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An act of incredible kindness

By
Castlemaine Mail
-

Lorna and David, Melbourne

We would like to recognise the incredible kindness and generosity of a local couple who came to our aid on Sunday April 24.

After cycling all day from Malmsbury to Castlemaine things became very difficult on the road from Newstead as daylight fell and our energy levels began to fail.

A car that had passed us noticed our distress as we walked along the darkening road and turned around to offer help.

The driver was not able to fit us and our bikes in his car but, unknown to us at the time, called ahead to his wife who is a fellow bike rider.

Yvonne arrived less than 10 minutes later in her own car with her bike rack attached.

She didn’t hesitate to hook up our bikes and drive us to Castlemaine station so we could catch the train back to Melbourne.

She very kindly made sure we were well enough to continue and directed us to the right platform.

As if this wasn’t enough, Yvonne then returned a few minutes later with drinks and snacks to keep us going for the trip home.

Yvonne wouldn’t hear of taking any money for all the help she had given saying this was her way of “paying it forward”.

To Yvonne and her husband – thank you both from the bottom of our hearts for your overwhelming generosity and thoughtfulness.

This surely is country hospitality at its best.

We are only sorry we didn’t ask for your contact details so we could thank you more in person.

Circus celebrates!

By
Lisa Dennis
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Swedish born and bred Erika Hansson will perform a pagan inspired handstand and acrobatics act.
Swedish born and bred Erika Hansson will perform a pagan inspired handstand and acrobatics act.

Castlemaine Circus invites community members to join them for a special one-off performance by their talented local trainers at The Goods Shed on Sunday May 22!
Castlemaine Circus general manager Kirsty Sutherland said their world-class artists will amaze you with acrobatics, aerial arts, comedy and there will also be live music provided by the Kyneton Street Band.
“Castlemaine Circus has not held any shows for over two years, so we’re bursting to share some circus magic with our community,” Kirsty said.
“We’ve kept the ticket price low for families, to bring entertainment to the town and to create an opportunity for local artists and teens to perform to our community. Mount Alexander Shire Council Events Grant program has also supported this event,” she said. See the Mail for more….

Hear all about it on housing

By
Lisa Dennis
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MainFM presenter Elizabeth Scanlon will present 'Candidates Housing Platform' on Monday.
MainFM presenter Elizabeth Scanlon will present 'Candidates Housing Platform' on Monday.

Hear what your federal Bendigo election candidates have to say about the region’s housing affordability crisis by tuning into a special program to air on MainFM next week.
Next Monday from 12-1pm, MainFM presenter Elizabeth Scanlon will present ‘Candidates Housing Platform’, an hour-long interview compilation with candidates for the federal seat of Bendigo, currently held by Australian Labor Party MP Lisa Chesters.
Housing affordability and people’s access to safe, secure and affordable housing is shaping up to be one of the election’s hottest issues.
In Mount Alexander Shire, the global COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated its existing housing crisis and exposed how current housing models are working against people accessing a place to call home.
The program will also include input from My Home Network spokesperson Carolyn Neilson. See today’s Mail for the full story. Out Now.

Raewyn’s 250th run milestone

By
Lisa Dennis
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Raewyn Rice celebrated her 250th Parkrun event on Saturday.
Raewyn Rice celebrated her 250th Parkrun event on Saturday.

It was really only a ‘coolish’ morning that greeted the 75 Castlemaine parkrunners on Saturday – no doubt a taste of what’s to come. But conditions were actually pretty good; witness the 14 PBs gathered among participants. Well done to you all.
The club was privileged to welcome Raewyn Rice to the ‘250 Club’ – this is by any measure a huge personal achievement.
Raewyn is obviously something of a fan of the lovely course given all but 10 of her 250 parkruns have been done at Castlemaine.
The Castlemaine parkrun mob is united in its esteem for this achievement – fabulous effort!
The club celebrated Raewyn’s 250th by having her do a run-through of ‘The Tunnel of Love’, a Castlemaine parkrun tradition. In this she was joined by another stalwart of the Saturday get-together, Donna Petrusma, fresh from her own triumph having completed the Port Macquarie Ironman event the previous weekend. See the Mail Sport section for the full report.

A celebration of friendship

By
Lisa Dennis
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Students in Lolotoe enjoy lessons in the garden.
Students in Lolotoe enjoy lessons in the garden.

May 20, 2022 marks 20 years since East Timor (Timor Leste) gained independence.
Castlemaine has a special connection to the people of Timor Leste through the Friends of Lolotoe and the group will be celebrating this anniversary and relationship with a special exhibition at the Phee Broadway Theatre Foyer at the Castlemaine Library from May 16-20.
The Australian Timor Leste Friendship Network was established in 2009 and in the same year, Mount Alexander Shire entered into a Friendship Relationship Agreement with the sub district of Lolotoe, Timor Leste and Friends of Lolotoe Timor-Leste Incorporated. This friendship is based on mutual support and respect for each other’s culture. See today’s Mail for the full story.

Let’s Talk LGBTIQAA+

By
Lisa Dennis
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Castlemaine Library is proud to present the second talk in its Parenting in the Modern World series on Thursday May 19. In celebration of Pride Week and IDAHOBIT Day, this session is called ‘Let’s Talk LGBTQIAA+’ and is all about understanding gender identity and sexual diversity for parents and carers.
Let’s Talk LGBTQIAA+ presents a panel of experts to discuss and answer questions about gender and sexuality. Parents and carers can hope to gain a better understanding of the acronyms used by the rainbow community, how to use and understand gender inclusive language, and some important parenting tips and communication strategies for talking with their young people. See the Mail for more details.

Retro chic and revved!

By
Eve Lamb
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Retro chic and vintage classic made it a memorable motoring moment when women and their collectible vintage cars rolled up to Castlemaine's stately old Buda home and gardens on Saturday as part of the Florence Thompson Tour. Among participants dressed to match their car's era, Catherine Strutt from Newcastle NSW was driving this beautiful 1910 Fabrique Nationale, and is pictured here alongside her navigator Maggie Bone of Smiths Gully, Melbourne. Catherine, Maggie and their passengers were resplendent, sporting 1910 Edwardian clothing. Photo: Eve Lamb.

Eve Lamb
Retro chic and vintage classic made for a memorable motoring weekend when women and their wheels rolled up to Castlemaine’s stately Buda home and gardens on Saturday.
The rules for the multi-day Florence Thompson Tour were that the driver had to be female and the vehicle had to be at least 25 years old, rally coordinator Maureen Ross explained when the Mail dropped by to catch some of the fun.
“We’ve got 60 cars and 123 participants all up,” Melbourne-based Maureen said.
In keeping with the retro motoring theme, many participants went all out, dressing in period attire to match their wheels that ranged from a magnificent 1910 Fabrique Nationale, to a slick … Read more in today’s Mail…

Meet the candidates: Heat is on in poll countdown

By
Eve Lamb
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Democracy for Dinner's Jodie Newcombe and Bryn Davies are inviting everyone to attend the upcoming Meet the Candidates session at the Taproom, ahead of the May 21 federal poll. Photo: Eve Lamb

Eve Lamb
Know who you’re voting for is a main message from Castlemaine’s Democracy for Dinner group as it prepares to stage a special event enabling local voters to meet the candidates standing for the seat of Bendigo in this month’s federal election.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few months, you’ll be well aware that a federal election is coming up fast.
Keen to ensure all local voters are fully informed and know exactly what each of the seven candidates contesting the seat of Bendigo are all about, D4D has organised an evening Meet the Candidates event to take place at The Taproom on Wednesday May 11.
D4D’s Bryn Davies says all are welcome, in fact encouraged, to attend the free informative event that will also be live-streamed.
“It will start at 7pm and it will be live-streamed on Facebook so you can also follow it via the Taproom’s Facebook page or our Facebook page if you can’t attend in person,” Bryn says.
“We’ve had attendances confirmed at this stage from five of the seven candidates,” Mr Davies said.
Confirmations to attend the event – at the time of the Mail going to print – are from the candidates for… Read more in today’s Mail…

Biggest morning tea time

By
Eve Lamb
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CHIRP/Dhelkaya Health Botanical Gardens walking group volunteer Kaye Bourke with Castlemaine community health nurses Bronwyn Grieve and Kerry Calcraft are welcoming everyone to get along to next week's Australia's Biggest Morning Tea in the botanical gardens. Photo: Eve Lamb

Readying their teapots and planning their pastries, a crew of Castlemaine community health workers and volunteers are preparing to host an Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea event to remember.
Thursday May 12 from 9 to 11am is the date to lock into your diary if you’d like to get along, enjoy a brew or two and some tempting treats while supporting the valuable ongoing work of the Cancer Council in combating the disease that affects an enormous number of Australians.
“Every four minutes, an Australian is diagnosed with cancer,” CHIRP Community Health community health nurse Kerry Calcraft says.
“So it’s fairly likely that cancer has impacted someone you know or someone in your community.”
The CHIRP/Dhelkaya Health Botanical Gardens walking group are once again hosting Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea and particularly aim to bring together those in our community who have been impacted by cancer, while extending an open invitation to all members of the community to attend.
This month’s morning tea will be held in and around the… Read more in today’s Mail…

Flash mob surprise

By
Eve Lamb
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Flash Mob Alert! Resonance String Orchestra members deliver an impromptu surprise public performance in the foyer of Castlemaine's Vintage Bazaar at The Mill on Saturday. Photo: Eve Lamb

Eve Lamb
Shoppers at Castlemaine’s Mill Market were in for a sweet surprise, Saturday lunchtime.
As the clock struck 12.30 in the foyer of the Mill’s Vintage Bazaar it started with a solo strings player who struck up a tune … and was quickly joined by another.
Within seconds a couple more violin players rocked up and joined in.
More viola and cello players joined in and the tune grew louder as heads began to turn and shoppers stopped in their tracks.
By the time the double bass joined in there was no doubt about it.
A fully fledged flash mob was in progress.
Before long the entire… Get the full story in today’s Mail…

My Castlemaine – Paddy O’Sullivan

By
Eve Lamb
-

Hi Paddy. How long have you called Castlemaine home?
I’ve been here in town for 12 years, and in the area for about eighteen.
So not originally from here. Where are you from originally?
I grew up on a farm near Kyneton.
Not too far down the road.
Not too far. As a kid I just came here for the dentist. So my time here as an adult has been a lot more pleasant.
Why did you decide to make Castlemaine your home in more recent times?
I’m a part-time social worker and part-time circus-street performer and maker of strange eccentric bikes, so the artist community here was welcoming and coming up here for festivals was the big appeal for me. Living in town the appeal has been being able to ride or walk or run basically daily… and also being close to some great bushlands.
So what does your work in social work involve? Do you have a particular area of expertise within that space?
I work in community health. I’m a counsellor and I work with a large range of people from young people right through the age spectrum…I work a lot with men. There’s a lot of work men at times need to do, and some men are stepping up and some are ploughing themselves into work and different addictions as well. So I think that is a trend – more men realising the emotional upbringing they’ve had is fairly limited and they’re wanting to do more work on that side, especially as life throws up lots of challenges.
So pretty intense but rewarding work?
It is really rewarding. For me I have a balance in my week so I do three intensive days of counselling and the I do some days in the workshop working with bikes and steel and costumes.
Great. So you’re a bit of an exemplar in terms of getting some balance in life! Well Castlemaine is a very bicycle oriented community. It seems to have a disproportionate number of interesting bicycles and tricycles getting around its streets. Are any of those your creations?
I’ve moved on from doing a lot of dangerous circus performing tricks to more making and performing on the unusual bikes that I make. I like to think that I would be adding to the diversity of bicycles. Bikes don’t always have to look one type of way. They can be really functional but look really unusual. For me the kinetic play is a really big theme of mine.
How many bikes would you have?
I think I’ve probably got over 30 and probably made ten originals.
Can you give us a snapshot of some of the interesting bikes you’ve created?
Well I’ve made the Elliott, the (vertically stacked) tandem with an upstairs and a downstairs rider… I’ve made a shopper-chopper in which I’ve put a little dragster inside a shopping trolley, and it really makes the… Read the lot in today’s Castlemaine Mail…

Subdivision rejected

By
Eve Lamb
-

Eve Lamb
Mount Alexander Shire Council has knocked back an application for a 10-lot subdivision proposed for Campbells Creek’s Diamond Gully Road.
One local councillor, Castlemaine’s Gary McClure declared a conflict of interest and left the council chamber when the matter went before the council for discussion and decision at last week’s April council meeting.
“Unfortunately I have to support this recommendation (of refusal) because plans have not been submitted,” Cr Stephen Gardner said, moving in favour of the planning officers’ recommendation.
The application sought approval to subdivide land at 65 Diamond Gully Road, into 10 lots, and to remove native vegetation and an easement.
Cr Gardner noted that the application has also been lodged at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
“VCAT will ultimately make the decision,” he said.
The application was referred to the council to… Get the full story in today’s Mail…

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