Solstice sale Friday
To celebrate the winter solstice three local op shops will be having an incredible half price sale this Friday, June 20!
The Salvation Army Thrift Shop, Mount Alexander Animal Welfare Opportunity Shop and Windarring Recycled Store will all have a huge range of items available for purchase with a 50 per cent discount!
The sale will kick off at 3pm at Windarring, 317 Barker Street and conclude at 6pm. The Salvation Army Thrift Shop at 46 Forest Street, sale will run between 4pm to 7pm, and the Mount Alexander Animal Welfare Opportunity Shop at 12 Johnstone Street, will have sale items available between 4pm to 7pm.
Head along for a fun night of shopping and grab yourself a bargain, while doing your part to save waste from landfill!
A true test of ability
Buzz recognised as a ‘Legend of the Tongs’
Castlemaine Golf Club news…
A later start was necessary last Thursday at Castlemaine Golf Club as players waited for the morning frost to clear.
Once play got underway, Peter Verlaan (14) made the most of the crisp conditions, claiming the par round with an impressive +3, securing A Grade honours. Les Prendergast (19) put up a strong fight but had to settle for runner-up after a tight countback with Peter.
In B Grade, Ron Jenkins (19) was the only other player to finish in the positives, carding +1 for the win. Tony Strong (19) followed closely behind, earning runner-up with a square round.
On the birdie board, Klai Jermyn led the way with four birdies, while Leon Thomas and Norm Bellis were right on his heels with three apiece. Norm also claimed Nearest the Pin on the 12th hole, with Leigh Campbell taking the honours on the 7th.
Despite cold and wintery conditions on Saturday, 40 determined players rugged up to compete in the June Monthly Medal. The tough weather didn’t faze Tayler Walsh (16), who claimed the overall medal with an impressive nett score of 69. Walsh also secured the B Grade victory, finishing six strokes ahead of Billy Burgess (16), who posted a nett 75.
In A Grade, Matthew O’Brien (3) led the field with a solid nett 74, finishing three shots clear of Greg Sinclair (6), who carded a nett 77. Malcolm McKellar (23) topped C Grade with a strong nett 72, while Joel Maddern (21) claimed runner-up honours with a nett 75.
Birdies were scarce in the testing conditions, with only five recorded across the entire field. Joel Maddern managed to snag two of them and also took home the NTP prize on the 7th hole. Rob Prendergast was awarded the NTP prize on the 12th.
With no rain in sight, players took advantage of the break in the rain to celebrate the King’s Birthday with a Stableford round. Stephen Cooper (18) rose to the top with a solid 37 points, finishing two ahead of Chris Milham (20), who posted 35 points to claim runner-up honours.
Scoring highlights were few, with just three birdies recorded on the day—one each to Liam O’Brien, Matthew O’Brien, and Beau York. Vin Walsh claimed the only NTP, landing it on the 12th hole.
On Tuesday, following recent rain, the conditions proved a little tricky for the ladies who played a stableford round. Trish Sharrock (22) handled the challenge best, finishing with 32 points to claim the win—just one ahead of Mary Harris (31), who carded 31 points. Glenda Jefferies’ impressive drive on the 12th earned her the IGA voucher for NTP.
Action at Wattle Gully
Rain, Mud, and Magic at MAIN Game
Where on earth is Dave?
The Mail featured a ‘My Community’ profile of Dave Stephens in the April 18 edition of the paper. The article discussed his love of folk music, Bueno chocolate, and connecting with country. Yet, there was more to his story.
Dave was about to embark on a journey across Australia by bicycle – from Wilson’s Prom to Darwin – to raise money for endometriosis. This is his second epic ride after cycling solo from Sydney to Perth in 2023 and raising $5000 for the cause.
“It was just this quiet illness that I kept hearing about in these stories from people who were close to me… and it hadn’t sort of entered the mainstream conversation with men,” Dave said.
Thus far, Dave has raised $3,114.78 on his travels and has a goal to reach $5,000. Before he left he advised his only fear was wild dogs chasing him, and so begs the question – where is he right now?
Dave had phone signal on June 5 and contacted The Mail to advise he had crossed the border into the Northern Territory.
“I have been chased by a Maremma at Murray Bridge, but the dingoes are friendly and curious. A few camp fire visitations, but [they get] spooked away easily,” Dave said.
“I keep finding pianos in tiny towns and pubs and ended up writing a little ditty that I’ve kept going on my mandolin – hoping to polish it up as I travel”.
Anyone wanting to support Dave’s fundraiser to raise awareness for a condition that impacts one in seven Australian women can donate here.