Drum Struck
EVERY audience member at the show receives a drum to play along with the on-stage performers.
Premiering in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2002, the show has since shared African beats and explosive energy around the world.
– Drum Theatre, corner Walker and Lonsdale streets, Dandenong. Thursday 7 May at 7pm. The show is 75 minutes long with an interval. Tickets are priced from $37.50. Visit www.drumtheatre.com.au or phone 8571 1666.
Masquerade dinner dance
THE Rachael McGilvray masquerade dinner dance will raise money to assist Rachael and her fiance Josh in their quest to get married in her home town in Scotland.
At 21 years old Rachael was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. Tickets cost $50 and include a two course meal and entertainment by Peter Grant.
-1579 Heatherton Road, Dandenong. Friday 1 May. Doors open at 6.30pm and tickets can be purchased at reception or by calling 9792 1963.
Artwork exhibition
HERITAGE Hill will hold an exhibition of artwork by local artist, Leila Ashtiani.
The exhibition presents a series of oil and acrylic paintings on canvas, exploring ideas of life, loss and time and is titled Eternity in One Day.
– Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens, 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong. Friday 1 May, 6pm to 8pm and will continue to Friday 29 May. Viewing hours are 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday and the first Sunday of the month from noon to 4pm.
To attend the opening night on Friday 1 May book directly with Heritage Hill on 9793 4511 or via heritagehill@cgd.vic.gov.au.
Neighbourhood Watch
A PUBLIC forum with guest speaker Victorian Police Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius will be held with time allowed for residents to ask questions.
– Rooms three and four, Paddy O`Donoghue Centre, 18-34 Buckley Street, Noble Park, on Wednesday 20 May, 7.30pm to 9pm.
Ladies night
KEYSBOROUGH Freedom Club is a not-for-profit occasional child care centre and is hosting a fund-raiser which will include a silent auction, live music by Adrian Scott, dancing demonstrations, fashion parade and tarot card readings.
The first 100 tickets sold will receive a free gift bag worth more than $100.
Businesses are invited to donate items for the auction.
– Keysborough Golf Club, 55 Hutton Road, Keysborough. Wednesday 6 May, 7pm to 10pm. Call Michelle on 0434 271 996 or email michellegalvin@iprimus.com.au.
Get employed
SOUTH East Local Learning and Employment Network (SELLEN) will hold a Youth Employment Forum.
Students will hear directly from employers about how to make themselves more employable.
– Building A, Chisholm Institute, 121 Stud Road, Dandenong. Tuesday 19 May, 1pm to 3pm. Bookings are essential. Call 9794 6921 or 0438 510 840 or email jebdon@sellen.org.au.
Enviro aware
FRIENDS of Fotheringham Reserve Environmental Group is running an environmental awareness day on the fourth Sunday of each month.
Participants can check the water, plant indigenous seedlings, control weeds, collect seeds and take nature walks.
– Fotheringham Reserve, Pyke Steet, Dandenong. Sunday 24 May at 10am.
Community concern
NOBLE Park Community Action Forum discusses local issues on the second Wednesday of each month.
It aims to engage with the community and develop action plans to resolve concerns raised.
– Rooms three and four, Paddy O’Donoghue Centre, 18 to 32 Buckley Street, Noble Park. Wednesday 13 May at 6pm. To book email npcafinc@gmail.com or call 9701 5821 or 0414 274 878.
51 Shades of Maggie
MAGGIE is smart, streetwise and looking for love in all the wrong places. This 50 Shades of Grey spoof is from the UK.
– Drum Theatre, corner Lonsdale and Walker streets, Dandenong. Wednesday 6 May, 7.30pm. Tickets are priced from $44.90. Visit www.drumtheatre.com.au or phone 8571 1666.
Stitching Our Stories
ASYLUM seekers and refugees attending Wellsprings for Women used printed patterns, textures and text to create a book that reflects on their past and helps them take charge of their story, culture and future education.
– Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens, 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong. 1 to 29 May, 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday and noon to 4pm on the first Sunday of the month. Email heritagehill@cgd.vic.gov.au or call 9793 4511 for more information.
Bilingual story time
THESE free story sessions are suitable for both Vietnamese and English speaking children aged four and over.
Listening to stories helps children develop their imagination and vocabulary and love of books.
– Springvale Library, 411 Springvale Road, Springvale. Wednesdays 29 April and 6,13, 20 and 27 May, 10.30am. No bookings required. Call 1300 630 920 for more information.
Conversation Circle
MAKE new friends and practice English in a friendly, relaxed and safe environment. Dandenong Library hosts sessions for people with low to intermediate English levels on Thursdays from 6pm to 7.30pm.
No bookings are required.
It has sessions for people with advanced levels on Tuesdays, 6pm to 7.30pm. Bookings and prior assessment are required.
Springvale Library hosts sessions for people with low to intermediate English skills on Tuesdays from 10.30am to 11.30am and Wednesdays, 7.30pm to 8.30pm.
No bookings are required.
– Dandenong Library, 225 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong. Springvale Library, 411 Springvale Road, Springvale. Call 1300 630 920 or see library staff for bookings or more information.
Grief support
KEYSBOROUGH Learning Centre will host Rainbows for the Children of Australia’s after school program to help kids deal with death, divorce and more.
– Keysborough Learning Centre, 402 Corrigan Road, Keysborough. Tuesdays during terms two and four, 4.30pm to 5.30pm. Bookings are essential. Register interest on 9798 7005, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.30pm.
World War I 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 Thursday 30 April. Wednesday to Friday, 1pm to 4pm, and by appointment. Call 8547 6460 to book.
Open studio
ART and craft lovers can explore the studios of Heritage Hill’s artists in residence on the first Sunday of the month.
Guests are welcome to observe their practice and discuss their work.
– Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Garden, 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong. Sunday 3 May, 1pm to 3pm. Entry is by a donation. Bookings are encouraged. Call 9793 4511 or email heritagehill@cgd.vic.gov.au.
Embroidery for beginners
HOLLY Gordon will lead a gentle and fun introduction to hand embroidery with key techniques and basic stitches.
– Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Garden, 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong. Sunday 3 May, noon to 2pm. $10 per person. Bookings are essential. Call 9793 4511 or email heritagehill@cgd.vic.gov.au.
Both Sides
CHITTY Chitty Bang Bang stars David Hobson and Rachael Beck will reunite in Dandenong next month.
They’ll perform songs from Les Miserables, My Fair Lady, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Sound of Music, Oliver! and West Side Story.
– Drum Theatre, corner Lonsdale and Walker streets, Dandenong. Friday 1 May, 8pm. Tickets are priced from $55. The show is 120 minutes with interval. Visit www.drumtheatre.com.au or call 8571 1666.
Froggy Fun at Pencil Park
GET up close and personal with fauna and monitor the health of local wetlands.
Light refreshments will follow. Bring own torch.
– Pencil Park, Hidden Grove Boulevard, Keysborough. Thursday 30 April, 5pm to 7pm. Bookings are essential. Call 8571 1702.
Great Songs of The War Years
THIS musical concert will honour the Anzac Centenary with songs that were performed throughout the first and second world wars.
The cast will include Opera Australia star Tiffany Speight, international soprano Alison Jones, Opera Australia mezzo Caroline Vercoe and star Australian tenor Roy Best.
– Drum Theatre, corner Lonsdale and Walker streets, Dandenong. Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 April, 10.30am. The show is 80 minutes long with no interval. Tickets are priced from $15. Visit www.drumtheatre.com.au or call 8571 1666.
Ballroom dancing
JOIN in the social mixed styles of ballroom dancing at the Burden Park Bowling Club.
There’s ballroom dancing every Monday from 6.30pm to 10pm, and every fifth Saturday there’s dancing from 1pm to 5pm and ballroom from 8pm to 11pm.
BYO supper, drinks and glasses.
– Burden Park Bowling Club, corner Heatherton and Springvale roads, Springvale South. Mondays are $5 per person and Saturdays are $8 per person. Call June on 9798 1784 or Ray on 9547 1907 for more information.
Library Toddler Time
THESE free sessions are designed to help children aged two to three to develop their imagination and vocabulary and find a love for books and reading.
Toddler Time also helps carers to learn songs, finger plays and nursery rhymes to enjoy at home.
– Springvale Library, 411 Springvale Road, Springvale, and Dandenong Library, 225 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong, on Mondays at 10.30am. Bookings are not required. The sessions don’t run on school or public holidays. Call 1300 630 920 for more information.
Healthy and deadly
YOUNG people can learn about looking after themselves and their mob, meet new people, learn skills, connect with their culture and more at this Koorie program.
It’s for ages 14 to 21 and food is provided.
– YStop Dandenong, 39a Clow Street, opposite Dandenong Market. Tuesdays, 4pm to 6.30pm. Call Youth Services on 9793 2155 for more information.
The Social Knitwork
KNITTERS and those who want to learn the craft can join the Social Knitwork each Wednesday morning. Make new friends while developing skills and sharing patterns and stories.
– Level two, Dandenong Library, 225 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong. Wednesdays,10.30am to noon. No bookings required.
Energy Workshop
ENDEAVOUR Hills Neighbourhood Centre is hosting an Energy Workshop with two new classes added for term two, including jewellery making, zentangle art and meditation.
– 10 Raymond McMahon Boulevard, Wednesday 13 May, bookings essential, contact 9700 3789 for more information.
Free blood pressure checks
DANDENONG Chemmart Pharmacy is offering free blood pressure checks to Dandenong residents to help identify those at risk of stroke.
High blood pressure is among the most important known risk factors for stroke, last year in the electorate of Bruce, 29,197 local residents were living with high blood pressure, with 381 incidences of stroke.
– 56-58 Stud Road, Dandenong, throughout April and in the lead up to Australia’s Biggest Blood Pressure Check on Wednesday 6 May.
Adult computer and English classes
LEARN English with the Springvale Men’s Shed.
Classes range from beginners through to level three accredited courses in English or take a beginner course in computers at the Springvale Library.
– Springvale Neighbourhood House, 1-3 Lightwood Road. Call 9574 6399 or email literacy@ snh.org.au for more information.
