Hellooo and good morning!

Just like that, we're in the last week of September (where did the month go!). I'm back on Aussie soil finally! However I caught something on the flight back, which has thrown me for a loop and laid me out for the last few days, and likely a few more. If you've reached out and haven't heard from me yet, apologies, looking at screens has been unpleasant and I've been either sleeping, trying to sleep, or generally feeling utterly gross as I try to kick this bug.

Anyway, in this week's edition we've got: things coming up next month, plus we're featuring a fabulous little shop in South Gippsland, and naturally the usual suspects: things on to sort your weekend, reasons to look up (if that's your thing), properties to stickybeak at, and markets to stop by for your weekly essentials (and to grab a few treats from if you like!). Let's also not forget that this weekend is the Grand Final, so there's plenty on!

Alright, enough of that - onwards to discover what's in store this week....

Know about an upcoming event, and think we need to know about it?
Email us to give us a heads up, or submit an event here

Cue Up this week's Events

West

West Gippsland Dance Festival (final days)
Wednesday 24 – Sunday 28 September 2025 | West Gippsland Arts Centre, Warragul
Local dancers hit the big stage, from solos to troupes.

High End Riff Raff (AC/DC tribute)
Friday 26 September 2025 – 8 pm | The House, Yarragon
Thunderstruck Friday with a pub-rock power surge on Grand Final Eve.

Ethan Calway + Tegan Blackstock
Friday 26 September 2025 – 8:30 pm | Robin Hood Inn, Drouin West
Homegrown singer-songwriters take over your Friday night.

Pillar of Rock + Waisted Youth
Saturday 27 September 2025 – from 7 pm | The House, Yarragon
Two bands, one loud Saturday. Bring your mates, not earplugs, on Grand Final night.

James and the Giant Peach
Tuesday 30 September 2025 – 3 pm | West Gippsland Arts Centre, Warragul
Roald Dahl’s juicy classic pops on stage for school-holiday smiles.

South + Bass

Wild Words – Poetry & Spoken Word
Wednesday 24 September 2025 – morning | Archies Creek Hotel, Archies Creek
Grab the mic or grab a seat for this open mic in a cosy country pub. Every fourth Wednesday.

Kathleen Halloran
Friday 26 September 2025 – 9 pm | Westernport Hotel, San Remo
Virtuoso guitar, big heart—one of Aus music’s ones-to-watch.
Link: Oztix / Shazam event page. westernporthotel.oztix.com.au+1

Mick n I
Saturday 27 September 2025 – 7:30 pm | The Wooli Tavern, Cape Woolamai
Sing-along Saturday on the Island.

Open Mic @ The Wooli Tavern
Sunday 28 September 2025 – afternoon | The Wooli Tavern, Cape Woolamai
Friendly Sunday session—new voices welcome.

Nick Carver (sunset session)
Sunday 28 September 2025 – 5 pm | Westernport Hotel, San Remo
Coastal sundown tunes to close the weekend.

Central

Latrobe Valley Eisteddfod – Dance
Wednesday 24 – Saturday 27 September 2025 | GPAC Town Hall & Main Theatre, Traralgon
From tiny twirlers to troupe showstoppers— this is competition week in full flight.

Emma Memma – Dance Island Party
Friday 26 September 2025 – 10 am | GPAC, Traralgon
Colour, movement and sing-along magic for little legends.

The Paramour Cabaret
Friday 26 September 2025 – 8 pm | The Wedge (John Leslie Theatre), Sale
Velvet-glove vocals, vintage glamour and a wink of mischief.

Matt-Peter Fry
Saturday 27 September 2025 – 8:30 pm | Star Hotel, Sale
Local favourite brings a big Saturday songbook live to Sale.

Perfect Days – Sale Film Society
Wednesday 1 October 2025 – 7:30 pm | The Wedge, Sale
Wim Wenders’ gentle gem to ease into October.

Stratford Singer-Songwriter Storytellers
Friday 26 September 2025 – 6:30 pm | Stratford Courthouse Theatre, Stratford
Originals, stories and community warmth in an intimate room.

East

Rendezvous
Friday 26 September 2025 – 8:30 pm | Marlo Hotel, Marlo
River-meets-ocean pub night with a danceable soundtrack to kick of Grand Final weekend.

Olivia Lay + Ethan Calway
Saturday 27 September 2025 – from 8 pm | Marlo Hotel, Marlo
Two singer-songwriters, one cosy high-country evening on Grand Final night.

Open Mic – Bruthen Inn
Sunday 28 September 2025 – 2 pm | Bruthen Inn Hotel, Bruthen
Laid-back arvo with guitars, locals and good cheer, last Sunday of the month.

Phil Amery
Sunday 28 September 2025 – 4 pm | Paynesville Wine Bar, Paynesville
Easy Sunday session on the Esplanade.

The Velveteen Rabbit
Tuesday 30 September 2025 – daytime | The Forge Theatre & Arts Hub, Bairnsdale
Beloved tale of a toy’s big heart—school-holiday must.

🔍 Heads up: Event details sometimes change without notice — always double-check with an organiser or official event page before you head on out!

Gippsland Trivia:

How did Sale become an inland port back in 1890?

A. Via a floating rail aqueduct

B. The river mouth was blasted open

C. Via a two-kilometre hand-dug canal

D. With giant tidal pumps

Answer at the end of the newsletter

Air Time: Coming up Next Month

Your regular handy shortlist of some of the cool things coming up in October, in case there's any particular things you want to tee up in preparation.....

West

Open Gardens Victoria: “Finch’s Nest”
Saturday 4 – Sunday 5 October 2025 – 11 Mahogany Court, Drouin
A lush Drouin hideaway opens its gates for two days only — big trees, birdsong, and garden-nerd notes to pocket for your own patch.

Wild Deer Hunting & Outdoors Expo
Saturday 11 – Sunday 12 October 2025 | Lardner Park, Lardner
Camp, hike, and back-country know-how under one very outdoorsy roof—talks, demos, and gear galore.

Gardivalia Festival of Gardens – Open Gardens Weekend
Saturday 25 – Sunday 26 October 2025 | Across Baw Baw Shire (various private gardens)
Spring garden trail bliss—new gates open plus returning favourites; bring comfy shoes and curiosity.

South + Bass

Eat Drink Play Gippsland (Food • Wine • Music)
Saturday 18 October 2025 – day & evening sessions | Leongatha Railway Precinct, Leongatha
Producers, pours and live tunes—Leongatha turns into a roaming regional picnic.

Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP™)
Friday 17 – Sunday 19 October 2025 | Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Phillip Island
World-class racing on a cliff-top circuit—peak Island buzz, from practice to podium.

Central

Footloose (Musical)
Thursday 16 October 2025 – evening | GPAC Main Theatre, Traralgon
Cut loose with the crowd-pleaser—dance breaks incoming.

The Elton John Story
Saturday 25 October 2025 – evening | GPAC Main Theatre, Traralgon
From early rocket fuel to stadium sparkle—piano pop history with feathers.

WONDER (family / circus-arts)
Sunday 26 October 2025 – time TBC | GPAC Main Theatre, Traralgon
Imaginative, movement-driven crowd-pleaser—big on spectacle, bigger on delight.

East

Rocktober – Lakes Entrance
Friday 10 – Sunday 12 October 2025 | Lakes Entrance (Meyer/Myer St & foreshore venues)
Rock ’n’ roll dances, live bands, market stalls—seaside spring party vibes all weekend.

SolarFolk Music Festival
Saturday 11 October 2025 – from afternoon | Nowa Nowa Recreation Reserve, Nowa Nowa
A solar-powered folky love-in—rootsy acts, community glow, fireside feels.

The Heartbreak Choir (Bairnsdale Production Line Theatre Co.)
Friday 17 – Sunday 26 October 2025 – multiple shows | The Forge Theatre, Bairnsdale
Warm, funny and moving local production—choir, community and second chances.

Properties for Sale

The Little Legend — 147 DP Moores Road, Jack River VIC 3971

Tucked at the very end of a no-through road, this one’s giving “quiet life, big canvas.” You’ve got ~90 acres to play with, about 40 acres of open pasture for ponies/veggies/orchard dreams and ~50 acres of native bush for sunrise wanders and bird chorus bragging rights. The house is an honest, characterful 5-bed farmhouse, with scope to zhuzh as you go, and the setting is pure Prom-Country calm. Listed around the $899k mark, it’s the rare mix of manageable, soulful and properly private.

Why it’s a sneaky good buy: end-of-road serenity, pasture + bush biodiversity, and enough existing infrastructure to live well now while you sketch the masterplan for later. Weekenders with a workbench, or make it a full-time tree-change that doesn’t feel like hard labour.

147 Dp Moores Road, Jack River, Vic 3971

Check it out

And at the other end of the scale......

The King — Grand Ridge, VIC 3870 (address on request)

All hail ~390 acres of South Gippsland magic on the spine of the Strzeleckis, across two titles, with rolling pasture and sheltered gullies that finish at the Albert River with several waterfalls (yes, really). There’s deer-fenced country (~60 acres), a small red-deer herd on hand, plus ~40 acres of coppiced blue gum and silver wattle for future farm forestry or habitat. Homestead, sheds and the sort of deep soils/good rainfall combo that makes growers grin. The price guide sits around $2.2m, a serious scale with serious upside.

Why it rules: mixed-enterprise flexibility (grazing, deer, agroforestry), water and wildlife assets you can actually explore, and that “top-of-the-world” Strzelecki feel, that makes every fence run a scenic drive. A working landscape with "postcard" moments baked right in.

Address available on request, Grand Ridge, Vic 3870

View the property here

Sample This: The HandMakers Store

Tucked away in the heart of Fish Creek, The HandMakers Store is a sunny, community‑loving treasure trove of locally crafted delights. Think of it as a mini gallery-meets‑curiosity‑cabinet, where every shelf has a story, often one that’s been stitched, knitted, or carefully hand‑crafted by a maker who’s poured love into it.

These aren’t mass-produced tchotchkes you’ll lose under the couch the next day and forget about, these are handmade beauties (often limited‑edition or one-offs) from South Gippsland and neighbouring regions, each brimming with personality and character.

Fish Creek is practically made to be wandered through, and The HandMakers Store is a perfect cosy stop along your way. The store showcases makers who genuinely cherish crafting, from hand‑dyed yarn, to nimble tools like Amish‑inspired yarn swifts, everything is both functional and imbued with crafty soul.

Who they are: It’s a craft collective rooted in South Gippsland that celebrates makers who put time, talent, and heart into objects made by hand: no glossy mass production present here.

What they do: They curate a rotating display of handmade merchandise, with colourful yarns, tools, limited-run textiles, creative gifts, and stationery. It’s as much about the tools of craft as it is about art in craft.

When to drop in: They’re typically open Thursday through Monday, from 10 am to 3 pm including weekends, making it ideal for easy wandering.

The HandMakers Store isn’t just a shop, it’s a sweet pause button for your day, where craft, community, and a dash of nostalgia meet. Whether you’re after a charming tea towel, a gorgeous skein of merino, or just want to support someone’s lifelong studio dream, it’s all here, curated and bright. Find them here

Check In

🌅 Sunrise / Sunset: from around ~6:00am / ~6:12pm

🌕 Moon & Celestial Events

First Quarter Moon on 30 September at 9:53 am AEST (50% illumination)
Scorpius & Milky Way core - the heart of our galaxy rises in the SSE ~7–8 pm and rides high by ~9–10 pm
Planets:
- Saturn is fresh off opposition (21 Sep) and up all night in Pisces
- Jupiter & Venus: low pre-dawn in the eastern sky — grab them an hour before sunrise.

Bonus: It’s zodiacal light season - on moonless evenings, look for a faint glow along the ecliptic after dusk from dark sites.

Know about an upcoming market, and think we need to share it?
Email us to give us a heads up, or submit a market here

Cue Up: this week's Markets

Yarragon Community Craft & Produce Market
Saturday 27 September 2025 – 9 am–1 pm | Waterloo Park / Public Hall, Yarragon
Handmade, home-grown and plenty of pantry-fillers.

Mirboo North Market
Saturday 27 September 2025 – 8:30 am–1 pm | Baromi Park, Mirboo North
Lively last-Saturday market with growers, bakers and makers.

Traralgon Farmers’ Market
Saturday 27 September 2025 – 8 am–1 pm | Kay Street Gardens, Traralgon
A fourth-Saturday favourite for Gippsland produce and artisan staples.

Kongwak Market
Sunday 28 September 2025 – 10 am–2 pm | 1487 Korumburra–Wonthaggi Rd, Kongwak
Every-Sunday vintage and collectables gem, with good coffee.

Inverloch Community Farmers’ Market
Sunday 28 September 2025 – 9 am–1 pm | The Glade, Inverloch
Coastside fresh produce fix to round out the weekend.

Occasionally weather events can cause changes to markets, but Facebook is pretty reliable if you want to check that things are going ahead as planned.

Alright, that’s a wrap, please go out and do some cool things!

And if you feel the need for forward this onto your mates or your nemesis, please do, hell even the good bloke Jono at the servo who always calls everyone “champ” might get a kick out of it.

Happy Wednesday, and have a fantastic week! Catch you next time,

SL
Publisher, Original Mixtape
Gippsland's On-Demand Vibe Captain & Mix Curator

P.S - we absolutely love hearing from readers so if you want to say 'hey', please know you're always welcome to reply back 😊

P.S Answers - Trivia! C. Sale became an inland port after a canal was cut via manual digging with 100 men with horses and shovels over over two years to establish a navigable link from the town to the Gippsland Lakes.

Sending this week's roast out to Trent in Paynesville, who parallel-parked his tinny between two pelicans at the jetty (because where else would you park it?). Elegant landing; 100% dignity.

This one naturally rates 5 dolphins out of 5!