Lifeline Loddon Mallee is calling on caring community members from Bendigo and surrounds to consider becoming Crisis Supporter volunteers.
They are currently holding online Volunteer Information Sessions for those keen to learn more about volunteering.
The sessions are scheduled for Tuesday March 31 at 10am and Thursday 9 April at 1pm.
The sessions are the first step in joining Lifeline’s accredited volunteer training program.
“Our volunteers are at the heart of who we are,” said Lisa Renato, CEO of Lifeline Loddon Mallee.
“Every call represents a person in distress, and our region needs more trained volunteers to ensure no one faces their darkest moments alone.”
Lifeline Loddon Mallee provides crisis support across the Loddon and Mallee regions, operating a call centre in Bendigo and a phone hub in Mildura. Volunteers complete accredited online training and join a caring, community-led team committed to supporting people experiencing emotional crisis, suicidal thoughts, family stress, or loneliness.
“These sessions are a chance for people to understand the role, ask questions, and explore whether volunteering is right for them,” Renato said.
“We welcome retirees, professionals, students, and anyone who wants to make a meaningful contribution to our community.”
Register to attend by calling 03 5406 0506, via the link on the Lifeline Loddon Mallee Facebook page or visit www.lifelinelm.com/volunteer
For crisis support at any time, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
The annual Peter Turner Show and Shine proudly presented by Guildford Grumpies Car Club will return to Guildford’s John Powell Reserve this Sunday, March 29.
This year’s event will feature some magnificent attractions including historic vehicles from every era, including muscle and classic cars, motorbikes, and Australian made cars like we may never see again.
Prizes for various categories will be awarded later in the day.
The Rolls Royce Merlin engine which attracted a lot of attention last year is returning and will feature at various times during the day.
A large array of market stalls will be in attendance, including food and drink, a sausage sizzle, along with musical entertainment by the amazing Dave Moloney, a spinning wheel. raffles, CFA display, and plenty to entertain the family.
Cost of admission for the general public is $5 per adult and Under 16 free.
Entry fee to display your vehicle is $10 for Grumpy members and $20 non members.
This event is the major fundraiser event for Guildford Grumpies, who over a long period have provided financial and physical support for those in need, and support for the Guildford community including the local primary school where Grumpies club pay school fees for the attendees, and provide funds towards the annual Christmas Santa Run throughout most of the shire by the former Apex Club of Castlemaine.
This is an event sure to appeal to all members of the family, so make sure you get along. Gates open at 9am with the event scheduled to finish by 3pm.
Excitement is building as Autoplex Castlemaine prepares to host its annual Autopia extravaganza this weekend, March 28-29.
All roads will lead to Castlemaine with this year’s event set to span two big days with an Autopia Cruise on Saturday and a Show n Shine component on Sunday March 29 as part of the Castlemaine State Festival Finale.
Autopia kicks off at 9.30am Saturday morning with a short cruise from Action Auto (cnr Barker and Forest Streets) up to Autoplex Castlemaine at 35 Etty Street (old Tech School).
The event will once again showcase a wide array of vehicles including muscle cars, street cars, hot rods and custom bikes. Even horse and carts are welcome (we might need these again soon!).
Highlights will include the highly anticipated Model Car Show with a raft of prizes to be won, a photography exhibition by local automotive photographer Darron Davies, automotive art, a motorbike display, early Hot Rod T-Shirt display, trade displays, live music, DazzIin Coffee and food vans.
Entry is just $5 for adults. The event will wrap up around 3pm.
Sunday the focus will shift to the Sunken Oval (cnr Walker and Cornish Streets) where a huge array of hot rods, classic cars, vintage cars and motorcycles will feature in the popular Autopia Show n Shine from 10am.
The event coincides with the Castlemaine State Festival Garden Party Finale just a short stroll across the nearby footbridge in the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens.
The monthly Coffee Cruise will depart Autoplex Castlemaine at 35 Etty Street at 10am and will end up at the Show n Shine event. All vehicles welcome.
Sunday’s Autopia display will also include a trade alley and an SES display, iconic local trucks and even an Amphibious DUKW!
There will be also be merchandise, cold drinks and food vans available. Public entry is by gold coin donation. $10 per vehicle for the Show n Shine.
Parking will be available at Don KR and shuttle bus drop off to the oval.
To find out more check out the Autoplex Castlemaine Facebook page.
Staff, children, parents and friends at Taradale Primary School have introduced a wonderful street library at the school.
Thanks to the incredible generosity and talent of parents from the school community, the beautiful street library showcases hand-painted images.
Lovingly created by local artist Clair Dewort, the library features local flora, fauna and unique local sites.
Parent and local carpenter, Steve Doyle, thoughtfully built the library to create greater access to books and encourage a love of reading among the young people in our community.
The library is accessible from the street, making it easy for the wider community to visit at any time.
Everyone is warmly invited to pop past, take a book to enjoy, or donate one to share. The school are so grateful for the time, skill and community spirit that made this project possible.
Geoff Payne, Castlemaine
It saddened me to see the piece about FOCAL (Friends Of Castlemaine Library) winding up, they have done a magnificent job organising book sales in Castlemaine for 30 years. The ladies (& a few blokes) deserve very high praise and I for one will miss their marvelous work, book collectors came from far and wide to attend the sales. Best wishes to everyone!
As the housing crisis hits our community hard, the appeal of the Tiny Home on Wheels (THOW) has risen.
Over two years ago, the Mount Alexander Shire Council amended Local Law No. 13, allowing a THOW to be placed and remain on land with an existing permanent dwelling without a permit, for an ‘indefinite period of time’ as long as it complies with Local Law 13 conditions.
The My Home Network THOW working group appreciates the council’s leadership in changing the local law. They feel this has had a positive impact on increasing housing
diversity, and the THOW working group continues to work towards improving the appropriate uptake of THOW in our Shire on Djaara Country.
To this end, the Tiny Homes on Wheels (THOW) working group are holding a free community information session on a THOW Caretaker Model.
Tom Danby from the My Home Network THOW working group said the model enables the THOW owner/occupier to have a secure place for their THOW in return for them providing light property maintenance, general oversight and appropriate bush fire risk reduction on commercial, industrial, residential, farming or community properties.
“This model has been used successfully in Melbourne, and there is interest in this model from stakeholders in our shire. We are keen to develop a pilot trial and build on the
appropriate use of THOW as affordable housing and at the same time also caretaking properties – a win-win for everyone,” Tom said.
Learn about the THOW Caretaker Model at Wesley Hill Hall, 149 Pyrenees Highway, Tuesday, March 31, 7 – 9 pm. Light snacks will be available.
For more information and to register email cneilson@castlemainehealth.org.au
For further details of these conditions see: www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/Council/Local-laws-permits-and-fines/Local- laws/Caravans-and-tiny-houses-on-wheels-on-private-property
