Due to popular demand Castlemaine State Festival exhibition ‘Just One in the Crowd’ at Shedshaker Brewing has been extended until this Sunday May 3. The exhibition is must visit for local music fans as it features an unparalleled collection of photos and memories by local photographer Harley Parker that capture the spirit and essence of the music scene in Melbourne in the early 70s. The exhibition coincided with the launch of new publication Just One in the Crowd: Harley Parker Photography at the Taproom on March 25. Harley said the event attracted an enthusiastic crowd. “Bobby Valentine and Mike Rudd performed a few numbers during the launch, with Mike Rudd finishing the event singing his hit song ‘I’ll be Gone’ with the crowd enthusiastically joining in,” he said. The body of work features a dynamic collection of photographs and accompanying storyboards that document the raw energy, characters, and cultural pulse of live music and social gatherings in Melbourne in 1971. “The exhibition has sparked conversations and celebrates the vibrant local scene that continues to keep Castlemaine’s creative spirit alive,” Harley said. “Viewers have connected deeply with the candid images of performers—capturing not just the glamour of rock n roll, but also its grassroots, rebellious heart within an Australian context,” he said The new book Just One in the Crowd is available to purchase from the Taproom.
Photographer Harley Parker was delighted with the response to the exhibition and book launch.Musician and composer Mike Rudd of Spectrum and Ariel fame entertains the crowd at the launch.
A 24-hour cat curfew will be introduced across the shire, requiring cats to be securely confined to their owners’ property at all times.The new order replaces the current sunset-to-sun...
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Lake Joanna in Castlemaine Botanical Gardens in Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia.
Town Open Day brings the community together for a day of connection and belonging on Saturday, May 16. Looking to meet new people, learn about the different ways to get involved in the community or pick up a new hobby? Town Open Day is the perfect place to start. Castlemaine Community House and Get Connected Mount Alexander are proud to announce the inaugural Town Open Day, a community-focused gathering designed to bring local social groups and clubs from across the Shire to showcase activities for community members to come along, try and sign up. “Whether you’re already involved in community life or you’re new to town and looking for ways to connect – this event is for you,” said Isis Jordan, Community Connector at Get Connected Mount Alexander. The event will take place on Saturday May 16, from 10 am to 2pm at Castlemaine Botanical Gardens, 2 Walker Street, Castlemaine. Town Open Day is family-friendly and accessible, welcoming people of all ages, cultural backgrounds, and abilities. By bringing together a wide range of community groups in one location, the event aims to reach both people who are already engaged and those who are not currently connected, creating opportunities for new relationships, participation, and ongoing involvement in community life. “Town Open Day aims to strengthen social connections and build long-term community relationships and resilience across Mount Alexander Shire through creating a single, accessible entry point,” said Mahira Sobral, Executive Officer, CCH Town Open Day is supported by NAB and hosted by Castlemaine Community House in partnership with Get Connected Mount Alexander, Dhelkaya Health and Mount Alexander Shire Council. NAB is proud to support Castlemaine Community House and the local community through initiatives that strengthen connection and recovery. This event is free. For more information, please visit www.cch.org.au/town-open-day or follow Castlemaine Community House on socials for updates.
MP Maree Edwards visited the Castlemaine Train Station on Tuesday to announce reduced cost fares for the remainder of 2026.
Despite continued reports of overcrowding on trains, Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards maintains that the free transport in April has saved commuters money and reduced fuel demand.Announcing the continuat...
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Rod on the job in 1985 (in the orange jumpsuit in the middle)
Jade Jungwirth
Part One of our chat with Rod appeared in the Mail on April 17, 2026.
Rod also worked on projects examining driver behaviour, measuring curves, and rollover. He was accepted to a confer...
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Renowned local music teacher Miss Rose McDonald with her nine successful students following the 1914 London College of Music violin exams.
Historian Ken James’ latest publication is a 69 page biography of Campbells Creek resident, Rose McDonald (1862–1960).Rose was born in Melbourne, one of four children of Matthew and Maria McDonald. Sh...
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Shedshaker Brewing is turning 10 and is going to party the only way it knows how – with great live music and free beer and pizza this Saturday evening April 25! Brewery owners Doug Falconer and Jacqueline Brodie Hanns are inviting the community along to help the brewery celebrate hitting the 10-year milestone by throwing a huge golden themed party headlined by legendary Melbourne funk rockers Vaudeville Smash led by brothers, Marc, Dan, and Luca Lucchesi, and friends James Bowers and Ash Griffin. Formed in 2009, the group have released three studio albums, three EPs, and brought their electric energy and showmanship to audiences around the globe. The band will be joined by local star Jo Huf, DJ Rich Spanning Time (Rich Moffat) spinning the party tunes, free Golden Ale all night, free pizza and half price drinks. “It has been a rollercoaster 10 years!” Jacqueline said. “From very humble beginnings in the old venue in 2016 with a tiny pizza oven and a handful of beers to our new venue with a full kitchen, much larger brewery making a wide range of beers entirely on site, we have come a long way,” she said. Doug said they joined the business not long after the original Taproom opened and since then, have refined the business to focus on its core tenets of community, collaboration and creativity. “As producers of alcohol, it has always been important to give back to the community, and then some, which is why we sponsor or support so many organisations, clubs, schools and more, as well as help out at many events around the region,” Doug said. “This also goes to our collaborative approach – we believe we succeed if everyone around us succeeds as well, be they suppliers, customers and other breweries, pubs and restaurants. We are all stronger if we work together to produce the best products with the best customer service we can deliver.” Jacqueline said highlights along the 10 year journey include the long term relationships with beer customers and Taproom regulars, the wide range of fantastic music and events the venue has hosted, being acknowledged as an employer of choice for young people, opening the new larger venue at The Mill Castlemaine in November 2024, being part of the growing Town Folk Festival and most recently, hosting a Harcourt fundraising gig with nearly 500 people to see Hunters (featuring members of Hunters & Collectors and Paul Dempsey from Something For Kate) play a rare show. “Of course, there have been tough patches– the pandemic obviously stands out, the never-ending rising costs of simply being a producer of any kind and losing 90 per cent of our stock in the Harcourt fire in January was also a difficult time. “But we do what we always do – double down on serving the community, and in the case of the fire, we concentrated on raising money for the recovery alongside rebrewing all our beers and starting again,” Jacqueline said. “We raised over $100,000 through a series of benefit gigs, a collab beer and donated beer sales and we’ve been actively working to support winemakers who lost stock in the Harcourt fire. It’s been a very busy year to date!” Tickets for the Shedshaker Brewing 10th Birthday are just $50 each and available now at https://events.humanitix.com/shedshaker-turns-ten
Shedshaker Brewing owners Doug Falconer and Jacqueline Brodie Hanns look forward to celebrating the 10 year milestone with the community.
Rice Two Bowl Triples champions Rod and Libby Harris. Absent: Brett Jenkinson.
The Rice Two Bowl Triples Tournament provided an enjoyable end to the bowling season at Harcourt Bowling Club last Saturday. Add a perfect sunny Autumn day; the green running well; and the sound of happy bowlers keen for a win; and you have the recipe for a successful day and season end. This annual event is held in memory of long-time members Ben and Amy Rice who many of the current members have bowled with. Bowlers competed over three games of 12 ends, breaking halfway for the usual delicious afternoon tea. After the 36 ends, there were two three game winners – The winners of the day on 54 points were Brett Jenkinson, Libby Harris and Rod Harris. Runners-up on 50 points being the team of Gary Maddern, Brian Leech and Cheryl Maddern. End of season presentations The tournament was followed by the end of season presentations. President Gary Maddern thanked the organisers of the day and acknowledged the contributions of all members who have volunteered throughout the season and contributed to the success of the Harcourt Bowling Club. The effect the recent fires has had on the community; and the strength and resilience of the club was noted. Also highlighted was the valued camaraderie of the bowling community. Presentations made to the Winners from 2025-2026 season were as follows: Ladies Singles Champion Winner Wendy Chaplin; Runner-up Diane Marsh; Champion Pairs Winners Diane Marsh and Kathy Harding; Runners-up Mary-Anne Doyle and Fran Corstorphan; Drawn Pairs Winners Carrol Frost and Fran Corstorphan; Runners-Up Vinka Maltby and Jean Pogue; 100-Up Winner Jude Ewing; Runner-Up Fran Corstorphan. Men’s Singles Champion Winner Rod Harris; Runner-up Mark Swain; Champion Pairs Winners John Kays and Carl Roberts; Runners-up Gary Maddern and Steve Douglas; Gough Drawn Pairs Winners Les Harding and Alan Taylor; Runners-Up Barry Marsh and Ray Dejong; 100UP not contested this season. Mixed Grant Pairs Winners Ian McMillan and Jean Pogue; Runners-Up Steve Douglas and Chris Anderson; Rice Triples Winners Brett Jenkinson, Rod Harris, Libby Harris; Runners-Up Gary Maddern, Brian Leech, Cheryl Maddern. The day was made complete with a delicious meal of Indian food.
Rice Two Bowl Triples runners-up Cheryl Maddern, Brian Leech and Gary Maddern.Competition winners for the 25/26 season were celebrated at the end of season event.
Mount Alexander Shire resident (credit: Penny Ryan)
Jade Jungwirth
Mount Alexander Shire Council says major aged care reforms are putting increasing pressure on local services, with staff stretched, clients facing higher costs, and wait-lists continui...
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Adronis receiving his milestone momento from Run Director Jane Harding.
The first sign of winter greeted parkrun participants at event #515 last Saturday, with 149 finishers making the most of the fresh conditions. Once again, the event hosted visitors from near and far, with representatives from Cairns, Bendigo, Melbourne and Christchurch. One of those visitors provided a special cause for celebration. Adronis Ndihokubwayo, a name that needs no introduction to members of this community, returned to Castlemaine for his 100th milestone. Now based at Point Cook parkrun, Adronis and was accompanied by his brother, Clovis Karabagega (also a former Castlemaine participant), along with their wives, cousins, friends and children for this momentous event. His achievements at Castlemaine are impressive, with 52 parkruns completed and a first finisher in 40 of them. What a record! Adronis and Clovis, came out to Australia in 2016 from Burundi, Africa, and settled in Castlemaine in 2017 following Adronis’s clinical nursing placement. By all accounts, parkrun contributed to lasting friendship bonds. It was terrific to see so many of his family and friends out in support and heartwarming to welcome him back to his unofficial ‘home’ parkrun in the tunnel of love. Keeping it in the family, cousin Blaise Nishimwe, a junior under 18, was the first finisher in a time of 18:04 at his first event in Castlemaine. Well done to Katherine Taylor, the first female finisher, with a new PB of 21:26. There were many achievements of note. Congratulations to the 13 participants who set a new personal best, including Dhi Singh (23:35), Mark Johnstone (24:00) and Alexa Duke (27:23). Alexa also claimed the highest age grade of 80.47%, with her time recognised as a national class performance. Thank you to all the volunteers who set up every week without fail, rain, hail or shine. Led by run director Jane Harding, the team was Alicia and Aureen as timekeepers, Gary who completed the course check, Geoff on finish tokens, Imogen as token sorter, Robyn and Sally, in her first parkrun volunteer appearance, as barcode scanners, Shana as report writer and Ronder (plus her pooch) as the tail walker. If you are interested in joining the parkrun community by participating as a volunteer or finishing the 5km course at the Botanical Gardens, all individuals of all abilities and age groups are welcome. You can run, walk or jog your way through the 5km distance at your own pace. Walking is also popular and the tail walker is the final finisher and helping to ensure the gardens remain safely shared with members of the public. Simply register at parkrun.com.au for a barcode and join the event at 7.50am where you can see the event flags near the BBQ and playground area. Do rug up as we head towards the cooler months and hope to see you at an event soon.
Brothers Adronis and Clovis, their cousins David and Blaise (who are also brothers) are joined by Adronis’ wife Damalice and their three children, Clovis’ wife Sonia and their two babies, friend Akot with her children, with regulars David and Donna Petrusma and their grandson are pictured at Saturday’s event.
I was glancing through last month’s newspapers and came across Cheryl Antonio’s letter ‘Anomaly Haaa’ (Opinions, March 13). You claim Cheryl, that John Lewis said “multiple periods of very hot weather going back to the 1800’s, are nothing but an anomaly”. You attempt to disprove this and you present us with a lot of statistics from the BOM, but you don’t seem to be able to produce any records before 1968. I think that John was trying to show that overall the weather has been much warmer since 1968. You seem to be trying to discredit the existence of climate change so I feel like I need to step in and set the record straight. Only 20 years after this, in June 1988, Dr James Hansen, NASA scientist, addressed the US Congress. Firstly he told them that already the excess amount of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere was contributing to a greenhouse effect, and that there was already evidence that this was adversely affecting our climate. Secondly, he told the government leaders gathered before him that the observed warming was caused by human-produced greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. Thirdly he told them that the greenhouse effect was already increasing the frequency and the severity of extreme weather events such as heat waves and cyclones. This was all backed up by former vice president Al Gore in 2006 when in his scientifically-based film ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ he told the world that the Earth is gradually warming and the most effective way to stop this is to stop producing the greenhouse gas, that is, we need a rapid and very extensive reduction in carbon pollution. Storing it in the ground doesn’t work, carbon credits don’t work. The only way to fix this problem is to transition as quickly as possible to renewable sources of energy and leave the remaining fossil fuel in the ground. There is already almost 40 per cent green power in the grid. What we need right now is the political will to get this to 100 per cent by 2050, if not sooner.
Lisa Wilkinson is coming to Central Victoria for two literary events.
Media identity Lisa Wilkinson will be visiting the local region for two book events host by Castlemaine's Northern Books to celebrate the launch of her new book.Northern Books Kristin Gill said they a...
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