Welcome to Your Macedon Ranges for the week of Monday, October 18, to Sunday, October 24.
š¦ It’s National Bird Week this week. Perhaps I’ve been paying more attention in the past couple of years, but I’m now noticing a greater variety of garden visitors. Just recently, we had eastern spinebills darting in and out of the shrubs. And a pair of kookaburras must have set up home nearby.
The Aussie Backyard Bird Count will be running all week, and local bird-related events are being held on Monday, Thursday and Saturday.
One bird, though, that I’m hoping I won’t see for a while (or rather hear) is the eastern koel. If it’s taken a shine to your garden, a pair of earplugs may be your salvation!
Here are the events and activities happening in the Macedon Ranges this week:
Online, anytime
Exhibition Macedon Ranges Art Trail Exhibition: Paintings, sculptures, photographs, drawings and mixed media by 26 artists. Until November 30.
Monday, October 18
Exhibition Kyneton Art Group Annual Exhibition: Featuring work by 16 local artists. Kyneton. Until October 25. 9am-5pm.
Exhibition Art in the Vines – AV4: New exhibition of sculptures by 26 acclaimed artists. Newham. Daily until April 25. 10am-5pm. Free.
Nature Using Apps for Birding: Learn about the many Australian apps to help you identify, track and find birds in our region. Kyneton. 2pm-3pm. Free.
Tuesday, October 19
Exhibition Kyneton Art Group Annual Exhibition: Featuring work by 16 local artists. Kyneton. Until October 25. 9am-5pm.
Safety Introduction to Bystander Action (online): A workshop designed to prepare you to be an active bystander, setting up safe and effective ways to intervene in the workplace and the community. Women’s Health Loddon Mallee. 10am-12pm. Free.
Exhibition Art in the Vines – AV4: New exhibition of sculptures by 26 acclaimed artists. Newham. Daily until April 25. 10am-5pm. Free.
Environment Fungi of the Macedon Ranges (online): Discover the diversity and beauty of the fungi found on Mt Macedon. With fungi expert Greg Boldiston. 7pm. Full $5, Concession free.
Wednesday, October 20
Exhibition Kyneton Art Group Annual Exhibition: Featuring work by 16 local artists. Kyneton. Until October 25. 9am-5pm.
Exhibition Art in the Vines – AV4: New exhibition of sculptures by 26 acclaimed artists. Newham. Daily until April 25. 10am-5pm. Free.
Community Storm Recovery – Woodend, Ashbourne & Surrounds (online): Help for residents and landholders affected by storm damage. Macedon Ranges Shire Council. 6.30pm-7.30pm.
Books Chris Hammer – Treasure & Dirt (online): The best-selling author of Scrublands discusses his new novel with author Ben Hobson (Snake Island). Goldfields Libraries. 7pm-8pm. Free.
Thursday, October 21
Exhibition Kyneton Art Group Annual Exhibition: Featuring work by 16 local artists. Kyneton. Until October 25. 9am-5pm.
Exhibition Little Gallery Members: Artworks by Rose Wilson, Helen Cottle, Kim Haughie, Ri Van Veen, Larissa Gray, Llael McDonald, Frances Harkin, Liz Archer, Ruby Wilson-Peirce, Sam Bloomfield. Trentham. 10am-4pm.
Exhibition Art in the Vines – AV4: New exhibition of sculptures by 26 acclaimed artists. Newham. Daily until April 25. 10am-5pm. Free.
Nature Victorian Bird Walks (online): Join bird watcher Damian Kelly as he talks about his new book about bird walks. Goldfields Libraries. 6pm-7pm. Free.
Friday, October 22
Exhibition Kyneton Art Group Annual Exhibition: Featuring work by 16 local artists. Kyneton. Until October 25. 9am-5pm.
Exhibition Little Gallery Members: Artworks by Rose Wilson, Helen Cottle, Kim Haughie, Ri Van Veen, Larissa Gray, Llael McDonald, Frances Harkin, Liz Archer, Ruby Wilson-Peirce, Sam Bloomfield. Trentham. 10am-4pm.
Exhibition Art in the Vines – AV4: New exhibition of sculptures by 26 acclaimed artists. Newham. Daily until April 25. 10am-5pm. Free.
Exhibition A Biodiversity Crisis – Animals and Plants of the Macedon Ranges: Interactive exhibition. Contains taxidermy. Kyneton. 11am-4pm. Adult $5.10, Concession/student $3.10, Child under 5 free, Family $10.20.
Entertainment Youth Night: A safe space for teenagers to hang out. Music, games, Xbox, free Wi-Fi. Riddells Creek. 5.30pm-7.30pm. $2.
Film Eating Our Way to Extinction (online): Watch the documentary (narrated by Kate Winslet) and join co-author Gerard Bisshop for a Q&A. Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group. 7pm-9pm. $5.
Never miss a thing in the Macedon Ranges
Get this newsletter every Sunday
āNew to the newsletter and itās brilliant. So much happening in our region I wouldnāt otherwise know about.ā
āSo much information ā¦ excellent resource for the community. WELL DONE. Weāve forwarded it on!ā
Saturday, October 23
Nature Macedon Ranges Annual Bird Blitz: Small groups of volunteers will help to survey 96 sites across the shire. Macedon Ranges Shire Council. 7.30am-2.30pm.
Market Lancefield Farmers’ Market: High St & Park St. 9am-1pm.
Market Little Treasures Market: Tasty treats, handmade goods, plants, jewellery, hats and scarves, and more. Mechanics Institute, Main St, Lancefield. 9am-1pm.
Exhibition Kyneton Art Group Annual Exhibition: Featuring work by 16 local artists. The Old Auction House, 52-56 Mollison St, Kyneton. Until October 25. 10am-4pm.
Exhibition Little Gallery Members: Artworks by Rose Wilson, Helen Cottle, Kim Haughie, Ri Van Veen, Larissa Gray, Llael McDonald, Frances Harkin, Liz Archer, Ruby Wilson-Peirce, Sam Bloomfield. Little Gallery, 32B High St, Trentham. 10am-4pm.
Exhibition Art in the Vines – AV4: New exhibition of sculptures by 26 acclaimed artists. Hanging Rock Winery, Jim Rd, Newham. Daily until April 25. 10am-5pm. Free.
Workshop Intro to Leadlight Windows – Day 1: Two-day course. Learn how to make a leadlight window from scratch. The Old Auction House, 52-56 Mollison St, Kyneton. Also Sunday. 10.30am-3.30pm. $350.
Exhibition A Biodiversity Crisis – Animals and Plants of the Macedon Ranges: Interactive exhibition. Contains taxidermy. Kyneton Museum, Piper St. 11am-4pm. Adult $5.10, Concession/student $3.10, Child under 5 free, Family $10.20.
Gardening Growing Produce – Part 2: With Fiona Hamilton. Covering: vegetable groups; seeds, seedlings and cuttings; growing what and when. Group limited to 18. Trentham Neighbourhood Centre, 56 High St. 1pm-5pm. $45 (fully booked).
Sunday, October 24
Horses Horse Owners’ Field Day Discussion Group: For horse owners who wish to improve their land and the health of their horses. New Gisborne. 10am-12pm. Free.
Exhibition Kyneton Art Group Annual Exhibition: Featuring work by 16 local artists. The Old Auction House, 52-56 Mollison St, Kyneton. Until October 25. 10am-4pm.
Exhibition Little Gallery Members: Artworks by Rose Wilson, Helen Cottle, Kim Haughie, Ri Van Veen, Larissa Gray, Llael McDonald, Frances Harkin, Liz Archer, Ruby Wilson-Peirce, Sam Bloomfield. Little Gallery, 32B High St, Trentham. 10am-4pm.
Exhibition Art in the Vines – AV4: New exhibition of sculptures by 26 acclaimed artists. Hanging Rock Winery, Jim Rd, Newham. Daily until April 25. 10am-5pm. Free.
Workshop Intro to Leadlight Windows – Day 2: Two-day course. Learn how to make a leadlight window from scratch. The Old Auction House, 52-56 Mollison St, Kyneton. Also Saturday. 10.30am-3.30pm. $350.
Exhibition A Biodiversity Crisis – Animals and Plants of the Macedon Ranges: Interactive exhibition. Contains taxidermy. Kyneton Museum, Piper St. 11am-4pm. Adult $5.10, Concession/student $3.10, Child under 5 free, Family $10.20.
Coming up
Gardening Edible Gardens (online): Join horticulturalist Craig Castree to learn about the difference between an edible garden and a vegetable garden, and how to turn your garden into a productive, edible, organic space. October 26.
Poultry Spring Poultry Sale: Fixed prices. Heritage breeds, backyard layers, and rare and unusual breeds. Plus poultry-related goods. Organised by Kyneton & District Poultry Club. Kyneton. October 31.
Sustainability Sustainable Living Festival: A mini version of the festival that will showcase Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group’s 14 action groups. Woodend. November 6.
Drink Wine Retreat: Taste more than 20 wines, learn about Macedon Ranges and European wine and food, enjoy wine panel discussions, and relax in a luxurious setting. With special guests from the wine industry. Lancefield. November 12-14.
Drink Gin-blending Masterclass: Learn about distillation and how recipes are created. Kyneton. November 20, December 4 & 18.
Craft Christmas Wreath Workshop: Learn how to make a Christmas wreath with florist Madelene Sutton. Woodend. November 20.
Running Mt Macedon Trail Run: Five routes: 10km, 21km, 30km, 42km, 50km. Mt Macedon. November 21.
Music Ross Wilson & The Peaceniks: From Daddy Cool to Mondo Rock, and as a solo artist, Ross Wilson is one of Australia’s best-known and most respected performers. Macedon. January 29.
Music Kate Ceberano: ARIA-award-winning singer with one of the great voices of her generation. Macedon. February 25.
Warm wishes,
Richard
P.S. I’ve tried my best to ensure accuracy, but please follow the links above to confirm details before attending events.
How am I doing?
Your Macedon Ranges is researched, written, and edited by me alone. Compiling it takes me 10+ hours each week. I love doing it, and the response has been incredible. I’m very grateful for your kind words.
If you find value in the newsletter, Iād so appreciate you subsidising my coffee habit … it helps with the collating and the writing!
Emerging from shelter
PAST TIMES
With thanks to Malmsbury Historical Society.
The site on which the Malmsbury Mechanics’ Institute hall now stands was once occupied by a Caroline Chisholm shelter shed.
In a letter to his parents in England in 1858, Kish Guy described the shelter shed in less-than-glowing terms. The long building had three sections: a bedroom for the people who ran it, and a kitchen/sitting room and dormitory to provide safe accommodation for families heading to the goldfields.
Travellers slept on the floor or paid extra to lie on one of the “strange-looking machines they call bedsteads” that flanked the room. “You soon find it is by no means the kind of thing to rest your bones upon, there being no bed – unless you call a canvas bag with a hatful of straw in it a bed,” Guy wrote.
The Mechanicsā Institute movement originated in Scotland in 1800 and provided free educational lectures for working men. In February 1862, Malmsbury Council was asked to hold a public meeting to consider āthe desirability of establishing a Mechanicsā Instituteā in the village. A committee was formed and approached the council for permission to use part of the shelter shed as a reading room and classroom.
The Malmsbury Mechanics’ Institute met for the first time two months later. They built the front portion of the current building in 1876 and added the Federal Hall in 1895.
āļø Christine Barker, Secretary and Editor of Malmsbury Historical Society.
š The Elongated Dog Kennel: 150th Anniversary of Malmsbury Mechanicsā Institute, by Susan Walter (2012). Available from Malmsbury Historical Society, via email, for $20 plus postage.
Enjoyed this newsletter?
Get it emailed to you every Sunday – and never miss a thing.
“I am so happy to be able to receive your emails and keep up to date with what’s going on in the area as well as learning a bit of local history!”