Local action group ‘Friends of Castlemaine Community Health’ are holding an emergency meeting regarding CHIRP’s future next Monday February 10 and urge community members to get along and show their support for the much loved local institution.
The meeting at the Castlemaine Town Hall is a follow-up to a public meeting held in October and aims to continue the campaign to save Mount Alexander Shire’s independent community health service (CHIRP). See the Mail for more.
Emergency meeting called
New kinder for Harcourt
The first day of kinder proved an extra exciting one for the children of Harcourt Pre School with the announcement that Harcourt will
have a brand new kindergarten by the end of the year! See the Mail for the full story.
Chance to get into gardening

You don’t need to have a garden to get into gardening as a new course that’s soon to start at Castlemaine Community House proves.
Leading the eight-session Get Into Gardening course is qualified permaculture designer Rayna Fahey.
“It’s everything from soil to harvest, to seeds for next year,” says Rayna who previously ran a western Melbourne community plant nursery – that featured on ABCs Gardening Australia.
Now, Rayna and her family farm fresh produce on their 27 acre property at Drummond.
Rayna is passionate about what she does and says the wish many people experience to get their hands into the soil and grow their own healthy food seems to be part of a wider shift in awareness about the way we live and the impact we have on the planet.
“Every week we’ll do a little bit of theory and a lot of practice in the garden and people will have some homework to do in their own space,” she says.
Those who sign up for the course don’t even need to have their own garden as such – “because you can garden anywhere including in a pot,” Rayna says. More in today’s Castlemaine Mail, Friday, January 31, 2020.
Cannons into semis
The Castlemaine Cannons Country Basketball League (CBL) side have had a stellar season and are now poised to take on the Maryborough Blazers in the CBL semi finals this Saturday February 1. The match at the Maryborough Sports and Leisure Centre will commence at 8pm. Local fans are urged to make the trek to Maryborough to get behind the local boys. Go Cannons!
AM for Rae
Castlemaine resident Rae Kingsbury was honoured
as a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2020 Australia Day Awards.
Her AM honour is for significant service to the
international community of Timor-Leste. See today’s Mail for the full story.
Lions lend a hand
The Castlemaine Lions Club has made a generous donation to Castlemaine Health. See the Mail for more.
Calling all artists
Castlemaine Secondary College is seeking expressions of interest from established, emerging, or mid-career artists, who live in the Mount Alexander Shire to be their next Artist-In-Residence. See the Mail for the full story.
Hands off our diving bell
Jack Jefferies, Castlemaine
My background locally: I am 92 years old and I was born in the upstairs front room of building no. 184 Barker Street. I was educated at the Castlemaine South and the Castlemaine High School. My family has been in various businesses in Castlemaine for 107 years and is presently continuing. I suggest the above facts qualify me to write as a Castlemaine resident and I do so forthwith.
I’ve heard from a reliable source that plans are being drawn up to remove the iconic diving bell presently located in our magnificent Market (Building) to another town in the shire. This will cost the ratepayers (you and me) great expense as special heavy duty lifting equipment will be required to make the shift.
The contract to manufacture the diving bell was awarded to Thompson’s Foundry against strong competition from other Australian firms. It was crafted by skilful and dedicated tradesmen in the specialised shops that made up the foundry.
The diving bell was designed to recover gold bullion from the ‘S.S. Niagara’ which was sunk off New Zealand by German mines during World War II. A remarkable 98 per cent of the gold was salvaged. On present day prices the gold would be valued at many millions of dollars.
I say it is outrageous to make moves to relocate the bell after a successful 37 years on display in our most impressive civic building.
Readers can readily see that the story is also part of the gold history of our grand old town.
I urge all readers of this letter to demand that plans to relocate the bell be scrapped.
Editor’s Note: See story on this subject on page 9 of today’s Castlemaine Mail, Friday, January 31, 2020.
Newstead lookin’ lively!

Newstead ramps up the volume and pulses into life this long weekend as the town hosts its liveliest event of the year – Newstead Live.
Live music on the four-day program ranges from the legendary like folk fav Eric Bogle to the young and international like 21-year-old Irish twin act The Ocelots.
Among those raring to hit the Newstead Live stage are Castlemaine’s own all girl six-piece outfit Stop That Mammoth who are among the 40 diverse acts set to play venues scattered throughout the leafy little township.
“We’re feeling the love,” Stop That Mammoth saxophone player Amy Ferguson says. Full story today’s Castlemaine Mail. Friday, January 24, 2020.
Green Gully speed limit outcry

The little echidna was slumped on its back, dead beside the road, paws limp and useless, snout that just a short while ago so successfully hunted ants, now chewed off by the very ants it had pursued.
This tiny tragedy, unnoticed by most zooming past in their vehicles, happened this week on the Pyrenees Highway at Green Gully – just out of Newstead.
The little animal’s body was still limp indicating it had not long ago been struck, when the Mail, here to meet locals calling for the speed limit to be reduced, noticed it.
Locals like Janet Barker, Cecile Ueerts, Saide Gray and Chris Johnston, who’ve lived at Green Gully for many years, say there’s a worryingly high incidence of near misses on this 4.4 km stretch of the Pyrenees Highway where they’re stepping up efforts to have the speed limit lowered.
They’re now calling on Mount Alexander Shire Council to help them in their long-running efforts to work with VicRoads to have the limit dropped to 80 km. Full story in today’s Castlemaine Mail, Friday, January 24, 2020.
Big week in tennis
The Castlemaine Lawn Tennis Club are throwing open their doors to everyone during the Australian Open from 10am to 7pm daily.
Why not pop down for a hit with friends or family and take in some of the tennis action and buzz? The club welcomes players of all ages and experience.
Next Friday night, January 31 the Lawn club will also be hosting a celebration barbecue and a night of tennis as they switch on their new lights. See the Mail for more.
Forever homes
PETstock Castlemaine will play host to local animal rescue organisation Mount Alexander Animal Welfare (MAAW) as part of National Pet
Adoption Day on Saturday February 15. See the Mail for the full story.