In 2018 the Kinglake Fair made a stunning return, Kinglake hosted Stage 4 of the Jayco Herald-Sun Tour, Ken Aitken retired from Kinglake cricket after 30 years and the redeveloped Yea Saleyards re-opened.
And that’s just in the first three months of 2018. You can view all articles in the Archives menu.
Here’s just a selection of 2018’s Kinglake Ranges News most-read articles:
5 January: CFA declares statewide Total Fire Ban with Kinglake reaching 36c., and Kinglake CC cancels local cricket and Past Player’s Day;
22 January: Murrindindi Shire announce rate payments allowed using direct debit;
24 January: Murrindindi Shire Council votes in favour of establishing a Business and Tourism Innovation Grants program – to grow investment and jobs, from new and existing businesses;
26 January: Australia Day is celebrated throughout Murrindindi Shire;
27 January: Murrindindi announce Fineblade Pty Ltd will soon commence building six bushfire Memorials in the shire;
27 January: Yea races cancelled due to poor to track conditions with 40mm of rain overnight;
29 January: Kinglake resident Vicki Ruhr is appalled by an Australia Day statement by Tarneen Onus-Williams;
1 February: Kinglake National Park ranger, Tony Fitzgerald, “were excited late last year during some surveying work to find a Powerful Owl in the Wallaby Creek section of Kinglake National Park.”;
4 February: Esteban Chaves wins Herald-Sun Tour after Stage 4 was held in Kinglake;
5 February: A 57-year-old Montmorency cyclist falls from his bike and dies on Heidelberg-Kinglake Rd, Kinglake;
7 February: The 9th Anniversary of Black Saturday is remembered by survivors;
13 February: Murrindindi Shire announce naming competition for recyling and-reuse shops. “it’s unlikely the names “Tippy McTipface” and Wastey McWasteface’” will get a guernsey;
19 February: Bundoora Park defeat Lakers by 141 runs at Kinglake Memorial Oval;
22 February: About 140 people attended a special High Tea at Alexandra Shire Hall for Murrindindi Shire’s citizens aged 90 or older
26 February: Bushfire grants open for Marysville Triangle community groups;
28 February: Whittlesea Council records states highest pokies losses with Epping’s Plaza Hotel and Mill Park’s Plough Hotel topping the state for pokie machine losses;
3 March: A new mobile phone tower is switch on at Killingworth;
3 March: Kinglake 1st XI is defeated by Holy Trinity 3rd XI outright in last game of season 2017-18;
9 March: The redeveloped Yea Saleyards open for business;
10 March: A man dies following a single-vehicle crash in Healesville this morning on Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road;
12 March: Work begins on upgrading the Kinglake electricity substation, following recommendations from the Black Saturday Royal Commission;
17 March: Murrindindi Shire extends leases at Kinglake RAC building;
17 March: The Kinglake Country Fair makes stunning return;
24 March: Kinglake cricketer of over 30 years and 150 games, Ken Aitken retires;
27 March: Radio talkback lawyer David Whiting tells Jon Faine’s Morning program on ABC Radio Melbourne that Maurice Blackburn is sitting on $3.5 million in interest earned from the Black Saturday class action settlement;
28 March: Councillor Leigh Dunscombe recognised 14-year-old Cherri Anderson for her musical talent after singing Advance Australia Fair pre-race at the 2018 Jayco Herald Sun Tour in Kinglake.
31 March: Firefoxes receive $2.5k from Murrindindi Shire to hold a women’s forum in Yea;
6 April: An eagle attacks Kinglake resident Mitch Bartletta’s chihuahua;
8 April: Victorian Goverment announces Mernda rail extension is six months ahead of schedule;
10 April: Murrindini Shire reveals Yea council works depot is in poor condition;
14 April: Murrindindi Shire announce a program to support residents switching to solar power;
20 April: Victorian Liberal Opposition, Leader Matthew Guy, announces plans to duplicate the Hurstrbridge railway line between Greensborough and Eltham;
24 April: Murrindindi Shire release the 2018-19 Draft Budget;
25 April: Kinglakers remember veterans at local ANZAC Day Morning Service;
1 May: Police seek public assistance to find missing Flowerdale man Carl Matthews;
1 May: A motorcyclist dies after hitting a truck in Toolangi, bringing the Shire’s road toll to two fatalities;
6 May: A 34-year-old Healesville man tests postive to MDMA ‘meth’ driving at 158km/h;
12 May: Murrindindi Shire proposes amendments to local poker ‘pokie’ machine regulation;
13 May: Kinglake 4.3 (27) are defeated by Yarra Junction 4.7 (31) at Kinglake Memorial Oval;
18 May: Federal Member for Indi, Cathy McGowan (Ind.) met with union representatives to provide details of the “Change the Rules” campaign;
19 May: The inaugral NFNL vs South Eastern Women’s Australian Rules representative match went down to ‘the wire‘. NFNL 4.6 (30) defeated by South Eastern 4.7 (31);
19 May: In local footy the Yea Tigers 5.4 (34) defeated Kinglake 1.1 (7) as the Lakers fall flat;
23 May: Murrindindi Shire holds a Citizenship Ceremony for Stephen Maidment;
3 June: 46-year-old Watsonia man Cameron Marr disappears after visiting family in Euroa;
9 June: Kinglake 11.7 (73) defeated by Yarra Glen 14.22 (106) at home;
11 June: The Federal Court today scheduled a taxation dispute between Black Saturday class action participants and Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to be heard Tuesday, November 13;
14 June: Kinglake Ranges News celebrates 1st anniversary;
16 June: Seville 10.21 (81) sneak away from Kinglake 8.11 (59) in the last quarter;
22 June: Murrindindi Shire announes it spends $50k a year on tree inspections and works;
29 June: A 47-year-old Montmorency man – a former prison guard – is found dead in suspicious circumstances;
11 July: Member for Yan Yean Danielle Green announces $300,000 to upgrade Cookes Road, Doreen;
12 July: A 53-year old Springvale man is charged with murdering a former prison guard in Montmorency last month;
14 July: Kinglake police arrest two men in Whittlesea after discovering cannabis and hydroponic equipment in a rental van;
18 July: Another articulated semi-trailer is sent down the Heidelberg-Kinglake Rd by their GPS, causing widespread damage;
21 July: A man is threatened with an axe at Bridge Inn Rd, Doreen;
22 July: VicRoads announces it will soon install additional permanent signs on Heidelberg-Kinglake Road (C746) and surrounding roads advising truck drivers to use alternate routes;
25 July: Primary School leaders from Middle Kinglake Primary School and Flowerdale Primary School were presented with Community Recognition Certificates;
4 August: Powelltown 9.12 (66) end Kinglake’s 8.4 (52) hopes of making the finals;
11 August: Kinglake Ranges News editor discovers George Mitchell, his great-great maternal grandfather helped build The Age;
11 August: Epping teenager Jackson May disappears, for the firts of many times throughout the year;
4 September: Minister for Education and Emergency Services, James Merlino announces $4.4 million to support anniversary activities in communities affected by the 2009 Victorian bushfires;
11 September: State Government admits faulty gas heater ‘probably’ caused house fire;
18 September: Lower Plenty snag the NFNL division 2 premiership;
23 September: Yarra Junction 20.17 (137) defeat Seville 6.5 (41) to win the AFL Yarra Ranges division two premiership;
29 September: A 44-year-old Alexandra man died in hospital after he came off his motorcycle in Alexandra;
6 October: Motorcyclist dies in a fatal collision in Healesville;
15 October: A sub-contracted Telstra technician, John*, tells Kinglake Ranges News “They [Telstra] don’t have a fucking clue these days mate …. they’re a bunch of fucking dickheads.”
17 October: Some Kinglake residents aren’t happy with proposed chages to township names;
23 October: Transit Crime Investigation Unit (TCIU) detectives arrest a 17-year-old Healesville boy and 15-year-old boy from Croydon following reports of an assault;
23 October: A Humevale fatality this morning on Whittlesea – Yea Rd of a local resonates throughout the community;
23 October: A 17-year-old Healesville boy is arrested for armed robbery;
26 October: The Eagle’s guitarist Joe Walsh (WB6ACU) explains why amateur radio is important;
31 October: Karen Egan elected Mayor of Nillumbik Shire;
14 November: Mernda Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team detectives release CCTV following an investigation into an incident in Mernda;
16 November: Murrindindi Shire farewells stalwart Michelle Jack;
27 November: Police commence search for missing Kinglake West woman Gina Mutch;
