Castlemaine Gift ‘Meeting of the Year’ 

The Castlemaine Gift beat out Bendigo, Ballarat and Bayside to be named Gift Meeting of the Year by the Victorian Runners and Trainers Association. 

Hayden named ‘Volunteer of the Year’ 

Castlemaine Lawn Tennis Club president Hayden Eastwood took out the ‘VAILO Volunteer of the Year award’ at the Victorian Sports Awards held at the Victory 

Room at Marvel Stadium. Eastwood’s latest honour at the June event follows on from his success at the Tennis Victoria Awards in October 2023 where he was recognised as the ‘Volunteer of the Year’. He was also proud to be a finalist in the Newcombe Medal Tennis Australia Awards in December. 

Creek tackle Giants in wintry conditions 

Campbells Creek FNC acknowledged Pink Sports Day in support of the Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) and Road Safety Round, part of the TAC campaign. Two very worthy causes, which most people have been touched by, in one way or another. 

Magpies claim Indigenous Round Shield 

The Castlemaine Magpies were privileged to take part in the Bendigo Football Netball League’s Indigenous Round feature match against Kangaroo Flat and claim the shield, 16.11 (107) to 9.10 (64). 

Radio Galahs triumph in MAIN Game 

The Rockatoos started strong and gave it their all but it was the Radio Galahs who were victorious, winning by 24 points at the final siren. Other highlights included the MAIN Cheer Squad, always there with the rizz, the Thompson’s Foundry Band and the debut gig from local sisters of shred, Paddock Bomb, who had audiences enraptured at half time. 

Gaulton-McMahon Cup 

Harcourt Football Netball Club hosted Campbells Creek Football Netball Club in the annual Gaulton- McMahon Cup. The annual Blue Ribbon Day fixture is held in honour of the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation, which honours the memory of members of the Victoria Police, who have died in the line of duty and also honoured two great stalwarts of the local clubs. 

June Tu-Tu Parkrun 

As it was June 22 (‘tu-tu’), there were several people on the Castlemaine Parkrun Botanical Gardens course who chose to acknowledge this by wearing their favourite tu-tu (any excuse to dress up!), highlighting the fun atmosphere embodied by parkrun. 

Female Football alive and well 

Thirty years since Castlemaine Goldfields FC saw their first women’s team lace up their boots, the club celebrated Women’s Football Week with the involvement of a record 166 female players, ranging from ages four to 54. 

CSC soccer sides excel 

The Castlemaine Secondary College (CSC) Year 9/10 girls soccer team scored in the last two minutes of their nail-biting grand final match against rivals Bendigo South East (BSE), securing them the win and a spot in the next round without conceding a single goal! The side went on to finish second at the state champs! 

Lions roar through round five 

Round five saw Maldon back at home against Harcourt on a very cold Autumn Day, it was a day of mixed results with some very entertaining games of football and netball. 

A big highlight of the day was the Auskick match at half time of the seniors between Maldon and Harcourt. 

Sports Focus and filmmaker collaborate for change 

Sports Focus was successful in securing funding from the Victorian State Government’s Change our Game Community Activation Program to collaborate with local filmmaker Mitch Nivalis to develop their documentary feature film Equal the Contest into a workshop that will continue to educate community sports clubs and advance inclusion and gender equality. 

Castlemaine sides impress in blockbuster 

A large crowd gathered on a hot and sunny Good Friday at the Camp Reserve to watch the Bendigo Football Netball League season opener between Castlemaine and Maryborough. Castlemaine overcame a spirited fight from Maryborough and 18-point deficit midway through the second quarter to win by 69 points. 

Stubbs tackles Masters at Augusta 

Talented Victorian amateur golfer Jasper Stubbs, the son of former Castlemaine locals Peter Stubbs and Fiona Whatley, hit the fairways at the prestigious Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, Georgia in the United States. The golfer was then set to play at the 152nd British Open in July at the Royal Troon in Ayrshire, Scotland. 

Murray to Moyne medal honour 

The Murray to Moyne cycle relay formally recognised Castlemaine Rouleurs cycling team captain Gary Bunn for his long-standing contribution to the relay and his fundraising efforts for Dhelkaya Health. 

Falcons Loud and Proud 

The Castlemaine Pride Cup between Mt Alexander Falcons and Kyneton Women’s Football team was played out at Harcourt Recreation Reserve under lights as the curtain raiser for the Castlemaine Pride Week. Rainbows were everywhere – even painted on the ground. 

Karate Club turns 20! 

Omoikiri Budo Kai Karate Club celebrated its 20th anniversary. The local club was founded on March 1, 2004 by local instructor and sixth dan black belt Jason Gray. 

La Larr Ba Gauwa bike trails re-open 

The world-class mountain bike trail received a $200,000 Camping and Caravan grant through the Victoria’s Great Outdoors Program and an additional $682,650 from the federal and state government, to help restore recreation areas and facilities damaged by the floods. 

Cyclists excel at Nationals 

Castlemaine Cycling Club was proud to have three riders compete at the AusCycling Elite and Junior 19 National Track Championships at Brisbane on March 1-5. 

In Elite Men 18-year-old Zaren Fong-Sutton took to the track first up in the Sprint qualifying 200m in his first ever Nationals campaign. A PB time of 10.759 saw Zaren sitting in 21st. 

Croquet champs decided 

The Castlemaine Croquet Club Golf Croquet Championships were finalised with Nigel Harland was the eventual winner. 

Castlemaine cyclists excel on the track 

Castlemaine Cycling Club riders headed to the Dunc Gray Velodrome in New South Wales over the long weekend for two days of racing with some amazing results. 

Medals decided 

Castlemaine Rifle Club held a very successful Australia Day shoot. Shooters came from all round the state to compete for the coveted Australia Day medallions. All shooting was from the 500 yard mound, with three rounds of 10 scoring shots for a total of 30 shots. 

Golfers go pink to honour Una 

Castlemaine Golf Club once again hosted its Una Carroll Anti-Cancer Fund Raising Day. Money raised goes to the Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) to support its work across Victoria. 

Bumper week of bowls action at Harcourt 

In the last games of the Weekend Pennant home and away season both of Harcourt Bowling Club’s Division 7 teams Blue and Gold had success. 

Big week of cycling action 

Castlemaine Cycling Club was honoured to hold the first day of the 2023 AusCycling Christmas Carnival Track Series on December 28 with riders coming from all over Australia to compete. Castlemaine cyclists went on to race at carnival events at Bendigo and Echuca recording some fantastic results. The events included the Elite Victorian Elimination Championships with Emma Jackson winning a silver in the Elite Women and Adam Jackson with bronze in the Elite Men. 

CDCA juniors show spirit at Country Week 

The Castlemaine & District Cricket Association (CDCA) once again participated in the Central Highlands Country Week competition. 

CDCA entered two teams into the U13 section Green and Gold and an Under 15 side. The three sides gave their all with Under 13 Green and the Under 15s in particular recording some great results. 

Cricket action heats up in CDCA 

Castlemaine District Cricket Association sides returned to the pitch after the festive break and the CDCA’s T20 competition also commenced. Highlights of the round were Barkers Creek A Grade batman Bodhi Robinson’s 101 and Taradale A Reserve bowler Steve Learmonth’s 6-40.