Viv Markham, Tarrangower Times

Fine art lovers rejoice - the Cascade Art Gallery re-opens next week ... The fine art gallery’s opening will be a boost for the town of Maldon, which has been feeling the pinch with the temporary closure of the Kangaroo hotel, the loss of a restaurant and the impending closure of Le Sel.

If you’re interested in the history of the goldfields, here’s an event not to be missed: the launch of historian Marjorie Theobald’s latest book The Goldfields Re-Imagined: Militant Miners, Miscreants and Poor Mary Anne ... Speaking to the [Tarrangower] Times about her book, Marjorie said that the most interesting period of Castlemaine’s history was the early goldfields days.

Here’s a great story that ends in Maldon: Newstead resident Chris Simmins rescued a grotty-looking object from a skip in Campbells Creek, took it home, cleaned it up and discovered that he’d found a treasure. It was a wooden christening bowl with a hallmarked sterling silver rim and shield, dated 28 July 1908 and engraved with the name John Boys Ponder. Who, Chris wondered, was John Boys Ponder?

Maldon resident and Advanced Life Support paramedic Barry Curtain is one of five Ambulance Victoria workers who have been awarded Ambulance Service Medals, as part of the 2024 national honours list. The Australian honours list acknowledges Australians for achievements, service and contribution to community above and beyond the call of duty. 

It was quite the gathering at the Mount Tarrengower tower’s 100th birthday last Friday, especially when you consider that it was an impromptu event put together in a matter of days ... Former fire tower operator Peter Skilbeck pointed out that he had spent almost a third of his life  - 26 years - working on top of the tower.

Due to compliance issues with Council, Sandy Creek Clydesdales owners Matthew and Jaimie Thompson say they have been forced to cancel much of their business activities ... well-known and much-loved enterprise ... “We delved into just what changing the land use zoning would require,” Jaimie said.

Fires and floods–Central Victoria has copped it all in the past couple of weeks. Fire Brigades and the SES have been busy ... a fire in Maldon that involved a 36 volt lithium ion battery that was sitting on its charger, but was not plugged in.

On days of high fire danger, you’ll find Rob Howe in the cabin on top of the Mount Tarrengower tower, on the lookout for fires. This is his first year as the designated tower operator on top of Mount Tarrengower.

At last, the steps at the Maldon swimming pool have been installed! If you have reduced or limited mobility, you now have the opportunity to enter and exit the pool safely.

Unpredictable weather, compliance issues, increasing costs, the ever-present prospect of a COVID wave - these problems and more are faced by event organisers. As these problems become more difficult to negotiate, is there a possibility that the region might lose some of its events? ... To examine the logistics of holding a public event, the Times spoke to Mark Blythe ...