Countdown to Castlemaine State Festival

                                          The Black Diamonds

With only a month to go before the opening of the Castlemaine State Festival, the township and artists are abuzz with activity and preparations for the 10 days of festivities about to ripple across the region.
Festival director Martin Paten says it is both an exciting and crazy time leading up to the festival.
"It's when all the big ambitious ideas come together, when sets are built, artists prepare for exhibitions and technical rehearsals start - it's when final artistic decisions are made, and the energy in Castlemaine is palpable," Mr Paten said.
He said seven shows were already fully booked, and many more were close to selling out.
"Clearly this is a hugely anticipated festival.
"I am overwhelmed by the positive reactions from people I speak with across the region. Everyone is responding very encouragingly to the festival program. It has broad appeal and is full of the unexpected."
The festival is estimated to bring in an audience of close to 50,000 people, with Australian and international performers and companies mixing and mingling with regional communities and audiences it is a truly celebratory arts festival.
Highlights of the festival include the premier of the George Fairfax Theatre Award piece by Dan Mitchell The Republic of Trees: a tale between earth and sky created in the trees at Vaughan Springs; the Visual Art Biennial curated show Periscope located over three venues, Our Collective DNA literature program, Australia's hippest rock-electro-fusion group The Raah Project performing with over 26 musicians, indigenous work Blak Cabaret and its stellar line-up of artists, French singer Caroline Nin and much more.
A recent post-program printing addition is a remarkable a new dance piece all the way from Spain: "Entomo", to be presented as a free event on the final weekend of the festival.

A Filetta - second concert at Castlemaine State Festival

With many shows already selling out, Castlemaine State Festival has just announced a second show for a cappella group A Filetta, who are coming to Castlemaine coming from Corisca - a French island in the Mediterranean Sea.
With their initial show at the Old Castlemaine Gaol already sold out, festival director Martin Paten has negotiated a second show
for 11.30am on Sunday, March 24, due to high demand.
"It's fantastic to be able to present another concert for A Filetta. Their sound is sublime and inside the Old Gaol's walls - I think the atmosphere will be haunting and powerful," Paten said.
A Filetta is now one of the world's greatest and most evocative a cappella vocal ensembles.
For their concerts at the Castlemaine State Festival, they will perform ancient liturgical and secular songs, plus beautiful new originals in the wonderful setting of the Castlemaine Old Gaol.
See them here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU-wBJ4r3f0

Fabulous Maldon Antique Fair

Stallholders at the 2013 Maldon Antique Fair

The Maldon Antique Fair continues to go from strength to strength with more than 6,000 people attending the 2013 event last weekend.
The fair is run by Maldon Inc and organiser Mark Blythe said all of the gate takings, the food and refreshment sales plus the fees for the powered sites went to the Maldon Football and Netball Club.
"They collect the money and they keep it," Mark said.
He said the fair was in its fifth year and now had 130 stalls erected across the Bill Woodfull Reserve in Maldon.
Tetsuro Izumitani and his family came from Ocean Grove for the second consecutive year to sell their rare Japanese hand tools.
"It's a very good day - we love coming here," he said.
Kaz and Jane from Vintage Etc in Castlemaine have been running a stall at the Maldon Antique Fair for the past four years.
"From our point of view, it's great for buying and selling plus it's a great networking opportunity," Kaz said.
Andrew Hough of Walmer has been coming to the fair since day one.
"I do it for the money," he laughs. "We do very well here."
Andrew said the most popular item on his stall was the `Sunraysia Suitcase'.
"They were actually grape baskets but back in the old days the swaggies would pinch them and use them as little suitcases to carry their clothes in."
One man who travels a long way to set up a stall at the fair is Kevin Parker, a resident of Kyneton for 30 years, who now lives in Brisbane.
"I come back to the Maldon Antique Fair every year because it's great to catch up with all of my friends," Kevin said.
One of the youngest stallholders was little Scarlett, 7, of Vaughan. She was there with her dad and brother and the family did a roaring trade selling homemade lemon cordial to bargain hunters on the very hot February day.

The talk of the town - Newstead

Newstead will be the talk of the town on March 3
Small talk is the glue that holds small towns together, but over the past few months Newstead residents have been encouraged to talk at depth, as part of the community planning process, called 'Our Town, Our Say', run by a group of local volunteers.
Face-to-face chats, focus groups with farmers, carers, artists, small business, newcomers, and fireguard members, surveys, Facebook and blogging, postcards, general knowledge quizes and 'roaming blackboards' have been a few of the ways that Newsteadians have been encouraged to think about their town and the sort of future they would like to create.
Projects such as restoring the railway station to create an arts hub, linking both sides of the river via accessible walking and bike tracks, street tree renewal and improvements to Newstead's streetscapes have been just some of the hundreds of ideas elicited.
All this talking will reach a crescendo on March 3 at Newstead's Community Planning Day, when all the ideas and responses will be presented, discussed and the community will decide what will be included in Newstead's Community Plan.
The project is part of Mount Alexander Shire's community planning process underway across the shire. The difference in Newstead is that residents in the town decided to run the planning process themselves, with the idea that the locals could do a better job of making sure as many parts of the community were heard and had input into the process. Council agreed.
The planning group looks forward to a good turn-up at the community centre on March 3, from 11am to 3pm. Those in the community who haven't had the opportunity to be involved to date, can still have input into Newstead's plan. The day will involve presentations, music, displays, conversation, discussion and good food, catered for by the school community. The Newstead Quiz will be also drawn on the day.
www.newsteadplan.wordpress.com
www.facebook.com/NewsteadCommunityPlan
Janet Barker 0439 003 469

What's On in Castlemaine March 1-9

This week's films at the Theatre Royal. Tonight, Friday March 1, Les Miserables (M) at 9.30pm. For full movie session times and entertainment details phone 5472 1196 or visit www.theatreroyal.info.
Friday, March 1 at 7.30pm. Card Night. Campbells Creek Bowling Club is holding a card night, playing Euchre. Details: 5474 2480.
Friday, March 1 at 10am. World Day of Prayer. A service will be held at the Uniting Church in Lyttleton Street, Castlemaine for the 70th World Day of Prayer. All welcome to come along at 10am for the service, followed by coffee and cake.
Friday, March 1, 4.30-7pm. Nature discovery afternoon for kids. At the Vaughan Springs Reserve. Connecting Country is running an after school environmental education event for kids aged 9 to 12, followed by a barbecue dinner. Cost: $10 per child. Details: Max-5472 1594 or at www.connectingcountry.org.au
Saturday, March 2 at 11am. Welsh village service. The Anglican Parish of Castlemaine will hold a gum tree service at the Welsh Village to honour St David of Wales. Contact the parish for a map on 5472 1137.
Saturday, March 2. Fringe reunion and 2013 festival fundraiser. Come along to CASPA, above Stoneman's Bookrooms, Corner of Hargraves and Mostyn streets, Castlemaine for a home-style reunion. Stick around for live music from Peter Bodin and Rohan Souter. Entry by donation and drinks available at the brand-new CASPA bar. Details: Scott 0401 411 881.
Saturday and Sunday March 2 and 3. Video architecture. Movement-based workshops that will integrate new video works to create a performance for the Castlemaine State Festival at Castlemaine Continuing Education from 10am to 4pm. Free event. Ages 12-20. Lunch provided. Bookings: primeartcastemaine@gmail.com or 0401 167 767.
Saturday, March 2, 10.30am-12.30pm. Listening post. Lisa Chesters, the Labor candidate for Bendigo, will be available at the corner of Mostyn and Hargraves streets, Castlemaine to hear about issues that matter to you.
Sunday, March 3 at 7pm. Barchester Towers Night. The Anglican Parish of Castlemaine presents Bishop John Noble as he shares insights into Anthony Trollope and his work at Evensong. Details: 5472 1137.
Sunday, March 3, 9am-1pm. Castlemaine Farmers Market at Victory Park, Mostyn Street, Castlemaine. The produce of central Victoria will be on display with new stall holders to discover. Bring a picnic basket and relax and explore the Artist Market nearby. Details 0429 518 985 or www.castlemainefarmersmarket.org.
Sunday, March 3. Vocal Nosh at Newstead. Community singing and feasting at Newstead Community Centre, 6pm-8.30pm. Entry: Adult $15, concession $12, child $5 and includes a healthy meal. Bookings: Kerrie on 5470 5645 or kerriep@mmnet.com.au
Sunday, March 3 at 3pm. Public meeting at the Ray Bradfield Rooms, Victory Park, Castlemaine. To adopt the constitution and form the Mount Alexander South Sudan Association Incorporated to promote, support and resource the South Sudanese members of the community.
Sunday, March 3, 2-5pm. Make Your Harvest Apron workshop with Julie Red at Julie Red projects workspace, Halford Street, Castlemaine. Cost: $50 ($30 concession). Details 5472 4842.
Monday, March 4 at 7.30pm. Castlemaine Historical Society meeting. Guest speaker: Ross Williams - the history of the 2003 "Hobbit" discovery in Indonesia. Contact: 5472 4429.
Monday, March 4. Scottish Country Dancing. The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society's Castlemaine group will commence weekly classes held in the Uniting Church Hall from 7.30-9.30pm. A social form of dancing performed in groups. Details: Les 5472 2042.
Wednesday, March 6. Social ballroom dancing. From 7pm weekly at the West End Hall in View Street, Castlemaine. Tuition available. Entry cost is $3 with a light supper available. All proceeds from dancing classes go to the West Castlemaine Progress Association for upkeep of the hall. All welcome. Details: 5472 1506.
Friday, March 8, 1pm-4pm. Growing abundance workshop. A community food processing day to bottle fruit in the kitchen at the Castlemaine Town Hall. Cost is $5. Details: 5472 4842.
Friday, March 8, 9am-12pm. CAKE workshop: Jams, preserves, and fruit bottling with Nikki Valentini. In the kitchen at the Castlemaine Town Hall. Cost: $50 ($30 concession). Details 5472 4842.
Friday March 8 to Sunday March 10. Harcourt Applefest. Harcourt comes to life with the annual Applefest featuring an art show, street market, ferret race, pet parade, open microphone, youth activities and a grand parade with Applefest royalty. Harcourt's famous apples are the central attraction with fruit grower displays, baking competitions and cooking competitions. The event concludes on Sunday morning with an all ages duathlon. Details: 5474 2321 or diecrest2@impulse.net.au.
Saturday, March 9, 8am-1pm. Chewton pool fundraiser. The Chewton Pool Inc are holding a gourmet sausage sizzle and wood raffle as a fundraiser for the Chewton pool, outside the newsagent in Mostyn Street, Castlemaine. Enquiries: Gloria Meltzer 5472 3592.

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