Former St Mary’s Catholic School Castlemaine pupils, Bill and John Sikora, visited the local school on Thursday June 11 to make a special presentation of a commemorative frame featuring a collage of historic images.
The local twins started at the school in Grade Prep, 65 years ago, back in 1961. They attended St Mary’s for six years and then completed two years study at St Gabriel’s Secondary College which was located just across the road.
Bill told the Mail some time back they were invited to attend an after-school function at St Mary’s School and had the opportunity to meet teachers, children and parents. They also had the opportunity to view some of the work completed by students at the school.
Bill later said to his brother John, on the way home, that something was amiss at the school. When asked what he meant by that, Bill noted that today the teachers at St Mary’s are all lay teachers but during the early history of the school they were taught by the Sisters of Mercy.
“Being nuns they wore the traditional Sisters of Mercy habit and long dresses. I believe the last of the nuns finished up around 1974,” Bill said.
Over the years Bill had collected many photographs of students and the nuns and displayed these during the combined St Mary’s and St Gabriel’s School Reunion in 2019.
Former students which attended the reunion proved a fantastic help in recalling names and captioning the photographs in the collection.
Keen to acknowledge the contribution made by the Sisters of Mercy, Bill and John, sorted through this collection of images and passed these on to a local picture framer to create a collage of images celebrating this historic connection for posterity, and gifted this to the school.
The frame now hangs proudly in the school foyer.
St Mary’s connection celebrated
Council approves $56 million budget
The Mount Alexander Shire Council has adopted its 2026/27 Budget, which focuses on maintaining services, investing in infrastructure, and supporting community wellbeing in a challenging financial environment.
Mayor Toby Heydon said the $56 million budget reflects careful decision-making in the face of rising costs and increasing pressure on local households.
“This year’s budget continues council’s focus on delivering the services our community relies on, while planning carefully for the future,” Cr Heydon said.
The council will deliver more than 100 services alongside a significant capital works program, with $16.1 million allocated to infrastructure projects, supported by $9.5 million in external funding.
Key projects include the $2.3 million Diamond Gully Road upgrade, $3.8 million for road renewals and upgrades, $1 million for the bridge renewal and replacement program, $156,000 for irrigation upgrades at the Chewton Soldiers Memorial Park and $188,000 for the McKenzie Hill Shared Pathway project.
The budget also includes major externally funded initiatives such as flood levee design work in Newstead, Castlemaine and Campbells Creek, and continued redevelopment of Frederick Street.
Cr Heydon acknowledged the ongoing recovery from the January fires, noting that $2.3 million in State and Federal funding has supported response, relief, and recovery efforts.
“While recovery projects sit outside this budget, we are grateful for the significant government support helping our community rebuild,” he said.
The council is continuing to invest in sustainability, including carbon offset initiatives.
Community wellbeing remains a strong focus, with funding allocated to local organisations, a new Wellbeing Economy Business Fund, and a Children’s Winter Festival.
The council will also invest in developing a new Reconciliation Plan, as well as in future planning for early years, youth, and inclusion initiatives.
There is also an investment to improve council operations, including enhancements to internal systems and technology, and a revised rating strategy.
“This is a forward-looking budget. We are maintaining a sound financial position while continuing to invest in the people, places, and services that make Mount Alexander Shire a great place to live,” said Cr Heydon.
Council will continue to advocate for State and Federal funding to support major projects across the shire.
The 2026/27 Budget is now available at www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au
My Castlemaine Judith Stutchbree – Part Two
The first instalment of Judy’s two-part interview was published in the Mail on Friday, June 12.
When her youngest child turned five and started school at Winters Flat, Judy got a job with the Metcalfe Shire Council, delivering hot meals in eskies to people in Chewton and Harcourt in a private car.
“Later, a purpose-built trailer was used for the five-day deliveries,” she said.
“Sometime later, a commuter bus was arranged to enable us to pick up clients for Creative Living each Monday, shopping on Tuesday for Harcourt and Taradale on Wednesdays.
“I loved that bus trip, that bus thing, because we could do that around the meals. All the travellers considered this a wonderful service for doctors’ appointments and haircuts.
And when we finished our Meals on Wheels run, we’d go back to the market and pick them up, and they’d have done all their shopping.”
Judy also did home help for many years and kitchen duties when the senior citizens held their monthly lunch meetings at the Chewton Senior Citizens.
In the late 90s, Metcalfe, Newstead, and Maldon shires amalgamated with the Mount Alexander Shire Council.
“As a group, we were interviewed and were able to keep our jobs in community services,” Judy said.
“They asked if I wanted to do something different, and I said yes, I’ll do a town run. I found that interesting because I got to meet new people.”
In 2000, Judy took over the Muckleford, Newstead, and Maldon run, which she has been doing ever since.
“I look at the clients, and I think, ‘This is amazing that I get to take a hundred-year-old lady shopping.’
“I’m 76, which they say is past retirement age, but what is retirement age? And let’s face it, you never retire from home duties.”
Judy and Les have done a lot of overseas travel over the years, visiting 26 countries.
“We’ve had many wonderful holidays, including the three months with teenage children, where we went to Disneyland and to meet my pen pal for the first time in Ontario, Canada.
“People would say to me, ‘Oh, you’re driving around thinking about where your next holiday’s gonna be. And I’d say, oh no, we’ve got to think about what’s for dinner first!”
Amongst their travels, the family has visited Scandinavian countries, as well as Israel, Egypt, Turkey and the USA.
“We went into the trenches at Gallipoli. I stood in front of the grave of a 15-year-old kid from Murchison, and I kept crying because I thought his mother wouldn’t know where he was buried,” Judy said.
And the all-important questions:
What trip are you planning at the moment? We’re going to Cape York for 13 days. Our days of overseas travel are over, but we still love travelling around Australia and especially Norfolk Island.
Who would be your three dream dinner guests? Billy Graham – he was an evangelist. Paul McCartney – I’ve been to a live concert in Melbourne with my daughter to see him. And my dear pen friend, Carol Gemmell, who lives in Ontario, Canada. We have been pen friends for 64 years. We’re like sisters. We’ve visited her several times, and she’s been out here twice.
What are your philosophies in life? Just to be kind to people. I think I got that from my father. He was a community-minded person. He would go to a school committee meeting at 7 o’clock, and at 8 o’clock, he’d go to a swimming pool meeting, even though he never swam a stroke in his life; he made sure he got that filtration plant working for those kids. And he was a councillor for Metcalfe for 28 years.
Finally, what do you love most about the place you call home? Well, there’s been a lot of change in the last 10 years. We used to have a little country town vibe. We were country kids in a country place. Now it feels like we’ve really taken on that city vibe. It’s quieter here where we are, only the sound of the steam train going through every once in a while, which is nice.
I’m very grateful for all the support I receive from my colleagues at the Mount Alexander Shire Council.
Automotive skills on show
Co-op lights up winter
Recent catastrophic flood and fire emergency days have deeply affected local communities. Residents have been left shaken and recovery is long and slow for those most affected.
But what happened during and after these events was also something extraordinary. Volunteers of all kinds helped. And Mount Alexander Shire Council funded some infrastructure to allow neighbourhood resilience groups to better organise to ensure they were not alone when disaster struck.
It’s a great reminder of the power of community.
This winter, the Castlemaine Community Investment Co-operative, in partnership with local projection artist Jim Coad (White Night Bendigo), the Bendigo Art Gallery Learn Team, and the Harcourt Valley Community House, will celebrate community strength with a very special installation of ‘Resilent Heart’ projections.
Children from Campbells Creek and Harcourt Valley Primary Schools have drawn pictures of a bright future that will be projected onto the Hub building at 233 Barker Street (Templeton Street face) for three nights only on June 26, 27 and 28.
Community members can view the projections from 6pm-10pm each evening.
The building will be transformed to a message of hope for sustainability and a shared testament to the community’s strength.
If you are in the area, drop by for some whimsy, wonder and solidarity.
Solstice dark beer launch
Shedshaker Brewing is launching its dark beers for winter this Sunday June 21 as part of a Solstice celebration at its Taproom.
The celebration of all things dark included the official unveiling the new Whey Stout, brewed in collaboration with neighbours Long Paddock Cheese.
Created for the Obsidian Dark Beer Festival, Shedshaker used 400L of whey to make a luscious, thick and hearty stout.
Milk stouts usually contain lactose to get the renown creamy mouthfeel. Using fresh whey is a more sustainable practice – this whey has done its job for Long Paddock and now gets a second life in this beer.
The result is a full-bodied stout, with a soft, creamy mouthfeel and smooth, roasty finish.
There is a touch of sweetness alongside the hints of chocolate from the malts and just a hint of umami from the whey.
The new Whey Stout joins the Extra Stout, cult favourites Choc Porter and Black Espresso Lager as well as Shedshaker’s OG Celtic Red in this year’s dark beer collection.
Come to the Taproom, 9 Walker St Castlemaine, this Sunday from 4pm to be among the first to try the Whey Stout and sample the whole collection!Music from 5pm is by dark folksters Twa Corbies, to really lean into the shortest day of the year vibes.
From niché to national
Fatal crash in Castlemaine
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a fatal crash which occurred in Castlemaine this morning.
Emergency services were called to Langslow Street about 1.35am after reports a car had left the road and crashed.
The yet to be formally identified male driver and sole occupant of the car died at the scene.
Anyone who witnessed the crash, has footage, or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit an online confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
New association formed to lead recovery
The Harcourt Recovery Thinking Group welcomed community members from Harcourt and surrounds impacted by the January fires to a community meeting at the Harcourt Leisure Centre on June 8 to consider a proposal focused on the next steps to recovery.
Around 100 community members attended the meeting, with another 20 tuning in via the live-stream.
The meeting marked the third gathering of the community focused on recovery since the fires five months ago, and was called to consider the formation of a new independent association to lead recovery and give voice to the community.
The Harcourt Progress Association has carried an extraordinary load since January, but agree with community (as expressed at the community meeting on April 20) that the recovery work should now sit with a new, purpose-built organisation – one that exists solely to do this job for the next three to four years.
The Thinking Group, formed of different sections of the community impacted by the fire, had met seven times in the lead up to the June meeting to develop the proposal for the new entity.
More than 30 organisations and agencies are making decisions about the Harcourt and District on behalf of the community. The Thinking Group were keen to encourage community members impacted to make their voices heard and tell these agencies what the community wants.
Inspired by the Mallacoota and Strathewen fire response, the Thinking Group proposed a new community association – Harcourt & District Community Recovery Association – to lead and drive the community’s own recovery.
Meeting facilitator David Hale welcomed everyone to the meeting and acknowledged all those who had been affected by the fires on the January 9 which was most of the people in the room in one way or another, but in particular those most impacted by those fires.
“As the months go on it gets easier and easier for other people to forget just how much devastation was caused, but I just want to acknowledge that there are still a lot of emotions and a lot that everyone is working through,” he said.
“I also want to acknowledge all the firies, the paramedics, police officers and volunteers which have supported the community. It’s been exhausting. There have been a lot of people who have gone above and beyond and we appreciate all their efforts,” he said.
Harcourt Recovery support person Heidi Michael stepped through a recap of all the work which had been done to get to this point.
She acknowledged the incredible initial response and the relief effort. She also acknowledged the support from council and other agencies but said it was important that the community led the response moving forward.
The crowd then heard from volunteer disaster recovery mentor, Steve Pascoe, whose community and home at Strathewen were devastated by the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009. He was part of a small group that initiated the Strathewen Community Recovery Association.
He has since assisted the Mallacoota community to develop their own community-led recovery approach and is also working with the communities impacted by the Longwood fires.
“We aim to provide our knowledge and advice so you don’t make the mistakes we have,” he said.
“Every community is different, the impacts are different, the way you can respond is different. The skills and resources you have at your disposal and the needs are different. So it has to be community-led,” he said.
“Forming and joining a community-led association means you can all be members and you can all have a say in how community recovery happens,” he said.
“If the association goes ahead and incorporates, it will pave the way to open a bank account, apply for grants and manage donations. It also provides legal protections to members of the association and committee. The concept is strongly supported by council and local government agencies,” he said.
There was a very positive response on the evening and the new Harcourt & District Community Recovery Association was formed.
Around 70 community members signed up on the night. The group will now take steps towards the creation of a formal committee.
A strong membership of this group is key to its success. Everyone impacted is encouraged to fill in the membership form below and have their say in electing the new committee in the coming weeks. The form can be found at https://forms.gle/JsKVeUFiVjbCfSVCA)
CX action returns!
Castlemaine Cycling Club is once again proudly hosting round two of the AusCycling State Cyclo-Cross (CX) Series this Sunday June 21, attracting riders from across Victoria.
For those new to it, Cyclo-Cross (CX) is a fast, muddy, and action-packed style of racing that combines road racing, mountain biking, and obstacle navigation — all on a short, technical course.
The 2025 event marked a new direction for Castlemaine Cycling Club, which has traditionally focused on road and track racing. By embracing CX, the club aimed to bring fresh cycling experiences to the local community and the inaugural event did just that. It was a huge success attracting 110 riders.
The 2026 competition proudly supported by Belle Property Castlemaine will once again take place at Campbells Creek Recreation Reserve with the Campbells Creek Reserve Committee and the Campbells Creek Football Netball Club providing essential support to make the day a success.
Sunday’s event will kick off at 8am with registrations and run through until 4pm.
The round will feature races for all levels, from open-entry events and balance bike races for juniors, right up to the men’s and women’s elite fields.
Inspiring the next generation
