Kia Ora – welcome to Radio Southland’s Community News! Updated 26/07/24
Discover the wonders of Free Weeds and Herbs at upcoming workshops in Invercargill. Workshop #1 focuses on using common weeds for food and home remedies, taking place on Thursday, August 8th at 5:30 PM at the Invercargill Public Library. For more information, contact Harvest Wellness Hub Invercargill via email at Harvestsdafellowship@gmail.com or visit their Facebook page.
Workshops #2 and #3 will be held on Sunday, August 11th at the Lindisfarne Methodist Community Centre, located at 22 Lindisfarne Street. The first session runs from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM, followed by the second from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, featuring light refreshments. These sessions offer insights into the practical uses of local plants. For further details, contact Harvestsdafellowship@gmail.com or find Harvest Wellness Hub Invercargill on Facebook.
Invercargill Irish Society is holding an Irish Variety Concert at the Ascot Park Hotel on Sunday, August 18th from 2 ‘til 4pm. Tickets are $15 for adults with free admission to school children – tickets will be available at the door on the day. Front-row seating is reserved for those with walking frames and mobility issues.
The Dollys are performing on Sunday, August 18th at Club Southland from 2-5pm, supported by Swin Street with a special guest to be announced soon. For tickets and more info either email dollysgroup@gmail.com or text 027 366 0291.
18 Ededn Avenue – A musical, will be an evening filled with music and storytelling to fill your heart with warm fuzzies! Written by two Southlanders, Roger Gimblett and Sally Bodkin-Allen, this performance of the original New Zealand musical will feature a live eight-piece band and six outstanding musical performances. Live at the Civic Theatre Invercargill on August 28th, make sure to grab your tickets online through ticketek or in person at the Civic!
Murihiku Polyfest is celebrating 15 years of Polyfest this year, and this year's showcase of cultural performances will be bigger than ever! With over 7500 performers and tens of thousands of spectators, both online and in person, this is something you don’t want to miss! Running from August 26th ‘til August 30th from 9am – 3:30pm at the ILT Stadium Southland with a gold coin entry for spectators.
Embark on an incredible journey with international Bible prophecy speakers and TV presenters Gary Kent and Gordon Gosset in Invercargill! Join them for a special free dinner and Gary’s debut presentation on Sunday, September 1st, 6pm at Lindisfarne Methodist Community Centre, 22 Lindisfarne Street. Children under 12 can enjoy their own program. Following this, a free 4-week presentation series will be held Mondays through Thursdays at 7pm, starting September 2nd, at the Corinthian Centre, Invercargill Working Men’s Club, 154 Esk Street, with a dedicated children’s program as well. For registrations and more information, email harvestsdafellowship@gmail.com, visit Harvest SDA Fellowship Invercargill on Facebook, or call Abigail at 027 612 0885.
Rocking with the Stars is back for another amazing night on Saturday, September 7th at the ILT Stadium Southland. This time, they’re pairing Stars who’ve danced in the previous events with Invercargill Rock’n’Roll Club dancers! Radio Southland’s very own Lyndal Ludlow will be performing so make sure you remember to go to stadiumsouth.flicket.co.nz to secure your tickets.
Age Concern are on the lookout for some amazing individuals like you! They need volunteer visitors to share a little joy with our older friends who might feel isolated. Imagine a cozy home visit, a stroll together, sharing a cuppa or just chatting. If you've got a spare hour each week, you could make a world of difference to someone in need of a bit of company. So, if you're up for lending an ear and some good company, Age Concern would love to hear from you! Reach out to Chris at Age Concern by dialling 2186351.
On weekdays in Bluff, there are Te Rourou sessions from 8.30 to 5 pm where everyone’s welcome to come along and relax with a cuppa and enjoy a safe, secure environment for your little ones. For more information, please call 212 8866.
Every second Thursday of the month, the Art Attic Gallery hosts a Poetry Night that kicks off at 7 pm. And the best part? It's completely free to enter, plus they'll even throw in some tasty nibbles and drinks. You can find The Art Attic Gallery at 43 Tay Street in Invercargill.
Get ready for a fantastic monthly music night hosted by the Lower Mataura Valley. It all goes down on the second Wednesday of each month, kicking off at 7:30 pm sharp, right at the Mataura RSA. For just $5, you're in for a night of great tunes and even better company. And here's a little extra encouragement: feel free to bring along a plate of your favourite snacks to share with fellow music lovers!
If you've got a bit of free time and a fantastic reading voice, the telephone information service for the blind is looking for folks who can help with daily or weekly readings from the newspaper, and you can do it right from the comfort of your own home! Interested? Get in touch with the Blind Foundation at 218-3927.
Anyone interested in joining the Foveaux Pearls Leisure Marching group please contact Dianne Blair on 216 4962.
And now a run-down of regular events and services in our province:
Activities:
Invercargill Parkrun is a free, weekly, timed 5km event held every Saturday from 9am at Queens Park. Meet at the cricket pavilion carpark and walk, jog, run or volunteer - everyone is welcome. Head to their Facebook page for all of the details!
On Sundays from 9.30-1.30 the Southern Farmers Market is open at the old Railway Station - look for the market sign. Enjoy food, arts, crafts and produce in this popular market setting – it’s great to sit down and have lunch with the family!
Agencies:
The Loss & Grief Centre’s Invercargill drop-in centre is open Mondays to Friday 10am-4pm. You can also call or text 027 443 87 88, email lossandgriefcentre@gmail.com, or send them a message. The Centre also provides services in Winton, Gore, Mataura & Te Anau. Visit their website – www.lossandgriefcentre.com for more information.
Do you binge eat? Purge, starve, or compulsively exercise? Wherever you are, whatever your problem with food, Addictive Eaters Anonymous can help. Visit www.aeainfo.org to find out more about Addictive Eaters Anonymous.
Learning Differences Aotearoa are available to help if you or your child has a learning difference and needs some support – call or text Chris on 027 201 69 51, or email support@learningdifferences.org.nz.
Hearing Southland & their associated clinics in Leet St are open and taking bookings by phone - 214 91 54.
If you are elderly and need social support, access to help with meals or care services, support is available from Age Concern. Meals are available to pick up, and exercise classes are on. You are welcome to make an appointment to talk to someone, please wear a mask when you come in. They can also come to visit you. You can call them on 218 63 51, or visit ageconcern.org.nz.
If you have concerns about a senior’s safety, call the Elder Abuse Helpline for advice on 0800 326 68 65.
Jubilee Budgeting Services are available online or by phone – call 0800 Jubilee, or text 027 Jubilee. Go to their Facebook page for more information on what help they can provide. Appointments are able to be made to get advice over the phone, or to come to the office and meet in person.
The Southland Community Law Centre in the Cue on Don building in Don St are available to help - phone ahead to make an appointment – 0800 55 0800. Their hours are from 9-4 Mon-Thurs and 9-12.30 on Fridays. They also offer outreach services to Gore and Fiordland.
Council services, museums & galleries:
The Invercargill Public Library is open from 9-6 weekdays, and 10-4 on weekends. The Bluff Library is open Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm, and Saturdays from 10-1. The Archives in Invercargill are open – but please call ahead to book in on 03 211 15 73. Please return all books through the slots. MyBookBag is still available for free contactless book delivery – go to www.ilibrary.co.nz/mybookbag
Southland District Council area offices and libraries are open. Travelling library options are also available with the mobile bookbus, and have you checked their digital library options? To find out more go to southlanddc.govt.nz and click on ‘Libraries’ – or call them on 0800 732 542!
Te Hikoi Museum in Riverton is open every day from 10-4 – call them for more information on 03-234 8260 or visit their Facebook page!
The Thornbury Vintage Tractor Club focuses on Southland’s rural heritage and local history. With an extensive collection of vintage farm machinery, this is a great Sunday drive visit. It’s at 61 Foster Rd Thornbury, and its open Sundays from 1.30-4.30pm. Entry is $5. You can also call Fraser on 021 03 85 196 to arrange a time to visit!
The Otautau Gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10-5. They’re at 110 Main St, Otautau, have a stunning collection of arts and crafts and they’re part of the Western Southland Arts Trail. Check out their Facebook page or phone 225-86-38 for more information. Entry is free!
The Southland Fire Museum is open Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays from 11-4, and can also open for group bookings – call Les on 027 254 6464. It’s on the corner of Jed and Spey Streets, and entry is a gold coin donation!
He Waka Tuia on the corner of Don & Kelvin Streets is open from 10-5 Monday-Friday and 11-2.30 on weekends. This combined art and museum space is proud to celebrate everything Murihiku. Have a visit and explore their immersive exhibitions with the kids – entry is free!
The Awarua Communications Museum is open on Sundays from 1-4pm. Take a step into a unique part of our history, view their collection of local & national communications memorabilia and enjoy their interactive exhibitions. Entry is cash only – it’s $6 for adults and $3 for children.
The Bluff Maritime Museum is open from Monday-Friday from 10-4.30, and 12.30-4.30 on weekends. They have lots of fascinating history to view, including fishing & sealing memorabilia, tours of an oyster boat, and info about this earliest European settled community, including shipwrecks in the challenging southern waters. Admission for adults is $5, and its $1 for children.
The Eastern Southland Gallery is open from 10-4.30 on weekdays, and 1-4pm on weekends! For more information on the gallery and current exhibitions, visit www.esgallery.co.nz.
If you’re a community organisation or are hosting an event – do get in touch - give us a call on 03 2189891, email admin@radiosouthland.org.nz, or go to the contact us form on our website!