Articles by Craig Wilson

  • Buy a bandana for sick kids

    ARARAT’S Blooms Pharmacy has thrown its support behind Bandana Day to raise funds for young people impacted by cancer. Held on the second last Thursday in October, National Bandanna Day is the flagship fundraising and awareness campaign for the cancer charity Canteen. Not-for-profit Canteen provides free and tailored support to young people aged 12-25 whose […]

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  • New Doctor arrives in Ararat

    THERE’S a new addition at the Ararat Medical Centre with the arrival of Dr Azaz Ul Haq.
    Dr Haq has arrived from Pakistan and is very enthusiastic about starting consulting with patients at the Ararat Medical Centre.

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  • New royalty

    LAST Friday marked the official launch of the 2024 Golden Gateway Festival, with the annual coronation and cabaret ball at the Ararat Town Hall.
    The highlight of the evening was the crowning of this year’s Festival King and Queen.
    Daryl Chaplin was crowned as the 2024 Festival King by outgoing 2023 King Charlie Millear, while Ruby Evans received her crown as the 2024 Festival Queen from 2023, Queen Ashlyn Wheeler.

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  • Pick up the Advocate today

    Your locally owned Ararat Advocate is out today with a big wrap of local news, sport and events. This week one of our last pubs goes on the market, a new King and Queen of the Golden Gateway Festival, a new doctor starts at Ararat Medical Centre, a second fire investigated in Montgomery Street, the […]

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  • Marg’s 50 years of volunteer service recognised

    EAST Grampians Health Service has recognised the work and support of its 150 volunteers at the 19th Volunteer Service Recognition Awards, including an incredible 50 years’ service by Marg Young.
    At the awards, 25 volunteers were recognised for five, 10, 15, 20, 30, 35 and 50 years.
    Marg Young said volunteering had been incredibly rewarding.
    “I knew from the age of 16 when I was a volunteer for the Red Cross in Maryborough, that I wanted to be involved with the elderly,” Mrs Young said.

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  • One week until Show Day

    THE annual Ararat Show is just over a week away and the show committee have been busy making sure the event is a success.
    Show Society President Gwenda Allgood was out earlier this week placing posters in shop windows and show guides on shop counters.
    This year’s show will feature the return of horse events to compliment displays of photography, cooking, cake decorating, floral art and crafts.

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  • Frost bites

    FARMERS across the region are counting the cost of last week’s frosts, which have severely impacted many crops.
    Temperatures dropped to minus two on Tuesday last week and were followed by a minus three recording on Wednesday.
    Gorst Rural Director and Agronomist, Cam Conboy, said few farms across the region were left unscathed, and that the areas around Westmere, Tatyoon, Yalla-Y-Poora and Rossbridge were the most severely affected.

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  • Rats sign aces

    ARARAT Rats 2024 was always going to be a transitional campaign. With a young, green list, development was always the aim. After a winless season, however, the Rats have decided to hit the accelerator. Their first signings for season 2025 are a pair of stars: Faith and Paige Biddle. The sisters, moving from cross-town rivals […]

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