Man Booker Prize winning writer Richard Flanagan and celebrated environmental activist Bob Brown will be among special guests at next week’s Castlemaine Documentary Film Festival.
Featuring 12 acclaimed documentary films screened over three days at Castlemaine’s Theatre Royal, the niche festival is enjoying a growing profile evident in pre-event ticket sales that are three times as strong as last time, notes the festival’s artistic director, Emmy-Award winning filmmaker Geoffrey Smith.
Now in its fifth year, the festival opens next Friday with a special “green carpet” event celebrating young climate strikers both local and global with the world premiere screening of the documentary Youth Unstoppable in its updated version that includes footage of Castlemaine’s own student climate strikers. Full story in today’s Mail … Friday, July 12, 2019
Countdown on to doco film fest
Recognition award for Uncle Rick
Local aboriginal elder Uncle Rick Nelson has received an aboriginal recognition award, presented at the NAIDOC Aboriginal Community Awards last Friday.
The awards night, ran by the Bendigo and District Aboriginal Cooperative (BDAC), was held in Bendigo . See the Castlemaine Mail for more.
Not so chonky with chainsaw
While many sculptors labour with chisel, rasp or file, Rius Carson prefers to make art using a chainsaw.
Next up the Eppalock artist sands, then paints – often in vibrant hues, creating sculptural pieces influenced by first nation indigenous art movements globe-wide.
He’s even created his own term for his particular genre of work – “chonkism”.
“It’s a term I created about 20 years ago in reference to how I make art,” says Rius who, when not creating art, does professional soil testing for a living. Full story in today’s Castlemaine Mail 05.07.19…
Solar farm plan sparks concerns
Residents in the Ravenswood South area are worried a proposal for a new solar farm to be built there may have negative impacts for them.
In recent weeks an application to develop the solar farm, powerlines and substation has been lodged with the Mount Alexander Shire Council.
The application proposal PA158/2019 is now listed on the council’s Greenlight online facility for planning applications. Get the full story in today’s Castlemaine Mail.
Boost for the shed
Flushed with a sense of occasion, a new loo and brand new welding bay were launched at Castlemaine Men’s Shed late last week.
The two useful new additions come about after the local shed successfully applied for a federal Building Stronger Communities grant.
Shed president Brian McCormick said the shed was prompted to lodge the application following a suggestion from the office of federal MP for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters.
“Lisa rang us and said would we like to put an application in.” Full story in today’s Castlemaine Mail …
Midwinter magic
A little midwinter magic is planned for Castlemaine’s Botanical Garden’s tomorrow evening.
The Midwinter Lantern Walk has been marking the arrival of the Winter Solstice every year for at least the past decade, becoming a seasonal favourite for many local families.
“The idea is to create a bit of magic, a magical community memory for the children,” says Edna Reinhardt of Castlemaine’s Over The Moon Yoga and Dance Studios which hosts the free, family event.
All are invited to grab a lantern and participate in the warming walk around the garden’s Lake Joanna, celebrating the Solstice with the lanterns’ glow and some invigorating singing to boot. Full story in today’s Mail …
Former prison officer sentenced
Former Loddon Prison employee Lyndon Turvey has been sentenced to 15 months in prison with a seven month non-parole period following an investigation by Victoria’s independent anti-corruption commission, IBAC. For more see the Castlemaine Mail.
Highland blast
Those feeling the need to blast away the winter chills are in luck tomorrow as Castlemaine hosts a rare highland pipe concert that’s likely to raise pulse rates.
Rare – because it’s not every day the local Castlemaine Highland Pipe Band gets to host and play alongside the City of Melbourne Highland Pipe Band in full flight.
Tomorrow evening Castlemaine’s Phee Broadway Theatre will set the scene for the EVOLUTION: 120th Anniversary Concert Series concert, a celebration of the Melbourne outfit that’s one of Australia’s oldest pipe bands. Full story in today’s Castlemaine Mail …
Let’s have a cuppa
This week in the ‘Let’s have a cuppa’ section the Castlemaine Mail caught up with 95-year-old Dot Henshall from Campbells Creek. Dot is one of the faces of the Active Living Census, still being very active herself. Dot encourages people to fill out their survey by June 16. Catch our chat in the Castlemaine Mail.
Castlemaine Poetry Prize returns
Entries for the 2019 Castlemaine Poetry Prize are now open.
After a recess in 2017-2018, while Castlemaine Mail editor Lisa Dennis was on maternity leave, the popular competition returns in 2019.
Entries are now open in the Senior (over 16) section. Two awards will be presented this year for ‘Best Poem’ and the ‘Judge’s Choice Award’.
There are three categories (and prizes) for juniors. The sections are for Grade 2 and Under, Grade 6 and Under and Year 10 and Under.
The poem must not have been published or have won another prize, a strict maximum of 40 lines applies and all entries should be double spaced. Poets can choose any theme. There is no entry fee but only three entries from each poet are allowed.
Contact details, including a phone number must be enclosed but preferably not on the same page as the poem.
Castlemaine poets Tegan Gigante and Annie Hunter will judge this year’s competition.
Elliott Midland Newspapers is proudly sponsoring the 2019 Castlemaine Poetry Prize which carries a first prize of $100 (Senior section) and an award. The ‘Judge’s Choice Award’ is proudly supported by Soldier and Scholar Bookshop and the winner will receive an award and a $50 book voucher.
Mount Alexander Shire Council is sponsoring the three junior prizes with the winner of each section to receive a trophy and $50 book voucher.
Selected entries, including the winning poems, will be published in the Castlemaine Mail.
Entries can be submitted via email to ldennis@midnews.com.au, mailed to 2019 Castlemaine Poetry Prize, 29 Templeton Street, Castlemaine, VIC 3450 or dropped into our office at the same address.
The junior section closes on Friday July 26 at 5pm and the senior section closes on Friday August 9 at 5pm. For more information call Lisa on 5472 1788.
The awards will be presented to our winners at ceremonies to be held in mid September. Stay tuned for details.
Hot jazz to warm weekend
Castlemaine will warm itself with plenty of hot jazz this long weekend as the town hosts its sixth annual jazz festival.
As the program fires up this evening, the festival’s Tina Helm says this year’s running of the event aims to appeal to a broader audience.
“We’re really aiming towards quite a broad audience this year, as you can see from some of the programming such as Seven Ups and Shirazz that we’re aiming at younger audiences as well,” Tina says.
“They’re really big party bands so there’s going to be some wilder times thrown in there among the more traditional jazz. Full story in today’s Castlemaine Mail…
Flu season hits home
More Castlemaine residents have been getting flu vaccinations this season with local health professionals also reporting a spike in the number of influenza cases so far this season.
Castlemaine pharmacists are among those reporting an increase in the number of people keen to get a flu jab in an effort to dodge the dreaded flu this season.
At Castlemaine’s Mostyn Street Clinic Dr Gavin Rowland reports an observable increase in flu cases this season with swab test results indicating it’s the A strain that’s been most prevalent locally.
“There’s been a lot of flu going through the town,” Dr Rowland said.
And while the flu arrived early this season, the raw numbers suggest it’s not just the early arrival that’s inflated the case load so far.
“I think it’s a genuine increase,” Dr Rowland said.
Practice nurse at Castlemaine’s Lyttleton street Clinic Jane Fitzgibbon says there have been more confirmed cases of influenza A locally this year – and more people wanting to be vaccinated against flu. Full story in today’s Castlemaine Mail …
