Good things are brewing at Castlemaine Goldfields Football Club as the senior women took to the field on Mother’s Day. It was the perfect Mother’s Day gift as the women convincingly defeated ETA Buffalo — second on the ladder going into the game! See the Mail for the full story and all the latest sports news…
Accessing the Big Build
How can we strategically access the state government’s Big Build funding to invest in social housing?
As part of the Mount Alexander Shire Accommodation & Respite Group’s (MASARG) A Home of My Own community conversations, representatives of the My Home Network and Castlemaine Rotary joined the committee recently in posing this question to Ken Marchingo AM, recently retired CEO of HAVEN Home Safe.
Speaking in a private capacity and tapping into his amazing knowledge of the housing industry with an emphasis on social housing and homelessness, Ken provided an excellent overview of what does and doesn’t work well in the current regulatory framework, reminding MASARG supporters that they need to work within it regardless of their quest for change. See the Mail for the full story.
Funding boost for CSC
Castlemaine Secondary College will receive $72,253 for an Outdoor Inclusive Learning Space, including new outdoor equipment and landscaping.
Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards visited the school on Monday to announce the new funding allocation from the state government’s Inclusive Schools Fund that ensures students with disabilities get the same opportunities as other students.
The Castlemaine project is one of 74 being funded across the state as part of $12.5 million Round Six allocation, which will help build more schools build inclusive play areas, sensory gardens and outdoor learning areas to support students with disabilities and additional needs. See the Mail for the full story.
Cornish history collection 'comes home'
The largest collection of Cornish reference and genealogical material to be found outside of Cornwall has found a new home right here in Castlemaine.
The prized library resource belonging to the Cornish Association of Victoria Incorporated (CAV) was safely transferred to the Castlemaine Historical Society headquarters at the Former Courthouse in Goldsmith Crescent earlier this week. See the Mail for more.
Small towns boost
The townships of Newstead, Guildford and Chewton are celebrating this week with news Mount Alexander Shire Council will receive $1.4 million from the state government towards their long-awaited streetscape rejuvenation projects.
Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards visited Newstead on Wednesday to announce the funding for the completion of the shire’s Small Town Streetscapes Renewal Program.
The project is among a suite of initiatives supported by this year’s Regional Infrastructure Fund – Stimulus Round, which aims to revitalise local economies while we continue our steady recovery from the global pandemic by creating jobs while improving tourism and community infrastructure. See the Mail for the full story.
Call to fund trail's 'missing link'
Keen users of the Campbells Creek-Castlemaine Walking and Cycling Trail are calling for a council budget allocation to enable the trail’s “missing link” to be completed. Read more in today’s Mail…
Celebrating community
Deborah Coulthard, Castlemaine
I hope BJ Read writes letters more often as s/he wrote so movingly and rationally about the destruction of the old oaks in Newstead. How indeed, can we feel serious about global warming when private land owners can just destroy old, healthy trees without good reason?
Thank you to BJ Read for your measured approach regarding the need for development and the unnecessary removal of landmarks like those old trees that brought beauty, shade and oxygen to Newstead.
I also wish to commend Phee Broadway for her moving piece on her friend Marysia Segan. Marysia’s story is remarkable and after such losing her mother to Nazis, losing her chosen profession, losing her daughter, losing her husband, she continued on in service to others. If not for the Castlemaine Mail, I would not have read that story.
That leads to my third point: so many local papers collapsed recently. I wish to applaud our ‘Mail’ and implore readers to keep subscribing and to spread the word to others who do not know the value of this marvellous local paper. It is an important part of the web that forms our community. It helps keep us in touch with each other and to learn of the people who make up this town.
My fourth point! Please put me out of my misery and come along to Evensong at the Anglican Church, cnr Kennedy and Mostyn Sts.
Each month I sit there revelling in the sounds of the most magnificent regional choir in Victoria and wish you were all there enjoying it!! Turn off the tele and come to feed your soul, sing as loudly as you like (or not at all) and enjoy some wine at the end or nick straight home (it is only an hour) but just come!
Maternity service reopens
The Castlemaine community gathered to rejoice and celebrate on Monday this week as Castlemaine Health’s Maternity Service was officially re-opened.
Many of those who helped work behind the scenes to see the service re-opened gathered at Castlemaine Health’s cafe on Monday to see Victoria’s acting Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Adjunct Professor Tanya Farrell, officially declare the new look service open.
See the Mail for the full story.
New home, new era
The team at the Castlemaine Mail have settled into our new home at 13 Hargraves Street.
We had plenty to celebrate this week with our new signage going up and our historic newspaper celebrating its 167th birthday on Thursday!
The first edition of our predecessor the Mount Alexander Mail came off the press on May 6, 1854 at 107 Mostyn Street and the paper has been proudly bringing Castlemaine and surrounding districts their local news ever since! See the Mail for the full story. Out Now.
Tree-mendous effort!
A towering English Oak (Quercus robur) at Castlemaine’s Botanical Gardens has been named the 2021 Victorian Tree of the Year by the National Trust of Australia (Victoria).
Also known as the ‘Royal Oak’, the tree was planted in 1863 to celebrate the marriage of the Prince and Princess of Wales. This stunning tree now stands at 22 metres tall with a canopy of over 35 metres, and is the oldest tree in the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens. See the Mail for the full story.
Rookies inducted
Castlemaine Football Netball Club (CFNC) inducted the first members of its ‘Rookie’ program on Tuesday night. The program acknowledges individual efforts across preseason, natural ability and club spirit.
With six initial nominees the program is designed to grow throughout the season and for players to make the list as they compete for the ‘Kane Farrell Award’ each year.
Kane Farrell played junior football at Castlemaine before getting drafted to Port Adelaide in the AFL and this program promotes a pathway through the premier club in the region.
Kane’s proud dad and club stalwart Stephen Farrell was in attendance at the clubrooms on Tuesday night to see the first Rookies inducted into the inaugural program. See the Mail for the full story.
Anzacs honoured
Our Anzacs were honoured at services across the region on Anzac Day. Community members turning out in force to show their respects after Covid-19 forced the cancellation of public services in 2020. Whilst morning teas and gunfire breakfasts did not go ahead locals were pleased to be able to once again attend local services.
