It was a day for big numbers at parkrun on Saturday – well over 110 participants running, walking or strolling the course, two significant personal milestones, twenty First Timers and
over twenty Personal Bests.
David Heath was the third runner across the line, but what an effort in his first ever parkrun, completing the three laps of the gardens in 20:24! Members hope to see much more of David in
future. First across was Adronis Ndihokubwayo and he was followed by Beau Cook at 18:30 and 20:23 respectively.
This was mirrored among the female runners too with Kyla Byrne being the first of the female runners in her first ever parkrun on 24:35, with Janelle Hurley and Kate Freston following close behind. The three of them were only separated by six seconds.
The volunteer contingent was, as usual, first on the scene on what was only the second parkrun this autumn and that initial chill in the air gave way to a perfect morning for a run.
Headed up by Run Director Colin Moore, they had Claire Brien, Kerry Calcraft, Bessie Faircloth, Geoff Faircloth, Jane Hamilton, looking after members, with Lisa Minchin as nominated Tail Walker. As usual, Jane Harding was ‘volunteer wrangler’ doing her good work behind the scenes.
At Castlemaine Parkrun they are careful to observe ‘Milestones’, those personal achievements that often mean a great deal to the individual participant and on Saturday they had two. Sam Gearing and Luke Kneebone notched up their tenth and 100th events respectively and were treated to Parkrun’s very own ‘Tunnel of Love’ to celebrate. Another notable Castlemaine parkrun tradition, and ‘Well Done’ to both milestone runners.
While there too many PBs, and First Timers to list individually, all the results are available on the Castlemaine Parkrun website so jump over and have a look. The ‘actual’ first timers though, like David and Kyla are worth a mention and Arjun Singh, Belle Ganglmair and Baxter Kelly joined them on their initial parkrun adventures. Castlemaine Parkrun would love to see much more of all of them in future too of course.
If you’d like to join David, Kyla and company, all you need to do is register online, it’s free, and then turn up for the morning briefing a bit before 8am. It’s as simple as that!
Castlemaine Parkrun milestones celebrated
From our archives – the Mail looks back at 20 years of local news
Campbells Creek swimming instructor Sylvia Pearson retired after 30 years dedicated service to the community. Sylvia taught hundreds of local youngsters and adults to swim and said it was one of the most rewarding experiences of her life. She is pictured at the former Campbells Creek Pool with swimmers Kate Taylor, Alice Taylor and Louis Boyle. In other news the $8.4 million 70 bed wing at Loddon Prison, Castlemaine was officially opened by Corrections Minister Andre Haermeyer. The new Lauriston Unit took the capacity of the medium security prison to 400 beds.
Bendigo West MP Bob Cameron announced that the 15 kilometres of the Malmsbury to Elphinstone section of the Calder Freeway was to open 11 months earlier than planned. Mr Cameron said there would be a community event on April 12 to mark the opening, during which people could walk the two kilometre section around the Metcalfe State Forest. Castlemaine Lions Club were also gearing up for their 22nd annual Swap Meet with a wide array of vintage and veteran car and motorcycle parts expected to be up for grabs at the club’s annual major fundraiser.
Two elderly residents and their dog were lucky to escape with their lives after an electrical fault sparked a fire in their home in Forest Street, Castlemaine. The couple were fast asleep when the first broke out at the rear of their home just after 10pm and it was lucky that a Castlemaine taxi driver spotted the blaze and quickly raised the alarm. Leading Senior Constable Chad McKenzie and Sen Constable Mark White were on patrol when they received the call. The pair, along with local young CFA volunteer Matt Murdoch, had to force open the front gate to raise the alarm and save the occupants.
For Franklinford sculptor Issa Ouattara making sculpture is a way of spreading and sharing positive energy. Originally from West Africa the local creative talent had three of his large metal sculptures on show at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Festival. Issa had been creating sculpture at his Franklinford home for six years after meeting his Australian doctor wife, Monica, in Africa where she was working in Cote d’Ivoire to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic. “With everything I do I want to put my inspiration in to make people happy…” Issa said.
Jan ‘Yarn’ Wositzky presents ‘Out of the Hat’
Renowned local storyteller and musician Jan ‘Yarn’ Wositzky is set to feature as part of this year’s Castlemaine Fringe Festival with a new show ‘Out of the Hat: The Other Side of History’ next weekend, March 25 and 26, at The Coolroom at Castlemaine’s Northern Arts Hotel.
Jan is famous for his history shows, beginning with The Bushwackers Band in 1971 – and still going strong.
Following ten years of Bushwackers touring in Australia and Europe, Jan embarked on a solo career, travelling the country with his family, working with Indigenous people ‘up north’, and producing acclaimed one-man shows Buckley and Bilarni, a dozen history features for Radio National, award-winning television documentaries Buwarrala Akarriya – Journey East and Aeroplane Dance, best-selling oral history books Me & Phar Lap and Born Under the Paperbark Tree, and many shows for schools. This show, ‘Out of the Hat – The Other Side of History’, is what happened on the way.
The performance is personal and intimate, with the audience choosing the set list – out of the hat – and Jan stringing it together with songs, poems, tales of love and death and weird adventures in foreign lands.
Such as, how his Czech grandmother’s sister mistook him for Rasputin; the travails of long-distance romance in the time of Covid; meeting God and Kerry Packer in a bush church; a significant death in Castlemaine; broken bones and re-birth in Bali; how, after two divorces, one should propose to a new love – and lots more … you know, just the normal stuff of life, accompanied on claw-hammer banjo, harmonica, bodhran, spoons, bones and ukulele. With sing-alongs!
Writer Josiane Behmoiras describes the new offering as “Intimate, spontaneous and very touching, a wonderful show.”
Jan was deep into rehearsals this week with director Suzanne Ingleton when he took some time out to chat to the Mail about the new show.
Jan says many of the songs and stories shared in this new performance have rarely been performed and audience members will literally be drawing them ‘out of a hat’ which will be passed around.
“There is a lot more music in this show and some poetry too. It’s a really interactive show, quite personal. We haven’t done the same show twice in rehearsals so it will be interesting to see the order of things and how it comes together. Both shows will be completely different each day. It could be challenging if two items really don’t go together but therein lies the risk. I will just have to improvise and make it work! I’m really looking forward to it!” Jan said.
Tickets are limited. Visit outofthehat.eventbrite.com.au
Hall of Fame honour for local trucking company
A T900 Kenworth rig proudly owned by Thompson’s Transport Castlemaine operator Keith Thompson is set to be installed in the ‘Kenworth Dealer Hall of Fame’ in Alice Springs.
The rig holds a special place in Kenworth history being the rig driven across the Nullarbor by country music legend Slim Dusty.
Keith told the Mail it was a huge honour to have the truck selected to be part of the prestigious hall of fame.
The Alice Springs attraction comprises almost 4,000sq metres of display space devoted to the history of the Australian designed and built Kenworth. There are more than 30 trucks on permanent display, with many more rotating through from time to time, making this the broadest display of Australian-made Kenworth truck models on the planet. The displays range from the first Australian built chassis, the Grey Ghost, to the most recent additions – the T610 and the limited edition Legend 900.
The 82-year-old said the T900 was purchased by Thompson’s Transport Footscray on September 15, 1997.
“Later that year I was honoured to play the role of instructor for Slim as he drove the road train across the Nullarbor from Eucla to Norseman,” he said.
They were joined on the voyage by the truck’s regular drivers Faye and Jack Norton, Keith’s wife Carol and Slim’s wife Joy.
“Slim was working on a new trucking album and really wanted to experience life behind the wheel and gather ideas,” Keith said.
“Truckies often say “Let’s Make a Mile” and that was the inspiration behind the title Makin’ a Mile,” he said.
The album went gold and Keith has an EMI plaque celebrating the milestone on the wall of his office.
The journey also made the cover of Truck’ Life magazine that year.
“It was an incredible experience. Slim was a great man,” Keith said.
The local trucking identity later sold the truck, trading it in for a newer model.
“You generally trade them in once they have done a million kilometres,” he said.
Keith established the business back in 1961 and over the last 62 years the company expanded to have depots in Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney and Perth and at its peak the family-owned company had 65 trucks and 130 trailers operating across the country.
Around four years ago Keith was approached by a man from Ballarat which had restored the truck and wanted to know if he was keen to buy it back.
“On closer inspection we realised it was the truck Slim drove,” Keith said.
“It was great to be able to buy it back. We have had it on display at the local Rotary Truck Show and other events over the past few years. Locals will have seen it on display in the yard as they pass by,” he said.
The rig is set to be collected by the Kenworth team on Monday to make the long journey north to Alice Springs.
“It will be amazing to see it on display as part of their permanent collection. It’s pretty impressive,” he said.
Castlemaine’s new maternity service applauded
Dhelkaya Health’s Maternity Service has received a glowing review from women who gave birth at the service in its first year of operation. The feedback from the women was gathered as part of a formal evaluation review undertaken by La Trobe University.
Publication of the evaluation report was celebrated at an event held at Buda Historic Home & Garden last Thursday evening.
The event was attended by local GP obstetricians, Bendigo Health, La Trobe University researchers, Dhelkaya Health staff, and representatives from Dhelkaya Health’s Board of Directors and committees.
Dhelkaya Health CEO Sue Race said the report gives them confidence that the new model is working.
“It equips us to be both responsible and responsive and to offer the care pathways which meet individual needs and preferences. It also maps the priority issues we need to navigate for
sustainable growth,” Ms Race said.
The service, which reopened in March 2021, offers a model of care that sees Midwifery Group Practice midwives working collaboratively with GP Obstetricians for women with low risk
pregnancies. The relationship with Bendigo Health enables collaborative shared care, and complex maternity care when needed.
La Trobe University researchers Dr Méabh Cullinane and Dr Laura Whitburn were in attendance and spoke about what the evaluation process involved, including speaking in-depth with women to explore their satisfaction with the service, their clinical outcomes and the workings of the collaborative relationship between Dhelkaya Health and Bendigo Health.
“The voices of local women birthing in Castlemaine played a critical role in this evaluation,” Dr Méabh Cullinane said.
The researchers also spoke with clinical and non-clinical staff including GP obstetricians, midwives, governance officers, safety and quality staff, Board Directors and executive staff at Dhelkaya Health and Bendigo Health.
The report concluded that the maternity care model is highly valued women and their families, staff and the community.
Midwifery Group Practice midwives were found to be working within their full scope of practice and were fully supported by committed GP Obstetricians working within the model, and by Bendigo Health.
New mum and midwife Elloise Richards, who recently gave birth to her first child, spoke glowingly about her own experience of Dhelkaya Health’s Maternity Service.
“We walked away looking forward to our next visit. I was seen for who I am and my needs were supported. Our midwife even helped to connect us to our community,” Elloise said.
Dhelkaya Health’s Maternity Clinical Coordinator and Educator April Jardine talked about the importance of supporting midwives to use their full range of their skills and providing space for them to build supportive relationships with mothers and partners along the continuum of pregnancy, birth and parenthood. She also highlighted the consultative process for forming the model and praised the work of the evaluation team.
CEO Sue Race said the service has a great future and it is wonderful to have our dedicated midwives who have a pivotal role in its future development.
“Their care is rightly valued by the women who choose to birth with us and all staff involved deserve the praise that is evident in the feedback. It has been a great outcome for the Mount Alexander community.”
All those involved in the creation of the new model and the reopening of the highly valued local service hope it will serve as a positive example to other regional health services of what can be achieved.
Dhelkaya Health acknowledges the support of Safer Care Victoria and the strong partnership with Bendigo Health that have enabled the service’s success. The evaluation report is available
in full to read at www.castlemainehealth.org.au.
Perth Collective to visit for Castlemaine State Festival
There is just one week to go until the official opening of the 2023 Castlemaine State Festival! This year’s event is once again jam-packed with a myriad of incredible live music, performance and exhibitions and more.
Perth collective Alter Boy fronted by trans/hard-of-hearing vocalist Molly Priest is set to feature as part of this year’s extraordinary CSF line-up.
The band works between sound and silence, voice and Auslan to express music and convey storytelling.
Their live shows are like nothing you’ve ever seen before, combining heartbeat-like rhythms – both pounding and pulsating – with visual storytelling and bespoke lighting in an otherworldly way that is very much of this world.
An Alter Boy performance combines heartbeat-like rhythms both pounding and pulsating with visual storytelling and bespoke lighting. The senses themselves are enlightened, not only by the unexpected feast of sound and vision, but towards the d/Deaf experience as it is presented to us to embrace and (potentially learn to better) understand. Priest leads with vocals that ululate on a lived, dual trans/deaf reality backed with Auslan signing that adds not only an evocative physicality to the music but opens up a world of inclusiveness to an audience who are not able to enjoy (and therefore attend) a traditional gig.
The group is coming to Castlemaine fresh from a performance at Sydney World Pride on March 5 and will also appear at Dylan Alcott’s Ability Fest in Melbourne on Saturday March 25 just prior to their local show which will take place under the CSF ‘Big Top’ at the Western Reserve on Tuesday March 28.
2022 was a stellar year for Alter Boy with captivating performances at Bigsound and Vivid Festival, the release of singles ‘I Repent’ and ‘No One’s Gone Like You’, which garnered praise from NME, Pilerats, Music Feeds, and airplay across triple j, triple junearthed and community radio, plus they were selected to guest host on Rage.
The CSF appearance follows the launch of their first single for 2023 ‘Like Home’.
Discussing the single lead singer Molly says, “Like Home is about breaking toxic family cycles and recovering the authentic self – following narcissistic abuse in childhood. The song ends in a hopeful place with a lyric about love – I’ve been running since I was nine, I leave it behind, yearning for it since I was nine, I don’t need it anymore I’ve got mine.”
Alter Boy keys/synths and producer Andrew ‘Midnight’ Wright took some time to chat to the Mail ahead of their show and said it has been an incredible 12 months for their group.
“I have known Molly for 15 years and we formerly did some writing together. In 2018 she asked me to be part of the band. Covid made things challenging performance wise, but in the last 12 months or so we have played some big events such as Big Sound and Yonder in Queensland and we have built a real following and our singles have taken off!” Andrew said.
Alter Boy’s performances are not just about the music but making it accessible.
“Those who are deaf or hard of hearing no doubt enjoy music, but with interpreter Luke as part of the band audience members can also follow the lyrics and really enjoy the full experience,” Andrew said.
The group aim to secure a record deal in the not too distant future to produce a new album and share their music more broadly.
“Things are really building for us and we’d love to take that next step,” he said.
For tickets to this very special one-off show visit castlemainefestival.com.au
Noel bids farewell
Well-known local figure Noel Muller has announced his retirement after a rewarding and varied 46-year career with Parks Victoria.
“I’ve done it all, garbage, toilet runs, driving the zoo cart, guiding, teaching, and the environmental side,” Noel told the Mail.
“I’ve seen bushfires, storms, floods, drownings, pulled bodies out of the surf, a bit of everything, and then botulism to finish it off.
“It’s been good fun and I’ve met lots of great people. I met Bob Hawke at the opening of Point Nepean and I even shared an umbrella with Weary Dunlop!”
Noel, born and bred in Ballarat, began his career when he joined an employment program with ‘National Parks’ initially working on the Bush Rangers Bay Walking Track at Cape Schanck and working in the Point Nepean region for 20 years. He moved to Kerang for a few years before coming to Castlemaine in the early 2000s to work on the Box Ironbark Project, working as a park ranger and then a team leader in the Goldfields region which covers three big parks and 50 or 60 little ones.
“I’m not sure I got to see them all in the end,” Noel said.
After living in Castlemaine for a brief time Noel and his wife bought an unfinished 80s holiday shack nestled amongst the Maldon Historic Area (which fittingly is Parks Victoria land).
“I’ve loved working in the parks and working with the community, being involved in things like the Monster Meeting and Anzac Day.
“There’s a lot of great and passionate people on both sides of the fence, although sometimes you do get stuck in the middle,” Noel laughs.
The 67-year-old is looking forward to his retirement years and is hoping to travel overseas and spend more time with his four grandchildren.
One of the founding members of the Wheel Cactus Warriors, Noel will continue getting out in the bush from time to time with the Warriors, as well as continuing his involvement with the Maldon Museum and taking part in the yearly Mt Tarrengower Hill Climb.
“Plus I’ve got a pair of Jaguars sitting in the shed that I’ve had for a few years and one day I might have them finished!”
Castlemaine Fringe Festival kicks off tonight!
The 2023 Castlemaine Fringe Festival kicks off tonight, March 17 with a massive opening night celebration under the stars in Mechanics Lane featuring 10 piece soul band ‘So Much Soul’ (pictured), the original Fringe samba band, and DJs who will have you dancing in the street.
Castlemaine Fringe is celebrating it’s 30th birthday in 2023 with a bumper 17 day program of more than 60 free and low cost events from today through until April 2. Events are happening across the Mount Alexander Shire, with a huge diversity in programming, and something for festival goers of all ages.
For more information and tickets visit www.castlemainefringe.org.au. Photo: Craig Gaston.
My Barkers Creek: Bridget Haylock
Hi Bridget. You’ve had a long acting career can you tell us what you’re working on at the moment?
I’m always working on something. I just finished Peter Panto where I played Captain Hook which was a lot of fun. I’d never done a panto before.
Then I started work on ‘Red’ which will be showing at the end of March as part of the Fringe Festival.
Red is based on my story – a creative emergence from trauma. My life has not always been easy, I was abused by my father at a young age, my mother left when I was 15 years old and I struggled with anorexia and alcoholism. But I’m alive and it’s possible to get through these things and have a wonderful life.
The show is theatrical, engaging, fun, and musical with costumes designed by Uli von Radichevich from Rike Design.
I love theatre. It’s ephemeral and collaborative and everyone is equal. It chose me and even if I try to pull away it calls me back in.
How did you become involved in acting?
I went to the Les Strasberg Theatre Institute which was pretty incredible.
I spent my roaring 20s living in the West End of London and hanging out with movie stars and rock stars.
Your voice may sound familiar to many MainFM listeners. How did you first start in radio?
In 1983 I started presenting a music show and a feminist magazine show, ‘On the Common’, on 3RRR. I started out at MainFM in 2014 presenting Chantoosies for three years. After a break, I came back and present Femme Fortissimo on Friday mornings.
What other careers have you had?
I’ve got a Ph.D. in creative writing, focussing on how creative emergence from trauma is written, which is half critical, half creative, and very feminist.
Before that, I worked at a variety of universities and in the past, I worked in film and tv and as the head of the props department at the Victorian State Opera.
There have been a lot of different jobs.
These last few years have been busy, I’ve been working full time as the head of Course Development at Collarts (Australian College of the Arts), raising a teenager, doing theatre, and during the 2021 lockdown, I had cancer treatment for breast and ovarian cancer and found out I have the BRCA2 gene. I’m hoping to get surgery sometime soon this year.
Wow, that is definitely a varied career. You’re also a strong advocate for women’s housing – can you tell us how that came about?
I think it’s incumbent on me when I have a platform, to use it to highlight issues, particularly feminism, and homelessness.
When I lived in London I lived in squats so I know what it can be like. When I first moved to the Castlemaine area I was renting and had to move six times over six years.
I really encourage people to donate to Women’s Housing Limited.
How long have you lived in Castlemaine?
I’ve lived in the district for 17 years and before that, I was living in Breamlea.
What are you reading at the moment?
I’m in a Proust reading group and I’m listening to Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf.
What philosophies do you live life by?
Live and let live and ecofeminism.
What music do you enjoy?
The music I play on my radio program. My taste is fairly varied but I’m mostly listening to female artists at the moment.
And finally, what do you like most about the place you call home?
I feel very privileged to live here. I love the quiet, the birds and animals, and the community.
What a wonderful weekend!
Crowds flocked to events across the region over the Labour Day weekend. With the Harcourt Applefest on Saturday, the Taradale Mineral Springs Festival on Sunday, and Autopia running across both days, visitors were spoiled for choice when it came to family-friendly events.
At Harcourt hundreds of visitors roamed the markets stalls as children brandishing their toffee apples high as their faces became sticky and red, delighting in the roaming puppet dinosaurs, while others took refuge from the warm sun, savouring a cool apple cider or juice, enjoying performances from Eliza Hull and the Australian Women’s Choir, Thompson’s Foundry Band and Harcourt Valley Primary School Choir.
On Sunday the weather remained warm as families relished the return of the Taradale Mineral Springs Festival, perusing the huge range of market stalls with local food, wine, gin, and handcrafted goods.
And across the weekend car enthusiasts gathered at the former Castlemaine Secondary College Senior Campus for Autopia to enjoy the huge range of hot rods, visiting car displays, mini trucks, a model show, and delicious food, and chat with like-minded lovers of all things cars.
Castlemaine bowlers celebrate Midweek Pennant victory
Castlemaine Bowling Club members are celebrating after their Midweek Pennant win on Monday! Castlemaine’s Division 2 side defeated Woodbury at Bendigo East on their excellent green, a sea of colour with all five divisions playing their final game at the same venue.
Division 1 played at Eaglehawk the following day Tuesday between Golden Square and South Bendigo.
Castlemaine were convincing winners on Monday with all three teams winning.
Castlemaine 70 defeated Woodbury 55. Steve McCoombe (skip), Mal Stevens, Tricia O’Shea, Graham Fraser won 23/20. Pam Hunter (skip), Rosalie Roberts, Alicia Beauchamp, Alene Jolme won 25/17, Maureen Fletcher ( skip), Chris Crossley, Rod Fletcher, Jack Taylor won 22/18.
After the game all teams assembled on the green and the President of the Bendigo Campaspe Goldfields Region Paul Moller, Secretary Geoff Howes and Bendigo Ladies Selection President Susan Howes congratulated all bowlers on their sportsmanship, winning or runners-up is an achievement to represent their clubs in the manner in which all games were played. Bowlers in the winning teams were all presented with a medal which they proudly wore when returning to their clubs. Castlemaine bowlers continued their celebrations back at Castlemaine clubrooms.
Club news
In other news Wednesday Evening Barefoot Bowls continue 5.30pm start, mixed competition all bowlers welcome, bowls supplied BBQ after game. For further information phone 0439 722 423.
Thursday ‘Girls on the Green’ saw 36 Ladies plus helpers enjoy the lovely warm evening. Last week’s winners were ‘Spicey Girls. The ladder before the final night is Friday Floozies, Team Extreme, Rockin Rollers and Spring Rollers.
Monday March 13 will be the Castlemaine Classic Invitation Fours.
Saturday ‘Robbies Triples’ 9am for a 9.30am start. Notice in clubrooms.
Cyclists on track for success
It has been a busy week for the Castlemaine Cycling Club with five members representing the club at Darebin International Sports Complex (DISC) on Saturday March 4 and the club holding a 10 kilometre Social Ride on Sunday March 5.
Local club members recorded some great results at DISC with Hope Harnetty taking home gold in the Under 17 Keiren, Emma Jackson winning bronze in the Women’s elite Kieren and Sam Murphy also taking out bronze in the Kieren. This follows on from Sam’s success the previous week where he placed third in the 200m Fly and Individual Pursuit, fourth in the Kilo and placed third overall in the Masters 2 Division. Well done Sam!
Congratulations also go to Leshae Maddern and Daniel Jackson who also took part in various races last Saturday night.
On Sunday the club hosted a successful Social Ride and was delighted to welcome some new faces. Prospective new members are always invited to pop down to the track and say hello and have a try if they wish.
Track racing is still currently running at Wesley Hill Recreation Reserve Tuesday and Saturday evenings. For further information about how to get involved please join the Castlemaine Cycling Club Facebook page or contact the club president Carl Harris 0438 246 164.
