The quiet country town twice thrust into the spotlight this month by death

The quiet country town twice thrust into the spotlight this month by death

The busiest Clunes typically gets is during its annual Booktown festival in March. Now tragedy has left it swarming with journalists.

  • byLachlan Abbott andMelissa Cunningham

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Soul Barn distances itself from ‘mushroom’ event that claimed woman’s life

Soul Barn distances itself from ‘mushroom’ event that claimed woman’s life

Rachael Dixon,a health practitioner from Ringwood North,died in Clunes at the weekend after consuming a suspected mushroom drink.

  • byDavid Estcourt,Melissa Cunningham andLachlan Abbott
Mushroom death mystery at wellness seminar triggers police probe
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Crime

Mushroom death mystery at wellness seminar triggers police probe

Police are investigating if psychedelic “magic mushrooms” were used in a drink consumed by a woman who later became unwell and died at a wellness event in Clunes.

  • byChris Vedelago,Marta Pascual Juanola andLachlan Abbott
AFL great Carl Ditterich charged over alleged historical indecent assault of underage girl
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Courts

AFL great Carl Ditterich charged over alleged historical indecent assault of underage girl

Australian Football Hall of Famer Carl Ditterich has been charged with a string of child sex offences for allegedly assaulting a girl who was under his care in 1985.

  • byCarla Jaeger andLachlan Abbott
Police halt new search for body of missing Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy

Police halt new search for body of missing Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy

Cadaver dogs were used to scour Enfield State Park and its surrounds for the remains of the mother of three,with searching due to resume on Friday.

  • byDavid Estcourt andLachlan Abbott
Who was Hannah McGuire? An emerging teacher and talented netballer with a ‘heart of gold’

Who was Hannah McGuire? An emerging teacher and talented netballer with a ‘heart of gold’

At 23,her life was only just starting to bloom. Now,she’s allegedly the 18th woman to be violently killed in Australia this year – and the third in Ballarat alone.

  • byLachlan Abbott,Marta Pascual Juanola andAlex Crowe
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Ex-boyfriend of Hannah McGuire appears in court charged with her murder

Ex-boyfriend of Hannah McGuire appears in court charged with her murder

Lachlan Young,21,has faced McGuire’s devastated family in court after her body was found in a burnt-out car in bushland near Ballarat on Friday.

  • byLachlan Abbott andMarta Pascual Juanola
Spotswood playground landscaper won’t answer asbestos questions

Spotswood playground landscaper won’t answer asbestos questions

Questions remain after asbestos was found in a Spotswood park,with CityWide – a business owned by the City of Melbourne – revealed to be the park’s landscaper.

  • byRachael Dexter andLachlan Abbott
Woman almost drowns in Daylesford as rain drenches Victoria

Woman almost drowns in Daylesford as rain drenches Victoria

The 58-year-old woman fell into a drain about 8.50pm on Easter Monday and was swept away in fast-moving waters,Victoria Police said.

  • byLachlan Abbott andAlex Crowe
Tributes flow for Melbourne men who drowned rescuing toddler from hotel pool

Tributes flow for Melbourne men who drowned rescuing toddler from hotel pool

Dharmvir Singh,who died trying to save his daughter,has been remembered as a happy-go-lucky dad. His father,Gurjinder Singh,65,also died during the rescue.

  • byAlex Crowe andLachlan Abbott
Flash flooding warning as heavy rain drenches Melbourne

Flash flooding warning as heavy rain drenches Melbourne

Lightning forced players off the ground at the MCG during the clash between Hawthorn and Geelong and fans were told to seek shelter at three-quarter time.

  • byLachlan Abbott andBenjamin Preiss