With gyms forced to shut and many group fitness classes put on hold in the wake of the coronavirus restrictions, local fitness trainers are finding new and innovative ways to keep themselves – and others – in good shape.
Among them is Castlemaine fitness coach David Tobin who also specialises in providing massage for pain relief.
“I’m a bit of a fitness junkie myself and I’m pretty concerned about the mental welfare of people who usually go to the gym because a lot of people go to the gym for their mental well-being,” said David when contacted by the Mail to see how he’s handling the coronavirus restrictions.
“So I’m setting up an on-line fitness class for people using Zoom. See the Mail for the full story.
Keeping fit in the face of the virus
Market measures
This Sunday’s Castlemaine Farmers Market was scheduled to go ahead at the time of going to press despite Coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns.
The popular Wesley Hill Saturday Market also planned to proceed with food stalls only.
Mount Alexander Shire Council has indicated while it accepts that there are community members both for and against the markets proceeding, they are permitted to operate at this time.
Castlemaine Farmers Market (CFM) manager Chris Hain said they still have approval from council and the state government to proceed with the monthly market this Sunday April 5 (9 am to 1 pm) and its CFM Weekly markets on Wednesdays (3.30 to 6.30pm).
However both markets will, until further notice, be held at the Western Oval, allowing for greater distance between stalls.
Mr Hain said to further ensure the safety of everyone who attends, the market is also applying some stringent health and safety practices and protocols including: enforcing the 1.5 distancing rule, regular reminders on the PA, requiring stallholders to have hand sanitiser and wear disposable gloves to handle food, providing handwashing stations and encouraging contactless payment where possible. See the Mail for the full story. Out now.
Golden Ticket reaches halfway point
The Castlemaine Mail Golden Ticket promotion has reached the halfway point with the fifth piece of the puzzle to be found on page 10 of this week’s paper.
If you missed out on a ticket or one of the edition’s of the Mail to collect your puzzle piece don’t despair it is not too late to get a ticket and catch up! Just give us a call or drop us an email at ldennis@midnews.com.au and we can sort this for you.
While our office is currently closed to the public you can pick up your copy of the Mail and get your all important puzzle piece enclosed from our friends and at Castlemaine News and Lotto in Mostyn Street, Castlemaine IGA in Barker Street and local milkbars and stores. Otherwise you can also organise to have the Mail delivered through Castlemaine News and Lotto or our postal subscription service.
It has been a challenging few weeks for local businesses and indeed businesses across Australia and abroad but we have been truly grateful to our local businesses for their ongoing support of the Golden Ticket buy local promotion and our newspapers the Castlemaine Mail and Midland Express at what is a very difficult time. We also thank our loyal readers for their messages of encouragement and support.
While some of our Golden Ticket businesses have had to close their doors for now due to the current restrictions many continue to do what they can to service the community through takeaway, delivery and online shopping options. You can support some local businesses simply by buying a gift voucher for a future visit or appointment or booking in an appointment or job for the future when this terrible time is behind us. Check out their advertisements throughout today’s paper and the papers over the coming weeks to see what’s happening and get behind them. It’s been truly impressive to see our local businesses be so innovative and versatile in the face of such trying circumstances.
The importance of supporting our local businesses has never been more crucial. We want to see every local business reopen their doors when this is over.
So if you need something and are self isolating just pick up the phone. Local businesses are going above and beyond to help their customers out. We are in this together.
To win some money to spend at our 22 Golden Ticket businesses all you need to do is collect the nine original puzzle pieces in Mail over the nine weeks of the buy local promotion and paste them to the back of your ‘Golden Ticket’ to be in the running to share in $5000 in prizes! See our website for more details.
Mental health amid pandemic
While our community comes to terms with the abrupt new reality that is life in the Coronavirus pandemic, behind the doors of our homes our individual experiences are all extremely varied.
This is one of the many early observations of Castlemaine psychologist Dr Susie Burke who is continuing to see clients – only now it’s online.
“What I’m certainly seeing is everybody trying to develop psychological flexibility,” Dr Burke says.
“We’re absolutely being called upon to develop those inner strength muscles right now and just anecdotally the people that I have been working with have been totally up for that challenge. See the Mail for the full story. Out now.
Golden opportunity!
The Castlemaine Mail Golden Ticket competition has now reached the halfway mark. Discover the fifth piece of the puzzle in this week’s Castlemaine Mail out now!
Did you get your Golden Ticket with your Mail on March 28? If not don’t despair drop us an email at ldennis@midnews.com.au or call and leave us a message on 5472 1788 and we can arrange to post one out to you.
All you need to do is collect the nine original puzzle pieces in Mail over the nine weeks of the promotion and paste them to the back of your ‘Golden Ticket’ to be in the running to share in $5000 in prizes!
Our first prize winner will receive a $3000 voucher, second prize winner a $1000 voucher and third and fourth prize winners a $500 voucher to spend at the range of 22 wonderful local businesses.
Participating businesses include: ASQ Garden and Landscape, Autopro Castlemaine, Barker Street Cafe, Beehave, Castlemaine Hire Service, Castlemaine News and Lotto, Clifford Quality Cuts, Extremity Street and Sports, Greenaway Bins, Hot & Crusty Bakery, Dales Paint Right, Leechs Leading Edge Jewellery, Maine Shoes and Accessories, Maldon Hotel, Merchants of Mostyn, Mulberries Delicatessen, Protek Auto, Stocks Gifts and Gallery, Stevens Mensland, Tattoos & Curiosities of Castlemaine, Taylors Home Centre and Victorian Goldfields Railway. Each businesses has display posters in their shop windows throughout the promotion and you can find advertisements featuring the Golden Ticket thoroughout the Mail for their latest news and specials.
Once you have collected all nine puzzle pieces, drop your lucky ticket off under the door at the Mail office or post it to us at 29 Templeton Street, Castlemaine. You can enter as many times as you like but you must use the original golden ticket and puzzle pieces.
The competition will run until Friday May 1, 2020.
Our lucky winners will be drawn on Friday May 22 at 3pm and will be notified by phone and published in the Mail. Good luck!
Adopt for the right reasons only: MAAW
If you’re cooped up at home and bored in the current circumstances – think twice before considering adopting a new pet to help ease the temporary boredom.
That’s the message from Castlemaine’s Mount Alexander Animal Welfare shelter that is warning against adopting an animal for the wrong – temporary – reasons.
“People are wanting to foster and possibly adopt – and this is from all the other rescue groups I’ve been speaking to – people are saying ‘oh we’re at home we want a dog’ or ‘we want a cat’.
“But they don’t realise what is going to happen to that poor animal after the quarantine period. See the Mail for the full story. Out now.
Stop the spread
Stop the spread. Getting your head around how to minimise the spread of infection can feel overwhelming, when it shouldn’t. It’s a case of getting back to basics. See Castlemaine Health’s double page feature on infection control in the Mail. Out now.
Golden girl
Long time Castlemaine Cycling Club member Emma Jackson has had a massive 12 months on the track racking up an impressive array of gold, silver and bronze medals. See our sport section for the full story.
End of an era
Long time Castlemaine business Potters Family Store closed its doors for the final time last Tuesday but not due to the Coronavirus epidemic!
Much loved operators Barb and Ian Potter had called time on their retail careers which spanned more than four decades to enjoy a well earned retirement. See the Mail for the full story.
Discover Merchants on Mostyn
During our Golden Ticket promotion we have been featuring stories on some of our fantastic Golden Ticket partners. Last week we had a chat to Nicola and Colin Lay from one of Castlemaine’s newest businesses Merchants of Mostyn.
The beautifully appointed new creative retail store in Mostyn Street opened its doors to the public just before Christmas and has been delighting local customers with their eclectic range of homewares, artworks, jewellery, fabulous vintage finds and upcycled goodies.
Operators Nicola and Colin Lay were forced to close their doors early last week due to the current concerns over Coronavirus but fortunately they have a fabulous online shop which means shopping can can continue in the interim! This will come as a huge relief to those who have birthdays and anniversaries coming up!
See the Mail for the full story. Out now.
Let the bidding begin!
Castlemaine State Festival has taken their biennial fundraising program online for the first time in the history of the event.
The 10 day Castlemaine State Festival Art Auction began Friday March 27 with bidding closing at 5pm on Sunday April 5. See last Friday’s Weekender section in the Mail for details.
Ready to act
Lisa Dennis
With growing concerns over the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and news this week that three cases have now been confirmed in Mount Alexander Shire, the Mail sat down with Castlemaine Health CEO Ian Fisher, Board Chair Peggy Ronnau and Executive Director of Clinical and Community Programs Dianne Senior to talk about their preparations for the virus.
The chat was one of their final face to face meetings before they move to teleconferencing. Board Chair Peggy Ronnau had crafted a special 1.5m ruler to ensure the meeting could be conducted safely. Castlemaine Health CEO Ian Fisher told the Mail the hospital is currently in a phase of containment.
“Our aim is to keep people out of the health service by reducing traffic where possible, restricting movement by limiting visitors to aged care, the rehabilitation and acute wards to minimise the potential for cross contamination and encouraging anyone with symptoms to contact their GP for advice,” Mr Fisher said.
This was further ramped up as of Wednesday midnight with the hospital moving to restrict all non-essential visitors to aged care. All visitors must now enter the hospital through the main entrance where they will be temperature checked and screened by trained staff. Visits will be a maximum of 10 minutes with no more than two people.
The cases identified in Mount Alexander Shire so far have been via in-car consultations by doctors in Personal Protective Clothing. Those affected are all self-isolating at home and being managed by their respective GPs. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) declined to reveal any information about the cases due to privacy reasons.
However, a spokesperson said the public can be confident that all close contacts will be identified and responded to accordingly as required to protect public health.
“As part of our contract tracing, any public exposure sites are contacted and provided with advice about the transmission risks and any cleaning that may be required,” the DHHS spokesperson said.
Mr Fisher said they have no cases currently at the hospital. At the time of going to press Castlemaine Health had conducted 41 tests and all had returned negative results. Mr Fisher said they are meeting with local GPs via teleconference twice a week and department on a regular basis for updates.