Following a massive spate of graffiti vandalism across Castlemaine last week, the Castlemaine Graffiti Busters engaged in one of their biggest busts to date on Thursday, February 5.
Eleven Busters spent only two-and-a-half hours cleaning off much of the graffiti that had desecrated the town – the biggest attack in the eight years since the group had been keeping records.
While the Busters said it was a big job, one that will require another bust soon, they found it extremely satisfying to see the results.
Seven litres of paint alone were required to clean the scrawl and offensive messages from the green fence along the Western Oval. Mount Alexander Shire Council workers and affected local traders also worked hard to clean up the mess earlier in the week.
“Our mission is to rid our beautiful historic shire of illegal, offensive and ugly tags on private property, with permission, and on other targets, such as when the graffiti obscures traffic signs, etc., creating a road hazard,” the Busters said.
“We aim to restore beauty, civic pride, and a sense of public safety and well-being. Our motto: They come back, but so do we!”
Become a buster!
The Castlemaine Graffiti Busters are a volunteer group that exists on donations and is incorporated and covered by public liability insurance through Neighbourhood Watch Castlemaine.
Training is provided to new Busters, and Busts are called on a needs basis, and participation is up to each person, depending on availability.
Every Bust is a fun, empowering social event that is always followed by cake and coffee at a local cafe.
Email castlemainegraffitibusters@gmail.com
Now you see it. Now you don’t
A night of cult cabaret
Avant-garde, post-punk, death oompah band and cult cabaret geniuses, The Tiger Lillies, are making their long-awaited return to Australia to showcase their new album, Serenade from the Sewer, celebrating the weird, the macabre and those that society has abandoned.
Kicking off in Hobart on February 21, the tour takes in Perth Festival, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Brunswick Heads and will visit our very own Castlemaine Theatre Royal on March 7, before concluding as part of Adelaide Festival.
Olivier award-winning and Grammy nominated, The Tiger Lillies, have toured the world for over 35 years and released scores of critically acclaimed albums.
They have starred in many unforgettable theatre productions from their West End smash hit Shockheaded Peter to 2025’s A Macbeth Song, which ran for three months in Barcelona and is now touring worldwide.
With Martyn Jaques on vocals, accordion, piano and guitar; Adrian Stout on double bass, musical saw, theremin and vocals; and Budi Butenop on drums, they never cease to surprise, shock and entertain with their inimitable musical style, conjuring up the macabre magic of pre-war Berlin and fusing it with the savage edge of punk.
The Mail chatted with, Martyn Jacques, in between shows in Santiago Chile, South America, before they jetted back to Europe for a couple of shows in Majorca, Spain ahead of the Australian tour.
Martyn said they last visited Australia in 2019 and look forward to returning to our shores.
“I remember drinking Castlemaine XXXX in London in the 70s. Australian larger was very fashionable at the time. Is that still a thing?” Martyn queried.
Our journo advised Martyn the beer was now Queensland based, but he’d have to sample our local brews at Shedshaker and the Love Shack during his visit!
Martyn feels the historic theatre will really set the backdrop for the show.
Inspired by the seedy underbelly of London’s Soho district in the 1980s, Serenade from the Sewer is a melancholic yet ironic reflection of life on the margins of society; a grotesquely beautiful tale framed by the band’s signature fusion of chanson, dark cabaret and operatic punk.
Martyn said the show takes audiences on a trip back in time to the dark, pre-gentrified Soho where he lived in his 20s.
“It was a very poor area at that time. I really enjoyed my time there. The songs tell the stories of those who lived there and is a real snapshot of that period.
“I’ve gone from being a young man in my 20s immersed in that life to an old codger in my mid 60s relaying stories of people I knew then.
“It was a special time, lots of characters, interesting tales. We’ve been getting some wonderful audience response. Hopefully it will be well received by Australian audiences.
“We may also throw in a few of the old songs towards the end of the show. We have a small but dedicated fan base there who may have some requests,” he said.
To get your ticket to this unmissable show visit www.tigerlillies.com/tour
Cantwell Cup kicks goals
Castlemaine Goldfields Football Club held its Cantwell Cup – Kicks & Shakes tournament on Friday February 6 with 70 players and 50+ supporters, it was a fantastic night at Chewton Soldiers Memorial Park!
Congratulations go to the Eagles who walked away with the cup after an enthralling penalty shootout. Well done to everyone who organised, played, cheered, ate and cheered some more!
The club extends a big thank you to Cantwell’s for their generous contributions to the event and running the BBQ.
A big thanks also to the club volunteers for making the event such a success.
Kicks & Shakes will continue each Friday night in February.
Castlemaine Goldfields Football Club are expecting another year of record numbers so get your player registrations in early for 2026.
Registrations open for Juniors (U10-U16) on Monday February 16.
Come and Play sessions for Juniors will commence in March, keep an eye on our socials for session times.
Miniroos registrations will also open in March (Miniroos runs in terms 2 and 3), keep an eye on our socials for when these open.
Looking forward to another bumper season at Castlemaine Goldfields Football Club!
Festival takes flight
Castlemaine’s beloved arts festival returns this March with a huge lineup of events, marking the festival’s golden milestone with ten days of street parties, creativity, community and connection.
Featuring more than 55 events, and using some of the most unique spaces in the shire (including the grungy underground car park of the Maxi IGA and possibly the world’s tiniest art gallery in Chewton), the huge program has something for everyone.
Established in 1976, the festival has spent the past 50 years harnessing the energy of the abundance of creative residents in the shire to present a massive program of adventurous art in its historic and intimate spaces, and 2026 will be no different.
With bold acts, both local and international, the iconic festival includes a significant number of free and low-cost events.
Castlemaine State Festival Artistic Director Linda Sproul said the multi-arts program brings together authentic cultural experiences.
“We want to enchant audiences with the craft, imagination and depth of the work presented by the local community and visiting artists. Spanning an incredible number of cultural genres of music, art, and design events in Castlemaine and across the region, including the huge Opening Night Street Party and closing Garden Party,” she said.
“We at the festival understand the cost of living crisis. Our most expensive ticket is $50.
“The 2026 Castlemaine State Festival is all about returning art to where it should be in terms of accessibility and engagement: close up, intimate and inspiring,” Linda said.
“Castlemaine State Festival understands it is a forum for artists and creatives across the state, home to sublime spaces we can imbue with creative works. Art and cultural experiences are part of a well-lived life that should be accessible and affordable. Our program truly is an opportunity to choose your own adventure – if you can’t find something that appeals to you, you don’t have a heart beat!!”
Castlemaine State Festival Director Martin Paten explained the festival’s recent evolution further and how the 50th year will differ from past festivals.
“When you’re turning 50, you should know who you are – your mistakes – your strengths. This is a festival program deeply connected to its community and the music and arts scene,” he said.
“After the 2023 festival, Linda and I were brought on board and conducted an in-depth outreach program to seek community feedback to evolve programming in a positive direction. After a period of repair and reflection, the festival is taking flight again; lighter, more openhearted and deeply connected to community and place.”
The Castlemaine State Festival is the ultimate regional arts festival and not to be missed. The festival runs from March 20-29.
Pick up a copy of the program at the Castlemaine Visitor Information Centre or online at castlemainefestival.com.au
Take Back the Track
Thousands of runners across Australia will take part in the second National Take Back the Track Day this Sunday, 15 February.
More than 70 events across the country are calling for an end to the violence and harassment faced by women and gender-diverse runners.
Founded in 2025 by Gunditjmara Keerray Woorroong and Djap Wurrung runner Sissy Austin, the day has grown from a community-led action into a nationwide movement. This year’s event marks three years since Austin was assaulted while running near Ballarat. Sissy’s experience is not an isolated one; women and gender diverse people are still regularly assaulted while running across the continent. This is unacceptable.
Events are being held in more than 70 locations across the country, with new groups continuing to register. Participants are invited to walk, run or gather together to reclaim public space and visibility.
“No one should have to plan their run around fear,” said Sissy.
“Take Back the Track is about saying clearly and collectively that women and gender-diverse people deserve to feel safe in public space.
“This is about pressuring our society to change the conditions that make running unsafe, not asking runners to change their behaviour,” she said.
In 2025, National Take Back the Track Day brought together hundreds of community members in over 100 locations nationwide. The campaign is grounded in a shared love of running and asserts that all women and gender-diverse people have the right to feel safe while they run.
Castlemaine event
The local Take Back The Track community/walk run along the Campbells Creek Trail will commence at 9.30 am, starting at the Campbells Creek Park, 102 Main Road. The self-guided walk is approximately 7km long and will conclude at the Botanical Gardens Playground. A community gathering will follow from 11am to 1pm and include an acknowledgment of Country, speeches and a community picnic.
A free shuttle bus service will be available back to Campbells Creek at the end of the community gathering.
For a shorter course, participants might choose to join the course at entry points along the track into Castlemaine at Princess Street, Lewis Drive, Elizabeth Street, Roberts Avenue, Johnstone Street, Forest Street or Gingel Street.
* This is an informal volunteer-organised community event – all runners/walkers are responsible for their own participation, including sun protection, hydration, first aid, general safety and any associated health risks.
Community pulls together for time-honoured tradition
Undeterred by the fires, parents, students, and teachers from Harcourt Valley Primary School are getting ready to make a record-breaking number of apple pies for the town’s annual Applefest.
A time-honoured tradition and a great fundraiser for the school, the usual number of pies baked is around 400, but this year, ambitions are high, and some people are aiming for 1,000.
Harcourt Valley Primary School principal Andrew Blake said it’s good to have high expectations, and he thinks they will at least surpass 500.
“From very early on, the families were committed to making the pies despite the devastation that occurred, which is terrific,” he said.
“It’s not just about the final product, though. It’s about the coming together of staff, students, parents, and community members, getting out the apple peeler and talking and healing.
“The final result will be funds for the school, but it’s the journey that is really important.”
Unfortunately, the apples were not grown locally; they have made their way to Harcourt with the aid of a volunteer group called Backpack for a Firefighter.
A Melbourne-based group, formed in 2020 to give support to the CFA through providing snacks and drinks.
After hearing about the fires in Harcourt and wanting to support the community, Backpack for a Firefighter founder Melissa Williamson approached LeManna Supermarket in Essendon, which generously offered to donate 200 kilograms of apples, and Skully RSV, which provided a truck and driver to take the supplies to Harcourt.
The pies will not be the only contribution made by the local school students this year, either; each student will submit a piece of artwork, and the school choir is working towards the opening of the festival.
Mr Blake told the Mail that it took a lot of work, but it was great to reopen at the same time as the other public schools following the fires.
“We really wanted to get the school back open as soon as possible because the families had been so busy and getting the students back meant they could take a breather,” he said.
“The south side of the school, along the fence line, was damaged. The Victorian School Building Authority was able to do an assessment really early on, on January 12.
“The inside of the school building had sediment damage on the walls, which was all cleaned, and all the air conditioning units needed to be cleaned,” Mr Blake said.
“It’s been going well, though, and we’ve been gently easing back into school and getting the kids back into establishing routines.
“We’re really placing an emphasis on caring and looking out for one another. The department’s been really supportive in terms of providing an on-site school psychologist, and tonight we’ve got a family information meeting, supporting kids after a natural disaster being presented by Dhelkaya Health and Castlemaine Community House. We want to make sure we can support the families as much as the students.”
Applefest blooms and grows
The 2026 Harcourt Applefest will be bigger and better than ever – celebrating the incredible resilience of the Harcourt community who have endured so much in recent weeks.
The festival committee are working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure they can accommodate a record-number of visitors to the annual festival.
Aided by $10,000 through the Regional Events Fund the committee will utilise some of the additional funding to aid with ballooning traffic management costs enabling the festival to expand beyond James Park and into the surrounding streets.
During Wednesday’s funding announcement, Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards said she has been working closely with the Harcourt Applefest Planning Committee to determine how to best support them to deliver an outstanding festival following the fire.
“For over 30 years, Harcourt Applefest has brought people together to celebrate our wonderful local producers, and this year will be no different,” she said.
“This year’s event will be a brilliant symbol of community, and will highlight everything we love about our region.”
Another big coup for the committee of volunteers is the collective funding from Castlemaine Rotary ($40,000), Community Bank Maldon & District ($25,000), Lions and Mount Alexander Shire Council for a permanent stage in James Park.
The stage has been on the committee’s wish list for the past five years to help alleviate the time consuming and heavy work of the volunteers who have had to assemble and dismantle a temporary stage each year.
Festival stalwart George Milford told the Mail that the permanent stage will be in constant use during not only the Applefest, but other community events such as Music Harcourt and Gather Harcourt.
“We are really grateful for all the initiatives that are coming together to help celebrate in the centre of Harcourt,” he said.
“When I was a child, the parks in Harcourt were totally deserted and neglected. Now we work on them, and we celebrate, play, have musical entertainment, and markets.”
And of course, the Applefest wouldn’t be complete without a royal family.
This year’s Lady William is fourth-generation Harcourt girl, Jeanette Teague, and her husband, John Teague, will stand proudly by her side as King Jonathon.
Lady William and King Jonathon were announced in December last year, and feel appointment is a great honour.
“It is more important than ever, and hopefully now we will be ambassadors to bring people back to Harcourt,” Jeannette said.
The 2026 Harcourt Applefest will be held from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, March 7. Visit applefest.harcourt.vic.au/ to view the program.