Think that fairy tales are just old-fashioned stories you read to children at bedtime? A special event coming up at Castlemaine Library is going to change your mind.
South of the Sun – Australian Fairy Tales for the 21st Century is a ground-breaking anthology put together by the Australian Fairy Tale Society. As part of the book’s launch, the local library is hosting an event on Saturday July 3 with renowned local authors Carmel Bird and Cate Kennedy and Ballarat artist Sarah Hart, in a panel chaired by local photographer and illustrator Lorena Carrington, as they discuss fairy tales for grown-ups in contemporary Australia. See the Mail for more. Out Now.
Fairy tales for grown ups
Take a cultural field trip
Mount Alexander Shire Council’s Mondo Lounge invites young people to discover more about Indigenous culture by taking part in a field trip to Mt Tarrangower with Dja Dja Wurrung Elder, Aunty Marilyne Nicholls.
The excursion will be held on Wednesday July 7 from 9.15am to 3.30pm during NAIDOC Week. It will be delivered in partnership with Mirawara, a local outdoor education organisation that specialise in experiences such as rock climbing, Indigenous cultural events and bushwalking. See the Mail for more…
Women clinch victory against Sunbury
It was a crisp but beautiful Sunday morning at Chewton where the Castlemaine Senior Women’s soccer team took to the field against Sunbury.
Castlemaine was defeated by Sunbury 4-1 in the first game of the season. This time, however, the local team was poised to show all its improvements since then, and they did so convincingly. See the Mail for the full story.
Watch this space…
Eve Lamb
Castlemaine’s growing number of electric vehicle owners will have to hold their horsespower for just a little longer until the town gets its first public EV fast charge station. The rollout of EV fast charge stations as part of the Charging the Regions program was initially expected to have seen Castlemaine’s twin Evie fast station ready for use this month.
But while Harcourt’s Charging The Regions Evie fast charge station is now up and running – and by all accounts – receiving a rapidly increasing level of usage, Castlemaine’s installation has now been temporarily delayed by a global shortage of charge station components.
“Because of a global shortage of componentry it’s been pushed back to August,” Central Victoria Greenhouse Alliance executive officer Rob Law told the Mail in recent days. Read the full story in today’s Mail.
Plan to put a spring in Taradale’s step
Eve Lamb
Detailed design and costing can now go ahead towards converting an old disused and moss-covered tennis court in Taradale into a new multi purpose youth space.
“I think it’s great,” said Taradale local Willen Pelka, 12, who didn’t waste any time giving last week’s council budget announcement of $30,000 toward the project, his stamp of approval.
“It’ll be one facility with multiple uses for people aged about seven to 15,” said Willen, a keen basketballer who’s already particularly anticipating the likely benefits that the project will accrue for his sport of choice.
It’s far from all that’s being planned however, with the conversion of the central site mooted to not only feature a hard court with multiple line markings for basketball and netball – but also athletics, downball and hopscotch with moundings for scooters and rollerskates.
There’s also … Get the full story in today’s Mail.
Kristina’s character-packed critters
Eve Lamb
Ask Campbells Creeks Kristina Browning when she started painting animals and she’ll pause, contemplate for a while, and then tell you – “forever”.
“I think it all started with the chooks,” adds the dedicated animal artist and retired art teacher, who’s also been known as “the chook lady” due to her penchant for painting portraits of various feathered friends.
Why chooks?
Kristina is quick to reply.
“I like creating a character. I want something with a fair bit of attitude and the chooks seem to have that.”
Of course it’s far from just chooks that Kristina is well known for painting, although she concedes the vast number of chook-themed greeting cards she’s turned out over the years have done nothing to diminish reputation as “the chook lady”.
Dogs, horses, cows, donkeys, and native wildlife all get a look in as well on the the vibrant canvasses that this local artist creates – often working from photographs people supply featuring their beloved pets.
Right now Kristina’s latest pop-up exhibition has been attracting many admirers inside Castlemaine Veterinary Clinic, which given the clientele, is proving a particularly apt venue for the featured subject matter. Read the full story in today’s Mail…
Questions raised over proposed energy plant
Eve Lamb
Castlemaine residents have raised questions about a mooted bioenergy plant for Castlemaine after the proposal was recently publicised by Mount Alexander Sustainability Group in a partnership with Don KR.
At Tuesday evening’s Mount Alexander Shire Council meeting the concept drew some attention during public question time with questions submitted including those from local residents keen to know more about the types and percentages of materials proposed to be fed into the facility.
In questions raised, local resident Richard Yates asked “what is the megawatt size/capacity of the biomass heat plant?”
In his correspondence read out during public question time Mr Yates also asked: “what are the estimated percentages of the energy components to be used within the biomass heat plant – animal products/meat waste percent? crops? organic waste from the landfill? woody waste percentage? recyclables ie cardboard? manure percentage? municipal solid waste? chemically treated wood products ie railway sleepers/tyres/ shipping pellets? TDF – Tyre Derived Fuel?”
Mr Yates also asked “what is the estimated biomass heat plant’s consumption of woody material/trees per year and what is planned for the replanting of lost vegetation?”
Responding, the council’s CEO Darren Fuzzard was quick to point out that the proposal was not a council initiative and directed those keen to gain better insights to go to MASG’s website. Read the full story in today’s Mail…
Golden Ticket to return!
We are thrilled to be gearing up to launch our highly anticipated Castlemaine Mail ‘Golden Ticket’ promotion again in 2021.
Our loyal readers will once again be in the running to share in $5000 in prize money to spend at our fantastic participating local businesses – including Cliffords Quality Cuts.
First prize will be $3000, second prize $1000 and third and fourth prize winners will receive $500 each.
The promotion will kick off on July 2 and local businesses are urged to get in quick if they want to be part of the exciting local promotion with registrations set to close on Monday, June 28.
There will be a list of businesses involved in the Castlemaine Mail weekly during the competition.
Each business will have a Golden Ticket flyer in their window to show they are participating in the promotion during July & August 2021.
To participate businesses will be asked to take an ad for the period of the promotion. All advertising will be up to 55% off the original price.
To find out more about how your business can be involved in our buy local shopping promotion contact our advertising team members Lynda Brew at lbrew@midnews.com.au or Tammy Harman at tharman@midnews.com.au
Supporting and celebrating our refugees
This Sunday June 20 is World Refugee Day and the Castlemaine branch of Rural Australians for Refugees (RAR) is gearing up to hold a week of events to highlight the plight of refugees in detention and the contribution refugees make to our society.
World Refugee Day is marked internationally to celebrate the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. The Refugee Council of Australia has chosen ‘Unity-the Way Forward’ as a theme for Refugee Week in Australia for 2021.
Rural Australians for Refugees Castlemaine has organised several events to highlight the contribution of refugees to our communities, but also to focus on current concerns. See the Mail for full details.
Magpies swoop back into action
A triumphant return to play was made by the Castlemaine Magpies in very trying conditions last Saturday, June 11. Unfortunately there were no wins for the day but it was a massive step forward to get the club moving on short notice.
The players set their sights on Golden Square at home Saturday, June 19 where they look forward to playing their postponed ‘Mental Health Round’.
Be sure to get along and show our young local sides your support. Go Magpies! See the Mail for more. Out Now.
C-DOC returns!
Castlemaine Documentary Festival (C-DOC) is set to return to the big screen at the Castlemaine Theatre Royal next month.
C-DOC was forced online last year due to the Covid 19 lockdowns and therefore it was apt organisers dubbed the 2020 festival ‘C-DOC – In the Clouds’.
This year organisers look forward to returning to ‘Terra-Firma’ and once again holding their screenings and highly anticipated Q & A panels at the historic theatre on the weekend of July 24-25.
The festival will kick off with a launch party on Friday July 23 and will then see eight incredible films light up the screen at the Royal on July 24 and 25, including three Australian premieres.
St Vinnie’s thank you
St Vinnie’s Foodbank hosted a morning tea at St Mary’s Catholic Church last Friday to thank representatives of Castlemaine and district churches, schools and community groups for their regular donations of groceries and other goods and produce.
They were told their generosity had helped many people put food on the table, especially during this difficult COVID time.
