Ten years ago, the Castlemaine community generously supported Mount Alexander Accommodation and Respite Group (MASARG), to construct a purpose-built respite facility for people with intellectual and development disabilities in the Mount Alexander Shire.
The generosity of the McDonald family donating land, the Castlemaine Lions providing a substantial seeding grant and community members donations provided the Committee of Management with the ability to seek support from the state and federal governments to provide the balance of funding required.
The $1.4M Lions McDonald Hill House at 2 Melissa Court, McKenzie Hill has been hailed as a state-of-the-art venue to support people with various needs for short term or medium-term accommodation. The house has continued to consolidate occupancy rates, ensuring a compatible mix of residents at any one time.
Service provider AMICUS Community Services operates the property on behalf of MASARG, supporting participants with NDIS funding with one-to-one level of support to ensure the best outcomes for individuals. MASARG has continued as landlord of the property.
The gardens have grown beautifully, and the ongoing maintenance has ensured Melissa Court is welcoming and fit for purpose. Staff continually comment on how well the house is equipped to enable support of participants with high needs.
Following completion of the house in 2016, MASARG has focused on advocacy for the development of long-term affordable housing for people with intellectual disability. The ‘Home of My Own’ Project was launched and was gaining momentum when COVID hit.
Like many projects, due to restrictions, MASARG lost momentum and with the rise of overall housing shortage MASARG have since joined the My Home Network to collaborate with other community organisations seeking housing solutions for our community.
Most members of the MASARG Committee of Management have been on the journey to establish respite and long-term housing since 2013 and guess what, some are ready to pass the baton to younger parents or interested community members.
The MASARG committee welcomes enquiries from interested individuals who could continue to advocate for long-term affordable housing for Mount Alexander residents with an intellectual or developmental disability.
There is still much work to do both now and into the future. They are looking for people with lived experience and/or particular skills to continue as the custodians of Melissa Court and to advocate for other types of ongoing accommodation.
The MASARG Annual General Meeting will be held on November 27 at the Melissa Court property. All are welcome to attend and if you were not around in the early days to view the house, please do come and take a look.
In the meantime, please contact Bev Vines on 0488 650 980 or Jan Steen on 0409 638 905 to express your interest in becoming a member or joining the Committee of Management. It’s a wonderful way to volunteer and help your community.
For those interested in arranging a short-term stay at the house for a family member contact AMICUS on 03 5441 2666 to discuss availability and cost.
Castlemaine is set to host a vibrant and heartwarming community event on Sunday, November 30, raising funds for KOTO (Know One, Teach One) — a pioneering social enterprise that transforms the lives of at-risk and disadvantaged youth in Vietnam through world-class hospitality training and holistic support.
This fundraising event has a special local connection. Owner of local restaurant, Nem Viet, Hoàng T Huệ, was one of KOTO’s very first graduates and now operates four thriving Vietnamese restaurants across Central Victoria — a powerful testament to KOTO’s enduring impact.
Nine other KOTO graduates are currently working in Nem Viet restaurants in Castlemaine and Bendigo.
As a graduate of the program, Huệ is passionate about helping to ensure KOTO’s long term sustainability.
“KOTO’s philosophy is to Know One, Teach One, which means that once you have knowledge or skills, you should pass that on to someone who hasn’t had an opportunity to learn yet,” said Huệ.
“KOTO changed my life and I’m passionate about ensuring that other young Vietnamese citizens from disadvantaged backgrounds can continue to benefit from their world-class programs into the future.”
The Castlemaine KOTO Fundraiser for Disadvantaged Youth in Vietnam will bring the colour, flavour and generosity of Vietnamese culture to the Castlemaine Town Hall on Sunday, November 30 from 3pm to 6pm.
Guests will enjoy authentic Vietnamese canapés paired with local wines, live performances, short films, and inspiring stories of personal transformation.
A raffle and auction featuring outstanding local prizes will also take place on the day.
Attendees will hear from Jimmy Pham, KOTO’s inspirational founder and international humanitarian, who will share firsthand stories from his 25 years of empowering disadvantaged youth through education, training, and community.
All proceeds from the event will go directly to KOTO’s Forever Home project — a new purpose-built training and community hub in Hanoi, providing long-term stability and opportunity for generations to come.
The Castlemaine community is invited to support this wonderful event.
All donations are tax deductible.To book visit: www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1485397
For more information contact Marty at martysharples02@gmail.com
The Castlemaine and District Netball Association is calling for urgent community support after it failed to form a quorum at its recent Annual General Meeting and was unable to appoint enough committee members to operate for the year ahead.
The shortage of volunteers places the upcoming Summer Competition in jeopardy, with the Association warning it may be unable to proceed without a functioning committee. If positions remain unfilled, the CDNA may be forced into recess indefinitely.
Castlemaine and District Netball Association president Ken Maddern says local support is critical.
“Castlemaine has a strong and passionate netball community, but we simply cannot run competitions without volunteers. We’re asking parents, players past and present, and supporters to consider taking on a role—training is provided, and any level of help is appreciated,” Ken said.
Despite strong participation on court, the Association needs a minimum number of volunteers required to meet its governance obligations.
“We need people who care about local sport to step forward. Even a few hours a month can make the difference.”
The Association emphasises that roles can be shared, and no prior committee experience is necessary. Positions available include Secretary, Treasurer, Umpire Coordinator, Program Coordinator, and several smaller support roles.
A second attempt for an Annual General Meeting will be held tonight, Monday November 24, at the Wesley Hill Courts at 7pm in the hope of filling the required positions.
If the Association cannot elect a committee at that meeting, the CDNA will have no option but to cancel the summer season planned for February 2026 and consider entering recess.
No competition also means Castlemaine loses its representative Junior Development Squad. The squad builds a pathway for talented small town netballers to compete against the metro teams. It has been the foundation for many talented Castlemaine netballers, including Chelsea Satori, Chloe Langley, Shae Clifford, Megan Willson and Caleb Mountford who have represented Victoria or/and played Victorian Netball League competition for the Bendigo Strikers.
“It would be a shame to lose this program due to lack of volunteer support,” Maddern said.
“Castlemaine has a proud netball history. We don’t want to see opportunities for local players disappear,” the CDNA president said.
“But without volunteers stepping up now, that is the reality we’re facing.”
This past season attracted 31 teams and about 280 players. CDNA also holds the honour of being the first association in country Victoria to launch a boys-only competition.
The association also recently had its annual tournament attracting 34 teams including eight association squad teams.
Don’t let this 63-year-old association go!!
How to Help
Community members interested in joining the committee or learning more about what is involved are encouraged to attend the AGM and/or contact the CDNA via email: cdna1962@hotmail.com phone: 0407 508 387 or Facebook: Castlemaine District Netball Association.
