Clean Up Jervis Bay this weekend

Every day is a good day to clean up. We always take an extra rubbish bag on our walks along the beach, and we see many others who do the same.

It’s more fun to clean up with mates, followed by coffee, or even a sausage sizzle and a cold beer, as a reward.

Volunteers joined Woebegone Freedive tour operators at Plantation Point last month for their regular clean up day. Photo: Woebegone Freedive via Facebook

Firstly, a shout out to the good folks at Woebegone Freedive tours who are always out on the first Sunday of the month, collecting and sorting – and reporting – on the rubbish they pull out of our coastal environment. We strongly encourage all our readers to follow them on socials and turn up at one of the meeting places they nominate in the week before.

On Sunday 3 March, let’s amplify the efforts in the annual Clean Up Australia Day.

It all started with Clean Up Sydney Harbour on Sunday 8 January 1989, when 40,000 volunteers turned out to help and collected over 5000 tonnes. I was on a barge in the Georges River as a high school reporter, watching car bodies, fridges, and other giant pieces of trash being hauled out of the water for proper disposal.

We really have come a long way with a nationwide effort now taking place on the first Sunday of March every year, thanks to the enormous efforts of the late Ian Kiernan. But sadly, some people still treat the world as their rubbish tip, so there’s always more work to do.

Two more clean up gangs for Sunday are:

Jervis Bay Brewing Co. Meet at the brewery at 8.30am for car-pooling to Booderee National Park or at Cave Beach at 9am for a morning of muck removal followed by a sausage sizzle and a cold beer.

Keep Jervis Bay Unspoilt. Meet in front of Holiday Haven Huskisson Beach gathering under the awning near Emma’s Coffee Spot near the spider park, 9am. Bring your own gloves where possible but organisers will provide some as well. With thanks from the Jervis Bay Community CruiseShip Coalition and Keep Jervis Bay Unspoilt, supported by Shoalhaven City Council

There are plenty of other locations so click here to find your nearest official Clean Up starting point.

Country fun

SHOWS The agricultural shows continue around our region, and this weekend we have the Milton Show on from 1-3 March, and the show program is bursting with things to see and do. There will be plenty of animals, arts and crafts, produce, Battle of the Bands, poetry, whip cracking and wood chopping, and more.

Up the hill a little, the Robertson Show is on from 1-2 March – famous for their Spud Races (yes, a running race with a sack of potatoes balanced across your shoulders), as well as a whole host of animals, displays and competitions.

Spud Races are a main event at the Robertson Show, home of the Big Potato. Photo: Robertson Show via Facebook

MARKETS If you prefer wandering around a local market, remember the regular Milton markets are not on this weekend due to the Show.

Saturday 2 March is the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum twilight markets from 3-5pm including live music from the Jackee B Trio, and the newly refurbished Mangrove Boardwalk should be open. Sunday is the Culburra Beach markets from 8-1pm.

ART TRAIL For the art-loving wanderer, head to the monthly Currarong Art Trail this Saturday 10-2pm – check their website for the studios and artists on the walk this weekend.

Here, Puppy!

WATCH Jeff Koons, an intimate portrait, showing this month at Husky Pictures from Sunday 3 March (and other dates, check the online guide). The controversial artist has a place in Australian art history, as the creator of the 10th Kaldor public art project, Puppy, outside the MCA at The Rocks, Sydney, 1995-96. Although this original manifestation was a diminutive 52 cm tall, Koons chose the terrier because he believed it would be disarming and non-threatening regardless of the scale. At 12.4 metres tall, supporting 55,000 kgs of soil and 60,000 flowering plants, the 1996 iteration of Puppy was anything but diminutive. While Puppy was created as a symbol of love and happiness, it was firmly embedded in Koons’ vernacular of late capitalist excess.

The giant puppy by Jeff Koons cut a striking pose outside the MCA in Sydney. Photo: MCA and courtesy of the artist

Science Talks

URBAN PLANNING Sustainability, Environment and 21st Century Urban Planning is the topic of a special event this Saturday, 2 March from 10.30-1pm at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum. Hear three specialists on urban planning talk about the latest ideas on this hot topic – especially in a region such as Jervis Bay and the wider South Coast where population growth over the next 20 years will have major impacts. Your $15 ticket includes a light lunch. Book online, tickets are limited.

Live Music

CURRY NIGHT If you like your afro beat/blues/jazz sounds with a side of vegetarian food, head down to the Freaks of Nature food van at Cargo Cult in Culburra Beach this Friday night 1 March, from 5.30pm for JJ Spence and delicious curry, all for $40+bf.

Community – Get Involved

NOMINATE Nominations are now open for the 2024 Local Government Regional NAIDOC Awards, hosted by Shoalhaven City Council.

The awards feature six categories including Elder of the Year (Aunty and Uncle), Outstanding Contribution to the Community (Paid and Voluntary), Young Achievers of the Year, Organisation of the Year (Not for Profit and For Profit), Outstanding Contribution to Reconciliation and Caring for Country and Culture.

JOIN THE BOARD South Coast Arts RADO is inviting people to join its Board. If you are an experienced, energetic creative, why not apply to play an active role in planning and developing our region’s creative culture. Apply before 15 March.

Kids Coding Club

GATES JR? We already know that the best way to fix your tech problems is to ask a kid. Now those kids can take it further with the Kids Coding Club in Sanctuary Point for five weeks starting Wednesday 6 March. If you have a budding Bill Gates in the family, this after-school club will kick it up a notch.

POKIE MONEY While we can’t eliminate gambling, we can spend some of the profits thanks to the NSW government initiative, Club Money.

Apply now (until 31 May)  for some funding for your community project.