THIS WEEK'S COMMUNITY NEWS
Last days to see Huon Art Awards exhibition
The Huon Art Awards exhibition is still on at the Cygnet Town Hall, open every day from 10am to 4pm until Sunday March 17.
Come and enjoy all that Cygnet has to offer – great cafes, interesting and varied shops and lots of art. There are nearly 300 works in the exhibition. All works are for sale.
Huon Art Exhibitions Group (HAEG)
Easter music festival returns
Delve into the heart of musical camaraderie at the Huon Music Festival 2024. This year, we celebrate the theme ‘Master and Apprentice’, honouring the deep connections and shared journeys among our esteemed musicians. These bonds, some spanning lifetimes, have been the catalyst for our Easter festival in the Valley. Discover the rich stories behind these relationships in our updated player biographies in the ‘Artists’ section of our website (huonmusic.au/artists). From Tony Morgan and Gwyn Roberts to Jenni Flemming and Adam McMillan, each duo‘s story is a testament to the power of mentorship and collaboration.
Chamber music concerts
Join us for three exquisite chamber music concerts, featuring renowned artists such as Gwyn Roberts, Jenni Flemming, the Trigon Ensemble, Trish and Paul Dean, and piano virtuoso Adam McMillan. We are also thrilled to welcome back many of the brilliant performers from the 2023 festival.
• The first two concerts are on Good Friday, March 29 and Easter Sunday, March 31 at the Cygnet Town Hall at 2.30pm.
• The third concert is on Easter Monday, April 1 at 2.30pm, at the iconic Franklin Palais featuring the Hobart Chamber Orchestra.
Spanning Baroque to the 21st century, our repertoire includes:
• Brandenburg 5th Concerto by Bach;
• Gerald Finzi’s Clarinet Concerto;
• Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas Brasileiras No 1 for Viola and Cello Ensemble;
• An array of piano duets;
• Performances featuring string trio and piano quartet.
Saturday specials
• Band performance: Derwent Valley Concert Band, led by Lyall McDermott, featuring vocalist Madeleine Dyer and cellist Gwyn Roberts, at Cygnet Primary School at 2.30pm.
• Jazz night: Immerse yourself in the rhythms of jazz with two groups – Keys and Cousins, and Belle Époque – at the Cygnet Town Hall at 6.30pm.
The finale at last year’s festival received a standing ovation, and with the inclusion of a medley of numbers from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess as the finale of the Sunday concert, a similar result is likely.
Join us for an unforgettable journey through music, where past and present intertwine, and new stories are woven through notes and melodies. We eagerly await your presence at the Huon Music Festival 2024!
Huon Music Festival
Youth call-out for Battle of the Bands
Battle of the Bands is coming to Kingborough Community Hub on Friday 12 April, from 6pm to 8pm. Young people aged 12 to 25 can apply now to battle it out and perform to a live audience during National Youth Week, where they could win the opportunity to record their own song at Future State Studios in Kingborough.
The theme is ‘Our Community. Our Voice’, so get your band or duo together and share your unique voices through music. Bands, duos, digital, electronic artists or other interested musicians are encouraged to apply. At least one band member must be a Kingborough resident.
Apply now at events.humanitix.com/ourvoice2024. Applications close Friday 22 March.
Are you in a band or would like to join one? Maybe you’re part of a duo or an emerging electronic artist. Come along to jam sessions at the Kingborough Community Hub. Sessions will be held in the lead up to the Battle of the Bands Youth Week event where you can practice your songs, meet other musicians, join a band, write some new music or just come and listen.
There are two dates remaining – March 21 and April 4 – from 4pm to 6pm at the Kingborough Community Hub.
Equipment is provided or you can bring your own.
Kingborough Council
Celebrate Harmony Week
As part of Harmony Week, Kingborough Council is hosting a celebration event at the Kingborough Community Hub on Friday 22 March, from 4.30pm to 7.30pm. It will be an evening of delicious cultural food, art, music, and entertainment.
Throughout the event there will be music by Latin American band Kattleya, with Indian Bharathnatyam dancing at 5.30pm and a Colombian dance performance and activity at 6.30pm.
Henna tattooing by Ranjeeta will be available. You can pre-book at https://events.humanitix.com/henna-harmony.
A selection of Ethiopian, Indian, and Turkish food will be on offer, as well as alcoholic drinks by the Coffee Hole.
Arabic calligraphy and Ukrainian Samchykivka folk art workshops will also be held from 4.30pm to 6.30pm. Bookings are essential for these, see below for details.
Arabic calligraphy
Learn to write your name in Arabic and experience the calming nature of the brush on paper. Embrace the mindfulness of Arabic calligraphy with Halima as she guides you through the history of this ancient art form. Take the opportunity to explore the unique modulations of this cultural art form through pictograms, strokes and lettering.
Create a small work using these skills and take your creation home with you!
This session is for ages 8 +.
To book your place visit: https://events.humanitix.com/arabic-calligraphy-harmony-week
Ukrainian Samchykivka folk art
Create your own artwork by listening to yourself and your imagination and follow your heart to express your feelings via Samchykivka art. Join us at the Samchykivka art workshop for a delightful day of creativity and inspiration.
Immerse yourself in the world of art as we explore the beauty of folk art. Whether you are a seasoned artist or a beginner, this workshop is designed to cater to all skill levels. Indulge your senses as you paint with vibrant colours, learn about composition, and discover new ways to express your creativity. This workshop offers a unique opportunity to connect with fellow art enthusiasts, share ideas, and foster a sense of community.
To book your place visit: https://events.humanitix.com/ukrainian-samchykivka-folk-art
Kingborough Council
Youth poetry workshop
The Cygnet Community Arts Council are facilitating a youth poetry workshop with poet and storyteller Moran Wiesel on Sunday 7 April, from 11am to 1pm at the Cygnet Town Hall Supper Room.
It is open to Cygnet area residents aged 11 to 16.
Moran’s focus is exploring nature poetry/spoken word, and finding inspiring ways into writing and spoken word performance. She is an award-winning writer who last year represented Tasmania at the national slam poetry competition.
Attendance is free but you need to register your interest – please respond with your name, address, age, school (if relevant) and contact details to cygnetartscouncil@gmail.com or text 0400 614 067.
This project is part of the ongoing Cygnet Words community poetry project and is supported by a Huon Valley Council Creative Grant.
Gai Anderson and
Warren Newport
Cygnet Community Arts Council
Upcycled chairs artist talk
Throughout March at the Huon Valley Hub is an exhibition of beautiful decoupaged chairs by Huon artist Debbie Ruddick.
As part of the exhibition, Debbie and her daughter Amalia Pantazis will be hosting a free artist talk in the Huon Valley Hub, on Saturday 16 March from 2pm to 4pm.
Topics of discussion will be Debbie’s exhibition, how and why she started decorating chairs, and how they bring people together in conversation.
This is a free event with afternoon tea for artists and art lovers! Please register via Eventbrite if you’d like to attend.
Huon Valley Council
Film screening: Palestine Under Siege
Amnesty Southern Group is presenting a screening of the powerful Australian documentary Palestine Under Siege, which traces the life of Palestinian people in the West Bank mostly since the creation of the state of Israel.
The screening will be followed by a Zoom Q&A session with the film makers and the main participants.
It will be held on Sunday 17 March from 4pm to 6.30pm, at the Huon Valley Hub, 23 Main Street, Huonville.
Seating is limited, so arrive early to avoid disappointment.
For more information email Sylvia Merope at amnestysoutherngroup@gmail.com
Amnesty Southern Group
The secret lives of our wildlife
Our wildlife in reserves managed by Kingborough Council are leading secret lives, and we’ve got the evidence!
How? Remote cameras. These discreetly placed cameras are revealing the hidden dramas of our animal neighbours.
Operating silently, they capture the moments when humans aren’t around, minimizing any disturbance to our furry and feathered friends.
What have we found?
• Long-nosed potaroos spotted in Algona Reserve;
• Tasmanian devils in Sandfly, Leslie Vale, and Barretta Reserves;
• An elusive eastern quoll caught on camera at Barretta Reserve;
• Pademelons putting on a comedy show across many areas (those cheeky rufous wallabies);
• And wait for it… a bird pilfering nesting material from a pademelon’s back!
We’re not just preserving reserves; we’re enhancing them for community enjoyment and the safeguarding of key wildlife species.
But that’s not all! These cameras are also helping to monitor roaming cats and dogs. The valuable data and photos we collect not only assist with better
management, but also provide an important tool when engaging reserve neighbours about responsible pet ownership.
Let’s celebrate our wildlife and, thanks to this new digital technology, the data that helps us to better manage our reserves for the future.
Kingborough Council
Join a book club with a difference
Imagine a book club where you can chat with the author after you’ve finished reading! Well it exists – it’s Ben's Book Club. Each month, read the featured book and then join host Ben Hobson in conversation with the author on Zoom to ask questions and enjoy a bookish discussion.
March’s book is Glenrock by Lee Christine. A murdered judge. Two missing lawyers. A thrilling tale of mystery and suspense from the bestselling author of Charlotte Pass and Dead Horse Gap.
Register for the Zoom event at https://bit.ly/4bZWi2F. It will be held on Tuesday 26 March at 7.30pm AEDT.
Libraries Tasmania members can borrow Glenrock on Libby with no waitlists or holds. Visit https://bit.ly/3ALYA4b.
Libraries Tasmania
Explore Franklin Forest
Join Friends of Franklin Forest for its first community walk of the year on Sunday 24 March from 10am to 1pm. In the heat of summer, the group invites you to enjoy the cooler microclimate of a wet forest, while craning your head to tall trees and cocking your ears to the calls of black cockatoos.
Franklin Forest is home to beautiful stands of leatherwood, large old swamp gums, and a myriad of wonders, which we will slow down to contemplate on this guided walk.
The walk will take up to two hours. It is about 2 km long but the group will walk slowly to allow time to really take in and discuss the beautiful surroundings.
Meet at the Living Boat Trust, Franklin.
Bring appropriate bushwalking gear, hiking shoes, rain jacket, water, and snacks. Note that the track can be slippery and muddy and involves some climbing over fallen trees and therefore may not be suitable for all walkers.
Reserve your free spot via Eventbrite. If you are unable to attend, please cancel your booking or send the organisers a Facebook message or email to let us know you cannot make it. This will allow them to open the bookings for more people to attend, as booking numbers are capped.
You can contact the Friends of Franklin Forest at friends.franklinforest@gmail.com, or via their Facebook with any questions.
Friends of Franklin Forest
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