Our 2021 Castlemaine Mail ‘Golden Ticket’ promotion continues this week! You will discover the sixth piece of the puzzle in today’s edition.
This year’s promotion has been proudly supported by Mulberrys Delicatessen in Lyttleton Street.
Business manager Cas Davey said Mulberrys has now been serving the local community for 19 years and neighbouring business Togs Cafe, headed by her sister and brother-in-law Elissa and Jason Wilsher, for three decades.
The two businesses have always complemented each other but have worked more closely than ever since the difficulties they have faced with the pandemic and various extended lockdowns.
The two businesses recently formalised their connection installing a walk-through area bridging the store and the cafe. The fantastic new space features Mulberrys’ beautiful array of giftware and is a wonderful segue between the two offerings.
Mulberrys is renowned for its extensive array of beautiful cheese, charcuterie, accoutrements and gifts. You can access their beautiful range in store and online. See the Mail for more…
Golden treasure trove awaits
Basketballers bounce back
The Castlemaine Cannons Basketball Association were delighted to welcome their players back to the court this week.
Organisers said it was so great to see so many happy faces out on court again! No doubt the kids will be disappointed to see their season on hold again. But hopefully they can return to the court soon.
Calling budding young filmmakers
Entries are now open for the second COscars Youth Film Festival! Here’s a chance to get your film career kicked off.
The short film competition is for makers aged eight to 25 years. Films can be as short as 50 seconds and up to 25 minutes, with seven categories open to different age groups.
While cash prizes of $50 to $150 may not quite be at the same level as the international Academy Awards, organisers from Mount Alexander Shire Council’s Youth Advisory Group (YAG) said the competition would be just as keen. See the Mail for more details.
World Breastfeeding Week celebrated
The Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA), Castlemaine and District Group and Castlemaine Health were proud to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) in 2021 (August 1-7).
The World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) 2021 theme ‘Protect breastfeeding: a shared responsibility’ is about how breastfeeding contributes to the survival, health and wellbeing of all. The theme also acknowledges that although support at the individual level is very important, breastfeeding must be considered a public health issue that requires investment at all levels. The concept of ‘building back better’ after the COVID-19 pandemic will provide an opportunity to create a warm chain of support for breastfeeding that includes health systems, workplaces and communities at all levels of society. See the Mail for more.
Council knocks back supermarket application
Eve Lamb
A proposal to build a large Woolworths supermarket on Castlemaine’s Forest Street is headed to VCAT after Mount Alexander Shire Council last week knocked back planning approval for the controversial proposal in its current form.
The councillor vote to refuse the application in its current scaled-up form was unanimous at last Tuesday night’s July council meeting.
Major sticking points highlighted by councillors include failure to factor in traffic treatment design to adequately ensure community safety, as well as location, scale, and the proposed usurping of a leafy public roadside reserve to meet the development’s carparking needs.
“So many people have said to us they want a new supermarket – but this is not the supermarket,” said Cr Rosie Annear, moving the motion of refusal in line with the council officer recommendation, after the application had attracted 178 formal objections.
“I have read over 600 pages of objections over the weekend,” Cr Gary McClure said, supporting Cr Annear’s motion of refusal.
“We’ve got to have a decent traffic management solution and what we have before us is rubbish,” Cr Christine Henderson said.
“A classic trojan horse,” was the way mayor Cr Tony Cordy described the application, noting that the matter had been before council on several prior occasions with the council previously granting approval for a supermarket with a far smaller footprint at the town gateway site, opposite busy Castlemaine Primary School.
Seconding Cr Annear’s motion of refusal, Cr Stephen Gardner said he could not support the proposal in its current form despite his belief that Castlemaine badly needs another supermarket to stem the significant loss of business to other centres.
“It makes me very sad that I’m not going to sit here and approve the supermarket,” Cr Gardner said.
“We need one. About 60 per cent of our residents go elsewhere to shop. But for the developers to go to VCAT and try to force a decision that doesn’t meet our community needs is wrong.”
Part of Cr Annear’s successful motion of refusal included the added provision that if the proponents were to amend their application to address the outstanding concerns raised, the matter could again return to the council for consideration.
All councillors voted in favour of Cr Annear’s motion to refuse the permit in its current form, with Cr Bill Maltby declaring a conflict and leaving the meeting while the matter was considered.
Mark Koehne, a member of the Size Matters community group opposing the proposal as it stands, has told the Mail he will be among several members of the group who will be individually opposing the development when the matter goes before VCAT with a 10-day hearing now set for March 2022.
“It will be a bun fight,” Mr Koehne said, pointing to the significant opposition to the proposal.
“We think the developer is playing games.
“The developer already has a permit to build a smaller supermarket and he should get on with it and build it instead of making a grab for something twice its size.”
MIFF comes to Castlemaine
Eve Lamb
Castlemaine’s historic Theatre Royal is getting set to host some remarkable new films as part of this month’s Melbourne International Film Festival.
Enhancing the Castlemaine connection, this year’s MIFF will include the Australian premiere of documentary film Hating Peter Tatchell co-produced by Sir Elton John, co-starring Stephen Fry and Ian McKellen – and edited in Castlemaine by locally-based film editor Bergen O’Brien.
The Theatre Royal’s Tim Heath says a further element of interest for Castlemaine audiences will be the theatre’s later (October) hosting of a live performance by renegade country music artist, Wanita – as featured in the film I’m Wanita which is an inclusion on the MIFF program screenings locked in for Theatre Royal.
“We’re extremely excited to be part of the regional program,” Tim says.
“MIFF is an internationally recognised film festival.
“We chose the films (screening at Theatre Royal) in conjunction with MIFF and we’re really pleased to present a program that we think will be in keeping with the diversity here in Castlemaine.
“We feel like there will be something for everyone.”
Celebrating its 69th running, MIFF’s newly revealed 2021 program boasts 283 international and Aussie films including 199 feature films, 84 shorts, 40 world premieres and 154 Australian premieres.
“In Castlemaine the screenings at the Theatre Royal will include Off Country, Anonymous Club, James and Isey (New Zealand), Hating Peter Tatchell, Chef Antonio’s Recipes for Revolution, I’m Wanita and Little Tornado,” MIFF programmer Kate Fitzpatrick told the Mail.
“It’s a great line-up.
“I’d encourage people to get along and support their local theatre and come and see some great films, and I’d also encourage people to jump on the MIFF website.”
MIFF will deliver in-cinema screenings in Melbourne city, suburbs and eight regional Victorian towns, and will also be going nationwide via its online platform enabling film lovers the chance to immerse themselves in new world-class film wherever they may be in Australia.
A total 62 films will be available on MIFF Play, the festival’s online screening platform.
The festival’s two overlapping programs (in-cinema and online) will encompass 18 days with the in-cinema experiences running August 5–15, and MIFF Play expanding into homes online August 14–22.
Council Releases biz park lots
Eve Lamb
Seven land lots in Castlemaine’s Wesley Hill business park estate will now be up for grabs after Mount Alexander Shire Council approved their sale at last week’s council meeting.
Lots 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13 and 14 represent “the last remaining blocks in the business park” Cr Bill Maltby said, moving the motion in favour of releasing the seven lots for public sale, and authorising the acceptance of an offer where it’s equal to or above the independent land valuation.
“The reality is there’s very little land available for business park activities,” Cr Maltby told Tuesday night’s July council meeting which was conducted on line via Zoom due to uncertainty around COVID-19 restrictions.
However, the decision to release the land for sale is likely to concern multiple local residents who had previously voiced objections to lots 5, 6 and 7 being allowed to go to industrial development, citing their importance as a natural environment buffer.
During the May council meeting neighbouring residents said lots 5, 6 and 7 were uniquely important for providing natural remnant habitat for wildlife, forming part of a nature corridor and providing a valuable green buffer between the industrial and residential areas.
Wesley Hill resident Jane Forest had told the May council meeting that lots 5-7 represented an ideal opportunity to develop as a green belt and wildlife corridor, complementing work proposed by an existing local landcare group to revegetate along Forest Creek.
“If there ever was a piece of land begging not to be developed this is it,” Ms Forest said during public question time at the May meeting.
Speaking at last week’s meeting, Cr Stephen Gardner alluded to the potential for anyone with specific proposals or concerns to take the future into their own hands, stating “it’s still open for anyone to come forward with plans and proposals.”
The resolution to release the seven lots for sale passed unopposed with Cr Matthew Driscoll declaring a conflict and absenting himself while the matter was considered.
Wesley Hill resident Fay White was among those who had earlier raised concerns about preserving lots 5-7 as a green buffer.
Outside the council meeting she told the Mail that exploring community interest in a possible response aimed at preserving the lots as a green buffer was an option.
“And we may also look at forming a landcare group for the south side of Wesley Hill and the easements around the industrial estate,” Ms White said.
Nalderun film fest kicks off
The fourth state-wide COVID lockdown forced the postponement of Nalderun’s Reconciliation Week Film Festival.
However, the local indigenous group is thrilled the lifting of the latest lockdown means they can go ahead with their rescheduled screenings at the Theatre Royal this weekend!
The event kicked off on Thursday evening with the premiere of the first film in the series Talking With Our Elders.
Local filmmakers and Nalderun supporters Ira Barker, Cath South and Stewart Carter are pictured earlier this year in their Fryerstown office doing the final editing of the surprise film ‘Nalderun: All together’ which will be screening tomorrow, July 31 at 11am. See the Mail for full details.
Go for Gold
Our 2021 Castlemaine Mail ‘Golden Ticket’ promotion continues this week! You will discover the fifth piece of the puzzle in today’s edition.
This year’s promotion has been proudly supported by Barker Street East businesses and household names Hot & Crusty Country Bakery, Barker Street Cafe, Extremity Street & Sports and Maine Shoes & Accessories.
Geraldine and Andrew Rye of Hot & Crusty Country Bakery and Barker Street Cafe said they kept their doors open during the latest lockdown on reduced hours but plan to return to full business hours over the coming week.
The couple said they are extremely grateful to the local community for continuing to support them in good times and bad.
“It means so much. The first few days were a bit quiet but after that locals used their daily outing as a chance to pop in and say hello and treat themselves,” Andrew said.
Donna Spragg of Extremity Street & Sports said it was extremely disappointing to be forced to close their doors again. However, they have been buoyed by the support they have received since reopening.
“We had a lot of customers pop in on Wednesday as soon as the doors opened. It was fantastic,” she said.
Carina Bouch of Maine Shoes & Accessories said the community has been extremely understanding and patient.
“We have been getting a lot of enquiries via our socials and we are delighted to be able to welcome everyone back whether its for a new pair of shoes for the return to school or a new pair of winter boots,” she said. See today’s Mail for more details on how you can enter the Golden Ticket competition and win some money to spend at these fantastic local businesses.
Magpies to soar into new chapter
The Castlemaine Football Netball Club (CFNC) has announced plans to field a side in the AFL Central Victoria women’s league in 2022.
The club has been quietly working behind the scenes on the ambitious plan to form a dedicated women’s side for the elite regional competition for around 18 months.
Club President Caleb Kuhle said it is an exciting time for the club.
“We have a coach waiting in the wings which we will announce in the coming weeks, an enthusiastic Operations Manager ready to lead the side and a core group of talented local players ready to pull on the boots,” he said. See the Mail for the full story.
Gardens to be showcased
It is with great delight that the Committee of Management of the Castlemaine and District Festival of Gardens announces there will be a special ‘off-year’ Festival of Gardens in 2021.
During Melbourne Cup Week, from October 29 until November 7, visitors will have the opportunity to meander among a diverse selection of beautiful central Victorian gardens.
The biennial event, which usually takes place in even years, was cancelled last year due to the uncertainty of the restrictions associated with COVID-19. See the Mail for more…
Transitioning to independent housing
While there are significant barriers to accessing suitable housing in Castlemaine, a small number of local families have successfully transitioned a family member with an intellectual disability into independent housing.
Some have taken the rental pathway, others have purchased a property, and some are planning to purpose build.
As part of its ‘A Home of My Own’ priority project, the Mount Alexander Shire Accommodation & Respite Group (MASARG Inc) is conducting another valuable online forum on Thursday August 5. See the Mail for more details.