Things to do in Bayside: May 19-25

Friday ☀️ 18°

🛝 Messy Playgroup for Toddlers: 10-11AM every Friday at The SECC Community Hub, 1007 Botany Road, Mascot. Explore the world of senses and art through play with an experienced and qualified educator. Children 1-3 years and their parents/carers can join the supported playgroup hosted by the SECC, for only $3 per family. Learn more and book here.

🖌️ Social Painting: 10AM-12PM every Friday at The SECC Community Hub, 1007 Botany Road, Mascot. Enjoy making art? Want to meet likeminded people? If you answered yes you might want to join our Social Painting group on Friday mornings. Each session is only $2 (to be paid when you attend). All levels are welcome to join in. Please note that this is more of a social group than a class setting. Bookings are welcome but not required.

🍺 Friday Happy Hour-ish: Enjoy $5 schooners from 4:30-6PM every Friday at One Drop Brewing, 5 Erith Street, Botany. Meat tray raffle drawn at 6PM. Every month, One Drop donates the raffle proceeds to a different charity — this month’s charity is Pantry4ThePeople. Book a table.

Saturday ☀️ 19°

♻️ Recycling Drop-Off Event: 8AM-3PM at Bayside Council Botany Depot, Pemberton Street, Botany. Keep the wheels of the circular economy turning by dropping off your e-waste, metals, whitegoods, mattresses, garden waste, X-ray films, light globes and old bikes. The depot is only open to Bayside residents during these regular events and only for materials advertised as accepted items. Learn more.

🌱 Bushcare at Binnamittalong Gardens: 9AM-12PM at Binnamittalong Gardens, Bexley (the group meets at the end of Veron Road). Bushcare is a chance to meet likeminded people and get outdoors while looking after our local environment. Learn more and register here.

🌊 Local History Talk - Message in a Bottle: 10-11:30AM at Sans Souci Library, Russell Avenue, Dolls Point. Local historian Anne Field took to the high seas twice in 2012 as a special tribute to her Scottish grannie, who had sailed on the Pakeha from London to Sydney in 1912. Her ‘Message in a Bottle’ was first committed to the Southern Ocean out of Albany, Western Australia in April 2012, and then recommitted out of Eden, New South Wales in September 2012. There are some interesting twists and turns in the story. Learn more.

🌱 Bushcare at Sir Joseph Banks Park: 1-3:30PM at Sir Joseph Banks Park, Botany (the group meets near the light tower opposite Folkstone Parade and the Esplanade). Bushcare is a chance to meet likeminded people and get outdoors while looking after our local environment. Learn more and register here.

🏗️ Local History Talk - Godmother of Sydney Harbour Bridge: From 2PM in the 3rd floor meeting room at Rockdale Library, 444-446 Princes Highway, Rockdale. Guest speaker Bill Phippen will give a talk about Kathleen Muriel Butler, Confidential Secretary to John Bradfield during the building of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. In the 1920s, she played a vital role in the bridge construction both in Sydney and in London. All welcome!

🖼️ Fan Dongwang Sculptural Painting Exhibition Opening: 2:30–4:30PM at Art Atrium, 12 Daniel Street, Botany (entrance on Daphne Street at corner of Daniel Street). The exhibition of Chinese Australian artist Dr Fan Dongwang will be launched by Rhonda Davis, Senior Curator at Macquarie University Art Gallery. More info.

🥙 Mascot Foodies Night Market: 4-9PM at Mascot Public School, 207 King Street, Mascot. Cemented and grassed areas are available for picnicking, and kids play equipment is located nearby the seating areas for parents. Plus novelty games, a jumping castle and basketball. Street parking available. More info on the Bayside Foodies Market Instagram Page.

Sunday ☀️ 19°

Know of anything happening today? Email [email protected]

Monday ☀️ 19°

👧 Cool Little Kids Program: [BOOKINGS CLOSED] 10AM-12PM for five Monday sessions in May (22, 29) and June (5, 19, 26) at The SECC Community Hub 1007 Botany Road, Mascot. Does your 3-6 year-old often seem worried, fearful or uncertain? Do they struggle with gaining independence? The Cool Little Kids program is for parents to help they child overcome these obstacles. The SECC is offering the program for free (normally $170). Learn more.

🍂 Nature Playgroup: 10-11AM at Arthur Byrne Reserve, Maroubra. Children 0-5 years and their parents/carers can play together in the natural environment. Each session includes songs, activities, stories, and free play. Please note the space has no closed fences or boundaries. This event by South Eastern Community Connect (SECC) is free but tickets are required. If it’s your first time attending an activity by SECC, you need to complete an online registration form.

🍪 Happy Alley: Check out the new cafe at 4/495 Princes Highway, Rockdale, open Monday to Saturday 7AM-2PM. They sell different types of bagels, ka’ak (a middle eastern sesame bread) and sandwiches. They also have lots of pastries, like croissants, danishes, and tarts. Cookies are made and baked fresh in-store every day. Follow on Instagram.

Tuesday ☀️ 19°

👶🏼 Supported Playgroup: 10-11AM at Eastlakes Public School, 7 Florence Avenue, Eastlakes. The SECC hosts unstructured and structured play activities that develop children's social, emotional and cognitive skills. All of the SECC’s supported playgroups offer developmental monitoring called Learn the Signs Act Early (LTSAE). All staff are trained in this and have a background in children’s development. Sessions are free. Learn more and register here.

🚼 Sensory Play for the Littlies: 11AM-12PM at St George Leagues Club, 124 Princes Highway, Kogarah. Fun Messy Mates are hosting a sensory play session for kids aged 6 months to 5 years old. Bring a towel, change of clothes, wipes and plastic bag. Tickets are required and cost $21 per child.

Wednesday ⛅ 20°

🏞️ Kensington Park Playgroup: 10-11AM at the Kensington Park Community Centre, 1 Day Lane, Kensington. The SECC hosts unstructured and structured play activities that develop children's social, emotional or cognitive skills. All of the SECC’s supported playgroups offer developmental monitoring called Learn the Signs Act Early (LTSAE). All staff are trained in this and have a background in children’s development. Each session is $3 per family. Book your spot.

👵 Prams & Grams Playgroup: The intergenerational playgroup meets at 10-11:30AM every Wednesday (until June 21) at the KCS Community Hub, 49 English Street, Kogarah. The program connects kids 0-5 with seniors aged 55+ through play, story time, and various activities. Morning tea is provided. Open to people from all areas, but preference given to those from the St George and Sutherland areas. It’s a free activity but you’ll need to register.

📘 National Simultaneous Storytime: 10:30-11:30AM at Mascot, Eastgardens and Sans Souci libraries. This event is where people across the country sit down and read a book at the same time. This year’s book is The Speedy Sloth, written by Rebecca Young and illustrated by Heath McKenzie. Reserve a spot at Eastgardens from 7AM the day before. No bookings required for Mascot or Sans Souci.

🎒 Starting School Parent Information Session: 6-7PM at Rockdale Library, 444-446 Princes Highway, Rockdale. If your child is starting school next year, join this parent information session to hear expert speakers discuss how to transition your child from pre-school to kindergarten, as well as enrolment processes. Free event but bookings are essential.

Thursday ⛅ 21°

🧘 Intergenerational Yoga: 10:30-11:30AM every Thursday (until June 29) at the KCS Community Hub, 49 English Street, Kogarah. Fun and interactive, all abilities yoga class for ages 0-99+ facilitated by the Yoga Foundation. There will be options to participate on the mats or sitting in a chair. It’s a free activity with morning tea provided. Registration essential. Learn more.

🛹 Mutch More Than Skating: 3.30-5.30PM at Mutch Park, Wentworth Avenue, Pagewood. Bayside’s young skaters turned out for a fun afternoon of skateboarding at Mutch Park that included free coaching from Concrete Riders, an all wheels jam competition with prizes, plus skate videography workshops. It’s a free event but registration and waiver submissions are essential. Book early as places are strictly limited.

Let us know about an upcoming event by emailing [email protected]. Events may be listed at the Bayside Beacon’s discretion.