Volunteers from Orange Sky celebrated three years of service in Castlemaine recently.
Orange Sky has been providing support to people in the area who are experiencing homelessness and hardship through access to free laundry and genuine conversation.
“Our amazing team of volunteers have formed quite a connection with many of the friends using the Orange Sky service over the past few years,” said Laura Keogh from Sac’O’Suds Launderette.
The service is available at Sac’O’Suds Launderette in Barker Street, Castlemaine every Thursday from 1pm to 3pm. If you are interested in volunteering with Orange Sky visit orangesky.org.au/volunteer/
Orange Sky celebrates three years!
Crossing divides community
Residents are divided in their opinions about the new wombat crossing on Mostyn Street.
Works on the pedestrian crossing commenced last week and are estimated to be completed by the beginning of next week.
Designed to improve pedestrian safety, the work includes the installation of a raised crossing, a reduction in the width of traffic lanes and improved street lighting.
Last week, the council flagged the impending works on Facebook, which was followed by a post on The Castlemaine Connection, questioning the council’s decision to turn off comments on their thread.
Responses to both posts varied. Some commenters questioned why the council wasn’t focusing its energy on the dangerous stretch of road on Forest Street, while others felt the money would be better spent repairing roads. Some called out for more parking spaces, while others worried this would create visibility issues.
Most of the comments were disparaging of the council, while others were complimentary.
A streetscape design expert said that wombat crossings are safer and, if designed properly, make it easier for mobility and make kids more visible.
“I’m tired of people deciding money should be spent somewhere else on projects in our community. It’s not how funding works,” they wrote.
“The works make our community safer. Yes, there are other problems. They need fixing, too. But let’s not cut off good projects to get them done. Let’s just simply ask for more to be done.”
Mayor caught drink-driving, won’t stand for re-election
Angela Crawford and Morgan Reinwald
Macedon Ranges mayor Dom Bonanno has lost his driver’s licence after being caught speeding and drink driving in the mayoral car last month.
Victoria Police said Cr Bonanno was pulled over on McGeorge Road in Gisborne South about 8.15pm on Friday, October 31. He returned a positive roadside breath test and was taken to a local station, where an evidentiary test allegedly returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.087.
His licence will be disqualified for six months from the end of November.
In a public statement issued on Wednesday, Cr Bonanno took full responsibility for what he described as a “major lapse in judgement.”
“I appreciate that my family, fellow councillors, council staff and the community put their trust in me, which I have breached, for which I sincerely apologise,” he said.
“I can’t turn the clock back, but I will work each day to rebuild this trust over the months and years ahead. I am very disappointed in myself, and I have always strived to be a good councillor and mayor, to listen and to strongly represent our residents and broader community.”
Cr Bonanno said he had since returned the mayoral vehicle and it was neither impounded nor damaged during the incident.
The Midland Express received an anonymous tipoff regarding Cr Bonanno’s actions and approached council CEO Bernie O’Sullivan at a public event a day before the mayor’s announcement to confirm whether the allegations were true.
Mr O’Sullivan responded, “I can’t comment on that. Where did you hear that?”
The following day, the Midland Express emailed the council requesting a statement from Cr Bonanno. Six hours later, his public apology was published online.
Cr Bonanno has since taken personal leave and is expected to return on Tuesday, November 25, for the annual council meeting to elect the mayor. He confirmed he would not seek re-election to the position.
Cr Kate Kendall has temporarily taken over mayoral responsibilities.
This story has been published to the Castlemaine Mail instead of the Midland Express as its website is currently down for maintenance.
Have your say on the 2025 federal election
The Electoral Matters Committee is inviting the Bendigo communities’ input on the 2025 federal election at its upcoming hearings.
The Committee wants to receive feedback from community members about their experiences participating in the 2025 Federal Election, and to use this information to shape our upcoming hearing.
The Committee will be holding hearings in Bendigo tomorrow, Thursday November 13.
As part of these hearings, members of the public will be invited to be on the record by making short verbal statements of up to five minutes.
You don’t need to have put in a submission to register your interest; you just need to inform the committee what you want to talk about and how you participated in the 2025
Federal Election.
They might not be able to hear from everyone on the day, but they would like to hear from as many community members as possible.
To register your interest in making a statement at the upcoming hearings, contact the Committee Secretariat at em@aph.gov.au.
Further information on the 2025 election inquiry can be found at www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Electoral_Matters
Council asks community to contribute
Mount Alexander Shire Council is calling on residents and local organisations to contribute their ideas and priorities for the upcoming 2026/2027 Budget.
The annual budget helps drive the new Council Plan and Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan by making sure there are resources available to achieve the council and community goals over the next four years.
The community submission process is now open, offering a chance for community members to propose projects or funding needs to be considered in the 2026/2027 Budget. Whether it’s a new initiative or support for an existing program, this is an opportunity to influence what gets funded.
Council’s current $56 million budget supports the delivery of over 100 services. These range from maintaining roads, bridges and public spaces, to waste and animal management, maternal and child health, aged care, events, and emergency response and recovery.
Mount Alexander Shire Mayor, Cr Rosie Annear, emphasised the importance of community input in shaping Council’s budget decisions.
“As a small, regional Council, we stretch every dollar to deliver for our community,” said Mayor Annear.
“With rising costs and increasing responsibilities and community needs, it’s becoming more and more challenging to meet expectations with limited resources.
“That’s why your input is so valuable. It helps us to understand what matters most and where to focus our efforts. We’re not able to do it all, so we have to focus on doing the best we can with what we have.
“Alongside this, we will continue to advocate to other levels of government for more equitable and sustainable funding for councils, so that we are able to do more within our communities and say ‘Yes’ more often to great ideas and projects, and to further support community needs and priorities.”
Residents are encouraged to provide input into the 2026/2027 Budget development on the council’s engagement platform, Shape Mount Alexander. Visit www.shape.mountalexander.vic.gov.au.
Submissions close on Monday 27 November.
All community input received will be collated and provided to councillors for their review and consideration during the budget process.
Councillors will consider the draft budget for adoption at a Meeting of Council in June 2026.
For more information, contact customer Service on 5471 1700 or send an email to info@mountalexander@vic.gov.au.
Castlemaine Theatre Company Presents Piece of Mind
Castlemaine Theatre Company’s latest production Piece of Mind opens this Friday evening November 14.
Written by award-winning playwright Emma Wood, Piece of Mind is a quirky comedy, that tackles some universal themes: aging and mortality, financial insecurity, difficult relationships and the vitality of women’s relationships.
With not-so-comfortable retirements looming, long suffering nurses Gwen and Allie launch a daring (and maybe-not-entirely-thought-through) business venture — a peaceful parlour featuring a really quite splendid coffin which couples can rent by the hour as means of ‘getting things off their chest’. It’s quick-fix relationship therapy with a bit of funeral cosplay for fun.
What could possibly go wrong? Especially when Gwen and Allie leap in with more enthusiasm than business acumen?
Throw in some cross-generational confusion, a few less than stable clients, a dynamic, tech-savvy daughter, and a fearsome octogenarian aunt with deep pockets and things quickly get out of hand, threatening Gwen and Allie’s savings, their future and even their friendship.
Directed by writer, actor and director Stephen Mitchell, a regular contributor to Castlemaine Theatre Company as designer and photographer.
Cast: Jan Cook, Laura Elliott, Jane Montgomery Griffiths, Carolyn Palmer, Kate Stones, and Michael Uniacke.
Friday November 14 to Sunday November 30
Upstairs at 35 Etty Street, Castlemaine
To book visit: www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1469985