Emerge in the South East

Evelyne Miburo from Burundi carrying her son Ange on her back at last year's Emerge festival. 121808 Picture: ROB CAREW

What’s On

A FREE event showcasing the talents of the growing refugee and indigenous communities that make up Dandenong.
With food stalls from Free Burma Cafe, Adonai Foods, African Cuisine and Addictions’ Afghan flavours the festival will feature two stages where Melbourne’s reggae band T-Rhythm will take the stage alongside Ribeleon. There will be a number of activities and workshops on offer including Aboriginal dot painting with Debbie Austin Gunditjart, a women’s weaving group exhibition by Well Springs cultural group, Turban tying ’selfie’ workshop with Sikh cultural group, Henna art with Hazara Women’s group and a drumming and dancing workshop with Ray Pereira Drumming.
– Dandenong Market Corner of Clow and Cleeland streets on Sunday 7 June from 10am to 3.30pm.
Red Cross turns 36
FRIENDS of Red Cross in Hallam are celebrating its 36th birthday with Eunice Welch of the Red Cross Stamp Collection Department as guest speaker.
– The Hallam Community Learning Centre, 56 Kays Avenue, Hallam. Monday 15 June, 1.30pm, entry costs $5. Book with Betty on 9774 0194.
The swinging sixties
WENDY Stapleton presents her new show the Swinging Sixties featuring all of her favourite songs from the great female artists of the sixties including The Chiffons, The Crystals, The Ronettes, The Shirelles, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Petula Clarke, Lulu and Dusty Springfield.
– Drum Theatre, corner Lonsdale and Walker street, Dandenong. Wednesday 3 June 10.30am show, 75 minutes with no interval and Thursday 4 June 8pm show, 110 minutes with interval.
Self-defence class
THE Australian Shukokai Karate dojo club in Dandenong hosts a two-hour self-defence course with most of the proceeds going towards the Women’s Cancer Foundation. Sensei Ennio Anselmi will take participants through real life self-defence scenarios and teach them how to properly make a fist and how to punch and block hard.
– 2/147 Greens Road, Dandenong. Thursday 18 June. Cost $25, 7pm to 9pm.
Learn for life dinner
HEAR stories and life lessons about being a journalist from a Dandenong Journal journalist at the next VIEW Club dinner Learning for Life Program which supports the Smith Family. New members are always welcome. Bookings are essential.
– Dandenong RSL 44-50 Clow Street. Tuesday 2 June, at 7pm at the Dandenong RSL. For details contact Brigitte on 9795 1222.
Relay for Life
THE City of Greater Dandenong’s 2015 Relay for Life is already in planning and the team is hoping to get new members to raise money for the Cancer Council.
– Saturday 10 October, 3pm start to Sunday 11 October 9am finish. Ross Reserve Athletics Track, Memorial Drive, Noble Park.
Stitching our Stories
ASYLUM seekers and refugees attending Wellsprings for Women used printed patterns, textures and text to create a book that reflects on their past and helps them take charge of their story, culture and future education.
– Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens, 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong. 1 to 29 May, 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday and noon to 4pm on the first Sunday of the month. Email heritagehill@cgd.vic.gov.au or call 9793 4511 for more information.
Conversation circle
MAKE new friends and practise English in a friendly, relaxed and safe environment. Dandenong Library hosts sessions for people with low to intermediate English levels on Thursdays from 6pm to 7.30pm.
No bookings are required.
There is a sessions for people with advanced levels on Tuesdays, 6pm to 7.30pm.
Bookings and prior assessment are required.
Springvale Library hosts sessions for people with low to intermediate English skills on Tuesdays from 10.30am to 11.30am and Wednesdays, 7.30pm to 8.30pm. No bookings are required.
– Dandenong Library, 225 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong. Springvale Library, 411 Springvale Road, Springvale. Phone 1300 630 920 or see library staff for bookings or more information.
Grief support
KEYSBOROUGH Learning Centre will host Rainbows for the Children of Australia’s after school program to help kids deal with life traumas such as death and divorce.
– Keysborough Learning Centre, 402 Corrigan Road, Keysborough. Tuesdays during terms two and four, 4.30pm to 5.30pm. Bookings are essential. Register interest on 9798 7005, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.30pm.
Ballroom dancing
JOIN in the social mixed styles of ballroom dancing at the Burden Park Bowling Club.
There’s ballroom dancing every Monday from 6.30pm to 10pm, and every fifth Saturday there’s dancing from 1pm to 5pm and ballroom from 8pm to 11pm.
BYO supper, drinks and glasses.
– Burden Park Bowling Club, corner Heatherton and Springvale roads, Springvale South. Mondays are $5 per person and Saturdays are $8 per person. Phone June on 9798 1784 or Ray on 9547 1907 for more information.
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. Phone 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. Phone 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.