for premature and very sick babies. Kyneton Library, Baynton St. 2pm-4pm.
Music Retro Rewind: Local bands. Retro costume competition. Food and soft drinks. Gisborne Mechanics Institute Hall, Hamilton St. 5.30pm-10pm. $5.
Food & Drink Winemakers Dinner: Join Shadowfax Winery’s chief winemaker, Alister Timms, for a five-course seasonal menu with paired wines. The Kyneton Hotel, Mollison St, Kyneton. 6.30pm-10pm. $180.
Quiz Friday Night Pub Trivia: Topical and fun questions plus some games. Victoria Hotel, High St, Woodend. 7pm. Free.
Saturday, May 6
Exercise Campaspe Parkrun: 5km fun run along the Five Mile Creek path. Campaspe Park, Campaspe Dr, Woodend. 8am. Free.
Exercise Lancefield Parkrun: 5km fun run around Lancefield Park. Lancefield Park, Chauncey St, Lancefield. 8am. Free.
Market Woodend Farmers’ Market: Cnr High St & Forest St. 9am-1pm.
Community Woodend Repair Cafe: Enjoy a cuppa while your broken household items are being mended. The Undercroft, Woodend Neighbourhood House, Forest St (enter via the community garden near the skate park). 9am-1pm. Free.
Drink Gin-blending Masterclass: Learn about distillation and how recipes are created. Animus Distillery, 89a Piper St, Kyneton. 10am-1pm. $185.
Community The Great Trentham Spudfest: A celebration of all things potato. Craft stalls, classic cars, horse and cart rides, kids’ zone, food and drink, and more. Trentham.
History Spud Hut Tours: Learn about the tough lives of Trentham’s potato diggers by visiting the huts they lived in. Bus tours last 60-80 minutes. Run by Trentham & District Historical Society. Trentham. 11am, 12.30pm, 2pm. Adult $15, Child (12 and under) $10.
Music & Drink Songs and Cider: Live music. DV Cider, 39 Darraweit Valley Rd, Darraweit Guim. 12pm-8pm (music 12pm-4pm).
Music Iolanthe: Gilbert & Sullivan’s hilarious operetta. Performed by the Savoy Opera Company. Mechanics Institute Hall, Cnr High St & The Crescent , Lancefield. 2pm-5pm. Adult $35, Child $10.
Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.
Music Blackwood Americana Explosion: A night of Americana music featuring three bands, Hardrive, Fingerbone and Gumbo. St Martin’s Chapel, Martin St, Blackwood. 7pm-10.30pm. Adult $20, Concession $15.
Quiz Woodend Junior Football Netball Club Trivia and Silent Auction: Major fundraiser. Gilbert Gordon Oval social rooms, Davy St, Woodend. 7pm-11pm. Individual $24.50, Table $196.
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Sunday, May 7
Community Bereaved Mother’s Day: Breakfast/morning tea for mothers who have lost children. Norma Richardson Hall, Buckland St, Woodend. 8am-11am. Free.
Market Daylesford Sunday Market: Daylesford Railway Station, Raglan St. 8am-3pm.
Market Gisborne Olde Time Market: Aitken St/Hamilton St. 9am-2pm.
Environment Rewilding Central Victoria: Panel discussion that will explore the potential of rewilding as a conservation approach in central Victoria. Kyneton Mechanics Institute, Mollison St. 11am-12.30pm. Free.
Music Mozart’s Requiem: Featuring The Gisborne Singers, Macedon Ranges Chamber Orchestra, Luke Severn (artistic director and conductor), Merlyn Quaife (soprano), Kristen Leich (mezzo soprano), Michael Petruccelli (tenor) and Teddy Tahu Rhodes (baritone). Includes afternoon tea. Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Ebden St, Kyneton. 2pm-4pm. Adult $55, Concession $45, Under-12 free.
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: Joseph Villanueva, Pete Conroy. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm.
Kyneton Stockroom Artists: Exhibitions: Hayley Arjona, Troy Emery, Alichia Van Rhijn. Wed by appt, Thu-Sat 10.30am-5pm, Sun 11am-3pm.
Kyneton Art on Piper Artists: Exhibitions: Love the Women, Autumn, 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: Exhibition: Landscapes on the Mount (photography). Fri-Tues 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.
Trentham Trentham District Story: Historical display telling the story of the Trentham district from its earliest indigenous inhabitants to the present day. The Old Police Station, 3-5 Camp St, Trentham.
Coming up
Sport Wayne Carey – A Day with the Duck: The AFL legend will be sharing some of the remarkable tales from his time on the field and off it. Telegraph Hotel, Hamilton St, Gisborne. 12pm-2.30pm. $99. May 12.
Theatre Buried Child: Sam Shepard’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play about an American Midwestern family with a dark, terrible secret. Mountview Theatre, Smith St, Macedon. May 12-28.
Nature Tim Winton’s Love Letter to Ningaloo: Four-time Miles Franklin Award-winning author Tim Winton will be talking about the natural history TV series he has written and narrated about Ningaloo Reef, Cape Range and Exmouth Gulf in Western Australia. Kyneton Town Hall, Mollison St. 7pm-8pm. Full $40, Concession $35, Senior $35, Student $35. May 13.
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
🍂 MACEDON & MOUNT MACEDON: Council chief executive Bernie O’Sullivan has responded to the concerns and frustrations of residents affected by the “unprecedented number of visitors” to Honour Avenue and the surrounding areas.
📘 MACEDON RANGES: Stories from the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires have been captured in a book. Memories of Ash Wednesday ($40) can be purchased from Mount Macedon Trading Post and newsagencies in Gisborne and Macedon.
🚒 RIDDELLS CREEK: Riddells Creek CFA will not be relocating to Riddells Creek Recreation Reserve following community concern about the proposed location.
💰 MACEDON RANGES: The shire council has announced its draft budget for 2023-24. An average rates increase of 3.5 per cent and an option for a green waste disposal charge are among the proposals.
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