Castlemaine Fringe needs volunteers

 

The Castlemaine Fringe Festival is back in 2013.
The Fringe turns 21 this year and it needs your help. The festival is run by volunteers, whether it’’s sitting on the door, helping to move equipment, assisting with publicity and promotions –- the festival simply cannot run without the support of people in the community.
The big plus for volunteers is that they get to see some great shows while they are at it!
If you can give change, smile and be friendly, use Facebook or Twitter, carry things, make drinks or snacks,– drive a car or– help people to their seats then the Castlemaine Fringe Festival folks would love to hear from you.
The Castlemaine Fringe Festival runs from March 15-24. For more information about how you can help, contact the Fringe on 5472 2225 or by email fringefest2013@gmail.com
http://castlemainefringe.org.au/2013/wp/category/fringe-news/

Sustainable Living Festival comes to Castlemaine

 

Here's a chance to get involved in The Sustainable Living Festival without taking a trip to Melbourne.

Local groups have banded together to present an exciting program of events across the weekend.

“When representatives of the Sustainable Living Festival came to town earlier in the year – hoping to bring a more regional touch to the Melbourne-based event, we were delighted to be approached,” said Lucy Young from Castlemaine Community House’s Growing Abundance project.

“There are so many exciting initiatives happening right here, we jumped at the chance to showcase some of them.”

The weekend will get off to a juicy start for those that want to get on board with a backyard harvest of seasonal fruit on Saturday morning– most likely peaches and nectarines.

Sas Allardice of the Harvest program said: “It’s a chance to experience what we do as well as meet new folk and take home some juicy fruit”.

Harvesters will meet at 9.30am in the big IGA carpark and be encouraged to either cycle or car pool to the destination.

At 10am, while folks are out harvesting, there will be a gathering of many of Castlemaine’s active groups showcasing their stuff at the Ray Bradfield rooms.

If you want to hear the latest from the Community Wind project, come along and have a chat. There will also be a great display images from a recent trip to Europe, images that tell a story about how other towns have managed to meet their energy needs.

Mount Alexander Sustainability Group will also be on hand to chat about what else they are up to, as always, with many inspiring projects on the go, it’s a good chance to check them out.

Connecting Country will be on hand, linking people into their exciting program of events to help us connect to the local natural environment. Trust for Nature will be available to talk about their program that works with private land owners about how to protect local wildlife and plant life.

Sustainable Regional Australia will also be in attendance.

For those with a bent towards more active participation, grab a taste of the season to come on Sunday between 1 and 4 pm with a demonstration of a community apple press. Join in juicing fruits of the season with Growing Abundance at the fabulous Hub Plot.

The afternoon will include a short talk on cider making with a local backyard expert, Elaine Bayes. Participation is by donation, BYO bottles to take juice home.

If you want to know more about what’s on, call Lucy at Castlemaine Community House on 54724842 or check out: www.cch.org.au

Sri Lanka Cycle Against Poverty

 

 

 

 

In recent years, Sri Lanka has been hit by one devastating event after another. This is your chance to make a real difference.

ChildFund Australia is searching for 20 passionate cyclists to join the 2013 Sri Lanka Cycle Against Poverty, a 13-day travel adventure departing 24 November.
By joining this overseas challenge, you'll get fit, experience one of the world's most exotic islands and fundraise to provide goats to poor families, making a real difference in one of the most disadvantaged regions of the world.
You’ll also have the opportunity to learn about development issues in Sri Lanka as you visit rural villages that ChildFund supports, meeting some of the children and families in communities benefiting from your fundraising.
"To a poor family a goat is a great stepping stone," says ChildFund Australia CEO Nigel Spence. "It provides a regular source of income, the means to send their children to school – and hope for the future."
Participants must fundraise at least $3340 for ChildFund Australia, plus cover their travel costs. Money raised will be used to provide 200 goats for impoverished families in three communities. The families will also be supported with essential resources, such as sheds, feed, vaccines and vitamins, livestock insurance and training to help kickstart their goat-rearing businesses.
For more information about the 2013 Sri Lanka Cycle Against Poverty, visit www.childfund.org.au/act/SriLankaCycle or call Kristen at Inspired Adventures on 1300 905 188. 

A time for healing

As the dust settles following The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal landmark decision on the Castlemaine pokies battle, Mount Alexander Shire mayor Michael Redden has called for a time of healing in the Castlemaine community.

VCAT Deputy President Mark Dwyer last Thursday upheld an appeal by the council against the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation's decision to grant Maryborough Highland Society (MHS) a licence to open a gaming venue with 65 pokies in the old railway goods shed in Kennedy Street, Castlemaine.

Mr Dwyer ultimately found that the social detriment of the proposal outweighed the economic benefits for the Castlemaine community.
The issue divided the town for well over two years with two groups - the Castlemaine Sports and Community Club Inc (The Club) and Enough Pokies in Castlemaine (EPIC) - lobbying for and against the proposed venue.
There was a huge gathering of EPIC members at the Theatre Royal last Thursday night to celebrate the VCAT decision.
But EPIC president David Stretch said the celebration was pretty subdued.
"People were feeling more a sense of relief than winning or losing," Mr Stretch said.
"The overwhelming feeling of a lot of people involved was that they were just glad it's over. This very contentious and divisive issue is now off the radar.
"I'm not celebrating - I just want to get on with life."
Meanwhile, spokesman for The Club, Ian Braybrook, said members would meet in the next few weeks and make a decision on the group's future. He did not rule out the possibility of trying for another venue.
"If we do decide to proceed with another venue, we know that we have learnt some valuable lessons from this experience."
Mayor Redden said there had been a mixed reaction to the decision in the Castlemaine community.
"There are very good people on both sides of the debate and I would like to see some kind of healing process get under way.
"I would like to invite The Club members to come to the council offices and see if we can work together to achieve what they want, without having to bring more poker machines into the community.
"I met with them recently and they are not saying they want pokies - they are saying pokies were a means to achieving a club-style venue where they can meet, enjoy a meal and have an arts space rather than having to go to a hotel which has a totally different atmosphere."
At the gathering at the Theatre Royal to thank the EPIC committee members for their work last Thursday night, someone called out "What next?"

Castlemaine Anglican priest, Father Ken Parker replied: "Next, we commit ourselves with the same energy to rebuilding this community.

"If you have fought for the wellbeing of this community over the last two years, then keep up the effort. Work to rebuild understanding, to rebuild trust.
"Many people will feel hurt by this (VCAT) decision and some disenfranchised. Let's work at communicating and building bridges."
The invitation was greeted by strong applause.

VCAT says NO to Castlemaine pokies bid

The Castlemaine pokies battle is over.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has knocked back a bid by Maryborough Highland Society to open a gaming venue with 65 pokies in the old railway goods shed in Kennedy Street, Castlemaine.
VCAT Deputy President Mark Dwyer yesterday made a landmark decision when he ruled in favour of Mount Alexander Shire Council and community group Enough Pokies in Castlemaine (EPIC).
Council had appealed the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation's (VCGR) decision last year to grant Maryborough Highland Society (MHS) a licence to open a club. The two-week hearing came to close on December 14, 2012. It followed a two-year battle that has caused bitter division in Castlemaine.
Mr Dwyer ultimately found that the social detriment of the proposal outweighed the economic benefits for the Castlemaine community.
Mayor's view
Mount Alexander Shire Mayor Michael Redden said the council had been consistent in its view that the proposed venue would have a detrimental impact on our community.
"I am pleased that VCAT has supported that view," Cr Redden said.
"Council is well aware of the passion and interest that this issue has generated in our community and I hope that we can move on together now that it has been resolved."
The first reaction from representatives of the MHS, EPIC and the Castlemaine Sports and Community Club can be summed up with one word - shock.
Maryborough Highland Society general manager Malcolm Blandthorn said he did not expect the VCAT ruling to go against the club.
"We are very disappointed," he said. "As a not-for-profit organisation, we have always acted with the best intentions towards the Castlemaine community and this decision has come somewhat as a shock to us."
End of the road
Mr Blandthorn said MHS accepted the Tribunal decision and that it was the end of road for the Society's bid to open a Castlemaine venue.
"We will be withdrawing all future applications including the planning permit currently before MAS Council."
He said the 65 poker machines would be put on the transfer register so that another club in Victoria could purchase them. The lease on the old railway goods shed will be cancelled immediately.
"The lease was conditional on the proposed venue going ahead and we are able to get out of it."
Mr Blandthorn said he really felt for members of Castlemaine Sports and Community Club because it was an opportunity lost for the town.
EPIC `thrilled'
EPIC president David Stretch said the group was thrilled with the decision.
"This is an extraordinary result for the Castlemaine community," Mr Stretch said. "EPIC thanks councillors and council officers for their leadership in committing ratepayer funds to represent council and community opposition to this proposal."
Mr Stretch said VCAT's decision to refuse the Maryborough Highland Society a permit to install the machines in the Castlemaine community represented "just reward" for local people who had fought the proposal over the last two years.
"Unprecedented community opposition has been an important consideration is this case and EPIC sees Mr Dwyer's finding as a victory for common sense.
"This proposal has caused significant disruption to our community and EPIC as an entity, looks forward to becoming dormant - hopefully for a long, long time.
He said EPIC supported continued development in Castlemaine without "the long-term negative impacts attached to the MHS proposal and any future applications to increase pokies in our shire".
"We send a sincere thanks to members of the local community, who have stood behind EPIC and provided the voice and the impetus to achieve this great result."
Lost opportunity
The Castlemaine Sports and Community Club president Jenny Rixon said the group was obviously disappointed by the VCAT decision. Ms Rixon agreed with Mr Blandthorn's assessment of it being "a lost opportunity for our community".
"We will however accept the umpire's decision," Ms Rixon said.
"We thank our 1570 loyal members who have supported the club in our efforts to bring this club to fruition and we assure them that we did our best to secure what we consider to be the best outcome for our community."
Ms Rixon said a general meeting for club members would be held in the coming weeks to discuss the future direction of the Castlemaine Sports and Community Club.
Landmark decision
Deputy President Mark Dwyer's decision on this issue sets a huge precedent and could effectively change the dynamics of future gaming applications across Victoria.
EPIC became the first community group other than a local council to successfully challenge pokies operators nationwide.
It is also significant because Mr Dwyer found that while Castlemaine was not a 'pokie-free' town like Romsey, which also won its bid to stop the installation of poker machines in the town, it is 'pokies light' and ruled that the extra gaming machines would affect the social character of Castlemaine.
Leader of Maurice Blackburn Lawyers' social justice practice Elizabeth O'Shea, who represented EPIC pro-bono in the drawn-out fight, said the decision was extremely significant in the fight to retain the character of local communities.
"This decision draws a line in the sand in the battle against pokies invasions on unwilling towns, and sends a strong message that if communities band together and take the fight on, they will be heard. They can win the battle to preserve community character," Ms O'Shea said.
"This is a watershed moment that should act as a blueprint for other communities who may previously have thought they couldn't take it up to big business in the fight against unwanted pokies and problem gambling."