Castlemaine and District Tennis Association semi finals were battled out on Saturday March 4 at the Lawn Tennis Courts. Players will enjoy a well earned rest over the long weekend before they play grand final bouts on March 18. Results were as follows:
In Junior A Grade Castlemaine Rogue Four won well over Castlemaine Sharks 6 matches 9 sets to 0 match 0 sets and Castlemaine Kelpies defeated Castlemaine Rockets in a tight well fought contest 3 matches 8 sets 40 games to 3 matches 5 sets 28 games.
The Junior A Grade Grand-Final on Saturday March 18 will be Castlemaine Rogue Four versus Castlemaine Kelpies.
In Junior B Grade Castlemaine Bandits won well over Castlemaine Death Adders, 5 matches 11 sets to 1 match 2 sets and Newstead Kangaroos defeated Castlemaine Powerhits 5 matches 11 sets to 1 match 5 sets.
The Junior B Grade Grand-Final on Saturday March 18 will be Castlemaine Bandits versus Newstead Kangaroos.
In Junior C Grade Maldon Masters won well over Newstead Wallabies 6 matches 12 sets to 0 matches 3 sets. Castlemaine Stars and Castlemaine Flaming Balls had a fabulous close match which went down to the wire. Castlemaine Stars ended up with a surprise victory over the more favoured Castlemaine Flaming Balls by 4 matches 9 sets 33 games to 2 matches 6 sets 33 games.
The Junior C Grade Grand Final on Saturday March 18 will be Maldon Masters versus Castlemaine Stars.
All Grand Final matches will be at Castlemaine courts starting at 9am. All welcome.
It has really been a most enjoyable and productive Castlemaine and District Tennis Association season for 2022-2023. In Junior A the CDTA had 18 regular players from Castlemaine. In Junior B there were 30 regular players from four clubs with a lot of really close games.
Junior C provided ample opportunity for over 20 younger playerss to try their hand at competition tennis, from three different clubs. The Future Stars Sunday afternoon sessions have got a lot of younger players who will be ready to take on Junior C Grade competition next year.
If you have a budding tennis player who would like to get involved with competition tennis next season starting in October please contact Graham Forbes on 0406 346 466.
Castlemaine District Tennis Association semis decided
Taradale Mineral Springs Festival makes its return
After a two-year break due to Covid 19 the renowned Taradale Mineral Springs Festival is set to make its return this Sunday March 12.
Attractions will include more than 50 stands offering gourmet food, wine, craft beer, gin and whisky. There will also be jewellery, a CFA display and activities, a classic car display, acoustic and rock music, plus many children’s activities such as face painting, plaster painting, story telling and a visit by Captain Koala.
Taradale Mineral Springs Festival Committee president Peter Phillips said they have worked for many months to assemble a great line-up of stallholders and entertainment for this year’s event. “We also have a raffle with more than $7,000 in prizes up for grabs, including a $5,000 travel prize courtesy of Broadhurst Property, with tickets just $5 each!” Peter said.
The festival will run from 10am to 4pm and entry is $5, with free admission for children Under 15. All proceeds go towards Taradale Volunteer Community Groups to assist with local projects. “We are very grateful to our major sponsors Castlemaine Slate & Stone, Good Earth Garden Supplies, Interior Solutions, Malmsbury Bakery and Metro Taradale for supporting the event and making it possible,” Peter said.
Harcourt community celebrates Applefest 2023
The 2023 Harcourt Applefest is on today, Saturday March 11, will feature more than 50 market stalls, including food, wines, cider, local produce and makers from across the district.
Apple products of all kinds will be available throughout the day.
Entertainment this year includes two main acts including award winning local performer Eliza Hull and the Australian Women’s Choir led by Wendy Stapleton, along with Thompson’s Foundry Band and Harcourt Valley Primary School Choir.
For the first time, Applefest organisers will have a second stage with new and upcoming local acts, plus an appearance from the legendary Jake Kotevski also known as ‘The Dino Man’ with his riveting facts about dinosaurs.
Applefest 2023 is the place for all Dino Lovers to be as children’s entertainment also includes a visit from Toby the Dinosaur! There will also be face painting, story telling and The Connected Circus.
And what would Applefest be without its annual competitions! This year competitions include Cooking, Lego and the Apple Pie Eating competition!
Cook up a storm
How will your wares fare with the members from Harcourt CWA? Test your baking and chutney making skills alongside the region’s best. Applefest has an excellent cookery competition. Apple Pie gets the headlines, but there are also categories for best Apple Cake, Apple Muffins and Apple Chutney and others too. This year there is also a new category Dehydrated Apples.
There is no entry fee, but unlimited glory to be won by both adult and junior bakers. Simply fill in the form on the website and drop your goodies off to the Fruit Growers Tent by 10am on Saturday.
Calling Lego Masters!
The Applefest team have introduced a new two-part Lego Competition this year for builders of all ages. The first section invites Lego Lovers to show their creativity. Categories include: 4 years and Under ‘Duplo Animal’; 5-6 years and Under ‘Lego Animal’; 7-8 years and Under ‘House’; 8-9 years and Under ‘Zip Line’; 10-11 years and Under ‘Robot’; 12-17 years and Under ‘Structure/Construction’; Big Kids Lego Adults ‘Open’.
The second part of the competition is for participants to demonstrate their skill at design by building an Apple Orchard Sculpture. Prizes will be awarded in Primary, Secondary and Adult categories. Entries closed March 8.
Apple Pie Eating
The humble Apple Pie Eating contest is one of the highlights of Applefest and eagerly anticipated by both spectators and contestants. Its messy, it’s fun, it’s ridiculous, but its Harcourt Applefest’s moment of pure light-hearted pleasure. Are there rules? Do we follow them? Come along and find out on the day. Three sections this year Primary, Secondary and Open each with a $1 entry free. To register tick the box as you purchase your $5 tickets for Applefest or simply sign up near the main stage on the day.
Fringe Festival celebrates 30 years!
Catch the 2023 Fringe Festival Feature in today’s Castlemaine Mail! Castlemaine Fringe is celebrating it’s 30th birthday with a bumper program of more than 60 free and low cost events between Friday March 17 right through until Sunday April 2. Events are happening across the Mount Alexander Shire, with a huge diversity in programming, and something for festival goers of all ages.
The 17 day festival starts with a bang at the Phee Broadway Theatre and Mechanics Lane Precinct on March 17. Join us on our opening night for a celebration under the stars featuring a 10 piece soul band, a samba band and DJs who will have you dancing in the street.
The streets themselves will be alive with art thanks to the Fringe Art Windows Trail. We have paired over 80 artists with participating businesses to showcase art installations, paste-ups and takeovers in shop windows and businesses throughout the shire including our smaller, satellite towns, made possible with generous support from FRRR and ANZ Seeds of Renewal and Mount Alexander Shire Council. You can find the map and listing of installations at https://www.castlemainefringe.org.au/art-windows.
Throughout the program you’ll find a range of venues hosting live music, workshops and comedy events, quizzes and karaoke nights with extensive food choices and delicious drinks. There are social interest features, film screenings and literature and an exciting theatre program from around the world including a presentation of works from brought to us by the Ukraine Fringe Festival.
And the fun keeps going as the Fringe partners with the Castlemaine State Festival to program a series of “after parties”, taking over the Festival Big Top on Castlemaine’s Western Reserve with cabaret, disco and DJs, licenced bars and food trucks.
For more information and to book tickets go to https://www.castlemainefringe.org.au, visit our Facebook page or pick up your copy of the 2023 Castlemaine Fringe Festival program, available at the Visitor Information Centre and outlets through the shire.
Storytellers to shine at the Theatre Royal
Castlemaine’s Theatre Royal has a diverse line-up of artists set to feature this month.
Tonight March 10 Mistletone proudly presents Niger psych-rock guitar sensation Mdou Moctar, bringing his mighty band to Castlemaine for one transcendent night only.
A self-taught Tuareg guitar prodigy, Mdou Moctar boldly reforges contemporary Saharan music and “rock music“ by melding Eddie Van Halen pyrotechnics, full-blast noise and guitar shredding, field recordings, drums rhythms, poetic meditations on love, religion, women’s rights, inequality and Western Africa’s exploitation at the hands of colonial powers to rip a new hole in the sky.
Mdou Moctar’s home is Agadez, a desert village in rural Niger. Inspired by YouTube videos and traditional Tuareg melodies, he mastered the guitar which he himself built and created his own burning style.
Next Friday March 17 two of Australia’s finest storytellers, Liz Stringer and William Crighton are set to join forces as part of their co-headline tour. Both notoriously powerful live performers, Stringer and Crighton also share a deep engagement with the struggles, challenges and triumphs of the communities they perform in. Their songs acknowledge time, place and common human experience, spearheading the new generation of the truly Australian voice.
The tour follows the release of Stringer’s lauded 2021 album First Time Really Feeling and an eighteen-month stint as part of Midnight Oil’s touring band, and Crighton’s acclaimed
second record, the 2022 ARIA Award winning & AMP nominated Water and Dust, as well as a huge European summer of touring which saw him opening for the Dead South and
Midnight Oil respectively.
Then on Sunday March 26 catch ‘Songs for Suzanne: The Music and Poetry of Leonard Cohen’ featuring Henry Wagons, Rebecca Barnard, Delsinki and Alma Zygier performing Leonard Cohen’s most enduring songs, including “Bird On A Wire”, “So Long, Marianne”, “Avalanche”, “Suzanne”, “Famous Blue Raincoat” and “Hallelujah”.
Songs for Suzanne will be a celebration of the beginnings of a distinguished career of a brilliant singer-songwriter. Leonard Cohen’s initial success came as an author, with two novels and four collections of poetry preceding his debut album. Cohen’s own readings of some of these works, which saw him compared to James Joyce, will be incorporated into the show.
For tix to these incredible shows visit theatreroyalcastlemaine.oztix.com.au
Campaigning for safer road conditions
Attempting to cross the road in front of Grist Bakery at Wesley Hill feels akin to playing a game of Russian Roulette as cars fly around the blind corner and cross onto the shoulder, trucks barrel down the hill, and school buses accelerate to make up lost time.
The speed limit on this busy section of road is 60kmh, but many of the vehicles drive well beyond the legal limit as they leave the slowness of the 50kmh stretch of road in Chewton and begin to descend into the township of Castlemaine.
A group of residents from atop the hill have banded together to petition for safer road conditions, to aid families with small children, older kids making their way to school, those with disabilities, and elderly residents to safely cross the road.
85-year-old Noreen Wheaton told the Mail that she cannot cross the road at all.
“I don’t have the courage to cross, there’s too much going on and lots of school buses traveling through,” Noreen said.
Earlier this year a group of Wesley Hill residents lodged a petition with Mount Alexander Shire Council (MASC) to draw councillors’ attention to the dangerous traffic situation and request support in getting the speed limit reduced to 50kmh.
The letter to the council highlighted the dangerous traffic conditions including; trucks entering, and an increase in traffic due to the bakery, velodrome, walking tracks, and weekly market.
A MASC representative said the council formally considered the petition at the February council meeting.
“Councillors met with residents in early March to discuss the issue further and the council will now prepare a report to respond to the petition which will be addressed at the April 2023 council meeting,” the representative said.
According to data from the Victorian Department of Transport, in the five years up to February 2021 there have been eight traffic accidents on Duke Street, including one fatality, with accidents on Duke Street accounting for nearly 20 per cent of road accidents in Castlemaine.
Residents from the Wesley Hill area noted that there has since been another serious traffic accident in March and at least two bicycle accidents during 2022. Residents also report having witnessed numerous near misses, particularly at the sharp bend at the Duke and Taylor Street intersection.
“One of our neighbours was hit by a car and required a significant amount of physical rehabilitation,” said one resident.
Another Wesley Hill resident, Eliza Hull told the Mail that she enjoys being able to walk to the bakery near her house with her children.
“I am a disabled person and have a condition known as Charcot Marie Tooth,” Eliza said.
“Unfortunately, it’s started to feel too unsafe crossing Duke St because cars are driving too fast as they come into town and often can’t see pedestrians crossing the road. I am
hoping that we can reduce the speed limit coming into town so that I can safely cross with my children.”
Residents noted the council had been considering footpaths and crossings in two locations in Wesley Hill via its SHAPE Walking and Cycling Strategy, however, the residents have spoken with relevant parties and have been informed that no pedestrian crossings are being considered.
Local resident Trace Balla has questioned why our priorities have gone so far off track that we are unable to send a 10 year-old to the store or allow them to walk to the creek near their home.
“For some reason, the speed of drivers in cars is given priority over this,” Trace said.
“I would love to invite those who make these laws to bring their families for a visit, perhaps pop a coin in the pockets of their kids, as well as a stamped envelope and some paper and pencils… and send them to pop by the bakery for a pastry that they can take down to the creek, to enjoy some time away from the rush of life, where they might stop long enough to share their experience in a letter to a loved one… and then post it at the letterbox beside the bakery… and safely cross the road to come back home… Why should this be a fantasy?” asks Trace.
“When will we learn that there has to be another way….”
My Castlemaine: Trace Balla
Hi Trace, you’re a well-known graphic novelist. Can you tell us how your writing/illustrating journey began?
I always wrote journals, with a mix of words and pictures and as a kid, I knew I wanted to write a book that would be in the library. When that happened I was pretty chuffed.
When my son was little I started making books for him. By the time I met my publisher at Allen and Unwin, I had a pile of cobbled-together books, and they knew that it wasn’t a once-off for me but a career. I was already in my 40s then. My son is now 23 and is in Bendigo studying rural medicine.
What books and projects have you worked on?
My book Rivertime, set on the Glenelg River is about a ten-year-old boy and his uncle and it won the Readings Children’s Book Prize and a children’s literature Wilderness Society’s Environment Award.
At the start of COVID, I was in India making a book called Cycling Together, following the lives of two Indian girls, one who has access to clean, safe toilets at school while the other doesn’t, and how the lack of this basic necessity can affect girls education and their lives. All proceeds go to Operation Toilets, a charity my brother began to put toilets into schools.
My eighth book Leaf Light will be released this year. It’s a sister book to Landing with Wings which is about a young girl, who moves to the Goldfields area on Djaara country, with a lot of local characters in it. Oh, and I have a large mural on the side of the Hub on Barker Street.
I’ve also made a Dja Dja Wurrung language poster with Nalderun from the pictures at the front of Landing with Wings. People can buy the poster at the Vintage Bazaar and the Castlemaine Visitor Centre and all proceeds will go to Nalderun.
I also wrote a song for survival day, ‘May We All Stand Together’, which I sent to my friend Andrew McSweeney and he put to music and has had an incredible amount of views on my website. We’re hoping to sing it at next year’s Survival Day. I really think we allies have a place in cultural revival and repair.
What’s your favourite book that you’ve written?
It’s always the last one that I’ve done.
How did you come to live in Castlemaine?
I’ve lived here for 13 years but I’d been coming to the area for many years before moving.
I moved due to a series of circumstances – I wanted to live near Melbourne where my parents lived. I wanted to be on a train line as I normally travel by bike or train (I love looking out the window or drawing on the train). I wanted to live somewhere that had the possibility of good community connection and I wanted to live close to the bush.
What other interests do you have?
I dance a lot and swim and garden. I’m growing some corn at the moment that is almost ready to eat!
What are your favourite books?
Rewilding the Urban Soul by Claire Dunn, The Little Prince and Storm Boy. I was always transfixed by David Dhalatnghu Gulpilil.
What’s your favorite genre of music?
It depends so much on the mood I’m in, but I’ve created an open space in my house to dance in.
What philosophies do you live life by?
Reciprocity, feed the garden and it feeds you. The gift of forgiving. I really think it’s important to tread lightly on the earth, it’s impossible to live without any footprint, but I try to live lightly. It’s really important that if you have privilege, that you know it comes with responsibility.
Finally, what do you love most about the place you call home?
I’ve fallen in love with Djarra country, walking and riding Leanganook, Tarrangower, Lalgambook.
I’m a dawn walker; I love getting into the hills, especially during winter, with the frost and fog. I love getting about the fog line and seeing the golden light come through. I call it the goldfields because of the golden light, the golden wattle, and the golden whistler.
Removing barriers for mountain bike riders
Founded in 2019 Trailhead Coaching, provides mountain bike skills coaching in either one-on-one or group sessions.
Owner and founder, Jo Wall is passionate about working with women and girls, hoping to eliminate some of the barriers to participation in the sport.
“The sport has always been male-dominated,” said Jo.
“One of the barriers is that at the top end, there is a lack of recognition and sponsorship and it’s so important to have role models for the younger generation.
“There are also very few sanctioned trails in the area. We really need more infrastructure,” Jo told the Mail.
Jo grew up loving the independence and freedom that riding provides. She spent six years racing at the highest level which provided her with the opportunity to travel and race overseas and compete in multiple world championships. She rides with a strength that comes from experience and discipline and her technical ability allows her to ride challenging terrains with efficiency and speed.
As a former school teacher, Jo loves sharing her knowledge and skills with children and adults of all skill levels using tailored instructions to unlock people’s riding potential which enables them to enjoy the sport with confidence.
“Riding is ageless,” said Jo.
“We have kids on balance bikes at the races in Bendigo and we cater to three years old and beyond at the trailhead.”
In 2022 Jo became Australia’s first female course conductor with the Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Association,enabling her to contribute to the growth and the development of mountain bike skills coach industry.
Since its conception, Trailhead has expanded to include Castlemaine-based skill coaching with dedicated mountain bike rider Natalya Garden.
President of the Castlemaine Rocky Riders and organiser of local women’s social rides, Natalya believes that riders can benefit from coaching at any stage of their journey.
“We run individual, group, and paired skill sessions, host birthday parties, and run school holiday programs, plus we run girl-specific classes weekly in Castlemaine.
“It’s a trust relationship, where people can be vulnerable. The confidence gained from riding can be empowering in other parts of your life,” said Natalya.
Natalya trained to be a coach last year and is committed to her own continued development as a rider, coach, and guide. She has a special interest in supporting girls and women to utilise their strength and confidence through mountain biking and loves working with people of all ages, genders, and abilities.
“There are a lot of barriers for women and girls riding- skills and the confidence to gain skills are two of the biggest,” said Natalya.
“The women’s social rides are key. We usually have between 10 and 20 participants and have a social catch-up afterward.”
Natalya’s four-and-a-half-year-old daughter Minka and her eight-year-old daughter Azia both attend the weekly skills session, racing weekly and the family recently returned from a two-and-a-half week riding holiday in Tasmania. Minka began riding from the age of three, riding laps of the White Hills circuit in Campbells Creek.
“When she started, the circuit took her ten minutes and now she can ride it in five,” said Natalya.
“There’s a preconceived idea that it’s dangerous, which it can be, but learning how to ride safely is the key. It’s a sport for everyone, with all ability types and ages, it’s not just an extreme sport for 18-30-year-old men, but can be fun for the whole family.”
Autopia returns to Autoplex Castlemaine this weekend
The art of hot rodding has been part of our community for more than 60 years.
Hot Rodders are crafters who take an older vehicle and customise it to their own desires. Some are subtle makeovers – some are pretty wild! All are one-off creations that reflect the personality of the builder.
This weekend you can take the opportunity to meet some of these incredible makers when the Castlemaine Hot Rod Centre Limited stages its fifth annual ‘Autopia’ event at Autoplex Castlemaine.
The two day extravaganza on March 11 and 12 at the former Castlemaine Secondary College Senior Campus in Etty Street will feature hot rod and visiting car displays, a two day model show, the John Davis Memorial Run, mini trucks, a great range of food and more.
Castlemaine Hot Rod Centre chairperson Vicki Farrell said hot rodders are the original ‘Greenies’.
“We have been recycling, repurposing and reusing old vehicles since the late 50s and early 60s rather than buying something new,” she said.
This year’s event will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 1923 T Model Ford and will also include the auction of a ‘project car’ – a 1928 Roadster Pickup on Sunday March 12 at 12 noon.
“This is a great opportunity for someone to secure their next project and join our hot rodding community,” Vicki said.
Funds raised will assist the Castlemaine Hot Rod Centre with its initiatives at Autoplex Castlemaine where they work to support local young people to learn the inner workings behind building cars and are also establishing a permanent display recognising the region’s rich hot rodding history.
“Come along and meet the members, see some beautiful vehicles and learn more about our plans for Autoplex,” Farrell said.
“We will also have a visit from Jasmine Green from Kyabram whose stunning mini truck won the ‘Street Machine Car of the Year’ in 2022 and an extensive display of low rider push bikes,” Vicki said.
“The model show is always popular and we will have exhibitors with quarter-scale and model cars,” she said.
“There will also be metal work, crafts and hobby displays. There will be something for the whole family.”
The event will run from 10am to 4pm each day. Entry is just $5 Adults, Kids Under 16 free.
Volunteers clean up local creeks as part of Clean Up Australia Day
Last Sunday March 5 volunteers from the Friends of Campbells Creek and the community joined Clean-up Australia Day, focusing on three kilometres of creeks through Castlemaine and Campbells Creek.
Thirty-seven volunteers worked to remove more than one-and-a-half skip-loads of rubbish, ranging from dumped items through to discarded plastic bottles, bags and wrappers – a great effort. Though the recent floods explain some of the items collected, a lot of rubbish appears to be discarded in town and washed down the stormwater drains.
The Friends group thank all of the volunteers which turned out to lend a hand, Mount Alexander Shire Council for providing the rubbish skip, and Midland Pet Supplies for supplying collection bags.
Runners shine at Castlemaine Gift
Saturday’s wet weather cleared and the day dawned bright, sunny and not too hot for the 2023 Castlemaine Gift last Sunday, February 26.
Castlemaine Gift organiser Darryl Nettleton said they had a great turn out with more than 250 runners and a good crowd of local spectators and visitors at Camp Reserve for the event.
“The weather was perfect and we had a good roll up and a great day’s racing,” he said.
First up were the Junior Heats with youngsters 5-13 able to come along and register on the day.
The winner of the overall Boys Gift was 11 year old Joe Collins, from his brother and runner-up 13 year old Charlie Collins and eight year old Michael Vidler.
The winner of the Girls Gift was 11 year old Maisie Hanson, runner-up was nine year old Chloe Burrows and third 10 year old Zali Best. The girls all clocked the same time and a photo finish was required to decide the winner!
The 70 metres proved a backmarkers race with Kings Park runner Tapasu Paea emerging victorious in 7:63 seconds, second was Nick Antonino and third Jack Ireland.
The 120m Masters was won by Zander McDougall of Maroona near Ararat (whose wife was also in the race), second was Jonathon Rogers and third Sonya Pollard.
In the Women’s 120m Gift the winner was Seymour’s Lucy Zotti in a time of 13:78 seconds, second was Lucy Carter and third Chloe Kinnersly of Ballarat.
The Men’s 120m Gift winner was Kevin Brittain of Geelong in 12:19 seconds, second was former winner Jack Newman and third Dylan McGann in his first ever Gift Final.
“29 year old Dylan McGann was really chuffed to finish on the podium in his first finals appearance,” Darryl said.
The 300 Masters was won by Stephen McCulloch of Alfredtown, second was Katie Moore and third Brett Maurer.
The Women’s 400m Classic was claimed by Meg Dean of Kew in a time of 55:70 seconds, second was Gift winner Lucy Zotti who had quite the day out, and third Newcastle’s Ramona Casey who is running better than ever at 39!
In the Men’s 400m final Nicholas Antonino claimed the honours in a time of 48:09 seconds, second was Jack Doderico and third Greg Mitchell.
The 800m Open was won by 2022 victor Owen Lubeck in a time of 1:52:68, second was Sean Davidson and third Liam Hanrahan.
The 3000m race was taken out by 2022 champ Caleb Laker in 9:21:94, second was Liam Hannah and third Ashley Cowen.
Under 18 Boys 120m winner was Lachlan Kinnersly in 12:70 seconds, second was Archie Minett and third Jarvis Cartledge.
Under 18 Girls 120m winner was Montana Kerr in 13:84 seconds, second Ruby McTernan and third Charlotte Cross.
Montana made it a double went she also claimed the honours in the 400m Restricted Race proudly sponsored by the Castlemaine Mail in a time of 49:95 seconds. Second place in the 400m Restricted went to Jared Glover and third to Jasmine Rowe.
Darryl thanked all those who had assisted to make the day a success and in particular their sponsors big and small.
“It just wouldn’t happen without the support of our incredible sponsors,” he said.
“In particular we would like to thank the Mineral Council of Australia (Vic Division), McClures Earthmoving, Rotary Club of Castlemaine, Leech Earthmoving, Maree Edwards MP, The Mill, Thompsons Family Funerals, Mount Alexander Shire Council, Mt Alexander Community Enterprise (MtACE) Cumberland Hotel and Castlemaine IGA Plus Liquor,” he said.
Tia selected for the VFLW Bombers
Castlemaine Football Netball Club Senior Women’s Football Team premiership player Tia Davidge has been selected to play for Essendon in the Victorian Football League Women’s competition in 2023!
The on-baller is thrilled to take the next step in her football career and pull on the boots on for the Bombers side.
Tia said she after training and playing with the Bendigo Pioneers representative squad in 2022 she was invited to attend a tryout with the Bombers late last year and was then invited to train with the side.
“I wasn’t able to hit the training ground until the start of this year as late last year I represented the Vic Country Under 19 Women’s cricket side at the National Cricket Championships in Perth,” Tia said.
“We made the final against New South Wales at the WACA but unfortunately we were able to come away with a win. Despite that it was an incredible experience,” Tia said.
She has travelled to Melbourne for regular training sessions with the Bombers since the beginning of 2023 and was thrilled when VFLW manager Georgia Harvey and Bombers coach Travis Cloke sat her down to tell her she had made the Essendon list.
“I was really thrilled. I missed a lot of representative football with the Bendigo Pioneers due to my cricket commitments and two broken fingers on the footy and cricket field in 2022. However, the opportunities I did get with the Pioneers led me down this pathway and I hope to eventually take the next step up into the AFLW in the future,” Tia said.
Tia, who is most at home in the centre of the action, is hopeful she will get the call up to the Bombers side in their first match of the 2023 season on March 26.
However, local Magpie fans may still get the chance to see Davidge in action for the Castlemaine Magpie Women’s side as they strive to defend their AFL Central Vic Women’s 2022 premiership title when she is not required to play for the Bombers.
Tia’s star has been on a positive trajectory for some years now claiming Under 18 Girls Best and Fairest honours at her former junior club Strathfieldsaye Storm in 2021 and joint Best and Fairest honours in the Bendigo Junior Football League Under 18 Girls competition that same year.
In her spare time Tia continues to enjoy her local cricket representing the Barkers Creek A Grade side in the 2022-2023 season and working to support the Outdoor Ed team at Castlemaine Secondary College.