Duncan Smith is an acclaimed visual, musical and performing artist based in the ACT. Mr Smith won the 2003 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Artist of the Year Award, and is the great-nephew of Tracker Riley, the first Aboriginal sergeant in the NSW police force.

Through his work as a mentor, performer and educator in ACT schools, Mr Smith reaches out not just to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, but to all children as well in his quest to see a greater understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture within the community.

On Wednesday, Mr Smith will attend Belconnen Early Childhood Centre and assist the centre in their ongoing journey to provide a supportive and respectfully diverse culture program at the centre.

According to Therese Knox Director Belconnen Early Childhood Centre "We strive to research and implement Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in our curriculum. Duncan Smith’s experience and track record in this will go a long way in achieving our goal. We are very excited to see what Duncan has in install for us, and are very excited to show Duncan how we have implemented elements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture into our curriculum."

The Leisure Program at Belconnen Community Service was this year recognised in the ACT 2013 Health Promotion Awards by winning the “Outstanding Achievement to Promote Health and Wellbeing in the Community” award. These awards recognise a variety of innovative and best practice in projects that aim to improve the health of people in the ACT. They are an opportunity for the health promotion sector in the region to recognise and celebrate outstanding achievements in the field.

The Leisure Program is a recreational, activity and support program for people living with a mental illness or experiencing mental health issues. It is funded by ACT Health and located in the Belconnen Community Centre and also the Southern Cross Basketball stadium in Tuggeranong. Whilst there has always been social, educational and activity groups – the emphasis on health and wellbeing has increased steadily in recent years. The Leisure Program has facilitated workshops in smoking cessation, FoodCents (nutrition), and introduced a range of health focused excursions. In October 2013 a health screening project was undertaken with support from Mental Health Week funding.

Ultimately, regular consumer participation is one of the biggest performance indicators for mental health programs, providing evidence of inclusion and self-management. For some participants, getting out the door is a challenge that requires constant support and motivation to achieve small steps. Program numbers have continued to increase for the health and fitness activities of the Leisure Program and this has been celebrated by all.

For more information about this award winning program please call 6264 0200.

We would like to say a massive thank you to Brumbies Rugby for making us the Community Organisation game day partner for the Brumbies vs the Melbourne Rebels game held last Friday. We decided to use this opportunity to raise money for the Giving Tree Christmas Appeal, and we managed to raise approximately $1,735.

We would like to say "thanks a million" to our volunteers on the night Adam, Dira, Caroline, Michael, Mark, Allison, Jenelle, Robyn, Leanne, Richard, Jeremy, Mandy, Vieli, Kudzi, Phil, Julie, Kate, Karyn and Sifu. Your motivation and enthusiasm helped us reach this goal.

We would also like to thank you the people at the game for giving generously to our Christmas Giving Tree Appeal. Your gift will brighten the lives of many families, individuals and young people this Christmas.

Belconnen Community Service collect's gifts and goods throughout the year for the Christmas Giving Tree Appeal. If you or your organisation would like to contribute and help us reach our target of 200 hampers. Please call us on 6264 0200 for more information on how you can donate.

Child Players ACT's Child Play children's theatre group production in the July school holidays 2013 is The Marvellous Land of Oz adapted by BJ Anyos, our Artistic Director. This is the exciting sequel to the Wizard of OZ adapted from the stories of L. Frank Baum. This original production re-introduces well-known characters and we meet exciting new ones. The Marvellous Land of Oz is the ninth July production by the Child Play group.

Child Play is a unique theatre training program created by BJ which provides 40 children aged between 10-16 the opportunity to learn all aspects of theatre, both on-stage and back-stage. Participants are formed into two casts with one cast performing on-stage while the other cast are undertaking all the back-stage roles. The back-stage jobs include stage management, lighting and sound, both recorded and live, props, make-up, set moving etc.

Ever wondered what happened to Dorothy and her friends after her first visit to Oz? Now is your chance to find out! It is now a year later and a lot has been going on – Dorothy returns to the land of Oz, reconnecting with the Scarecrow (now the King of Emerald City), the Tin Man and Cowardly Lion. She also meets many new characters who live in Oz including Tik-Tok the robot and a boy named Tip who, with his friend Jack Pumpkinhead, is on an adventure to escape from the evil Mombi. Together they journey through Oz and try to save the Scarecrow's throne from an army trying to overthrow him. All the while Glinda the Good Witch of the North keeps a watching eye on the friends to keep them out of harm's way. Come and join all Dorothy's old and new friends on exciting new adventures in The Marvellous Land of Oz.

The Marvellous Land of Oz will be performed at theatre@bcs, Belconnen Community Centre, Swanson Court, Belconnen at 10:30 am and 2:00 pm on Thursday 11, Friday 12 and Saturday 13 July in the first week of the holidays and continue in the second week at the same times from Wednesday 17 to Saturday 20 July.

Tickets are only $17 with reductions for families and groups of 10+.
For bookings call 6257 1950 (Mon – Fri, 10am – 4pm) or visit www.canberrarep.org.au.

Tickets are also available at the door one hour before (cash sales only).
The play will run for approximately 1 hour 45 minutes with an interval and is suitable for the whole family.

Contact:
Kathy Thomas, Production Manager, Child Players ACT
Email: Phone: 0413 139 790 www.childplayersact.com.au.