Wollongong City Council media release: Tuesday 21 September 2021

It is no secret spring holidays will look a little different, but we’re making sure there is still plenty of fun to do at home.

Wollongong Art Gallery, Wollongong City Libraries and Wollongong Youth Centre are offering a range of online programs, video tutorials and interactive fun to keep the family busy these school holidays.

Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said that it’s been a disruptive and challenging term for many families, so they’ll be looking forward to the break and enjoying these two weeks off.

“We’d like to recognise and applaud the great efforts of our parents and carers to persevere and keep our young people on top of their learning,” Cr Bradbery said.

“We hope our families enjoy their holidays, and to help plan, we’ve compiled a list of activities to keep the family entertained at home. Why not try your hand at painting with the Art Gallery; make new friends with Wollongong Youth Services; or be guided through the night sky via Starstruck with Wollongong City Libraries.”

Spring holidays also brings warmer weather, and we may see an increase of people out and about in our public spaces. We ask our community to stay vigilant and to follow current NSW Public Health orders.

Cr Bradbery said our community should not let their guard down and to make sure they’re staying safe, especially in popular spaces like our parks, beaches and playgrounds.

“We’re urging our residents not to be complacent when taking the family out for exercise and recreation activities. We’ve more than 150 playgrounds and parks across our city, so if your usual spot is busy, please come back at a later time or find an alternative play area.

“Remember to check-in wherever possible, carry and use hand sanitizer, and always have a face mask to wear when required. It may be hard to miss out on the holiday fun but if you’re feeling unwell, please isolate and get tested,” he said.

Here’s our list of free online programs and activities to try out.

Stay connected with Wollongong Youth Services

Wollongong Youth Services will continue running its series of virtual activities including Rainbow League + Qmunity, Create and Teenz Connect. There are a range of programs to get involved in – and the best part? They are not exclusive to school holidays and will continue to run every week.

Make sure you keep Thursday 30 September free as Youth Services will host an online Question and Answer session with local sensations Hockey Dad. From grommets to garage-rock royalty, come along and meet these local superstars online.

Here is a snippet of what else is on offer.

• Rainbow League + Qmunity: Monday 4-5.30pm. An online social space for same sex attracted, gender diverse or questioning young people. The Rainbow League is for young people aged 16-24, while Qmunity caters for younger people aged 12-15.
• Acting up: Wednesday 3.30-5.30pm. Get involved in theatre sports, drama activities and performance. Gain skills and confidence in fun interactive activities.
• Teenz Connect: Tuesday 3-5pm and Thursday 3-5pm. Online board games via Tabletop Stimulator, and activities to get your mind and body moving.

You can find out more about the online programs in our media release: Virtually something to do.

Stay up to date on Wollongong Youth Services socials or give them a call on (02) 4227 8222 between Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.

Paint, Sculpt and Draw with Wollongong Art Gallery

The magic of the Gallery can be mirrored at home thanks to its online YouTube channel. Young creatives can learn something new with online art workshops, collection tours and exhibitions.

There is a range of content to choose from; step-by-step videos to create your own artwork; education videos on art history; and an opportunity to discover a whole new world with exhibition videos.

In addition, the Art Gallery have added three new videos on Monday 20 September, just in time for the school holidays. These are:

• Autism Friendly Making with Natural Materials – Go exploring in nature with a family member or adult to create an ephemeral artwork using natural materials.
• Aerial Beach Scene – Create an aerial beach scene using paints and paper you can find at home.
• One Point Perspective – Learn how to use one-point perspective when painting landscapes.

Wollongong Gallery are also running a photography competition which is open to primary and high-school students. The HOME – Photography Competition is asking our young photographers to tell us what ‘home’ means to them through their own lens.

Visit Eventbrite to find out more about the competition and to submit your entry. The competition closes on Monday 4 October 2021.

Share your creative side

Why not capture your joyful moments and share it with your community?

We’re asking residents to share a moment of joy as part of an outdoor photographic exhibition titled, The Joyful Project, which will go on display in the Crown Street Mall over the summer months. Entries for The Joyful Project close midnight, Monday 4 October and can be submitted online.

Learn something new with Wollongong City Library

Library members have free access to a range of digital and online services to help you pass the time including movies, documentaries, eBooks, eAudiobooks, magazines, music, comics, online workshops, children’s books and much more.

There is plenty to unlock with your library membership, so make you sure you join online today. You can read more in our media release: 10 ways to enjoy the library at home.

You can also stay up to date with live streams and special events on the Wollongong City Libraries Facebook page including the popular Digital Stargazing session on Thursday 23 October.

Staying COVID safe in the sun

If you’re looking to enjoy the spring sun, we ask you play at a distance, take care and stay safe. Please stay updated with the Public Health Orders to determine how far you can go, who you can spend your time with and for how long.

Check in at our playgrounds and parks

There are more than 150 playgrounds and parks across the city. This is plenty of choice when you’re looking for a place to play and picnic. Make sure to check-in at our most popular playgrounds, skateparks, and outdoor gym equipment.

Swim safely at our beaches

If you’re looking to get into the water, our professional lifeguards are back on duty. We’ve 17 patrolled beaches to enjoy, as well as our nine, unsupervised, rock pools. If you are hitting the sand, just remember to swim and go, follow the Public Health Order and wear a mask if appropriate.

Take advantage of our sportsgrounds and shared paths

Why not keep on the move and enjoy a family ride? We’ve got more than 130km off-road shared paths and cycleways across the city. Visit Council’s website and download a copy of our cycling map to help you find a new route to explore and avoid the crowds.

We also have a number of sportgrounds across our city with night lighting from 4.30-9pm. For more information visit our Community Sport page.