Community News
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The giving tree spirit
Kyneton’s Little Swallow Cafe is once again opening its Giving Tree to donations for community members in need this Christmas. The spectacular three-metre-high Christmas tree is located at the rear of the cafe and people are encouraged to contribute what they can. Last year the giving tree project raised $12,500. This year its has raised…
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Woodend gives back
Woodend Neighbourhood House will be able to help more locals this Christmas, thanks to a generous donation from the craft groups at Gemlife Woodend. Susan Lawson runs Gemlife’s weekly mosaic class, and the group has been busy producing mosaic pots, plates and decorative ornaments all year. “We’ve had lots of interest in our mosaics, so…
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Double the Christmas joy
Kyneton Community House is again hosting two inclusive community Christmas lunches on Tuesday December 20 and Wednesday December 21. Things will look a bit different this year with both lunches taking place in KCH’s new Good Food Hub at 35 High Street in Kyneton. The venue already hosts Small Bites, a program to help upskill…
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The mask of disability
Jade Jungwirth A large group gathered in the sunshine at the Castlemaine Botanic Gardens to celebrate this year’s International Day of People with Disabilities. It was a morning of celebration with local musicians Joe Smith and Benz performing for the crowd as they enjoyed a delicious morning tea of cakes and honey joys. Between MainFM’s…
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Bank backs community
The Lancefield and Romsey community is celebrating an investment of $296,837 in 2022-23 sponsorships and grants. Community Bank Lancefield Romsey announced the funds at a special event in Lancefield last month. The funding included $211,087 in grants to 16 local community groups and not-for-profit organisations, $16,500 in continued investment in the local ShareRide vehicle, and…
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Zonta says no to violence
Wednesday November 25 was the International Day for the elimination of violence against women and December 10 is Human Rights Day. The 16 days that begin and end on these dates are recognised internationally as the ‘16 Days of Activism’ to prevent violence against women. This year’s global theme is ‘UNITE! Activism to end violence…
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Our versatile band
Castlemaine’s Thompson Foundry Band, now in its 137th year, is getting into the swing of Christmas. Bandmaster Dan Bendrups told the band’s recent annual meeting that “it matters for a town like Castlemaine to have a band it can call its own”. He said the band had played at range of community events and festivals…
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A little bit of Christmas magic
Jade Jungwirth A group of local women has spent endless hours making hand-crafted Christmas wreaths to place around the townships of Castlemaine and Maldon. Seventy-three-year-old Lana Osterfield organised the wreath-making efforts, using vines pruned from her ornamental grapevine, with eight other retired crafters. “The council had approached a group of craft people to make decorations…
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Laundry service for friends in need
A new initiative in Castlemaine is providing a free laundry service to people experiencing homelessness and members of the community doing it tough. The ‘Laundromat of the Future’ service is operated by not-for-profit organisation, Orange Sky, at Sac O Suds Launderette. Orange Sky provides people experiencing homelessness or doing it tough (whom they call ‘friends’)…
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Celebrating our goldfields past
Chewton Domain Society and Parks Victoria are holding a double celebration to mark the 20th birthday of Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park and to commemorate the Diggers’ 1851 Monster Meeting next month. The event will be held on Sunday December 11 at the Monster Meeting site in Golden Point Road, Chewton. Parks rangers will lead…
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Fringe media partnership with MainFM
Castlemaine Fringe has announced an official media partnership with MainFM 94.9 for the 30th anniversary of Castlemaine Fringe Festival in 2023. Festival chair Jacqueline Brodie-Hanns said they were pleased to be joining forces with MainFM for next year’s event. “We’ve got an exciting program in the works with the Shop Windows Art Tour happening again, Scrabble…
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Let’s celebrate
MainFM’s Able Radio and Windarring Castlemaine are putting on a get together to celebrate International Day of People with Disability. The event is on Friday December 2 at the tea rooms in the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens, and celebrates the contributions and achievements of people with disability and promotes inclusion in the community. Everyone is welcome…