An innovative project aimed at fixing up caravans to provide accommodation for homeless youth is among those to share in the latest round of Mount Alexander Shire Council community grants funding.
All up 15 successful applicants for funding under the second round of the council’s community grants program were confirmed at Tuesday’s evening council meeting and will now share in just under $50,000 to make their projects happen.
The innovative Caravan Fix Me Up project, overseen by Goldfields LLEN, clinched a $7909 partnership grant.
“This is a collaborative project between LLEN, the Castlemaine Secondary College and Dhelkaya Health, and is about fixing up two caravans to provide accommodation for homeless youth to use,” Cr Rosie Annear said.
Cr Annear also highlighted Dhelkaya Health’s TGD Binders Project which has secured $2800 in grant money – “to create a safe space for trans and gender diverse folks”.
“These are just a taste of the projects,” Cr Annear said.
Other groups to clinch a share of the grant dollars to help make their visions reality include the Mount Alexander Net Zero Working group which has secured a $3000 grant towards its The Big Switch project.
Other diverse successful applicants ranged from Castlemaine Events-Castlemaine Social Cinema which got $3000 to help deliver Guildford Social Cinema, to the North Castlemaine Cricket Club which got $3000 for a turf mower to maintain its reserve.
The latest round under the council’s community grants program received 22 applications requesting $76,149 from the community grants budget of $50,000.
“We receive a lot of these applications,” Cr Annear said.
“This is a really great program,”
This time round, of the 22 applications, 20 small grant applications and two partnership grant applications were received with all 22 applicants assessed as eligible.
Caravan ‘fix me up’ projects clinches grant dollars to help homeless youth
My Castlemaine with jazz fest mover and shaker Calum McClure
Hi Calum. You’re known far and wide for your role in making the annual Castlemaine Jazz Festival a reality. How did that come about?
I was managing the old Castlemaine Gaol and then the jazz committee approached us about using the venue and so my involvement with the jazz festival started through the old gaol being a venue. I joined the committee and then they asked me to be the chair. So here I am.
So are you currently president of the festival committee?
Actually we just had our AGM and I’ve just stepped down. I’m still a committee member. I’m now the treasurer and we’ve got a new president who is actually Lyndal McClure – my mother (laughs).
The McClures obviously appreciate their jazz! Are you a family of jazz buffs?
I’m probably the big jazz fan. I’m a saxophone player, but mum loves the big bands and the dancing.
Ah, a sax player. Do you play with any particular group at the moment?
I played at school and while I was at uni a little bit, but then work – I’m an audio technician – sort of took over…
OK. Can you tell us a bit about what your work entails?
I work for the City of Greater Bendigo in Bendigo venues and events. So I’m the fulltime audio technician for Ulumbarra and the Capital.
That would be pretty exciting. So you probably get to see some pretty amazing shows?
Yes… Over the last fortnight we’ve just had Bangarra Dance, the illusionist, Spellbound, a big rock n roll night and a play which was a really beautiful story of a Chinese boy coming from Adelaide to Ballarat during the goldrush.
Great fringe benefits.
Sometimes you can sit and enjoy the show. Other times you run around. IT’s all part of the job.
Interesting line of work… but you are actually live here in Castlemaine don’t you?
Yes. Born and bred.
Have you ever lived anywhere else?
I lived in Melbourne, did some time studying, and then I lived in Belfast in the UK for seven years and worked for an audio company in Belfast, and then travelled and did work in Scotland and England.
Great. What was that like. I’m assuming it was great?
It was. Belfast is sort of similar to Geelong. It’s not a London but it’s a big enough town, and because it’s so close to England you still get the big touring bands and rock bands. I worked for a company that supplied audio into two or three major venues.
OK, any other community involvements in this part of the world?
Well I assist Rotary quite a bit with the audio for the Rotary truck show. I do audio for the carols every year, and help out wherever I can…
Any other particular interests keeping you busy Calum?
Yes I’m an avid motorbike rider… adventure (trail) bike riding, so that’s my little hobby on the side.
Sounds like a good way to get out and about. OK, any philosophies by which you like to lead life?
When I was young I was part of the Rotary Youth Exchange program and their mantra is that ‘it’s not better, it’s not worse, it’s just different’ and I think that’s something that’s stuck with me a long time, especially when you’re going to live in different cultures.
Nice one! Three dream dinner guests?
I suppose it would be Tom Waits, Charlie Parker and John Coltrane.
Pet Peeves?
(Laughs) Where do you start? I suppose if my wife was here she’d probably rattle off a giant list.. I can’t think of one off the top of my head.
Musical genre of choice?
I clearly have a big interest in jazz but because of my job I enjoy lots of different genres. Folk, bluegrass, and stuff like that as well… The big band stuff is probably one of my favourite. Stuff like Maynard Ferguson or some of the really modern big bands during the ’80s and ’90s that did amazing stuff….
Thanks for mentioning. What are you reading at the moment?
I’m not a big reader. I’m more of podcast guy. So I do a lot of listening to podcasts. My favourite one is Radio Lab which is an American science podcast…
Just finally then Calum, what do you enjoy most about the place you call home?
I suppose it’s the uniqueness of the cultures in Castlemaine. I love the fact that you’ve still got your sort of older traditional people who come from the farming and blue collar backgrounds, then you’ve got the arts community, the hot rodders and the culture that comes out of the trucking companies … all these different amazing cultures and we all seem to be able to get along most of the time.
Castlemaine author Ellie Marney visits the US for launch of new book The Killing Code
Castlemaine multi-award-winning crime author Ellie Marney is in the US this week for the worldwide release of her latest book The Killing Code based on the inspirational story of the role of female allied codebreakers in World War II.
Prior to jetting off to promote her latest work the local writer, teacher and mother of four sat down with the Mail to chat about her new offering.
The Killing Code is a thrilling standalone historical fiction novel from the author of None Shall Sleep – which recently hit the top 10 on the New York Times bestseller list.
Ellie said everyone knows about Alan Turing’s codebreaking efforts during the war, made popular by Benedict Cumberbatch in The Imitation Game. But what people don’t realise is that 70 per cent of the codebreakers at Bletchley Park in the UK and Arlington Hall in the US during World War II were female, and the average age of these female codebreakers was just 19.
The author says that while Alan Turing’s achievements were rightly celebrated, the thousands of women who did much of the “grunt work” and likely help save more than 15 million lives during the war were not permitted to talk about their top-secret work until it was declassified in the mid-1970s. Some of these incredible codegirls took the secrets to their graves.
Ellie said she first heard about the codegirls of Bletchley Park in the UK after seeing the television mini-series The Bletchley Circle.
Fascinated she began researching the codegirls and learned about Arlington Hall.
“The strange ways they were recruited was what first fascinated me about them,” Ellie said.
“They were asked two questions ‘Do you like crosswords?’ and ‘Are you in a relationship?’ Unattached women with an affinity for crosswords, mathematics, science, astronomy or even poetry, language and music were promoted to the next phase of the recruitment process. They needed those who could recognise and identify patterns,” she said.
Ellie discovered that Arlington Hall used to be a ladies finishing school, before being turned into a signal intelligence school.
She wanted to create a novel about these forgotten women of history, centred on a group of smart, stylish, capable and talented young female codebreakers – through the lens of a queer love story. She was in part inspired by real-life historical figure Ann Caracristi, a queer woman who later became the first female deputy director of the America’s National Security Agency.
Ellie’s story follows Kit Sutherland, a young female codebreaker at Arlington Hall who joins forces with other female codebreakers Dottie, Moya and Violet to hunt a vicious murderer.
“It was a really unusual time, not just because of the war but socially. Women were allowed to work, they were allowed to wear pants for the first time. It was a really dynamic time and when the war ended they were expected to just go back to the way things were before. Many like Ann didn’t. They were trailblazers,” she said.
Ellie said she was looking forward to undertaking her first trip to the US to promote the book, incredible considering three of her novels have now been based there.
“Many of my books have been set in places that most people are not permitted to visit such as an FBI training facility, US Marine base Quantico and Arlington Hall, so the description of these places has been largely left to the imagination.
“However, I am really look forward to visiting Vermont up near Canada and conducting research for my next novel,” she said.
Ellie launched The Killing Code with an appearance with a reading and book signing at Books Of Wonder in New York City on Tuesday.
“I also look forward to having a Melbourne launch at Readings in Carlton next Thursday, September 29.”
Locals can get their hands on a copy of The Killing Code at Stonemans Bookroom and online.
Honouring a legend of the screen Uncle Jack Charles
Castlemaine’s Theatre Royal has been invited to screen the documentary film Bastardy in honour of the late, great Uncle Jack Charles, this Saturday September 24.
The Royal will be one of three cinemas, along with Nova and the Thornbury Picture House, to screen this film as a tribute to Uncle Jack.
Uncle Jack was a frequent visitor, performer and speaker at the Theatre Royal. His wisdom, warmth, cheek and generosity made him a real national treasure, who was as talented as he was fearless. A true role model for all and proud Dja Dja Wurrung man.
Provocative, funny and profoundly moving, Bastardy is the inspirational story of a self-proclaimed Robin Hood of the streets.
For 40 years and with infectious humour and optimism, Jack Charles juggled a life of crime with another successful career – acting.
Since founding the first Aboriginal theatre company in the 1970s, Jack performed with Australia’s most renowned actors and directors in feature films, TV series and hundreds of plays.
Filmmaker Amiel Courtin-Wilson followed Jack over seven years – gradually blurring the line between director and accomplice as Jack continually traversed the criminal and acting worlds. However, when the law finally caught up with Jack, he was forced to decide if he could leave the life of crime behind. Bastardy is the story of one man’s journey into the light.
Bastardy will screen at 7.30pm this Saturday September 24. Tickets available via website: theatreroyalcastlemaine.com.au/special-cinema-events
Camp Reserve design survey closes today
The Camp Reserve Committee of Management is calling for the public to have their say on the draft design of the sporting precinct’s new pavilion and multipurpose courts before the survey closes later today, September 22.
Commenting in response to the recent alternative plan for the reserve issued by a group of local residents (Mail September 9), Camp Reserve committee of management president Trevor Butcher said with the Camp’s Master Plan settled in 2020, the long overdue upgrade to the town’s premier sporting facility is close to being finalised. Only the design of the buildings is yet to be settled.
“It has taken nearly a decade to get to this stage and now that the master plan is complete and we know where all the pieces fit, we are moving on to presenting the new architecturally designed plans for the many users of the space,” Mr Butcher said.
“The design centralises all the facilities and provides a more inclusive and safer precinct. This will be the first major change since the 1950s,” he said.
“The biggest change people will notice is the new pavilion to be built on the Gingell Street side of the reserve – a nod to history that returns spectators to the western side where the grandstand stood until it burnt down 70 years ago.”
Mr Butcher says the placement of this new and much needed facility suits the space and gives a central point for all users to access the amenities.
“The best place to watch sports is from the wing so the new pavilion will give a far better viewing opportunity, just as it did originally so many years ago,” Mr Butcher said.
“A two-storey building in the current location was considered but just not feasible. It would be more expensive, it wouldn’t be accessible to everyone, and it would leave the pavilion in the path of a flood just as we had only a few years ago.”
Mr Butcher said the plans also make the space more inclusive of all sports and will give a particular boost to women’s involvement. “The multipurpose courts put women’s sport, especially netball, front and centre of the reserve, giving them better access to facilities and better viewing for spectators. In moving with the times, and with women’s football on the rise after the Castlemaine women’s team won the Bendigo Football League premiership this year, the new building will provide improved facilities for women to encourage greater participation.
“Castlemaine is so fortunate to have green spaces such as the Botanical Gardens, skateboarding areas and all other spaces to cater to community needs. For more than a century, the Camp Reserve’s main purpose has been sport and this plan brings many sports together to create a wonderful atmosphere that is considerate of all users,” Mr Butcher said.
“A major use of the Camp since 1854 has been the annual Castlemaine Show. This plan better caters to the bigger vehicles and increased pedestrian use that the show brings, as well as making the whole areas safer at night time,” he said.
The master plan formalises carparking and stops people driving the length of the reserve to the current pavilion that is positioned far from the entrance.
“We’re returning the pavilion to the original side of the reserve, which enables us to widen the oval, as well as including a path on the creekside, and retaining a majority of trees in the area. All of the historic elm trees will be preserved,” Mr Butcher said.
“At this point, we want people’s input into the architect’s design for the buildings. We know where things are going and we want to design something that looks and works best for the variety of users of this wonderful community facility.”
The plans can be viewed and the feedback survey completed at: https://shape.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/CampReserve
Castlemaine Goldfields FC Matildas march on to Super Cup Finals
Last Saturday September 10 saw Castlemaine Goldfields Football Clubs U14 and U12 Girls squads contesting for a place in the BASL Super Cup Finals at Chewton Soldiers Memorial Field.
In two fiercely contested games both teams came away with solid wins against the opponents with the U14 Matildas Gold taking a 5-1 victory over Epson while U12 Matildas Green won 7-1 vs local rivals Kyneton.
Elsewhere CGFC U12 Gold had a tough trip up to Moama with hope of pulling of a win vs the Border Raiders that would secure them a spot in the Super Cup Final too. Unfortunately it was quite to be with the team missing out 4-2.
This means CGFC will be represented by U14 Gold in the U14 A Final vs Spring Gully (11:15am), U14 Matildas Gold take on Spring Gully in the U14 Girls (9:30am) and U12 Matildas Gold take on Epsom in the U12 Girls (11am) comp.
All games are being played at Epsom Huntley Reserve with trophies for the both the League and Super Cup handed out after the games, please get along to support the club.
Harcourt Lions finalists ready for action
The Harcourt Football Netball Club would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of our tireless committee members and volunteers. As with all country clubs, we rely heavily on the efforts of such people and the three teams who’ve made it to the grand final this Saturday have done so due to the huge amount of work you have put in. We would also like to wish all clubs competing on Saturday the very best of luck, and we congratulate you all on magnificent seasons.
The Senior footballers continued to play a great brand of team oriented football which has seen them through to their first grand final since 2007! Our captain, Kayne Davidson, won the toss and kicked with the wind in the first quarter. The boys had the majority of the play but some inaccurate kicking let them down. Their tackling pressure came to the fore in the second and they were able to hold a powerful Natte forward line scoreless while kicking a couple of goals against the breeze. Coaches Code and Wridgway stressed how important it was for the players to maintain their pressure in the second half and they weren’t let down with some big tackles being laid. At three quarter time, the lead was out to 46 points and it proved to be enough for the boys to go through to the big dance! Darby Semmens, the Frosts, Mark Noonan and Alex Code played fantastic games and we’re looking forward to them backing it up again this weekend as we take on the mighty Carisbrook Redbacks. It’s sure to be a great game of footy and win lose or draw, we’re proud of the effort the boys have put in this year!
In the netball, our 15 and Under side were in impressive form in the preliminary final, these cubs have been incredibly consistent from start to finish this season. They’re incredibly versatile throughout the squad, showing great depth and great signs for the future at Harcourt. We know they’ll do us proud tomorrow against a strong Maldon.
C Grade remained collected in Saturday’s game, Trentham didn’t give up but the Lions held possession from start to end. Slowly breaking away each quarter. It’s going to be a tightly contested game Saturday and we know we’re going to have to give it 100% for the whole match, without error to overcome the formidable Avoca.
B Grade unfortunately had their last match of the season going down to Carisbrook in the preliminary final. Despite the Lions not giving up to the very end it wasn’t to be. We’re still very proud of their efforts and how they have represented the club this season.
We’d love to see all our loyal supporters back at the den to celebrate what has been an incredible year. For more on the Harcourt Lions grand final squads see pages 28, 29 and 30 of today’s paper.
Maldon young guns do club proud
That concludes the final week of finals for Maldon Football Netball Club and we are off to the Grand Final! What a big weekend for our junior finalists, we have our U14.5’s Football, U15s Netball and U17s Netball going through to the Grand Final! Unfortunately, our U17.5s Footballers had a devastating loss – but they fought hard all season and even more in their final match. As a club we are so proud to have some of our junior teams represent us on the field and court. We wish all players, coaches and officials the very best on the day and we can’t wait to see the action. If you can make it over to Princes Park to support our teams and the club the times are as follows:
Saturday September 17 U14.5 vs Talbot @ 9.20am; U15s Netball vs Harcourt @ 9.45am; and U17s Netball vs Rovers @11.00am.
Football
It wasn’t to be for the Under 17.5s going down to Talbot 35 to 43. Sadly, our gun ruckman and forward who was dominating the game got an injury just before half time and unfortunately didn’t get back on the field. It seemed to have an effect on the rest of the team as they felt the extra pressure to continue to perform and fill another gap in the field. Talbot fighting back to take the lead and dominate the second half to take out the win.
Best on were Xavior Noy, Harry Cossens, Callum Buchanan, Bailey O’Dell, Finian McKenzie, Charlie Baker.
Under 14.5s
With Navarre coming with only 15 players, we had a match that tested the team endurance and skill.
The team started well, kicking the first couple of goals for the game. The pressure of the finals slowly took over as Navarre hit back with a couple of goals. To the team’s credit after a pep talk during half time they relied together, showed determination and kicked a couple more goals in a row to seal the deal and make it to their first grand final with a 47 to 31 win.
Best on were Tadgh Cananzi, Riley Skinner, Ryan Burchall, Angus Layne, Brodie Doyle and Tully Rowbottom.
Netball
The U17 netballers had a very windy day to contend with on Saturday as they entered the preliminary final. With a loss to Carisbrook by one goal during the year the game was set for a blockbuster and that was exactly how it started and finished in the first quarter with the Maldon girls leading just 4 to Carisbrook 3. The second quarter seen the Maldon team kick into gear and were leading coming off the second quarter 10 – 5. The second half was an excellent combination of teamwork and the girls were able to create many turnovers registering on the scoreboard. It was a dominate second half by the Maldon team to finishing the game with a commanding 22-8 win to advance to the Grand Final for 2022.
Best was Tahlia Peaslee with her work around the ring and excellent ability to force turnovers in the attacking zone.
The U15s were very slow out the blocks with the two weeks off showing in the first quarter Carisbrook taking the lead 7-4. The second quarter seen a fight back by the Maldon team with many intercepts and excellent defensive structure the teams were able to turn the tables and lead 15 – 11 going into the third quarter. The next two quarters were very level pegging and both teams were eager for the win. However, the always determined and fighting ability of the U15’s girls that has been dominate this year in their games
shone through and the Maldon girls were able to take the win by 4 goals 25-21 advancing through to the Grand Final for 2022.
Best were MacKenzi Shepherd for her ability to intercept and determination to succeed always for her team.
Best of luck our three teams this weekend! Go Dons!
Remembering our Queen
Robyn Yeoward, Harcourt North
Last Friday I began placing flowers on the left panel of my front gate as I left home (pictured). I will keep adding another bloom each time I go out, until Her Royal Highness’s funeral.
The message is “I’m missing you and thank you so very much for being so nice, kind, friendly and a wonderful role model. Are other daughters leaving flowers on their front gates in memory HRH?
A royal welcome
Winsome Holland, Castlemaine
I remember being a 13-year-old and very exited as the Queen was coming to town. The council had built a platform outside the station and decorated it with shrubs and flowers.
Suddenly polio hit the town and she was not allowed to get off the train to visit us. Being a high school student we were all herded down to the station platform to await the arrival of her train.
Around the bend it came and made its way through the station very slowly and we all cheered as she and her husband stood on the platform at the end of her carriage and gave us a wave.
30th anniversary exhibition for Goldfields Quilters
Goldfields Quilters will celebrate their 30th anniversary with a special exhibition at the Castlemaine Town Hall this weekend, September 17 and 18.
The exhibition will include trader displays, a members challenge, trading table and more.
At the event, the award-winning group quilt that picked up a first place ribbon at the Victorian Quilters Showcase will be raffled off.
The beautiful applique work for the quilt was carried out by foundation member Lynn Jenkins and the quilt was completed by group members.
The exhibition will be open from 10-5pm Saturday and 10am to 4pm Sunday. Admission is $7.
The Goldfields Quilters gather fortnightly at the Castlemaine Golf Club to enjoy quilting, conversation and share tips. To find out more about the local group call Pattie on 0439 490 416.
Melbourne Mandolin Orchestra to present ‘Harmony on Lyttleton Street’
After the disappointing last minute cancellation of its concert at the Castlemaine State Festival in March last year due to torrential rainfall, the Melbourne Mandolin Orchestra is coming back to perform a concert in the Phee Broadway Theatre on Sunday October 2.
The concert’s title ‘Harmony on Lyttleton Street’ relates to a work being performed during the concert and which was composed by Michelle Nelson, a gifted composer and former member of the orchestra. She was inspired to write this piece about 12 years ago after visiting two other orchestra members who were Castlemaine residents living in a cottage in Lyttleton Street in Castlemaine.
Other composers whose works will be performed include Venezuelan Ricardo Sandoval, American composers John Goodin and Robert Martel, Timotheos Arvanitakis from the Greek Islands, Australians Stephen Lalor, and German composers Kurt Schwaen and Elke Tober-Vogt. The ‘Klezmer Suite’ by the last named composer will feature three talented soloists Brendon Payne on percussion and two from central Victoria – Andy Rigby, well known multi-instrumentalist, playing accordion for this piece and young Haley Goddefroy, a whiz on clarinet! This latest repertoire of the Melbourne Mandolin Orchestra is very diverse and exciting!
The Melbourne Mandolin Orchestra, now in its 54th year of performing concerts and currently conducted by Kent Ross, is no stranger to Castlemaine and Bendigo, having performed to sell-out audiences at several past Castlemaine State Festivals.
Back in the 1970s it conducted a number of very popular ‘mandolin camps’ in Bendigo which ultimately led to the formation of FAME – the Federation of Australasian Mandolin Ensembles (ww.fame.asn.au). This organisation has continued the tradition started by the Melbourne Mandolin Orchestra and regular conducts Mandolin Festivals in capital cities around Australia and New Zealand, the next planned for January 2023 in Perth.
The Melbourne Mandolin Orchestra has toured several times in Europe and Japan, has competed with dramatic success at the inaugural International Mandolin Orchestra competition in Eupen, Belgium, and released six CDs in recent years. Copies of the CDs will be available for sale at the concert in early October. If you are interested in future concerts please visit the orchestra’s website at www.melbournemandolinorchestra.org.au
Tickets are available online via Trybooking at https://www.trybooking.com/CBYWQ or at the door before the concert which commences at 2.30pm.
The Melbourne Mandolin Orchestra will entertain you and charm you. Don’t miss this very special event!
New era begins for Chewton wildlife sanctuary following ‘hard yakka’ merger
Merging two thriving educational wildlife parks is not a job for the faint-hearted. Fortunately Chewton’s Tehree and Hamish Gordon are anything but faint-hearted and over the past six months that’s exactly what they’ve been doing.
Following an earlier decision to sell their long running Jirrahlinga Dingo Conservation Wildlife Education Centre property at Barwon Heads, the couple and their enthusiastic team have spent the last few months overseeing the physical merger of the popular coastal sanctuary with Chewton’s own Dingo Conservation Centre, which they also own.
“It’s been hard yakka,” Tehree told the Mail this week.
Shifting the entire merged operation to Chewton, they’ve relocated both animals and staff to the local educational sanctuary, and are now keen to show off recent renovations and share details about their new program of educational tours and work placement opportunities.
Supported by state government funding during COVID, the local centre has a wide range of native wildlife and a strong focus on education including a junior ranger program.
It now annually receives hundreds of requests from wildlife conservation and veterinary science students from around the world, keen to do work experience placements on site to learn more about Australia’s unique wildlife.
“We get hundreds of requests each year from places like the UK, Canada, China, Japan, the US, as well as national students,” Tehree says.
“It’s an amazing opportunity for us to work with students.
“We also work with people with special needs,” Tehree says.
“Due to personal health circumstances we decided to amalgamate and we have sold the Barwon Heads site and over the last six months we have relocated everything to Chewton.
“Some of our animals from Barwon Heads have come here (to Chewton) and some have gone out to other wildlife parks until we are ready to have them here as well.”
