The Castlemaine Lions Club has made the difficult decision to cancel its popular April Swap Meet for the second consecutive year due to covid concerns.
Swap Meet coordinator Ron Gartside said the club felt it had no choice but to postpone its major fundraiser for another year.
“With 600 stallholders and more than 3000-3500 visitors a year through the gates of the Camp Reserve this pushes us up into the state government’s CovidSafe Plan Tier 2 category and we felt the requirements were just to onerous and the requirements would be difficult for our members and volunteers to police,” Mr Gartside said.
“We also didn’t want to be in a position where we could potentially place the Castlemaine district community at risk,” he said.
Mr Gartside said the swap meet welcomes traders and collectors from all over the state and beyond.
“There are just too many unknown factors. We’d also hate to welcome our fantastic interstate site holders and then see them stuck in Victoria if the borders were to suddenly close due to an outbreak,” he said.
“We are extremely disappointed that we can’t go ahead and in turn that we can’t pass on the fundraising benefits to the local community groups that support us every year by volunteering at our event. But we feel this is the right decision in the best interests of our club members and the wider community,” he said. See the Mail for more…
Swap Meet cancelled
Rodder's bible gets an overhaul
The publishers of Castlemaine’s Australian Street Rodding magazine – Graffiti Publications have launched their latest book Street Rod Engineering.
Local hot rod enthusiast and Graffiti Publications founder Larry O’Toole said the book is a follow up to one they published 23 years ago titled Engineering Street Rods.
“The original book was very successful and was printed twice in that period. It sold very well in the USA and was the go-to-book for hot rodders wanting to endure their vehicle was built safely and to comply with the certification regulations,” he said.
The book is considered a bible for those new to hot rodding offering a step by step guide to building your own car. See the Mail for the full story.
Maternity service to reopen
Castlemaine Health announced its maternity service will reopen in a two-stage approach from March 22, 2021 to be fully operational from May 3, 2021.
Castlemaine Health CEO Sue Race made the announcement at last Wednesday evening’s Support Birthing at Castlemaine Health (SBACH) reopening celebration at the Castlemaine Theatre Royal.
Ms Race said they look forward to resuming the important role of caring for local women, babies and families throughout pregnancy, birth and early parenting.
“I would like to acknowledge the tireless work of our service review team and the tremendous support from Bendigo Health, Safer Care Victoria, the Department of Health and the Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation (ANMF), Victorian Branch to get to this point,” Ms Race said.
“Their commitment to offering locally based maternity services for regional women and families has matched our own. What we have come together to create will benefit our community well into the future.”
How the two-stage approach will work:
Pregnancy care
Maternity services will open for referrals for pregnancy care on Monday March 22.
Women who meet the criteria for care at Castlemaine Health and who are 31 weeks gestation or less on March 22 can:
• Self-refer by contacting Castlemaine Health maternity services direct
• Be referred by their general practitioner or general practitioner obstetrician.
Birthing services
Birthing services will open from Monday May 3 for births from 37 weeks gestation up to 42 weeks gestation, in line with the capability of a Level 2 maternity service.
These dates have been endorsed by the Castlemaine Health Board of Management and the Castlemaine Maternity Services Governance Group, which comprise members of the Castlemaine Health Board, staff members, consumers, Safer Care Victoria, the Department of Health and the ANMF, Victorian Branch.
About the service
Castlemaine Health is a Level 2 maternity service, offering local care for women and babies at low risk.
The service has a strong relationship and professional partnership with Bendigo Health, a Level 5 maternity service. The two will work closely together to ensure women transition smoothly between the services when required and benefit from the expertise, care and oversight of a broader team of clinical specialists. The relationship will also support the professional development of the Castlemaine maternity team.
Care Pathways
Women referred to Castlemaine Health maternity service from March 22 will be allocated to one of three care pathways based on their needs, preferences and clinical profile. They will be cared for by a primary midwife, who will collaborate with General Practice Obstetricians, allied health and support services. The pathways include:
Midwifery Group Practice – where the woman will be cared for by a primary known midwife throughout pregnancy, labour and birth and early parenting.
Collaborative Shared Care – where the woman will receive pregnancy care from their chosen General Practice Obstetrician and a known midwife. Their midwife will then provide care for labour and birth and early parenting.
A third pathway, Complex Maternity Care – will be available to women who are not suitable for care at Castlemaine Health due to a higher risk profile. These women will be cared for at Bendigo Health or a higher-level service but may be suitable for transfer back to Castlemaine Health for care after the birth of their baby.
The re-opening of maternity services has been eagerly anticipated by the local and broader community.
“The Castlemaine Health Board’s commitment to review and renew and provide a strengthened maternity service has arrived,” says Castlemaine Health Board Chair, Peggy Ronnau.
“This is a wonderful outcome for our community.”
Castlemaine Health CEO, Sue Race agrees.
“We are so pleased to be able to announce our opening dates and look forward to introducing our newly appointed Midwifery Group Practice team, including our new Midwifery Clinical Coordinator, in the very near future,” Ms Race said.
“It’s a wonderful way to begin 2021.”
Man airlifted following Muckleford rollover
An elderly man has sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to hospital after his car rolled and he was ejected from it at Muckleford on Sunday.
Police believe fatigue was a factor and are also investigating the possibility that the man may not have been wearing a seatbelt when the accident happened on the Maldon-Castlemaine road on Sunday afternoon.
Castlemaine SES and local CFA volunteers provided first aid to the injured man aged in his 70s, while waiting for ambulance paramedics to arrive on the scene. Get the full story in today’s Mail…
Froomes Road Bridge battle continues
Castlemaine’s Froomes Road Bridge Action Group has met with several local councillors in recent days and remains committed to its fight to see the bridge’s replacement remain a single lane structure.
The group also wants to see any move to replace the bridge include pedestrian crossing provisions. Read more in today’s Mail…
Bells to ring
Church bells will ring out loud and strong across Castlemaine and far beyond at 11am this Thursday March 11 as part of a global multi-faith call for stronger action on climate change. See the Mail for more…
Having a say
Hans Paas, Castlemaine
I’m having “a say on Frederick Street” (Mail 26/2) through your newspaper. The news of an upgrade is very welcome, but what ever happened to the car park? This was closed off some years ago and I am guessing local traders miss the extra business that may have been generated when these spaces were available. I am certainly missing the parking.
If it is privately owned and our council would have to lease it, fair enough, as Castlemaine’s shop owners contribute much rate revenue to council coffers. I hope the re-opening of the car park is part of the ‘upgrade’.
Editor’s Note: Council used to lease the car park from private owners but made the decision not to continue the lease some years back after consultation with the community and business operators. It was subsequently fenced off.
Runners gather for the Gift
The Castlemaine 2021 events calendar got off to a fantastic start with the staging of the Castlemaine Gift at the Camp Reserve on Sunday February 28.
The event attracted elite and amateur runners from across the state for a top day of athletics competition. See the Mail for all the results.
Solar boost!
The Maldon Neighbourhood Centre recently received a welcome funding boost from the federal government for new solar panels.
Bendigo Federal MP Lisa Chesters visited Maldon on Wednesday last week to officially unveil the completed project made possible through the federal government’s Energy Efficient Communities Program. See the Mail for more. Out Now.
First jabs for Castlemaine
It was history in the making as the Covid-19 vaccine rollout began in Castlemaine yesterday.
The first of the all-important jabs were administered to residents and to priority front line staff at Castlemaine Health aged care facilities Penhall, Thompson and Ellery House.
The first resident to receive the Pfizer vaccine was 90-year-old retired nurse Betty Kellett at Penhall. Read more in today’s Mail…
All rosy for Applefest
Things are looking rosy as Applefest gets cooking tomorrow with the annual celebration sowing its seeds a little wider this time round.
Last year the traditional Harcourt celebration snuck in just before Covid got a grip.
This time, the enterprising organising committee has gone out on a limb to ensure a sweet CovidSafe festival, stretching it out over three consecutive weekends and adding a few juicy events with crunch. Read more in today’s Mail
Maddern claims Melbourne Cup on Wheels win
Castlemaine Cycling Club members headed down to Melbourne to race on the weekend of February 20-21, with riders taking part in either the Victorian State championships or the Melbourne Cup on Wheels.
Adam and Daniel Jackson took on the elite championships, both rode well, with Daniel doing a personal best time in the 1000 metre individual time trial. While Jemima Hargreaves took on the Under 19 state championships, coming home with a 3rd in the sprints.
Sunday afternoon saw the running of the Melbourne Cup on Wheels, where Leshae Maddern put in an impressive ride to take the win in the women’s Under 17 event. Well done to everyone who represented the club.
On Sunday, March 7 the Castlemaine Cycling Club will be holding a club combine, hosting cyclists from all around the state, putting on plenty of races with plenty of prize money. It will also hold the Under 15/ Under 17 Jonathan Kuhle Memorial Race.
For any one interested in getting along to watch, racing will start at 11am. Meanwhile regular club racing will still be running every Tuesday at 6pm and every second Saturday at 5.30pm.
For more information on trying out racing or joining in on fitness rides please contact Courtney on 0438 593 185.