By Helen Meyer-Tinning
The Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre (HBWC) invites you to join us for a free fun-filled open day on 11 May 2024.
The Open Day will celebrate World Migratory Bird Day, which in the Southern hemisphere celebrates the time of year when a variety of birds leave our shores to breed in the Northern Summer.
HBWC is putting together lots of amazing interactive activities for all ages with the aim of engaging people in all that is special and unique about our Wetlands including guided wetland walks, eco stalls, children’s art workshops, citizen science demonstrations, educational videos and hands-on water life activities, a free BBQ (halal), door prizes and so much more.
We will also celebrate our rich and diverse community with several cultural performances that promise to entertain and delight, including Subramanya Sastry, a Bansuri flautist from India who has performed throughout Asia. He will be playing alongside tabla musician Sam Evans.
The Vietnamese Association in Hobsons Bay invites everyone to help with the tradition of making 1000 origami cranes as a wish for good health and to send positive messages of hope and healing.
The Story Sisters and Flyway Friends engage in bilingual storytelling with Anna Manuel and Rohini Vij, storytellers who migrated south along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway from the Philippines and India.
For music, The Crashendo Orchestra from Laverton P-12 College will perform their own composition, inspired by the wetlands and the migratory birds.
We would love to see you at the Open Day and invite you to connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, or head to our website to learn more about the area and how you can enjoy it.
HBWC is an environmental charity, located in the Hobsons Bay municipality in the western suburbs of Melbourne. It aims to connect people with the wetlands, which stretch from Williamstown to Point Cook, inspire them to care for the natural environment while enjoying the health benefits of being in nature.
The wetlands of western Melbourne have been recognised for some time as an internationally important site along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, with the migratory birds connecting us with countries and cultures to our north. They are a significant resting and feeding place for migratory birds, some of which have flown from as far as the Arctic Circle
HBWC acknowledges the support of the Hobsons Bay City Council Make it Happen grant in holding the Open Day, as well as the Ross Trust. The Ross Trust is a perpetual charitable trust with a vision to create positive social and environmental change so Victorians can thrive. The Trust was established in 1970 in Victoria by the will of the late Roy Everard Ross.
Connect with Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre:
hobsonsbaywetlandscentre.org.au
Facebook – Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre
Instagram – @hbwetlandscentre
