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Just nuts about chestnuts!

By
Eve Lamb
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“The Chestnut Man” Henry Kovacevic, was warming hearts and souls with his Glenlyon-grown roast chestnuts at this week's Castlemaine Farmers' Market held at its wet weather venue of Camp Reserve on Wednesday. The local farmers' market is a prime example of a local enterprise that's been able to endure despite the rolling lockdowns. Photo: Eve Lamb

Eve Lamb



It may have been brrrrisk but the loyal legion of customers were not about to miss Castlemaine’s mid-week farmers’ market on Wednesday.
Adding to the enticing reasons to beat a bee-line to the regular weekly event, Henry Kovacevic, aka “The Chestnut Man” was offering some particularly warming incentives.
Roasting this season’s chestnuts grown at his Glenlyon orchard, Henry’s stall was among the many keenly sought out by loyal customers.
Henry was a man clearly enjoying his work.
“My main base is the Daylesford market on Sunday but I’ve been at this market for this year and last year, and I have found many chestnut lovers at this market and they keep seeking me out,” he said.
Beating the bleak conditions, he was offering not just fresh roasted chestnuts, but also warming mulled wine while simultaneously making further use of his roaster to toast marshmallow skewers for any market-going sweet-tooths as well.
“The mulled wine is a secret recipe I’ve acquired from the Italian Sports Club of Werribee after three years of supplying them chestnuts for their annual chestnut and porchetta function I winkled the recipe out of them,” he chuckled.
Henry grows the chestnuts on two acres at Glenlyon where he has 60 mature trees. Get the full story in today’s Mail…

Rolling up: vaccination update

By
Eve Lamb
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Castlemaine Health Director Nursing Clinical Care Mark Nally and nursing staff at the hospital's busy local COVID-19 vaccination clinic. Photo: Eve Lamb

Eve Lamb
Castlemaine Health has confirmed it is working with Bendigo Health to expand access to the AstraZeneca vaccine to 18-39 year-olds in the Mount Alexander community.
Bendigo Health’s Mass Vaccination Centre began administering AstraZeneca to people aged 18-39 as of Wednesday this week enabling younger people across central Victoria to roll-up their sleeves and receive their coronavirus vaccine.
The Castlemaine Mail contacted Castlemaine Health to determine whether the hospital’s own Castlemaine COVID-19 clinic will likewise be expanding access to the vaccine to the younger age cohort at the local clinic.
The hospital was quick to confirm that it’s currently exploring opportunities to do so.
“We’re meeting with Bendigo Health regularly and will update the community as those discussions progress,” Castlemaine Health Director Nursing Clinical Care Mark Nally said.
Castlemaine Health also confirmed that it has now passed its 3000 mark milestone for COVID-19 vaccinations now administered at its own busy vaccination clinic. Read more in today’s Mail…

Limits tested at Fryerstown

By
Eve Lamb
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Glenda Athey, Chris Athey, Janobai Smith and Haridas Fairchild are among many who have signed a petition calling for speed limit changes to improve safety at Fryerstown. Photo: Eve Lamb

Eve Lamb


Safety concerns have prompted many Fryerstown locals to petition council, calling for speed limit changes for the township.
More than 40 have signed the petition recently presented to the Mount Alexander Shire Council at its July meeting.
“We’d like to see the extension of the 50 km limit from Crocodile Reservoir Road right through to the Campbells Creek-Fryers Road T-intersection,” says Fryerstown resident Glenda Athey, among 44 signatories to the petition.
“We also want the approach to the T-intersection on the Campbells Creek Road to change.
“We’d like to see it reduced to fifty as you’re approaching the T-intersection for safety.
“At the moment people can fly through half of Fryerstown doing 100 km and then it’s suddenly 50km.
“There’s more and more traffic coming through and there’s now a lot more children in Fryerstown,” Mrs Athey says.
“Our motivation is safety. There are children getting on and off busses, concealed driveways…”
The petitioners hope to gain council support in requesting the Department of Transport to have their suggested changes enacted.
It states: “The speed limits are placed in inappropriate places, on crests and approaching bends.
“Cars can travel 100km/h from Chewton right passed the Duke of Cornwall, it then changes to 80km/h on a crest and then immediately down to 50km/h straight after the bend. Get the full story in today’s Mail…



New focus for local charity

By
Lisa Dennis
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Orphfund founder Steve Argent is pictured with the new 'I am Someone' promotional material.
Orphfund founder Steve Argent is pictured with the new 'I am Someone' promotional material.

Castlemaine based charity Orphfund is delighted to announce it has a new name!
After 16 years, they will no longer be OrphFund, as of this very moment they are now known as ‘I am Someone’.
Orphfund founder Steve Argent said the change in name to ‘I am Someone’ marks a shift in focus to enabling an individual child’s dream to become a reality.
“In the beginning our goal was to save the world and help educate every child that needed help. That was always a huge task with 130 million orphans globally,” Argent said.
“We’ve come to realise that these are not one of millions of children who have no name, they are a child who has passions, dreams and goals and who can become anything, given the right support,” he said. See the Mail for the full story.

A local gem!

By
Lisa Dennis
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Pop in and say hello to Wendy and discover the beautiful array of crystals and giftware on offer at Maldon Crystals.
Pop in and say hello to Wendy and discover the beautiful array of crystals and giftware on offer at Maldon Crystals.

Our 2021 Castlemaine Mail ‘Golden Ticket’ promotion continues this week! You will discover the seventh piece of the puzzle in today’s edition.
This year’s promotion has been proudly supported by Maldon Crystals.
The relatively new business opened its doors in High Street at the entrance to Maldon in November 2020 and is a new venture for Maldon Lolly Shop operators Wendy McLean and Chris Clark.
Maldon Crystals stock a wide array of crystals renowned for their various healing properties, lamps, aromatherapy, candles, skincare and essential oils and a beautiful range of giftware including stunning crystal inspired soaps. The business also has oracle and tarot cards and supporting literature and offers regular in-house tarot card readings.
Maldon Crystals has also introduced personalised bra-fitting sessions with Intimo.
“I really wanted to offer services that you can’t find locally and that help customers look and feel great,” she said.
To be in the running to win a share of $5000 to spend at Maldon Crystals or one of our 20 other Golden Ticket businesses all you need do is collect the nine puzzle pieces which will appear in Mail over the nine weeks and paste them to the back of your ‘Golden Ticket’! First prize is $3000, second prize $1000 and third and fourth prize winners will receive $500 each.
Once you’ve collected all nine puzzle pieces, drop your lucky ticket off at the Mail office or post it to us at 13 Hargraves Street, Castlemaine.
You can enter as many times as you like but you must use the original golden ticket and puzzle pieces. You can obtain back copies of the Mail from our office when restrictions ease. See the Mail for more details. Out Now.

Footy returns

By
Lisa Dennis
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Magpie recruit Liam Wilkinson has had a stellar year for Castlemaine. Photo: Peter Banko.
Magpie recruit Liam Wilkinson has had a stellar year for Castlemaine. Photo: Peter Banko.

Bendigo Football Netball League (BFNL) and Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League (MCDFNL) will resume their 2021 competitions this weekend following the latest lockdown. Each league is hopeful they can successfully complete their home and away and finals seasons without further disruption. No spectators will be permitted at matches this weekend. Hopefully spectators will be able to return in time for the finals series. See the Mail for more….

Len Fox Art Prize now open

By
Lisa Dennis
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Sotheby's Australia chairman and 2019 Len Fox judge, Geoffrey Smith is pictured with Beverly Knight, director Alcaston Gallery who represented winning artist Betty Kuntiwa Pumani with the 2019 winning work Antara.
Sotheby's Australia chairman and 2019 Len Fox judge, Geoffrey Smith is pictured with Beverly Knight, director Alcaston Gallery who represented winning artist Betty Kuntiwa Pumani with the 2019 winning work Antara.

Entries are now open for the Castlemaine Art Museum’s (CAM) prestigious $50,000 Len Fox Painting Award.
The Len Fox Award recognises and promotes the work of Australian artists pursuing the artistic interests and qualities of E. P. Fox. These include engagement with colour and light; ambitious connections with international developments in art; and, an interest in travel and an engagement with the cultures of diverse regions and peoples. See the Mail for the full story.

Read all about it…

By
Lisa Dennis
-

The third instalment of our Castlemaine Mail Newshounds program proudly supported by Don Smallgoods features in today’s Castlemaine Mail. The latest page has been created by the Newshounds at Langley Primary School. Be sure to pick up your copy and read all about the latest news at Langley.

It’s Census time!

By
Lisa Dennis
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Jess Saunders and the team at Castlemaine Library invite you to pop in for assistance with your census.
Jess Saunders and the team at Castlemaine Library invite you to pop in for assistance with your census.

Today is Census Day! The Census provides a snapshot of every person and household in Australia so it’s important we’re all counted. This year, you can start as soon as you receive your instructions. You can complete your Census online, by paper or with help from the ABS.
Remember, every person in Australia (with the exception of foreign diplomats and their families) must participate including international students and visa holders.
Castlemaine Library is hosting a Census pop-up hub this week, to help people with the Census.
It will be staffed all day with ABS staff today, Tuesday August 10, Wednesday August 11 and Thursday August 12 during library opening hours. Library staff are also assisting people to order paper copies if they need to.
For information about this year’s Census visit www.census.abs.gov.au or call 1800 512 441.
If you need help in your language visit www.census.abs.gov.au/help/languages or call the free Translating and Interpreting service on 131 450.

Regional lockdown ends tonight

By
Lisa Dennis
-

Premier Daniel Andrews has just announced that lockdown will end in Regional Victoria at 11.59pm tonight, August 9. Regional Victoria has not recorded any positive Covid 19 cases in the current outbreak. Mr Andrews said pleasingly they hadn’t seen any cases in regional Victoria in the four days of lockdown. “I’m sure that will be welcome news to every single regional Victorian,” he said. Regional Victoria will now revert the previous restrictions with schools and businesses to reopen tomorrow, including pubs and restaurants, hairdressers and beauty therapists. Community sport for all ages can resume with no spectators. The five reasons to leave the home will be removed in regional Victoria and there will be no limit on the distance regional Victorians can travel from home. However, people will only be able to travel to Melbourne for a permitted reason and you must follow the Melbourne restrictions once there.  Importantly, private gatherings in the home are still not permitted, however, outdoor gatherings in public spaces can occur with up to 10 people. Face masks will also still be mandatory indoors and outdoors. Mr Andrews said the other positive news is that today’s 11 cases have all been linked to current outbreaks and hopefully Greater Melbourne may soon be in a position where they can end the lockdown if everyone keeps doing the right thing.

The heavenly trio sells

By
Eve Lamb
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Castlemaine's Presbyterian Church Board of Management secretary Richard McArdle at the historic church property that has been snapped up after being listed for sale. Photo: Eve Lamb

Eve Lamb

A new chapter looks poised to play out for Castlemaine’s historic Presbyterian Church after the landmark Lyttleton Street property sold for a figure well above its listed price guide in recent days.
The historic property including 1894 church, 1861 manse and original 1856 hall, all set on about half an acre of prime elevated CBD land has sold for $2.3 million, Castlemaine’s Presbyterian Church Board of Management secretary Richard McArdle has confirmed.
The unique landmark property had been listed with a price guide of $1.5m-$1.65m.
Selling agent, Castlemaine’s Rob Waller had earlier confirmed there had been robust interest in the rare property after it was advertised on the open market as a “heavenly trio” and Mr McArdle this week told the Mail the property had drawn “some good offers” with at least four or five particularly interested parties.
“My understanding is that at the end it came down to Expressions of Interest involving two parties,” he said.
“We are very happy with the price.
“We were caught by surprise by the level of interest right up front.”
While details about the successful buyer have yet to be verified, Mr McArdle says he understands they are Melbourne-based and have some plans involving possible “community uses” for the heritage protected church building itself.
“My understanding is that the purchaser is from Melbourne and my understanding is that he will be looking at something for the church that can be used by the community,” Mr McArdle said earlier this week.
“My understanding is that they are probably looking to subdivide at least some of the property.
“The sale’s gone very well for us.”
The Presbyterian Church will now be looking to purchase another property deemed to be more readily able to meet the needs of its contemporary congregation which currently stands at around 30 to 40 faithful – instead of the 150 or so that the imposing Gothic church with its French-Romanesque architecture had been built to accommodate some 127 years ago. Read more in today’s Mail…

Podcast satire hits #13 … worldwide

By
Eve Lamb
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US ex-pat, Castlemaine's Randall Berger co-presents The Bill Show - politics this week - a podcast that has risen to #13 ranking world wide for political satire. Photo: Eve Lamb

Eve Lamb

Co-presenting and producing a weekly satirical podcast focused on US politics and events has long been a source of amusement – and catharsis – for Castlemaine local Randall Berger.
The America ex-pat who shifted to Australia many years ago from his home state of California teams up with his “doppelganger,” fellow US ex-pat Bill Ten Eyck to deliver their weekly dose of The Bill Show – politics this week. The podcast is subtitled Progressive talk with Bill and Randy.
While the show’s endured well, winning a base of faithful fans, particularly in America, in the nine years that Randall and Bill have produced it, Randall says the rise – and fall – of Donald Trump seemed to create something of a tsunami of interest in the podcast that goes all around the world on iTunes and Spotify.
“Apparently, it’s now rated #13 in the world for political satire,” Randall says.
“Go figure!
“We’re now getting millions of downloads around the world. It’s a gabfest, really, about US politics.
“The focus is on US politics and the American condition. The language can be a bit blue, he warns.
“It’s a bit like Planet America and we’ve been doing it since 2012.
“We try to do one each week. Each podcast goes for about an hour.
“We just want to get these things off our chests.”
Randall may already be known to quite a few Castlemaine residents as an actor, writer and celebrant with an ear and eye to contemporary issues be they local, national or international.
Like himself, his co-presenter Bill Ten Eyck hails from the US – “but he’s from Boston,” Randall notes.
Ten Eyck is based in the Dandenongs and is a former comedy writer for TV shows, particularly known as a stand up comic in the 80’s.
Randall does not shy away from the fact that subject matter dealt with on the podcast can be quite controversial at times.
“It’s a great catharsis for Bill and I. It helps us reduce stress. We are performers.”
The podcast provides analysis, commentary and reflection and, in terms of perspective, might also be likened a little to the ABC’s Mad As Hell show hosted by Shaun Micallef.
“It’s a bit like that but as a podcast it’s affordable. You just put it in your ear,” Randall says.
So now that Trump has slid back into the murk of comparative obscurity, has the satirical podcast’s source of ready-made material also receded? the Mail wondered.
“No,” Randall says.
“What you’d call the American condition never fades.”
The COVID-19 pandemic and it’s particular impact on the US, for example, are now delivering rich pickings.
“My topic tonight is compulsory vaccination,” Randall told the Mail earlier this week as he prepared to co-present for this week’s latest episode.

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