Bendigo Football Netball League (BFNL) and Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League (MCDFNL) will resume their 2021 competitions this weekend following the latest lockdown. Each league is hopeful they can successfully complete their home and away and finals seasons without further disruption. No spectators will be permitted at matches this weekend. Hopefully spectators will be able to return in time for the finals series. See the Mail for more….
Footy returns
Len Fox Art Prize now open
Entries are now open for the Castlemaine Art Museum’s (CAM) prestigious $50,000 Len Fox Painting Award.
The Len Fox Award recognises and promotes the work of Australian artists pursuing the artistic interests and qualities of E. P. Fox. These include engagement with colour and light; ambitious connections with international developments in art; and, an interest in travel and an engagement with the cultures of diverse regions and peoples. See the Mail for the full story.
Read all about it…
The third instalment of our Castlemaine Mail Newshounds program proudly supported by Don Smallgoods features in today’s Castlemaine Mail. The latest page has been created by the Newshounds at Langley Primary School. Be sure to pick up your copy and read all about the latest news at Langley.
It’s Census time!
Today is Census Day! The Census provides a snapshot of every person and household in Australia so it’s important we’re all counted. This year, you can start as soon as you receive your instructions. You can complete your Census online, by paper or with help from the ABS.
Remember, every person in Australia (with the exception of foreign diplomats and their families) must participate including international students and visa holders.
Castlemaine Library is hosting a Census pop-up hub this week, to help people with the Census.
It will be staffed all day with ABS staff today, Tuesday August 10, Wednesday August 11 and Thursday August 12 during library opening hours. Library staff are also assisting people to order paper copies if they need to.
For information about this year’s Census visit www.census.abs.gov.au or call 1800 512 441.
If you need help in your language visit www.census.abs.gov.au/help/languages or call the free Translating and Interpreting service on 131 450.
Regional lockdown ends tonight
Premier Daniel Andrews has just announced that lockdown will end in Regional Victoria at 11.59pm tonight, August 9. Regional Victoria has not recorded any positive Covid 19 cases in the current outbreak. Mr Andrews said pleasingly they hadn’t seen any cases in regional Victoria in the four days of lockdown. “I’m sure that will be welcome news to every single regional Victorian,” he said. Regional Victoria will now revert the previous restrictions with schools and businesses to reopen tomorrow, including pubs and restaurants, hairdressers and beauty therapists. Community sport for all ages can resume with no spectators. The five reasons to leave the home will be removed in regional Victoria and there will be no limit on the distance regional Victorians can travel from home. However, people will only be able to travel to Melbourne for a permitted reason and you must follow the Melbourne restrictions once there. Importantly, private gatherings in the home are still not permitted, however, outdoor gatherings in public spaces can occur with up to 10 people. Face masks will also still be mandatory indoors and outdoors. Mr Andrews said the other positive news is that today’s 11 cases have all been linked to current outbreaks and hopefully Greater Melbourne may soon be in a position where they can end the lockdown if everyone keeps doing the right thing.
The heavenly trio sells
Eve Lamb
A new chapter looks poised to play out for Castlemaine’s historic Presbyterian Church after the landmark Lyttleton Street property sold for a figure well above its listed price guide in recent days.
The historic property including 1894 church, 1861 manse and original 1856 hall, all set on about half an acre of prime elevated CBD land has sold for $2.3 million, Castlemaine’s Presbyterian Church Board of Management secretary Richard McArdle has confirmed.
The unique landmark property had been listed with a price guide of $1.5m-$1.65m.
Selling agent, Castlemaine’s Rob Waller had earlier confirmed there had been robust interest in the rare property after it was advertised on the open market as a “heavenly trio” and Mr McArdle this week told the Mail the property had drawn “some good offers” with at least four or five particularly interested parties.
“My understanding is that at the end it came down to Expressions of Interest involving two parties,” he said.
“We are very happy with the price.
“We were caught by surprise by the level of interest right up front.”
While details about the successful buyer have yet to be verified, Mr McArdle says he understands they are Melbourne-based and have some plans involving possible “community uses” for the heritage protected church building itself.
“My understanding is that the purchaser is from Melbourne and my understanding is that he will be looking at something for the church that can be used by the community,” Mr McArdle said earlier this week.
“My understanding is that they are probably looking to subdivide at least some of the property.
“The sale’s gone very well for us.”
The Presbyterian Church will now be looking to purchase another property deemed to be more readily able to meet the needs of its contemporary congregation which currently stands at around 30 to 40 faithful – instead of the 150 or so that the imposing Gothic church with its French-Romanesque architecture had been built to accommodate some 127 years ago. Read more in today’s Mail…
Podcast satire hits #13 … worldwide
Eve Lamb
Co-presenting and producing a weekly satirical podcast focused on US politics and events has long been a source of amusement – and catharsis – for Castlemaine local Randall Berger.
The America ex-pat who shifted to Australia many years ago from his home state of California teams up with his “doppelganger,” fellow US ex-pat Bill Ten Eyck to deliver their weekly dose of The Bill Show – politics this week. The podcast is subtitled Progressive talk with Bill and Randy.
While the show’s endured well, winning a base of faithful fans, particularly in America, in the nine years that Randall and Bill have produced it, Randall says the rise – and fall – of Donald Trump seemed to create something of a tsunami of interest in the podcast that goes all around the world on iTunes and Spotify.
“Apparently, it’s now rated #13 in the world for political satire,” Randall says.
“Go figure!
“We’re now getting millions of downloads around the world. It’s a gabfest, really, about US politics.
“The focus is on US politics and the American condition. The language can be a bit blue, he warns.
“It’s a bit like Planet America and we’ve been doing it since 2012.
“We try to do one each week. Each podcast goes for about an hour.
“We just want to get these things off our chests.”
Randall may already be known to quite a few Castlemaine residents as an actor, writer and celebrant with an ear and eye to contemporary issues be they local, national or international.
Like himself, his co-presenter Bill Ten Eyck hails from the US – “but he’s from Boston,” Randall notes.
Ten Eyck is based in the Dandenongs and is a former comedy writer for TV shows, particularly known as a stand up comic in the 80’s.
Randall does not shy away from the fact that subject matter dealt with on the podcast can be quite controversial at times.
“It’s a great catharsis for Bill and I. It helps us reduce stress. We are performers.”
The podcast provides analysis, commentary and reflection and, in terms of perspective, might also be likened a little to the ABC’s Mad As Hell show hosted by Shaun Micallef.
“It’s a bit like that but as a podcast it’s affordable. You just put it in your ear,” Randall says.
So now that Trump has slid back into the murk of comparative obscurity, has the satirical podcast’s source of ready-made material also receded? the Mail wondered.
“No,” Randall says.
“What you’d call the American condition never fades.”
The COVID-19 pandemic and it’s particular impact on the US, for example, are now delivering rich pickings.
“My topic tonight is compulsory vaccination,” Randall told the Mail earlier this week as he prepared to co-present for this week’s latest episode.
Sequel set for launch
Eve Lamb
This month’s launch of Val Case’s newly published book offers fans a great opportunity to quiz the Castlemaine writer about what went into creating The Undertaker’s Daughter.
Last year’s long days of lockdown did not go wasted on Case who put them to good use penning the new 315 page book – her second full-length fiction novel.
It’s a sequel to her first, The Undertaker’s Wife, that won fans who called for more following the first book’s publication with Amazon.
“The Undertaker’s Wife was a story that I had been writing in my head for a long time,” says Val whose professional background includes working as a nursing sister in charge of outpatients at Pentridge Prison Hospital, general and midwifery nurse at Ballarat Base Hospital, and mental health social worker in England.
“After The Undertaker’s Wife people kept saying to me, ‘what happens next?'” Val says.
“I got a lot of letters from people who wanted to see a sequel. Seven years is a long time.
“It may seem strange to acknowledge a pandemic but the statewide lockdown in 2020 provided the opportunity for me to focus on completing this novel.”
While The Undertaker’s Daughter is a work of fiction, Val has woven in some authentic locations including Ballarat and Beaufort – near Lake Goldsmith where her family still own a farming property.
Launch of the new book was initially scheduled for last month but the event was cancelled due to the state’s most recent COVID-19 lockdown.
Now the good news is the recent easing of restrictions in Victoria means the launch, complete with author talk and Q&A, can now go ahead and has been rescheduled for 6.30pm, Wednesday August 25 at The Taproom, Castlemaine.
Record rail project on track!
Vossloh Cogifer Australia’s Castlemaine team have reached a crucial milestone having completed the first locally manufactured turnout for the Federal Government’s massive Inland Rail Project.
In January the local company was awarded an $80 million dollar contract to supply more than 200 turnouts to the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) for the 1,700km freight line connecting Melbourne to Brisbane. The team are pictured celebrating the milestone on Wednesday. See the Mail for the full story. Out Now.
Nominate your favourite business
The Mount Alexander Business Awards are on again and it’s time to nominate your favourite business for the awards which aim to showcase and encourage business excellence in the shire.
The awards are proudly run by Mount Alexander Shire Council, in partnership with gold sponsor Don Smallgoods and media partner Castlemaine Mail/Midland Express. See today’s Mail for full details.
Golden treasure trove awaits
Our 2021 Castlemaine Mail ‘Golden Ticket’ promotion continues this week! You will discover the sixth piece of the puzzle in today’s edition.
This year’s promotion has been proudly supported by Mulberrys Delicatessen in Lyttleton Street.
Business manager Cas Davey said Mulberrys has now been serving the local community for 19 years and neighbouring business Togs Cafe, headed by her sister and brother-in-law Elissa and Jason Wilsher, for three decades.
The two businesses have always complemented each other but have worked more closely than ever since the difficulties they have faced with the pandemic and various extended lockdowns.
The two businesses recently formalised their connection installing a walk-through area bridging the store and the cafe. The fantastic new space features Mulberrys’ beautiful array of giftware and is a wonderful segue between the two offerings.
Mulberrys is renowned for its extensive array of beautiful cheese, charcuterie, accoutrements and gifts. You can access their beautiful range in store and online. See the Mail for more…
Basketballers bounce back
The Castlemaine Cannons Basketball Association were delighted to welcome their players back to the court this week.
Organisers said it was so great to see so many happy faces out on court again! No doubt the kids will be disappointed to see their season on hold again. But hopefully they can return to the court soon.
