Community Billboard 22nd to the 28th of June

The most devastating natural disaster of recent times is certainly the Nepal earthquake. We promoted a fundraising campaign here at Eastside Radio, and I think people will continue to support those working to repair this tragedy, as a lot of people feel connected.

The documentary The Highest Pass connects us to the region, the culture and the journeys that take place there.

A fundraiser is being held to support the Nepal Earthquake Appeal, while watching Australian film premiere of "THE HIGHEST PASS", followed by a Question & Answers conversation afterwards with Nepal locals, giveaways, and raffle prizes.

When: Wednesday, 24th June, 6:45pm to 9:30pm.

Where: The Footbridge Theatre, 65 Parramatta Road, Camperdown, 2050.

Cost: General Admission $33.

If you are an expert of the cha cha cha, mambo or simply like spectating the great moves that are danced in salsa then Sydney's first and only Cuban congress is on around the corner, bringing you 3 Nights of amazing parties & 2 Days of fantastic dance workshops.

This year will be the fifth anniversary for the salsa congress and its sure to be even bigger and better as international cuban artist Yanet Fuentes makes her debut appearance in Australia.

There will also be National Cuban artists & dance schools, live music & parties all weekend, world class shows with energy & spirit, Cuban & Latin dance workshops, Latin DJ's and also plenty of merchandise, food & drink.

It will be a celebration of Cuban music, dance and culture as well as a reward for all those who keep the spirit of Cuba alive in Australia.

When: Friday 26th - Sunday 28th June.

Where: Manning Bar, Manning Road
Camperdown, 2050.

Cost: A wide range of tickets from full event entry at $260 to single night entry at $25.

For all you green thumbs out there, or if you are simply on the beginner's stages of starting your own garden then at the end of the month there will be a workshop and demonstration to show you all you need to know.

The great green gardens event will be packed with short talks by engaging experts. It will feature a tour of Macquarie University’s arboretum and the launch of a new demo garden. Learn about growing food and other plants in your backyard and how that contributes to a sustainable future.
Hear about their local community garden, explore permaculture methods for improving your soil and learn from a botanical expert on native plants and their countless amount of practical uses.

There will be presidents of garden groups, authors and environmental scientists so if you have any questions on how to best compost your garden or what season to grow certain plants this is where you can ask the experts.

When: Saturday 27th June from 2:00pm to 4:30pm.

Where: Macquarie University, Balaclava Rd, North Ryde, 2109.

Cost: Free.

Fashion trends always come back around but the 50's pokadot is definitely one that has stuck. If you are a fan of everything rockabilly, right here in the Eastern suburbs just over in Randwick there is going to be a vintage fair. Rock around Randwick, organised by "frock up Australia" and in conjunction with Randwick City Council, is back again, with more than 20 dealers selling vintage and retro clothing, jewellery, accessories, collectibles, vinyl, homewares, and more.
Why not head along to Randwick to time-travel back, you could even give the kids a little history lesson on fashion, while also shopping for all your favourite items that you don't find everywhere.

When: Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th June, 10:00am.

Where: Randwick Town Hall, 90 Avoca Street, Randwick.

Cost: Free.

One thing for sure is there is never a dull moment in Sydney's festival calendar, as one goes another one arrives. This time it's the International Music Festival. Back again for its 26th year, it is one of the most popular and best attended events.

With an average of 900 - 1,300 participants each year, there are groups from Australia, China, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore and the USA providing a fantastic musical and cultural experience.

As you are listeners of Eastside you are of course lovers of great music so this event is definitely one that has been marked down as a must. With groups of all types but in particular Wind Bands, Orchestra, Choirs and Jazz Bands filling the city with sounds, the main performances are going to be on in the Sydney Opera House, the City Recital Hall and Darling Harbour. The week long event will bring people of all ages from differnet cultures together to experience the wonder of playing in venues such as the Opera House.

When: Saturday 27th June to Saturday 4th July.

Where: Sydney Opera House.

It is safe to say that winter has truly kicked in, no more is it a common site to see the beaches full or people going outside without being wrapped up. It's getting cold and the kids are about to get their holidays.
Since the seaside isn't the most comfortable of options to keep everyone entertained, there are plenty of other activities.

Darling Harbour's hugely popular Cool Yule program will return for its second year of seriously cool family fun every day and night of the winter school holidays. There will be open-air ice-skating, a Ferris wheel, a snow pit and more, Darling Harbour Cool Yule is sure to delight all ages and suit all budgets, with many free as well and exciting new attractions across the Darling Harbour precinct.

So swap the surfboard for a pair of ice skates and see the coldness of your breath, as you try to show off what skills you have on the slippery ice, or mess around and make snow angels in the snow pit that will be under the Pyrmont Bridge between Harbourside Shopping Centre and the Australian National Maritime Museum.

When: Saturday 27th June to Sunday 12th July.

Where: Darling Harbour, 2000.

Cost: Ice Rink $22, Snow Pit $7:50.

The Prime minister has announced a lot of things recently, one of them that there will be an opening, on Anzac Day 2018, of an interpretation Centre on the site of the Australian National Memorial at Villers Bretonneux in France.

For all landmark buildings and projects a lot of avenues are travelled down to make sure that it suits the purpose, but one step on the checklist from the very beginning is the design.

In 2014, The Department of Veterans' Affairs conducted an architectural competition for a new Interpretation Centre.

Tim Williams, who was one of the winning architects, will be giving a talk about the process of arriving at the final design and will explore the continuity and contradictions of contemporary commemoration.

Tim will reflect on the triumph and tragedy of the Australian contribution to the allied effort on the Western Front and on the shared significance to both Australia and France. If this is something that interests you then keep up to date and hear from the man himself.

When: Wednesday 1st July, 6pm.

Where: 257 Clarence Street, Sydney, 2000.

Cost: Free, Booking essential.

With the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee week happening from the 5th to the 12th of July there will be lots of great events taking place throughout the country with sporting days, art exhibitions, family days out, and dinner dances, the list goes on.

Right at the beginning of the festival will be the sunniest reading spot around, as Lawn Library returns to Hyde park for a day of storytelling, art workshops and kids' activities.

There will be special guests from the State Library of NSW Indigenous Unit, discussing their landmark project, Rediscovering Indigenous Languages.

A great way to get outdoors and listen to the fun stories, workshops and some pre-made goodies that relate to the stories.

When: Monday 6th July, 11am to 3pm.

Where: Hyde Park, Sydney.

Cost: Free.