Castlemaine
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Eye-catching issue
Eve Lamb A Castlemaine resident has used public question time at last week’s Mount Alexander Shire Council meeting to raise concerns about the ongoing prevalence of graffiti in the town and wider shire. Retired school teacher, Bill Wiglesworth, has little time for uninvited graffiti in public places and has long been pressing to see it…
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Taproom art supports war-torn Ukraine
Eve Lamb A new art exhibition that’s just gone up at Castlemaine’s Taproom is raising funds to help people impacted by the war in Ukraine. Simply titled 71, this bold, bright showing features large-scale architectural deconstructivist works by well-established Castlemaine artist Phillip Head. “They’re all a play on deconstructing architecture of the same Bendigo building – No…
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Inquiry examines impact of incarceration
The far-reaching benefits of a program providing vital connection between incarcerated parents and their children has been highlighted in a submission to a Legislative Council inquiry. Friends of Castlemaine Library representatives made the submission to the inquiry examining the impact of parental incarceration on children. FOCAL’s submission addressed the positive impacts of its Read-Along Dads/Mums…
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Life is better on a bike
Penny Gilbert, CycleSafe Mount Alexander Modern parents have a lot to keep track of while balancing the needs of small people. We are concerned about climate change, wars, pandemics, inequality, elections, the list goes on, and yet we want the world to be a good place for our children and we want our lives to…
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An irresistible picture book
Jess McGeachin works at his dream job during the day as a communications designer at Melbourne Museum. But at night he crafts his stunning illustrations, some of which have been turned into the most eye-catching and absorbing of books that kids will not be able to resist getting their hands on. Jess, who grew up…
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Don’t burn your bridge… just yet
Eve Lamb It seems the small red pedestrian bridge installed across a public roadside drain on Castlemaine’s Barker Street may be around for a bit longer yet. Local couple Mike and Adrienne Thorbecke had installed the little red number in recent months but recently received council notification that without the relevant permit, under local law…
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Supermarket case adjourned
The 10-day Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearing into the development of the proposed Woolworths supermarket in Castlemaine recently wound to a close. The matter has been adjourned and will resume on July 4, 2022. Local advocacy group Size Matters spokesperson, Kaye Swanton, said the tribunal had allowed five days for this additional sitting week.…
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A bridge too far?
Eve Lamb A small bright red footbridge installed over a public drain by a local couple has created more interest than they’d bargained for. Barker Street couple Mike and Adrienne Thorbecke say they installed the little structure a couple of months ago for a couple of reasons. Ms Thorbecke has some mobility and health issues…
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Nordic pole walking expands
Local nordic pole walking classes have really hit their stride, proving so popular they’re now being offered in Castlemaine, Harcourt, Newstead and Maldon. Volunteers have recently had their qualifications updated by the Nordic Academy and as a result are enthusiastic to offer this opportunity in more locations across Mount Alexander Shire. Healthy Heart of Victoria…
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Value in diversity
Windarring Disability Services is encouraging diversity in workplaces across Macedon Ranges and Mount Alexander Shire. Shaelee Desmond, Windarring’s Australian Disability Enterprise team leader for Kyneton and Castlemaine, said hiring a person with a disability contributed to a business’s overall diversity and culture for staff, communities and customers. “Windarring is a people-centered, community-based organisation committed to…
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Home sought for ‘Safe Space’
Work to establish a dedicated ‘Safe Space’ in Castlemaine to assist community members facing mental health and emotional challenges is gaining momentum. A Safe Space is a non-clinical open-door drop-in centre staffed by peers with lived experience, trained to respond to anyone who chooses to attend the Space to talk, discuss emotional challenges or suicidal…
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Dog rescued from mineshaft
A dog had to be rescued from a mineshaft near Castlemaine by a specialist CFA team last Saturday morning. The CFA’s Oscar 1 mine rescue unit was called in from Bendigo to retrieve the poodle cross from the mineshaft in Specimen Gully Road. CFA Oscar 1 team leader Daniel McMahon said the dog had wandered…