Macarthur Has Talent

Do you have a child that can sing, dance or play an instrument? If yes, you might like to enter them in the Macarthur Has Talent competition. For more information, and to download an entry form for the talent quest, check out the Wizard of Oz Funland website.

 

Fisher's Ghost Festival

Today is Halloween and that means Fisher's Ghost - Australia's only festival inspired by a ghost story - is just around the corner.

Staring on Saturday the 3rd of November with the parade along Queen Street (1pm to 3.30pm) and running for more than a week, there will be the usual street fair stalls, carnivals, exhibitions and fireworks across Campbelltown.

For detailed calender information on Fisher's Ghost Festival, or to register for events, check out the Festival of Fisher's Ghost website. You can also 'like' the Facebook page Events in Campbelltown to keep up to date with the latest news.

Tiny Tots Baby Market

The next Tiny Tots Baby Market, pre-loved baby & kids goods - is being held tomorrow, 28th October, at Ingleburn Community Hall from 10am to 1pm.

In this wheelchair accessible indoor venue at 72 Oxford Road (behind the library), you'll find stalls selling toys, clothes, prams, cots etc. Entry is $3. For more information check out the website at www.tinytotsbabymarket.com.au

Vrooom

If you're looking to entertain older kids - tweens and teens - then you can't go past FastLane Karting at Minto for an adrenalin rush. Kids aged 8-11 can race in special junior karts while those age 12+ have access to karts that travel at up to 55k per hour. There are even double karts that adults can drive and take along a young child (4-7yo). The track itself is 500m long with plenty of twists and turns for added excitement.

You need a licence to drive, this can be done on the spot via onsite computers and an easy to use registration program. Under 18s require their parents permission to race. Helmets are supplied and instructions are given. There are staff on the course who observe the action and wave flags to indicate dangerous driving or activity - or help out when karts get stuck in the tyre wall!

Our tweens went for a party - they had three races and a hot dog and slushy. FastLane Karting have packages available and cater to a variety of groups. They also run a regular Kids Karting Club. The games room has slot machines and a pool table for downtime between races with plenty of seating that overlooks part of the track. It is easily accessible by stroller and there is plenty of nearby parking. There is a kiosk selling drinks and snacks.

FastLane Karting has a comprehensive website providing details of packages and they're also on Facebook. You'll find FastLane Karting just behind Pizza Hot on Sweetenham Road,  Minto, just near the corner of Campbelltown and Ben Lomond Roads. It's open 7 days from 9AM until late.

Oz Bubs @ Wizard of Oz

Help celebrate Playgroup NSW's 40th birthday at Wizard of Oz Funland in Hollylea Road, Leumeah on Wednesday the 1st of August from 10am to noon. Entry is FREE for existing Playgroup members. This event is being held in conjunction with Campbelltown Zone playgroups.

Burragorang Lookout

25km from Camden, just past Oakdale, is the Burragorang Lookout in the Burragorang Stage Conservation Area. This well planned picnic area has two barbecue areas with coin operated barbecues and plenty of other picnic tables. There is ample parking, flushing toilets and a small playground all within a short stroll from the car park. The lookout provides views over the Burragorang valley and lake. We paid a brief visit mid-morning on a Winter's day so the valley was filled with clouds that were just beginning to thin as we left. In clearer weather you would be able to see Lake Burragorang at the bottom of the valley.

It would be a fantastic spot for a picnic lunch in summer. The drive is an easy one with views across Camden and The Oaks on the way back. Why not stop at a farmhouse stall for some fresh farm eggs and local honey?

For more information on opening hours check out: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/nationalparks/parkHome.aspx?id=N0624

Entry fee: I'm still trying to work this out. The National Parks and Wildlife site above site says that it costs $3 per vehicle and that there are pay and display parking machines but I couldn't see any. This site says entry is $7.00 http://www.stonequarry.com.au/nature/burragorang.html Other sites state that entry is free. (http://au.totaltravel.yahoo.com/listing/641736/australia/nsw/sydneyarea/innersouthsydney/burragorang-lookout/)  A sign at the entrance says that PUF (Park User Fees) apply but there were no specifications. Possibly you need to get a PUF pass from the National Parks and Wildlife Office in Picton... but they are not open on weekends! I rang Wollondilly Visitor Centre who advised me there used to be a pay and display machine before the upgrades but it has not been reinstated, that they are unable to provide PUF passes and that as far as they know entry is free. If anyone knows for sure, please enlighten me and I'll update this post. Apart from a couple of motorcylists that left shortly after we arrived, we were the only ones there. It's a shame this beautiful - and recently upgraded - area isn't being more utilised perhaps due to either the fee (particularly given the cost of fuel to drive out there!) or lack of transparency around entry costs.

How to get there: Turn on to Burragorang Road from the Camden bypass and drive, drive, drive all the way to the end.

Casula Powerhouse is an easy 20 minute drive from Campbelltown. It started life as a power station but is now an arts centre. If you're interested in architecture it's worth visiting to see the way the art gallery, theatre and artists' residence has been integrated into the original building.

If you're interested in something beyond art and architecture, consider doing a ghost tour of the powerhouse. These are held monthly and conducted by the Australian Paranormal Phenomenon Investigators (APPI). Tours last two hours and include a light supper. Recommended for people aged over 14. For more info check out the Casula Powerhouse website,  the APPI website or Family Fun in Sydney.

Library open day

This Saturday, 26th May, the H J Daley library (the main library in Campbelltown, opposite Koshigaya Park) is holding an open day. This is a great opportunity to familiarise yourself with all the services the library has to offer and learn about things like Storytime for Kids, digital book borrowing (ebooks) and the Bookalicious reading program for primary kids.

For more info check out the main library page on the Campbelltown Council website (http://www.campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/Library) or the Campbelltown City Library blog. The Open Day is between 10am to 3pm. There will be a book sale, live music performances, face painting and giveaways.

Campbelltown Library also has a dedicated blog just for kids: http://campbelltownchildrensblog.blogspot.com.au/

Australia Day

Last year for Australia Day we went down to Bulli and I got badly sunburnt. Even if the weather had been conducive to a beach visit, I wasn't keen to repeat the experience so we decided to visit somewhere we've never been before - Macarthur Park in Camden.

It's hard to believe we've lived in the area for 12 years but not visited this well-known park previously. Macarthur Park is a great place for taking photos with lots of different settings from the rose garden to the wisteria-covered pergola and 'fern walk'.

The park and especially the playground area were clean and well maintained but there were some broken beer bottles in the bandstands. There are a few steps but the park can largely be covered with a stroller although some sections are quite steep. At the top of the park and in Menangle Road there are some fantastic views across the region.

Afterwards we drove down to the new and somewhat controversial McDonalds (there was initially a lot of resistance to having a Maccas in Camden) for a 50c cone then walked a little way up Argyle Street to watch the parade. I have never seen so many fire engines in one place! There were lots of vintage cars and where else but in Camden would you find a float with a real cow on the back?

Squash Spectacular

If the kids have had too much screen time during these summer school holidays and you want to get them moving, how about a game of squash? Ambarvale Recreation Squash (ARC) have $8 squash or racquetball hire throughout January. $8 gets you an hour of court time and if you don't have your own racquets, equipment is available to hire.

The ARC is open 9am to 9:30pm until 24th Jan and thereafter from 5pm to 9:30pm. Closed on Australia day. Bookings after 8pm are essential.

The centre also offers squash training for juniors. Give them a call on 02 4626 3033 for more info.