Festival time
It is festival time in Collie, with the performing arts heats already held, and the opening night tomorrow night.
The arts and crafts exhibition will be open for viewing from Saturday, for a week, at the art gallery and the Margaretta Wilson Centre.
You can have items valued at the antiques and collectors roadshow at the museum on Saturday and Sunday, from 10am to 2pm, at $5 an item.
A murder-mystery with a Roaring Twenties theme is programmed for Saturday night at the Goods Shed.
The street fair will bring the crowds out to Forrest Street and Central Park on Sunday, with action a-plenty.
Hopefully, the star gazing night at Allanson will be blessed with fine weather on Wednesday night.
You can find out a bit about family history at the union office at the Miners' Institute on Thursday from 10am to 1pm, and enjoy a rare night time mystery and history night at the museum next Thursday from 7pm to 9.30pm.
You can book tickets for any of the events at www.festivarty.com.
Indoor pool survey
There is still time to have your say in the indoor pool survey, with hard copies of the survey available at the library.
You can go online on the Council website at Have Your Say, until September 16, or attend a community workshop on Wednesday September 27, from 5pm to 6.30pm at the Margaretta Wilson Centre.
RSVP for the workshop at admin@tredwell.com.au
Garden competition
The entry forms for this year's Keeping Up Appearances Garden competition will be out next week.
Most sections will remain the same, with open, waterwise, edible and school sections, and encouragement prizes will be on offer at the judges' discretion.
Entries will close on Tuesday, October 2, with judging being done the following week on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 10, 11 and 12.
While every effort will be made to visit gardens on a preferred day, this will depend on the availability of the judges.
More judges
Speaking of judges, Collie's own Sisters Doll are among the 100 judges on the new show All Together Now coming up soon on television.
Tune in to check out the boys' comments.
Adventure race
Entries are open for this year’s South32 Collie Adventure Race.
The long course race, made up of canoeing, mountain biking, swimming, road cycling and running, will take place on Saturday, October 13.
On Sunday, October 14 there will also be the Bendigo Bank short course race and the Premier Coal Junior Adventure Race for children 12 years and younger.
Register at www.collieadventurerace.com.
CWA soup and sandwich
This month's soup and sandwich will be held on Tuesday, September 18 at the CWA Hall in Throssell Street.
Doors open at 11.30am for 12 noon service of soup, sandwiches, cakes and slices, tea or coffee.
There will be raffles and a trade table, plus friendly smiling service from the lovely CWA ladies.
Silent disco
As part of Youth Fest at Festiv Arty, there will also be a silent disco at Energy West Hall on Saturday, September 22.
The event is open for high school-aged kids and everyone will be given headphones, giving them the chance to choose which of the four DJs they will listen to.
Book at www.festivarty.com
Lemon day
The Motorplex is hosting a Lemon event from Friday through to Sunday this weekend.
You can buy a "stock standard lemon" for $999, put some safety gear in it, decide on a theme and dress up your car and drivers, then drive the lemon around a professional standard track for up to 24 hours.
The event starts at 8am Friday and finishes at 5pm Sunday. The canteen will be open from 8am onwards from Friday to Sunday, but please note that there are no eftpos facilities.
Tree planting
The next tree planting for the Friends of the Collie River will be held on Saturday, September 22. Check on their Facebook for details of times and place.
Blue light disco
A Blue Light Disco has been scheduled for Friday, September 28 at the Collie PCYC, from 5pm to 7pm, for ages 6 to 16.
The disco will be fully supervised, and a responsible adult is required to drop off and pick up children. Entry is a gold coin donation, and the canteen will be open.
The first Blue Light Disco was a huge success, and plenty of fun can be expected at this one.
Fiera
The Collie Italian and Sporting Club is planning a Fiera on Saturday, November 3, from 10am to 2pm.
This event was very successful last year, and you may want to take a bay, at a cost of $15, to sell your goods.
To book, call Greg on 0402 041 375.
Help needed
The rebuilt Railway Station has an electric model railway built around a model of Collie, and it has been a great attraction for kids big and small.
However, it is in need of some knowledgeable volunteer to keep it in good running condition.
If you can help out in this department, call in to the station, they will be delighted to hear from you.
Send it in
Items for not-for-profit organisations are welcome for this column.
You can email information to me at nrg@highway1.com.au by 5pm on Mondays.
Please include a contact name and phone number in case I need to check information.