Local News
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Call for solidarity
Hundreds gathered in Castlemaine’s Victory Park on Saturday to show their support for the Black Lives Matter movement and our indigenous community as part of the Castlemaine Solidarity Gathering – Declaration of Intent. The gathering was called by local Dja Dja Wurrung elder Uncle Rick Nelson in a show of support for real change as…
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You’ll never see another!
By the time Eric Burton stepped into his customised Styliner ’49er they were old friends. They had a long acquaintance stretching back 33 years because that’s how long it took Eric to get the old machine back into a decent state after buying it in 1987 from a car dealer in Golden Square. When he…
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Locals helping locals
Mt Alexander Community Enterprise Inc has donated $4000 to local groups in support of their COVID-19 work in the community. Representatives of Mt ACE attended the Community Pantry at the Castlemaine Church of Christ to hand over their contribution last week. Mt ACE recognises the important work local groups are undertaking during this difficult time…
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Teachers take the test
Castlemaine health services combined forces last week to undertake a mass COVID-19 screening of teachers and school staff from across Mount Alexander Shire. The state government introduced a voluntary testing scheme offering all Victorian public, independent and private school staff who were asymptotic the opportunity to be tested between May 13 and May 31. Castlemaine…
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In Your Face at Newstead
A new art project at Newstead will invite people to try their hand at portraiture, capturing the faces that make up the local community. The Newstead Art Salon In Your Face Portrait project has just received $3000 in grant dollars through Mount Alexander Shire Council’s latest community grants round with a series of 25 In…
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Tastings back on the menu
Cellar door operators are toasting their return in time for the Queen’s Birthday weekend following pressure on the state government to ease COVID-19 restrictions on the sector. Yesterday wine tastings returned to the menu but doubt hung over the industry until Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes threw a lifeline on Friday. Ms Symes announced cellar…
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Spit roast sparks blaze at New Gisborne
Residents in a duplex house in New Gisborne woke in fright to find their home on fire in the early hours of this morning. Firefighters were called to the Monaghan Road address at 1.52am to find the rear verandah on the southern dwelling fully alight with flames spreading to the home. The homeowners had alerted…
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Grants cash splash
Maldon Urban Landcare has reason to feel well pleased with itself this week after being named among the local groups to secure some grant dollars through Mount Alexander Shire Council’s latest round of community grants funding. All up, 16 successful local groups and organisations have secured a grant – sharing in close to $48,000. Announced…
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Community rallies for maternity services
Local group ‘Support Birthing at Castlemaine Health’ garnered more than 1000 signatures in 72 hours calling for birthing services to be reinstated at the hospital during the current review. Castlemaine Health announced on May 16 that it had temporarily paused birthing services to review its policies, procedures and processes to ensure they aligned with the…
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Foundry powering on through pandemic
Castlemaine’s Billmans Foundry was gearing up for the unveiling of its largest project to date – two beautiful bronze whales created by Wollongong artist Julie Squires and fellow artist Theresa Ardler in Sydney’s Botany Bay – when the coronavirus pandemic took hold. Regarded as Australia’s leading manufacturer of bronze fountains, street park, garden furniture and…
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Shared trail on track
Construction on a Macedon Ranges shared-use trail will soon begin with the state government announcing $8.75 million towards the project last week. Woodend’s cycling community has welcomed the move following years of residents “crying out for more options” to cycle and walk safely between towns. Spanning about 23 kilometres, the Macedon Ranges Trails Project will…
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Capturing Trentham
Tea pots, ukuleles, paintbrushes, gaming and pets have all been a part of life in lockdown, and now captured as part of a project to document Trentham through this time. The Driveway Project – Life in Lockdown is the work of local photographer Sandy Scheltema who aims to capture the fun, quirks, talent and loves,…