Dragonboating for Women

Diamond Phoenix, Canberra’s only all-women Dragon Boat Club, is hosting a free come & try event on Saturday 28 October 11am-12.30pm at Grevillea Park, Menindee Drive, Barton. Bring your water bottle, sunscreen, hat and towel, and wear quick drying clothes and covered shoes that you don’t mind getting wet. Paddle and life jackets are provided. All women from 13 years up are welcome! Follow up with a free one-month trial on DragonPass. More info: revolutionise.com.au/diamondphoenix/home or email [email protected]

GIVIT donation of the week: Festive gift wrap or bags

GIVIT is working with a not-for-profit organisation in Canberra that offers refugees a safe and welcoming introduction as they begin their new lives in Australia. They are requesting donations of gift wrap and gift bags for around 100 gifts to be distributed to children during the festive season. They are in the process of collecting a variety of gifts for babies and children aged 1-11 years old. Your donation of gift wrap and bags will help them to make the festive season special for all members of the community. Generous Canberrans can donate festive gift wrap or bags or fund the purchase with 100% of money received by GIVIT used to purchase these items. To donate or fund, visit: givit.org.au/whats-needed, search Category: ‘gift wrap/bags/Christmas bags’; Location: ‘ACT’. GIVIT supports more than 400 charities and community groups across the Capital Region by matching your items with people who need them most.

Trish MS Canberra Lunch

Trish Multiple Sclerosis Research Foundation, which is totally staffed by volunteers, is hosting its first Trish MS Canberra Lunch, at East Hotel, Kingston on Saturday 4 November 12.30pm. All proceeds will be placed into high-quality, peer-reviewed MS research projects. More info: contact Carol at [email protected] or 0410 410 491. Bookings: trishmsresearch.org.au/events/trish-ms-canberra-lunch/.

Remembrance Ceremony

28th Annual Remembrance Ceremony ‘for those who lose their life to illicit drugs’ to be held on Monday 23 October 12.30-1.30pm at the dedicated memorial on Weston Park Road, Weston Park, Yarralumla. Speakers: Christopher Gough, Johnathan Davis, Reverend Martin Johnson. If you would like to remember a family member or friend who has lost their life to illicit drugs at the ceremony, please text or phone Bill on 0497 532 801 or email [email protected]

Bruno Groening Circle of Friends

This year is the 20th anniversary of the film The Phenomenon Bruno Groening, which follows the life and times of spiritual healer, Bruno Groening. The film will be screened on Saturday 21 October 11am at Weston Creek Community Centre. Free admission; donations are welcome. Contact: Linley 0402 248 391.

Mental Health Guitar Festival 2023

Canberra resident Duncan n. Sargeant presents Eelworks Guitar Mental Health Guitar Festival 2023. Solo concert on Friday 27 October 7pm at Pulp Book Café, Gold Creek; tickets $10. Three-guitar recital on Sunday 29 October 2.30pm at All Saints, Ainslie; tickets $20, $15 concession, $10 child (under 12). More info: eelworks.com

Friends of ANBG Thursday Talks

Friends of ANBG Thursday Talks present Dr Zoe Knapp on ‘Safe Custody of Native Guava’ on 26 October 12.30pm at ANBG Theatrette. Zoe’s talk outlines a national collaborative project to deliver conservation activities for Native Guava, a plant that is highly susceptible to Myrtle Rust. The project is led by the Australian Network for Plant Conservation. Gold coin donations to support Friends and ANBG projects desirable.

Come & Try Dragon Boat Paddling

Canberra Ice Dragons are holding a come & try morning onSaturday 28 October 10am-12pm at Grevillea Park (off Menindee Drive), refreshments provided. With a free one-month trial, professional coaching, a buddy system and equipment provided, it is a great opportunity to get fun, fit and fabulouswith likeminded people (aged 12+). More info: email [email protected] or register your interest on the Events page at icedragons.com.au

Omnia Adventurers and Social Club

Would you like to meet new people and forge new friendships while enjoying a wide range of social activities? Omnia Adventurers and Social Club could be the place for you! Our activities include drinks and dinner on Friday nights, regular walks around town, bushwalking, movie and gallery outings, and more! We are a welcoming group of people who would love to meet you. More info: email [email protected]

VIEW Club

Gungahlin Day: Our next meeting is on Wednesday 25 October 11.45am at Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club, Nicholls. Cost: $35 for a two-course lunch. Guest speaker: Andrew who will tell the story of his Spine Tingling Ride 6,820 km across Australia. RSVP to Suzanne on 0413 550 894 by 9pm Sunday 22 October.

Heimat Tag Konzert

The Austrian Choir Canberra is celebrating Austria’s National Day with a Heimat Tag Konzert (Homeland Concert) on Sunday 22 October 2pm at Harmonie German Club, Narrabundah. It will be an afternoon of Austrian music from a Jodler to traditional folk songs, the Young Austrian Children’s Choir and Austrian Choir musicians. Coffee/tea and homemade cake will be available. Admission $15, children u18 free. Book via www.harmonieclub.com.au

Canberra Festival of Nature

Celebrate the first Canberra Festival of Nature with Landcare ACT this spring with exciting events to learn, discover, and enjoy the diverse beauty of our local plants, animals and ecosystems. You could attend a guided wildflower walk at the Pinnacle Nature Reserve on 22 October or join our Wellbeing Program for a lunchtime Monday Meander on 6 November.  Learn from leading experts about their research on Thursdays at the ANBG, or head to Monash Grasslands on 21 October for a grassland planting party. More info: landcareact.org.au/festival or find @landcareact on Facebook. 

The Bentley Effect screening

You are warmly invited to a screening of the epic doco, The Bentley Effect on Sunday 22 October 6.15pm for 7pm screening. Enjoy a night with friends celebrating people power against the fossil fuel industry – there’ll be some food and a cuppa too! Come alone or bring a friend—you’ll leave inspired. Bookings required. Get your tickets now, they’re free: risingtide.org.au/canberra-film-night. We will be joined by special guests Emma Davidson MLA and Tim Hollo, Executive Director of the Green Institute. About the film: The Bentley Effect is the story of the landmark struggle against coal seam gas fracking in the NSW Northern Rivers, which culminated in thousands of people blockading the industry at Bentley. Filmed over five years, The Bentley Effect documents the highs and lows of the battle to keep a unique part of Australia gasfield-free. This timely story of a community’s heroic stand shows how strategic direct action and peaceful protest can not only overcome industrial might and political short-sightedness … but it can also be a lot of fun. View the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLnRD3neUFo

Celebrating Hackett’s 60th birthday 

The Hackett Community Association is partnering with local churches to celebrate Hackett’s 60th birthday in the grounds of the Holy Cross Anglican and St Margaret’s Uniting Churches, Antill St, Hackett onSaturday 28 October 3-8pm. There will be stalls, displays, music, food, and attractions for children. A highlight will be the Hackett Squares Artshow. All entries to be inspired by Hackett, and accompanied by a 50-word statement which explains how the entry links to the suburb or its community. A birthday cake will be cut at 4pm by some of the original residents of Hackett who still live here. More info: hackett.asn.au

HYH submissions

Submissions to our free Have You Heard community noticeboard are reserved for charity, not-for-profit and community organisations. Deadline for submissions is 10 days prior to the Thursday edition date. Email your submission with essential details – who, what, where, when, cost, contact details – to [email protected] with ‘HYH’ in the subject heading. Flyers and attachments not accepted. Due to space restrictions, please keep it brief. Please note: publication in print is not guaranteed.