Long running local family business Taylors Home Centre in Castlemaine’s Mostyn Street is celebrating 40 years serving the local community.
The successful local business was formerly known as Castlemaine Art Furnishings and was purchased by Robin and Nancy Taylor in 1981.
Four decades later the business is now owned and operated by the couple’s daughter Julie and her husband Shane Tunn.
Robin said Castlemaine Art Furnishing Co was a long running local business which was formerly located at the bottom end of Templeton Street.
“It was founded by Harry Barton and operated there from the 1930s until 1954 when it relocated to Mostyn Street. It was purchased by Ian and Barb Bell in 1977.
“We had been operating a café next door – the Eloura Café – for around three years when the business came on the market again. We finished up at the café in the January and purchased Castlemaine Art Furnishing Co from Ian and Barb Bell on April 1, 1981,” he said. See today’s Mail for more …
Local trader celebrates 40 years
Rotary celebrates 100 years
Members of the Castlemaine Rotary Club recently met to celebrate Rotary’s 100th anniversary.
Rotary started in Australia with the first club formed being Melbourne in April 1921.
The Castlemaine Rotary Club was charted on June 21, 1935.
To celebrate this milestone Castlemaine Rotary held a special dinner recently at the Castlemaine Bowling Club.
The night saw 62 people attend with many stories and great memories shared. It was a wonderful opportunity to catch up with past members and old friends. See the Mail for the full story.
Get in the swing
Local women are invited to try their hand at golf at two ‘Come and Try Golf for Women’ events planned at the Castlemaine Golf Club in June and July.
The initiative follows on from the club’s very successful ‘SwingFit’ initiative for women held back in 2019 which saw several participants go on to become active club members. See the Mail for more.
Seniors set to roar
A special information meeting of the Positive Ageing Advocacy Group (PAAG) was held recently at the Castlemaine Community House to inform various groups of the purpose of the organisation.
Members were delighted with the number attending, with some 20 individuals representing 16 groups.
PAAG chairperson Marilyn Bennet explained that the object of PAAG was to represent Seniors in the community who may need help and guidance in approaching bodies such as council and governments or other bodies or individuals. See the Mail for more…
Art Show raffle
The latest covid lockdown and ongoing restrictions on visitors to regional venues have seen this weekend’s annual Rotary Club of Castlemaine Art Exhibition & Sale postponed until later next month and the Castlemaine Jazz Show cancelled.
However, locals can still show their support for the Rotary Club by purchasing a ticket in their annual Art Show fundraising raffle.
A popular adjunct to the annual Art Show the traditional raffle features a total of five wonderful prizes.
First prize is a magnificent, limited edition photographic print titled ‘Red Knob Vaughan’ by award winning local master photographer John Tozer. See the Mail for details.
Footy prepares to bounce back
With the Victorian Government announcing a seven-day lockdown across the state last Wednesday all community football matches, training and Auskick were not be permitted to take place in Victoria last weekend.
MCDFNL operations manager Mathew Begbie told the Mail junior footballers and netballers looked likely to return to the court and field this weekend for round 8 matches.
Senior players will miss at least another week.
“The round 7 matches will be re-scheduled to July 3 which was a League bye weekend. Round 8 will replace Round 14 which is one of the three double up games; where clubs play each other twice,” he said.
Top of the ladder Harcourt are happy with the way their Seniors and Ressies have been travelling this season with some strong wins in both divisions. However, they realise there is still the majority of the season to go (covid willing) and they plan to tackle each game as it comes. See the Mail for more…
Future of goldfields gem uncertain
Maldon’s much loved goldfields tourist attraction Carman’s Tunnel remains closed to the public.
The 1880s goldfields relic was closed in early 2020 during the coronavirus lockdowns. However, the popular mine site failed to reopen for public tours when covid restrictions eased in October 2020 due to a lack of volunteer numbers and the need for major upgrades at the site.
DELWP has recently engaged an independent geotechnical engineer to assess Carman’s Tunnel and the works required to bring it up to modern standards. See the Mail for the full story. Out Now.
Hello Baby! First bub welcomed at Castlemaine Health
Despite news of the lockdown it proved to be an exciting week at Castlemaine Health as the hospital welcomed the first baby born under its new Midwifery Group Practice model of care.
The healthy baby boy arrived on Sunday May 30. Mother and baby are doing well and are now settling in at home.
Castlemaine Health CEO Sue Race said the arrival of the first baby for the service is wonderful news and they send their heartfelt congratulations to the family.
“News of the birth has spread quickly through the service and the community and has been greeted with much excitement,” she said.
Maternity Services at Castlemaine Health became fully operational on Monday May 3, 2021 after a nearly year long suspension, re-opening under a new model of care. See the Mail for more…
Local filmmaker scoops international award
Eve Lamb
A film by Fryerstown’s Alison Shirley is quickly gaining international acclaim after clinching its category at the prestigious Denmark Luminous Frames film festival.
The six-minute screen work has taken out the festival’s short film category dealing with life in pandemic.
Now Shirley’s Beauty in Decay has also been selected, and is in contention for another win, in the Experimental Dance and Music Film Festival in Los Angeles and Toronto.
“That was a beautiful surprise,” the local filmmaker told the Mail this week after learning of her recent success in Denmark. Read more in the Mail 04.06.21
Jab demand surges
Eve Lamb
Demand among locals to get vaccinated has surged as Victoria’s outbreaks of the more transmissible strain of COVID-19 hold the state hostage.
At Castlemaine Health, the COVID-19 vaccination clinic hours have been extended and medical staff there this week told the Mail locals are now stepping up in far greater numbers to get the jab and do their bit to help curb the spread.
“Demand has doubled since the outbreak and our community has embraced vaccination,” nurse unit manager Shelley Leathem saidas AstraZeneca jabs went in arms at multiple vaccination stations during this Wednesday’s morning clinic in the Castlemaine site.
“Last week we had close to 200 vaccinations. This week we’re looking at 300 to 350,” Ms Leathem said.
“We’re encouraging people to keep booking and registering their interest through the link on the Castlemaine Health website because that helps ensure that the clinic runs smoothly.”
Responding to the upsurge in demand for the vaccine, the Castlemaine Health clinic has extended its hours… Read more in the Mail 04.06.21
Wildlife shelter receives outpouring of support
Shedshaker Brewing held a special fundraising screening of film ‘Kangaroo – A Love-Hate Story’ at The Taproom at The Mill Complex on May 13 to raise funds for the Red Box Wildlife Shelter at Elphinstone.
The ground-breaking film explores the complex and contradictory relationship Australia has with its beloved icon.
The night included a Q&A with the film’s co-director Mick McIntyre and animal activist Greg Keightley and the launch of an exhibition of works by animal photographer Tamara Kenneally.
Kenneally’s exhibition remains on show at The Taproom for a couple more weeks and she has very generously donated her beautiful works to be sold to assist Red Box Wildlife Shelter with their care of the region’s local injured wildlife.
Shedshaker Brewing’s Jacqueline Brodie-Hanns said it was a fantastic night and they have enquiries from as far away as London!
“The opening night was a great success and raised over $3,000. The passion and dedication of wildlife rescuers and their supporters is incredibly inspiring. The Taproom was thrilled to support Red Box and help raise funds for the wonderful work they do,” she said. See the Mail for the full story.
Now we are six!
Castlemaine parkrun devotees have celebrated their 273rd parkrun and sixth birthday with some attention-grabbing responses on Saturday May 22.
Stand-out running gear and accessories were a feature of the birthday run that particularly the big volunteer effort that allows the popular weekly event to happen.
Sporting her signature pink wig and sparkling day wear, run director Karina Taylor provided everyone with some fun facts about Castlemaine parkrun.
“While the average weekly headcount is 74, there have been an astounding 20,114 finishes comprising 2684 different people over the six years,” Ms Taylor said.
Parkrun is not a race as such, but rather an opportunity to complete a timed five-kilometre course so participants can improve according to their ability.
“In keeping with this ethic, the average time in this event has been 32 minutes 15 seconds, and there have been 2764 personal best times recorded.” See the Mail for more…