Life has become far more comfortable for local fire spotter Peter Skilbeck since the brand new observation cabin was craned into place atop the historic Mount Tarrengower fire spotter’s tower.
As Mr Skilbeck celebrates the Maldon tower’s 95th anniversary this weekend he will be doing so in comparative luxury from 20 metres up – with a view of about 100 km in all directions.
His vantage point is one of 74 towers strategically sited across the state, enabling spotters to detect the first signs of fire.
“Isn’t this lovely – space,” said the pleased fire spotter as the Castlemaine Mail nervously surmounted the final stretch of runged steel ladder to pay him a visit earlier this week. Full story in today’s Castlemaine Mail …
Fire spotting luxury
Defibrillator win
After entering a competition to win a defibrillator for all hours public access in Castlemaine, staff and volunteers at Castlemaine District Community Health are celebrating.
Back in November community health nurse with the local health service, Bronwyn Grieve, led the push to gather signatures and enter the competition run by Australian Hearts.
In recent days they received the good news – they’d won a brand new defibrillator valued at about $3000.
The thing that makes this defibrillator such a community win is that it is now destined to be installed in a public location in Castlemaine, making it to available to anyone who needs it 24/7. Full story in today’s Castlemaine Mail …
New beginnings
User groups received the keys to the new multi-purpose pavilion at Wesley Hill Recreation Reserve this week. See the Castlemaine Mail for more.
Australia Day events
You’re invited to join your community at Australia Day events this year in Castlemaine, Maldon, Harcourt and Faraday. For details see the Castlemaine Mail.
Kitchen facelift for Maldon RSL
The Maldon RSL sub branch is currently undergoing a kitchen makeover with thanks to $10,504 in funding from the Federal Government. See the Castlemaine Mail for more.
Close encounter!
Families got the chance to meet creatures both cute and curious in a close-up encounter with Australian wildlife from Wildlife Gone Walkabout at the Castlemaine Library. See the Castlemaine Mail for more.
Anyone for ice cream?
When the temperature soars – so does demand for ice cream.
As home-grown Castlemaine business, Icecream Social prepares to open a brand new metro outlet in Thornbury, this week’s blast of summer heat has seen their small batch ice creams, gelato and sorbets in hot demand. Full story in today’s Mail…
Women who fight fires
Fighting fires was once the preserve of the blokes in the brigade, but these days it’s nothing unusual for the person on the end of the hose to be a woman.
This week the Mail catches up with some of the women of the local Castlemaine and Harcourt brigades – all longtime volunteers – to gain insights into their experiences as firies on the front line. Full story in today’s Castlemaine Mail …
Tours bring history to life
Countless intriguing stories and characters have long lain buried in Castlemaine Cemetery at Campbells Creek but now a new tour is about to bring quite few of them back to life.
Starting this month colourful local guides, miner Andrew O’Reilly (aka Castlemaine’s Andrew Le Clercq) and school mistress Miss Myrtle (aka Elphinstone’s Helen Gramberg) will lead visitors on the Saturday evening tours, introducing them to some of the remarkable people interred in the historic resting place. Catch our full story in today’s Castlemaine Mail…
Ready to race
The Camp Reserve will be a hive of activity tomorrow January 5 for the annual Castlemaine Gift twilight race meeting. See today’s Mail for the full story…
MAAW Coffee Bar opens
Mount Alexander Animal Welfare (MAAW) has unveiled its newest venture – Pause at MAAW Coffee Bar. See today’s Mail for the full story.
Time ripe to cherry pick
This Sunday is a special one out at Harcourt’s Blackwood Orchard cherry and berry farm.
Owners Colin and Suzanne Pickering are opening the gate to their Big Block with members of the public invited to come and pick their own chemical-free cherries. Full details in today’s Castlemaine Mail…