Newstead residents are outraged after steps were taken this week to remove two established oak trees from a private local property.
On Wednesday morning police were called after a tree lopping service arrived on site at the Canrobert Road rental property.
Outraged locals – including the property tenant – quickly gathered on site at the residential rental to make their opposition known in an effort to stop the trees being cut down.
Among those objecting were close neighbours and also the property rental tenant Denis Miller who said he did not want to see the two established oak trees go.
“I’m pissed off that we’re losing a tree which I value considerably,” said Mr Miller who has leased the property for about six years. Get the full story in today’s Mail…
Residents oppose tree removal
My Newstead
Roger McKindley
G’day Roger. How long have you lived in Newstead now?
This is the 13th year that I’ve lived in Newstead.
Where are you from originally?
Well I’m Castlemaine-born. When I was 21 I went and lived in the Northern Territory. I went up there as a gardener. But after 12 months of working in the Territory I realised it was just too hot for me. This was in 1981. No-one wore a hat. There was no Slip Slop Slap and I remember passing out in the heat.
You actually literally passed out?
Yeh. Even the tar on the road where I worked would just go like sticky glue. Then I went to northern NSW and it was such a pardise. I was seduced by its beauty for about five years. I lived inland, a little bit in from Dorrigo. And it rained. And it rained. And it rained. It rained that much I checked the locals for webbed feet…. Catch our full chat with Roger in today’s Mail..
Newstead artist and creator of Antares Iron Art Garden, Roger McKindley is the Mail’s My Newstead guest. Catch our chat with Roger in today’s Mail…
Twilight finals battled out
Castlemaine District Netball Association (CDNA) held their Twilight Competition grand finals on Sunday March 28.
The CDNA would like to thank all the teams, umpires, organisers and spectators for a great season. Members are reminded that the winter season is not far away. For more information check out the CDNA Facebook page. See the Mail for the full story.
Struggling? Help is at hand
The Castlemaine Community House (CCH) Financial Services team and local charities have expressed concern about what the end of the JobSeeker Coronavirus Supplement and JobKeeper will mean for locals struggling to make ends meet.
The local organisations feel that many local job seekers, low income earners and families will be feeling the pinch after the programs aimed at assisting jobseekers and businesses during covid dry up. They encourage locals struggling to make ends meet to reach out for the help of the services at CCH including Centrelink, the No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS), Financial Counselling and Job Ready Courses. See the latest Mail for the full story.
Fair dinkum enterprising!
A Castlemaine business making character-packed Aussie dog coats is going great guns. With online sales going global, owner-operator of Fair Dinkum Dog Coats, Elise Brown has just put on new workers. Now she’s the subject of a new podcast – and a chapter in her mum’s new book about rural entrepreneurs. Get the story in today’s Mail…
New art venture for Maldon
The famous Easter Fair isn’t the only egg-cellent thing happening at Maldon this Easter long weekend! There’s also a brand new art gallery and studio at 8 Vincent Road hosting its inaugural exhibition featuring original quality works by Castlemaine Creative Artists. Get the story in today’s Mail…
Range rover plunges into Forest Crk
Castlemaine SES used jaws of life equipment to help rescue a man and a woman trapped in a Range Rover after it plunged into the dry bed of Forest Creek earlier this week. Get the story in today’s Mail…
Roller Disco mania
One of the standout events of the final week of the Castlemaine Fringe Festival will undoubtedly be tonight’s Roller Mania Roller Disco.
Believed to be the first of its kind held in Castlemaine in the modern era, those attending will experience some of Central Victoria’s finest DJs and “the sweetest roller dancing grooves”.
While the event is on the surface yet another fun pitstop honouring the Fringe Festival’s ‘Reactivate’ theme, event organiser Jo Christy explained there is a deeper purpose to the gathering, and the ongoing roller-skating classes she runs in Castlemaine.
“Most of those taking part are women, generally between the ages of 35-55, so we tend to be a bit older than the usual age at which you head out on the town,” Jo said with a smile.
“As much as we build skills and fitness, the classes are an important way in which we connect socially and support each other.”
Jo said the deeper connection than simple surface-level, retro fun revealed itself during the depths of the COVID pandemic.
“The community we established here became a lifeline for many of the skaters, particularly the newer arrivals in town,” she said.
“I’m not sure exactly why it is, but grassroots skating communities like ours seem to have the magical ability to tie the social and the physical together, all in the spirit of fun.
“We’d love to welcome even more people into our rolling circle this Friday night,” an excited Jo said.
The Roller Mania Roller Disco takes place tonight, Friday April 2 at the War Memorial Stadium in McGrath Street, Castlemaine. (Limited skates, pads and helmets are available, please bring your own if possible.) To book visit castlemainefringe.org.au
Premiership success for Harcourt
The Harcourt community were celebrating last week after Harcourt Tennis Club claimed premiership honours in the Marong District Tennis Association.
The grand final showdown was played at Marong in wonderful weather conditions.
It was a very close contest for the entire day but in the end Harcourt 10 sets 87 games defeated Marong 8 sets 67 games.
Alex Manning and Sharon Blake were the only three set winners on the day.
Congratulations go to the Harcourt team members which included Nevan Kelly, Simon Gearing, Lee Tunn, Col Green, Bruce Bickford, Coen Malone, Alex Manning, Jess Cox, Ellenor Landy, Katrina Walters, Sharon Blake, Megan Atkin, David Gearing, Faye Hards, Rhian Sellwood, Sophie Bickford, Nicole and Angus Trethowan and Willow Kelly.
The Harcourt side have been playing in the Marong competition for five years after Castlemaine District Tennis Association’s Senior competition wound up.
This was Harcourt’s first flag since leaving the Castlemaine competition. Congratulations go to the Harcourt A and B Grade teams for their perseverance and determination in the challenging competition.
Vaccination time!
Joyce Sanders, Castlemaine
Hooray!!! I got my coronavirus vaccination on Tuesday morning at 7.45am at the old Windarring/Chambers building in Lyttleton Street. When they rang me Monday afternoon to tell me I could come in to get it, I have to admit to shedding some tears of joy, and took the staff some flowers when I went Tuesday morning.
For someone in their 70s with all three of the three underlying health issues, it is like someone ringing up to say “I’m going to save your life.” It’s hard not to be extremely grateful about that!
In the building, it looked like everyone in Castlemaine was there, so it was quite friendly, with lots of jokes and banter. The clinic was going to try to vaccinate around 100 on the day.
Recipe call out!
Do you have a very special recipe tucked away in your cookbook or drawer? If so the Newstead Preschool would love to hear from you!
After the lockdowns and restrictions of 2020 resulted in the cancellation of their annual fundraisers, the Newstead Preschool’s Parent Advisory Group were left with little fundraising opportunities for the year.
In 2021, with the future of community gatherings and events unknown, they have decided to work with kinder families, Newstead locals and the wider community to produce a ‘Kinder Cookbook’ in the spirit of the fundraisers of old.
Newstead Preschool parent Tika Mapson said they would love locals to share their recipes for the cookbook and the stories behind them.
“We want your recipes of all kinds, favourite recipes, signature dishes, sweet, savoury, unique and bizarre,” she said.
“Tell us why the dish is special to you, where it came from and who you cook it for, plus let us know if you have any special tips.
“In recent years funds raised at our annual events at the British Motorcycle Rally and our Preschool Auction and Trivia Night have contributed to the building of an outdoor stage area for the children to play and create on, as well as the re-rendering and re-painting of the interior of the building,” Tika said.
“With funds raised this year the Parent Advisory Group seek to purchase a new shade sail for our outside play area as the current one is torn and in disrepair and hopefully we can also arrange some new seating for children to use at lunchtime,” she said.
For more information about the project or to submit a recipe email newsteadcookbook@outlook.com.au; text 0411 523 785 or post your contribution and contact details to Newstead Preschool Kinder Cookbook, PO Box 111, Newstead Vic 3462. Submissions close on April 30.
Collecting for the kids
After a year’s recess due to the coronavirus lockdown, the dedicated members of the Castlemaine Fire Brigade will once again be out collecting for this year’s Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.
However, this year’s fundraiser will look a little different due to covid considerations.
Castlemaine Fire Brigade member and Appeal Coordinator Bill Maltby and long time collectors Ron Gartside and Greg Hughes said instead of their traditional tour of the town’s streets collecting funds, volunteers will instead be based at dedicated collection sites at Maxi IGA, outside Castlemaine News and Lotto in Mostyn Street, and outside Castlemaine IGA in Barker Street Thursday April 1 from 8am to 5pm.
On Good Friday volunteers will also be collecting funds at the traffic lights at the intersection of Forest and Barker Streets in Castlemaine. Alternatively community members who would like to make a donation are welcome to drop into the Castlemaine Fire Station in Barker Street to make their donation from 8am to 2pm on Good Friday. Receipts are available for tax purposes. If you miss the local brigade you can call the RCH Appeal donation hotline on Good Friday only on 1300 277 325.
Mr Maltby said between the trio they have been collecting for the appeal for a combined total of approximately 140 years.
“The brigade has been proudly collecting for this very important appeal since the 1960s and every year we are amazed by the generosity of our local community,” Mr Maltby said.
“Last year people supported us through our Virtual Tin fundraiser online but this year we look forward to getting back out there and collecting for the kids,” he said.