Councillors at last Tuesday’s meeting of the council expressed their dissatisfaction and disappointment at the Department of Transport’s response to safety concerns from residents regarding Duke Street Castlemaine.
A group of Wesley Hill residents wrote to Mount Alexander Shire Council (MASC) requesting support to approach the Department of Transport (DOT) regarding road safety along Duke Street Castlemaine.
MASC Mayor Councillor Rosie Annear said she hopes that DOT takes this matter seriously.
“We heard a lot of stories about near misses, close calls, and actual accidents that may not have been captured by data,” commented Mayor Annear.
“Many of these involved children, older people, people living with a disability, and also cyclists and we’re committed to making roads safer for these people.
“I would prefer our community is as safe as possible and that we are able to address safety concerns before an accident occurs, not afterward,” Mayor Annear said.
A council officer followed up with DOT and was advised that it would investigate a reduction in the speed limit from 60km/h to 50km/h, however, they advised it may not be consistent with speed zoning guidelines.
DOT also advised the council that they would investigate the provision of a pedestrian crossing, but it may be a low priority for funding considering the relatively low pedestrian volume and lack of any reported crashes in the last five years.
Cr Gary McClure said that Duke Street splits activity at Wesley Hill down the middle and people do need to cross the very busy road, including children catching buses.
“I’m a little bit disappointed to hear that DOT are fairly disinterested in looking at this when they can see there have been no accidents in the area in the past five years,” commented Cr McClure.
“It’s terrible to think it would take an accident before they would look at this.”
Councillors disappointed by response
Hope for the future of housing
“I never thought I’d be homeless. There’s always an undercurrent of people thinking you did something wrong, but it can happen to anyone.”
These are the words of a 52-year-old woman who immigrated from South Africa 10 years ago. After a series of unfortunate events left her broke and couch surfing, she was forced to leave Castlemaine in order to seek affordable housing elsewhere.
Last weekend My Home Network (auspiced by Dhelkaya Health) hosted a community housing forum in Castlemaine to provide community members the opportunity to talk with local government representatives about addressing the region’s housing crisis.
The panel of speakers included Federal Bendigo MP Lisa Chesters, Bendigo West State MP Maree Edwards, Mount Alexander Shire Council (MASC) Mayor Rosie Annear, MASC Housing Solutions Broker Clare Richards, and MASC Strategic Planning Coordinator Lauren Watt.
During the course of the afternoon, the panel listened to questions and personal experiences relating to the current housing crisis, with MP Edwards sharing her own experience of being inches away from homelessness.
“I remember lying awake at night wondering how I was going to feed the children. I do know that feeling,” Ms Edwards said.
Mayor Annear noted that the culture around the housing crisis needs to change and move towards empathy and understanding of different needs.
“What we need to do will take time, but in the interim, we need to make sure the community can look after each other,” Mayor Annear commented.
“I wish there was a quick fix but there’s just not.”
The conversations centered around the importance of the three levels of government working together to find solutions and while panel members acknowledged that the situation in the short term is dire, they expressed their hope for the future.
Some of the specific solutions discussed included; the state government’s removal of rate charges from social housing, filtering the money back into public housing, accessing the region’s share of available funding, trying to unlock state-owned land in Newstead and Maldon, and having input into the federal government’s 10-year plan for housing and homelessness.
Panel members also discussed the removal of planning permits required on rural living properties, looking at how best to utilise vacant dwellings and building quality, low-cost modular housing as well as ways to provide immediate and tangible support to people experiencing homelessness and housing instability.
If anyone is interested in providing assistance with the shire’s housing response there are a number of ways to get involved including; assisting with practical support (meals, transport etcetera), listing rental properties with a not-for-profit real estate, renting out rooms, joining the My Home Network working group or discussing donating or selling land to with a My Home Network expert. For more information visit: cch.org.au/community/my-home-network/ or email:projects2@centralvicpcp.com.au
My Newstead: Graeme Elshaug aka ‘Chicken Man’
Hi Graeme, you grew up in Newstead, can you tell us what that was like?
I was born in Castlemaine in 1954 – my mum used to work in the butter factory. Actually, that’s where my mum and dad met. Mum was a cream tester and Dad was a truck driver and mechanic.
Newstead is a lovely little town. I had a great childhood, rabbiting and fishing down at the river and I used to play tennis for Newstead. It’s still a good little town although it’s changed a lot.
It sounds idyllic. What sort of work have you done?
I started working at the National Bank when I was 18. I was there for 12 months and went from there to Melbourne for 15 years before moving to the Building Society in Bendigo (which is now the Bendigo Bank) where I worked as a loans officer.
Then Mum got sick with Crohn’s and I cared for her for 12 years. After Mum died I started looking after a friend’s son who has Down Syndrome and Autism and I ended up getting a job with the Shire. I was the first male carer in the Shire. I worked there for 20 years. I still have three NDIS clients – one I’ve been with for 18 years. It’s good. I love it.
You’re known to many as the ‘Chicken Man’- can you tell us how that came about?
I’ve loved chooks since I was nine years old. My mentor was Jack McPherson who gave me a trio of Australorps. I used to show chooks for a long time, until I was 21 and went to Melbourne to work. Dear old mum, she used to wash them for me. We’d have the lounge fire going with a box of chooks in there drying. In those days that’s what you did. It was a lot of hard work.
I’ve been going to farmers’ markets with Bill Wouda for the past 18 years. We do seven a month. I used to have around 600 chickens but now I only have around 40 because the cost of feed is too high.
You have a family member who is honoured by one of the trees at Honour Avenue in Newstead. Who was that?
Nana’s brother was only 17 when he went to war (he put his age up) his name was Bert Nicholas Martin. My sister Lynette and I found a package when our parent’s house burnt down and in it was a Bronze Medallion and a letter sent to our great-great grandmother from King George saying Bert had died.
What sort of music do you listen to?
The Seekers, the Beatles and I like country and western.
You’ve had a few overseas trips. Where did you go?
My sister and my two nephews shouted me a trip for my 50th birthday and we travelled to England, Scotland, and France all over. I went to Thailand for one of my nephew’s weddings, and to Spain for the other nephew’s wedding.
Who are your three dream dinner guests?
Elvis, John Farnham, and Johnny Cash.
What philosophies do you live life by?
Don’t worry about things – just get on with it. Life is what you make it.
Finally, what do you love most about the place you call home?
It’s a great little town. People are friendly, although there are not a lot of locals left.
Wedding industry winners
Local winery and wedding venue, Harcourt Valley Winery recently won ‘Best Wedding Venue’ in the Ballarat and Bendigo Wedding Industry Awards.
This is the third year in a row the beautiful winery has won the best venue and the first year their wedding coordinator Marie Bourne has won ‘Best Wedding Coordinator’.
“I didn’t even know I was nominated,” said Marie who began her career as a wedding coordinator after her own wedding ten years earlier.
“After my wedding in 2012, I coordinated a couple of friend’s events and it just kept growing. I was working as a teacher at the time and after a while, I thought I really like doing this. I could do this for a living.”
Mother of two boys aged three and eight, Marie said the hardest part of the work is the late nights and weekends but seeing the happiness of the couples at the end of the night makes it all worth it.
“My husband does so much behind the scenes, he quite literally does all the heavy lifting and I couldn’t do it without him,” she commented.
Marie is in the final throes of the season which involved an incredible 42 weddings, with two weddings a week during January.
“It was hectic! I’ve only got two more to go and then we’re closed for the winter break.”
Other winners of the Ballarat and Bendigo Wedding Industry Awards in the region include; Sandy Creek Clydesdales who won ‘Best Wedding Transport’, Makeup by Inez which took out ‘Bridal Hair and Makeup’ and a high commendation was awarded to Shedshaker Brewery as a Bucks and Hens Venue.
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The Australian Heritage Festival
The National Trust Australian Heritage Festival in Castlemaine, Maldon and surrounds commenced this week. With events running until May 18 grab hold of the opportunity to immerse yourself in the region’s rich and diverse heritage, with special exhibitions, tours, talks, workshops, and more.
Some of the events and tours on offer are; The Storytellers Guide to the Goldfields- a self-guided audio tour brimming with knowledge and fun and complete with loads of historical and contemporary artworks and photographs, or take a trip back in time to the Victorian Goldrush at Castlemaine Diggings Heritage Park. Visit the Days of the Old Schoolyard Exhibit on display at the Maldon Museum or stop by the Newstead Railway Station for their open day Saturday, April 22, 10.00 am – 04.00 pm, and share your stories and memories about the railway station.
And don’t forget to pop by the Castlemaine Market Building and visit Boorp Boorp Boondyil, an interactive experience discovering the history and knowledge of our First Nation peoples.
For more information or to download the full program visit www.bendigoregion.com.au/visit-castlemaine-maldon/whatson/australian-heritage-festival-in-castlemaine-maldon-and-surrounds.
New community lunch in Castlemaine
Last Friday saw volunteers at the Parish Hall (next to the Castlemaine Anglican Church) serving delicious homemade meat and vegetarian lasagne with a decedent trifle for dessert. The new, fortnightly community lunches were the brainchild of Toby Hayden who is on the Castlemaine Community House Board of Management.
“The community house runs a lunch every Tuesday during school terms,” said Toby.
“But it’s nice to have another day available for people, especially with the cost of living at the moment-everyone is struggling,” said Toby.
“Plus, there are a lot of people that live in small households who feel lonely or isolated. It’s nice for people to have somewhere to come and have some company.
“It can be particularly hard for people who have moved into the community that has no deep roots. If their partner passes away it can leave them incredibly isolated,” Toby noted.
Father Ian Howarth said he felt there needed to be another offering for lunch on another day for people who need company or can’t afford meals.
Toby, Father Howarth, and their team of volunteers ensure they prepare food that can be frozen and reheated if not consumed so there is no wastage.
“We’re hoping to eventually increase the lunches to weekly. We’re blessed with volunteers at the church which means we can put the lunches on at a low cost,” said Toby.
The next free community lunch will be served on Friday, April 28, in the Parish Hall at Castlemaine Anglican Church from 12-1.30 pm. All are welcome.
WWII corporal Maisie Douglas celebrates 100th birthday
“Being 100 doesn’t feel any different to 99,” Maisie told the Mail. “It’s in the genes,” said her daughter Helen. “Her sister is 98 years old. Hopefully, that’s a good omen for us!”
Maisie was born in Castlemaine on April 13, 1923, where she enjoyed school, bike riding, and bonfires.
“We used to go to school and come home and do our homework,” commented Maisie.
“We didn’t have a home phone and there was no car so we walked everywhere. Not that we went many places in those days, but if we did we’d go by train.”
At the age of 19 Maisie enlisted in the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF). She worked at the University of Melbourne in the Flying Personnel Research Unit after it was established in September 1943. Reaching the rank of corporal, Maisie was discharged in 1946.
According to Matt Keogh, the Minister for Veteran Affairs, Maisie enjoyed the friendships she made while serving and still has contact every Christmas with her long-term friend Essie Henderson.
After leaving WAAAF Maisie worked as a salesperson in Castlemaine, before moving to Western Australia where she met Stanley Douglas. They were married in 1947 and had two children Helen and John.
Maisie worked on the Western Australian goldfields as a salesperson, postmistress, and telephonist, while Stan was mining and gold prospecting
Stan, who also served and was a prisoner of war in Europe, sadly passed away in 1991.
Maisie returned to Castlemaine in 2005 and celebrated her centennial birthday up the road from where she was born, surrounded by family, friends, and a pile of cards and letters from the King, the Prime Minister, and a host of others.
“I had a good day yesterday. There were lots of cakes, flowers, and cards.”
Maisie’s advice to the younger generations? Slow down and eat well. Don’t rush around too much.
‘We all want to be Santa Claus’: Councillors at odds over rate rises
Mount Alexander Shire councillors engaged in intense debate regarding rate rises at Tuesday’s council meeting.
Cr Tony Cordy requested an amendment to the proposed budget to reduce the rate increase from 3.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent given the financial difficulties faced by residents.
“The adjustment from a 3.5 per cent increase to 2.5 per cent is only a small decrease but it demonstrates that the council does understand the living pressure on our residents. It is my understanding that the proposed change will have minimal impact,” Cr Cordy said.
Cr Gary McClure expressed his disappointment at the amendment given the number of discussions the council had already had on the matter.
“Inflation is at eight per cent and it is nowhere near inflation,” Cr McClure said.
“This council can’t continue holding back on our operations and not keeping our increases going to the maximum amount allowed by the government, otherwise we’re never going to catch up, we’ll never get that money back that we don’t collect and this council will keep going backward.”
Cr Christine Henderson, also in opposition to the amendment, said she was surprised the amendment had been raised given the discussions and work that had already taken place.
“This year was really quite sobering and upsetting to see how little we could tackle,” Cr Henderson said.
“The average annual rates are just under $2000, reducing rates to 2.5 per cent is only a one per cent difference, which amounts to $20 to ratepayers, but for the council, it is equal to $300,000. What do we take off? Road repair or graffiti? Early years or community grants?
“We must have it. We must have it because otherwise, this council will go deeper and deeper into a hole.”
Cr Bill Maltby spoke in support of the amendment to increase rates by 2.5 per cent stating that council was very stable.
“People out there are hurting. $20 might not be a lot to us, but it’s a lot to a lot of people,” he said.
“If for 12 months we reduce it from 3.5 to 2.5, I can’t see it affecting the municipality that much.”
Cr Matthew Driscol said the council offered more than 100 services.
“What services would Crs Maltby, Gardner and Cordy like to delete?” he asked.
“While everyone wants to be Santa Claus, I think it is economically irresponsible to go ahead with this.”
Cr Stephen Gardner noted that the issue was part of a broader discussion in the community about how much people should pay and how much they should get back.
“The Victorian Government is talking about a horror budget with lots of cuts,” he said.
“Council shouldn’t be fenced off from these discussion – jacking up rates all the time just because we can.”
Crs Rosie Annear, McClure, Henderson and Driscol voted against the amendment and the proposed budget – with a rate increase of 3.5 per cent – will now be made available to the public for inspection at the Civic Centre and at shape.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/draft-budget-2023-2024.
Any written submissions received by Wednesday May 10 at a Special Meeting of Council at the Civic Centre on Tuesday Mary 23.
Cr Annear said she hoped when residents read the document.
“I hope you are able to see the forest for the trees, and all the good things we’re funding in the year ahead, big and small,” she said.
“Before I was on the council, when I was just a ratepayer and I was having a bit of a struggle, council officers helped me set up a payment plan so I could afford my rates.
“It is really tough right now to deliver the services that we know people need with the amount of resources we have.
“We want to hear from people, how it affects you, and we need to keep having this conversation.
“Do read your budget document. We have not adopted the budget yet, it will happen in June, there is still time for you to give a submission.”
Local paddlers bring home gold
Seven members from local sporting group the ‘Goldfields Paddlers’ recently represented the club at the 2023 Paddle Australia and Oceania Canoe Marathon and SUP on the Barwon River in Geelong, bringing home more than 20 medals between them.
One local family; the Creeds, has a long history of paddling, with mum Michelle, dad Raymond, son Thomas and nephew Tyler all actively involved in the sport and participating in the recent competition.
Thomas, 17, competed in nine races in this month’s event, with an impressive eight wins.
He has been paddling since he was eight years old and regularly uses a boat that his grandfather built and raced.
“If Pop was still around I think he’d be glad to have his boat in the races,” Thomas said.
Thomas is currently studying year 12 at Castlemaine Secondary College and volunteers with the Castlemaine SES. He is hoping to study Outdoor Education at Latrobe University in Bendigo next year.
His father Raymond Creed, who also began paddling with his father at eight years of age, developed a condition called spondylolisthesis and recently underwent two spinal fusion surgeries, which left him confined to a wheelchair for nine months. Doctors were unsure if he would ever get back in the water, but Raymond’s love of paddling and determination to push through the pain, had him back in the water four months ago and competing in events at this months competition.
His wife Michelle said his recovery had been long and slow.
“Seeing him back in a canoe and racing at nationals is a huge achievement,” Michelle said.
Raymond’s health concerns are not yet over as he awaits two further surgeries for his wrists, which are both severely arthritic and will need to be fused.
Despite these obstacles he remains determined to keep hitting the water with his wife and his son.
Visit the Facebook group Goldfields Paddlers for more information or to join.
Return to the dark side with Goldfields Gothic
Maldon’s infamous Goldfields Gothic Festival of Dark Ideas returns this August for an expanded three-day festival. Inspired by the dark undercurrent of the 1850s Victorian Goldfields and intriguing stories of the past, Goldfields Gothic showcases the dark side of the Goldfields in all its gruesome glory.
The many eerie events on offer include ghost and cemetery tours, themed food experiences, workshops, performances, plus talks on death, goldfields history, and the shadowy side of life.
Highlights of the program include an exclusive performance by iconic Australian new wave band Real Life (remember their hit song Send Me An Angel?) and the mysteriously magical Sass and Secrets featuring Australia’s most renowned female magician and mentalist Cath Jamison.
Continuing the celebration of dark things, the Australian Hearse Owners Association of Australia will be bringing their annual national meetup to Maldon as part of the festivities.
Freakish families won’t be disappointed, with a range of family-friendly events on offer including the dress-up Maldon Gothic and Victorian Picnic, magic workshops, and the new Dark Market featuring purveyors of alternative goods.
The all-important Gin Palace Festival Bar will be back plus a few exciting new additions including; Fright Night, a mini music festival, the Groosome Roofest, and the Ghost Train, with a live cabaret show performed on one of Victorian Goldfield Railway’s heritage engines.
Festival Co-Director Valentina Tansley said she is looking forward to this year’s event.
“Goldfields Gothic was a huge success last year and brought a new diverse audience to the region. We are delighted to be presenting our second festival in 2023 and look forward to exploring the dark side of the goldfields in Maldon again,” said Valentina.
Goldfields Gothic will run from Friday, August 4 to Sunday, August 6. Tickets on sale from Friday, April 28.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the festival website at www.goldfieldsgothic.com.
My Maldon with Ray Lindstrom
Hi Ray, can you tell us about your childhood?
I was born in Melbourne and spent my childhood years on the family sheep farm at East Keilor. I left school at 15 and took up an apprenticeship as a lady’s hairdresser. I also raced motorbikes and played in a band. I had a very busy and varied life as a teenager! Also during this time, my auntie had a hotel in Coburg and I used to go and help her with food preparation for the lunches and that’s how I became interested in cooking.
I went on to complete my hairdressing apprenticeship and had my first hairdressing salon when I was 19. This was in 1965. I also did a men’s hairdressing course and opened up another shop that had become vacant next door.
How did you come to live in the area?
I was 25 when I married my first wife, she was working as an air hostess at the time and so the opportunity arose for free air travel, firstly around Australia and eventually overseas.
After six months of travelling we came back to Australia and I became restless with my head full of ideas and possibilities.
It was December 1975 when I saw a property for sale; a stone cottage on six and a half acres in the Chewton bushlands and after some negotiation excitedly purchased it!
And so weekends were spent in Chewton renovating the cottage. We couldn’t keep away from the place; we both loved it so much! We moved up from Melbourne the following year.
During this time I was still hairdressing and also designing silver jewellery and was looking to find an outlet to make and sell my creations. That’s when I met up with well-known Chewton locals David and Buffy Wallace and Tony Cook and together we started the Wesley Hill Market. That was back in 1977.
You owned the Theatre Royal in Castlemaine between 1979 and 1999 what was that like?
With my musical background, my dream to become involved in the entertainment industry in some way was reignited when the opportunity arose to purchase Castlemaine’s Theatre Royal and so began an incredible journey!
It had long been neglected and was extremely run down, but I had ideas of what I wanted to do, inspired by those cabaret-style hotels that impressed me so much during my time travelling overseas.
Plans were put in place to bring this theatre back from the brink. I hired well-known, local Les Thornton to be my cinema manager. I introduced couches, a DJ box, a bistro, and a bar. I had great lighting and egg carton soundproofing installed in order to run discos. And so The Pit’ nightclub was born! I was in utopia; it was every musician’s dream to have their own venue.
In 1979 I re-married and my wife and I initially did all the cooking – so those earlier years helping my auntie in the kitchen of her hotel certainly gave me a good insight into the food industry.
My wife and I had 4 beautiful daughters. It was a busy life but I feel I achieved everything I had set out to do. I was instrumental in creating the first licensed ‘couch cinema’, a legendary nightclub and a great live music venue. In fact, it was the first venue in Australia to show the latest films while you could either be sitting on couches or seated at tables and chairs eating and drinking in cabaret style.
You’ve also had a long association with the Maldon Machinery Museum – since 2007 when you volunteered to run the kitchen. What do you enjoy most about the museum?
I have been a member there for 15 years. I really enjoy the cooking and the camaraderie of the people. All the volunteers here are so dedicated and passionate about preserving vintage items from yesteryear. I’m still a motorhead and like nothing better than a chinwag about my heady days of motorbike and car racing.
What’s life like for you now?
I live in Maldon now and have done so for the past 10 years. I have survived two cancer scares but have come out the other side in remission fighting to see another day! I still come down to the museum most Saturdays to help out in the kitchen when I am able. I also love the fact that we hold live music events here as well. We move several of the vintage vehicles from the main space in the large shed in order to set up the temporary stage for the musicians. We also have a licensed bar…. Ah, this just takes me back to those great times that were had at the Theatre Royal!
Words and images © Julie Hough
