Newstead ramps up the volume and pulses into life this long weekend as the town hosts its liveliest event of the year – Newstead Live.
Live music on the four-day program ranges from the legendary like folk fav Eric Bogle to the young and international like 21-year-old Irish twin act The Ocelots.
Among those raring to hit the Newstead Live stage are Castlemaine’s own all girl six-piece outfit Stop That Mammoth who are among the 40 diverse acts set to play venues scattered throughout the leafy little township.
“We’re feeling the love,” Stop That Mammoth saxophone player Amy Ferguson says. Full story today’s Castlemaine Mail. Friday, January 24, 2020.
Newstead lookin’ lively!
Green Gully speed limit outcry
The little echidna was slumped on its back, dead beside the road, paws limp and useless, snout that just a short while ago so successfully hunted ants, now chewed off by the very ants it had pursued.
This tiny tragedy, unnoticed by most zooming past in their vehicles, happened this week on the Pyrenees Highway at Green Gully – just out of Newstead.
The little animal’s body was still limp indicating it had not long ago been struck, when the Mail, here to meet locals calling for the speed limit to be reduced, noticed it.
Locals like Janet Barker, Cecile Ueerts, Saide Gray and Chris Johnston, who’ve lived at Green Gully for many years, say there’s a worryingly high incidence of near misses on this 4.4 km stretch of the Pyrenees Highway where they’re stepping up efforts to have the speed limit lowered.
They’re now calling on Mount Alexander Shire Council to help them in their long-running efforts to work with VicRoads to have the limit dropped to 80 km. Full story in today’s Castlemaine Mail, Friday, January 24, 2020.
Big week in tennis
The Castlemaine Lawn Tennis Club are throwing open their doors to everyone during the Australian Open from 10am to 7pm daily.
Why not pop down for a hit with friends or family and take in some of the tennis action and buzz? The club welcomes players of all ages and experience.
Next Friday night, January 31 the Lawn club will also be hosting a celebration barbecue and a night of tennis as they switch on their new lights. See the Mail for more.
Forever homes
PETstock Castlemaine will play host to local animal rescue organisation Mount Alexander Animal Welfare (MAAW) as part of National Pet
Adoption Day on Saturday February 15. See the Mail for the full story.
Protecting our firies
Castlemaine’s Sue Anderson is working with Castlemaine
Rotary to raise the funds to purchase secondhand industrial washing machines to
‘gift’ to 10 local brigades.
Ms Anderson said the idea was born out of a wish to do
something practical to help our firies and their families. See today’s
Mail for the full story.
Trailblazer honoured
Bold and Brave. That is how inspirational goldfields pioneer and trailblazer Frances ‘Fanny’ Finch was remembered at the unveiling of a special memorial in her honour at Castlemaine Cemetery on Wednesday.
Minister for Women Gabrielle Williams joined Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards and the proud descendants of the infamous goldfields pioneer at the cemetery to unveil the memorial. See the Mail for the full story.
Double header
The Castlemaine Cannons Country Basketball League (CBL) Squad hosted a massive double header weekend of basketball action at Castlemaine’s War Memorial Stadium last Saturday January 11 and Sunday January 12. See the Mail for the full story.
Black belt achievement
Maine Fitness head Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and Mixed Martial Arts coach and dedicated trainer Clint Harris was recently awarded his long awaited black belt from renowned Australian martial artist Professor Richard Norton. See the Mail for more.
Community raises $7000!
A Community Fundraiser Cake and Bake Sale and Sausage Sizzle was held in Castlemaine last weekend, January 11-12, raising a staggering $5500 for the Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Appeal.
In addition an accompanying online appeal is continuing to gain momentum with a further $2000 having being raised at the time of going to press. See the Mail for the full story.
Fanny to be honoured
Renowned goldfields pioneer and Australia’s first known female voter Fanny Finch will be immortalised with the installation of a permanent memorial on her grave site at the Castlemaine Cemetery at Campbells Creek next Wednesday January 22.
Community members participated in a working bee last week to ensure the cemetery is looking its best for the special event. See the Mail for the full story.
Treasures to be unearthed
There will be a load of treasures to unearth at the ‘Fossick in the Goldfields’ Campbells Creek Antique and Collectables Fair this Australia Day long weekend – January 25 and 26. We caught up with fair coordinators Ken Smith and Brian Owens to chat about what visitors can expect at this year’s event.
EV uptake gains pace
Yandoit’s Derek Higgins regards getting an electric car as a no-brainer.
“The fact that I can charge it at home from an ordinary power point is number one,” he says.
“I’ve got solar panels so that’s free power.
“We’re not using coal-fired power, and it’s free power. It’s the sun. Why wouldn’t we use it?”
Derek says he can drive 280 km before he needs to recharge his fully electric 2019 Nissan LEAF.
He’s one of an increasing number of locals replacing their old fossil fuel driven vehicles with a new fully electric or hybrid vehicle.
He’s also among the increasing number of local EV drivers now using the public electric vehicle recharge station at Newstead’s EnviroShop. Full story the Castlemaine Mail – Friday, January 17, 2020