News
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College closes its doors
Staffing challenges and reduced student numbers have led Olivet Christian College to permanently close its doors. By the end of 2024, the Christian college, which has a 46-year legacy in the Castlemaine and Campbells Creek communities, will finalise the closure. The school families have been updated throughout the discussions on the future of the college…
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Small producers rejected
Small-scale beef producers have been left reeling after Hardwicks abattoir at Kyneton announced it would no longer process small consignments of animals from next year. Kilcoy Global Foods, which owns the abattoir, said it wouldn’t take orders below 15 head of beef or 50 head of lambs. A letter sent by the company to existing…
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Bonnie’s the best!
A 24-year-old from Romsey has just won the prestigious Australian Technical Officers Association’s Apprentice of the Year Award, competing against finalists from several trades. Bonnie Saunders received the award at a lavish function attended by about 400 people at the Plaza Ballroom in Melbourne. The award recognises outstanding performance in training. As a final (fourth)…
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Seven central Victorians arrested
Seven central Victorians were among 173 protesters arrested at the recent Rising Tide blockade at the Port of Newcastle. More than 7000 people attended the protestival at the world’s largest coal port from November 19 to 25, including more than 30 people from central Vicoria. They were demanding a stop to the expansion of the…
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Anger at broken promise
The creation of a new Wombat-Lerderderg National Park has been delayed until next year, angering local environmental activists who describe the failure of the state government to legislate the park as a broken promise. Members and supporters of Wombat Forestcare were assured in letters from the environment minister, Steve Dimopoulos, and local member, Mary-Anne Thomas,…
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Jenna’s triumph
Out Trentham way in particular there was huge interest shown in the AFLW Grand Final between North Melbourne and Brisbane women’s teams on Saturday night. For 29-year-old Jenna Bruton, it became another team and individual triumph in her illustrious football career, a far cry from when she was the only girl playing footy in a…
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Castlemaine man jailed for historical sexual assaults
A former Castlemaine resident has been found guilty and jailed for sexually abusing four children under the age of 16 during the 1980s. Robert Dennis Howe appeared at the County Court in Melbourne on November 8, where he was sentenced and jailed for five years and nine months. During the trial, held in Bendigo in…
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Making great writing: young writers’ workshops
Following the hugely successful Inaugural Newstead Young Writers Festival, Newstead Writers invite young people aged 15-18 years to be part of an exciting series of workshops with award-winning local writer Cate Kennedy. Cate’s work has been published in The New Yorker, shortlisted for the Australian Literary Gold Medal, and The World Beneath was awarded the…
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Bonanno takes the lead
Macedon Ranges Shire Council has elected Dominic Bonanno mayor and Kate Kendall deputy mayor. Cr Bonanno, now serving his second term on council, has been elected to the mayoral position for one year. His only challenger for the role was fellow South Ward councillor Christine Walker, who self-nominated and did not receive support. Cr Bonanno…
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Morton stars in modern fairytale
Castlemaine actor Rebecca Morton is set to feature in Theatre Works Melbourne’s last production for the year – a Latin-beat inspired bang, Skating in the Clouds. This brand new work by Melbourne Writers Theatre company manager, Clare Mendes, will be staged from December 4-14 and features a 14-strong, all-women team – some of them on…
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From wild to wonderful
Local horse trainer Zoe Mullens and her ‘wild’ companion, Spartan, won the reserve championship of the Australian Brumby Challenge at the prestigious Equitana event held in Melbourne the weekend before last. Spartan is one of the wild brumbies saved by the Barmah Brumby Preservation Group, after the government decided to eradicate the herd last year.…
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Music industry rallies support
Castlemaine’s live music industry has come together to raise money for Support Act, which supports musicians in their time of need. With Aus Music T-Shirt Day happening this Thursday, Adam Perrett, general manager of Shedshaker Brewing, said it was the perfect time to come together and raise much-needed money for a great cause. “All of…