A committee from the community group, Vincentia Matters, has pulled together a fantastic fair day showcasing some of the talent and creativity that lives and breathes in our seaside village. Join in the festivities at Vincentia Community Connect Day on Sunday 24 November, 11am-4pm at the Burton Street Shopping Village.
There will be around 30 stalls, loads of live music, some informative and entertaining talks, giveaways and gift vouchers for local businesses, as well as a pop-up art show and activities for the kids, transforming the village square at the shops into an entertainment precinct for the day.
Jane Daisley-Snow, one of the organisers from Vincentia Matters and also one of the speakers on the day, says the idea for the event came about from her own relocation to Vincentia a few years ago when she was looking for things to do in the local community.
Jane says while word-of-mouth is a great way to find out about different groups and things to do in the area, the Community Connect fair day aims to bring many local groups together in one place to really give our local residents a feeling for the variety – and quantity – of things to do here in Jervis Bay & Basin.
With a background in mental health and art therapy, Jane and her Vincentia Matters fellow member Anne Hastings along with a sub-committee of six other people, have organised a huge number of enthusiastic and generous locals to join in.
The common thread is a belief that greater wellbeing comes of community events such as these. They believe that a sense of pride and belonging is vital for people of all ages in a community, and they hope that by providing opportunities for us to come together, we will all have better outcomes for our mental, emotional and physical wellbeing.
Among the stalls you will find groups of all kinds who welcome new members, from swimming to bird watching, from citizen science to bush potters.
Talks in the old hardware shop (there will be seating!) will be on throughout the day, including Pia Winberg from PhycoHealth seaweed science and Diana Lorentz from the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum. Jane Daisley-Snow will talk about Enhancing Your Health Span and Anne Hastings will give a workshop on Physical Balance, while the RFS and Red Cross Emergency Services will give useful and timely talks on our safety in this area.
Kids can check out a fire truck, have their faces painted and take part in LEGO activities. Everyone is welcome to browse a wonderful selection of works by local artists in the old hippie shop. There will be yoga and pilates to discover, as well as plenty of food and drinks.
Two stages will hold performances including a children’s choir and bands performing everything from rock to jazz to traditional Irish music.
Jane says a poster competition for local kids created the marketing for the day, and kids’ artworks will also be on display in some of the shop windows.
The small carpark on Excellent Street will be closed to cars for the day, instead hosting a range of stalls, so head for the main carpark behind Coles if you are driving to the event.
More info can be found on their Facebook event page.
