Castlemaine Graffiti Busters and NHW Inc.
Date: 16 January 2025
We talked with Jane Cafarella to learn more about this community initiative.
Can you tell us a little about the history of the Castlemaine Graffiti Busters (CGB) and Castlemaine & District Neighbourhood Watch Inc (NHW)?
Castlemaine Graffiti Busters is a volunteer group established in June last year, dedicated to removing illegal and ugly graffiti tags from private property in the shire, with permission.
Since then, we’ve raised more than $10,000 through generous donations from residents and traders and Community Grants from Council and Castlemaine Rotary Club, to purchase and fully equip a trailer and train our team of more than a dozen volunteers who have “busted” graffiti on private property all over town. The results speak for themselves.
The new Castlemaine & District NHW Inc is an initiative of the busters, and the logical next step to help keep our shire safe. We’re not out to solve the social problems that result in graffiti; we’re just here to clean up the mess. Our motto: ‘They come back, but so do we!’
Why should business owners consider signing up to join?
Local businesses have been one of CGB’s key beneficiaries. We’ve cleaned graffiti from Don KR, Leech’s, Flowserve, Chapmans, and more, as well as many small targets around the CBD, discouraging repeat offences and improving the look of the shopping and tourist areas. Commercial graffiti removal costs thousands, and constant removal is not affordable. We do it for a small donation to help maintain our supplies.
How will people who join the Castlemaine Graffiti Busters and Castlemaine & District NHW Inc be expected to contribute to the organisations' work?
Graffiti busting is a fun, safe, social and empowering activity that only takes an hour or two about twice a month, always followed by coffee at a local café. You can also help by putting our posters and promotional material in your shop, or helping organise a NHW event or making a donation. We’ll conduct one NHW event each quarter, starting with Coffee with a Cop (details TBA).
How can people sign up?
Click here to go on our mailing list. We meet on the 1st Thursday of the month at 7pm at Aitken’s Corner Café, corner of Gaulton and Johnston Streets, Castlemaine. All welcome. You can also call on 0447 767 304 or email us with any questions castlemainegraffitibusters@gmail.com