Children and young people are invited to try a range of activities at the PCYC Bulli open day. Photo: beerphotographer.
From live music to sports, learner driver events to creative workshops, the Illawarra social calendar offers something for everyone this week.
PCYC Bulli throws open its doors and invites kids to discover a new passion on Saturday, while Paws4aCause hosts a “dog show with a difference” on Sunday. There’s a showcase of local artistic talent in Shellharbour for Youth Week and an exceptional New Zealand export hits the stage at IPAC from Wednesday.
Don’t miss the chance to check out Bulli’s new community venue CSPACE, where later this week the wonderful Susie Fagan will guide women in mining their lived experiences to tell their own stories.
Here are our top nine picks for the week.
Friday
Illawarra Folk Club presents Scott Cook in Concert
When: Friday 5 April, 7 to 10 pm
Where: City Diggers Club, 82 Church Street, Wollongong
Cost: Folk Club member $25, non-member $30, book here.
Former Kindergarten teacher turned full-time troubadour Scott Cook is bringing his “sturdy, straight-talking songs that see the good in you” to Wollongong. The prolific performer averages about 150 shows and a dozen summer festivals a year all over the world, all the while distilling his experiences into empathetic, keenly observant verse. Back on the road since January 2022, he’s bringing his campervan named Roadetta and his sweetheart Pamela Mae to join him on upright bass and vocals.
In one unforgettable night, you can rewind and relive the sounds that defined a generation. Image: The Servo.
BRITS Vs BABES
When: Friday 5 April, 6 pm
Where: The Servo, 6-8 Wentworth Street, Port Kembla
Cost: $12, book here.
Calling all 90s babes – get ready to rediscover the magic of bands that ruled the airwaves of your heyday presented by Brits and Pieces and Doll Parts. Hailing from the heart of 90s Britpop, Brits and Pieces will effortlessly channel the spirit of iconic bands like Oasis, Blur, and Stereophonics by recreating the live energy that made these bands legendary. Meanwhile, Doll Parts mixes five talented ladies, a little bit of grunge, a dash of alternative and a healthy dose of mayhem, ready to perform all your favourite female power tunes from the 90s, noughties and today.
Saturday
PCYC Bulli is offering the chance for your child to try their hand at something new and possibly discover a new passion. Image: PCYC Bulli Facebook.
PCYC Bulli – Open Day 6 April
When: Saturday 6 April, 11 am to 1 pm
Where: PCYC Bulli, 253 Princes Highway, Bulli
Cost: Free entry.
PCYC Bulli hosts a wide variety of activities, and its open day is a chance for kids to try before you buy. Check out everything from boxing to Taekwondo, soccer to basketball and much more. With a barbecue fundraiser, guessing contests, face painting, a basketball shootout and free merch for the kids who attend, it’s shaping up to be a full-blown community event.
Sunday
**Event cancelled due to inclement weather**
Enter your best buddy in a dog show with a difference. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
**Event cancelled due to inclement weather**
Paws4aCause Dog Show
When: Sunday 7 April, 10 am to 2 pm
Where: Illawarra Dog Training Club, JJ Kelly Park, Swan Street, Wollongong
Cost: Entry by donation, $5 registration, book here.
In this “dog show with a difference”, prizes will be awarded across these categories: Cutest Puppy, Most Dignified Old Timer, Best Tail Wagger, Best Hair and Best Dressed Dog. Every registered dog goes into the draw to win $220 worth of dog training donated by K9 Coach.
While there, browse 30 market stalls selling all sorts of dog-related goods and services, including dog trainers and groomers, dog gelato, dog okonomiyaki, dog show bags, dog clothing and accessories and dog treats. There will also be a display of vintage cars from the Australian Motorlife Museum, demonstrations from Flyball, Guide Dogs NSW and the Illawarra Dog Training Club, the always-popular Dog Lotto, an ice cream van, a cake stall and a Rotary barbecue.
This free event aims to empower learner drivers and parents with practical demos, insights from road safety experts and crucial info on avoiding crashes. Photo: PCYC Lake Illawarra Facebook.
Learning Log Book Run
When: Sunday 7 April, 8 am to 2:30 pm
Where: Lake Illawarra PCYC, 156 Reddall Parade, Lake Illawarra
Cost: Free, book here.
Calling all young drivers (and their supervisors) – don’t miss this opportunity to participate in a planned drive, following a route that includes a range of driving experiences. Young people will experience a random breath test (RBT) in a non-threatening environment, a speed check, and a driver reviver site is set up to address how to deal with driver fatigue.
Please note: Learner drivers must have a minimum of 40 logbook hours to participate and this event contributes to 2.5 hours in your learner’s logbook). Can’t make it? Additional sessions will be held on Tuesday 16 April from 6 to 8:30 pm and Sunday 26 May from 10 am to 12:30 pm.
Mine your own experiences to tell your story in a unique way, guided by the wonderful Susie Fagan. Image: CSPACE.
Pleasure & Power: A Journey to Joy with Words (women’s storytelling workshop with Susie Fagan)
When: Sunday 7 April, 10 am to 4 pm
Where: CSPACE, Unit 5/177B Princes Highway, Bulli
Cost: $80, book here.
Join talented Irish writer, spoken word performer and stand-up artist Susie Fagan as you immerse yourself in the boundless realm of storytelling. Whether your storytelling takes the form of evocative prose, captivating slam poetry, or side-splitting comedy sketches, you’ll have the opportunity to explore various mediums and unleash your creativity.
As you embark on a transformative journey of self-expression and empowerment, you need only bring a journal, pen and open mind. You’ll delve into the depths of your own lived experiences as Susie guides you through the process of exploring and crafting your unique narratives.
Monday
Check out artwork from Shellharbour’s young talents. Photo: Alisa_Rodnova.
Youth Art Exhibition
When: Monday 8 to Sunday 28 April, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4:30 pm
Where: Shellharbour Civic Centre, 76 Cygnet Avenue, Shellharbour City Centre
Cost: Free entry.
Marking Youth Week 2024, young artists will have the chance to showcase their wonderful artworks to the community in a range of categories including mixed media, sculpture, jewellery, textiles, animation and more. All artists included in the exhibition live in the Shellharbour local government area and are aged between 12 and 24. Please note: While the exhibition runs from Monday 8 April to Sunday 28 of April, there will be an official launch on Thursday 11 April.
Wednesday
In the wake of an unending colonial earthquake, five Samoan characters make their lives between two cultures; playing, gossiping, enduring, enforcing the patriarchal status quo and carving out powerful new identities. Photo: Adam Kissick.
Wild Dogs Under My Skirt
When: Wednesday 10 April, 7:30 pm, Thursday 11 April, 6:30 pm, Friday 12 April, 7:30 pm and Saturday 13 April, 1:30 and 7:30 pm
Where: Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, 32 Burelli Street, Wollongong
Cost: Adult $55, pension, groups 8+, under 30 or student $45, book here.
One of New Zealand’s most successful theatrical exports has made its way to Wollongong after touring across New Zealand, performing off-Broadway in New York, and snapping up awards since 2016. Billed as “brimming with humour and pure entertainment”, this powerful play, adapted from Tusiata Avia’s poetry collection of the same name and directed by Anapela Polata’ivao, breathes fierce life into poetry, womanhood and the unsettling challenge to tradition and conformity.
Literary couple Anne Buist and Graeme Simsion are coming to Wollongong. Photo: Wollongong City Council.
A Literary Lunch with Anne Buist and Graeme Simsion
When: Wednesday 10 April, 12:30 to 3 pm
Where: Function Room, Wollongong City Council administration building, Level 9, 41 Burelli Street, Wollongong
Cost: Friends of Wollongong member $30, non-member $35, book here.
Join Anne Buist and Graeme Simsion for a talk and luncheon, hosted by the Friends of Wollongong City Libraries. Their latest novel The Glass House is a joint work by the literary couple, following on from Graeme’s bestselling series The Rosie Project. Books will be available for purchase at the event, and there will be a raffle (cash only).
Please note: For any dietary requirements, contact Marg on 0407 211 657 or by email at [email protected], or Celia on 0403 970 461 for all other enquiries.
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