Boys In The Band

What’s on
THIS international hit show celebrates the greatest hits from the most iconic bands of the 20th century – The Beatles, The Bee Gees, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, The Jackson 5, The Beach Boys, The Drifters, Simon and Garfunkel and the Backstreet Boys.
– Drum Theatre, corner Lonsdale and Walker streets, Dandenong. Thursday 16 April, 8pm. The show is 110 minutes with interval. Tickets are priced from $55. Visit www.drumtheatre.com.au or call 8571 1666.
National Youth Week
CASEY Council is gearing up to join in Australia’s largest celebration of young people with a number of events organised in the City of Casey.
– Between 10 and 19 April and includes live music event Fringe Fest, Casey Youth Information Centre open days and the popular, annual Rock ’n’ Skate Festival.
Coming to town
THE McClymonts are heading to Hallam soon as part of their highly anticipated Forever Begins Tonight National tour. Thursday 16 April, The Hallam Hotel, 241 Princes Highway.
Cemetery walk
The Narre Warren and District Family History Group is holding a World War I Walk in Berwick Cemetery this month.
– Sunday 19 April, from 10am. Entry is $5 per head. Bookings are essential, contact Lynne on 8787 5558, or at research.officer@nwfhg.org.au.
Choir needs singers
THE Casey U3A Singers is in need of more singers, particularly male tenor voices.
– Rehearsals are held on Thursday afternoons from 3pm to 4.30pm, except on the fourth Thursday of each month, at Fiddler’s Green Retirement Village, 57 Gloucester Avenue, Berwick. Applicant pianists and male singers are invited to contact choir master Vic Clement on 5625 3733 or Edgar Spencer on 9705 7271 as soon as possible.

Busy seniors
NARRE Warren Seniors are eagerly looking forward to a very busy month in April.
– Wednesday 8 April the guest speaker will be Gerard Quigley, of Radio fame, speaking on behalf of Arthritis Australia. The entertainer Gavin Chatelier will bring the afternoon to a bright musical finish. Sunday 12 April is also expected to be great, with the group planning to dance to live music at their Sunday Afternoon Social. Narre Warren Senior Citizens cente,192/196 Centre Road, Narre Warren. Contact 9704 0015 for more information.

Pink Gala
THE Young Pink Sisters will hold their annual Gala dinner at the Cranbourne Golf Club in May and they want you to come along.
– The pink tie gala dinner will take place on Saturday 16 May from 6.30pm until 1am. Held in order to thank families, friends and partners for their love and support. Tickets can be purchased for $120 per person, bookings by 1 May. For bookings email Lauren at lauren@youngpinksisters.org.au or phone 0410 517 781. Visit www.youngpinksisters.org.au for more information.

Celebrating youth
PERFORMANCES, breakdancing, soccer and basketball will celebrate National Youth Week.
Register to test skills against other teams in the area for the chance to win medals and prizes.
– Pop-Up Park, Foster Street, Dandenong (opposite Dandenong Railway Station). Friday 10 April, noon to 7pm. Contact Youth Services on 9793 2155 or via www.facebook.com/cgdyouthservices for more information.

De-clutter and reduce waste
THE 10Rs workshop covers rethink, responsible, refuse, repurpose, reorganise, repair, reduce, reuse, recycle and reward.
It’s designed to help people regain control over clutter and reorganise their home and life.
– Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens, 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong. Thursday 16 April, 6.30pm to 8.30pm. Bookings are essential. Call 8571 1702.

Trivia night
A DANDENONG charity will have prizes for trivia champs and raffle goodies at this event.
The Avocare Community Connect Distribution Centre distributes food to organisations and charities that service homeless and disenfranchised people.
– The Dandenong Club, 1579 Heatherton Road, Dandenong. Friday 17 April, 7pm. $25 per person. Finger food will be provided. Drinks will be at bar prices. Call Elsa on 9793 9766 or email elsa@avocare.org.au.

Open studio
ART and craft lovers can explore the studios of Heritage Hill’s artists in residence on the first Sunday of the month.
Guests are welcome to observe their practice and discuss their work.
– Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Garden, 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong. Sunday 3 May, 1pm to 3pm. Entry is by a donation. Bookings are encouraged. Call 9793 4511 or email heritagehill@cgd.vic.gov.au.

Embroidery for beginners
HOLLY Gordon will lead a gentle and fun introduction to hand embroidery with key techniques and basic stitches.
– Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Garden, 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong. Sunday 3 May, noon to 2pm. $10 per person. Bookings are essential. Call 9793 4511 or email heritagehill@cgd.vic.gov.au.

Both Sides
CHITTY Chitty Bang Bang stars David Hobson and Rachael Beck will reunite in Dandenong next month.
They’ll perform songs from Les Miserables, My Fair Lady, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Sound of Music, Oliver! and West Side Story.
– Drum Theatre, corner Lonsdale and Walker streets, Dandenong. Friday 1 May, 8pm. Tickets are priced from $55. The show is 120 minutes with interval. Visit www.drumtheatre.com.au or call 8571 1666.

Great Songs of The War Years
THIS musical concert will honour the Anzac Centenary with songs that were performed throughout the first and second world wars.
The cast will include Opera Australia star Tiffany Speight, international soprano Alison Jones, Opera Australia mezzo Caroline Vercoe and star Australian tenor Roy Best.
– Drum Theatre, corner Lonsdale and Walker streets, Dandenong. Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 April, 10.30am. The show is 80 minutes long with no interval. Tickets are priced from $15. Visit www.drumtheatre.com.au or call 8571 1666.

Artist talk
NARRE Warren artist Ishira Kanathigoda is originally from Sri Lanka and will talk about art in his homeland and his own painting practice.
His talk will form part of his and the Ancient Cultures New Futures exhibition at Walker Street Gallery.
– Dandenong Library, Level 2, 225 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong. Tuesday 14 April, 6.30pm. Call Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre on 9706 8441 for more information and bookings.

Afghan Bazaar Cultural Tour
EXPERIENCE Afghan fashion, food and music on this guided tour to various shops and restaurants.
– Starting location is advised on booking. Thursday 23 April, 6.30pm to 8.30pm. $45 per person, including tastings and meal. Bookings are essential. Call 9771 5777 or book at www.greaterdandenong.com.

Beautiful One Day
ILBIJERRI Theatre returns to Dandenong with an optimistic, raw and confronting performance about an Aboriginal death in police custody on Palm Island.
– Drum Theatre, corner Lonsdale and Walker streets, Dandenong. Wednesday 22 April, 8pm. The show is 75 minutes long with no interval. Tickets are priced from $27.50. Visit www.drumtheatre.com.au or call 8571 1666.

Artist-in-Residence Showcase
THIS exhibition celebrates the talent, concepts and projects of last year’s Heritage Hill artists-in-residence.The artists worked with textiles, sound and voices, performance artists, paint, installations and multimedia.
– Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens, 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong. Until 24 April.

Stayin’ Alive
THE Australian Bee Gees Show is returning for a new show, The Past and Present Tour.
It looks at the careers of the brothers Gibb through song and multimedia and will feature two parts and costume changes defining the eras.
– Drum Theatre, corner Lonsdale and Walker streets, Dandenong. Saturday 25 April. Visit www.drumtheatre.com.au or call 8571 1666.

Weaving with hoops
CHILDREN will learn to make a round woven rug using hula hoops and T-shirt scraps with artist Clare James.
– Heritage Hill, 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong. Thursday 9 April, 10am to 11.30am. $5 per child. Bookings are essential. Call 9793 4511 or email heritagehill@cgd.vic.gov.au.

Drawing life
HERITAGE Hill artist-in-residence Monica Ianculescu will introduce children to still-life drawing by working from life and observation.
Children aged five to 12 years will learn how to shade and shape and about composition technique.
– Heritage Hill, 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong. Friday 10 April, 10am to 11.30am. $5 per child. Bookings are essential. Call 9793 4511 or email heritagehill@cgd.vic.gov.au.

More Female Parts
VISUAL theatre performer Evelyn Krape will celebrate ‘the older woman’ with wit.
The show is 100 minutes with interval.
– Drum Theatre, corner Lonsdale and Walker streets, Dandenong. Saturday 11 April, 7.30pm. Tickets are priced from $27.50 and available from www.drumtheatre.com.au.
Dandenong Valley All Holden Car Show
THIS annual Rotary Club of Endeavour Hills raises funds for local Rotary community programs.
There’ll be free kids activities, a band, remote control car racing and more.
– Greaves Reserve, Bennet Street, Dandenong. Sunday 12 April, 9am to 4pm. Entry is $5. Call Hans on 0428 123 124 or Tony on 0411 225 938 for more information.
Dresses and hats
VIEW the Dorothy Hart Collection and enjoy Devonshire tea with artist and curator Kitty Owens.
The dresses and hats come from the Heritage Hill archives.
– Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens, 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong. Tuesday 14 April, 11am to 1pm. $10 per person. Bookings are essential. Call 9793 4511 or email heritagehill@cgd.vic.gov.au.
Step back in time
TOUR Benga House and Gardens with Dorothy Hart, played by Barking Spider Visual Theatre company.
Discover marks made by family throughout the home, explore the maid’s quarters and picnic in the gardens.
– Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens, 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong. Friday 17 April, noon to 2pm. $10. Bring picnic lunch. Bookings are essential. Call 9793 4511 or email heritagehill@cgd.vic.gov.au.
Phi and Me
COMEDIAN Diana Nguyen will make her Drum debut with the story of a second-generation Australian Vietnamese mother’s tough love for her teenage son, Phi.
The 90 minute show includes a question and answer session.
– Drum Theatre, corner Lonsdale and Walker streets, Dandenong. Saturday 18 April, 7.30pm. Tickets are from $18 and available from www.drumtheatre.com.au.
Library Toddler Time
THESE free sessions are designed to help children aged two to three to develop their imagination and vocabulary and find a love for books and reading.
Toddler Time also helps carers to learn songs, finger plays and nursery rhymes to enjoy at home.
– Springvale Library, 411 Springvale Road, Springvale, and Dandenong Library, 225 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong, on Mondays at 10.30am. Bookings are not required. The sessions don’t run on school or public holidays. Call 1300 630 920 for more information.
Healthy and deadly
YOUNG people can learn about looking after themselves and their mob, meet new people, learn skills, connect with their culture and more at this Koorie program.
It’s for ages 14 to 21 and food is provided.
– YStop Dandenong, 39a Clow Street, opposite Dandenong Market. Tuesdays, 4pm to 6.30pm. Call Youth Services on 9793 2155 for more information.
The Social Knitwork
KNITTERS and those who want to learn the craft can join the Social Knitwork each Wednesday morning.
Make new friends while developing skills and sharing patterns and stories.
– Dandenong Library, level two, 225 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong. Wednesdays, 10.30am to noon. No bookings required.