New electric vehicle fast charge stations are set to be installed at both Harcourt and Castlemaine over coming months and are expected to be operating by June as part of a significant EV charge station rollout that began at Maryborough this week.
This week’s launch of the newly installed Tritium RT-M charger at Maryborough is part of the wider regional rollout of charge stations at 17 different locations.
The project is being managed by Castlemaine-based Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance in a partnership involving 12 councils including Mount Alexander Shire; along with the state government, and Queensland-based EV charging operator, Evie Network. Get the full story in today’s Mail.
New EV charge station sites confirmed
Council grants permit for Elphinstone music fest
A contested council vote has cleared a major hurdle toward enabling a weekend-long music festival for up to 1500 patrons to go ahead at Elphinstone later this year.
The applicants for the planned event – Backyard Fest – were seeking Mount Alexander Shire Council planning permit approval to enable the festival to take place over November 12-14 at 100 Allendale Road, Elphinstone on land within the farming zone and subject to an environmental significance overlay.
A stage area, camping, food trucks and parking are all part of the proposal for the event intended to feature live music, yoga and art.
Anticipated staff numbers for the event are estimated at between 5-10 people, with around 90 volunteers and a BYO liquor licence proposed.
But the application had attracted 17 objections and the council officer recommendation facing councillors at Tuesday evening’s meeting was to refuse a permit on grounds including fire risk, traffic congestion and safety concerns.
Further grounds for refusal included concerns over potential noise impacts and that the application was deemed inconsistent with the objectives of the farming zone for the protection of agricultural land. Get the full story in today’s Mail…
Karate club celebrates
Local karate club Omoikiri Budo Kai recently ran a ‘Kagami biraki’ to celebrate the opening of the club for 2021.
The name ‘Kagami biraki’, translates to ‘Opening the Mirror’ (from an abstinence) and are celebrations to mark significant events occurring during the year or in someone’s life, and from a martial arts perspective are used to mark the opening of the club for a new year.
As part of the day, Kevin Walsh, Kyoshi, the Australian Representative of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai (DNBK) Greater Japan Martial Virtue Society, presented local instructor Jason Gray his DNBK 6th Dan in Karate-do. This was to be presented in Japan back in April 2020 during series of seminars, demonstrations and testing but with travel restrictions in place the event was postponed and therefore the presentation was made in Australia. See the Mail for the full story…
Share your experience with the NDIS
Mount Alexander Shire Council is carrying out a feasibility study into the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and is seeking feedback from community members who have experience with the NDIS.
The study aims to determine the demand for NDIS services in the shire and will inform council’s decision regarding the potential to provide NDIS services in future, such as personal care, home care, youth services, property maintenance, respite, transport or more.
You can complete the survey on your experiences on the NDIS via www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/HaveYourSay.
Council will also be holding a series of forums later this month.
The Castlemaine NDIS forums will take place on Thursday February 25 at the Town Hall in Lyttleton Street, Castlemaine (enter via Frederick Street. The first forum will run from 10am to 12noon; the second forum from 3pm to 5pm; and the third forum from 6pm to 8pm.
The Maldon NDIS forum is to be held on Friday February 26 from 10.30am to 12noon at Maldon Neighbourhood House, 6 Francis St Maldon. RSVP is not required for the forums. COVIDSafe restrictions will be in place. See the Mail for more details.
End of one era marks the beginning of another
In late 2020, after a steep decline in membership, Castlemaine District Senior Citizen’s Centre Inc. decided to close its doors bringing to an end nearly 70 years as a social hub for older members of the Castlemaine community.
Members unanimously decided to donate the club’s remaining monies, more than $10,000, to Castlemaine Health’s new Maternity Service, a
lasting legacy that will impact the community in a positive way.
Castlemaine District Senior Citizen’s Centre Inc. secretary Marilyn Bulkeley says members wanted to make sure funds went to a worthy cause.
“It’s in our constitution. It has to be a cause that’s beneficial to the community,” says Marilyn.
“All our members agree that having a maternity unit is so important.”
New Castlemaine Health CEO Sue Race says support for the maternity service has been overwhelming.
“We are extremely grateful for this generous donation,” says Sue.
“The Castlemaine District Senior Citizen’s Centre Inc. has been very important to the people of Castlemaine and we are sorry to see it go.
“This money will be used to purchase new equipment for the maternity service and have a direct impact on women and families in our community well into the future. We would like to extend our thanks to members, both past and present, for their contribution,” Sue said.
The Castlemaine District Senior Citizen’s Centre Inc. began its life in the 1950s as the Castlemaine Elderly Citizens Club, meeting in two
rooms in the then Library Hall, now known as the Phee Broadway Theatre. The word ‘Elderly’ was removed from the club’s name in 2010 and replaced with ‘Senior’.
The space was soon too small for the growing membership and new clubrooms were built on land provided by council next to the Castlemaine Library, with funds raised by the club and the community, as well as a council grant. It would be their home for nearly 60 years.
From bingo, card and board game days, carpet bowls and movie afternoons, to bus trips both local and as far afield as Echuca, Ballarat, Mount Gambier and even Kangaroo Island, the club hosted a variety of regular and special events. Melbourne Cup Day and Australia Day were always big on the calendar and Christmas wind-ups at a local hotel or the clubrooms always included lavish afternoon tea and a gala concert.
They met regularly with other local clubs for combined concerts and get-togethers and were always involved in organising Senior Citizens Week activities. Regular concerts, where local and visiting talent would perform, were held right up until the club closed.
Secretary Marilyn began her association with the club age 11 playing piano at one such concert. Now in her 70s that’s a very long association with the club indeed!
Marilyn and office bearers, president Shirley Sturgess and treasurer and former local mayor Heather Harcus, worked extremely hard to recruit new members and arrest the natural decline in membership due to age, frailty and people passing away, but it wasn’t to be.
“The club will be sadly missed,” she says. “But many wonderful memories remain.”
Investing in our future
The $27 million dollar Castlemaine Secondary College (CSC) redevelopment is officially complete.
Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards visited the school on Wednesday to declare the new look school open.
The four stage project has been a decade in the making.
Ms Edwards has been a driving force behind the redevelopment advocating for funding for each stage of the major project and was proud to open the completed school.
“The school community and the broader Castlemaine community have been looking forward to this day when a when a tired, dated school complex is transformed into a modern, state-of-the-art learning facility,” she said. See the Mail for the full story.
Just Heavenly
Those with a penchant for divine fabrics are likely to be in heaven when they check out the exhibition showing at Castlemaine’s Upstairs Gallery.
Since Heavenly opened last month in this local gallery above Run Rabbit Run Café on Hargraves Street, it’s been drawing a steady throng of visitors from all over the state.
Vintage clothing and ephemera from life’s significant religious occasions are the focus of this exhibition which collector-curator Peter Bottomley has assembled, motivated by a passion for history and fine couture.
“It’s the stories behind them which really add to the richness of the items,” he says.
Included are treasured first communion and baptism ephemera, exquisite vintage wedding attire and, poignantly, custom-made mourning clothing and intricate accessories. Read more in today’s Mail …
Wombat trophy that went viral
It’s the trophy that this week got the tennis world talking – and it was designed and made by Yapeen local Ron Murray.
As everyone who’s been following the tennis knows, Ash Barty has another trophy in her ever-expanding cabinet – and this one’s likely the most unique of them all.
When the world number one signaled her intent ahead of the Australian Open with a straight-sets victory over Garbine Muguruza to clinch last Sunday’s final of the Yarra Valley Classic warm-up event, she was presented with the prize.
The trophy commissioned by Tennis Australia and designed and made by Yapeen Indigenous artist and muso Ron Murray. Read more in today’s Mail…
Police call to report culprits … quick
Three youths were caught on the spot when their vandalism at a Castlemaine primary school in recent days caught the attention of a member of the public who was quick to report it to police.
The three youths were apprehended after a member of the public heard glass bottles being smashed at Castlemaine North Primary, police said.
The incident illustrates the importance of being quick to report vandalism or graffiti while it’s still happening, says Acting Senior Sergeant Gary Walter at Castlemaine. Get the full story in the Mail …
Top effort by CDCA young guns
The Castlemaine District Cricket Association’s Under 17 Kirton Shield side lost its grand final showdown against rivals Ballarat last Sunday January 31 despite a determined effort.
CDCA coach Brian Brasher said that it was a great effort by the team to make the final.
“Hopefully we can take one step further next year,” Brasher said.
“Over the carnival there were some great individual performances.
However, it was the teamwork and team spirit that made us successful over the week and I congratulate all of our players on the way they
represented the CDCA with pride,” he said. See the Mail for the full story.
Wake up and smell the groceries
Tom Allen, Welshmans Reef
A note in response to the ‘No Supermarket in Forest Street’ group endeavouring to influence/ gain momentum in the community.
I put it to you that it is ultimately up to the Woolworths Corporation as to where this supermarket is located as it is this entity that is, after all, the one throwing the bucks around.
The word ‘location’ is commonly utilised within the property market and in this case is no exception: ‘Location is key’
The Forest Street location would be an obvious choice preference for Woolworths as it accesses the Melbourne to Bendigo traffic streams (via Castlemaine).
As far as putting the supermarket “in Campbells Creek or Harcourt” as some suggest, the chain would rightly argue that it is going to receive shoppers from these areas anyway. Also shoppers from: Chewton, Elphinstone, Newstead, Guildford, Muckleford and districts etc.
It desires a centralised location for enhanced traffic and is ultimately focused on upon profit driven motivations.
I here state the obvious in pointing out that people appreciate the convenience of:
A. Local shopping
B. Reasonable prices
C. Diversity in choice in a supermarket.
To the Forest Street crew, keep complaining about it if you so desire (it is, after all, your democratic right to do so). But, to have some impact here, you will need to accumulate some savvy with regard to the company’s mindset.
Become a volunteer
With Victoria returning to a state of normal after the Covid-19 lockdowns and tourism on the rise our local tourist information centres are looking to boost their volunteer pools.
Mount Alexander Shire Council is currently seeking Expressions of Interest from community members who would like to take on volunteer roles at their tourist information centres at the Historic Market Building in Castlemaine and Maldon Visitor Centre. See the Mail for more…