As wearing facemasks in public becomes compulsory throughout Victoria from this Sunday night, Mount Alexander’s mayor is urging the community to help curb the spread of COVID-19 on our own doorstep.
Premier Daniel Andrews yesterday announced that from 11.59pm this Sunday, a face covering will be mandatory whenever you leave home – and wherever you live in Victoria.
“We have seen a significant jump in regional communities. It’s vital we stop this virus further seeping into regional Victoria,” Mr Andrews said.
Locally, with 10 cases of COVID-19 now linked to Don KR Castlemaine and two active cases recorded in Mount Alexander Shire as at yesterday, mayor Cr Christine Henderson says everyone has a vital role to play in beating the virus.
“Any positive case is a worry because all these outbreaks start small and spread out,” Cr Henderson said.
But even before yesterday’s announcement by the premier the numbers of people wearing face masks in Castlemaine had become increasingly prevalent, and an Incident Control Centre has been established in the town.
Help curb Covid mayor urges
Police appeal for witnesses to fatal crash
Police want to hear from anyone who witnessed the fatal car crash that claimed two lives at Muckleford, near Castlemaine, on Friday night.
As investigations into the circumstances continue, anyone who witnessed the crash or who may have dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Get the latest updates in our sister publication, The Midland Express, tomorrow July 28, 2020.
DON KR CASTLEMAINE CASES MULTIPLY
Six cases of COVID-19 have now been linked to Don KR Castlemaine. Pictured are Don KR employees being tested in a pop-up testing site at the old bacon factory on Friday. Get the latest update in our sister paper – the Midland Express – tomorrow July 28.
Shooters on target
The Castlemaine Rifle Club held its annual general meeting on Saturday under Covid-19 conditions. There was a very high number of apologies due to some members being in ‘lockdown’.
The committee and officials who have done a great job over the last few years were re-elected unopposed.
The club is in a very healthy position with the future looking good.
Although the club was closed down for about eight weeks it can now operate under strict conditions. See the Mail for more.
News to smile about
Nestled in Castlemaine’s historic George Clark Place in Barker Street lies ‘Castlemaine Denture Clinic’ – a small business specialising in providing custom fitted dentures direct to the public.
Fabio Da Silva is the lead prosthetist at the clinic and has been making dentures for well over a decade. His business was hit hard by the pandemic lockdown but he is pleased to be back on deck and serving the local community. See the Mail for the full story. Out Now.
Masks: an important defence against COVID-19
This week the Victorian Government has asked everyone who lives in metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire to wear a face covering when they leave home to reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
In the Mount Alexander Shire, and indeed any region of Victoria other than the Mitchell Shire or metropolitan Melbourne, we are being asked to wear one when we leave home and social distancing is not possible. For example when we’re shopping, catching public transport or visiting the doctor.
The wearing of masks was not advocated in the early stages of the pandemic, but Susan Wyatt, who is currently overseeing infection control at Castlemaine Health, says we now understand more about the virus and what will make a difference.
“New research around face masks specific to COVID-19 has shown they have an effect in reducing transmission,” she says. See our Health feature in the Mail for the full story. Out Now.
Honouring our Diggers
The Barkers Creek Cricket Club plans to honour and celebrate the service and sacrifice of former cricketers and community members who served in World War I.
The historic local club, established in 1855, has successfully applied for funding to remember and commemorate the World War I servicemen from Barkers Creek, some of whom played in premiership cricket teams.
Barkers Creek Cricket Club’s Dr Geoff Courtis said they are delighted to receive the funding for a memorial display and are pleased to be able to honour the men more than 100 years on.
Dr Courtis has been working to compile the new display and liaising with the families of the cricketers and community members to be featured.
Two of these cricketers include Walter Peeler VC and Alec Grant. See the full story in the Mail. Out Now.
CSC redevelopment almost complete
Castlemaine Secondary College (CSC) moved into its state of the art Admin/ Library and Performers Precinct facilities at the start of Term Three.
The Mail enjoyed a visit to the new look Admin and additional Performers Precinct buildings this week – including the school’s new media lab complete with ‘green room’ where students can make their own movies and animations and new commercial kitchen where students can learn the art of cooking and catering events.
The decade long project is fast nearing completion with the final stage of the build – the Artisans Precinct – expected to be completed in late August. See the Mail for the full story. Out Now.
Loddon lockdown lifted
Castlemaine’s Loddon (Middleton) Prison Precinct was among six prisons across the state placed into lockdown earlier this week.
The lockdown was carried out as a precaution after a prison officer at Ravenhall Correctional Centre in Melbourne returned a positive result to coronavirus (COVID-19).
The GEO employed staff member had reportedly been self-isolating since July 16 after being notified they were a close contact of a positive case.
The Mail understands a regional radio station reported that Loddon had reported a positive case on Wednesday evening.
However, the department spokesperson told the Mail this was incorrect.
“There have been no confirmed cases at Loddon Prison,” she said.
The precautionary lockdown measures at Loddon and three other prisons were lifted on Thursday afternoon after prisoners tested negative.
Meanwhile four Department of Education staff at the Malmsbury Juvenile Justice Centre have also tested positive.
See the full story in today’s Mail and the update in next Tuesday’s Midland Express.
Mask upsurge
Demand for protective face masks in Castlemaine and surrounds has spiked sharply in recent days as the state government urges regional Victorians aged over 18 to wear masks when unable to socially distance while in public.
In the state’s COVID-19 lockdown areas of metro Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire the wearing of protective face masks in public this week became mandatory.
But closer to home, Castlemaine retail stores are experiencing a surge in demand for disposable masks that appear to be walking out the door of many local retail outlets as quickly as new stocks come in.
And in Castlemaine those making the more permanent washable varieties are reporting a similar story.
“What’s a bigger word than demand. It’s insane,” said Linda Newton of The Drying Shed Art Space at The Mill, Castlemaine.
Several members of this local artists’ collective have formed a close-knit little production crew that has been extra busy lately making and distributing quality protective cloth face masks that are not only made to high standards but also come in funky colours and designs to boot. Full story in The Mail Friday, July 24,2020.
Castlemaine Junior Poetry Prize closes today
Entries for the 2020 Castlemaine Junior Poetry Prize close today Friday September 18 at 5pm.
Entries for the Senior Section (poets 16 and over) closed on September 4.
Elliott Midland Newspapers is proudly sponsoring the 2020 Castlemaine Poetry Prize which carries a first prize of $100 (Senior section) and an award.
The ‘Judge’s Choice Award’ is proudly supported by Soldier and Scholar Bookshop Castlemaine and the winner will receive an award and a $50 book voucher.
In the Junior Section there will be three categories and prizes on offer. The sections are Grade 2 and Under, Grade 6 and Under and Year 10 and Under. There will also be awards for Highly Commended and Commended Poems.
Mount Alexander Shire Council is sponsoring the three junior prizes with the winner of each section to receive a trophy and $50 book voucher.
Selected entries, including the winning poems, will be published in the Castlemaine Mail.
The poem must not have been published or have won another prize, a strict maximum of 40 lines applies and all entries should be double spaced. Poets can choose any theme. There is no entry fee but only three entries from each poet are permitted.
Contact details, including a phone number must be enclosed but preferably not on the same page as the poem.
Castlemaine poets Tegan Gigante and Annie Hunter have generously agreed to once again judge this year’s Senior and Junior competitions.
Junior entries can be submitted via email to ldennis@midnews.com.au or dropped off under the door of our office at 29 Templeton Street, Castlemaine, VIC 3450.
The awards will be presented to our winners at ceremonies to be held in October. Stay tuned for details.
Gold explorer increases tenure
The renewed interest in exploring our region’s uptapped gold potential continues to grow with exploration company Kalamazoo Resources announcing this week it has increased its ground holding.
Kalamazoo has extended its existing Castlemaine Gold Project with the granting of a new Exploration Licence ‘Queens’, adjacent to the company’s Wattle Gully South Tenement.
The Castlemaine Project now covers three tenements and 310km2.
Queens contains known mineralisation and is considered highly prospective for high grade Fosterville style mineralisation.
Kalamazoo’s chairman and CEO Luke Reinehr said the addition of the valuable exploration tenure on the eastern border of their Castlemaine Gold Project is an important result for Kalamazoo and their shareholders. See the Mail for the full story. Out Now.