Nothing says Castlemaine like coming together on a deep winter night to share a cup of soup and voice opposition to fast food development in our town.
That’s exactly what was on the menu yesterday, when locals gathered opposite the proposed McDonald’s site to enjoy free soup and show support for a different vision for the proposed site.
The Healthy Food, Not Fast Food pop-up soup stall, organised by Serena Everill and the Salvos Wednesday Night Soup volunteers, was an invitation to be part of the growing community movement to stop McDonald’s development at the gateway of Castlemaine.
“There is so much amazing, nutritious food in this town to feed everyone. We don’t need multinational fast-food companies,” says Serena.
“Let’s look after each other instead.”
The soup gathering brought people from across the community together, including young people involved in the recent Kids Against Maccas rally, local businesses and residents who have been building momentum to protect Castlemaine’s unique character, local economy and thriving food culture.
The community has started to organise under the name Mac Off to protect Castlemaine’s strengths after learning in late May that McDonald’s had purchased the vacant block on the corner of Forest and Hargraves Streets, the town’s key arrival point.
Many residents believe a McDonald’s on the site would have significant negative environmental, social and economic impacts, and say any future planning application should be carefully assessed against those considerations.
For more read next Tuesday’s Midland Express.
Mac Off
Local teachers strike
Dozens of teachers and support staff from public schools across Central Victoria joined the 24-hour statewide strike action last Thursday July 23, calling for more funding for our schools and better conditions for teachers.
The local representatives joined tens of thousands of Victorian public school teachers and support staff at a rally in Melbourne.
This action followed the narrow rejection of a state government pay offer by members of the Australian Education Union, who voted down a proposed 28.3 per cent pay rise over four years, calling for better conditions instead.
The AEU wants smaller class sizes, higher pay for support staff, and less time spent in meetings to reduce heavy workloads.
The 24-hour strike action disrupted approximately 1,300 public schools across Victoria, forcing many parents to make alternative childcare arrangements.
However, some parents and children chose to join teachers in marching on parliament in support of their educators.
AEU branch president Justin Mullaly said they know that stop work action is disruptive for parents and students, and they don’t do this lightly.
“Families need to know why we’re taking this action,” he said.
“For too long, the state government has relied on the goodwill and unpaid work of public school staff to ensure students get access to a high-quality education.
“Right now, Victoria’s public schools are the lowest funded in the country,” Mullaly said.
“This under-funding is making the work of public school staff untenable. Public school teachers, principals and education support staff are overworked and undervalued, working an average of 12 hours unpaid overtime every week to make up for the state government’s funding shortfall.”
More stop-work action has been flagged if an agreement can not be reached. Will the new premier be able to break the deadlock?
40 years of Graceland
To celebrate it’s 40th anniversary, Andy McGarvie brings Paul Simon’s Graceland to life at the Theatre Royal Castlemaine next Friday August 7 as part of a special tribute event ’40 years of Graceland’.
Andy will be joined by a 10-piece band featuring some of Melbourne’s best musicians and a collection of some of popular music’s most timeless songs!
Paul Simon’s Graceland album is one of the most well-loved and critically acclaimed albums of all time, as well as being among the artist’s most enduring bodies of work. Featuring hits such as ‘Graceland’, ‘Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes’ and ‘Call Me Al’, the album’s melding of Paul Simon’s songwriting with the African musicians who brought the songs to life have ensured it continues to find new audiences across generations who are enraptured by its unique sound and timeless songs.
Andy McGarvie has long been one of these fans – one of his earliest musical memories is hearing this album being played on the family stereo.
To celebrate Graceland’s 40th anniversary, Andy and band will pay tribute to it by playing the album in its entirety, as well as a full set of other Paul Simon hits from the Simon and Garfunkel era through to solo Paul Simon classics! The band will be both faithfully recreating and deftly reinterpreting music from the catalogue of one of popular music’s greatest songwriters.
The musician said this will be a show not to be missed for any Paul Simon fan – old or new!
“Celebrating the 40th anniversary of this album, which has been extremely formative in my life, in the same year as I myself turn 40, it seemed remiss of me not to make something of bringing my favourite musos together to play some of my favourite songs,” McGarvie said.
“This is a great show with wall-to-wall hit songs – that much I can guarantee! Paul Simon can turn seemingly the most mundane into the most profound with his turn of phrase, and has created some of the most beautiful melodies in popular music.”
The show will kick off at 7pm. Get your ticket at https://theatreroyalcastlemaine.com.au/music/
HADCRA takes shape
Harcourt and district community members turned out at the Harcourt Leisure Centre on Sunday to have their say on the establishment of the new Harcourt and District Community Recovery Association (HADCRA).
The new association will act as an ‘umbrella organisation’ overseeing bushfire recovery efforts across the Harcourt, Harcourt North, Ravenswood South, Sutton Grange, Faraday communities and surrounds impacted by the January 9 event and its aftermath.
Right now, much of the recovery is being run by government and other agencies. They are doing important work. But the Harcourt and district community wants a bigger say in what happens, and in how it happens.
The Harcourt Recovery Thinking Group, made up of various representatives from across these communities, has met 13 times since May to brainstorm, plan and shape the purpose and model/association rules of the new association.
Sunday’s meeting aimed to vote on incorporating the new association; workshop, seek input and adopt the new rules; and open the election of candidates for the inaugural executive committee.
HADCRA had already garnered 221 committee members prior to the meeting, and several more joined on the day.
Eight nominees put their hands up for the proposed seven positions on the new association.
Those in attendance spent some time painstakingly workshopping the new association rules before they were adopted with a clear majority in favour.
There was then an opportunity to meet the candidates. Nominees included: John Baldock, Jessica Chaplin, Rob Fowler, Vera Hemkes, Colleen Marchant, Jon McKenzie, Daniel McWilliam and Bonnie Snowman. Only HADCRA members were eligible to vote in the election, with physical voting cards available on the day and an online poll accessible to all members.
Voting was scheduled to close at 2pm today, Thursday July 30, with the new HADCRA committee to be announced shortly afterwards.
The Harcourt Recovery Thinking Group will then officially handover to the new team.
Not yet a member and keen to be part of the region’s recovery? You can sign up online for free at https://forms.gle/tCPN6dXc7tvczTV48
Every tree is needed
Name supplied, Castlemaine
The letter from MJ, A frustrated member of the Castlemaine Community (Opinions, July 17) states that the fencing around the eucalypts at Camp Reserve is for safety. I have never heard that but it’s definitely about caring for the trees. No parking or walking under them to protect roots and stop compacting of the soil directly under them.
They may not be really old but we need every tree we can get right now. It’s all very well saying you’ll plant more trees (not sure where if the council planned development goes ahead) but they take a while to grow.
I’m a frustrated member of the community too. There seems to be so many football and netball clubs here and various places for these sports to be played other than Camp Reserve. I’ve heard a footballer complain about the oval at Camp Reserve being too small and that the lights to the west are positioned so the oval can be extended in that direction but it hasn’t happened. Wasn’t it first built as a velodrome?
I want heritage to be considered including that the goldfields are up for UNESCO recognition.
Warm Hearts, Strong Community
Jennifer Howe, President of Castlemaine VIEW Club/The Smith Family
On behalf of Castlemaine VIEW Club and The Smith Family, I want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all those who joined us at Forensic Sculptor Jennifer Mann’s presentation recently.
Having Jennifer share her extraordinary talent – demonstrating how art, science, and meticulous detail all come together to reconstruct faces and restore identities – made for a truly unforgettable session.
Thanks to all of you who attended, the funds raised from the event will go directly toward sponsoring students facing disadvantage through their schooling, providing them with the resources, stability, and education they deserve.
This ongoing support ensures that financial barriers don’t stand in the way of a young person’s bright future.
You are helping shape the story of the next generation, much like Jennifer crafts the features that tell lost stories.
Thank you once again to all who attended, for your community spirit and commitment to making a tangible difference.
If you would like to know more about the Castlemaine VIEW Club email castlemaineviewclub@gmail.com or ring Betty on 0408 510 627.
My Castlemaine with Darren Fuzzard – Part Two
The first instalment of Darren’s two-part interview was published in last week’s Mail on Friday, July 17.
Jade Jungwirth
The former CEO said the most challenging part of the role is the number of times he has had to say no compared to the number of times he gets to say yes.
“It’s a nine-to-one ratio. The gap between the amount of desire, need, and expectation that you have compared to what you our community has and the available funds that we have to respond with available funds to deal with is so large.”
While reluctant to name particular projects that he was proud of, preferring to look at the positive impact he has tried to have on the organisation’s culture over the last few years, Darren did say, “I’m wrapped that we were able to find a way to create the Housing Trust.
“I think the current housing system that we’re working in is not going to fix the problem for people, and we need more options,” he said.
“I think that for a council like us to be able to create something like that is pretty special. We’ve proven nothing so far other than that we could create it. There’s a lot of work to be done to make it real, but I think that we have given new hope for possibility here.
“I really like that we have that mindset of, okay, if that doesn’t work, then what will?”
What’s next for Darren? Well, he and his wife love living in Castlemaine and hope to live here for the remainder of their lives.
“Our little miners cottage needs a bit of work done to it, so I’m doing some painting, plastering and tiling and other great fun things. I’m really looking forward to it. I’m the son of a builder, so I’m hoping there’s some latent talent there from watching my dad work,” he said.
“We’ve got a few trips planned. We’ve got a very close wider family including my sisters and their husbands and some of their sisters and brothers; a few years back we started going on walking trips each year. There’ll be about 20 of us this year. We’re doing El Camino in Portugal.
“I’ve learnt a new term lately, while I’ve been thinking about the next steps: preferment. Not retirement, but where you only do the things you prefer. I like that concept. I haven’t worked out what those things are yet, so that’s what I’m going to spend the next six to 12 months working out.”
And the all-important questions:
What are you reading at the moment? It’s a book about the origins of Australian slang called 1819 Dictionary of Criminal Slang that Mayor Toby Heydon showed me. It is interesting to read how a lot of the terms we use now date back to a lot of the convict language that was being used to try and avoid the magistrates and constabulary understanding what they were saying.
What hobbies do you enjoy? I have been a runner for a long time, but I got into marathon running four years ago, and it very much dominates my time when I’m not working or doing family things. There’s a fair chance that I will be out running the streets of Castlemaine. It’s a big part of my life; it keeps me feeling good and it’s a great outlet. My brother-in-law and I run together when we do events, and we did the Berlin marathon in October last year. It was the most astounding experience of my life. 60,000 marathon runners. 1.3 million watching on the sidelines. It’s a 42-kilometre run, and there’s no point where there aren’t people on the sidelines yelling out. There was 20 something bands playing throughout the course. It was the best experience. We’re hoping to get into the Tokyo marathon next year and are trying to get around all of the world’s major marathons. I’m doing the Sunshine Coast marathon shortly after I finish at council, and then we will do the Melbourne Marathon together when we get back from Portugal.
Who are your three dream dinner guests? Jed Bartlet, Josh Lyman and Sam Seaborn (all characters from The West Wing; my favourite show of all time).
What are your philosophies in life? I’ve read a lot of books with contributions from people like the Dalai Lama in them, and I get a lot out of the way Buddhist people see life and the concept of selflessness. My philosophies are very much about what we can do for others and treating people with respect, which very strongly comes through from my parents and their parents. Our kids are like that too – more than I was at their age.
Finally, what do you love most about the place you call home? I spend a lot of time in the Botanical Gardens, late at night and early in the morning. I love running to Maldon and back, when it’s not too hot. The country is just beautiful. I love being out there and feeling like you’re in the middle of nowhere. There are so many great communities where people will pitch in and do what needs to be done, but I’ve never seen the combination of the preparedness to pitch in and the capability to pitch in that exists in Mount Alexander Shire. It’s extraordinary. The number of people here who say, ‘That’s a problem, and I can help’, and then they do actually help you is wonderful. We also love that, for now at least, all of our kids are either just a short drive or a quick flight from us, so we get to see them often.
Safe Space turns 4!
Castlemaine Safe Space (CaSS) recently reached the landmark of being open for four years! To celebrate, peer volunteers and the working group gathered to acknowledge this achievement. Entering its fifth year, Safe Space is celebrating having opened for 375 shifts, receiving over 1600 guest visits in that time. Due to a gradual increase in the number of peer
volunteers, Safe Space was able to add a third weekly shift a year ago, alongside its very popular food pantries- one is located inside the building and one is available 24/7 on the verandah.
Guest visits have increased from an average of 45 per month (July-Dec 2025) to 80 per month this year. Word is out in our local community about what is on offer at CaSS!
One goal of CaSS is to contribute to lowering the rate of suicide in the local community, and it is hoped these guest numbers correlate with guests feeling more connected in their lives.
Safe Space is a calm, inclusive, non-clinical environment for everyone.
Peer volunteers are on duty during shifts for guests who may be feeling distressed, wanting some quiet space to be, or someone warm, caring and non-judgmental to talk with, and for anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts who seek assistance that feels safe and allows people to make their own choices. Safe Space will not contact emergency services unless guests request or agree.At the core of CaSS is its dedicated and passionate volunteers. All its peer volunteers have lived experience of suicide, greatly enhancing their capacity to be present for the broad range of conversations that unfold at Safe Space. Training for peer volunteers is comprehensive, evidence-based and purposeful. Peer Volunteers are also involved in promoting Safe Space at public events including market stalls, assisting with organising fundraising events and attending peer volunteer social gatherings four times a year. If you would like to join this community of volunteers, please get in touch via Castlemaine Safe Space’s Facebook page or by emailing volunteers@castlemainesafespace.org
CaSS received seed funding from Roses in the Ocean for its first three years, thus covering some of its costs. During the past year, CaSS has managed to maintain its viability through some additional financial support from the council, other philanthropic organisations such as Rotary and also generous support from individuals. Without this support, Safe
Space would not be able to operate from the warm and welcoming house it rents at 74 Mostyn Street. Donations enable CaSS to survive
and thrive, and if you are interested in donating funds or services, please contact us, or donate directly via the link on our website www.castlemainesafespace.org, where you can also find out about volunteering opportunities.
Safe Space is open to receive guests every week, at 74 Mostyn Street on Tuesdays 4- 6.30 pm, Thursdays 9.30 am- 12 pm and Saturdays 1.30 pm- 4 pm.
Everyone is welcome to drop in.
Maccas petition gains traction
HADCRA to take next step
The next important step towards Harcourt and district’s bushfire recovery will take place this Sunday, July 26, when the Harcourt and District Community Recovery Association (HADCRA) meets to make decisions about the establishment of the new association.
Approximately 75 homes and 250 sheds, farm buildings and other structures were lost in the January 9 fires. In all, the fire burnt through roughly 4,000 hectares of land. The Coolstore building loss affected approximately 80 businesses, and the total number of bushfire-affected businesses was 157.
We are less than six months on. Recovery is a long road.
Right now, much of the recovery is being run by government and other agencies. They are doing important work. But the Harcourt and district community wants a bigger say in what happens, and in how it happens.
HADCRA is how they will get that say. The way they will replace what has been lost, be better prepared for the future, and where they can build back stronger than before.
HADCRA members are invited to attend this Sunday’s meeting at the Harcourt Leisure Centre at 2pm on the proposed incorporation of the new association.
The purpose of this establishment meeting is:
– to consider and, if thought fit, resolve to establish the association.
– consider and adopt the proposed rules (Constitution) of the association.
– resolve to apply for incorporation under the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 (Vic).
– appoint a person authorised to lodge the application for incorporation on behalf of the association.
– declare nominations for the inaugural committee.
– receive brief statements from candidates for election to the inaugural committee.
– open voting for the election of the inaugural committee.
Voting is available to members only.
For more information on the proposed rules of incorporation and the voting process, email harcourtrecovery@cch.org.au
Not yet a member and keen to be part of the region’s recovery? You can sign up online for free at https://forms.gle/tCPN6dXc7tvczTV48