Entry tickets for the various categories (including roses, produce & pot plants, cut flowers and floral art) are available at the Bemboka Memorial Hall on Saturday, October 28 from 9am to 11am and also Sunday, October 29, from 8am to 10am. We hope to see you there.

Grab a bargain at the Wyndham Village Market and Plant Fair this Sunday, October 22, where there will be new stalls together with all your favourite stalls and plants galore at prices cheap as chips.

Held in and surrounding the historic Wyndham Hall from 8.30am to 1pm, this popular all weather market is firmly fixed in the diary of many who enjoy the warm friendly and welcoming atmosphere on the fourth Sunday of every month.

We are excited to welcome Wyndham’s own budding artist, Gemma Saarinen, to the stage this month with her amazing exhibition of young talent.

Support the Wyndham Men’s Shed who will be serving up good food and cuppas in the supper room gallery for the next three markets to raise much needed funds for their great cause.

Stalls cost just $15 for casual sites, $13 for regulars who book three months in advance and $10 for the car boot sale. Book your stall now by calling Yvonne on 6494 2443.

Stay in town after the market and be entertained by our local musicians who share their impressive talent with an appreciative gathering each month at the Jingera Rock Music event. This is held at the picturesque sportsground and welcomes all artists to the open mic from 1pm to 5pm.

Spiral Gallery is presenting a second Ceramics Workshop Series. Learn how to make and decorate your own unique bowls, through hand building and wheel work, with Margaret Brown and Dimity Goldie.

Course dates are November 12, November 19 and December 2, with the cost $70 for the three sessions, all materials provided. The workshops run from 10am-3pm at Bega Valley Potters (Old Bega Hospital).

The tutors, Margaret and Dimity, are skilled potters and teachers. Their work is held in collections locally and internationally. Morning tea is provided, bring your own lunch. Maximum 8 participants.

For bookings, please contact Spiral Gallery ph: 6492 5322. The workshops are presented by Spiral Gallery Co-operative and sponsored by the Mumbulla Foundation, the Community Foundation of the Bega Valley Region.

The Royal Willows Hotel, Pambula, is holding a pink ribbon Cancer Council fund-raiser on Friday, October 20, with The Fez playing from 9pm until late. Entry is by gold coin donation.

The October meeting of the Bega Valley Parkinson’s Support Group saw the introduction of a new member who had only recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. 

The new member was amazed at the information he was able to obtain from the meeting simply by listening to the members talking about their lives with Parkinson’s. 

The president and secretary gave a comprehensive report on the Group leaders conference they had attended in Sydney and they will be making some changes to how monthly meetings are held in the new year. 

The president has recently had a meeting with a new neurologist at Bowral and had the most extensive consultation he has ever had.

The November meeting will see the CEO of Parkinson’s NSW Jo-Anne Reeves and support group co-ordinator Melanie Browning at the meeting. Jo-Anne will give an broad report on the operations of Parkinson’s NSW and Melanie on how our meetings can be of help to the operation of Parkinson’s NSW.

Members are requested to attend this meeting as the two speakers have a great deal of information for everyone. The public is very welcome to this meeting which will be held on November 6 at Bega Golf Club at 10.30am. For details contact Bob McDonald on 6495 7562.

Members showed great interest in the Bermagui Country Club Social Anglers Club weekend competition with Ian Reid the heaviest mixed bag offshore – 4.57 kg.  Ron McGlashan won the day in the onshore with 1.85kg.  The large flathead lost was sad news for Denise McGlashan, having her rod break in half.  The big bag prize was a winner for Trevor Le Vin.  The good news for Robert Brown was winning the day’s raffle.  Members enjoyed their social get-together barbecue and are looking forward to the next meet in November. 

Local artists Daniel Lafferty and Gabrielle Powell are exhibiting their latest work at Spiral Gallery opening on Friday, October 27, at 5pm.

This exhibition showcases the unique talents of these two artists – exploring ancient crafts of wood fired ceramics and basketry. Their new forms use found materials – one natural and the other industrial waste. The exhibition runs until November 15.

For thousand of years, humans have been infatuated with wood fired ceramics, which first originating in Japan. The unique beauty of wood fired pottery is once again becoming highly appreciated art form around the world.

Daniel Lafferty has travelled the world to learn about wood firing as a practising ceramicist with 35 years experience. Originally studying a Diploma Visual Art at the Canberra School of Art in 1982, he is a wood firing specialist with professional studio facilities including 2 large wood kilns, an anagama and trolley kiln that he built in Cobargo.

Lafferty fires his work for 100 hours duration up to temperatures of 1320 degrees. He utilises raw materials from the local environment such as clay and glaze materials, black wattle wood ash, feldspar and pyrophelite.

Lafferty uses a combination of clay, stone, flame and fly ash to enrich and encrust his forms. This mixture is what gives the wood fired pots their unique characteristics. His functional stoneware forms are strong and striking with rich earth tones.

The technique of weaving has been passed along generations, rediscovered, and expanded upon throughout the years. Basket making is one of the oldest known crafts. Gabrielle Powell has been making baskets since 2005 whilst formally trained in ceramics at Canberra School of Art in 1985.

Powell is passionate about up-cycling, reusing and recycling. She is an active scavenger, bringing things home from the tip, or collecting useful treasures on her holidays to incorporate into her next basket.

She enjoys the challenge of making baskets from unconventional materials such as tubing, cabling, plastic, wire – items that would normally be discarded. Recycled materials of lesser quality are up-cycled to create new innovative baskets - if it's flexible; it can be woven! Powell’s works are colourful and sturdy.

Upcoming activities at the Women’s Resource Centre include: 

Art Therapy – Empowering women through the creative process. Join us at Women’s Resource Centre to celebrate our amazing connection as women to love and support one another. We will use a variety of creative arts including paint, clay, masks, fabric, poetry and storytelling. Thursdays 10:30am–12noon until November 9. Call 6492 1367

Improvisation & Games –  One-day workshop for women with Peta Burchell. Reconnect with your inner child. Learn to play again. Laugh and have fun. Build confidence. Wednesday, October 25, 10:30am-12:30pm at Women’s Resource Centre. Call 6492 1367

Making Messages Art Workshop – Ladies we need your help to create artworks promoting the benefits of quitting smoking. These will be made in to postcards and used by the Cancer Council and the Tackling Tobacco program. Fridays, November 3 & 10, from 10am-12 noon. Call 6492 1367.

Free Computer Training for women over 50 who want to learn the basics of using a computer. One-on-one lessons available at Women’s Resource Centre, Wednesday and Thursday between 10am and 2pm. Call 6492 1367.