August 2009 Events in Sydney, Australia

From Sydney City Life

August 2009 Events in Sydney and New South Wales

29 July to 1 August 2009 - Elling - Presented by Sydney Theatre Company in association with Ambassador Theatre Group. Based on the novel by Ingvar Ambjørnsen. After two years of sharing a room in a mental institution Elling and Kjell are allowed back into society. For tickets visit the venue, Riverside Theatres Parramatta.

29 July to 1 August 2009 - Rollers World Challenge at Sydney Olympic Park - The Rollers, Australia’s men’s national wheelchair basketball team, will play against Japan, Canada and Great Britain. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children or $25 for a family. For more information contact 9469 7200.

1 to 8 August 2009 - Friends of the University of Newcastle Book Fair - Great Hall of the University of Newcastle, Cnr King and Auckland St, Newcastle. (See BCL Book Festivals.)

31 July to 2 August 2009 - Armidale International Film Festival - The 6th Armidale International Film Festival will be held at the Belgrave Cinema.

2 August (Sunday) 2009 - National Tree Day - Community tree planting event organised by Planet Ark. To get involved or find your nearest site, check the website.

2 August (Sunday) 2009 - Chamber Classics - A concert presented by The Northern Rivers Symphony Orchestra Camerata and featuring music by JS Bach and Vivaldi. Tickets are $40 for adults, $35 for concession and $20 for students. 2.30pm at the Tweed Heads Civic Centre. For tickets contact 02 6672 1327 or 07 5536 6063.

2 August (Sunday) 2009 - Smocking Open Day - The non-profit organisation provides smocked dresses, bonnets, bootees and other items to NSW hospitals for stillborn and premature babies. The open day aims to teach smocking and recruit new members. There will be a free morning tea. Participants are asked to bring lunch and a mug. 10.00am to 3.00pm at Dence Park, Stanley Rd, Epping. For more information contact 9634 7070.

2 to 8 August 2009 - National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Week
3 August (Monday) 2009 - Musica Viva - Steven Isserlis & Dénes Varjon - The Hungarian pianist and cellist will play a program of music almost entirely by Robert Schumann. For more information or to book tickets visit the venue, City Recital Hall Angel Place.

5 to 9 August 2009 - Write Around the Murray - With guests, workshops with schools and the general public, presentations and more. Albury City. (For more writers festivals see BCL Books.)
7 to 9 August 2009 - Byron Bay Writers Festival - New festival site at Belongil Fields, Byron Bay. (For more writers festivals see BCL Books.)
7 to 9 August 2009 - Country and Regional Living Expo - 10.00am to 4.00pm at Rosehill Racecourse Event Centre.

31 July to 8 August 2009 - La Sonnambula - An Italian opera performed with English subtitles presented by Pacific Opera. Performing at the Glen Street Theatre. To book tickets online visit the venue.

8 August (Saturday) 2009 - The Seraphim Trio - The violinist, cellist and pianist will perform a mix of classical chamber music and Australian works. Tickets are $37 for adults, $33 for concession and $29 for 30 years and under. 7.30pm at Riverside Theatres, Parramatta. For tickets book online.

8 August (Saturday) 2009 - Brickies/Tyrepower Touch Football Reunion - Seven Hills RSL, Best Rd, Seven Hills. For more information contact larryswindells [at] hotmail.com (See BCL reunions.)

9 August (Sunday) 2009 - City2Surf

9 August (Sunday) 2009 - Musica da Camera - Featuring three late 19th Century works by Slavic composers including Tchaikovsky, Josef Suk and Janáček. 2.30pm in the Shire Hall, Copeland St, Gunning. For more information contact shelley [at] cyberone.com.au

11 to 15 August 2009 - Dealer's Choice - A friendly poker game turns suspenseful as stakes are raised. Performing at Riverside Parramatta. To book tickets online, visit the venue website.

13 & 14 August 2009 - Thursday's Child - A stage adaptation of the Australian novel by Sonya Hartnett, presented by the Monkey Baa Theatre for Young People. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for concession 30 years and under, and $15 for 16 years and under. Performing at Riverside Theatres, Parramatta. For tickets contact 02 8839 3399 or book online.

14 to 16 August 2009 - Bellingen Jazz Festival - Jazz and blues artists will play in various venues around Bellingen including the Federal Hotel, the Memorial Hall, Council Grounds and the Bellingen Community Markets.

14 to 16 August 2009 - Bangalow Music Festival - The programs are a collaboration between professional chamber ensembles, emerging young artists, Australian composers and international soloists. Performances to be held at A&I Hall, Station St, Bangalow. For tickets contact 0448 641 835.

14 to 23 August 2009 - Tweed Valley Banana Festival - The festival includes a fashion parade, a street parade, woodcraft displays, an art exhibition and more. (See Murwillumbah.)

15 August (Saturday) 2009 - Shoey's/Bilo Reunion - 6.00pm at Wests Leagues Club, Newcastle. Cost will be $50 per person. RSVP by 1 August, contact Kerrie on 0423187728. (See BCL reunions.)

15 August (Saturday) 2009 - The Freedom Concert Tour 2009 - Ustad Amjad Ali Khan live in concert. 7.00pm at the State Theatre, Sydney. For tickets visit Ticketmaster.

15 & 16 August 2009 - Australian Chamber Orchestra - Resonance - Together with young musicians from the Emerging Artists Program, the ACO will perform modern works. 15 August at City Recital Hall, Angel Place and 16 August at the Sydney Opera House. For tickets and more information visit the ACO.

15 to 23 August 2009 - National Science Week - Various events around Australia. Visit the website to register or find an event. (For science groups and links in New South Wales see BCL science.)

17 August (Monday) 2009 - Cupcake Day for the RSPCA - Bake some cupcakes and host a party to raise money for the RSPCA. Visit the website for more details or to register. (See also No School Today: Fundraising Activities.)

18 August (Tuesday) 2009 - Simone Weil Lecture on Human Value - Knowledge and Prejudice - Delivered by Miranda Fricker, Reader in Philosophy at Birkbeck, University of London. The cost is $15 for students and concessions, $20 for seniors and $22 for adults. 5.30pm at the State Library of NSW, Dixon Room, Mitchell Wing. Bookings essential. For more information visit The ACU National School of Philosophy.

18 & 19 August 2009 - Australian Chamber Orchestra - Resonance - Together with young musicians from the Emerging Artists Program, the ACO will perform modern works. To be held at the City Recital Hall, Angel Place, Sydney. For tickets and more information visit the ACO.

19 to 23 August 2009 - Stitches and Craft Show - Featuring competitions, workshops and classes as well as stalls. 9.00am to 5.00pm daily at the Rosehill Racecourse. (See also art and craft groups in Sydney.)

20 to 26 August 2009 - Possible Worlds: Sydney Canadian Film Festival - The fourth Canadian Film Festival will be held at Dendy Opera Quays and venues across Sydney. The festival includes 16 films, workshops, filmmaker Q & As and more.

21 to 23 August 2009 - World Vision 40 Hour Famine - (See also No School Today: Fundraising Activities.)

21 to 30 August 2009 - A Choral Pilgrimage - Presented by the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. The Sydney Philharmonia Chamber Singers will visit Sydney churches including St Stephens Church Newtown, St Matthews Windsor, St Marks Darling Point, St Marys Cathedral Crypt, St Patricks Manly and St Patrick's Cathedral Parramatta. Tickets are $45 each. For tickets contact 9251 3115.

22 August (Saturday) 2009 - Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Chorus - The MSO Chorus will be making its first Sydney solo appearance. 8.00pm at City Recital Hall Angel Place, 2-12 Angel Place, Sydney. For tickets contact the box office on (02) 8256 2222 or book online.

22 to 28 August 2009 - CBCA Children's Book Week - Celebrating Australian books, authors and illustrators. The theme for 2009 is Book Safari. (See our BCL page on Book Week.)

23 to 29 August 2009 - Hearing Awareness Week - Annual, national event which raises community awareness about hearing loss and ways to protect hearing.

26 to 29 August 2009 - Biological Farmers of Australia Organic Roadshow 2009 - Trade displays and presentations by organic producers, researchers and advisors. BFA representatives will present up-to-date information about Australian and international regulations, new AQIS export rules and the Senate Enquiry into food labelling. Roadshow events will take place in Lismore, Sydney, Dubbo, and Albury. See the Roadshow website for more information.

27 August (Thursday) 2009 - Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Concert 1 - A concert of works by 18th century Viennese composers Beethoven and Schubert. 7.00pm at City Recital Hall Angel Place. Visit the venue to book online.

27 to 30 August 2009 - Rock by the River Festival - The 7th annual festival. Barham Services Club. (See more Lioneyes - Music & Arts Festivals in New South Wales).

28 August (Friday) 2009 - Daffodil Day - Support the Cancer Council Australia by buying a bunch of daffodils or Daffodil Day merchandise, volunteering at a merchandise stall, selling merchandise at your workplace or school, or making a cash donation. All funds raised support cancer research, prevention programs and support services for cancer patients and their families. (See also No School Today: Fundraising Activities.)

28 August (Friday) 2009 - Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Concert 2 - A concert of works by 18th century Viennese composers Beethoven and Schubert. 7.00pm at City Recital Hall, Angel Place, Sydney. To book tickets online visit the venue.

28 to 30 August 2009 - Gardening Australia Expo - Featuring advice, demonstrations, kids' entertainment, food, and lifestyle products. 9.30am to 4.30pm at the Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park.

28 to 30 August 2009 - Newcastle Jazz Festival - The festival features local jazz bands at the City Hall, King St, Newcastle. (See Newcastle.)

28 to 30 August 2009 - Food & Wine Aficionado - Featuring seasonal, organic, gluten-free, rare, exotic, natural, and niche food and wine products. Free entry. Parking on site is $10. Castle Hill Showground at The Arena, Doran Dr, off Carrington Rd, Castle Hill.

28 to 30 August 2009 - Lifeline Book Fair Northern Beaches - Entry by gold coin donation. Cnr Jackson and Boondah Rds, Warriewood. (See BCL Book Festivals.)

28 August to 12 September 2009 - Rainbow's End - Australian life in the 1950s as experienced by three generations of Koori women. To book tickets and for more information visit the venue, Riverside Theatre Parramatta.

8 July to 29 August 2009 - The Ten Sopranos - National Tour - Featuring Penny Pavlakis and performing a variety of operatic and other songs including Nessum Dorma, La Donna Mobile, The Brindisi, Amigos Para Sempre, New York New York, You Raise Me Up and more. For dates and venues visit the website.

29 August (Saturday) 2009 - Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Concert 3 - A concert of works by 18th century Viennese composers Beethoven and Schubert. 7.00pm at City Recital Hall, Angel Place, Sydney. To book tickets online visit the venue.

29 August (Saturday) 2009 - The 18th Kogarah Fair and Charity Bed Race - Community and business groups in Kogarah will race hospital beds in the annual bed race. The event is a fundraiser for the St George Hospital. There will also be a bed parade, street entertainers, rides, a fair and more. 10.00am to 4.00pm on Belgrave St and Railway Pde, Kogarah.

30 August to 5 September 2009 - Legacy Week - The funds raised from this year’s Badge Appeal will help Legacy continue to assist 120,000 widows and 1,900 children and people with disabilities Australia-wide.