Chewton Service Station has been forced to temporarily shut its doors after one of its
staff members was notified as being a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case.
In a Facebook post, The Chewton Service Station earlier this week confirmed that (staff member) Julie was advised on Monday that she was considered a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19.
“We are devastated to advise that we need to be closed until Friday, July 30,” the public post read.
“Julie was advised on Monday night that she was considered a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19 and therefore has
to isolate for 14 days from date of exposure, despite all staff returning negative test results as of this (Wednesday) morning.” Read more in today’s Mail…
Chewton servo close contact
Coffee Cart unveiled
‘Cuppa Chewton’ was unveiled last Monday July 12 much to the delight of the Chewton community which lost its General Store earlier this year.
Despite the lockdown ‘Cuppa Chewton’ operator and Rocket Roast coffee roaster Tony Russell is still offering takeaway coffees for the enjoyment of locals.
Chewton Post Office proprietor Steve Bell said they have a great response to the new initiative.
“Tony is operating 7am to 12 noon Mon-Fri and 9am-12 noon on Sunday,” he said.
You can find Cuppa Chewton nestled in the picturesque garden alongside the historic post office.
Reflections and memories
Castlemaine Health is pleased to offer its annual Remembrance Service of Reflections and Memories as an online service.
Continuing COVID-19 restrictions require everyone to be flexible, responsive and creative. Our local health service is no different, with the annual memorial service now available to be viewed by family, friends, staff and the local community on the Castlemaine Health website. See the Mail for more.
‘Flying brick’ heads to the ‘Maine
Eve Lamb
The times may be uncertain but the intrepid crew behind Castlemaine’s annual Run The Maine are already well on the front foot and have lined up Australia’s Mountain Running Champion 2018 and 2019 as this year’s event ambassador.
In a move likely to raise the event profile and boost the class of competition, Simone Brick – sometimes known as “the flying brick” has accepted the role of ambassador and is currently expected to compete in the challenging 10km race.
“Currently, Simone is in Europe but planning to return to Australia soon, and all being well she’ll take part
in our challenging 10 km run,” Run The Maine director, Castlemaine’s Gavin Krasner says.
“She’ll eat our hills up for breakfast….” Read more in today’s Mail…
Local COVID test demand soars
Eve Lamb
Front line health staff running Castlemaine’s drive-through
COVID test clinics have praised locals for coming forward in
significant numbers to get tested since the state went into lockdown.
“We started running clinics as soon as we went into lockdown
from last Thursday, said Bronwyn Grieve, Castlemaine community health nurse overseeing the drive-through COVID testing clinic that has been busy swabbing people at the Castlemaine District Community Health drive through site all this week.
“We’ve swabbed up to 250 people and put on some extra clinics because we’ve had some exposure sites that have affected
Castlemaine quite a lot,” Ms Grieve said, speaking to the Mail at the clinic earlier this week. Read more in today’s Mail…
Speedsters warned to slow down
Chewton residents have flagged concerns with local police about countless motorists flagrantly ignoring the 50 kph speed limit through the township.
Castlemaine Police say they have received complaints from multiple Chewton residents about motorists failing to slow down when they encounter the 50 kph speed signs just past Golden Point Road intersection and hooning through the sweeping bends through the township. As a result police will be increasing their presence in the region. See today’s Mail for the full story.
Paint the town gold!
Our 2021 Castlemaine Mail ‘Golden Ticket’ promotion is well underway! You will discover the third piece of the puzzle in today’s edition.
Rod Entwisle of Dales Discounts is proud to be one of the 21 local businesses featured in this year’s Golden Ticket ‘buy local’ promotion.
“We took over the local business just on five years ago and stock a wide range of paint, tiles and all the related accessories you need for your project,” Rod said.
“Our PaintRight store is proud stockists of Haymes Paints which are Australian made and owned. We know the importance of supporting local business and Australian made products,” he said.
“As your local experts we are happy to assist people with advice about their DIY project. We will even pop out and take a look if needed. We can advise on all things preparation and paint and tiles and design ideas.
“We also support local tradespeople to ensure they are getting the best products at a great local price,” he said.
“From heritage homes to modern projects we are proud to offer great service, competitive pricing and can even deliver to your door,” Rod said.
To be in the running to win a share of $5000 to spend at Dales Discounts or one of our other 20 businesses all you need do is collect the nine puzzle pieces which will appear in Mail over the nine weeks and paste them to the back of your ‘Golden Ticket’! First prize is $3000, second prize $1000 and third and fourth prize winners will receive $500 each. See the Mail for more details.
Women’s sport in focus
The countdown is on until the Castlemaine Documentary Festival (C-DOC) with just over a week until the 2021 event hits the big screen at Castlemaine’s historic Theatre Royal.
The festival will kick off with a launch party at Cream Town, 325 Barker Street Castlemaine, next Friday July 23 and will then see eight incredible films light up the screen at the Royal on July 24 and 25, including three Australian premieres.
One of these premieres will be Icelandic film Raise The Bar which tells the inspirational story of a young female basketball team battling for equality.
How controversial can one basketball team of preteen girls be? Very!
This is a story of a team of 8–13-year-old girls, who wanted to change the paradigm in women’s basketball in Iceland. But it could happen anywhere. See the Mail for the full story.
Full house for launch
The community turned out in force for the long awaited official launch of the Mount Alexander Shire Disability Advocacy Group (MASDAG) Disability Access Guide for the Mount Alexander Shire at The Taproom at Shedshaker Brewing on July 1.
MASDAG’s chair Lorraine Le Plastrier said the guide was produced with the support of a Community Grant from the Mount Alexander Shire.
“We are very grateful for the shire’s ongoing support,” she said.
Lorraine also thanked the MASDAG team for their work in helping to make all businesses and services available locally for everyone.
The Peace Choir performed at the launch and the singing was very enthusiastically received, turning into a resounding singalong. See the Mail for the full story. Out Now.
A frosty event with a warm welcome!
It had been a week of relentless frosts in Castlemaine and Saturday July 10 was no exception. The Castlemaine Botanical Gardens glistened in the sunlight as 50 dedicated runners took part in Castlemaine parkrun number 277 with temperatures as low as minus two.
Perhaps spurred on by the cold air, three participants, namely Jocelyn Pride, David Bennett and Sean Grant, recorded personal best times.
MIFF comes to Castlemaine
Eve Lamb
Castlemaine’s historic Theatre Royal is getting set to host some remarkable new films as part of next 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. Read more in today’s Mail…
Thriller rail run
Eve Lamb
A thrilling ride is to be pretty much guaranteed when the Victorian Goldfields Railway runs it’s evening movie train next month.
In a debut departure from its long running popular movie offering – Murder on The Orient Express – the tourist railway is preparing to also stage screen thriller Unstoppable on Saturday August 14.
Loosely based on a true story, Unstoppable is a heart pumping, nail biting action film that forces audiences to the edge of their seats as a veteran driver (Denzel Washington) and a rookie conductor (Chris Pine) race to stop a half mile long freight train barreling uncontrollably towards the City of Stanton loaded with some wagons filled with a highly toxic flammable material.
In keeping with the theme, the vintage VGR movie carriage will be hauled by the VGR’s own diesel locomotive for the screening which is an initiative of the tourist railway’s young volunteer group.
VGR young volunteers coordinator Fletch Cole says the upcoming movie run is already half booked out.
“We thought we want to try and get more young people interested in our movie screenings as well so we came up with Unstoppable which is train related,” Fletch says.
He says the evening screening set for August 14 will be a bit of a trial run. get the full story in today’s Mail…