Barry Robinson, Tarrangower Times

In response to Black Saturday, the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission introduced new training requirements for firefighters. Locals Amanda Fedorowicz, Steven Coady and Beatrice Hercott Atkinson know all about the current training regime.

If you have guests arriving for Christmas and over the summer break, Maldon Caravan Park is once again an option for accommodation. After more than six months of closure, Gay and Des Stormon were brought in to have the Park ready for the recent Maldon Folk Festival.

“Well, it’s very interesting because before Le Sel I’d never been in hospitality at all. Le Sel has been a totally different direction. I spent about 45 years of my life mainly doing interior restoration work, spending a lot of time in Melbourne, doing historical restoration, working for the National Trust and so forth. Then we came to Maldon": Serge, Le Sel.

They would come from Queensland to Tasmania and all parts in between. Some would come ‘just over the hill there’ from a place called Perth. And as anticipated, in they came for the 35th Truck Show held last weekend at the Campbells Creek Sports Ground.

How did the $600,000 18-carat-gold Lexus Melbourne Cup trophy land in Maldon at the Sandy Creek Clydesdales last Wednesday? Since its inaugural journey in 2003, the Melbourne Cup trophy tour has travelled more than 900,000 kilometres and visited more than 590 regional, rural and metropolitan destinations.

#7 of a series: Peter Christen, owner of Maldon’s Panacea Estate winery and cellar door ... "Maybe in 20 years the kids will thank me?” So, how’s business?

If you’re interested in Celtic music, here’s an event not to be missed: the Celtic Piping Club is hosting an event at the Ray Bradfield Room in Castlemaine on Saturday 4 November, starting at 8pm.  Internationally acclaimed duo Colm Broderick on uilleannn pipes and Francis Cunningham on concertina will be performing.  

The end goal of the recent Maldon Inc Kangaroo Art Project was finally realised last Friday when the much-anticipated Mylab Five VET ultrasound machine was installed in the treatment clinic at Red Box Wildlife Shelter. The ultrasound machine will assist volunteer Senior Veterinary Surgeon Dr Mark Sayer in expediting diagnosis of internal injuries in kangaroos.

Sheafs tossed, utes pushed, gumboots thrown, horses paraded, Clydesdales ‘clopped’, sheep shorn, ribbons worn, bands delighted, puppets thrilled, dogs jumped, flowers impressed, quilts amazed, artwork admired, photos discussed, bars attended, food tempted, smiles beamed, children played, laughter echoed, winners cheered… yes, the 159th Maldon and Baringhup Annual Spring Show was a crowd-pleasing success last Sunday.

The year is 1979. How’s business? ... “It was like a corner store, a general store. Sold everything food wise, from ice cream to groceries, veggies ... And I bought the shop on condition I got the recipe for the ice blocks" ... Final question, Roger - where is the recipe for these ice blocks?