Santa made his traditional appearance at Carols in the Park, but he wasn't the only giver of gifts on the evening. It's also traditional for Castlemaine Rotary to announce grants to community organisations during Carols, and 2023 was no exception.

We've had a bumper year, so there was plenty to share around. Read on for the list of community grants.

Rotary Castlemaine is proud to host Castlemaine Christmas Carols as a Community event, to say thank you to local groups that have supported us in events such as our Rotary Castlemaine Truck Show and to recognise local groups that quietly go about their business supporting this 'Village'.

It's been a bumper year for us and this, combined with our relationship with Mt Alexander Community Enterprise, has meant it's a particularly bountiful year.

Castlemaine Rotary Grants distributed at Carols in the Park on 15 December 2023 – TOTAL OF $44,000

Community groups that provided volunteer support at the 2023 Castlemaine Rotary Truck Show - $9,900

1st Castlemaine Scout Group
$1,000
St Mary’s Primary School$1,000
Castlemaine Men’s Shed$500
Newstead Men’s Shed$500
South Castlemaine Kindergarten$250
Campbells Creek Fire Brigade$2,000
Campbells Creek PS$1,000
Campbells Creek FN Club$1,000
Campbells Creek Rec Reserve$1,000
Pride Choir$1,000
Cycling without Age$500
Maldon Folk Festival$150
 
Annual Support to welfare / emergency / local groups - $20,000
St Vincent de Paul (Food vouchers)$5,000
Salvation Army (Food vouchers)$5,000
Castlemaine Health$5,000
Castlemaine Community House (Christmas Lunch)$1,000
Castlemaine Fire Brigade$2,000
SES (Castlemaine)$2,000

Other Local groups and projects - $7,500

Victorian Goldfields Railway (sleeper replacement project)$5,000
Harcourt Valley Heritage & Tourist Centre Inc$1,000
Thompsons Foundry Band$500
Rites of Passage Young Men’s Group Inc$1,000

Mt Alexander Community Enterprise –$6,600

Castlemaine Community House – (Christmas Lunch)$500
Castlemaine Community House – (Pride event)$500
Castlemaine Athletics Club – (Castlemaine Gift)$600
Harcourt Football, Netball Club –new scoreboard$5,000