Shedshaker Brewing launches ‘Keg for Good’

Shedshaker Brewing director Jacqueline Brodie-Hanns and general manager Adam Perrett are delighted to launch the Keg for Good initiative with the first fundraiser for Red Box Wildlife Shelter.

Shedshaker Brewing has launched a new community program aimed at raising money for local groups to help them pursue their goals. 
Called 'Castlemaine Keg for Good' the money raised each month wil...

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Young Magpies surge into finals contention

The Magpie Under 12 side gave their all to defeat Eaglehawk and be in the running for finals contention. Photo: Max Lesser.

The Castlemaine Magpie junior sides contested Round 11 of the Bendigo Junior Football League competition last Saturday. 
The Griffin Conveyancing Under 12s played host to the Eaglehawk Eagles at ...

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Castlemaine Goldfields shine at Chewton

Mai in the right place at the right time. Photo: Max Lesser.

After a Saturday washout the weekend before it was great to have the Castlemaine Goldfields Football Club Juniors back out at Chewton last Saturday with five games across U12, U14 and U16s. Standout r...

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My Walmer with Maggie Jackson

Hi Maggie, you have a long history with show biz, can you tell us how that came about?I come from an Irish family show band. There were 13 of us. We were called the O'Dowd Family Show Band. Dad was an...

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Capping and rehabilitation completed at Castlemaine landfill

Council has completed capping and rehabilitation works at the Castlemaine landfill site on Sluicers Road.

Mount Alexander Shire Council has completed capping and rehabilitation works at the Castlemaine Landfill site which represents one of the biggest projects in the shire's history.
Council awarded a $5....

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World Cup fever for Castlemaine Goldfields FC

Castlemaine Goldfields members Isabelle Hubbert (U14 Gold), Maija Bendrups (U14 Green), Isabella Lizzul (U16 Matildas), Rilla Faircloth (U14 Green), Bridget Tolland (Senior Women’s) and Eva Bird (U14 Gold) are thrilled to have been selected as flag bearers for the World Cup event.

The Castlemaine Goldfields Football Club women’s and girls sides are excited about the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Castlemaine Goldfields Football Club is thrilled to have had six members selecte...

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Goldfields secure wins in the wet

Brodie Doyle-Jones keeping things under control in midfield. Photo: Max Lesser.
Brodie Doyle-Jones keeping things under control in midfield. Photo: Max Lesser.

Unfortunately home games at Chewton Soldiers Memorial Park were postponed on Saturday July 8 due to standing water making the ground unplayable for the six Castlemaine Goldfields FC junior fixtures scheduled. Both Bendigo Amateur Soccer League (BASL) and the club will be working together to ensure those games can go ahead at a future time, with both catch-up rounds and midweek games to be considered. The club is hoping that the recent continued wet weather will be starting ease in the coming weeks and the second half of the season goes ahead without further postponements.
Around the grounds across Bendigo though things were a little muddy games went ahead including a great double victory in the U16 mid-season Knock Out Cup for U16 Gold.
Seniors and Youth
Thankfully the rain eased before Sunday and three games managed to take place with our Women, Div 7 and Div 5 Men all taking out wins as well as our our Youth Team who were away to Golden City. Goals to Tame, Silas and an Golden City own goal saw a solid win for the ‘Prospects’ on the road.
In the early kick-off a short numbered Women’s squad took on an even more depleted bottom of the table Golden City. With only eight players from City taking to the field the Maine played with nine and a bench of two still putting in a massively dominant performance to come away 12-0 winners. Six different scores on the day saw hat tricks for V and Eva backed up with goals from Jess, Sarah, Ana and Bridget.
Next up Castlemaine Div 5 Men’s teams looked to put two disappointing results behind them hosting fellow league winning hopefuls West Point.
To say it started badly would be the understatement of the season, as an early mistake from kick off saw West Point take the lead. Maine looked to respond, spreading the ball around, trying to tire their older, more experienced opponents. Chances were created, but no goals. Late in the half, Maine won a penalty for deliberate hand ball with the ball destined for the back of the net. Although the penalty and follow up were well saved, Maine further increased pressure on a stretched West Point, who held on till half time.
The second half was a similar story, with Maine pressing and harrassing in defence, while creating and probing in attack trying to make the most of their extra player. Finally the breakthrough came in the 78th minute, when Kyan scored in the top corner from the right side of the box. With the dogged defensive line finally breached, it was only a few minutes later when Dennick put Maine ahead 2-1.
West Point were not going to lie down though, and gave one final press for a hard won corner, with even the keeper up. Fortunately, the ball fell to Lemuel, who ran 60 metres and slotted home into an empty net, setting off celebrations from the Maine players.
An exceptional performance from all envolved, with James and Dave Gunter returning from long term injuries, Jerome and Brody providing excellent control in midfield, and Dennick and Lemuel showing some much needed composure in front of goal.
In the final game of the day the Div 7s got back to winning ways enjoying a hard fought victory at Chewton on Sunday beating 4th placed Reservoir 1-0.
The team played some great football and had the majority of possession and shots on goal throughout the match. Despite creating many chances they just couldn’t put the ball away, going in 0-0 at half time. Coach Terry Attwood reminded them to stick to the game plan, be patient and a goal would come. However the second half continued much like the 1st half, until the 70th minute when the Mainers finally scored a tap-in from a corner. A huge team effort and a great game to watch seeing a well earned 3 points.

Hat trick for V as she continues a strong comeback from a knee injury in pre-season. Photo: Max Lesser.

Run the Maine delivers

Nurse Gillian, Run the Maine mascot The Bird and Dhelkaya Health CEO Sue Race in the Urgent Care Centre with the new machine.

Run the Maine 2022 showed their love for local health services and health activity with the event delivering essential funds for Dhelkaya Health. 

Dhelkaya Health CEO Sue Race was thrilled to be presented with a cheque for $20,000 from Run the Maine Director Gavin Krasner last October and the funds were recently used to purchase a BiPAP machine, providing support for critically unwell patients needing respiratory support at Dhelkaya Health’s Urgent Care Centre.

Ms Race said the local hospital is incredibly grateful to the organisers, event partners, sponsors and participants of Run the Maine. 

“Despite all the challenges faced the Run the Maine team continued to raise funds through virtual events in 2020 and 2021! Congratulations on the success of Run the Maine in 2022. Our community is so fortunate to benefit from your hard work, sweat and generosity in getting new equipment for Dhelkaya Health’s Urgent Care Centre,” Ms Race said.

Run the Maine mascot and social media star The Bird, was happy to join CEO Sue Race for a patient’s eye view of the new equipment, skilfully operated by Nurse Gillian.

The BiPAP machine is the latest non-invasive option to support a patient’s breathing, shown to be very effective in cases of acute heart failure and some types of respiratory failure by reducing the effort needed to breathe and increasing the volume of space in the lungs for respiration to occur.

Early Bird Registration for the 15th edition of Run the Maine 2023 is now open so be sure to jump online and register! The event will once again take place on Grand Final Eve, Friday September 29. Get out the trainers, maybe review the training tips videos on the Run the Maine website https://runthemaine.org

There is a course tailored for everyone, so sign up to their newsletter and we will see you there! Love your work Run the Maine!

Whole Loddon Love to support flood recovery

Local muso Jess Parker and her band are set to perform at four of the regional gigs. The seven Western Swingin’ All-Stars will have the local audience up and dancing.

New music series 'Whole Loddon Love' is set to bring live music back to pubs and halls in flood-affected areas along the Loddon River this October.
The Baringhup community is set to host one of the fi...

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Rotary welcomes new president

Past District Governor Grant Hocking, Heather Clue, new president Kerry Anderson, Melissa Hocking, and Past District Governor John Clue are pictured at the recent changeover.

Local Rotarians and guests gathered at the Red Hill Hotel at Chewton on Sunday July 2 for the Rotary Castlemaine Annual Changeover afternoon tea. 
The day saw members celebrate the achievements o...

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A lost trade brought to life

L-R: Sand Tech Cade Lewis, Production Manager Travis Billman, Labourer and self-proclaimed local legend Shannon Evans, and Factory Floorman Daniel Billman are pictured with their latest creation.

The team at Billman’s Foundry have done it again – creating an enormous statue of nurse Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel to be placed in the grounds of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra in recognition of her exceptional military service and her contribution to the development of Australian nursing. 

Born in Kapunda, South Australia, Vivian trained as a nurse in Broken Hill. At the age of 25 she enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service and was posted to the 13th Australian General Hospital in Malaya which was then moved to Singapore Island. After the evacuation of nursing staff, patients, women and children Vivian found herself onboard the SS Vyner Brooke which was sunk by Japanese aircraft. 

Vivian drifted for hours, clinging to a lifeboat, before coming ashore on Banka Island. Japanese troops arrived on the island and ordered 22 nurses into the sea where they fired on them. Vivian, struck by a bullet and feigning her death was the only survivor. 

Upon returning to the beach she found a wounded British soldier who she hid with and cared for until he died 12 days later after which Vivian surrendered and was held captive for three and a half years. 

After retiring from the army in 1947 Vivian went on to become the Director of Nursing at Melbourne’s Fairfield Hospital. She devoted herself to nursing and honouring those killed on Banka Island, raising funds for a nurses’ memorial, and serving as a member of the Council of the Australian War Memorial, and later President of the Royal College of Nursing, Australia. 

The three metre tall sculpture in honour of Vivian designed by Dr Charles Robb will be the first depiction of an individual woman or nurse on the grounds. 

The team at Billman’s Foundry spent more than 340 hours completing and putting together 18 sections of the statue which has been sent to the Australian War Memorial to be unveiled on August 2. 

Production Manager Travis Billman said their foundry is the only one in Australia able to work on such large scale. 

“Dad started the business 40 years ago and it’s a bit of a lost trade really. He’s passed the skills down to us, whereas most places stopped training young people to work on loose moulds,” said Daniel who bought the foundry with his brother Travis earlier this year. 

“We make the moulds from sand and then burn it to harden before pouring molten bronze of 1250 degrees,” explained Daniel. 

The list of jobs the foundry has worked on since its inception in the late 70s is enormous and statues and fountains produced right here in Castlemaine can be found right across Australia. 

According to Daniel and Travis the first big job their dad completed was a pair of gates for the President of Singapore back in the late 80s. Since then, the foundry has produced numerous Chaffey Fountains, giant whales, flamingos, Rocky and Bullwinkle, and Daniel’s favourite – a Peter Brock Memorial. 

My Campbells Creek with Jess Parker

By Em Jensen
Jess came to Castlemaine to escape a rough breakup four years ago; she originally just came for the night but while at the pub she met someone looking for a housemate, and someone else of...

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