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Magnificent Magpies

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Castlemaine Mail
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Magpie stalwart John Watson celebrated his 200 game milestone with a goal and a 207 point win. Photo: Lorelle Huntly.
Magpie stalwart John Watson celebrated his 200 game milestone with a goal and a 207 point win. Photo: Lorelle Huntly.

The Castlemaine Football Netball Club welcomed Bendigo Football Netball League newcomers Broadford FC to the Camp Reserve for the first time on Saturday in round 8 action.
The club report is as follows:
Football
The Magpie Under 18s faced a hard-nosed Broadford. The boys got challenged to play a four quarter Castlemaine game, which is exactly what they did. They ran away convincing winners in the end 167-21. Standouts for the day included Lewis Murray, Ben Jardine, Max Matheson and Jack Archer. This places the Under 18’s into 4th position on the ladder and in a great position to lock away a finals spot. They come up against a firing Sandhurst this weekend which presents a massive challenge for the boys!
The Reserves got back on the winners list at home. Castlemaine got off to a great start kicking 5 goals 7 points to nil. Broadford fought out the game kicking a goal in each quarter to finish with 3. The Magpies kicked another 8 for the game to finish with 13 and come out on top by 74 points. Chaz Holman finished with 6 goals and Caspian Lord got 3, both were in the best with Alec Staples and Campbell McLennan. Harper Kneebone continues to impress. Best for the day was Patty Leathem who stepped up to ruck duties and showed that he’s not only a good defender. The 2s are starting to show some real talent and depth.
The Seniors match was started with acknowledging our very own John Watson’s fabulous Senior career at Castlemaine.
John has many accolades; amongst them, CFNC Life Membership, coaching premiership teams in our Juniors, Coach of the Year in Juniors and always doing what is best for Castlemaine.
John has been with us in the lean years where Saturday’s result had been reversed and saw us on the end of many defeats. Congratulations John on an amazing achievement, thank you for the dedication and time given to CFNC- 200 Senior games! We look forward to watching you continue the tally!
We also congratulate Alex Welch on his Senior debut and wish him a fabulous future at CFNC. The talent coming through our ranks is outstanding! Our sincere thanks to Len Watson for coming into the rooms prior to the match to acknowledge John’s milestone and present Alex with his jumper. It is wonderful to see our past players coming to our games and continuing their support of CFNC.
With a total of 35 goals kicked we watched Harts kick a total of 15! What an effort, with everyone keeping count around the ground. The last time a personal tally like this took place at Castlemaine was in 1992 when Steven Oliver kicked 14. Harry continued his great form and came away with 50 touches, an outstanding performance.
Bodhi Robinson got to celebrate his first Senior win at Castlemaine. Every Senior player played their part and for supporters it was a chance to enjoy a match without the angst! Our skills were on display for the large crowd, as we all know it is sometimes hard playing in games where the outcome was known early on; we stuck with the plan knowing that percentage will come into play at the end of the season. This result was fabulous for all the boys who had not played in such a match, we hope they enjoyed the feeling. We now head into the second half of the season with momentum and need to win those close ones!
Netball
Under 17s
After a few tough weeks, we secured our first win on the board for the season. It was a close and competitive game throughout, with both teams fighting hard. Everyone played their role and contributed to a strong team performance from start to finish. It was a fantastic effort and a great result!
B Reserve
B Res celebrated their first win of the season with a fantastic team performance. The players showed great determination under pressure, working together seamlessly to move the ball down the court and create opportunities for the goalies. Defensively, the team never gave up, with the defenders putting in a huge effort to win rebounds, collect loose balls, and contest every play. It was a well-deserved win that reflected the hard work, teamwork, and persistence shown by the entire side.
B Grade
Things didn’t go our way on the scoreboard, but every player gave their all from start to finish. We continued to work together as a team, supported each other through the tough moments, and never stopped fighting for every ball. While the result wasn’t what we hoped for, there were plenty of positives to take away, and we’ll use them to keep improving. We’ll learn from this game, stay focused, and come back stronger next time.
A Grade
Castlemaine celebrated its first A Grade win since returning to the competition, marking a significant milestone for the club. It was especially exciting for Grace, Abby T, Abby K and Anna, who recorded their first-ever win in the black and white dress. As a netball program, we continue to grow, develop and build towards sustained success, and we’re excited about what lies ahead for the group.
(Broadford do not field an U15 or A Reserve side).
Sponsor of the Week
This week the club celebrate our Platinum Sponsors Fairbrother. We sincerely thank them for their ongoing support. For over 50 years Fairbrother has been a symbol of excellence in the Australian constructions industry. From their beginnings in Tasmania’s northwest, they have grown across the state and into Victoria to become a recognised industry leader. They are a nationally award-winning company specialising in commercial and industrial construction, joinery and facilities management. Fairbrother have undertaken quality work which can be seen at Galkangu (Bendigo GovHub), Bendigo Art Gallery and Werribee Open Range Zoo to name but a few. These projects and many more can be viewed on their website.
This weekend
The Magpie Women’s and Under 18 Girls squads enjoyed a week’s rest due to the King’s Birthday long weekend and will tackle Sandhurst at the Queen Elizabeth Oval this evening, Friday June 12. The Under 18s hit the park at 5.30pm, followed by the Senior Women at 7.30pm.
This Saturday the Magpie sides play Sandhurst at the home of finals, the Queen Elizabeth Oval. Let’s show everyone how far we have come! Go Magpies!

Madi Clifford leaps to keep the ball in play against Broadford. Photo: Max Lesser.

Ravens take flight!

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Castlemaine Mail
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The Ravens Theatre Company's debut production, The Seagull, will open to a sellout crowd at the Phee Broadway Theatre tonight. Photo: Stewart Carter
The Ravens Theatre Company's debut production, The Seagull, will open to a sellout crowd at the Phee Broadway Theatre tonight. Photo: Stewart Carter

Castlemaine’s newest professional theatre company, The Ravens Theatre Company, will launch its debut production of The Seagull tonight.More than 1200 tickets had already sold ahead of tonight's openin...

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What’s in a name?

By
Jade Jungwirth
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The 4.3-kilometre off-road trail from Campbells Creek Park to Camp Reserve in Castlemaine has officially been named Watjarang Baring, meaning platypus track in the Dja Dja Wurrung language.The decisio...

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Locals call on ANZ to stop being a dinosaur

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Castlemaine Mail
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Central Vic Climate Action, the local hub of the Rising Tide movement, led a rally outside the Bendigo ANZ Branch on Wednesday to ask the bank to rule out funding the North East Australia Pipeline.The...

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Big tick for reduced tech time at CSC

By
Jade Jungwirth
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Year 7 students gave positive feedback about the transition from primary school to high school.
Year 7 students gave positive feedback about the transition from primary school to high school.

Following overwhelmingly positive feedback from families and strong evidence of improved student engagement and learning outcomes, Castlemaine Secondary College will expand its successful TechSmart ap...

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New history book unveiled

By
Lisa Dennis
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Judith Hopkins is pictured at resting place of her ancestors and former saddlery owner James Lindsay, wife Susan and their children Susan, Willie and Susan at the Castlemaine Cemetery.
Judith Hopkins is pictured at resting place of her ancestors and former saddlery owner James Lindsay, wife Susan and their children Susan, Willie and Susan at the Castlemaine Cemetery.

Castlemaine history enthusiasts will be delighted to learn about a new book which delves into the history of a number of local pioneering local families including the Lindsay, Martin and Crump families.
The new book titled A History of the Lindsay and Clarke Families 1852-2025 has been painstakingly researched and written by Judith Hopkins whose family has a long connection to the Warragul & Drouin Gazette.
Judith told the Mail the book began as a yearning to know more about her Nana Reita Clarke’s family.
“To satisfy this itch, I contacted the Clarke family historian, Verna Woods. Verna had reams of information on both the Lindsay and Clarke families, and generously shared it with me,” Judith said.
This initial information led her to make a number of important family connections and these people were a catalyst for two-years of extensive information gathering.
Her research led her to Castlemaine where she connected with Ruth Giddings at the Castlemaine Historical Society who assisted Judith to delve deeper into her Castlemaine family connections.
“Once gathered, I couldn’t bear to see this research lost. I wanted it recorded and passed on to future Lindsay and Clarke generations,” Judith said.
Thus the idea for the comprehensive family history book was born.
“Did I find any skeletons in the closet? Well no, but I did find some interesting characters along the way, Sir George Samuel Measom and Major Charles Newman for instance, plus a predominant sense of determination: the two Lindsay boys, the Clarkes, the Martins, the Crumps and the Newmans, all had the will to succeed in a new, fledgling land, a long way from home,” Judith said.
Judith’s great great grandfather James Lindsay and his wife Susan (nee Kilpatrick) were pioneering members of the local community establishing a saddlery shop and tent at the corner of Mostyn and Union Streets in 1855 and later opening a larger business on Barker Street.
Shortly after they settled in Castlemaine tragedy struck. James’ brother, Robert, 22, who joined the police force on arrival in Australia, died as a result of an accidental gunshot wound after leaning on his musket whilst guarding 45 prisoners.
James and Susan went on to have nine children, naming their first son in honour of Robert, but sadly the high infant mortality rate took its toll on the family, with three small graves.
Lindsay took active roles in community affairs, including urging the Railway Committee to reconsider plans to divert the railway line away from Castlemaine.
As a tribute to his life work he was mentioned every year in Castlemaine Annual Show reports as having taken all saddlery prizes.
Another ancestor, Charles Martin, was a master butcher and the Martin and Crump families built homes and settled in Wimble Street in the mid 1850s.
Judith recently visited Castlemaine to share her newly completed book with her friends at the Castlemaine Historical Society, and also visited the former family homes in Wimble Street, and family graves at the Castlemaine Cemetery.
Judith said her research into the book highlighted the important role local newspapers played in recording the everyday happenings of rural people and events
“The Mount Alexander Mail (predecessor to the Castlemaine Mail) provided the answers to many questions.
“I would like to acknowledge these reporters of the past, and suggest local newspapers today are just as important as they continue to provide account accounts of local news and, importantly, are still archived for future reference,” she said.
Anyone who would like to know more about Judith’s research and limited edition book is welcome to email her at jbhopkins@bigpond.com

Judith Hopkins at the grave of former butcher Charles Martin and his wife Frances at Castlemaine Cemetery.
The new book captures Judith’s research and family stories for posterity.

Van Walker & Creature Jones at the Coolroom

By
Castlemaine Mail
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The Coolroom is presenting Van Walker in his first Castlemaine concert since his recent move to Central Victoria.
The Coolroom is presenting Van Walker in his first Castlemaine concert since his recent move to Central Victoria.

The Coolroom is presenting Van Walker in his first Castlemaine concert since his recent move to Central Victoria. Originally from Tasmania, he is a prolific singer/songwriter in the genres of folk, co...

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Friday, June 12, 2026

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Castlemaine Mail
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The Smith & Western Jury at The Taproom

By
Castlemaine Mail
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The Smith & Western Jury will be performing at the Taproom at Shedshaker Brewing this Saturday June 13. The band sound like the moment a freight train barrels past you—loud, fast, and impossible to ignore. Forged in the backrooms and beer-soaked stages of Naarm/Melbourne, the band deliver a rock-driven punch laced with a western twang—familiar at first glance, but unmistakably their own.
Their 2024 debut, Hotel Texas, didn’t just introduce them —it put everyone on notice. The record earned ABC Country’s Feature Album of the Week, with rotation across Saturday Night Country, Edge of Country, and Henry Wagons’ Tower of Song on Double J.
Cinematic clips for Button That Collar and Hotel Texas also landed on CMT Australia, expanding the band’s growing reputation for drama and scale.
Now they return with a new single, Lucky Stars—a darker, more introspective cut that reveals another side of the band.
Written in the aftermath of sudden health upheaval, the track wrestles with uncertainty, disconnection, and the strange reality of life-altering news delivered in ways that can feel rushed, dismissive, and detached. It’s a moment of stillness beneath the noise—proof that the band’s storytelling cuts as deep as their sound hits hard.
In October 2025, the band stepped into the studio with producer Jordan Koop (Orville Peck, PONY) to record their second full-length album. The new material pushes harder and cuts deeper—proof that The Smith & Western Jury aren’t slowing down.
From Out On The Weekend and Queenscliff to Tamworth and Meatstock, and supporting heavyweights like Ella Hooper, Luca Brasi, and Henry Wagons, their live show stomps and sweats, leaving no one standing still.
The Smith & Western Jury lead singer, Sam Lombardi, told the Mail that the band loves playing regional shows.
“Castlemaine has been on our band bucket list for quite some time,” she said.
“We’re super excited to be playing at Shedshaker Taproom.”
The train isn’t stopping—it’s only picking up speed.
For tickets, visit: events.humanitix.com/the-smith-and-western-jury

Art Show at Grist

By
Castlemaine Mail
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The Grist Cafe Group which met through the 'Get Connected' program officially launched their group exhibition on Tuesday.
The Grist Cafe Group which met through the 'Get Connected' program officially launched their group exhibition on Tuesday.

The latest art show at Grist Cafe Bakery in Wesley Hill was officially opened on Tuesday.
The exhibition by the ‘Grist Cafe Art Group’ has been created by a group of friends who originally met through Dhelkaya Community Health’s ‘Get Connected’ program.
During weekly get-togethers at Grist, against a backdrop of other art shows throughout the year, the idea formed that the group would like to have their own art exhibition.
The works to be displayed are the product of people who have practiced art over a long period of time through to those who have been more recent converts.
The eclectic range of works include colourful oils and watercolours, charcoal sketches through to photography, and feature a diverse subject matter from landscapes to portraits.
Some works are for sale, but others have deep personal value and will be retained by the artist.
One such special piece is a group collaboration ‘The Warrior’ which has transformed a base created by technicians at Peter Mac, to be utilised by one of their members during radiotherapy treatment, into an incredible work of art.
Each member of the group contributing a magnificent ‘feather’ to be added to the work as a tribute to their friend and to all those challenge by cancer.
The show will run until June 26.

Group collaboration ‘The Warrior’ celebrates the brave battle by one of their members.

Harcourt Fires to feature at ‘LOCALS’

By
Castlemaine Mail
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Katherine Sepping's personal new film Harcourt Fires will be among the incredible local works to feature in this year's event.
Katherine Sepping's personal new film Harcourt Fires will be among the incredible local works to feature in this year's event.

A personal new documentary Harcourt Fires by local writer and photographer, Katherine Seppings, has been selected for the LOCALS program at this year’s Castlemaine Documentary Festival (CDoc) June 26-28.
On January 9, 2026, as the Fogarty’s Gap Road fire approached, Katherine evacuated from Harcourt town to North Harcourt, experiencing the fire twice. She captured the terror and devastation on the day, and the following weeks of recovery and renewal.
Katherine has extensive knowledge of bushfires. She contributed to The Complete Bushfire Safety Book, written by her mother, Joan Webster OAM; has organised local Community Fireguards, and has documented the aftermath of major bushfires in Victoria since Ash Wednesday, 1983.
“Living in Harcourt, and documenting the fires here on January 9 was deeply personal. It felt imperative to share what I witnessed, and to honour the impact on our whole region,” Katherine said.
LOCALS, one of the highlights of the festival, returns for its fifth year to celebrate homegrown storytelling and champion grassroots creative voices from across the region.
From heartfelt to hilarious, this vibrant collection of short-form documentaries offers a window into the people, places, and stories that make our community unlike any other.
For tickets to this special event visit https://events.humanitix.com/locals-2026-after-party-at-theatre-royal
For more on the festival program visit https://cdocff.com.au/

My Green Gully with Ken Killeen – Part Two

By
Castlemaine Mail
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Ken proudly receives his 50 year recognition of service award.
Ken proudly receives his 50 year recognition of service award.

The first instalment of Ken’s two-part interview was published in last week’s edition of the Castlemaine Mail on May 29.

Throughout his years teaching, Ken witnessed massive changes to public education, including the abolition of technical schools and the introduction of VCE. Locally, this led to the merger of the tech and the high school.
The replacement of the comprehensive T.O.P. arts program with a single VCE art subject was devastating for many teachers.
Through the union, Ken and his Castlemaine colleagues fought back.
“We lobbied the Education Department, saying, ‘Hey, what about us? What about these art courses?’” he said.
“Through our lobbying, they gave us a second arts subject called Studio Arts.”
The new tech school building was built in Norwood Hill, but the art and PE departments operated across the road from the Commercial Hotel, where the IGA carpark is now.
Over the decades, Ken became head of the CSC art department, head of arts, a leading transitions teacher, and later one of the founding teachers of CSC’s Steiner stream — one of only two secondary Steiner streams operating within Victorian state schools.
“I genuinely love the classroom and I do miss it.”
Though increasingly frustrated by growing pressures on teachers – larger class sizes, increasingly complex student needs, and reduced preparation time – Ken remains deeply passionate about public education.
“I still think state schools are undervalued and underfunded,” he said.
“But ultimately it’s such a worthwhile vocation.”
A federally funded study tour to Finland, Denmark, and Sweden years before left a lasting impression on him.
“The biggest takeaway was how empowered the students were,” he said.
“The students greeted us, showed us around the schools, and explained their learning while the teachers sat quietly at the back.”
When Ken and his fellow teachers asked a group of students what they knew about Australia they yelled, ‘ACDC, ACDC!’
He believes Australia could learn much from Scandinavian education systems that invest heavily in teachers and student wellbeing.
Ken has five sons, who all attended school in Castlemaine and his youngest son Caspar, is currently doing is teaching rounds in outdoor education and Castlemaine Secondary College!
Outside teaching, Ken has continued his artistic practice, exhibiting at Lot 19 in recent years. He is also an ordained priest in the esoteric Christian church and helped establish the Castlemaine Johannine Community.
On leave since the beginning of the year, and preparing to officially retire in July, Ken still volunteers in the classroom and will be heading off to camp with a group of students later in the year!
And the all-important questions:
What hobbies do you enjoy? Gardening and breeding rare chooks. I think I’m a chookaholic – I’ve got about 80. I’m in a book club and a biodynamic compost group.
Who are your three dream dinner guests? One of them would be Rudolf Steiner. Jesus Christ. And Nick Cave.
What are your philosophies in life? Human kindness. I think in this day and age, kindness is a radical idea. Not being selfish, caring about others, caring about the environment and caring about the future.
Finally, what do you love most about the place you call home? People are basically kind. Just look at what happened after Harcourt, after the fires, and how everybody rallies together, but at other times, it’s a very divided town. I think it’s a town with a social conscience, generally speaking. And I’m proud of the fact that Castlemaine had a majority yes vote in the referendum.

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