Castlemaine Goldfields Football Club proudly celebrated its strong commitment to female football during Football Victoria’s Female Football Round at Epsom last Saturday.
Over 40 fixtures were played across the day, with all nine of the club’s girls’ and women’s teams hitting the pitch — a huge achievement that makes Castlemaine the only club in the Bendigo region with teams in every female division.
Castlemaine Goldfields FC’s s commitment to female football has a long history with the club having fielded a senior women’s side for an incredible 32 consecutive years.
That commitment has only continued to grow, especially since girls’ teams were introduced into the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League (BASL) in 2016.
The day’s action kicked off with the youngest Matildas, as the Under 10s showed plenty of enthusiasm, improvement and teamwork. Their energy set the tone for a fantastic day and highlighted the strength of the club’s junior program.
One of the day’s biggest highlights came in the Under 14 Girls competition, with Castlemaine’s Green and Gold teams facing off in an exciting derby clash. The match had plenty of intensity but was played in great spirit, with Gold just edging out Green in a thrilling 3–2 win. The close result showed just how much talent and depth is coming through the junior ranks.
The day also provided a great opportunity for connection between the juniors and seniors. It was a joy for all to see the women’s side walk onto the pitch alongside younger players, symbolising the pathway from junior football through to senior competition and for some of the players to walk hand in hand with their kids.
As the evening rolled in, attention turned to the main event under lights, with Castlemaine’s Division 1 Women taking on league leaders Spring Gully. Coming up against a side that had already recorded several big wins this season, Castlemaine knew they were in for a challenge — but they rose to it with determination and skill.
Castlemaine struck first when Kasey Sparks headed in a perfectly delivered corner from Sophie Milton to give the home side an early lead. Spring Gully responded quickly before eventually claiming a 4–2 victory, but the contest was far closer than the scoreboard suggested and proved Castlemaine can match it with the competition’s best.
It was great to see some of the club’s younger players who have come through from U10’s out there playing high quality senior football.
Congratulations to all those awarded Player of the Match honours, including Lucy Braszell (Under 16), Angel Perttzel (Under 14 Green), Frances Watt (Under 12B Green), and Arki Jones (Under 12B Gold).
Alongside the players, Female Football round is also a chance to recognise the contribution of the club’s female referees, coaches, team managers and other volunteers whose ongoing dedication continues to help grow and strengthen the women’s game at every level.
Goldfields celebrate Female Football Round
Vika & Linda at the Royal
Iconic Australian duo Vika & Linda will be gracing the stage Castlemaine’s Theatre Royal on Saturday May 30 ahead of the launch of their ninth
studio album Where Do You Come From? – their most personal and revealing body of work to date.
The album will be released on Friday June 5 via Mushroom Music.
To celebrate the new release, Vika & Linda will embark on their largest ever national tour to date with their band The Bullettes and Castlemaine is the second stop on their 46-date tour!
The audience will be treated to songs from the new album together with the songs and stories of their inimitable career.
After a lifetime of lending their voices to the stories of others, this new era marks a defining moment: the sisters stepping forward to tell their own story in full. While they’ve written at different points across their career, Where Do You Come From? will be their first album of predominantly original material since Princess Tabu (1996), a return to songwriting rekindled through the process of writing their 2022 memoir No Bull.
The album takes its name from the single of the same name which began with a memory the sisters have carried since childhood. Growing up in suburban Melbourne, they were asked the same question repeatedly: ‘Where do you come from?’ And when they answered, “here”, the response often came back: ‘No, where do you really come from?’.
“‘Where Do You Come From?’ is a question we have been asked all our lives. Is it because we don’t look the same? We ask ourselves – who are we? Where do we fit in? Who are we now? Where are we going? While we’ve been trying to figure it out, faces in Australia have changed and we don’t stand out anymore. And yet, as we look out at the world today, the question remains and the struggle continues.” – Vika & Linda
The single came to life with longtime collaborator Mark Seymour, whom Vika handed her lyrics to, trusting him to help shape them into a powerful track about identity and belonging. ‘Where Do You Come From?’ sets the tone for what is their most compelling collection to date – a body of work shaped by lived experience, reflection and truth.
The album also features contributions from Ben Salter, Glenn Richards, Helen Shanahan, Mark Seymour and Cameron Bruce, each bringing their own voice and perspective.
“This isn’t a light or fluffy record,” Vika says. “It’s real life, mistakes, forgiveness and trying to find some peace.”
After nearly 40 years of music, Where Do You Come From? marks the sound of two artists standing firmly in their truth.
“Every record has mattered,” Linda says, “but this time we reached for something deeper.”
For tickets to this unmissable event visit https://theatreroyalcastlemaine.com.au/music/
A town divided – Camp Reserve application comes before council
Housing trust sparks hope
Metcalfe CFA opens the doors at new station
Metcalfe Fire Brigade members joined together with CFA dignitaries, local MPs and the local community to officially open the doors to their new fire station last Sunday May 17.
Around 100 people gathered to celebrate the milestone which allowed the brigade to show everyone their new state-of-the-art facility.
The new station includes two motor bays, operational support areas, car parking and separate turnout areas with private change facilities to support gender diversity and accessibility.
Metcalfe Fire Brigade Captain Len Girvan said the new station was welcomed not just by the brigade but by the wider community.
“It has been a huge team effort, with a lot of different people putting in lots of work to make it happen,” Len said.
“It has turned into a really great space, with so much more room allowing us to grow as a brigade.
“The opening day was a great opportunity to celebrate with the community who are all so happy to see us in our new home.”
Metcalfe Brigade was established as the Metcalfe Bushfire Brigade. The brigade was presented with a certificate for 125 years service on the day.
Lots has changed in the area in that time and Len said he is sure it will continue to change into the future.
Metcalfe is also close to Ravenswood where one of the major bushfires burned in the 2025/26 fire season.
“Our brigade was heavily involved in this fire season,” Len said.
“This is opening is a celebration for the whole area.”
Black Saturday also had a profound impact on the town of Metcalfe.
The brigade also supported the response to the 2022 floods in Echuca, the 2019/20 fires, and many other major incidents throughout the years.
The brigade has 26 operational members, with another 32 filling non-operational roles.
Acting Assistant Chief Fire Officer for District 02, Archie Conroy, said it was great to see the brigade move into a new space.
“It will allow the brigade to continue to grow and support their community,” Archie said.
Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas said the Metcalfe brigade has always been there for our community when they have needed
them most.
“We’re proud to deliver a brand-new station to make sure our dedicated volunteers can keep doing their incredible work,” Ms Thomas said.
Minister for Emergency Services, Vicki Ward said this new station is a long-term investment by the state government in CFA volunteers
– the backbone of our regional communities.
Biggest Morning Tea fundraiser at picturesque Plaistow
The Skilbeck family will again be hosting a morning tea in the garden at Plaistow Homestead at Joyces Creek to raise funds for Cancer Council this Saturday May 23.
This year marks the 29th year the local family has supported the annual Biggest Morning Tea fundraiser.
Originally it began as an intimate event in the lounge room of the heritage listed 1860s homestead, but in the years since it has grown into a much larger community celebration in the gardens around the homestead.
2026 will see four generations of the Skilbeck family working across the morning, Lilian and Peter being general dogs bodies, son Marcus looking after the fires and keeping the water hot, granddaughters Madison and Poppie playing with flour and water, and seven month old great granddaughter Isabelle keeping an eye on them all!
Lilian and Peter said they will once again be supported by friends and relatives pouring fresh brewed tea and coffee, and delivering scones both jam and creamed and savoury to the guests.
“Every family can talk about members or friends who have experienced one or more of the various forms of cancer. We can all relate to people who have died from cancer, but as time goes on we can relate stories of those who have recovered,” Lilian said.
“The newsletters from Cancer Council regularly report on the cancer journeys of survivors with many of the stories being positive stories detailing the
results of research and new treatments funded by the generous donations of gatherings like this,” she said.
“The only funding Cancer Council receive is from donations and events. They use the donated funds to support research into the hows, whys and treatment of cancers, to fund nurse on call, financial supplements, the wig bank and respite holidays. Every cent raised at Plaistow is given to Cancer Council to support this work,” Peter said.
This year will be a little special as the Skilbeck family will be using the large Andrews double oven stove again following her (yes it is a female) total restoration by The 1910 Ironworks in New South Wales. Check out their Facebook page for a sneak peek at the restoration.
The stove was made in Geelong around the mid 1880s and originally used in a hotel kitchen in Beaufort. The stove has been in use at Plaistow since 1984.
The fundraiser will once again be complemented by a stall of plants from the lovely Beth Higgins, Sue Oldfield’s natural fibre knitting creations and entertainment by Platform Souls band from Maldon. There will once again be a mega raffle and also a raffle for a trailer of dry Strathlea firewood.
The event runs from 10am to 12.30pm.
Plaistow Homestead is located at 324 Rodborough Rd Joyces Creek. Follow the flags from the Pyrenees Highway Rodborough Road corner.
Entry by donation at the garden gate.
Parking is available on the drive or in the front paddock. Ask the attendants to assist with accessible parking.
Volunteers are most welcome contact 0419 884 710 or email plaistow@bigpond.com if you’d like to assist.
McDonald’s confirms plans for Castlemaine
In breaking news, as the Mail went to press this morning, US fast food giant McDonald’s has confirmed it has purchased land in central Castlemaine with plans to build a new restaurant.
The site, on the corner of Forest and Wheeler streets, was previously owned by Brendan Blake of Maxi IGA, who confirmed McDonald’s was the buyer.
The 4300-square-metre block occupies a prominent position in the centre of town and was formerly home to the Hunt and Lobb Ford dealership.
The fast food chain is looking at plans for a single-storey restaurant on the prominent site at 72-80 Forest St, Castlemaine located opposite the Western Reserve.
A development application has not been lodged with Mount Alexander Shire Council at this stage. See the next edition of our sister paper the Midland Express for more.
Life on the wing
Birds are ever-present in our landscape. They hold a place in our hearts, culture and community. Some of our local birds are very rare, and all of them are great indicator species, signaling the environmental health of a landscape. In this, birds cross the perceived boundaries of art, culture and science.
Jane Rusden’s art practice exists in these three realms. Her solo exhibition, Life on the Wing, soon to open at Artpuff Gallery in Castlemaine, is an inspiring, accomplished and
heartfelt ‘shout out’ to birds, the urgency of their survival, and the fundamental importance of their thriving.
In her work, Jane seeks to tap into our deep emotional spaces as humans and draw links with the natural world of which we are a part, using birds both as a metaphor and tangible creatures.
Jane’s background in zoology is fundamental to her practice, in all its aspects – process, materials, subject and environmental context. Her scientific knowledge very much shapes
the way she paints and draws birds on paper, using watercolour, ink, pencil and charcoal:
“Bird watching and the bird survey work I do influence the species I paint. I’m interested in the connections between bird species and their habitat, and in expressing these connections
through art materials and their interactions with water and paper, as water brings life to our landscape and paper is an organic material,” Jane said.
Particular to Life on the Wing is Jane’s focus on resilience in adversity, expressed through birds and insects.
“If given a chance to, indigenous species will flourish. So often, the pressures are so great that many species are grimly hanging on. However, Life on the Wing celebrates renewal,
resilience and adaptability. It is a show of hope and hard work in the field of species conservation, and a celebration of beauty, awe, and immersive delight in the wonder of the
natural world,” Jane said.
Life on the Wing asks us to stop, listen, think and honour the life of birds. This is an awe-inspiring show, its centrepiece, Female Gang Gang Foraging, Geebung an incredible five metres long and 1.5 metres high! Be sure not to miss it, from May 21– June 8, Thursday – Sunday 11-5, public holidays 11 – 3 pm (and online throughout).
Opening celebration Friday, May 22, 5-7pm, with speaker Kate Millar, CEO BirdLife Australia.
Artpuff is located at The Mill, 9 Walker Street, Castlemaine.
artpuff.com.au/shows/
My Castlemaine with Val Dwyer – Part Two
Deep remorse and grief
Terry Willis, Harcourt North
The Inquiry into the 2026 summer fires across Victoria came to Harcourt on April 30. It was a triggering day for many of us. What struck me was the lack of acknowledgement at the loss of biodiversity and old growth trees from the fire and the clean up.
I spoke in the open mic section and chose to highlight that nature’s community houses were lost as well.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to honour the life of a tree lost on our property – a very, very old Grey Box scar tree. Most of its crown had been lost over time, but its hollow limbs still reached for the stars high above us. Our family was the last of many, many families that thought of this tree as precious – families both human and animal.
And then the fire happened. The CFA came at least five times to douse water on the smouldering stump over a period of two weeks after that first terrible day. Its root system stretched deep into the earth. The burnt base of the tree’s outer layer is all that remains, reaching like a blackened twisting claw out of the charcoal, in a haunting tribute to its former glory.
This was a tree that had witnessed over 400 years on Dja Dja Wurrung country.
A tree so wide at its base that our family of four could not hug it together.
A tree so loved that every new person to visit us would be proudly shown the scar tree.
A tree that survived an attempted ring barking, who knows how many years ago.
A tree that life centred around, providing a community house in the landscape.
A tree that sheltered possums, phascogales, Krefft’s gliders, bees, antechinus, cockatoos and galahs from the harsh conditions outside.
A tree that was a nursery for these creatures to raise their young.
A tree that nourished and provided food.
A tree that held soil together on the slopes of Leanganook.
A tree that gave life and hope.
Who knows how many more years it could have lived for? We don’t know.
This tree was one of many old habitat trees that were lost in the Harcourt fire. It’s a tragedy. You can’t rebuild this tree – it’s lost forever. No amount of nesting boxes will replace the homes it once provided.
It feels like an injustice that this has happened and fills us with deep remorse and grief”.