Around the Clubs

Beth Murray - inaugural winner of Dr. W. Groves Trophy with Dr Groves grand daughter Rosemary Dowling from Royal Melbourne Golf Club.

KYNETON
Wednesday May 22 was a double par event. Noel Alldis was the winner, finishing with +3 while Adrian Hanks was runner-up finishing square with the card. Peter Cameron and Terry Kot was next with -1, Peter Walsh and T Woods had -3 while the last balls went to Karel Turang, Hans Herdel and Bill Dodd with -4. NTPs were S Milton on the 4th and Adrian Hanks on the 9th. 
Saturday May 25 was the qualifying round for the CC Fisher Doubles knock-out that was played as a 4BBB par. The wining pair was Rod Piper and Mark Russell with 44 points. Wally Stys and Hans Herdel were the runners-up with 43 points. NTPs were David Stark on the 4th and Mark Sciberras on the 9th and 17th.
Tuesday May 28 was the final round of the Ocean Spray Trophy. Bronwyn Dwyer was this year's winner with 70 points from Grace Parkinson who had 63. The day event was won by Bronwyn in A Grade with 32 points. A count-back was decided to determine the runner-up with Rosemary Dowling the victor from Grace Parkinson after both had 30 points. The B Grade winner was Jan Laidlaw with 36 points from Kaye Grubb who had 33 points. NTPs were Jan Laidlaw on the 4th, Marlene Richards on the 11th and Deidre Dawes on the 17th. Dr Groves granddaughter, Rosemary, who generously sponsored the triphy and award, had travelled from Melbourne for the day to make the presentation and also play. Rosemary told the ladies that when she began her golf, it was with a set of her grandfather's clubs at the Yarra Bend Park golf club and she and her grandfather fell in love with the game. The winner of the trophy was a very excited Beth Murray who had been involved with the organising of the Centenary Committee and celebration in the year 2000. Through this involvement, Beth had learned much about Dr Groves' long-term club involvement as an office holder and his prowess of the game confirmed by the club's historic records. It was also noted that outside of golf, he was also a much-loved and respected doctor and person in the wider community. Beth was extremely honoured to be the first winner of this special event. Tomorrow is a stroke round for the monthly medal and the first round of the James Rennick Trophy. Tuesday is a stroke for the ladies for the medal inclusive of rounds of the Silver Spoon, Joan Kimberly Trophy and BD Cup. 
MT MACEDON
Friday featured a field of 45 taking the course for the monthly medal stroke and putts. The monthly medal featured a heart-stopping tie with W Christie on 86-21-65 nett in a tie with P Berkeley on 83-18-65 nett. The stroke winner was J Hynes with 76-3-73 and T Atkins was brilliant on the greens with 25 putts. He backed up well in A Grade to win with 76-9-67 nett, W Christie pinched B Grade on a count-back with 86-21-65 nett on while A Robinson had all the answers in C Grade with 93-25-68 nett. NTPs were T Atkins on the 1st and 10th, J Langmaid on the 3rd and 12th and N Clark on the 8th. 
ROMSEY
Saturday May 25 was a monthly medal, stroke and putts. The medal was contested under almost perfect conditions. The sun was out and there was only the occasional gust of breeze. The fairways were slowly greening up but there were still many brown patches. The greens were in the best condition for quite a while and proved to be both fast and true. There are still some patches of damage from our corellas but these are slowly repairing themselves. On a good day for golf the returns were very mixed. Mal Mottram was the winner and May medallist with 88-17-71 from Dean vanDenHeuval with 86-12-74. NTPs were Anthony Freeman on the 1st and Mal Mottram 15th who got the $200 too. John Laing had the least putts with 24.
The district, Dalhousie, is now entering its tournament season. Lancefield was last weekend and Romsey is the weekend coming. These tournaments bring Dalhousie and other district's golfers together allowing everyone to play new courses and to make new friendships. More information on all Dalhousie tournaments can be found on the home page of - romseygolfclub.net
- Anthony Lakey
TRENTHAM
Doug Dixon won the midweek stableford with 38, John Trevillian won B Grade with 39 from Bill Holmes with 38 while Ray Marks won C Grade with 38 from Ian Little 36. NTPs were interesting. Bill Holmes won one of them while Perter Axton snared the other three. David Head tried to show him up with an eagle on the 11th. The winners in the first round of the doubles K.O were P Mills/JHannon, R Marks/M Walker, J Bradley/B Sullivan, L Perrin/J McCormack, B Kerr/B Hawkins, G Varley/K Sheedy, C Evans/K Hynes and D/D Nugent. Chris Byrne won the stableford event with 40 from Graeme Smith with 38, David Theile with 38 and Alan Snowden 37. NTPs were Dave Nugent, K Hynes, D Head and A Snowden. Shirley Shelton won the women's event with 36 from two players who have been out to pasture for a while, Di Hynes with 35 and Mary Campbell with 34. Linda Marchesi also had 34. The Byrne family had a day out, mum Sue has now joined the elite group with a hole in one on the difficult 15th. This Saturday is stroke for the monthly medal while the women have stableford.

Be early to Woodend tomorrow

The farmers market is on again at Woodend tomorrow morning, so rug up, grab your bags and get there early for best selection. 

Friendly dogs are welcome on a leash, but please, please clean up after them and ensure that they behave themselves around producers' wares at the market!

The home produce exchange encourages locals to bring along excess produce from their gardens and swap it with other items on offer for the day. 

Check out the Macedon Ranges Community Exchange stand to find out more about this new way of trading in the local region. (www.mrce.net.au)

John Cole from Shelsley Farm at Kerrie has been busy having his lamb processed for you to enjoy. Please enquire at his stall regarding purchase of great quality local lamb direct from the producer with pick-up from Glen's Country Meats in Woodend. Also, while you're at the market, check out the excellent quality jerusalem artichokes (for those looking for something different) and quality potatoes, great with that lamb.

And tomorrow, Woodend market extends a warm welcome to...

* Bliss Blend - organic tea blends made in Talbot. Recently accredited with the VFMA, Kathy Stokes is stoked to be coming to Woodend to share her delicious healthy teas with you.

* Shuki and Louisa - Middle Eastern delicacies and dips made with quality Victorian produce, including chickpeas from the family farm in the Western District.

* Sugarloaf Hill beef and lamb. Produced in Broadford by Christine and Mark Worden. Discouraged by recent low market prices for their stock, this couple is a new recruit to the farmers market world, and like many, looking for a fair price for their hard slog.

* Buy your garlic for planting from Magnus Kahl Seeds, produced in Lancefield. Melanie will be able to supply you with seed garlic that will produce bulbs that last for a long time and are suited to our region.

* Pete's Travelling Pans has been getting quite a name for itself out on the paths of Macedon Ranges Farmers Markets. Comments like "Have you tried the jungle curry yet?" and "Oh I just love his take home pizza" are circulating, so be sure to check out his stall which includes Sri Lankan, Thai, Pakistani, Indonesian and Indian curry pastes and the famous vaccum packed pizzas for a lazy night. All VFMA accredited.

Seasonal organic vegetables on offer from Somerset Heritage and Spring Creek include brussels sprouts, swedes, carrots, daikon, bok choy, silverbeet, kale, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, parsley, celeriac, dill, coriander, celery, turnips, pumpkins, spaghetti squash, parsnips, beetroot, cabbage, fennel and leeks.

Sandor's Harvest is offering a selection of homegrown and wild harvested mushrooms as well as top quality organic potatoes. Have you tried the purple congo gnocchi yet? 

Local beef, lamb and pork produced by Robyn Harris and Jillian Ryan at their Clarkfield and Lancefield farms is also on offer for the day. 

Live music from Sarah Wilkinson. Free face-paint. Dogs welcome on a leash.

A simple gesture

Country Cob Bakery's Ben, Bec, Robyn and Paige encourage the community to get behind their campaign.

Country Cob Bakery in Kyneton is urging the community to get behind it this Saturday for its 'Suspended Coffee' campaign. 

This exciting initiative will help individuals doing it tough to feel part of the general community and less isolated. It means a warm welcoming environment to walk into to obtain a free coffee or a sandwich and not feel judged. There are three major goals for this initiative; to get 1000 suspended coffees purchased on the day; to get 500 suspended coffees redeemed on the day; and to get 20 new cafes on board offering suspended coffees. 

Country Cob owner Declan Neale said he first heard of Suspended Coffee when a customer suggested the business sign up via Facebook. 

"We were one of the first cafes in Victoria to join up to support those down on their luck and offer suspended coffee. 

"A suspended coffee may not be shelter for the night, but there's something about a warm coffee or soup in your hands that can be comforting and uplifting, especially in the cold, wet months of winter."

The idea started when Jett Mahmud and Declan Jacobs began talking about 'suspended coffee' - a century-old tradition known in Italy as 'café sospeso'. The very next day, the pair launched a social media campaign that has since drawn the support of over 50 cafes and thousands of customers across Melbourne in an effort to revive a simple charitable gesture. Lake Imaging is helping the cause by donating $200 of suspended coffees to the first cafe to jump on board in each of the regions in which it operates.

This practical 'pay it forward' idea is now gaining ground across regional Victoria.

Country Cob Bakery currently has 25 coffees available for deserving members of the community to redeem. 

"We need the word to spread through the media and community organisations that this is on offer right here in Kyneton," Declan said.

"A lot of people in our community are doing it tough, and this is a simple and practical form of generosity that works at the local level," added Lake Imaging Kyneton manager, Chris Proctor.

"It would be wonderful to see local support make Kyneton's Country Cob Bakery the most successful outlet for the Suspended Coffee Society yet."

Learning indigenous history

As part of National Reconciliation Week, grade five and six students from 11 of our local schools this week had the unique opportunity to learn about the history of the Wurundjeri people, the significance of Mt William Stone Axe Quarry in Lancefield and the Sunbury Rings. Macedon Ranges Shire Council and the Wurundjeri Tribe Land & Compensation Cultural Heritage Council Elders made presentations to the school children at the Kyneton Town Hall on Wednesday.

In October, the students will visit the Mt William green stone quarry site to experience firsthand this local prehistorical aboriginal site.

Pictured from left are Jude (Malmsbury PS), Maggie (Woodend PS), Annette Xiberras (custodian of Mt William Stone Axe Quarry), Willy Xiberras, Stuart (Woodend PS) and Sarah-Cait (Malmsbury PS). Photo: Chris Fleming

Campaigning for schools - Labor candidate launches education petition

Woodend Primary School principal, Andy Kozak, and Labor candidate for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters with her petition. Photo: Chris Fleming

Labor candidate for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters visited Woodend Primary School last week to launch her 'Macedon Ranges supports Fairer Funding for our Schools' campaign.

Ms Chesters said the Federal Labor government has put on the table millions of dollars for Macedon Ranges schools that deserve and need this funding to help ensure our kids get the best education for the best start in life. 

"Right now, the Liberal State Government and Federal Opposition are refusing to back the plan," Ms Chesters said. 

"Under Labor's National Plan for School Improvement, Victorian schools would benefit from an extra $4 billion, or about $1.8 million per school on average, over the next six years. 

"With one in 12 students not reaching minimum education standards, this is money that Macedon Ranges schools like Woodend Primary School need, and need right now."

Ms Chesters said that under Labor's plan all schools would be funded through a fairer system which is based on the needs of individual students and provides extra, targeted support for schools and students who need it most.

"Liberal State Premier Denis Napthine's decision not to invest in education is devastating for central Victorian schools, parents and children.

"Instead of putting Victorian schools first, Denis Napthine has turned his back on our students and resorted to slashing vital education funding.

"That's why we're launching this campaign. 

We are calling on Premier Napthine to follow the example of his NSW colleague, Premier Barry O'Farrell, and sign up to our plan to deliver a better deal for Victorian schools.

"The Federal Government has put a fair deal on the table for Mr Napthine - offering to invest two dollars for every extra one dollar they put in. This would ensure all schools get the funding they need to deliver the best education.

"Now it is up to everyone in the Macedon Ranges to get behind this campaign and demonstrate to the State and Federal Liberals that we support the National Plan for School Improvement and that Bendigo wants the funding that is on the table for our achools."

An online petition supporting the plan can be signed by visiting Ms Chesters' Facebook page facebook.com/lisachestersbendigo and clicking the link.

Candidate rails for better transport

Greens candidate for the federal seat of Bendigo, Lachlan Slade, is calling for better transport services and better partnerships between state and federal governments.

Rachel Wattie

Greens candidate for the federal seat of Bendigo, Lachlan Slade, was talking public transport policy in Kyneton on Wednesday, calling for better services and better partnerships between state and federal governments.

Mr Slade said his party fully supports the recommendations of the V/Line Initial Strategic Directions Plan, which include duplicating the lines between Harcourt and Castlemaine, as well as between Taradale and Kyneton, and increasing V/Line carriages.

"It would mean peak services are stopping in Castlemaine half-hourly, and would allow for more consistent services with less delays and clock face scheduling," Mr Slade said.

"We would also like to see more frequent services to Bendigo and Melbourne, with express services that don't get caught up in Melbourne's metro service."

More money should also be invested into bus services, Mr Slade said.

"The ability for people to get out, socialise and improve their mental health means greater health outcomes for the community as well," he said.

There is not enough shared transport services linking the Macedon Ranges' five major centres - Kyneton, Woodend, Gisborne, Lancefield and Romsey, Mr Slade said.

"We need to see that change.

"Woodend does not have access to bus services, meaning that many elderly, low income and differently abled people in the area cannot get around as best they could.

"Kyneton needs a more frequent and longer running service than what we have already, some areas are getting as little as three services a day with no services at all four days a week. It's time our public transport system reflected the mobility needs of the township.

"Many transport initiatives are funded by Federal and State government and the Greens are keen to work across governments to make a better public transport system for the Macedon Ranges."

Residents agree that the V/Line rail service is "unreliable", "grim" and "frustrating".

Regular train commuter, Malmsbury resident Ruth Reid-Hobbs, said there is a malfunction or some sort of problem at least once a week, as well as a lack of seating when it's busy.

Melbourne barrister, Duncan Robertson, says the service could use a few more trains.

"They seem to be (running) at odd times," Mr Robertson said.

Champion spirit infectious

Champion wheelchair athlete Kurt Fearnley is pictured with Braemar College students (from left) Rochelle Kennedy, Georgia Orr, Harrison Vercoe and Indi Cooper. Photo: Chris Fleming

Braemar College students were thrilled last week when they had an opportunity to attend a presentation by champion wheelchair athlete Kurt Fearnley.
Being born without the lower portion of his spine has never held Kurt back, from backyard games of football to crawling along the Great Wall of China, he always has a go.
Turning his attention to wheelchair sports in his teens, Kurt became a world beater. He started his career with two silver medals at the 2000 Sydney Paralympic games, before making his winning breakthrough at the Athens Paralympics with gold in the 5000m and marathon races. Following the 2004 games, Kurt conquered the world, winning five world championships and more than 20 marathons around the globe, including 10 marathons in 2007 and three straight New York marathon titles. He solidified his standing as the Marathon Man of wheelchair sports by defending his gold medal at the Beijing Paralympics and continues to dominate over a range of distances on both the track and road.
Kurt represents a number of organisations and is an ambassador of the Day of Difference Foundation and International Day of People with a Disability, and a board member of Australian Volunteers International. He is an inspirational man and a wonderful speaker, who connected with his young audience and students were appreciative of the opportunity to ask questions.
Kurt's talk resonated with the year sevens in particular, as they had recently completed a
In an email to the principal, one year seven student articulated what he and his peers had learnt from Kurt's talk:
1. Never give up
2. Try hard
3. Everyone is resilient
4. Believe in yourself
5. You are capable of anything
6. Believe
7. Fear and pity are your enemy
College staff thanked Kurt for making the time to visit their students.
unit on disability and diversity which included some Middle School students being involved in their own 'disability games'.