Fresh off performances at the Perth and Adelaide Fringe Festivals, Melbourne comedian Aidan Jones is set to make his return to the The Taproom at Shedshaker Brewing next Tuesday evening February 28 to wrap up Shedshaker’s FebFast calendar of events.
Aidan told the Mail he is looking forward to returning to Castlemaine with his new show.
“I received a great reception last year and I’m really looking forward to coming back. It’s such a friendly, welcoming place,” he said.
“When I last visited, I was touring with my show which was about meeting my Colombian biological father which got picked up by Amazon Prime.
“This time around I am touring with my new show ‘The Morning After’ which touches on my decision to quit drinking in 2019 which ties in really nicely with the FebFast theme,” Aidan said.
“I’ve been off the sauce for four years now. I thought that quitting drinking would solve all my problems – I was wrong. Turns out I’m still an idiot with all the same problems, but now I’m sober, so I have to solve them myself!” Aidan laughs.
“From racist computers, to humiliating photos, to being yelled at by thousands of Colombians on the internet – I could’ve used a drink, but I don’t miss the morning after,” he says.
“It’s challenging you can’t blame the drink for the dumb things you’ve done, and you can’t drink to feel better. You have to face your problems head on,” he said.
Aidan said its terrific to see more young people examining the concept of drinking and making sure if they do choose to drink, they are doing it for the right reasons.
“It’s also great to see venues like Shedshaker and Oz Non-Alcohol here in Adelaide being really progressive and offering alternatives for those who choose not to drink,” he said.
Aidan said that he enjoys sharing stories and giving people a good laugh.
“People say I can be very honest and silly, but there is always something meaningful they can take away with them,” he said.
The comedian has been on the circuit for 12 years now and is also looking forward to appearing at the upcoming Melbourne Comedy Festival and returning to the Edinburgh Fringe in August.
Join Shedshaker for a show that will keep you laughing for days. Tix are just $20 and are available at eventbrite.com.au
Comedian to wrap up FebFast events at Shedshaker Brewing
Mick Harvey and J.P Shilo to feature at Theatre Royal
Castlemaine’s Theatre Royal is gearing up to host a special collaboration between renowned Aussie musos Mick Harvey and J.P Shilo this Sunday February 26 which is sure to get local audiences excited.
Mick Harvey is best known as a founding member of The Boys Next Door, The Birthday Party and Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds as well as being a long-time collaborator to both Nick Cave & PJ Harvey.
He has released more than 10 solo albums under his own name including the four volume series of Serge Gainsbourg translated recordings as well as a selection of soundtracks for film and television. He has produced a number of acclaimed albums by other artists and consequently been the recipient of several Australian industry awards including AFI Best Original Score for ‘Suburban Mayhem’ in 2006 and in 2011 took out British Producer of the Year for his (co)production on PJ Harvey’s ‘Let England Shake’.
J.P Shilo was a founding member of Hungry Ghosts as well as guitarist for Rowland S. Howard & Blackeyed Susans.
Together, they will present their joint show which was last delivered on an extensive tour of Europe in late 2019.
Mick told the Mail plans to take the show around Australia were knocked on the head by the pandemic.
“Now, more than three years later, we are back to present a joint show of J.P. Shilo’s ‘Invisible You’ with a selection of some of my lesser known songs from previous albums and a few new songs from my upcoming album which is set for release in 2024,” Mick said.
“It will be a very different show from the last one I brought to the region of Serge Gainsbourg songs,” Mick said.
“It will be a bit more upbeat from my usual stuff. We kicked it off with our first performance at the St Kilda Festival last Sunday and this will be followed by a performance on the outdoor stage at the Malthouse Theatre this Saturday. We might throw in a few other more familiar songs for the Castlemaine performance given the theatre setting,” he said.
In addition to his live performances with J. P Shilo and working on his solo project, Mick says he has also just completed an album of duets with Amanda Acevedo which is scheduled for release in September.
“It’s been quite a busy time working on both albums in parallel, but the opportunity to play these live gigs came along and you can’t pass that up. I’m really looking forward to sharing this show with local audiences. Many of these songs have never been played live before. It’s going to be quite different from anything I’ve done,” he said.
For tix for this unforgettable show visit theatreroyalcastlemaine.oztix.com.au
Castlemaine Gift returns to the Camp Reserve this Sunday

Elite runners from across the state and beyond will descend on Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve for the annual Castlemaine Gift this Sunday February 26.
Castlemaine Athletics Club member Darryl Nettleton said a top day of athletics action is assured for the whole family.
“We will be kicking off the event with our junior races from 10am. Local youngsters are encouraged to just come along and register on the day and there will be a little prize for every competitor who takes part,” he said.
Senior racing will commence at 11am and run through until approximately 6.40pm wrapping up with the 400m events.
“We are expecting more than 250 runners to compete over the course of the day which is the only full day athletics carnival in the shire,” he said.
“There will be eight heats in the men’s 120m Gift sponsored by the Mineral Council of Australia (Vic Division) with runners vying for a share of $5000 in prize money,” he said.
In the first heat Will Johns and Massimo Acquaro are expected to have a good match up.
Heat 3 will pit Aidan Green against Patrick Martin and Heat 4 will see Jack Lacey take on former winner Tim Rosen.
In Heat 5 reigning Stawell Gift winner Harrison Kerr will have some strong competition against Spencer Brown and Tapasu Paea. Heat 6 will see last year’s winner Nathan Riali return. His main danger will be Luke Mitchell, Tom Perry and Jerome Lugo.
In Heat 7 former Stawell Gift winner Matthew Rizzo will take on former Castlemaine Gift placegetter Kevin Brittain.
In Heat 8 favourite Newcastle’s Jack Newman will be the one to watch after success at the Wangaratta, Beachside and Ballarat Gifts.
“Jack has finished second at our last three Gifts and is in great form, but he will be tested by Rose Bay challenger Hamish Lindstrom,” Darryl said.
In the Women’s 120m Gift proudly sponsored by Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards and Leech Earthmoving runners will contest six heats to decide the finalists.
In Heat 1 Stawell placegetter Cassandra Wang-Lecouteur will face off against Sounya Bisvanathan, Lucy Carter of Hobart and Buninyong’s own Tiana Shillito.
“That will be a brutal heat. A really close one,” Darryl said.
In Heat 2 Grace O’Dwyer will be coming into the event fresh off her Keilor Gift win, her first in eight years, and will tackle Ruby Crisp.
In Heat 3 the winner of Adelaide’s big race the ‘Bay Sheffield’ Jessie Andrew of Riddells Creek will be up against Jennifer King and Halle Martin of Ballarat.
Heat 4 will see Ellie Keratianos face Victorian Athletics League CEO Taylah Perry and Taya McPhan.
Seymour’s Lucy Zotti will be the one to watch in Heat 5 up against Liv Ryan, Akshaya Iyer, and Olympic 4 x 400m runner Kendra Hubbard.
Heat 6 will also be tight with Zoe Neale and Trinity Inall-Bejah from Tasmania both in great form.
“The Women’s 400m and Veterans 300m events will also be standouts with some fantastic athletes from 35-70 plus set to feature in the latter,” Darryl said.
Entry to the Gift is $5 per person, $3 for pensioners, and kids are free. There will delicious food and drink available for purchase from the canteen, ice creams, a coffee van, and sweet treats from ‘My Goodness’ Chewton Service Station.
Camp Reserve redevelopment back on the agenda
There were unusually high attendance numbers at last Tuesday’s meeting of Mount Alexander Shire Council, with public question time extended to allow residents a chance to discuss the highly contentious Camp Reserve masterplan.
Local sporting representatives spoke in favour of the current plan with concerns about the facilities not being fit for standard and a lack of female change facilities causing incredible difficulties for female players, which impacts negatively on Australia’s second-oldest football/netball club, which is trying to encourage diversity in sport.
Captain of the Senior Women’s Cricket team Simone Frasier told the council that at present there are 30 women on the local team.
“The youngest is 11 and she is very passionate about her cricket. Our only options are to get dressed in the car or in a toilet cubicle, walking past urinals,” Simone said.
“We are an inclusive club, but the lack of facilities is creating a barrier for women in sport. It’s embarrassing.”
At Tuesday’s meeting John Carruthers spoke on behalf of Gold Camp is Castlemaine (a local group dedicated to preserving the history of the reserve and has offered an alternate proposal whereby the netball courts and pavilion remain in their existing locations) stating that if the council ignores the 51 per cent of survey respondents in opposition to the current masterplan those community members will loom large.
“There is a grave risk that the council will go down a costly path. One that costs ratepayers more money and causes further delays in facilities that the sports team so desperately needs. The plan that doubles down on the current master plan will solve one problem but will make in another. A path that will give footballers and netballers facilities they so richly deserve, but will bury a fair chunk of ground zero of the gold rush heritage under concrete.”
Councillor Gary McClure moved the motion to commence the planning permit application stating that he was shocked to learn that this has been going on for three decades.
“At the moment we have an adopted masterplan, we have a position to move forward and apply for a planning permit with the schematic drawings that we have. We are moving forward on this proposal not backward.
“Council and staff did listen to the 386 comments, but the council has to move forward for the sake of the people that sat in this room tonight and said, ‘we’ve got disgusting facilities’,” Cr McClure said.
“We’ve got to do something about it and going back to square one and starting again is not the way to go about it.
“There’s still a lot of work to do, particularly in regards to heritage issues, but this will all be dealt with under the planning permit process.”
The vote from councillors to proceed with the approved designs and commence the planning process was unanimous.
John Carruthers from Gold Camp is Castlemaine contacted the Mail regarding the heart-rending stories about young sportspeople enduring sub-standard facilities.
“We agree with them,” John said.
“What we don’t agree with was the attempt by several councillors, to lay at the doorstep of objectors to the current plan, all responsibility for any delay going forward.
“That is a deflection of responsibility. It belongs elsewhere. The council has had a decade and a half at least to sort out a plan that ticks all the boxes, gets reasonable consensus, and gives sports the salvation they deserve. Instead over that period, it’s done relatively little by way of sustained effort, and more recently decided that ticking a couple of boxes is enough,” he said.
Castlemaine Fringe launches 2023 festival program

The Castlemaine Fringe Festival’s 2023 program was launched with a special community celebration at the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens Tearooms on Sunday night.
The evening featured free live entertainment, local beer, wine and ciders, a shared supper and facepainting and circus skills with The Connected Circus.
The Fringe will celebrate its 30 anniversary in 2023 with a massive program proudly produced by Print Together.
Fringe Festival director Azzy Jay warmly welcomed everyone to the launch and thanked the incredible working group which had helped to put the program together.
“I’m a bit emotional. It’s taken a lot of work to get to this point. It’s really wonderful to be able to present a program of events which brings people together,” Azzy said.
The Fringe will kick off with an opening night extravaganza on Friday March 17 in Mechanics Lane, Castlemaine with local legends So Much Soul and the original Fringe Samba band, plus roving performers, dance acts and MainFM DJ’s!
The festival will also include a massive theatre program at the Phee Broadway Theatre, free events such as the Reactivate Street Party which feature more than 100 performers and projections and will be staged over four venues in the town centre, family friendly gigs including the Monster Mash Day Party in Victory Park on March 25, Castlemaine Idyll at Lot 19, an Art Window Trail, 30th anniversary exhibition at the Phee, exhibitions, performances and much more.
The Fringe are also thrilled to be teaming up with the Castlemaine State Festival to host after parties in their ‘Big Top’ on the Western Reserve with a Cabaret to kick off the first event on March 24. The Fringe Festival will run until April 2.
Community members are encouraged to consider taking up a membership with the Fringe Festival to help make it all happen.
Be sure to grab a free program and get behind this incredible event. For more information and tickets visit www.castlemainefringe.org.au.
Castlemaine golfers go pink to honour Una

Castlemaine Golf Club is once again hosting its Una Carroll Anti-Cancer Fund Raising Day this Sunday February 19.
Una Carroll was an active member of the Castlemaine club for more than 20 years and treasurer for many. She passed away in 1992. As a memorial to her, the Una Carroll Anti-Cancer Fund Raising Day was established as an annual event the year she passed away and has been held ever since.
Money raised goes to the Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) to support its work across Victoria.
In between when you woke up this morning and when you go to sleep tonight, 57 Australians will be told they have breast cancer. The same will happen tomorrow, and the next day too, making breast cancer the most common cancer affecting Australian women.
BCNA is Australia’s leading breast cancer consumer organisation. They have worked tirelessly to ensure that all Australians who are affected by breast cancer receive the very best care, treatment and support.
This year’s golf event is being proudly supported by Leech Earthmoving Contracting Castlemaine, Glen and Megan Carroll and CGC golf coach Paul Powell.
Event coordinator Peggy Ronnau said the fund raiser is a great tribute to Una and a celebration of partnerships within the local community, whilst raising funds for a very important cause.
“We wanted to fill up part of one of our large dams and Leech Earthmoving were undertaking construction works on the new Arcare Aged Care facility at the time and needed a place to unload clean fill. They kindly brought it down and filled part of the dam and this area will now be landscaped and enhanced. Now they have gotten on board sponsoring this special event,” Peggy said.
Leech Earthmoving’s Darren Rice said they were proud to support this important event.
“It’s a terrific cause and a great way of raising awareness and funds to tackle this disease,” he said.
Castlemaine Golf Club greenkeeper Glenn Carroll said that it is wonderful to see his mum’s memory and contribution to the club still being celebrated 31 years after her death.
“Dad started the initial event and the club has carried it on after his passing. It’s a really great way of honouring mum’s memory and raising awareness,” Glenn said.
An individual stableford will be played and visitors are welcome. Start time: 10am for a 10.30am shotgun start. Entry fee $20.
The Una Carroll Trophy will be awarded to the Best Female Castlemaine golfer, plus $600 worth of prizes will be awarded for Straightest Drive, Nearest the pin on Par 3, Best Male Golfer, Best Female Visitor Golfer, Best Pink Outfit and Best Pink Tattoo placement.
To book to be part of the fundraiser text Peggy 0409 232 919, Garry 0414 684 201 or Ross 0419 091 154.
Castlemaine cyclists get back on track
Castlemaine Cycling Club members headed over to Ballarat on Saturday February 11 to take part in the Ballarat Sebastopol Cycling Club road/track event. It was great to see so many members heading over to support our fellow cycling clubs.
Local track racing is on Tuesdays and Saturdays at the Castlemaine Cycling Club’s headquarters at Wesley Hill Recreation Reserve. For updates on racing please join their Facebook page by searching for Castlemaine Cycling Club.
New members are always welcome with track bikes available to come and try.
Castlemaine Parkrun celebrates eighth year of running milestones
Parkrun Castlemaine is settling into its eighth year and completed 344 parkruns this week.
Saturday saw 117 participants welcomed to the Botanical Gardens course including 14 visitors from across Victoria, Queensland and NSW. Castlemaine Parkrun members especially welcomed regular overseas visitors Helen Storrar (295 parkruns) from Pegwell Bay Kent, and Susan Farmer (95 parkruns ) from Comber, Ireland both who have family in Castlemaine. Members hope they are here long enough to achieve their next milestones in Castlemaine. Welcome to seven first ever parkrunners Flynn Hart, Tom Manderson, Grant Hickey, Hadley Cole, Frankie Chapman, Mary Vieceli, and Dhi Singh.
Going faster isn’t necessary but can be a bonus to just getting around the 5k. Special congratulations to Reece Hodge who achieved a PB of 1 minute whilst pushing two infants around in their pram. They looked very comfortable! Andrew Kraulis, a committed athlete and parkrunner of four years is still running faster and can now run now well under 20 mins for the 5k. Well done also to Laurie Vigor, Travis Leversha, Trent McGregor, Lucy Medley and Sam Gearing all who will have stories to tell about their fastest run ever at Castlemaine Parkrun. Well done to Kerry Calkraft for smiling all the way and also to walkers Sharon Hughes, Nikki Alvery and Hannah White who came to Castlemaine for the weekend and managed to get the 5k walk in together. A significant milestone this week was for Clovis Mpundu for 50 parkruns. Clovis has been a regular Castlemaine participant for three years and has maintained his form the whole time. First women this week were Claire Brien, Piper Marshall and Jodi Oakman. First men were Andronis Ndihokubwayo, Jarred Combe and Andrew Kraulis. Best age graders were David Reidie and Helen Storrar both over 80% of their age group. Volunteers this week were Ronder Clayton, Michael Constable, Dianne Cox,
Bessie Faircloth, Geoff Faircloth, Henry Faircloth, Jane Harding, Pam Joseph, Jodi Oakman and Dave Petrusma. See you all next week.
Castlemaine Parkrun is a weekly, free, timed event held in the Botanical Gardens commencing 8am. It is a participation event for fitness and fun. You can come to walk, run or jog or volunteer. See https://www.parkrun.com.au/castlemaine/ to register and get your barcode.
– Di Cox.
Busy week for Castlemaine bowlers

The Castlemaine Bowling Club congratulates Jack Taylor on reaching the Semi Final in the State Novice Singles.
Jack was the representative for Bendigo Campaspe Region after winning his way through the preliminary games in Bendigo.
A large contingent of bowlers from Castlemaine travelled to Mulgrave Country Club to support Jack in this prestigious event.
In the first game Jack played Paul Lockman (Clayton) representing Sandbelt, winning 21/13.
In the second game Jack defeated Daniel Earl (Traralgon -RSL) Strezlecki won that 21/14.
In the Semi Finals Jack played Joel Clark (City Oval) Ballarat Highlands, this was a very exciting and close game which could have gone either way with both bowlers sitting on the Jack most ends. Unfortunately, Jack went down 18/21. A great effort Jack! Castlemaine and Bendigo Campaspe are very proud of you.
Pennant results
Saturday Pennant saw Division Four win well with all rinks up, this moves them up to fourth position on the ladder, needing to win last game next Saturday to hold their spot. Results were as follows:
Division 1 Premier Castlemaine 54 lost to Kangaroo Flat 111. Scores were Peter Brain 14/29, Greg Brain 19/23, Lachy Darroch 6/29, Rod Phillips 24/17.
Division 4 Castlemaine 111 defeated South Bendigo 56. Mal Stevens 27/17, Maureen Fletcher 28/11, Steve McCoombe 32/11, Rosalie Roberts 24/17.
Division 5 Castlemaine 70 lost at Campbells Creek 79. Peter McKnight 14/19, David Carlin and team won 26/20, Pam Fraser 14/23, Tricia O’Shea 16/17.
Monday Midweek Pennant results were:
Division 2 lost at Woodbury 50/56. Maureen Fletcher 16/23, Pam Hunter 15/15, Steve McCoombe 19/18. Division 2 finished second on the ladder and now have a double chance in the finals.
Division 3 Castlemaine had a good win defeating Woodbury at Castlemaine 68/58. Bruce Miller 26/17, Nina Hufer 23/24, Kathy Parsons 19/17. Division 3 finished third on the ladder. A good result to have both Divisions in the finals.
Pennant teams
Weekend Pennant teams for Saturday, February 18 are:
Division One Castlemaine play Moama at home. Chris Brain, J Taylor, Kevin Shuttleworth, Peter Brain (skip). J Smith, M Diprose, Neil Bouch, Greg Brain (s). B. McConnell, Klai Jermyn, Dallas Klemke, Rod Phillips (s). T Walsh, Kevin Earl, Paul Darroch, Lachy Darroch (s).
Division 4 Castlemaine play Bendigo East away. Don Ross, Alan Nichols, Chris Crossley, Mal Stevens (s). Russell Chapman, H Fleury, B Miller, Maureen Fletcher (s). L Carlin, Alicia Beauchamp, Pam Hunter, Steve McCoombe (s). Alene Jolme, Rod Fletcher, Graham Fraser, C Madgin (s).
Division 5 Castlemaine play Calivil at home. Sandra Grant, Sandra Phillips, W Walsh, P McKnight (s). D Barnett, G McClure, I Devereaux, David Carlin (s). R Fleury, J Hunter, B Chester, P Fraser (s). R Lynas, D Steet, L McClure, T O’Shea (s).
Midweek Pennant teams for the Semi Finals on Monday February 20 are:
Division 2 Castlemaine play Woodbury at Woodbury. Jack Taylor, Rod Fletcher, Chris Crossley, Maureen Fletcher (s). Alene Jolme, Alicia Beauchamp, Rosalie Roberts, Pam Hunter (s). Pat Devereaux, Graham Fraser, Tricia O’Shea, Steve McCoombe (s).
Division 3 Castlemaine play Golden Square at Castlemaine. Sandra Grant, Don Steet, Pam Fraser, Bruce Miller (s). Sandra Phillips, Regina Saville, Charles Madgin, Nina Hufer (s).
Lyndal McClure, Peter Rotteveel, Alan Nicholls, Kathy Parsons (s).
Club News
Castlemaine bowlers have been doing very well in District Tournaments. Kerang held their Classic Triples Tournament on Monday and Tuesday last week, Rod Phillips, Kevin Shuttleworth and Rick Parr were runners-up, a good effort with 120 premier bowlers playing over the two days.
On Sunday Castlemaine had two teams competing at Diggers Rest Bowling Club, Greg Brain, Kevin Shuttleworth, Klai Jermyn and Peter Williams were the winners. Second place went to Peter Brain and son Chris Brain, Paul Darroch and his son Lachy Darroch. A special day with two fathers and their boys runners-up.
Girls on the Green also enjoyed the lovely balmy weather Thursday evening with approximately 30 ladies bowling and catching up with friends in a social atmosphere. Four more weeks to go, Phone Maureen 0417 321 048.
Vigil for Southern Turkey and Northern Syria earthquake victims
The Anglican Parish invites members of the local community to attend a Prayer Vigil for Southern Turkey and Northern Syria this Saturday morning, February 18.
The vigil will be held at 9am at the Anglican Church Labyrinth, cnr Forest and Kennedy Streets, Castlemaine. All are welcome to come and pray for those affected by the devastation of the recent earthquakes.
Donations towards recovery are also welcomed which will be sent to assist those impacted via the Anglican Board of Mission or you can donate directly via www.abmission.org










