Our 2021 Castlemaine Mail ‘Golden Ticket’ buy local promotion major prize winner is Castlemaine’s Leonie Langford!
Our Golden Ticket winners were officially drawn with a Facebook live-stream event on Wednesday this week and we are delighted to announce that Leonie claimed first prize and $3000 to spend at our fabulous Golden Ticket businesses.
Second place and $1000 went to Alf Green of Campbells Creek, third and $500 worth of vouchers went to Shirley Anderson of Castlemaine and fourth and $500 in vouchers to Lois Barry of Castlemaine.
Leonie said she was shocked but delighted when she received the call that she had won.
“I had to sit down and have a cup of tea and let the news soak in!” she said.
Leonie and her husband are currently undertaking a bathroom renovation and she said some of the money will be used to purchase tiles from Dales Discounts.
“We might get some new towels from Taylors Home Centre too and plan to support various other businesses. I can’t believe it. It’s just fantastic!” she said.
Congratulations to all our winners and thanks to the hundreds of readers that diligently collected their puzzle pieces over the nine weeks of the promotion and submitted their entries.
Our winners can spend their vouchers at any of the 21 wonderful Golden Ticket buy local promotion businesses which included: Barker Street Cafe, Beehave, Castlemaine IGA, Castlemaine News & Lotto, Clifford’s Quality Cuts, Dales Discount, Extremity Street and Sport, Greenaway Bins. Hip Pocket Workwear Castlemaine, Hot & Crusty Bakery, JM Leech Jewellers, Maine Shoes and Accessories, Maldon Crystals, Midland Pet Supplies, Miss Maisie, Mulberrys Delicatessen, PJ’s Tyres, Robertson Hyetts Solicitors, Stevens Mensland, Taylors Home Centre and The Tea Dispensary.
The Castlemaine Mail is incredibly proud to support the Golden Ticket promotion and encourage our readers to shop local.
Castlemaine Mail manager Lynda Brew thanked all the businesses which participated in this year’s promotion.
“It’s really great to see people getting behind the promotion and supporting our local businesses which have had an incredibly challenging 18 months,” she said.
“The best bit about the promotion is the fact all the prize money goes towards supporting our local businesses. Buying local is so important to ensure our businesses not only survive but thrive”.
Our Golden Ticket winner!
Historic gem to be restored
Castlemaine Cemetery’s historic Sexton’s Office will be restored thanks to a $77,000 grant from the state government.
The Castlemaine Cemetery Trust were thrilled to receive the grant after being unsuccessful the first time around and say the works are of paramount importance in saving the crumbling historic gem.
The grant is one of 19 worth more than $2.3M under the Victorian Government’s Living Heritage Program.
The Sexton’s Office was built in 1867 and over the last 154 years has been damaged by rising damp.
Castlemaine Cemetery Trust chairperson Debra Tranter said they are delighted to receive the funding.
“The office is such a distinctive building and an important part of Castlemaine’s heritage. We are delighted that we will see not only the office restored but also the original 1875 cemetery plan, an important historical document,” she said. See the Mail for the full story.
The ride of a lifetime!
Sick of being cooped up in the house? Looking for a challenge? Why not consider tackling this year’s Great Vic Bike Ride?
The majestic Grampians and the award-wining Art Silos in Western Victoria will take pride of place at this year’s event.
The 537-kilometre route is expected to attract over 3,000 people from across Australia. The ride is arguably the world’s greatest cycling holiday and bike riding adventure.
One of those looking to participate is Castlemaine’s Karly Whelan.
Karly has been on the Great Vic Bike Ride once before, 20 years ago when she was in uni and is looking forward to hitting the road again.
“It’s a long time between Great Vic stints!” Karly laughs, but she would definitely recommend the experience to others.
“Travelling the back roads through county Victoria is such a great way to see our beautiful state,” she said. See the Mail for the full story.
Live launch!
Castlemaine singer-songwriter Maya Rose will launch her new gender inequality single ‘Mind the Gap’ with a special Facebook live-stream event tonight, September 17.
‘Mind the Gap’ is a powerful anthem supporting current global women’s movements.
The 22 year old has created a song that will connect with women around the world. See the Mail for more…
Open your heart and your home
During Foster Care Week (September 12-18) leading child welfare organisation Anglicare Victoria is shining a light on the urgent need for more foster carers across the state and the seven great reasons why people should give foster caring a go.
Here in the North Central region there is a critical shortage of carers which means many local children and young people are being placed in care outside of the region.
Anglicare Victoria CEO Paul McDonald says Foster Care Week is the perfect time to consider opening your home and heart to kids in need. See the Mail for the full story…
Spring sprung at Clydesdale stud
Eve Lamb
It’s easy to see that spring has sprung at Sandy Creek Clydesdale stud just out of Maldon.
The arrival of two beautiful new Clydesdale foals in quick succession over the past three weeks is definitely adding to the buzz in the air.
Gorgeous – but big – babies, Sandy Creek Miss Congeniality (aka Halle) arrived first to the delight of proud mum, mare Chocolyn Domina.
The brand new arrival immediately displayed a sassy and outgoing personality and was followed a week later with the arrival of somewhat more bashful little Sandy Creek Señor Pablo (Pablo for short) born to mare Lowan Vale Brooke.
“They were actually text book (births) thank God,” said Sandy Creek’s Jaimie Thompson who owns and runs the stud together with her husband Matt.
“They’re absolutely loving spring, running around trying out their new legs.”
The local Clydesdale stud and property with its wide array of additional farmyard animals provides a prime example of a rural enterprise that’s not only been able to endure through the COVID-19 pandemic, but also make the most of the lockdown vagaries it’s thrown up.
Matt and Jaimie have been able to use the lockdown time to focus on further developing their vision for the property as a regional attraction able to host a wide range of special Clydesdale-focused activities alongside other public functions including market days and weddings with their first wedding event booked for November.
As part of the vision that looks likely to enhance Maldon’s pull as a visitor destination, they’ve also been installing significant new fencing while getting some groundwork done toward establishing a new stabling complex and training arena capable of hosting lessons and clinics. Read the full story in today’s Mail…
Backlash at commercial rating proposal
Eve Lamb
A proposal to increase rates for commercial properties in Mount Alexander is drawing outcry from local business groups and operators who say the mooted rating strategy change will drive some businesses to the wall.
A consultants’ report has recommended that the council’s commercial rate be increased from its current 130 per cent (of the base residential rate) to 140 per cent in 2022/23 and to 150 per cent in 2023/24.
The proposal has drawn a strong response from local business representatives including Business Mount Alexander and Maldon Inc both of whom believe the proposal will harm local business.
“For all the small towns it will kill us,” Maldon Inc president Kate Gamble told the Mail this week.
“This is the way to go if you want to kill off small business in Maldon.
“A number of people I’ve spoken to have been in tears.
“I really do think that council needs to assess the aims they are trying to achieve.”
Ms Gamble says Maldon Inc will be making a submission to the rating strategy review for which the timeframe for public submissions closes at the end of business today.
Business Mount Alexander treasurer Jacqueline Brodie-Hanns says the local business representative group is likewise lodging a submission in response to the proposed change to the way in which rates are calculated for commercial properties in the shire.
“It will drive people out of business,” said Ms Brodie-Hanns who also owns and runs Castlemaine’s Shedshaker Brewing.
“They are already stressed and doing it hard. Read the full story in today’s Mail…
Run the Maine goes virtual … again
Eve Lamb
Organisers of this month’s Run The Maine have once again had to make the tough decision to shift the popular event to virtual format.
This month’s running of the fav fundraising event will now take place over the weekend of September 24-26 with participants able to choose to tackle the 21 km, 10 km or 5 run – or do all three distances – and upload their results in real time.
As recently as a month ago the committee was optimistic that this year’s running would return to traditional in-person format attracting hundreds of classy competitors to the ‘maine and it’s uniquely attractive running courses.
But the state’s most recent lockdown and ongoing uncertainty around what twist the pandemic might take next has once again forced the committee to quickly pivot to again run the event in virtual format.
“We came to the realisation the week before last,” event director Gavin Krasner told the Mail this week.
“After the initial realisation and disappointment we’ve done up our laces and got virtual Run The Maine up and running – and we’re excited.
“We’re now having just the one flat ticket and one entry fee for all three distances, with a concession and now an Under 15 ticket. Read the full story in today’s Mail…
Last chance to enter!
You only have a few days left to enter our 2021 Castlemaine Mail ‘Golden Ticket’ promotion to win a share of $5000 to spend at 21 local businesses!
We will be drawing the lucky winners next Wednesday September 15 at 10am and all entries must be in to our office at 13 Hargraves Street by next Tuesday September 14 at 4pm.
Mostyn Street retailers Miss Maisie, Beehave, Mensland Castlemaine and Taylors Home Centre are all proud to be part of the 2021 buy local promotion.
Miss Maisie Castlemaine manager Sue Smalley said its been another tough year for local businesses.
“Unfortunately the latest lockdown saw us forced to close our doors again. We don’t have an online option as for us its important that our customers can come in store and try on the clothes for themselves to ensure they great the right fit.
“At Miss Maisie we currently have so many beautiful pieces arriving for Spring and Summer, we cannot wait to reopen Friday and give all our gorgeous customers a big welcome,” she said.
Beehave proprietor Robyn Hansford is also excited to reopen today.
“We have been so fortunate with all the local support we have received during lockdown. It’s so very important to keep shopping local. There has been lots of new season stock arrive in store during lockdown, so we have lots of tempting goodies,” she said.
Mensland Castlemaine operators Renee Ramsey and Lauren Barker also plan to reopen their doors today. The sisters said they have appreciated the ongoing support they have received from the local community during the lockdowns.
“We are very grateful for our amazing community. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back and we have lots of beautiful new stock in store,” Lauren said.
Taylors Home Centre celebrated 40 years in business in June and has continued to offer online sales and click and collect options during the latest lockdown.
Proprietors Julie and Shane Tunn said they are delighted to be able to reopen their doors today.
“We urge the community to keep our town alive by shopping local. The more we support local businesses the more products and services we can offer,” Julie said.
HALT launches new national initiative
To coincide with R U OK? Day (September 9) and National Suicide Prevent Day (September 10) grassroots Castlemaine health promotion organisation Hope Assistance Local Tradies (HALT) is working to reduce suicides in the trades and construction workforce with the launch of a new initiative.
The campaign aims to get the message of help-seeking out to tradies on building sites nationwide.
It centres on a sticker for the back of toilet doors on work sites, using QR code technology that links directly to a curated list of mental health resources and support services. See the Mail for the full story…
Lions celebrate 50th anniversary
This weekend marks the 50th anniversary of Harcourt Football Netball Club’s 1971 Senior Premiership win in the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League (MCDFNL).
As featured in last week’s Mail 2021 marks five decades since the Harcourt side lined up against local rivals Campbells Creek to vie for grand final honours.
Harcourt Football Netball Club had big plans to mark the 50th anniversary milestone with a reunion last month but unfortunately covid lockdowns have forced the event to be moved to 2022.
To mark the special occasion Steve Tonzing, the son of 1971 Harcourt FNC premiership coach, captain and ruckman Trevor Tonzing, has penned a fantastic book about the memorable 1971 win.
Steve said he was only seven at the time but he remembers it was a very special day and one his dad was incredibly proud to be part of. See the Mail for the full story. Out Now…
A day for Dads!
There was a vibrant atmosphere at the monthly Castlemaine Farmers Market last Sunday September 5 with many dads at the market being spoilt with Father’s Day goodies.
Castlemaine Police spent some time at the market chatting to stallholders and were reportedly happy with the covid safe practices observed by stallholders and the wearing of masks by all.
CFM secretary Sally Kaptein said it was wonderful to see locals turning out to support farmers and producers at the monthly event and doing so in a safe and responsible way. Photo: Max Lesser.