This week in the Macedon Ranges (May 22-28)

Welcome to Your Macedon Ranges for Monday, May 22, to Sunday, May 28.

🤝 Actor, comedian and broadcaster Tom Ballard will be the host and keynote speaker at a Refugee Week event at Kyneton Town Hall on June 18. The event – Finding Freedom: Real Stories of Human Survival – will also feature photographer and human rights activist Muzafar Ali and personal stories from four refugees.

🪡 See an array of beautiful quilts at an exhibition at Lancefield Mechanics Institute on Saturday and Sunday. All the quilts have been made by members of A Patch of Lancefield. There will also be stalls, refreshments and a raffle.

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Two weeks to go!

✅ If you enjoy this newsletter, please will you vote for me in the Community Choice Awards? Voting closes on June 2. You can vote here in just a couple of clicks. Your Macedon Ranges is in the Trades and Manufacturing category.

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

Click the links for more info 👇

Tuesday, May 23

Community Chatty Café: Enjoy a cuppa and a natter. Woodend Neighbourhood House, Forest St. 10.30am-11.30am.

Wednesday, May 24

Environment Sanatorium Eco-Trail Walk: Join Parks Victoria volunteers on a 3km moderate-level walk. Learn about plants and animals as well as the history of the Macedon Regional Park. Days Picnic Ground, Lions Head Rd, Mount Macedon. 9.30am-11.30am. Free.

Author Talk Robyn Annear – Adrift in Melbourne: Hear from Robyn Annear, whose entertaining guide to Melbourne past and present uncovers some of the city’s surprising stories. Gisborne Library, Hamilton St. 2.30pm-3.30pm Free.

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

Thursday, May 25

Food & Drink Annie Smithers – “Chooks At The Rooke” Masterclass: Chef Annie Smithers will show you how she prepares cockerels from Xavier Prime’s farm, Chooks At The Rooke. She will also demonstrate several recipes. Followed by a three-course lunch. Du Fermier, 42 High St, Trentham. 10am-4pm. $385.

Science Our Cosmos Unveiled: Join science author and teacher Peter Spinks on a journey through space and time. Macedon Ranges Further Education Centre, 12 Hamilton St, Gisborne. 6pm-7.30pm. Free.

Friday, May 26

Cooking Shio Koji Workshop: Learn to make Japanese shio koji (fermented rice seasoning) and use it to cook some dishes. Malmsbury Town Hall, Mollison St. 10.30am-1.30pm $159.

Workshop Versatile Furoshiki Wrapping: Learn how to use beautiful and practical Furoshiki cloths in everyday life, from gift-wrapping to bags, as protection, and in fashionable and artistic ways. A sustainable alternative to plastic bags. Malmsbury Town Hall, Mollison St. 2.30pm-4pm. $99.

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. 8pm-10pm. Adult $30, Concession $25.

Saturday, May 27

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.

Exercise Dixon Field Parkrun: 5km fun run. Dixon Field, Robertson St, Gisborne. 8am. Free.

Community Riddells Creek Whole Town Garage Sale: Maps $5. Barbecue and cake stall. Riddells Creek Scout Hall, 26 Sutherlands Rd. 8am-2pm.

Market Lancefield Farmers’ Market: High St & Park St, Lancefield. 9am-1pm.

Market Little Treasures Market: Tasty treats, handmade goods, plants, jewellery, hats and scarves, and more. Mechanics Institute, Main St, Lancefield. 9am-1pm.

Market Daylesford Farmers’ Market: Daylesford Primary School, Vincent St. 9am-1pm.

Community Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea Fly-in: Hosted by Kyneton Aero Club. A large number of aircraft will be on display, including classic and vintage types. Plus tea, coffee and food. In aid of the Cancer Council. Kyneton Airfield, Kyneton-Metcalfe Rd, Kyneton. 10am-1pm.

Exhibition Lancefield Liberty: See an array of beautiful quilts made by members of A Patch of Lancefield. Refreshments, quilt raffle. Stalls include Maree St Clair and These Clever Hands. Lancefield Mechanics Institute, High St. 10am-4pm. $5.

Books Meet the Author/Illustrator: Award-winning author and illustrator Mark Wilson will show you the illustrations he is working on, explain how he works and answer questions. Dromkeen, 1012 Kilmore Rd, Riddells Creek. 11am-2.30pm.

Food Pizza Napoletana Masterclass: Learn the art of making neapolitan pizzas with Stefan Barbagallo, of A Slice Of Perfection. A Slice of Perfection, 26 High St, Lancefield. 11am-3pm. $200.

Food & Drink Low ‘n’ Slow Barbecue plus Live Music: Includes mulled cider on arrival. Plus music with Louise MacGregor. DV Cider, 39 Darraweit Valley Rd, Darraweit Guim. 12pm-2.30pm, 4pm-6.30pm, 7.30pm-10pm. Adult $109, Child $40.

Food & Music Long Lunch with Ethan Conway: Six seasonal courses. Plus live music from The Voice Australia contestant Ethan Conway. Lancefield Lodge, 50 Main Rd, Lancefield. 1pm-4pm. $79.

Author Talk Great Adaptations: Four writers talk about having their works adapted into TV shows and movies. Live-streamed as part of the Sydney Writers Festival. Woodend Library, Cnr High St & Forest St. 2pm-3pm. Free.

Cooking Japanese Dashi and Miso Soup: Learn how to make miso soup, including how to make your own dashi broth. Malmsbury Town Hall, Mollison St. 2.30pm-4pm. $99.

Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.

Author Talk Pip Williams – The Bookbinder of Jericho: Pip Williams introduces her new novel, in conversation with Cassie McCullagh. Live-streamed as part of the Sydney Writers Festival. Woodend Library, Cnr High St & Forest St. 4pm-5pm. Free.

Author Talk State of the Art: Eleanor Catton, Richard Flanagan, Colson Whitehead, Tracey Lien and Kate Evans dicuss the state of the novel and the future of fiction. Live-streamed as part of the Sydney Writers Festival. Woodend Library, Cnr High St & Forest St. 6pm-7pm. Free.

Music The Australian Creedence Show: With Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute band Ramble Tamble. Telegraph Hotel, Hamilton St, Gisborne. 6.30pm-11pm. Dinner and show $75, Show only $40.

Music Caravans: Four-piece band. Mix of blues and alt-country songs. Major Tom’s, 57 Piper St, Kyneton. 8.30pm-11pm. $15.

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Sunday, May 28

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

Cooking CWA Pasta Making Workshop: Learn how to make gnocchi and lasagne. With CWA Central Highlands group. All welcome. CWA Hall, 662 Mount Macedon Rd, Mount Macedon. 2pm-4pm. $35.

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. 2pm-4pm. Adult $30, Concession $25.

Games Board Game Gathering: Monthly group. New players welcome. Woodend Neighbourhood House, Forest St, Woodend. 2pm-5pm.

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: Pete Conroy, Dani Legge, Conjure Part 1 (group). 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: Showcasing work by local artists. Exhibitions: Love the Women, Circle, 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, Frances Harkin, Liz Archer, Ruby Wilson-Peirce, Sam Bloomfield. Fri-Mon 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.

Coming up

Gardening Principles of Garden Design (online): Michael McCoy’s online conference for home gardeners and garden designers. Hear from, among others, Australian designers Fiona Brockhoff and Andrew Laidlaw and Chelsea Flower Show gold medallists Andy Sturgeon and James Basson. Online event. 9am-12pm. $95. June 3.

Nature Fauna and Fungi of the Mount: Celebrate World Environment Day with the Macedon Ranges Field Naturalists. Guest speakers William Terry (fauna) and Greg Boldiston (fungi). Norma Richardson Hall, Buckland St, Woodend. 2pm-4pm. Free. June 3.

Music Lucy Wise: Afternoon of folk-pop songs to mark the launch of Malmsbury-based Lucy’s new album, Into the Blue. With Mischa Herman and Sylvie Rigby. Malmsbury Town Hall, Mollison St. 2pm-4.45pm. General $25, Unwaged $20, Under-16 free. June 3.

Art Woodend Winter Art Show: Works by members of Woodend Art Group. Woodend Railway Station, Urquhart St. 10am-4pm. Gold coin donation. June 10-12.

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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In the news

📵 MACEDON RANGES: Telstra customers will experience temporary service disruptions from May 22 as the company upgrades its mobile base station on Mt Macedon.

🌴 KYNETON: Songs and dances recorded at the Kiribati Cultural Day in Kyneton a year ago will feature on a new audio theatre experience called The Flying Canoe.

🔌MACEDON RANGES: Telecommunications, transport and electricity companies are on alert after a series of copper cable thefts. Mobile coverage for Woodend, Mount Macedon and the surrounding areas was disrupted last Sunday after Telstra and NBN power cables were cut and removed.

🏘️ KYNETON: Councillors have voted to approve a 65-lot residential development in Harpers Lane. VCAT and the shire council previously rejected an 87-lot subdivision for the site, which had strong community opposition.

🍄 MACEDON RANGES: Foragers are embracing a longer than average mushroom season in Victoria this year, as cool, wet days interspersed by crisp and sunny periods create ideal conditions for the fungi to grow in the wild. (The Age)

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