FINALS time has arrived in Macedon Ranges Tennis Association with section one action due to begin at Gisborne Tennis Club on Saturday.

BACCHUS Marsh coach Paul Baker has called on his senior batsmen to stand up and perform against Gisborne Dragons in the semi-finals of the Gisborne District Cricket Association this weekend.

ACCORDING to their website, the Clarkefield Brumbies were formed in 2002 to “have a great time and win cricket matches” and it seems the club is staying true to its motto with its in-form senior sides heading into the finals series.

SUNBURY United coach Brendan Lakic says his newly promoted side will be “fitter, faster and stronger” in 2010.

ROMSEY captain Matthew Cox says his side will go “flat out” to defend its 211-run total on day one of its two-day tie with Sunbury United in round 12 of the Gisborne & District Cricket Association McIntyre Cup.

THE Macedon Ranges Council has opened Hot Day Out centres in major towns of Gisborne, Kyneton and Romsey on extreme fire danger days.

SUNBURY youngster Patty Carlyon is in the midst of her third battle with leukaemia after falling just three weeks short of remission.

WASN’T the first match in the new year supposed to create some sort of pecking order in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association’s McIntyre Cup? Not this round.

CHRISTMAS donations have fallen 15 per cent this year as Melburnians tighten their belts, a charity says.

RESIDENTS in bushfire-risk areas are being urged to put their fire plans in place, with extreme conditions expected tomorrow.

SOUTH Ward councillor Rob Guthrie has been elected mayor of the Macedon Ranges.

HUME’S new mayor is a grassroots all-round nice guy dedicated to the city he loves.

NOW warmer weather is upon us residents are warned they are not the only ones taking in the sun, snakes are out and active.

AS the warm weather sets in, Macedon Ranges residents will seek relief from the sun by heading to their local swimming pool to cool off.

ST Anne’s Primary School has finished equal third out of 1850 schools in the Victorian Primary School Sports Association’s mixed netball competition.

UPDATE 3pm: TRAFFIC lights are out across Melbourne and cars are at a standstill in several areas as a cool change takes hold.

A SEVERE fire danger warning has issued for Melbourne, with the mercury set to push towards 40C in some outer-suburban areas today.

VICTORIA is set to have its highest fire-risk day since Black Saturday tomorrow.

IT was a family affair for a Woodend trio who became Australian citizens last week after living in the country for almost 60 years.

HUME is coping with its growing population and the opening of Sunbury’s new-look Elizabeth Drive Child and Family Centre was seen by the council as a welcome extension to its facilities.