10 May - 14 Sept

Sydney's golden age of aviation, Sydney

1938 saw the dawn of a golden age of aviation when Rose Bay became home to Sydney’s first international airport, servicing the mighty flying boats – large, luxurious, four-engine aircraft that alighted on water.

Flying boats played a vital role in World War II, and after the war they opened up the South Pacific and Lord Howe Island as popular holiday playgrounds for Australians. As a result Sydney operated the last major flying boat base in the world until 1974.

Featuring photographs, posters, film, models, flight crew uniforms, a recreated cabin, a flying boat engine and the fascinating personal stories of travellers, crew and the workers at the Rose Bay base, Flying boats celebrates the early days of transoceanic air travel and presents a definitive account of this extraordinary chapter in Sydney’s history.

Find out more

2 August

Sydney Male Choir Regional Concert, Dubbo

The Sydney Male Choir will travel to Dubbo for this special concert that has been two years in the making. The program will include a wide selection of songs, from traditional choral pieces to modern day songs.

Proceeds will go to the Dubbo Catholic Church Welfare Arm 'CENTACARE'.

Date:    Saturday 2nd August 2008

Time:    2.00 pm
Venue: St. Bridget’s Catholic Church

            Brisbane Street, Dubbo

Tickets: Adults $20, Concessions $15, Family Ticket $59
Bookings: Snare’s Newsagency, Talbragar Street, Dubbo.

Find out more

Lost Gardens of Sydney

Sydney’s vast sea of roofs belies its rich legacy of gardens and gardening. In every direction from the city, large estates and gardens have been subdivided and lost to our ever-increasing need for real estate.

Lost gardens explores Sydney’s rich and diverse gardening heritage. It traces the rise and fall of a number of Sydney gardens and garden styles, from the native bush and significant early colonial gardens, to nurseries and the gardens of the rising middle class, to the small domestic gardens of the inter-war years, to corporate roof-top gardens and threatened gardens of today.

The exhibition is rich with paintings, drawings, photographs, plans, statuary, floral albums and botanical images, and will charm anyone with an interest in gardens and the environment.

Find out more

City to Surf, Sydney

Since it began with 2,000 runners in 1971, the 14 km race has become the world’s biggest fun run, attracting 70,000 last year.

Only a handful have a chance of winning, but nothing can stop the old, the young, the incredibly fit and the merely fantastic from taking part.

Bellingen Jazz Festival

The Bellingen Jazz and Blues Festival, which began in 1990, provides three days of live music designed to present a cross section of jazz and blues styles performed by the best musicians available. The aim is to provide a program containing “something for everyone”.

Staged in Bellingen, with its pristine river and historic streetscape, the Festival presents around 35 performances in thirteen venues over three days.

Local eateries and organised food stalls provide a wide range of cuisine, adding an extra dimension to the day which encourages people to stay in town longer to enjoy the music.

Find out more

Sydney Male Choir Regional Concert, Gosford

This year’s Regional Concert in Gosford by the Sydney Male Choir will, for the first time, be performed at the popular Central Coast Leagues Club. The Choir will share the stage with “The Spirit of the Coast Harmony Singers”, who sing 4 part unaccompanied harmony in Barbershop style, so the variety of music and song will be sure to entertain all ages.

Date:    Sunday 24th August 2008

Time:   2.00 pm.
Venue: Central Coast Leagues Club, Dane Drive, Gosford

Tickets: Adults $20, Concessions $15, Children $12.

Find out more

27 - 28

August

10th Australian Computer Conference for Seniors, Sydney

The Conference is being hosted by the Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association (ASCCA). ASCCA is the national peak body for seniors and technology.

The conference includes information sessions; morning tea; hot/cold buffet lunch and a conference pack.

Find out more

29 - 31 August

2008 Sydney Gardening Australia Expo

The Sydney Gardening Australia Expo has something for everyone - whether you are looking for information and inspiration, entertainment and education or the latest garden and outdoor products and plants.

With hundreds of companies onsite, it is a real one-stop shop for all garden and outdoor needs, as well as a great day out for the family.

Along with stunning plant, garden and floral displays, demonstrations by ABC TV's Gardening Australia presenters and plants galore to buy, beginners and seasoned green-thumbs will leave with their arms, bags and trolleys laden with an amazing range of gardening products.

Hours: 9.30 am – 4.30 pm

Adults: $17
Seniors/Pensioners: $15
Family (2A + 2C): $37
Children 5-16yrs: $6

Find out more

Unity Walk for Parkinsons, Sydney

The Parkinson’s Unity Walk started 15 years ago in New York’s Central Park and now has actor and Parkinson's sufferer Michael J Fox as its patron.

This year is Australia’s inaugural Unity Walk and coordinators have joined with the NRL to also celebrate the Centenary of Rugby League.

Be a part of Australia’s 1st Unity Walk for Parkinson’s to show Pride in your team and Pride in helping people with Parkinson’s.

For every dollar raised 50% will go towards research into this debilitating disease. The other 50% will fund support services for people with Parkinson’s, their families and carers.

Register or find out more

Sydney Male Choir Regional Concert, Springwood

For the seventh successive year, the Sydney Male Choir will return to Springwood to share their music on stage with local “The Mountains Choral Society”. The local choir was formed in 1999 and concentrates on singing classical music. Funds from their concerts support various local charities.

Date:    Sunday 31st August 2008

Time:    2.00 pm

Venue: Civic Centre, 106-108 Macquarie Road, Springwood

Tickets: Adults $25, Concessions $20, Groups of eight $15

Find out more