What’s on at libraries in August

Our Stonnington Libraries continue to offer a variety of great events featuring poetry, stories, gardening and wellbeing this month to suit all interests.

Here are some to keep you motivated, happy and inspired.

Australian Poetry Slam comes to Stonnington

Are you the next Australian Poetry Slam champion?

Bring the fire at Stonnington’s poetry slam heat for your chance to compete in the national final. It’s presented in partnership with Word Travels. Bookings are required.

4 August, Toorak/South Yarra Library

Preparing your garden for spring

To grow fresh produce at home this spring means preparing your garden now.

This weekend, join us for a webinar presented by Sustainable Gardening Australia, and find out how you can prep your garden for a bumper spring harvest, what to plant and when to plant it, and how to grow those yummy spring veggies in pots. Bookings are required.

6 August, 10am–11.30am, online via Zoom

An afternoon with Helen Garner

Join us for a special afternoon when we present Helen Garner, one of Australia’s most-respected writers, as she reads four of her favourite passages and takes a retrospective look at a career spanning fifty plus years with guest host Bruno Lettieri. Bookings are required.

Sunday 7 August, 3pm–4.30pm, Toorak/South Yarra Library

On stage with Elvis Presley

Tune into our special online event with music writer Stuart Coupe that offers fans – and anyone keen to discover more – a backstage pass into some of Elvis Presley’s most iconic performances, and the musicians who shared his life on stage and off. Our guest host is Claire Halliday. Thank you very much. Bookings are required.

11 August, 6.30pm–7.45pm, online via Zoom.

Writing your way to wellbeing

Join us for a workshop with Sian Prior, writer, broadcaster, musician and teacher, on the therapeutic benefits of expressive writing and journaling. Bookings are required.

13 August, 2.30pm–4.30pm, Malvern Library

Unveiling our cosmos

Have you ever wondered when and how did the universe begin, what gave rise to the many billions of stars and galaxies that exist today, and how might it all end?

Science author and lecturer Peter Spinks takes us on a memorable journey through space and time into how our universe came into being – and the possibly freakish finish.

25 August, 5.30pm–6.30pm, Malvern Library

Celebrate Children’s Book Week 20–26 August

Join us for special storytimes where we read from the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s shortlisted picture books, as well as enjoying a bee-utiful craft session with See Make Play, inspired by the picture book Just One Bee, and our bookmark design competition for kids aged 5–17 (open until 31 August).

What’s Your Story? Writing competition

Have you finished or started that winning story yet? And will you be the next best, brightest thing among literary circles? What’s your story?

Residents still have time to enter our fabulous Stonnington writing competition. With great prizes up for grabs, be inspired to get those ideas going, keyboards clicking or those pens to paper now to make sure you have a chance to win. To enter, submit your piece by 31 August.

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