FRIDAY 20 JUNE: Get out your diary, we have a dozen ideas to tempt you out of your warm winter cave and into the Bay and Basin, with locals dining, art exhibitions, boutique markets, live music and festivals across Jervis Bay and the South Coast.
But first, let’s mention a couple of community issues that you can contribute to, that potentially improve and enrich our lives. It’s time to have your say on the proposed four raised pedestrian crossings in Huskisson on Hawke and Owen Streets. Safety and traffic flow can become compromised in peak holiday season with tens of thousands of visitors passing through our seaside villages, especially the “top tiny town” of Husky. Shoalhaven City Council is asking for input before 5pm today (Friday 20 June), via this link.
The Golfie, aka Vincentia Golf Club is also top of mind in the community right now, with a bid from a local organisation, the Jervis Bay Community & Sports Club, currently the only active bid to take on a de-amalgamated entity. Anyone wishing to ensure they have voting rights on this issue, please make sure your membership to The Country Club is up to date, as current memberships expire on 30 June. You can renew (or join) online or at the St Georges Basin location, and there is an app for members (search in the app store for “St Georges Basin Country Club”). For JBCSC news and how to add your voice and support, you can sign up for updates on their website.
The sink hole on Wool Road at Old Erowal Bay is finally receiving the repairs it needs to be a serviceable thoroughfare for our community, so expect some traffic delays to start impacting your travel times from next week. You can stay up-to-date with the works via the Council’s project page.
Mark the Solstice Tonight
Jervis Bay Brewing Co is celebrating the winter solstice tonight, Friday 20 June in the Woollamia industrial zone from 3pm-10pm. On the eve of the longest night, there will be fire, drumming, live bands, prizes for the best dressed and of course, dogs welcome. Join a drumming workshop at 5.30pm and find your inner beat, enjoy great food and beverage and entertainment including fire twirling under the night sky.
Warm Up with Dining for Locals
The Nest food truck at Flamin Galah brew-pub has now added pizza to their menu, thanks to a revamp of their “old” van into a dedicated pizza kitchen.
Old Salt Distillery in South Nowra is open till 9pm tonight, Friday 20 June and most Fridays 12pm-6pm during winter. Keep an eye on their calendar page for upcoming “late” Fridays. Their famous lamb & gravy rolls are back for winter, available on Thursdays 11am-2pm and Fridays 12pm-3pm, the perfect lunchtime treat. You can also catch these guys at the Huskisson Beer & BBQ Festival this Saturday, read more about what to expect in our story on the Festival.
Sandbar Restaurant in Huskisson is continuing “locals night” on Thursdays, with a delicious and value-packed feast each week 5pm-9pm. Check their socials for the week’s menu, which might be burgers, wings, tapas or something else!
Saturday Movie
The Salt Path is screening at Husky Pictures this Saturday at 2pm. This moving drama is about a couple who lose their home and later discover the husband has been diagnosed with a terminal illness as they embark on a year-long coastal trek. Reserve your seats via email staff.movies@2540.net.au, or purchase from the box office in the foyer.
Husky Beer & BBQ Fest
The weather forecast for a bright, clear day this Saturday is perfect for the Huskisson Beer & BBQ Festival ($30), a family-friendly afternoon (from midday) filled with the best food, beverages and entertainment from across the region all in one convenient – and stunning –location. Head down to the park next to Huskisson Hotel with your picnic rug and your besties for a great day out. Read our story for more details about what to eat and drink.
Markets This Weekend
Tomerong Markets are on this Saturday 21 June 8am-1pm at the village hall, featuring fresh produce and plants, handmade and homemade goods from local artisans, plus great coffee.
Berry Village Markets are on Sunday 22 June 10am-3pm at the Berry Bowlo. This is a popular boutique markets with stalls selling food and plants, collectibles, produce like honey and olives, fresh bread, art, fashion and jewellery.
Sunday Sessions
We are so lucky to have a vibrant live music scene in our region. Here’s a couple of our top picks for this weekend.
The funk soul sounds of All The Fuss are enlivening your lunch time at Cupitt’s Estate this Sunday from 12.30pm, so get your groove on over a pizza and glass of red wine in the Wine Garden, in Ulladulla.
Victoria and Lindsay, aka We Mavericks will be at Jervis Bay Brewing Co this Sunday afternoon from 3pm in the Woollamia industrial zone. We love the unique blend of lyrical tales and contemporary folk of these talented musicians, see you there!
Dig for your Digs
The iconic glamping site Paperbark Camp along the creek at Woollamia is offering a unique way to pay for your stay this winter. From this week, you can volunteer to help with bush care for a few hours daily and enjoy a night in camp for two people, including breakfast for only $100. The camp working bee dates are 23/24/25/29/30J une & 1/7/8 /20/21/22 July. Maximum two tents per date. For all bookings, please email info@paperbarkcamp.com.au.
Free Entry at Bundanon
Bundanon Art Museum entry is free until Friday 27 June as the museum is partially closed at the moment while they install a new exhibition (usually $18/$12). It’s also partly open, which means there is art to see. From 28 June, two new exhibitions by Australian artists will be on display, along with a program of exciting events. Betty Kuntiwa Pumani: maḻatja-maḻatja (those who come after) and David Sequeira: The Shape of Music, will be on till 5 October, see the full details and accompanying events on the website.
Make a day of art and stop at the Shoalhaven Regional Gallery in Nowra to see the current exhibition by Karla Dickens, Resist the System – you might recognise her name not just from her decades as a practising artist but also from her portrait painted by Blak Douglas, “Moby Dickens” that won the Archibald Prize in 2022. Alongside this exhibition is “Woven“, a communal painting commissioned by Shoalhaven City Council as part of the Reconciliation Action Plan and facilitated by Jaz Corr. Both of these exhibitions are on from 24 May to 19 July.
If you are feeling extra stamina for the arts, make another stop at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum for two excellent shows, Red Heart of Australia, eight paintings by Aboriginal artists from across central Austrlaia and Kangaroo Unbound, a poetry/art exhibition featuring Garry’s Shead’s iconic D.H. Lawrence series and poems written in response to those works by Wollongong writer and academic Luke Johnson. Entry is $12.50/$10/under 16s are free with an accompanying adult.
Morning Tea for Good
Thursday 26 June is the Biggest Morning Tea for the Cancer Council, and you can make your cuppa count at The Hub, Shop 14 Burton Street Shopping Village thanks to Vincentia Matters, from 10am. The Vincentia community group encourages you to reserve a seat via email, bookingsvcch@gmail.com and donate via this link.
Plan Ahead
NAIDOC Week flag raising event: NAIDOC Week celebrations in the Shoalhaven will be held from 6-13 July and Council will be hosting a special flag raising event at the Nowra Administration Building on Monday 7 July from 10am. The event Includes performances by Doonooch, Gadhungal Marring and songs from Mudjingaal Yangamba. Morning tea will follow at about 11:30am. The theme for this year’s NAIDOC week is The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy.
90s Disco: Among the events program at Bundanon this winter is a 90s themed dance party on Saturday 26 July, (Not So) Blue Light Disco. This over 18s event starts at 6pm and features great music, performance art, a craft tent and so much more. DShuttle buses will operate from Nowra to the site ($10 return). Tickets to the party are $35/$30/$28 and on sale now.
