New board elected to lead Harcourt Bowling Club

The new Harcourt Bowling Club board were all smiles after the meeting. Absent Les Harding and Heather Braid.
The new Harcourt Bowling Club board were all smiles after the meeting. Absent Les Harding and Heather Braid.

Harcourt Bowling Club held its annual general meeting last Sunday May 21. The day saw the outgoing board present their annual report.

Of note was the significant works undertaken during the year to upgrade facilities and equipment which had an impact on the bottom line.

President Ken Tribe announced that he would not stand for the president position although he will remain as a board member. The five vacant positions on the board for 2023-2025 were filled by the five nominees: Wendy Chaplin, Ronald Douglas, Judy Ewing, Les Harding and Rod Harris. They will join sitting members Ken Tribe, David Jefferies, Kay Francis and Heather Braid.

Immediately following the AGM the new board met to elect office bearers for the upcoming year. They are: President David Jefferies; Vice Presidents Heather Braid and Les Harding; Secretary Diane Marsh; Treasurer Judy Ewing. Chris McAuliffe was also appointed to the board. 

Retiring Members

Prior to the AGM sitting board members Brian Buchanan and Russell Timmins had announced their retirement. On behalf of the club and the board, President Ken Tribe paid tribute to them both for their outstanding contributions to the deliberations of the board and to the club over many years.

Friday Social Nights

The Harcourt Bowling Club’s Social Nights will continue throughout the winter months with the members’ Draw and raffles being drawn from the earlier time of 6pm.

Visitors to the Clubrooms will be pleased to know that the installation of soundproofing to the ceiling has made a marked difference. 

Jackpot Bowls are continuing on Wednesday afternoons. 

All welcome

Pioneers honour our local Diggers

Castlemaine Pioneers & Old Residents Association representatives Tony Millar, Barbara Bunton, Wilson Bunton, Lois Barry, Graeme Barry and Russell Sheehan present the replica montage to RSL members Alan Lane and Barb Templar.

The Castlemaine Pioneers & Old Residents Association Inc made a special presentation to the Castlemaine Returned Services League (RSL) on Tuesday. 

The association gifting the RSL with a half-size replica of their very impressive ‘Australian Natives Association – Castlemaine Branch’ montage featuring the portraits of 70 local Diggers which served in World War One. 

Castlemaine Pioneers & Old Residents Association president Russell Sheehan said the P&ORA felt that it was important the portraits be on public display for all to view at the local RSL Hall in Mostyn Street. 

“The montage is not readily accessible in its permanent home at the Faulder Watson Hall in Barker Street. The building is only open for private bookings. So therefore we wanted to make sure the community was aware of its existence and the role these men played in the Great War,” Mr Sheehan said. 

Castlemaine RSL secretary Barb Templar and treasurer Alan Lane thanked the Pioneers for their generous gift. 

“We look forward to proudly displaying it here in the hall where community members can view it on Anzac Day or Remembrance Day or whenever the hall and our extensive collection are open,” Barb said. 

The original montage created by A Verey & Co Castlemaine was officially unveiled during a visit to Castlemaine by the Commanding Officer of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps General Sir William Riddell Birdwood himself on March 30, 1920. 

Over a four-year period Year 9 students from Olivet Christian College worked to research the lives of the 70 soldiers and these have been compiled into stories by local member Tony Millar. You can find out more about these stories and other items in the P&ORA collection by visiting their headquarters at the Old Telegraph Station in Barker Street. The Old Telegraph Station is open Wednesdays from 10am. 

Young artists celebrated

Little Maine Art exhibition is on now in the Phee Broadway foyer at Castlemaine Library.

Mount Alexander Shire Council is supporting young artists to showcase their talents by hosting a new art exhibition in Castlemaine.

The Little Maine Art exhibition, which is currently on display in the Phee Broadway Theatre foyer, features artwork from 18 artists aged between 10 and 20 years.

The exhibition is a project coordinated by council’s Youth Advisory Group, which is a group of local young people who help council better understand, and engage with, young people.

Mount Alexander Shire Council Youth Advisory Group member Billy Lister said that Little Maine Art gives young artists an opportunity to exhibit their artwork.

“The aim of the exhibition is to showcase local creative talent,” Billy said.

“There’s a mix of paintings, illustrations and digital work.

“Some of the pieces are for sale, so come and support our young people and view the amazing artwork. Maybe even purchase one to take home!”

Little Maine Art is open to the public until Wednesday June 7.

Little Maine Art exhibition is on now in the Phee Broadway foyer at Castlemaine Library.

Local actress headlines at MTC

Castlemaine’s Eleanor Barkla and Oz Malik star in I Wanna Be Yours. Photo: Tiffany Garvie.

Former Castlemaine local and talented singer and actress Eleanor Barkla is currently starring in the Melbourne Theatre Company’s award-winning Education & Families program production I Wanna Be Yours.

The widely acclaimed debut play from London Laureate and poetry slam champion Zia Ahmed opened last Monday at the Lawler Theatre Southbank.

Local audiences will have the chance to catch the production when it comes to Bendigo’s Ulumbarra Theatre for one special performance as part of a regional tour on Friday June 9. 

The modern-day romance explores the complexities of cross-cultural relationships and questions whether love really is all you need?

Eleanor is delighted to have secured the lead role of Ella opposite fellow MTC debutante Oz Malik who plays Haseeb and the production is directed by Melbourne Theatre Company Resident Director Tasnim Hossain. 

Haseeb and Ella meet at a performance workshop. From opposite sides of the Thames, he’s a poet and she’s an actor hired to help him with his enunciation. Their attraction is immediate. They start dating, get serious and fall in love. Soon there is each other’s family and friends to navigate, and then big questions about the future. Can their love surpass the cultural and physical boundaries between them?

The production debuted at the London’s renowned Bush Theatre in 2019 and makes its Aussie debut at the MTC.

The show has already had some notable press including an interview with its creator in The Age recently.

Director Tasnim Hossain says there’s such humanity to the work.

“I think that makes it easy to connect with but it feels particularly relevant for young people, people from diverse backgrounds, and people from regional areas, as Haseeb and Ella are. We have an extraordinary team, many of whom are making their Melbourne Theatre Company debuts, bringing this intimate love story to blazing life,” she said.

Eleanor said she is thrilled to be part of the MTC production which explores the themes of love, racism and the subtle microaggressions many endure on a day to day basis around race, gender or class.

Eleanor attended school at St Mary’s Castlemaine and secondary school at Sacred Heart Kyneton.

The local performer studied Bachelor of Arts (Acting) at Federation University Arts Academy from 2016-2018, in Ballarat.

“I am so grateful for my training there. It was so comprehensive and there was real emphasis on collaboration and community, which I feel is the only way to approach performing arts, especially when you’re starting out. No one gets a gold star for going it alone! I’m still extremely close with many of my peers now,” she said.

Many locals would recognise Eleanor as a regular at the annual Rotary Castlemaine Carols by Candlelight in Victory Park.

Her other theatre credits include Much Ado About Nothing (Prague) (The Australian Shakespeare Company); Bright Star (Three’s A Crowd); and Analog (Three Fates Theatre Company). On screen, Eleanor’s recent credits include the SBS drama series New Gold Mountain.

The performer is excited to make her debut with the MTC.

“It is a dream come true if I am being honest. It’s a real pleasure and privilege to be working with such a highly regarded company,” she said.

What does the local actor hope audiences will take away from the performance?

“My hope is that audiences see a little bit of themselves in this show, or at least see something familiar to them. As human beings, we’re wired to engage with ‘challenging’ stories much more openly when they feel familiar, when we recognise ourselves or others within them. This then sparks conversation, which plants the seed for change,” she said.

The show is recommended for theatre goers 14+. Tickets for the MTC Family and Education program regional events are free, but bookings are essential at boxoffice.gotix.com.au

Mercutio steals the show in Castlemaine

Orvokki Britton as Juliet and Will Marney as Romeo shine in the 2023 CTC production. Photo: Stephen Mitchell.

I’m a big fan of Shakespeare and have always had a soft spot for Romeo and Juliet. Over the years I have seen multiple plays, adaptations and, as a child born in the 80s, I was slightly obsessed with the film version staring Leonardo DiCaprio and Clare Danes.

Prior to last Sunday, I hadn’t seen any Castlemaine Theatre Company productions, so on my approach to the Phee Broadway Theatre, I was a little unsure what to expect….

It was fantastic! It was everything Shakespeare intended it to be – the diverse cast were brimming with energy and were able to bring fresh passion to the timeless epic where two star-crossed lovers navigate the seedy underworld of warring, powerful families in a haze of love, hope and tragedy.

Castlemaine Theatre Company’s production of Romeo and Juliet was unique; set in the tough, gritty laneways of twenty- first century Melbourne. Director Rob Jorritsma said he wanted to place it in our world, in Australia, so it has the backdrop of Melbourne.

“And that’s what Shakespeare did; he told stories for the people of his world, his time,” said Rob.

The actors playing sweet, young, Romeo and Juliet brought passion and dedication to the iconic characters who fall in love amongst the tragic backdrop of their families’ rivalries, ending in the most tragic of circumstances.

The actor playing Mercutio stole the show, dressed in a purple 80’s parachute tracksuit (which was a stroke of genius by the costume designers) provided the audience with intensely funny comic relief throughout the show.

A huge shout out to Nurse and Friar Lawrence for their fantastic performances and congratulations to the entire cast and crew for a wonderful, contemporary take on the classic tale of Romeo and Juliet.

Don’t miss CTC’s production of Romeo and Juliet, even if you think you’ve seen it before! Fridays, Saturday’s and Sundays until to June 4, Phee Broadway Theatre, Mechanics Lane, Castlemaine. Ticket bookings are available online at: www.castlemainetheatrecompany.com/romeo-and-juliet/

Drinks and snacks are available during interval at bar prices. Cash or card accepted.

Truck hits bridge at Harcourt

Harcourt residents were awoken to a loud crash just after 6.30am on Tuesday morning as a truck struck the Harcourt Railway Bridge near the intersection of Symes Roads. 

A local resident told the Mail she was just heading off to work around when she heard the loud bang. 

“I thought Harcourt was experiencing another earthquake as the windows in my house all rattled,” she said. 

The woman captured this dashcam footage as the truck tipped over and became wedged under the overpass. The road was blocked for several hours and V/Line train services brought to a standstill as emergency services worked to remove the stricken vehicle and check the safety beams and bridge for any structural issues. 

A Castlemaine police spokesperson said the cab of the truck cleared the bridge but the shipping container it was carrying was too high. 

Buses replaced trains until Tuesday afternoon when the bridge was declared safe. 

Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week: A time to reflect

Uncle Rick Nelson will again lead a Reconciliation Week Walk.

Mount Alexander Shire Council will be recognising Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week with a number of events open to the community from today.

A Sorry Day Commemoration will be held at Castlemaine Secondary College in Lawson Parade today May 26 at 10.30am.

The morning will include a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony and guest speakers.

National Reconciliation Week (May 27-June 7) will be launched tomorrow, May 27, with an official opening to be held at the historic Market Building in Mostyn Street at 10.30am.

The event will include a performance from the Peace Choir and the annual Nalderun Awards.

This year’s theme is ‘Be a voice for generations’, and encourages everyone to use their power, their words and their vote to create a better, more just Australia for everyone.

Community members can also join local Elder Uncle Rick Nelson, Jaara descendant and Dja Dja Wurrung Traditional Owner on a Reconcililation Week Walk on June 1. Bookings are limited. Call Dhelkaya Health on 5479 1000 to register. $5 donation to Nalderun.

World-first support for local mums

Dr Richard Mayes and midwife Sam Ward at Dhelkaya Health using the new iCOPE screening tool.

A world-first online screening program is supporting the mental health of new and expectant mums across the Castlemaine region, thanks to a new partnership between Dhelkaya Health and the Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE), Australia’s peak body for reducing the impacts of perinatal anxiety and depression.

COPE has developed the iCOPE digital screening tool to identify mums at risk and facilitate faster and more effective mental health screening in the perinatal period (pregnancy and year following birth).

iCOPE enables perinatal mental health screening to be undertaken across all clinical settings, from in-person to remote screening via the patient’s mobile phone. The new service is now being used at Dhelkaya Health Maternity Services.

Founder and Executive Director of COPE and perinatal mental health specialist Dr Nicole Highet said the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the incidence and severity of perinatal depression and anxiety and had a dramatic effect on the mental health of new and expectant parents. 

“Though restrictions are over, we’re still seeing a high demand for perinatal mental health services as calls to helplines and support services continue to exceed pre-pandemic levels,” Dr Highet said.

“Becoming a parent is challenging enough, but now new and expectant parents are experiencing the additional long-lasting mental health effects of living through a global pandemic. It’s now more important than ever to be using this world-leading technology to implement regular, faster and more efficient perinatal mental health screening to identify those at risk and those experiencing symptoms. The sooner symptoms are detected, the faster the treatment can begin, which is why it’s so important to spot the signs early,” she said.

“iCOPE is changing the way perinatal mental health screening is conducted across the country to ensure all mums-to-be have the opportunity to undertake regular mental health screening, in line with the National Perinatal Mental Health Guideline,” Dr Highet said.

Dhelkaya Health CEO Sue Race said perinatal anxiety and depression is a serious issue facing our community. 

“With 107 women booked with Dhelkaya Health’s Maternity Services in the last year, the iCOPE screening tool will make a real difference for our community. It will allow us to provide improved mental health support to more new mums, and mums-to-be, than ever before,” Ms Race said.

“Dhelkaya Health is proud to be using this world-first tool to provide every new mum in our care with regular mental health checks as an essential part of our maternal healthcare services.

“The iCOPE screening can be conducted on an iPad in the waiting room or the patient’s mobile phone at home before their health consultation, saving time and increasing privacy, which many women have told us is really important,” Ms Race said.

Perinatal depression and anxiety affects one in five mothers, and nearly three quarters (74 per cent) of affected women don’t seek help until they reach crisis point.

A recent international review also found that among women with perinatal mental health conditions, 20 per cent will experience suicidal thoughts or undertake acts of self-harm.

“With suicide being one of the leading causes of maternal death in Australia, mental health screening during pregnancy and the year after birth is critical. The iCOPE digital health check speeds up and facilitates this process,” Dr Highet said.

iCOPE is available in 25 languages and also includes two perinatal mental health screening tools that have been developed specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: the Kimberly Mum’s Mood Scale, and the Mt Isa Postnatal Depression Scale.

The iCOPE patient report includes access to the e-COPE Directory of local specialist perinatal mental health support services, ensuring that parents who are doing it tough can get the professional support they need, where and when they need it.

More than 97,000 iCOPE perinatal mental health checks have been conducted to date in Australia (including clinical trials).

Parents and health professionals seeking information about emotional wellbeing during pregnancy and after birth can visit www.cope.org.au. 

Parents needing counselling support should call the free PANDA National Perinatal Mental Health Helpline on 1300 726 306 (Monday to Friday 9am to 7.30pm AEST/AEDT).

Reconciliation Film Festival screenings

Limbo (2023). Set in a small Australian outback town, detective Travis Hurley arrives to investigate a 20 year old unsolved homicide of an Aboriginal woman.

Theatre Royal Castlemaine is hosting a special program of films as part of the Central Victorian Reconciliation Film Festival from this Sunday May 28 until Sunday June 4. 

The star of the event is Fighting Giants which will screen at the historic cinema on Thursday June 1 at 7.30pm. Nalderun are organising a Welcome to Country for this special event and a Q & A will follow. 

Frack Free Kimberley proudly presents Fighting Giants, the powerful new film and rallying call to protect the Kimberley from oil and gas fracking. 

The stunning, intact landscapes of the Kimberley and the rich culture of its Aboriginal custodians are at risk. 

Frackers are the closest they have ever been to turning the region into an industrial wasteland and wrecking the climate in the process. 

Frack Free Kimberley teamed up with Kimberley Traditional Owners, climate scientists and economists from The Australia Institute to produce Fighting Giants and can’t wait to share this ode to the Kimberley and urgent call to action with you, your family, and your friends. 

The film features Dr Anne Poelina, Mr Corpus (recently deceased), Nuriah Jadai, Madelaine Jadai, John Butler and EK Director Martin Pritchard. 

Kimberley Traditional Owners will be travelling from the Kimberley to speak at these premiere events – for the Theatre Royal screening, participants will be viewing a pre-recorded introduction and discussion by Mangala Traditional Owners.A further discussion panel will take place after the screening with Anitra Nelson from the Wararack, Laura Leveton from Central Victoria Climate Action, Annika Kearton, CEO of Central Victoria Greenhouse Alliance and special guests. 

Don’t miss your chance to hear from and support these strong individuals who are standing up for their Country. 

For tickets visit theatreroyalcastlemaine.oztix.com.au 

Theatre Royal full Reconciliation Film Program is as follows: 

Sunday May 28 

Walkabout 2pm 

Limbo 4pm 

Thursday Jun 1 

Walkabout 5pm 

Fighting Giants with Q&A 7.30pm 

Friday Jun 2 

Limbo 5pm 

The Survival Of Kindness 8pm 

Sunday June 4 

The Survival Of Kindness 7pm 

For more info visit https://www.theatreroyalcastlemaine.com.au/cinema 

My Elphinstone with Castlemaine Mail digital guru Liam Runnalls

Hi Liam, can you tell us a bit about your early years? 

I moved to Elphinstone in early 2021 – but I am from Woodend originally, so it felt a bit like being back in my place. After high school I went to Uni in Melbourne and studied creative writing. When I was 22, I travelled to Ireland and had the whole backpacking experience. While I was there, I got quite sick and found I was sleeping during the day a lot and awake at night so I wrote a screenplay which has never seen the light of day – a romantic comedy. 

I also lived in New York for about a year. My girlfriend at the time wanted to go and I had nothing better to do so I went and bummed around. It was a good time to explore what I wanted to do. 

You write cryptic crosswords for The Age and The Saturday Paper how did that come about? 

Before I went to New York I was working as a proof reader in the puzzle department of a media company and myself and some others started creating puzzles. Going to New York which was the home of crosswords was very inspiring. 

When I came back from New York I got my old job back in the puzzle department and eventually I started making my own. 

I’d always been interested in drawing cartoons as well (I was obsessed by the Far Side cartoons as a kid) and I really got into the drawing by in 2013, but it never turned into a career. It’s sort of symbolic because I’m colour blind and I chose the black and white crosswords over cartoons. I’ve been writing the crosswords for the papers since 2012. I like amusing people and lots of people love crosswords. 

I got married in 2019 – two kids later and a move to the country. Actually, I’ve found a way to slip little personal details into my puzzles to mark life events, like when I married Helen and each of the kid’s names when they were born. And even Castlemaine has been an answer, although I haven’t used Elphinstone yet. My grandfather was a puzzle solver and I wrote a puzzle for his funeral. 

How did you end up working at the Castlemaine Mail? 

I’ve worked with a lot of newspapers and over the years became involved in web design. I started at the Castlemaine Mail in May last year to help design the paywall for the paper. 

What other hobbies do you have? 

I am a Brisbane Lions supporter. I follow AFL quite passionately. It’s a great way to vent my frustrations, I’m otherwise a pretty chill person. I also enjoy chopping wood. I live in a very old house that gets quite cold. And I play tennis in Kyneton. 

What sort of music do you enjoy listening to?

At the moment I’m listening to Jenny Hval, a Norwegian singer. She’s very poetic and has incredible lyrics. And I am a big Radiohead fan. 

What are you reading at the moment? 

I just finished Bewilderment by Richard Powers for book club. It was the best book I’ve read in a while. 

Who are your three dream dinner guests? 

Rupert Sheldrake the philosopher, Damon Albarn, the lead singer of Gorillaz and Blur and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. 

What philosophy do you live life by? 

Try not to be too cynical. 

And finally, what do you love most about the place you call home? 

I really enjoy the history of the area, both recent and ancient and I love going for bush walks. 

The countdown is on for Castlemaine Jazz Festival!

Central Victorian faves The Seduceaphones will bring their infectious vein of Balkan brass-fusion to the festival.

It is just two weeks to go until the Castlemaine Jazz Festival swings into action! The 2023 festival kicks off on Friday June 9 with a Big Band extravaganza not to be missed at Castlemaine’s Theatre Royal. 

Three bands will take to the Royal stage on the night including the TEK TEK Ensemble, The Seduceaphones and The Seven Ups. 

TEK TEK perform virtuosic and original music inspired by tropical jungles, late night discos, 1960’s chic, and shamanistic desert rituals. 

The balance of three guys and three girls captivate audiences with exclamatory trumpet; hedonistic violins and organ; deeply pulsating drums and bass; wild psychedelic electric guitar; and a rich smearing of harmonized singing (and wailing) thrown on top. 

TEK TEK Ensemble formed in 2010 and have performed countless times around Australia and the world including Jakarta, The Pilbara, Berlin, New Caledonia, Bangkok and Paris. The band has its roots in the wildness of late-night Melbourne pub music with the sophistication of jazz and classical performance, and the danceability of tropical rhythms and hard-partying disco beats. 

Central Victorian gipsy-brass beast The Seduceaphones create grooves that move crowds in completely new and unusual ways, they pioneer an infectious vein of Balkan brass-fusion. 

Their shows at MOOMBA Festival, Lorne Falls Festival and Rainbow Serpent Festival have invariably left the crowd gasping for breath. They have also shaken the stages at the Castlemaine State Festival, Eltham Jazz Festival, Bendigo Blues and Roots Festival and the list goes on. Their debut album Muskrat was released at the Night Cat in 2019 showcasing their Balkan ‘Eurotrash’ sound. 

Seven piece heavy groove combo The Seven Ups from Melbourne will take you on an abstruse journey into the darker fringes of instrumental music, drifting from funk to spiritual jazz and through to psychedelic fuzz rock. The Seven Ups are your soundtrack to the dancefloor at the end of the world. 

The Seven Ups music has been featured in Wax Poetics (USA), album of the week (twice) on PBS fm and Beat magazine top 10 on KEXP (USA) and they continue to receive airplay on BBC Radio, KEXP, Triple J, and community radio around Australia.

Castlemaine Jazz Festival runs from June 9-11. Head to the website for tickets to this unforgettable evening at www.castlemainejazzfestival.com.au 

Sandon’s colourful history documented

Sandon State School was relocated to a new site in 1936. Students are pictured outside the new building at the opening.

Melbourne based local historian Ken James has recently completed another of his comprehensive local history offerings this time on Sandon. 

The prolific author has now compiled about 60 to 70 history books and says the latest 400 page covid project is made of 19 chapters, 19 appendices, a surname index and lots of colourful local stories and photographs. 

Sandon is located 11 kilometres from Newstead on the Creswick–Newstead Road. Ken says the region was originally known as Green Gully. 

The book is dedicated to the memory of much loved local resident Maureen Heagney who died in late 2022. 

Ken said Maureen was a great help and was passionate about having a history written of Sandon. 

“She provided many photographs and much information and checked two drafts for accuracy,” Ken said. 

“A special feature of this particular book are nine accounts by current or former residents about their memories of Sandon,” he said. 

“Maureen arranged for the writing of seven of them, including one by her husband Maurie which really adds a richness to this offering,” the author said. 

Two buildings which would be familiar to those who have passed through Sandon are the still active St Laurence O’Toole Catholic Church and the former Primitive Methodist Church both erected in 1883. 

The St Laurence O’Toole Catholic Church is one of the few in Victoria to have a cemetery. 

The Primitive Methodist Church started its life in a tent in the 1850s before the establishment of the current building. 

In 1902, with the creation of the Methodist Church of Australasia it became the Sandon Methodist Church, functioning up to 1914. The building was purchased by the local community in 1918 and was the Sandon Public Hall up to the 1980s. 

Just across the road from the two churches are two former hotels, now private residences. 

“Sandon also had three schools – the Green Gully Catholic School (1859–1875), Sandon State School (1875–1968) and Kingsbury Reformatory School (1893–1912) which catered for Wards of the State from Melbourne,” Ken said. 

“This school was located on an orchard and boys were given practical training in farm work.” 

Local history buffs can snap up a copy of A History of Sandon at the Castlemaine Visitor Centre at the historic Market Building. 

Ken James is pictured with a copy of his new book A History of Sandon which is available at the Market Building.

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