Welcome to Your Macedon Ranges for Monday, October 31, to Sunday, November 6.
🎭 The Mountain Writers’ Festival begins on Thursday night with Shane Jacobson and Nadine Garner reading an “in development” play about Ash Wednesday. The Big Room tells the story of the night when 300 residents and their animals took shelter at the Macedon Family Hotel as the bushfires raged. At the time of sending this newsletter, a few tickets are still available.
Two other productions – unconnected to the writers’ festival – open on Thursday night: The Mount Players’ latest production, Madagascar, and Kyneton Theatre Company’s We Will Rock You.
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Here are the events and activities happening in the Macedon Ranges this week:
Click the links for more info 👇
Monday, October 31
Community Halloween Party: Sausage sizzle, fairy floss, popcorn, entertainment and more. Woodend Children’s Park, Nicholson St. 5pm-8pm. Free.
Tuesday, November 1
Food & Music Songs and Cider: Music from Kane Vincent. DV Cider, 39 Darraweit Valley Rd, Darraweit Guim. 12pm-4pm.
Wednesday, November 2
Singing Woodend Warblers: Community choir. Norma Richardson Hall, Buckland St, Woodend. 7.30pm. $12.
Thursday, November 3
Author Talk Peter Quarry – If I Were You: Psychologist Peter Quarry deconstructs his own life, showing how you, too, can unpack and reboot yours. Woodend Library, Cnr High St & Forest St. 11am-12pm. Free.
Quiz Trivia Night: General knowledge quiz. Gisborne Golf Club, Daly St. 7pm. Free.
Writers’ Festival The Big Room: Shane Jacobson and Nadine Garner star in the first readings of an “in development” play about the night of Ash Wednesday. Macedon Railway Hotel, Smith St, Macedon. 7pm-9pm. $10.
Friday, November 4
Quiz Friday Night Pub Trivia: Topical and fun questions plus some games. Woodend. 6.30pm-10.30pm. Free.
Theatre Madagascar: An intriguing story of a disappearance that changes three lives forever. Performed by The Mount Players. Mountview Theatre, Smith St, Macedon. Until November 20. 8pm-10.30pm. Adult $35, Concession $30.
Theatre We Will Rock You: The story of a group of Bohemians struggling to restore the free exchange of thought and fashion – all to the soundtrack of Queen. Performed by Kyneton Theatre Company. Bluestone Theatre, Hutton St, Kyneton. Until November 27. 8pm-11pm. Adult $35 Concession $28, Under-16 $25.
Saturday, November 5
Exercise Campaspe Parkrun: 5km fun run along the Five Mile Creek path. Campaspe Park, Campaspe Dr, Woodend. 8am. Free (registration required).
Exercise Lancefield Parkrun: 5km fun run around Lancefield Park. Lancefield Park, Chauncey St, Lancefield. 8am. Free (registration required).
Market Woodend Farmers’ Market: Cnr High St & Forest St. 9am-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.
Garden Duneira Bluebell Festival: Enjoy live music whilst exploring the beautiful gardens. Plus Devonshire teas, lunch options, coffee, wine tastings and market stalls. Duneira, Officer Ln, Mount Macedon. 10am-3pm. Adult $30, Under-16 free.
Open Garden Viewfield: Bring a picnic and enjoy the majestic trees, sparkling stream and stunning views at this private garden. Viewfield, 651 Mount Macedon Rd, Mount Macedon. 10am-4pm. Entry (17 years and over) $10.
Festival Spring Bliss: A day-long festival featuring live music, workshops, demonstrations and stalls. An event for all ages. Hanging Rock Reserve. Enter via Straws Ln. 10am-5pm. Family $85, Adult $45, Concession $35, Child (age 5-14) $35.
Drink Vermouth and the Art of Using Botanicals in Aromatised Wines: Winemaker Gilles Lapalus, from Maidenii, will tell you about the art and science of using botanicals in aromatised wines and cocktails. Botanik, 22 Piper St, Kyneton. 11.30am-1.30pm. $100.
Food & Music Songs and Cider: Music from Zak Shepherd. DV Cider, 39 Darraweit Valley Rd, Darraweit Guim. 1pm-5pm.
Theatre We Will Rock You: The story of a group of Bohemians struggling to restore the free exchange of thought and fashion – all to the soundtrack of Queen. Performed by Kyneton Theatre Company. Bluestone Theatre, Hutton St, Kyneton. Until November 27. 2pm-5pm and 8pm-11pm. Adult $35 Concession $28, Under-16 $25.
Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.
Theatre Madagascar: An intriguing story of a disappearance that changes three lives forever. Performed by The Mount Players. Mountview Theatre, Smith St, Macedon. Until November 20. 8pm-10.30pm. Adult $30, Concession $25.
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Sunday, November 6
Market Daylesford Sunday Market: Daylesford Railway Station, Raglan St. 8am-3pm.
Market Lancefield/Romsey Lions Club Swap Meet: Automotive products, tools and bric-a-brac. No car show. Romsey Recreation Reserve, Barry St. From 8am. General admission $5, Under-15 free.
Market Gisborne Olde Time Market: Aitken St/Hamilton St. 9am-2pm.
Garden Duneira Bluebell Festival: Enjoy live music whilst exploring the beautiful gardens. Plus Devonshire teas, lunch options, coffee, wine tastings and market stalls. Duneira, Officer Ln, Mount Macedon. 10am-3pm. Adult $30, Under-16 free.
Open Garden Viewfield: Bring a picnic and enjoy the majestic trees, sparkling stream and stunning views at this private garden. Viewfield, 651 Mount Macedon Rd, Mount Macedon. 10am-4pm. Entry (17 years and over) $10.
Local History Connecting Communities HistoryFest: Historians Peter Yule and Richard Trembath, from the University of Melbourne, will be among the speakers who will be discussing local history and its importance to our communities. Mechanics Institute, High St, Lancefield. 10.30am-3pm. $30.
Music The Ranges Little Big Band: Soul-filled originals plus some fun, swinging arrangements of popular and classic Big Band favourites. Hedge Farm, 124 Three Chain Rd, Carlsruhe. 12pm-6pm. $32.
Theatre Madagascar: An intriguing story of a disappearance that changes three lives forever. Performed by The Mount Players. Mountview Theatre, Smith St, Macedon. Until November 20. 2pm-4pm. Adult $30, Concession $25.
Theatre We Will Rock You: The story of a group of Bohemians struggling to restore the free exchange of thought and fashion – all to the soundtrack of Queen. Performed by Kyneton Theatre Company. Bluestone Theatre, Hutton St, Kyneton. Until November 27. 2pm-5pm. Adult $35 Concession $28, Under-16 $25.
Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.
Exhibitions
Kyneton The Old Auction House Artists: Exhibitions: Sacred Heart VCE students, Katy Stiffe. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm.
Kyneton Stockroom Artists: Exhibitions: Cecilia Fogelberg, Laetitia Olivier-Gargano, Pip Byrne. Wed-Sat 10.30am-5pm, Sun 11am-3pm.
Kyneton Art on Piper Artists: Showcasing work by local artists. Exhibitions: Around the Ranges (window), Macedon Ranges, Black and White Meets Circles. Wed-Mon 10am-4pm.
Kyneton Treasures of this Land: Art exhibition and auction. Featuring artworks from nationally and internationally acclaimed artists. Until November 6. Sat-Sun 11am-5pm.
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 Inked: Jo Hoyne uses drawings to explore the use of skin as art. Fri-Tues 10am-4pm.
Newham Art in the Vines: Sculptures by 26 acclaimed artists. Every day 10am-5pm.
Trentham Little Gallery Members: Artwork by Rose Wilson, Helen Cottle, Kim Haughie, Ri Van Veen, Larissa Gray, Llael McDonald, Frances Harkin, Liz Archer, Ruby Wilson-Peirce, Sam Bloomfield. Thu-Mon 10am-4pm.
Woodend Woodend Art Group Annual Exhibition: Final two days. Mon-Tues 10am-4pm. Until November 1. Artist demonstrations Mon & Tues 12pm-2pm. Gold coin.
Coming up
Drink The Negroni, Desconstructed and Diagnosed: Winemaker Gilles Lapalus, from Maidenii, will guide you through the ingredients of this popular cocktail. Kyneton. November 9.
Comedy Jude Perl – Participation Award: Singer, songwriter and comedian Jude Perl addresses the age-old question: why does school suck so much? Kyneton. November 10.
Community Kyneton Show Carnival: Laser tag in the hay bales, ute muster, dog agility, whip-cracking demonstrations, live music, fireworks (9pm). Kyneton. November 18.
Community Kyneton Show: The agricultural show’s 160th year. Woodchop, rides, dog agility, pony rides, pet parade, bikes, farm workshop, sheep-shearing demonstrations, and more. Kyneton. November 19.
Community Malmsbury Village Fayre: Live music, children’s activities, and stalls. Malmsbury. November 20.
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
🏡 DENVER: Internationally-renowned garden designer Paul Bangay is selling his country home. Stonefields has been listed with a price guide of $8m to $8.8m. (The Age)
📺 GISBORNE SOUTH: “The block across the road from The Block“ has also just gone on the market. A house on 10 acres opposite the six homes renovated for the Channel 9 series has been listed for $3m.
🌳 ROMSEY: The much-anticipated Romsey Ecotherapy Park has been officially opened. The park has a cubby house, a climbing forest, a ropes course, lookouts and a climbing net, a sensory garden, and an events space with picnic and barbecue facilities.
⛳ WOODEND: It’s been a good week for Woodend sports clubs. The golf club was named Victorian club of the year at the Golf Australia Awards, and the state government has agreed to provide almost $1m to transform the netball facilities at Gilbert Gordon Reserve.
🏇 KYNETON: Kyneton Cup Day will be transferred to another venue because the track at Kyneton is not in a suitable condition to hold Wednesday’s meeting.
☔ MACEDON RANGES: How does this month’s rainfall compare with previous years? Search the BOM’s historical climate data to find the figures for your local area. (Credit: Peter Yates, via Woodend Community Ponderings and News.)
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