Don’t plan the funeral, we’re not dead yet
From the Chewton Pool Committee
On a wet Monday evening this week two gatherings took place in Chewton. One was a meeting of residents to discuss keeping the pool; the other was with Council officers to discuss the administration’s funeral arrangements for the pool. While around 50 local residents and Cr Christine Henderson attended the BBQ in stormy weather, representatives of the Save the Chewton Pool Committee met with Council officers. Continue Reading »
Smart cities (un)paving the way for urban farmers and ‘locavores’
If some sort of natural disaster or terrorist attack were to shut down New York City’s food supply chain, their supermarket shelves would be picked clean within three days. Australian cities are no better prepared thanks to our dependence on a globalised food system.
For the full story click here
Great Balls of Fire: 16th annual Spring Ball
Rumour is, the Mayor is a closet rockabilly fan and hit the dance floor regularly in the 60s. (That's only a rumour.)
You know that warmer weather is never too far away when the folk down at the Castlemaine Community House start planning for their annual Spring Ball. Now in its sixteenth year, the Spring Ball is the major fundraiser for the Community House. 11 September, Castlemaine Town Hall. Be there or miss out big time.
Continue Reading »
Shoulder to shoulder parenting
Michael Grose was in Kyneton last week
By Andrew McKenna
‘We need small town mindsets with our kids. We need to look out for each other’s kids. Child raising needs to be shifted back to a group endeavour.’
Those words are comforting to those of us living in small towns, but also reassuring to anyone who has thought that a nuclear family is inadequate to raise children. Continue Reading »
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Castlemaine on the silver screen
New films about Mt Alexander shire and its identity, by the Australian Centre for the Moving Image.
Continue Reading »
Depressed? Researchers say (wait for it) exercise and go on holiday
If winter has been giving you the blues, here's the solution: go on holiday! (As if you didn't know.)
At least half of all heart attack victims are suffering from depression 12 months after hospitalisation, but a simple exercise regime can reduce the anguish, a new study by Victoria University has found.
And another researcher, Dr Sebastian Filep, says his recent study on the benefits of travel found that a holiday may be a good tonic for those suffering from depression.
For the full story go to CI’s Nature page
Castlemaine Independent goes to the Melbourne Writers’ Festival
Founder of Castlemaine Independent Andrew McKenna has been invited to talk at the Melbourne Writers Festival on the 2nd and 3rd September. He’ll be presenting at the session on News Ecologies: Communities, Local and Hyperlocal.
What’s happening in community and local news? Can we think global and report local?
Presenters in this session: Chair Bronwen Clune (PIJ) with Bob Burton (Inside Spin), Jan Schaffer (J-Lab), Jon Burton (Leader Community Newspapers) and Andrew McKenna (Castlemaine Independent).
In the meantime, click here for a selection of stories from our first six months. Enjoy!
Playback your stories
Melbourne's Playback: coming to Castlemaine
Melbourne Playback Theatre Company is heading to the Theatre Royal in Castlemaine for a one-off performance on Sunday 5 September. Come and watch as Melbourne Playback transforms your stories into theatre.
For the full story go to CI’s Arts page
Competition makes eradicating drugs in sport ‘fantasy’
Drugs oil the engine of sport and a war to eradicate them is unwinnable because sporting culture encourages their use, a Victoria University (VU) expert said recently.
Associate Professor Bob Stewart said there were now five international studies showing the level of recreational and performance-enhancing drug use among athletes was much higher than for non-athletes. One study of US college athletes found that 40-70 per cent binge drink, 24-30 per cent use cannabis and 10-20 per cent use other illicit drugs.
For the full story go to CI’s Sport page
Shire to develop gambling policy
COUNCIL PRESS RELEASE:
On Tuesday night Mt Alexander Shire councillors voted to prepare a Gaming Policy for the Shire. Council has identified the development of a Gaming Policy as a priority action for 2010-11 in the Annual Plan.
Resistance to poker machines takes off
By Andrew McKenna
Upwards of 80 people swelled a classroom at Winters Flat PS last night in the first public meeting in town for residents to express their dismay at and opposition to the proposed poker machine venue in Kennedy Street.
There’s a whiff in the air from Chewton
By a Castlemaine resident
(Editor’s note: some readers may be tired of the Chewton Pool debate, but the issue is not going away and this piece proposes the theory that Council has cultivated the seeds of deep resentment, confrontation, economic discrimination, and community disaffection …)
There’s been something ‘whiffy’ about the Chewton Pool debate, which until I read the most recent Mayor’s message I hadn’t quite been able to put my finger on.
The Mayor’s message (20 August) suggests ‘fair and open processes’ – but omits facts that don’t suggest it happened, such as: the illusory debate in response to community question time at the determining council meeting. Continue Reading »
Rocky Riders Castlemaine Six-Hour Enduro
Lachlan Norris takes a break from the Enduro
Six hours, sausage sizzles, mountain bikes, great fun and a great community event.
On Sunday around 300 men and women in lycra and cotton assembled outside Campbell’s Creek for the Rocky Riders Enduro. For the uninitiated – and it is a niche sport – it’s a nine kilometre course for mountain bike riders, through bush, over rocks and bushes, round tough corners and up and down unbelievable terrain.
Go to CI’s Sport page for the full story
