News
Now there are five
WHO is behind the mysterious Minions at Warrak?
It is the question on everyone’s lips as the small community of 68 residents waits for the arrival of the next Minion letter box.
Three editions ago, the Ararat Advocate reported the arrival of the first three Minion letterboxes, then last week there was a fourth up the road at Mt Cole.
This week, a fifth has arrived outside a home just up from Warrak Hall.
Countdown begins for 15th Ride to Remember
THE 15th annual Grampians Ride to Remember is drawing nearer with organisers expecting over 500 participants in this year’s event.
February’s ride will take participants through 197 kilometres of picturesque countryside from Ararat to Moyston, Pomonal, Lake Fyans, Halls Gap, Yarram Gap, Willaura and Maroona, returning to the Alexandra Gardens.
Organisers say over 200 people have already registered for the ride online with several hundred more expected before the big day.
Not so Ezy
Iconic sauce still out of production THERE is nothing more Ararat than Wild’s Ezy Sauce. The Ararat invention is loved by cooks Australia wide as a base for sauces, pickles and chutneys. As readers would know, Kraft Heinz last year decided to discontinue Ezy Sauce which sparked nation wide outrage. Kraft Heinz admitted there had […]
Obituary for Jack Veale
Jack Veale 15.9.1930 – 3.12.2022 By Karen McIntyre. This is the tale of the irrepressible Jack Veale, a character, a charmer, fond of a good yarn and a bloke who always seemed to be larger than life. Jack’s long and illustrious life began at Skipton, the fifth child born to George and Laura (nee Binder) […]
Adrian calls end to stellar career
WHAT was to be a five week deployment led to a 37-year career for Ararat’s Clerk-of-Courts Adrian Pieters.
Friday was Adrian’s last day on the job, ending a career which saw him work with many colourful, interesting and in some cases notorious individuals at different courts over 50 years.
Pristine pool
ARARAT’s popular heated indoor pool is back open to the public after a major facelift.
The pool was closed to the public in early December allowing it to be drained ahead of a new coat of paint and line marking.
Local business Matt Harris Painting was engaged to freshen up the pool.
Matt and his team pressure cleaned the entire surface before applying a coat of paint and finishing off the job with line marking.
It then took several days to refill the pool before it reopened on Monday.
The eight lane, 25 metre heated swimming pool has a regulated temperature between 28 to 31c, making it a popular venue, particularly in colder months.
The pool is used for a variety of exercise programs including lane swimming, squads, aqua classes, water resistance walking, swimming lessons as well as kid’s wet and wild activities.
Ararat Fitness Centre also has a spa, sauna and toddlers pool.
To celebrate the reopening of the indoor pool, a ‘pool party’ has been organised for Friday the 13th of January from 6pm to 8pm.
The pool party will include music, inflatables and prizes.
Minions on the move
THE phenomenon sweeping Warrak appears to be on the move with a mysterious letterbox appearing this week at Mt Cole.
Last week, the Ararat Advocate reported three hand crafted Minion letterboxes had appeared at properties around Warrak under the cloak of darkness.
But it appears their maker is on the move, with a fourth letterbox turning up this week outside the Dunn family resident in Mt Cole.
Police wellbeing a top priority for new Chaplain
ARARAT Police have a new source of support for members with the appointment of a Police Chaplain.
Anglican Priest Father Martin Nadarajan was appointed to the role late last year.
He told the Ararat Advocate, Police do a tough job and he wants to be a source of support to all members.
“It’s a new challenge for me and I’m here to learn,” he said.