Castlemaine
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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…
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Local writer wins the Furphy
Local writer Cate Kennedy is the winner of this year’s Furphy Literary Award with her short story Art and Life, an insightful look at a young classical violinist whose busking career takes an instructive turn. “Art and Life, is quite humorous on the surface, but it’s really an allegory,” Kennedy said. “The boy has no…
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View the world differently
The news: We read it, we watch it, we listen to it, we scroll our devices looking for it. But how aware are you of the choices you are making and how they are affecting your health – and your life? Cate Mercer, editor/publisher of The Art of Healing, is celebrating 20 years of producing…
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Circus Mania hits fever pitch
Lisa Dennis Excitement is building for this weekend’s inaugural Circus Mania Festival as the ‘May Wirth’ Big Top was erected in Castlemaine last week. Circus Mania organisers and local circus performers, Caz Walsh and Mason West of Red Canvas Productions, have been working hard behind the scenes for months and are delighted to finally see…
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The Paddock on the home stretch
The Paddock eco village in Reckleben Street Castlemaine is fast taking shape, despite the pandemic and great instability in the building industry. “We’ve managed to keep going through it all,” developer Neil Barrett said. “15 houses plus a community centre are now happily occupied.” Work on the final stage of 11 houses began in May…