School Holiday Program_Spring 2025

BALLARAT LIBRARIES

SPRING SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAM

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY The City of Ballarat acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land we live, work, learn and play on. Within our Council boundaries, the Wadawurrung People are the Traditional Owners south of the Great Dividing Range and to the north the Dja Dja Wurrung People are the Traditional Owners.

We recognise their continuing connection to the land and waterways. We pay our respects to their respective Elders past, present and emerging and extend this to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.

The City of Ballarat Libraries also acknowledges and respects the rich history of tens of thousands of years of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and storytelling.

We commit to providing culturally safe public spaces and services in the City of Ballarat Libraries for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and we recognise and understand our responsibility in relation to the sensitivity and significance of some of our collection materials.

NOT TO BE MISSED THESE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS...

JUNIOR EXPLORERS NATURE CARDS

VOLCANO DREAMING EXHIBITION

Junior Explorers Nature Cards – collect from Ballarat, Sebastopol or Wendouree libraries or the Robert Clark Centre. Use your card to seek and find in nature during the school holidays.

A stunning photographic collage of plants, animals and habitats in Victoria’s volcanic plains region.

The more you look, the more you’ll see and learn about our remarkable local environment.

While stocks last.

Artist credit: Claire Mosley

During Ballarat Library opening hours

FUN, FREE AND SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Plan your Spring of fun at Ballarat Libraries. Join us for a wonderful range of free activities that will keep the whole family entertained these school holidays.

ALL AGES

4

AGES 4-7

5

AGES 8-13

6

AGES 12+

7

AGES 15+

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LEARN AND PLAY TOGETHER

Enjoy exploring and discovering together. All sessions for children under 12 are designed to be co-learning activities where parents and carers participate as core support for their child. Children under 12 may not be left in the library without a parent or carer.

Age ranges are given as an indication of program suitability and safety, please check prior to booking.

If you are unable to attend a booked session, please contact the library, so that your place can be offered to another family.

BOOKINGS NOW OPEN

Visit Ballarat Libraries on Humanitix to book tickets: collections.humanitix.com/schoolholiday-program 3

ALL AGES

Author Talk with Adrian Beck

Author Talk with Jodi Toering

AFL Grand Final fever is here!

Jodi is the author of Night Watch and Mallee Sky. Learn more about creating picture books and creative writing.

Get ideas to write your own!

Adrian Beck is the author of the AFL based Little Legends series (with Nicola Hayes). Adrian will entertain with a lively, humorous and interactive session about writing, working in television and of course, footy.

Monday 22 September 11am-12pm

Wednesday 1 October 10.30-11.30am

Sebastopol Library

Ballarat Library

Monday 22 September 2-3pm

Sebastopol Library

Storytime for National Week of Deaf People Auslan in the West will help us celebrate National Week of Deaf People, through the book ‘Can Bears Ski?’ by Raymond Antrobus, award-winning D/deaf poet. This is a powerful first book about experiencing deafness and getting hearing aids. You will learn more about the Deaf community and some Auslan signs.

This session is Auslan interpreted.

Tuesday 23 September 10.30am and 12.30pm Ballarat Library

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Family Movie Screening ‘Strike’ Get cosy, munch on popcorn, and settle in for a fun filled family movie. We’ll be screening “Strike”.

Wednesday 1 October 4.30-6.30pm

Ballarat Library Bookings required for all attendees, children and parents.

Colourful Cats!

Based on the book 25 Cats by renowned artist Andy Warhol before he was famous, our session will include sketching, watercolour and everything cats!

Friday 3 October 10.30-11.30am

Djila-tjarriu Community Hub

AGES 4-7

Make a Messy Monster Hear a monster story! Then imagine and make your own messy monster, using craft and recycled materials.

Wednesday 24 September Wednesday 1 October 10.30-11.30am

Wendouree Library

Loose Parts Nature Blooms Art Have you ever created art with nature? Let your senses and connection to the wonders of nature inspire your imagination to create open-ended art.

Thursday 25 September 2-3pm

Ballarat Library

Spring into Storytime & Crafty Creations Spring into a Storytime session at the Ballarat Library and get crafty with spring-inspired creations.

Thursday 2 October 2-3pm

Ballarat Library

Yarn Painting Get creative in spring. Let’s do some painting with yarn. A little bit messy but lots of fun! Anyone can do it, all you need is a little imagination and we will supply the rest.

Friday 3 October 2-3pm

Sebastopol Library

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AGES 8-13

Nethervoid Adventures: The Cursed Shrine Nethervoid Adventures is an introductory program to the world of role-playing games.

Using the award-winning Hero Kids games system designed for primary-aged adventurers, Nethervoid Adventures allows participants to become the heroes of a thrilling fantasy story.

Monday 22 September Monday 29 September 2-3.30pm Wendouree Library Bookings essential and required for all attendees, children and parents.

Shrinky Dinks Ready for some real-life magic?

Join us this spring to draw, colour and cut out your own artwork… then TA-DA! Be amazed as your design shrinks before your very eyes! Creations can be used as bag tags or key chains.

Due to the fact that this particular magic includes use of sharp scissors and a hot oven, please adhere to the age limit of 8+

Ages 8+ Tuesday 23 September Tuesday 30 September 10.30-11.30am Ballarat Library

Dinosaur Excavation Learn how palaeontologists get fossils out of the ground as we dig into some prehistoric fun this spring.

Tuesday 23 September Tuesday 30 September 11.30am-12.30pm Wendouree Library

Story Cubes Let’s write a short story! We will roll our word dice for an inspirational starting point.

Let’s see what your imagination can dream up!

Monday 29 September 11am-12pm Ballarat Library Thursday 2 October 1-2pm Sebastopol Library

Friendship Bracelets Whether you’ve been swept away

by Swiftmania or shaken the whole thing off, there’s one thing we can all agree on: friendship bracelets are the BEST! Come along and add a little charm to your arm this spring, with alpha beads, coloured baubles, sparkle, shine and everything you need to make brilliant bracelets to wear and share.

This program is suitable for ages 8+ only, due to the use of small beads.

Thursday 2 October 3-4pm Buninyong Outreach 6

Ghosts, bats, spiders and spooks...oh my! Get ready for Halloween with this handson activity. Make polymer clay charms and badges to celebrate the spooky season.

Ages 12+

Pom-Pom Catapults and Canons Using recycled materials along with your imagination and creativity, build your mighty pom-pom launcher and prepare for the chaos and confusion of a mighty final battle.

Spaces are limited and ages limits strictly enforced for safety reasons.

Ages 12+ Wednesday 24 September Wednesday 1 October 2-3.30pm Ballarat Library

Teens only in the Maker Space!

Our friendly staff are on-hand to guide you through using our 3D printer, sewing machines/ overlocker, sublimation printer, heat press and badge makers.

This session is designed for young adults to freely play with the technology on hand. Bring your own project idea and adventurous spirit.

Please note: As a matter of safety, a Maker Space Induction will be provided as part of the session for new users.

Ballarat Maker Space has been designed for library members over the age of 15.

Ages 15+ Thursday 25 September Thursday 2 October 3.30-5.30pm Maker Space at Ballarat Library

AGES 15+ ONLY

Tuesday 23 September Tuesday 30 September 2-3.30pm Ballarat Library

Teen Takeover in Maker Space

AGES 12+ ONLY

Spooky Polymer Craft

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Ballarat Libraries Libraries.ballarat.vic.gov.au ballaratlibraries@ballarat.vic.gov.au @ballaratlibraries @ballaratlibraries

Ballarat Library 5338 6850 178 Doveton Street North, Ballarat Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9.30am-6pm Wednesday 9.30am-7pm Saturday 9.30am-4pm Sunday 1-4pm

Sebastopol Library 5335 7985 181 Albert Street, Sebastopol Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 9.30am-5pm Thursday 9.30am-8pm Saturday 9.30am-12pm Sunday closed

Wendouree Library 5339 3505 Stockland Wendouree Shopping Centre Monday to Friday 9.30am-5pm Saturday 9.30am-12pm Sunday closed

Library Outreach Lucas Library Kiosk at Lucas Community Hub 17 Coltman Plaza, Lucas Monday-Friday 9am-4pm

Buninyong Buninyong Community House 407 Warrenheip Street Thursdays 2–5pm

Ballarat Research Hub at Eureka (BRHAE) 5333 0306 102 Stawell Street South Ballarat East Monday-Thursday 10am-4.30pm

Community Hubs Djila-tjarriu Community Hub 5329 1620 18 Donegal Drive, Alfredton Monday-Friday 9am-4pm

Lucas Community Hub 5329 1620 17 Coltman Plaza, Lucas Monday-Friday 9am-4pm

BOOKINGS NOW OPEN Visit Ballarat Libraries on Humanitix to book tickets: collections.humanitix.com/school-holiday-program