This Australia Day the guns will be firing at Fort Scratchley and they'll be fired by some very special guests.  24 Front Line First Responder Covid Medical Staff will be very special guests at the 1pm Firing of the Guns at Fort Scratchley on Australia Day.   6 rounds will also be fired at 11am and 3pm with 24 rounds being fired at 1pm.  Tunnel tours won't be running on Australia Day, but all exhibition rooms will be open with Morse Code Demonstrations and a sausage sizzle and coffee available all day.

The winner of the inaugural Lake Art Prize 2020 was announced on 11 December 2020 as Chelle Destefano, for her work Navigating to Safe Space 2020. Artists from across Australia were invited to submit works for the prize responding to the theme 'Where there is Water', and Destefano's work was selected as the winner from over 600 submissions. The Lake Art Prize 2020 Finalist exhibition is on display at MAC, 1A First Street Booragul until 7 February. Visitors are welcome to place a vote in the Lake Art Prize 2020 People's Choice Award. Image: Chelle Destefano, Navigating to Safe Space 2020. Textile, video performance (duration 3:1)

Date: Thu 31 December 2020 - Sun 7 February 2021

Website: https://mac.lakemac.com.au/current-exhibitions

Email: mac@lakemac.nsw.gov.au

Address:
1A First Street, Booragul 2284

Phone: 0249210382

Are you interested in becoming a Girl Guide Leader?  For more information please contact Sandra Herbert on 0418 160 402  or send an email.

Date: Tue 5 January 2021 - Mon 8 February 2021

Email: herbshaven@bigpond.com

Address:
92 Maitland Vale Road
Maitland Vale 2320

Phone: +10418160402

After a challenging 2020, the University of Newcastle Legal Centre’s pop-up clinic at Merewether beach is returning to offer free legal advice to individuals struggling with any law-related matters.  Staffed by law students and social work students in their final years of study, and supervised by accredited lawyers, Law on the Beach provides an opportunity for people to ask questions on all legal matters – from tenancy issues to employment. The clinic will run 9.30am to 2.30pm on:

• 20 January 2021 - Merewether Surf Life Saving Club
• 27 January 2021 - Merewether  Surf Life Saving Club
• 3 February 2021 - Merewether  Surf Life Saving Club
• 10 February 2021 - Merewether  Surf Life Saving Club
• 17 February 2021 - Merewether  Surf Life Saving Club

No appointment is necessary but please call 4921 8666 to register your attendance. More information is available at www.newcastle.edu.au/lawonthebeach.

Date: Wed 20 January 2021 - Wed 17 February 2021

The Bob Royal Fishing Competition is being held on January 23 and 24 and is being conducted in 3 categories.  Registrations for the comp are being held on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 January 2021 from 8.30am to 10.00am in Henderson Park. Monies raised from the Fishing Competition will go to COPSY, a counselling centre for troubled youth in the Port Stephens area. For more info Phone Dirk on 0457 259 026 or visit https://tilligerrypeninsula.nsw.lions.org.au/

Date: Sat 23 January 2021 - Sun 24 January 2021

Cardiff Combined Pensioners and Senior Citizens would like to welcome new members for fun Bingo Mondays from 9.30am-1.15pm and Friday mornings 9.30am-12.00pm There is also Carpet Bowls and afternoon Euchre Cards on offer too from 12.30pm-3pm. For more information contact Roger on 0406 727 455.

Date: Mon 25 January 2021 - Mon 22 February 2021

Email: rogerthedodger2@bigpond.com

Address:
venue is 52 Harrison Street Cardiff

Phone: 0406727455

The NC and Lake Macquarie Art Society Exhibition is being held at Charlestown Shopping Centre from January 25 to February 7.  This is an exhibition of works by members of the Society and all paintings are original and painted by local artists. Paintings include oils, watercolour, acrylic, pencil, pastel and mixed media.  The NC and Lake Macquarie Art Society have been exhibiting artworks since 1933. For more information:  Email Karen  karenkay6@bigpond.com

Date: Mon 25 January 2021 - Sun 7 February 2021

Email: karenkay6@bigpond.com

Address:
Charlestown Shopping Centre

Celebrate Australia Day 2021 by visiting a heritage property. Miss Porter’s House Museum will open on Tuesday January 26th 1pm – 4pm. See the home created by the Australian born children of nineteenth century migrants. Newcastle boy Herbert Porter and his wife Florence raised a family in Newcastle West. Their freestanding Edwardian home is now a National Trust museum containing a century of household memorabilia including many which reflect their interest in the local area and all things Australian. Spend the day reliving early twentieth century Australia. Miss Porter’s House Museum, 434 King Street, Newcastle West Tuesday 26th January 1pm – 4pm Adults $10, Concessions $8, Family $25, children under 5 free Enquiries 4927 0202

Date: Tue 26 January 2021

Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.au/nsw

Email: mph@nationaltrust.com.au

Address:
434 King Street
Newcastle West
NSW 2302

Phone: (02) 4927 0202

Come along to a great Family Day at Tattersalls Hotel, Greta.  All funds raised will be going to Riding for the Disabled.   There'll be a BBQ from 11.00am with Aussie Burgers,  Lamb and Rosemary Sausages with onion jam.  Live music with Chris Saxby from 11.00am to 2pm;  Pony rides for the kids, games with prizes to be won.  Yabbi Races and  Thong throwing and Chook Poo Bingo.  There'll be a free sausage sizzle to end the day.

Date: Tue 26 January 2021

Email: stay@hilltopguesthouse.com.au

Address:
Tattersalls Hotel, 88 High Street GRETA

Phone: 0249307111

Hunter Horse Haven is a not-for-profit organisation, dedicated to caring for neglected and abused horses and is entirely run by volunteers.  If you can help with either a donation of funds, which go towards feeding, medicines and vet care or you can donate your time and volunteer at the organisation, please contact Hunter Horse Haven on 0422 870 075 or see email below.

Date: Sun 31 January 2021 - Fri 30 April 2021

Email: hunterhorsehaven@gmail.com

Leprosy still exits. Did you know that every 2 minutes, a person is diagnosed with leprosy? For people affected by leprosy, the battle isn't only against the disease, it is also against the despair of being rejected by their community. Help to stop the pain of rejection for people affected by leprosy this World Leprosy Day (or hold your own) on Sunday 31 January.   Your support will help with early diagnosis and treatment of leprosy and help stop it from leading to nerve damage, ulcers and permanent disability. You can also help provide community education to end the stigma. For more information, see the website.

Date: Sun 31 January 2021

Website: https://www.leprosymission.org.au/get-involved/world-leprosy-sunday-2021/

Email: communications@leprosymission.org.au

Phone: 1800537767

The Belmont Branch of the Country Women’s Association will reconvene for their weekly craft & friendship morning on Tuesday 2nd February from 9:00am to 12 noon at the Uniting Church Hall, 24 Milson St Charlestown. Cost is $3 & morning tea is provided. Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month from 10am-12 noon.

Date: Tue 2 February 2021

Website: https://www.facebook.com/cwabelmont

Email: webgoddess@ihug.com.au

Address:
24 Milson Street, Charlestown.

Phone: 0435112551

Alpha Toastmasters Club will be conducting a 6-week public speaking course from Thursday 4th February 2021, 6:30pm to 9:00pm at Club Charlestown. The cost is $129 for the six weeks. Further details can be found on their website.

Date: Thu 4 February 2021 - Mon 8 March 2021

Website: https://alphatoastmasters.org.au/public-speaking-course/

Email: enquiries@alphatoastmasters.org.au

Address:
Club Charlestown
5 Lincoln Street,
Charlestown

Phone: 0499 071 866

Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap is the longest-running play in the history of London's West End and opens Maitland Repertory Theatre's 2021 season, with 9 performances from 10 to 28 February 2021. The scene is set when a group of people gathered in a country house cut off by the snow discover, to their horror, that there is a murderer in their midst. Who can it be? One by one the suspicious characters reveal their sordid pasts until at the last, nerve-shredding moment the identity and the motive are finally revealed. Ticket Prices Tickets: $25 (full); $20 (concession) Book at http://www.mrt.org.au or call 0466 332 766 (10 - 2 daily)

Date: Wed 10 February 2021 - Sun 28 February 2021

Website: http://www.mrt.org.au

Email: info@maitlandreptheatre.org

Address:
Maitland Repertory Theatre
244 High Street
MAITLAND NSW 2320

Phone: 0427933280

Now in its 13th year, First Class is a much-anticipated annual exhibition project celebrating the high calibre of work produced by students from the Hunter and Central Coast regions from 13 February to 2nd May. First Class 20 is selected from nominated Higher School Certificate Visual Arts submissions produced in 2020 and curated around a theme that emerged from the selection process. Curators Helen Willis and Melody Jones have noticed concepts around the environment, family, culture and health have dominated in the field of submissions. Image: Liam Nash. St Mary's Catholic College Gateshead. 184 Kilometres. Photomedia

Date: Sat 13 February 2021 - Sun 2 May 2021

Website: https://mac.lakemac.com.au/upcoming-exhibitions

Email: mac@lakemac.nsw.gov.au

Address:
1A First Street,
Booragul 2284

Phone: 0249210382

Discover the secrets of Everyday Objects and the story they tell about the Porters of Newcastle West. Find out what an egg has to do with darning, why an iron was SAD and how trees fitted into shoes. See everyday objects from the curious purchases to the handmade treasures. Miss Porter’s House Museum is located at 434 King Street, Newcastle West Sunday 14th February 1pm – 4pm Adults $10, Concessions $8, Family $25, children under 5 free Enquiries 4927 0202 www.nationaltrust.org.au Facebook missportershouse

Date: Sun 14 February 2021

Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.au/nsw

Email: mph@nationaltrust.com.au

Address:
Miss Porter's House Museum
434 King Street
Newcastle West
NSW 2302

Phone: 02 4927 0202

The Belmont Country Women's Association's next Market Stall will be held at Lake Macquarie Square, Mount Hutton on Thursday 25th February from 8:30 to 1:00pm. Items such as cakes, slices, jams & pickles as well as a variety of handmade items will be on sale. You can find more information on Facebook.

Date: Thu 25 February 2021

Website: https://www.facebook.com/cwabelmont

Email: webgoddess@ihug.com.au

Address:
Lake Macquarie Square, Wilson's Rd Mt Hutton

Phone: 0435112551