G'day Ballarat! This week, Ballarat BMX rider Josh Jolly has brought home his second world title before turning 21, the Australian Ballet is taking over Her Majesty’s, and hundreds of locals are being recruited for an early-morning pie mission at Civic Hall.

There’s also a nationwide phone alarm we’ve been warned not to panic about, CBD parking going up, and a familiar Redan supermarket changing hands after 26 years.

Enjoy the read beautiful people!

– Luciano Devoto
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Ballarat BMX rider Josh Jolly has added another rainbow jersey to the cupboard, winning the under-23 world title at the UCI BMX Racing World Championships in Brisbane.

Strong winds forced Sunday’s racing to be cancelled, so Saturday’s results decided the medals. Jolly had already made his case emphatically, winning his first-round heat in 33.681 seconds, almost a full second clear of second place and faster than all but two elite men.

The 20-year-old Ballarat rider now has two world titles, after winning the junior crown in 2024. Two rainbow jerseys before 21 is a fairly serious start to a career.

The Australian Ballet is bringing The Nutcracker Act II and Other Works to Her Majesty’s Theatre this Saturday, 25 July. The program pairs company dancers with students from The Australian Ballet School, with performances at 1.30pm and 7.30pm. Ballarat gets classical favourites and two world premieres on the same bill.

Ballarat is attempting a very delicious sort of record: hundreds of people eating pies for breakfast at Civic Hall. Ballarat’s Big Bite is on Tuesday 4 August, with free pies, doors opening at 6am and a live Sunrise broadcast at 8.10am. Apparently cereal was never going to cut it anyway.

Do not panic when compatible phones across Ballarat start making a siren-like noise on Monday. Australia will test its new AusAlert emergency warning system at 2pm on 27 July. The alert will sound for about 10 seconds, even on silent or do-not-disturb. It is only a test; no action is required.

Victoria needs a new design for its 2027 Youth myki, and young artists aged five to 17 can enter. The winning artwork will appear on the card and earn its creator $1,000. Entries close 11.59pm Sunday 2 August. And yes, under-18s now travel free statewide with a $5 Youth myki.

Ballarat’s first free hour is staying, but any longer will cost more from Saturday 1 August. City centre metered parking rises from $3 to $3.60 an hour, Monday to Saturday between 9am and 5.30pm. Anderson, Field and Peel Street car parks will also offer a $6.50 daily cap. Sundays remain free.

Deaf and hard-of-hearing residents can speak with Council through an Auslan interpreter without booking ahead. The City of Ballarat is trialling an on-demand video interpreting service, accessed by scanning a QR code. It connects customers with an interpreter, making a Council visit less dependent on written notes or advance planning.

The Ballarat Line is doing a train-coach-train shuffle from Thursday 23 to Sunday 26 July. Trains run between Ballarat and Bacchus Marsh, coaches take over to Caroline Springs, then trains resume to Southern Cross. Some services leave early, bikes cannot board replacement coaches, and travellers should allow extra time.

After 26 years in Ballarat, Brendan Blake has sold Blake Family Grocers in Redan to Ryan’s IGA. The handover took place on Tuesday 21 July, with most staff staying on. Blake will keep his Daylesford and Castlemaine stores, while Ryan’s takes over the coffee, gelato and grocery aisles in Redan

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