Apollo Bay Calendar
2024 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
| JANUARY 2024 | |
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Books, Cakes, Sausages. |
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Film screening of the Surfrider Foundation's 'Southern Blast'. This incredible film is a cinematic celebration of the wild landscapes, abundant marine ecosystems, and local communities that call the Southern Ocean coastlines home. Featuring footage shot on location in Lutruwita (Tasmania), the film connects with local personalities: from surfers to crayfishers, sustainable ocean businesses, and Traditional Custodians - it covers the unique and diverse communities that co-exist alongside marine life and wild landscapes. Southern Blast is a powerful look into the relatively untouched charm of Lutruwita (Tasmania) and the threat posed by a looming fossil fuel industry. The night will also include guest speakers and a Q&A, as well as some nibble food. |
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Film screening of the Surfrider Foundation's 'Southern Blast'. This incredible film is a cinematic celebration of the wild landscapes, abundant marine ecosystems, and local communities that call the Southern Ocean coastlines home. Featuring footage shot on location in Lutruwita (Tasmania), the film connects with local personalities: from surfers to crayfishers, sustainable ocean businesses, and Traditional Custodians - it covers the unique and diverse communities that co-exist alongside marine life and wild landscapes. Southern Blast is a powerful look into the relatively untouched charm of Lutruwita (Tasmania) and the threat posed by a looming fossil fuel industry. The night will also include guest speakers and a Q&A, as well as some nibble food. |
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Fundraiser for the Mechanics Hall. Live music and dance calling featuring Bushwahzee and friends. Doors open 6.30 - music & dancing 7.30. Bring picnic snacks. Beer & wine available - no byo alcohol. Tickets available at the door or from the Mech Hall website. Adults $30, Concession $20, Under 15yo FREE (accompanied by an adult). |
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Sun. 21st |
Apollo Bay Farmers Market @ The Youth Club |
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Take a guided walk with Historical Society members around the final resting places of some of Apollo Bay's pioneers. Hear stories of their hardship and determination. Wear sturdy shoes and suitable attire for the variable weather. Book online here or call 0419 891 685 - $25pp Limited places. |
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| FEBRUARY 2024 | |
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Sun. 18th |
Apollo Bay Farmers Market @ The Youth Club |
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Apollo Bay Discussion Group @ the SS Casino Room, Apollo Bay Hotel Guest Speaker - Jill Giese At our last Discussion Group, we were introduced to the people of Melanesia and their music. This month we journey to 19th century Victoria, a place with the highest rates of insanity in the world at that time! Join award-winning author and psychologist, Jill Giese, to time travel back to a remarkable chapter in our history – the world of Victoria’s early lunatic asylums. Immerse yourself in the 1800s when our growing colony grappled with massive numbers of mentally ill people and embarked on a revolutionary treatment to cure many of them. Jill Giese is a Melbourne-based writer and psychologist with an extensive career in mental health that encompassed many years of clinical practice and executive roles in policy and advocacy. Her book illuminating the world of Victoria’s early lunatic asylums, The Maddest Place on Earth, won the Victorian Premier’s History Award in 2018. This will be a wonderful opportunity to hear Jill talk about her research and how she went about translating her findings into a fascinating book. Date - Thursday 22nd February Please book your seats before Sunday 18th February by Entry is free but we invite attendees to make a donation. Every dollar raised at Discussion Group will be directed to families and individuals in Afghanistan who are being supported by ABRAR (Apollo Bay Rural Australians for Refugees). |
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Wed. 28th |
The meetings will be livestreamed to the public via Council’s You Tube channel (search Colac Otway Shire Council at www.youtube.com). Council meetings are open to the public and interested people are welcome to attend. |
| MARCH 2024 | |
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Fri. 1st |
We invite you to join the women of the Conservation Ecology Centre as we mark International Women's Day and celebrate the women of the Otways (and beyond) who are making a difference to the ecosystems that sustain us. Friday 1st March, 2024 7.30am to 10am Connect over coffee and a great local breakfast with a roomful of fabulous women all doing their bit for the environment and conservation. We'll be live-streaming Bush Heritage & Trust For Nature's Women in Conservation event in Melbourne and we hope to provide you with a morning of inspiration and networking. The event will commence with a welcome by CEO Lizzie Corke OAM, who'll then introduce you to two new women in the Conservation Ecology Centre team: Dr. Kay Welz and Dr. Claire Feniuk. You'll hear what brought Kay and Claire to the Otways, the conservation projects they're excited about, and women leaders who have shaped or inspired their journeys. Then take time for some conversations around the table as you enjoy your local breakfast by the Wildlife Wonders team. After breakfast, our (virtual) keynote speaker is Anna Rose, CEO of Environmental Leadership Australia. In the face of accelerating climate change and nature loss, our communication and leadership styles must evolve. Anna will share unique insights from over two decades as a leader in conservation on how we can move beyond divisions to create a more bipartisan approach, with examples of unusual alliances leading to lasting impact. Places are limited for this celebratory breakfast, please book yours here. We do hope you can join us for this celebratory breakfast! Warmly, Andrea, Lizzie and the Conservation Ecology Centre team. |
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Help protect the Otways. Date: Saturday 2nd March 2024 Please join the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority for an information & training session on Phytophthora cinnamomi hygiene and management (also known as dieback disease or cinnamon fungus). Learn how to prevent the spread of this devastating disease to your gardens or bushland. Bring a notebook and weather appropriate clothing for an optional walk though Phytophthora impacted heathlands. RSVP |
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An entertaining and informative afternoon of vintage fashion, featuring clothes from the 1930's through to the 1980's. The collection will be sourced from both Apollo Bay residents and the museum collection. A museum fun......draiser! Tickets: $30. Book here. |
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Admire the horses and their riders as they compete for Best in Show, watch the highly anticipated dog jump, the speed knitting and find out who has risen victorious in the always hotly contested Industrial Hall classes. Free hearing checks on-site with Hearing Australia (no bookings necessary) and plenty of entertainment for the whole family! |
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Sun. 17th |
Apollo Bay Farmers Market @ The Youth Club |
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Join us for the second series of Apollo Bay Coastal Projects Open Days. The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority is excited to announce its second series of Coastal Projects Open Days in Apollo Bay on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 March. This two-day event, hosted at the Apollo Bay Fishermen’s Co-operative, promises to be a fantastic opportunity for community members to connect with our team and learn more about a range of active projects that are underway in the Apollo Bay area. We'll be at the Apollo Fishermen’s Co-operative from 2-6pm on Friday 22 March and 10am–1pm on Saturday 23 March and community members are encouraged to drop-in anytime. Our team will be on hand to answer your questions and chat about a variety of projects including:
Representatives from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action will also be present to speak to projects we’re working on together to deliver. Light refreshments will be available. To register for the event, please head to our Have Your Say website. Apollo Bay Coastal Projects Open Day | Your Great Ocean Road (greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au). |
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Come together in celebration of our town, our people, and the simple joy of swimming. Join us on March 23rd as we celebrate the freedom of the outdoors at Apollo Bay. Our pristine piece of ocean will come alive as hundreds of swimmers take to the water to Storm the Bay! |
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Wed. 27th |
The meetings will be livestreamed to the public via Council’s You Tube channel (search Colac Otway Shire Council at www.youtube.com). Council meetings are open to the public and interested people are welcome to attend. |
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Opening Good Friday, the Apollo Bay Art Show will run from the 29th March to 6th of April 2024. 10am to 4pm daily and online. |
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| APRIL 2024 | |
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Fri. 29th Mar |
Opening Good Friday, the Apollo Bay Art Show will run from the 29th March to 6th of April 2024. 10am to 4pm daily and online. |
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Apollo Bay Discussion Group @ the SS Casino Room, Apollo Bay Hotel Guest Panellists - Brian Massey, Shayne Neal and Dave Howell This month we journey to JRR Tolkien’s Middle Earth or, more specifically, Hobbiton™ Movie Set in New Zealand’s north island. For many Kiwis and international tourists, Hobbiton™ has long been a bucket list experience, offering a window into the world of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Brian Massey, Greensmaster of The Lord of the Rings, an Art Director of The Hobbit, Landscape Designer of Hobbiton and Project Manager of the new Bagshot Row development will share insights into just what it takes to build a Hobbit Hole. Apollo Bay locals, Shayne Neal and Dave Howell, put the Wildlife Wonders dream team back together when they joined Brian in NZ last year to assist with the Bagshot Row build. They will also share their experiences from venturing to Middle Earth. You don’t need to be a fan of Tolkien or the movie adaptations to enjoy this evening. In a short time Hobbiton™ has become almost as iconic as Disneyland and this latest subterranean expansion is a fascinating case study in international tourism. Date - Thursday 18th April Please book your seats before Sunday 14th April by Entry is free but we invite attendees to make a donation. Every dollar raised at Discussion Group will be directed to families and individuals in Afghanistan who are being supported by ABRAR (Apollo Bay Rural Australians for Refugees). |
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Sun. 21st |
Apollo Bay Farmers Market @ The Youth Club |
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Wed. 24th |
The meetings will be livestreamed to the public via Council’s You Tube channel (search Colac Otway Shire Council at www.youtube.com). Council meetings are open to the public and interested people are welcome to attend. |
| MAY 2024 | |
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Apollo Bay Discussion Group @ the SS Casino Room, Apollo Bay Hotel Guest Speaker - Paul Verwoert This month we journey from the fantastical Middle Earth of Tolkien to the confronting reality of conflict zones and third world countries in receipt of Australian international aid funding. Paul Verwoert has over 30 years international aid experience and has worked in 23 countries in the Indo-Pacific and Middle East regions. He has worked on humanitarian programs in Iraq, Yemen, Jordan, and PNG with CARE and in the former-Yugoslavia with the International Committee of the Red Cross. During his career he has managed aid programs on behalf of a range of international aid donor agencies including the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Asian Development Bank, United Nations, World Bank, UK Aid, the EU and others. Paul has a keen interest in the nexus between Australia’s aid, foreign trade and security policies in the Indo-Pacific region. Paul will present and discuss:
Date - Thursday 16th May Please book your seats before Sunday 12th May by Entry is free but we invite attendees to make a donation. Every dollar raised at Discussion Group will be directed to families and individuals in Afghanistan who are being supported by ABRAR (Apollo Bay Rural Australians for Refugees). |
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Formerly known as the Great Ocean Road Marathon, the event has grown to allow runners of all ages and fitness levels to participate in events ranging from the 1.5km Kid’s Gallop all the way up to the 60km Ultra Marathon. In order to make the event an even better weekend away for runners and their support crew, be it family or friends, we’re bringing you even more things to do in Apollo Bay & Lorne than ever before. The spectacular setting of the iconic Great Ocean Road makes the Great Ocean Road Running Festival a must-do for your running checklist. Whether you’re travelling from regional Victoria, interstate or from around the world, this Festival based in Apollo Bay & Lorne is a great destination for a running weekend away. 
Participants rave about the friendly, local feel of the event, with many coming back year after year. If you’re looking for your next big challenge, this is it. Fundraise for the Apollo Bay & District Health Foundation while you enjoy your run. Please note that some roads will be closed around Apollo Bay on Saturday and the Great Ocean Road will be closed on Sunday. See the GORRF website for further information. |
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Wed. 22nd |
The meetings will be livestreamed to the public via Council’s You Tube channel (search Colac Otway Shire Council at www.youtube.com). Council meetings are open to the public and interested people are welcome to attend. |
| JUNE 2024 | |
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Apollo Bay Discussion Group @ the SS Casino Room, Apollo Bay Hotel Guest Speakers - Hayden Walsh & Karen O'Sullivan Hayden is a disability advocate who lives with cerebral palsy. He is a father to five-year-old Shanaya and a full-time employee at John Holland Construction where he is an IT Procurement Analyst. More recently Hayden has worked as a consultant with the Dylan Alcott Foundation and Get Skilled Access as a consultant. He has also assisted the local Macedon Ranges Shire Council with their inclusion commitment, judging a photographic competition to recognise International Day of People with Disability. Hayden lives in Kyneton in Central Victoria where he has been a volunteer at the local football club, a committee member and time keeper. He also volunteers at the Kangaroo Flat football club as a time-keeper. Hayden’s biography “If I can, you can” by author Karen O’Sullivan was published in 2022. AFL Hall of Famer Nathan Buckley provided the foreword. Hayden and Nathan have been good friends since meeting at the Royal Children’s Hospital when Hayden was a young boy undergoing surgery. Karen is a writer and storyteller whose craft has developed over a three-decade career in journalism, first in radio then television, where Karen was Channel 7’s Health reporter for thirteen years. During this period, Karen won the National Luminous Award for Excellence in Oncology reporting three times and the Australia and New Zealand Mental Health Media Award. In 2022 Karen published her first non-fiction book through a small run publisher. ‘If I can, you can’ the biography of Hayden Walsh. It became a best-seller on Amazon in its category. Karen and husband Martin raised four sons in central Victoria. She was a non-Executive Director for 5 years on the Board of Management at Central Highlands Rural Health, she is a former Committee member of the Kyneton and Hanging Rock Racing Club and was the first female President of the Kyneton Football Netball Club. Karen and Martin recently moved to Wongarra. Date - Thursday 13th June Please book your seats before Sunday 9th June by Entry is free but we invite attendees to make a donation. Every dollar raised at Discussion Group will be directed to families and individuals in Afghanistan who are being supported by ABRAR (Apollo Bay Rural Australians for Refugees). |
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There is nothing better than coming together and having a meal! Please join us at the first Table of Plenty community dinner! On a Friday night we’ll get together in the Apollo Bay Community Hall and have a meal. The dinner is donation based, you’re welcome to join free of charge! If you can cover your own cost, we ask our dinner guests to donate $15, to pay for yourself and a fellow community member, it’s $30. The dinner will be a soup, metze-style main meal and dessert. Presented by Marrar Woorn Neighbourhood House. Doors open from 5.30pm. |
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Sun. 16th |
Apollo Bay Farmers Market @ The Youth Club |
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Wed. 26th |
The meetings will be livestreamed to the public via Council’s You Tube channel (search Colac Otway Shire Council at www.youtube.com). Council meetings are open to the public and interested people are welcome to attend. |
| JULY 2024 | |
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Apollo Bay Discussion Group @ the SS Casino Room, Apollo Bay Hotel Guest Speakers - Geoff Schmidt and Helen Cocks Geoff Schmidt & Helen Cocks moved to Apollo Bay at the start of 2022 after living in Arthurs Creek, north of Melbourne, for over 20 years. Tree-change to sea-change! Helen, now retired, was a project manager with the Department of Health and Geoff worked in IT as a project manager and other roles for Coles Supermarkets for 20 years. Since moving to Apollo Bay, Geoff & Helen have enjoyed working with many of the local groups including CFA, ABRAR, Landcare, water watch, Community Bank Apollo Bay and the pottery club. Geoff and Helen were extremely fortunate to be able to join an expedition cruise to Antarctica in January 2024. The cruise did a loop via the Falkland Islands (or Islas Malvinas if you are in Argentina), South Georgia Islands and Antarctica. They will be presenting on some of the interesting things they learned and discovered during this awe-inspiring trip. Date - Thursday 18th July Please book your seats before Sunday 14th July by Entry is free but we invite attendees to make a donation. Every dollar raised at Discussion Group will be directed to families and individuals in Afghanistan who are being supported by ABRAR (Apollo Bay Rural Australians for Refugees). |
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Sun. 21st |
Apollo Bay Farmers Market @ The Youth Club |
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Wed. 24th |
The meetings will be livestreamed to the public via Council’s You Tube channel (search Colac Otway Shire Council at www.youtube.com). Council meetings are open to the public and interested people are welcome to attend. |
Fri. 26th
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| AUGUST 2024 | |
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Apollo Bay Discussion Group @ the SS Casino Room, Apollo Bay Hotel Guest Speakers - Melinda Lucas Melinda Lucas has worked in the Public Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) sector for more than 25 years. Melinda’s current role is with the Magistrates Court of Victoria, as General Manager of the Drug Court. Over her career, Melinda has worked in frontline AOD services, policy and advocacy, and alongside health services, government agencies and not-for-profits to support better understanding and management of community responses to AOD use, and support healthy families and communities. Date - Thursday 15th August Please book your seats before Sunday 11th August by Entry is free but we invite attendees to make a donation. Every dollar raised at Discussion Group will be directed to families and individuals in Afghanistan who are being supported by ABRAR (Apollo Bay Rural Australians for Refugees). |
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Please join us at the second Table of Plenty community dinner! On Friday night we’ll get together in the Mech Hall and have a meal. The dinner is donation based, you’re welcome to join free of charge! If you can cover your own cost, we ask our dinner guests to donate $15, to pay for yourself and a fellow community member, it’s $30. The Apollo Bay P-12 College VET Hospitality students are cooking! Mech Hall Friday 16 August Doors open from 5.30pm. Dinner served from 5:30pm ’til 7pm. Presented by Marrar Woorn Neighbourhood House. |
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Sun. 18th |
Apollo Bay Farmers Market @ The Youth Club |
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Wed. 28th |
The meetings will be livestreamed to the public via Council’s You Tube channel (search Colac Otway Shire Council at www.youtube.com). Council meetings are open to the public and interested people are welcome to attend. |
| SEPTEMBER 2024 | |
Sun. 1st
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Sun. 8th
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Apollo Bay Discussion Group @ the SS Casino Room, Apollo Bay Hotel
Click on the poster to the right for more details. Date - Thursday 12th September Please book your seats by Entry is free but we invite attendees to make a donation. Every dollar raised at Discussion Group will be directed to families and individuals in Afghanistan who are being supported by ABRAR (Apollo Bay Rural Australians for Refugees). |
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Sun. 15th |
Apollo Bay Farmers Market @ The Youth Club |
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Wed. 18th |
The meetings will be livestreamed to the public via Council’s You Tube channel (search Colac Otway Shire Council at www.youtube.com). Council meetings are open to the public and interested people are welcome to attend. |
20 Sep to 5 Oct |
Tonight we Anchor in Apollo Bay @ Apollo Bay Mechanics Hall
At night, through a mist, a ghostly ship appears. It is crewed by a group of seafaring entertainers armed with random stories of Apollo Bay. Tall tales and true of shipwrecks and surfing, dinosaurs and disasters and a roll call of crazy-brave local characters. The production is being devised specifically for Apollo Bay Theatre Collective by writer/director Terence O’Connell in collaboration with historians and songwriters plus a creative team of designers to create a striking visual experience. The show will be presented cabaret style with the audience seated at tables for an up close connection to the performers and story-telling. The twelve strong cast of actors, singers and musicians perform a pop, jazz and folk influenced score fused with verse and dialogue highlighting the myths and magic of Apollo Bay. DATES
TICKETS DOORS OPEN |
Thu. 26th
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Red Door Dance & Theatre Co - Movie Day in Apollo Bay
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| OCTOBER 2024 | |
Tue. 1st
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Red Door Dance & Theatre Co - Movie Day in Apollo Bay
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Sun. 6th
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Wed. 16th |
The meetings will be livestreamed to the public via Council’s You Tube channel (search Colac Otway Shire Council at www.youtube.com). Council meetings are open to the public and interested people are welcome to attend. |
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Apollo Bay Discussion Group @ the SS Casino Room, Apollo Bay Hotel
Click on the poster to the right for more details. Date - Thursday 17th October Please book your seats by Entry is free but we invite attendees to make a donation. Every dollar raised at Discussion Group will be directed to families and individuals in Afghanistan who are being supported by ABRAR (Apollo Bay Rural Australians for Refugees). |
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Sun. 20th |
Apollo Bay Farmers Market @ The Youth Club |
Sun. 20th
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Wed. 23rd Oct.
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Sat. 26th
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Thu. 31st
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| NOVEMBER 2024 | |
Sun. 3rd |
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Mon. 4th
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The Great Fete @ Apollo Bay P-12 College
THE GREAT FETE! All happening Monday November 4th from 2pm- 6pm. Early Bird Ride Passes available now. Single rides and wrist bands will also be available on the day. Also don't miss our online auction which is NOW LIVE! There are some amazing donations yet again from our most extraordinary community so get bidding!
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Sun. 17th |
Apollo Bay Farmers Market @ The Youth Club |
Sat 23rd
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Wed. 27th |
The meetings will be livestreamed to the public via Council’s You Tube channel (search Colac Otway Shire Council at www.youtube.com). Council meetings are open to the public and interested people are welcome to attend. |
| DECEMBER 2024 | |
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Wed. 11th |
The meetings will be livestreamed to the public via Council’s You Tube channel (search Colac Otway Shire Council at www.youtube.com). Council meetings are open to the public and interested people are welcome to attend. |
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Sun. 15th |
Apollo Bay Farmers Market @ The Youth Club |
Mon. 16th
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Wed. 18th
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Sun. 22nd
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Table of Plenty Community Dinner 
Fire Ready Apollo Bay Plan: Community Meeting