Free Hartley Picnic Under the Stars Comedy Night

A night of fun and laughter for the whole family at the Old Hartley School on 2nd November from 5:00pm will be a chance for drought effected local farmers and residents of the region to get together.

Following the huge success of the Capertee Long Lunch event held in October this follow up event is sure to please the whole family.

The Hartley picnic under the stars is one of a series of drought relief social and community events organised collaboratively by Lithgow City Council, Rural Adversity Mental health Program (RAMHP) and funded by the Commonwealth Government’s Drought Communities Program.

There will be something for the whole family; activities for the children including circus entertainment and workshop, live music, a series of speakers and information on farming, health, coping with the drought and taking care of ourselves.

Headlining the night will be the 10 comedians from Sydney who performed last year to a sell-out crowd at Club Lithgow – this year we are presenting them free to our community as a way of trying to lift the spirits of our most drought affected regions within the LGA. “We’re really proud to be able to present a night of light hearted fun,” says Mayor Ray Thompson, “We listened to our community and this is what they asked for, a way to bring the community together and strengthen those bonds between us that make living in regional Australia so unique”.

The evening includes a fully catered dinner, free activities for the family, and a night of comedy. There will be lucky door prizes and treats for the whole family. Guests are requested to bring a camp chair so we can sit out and enjoy the historic venue of the old Hartley School.

“Whenever we get together as community or a group we should use it as an opportunity to check in with each other. This is especially important in times of hardship. Farm families don’t often see stress as a health problem, but as a farm problem which means we are less likely to seek professional help. We should see these events as a chance to look after our mates and ourselves, to ask the question “how are you going?” and to really listen to the response, said and unsaid,” says RAMHP Coordinator Sonia Cox.

A project funded through the Commonwealth Government Drought Communities Program.