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Bank celebrates 21st!

By
Lisa Dennis
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The Maldon & District Community Bank celebrated its 21st birthday a little differently this year, with a toilet roll ‘cake’ and the giving of gifts to the community. 


Gifts of $1,000 were provided to two local groups, the Mount Alexander Community Pantry and the Dunolly Primary School community. 
The funding will help these organisations support vulnerable community members during the Covid-19 pandemic.


Branch Manager Adam Balzan said the community bank were keen to mark this exciting milestone, but had to be creative and adjust their celebrations in line with Covid-19 restrictions.


“We had a fun time creating a toilet roll cake, and we also decided to provide presents to the community as you can’t have a birthday without cake or presents! The equivalent toilet rolls were donated to the Mount Alexander Community Pantry along with the $1,000 donations to our communities,” Adam said. See the Mail for the full story. Out now.


Those doing it tough can order pre-prepared meals or food packages from the Mount Alexander Community Pantry via phone or email between 9am-3pm, Monday to Friday on 0472 537 866 or mtalexcommunitypantry@gmail.com

Keeping the fun in keeping fit

By
Eve Lamb
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The personal exercise regime of Barkers Creek based group fitness trainer Mandy Chilcott offers a great example of how to keep the fun in keeping fit.
In normal times, every week Mandy usually delivers her popular power bar strength classes through Castlemaine Group Fitness which also provides tabata classes for cardio fitness.


But since COVID-19 put all that on hold this local group fitness trainer has maintained a varied and enjoyable fitness schedule in her own life while finding other ways to remain connected to her regular class participants, helping to keep them motivated and healthy as well.


“I have a fairly regimented routine,” Mandy says.
“I meet with a friend every Saturday morning and we get on our mountain bikes and do a one-and-a-half to two hour ride.
“We generally ride in the Pinies along the Goldfields Track or the Baco. 
“Wednesdays I meet with another friend from Barkers Creek and we’ve got a one hour loop that we do on our mountain bikes. 
“And Mondays I meet with another friend who lives in Castlemaine and we’ll do a one-hour road ride.”


Mandy’s regular cycling routine in good company is proving a great way to stay fit and enjoy getting out and about while taking in the beauty of the local landscape, at the same time.
“It’s been awesome. It’s been my sanity,” she says. See the Mail for more. Out now.

Spoil your mum

By
Lisa Dennis
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Samantha Stocks of Stocks Gifts and Gallery in Mostyn Street is pictured with some of their Mother's Day goodies.

In the lead up to our $5000 Golden Ticket buy local promotion prize draw we have been chatting to some of the 22 local businesses featured in this year’s competition. This week we had a chat to Samantha Stocks of Stocks Gifts and Gallery Castlemaine.


Samantha Stocks reopened the doors to her popular Mostyn Street business this week just in time for Mother’s Day much to the delight of local community members.


Samantha is also the operator of neighbouring businesses women’s fashion outlet Ivy and Grace and leading fashion brand store aolita (formerly Dalrene on Mostyn).


The local businesswoman said it has been a tough few months for her businesses and staff but they are looking forward to having all three shops reopened from Monday.

Meanwhile Stocks Gifts and Gallery is packed full of Mother’s Day gift ideas for Sunday. See the Mail for the full story. Out now.

HALT launches tool kits

By
Lisa Dennis
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Castlemaine based national grass-roots suicide prevention charity HALT (Hope Assistance Local Tradies) has launched a new Covid-19 Wellbeing Tool Kit aimed at supporting local tradespeople during the pandemic.


HALT founder Jeremy Forbes said the free booklets, which hit stores this week, are packed full of lots of helpful information about how to look after yourself, workmates, friends and family during this challenging time. See the Mail for the full story. Out now.

$399,000 for Castlemaine Diggings

By
Lisa Dennis
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The federal government has awarded Parks Victoria a $399,000 heritage grant for the conservation and improvement of interpretation and access to the northern section of the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park.

The funding will improve future visitor experiences throughout the northern section of the park; focusing on improved access for all visitors and enhanced site interpretation to help people learn more about the area’s gold mining history.


Project components will include access improvements to parking, trails, and directional signage; interpretive signage at key sites, including Garfield Wheel; and interpretive signage on walking tracks to allow people to learn more about the park on self-guided site walks. See the Mail for the full story. Out now.

Garlic grab

By
Eve Lamb
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Peter Yates of Maldon's Nuggetty Garlic with some of his newly planted garlic crop. Demand for garlic has been particularly strong. Photo: Eve Lamb

The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have contributed to a skyrocketing demand for garlic this season, with local growers among those to benefit.
Peter Yates of Maldon’s Nuggetty Garlic has been growing and selling organic garlic for 10 years at local farmers markets.
He says this year’s demand for the flavoursome bulbs – long recognised for their medicinal immune-boosting properties – has been exceptionally strong.
“We were certainly astonished at how much we were selling as the season wore on,” Peter says.
“Demand usually goes down at the end of the season but it was going up and up.”
Now he says they’ve as good as sold out for this season.
“Pretty much. We’re only small growers. We just produce about half a tonne a year,” he says.
Peter believes the stronger-than-usual demand has been not only due to people’s wish to cook and eat fresh garlic – but also to plant the bulbs with a trend to backyard gardening another of the psychological phenomena seemingly driven by uncertainty associated with the pandemic.
“It’s both,” he says.

Read more in today’s Castlemaine Mail, Friday May 8, 2020.

Silver lining

By
Eve Lamb
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Daylesford's Andrew Bruno and Buda historic house curator Lauretta Zilles on site at Castlemaine's Buda Historic Home and Gardens this week. Photo: Eve Lamb

The virus may have put paid to public visits at Castlemaine’s historic Buda for now – but there’s a silver lining.
The COVID-19 lockdown has meant critical restoration works to repair and maintain the iconic local visitor attraction have been progressing far more quickly than would otherwise be possible.
“We estimate we’re now about two months ahead of schedule,” says a delighted Lauretta Zilles, Buda Historic House curator
“It’s been a silver lining. The tradies have been excellent to work with and it’s really been just one or two tradies here at a time so everyone’s been really good about observing the social distancing restrictions.”
The works being funded with a $120,000 state Living Heritage grant include significant render repairs on the south-facing exterior, foundation stabilisation, original brick repairs and repointing, interior plaster restoration and painting, and soon-to-start exterior painting of the house’s north facing visitor entrance.
Lauretta says the works are all being carefully carried out to faithfully reproduce the way the gracious old home would have appeared around 1910 – “the heyday of the Leviny daughters,” she says.
“It’s going to look terrific.” See more in today’s Castlemaine Mail. Friday, May 08, 2020.

Rolling with it…

By
Eve Lamb
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Take two wheels, plenty of fresh air and some trails less travelled and you’ve got the makings of a top way to keep mind happy and body fit – even in a coronavirus pandemic. 


Campbells Creek’s Penny Gilbert is a keen cyclist and dedicated member of Cycle Safe Mount Alexander.
This week Penny’s been sharing her own favourite fitness tips for keeping it all together in lockdown.


“We can’t run any of our bike rides at the moment,” she says of Cycle Safe’s usual program.
“But we’re certainly encouraging people to ride and in my private life we go for a ride every day.” See the Mail for the full story.

Be a winner!

By
Lisa Dennis
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This is it! Make sure you secure your final piece of the puzzle in today’s Mail and make sure you are in the running to win a share of $5000 to spend at the 22 businesses featured in our Castlemaine Mail Golden Ticket buy local promotion!!! This week we chatted to Golden Ticket participants – Castlemaine Autopro.


Castlemaine Autopro have a massive array of automotive and electronic goods to cater to your needs. Whether its a new battery for your car or a universal remote, a security system for your home or the right part for that pet project, Castlemaine Autopro manager Owen Paterson and the team have got you covered.


Owen said during the COVID-19 crisis it has been business as usual for Castlemaine Autopro with everyone busy at home working on automotive and DIY projects.


“We staggered our staffing in the initial few weeks, but now everyone is back on deck to meet the demand and we have introduced social distancing practices to keep everyone safe.


“We are also offering an hourly delivery service within a 20 kilometre radius so you can get the parts and accessories you need without having to visit the store,” Owen said. See the Mail for more. Out now!

Murray to Moyne update

By
Lisa Dennis
-

Like so many other events this year, the 2020 Murray to Moyne was impacted by COVID-19. 
Sadly the 2020 Murray to Moyne relay has been cancelled with the next relay now scheduled for 2021. 


The cancellation came as no surprise to the riders given the gravity of events. However, the Castlemaniacs and the Castlemaine Rouleurs were disappointed to lose the opportunity to ride 520kms and raise much-needed funds for Castlemaine Health. 


Castlemaine Health CEO Ian Fisher said both teams had already commenced their fundraising activities by securing the fantastic support of sponsors, donors, volunteers and the community. 


“An incredible testament to their efforts is the total of $19,733 which was raised in the run-up to the event. This is an amazing result as the fundraising still had a few weeks to go. All of the funds raised in 2020 will be held over until the 2021 Murray to Moyne when the teams ride again,” Mr Fisher said. See the Mail for the full story. Out now.

Honouring our Anzacs

By
Lisa Dennis
-

Community members held intimate dawn and mid-morning ANZAC Day services in their driveways and front yards across the region last Saturday April 25 to coincide with local events and honour those who fought and the 102,0000 Australians which have died for our country. 


Many locals proudly hoisted Australian flags and made candle and poppy tributes to honour the brave men and women who served our country in war and continue to serve today.


Castlemaine resident Wendy Cole created some beautiful poppies for her front garden to commemorate what was her first Anzac Day in Australia in 40 years. See the Mail for the full story. Out now.

Don’t stop now: GPs urge Covid caution

By
Eve Lamb
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Mostyn Street medical clinic's Dr Ronnie Moule and Dr Louisa Hope and clinic receptionist Arabella Davison at the clinic's old stables building which has been pressed into service for Covid-19 testing. Photo: Eve Lamb

You’re doing well – now don’t stop now.
That’s a main message from local GPs who are encouraging Mount Alexander shire residents to maintain all the health precautions advised by the state’s health department to keep Covid-19 at bay.
At Castlemaine’s Mostyn Street Clinic they’ve been providing patients with drive-through testing for the virus.
In addition to this they’ve also especially converted the old stables building behind the clinic to provide a safe and dedicated environment to provide Covid-19 examinations for patients – separately from the main clinic building – as required.
“We have done at least 95 tests with four positive results,” the Mostyn Street clinic’s Dr Ronnie Moule says.
“All GP clinics are testing and for anyone who has a respiratory illness in any form it’s worth getting tested.
“We’re also open for all of our normal consultations as well either face-to-face or by telehealth.
“The building is safe and we want to reassure people that we can look after all of their needs and keep them safe.”
At Castlemaine’s Lyttleton Street Clinic GP Dr Richard Mayes earlier this week told the Castlemaine Mail that just on 200 tests for Covid-19 have now been performed by the Lyttleton Street clinic.
“We’re just about to hit 200 tests from Lyttleton Street – and just the one positive,” Dr Mayes said.
“We haven’t had another positive for about three weeks now so the message is that we’ve been doing a fantastic job to contain the spread in Victoria.
“But I’m anticipating just taking the Department of Health advise on restrictions and that for some time we’ll still be encouraging people to social distance as much as possible to avoid a second wave – and just to heed the current guidelines.”
Dr Mayes says the Lyttleton Street Clinic is averaging about six tests for Covid-19 a day and had established a dedicated drive-through clinic specifically to test people worried they may have contracted the virus.
Now the Lyttleton Street Clinic has added a new satellite clinic at 38 Lyttleton Street to test patients for the virus … Read More in today’s Castlemaine Mail, May 01, 2020.

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