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14 APRIL, 2026
Every swing counts
Eynesbury Fire Brigade captain Kylie Newton, with members Adam Warren, Kim Briggs and Garrick Oates. (Damjan Janevski) 545885_04
A quiet round of golf is the last thing on the agenda when the Eynesbury Fire Brigade tees off for its milestone fundraiser later this year. Celebrating a decade of community fun, registration is now open for the brigade’s Annual Golf Day, and it’s shaping up to be its biggest yet, with organisers promising a lively mix of competition, connection and celebration at Eynesbury Golf Club on Friday 20 November. Eynesbury CFA captain Kylie Newton said the day had always been about more than just golf. “It’s a great way to bring together fun and community for a cause that truly matters,” she said. This year’s event carries added significance, marking 10 years of growth for the local brigade, a journey which secretary Kim Briggs said would sit front and centre throughout the day. “What started as a small community fundraiser has grown into something really special,” she said. Players can fuel up with a light breakfast and a buffet lunch supplied on the day, in preparation for crowd favourites like the hole-in-one challenge, longest drive, and nearest-the-pin competitions.
Hike, bike hub plan By Jack O’shea-Ayres Moorabool council will seek the community’s input on hiking and cycling hubs for the Blackwood and Ballan communities. At its 1 April meeting, council endorsed a comprehensive community engagement plan to guide how two major feasibility studies will boost regional tourism and active transport across the municipality. “These studies will assess opportunities to grow tourism and stimulate local economic development by identifying Ballan’s potential as a cycling tourism hub and Blackwood’s potential as a hiking
tourism hub,” Mayor Steve Venditti-Taylor said. “Th rough data analysis, stakeholder engagement, and alignment with regional strategies, the studies will examine how targeted infrastructure investment can support increased visitor numbers, longer stays, and stronger connections to local businesses.” Funded through the Victorian government’s Tiny Towns initiative, the projects will explore opportunities to establish Blackwood as a hiking hub and Ballan as a cycling destination. The total project cost is projected at $100,000 after Moorabool Council secured
$75,000 in grant funding last May, with an additional $25,000 of council’s own funds. Community consultation will occur across April and May, with a mix of in-person and online opportunities. Ballan Library will host a cycling hub consultation session and a hiking-hub session is at Blackwood Hall. Both sessions are on 20 April. Feedback will also be collected through council’s Have Your Say platform, targeted emails and community outreach. The studies will examine how Ballan can leverage its proximity to nearby tourism draw cards, such as Daylesford and Ballarat, as well as natural assets such as
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Werribee Gorge and the Brisbane Ranges. Meanwhile, Blackwood’s potential as a hiking destination will focus on links to Bacchus Marsh and surrounding state forests. Draft feasibility studies are expected mid-year, followed by public exhibition in September, withfi nal reports presented to council by November. “The fi ndings will inform future investment decisions aimed at boosting the visitor economy, supporting local enterprises, strengthening regional connectivity, and enhancing liveability through sustainable tourism growth,” Cr Venditti-Taylor said.
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