Lockyer Valley Libraries
WHAT’S ON: SEPTEMBER – NOVEMBER
library.lockyervalley.qld.gov.au LVLibraries
School Holidays
Scavenger Hunt Gatton and Laidley Libraries Monday 21 September – Friday 2 October Test your sleuthing skills and see if you can spot the missing picture!
LEGO/DUPLO Free Play Gatton Library Wednesday 23 September 10am
Laidley Library Wednesday 30 September 10am
Use your imagination and see what you can create in our LEGO/DUPLO free play!
Seeds, Seeds and More Seeds* Laidley Library Wednesday 23 September 11.30am
Gatton Library Tuesday 29 September 11.30am
Come and discover the magic of gardening! Learn how tiny seeds can turn into yummy fruit and veggies and have a go at planting your very own seed to take home with Michael from Savour Soil Permaculture. Ages 5 – 12.
Paper Planes Gatton Library Thursday 24 September 10am – 4.30pm
Laidley Library Wednesday 30 September 10am – 4.30pm
Drop in from 10am and build your own paper plane, then test your skills – hit the target or nail the perfect runway landing!
The Amazing Library Race (AFTER DARK)* Gatton Library Thursday 24 September 5.30pm – 7.30pm
$5 per child
Pizza provided!
Put teamwork, creativity and problem-solving skills to the test in The Amazing Library Race! Work your way through a series of challenges and activities as you race against other teams to reach the finish line. Ages 8 – 14.
Laidley Library Friday 25 September 10am
Gatton Library Friday 2 October 10am
Join us for a relaxed morning at the library! Enjoy a movie while doing some colouring – it’s the perfect way to unwind and get creative.
Science Spectacular* Gatton Library Tuesday 29 September 9.30am (for a 10am science show) Enjoy an exciting science show with Dr Rob, explore a JJ’s Waste & Recycling truck and connect with local community groups. Children can get hands-on with messy play trays, where they’ll be encouraged to investigate, experiment and explore.
Ellis and the Night Orchestra* Gatton Library Thursday 1 October 9am
Laidley Library Thursday 1 October 11am
Ellis and the Night Orchestra is a tiny opera for tiny people that blends live music, gentle storytelling and playful imagination into a high-quality theatre experience not to be missed. Ages 0 – 8. Parental supervision required for all activities. *Bookings required. Scan the QR code or visit library.lockyervalley.qld.gov.au
School Holidays
Movie and Colouring
Under 5’s
Pathways to Possibilities Gatton Library Tuesday 8 September 9.30am
Join Parent Pathways for a relaxed and enjoyable couple of hours designed especially for parents and carers with children under six years of age. Enjoy a free coffee, connect with other parents, and watch your children explore and engage in fun sensory play activities. While the little ones play, learn about the support, opportunities and services available through Parent Pathways. Parent Pathways looks forward to meeting you and your little ones!
Under 5’s Day Laidley Recreational Reserve – Netball side Friday 11 September 9am – 12pm Library staff will attend the Under 5’s Day at Laidley Recreational Reserve in place of the regular Toddler Time and Wriggle and Rhyme sessions at Gatton and Laidley Libraries. Come and say hi to us at Under 5’s Day and get your face painted by Smiley Face Painting!
Talk Like a Pirate Day* Gatton and Laidley Libraries Friday 18 September 9.30am Arrgh me hearties! The morning is all about dressing up and having fun while bringing awareness to National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Set sail on a swashbuckling treasure hunt through a pirate tale, then enjoy exciting pirate games, craft and activities! This special event will be held in place of the regular Toddler Time and Wriggle and Rhyme sessions.
Jean Biggs Park, Withcott Wednesday 21 October 10am
Join us for a colourful explosion of fun at a local park. We will set up some stations for you and your little ones to play, with something for all ages! Messy play offers a chance to experiment with slime, water and more, helping kids build imagination, social skills and problem-solving abilities all while having loads of fun!
Under 5’s
Messy Play in the Park (Colours, Colours Everywhere)*
Allergen Alert: Our activities can feature rice, bubble mix, flour, shaving cream, vinegar and cornflour. Remember bring a hat and water bottle.
Creepy Creatures Craft Bags (Family Fun!) Gatton and Laidley Libraries Monday 26 October – Saturday 31 October (while stocks last) It’s not frightful – doing craft is really delightful! Come and grab a craft bag that’s fun for the whole family.
Celebrating Grandparents Story Time* Laidley Library Tuesday 27 October 9.30am
Gatton Library Tuesday 27 October 10am
Join us for a morning of songs and stories that celebrate the special place of grandparents and other people in our families and community. Join us for morning tea and craft after. Parental supervision required for all activities.
*Bookings required. Scan the QR code or visit library.lockyervalley.qld.gov.au
Under 5’s
Messy Play in the Park (Children’s Week)* Fairways Park, Kensington Grove Wednesday 28 October 10am
Come and celebrate Children’s Week with us! We will set up some stations for you and your little ones to play, with something for all ages! Messy play offers a chance to experiment with slime, water, and more, helping kids build imagination, social skills, and problemsolving abilities all while having loads of fun! Allergen Alert: Our activities can feature rice, bubble mix, flour, shaving cream, vinegar and cornflour. Remember bring a hat and water bottle.
DUPLO – Read! Build! Play!* Gatton Library Wednesday 11 November 10am
Laidley Library Wednesday 18 November 10am
Join us for a playful DUPLO adventure inspired by The Gruffalo. Can you build a deep dark wood with cosy houses for a mouse, fox, owl and snake? Little builders can listen, imagine and create as they bring the story to life, exploring characters, settings and storytelling through hands-on DUPLO play. Parental supervision required for all activities.
*Bookings required. Scan the QR code or visit library.lockyervalley.qld.gov.au
Our First 5 Forever story times help build a strong foundation for your child’s future development.
Under 5’s
Story Times
The below events run weekly throughout the school term, bookings not required:
Rhyme Time
Story Time
Gatton Library Tuesday 9am For little ones under 2 years and parents/carers.
Laidley Library, Tuesday 9.30am Gatton Library, Tuesday 10am For little ones under 5 years and parents/carers.
Toddler Time
Wriggle and Rhyme
Gatton and Laidley Libraries Friday 9.30am For toddlers 12 months to 3 years and parents/carers.
Gatton and Laidley Libraries Friday 11am For pre-walkers and parents/carers.
First 5 Forever is an initiative of the Queensland Government, coordinated by State Library of Queensland and delivered in partnership with local government.
Events
Tech and Device Help Gatton and Laidley Libraries Wednesday 2 September, 7 October, 4 November 11am – 12pm Bring your devices and technology questions to our digital literacy sessions. These are open question sessions with no set topics. For Apple and Android users.
Movie Matinee
Gatton Library Tuesday 8 September, 13 October, 10 November 1pm
Laidley Library Tuesday 15 September, 20 October, 17 November 12.30pm
One Life
September Sir Nicholas ‘Nicky’ Winton, a young London broker who, in the months leading up to World War II, rescued more than 600 children from Nazi-occupied Czechia (then called Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia).
Off Country
October Off Country follows the lives of seven Indigenous students as they leave home to spend a year boarding at one of the most elite boarding schools...
Solo Mio
November When his destination wedding turns into a nightmare, a heartbroken groom finds himself stranded and alone in Rome. Determined to make the best of a non-refundable honeymoon tour package, he leans into his ruined plans.
Nikki Mottram Author Talk*
Events
Gatton Library Wednesday 9 September 6pm
$5 per person
Join us for an in-conversation event with Toowoomba author Nikki Mottram and hear about her newest title, Helidon. Child protection worker Dana Gibson is called to attend a fatal shooting at the pub in Helidon where a bikie gang war has exploded. Nineteenyear-old Savannah and her younger sister, Maddie, have been caught in the crossfire, and the rural town finds itself divided between two cultures – the commune on the edge of town where Savannah’s family live and an outlaw motorcycle gang. As Savannah clings to life, Dana uncovers corruption that runs rivulets through the small town, eroding the community’s trust in law enforcement. When Maddie, the primary witness to the shooting, goes missing and Helidon is at the mercy of surrounding bushfires, Dana must expose the truth and find Maddie before it’s too late.
About the Author: Nikki Mottram writes crime fiction and has a background in child protection. She has a psychology degree from The University of Queensland and has worked in London and Australia in positions protecting and promoting the welfare of children at risk of harm. She has been published in the Boroondara Literary Awards anthology and shortlisted for the Fish Short Story Prize and the Hal Porter Short Story Competition. In 2018, Nikki was the recipient of a Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers’ Centre Fellowship. She grew up and resides in Toowoomba, and brings to her work an understanding of rural communities. Helidon joins Crows Nest and Killarney in the best-selling Dana Gibson series. *Bookings required. Scan the QR code or visit library.lockyervalley.qld.gov.au
Events
STAR’s Silver Screens Movie Morning* Gatton Library Wednesday 16 September 9.45am for a 10am start
Laidley Library Wednesday 14 October 9.45am for a 10am start
Sit back, relax and enjoy a movie morning with STAR Community Services and Lockyer Valley Libraries. Bring your favourite snacks, catch up with friends and settle in for a feel-good film in the comfort of the library. A great opportunity to connect, unwind and enjoy some light entertainment in a welcoming community setting.
Growing From Seed* Laidley Library Wednesday 23 September 10am
Gatton Library Tuesday 29 September 10am
There’s nothing quite like watching a tiny seed grow into a thriving plant. In this practical workshop with Michael from Savour Soil Permaculture, you’ll learn the basics of sowing seeds, what seeds need to germinate and how to care for young seedlings.
*Bookings required. Scan the QR code or visit library.lockyervalley.qld.gov.au
Introduction to Nature Journalling* $10 per person
Events
Gatton Library Saturday 10 October 9.30am – 11.30am
Nature journalling is the practice of drawing and/or writing in response to observations of nature. It’s about recording your observations and any thoughts, questions, discoveries and feelings that arise, in a notebook. Engaging in nature journalling has many benefits. It enhances one’s observation skills and appreciation of nature, it increases attention to detail and makes outdoor experiences more meaningful. Nature journalling also helps you to slow down, it clears the mind and reduces anxiety.
Join Hanneke Nooren, a visual art educator with a professional background in nature conservation, for a two-hour outdoor workshop that covers the key aspects of nature journalling. The workshop includes exercises to practice observation and drawing skills and an opportunity to do some nature journalling for yourself.
Composting for Every Garden* Laidley Library Wednesday 21 October 10am
Gatton Library Tuesday 27 October 10am
Turn your food scraps and garden waste into rich, healthy compost that your plants will love. This beginner-friendly workshop, with Michael from Savour Soil Permaculture, covers the basics of composting, what to add to your compost pile, what to avoid and how to create healthy soil while reducing household waste. *Bookings required. Scan the QR code or visit library.lockyervalley.qld.gov.au
Events
David Raymond Author Talk* Gatton Library Tuesday 27 October 2pm – 3pm Join us for an afternoon with one of Australia’s most experienced police dog handlers, David Raymond BM APM, as he shares the story behind his book, VADER A Police Dog Story.
In the tropical heat of North Queensland, one police dog’s courage became the stuff of legend. For five years, Police Dog Vader number 239, served sideby-side with Sergeant David Raymond. Together, they tracked criminals, found missing persons, and faced danger head-on to protect their community. From violent confrontations to heart-stopping rescues, Vader’s career was packed with extraordinary moments, some heroic, some hilarious, and many that began with the thunder of a big black dog tearing down a trail only he could sense.
Pizza and Paint (Halloween Edition)* Gatton Library Thursday 29 October 6pm – 8pm
$10 per person
Get into the Halloween spirit at this frightfully fun Pizza and Paint night! Enjoy pizza while decorating your own spookythemed wine glass or mug. Whether you choose ghosts, pumpkins, bats, black cats, or your own creepy creation, you’ll take home a unique Halloween keepsake. No experience needed just bring your imagination for a fun and creative evening. *Bookings required. Scan the QR code or visit library.lockyervalley.qld.gov.au
Fleur McDonald Author Talk*
Join us for an in-conversation event with Australian author Fleur McDonald and hear about her upcoming title, The Buried.
Events
Gatton Library Sunday 1 November 2pm
$5 per person
A place to hide. A secret to bury. The fourth thrilling novel in the best-selling Kalgoorlie series. A fiery car crash into a shop is only the beginning... When a car slams into a Kalgoorlie corner store, Detective Angie Sullivan is convinced it’s a chance mishap. But as she starts an investigation, she is drawn into something far darker than it first appears. Angie and her team must grapple with secrets, betrayals and murder to unravel a mystery that stretches back across decades. About the Author: Fleur McDonald is best known as one of Australia’s most successful rural fiction authors, but her greatest story is not found in the pages of her 28 novels – it is the remarkable life she has lived. A farmer, mother, advocate and survivor, Fleur has overcome extraordinary challenges with resilience and determination. She worked full-time on the land, starting in an era when women were not legally recognised as farmers and could not secure a farm loan without a male guarantor. While raising two children with disabilities, caring for her terminally ill mother-inlaw and living in an isolated Atco hut without power or a toilet for seven years, she found the determination to pursue her dream of writing. Today, Fleur’s story is one of courage, resilience and purpose. She inspires audiences to see adversity not as the end of the story, but as the foundation on which extraordinary lives – and lasting legacies – can be built. *Bookings required. Scan the QR code or visit library.lockyervalley.qld.gov.au
Events
Li Cunxin Author Talk* Gatton Library Thursday 19 November 6pm
$5 per person
Join us for an in-conversation event with Brisbane author Li Cunxin and hear about his upcoming title, The Lucky Son.
Li Cunxin captivated the world with his unforgettable memoir, Mao’s Last Dancer – the extraordinary rags-to-riches story of how a poor peasant boy, the sixth of seven sons, was plucked from his classroom to train at the Beijing Dance Academy – a lucky ticket out of poverty, out of communist China – to become one of the world’s most acclaimed ballet dancers. Li was indeed his niang’s lucky son, and in his long-awaited sequel he reveals what happened next in this life that cheated fate, and wrestles with the blessings and responsibility of good fortune. About the Author: Li Cunxin AO was born in communist China in 1961, the sixth of seven sons in a poor rural family. His life under Chairman Mao’s regime changed dramatically when, at the age of eleven, he was chosen to become a student at the Beijing Dance Academy. Li went on to become one of the finest male dancers in the world, and was principal dancer at Houston Ballet and the Australian Ballet. From 2012 until the end of 2023 he was artistic director at Queensland Ballet, and in 2025 he was awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by the Prix de Lausanne for his outstanding contribution to the arts and dance. Li’s memoir, Mao’s Last Dancer, is one of the most successful autobiographies of all time. It was published around the world and has been adapted into a young readers’ edition, a picture book, a stage play and a major motion picture. Li lives with his wife, Mary, in Brisbane. He continues to contribute to the world of ballet and to Australia’s cultural life. *Bookings required. Scan the QR code or visit library.lockyervalley.qld.gov.au
High Schools of the Lockyer Valley Friday 21 August – Sunday 11 October Perspectives showcases student work from various high schools in the Lockyer Valley. Featuring a diverse range of artwork, viewers are invited to perceive the works through the eyes of a teenager growing up in the Lockyer Valley. Teenage years can be both challenging and beautiful, and this exhibition looks at how our teens interpret the places, people, and politics they encounter. This keenly anticipated exhibition is embraced by both the local community and visitors to our region.
Art Gallery
Perspectives
Viewpoints exhibition by High Schools of the Lockyer Valley at Lockyer Valley Art Gallery, 2025.
HER
Rhiannon Thistlethwaite Friday 16 October – Sunday 29 November HER is a photographic exploration of the many faces of womanhood – soft, fierce, sensual, nurturing, ambitious, wild, and wise. Through intimate portraiture, the archetypes that live within every woman are revealed. This body of work celebrates feminine power in all its forms. Each image tells a story of reclamation, identity, and presence. Captured in local landscapes and featuring women from our community, HER invites you to see yourself – or someone you love – reflected in raw, honest beauty. This exhibition is for every woman who’s ever felt too much, not enough, or anything in between. She is all of it. She is HER.
Rhiannon Thistlethwaite, Untitled.
The Lockyer Valley Art Gallery is open Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am – 4pm. Closed public holidays.
Lockyer Valley Libraries Opening Hours
Visit our website to view Library opening hours and closure dates:
Gatton Library
Laidley Library
Lockyer Valley Cultural Centre 34 Lake Apex Drive, Gatton QLD 4343 Ph. 5466 3434
Laidley Library and Customer Service Centre 9 Spicer Street, Laidley QLD 4341 Ph. 5462 0351
Dates and times are correct at time of printing. Changes and cancellations may occur. Visit our website and Facebook page for the latest event information.
library.lockyervalley.qld.gov.au