Despite news of the lockdown it proved to be an exciting week at Castlemaine Health as the hospital welcomed the first baby born under its new Midwifery Group Practice model of care.
The healthy baby boy arrived on Sunday May 30. Mother and baby are doing well and are now settling in at home.
Castlemaine Health CEO Sue Race said the arrival of the first baby for the service is wonderful news and they send their heartfelt congratulations to the family.
“News of the birth has spread quickly through the service and the community and has been greeted with much excitement,” she said.
Maternity Services at Castlemaine Health became fully operational on Monday May 3, 2021 after a nearly year long suspension, re-opening under a new model of care. See the Mail for more…
Hello Baby! First bub welcomed at Castlemaine Health
Local filmmaker scoops international award
Eve Lamb
A film by Fryerstown’s Alison Shirley is quickly gaining international acclaim after clinching its category at the prestigious Denmark Luminous Frames film festival.
The six-minute screen work has taken out the festival’s short film category dealing with life in pandemic.
Now Shirley’s Beauty in Decay has also been selected, and is in contention for another win, in the Experimental Dance and Music Film Festival in Los Angeles and Toronto.
“That was a beautiful surprise,” the local filmmaker told the Mail this week after learning of her recent success in Denmark. Read more in the Mail 04.06.21
Jab demand surges
Eve Lamb
Demand among locals to get vaccinated has surged as Victoria’s outbreaks of the more transmissible strain of COVID-19 hold the state hostage.
At Castlemaine Health, the COVID-19 vaccination clinic hours have been extended and medical staff there this week told the Mail locals are now stepping up in far greater numbers to get the jab and do their bit to help curb the spread.
“Demand has doubled since the outbreak and our community has embraced vaccination,” nurse unit manager Shelley Leathem saidas AstraZeneca jabs went in arms at multiple vaccination stations during this Wednesday’s morning clinic in the Castlemaine site.
“Last week we had close to 200 vaccinations. This week we’re looking at 300 to 350,” Ms Leathem said.
“We’re encouraging people to keep booking and registering their interest through the link on the Castlemaine Health website because that helps ensure that the clinic runs smoothly.”
Responding to the upsurge in demand for the vaccine, the Castlemaine Health clinic has extended its hours… Read more in the Mail 04.06.21
Wildlife shelter receives outpouring of support
Shedshaker Brewing held a special fundraising screening of film ‘Kangaroo – A Love-Hate Story’ at The Taproom at The Mill Complex on May 13 to raise funds for the Red Box Wildlife Shelter at Elphinstone.
The ground-breaking film explores the complex and contradictory relationship Australia has with its beloved icon.
The night included a Q&A with the film’s co-director Mick McIntyre and animal activist Greg Keightley and the launch of an exhibition of works by animal photographer Tamara Kenneally.
Kenneally’s exhibition remains on show at The Taproom for a couple more weeks and she has very generously donated her beautiful works to be sold to assist Red Box Wildlife Shelter with their care of the region’s local injured wildlife.
Shedshaker Brewing’s Jacqueline Brodie-Hanns said it was a fantastic night and they have enquiries from as far away as London!
“The opening night was a great success and raised over $3,000. The passion and dedication of wildlife rescuers and their supporters is incredibly inspiring. The Taproom was thrilled to support Red Box and help raise funds for the wonderful work they do,” she said. See the Mail for the full story.
Now we are six!
Castlemaine parkrun devotees have celebrated their 273rd parkrun and sixth birthday with some attention-grabbing responses on Saturday May 22.
Stand-out running gear and accessories were a feature of the birthday run that particularly the big volunteer effort that allows the popular weekly event to happen.
Sporting her signature pink wig and sparkling day wear, run director Karina Taylor provided everyone with some fun facts about Castlemaine parkrun.
“While the average weekly headcount is 74, there have been an astounding 20,114 finishes comprising 2684 different people over the six years,” Ms Taylor said.
Parkrun is not a race as such, but rather an opportunity to complete a timed five-kilometre course so participants can improve according to their ability.
“In keeping with this ethic, the average time in this event has been 32 minutes 15 seconds, and there have been 2764 personal best times recorded.” See the Mail for more…
Beyond Climate Grief
Castlemaine’s School Strike 4 Climate student climate change activists feature in new book Beyond Climate Grief by former ABC Catalyst journalist Dr Jonica Newby.
Some of the students were scheduled to appear in conversation with author at Stoneman’s Bookroom tomorrow, May 29, before Victoria’s snap seven day lockdown was announced.
The award-wining journalist had just finished her 20 year tenure with Catalyst and was enjoying a magical holiday in the snowfields of Japan, when a chance meeting with a ski instructor from Switzerland shocked her beyond belief and put her on a path of discovery.
“I thought hang on what is a Swiss ski instructor doing in Japan during their busiest time of the year? I was shocked to discover he was in search of good snow as Switzerland had a green Christmas that year,” Jonica said.
On returning home the writer plunged herself into research on what global warming will do to the snow country she loves and what she learnt ultimately plunged her into a deep depression which she later discovered has a term ‘Climate Grief’.
Newby began to wonder how others were coping and began to consider the possibility of writing a book which explored how to navigate the emotional turmoil of climate change. See the Mail for the full story.
Opportunity knocks in climate challenge
Eve Lamb
A special event coming up in Castlemaine aims to fully inform local businesses about new opportunities, incentives and funding schemes available to help them cut emissions, save on power bills … and flourish.
The Business of Climate Change mini expo is happening Monday evening June 7 at The Goods Shed.
Coordinator, local business operator Jacqueline Brodie-Hanns says that for anyone in business it’s an opportunity not to be missed.
Local businesses like Castlemaine furniture manufacturer, Like Butter, provide case study examples of the sorts of things businesses can do to drop their emissions and grow at the same time. Read more in the Mail of 28.05.21…
Earth tremor rattles the ‘maine
Eve Lamb
News of yet another statewide lockdown was not the only thing rocking residents’ worlds yesterday morning.
Castlemaine was shaken late yesterday morning when a significant earth tremor struck the area and was recorded state-wide.
The tremor of a magnitude of about three on the Richter scale struck at 10.46am and could be clearly felt for several seconds in the Castlemaine Mail’s CBD office on Hargraves Street.
Staff on site in the CBD location reported cups on the shelf rattling, and initially believed the shuddering, that could clearly be felt for about four seconds, was a vehicle slamming into a verandah post in the street.
But soon afterwards reports emerged from Geoscience Australia confirming it was a tremor of more than magnitude 2.9.
Sandon-based seismologist with the University of Melbourne, Gary Gibson, told the Mail he had received calls from throughout the area. Read more in the Mail of 28.5.21
Seven-day lockdown announced
The Victorian government has announced a seven-day “circuit breaker” lockdown of the entire state from 11.59pm tonight, May 27.
The lockdown comes after another 12 new coronavirus cases were announced overnight bringing the state’s total to 34, including 26 linked to the Melbourne outbreak. Two exposure sites have also been named in Bendigo and Axedale.
Everyone must stay within five kilometres from their principal place of residence other than for the following five reasons:
- Shopping for necessary goods and services (one person in the household per day)
- Care-giving, compassionate or medical reasons
- Authorised work or education
- Exercise (with a maximum of one other person for no more than two hours)
- To receive a COVID-19 vaccination
Private and public gatherings are not permitted. Single bubbles and intimate partner visits will be allowed.
Face masks will be required to be worn inside and outdoors everywhere.
For more information visit www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au
Murder charge after body discovered
The Castlemaine community was in shock on Monday as news broke about the discovery of a man’s body in a home in Wimble Street.
The man’s body was discovered in his home around 10.45am.
Local emergency services assisted to cordon off the street as detectives from the Homicide Squad were called in to investigate the 80-year-old’s suspicious death.
A 53-year-old Castlemaine man was subsequently interviewed by detectives and charged with murder. He was remanded in custody to appear at the Bendigo Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning. The two men are believed to be known to each other.
The accused Glenn Stratton appeared on one count of murder. He was reportedly supported in the court by family members.
Stratton did not make an application for bail and was remanded to appear before the Bendigo Magistrates Court on October 13.
New era for historic school
Grey skies and rain didn’t deter the Winters Flat Primary School community from turning out in force to celebrate the official opening of their new school buildings last Thursday evening, May 13.
Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards was on hand to officially open the $2.916 million upgrade which saw the school’s older buildings containing asbestos replaced with new architecturally-designed permanent modular buildings built by Modscape, including a new multipurpose hall and an art room along with external learning spaces.
“Today, we’re not just celebrating the opening of new buildings, we are also celebrating what will be achieved inside these buildings for many years to come,” Ms Edwards said. See the Mail for more…
No more gap! $1.2 to complete trail
Friends of Campbells Creek Landcare (FOCC) and local community members are celebrating following the announcement of $1.2 million in funding to complete the ‘missing link’ of the Castlemaine to Campbells Creek Walking and Cycling Trail.
Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards MP visited Campbells Creek on May 14 to announce the state government funding which will close the 400 metre gap in the trail between Princess Street and the Honeycomb Road-Scott Court intersection and complete the off-road accessible walking and cycling trail which spans almost six kilometres from Castlemaine to Campbells Creek.
Stage 1 of project will see the construction of an accessible path along Campbells Creek-Fryers Road and Stage 2 Construction of the Campbells Creek Walking and Cycling Trail from Princess Street, Campbells Creek to the commencement of the existing trail into Castlemaine. This will include the construction of two creek crossovers. See the Mail for the full story. Out Now.