As Australians begin to see isolation restrictions ease ever so slightly, many of the activities we would normally head out of the house for are being brought to us.
From virtual trivia and games nights to online music concerts, the digital world is fast filling in the spaces normally occupied by our deep-seated desire to go out.
Whether it’s unearthing family history to turning over the earth of your neglected veggie patch, there’s plenty to get excited about while staying at home in Canberra this weekend.
Step inside the National Museum of Australia this weekend, albeit virtually. Photo: Jack Mohr.
Thursday
Live at the Museum – Torres Strait Islander Exhibit
Where: Online via the National Museum of Australia
When: 2:00 pm to 2:30 pm
This week, the National Museum of Australia is taking a closer look at some of the objects on display in their Torres Strait Islander exhibition space. The online mini-tour is a chance to engage with cultures from the northern-most reaches of the country. Learn about everything from the enormous double outrigger canoe through to innovative artwork by Torres Strait Islander artists ahead of a Q&A session towards the end.
Suss out what you need to do to get your veggie patch up and running. Photo: Supplied.
Planting a Veggie Patch in Canberra
Where: Sign up via Eventbrite
When: 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Learn everything you need to know about getting a veggie patch up and running in Canberra with this free online masterclass. Benjamin Taylor of Good Ground Horticulture will be taking you through the steps needed to get your square of soil in bloom all year round. Sign up online and you’ll be sent a link to join in the Zoom sesssion.
Friday
Trivia at The Durham (pictured pre-COVID-19) is going digital. Photo: The Durham.
Iso-lation Trivia
Where: Sign up via email to receive a Zoom invitation
When: 7:30 pm start
Put your general knowledge and deep-niche subject prowess on display and online at The Durham’s esteemed trivia night. Gather your socially isolated team and join in via Zoom for 20 questions plucked from across the width and breadth of competitive trivia and go head-to-head with your fellow Canberrans for the title of Durham Trivia Master.
Alliance Française de Canberra is offering online wine tasting classes this weekend. Photo: Supplied.
Online Wine Tasting
Where: Register online to be sent the wines ahead of time
When: 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Alliance Française de Canberra is set to host an evening of enticing French wine tasting this Friday via Zoom. Register online to have a selection of wines delivered to your door including a rich 2013 Bordeaux Supérieur La Chapelle (Merlot, Cabernet) and a 2017 Collioure for your tasting pleasure. Bonne dégustation!
Saturday
Anzac Day is going to look and feel a little different this year. Photo: Jack Mohr.
Anzac Day from home
Where: At home
When: Commences at 5:00 am
An Anzac Day like no other will take place this weekend, with Australians set to commemorate the day from home. The dawn service broadcast will begin at 5:00 am, and Australians are being encouraged to head to their driveways at 6:00 pm for a public, socially distant display of respect. Musicians around the country are also being called to perform the last post at 6:00 am, bringing the emotion and reflection of the Anzac Day ceremony into our homes during this time of isolation.
Art classes are one of the many activities you can take online. Photo: Supplied.
Online Art Class
Where: Lesson delivered via Zoom. Sign up here
When: Saturday 10:30 am to 1:30 pm, Sunday 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
Learn to paint from the comfort of your own home with this series of art lessons from Canberra’s The Art Project. You can join in for as little as $5, with a resource list, step-by-step PDF, Q&A before and after the lesson, and individual feedback all included in the lesson. This week’s iteration sees participants painting a beautiful native Kingfisher in a flower on Saturday, and learning about watercolour and sketching on Sunday. These class are recommended for beginners and intermediate level artists.
Reload Bar & Games are hosting a community Jackbox night. Photo: Supplied.
Reload Jackbox Party
Where: Tune into the live stream on Reload’s Facebook page
When: 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Reload is Canberra’s video game and digital entertainment expert, so it makes sense that they’re leading the charge with fun and innovative ways to stay connected from home. Tune in on Saturday to their live Jackbox Party. Jackbox create quirky and hilarious games that you can play online using your phone, tablet or PC. If you don’t feel like joining in yourself, you can still jump on the stream to watch your fellow Canberrans design ridiculous t-shirts, grapple with deadly trivia questions and pit obscene utterances against one another in whimsical challenges of wit and niche nerdiness.
Sunday
Connect with an isolated member of the community this weekend with Berry Community Calls. Photo: Supplied.
Berry Community Calls
Where: RSVP online and check the Facebook event for more info
When: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
COVID-19 is proving an enormous challenge for everyone, but some members of the community are finding themselves even more isolated than ever. Organised by Yvette Berry MLA, this outreach activity will see a team of callers coming together for a brief training session before being assigned members of the community to get in contact with for a casual check-in. If you, like many, have been stuck at home wondering how you can help during this time of crisis, this event could be just what you’ve been looking for.
Happy Axe is performing live online this Sunday. Photo: Briana Davis.
Happy Place #3: Live streamed gig
Where: Streaming via Happy Axe’s Facebook and Instagram pages
When: This Sunday and next Sunday at 3:00 pm
Canberra songwriter and sound artist Happy Axe has been taking to her social media once a fortnight to bring us sets of improvised, ambient music from her new North Melbourne home. The series continues this week with Happy Place #3, with a focus on sounds that can accompany a restful or meditative afternoon in the iso-world. Tune in to the stream this Sunday using either Instagram or Facebook and be captivated by this unique and beloved musician. You can unearth even more online music events by checking out this week’s RiotACT Gig Guide.
Tuesday
The National Library of Australia is offering a Canberra Family History Webinar. Photo: Supplied.
Canberra Family History Webinar
Where: Register online
When: 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Keen to uncover your Canberra family history connections? If so, this online seminar from the National Library of Australia has you covered. Discover early family histories of the Canberra Region while learning about how you too can explore your town and piece together your own family history puzzle. The National Library also has a wealth of ancestry and historical resources on its website for you to explore.
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