A Castlemaine resident has received municipal congratulations after powerlifting her way to national success, clinching the Lifter of Lifters title at the recent National Powerlifting Championships in Melbourne.
At its meeting on Tuesday night the Mount Alexander Shire Council formally congratulated Castlemaine powerlifter Therese Pollard for her weighty achievement.
Known as one of Castlemaine’s “ladies who lift” Mrs Pollard, 69, now has her sights set on next year’s world titles. For the full story see last Friday’s Castlemaine Mail.
This lady can lift
Max Gale Memorial contested
The Annual Max Gale Memorial Stoney Creek Three Ball Classic was played on Sunday November 18. The club welcomed Max’s family, Dianne and Barry Mahlstedt to the day. Two teams scored 91 points, with Dee Sansom, Wayne Toohey and Rosemary Ashby winning on a countback from Lynne Johnson, Neil Turner and Heather Ritch. For the full story see last Friday’s Mail.
CDNA president in running for award
Castlemaine District Netball Association (CDNA) president Ken Maddern has been selected as the finalist representing Mount Alexander Shire in the upcoming Sports Focus ‘Administrator of the Year’ award.
The nomination comes in the same week the CDNA was recognised in the 2018 Netball Victoria Community Awards receiving $500 after being named ‘Small Association of the Year’.
Saturday night lights
Cricket under lights came to Castlemaine for the first time on Saturday November 17 when the Castlemaine District Cricket Association (CDCA) played its first day/night match for premiership points.
Castlemaine United and North Castlemaine took to the field for a 20/20 encounter under the lights at the Camp Reserve in what proved to be an entertaining encounter.
For the full story see last Friday’s Castlemaine Mail.
Selection honours
Barkers Creek trio Bridie Semmens (under 17), Tia Davidge (under 14s) and Jack Ginnivan (under 16s) have won selection in the Central Highlands squad for the upcoming Youth Premier League competition. The trio will contest matches throughout November, December and into the New Year against the best underage players in the state, with Bridie also being honoured with the Captaincy of her side.
Call for artists
Once again the main streets of the historic township of Maldon will be turned into a virtual art gallery for the biennial Maldon Art Walk presented by the Maldon Artists Network (MANet) from March 16-31, 2019.
MANet are currently calling for artists to be involved in the Art Walk which is held in conjunction with the Castlemaine State Festival.
The first Art Walk was held in 2013 and has been offered every second year since alternately with the Maldon Portrait Prize.
What makes the 2019 Art Walk different from previous years is that it is for 3D work only this time around with the theme of ‘One Person’s Trash is Another Person’s Treasure’ – a message to recycle rather than throw away, with the aim of reducing landfill.
Artists may work to the theme or not, and there is a total prize pool of $3,000 on offer. First Prize is $2,000 and $1,000 for the ‘Best Themed’ entry.
MANet co-convenor, Jenny Merkus said the 2019 judge will be the new director of the Ballarat Art Gallery, Louise Tegart who
has expressed great interest in the Art Walk and was delighted to be asked.
There will also be two guest artists, Debra Goldsmith and Heather Ellyard.
Debra recently showcased her chandelier sculptures made of recycled plastic at the Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo White Night exhibitions.
Heather is a well-known artist who has lived in Maldon for just over four years and has previously been a judge for the Maldon Portrait Prize and an Art Walk participant.
Artists have until February 18 to enter 3D art works in any medium for the 2019 Art Walk. Applications, including a photograph of work entered, can be submitted online through the Maldon Neighbourhood Centre website at: http://www.maldonnc.org.au/auspiced-groups/maldon-artist-network-manet
Passions ignited
Former Mail editor Jeff Jones caught the latest CTC production Blood Wedding last weekend and shared the follow review for our readers.
Earlier in the year, Castlemaine Theatre Company (CTC) ventured into the classics when the company performed Shakespeare for the first time by taking on the wonderful wedding comedy As You Like it.
The wedding theme continues with CTC’s latest production, Blood Wedding by Federico Garcia Lorca, but as the title of this classic play suggests, this is no comedy. It’s the total opposite – a dark, ominous love story full of apparent loyalty and commitment that twists and writhes into deception, mistrust and tragedy.
As the story goes, a hardworking young man is preparing to marry the love of his life. The groom is the only surviving member of a family that has been involved in a feud with the Felixes, and his mother is still overcome with a mixture of rage and fear that her only surviving son will meet the same fate.
But unbeknown to the groom, the bride has been seeing someone else. She is still madly in love with Leonardo (of the Felix family), who is married and the father of a boy.
While the wedding celebration continues with singing and dancing, Leonardo rides away with the new bride. He is pursued by the groom, and the two men kill each other, thus causing the mother’s forebodings to come true.
Castlemaine Theatre Company’s spirited production features a simple but effective set, enhanced by Jon Henri Wolfe’s atmospheric lighting design which creates a sense of Spanish heat. At times the lighting is quite surreal.
Throw in an eye-catching flamenco dance solo by Kirsty MacCallum and superb flamenco guitar playing by Raziel Gutierrez the mood is perfectly set.
Director Rob Jorritsma’s passion for this play is clearly evident. From the flamenco dancing and guitar to the strong opening and final scenes, Mr Jorritsma explores the intense relationships between the characters and the symbolism which is paramount in this play.
From an acting point of view, there were several standouts including: Peter Bevin’s powerful, brooding portrayal as the torn Leonardo; Louise Osland’s performance as his jilted, pregnant wife; and, Lisa Martin, playing dual roles, as the Neighbour and Death a Beggar Woman.
Special mentions to Di Addington and Rebecca Morton for their terrific vocals and strong performances.
On the other side of the ledger, there were a few teething problems with the performance I saw on the opening weekend but these should be ironed out as the season
progresses.
Blood Wedding is playing at Castlemaine Town Hall on November 30 and December 1 at 8pm with a matinee on December 2 at 2pm.
Bookings at www.trybooking.com/YTFV
From Autism to OAM
Autism advocate Daniel Giles OAM and his father Daryl Giles will be presenting ‘From Diagnosis to OAM – A Personal Autism Journey’ in Castlemaine this Wednesday November 28.
The special event will be held at The Castlemaine Goods Shed, 11 Kennedy Street, Castlemaine at 7pm.
The father and son presenters say the presentation will be of special interest to educators working with students on the Autism Spectrum; carers of people on the Autism Spectrum; parents of children on the Autism Spectrum; and family members. For the full story see last Friday’s Mail.
The true value of our libraries
Community members passionate about the role of local libraries turned out in force for the launch of the Libraries Change Lives initiative at Castlemaine Library earlier this month.
Library manager Jess Saunders said the aim of the campaign was to highlight the economic and social benefits public libraries brought to our region and the state as a whole.
Goldfields Libraries CEO Mark Hands and local author Christie Nieman also spoke about the value of public libraries and the essential services they provide every day.
Ms Saunders said the campaign hoped to kick start conversation about the important role public libraries play in our communities.
Developed by Public Libraries Victoria Network and State Library Victoria, Libraries Change Lives is a statewide project designed to build community support and attract additional state government funding for the state’s 272 public libraries, which attract more than 30 million visitors a year.
New economic modelling demonstrates that every dollar invested in public libraries generates $4.30 of benefits for the state. At the local level, every dollar invested in Goldfields Libraries is delivering $4.50 of benefits to our community.
Mr Hands said public libraries had evolved beyond their traditional role of housing collections to offer vital community services, including digital connectivity, support for all kinds of literacy (including early years, financial and digital), universal access to information and government services.
“No other institution offers the same personal help, equal and free access to information, social engagement, and sense of safety and belonging,” he said.
Voters head to the polls
Local voters are preparing to head to the polls tomorrow while thousands have already voted early across Bendigo West. Catch our coverage in today’s Castlemaine Mail
All set for summer splash
You know summer has as good as arrived when the public outdoor pools start filling.
By this Wednesday afternoon the local Chewton swimming pool was three quarters full and it’s shimmering blue water had local youngsters itching to jump in.
But instead it’s the temperature that’s taken a dive, curtailing hopes that the pool might be opening today.
“We can only open if the temperature is 23 degrees or above,” Chewton Swimming Pool management committee secretary Wendy Hopkins said. See our story in today’s Castlemaine Mail.
Mayor elected
Cr Bronwen Machin will serve as mayor for Mount Alexander Shire Council for another year following a special council vote which also saw Cr Stephen Gardner take a tilt at the top civic post. Get the full story in today’s Castlemaine Mail …
