Welcome to Your Macedon Ranges for Monday, November 27, to Sunday, December 3.

🌷 Two stunning gardens in Macedon will be opening this weekend. Former Gardening Australia host Stephen Ryan will be inviting visitors to see the rare and unusual plants at his home garden, Tugurium. The second garden, Caelum, was created in 1994 by renowned landscape designer Grant Saltmarsh.
🎅 The first Advent calendar doors will be peeled open on Friday! Click here to find out about the local Christmas events that will be taking place in the next few weeks.
🌅 Sunsets are the subject of this week’s article on smartphone photography. Tiffany Warner has a great tip for capturing their beauty. You’ll find it below the list of events.
Here are the events and activities happening in the Macedon Ranges this week:
Click the links for more info 👇
Tuesday, November 28
Community Chatty Café: Enjoy a cuppa and a natter. Woodend Neighbourhood House, Forest St. 10am-11am.
Thursday, November 30
Community Walk Against Family Violence: The walk will be followed by a speech and Q&A with Dr Niki Vincent, Victoria’s first Gender Equality Commissioner. Kyneton Community House, 34 Mollison St. 11am-1pm.
Community Woodend Late Night Shopping: Many shops and places to eat will be open into the evening. High St, Woodend. Until 9pm.
Quiz Trivia Night: General knowledge quiz. Gisborne Golf Club, Daly St. 7pm. Free.
Friday, December 1

Music Zoj: Experimental cross-cultural music duo Gelareh Pour and Brian O’Dwyer. Mount Monument, 1399 Romsey Rd, Romsey. 6.30pm-8pm. $35.
Quiz Friday Night Pub Trivia: Topical and fun questions plus some games. The Victoria Hotel, High St, Woodend. 7pm. Free.
Music Al Matcott and Steel Wheels: Performing songs from Al Matcott’s new album. Major Tom’s, 57 Piper St, Kyneton. 8.30pm-11pm. $15.
Saturday, December 2

Market Glenlyon Antiques and Collectables Fair: Glenlyon Recreation Reserve, Dysart St, Glenlyon. 7am-4pm. Admission $5, Under-15 free.
Exercise Parkruns: 5km fun runs in Gisborne (Dixon Field), Lancefield (Lancefield Park) and Woodend (Campaspe Dr). 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.
Music Blackwood Festival of Music & Culture: For music lovers, musicians and anyone interested in old-time and traditional entertainment. St. Martin’s Chapel, Martin St, Blackwood. 9am-1am. Adult $60 (weekend), Child (17 and under) free.
Food & Crafts CWA Christmas Fair: Handmade Christmas goods and crafts. Organised by Central Highlands CWA. CWA Hall, 662 Mount Macedon Rd, Mount Macedon. 10am-3pm.
Open Garden Stephen Ryan’s Garden: Explore the extraordinary private garden of Dicksonia Rare Plants owner and former Gardening Australia presenter Stephen Ryan. Tugurium, 8-10 Centenary Ave, Macedon. 10am-4.30pm. Adult $10, Student $6, Under-18 free.
Open Garden Caelum Open Garden: Enjoy the sunken garden, caged vegetable garden, fruit trees and meandering paths that are flanked by perennial beds and mature trees. Caelum, 3 Church St, Macedon. 10am-4.30pm. Adult $10, Student $6, Under-18 free.
Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.
Community Kyneton Twilight Festival & Market: An afternoon of food, wine, shopping and entertainment. Mechanics Institute Reserve, Mollison St, Kyneton. 3pm-7pm.
Community DV Christmas Party & Community Carols: Food truck, ice cream van, sausage sizzle. Plus Santa visit. DV Cider, 39 Darraweit Valley Rd, Darraweit Guim. 6pm-10pm.
Food & Drink Wine Under the Stars: Sip on a glass of fine wine as you enjoy a tour of the night sky with the Astronomical Society of Victoria. Hanging Rock Winery, Jim Rd, Newham. 6pm-11.30pm. $198 for two people.
Music Christmas with The Gisborne Singers: Traditional carols with choir, soloists and instrumental ensemble. Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, Hutton St, Kyneton. 8pm-10pm. General admission $40, Under-12 free.
Community Gisborne Carols by Candlelight: Children’s rides and activities, live music, market stalls, food park, Santa meet-and-greet, and fireworks display. Holy Cross Primary School, Hamilton Rd, New Gisborne. 2pm-9pm (carols from 7pm). Gold coin.
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Sunday, December 3

Market Glenlyon Antiques and Collectables Fair: Glenlyon Recreation Reserve, Dysart St, Glenlyon. 8am-12pm. Admission $5, Under-15 free.
Market Daylesford Sunday Market: Daylesford Railway Station, Raglan St. 8am-3pm.
Market Gisborne Olde Time Market: Aitken St/Hamilton St. 9am-2pm.
Music Blackwood Festival of Music & Culture: For music lovers, musicians and anyone interested in old-time and traditional entertainment. St. Martin’s Chapel, Martin St, Blackwood. 9am to 5pm. Adult $60 (weekend), Child (17 and under) free.
Walk & Wine Mount Macedon Gourmet Walk: A 13km walk along bushland tracks and a visit to two wineries. Mount Macedon. 9.30am-3.30pm. $175.
Open Garden Stephen Ryan’s Garden: Explore the extraordinary private garden of Dicksonia Rare Plants owner and former Gardening Australia presenter Stephen Ryan. Tugurium, 8-10 Centenary Ave, Macedon. 10am-4.30pm. Adult $10, Student $6, Under-18 free.
Open Garden Caelum Open Garden: Enjoy the sunken garden, caged vegetable garden, fruit trees and meandering paths that are flanked by perennial beds and mature trees. Caelum, 3 Church St, Macedon. 10am-4.30pm. Adult $10, Student $6, Under-18 free.
Food & Drink Fete de la Fleur: Live music and Italian food to celebrate the flowering of the vineyard. Lyons Will Estate, 60 Whalans Track, Lancefield. From 12pm. $60.
Craft Christmas Wreath Making: Create a beautiful Christmas wreath with Madelene Sutton, from Flower Heaven. Trentham Neighbourhood Centre, 56 High St, Trentham. 1pm-3pm. $85.
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

Gisborne Phoenix Macedon Ranges Art and Craft Group Exhibition: Gisborne Courthouse, Hamilton St. Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 9am-2pm.
Kyneton The Old Auction House: Exhibitions: Buttlejorrk Artists and Jay Ford. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm.
Kyneton Art on Piper: Wed-Mon 10am-4pm.
Kyneton Stockroom: Exhibitions: Natalie Ryan, Becc Orszag. Thu-Sat 10.30am-5pm, Sun 11am-3pm.
Kyneton Cusack & Cusack: Exhibitions: Julie Poulsen, Adam Cusack, Jonathan McBurnie. Fri-Sun 10am-3pm.
Kyneton Stitch in Time: Historical folk art and craft materials. Fri-Sun 11am-4pm.
Kyneton Kyneton Ridge Artspace: Summer exhibition featuring work by 20 artists. Sat & Sun 11am-5pm.
Kyneton Trio Art Studio & Gallery: Exhibition: Anton Hasell (sculptures). Sat-Mon 10am-4pm.
Mount Macedon The Gallery: Exhibition: Jennifer Segrave and Kirsty Traill. Fri-Tues 10am-4pm.
Newham Art in the Vines: Sculptures by 26 acclaimed artists. Every day 10am-5pm.
Riddells Creek Dromkeen: Exhibition: Between the Pages (art by children’s writers and book illustrators). Sat & Sun 10am-5.30pm.
Trentham Trentham District Story: Learn about Trentham, from its earliest indigenous inhabitants to the present day. Outdoor display at the Old Police Station, 3-5 Camp St. Every day.
Trentham Little Gallery: Fri-Mon 10am-4pm.
Woodend The Back Shed Gallery: Multimedia. 33 Urquhart St, Woodend. Tues-Sun 10am-5pm.
Coming up

Food & Drink Birds of a Feather Luncheon – Annie Smithers: Guest speaker Annie Smithers is one of Australia’s most highly regarded chefs. The Victoria Hotel, High St, Woodend. 12pm-3pm. December 5.
Community Lions Gisborne Festival: Street parade plus children’s activities, market and food stalls, music and entertainment, carnival rides and fireworks. Gardiner Reserve, Hamilton St, Gisborne. 4.30pm-9.30pm. Free. December 8.
Sport talk Rodney Hogg – Lunch with the Lunatic Fast Bowler: Join former Australia fast bowler Rodney Hogg for insights and anecodes from his career in cricket. Telegraph Hotel, Hamilton St, Gisborne. 12pm-3pm. $100. December 15.
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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Snap it with your phone
SUNSET REFLECTIONS
As part of a series on smartphone photography, professional photographer Tiffany Warner explains how you can take stunning photos at sunset.

📍 Gisborne Racecourse Marshlands Reserve
Sunsets can be beautiful, but sunsets reflecting in water are particularly beautiful.
To add more interest to my pictures, I always look for something that will draw the viewer’s eye in a different direction.
In this case, I have chosen a small platform and strategically placed it to one side. This prompts the viewer to look across to the brightest and most colourful part of the image. This is a fun technique to practise when photographing dams, waterways or beaches.
As the sky darkens, the colours become even more vivid. Try capturing images at different times to observe the changes in colour.
💡 Tip: Be on the lookout for reflections and try to find another point of interest to create an eye-catching image.
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.

🎅 Find out about shopping nights, carols by candlelight, Christmas film screenings, workshops and festivals.
👉 Click here for a round-up of Christmas events.
In the news
🗳️ MACEDON RANGES: Annette Death will remain as mayor of the Macedon Ranges for another year. Janet Pearce has succeeded Jennifer Anderson as deputy mayor.
⛳ WOODEND & KYNETON: Woodend Golf Club’s renovated clubrooms have been officially opened. The work, which cost $682,000, included new toilets, carpet, and lighting, the refurbishment of the kitchen, plus decking and paving. Meanwhile, the $1.26m reconstruction of the Barkly Square sports field in Kyneton has been completed.
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