My Castlemaine with Alan Joyce

Hi Alan, can you tell us a little about your early years?
I grew up just north of London. When I was 13 we came over from England. We lived in Ferntree Gully and I went to Boronia High before studying...

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Time to end homelessness – St Vincent de Paul

The theme for this year’s Homelessness Week (August 7-13) is 'It’s time to End Homelessness'.
The St Vincent de Paul Society national president Mark Gaetani says homelessness is a very real issue for ...

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Magpies appoint new coach for 2024

Breaking: The Castlemaine Football Netball Club is excited to announce that former AFL player Michael Hartley will be joining the club as Senior Coach for season 2024. Michael grew up in New South Wales before being selected by the Collingwood Football Club. Michael spent two years with Collingwood and showed great resilience to overcome some serious injuries. Determined to get back on an AFL list he then went to Coburg for a further two seasons which included selection into the VFL team of the Year. Michael was selected 68th pick in the 2015 National Draft by the Essendon Football Club playing 44 AFL games with his ability to defend strongly and intercept a feature as well as a booming right foot.

In 2019 Michael crossed to Hawthorn and played a further five AFL matches. All up Michael spent eight years in the AFL system. In 2022 Michael played VFL with Collingwood Football Club and also developed his coaching by spending time with the AFLW program as a Development Coach. Michael is currently playing the GVFNL with Seymour where he is acting as a playing Co-Coach.

“Upon meeting with the Castlemaine football club, I was really impressed with progress that the club had made and the club’s vision / strategy going forward. I hope my experiences at the elite level can help accelerate the development of our playing list on and off the field,” Hartley said.

Michael’s role at the club will extend beyond the Senior Men’s; with commitment to the Magpies Women’s and Junior Programs ensuring a pipeline of talent will be coming through over the next few years.

CFNC president Caleb Kuhle said Michael’s signing is a huge endorsement of faith in their broader football program and the vision they have.

“We look forward to announcing some re-signing’s in the coming weeks as well as some talented additions who will undoubtedly help our young list on field,” he said.

“We would like to officially welcome Michael, his lovely partner Tegan and their three kids Adeline, Fred and Tommy to the Castlemaine Football Netball Club!”

Old-fashioned fun for school anniversary celebrations

The Grade 2/3 class with their teacher Jesse Berry-Smith (right) and support teacher Bridie Rodwell (left) stepped back into the 1800s on Tuesday, getting a small taste of what school was like 150 years ago.

Teachers and students at Maldon Primary School celebrated the 150th anniversary of the school this week with a day of old-fashioned fun. Dressed in olden-days garb children took to the old ways; sitti...

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Newstead levee one step closer

Following years of advocacy by the residents of Newstead to fix the town's levee bank, the Mount Alexander Shire Council have obtained federal government funding to develop a Newstead Flood Study.&nbs...

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Les Thomas and Suzie So Blue live at The Taproom

Les Thomas and Suzie So Blue will feature live at The Taproom at Shedshaker Brewing at The Mill Complex in Walker Street Castlemaine this Sunday August 6. 
Les is a songwriter and activist who si...

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Gothic festival returns to Maldon

Photo: Eve Lamb

Goldfields Gothic Festival of dark ideas is returning to Maldon this weekend for a three-day event that will delight and terrify the soul. 
If your curiosity is piqued, jump in the car, take a me...

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Let’s take a look back at Muir’s Bakery Yapeen

Circa 1860s: Muir’s Yapeen Store/Bakery was very well known in the district in its time – about 1863/1864. George Muir advertised as a baker and biscuit manufacturer.
The business was located in pre...

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My Walmer with local doctor Danny Silver

Hi Danny, you started your GP practice in Castlemaine in 1980 and only recently retired. What is it like working as a GP in a small country town? 
When I arrived there were only five GPs and a po...

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Vale John Wills “Jack” Jefferies

Vale John Wills Jefferies. 1927-2023

The Castlemaine community were saddened to hear of the loss of respected community member and former Castlemaine Football Netball Club great John Wills Jefferies...

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LISTEN: Local water storage discussed in new podcast

Cairn Curran is currently 97.73 per cent full compared to a 56.62 per cent measurement for the same time last year.

With many of the region’s lakes, dams, and reservoirs close to full capacity, Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) has released a new podcast episode to help keep the community informed about how storages are ...

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Henderson’s seven goals not enough for Magpies

Bailey Henderson celebrates one of his seven goals against the Roos. Photo: Peter Banko.

The Castlemaine Football Netball Club sides travelled to Kangaroo Flat for round 14 of the Bendigo Football Netball League on Saturday. 
The Magpies 17 & Under netball squad started the day w...

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