Established in 1981 as the
proudly serving Sunbury and Macedon Ranges
30 JUNE, 2026
Students serve up a hit Salesian College Sunbury will showcase the creativity, talent and collaboration of its students in the 2026 school production, Love, Lycra and Lattes. Written by director and playwright Isabella Loubey, the fast-paced comedy is inspired by Commedia dell’Arte. Set in the lively Café Ciao, the production follows a cast of romantics, rivals and schemers as they navigate tangled relationships, fierce competition and ambitious plans, all against the backdrop of a cycling race and a café fighting for its future. More than 80 students have contributed to the production, taking on roles across acting, directing, choreography, music, costume design, set construction, lighting, and more. Ms Loubey praised all the Salesian College students involved. “What audiences will see on stage is the result of months of dedication, creativity and teamwork,” she said. The production will be shown over two days with three performances on 7-8 August at the Salesian College Sunbury Theatre.
Salesian College students Ethan, Caity, Maggie and Leo will all star in Love, Lycra and Lattes. (Damjan Janevski) 559782_01
Planted, pinched Friends of the Kyneton Botanic Gardens are pleading for plant thieves to stop after thousands of dollars worth of plants have been stolen from the gardens. Vice-president of the volunteer group, Margot McDonald, said the thefts have occurred over the recent months, and with the entrance areas around Clowes Street hardest hit. “A couple of times we’ve planted them during one day, come back the next and they’ve just pulled them all up, it’s so brazen,” she said. Ms McDonald said specific plants have been targeted, including red foliage plants.
“They come in the evening or in the dark, and of course nobody’s in the gardens then, so no one can see them,” she said. “The two areas they’re coming in is Clowes Street, and if you look where the entrances are along there, there are no houses with windows overlooking them, so even if people are at home they’re not going to be seen. “So they really just park and load up what they want.” Ms McDonald said she had reported the incidents to police twice. “The fi rst time they just said they’ll do more patrols, which they may have done, but the second time I went and I actually made a formal report,” she said.
Signs have now been installed in the gardens to deter thefts and encourage the community to remain vigilant, and Ms McDonald said the friends group even installed fencing over a newly planted area in a bid to deter theft. “We estimate we’re probably had around $2000 worth of plants [stolen] so far,” she said. “We’re volunteers, we help the garden staff there and there’s only really two people that are on staff to manage the whole garden. “If this keeps happening, our volunteers will just give up, they’ll say what is the point?” The friends group have also been in
contact with Macedon Ranges council to ask for support. Mayor Kate Kendall confi rmed that council has purchased cameras that will be installed at the entry-exit points in the Clowes Street vicinity on a trial basis to deter the thieves. “I have witnessed the care, detail and time the volunteers put into the gardens – please respect their work,” she said. “Respect our community places. Please do better. Stop.” Ms McDonald had a similar message for the thieves. “Stop it. Stop it and enjoy the gardens, they’re there for everyone,” she said. Police were contacted for comment.
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By Georgia Tacey