Thursday 19 August has Gayle testing our knowledge with another hour or so of fun and trivia. Last year’s quiz was very popular and enjoyed by all present, so come early for a 10.15 start and bring a friend if you wish. Keep your mind and memory working for this one – Gayle guarantees hard questions!

Family history and genealogy are one of the most popular hobbies around the world. Family history is the second biggest subject on the web with sites receiving billions of hits per year. More than 250,000 Australians are members of family history related organisations so National Family History Week, which takes place from 30 July to 8 August, is sure to have broad appeal across the country. At 9am on 7 August, the Northern Territory Library in Parliament House is organising a workshop to provide information on the sources the Library has for research. There will also be a talk given by Esther Townes on My Adventures in the National Archives at Kew.

This is a free event, but you will need to book by calling 1800 019 155 or emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Also at the NT Library all this month is Spirit of Arnhem Land, an exhibition of photographs by Penny Tweedie which provide a unique visual celebration of Arnhem Land people as they strive to maintain their traditional beliefs and culture. The stunning images chronicle Aboriginal life at the end of the 20th century and offer an unparalleled story of a people connected to their country for over 50,000 years.

The 27th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award exhibition opens at the NT Museum and Art Gallery on 13 August. In recent years, a growing number of Indigenous artists have embraced new media in their art practice. To recognise this emerging field, a new prize category has been introduced– the Inaugural Telstra New Media Award which, this year, will have as its theme connections.

For details of the floor talks which will be taking place throughout the month call 8999 8264.

This year, Government House will be open to the public on just one occasion. This year you will be able to visit the Administrator’s residence on 27 (4.30pm to 7.00pm) and 28 (3.00pm to 6.00pm) August.

For further information call 8999 7103.

One of the events taking place in the framework of National Science Week (14 to 22 August) is an exhibition, entitled Djalkiri, of limited edition prints which explore the pristine environment of Blue Mud Bay in Arnhem Land. As part of the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, a group of artists, scientists and printmakers came together last year for a cross-cultural collaborative workshop at Yilpara. Nine Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists explored the land, knowledge, history and events of the region, and the exhibition, which runs all this month at 24hr Art, Vimy Lane, Parap, is the result of this collaboration. Some of the artists will be present to talk about their work at 11am on 14 August. For further information about this event call 8981 5368.

Details of other Science Week activities can be found at www scienceweek.gov.au.

There’s a guided walk from 9.00 to 10.30am on 1 and 15 August at Holmes Jungle Nature Park when a ranger will be on hand to pass on his knowledge of the giants and parasites of this dynamic jungle system. The start of the walk is indicated from the top car park.

In connection with the international gathering of seniors to be held in Prague next May, U3A Prague has organised a grand tour of central Europe for Australian visitors. There’s a wonderful rich and varied itinerary which includes Hungary, Slovakia and Austria as well as the Czech Republic. The meeting and the tour – which will take place on a reciprocal basis – is from 17 May to 5 June 2011. The holiday is being coordinated in Australia by Yvonne Forrest and you can get full details from her by calling 8985 6014 (H) or 8982 4235 (O), or contacting This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

As part of its 2010 Speakers’ Programme, the Larrakeyah Branch of the National Trust is presenting an illustrated talk, The Silence of the Guns, by Norm Cramp at 5.30pm on 30 July at Burnett House. The focus of the presentation will be the military thinking in the 1900s that led to the concept of fortifications at East Point, the need for ‘Fortress Darwin’, the construction phase, the war years (1939-45), some truths and myths, the post war years (the silence of the guns), the beginning of a museum, the history of the East Point Military Museum and an overview of the Darwin Military Museum today and into the future. Also at Burnett House, mornings from 22 August to the end of the month, will be an exhibition of paintings by local artist Marnie Jay Sharp.

For further information about these events, call 8946 6835.

The Adelaide River Heritage Railway Precinct is the venue for a traditional picnic on Picnic Day, 2 August. There’ll be fairground train rides for the children, guided walks around the precinct to see the latest acquisitions and discoveries, traditional games such as tug o’war and sack races, food from the 1920s (freshly prepared no doubt, not leftovers from the 20s!) and picnics by the reservoir. The festivities start at 10am and are scheduled to run all day.

For further information call 0417 838 578.

Well, the Dry appears to have not quite reached us yet, but I’m sure we’ll be relishing the change of season very soon so that we do have a break before the next build-up comes along.

When he opened the latest exhibition at the Museum and Art Gallery, Colour Country: Art from Roper River, the Administrator, His Honour Tom Pauling, described it as a rare gem. This significant Indigenous show comprises spectacular, large-scale works by major artists such as Ginger Riley Munduwalawala, Djambu Barra Barra, Gertie Huddlestone, and Amy Jirwulurr Johnson. Many of the paintings have been lent by private collectors and so it is unlikely that they will ever be seen again together. The exhibition runs until 11 July.

We are also unlikely to see again in Darwin the exhibition of all nine Victoria Crosses won by Australians in the Gallipoli campaign of 1915. These medals are touring the country while their permanent home in the Australian War Memorial is being refurbished, and are on display at the MAGNT until 20 June.