Lily Tuck
Rows of donated goods line the warehouse of the former Mitsubishi building on Johnson Street.
Volunteers are continuing to sort clothing onto racks ten weeks after January’s blaze. Volunteers say the recovery effort is not over.
“People have said ’surely everybody issorted by now,’ I just think you cannot be serious,” distribution centre organiser Tania Butterworth said.
The centre is seeing between 15 to 20families and individuals a day, servicing around 40 households a week. Volunteers say that the centre is still seeing people come through who have suffered great losses, reaching out for the first time since January.
“People are coming in forgetting what they need, some are just asking for one shirt and a toothbrush,” Tania said.
The centre focuses on providing a listening ear and understanding the needs of fire-affected residents. The old display area of the store now homes what Tania has dubbed ‘little David Jones.’ A space for people to browse clothing, and toys set up to look like a local op shop. Equipped with a craft room, organised extensively by the dedicated volunteers into wools, and needles, and patchworking. Piles of handmade quilts and blankets from knitting and craft have also been donated.
“We always need more,” Tania said.
Over the ten weeks, more than 150 volunteers have given their time to the centre. Now, due to many volunteers needing to return to work, as well as create a structure and a sense of normality, the centre will only be open two days a week.
Stacy Baselli and Donna McMahon are some of the dedicated volunteers who have been therefrom the start.
“People are coming away better than they came in,” Stacy said.
Volunteers say the recovery effort is taking a toll with some residents telling them, “ it feels like years.”
As winter approaches, the need for support at the centre continues, the distribution centre is calling for new donations to service the community. Some people only had “whatever shoes were on their feet” when the fires occurred, volunteers told the Mail.
Fire victims are living in sheds, in-between housing, and many families have been separated, with some people still unable to renter parts of Harcourt that were heavily burnt. Boots, and heavy-duty shoes are in high demand as rainfall increases, allowing some autonomy to return to those affected.
“People are not okay at the end of the day,” Tania Butterworth said.
Distribution Centre wish list
– Gum boots
– Warm, solid shoes (Blundestones, Steel blue)
– Wet weather gear (raincoats, windbreakers, thick jackets)
– Men’s clothes in sizes S,M,L due to an influx of XXL+ sizes
– Vouchers from local businesses
– New Air Fryers
– New Hair dryers
– Vacuums
– Bucket and mops
– Saucepans
– Hoses
– Irons
– New winter doonas
– New linen
– New electric blankets
The new hours for the Distribution Centre at 5 Johnstone St Castlemaine, are: Monday and Wednesday from 10am to 1pm.
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!
