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The team at the Castlemaine Mail

Pru and Davina make championships, will represent Victoria in dressage, Sydney

Castlemaine's Pru Robinson and her horse Kenlock Super Davina.


Castlemaine teenager Pru Robinson has big reason to celebrate after she and her horse Kenlock Super Davina recently qualified to represent Victoria in the dressage competition at the Australian Interschool Championships in Sydney this September.
The 16-year-old year 10 Castlemaine Secondary College student has been riding horses as long as she can remember, and has been riding competitively since the age of five.
“About 12 months ago, I got my horse Kenlock Super Davina who is a six-year-old warmblood mare,” says Pru who is a keen member of the Mandurang South Pony Club.
Davina was uneducated and knew very little about how to perform in Pru’s chosen field of eventing at the time, but since then things have changed dramatically.
“I have been seriously training and she has been absolutely amazing in her response and has learnt so fast,” Pru says.
“She is now a competitive horse in all the categories we compete in including dressage, show jumping and cross country.
Together Pru and Davina took on the interschool competition at Boneo Precinct representing Castlemaine Secondary College, and the results they achieved were impressive.
“We entered in three events; senior secondary preliminary dressage, senior secondary 80cms combined training and secondary 80cms horse trials (80cms is the height of the jumps),” Pru says.
During the April school holidays they competed at the Equestrian Victoria Interschool State Championships.
They successfully competed in the class secondary senior preliminary, and then went on to ultimately be awarded champion in the secondary senior preliminary, qualifying them to be a part of the Victorian team to compete in Sydney, late September.
“Mum and I will be travelling to Sydney towing Davina in our horse float,” Pru says.
“I am really excited and looking forward to participating and representing Victoria.”

Jimeoin LIVE! Castlemaine’s Theatre Royal is bracing to LOL

Jimeoin is acclaimed as one of the hottest stand-­up comics of this generation – ­a true comedy master – and he's making his way to Castlemaine.

Jimeoin is acclaimed as one of the hottest stand-­up comics of this generation – ­a true comedy master – and he’s making his way to Castlemaine.
Loved for his brilliantly funny wit and charming observations on the absurdities of every­day life, audiences are in for a treat with Jimeoin LIVE! at the Theatre Royal.
Prepare for a ferocious onslaught of jokes and a constant stream of laughter, all with inimitable facial expressions (and, those worl-famous eyebrows).
Jimeoin LIVE! is on at the Theatre Royal, Friday, July 29, from 8pm to 9.50pm with interval. Doors open 7.30pm.
Tickets: theatreroyalcastlemaine.oztix.com.au

Milestones for Castlemaine Parkrunners in freezing conditions

George Targett and Laura Critchley celebrate milestone runs.

Castlemaine Parkrun director, Michael Constable, informed runners that it was -2 as they stamped their feet into the crunchy grass and kept their down jackets on until the last minute for Saturday’s parkrun.

Gloves were also standard kit. Although cold, once running, the air was crisp and clear and quite perfect for speed. Many people came very close to best time on this invigorating winter morning, and of course the rest of the day was much better for the vigorous start.

Highlights of the day were Laura Critchley (50) and George Targett’s (100) significant milestone runs. Commencing in 2019, Laura has become a regular familiar and happy face on Saturday mornings. Initially completing five kilometres in 52 minutes, Laura has improved 10 minutes and is now able to walk/ jog the course in 42 minutes. On Saturday, Laura completed her 50th parkrun in her fastest time in 12 months.

Well done, Laura. George Targett completed his 100th run on Saturday also showing fantastic improvement. Starting out in 2017 at 34 minutes, George ran a PB of 20 minutes, one second for his 100th run. He is saving up his sub 20 for next week. Congratulations George.

A total of 57 people participated this week, including Melbourne visitors. Claire Brien, Nicole Grant and Keely Williams were the first women finishers. Andrew Kraulis, George Target and Glen Talyor were the first men. Visitor Jo Grainich completed the tail walk in 57.32. Volunteers this week were Michael Constable, Michael Farr, Geoff Faircloth, Colin Moore, Quinn Faircloth and Dianne Cox.

To participate in parkrun, register at www.parkrun.com. au/castlemaine, and Parkrun will welcome you on Saturdays at 8am in the Botanic Gardens at the Froomes Road end barbecue area.

Additional sports to be added for regional Comm Games

The Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games dates are locked in and a process is open for additional sports to be added to the program.

The Commonwealth Games will be held between March 17-29, 2026, beginning with the Opening Ceremony at the Melbourne Cricket Ground where athletes and visitors from around Australia and the world will gather to celebrate the start of the Games.

The Opening Ceremony will be followed by 12 days of competition between the Commonwealth’s best athletes across regional Victoria, allowing the regions to shine on the world stage.

The state government will work with the education sector in relation to the school term dates that year to ensure the participation of as many Victorians in the Games as possible.

An expressions of interest process for additional sports to be included in the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games has commenced and will involve submissions from international sporting federations with support from recognised or affiliated Australian organisations.

In a Commonwealth Games first, Victoria 2026 will introduce a multi-city model that delivers global sport to four regional hubs in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland.

Each of those hubs will have its own athletes’ village and host a range of sports that will create a legacy for Victoria that extends well beyond the competition period.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery, Jacinta Allan, said the Commonwealth’s finest athletes would compete for gold in regional Victoria at the 2026 Games.

“We’re getting on with delivering this global sporting event and including more sports will draw more of the
Commonwealth’s finest athletes to our own backyard to inspire Victorians,’’ Ms Allan said.

My Home Network launches strategy as locals seek housing solutions

Some of the crowd pictured during the 10-Year Social and Affordable Housing Strategy Launch in Castlemaine's town hall building. Photo: Supplied.

An estimated 120 people filed into Castlemaine Town Hall last Wednesday night as the My Home Network launched of a 10-Year Social and Affordable Housing Strategy.
The network that’s facilitated and coordinated by Central Victoria Prevention and Public Health, Bendigo Health, has developed its strategy over 12 months, working with community and government organisations, community members with lived experience of homelessness and housing crisis and Mount Alexander Shire Council
The strategy sets out strategic objectives and priorities and targets toward creating affordable housing delivery and reform.
Commissioner for Residential Tenancies Dr Heather Holst was MC for the evening, supported by My Home Network coordinator Carolyn Neilson of Bendigo Health.
The crowd heard about local lived experience of housing crisis and the benefits of long term rental and Carolyn Neilson explained the 10 year social and affordable strategy.
Castlemaine resident Jo Middleton and her son Ned Middleton shared their positive experience of Home Share for which the My Home Network are seeking funding to develop the first rural model in Australia.
Home Share is an internationally recognised scheme for formally pairing householders, who could benefit from help in the home and companionship, with individuals who are prepared to give practical assistance in return for free accommodation.
Annika Kearton spoke of the Castlemaine Institute Retro-fitting Neighbourhoods project and the crowd also heard from Mount Alexander Shire Council’s Housing Solutions Broker, Clare Richards.
Ms Neilson invited the crowd to sign up to one of the many working groups the network has created to “take all the great ideas and turn them into real actions” and received an enthusiastic response.
“The people gathered clearly understood that affordable, safe and secure housing is a basic human right,” Ms Neilson said..
“They also appreciated the complexity of the housing crisis in our shire and how it requires a multi-faceted, integrated approach with all relevant stakeholders and community working together.
“And they put their hands up to work together to give more people a place to call home. It’s a long road but we are on our way.”
“People can join any of the working groups according to their particular area of interest, expertise or passion.
“The working groups are a great opportunity to work alongside other community members towards a shared goal.”

Telling Fortune’s long lost tale: new arts trail to use GPS technology, bring hidden history to life

Castlemaine social historian, video and digital games creator Louise Rockabilby Cooper is working on a special project that tells the story of some of history's most underacknowledged pre-Federation goldfields women. Photo: Eve Lamb

Long before Agatha Christie became globally famed as the Queen of crime writing one Mary Helena Fortune, a former writer for the goldrush era Mount Alexander Mail newspaper, began writing crime fiction.
Fortune, wrote under a pseudonym and had sufficient command of the written word to be offered a sub editor’s job with the early newspaper that was the precursor to today’s Castlemaine Mail.
However, when it was subsequently discovered that she was a woman, the job offer was unceremoniously withdrawn.
Fortune’s personal story is as mysterious, tragic and significant as it is largely ignored and lost.
But now one creative Castlemaine local is doing something to change all that.
Keen social historian, video and digital games creator Louise Rockabilby Cooper is telling the life story of Mary Helena Fortune as part of a unique public arts project – the Dunolly Women’s Historical Art Trail.
Backed by $10,000 in cultural tourism accelerator funding through a Regional Arts Victoria government grant, plus a handy $5000 Maldon and District Community Bank grant, she’s about to kick some creative goals.
The former Dunolly resident, who recently moved to Castlemaine, is creating a stop motion animation telling Fortune’s tale.
It’s soon to form part of a special arts project celebrating significant but much under-acknowledged pre-Federation women via what will become the Dunolly Women’s Historical Art Trail.
“We will have six or seven different stories of women who all at one time lived in Dunolly,” says Cooper who is overseeing the project that also involves the other artists and creatives telling the women’s historic stories as well.
“All of the works will be digital art works that work using GPS, with smart pones or other devices so long as they have location services,” Cooper says.
Once the new site-specific trail is up and running, visitors to Dunolly will be able to use their smart phone or device to activate the digital works and learn the stories of each of the significant women that relate to the site.
“We’re also mapping what some of the old buildings used to be using the bank funding,” Cooper says.
She says the project will also involve production of an augmented reality art game.
Other under-acknowledged women whose stories are being told include Eliza Ellen Russell – “who sewed the first Australian flag,” notes Cooper.
“We’ll also have the story of Emily Glyndon who performed at Castlemaine’s Theatre Royal and who travelled the world advocating for women to be able to wear pants.”
Cooper says all will be welcome to attend the upcoming launch of the new arts trail which is set for 5-8pm Saturday September 17 at Dunolly’s Welcome Stranger cafe.

Restoration of historic sexton’s office and gun powder storage magazine comes up a treat

Castlemaine Cemetery Trust chair Debra Tranter checks out the newly revealed original fireplace which had been bricked in for many years. The Trust is now on the hunt for a period mantlepiece to match.

Debra Tranter always expected restoring the historic sexton’s office and gun powder storage magazine at Castlemaine Cemetery would be rewarding. But the chair of the local cemetery trust says she never expected it would be quite as enriching a process as it’s turning out to be.

As experts in brickwork and repointing carefully began restoring the vintage brickwork over recent days they were in for a surprise.
Their efforts revealed not only the beautiful old arched brickwork of the original fireplace – but, much to Debra’s relief – that the fireplace could also that be effectively stabilised and resurrected to its former glory.

“It had been bricked in but we knew it was there and I was just hoping that it would still be beautiful,” Debra says.
“It was great when we uncovered it.”

The revelation of the old arching brickwork detail around the old fireplace and the fireplace’s careful conservation is just part of the project that’s just weeks off finishing, backed by $77,000 in Victorian Living Heritage Grant funding that Sandra secured – on her second attempt.

The process has also included some very specialised exterior tuckpointing work that’s come up a treat.
“Inside it was all damp and the walls were cracking,” Debra says of the unique little slice of history that was built in the gold rush era days of 1867 after the first burial was registered on site in 1853.
“Seven years after they built the building that was known as The Lodge, they converted the back room into a gun powder magazine. The gun powder was for blasting out the gravesites because the cemetery is on a quartz reef,” Debra says.
Problematic non-breathable cement applied for “repairs” since the 1970s has had to be removed and replaced with breathable lime mortar.
“And I could actually touch the back wall and rock it back and forwards with my hands – and there were bricks missing,” Debra says.
Since then tradies have worked carefully over recent days and the results are impressive both inside and out with a bit more work still to go including painting and sourcing a secondhand period mantlepiece for the newly revealed original fireplace.
“Gary Hill our project manager has also worked on uncovering different layers of paint that was used over the years and a heritage consultant will be working on an appropriate colour palette over coming weeks,” Debra says.
“We’re still a few weeks away from finishing. Rendering on the inside needs to be done and we’re also on the hunt for a secondhand mantlepiece that fits the period and the dimensions of the fireplace.
“And we’ve still got the de-salinator coming back to work on the bricks on the inside.”
Another particularly rewarding aspect of the project is the restoration of the original 1875 map showing the layout of gravesites in the historic cemetery that counts some very famous early Australians among its permanent occupants.
“The map was filthy but it’s now at the conservators in Kyneton and will be going back in the original frame behind glass. I cannot wait,” Debra says.
When the work’s all done members of the public will be invited to get along to a special open day showcasing the results.
“We’re planning an open day in Spring,” Debra says.
“It’s such a beautiful little building and it’s such an important part of the history of the community.”

Castlemaine Cemetery Trust chair Debra Tranter at the historic sexton’s office and gun power magazine building currently being restored in a process that’s now uncovered the original fireplace. Photo: Eve Lamb

Safe spaces will soon be popping up in the ‘maine in a trial that’s the first of its kind in rural Australia

Members of the local Safe Space working group Rose Gubbels, Amy Jones and Rachel Stewart ahead of next Friday's pop-up Safe Space launch inn Castlemaine. Photo: Eve Lamb

All are being welcomed to attend next Friday’s launch of Castlemaine’s first ever pop-up Safe Space that’s about to be trialed as the first of its kind anywhere in rural Australia.
The ELM Network (Every Life Matters- Suicide prevention, postvention and awareness in Mt Alexander) is launching the space to provide mental health support for people with emotional distress or thoughts around suicide in an inclusive, safe, welcoming and non-clinical space.
“Attendance is free, there are no appointments or referrals necessary, and all are welcome,” says Rachel Stewart, a member of the local Safe Space Working Group.
“The space will be staffed by trained volunteers with a lived experience of such concerns, who will provide agency to guests in terms of the kind of support they would like to access.
“We will be officially launching the Castlemaine pop-up Safe Space on Friday July 15 from 4pm – 6pm at the Salvation Army hall next to the Castlemaine train station,” Ms Stewart says.
“We will have guest speakers, music, a barbecue and lots more.”
The Castlemaine pop-up Safe Space will initially be located at the Castlemaine Senior Citizens Centre, Mechanics Lane, next to the library on Tuesdays from 6pm – 8:30 pm starting Tuesday July 19, and at the Salvation Army hall on Saturdays from 1:30pm – 4pm starting Saturday July 23.
“We also plan to ‘pop up’ all over the place, so we’re more of a pop up Safe Space,” Ms Stewart says.
“The Castlemaine Safe Space has been modelled based on feedback from the Castlemaine and surrounding community regarding what is missing currently in terms of support.
“Our peer volunteers have been trained and have lived experience of emotional distress and suicidality.
“Our financial supporters are the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, Mt Alexander Shire Council, Roses in the Ocean, the ELM Network and Central Victorian Primary Care Partnership.”
“The space itself is created to be warm, inviting, safe and comfortable so that guests can come in, have a cup of tea and somewhere to relax, and a chat to one of the space’s trained peer volunteers,”Ms Stewart says.
The Safe Space model was first used in 2014 in the UK and has since been trialed in a number of states in Australia.

My Harcourt … with this week’s guest, keen Nordic pole walking group leader Ruth Hay

Harcourt's Ruth Hay tells Castlemaine Mail journalist Eve Lamb what she loves most about the place she calls home.

Hi Ruth. What a brilliant view you have from your loungeroom overlooking beautiful Harcourt Valley! How long have you called this view your own?
Two-and-a-half years.
And where are you from originally?
Last stop was Melbourne. Before that was Tasmania.
Are you originally from Tas?
Yes. North west coast and there’s still family in Wynyard where I come from.
Beautiful! What brought you and your husband, Phillip, here to Harcourt Ruth?
I was force-retired early and no-one wants to employ an older strong-willed woman in the industry I was in. So we moved out of the huge McMansion we’d had with four children having grown up in. We moved into a new estate into a brand new house which was easy-clean, no back yard. This was Melton… No garden really. I had a vegie garden. That was it. And within two years I was going around the bend. I said ‘I can’t do this. I can’t live here’. We had lived in Melton for 37 years but I found I’d never actually lived there. I’d slept there. But I’d never actually lived there. And it had changed so much in those 37 years since I’d had children. I had got my university degree at 30 and went straight into the workforce.
And what’s your area of work and expertise Ruth?
I’ve got a Bachelor of Arts but I ended up, through a series of weird turns, to be a graphic designer.
Who did you work with?
I worked for large printing companies. And when I was at university at 30 it was when computers were just coming in to the industry and so I learnt everything on a Mac and suddenly everything was being done on Macs and I had the skills. The computer skills. I went in and taught the people with design skills the computer side, and they taught me the design side. I worked for a pre-press company for nine years and that was taken over by a printing company. And then I was head-hunted by an American world-wide company and I was put into offices like Heinz and General Mills and Kraft, Cadbury’s… and I was what was called their packaging expert… I would have to work the design to match the printing press.
So here you are now, you and Phillip, in Harcourt, and you’ve very quickly become part of the community here. Can you tell me a bit about what you’re involved with here?
Applefest. Nordic Pole Walking. We also volunteer for Gather Harcourt. We do a lot with that, mainly the set up and preparing, and helping on the day.
Well I know you and Phillip were Queen and King of this year’s Applefest.
Yep. We’re still on the committee of Applefest and we plan to stay there.
And can you tell me a little more about your role as a volunteer Nordic pole walking instructor?
Well I started doing that down in Melton when I got very ill and I had to do something because I was also allergic to the medication they put me on. So I could do that. I could Nordic walk. And I just fell in love with it because it’s an easy way of getting a lot of exercise through your body and it makes a huge difference.
So, you’re now actually one of the local pole walking session leaders aren’t you?
Correct. I came here and we were in lockdown as you know, and I had bought a sandwich to have in the Castlemaine botanical gardens. I looked up and there were some Nordic pole walkers! And I just joined straight away. I was walking with them the next week. That was through the community house and CHIRP combined, and then I got asked to be a volunteer, a helper. I did that for nearly two years and then the council paid to put us through a class which was wonderful so now we’re trained Nordic Pole Walking leaders. There’s seven of us out in the community.
Any other community involvements keeping you busy Ruth?
I do a lot with the Harcourt bowls club. I don’t bowl. I’m a social member. It was a great gateway for us to come into the community. That was really good. We were there the first Friday night we moved in, having drinks with them.
OK, change of direction Ruth. What are you reading at the moment?
It’s a very sexy novel (chuckles). I think it’s called The Lost Pirate or something like that. It’s not a Mills & Boon. It’s a next step up from a Mills & Boon… My BA is actually in professional writing and I’d love to write a novel… It’s one of those where you look at the front and think ‘Oh yeh! I’ll read that!’
What’s your musical genre of choice?
That’s a tough one. I’m actually a timpani player, a tuned percussionist. I played in a band in Melbourne and in Tasmania. I was in a band in Melbourne for over 30 years. I was going to join Thompson’s Foundry Band. Had teed up to go along and that week we went into lockdown. I’m missing the arts side of what I’ve always done. I’ve got a ukulele in there and I’ve taught myself that. All of my family play. My children. My daughter is in the Australian Women’s Choir. All of my children and their partners play musical instruments. It’s very much part of our lives.
Wonderful. Do you have any personal philosophies by which you like to lead life Ruth?
Just embrace it to the fullest. Don’t sit back and expect everything to come to you. Go out and find it. If you want something. Go out and grab it. Too many people sit and wait for life to come to them!
I think that’s a great philosophy. Thanks. OK then – any pet peeves?
American politics.
If you had to invite three dream guests to dinner, Ruth, who would they be?
This is going to be very controversial … I’d like Johnny Depp. To find out the truth. I’d just like to know the truth. Stevie Nicks. I’m a huge Stevie Nicks fan. And Mick Fleetwood ’cause he’s the drummer and I’d like to hear their story too. Their story is fascinating.
Our final question Ruth … what do you enjoy most about living here in Harcourt?
Have you looked out the window!? (chuckles)

Newcomers join the parkrun: remarkable performances follow

Lining up at the start on Saturday.

Castlemaine Parkrun was treated to a quite remarkable performance from some newcomers to the course on Saturday, and relatively speaking, newcomers to parkrun itself.
The first three runners have notched up a mere 10 runs between them, but they all broke the 20-minute mark and blitzed the field.
First across was Gordon Muir in 19:20, ahead of Russell Bourke on 19:47 with Lauren Bourke a mere one second behind. Russell is the veteran of the group with six parkruns under his belt, Gordon and Lauren were both on their second event – and none of them ran a PB.
The club hopes to see this talented trio back on its beautiful course in future and hopefully some of the locals can match it with them. Speaking of which, George Targett was the third bloke across in the terrific time of 21:12 on his 99th run – the club is looking forward to celebrating his 100th next run, a great milestone and one to be proud of.
Claire Brien was the second female to finish and she completed the course in 22:35, which was a PB, and Jodi Oakman was the next female over in 23:40.
These were all terrific performances in close to ideal weather – cool and with a bit of occasional drizzle, but lovely for running.
Another good turnout with 71 runners / strollers including Donna Faircloth, the ‘Tail-walker’. Donna has over 80 parkruns to her credit and as well has volunteered more than 25 times – a parkrun champion!
The other volunteers were Michael Constable, Jane Hamilton, Jane Harding as our Run Director, Colin Moore, and Dave Petrusma who stepped up at the last moment to plug a gap. Thanks go to the volunteers – Castlemaine parkrun is staged by volunteers and they do a great job staging an event every week that is marked by a level of professionalism rather taken for granted, but that belies the hard work and commitment of the team.
Clair Brien was the only PB for the day, but there were lots of newcomers to the course. There were too many to mention by name, but Stephen Black must be singled out for completing his first ever event and doing so in 27:44 – possibly not the first time Stephen has pulled on a pair of running shoes. That’s a great effort on his first parkrun and with luck he’ll be back on the course at the Botanic Gardens in future.
Parkrunners compete against the clock and every event is carefully timed for the particular course it is held on. The parkrun website lists the times, and the venues for each run. It is volunteer based and overseen by a small group of, again volunteer, run directors who share the load between their own participation on the track.
If you are interested they’d love to see you: just register online and get along to the botanic gardens a bit before the 8am pre-run briefing. More details can be found on the website: www.parkrun.com.au/castlemaine

Stevens claims Frank Edwards Trophy amid ‘toil, trouble and tumult’

Ross Stevens, Frank Edwards Par Trophy winner for 2022.

On Saturday, the second and final round of Castlemaine Golf Club’s Gold Letter Event, The Frank Edwards Par Trophy, was played.
Stevens stole the show in a round of ups and downs, while Toohey came from the clouds.
After 36 holes of toil, trouble and tumult, Ross Stevens emerged triumphant after going into the second round with a two-point advantage over Jason Thompson and Greg Crowe.
Stevens might have had a few nerves coming into the second week, but didn’t show them as he took control of the game early, recording a +3 on the front nine. At the turn, he was a good four shots clear of nearest rival Crowe who looked relaxed and was striking the ball beautifully on what was his first full day of retirement.
Whether conscious or not, perhaps the thought of the win then started to weigh more heavily on Stevens’ mind as the first sign of stutters crept in. Returning to the clubhouse he came home with 0, 0, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1 and 0 to drop six shots and open the door for the chasing group. What a ride!
But the buffer he had built over the first 27 holes was just enough. Crowe went -3 on the second nine, Thompson went -2 for the day, and Wayne Toohey accelerated to +1, but it wasn’t quite enough to overtake Stevens’ overall lead. He finished -1 for the two rounds, winning by one point over Wayne Toohey who took out second place on countback (-2). Congratulations Ross!
In the day’s individual competition, it was Mark Brackley (13 & 0) scoring the win over Peter McCoombe (10 & -1) in A grade.
B grade saw Andrew Wilson (16 & 1) power home to win on countback over Wayne Toohey (21 & 1).
Place-getters were Sam Grimes (14 & -1), Jason Thompson (8 & -2), Brad Sturgess (16 & -2) and James O’Brien (-1 & -3).
Jeremey Bottomley dropped three birdies, while others plonked in for Glenn Carroll, Martin Cross, Greg Crowe, Sam Grimes, Callan Haynes, Garry Moore, James O’Brien (2), Matt O’Brien (2), Greg Sinclair and Wayne Toohey. NTP on the seventh was posted by Ross Stevens, and Greg Crowe scored the honours on the 12th.
The club also ran an 18-hole Irish Three-Ball on Saturday – a mixed team game – with teams drawn on the day. The team that led the field home was Geoff Margary, Jo Deppeler and Megan Carroll who scored a healthy 68 points, a good margin ahead of the runners-up, Ian Shields, Jen Dyer and Leonie Auhl (63 points), with three teams sharing third place (59 points). It was a fun day, and the club will do it again on Saturday July 30.

About to start the Irish Three-Ball – Jen Dyer, Geoff Margary, Jo Deppeler, Ian Shields and Megan Carroll.

Pollard perfection!
More than 35 players turned out again on Thursday to compete in the midweek par competition, with plenty of great scores on display. In fact, eight players made their way into positive territory, going better than handicap and proving that on any day, anything is possible.
The best of the bunch was Daniel Pollard (5), one point clear of Matt O’Brien (4) who had a day-out of his own, recording a +4 and a round of two under.
In B-Grade, James McLeish (19) went +1, winning on countback over Tony Strong (17 & 1). Tony started the day strongly, birdying the first and keeping the tune going from there.
Other great rounds were posted by Lachy Brown (8 & 3), James O’Brien (-1 & 2), Gavin Lang (7 & 1) and Jason Cordy (5 & 1).
Birdies dropped for Jeremy Bottomley (2), Sam Grimes (2), Klai Jermyn (1), Brendan Josey (2), Gavin Lang (1), Kerin Lourey (1), Peter McCoombe (1), James O’Brien (4), Matt O’Brien (2), Daniel Pollard (3) and Tony Strong (1). Adam ‘The Snake Man’ Leslie scored nearest the pin on the seventh while Lachy Brown went closest on the 12th.
On Tuesday the club welcomed a visitor, Gwen Parsons (16 & 28). Gwen scooped the pool, not only coming in first, but also the Maxi IGA voucher for nearest the pin on the 12th! Just one behind was Swee Ho (28 & 27). A good field of 15 enjoyed some sunshine for a change.
Tomorrow is the men’s July Monthly Medal stroke, nine-hole stableford – and chicken parma, salad and chips in the clubhouse at 6.30!
This week’s results wrap is brought to you by Saw & Core concrete cutting, Castlemaine.

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