FRIDAY 29 MAY: Our local team has been on the ground chatting with the makers, conservationists and organisers who shape our community. This week, we catch up with the Arts Muster crew on their new workshop program, track a statewide marine census , check out an exclusive food collaboration and share how an elegant ball is supporting a vital local charity.
Happy news #1: The Mother’s Day Classic team have beaten their fundraising efforts from last year, with more than $42,000 raised so far. You can help them stretch even further, by donating till the end of June. Every dollar counts towards increasing the life expectancy for women diagnosed with cancer.
Happy news #2: There are 12 art workshops in the Arts Muster program this year, taking place on 29-30 August in Huskisson and many of these are not your average art class. This is a fantastic opportunity to let your creativity run wild guided by award-winning and celebrated artists in our community. Discover the joys of ephemeral art with Greer Taylor or make your own cloth doll with maiki-jane blakeney. Classes are $350 for two days and numbers are limited, so explore the program today.
Things to do Right Now
Help Our Neighbours & Friends: With proceeds from the upcoming Masquerade Charity Ball going to combat violence against women right here in the Shoalhaven, we spoke to the director of SALT Charity, Megan Dover about why this is so important right now. “Attending this ball means the fundraising that comes through it will go directly back into our community,” Megan says. “We have a term for the people that come and connect in with us, they’re our neighbours and our friends so when we support local charities we’re supporting our neighbours and friends.” You can help and have a great night out by coming to the Ball, your all-inclusive $220 ticket ensures a fine dining feast, flowing premium drinks, a dance band and entertainment.
Change your Scenery #1: WFH can be a blessing and a curse, so if your productivity is experiencing a dip, try a couple of days at a sunny, friendly and convenient co-working space to get the juices flowing again. Greenhouse co-working space in Huskisson, upstairs from the 5 Little Pigs café, is offering local businesses two days of hot-desking for just $50. Did we mention the view?
Change Your Scenery #2: With whale season in full swing and the weekend’s Dolphin Count coming up, Booderee National Park is the perfect place to visit, and the park has designed a number of half-day and one-day itineraries to help you make the most of it. Like the half-day tour that takes in Governor Head lookout, where you might spot a whale or two.
Winter Warmer Dish of the Week: Delicious JB mussels in Napoli sauce are cooked to order at Husky Fresh Fish & Chips on Owen Street, served with a toasted roll to sop up the sauce. This is a limited special for $18.
Freshen Your Look: The stylish folks at Weekends by Beyond the Beach are preparing to renovate their Owen Street shop in Huskisson, so lots of current stock is now on sale. Find them on the corner of Currambene St, right next door to 5 Little Pigs café
What Else is On Around Jervis Bay
Saturday 30 May, Make Pasta – Kids and Adults Options: Spots are still available for kids and adults to join the pasta experts in the heart of Huskisson, Pasta Buoy who invite you behind the scenes to help make fresh pasta. A kids’ event starts at 10.30am, $45 and adults’ session at 2pm, $89. Roll up your sleeves and roll out the pasta sheets in this hands-on event that includes some delicious pasta and sauce to take home.
Saturday 30 May, Dolphin Count: Coastal communities along the NSW coast will take part in the first NSW Dolphin Census, a statewide citizen science event to help map where dolphins are found across our coastline, bays and estuaries. Register with Marine Mammal Research Jervis Bay to find out more about getting involved in this vital research for our coastal ecology. Our local experts on the water have been getting in lots of practice recently, with sightings of up to 100 dolphins at a time indicating this will be a fruitful—and challenging—head count.
Saturday 30 May, Open Studios in Jervis Bay: Follow the Jervis Bay Arts Trail and step inside the studios of our region’s working artists to see how they create works in a range of media, including works on the easel and finished art for sale. See who is open this Trail Day and how to find them, from 10am-3pm.
Sunday 31 May, Breathwork in Woollamia: Due to popular demand, a second Deep Dive Breathwork plus ice and sauna three-hour session is on from 12.30pm at Bowline in Woollamia industrial estate. For $113, experienced practitioner Chelsea Mazzini will lead the small group in a full body reset.
Tuesday 2 June, Amnesty Film Night: Husky Pictures is the venue for a Bay & Basin Amnesty film night, screening of We Are Not Powerless. This story places a small refugee community at the centre of some of the biggest and most important geopolitical and immigration debates in the world. Tickets are $20 at the door.
Friday 5 June, Shoreline Exhibition: The portrait prize is a hard act to follow but the new show going up at Jervis Bay Brewing Co is going to measure up. Shoreline, curated by Randall Sinnamon and also featuring Alison Mackay and Richard Morecroft, will celebrate its opening night in conjunction with World Ocean Day, as it explores the textures, stories and remnants of our coastline. See the new works and meet the artists from 6pm in the Woollamia industrial precinct.
Sunday 7 June, Old Salt + Lagom: It’s Booze & Bakes in Burrill Lake this long weekend, as Chef Terry Robinson packs up the bar and heads south to the establishment of Jon Reeves. From 7am till sold out, this collab promises an intriguing fusion of award-winning spirits and bakes plus spritz in a can. Terry and Jon encourage you to set your alarm and come early.
Sunday 7 June, 2nd Night for Nuclear Story: A reading of Alana Valentine’s play Nucleus, with Peter Barley & Jane Gallenca, is on for a second night at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum. Inspired by the planned nuclear reactor at Murrays Beach, the play was highly commended in this year’s NSW State Premier’s Awards. Tickets are $30.
Plan Ahead—Get Out Your Diaries, we think these events are worth it
Monday 8 June, Tea & Tones: Partake in a Zen tea ceremony accompanied by improvised soundscapes, at a beautiful rural property just 10 minutes from Huskisson. Tea & Tones is hosted by Jax Wechsler and Scott Gillespie, for two hours from 10.30am, offering a sensory morning of presence, connection, and delicious oolong tea, served in exquisite ceramic ware. Sip, listen, and steep in the sounds, $40.
Monday 8 June, Dine for the Ocean: For World Oceans Day this year, Jervis Bay Brewing Co is hosting a dinner to celebrate and protect the sea. They have teamed up with seaweed innovators PhycoHealth and aquaculture farmers Jervis Bay Mussels for an event that donates all profits to the Australian Marine Conservation Society. Tickets are $43 for the event that starts at 6pm.
Friday 12 June, Learn How to Preserve Memorabilia: Start digitising your old photos, tapes and other memorabilia with an introduction to Shoalhaven Libraries’ Preservation Station. This free one-hour session at Nowra Library (downstairs) will talk you through the equipment and how to use it, from 10am. Then you can book in your own session at the station to start preserving your important bits and pieces in digital form.
Saturday 13 June, Bird Photography Talk: Lachlan Hall will share stories of his bird photography in wild places, at a special event hosted by BirdLife Shoalhaven, $35 at Worrigee Sports from 1.30pm, includes afternoon tea. Lachlan’s striking and detailed images capture bird behaviour and personality.
Saturday 13 June, Women’s Health Talk: Better understand your body in perimenopause at a talk by local health professionals, nurse practitioner Jo Marjoram and women’s health dietician Kara Roberts, $12 at Shop 14 Vincentia Village on Burton Street. This informative event is aimed at empowering women to navigate their perimenopause journey with confidence.
Thursday 18 June, Dinner & Paul Greene in Sussex: Inlet Cinema is the venue for a delicious dinner & show event, in Sussex Inlet from 5.30pm $45, or cheese plate & show from 6.45pm $20. The entertainment is by singer/songwriter Paul Greene, a South Coast favourite who is best known for his folk-rock, roots and soul sound. Paul has just released his long awaited 10th studio album Get Loved, marking a major milestone in a career built on authenticity, independence and powerful love connections. Book online.
Saturday 20 June, Beer & BBQ is Back: Tickets are now available for this year’s Beer & BBQ Festival in White Sands Park & hosted by the Husky Pub, $33. Spend the afternoon sampling beverages, tasting smoky delights and enjoying live music on the lawn.
Saturday 27 June, Dahlia Dig-Up: Get your hands in the dirt and learn how to dig and divide dahlias and store them for the winter to ensure a new crop of these showy, colourful blooms. Petal & Bee farm in Tomerong is hosting a hands-on, all-weather workshop and participants will take home a swag of useful stuff including tools and tubers, book online $250.
Saturday 27 June, Road Trip for Art: The Kangaroo Valley Artists Collective is holding an exhibition at the Bowral Art Gallery with a special opening event from 2pm-5pm. The collective consists of 19 artists working across painting, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, photography, printmaking, mixed media and cordwaining. This is their inaugural exhibition, at BDAS from 25-30 June.
