A stunning nightly light show on the facade of Castlemaine’s Town Hall will lead Mount Alexander Shire Council’s support for the annual global 16 Days of Activism campaign to end gender-based violence.
The light show, starting next Thursday November 25, will feature an artistic representation of the impact of family and gender-based violence in the shire.
In the last year alone, there were 201 incidents of family violence reported to the police in Mount Alexander Shire.
Council’s community projects officer Mel Fowler said the light show would be a visual vigil to acknowledge and show support for local families impacted by family violence and to encourage people to reflect on and address the causes.
“This campaign, led by the United Nations, aims to empower our communities and organisations to address gender inequalities and ultimately eradicate violence against women and girls,” Ms Fowler said.
“During the sixteen days we are inviting the community to be immersed in the beauty of the show and reflect on how we can come together to end gender-based violence and violence against women and children. See the Mail for more…

Barkers Creek Cricket Club members past and present and the wider community turned out at the special Remembrance Day event to commemorate the cricketers and residents of Barkers Creek who volunteered in World War I.
Guests were treated to a performance by the Castlemaine Highland Pipe Band before being welcomed by Barkers Creek Cricket Club president Rebecca Henderson and club historian Dr Geoff Courtis.
The evening saw the unveiling of a permanent photographic display, an honour board, and a history of the club by former premier Steve Bracks.
“This is the first Remembrance Day I can recall spending at a cricket club, but as Geoff has reminded us this is no ordinary cricket club, members have been batting and bowling on this ground since 1858 – that’s six generations,” he said.
Mr Bracks said World War I had a profound impact on the community of Barkers Creek with 38 local men going off to war, nine never to return.
“It remains Australia’s deadliest conflict with 60,000 killed and 156,000 wounded, gassed or taken prisoner,” he said. See the Mail for the full story.

Victoria’s covid case numbers have dropped below 900 today with 860 cases recorded as the state fast approaches the 90 per cent double vaccination target. Double vaccinations are now at 87.2 per cent for Victorians aged 12 and above. The Mount Alexander Shire already passed the target on November 8 with 90.3 percent of the shire now double vaccinated and 95 per cent having had their first dose. When Victoria hits the next milestone in the Roadmap sometime over the next week the caps or density quotients will be removed for all settings, and masks will only be mandatory indoors in some high-risk settings such as hospitals, aged care, public transport and justice and correctional facilities.

As state numbers track downwards, local covid cases have quietly crept up in Mount Alexander Shire with two new cases bringing the total number of current local active cases to 24. Macedon Ranges recorded another five bringing their active cases to 108. Greater Bendigo recorded another 10 bringing their total to 233 active cases. Hepburn Shire recorded no new cases with their active cases sitting at 7. CHIRP Community Health continues to conduct covid testing clinics during November. If you have been to a covid exposure site or have symptoms you can book an appointment by registering through the CHIRP website at https://chirp.org.au/covid-19-screening-clinic-registration-form/ or on 5479 1005. If you’re yet to be vaccinated you can organise your jab through the Castlemaine Health website, your GP or local pharmacy.

The Castlemaine Branch of Rural Australians for Refugees is holding its Annual General Meeting tonight, Monday November 15, from 7.30pm to 8.30pm, at the Castlemaine Town Hall. The guest speaker will be Michael Annear who has recently been appointed to a senior position at the Mount Alexander Shire Council after many years working with the International Red Cross. He led the delivery of programs across the Asia-Pacific region to improve public health, shelter, water and sanitation and provided rapid responses in countries experiencing major natural and human caused emergencies. Mr Annear will speak about the flow of economic migrants and refugees across the globe and the role Australia could play in both reducing that flow and the suffering that accompanies it.

Castlemaine RSR chair Bronwen Machin said they welcome all to come to their AGM. “Even during the COVID times our group has raised money for refugees, both locally and in Victoria. We raised enough for two detainees to be moved to Canada and we have advocated to members of Parliament. Now we want new people and energy onto the Committee of Management and to the organisation so we can do more and advocate better on behalf of those our government treats appallingly,” she said.