Experimental Movement  

Wed 21 Sept, 6-7, James Theatre, Dungog

Think No Lights No Lycra but with a twist – shafts of torchlight along the floor. Bring your bedroom dancing Queen down to the James Theatre for an hour on Wednesday evening. Mixing it up each time. This is part of a series of experimental movement actions.

Shake out that dance party in your head.

free form dance • intergenerational • mental wellness

Limited numbers. Booking essential via this link – Experimental Movement.

$5 per family – let us know how many are coming when you book on Eventbrite for numbers

If this event is booked out let us know if you are interested to be put on the mailing list for Experimental Movement – pawsciencehub@gmail.com 

.. . ..… … . . . . …. . .. .. .. . . . . . .

Land & Farming

Listening to Indigenous Voices series

POSTPONED – New date to be confirmed Sun 23 Oct, 2-4pm

James Theatre, FREE event

Land & Farming is the first of the Listening to Indigenous Voices Series.

With the evolving evidence of extreme weather events, now is the time to take stock and learn from the contemporary practices of a knowledge system 65,000 years in the making and uniquely adapted to the environments of this country.

Come and listen to the perspectives of Whitney Ridgeway and Joshua Gilbert. Two impressive young Aboriginal Land Managers sharing their approaches to combining two knowledge systems in contemporary farming practices.

This Free event is hosted collaboratively by PAW Science & Ideas Hub & Reconciliation Dungog.

Book via Eventbrite (FREE): Listening to Indigenous Voices: Land & Farming

About the speakers:

Whitney Ridgeway is a proud Worimi/Bundjalung Women & the Aboriginal Community Support Officer at Hunter Local Land Services based in Taree.

She is currently completing a Bachelor of Environmental Science at university and has spent the last 2 years connecting to and caring for both Worimi and Biripi Country through her work as an Aboriginal Ranger. “This position allowed me to consistently connect with my culture, my community and my Country.” Whitney says.

Working within National Parks Whitney has had the opportunity to be a part of many different projects around conservation and she has learnt how to implement land management practices that are a blend of both Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Western science.

As part of her Hunter Local Land Services role she has been able to create programs that benefit Aboriginal Communities in her region.

Whitney’s proudest achievement so far, which is something she is extremely passionate about, is becoming an Indigenous Fire Practitioner and Knowledge Holder. “I am in my final year of a 3 year training course run by Firesticks Alliance in partnership with Local Land Services.”.

Whitney is looking forward to sharing some of her Knowledge and stories through the “Listening to Indigenous Voices Series.”

Joshua Gilbert is a Worimi man, whose family ancestors are recorded as having the first recorded birth in a cave in the Gloucester mountains. His connection to the Worimi nation stems through both his parents, tracing back to the Bugg family.

Josh shares the narration of Indigenous identity through agricultural truths in light of modern contexts. He is undertaking higher degree research at Charles Sturt University, is the Indigenous Co-Chair of Reconciliation NSW and was recently recognised within the world’s top 50 young gastronomers.

Josh’s work seeks to connect traditional Aboriginal knowledge and history to current contexts, translating past wisdoms and learning to the opportunities of the future. His work brings together the old and the new, weaving them together to develop new insights and findings.

He is an entrepreneur and business advisor, working predominantly in the Aboriginal cultural, agricultural and environmental spheres. He has worked with numerous not for profits, businesses and governments to develop change and bring people on a journey of change.

Josh is a seasoned speaker having presented in front of many audiences including TEDx and now the James Theatre as part of the “Listening to Indigenous Voices Series.”

.. . ..… … . . . . …. . .. .. .. . . . . . .

Picnic with the Puppets

Sat 3 Sept, 4pm, Dungog Showground, FREE event

.. . ..… … . . . . …. . .. .. .. . . . . . .

The Best of Scinema

Another thought provoking selection of films from around the world via Scinema: the International Science Film Festival last Saturday night at the James Theatre Dungog. Thank you to PAWSIH member Michael Kelly for going above and beyond to get this screening together. Thanks also to the The Royal institution of australia for their work in connecting people with the world of science and Inspiring Australia for your support of our science & ideas activities.

.. . ..… … . . . . …. . .. .. .. . . . . . .

The Best of Scinema – International Science Film Festival 2022

Sat 27 August, 7pm, James Theatre Dungog, FREE event

Paterson Allyn Williams Science & Ideas Hub is proud to once again be presenting THE BEST OF SCINEMA – featuring International Award Winning films from SCINEMA International Science Film Festival 2022.  SCINEMA is the largest science film festival in the southern hemisphere, showcasing the best science feature, short, documentary, animated and experimental films from filmmakers around the world. 

SCINEMA is a celebration of the power of the moving image to inspire the young, satisfy the curious, explain the baffling and ask the impossible.

Thanks to: The Royal Institution of Australia

FREE – Bookings via Eventbrite here.

.. . ..… … . . . . …. . .. .. .. . . . . . .

.. . ..… … . . . . …. . .. .. .. . . . . . .

3 science & art activities in the July holidays

July – Sat 2, Thurs 7 & Tues 12 in Dungog

Paterson Allyn Williams Science & Ideas Hub is running 3 art & science activities in the July Holidays as part of the project ‘Our Place, Our Species: Connecting with the wild places we love’ in the Dungog Region.

Join a walk in the field, a creative workshop or event guided by artists & scientists. Explore our amazing plants and animals, endangered species and vulnerable habitat. Tell your own stories of living in this place. 

Limited numbers. FREE, book via Eventbrite.

1. Soundscapes: Record your world

Sat 2 July, 10-2, Dungog Common

Record the sounds of this place – in the ground, under the water or inside a tree. Our visiting sound artist is bringing some very special microphones to use. The sounds we collect could then be used on the internet, in videos, or music. Work with musician and sound artist Harry Klein. Limited numbers. Booking essential via this link – Soundscapes: Record your world.

2. Nature Journaling

Thurs 7 July, 10-2, Dungog Common

Join us for a walk where we look, listen, tell stories and take time to connect with nature. Try out some drawing & painting techniques guided by ecologist and illustrator Henrietta Mooney. All materials will be supplied. Limited numbers. Booking essential via this link – Nature Journaling

3. Creative Play Date  

Tues 12 July, 10-2, Dungog CWA

Join in creative experiments & demonstrations that cross art & science. From sculpture to digital illustrations, and playing with sound, there is a world of fun to explore. Work with multi-disciplinary artist Jane Richens & ecologist, illustrator Henrietta Mooney. Materials will be supplied. Limited numbers. Booking essential via this link – Creative Play Date.

For more information email pawsciencehub@gmail.com 

Thanks to: Inspiring Australia, Paterson Allyn Williams Science & Ideas Hub (PAWSIH), Office for Regional Youth – Holiday Break program, University of Sydney, Dungog/Clarence Town CWA, Dungog Common

.. . ..… … . . . . …. . .. .. .. . . . . . .

. . . .

PLASTIC FREE JULY community event

Thurs 21 July, 5.30pm, James Theatre

FREE screening of THE POWER OF ACTIVI$M @5.45pm 
followed by a discussion with Council, Chamber of Commerce & community members on ‘How to reduce waste & upcycle/recycle best practice’ facilitated by Michelle Dado-Millynn. Your questions answered and suggestions most welcome. Single use plastic free kiosk will be open.  

**Prizes drawn and free handouts**

+ Boomerang Bags Dungog celebrates 7 years and 6000+ single use plastic free bags made. Choose Reusables and solutions to live lightly, responsibly and sustainably.

.. . ..… … . . . . …. . .. .. .. . . . . . .

Bird Language talk

Wed 4 May, 6pm, in town in Dungog

with environmental educator and wildlife naturalist Andrew Turbill
Bookings essential via this Event

We’ve been hearing about the Bird Language retreats at Wangat Lodge and asked Andrew Turbill if he would give PAWSIH and the Dungog community an evening talk about birds and bird language while he was in the area. This would be the on the night before the upcoming Retreat. Thanks Andrew and Dan Lyons from Wangat Lodge for generously agreeing to do this talk.

Bird language?… By learning to pay attention and de-code bird language you will be drawn into the interconnectedness and wonder of nature. Gradually our sensory world opens up; birds aren’t just random background noise anymore but instead reveal the movement of predators in the landscape, the whereabouts of flowering and fruiting trees, approaching weather systems and delineation of seasonal changes.

The free community event will start at 6pm on the evening of Wednesday 4 May. The venue will be in town in Dungog. So please book via this Eventbrite link.

Andrew will then be at Wangat Lodge for the Bird Language and Nature Connection – Workshop and Retreat. So if you would like to book into the retreat at Wangat (Thurs 5 – Sun 8 May) here is the link:
BIRD LANGUAGE And Nature Connection – Workshop And Retreat

.. . ..… … . . . . …. . .. .. .. . . . . . .

Fungi Foray Walk –

Cancelled this year

Sadly this event has been cancelled for this year.

Fungi Foray Walk – NOT Sun 10 April

The annual survey of Fungi at the Upper Allyn River has been cancelled for this year. This event was in association with the Hunter Branch of the National Parks Association. 

The area has experienced heavy rain in recent weeks, and more rain is forecast in coming days. With the wet catchment, hardly any rain is required to make the river crossings impassable, and the alternate road access the area is not available due to a landslip.

We are really disappointed with this decision, and thank you for your understanding. Apologies for any inconvenience that this may have caused. We did consider delaying the foray for two weeks, but the weather is likely to be too cold by then for many species to be visible.

We had about 25 people interested in attending this year, and are already planning the next foray on Sunday 9 April 2023. Please keep this date in mind. We will let you know early next year of the 2023 foray details.

If you have the opportunity to get into a forest check out the amazing fungi life.  Here is a link to some online resources: www.fungimap.org.au
Fungi are at their best in Autumn. Recent rains and warm weather promise to make this an ideal time to see and learn about them.

This event would have been the fourth Fungi Foray in the area. These follow-up surveys are important to document variations in the ecosystem. Oh well ….see you next year in the fungi forest.

.. . ..… … . . . . …. . .. .. .. . . . . . . .. .

And some other news … we’ve had a name change to  

Paterson Allyn Williams Science & Ideas Hub

We have also Incorporated as a not for profit association. Stay tuned for an expanded range of activities in the coming months. An updated logo will come soon…

.. . ..… … . . . . .... . .. .. .. . . . . . .