Delly Carr’s award-winning photo of triathletes Emma Moffatt, Emma Jackson and Emma Snowsill. A special exhibition of Carr’s photographic work will be held during the Wollongong World Triathlon Championships. Photo: Delly Carr/Supplied.
The World Triathlon Championships will take over Wollongong this weekend, but if you’re looking for action other than sport, don’t worry, there are plenty of great events happening in the Illawarra.
The Woodfest festival at Bulli promises a huge variety of workshops and exhibitions, covering carving, spoon making, woodturning, jewellery and ceramics.
If you’re looking to snap up a bargain while helping the environment and a worthy cause, don’t miss the Dress For Success Fashion Frenzy at Illawarra Yacht Club.
You can get up close and personal with the Illawarra’s architecture and design innovation, meet a best-selling author, or watch a thought-provoking documentary on Australia’s involvement in the war in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Multiple Days
Another of Delly Carr’s stiking images of triathletes in action. Photo: Delly Carr/Supplied.
Delly Carr photographic exhibition
When: Thursday 16 to Sunday 19 October
Where: Old Courthouse, 1 Harbour St, Wollongong
Cost: Free.
Delly Carr is Australia’s most acclaimed freelance sports photographer and one of the most recognised sports photographers in the world.
He has shot 11 Summer and Winter Olympic Games among countless national events.
Destination Wollongong is hosting a special exhibition of his works to coincide with the World Triathlon Championships this weekend.
The showcase features some of the most iconic images in triathlon history, spanning three decades of Delly’s work and coinciding with his final World Triathlon Championship Finals.
The Illawarra Festival of Wood will have a variety of workshops and exhibitions. Image: Woodfest.
Woodfest – Illawarra Festival of Wood
When: Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 October, 9 am to 5 pm
Where: Bulli Showground, Princes Highway, Bulli
Cost: Gold coin donation.
Woodfest will feature a range of workshops, exhibitions, performances and more, celebrating timber in all its glory.
There’ll be workshops in woodcarving, spoon making, kids wood carving workshops, basketry and fibre arts, decorative wood arts, woodturning and cultural workshops and boomerang making.
A variety of exhibitors will display furniture, tools, art, leather, bowls, spoons, jewellery and ceramics. An array of gourmet food coffee will be available.
Entertainment on Saturday will be provided by The Honey Sippers and Micah Perry, who will return for a show on Sunday.
Illawarra Festival of Architecture & Design includes tours, concerts and conversation. Image: Illawarra Festival of Architecture & Design.
Illawarra Festival of Architecture & Design
When: Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 October
Where: Innovation Campus plus a variety of venues – check website for details
Cost: Varies depending on event. Book through eventbrite.
If you would love to explore the region’s architecture and design innovation, this family-friendly weekend festival is made for you.
Events on Saturday will include a cycling tour, house tour, studio tours and a classical music evening at Wollongong Art Gallery.
On Sunday a panel discussion will be held at UOW’s Innovation Campus (Sustainable Buildings Research Centre) from noon to 5 pm. The kids will be entertained by fun archi-activities while you can relax with food, drinks and great conversation.
A weekend of fashion shopping at a bargain price with proceeds going to Dress for Success. Image: Dress for Success.
Dress for Success Super Fashion Frenzy
When: Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 October
Where: Illawarra Yacht Club, Northcliffe Drive, Berkeley
Cost: Saturday $20 to $30 | Sunday $5. Tickets via Humanitix.
This two-day fashion frenzy promises to be the Illawarra’s biggest sustainable fashion sale, showcasing thousands of preloved and new women’s clothes, shoes and accessories.
Not only will you grab some great bargains, you’ll be doing the right thing for the environment by saving clothing from going to landfill as well as raising vital funds for Dress for Success. The organisation provides donated clothing to women to support them on their journey to employment.
From designer labels such as Jimmy Choo, Zimmerman, Gorman, POL, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Cue, to everyday chic workwear and casual gems, there will be something for every style, size and budget. Clothing prices will start at $5 and there will be nothing over $150.
Discover some fascinating facts about the lifecycle and characteristics of humpback whales. Photo: Shellharbour Wild.
Shell Cove Whale Watching Cruise
When: All week
Where: Meet at The Salty Squid. The cafe is located at 9 Marina Drive Shell Cove
Cost: From $79 per person.
Witness the beauty of migrating humpback whales during the southern migration on a 90-minute whale watching cruise. Depart from Shell Cove and venture out into the ocean to experience the magic and wonder of whales on their annual migration past Australian shores.
Tours depart at 10:30 am, 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm.
Friday
Get your dancing shoes on this Friday night. Photo: Wollongong City Libraries
Rock’n’Roll Dancing at Corrimal Library (Ages 18+)
When: Friday 17 October, 6 to 8 pm
Where: Corrimal Library, 15 Short Street
Cost: Free.
Get swept up in the fun, fast-paced energy of Rock ‘n’ Roll partner dancing.
Born in the 1950s alongside legends such as Elvis and Chuck Berry, this six-count style is all about rhythm, freedom, and flair. Seen in classic films and shows such as Happy Days, it’s still a hit at festivals and competitions worldwide.
Come with a partner or make a new friend.
Wednesday
Benjamin Stevenson’s new book is a cracker of a mystery. Image: Wollongong City Council.
Author Talk – Benjamin Stevenson
When: Wednesday 22 October, 6 pm
Where: Wollongong City Library, Burelli Street, Wollongong
Cost: Free, bookings through eventbrite.
With books sold in 29 territories and an HBO adaptation in the works, Benjamin’s signature mix of razor-sharp wit and masterful storytelling has captivated readers worldwide.
His latest mystery, released this month, is Everyone In This Bank Is A Thief – 10 suspects, 10 heists, one locked down bank. And only Ernest Cunningham can untangle the truth.
Join Benjamin as he reveals how he blends devious mysteries with laugh-out-loud humour, turning seemingly impossible plots into brilliantly executed whodunits.
Join a guided tour of Wollongong’s beautiful botanic garden. Photo: Wollongong Botanic Garden.
Garden Discovery Buggy Tour
When: Wednesday 22 October, 10 am to noon
Where: Wollongong Botanic Garden duck pond, 40 Murphys Ave, Keiraville
Cost: Free.
Join a guided tour in the electric buggy with the knowledgeable volunteer guides to discover the beauty, plant diversity and history of Wollongong Botanic Garden. No bookings are required. Departure times for the tours are 10 am and 11 am and they last for about 45 minutes. Please note: Limited spaces are available; first in first served.
Thursday
Bravery & Betrayal is on at the Gala in Warrawong for one night only. Image: Facebook.
Bravery & Betrayal documentary
When: Thursday 23 October, 6:30 pm
Where: Gala Cinema, Warrawong
Cost: $25 to $55. Book via eventbrite.
Bravery & Betrayal, which has sold out in cinemas across Australia since its release in April, will be on at the Gala for one night only.
The doco highlights the courage of Australian SAS soldiers in Afghanistan. It aims to set the record straight, honour the soldiers’ sacrifices and advocate for better treatment of veterans. The film features the voices of SAS members who served on the frontline in Afghanistan and Iraq, the wives, mothers, widows and children left behind, as well as commentary from former prime ministers Rudd, Abbott and Howard.
SAS operator and Afghan veteran Horse and his service dog Preston will attend, together with the director and former National Geographic correspondent, Simon J Heath, to answer any questions from the audience.
