Active healthy fun
THIS year’s Sports Fest is themed Active Healthy Fun and participants can have fun, boost their health and wellbeing and make connections with local sporting groups.
The event will feature sports and interactive games, recreational activities, a kids’ area, dance, live music, performances and market stalls.
There’ll be free entry to Noble Park Aquatic Centre from 2pm to 5pm and people can register for a 3on3 basketball tournament in the Noble Park Community Centre through recreation@cgd.vic.gov.au.
– Ross Reserve, Memorial Drive, Noble Park. Sunday 15 March, 11am to 3pm.
Spirituality and Earth
ANNE Boyd from EarthSong will talk about Rachel Carson, a marine biologist, author and nature-lover.
Carson is considered the founder of the modern environmental movement for challenging the practices of agricultural scientists and the government.
– The Open Door, 110 Ann Street, Dandenong. Wednesday 25 February, 5.30pm to 6.30pm. A $5 donation is suggested. Places are limited. Call Trish or Jo on 9791 8664 or email theopendoor@ssjg.org.au to book.
Through artists’ eyes
ARTISTS in residence at Heritage Hill will show off Dandenong through her eyes – their favourite locations for art, culture, food and inspiration.
Motoko Katsuta Kitano and Marynes Avila will lead the February and March tours respectively.
– Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens, 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong. Fridays 27 February and 27 March, 11am. The tour is $5. Lunch is extra. Bookings are essential. Call 9793 4511.
Oil painting
JACQUI Stockdale’s oil painting class will teach composition, form, perspective, colour-mixing and paint application.
The experienced teacher will use traditional and contemporary techniques and share some trade secrets. The workshops are suitable for beginners to intermediate participants, aged 15 and over.
– Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre, corner Robinson and Walker streets, Dandenong. Saturday 28 March, 10am, and Saturday 11 April, 9am. $30 per person, including materials. Bookings are essential. Call 9706 8441.
Artist-in-Residence Showcase
THIS exhibition celebrates the talent, concepts and projects of last year’s Heritage Hill Artists-in-Residence.
The artists worked with textiles, sound and voices, performance artists, paint, installations and multimedia.
– Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens, 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong. Opening event on Friday 20 February, 6pm to 8pm. Book on heritagehill@cgd.vic.gov.au. The exhibition will run from 20 February to 24 April.
Global food extravaganza
DANDENONG Market will host the World Food Fare with cuisines and entertainment influenced by some of the world’s most important river systems.
There’ll be outdoor hawker market stalls, canopied stands, bain maries, hot and cold offerings, sizzling hot plates, sweets and savouries and cooking demonstrations in The Kitchen.
Entry is free and free parking is available.
– Dandenong Market, 16-46 Cleeland Street, Dandenong. Sunday 1 March, 10am to 7pm.
Green thumbs
THE Springvale Garden Club’s guest speaker this month is Annette Kennedy whose presentation will cover African violets.
The friendly group would love to welcome new members.
– Springvale Senior Citizens Hall, The Crescent, Springvale. Wednesday 18 February, 7.30pm for an 8pm start. The $2 entry fee includes trading table, supper and door prizes. Call Cheryl Johnson on 9551 3197 for more information.
Cutting crime
CRIME Stoppers CEO Samantha Hunter will be the guest speaker at Greater Dandenong Neighbourhood Watch’s meeting next month.
There will be time to ask questions.
– Paddy O`Donoghue Centre, rooms three and four, 18 to 34 Buckley Street, Noble Park. Wednesday 18 March, 7.30pm to 9pm. A light supper will be provided. Call Dawn on 0407 325 030 for more information.
Vietnamese TET Festival
MORE than 20,000 people will celebrate the Vietnamese New Year with live music, lion dancing, a bonsai exhibition, games and carnival rides, traditional delicacies and fireworks.
– Sandown Racecourse, Princes Highway, Springvale. 21 to 22 February, 11am to 11pm. Entry fees will apply.
Green thumb tour
HERITAGE Hill will host monthly tours exploring the Benga gardens, which were originally planted and maintained by Dorothy Hart, and the Laurel Lodge gardens.
The tour includes the recent introduction of some rare and significant plants. A picnic will follow.
– Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens, 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong. Thursday 19 February, noon to 2pm. Participation is $8 or $6 for seniors. Bookings are essential. Call 9793 4511 or email heritagehill@cgd.vic.gov.au.
Bowling barefoot
BAREFOOT bowling sessions are returning to Noble Park.
Bring friends and enjoy prizes, drinks at bar prices and a sausage sizzle.
– Noble Park Bowls Club, 46 to 56 Moodemere Street, Noble Park. Fridays, 6pm. The $7 fee includes tuition and equipment. Call Reg Vernon on 0428 647 540 or email rwdlvernon@bigpond.com.
Nature opens up
ALEX Wilkie Nature Reserve is hosting free open days where park rangers are available for guided tours.
– Alex Wilkie Nature Reserve, Mackay Street, Springvale South. Fridays 20 and 27 February, 9am to 3pm. Bookings are essential. Call 8571 1702 for more information.
Art on show
GABI Mika-McNaughton’s new exhibition 42.65528°S, 146.58750°E will feature forest landscape paintings.
– Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre, corner Walker and Robinson streets, Dandenong. Until 28 February. Monday to Friday, 11am to 5pm and Saturday, 11am to 3pm.
Searching for truth
THE Befuddled exhibition will feature new collage works by Eddie Botha.
He was born and raised in South Africa and is trying to find his place in his new Australian home.
– Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre, corner Walker and Robinson streets, Dandenong. Until 28 February. Monday to Friday, 11am to 5pm and Saturday, 11am to 3pm.
Lions Summer Festival
THIS event will feature live music, cultural performances, a talent quest, multicultural food stall, rides and more.
A highlight will be a fireworks display on Saturday night.
– Burden Park, corner Heatherton and Springvale roads, Springvale South. Friday 20 February, 5pm to 11pm. Saturday 21 February, 11am to 11pm. Sunday 22 February, 11am to 4pm. Call Ashley Lewis on 0418 380 555 for more information.
Stayin’ Alive
THE Australian Bee Gees Show is returning for a new show, The Past and Present Tour.
It looks at the careers of the brothers Gibb through song and multimedia and will feature two parts and costume changes defining the eras.
– Drum Theatre, corner Lonsdale and Walker streets, Dandenong. Saturday 25 April. Visit www.drumtheatre.com.au or call 8571 1666.
Tea and history
THE Heritage Hill historic precinct features three preserved buildings in two acres of landscaped gardens.
A tour takes in the gardens, Laurel Lodge and Benga Lodge and is designed to provide an insight into the families who lived at the property and Dandenong’s rich cultural history.
Bookings are essential as numbers are strictly limited.
– Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens, 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong. Thursday 26 February, noon to 2pm. The tour is $16, or $14 with a seniors’ discount. Call 8571 1702 for bookings or more information.
Baby Bounce
THIS free early literacy program is designed to help children aged under two explore language through stories, songs and rhymes.
It can help them develop motor skills confidence and is an opportunity for parents to socialise.
– Dandenong Library, Level 2, 225 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong. Wednesdays until 25 March, 10.30am to 11am. Call 1300 630 920 for more information.
Relics on display
ON PARADE: Australian Defence Force Sudan to Afghanistan will feature relics from before WWI to modern times.
– Springvale and District Historical Society, 7 Hillcrest Grove, Springvale. Until 20 April. Wednesday to Friday, 1pm to 4pm, and by appointment. Call 8547 6460 to book.
Library’s Indian addition
GREATER Dandenong Libraries will launch a new Punjabi collection at Springvale Library with a cultural performance.
It will include fiction and non-fiction books, children’s picture books, DVDs and magazines.
– Springvale Library, 411 Springvale Road, Springvale. Saturday 21 February, 1pm to 3pm. Call 1300 630 920 for more information.
Model railways
THE annual Sandown Model Railway Exhibition is one of the largest and most respected model railway exhibitions in Australia.
– Sandown Racecourse, 591 to 659 Princes Highway, Springvale. 7 to 9 March from 10am.
Festival of Colours
THE Holi Mela festival involves throwing powdered colours through the air.
The event will feature food and variety stalls, children’s rides, entertainment and more.
– Tatterson Park, next to Springers Leisure Centre, 400 Cheltenham Road, Keysborough. Saturday 7 March, 11.30am to 6pm. Call Yogen Lakshman on 0403 337 142, email ylakshman@bigpond.com or visit www.aiii.org.au.
The King in concert
ELVIS To The Max is on its way to Dandenong, with The King impersonator Max Pellicano taking centre stage.
His tributes have been described as ‘Elvis resurrected’ and his costumes include exact replicas made by Elvis’s tailor.
– Drum Theatre, corner Lonsdale and Walker streets, Dandenong. Saturday 7 March, 8pm. The show is 150 minutes with an interval. Tickets are priced from $40.
Evening in the Park
WETLANDS are important to the environment, and this evening will explain why.
A snake awareness session and guided wetland walk is included.
– Tatterson Park, Westbrook Drive, Keysborough. Thursday 19 March, 6pm to 8pm. Bookings are essential as places are limited. Call 8571 1702.
Jewellery workshop
EMMA Grace will guide participants through jewellery-making using weird and wonderful materials to create a charm bracelet and earrings.
All materials are provided and the workshop is suitable for beginners.
– Heritage Hill Museum and Historical Gardens, 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong. Thursday 24 March, 10am to 1pm. The session is $10 and bookings are essential. Call 9793 4511 or email heritagehill@cgd.vic.gov.au.
