Local artist Jess Parker launches her much anticipated solo album this weekend at The Diggers Store in Campbells Creek and local community radio station MainFM are thrilled to have been able to play a small part.
In 2021, Jess Parker won MainFM’s major prize during their annual Radiothon, a full day of recording at Sound Recordings studio with tape stock. With this prize she has been able to record her new album titled ‘Bread and Butter’.
“It was a gift, winning the recording prize from last year’s radiothon. I don’t think I would have had the opportunity to put these songs to tape otherwise. I am incredibly grateful to MainFM for making this possible. I’m really proud of this record,” Jess said.
“Recording at my favourite studio is always a treat – the space conjures up a real warmth, you can hear the old timber and the fire crackling on the record. Alex is an analogue alchemist and true joy to work with,” Jess said.
Sound Recordings are a sponsor of MainFM and put up one of the major prizes each year during Radiothon.
“We are so grateful for the support from Alex Bennett at Sound Recordings, and all our sponsors, and are totally thrilled that our Radiothon prize has gone to a local artist and led to this release,” MainFM station manager Steph Riddel said.
“We aim to support local artists and are just so delighted to know that we have been able to help Jess’s creative vision come to life,” Steph said.
Jess’s album launch of Bread and Butter is happening tomorrow evening, Saturday September 24 at 7pm at The Diggers Store in Castlemaine, you can expect storytelling, sweet songs and intimacy, with the incredible Charlotte Le Lievre and Jas Bell as support.
Radiothon prize supports local artist
Gold Sounds returns
From October 13-16, Central Victoria’s biggest music conference returns for its second year, bringing together Victoria’s regional and Melbourne music communities for a host of panels, workshops, networking events, and a youth program.
Held on Djaara Country right here in Castlemaine, the conference sessions will cover a myriad of topics and play host to an extraordinary array of music industry professionals including artist managers, booking agents, musicians, academics, activists and more. The conference kicks off in style on Thursday October 13 with a launch of television and radio broadcaster Myf Warhurst’s book ‘The Time of My Life’.
Tickets for this event sold out straight away so Gold Sounds have moved the Phee Broadway Theatre to meet demand, but tickets are selling fast!
Join Myf in conversation with Gold Sounds director Fionna Allan, as she shares funny, fabulous and occasionally fraught tales.
Friday October 14 conference programming will feature sessions on mental health wellness, music and activism, regional festival and venue programming, opportunities and tips when applying for grants and funding, a session on creative collaboration and the regional launch of Green Music Australia’s Sound Country resources with a live performance from Carissa Nyalu.
On Saturday October 15, the focus turns to songwriting copyright and licensing, community radio, marketing and PR and youth-focussed events programmed in direct response to young people.
Saturday will also feature a special Yarning Strong panel from Support Act, focussing on breaking down barriers for First Nations artists, including guests Mitch Tambo and Dallas Woods.
And just announced for the Theatre Royal on Saturday October 15, Laura Jean will play her first show in Castlemaine for three and a half years, previewing her forthcoming album Amateurs.
“The conference panels are a great opportunity to hear about the journeys of a diverse group of industry legends, from the lessons they have learnt over the years to where they are heading,” Ms Allan said.
On Sunday October 16, songwriting clinics featuring Cash Savage will be held by APRA AMCOS.
“Having esteemed songwriters like Cash Savage share their knowledge and sit with our local musicians to create something together brings us back to the heart of what we do – producing great music. These sessions are supportive, inspiring and a great springboard for budding songwriters to take that next step,” Ms Allan said.
Tickets are on sale now via the Gold Sounds website at www.goldsounds.com.au
Get ready to run! Run The Maine hits the trails today…
Hundreds of runners take to the trails in and around Castlemaine today as the town hosts fund-raising favourite, Run The Maine.
Featuring three different runs over 5km, 10km and 21.1 km, the action starts this afternoon with 21.1km half marathon runners catching the Victorian Goldfields Railway steam train out to their Maldon start line, while the 10km run features a loop through Walmer Forest and the 5km walk/run takes participants up Gingell Street and through the botanical gardens. The event finishes under lights at Camp Reserve. Pictured are some of the keen committee members. Photo: Eve Lamb
Council backs design plans for Maldon’s Bill Woodfull Reserve
Councillors have endorsed design plans featuring LED oval lighting and a new all-gender pavilion as part of a $1 million plus upgrade slated for Maldon’s Bill Woodfull Reserve.
After receiving community feedback, councillors at Tuesday evening’s Mount Alexander Shire Council meeting were tasked with deciding whether to endorse a recommended design for four – 24m light poles and a design for the much-mooted all gender pavilion.
“Throughout several rounds of community consultation officers have attempted to resolve design related concerns raised by residents,” Tarrengower ward councillor, Maldon’s Cr Steven Gardner said.
Cr Gardner noted a number of residents residing near the oval have ongoing objections, but also said support for the project was “overwhelming”.
“Some living near the oval would like the oval to be moved… but that’s not likely to happen. While some aren’t in favour, Overwhelmingly the community is,” Cr Gardner said.
Councillors heard that the cost of the all gender pavilion is $1.755 million with the project expected to be funded through a Sports and Recreation Victoria grant of $1 million for which the council has applied, and a council contribution of $755,287 – already an inclusion in the council’s 22-23 budget.
But two residents remain strongly opposed to the lighting upgrade project with one writing to local MPs and the state sports ministers’ office, resulting in SRV placing a hold on determining the outcome of the council’s funding application pending further community consultation.
Tuesday evening’s council meeting heard the council has been working for a number of years to come up with a design for a new all gender pavilion adjacent to the reserve’s netball court and had endorsed the project with the adoption of its recent 22-23 council budget.
Last December the council submitted an application to Sport and Recreation Victoria for new sports lighting at the oval and netball court.
The outcome of this funding application has yet to be determined as the funding body has advised of some concerns they have received from two local residents.
Council officers were asked to consider alternative designs for the oval lighting with the overall aim to reduce the height of the poles while further community consultation was also conducted.
At Tuesday evenings’ meeting councillors unanimously endorsed the officers’ recommendation for a lighting solution featuring four 24 metre high poles as well as the design for the all gender pavilion which will now be subject to state planning approval.
The estimated capital cost of replacing the oval’s existing four 19 metre high poles with four new 24 metre high poles featuring LED luminaries is $309,190.
“This is going to be a tremendous project for the community providing first class facilities,” Cr Tony Cordy said.
Harcourt Valley Landcare celebrates 25 years
Harcourt Valley Landcare will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a special event this Sunday September 25 at Leanganook Campground at Mount Alexander.
The group which was founded in 1997 will celebrate their longevity and success with the launch of a promotional membership brochure and an Action Plan which sets out the group’s goals for the next five years.
Well known local identity, George Milford will speak about Ballantinia, Banksias and Blue-banded Bees and 25 years of inspired rehabilitation work in the Harcourt Valley, and members who have served more than 10 years will also be presented with a Life Membership Certificate.
The formal proceedings will be capped off with a delicious morning tea.
Since its inception, Harcourt Valley Landcare has completed more than 50 projects and activities which have focused on preserving and improving Harcourt’s environment.
Harcourt Valley Landcare member Terry Willis said the group remains as passionate today as it was on day one, but would love to welcome some more enthusiastic new members.
“We really welcome anyone interested in working to preserve and improve our environment to join us. Look out for the flyers at local stores and organisations or check out our latest updates via our social media,” Terry said.
Terry and wife Bron Willis have played in an integral role in the creation of the new flyer and action plan.
“Our membership has been a bit stagnant the last few years and covid didn’t help. With the group celebrating our 25th anniversary in 2022 and with the population growing in Harcourt we felt it was the perfect time to coordinate a big membership drive to engage more people, including youth, to ensure we survive and thrive for many more years to come,” Terry said.
“The action plan has been developed with an inclusive direction in mind. It sets out our aims and objectives for the next five years with strategic practical timelines. It is a great way for newcomers to gauge what sort of projects we have coming up and where they might like to get involved,” he said.
Sunday’s event will run from 10am-12pm. To RSVP or for more information about the group email info@harcourtvalleylandcare.org
Caravan ‘fix me up’ projects clinches grant dollars to help homeless youth
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.
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.