Celebrate Children's Week in Northern Grampians Shire

Caption: Families participate in a Teddy Bear Picnic at North Park in Stawell. The pop-up event was a great success. Northern Grampians Shire Council has arranged a calendar of fun activities aimed at young families to celebrate Children’s Week, from October 18 to 26.

Families can participate in a range of free activities in Stawell and St Arnaud this month as part of national Children’s Week celebrations. 

The week – led by Children’s Week Council of Australia – runs from October 18 to 26 and celebrates the talents, skills, achievements and rights of children.  

Northern Grampians Shire mayor Karen Hyslop said the council’s Early Years team had been busy preparing a calendar of events. 

“We will host a range of activities across the shire and encourage families to make the most of the opportunities the week provides,” she said.  

The Children’s Week theme for 2025 is ‘Everyone should know about Children’s Rights’, which promotes awareness of children’s rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNCRC. 

“It’s incredibly important to celebrate the rights, wellbeing and achievements of our region’s children and this week provides a perfect opportunity for us to reflect on the joy children bring to our families and community,” Cr Hyslop said. 

“We encourage families to not only get out and about to participate in council-run activities, but also to consider other options such as creative play at home, educational excursions, teaching kids about their rights, and making the most of the great outdoors.” 

The shire’s formal activities kick off on Tuesday, October 21, with a sensory pool play session at Stawell Sports and Aquatic Centre from 9am to 10am. 

At 10.30am, the action shifts to Stawell Entertainment Centre for a range of multicultural activities until noon.  

“There will be music, dancing, craft and play activities, along with a traditional Chinese dragon – it’s going to be a great morning and I expect it to be quite popular,” Cr Hyslop said. 

“On the Wednesday, it’s St Arnaud’s turn for a multicultural adventure, with activities at the town hall from 10.30am to noon.” 

The multicultural festivities are aimed at children up to five years of age. 

On Thursday, October 23, St Arnaud and Stawell libraries will host special story time sessions at 10.30am. 

St Arnaud’s theme is ‘Celebration of difference’, which will feature a puppet reading the book Phoebe’s Feathers. The library team – and book-reading puppet – will also make a special trip to St Arnaud Kindergarten on the Wednesday. 

Stawell’s story time theme is ‘A Tale from the South Pacific’, which will be repeated on Friday, October 24, also at 10.30am. 

“Story time is a popular event at both our libraries and our library staff love getting into the spirit of themed weeks,” Cr Hyslop said.  

“St Arnaud branch will also offer a kids’ lucky dip, whenever you sign them up to the library. Children can also colour in their own bookmarks during the week and our library staff will laminate them. 

“Craft activities are popular among the region’s children, so we will be running a colouring competition with prizes for different age groups.” 

Cr Hyslop said colouring competition sheets would be available at the region’s primary schools, libraries, maternal and child health offices, and Stawell Sports and Aquatic Centre. 

The competition closes on October 10 and councillors will judge the winners on October 14. 

The winning entries will be displayed at the Stawell and St Arnaud town hall events.  

All events are free, but RSVPs are required for the multicultural events on October 21 and 22. 

People can click here to RSVP.

Local councils, not-for-profit organisations, schools and early childhood services organise a variety of events during Children's Week each year.  

People can click here for more information.