2023 festival line-up revealed!

Lisa Dennis

Ahuge crowd packed The Goods Shed on Saturday morning for the launch of the impressive 2023 season line up for the Castlemaine State Festival’s highly anticipated 24th biennial event.

The diverse curation of the very best local and international arts talent and events will bring focus to Castlemaine, spotlighting the arts culture of the region while bringing visitors from across Australia and overseas to experience this renowned family-friendly, fun, and accessible 17-day event which will run from March 24 to April 9, 2023.

The crowd were welcomed to country by Dja Dja Wurrung Elder Uncle Rick Nelson and then greeted by Castlemaine State Festival board chair Dennis Goldner who gave abrief overview of the event’s incredible history which celebrates 47 years in 2023.

Mr Goldner said the flagship Australian festival was born from the imagination and determination of founder Berek Segan AM OBE and that once the planned Goods Shed redevelopment was compete the Segan name would be given to the new community arts space in honour of the family’s contribution to the long running festival.

Mayor Rosie Annear shared memories of attending the festival as achild, teen, young adult and more recently as aparent and said she was honoured to be representing council in afestival year.

Cr Annear said the council was proud to support the 2023 event with grants, in-kind and office hours support of $100,000 to help make the festival asuccess.

“Let’s dream big! This may be the best festival yet!” Cr Annear said.

Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards was also in attendance and spoke about the state government’s long time support of the festival, including the $100,000 commitment towards this year’s festival in the recent election and $6 million for Stage 2ofThe Goods Shed redevelopment and the establishment of flexible performing and visual arts spaces.

“I must congratulate Festival Director Glyn Roberts and his team on putting together another incredible program in 2023. Ican’t wait to see Castlemaine come alive over the 17 day event,” Ms Edwards said.

Festival Director Glyn Roberts then officially launched the program with an overview of some of the incredible offerings audiences can expect to enjoy at this year’s festival.

Roberts said this year’s engaging musical line-up includes afree opening night performance from Frente under the Festival ‘big top’ on Western Reserve, and also performances by Vika and Linda Bull, The Southern River Band, Jaguar Jonze, Kurt Vile and The Violators, Castlemaine’s own Kian, Killing Heidi’s Ella Hooper and Jem Cassar-Daley, The Gesualdo Six, Electric Fields, Dallas Woods and Alter Boy just to name afew.There will also be various after parties and collaborations with the Castlemaine Fringe Festival.

There will also be delicate music from Bendigo Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Cham- ber Orchestra, the Australian National Academy of Music; an intimate Salon Series at Buda and the chance to celebrate the music of country artist Dolly Parton.

Mr Roberts said the beloved Dialogues program also returns with thought-provoking discourse from some of the country’s finest thinkers.

Theatre and performance highlights will include Gravity and Other Myths –A Simple Space, Maloya Moshpit, Night Walks with Teenagers, Dirty Laundry, Brat Kids Carnival, I Am Woman, 27 Club: The Music that Never Died, Macbeth and many more.

Visual arts will be represented with exhibitions including For the Love of Song: David Frazer; David Rosetzky: Air to Atmosphere; Damon Kowarsky; Essays on Earth -Brodie Ellis in collaboration with John Wolseley &Paul Kane: On Land; more than 70 Open Studios and acurated Open Studios Group exhibition at the Market Building.

Pick up your free program in today’s Express. Tickets are now live visit: castlemainefestival.com.au. Follow the Festival on Instagram and Facebook for updates.

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Cross plan questioned

From page 1.

“VNPA has the utmost respect for our Diggers and notes the importance of the memorial cross and its importance as aplace of reflection, however, we hold great concern about the impact of the works," VNPA's Ben Gill told the Express.

“The snow gums are aremnant species from the last ice age and are under threat from severe weather events and achanging climate.This species is typically expected to be found in alpine areas at the snow line and any patches in western Victoria are rare and very important.”

Funding for the project was issued through the Distinctive Areas and Landscapes Grant Program.

Macedon Ranges was the first distinctive area declared for protection under the Planning and Environment Act but some residents have since questioned the region's level of protection

In astatement issued on Friday, Macedon Ranges Ratepayers Association said the Parks Victoria proposal was contrary to the Macedon Ranges Statement of Planning Policy and compromises claims that Macedon Ranges is protected.

"The state government and local MP Mary-Anne Thomas say they have protected Macedon Ranges... If some of the most important vegetation on some of the most dangerous slopes can be destroyed to improve views for tourists, then the Act and the Statement don’t seem worth the paper they are written on.

In March last year Macedon Ranges Shire Council said snowgums had been identified as atargetspecies to monitor following diebackofpopulations at Mount Macedon and surrounds.

"The implications of this application are widespread. If the 'protection' provided isn’t working, it’s not just Mount Macedon in jeopardy, the shire’s environment and towns aren’t protected either."

Parks Victoria expects works to begin on the proposal in late February to early March.

Macedon Ranges Shire Council is now advertising the proposal (PLN/2022/388) and seeking submissions.

Delivery fraudster strikes

AGisborne bakery is among the businesses fallen victim in aseriesofbogus deliveries reported to police over the past two months.

Seventeen victims were targeted by aman claiming he required cash up-front to make a delivery between December 11 and January 21.

Police are investigating an incident where the Gisborne bakery on Brantome Street allegedly had $300 taken on December. Similar incidents are also being investigated for businesses in Seymour, Broadford, South Morang, Werribee, Portarlington, Dromana, Pakenham, Flemington, Prahran, Thornbury, Sydenham, St Albans, Macleod and Briar Hill.

In most incidents, the offender attended abusiness or residence claiming he has adelivery of goods to make however requires payment before he can give them their items.

He also tries to sell goods at bargain prices but requirespayment up-front.

Once the victims hand over the cash, between $100 and $2500, the offender left saying he’s going to get the items due for delivery or purchased but instead takes off.

Investigators executed asearchwarrant at Burnside Heights address on December 30, however, no arrests have been made at this stage.

Darebin Crime Investigation Unit Detective Senior Constable Amanda Wright warned businesses to be vigilant.

“This offender is very good at convincing people that he has adelivery for them, often providing accurate names of owners/managers at these businesses so his claims appear legitimate and producing fake invoices at times,” she said.

“We urge people to confirm with management that they are expecting alegitimatedelivery before providing any moneyand confirm that the stock actually exists.

“Anyone who thinks they are avictim is urged to report the matter to their local police station.” Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au