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Affordable Housing initiative wins support of Council

By
Jade Jungwirth
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Access to safe and affordable housing is becoming untenable for many in our region and across the country. The nationwide housing crisis is requiring a rethinking of the role of every level of government in relation to planning for, facilitating, and delivering affordable housing. 

Mount Alexander Shire Council is one of many councils across Victoria and the nation looking at its role in this area, in recognition of the crippling impact that the lack of available and affordable housing is having on local economies, communities, families, and individuals. 

During Tuesday’s meeting of council, a unanimous vote to support the allocation of air rights of a council-owned Templeton Street property was passed. The air rights will be given to Haven Home Safe in the form of a leasehold or freehold title for a period of between 35 and 49 years. 

Cr Rosie Annear said stated, “This is a very real thing to help ease the strain on families struggling to get affordable and safe housing.” 

Under the proposal, council will provide access to its land and in return, Haven Home Safe will provide safe and affordable housing to a diverse group of applicants local to the shire, including those who have left due to housing pressures, or those working in the shire who are unable to afford housing. 

Trudi Ray CEO of Haven Home Safe, a for-purpose organisation providing affordable rental housing and homeless services, told the Mail, “We are pleased to see such strong community support and endorsement from councillors to allocate air rights to Haven Home Safe at Templeton Street Castlemaine so we can pursue funding for affordable rental housing in this location. 

“Whilst this is the first time we have pursued the option of air rights to build affordable housing, it signals a shift in the sector to pursue emerging funding and delivery models and pull all available levers to increase the supply of social and affordable housing,” Ms Ray said. 

“Living in Mount Alexander Shire is unaffordable for an increasingly significant proportion of the population, leading to widespread housing stress as people are forced to move out of the shire to find accommodation. Housing affordability and availability is also significantly impacting the ability of businesses to secure key workers.” 

Community consultation was carried out with residents and businesses in the region with 134 respondents and 70 businesses surveyed. A number of concerns were raised regarding increased street parking, heritage concerns, and timeframes. The report indicates a substantial majority of residents expressed in-principle support with 81.3 per cent of the 134 respondents agreeing to the allocation of air rights. 

Cr Matthew Driscoll said, “This is great. Unfortunately, there will be a lot of hoops to jump through, it’s not a done deal, but if things fall our way, it’s very doable. This is not traditionally what council does but homelessness is rife and it’s important for local government to step up and be innovative.” 

Carolyn Neilson from My Home Network said, “This is a great first step and we applaud the council for their commitment to providing housing in the community. This is one strategy amongst many to provide affordable, safe housing in our region.” 

Lot 19 Sculpture Prize winners celebrated

By
Castlemaine Mail
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Joel Sorenson (pictured) was the joint winner of The Green Folly Prize at Saturday's event. Photo: Craig Gaston.
Joel Sorenson (pictured) was the joint winner of The Green Folly Prize at Saturday's event. Photo: Craig Gaston.

The Lot19 Spring Sculpture Prize returned to Lot19 Arts Precinct in Castlemaine last weekend, with a joyous opening party featuring live music, food, bar and prize-giving. 

The large group of independent judges was drawn from a group of local businesses along with LaTrobe Art Institute’s Dr Karen Annett-Thomas (Director) and Amelia Wallan (Curator), and artist’s Michael Greave and Ella Hughes.

“We were blown away by the number of entries this year”, said Lot19’s Mark Anstey. “And the quality, creativity and variety of works is inspiring and absolutely wonderful”. 

There were over 70 entries into the Spring Sculpture Prize this year, with 25 artists sharing in 15 prizes. The winners of the Lot19 Major Prize were Sir Leslie Thornton, Dunielle Mina, Jessie Stanley and Sam Deal, and Craig Stephens walked away with the Ron Anstey Memorial Prize. Joel Sorensen and Annabel Nowlan shared in the Green Folly Prize, and Selby Ginn The Salvage Yard Prize.

“We love to welcome our community to Lot19 across the whole year, but I must admit, the Spring Sculpture Prize has a special place in our heart” Mark said. 

“We encourage everyone to come and see why. And we extend a heartfelt thank you to all of the artists and the very wonderful people and businesses who support them – and the prize”.

The Spring Sculpture Prize is open at Lot19 Fridays, Saturday and Sunday until October 30 from 11-4pm. A full list of prize-winners can be found on the Lot19 website. 

Regional Community Vet Clinic celebrates milestone

By
Lisa Dennis
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Regional Community Vet Clinic and Vets For Compassion volunteers are pictured with Maree Edwards during her recent visit with her new beagle puppy Beto.
Regional Community Vet Clinic and Vets For Compassion volunteers are pictured with Maree Edwards during her recent visit with her new beagle puppy Beto.

Regional Community Vet Clinic (RCVC) held another successful pop-up clinic and desexing session at the Castlemaine Veterinary Clinic earlier this month.

RCVC Co-Convenor Robyn Slattery said RCVC volunteers once again had assistance from Vets For Compassion to run the pop-up clinic and marked the milestone of desexing 102 cats since the commencement of the program.

Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards stopped over at the clinic to meet with vets and volunteers and receive an update on the project.

Ms Slattery said Ms Edwards was extremely impressed with everything they have achieved to date.

RCVC received a $200,000 grant from the state government earlier this year via the Animal Welfare Grant program to establish regional Victoria’s first community vet clinic in Mount Alexander Shire.
RCVC as a not-for-profit community veterinary clinic that supports the elderly, socially and financially disadvantaged in our community, providing them with access to affordable preventative veterinary care for their companion animals. This includes supporting the most vulnerable to continue to live in their own homes with their companion animals.
“We recognise the importance of companion animals in maintaining individuals physical and mental wellbeing,” Robyn said.
“By supporting the health and wellbeing of pets, we reduce owner anxiety and increase overall health and wellbeing. By enabling access to affordable preventative veterinary care our aim is to legitimize and support the importance of animal companionship for people experiencing various forms of disadvantage,” she said.
RCVC aim to build a Veterinary Clinic dedicated to the care of the companion animals of the disadvantaged in our regional community and have commenced fundraising for the project.
“We are encouraging and welcoming the community to join us to achieve this first for Regional Victoria,” Robyn said.
If you would like to get involved, please get in touch with RCVC via email info@rcvc.org.au or alternatively phone 0493 447 394.
If you would like to be kept informed about their progress register your interest at rcvc.org.au.

Alma farewelled after 50 years of service

By
Castlemaine Mail
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At the October Harcourt CWA meeting, members said goodbye to their dear friend Alma Chaplin and thanked her for her 50 years of service to the Country Women’s Association (CWA) and the friendship she had shared with them all.

Judi Kent, Joy Robertson, Robyn McConville and Alma Chaplin are pictured at the recent celebration.

Harcourt CWA members sat around the table and cheered Alma Chaplin for 50 years of service at their branch. 

“What a wonderful achievement, fifty years of baking her famous Sour Cream Apple Slice and Savoury Scones to serve at Harcourt CWA’s afternoon teas,” said fellow member and friend Lyn Rule.

“Fifty years of pouring tea and coffee at our various functions, and fifty years of going out into her beautiful garden to pick flowers to make the posies that are given as gifts to our many office bearers and visitors,” Lyn said.

“Alma was always willing and able to lend a hand, to participate in concerts and fundraising events, always had a smile, and in true CWA fashion, Alma was a friend to us all,” Lyn said.

New facilities a priority

By
Castlemaine Mail
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Rob Evans, Castlemaine

It was wonderful to see so many volunteers down at Camp Reserve over the last two weekends getting some of the space into tidy and useable areas. It is then such a pity that they have not got decent facilities that they deserve.
In contrast there is a group of people hell bent on trying to obstruct, delay and even stop the proposed redevelopment of the facilities and thereby deny the hundreds of participants of all ages and gender, decent facilities for their activities.
This group do not appear to be connected to any of the major users of the facilities and in coming up with an alternative plan they have not consulted with the users.
Their plan is for two story building which is totally impracticable and would ruin the vista of the reserve.
They have stated several times that many trees will be removed when in fact the council plan provides for the removal of just four trees and the planting of twenty-eight. They claim that history will be lost but cannot name one historical structure that will be going under the council plan.
This group downgrades the sporting clubs who are by far the main users of the reserve and prioritises those who use the reserve occasionally or walk or drive past in any case it is hard to see how these people would be upset by the replacement of the eyesore facilities that now exist.
Finally, I quote what a president of one of the clubs recently stated, “The clubrooms are falling to bits, the single netball court is dated and damaged and not up to standard”.
Obviously, the need for new facilities is urgent and should be commenced without delay. Not to do so would be an embarrassment and shame on Castlemaine.

My Newstead with Jenny and Barry Lacey, renowned gardening enthusiasts

By
Jade Jungwirth
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Barry and Jenny Lacey

You are both incredible gardeners. How did that journey begin?
“We moved here from Melbourne in 2001. There was no garden here, only grass and a concrete pathway, we started our first garden beds in December of that year and by 2008 we had our first open garden. We have 90 bearded Iris and more than 150 bonsai trees, we have roses and cacti and succulents and even a Chinese tea tree,” the pair laugh. “It’s very rare and doesn’t need a lot of water” (the tree is actually an arrangement of cups and mugs that Jenny designed as a garden ornament).
Tell me a little about your life together.
“We’ve been married for 52 years. We first met in 1966 when I got an after-school job at a butcher’s shop when I was 15,” said Jenny.
“And I was 16 and doing my butchers apprenticeship,” said Barry. “I asked her if she wanted a chewy and a few weeks later I gave her a friendship ring. We got married five years later.”
“We have a son Matthew and a daughter Tanya and three grandchildren,” said Jenny.
“We taught karate for 20 years in Melbourne and then for 10 years when we moved here. We had a fabulous time.”
Any other interests?
“We both enjoy swimming and I scrapbook and make cards, as well as volunteering at the Rural Transaction Centre,” said Jenny.
“And I’ve started doing Tai Chi,” said Barry. “I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2009. It was either Parkinson’s, a tumor, or a cyst on the brain, so I reckon I was pretty lucky. They call me the $6 million man. I have two artificial hips, I’ve lost a kidney, and have an artificial metal aorta.
“One day soon after my Parkinson’s diagnosis, I was sitting with my next-door neighbor John Rowlands, who had been diagnosed with cancer. We were sitting on the couch with a beer, consoling each other and we came up with the idea for the Newstead Men’s Shed. That was in 2011 and we’ve just received a grant to extend the shed and now have over 30 members.”
Do you have a philosophy you live life by?
“Treat people as you’d like to be treated,” said Jenny. “A bit of compassion and empathy goes a long way.”
“One day you’re gonna die, don’t worry about it,” said Barry. “There’s no good sitting there doing nothing. Keep moving and going.”
Three dream dinner guests?
Jenny said, “Mum and the late Queen Elizabeth. I’ll have to think about the third.”
Barry said, “Adam Lambert from Queen, the Dalai Lama, and Dimash Kudaibergen a Kazakh singer. He’s considered the best male singer in the world.”
What are your pet peeves?
Barry, “Governments promising things in 10 years time, when they might only be in power for four years. How can you promise something if you don’t know if you’ll be in power?”
Jenny, “People who litter.”
What’s your musical genre of choice?
“I’m not sure what musical genre Dimash Kudaibergen is, but he is amazing. He can sing high and so low,” said Barry.
“The 60s. When we grew up,” said Jenny.
What are you reading at the moment?
“Since the Parkinson’s my eyes go out of focus and I can’t read,” said Barry. “I used to read a lot of science fiction and westerns.”
“I’m reading a Friend Like Henry by Nuala Gardner,” said Jenny. “It’s a true story about an autistic boy. I cried my eyes out.”
What do you enjoy most about the place you call home?
Jenny, “The peace and quiet, fresh air and the community, the people.”
Barry, “No rush. And I couldn’t have a bonsai garden outside like that in Melbourne. They’d get pinched. And being able to have a big garden.”

Discover Your Town and win!

By
Castlemaine Mail
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Did you catch our ‘Discover Your Town – Castlemaine’ feature in last Friday’s Castlemaine Mail? The feature celebrates our town’s history and local business. Get out there and locate the ‘Discover Your Town’ logo in each of our 16 participating businesses, fill in the entry form in the Mail and you could win $500 from us to spend at the featured business of your choice! Grab this week’s Mail for your entry form.

Love Sermon to be delivered at the Theatre Royal

By
Castlemaine Mail
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A stimulating show ‘Love Sermon,’ is touring across Australia and will be visiting the Theatre Royal in Castlemaine on October 26.
‘Love Sermon’ is a secular sermon on matters of the heart, as it looks at all the ways that love manifolds into our lives.
Created by writer and broadcaster Clementine Ford and talented performer Libby O’Donovan the story examines the importance of love in all aspects of our life.
Clementine says the show is presented in a very lighthearted and positive way and challenges the notion that we all need to find ‘one true love’ in order to be happy and demonstrates that in fact love comes to our life in many varied forms.
The show was inspired by the release of Ford’s 2021 book, ‘How We Love, Notes on Life’, and her long and enduring friendship with Libby O’Donovan.
“The Love Sermon is a life affirming celebration exploring the ways we hope, the ways we connect, the ways we grieve and yes, the ways we love. We mistake romantic love for being the only kind of love that matters, but this is just one small part of human connection. Our Love Sermon will have you laughing and weeping in equal measure, but most of all it will remind you that the gift of loving in all its messy complexities is at the heart of what it means to be alive,” Clementine says.
Libby O’Donovan, OAM, is a “powerful and sassy performer” (SMH), renowned for her nuanced interpretations and extraordinary voice. Libby is the recipient of the 2022 Cabaret Icon Award and has received an OAM in recognition of her service as a critically acclaimed Jazz and Cabaret performer and an award-winning Musical Director.
As a respected queer performer, Libby has also had a massive year having been inducted into the Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown, as well as being presented with Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2022 Icon Award. She was also awarded Queen’s Birthday honours this year and received her OAM for services to jazz and cabaret.
Libby says, “I believe love is the greatest four-letter word of all time. We dedicate songs, poetry, paintings, and our entire lives to it. Love Sermon weaves together the beauty of music and the power of spoken word to celebrate all the facets of love.”
Tickets for Love Sermon can be purchased via https://www.lovesermon.com/
Bookings are essential, and places are limited.

Widespread flooding impacts region

By
Castlemaine Mail
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Warburtons Bridge on the Loddon River at Glenluce during Thursday's floods. Photo: Julie Millowick.

Roads were closed across the Mount Alexander Shire and the local region as Thursday’s rain event saw local creeks and rivers burst their banks and flood roads, footpaths, parks, reserves and impact homes and businesses. Local residents are being urged to take care and not enter floodwater.

Motorists which encounter floodwater over roads in the region are urged to turn around and find an alternate route. Do not enter floodwater as you could put yourself and emergency responders at risk. SES volunteers warn it doesn’t take much to make your car become unstable, lose traction or wash away. In fact , it only takes 15cms of water to float a small car. Just don’t risk it.

VIDEO: Cairn Curran spillway surging after heavy rains

Gingell and Bruce Streets were once again flooded and Camp Reserve and the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens were inundated with a massive body of water. All roads into the township were cut as residents at Castlemaine, Chewton, Elphinstone, Barkers Creek, Campbells Creek, Yapeen, Guildford, Newstead and Baringhup braced for flooding.

Floodwater has inundated the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens reigniting memories of the 2011 floods.
Floodwater has inundated the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens reigniting memories of the 2011 floods.

Power was cut to 9800 Thursday evening when Powercor/Citipower forced to switch off the Castlemaine substation due to rising floodwaters from Campbells Creek.
Powercor/Citipower teams and emergency services had been monitoring the situation for days and striving to keep the water out with sandbagging, raising equipment and using pumps. Despite these actions, rising floodwaters reached a level at the Castlemaine zone substation that made it unsafe to keep power on at the site. 

“We have been unable to keep water out of our control room and as a result we have de-energised the substation,” a spokesperson said.

“We have taken this step to reduce the safety risk to emergency services and our employees and to minimise long term damage as much as possible in the circumstances.”

By late Thursday predictions on the restoration of power blew out to 6pm Friday. However, as rain ceased and the flood level dropped late Thursday power was able to be restored.

The situation will continue to be monitored over Friday and beyond.

VIDEO: Forest Creek creeps higher as rains continue

The Castlemaine Mail’s coverage of local floods is free to read. Please consider a digital subscription to support our local journalism. Free trial available for a limited time.

Gold Sounds Conference gets underway

By
Castlemaine Mail
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Young people also have free, priority access to a Music Interviewing Skills workshop led by Journalist and Broadcaster Jane Gazzo.
Young people also have free, priority access to a Music Interviewing Skills workshop led by Journalist and Broadcaster Jane Gazzo.

Gold Sounds Music Conference returns this weekend with a bounty of guests and sessions – including a dedicated Youth Program.
Taking place on Saturday October 15, the Gold Sounds Youth Program has been curated in conjunction with young people from Central Victoria, and includes access to Industry sessions at The Phee Broadway Theatre, including Yarning Strong, Marketing & PR, Community & Public Radio, Copyright & Licensing, and Songcraft: In Conversation.
Speakers at these sessions include musicians Mitch Tambo and Dallas Woods, along with a very impressive list of industry professionals.
Further youth-only sessions facilitated by The Push include Touring & Artist Management 101, with guests Sean Simmons, who is the director of Booking Agency Press Play Presents, and Katie Besgrove from Lookout Kid, Courtney Barnett’s management team.
It also includes a Planning & Publicity Workshop – a hands-on session on event planning and creating music/event press-releases, with Emily Kelly (Director, Deathproof PR) and Lisa Lorenz (All Ages Programs Manager, The Push).
Young people also have free, priority access to a Music Interviewing Skills workshop led by Journalist and Broadcaster Jane Gazzo.
The full program and tickets are available on the Gold Sounds website.
Participants will need to register for the program ahead of time at www.goldsounds.com.au

Wild ride at Bathurst for Castlemaine young gun Declan Fraser

By
Castlemaine Mail
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Declan Fraser is proudly pictured with Lowndes and his family at the event.
Declan Fraser is proudly pictured with Lowndes and his family at the event.

Castlemaine born Declan Fraser did the region proud as a wildcard entry racing alongside motorsport legend Craig Lowndes in the Bathurst 1000 last Sunday.
Declan said it was an incredible experience.
“Where do I begin. First Bathurst 1000, led the race, highest ever wildcard finisher and finished inside the top 10 in 8th!” he told his followers.
The 22 year old thanked everyone from Supercheap Auto and Triple Eight Race Engineering and his family for their support.
“I love you all so much and can’t thank everyone enough for everything they’ve done to make this possible.”
“Finally to Craig Lowndes, thank you so much for taking me under your wing these past few days. I learnt so much from you, it’s a debt I don’t think I’ll ever be able to repay.”
Declan’s dad Justin Fraser told the Mail the family were thrilled with his historic wildcard result and his efforts in Super2 where he currently leads the championship.
“Leah, Jasmine, and I are incredibly proud of everything Declan has achieved to date,” he said.

Mt Alexander Falcons to feature at Ballarat

By
Castlemaine Mail
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The Mt Alexander Falcons and Kyneton Tigers are set to feature in Sunday’s AFLW game at Mars Stadium in Ballarat after both teams were invited to play in a curtain raiser before the Western Bulldogs take on St Kilda.
Kicking off at 11am Sunday’s game forms part of the AFLW’s Pride round celebrations and recognises the focus that the Mt Alexander Women’s Sports Club and Kyneton FNC have dedicated to giving women and gender-diverse people of all backgrounds the opportunity to play football in regional Victoria.
Mt Alexander Falcons and Kyneton Tigers have already met this year in a couple of cracking games including contesting the inaugural Gender Equality Cup in partnership with Women’s Health Loddon Mallee. Both clubs work hard behind the scenes to provide an environment that is welcoming encouraging and fun for players and supporters of all backgrounds.
Sunday’s game will start at 11am at Mars Stadium in Ballarat, ahead of the Bulldogs playing St Kilda at 1.10 pm.
Mt Alexander Falcons president Alana Wearne said the team is excited to take part.
“It’s thrilling to get the chance to showcase the Falcons’ game at Mars Stadium, and at the same time we’re incredibly humbled to be recognised by the AFLW for the work that we’ve been putting in to give LGBTQIA+ people the chance to play footy who might not otherwise be able to in regional Victoria,” Alana said.
“We’ve played Kyneton in the rain and mud to get hold of the Gender Equality Cup and we’ll bring the same mentality as we run out together at Mars Stadium on Sunday, they’re a great bunch of people and we can’t wait to give them another hard game.”

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