Kia Ora – welcome to Radio Southland’s Community News! Updated 27/3/23
In Bluff today there’s the Senior Citizens Card Day at the Senior Citizens Centre at 1pm, call Catherine on 212 8138 for more info; this evening the Alpha Omega Weight Loss Group meet from 6pm at the Palmer Street Church Hall, contact Fran on 212 8626 for more info; tomorrow in bluff the After School Club meets at the Bluff Library from 3:30-4:30, there are limited spaces so book online at ICC Libraries; tomorrow evening the Motupohue St John Youth Division meets from 6:30pm-8:30pm at the St John Hall on Lee street, this is for kids aged 8-18 – with spaces still available, call Terina Simeon on 021 172 9093 for more info; Thursday is the Senior Citizens lunch at the Anchorage starting at noon, followed by the Senior Citizens card day at the Senior Citizens Centre at 1pm – call Catherine Culling on 212-8138 for more info.
The first contact between Southern Māori and Captain Cook has been depicted with an exhibition at He Waka Tuia, titled Tamatea; and will include many different pieces of art, including William Hodges Māori by a waterfall. This exhibition’s running now ‘til May 7th.
At The Art Attic Gallery, 43 Tay Street, Jenny McNamara has an exhibition titled “A life drawing journey”. The exhibition is open now through ‘til April 15th and the gallery is open 11am-4pm from Wednesdays to Fridays, and 11 ‘til 3pm on Saturdays.
The monthly meeting of Bluff Promotions is at 7.30pm on Thursday March 30th in the Municipal Chambers of the Town Hall. If you have questions, call Gloria Henderson on 212 8531.
It’s no joke – on April 1st the Invercargill Ukelele Festival is at Hawthorne Gardens, 173 McIvor Road, Invercargill. Enjoy a day of entertainment at the world’s southernmost ukelele festival, starting at 9:30am. For more information email inversukefest@gmail.com.
Southern Aussie Muscle Car Club presents: Muscle Mania on April 1st at the Gore Town & Country Club. Contact Mary-Anne on 027 234 9195 for more information.
The Crucifixion, the popular Easter play is presented by John Strainer-First Presbyterian Church on Tay Street – April 2nd at 2:30 with cash door-sales only. $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, $10 for students, and children are free.
The Te Anau Tartan Festival will be on over easter this year with dancing, activities, food, games, bagpipes, and so much more at the Fiordland Community Events Centre! Get your tickets through their website teanautartanfestival.co.nz.
The Easter Egg-stravaganza is on at ILT Stadium Southland this Easter with free crafts, games, and competitions; you can also get a photo with the easter bunny! Check out their website, stadiumsouthland.co.nz for more information.
Crafters at Latitude 46 Craft Market is back April 15th&16th at the Southland Indoor Bowls Centre on Oslow Street Invercargill with free admission and cash only sales.
Age Concern needs more volunteer visitors to visit older isolated people in our community. How about visiting an older person in their home and going for a walk together, perhaps having a cuppa, or just catch-up. If you have just one spare hour a week, this is all that they ask to help someone in need of company. Contact Chris at Age Concern on 2186351
Weekdays in Bluff there are Te Rourou sessions from 8.30 ‘til 5pm 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.
Do you have some time to spare and a great reading voice? The telephone information service for the blind needs people for daily or weekly readings from the newspaper, done from home. Contact the Blind Foundation on 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 8am 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, Tuesdays & Fridays from 1-5pm, and Wednesdays & Thursdays from 9-1. 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 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 $3, 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!