Campbells Creek swimming instructor Sylvia Pearson retired after 30 years dedicated service to the community. Sylvia taught hundreds of local youngsters and adults to swim and said it was one of the most rewarding experiences of her life. She is pictured at the former Campbells Creek Pool with swimmers Kate Taylor, Alice Taylor and Louis Boyle. In other news the $8.4 million 70 bed wing at Loddon Prison, Castlemaine was officially opened by Corrections Minister Andre Haermeyer. The new Lauriston Unit took the capacity of the medium security prison to 400 beds.
Bendigo West MP Bob Cameron announced that the 15 kilometres of the Malmsbury to Elphinstone section of the Calder Freeway was to open 11 months earlier than planned. Mr Cameron said there would be a community event on April 12 to mark the opening, during which people could walk the two kilometre section around the Metcalfe State Forest. Castlemaine Lions Club were also gearing up for their 22nd annual Swap Meet with a wide array of vintage and veteran car and motorcycle parts expected to be up for grabs at the club’s annual major fundraiser.
Two elderly residents and their dog were lucky to escape with their lives after an electrical fault sparked a fire in their home in Forest Street, Castlemaine. The couple were fast asleep when the first broke out at the rear of their home just after 10pm and it was lucky that a Castlemaine taxi driver spotted the blaze and quickly raised the alarm. Leading Senior Constable Chad McKenzie and Sen Constable Mark White were on patrol when they received the call. The pair, along with local young CFA volunteer Matt Murdoch, had to force open the front gate to raise the alarm and save the occupants.
For Franklinford sculptor Issa Ouattara making sculpture is a way of spreading and sharing positive energy. Originally from West Africa the local creative talent had three of his large metal sculptures on show at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Festival. Issa had been creating sculpture at his Franklinford home for six years after meeting his Australian doctor wife, Monica, in Africa where she was working in Cote d’Ivoire to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic. “With everything I do I want to put my inspiration in to make people happy…” Issa said.