News
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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,…
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Proposed Romsey medical centre scrutinised
Changes to contentious plans for a 104-place childcare centre and double-storey medical facility at Romsey’s Autumn Views estate are still under scrutiny. The proposal for 2-8 Poplar Drive includes eight consulting rooms, two dental rooms, two pathology rooms, two wellbeing rooms and 51 car parking spaces. Applicants say the proposal meets a demand for professional…
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Top trainer in key move
Dual Melbourne Cup winning trainer Robert Hickmott describes Romsey’s Kerrygail Farm as “a perfect facility to complement Hickmott Racing’s Caulfield and Ballarat stables”. The 270-acre state-of-the-art racing complex just south of Romsey was recently vacated by Luke Oliver, now training at Cranbourne. Hickmott, a New Gisborne resident, finalised all necessary approvals to utilise Kerrygail Farm…
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Reading habits change
The reading habits of Castlemaine residents may have changed a tad during lockdown it seems. Joyce Sanders of Castlemaine’s Soldier & Scholar secondhand bookshop has managed to keep her popular little Barker Street business going throughout the pandemic crisis, gaining some interesting insights into readers’ literary tastes in lockdown. With her atmospheric little shop forced…
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Latest edition hits stands
For the past 43 years, the monthly Australian Street Rodding magazine has been published from the offices of Graffiti Publications in Castlemaine. Now, the latest issue of Graffiti’s large-format annual magazine, Hot Rodding International, has just been released and is available in newsagencies. Produced entirely in the Castlemaine-based production centre, Hot Rodding International is true…
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Cheese venture ripens
Castlemaine’s new artisan cheesemaking business is on track to produce its first trial batches of cheese by mid-July and be fully operating by October. And a specialty cheesemaking school that’s also part of the new venture taking shape in premises at The Mill Castlemaine is expected to begin taking classes by August. The Cheese School…
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Art from isolation
Five creative women from Kyneton have collaborated to produce an audio-led theatre experience for families to enjoy at home. The online program, Mountain Goat Mountain, has been created by theatre makers Sarah Lockwood and Tahli Corin who have been exploring ways to make theatre more accessible to people outside of major cities. When theatres across…
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Lancefield farm sanctuary volunteers to share personal stories for National Volunteer Week
Dirt, dust and poop are part of the deal for volunteers at Edgar’s Mission but they do it with a smile, and they will be celebrated for their hard work during National Volunteer Week: May 18-24. The much-loved non profit provides a sanctuary for more than 450 rescued farmed animals in Lancefield and founder Pam…
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Surprise rescue
Fryerstown CFA volunteers and local community members joined forces on Sunday to rescue a three-year-old horse from a ravine at Glenluce. The owner of ‘Surprise’, as she is aptly named, alerted Castlemaine SES about the incident about 2pm when the bay filly was discovered in a hole that leads to the entrance of an abandoned…
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A whole new world
Remember when you were a kid and libraries were quiet places where you got shushed? Libraries these days are so much more than just books on shelves (don’t worry though, there are still plenty of books!). Modern libraries are active community spaces with creative and engaging programs for all ages, shared and welcoming spaces for…
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It’s time to harvest frost-tender plants
Sandy Scheltema Now that the cool cold nights are here in central Victoria and the frosts are starting, it’s time to pull out frost-tender plants like zucchinis and tomatoes. We had a prolific harvest of tromboncino zucchini this year, an heirloom vegetable common throughout Italy. The plants look beautiful growing over fences and supports with…
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Nature needs you
In cities and towns across the globe, people are taking walks in nature, seeking solace in nature – and yet nature needs us more than ever. That’s the call from local environmental group Biolinks Alliance, amid growing concerns the coronavirus is deflecting urgent attention from the climate and biodiversity crisis. “So many of us are…