Circus Mania has struck Castlemaine with the inaugural circus festival kicking off with a massive opening night extravaganza last night and continuing through until this Sunday November 20.With ‘Big Tops and Tiny Tots’ for the youngsters, ‘Suitcase Circus’ for families and international offering ‘Rouge’ for the adults.
Circus Mania co-organiser and Suitcase Circus member Caz Walsh, Rouge performers Paul Westbrook and Jessie McKibbin and Suitcase Circus performer Maddy Burleigh urge the community to get along to enjoy the festivities which will feature local, national and international talent. For tickets visit circusmania.com.au
Circus Mania hits Castlemaine as festival opens!
Locals scoop Music Victoria nominations
Nominations for the public-voted categories of the Music Victoria Awards were announced last week with talent from Castlemaine and surrounds featuring heavily.
The Taproom and the Theatre Royal were both nominated in the Best Established Regional Venue/Presenter category, with local musicians DEAD and Jess Parker nominated for Best Regional Act.
The Theatre Royal Castlemaine has won three Music Victoria Awards in the past, but this has not dampened their excitement.
“It’s a great feeling to be recognised by the wider music community in Victoria for our efforts,” said Felicity Cripps, co-owner of the Theatre Royal.
“Coming out of Covid has been the hardest battle of them all, so this nomination is a reminder that we’re doing great and how lucky we are to be hosting such world-class artists in our little corner of the world,” she said.
Jess Parker, who celebrated the release of her most recent album Bread & Butter last month, was bowled away by the nomination.
“It is such an honour to be nominated. I got the email and then cried for about an hour,” Jess said.
“It was a big, big moment for this humble picker from Campbells Creek.”
Jem Moloney, from Castlemaine two-piece band DEAD, felt equally honoured.
“Castlemaine and Central Victoria has a really strong representation in these nominations, which is a reflection of how much talent we have in our community,” Jem said.
“On a personal level it’s nice for us, because we have a huge amount of respect and admiration for Jess, The Taproom and the Theatre Royal. Given the sort of music we play, we’re usually consigned to the ‘heavy’ category, so it’s really great to be sitting in amongst such a diverse group of artists,” he said.
Doug Falconer from The Taproom said that it felt great to be in such fine company.
“Supporting live music is the integral to what we do here at The Taproom. It’s part of the lifeblood of our town.”
The Music Victoria Awards are an annual awards program celebrating Victorian music, established in 2005. The Public-Voted categories include Best Album, Best Song, Best Group, Best Solo Artist, Best Metro and Regional Festivals and much more.
Other local nominees include CresFest (Best Regional Festival) and the Palais-Hepburn (Best Established Regional Venue/Presenter), along with the Golden Vine Hotel in Bendigo and The Daylesford Hotel (Best Regional Venue/Presenter, Under 50 gigs).
Voting for the awards is open until November 21 so be sure to cast your vote for your local faves at www.musicvictoria.com.au
Lions Club to celebrate 50 years
Castlemaine Lions Club will celebrate its 50th Anniversary this Sunday November 20 at a gathering at the Lions clubhouse in Kennedy Street, Castlemaine.
All past and present members and partners are invited to attend the afternoon tea which begins at 2pm, have a tour of the present facility, view the club’s collected history and celebrate 50 years of service to Castlemaine and district.
Lion Ken McKimmie said they are delighted to be welcoming five of their original 21 Charter Members to Sunday’s celebration.
“It should be a really special event as we look back at all we have achieved in Castlemaine and district over the last 50 years,” he said.
The Lions Club of Castlemaine was officially chartered on March 4, 1972. Members of the Kyneton Club assisted in sponsoring the move. The first president was Tom Dunne manager of the ANZ Bank.
In 1973 the Lions hosted their first exchange student from Japan,
In 1975 the club held their first major appeal and raised $1000 for an intensive care bed for Castlemaine Hospital.
In 1977 a colour television was donated to Kaliana School in Bendigo.
In 1978 the club assisted with the emergency alarm and light system at Castlemaine and Chewton.
In 1979 the club helped with the formation of the Newstead Lions and in 1984 the Harcourt Lions Club.
In the 80s the club also installed coin operated barbecues in Victory Park, conducted free hearing tests for local children, 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 achievements of the Lions Club has been the establishment of its major fundraiser the Castlemaine Swap Meet which has now been running for 36 years and attracts visitors from across Victoria and beyond to the annual April fixture.
Funds raised have supported countless community projects in the intervening years including more exchange student visits, the Lions Youth of the Year’ initiative and of course their vital support in the establishment of the Mount Alexander Accommodation and Respite Group’s (MASARG) Lions McDonald Hill Respite House at McKenzie Hill.
In the last few months the Lions donated a dishwasher to the Castlemaine RSL and have also been busy assisting to complete the training for the first local Australian Lions Hearing Dog presented to local resident Helen Williams – ‘Buster’ – to assist Helen to lead a full and happy life both at home and when out and about in our local community and further afield.
The Lions will also be lending their friends at the Rotary Club of Castlemaine a hand at next weekend’s Truck Show.
Congratulations to the Castlemaine Lions Club on 50 wonderful years of community service and best wishes to the club on the next 50. We can’t wait to see what they will achieve!
To RSVP for the event or to learn more about becoming a Lions member please contact Ken on 0428 721 809.
Local candidates go head to head
Local group Democracy for Dinner hosted their ‘Meet the Candidates’ event at The Taproom at Shedshaker Brewing on Tuesday evening.
Housing, health, climate and how to support Aboriginal recognition and self-determination were among the key issues discussed on the evening.
Is nuclear cheaper than renewables? Should we prioritise public housing or home ownership? Can legalising cannabis fund our priorities? And importantly, what matters most in our community?
The venue was packed for the event which gave local residents an opportunity to hear from local candidates standing for Bendigo West at the upcoming November 26 election.
Six candidates were in attendance including incumbent Labor MP Maree Edwards, Greens candidate James Searle, Liberal Party candidate Ken Price, Legalise Cannabis Victoria Party representative Wayne Taylor and Independent candidates Matt Bansemer and Marilyn Nuske. Three other candidates were invited but unable to attend on the night – Animal Justice Party candidate Victoria Maxwell, Family First Victoria candidate Steve Serpell and Freedom Party of Victoria candidate Richard Wooley.
As local candidates and community members arrived for the session the venue was rocking to the sounds of garage-infused country music by international act Jenny Don’t and the Spurs all the way from Portland, Oregon.
Democracy for Dinner mediator Bryn Davies thanked the band for travelling all the way from the US to ‘open’ the night and The Taproom for hosting the community event.
He pointed out the evening was also live-streamed for community members who wanted to tune in from home. Those who missed the livestream can find the link on the Democracy for Dinner website.
Mr Davies said Democracy for Dinner is a local grassroots initiative that aims to share some of the burden of democracy by supporting and facilitating engagement in democratic processes so community members can make an informed choice when going to the polls.
To open the event each candidate was given the opportunity to briefly introduce themselves and outline their priorities should they be elected. Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards said she had been honoured to represent the local region for 12 years and had achieved a lot in the local shire since 2010 but there was still a lot more to do. She said continuing to support the Creative Industries, the expansion of the local Tafe, housing and continuing to invest in local schools were a priority.
“I am proud to have delivered the new Castlemaine Secondary College and various upgrades at other schools in the shire,” she said.
Greens candidate James Searle said priorities were public housing and health including more GPs.
Legalise Cannabis representative Wayne Taylor said legalising cannabis was a priority to create more funds to support people.
Liberal candidate Ken Price said he had lived in the region all his life and works as a gardener. He said many of the people he works for need support not just with their gardens but more broadly with issues such as housing affordability, access to statewide health with many on waiting lists and public transport.
Independent candidate Matt Basemer said he didn’t like the authoritarian tone of the current government and was focused on state education, health and energy.
Independent candidate Marilyn Nuske saidher priorities were welfare and wildlife.
Mediator Bryn Davies pointed out at both Matt Bansemer and Marilyn Nuske had candidates for the Liberal/Democrats and Animal Justice Party in the last election and asked them why they were running as independents this time around. Bansemer indicated it was due to a proposed new tax and Nuske said that she had subsequently discovered some of her views on some issues were at odds with her former party.
Candidates were then asked a series of questions sourced via the Democracy for Dinner email and Facebook page. Several questions were also invited from the gallery and to wrap up candidates were asked what their vision was for Mount Alexander Shire.
Questions covered included climate, housing, energy, equality and gender diversity and many more issues.
Candidates were also asked for a show of hands if they would support the Treaty process moving forward and a referendum on a First Nations Voice to parliament with the majority pledging their support for both.
Finally participants were asked to share their vision for Mount Alexander Shire.
Independent Marilyn Nuske said more housing and protections for our wildlife.
“I’d move to ban duck shooting if elected and 1080,” she said.
Independent Matt Bansemer said power was a priority for him and exploring cheap nuclear alternatives to expensive renewable energy projects.
Liberal candidate Ken Price said re-prioritising funds out of big city projects to be shared across regional Victoria.
“We are a state not just one city,” he said.
Legalise Cannabis candidate Wayne Taylor said legalising cannabis so it could be regulated, taxed and create income and employment.
“It could be the saviour of our economy,” he said.
Greens candidate James Searle said improving access to public dental care, ending native forest logging and removing the tax on electric vehicles were priorities. Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards said she would be working towards a new health hub bringing Castlemaine Health, Community Health and shire health services under one roof.
In closing Mr Davies thanked the candidates for standing in the election and for working hard to “earn our support and trust”.
“Make your informed vote count on November 26,” he told the audience.
Catch Lucy Foster’s “Self-Timer” exhibit at CASPA
Castlemaine-born lens-based artist, Lucy Foster, is featuring her work ‘Self-Timer’, as part of PHOTO 2022 International Festival of Photography at Blindside’s group exhibition ‘The Portrait’, curated by Karl Halliday and Josephine Meade.
Locals catch Lucy’s work in an exhibition now on at Castlemaine Contemporary Art Space (CASPA).
In her video, Lucy captures a series of 10 self-portraits on two devices (an analogue film camera and a digital camera) dressed in different clothing and posing in different scenes.
The clothes worn by Lucy belong to her late mother Judy, who died a few months prior to the start of the project, and the scenes are captured in her home where she spent the final years, weeks, and days.
Judy was an avid op-shopper, sewer, and assembler of quirky things.
“She expressed herself through clothes, cooking, and decorating the home; there was no particular style, trend, or a recipe she followed,” Lucy said.
“My understanding of her expression was to be driven by emotion. A spontaneous response to the present moment.
“Amidst all the things she left behind, I found a letter she had written to her Mum (my Nonna) not long after she had passed away. It read:
Dear Mum, thought about you again today. Hope it’s fun being in Heaven. I miss you and just wanted to say that since you have gone I have had terrible trouble trying to find something to wear.”
Self-Timer will be on display at Castlemaine Contemporary Art Space (CASPA) Hargraves Street Castlemaine (above Stonemans Bookroom) until November 26.
This article is free to read. Please consider a digital subscription to the Castlemaine Mail to support our local arts coverage.
Adventure awaits as Castlemaine Theatre Company’s latest show opens
Castlemaine Theatre Company’s first full-stage production since COVID-19 – ‘Peter Panto: Or One Flew Over the Second Star on the Right’ officially opened at the Phee Broadway Theatre last weekend.
The entertaining production is a swashbuckling adventure for the whole family and has received wonderful reviews for its opening weekend performances.
Eight year old Melody was impressed!
“I could watch it 100 times a day and never get bored,” she said.
“It was sooooo entertaining,” said audience member Michelle.
“What do 25 plus locals of all ages and backgrounds, a wild script, huge dedication and killer performances equal? A great show! Good stuff y’all” commented Cath.
“Cheeky, rambunctious and utterly charming, this show is just a delight!” says theatre goer Stephen.
CTC members say their latest production is Peter Pan as you’ve never seen before! It’s a proper panto, so plenty of booing and hissing and ‘Behind you!’ moments.
Nurse Ratched is a cross-dressing Dame looking for love, the Lost Boys want to be a Boy Band, Tiger Lily is a martial arts expert (and Skipper of the Castlemaine Magpies footy team) and Nana is a Freudian analyst.
An irreverent mash-up with One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, the story begins in Castlemaine Health’s Youth Psych Ward…and it’s medication time…
CTC director Kate Stones was inspired to bring this adaptation to life after rewatching the 1975 film One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, featuring Jack Nicholson.
“I was struck by the similarities. McMurphy is such a Peter Pan character – he’s arrogant, a born leader, and definitely averse to being a sensible grown-up, and he ends up with his own band of lost boys in the ward, whom he takes on various crazy adventures,” Stones says.
This is a pantomime sure to entertain with popular songs from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s to bop and sing along to!
Peter Panto: Or One Flew Over the Second Star on the Right will be performed at the Phee Broadway Theatre from November 4-20. Tickets are available from Maine Shoes and Accessories, 174 Barker St, Castlemaine or on Trybooking.
Debut festival takes the stage at Lot 19
Australian musicians will take to the stage at Lot 19 this weekend for the much-anticipated Backyard Fest.
The event will feature an eclectic mix of funk, pop, soul, rock, afro-fusion, and folk musicians performing over three main stages.
The line-up includes music from singer/songwriter Alice Sky, Melbourne indie rockers Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird, psychedelic rockers Babe Rainbow, and many more.
Backyard Fest is the brainchild of friends Blake Van Leeuwen and Alex Kavenagh who have been dreaming of this moment for a long time.
The two friends hosted their first festival in their suburban backyard in 2017 and by 2019 the pair made the decision to move to a large-scale public event on a block of land in Elphinstone.
The festival received significant backlash from local residents due to its proximity to a local wildlife shelter and concerns about potential traffic and fire safety issues. An alternative venue was secured at Newstead Recreation Reserve with plans to hold the event in February 2022.
During the December 2021 meeting of the Mount Alexander Shire Council it became apparent that there were difficulties securing the site. Event organiser Blake Van Leewen spoke at the meeting expressing his frustrations and requesting assistance from the council to proceed with the festival.
Council’s director of corporate and community services, Lisa Knight, said the value of such events was well understood by the council, which had provided considerable staff support to enable the event to go ahead, and a $3000 grant.
However, given the council’s limitations to further facilitate organising the location with the Newstead Recreation Reserve Committee, the festival was once again postponed, leaving Blake and Alex to look for another venue.
Organisers then secured a new venue for the postponed festival on Harmony’s Hill in Faraday. Further complications ensued as necessary approvals were not forthcoming, leaving festival organisers to find a fourth location for the event, finally settling on Castlemaine’s outdoor arts precinct Lot 19.
“It’s been hard. Struggling through COVID and numerous venue changes, said Blake. “We’re hoping to make this an annual event in Faraday, once council permits are approved.
“We’re expecting 400-500 people this year, with more than 300 camping at Campbells Creek Recreation Reserve with shuttle buses running back and forth.”
Shedshaker Brewing will keep thirsty festival goers in handcrafted beer straight from the tap, Fugazi Pizza truck will provide delicious pizzas and Castlemaine Fringe is taking over the Lot 19 kitchen to whip up scrumptious curries and barbecue food.
Backyard Fest will be taking place from 4.30pm Friday, November 11 until late Saturday, November 12 at Lot 19 Langslow Street Castlemaine.
For further details visit: www.backyardfest.com.au/
Historic Taradale Methodist church for sale
Former Mount Alexander Shire mayor Jim Norris and his wife Carmel a former secondary school teacher, are selling their home; a beautifully restored Methodist Church built in 1865.
The Norris’ (Jim, his parents, and his brother) bought the deteriorating church at auction in 1982 for $18,000 to use as a holiday home.
“It was a dump that no one else wanted, only a bit better than a tent,” Jim said.
31-years-ago, Carmel, Jim, and their two year old and three month old daughters, made the move from Melbourne to Taradale and the couple began the arduous task of bringing the old church back to life.
The interior of the church was baby blue, the ceiling pink, and the beautiful wooden trusses and windows a white gloss. There was green slime running down one wall, a section of the floor had been burnt out and there were termites eating the floorboards. As work began on the building, the family of four lived on the ground floor with hessian bags for walls.
Jim, who once studied architecture, designed the breathtaking transformation, which features an open-plan mezzanine bedroom and a church tower with views spreading across the valley to the historic railway bridge.
“It’s taken a lot of work. I worked with master carpenter John Parker and Neil Tait did all the steelwork in the place,” Jim said.
In the intervening years the couple welcomed a third daughter and the family made the revamped church their home.
“Les Hough, a local stonemason built the dry stone wall. He used to travel over from Fryerstown on his horse and cart, sometimes giving our three girls a ride, which they loved.”
“People who turn churches into homes try and put too much in and lose the feeling of a church. Putting in a mezzanine keeps the church open and shows you the full expanse, while also giving you the space underneath for those necessary closed-off spaces like the bathroom,” Jim said.
“We finished the structure about 15 years ago when we built the church tower on the back. The rest was the finicky stuff.
“There are 400 privately owned churches in the state and our house is only one of four with a church tower.”
Now in the later years of life and with their children grown, Jim and Carmel have decided to sell their home and are now building a modern house in Castlemaine.
“We will miss the house,” Carmel said. “Although it takes a lot of love and attention, especially the garden. It’s someone else’s turn here now.”
Challenging day for Castlemaine bowlers
Last Saturday November 5 was not such a good day for Castlemaine Bowling Club with all three divisions going down in pennant competition.
Premier Division 1 were disappointed after their good win the week before losing to Eaglehawk, Greg Brain and team the only winning rink.
Division 4 lost at Woodbury and Division 5 lost to Strathfieldsaye. Results as follows:
Premier Division 1 Castlemaine 77 lost to Eaglehawk 95. Scores were Peter Brain 19/24, Greg Brain 20/19, Lachy Darroch 18/22, Rod Phillips 20/22.
Division 4 Castlemaine 64 lost to Woodbury 96. Mal Stevens 28/9, Maureen Fletcher 8/32, Steve McCoombe 11/28, Rosalie Roberts 17/27.
Division 5 Castlemaine 63 lost to Strathfieldsaye 98. Nina Hufer 22/18, David Carlin 6/31, Wendy Walsh 17/21, Tricia O’Shea 18/28.
Pennant teams
Next Saturday Premier Division 1 Castlemaine play at Golden Square. Christopher Brain, Robin Lynas, Kevin Shuttleworth, Peter Brain ( skip). Michael Diprose, Lee Bastin, Paul Darroch, Greg Brain (s). Bernie McConnell, Kevin Earl, Darren Taylor, Lachy Darroch (s). Taylor Walsh, Klai Jermyn, Neil Bouch, Rod Phillips (s).
Division 4 Castlemaine play Marong at Castlemaine. Don Ross, Peter McKnight, Chris Crossley, Mal Stevens (s). Russell Chapman, Jack Taylor, Bruce Miller, Maureen Fletcher (s). Sandra Grant, Alicia Beauchamp, Pam Hunter, Steve McCoombe (s). Alene Jolme, Rod Fletcher, Graham Fraser, Rosalie Roberts (s).
Division 5 Castlemaine play at Marong. Lyndal McClure, Joe Smith, Alan Nicholls, Nina Hufer (s). Kathy Hayward, Harry Fleury, Ian Devereaux, David Carlin (s). Robyn Fleury, Peter Rotteveel, Wendy Walsh, Pam Fraser (s). Gary McClure, Don Steet, Sandra Phillips, Tricia O ‘Shea (s).
Midweek Monday November 14.
Division 2 Castlemaine play at Heathcote. Jack Taylor, Rod Fletcher, Chris Crossley, Maureen Fletcher (skip). Alene Jolme, Alicia Beauchamp, Rosalie Roberts, Pam Hunter (s). Pat Devereaux, Graham Fraser, Charles Madgin, Tricia O’Shea (s).
Division 3 Castlemaine play Strathfieldsaye at Castlemaine. Sandra Grant, Don Steet, Pam Fraser, Bruce Miller (s). Sandra Phillips, Regina Saville, Angie Hill, Nina Hufer (s). Florence Stevens, Peter Rotteveel, Alan Nicholls, Kathy Parsons (s).
Club events are all well on the way. Check the noticeboard in clubrooms.
‘Girls on the Green’ started Thursday November 10 and will go through each Thursday till December 8. All ladies welcome. Names to Maureen 0417 321 048.
The wisdom of King Canute
Mavis Price, Castlemaine
There has been a lot of talk recently about using renewables for power generation instead of fossil fuels. This is depicted as a moral battle between the good and the evil respectively. There was a time when to ‘save the planet’ we changed from paper bags to plastic bags to save trees; now we are told to use paper and bamboo so that we don’t use fossil fuels! So which is it?
On Landline in 2007 Professor Tim Flannery (who has a PhD in paleontology) predicted that we wouldn’t have rain in the future, saying, “even the rain that falls isn’t actually going to fill our dams and river systems.” Well, he got that wrong. People make mistakes, however there are consequences.
That prediction was the argument for building the expensive desalination plant (which has never been used, costs to maintain and needs power to run), and for not building new dams. “Dams don’t bring the rain”, Daniel Andrews said. Well, the rain came anyway.
The water in Forest Creek flooded to the corner of Forest St and Barker St on New Year’s Day 1889. (Photo on page 29 of the Castlemaine Pioneers and Old Residents Association book, A Glimpse of Yesterday in the United Shire of Mount Alexander). I guess we will forever have “droughts and flooding rains” (My Country, by Dorothea Mackellar) despite man’s predictions and puny efforts to control the climate.
King Canute knew that he was not able to stop the incoming tide, only God can. Humans will never control the climate, whatever is legislated by those in government!
Labor promises funding for Maldon Museum if re-elected
A re-elected Andrews Labor Government will support the Maldon Vintage Machinery and Museum, so they can continue to celebrate the rich history of Maldon and the surrounding region.
Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards visited the museum on Wednesday and announced that a re-elected Andrews Government will provide a $100,000 grant to help the organisation continue to tell the story of Maldon’s historical significance to tourists and the local community.
Since 1972, the museum has supported the local area in sharing the history of a once bustling gold mining town.
The museum has continued to evolve into a unique display of the community’s history, showing how life was once lived – from hand tools and horsepower to the industrial revolution with engines and electricity, to solar power.
Ms Edwards said the funding will make sure they are well-equipped to continue sharing Maldon’s history.
“This investment will see Maldon Vintage Machinery and Museum get the support they need to inform tourists and community members about the rich history of our area.
“We’re proud to ensure hard working volunteers can keep doing what they do best – telling the story of Maldon.”
Council provides funding to boost local events
Mount Alexander Shire Council is pleased to announce that 15 groups will share in $34,000 in grants to activate events across the shire.
The Events Grants program supports local groups who are running public and community-oriented events.
Events funded this round include a broad range of interests such as music, sport, antiques, art and nature.
This round of funding supports projects such as the Campbells Creek Collectables Fair – a fantastic weekend for antique-enthusiasts; the Easter Engine Rally – a family day out hosted by the Maldon Easter Fair; and the MAIN Game – a fun football event that raises funds for Castlemaine’s local radio station, MainFM.
Other highlights include a myriad of much-loved festivals: Taradale Mineral Springs Festival, Harcourt Applefest, Newstead Live Music Festival, Castlemaine Jazz Festival and Castlemaine Town Folk Festival.
Mount Alexander Shire Council mayor Bill Maltby is excited to see what events unfold over the coming months.
“Our shire is such a creative and inclusive community, and the diverse range of events on offer really bring everyone together,” Mayor Maltby said.
“These grants are a great way for council to support both the community and the events industry, and to help local businesses thrive.”
See the full list of funded events at www.mountalexander.vic. gov.au/Grants.
The next round opens on Monday February 20, 2023, for events held in the second half of 2023.
For more information, contact the Venues and Events team on 5471 1700 or email events@mountalexander.vic.gov.au.