ART CREATES OPPORTUNITY FOR ALGAE EDUCATION
Holdfast Limestone Coast Inc aims to increase community awareness and education at a local level, of the importance of Algae (seaweed) on the Port MacDonnell (Ngaranga) coastline in the South East of South Australia. Highlighting the diverse role and the value algae plays in our marine ecology and community.
UPCOMING EVENTS
HOLDFAST AT NATURE FESTIVAL 2025
BOTANICAL DRAWING
WITH SALLY O’CONNOR
AND JO FIFE
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Join Limestone Coast artists Sally O’Connor and Jo Fife for an inspiring botanical drawing workshop. Working in a small group, you’ll explore freshly collected local algae specimens, discovering their beautiful forms, colours, and textures. Step-by-step, you’ll create your own detailed illustrations to take home, and you’ll also be invited to exhibit your work in March 2026 as part of Holdfast Limestone Coast Inc.’s Seaweed celebration. Tea, coffee, and cake included.
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PORT MACDONNELL COMMUNITY COMPLEX
28 SEPTEMBER 2025
11.30AM - 2.00PM
$60 WORKSHOP $50 FOR MEMBERS
MATERIALS ARE SUPPLIED
BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL ​
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BEACH WALK WITH
DR ALECIA BELLGROVE, JO FIFE AND SALLY O'CONNOR
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Take advantage of an exceptionally low tide to explore the intertidal zone with marine scientist Dr Alecia Bellgrove (DeakinSeaweed, Deakin University), along with artists Sally O’Connor and Jo Fife.
Dr Bellgrove will provide an introduction to what to look for before participants discover and discuss a range of fascinating algae species. Selected specimens will be featured the following day during World Algae Day celebrations.
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PLEASANT COVE, PORT MACDONNELL
11 OCTOBER 2025
5.00 - 6.30PM
$20 ADULT
BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL
CHILDREN UNDER 13 FREE
ACCOMPANIED BY ADULT​
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CELEBRATING WORLD ALGAE DAY WITH DR ALECIA BELLGROVE
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Celebrate World Algae Day with
Dr Alecia Bellgrove, Senior Lecturer in Marine Biology & Ecology at Deakin University and leader of the DeakinSeaweed Research Group. Joining artists Sally O’Connor and Jo Fife, Dr Bellgrove will use fresh specimens from the previous evening’s beach walk to reveal algae’s vital role in our local environment, share the latest research, and answer your questions. Tea, coffee and cake included.
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PORT MACDONNELL COMMUNITY COMPLEX
12 OCTOBER 2025
12.00 - 2.00PM
$20 ENTRY
BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL ​
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This film was projected as part of the Holdfast Art Project: Secrets of Seaweed exhibition held at Riddoch Arts & Cultural Centre, Mount Gambier 13 April - 2 June 2024 Film Credits Underwater Visuals: Trudi Timmermann & Kirsty Ievins Soundscape: Tim Stent & Trudi Timmermann Video Edit: Tim Stent
The documentary tells the overarching story of Joann Fife and Sally O’Connor’s journey of discovery, borne out of a deep interest in the Limestone Coast shoreline and a desire to protect its unique and vital ecology. In bringing together cultural and scientific experts to discuss life cycles and biodiversity of the seaweed, as well as to reflect on sense of place, personal stories, and local histories pertaining Port MacDonnell/ Ngaranga, the artists have succeeded in building a multidimensional project that is both creative and educational in its scope. The documentary provides an entry point to let us ponder the vast complexity embedded in these most ancient life forms. Video duration: 11 minutes Film Credits: Video, Sound & Edit - Tim Stent Underwater Visuals - Trudi Timmermann & Kirsty Ievins Still Photography - Tim Rosenthal
This project is supported by the Limestone Coast Board's Grassroots Grants program and is funded by the Landscape levy. The Holdfast Art Project was made possible by the Australian Government's Regional Arts Fund, which support the arts in regional and remote Australia.
©2026
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