This week in the Macedon Ranges (May 24-30)

Welcome to Your Macedon Ranges for the week of Monday, May 24, to Sunday, May 30.

Brrrrr! Winter has made its presence felt a couple of weeks early, but there’s still lots going on around the region this week. If you enjoy the bracing air, why not join the Eco-Trail guided walk on Mt Macedon on Wednesday morning or help record the night animals in two of our biolink areas (Tues/Weds).

Back in the warmth of Little Swallow Cafe in Piper St, the 1st Kyneton Scouts will be raising funds to upgrade their facilities by holding a high tea on Saturday. And the sound of laughter will reverberate around Newham Mechanics Institute at a comedy evening featuring five of Melbourne’s funniest stand-ups.

In addition, there’s music to enjoy, workshops to help you learn new skills, and your final chances to catch the Mount Players’ latest show.

Brrrrr-ing it all on!

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Monday, May 24

[Exhibition] Debbie Harman: Melbourne artist who combines ceramics, textiles, paper and canvas. Exhibition titled Underwater and Finding Footing. The Gallery Mount Macedon, 684 Mount Macedon Rd, Mount Macedon. Until May 30. 10am-4pm.

Tuesday, May 25

[Books] Shared Reading Circle: Listen to a short story and talk about it with others. Lancefield Neighbourhood House, 78 High St, Lancefield. Every Tuesday during term time. 10am. Gold coin donation.

[Technology] Be Connected – Getting Started with your iPhone: Learn how to set up your Apple iPhone to suit your needs. Gisborne Library, Hamilton St, Gisborne. 11.30am-12.30pm. Free.

[Environment] Creatures of the Night (Riddells Creek): Help record the night animals found by the roadsides within the shire’s biolink areas. Registering essential. Locations and meeting points in Riddells Creek to be provided. 6.30pm-8.30pm.

Wednesday, May 26

[Environment] Sanatorium Eco-Trail Walk: Join Parks Victoria volunteers on a 3km circuit through beautiful forest and past the picturesque Sanatorium Lake. Learn about plants and animals as well as the history of the Macedon Regional Park. The moderate-level walk takes about 90 minutes. Days Picnic Ground, Lions Head Rd, Mount Macedon. 9.30am-11.30am. Free.

[Pets] Pooches in the Park: A weekly get-together for dogs and owners in the church garden. Bring a picnic rug, food, drinks and poop bags. St Mary’s Anglican Church, Buckland St, Woodend. From 6pm.

[Environment] Creatures of the Night (Lancefield): Help record the night animals found by the roadsides within the shire’s biolink areas. Registering essential. Locations and meeting points in Lancefield/Mt William to be provided. 6.30pm-8.30pm.

Thursday, May 27

[Charity] Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea: Events throughout the district.

[Health] Let’s Talk Hormones and Menopause: Information session hosted by Life with Impact. Telegraph Hotel, Hamilton St, Gisborne. 6.30pm-8.30pm. Free.

[Sustainability] Make Your Own Beeswax and Vegan Food Wraps Workshop: Learn how easy it is to make reusable wraps and sandwich bags. Riddells Creek Neighbourhood House, Main Rd, Riddells Creek. 7pm-8.30pm.

[Theatre] Too Many Crooks: The Mount Players present a tale of a bunch of inept robbers who turn to kidnapping. Originally a British comedy film starring Terry-Thomas, Sid James and George Cole. Mountview Theatre, 56 Smith St, Macedon. Until May 30. 8pm. $30.

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Friday, May 28

[Books] Shared Reading Circle: Listen to a short story and talk about it with others. The Victoria Hotel, High St, Woodend. Every Friday during term time. 4pm. Free.

[Entertainment] Youth Night: A safe space for teenagers to hang out. Music, games, Xbox, free Wi-Fi and snacks. Riddells Creek Neighbourhood House, 59 Main Rd, Riddells Creek. Every Friday. 5.30pm-8pm. $2.

[Jazz] Georgia Martin: Woodend’s Georgia Martin performs jazz, blues and soul classics. With Tom Martin (guitar) and Jorge Rodriguez (bass). Hedge Farm, 124 Three Chain Rd, Carlsruhe. 5pm. $16.

[Craft] Macramé for Beginners Workshop: With Melissa Hatty. That Little Village, 72 Main Rd, Riddells Creek. 7pm-8.30pm (sold out).

[Music] The Luke Sinclair Set: The Raised By Eagles frontman brings his new outfit to Kyneton. Major Tom’s, 57 Piper St, Kyneton. 8.30pm-11pm. $15.

Saturday, May 29

[Exercise] Campaspe Parkrun: 5km fun run along the Five-Mile Creek path. Every Saturday. Campaspe Park, Campaspe Dr, Woodend. 8am. Free (registration required).

[Exercise] Lancefield Parkrun: 5km fun run around Lancefield Park. Every Saturday. Lancefield Park, Chauncey St, Lancefield. 8am. Free (registration required).

[Outdoors] Guided Mushroom Foraging: Mycologist Beau Meister will teach you the basic skills and best practices to confidently and safely enjoy foraging. Also runs next Saturday, June 6. Firth Park Campground, Firth Rd, Trentham East. 9am-1pm. $75.

[Wellness] Awaken with the Divine Mothers Retreat: Join Nicole Lee to explore the divine feminine within us. Dromkeen, 1012 Kilmore Rd, Riddells Creek. Saturday and Sunday, 10am-4pm. $500.

[Food & Drink] American Barbecue Pie and Wine Tasting: Try four gourmet pies and four wines. Double Oaks Estate, 104 Ashworths Rd, Lancefield. Saturday and Sunday. From 12pm. $38.

[Music] Dead, K5 and Our Carlson: Dead and K5 pick up the pieces of their lost 2020 tour, supported by Blackwood’s Our Carlson. Major Tom’s, 57 Piper St, Kyneton. 2pm-5pm. $20.

[Food] High Tea: To raise funds for 1st Kyneton Scouts to upgrade their facilities. Champagne on arrival, followed by a selection of savoury and sweet petite items. Little Swallow Cafe, 62 Piper St, Kyneton. Bookings required. From 2.30pm. Pay what you will.

[Beer] Brewery Tour: Learn how the beer is brewed at Holgate Brewhouse. Every Saturday and Sunday. Holgate Brewhouse, 79 High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.

[Music] Ed Kuepper with Jim White: The duo perform songs from Kuepper’s five decades with the Saints, Laughing Clowns and Aints. Macedon Railway Hotel, 33 Smith St, Macedon. 7pm (sold out).

[Comedy] A Hall Lot of Laughs 2: An evening of laughter with five of Melbourne’s best stand-up comics, Col Cameron, Sonia Di Iorio, Russ Wigginton, Randy Feltface and Ivan Aristeguieta. Newham Mechanics Institute, Rochford Rd, Newham. 7pm-11pm. $55.

[Music] Backlash: Pub rock band performs favourites from the ’70s. Gisborne Golf Club, Daly St, Gisborne. 7.30pm-11.30pm. $20.

Sunday, May 30

[Running] Mt Macedon Trail Run: 10th anniversary event. Five routes: 10km, 21km, 30km, 42km, 50km. Cameron Dr, Mount Macedon. First race starts 7.30am. $70-$135.

[Wellness] Open Healing and Psychic Fair: Get a reading or a healing and join in a yoga session. Fundraiser for the Colakidis family. Gisborne Community Centre, 8a Hamilton St, Gisborne. 10am-3pm. $20.

[Wellness] Awaken with the Divine Mothers Retreat: Join Nicole Lee to explore the divine feminine within us. Dromkeen, 1012 Kilmore Rd, Riddells Creek. Saturday and Sunday, 10am-4pm. $500.

[Food & Drink] American Barbecue Pie and Wine Tasting: Try four gourmet pies and four wines. Double Oaks Estate, 104 Ashworths Rd, Lancefield. Saturday and Sunday. From 12pm. $38.

[Performing] Microphone Techniques Workshop: Singers and performers will be coached on ways to improve their microphone technique in front of a supportive, non-judgmental audience. Tylden Hall, 5 Tylden-Woodend Rd, Tylden. 1pm-4pm. Free.

[Music] The Cartridge Family: Hillbilly harmony with humour. Macedon Railway Hotel, 33 Smith St, Macedon. 2.30pm. $25.

[Beer] Brewery Tour: Learn how the beer is brewed at Holgate Brewhouse. Every Saturday and Sunday. Holgate Brewhouse, 79 High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.

[Jazz] The Syncopators: Melbourne-based jazz band. Newham Mechanics Institute, Rochford Rd, Newham. 3.30pm-5.30pm. $32 (sold out).

Coming up

[Charity] Woodend Community Biggest Morning Tea: Organised by Woodend Neighbourhood House, St Mary’s Parish and Woodend Eves CWA. Norma Richardson Hall, 15 Buckland Street, Woodend. June 3. 11am-12.30pm. $10.

[Exhibition] Crescendo: Macedon Ranges Art Trail’s 10th exhibition. Woodend Winter Arts Festival event. Woodend Tennis Club, Earnshaw St, Woodend. June 12-14. 10am-4pm. Entry by donation.

[Exhibition] Woodend Winter Art Show: Exhibition by members of Woodend Art Group. Woodend Railway Station, Urquhart St, Woodend. June 12-14. 10am-4pm. Entry by gold coin donation.

[Community] The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party: Kyneton Community Lunch’s major fundraiser. Food, drinks, auction. Entertainment from Cassidy La Crème. Prize for best costume. Kyneton Mechanics Institute, Mollison St, Kyneton. June 19. 7pm. $60.

[Theatre] Harmony Hospital: Medical musical comedy. Bluestone Theatre, 28 Hutton St, Kyneton. June 26-27. $25.

[Music] 1927: Icons of Australian music. Kyneton Town Hall, Mollison St, Kyneton. July 10. 7.30pm. $65.

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.

This factory had star quality

PAST TIMES

With thanks to Romsey & Lancefield Districts Historical Society. The society meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10am-2pm, at Lancefield Courthouse, in Main Rd, Lancefield.

The main building of Romsey butter factory. — Picture: Romsey & Lancefield Districts Historical Society

The first condensed milk in Australia was produced in Romsey on September 4, 1882, at a new two-storey corrugated iron factory built by the Melbourne Milk Supply Company.

Cheese and butter plants would be added later on the nine-acre site, which was adjacent to the Romsey-Lancefield railway.

Romsey Butter Factory operated until 1960, when the machinery was moved to Kilmore. The large double-storey building was dismantled in the early 1980s and the remaining buildings burnt down later that decade.

Several TV movies and series featured scenes filmed at the butter factory: A Descant for Gossips (1983), Street Hero (1984), My Brother Tom (1986), and The Flying Doctors.

Romsey: An Historical Guide. Fay Woodhouse tells the stories of 55 buildings and landmarks in Romsey, and the families behind the businesses that occupied them. (Published 2021, $40)

A butter factory truck waits to be loaded. — *Picture: Romsey & Lancefield Districts Historical Society*

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