Castlemaine
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New recruits join ranks
The Country Fire Authority recently added another happy group of volunteer firefighters to its local ranks. Last month, 16 new recruit members came together from Castlemaine, Newstead, Maldon, Fryerstown, Huntly, Talbot, Guildford, Bullengarook and Wareek Bung Bong brigades to finally complete their practical general firefighter assessments at the Castlemaine Fire Station. For some it was…
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Christmas comes to Parkrun
Christmas weekend in Castlemaine saw not one, but two parkrun events held, and both were very well attended by a plethora of visitors from near and far. The perfect weather encouraged a total of 106 participants to attend event #335 on Christmas Eve and a further 58 to start their Christmas Day enjoying some exercise,…
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Bridge back on agenda
Jade Jungwirth The highly controversial Froomes Road Bridge is once again on the agenda of tonight’s Mount Alexander Shire Council meeting. At the beginning of 2020 the council resolved to award the contract for the bridge’s replacement, but after receiving negative feedback from residents and a petition with 1300 signatures, the council temporarily suspended awarding…
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Cash/Carter tribute show at Phee Broadway
A popular Johnny Cash and June Carter tribute act, led by a real-life married couple, will soon be coming to Castlemaine. Mark and Joanne Caligiuri star in Get Rhythm – A Tribute to Johnny Cash and June Carter as the famous country duo. Coinciding with the close-knit spirit of many other classic country acts, they…
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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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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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Council denies permit
Jade Jungwirth Mount Alexander Shire councillors aired mixed views on the refusal of a double-storey development and two-lot subdivision opposite picturesque bushland at Castlemaine. The Parker Street application attracted 11 objections from across nine properties as well as council officer recommendation for refusal. Council officer reservation was largely due to the design, appearance and layout…
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Resonance presents ‘You’re the Voice’
Resonance String Orchestra is set to present a special concert event, You’re the Voice, at the Castlemaine Town Hall this Saturday. The latest performance comes a month after the orchestra’s sold out show at the same venue. Artistic director Heather Cummins said Saturday’s offering would showcase talented local singers and choirs from across the region.…
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An evening with Myf Warhurst
TV and radio personality Myf Warhurst recently visited Castlemaine’s Phee Broadway Theatre to launch her first book, Time of My Life. Originally scheduled as part of the Gold Sounds music conference and postponed due to inclement weather, the launch attracted 140 Myf fans to hear her talk with Gold Sounds director Fionna Allan about her…
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Upcycling award launched
The Good Op Shop’s new community award, ‘The Better Shape Up Upcycling Award’, is encouraging people to make new things out of items that were destined for landfill. A panel of three judges recently decided the winner of the inaugural award’s three different award categories, but the People’s Choice vote is still open to the…