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Scone bake-off promises hot comp

By
Eve Lamb
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Castlemaine's Renee Thompson is fine-tuning her scone baking skills as she gets set to compete in the annual Great Aussie Scone Bake Competition, part of the Maldon Easter Fair that gets going this Thursday evening. Photo: Eve Lamb

Eve Lamb

They say if you can’t take the heat it may be best to a steer clear of the kitchen.
So it’s probably just as well this evening’s Great Aussie Scone Baking competition happens in the courtyard of the Maldon Hotel as the competition tends to set the temperature rising.
This evening’s (Thursday April 14) big scone bake-off is just part of the jam-packed program for the Maldon Easter Fair that gets started this evening and runs right through to Monday.
The Great Aussie Scone Baking Competition has been a favourite part of the annual fair for many years and attracts fierce competition with different categories for adults, juniors and commercial scone-makers.
Among those getting set to pull on an apron and compete is Castlemaine’s Renee Thompson who knows a thing or two when it comes to whipping up a winning scone.
“It’s taking place in the back courtyard of the Maldon Hotel from 7pm and you can just rock up,” says Renee who is also on the Maldon Easter Fair organising committee.
“Most of the local cafes and also the pubs do get quite competitive and you could have anything from… Read more in today’s Mail

New exhibition opens at Hoppers

By
Eve Lamb
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Sutton Grange artist Chris Moule and Castlemaine print maker Leonie Auhl with some of the work on show in the new exhibition opening at Maldon's unique Hoppers Glass Studio and Gallery from tomorrow (Fridy April 15).

Eve Lamb
Award-winning Sutton Grange artist Chris Moule says he bought his beautiful rural home for the view from his back fence.
“It’s only taken me about 18 years to finally get around to painting it,” he said this week while hanging the resulting piece along with many other original works ahead of this week’s launch of the new group exhibition that opens at Maldon’s unique Hoppers Gallery this Friday (April 15).
Chris is renown for his landscapes and that bucolic vista he finally got around to painting from his own back fence celebrates his view to Mount Alexander (Leanganook).
It’s among the diverse line-up of original art by 16 different local artists to feature in this latest offering that will run at Hoppers daily through to April 25.
“We have invited 16 artists who represent … Read more in today’s Mail

That’s the ticket!

By
Lisa Dennis
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Mensland Castlemaine proprietors Renee Ramsey and Lauren Barker are delighted to once again be part of the Golden Ticket buy local promotion.
Mensland Castlemaine proprietors Renee Ramsey and Lauren Barker are delighted to once again be part of the Golden Ticket buy local promotion.

Our fourth annual Castlemaine Mail ‘Golden Ticket’ buy local promotion kicked off on April 1!
Did you get your free Golden Ticket with the April 1 edition? If not you can collect one from our office at 13 Hargraves Street or participating businesses.
Collect all nine puzzle pieces over the nine weeks of the promotion to be in the running to share in $5000 in prize money to spend at our 15 fantastic local businesses.
First prize is $3000, second prize $1000 and third and fourth prize winners will receive $500 each.
Mensland Castlemaine proprietors Renee Ramsey and Lauren Barker have been part of the Golden Ticket promotion since its inception in 2019 and encourage community members to ‘Buy Local’ and support our local businesses which are the lifeblood of our community.
Lauren said they purchased the business in July 2007 and have been proudly serving the fashion needs of the community for 15 years.
“The Golden Ticket promotion causes a real buzz and it’s a great way of giving back to the wonderful customers that support us,” she said.
Renee and Lauren currently have huge range of new winter stock arriving in store, including gorgeous knitwear and their popular wool jeans for men and women.
“We also have top quality flannelette shirts perfect for that Easter river trip or if you have a special event coming up we have a fantastic range of more formal dress shirts and jackets and women’s clothing in store,” Renee said.
Mensland Castlemaine also have all your essentials covered such as socks and underwear and a beautiful range of necklaces, earrings and accessories to complete your look.
For more details our Golden Ticket businesses see page 29.
Our lucky winners will be drawn on June 15.

Bird walk for beginners

By
Eve Lamb
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Some of the dedicated contributors and supporters who played a role in the creation of Castlemaine's new Bird Walk for Beginners launched this week beside Forest Creek. Photo: Eve Lamb

Eve Lamb
The leafy surrounds of Castlemaine’s Forest Creek set the scene for this week’s launch of a new concept in bird watching.
Even if you don’t have a David Attenborough or a Sean Dooley by your side, the new Bird Walk for Beginners enables anyone and everyone to boost their knowledge of our feathered friends while taking a 1.5 km saunter along Castlemaine’s Forest Creek.
The newly launched Bird Walk for Beginners brings together the expertise of Castlemaine Landcare, Field Naturalists, Connecting Country and BirdLife Castlemaine to produce a new brochure that uses QR codes highlighting a wealth of info about the bird species likely to be found along the walk’s length.
“You can scan the code and it will give you as little or as much information as you want,” Connecting Country director, ecologist Frances Howe told the Mail during the mid-week launch.
“It’s kind of a choose your own…. Read more in today’s Mail

Belly Beautiful…

By
Eve Lamb
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Castlemaine's belly dancers have been honing their moves ahead of this month's Maldon Easter Fair, their first public outing since COVID. Photo: Eve Lamb

Eve Lamb
Castlemaine’s belly dancers have a big public outing planned – their first since COVID struck.
The keen local group will be among the colour and movement taking part in this month’s Maldon Easter Fair grand street procession that’s set for Monday April 18.
The procession gets started at 10.30am that morning and cuts at least two laps of the town’s main thoroughfare in what has become a time-honoured highlight of the annual event that’s widely acknowledged as Australia’s oldest continuous Easter fair.
But that won’t be all for this accomplished group of dancers who, when the parade ends, will then give a public performance outside the town’s famed Kangaroo Hotel from 12.30pm on the day.
“It will be our first public performance following COVID,” says talented local belly dancing instructor Anita Zacchigna who has been teaching the age-honoured art as part of Castlemaine Community House’s program of community education classes.
And Castlemaine locals have jumped at… Read more in today’s Mail

Dialogues 2022 – Change your thinking

By
Lisa Dennis
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Castlemaine State Festival’s second annual Dialogues series is underway!
The theme for this year’s event is ‘Change Your Thinking’ and sees dynamic writers and theorists from a diverse range of fields come together for a collaborative reflection on the issues of ‘Change.’
Taking place from the April 7-10 at The Goods Shed and venues throughout Castlemaine, Dialogues 2022 aims to stimulate active discourse where speakers and audiences challenge, inform, reassure and inspire each other.
The festival commenced last night with a visit by special guests Bill and Chloe Shorten at The Goods Shed and continues today with ‘Chance Meetings and Life Changing Events’ with Jon Faine and Derek Guille and ‘A Matter of Trust’ which explores leadership in the media, the workplace and our daily lives.
Dialogues curator Kristin Gill of Northern Books said speakers across the 11 events will include writers and authors, musicians, journalists, mental health experts and more discussing topics such as climate change, the impacts of covid on regional communities, food, politics, family, the environment and even exploring subjects such as death and dying. See the Mail for more…

Mega Easter raffle!

By
Lisa Dennis
-

The team at Maxi IGA Castlemaine have pulled out all the stops to create a mega Easter Raffle to raise funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital’s Good Friday Appeal.
Maxi IGA raffle coordinator Min Daw said their volunteer team has done a fantastic job collecting donations and they have an incredible 100 prizes to be won!
First prize in the raffle is a giant handmade, hand-painted Easter Bunny kindly donated by the Ministry of Chocolate in Melbourne.
The myriad of other prizes include Easter Eggs, chocolate goodies and other delicious items donated by Maxi IGA suppliers and prize 100 is a ‘Mystery Box’.
Shoppers are also invited to ‘Guess the Lindt Balls’ in the jar and kids can take part in an Easter Colouring competition with two prizes to be won in each of the 2-7 and 8-14 age groups.
Raffle tickets can be purchased at any of the registers for $2 or 3 for $5 and you can take a guess at the jar for just $1. Simply pop in and collect a picture for the kids to complete for them to be in the running to win.

Pennant premiers!

By
Lisa Dennis
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Castlemaine Lawn Tennis Club’s ‘CLTC Laver’ team has become Premiers in the top junior A Grade Open grade of the Bendigo Tennis Association Junior Pennant in their first year in the competition!
Lewis Murray, Cielo de Maria O’Sullivan, Ruben Christie and Joah de Maria O’Sullivan had a terrific season and capped it off with a well deserved win. Congratulations to the local side!

Step back in time

By
Lisa Dennis
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The Mount Alexander Vintage Engine Club (MAVEC) is holding their popular 25th annual Vintage Engine Rally once again this weekend of April 9-10.
The weekend will feature exhibitors from across the state and beyond and include vintage engine and memorabilia displays, tractor pull demonstrations, a jumping castle and activities for the kids and lots more.
This year’s featured engine is the Howard and the featured tractor is the Ford and Fordson. The event at the Dave Bennett Reserve, next to the Muckleford Railway Station, runs 10am to 5pm Saturday and 10am to 2.30pm Sunday. Entry is just $5 adults. Kids Under 16 Free. Don’t forget to pick up a ticket in the club’s major raffle! All funds raised assist MAVEC to continue their important preservation work.

Rouleurs on a roll…

By
Lisa Dennis
-

The Castlemaine Rouleurs cycling team once again hit the road last weekend as part of the annual Murray to Moyne Cycle Relay to raise funds for Castlemaine’s hospital, Dhelkaya Health.
Castlemaine Rouleurs captain Gary Bunn said all the funds raised by the group this year will be put towards establishing a dedicated outdoor space for nursing staff at Dhelkaya Health to enjoy.
The team held a successful barbecue fundraiser in Mostyn Street recently and are also conducting a raffle.
You can purchase tickets at Tu To Per Te Hairstylist at 145 Mostyn Street, Castlemaine, but be quick as the raffle closes tomorrow, April 9.
Alternatively you can make a donation to the team and this wonderful cause by visiting the ‘Fundraising’ page on the Castlemaine Health website or via this link www.givenow.com.au/castlemainehealthm2m

All invited for Way of the Cross walk

By
Eve Lamb
-

Eve Lamb

Everyone is being invited to join the annual Way of the Cross walk when it makes its return in Castlemaine this Easter Good Friday.
“With all of the troubles that we’re seeing in Russia and the Ukraine at the moment and elsewhere in the world, it’s a great opportunity for the whole community to join in praying for peace,” St Mary’s Catholic parish priest Father Wahid Riad says ahead of the significant outdoors Easter event.
The Way of the Cross walk will recall the Gospel story of Jesus Christ’s walk carrying the cross and will feature 14 different stops around town representing the various stations of the cross.
Readings by leaders of various different churches and hymns will feature along the way with stops and blessings en route to include various churches throughout town, the town hall, market building and Victory Park.
“It’s nice for people to join in even if you are not a member of any particular faith,” Father Riad says.
“Not just members of all the churches, but all people of good will in the community are welcome to join in.”
Organised by local churches, the annual event has not been able to take place as usual over the past two years due to COVID and church leaders are particularly looking forward to the event’s return …

Jazz fest set to return

By
Eve Lamb
-
The all-female Melba Big Band are among the jazz acts lined up for the Castlemaine Jazz Festival set for the Queen's Birthday long weekend in June.

Eve Lamb

Jazz cats have their fingers and toes crossed ahead of the Castlemaine Jazz Festival with planning well advanced for the upcoming Queen’s Birthday long weekend in June.
After COVID saw the festival’s cancellation for the past two years running, committee members, performers and music lovers alike are now hoping this time will be a goer with ticket sales opening this week on the festival’s dedicated website.
“We had 70 applications (from bands) and we’re only able to accept 30 bands which demonstrates just how keen the musicians are to get back to work,” Castlemaine Jazz Festival committee member Lyndal McClure says.
“We’re looking for people to come back and support us again.
“Tickets went on sale on our website on Monday evening.”
In the past few days ticket sales have also opened at the Castlemaine Visitor Information Centre with the variety of ticketing options significantly increased since the festival’s earlier days when a weekend pass was the only option.
“We’ve now got got a pass for the entire weekend or just for an entire day or just for an evening for the … Read more in today’s Mail…

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