Former Victorian premier Steve Bracks has officially opened The Paddock, Castlemaine’s cutting-edge environmental housing development.
Mt Alexander CEO Darren Fuzzard, mayor Cr Christine Henderson, and executive director of the Living Future Institute Stephen Choi were among guests attending yesterday’s launch on site.
Mr Bracks, who is also a former member of Friends of The Earth, has earlier connections to The Paddock developers Neil and Heather Barrett and hailed The Paddock as “a truly inspirational community response to the climate crisis” while also bemoaning what he regards as a failure by the current federal government to take adequate steps to address the global issue.
The former state premier congratulated the Mount Alexander Shire Council for backing the innovating housing project where stage one is now complete and the first seven residences have sold.
“It will be an example to the world that while our federal government has its head in the sand our community is helping to mitigate climate change bit by bit,” Mr Bracks said before planting a commemorative tree on site.
Designed to set the bar high on environmental values and act as an example for other building projects, The Paddock is built according to the rigorous Living Building Challenge standard which Mr Choi, founder of Architecture For Change, outlined as he addressed the launch.
“This is how we actually make change,” Mr Choi said on site describing the project as an example of “not actually damaging the world and giving back more than we take”. More in today’s Castlemaine Mail, Friday, December 6, 2019
Bracks launches The Paddock
Lions lend their support
The Castlemaine Lions Club has presented Castlemaine Health with a new wheelchair to be utilised at its aged care facility Ellery House. Catch last Friday’s Mail for the full story.
RSL gift
The Castlemaine Returned Services League (RSL) has been presented with a very special art work by renowned local artist Geoff Hocking thanks to a generous group of individuals within the Castlemaine Rotary Club. Catch the story in last Friday’s Mail.
Local swimmers make a splash
Castlemaine Amateur Swimming Club stars Jemma Cole and Andreas Ginis have been busy representing their local club at swim meets across the state.
Young gun Andreas Ginis, 12, recently made a superb return to the pool and qualified to represent District 15 at the InterDistrict Championships at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC).
Meanwhile fellow club member Jemma Cole, 16, recently represented the club at the National Short Course Championships. See last Friday’s Mail for the full story.
Adam claims state title
Castlemaine BMX rider Adam Ahearne claimed state championship honours after a top performance at the Victorian State Championships at Casey BMX Club on November 23 and 24.
The 36-year-old had a stellar day on the track on the Saturday to claim a silver medal and 2nd place plate in the 24 inch 30-34 men’s Cruiser Class. He backed his form up on Sunday to go one better, winning all his heats and claiming a gold medal and a hallowed 1st place plate in the 20 inch 35-39 men’s class. See last Friday’s Mail for the full story.
Bold new mural for The Mill
Courage is contagious asserts the new mural, freshly completed this week on a prominent wall at The Mill, Castlemaine.
Splashed in musk pink on the wall opposite the Taproom beer garden, and depicting a feisty young climate striker, it’s a message that’s both uplifting and hard to ignore.
It’s also both a gift from the artist who created it – Melbourne based Baby Guerrilla – and a nod to the climate strike movement and the young people driving it.
“It’s about children showing more courage, leadership, initiative than the people who are paid to lead us,” said Baby Guerrilla who chose to bring the work to Castlemaine as hometown for the founding members of the School Strike For Climate (SS4C) movement in Australia.
“It’s about action on climate change,” she said on site yesterday.
“We’ve got a prime minister twiddling his thumbs while Australia’s literally burning. Full story in today’s Castlemaine Mail Friday, November 29, 2019.
Buda yarn bombed for traditional arts fair
They’re a mysterious lot the Bendigo Yarn Bombers.
Not disclosing their identity is part of the mystique behind their super colourful yarn based bomb “attacks” which often target prominent infrastructure and assets.
This time Castlemaine’s historic Buda Home and Garden was in their line of fire as they helped add a blast of their colour-filled, yarn-fueled fun to the imposing property as it gets set to host this Sunday’s Traditional Arts Fair.
“It was a surprise for us,” Buda secretary Pat Grumont said as the yarn bombers focused their bombing efforts on the Buda Garden Room where the results will now remain on display during this Sunday’s fair.
“But it’s and honour to be bombed,” Pat added.
Following the success of last year’s fair, Buda is again preparing to showcase traditional arts, cooking and gardening in the spirit of the creative Leviny family that once resided at Buda. Full story in today’s Castlemaine Mail, Friday, November 22, 2019
Race the Train returns
Bike riders are bracing to take on the train in a contest of stamina against steam as the unique Race the Train event makes a return to Castlemaine and Maldon tomorrow.
After a hiatus last year the unique event is back with a full head of steam and a new management team – namely Melbourne based Sport Projects which has now taken on running the race.
“The core element of this event is fantastic. It’s super unique,” says Sport Projects managing director Steve Peterson who’s keen to see the 19 km bike VS train race grow in profile as a significant attraction.
Race the Train provides cyclists with a rare chance to race the vintage Victorian Goldfields Railway steam train on the 19km scenic course from Castlemaine to Maldon.
“We’d have more than 300 entries at this stage which is a good sign,” Steve told the Mail. Full story in today’s Castlemaine Mail, Friday, November 2019
She Shares luncheon
Local women with an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer are invited the next Pink Hope ‘She Shares’ event to be held at the picturesque Providence Gully venue at Sandon this Sunday November 17.
Pink Hope provides support to women and families that are at increased risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer due to genetic mutations, or because of strong family histories.
The charity has recently started running the She Shares events, which are designed for high risk women to meet, chat, laugh, cry and just share their stories.
The first Central Victorian event was held at The Stables in Guildford in May and attracted a handful of local women.
Local Outreach Ambassador and She Shares event organiser Shelley Watson hopes even more women will join them this weekend.
“After undertaking a preventative risk-reducing bilateral mastectomy in 2015, I know how important it is to make connections with women who are in similar situations and how vital these relationships have become and will continue to be throughout my journey,” Shelley said.
Providence Gully have kindly donated the venue for the event and Kristin at the North Kitchen will be catering.
“I encourage local women to join us for a lovely luncheon. It’s a great opportunity to meet and chat to other women in a similar situation,” Shelley said.
To register for the event visit www.pinkhope.org.au Registration is just
$10 and includes the luncheon and a goodie bag. For more information about She
Shares contact Shelley on 0438 006 913.
75 and going strong! Harcourt fireys celebrate
Things have changed a fair bit since the earliest days of the Harcourt fire brigade.
Back then 75 years ago people unlucky enough to be faced with a fire could expect the local brigade volunteers to turn out in an old lend-lease ex army Chevrolet.
These days a call-out to the fireys out Harcourt way is likely to be met with a high tech tanker fully equipped with computers and hydraulic gear.
This weekend the big changes that have happened over the past seven decades will give pause for thought as the brigade celebrates its 75th anniversary with a presentation dinner tomorrow evening at the Harcourt Leisure Centre, followed by a public open day at the Harcourt fire station this Sunday.
Brigade members are inviting everyone to get along to the fire station at High Street, Harcourt between 10am – 2pm on Sunday to enjoy the free sausage sizzle, memorabilia and equipment displays, special anniversary souvenirs including wine glasses, coffee mugs and coasters – and kids entertainment as well.
Among today’s long-serving volunteers, Peter Wilson has been with the Harcourt CFA for 61 years and laughs as he recounts a few of the changes that have taken place in his time with the brigade.
“We’d use either the old lend-lease chevvie or an old Austin truck and we’d have to use a hand pump to fill it,” he says. Full story in today’s Castlemaine Mail, Friday, November 8, 2019
Play space captures the imagination
Did you catch our story about the opening of the new play space in Victory Park? The new play space has certainly got a work out since its official opening with youngsters loving the flying fox, climbing boulders, balance beams, accessible carousel and basket swing. The play space also includes a shadow wall featuring an indigenous design by Nalderun, a grinding stone and a yabby sculpture with Bunjil overhead on the shade sails. See last week’s Mail for the full story.
HALT goes national
Local suicide prevention group HALT (Hope Assistance Local Tradies) took their message to Canberra recently staging one of their renowned ‘Save Your Bacon’ brekkie events at Parliament House. Catch last Friday’s Mail for the full story.
