The ball looks to be balancing on top of the bails in this perfectly timed shot by photographer Chris Fleming as lucky Gisborne batter Steven King does not get out in a match on 11 January. More sport pages 33-37
As the Gazette takes a break over the summer holiday period, the February edition celebrates many of the endof-year events that took place after the December 2024 edition was published. As you flip through the pages, you can relive the Gisborne Festival, Carols by Candlelight and performances by local choirs, just to name a few.
This edition also showcases the achievements of many young locals, including former Gisborne resident Jessica Li realising her dream of becoming a doctor; Gazette Student Award winners; New Gisborne Scout Venturers receiving King’s Scout Awards; Gisborne South Mini Spark tennis kids experiencing on-court play at the Australian Open; and Grade 5 Macedon student Joe Greene representing Victoria for both tennis and futsal.
Whilst many clubs are yet to reconvene for the year, it is wonderful to see their enthusiasm and read about their upcoming events for 2025. I am also excited to see what this year holds, especially in my journey with the Gazette.
On that note, I would sincerely like to thank the Gazette Committee for offering me the opportunity to take on this position, and especially Bryan Power, Pip Butler and Maxine Barker for their support with putting together my first edition.
I feel privileged to be able to step into this role and thank outgoing editor, Corinne Shaddock, for her many years of service and for the work she has put into the paper. The bar has been set high and I hope to make our community proud. You can see Corinne's story on page 10, written by Bryan Power. Thank you also to all the contributors and everyone else who gave me their well wishes for the role and offered their support. I have lived in the area most of my life, love our town and the people who live in it. I look forward to learning more about our beautiful community and this special part of the world.
Katrina
Gisborne Gazette PO Box 9, Gisborne 3437 www.gisbornegazette.org.au
MEMBER 2024
Circulation 8000
Gazette Team
Editor: Katrina Buttigieg gisbornegazetteeditor@gmail.com 0401 874 441
Production Pip Butler 0439 816 278 pbutlerhistory@gmail.com
Photographer Chris Fleming 0417 322 944
Distribution Manager
Maxine Barker 0438 711 138 maxineandpeter@bigpond.com
Advertising Maxine Barker 0438 711 138 gisbornegazetteadvertising@gmail.com
Social media Jenny Shipp
Distributors: Proudly distributed to letterboxes in Gisborne, New Gisborne, Macedon, Mt Macedon, South Gisborne and Bullengarook by more than 90 volunteers.
Available online at www.gisbornegazette.org.au
The views expressed in the Gazette are not necessarily those of the Gazette or its management committee unless acknowledged as such. No endorsement of products or services is implied by the listing of advertisers or sponsors. Any advice offered is intended for informational purposes only. It is not meant to replace or substitute for any professional advice. While every effort is taken in printing contributions accurately, the Gisborne Gazette takes no responsibility for errors.
Copies of the Gazette are posted to subscribers each month for an annual subscription of $33 to cover postage. Payment can made through direct deposit online. Please contact Maxine on 0438 711 138.
To submit an obituary for publication, please email bryanp2@bigpond.com. Please also provide a photo for publication and restrict the article to about 300 words.
If you do not receive the Gazette in your letter box, you can collect a copy at:
Gisborne: Post Office, Village Shopping Centre, Priceline Chemist, Hardy's UFS Pharmacy, Gisborne Medical Centre in Brantome Street, Foodworks supermarket. Mt Macedon: The Trading Post.
Macedon: Post Office; United Service Station on Black Forest Drive.
New Gisborne: Baringo Food & Wine, Station Road; Smithy's Cafe, 3 Ladd Road. Riddells Creek: Newsagency Woodend: Coles supermarket.
The Gisborne Gazette acknowledges the Wurundjeri people as the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work. We recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community, and pay respect to elders past, present and emerging.
After eight long years of tertiary study, former Gisborne resident Jessica Li recently graduated as a Doctor of Medicine at the University of Sydney.
Jessica was a Bendigo Bank Scholarship recipient during her undergraduate years at La Trobe University, Bendigo, where she completed a Bachelor of Science, majoring in molecular biology. Jessica followed up with an honours year studying breast cancer treatment then moved to Sydney to study for a Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of Sydney in 2021.
Next year she will be staying in Sydney for her intern years and hopes to specialise in emergency medicine and retrieval medicine in the future.
“This year ’s graduation was extra special,” said Jessica, “because it was the first time since moving that my parents Paul and Ping could come to Sydney. They’ve worked incredibly hard to support both my sister Karen and me and have supported me from far away. Having them in Sydney, meeting my friends and watching me cross the stage was a magical moment.”
Paul and Ping Li are popular figures in Gisborne where they run the coffee shop in the food court at the Village Shopping Centre.
2024 was a time of great pride for them as Karen also graduated, achieving a Bachelor's degree in Radiography at Monash University.
The community as a whole can be proud of playing
a small part in Jess's achievement as the study grants awarded by the Community Bank, as well as grants made to community groups and projects, are made possible by funds banked locally with the Community Bank/Bendigo Bank.
This year's Relay for Life, which raises funds for cancer research, is coming up on Sunday 1 March. To register a team, go to www.relayforlife.org.au/ event/lancefield-2025 and follow the prompts. If you would like to be part of the event but not join a relay team, please email the community officer, Grant White, on grant.white@cancervic.org.au or scan the second QR code below.
Gisborne Soccer Club is excited to share with the community that a new water station has been installed for public use at Dixon Field. The water station is at the eastern end of the pavilion, providing two water bottle fillers, a drinking bubbler and dog drinking bowl for the public’s use.
Gisborne Soccer Club was successful in its bid for a Macedon Ranges Shire Council Community Funding Grant, and used these funds to have the water station installed.
The water station is accessible by the communi-
ty, in particular regular users of Dixon Field such as Gisborne Soccer Club and visiting opponents, Gisborne Tennis Club, Gisborne Little Athletics Club, Park Run, people exercising and dog walkers.
The water station is connected to the water mains ensuring fresh drinking water at all times. Previously a garden tap was the only drinking water publicly available; the water station with its simple push button features is a much more accessible option.
The council is currently reviewing options to apply an indigenous art wrap over the station.
DATE PAGE
FEBRUARY
3 Classes beging at MRFEC 11
4 Exhibition 'Summer' opens Gallery, Macedon 19
4 Uniting Church men's group restarts for 2025 38
6 Thursday women’s badminton starts, Macedon 34
9 Classic Car Show at Hanging Rock 11
11 Google Maps session Gisborne Library 11
12 Film The Way My Way Gisborne Library 11
16 Raffle for Ash Wednesday painting closes 27
19 'Come and try' table tennis evening 33
21 Play Importance of Being Earnest, opens 19
23 Seraphim Trio at Macedon 18
26 Uniting Church women's group restarts 38
27 First Genealogy Group meeting for year 27
MARCH
1 The Gallery Art Competition opens 19
2 Clean Up Australia 8
8 Embroidery exhibition, Castlemaine 19
See also:
Page 10 - Farewell to former editor, Corinne Shaddock
Page 16 - Tales of Old Gisborne
Page 18 - Arts
Page 23 - Pets
Page 25 - Local History - Bay Excursions
Page 28 - Scouting
Page 31 - Schools
Page 33 - Sport
Page 38 - Churches
Page 39 – List of regular group events
Page 39 – Baringo Film Club showings
Gisborne-raised Sebastian Antoine Salay won the 2024 Visual Anthropology Competition at the Australian Anthropological Society Conference in Perth late last year.
The prize was for a collection of photos called Yumi Fasem Taet in Bislama, the national language of Vanuatu, meaning ‘we hold on tight.’
The photos were taken by ni-Vanuatu migrants from outer islands to the capital city, Port Vila. Sebastian asked them to take photographs in their neighbourhoods of things which helped them feel at home. The photos and accompanying stories show how gardens, hedges, and community spaces connect them to the city.
bourne research news website.
Sebastian said "the prize recognises the amazing ni-Vanuatu photographers involved in this project. It’s such a joy to work with them and share their photos, which offer a window into their lives in Port Vila." He thanked the organisers, judges, and the Anthropological Society for supporting the competition and said "doing visual anthropology is hard work but so rewarding".
The photographs are on exhibit until March at the Baldwin Spencer Building, University of Melbourne, where Sebastian works as a Research Fellow. They are also exhibited at the National Museum of Vanuatu in Port Vila, though the museum is temporarily closed after the recent earthquake.
You can read more online at Pursuit, the University of Mel-
Sebastian was a student at New Gisborne Primary School and Braemar College. While he was pursuing his tertiary studies he was also one of a panel of young people who contributed to writing the shire council's 2018-2028 youth strategy.
Story
Those familiar with Sebastian will remember his surname as Antoine, but he has now reclaimed the original family surname of Salay.
This surname was lost in 1917 when the birth of Sebastian's grandfather was registered in Malaysia. A bureaucrat told the family that the baby's name, which was four names including surname Salay, was too long for the form, so he simply dropped off the last name. Thus the third given name, Antoine, became the registered surname and Salay fell out of use.
Sebastian's father and brother are also taking steps to put the surname back in its rightful place.
called the natapoa tri, or 'natalie' in Bislama language. The caption reads in part: "My greatgrandfather planted two to mark where he lived ... for us this tree is our story, the history of how many years we have lived on this land."
Christmas 2024 will be remembered for quite some time in Bullengarook! But not really for the right reasons.
On the afternoon of Friday 20 December, multiple triple-0 calls were made about smoke in the vicinity of the slate quarry on Fitzgerald Road. Despite the prompt turnout of some very experienced crews, the terrain and the fuel load worked against the CFA, with the fire taking off up the hill.
Ultimately, helicopters, water bombers and more than 100 personnel were required to finally bring the fire under control. Complicating our response was the already committed deployments of equipment to the Grampians fires, which had already been burning for four days.
Residents in the direct line of risk were evacuated on the Friday night, and it was all a bit chaotic and confused. A fire of this degree had not been seen for some years, so I suspect that people were a little rusty in their fire plans. It is worth noting that there had been a fire information evening held at the Bullengarook CFA only the week before watch out for the next one and get those plans polished!
Over the first weekend of the fire, CFA and Forest Fire Management Victoria crews worked around the
clock to get control lines pushed in both on private land and in the state park. This was incredibly difficult due to steep terrain – those 'dozer drivers are amazing! There were also helicopters dropping water and water bombers dropping retardant, and there were a lot of tree hazards that needed to be dealt with before we could get crews on the ground to push the fire back.
That was where the real dirty work began. Meanwhile, Bullengarook Station was the staging ground for all the vehicles and crews requiring our support members to also step up and work hard. There was always someone at the station to boil the kettle or light the barbecue for tired crews coming in for a break or a change-over. The operational members are the ones you see spraying water around, but without the support members, we simply could not do it.
Long-term weather forecasts had crews very worried about Boxing Day, and anxious to get the fire as contained and cool as possible. Further evacuation orders went out, and that went a lot more smoothly. Fortunately, the change that was so challenging in western Victoria arrived on our fire ground with only a gentle whisper of wind. This was a huge relief to all concerned, not least the small number of crews patrolling the control lines at 11pm we did not want to see any ember attack over our hard-won lines.
After seven days of hard work and sleepless nights, Bullengarook could start to return to normal. Residents returned home and animals went back into their familiar paddocks. Christmas was celebrated late for a few families.
Forest Fire Management spent some time rehabilitating the control lines and checking trees. The slate quarry remains closed due to remaining hazards, and we ask residents and visitors to give it a miss for a few months to allow the ground to recover. There are more controlled burns planned the area that burnt was on the list for autumn.
Rebecca Hunter
Gisborne brigade can help maintain residents' fire protection equipment see page 8
Ian Arnell has been recognised as the Local Hero for 2024 for his lifelong commitment as a volunteer in many roles.
Ian is the sort of person who cannot say no to helping a good cause.
“You see the need for a job to be done you just do it,” Ian said. "Helping people is the right thing to do.”
Ian was presented with the award by Bendigo Bank manager Sarah Barton at the Carols by Candlelight evening at Dixon Field on Sunday 8 December. The award is made by the Gisborne Carols committee each year. It has been sponsored by the Gisborne and District Community Bank for many years.
Ian had a demanding professional life, working in senior management positions with the Health Department’s mental health division at hospitals in Warrnambool, Shepparton, Geelong, Plenty and Sunbury.
Despite those responsibilities, over the years he found time to involve himself voluntarily in Scouting, the St John’s Ambulance Brigade, Apex, Lions, Legacy, the RSL and his church.
Ian volunteered in Scouting for 35 years, holding many leadership roles, his last appointment being District Commissioner for the Macedon Ranges.
In his 22 years with Riddells Creek Lions Club, Ian served as president, secretary and membership chairman.
Since 2003 he has been a member of the Macedon Ranges Group of Bendigo Legacy, providing a valued service in support of war widows.
Ian has also contributed to the wellbeing of local
ex-servicemen and women by introducing a monthly welfare luncheon for members while serving as secretary and treasurer of the Gisborne RSL subbranch.
More recently he has joined the Board of Management of St Andrews Presbyterian Church.
To conclude, here are final words from the Local Hero Award citation: “Thank you Ian for all you have done for the community as an extraordinary and exemplary volunteer.”
The State Government rolled out an improved bus network for Gisborne last month, delivering greater access to more services and better public transport connections.
The new bus network introduced a fixed-two-way loop service and a pre-booked service direct from Bullengarook to Gisborne Station.
The updated bus network began on 15 December, with Route 473 Gisborne to Gisborne Station, and the section of Route 474 between Gisborne town centre and Gisborne Station set to benefit from the two-way loop giving flexibility to travel around town in either direction without booking.
The loop service provides more coverage across more sections of the new estates, while also providing connections to Gisborne schools and trips during school times.
The Bullengarook to Gisborne Town Centre section of the current Route 474 – including Mulgutherie Way – will become an on-demand, Route 77 Bullengarook to Gisborne Station service that will only operate when pre-booked.
Route 77 has also been extended to run express from the town centre to Gisborne Station, providing a single-seat journey to the station for Bullengarook residents.
Above: Some of the crowd along the parade route in Aitken Street.
Left: Delighted young faces on a ride.
The Gisborne Festival on Friday 13 December attracted the largest crowd in recent years.
A wide cross-section of the local and surrounding communities enjoyed the entertainment provided on Gardiner Reserve which included carnival rides, market and food stalls, live music, free activities for children and a magnificent fireworks display. The community also participated in the ever-popular parade down Aitken Street.
The mayor, Dominic Bonnano, said he was impressed by the event.
"The Gisborne festival is an annual tradition close to my heart run by dedicated volunteers at the Lions Club," he said.
"I thank Russell [Walker, Lions president] and team for their extraordinary efforts in planning and execution of the festival for local families and friends to enjoy. The best part is seeing the smiles on the kids faces."
The Lions CLub awarded prizes to the best presentation by community groups in the street parade. The winners were St Brigid's primary school first, Global Village Learning school second and 1st Gisborne Scout Group third. Congratulations to all!
The Lions Christmas Wheelbarrow Raffle was drawn at the festival with the winner being Blake Murrihy of Macedon.
The Lions Club is extremely appreciative of the community's support of the raffle, with the proceeds directed to those in need in the community.
The Macedon Ranges Legacy Group is dedicated to supporting the wellbeing of 65 war widows, ensuring that they receive the care and attention they deserve. This compassionate initiative encompasses war widows residing in aged-care facilities as well as those living independently, providing them with various wellbeing events and regular personal contact.
The group organises quarterly morning teas and light luncheons, along with major luncheons mid-year and at the end of the year. These events are designed to foster a sense of community and provide a platform for social interaction among the war widows. The Victorian Government’s Anzac Day Proceeds Grant administered by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing generously supports these wellbeing events, ensuring that they can continue to offer these valuable gatherings.
Each month, war widows are contacted through face-to-face meetings or phone calls. This consistent communication aims to identify any immediate support needs they may have. For many war widows, Legacy is their primary source of close contact, as they may not have family support nearby or at all.
The Macedon Ranges Legacy Group is powered by 10 dedicated Legatees, who are all volunteers. However, several of these Legatees are themselves aged or experiencing health issues that limit their ability to visit the war widows. Consequently, the group is seeking volunteers, particularly retired ADF veterans, who are willing to dedicate a few hours each month to support the group’s mission. Their involvement would be invaluable in ensuring that the war widows receive ongoing care and companionship.
The Macedon Ranges Legacy Group’s work is a testament to the enduring gratitude and respect for the sacrifices made by the servicemen and women, and their families. By providing regular events and personal contact, the Legacy group helps to enrich the lives of these women, ensuring that they are not forgotten and continue to receive support.
Persons interested in becoming a Legatee are encouraged to contact Carl Schiller, chair of the Macedon Ranges Legacy Group, on 0412 814 212, or email chairmrlegacy@gmail.com.
Greater Western Water (GWW) has reached a milestone on its $55 million upgrade of the Gisborne recycled water plant, with construction complete and testing underway ahead of the facility coming into service later this year.
The upgrade will more than double the plant’s capacity to treat wastewater from Gisborne, New Gisborne, Macedon and Mount Macedon, where the combined population is expected to grow by 38% by 2035.
GWW's general manager for growth and infrastructure, Ian Burton, said the upgrade was essential to meet the needs of the growing area.
“We’re investing in the Gisborne recycled water plant now so we can continue to provide essential services to our community now and for generations to come,” he said. “The upgrade uses energy-efficient technology that will reduce energy usage by 40% when operating at
the same capacity as the old plant, while also reducing plant noise and odour for nearby residents.”
The plant produces Class B recycled water for local farmers and recreational grounds, providing a sustainable water source all year round, reducing reliance on precious drinking water.
This upgrade, delivered in partnership with design and infrastructure company Service Stream Energy & Water, is part of GWW’s program to meet growing demand and secure water and wastewater services into the future.
Up until December, people who installed rooftop solar between 2009 and 2011 received around 66 cents for each kilowatt-hour (kWh) they fed into the grid. This has now changed, and electricity retailers are offering between 3 and 8 cents per kWh (the feed-in tariff).
charging their cars while their solar panels are generating electricity, and running their cars on sunshine at no cost. Or, if they pay for their EV-charging energy from the grid, at between a quarter and a third of the cost of petrol.
Gisborne Fire Brigade (CFA) can provide you with maintenance of your fire protection equipment on a regular basis. Fire extinguishers, hose reels, hydrants, hoses and blankets all require regular maintenance and need to be inspected on a sixmonthly basis.
Gisborne Fire Brigade is a volunteer brigade of the Country Fire Authority and can coordinate regular inspection and servicing of your equipment to ensure the equipment will function properly should it be needed.
This reflects the fact that renewable energy from wind and solar is now the cheapest way to generate electricity.
This now means that households with rooftop solar should run their electric water heaters, washing machines and dishwashers while the sun is shining.
Those who have electric vehicles will now also be
Volunteers at the Go Renewable Energy Group (GREG) have selected trusted installation partners to deliver rooftop solar, home batteries, hot water heat pumps and reverse-cycle air conditioners to assist residents transition to more efficient electrical equipment that can be powered by renewables.
For an obligation-free consultation, complete the Expression of Interest form at www.mrsg.org.au/greg, or call Stephen Pepper on 0415 821 481.
The funds raised by this service go towards upgrading and maintaining our equipment, which is used to protect the local community. We recently upgraded our Forward Control Vehicle with the purchase of a 2024 model VW Amorok ute. This vehicle was fitted with radios, lights and sirens and was on the road in time for this summer's fire season.
Six-monthly inspections keep equipment in order.
For assistance in arranging maintenance, contact Lieutenant Steve Blaker on 0412 465 730 or sblaker40@gmail.com.
Clean Up Australia is hosting its 'biggest ever clean up' on Sunday 2 March to celebrate 35 years of cleaning up local communities across the country. Now is the perfect time to register an event and get involved.
• It is a simple way to take practical action for the environment
• Family, friends and the local community can get involved
• It's fun and makes you feel good knowing you've done your bit.
To register, please go to www.register.cleanup. org.au and follow the prompts.
Please be aware that Clean Up Australia typically requires approximately two weeks to pack and deliver the Clean Up kit.
A large gathering enjoyed Carols by Candlelight at Dixon Field on 8 December. Fortunately it did not rain and everyone loved hearing the local primary school choirs, Young Voices of Macedon, and the Community Carols Choir. The dancers from Gisborne Dance Academy were also very entertaining. Nicole did a great job running the Canteen and the icecream van was popular.
Mayor Dominic Bonanno opened the evening, and the Bendigo Bank Local Hero Award was presented to a deserving Ian Arnell (see page 6).
Thanks to Burnt Honey and TAKT for wonderful pre-entertainment, our great MC Grace Walker, Jan Goodall choir director and choir members, pianist Alan Grinton, stage manager Sue Stevens, sound engineer Graham Glasson, Gisborne CFA, and sponsors Bendigo Bank, the GREAT Association, MRSC, Kuzu Izakaya, MR Signs, Sopranos Pizza Bar & Connect Real Estate.
Special thanks to committee members Sue Stevens andTracey Calnan.
Bronwyn Tacey, chair Carols Committee
The Macedon Carols concert was held on 11 December at Tony Clarke Reserve. It was the last one for Corinne Shaddock, far left, who is moving interstate.
With her (left) are MC Shane Jacobson, and fellow committee members Shona Mackin and Claire Berry (front). At right is the generous Graham Glasson, who was the sound engineer for both the Gisborne and Macedon events (Macedon with the assistance of William Shaddock).
To the families we have supported, the organisations we have partnered, and the generous donors and grant providers who make our organisation's work possible thank you for helping us continue to support unpaid carers across the Macedon Ranges and beyond.
2024 was a significant year for PS My Family Matters. Thanks to the dedicated work of our peer support consultant, Tamara Wilson, we helped more families access financial, practical, and emotional support, enabling them to continue their caring roles while also pursuing their personal and other goals.
As we enter 2025, we are excited to announce our new name: Power to Care — a reflection of who we are and what we strive to achieve.
Unpaid carers play a crucial role, leaving many vulnerable to crisis. This can affect not only their own wellbeing but also that of those they care for. While various carer support services are available through federal, state and local governments, carers in crisis often lack the time and energy to access them. That is why our focus is on respecting and acknowledging the value of unpaid carers — reducing their mental load and helping them regain control over their lives.
Another change for the organisation
After being a founder and driving force behind the organisation for over 10 years, our peer support consultant, Tamara Wilson is moving on and pursuing other interests. Those who have experienced Tamara’s wisdom, compassion and advocacy will know what a profound loss she is to the organisation. Fortunately, she has generously shared her knowledge, equipping us with the strategies and skills to continue her impactful work. We wish Tamara well in her future pursuits.
Kristine Rawlinson president, Power to Care 0475 269 965, hello@powertocare.com.au,
Bryan Power speaks to former Editor Corinne Shaddock on the eve of her departure for Adelaide.
When I retired as full-time editor in August 2016, I wrote that the incoming editor, Corinne Shaddock, “is a very community-minded person who will bring her talent, enthusiasm and energy to the role”. On those three criteria Corinne has delivered in spades while at the same time declaring that editing the Gazette has been “such fun”.
Working with Corinne has been a delight for all of us at the Gazette. Her commitment to producing the best possible edition each month has won our admiration as well as the respect of the legion of reporters and columnists who sent their contributions to Corinne each month. Her dedication, backed by the outstanding work of our production editor, Pip Butler, elevated the Gazette to being named best Victorian community newspaper in 2020 and 2021 by the Community Newspaper Association of Victoria and winning the Best Community Content category four times. As well, Corinne won personal awards for her editorials and a sports report.
Following a lifetime of international study, work and travel, Corinne arrived in Mount Macedon in 2007 with her husband Stephen and young children. Up until then her life reads like a travelogue. Corinne and her older brother Mark were born in Switzerland while her American father James was working in Europe as an engineer in the nuclear industry. He had met Irene, who was German and was working with him as a translator, and they married at Lake Maggiore in northern Italy. When Corinne was six months old the family moved to San Diego in California. The family later moved to Vienna, Austria, where Corinne attended the British International School. When she was in first grade there, an incredible mishap occurred: the ceiling of her classroom fell in. Not just the plaster but also floor framing, floorboards and furniture from the classroom above came crashing down. Amazingly, no one was injured.
Corinne Shaddock with the great body of work she created as Editor of the Gazette.
A few years later, an unscathed and unfazed Corinne moved back to San Diego with the family where she became a beach girl and a keen body surfer. After seven years, Corinne’s dad’s career took them back again to Vienna.
Corinne finished high school at the United World College on Vancouver Island in Canada where she completed the International Baccalaureate. Then it was on to Cornell University in New York to study Economics and International Relations. Corinne found work as a management consultant in New York and after 18 months was posted on assignment to Melbourne. It was
here, at a party in Carlton on her very first weekend in the city, that she met her future husband, Stephen, who was working as an engineer in the water industry after studying at RMIT.
Eighteen months later, Corinne left to gain an MBA from INSEAD business school in France. From there she joined the European headquarters of the American multinational Procter and Gamble in Geneva, Switzerland, to work in brand management. Stephen joined her and found work at the World Meteorological Organisation. They were married in Geneva and their first child was born there.
Corinne’s work included launching Pringles crisps across Europe, making advertising for the European market, and introducing the company’s laundry products to the health care sector in Germany. Steve met many international people through his work at a UN organisation. It was an exciting time for the couple, but after nearly eight years they were ready to return to Australia to raise their family.
Steve’s work as a civil engineer took them to Shepparton for two years during which time their second child was born. Steve’s next job was in Tullamarine and Corinne thought there could be a chance for a return to beachside living, but Steve is a country boy raised in Walpeup so they headed for Mount Macedon. And how lucky have we been that they made that decision!
Corinne immediately launched herself into community life here: writing the newsletter for the Macedon Kindergarten, becoming a distributor for the Gazette and joining the Gisborne Singers. When her children reached school age, she busily involved herself at Mount Macedon Primary, helping with reading, the school fetes and creating a school choir which she led for seven years. She taught French to children in Woodend and Mount Macedon, and at the Victorian School of Languages in Gisborne.
While with a group of mothers watching their children receive tennis coaching, one mum came up with the idea that they should have lessons too. They all agreed, continued next page
and Corinne was introduced for the first time in her life to playing a competitive team sport. For many years she was team captain for her children’s and her own Tuesday Ladies’ teams and, as well, took on the role of junior coordinator.
Corinne also found time to cook for the Macedon Seniors, be on the scouts committee and be on the committee of the Macedon and Mount Macedon Carols, where she has organised the program since 2012.
After reading my callout for people to help edit the Gazette while delivering papers, Corinne became a volunteer with the Gazette and edited three editions of the paper in 2015 while I was overseas. She took the helm in August 2016 and the Gazette became a large part of her life. Editing the paper and connecting the community during COVID is something she will never forget.
Ever curious and with the kids grown up, Corinne started new roles last year, becoming a bar manager at the Mount Players, joining Grainne Black and Lesley McClure in running the Macedon Community House choir, and teaching English with the Adult Migrant English Program.
Corinne is also well known locally because of her work as community engagement officer of the Gisborne and District Community Bank where she managed the community giving programs for over 10 years and was also a volunteer director on the bank board for four. She has committed herself wholeheartedly to these roles during which time the bank has poured $3 million into scholarships and grants to local community groups.
As you can see, Corinne has been one heck of a presence in our community. We shall miss her so much.
Go well Corinne as you join Steve in Adelaide where he will be working on a major tunnelling project and you will finally get back to the beach. Enjoy all the other benefits Adelaide has to offer but I expect it won’t be long before you find yourself involved energetically in some community group.
It has been a joy and a privilege to have had you among us.
The annual 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' Classic Car Show returns on 9 February. Tickets to this popular event must be pre-purchased.
Make sure you have your ticket ready to scan at the entry gate. There will be traffic directions and marshals close to the venue to guide you to the correct entry.
Classic cars will enter through the South Rock Road entrance (main entrance to reserve); gate opens 8am. The general public will enter through the gate on Straws Lane; gate opens for parking at 8.30am.
The fee to enter Hanging Rock reserve applies to the vehicles in the display areas as well as general parking: $15 per motorcycle (including a passenger), $30 per car – regardless of how many passengers, $15 per pedestrian – children free.
Tickets via Eventbrite (www.eventbrite.com.au).
Crochet and conversation – Mon 3 Feb, 2-4pm
New to crochet or just want to connect over your current project? Join us for a fun and friendly crochet meet-up. Bring your supplies and let’s crochet together. Held each month.
Introduction to Google Maps – Tues 11 Feb, 11.30am-12.30pm
Learn how to use Google Maps and how it can do more than just give you directions. Bookings required.
The Way, My Way (A Camino review) – Wed 12 Feb, 1 - 2.45pm
Come and watch the movie based on the memoir by Bill Bennett.
Bookings required.
Bookish badges – Sat 15 Feb, 10am-12 noon
Drop in for a fun badge-making session celebrating books and libraries. All ages welcome.
For bookings visit www.ncgrl.vic.gov.au or phone 5428 3962.
Home Library Service
Do you find it hard to get to the library due to illness or disability? The library has trained volunteers who are able to deliver books and other library items once a month. If you would like to volunteer with or receive the Home Library Service, please call Goldfields Libraries Community-Based Services for more information on 5449 2790 or email homelibraryservice@ncgrl.vic. gov.au.
Welcome back Gisborne! We hope you all enjoyed a wonderful holiday break and time with loved ones. We are thrilled to be back, as our classes begin on Monday 3 February. While enrolments opened on 21 January, we still have spots available in Term 1 classes. Expressions of interest are always welcome and encouraged!
Macedon Ranges Further Education Centre (MRFEC) is a 'Learn Local' organisation, meaning we offer a range of locally offered short courses at a
subsidised price. Are you looking for a new creative outlet or hobby? Or are you interested in upskilling professionally and don’t know where to start? We work with a variety of talented tutors who can offer incredible insight, with years of experience to show for it. With small class sizes and accessible prices, you can’t go wrong! Our courses fall under the following categories: Arts, Crafts & Hobbies, such as Pottery, Floristry and Tai Chi.
Bound is excited to welcome an experienced professional senior property manager to assist with all your property needs.
Career Development, such as Barista and Bookkeeping.
Digital Skills, such as Social Media Marketing and Xero
....As well as a number of workshops and events at a low cost or no cost!
If this sounds like something that may be for you, head to www.mrfec.net.au or call us on 03 5428 3799 to find out more, or pop in and have a chat with our staff anytime Monday to Thursday, 9am to 4pm.
South Ward councillor Dominic Bonanno has been elected as mayor for the first year of the new four-year council term.
First-term West Ward councillor Kate Kendall has been elected deputy mayor, also for a one-year term.
Cr Bonanno, a second-term councillor, said, “I thank my fellow councillors for putting their trust in me. I am looking forward to working with the councillor team, our executive leadership and staff. Let’s continue to make Macedon Ranges a great place to live, work and play.”
“I will bring continuity and stability for the councillor group, our organisation and community. I’ll keep building relationships and supporting innovation and continuous improvement to grow our effectiveness and efficiency.”
For more information about the mayor, deputy mayor and other councillors, visit mrsc.vic.gov.au/councillors.
I had an early Christmas present in December; I won the Men’s Shed and Foodbank raffle. The Men's Shed build a cubby house (or shed!) every year and it is raffled, with the proceeds going to the Gisborne Foodbank.
It is the shed that I desperately need for all my gardening implements and I have called it a ‘she shed’.
We paid Attain cranes from Melton and Gary did a wonderful job putting it in place after the Men’s Shed had prepared the ground.
Look out for the raffle towards the end of the year and you may win a shed for yourself or a cubby for the children or grandchildren.
It took a bit of getting in, but the longedfor shed is now in place in Maxine's garden.
Kindergartens and early childhood services will share in $1.4 million to help upgrade and improve their latest IT equipment.
The Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas, announced late last year that 17 services across the Macedon electorate would receive funding for equipment such as laptops, iPads, screens and IT hardware used to deliver kindergarten programs. Among the recipients are:
• $1738 for Manna Gum Family and Children’s Centre
• $1465 for Swinburne Avenue Children’s Centre
• $1344 for Macedon Kindergarten
• $2000 for Goodstart Early Learning New Gisborne
• $1999 for Rothschild Road Kindergarten at Willowbank Primary School.
Those pesky bits of plastic that can ruin your FOGO
They are so insignificant that many people may not have thought about this, but those little plastic stickers on individual fruits such as avocadoes and apples will not decompose with the food and garden scraps.
They are difficult to remove in processing and can contaminate the compost. Recyclers ask that these annoying little fruit stickers be removed before the scraps go into the FOGO bin.
We hope all our readers enjoyed the festive season and had a safe and relaxing start to 2025.
Thanks to everyone who supported our Macedon Ranges Group’s “Pop-up Christmas Fair” at the start of December. We enjoyed meeting locals and people from other areas as they shopped for Christmas goodies. We had a successful day financially, which helps with our on-going aims of helping women, children and families in crisis.
At Mount Macedon we have a lovely hall, which is available for hire. If you have an event coming up this year, please contact us to arrange a viewing and see if it suits your needs.
If you think you might like to join CWA or if you want to know more about the Macedon Branch, we would love to welcome you to our first meeting of the year on Tuesday, February 18 at 1pm. Please call Anne Fyfield on 5426 2210 for more details.
Our last gathering for the year was on 5 December, when instead of our normal monthly meeting we shared a Christmas lunch.
Fifty-three members, partners and friends enjoyed the delicious Christmas lunch at the Woodend Victoria Hotel. We all got into the festive spirit and were entertained by our member Helen Thompson (as seen in the photo) sharing some jokes and funny stories. It was lovely to catch up with fellow members and live the Probus motto of Friendship, Fellowship and Fun.
Probus is a network of social clubs that are open to anyone who is retired or semi-retired. We provide our members with opportunities to stay engaged, connected and active. We get together on a monthly basis to listen to interesting guest speakers and we engage in monthly outings as well as a yearly tour.
Our first meeting of the year will be on 6 February in the Gisborne Community Hall in Hamilton street (next to the Mechanics Hall). Come along to see what we are all about, and for further information you can contact our president, Susan Denheld, on 0419 530 041.
Dianne Egan
Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT)
Urea Breath Test – c14
Tuberculosis – QuantiFERON Gold Electrocardiogram (ECG)
24hr Blood Pressure Monitoring 24hr Holter Monitoring
Located at
Ranges Medical - 182 Station Rd, New Gisborne
Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:00pm Saturday 8:30am to 12:00pm 0421 699 623 All Referrals Accepted
Happy New Year!
2024 ended with a timely reminder to have our properties prepared for the fire season. A huge thank you to all the volunteers who fought the Bullengarook fire over the Christmas period.
Locals have been enjoying our beautiful Res these past few weeks. We are so fortunate to have such a fantastic area right here in town.
We were saddened to hear of the passing of Mrs Shirley Farley on 31 December. Condolences to her family.
The total rainfall for 2024 was 751mm, that is 82mm less than the total recorded for 2023. Rainfall in Victoria Street for the period 1 January to 17 January was 41mm.
The new signage is looking great at the newly named Macedon Village Hotel unfortunately an unexpected delay occurred at the end of the year, but rest assured everything possible is being done for it to be open as early this year as possible.
Good luck to all children commencing the new school year, especially those beginning their Foundation year at Macedon Primary.
Please pop in and let us know if you have anything you would like us to add to the column.
Anne and the Team at Macedon Post Office
So Christmas is done and dusted, the New Year is well underway, your visitors have gone home and it’s time to focus on the rest of 2025 and beyond. Have you thought about improv-ing your mental health by being better connected to your community?
Would you like to make a few new acquaintances in a no pressure atmosphere? Perhaps dabble in some new activities to see if any of them interest you? Discover new applications for skills you already have?
We reckon the Gisborne Men’s Shed ticks as many of these boxes as you’d like.
we haven’t, so we are still ticking those boxes. Drop in for a chat and a cuppa at 10 Lyell Street any Monday, Wednesday or Thursday morning and see if you fit into the picture.
*This adage is often attributed to Henry Ford but the official recognition goes to Thomas Bertram.
Drop in for a chat and a cuppa at 10 Lyell Street any Monday, Wednesday or Thursday morning
In 2022 we won an Australian Men’s Shed Association national award for doing just that and we believe in the adage “If it aint broke, don’t fix it,”* and
To advertise in the Gazette, contact our Advertising Coordinator on 0438 711 138 or visit our website, gisborne gazette. org.au
Gisborne
Dr Jacob Chan
But Henry did coin a few phrases we agree with:
'Anyone who stops learning is old, whether 20 or 80.' 'Anyone who keeps learning stays young.' 'The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.'
'One of the greatest discoveries a man makes is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn’t.'
'Nothing is particularly hard if you break it into small jobs.'
The festive season has come and gone, and with it, the endless feasts, drinks and treats. From fruity desserts to glasses of wine and fizzy soft drinks, your taste buds might be celebrating, but your teeth? Not so much.
Let’s not forget the summer heat, which can leave people dehydrated and mouths less than happy. If your mouth is feeling the post-holiday blues, don’t worry — we’ve got you covered.
What happens to teeth post-festivities?
Acidic food and drinks can make your mouth more acidic, which spells trouble for your teeth. Acid weakens enamel, leading to erosion and decay. Even gums and soft tissues might feel the pinch, becoming more prone to irritation or pesky ulcers.
Cut back on acidity: Swap acidic snacks and drinks for tooth-friendly options such water, vegetables and dairy.
Hydrate like a champ: Sip water consistently throughout the day. Think small, frequent sips instead of downing a whole bottle at once.
Chew sugar-free gum: It’s like a mini workout for saliva glands. Just be careful if you have delicate dental work.
If you’ve caught the signs of erosion early, a balanced diet with plenty of calcium can help strengthen enamel. Products such as tooth mousse (available at most pharmacies) can also gradually remineralise your tooth structure. But if you suspect your teeth have further damage, it’s a great idea to schedule an examination with your dentist.
With a little love and attention, your teeth will be ready to take on the new year!
have a laugh
My teeth were stained, so the dentist asked me, “do you smoke or drink coffee?”
I told him I drink it.
And welcome all to 2025 hard to believe now, when the big thing was the coming Millenium now that is a quarter of a
A pre-walk of the Whipstick track at Blackwood a couple of weeks ago, found the track to be mostly recovered after it was severely storm damaged in 2022 and closed up to mid-2024. Good to know we can include it once again on our schedule of walks.
If you happen to be in Blackwood and feel like a walk, this is well worth the effort. The walk is described in more detail below.
You are welcome to join us in a walk any Friday, walk details will be forwarded by joining our mailing list at gisramblers@gmail.com. There are no charges as the Ramblers are not a club with memberships, just a group who like to walk.
Cheers, Charles (gisramblers@gmail.com)
Distance: approx 5km
Level: Moderate
This walk begins at the public car park adjacent to of the Garden of St. Erth, Blackwood.
Walk from the car park towards the toilet block (not a very auspicious start!) but keep to the left, noting the path and sign for the Whipstick track.
The track then widens and descends towards Back Creek. Before reaching the creek, a track to the left with signage is encountered; continue past (you will return on this track) noting the mining activity, until crossing the creek by a footbridge. The track then narrows to a single width, winding its way generally along the creek.
The trail is well marked with single
There was billy cart fun to end Term 4 at Macedon Primary School in December, these students entertaining with a Willy Wonka theme.
A view of Whipstick Loop track.
white posts at intersections with directional arrows. This area was heavily mined for gold in the 19th century and at various points along the walk, there are descriptions of historical sites. As you walk you may see the remains of some water races, supplying water to the miners many of the these were built by a remarkable French lady (Pauline Bonfond) whose grave can be seen in the Blackwood cemetary.
As this is a loop walk, you will eventually meet the main track you descended on; turn right to return to the car park and maybe some refreshments at the Garden of St Erth cafe.
This is a stunning walk, probably best seen in filtered sunlight, although a misty day would enhance the bush experience.
The Gisborne Newsagency has changed hands for the first time in over three decades. The family of the founder, John Kelly – who took over the shop and brought in Midtown Lotto in 1991 – had continued to run the newsagency since his death in 2021. Farewell and fond memories. And welcome to friendly new owner Subodh Sharma (Subi) who took over on 20 January.
Chemist Warehouse has a bin for recycling blister pill packaging. It is near the dispensing end of the store.
UFS in Brantome Street no longer takes blister packs.
A new travel agent, Hello World, is due to open in Brantome Street this month.
The Block house on McGeorge Road, South Gisborne, that host Scott Cam renovated has finally been sold for a rumoured price tag over $3 million, significantly less than the original asking price. It may be a lower figure than sought, but an amount of millions being handed over for their old house, built about 1867, would have the McGeorges turning in their graves.
Bullengarook Adult Riding Club received $791 in December for first aid equipment from the State Government’s Sporting Club Grants program.
*Correction to an item in the December Gazette, when we reported that the boutique Style 25 in Hamilton Street would reopen under new management but retain the name that was incorrect, and the new shop is called SnD Boutique; apologies to new owner Sandra.
The town of Gisborne in which we grew up was very different to the town we see today.
The shopping area consisted of two grocery shops, one run by Arthur Cliff in the building on the north-west corner of Aitken and Hamilton and the other where the fish and chips shop is today on the south-west corner of Aitken and Hamilton. This was Sansom’s General Store. They sold everything: groceries, hardware, clothing and boots and shoes. Garden tools were out against the front of the shop and goods were displayed on the footpath. Out the back they had big sheds where they sold hay and chaff and farming supplies like fencing wire and farm tools.
The shopkeeper was George Sansom, a big tall man with a droopy moustache. He always wore a large white apron. He lived behind the shop. His brother Harry was as short and as wide as George was tall. He also wore a white apron that almost dragged on the ground because he was so short. Clem Sly delivered the Sansom’s goods in an A Model Ford.
with Eddie and Peter Gardiner
Next door to the Sansom’s store in Hamilton Street was the bakery with a big bakehouse at the back. It was owned by Norm Thomas. All the bread and cakes were baked fresh and the smell of fresh bread baking was always in the air. The bread was delivered daily throughout the district by a horse-drawn baker’s cart with the driver, Ted Patullo. perched on top of the cart.
Milk was also delivered in bottles by the Fitzgeralds using a horse-drawn cart each morning. All groceries and foodstuffs were delivered.
When you purchased goods they were put in brown paper bags or wrapped in paper and tied up with string.
Everything we buy packaged today was in those days sold loose and went into brown paper bags or into the customer’s own bags or baskets.
Next door to the Telegraph Hotel was a paper shop that sold a small number of toys, school books and supplies as well as cigarettes. It also had a lending library. The shop was run by a little lady called Miss Bridget (“Biddy”) Flanagan. She also delivered the morning papers the Sun, The Age and The Argus after collecting them from the train at New Gisborne. When her little old Ford Prefect car wouldn’t start on frosty mornings Dad would go down and get it going. Later, we kids delivered the afternoon paper The Herald
The town had two garages, ours in Hamilton Street and one in Aitken Street run by Mr D Shilton. There were two greengrocers/cafes that also sold lollies and drinks: one between Dooney’s Diner and the old post office in Hamilton Street and the other in Aitken Street. Dudley McPherson was a bootmaker who repaired shoes; he also was a saddler. His shop is where Danny’s barber shop is now in Hamilton Street. There was no chemist. Medicines, epsom salts, ointments, bandages and other medical supplies were sold by the grocers. The Rawleigh’s man visited Gisborne regularly with his supplies of all kinds of patented medicines. He visited every house and did good business.
The Victoria Hotel was in the same spot as now but it was much smaller then. The butcher’s shop was where the Kaffeine Bar Cafe is today. The meat was displayed on white marble slabs in the window. The floor was covered in sawdust and the butcher, George Ansett, or one of his sons, George Anzac Ansett or Ronnie Ansett, cut up the meat on big wooden butcher’s blocks. Your meat order was wrapped in a minimum of white paper then newspaper and delivered by Ronnie on a bike which had a large wicker basket on the front and a very small front wheel. As kids we got pocket money by saving newspapers and selling them to the butcher.
Tom Ryan, Jim Crawford and Jim McGuinness were barbers. Jim McGuinnes’s shop was where the Myths and Legends shop is now. I can’t remember there being an accountant or a solicitor back in those days but there was one bank, the Commercial.
Aitken Street was not crowded with shops back then. There were empty blocks, yards and driveways and most of the shops were rooms added to the fronts of houses.
Before my time, the original Gisborne shops were down near the corner of Melbourne Road and Hamilton Street but they had become houses by the 1940s. One was reopened as a fish and chip shop by a family called McKenzie in the early 1950s. It was a wonderment for the town!
The Gisborne Singers’ performance of Mahler’s 2nd Symphony in collaboration with the Bendigo Symphony Orchestra in November last year was a resounding success. The history behind the music, the sheer scale and quality of the orchestra, the brilliant soloists and massed choir contributed to a performance that ended with a standing ovation from the full house. The dedication and passion of Luke Severn, artistic director and conductor of both the choir and orchestra, ensured a profound experience for participants.
This year’s Music at Resurrection concert series begins in grand style on Sunday 23 February at 3pm at the Church of the Resurrection, Macedon, with the celebrated Seraphim Trio. For pianist Anna Goldsworthy, violinist Helen Ayres and cellist Tim Nankervis, this will be their 11th annual performance at Macedon.
The program starts with the Piano trio in E flat, Op 1 No 1 by Beethoven. An early work, the trio was first performed in 1794 with Beethoven at the piano. Throughout, this instrument predominates, often in a highly virtuosic style; indeed, the first movement could almost stand alone as a solo sonata movement.
the Gisborne
Plans for 2025 are still being finalised, so stay tuned for an exciting program. You can check details on our website. If you’re interested in joining a choir dedicated to quality performances of large classical pieces, with a winter cabaret of contemporary and traditional songs, please contact us through www. gisborne.harmonysite.com or phone 0408 156 263.
Rehearsals start up again on February 5. We rehearse from 7.30 to 10pm on Wednesdays at the Uniting Church in Brantome Street, Gisborne. We are an unauditioned community choir and welcome new members. The ability to read music, although advantageous, is not essential.
Alison Kinghorn
Church performance coming up
There follows the very short D’un matin de printemps (On a Spring morning) by Lili Boulanger (1893-1918), sister of the better-known composer and composition teacher Nadia Boulanger, and the first female composer to win the coveted Prix de Rome. One of her last works, this trio shows Boulanger to be attuned to experimental approaches to composition favoured by her contemporary, Claude Debussy.
The final work, Trio in E minor Op 92 by Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) could not be more different. A massive work in five movements that makes great technical demands on all three players, this trio reflects the composer’s preference for traditional styles and structures. The stylistic and emotional range is nevertheless huge: intense drama in the first movement, gentle whimsy in the second and impressive counterpoint in the last. Adults $45, Senior $40, Concession $35.
Bookings: Trybooking.com.
A community choir for children of the Macedon Ranges and beyond, Young Voices of Macedon rehearses at the House of the Rock, 247 Station Road, New Gisborne.
The choir, which has separate programs for young children (ages 5 to 8) and older youngsters, enjoyed a very successful year in 2024. Highlights included a performance at Choralfest@Montsalvat in Melbourne, workshops and performances with the Bendigo Youth Choir and Yarra Voices (from Fitzroy), the annual concert in Macedon and the Service of Readings and Carols at the Church of the Resurrection, Macedon.
In September the older children were especially privileged to sing two performances of Messe basse by 19-century French composer Léo Delibes with the Bendigo Youth Choir, string ensemble and pipe organ. At the Macedon carol service the choir had the experience of singing with a substantial adult choir that included singers from the Australian Chamber Choir.
This year promises to be equally exciting. Rehearsals led by teachers Jess Demare and Emma West assist children in developing vocal technique, part-singing skills and general
musicianship, and to learn a wide range of repertoire: popular, classical, folk and music theatre. The aim is for children to experience choral singing within a culture of enjoyment, inclusion and friendship. Rehearsals begin on Thursdays at 4.15 pm with afternoon tea and play time. Warmups follow at 4.30, with all children engaged in fun activities that encourage good posture, breathing and vocalisation. And rounds lay the foundation of part singing. During the remaining time the groups work separately on repertoire intended for performance. Newcomers are welcome to try out a rehearsal on Thursdays from 4.15 to 6pm. See yvmacedon.org.au
Dianne Gome
The Gallery, Mount Macedon, is celebrating summer for its first exhibition for 2025.
This will be an exhibition of members’ art in the Focus Room titled 'Summer' and beginning on Tuesday 4 February.
'Summer' will reflect its various motifs through textiles, paintings, multimedia, jewellery, prints and photography, to name a few of the amazing skills of our members.
The annual Art Competition opens for entries on 1 March and closes on 31 March. The competition is open to all Macedon Ranges and Sunbury residents to present an artwork. Information is available at www. thegallerymtmacedon.com.au or on mobile 0418 488 582. The Community Bank Gisborne and District is again generously sponsoring the prize money.
You are invited to view 'Summer' at The Gallery from Tuesday 4 February to Sunday 2 March.
Please join our members for our opening at 2pm on Sunday 9 February.
The Gallery is open 10am to 4pm Friday to Tuesday at 684 Mt Macedon Road, Mount Macedon (behind the Trading Post). If you have any enquiries, contact Sue Anson on 0413 581 632.
The Importance of Being Earnest, subtitle A Trivial Comedy for Serious People, as most know is a play by Oscar Wilde, and will be the Mount Players first show for 2025. This classic is widely regarded as one of the best theatrical comedies ever written.
Full of high farce, dazzling wordplay and hilariously unlikely situations, it has delighted audiences across the world for well over a century.
Synopsis: Jack and Algy are very close friends who are living double lives. In the country, they’re respectable gentlemen but in the city, they’re playboys without a care in the world. Their absurdly luxurious lifestyle is rudely interrupted when love enters the mix, and the pair
struggle to keep track of who they are pretending to be and when. Silliness ensues with whimsical ingenues, jealous fiancees, indomitable dowagers, and the most famous handbag in theatre history.
The season runs from Friday 21 February to Sunday 9 March. For full details and to buy tickets, go to www. themountplayers.com or call 5426 1892 for assistance.
The Players' AGM is being held at the theatre on Friday 14 February at 7pm for drinks and nibbles followed by the meeting at 7.30pm. All welcome to come along and catch up with friends or indeed come and introduce yourself and make new ones! Also on the evening, two stalwarts of the theatre will be presented with their Life Memberships. Who you ask? ..You’ll need to attend to find out!
Fabulous embroidery, textiles and unique handmade items will be on display when the Castlemaine branch of the Embroiderers Guild Victoria holds its biennial exhibition over the long weekend of 8 to 10 March at the Mount Alexander Golf Club in Castlemaine.
The Castlemaine embroiderers are a skilled group drawing members from central Victoria through to Gisborne and Melbourne. As well as traditional
embroidery such as hardanger, crewel work and cross stitch, the exhibition will include items using more experimental techniques of eco-dyeing, felting, machine embroidery and other creative examples of texture and stitch. The exhibition Stitched in the 'Maine opens at 11am on Saturday 8 March and will be open daily from 10am to 3pm with an entry fee of $5. There will be quality handmade goods for sale and refreshments available.
After last year’s great Reel Recovery, fly fishing camp in Marysville (Gisborne Gazette June 2024 report) and some very good results from my treatment, I was looking to a repeat this year. However, first I have to beat a few aggressive cells that returned, with the help of my Epworth Hospital (Richmond) cancer team.
Inspired by the last Reel Recovery, and with the aid of my clubmate Andrew Martin, we’ve started on the prep for the next trip here, on site, at my temporary “Calder Fly Fishing Association Epworth Hospital Fly Tying Annex”. You can see from the picture the setup Andrew and I have with all our fly tying gear.
As we would wish, it’s either the usual “Tempus Fugit” (Time flies) or rather “Fugere piscator” (Fisher rush off to (fly) fish).
Please look up www.mendingcasts.org for more up to date information, especially if you know someone who may benefit from Casting for Recovery or Reel Recovery.
For more information about our club find us at www. calderflyfishing.com.au. We are also on Facebook and Instagram.
Katrina Wurm of Gisborne, the founder of Stress Free Super Mum, was has been named the winner of several gold Stevie® Awards in the consumerservice categories of: Mentor or Coach of the Year; Consumer, Women Helping Women; Social Change and Female Thought Leader of the Year.
Katrina also took home two silver awards in the consumer-service categories of Best Female Entrepreneur – 10 or Less Employees, and Social Change Maker of the Year – Disability. Quite an achievement!
The Stevie Awards for Women in Business honor the achievements of women executives, entrepreneurs, employees, and the companies they run, worldwide.
Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word for 'crowned', the awards were presented to winners in November during an event attended by nominees and their guests at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. The event was broadcast via Vimeo.
More than 1500 entries from organisations and individuals in 36 nations and territories were submitted this year for consideration in more than 100 categories.
Katrina Wurm is an executive coach supporting working mothers to achieve work life balance. She coaches her clients one-on-one online, and has clients from not only the local area, but also in other parts of the world.
on the same night.
Winning five Stevie Awards cements Katrina’s authority as a leading expert in her field of time management and organisation.
Earier in 2024 Katrina was also presented with an AusMumpreneur gold award for the Personal Services category.
AusMumpreneur is an organisation that celebrates and acknowledges achievements of Australian mothers in small business.
Stress Free Super Mum was individually recognised by the Stevie® Awards as one of the award’s multiple gold winners alongside Google, Mastercard and the City of Philadelphia.
Award winners were determined by the average scores of more than 200 business professionals around the world, working on seven juries.
This painting has generously been donated for raffling by artist Daniel Butterworth with proceeds going directly towards the ongoing development of the Ash Wednesday Play, which was performed at last year's Mountain Festival play. The funds will help to continue performances of the play. See 'Support a community legacy...' on page 27 for all the details.
After 33 years serving the community, the Kelly family have sold the Gisborne Newsagency.
John and Wendy Kelly moved to Gisborne in 1975 with their two daughters, Penelope and Rebecca. They took over the business from the Morrow family in 1991 and Midtown Lotto was born.
Over the years, John worked seven days a week, rarely taking holidays, and he and his family became well known, familiar faces in the community.
The newsagency accumulated a loyal staff who were very much appreciated and noticed, even more so since the sudden passing of John in August 2021.
The Kelly family has run the newsagency since 1991.
As they move on, the Kelly family says, “We sincerely thank our customers for their patronage and wish the new owners the very best in the future”.
The new owners, who took over the store as of 20 January, are very keen to be part of the local community and
offered all current staff employment. Some existing staff have taken up this offer and others have decided that it is time for a change.
The Gisborne community wishes all the best to Wendy, Pene, Becc and their families in their future endeavours.
Gisborne CWA: Thank you to the community for your support at our Christmas Fair in Macedon, which was well attended on a lovely sunny day in December. Our cakes sold well and many of our craft items would have been received as presents for Christmas.
The January get together was a shared lunch at a member's home in Sunbury. Thank you Sandra for hosting an informal chat instead of our normal meeting for all to catch up after Christmas.
Some of our members are going
to spend a couple of nights at a craft retreat in Daylesford this month. We can do as much craft as we like or maybe spend some time at the spa or market on the way home.
If there are any ladies in Gisborne or surrounds eager to learn more about the CWA, you are invited to come along to our first meeting of the year on Monday 10 February at 10am, at the Gisborne Secondary College stadium. The following Monday, 17 February, we have a more informal 'Coffee, Craft and Chat' at the same venue, where you might like to join us for a cuppa.
Christine Edwards
Gisborne Garden Club will hold its first club meeting on Wednesday 12 February at the Malmsbury Botanical Gardens at 1pm. The address is 5 Ellesmere Place, Malmsbury. We look forward to meeting you there and welcome any new members to come along. If you would like to know more about our club’s activities, please contact Edwina on 0407 576 545.
SERVICES
• Children's health checks advice and treatment including routine childhood immunisations.
• Women's health advice and treatment on contraception, antenatal and obstetric shared care, cervical screens, and breast checks.
• Men’s health advice and treatment about concerns such as physical issues, prostate checks.
• Mental health diagnosis and treatment, care plans, and referrals to counselling services.
• Health checks, including physical check-ups and tests for lifestyle concerns such as diabetes and cholesterol levels.
• Cancer screening, spirometry testing, audiometry testing, heart health checks and ECG
• Diagnosis and management of chronic diseases such as asthma and diabetes.
• Full body skin checks, individual spot checks, minor and complex excisions.
(03) 5428 3355
16 Brantome Street, Gisborne VIC gisbornemedical.com.au
OPEN 7 DAYS
I was walking with my daughter one recent afternoon, the sun was still high enough to throw out heat, but a light southerly was taking the edge off it. We weren’t walking anywhere special, or anywhere stunningly beautiful or inspiring, just around the streets near where we live in Gisborne.
I mentioned in passing how much I really liked this dead part of the year when, after Christmas and New Year’s Eve, the wheels of the world seem to slow down a cog, the air seems to empty of noise, the roads of cars. The buzz of the daily humdrum subsides, just for a few weeks. It is as if you can breathe just a little more deeply. Time transforms from a jet plane moving too fast (apologies to Dylan) to a shimmer of light that stretches to the horizon.
It also allows the annual occupation of the dreamer to materialise more into focus, which is to wonder what this year will bring. Given that time is an eternal continuum and the calendar under which we live is a human construct, the stillpoint of this question is purely arbitrary. But here I was at such a stillpoint, thinking of what had occurred in the past year, and asking was there an event, a series of events or even random acts that could instil faith in this year being an improvement on the last?
Although the world hasn’t seen a conflict like World War II, nor the deaths of tens of millions from that war or WW1, the number of conflicts worldwide in 2024 meant tens of thousands of people were killed or injured, most notably in the Gaza war and the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Last year was not the exception in human misery wrought from armed conflict. This year won’t be
We are looking forward to a year full of progress in conserving Daly Nature Reserve. Our working bees recommence at 9.30am on Tuesday 11 February and continue on the second Tuesday of each month. Sign in at the scout hall, Howey Street. Newcomers are most welcome.
We do spend time weeding but also seek, observe and photograph native flora and fauna. We have seen blue Imperial butterflies, blue dragonflies and even a pie dish beetle. Seasonally there is an abundance of fungi, and the reserve is home to possums and visiting kangaroos.
Please note that dogs must be kept on leads and firewood collection is prohibited.
The reserve’s history is interesting. Indigenous artefacts have been confirmed. From the late 1800s until late 1970s two generations of the Daly family owned the property. It’s significance was recognised by U L Daly who arranged that it be kept as public space for the enjoyment of future generations.
We encourage gardeners to include native flora when landscaping and this month we suggest the edible native river mint (Mentha australis) which grows to 30cm height and 100 cm wide. Preferring shade and generous watering, it is equally happy in pots.
Enquiries: dalynaturereserve@gmail.com
the exception in it stopping.
In such times it is easy to believe that faith in good prevailing is a casualty. Indeed, if one were to live a life solely on the diet of humankind’s inhumanity to itself one would wilt under the weight. Where to find faith in seeing progress in the evolution of good triumphing over the evil that people can bring is most often found in the reaction to that inhumanity. This is the spiritual parallel to the equation that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. This is the kindness of strangers, writ large and small.
This is where faith is born, and grows, in the garden of our souls where belief and sheer stubbornness delivers to each day a strength of will to treat people as you would want them to treat you. If that is too much to ask, what then?
As I walked with my daughter in the quiet streets, I gave a prayer, let us all be gardeners.
Wookie would do anything for a game. She has been avidly watching the tennis all through January, and if you catch her down at Dixon Field in the evening, she is totally focused on the grassy edges or culverts where a ball may lie hidden. If you throw it, she’ll chase it. So here’s the thing. If there is not a ball in sight, she will settle for the next best option, and not to put too fine a point on it that option becomes a danger if it’s a stick.
Just chewing on the woody bark or fibrous material of sticks and plants is not a problem for dogs. They can get a lot of joy out of these natural textures, maybe a bit of dental cleaning, and certainly hours of whittling away time. The risk occurs when we throw the stick, or make it a run and fetch game.
The damage a moving stick can do down Wookie’s throat (when she tries to catch it in her mouth at high speed) is a serious danger, and best avoided at all costs. This problem has a simple solution. Leave the stick on the ground and play ball instead.
(And as in Wookie’s case, if you need to give your dog more motivation, try tempting her with a carrot, it’s her favourite treat).
The lovely pooch at left, Jazz, is clearly extremely comfortable. But this tummy up, spreadeagled position is also one you can see in cats and dogs if they are hot and there is still plenty of summer heat to come, so continue to take care to ensure your pets stay cool.
Make sure there is shade and plenty of cool drinking water available in the shade, maybe drop some ice cubes in the water bowl; keep some (healthy) frozen treats ready in the freezer; never leave pets in cars even if windows are partly open; wet a towel with cool water and pat your dog's coat.
Happy New Year readers. By the time you read this we will have had our first new members' day for 2025. I can’t wait to see all the new puppies, and their owners of course. Hopefully the weather is not too hot and not raining, fingers crossed.
I know that all our Macedon Ranges Obedience Dog Club (MRODC) volunteers, including our instructors, will be well rested and ready for a new and exciting year. Without them we could not operate each Sunday morning from February to November.
Each week these people give up a good part of their Sunday to provide a safe and friendly environment for each member and their dog/ puppy to learn and socialise.
It’s never too late to start training your dog. It may be a new addition over Christmas, or one that you have had for some time but would like to do some training, if so, all the joining details can be found on our website, www. macedonrangesdogclub.org.au. Or contact us via our Facebook page, or email to info@macedonrangesdogclub.org.au and a representative from the club will contact you.
Take care and stay safe.
Carol Instructor/treasurer MRODC
P: 0447 400 001 E: admin@firstchoicecaresolutions.com.au Open on Wednesday and Friday 10am to 3pm We are here to provide temporary food assistance for those in need
Enter via Heritage Way at the back of the Gisborne Uniting Church Enquiries: 0492 850 520 Email: gisborneccf@gmail.com
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Location and Opening Hours
5 Neal Street, Gisborne
Monday to Friday: 8:30am – 5:00pm
Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Practitioners
Louise Beer: Community Health Nurse
Rebecca Boyack: Occupational Therapist
Jessica Fuller: Dietitian
Munise Bozkurt: Dietician
Zuha Gilani: Provisional Psychologist
Teagan Hawken: Podiatrist
Aleksandar Milivojevic: Physiotherapist
Ann Moore: Exercise Physiologist
Sarah Mullins: Podiatrist
Geoff Sutherland: Physiotherapist
Our Services
We have a broad range of low or no cost community health services available at MRH, from Heart Smart Cardiac Rehabilitation, to Well Women’s Clinic, Strength For Life and many other wellbeing programs. Discover more at our website or by calling to talk to our team.
The operator of Community Bank Gisborne & District, Macedon Ranges Community Enterprises Ltd, is now a certified social enterprise an acknowledgement that marks 16 years of giving back to the local community.
The certification by Social Traders, a non-profit industry body, validates the contributions by Macedon Ranges Community Enterprises Ltd and takes their “profit for purpose” model to the next level.
Having granted over $3 million to local organisations and projects, this recent certification validates the effectiveness of the Community Bank model and formally acknowledges the positive impact of the bank's efforts. It also reaffirms the valuable role community banking plays in building community prosperity.
Chair Mal Carter highlighted the significance of this achievement: “Our Community Bank model is unique –research suggests there is not a similar model anywhere in the world," he said.
"While social enterprise is well established in countries like Scotland, Canada, and parts of Europe, it is relatively new in Australia. Our government is just
beginning to grasp the potential of this sector.”
Social enterprises must (1) have a defined primary social, cultural or environmental purpose consistent with a public benefit, (2) derive a substantial portion of their income from trade and (3) invest effort and resources into public and community benefit that outweighs private benefit.
These are also the core attributes that underpin the Community Bank model.
Shareholders agreed to a new mission statement to support the certification process at the last Annual General Meeting: Macedon Ranges Community Enterprises Ltd’s mission is to be a substantial, sustainable community-focused enterprise that contributes to community prosperity.
Bank branch manager Sarah Barton said: “We are thrilled to have our community support officially recognised in this way. It affirms our social enterprise operating Community Bank Gisborne & District is a business-for-good and that your banking choices can make a difference.”
Gisborne & Mount Macedon Districts Historical Society
Gisborne Court House 4 Hamilton Street Open Wednesdays 10am to 4pm Phone 5428 1450 e: history@gisbornemountmacedon.org.au
www.gisbornemountmacedon.org.au
Researched and edited by
Robin Godfrey
For a period of over 30 years from 1903, the people of the region north-west of Melbourne looked forward to annual ‘Bay Excursions’ in February and March to the Port Phillip Bay resorts of Queenscliff Heads and Sorrento.
In November of 1903, a meeting was held in Gisborne’s Mechanics Institute to consider the establishment of an annual ‘District Bay Excursion’. It was agreed that the balance sheet of the last trip was satisfactory, and so it was decided to hold another Bay Excursion sometime in the coming February. Also decided was that the day of the outing would be proclaimed a public holiday.
The Bay Excursion would include Gisborne, Woodend, Sunbury and all the villages surrounding these three towns. Negotiations would be opened up between Gisborne, Woodend and Sunbury with a view to having a committee formed in each town.
In March of 1906, a meeting of the committee of the ‘Gisborne, Woodend and Bacchus Marsh Bay Excursions’ was held to make arrangements for a continuance of the popular outings. The chairman announced that the object of the meeting was to form a constitution, to give permanence to the committee, and to conserve all, or a specified portion of the profits, as a reserve fund to provide for possible contingencies, such as wet weather.
Tickets for the combined rail-boat
trip in February were made available through the local grocery stores and schools. The people of Gisborne, Macedon, Couangalt, Bullengarook, Riddells Creek, Woodend, Bacchus Marsh, Darley, Melton, Coimadai, Rockbank, Sydenham, Diggers Rest, Sunbury and Toolern Vale and all had the opportunity to buy their tickets in advance. The advantage in this was that there was always the possibility that all the tickets would be sold out before the day, as had happened on several past occasions. Similarly, the residents of Lancefield and Romsey were organised, together with the surrounding towns and villages, for their scheduled rail-boat excursion in March.
Special trains were organised on the Bendigo line, the Ballarat line and the Lancefield line for the train-run to Station Pier at Port Melbourne. In those days, of course, the railway line from Lancefield to Lancefield Junction (at Clarkefield on the Bendigo line) had not been dismantled, and two special trains started from Lancefield at 6.35am and 7.05am.
There were three paddle-steamers in the 1910s, 1920s and 1930s providing pleasure trips around Port Phillip Bay. First on the Bay run was the ‘Ozone’ and then the ‘Hygeia’. After a few years these were superseded by the more modern and larger ‘Weeroona’ which, over the last ten years during which the trips were organised, was
the paddle steamer usually chartered.
People who lived in the more distant areas were happy to work late into the night getting all the necessary requirements lined up for their picnic on the Bay. Many people had looked forward for 12 months since they had returned from the previous one. Some were out of bed by 4 and 5am to get their youngsters ready and to carry out the important chore of preparing stacks of sandwiches always left until last.
Many started the journey with a drive of several miles, in a horse-drawn buggy or a sprung-cart, to the railway station. Children competed for window seats in the old ‘dog-box’ type of carriages which were without connecting passageways, toilets or drinking water, and of course
came with hard and uncomfortable seats. The trains were emptied of passengers at Station Pier one after another, and the happy trippers streamed up the gangways to be first-class tourists, if only for a day.
Many seasoned picnickers had their favourite places on one or another of the several decks of the paddle steamers. Some chose the lounge with buttoned upholstery in green flash material, which gave many their first taste of such upperclass luxury. But for many it was to be a day on the Bay, and they picked a place where they could gaze out over the view of open sea, with here and there a passing boat or liner to add interest and conjure fanciful thoughts.
The 'Weeroona'
Riley’s Band, of piano, violin, violincello and bass, was engaged year after year to play selections on deck, midships between the two large funnels. Some enjoyed dancing to the music, to while away part of the three hours taken from cast-off at Port Melbourne to tie-up at Queenscliff including the time to disgorge the hundreds of people going ashore at Queenscliff and the final run across to berth at Sorrento.
There were always many who elected to leave the steamer at Queenscliff and enjoy a couple of extra hours on the sand or to have a swim. Then there were those who preferred to take advantage of the added time on the water with the comforting, lulling rhythm of the triplecylindered steam engine which powered the large paddle wheels churning the sea into foam on both sides of the broadbeamed vessel.
Continued next page
The 'Weeroona', the newest of the three paddle steamers.
continued from previous page
Those electing to stay at Queenscliff could have a guided tour of the Fort or a cab ride to the back (ocean) beach; however, most had their lunch on the front beach and visited the baths.
"Hot water and milk", for picnic cups of tea, were available free of charge at the front beach.
In Sorrento, prior to 1920, many availed themselves of the novelty of riding to the back beach on the steam tram which, up until that time, was another of the attractions at this very popular watering place of hotels, boarding houses, golf courses and scenic walks.
The trip back to Melbourne, via Queenscliff, gave people time to wander around the decks of the paddle steamer, to inspect the engine room and to visit the bar refreshment room and bridge.
On their return, patrons had the choice of travelling straight back home or remaining in the city to visit a theatre, then joining a late train which departed Spencer Street at 11.50pm.
The day’s outing for a family typically cost one pound (about $125 in 2024) including fares for both train and paddlesteamer. However, as the Great Depression of the early 1930s gradually took hold, the difficulties of organising committees increased to the point where the ‘contingency’ bank balance always had to be drawn upon to make up the credit and debt of the excursion.
The Bay Excursions were inexpensive and enjoyable family outings. It was unfortunate when the depressed economy of the country made it impossible for the excursions to continue. General society of the time lost something that was worthwhile.
OBITUARY
Wendy Lilian Hebbard 28 November 1934 - January 2025
The Uniting Church in Gisborne was packed with family members and friends on 17 January to farewell Wendy. The celebrant, Pastor Annette Buckley, daughter Catherine, good friend Lorna Jackson and husband Ron spoke lovingly of Wendy’s qualities, values, talents and achievements and of a long life well-lived with a strong Christian faith at its core.
After graduating, Wendy taught English and History at several high schools around Melbourne and she completed further studies in Special Education to enable her to help struggling readers, migrant and refugee students.
Wendy was born in November 1934 at the Jessie McPherson Hospital in Melbourne, to loving parents Ern and Lilian Gollan. She grew up at Black Rock and Kew. Because of the polio epidemic she didn’t start school at East Kew Central until she was seven.
After Year 8 she attended University High School where she completed Year 12. Out of school, her life revolved around the East Kew Methodist Church and its youth club activities.
She was the first woman in her family to go to university and it was there as a member of the Melbourne University Choral Society she met John Nott. They were married in 1959 and lived at Pascoe Vale South.
When Wendy’s marriage to John ended after 20 years she was a single mother with three teenage girls, Catherine, Roslyn and Meredith.
Life picked up for Wendy when she met Ron and he “swept her off her feet”. They were married soon after and lived in various locations until settling in New Gisborne and, in more recent years, at Gemlife in Woodend. In Gisborne Wendy was a member of the Garden Club, the Genealogy Group, a book club and, of course, she became part of the local church community everywhere she lived. She was an avid reader and an author of three books. She was a great believer in social justice and joined the Australian Labor Party and supported Amnesty International by frequently writing letters on behalf of prisoners of conscience. She was an admirer of John Wesley, the great Methodist preacher of the 18th century and lived by his adage: “Do all the good you can … For as long as ever you can”.
The Gisborne Genealogical Group will recommence activities this month.
The Family History Room, adjoining the Gisborne Library, will reopen on Tuesday 4 February.
The room is open on Tuesdays 10am to 1pm and Thursdays 2pm to 5pm, when access is available to all our resources computers, fiche, books, magazines etc.
All activities for the group are held in the Family History Room.
The first general meeting will be on Thursday 27 February at 7.30pm, when Stephen Hawke, from the Genealogical Socity of Victoria, will speak on 'Tracing your Ancestral Connections to the Royal Family’. All welcome.
Saturday Workshops will begin on 1 March at 10am when Julie Dworak will demonstrate Family Tree Maker 2024.
The DNA Group ‘DIG’ will recommence on Saturday 15 March at 10am. It is held bi-monthly.
Our autumn outing will be a ‘Walking Tour of Melbourne’ on Saturday 29 March.
Were you able to see the reading of the Ash Wednesday play at last year’s Mountain Festival? Did you miss out and are hoping to catch the next one?
Members are reminded that the annual stocktake and clean-up day is on Saturday 1 February starting at 9am, and the volunteers' morning tea is on Saturday 8 February at 10am.
If you are interested in tracing your family history, or have hit a brick wall and need some help, come along to any of our activities. You will be made most welcome.
For further details check our website www.ggg.org.au.
Lyn Hall
Overwhelmingly the response to the play has been extremely positive, with so many people expressing immense interest and support for its continued performance, here and further afield.
The Ash Wednesday Play is not just a remembrance of the past — it is a reflection on how storytelling helps us navigate the challenges of today. Through this play, we honour those who were lost, celebrate the resilience of those who endured, and explore what it means to protect and rebuild.
Stories like this remind us of the strength found in connection — to each other, to our environment, and to our shared history. The Mountain Festival is
excited to share an opportunity for the community to support the future of the play and have a chance to win another piece of incredible art commemorating Ash Wednesday.
Acclaimed artist Daniel Butterworth (Doug Moran and Archibald Prize finalist) has generously donated an incredible painting to be raffled, with all proceeds going directly towards the ongoing development of the play.
The raffle opened on 19 January and closes 4pm Sunday 16 February. Tickets are $20 each or three for $50, seven for $100. Buy online at www. raffletix.com.au/danielbutterworth2025 or use the QR code.
The winner will be drawn at 7.30pm at Macedon Village Hotel.
The scouts from 1st Gisborne had a ‘WOW’ of a time at the 26th Australian Jamboree in January. They joined over 10,000 other young people and adult volunteers from around Australia for a 10-day camp at Maryborough in Queensland.
Attending a Jamboree is the ultimate experience for scouts, with awesome activities, new challenges and opportunities to make friends for life. I’m sure they all have lots of tales to tell families and friends!
The 1st Gisborne Scout Group had reason to celebrate in December last year, awarding King's Scout Awards to Jack Cottingham and Will Erwin. This is the highest award for the Venturer section, with only 4% of Venturers achieving this milestone.
At 4.30pm on 17 January, a Scout bus pulled into Gisborne carrying six happy but tired New Gisborne Scouts and their leader, Cam. Many hugs from waiting parents ensued as the stories started to flow.
It is the culmination of many hours of dedication to scouting. For Jack and Will, one of the highlights was their four-day 'Adventurous Journey' along the Grampian's Peak Trail in the middle of winter's alpine conditions.
If you think you would like to join the fun and give scouting a go, either as a leader or a scout, please email us at info@1stgisborne.com.au for more information. The Joey section is for children aged five to eight years, the Cubs eight to 11 years, Scouts 11 to 14 years, Venturers 15 to 18 years and Rovers 18 to 25 years. So come along and experience what scouting has to offer.
The Scouts had been at the Australian Scout Jamboree in Queensland, travelling up and back by bus. The Jamboree, as well as Scouts from around Australia, also had attendees from many overseas countries. It was a great success.
Activities ranged from abseiling to camp cooking to snorkelling to badge swapping to designing robots.
Scouting returns to New Gisborne (at the Church of Christ in Saunders Road) on Wednesday 5 February at 6.30pm and on Wednesdays thereafter. Of special note is 19 February when there will be great fun and celebrations to mark Scouting’s Founders Day.
Any families wanting to come and have a look are welcome. Drop in or call ahead to let us know you are coming.
Scouting offers proven programs, challenges and opportunities for young people and leadership opportunities for parents.
We meet on Wednesdays, 6.30 to 8pm, and Venturers meet on Fridays. Contact Group Leader Russell Barker on 0400 297 025 or russell@jeem.com.au to learn more.
For Venturers, call Tracey on 0407 098 032.
Dad told me to go to blazes so I joined the fire brigade.
How do you get six donkeys in a fire truck? Two in the front, two in the back and two on the top going “EEOR, EEOR, EEOR”.
The best way to always stay healthy is not get sick.
What is a fibula?
A small lie.
Doctor, Doctor, I keep thinking I’m a dog. Well, sit on the couch and we’ll talk about it. But I’m not allowed on the couch
I went to a surprise party. I was surprised when they let me in.
All national anthems are country music. Why did the banana go to the doctor? Because he wasn’t peeling very well.
What was Postman Pat called after he quit his job? Pat.
I think I’ve been made upside down! My feet smell and my nose runs.
1. Which piece sits at all four corners of a chess board at the beginning of a game?
2. In the nursery rhyme, how many blackbirds were baked in the pie?
3. What is the Roman numeral for 37?
4. In the nursery rhyme, all the King’s horses and all the King’s men couldn’t put who together again?
5. Who owns Woody and Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story?
6. Arachnophobia is the fear of what?
7. The stitching on Doc Martens boots is what colour?
8. What are Mario and Luigi’s occupations?
9. What are the axles underneath a skateboard called?
10. What is 500 in Roman numerals? Answers page 39
Gisborne Lightning Girl Guides have enjoyed a long break but are excited to be catching up again in February.
At our first meeting the girls will decide on which badge they would like to work on in Term 1 and find out about the Thinking Day badge.
Each year on 22 February all Guides and Scouts around the world gather at various events to celebrate the Guiding and Scouting movements. Our unit has been invited to attend an event in Bendigo to celebrate this day.
If you are seven or older and interested in trying out Guides in 2025, check out the Girl Guide Victoria website to see if Guides would interest you.
Please phone leader Deb Fleming on 0409 542 619 if you would like to find out more. Deb Fleming
1. Who was on the reverse side of the original $2 note?
2. Which is the most common sheep for growing wool in Australia?
3. Which painter had a “blue period” at the start of the 20th century?
4. In snooker, how many points is the blue ball?
5. Who starred alongside Grace Kelly in the movie To Catch a Thief?
6. A daguerreotype was an early type of what?
7. What is the capital city of Mexico?
8. A butterfly has how many legs?
9. What is the name of the only female Smurf?
10. The specialised cells called nephrons are found in which human organs?
Answers page 39
Happy new year from Gisborne Bushwalking Club.
Last year we offered over 44 walks, an average of four a month thanks to our great walk leaders, and 2025 is looking like another busy and exciting year. We have a diverse calendar of walks as well as social events scheduled.
The weather became a bit of a struggle in January with the above-average temperatures, so a few walks were rescheduled. However, it has been perfect weather for the sunset and sunrise series of walks we conduct over the summer.
A fantastic walk was held on a beautiful property on Settlement Road which offered rolling hills, although easy walking, and magnificent panoramic views towards Melbourne and the Macedon Ranges. A wedgetailed eagle followed our journey which ended with a
Graham Sydney Dickinson
2 June 1945 – 11 December 2024
Graham’s life was richly notable for his whole-hearted commitments to his professional career, his family and to the community. In all areas of his life, he generously gave of his time and energy.
Graham had several moves around Australia and overseas during his working life. He was born in Adelaide but moved to Melbourne with his parents Benson and Jessica and younger brother Alan when he was a teenager. He attended Haileybury College, where his grandfather was the headmaster.
He then went to Sydney and completed school at The Scots College before enrolling at the University of New South Wales, where he studied textile chemistry, the first of several degrees he attained over his lifetime. He had a long career in the textile industry
and while working in Melbourne he met Fleur and they married in 1971. Fleur supported Graham through thick and thin and together they looked after their children Anne-Marie and Francis with love and commitment.
Having played rugby at school and beyond he followed the fortunes of the Wallabies and Melbourne Rebels as well as Melbourne in the AFL throughout their many lean years; he was delighted when his loyalty was rewarded when Melbourne broke their 57-year premiership drought in 2021. He was also a keen golfer, a member of Greenacres Golf Club in Kew and Gisborne Golf Club.
stunning sunset enjoyed by all.
If you have not discovered the walking trail on Mt Holden, Sunbury, it is well worth the trip. Part of a new heritage project, there is an easy wide winding track to the top with lots of kangaroos who are very used to us walkers and views that would be difficult to beat. This was the site of another sunset walk which many had not experienced before.
Our many and varied walks and activities have something for everyone so if you would like to give bushwalking a try, you can join us as a casual participant for $5 (insurance coverage) and see if it’s for you.
For details about the Gisborne Bushwalking Club, please contact secretary Jenny on 0438 691 801 or our president, Gail, on 0419 374 603. Our website is www.gisbornebwc.org.
Happy walking, stay active and safe.
Towards the end of his career, Graham’s focus shifted to environmental health and safety and he worked in Singapore in this field for a while. Upon returning to Gisborne, Graham completed a
Deborrah
degree in Environmental Science and advised companies on better water management. He and Fleur developed a beautiful garden on their large block in Melbourne Road and they became active parishioners at St Paul’s.
Graham became heavily involved in the GREAT (Gisborne Region Events Activities and Tourism) Association as its long-time secretary and as a key member of the team that ran the monthly Gisborne Market.
In his retirement he volunteered through the Office of Public Advocate, supporting people with disabilities and mental health difficulties.
Graham’s life was celebrated with a requiem eucharist at St Paul’s on 20 December followed by burial at Gisborne Cemetery.
The start of a new school year always brings a mix of emotions, nervous excitement, the joy of reuniting with old friends, and the anticipation of making new ones. We extend a warm welcome to all our new families and staff members. We can’t wait to share the special events and milestones this year will bring.
We are also reminded of how fortunate we are to live and work in this beautiful space at the foot of Mount Macedon. At Holy Cross we are surrounded by nature, and we are inspired every day by the environment around us. A special thank you to the families who cared for our school animals over the holidays. It truly takes a village to nurture our children and keep our school community thriving, and we are very grateful for your support.
In December’s Gazette, we shared the inspiring story of our past students who returned to speak with our Year 5 leaders. We are thrilled to congratulate one of those students, Ellie Borg, on her incredible academic achievement. Ellie’s ATAR placed her in the top 3% of the state, earning her the title of Dux of Assumption College Kilmore. Ellie returned to Holy Cross to speak at our Year 5 Leadership Day, where she, along with the
school captains from Salesian and Sacred Heart, shared their personal journeys. They spoke about the resilience required to navigate not only school but life’s challenges. Ellie’s hard work and dedication have opened many doors for her future, and we can’t wait to see where her journey takes her.
We look forward to another exciting and rewarding school year!
Thank you to former editor
We would like to thank Corinne Shaddock for attending our Year 6 Graduation and presenting the Gazette Awards to Lily O’Meara and Lachie Dickson in December. Corinne’s presence at our events and her dedication to engaging with our children over the years have been truly valued. She has generously shared her time to inform our students about the Gazette’s role in fostering a sense of community and celebrating local achievements. Her passion and commitment have left a lasting impression on our school.
As Corinne embarks on her next adventure in South Australia, we wish her every success and happiness. Thank you, Corinne, for your incredible contribution over the past 10 years, you will be greatly missed.
As this edition goes to print, our Year 12 cohort at Gisborne Secondary College are experiencing the Apollo25 Study Camp in Portsea, Year 7s are enjoying Welcome Week and Year 8 to 11s will be settling in to the school year.
2024 culminated in the college awards evening, celebrating the individual achievements of many students who either showed high academic achievement, a significant positive shift to improve and develop in their attitude and learning, or demonstrated one of the college values in their approach to their education and/ or contribution to the school community.
We also celebrated the achievements of our Class of 2024, and with first- and secondround university and TAFE offers now made, we can advise that our graduating students will be going on to study courses in Biomedicine, Social Work, Engineering, Nursing, Computer Science, Psychology, Nutrition, Aviation (Pilot Training), Plumbing, Carpentry, Vehicle Mechanics, Justice, Allied Health, Early Childhood Development, and with one student even securing a place in circus training. These pathways demonstrate the breadth of interests that GSC caters for and supports.
The end of 2024 saw the completion of Stage 1 of the college's capital works program with the official handover of the new Administration and Wellbeing Building. Reception is fully operational from the new building and we look forward to welcoming you to our new space. We are excited for Stage 2, the new Trades Hub, which this year will progress from plans to active construction.
We look forward this year to continuing to roll out our School-Wide Positive Behaviour System, introduced to promote and further encourage positive behaviour among the students. Students accrue points and our students have had input to what the accrued merit points get them, including things such as canteen vouchers, chocolate bars, canteen line skip voucher, headphone pass etc.
For the highest category of merit points accrued we are seeking to collaborate with local businesses on the provision of vouchers of a small denomination. If you are interested in supporting this initiative, please contact the college on email gisborne.sc@education. vic.gov.au or phone 5428 3691 and ask for Susanne Tzamouranis, Community Liaison.
Wishing the community a prosperous 2025.
The end of year saw a very busy GVL performing in our first musical which was an absolute hit, everyone involved was so proud of it was. Many new talents and interests were found along the way, from set design, props, sounds and lights, to acting, singing, dancing and more.
On the last school day of 2024 we came together to enjoy an amazing feast of roast meats and vegetables where we collected some gifts to share with a local organisation; there was a special visit from Santa, and this led into lots of colourful and wet fun outside for everyone.
We said our final goodbyes to our young people after a successful evening at the Gisborne Festival. Here we had a selection of young people who wanted to unleash their inner entrepreneur and create items for the market, while others worked on creating a Shrektacular float.
This saw our young people navigate their way through the evening, between market and parade to sell out of all products and come second place in the parade.
With all funds raised across the festival from
In the process of selling out at the Gisborne Festival market
market stalls, to our coffee van and the winnings from the parade GVL was able to donate a little under $1000 to the Gisborne Foodbank along with some Christmas gifts. We are all so proud of the achievements made by the decisions of our community.
Macedon Primary Grade 5 student Joe Greene travelled to Wodonga recently with the TeamVic 10 and under tennis team to compete against NSW in the State of Origin Super 10s.
He won some of his matches and lost some, but he played well (after he adjusted to the grass courts!) and showed great sportsmanship. He had a fun weekend, competing in a team envi-
ronment and was proud to be selected to represent Victoria at this event.
TeamVic were the winners for the first time against NSW.
Not content with representing the state in tennis, Joe was also selected for the representative 10 and under Western TeamVic team to play at the National Futsal Titles in Sydney in January.
Congratulations to Joe!
First, congratulations to our new Open Club Champions Ashlie and Tanmay, ending 2024 on a high.
The Spark coaching team hosted holiday camps and supported Mini Sparks to experience the Australian Open, getting to play on KIA Arena. Hudson has qualified for the development squad Super 10s and was also able to play on KIA arena while the AO was on. What an experience!
Pickleball continues to grow and with four sessions being played at the club, we are sure there will be a day and time to suit you to have a tryout. The first time is free. A modified Pickleball and next-level squad tennis will be made available for people with a disability in the new year. Tuesday ladies autumn season starts on 30 January. The club will field three sides.
On behalf of the South Gisborne Tennis Club committee we wish all in the community a healthy and active 2025. Look up the club’s website www.sgtennisclub.com. au or Facebook for all events, programs, coaching and club news. Coach’s website: sparktennis.com.au.
Gail Scott
Isabella with Kylie; Isabella is the second ‘Gazette Student Award’ winner from St Brigid’s. Award recipients were chosen by their schools and awarded $50 and a certificate.
Proudly sponsored by Rob Mitchell
Paul Burrows celebrated the new year with his first ever hole in one. The 16th is rated as the hardest par three on the course but a perfectly flighted iron never looked like missing as the group in front celebrated the ace.
It has been a busy couple of months with major competitions completed.
Christmas Hampers went to Gary Liddy, Kevin Taylor, Damian Scott, David Lee and Matt Willis.
Dave Dunstan took the December Monthly medal with a nett 63, Jezza Clare was the December Mug o’ the Month while 42 stableford points was enough for Rob Devereux to snare the January Mug.
The John Lowe Memorial 4BBB stableford competition was hotly contested. John was a long-time stalwart of the club, occupying the positions of club captain and club president over many years, culminating in his recognition as a Life Member.
His daughter, Suzanne, was on hand to present the plaque to winners Isaac Golden and Brian Freestone on 46 points.
December also saw the final ‘Ladies Get Into Golf@
Celebrate with us our 15-year anniversary of bringing table tennis to the Macedon Ranges .
Since our first season in 2010, hundreds of locals have enjoyed playing table tennis at our association.
So why don’t you and your family do the same in 2025? Whether you are new to the game, on the comeback trail, or perhaps just wanting to play table tennis with your partner, kids or mates.
Table tennis will keep reflexes sharp and bodies supple, through the joy of movement. Once you catch the table tennis bug you will find it hard to stop playing!
MMGC’ session for the year. As always there were plenty of laughs, groans of disappointment and some fine drives, chips and putts. We were delighted to welcome four of these ladies into our club as members.
Thanks to Bruce Fraser for again coordinating this program and the important handful of members that support these introductory sessions.
Plans are afoot to recommence in the coming months. Tune into our Facebook page for details and registration processes.
Walrus
Over many years Gisborne Golf Club members have packed their cars and travelled far and wide to support other golf club’s competitions, charity days, and fundraisers. On Saturday 18 January, this goodwill was paid back.
The host of this summer’s NSW Open, the prestigious Murray Downs Golf and Country Club just outside Swan Hill, created a golf event to raise money for Gisborne’s clubhouse rebuild following the devastating fire of April last year.
A field (including three groups from Gisborne) took to the inland links layout on a simmering day perfect for golf. The Aggregate Stableford format (pairs competition) made for a fun and exciting day’s play as any standard of golfer and pairing was a chance to score well.
A local pair enjoyed top honours, but Gisborne’s husband and wife duo of Michael and Annie Hammer took second place, with Bart McDermott of Gisborne in the pairing to round out the podium.
Just under $2000 was raised on the day for the clubhouse rebuild, with an ongoing silent auction sure to
increase that figure. Local golfers and representatives shared their best wishes for the club and are planning a visit to Gisborne in coming weeks to continue their support.
The community spirit shown by the Murray Downs people has contributed much-needed funds. But, just as importantly, it has provided an injection of uplifting humanity and energy into the golf club as the work continues to build a structure all the people of Gisborne can enjoy.
Paul Farina
Come and join our super-friendly association as we welcome new, current and past players to our upcoming Summer Autumn 2025 competitions for all ages and skill levels.
A ‘come-and-try-and-practise’ evening is scheduled for 19 February from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
Competition pennants start on 26 February from 7.30pm onwards.
Group and one-on-one coaching sessions are also available.
Location: Macedon Community Centre (Tony Clarke Reserve), Waterfalls Road, Macedon.
For more information please call or email Stan Thomas on 0437 508 338 or Kay Thomas 0407 508 333, or email sthomas@gisbornects.com.au.
Our swimmers have been busy over the summer months with events happening across the state. As the weather warmed up outdoor pools and open-water swims have been on the cards.
In December, three swimmers attended the Open Water Championships in Geelong, competing in various events with great results in all their events. Congratulations to Charlotte M who came fourth in the 2.5km 17-18 age group, Isabella C who placed fifth in the 500m and Matilda B, who came ninth in the 15 years 1.25km.
The Victorian Sprint Championships were held in early January at MSAC in Melbourne where we had two swimmers competing in six races and achieving four personal best times between them; well done Caitlin and Samuel.
As our swimmers enjoyed their summer holidays with friends and family, many took the opportunity to compete at events where they were staying, including Yarrawonga and Bendigo.
Our next club night is Saturday 8 February from 5.45pm, and with school swimming sports just around the corner, we welcome all those wanting to get themselves ready for their school event.
Kate Hawger
Come along and have some fun at Macedon Bowling Club’s Barefoot Bowls evenings and enjoy a “Build your own burger “ barbecue.
These are being held on the first Friday of the month in February, March and April (weather permitting of course).
Adults are $20, school-aged kids $10, and preschool kids are free. Bookings are essential and to be made by the Wednesday before please.
For more information please contact Helen Kennedy on 0402 812 550 or via email at treasurermacedonbowls@gmail.com, or Lesley Ritchie on 0417 996 767 or via email secretarymacedonbowls@gmail.com
Happy New Year to all.
Badminton is a dynamic sport that combines, speed, agility, balance, stamina, and is a lot of fun. It gets you fit physically and mentally and has high female participation. Come along and join us.
Macedon Ranges Badminton and Pickleball Club plays badminton at Macedon Community Centre in Waterfalls Road, Macedon.
There are two sessions per week: Tuesdays from 7.30pm, which started 21 January (all still welcome). Our Thursday women’s group, from 9.30am, starts on 6 February.
Contact David on 0419 589 425 or macedonrangesbadminton@gmail.com.
We will again be running pickleball sessions at Macedon Community Centre on Monday evenings from 6.30pm and Wednesday mornings from 10.15am.
This year we are using Spond to take bookings and keep players informed. The link is https://group.spond. com/UDYND.
Mt Macedon Petanque Club held its Christmas Party at Canteena in December last year. Paul Fox won the Member Challenge trophy for 2024. Regular attendance and number of games won at playdays count towards the award.
The 2025 year kicked off with the Ballarat Singles Championship for North West Region players only, held on 12 January. Seven members braved the storms and rain at Ballarat with Rhonda Shears winning the Women’s section. All players had a great day with high standards of play and camaraderie in challenging conditions. Playing singles can be difficult as participants need to make their own decisions and adjust their game accordingly. This means players really learn to sharpen their skills and strategies, as well as consolidate knowledge of rules of the game.
If you’re interested in trying petanque, drop into our club grounds behind the Ampol Service Station in Gisborne. Playdays are held every Wednesday from 2pm to 5pm. Saturday playdays run from 10am to 1pm on the second and fourth Saturdays. For enquiries please go to our website, mtmacedonpetanque.org.
Alison Kinghorn
The Gisborne Giants are fit and firing and ready to go in their first season with teams at all levels in both football and netball in the Riddell District Football Netball League.
The footballers trained for the first time on 20 January on the new oval at the sporting complex in New Gisborne, meeting senior coach Andrew Hall and senior captain Brad Mangan.
Andrew brings great experience to the club after many years with the Sunbury Lions, as does Brad, who graduated from eight years at Kyabram in the Goulburn Valley League to play at VFL level with Williamstown and Werribee as well as spending a year with West Adelaide.
Brad will be playing at full forward and will be assisting Jarryd Dixon with the coaching of the forwards.
3. A primitive outback refrigerator was the Coolgardie ______?
6. Western Australia’s floral emblem, the red and green ______?
8. The man who introduced Merino sheep to Australia
12. Helen Porter Mitchell’s better known name
13. Monotreme on the fivecent coin
14. Longest-serving Victorian Premier, Henry ______?
16. The flagship of the First Fleet
18. Australia’s first Australianborn Governor-General
Season 2025 is fast approaching with Round 1 scheduled for Saturday 5 April, when we take on Riddell away for the Puka Up Cup. With the entry of the Gisborne Giants to competition across all grades of football and netball, the RDFNL has fixtured a Good Friday game at the new sporting complex in New Gisborne. This is a great way to introduce our local rivalry to the league and to our closest neighbours. Both netball and football departments have been busy over the off season adding new recruits and, importantly, retaining the vast majority of our players from 2024. Coaches Katie Clarke and Al Meldrum have both prepared well with practice matches planned against Kilmore at Kilmore on 1 March, Portarlington at Portarlington on 15 March and Spotswood on 22 March, hopefully at Ontime Oval at Tony Clarke Reserve a helpful way to prepare for the coming season.
The club’s season kicks off at home against Kyneton on Saturday 5 April and locals are asked to turn out in numbers to support the teams.
“There is a real buzz around the club,” said Brad. “We can’t wait to get started. We are recruiting, so we invite anyone interested to join us at training on Monday and Wednesday evenings.”
1. Antarctic explorer on the paper $100 note
2. The last person executed in Australia, Ronald ______?
3. Australia’s largest-ever gold nugget, Welcome what?
4. The state which actor Errol Flynn was born in
5. The man on the old 10shilling note, ______ Flinders
7. The two-letter designation for the second model Holden car produced
9. Faunal emblem of NSW
10. Australia’s capital city before Canberra
11. NSW Governor overthrown in 1808
15. Painter of ‘The Shearing of the Rams’
17. The river that Perth is built on
19. The number of points on the Commonwealth Star on the Australian flag
All details will be posted on the Macedon Football Netball Club Facebook page; follow the club on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with details and club news. The club is always on the lookout for new members. $30 memberships are available at the club’s online store — great value to gain entry to all home games and also gain entry to our members draw at the conclusion of each home game.
As is the case with all community sporting clubs, sponsorship is vital for our club to remain prominent in the competitive RDFNL. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please email footballoperations@macedoncats.com.au.
The best thing about February is harvesting tomatoes. Especially after heat and rain; the smell is tantalisingly tangy and picking irresistible, for the rosellas as well as the humans. Perhaps your choice is more the plum where you sternly suggest to the marauding birds that they learn to share: they get the top half of the tree and you the bottom. Sharing the earth and its goodies might well be our greatest challenge in 2025, whether across nations or locally.
Across Australia, and in other parts of the world, bright and dedicated young people are demanding we share the costs of the climate crisis. They challenge everyone over 25 to think hard and fast about the world they will inherit from the rest of us.
The churches are not exempt from the challenge. Too often we have taken the commonly used word ‘dominion’ in Genesis to mean ‘do as we like.’ So what to do now, in this year ahead?
The national body of the Uniting Church in Australia has adopted a climate action plan designed to encourage immediate action across church and society. Specifically there’s a commitment to reduce our own carbon footprint by 5% each year. The church also is part of the fossil fuel disinvestment movement and reinvests in energy-efficient and renewable energy initiatives. For more details simply type in ‘Uniting Church in Australia’ into your search engine.
However, the Uniting Church also provides pastoral care to those who work in remote rural farming and mining communities. People in these areas are already feeling the impact of climate change through prolonged drought, higher summer temperatures and increased storms. We are committed not to walk away from these communities. Check out details via the Frontier Services website.
And locally and individually? Consider the lilies of the field and the sparrows (Luke 12).
Janet Wood
The Church of the Resurrection has become well known for its annual concert series Music at Resurrection. There is also a strong tradition of liturgical music at this church which, along with St Paul’s Gisborne and St John’s Riddells Creek, comprises the Anglican Parish of Gisborne.
Under the direction of Dianne Gome, a small choir sings at Resurrection at the Sunday Eucharist, leading congregational hymns, a mass setting and responsorial psalm, and providing a communion anthem.
The fine pipe organ, played by Dianne Gome or organ scholar Dan Rigby, provides strong accompaniment and a postlude at the conclusion of services. Dan also enhances the liturgy with flute descants and solos.
From time to time the choir also features at the service of Evensong when it is augmented by singers from other local churches, and our singers occasionally join with the choir of Christ Church, Castlemaine, in the celebration of Evensong.
A particular highlight of each year is the Service of Readings and Carols when our choir is joined by Young Voices of Macedon, friends from local churches and members of the Australian Chamber Choir in a feast of Christmas music.
The repertoire sung by the choir is generally in four parts and encompasses traditional music by
The excitement of Christmas and the New Year is now behind us.
The Mount Macedon Uniting Church was comfortably filled for the Christmas Eve carol service, with its message of love, peace and goodwill. It was wonderful to have the young people taking active roles. Our Christmas Day service was also well attended. The Christmas Bowl Appeal received a good contribution for the work of Act for Peace in trouble spots around the world.
Now, our regular groups look forward to another busy year. The Thistle Club, which is the ladies fellowship, meets on Wednesday 26 February and then on
the last Wednesday each month. Planning for the year is being finalised. The Men’s Group starts on Tuesday 4 February, then the first Tuesday monthly. There is a full program too, with active participation encouraged by members.
Membership of both groups is not restricted. The current members are ladies and men from various churches and no church, as well as Uniting Church. They come from Gisborne, Woodend, Riddells Creek and Sunbury as well as Macedon and Mount Macedon.
Our Sunday services are held weekly at 10.30am at the picturesque Gothic-style stone church on Mount Macedon Road. Everyone is welcome to attend these activities. We would love to see you. Please call me for more information or check the website, www. mountmacedonunitingchurch.org,au.
Neil Tweddle 0488 001 336
composers such as Tallis, Mozart and Elgar along with works by contemporary English and Australian composers.
Gisborne Progress Association Annual Meeting – The members of the Association met at the Mechanics Hall on Tuesday night, Jan. 27th. The Hon. Secretary read the balance sheet and his report for the year. The balance sheet showed that the association had expended the sum of 131 pounds and still had a balance of 303 pounds. The Association had given a donation of £50 to the Golf Club, placed 12 strong and useful seats in the Gardens Reserve, had the telephone laid on to the police station, erected a copper on the Island reserve for the use of picnickers, caused a number of willows to be planted along the creek to save its banks from eroding and carried out a great many smaller works as well, all of which were beneficial to the inhabitants and to visitors, and helped to beautify the town and make it agreeable for strangers. The seats placed in the Gardens reserve cost £32.
Gisborne Shire Council Meeting Feb. 3 – Correspondence. Constable Kettle stated it was two years since Mrs. Kettle had resigned as caretaker of the Court House, so far as the Council’s part was concerned, and the courthouse had been cleaned only twice since the resignation. Writer had to keep the place clean for the Law Department and asked that the Council ... make arrangements for cleaning after the meetings in future.
Signs Neale Ads Ltd. expressed surprise at Council’s letter instructing the removal of Rexona sign near Macedon, seeing that their men obtained the permission of some of the Councillors on November 30th, provided the sign was erected over the culvert and not near the avenue. Regret was expressed at any misunderstanding and consent was now asked to erect the sign. Cr. Bawden said several ratepayers objected to the sign and offered to pay the 21 shillings the Council would receive if it was removed. Besides, the thing had been put up without authority. The Secretary said he had written to the company for the fee of 21 shillings but the amount had not been paid. Cr. Turner: Well, chop the sign down. The Secretary said he had instructed the dayman, who had taken the sign down, the cost being 6 shillings
Gisborne’s Mineral Water It is certainly surprising that, for more than 60 years, nothing has been done by the people of Gisborne to develop the mineral springs of the town. Nearly all the old residents are aware that there is an abundance of mineral water in the place. Going back to the Gisborne “Express” of Saturday January 18, 1862, one finds that at the old Bridge Inn, that big two-storey house at the bridge crossing the creek in Aitken Street, there was a beautiful bright sparkling water spring resembling the aluminous chalybeate springs of Cheltenham England but containing more iron.
Gisborne Gazette – 6 February 1925
ADULT RIDING CLUB (Gis) 2nd Saturday Robertson Res, Sth Gis. ADULT RIDING CLUB (Bullengarook) 2nd Saturday Rec Reserve
AMATEUR RADIO CLUB 3rd Saturday 10am Woodend RSL. www.mrarc.org.au
BADMINTON Tues 8.30pm & Thurs 9.30am, Macedon Community Centre, macedonrangesbadminton@ gmail.com or David 0419 589 425
BOTANIC GARDENS working bee every Thurs 9.30am-10.30am 0439 887 178 infogisbotgard@gmail.com
BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP 1st & 3rd Tues 10.30am, Canteena, Gisborne. Enquiries, call Lesley 0484 691 226
BUSHWALKING CLUB Various locations 0402 088 491 or secretary@gisbornebwc.org.au
CANASTA CLUB Macedon and Mt Macedon Community House Wednesdays 2pm CAR CLUB (Mac Ranges & District Motor Club 1st Wednesday, 8pm, Steam Park, New Gisb. secretary@mradmc.com.au CARERS GROUP (Mac Ranges) 2nd & 4th Thurs, 1pm Woodend RSL Cherry 5420 7132 (Note: 4th Thurs carers only)
COMMUNITY GARDEN Wed 9.30am Church of Christ (Facebook for updates)
CROCHET & CONVERSATIONS 1st Mon 2.30pm Gisborne Library
CROQUET CLUB Wed & Sat 10am Dixon Field Noeline 0426 500 516
CWA GISBORNE 2nd Monday 10am Gis Secondary College
CWA MACEDON 3rd Tues 1pm & 7pm 5426 2210 662 Mt Macedon Rd
DALY RESERVE WORKING BEE 2nd Tues 9.30am Scout Hall, Daly Res dalynaturereserve@gmail.com
FILM SOCIETY 2nd Wed Norma Richardson Hall, Woodend 0402 299 153 or 0407 012 140 FLY FISHING CLUB 4th Wed 7.30pm MRFEC Gisborne info@calderflyfishing.com.au
FRIENDS of JACKSONS CREEK working bees 3rd Sun 10-noon
GARDEN CLUB 2nd Wed various venues Jeanette 5420 7303
GENEALOGY GROUP 4th Thurs 7.30 Family Hist Rm, Library
GIRL GUIDES Thursdays 5pm Gis Scout Hall
GISBORNE SINGERS Wed 7.30pm Gisborne Uniting Church
HISTORICAL SOCIETY open Wed 10am-4pm Court House
LANDCARE: Gisborne Landcare working bee every 4th Sat, place to be confirmed each month, gisbornelandcare@gmail.com
LIBRARY: TODDLERS’ STORY TIME 10.30am Mon, Wed, Thurs; BABIES GROUP Fri 10.30am 5428 3962 LIONS CLUB (Gisb) 1st Thurs of month, 7.30pm 247 Station Rd
MARTIAL ARTS Thurs from 6pm St Brigid’s Hall; gisborne@junseikan.com.au
MASONIC LODGE 2nd Thurs 7pm Masonic Hall Aitken St MASTERS AFL Wed 6.30pm all year round Sankey Reserve
OBEDIENCE DOG CLUB Sun 9am Riddell Rec Res macedonrangesdogclub.org.au
PETANQUE 2nd & 4th Sat 10am behind Ampol service station, Station Rd, Gisborne 0439 887 178
PHOENIX ART & CRAFTS 1st Thursday phoenixmrac.com
PHOTOGRAPHIC SOC 1st Tues & 2nd Mon 7pm Dromkeen, Riddells Ck macedon-ranges-photography.org.au
PICKLEBALL Monday 6.30pm & Wed 10.15am, Macedon Community Centre, macedonrangesbadminton@gmail.com or David 0419 589 425
PONY CLUB Bullengarook 1st Sunday Rec Reserve
PONY CLUB Gisborne 1st Sunday Robertson Reserve
PROBUS 1st Thurs 10am Susan 0419 530 041 Gisborne Community Centre hall
QUILTERS (Gisb) Wed 7pm Room attached to Gisb Library
RAMBLERS Fridays 9.15am Tennis Club Dixon Field
ROTARY CLUB Gisborne 1st & 3rd Tues 7pm Telegraph Hotel (email gisbornerotary@gmail.com for confirmation of venue)
RUNNING GROUP Tues & Thurs 9am, 6pm, Sun 8am Gisborne Aquatic Centre Craig 0417 775 785
RSL 1st Mon 1.30pm Gis Golf Club 5428 2233
SENIOR CITS (Macedon) Tues 11am Tony Clarke Res macedonseniors@gmail.com
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCERS Thurs 1-3 Buffalo Stadium Woodend, 5427 1100
SPINNERS & FIBRE GROUP Wed 12.30 Rec Reserve Bullengarook Kerrie 0406 719 557
SUPPORT AFTER SUICIDE 2nd Mon each month, even if public holiday, 7-8.30pm Newham Mechanics (1292 Rochford Rd)
TABLE TENNIS Wed 7.30pm Tony Clarke Res, Macedon Stan 0437 508 338
THUNDER SWIMMING CLUB 2nd Sat 5pm Gisborne Aquatic Centre Peter 0402 088 491
TOY LIBRARY gisbornetoylibrary@yahoo.com.au Sat 9.30-11am 71 Robertson St
ULYSSES GROUP 3rd Tues 6pm Sunbur y FC secretary@mrub.org.au
VINTAGE MACHINERY Working bees 1st Sun of month, 8.30am Steam Park; meetings last Friday of month 7pm Steam Park 0419 393 023
WRITERS (Scribes & Scribblers) 2nd Tues 10am-12 Riddell Neighbourhood House 5428 7836
YOUNG VOICES Thursdays 4.15-5.45pm House of the Rock, New Gisborne; yvmacedon.org.au or sdggome@patash.com.au
