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HIGH VIBES FESTIVAL, BLUEPRINT FESTIVAL, SPIRAL STAIRS

Ambrosia Of Ararat

It's a long way between good food, let alone a decent coffee, along the Western Highway. So tree-changers Mike and Shannon Di Lisio and Kate Kirkpatrick transformed a former pub in Ararat into Nectar Ambrosia. It's a cafe-cum-restaurant and provedore, offering modern Australian cuisine with an Italian twist. Chef Alex Barrie's seasonal menu features a selection of tapas. Try the lamb cutlets with Grampians olive oil and cherry tomato salsa, scallops with lemon grass, ginger, honey and chive ...

Flat-chat In Ararat

Ararat seems to be thriving, writes Susannah Petty.

Crash Victim 'tried To Stop Train'

A MAN who died in a crash involving a V/Line train and a truck tried to stop the train manually moments before the impact, a court heard. Yesterday, Ivan Jenkins, 56, of Ararat, appeared in court charged with 52 counts including two of culpable driving.

Psychologist Access Is A Mind Game

IF YOU live around Hawthorn or Kew, finding a psychologist that Medicare will pay for is a breeze. If you live in Reservoir or Footscray, it's quite a bit harder. And if you're unlucky enough to live in a country town such as Ararat, you miss out altogether.

Body In Lake Case: Mother Weeps For A 'loving And Respectful' Girl

ONE day early in September, Naomi Bernaldo rang her mother Annemarree Burke. Naomi said she and her boyfriend were going to Halls Gap for a couple of days, and would drop a Collingwood Football Club door chime at her grandmother Val's Ararat house on the way. Naomi's boyfriend, Darren Ellis, 35, has been charged with her murder.

Pie Great Made His Finals Mark

COLLINGWOOD'S tradition of springing surprises at the selection table during finals includes choosing a 16-year-old from Ararat, Rene Kink, to make his senior debut in the 1973 preliminary final against Richmond. In 1981, pacy utility Noel Lovell made his senior debut in the preliminary final against Geelong.

A Zoo Fit For Noah On City's Edge

NOAH might have parked his ark on Mount Ararat, but it still could not match the million-dollar views the 6000 animals destined for Sydney's newest zoo will have.

Demons Cast Spell Over Wimmera League

THE return of former Richmond defender Scott Turner to his home-town club has injected life into the Wimmera Football League. Before last week's round, in which Turner kicked six goals in his first game for Ararat in 15 years, Wimmera fans would have been forgiven for losing interest.

Counting The Cruel Cost Of Wildfire

MOYSTON, outside Ararat, can fairly claim to be the home of Australian football. Tom Wills grew up there. His father, Horatio, came overland from NSW when Tom was three and named Mount Ararat "because here, as in the Bible, we rested".

Former Priest Faces More Sex Abuse Charges

VICTORIA'S most notorious pedophile, former priest Gerald Francis Ridsdale, faced court by videolink from Ararat Prison yesterday charged with abusing another nine children in the 1970s and 1980s.

'mr Baldy' May Be Living In Prison Grounds

NOTORIOUS pedophile "Mr Baldy" is believed to be living in the grounds of Ararat Prison, from where he was released a week ago. Brian Keith Jones, who earned the nickname by shaving the heads of young boys he later sexually assaulted, was paroled after serving a 14-year jail term.

Ladies Parade Gender Splendour In Ararat Whitewash

HISTORY was created at Ararat on Tuesday night when women drove all eight winners at the meeting.

Ararat Sleepers Awake To A New Sound - The Morning Train

Train services will return to Ararat and Beaufort this weekend, more than 10 years after the line was closed.

Ararat

WHY: A town where 19th-century Chinese diggers struck gold first has retained its significant heritage. Today, Ararat has something of interest for everyone. DISTANCE FROM MELBOURNE: About 200 kilometres, one way. TIME: If travelling direct to Ararat, it will take a little over two hours one w

Tangled Tale With A Plot Ratio That Goes Off The Scale

ARARAT Written and directed by Atom Egoyan Rated MA Chauvel, Valhalla,

Swing By Ararat Mayor Music To Steve Bracks' Ears

Labor depends heavily on the votes of a rural seat, writes James Button.

Ararat Kit Homes Aim For Gold At Beijing Olympics

A dream of affordable housing is paying dividends. Jane Rickards reports.

Blood Spilt In Antiwar Anger

WHEN Ararat artist Geoff Todd decided to use his own blood as a painting medium, he was unprepared for the psychological result.

Ahead By A Country Mile

Ararat studentshave scoopeda major award. Jenny Sinclair reports.