A Woodend road is in the spotlight as residents fight over proposed speed limits At the April Macedon Ranges council meeting councillors voted on changes to the speed limit on Spencer Road council installed 50km/h speed limit signs along the road there were no prior records of speed signage on the road Council engaged with the Department of Transport and Planning Portal which determined a default speed of 50km/h Following repeated incidents of vandalism and removal of signs with the correct speed for Spencer Road being 80km/h council notified residents in January 2025 of its intention to formalise the speed to 80km/h with DTP council received a community petition on behalf of 30 residents stating their demand to have the speed limit stay at 50km/h asking to have the signage reinstalled by the end of the month council received a letter signed by 21 individuals objecting the petition request the recommendation introduced by council’s assets and operations director Dominic Testoni was to proceed with seeking approval with DTP to have the limit changed to 80km/h install new speed limit signs and continue to review other potential speed limit inconsistencies The recommendation would bring the road in line with the Victorian Speed Zoning Guidelines which recommends an 80km/h limit for roads of this type The motion was moved by deputy mayor Kate Kendall and seconded by Cr Janet Pearce Cr Jennifer Anderson said it was an anomaly that the 50km/h signs went up “Different roads have different treatments They have different traffic management on it and we would still hope regardless of what speed is on our roads that people drive to the conditions,” she said and really it should have been at 80km/h.“ Woodend residents are fighting an application for a freeway service centre at the edge of their town just four years after VCAT rejected a similar proposal Plans include three fast-food restaurants with drive-throughs and construction of two new on/off freeway ramps has appealed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal following Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s failure to grant a permit within the prescribed time Objector Karen Hunt said the plans were a shock but residents were prepared to put up a challenge “People are shocked and alarmed at what is being proposed especially so soon after a previous application was refused by both the council and VCAT,” Ms Hunt said “Woodend is regarded by tourists as one of the most beautiful areas to visit and this scar on our landscape would undoubtedly ruin its beauty “It will be an eyesore from the freeway but also from Mount Macedon “Tourists heading north will be deterred from calling in to the township of Woodend for fuel therefore not wandering around the town and spending on coffee food and other services the township already offers.” Ms Hunt is among a group of 20 residents who launched a Change.org petition against the application last week Objectors have also flagged concerns about rubbish from the fast-food outlets The current proposal is for land on the western side of the Calder Freeway about 880 metres north of its intersection with Romsey Road one to the west of the freeway and one to the east Together they have a total area of 22.29ha Development of the eastern area is not included in this application residents believe approval of the western area may trigger an application for a second freeway service centre located opposite The proposed freeway service centre is located 43km north of the Calder Park BP freeway service centre and 62km south of the Ravenswood Ampol freeway service centre Petrol stations are also located at Carlsruhe Both MRSC and VCAT rejected a permit for a freeway service centre at Barkers Road/Calder Freeway Impact on the landscape was a key part of the decision with reference to the council’s Planning Policy Framework and Municipal Strategic Statement Woodend residents have also successfully fought two other petrol station proposals for High Street in 2015 and 2018 The application PLN/2023/353 can be viewed via Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s website: mrsc.vic.gov.au Submissions to VCAT must be made by March 21 via: vcat.vic.gov.au/respondplanning Residents can sign the online petition via: change.org/p/say-no-to-freeway-service-centre-save-woodend FREE digital editions and weekly newsletter direct to your inbox Around 80km northwest of Melbourne - and just under 20km southeast of Kyneton - sit the ghosts of the once vibrant Woodend Racecourse hordes of horses and people would catch the train to the picturesque racecourse facilities located just under a kilometre from Woodend Station Though the track was originally located on a nearby hill it was soon moved down to the nearby former army reserve and stayed there until racing ceased in February 1982 stewards' tower and a unique 700-metre post are just a few of the glimpses into the past that remain standing and racing historian Chris Ganly says Woodend is one of the most interesting disused racetracks in Victoria "Racing played such a fundamental part in the history of Australia it was such an important thing to a lot of towns," he said "What's so good about the Woodend Racecourse is that we've still got infrastructure here "There's probably around 1000 locations all across Victoria … 30-40 of them have some degree of infrastructure "Woodend's a great example of a former racecourse." To learn more about the history Woodend - and some of the other most interesting disused racetracks in Victoria - catch the remaining episodes of They Once Raced Here There is currently an increased risk of measles in the Macedon Ranges A number of exposure sights have been published by the state government after two new measles cases were reported in Victoria with one locally acquired with no known links to recent cases of measles There are four exposure sites in the Macedon Ranges Chief health officer Dr Evelyn Wong recommends anyone who has attended an exposure site during the specified times should monitor for symptoms and seek medical care if symptoms develop for up to 18 days after the exposure The rash typically starts on the face before spreading down the body Symptoms can develop seven to 18 days after exposure Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and others with two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine required for immunity For a full list of exposure sights, visit health.vic.gov.au/health-alerts/new-measles-case-in-victoria-4 CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) The Woodend Winter Arts Festival will be bringing the Christmas cheer to Woodend this December as they deliver another incredible musical performance This event rounds out another highly successful year for WWAF which has included multiple events outside of their traditional June long weekend program You are invited to join them as outstanding chamber choir Ensemble Gombert fills St Ambrose Church with the sound of carols Hear the pristine voices and tuning of this famed choir perform popular Christmas carols of many times and places Expect old-time favourites along with lots of family favourites too Ensemble Gombert are no strangers to Woodend regularly performing at the Woodend Winter Arts Festival they are passionately committed to delighting audiences with choral performances of the highest standard The ensemble is noted for its pure intonation and historic approach to choral sound and style Don’t miss out on this family friendly event, which will take place at St Ambrose Church on Sunday December 15 at 3pm. Tickets are on sale now at woodendwinterartsfestival.org.au The job is only just beginning for Woodend in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association McIntyre Cup Woodend sealed the minor premiership on Saturday with a final round win to give itself a home final in the first week of finals said they had exceeded their early season expectations “We’re very happy to be in that position and the business time starts now,” he said which is something we had not done for a few years we knew we were capable of being in the top two and having a home final “It’s the only advantage you get for finishing on top.” Eastley said getting a home final was important as the weather could come into play Woodend got the job done against Broadford Eastley said that Broadford was a good side that was showing they would be a side to watch in seasons to come Broadford made 259 on day one of the match “Everything went to plan to get the job done “We knew we would have to bat the overs out and pretty much everyone got a start.” Hayden Ingleton top scored with 54 for Woodend Eastley said things were really good around the club as they head into finals “We had our thirds win the premiership last week and we won the one-day final,” he said “We’ve had a bit of success and hopefully the seconds get on the park and get into the grand final [they lost on Sunday] It’s been pretty successful and the vibe around the club is really good.” Woodend will face Sunbury United in the semi finals with a grand final spot on the line “We’re happy it’s a home final as we play our ground well “Hopefully we can get through to the grand final.” Sunbury United sealed its finals spot with a win against the Sunbury Kangaroos Skipper Damien Edwards top scored with 82 at the top of the order Mace Green took three wickets for the Kangaroos Romsey and Gisborne both tuned up for finals with big wins Romsey was able to bowl Macedon out for 9-228 Daniel Trotta top scored with 46 for the Cats while three players took two wickets each for Romsey Gisborne ended Rupertswood’s small finals hopes the Dragons bowled Rupertswood out for 139 The Dragons were 7-119 in their second innings haiku readings and workshops will be celebrated at the Woodend Haiku Festival to be held throughout April is a representative of the Australian Haiku Society and has organised a range of activities to celebrate all things haiku coinciding with International Haiku Day on April 17 Lysenko is the convenor of the monthly spoken word event Chamber Poets and is an avid promoter and teacher of haiku pop-up haiku poets will entertain at various locations or write a haiku for you as they appear spontaneously in public places Enjoy a BYO Haiku Picnic Woodend Children’s Park’s barbecue area on April 2 Learn how to write haiku with the help of experienced haiku poets Visit for a few minutes or stay the full time will feature internationally renowned poets from the Victorian-based haiku group The Fringe Myrtles on April 12 from 1pm to 4pm There will also be an Open Section and music by Black Forest Smoke Woodend Library will host a free event to celebrate the magical wonderful world of haiku on April 17 from 10am to midday Listen to readings or be guided into writing your own Woodend Neighbourhood House will host a free event from 1.30pm to 3.30pm that afternoon write one about you or help you write one yourself A Haiku Dinner will be held at The Victoria Hotel Cost is $22 which includes a meal and drink Once people have sharpened their skills in the art of haiku they can test them in a festival competition with the theme of ‘autumn’ There will be Under 18 and Open Age sections Book prizes will be announced for the two winners Email one to three haiku you have written to the festival director via: myronlibrary@gmail.com For more information, visit the Australian Haiku Society website: australianhaikusociety.org or join the Facebook page: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565799118780 Sunbury United produced its bowling performance of the Gisborne and District Cricket Association McIntyre Cup season to stun Woodend The Bees were the underdogs heading into the final series but that meant little on Sunday as they pulled off an upset win against the minor premiers Captain Damien Edwards said it was a pretty insane result “I have not been involved in as good a win as that before We’ve got players littered throughout the team that have been there and done it before “We wanted to get into finals and hopefully our best was good enough and it was today [Sunday] it was.” The Bees won the toss and decided to bat on Saturday It wasn’t the performance they were after as they were bowled out for 165 in the 65th over Liam Sherlock top scored with 44 as just three players passed 20 Veteran Warren Else took 7-38 off nearly 23 overs to be the pick of the bowlers “We took in some extra batting and it didn’t go to plan,” Edwards said Woodend was in control at 2-52 and even at 4-92 it was still the team in front in the game But the Bees bowlers stayed focused on the task ahead Edwards said the key was not letting Woodend get away from them “It meant when we got a couple of quick wickets “We were able to build a bit of belief that we could do it.” Some quick wickets turned the game in the favour of the Bees Woodend’s tail fought hard to try and get close to the score but knew that a lot had to go right for it to come off for Woodend at that stage with Harrison Sheahan top scored with 36 for Woodend “He’s crafty and has been there and done it all before Sunbury United last played in the grand final in the 2022-23 season when it fell short against Romsey The Bees will face Gisborne in the grand final after it had a big win against Romsey in the other semi final Edwards said it would be another big challenge “If we can bowl like we did today [Sunday] it will make a difference and we can challenge how it’s been going for them,” Wallan claimed the Johnstone Shield premiership as it beat Eastern Hill Eastern Hill made 9-150 with Wallan getting the runs in 49 overs Woodend had a confidence boosting win against Sunbury United in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association McIntyre Cup on Saturday Having lost twice to Gisborne before the Christmas break Woodend was keen to start 2025 on a winning note Woodend was pushed hard by the Bees but were able to come away with the win Woodend coach Josh Eastley said it was a really important result for the group “After two losses to Gisborne before the break it was a key for us to start well,” he said “It was good to bounce back with a solid team effort with no one standing out “That has been one of our strengths this season with seven or eight that can bat.” Woodend batted first and made 9-222 from its overs Eastley said they thought anything above 200 would give them a shot at the win “They were bowled out with an over to go,” he said “Fabian Fernando got away from us a little bit and put on 80 or 90 we managed to get his wicket when they were still 20-30 runs short.” Eastley said once they had the wicket of Fernando they thought they would be able to complete the job with two new batters at the crease Woodend sits in third spot as the season starts to hot up with finals on the line Eastley said they had taken a lot out of the Gisborne games as they face their toughest part of the season “We have a tough period before and after Christmas against the best sides which we know we want to be around them,”he said “Romsey this week will be another test for us They are a quality side and we know it will be a hood game of cricket “We have to be at our best to beat them.” Eastley said one area they will focus on in the back part of the season was making sure they had the believe that they could get the job done He said Saturday’s result against the Bees was the start of that “We need to start believing we can win from any position,” he said “We have to stay in the game and we ready to pull through We kept going and got Fabian wicket and got control of the game from there.” The Dragons made 9-219 before restricting Broadford to 184 finishing 2-121 in reply to Rupertswood’s 120 accounting for the Sunbury Kangaroos to move into sixth spot A community march in Woodend this month will raise awareness about melanoma and the importance of regular skin checks To support melanoma prevention and research local skin cancer and general practitioner clinic SkinGP Woodend will host a local Melanoma March each year The Melanoma March initiative was started as a community fundraising event in 2012 by James Economides who wanted to raise awareness and funds in honour of his son now acting as Melanoma Institute Australia’s major annual fundraising campaign SkinGP founder and doctor Ashvin Arul said the goal of the initiative is to work towards zero deaths from melanoma with attendees helping to ensure “everyone survives.” “I’ve always known about it since I started being a skin cancer doctor … I’ve always been aware of [it] and having the opportunity to bring it locally gives us the opportunity to raise awareness in a local community in regional Victoria,” Mr Arul said which is the national skin cancer … we’ve got the highest rate of melanoma in the world – so if we can do anything to … prevent melanoma or detect it early each event aims to “bring together melanoma patients and local communities to raise awareness and funds for research to reach our goal of zero deaths from melanoma.” the march will be officially opened by Health Minister and Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas as a guest speaker at 8.45am where attendees will then complete a 5-kilometer walk or run through the park Attendees must register as an individual or team on the Melanoma March website where a donation can be made towards research efforts Details: melanomamarch.org.au Melton Centrals has now been awarded the points from its round one Riddell District Football League match with Woodend-Hesket after the Hawks were found too many players on the field twice The league released a statement on Wednesday saying that Centrals had now been declared the winner The statement said that Melton Centrals called for a headcount in the third quarter and the Hawks were found to have too many players on the ground Under league by-laws the Hawks score for that quarter Further correspondence and action was then taken under the same by-law where clubs or a person can request a post match review by the relevant controlling body of a team exceeding the permitted number of players on the playing surface where a request did not occur during the match the RDFNL has deemed that Woodend-Hesket played a minimum of five minutes 40 in the fourth quarter with too many players on the field and therefore determined that that Woodend-Hesket’s total points for the fourth quarter 3.5 (23) also be removed from the match total “The RDFNL acknowledges that this was not a deliberate act by the WHFNC and want to point out that the Woodend-Hesket Football Netball Club are an excellent club which was highlighted by their back to back top three finishes in the RDFNL club of the year across the 2022 and 2023 seasons,” the statement said the integrity of the competitions cannot be brought into question and on this occasion there is a clear breach and a subsequent penalty whereby the final result of the match which was originally Woodend-Hesket 9.12 (66) defeated Melton Centrals 7.8 (50) is now Woodend-Hesket 5.4 (34) defeated by Melton Centrals 7.8 (50) Woodend has announced that favourite son Josh Eastley will be returning to take the reins as coach for the 2024-25 Gisborne and District Cricket Association McIntyre Cup season The position will be Eastley’s first head coaching gig after having spent the past five years as an assistant coach at several successful clubs across Victoria “really excited about the opportunity of Woodend’s direction this year we’re going with a coaching development strategy for the entire club not just the seniors” The strategy is a holistic one that is bringing the senior and junior squads closer together in an attempt to strengthen the club This will see him supported and mentored by Gavin MacKay and Brett Cavigan who will be coaching the junior sides Mackay was a premiership winning coach at Gisborne The excitement around the Eastley’s homecoming is palpable “There is a real buzz around the club at the moment – and its only July!” “Ninty per cent of our team is homegrown which is what we’re most excited about.” The excitement isn’t limited to local talent with the arrival of medium-fast bowler Joe Monk from Shropshire He will be joined by a returning James Morley bolstering the club’s bowling attack The two experienced recruits are set help improve upon a team that narrowly missed finals last year Eastley’s main vision is to develop the list and start playing consistent cricket “I’m really excited about some of the youth we’ve got down there” he said when discussing the second eleven that will help blood senior talent,” he said Eastley’s commitment to a whole club approach reflects his team first coaching philosophy While the desire for all squads to play finals this season is obvious Eastley and the club are committed to a much bigger vision of sustained success “My goal for Woodend this year is to purely bring on and develop as much as can and start performing consistently on the park- across all grades,” he said who has played sub-district cricket will also be among the experienced heads tasked with the development of tomorrows talent Josh further stated that they wanted to use their experience to then bring on the youth as well so they will try and find the balance between youth and experience Woodend is also set to field its first-ever girl’s under-13 side and seeking any girls interested to reach out to the club Details: www.facebook.com/WoodendCricketClub The National Insect Expo will be returning to Woodend this year attracting international visitors and showcasing the largest insect collection of central Victoria the expo will showcase several national and international exhibitors including The Central Victorian Regional Insect Collection which consists of 32 orders of insects and a broad range of invertebrates National Inspect Expo director Dr Bert Candusio adopted much of this collection from La Trobe University in Bendigo along with La Trobe honorary associate Jenny Shield This year’s expo in October has already seen interest from international specialist collectors and businesses Mr Candusio said the insect expo started three years ago as a way of raising funds for the volunteers who are assisting with cataloguing and curating this collection put out our feelers to all in the entomological industry … to showcase what they do,” Mr Candusio said The expo is also designed to raise awareness of the important role that insects and invertebrates play in conservation Mr Candusio said that the amount of visitors to the previous shows including international insect collectors and breeders Many of the specimens in The Central Victorian Regional Insect Collection have not been named or previously recorded “I can comfortably say that at least 20 per cent of everything that … will be represented in this collection will be new and undescribed species,” Mr Candusio said “When it comes to insects and invertebrates I can easily take a group of students into any regional forest or bushland anywhere in Victoria get them to collect a new and undescribed specimen The collection includes many insects found in Macedon Ranges state forests in the ’60s Mr Candusio said the collection is important because it’s “the only representative entomological collection for the entire Central Victoria area that now exists.” The Central Victorian Regional Insect Collection organisation hopes to develop a permanent home for the collection in Woodend which will also operate as a research facility for students and offer in-house courses This year’s National Insect Expo will take place from October 4–6 at the Woodend Buffalo Sports Stadium Details: cvric.com.au/expo-2024 What a weekend of McIntyre 1sts semi-finals Gisborne captain-coach Jarryd Vernon hit a masterly 217 not out on Saturday to virtually put Romsey out of the reckoning And top team Woodend appeared to be cruising towards a grand final berth before an inexplicable and monumental batting collapse saw the last eight wickets tumble for 37 runs The outcome is hot flag favourite Gisborne play Sunbury United on neutral territory at Macedon in the 2024-25 grand final this Saturday and Sunday Gisborne lost Spencer Jones and Will Mackay early but Romsey’s attack was thwarted by the formidable Vernon brothers in a third-wicket stand of nearly 100 runs Riley Vernon departed for 60 (10 fours) and keeper-bat Matt Barake joined his captain at the crease.They added 180 runs for the fourth wicket to put the Dragons well on top Barake’s 81 (130 balls) was followed by Warren Kelly being run out Vernon stepped up the tempo after tea with a full array of shots having some good fortune to be dropped off a no-ball Romsey used eight different bowlers and after 80 overs the home side had 6/407 on the board Jarryd Vernon’s 217 not out (243 balls 17 fours and five sixes) must rate as one of the finest innings ever played in the GDCA The 30-year-old left-hander felt the aches and pains overnight after 76 overs at the crease but there’s no doubt he has many more centuries left The 217 not out becomes Gisborne’s highest ever individual score in McIntyre Cup Logan Collins 2-52 and Aaron Paterson 2-92 were Romsey’s multiple wicket-takers Romsey’s slim hope of making a successful run chase on Sunday vanished early when four wickets tumbled Paceman Leigh Brennan captured three of them It was left to Redbacks captain-coach Ben Way and quality bat Chris Burkett to put on a useful fifth-wicket partnership but the run rate required seemed well out of reach Way was trapped lbw for 51 and Burkett contributed 43 with Thomas Boyer making 19 in a total of 156 Eight batters failed to reach double figures and Brennan 4-36 was the pick of the bowlers Gisborne has scored over 400 runs in its last three matches but Jarryd Vernon is not underestimating grand final opponent Sunbury United “We will need to be at our best … building partnerships is really important,” he said The other semi-final at Gilbert Gordon Oval was one where Woodend was on top when Joe Monk dismissed dangerous United opener Fabian Fernando for a ‘duck’ Woodend was extremely pleased to dismiss United for a moderate 165 in 64.5 overs on Saturday with evergreen Warren Else superb with a career-best 7-38 from 23 consecutive overs and captain Damian Edwards 35 were the main scorers for United Harry Lawson caught for 11 just before stumps Making another 141 for victory on Sunday may have looked to be a cakewalk to many supporters but the dismissal of Harry Sheahan for 36 and captain Marcus Stewart 13 lifted United’s spirits the Woodsmen were jolted as Hayden Ingleton Else and Josh Eastley were dismissed for one run between them It was hard to believe Woodend was all out for 124 (73.2) overs after being in such a strong position United’s hero was veteran paceman James Hughes and Pulinda Kiriella also took two wickets A new waiting room was built at Woodend Railway Station equipped with modern features and taking architectural inspiration from the station’s heritage-listed building on platform one A $1.3 million state government-funded project the new room includes reverse-cycle heating and air conditioning Curved steel verandah columns and a corrugated roof were installed to keep in line with the architectural style of the station’s heritage-listed building Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas said that the upgrades will improve the historic station “The Woodend Station has been an integral part of the community for more than 160 years and these vital upgrades will ensure passengers can continue to use the station in comfort and style well into the future,” Ms Thomas said The project was part of a larger government package towards upgraded facilities at four stations on the Bendigo line Other projects in this package include replaced awnings and general repairs at the Riddells Creek Station repairs to a shelter and toilets at Clarkefield Station Woodend is a critical station on the Bendigo with an average of about 2500 trains passing through the station each week A planning permit application for a service centre on the Calder Freeway in Woodend has been met with a mixed community response with the application referred to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) Two separate planning permit applications for service stations on the Calder Freeway were lodged with Macedon Ranges council the first being for the western side of the freeway the application was appealed VCAT on January 30 due to the council not making a decision on the application within the required 60-day timeframe which was “due to the outstanding nature of what [Macedon Ranges] views as being key supporting documents required to assess the application along with formal advice from the Department of Transport and Planning” The second application for a site on the eastern side of the Calder Freeway is still under assessment A community petition was launched on website Change.org in objection to the first application and received over 800 signatures in less than two weeks after launching listed objections to the plan included loss of “valuable farmland native trees and habitat for native animals,” the site being “a physical scar on our beautiful landscape,” concerns around “economic impact to local businesses,” and concerns around environmental harm from underground petroleum storage Woodend resident David Edwards that he was “all for” the planned site “It might have a positive impact on fuel prices … if it’s a major station then they will have other stores [at the location] This is an ideal start for younger kids to get into the job market,” Mr Edwards said downsides include the acquisition of farming land – although he believes the size will not take up “massive” tracts of land – and increased traffic noise which he said could be mitigated by noise barriers The developer Welsh Leisure Pty Ltd said the development will serve “both local community and travellers on the Calder Freeway” “Here we are on a straight section of the freeway and the site will be well-setback … well-landscaped and not intrude into the protected landscape,” the spokesperson said all buildings and structures will be constructed to the relevant regulatory standards and signed off by the required authorities.” VCAT proceedings for the western side application will begin in April Forgot your password? Every Thursday the Get On team try & find you an edge in assessing the form for the weekend races in Victoria & around the country and Charlotte Littlefield take a deep dive into the behind the scenes world of the horse racing industry Join Ben Asgari for a full analysis on all the big races Our form men look for a winner in the early markets Weekly program hosted by Racing.com's Terry Bailey highlighted by live studio interviews with racing participants.  Every fortnight Clint Hutchison & Warren Huntly review the trials which have caught their eye & who you should be following out of the trials Join Sam Doran as he takes a look at some of the regional towns of Australia Dissect all the latest racing news and talking points with a variety of special guests A comprehensive preview show of Hong Kong racing which focuses on form Racing.com's expert team provides the latest news from the track With Hamish McLachlan & Ross Stevenson takes a look at what’s offbeat over the top & often 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Grace Ramage speaks to trainers & jockeys at trackwork ahead of the Autumn Racing Carnival Dr Turf and Ben Asgari dissect the feature races on Saturday’s metropolitan card to find you a winner Macedon Ranges Shire Council is hosting a range of fun activities for children and young people throughout the summer school holidays Both Kyneton Toyota Sports and Aquatic Centre and Gisborne Aquatic Centre will host the pool inflatable – featuring obstacles climbing hills and slides – on the following days (all 1pm to 3pm): Use of the inflatable is included in pool entry fees Follow the centres’ respective Facebook pages for updates Both aquatic centres will also run intensive swimming programs during the holidays acrobatic and acting skills in a fun and engaging environment with a qualified professional email studio2tinytackers@mrsc.vic.gov.au or call 5422 0333 Bring your own basketball and walk in to the Macedon Ranges Sports Precinct (cnr Barringo and Hamilton roads New Gisborne) between 10am-2pm weekdays January 6-13 with costs of $8 for adults and $6.30 for children (please note A live band will be jamming out while you show off your skills drug/alcohol/smoke/vape free event co-hosted by The Y Come and enjoy a fun-filled day at council’s outdoor pools featuring a sausage sizzle and a DJ to keep the energy lively January 21: Pool Party @ Woodend Outdoor Pool* January 22: Pool Party @ Lancefield Memorial Swimming Pool* * Subject to council’s outdoor pools temperature guidelines For more information about these events and to register where required, visit mrsc.vic.gov.au/school-holidays Woodend Soccer Club is campaigning for a multi-purpose synthetic soccer pitch for the sport to grow in Woodend The soccer club relaunched as the Woodend Eagles in May with massive support from the community but president Alistair Fletcher said there were few options for training on home turf local coaches and parents have been trying to get a soccer club going in Woodend but despite a brief successful period for the Woodend Dragons it’s never really grown beyond the Mini Roos program for younger kids,” he said “The two footy ovals are saturated with footy and cricket throughout their respective seasons No rectangular pitches suitable for sports like soccer rugby or hockey are available in Woodend.” Mr Fletcher said grounds used for soccer at Gisborne and Kyneton had also been strained due to the sports popularity or struggled in poor weather with flooding Woodend’s eager junior players began training with support from Woodend Primary School but the club quickly outgrew the space and relocated to Buffalo Stadium’s football oval during a brief window of availability There are currently more than 100 boys and girls building their skills each Saturday but the club has a long-term plan to develop the Woodend Eagles into a long-term community club catering for all ages and skills “We’re at the point where we just need a pitch,” Mr Fletcher said “We aim to set up junior training during the week and hopefully at the end of next year we will be ready to join one of the competitive regional leagues At the moment we’re really trying to build the foundation of the club but it’s hard to do that when you don’t have facilities “Soccer is Australia’s fastest growing sport especially with the success of the Matildas We have three primary schools in Woodend with girls and boys who want to play but at the moment the kids have to travel to other towns to train which many parents say just isn’t sustainable especially if their siblings play other sports as well.” The club presented both electronic and paper petitions for a Woodend multi sports pitch to the Macedon Ranges Shire Council last week It comes as the council prepares for future planning of Woodend Racecourse Reserve with an ‘issues and opportunities paper’ open for community feedback until September 5 The paper includes two potential concepts that either keep limited equestrian facilities on the site Woodend Soccer Club considers the racecourse reserve a good option for a pitch due to its proximity to current sporting facilities at Buffalo Stadium also supports needs of Woodend’s wider sporting community A soccer pitch should meet Football Victoria’s minimum current standards for junior competition but could also be suitable for a range of other sports including rugby and hockey Macedon Ranges Shire Council will prepare a report in response to the petitions to be presented at the September 16 council meeting SaveLog in, register or subscribe to save recipes for later.You have reached your maximum number of saved items Remove items from your saved list to add more Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime Not every converted weatherboard cottage in a country town sells novelty tea towels or scones with jam and cream. This bright little venue, churning out izakaya-style plates and pours from neighbouring wine regions, is proof. Japanese crowd-pleasers mingle with cameos from Taiwan and Korea on the lengthy paper menu that will have you flipping back and forth. Will it be Korean fried cauliflower – brittle and tingly chilli-coated florets – or karaage chicken? Oysters in fine tempura wrappers are a solid choice, retaining their fresh, briny character. So too gyoza, their bottoms crunchy golden, the rest of the dumpling delicate and light. Throw in bao buns or char siu pork from further afield, or stay close to Kuzu’s roots with a cocktail of sake vermouth, yuzu liqueur and rhubarb gin from the Macedon Ranges. Lake HouseForty years on, still a pinnacle of dining. MarchesaSmall, busy and as harmonious as a barbershop quartet. KadotaMulti-course menu paints a vivid picture of place. SaveLog in, register or subscribe to save recipes for later.You have reached your maximum number of saved items Welsh speedster Joe Monk was all ready to play his debut match with Woodend Cricket Club on Saturday … but the adverse weather intervened The 27-year-old Monk and partner Ashlyn are already excited about spending the next year ‘Down Under’ — it’s something of a working holiday with priority being the next six months involved with the local cricket club then months to explore various parts of Australia Monk comes to Woodend after playing the past two seasons with Oswestry Cricket Club in the Shropshire League The Oswestry CC is across the border around six kilometres from Monk’s home town of Welshpool; he works as a transport planner The Shropshire competition does not have finals and Monk collected 29 wickets in the just completed season He and Ashlyn have found Woodend Cricket Club very welcoming with some local similarities to what they have been used to back home They are residing in a quiet rural locality at Spring Hill and have an essential car to explore Macedon Ranges surrounds and beyond The cricket club is staging a ‘Welcome Dinner’ for them this weekend Monk is familiar with the type of overcast drizzly weather that curtailed the Gisborne District Cricket Association’s opening round on Saturday He just wants to be able unleash the new ball at some opposition batters hopefully beginning with Sunbury Kangaroos this Saturday Before the start of the A-grade match against Macedon at Gilbert Gordon Oval he was presented with a new baggy green WCC cap by Kevin Sullivan a ‘Living Legend’ who chalked up a record 360 games with the club Sullivan turned the clock back reminiscing briefly on how nervous he was playing his first senior game with Woodend in the company of such ‘greats’ as Peter Barker Another Woodend recruit this season is young left-arm fast bowler Harrison Sheahan who attends university and formerly made an impact with Kyneton Cricket Club and representative sides with Woodend openers Xavier Tadd and Marcus Stewart compiling 0/40 in good style but not enough to prevent the umpires having to eventually call the match off who’s debut with Macedon was flagged in last week’s Express was also denied a chance to show his talents on Saturday Macedon Ranges trainer Liam Howley has two runners in the 2025 Macedon Ranges Ag Machinery Woodend Cup this Saturday (February 1) Last year’s Howley won the Woodend Cup with prolific Cups winning galloper Station One … and he has two runners in this year’s feature event to be ridden by stable apprentice Danica Munro The feature race is being run over 1856 metres The meeting is part of Country Racing Victoria’s ‘Lunch On Us’ campaign Kyneton and Hanging Rock Racing Club hopes the Woodend Cup will attract a good crowd following up on the club’s two recent Hanging Rock meetings There’s a free shuttle service to the racecourse from Kyneton train station at 11am and 12.30pm — stopping near the Kyneton Post Office The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response Wood End is a residential suburb in north Coventry originally built to house workers during the city’s industrial boom The area has become known for high levels of deprivation with riots erupting in 1992 and further disorder in 2009 Wood End is part of the council’s Henley ward Wood End and three of the other neighbourhoods are being regenerated under the £54million 10-year government programme New Deal For Communities Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon The best of Melbourne straight to your inbox We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy Melbourne without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Melbourne Looking for something to do this King's Birthday long weekend? Head up to the charming village of Woodend, located just an hour's drive from the CBD, for its annual Winter Arts Festival (WWAF) from June 7 to 10.  the festivities will kick off with a night filled with vibrant fireworks synchronised to popular classical music plus a performance by Spanish flamenco pair Paco Lara and Deya Giner The rest of the diverse program features some of Australia’s leading classical musicians and greatest literary minds. Join in on discussions about big topics like the rise of AI understanding the importance of scientific methods city living versus bush life and an exploration of war versus peace Catch Jazz great Paul Grabowsky, London-based pianist Piers Lane, twice ARIA-nominated pianist and composer Nat Bartsch and Woodend’s own Jacqueline Ogeil as she leads Accademia Arcadia’s performance of the 'Early Solo Concertos' on the Cristofori piano Across the four-day feast of music, words and ideas there will also be book signings, workshops and exhibition openings to explore. The program features both free and ticketed events, and you can find out more via the WWAF website Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! twitterinstagrampinterestAbout us Contact us A population of at-risk Canterbury lizards are set to give up their homes to make way for the Woodend Bypass Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has found a population of Canterbury grass skinks during an ecological survey of the route for the Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass Negotiations have been begun to relocate them to the Kaiapoi lakes nearby Canterbury grass skinks are listed as at-risk declining by the Department of Conservation (DOC) An NZTA spokesperson said a lizard monitoring survey has been completed by a qualified herpetologist to help determine the skink numbers and how best to protect them A lizard management plan will now be prepared for DOC approval ''This will identify the actions required to ensure lizards and their habitats are protected and ensure compliance with the Wildlife Act,'' the spokesperson said ''DOC will assess the lizard management plan as part of processing any wildlife permit applications.'' Conversations have begun with the Waimakariri District Council's greenspace team to consider creating a lizard receptor site on land next to the northern Kaiapoi lakes which is not far from the first stage of the bypass development The council had already planned for the development of the site with $207,908 set aside in the 2025/26 annual plan NZTA would monitor the new site for two years Populations of the Canterbury grass skink have been found living on the north Canterbury coast and inland areas with the tail being equal to or slightly longer than the body length The species has been listed as at risk of declining The cost of rehoming the lizards will not be known until the lizard management plan has been completed and processed by DOC Lizards have needed to shift for other major roading project in recent years Last year the elusive striped skink in the Rotokare Scenic Reserve was relocated to make way for the Mt Messenger Bypass project three species of lizard were relocated to a new pest-protected home in the hills near Paekākāriki to make way for the Transmission Gully motorway north of Wellington LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air Nearly a decade after almost going extinct Aotearoa's endemic cobble skink population is making a surprising comeback Conservationists are bringing endangered skinks back to the dryland wilderness of Central Otago Three striped skinks have been found at Mt Messenger so far Local Democracy Reporting RSS Follow RNZ News Three thousand balls hit or a hole in one – a chief executive will spend up to five days on Woodend Golf Course until he achieves one of these Down Syndrome Victoria chief executive Daniel Payne will tee off on Saturday The event will raise funds for his organisation that advocates with and for people with Down syndrome in Victoria Mr Payne will attempt a hole in one throughout the day and into the night for four to five days remaining on-site for the duration and sleeping in a caravan a long-term member of the Woodend Golf Club said that he is looking forward to the challenge of achieving a hole in one but is remaining realistic in his expectations I’ll probably be there until Tuesday or Wednesday I’d say … I don’t think 3000 balls is going to cut it,” Mr Payne said “I’m a bit nervous – if I am hitting golf balls day and night for four days Organised through the Woodend Golf Club committee Mr Payne said the club has supported the idea “One hundred per cent from day one” Mr Payne attended Kyneton Secondary College and now lives with his wife and three children in Sunbury “I have three children … two girls Abbey and Holly who are 14 and Holly has Down syndrome,” Mr Payne said It was through Holly that Mr Payne discovered Down Syndrome Victoria later joining the organisation to become the chief executive we knew very little about Down syndrome … Down Syndrome Victoria were an incredible support to my wife Karina and I in those early days,” he said Residents can also take part in the challenge of getting a hole in one or make a donation to go into the draw for a prize Details: www.mycause.com.au/events/holeinonefort21 You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) says it has decided to stick with the route which was first designated nine years ago Engineers reviewed the route after the Government gave them the green light in July to push ahead with plans The 9km stretch of road will provide an extension to the Christchurch Northern Corridor otherwise known as the Belfast to Pegasus Motorway ‘‘Many residents across the Waimakariri and further afield will be in no doubt about my passion for this project elderly residents of Woodend have missed medical appointments as they refuse to cross the main road due to safety concerns and school children have run the gauntlet of getting to and from school ‘‘Business owners have also suffered because customers refuse to stop on the main road due to traffic.’’ ‘‘It has been a long time coming and the council has always been supportive of this project so we are delighted that it is moving forward at the pace it is.’’ Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to build an overpass to replace the Pegasus roundabout and provide better access for Pegasus He said NZTA will release a request for tender for detailed design and construction supervision this week The first stage of early works will likely begin in early 2026 with preparation for road widening to four lanes between Lineside Road and Cam River while the main physical works are expected to begin later in 2026 An NZTA spokesperson said it is too soon for concept drawings to show what the Pegasus interchange will look like ‘‘We’ll be able to share these as the designs progress during this next phase.’’ such as two shingle pit lakes which have been created over the last decade but it is believed it will cost hundreds of millions of dollars The Woodend Bypass is one of the Government's first five roads of national significance The Government is considering roads of national significance to be partially funded by a toll ■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air Woodend’s median house prices have increased 7.7 per cent in the last quarter tipping the median price over the million dollar mark for the first time in more than five years Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) data released in mid-January showcases the increase of $75,000 for a $1.06 million median price in the 12 months to December Ray White Kyneton real estate agent Nathanial Briggs said Woodend is a somewhat tightly held and desirable location “It’s always had a high level of traction,” he said “There’s fewer properties for sales which creates good competition “I sold a property in Woodend within four weeks for $1.83 million and had it significant interest.” Kyneton’s median house prices recorded a 4.4 per cent drop in the last quarter and $37,000 in the 12 months to December Mr Briggs said this shows it’s a good time to buy in Kyneton right now we saw a large [amount of] properties sell in Kyneton [however] a number took some adjustment in price.” With the cost of living impacting residents throughout 2023 Mr Briggs said they saw his impact at the bottom of the market “We’ve seen an effect on the lower end of the market and first home buyers [and] investment properties “Our upper end market seems to have been very steady in 2023… because they’re quite cashed up anyways “I think Macedon Ranges is always going to be very desirable [and] I suspect the market will continue to grow.” Another trend Mr Briggs said he noticed last year was the slow down of properties that need renovation with those that did sell taking a downward adjustment in price “Vacant land was very stagnant in 2023 [as well] We’ve seen more inquiries and sales in the back end of 2023 “Concern around building and getting a builder… the costs… volume builders and the uncertainty has contributed to the stagnant levels on [purchasing] vacant [land].” Across regional Victoria recorded a stronger performance increasing its median house price by 1.7 per cent to $616,000 The median house price in Riddells Creek increased to $1.18 million in the last quarter Gisborne’s was $1.05 million and New Gisborne’s was $890,000 REIV reported a downward trend with a median house price of $909,000 The median house price in Sunbury mirrored the trends in metro Melbourne and fell by 2.2 per cent Work is expected to get underway on Canterbury's much anticipated Woodend Bypass in early 2026 The Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency's (NZTA) board has approved funding for the initial works on the State Highway 1 (SH1) Belfast to Pegasus Motorway The overpass will provide SH1 traffic with seamless access over the busy intersection with signalised on and off ramps included in the design Local traffic will be able to move between Ravenswood Pegasus and Woodend without conflict with state highway traffic A grade separated interchange will also be built to separate traffic at the Williams Street intersection with SH1 at Pine Acres Woodend-Sefton Community Board chairperson Shona Powell said the overpass was "the best news" "It has been waiting on that design at the Pegasus/Ravenswood intersection "There is just so much turning traffic there now It makes you believe it is finally going to happen." Waimakariri deputy mayor Neville Atkinson said it will be welcomed news for local residents "It has been a long time coming and the council has always been supportive of this project so we are delighted that it is moving forward at the pace it is." Brown said the announcement is a "significant milestone" which will unlock land for housing in the Waimakariri district and provide more reliable connections to key freight hubs and export markets "SH1 north of Christchurch provides access to the Christchurch CBD Christchurch International Airport and Lyttelton Port "It is a key freight route and an important connector route for commuters and tourists." Around 21,500 vehicles pass through Woodend each day including around nine percent heavy freight vehicles Traffic volumes are expected to increase by up to 28,000 by 2048 "The Canterbury region needs this vital Road of National Significance to support economic growth and get people and freight to where they want to go "This project will remove congestion bottlenecks which will improve travel times by up to 11 minutes during peak times." The Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass will be a 10km four lane motorway extension of SH1 north of Christchurch Brown said NZTA will release a request for tender for detailed design and construction supervision this week The plan includes the proposed Woodend Bypass and a second Ashburton bridge as key projects Simeon Brown says the seven new roads of significance which are being fast-tracked may be tolled to help pay for them "I think New Zealanders are sick and tired of the amount of money going into cycleways," Simeon Brown says Seven more significant roading projects across the country are now under way - earning Simeon Brown's tick of approval Canterbury mayors are backing the call for a $10.8 billion investment in local transport infrastructure A woman missing in Canterbury has been found dead Police earlier appealed for any sightings of the woman not seen since yesterday morning Police said her family had “serious concerns” about her wellbeing was last seen in Woodend Beach on Saturday A police spokesman said they had found the woman It did not appear the death was suspicious “Police and her family have serious concerns for her wellbeing,” a spokesman said earlier today “If you have seen her or have any information that might help with our inquiries please get in touch via 105 using the reference number P060872682.” About 30 people searched for her along Woodend Beach Road today Land Search and Rescue and amateur radio emergency communications were involved Sign up to The Daily H a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday A weka hitched a 300km ride to Christchurch in a ute CFA crews were called to a grass and scrub fire that had spread into parkland near Shirley Park in Woodend on Saturday morning about a fifth of a hectare had been impacted by fire and the flames were creeping up several large Cypress trees There were six CFA vehicles on scene from Woodend It took just over two hours to bring the fire under control and black out the area Later the same day another fire ignited about 100 metres from the first incident though was quickly contained by local CFA crews from Woodend Victoria Police were on scene and are investigating both incidents View all stories View more contacts The Facebook feed is contained within an iframe and as such is not available via keyboard access. 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Tweets by CFA_Updates We are currently experiencing issues with our embedded Twitter feed We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land Copyright 2025 CFA (Country Fire Authority) formerly owned and designed by renowned landscape artist Paul Bangay a historic Macedon Ranges property designed by its former owner and celebrated landscape artist Paul Bangay The expansive St Ambrose estate, stretching across more than 10,000sq m at 7 Wood St has a history dating back to 1888 and was even a former school with the original 1900-built schoolhouse still remaining on the property as a self-contained guest cottage RELATED: Jamie Durie buys Paul Bangay’s Stonefields, plans to turn into luxury retreat Catch co-founder’s Brighton property may fetch $10m Ricky Ponting ends innings at beachside mansion to ‘downsize’ It was the first country home owned by famous garden designer Bangay before he completed his iconic Stonefields property nearby including the current vendors who purchased it for $3.27m in 2009 it has hit the market again with an $8m-$8.8m price tag Kay & Burton Bayside agent Campbell Kilsby said the lush property was catching the attention of buyers wanting to convert it into an accommodation site as well as families in “the leafier streets of Melbourne” looking for a treechange “ (Bangay) does a lot of gardens around Victoria but he owns very few that are his own private garden,” Mr Kilsby said MORE: Adrian Portelli cranes $3m luxury car into his $39m penthouse Bitter end for The Block’s final Gisborne home 1920s ‘mullet home’ hides stunning extension who purchased the home from the garden designer The grounds also feature a sunken outdoor stone lounge with a fire-pit as well as a swimming pool and an ornamental pear-lined driveway a camouflaged door conceals a staircase leading up to a spacious study or rumpus room with views across Mt Macedon and the Woodend clock tower A prime spot to site by the fire in winter The grand residence also comes with four bedrooms two separate garages with polished concrete floors and room for up to five cars Bangay recently sold his famed Denver property, known as Stonefields, for more than $11m to Jamie Durie and his business partners to be turned into a luxury retreat Stonefields was initially listed with an $8m-$8.8m price guide According the latest Proptrack Home Price Index national home prices continued to stabilise in April after rising for the fourth consecutive month The cumulative increase in 2023 is now 0.75 per cent Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox MORE:Don’t buy here: Victoria’s property ‘no go zones’ Bouzy Rouge seeking new beer baron Student digs could drive value in West Melbourne building third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. Macedon and Woodend-Hesket were the winners in last weekend’s round of Riddell League women’s football After a massive day at Kyneton Showgrounds raising funds for Fight MND the Kyneton team played Mt Alexander Falcons with both sides having significant ‘outs’ The Tigers kicked three goals straight early and repelled opposition forward thrusts Bridie Kinghorn was effective in the ruck and also kicked a goal and ball magnet Suzie Harrison finished with three as the Tigers won by 59 points and Kyneton now looks forward to playing Macedon in two weeks’ time Trish Ross-Harris and Rachael Winterton were prominent for the Falcons After an even first half Macedon took control to defeat Melton 9.8 to 2.5 Charlotte Noonan kicked six goals to extend her lead in the goalkicking Bell and Lulu Slater were best for the Cats Woodend-Hesket overcame Lancefield in the second half to win 4.11 to 2.1 Mariam Habib and Harmony Cassar were the Hawks’ best Molly Heales and Sienna Green did well for the Tigers better known as ‘Maloa House’ is up for grabs in Woodend in the heart of the Macedon Ranges An iconic piece of history is up for grabs in the heart of Woodend located at the foothills of Mt Macedon in the Macedon Ranges Well known among locals, 64 High St was first constructed in 1906 as a doctor’s residence bought the six-bedroom pad in 1993 for only $290,000 according to CoreLogic RELATED: Woodend ‘botanical wonderland’ a dreamy paradise Mt Macedon private perch has incredible mountain views Pymble, Woodend: Grand heritage-style home and gardens for sale The sprawling gardens at the 4000sq m property and a stainless-steel commercial kitchen lies at the back With significant renovations completed since they now have $3.9m-$4.29m price hopes for the sprawling 4000sq m property Gina Donazzan said updates included converting the servants quarters into a double garage and adding a commercial kitchen and laundry a restaurant that was very popular among locals People would come far and wide to visit,” Ms Donazzan said the family had continued the business as a catering company Gorgeous period features add to the home’s charm a fretworked and mosaic wraparound deck and five ornate fireplaces The massive ground floor is host to three bedrooms a family and dining room adjoining a stylish The six-bedroom pad comes with a heated indoor pool One of many bedrooms at the expansive cottage a private rear courtyard offers stunning views of Mt Macedon Established gardens embellish the rear of the property where a pool house with a heated indoor pool There’s also a quaint courtyard with sweeping views of Mt Macedon plus space on the property for up to 24 cars to park “(The vendors) wanted to create this beautiful family home which they’ve very much enjoyed over the years,” Ms Donazzan said and they’re ready for someone else to take the opportunity to enjoy it as a home or even a business,” she said “Something like this is not something where you’ll get hundreds of people interested as the price point identifies people who are looking for something special and unique.” “But I believe it’s very good value for money,” Ms Donazzan added MORE: Former East Melbourne school up for sale has $7 million price hopes One-bedroom slice of France in Fitzroy North has affordable price Rare Werribee riverfront home has huge shed good enough to sleep in When Adam Bourke realised he had built up his bakehouse to become a defining feature of Woodend Bourkies Bakehouse is now an institution in the town and Adam is preparing to hand the legacy over to new owners What people may not know is that its baking founder almost didn’t continue his early career After completing a four-year baking apprenticeship Adam decided to try a completely different line of work in mining and at a sheep station in Western Australia It was a life-threatening windmill accident at the sheep station that brought him back home an opportunity arose to purchase Woodend Hot Bread Adam was able to do so with the help of his father the bakehouse has employed more than 400 local and junior staff over its 34 years of baking with a current staff of more than 40 One of the bakehouse’s highlights was winning the 2003 and 2004 Great Australian Vanilla Slice Competition “That’s what made us,” Adam said He developed a recipe to transform the typical Aussie ‘snot block’ into something people would travel far and wide for All it took was an afternoon of experimentation with texture and flavour “Our signature product is still vanilla slice,” Adam said “The custard is the star of the whole thing but a good flaky crisp pastry is also key “The bakehouse has also had consistency in putting out a good product with good quality ingredients and with staff always taking great pride in their work.” The bakehouse has also taken pride in serving up the nostalgic bakery classics with most of its recipes spanning the decade “Our recipes now are still the same now as they were originally,” Adam said “We have found new things here and there but generally we have stuck to our old recipes The bakehouse won many awards for its pies and bread over years too and Adam joked that “bakeries seem to have a competition for everything these days” Adam said something that has really made the bakery a success is strong support from the community “We really appreciate our locals and regulars that come in each morning We thank the local community that has supported us for years,” he said Local residents are proud to claim the bakery as their own and its strong community links have every bit to do with that The bakehouse has supported various projects and groups around the town over the years including the Woodend Children’s Park Adam is proud to share the bakehouse’s success with wife Debbie and two children Adam’s last day at the bakehouse will be May 19 Adam and Debbie plan to spend early retirement with family and friends The legacy of Bourkies Bakehouse is expected to live on with new owners Joe and Katrina Patti and Kiro and Tess Nic These families have been working side by side for the past few weeks to share trade secrets and perfect much-loved recipes for a smooth transition The new owners are excited to carry on bakehouse traditions retain staff and continue to build strong community connections Woodend’s iconic Islay House holds many stories as well as a place in hearts of local residents Now it has undergone a renovation to return to its roots offering luxury colonial-style accommodation.  Established in 1860 as the British American Hotel Islay House was a coaching inn offering accommodation to miners travelling to Bendigo goldfields in the 1860s.  New owners Tarni James and Clive Warner were keen to build on the historical character in their renovations that have spanned 16 months.  Previous owners had undertaken major infrastructure work The next step was attention to some of the finer details.  Clive’s background is in English traditional canal boat building and furniture making and he completed much of the renovation himself with the help of a builder friend Tarni’s background is as a journalist television producer and project manager with a special interest in furniture restoration.  they have unearthed all kinds of hints to the past including large horse shoes from the adjacent old blacksmith They have also found bricks from the forge cartwheels and worn steps that indicate old doorways.  “We have decorated with a real eye for history because we want to honour this iconic building in Woodend “We found out Islay House was once advertised as having ‘eight rooms and a ballroom’ – and now you can stay in what was the old ballroom thanks to the Historical Society records!  “The bar was located in the front room and the rail along the bar is now the balustrade up the stairs “We love knowing the stories of what was originally here to share with our guests.”  Once the community discovered the much-loved building had new owners many were eager to share what they knew.  The couple discovered the community’s attachment to the building early their renovations.  Clive had temporarily removed the iconic Islay House sign to re-touch the front door and was quickly reminded of its importance.  It gave me that pressure to really do the right thing by the local residents Passers-by have also enquired about the garden wedding photographs have been captured out front and local historians have helped the new owners understand the building’s history.  A primary school student even braved the newcomers to tell them her school loved the house and students were working on a project about it.  One local visitor had grown up in the house and influenced some of the design decisions.  “Briget showed us where original walls and doors were and gave us a map of how she remembered the house,” Tarni said.  but the couple were determined to restore some of those past features.  “The front room was made better because of her memory of what it used to be,” Clive said.  “And we invite people in to come in and have a look if they have expressed an interest because we want their opinion too.”  “We really enjoy sharing the property We feel extremely lucky that we’ve been able to find it and work on it and now it’s time for us to open the door and say come and share what we’ve got,” Tarni said.  Clive and Tarni purchased the property in June 2022 selling their Port Melbourne home to start a new life in the country town.  “The motivation for moving is quite an unusual one,” Tarni said.  “When my mum passed away she had a beautiful dance studio in the back garden of her home in Melbourne which the new owners were about to demolish and I couldn’t bear it.”  Tarni negotiated with the new owners of her mother’s home to deconstruct the dance studio to rebuild it somewhere else.  “It’s a brick building that looks like an old stable and we pulled it down brick by brick It had to be saved,” she said.  “We looked around everywhere trying to find a piece of bushland to put the studio on and were so enchanted by it straight away.”  The studio will be rebuilt at the rear of Islay House and the couple hope the community will share that too.  Islay House will offer AirBnb accommodation.  Clive and Tarni will also host a community open day of Islay House on Saturday Anyone wishing to view the building is welcome to attend There’s something very special about a second-hand bookshop in a country town protecting and sharing knowledge in the sale of quality books who runs the Woodend Bookshop with his wife Christine He spoke to Elsie Lange about why selling books in the Macedon Ranges is something he adores It was originally through the book shop and being a lifelong attender at secondhand bookshops I visited Woodend Bookshop and got interested I sometimes think of the motto ‘I know because I read’ because if you want to have discussions and be informed and people who care to understand their world help us not to work in ignorance There’s lots of people in Woodend who are informed I would like the relationship between the council and the Woodend trading population to be improved There’s room for more work there to just cooperate with council for the building of the community Where is your favourite local place to spend time What’s something people would be surprised to know about you I can draw well and sort of know my art history I’ve taught at university in that area and tutored in visual arts so I suppose that’s something specialist about me What does a secondhand bookshop mean in a place like Woodend People tend to bring me their good books they either don’t need or might be from their parents’ place because they think these books are definitely too good for the dump bit and probably too good for the opportunity shop People will bring in a box of books and I don’t know what’s going to be in it and sometimes there are wonderful treasures is a well-known face around the beautiful village he and his family have laid down their roots and he works to make the lives of people in his community a little brighter where he can Barry tells Elsie Lange about his love for the town and its landcsape I started and ran a school in the inner west of Melbourne for young people having trouble Later I taught and worked as a counsellor in schools in this region In retirement I’m involved in a number of community groups that aim to improve life in our community: Woodend Lions Other than that we have a reasonable sized garden and live the dream When we were up to our neck with our city lives we sought sanctuary on weekends in a little spot near the Wombat Forest As we began a family we decided that Woodend would be a good place to do it and found a great spot here where we’ve been for over 30 years I’ve always thought that ‘it takes a village to raise children’ and that active contribution in village life is part of that Now it’s just our home and our community this one contributes and looks after the people in it There are a good number of contributors here That adds to all the lives in it; I love that here It’s good to be known and know my neighbours There are few anonymous walks down the street or around a market I love all the seasons here and the dramatic changes that unfold I have loved going for walks in the many beautiful places around We got stuck in when the town plan was being redrafted and we now have a state legislated town boundary and that ensures that the town won’t just sprawl out in every direction It looks like a new community centre is coming after some years of our work I hope over time we can improve pedestrian and cyclist access around the town for the whole community to use oldies on scooters come into town and people have to make their way with pushers and toddlers there’s the Thursday afternoon gatherings at the pub with many locals the fun of market days and the buzz of Saturday mornings in the High Street but there’s also meetings where we gather to solve problems working bees on stuff that needs to be done and misty mornings walking with the dog around the race course Tell us something people would be surprised to know about you Most probably don’t know that I have been a poet most of my life with a past in the ‘scene’ which took many of us to hundreds of readings and the Melbourne Town Hall Some Facebook folk have read my offerings through these Covid years.