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“Insulting” graffiti attack on Castlemaine Library

By
Eve Lamb
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Graffiti sprawled across the glass doors at the main entrance to the Castlemaine library following an overnight attack last week. Obscene references have been obscured for publication.

Castlemaine Library is among public assets targeted in the latest spate of graffiti that’s left many calling for more to be done to address the unsightly problem. 

The brazen graffiti attack left obscenities sprawled across the main glass door to the library entrance overnight last Wednesday with the damage left to be discovered and cleaned up last week. 

Castlemaine resident Ian Braybrook was among several locals who contacted the Mail to express disgust at the defacing of the much-loved public facility. 

“It’s degrading of the town. I noticed it when I went to the library and I was flattened when I saw it on the door,” he said. 

“It’s an insult to the entire community and all the volunteers and people who work at the library.” 

He suggested installation of well positioned CCTV cameras may be one solution. 

“The cost of that would be much less than repainting structures like bridges all the time where you’ve got to bring in cranes and spend many thousands of dollars,” Mr Braybrook said. 

“The cost of installing cameras would come out at a lot less and would be a comparatively simple preventive measure.” 

Castlemaine Police Senior Sergeant Darren McQueen said CCTV had proven its value as both a means to helping catch offenders and as a preventative measure. 

“Without speaking for council it would be something I’d be interested in,” he said 

Senior Sergeant McQueen said the graffiti defacing the library entrance was “pretty brazen” and went a step beyond the “usual tags”. 

The council’s Director Infrastructure and Development, Michael Annear, said graffiti was an ongoing issue for all councils, authorities and private property owners “with no easy solution to preventing it”. 

“It is illegal in Victoria to mark graffiti on property without the owners’ consent,” Mr Annear said. 

“Council continues to work closely with Victoria Police to monitor and patrol graffiti hot spots. 

“Council will also be exploring the opportunity to work with community groups to respond to incidents of graffiti. 

“Council has installed CCTV cameras in some locations over the last few years to reduce the incidence of graffiti however, this is a costly exercise. 

“To assist us in identifying any new graffiti in the future we are encouraging residents to report graffiti vandalism via our Customer Request System on our website or with our customer service team…” 

Castlemaine Mail launches digital subscriptions

By
Castlemaine Mail
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The team at Castlemaine Smiles were excited to learn you can now access your weekly edition of the Castlemaine Mail online! You can now keep up to date on your local news via your PC, iPad or phone anywhere, anytime!

Today marks a new chapter in the long and proud 168 year history of the Castlemaine Mail as we officially launch online subscriptions for the first time.

From today our loyal readers can opt to become a Mail subscriber and access their weekly edition of the Castlemaine Mail online.

Your Mail subscription also entitles you full access to our website enabling you to read all your latest local news online.

The team at Castlemaine Smiles were excited to learn you can now access your weekly edition of the Castlemaine Mail online! You can now keep up to date on your local news via your PC, iPad or phone anywhere, anytime!

Castlemaine Mail editor Lisa Dennis said its an exciting day for the long running publication.

“We know that many of our readers like to get their hands on the weekly print edition of the Mail and we can assure you this is continuing, but for some time now we’ve been fielding requests from community members across the shire and further afield who’d love to be able to access a digital version of our newspaper,” she said.

“Your subscription enables you to access every page of the Mail via our website – including all your latest local news, community news, entertainment, letters to the editor, classifieds, birth, deaths and marriage notices, and all of our sport – and entitles you to full access to the news content on our website, as well as bonus content such as breaking news, additional photos, videos and online competitions.

“Our followers will still be able to enjoy a snapshot of the stories they can expect to discover in our weekly print edition via the website, as they have always done.

However, if you want to get the full story online that is now an option,” she said.

Ms Dennis said the paper is conscious that there is a large section of our community that is keen to support local journalism but wants a more sustainable option and the new digital subscription offers that.

“We also know many local residents have moved out of the shire or interstate and by the time their paper arrives by post it can be up to a week later, this way our subscribers can access the paper instantly at the same time as everyone else and can keep up to date with everything happening back home and breaking news as it happens,” she said.

READ: Six great reasons to become a Mail subscriber

Castlemaine Mail manager Lynda Brew said the long running newspaper has continued to thrive despite the challenges faced over the last two years thanks to the support of local businesses and the local community.

“Many newspapers have moved to online subscription only or stopped production altogether, but we continue to deliver a great local product each week.

Moving to offer a digital subscription is a natural progression,” she said.

“With the introduction of digital subscription we are delighted to be able to offer our loyal advertisers the chance to take their Mail advertising across into the digital sphere, offering more exposure through our online edition and exciting new advertising opportunities via our revamped website,” she said.

“The creation of the new digital subscription has been a joint collaboration between our editorial and advertising teams together with local digital expert Liam Runnalls and we are thrilled to launch the initiative,” Ms Brew said.

You can get your Mail subscription for just $10 a month, $52 for six months or $99 for 12 months.

Click here to subscribe!

Council adopts $44.42M budget: flood levees feature

By
Eve Lamb
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A start to construction of flood levees for Castlemaine and Campbells Creek are among highlights in Mount Alexander Shire’s newly adopted $44.42 million budget.
The council has adopted the new budget for the new financial year ahead, outlining the resources required to deliver more than 100 Council services, along with a number of new initiatives and $13.32 million in capital works.
Allocations include significant investment to begin construction of flood levees, along with other improvements in Castlemaine and Campbells Creek, aimed at reducing the impact of major flood events on housing, businesses and community buildings.
The new budget also prioritises spending to upgrade sporting facilities in the shire, and improve local pools.
Subject to the receipt of grant funding, the council will be constructing a new female-friendly pavilion at Bill Woodfull Recreation Reserve improving the netball court at Campbells Creek, adding flood lighting in Harcourt, and making improvements to Castlemaine’s skate park and Chewton’s Memorial Park.
Projects to improve roads and make the shire safer include a new pedestrian crossing on Walker Street between the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens and the Mill precinct, and upgrades to Fogartys Gap Road.
The council has also opted to continued its commitment to scope opportunities to address affordable housing in the shire.
The budget is forecast to enable the council to deliver high quality services whilst navigating the economic challenges of the COVID pandemic.
Following community feedback, the council has committed additional funds to the BMX parks, weed management, Christmas decorations, and several other items.
Mayor of Mount Alexander Shire, Bill Maltby, said the newly adopted budget was developed in response to community feedback, and was worked on diligently by staff and councillors to meet the needs of our diverse community.
“Councillors have thought long and hard about the varying needs of our community, and I think we’ve developed a budget that will benefit the entire shire,” Cr Maltby said.
Copies of the 2022/2023 budget can be viewed at the Castlemaine Civic Centre, the Castlemaine Library or online.

Time to train for Run The Maine: fav fundraiser gets set to return in style

By
Eve Lamb
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The Flying Brick (Simone Brick) returns as RTM ambassador

Organisers of this year’s Run the Maine are preparing for a big bounce-back after two years of virtual running of the popular event that raises significant funds for Castlemaine’s health service.

Be quick if you want to compete in this year’s half marathon, is the advice of event director Gavin Krasner ahead of RTM’s in-person return.

There’s a few exciting changes in store for the five km and 10 km courses as well. Tickets went on sale back in May and Gavin says they’re hoping for the biggest turnout yet for the distance running event that’s locked in for Friday September 23.

“We want to make this the biggest and best we’ve ever had,” he told the Mail this week.

“We’re aiming for 1000 plus participants … and the half marathon will sell out.”

After two years of virtual formats due to COVID, organisers are keen to see RTM return to in-person running in a big way.
And to encourage people to snap up an early bird ticket they’re offering a tasty incentive with the chance to win a night’s accommodation in a luxury local BnB and the option of a second night stay at half price.

“The new 10 km course is particularly brilliant with a wonderful section through the Walmer forest,” Gavin says.

“And the five km event will take in the botanical gardens again and it’s a super-flat, super-fast and super-inclusive course.”

Aussie world champion mountain runner Simone Brick returns also as event ambassador after debuting in the role last year.

Brick is this month set to visit the ‘Maine to appear in a special series of promotional and informative videos being made in the lead up the event.

The video series will see the champion runner visit on July 17 for the series of eight short videos to be made –- also starring RTM’s much-loved mascot, The Bird aka Dr Richard Mayes.

“We’ll be making a series of eight little videos featuring The Brick and The Bird with tips about things like hydration, pre-race warm-up routines and race-day nutrition,” Gavin says.

The Lake of Scars: NAIDOC week screening part of event-packed weekend

By
Castlemaine Mail
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The Lake of Scars is a special NAIDOC Week screening in Castlemaine's Theatre Royal as part of this weekend's C-DOC fest.

A special NAIDOC Week screening of The Lake of Scars happens 4.30pm on Sunday, July 3, at Theatre Royal Castlemaine, as part of the Castlemaine Documentary Festival that opens today and continues throughout the weekend.
In a corner of regional Victoria is Lake Boort, a place of astounding natural beauty and rare archaeological and environmental significance – and it’s being degraded on an annual basis. As the clock ticks, an unlikely partnership could see it saved for future generations.

‘Hosted’ by beloved Dja Dja Wurrung actor Uncle Jack Charles in a unique ‘in-cinema’ role, and including Jida Gulpilil – son of legendary actor, David – who brings his own flavour to his mother’s country, The Lake of Scars details the relationship between an ageing white farmer and members of Victoria’s Yung Balug clan of the Dja Dja Wurrung as they seek to protect Australia’s largest collection of scarred trees.

Amid a backdrop of treaty talks and the fight for water rights, can the relationship between characters of different backgrounds and generations survive the stresses of fighting for country, and overturn 200 years of protocol? Or does the road to reconciliation contain more bumps than we might imagine?

While exploring the beautiful, mysterious scarred trees, middens and stone scatters along the Lake Boort wetlands, we meet the people, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, who are working against the clock to preserve what they can, including Jida Gulpilil – son of legendary actor, David – who brings his own flavour to his mother’s country. With organic relics at its heart, the film examines the preservation of culture and environment as our protagonists fight for scarred trees to be preserved, for middens and stone scatters to be protected and recognised, for environmental flows of water to be allowed into the seasonal lake, and for a ‘keeping place’ to be built.

A post screening panel discussion will follow with a conversation with festival guests, Uncle Jack Charles, Ngarra Murray and director Bill Code.

Lost headstone heads home to Castlemaine Cemetery

By
Lisa Dennis
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Castlemaine’s Judy Wagstaff is pictured with the headstone of Kin Foay which has been returned to the Castlemaine Cemetery.

A headstone from the late 1800s has been returned to its original resting place at the Castlemaine Cemetery at Campbells Creek.

The link to our goldfields past was unearthed some years ago at a Castlemaine property whilst the owners were doing renovation works and has been now returned to its original home by the Wagstaff family.

Castlemaine’s Judy Wagstaff said the owners of the cottage had been doing renovations when they turned over their back step and were surprised to discover it was actually the headstone of ‘Kin Foay’.

The memorial had been erected in memory of Foay by Mary Ann Wagstaff.

Kin Foay late of Castlemaine had passed away on March 15, 1866 aged 41 years.

“The couple spoke to the lady next door about their discovery and she knew of the Wagstaff family.

Her daughter reached out to my late husband John to see if he wanted to come and have a look at it,” Judy said.

“John was researching the family history at the time and was thrilled to see it.

Negotiations were made for its purchase – two bottles of red wine! And it was then transported to our property in Muckleford where it was placed in our front garden,” Judy said.

The headstone remained a much talked about piece of garden art at the Wagstaff’s property for more than 10 years.

During that time John discovered the verse inscribed on the headstone was popular at the time and the Chinese inscription may offer some clue to Foay’s home of origin.

“After John passed away in February 2018, I decided to sell the Muckleford property so I had the headstone dug up and placed into storage until a suitable location could be found for it,” Judy said.

“After discussion with Castlemaine Cemetery Trust chair Debra Tranter it was agreed it would be returned to the cemetery and placed in the bushland section near other Wagstaff family members, including John who would be very happy to have it placed there,” she said.

“We have not been able to find out any information about Kin Foay despite quite a search by John.

He must have meant a lot to John’s great great aunt Mary Ann Wagstaff for her to have gone to so much expense to create a memorial of this size,” Judy said.

It is believed the headstone may have been one of several removed from the front section of the Castlemaine Cemetery in the 1960s to make way for a new lawn section, some of the stone was reportedly re-used across the township and some was moved up the back of the cemetery where some headstones were later recovered and have been placed on display along the entry road into the historic cemetery which was opened in 1852.

“We don’t know where Kin Foay was originally laid to rest, but it seems fitting that his headstone has been returned.

I will pick up where John left off and continue his research.

It’s certainly intriguing,” Judy said.

Then and now: Let’s take a look back at Castlemaine Primary School

By
Castlemaine Mail
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THEN: This photograph (Courtesy G. and L. Barry.) was taken in 1884 after the present day building was completed in 1875.This structure replaced the earlier National School building that had operated on site since 1855. In the foreground a large number of young men or students, many with rifles, are lined up in some sort of colonial military parade. Until the early 1860s, this area in the foreground had a path running diagonally across the scene and was lined with many small dwellings, and was the site of one of the Chinese settlements in the town. The large building on the left was on the corner of Mostyn and Urquhart streets and during the 1860s it housed the O’Hara Burke Hotel, named after the ex resident of town who perished in 1861 on his expedition to the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Click to view larger image

NOW: Fast forward to the present day and we find little has changed and the fabric of the building remains the same as it did in 1875, except the windows no longer have an arch over them and have been reshaped. In the foreground the area once referred to by the students as ‘the biggies’ yard’ has been modernised with the installation of a basketball/netball court next to the fence, while the rest of the area has an artificial surface with a running track marked out on it. In the left background the former double storey build-ings have been demolished and have been replaced by a weatherboard house. Now image and historical details courtesy Ken McKimmie.

Click to view larger image

Man in custody following car thefts

By
Castlemaine Mail
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Police have this week arrested a man in relation to a string of car thefts at locations including Castlemaine, Bendigo and Melbourne.

The Bendigo man aged in his 20s was arrested in Castlemaine on Monday morning, Castlemaine’s Senior Sergeant Darren McQueen said.

“He was arrested in relation to the theft of cars in Castlemaine, Bendigo, Melbourne, all the way up the highway basically – about nine vehicles in this area. The cars were quite often found burnt out.”

Following his arrest the man has appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates Court charged with multiple counts of motor vehicle theft and other offences including related traffic offences and arson offences.

He has been remanded in custody and investigations by the Central Goldfields Crime Investigation Unit are ongoing.

Church concert to raise funds for Save the Children

By
Eve Lamb
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Castlemaine's Teeshia Fitzgerald and flamenco dancing instructor Kirsty MacCallum ahead of a special Save The Children fundraising concert being staged in Castlemaine later this month.

What began as a spark of a thought in the middle of the night has turned into a fully fledged concert raising funds for one of the most pressing causes currently on the planet.

And everyone in Castlemaine and beyond will have the chance to attend this month’s concert raising much needed dollars for Save The Children’s emergency fund … because it’s free of charge. 

Instead of paying for a ticket to catch the line up of live talent in store, organisers are instead merely suggesting a donation to the cause.

The concert that’s being staged at Castlemaine’s Uniting Church, neighbouring Castlemaine Art Museum, on Saturday July 30 is the brainchild of church congregation member Teeshia Fitzgerald.

“It’s the result of waking up in the middle of the night with the thought in my head that we need to have a concert to raise money for Save The Children,” Teeshia says.

She then got in touch with the Save The Children Fund organisation and it was agreed the best way to ensure money raised would go to children most in need of help was to direct it to the emergency fund – “where it can then go to wherever the need is greatest,” Teeshia says. 

She contacted a wide range of talented local artists including musicians – “and as a result we’ve got a real mix,” Teeshia says.

“We’ve got jazz, we have a duo, we have soloists, we have instrumentalists, we have a flamenco dancer, and all are professional artists who have been willing to donate their time and talents for this cause. 

Flamenco dancer Kirsty MacCallum, at Castlemaine’s Uniting Church, is among local performers donating their time for this month’s Save The Children fundraising concert. Photo: Eve Lamb

“Elly Varrenti who is well known to many as a writer, ABC Broadcaster and actor, and Babs McMillan the actor and theatre director, have both volunteered to assist with presenting the programme.

“And the church has been so generous in enabling use the church for the venue which is just wonderful because the acoustics are fantastic.”

“The theme is going to be ‘community’,” Teeshia says.

“I thought – ‘why don’t’ we go for it?'”

The all ages concert happens Saturday July 30 at 1.30pm at Castlemaine Uniting Church.

My Strangways: Joan Sartori knows a thing or two about local history

By
Eve Lamb
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Joan Sartori has called Strangways home for 59 years.

Well Joan you’re just out of Newstead, at Strangways I know. How long have you lived there?
I’ve lived there for 59 years, ever since I got married. I grew up in Clydesdale which is the next little village up the road.
So you must know the area pretty well?
Yes I do. Well, I thought I did until I helped write the book -The history of Strangways – and then I realised that there was a lot more to learn.
Ah. Well history is something you’re pretty passionate about. In fact you’re very involved with the local historical society. Can you tell me a bit about that?
It’s the Newstead and District Historical Society and that covers the whole area that the old Newstead Shire covered before we amalgamated with Castlemaine.
What’s your role there?
I’m the secretary.
So that keeps you pretty busy?
Yes, it does.
What does that role involve?
Well as secretary I get most of the enquiries for research and I’m the research officer as well.
You obviously love your research.
I do… All the knowledge that there is there and if we don’t do something about it, when my generation goes it will be gone. Lost.
I bet there are some fascinating personal stories tucked away in the area’s past.
Yes. There are.
Beyond that, Joan, do you have any other particular involvements in the community?
I’m the secretary of the fire brigade auxiliary as well. I’m one of the founding members. I’ve been there 41 years (laughs).
It’s good because we can help the community. It’s giving back to the community. We raise money. We now cater. The main thing we probably do is cater for funerals.
But you could also cater for parties as a fundraiser?
Yes. We do. And we used to run bi-monthly dances for about twenty years. We raised a lot of money. We’re just about to hand over $50,000 to the CFA for the new tanker. Next month. There’s a lot of other money that we’ve raised that we’ve handed on for equipment… and just all the things That’s pretty impressive, Joan. Any other aspects of the community keeping you busy?
I’m on the Clydesdale Hall Committee of Management. I have been compiling a history of Clydesdale as well. COVID interrupted but it’s almost finished.
Well Joan, can you tell me a bit about your working life?
I was a nurse. I left school when I was 16 and then started work at Maldon hospital in 1957. To start off with it was as a nurse aid but then I eventually qualified as a state enrolled nurse. I was there until 1965 and I was married by then and I left to have my children. I had three kids and when the kids were old enough to go to school I went back part time and I use to work night duty. All up I was there for 35 years. I got breast cancer and I had to leave then because I had to have chemo.
But you’ve obviously smashed that?
Yeh. But it was really sad because I did really love the patients. It was a good time. Made lots of friends. Good friends.
OK, change of direction now Joan. What are you reading at the moment?
I’m just about finished reading Nurse Blake’s War. It’s a story about an Australian girl who went to the First World War. Her story is written from her diaries. Apparently she was the only Australian nurse killed in that first war.
And music, Joan. What is your preferred musical genre of choice?
I like most music. But I don’t like heavy metal.
Do you have any philosophies by which you like to lead life?
Yes. My grandmother always told me that if something was worth doing at all it’s worth doing well. And – you’re never too old to learn.
Good one. OK, Any pet peeves?
Yes. People that are cruel to animals.
Three dream dinner guests?
My old school friend of over 60 years, Marlene Bird, and also the old school friend who shared my cancer journey with me, Judy Wheelan, and one of my best friends who I’ve just lost recently – Wilma Allan.
So finally then Joan, what do you enjoy most about where you live?
Well I like the lifestyle. It’s quiet. I like to go on holidays but it’s lovely to come back to Strangways. The people are nice. It’s a supportive community. It’s a good community to live in. I don’t want to live anywhere else.

Fancy a sip of Dandelion Wine? The electro-medieval outfit is headed to Maldon

By
Eve Lamb
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Ethereal electro-medieval band Dandelion Wine are headed to Maldon this weekend. Image: Colin Page


Ethereal electro-medieval band Dandelion Wine are heading to Maldon for an exclusive acoustic performance in the town’s Progress Hall as part of this weekend’s inaugural Goldfields Gothic Festival Of Dark Ideas.
In their first live performance in a year, this Melbourne-based outfit are making their first-ever trip to Maldon for a special all-acoustic performance.
Dandelion Wine have spent the better part of the last two decades touring Europe, Australia, Japan and Hong Kong, as well as repeat appearances at some of Europe’s top festivals, including Germany’s Festival Medieval, which is acknowledged as the worlds’ largest festival of medieval-inspired music.
They’ve also won plenty of fans at Germany’s Wave Gotik Treffen, which is noted as the world’s largest goth and darkwave festival, and at Lithuania’s Menuo Juodaragis, which is a Baltic pagan festival.
After three albums on the renowned German label Ars Musica Diffundére/Black Rain, they recently released their latest album Le Cœur independently.
This weekend’s inaugural Goldfields Gothic is a weekend of events themed around celebrating the dark side of the goldfields,” the new event’s Michelle Dorian has told the Mail.
“As well as brave and determined miners, from the 1850s onwards the Victorian goldfields were home to spiritualists, secret societies, bushrangers, ghost-hoaxers and murderers,” she said.
“Inspired by these intriguing stories of the past, we are showcasing the dark side of the goldfields in all its gruesome glory.”
The festival takes place from today through to Sunday, transforming various venues around Maldon.
For those who do seize this unique local chance to sample a sip of Dandelion Wine’s music, it combines the ancient sounds of lute, hammered dulcimer and bell cittern, with Naomi Henderson’s ethereal vocals, haunting cello and the exotic sounds of percussion such as udu, tombak and the Persian tar.
While they normally feature swirling clouds of textured guitars and electronic beats, for this performance they will be performing in acoustic mode without the trappings of the 21st century in the beautiful surrounds of the Maldon Progress Hall.

Maldon goes gothic with live music, tours, and more…

By
Eve Lamb
-
Some of those getting set to enjoy this weekend's inaugural Goldfields Gothic Festival of Dark Ideas at Maldon. Photo: Eve Lamb

Expect to see goths galore as Maldon gets in touch with its darker side this weekend to stage its very first Goldfields Gothic Festival of Dark Ideas.
Part of the annual Maldon in Winter series, the new Goldfields Gothic Festival of Dark Ideas celebrates the darker side of the area’s goldfields history.
Organisers Valentina Tansley and Maldon resident Paul Kooperman say the new event taps into the locality’s Gothic, tragic and more mysterious past with performances, tours, themed food experiences, live music and conversations on topics noir.
“It’s the first of its kind and we hope it will be huge,” Paul told the Mail.
“We are expecting more than 1500 people to come to Maldon and enjoy the activities.
“In late 2021 we felt there was a real thirst in the community to revitalise the events program so we came up with the idea to do something a little different this year.”
Highlights include live performances by Dandelion Wine and legendary Australian dark alternative band Ikon.
A family friendly Gothic and Victorian Picnic in the little tourist town’s shire gardens, a special meeting of internationally renowned Death Café at Café Maldon, a uniquely crafted dark high tea, ghost tours by award winning spook sleuths Twisted History, and a street display of collectible hearses are all on the niche program.
The first time event aims to makes the most also of ongoing rumours that more than one local building – notably including the town’s Kangaroo Hotel – are haunted.
Organisers hope to bring new audiences to the town and the festival’s Michelle Dorian says it’s expected that Goldfields Gothic will become an annual fixture on the region’s calendar.
“Definitely. This is one of those dreams,” she says.

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