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$50K awarded towards portable vet clinic in Campbells Creek

By
Castlemaine Mail
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A second state government grant has been awarded to the Regional Community Vet Clinic to help the organisation work towards its goal of constructing a portable veterinary clinic. 

On Monday, RCVC founders, volunteers, representatives from Campbells Creek Community Centre and Mount Alexander Shire Council met at the proposed construction site of the not-for-profit veterinary clinic, to welcome Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards as she announced the $50,000 grant. 

The proposed portable building will be housed on vacant council land at the rear of Campbells Creek Community Centre. The not-for-profit vet clinic will provide services to pet owners across the region who desperately want to keep and care for a companion animal, but are struggling due to financial or physical disadvantages. 

RCVC founder and treasurer Robyn Slattery said the group was delighted to see the social welfare issues it was trying to address recognised by the state government. 

“This is the first initiative like this in regional Victoria. It’s a model that supports those in direst need,” Ms Slattery said. 

“We try to provide services that people can afford and provide at-cost services for those that can pay.” 

In addition to the $50,000 grant announcement, Ms Edwards also announced that, if re-elected, there would be a further investment of $100,000 towards the construction of the clinic building – bringing total funding to $350,000, just $50,000 away from the organisation’s goal of $400,000. 

While the long-term goal of RCVC is to establish its own dedicated facility, the organisation is committed to helping those in need in the community today through pop-up clinics, social outreach and donating food and medication sourced through partner organisations into the community. 

With funding goals looking close to being reached, RCVC is hopeful of meeting its original goal of opening a dedicated clinic by the end of 2023, with all further funding to be used to cover operational expenses and grow its social outreach program. 

Anyone interested in contributing to the fundraising campaign can do so at www.mycause.com.au/rcvc-clinic or through the RCVC homepage at rcvc.org.au/donate. 

Traditional techniques: Australia’s oldest bakery to reopen in Maldon

By
Jade Jungwirth
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Owner of the bakery Rebecca comes from a family with five generations of bakers. She has spent the past few weeks transforming the historic building to its former glory and has completed a significant amount of the renovation work herself.

Australia’s oldest continually running bakery at Maldon is reopening its doors to the public this week. 

Established in 1854, the bakery is home to a rare wood-fired scotch oven, believed to be the oldest brick structure in all of Maldon. 

New owner Rebecca Barnett comes from a family of five generations of bakers. 

“It’s exciting to bring really good bread and cakes using traditional baking techniques and using amazing quality, and largely local, produce,” Rebecca said. 

“We will be using locally grown, heritage wheat and organic raw sugar. 

“The small old shop people remember will be reopened as a ‘grab and go’ for coffee, muffins etcetera, and the big shop will have the rest of the produce. 

“We’ve hired a head chef who is renowned for his sourdough creations, a fantastic pastry chef, and Jody, who has worked at the bakery for the past 34 years, will continue serving the customers.” 

What’s on the menu in the newly renovated bakery? 

There will be the good old traditional meat pie, plus vegetarian and vegan options. Traditional buns, pizza slices from the oven, filled baguettes, delicious cakes, and some amazing sourdough bread and delicacies from head baker John Downes. 

John was one of the first on the sourdough bread scene in the early 1980s. He has studied gastronomy and history and is the author of a number of books including The Sourdough Loaf. 

John is planning to introduce some wonderful new and (very very) old items to the menu. Perhaps the most exciting of these will be Barm Bread, the type of bread originally made in the bakery’s scotch oven when it was built in the mid-1800s. 

“I found a clue about the bread in an old baking book from the 1940s and I went back to the UK to perfect the recipe,” John said. “It’s a traditional Scottish, English and Irish bread, made from beer yeast, which we will be importing from Germany.” 

John is currently training Rebecca and a young local 18-year-old boy about the traditional methods of baking. 

Maldon Historic Bakery is located at 53-55 Main Street and will be open Wednesday through to Sunday. 

Call in and see the incredible transformations that have taken place and try some old-worldly goods that will transport you through time. 

Faraday truck depot application denied by Council

By
Castlemaine Mail
-

Mount Alexander Shire Council has denied an application for a truck depot at Ellerys Road Faraday. The application was submitted to the council in January 2021 for the inclusion of a depot to store trucks and trailers associated with the family’s freight business. 

Council officers recommended issuing a notice of refusal due to concerns regarding traffic issues not being adequately addressed in the applicant’s revised Traffic Management Plan provided to the council in August. 

During last week’s council meeting, Cr Gary McClure said he was “conflicted”. 

“There are conditions that need to be applied in order for approval to be given,” he said. 

“I have spoken to the neighbours about the dust, loss of amenities and noise. I don’t think the applicant did enough to address these issues.” 

Cr Stephen Gardner said he didn’t support the refusal easily. 

“Unlike most applications, this rejection affects the livelihood of the people, which I take very seriously,” he said. 

“The recommendation is primarily around the road not being able to take B-doubles, subject to upgrades of bitumen or widening of the road.” 

The officers’ report indicated that the proposed use of land for a depot, within the farming zone and affected by an environmental overlay, was inappropriately located and would negatively impact agricultural uses on adjoining land. Councillors Rosie Annear, Tony Cordy, Stephen Gardner, Gary McClure and Bill Maltby voted to adopt the recommendation. 

Cr Matthew Driscol opposed the motion but said he didn’t support the application as it stood. 

“It would be good if we could defer the decision to a future meeting for officers to recommend an alternative,” he said. 

Also in opposition to the motion, Cr Christine Henderson said that on first viewing, it was not a place to operate a business like this. “But if not here then where? It’s a small family operation with one truck in and one out in a day,” she said. 

My Castlemaine with climate activist Malcolm Robins

By
Castlemaine Mail
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Hi, Malcolm can you tell us a little about your life and how you came to live in this corner of the world? 

I’d be classified as a ‘baby boomer’, born in London, UK, in 1946. I spent my childhood in southern England and reached adulthood during that defining decade for Britain, the ‘swinging sixties’. 

After graduation, I was employed by a US-based manufacturer as a computer systems engineer, based in the UK and Europe. 

In 1977, I was given the opportunity to transfer to Victoria with my wife and two young sons (a nine-month-old and a two-year-old), it was an interesting flight I can tell you! 

We stayed on, living in Melbourne for the next 39 years, and since the late ’80s, I’ve worked freelance. 

I became familiar with Castlemaine through working as a member of the engineering team at Don KRC where I spent over a year living at the caravan park during the week, travelling home to Melbourne for the weekends. 

You spend a lot of time advocating for action on climate change. How did you become interested in this issue? 

Since moving to Castlemaine, I’ve grown to realise that it’s a community that cares, and is willing to participate in creating consensus, and acting decisively on both local and global issues. 

I felt the alarming potential impacts of human-caused climate change were highlighted by the 2018 federal election result. My retirement coincided with the emergence of the global youth-driven movement for climate action following the election, which convinced me that urgent intergenerational climate justice is both essential and worth fighting for. It motivated me to join with a like-minded group of concerned locals in a six-month campaign that managed to convince Mount Alexander Council to join the many councils and governments (currently 2279 globally covering over 1 billion citizens) by declaring a Climate Emergency and implementing associated action plans. 

Are there any philosophies you live life by? 

Since that experience, I’ve attempted to view my life agency through a lens of ‘longtermism’, the idea that individuals can positively influence the long-term future. Quoting Jonas Salk, “Our greatest responsibility is to be good ancestors”. 

Do you have other interests? 

I used to love ice skate racing in Europe, then in Australia, I took up rollerskating. I also participated in triathlons for 25 years. At the age of 60, I took up mountain bike riding. 

Who are your three dream dinner guests? 

Three authors: Jeff Sparrow, a renowned left-wing, Ross Garnaut who is an amazing economist and I’m really impressed with Scott Ludlam who wrote Full Circle. 

So no need to ask who you’re reading at the moment! Is there a particular genre of music you enjoy? 

I have no musical ability, but I am really appreciative of musicians who can improvise. My main preference is jazz but I also really like classical music as a whole. 

What do you enjoy most about the place you call home? 

It’s occupants. I lived in Melbourne for the last 20 years and there’s no longer a feeling of belonging there. It’s so refreshing in Castlemaine, you can’t walk down Mostyn Street without stopping to have a chat with someone. 

Belly dancing and more at Buda’s Traditional Arts Fair

By
Castlemaine Mail
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Pictured are Anita Zacchigna (teacher), Wendy Ashton, Alison Ross, Caroline Brockhoff and Jenny Kyritsis.

By Melanie Barnes

Buda Historic Home and Garden’s Traditional Arts Fair next month offers a day full of family friendly entertainment. 

Together with crafts, workshops, food and drinks, a colourful and blingy dancing experience will delight visitors to Buda on November 20. 

The Mail caught up with Anita Zacchigna and her intermediate class who will be performing traditional belly dancing at the Arts Fair. 

“The costumes worn by the dancers for this performance are tribal gypsy style, earthy and traditional in keeping with the theme of the Fair,” Anita said. 

While completing a dress rehearsal at Buda this week, the company of five dazzled groups of visitors passing through the grounds. 

Wendy Ashton, also a yoga teacher, enjoys being part of the dancing group. 

“It’s great exercise, great music and great fun, and good for mental health,” she said. 

Jenny Kyritsis was introduced to the dancing class by friends. 

“Joining Anita’s class brings out my inner child and the theatrical side of me,” she said. 

As well as volunteering at Buda, Anita teaches belly dancing at the Castlemaine Neighbourhood Centre on Wednesday mornings at 10am for intermediate dancers, and two classes for beginners in Maldon on Thursdays from 1.30pm. 

Buda’s Traditional Arts Fair will be held on November 20, from 10am to 4pm. The dancers will dazzle in two performances at 12pm and 1.45pm. 

The Fair will provide many activities and tours on the day as well as children’s craft and traditional games, including gold panning for the first time. 

There will be market stalls selling traditional arts and crafts, homemade produce and beverages for all tastes including a bar. 

Buda’s famous produce, jams and chutneys will be on sale, a jazz band will be playing along with roving gypsy music, bringing a lively spirit to the gardens. There will also be Devonshire teas and barbecue food available. 

Admission is $5 and children are free. You can find out more by visiting Buda’s website, www.budacastlemaine.org/event/2022-traditional-arts-fair 

If you would like to join Anita’s belly dancing class, contact her on 0466 370 680.

Connect with ceramicists on the Central Victorian Clay Trail

By
Castlemaine Mail
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Rye Senjen and Kirstie Murdoch of Fluxed Earth based in Castlemaine will be participating in this years Clay Trail.

This year on the Central Victorian Clay Trail, 18 ceramics studios will open to the public over the weekend of November 12-13 from 10am to 4pm, offering a glimpse into the working life of a potter. 

The event is part of The Australian Ceramics Association’s annual open studio program and makers from around the country are participating. 

Artists from Mount Alexander, Hepburn, Golden Plains and Macedon Ranges Shires will welcome visitors and be on hand to explain the individual processes they use to take clay through to its final state. 

A huge range of styles will be on show, from sculptural work to tableware and everything in between, and techniques demonstrated including hand-building, wheel-throwing and mould-making. 

Participating in the clay trail for the second time are Rye Senjen and Kirstie Murdoch of Fluxed Earth. Based in Castlemaine and specialising in Japanese, Korean and Chinese-inspired works, the ceramicists have worked in creative collaboration since they came to ceramics seven years ago. 

The married couple moved to Dunedin in New Zealand where Rye went to the School of Art and Kirstie set up shop at Otago Potters Group and learned from experienced potters. 

“There are so many different styles to enjoy on the clay trail,” Rye said. 

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to see what actually happens in a studio.” 

All of the studios are those of professional artisans and the high quality of the work speaks for itself. 

Make a day of it, or better still, a weekend, and avail yourself of all the region has to offer. 

Download the map from the website: centralvictorianpotters.org and follow us on Instagram@central_victorian_potters. 

Brochures are available from Visitor Information Centres in the area and many other locations. 

Castlemaine students’ thought-provoking art on show

By
Castlemaine Mail
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CSC art teachers Clayton Tremlett, Pip de Bondt and Hermione Merry are pictured with one of the stunning works featured in this year’s show created by year 12 student Chloe Wrzesinski.

An exhibition celebrating the incredibly talented artists at Castlemaine Secondary College was unveiled at the historic Castlemaine Market Building on Sunday. 

The annual exhibition features portfolio pieces by CSC’s year 12, year 11 and emerging year 10 artists. 

CSC art teacher Clayton Tremlett said the works featured in this year’s exhibition were extremely high calibre. 

“There are some confronting, thought-provoking, beautiful and emotive pieces created by our year 12 artists that touch on topics such as gender identity, disassociation, love and loss,” he said. 

“And our year 11 students are already exceeding expectations, we can’t wait to see what they create over the coming 12 months.” 

Visitors to the exhibition will first encounter a stunning painting by Chloe Wrzesinski. 

“Their painting explores gender identity and features the cuttlefish, which can be both male and female,” Mr Tremlett said. 

Next you will encounter a striking oil on panel piece by Sigrid Doolan. 

“This is a powerful and deeply personal piece for the young artist,” Mr Tremlett said. 

“We then have a series of works in which Liana Parks explores her experience of disassociation and what she sees in the mirror, it has scratch and sniff elements which really engage the viewer. 

“Year 12 student Jordan Finning’s drawings are inspired by the art of Goya and gaming.” 

There are even 3D installations such as a beautiful, handcrafted tent created and intricately embroidered by textiles student Saskia Lynzaat, which evokes memories of childhood, and a stunning plywood and paper model of a conservatory created by one of CSC’s visual communication students Violet Kennedy. 

Other works include etchings and printmaking, sculpture, digital images and short films created by Media Studies students. 

The exhibition can be viewed at the Market Building between 9-5 daily. 

Trunk your junk for cash at Campbells Creek car boot sale

By
Castlemaine Mail
-
Castlemaine Historical Society members, Jenny, Ruth and Carol, invite people to book a site for their upcoming ‘Trunk your Junk’ car boot sale.

Castlemaine Historical Society is calling for locals to join in the fun of a ‘Trunk your Junk’ car boot sale next month. 

Book a site, fill up your car and your boot and turn up between 7am and 8am on Saturday, November 26, at the Campbells Creek Community Centre. 

It’s election day and the Rotary Truck Show is on so there’s sure to be plenty of people out and about. 

It costs just $15 per car load ($20 extra for limited 6×4 trailer loads) to take part. Public entrance is from 8.30am and warm muffins, tea and coffee will be for sale. 

To book a site, contact Ruth Giddings via email at ruth.giddings@bigpond.com

Festival garden raising funds for Ukraine

By
Castlemaine Mail
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Friends of Red Cross members Marg Guest, Joy Lovelace and Sue Tribe invite you to visit ‘Tranquillo’.
Friends of Red Cross members Marg Guest, Joy Lovelace and Sue Tribe invite you to visit ‘Tranquillo’.

During the Castlemaine Festival of Gardens (October 29 – November 6) the Friends of Red Cross Castlemaine have teamed with local gardener Mary Stuart to hold a special fundraiser to support the people of Ukraine. 

Friends of Red Cross Castlemaine member Sue Tribe said they knew that the flood response is front of mind for many people at the moment, but this fundraiser was organised some months ago. 

“The war in Ukraine continues and we aim to offer support to those suffering through this terrible crisis,” she said. 

“Of course, you can also support the Red Cross flood appeal if you wish via the website.” 

Friends of Red Cross volunteers will be manning the table at Mary Stuart’s gorgeous Britton Street garden ‘Tranquillo’ for much of the festival, with funds raised going to support the people of Ukraine through the Red Cross Ukrainian Project. 

‘Tranquillo’ means tranquil in Italian. Mary has had a long affinity with Italy having visited many times. 

She has spent the last 40-plus years developing the garden. 

“I’ve constructed the garden to recreate memories of happy holidays in Italy, with a highlight being the tromp l’oeil landscape on one of the garden buildings painted by local artist Lois Callister,” Mary said. 

“Most of the metalwork throughout the garden has been made by Paul Hosmer and the space also features local stone.” 

The garden is extensive, set out in a series of separate spaces, with gateways from one area to another, and many nooks for sitting and relaxing. It is also a haven for a wide variety of birds. 

Be sure to pay a visit to Tranquillo at 23 Britton Street, Castlemaine and show your support for this important cause. The garden will be open from 11am-4pm daily during the festival. 

Circus Mania set to hit!

By
Castlemaine Mail
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Rouge is a decadent blend of sensational acrobatics, cabaret and burlesque. Photo: Jodie Hutchinson.
Rouge is a decadent blend of sensational acrobatics, cabaret and burlesque. Photo: Jodie Hutchinson.

The ‘Circus Mania’ Circus Festival is set to hit Castlemaine this November!
The long awaited event will be staged over four big days and nights and has been coordinated by local circus performers Caz Walsh and Mason West.
The festival was to be held in 2020 but was sidelined due to covid.
However, the festival has been locked in for November 17-20 and will feature in the couple’s own 300 seat big top – The May Wirth.
The big top will be erected at 74-80 Forest Street (opposite the Western Reserve) for the four day extravaganza.
The event will feature ‘Big Tops & Tiny Tots’ for the littlest festival goers. A circus adventure for 3-6 year olds! Big Tops & Tiny Tots is a non-stop whirlwind of plate-spinning, hula hooping and unicycling fun brought to you by Solid State Circus.
‘Suitcase Circus’ is an energetic all ages circus show. Set in the glory days of the past, this show is full of awe-inspiring, gasp worthy tricks from a mesmerising cast of world-class, award winning circus performers! There are acrobats, agile and athletic, defying gravity as they tumble and roll and create human towers on each other’s shoulders. There are aerialists, elegant and strong, plunging down the silks and being flung across the stage. There are jugglers and balancers, skilful and dexterous, as they manipulate with incredible timing and focus.
And after dark headline cabaret act ‘Rouge’ which received five star reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival will entertain the adults.
Rouge: Circus for grown ups is a decadent blend of sensational acrobatics, operatic cabaret and twisted burlesque.
A non-stop celebration of the astonishing, surprising, subversive and the supremely sexy: award-winning Australian circus sensation Rouge brings an outrageous brand of adult circus.
“We have worked hard to create a program which offers something for every age group,” Caz said.
“Members of our very own Castlemaine Circus, where I am a trainer, will also be part of our all ages show,” Caz said.
And on the Saturday and Sunday Castlemaine Circus will also be offering a free opportunity for locals of all ages to come down and try their hand at some circus skills.
“There be three shows each day as well as live music, food trucks, a Garden Bar thanks to support from Shedshaker Brewing and other festivities taking place each day,” she said.
“We aim to create a real community atmosphere with something for everyone,” Caz said.
Early bird tickets are now on sale visit circusmania.com.au to get yours today!

Maldon Museum digitises 52 years of local news

By
Castlemaine Mail
-

Maldon Museum and Archives Association hosted a reception last Friday to celebrate the near completion of the museum’s project to digitalise the Tarrangower Times for the years 1858 to 1910.

In 2021 the museum was a successful recipient of grants from the state government’s Public Records Office Victoria and the Community Bank Maldon District. Two further private donations brought the total raised to almost $36,000 which enabled the project to go ahead.

An 1894 ad for the Kangaroo Hotel, which still operates in Maldon.

The State Library of Victoria provided the National Library of Australia (NLA) with microfilms of the newspaper and the Maldon Museum and Archives Association then engaged the NLA to carry out the digitisation project and to make the records available online via the NLA Trove website, thus providing accessible, searchable records for researchers everywhere.

Maldon Museum and Archives Association are proud to have the Tarrangower Times for these years available online to all researchers and students of history and are very appreciative to the funding bodies for realising the value and benefit of the project. 

It is hoped that in the future more years will be able to be added.

To explore the new resource go to trove.nla.gov.au

Thanks to flood workers one and all!

By
Castlemaine Mail
-

Andrew Le Clercq, Castlemaine 

I want to sincerely thank all those unnamed legends from Powercor, their subbies, SES, CFA and all others who worked their arses off to initially keep the water at bay from the Castlemaine substation and, when the floodwater had hit the fan, safely shut down the substation and then in an amazingly short turnaround reactivated it without thundering a power surge through all our consumer electrical gizmos… 

All during heavy rain, probably up to their ankles in water while dealing with high voltage. Respect. 

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