Meet Azzy Jay, the powerhouse behind the scenes at Castlemaine Fringe! Blending her professional expertise in community development, mental health advocacy, and accessible inclusive arts with an infectious sense of fun, every festival becomes a vibrant celebration where local talents shine and the streets come alive with dance and creativity. She has a passion for making arts accessible and engaging. Castlemaine Fringe is... a joyful blend of art, community spirit and artistic expression and diverse programming that caters for artists, performers and audiences of all ages.

Caz is a Central Victorian-based festival producer, venue manager and performer with over 15 years’ experience in the performing arts sector. She works across festival operations, event delivery and community arts programming, with a strong focus on creating accessible, inclusive and engaging cultural experiences. Castlemaine Fringe is… "about connection. It brings people together, celebrates local identity and helps build a sense of pride in place!"

Jacqueline grew up in a small country town with dreams of a career in journalism and acting. She studied at Showbiz in Prahran, the precursor to NICA, undertook a BA in Cinema Studies & Politics, then later dabbled in Marketing and started a Law Degree. She developed a passion for event volunteering which gave her skills in event, project and people management. She has worked in publishing and the legal sector, purchased an art house cinema, ran Hare Krishna venues and developed a passion for community development and the power of volunteering. She has been on the board of Castlemaine Community House, Harcourt Progress Association, Castlemaine Circus, Business Mount Alexander and the Mount Alexander Volunteer Network. She is a co-owner of Shedshaker Brewing, running the venue as a community hub, hosting music, literary and art events alongside fundraisers and public forums. Jacqueline is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Criminology with a long term aim to advocate for prison reform and to finally complete a tertiary qualification. Castlemaine Fringe is… a joyous opportunity to come together and celebrate.

Liz is a proud local with a soft spot for tin sheds, fringe theatre and good governance. With over a decade of board and community leadership experience, she brings a people-first approach to strategy and decision-making. Her background spans healthcare leadership, coaching, and designing regional leadership programs with a focus on inclusion, mental health, and genuine connection. She’s helped shape safe spaces for community wellbeing and is a serial volunteer who’s happiest when combining purpose and creativity. Whether she’s working on a policy or elbow-deep in mosaic grout, Liz is driven by the belief that the arts are essential to thriving, resilient communities. She’s thrilled to support Castlemaine Fringe in celebrating bold ideas, local voices, and that unmistakable Fringe spirit. Castlemaine Fringe is … is an opportunity for the Castlemaine Community to curate, connect and celebrate.

I recently moved back to Dja Dja Warrung country after years of study and work in Naarm’s arts and education sector. I’m passionate about facilitating and protecting spaces for creativity and community engagement. Having worn many hats (and costumes) as a Castlemaine Fringe volunteer and participant since 2019, I’m honoured to take on a board position and contribute my technical, administration and finance skills to ensure the future of this vibrant organisation.

Bridget is passionate about creativity, she has a creative practice that encompasses writing and performance, and has appeared in theatre, screen, music and radio productions in Australia and the UK. She is a member of the Mainfm Programming Committee and presents the radio show Femme Fortissima. Bridget has significant professional experience in mainstage theatre production and screen production as Art Director, and as a creative arts academic. Castlemaine Fringe is … an integral part of this town. It offers everyone in the community a chance to share in the joyful expression of creativity, whether their own or someone else’s, and it’s another excuse to dress up!

I have been a Castlemaine local for 13 years, having been drawn to Castlemaine by its rich creative and lively performance culture. I have been involved in the Fringe festival events committee, and fundraising events for the past 3 years and am now in my second year on the Board of the Fringe. I have a very talented family of singers, songwriters and a dancer, but except for a few spirited and passionate performances at Castlemaine Idyll, am happiest in the supporting role-you have likely been served a drink by me from behind a Fringe bar. Through Fringe I have met many new people, seen wondrous performances, danced in the streets, cried, and wept with laughter, and sung along. Castlemaine Fringe is… a vibrant, eclectic organisation, run by enthusiastic volunteers. It is an important vehicle for me to create the culture of the community in which I want to live. I want to live where I can see new ideas, inclusive performances, and diversity of thought. Fringe is… a lot of fun, with a local focus.

Artistic Director/ Creative Producer/Designer/Performer - My artistic practice traverses a diverse creative field, from circus, physical theatre, street theatre, performance art, festivals and events and public art. My practice has evolved over 35 years and has broadly focused on thorough site, location and community engagement. My work is essentially informed by sensitive people and place engagement, thorough research, resource adaptation, sustainability, collaboration and meaningfully embedding a work into specific locations and communities. This conceptual approach is informed by my Whadjuk, Ballardong and Yued Noongar and Anglo-European cultural heritage. A particular focus with my current work is tackling the important question of what a truly embodied and authentic Australian Storytelling experience should look and feel like. I am guided by my bloodline histories and connections to weave and explore works informed by Ceremony, Connection to Country and Kinship.

Richard is a media professional based in Castlemaine with a global background in print and audio visual. He currently works with Guardian Australia, on various freelance projects and is the president of MainFM radio station. Castlemaine Fringe is… a platform that allows the colourful community of the region to express itself in full performative glory. It gives light and life to creative ideas that can get lost in a world of margins and monochrome.

After helping to deliver major national and international events across Australia and Europe, I moved to Fryerstown in 2011 with my partner and two children. Since settling in Central Victoria, I’ve worked with the State Government in areas including policy development and risk management. Volunteering with Fringe allows me to use my knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm to help enable, support, and nurture all the incredible creative people in our community!

I’m Kat - an IT pro and project wrangler in the local government world, who loves solving tricky problems and making things happen. I moved to Castlemaine with my partner and 2 kids 11 years ago and we haven’t looked back. We love this village and feel so grateful that our kids get to grow up surrounded by such a supportive, inclusive and creative community - all of which really shines through in the spirit of the Castlemaine Fringe Festival. That’s why I’ve joined the Board, and I’m super excited to be part of the team helping to bring the next one to life in 2027! Castlemaine Fringe is.... like a big, joyful hug from the whole town—packed with creativity, spontaneous dance moves, friendly faces, and the kind of magic only passionate volunteers can pull off!

I’m Pete and I’m a passionate supporter of Fringe and part of the Events Planning Team who help stage the festival, fundraisers and other events. As a musician myself, I've benefited from the wonderful Castlemaine arts scene so I know how precious support for creative ideas can be. Castlemaine Fringe is… an artistic celebration of the entire beautiful Castlemaine community.