Articles by Craig Wilson
GCH turns purple in support of International Overdose Day
GRAMPIANS Community Health (GCH) turned its Ararat headquarters purple on Wednesday night to shine a light on accidental drug-overdoses, including the risks posed by prescription medications and alcohol. GCH marked International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31 by lighting up its sites across the region. Purple is used as a message that every person’s life […]
AME kicks in for waterpark appeal
ARARAT based manufacturer AME Systems has pitched with a substantial donation towards the purchase of an inflatable water park for the regions youth. YANG (Yarrimabiack and Northern Grampians) Blue Light is trying to raise $55,000 to purchase the inflatable water park to take to youth based events around the region. YANG covers a massive region […]
Brass is Back
MUSIC lovers will flock to Ararat Town Hall in October for the long awaited return of the Grampians Brass Festival.
It’s the first time in three years Ararat City Band has been able to stage the festival after cancellations in 2020 and 2021.
Around 120 musicians will perform at the festival on Saturday the 1st of October from Geelong West Brass Band, Footscray-Yarraville Brass Band, Ballarat Memorial Concert Band and Western Brass.
Riders Converge
SHANNON Decker celebrated a hometown win as she shared first place in the Ararat Endurance Ride lightweight division last Saturday. Decker was one of 110 horse and rider combinations which participated in the annual event hosted by the Ararat Pony Club. 84 per cent of riders successfully completed the 80 kilometre ride with the best […]
Tristar clinic to close
ARARAT’s Tristar medical clinic is set to close after the companies administrators failed to find a buyer.
It was announced this week that 12 of Tristar’s 29 clinics have been sold to one of Australia’s largest medical groups Family Doctor.
The sale means clinics in places like Horsham, Ballarat, Mildura and Bendigo will continue operating, but Family Doctor were not interested in purchasing the Ararat clinic.
Local profile – Bill Waterston
By Craig Wilson. BILL Waterston is Ararat through and through. As Bill and I headed into Barkly Street for a photograph of him to go with this story (yes, in his trademark shorts – it was 4 degrees) you can see there is a genuine affection for Bill and what he’s done for his home […]
Living the dream
FORMER Ararat resident Jack Ward is well on his way towards a career as a television reporter after moving to Melbourne earlier this year.
Most Ararat Advocate readers would know Jack.
He came to work for this newspaper aged 16 when we started in May 2020.
But Jack had been eyeing off a job in the media well before the Advocate started up.
At 14, he was the driving force behind AC News – the digital news platform developed by Ararat College. He also ran his own weekly news podcast Ararat’s Latest.
Since commencing a bachelor of journalism at RMIT, Jack has been offered an extraordinary opportunity to work within the Channel Nine newsroom as an assistant to the Chief of Staff.
Marking 100 days
THE start of schooling is a big step for young residents and this week was another important milestone for kids across Ararat.
Foundation (formerly prep) students were celebrating their 100 days of schooling when the Ararat Advocate called in last Friday.
The students came dressed as 100-year-olds to mark the special occasion which included classroom activities based around the number 100.