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Fancy Chooks take flight

By
Lisa Dennis
-
Newstead's 'Chicken Man' Graeme Elshaug is pictured with one of his prized Welsummer roosters and some of his flock.

Forget toilet paper, over the last couple of months the hot new Covid commodity has been chooks!
The Mail caught up with Newstead local and Farmers Market regular Graeme Elshaug of Fancy Chooks on Wednesday to chat about the demand for domestic birds and how loads of families and young couples have been flocking to local markets to purchase chooks for their backyards.


Graeme has had a passion for chooks since he was a youngster.
“My Nana Martin, my mum and her sisters had chooks and my mentor Jack McPherson got me started breeding pure bred Australorp when I was just nine,” Graeme said.
“My mum and I used to attend all the agriculture shows. Mum used to enter her flowers, preserves and cooking and I’d take my chooks.”


Fifty six years later that passion continues.
Graeme and business partner Bill Wouda have been run off their feet since just before the crisis hit.

You can catch Fancy Chooks at the monthly Castlemaine Farmers’ Market tomorrow at Western Reserve. See the Mail for the full story. Out Now.

The Welsummer hens lay a chocolate brown coloured egg.

Maternity service pledge

By
Lisa Dennis
-

The Castlemaine Health Board of Management has accepted and endorsed the final Maternity Service Review report and its recommendations to ensure the return of maternity services to Castlemaine Health as soon as possible. 


The review recommends a new model of maternity care, along with new clinical and governance processes. The reviewers have advised that, due to concerns about the potential risks associated with the current model of care, the service remain suspended until the key recommendations are addressed. It is hoped the service can resume within six months.


The virtual board meeting on Monday evening was attended by the GP obstetricians, members of the public and Safer Care Victoria.
Board Chair Margaret (Peggy) Ronnau told the community members and doctors present that “every board member is totally committed to the implementation of the recommendations of the independent report ensuring the maternity service can re-open as soon as possible.”


The next key steps include the appointment of a Clinical Lead – Midwifery; the appointment of a Project Officer to assist Castlemaine Health to transition to the new model of care; the establishment of a a Midwifery Governance Committee to oversee the implementation of the recommendations and transition to the new model of care and the establishment of a maternity Community Consultative Committee including between six and 10 community members. See today’s Mail for the full story and comment from Castlemaine Health, local GPs, Support Birthing at Castlemaine Health and Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards. Out Now.

Joyce claims 53!

By
Lisa Dennis
-

Mount Alexander Golf Club stalwart Joyce Smith has claimed her 53rd Ladies Championship at the club.
The long time member claimed the win after the final round of competition on Tuesday this week once again writing her name in the history books – winning 53 championships in 55 years.


Fellow club member Jean Carmichael said its an incredible feat that may never be surpassed.
“It’s an amazing effort. We are extremely proud of Joyce and warmly congratulate her,” Jean said.


Joyce said playing at her beloved club has been a joy.
“I just love it. The people are the greatest you will find anywhere and the course is looking the best it has in years thanks to the hard work of our volunteers,” she said.


Joyce said the key to her success has been practice.
“I don’t mind practicing. In fact I really enjoy it. I think that if you want to be good at anything it takes practice,” the golfer said. See the Mail for more local sport news. Out Now.

Thanks to our wonderful businesses

By
Lisa Dennis
-

Margaret Grey, Castlemaine

We appreciate all those businesses which have managed to stay open during the current crisis to keep our lives safe and comfortable e.g. medical practices, the post office, supermarkets, butchers, fruiterers, shops selling books, clothes, household items etc.


In addition great compassion is needed for all those cafe proprietors whose businesses have been so drastically affected by the covid virus. Some are closed, many are selling only take-away food and drink and nearly all of them are struggling financially.


Perhaps to keep our cafe culture going and vibrant we could give a thank-you card to every establishment we have enjoyed patronising- and even those we haven’t patronised yet. When we deliver a card we could also buy a coffee, cake, savoury snack or take-away meal.


Part of the reason we live in this area is the gregarious sociable atmosphere of local cafes so it is in our own interests to help these businesses survive and happily thrive.

Felt Forward

By
Lisa Dennis
-

One of Castlemaine’s newest imports, talented artist, teacher and author Catherine O’Leary has recently launched her latest book on the art of feltmaking Felt Forward – New Technologies in Feltmaking.


The former Melbourne artist’s favoured medium is a niche but worldwide ancient art form.
Catherine has been pursuing a passion for feltmaking for more than 30 years and is now at the forefront of developments in the art internationally.
Catherine has previously published a title on the subject From Felt to Fabric through publisher Lark Books in the USA in 2011.


This led to opportunities to teach and to present at schools, workshops and events all over the world including throughout Australia and the USA, England, Wales, Ireland, The Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand and South Korea.


During that time she has been continuing to hone and master her craft and is excited to be able to share all she has discovered in her self published new title Felt Forward. See the Mail for the full story. Out Now.

New initiative to support our artists

By
Lisa Dennis
-

Mount Alexander Shire Council is proud to announce the launch of a community driven project called Get Lost to showcase local creatives and is calling on artists, community, the creative sector and investors to get involved. 


Mount Alexander Shire Council’s cultural development officer Vicki Anderson said creative minds across Jaara Country have been collaborating to explore new ways to finance, make and share creative work. 

Ms Anderson said the Get Lost project, launched Tuesday, includes a creative and innovative online platform for makers and creators to collaborate, exchange ideas and share content.


“It also includes a grants program to kick start and generate content development and a philanthropic fund to establish the vital funds needed to support our creatives into the future. 


“This exciting initiative was developed in partnership with the local creative workforce and the timeline has been rapidly accelerated due to COVID-19,” she said.  See the Mail for the full story. Out Now.

Double delight

By
Lisa Dennis
-

Castlemaine Library will build an all new ‘Community Meeting Room’ and the Castlemaine State Festival’s Good Shed Arts Digital Media Program is set to receive a boost to its ‘Digital Goods’ initiative thanks to an injection of funds from the state government.

Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards visited Castlemaine on Tuesday to announce that the two local projects were among 29 successful initiatives to receive funding support under the Victorian Government’s Stronger Regional Communities Program. 
The Stronger Regional Communities Program is designed to support community-led projects that make regional Victoria a better place to live, work and visit. 


Castlemaine Library is set to receive $44, 151 towards its new Community Room and Co-Working Space.
The Digital Goods: Goods Shed Arts Digital Media Program will receive $50,000. See the Mail for the full story. Out Now.

Calls for Barker St Crossing

By
Eve Lamb
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Some of the Castlemaine residents concerned about pedestrian safety at the Barker Street-Parker Street intersection with mayor Cr Christine Henderson (second from right) on site this week. Photo: Eve Lamb

A new pedestrian crossing is planned for Castlemaine’s Barker Street after residents lobbied the council complaining that the main thoroughfare’s busy intersection with Parker Street is unsafe.
Some 180 local residents signed a petition calling for a pedestrian safety crossing, or island, to be installed at the busy intersection that is a main turnoff to
several Castlemaine attractions including the botanical gardens and Mill complex.
Now it looks as though their calls are being heard with $500,000 in Mount Alexander Shire Council’s newly proposed 2020-21 budget earmarked for a pedestrian crossing.
A number of residents this week told the Mail they are worried the Barker Street-Parker Street intersection is an accident waiting to happen with pedestrians unable to properly see approaching cars due to the lay of the land at that point.
“Definitely something needs to be done,” said one petition supporter, local resident Silvana Messing.
“Crossing here is very dangerous,” another, Julia Scoglio, said.
Another, Mary Fairburn, said she was keen to also see the speed limit reduced on this section of Barker Street.
“It should be dropped from 60km to 50km,” she said.
Mayor Cr Christine Henderson met and spoke with residents at the busy intersection earlier this week after the matter was again discussed around the council table at the council’s June meeting last week.
Cr Henderson noted that the council has recently received $1.1 million in federal economic stimulus funding for local roads and infrastructure and that $500,000 of that sum is now earmarked in the newly proposed budget for a pedestrian crossing.
“Regional Roads Victoria has already done a design for a crossing,” Cr Henderson said.
“We’ve been trying to find a grant to build a crossing for quite a few years so this is a beautiful opportunity to build a crossing that is essential before there is a horrible accident.”
The Mail now understands that while it’s expected the build will be able to happen next year it’s most likely to be positioned just a little south of the Parker Street intersection – closer to the nearby Castlemaine North Primary School.

Tickled Pink!

By
Lisa Dennis
-

Touched by the plight of customers and friends impacted by breast cancer, Castlemaine hairdresser Gabrielle Bertoni-Marshall of Mostyn Street salon Tu To Per Te Hairstylists recently pledged to shave her head to raise funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF). 


Gabrielle’s team members at Tu To Per Te also pledged to wear pink or colour their hair pink for the cause and are absolutely thrilled to report they have absolutely smashed their modest fundraising goal.
Gabrielle, who sacrificed her locks on Monday June 8, said she had initially hoped to raise $1000.


“I thought I might make $500, but as of Wednesday this week we have almost quadrupled our goal raising $3730 and the donations keep pouring in. It’s just fantastic!” Gabrielle said. See the Mail for the full story. Out Now.

Tune in!

By
Lisa Dennis
-

MAINfm’s week long Radiothon fundraiser event kicks off Saturday June 20, with popular program Star Spangled Bangers broadcasting live from the MAINfm studios. 
Joining the program from ‘The Taproom’ at Shedshaker Brewing at 7.30pm will be Castlemaine’s renowned PubSing group. Choir leaders Doug Falconer, Briony Phillips and Steph Carson (pictured) will lead the Pubsing faithful in a special virtual choir performance of radiothon theme ‘Here Comes the Sun’.

To find out how to get involved visit mainfm.net or see the PubSing Castlemaine Facebook page.

Creek Remembers

By
Lisa Dennis
-

2020 marks 30 years since the Campbells Creek Football Netball Club made the history books with a legendary 100 goal haul against Primrose Football Club in the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League (MCDFNL) on June 23, 1990.


While the Coronavirus pandemic has put a halt on Creek’s 30th anniversary celebrations, planned for next week, the club is extremely proud to still retain its Guinness World Record for the highest score kicked in an Aussie Rules game three decades after that fateful day.


The club’s senior team booted a staggering 100 goals and 34 points to score a massive total of 634 points and register a 616 point victory rival Primrose 3-9 (18). 
The effort saw 16 goal kickers in the 20 man squad contribute to the score.
Campbells Creek FNC secretary Marg Stevens said they while they are disappointed they can’t follow up their 10 year and 20 year reunions with a 30 year event, it is still a feat they can be incredibly proud of.


Campbells Creek also held second spot on the Top 10 Highest Scores list up until 2019 when Greater Western FNC knocked them down to third position.
“It’s pretty amazing to still hold two spots in the top 10,” Stevens said. See the Mail for the full story. Out Now.

Take the first step

By
Lisa Dennis
-

This week is Men’s Health Week (June 15-21) and HALT (Hope Assistance Local Tradies) suicide prevention charity founder Jeremy Forbes is urging local men to put their health at the forefront and seek help if they need it. 
Jeremy said it is important men look after their mental, physical and financial health and reach out to seek assistance if they need it.


“Every week is Men’s Health Week in my view. But this is a great opportunity to highlight the importance of looking after yourself and taking that first step towards reclaiming your health,” Forbes said.


“Some people have been battling with their physical health since being in lockdown – they may not have been exercising or they may have been drinking too much, some may be struggling mentally and others may be stressing about their finances if they have lost their job due to Covid or their business has faced a downturn,” he said.


“There is plenty of help at hand so I urge you to reach out and if you are worried about your mate, spouse or partner start a conversation. See the Mail for the full story. Out Now.

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