Festivarty: Collie's long-running festival will be officially opened tomorrow night at the Art Gallery, with 10 days of exhibitions, workshops, fun and entertainment to follow. This year's theme is "Bikes, Hikes and Trails", and to reflect this, the latest street mural will be painted on the Red Cross building in Steere Street. A bike health check on September 10 will be followed by a ride. A range of workshops are on offer, from talks by authors to hands-on sessions with acrylics, weaving and using recycled materials to make a hanging basket. Tickets are now available for "Chatterbox" sessions with authors and writers Chris Ferreira on September 10, Amanda Curtin on September 11, and Anne-Louise Willoughby on September 13. All three sessions run from 6-8pm. On September 14 Sarah Evans will run a memoir writing workshop from 10am-1pm. Night at the Museum: A Night at the Museum will be held on September 12, from 5.30-8pm, as part of Festivarty. Tickets for this event will be $5 at the door on the night. No bookings are necessary, and you can drop in at any time during the opening period. A feature will be a photographic presentation of the 1964 floods. Other photographs will be displayed hoping visitors can identify the people or places in the pictures. As well, there will be wine and cheese on offer. River planting: Friends of the Collie River rounded off a successful year of planting trees and shrubs to re-vegetate the river banks last Saturday, with 18 community members, one Scout and South 32 staff turning up on the day. There has been a wonderful response from members of the community, young and old, as well as efforts from Yancoal, and South 32. Dough raiser: Yet another community effort to help Liam Shepherd and his family, with a dough raiser planned for tomorrow. Dominos has announced it will be doubling its contribution to $2 a pizza for Liam. Music at the Shell: A fund raiser is being organised to help Liam, with a day at the Music Shell in Central Park on October 19. As well as live music, there will be a number of attractions, including a bouncy castle and face painting. Food on offer will include sausages, curry, donuts, popcorn and slushies. All proceeds to help Liam. The 2019 Anzac Tour group teamed up with the Collie-Cardiff RSL for a curry night last Saturday, raising $2,330. Top effort. Markets: The next Goods Shed markets are scheduled for Sunday, September 9. Book sale: This is one for all booklovers and readers! The Collie Library is the venue for a second hand book sale, from 9am on Saturday, September 14. These sales feature a wide range of books, from reference to fiction, adults to children, at very low prices. Kids in crisis: The Collie CWA is seeking help to make up backpacks for kids in crisis. Donations of new backpacks, drink bottles, lunch boxes, undies, pyjamas, toothpaste, sticker and colouring books, and playing cards can be dropped off at the CWA on Tuesdays between 10am and 1pm. Send it in: Items for not-for-profit organisations are welcomed for this column.
