Kiss for a coffee
LOVE-STRUCK couples who lock lips at Dandenong Market this Valentine’s Day can walk away with a free coffee.
Participating cafes Perfect Coffee and Dough Works will reward 10-second or longer smooches with a free brew through the ‘kiss for a coffee’ challenge.
– Dandenong Market, Cleeland Street, Dandenong.
A lunch for love
NOBLE Park Italian Elderly Citizens Club will host a family barbecue on Valentine’s Day, followed by bocce, cards and bingo.
There’ll be plain sausages for $2, continental sausages for $3 and steak for $5, with salad and tomato sauce.
– Noble Park Community Centre at Ross Reserve, Memorial Drive, Noble Park. Friday 14 February, noon to 2pm. Call Josie on 0407 354 423 for more information.
Green thumbs
THE Springvale Garden Club will host a guest speaker on heirloom vegetables and plants this month, Keith Edwards from The Diggers Club.
Doors open at 7.30pm on Wednesday 19 February and the meeting starts at 8pm.
– The Senior Citizens Hall, The Crescent, Springvale. The $2 entry includes door prizes and supper. Call Cheryl Johnson on 9551 3197 for more information.
Get creative
THE Open Door’s writing group is a place to practise and share creative writing skills in a small and supportive group.
No experience is necessary, just a willingness to play.
– The Open Door, 110 Ann Street, Dandenong. Thursday 13 February, 10am to noon. A gold coin donation is welcome. Call 9791 8664.
Puttin’ 4 hunger
DANDENONG food distribution charity Avocare is hosting a charity golf day to raise money to buy a refrigerated van.
Enjoy a barbecue lunch, 18 holes of golf and a two-course dinner including beer, wine and soft drink for $250 per player.
– Rossdale Golf Club, Sixth Avenue, Aspendale. Friday 21 March. For a registration form, email trish@avocare.org.au by 26 February.
Computer and art classes
THE Endeavour Hills Neighbourhood Centre has classes starting in computer skills for jobseekers, computing for beginners and painting and drawing.
– Endeavour Hills Neighbourhood Centre, lower level, 10 Raymond McMahon Blvd, Endeavour Hills. Bookings essential on 9700 3789. Visit www.ehunc.org.au for more information.
Lions Summer Festival
SPRINGVALE’S Burden Park will host the free Lions Summer Festival this month.
The three-day event will include live music, cultural performances, a talent quest, multicultural food stalls, community displays, rides and more.
There’ll be a fireworks display on the Saturday night.
– Burden Park, corner Heatherton and Springvale roads, Springvale South. Friday 14 February, 5pm to 11pm, Saturday 15 February, 11am to 11pm, and Sunday 16 February, 11am to 4pm. Call Ashley Lewis on 0418 380 555 for more information.
Day for the Dutch
SANDOWN Racecourse will host the annual Holland Festival this month – the biggest Dutch festival in the Southern Hemisphere.
The family friendly event will feature music, dancing and entertainment, traditional national costumes, games and traditional Dutch delicacies.
– Sandown Racecourse, 591-659 Princes Highway, Springvale. Vehicles enter via Princes Highway overpass. Pedestrians enter via Alamein Street, gate 14. Saturday 15 February, 10am to midnight. Entry is $20 for adults, $15 concession and free for kids aged under 15. For more information and to book tickets visit www.hollandfestival.com.au.
Tricks of the trade
DIY tips and craft for kids are on offer every weekend in February at Bunnings Warehouse, Dandenong.
For grown-ups there’ll be workshops on tiling, plastering, quick maintenance and repair, and storage advice, and for children there’s animal craft, mosaics and more.
– Every Saturday and Sunday throughout February. Adults at 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm. Kids times vary. Bunnings Warehouse Dandenong, 1-5 Gladstone Road, Dandenong. Call 8792 9500 for more information.
Dark-room creations
NUDGE Into Form is the solo show from She exhibition winner Danica Chappell.
Walker Street Gallery’s Gallery One will display the abstract photography created the old-fashioned analogue way – in a darkroom – in a time where digital images are ubiquitous.
– Walker Street Gallery, Robinson Street, Dandenong. Until 3pm, Saturday 1 March. Call 9706 8441 for more information.
Hospital turns 30
THE Valley Private Hospital is celebrating its 30th birthday with a family fun day.
Rides, face painting, a petting farm and pony rides will be held outdoors on the hospital site, plus an interactive ambulance display and gourmet food and drinks.
Proceeds will go to the Black Dog Institute, world leaders in diagnosing, treating and preventing mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder.
– The Valley Private Hospital, corner Police and Gladstone roads, Mulgrave. Saturday 15 February, 9am to 3pm. Free parking and entry. Gold coin donations for activities.
Cemetery tours
FRIENDS of Dandenong Cemeteries lead tours through Dandenong Community Cemetery to discover the final resting places of the area’s pioneers and share their stories.
The tour runs for 90 minutes and includes a light afternoon tea.
– Pioneers of Dandenong – the Gateway to Gippsland. Dandenong Community Cemetery, Kirkham Road, Dandenong South. Sunday 16 February, 2pm to 3.30pm. The cost is $15. Bookings are essential. Email info@fodc.org.au or call 0411 399 449.
The Kitchen Sink
UK playwright Tom Wells’s The Kitchen Sink is on its way to Dandenong.
The Red Stitch Actors Theatre production is an honest and touching comedy about Yorkshire family’s struggles to follow its dreams.
– Drum Theatre, corner Lonsdale and Walker streets, Dandenong. Friday 18 February and Sunday 1 March, 8pm. Tickets from $30. Visit www.drumtheatre.com.au.
Businesses clean up
THE Business Clean Up Australia Day is only a few weeks away.
Businesses can register a site to clean up at their own workplace or in their community, to make their local environment cleaner and greener.
– Tuesday 25 February. Visit www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au for more information.
Schools pitch in
STUDENTS and teachers work together to clean up their schools and community on Schools Clean Up Australia Day.
More than 470,000 students took part last year.
– Friday 28 February. Visit www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au to register a site or for more information.
Storytime
GREATER Dandenong libraries host Storytime for kids aged four and over.
The free sessions introduce children to books and help carers learn songs, nursery rhymes and more that can be enjoyed at home.
– Thursdays, 10.30am. Springvale and Dandenong libraries. Call 1300 630 920 for more information.
U3A Karaoke
UNIVERSITY of the Third Age (U3A) hosts afternoons of fun and music from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s in Noble Park.
U3A Karaoke is for people over 55 no longer working full time. There are more than 1200 songs to choose from, competitions, giveaways and dress-up days.
– Paddy O’Donoghue Centre, 18 Buckley Street, Noble Park. Every Friday during school terms, 1pm to 3pm. Free to U3A members. Call Rob on 9711 1118 for more information about U3A Karaoke and 9546 2997 for general information about U3A.
Toddler Time
TODDLER Time is held at Greater Dandenong libraries for kids aged two to three years.
Listening to stories helps children develop their imagination and vocabulary, and carers can learn songs, finger plays and more to share at home at these free sessions.
– Springvale and Dandenong libraries. Mondays at 10.30am during school terms. Call 1300 630 920 for more information.
Get crafty
NOBLE Park CWA meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month, and every second Monday is craft day.
Guests can learn something new or bring along a work in progress.
– Paddy O’Donoghue Centre, 18 Buckley Street, Noble Park. 10am to 1.30pm. Call 9547 7261 for more information.
Caring for the environment
GREATER Dandenong Environment Group increases local awareness about environmental issues.
It meets at Dandenong Wetlands on the first Sunday of the month at 9.30am and Tirhatuan Park on the fourth Sunday of the month at 9.30am.
Activities include water watch and bird watching.
– Call 8571 1702 to become a member or for more information.
Heritage Hill heats up
HOT and Cool is an afternoon of live music, family friendly activities and entertainment at two Dandenong venues.
Heritage Hill’s historic rose garden is the place to picnic during the warmer months, with folk/country artist Larissa Tandy and a Capella quartet the nymphs performing there in March.
Walker Street Gallery shines during the cooler months.
– Hot and Cool at Heritage Hill, 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong. 2 March. Visit www.greaterdandenong.com for more information.
