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Watch this space…

By
Eve Lamb
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Waiting: The new Evie network fast charger station space in Castlemaine ...The car park spaces have been allocated but EV drivers are now just waiting for the charge station to be installed...

Eve Lamb


Castlemaine’s growing number of electric vehicle owners will have to hold their horsespower for just a little longer until the town gets its first public EV fast charge station. The rollout of EV fast charge stations as part of the Charging the Regions program was initially expected to have seen Castlemaine’s twin Evie fast station ready for use this month.
But while Harcourt’s Charging The Regions Evie fast charge station is now up and running – and by all accounts – receiving a rapidly increasing level of usage, Castlemaine’s installation has now been temporarily delayed by a global shortage of charge station components.
“Because of a global shortage of componentry it’s been pushed back to August,” Central Victoria Greenhouse Alliance executive officer Rob Law told the Mail in recent days. Read the full story in today’s Mail.

Plan to put a spring in Taradale’s step

By
Eve Lamb
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Taradale's Colleen Jones, Willen Pelka and Steve Ebbott at the town's old, derelict tennis court that's now proposed to be converted into a multipurpose youth space. Photo: Eve Lamb

Eve Lamb


Detailed design and costing can now go ahead towards converting an old disused and moss-covered tennis court in Taradale into a new multi purpose youth space.
“I think it’s great,” said Taradale local Willen Pelka, 12, who didn’t waste any time giving last week’s council budget announcement of $30,000 toward the project, his stamp of approval.
“It’ll be one facility with multiple uses for people aged about seven to 15,” said Willen, a keen basketballer who’s already particularly anticipating the likely benefits that the project will accrue for his sport of choice.
It’s far from all that’s being planned however, with the conversion of the central site mooted to not only feature a hard court with multiple line markings for basketball and netball – but also athletics, downball and hopscotch with moundings for scooters and rollerskates.
There’s also … Get the full story in today’s Mail.

Kristina’s character-packed critters

By
Eve Lamb
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Campbells Creek's Kristina Browning with some of her character-packed animal paintings now going on public exhibition at a local vet clinic - and also as part of the annual Castlemaine Market Building winter art show that opens tomorrow and runs through to September. Photo: Eve Lamb

Eve Lamb

Ask Campbells Creeks Kristina Browning when she started painting animals and she’ll pause, contemplate for a while, and then tell you – “forever”.
“I think it all started with the chooks,” adds the dedicated animal artist and retired art teacher, who’s also been known as “the chook lady” due to her penchant for painting portraits of various feathered friends.
Why chooks?
Kristina is quick to reply.
“I like creating a character. I want something with a fair bit of attitude and the chooks seem to have that.”
Of course it’s far from just chooks that Kristina is well known for painting, although she concedes the vast number of chook-themed greeting cards she’s turned out over the years have done nothing to diminish reputation as “the chook lady”.
Dogs, horses, cows, donkeys, and native wildlife all get a look in as well on the the vibrant canvasses that this local artist creates – often working from photographs people supply featuring their beloved pets.
Right now Kristina’s latest pop-up exhibition has been attracting many admirers inside Castlemaine Veterinary Clinic, which given the clientele, is proving a particularly apt venue for the featured subject matter. Read the full story in today’s Mail…

Questions raised over proposed energy plant

By
Eve Lamb
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generic image "bioenergy plant"

Eve Lamb
Castlemaine residents have raised questions about a mooted bioenergy plant for Castlemaine after the proposal was recently publicised by Mount Alexander Sustainability Group in a partnership with Don KR.
At Tuesday evening’s Mount Alexander Shire Council meeting the concept drew some attention during public question time with questions submitted including those from local residents keen to know more about the types and percentages of materials proposed to be fed into the facility.
In questions raised, local resident Richard Yates asked “what is the megawatt size/capacity of the biomass heat plant?”
In his correspondence read out during public question time Mr Yates also asked: “what are the estimated percentages of the energy components to be used within the biomass heat plant – animal products/meat waste percent? crops? organic waste from the landfill? woody waste percentage? recyclables ie cardboard? manure percentage? municipal solid waste? chemically treated wood products ie railway sleepers/tyres/ shipping pellets? TDF – Tyre Derived Fuel?”
Mr Yates also asked “what is the estimated biomass heat plant’s consumption of woody material/trees per year and what is planned for the replanting of lost vegetation?”
Responding, the council’s CEO Darren Fuzzard was quick to point out that the proposal was not a council initiative and directed those keen to gain better insights to go to MASG’s website. Read the full story in today’s Mail…

Golden Ticket to return!

By
Lisa Dennis
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Steve and Leonie Clifford encourage you to get your ticket in for our Golden Ticket promotion.
Steve and Leonie Clifford encourage you to get your ticket in for our Golden Ticket promotion.

We are thrilled to be gearing up to launch our highly anticipated Castlemaine Mail ‘Golden Ticket’ promotion again in 2021.
Our loyal readers will once again be in the running to share in $5000 in prize money to spend at our fantastic participating local businesses – including Cliffords Quality Cuts.
First prize will be $3000, second prize $1000 and third and fourth prize winners will receive $500 each.
The promotion will kick off on July 2 and local businesses are urged to get in quick if they want to be part of the exciting local promotion with registrations set to close on Monday, June 28.
There will be a list of businesses involved in the Castlemaine Mail weekly during the competition.
Each business will have a Golden Ticket flyer in their window to show they are participating in the promotion during July & August 2021.
To participate businesses will be asked to take an ad for the period of the promotion. All advertising will be up to 55% off the original price.
To find out more about how your business can be involved in our buy local shopping promotion contact our advertising team members Lynda Brew at lbrew@midnews.com.au or Tammy Harman at tharman@midnews.com.au

Supporting and celebrating our refugees

By
Lisa Dennis
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Some of the faithful Rural Australians for Refugee Castlemaine members are pictured at their weekly vigil on Wednesday evening.
Some of the faithful Rural Australians for Refugee Castlemaine members are pictured at their weekly vigil.

This Sunday June 20 is World Refugee Day and the Castlemaine branch of Rural Australians for Refugees (RAR) is gearing up to hold a week of events to highlight the plight of refugees in detention and the contribution refugees make to our society.
World Refugee Day is marked internationally to celebrate the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. The Refugee Council of Australia has chosen ‘Unity-the Way Forward’ as a theme for Refugee Week in Australia for 2021.
Rural Australians for Refugees Castlemaine has organised several events to highlight the contribution of refugees to our communities, but also to focus on current concerns. See the Mail for full details.

Magpies swoop back into action

By
Lisa Dennis
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The Magpies will return to the Camp tomorrow and will hope Klai Jermyn can bag some crucial goals. Photo: Peter Banko.
The Magpies will return to the Camp tomorrow and will hope Klai Jermyn can bag some crucial goals. Photo: Peter Banko.

A triumphant return to play was made by the Castlemaine Magpies in very trying conditions last Saturday, June 11. Unfortunately there were no wins for the day but it was a massive step forward to get the club moving on short notice.
The players set their sights on Golden Square at home Saturday, June 19 where they look forward to playing their postponed ‘Mental Health Round’.
Be sure to get along and show our young local sides your support. Go Magpies! See the Mail for more. Out Now.

C-DOC returns!

By
Lisa Dennis
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Raise the Bar which tells the inspiration story of a team of 8–13-year-old girls, who wanted to change the paradigm in women’s basketball in Iceland, will be one of the films to premiere at next month's festival.
Raise the Bar which tells the inspiration story of a team of 8–13-year-old girls, who wanted to change the paradigm in women’s basketball in Iceland, will be one of the films to premiere at next month's festival.

Castlemaine Documentary Festival (C-DOC) is set to return to the big screen at the Castlemaine Theatre Royal next month.
C-DOC was forced online last year due to the Covid 19 lockdowns and therefore it was apt organisers dubbed the 2020 festival ‘C-DOC – In the Clouds’.
This year organisers look forward to returning to ‘Terra-Firma’ and once again holding their screenings and highly anticipated Q & A panels at the historic theatre on the weekend of July 24-25.
The festival will kick off with a launch party on 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.

St Vinnie’s thank you

By
Lisa Dennis
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St Vinnie’s Foodbank hosted a morning tea at St Mary’s Catholic Church last Friday to thank representatives of Castlemaine and district churches, schools and community groups for their regular donations of groceries and other goods and produce.
They were told their generosity had helped many people put food on the table, especially during this difficult COVID time.

Warming win for winemakers

By
Eve Lamb
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Winning winemakers, Harcourt's Ken Pollock and Ian Mackenzie of BlackJack Wines. Photo: Eve Lamb

Eve Lamb
The snap chill in recent days has done little to diminish the warm glow out at Harcourt’s BlackJack Wines where they’ve just barrelled an above average vintage and picked up a prestigious award.
The well-established local winery is among five of the wider region’s wineries able to bask in the warming glow of have been recognised in a prestigious industry cellar door awards program.
Announced last month, The Gourmet Traveller Wine’s 10th annual Best Cellar Door Awards judged BlackJack Wines, Sutton Grange Winery, Mandurang Valley Wines, Balgownie Estate and Killiecrankie Wines among the best in Australia.
BlackJack Wines was named the region’s best tasting experience.
“It’s always nice to get recognition,” BlackJack’s Ken Pollock said when the Mail dropped in for a vineyard visit earlier this week. Read more in today’s Mail...

Joy for regional gym junkies

By
Eve Lamb
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Castlemaine fitness instructor Dave Tobin welcomes the re-opening of regional gyms - with careful limits on numbers - as of today. Photo: Eve Lamb

Eve Lamb
Local fitness and dance instructors are among those breathing a big aerobic sigh of relief after last night’s easing of COVID restrictions now mean the state’s regional gyms – and other indoor sports – are back in action.
The eased rules for regional Victoria mean fitness instructors like Castlemaine’s Dave Tobin can now resume doing what he loves best – keeping fit and keeping others fit as well – even it it’s dark and howling a gale.
The overnight easing of restrictions for the regions mean indoor sport including gyms and dance studios will also be able to reopen with careful limits on the number of people permitted at any point in time.
“All of my classes have quickly filled up,” the pleased local fitness instructor told the Mail just hours after hearing of the new rules for regional gyms that came into effect from midnight last night. Read more in today’s Mail…

Local trader celebrates 40 years

By
Lisa Dennis
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Robin Taylor, daughter Julie and her husband Shane Tunn are proud to see Taylors Home Centre celebrate 40 years in business in 2021.
Robin Taylor, daughter Julie and her husband Shane Tunn are proud to see Taylors Home Centre celebrate 40 years in business in 2021.

Long running local family business Taylors Home Centre in Castlemaine’s Mostyn Street is celebrating 40 years serving the local community.
The successful local business was formerly known as Castlemaine Art Furnishings and was purchased by Robin and Nancy Taylor in 1981.
Four decades later the business is now owned and operated by the couple’s daughter Julie and her husband Shane Tunn.
Robin said Castlemaine Art Furnishing Co was a long running local business which was formerly located at the bottom end of Templeton Street.
“It was founded by Harry Barton and operated there from the 1930s until 1954 when it relocated to Mostyn Street. It was purchased by Ian and Barb Bell in 1977.
“We had been operating a café next door – the Eloura Café – for around three years when the business came on the market again. We finished up at the café in the January and purchased Castlemaine Art Furnishing Co from Ian and Barb Bell on April 1, 1981,” he said. See today’s Mail for more …

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