This week in the Macedon Ranges (November 4-10)

Welcome to Your Macedon Ranges for Monday, November 4, to Sunday, November 10.

🤹‍♂️ Roll up, roll up! The circus is coming to Gisborne this month. Silvers Circus Spectacular is a modern circus featuring aerial displays, acrobatics, juggling, roller skating, motorbikes and more. You can catch the show at Gisborne Steam Park from November 15.

🎸 U2 will be in Woodend for St Patrick’s Day! Alas, not the legendary Irish rock band, but an excellent alternative. The U2 Show Achtung Baby – regarded as Australia’s leading U2 tribute band – will perform at The Victoria Hotel on March 15. Could they be even better than the real thing?

🌱 Kyneton Horticultural Society and Friends of Kyneton Botanic Gardens will hold their annual plant sale at Kyneton Community Market on Saturday. Hundreds of groundcovers, perennials, bulbs, succulents, shrubs and trees will be available.

🐎 The Kyneton Cup will be held on Wednesday, but the horses that Tiffany Warner captured this week in Mount Macedon for her article on smartphone photography were enjoying a gentler pace of life. See Tiffany’s image and photography advice below the event guide.

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

Click the links for more info 👇

Monday, November 4

Ghost Hunt Romsey Mechanics Hall Paranormal Investigation: The hall has been many things: a ballroom, a boxing ring, a roller-skating rink and a venue for functions, meetings, and parties. Some spirits still see it as it was back in its glory days. Join Kyneton Paranormal to learn how to connect with them. Romsey Mechanics’ Institute, Main St, Romsey. 7.30pm-9.30pm. $35.

Wednesday, November 6

Racing Kyneton Cup: Get into the spirit of the spring carnival. Nine races on the card, including the $125,000 Kyneton Cup. Kyneton Racecourse, Campaspe Pl, Kyneton. From 11am. Adult $25, Child (16 and under) free.

Game Canasta Club: Join a friendly group to play the card game Canasta. Beginners welcome. Macedon & Mount Macedon Community House, 47 Victoria St, Macedon. 2pm-5pm.

Singing Woodend Warblers: Community choir. Norma Richardson Hall, Buckland St, Woodend. 7pm. $12 (first session free).

Quiz Trivia Night: General knowledge quiz. The Victoria Hotel, High St, Woodend. 7pm. Free.

Quiz Pub Trivia: Put your knowledge to the test. The Lancefield Hotel, High St, Lancefield. 7pm-11pm.

Thursday, November 7

Poetry Anne Gleeson and Ross Gillett – Two Fathers and a War: Anne and Ross commemorate Remembrance Day through poetry and personal stories of their fathers’ involvement in World War II. Kyneton Library, Baynton St, Kyneton. 2pm-3pm. Free.

Friday, November 8

Environment Memorial Cross Group Hike: 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.

Theatre A Bunch of Amateurs: Comedy by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman. Keen to boost his flagging career, fading Hollywood action hero Jefferson Steele arrives in England to play King Lear in Stratford – only to discover that this is not the birthplace of Shakespeare but a sleepy Suffolk village. Mountview Theatre, Smith St, Macedon. 8pm-10.30pm. Adult $30, Concession $25.

Saturday, November 9

Exercise Parkruns: 5km fun runs/walks in Gisborne (Dixon Field), Lancefield (Lancefield Park) and Woodend (Campaspe Dr). All abilities welcome. 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.

Gardening Plant Sale: Huge selection of groundcovers, perennials, bulbs, succulents, shrubs and trees. Annual sale by Kyneton Horticultural Society and Friends of Kyneton Botanic Gardens. Kyneton Community Market, Ebden St & Yaldwyn St West, Kyneton. 8.30am-1pm.

Gardening Photosynthesis – Irrigation, Rainwater Tanks and Sunlight: Learn how sunlight, air and water can all influence your garden. Leaf, Root & Fruit, 21 Dettmanns Ln, Kyneton. 10am-3pm. $100.

Author Talk David Gormley-O’Brien – An Attractive Naivety: Local writer David Gormley-O’Brien will discuss his historical novel An Attractive Naivety. Inspired by real people and events, the story follows the lives of three generations of an Australian family through the turbulent first half of the 20th century. Woodend Library, Cnr High St & Forest St, Woodend. 11.15am-12.15pm. Free.

Poetry Chamber Poets: Poets young and old, new and experienced share their poetry in a supportive environment. All welcome to participate or listen. Woodend RSL, Anslow St, Woodend. 1pm-4pm. Entry $10, Concession $5.

Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4.30pm. $25.

Music Ollie: Live music in the bar. The Victoria Hotel, High St, Woodend. 6.30pm-10pm.

Music Skyscraper Stan: Skyscraper Stan and the Commission Flats are celebrating the release of their new single Talk to Me with a run of shows through Victoria, NSW, SA and the ACT. Major Tom’s, 57 Piper St, Kyneton. 8.30pm-11pm. $15.

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Sunday, November 10

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.

Food RedBeard Bakery Bread Workshop: Learn how to make your own sourdough starter culture and how to knead, shape, proof and bake classic sourdough loaves. RedBeard Bakery, Wolff Ln, Trentham. 9.30am-4pm. $330.

Nature Tiny Fungi Walk: Join Jeremy Hegge to learn how to find and identify tiny fungi. Macedon area. 10am-11.30am, 2pm-3.30pm. $19.50.

Community Woodend CFA Open Day: Live firefighting demonstrations, explore the FireWise Garden, fire safety education sessions and advice on preparing for the fire season. Children’s activities. Free sausage sizzle. Woodend Fire Station, Urquhart St, Woodend. 10am-2pm.

Music Organ Recital – Rhys Boak: Includes St Anne Prelude and Fugue by J.S, Bach, and works by Haydn, Schubert, Brahms and Karg-Elert. Church of the Resurrection, Honour Ave, Macedon. 3pm-4pm. Adult $40, Concession $35.

Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4.30pm. $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: Exhibition: Pam Gleeson, Nadia Kliendanze, Terri MacDonald. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm.

Kyneton Art on Piper: Exhibitions: Ali Hill, Black and White. Every day 10am-4pm.

Kyneton Stockroom: Exhibitions: Pia Johnson, Alicia King, Victoria Lynagh. Thu-Sat 10.30am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm.

Kyneton Cusack & Cusack: Fri-Sun 10am-3pm.

Kyneton Kyneton Museum: Exhibition: Nurses, Medicine and Caring. Fri-Sun. 11am-4pm.

Kyneton Kyneton Ridge Artspace: Exhibition: Lucie Howson. Sat & Sun 11am-5pm. (Artists are invited to submit artworks for the annual summer show. Email jordan@kynetonridge.com.au)

Kyneton Trio Art Studio & Gallery: Exhibition: Maxine McKee. Sat-Mon 10am-4pm. Opening event Sat (Nov 9) 2pm-5pm.

Mount Macedon The Gallery: Exhibition: Reuse and Recycle. Fri-Tues 10am-4pm.

Newham Hanging Rock Winery: Exhibition: Art in the Vines (sculptures). Every day 10am-5pm.

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.

Trentham Little Gallery: Fri-Mon 10am-4pm.

Woodend The Back Shed Gallery: 33 Urquhart St, Woodend. Tues-Sun 10am-5pm.

Coming up

Community Kyneton Show: Woodchopping competitions, sheep-shearing demonstrations, country parkour, pony rides, animal nursery, farm workshop, and more. Kyneton Showgrounds, Mollison St, Kyneton. 9am-4pm. Two-day Show pass $80, Family $50, Adult $20, Pensioner/Senior $10, Child (ages 2-17) $10. November 16.

Running Lancefield Gift: The meeting will feature 13 races, including the richest men’s and women’s 400m races in the state ($6,000) and the 120m Lancefield Gift races ($5,000). Lancefield Park, Chauncey St, Lancefield. From 12pm. November 16.

Culture Mountain Festival: Environmental literary festival. Guest speakers will include Gina Chick, Bob Brown, Alexis Wright, Robbie Arnott, and Paul Bangay. Workshops for all ages wil include nature journalling, meditation, and stargazing. Ash Wednesday play reading by Shane Jacobson and Pia Miranda. Macedon. November 22-24.

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

HORSES

Professional photographer Tiffany Warner shares a two techniques to enhance your images.

📍 Mount Macedon Rd, Mount Macedon

I talk about leading lines frequently because they are a technique I use almost every day. In this scene, instead of capturing the image head-on, I’ve framed it from one end and followed the horses along the fence line. This guides the viewer’s eyes from left to right and into the entire scene.

Another helpful tip is to use filters. Here, I added a brown tint using the filters available in my phone’s editing section. I like how the tones create a warm, country feel. Try experimenting with filters yourself.

💡 Tips: Use leading lines to draw in the viewer, and play around with filters to add a little mood to your photos.

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.

In the news

🛍️ KYNETON: Kyneton’s popular twilight festival, typically held in December in the lead-up to Christmas, has been cancelled this year due to a shortfall in funds and volunteers. “We hope to be back bigger and better in 2025,” Kyneton Community House director Claire Rawlinson said.

🏡 GISBORNE: The co-creator of Channel 9’s The Block, Julian Cress, and his family made a tree-change to Gisborne in 2020. They have since transformed their mid-1980s kit home. “We love it here,” Cress said.

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