Leisure
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Woodend Bowling Club celebrates 130 years
On Christmas Day this year, Woodend Bowling Club will celebrate 130 years since the very first green was opened – December 25, 1890. The origins of the club dated back just over six months from then when, on June 1, it was decided at a well-attended meeting to establish a bowls, croquet and lawn tennis…
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Hot rod stalwarts honoured
Castlemaine hot rod stalwarts Larry and Mary O’Toole have been recognised with a special ‘Legends’ award by the Australian Street Rod Federation. The founders of Graffiti Publications and creators of Australian Street Rodding magazine were awarded the honour by the ASRF National Control Council, the governing body for street rodding in Australia. It is understood…
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Running on high
With COVID putting an indefinite halt on big running challenges that typically attract throngs of keen contestants, a group of Castlemaine runners has set its own small group challenge. The keen local runners are heading off later this week to run about 100km through some of Victoria’s most breathtaking high country over three days. Castlemaine’s…
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Riding out of lockdown
By Penny Gilbert CycleSafe Mount Alexander is excited to be rolling out a series of bike rides to help our community ride out of lockdown. With assistance from Healthy Heart of Victoria and Mount Alexander Shire Council we present a ride to suit everyone. In collaboration with our friends at Bike Bendigo, you’ll find a…
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Castlemaine – Maryborough rail trail gains momentum
Moves to develop a new rail trail linking Castlemaine to Maryborough are gaining momentum with a new committee of six now formed to pursue the vision. “Our group incorporated last month, and we’ve taken some important steps towards community and council engagement,” new Castlemaine – Maryborough Rail Trail Association president, John Carruthers, said. Mr Carruthers…
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Tail-wagging wonderful!
It’s official – Castlemaine finally has a site for its first off-lead dog park. After many years of speculation and multiple aborted suggestions for a suitable site, the new off-lead park site was announced on the spot late last week. Covering 1700 square metres of leafy natural space, the site occupies the Castlemaine township edge…
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Powerlifting women feature
Thirteen Castlemaine women who participate in powerlifting have contributed to a study investigating factors that may deter older women from strength training. Aimed at helping to overcome barriers to strength training, which is known to stave off many undesirable health conditions in later life, the newly released study is called If they can do it, I…
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Now that’s a shed! Rail precinct steams ahead
Measuring a whopping 160 metres long by 15.5 metres wide, the freshly completed carriage stabling shed at Castlemaine Heritage Rail Precinct is one of the town’s largest buildings. “It’s a bl…. big shed,” VGR’s Castlemaine Heritage Rail Precinct caretaker Andrew Reynolds said on site on Friday. “It’s the biggest open shed in Castlemaine and it’s…
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The Tough Guys are back in town
After two months of COVID-enforced hibernation the Tough Guys are back – and this time they’re reading Steinbeck. The return of the Castlemaine chapter of Tough Guy Book Club to the town’s Taproom venue has been none too soon for the local members of this international book club for blokes. “To see everyone come out…
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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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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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Latest edition of Hot Rodding International 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 to its name with international…