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We must do more to support our artists

By
Castlemaine Mail
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Suzanne Donisthorpe, Castlemaine

While the people of Mount Alexander are grateful for the $6 million for the State Festival and the other $6 million for the Castlemaine Art Museum granted by the state government – I note that not a single dollar of that money is actually going to artists.

It is all for building improvements which are all fine and good – but the money will go to the building industry – which has flourished for years even during the pandemic when the world decided to renovate.

Artists on the other hand have languished with no Job keeper and no gigs.

So what if the state government or council could find a mere two million dollars to be distributed to the actual arts community? I’ll list them – Fringe Festival, Lot 19, Arts Open, The Newstead Arts Hub and the Red Shed Arts Workshop, C Doc, The Jazz Festival, The Newstead Folk Festival, CASPA, Artpuff, The Cascade Gallery, The Edge Gallery, Castlemaine Press, Castlemaine Clay, MainFM – I’m sure there are others.

If each of those organisations got some real funding – they would really thrive and the results would be transformational.

These organisations struggle on with nothing – or perhaps with a pitiful hard won grant of a couple of thousand dollars and yet have created the enviable reputation we enjoy of living in a vibrant arts community.

I know just how much more vibrant it could be if there was money to pay actual artists and arts administrators to keep the wheels turning.

Giving wages to actual creators would also help with the massive housing crisis we face here as many of the people staring down the barrel of having to leave are the very heart and soul of the arts community.

They are the people doing it very hard and if they leave they take their creative input with them and we are left all the poorer.

The arts aren’t just about bringing tourists to town, although it is a major factor in why Mount Alexander is so attractive as a destination.

The arts are not just there to bring money to small business and the accommodation industry – it’s about the primary producers – the artists themselves – who are always on the bottom of the ladder when it comes to funding.

So if maybe the state government or council could spend a fraction of the money that might be spent on a new roundabout somewhere – and give it to the artists instead.

I promise you the money will be greatly appreciated and the community will blossom.

Art to warm the soul…and more

By
Eve Lamb
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Castlemaine Rotary Club members Louis Hawke and Glenn Fortune help hang works ahead of this long weekend's Rotary Art Show in Castlemaine Town Hall. Photo: Eve Lamb

Eve Lamb

Whether the weather is sufficient to freeze the proverbial – or simply sublime – one top place to be this weekend is the Castlemaine Rotary Art Show.
The heating was merely an added bonus when the Mail dropped in for a pre-show sneak peek as final works were hung earlier this week ahead of last night’s launch event and the show itself that now runs through to Monday.
“You will be blown away. They’re just amazing,” said Rotary Art Show co-director Robert Cordy when quizzed as to the contents of this year’s catalogue.
“We’ve got 465 works and about 150 artists’ entries including 50 or 60 from artists who have not previously entered.
“And our entrants range from well known locals like Peggy Shaw to entrants from South Australia and New South Wales and… Read more in the Mail

Women of wit headed to the ‘maine

By
Eve Lamb
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Jude Perl headlines the Women of Wit tour that's headed to Castlemaine ...

Eve Lamb

As a teenager Jude Perl (Comedy Festival Gala) had already unearthed her own unstoppable talent for music and lyric.
Inspired by the likes of Stevie Wonder, Carol King, Prince and Marvin Gaye, it was only in her early 20s that her love of the comedic also began to increasingly infiltrate her live stage performances.
“It was a gradual thing,” says the headliner act for this month’s Women of Wit comedy tour, describing the way that second driver – for making audiences laugh – began to emerge initially through what Jude describes as her “quirky writing”.
That bent for “quirky” lyric increasingly took on a satirical edge, becoming something that today invites the Melbourne-based performer’s audiences to belly-laugh at some of the well-known human foibles of our times – like consumerism.
Numbers she has written and won fans with – like The Label Song, Hungry and Horny and I have a Face also help us to take a good hard look at ourselves and … laugh out loud.
Now with six solo shows under her comedic belt Jude is headlining the Women of Wit Tour that’s set to … Read more in the Mail

MAIN Game returns Sunday

By
Lisa Dennis
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After a two year hiatus, the MAIN Game returns to Castlemaine this Sunday June 12!
A community engagement and major fundraising initiative for local radio station 94.9 MainFM, the day features a game of Aussie rules footy between the Radio Galahs and the Rockatoos at the historic Camp Reserve.
The teams are made up of MainFM presenters, local musicians and other respectable members of the community of mixed ages, all genders and mixed abilities.
MainFM, Sponsorship & Events manager Sue McLennan said they’re hoping the event will help raise awareness and garner interest in the radio station as a lead up to their annual subscriber drive, Radiothon, which begins on June 17.
“We have the Castlemaine Highland Pipe Band, local rockers K5 and dance troupe Lady Fun Times locked in, alongside food stalls, the MAIN Bar, plus there’s a handball competition at half time,” she said.
The MainFM van will be broadcasting live from the event for those listening at home.
Gates will open at midday, with entertainment starting at 12.30pm. Game starts at 1.30pm. Entry $5 for MainFM subscribers, $10 general entry, free for kids under 18. Tickets available at mainfm.net

Jazz Fest this weekend

By
Lisa Dennis
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Queen’s Birthday long weekend will have Castlemaine aglow with sound once more as the town’s jazz festival makes it’s post-covid comeback.
This Queens Birthday festival will be the seventh running of the event which is carving out a niche for itself on the state’s live jazz calendar.
The venues include the Theatre Royal, Town Hall and Phee Broadway with the town’s bowls club and Boomtown winery at The Mill both new additions to the venue lineup.
And organisers are particularly keen to let live music lovers know that the range of ticketing options on offer is nothing if not flexible.
You can buy passes on the door to all venues and you can buy weekend passes, day passes, and evening passes from each of the venues and also from the Market Building-information centre.
The festival gets started this evening with a focus on local talent and organisers keen to encourage those who may not have sampled jazz in its many forms and fusions before to grab the opportunity to do so now.
The festival has big band, New Orleans, swing, contemporary. It isn’t just the one style of jazz.

VIEW Club seeks support

By
Lisa Dennis
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Castlemaine Evening VIEW Club is urging the local community to give generously to The Smith Family’s Winter Appeal to help support thousands of disadvantaged children and young people with their education.
The local club says this year’s appeal is more crucial than ever before with children continuing to deal with the ongoing effects of the covid-19 pandemic.
This year The Smith Family aims to raise $5.4 million by June 30 to provide learning and mentoring support programs to children in need.
VIEW is the largest community sponsor of students through the The Smith Family’s ‘Learning for Life’ program, which is why local members are calling on Australians to get behind the latest appeal. See the Mail for more…

Heritage importance recognised

By
Castlemaine Mail
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Colin Moore, President, Castlemaine Society Inc

The VCAT decision this week to reject a permit for two dwellings in the Farnsworth Street heritage precinct proves that the council are out of touch with good planning decisions.

The decision by the VCAT Senior Member stated the design does not respond acceptably to the heritage character of the locality and that he had not been persuaded that the proposed dwellings are an acceptable response to the heritage provisions or the site context.

Have we learnt anything from this? Any future planning applications to council must take into account this milestone decision to conserve the character of Castlemaine, which is currently under threat.

Maldon taps its inner Gothic

By
Eve Lamb
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Photo: Eve Lamb

Eve Lamb

Things are about to turn distinctly spooky out Maldon way.
The town’s preparing to host its first ever Goldfields Gothic Festival of Dark Ideas this July.
As part of Maldon’s annual Maldon in Winter series, this new fest celebrates the dark side of the goldfields, tapping into it’s Gothic, tragic and more mysterious past with performances, tours, themed food experiences, live music and conversations on topics noir.
The new festival is the brainchild of its co-directors Valentina Tansley and Maldon resident Paul Kooperman who say they’re aiming to help revitalise the Covid-impacted town.
“As a National Trust Notable Town, Maldon has always been a tourist destination,” Paul says.
“In late 2021 we felt there was a real thirst in the community to revitalise the events program, so we came up with the idea to do something a little different this year.”
They’re hoping to bring new audiences to the town and the festival’s Michelle Dorian says it’s hoped the new event will become an annual fixture on the region’s event calendar.
“Definitely. This is one of those dreams,” she says.
The event celebrates the town’s “darker” past including ongoing rumours that more than one local building – notably including the town’s Kangaroo Hotel – are haunted.
“We hope so,” Michelle says.
“And we definitely hope the ghosts of Victorians past will be with us during this festival.”
From the 1850s the Victorian goldfields were home not only to miners, but also a darker undercurrent of ghost-hoaxers, spiritualists and secret societies.
Inspired by these intriguing stories of the past, Goldfields Gothic will be showcasing this lesser-discussed shadowy other side of goldfields in all its gruesome glory, its enthusiastic organising team say.
Last Friday’s first announcement of festival events includes The Gothic and Victorian Picnic – a free family friendly event in Maldon’s shire gardens, live music by legendary Australian dark alternative band Ikon, a special meeting of internationally renowned Death Café at Café Maldon, a uniquely crafted dark high tea, ghost tours by award winning spook sleuths Twisted History and a street display of collectible Hearses.

Ned’s big reveal launching at Lot 19

By
Eve Lamb
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Castlemaine's Ned Middleton with some of the paintings that will feature in his debut solo exhibition that launches at Castlemaine's Lot 19 gallery tomorrow. Photo: Eve Lamb

Eve Lamb

Having already conquered the worlds of dance and community radio, Castlemaine’s Ned Middleton is now preparing to make a move on the artworld with his debut solo exhibition launching tomorrow at Castlemaine’s Lot 19.
Living with Down Syndrome has never stopped the young Castlemaine resident living life to the fullest.
The 30 or so portraits of famed rock and pop stars that feature in his first ever art exhibition, The Big Reveal capture the emerging artist’s personal passion for music and the individuals who make it.
Ned’s artistic flair is reflected also in his enthusiastic immersion in film studies.
Now the creation of his suite of bright acrylic paintings that comprise The Big Reveal, follows 18 months of art tuition under the attentive guidance of Castlemaine artist and tutor Tobias Richardson at his Lot 19 studio.
Ned told the Mail he plans to put any proceeds raised through sales of his works toward financing his personal twin ambitions of visiting Queensland’s Gold Coast and New York, USA.
“It’s fun,” he says of his newfound arts practice which has produced works particularly likely to appeal to fans of 70s, 80s and 90s rock and pop.
Blondie, Elton John, Huey Lewis and The News, Culture Club, Billy Idol, Madonna and Pat Benatar are among the music artists portrayed while Mylie Syrus and Daft Punk are some of the more contemporary artists who also get a look-in.
One of Ned’s two large Daft Punk pieces have already been quickly snapped up by one well-known local entity.
“Ned’s very talented,” tutor Tobias says.
“He’s got a good attitude. He’s very teachable, and his art skills have absolutely developed.
“His paintings are raw and immediate. It’s absolutely inspiring.”
The Big Reveal opening celebration happens this Saturday June 4 at Castlemaine’s Lot 19 gallery at 2 pm with all invited to join Ned for fire, food and drink and a playlist he has personally curated.
The exhibition will remain on show throughout June and the gallery opens Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 4 pm.

Porcupine Village strikes gold with $1.7 million government investment

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.

The dedicated team behind Maldon’s Porcupine Village tourist attraction is celebrating this week after receiving a $1.7 million investment towards the project from the state government.

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula visited the tourist village on Monday to announce that the attraction had been successful in attaining funding from the Regional Tourism Investment Fund towards restoration works and new accommodation.

The restoration is in full swing with the village including a school, blacksmith workshop, lolly shop, vintage dress store, an old hotel, restaurant and much more.

Existing accommodation has been overhauled and new accommodation will including glamping tents, safari-style cabins and caravan sites that will help encourage visitors to stay longer and enjoy all the region has to offer. See the Mail for more. Out Now.

Nailed it! Les Hough is pictured fashioning a nail in the Blacksmith Workshop at Porcupine Village.
Nailed it! Les Hough is pictured fashioning a nail in the Blacksmith Workshop at Porcupine Village.

New vehicle for CFA

By
Lisa Dennis
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Mount Alexander Group Officer Peter Farley proudly accepts the keys to the new Field Command Vehicle from Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards. Photo: Max Lesser.
Mount Alexander Group Officer Peter Farley proudly accepts the keys to the new Field Command Vehicle from Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards. Photo: Max Lesser.

The CFA Mount Alexander Group of brigades are better equipped to respond to major emergencies and save lives, after receiving a brand-new Field Command Vehicle (FCV).
Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards visited Castlemaine Fire Station last Saturday to officially handover the vehicle and thank local volunteer firefighters for their work protecting our community.
The state government provided more than $20,000 towards the $55,000 FCV through its Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program, while $23,863 was provided through the trade in of the older FCV and a further $10,685 provided through fundraising by the Mt Alexander Group of brigades.
The new 4×4 Twin Cab FCV will be deployed as part of a strike team, enabling firefighters to support surrounding brigades and respond as efficiently and safely as possible to large scale incidents.

Get your Golden Ticket in to win!

By
Lisa Dennis
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Our Castlemaine Mail ‘Golden Ticket’ promotion is quickly speeding towards its conclusion with the draw set to take place on Wednesday June 15.
Did you get the ninth and final piece of the puzzle in last week’s Mail? Make sure you complete your Golden Ticket and drop it into our office at 13 Hargraves Street 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.
Castlemaine IGA Plus Liquor in Barker Street are proud to once again be part of our 2022 buy local promotion and the IGA team encourage their customers to get their tickets in to win!
The team at the local supermarket say they really value their local loyal customers and they think the Golden Ticket buy local promotion is a great chance to give back to the community that supports them.
Missing a puzzle piece? Don’t despair we have back copies of the Mail at our office. Snap up your missing piece, complete your ticket and drop it in the draw to win! Good luck!

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