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Untold Castlemaine: the show begins

By
Eve Lamb
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Castlemaine Theatre Company's first live show for 2022 opens tonight. 'Walk With Us - Untold Castlemaine ' leads its audience on a walking tour to catch five short performances at several secret locations. Photo: Leonie Van Eyk

Eve Lamb

Castlemaine shares some of her most entertaining secrets tonight.
This evening is opening night for Castlemaine Theatre Company’s new live show Walk With Us – Untold Castlemaine which will take audiences on a short walking tour around town to catch five dynamic live performance pieces.
The COVID- safe series is being led by a cast of flamboyant characters with each of the five acts written by a different writer and directed by a different director.
“Asking five writers to compose short scripts meant that each wasn’t overburdened and that it would be hopefully fun,” says Mark Penzak, lead artist for the unique live production.
“Technically speaking, having different voices and a gender balance was always going to create a more interesting production than if I’d written it alone.
“I’m also hoping that this might encourage more writers to consider creating scripts for CTC.
“I believe that if the community has ever needed theatre, it is now. Get the full story in today’s Mail.

Mowers, slasher spark fires

By
Eve Lamb
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Some of the damage left after a fire was started by a slasher at Harcourt North last weekend. Photo: Peter Weaving.

Eve Lamb

The CFA has issued a stern warning after three separate fires were sparked by machinery use in the Mount Alexander Shire area in recent days.
Last Saturday, in separate incidents, mowers sparked fires at Maldon and at Sedgwick near Sutton Grange, while on Sunday a slasher caused a fire that burnt through about six hectares at Harcourt North.
Harcourt North Captain Andrew Wilson said the fire that was started by a slasher at McIvor Road, North Harcourt around 4.49pm on Sunday afternoon had burnt about six hectares before it was able to be extinguished…
Use of a ride on mower was also so blame for a fire which got away at a property in Hubble Road, Sedgwick about 4.24pm on Saturday, while local CFA units were also called on to extinguish another fire that started about 1pm on Doyles Road at Myrtle Creek.
CFA Maldon brigade captain Sean McCubbin said units from Maldon, Newstead and Walmer turned out to a fire which started on undulating rocky ground on Mount Tarrengower Road in Maldon after ride on mower created a spark that quickly turned into a blaze. Get the full story in today’s Mail…

Maldon gem receives a makeover

By
Lisa Dennis
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Porcupine Village managers Debra and Doug Baird are thrilled with the funding boost.
Porcupine Village managers Debra and Doug Baird are thrilled with the funding boost.

Maldon’s Porcupine Village is getting a major makeover in preparation for its reopening.
The 15 acre property was purchased by Melbourne businessman Frank Hutchinson back in December 2020 and he wasted no time putting Managers Doug and Debra Baird in place to bring the former local tourist attraction back to life.
The duo have hit the ground running since their appointment back in February 2021, bringing on board a talented troupe of local tradespeople to refurbish the caretaker’s residence, the property’s former restaurant space and motel accommodation.
The team are currently in the process of giving the village itself a makeover, installing new signage, clearing and redecorating building interiors and creating a new reception space, new entrance, and a dedicated new exit and gift shop in ‘Charlotte’s Barn’.
Work is also furiously underway to landscape the areas around the motel, entrance and surrounds. See the Mail for the full story. Out Now.

Fine start for Kirton Shield side

By
Lisa Dennis
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Castlemaine District Cricket Association’s Under 17 Kirton Shield side has made a fine start to their 2022 Central Highlands Country Week campaign with two wins from two matches as of Thursday morning when we went to press.
The Castlemaine team were scheduled to play Gisborne at the Camp Reserve Thursday and a great game was anticipated with both teams on two wins a piece. The two teams will then face each other again in the final on January 30 in Ballarat.

Campbells Creek Fair returns this weekend

By
Lisa Dennis
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All roads will lead to Campbells Creek this weekend for the annual Campbells Creek Collectables Fair at the Campbells Creek Community Centre, January 22 and January 23.
The fifth annual fair is the first under the management of Hey Day Events Australia and organiser Kate Larsen said that everyone is excited for the 2022 event.
“We had a great turn out for the 2021 Campbells Creek Collectables Fair and our sister event the inaugural Daylesford Collectables Fair in November, but there has not been much in the way of other similar events over the last 12 months,” Kate said.
“Stallholders have loads of special finds to bring along this weekend,” she said.
This weekend’s fair will feature more than 100 stalls in the hall and surrounds selling Antiques, Vintage, Collectables and Retro goodies. See the Mail for more…

Australia Day – Survival Day events planned

By
Lisa Dennis
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Former mayor Tony Cordy is pictured with 2021 Citizen of the Year Ian Gallagher. Who will be our 2022 Citizen of the Year?
Former mayor Tony Cordy is pictured with 2021 Citizen of the Year Ian Gallagher. Who will be our 2022 Citizen of the Year?

Mount Alexander Shire community members are invited to mark Australia Day-Survival Day at a range of events across the region.
This Sunday, January 23 is Aboriginal Sunday, and Castlemaine’s Jim Foley will be taking the services in Harcourt and Castlemaine Uniting Churches with recognition of Australia Day/Survival Day the following Wednesday.
On Wednesday January 26 you’re invited to join a family-friendly event to acknowledge Australia Day – Survival Day in Mount Alexander Shire at Victory Park.
The day will include a Welcome to Country, a Citizenship and Australia Day Awards ceremony, and entertainment with local and special guests in attendance. Uncle Rick Nelson will be the MC of this part of the celebrations. Awards to be presented will include Citizen of the Year; Senior Citizen of the Year; Young Citizen of the Year and Event of the Year (includes online events).
The event will run from 10am-1.30pm.
This is a COVID safe event. All attendees will be required to check in and show proof of full vaccination. This is also a waste wise event. BYO bottles and cups. For more information visit mountalexander.vic.gov.au/AustraliaDay. The ceremony will be live-streamed on the Mount Alexander Shire YouTube Channel for those who cannot attend.
The Faraday community is also invited to gather at a special event at Dunstans Flat on Wednesday. There will be a flag raising from 11.30am and BYO picnic and poetry. Due to the current dry conditions no barbecue will be possible.

VIDEO: Crazy flash flood inundates footpath on Barker Street

By
Castlemaine Mail
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Local Brandon Leigh kindly shared this incredible footage of the deluge outside the new Hot n Crusty Bakery Cafe in Barker Street, Castlemaine, yesterday afternoon as storms lashed the region. The clean up continues after numerous homes and businesses were impacted by flash flooding.

Vax rolls out for youngsters

By
Eve Lamb
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Acting Nurse Unit Manager at Castlemaine Health's vaccination clinic Leanne Nuridin with Alex Sanson and nine-year-old Harlow Sanson after getting his first COVID-19 jab on Wednesday this week as vaccinations for the younger age group began rolling out nation-wide. Photo: Eve Lamb

Eve Lamb

Local children aged 5-11 have turned out in number to receive their first COVID-19 vaccine jabs as the number of officially recorded COVID cases ballooned in Mount Alexander and surrounding municipalities this week.
Children as young as five rolled up their sleeves as Castlemaine Health’s on-site clinic got down to business on Wednesday this week, administering first jabs for the younger age-group.
“It was good – a bit stingy,” is the way young Harlow Sanson, 9, described receiving his first shot.
The Taradale nine-year-old was among the first 50 children in his age group to get their first dose of the vaccine on Day One at the Castlemaine Health clinic set up especially for the younger age group.
Australian children aged five to 11 this week became eligible to get vaccinated against COVID-19 with parents rushing to book appointments before the school year returns.
“I was nervous but excited,” said Harlow summing up how he felt while waiting to receive the injection.
With children like Harlow now required to wait eight weeks before they get their second shot of the vaccine, Harlow’s father Alex Sanson said delaying the start of the school year to enable all young students to be vaccinated might be a wise move.
Term one is scheduled to start for students on January 31 – about the time that Victoria’s current rate of infection is forecast to peak. Read more in today’s Mail…

New rating strategy packs win for commercial properties

By
Eve Lamb
-

Eve Lamb

Local business operators are welcoming a council decision to drop a consultant’s suggestion that would have seen rates on commercial properties in Mount Alexander Shire rise by 20 per cent over the next two years.
At its recent December meeting Mount Alexander Shire Council endorsed a new rating strategy for 2022-27 which will now determine the way in which rates are calculated for properties shire-wide over the next few years.
But following robust feedback particularly from the local business community, the council decided to remove a consultant’s proposal to progressively increase the differential rate for commercial properties over the next two years from the current 130 per cent of the residential rate to 150 per cent.
“We certainly got some feedback that that was not what the business community wanted,” Cr Rosie Annear said, moving the motion to adopt the new rating strategy 2022-2027 with that proposal removed.
“It was decided we don’t do this at this time,” Cr Annear said.
“I think that was a good solution. I do not believe it was an appropriate time to introduce that increase in the rating strategy.” Read more in today’s Mail…

Graffiti accused charged

By
Lisa Dennis
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The historic Skew Rail Bridge at the entrance to Castlemaine was among the sites emblazoned with graffiti.
The historic Skew Rail Bridge at the entrance to Castlemaine was among the sites emblazoned with graffiti.

A man in his 30s has been arrested and charged with a raft of offences following an extensive spate of graffiti across the Castlemaine region just after Christmas.
Constable Eliza McCarron of the Castlemaine Police said police received a tip off from a community member in the early hours of Monday December 27, 2021.
“A community member had spotted a man during graffiti with the tag ‘Spunk’ and rang police to provide a description. We sent a patrol out at around 5am that morning and police came across a man and woman and stopped to speak to them,” she said.
Police reportedly almost didn’t stop to speak to the pair as the man met the description but was an older gentleman.
However, when officers began chatting to the individual they noted he had paint on his hands and clothing and later discovered permanent markers in his backpack. See the Mail for the full story. Out Now.

Peggy turns 100!

By
Lisa Dennis
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Peggy Shaw is pictured here with her daughter Julie and her 100th Birthday cake at Sunday's celebration.
Peggy Shaw is pictured here with her daughter Julie and her 100th Birthday cake at Sunday's celebration.

Renowned Castlemaine artist Peggy Shaw celebrated her 100th birthday last Sunday January 9.
Peggy’s family had a function arranged at Buda but had to cancel it due to the latest covid outbreak. They ended up enjoying a small family lunch on the back deck of her daughter Julie’s Castlemaine home.
Peggy has her own granny flat at the back of the property and the pair share a studio where the acclaimed watercolourist was determined to do a painting on her 100th birthday and she did!
When asked what the secret was to living a long and happy life, Peggy said she feels keeping physically and mentally active has contributed to her longevity. See today’s Mail for more…

CDCA junior sides excel at Country Week

By
Lisa Dennis
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Castlemaine District Cricket Association's Under 13 side had a top week of competition.
Castlemaine District Cricket Association's Under 13 side had a top week of competition.

Castlemaine District Cricket Association’s (CDCA) Under 13 and Under 15 teams once again produced some fantastic performances at the Central Highlands Junior Country Week competition last week.
In fact, the Under 13 side posted two wins to make the grand final showdown against the Grampians and finished second overall in their pool. The side’s win in the final at Russell Square at Ballarat on Friday may just see the talented young side promoted to Pool A in 2023. For the full story and all the latest cricket updates see the Mail. Out Now.

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