Local actor John Flaus stars in the newest feature film Mr Cripes Blimey screening at the Northern Arts Hotel next month. The offering has been written and directed by Saidin Salkic.
The film explores the many spheres of mood and excitement, hitting strong and hard and introducing audiences to a character and a story yet inexperienced by the Australian film public. The hero is desperate, aged, and enchanted by the forest he is in and by his magic clock which is making him younger. He is desperate to win the horse race and he wants to collect his money desperately.
“I want my money desperately, I want to claim my money, desperately,” screams Mr Cripes Blimey.
He celebrates his ‘regrowing’ hair in the mirror, as his reverse clock starts to make him feel younger. He is unsure as he faces the mirror, with honesty, delusion, and fear.
Mr Cripes Blimey is: “…starting to feel strange”.
The forest has surrounded him and he can not find his way out. His desperation grows and his will is keeping him strong. What audiences don’t know yet; it is Mr Cripes Blimey’s birthday today.
The film will be screening at the Cool Room at Northern Arts Hotel at 5.30pm on Sunday, May 14.
Local legend to feature
Local artist honouring our Diggers
The Central Goldfields Art Gallery’s latest exhibition – IMMORTALS– featuring the work of Castlemaine artist Clayton Tremlett will be officially opened by Councillor Geoff Lovett this Saturday at 2pm.
Immortals is an exhibition that brings together a portrait study of the faces of 54 Digger memorials throughout the State of Victoria. Through his comparative portrait study of the Digger memorials, Tremlett provides us with an opportunity to focus on cenotaphs to fallen soldiers in World War I.
This is the first ever visual record of Victorian Digger memorials which took four years of research by local artist and restoration expert of historic monuments.
The result of Tremlett’s extensive research shows that each Digger Cenotaph is a unique individual and not just mass-produced generic faces as may be assumed by the onlooker.
This study celebrates and connects a shared history for regional communities. The series invites the community to reflect on a time when Australia was a fledgling nation that answered a request to send troops to a war in foreign countries.
Presented just after ANZAC Day, the exhibition also provides the opportunity for audiences to focus on the Maryborough memorial situated in McLandress Square just a few minutes walk from Central Goldfields Art Gallery.
The sculptor of the Maryborough memorial was the remarkable Margaret Baskerville (1861- 1930) who is known as Australia’s first female sculptor. The Maryborough Womens’ Patriotic League campaigned for Baskerville to sculpt Maryborough’s memorial.
Despite opposition, they were successful and the Maryborough Memorial was dedicated in 1926 with the support of the council.
Tremlett visited and documented all of the monuments depicted in this exhibition. With most of the monuments facing east, the artist was often onsite at sunrise to capture images of the faces of the Diggers in these memorials in the light of the rising sun. Each monument was digitally photographed between 80 and 120 times with one selected image transformed via digital editing software. The image was then separated into five tonal (grey) layers and produced as a screen print that resembles a WW1 studio portrait.
Clayton Tremlett’s artwork is represented in collections around Australia including the National Gallery of Australia, Geelong Art Gallery and the State Library of Victoria.
Refreshments will be provided at the opening and the community and visitors to the region are welcome and encouraged to attend.
The exhibition will be on display until June 11, 2023.
Central Goldfields Art Gallery is situated at 1 Neill Street, Maryborough. The gallery is open from Thursday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm and entrance is free.
The exhibition will also feature a Art History Tour next Sunday May 7, an Artist’s Talk on Sunday May 14 and an Art Talk by Barbara Nielsen on May 18.
For more information visit www.centralgoldfieldsartgallery.com.au
Anzac Day crowds pause to remember
Community members turned out in force at Anzac Day services across the local region on Tuesday April 25.
A huge crowd gathered to honour our Anzacs at the Castlemaine dawn service followed by another sizeable crowd at the main service.
The Castlemaine Highland Pipe Band led marchers from the Castlemaine Town Hall along a new reversed route down Hargraves Street and into Mostyn Street to the cenotaph. Marchers included ex-service personnel and family representatives, Castlemaine Returned & Services League (RSL) and Legacy members, CFA and SES personnel, local Scouts and Girl Guides, school students and the mayor Rosie Annear.
The crowd was welcomed by Master of Ceremonies Alan Lane who gave an acknowledgement of Country and oversaw the mounting of the ‘Cenotaph Guard’ of local Scouts and Guides.
Mr Lane said the Anzac Day tradition was not a time for the glorification of war but for sombre reflection.
“The sight of so many graves (crosses) reminds us of the terrible cost of war and, of course, the tragedy of so many young lives lost did not end there. The pain of their loss lived on in the hearts of all those who loved these sons, husbands, fathers, brothers, and friends. While war may at times be unavoidable Anzac Day is a time to remind us of the preciousness of peace,” he said.
Mr Lane also spoke of the Pacific War campaign in Papua New Guinea and the bravery of the Papua New Guinea people which risked their own lives to protect our troops, the 50th anniversary of the cessation of the Vietnam War and the 70th anniversary of the Korean War.
“Forty Australians are still listed as Missing in Action in Korea,” he said.
“As we look around us at the sacrifices that those who lay here made despair must not be our tribute to them, rather as we consider the enormity of their sacrifice let us remember that their true and lasting legacy is the freedoms that we continue to enjoy to this day,” he said.
The Castlemaine Highland Pipe Band then performed a stirring rendition of the Highland Cathedral.
Alan then welcomed RSL president John Whiddon to the podium.
John acknowledged the recent 100th birthday milestone of WWII Corporal Maisie Douglas the oldest local service member.
John also shared the inspirational story of Royal New Zealand Airforce pilot Vance Drummond who served in the Korean War and survived interment as a prisoner of war before later serving in the Vietnam War and being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Emma Sayer and the Thompson’s Foundry Band then performed the hymn ‘Oh God Our Help in Ages Past’ before Mount Alexander Mayor Cr Rosie Annear gave her address.
Cr Annear acknowledged that the ceremony was being held on Dja Dja Wurrung country and honoured our elders past, present and emerging and all those indigenous people who served and continue to service in Australian military forces.
“I’d also like to acknowledge and honour the sacrifices made by all members of our armed forces – those who paid the ultimate price, those who returned with scars both seen and unseen, spoken and unspoken, and to all those family members and friends who waited at home for all their loved ones gone to war who supported our service members through good times and bad. We thank you for your service,” she said.
Local singer and musician Maggie Jackson then shared a beautiful moving tribute to our Diggers with a performance of Lee Kernaghan’s ‘Spirit of the Anzacs’ which acknowledges that those who so bravely fought and died for our country and the freedoms we enjoy today were everyday Australians – a farmer, a drover, a city lad.
Castlemaine Secondary College School Captains Laura Smolak and Lucie Price also spoke sharing their thoughts on Anzac Day.
“My speech today is inspired by one of my favourite novels Gallipoli Street. As I read I realised how blindsided the Anzacs were, just pawns in a game of chess for the politicians of the world. A number, a statistic, not treated as the sons, husbands and fathers they were,” Laura said.
“As they sailed away from home some thought it would be a trip away, a chance to go and weed out the Turks in a week or so and return home heroes. They didn’t know they were sailing into an awaiting ambush. Two thousand men, some even younger than I, died on that first day at Gallipoli,” she said.
Community representatives then took the chance to lay wreaths at the cenotaph which was surrounded by a sea of little white crosses honouring each service person from our local region which has served our country in conflict and peace keeping missions since World War I.
RSL president John Whiddon then led the crowd in the citing of the Ode to Fallen Comrades before a member of the Thompson’s Foundry Band sounded out the Last Post and community members observed a minute’s silence in remembrance.
Emma Sayer and the Thompson’s Foundry Band then rounded out the service with performances of God Save the King, Advance Australia Fair and God Defend New Zealand.
Those in attendance were invited to join the RSL for morning tea and an Anzac biscuit to follow the service.
Anzac Day Services also took place at Campbells Creek, Chewton, Maldon, Newstead, and Harcourt and last Saturday an Anzac Day match was also contested between Campbells Creek and Carisbrook with Anzac Medals awarded to the Best on Ground and Court on the day.
Maldon Brass Band leads marchers to the cenotaph. 
Colin Peake served in Vietnam, Ray Lindstrom – wearing his father’s medals, and Gordon Tigg who served in Korea are pictured at the Maldon Anzac Day Service. 
Maldon Primary School students pay their respects at the Maldon cenotaph. 
George Milford pays tribute to the fallen at Harcourt’s afternoon Anzac Day service. 
Master of Ceremonies Alan Lane addresses the large crowd gathered at the Castlemaine cenotaph. 
Chewton community members gather to pay their respects at Chewton Soldiers Memorial Park. Photo: Max Lesser. 
Thompson’s Foundry Band perform at the Castlemaine Anzac Day service.
Councillors disappointed by response
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.”
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.
Enter our Trivia Trail competition!
Entries for this competition are now closed. Thanks to all who entered.
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.”