Welcome to The Geographe Gazette!
In today’s edition:
Winter Festival Weekend at Aravina Estate
Golden Fleece Exhibition
Live Music
And more…
Quote of the Week
"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."
-Barack Obama
Trivia
Here is this week’s trivia question. The answer will be shown in next week’s newsletter. Which do you think it is? No cheating!
What river flows through the town of Capel?
A) Blackwood River
B) Vasse River
C) Preston River
D) Capel River
Answer to Last Week’s Trivia:
The stunning coastal views near Dunsborough are best seen at B) Sugarloaf Rock.
Weekend Markets
Busselton
Busselton Foreshore Markets: This market features local art, crafts, fruit/veg markets with a variety of food. It offers a huge variety of goods for sale, including fresh produce, handmade treats, homewares, gift ideas, and food vendors3.
Date: Sunday
Time: 7:00am – 12:30pm
Location: Signal Park, Marine Terrace, Busselton
Events
Seniors Connect - Busselton A free, fun, and interactive event designed to empower seniors. The day includes presentations and information sessions on crucial topics: mobility and injury prevention strategies; an overview of the Health and Disability Services Complaints Office; guidance on prepaid funerals; essential information on Wills and Estate Planning; and vital tips on scams prevention.
Date: Thursday
Time: 10am - 2pm (Doors open 9:45am)
Location: Undalup Room, City of Busselton Administration Building, Causeway Road, Busselton
Reconciliation Week Walk in Busselton This significant local event marks National Reconciliation Week. The day commences with official speeches at the Merenj Boodja Bush Garden. Participants then join the walk, led by Wadandi Elder Gloria Hill, proceeding along the Busselton Foreshore and concluding at the YCAB. Following the walk, a light lunch and culturally relevant activities will be provided by Pindari.
Date: Friday
Time: 10am - 12:30pm
Location: Start: Merenj Boodja - Bush Food Garden, Cnr Queen Street and Marine Terrace, Busselton..
Naturaliste Health Student Catch-up An evening dedicated to fostering connection and professional development among Naturopathy students. Attendees will have the opportunity to network with fellow students and receive mentorship from senior Naturopaths practicing in the region. The specific theme for this session is "Top Tools and Resources for Studying Naturopathy."
Date: Thursday
Time: 6pm - 7:30pm
Location: Naturaliste Health, Unit 28d/55 Dunn Bay Road, Dunsborough
Winter Festival at Aravina Estate Aravina Estate celebrates the arrival of winter with a weekend festival. Culinary highlights include oysters by renowned purveyor Jerry Fraser (available on Saturday) and a pizza bar. A beer taphouse will operate, alongside wine tastings and cocktails. For families, dedicated children's activities are a key feature, including face painting and an art class led by Pam Brittain.
Date: Sat / Sun
Time: 11am - 5pm daily
Location: Aravina Estate, 61 Thornton Road, Yallingup
Down South MTB Festival A local, family-friendly, club-run mountain biking festival. The Dunsborough component on Saturday, 31 May, will feature a round of the WA State Cross-Country (XCO) Mountain Bike Race Series.
Date: Sat / Sun / Mon
Time: 9am - 5pm daily
Location: Dunsborough Mountain Bike Parks
Your Wedding Preview: Sabina River Farm's Wedding Open Day An opportunity for prospective clients and the curious public to explore Sabina River Farm. The venue will be fully styled by talented local wedding vendors to emulate a real wedding setting, providing inspiration for weddings and other functions. Attendees can tour ceremony locations, pre-reception spaces, and the indoor reception venue.
Date: Saturday
Time: 10am - 1pm
Location: Sabina River Farm, 213 Wonnerup South Road, Yalyalup
Blue Dress Amble Participants are encouraged to don their finest blue attire for a lively and fun "amble" (stroll) through Busselton's main street and town centre. The primary purpose is to raise funds for Busselton Hospice Care Inc. and to promote their "Go Blue For June" awareness campaign. Volunteers will collect donations during the stroll.
Date: Saturday
Time: 11am - 12pm (Amble itself)
Location: Start: Busselton Foreshore / Jetty Foreshore Stage area
Capel Youth Collective (Saturday Session) This is a session of the Capel Youth Collective, a program for young people in Year 7 to Year 12. Run by the Shire of Capel Youth Services, these sessions aim to build life skills, foster leadership confidence, and encourage connection with peers through fun, hands-on activities and projects.
Date: Saturday
Location: Capel Community Centre, 31 Forrest Road, Capel
Live Music
Thursday
Caves House | Sean Lillico & Kevin McDonald | 6-8pm
Har Bar | Haraoke! | 7:30pm
Friday
Caves House | Martin Lee Cropper | 5.30-8.30pm
Caves House | Jazz & Cocktails with Paula Renee | 7-9pm
Shelter Brewing | Slumberjack w/ Triplett & Princi | 7pm Tickets
Tonic by the Bay | Jules Candy | 5-8pm
Har Bar | Cat Meow | 7:30pm
Saturday
Caves House | Cat Meowsic | 1-4pm
Beerfarm | Darryl & the Devil | 2-5pm
Origins | Lukas D'Aqui | 5:30-7:30pm Tickets
Caves House | Pete Matthews | 5.30-8.30pm
Har Bar | Housejunkie | 7:30pm
Aravina Estate | Kiedis | 12-3pm
Sunday
Aravina Estate | Laine Wolfe | 12-3pm
Tonic by the Bay | Live music (artist TBA) | 5-8pm
News
The Golden Fleece 50th Anniversary Celebration Exhibition An exhibition by Busselton Spinners and Weavers is on display at the Bond Store Gallery, Old Courthouse Complex, showcasing handcrafted fibre arts as part of the group's 50th anniversary celebration.
Radiance Network South West Support Radiance Network South West offers free support services for parents' emotional wellbeing, including weekly support groups in Busselton and one-on-one outreach, and has an active GoFundMe campaign to help address funding needs.
GeoCatch Environmental Programs GeoCatch continues ongoing environmental initiatives such as the Bay OK Gardens Program, Living with Possums Program, and KeepWatch Seagrass Monitoring. Opportunities for community volunteers to get involved in conservation projects are available.
Government Corner
City of Busselton Updates
Local Planning Scheme No. 21 Amendment No. 61 - Short-Term Rental Accommodation The City has prepared Amendment No. 61 to Local Planning Scheme No. 21. This amendment aims to update land uses and zoning to align with new State regulations for Short-Term Rental Accommodation (STRA), delete superseded land use terms, and introduce a 'Special Control Area – Unhosted Short-Term Rental Accommodation Exclusion Area'. This Special Control Area would prohibit new unhosted STRA (holiday homes) in identified areas, though existing approved USTRAs could continue operating. Public notice was issued May 26, and the consultation period commenced May 28. Submissions close July 9.
Notification of 1080 Baiting In City Reserves A fox and rabbit control program using 1080 poison is underway in specified City reserves including Ambergate Reserve, Big Rock Reserve, Carbunup Reserve, Spanish Settlers Reserve, and Creekview Reserve. Warnings are issued regarding the danger of 1080 to humans and domestic animals; surrounding landowners must confine dogs or keep them leashed. The program is active until Saturday, May 31.
Special Character Areas Review Update Following community feedback in 2024, draft planning controls and policies for Special Character Areas in Quindalup, Yallingup, Old Dunsborough, and Eagle Bay, plus a policy for the Cape to Cape Track Visual Protection Area, have been prepared. The draft policies were scheduled to be presented to the Ordinary Council Meeting on May 28, seeking consent for public advertising of the final draft. Monitor City communications for public consultation opportunities later in 2025.
Important Changes to Waste Facilities 2025/2026 Significant operational changes are coming to City waste facilities in Busselton (Rendezvous Road, Vasse) and Dunsborough from July 1. New operating hours will be 7:30 am to 3:30 pm daily. Facilities will close at 12:00 noon on the last Tuesday of each month. Proof of residency/ratepayer status will be required for disposing of certain items. Public notice was issued May 13.
Busselton Convention and Performing Arts Centre (Saltwater) - Nearing Completion The Busselton Convention and Performing Arts Centre, named "Saltwater," is nearing completion and is anticipated to open in mid-2025. May-June is seeing final preparations for its opening.
New Reuse Shop Operations The City of Busselton Reuse Shop, managed by Workpower, is operational at the Busselton Waste Transfer Station on Rendezvous Road, Vasse. It diverts reusable items from landfill and offers them for sale at reduced prices. The shop is open Thursday/Friday 9am-3pm, Saturday 8am-1pm, and Sunday 9am-1pm.
Waterwise Offers for Dunsborough & Yallingup Residents Residents in Dunsborough and Yallingup are eligible for Waterwise offers. The Showerhead Swap and the $300 Weather-based Irrigation Controller Rebate (for purchases Oct 1 - May 31) both have a deadline of May 31 or while stocks/allocations last.
Puzzle
Weather
Thursday
21°C 🌡️ 10°C | 🌦️ | ☂️ 70% | 💨 NE 25-35 km/h
Friday
21°C 🌡️ 12°C | ⛈️ | ☂️ 95% | 💨 NE 30-35 km/h
Saturday
21°C 🌡️ 11°C | 🌦️ | ☂️ 70% | 💨 W/NW 15-20 km/h
Sunday
20°C 🌡️ 8°C | 🌦️ | ☂️ 60% | 💨 N/NE 15-20 km/h
Connect With Us
If we have missed any events we should have included, or if you want to give us feedback, reply to this email and let us know what you think. We would love to hear from you!
-Editor