Castlemaine Lions Club celebrated its 50th Anniversary on November 20 with a special gathering at the Lions clubhouse in Kennedy Street, Castlemaine.
Five of the club’s original 21 charter members and a host of other past and present members, their partners and families gathered to celebrate the Lions’ five decades of service to the local community. Lion Ken McKimmie said it was a wonderful celebration as members reminisced about their various initiatives and poured over the club archives and memorabilia on display.
“It was fantastic to look back on all the projects which we have completed in Castlemaine and district over the last 50 years,” he said.
The Lions Club of Castlemaine was officially chartered on March 4, 1972. The first president was Tom Dunne, manager of the ANZ Bank.Over the last 50 years the Lions club has supported everything from youth exchanges to fundraising initiatives for equipment at the local hospital and supported various schools and kindergartens with much needed materials.In the 80s the club also installed coin operated barbecues in Victory Park, welcomed a visit from aspiring Prime Minister Bob Hawke, hosted a snooker championship, and purchased a set of jaws of life for the local SES just to name a few milestones.
One of the biggest success stories has been the establishment of its major fundraiser the Castlemaine Swap Meet which has now been running for 36 years and attracts visitors from far and wide to the annual April fixture.
Of course their crowning achievement to date has been supporting the establishment of the Mount Alexander Accommodation and Respite Group’s (MASARG) Lions McDonald Hill Respite House at McKenzie Hill.
However, their work is never done and in the last few months the Lions donated a dishwasher to the Castlemaine RSL, assisted to complete the training for the first local Australian Lions Hearing Dog homed in Castlemaine, and lent their friends at Rotary a hand with last weekend’s Truck Show.
The friendly local club always welcomes new members to join their ranks. To find out more on what’s involved contact Ken on 0428 721 809.
Lions celebrate 50 years
My Maldon with multitalented artist Anita Sinclair
Anita, you are an incredible painter, sculptor, poet, performer, and teacher, who has specialised in mask and puppetry since the 70s. Can you tell me a bit about what led you to the arts and the work you’ve done since?
I’d worked in theatre since high school and trained originally as an art teacher. I had no desire to teach at that time but found that I loved it. Everything interests me. My central skill is communication- I use whatever medium communicates what I want it to.
For me, puppetry uses all mediums, poetry, woodwork, voice, sculpture, and theatre. People hadn’t seen adult puppet shows in the 70s and I performed cabaret’s based on poetry dealing with adult concepts like a single, middle-aged woman, people of different races, different ages, a burlesque stripper
I wrote The Puppetry Handbook, people call it the ‘puppetry bible’ and I started a puppetry magazine. I also wrote a book of poetry called A Crowded Solitude, The Kite Maker and I’ve just finished a book that I’m now editing called A Wild Surmise about migration to Australia, mostly about the English, but other cultures and races too. It’s based on my story from ages 11-19. It’s a coming-of-age story that ended up being about control and freedom.
You opened a theatre in Richmond. Tell me about that.
I set Living Room up in 1984 because there was nowhere in Melbourne to get dressed up and go out, listen to jazz all night, and go home safely. Not like there was in Paris. Men would send you a long-stemmed rose or a drink but they wouldn’t harass you. In Melbourne, there were mostly fleabag cafes and male behaviour in Australia (when they were drinking) was not great.
I created a place where you could control audience behaviour. There was no alcohol and no smoking.
What a list of achievements! I don’t suppose that left much time for other interests and hobbies?
I have one hobby. Building doll houses. I’ve built two major doll houses. The first is called Tudor House and the second is a 1750s Cornish fisherman’s cottage called Fisherman’s Rest. Each house took 10 years to build, including all the furniture.
I wasn’t sure what to do with the first one so I donated it to the Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. Eventually, it ended up going up for auction to raise money for the cancer ward.
I kept the Cornish house until recently, but I had to move and it is so huge. I’ve given it to a niece in Rosebud who is going to raffle it and use the money to help the homeless.
Are you reading anything at the moment?
I’ve just finished Edgar Wallace. It’s a series about an African Commissioner named Sanders.
Who would your three dream dinner guests be?
John Keats, Copernicus, who put the sun in the centre of the universe, and Judy Dench.
What’s your musical genre of choice?
Classical opera. My favourite is David Hobson.
Do you have any pet peeves?
Human stupidity.
Any philosophies you live by?
Philosophy in itself. I’ve lived for 86 years, I’ve read a lot of stuff, including poets and I look for philosophy in movies and books.
What do you love most about the place you call home?
Maldon has the quality of a village with familiar faces. Everyone acknowledges each other and provides mutual support. The environment is beautiful and the services are adequate.
Labor wins and Maree Edwards returned to office
Labor has returned to government with an increased majority winning 52 of the 45 seats needed in the lower house, compared to the Liberal/Nationals 23 with 64.81 per cent of the vote counted.
Local Bendigo West Labor incumbent Maree Edwards has also been successful in winning a fourth term in office. Fellow Bendigo East Labor party member Jacinta Allan was also returned with a majority vote.
Ms Edwards has been the local member since 2010, and was re-elected in 2014 and 2018.
On Saturday Maree Edwards polled 46.73 per cent of first preference votes, ahead of Liberal candidate Ken Price 24.24 percent, Greens candidate James Searle 12.52 per cent, Legalise Cannabis Victoria candidate Wayne Taylor 5.14 per cent, Family First Victoria candidate Steve Serpell 3.78 per cent, Independent Matt Bansemer 2.77 per cent, Animal Justice Party candidate Victoria Maxwell 2.53 per cent, Freedom Party Victoria candidate Richard Woolley 1.38 per cent and Independent candidate Marilyn Nuske 0.91 per cent.
In the two candidate preferred vote in Bendigo West Labor recorded 65.51 per cent and the Liberal’s 34.39 per cent.
Speaking at Trades Hall Bendigo following the election win, Ms Edwards said she was honoured to be re-elected to represent Bendigo West for the next four years.
“Thank you, to my volunteers, supporters, friends, family, team and our community,” she said.
Placing her vote on Saturday Ms Edwards said a vote for Labor was a vote for free kinder, bringing back the SEC, making V/Line fares fair, expanding free TAFE, more investment in local schools and more action on climate.
Ms Edwards made a raft of local commitments during her election campaign including $4 million to relocate and expand Castlemaine TAFE and $100,000 funding boost to the team at the Maldon Vintage Machinery and Museum (pictured).
God is not dead
Rhys Hall, Castlemaine
Graffiti suggesting the contrary defiles the Johnstone Street railway bridge in Castlemaine. A 1987 experience I had in Bombay showed me God is alive.
Returning to work as a missionary in South Sudan after home leave, I planned to seek the manager of a Christian magazine called STEP in nearby Kenya en route. I was to assist a publishing business in Juba, South Sudan’s capital and wanted permission to reprint STEP articles. Juba youth had shown interest in the few copies reaching them.
The flight involved a 10 hour stopover in Bombay airport, India. Being a large airport there were perhaps 400 seats and most were full but I found an empty one and tried to sleep. A man came up to the person on my right and stood talking, keeping me awake. I offered him my seat and looked for another. It wasn’t easy but eventually I spotted one beside a man sleeping across three seats! I then slept for two hours. Upon waking, the guy was awake sitting next to me and reading a Bible. Contrary to my usual practice, I started to chat with him. He was Haron Wachira, the Manager of Kenya’s STEP magazine. He’d missed a connecting flight and waited in the airport four days.
1 of 23 Million Kenyans. I’m in India. Maybe 400 airport seats. The chance was less than 1 in a billion. God had engineered the meeting.
On reaching Nairobi, my visa to Juba was refused. Would I go home? Inspired by what had happened I started a publishing house in Kenya that produced more than a million schoolbooks and hymnals etc for South Sudan. Haron helped train South Sudanese church workers to write books. God is alive!
Retain our bridge
Tamasine Dale, Castlemaine
Did you know that the Froomes Road single lane bridge is still under threat to be replaced by a two lane bridge?
Did you know that at the council meeting in April 2021 council voted to retain the single lane bridge and is now putting it back on the agenda to take another vote?
Did you know in August 2022 at the council run community consultation process, 98 per cent of attendees voted to retain the single lane bridge?
Did you know in the recent floods the Froomes Road bridge did not flood?
Did you know that the council engineers have assessed the Froomes Road bridge and reported that the bridge, with minor repairs, a new tabletop, new modified guard rails it has an estimate life span of another 40 years’ service?
Did you know that the Froomes Road bridge leads to the beautiful bushland end of the Botanical Gardens where the endangered Eltham Copper butterfly reside, the Powerful Owl pair last year raised two chicks?
Did you know that if a two lane bridge is allowed to be built this will allow large trucks access to this treasured part of Castlemaine, an area relatively untouched for decades?
Did you know that if you travel along Froomes Road it eventually leads to the Bacon factory and the site of the proposed bio mass plant and proposed solar farm?
We all know that if every historic bridge were to be replaced in the name of progress that countries like England and Europe would look very different today. These countries know the value of maintaining their heritage.
Please councillors’ consider the wildlife, consider the heritage of Castlemaine and vote to keep our single lane bridge the community will thank you.
End the nonsense
Trevor Scott, Castlemaine
Six years ago I was writing letters to this newspaper about climate change, and suggesting what we could do to turn it around. Fast forward to November 2022 and I find to my astonishment, that instead of decreasing, carbon emissions have actually increased, and we are in the worst climate crisis ever. If you watch the national news you’ll know that floods, fires and extreme weather events are not confined to Australia; they are everywhere in the world. United Nations has tried to address this; but now, 11 COP’s (Conferences of the Parties) after Paris in 2015, when world leaders agreed to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees C, a catastrophic 2-3 degrees rise is predicted.
Six years ago, I was a part of a huge campaign to stop the Adani coal mine. Today, although not yet actually producing any coal, this coal mine is going ahead in central Queensland.
The Northern Rivers area of NSW has had a one in a hundred year flood, not once, but five times this year and yet, almost unbelievably, one of the big four Australian banks has plans to lend billions of dollars to a big coal company so that it can embark on yet another huge coal mining project.
The big question for me is are we going to continue to act like lemmings, heading steadily towards the jumping off point, high on the clifftop; or are we going to step up and demand that our government puts an end to this nonsense?
Convoy to roll into Campbells Creek for Truck Show
The HHA & Larsen’s Castlemaine Rotary Truck Show returns to the Campbells Creek Recreation Reserve this weekend, November 26-27.
Among the truckers set to support this weekend’s event is Newstead local Hayley Leech of Foure Mile Transport.
The 21-year-old is a third generation trucker and began her career with her family company at 19.
“It was something I always wanted to do,” Hayley said.
“I got my Heavy Combination Licence and did a year in a tray-truck learning the trade. It was a brilliant way to learn. I gained some valuable lessons, finding my way around the truck and also streets in Melbourne, Sydney and further afield.
“I made notes about streets and where I could and couldn’t go to prepare for when I stepped up to the semis,” Hayley said.
In August 2021 she began driving semi trailers and regularly hauls freight to Adelaide, Sydney and central New South Wales.
As she grows in confidence and experience she aims to branch out to longer hauls to Brisbane, Bathhurst and Perth.
Hayley said the relationships that her father Malcolm has built in the industry has helped pave the way for her and her older brother Joel who also drives for the company.
“I’ve had a lot of support out there on the road, and friends of Dad have helped me out securing loads or with mechanical issues along the way. The trucking community is like one big family. Everyone looks out for each other,” she said.
Hayley said that some of her highlights to date have been seeing the Great Australian Bight, visiting central Australia and also Townsville.
In the future she would love to have the opportunity to go up north and drive road trains.
“It would be amazing, no pavement, no services just being left to your own devices and having to make it work,” she said.
“I’d also love to drive across America”.
Hayley said she has fond memories of visiting the annual Rotary Truck Show as a child and it’s great to be able to experience the event from the other perspective.
“I love being part of the Sunday morning convoy and seeing the grins on the kids’ faces when they see the trucks go by. It’s great to see the younger generation taking an interest in the industry,” she said.
“I’d really encourage other young women to give trucking a crack if they have the opportunity. You will face challenges, you will make mistakes but the job can be extremely rewarding,” she said.
After two years of modified covid programming this weekend’s Truck Show will feature a full schedule of events and raise important funds to assist Rotary to support community groups and events.
Truck owners from all over Australia will have the chance to win trophies across 10 categories plus Saturday’s Best on Ground and Rig of the Show with a $1,000 cash prize.
Great entertainment will be provided for the whole family over the weekend with free admission for children under 16 years. Live music. Free children’s rides and activities. Full catering and a bar are provided on site.
Special guests will be Peter Coad, the Coad Sisters, and the Jim Hermel Band live on stage Saturday November 26 from 5-8pm and again on Sunday, along with other performers. Bring a chair, sit back and take in the action. A crowd favourite is always the annual convoy of trucks from Castlemaine to the Campbells Creek Recreation Reserve commencing at 9am on Sunday.
For entries and online ticket sales go to: http://castlemainetruckshow.com/
Black Apple Theatre to premiere ‘Thrive’ tonight
Castlemaine-based company Black Apple Theatre are excited to launch their latest show ‘Thrive: Queer voices, out loud’ at the Castlemaine Goods Shed tonight!
The theatre company has been busy gathering true stories from the LGBTQIA+ community in Central Victoria, and have shaped them into the play, which will premiere in Castlemaine this weekend, November 25 and 26.
Director Cheyney Caddy (she/they) said they’ve been working on Thrive for two years now.
“It’s been such a labour of love and I couldn’t be more excited to share this work with audiences,” Cheyney said.
“I think when you become a theatre-maker everyone starts with the idea that they want to change the world for the better, and then as you gain experience you learn how rare an opportunity that actually is; once in a lifetime, if you’re lucky. Thrive is my once in a lifetime. I know this work is going to make a difference,” Cheyney said.
Thrive interweaves the real-life journeys of five LGBTQIA+ Victorians, three over 65+ and two 25 year olds, into a powerful piece of theatre that explores the way the generations are connected by love, humour, resilience and a fierce determination to create a more equitable future for their community.
Described by its makers as a work made ‘for community, by community,’ all of the artists and performers working on Thrive identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community, which gives them a unique connection into the stories they are telling.
Discussion panels with the cast and creative team will be run after each performance.
The Castlemaine premiere of Thrive was made possible by funding from the Department of Premier and Cabinet Pride Events and Festivals Fund and the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund.
Following on from the local performances ‘Thrive: Queer voices, out loud’ will also feature at the 2023 Midsumma Festival in Melbourne from January 24-28. For tickets visit www.blackappletheatre.com
HARRIS, John
John Weetman Harris was born in Castlemaine on February 13th, 1937. He began his schooling at Castlemaine North Primary School, and attended Castlemaine High School for two years, before completing his secondary education at Wesley College, where his studies had a focus on business.
Peter, John’s brother, said John was a talented cricketer in his youth, playing with Guildford Cricket Club for seven years, winning two premierships, and Castlemaine United Cricket Club for more than 15 years, winning four premierships.
“He was an all-rounder, but predominantly a batsman. He represented the local region at Country Week competitions in Bendigo and Melbourne.”
When John completed his schooling, his grandfather Wright Harris encouraged him to join the family business, The Castlemaine Bacon Company. He was the first member of the fourth generation of the family to join the company. Peter remembers John had always spent a lot of time at the factory as a boy, helping out in school holidays. After formally starting work as an 18-year-old, fresh out of school, he quickly set about learning all the different areas of the business from the floor, the products, logistics, finances and in a short time he was running the place.
When he began work there were 15 employees, and in 2005, when the business was sold, it employed over 1200 people, including distribution depots throughout Australia. He stayed with the business for a further three years, sharing his expertise, before retiring in 2008.
John worked hard to develop the company, making it a household name Australia wide, always emphasizing the importance of our products having a good and consistent quality.
John also built good relationships with his staff and appreciated their contribution. He was often quoted as saying “You can’t have a good business without good people”.
Travelling overseas, John enjoyed researching new manufacturing equipment to progress the business and make production more efficient.
In the 1980’s the company purchased a new slaughter line from Germany, enabling the business to process 1500 pigs per day, to meet the ever-growing demand.
In the 1990’s the business expanded into salami production after purchasing the latest salami manufacturing equipment from Italy.
David, John’s son, said his father also worked to address supply by establishing two large piggeries at Bears Lagoon and Girgarre.
Along the way the company also bought other smallgoods companies, and kept those brands circulating in the market.
“We were proud to have been selected by Aldi to supply its stores, when it established itself in Australia,” recalls David.
In addition to his successful working life John is also fondly remembered for his love of travel, and family holidays.
He was a respected member of the Rotary Club of Castlemaine for 28 years, and through the business also sponsored and supported various community events, including the Castlemaine and District Agricultural Show annual Fireworks Display, and the Castlemaine State Festival.
John was farewelled with a service at the Church of Christ on November 15th.
He is survived by his wife Erika, and his children Ross, Kathryn, David, Mark, Krysley, Klyne and Kyrah, grandchildren Katie, Ruby Spencer, Rhys, Ryley, Reuben, Bridie and Zahli, and great grandson Charlie.
My Castlemaine with painter and sculptor Lesley Thornton
You originally studied and worked as a civil engineer, what led you to a career in the arts?
I was poorly advised at high school. In those days they advised everyone to be a geologist and I wasn’t suited to it. I got sick of civil engineering and moved into the arts. My first job was as a prop designer at a lead department store in Brisbane.
I moved to Melbourne because I heard it was the centre of the arts scene in Australia.
I started out doing a sort of collage painting, then I moved into acrylics and oils. I had a couple of exhibitions in Melbourne and Brisbane.
You moved to Castlemaine in 1972, what was that like?
It was a place that made artists welcome, even in those days. I was introduced to other artists, potters, and musicians.
It was difficult to find a job, so I created one. I set up as a sign writer, painter, decorator, and paper hanger. I did that for a few years and then in 1980, I was offered a job managing the Theatre Royal. I did that for almost 20 years, working with Ray Lindstrom. He ran the nightclub and I ran the cinema.
During the 80s, hundreds of cinemas were closing around the country, but we were committed to keeping the theatre open.
After that, I worked at the theatre as a projectionist and did stage lighting.
What are you up to at the moment?
I usually prefer to work out in the bush, the hills, cliffs, and trees but at the moment I’m making sculptures out of lights and double adaptors.
I live with my partner Tracey Naughton who is a fabric artist and fellow political activist. We made a piece together called, ‘Redpoles’. I designed it using electrical cords and Tracey did the weaving. It took hundreds of hours.
Have you got any other interests?
History and beauty. In fact, that’s what caught my attention at first about Castlemaine. The seasons are so special, autumn and spring, we didn’t have that in Queensland. And I love the respect for the built environment.
What music do you enjoy?
I actually played electric bass in bands many years ago, playing make-it-up-as-you-go-along jazz. My tastes are eclectic, I like opera and jazz and Miles Davis and Joan Sutherland.
What are you reading at the moment?
Rob Murdoch’s new book Finchie. It’s gripping.
What are your pet peeves?
The unchecked proliferation of plants and animals that are upsetting the continent. If we allow introduced pests in our country we’re not honouring or caring for the first people or their country.
Who would your three dream dinner guests be and what would you talk about?
Germain Greer, Paul Keating, and my son Lock, so he can do the cooking and join in the conversation.
I’d prefer to listen first before asking questions. I like to size up the situation before I make a fool of myself.
I wish I could learn to do that! Any philosophies by which you like to lead life?
Live every day as your last.
That’s a fantastic way to live. Finally, what do you love about the place you call home?
People generally say it’s friendly, but I like the fact that widely different social groups of people can live harmoniously together.
Maldon-based horse wins again
Nine-year-old Hot Seat notched up his tenth race win when he was successful at Swan Hill last Sunday.
Hot Seat was ridden by Dean Yendall in the 0-58 Handicap, and the $7 chance came from midfield to win the 1600m event by just under a length. Maldon based co-trainers Brian and Ashley McKnight have enjoyed a great run with Hot Seat, with his race earnings now totalling $219,940.
South Castlemaine Kinder celebrates 50 years
The South Castlemaine Kindergarten celebrated their 50th anniversary with a special event at the Etty Street centre on Tuesday afternoon.
The celebrations were attended by past and present staff members, parents and students and also by former Mayor Peter Skilbeck and newly appointed mayor Cr Rosie Annear.
The celebrations began with a barbecue catered for by the parents club and a couple of dances by the kinder students, followed by a welcome by South Castlemaine Kindergarten educational leader Amber Smolak.
Ms Smolak said the kinder was built thanks to the support of the local community and was run by a volunteer committee of management until 18 years ago when management of the kinder was taken over by the YMCA.
However, the kinder continues to receive wonderful support from its parents group and Mount Alexander Shire Council.
“We were pleased to install a new kitchen and bathroom in 2015 and have undertaken extensive ground improvements in recent years,” she said.
As part of the occasion Mr Skilbeck, former Kinder Director Jean Everett and assistant Helen Butterworth were invited to unveil the contents of a time capsule they buried at the kindergarten to mark the new century back in the year 2000.
Among the items discovered in the capsule was a copy of our sister paper the Midland Express from Tuesday May 27, 2000, a Mount Alexander Shire keyring and art works created by students which attended the centre 22 years ago.
The art works detailed each student’s favourite toy, food and what they wanted to be when they grew up.
Mr Skilbeck had also added a drawing which stated he wanted to be ‘alive’, his favourite toy was his ride-on mower and his favourite food was fish and salad.
“It still is!” he laughed.
Among the other guests were inaugural committee member Lyn Timmins and Ballarat YMCA general manager Marg Harrison.
Ms Harrison said the kinder recently underwent assessment and she was confident they will pass with flying colours following an ‘exceeds expectations’ last time around.
Marg congratulated staff and families on their wonderful support of the centre over the last 50 years.
“We can’t wait to see what you achieve in the next 50!” Ms Harrison said.
Ms Smolak said the kindergarten is already at capacity for 2023.
“We currently have a waiting list and with the ongoing support of the community the future looks bright,” she said.
The current kinder community plan to create a new time capsule to be opened at the centre in 20 years time.