12 April 2024

Riverina parents rejoice: Affordable, free and fun-filled school holiday activities await

| Shri Gayathirie Rajen
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Magician Dane Certificate

Magician Dane Certificate will be performing his own brand of weird and wonderful magic at Bland and Coolamon libraries these school holidays. Photo: Supplied.

With the school holidays upon us, Riverina parents can rest easy knowing their children will be entertained by a host of affordable and free programs.

Riverina Regional Library’s [RRL] April holiday program is brimming with activities, including games and craft activities such as watercolour workshops, kite decorating, and making a ‘socktapus’.

“We know that many families are doing it tough financially at the moment with the cost-of-living pressures and many families won’t be able to go away this school holidays or find the budget for expensive shows,” RRL Marketing and Engagement Officer Katrina Roe said.

“RRL holiday program is unique in that most events are $5 or less and many are free. And so we just really want every child to experience a little bit of magic this school holidays.

“We’ve been seeing great numbers of attendance and many activities booking out … it indicates families and parents appreciate having local and affordable activities to enjoy with their children in the school holidays.”

Katrina said for those families with working parents who often had less time to do old-fashioned craft activities and play puzzles and games with their children, the library could provide that space.

“Kids can come together and enjoy a good old-fashioned game … even as simple as having a Connect Four competition at a library where kids can come and play games where they might not actually get to do that at home,” Katrina said.

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Junee Library manager Kylie Heffernan said the next two weeks at the library would be fun-filled and jam-packed with two free children’s shows with Balloonatic Bruce from Balloon Antics – a colourful character who knows how to entertain kids.

“We would love to see children of all ages visiting the library these holidays to experience and explore the beautiful sights and activities that our library has to offer,” Kylie said.

“It’s a great opportunity to get kids off the devices, get out and about to the local library, meet new friends and get creative.

“All our activities and events these school holidays are free to the public.”

Kylie said the library had many arts and crafts activities on offer.

“We’re starting off with our first activity, ‘socktapus’ – he will become the perfect little reading buddy or snuggle toy,” she said.

“This is a no-sew fabric toy and it’s the perfect introduction to fabric toy making. It shows children how to upcycle using recycled socks and materials to create a gorgeous little toy.”

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The manager said the library was thrilled to welcome Balloonatic Bruce from Balloon Antics for two massive magic shows.

“Balloonatic Bruce has been a professional children’s entertainer for more than 20 years and has been bringing joy and happiness and magic to children and adults everywhere he goes,” Kylie said.

“He will be delivering a captivating magic show and then spectacular balloon modelling.

“Every child will go home with a balloon that Bruce has modelled and I believe the children can ask what they’d like and he’s pretty clever at making balloon animals and princesses.

Bland and Coolamon libraries are set to host Dane Certificate, an accomplished magician known for his artful timing, theatricality, and originality.

Children can create a wind chime from a paper cup at Tumut Library or transform a paper plate into a dream catcher at Adelong Library.

For more information on the activities in libraries across the region including Coolamon, Gundagai, Leeton, Tumut, Junee, Temora, Bland, Batlow and Adelong, visit Riverina Regional Library.

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