What's On in Cowra

Until 11 Aug – Capturing the Home Front: Life at Home in a World at War.
Cowra Regional Art Gallery. An exhibition of 48 black and white culturally significant photographs from national and international collections by famous American photo journalist Dorothea Lange and Australian photographers Samuel Hood, Edward Cranstone, Hedley Keith Cullen and Jim Fitzpatrick. These stunning photographs range from candid records that capture the intimacy of unplanned encounters between photographer and subject, to modernist techniques used to portray industry, to the deliberately composed scenes of soft propaganda. They also reveal the remarkable parallels of life at home in WWII between Australia and the USA including in industry, family life, the role of women and Japanese internment. Presented in association with the 80th Anniversary of the Cowra Breakout. An Australian National Maritime Museum touring exhibition.

Until 11 Aug – Cowra Breakout: 80th Anniversary Heritage Display.
Cowra Regional Art Gallery. Eighty years ago, on 5 August 1944 just before 2am a mass breakout of Japanese prisoners of war from No. 12 Prisoner of War Camp, Cowra took place resulting in the loss of 234 Japanese and five Australian lives. One more Australian soldier would die after being accidentally shot some days later. While there are no photographs of the actual breakout of Japanese prisoners of war this special display features photographs and heritage items relating to the Cowra POW Camp and the Cowra Breakout.

26 July - 05 Aug – Cowra Breakout 80th Anniversary.
The Cowra Brekout Association invites you to Cowra to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Cowra Breakout that occured in World War II. This significant anniversary will be marked with an offical program of events.
Program highlights include:

• Intertwined Production - Lusi Austin Creative at the Cowra Civic Centre
• Capturing the Homefront Touring Exhibition from the Australian National Maritime Museum at the Cowra Regional Art Gallery
• Cowra Remembers Dance - A 1940’s Retrospective at @clubcowra
• Peace Bell Ceremony and Torch Run at the Australian Chapter of the World Peace Bell Association
• Cowra
• Lantern Parade and Community Event at the Cowra POW Campsite
• Official Mayoral Dinner at the Cowra Showground Heritage Pavilion
• 1:30am Commemoration Event at the Cowra POW Campsite
• Wreath Laying Ceremonies at the Australian & Japanese War Cemeteries

26/27/28 July – Intertwined.
Cowra Civic Centre. 6pm. A new work of Australian theatre with words and music by Lusi Austin Three lives collide, weaving through past and present, looking towards the future. Set against the backdrop of the WWII, Intertwined, explores loyalty, grief and the enduring bonds of community. At war with themselves, each character seeks redemption; A teen girl, an Australian soldier and an Aboriginal man – each on a quest to heal the past to understand who they really are. The Australian soldier seeks to reconcile his past, the Aboriginal man grapples with stereotypes and finding his own identity, and the teen girl seeks peace with her father. Cowra is the place the teen girl visits so she can try and process the passing of her mother. The Aboriginal Man tells the stories of his elders who were alive at Erambie Mission, Cowra, during the time of the Breakout. And Cowra is where the Australian soldier served during WWII. He represents the many Australian soldiers who came here during the days of the infamous Cowra POW Breakout and tells some of their stories. The Japan-Australia relationship has its spiritual home in Cowra. Can it be an example to us all in the ways we seek to reconcile with others? Can it make a difference in us, in our community, in our nation today?

27/28 July – Lachlan Valley Train Rides & Scone Train.
Lachlan Valley Railway will run trains over the long weekend to give our visitors & guests an opportunity to step back in time onboard Cowra’s amazing heritage Rail. Rides start from 10am and runevery hour with the last train departing at 2:30. The LVR Lounge Cart will be stationed at the platform for you to enjoy. Freshly baked scones with jam & cream will be available to purchase along with tea, coffee & juice. Tickets $10 for children, $15 adults, $12.50 concession, $40 family.

01 Aug – Aboriginal Water Strategy & Action Plan Community Workshop.
Cowra Bowling Club 10am - 2pm. Have your say on the draft Aboriginal Water Strategy and Implementation Plan. More info at https://water.dpie.nsw.gov.au/our-work/projects-and-programs/aboriginal-water-program/strategy/ draft-for-public-exhibition.

17 Aug – Drag Bingo
Get ready for a night of fabulous fun at our Drag Bingo Night, hosted by the one & only Betty Confetti!
There will be plenty of fantastic prizes up for grabs, along with a live performance from Betty Confetti.
Date: Saturday 17th of August, 2024
Time: Doors open at 6:30pm, Starts at 7:00pm
Tickets: $15.00 per person
Tickets are available to be purchased at the Cowra Bowling Club Reception Desk. Alternatively, you can purchase your tickets over the phone: 02 6342 1279
Please keep in mind that this is an 18 + event

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